Back to Site

  1. Home
    2. >
  2. Healthcare
National Nutrition Week 2021

National Nutrition Week

Sep 4th, 2021

Archive for the ‘ Healthcare ’ Category

« Older Entries

National Nutrition Week

Saturday, September 4th, 2021

Nutrition Matters

Every year, from the 1st to the 7th of September, India celebrates National Nutrition Week to raise awareness about the importance of good nutrition and health. Eating healthy foods and exercising on a regular basis will help you live a longer and healthier life. A nutritious diet promotes a healthy pregnancy, supports normal growth, development, and aging, aids in body weight maintenance, and lowers the risk of chronic disease. For a healthy mind and healthy body, it is essential to eat a balanced diet with high nutrition. 

Benefits of Good Nutrition

Healthy food starts with a healthy diet in pregnancy, continues with breast milk for babies, and is important for children, teenagers, adults as well seniors. Here is how a healthy diet helps your body:

  • Strengthens your immunity
  • Improves mood
  • Provides energy
  • Maintains a healthy body weight
  • Helps you live longer
  • Reduces your risk of chronic diseases
  • Reduces risk of mental disorders

Nutrition and children

The theme of the 2021 National Nutrition Week is “feeding smart right from start”. If you learn healthy eating habits as a child, they are more likely to stay with you. That’s why it’s important that you teach your children healthy eating habits from a young age. Here are some healthy eating suggestions to consider:

  • Be a role model
  • Offer a variety of healthy food choices
  • Make mealtimes a priority
  • Avoid force-feeding
  • Skip the food reward
  • Put limits on screen time
  • Set snack boundaries

A Balanced Diet

Did you know? 9 out of 10 people suffer from a protein deficiency. This could be due to the increasing consumption of convenience foods that are high in carbs and sugars and low in protein or due to lack of awareness. It is essential to eat the right type and amount of foods to support a healthy lifestyle. Always remember deprivation is not the solution, creating a balance is. A well-balanced diet focuses on giving your body all of the nutrients it needs. It contains macronutrients such as protein, carbs, and fat, as well as micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. These nutrients come from a variety of sources, including fruits and vegetables, cereals and pulses, meat and dairy products, as well as fats and oils. Here are some important foods to have:

  • Carbohydrates
    Carbohydrates are your body’s main source of energy. In India, 70-80% of total dietary calories are derived from carbohydrates present in plant foods such as cereals, millets, and pulses.
  • Proteins 
    About 30 to 35% of your diet should consist of protein. This could be in the form of pulses, milk, leafy greens, eggs, paneer, lentils, meat or sprouts.
  • Fats
    Fats provide energy, store vitamins, and synthesize hormones. About 1/5th of your diet should be devoted to fats all three kinds -polyunsaturated, monosaturated and omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Vitamins and Minerals 
    These micronutrients support metabolism, nerve and muscle function, bone maintenance, and cell production. Minerals are inorganic and so minerals from plants, meat, and fish easily find their way into the body. They can be derived from nuts, oilseeds, fruits, and green leafy vegetables.

Prioritize Your Meals

To keep your body running smoothly, you require three main meals coupled with healthy snacking to curb unnecessary cravings. Here is what an ideal diet should consist of:

  • Breakfast
    A good morning meal should comprise of three things. These are dietary fiber or carbohydrates (whole-grain bread, paratha, oatmeal), proteins (eggs and egg whites, yoghurt, milk, and sprouts) and nuts (almonds, walnuts, figs). This way you’ll eat fewer calories the rest of the day.
  • Lunch
    Make it a mix of high-fibre whole grains like brown rice, barley, or jowar, starchy carbs, and some good source of proteins like cottage cheese, pulses, lentils chicken, or fish. Include some probiotics like yogurt or buttermilk and fibre from fresh salads.
  • Dinner
    To maintain a healthy balanced diet, choose your dinner with a high satiety value, which will keep you fuller for longer and help you avoid midnight binges. Fill your plate with a variety of vegetables to load up on vitamins and minerals. Limit carbs but don’t eliminate them completely.

Don’t give up on snacking: Choose to snack healthy and substitute your fried snacks and chips with roasted snacks, fresh fruits, nuts or dips.

Disease Prevention

Eating healthy foods, getting adequate exercise, and refraining from tobacco and excessive alcohol use has positive effects on your health. Healthy eating can help lower your risk of certain medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and various types of cancers.

