Messages

1

Neurology / The Facts about Silent Stroke

« on: May 31, 2021, 12:55:04 AM »

You had a stroke, but shockingly, you do not know about it. Is it even possible? Yes, a silent stroke is such where you unknowingly suffer a stroke. But you either cannot remember anything about it or are completely unaware of it.
When it comes to describing strokes, we generally think of the causative signs and symptoms. It includes numbness, blurry vision, mumbled speech, and facial paralysis, or body paralysis. However, a person does not experience any symptoms in a Silent Stroke at all. Therefore, the name – Silent Stroke or asymptomatic cerebral infarction.

Similar to ischemic brain strokes, silent strokes occur when a portion of your brain suddenly stops receiving blood. It stops oxygen supply to the brain, causing considerable damage to the brain cells. However, a silent stroke is hard to understand because it breaks the blood supply to that part of your brain that has nothing to do with any of your visible functions, such as with ambulation, seeing, or speaking. Therefore, it goes unnoticed.

So, what about Silent Stroke Diagnosis? In most cases, people get to find out about their stroke only when they undergo a CT scan or an MRI of the brain for any other health condition. That is when a doctor can identify that a small portion(s) of your brain has sustained some amount of damage.

In light of the current scenario due to COVID-19, brain stroke is seen in around 5.9% of coronavirus infected patients. And if you take a look at the neurological complications of COVID-19, you will find that strokes make about 85% of it.

Are Silent Strokes Less Dangerous?

Although there are no visible Silent Stroke Symptoms, and it affects only a small portion of your brain, it does not mean that it is less dangerous or causes less damage. Brain damage due to such asymptomatic strokes is cumulative.
Also, if a person has had several episodes of silent stroke, they may notice the onset of several neurological symptoms, including difficulty concentrating and loss of memory.

As per the American Stroke Association, silent or asymptomatic stroke puts you at the risk of having symptomatic brain strokes later on in your life. Recent studies confirm that if you have had multiple episodes of silent strokes, you are at a higher risk for vascular dementia (multi-infarct dementia). The symptoms include –

● Problems with remembering things or loss of memory.
● Losing control over bladder and bowel movements.
● Difficulty in decision-making.
● Emotional outbursts like crying or laughing inappropriately.
● Not identifying previously visited places.

Silent Strokes – How Are They Different from Other Strokes?

Compared to other types of strokes, such as ischemic strokes, mini strokes, and hemorrhagic strokes, silent strokes are different.

How and When Will You Come to Know if You Have Had a Silent Stroke?

Silent Stroke Diagnosis is not easy. If your doctor ever recommends an MRI or a CT scan of the brain to diagnose any other condition that you may have, you could know that you have had an episode of a silent stroke. The image of your brain will have lesions or white spots on the areas that are affected. The signs and symptoms are so subtle or minute that most people often confuse them with signs of old age. It includes —

● Problems with balancing
● Inability to control urine
● Frequent slip and falls
● Mood swings
● Inability to think properly

Are the Damages of a Silent Stroke Reversible?

When your brain cells suffer permanent damage due to oxygen deficiency, the damages are irreversible. However, in some cases, the healthy areas of your brain counterbalance the functions that are to be done by the damaged part. However, if the episodes of the silent stroke become frequent, your brain’s ability to perform well will eventually decrease.

Is There Any Treatment for Cognitive Issues?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) says if a person has lost some of his/her capabilities due to a stroke, rehabilitative therapy can work. A team of professionals who work together may help you to recover. It includes the following —

● Speech pathologists
● Physical therapists
● Psychologists
● Sociologists

What Preventive Measures Can You Take for Silent Strokes?

While it is difficult to identify a silent stroke and even more challenging to recover the regions that have already suffered the damage, all you can do is prevent it. Take a look at the preventive measures given below —

● High blood pressure often puts you at the risk of getting a silent stroke. So, keep your blood pressure under control.
● Most importantly, due to COVID-19 and the new normal norms, stress, and anxiety have taken a toll on our health. Therefore, you should start practicing keeping yourself calm.
● According to a study (2011), exercising (moderate) for at least 30 minutes a day is likely to reduce your risks of silent stroke by nearly 40%.
● According to the American Stroke Association, cutting down your daily sodium intake can reduce your chances of having a stroke. Keep an eye on your cholesterol levels
● High blood sugar is one of the main culprits in the case of most health complications. Keep your blood sugar under the normal range.
● Make sure to eat a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables.
● Owing to the pandemic and a series of lock downs and work from home is the new normal, many of you might have put on weight. Try to maintain a healthy weight because being overweight also increases your risk of getting a stroke.
● A recent study shows that consuming sugary, especially artificial-sweetened beverages, can also increase your risks for stroke and dementia.
● Quit smoking.

Source: Apollo Health

2

Cholesterol levels / What Levels in Blood is Considered High Cholesterol?

« on: May 30, 2021, 09:47:26 PM »

Cholesterol is waxy substance that is found in the cells of our body. It is made by our liver and is also found in several food items like meat and dairy products. While we need some amount of cholesterol for our body to function normally, too much of it in the blood can lead to health issues like coronary artery disease.

With high cholesterol, one can develop fatty deposits in the blood vessels. Ultimately, these deposits grow, thus making it tough for enough blood to flow through the arteries. Sometimes, the deposits can suddenly break and form a clot which causes a heart attack or a stroke.

While high cholesterol can be inherited, it is often due to unhealthy lifestyle choices, which can be prevented and treated.  Regular exercise and healthy diet and medication can sometimes help reduce high cholesterol.
Difference between good cholesterol and bad cholesterol

Cholesterol is transported through the blood, attached to proteins. This combination (of proteins and cholesterol) is known as lipoprotein. Lipoprotein is catergorised into different types based on what the lipoprotein carries. They include:

    LDL or Low-density lipoprotein: Also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol, LDLcarries cholesterol particles throughout our body. LDL builds up in the walls of arteries, making them harder and narrower.

    HDL or High-density lipoprotein: Also known as ‘good’ cholesterol, HDL, picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to the liver.

Blood Cholesterol Levels – Table

Here is a table that lists the acceptable levels of total cholesterol, bad cholesterol, good cholesterol, and triglycerides.

                                Ideal            Borderline High          High
Total Cholesterol      Less than 200      200-239            240 and higher
LDL Cholesterol       Less than 130      130-159             160 and higher
HDL Cholesterol       50 and higher       40-49                 Less than 40
Triglycerides            Less than 200      200-399            400 and higher

Symptoms of high cholesterol

High cholesterol often does not show any symptoms. You may have high cholesterol levels for years without knowing about it. When your body has high cholesterol, it eventually leads to a build-up on the walls. This build-up is known as plaque which may harden over time and narrow the arteries.

This is where  health issues start. Your body needs to transfer a certain amount of blood to every organ. When the arteries get narrowed, the blood flow to the organs from the heart gets hindered and causes serious health problems. The hardened plaque may also break into pieces and lead to the formation of blood clots which completely block the flow of blood. In some cases, the arteries may get completely clogged with plaque accumulation .

A blocked artery to the heart because of either of the reasons can cause a heart attack. Similarly, a blocked artery to the brain may lead to a stroke. The only way to detect high cholesterol is through regular blood tests. Unfortunately, most people discover their high cholesterol levels only after they experience a life-threatening event.
What causes high cholesterol levels?

There are several causes of high cholesterol. They are:

    Diet: Cholesterol is naturally produced by our liver. But we also get it from our food, especially dairy items and meat. Eating too much of these food items can cause high cholesterol in the body.

    Lifestyle: Obesity is one of the major causes of high cholesterol. This is further complicated by inactivity which reduces the levels of HDL (good cholesterol) in the body.

    Genetics: Your genetics can also affect your cholesterol levels. Research on the topic has indicated that cholesterol tends to run in the family, and individuals with good eating habits and active lifestyles may also have high levels of bad cholesterol.

    Smoking: Some research studies have also found a relationship between smoking and high cholesterol.

How is high cholesterol diagnosed?

While high cholesterol does not show any clear signs and symptoms, you can get it diagnosed with a simple blood test. It is advisable that men and women above the age of 35 should get their cholesterol checked from time to time. Young individuals (20-35 years old) with high-risk factors should have their cholesterol checked by their physician to avoid heart diseases. Risk factors include:

    Smoking
    Inactivity
    Having an immediate family member with heart disease
    High blood pressure
    Obesity

How is high cholesterol treated?

