Heart Disease Prevention

Do cardiac tests like CAT Scan, Angiogram, MRI and Thallium Scan confuse you?  What does each of them tell the Cardiologist? Dr. Shital Raval decodes this complex maze of tests so you can understand the purpose of each of these cardiac tests and why they have been prescribed. When it comes to the matters of the heart, you can never be too careful. Your doctor will assess your symptoms, ask about your medical and family history and perform a physical examination before prescribing any…

Prof Anita Ghai, a leading disability rights activist and academic reflects on her own life, her life with polio,  rheumatic heart disease and breast cancer and her persistent struggles with undesirable societal attitudes towards disability. ‘How come you had polio? Were you not vaccinated? Why was your mother not more careful?’ These are some questions that always haunt me. Of course, there are many others such as ‘why me?’ that all of us always ask ourselves. But what can one reply…

Dr. Snehil Mishra, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical Hospital, dispels the fallacy that heart disease is a man's disease. On the contrary, it is the number one killer of women with symptoms in women being different than men.   Are women at a higher risk for heart disease than men? The risk of heart disease in women is significantly underappreciated due to under reporting as well as lack of awareness. In most Western countries, the incidence of heart…

Loud snoring is often a sign of a more serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Here are all the facts on sleep apnea that you should know if you or your loved one snore. Including treatment options available. What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea? Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA is a medical condition in which breathing stops periodically during sleep in an involuntary process. These brief periods of no breathing are called apnea. हिंदी में पढ़ें: खर्राटों को कब गंभीरता से…

Jyotsna Kumar, was living with Sensiro Neural Deafness. But the birth of her child with congenital heart defect and cerebral palsy changed her priorities in life. Jyotsna, tell us about your condition.  I was diagnosed with Sensiro Neural Deafness in 1997, I was 30 years old then. What were the early symptoms? During my childhood I never took annual audiograms and remained unaware of what impact anything could have had on my nerves considering the fact that my mother and most of my…

And she still counts her blessings! Bhairavi (not her real name) fainted and lost her vision, speech all at once. Read more to find out how she came to understood the cause and how she resumed painting.  The beginning It all started in summer of 2004, when my husband had just lost his mother and we went to Calcutta for her last rites. The evening of the shraadh or memorial gathering, I was looking for a mouth freshener since I hadn’t eaten all day. My relative offered me some supari (…

With increase in global warming, summers have become much hotter in recent years. Rising temperatures are seen with poor air quality, severe weather patterns and higher UV ray radiation. It becomes important to protect yourself and your family from the extreme heat, especially those who are living with a chronic condition.  Here is a look at certain diseases that are most affected by the summer heat and ways on how they can be better managed during summer. If any of your symptoms are not…

A healthy and tasty protein rich, low fat recipe good for everyone - especially people with diabetes contributed by Diabetes Awareness and You Ingredients: Chicken (Boneless): 50 gms Sour curd : 50 gms Ginger: 1 teaspoon (Paste) Garlic: 1 teaspoon (Paste) Green chillies: 1 teaspoon (Paste) Salt to taste Methi saag: 20 gms (Paste) Oil: For Brushing 1 teaspoon 2.5 ml Cabbage Leaf: 1 big piece Lime Juice: 1 teaspoon (Juice) Procedure: 1. Wash Chicken Properly 2. Marinate with all the ingredients…

Moong dal is a great source of protein, vitamins and dietary fiber. Moong Dal Dosa or Pesarattu is also low in sodium, saturated fat and cholesterol making a very healthy snack option for people with diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Perfect for an after school snack for young children too. Ingredients: 1 cup whole green moong dal 1 tbsp urad dal 2 tbsp yoghurt 3-4 tbsp water Salt to taste (add minimal or no salt to the recipe) 2 green chilies (optional) हिंदी में पढ़ें…

Cardiac rehabilitation is extremely beneficial and life-changing for strengthening the heart post-surgery, valve replacement or heart failure. Mr Shrikant Shah, 71, recounts his experience with the cardiac rehab program and how he can climb stairs now without running out of breath. I am a heart patient of many years. I have a history of cardiovascular diseases in our family. Recently, after a heart attack I had a bypass surgery and aortic valve replacement, a minimally invasive procedure.…