PatientsEngage General Community

TB is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. If you observe your employee has prolonged coughing with no relief for more than two weeks, please get him/her checked out by a doctor immediately. Dr Shital Patel informs how to recognize and evaluate hazards of Tuberculosis.   What is TB? How can it spread? Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It is airborne which means it can spread by tiny droplets in the air when an…

With ‘Sitting is the new smoking’ belief gaining ground globally, offices are beginning to introduce the workout culture to beat the health risks of a 9-5 desk job. Siemens, a European conglomerate and one of the largest industrial manufacturing companies, has started The Healthy Break in all its offices across India. PatientsEngage talks to Mr. S Ramesh Shankar, Head, Human Resources, Siemens. Working out in office is still a new concept in India. Your company, Siemens, is one of the few…

Smriti Sawhney, an experienced Clinical Psychologist writes on body shaming and how harbouring a negative body image about ourselves, is ultimately a self-defeating exercise. I have struggled with hair thinning the past 7 years and have cried endless nights, gone through phases of lows and irritability, gone doctor shopping, hair products shopping and may even have consumed enough number of multivitamins to cause a toxic reaction in me…all for fitting myself to the image I have for a beautiful…

India's Supreme Court has upheld the right to die with dignity and ruled that people have a right to refuse medical treatment and having their advance directives honored. Are there any concerns?  PatientsEngage reached out via e-mail to Dr. M.R Rajagopal, Chairman, Pallium India and Director, Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief) "The judgement of the Supreme Court…

Do you know when you need to call an ambulance or when you can drive or take your loved one in a cab? Dr. Shital Raval talks us through the decision criteria of making the right choice.  During a medical crisis, getting immediate medical help is critical! In cases of emergencies, often it may seem that driving to the hospital may be faster than calling an ambulance. Although this may be true, let’s examine the reasons why and when, calling an ambulance is the best choice. When to call the…

Deepa Kannan, who has an 8-year-old son suffering from a rare condition called Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), bares her heart and mind about all her family has been through in trying to cope with the disorder and also about how she is spearheading an awareness movement for affected parents in India. Please tell us a bit about your son Omkar’s condition? Omkar has a condition called salt wasting Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. It is an Autosomal Recessive disorder, where both parents are…

Dr Paromita Ganguli, Senior Dental Surgeon with Fortis, Calcutta, explains the correlation between diabetes and dental care, and how the former, if not controlled, can affect dental health adversely. What are the most common oral health problems affecting persons with diabetes? The stomatognathic system comprising the oral cavity, the lining mucosa, the dentition, the periodontium supporting bone muscles and nerves are usually all affected with diabetes.  The most common diseases are:…

If you or your loved one is admitted to the hospital for any reason, make sure to keep these questions in mind. These questions are meant to clarify the medical status of the patient, gain information and understand the care needed after a procedure. This will ensure peace of mind for all.  This checklist of questions is aimed to streamline the hospitalization process and make it a comfortable experience for patients and their caregivers. Consider having a family member or friend with you…

Eiffel Tower, Roman Coliseum, Disneyland, Glacier 3000…Prashant Verma and his wife, Veena, both visually impaired, got an adrenalin thrill visiting these popular tourist destinations in Western Europe. Read their exciting travel diary. When we decided to go on our long awaited Europe tour, a colleague in Veena’s office whispered to another in the ear, “What will this blind girl gain by going on this expensive tour when she is blind?” It is true, most people wonder why we, a visually impaired…

Yoga can be really effective for stressed out deskbound employees. Asha Sarella, movement therapist and counsellor, talks to Sundara Raj, exponent of Hatha yoga, to recommend simple asanas to relieve stress, head, neck and back strain and remain fit, energetic and focussed at work. Sitting in an air-conditioned cabin, sipping your favourite latte or green tea, labouring over spreadsheets / pivot / codes on the screen could be your monotonous work every day. There is so much pressure on closing…