High cholesterol is treated with dietary and lifestyle changes. Your doctor may ask you to get active and take up a form of exercise that is ideal for you. You may also be advised to cut down on the foods that contain bad cholesterol and include have a low calorie and low fat diet . If you are overweight, you will be required to lose some weight and get into the healthy weight category for your height and age.

Focus on plant-based foods, like fruits, vegetables as well as whole grains. Limit trans fats (found in various processed foods) and saturated fats (found in full-fat dairy products and red meat). Monounsaturated fat (found in canola and olive oils) is a healthier option. Other sourced of healthy fat include nuts, avocados and oily fish.

When it comes to exercise, you may have to talk to your doctor  and also find an exercise routine that is best for you.
Book an Appointment

Is cholesterol treated with medicines?

Your doctor may prescribe  medicines to treat high levels of cholesterol . You may be prescribed one or more of these at a time:

    Statins
    Bile acid binding Resins
    Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
    Fibrates
    PCSK9 Inhibitors

Every medicine type in this list has its functions and may be prescribed to you according to your body’s needs. It is advisable to take these medicines under the guidance of a certified medical professional.

If you are above the age of 35, are overweight, or have the risk factors of heart disease, you should ask your doctor  for a cholesterol check.

Source: Apollo Health

3

Tips for Healthy Living / Get Ready To Take On The Monsoon Season & Tips to Stay Healthy

« on: May 30, 2021, 09:30:46 PM »

The monsoon will soon be here to relieve us from the scorching heat of summer. Although we would welcome the change in temperature, monsoon also brings its share of woes. It is often accompanied by health problems like flu, cough, cold, poor digestion. Also, with the monsoon, there is a sudden increase in the number of flies and mosquitoes exposing us to diseases like Malaria, Jaundice, Dengue, Dysentery Typhoid, Cholera, and Leptospirosis etc.…

So, be alert and stay careful during this monsoon season with these healthy tips:

•   No Outside Food
Stay away from the street, junk foods like sandwiches, pakoras, bajjis, panipuri, etc, as they have bacteria that may cause indigestion. Keep a safe distance from any kind of pre-cut or raw foods/fruits as they could contain germs that may lead to food poisoning. Do not ever drink water from outside as contaminated and impure water can cause water-borne diseases like cholera, dysentery, etc.

•   Eat Green and Colored Fruits & Vegetables
Green and colored fruits and vegetables are mandatory to maintain a healthy diet and avoid diseases in monsoon. These foods offer all the nutrients required to increase your immunity and keep you healthy during this disease-prone season. However, you have to be extra cautious while washing all your fruits and vegetables (especially those being used for salads) during this season. Ideally, it is better to wash them with warm salt water to remove the dirt.

•   Avoid Food Stored or Served at Room Temperature
Avoid food that’s stored or served at room temperature. Steaming hot foods are best. And although there’s no guarantee that meals served at the finest restaurants are safe, it’s best to avoid food from street vendors as contamination is more likely. Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors closed during a power shut down— food will stay fresh up to 8 hours.

•   Keep Mosquitoes at Bay
These are the first to come soon after the monsoon starts as there is pooling of fresh water in and around the habitats. Mosquito nets and mosquito net shield to the windows and doors is the better way than keeping a mosquito coil beside you and sleeping.
Application of mosquito repellent creams is also a good idea along with clothing minimizing the area of skin exposure.

•   Keep your house and surroundings clean and pest-free
Make your house a pest-free zone. Check out for any clogging or leakage. Scan for stagnant water through the water coolers, flowerpots and other places. This may prevent mosquitoes from breeding and hence, would protect you from mosquito-borne diseases.

By far the preferred approach for managing mosquitoes is to keep them out of tanks and other water sources. Furthermore, do not allow rainwater to pool in containers or on surfaces underneath the tank outlets or taps, as this can become a breeding site. Most of the mosquito species stay very close to where they hatch and breed.

•   Drink and stay hydrated
Despite the weather being cool, you still have to drink plenty of water during the rainy season. Due to high humidity, our body does not sweat much that is why it is important to drink more water to flush out toxins from our body.
However, you need to be extremely careful about the water you drink as most illnesses are waterborne during the monsoon season. You can boil the drinking water to kill harmful microbes and eliminate other impurities. Drink clean boiled water and if not possible, drink bottled water.

•   Got Drenched in Rain? Take a Shower Immediately
Go for a relaxing warm water bath to disinfect your body, as skin and fungal infections are quite common during this season. Choose an herbal shower gel, if possible, to keep you infection-free.

•   Vaccination for Typhoid and Hepatitis A
Typhoid and Hepatitis A outbreaks are common during the monsoon rains. The public health goals that can help prevent and control these diseases— safe drinking water, improved sanitation and adequate medical care — may be difficult to achieve. For that reason, some experts believe that vaccinating high-risk populations is the best way to control these diseases. A vaccine is recommended if you’re traveling to areas where the risk of typhoid fever and Hepatitis A is high.

•   Exercise indoors
Exercising indoors is recommended during the monsoon season. If your workout routine includes jogging or walking, try Pilates or practicing yoga or any free-hand exercises inside indoors.

•   Protect your Eyes
Avoid touching your face and eyes with soiled hands. Wash your hands as frequently as you can with warm water and disinfecting soap. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you for times when water is not available. This will keep you safe from common eye problems like conjunctivitis, etc.

The Bottom Line
•   Avoid having a street or junk food.
•   Try having well boiled and cooked items whenever you are planning for a meal outside the home if you have to.
•   Avoid taking regular water at restaurants or hotels. Shower immediately after getting wet to avoid infections.
•   Include more vegetables and fruits in your diet and be sure that they are properly washed before consumption.

So, move ahead, with a healthy diet and lifestyle, make this monsoon season truly magical for you and your loved ones

Source: Apollo Health

4

Critical Care & Emergency / Signs that Indicate You Need Immediate Medical Assistance

« on: May 30, 2021, 08:55:04 PM »

Knowing when to seek medical attention has always been difficult. Change of season brings with itself many factors that can cause colds, flu or abnormalities in the stomach. The occasional pain and ache are normal. However, there are times when the body constantly indicates that it’s high time to visit a hospital.

Below are a few medical emergency situations that should not be ignored, as they may turn out to be something serious and even life-threatening.

Shortness of Breath
Panting after a long-running session or climbing a few stairs? Our experts say it is normal. However, a sudden feeling of unusual chest pain and fast breathing without any obvious reason certainly shouldn’t be ignored. Any respiratory disease, when caught early is easy to treat. The right thing to do when experiencing unexplained shortness of breath is to rush to the nearest emergency hospital for timely diagnosis.

Abdominal Pain
Another condition that people often ignore and try to treat by themselves is abdominal pain. If the pain is more than just a tolerable ache and is sensitive to touch, it could be an acute digestive malfunction or impending appendicitis. If the pain is severe, recurring and doesn’t go away after a short period, seeking medical attention is advised.Abdominal pain when not treated on time can lead to life-threating conditions like acute pancreatitis as well.

Swelling in the Legs
Swollen legs can be because of exertion, hypothyroidism, vein problems and many other conditions. However, the most worrisome sign can be of congestive heart failure. When the heart fails to circulate an inadequate amount of blood through the body, fluid can slowly build up, causing swelling in the legs. If lying down and resting are not reducing the swelling, and the condition is progressively getting worse, rushing to the nearest hospital for urgent medical attention is advisable.

Intense Headache
A headache can be caused by many reasons including prolonged exposure to loud music, lack of sleep or alcohol-induced hangover. However, a sharp pain that’s unusual and never felt before may indicate an aneurysm, stroke or any other growing life-threatening issue. If the ache is acute, recurs then immediate medical attention is advised.

Chest Pain
Extreme discomfort in the chest that feels like a tightness or someone squeezing it hard should never be ignored. It can be a sign of heart attack. If the pain is followed by sweating, vomiting, nausea or difficulty in breathing; it may be an indication of a heart attack. Pain may be radiated to arms/jaw or back. Other possibilities can be acid reflux or GERD. Though GERD isn’t life-threatening, if left untreated, it can become chronic and may cause discomfort in carrying out day to day activities.

