30 April, 2013

1 pc Indian kids diabetic: Health minister

A sample survey by the government, conducted in schools in three cities, has shown that more than one percent of children suffer from diabetes, Health MinisterGhulam Nabi Azad informed the Lok Sabha Monday.

Azad, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, said that under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, a study was conducted on 92,047 school children in Nainital ( Uttarakhand), Ratlam ( Madhya Pradesh), and Bhilwara (Rajasthan).

"According to the study, 1,351 (1.467 percent) of the students were suspected to be diabetic," Azad said.

The minister also said that a report of the International Diabetes Federation for South-East Region of WHO, comprising 11 countries of which one is India, estimates the prevalence of type-1 diabetes in children to be 1,11,500.

"An estimated 18,000 children under the age of 15 were newly diagnosed for type-1 diabetes in the year 2011 in the said region," The minister said.

He added that the government in 2010 launched a National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) to prevent lifestyle diseases.

Asked if there was any study on growing sleep disorders, the minister said no such study had yet been conducted.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

30.04.2013

Why stress is very bad for women

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Urban lifestyle has given way to unnecessary stress and worry. Who doesn't stress over an important meeting and deadlines to stick to at work or maybe the loss of a loved one?

But that doesn't take away from the fact that one should lead a stress-free and happy life to stay healthy. According to a latest study, women are believed to be the ones affected the most due to stress. Here's why you should lead a stress-free life.

Hair loss:Hair loss in women due to stress is common. Emotional or psychological stress is said to bring about a significant amount of hair loss in women.

Depression: Another prominent thing that results from stress is depression. Women are twice as likely to experience depression as compared to men.

Weight gain: If you thought weight gain had nothing to do with stress, you were wrong. According to the study conducted, weight gain in women due to stress is quite common. Though weight gain in women is also associated with other factors, yet stress is shown to be one of the biggest reasons behind women putting on extra kilos.

Reduced sex drive: Major changes in life that leads to stress or prolonged stress is also believed to lower libido. It is said that elevated levels of cortisol suppress the body's natural sex hormones.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

30.04.2013

If you ask for too much, you lose even that which you have

ISAAC ASIMOV

29 April, 2013

Are web-based programmes for weight-loss effective?

According to a study, web-based programmes are the new effective measures in weight loss and weight management.

Weight loss is a topic of concern for nearly 36 percent of Americans who are considered obese. There are many barriers that can interfere with weight loss. For those attending face-to-face weight loss programmes, barriers can include travel, conflict with work and home, need for child care, and loss of anonymity.

In a study released in the new issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, investigators from the University of Kansas Medical Center continue to explore alternative weight management delivery methods to eliminate some of these barriers. Debra Sullivan, lead investigator, says: ‘Although we found weight loss was significantly greater for face-to-face compared to virtual reality, weight maintenance was significantly better for virtual reality.’

The virtual reality weight maintenance programme was conducted using Second Life, a web-based virtual reality environment available to the public. Participants in Second Life create virtual representations of themselves, called ‘avatars’, which can interact with other ‘avatars’ and navigate through the virtual world of Second Life.

Voice communication is accomplished via headset, which allows for person-to-person and group interaction. Education and training takes place on an ‘island’, which is purchased from Second Life and provides restricted group access to the nutrition education and training area.

Source: http://health.india.com

29.04.2013

Drifting cancer cells more dangerous

According to a study by biologists and physicists in the US, cancer cells that separate or drift off from the tumour site are more dangerous than non-malignant cells. Cancer cells that can break out of a tumour and invade other organs are more aggressive and nimble than non-malignant cells, according to a new multi-institutional nationwide study. These cells exert greater force on their environment and can more easily manoeuvre small spaces.

The researchers report in the journal Scientific Reports that a systematic comparison of metastatic breast-cancer cells to healthy breast cells revealed dramatic differences between the two cell lines in their mechanics, migration, oxygen response, protein production and ability to stick to surfaces, reports Science Daily.

The researchers discovered new insights into how cells make the transition from non-malignant to metastatic, a process that is not well understood. The resulting catalogue of differences could someday help researchers detect cancerous cells earlier and someday prevent or treat metastatic cancer, which is responsible for 90 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the study.

It was conducted by a network of 12 federally funded Physical Sciences-Oncology Centers (PS-OC) sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. The PS-OC is a collaboration of researchers in the physical and biological sciences seeking a better understanding of the physical and chemical forces that shape the emergence and behaviour of cancer.