Nutrition care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Looking for personalized dietary solutions to feel healthier? We offer holistic and individualized care to patients and help transform lives with a healthy diet plan. Meet highly trained and experienced dieticians from our Department of Nutrition Therapy for further guidance. Please find below the link for further details: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/nutritiontherapy.html

Managing Psoriasis

Monday, August 30th, 2021

Psoriasis is a skin condition in which the skin cells develop up to ten times faster than normal. The skin develops rough red spots covered with white scales as a result of this. Psoriasis is a papulosquamous skin disease with a wide range of appearance, severity, and duration. It affects 0.44 to 2.8 percent of the population in India and 1.5 percent to 3 percent of the population worldwide. Early adulthood is when psoriasis commonly emerges. It affects only a few locations for most people and usually appears on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. However, it can cover vast areas of the body in severe cases. The patches can heal and reappear at any time during a person’s life. Psoriasis significantly impairs the quality of life of patients and their families resulting in immense physical, emotional, and social burden

Symptoms of Psoriasis

The symptoms of psoriasis vary depending on the type of psoriasis you have. Some common symptoms for “plaque” psoriasis, the most common form of psoriasis include:

  • Plaques of red skin, often covered with silver-coloured scales.
  • Itchy and painful scales.
  • Dry or cracked skin that bleeds.
  • Pitted or thickened fingernails or toenails.
  • Swollen joints.

Triggers of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is more likely to develop if you have a family history of it, have an overactive immune system, or are obese. According to research, at least 10% of people inherit genes that can cause psoriasis, although only 3% to 5% of those who inherit these genes develop the condition. Psoriasis symptoms can be influenced by a variety of situations known as triggers. These include:

  • Stress
    Stress is a major trigger for some people with psoriasis, either causing psoriasis to flare up for the first time or to make it worse after you’ve been diagnosed.
  • Cold weather 
    The cold, dry conditions of winter can aggravate psoriasis, but warm, sunny settings can aid. It’s crucial to keep your skin moisturized throughout the day. In addition, using a humidifier in your house can help.
  • Dry skin 
    Anything that injures the skin can cause a psoriasis flare, including excessively dry skin or allergies. Keep your skin moisturized.
  • Upper respiratory infections
    Colds and other infections, especially strep throat, activate the immune system and can cause psoriasis to flare. If you have psoriasis and develop a sore throat, speak to your doctor for further assistance.
  • Smoking and Alcohol
    Cigarette smoke can make the symptoms of psoriasis worse. Smokers have almost double the risk of developing psoriasis compared with people who’ve never smoked. Heavy drinking is also known to trigger psoriasis flares.
  • Medications
    Some medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis and mental disorders can trigger psoriasis.

Psoriasis Facts

  • It’s not contagious.
  • Psoriasis triggers vary from person to person.
  • There are five types of psoriasis including – plaque, guttate, inverse, pustular, erythrodermic.
  • Psoriasis can affect more of your body than your skin.

Tips to Manage Psoriasis

While medication can reduce (or clear) psoriasis, anything that irritates your skin can cause psoriasis to flare — even when you use medication. By finding your triggers and learning how to manage them, you can gain better control of your psoriasis and have fewer flares. Dermatologists share these tips for caring for psoriasis: 

  • Try to avoid skin injuries, such as cuts, and bug bites.
  • Avoid getting a sunburn.
  • Treat your psoriasis on time.
  • Try not to scratch as it tends to worsen psoriasis.
  • Apply a cold compress.
  • Apply medication as directed by your dermatologist to your skin until the psoriasis clears.
  • Moisturize daily throughout the day.

Psoriasis Care at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Struggling to manage your psoriasis symptoms? Working closely with a dermatologist, the use of medication, and avoiding your triggers is known to help alleviate the symptoms of this skin condition. Consult our highly trained dermatologists for a detailed diagnosis and treatment plan. Please find below the website link for further information: https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/dermatology.html

Childhood Developmental Disorders

Friday, July 23rd, 2021

Have you ever wondered why some children have unusual physical characteristics or have delayed development? Childhood disorders, often known as developmental disorders, refer to a range of problems characterised by impairments in physical, learning, language, or behaviour areas. These conditions usually begin during childhood, have an impact on day-to-day functioning, and usually last for the rest of a person’s life.

Most children with developmental disabilities are often affected in multiple domains of function because of the nature and extent of brain dysfunction. As a parent, if you feel that your child is not meeting his/her age-appropriate milestones, or if you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, talk to your child’s paediatrician and explain your concerns. Acting early can help in early intervention and can make a great difference.