Unusual Bleeding
Rectal bleeding and vomiting blood can be signs of colon or oesophagal cancer. On the other hand, if someone is coughing up blood, it may be linked to tuberculosis, bronchitis or pneumonia. Unusual bleeding should never be taken lightly, and one should rush to the nearest emergency hospital for proper diagnosis and treatment.
We at Max Healthcare, believe in offering the best care and service to the patients and their family members. Any abnormalities in the body and its functioning should be reported to the concerned doctor for an early diagnosis and treatment. The emergency warning signs may vary from person to person, which makes it important to identify the underlying cause of the condition.

Stroke
Sudden onset of weakness of any part of the body or facial asymmetry & slurring of speech can be a sign of stroke. Unexplained headache seizure and sudden loss of vision of one eye are other symptoms of stroke. Immediate medical attention should be sought.

Written By:
Dr. Sandeep Jain
Emergency & Trauma, Emergency Medicine , India

5

Health Awareness / Vitamin D Deficiency and Sleep Disorders – How are They Related?

« on: May 25, 2021, 01:32:51 PM »

We spend approximately one-third of our lifetime sleeping. The National Sleep Foundation, alongside many doctors and specialists, suggests that adults should have a minimum of seven to eight hours of sleep every day to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Our sleep-wake cycle is controlled by various hormones and neurons located in the brain’s hypothalamus. In recent years, researchers have observed an increase in sleep-related disorders and associated health conditions.

What is the Role of Vitamin D in Quality of Sleep?

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that you can either ingest from food or synthesize in the body with the help of sunlight. Along with correlation to other conditions, Vitamin D deficiency is now closely associated with various disorders such as infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and sleep disorders.

Therefore, particularly in correlation with sleep, the patients with Vitamin D deficiency may experience fewer hours of sleep, unrestful sleep, sleepiness through the day, and poor sleep quality. Vitamin D deficiency, in some research studies, has been strongly associated with having an increased risk of disorders such as insomnia, sleep disruption, and sleep apnea.

How are Vitamin D and Sleep Disorders Related?

One of the sleep disorders reflected in individuals with Vitamin D deficiency is sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where you would experience irregular breathing during sleep.  Vitamin D levels play a significant role in the regulation of the body’s immune system, such as controlling the levels of inflammatory molecules that also influence sleep. While an in-depth study on the correlation between sleep apnea and Vitamin D levels is currently underway, research suggests that the patients with obstructive sleep apnea were reported to have low levels of Vitamin D.

Another key point that assists in linking Vitamin D to sleep disorders is the research suggesting increased positioning of the Vitamin D receptors in the brain, thereby indicating its strong correlation in the sleep cycle. This increased distribution is particularly observed in the brain’s various key parts such as the hypothalamus, substantia nigra, prefrontal cortex, and other areas that are of significance to the sleep cycle.

What is the Impact of Low Vitamin D Levels During the Day?

Research suggests that chronic sleep deprivation owing to Vitamin D deficiency can have severe consequences on the quality of life.
These would lead to complications and various other health disorders. The primary effects of chronic sleep deprivation are:

•   Reduced productivity
•   Drowsiness during the day
•   Depression
•   Anxiety

In addition to this, you may also experience various other complications such as reduced concentration, fatigue, and memory loss. This also affects your mood and emotions in drastic ways, sometimes leading to increased irritability and mood swings. Research conducted in 2014 demonstrates that Vitamin D supplementation displayed clinically significant levels of positive effects. Some research also suggests that a sufficient amount of sleep is directly proportional to increased Vitamin D absorption by our body.

What are the Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency?

Increased lifestyle changes have brought in comfort alongside various complications. Reduced levels of Vitamin D are due to the modern lifestyle that we live in. Various causes of Vitamin D deficiency are:

1.   Limited Exposure to Sunlight.  The body produces vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.  Spend more time outdoors than indoors. While increased exposure to the sun can be harmful you must use an appropriate amount of sunscreen and be outdoors at bearable temperatures. You must make extra efforts to stay outdoors instead of limiting yourself indoors.

2.   Not Enough Vitamin D in Diet. You must include a generous number of animal-based sources such as milk, eggs, and meat to ensure sufficient intake of Vitamin D.

3.   Obesity. The patients who are obese or have a body mass index of over 30 have reduced Vitamin D absorption by the body. The fat cells absorb it from the blood, thereby rendering deficient levels for the brain and the rest of the body.

4.   Age. As you age, your body cannot convert Vitamin D into its active form, thereby increasing the risk of Vitamin D deficiency.

5.   Digestive Disorders. Some conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or cystic fibrosis reduces the ability of the intestine to absorb adequate Vitamin D.

6.   Kidney Disease. Kidneys help in converting Vitamin D to its active form. Kidney diseases reduce this conversion and contribute to Vitamin D deficiency.

The primary symptom for most people with Vitamin D deficiency is bone pain and muscle weakness. Some patients do not have symptoms. Nevertheless, you must check levels of Vitamin D and supplement if needed.

Decreased sleep and various sleep-related disorders are now bearing a strong correlation to Vitamin D deficiency. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to multiple serious complications and affect health in many ways. Therefore, it is essential that you regularly monitor your Vitamin D levels and have an adequate intake of all the natural sources of Vitamin D to maintain your health. Researchers suggest that proper Vitamin D levels would help you fall asleep faster, have a deep sleep, and keep you away from many sleep-associated disorders.

Source: Apollo Health

6

Treatment & Solution for Coronavirus / দুধস্বর পাতা খেলেই সুস্থ হচ্ছে করোনা রোগী

« on: May 23, 2021, 10:26:28 PM »

দুধস্বর পাতা খেলেই সুস্থ হচ্ছে করোনা রোগী

https://www.facebook.com/rtvonline/videos/180096367349922/

Source: Rtv

7

Corona Safety Equipment / Mucormycosis : কীভাবে ছড়াচ্ছে ব্ল্যাক ফাঙ্গাস?

« on: May 22, 2021, 05:59:59 PM »

Mucormycosis : কীভাবে ছড়াচ্ছে ব্ল্যাক ফাঙ্গাস?

https://www.facebook.com/abpananda/videos/235281828367996/

Source: ABP Ananda

8

Treatment & Solution for Coronavirus / কোভিড: সেরে ওঠার পরও যেসব শারীরিক ও মানসিক জটিলতা থেকে যায়

« on: May 22, 2021, 05:52:15 PM »

কোভিড: সেরে ওঠার পরও যেসব শারীরিক ও মানসিক জটিলতা থেকে যায়

ঢাকার বাসিন্দা মনিরুজ্জামানের মা দু'মাস আগে করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত হন। এরপর এই রোগ থেকে সেরে উঠলেও তার হাই প্রেশারের সমস্যা আরও গুরুতর রূপ নেয়। এখনও ডাক্তারের পরামর্শে বিশেষ সতর্কতার সাথে চলতে হচ্ছে তাকে।

করোনাভাইরাসের আক্রান্ত এমন অনেকেই সেরে ওঠার পরও অন্যান্য নানা শারীরিক ও মানসিক জটিলতায় ভুগেছেন বলে জানা গেছে।
কারও কারও ক্ষেত্রে তেমন কোন জটিলতা দেখা যায় না। আবার কারও কারও ওপর করোনাভাইরাস দীর্ঘমেয়াদী প্রভাব ফেলতে পারে বলে জানিয়েছেন বিশেষজ্ঞরা। আর এইসব জটিলতা কাটিয়ে উঠতে কয়েক মাস সময় লাগতে পারে।

কোভিড -১৯ থেকে সেরে ওঠার পরও প্রায় এক তৃতীয়াংশ রোগী শারীরিক নাহলে মানসিক জটিলতায় ভুগছেন বলে জানিয়েছেন মেডিসিন বিশেষজ্ঞ নওসাবা নূর। চিকিৎসা বিদ্যার ভাষায় একে বলা হয় পোস্ট কোভিড সিনড্রোম।

কারণ:

করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত হওয়ার পর শরীরের রোগ প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা ওই ভাইরাসের বিরুদ্ধে লড়াই করতে থাকে।
এই প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা এক পর্যায়ে অনিয়ন্ত্রিতভাবে সক্রিয় হয়ে শরীরের অন্যান্য অঙ্গ প্রত্যঙ্গে প্রদাহের সৃষ্টি করে। যার ফলে নানা শারীরিক জটিলতা দেখা দেয়। ভাইরাস যতোটা না ক্ষতি করছে তার চাইতে বড় ধরণের ক্ষতি হতে পারে যদি শরীরের রোগ প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা অনিয়ন্ত্রিতভাবে কাজ করে।
যা ফুসফুসসহ শরীরের নানা অঙ্গ প্রত্যঙ্গে আঘাত গানে। একে মাল্টি সিস্টেম ডিসঅর্ডার হিসেবে উল্লেখ করেন মিস নূর।
সাধারণত দুর্বলতা ও অল্পতেই হাঁপিয়ে ওঠার মতো সমস্যাগুলো থেকে যায়। শরীর ম্যাজ ম্যাজ করা, অস্থিসন্ধি ও মাংসপেশিতে ব্যথা, অবসাদ এবং ক্লান্তি ভাব হয়। রোগীর স্বাস্থ্য পরিস্থিতি, লিঙ্গ ও বয়স ভেদে একেকজনের লক্ষণ একেক মাত্রার হতে পারে। তবে আগে থেকেই যারা বিভিন্ন জটিল রোগে আক্রান্ত তাদের বিভিন্ন অঙ্গ ঝুঁকির মধ্যে থাকে।

ফুসফুস:
মিস নূর জানান, করোনাভাইরাস সবচেয়ে নেতিবাচক প্রভাব ফেলে ফুসফুসে। অনেকে করোনাভাইরাস নেগেটিভ হওয়ার পরও তার কাশি, শ্বাসকষ্ট দীর্ঘদিন ধরে থেকে যেতে পারে। তিনি এমন অনেক রোগী পেয়েছেন যারা টানা তিন মাস শ্বাসকষ্ট বা ঘন ঘন কাশির সমস্যায় ভুগেছেন বলে মিস নূর জানান।
ফুসফুসের এই দুর্বলতার কারণে দেখা যায় রোগীরা অল্পতেই খুব হাঁপিয়ে ওঠেন। ভীষণ দুর্বলতা ও ক্লান্তিবোধ কাজ করে।
অনেকের শ্বাসকষ্ট ও কাশির সমস্যা দীর্ঘসময় থেকে যায়। আবার যারা আগে থেকে হাঁপানি, শ্বাসকষ্ট বা ফুসফুসে প্রদাহজনিত সমস্যায় ভুগছেন তাদের করোনাভাইরাস হলে ফুসফুস দ্রুত আক্রান্ত হওয়ার ঝুঁকি বেশি থাকে।
আবার যেসব রোগীদের আইসিইউ বা জরুরি অক্সিজেন নিতে হয়েছে তাদের অনেকের ফুসফুসে পালমোনারি ফাইব্রোসিস সমস্যা দেখা দেখা দিতে পারে।
রোগ প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা অনিয়ন্ত্রিতভাবে সক্রিয় হয়ে উঠলে এটি ফুসফুসের দেয়ালে প্রদাহের সৃষ্টি করে, ফুসফুসে পানি জমে যায়।
যার ফলে রোগীর স্বাভাবিকভাবে শ্বাস প্রশ্বাস নিতে ভীষণ কষ্ট হয়। বুকে চাপ দিয়ে ব্যথা করে। ভারী ভারী লাগে। ফাইব্রোসিস একবার হলে সেটা পুরোপুরি ঠিক হওয়ার সম্ভাবনা কম থাকে বলে জানান মিস নূর।

হৃদপিণ্ড
কোভিড ১৯ ফুসফুসের রোগ বলা হলেও এটি হৃদপিণ্ডের ওপর বিরূপ প্রভাব ফেলে থাকে।
সাম্প্রতিক এক গবেষণার বরাত দিয়ে মিস নূর বলেন, ওই গবেষণায় অংশ নেয়া কোভিড রোগীদের ৭৮% পরবর্তীতে হৃদপিণ্ডের নানা জটিলতায় আক্রান্ত হয়েছেন। অনেকেরই বুকে ব্যথা, বুক ধড়ফড় করা কিংবা হৃদপিণ্ডের প্রদাহজনিত সমস্যা মায়োকার্ডাইটিসে দেখা দিয়েছে। করোনাভাইরাসের কারণে রোগীর রক্ত জমাট বাঁধার আশঙ্কা থাকায় হার্ট এটাকের ঝুঁকিও বেড়ে যায় কয়েক গুণ। এ কারণে যেসব রোগী হাসপাতালে ভর্তি হন চিকিৎসকরা তাদের ব্লাড থিনার দিয়ে থাকেন যেন রক্ত পাতলা থাক

কিডনি:
যারা দীর্ঘদিন ধরে কিডনির জটিলতায় ভুগছেন এবং নিয়মিত ডায়ালাইসিস করতে হয় তারা করোনাভাইরাস থেকে সেরে ওঠার পরও বড় ধরণের ঝুঁকিতে থাকেন। করোনাভাইরাসের কারণে কিডনিতে সমস্যা না হলেও ডায়ালাইসিস ও হাই পাওয়ারফুল ওষুধ সেবনের কারণে রোগীর রোগ প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা স্বাভাবিকভাবেই দুর্বল হয়ে পড়ে। ফলে রক্তে সোডিয়াম পটাশিয়ামের ভারসাম্যহীনতা বা ইলেক্ট্রোলাইট ইমব্যালেন্স, এসিড-বেসড ডিসঅর্ডার ইত্যাদি জটিলতা দেখা দিতে পারে যা জটিলতা আরও বাড়িয়ে দেয়। তবে যাদের কিডনি জটিলতা নেই তাদের দুশ্চিন্তার কিছু নেই বলে জানিয়েছেন বিশেষজ্ঞর

লিভার:
ভাইরাসজনিত রোগে আক্রান্ত হলে লিভার স্বাভাবিক সময়ের চাইতে বেশি সক্রিয় হয়ে ওঠে। মিস নূরের কাছে যেসব করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত রোগীরা এসেছেন তাদের স্বাস্থ্য পরীক্ষাতেও তিনি এমন প্রবণতা দেখেছন। করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত রোগীর পরিস্থিতি যদি জটিল পর্যায়ে পৌঁছায় যায় তাহলে পরবর্তীতে তাদের জন্ডিস, লিভার ফেইলিওর হওয়ার আশঙ্কা থাকতে পারে বলে তিনি জানান

প্যানক্রিয়াস
মিস. নূর তার অভিজ্ঞতা থেকেও জানান যে তার কাছে আসা অনেক রোগী একিউট প্যানক্রিয়াটাইটিস বা অগ্নাশয় জনিত জটিলতায় আক্রান্ত হয়েছেন। এর ফলে রোগীদের পেটে তীব্র ব্যথা হয়। যাদের আগে থেকেই হাই প্রেশার, লো প্রেশার, কোলেস্টোরেল বা ডায়বেটিসজনিত সমস্যা আছে তারা কোভিড পরবর্তী সময়েও ঝুঁকিতে থাকেন। কোভিড ১৯ থেকে সেরে ওঠার পরেও অনেকের ক্ষুধামন্দা দেখা দেয়, ওজন খুব দ্রুত কমে যায়। ফলে প্রেশার লো হয়ে আসে। আবার যারা হাইপার টেনশনে ভোগেন তাদেরও প্রেশার হঠাৎ হঠাৎ বেড়ে যাওয়ার আশঙ্কা থাকে।
যারা ডায়াবেটিসের ভুগছেন তাদের রক্তে চিনি পরিমাণ খুব দ্রুত ওঠা নামা করে। যেসব রোগীদের অক্সিজেনের মাত্রা ৯০ এর নীচে নেমে যায় তাদেরকে দ্রুত হাসপাতালে ভর্তি করে অক্সিজেন দিতে হয়। পরিস্থিতি জটিল হলে চিকিৎসকরা রোগীকে স্টেরয়েড দিয়ে থাকেন। স্টেরয়েড তাৎক্ষণিক জীবন বাঁচাতে ভূমিকা রাখলেও এর ফলে ডায়াবেটিস ও প্রেশার অনিয়ন্ত্রিত হতে পার