Source: http://health.india.com

29.04.2013

To succeed, planning alone is insufficient. One must improvise as well

ISAAC ASIMOV

27 April, 2013

Fibroids and infertility: is there a relationship?

Fibroids are very common in women as around 35% women suffer from them. For the uninitiated, Fibroids are overgrowths of tissue in the uterus or womb.

They are a non-cancerous tumor that develops in the womb and you can see their growth from the muscle of the uterine wall. As many as 5 out of 8 women suffer with uterine fibroids but without showing any symptoms. The number of fibroids and its sizes decide whether the woman will suffer from any pain of discomfort. The submucosal fibroids are the ones most likely to cause heavy bleeding.

They are overgrowths of tissue in the uterus with symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during intercourse, pressure in lower abdomen or an increase in the duration of the bleeding. Although their cause is unknown, they can block the sperm from reaching the egg and thus this can be major cause of infertility, if other factors are ruled out.

According to Livestrong, "Studies have shown that the fibroids most likely to cause infertility are the submucosal fibroids, which are located inside or near the innermost layer of the uterus. Also called the endometrium or the uterine cavity, this layer is the site for embryo implantation and the place where the baby grows for the entire pregnancy. So it makes sense that fibroids in this location could interfere with fertility and pregnancy, and most fertility doctors will recommend that these types of fibroids be removed before you try to conceive."

When women conceive with fibroids in the uterus then she might go through abortion and other complications during delivery. Complications depends upon the size and location of the fibroid, there removal gives you a better chance to conceive, and if you planning to go through a removal procedure then get it done by an expert gynecologist.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

27.04.2013

Women becoming taller as fertility rates decline

As womenlivelonger and have fewer children, they are becoming taller and slimmer, a new study has shown.

The study of people living in rural Gambia has revealed that the modern-day "demographic transition" towards living longer and having fewer children may lead women to be taller and slimmer, too.

"This is a reminder that declines in mortality rates do not necessarily mean that evolution stops, but that it changes," said Ian Rickard of Durham University in the United Kingdom.

Rickard and Alexandre Courtiol of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Germany found that changes in mortality and fertility rates in Gambia, likely related to improvements in medical care since a clinic opened there in 1974, have changed the way that natural selection acts on body size.

For their studies, Rickard, Courtiol, and their colleagues used data collected over a 55-year period (1956) by the UK Medical Research Council on thousands of women from two rural villages in the West Kiang district of Gambia.

Over the time period in question, those communities experienced significant demographic shifts—from high mortality and fertility rates to rapidly declining ones. The researchers also had thorough data on the height and weight of the women.

Their analysis showed that the demographic transition influenced directional selection on women''s height and body mass index (BMI). Selection initially favored short women with high BMI values but shifted over time to favor tall women with low BMI values.

The researchers said that it''s not entirely clear why selection has shifted from shorter and stouter women to taller and thinner ones. It''s partly because selection began acting less on mortality and more on fertility over time. But other environmental changes were shown to play an important role, too.

"Although we cannot tell directly, it may be due to health care improvements changing which women were more or less likely to reproduce," Courtiol said.

The findings in Gambia may have relevance around the globe.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

27.04.2013

It is better to have a few good friends than many indifferent ones

GEORGE WASHINGTON

26 April, 2013

Pregnant woman given HIV positive blood for carrying girl child

When the Supreme Court said recently that there was something very wrong with men in the country they weren’t wrong. A recent case from Andhra Pradesh show the news depths of cruelty women are made to undergo for giving birth to a girl child. On Wednesday night, a woman who is seven months’ pregnant approached the Vedulapalli police station and alleged that her in-laws injected her with HIV-infected blood when they found out that she was giving birth to a girl.

Though sex determination remains illegal, doctors revealed that she was carrying a girl child to the family. The woman alleges that after that the family started giving her HIV positive blood on the pretext that it was for her treatment for anaemia. She said that a relative who was a doctor had been helping the family by getting them HIV positive blood. She said that her marriage hadn’t been a happy one and she had been continually harassed for additional dowry also.

Y Ramarao, Bapatla circle inspector of police, said they have registered a case against her husband M Srinivas Reddy, parents-in-law Venkateswar and Tirupatamma and the doctor. ‘Investigation is on. The accused are on the run and efforts are on to arrest them,’ he said. The woman is undergoing medical tests and the reports are expected within two days, he added.

