Conditions

Falls are probably the number one cause of injuries in seniors resulting in high medical and rehabilitative costs. Porrselvi A.P. a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist, offers valuable tips and suggestions for preventing falls at home, from installing handrails and anti-skid mats to decluttering the house and wearing sturdy footwear. Falls can lead to avoidable hospital admissions and the associated complications for elderly with a good health status as well as those older…

says Dermatologist Dr Subhro Bhattacharjee as he takes a look at chronic skin ailments, the treatment that should be extended in such cases and how to manage side effects of steroids  How high would you say is the percentage of people with skin ailments? Is it on the rise or not? According to data in 2013, skin ailments is about 10 per cent, but, it also depends on the environment, socio-economic conditions, the general health of the population, etc.. Awareness about skin ailments has…

There are several Government provisions/ benefits available for People with Parkinson’s, which could be related to public transport, income tax etc. These various benefits are offered by the Government under the appropriate legislation To avail of any of the concessions offered by the Government, the first step one needs to take is to get a ‘Disability Certificate’. What is a Disability Certificate? A Disability Certificate is a document issued to a person with some form of disability, which…

One of the biggest misconceptions in society about vitiligo, a skin disorder in which white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body, is that it is a type of leprosy and contagious. Dermatologist Dr Jawahar Mansukhani dispels these myths by stressing that vitiligo is NOT contagious and cannot be contracted from another person. What is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder in which white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body. This…

Dr. Pettarusp Wadia Consultant Neurologist and Movement Disorder Specialist, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai weighs in on when Deep Brain Stimulation treatment for Parkinson's Disease is a recommended choice and what factors you should consider before making a decision.  Deep Brain Stimulation(DBS) in Parkinson's disease is recommended when  The patient has a confirmed diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease – fits UKPDS brain bank criteria The patient…

Being involved in the care of a loved one with Parkinson’s can have its own set of challenges. Often, during the course of taking care of a family member, one may forget to pay attention to one’s own health, needs and feelings. 7 tips for caregivers to look after their own health and overcome caregiver burden.  Your Emotional Heath During the course of care giving many caregivers experience a range of feelings such as anger, sadness, frustration, guilt and pain. Having all of these…

Cancer patients are prone to infections and the home environment must be kept clean. Precautions to follow if they are on chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment. Dr. Shital Raval shares practical tips for cancer patients and their caregivers to follow with cancer at home.  SELF: Keep a pair of gloves handy at home and wear them to clean any spills, cleansing surfaces or disposing trash. Remember to wash hands with soap before and after wearing gloves! Use antibacterial or bleaching…

Due to Parkinson’s and its symptoms, PWPs may experience certain emotional and behavioural disturbances that can be difficult to manage. These are a few of them: Anger & Stubbornness  PWPs may feel angry due to the symptoms of Parkinson’s as well as a sense of dependency that it might generate. Take for example the difficulty in doing activities that were previously done with ease such as walking, cooking, bathing, and talking etc can bring about a lot of frustration in the person with…

The most effective way to manage difficult behaviours in dementia and keep stress at bay for family, friends and caregivers is acceptance, patience and calmness, recommends Porrselvi A.P. a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist. Many people with dementia undergo changes in behaviour during the course of the disease. These changes are unexpected, awkward, difficult to understand and are termed problem or deviant behaviour.  These sudden behavioural changes can be challenging…