মানসিক সমস্যা:
করোনাভাইরাস থেকে সুস্থ হওয়ার পরও অনেক রোগী দেখা গেছে দীর্ঘদিন ধরে মানসিক উদ্বেগ, বিষণ্ণতায় ভুগেছেন। অনেকেই কাজে মনোযোগ দিতে পারছেন না। ছোটখাটো বিষয় ভুলে যাচ্ছেন, ধৈর্য হারিয়ে ফেলছেন। বিশেষ করে যারা দীর্ঘসময় হাসপাতালে ভর্তি থেকে চিকিৎসা নিয়েছেন তারা সুস্থ হয়ে বাড়ি ফেরার পর পোস্ট ট্রমাটিক স্ট্রেস ডিসঅর্ডার বা পিটিএসডি রোগে আক্রান্ত হন। হসপিটাল বা আইসিইউতে থাকার ভীতিকর স্মৃতি থেকে অনেকে বের হতে পারেন না। এক্ষেত্রে ধ্যান করার পাশাপাশি মানসিক বিশেষজ্ঞের পরামর্শ নেয়া জরুরি বলে তিনি মনে করেন।
এদিকে অনেকের কোভিডের পর অস্বাভাবিক হারে চুল পড়তে থাকে। এছাড়া চোখের প্রেশার বা চোখের নানা প্রদাহজনিত সমস্যায় আক্রান্ত হওয়ার অভিযোগও এসেছে।

করণীয়:

বাংলাদেশ সরকারের জাতীয় নীতিমালায় বলা আছে যে, করোনাভাইরাসে আক্রান্ত হয়ে যদি কাউকে হাসপাতালে ভর্তি থাকেন তাহলে সেরে ওঠার পরও তার নিয়মিত স্বাস্থ্য পরীক্ষা করাতে হবে।

হাসপাতাল থেকে ছাড় পাবার পর কিংবা করোনাভাইরাসের রিপোর্ট নেগেটিভ আসার পরও ফলোআপ করতে হবে।
মিস নূরের মতে, কোভিড থেকে সেরে ওঠার ৪৮ ঘণ্টা পর, এরপর ১ মাস, ৩ মাস ও ৬ মাস পর চিকিৎসকের পরামর্শে স্বাস্থ্য পরীক্ষা করিয়ে নেয়া জরুরি।
সেইসঙ্গে দিনে রাত পর্যাপ্ত বিশ্রাম নেয়া বেশ জরুরি।

যারা আগে থেকেই হাইপার টেনশন, হার্টের জটিলতা, ডায়াবেটিস, ক্যান্সার, কিডনি জটিলতায় ভুগছেন তাদেরকে চিকিৎসকের পরামর্শ নিতে বলেছেন মিস নূর।

চিকিৎসকের পরামর্শে ইনসুলিন বা ওষুধের মাত্রা ঠিক করে নেয়া যেতে পারে।

এছাড়া খাবারের দিকে খুব নজর রাখতে হবে। প্রতিদিনের খাবারের তালিকায় সুষম খাবার রাখা জরুরি। শাক সবজির পাশাপাশি ডিম খাওয়ার পরামর্শ দিয়েছেন তিনি।

সেইসঙ্গে প্রচুর পরিমাণ পানি, ফলের রস খেতে বলেছেন মিস নূর। তিনি বলেন, "যেকোনো ভাইরাল রোগের দুর্বলতা কাটাতে সবচেয়ে ভালো কাজ করে পানীয়। কিডনি বা হার্টের সমস্যা না থাকলে দিনে দুই থেকে তিন লিটার পানি খেতে হব

প্রয়োজনে পুষ্টিবিদের পরামর্শে ডায়েট চার্ট করে নেয়া যায

কোভিড-১৯ এ আক্রান্ত থাকার সময় হাসপাতাল বা বাড়িতে দিন রাত বিছানায় শুয়ে বিশ্রামের কারণে পেশি দুর্বল হয়ে যেতে পারে।
পেশির গঠন ভালো করতে তাই নিয়মিত অল্প অল্প করে ব্যায়াম করার পরামর্শ দিয়েছেন মিস নূর।

"আপনি দুর্বল বোধ করলে ১০ মিনিট দিয়েই শুরু করেন, হালকা শরীর চর্চা করেন, হাঁটেন। এরপর ১৫ মিনিট তারপর আধা ঘণ্টা সময় বাড়ান।"
তবে শরীরের পেশিতে খুব ব্যথা হলে ফিজিওথেরাপিস্টের সাথে পরামর্শ করে নেবেন।

রোগ প্রতিরোধ ক্ষমতা বাড়াতে ভূমিকা রাখে ভিটামিন ডি এবং এই ভিটামিন ডি এর উৎস হল সূর্য।
মিস নূরের মতে, সকাল ৯টা থেকে ১১টা এই সময়ে শরীরের চামড়ায় সরাসরি রোদ লাগানো বেশ প্রয়োজন।
ভিটামিন ডি সাপ্লিমেন্ট থাকলেও সূর্য রশ্মি কাজ করে বেশি।

আবার কোভিড পরবর্তী মানসিক স্থিতি ঠিক রাখতে মেডিটেশন, ধ্যান বা প্রার্থনা করার পরামর্শ দিয়েছেন মিস নূর।
পরিবার পরিজন আত্মীয় স্বজন বন্ধু বান্ধবের সাথে দেখা করা সম্ভব না হলেও তাদের সাথে যোগাযোগ রেখে, বই পড়ে, গান শুনে বা নিজের সখের চর্চা করে মনকে উৎফুল্ল রাখা জরুরি।

এরপরও যদি আপনার মানসিক স্বাস্থ্যে এর ভয়াবহ প্রভাব পড়েছে তাহলে বিশেষজ্ঞের পরামর্শে প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যবস্থা নিতে হবে।
টেলি মেডিসিন সেবা সরকারি হটলাইনে ফোন দিয়ে পরামর্শ নেয়া যেতে পারে।

Source: BBC NEWS Bengali

9

Health Awareness / Is Your Smartphone Causing Your Neck Pain?

« on: May 22, 2021, 12:16:47 PM »

Usually, people refer to an annoying situation or person as a ‘pain in the neck.’ But you might not be inclined to making such observations when you physically experience neck pain. It is irritating and uncomfortable and can affect your lifestyle, causing you to refrain from some of your daily activities. There are various reasons for neck pain, but the recent phenomenon of using a smartphone extensively may be affecting your neck muscles, causing stiffness and pain with every movement.

How is Smartphone Use Related to Neck Pain?

Technology is a blessing. And today, work and entertainment are impossible without the ubiquitous smartphone. Try as you might, you cannot throw your phone away and return to the old ways now.
Holding the phone against the crick of your neck and talking for hours is quite common. Sadly, it comes with some not-so-pleasant consequences. The strain occurs from maintaining this posture without respite. Using your smartphone without a break can cause a niggling neck pain that persists unless you seek treatment. Also referred to as a tech neck or text neck, this type of injury is becoming increasingly common. You may feel a slight pain every now and then, and ignoring it will likely aggravate the condition.

Common Symptoms of a Text Neck

•   Pain in the neck region, upper back, and shoulder: You may experience pain in one spot with the intensity increasing on touch. It resembles a jab that makes you wince and move your neck. You may also feel a dull throbbing pain resembling an ache that spreads from one side of the neck to your shoulders and back.

•   Muscle deconditioning: You might have muscle deconditioning that leads to weakness in the corresponding muscles due to a sedentary lifestyle. Keeping your head forward results in an unbalanced posture, leading to neck pain.

•   Reduced mobility: The muscles in your neck, back, and shoulders may tighten and become rigid, causing you to feel pain with every movement. It may restrict your mobility.

•   Painful Flexion: The pain usually gets worse when your neck moves forward while speaking on the phone. You may also feel that the pain increases when you look down continuously to text or play games.

•   Headache: Spending an enormous amount of time looking at your smartphone may cause your neck muscles to spasm suddenly. This is a painful condition with the neck pain moving upwards, causing headaches.

Do You Need to Visit a Doctor for Neck Pain?

Do not ignore the condition if the pain becomes excruciating and affects your daily activities.  Visit the doctor if the pain becomes frequent and you have severe headaches regularly. Do seek urgent medical attention if you think the pain is moving down towards your arms and hands.

How to Prevent Neck Pain When Using a Smartphone?

•   Keep the phone raised: Do not look down every time you need to use the phone. Raise it to the eye level instead to avoid engaging your neck and shoulder muscles excessively.

•   Take breaks: Do not remain hooked to the smartphone or any other electronic device constantly. Get up from your position and walk around to take a break. It will provide much-needed respite that relaxes your mind and rejuvenates your body.

•   Stand straight: You may ask your doctor for advice on the right posture. It is best to tuck your chin in and keep the shoulders back with your entire body in a straight line.

•   Stretch: You will experience some relief from neck pain when you arch your neck and back once in a while.

