Conditions

What is urinary incontinence? It is the loss of bladder control that results in leakage of urine or faecal matter involuntarily. It is a common problem: the severity ranges from occasional leaking of urine when you cough or sneeze to a sudden and strong urge to urinate so that you can’t get to the toilet on time. It affects twice as many women as men and 50 per cent of elderly women suffer from it. It may affect younger women too.  

Crushing tiredness that doesn’t diminish with rest, CFS can wreck lives. It’s also hard to diagnose, so patients may be seen as hypochondriacs. By Dr Shital Patel.  Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disorder characterised by extreme fatigue that is unexplained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue does not improve with rest and tends to worsen with physical activity or mental exertion.  CFS affects more women than men and is seen mostly between the…

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. Lupus affects about 5 in 10,000 people.  Who is affected by lupus? Most often, lupus starts in people in their 20s and 30s. It occurs 10 times more often in women than in men. The disease is more common in some ethnic groups, mainly blacks and…

What’s going on down under? Dr Shital Raval has all the answers on vaginal health - from vaginal discharge to vaginal infections and yeast infections. Is all vaginal discharge bad? NO, a clear, or watery discharge anytime during the month is normal. Around the ovulation period, this discharge or cervical mucus may become thicker and stickier. This is normal and aids as a lubricant during sexual intercourse. Coloured discharge or abnormal looking discharge accompanied by foul odor is…

Treatment The doctor may recommend some of the following: Lifestyle changes can help relieve acute (short-term) insomnia. These changes might make it easier to fall asleep and stay sleep. 1. Adopting new habits to help you sleep, for instance: Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool. Noise, light, and heat can interfere with sleep.  Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including…

The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters (which connect the kidneys and the bladder), bladder, and urethra. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can occur in any part of the urinary tract. Most UTIs are caused by bacteria. They can also be caused by fungi or viruses. UTIs are the second most common type of infection in humans. The National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) reports that UTIs account for over eight million doctor…

What is ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is cancer that develops in one or both the ovaries. It can then spread to other parts of the body. Cancer in the ovaries can also be a secondary cancer, the result of metastasis from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body. 7% of ovarian cancers are due to metastases while the rest are primary cancers that occur in the ovaries itself. Cancer occurring primarily in breast or in gastrointestintinal tract most often tend to metastasise to the ovaries. Ovarian…

Dr Shital Patel answers all your questions on fertility – from upping your chance of natural conception to treatment options. 1. What can I do to improve my chances of getting pregnant naturally? Before planning to conceive, it’s important to make sure you are healthy and start on daily prenatal vitamins. Also avoiding stress, smoking, alcohol, substance abuse, certain medications etc will all help improve your chance of conceiving.  2. What is the fertile window period? The…

What is depression It is a serious medical illness that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour, mood and physical health. It may be a lifelong condition in which periods of wellness alternate with recurrences of illness. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 350 million sufferers, according to the World Health Organisation. The number is growing in all age groups in every community, and with many young people falling prey to…