Common Developmental Disorders

  • Cognitive Disabilities
    Cognitive disabilities in children include mental retardation as well as specific learning disabilities in children. Mental retardation is characterised as a condition in which a person’s intelligence is below average and their adaptive behaviour is impaired. Mild mental retardation is known to limit the child’s academic performance while more severe grades occur with multiple disabilities.
  • Motor Disabilities
    Motor disabilities include limitations in walking and in the use of the upper extremities (arms and/or hands). Some motor disabilities also affect speech and swallowing of the child. Severity can range from mild to profound. Motor disabilities diagnosed in infancy or childhood include cerebral palsy, congenital abnormalities or progressive disorders, such as the muscular dystrophies and spinal the muscular atrophies.
  • Vision, hearing and speech disabilities
    A number of cases of visual as well as hearing disability have their onset early in life. Learning to speak depends on the ability to hear and repeat sounds. The optimal period for speech acquisition is the first 2 years of life; any further delay may indicate a speech disorder. It is recommended to screen young children for hearing impairment or speech delay early and evaluate any suspected disabilities.
  • Behavioural Disorders
    The majority of children with psychological or behavioural disorders go undiagnosed or untreated and this is more prevalent in developing countries. Anxiety disorders, depression, autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders are examples of behavioural diseases that need further investigation. These illnesses can have a significant impact on the child’s overall development if left untreated. 

Types of Developmental Disorders                

Childhood developmental disabilities are sometimes diagnosed at birth, but more often, are not easily identified until ages three to six. They may range from mild to severe depending on their symptoms. Some of the more common developmental disabilities include:

  • Autism
    Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe impairment in reciprocal social interactions and communication skills, as well as the presence of restricted and stereotypical behaviours.
  • ADHD
    ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and disorganization, with or without hyperactivity-impulsivity, causing impairment of functioning.
  • Cerebral palsy
    Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone or posture. It’s caused by damage that occurs to the immature brain as it develops, most often before birth.
  • Down syndrome
    Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. Depending on the severity of the disorder, it may cause lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays in individuals.
  • Fragile X syndrome
    Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is an inherited genetic disease passed down from parents to children that causes intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • Genetic disorders
    A chromosomal disorder may be inherited or may be sporadic, meaning there is no family history.
  • Spina bifida
    Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It is a type of neural tube defect (NTD) that results in damage to the spinal cord and nerves.
  • Muscular Dystrophy
    Muscular dystrophy is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes (mutations) interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.
  • Velocardiofacial syndrome
    VCFS, is a complex syndrome that has been associated with more than 30 different characteristics, including defects of the palate, heart defects, learning disabilities and distinct facial features.
  • Intellectual disability
    Intellectual disability is a generalized disorder that is characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviours.

Developmental Disorders: Risk factors

Developmental impairments can occur at any time throughout childhood and endure for the rest of a person’s life. The majority of developmental problems start before a baby is born, but some can occur after delivery due to injury, infection, or other circumstances. Most developmental disabilities are thought to be caused by a complex mix of factors. These factors include genetics; parental health and behaviours (such as smoking and drinking) during pregnancy; complications during birth; infections the mother might have during pregnancy or exposure of the mother or child to high levels of environmental toxins.

Treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital

Highly trained specialists at our Centre for Neurosciences help diagnose childhood developmental disorders early. Therapists at our Department for Developmental Disorders work closely with children to foster their overall development and make them as independent as possible. Our multidisciplinary team across various departments aims to provide world-class comprehensive care to children suffering from developmental disabilities. For further information, please visit our website:
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/centresofexcellence/centrefor_neurosciences.html
https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/developmentdisorders.html

International Day of Yoga

Monday, June 21st, 2021

Yoga is an ancient form of exercise that entails physical postures, meditation, and deep breathing. It is highly beneficial in its ability to increase mind-body awareness and promote physical movement. This form of exercise helps rejuvenate the mind and spirit, tones the body, and maintains the health of your internal organs and hormonal system. Yoga asanas are one of the few physical exercises you can continue doing as you age. Always remember when it comes to yoga slowly and steadily aim at perfecting your poses, focus on how you do yoga rather than how much you do.

Health Benefits of Yoga

People across age groups and from all walks of life benefit from various yoga poses. A consistent practice offers a plethora of mental and physical health benefits. Here are the top benefits of yoga:

  • Improves flexibility 
    Stretching and moving your body in new ways will help you become more flexible, bringing a greater range of motion to tight muscles. Your hamstrings, back, shoulders, and hips should all get more flexible with time.
  • Boosts cardiac health
    Heart disease is the world’s top cause of death, and research suggests that daily yoga practice helps older persons with metabolic syndrome decrease cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure.
  • Improves sleep
    Many people who practice yoga report that it helps them to sleep better and a large body of scientific evidence supports this claim. It helps fight insomnia and reduces incidents of troubled sleep.
  • Eases back pain
    Increased flexibility and strength can help prevent the causes of some types of back pain. As more and more people work and study from home and lead sedentary lifestyles lower back problems are becoming increasingly  common.
  • Builds strength
    Many yoga postures, such as balancing on one leg or holding yourself with your arms, require you to carry your body weight in novel and often difficult ways. Holding these poses for multiple breaths aids in the development of muscular strength and endurance.
  • Improves joint health
    Yoga requires low-impact motions that allow you to use your joints without damaging them. Yoga also strengthens the muscles that surround the joints, reducing the load on them.
  • Promotes better breathing
    Different types of breathing exercises in yoga help focus your attention and take deeper and longer breaths that help improve your respiratory health.
  • Boosts your mental health
    Yoga is a combination of exercise, meditation, relaxation and helps reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Yoga also teaches you how to meditate, focus on your breath and disengage from your thoughts helping your mind relax. This helps you cope better with stress.