Best Treatments for Neck Pain Caused by Smartphone Use

You may want some relief from the pain you experience. Doctors suggest the application of an ice or heat pack over the area to alleviate the discomfort. Some of the other treatments’ worth trying include:

•   Pain Relief Medication: You may find pain medication to be highly effective but do not self-medicate without a doctor’s prescription.

•   Home Exercises: Follow a regimen of home exercises that include stretching and arching your neck and back muscles. However, giving up after a day or two will not work. It is advisable to exercise regularly to reduce recurrence.

•   Prescription Medicines: Your doctor may prescribe stronger pain-relieving drugs when mild medication fails to provide relief. Muscle relaxants may help your condition if you have deconditioning or experience muscle tightness.

•   Physical Therapy: Attend therapy sessions and exercise under the supervision of an experienced therapist. You can attain the correct posture and get pain relief, with the chances of recurrence reduced considerably.

•   Traction: Your doctor may advise a more rigorous form of treatment for neck pain if the condition is aggravated. A physiotherapist may use several types of equipment to reduce the pain using traction. Traction uses multiple weights and pulleys to stretch the affected muscles in the neck, providing relief. Patients diagnosed with nerve root irritation usually need traction for pain relief.

Avoiding smartphones or handheld devices is impossible today. Unfortunately, smartphones can cause neck pain. While it is rarely serious, doctors recommend limiting the use of mobile phones and regular physical exercises while maintaining the right posture. OTC medications provide quick pain relief to most patients.

Source: Apollo Doctors

10

Psychiatry / How to deal with grief and loss during these difficult times of pandemic

« on: May 18, 2021, 10:44:04 PM »

There is hardly anyone who is untouched by the dark cloud of loss and grief these days.  Grief and loss have never been so much in our face and difficult to process as we are witnessing in this second wave of the covid pandemic. The suddenness of the death due to covid complicated by protocols and safety measures designed to stop the spread of the virus resulting in absence of most of the rituals associated with death like proper funerals and congregations of people to honor the departed soul, the absence of human proximity and connectedness and comfort that one needs at the time of grief and the isolation due to other family members being covid positive themselves have made grieving even more painful and a solitary process deprived of the ingrained noble human attempts  to share the sorrow and facilitate it, add to that  almost everyone is compromised in one way or the other and hence people need support themselves much more than they can provide.

Death or loss of loved one is never easy to deal with and there is no “one right way to grieve”, it’s a process which has to happen and we have to facilitate that as much as we can.

Death of a loved one often results in shock, denial, numbness, anger, low mood, guilt and other intense emotions like intense yearning, longing and profound thoughts and memories which appear in varying intensities and at different stages of grief and also vary depending upon the relational dynamics a person shared with the lost soul and also influenced by the manner of death. The process of grief has been classically described by Psychiatrist Dr Elisabeth Kubler Ross as consisting of stages of denial-anger-bargaining-depression and acceptance. These emotions and behaviors gradually resolve over a period of time, the newer reality of living without the lost soul gets soaked in, absorbed, accepted and grief becomes a part of life in such a way that it no longer holds one back in life. But grief is grief, it is complex and sometimes we just don’t know how to comfort the other person or ourselves when grief befalls upon us. We can have some solace in the fact that most of us have an inherent tendency to empathize and support and a desire to comfort the grieving person and to reduce their pain. Hence howsoever tough or difficult the times are, we can still help ourselves and others. Shared below are few thoughts that can help us all deal with this enormous crisis and the consequent loss of precious lives.

1.   Talking about it - This is perhaps the single most important thing that can ease the pain and facilitate the process of grieving. Give the person a chance to talk about it and try to provide a patient emphatic listening. You should be caring and emphatic in your approach so that the person feels safe to share and can open up. If you are grieving then do talk about it with your family or friends. Talks can include anything from just sitting in silence to related or unrelated talks, mundane to specific talks often entwined and enmeshed with a central theme that keeps recurring and honors the memory of departed soul like stories, time spent together, his or her uniqueness, contribution, love, care, pain, loss, suffering and death. Although personal presence matters a lot as most of the support and comfort comes from the non-verbal domain of presence, being there, caring attitude of the person, but in covid times if that’s not feasible then video and audio calls could be used frequently and creative use of various applications which encourage communication through innovative methods can also help in conveying the feeling of “being there” thereby reducing the isolation.

2.   Recognize your emotions, acknowledge and validate them - It is ok to feel emotions and feelings like numbness, hopelessness, anger, frustration, guilt and despair when one is grieving. Talk about how you are feeling, try to acknowledge and validate your feelings and emotions, and if you are comforting someone, let him/her know that it is normal and ok to feel these emotions when going through such a situation.

3.   Grief corner exercise - If you feel that the emotions, feelings and thoughts are overwhelming and all-consuming and they are incapacitating you the whole day, sometimes it helps to keep a separate place and time specially to grieve and rest of the time you can try focusing on other things.

4.   Talking to people who have been through similar experiences - Doing this can lower the pain by sharing of common emotions and common sorrows and it also coveys that you are not alone in this and that sense of togetherness in the shared pain helps to comfort and helps to heal.

5.   Avoid negative news - Social media shares, instead watch something that takes you away from covid related news.

6.   Try to keep a routine - Including regular sleep and wake up time that helps to bring back the sense of control which is often lost when one faces sudden loss and grief.

7.   Try to remain connected - To your deeply held personal beliefs, practices, hobbies and tasks which might have provided you with meaning and a sense of belonging in the world till now in other words try to remain connected with all that which has kept you anchored to your life so far.

8.   Don’t let guilt crush you - Guilt or survivor guilt is a very common emotion one feels after death of a love one, it can be guilt in the form of what could have been done differently, or the guilt of the last fight you have had, the guilt of not being able to say a proper good bye, the guilt of not spending enough time with the person when he or she was alive etc.  It is important to recognize guilt and to understand that this one particular emotion is often the biggest obstacle in successful resolution of the process of grief. Understand it is normal to feel guilt when one is grieving but it should not remain the only and primary emotion guiding your behavior when you move on in life. Sometimes one may feel guilty about how can I ever be joyful when someone close to me has died, if this is a prominent thought holding you back then it is sometimes useful to focus on how the person would have wanted you to live, keeping this perspective in mind can help reduce the sense of guilt and heal yourself when you start to live your life again by giving yourself a chance to have contentment and joy in life.

9.   Connect to your spiritual side - Pray if you have been praying and have the courage to accept what you cannot change and what you have no control over like death and this pandemic. To accept the reality of the situation demands courage and resilience.  As per psychiatrist Dr M Kathy Shear who has worked extensively on complicated grief, “it is important to find ways to restore your wellbeing and to cope with the pandemic, which includes 1. Acting in ways that are consistent with important personal values or deeply held interests, 2. Feeling competent to face and meet important challenges in life and 3. Having a sense of belonging and mattering in world.”

10.   Seek help - While emotions and feelings like self-blame, guilt, anger or shame are normal up to an extent when one is grieving but do keep in mind that they should not keep on lingering as the prominent emotions indefinitely as they hamper your grieving process, healing and return to wellbeing. Also note some important signs of grief process becoming complicated are- remaining absorbed by grief for a very long time resulting in all other domains of life getting severely affected, extreme social withdrawal, avoiding reminders of loss, or development of symptoms like suicidal thoughts, hallucinations and impaired self-care or increased use of substance like alcohol or drugs. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or in someone close to you, take professional help or encourage the person to talk to a mental health care professional. Grief is unfortunate, painful and complex but common and we all have to go through it sooner or later and this sad, dark, excruciating reality of human existence can be somehow navigated guided by the light of human spirit, endurance and fortitude often helped by the noble human endeavors of commiseration and sharing of sorrow.

Still grief is grief, there is no working formula to deal with it, no proven ways to bring a closure, it recedes and resurfaces and one continues to learn to live with it for whole life. I hope some of these ideas may help you or may be some of your own ideas and cultural practices provide you the much-needed strength and fortitude to cope with it. Love, prayers and blessings.

Written By
Dr. Madhusudan Singh Solanki
Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Specialist, India

11

WHO Guidelines / Life After COVID-19: A Guide for Patients and Families

« on: April 28, 2021, 02:00:15 PM »

What Is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an illness caused by a type of virus called a coronavirus. If you're exposed to the virus, you may get an infection that starts in the upper respiratory tract (nose, sinuses, and throat). COVID-19 is caused by a new (or novel) coronavirus. This means that humans were never exposed to it before and COVID-19 is a new disease.
COVID-19 is thought to be mainly spread by droplets in the air that are formed when someone who's infected talks, coughs, or sneezes. The virus then infects someone else when the droplets enter their mouth, nose, or eyes.

