Eat healthy this Summer

We are in mid-summer and the temperature seems to be rising rapidly. How are you coping with the peak summer days? Is the scorching sun and humid days leaving you frustrated? Indian summer can be harsh in many parts of India. The harsh climate can drain you off your energy, making you prone to infections, vomiting, nausea, prickly heat and low blood pressure. However it is essential to tweak your diet as per the weather. Follow these simple steps to keep yourself hydrated and healthy in summer.

Here are a few tips to stay healthy this summer:

• Hydrate yourself as much as possible. Staying hydrated is very crucial during summer as it ensures that your body keeps functioning normally. As the heat goes up, it results in excessive sweating, which also reduces energy levels and electrolytes from your body.
• Avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and those high in sugar. All these drinks contain preservatives, colours and sugars. They are acidic in nature and act as diuretics. They cause loss of fluids through urine and body gets dehydrated.
• Summer time tends to reduce one’s appetite because of the excessive heat. But it is important for you to eat regularly because your body requires the nutrients to fight the heat and keep you healthy. Follow a light diet which is easy to digest, include summer veggies like squash, bottle gourd, cucumber, ivy gourd, etc.
• Avoid cut and peeled roadside fruits, raw vegetables and meat which are pre-exposed to flies and other dirt.
• Always drink clean boiled drinking water to avoid water borne diseases.
• Severe sweating in summer causes electrolyte imbalance because sodium is flushed out of the system. Drink lemon juice, coconut water, buttermilk and fresh fruit juices to replenish the fluids that are lost in sweat.
• Avoid eating fatty, greasy food like vadas, samosas, chips, bhajias, farsans, etc.

Eat right for summer:

Are you choosing the right foods, juices, fruits and vegetables for summer?
Here are a few summer must haves:

• Lauki or bottle gourd – This is extremely popular for weight loss. It’s rich in calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A, C and folate. The superhero vegetable works well on high blood pressure, keeps the heart healthy and is considered an excellent blood purifier.
• Salad leaves – Amaranth leaves, rocket leaves, basil and other summer herbs should be tossed in a salad bowl and topped off with a yogurt dressing to make a great summer salad. They create a power house of nutrition and are light too.
• Aam panna -Two glasses of aam pana can help with digestion, constipation and chronic stomach problems like Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Make it at home to ensure the use of recommended quantities of sugar and salt.
• Mint water with lemon – One glass of strained mint water with two drops of lemon works wonders. It acts as a liver cleanser, boosts your metabolism and helps those with a low appetite.
• Barley Water – Have two glasses a day and in case you find it bland, add a drop of lemon or honey for taste. Since barley water is rich in fiber, it prevents constipation and also helps in controlling your appetite.
• Watermelon – Watermelon is approximately 90 per cent water, so it’s undoubtedly the best way to keep yourself hydrated. It helps with digestion and keeps the stomach cool.
• Oranges – Oranges are considered beneficial in avoiding muscle cramps. Availability of Potassium in this citrus fruit helps in refilling the lost potassium through sweat.
• Papaya – The sweet and fleshy Papaya, rich presence of enzymes like chymopapain and papain, is widely demanded in summers as it helps in the proper digestion of proteins.
• Mango – The king of fruits, Mango, must be included in the diet during summers as it is rich in the content of selenium and iron.
• Pineapple – Pineapples are good to be included in the summer diet as they contain Bromelian enzyme that helps in the digestion of fats and proteins.

Stay healthy and safe this summer by choosing the right diet plan. Do you have any questions for your summer diet? Consult our Department of Nutrition Therapy for more details.

A diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease can be devastating to the patient as well as to the family. Let us understand what exactly happens in this disease, why does it occur, and what you can do to protect yourself against Parkinson’s.

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. In this condition, your brain stops producing a neurotransmitter called dopamine. When the reserves of dopamine are low the person’s ability to regulate normal body movements and expressing emotions diminishes.

Who is at risk?

• Old age is one of the common risk factors for developing Parkinson’s disease, the risk increases after you cross 60 years of age.
• Gender also may affect the risk for Parkinson’s disease.
• Men are 1.5 to 2 times more affected than women.
• Family history may also at times cause the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
• Exposure to certain environmental toxins such as pesticides, herbicides and head trauma can also be the risk factor for developing Parkinson’s disease.

What are the main symptoms?

Early signs of Parkinson’s can be subtle and take a long period of time to become obvious. They may also be mistaken as normal signs of aging.