Since the investigations are still on, it’s not possible to say with surety that the family knowingly gave the wife HIV positive blood transfusions – she could’ve been given them for treatment of a blood disorder like sickle-cell anaemia. However, if she was indeed given HIV positive blood then we have to question what really is going on in our country? Did the family not realise how likely they were to pass on the dreaded HIV to the unborn child or did they want to do it on purpose? Incidents like this make you wonder where we’re headed as a country. Will we ever get rid of the patriarchal mind-set and treat girls as equal?

Source: http://health.india.com

26.04.2013

‘Need to increase awarness about lung disease’

Prolonged cough and breathlessness should not be taken lightly, as it can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, say experts. Over half a million people die every year due to such respiratory issues. ‘We need to build awareness on chronic lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is the fourth leading cause of death globally. The early symptoms of COPD are cough, bringing up sputum and breathlessness,’ Vivek Nangia of Fortis Hospital said.

‘Over 20 percent of the total deaths from COPD, across the globe, occur in India. Yet there is lack of awareness. There are limited medications available to treat such a disorder,’ Nangia said. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), COPD is an under-diagnosed, life-threatening lung disease and a chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible. Smoking remains one of the most important causes of the disease. Joining hands with Fortis Hospital, Breathe Easy India, an NGO, will get in touch with the patients suffering from chronic lung disease like COPD, chronic asthma and pulmonary fibrosis for spreading awareness.

‘We are starting a awareness programme, initially we will enrol patients who suffer from chronic lung disease. We anticipate to organise monthly meeting and create a network of respiratory patient support group, where they get advice from experts and get educated about the disease,’ Aanchal Bhatia, of Breathe Easy said.

Source: http://health.india.com

26.04.2013

If you want something valuable. It will never come cheap

punit ghadge

25 April, 2013

Grapes protect organs from damage caused by metabolic syndrome

Consuming grapes may help protect against organ damage associated with the progression of metabolic syndrome, a new study has claimed.  Natural components found in grapes, known as polyphenols, are thought to be responsible for its beneficial effects against metabolic syndrome, researchers found.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together - increased blood pressure, a high blood sugar level, excess body fat around the waist or low HDL (the good cholesterol) and increased blood triglycerides – significantly increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.

The new study, led by investigator E Mitchell Seymour, of the University of Michigan Health System, studied the effects of a high fat, American-style diet both with added grapes and without grapes (the control diet) on the heart, liver, kidneys, and fat tissue in obesity-prone rats.  The grapes - a blend of red, green and black varieties - were provided as a freeze-dried grape powder and integrated into the animals' diets for 90 days.

The results showed that three months of a grape-enriched diet significantly reduced inflammatory markers throughout the body, but most significantly in the liver and in abdominal fat tissue. Consuming grapes also reduced liver, kidney and abdominal fat weight, compared with those consuming the control diet. Additionally, grape intake increased markers of antioxidant defense, particularly in the liver and kidneys.

Intake of fruits and vegetables is thought to reduce these risks, and grapes have shown benefits in multiple studies. "Our study suggests that a grape-enriched diet may play a critical role in protecting against metabolic syndrome and the toll it takes on the body and its organs," said Seymour.

"Both inflammation and oxidative stress play a role in cardiovascular disease progression and organ dysfunction in Type 2 diabetes. Grape intake impacted both of these components in several tissues which is a very promising finding," Seymour said.

The research was presented at the Experimental Biology conference in Boston.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

25.04.2013

Take stairs one at a time, burn calories

Ascending one step at a time actually burns more calories than leaping up multiple stairs, researchers say.

Although more energy is initially expended when taking two steps per stride, but over time more energy gets burnt up when you take your time.

Scientists from the University of Roehampton found that climbing five flights of stairs five times a week burnt an average of 302 calories if the stairs were taken one at a time, but taking two steps with every stride will only burn 260 calories.

"We were really interested to find out what expended more energy overall - attacking the stairs two at a time and climbing them quickly, or taking them more sedately one step at a time and reaching the top more slowly," the Daily Mail quoted Dr Lewis Halsey as saying.

"Our study reported the calories burned ascending stairs, the potential weight loss value of climbing stairs if done regularly and frequently during the week, and also the different energy costs of ascending stairs one step at a time versus two steps at a time.

"And our conclusion: it is better to take the stairs one at a time, if you want to burn the most calories," Halsey added.