Main Symptoms of COVID-19

Most people have mild or no symptoms. But for others, symptoms can be severe.

Symptoms usually happen 2 to 14 days after being exposed to the virus and can include:
•   Fever (temperature over 100°F)
•   Chills, sometimes with shaking
•   Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
•   Cough
•   Headache
•   Muscle or body ache
•   Fatigue (tiredness)
•   Sore throat
•   Congestion (stuffy) or runny nose
•   Loss of smell or taste
•   Pain in your abdomen (belly)
•   Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

COVID-19 Doesn't Just Affect Your Lungs

COVID-19 can damage many other body systems and organs, in addition to your lungs. As a result, it can cause many different complications, or additional problems.

These can include:
•   Pneumonia (lungs fill with fluid or pus) or respiratory failure where you lungs stop working
•   Heart, liver, or kidney problems
•   Septic shock, a body-wide infection that leads to dangerously low blood pressure
•   Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). A rare, but serious, condition that can damage the heart, kidneys, and other organs in children and teens
•   Death

What Causes These Complications?

•   It's thought that many of the complications from COVID-19 are caused by a condition called a "cytokine storm." This happens when an outside invader -- such as a virus -- triggers your immune system (your body's natural defense system) and it overreacts.
•   During a normal response, your immune system releases a type and amount of special cells and proteins (cytokines) into your blood. These attack the invader to fight off infection. But sometimes your immune system is unable to limit itself and starts to attack its own cells and tissues instead of just the invader. This can kill healthy tissue and damage your organs. Doctors believe this is what happens during COVID-19.

Possible Long-Term Complications

The damage to your organs caused by COVID-19 may increase your risk for long-term complications and effects on your health, such as problems with:
•   Heart, blood vessels, and kidneys
•   Breathing and how your lungs work
•   Smell and taste
•   Mood, fatigue, and sleep
•   Thinking, concentration, or memory

Recovering From COVID-19

•   Most people will recover from COVID-19 fairly quickly, in a few weeks. But this is a new disease so it's still not known exactly how having COVID-19 can affect you in the long term. This includes complications and symptoms that may remain or come back, and how long they may last.
•   This means that having regular contact and open communication with your doctor is key. It's important be aware of and record any symptoms or problems so you can discuss them.
•   Your doctor will also track how well your organs are working and your overall health. Together, you can work toward your recovery.

Source: Susan L. Smith, MN, PhD
            WebMD Education

12

Life Style / Best Foods as You Age

« on: April 28, 2021, 01:52:23 PM »

Best Foods as You Age

Fiber
Foods that are high in fiber -- like fruits and veggies, oatmeal, nuts, and legumes -- can help with constipation that becomes more common as you age. They're also able to help lower your cholesterol levels, manage your blood sugar, and keep you at a healthy weight. If you're a man who's 51 or older, aim to eat 30 grams of fiber each day. If you're a woman, try for about 21 grams.

Whole Grains
They're a great source of fiber and rich in B-vitamins, which you'll need more of as you age. B-6 and folate are key to keeping your brain healthy. Even a small shortage can make a subtle difference. Whole grains could also cut your chances of getting heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Don't stop at whole-wheat bread, though. Quinoa, wheat berries, and whole-wheat couscous are tasty options, too.

Nuts
Yes, they're small, but tree nuts like almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios have big anti-aging powers. These crunchy snacks contain special nutrients that can help delay or prevent age-related heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, nerve disease, and some types of cancer. Nuts also protect your brain as you age.

Water
As you go up in years, not only does your body lose water, but your sense of thirst starts to fade. That means it will take you longer to know when you're low on fluids. Water is food for your health in lots of ways. It cushions your joints, helps control your body temperature, and affects your mood and how well you focus. Make eight glasses of water each day your goal.

Fish
Fatty fish like salmon, albacore tuna, herring, and farmed trout should be on your menu twice a week. The reason? They're high in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that's good for your brain. Low levels of DHA have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, but get enough of it, and you may improve your memory and ability to learn new things. If you don't eat or like fish, algae, walnuts, flaxseed, and chia seeds are also good sources of DHA.

Lean Protein
Protein-rich foods fight the natural muscle loss that happens as you get older. As much as you can, enjoy your protein in "real" food like eggs, lean meat, and dairy products instead of protein powders that may not give you as many nutrients.

Dairy Products
The calcium in dairy keeps your bones healthy. As you get older, it can also lower your risk of osteoporosis, colon cancer, and high blood pressure. After age 50, you'll need 1,200 milligrams of calcium each day, which you can get through fat-free and low-fat dairy products. Milk and cheese aren't you're only options. You can still hit your calcium goal through things like yogurt, rice and soy drinks, fortified orange juice, and tofu.

Blueberries
They're a tasty way to protect your brain as you age. Blueberries contain polyphenols -- compounds that lower inflammation throughout your body. They lessen damage to your DNA that can make some diseases more likely. They also improve how well your brain cells "talk" to each other. Fresh blueberries are best, since their polyphenol content goes down when you bake them into muffins, breads, or pies.

Red- and Orange-Colored Produce
Watermelon, strawberries, tomatoes, red and orange bell peppers -- these fruits and veggies are rich in a natural compound called lycopene. Studies show foods that have it could lower your risk of some types of cancer and may protect you against strokes, too.

Cruciferous Vegetables
The more candles on your birthday cake, the weaker your immune system -- your body's defense against germs. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower could help shore it up. They have a chemical called sulforaphane that switches on your immune cells so they're better able to attack toxins that damage your cells and cause disease over time. Eat them often, and you may lower your risk of some types of cancer.

Dark Leafy Greens
To keep your eyes healthy, eat more veggies like spinach, kale, and collard greens. The antioxidants they contain can lower your chances of getting cataracts and macular degeneration. Eat at least one serving a day, and you'll also help stave off the slow-down in memory, thinking, and judgment that can happen as you get older.

Avocado
You've got plenty of good reasons to perfect your guacamole recipe. Studies show that the antioxidants in avocado could improve your memory and help you solve problems faster. Avocados may also lower your cholesterol, cut your chance of getting arthritis, help you stick to a healthy weight, and protect your skin from sun damage.

Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes have plenty of beta carotene, which your body turns into vitamin A. This vitamin is key for healthy eyesight and skin. It also keeps your immune system strong. You'd have to eat 23 cups of cooked broccoli to get as much vitamin A as you'll find in one medium sweet potato. For an extra boost, choose a purple variety. The compounds that give it a bright color may slow down age-related changes in your brain.

Spices
They do more than give your food flavor. Spices have antioxidants that help you stay healthy through the years. For instance, garlic helps keeps your blood vessels open. Cinnamon can help lower your cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats). Turmeric may protect you from depression and Alzheimer's disease, and may have anti-cancer powers, too. Use either fresh or dried spices, but talk to your doctor before you take any supplements.

Source: WebMD

13

Health Awareness / Signs You’re Low on Vitamin B12

« on: April 28, 2021, 01:18:15 PM »

Signs You’re Low on Vitamin B12

Numbness

Do your hands, feet, or legs feel like they’re on “pins and needles”? Shortage of B12 can damage the protective sheath that covers your nerves. Diseases like celiac, Crohn’s, or other gut illnesses may make it harder for your body to absorb the vitamin. So can taking some heartburn drugs.

You’re Colder Than Usual

Without enough B12, you might not have enough healthy red blood cells to move oxygen around your body (anemia). That can leave you shivering and cold, especially in your hands and feet.

Brain Fog

A lack of B12 may lead to depression, confusion, memory problems, and dementia. It also can affect your balance. B12 supplements are usually safe. For adults, doctors recommend 2.4 micrograms a day. If you take more than what you need, your body passes the rest out through your pee. Still, high doses could have some side effects, like dizziness, headache, anxiety, nausea, and vomiting.

Weakness

Your muscles may lack strength. You also might feel tired or lightheaded. Your doctor can check how much B12 is in your body, but not all of it may be useable. So it’s important to pay attention to any symptoms -- which can grow slowly or pop up more quickly -- and to alert your doctor.