Some early signs of Parkinson’s include:

• Tremors
• Nightmares
• Restless sleep
• Poor balance
• Amnesia
• Dementia
• Impaired voice
• Soft speech
• Anxiety
• Dribbling of urine
• Constipation
• Depression
• Neck tightness
• Small handwriting
• Muscle rigidity

Symptoms of Parkinson’s often start on one side of the body, eventually expanding to both sides, though not equally. The tremors typical of Parkinson’s make holding utensils difficult, result in handwriting changes and interfere with other movements.

In addition to movement problems, a number of non-motor signs of Parkinson’s may arise, including difficulty swallowing or chewing, sleep problems, fatigue, emotional changes, depression and dementia, among others.

How is Parkinson’s disease diagnosed?

It is best to consult a neurologist who is specialized in movement disorders for proper diagnosis. The neurological examination would include the evaluation of walking, coordination, and fine motor tasks such as picking objects, holding a spoon, etc. Furthermore, the MRI of the brain is recommended to ascertain any changes in the brain.

How is Parkinson’s disease treated?

Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease. The goals of the treatment would only focus on alleviating the symptoms and improving the quality of life for extending the life expectancy. Doctors have an array of treatments for Parkinson’s disease, from medications to state-of-the-art surgical options to lifestyle modifications. The options are different for each patient, but the right treatment plan can greatly improve a Parkinson’s patient’s quality of life. The present therapies are only for increasing the levels of dopamine or for inhibiting the breakdown of dopamine or to mimicking or prolonging the effect of dopamine. A careful selection and appropriate dosing of medicines alleviate most of the Parkinson’s disease related symptoms almost completely.

Is Parkinson’s survivable?

Parkinson’s itself is not fatal and patients can live a normal lifespan, but the loss of muscle control may lead to choking and falls that could result in a life-threatening injury. The survivability of Parkinson’s disease depends on the severity of complications that may occur in the late stages of the disorder.

Do you have more questions about Parkinson’s disease, or think you or a family member might benefit from an evaluation of the same? Meet our specialists at the Parkinson’s Clinic or visit below website link for further details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/parkinsonsclinic.html

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease that is caused by bacteria and it spreads through the air from person to person. While it is preventable and curable, it can be fatal if it is not treated properly. According to the 2017 Global TB Report released by WHO, India continues to have the highest cases of Tuberculosis in the world. When a person infected with lung TB coughs, sneezes or spits, he/she propels TB germs into the air. One only needs to inhale a few of these germs to become infected. The most common symptoms of TB are night sweats, fever, cough, weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite.

There are two types of Tuberculosis – Latent TB and Active TB. Let’s find out more about these two types!

Latent TB occurs when a person is infected with the TB bacteria, albeit in small numbers. People suffering from latent TB do not feel sick and experience none of the above-mentioned symptoms. They aren’t infectious either. What’s more? These people normally have a normal chest x-ray and in high-burden TB countries such as India, a majority of people are believed to have latent TB.

Active TB, on the other hand, is a lot more dangerous especially if the person doesn’t receive timely treatment. In active TB, the TB bacteria rapidly multiplies and invades different organs of the body. A person with active TB may spread TB to others by airborne transmission of infectious germs. If you have been diagnosed with active TB, you will need to give a detailed history of every person whom you may have come in contact with as it is likely that they may have contracted the disease too.

One in 10 people who are infected with TB develop active TB at some point in their lives. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, 8 million people develop active TB each year. Kokilaben Hospital’s Pulmonary Medicine department helps diagnose and treat various respiratory diseases including TB. We have a state-of-the-art Pulmonary Function Testing Lab for comprehensive lung function testing.

There is also something known as drug-resistant TB which means that the bacteria in your body won’t be affected by certain drugs. When this happens, you will have to use a second line of drugs that are not only costlier, but also cause more side-effects. The easiest way to prevent TB is by stopping the spread of the bacteria from one person to another.

Athletes often sustain injuries while playing their game or even while exercising. However, you don’t need to be an athlete or even play a sport to sustain a sports wound. When this happens, they are advised to see a Sports Medicine professional for treatment. Sports Medicine professionals are specially trained to restore function to injured patients so they can recover and get back to their fittest and back to the playing field as soon as possible. They also advise professional athletes on how they can prevent injury during their play. While Sports Medicine professionals are mostly known to work with sportspersons who have injuries, they also help avid athletes, marathon runners and sports enthusiasts.