Taking the stairs one at a time may result in faster rates of muscle shortening, which increases energy turnover.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

25.04.2013

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest

Benjamin Franklin

24 April, 2013

Indian hip fracture patients at high mortality risk

An Indian study has found that 30.4 per cent of hip fracture patients died within one year, with the majority of deaths occurring within the first six months after fracture, and survivors had high rates of functional impairment.

In various studies across different countries the reported one year mortality risks after hip fracture can vary anywhere from 5 to 50 per cent. In India, however, there has been little research on the risk of mortality and functional impairment following hip fracture.

In an oral presentation held during the European Congress on Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis in Rome, Italy, held from April 17 to 20 in Rome, Italy, researchers from Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India presented findings from a prospective study which found that patients had a high rate of one-year mortality and functional impairment.

The study included 188 patients (mean age 64.67, 60 per cent women) with fragility hip fracture admitted to the hospital over a three and half-year period.

The follow up on 174 of these patients showed that 30.4 per cent had died within one year, with the majority of deaths occurring within the first six months after fracture.

Only around one-fifth of the patients were able to return to normal motor function. The remaining needed assistance for their daily life activities: 13.7 per cent were bed ridden, 14.9 per cent could only walk with a cane, and 19.5 per cent required a walker (zimmer frame).

The findings have been published in `Osteoporosis International.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

24.04.2013

Mushrooms superior than Vitamin D

Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D2 and is as effective as taking vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D intake is crucial to the process of calcium absorption and maintaining healthy bones.

Vitamin D helps the body in maintaining bone density thus reducing the risk of fracture, osteomalacia, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. The nutrient also plays an integral role in modulating the immune system to help fight infections like the flu and reduces the risk of many common diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression and diabetes.

For the study, researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) studied the data obtained from 30 healthy adult participants who were asked to take vitamin D supplements or vitamin D2 mushroom powder. The participants were randomly selected to take either vitamin D2, vitamin D3 or the mushroom powder for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, there was no difference in the amount of vitmamin D found among the paricipants.

"These results provide evidence that ingesting mushrooms which have been exposed to ultraviolet light and contain vitamin D2, are a good source of vitamin D that can improve the vitamin D status of healthy adults. Furthermore we found ingesting mushrooms containing vitamin D2 was as effective in raising and maintaining a healthy adult''s vitamin D status as ingesting a supplement that contained either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3," said Michael F. Holick, PhD, MD, the principal investigator of the abstract.

According to Holick and his coauthors, ingesting mushrooms containing vitamin D2 can be an effective strategy to enhance a persons'' vitamin D status. "The observation that some mushrooms when exposed to UVB light also produce vitamin D3 and vitamin D4 can also provide the consumer with at least two additional vitamin Ds," he added.

In a second poster presentation, the researchers were able to determine how mushrooms make vitamin D2 and found that the process is similar to what occurs in humanskin after sun exposure. They were also able to show that mushrooms not only produce vitamin D2, but can produce vitamin D3 and vitamin D4.

"Although it has been previously reported that mushrooms have the ability to produce both vitamin D2 and vitamin D4, through our own research we were able to detect several types of vitamin Ds and provitamin Ds in mushroom samples including vitamin D3 which is also made in human skin," added Holick.

The study will be presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Microbiology annual meeting in Boston.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

24.04.2013

The loss of enemies does not compensate for the loss of friends

Abraham Lincoln

22 April, 2013

How to prevent kidney stones in summer

In India, approximately 5 to 7 million patients suffer from kidney stone disease and at least 1/1000 of Indian population needs hospitalisation due to kidney stone disease.

We rarely associate kidney stones with the rise in temperature and humidity. "The incidence of kidney stone cases rises by 40% during summer due to rise in temperature. Climate, temperature and humidity are important factors that contribute to kidney stones," points Dr. Abhinandan Sadlalge, Chief Urologist, RG Stone Urology and Laparoscopy hospital.

People who work in a hot environment or have a work routine that does not allow them to have enough water are prone to develop stones. Specifically a 5 to 7 degree temperature rise due to climate change could yield a 30% increase in kidney stone problems. When people relocate from areas of moderate temperature to areas with warmer climates, a rapid increase in stone formation has been observed. There is a known geographic variation in stone disease that has been attributed to regional differences in temperature. The incidence of kidney stone disease is particularly high in areas with dry, hot climate.

Dr. Abhinandan chalks out 9 steps to prevent kidney stones

1. Drink plenty of water during the day and at night before bed so that your body stays hydrated throughout each 24-hour period.

