Auto Immune conditions

For 20 years Ravi Agarwal* battled with severe Psoriasis that changed his personality from an extrovert, confident person to a withdrawn, edgy individual. Read about his tormenting journey, his lifestyle modifications and his medicines that helped him control and, finally, clear those dreadful itchy, scaly, red patches in some parts of his body. I was first diagnosed with Psoriasis in 1996. It started with a small white, scaly patch on my thigh. Initially, I dismissed…

One of the biggest misconceptions in society about vitiligo, a skin disorder in which white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body, is that it is a type of leprosy and contagious. Dermatologist Dr Jawahar Mansukhani dispels these myths by stressing that vitiligo is NOT contagious and cannot be contracted from another person. What is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder in which white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body. This…

Texan Chuck Dandridge became the first adult in the U.S. to receive a newly modified stem cell transplant that uses genetically engineered blood cells from a family member. This was announced by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center where the procedure was performed. PatientsEngage interviewed Dr. Madhuri Vusirikala, Director of UT Southwestern’s National Marrow Donor Program, part of the stem cell transplant program.    1.…

World Thalassaemia Day 2016 Thirty-year-old Imran, born with Thalassaemia Major, does not see himself as a tragic victim at the mercy of his illness, but leads a high-spirited life with friends, food and music and a job at a leading software firm in Mumbai. My name is Imran Mohammad Ali. I was born with Thalassaemia Major, an inherited blood disorder which causes the body to produce abnormal haemoglobin red blood cells. I need to get blood transfusion regularly to keep me…

A simple health check up for Thalassaemia carrier status before starting a family can save your child from becoming a patient of Thalassaemia Major, unending cycle of injections, suffering and misery, says haematologist Dr Mamta Manglani. What is Thalassaemia? Thalassemia syndromes are a group of genetic haemoglobin disorders. The haemoglobin molecule is abnormal and therefore, does not allow the red blood cell to survive for its life span, leading to anemia in these…

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of India was established in 1985 at Mumbai. Mrs. Rehmat Fazelboy, a social worker and Mr.Tobaccowalla (Chairman, Voltas Ltd, Mumbai) are the founding members. Presently there are 9 chapters with 2 support groups.  The Chennai Chapter was inaugurated on September 1997. Our patron doctor is Prof.Dr.G.Arjundas. Mrs.Ann Gonsalvez is the Chairperson of the Chennai Chapter. We have about 210 patients on our rolls in Chennai.  Our Vision: Create awareness of…

1. What is Zika virus disease and what are the symptoms? Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Zika virus is not a new virus and has existed in South East Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. 2. How is Zika transmitted? Zika is…

Says Cindy Payne, who fought against the nerve-damaging autoimmune condition with yoga. I took my first yoga lesson in 1997 more out of curiosity than anything else, since yoga was not yet popular in Singapore. In 2001, I began to study Iyengar Yoga more seriously. When I first started taking lessons, I was primarily focused on the physical part of the practice – seeking to counter all the running I had been doing for 25 years, plus juggling owning a boutique marketing-…

Or is it sometimes the fall guy for other allergens? Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi tells you what to do if you think you are gluten-sensitive. First tip: Do not rush into a gluten-free diet plan. I first heard about gluten sensitivity during my college days when I was studying nutrition. During my year of internship in a 1,000-bed government hospital in India, I heard of only 3 gluten sensitive cases that were referred to the dietary department for a specific meal plan. This was 10 years back. Now, in…

Principles of a lifestyle free of gluten will entail: Avoid all foods made from wheat, rye and barley. Examples – daliya, wheat roti, paratha, noodles, pasta, naan, kulcha, poori, breads, biscuits, buns, patties, cookies, all sooji, vermicelli and maida items. Be aware of hidden sources of gluten and make your choice.  Condiments such as soy sauce, salad dressing, cheese spreads, bottled smoothies and milk shakes, malt vinegar also contain gluten. Processed foods are most likely to…