Conditions

Do your heels hurt when you take your first steps in the morning? You may have plantar fasciitis. Dr Shital Raval advises on symptoms and exercises to ease the pain. What is Plantar Fasciitis? The plantar fascia is a flat ligament that connects the heel bone to the toes and supports the arch of the foot. If you strain this ligament, it can get inflamed. Plantar Fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. हिंदी में पढ़ें: प्लांटार फ़ेशियाइटिस के कारण एड़ी में दर्द Whom does it affect?…

Dr Choo Wei Chieh tells you why it’s important and what information it should carry. Patient empowerment means being engaged with your health and making your own health decisions. In order to do this properly (not to mention safely), one’s health information should be well organised. This means keeping an accurate record of your health such that you can access it whenever necessary, wherever you are, and to share it with whoever necessary (family, healthcare professionals, caregivers, etc.).…

The number of couples facing infertility is rising. Some risk factors are modifiable and preventable. Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Chandan Dubey shares 5 tips on conceiving naturally. This focusses on what women need to be aware of.  A couple who cannot conceive after one year of regular unprotected sex may have infertility. About 1 in 7 couples have this problem and need treatment. Many trends in the rapidly changing lifestyles of women and men may increase this problem in…

As we wait for Kalki Koechlin’s portrayal of a gutsy girl with Cerebral Palsy in the award-winning film Margarita with a Straw, we find out more about the condition from rehabilitation specialist Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan. The film releases on 17th April 2015.  Cerebral Palsy is a birth-related disorder that affects the brain and nervous system. The nerve damage causes difficulties in the child’s movement, coordination, posture and ability to walk. It can also affect speech,…

Many patients can be overwhelmed, surprised, or simply anxious when they are first diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis. One doctor shares how he helps patients understand more about their condition during these first steps in their MS journey. Some aspects you can talk to your doctor about are : Understand the diagnosis Treatment options and side effects Impact on work, family life, day to day living Prognosis Research opportunities      

Maintaining good oral health is more than just about keeping cavities at bay. Your dental health has far-reaching consequences on your body, with oral bacteria being linked to many life-threatening conditions, like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, renal health and even brain abcess. Oral hygiene and overall good health  Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria, most of them harmless. Normally the body's natural defences and good oral health can keep these…

Signs to watch for and how to prevent it. By family practitioner and paediatrician Dr Gita Mathai  What is childhood obesity? Children older than two years and less than 19 years need to have their BMI (Body Mass Index) calculated when they visit their physician either for immunisation or during annual check-ups. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the height in meter squared. You can also measure BMI at home. The values for height can be entered in the website below. It…

Rehabilitation specialist Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan suggests small changes around the home that make a big difference to the quality of life of the elderly.    Having worked in the rehabilitation field for more than 15 years and having been a caregiver to four elders above the age of 80, I kept coming across the need for adaptations in daily living activities. The idea is to keep the elders as independent as possible and maintain their dignity. अब हिन्दी में पढ़ें: घर को बुजुर्गों…

“My anxieties have anxieties,” said Charlie Brown echoing many of us. Stress is a part of life, but why and how do some deal with it better than others? Savita Narayan breaks it down with practical tips for fortifying your inner strength.   “If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved, worrying will do you no good.” Shantideva, 8th century Buddhist teacher “Stress comes from the way you relate to events or situations.” ― Chris Prentiss, Zen and the Art…