2. Drink lemonade as this has been shown to reduce the risk of kidney stones

3. Cut back on products with large amounts of oxalate - an acid that can lead to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones. These include products like drinking soda, iced tea, chocolate, rhubarb, strawberries and nuts.

4. Cut down the intake of caffeine as it leaves you dehydrated even though you think you are taking in plenty of liquids.

5. Reduce the salt intake and make that a regular habit

6. Ask your physician about medications that can help prevent kidney stones. Medications include those that control the amount of acid, alkali or cystine in the urine - factors that can cause kidney stones to develop.

7. Check your intake of animal protein, including meat, eggs, and fish. These foods contain purines, which are natural substances that metabolise or break down into uric acid.

8. Have more salads as it maintains the coolness levels.

9. Exercise and lose weight and stay healthy

Source: www.timesofindia.com

22.04.2013

Now a special course on family medicine: Health Ministry

In an effort to bridge the gap between the need and availability of doctors, the health ministry is promoting courses in family medicine for medical practitioners, an official said. ‘There is a gap between the need and availability of doctors,’ T. Sundaraman, executive director of the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), told reporters at a two-day National Rural Health Mission-sponsored conference that began here Saturday.

The conference will give information about a two-year diploma and a three-year degree course in family medicine for medical practitioners, he added. Delegates from India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are participating in the conference. ‘While there are very few doctors available in rural areas, in urban areas it is mostly specialists. There are very few practitioners of good old family health care,’ Sundaraman said.

‘The hospitals are for people who are rich and can afford it. People in small cities and rural areas go to quacks.’

Raman Kumar, president of Academy of Family Physicians of India, said: ‘India is moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and National Health Mission (NHM). Multi-skilled and competent primary care providers and their knowledge figure prominently in the evolving schemes, themes and initiatives of our health care systems’.

‘Current health care scenario in India is staring at a crisis, as patients face increasing health care expenses due to the skewed emphasis on hospitals and super-speciality care,’ said Santanu Chattopadhyay, founder and CEO of NationWide Primary Healthcare Services Pvt Ltd. ‘Much of this expense can be avoided if the primary care provision is strengthened, which can only happen when we have a robust system for training and producing more family physicians,’ he added.

Source: http://health.india.com

22.04.2013

When it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change

Lucius Cary Falkland

17 April, 2013

Ice therapy can treat lung cancer?

Frozen balls of ice can safely kill cancerous tumours that have spread to the lungs, according to the first prospective multicenter trial of cryoablation.  Cryoablation is a process that uses extreme cold to destroy or damage tissue.

"Cryoablation has potential as a treatment for cancer that has spread to the lungs from other parts of the body and could prolong the lives of patients who are running out of options," said David A Woodrum, author of the study and interventional radiologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

"We may not be able to cure the cancer, but with cryoablation we can at least slow it down significantly and allow patients to enjoy greater quality of life longer," he added.

Metastatic lung disease is difficult to treat and often signals a poor prognosis for patients.

In the initial results of the study trial, 22 subjects with a total of 36 tumours were treated with 27 cryoablation sessions.  Cryoablation was 100 per cent effective in killing those tumours at three-month follow-up. Follow-up at six months on 5 of the 22 patients (23 per cent) showed the treated tumours to still be dead.

Cryoablation is performed by an interventional radiologist using a small needle-like probe guided through a nick in the skin to cancerous tumors inside the lung under medical imaging guidance.  These tumours have spread - or metastasised - to the lung from primary cancers in other areas of the body. Once in position, the tip of the instrument is cooled with gas to as low as minus 100 degrees Celsius.

The resulting halo of ice crystals can destroy cancer by interrupting its cellular function, protecting nearby healthy, delicate lung tissue. Lung cryoablation has been promising in part due to the low periprocedural morbidity.

"Most of these patients can go home the day after their cryoablation treatment and resume their normal activities," Woodrum said, noting that researchers plan to continue to follow patients for up to five years.

While cryoablation is being developed for the treatment of metastatic lung cancer, the future looks brighter for individuals who once had nowhere else to turn, said Woodrum.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

17.04.2013

'Too much sugar in diet can make you look older'

Increase in blood sugar levels can make you look way older than you actually are, a new study has claimed. According to the study, published in the journal Age, blood glucose levels are directly related to how old a person looks.

