Conditions

Dr. Kavita Chowdhary talks about childhood asthma and shares tips on how to stay healthy  Some children with asthma appear to shake off their condition in their teenage years. But there’s a 50 per cent chance of asthma making a re-appearance once they hit their 30s. Boys are at greater risk than girls. The reason behind this is still unclear.  However, asthma is a chronic condition. Once a person's airways become sensitive in asthma they remain that way for life.…

is a long-term (chronic) lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. The airways are tubes (bronchial) that carry air in and out of the lungs. For people with asthma, the airways are sensitive and react to various substances. If they react, the airways become inflamed and narrow, so less air reaches the lungs.  Around 200 to 250 million people are affected worldwide and nearly 250,000 people die per year from asthma. In Asia the rate of asthma is lower when…

is a broad term for a range of conditions that involve loss of mental ability and so cause problems with memory, language, behaviour and emotions. Dementia is most common in the elderly. Around five percent of people over the age of 65 are affected to some extent.  According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, in 2013, there were 44.4 million people with dementia. But with increasing life expectancy, this is expected to surge to 75.6 million in 2030. Some of the…

is a term that refers to different problems or disorders affecting the heart. In Asian countries, heart disease has become increasingly prevalent in recent decades and now accounts for about one third of all deaths. This is mainly because of changing lifestyles – people eat foods with higher energy and fat and lead more sedentary lives.  Causes and Risk factors : http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/cardiovascular-diseases/causes-risk-factors Signs and Symptoms…

The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. Blood pressure is the force with which the blood pushes against the walls of the arteries when it is pumped by the heart. Blood pressure rises and falls throughout the day. When blood pressure stays elevated over time, it is called high blood pressure. Every blood pressure reading has two numbers. The number at the top (systolic) shows the force of the blood in the arteries as the heart beats. The number at the bottom…

is the loss of brain function due to a sudden disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. As a result of the decreased blood supply, the affected area of the brain cannot function normally, resulting in some of the following effects: Inability to move one or more limbs or face muscles on one side of the body Failure to understand or formulate speech  Inability to see clearly Dizziness or confusion A stroke can happen in an instance and is a medical emergency. Time is critical…

is a condition where the patient is unable to breathe out fully. There is limited airflow, which is the result of breakdown of lung tissue. This condition is commonly referred to as “smoker’s lung” as tobacco smoke is the most common cause of COPD. It is also known as Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COLD). The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates COPD to be at 4th place in the list of diseases causing death. It affects 9-10% of adults aged above 40. …

Abnormally dry skin? Change in hair colour or shape of your nails? Even simple changes in the body may signify an underlying problem that you need to get checked out. By Dr Gita Mathai, paediatrician and family practitioner, shares tips to help you stay vigilant. The Skin should be a healthy colour.  • If it turns yellow, you may have jaundice.  • If it looks pale, get checked for anaemia. Here's how to manage iron-deficient anaemia. • Excessively cracked and…

Chemotherapy can have different roles in treatment of cancer. It is important to understand the role of the chemotherapy prescribed for the patient. Dr. Kriti Mittal MD, MS Hematology and Medical Oncology explains the roles - curative, non-curative, palliative and adjuvant. It is important to understand the role of chemotherapy in the treatment of your cancer. In some cases of localized or locally advanced cancer that has not yet spread to distant organs, your health care provider may chose to…