Smooth Tongue

Your doctor might call it atrophic glossitis. Tiny bumps on your tongue called papillae start to waste away. That makes it look and feel kind of smooth and glossy. Infections, medication, and other conditions can cause it, too. But if not enough B12 or other nutrients is to blame, your tongue also may be sore.

Herbivores Beware

B12 deficiency is rare because your body can store several years’ supply of the stuff. But plants don’t have any B12. So vegans and vegetarians who don’t eat any animal products should add some processed grains like fortified breads, crackers, and cereals.

Heart Palpitations

This is when your heart suddenly races or skips a beat. You might feel it in your throat or neck. You can get more vitamin B12 from chicken, eggs, and fish. But one of best sources by far is something that may not be a regular on your menu: beef liver.

Reason for Shortage: Age

As you get older, your body may not absorb B12 as easily. If you don’t treat it, low levels of B12 could lead to anemia, nerve damage, moodiness, and other serious problems. So watch for any symptoms, and get a blood test if your doctor recommends it.

Reason for Shortage: Weight Surgery

One of the more common weight loss operations is called “gastric bypass.” After the surgery, food bypasses parts of your stomach and small intestine. That’s usually where B12 breaks down into usable form. Your doctor likely will monitor your B12 levels and suggest supplements or shots if you need them.

Mouth Sores

You may get these ulcers on your gums or tongue. They could be a sign of low B12, anemia, or another condition. The sores usually clear up on their own, but it helps to avoid ingredients that might be irritating or painful, like vinegar, citrus, and hot spices like chili powder. Some over-the-counter medicines could soothe your pain.

Reason for Shortage: Medications

Some drugs drop your B12 levels or make it harder for your body to use the vitamin. They include:
•   Chloramphenicol, an antibiotic used to treat infection
•   Proton pump inhibitors like lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
•   Peptic ulcer meds like cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid)
•   Metformin for diabetes.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all drugs and supplements you take.

Digestive Woes

You might lose your appetite, drop too much weight, or have trouble pooping (constipation). If your B12 levels are low, your doctor will often inject it into a muscle to be sure your body absorbs it. Sometimes, high doses of pills work just as well. But remember that symptoms of B12 deficiency can be similar to signs of many other illnesses.

Caution for Pregnant Vegetarians

Talk to your doctor about B12 supplements, both during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Infants who don’t get enough could have serious and permanent damage to their nerves or brain cells. Your baby might need supplements, too.

Source: WebMD

14

Food & Nutrition / Foods linked to better brainpower

« on: April 27, 2021, 10:10:46 PM »

Just as there is no magic pill to prevent cognitive decline, no single almighty brain food can ensure a sharp brain as you age. Nutritionists emphasize that the most important strategy is to follow a healthy dietary pattern that includes a lot of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Try to get protein from plant sources and fish and choose healthy fats, such as olive oil or canola, rather than saturated fats.

That said, certain foods in this overall scheme are particularly rich in healthful components like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants, which are known to support brain health and often referred to as brain foods. Incorporating many of these foods into a healthy diet on a regular basis can improve the health of your brain, which could translate into better mental function.

Research shows that the best brain foods are the same ones that protect your heart and blood vessels, including the following:

•   Green, leafy vegetables. Leafy greens such as kale, spinach, collards, and broccoli are rich in brain-healthy nutrients like vitamin K, lutein, folate, and beta carotene. Research suggests these plant-based foods may help slow cognitive decline.

•   Fatty fish. Fatty fish are abundant sources of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy unsaturated fats that have been linked to lower blood levels of beta-amyloid—the protein that forms damaging clumps in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease. Try to eat fish at least twice a week, but choose varieties that are low in mercury, such as salmon, cod, canned light tuna, and pollack. If you're not a fan of fish, ask your doctor about taking an omega-3 supplement, or choose terrestrial omega-3 sources such as flaxseeds, avocados, and walnuts.

•   Berries. Flavonoids, the natural plant pigments that give berries their brilliant hues, also help improve memory, research shows. In a 2012 study published in Annals of Neurology, researchers at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital found that women who consumed two or more servings of strawberries and blueberries each week delayed memory decline by up to two-and-a-half years.

•   Tea and coffee. The caffeine in your morning cup of coffee or tea might offer more than just a short-term concentration boost. In a 2014 study published in The Journal of Nutrition, participants with higher caffeine consumption scored better on tests of mental function. Caffeine might also help solidify new memories, according to other research. Investigators at Johns Hopkins University asked participants to study a series of images and then take either a placebo or a 200-milligram caffeine tablet. More members of the caffeine group were able to correctly identify the images on the following day.

•   Walnuts. Nuts are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats, and one type of nut in particular might also improve memory. A 2015 study from UCLA linked higher walnut consumption to improved cognitive test scores. Walnuts are high in a type of omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), which helps lower blood pressure and protects arteries. That's good for both the heart and brain.

Source: Harvard Medical School

15

Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics / Best and Worst Foods for Lung Health

« on: April 27, 2021, 09:40:16 PM »

Why Food Matters

A healthy, well-balanced diet goes a long way to keep your body strong, including your lungs. In general, aim for a variety of foods from each food group to keep your lungs happy. (Hint: More plants and fewer processed foods are better for just about everyone.) To keep your lungs in tiptop shape, here are some examples of foods to enjoy and avoid or limit - along with not smoking and other lung-friendly habits.

Good Foods

High-Fiber
What do raspberries, peas, lentils, and black beans have in common? They’re all high in fiber, which is great for your lungs. Research suggests people who eat more fiber have lungs that work better than those who don’t eat much fiber. Other fiber-rich foods include whole-wheat spaghetti, baked beans, chia seeds, quinoa, pears, and broccoli.

Coffee
Good news for coffee lovers: Your morning cup could be doing your lungs a favor. Research points to a connection between regular coffee and healthier lungs. This could be due to the caffeine, which is anti-inflammatory, and polyphenols, which are antioxidant and also anti-inflammatory.

Berries
Red and blue fruits like blueberries and strawberries are rich in a flavonoid called anthocyanin, which gives them their color and is also a strong antioxidant. Research suggests this pigment can slow down your lungs’ natural decline as you age. In one study, older men who ate at least two servings of blueberries a week had notably less decline in lung function than those who ate fewer or no blueberries.

Leafy Green Vegetables
Load your plate with spinach, Swiss chard, and other leafy greens, and you could lower your chance of getting lung cancer. One study found that Chinese greens are particularly good for this purpose. This could be because they are high in carotenoids, which are antioxidant.

Dairy Products
Research suggests drinking milk and eating cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products can lower your chances of dying from lung cancer. Unless you’re allergic to it, dairy is tied to anti-inflammatory properties. On the flip side, if you have asthma or another lung problem, going dairy-free may help cut down on your mucus production.

Tomatoes
Tomatoes are the richest source of lycopene, which is linked to lung health. Eating tomatoes and tomato products like tomato juice can improve airway inflammation if you have asthma and may lower your chance of death if you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Lycopene is also tied to less decline in lung function for young adults. These benefits are even more pronounced for people who used to smoke.

Bad Foods

Processed Meats
Studies show a link between processed, or cured, meats and worse lung function. Researchers think the nitrites used in processing and preserving cured meats may cause inflammation and stress to the lungs. Bacon, ham, deli meat, and sausage all fall into the category of processed meats.

Too Much Alcohol
Heavy drinking is bad for your liver and for your lungs. Sulfites in alcohol can worsen asthma symptoms, and ethanol affects your lung cells. If you drink too much, you’re more likely to get pneumonia and other lung problems. But a little bit is OK. Two drinks or less per day, especially if it’s wine, may be good for your lung health. Health experts don’t recommend anyone start drinking, though -- and if you do drink, keep it moderate.

Sugary Drinks
Do your lungs a favor and swap out soft drinks for water. A study found adults who drank more than five sweetened soft drinks a week were more likely to have ongoing bronchitis, and kids were more likely to have asthma. It’s not clear that the sodas were the reason why, but the pattern stood out. If you smoke, even unsweetened soft drinks can be bad for your lungs.

Too Much Salt
A little adds flavor, but a lot adds to your odds for lung problems. People who eat a lot of salt are more likely to have long-term bronchitis. And a high-sodium diet can worsen asthma symptoms, but you may be able to help your lungs work better if you go light on salt for a couple of weeks. Cook from scratch, and avoid restaurants and packaged foods. Read labels, and ask your doctor how much is too much. Limits are usually 1,500 to 2,300 mg per day.

Source: WebMD