Researchers studied 670 people between aged between 50 and 70, and found that for every increase in blood glucose levels of 1 millimole per litre, the participants looked about 5 months older, 'MyHealthNewsDaily' reported.

Another study looked at glycation - a process in which blood sugars attach to proteins and form undesirable molecules called Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs).

It found that glycation is linked with visible signs of ageing, the report said. An earlier study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, found that the collagen and elastin proteins that keep skin looking supple and youthful are the most susceptible to damage from the glycation process.

Experts say if you want to keep your youthful appearance, it's time to cut back on your sugar consumption.

However, that does not mean that sugar is evil. It is just a carbohydrate. It's how we use, or overuse, that carbohydrate that matters, they say.

Source: www.indianexpress.com

17.04.2013

To be ready to fail is to be prepared for success

José Bergamín

16 April, 2013

What to avoid daily for high blood pressure?

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High blood is serious issue and should not be ignored. There are several reasons why you have high BP in the first place - the most prominent is stress and unhealthy habits.

Mental health therapy can fight stress and healthy habits can control and reduce high BP. In order manage and control high blood pressure, Dr. Arvind Agarwal, Senior Consultant with Internal Medicine from Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute shares a brief list of dos and don'ts for high blood pressurepatients.

When it comes to a healthy and right diet, Dr. Arvind recommends, "Diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low dairy products. Food can include meat, fish, poultry, nuts and beans." This diet seems feasible but find out what you need to avoid control and reduce high blood pressure. Dr. Arvind also adds, "People should avoid red meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, processed food."

Interestingly if you follow a strict diet to control and reduce high blood pressure to can minus the effect drastically, "If this diet regimen is followed it can reduce systolic BP by 11 and 6 mm Hg in hypertensive population."

Another way to reduce high blood pressure is to up the level of physical fitness. "Exercise is very essential for high BP patients", says the doctor. "It is recommended that one should go for brisk walks for 30 minutes every day for 5 days a week. Also, one should take the stairs whenever possible instead of using the elevator," suggests Dr. Arvind.

In case you are a regular gym-goer or plan to exercise at the gym then this is what he says, "It is advisable that a high BP patient should avoid any form of weightlifting exercises." Inform your trainer of your physical condition, and if you feel uneasy or dizzy stop your workout immediately.

Dedication plus discipline equals success when it comes to lowering high blood pressure.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

16.04.2013

UK surgeon warns India about increasing heart disease risk

Professor Sir Roger Boyle, a former Director of Heart Disease for the UK Government, warned a meeting of India’s leading cardiologist in Kolkata on Sunday that their country faces ‘a tsunami of heart disease’ unless they urgently implement effective measures for prevention and treatment. Heart disease is the number one killer in India, currently accounting for a fifth of all deaths; by 2020, this figure is predicted to rise to a third¸ making India ‘the heart disease capital of the world’. Worse still, many of those dying are relatively young: heart disease in India is occurring 10 to 15 years earlier than in the West.

The policies championed by Prof Boyle in the UK were instrumental in halving deaths due to heart disease over an eight-year period. Whilst acknowledging the differences in healthcare systems between India and the UK, he believes that many of the policies for which he was responsible for implementing in the UK could also be applied here to significant effect. Most importantly, medical professionals need to engage government at both a national and local level to agree on a concerted plan of action for both the prevention and treatment of heart disease.

There should also be good quality data monitoring put in place to accurately track its success. Prevention of heart disease needs to be achieved through promoting the adoption of more healthy lifestyles (a diet involving less fat and more fibre; increased amounts of exercise; less tobacco chewing); and routine screening of everyone over 40 with suspected risk factors (a family history of heart disease; overweight; high blood pressure; high cholesterol). Treatment of established heart disease needs to include effective lowering of both blood pressure and cholesterol, which could be cost-effectively achieved with the use of relatively cheap generic drugs.

‘India is facing a tsunami of heart disease in the very near future unless effective action is taken to reduce both the prevention and treatment of this condition over the long term’, commented Prof Boyle. ‘Quite a apart from the human cost, this makes a lot of sense economically: in the UK, the cost of effectively promoting the concept of lifetime risk assessment has proved to be only a fifth of the resulting savings due to improved economic productivity and reduced chronic treatment plus social care costs.’ Professor Boyle has been supported on his visit to India with an educational grant from Biosensors International, a global medical device company specialising in interventional cardiology.

Source: http://health.india.com

16.04.2013

The secret of happiness is to admire without desiring

Bradley