Insomnia is one of the commonest sleep disorders, yet it is often dismissed as simply "poor sleep." In a recent Unpacking Decisions podcast, psychiatrist Dr. Milan Balakrishnan explained what defines insomnia, why timely recognition is important, and the key facts every patient should know about managing the condition.
Definition of Insomnia
Insomnia is not just difficulty in initiating sleep but also in staying asleep or maintaining sleep. It can also involve waking up repeatedly during the…
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Colorectal cancers are the sixth most common cancer in India, and increasingly becoming common in India, with an estimated 65,000 new cases every year. Dr. Ramakrishnan AS, a surgical oncologist unpacks colorectal cancer, the symptoms, diagnosis, role of biomarker testing, and largely focus on the surgical decisions. We also discuss how patients can be better prepared to handle the surgery and post-surgery recovery. This is adapted from the podcast episode where Aparna Mittal of PatientsEngage…
If you've ever heard about a new medicine or vaccine being tested before it reaches hospitals and pharmacies, you've already come across the concept of clinical trials. But what exactly are clinical trials? And how do they work in India? A clinical trial is a kind of research study that involves real people. It’s done to test whether a new treatment like a medicine, vaccine, or medical device is safe and effective. Before any treatment becomes available to the public, it must go through several…
This article by Dr. Shivam Gupta, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist breaks up the components of Emergency Psychiatric treatment, what it entails and what are the points to keep in mind, before admission to a facility and after an admission as well. What is emergency psychiatric care? Emergency psychiatric care is urgent medical help given to someone experiencing a severe mental health crisis where they may be at risk of harming themselves, others, or are unable to cope or function normally.…
1 out of 4 global cases of TB happen in India. The World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy” aims to reduce TB incidence by 90% and TB deaths by 95% by 2035 compared to 2015 levels. India has committed to eliminating TB by 2025 under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), through expanded diagnostics, universal drug susceptibility testing, nutritional support schemes, and digital adherence monitoring. Lets learn about TB and how we can all work together to end TB. What is…
More than 1 million permanent pacemakers (PPMs) are implanted worldwide annually. Around 100,000 devices are implanted annually in Germany, and only over 20,000 in India. PatientsEngage team answers the frequently asked questions on Pacemakers so people can make informed decisions. What is a pacemaker? A pacemaker is a small device used to correct our heart rate when it is slower than the normal heart rate (known as bradycardia). It is implanted through a surgery in the chest or abdomen from…
Fever is a common symptom. It is usually a symptom that the body is fighting an infection. However there are times, it should be taken seriously. Here the PatientsEngage team helps you understand the types and causes of fever and when to see a doctor. All of us have experienced a fever sometime in our lives. Fever is actually a good symptom as it indicates that our body is fighting an infection in our body. Our average normal body temperature is 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius. The baseline…
Unconsciousness or fainting is an occurrence that we are all familiar with. It is usually a symptom of an underlying medical issue. Here the PatientsEngage team helps you understand the many causes of fainting and when to see a doctor. Unconsciousness is like a switch turning off, and most people know this as something far more familiar called fainting. When someone faints, the brain temporarily receives less blood than it needs, leading to a brief loss of awareness to their surroundings.…
In India, it is estimated that about 6% of the adult population is infected with one or more sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at any given time, which means approximately 30–35 million new episodes of infection annually. Here are some frequently asked questions addressed Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections or diseases that one can get from any kind of sexual activity. . More than 30 different bacteria, viruses and parasites can be…