Not many are aware that Sports Medicine is a speciality in itself. This branch of medicine is concerned with physical fitness and treatment of knee, back, leg and shoulder injuries. They specialize in the non-operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. 90 percent of all sports injuries do not require surgeries, which is why they are referred to Sports Medicine professionals. These professionals also receive additional training in non-musculoskeletal aspects of sports medicine like concussion, injury prevention, healthy lifestyle promotion and return to play decisions.

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital has dedicated Centre for Sports Medicine which is an internationally recognised centre of excellence that is complete and comprehensive in its services. The advanced surgical and rehabilitation facilities available at our Centre for Sports Medicine ensures that our patients return to their highest capabilities in the shortest possible time. Our state-of-the-art technology that aims to prevent, manage and rehabilitate people with sports injuries comprises of a Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory, Balance Assessment and Training System, Electrotherapy, Aquatic Treadmill and a whole lot more. Sports Medicine Professionals are ideally suited to provide comprehensive medical care to athletes, sports teams and active individuals who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

India’s badminton star, Saina Nehwal who will be representing the country at the 2018 All England Open will be accompanied by Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital’s Christopher Pedra from the Centre for Sports Medicine who will be assisting Ms. Nehwal maintain her fitness and

Mr. Pedra will be posting Live Updates on our Instagram handle at @kokilabenhospital during his training with Ms .Nehwal and will be sharing his Tour Diaries on our blog! Don’t forget to follow us!

Any change in season affects people with illnesses. The young and old are easily affected and so are the ones with low immunity. People usually suffer from cold or flu when the seasons change. The most common reason one may think for this is the change in temperatures. But that is not true. Rather, the temperature shifts permit a different group of viruses to flourish, and it’s these viruses that make people sick.

Many studies suggest that rhinovirus and coronavirus are the two main agents of the common cold.  They are more likely to flourish in cooler climates. Likewise, the influenza virus replicates and spreads most effectively when the air is cold and dry.

Summer illnesses arise from a combination of several factors. People with seasonal allergies often feel congested and develop runny noses and itchy eyes when they’re near pollen, or grass. Their immune systems may go into overdrive as they react to these allergies, leaving them more vulnerable to viral contagions.

Here’s how our body reacts to a seasonal change:

Blood Pressure

Do you notice your blood pressure numbers decreasing when the weather gets warmer?  Your systolic and diastolic blood pressure numbers change when confronted with warmer weather, so when the sun starts shining in the spring and summer, your blood pressure generally gets lower. But during the cold winter months, you can expect the diameter of blood vessels to tighten, causing the heart to work overtime to force blood through the narrowed veins and arteries. So you’ll see a spike in blood pressure when it’s cold and a decrease in numbers when it’s warm.

Joint Pain

Your joints are sensitive to temperature. Doctors often recommend warmer climates for individuals with joint pain because cold weather causes muscles, ligaments, and tendons to become stiff. Cold weather causes added pressure on the joints.  So when the weather shifts from cold to warmer temperatures, your joints experience a bit of pain relief. But when you are exposed to heat for long periods of time, your body may experience dehydration, which decreases the amount of fluid in the joint. This exacerbates existing pain levels.

Headaches & Migraines

If you have frequent migraines, you may experience lower workplace productivity and missed social events that can dampen your quality of life.. Researchers believe these changes in weather patterns may affect the pressure on the brain or the way the brain manages pain. When the warm weather begins to kick in or the days get longer, exposure to bright sunlight might trigger a migraine or headache.

Asthma

Extreme cold or hot weather conditions can aggravate those with asthma symptoms. The airways become irritated by these sudden swings in temperature. If you’re inhaling cold air, on the one hand, it can constrict the airways.  During the warmer months, on the other hand, asthma sufferers have to deal with pollutants and exhaust fumes that are hard to escape.

Eczema

If you’re dealing with eczema, your skin will enjoy the relief that comes when the weather becomes warmer. On the other hand, you don’t want your body to become too overheated during the summer months.

In the spring, seasonal sniffing can also come from another culprit: allergies. They need to be diagnosed and treated correctly. Those who know they have allergies need to take particular care in the spring. Allergies can leave you feeling miserable and more likely to catch a cold virus because the immune system is already under attack.

What can help in such scenarios? Frequent washing of hands is essential as the  cold virus can live on the human skin for at least two hours.

The weather outside can certainly significantly influence how we feel. Not by as much as most people think and not the same way in everyone. But enough to make a difference. Warm and moist conditions also promote the release of fungal spores which can set off allergies in some people.

Take care of your health. Our team of doctors at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital can help you in case of any illnesses. Please find below link for more details:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/patients/makeanappointment.html