Conditions

Advises Dr Kalyani Nityanandan, veteran cardiologist, who comes across many patients with heart disease and diabetes. In her own style with a tinge of humour, she shares valuable strategies for meals and medicines to help patients manage blood sugar well. He is a very sweet man, and his wife is even sweeter. Unfortunately this "sweetness" does not refer to their disposition but to the unusually high sugar level in their blood. Yes, they both have diabetes. Diabetes is a very old disease. Five…

It is estimated that more than 200 million people across the globe suffer from osteoporosis. Approximately 30% of all postmenopausal ladies have osteoporosis. Dr S M Akerkar, consultant rheumatologist, stresses that brisk walking is one of the best and safest exercise for strengthening the bones. What is Osteoporosis? Simply speaking osteoporosis means – ‘porous’ or brittle bones. They are less dense when compared to a normal bone, hence weak and more likely to fracture. Osteoporotic fractures…

Polypharmacy in the elderly is a growing concern and can even cause harm to the patient. Dr. Anita Kumar explains the risks associated with polypharmacy, the symptoms to watch out for and the way forward for patients and their caregivers.     Polypharmacy is an issue that requires addressing because people unknowingly follow polypharmacy and do not recognize the potential harm it may cause. In recent times, polypharmacy has emerged as a public health issue and a concern globally…

Dr Kalyani Nityanandan, 85-year-old Chennai based cardiologist, who pioneered the first cardiac rehabilitation facility in Tamil Nadu, shares her vast knowledge on recovery and staying well after cardiac arrest. Let me begin with a real life case. A middle-aged man has a sudden cardiac arrest. With competent care and some luck, he is saved. He is discharged from the hospital with his heart and arteries in reasonably good shape. The doctors advise cardiac rehabilitation, along with a flood of…

Increasing number of Coronavirus patients have reported symptoms that persist weeks after the infection is clear. We speak with Dr. Swati Jha, Director, Community Health & Research at Aga Khan Health Services India on post viral syndrome, the common lingering symptoms and what actions should be taken.       What are the most common post-Covid symptoms/conditions seen? In a typical patient Physical fatigue- pain in the limbs, difficulty walking, climbing stairs…

COVID-19 Management The likelihood of presenting with a moderate or severe case with complication is linked to age and co-morbidities so far. These include: Acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS Pneumonia or other secondary infections Sepsis Coagulopathies Acute Kidney Injury Multiorgan failure Macrophage Activation syndrome or Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Many believe that the complications are caused by a condition termed as the Cytokine Storm. This is a hyper inflammatory…

Sign and symptoms of COVID-19 We are still learning about the virus and symptoms seem to vary from person to person. Many people experience no symptoms at all; they are termed as asymptomatic carriers. Many others experience some symptoms but again severity varies from person to person. Common symptoms include: Sore throat Low grade fever Shortness of breath Cough Loss of taste Loss of smell Fatigue Diarrhea Vomiting Headaches Signs typical of COVID as seen on Chest CT scan is the ground…

How To Prevent Covid-19 Infection Vaccines are our best defense against the virus. However, we must continue to practise proper hygiene measures to prevent getting the infection. These include: Washing hands with soap and water frequently through the day. Use hand sanitiser if soap is not available. Wearing a mask that covers the nose and mouth when going out of the house. For detailed guidelines on how to use a mask, please click here. Practice social distancing. Avoid touching of face. Avoid…

Treatment of patient with Covid-19  First steps after detection of a positive patient includes: Isolation for the patient who has tested positive Quarantine for suspected cases As of now, there is no specific treatment for this infection. Most people report a mild or asymptomatic infection and require no specific treatment.  For moderate or severely affected persons, hospitalisation is mandated. Treatment is supportive and ventilation for the critically ill patients. Various drugs…