Healthy aging requires pro-active effort on multiple fronts – social, exercise, physical and mental activity. ‘Ageing is a privilege denied to many -- cherish every moment’ seems to be the motto of some senior people we spoke to on Senior Citizens Day.
We asked some people a few questions and got a varied set of responses. Clearly there are many roads to healthy ageing.
Questions we asked
- How do you keep yourself engaged?
- What do you do to keep yourself healthy?
- How familiar are…
Losing vision later in life can feel overwhelming, but small, practical steps and use of technology aids can enable continued independence and an improved quality of life. Ms. Beula Christy, PhD, Head, Institute for Vision Rehabilitation L V Prasad Eye Institute shares suggestions based on their deep experience. Sometimes due to an illness or an accident, vision impairment can happen in adulthood, or we grow older. Some conditions also cause vision loss. This can feel overwhelming, but small,…
Rama Sivaram, breast cancer survivor and now patient counsellor talks about the issues of sexual wellbeing brought about by breast cancer and its treatment and how couples can bring back intimacy into their relationship “My coming of age was celebrated with such pomp and grandeur; I was just 13. I suddenly transitioned from being a girl child to woman physically, sexually and spiritually. On one hand I was embarrassed and scared and on the other rite of passage is a milestone –a social message…
Concerns regarding sexual health are quite common among patients who have undergone cancer treatment, but rarely are these concerns addressed by their medical care team. Most patients are shy or embarrassed to bring it up and even made to feel guilty about raising them, while they are trying to fight cancer. We spoke to Dr Prasad Raj Dandekar, consultant radio-oncologist who talked to us about the need for cancer patients to openly discuss their sexual health with their doctor to navigate…
As we age, our immunity and ability to withstand infections decline. This makes us more vulnerable to infections. The monsoon season particularly adds to the risk of falls due to slippery surfaces, diseases like dengue and malaria from mosquito bites, diarrhea and also aggravation of respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis. Here are a few conditions to watch out for and how to manage our health during the rainy season: Food and Waterborne Diseases Monsoons are associated with a lot of…
Malnutrition is seen in patients who have chronic or critical illness due to hospitalisations and post-surgical procedures. Enteral and parenteral are two of types of clinical nutrition prescribed by physicians. Dr. Shital Raval Patel unpacks this topic so we can understand the role of clinical nutrition, the types and how to handle these at home keeping patient safety front and centre What is clinical nutrition? The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism defines clinical…
Heart Failure is a life changing condition that is chronic and progressive. Cardiac Rehabilitation is known to be one of the best tools to enhance functioning and well being while improving quality of life. Prof Jaimala Shetye, an experienced Physiotherapist with 39 years of Physiotherapy teaching and clinical experience explains the role of Cardiac rehabilitation in patients with Heart Failure. What does cardiac rehabilitation mean? Cardiac Rehabilitation is a coordinated multifaceted…
Vaccines don't stop after childhood. Immunisation and vaccinations help us fight infections. The immune system of persons with chronic conditions and the elderly are compromised and hence it is recommended for them to vaccinate themselves. Some vaccines like HPV vaccine also prevent cancers. Read all about immunisations and talk to your physician about these. How your body fights infections-role of antibodies The immune system protects you from illness and infection. When bacteria or viruses…
The demographic of the world's population is shifting towards older age groups. The prevalence of falls and associated injuries and morbidity is on the rise, posing a significant global challenge. Knowing the causes of falls in elderly can help create awareness and aid prevention. Let’s find out a bit more about the causes of falls in elderly. Professor Bernard Isaacs, a giant in geriatric medicine said, ‘It takes a child one year to acquire independent movement and ten years to acquire…