Here is how yoga benefits people across gender and age:

Yoga for students

Practicing yoga is said to come with many benefits for both mental and physical health. Virtual learning has led to more and more students leading sedentary lifestyles that have caused increased incidents of stress, nervousness, indigestion, sleep disorders. Learning yoga at an early age helps students increase concentration levels, boosts their memory power, improves adaptability, and helps channelize their energies correctly. Here are 5 yoga exercises recommended for students:

  • Matsyasana (Fish pose)
  • Virasana (Hero pose)
  • Suryanamaskar (Sun salutations)
  • Bhramari pranayam (Bee breathing)
  • Vajrasana (Diamond or thunderbolt pose)

Yoga for women

Women experience various reproductive health concerns namely menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. Yoga helps deal with these different life changes smoothly.

  • Menstruation – Several women experience some negative emotional, physical, or relational symptoms in the days prior to menses, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Mood changes, irritability, fatigue, bloating, and breast tenderness are common symptoms. Regular yoga practice helps alleviate discomfort associated with periods.
  • Childbirth (pregnancy and postpartum) – Research suggests that prenatal yoga helps decrease the perception of pain during labor, reduces physical discomfort during pregnancy and childbirth and improves the overall quality of life. Prenatal yoga has been associated with reduced risk of postpartum depression.
  • Menopause – The most common menopausal symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, pain, decreased libido, and mood swings, etc. Perimenopausal women often turn to yoga to reduce the unwanted side effects of menopausal symptoms. 5 poses yoga exercises recommended for women:
  • Adho mukha svanasana (Downward facing Dog)
  • Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I)
  • Malasana (Garland pose)
  • Utkata Konasana (Goddess Pose)
  • Navasana  (Boat pose)

Yoga for seniors

You are never too old to practice yoga and even get started with this form of exercise. For seniors who are looking for a safe, effective way to enhance their physical health and overall wellness, the stretching, breathing, and meditation practices of yoga are highly beneficial. Yoga helps strengthen your joints, improve balance and flexibility, lowers stress and promises better sleep. 5 poses yoga exercises recommended for seniors:

  • Trikonasana (Triangle pose)
  • Tadasana (Mountain pose)
  • Vrikshasana (Tree pose)
  • Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)
  • Titli asana (Butterfly pose)

2021 International Day of Yoga focuses on the theme “Yoga for well-being”. As we struggle each day from the ups and downs of life and are still recovering from the impact of a pandemic physically and emotionally, yoga can be of immense help. Embrace yoga as a new way of life to stay healthy, fight various mental health challenges, and also help conquer fear and anxiety. Regular practice of yoga helps strengthen your body’s immune system that helps fight various infections.

Stay Healthy & Fit as You Age

Tuesday, June 1st, 2021

Are you overwhelmed seeing your elderly parents?
Do they have mobility issues or medical conditions?
Do you think life could have been better for them?

Statistics suggest that India will have 330 million individuals aged 60 years and above by 2050, accounting for 18% of our total population. Medical professionals suggest that people who had good healthy habits when they were younger tend to become healthy seniors, but it is never too late. Good health habits can make a difference even to seniors who are prone to illness or have not made their health a priority in the past. Here are some insightful details to help navigate senior health.

Healthy Living Tips for Seniors

Your health tends to deteriorate as your age. However, with a positive attitude, better lifestyle choices and a healthy diet can help slow down the aging process and live better. Do share these healthy living tips with your parents and senior loved ones:

  • Be active more often
    Exercise reduces your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers. It also means that you will be healthier in your later years and will be less likely to develop dementia and other cognitive changes.
  • Improve your diet
    A healthy and balanced diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and protein, and low in meat, sugar, and processed foods helps your cells function better and slows down aging.
  • Get quality sleep
    Sleep deprivation affects your memory, emotions, weight, and even your appearance. The older you get, the harder it can be to fall and stay asleep, but you still need the same amount of hours. Speak to your doctor for any sleep disorders.
  • Stop smoking
    Research suggests that quitting smoking reduces your risk of getting a heart attack and other chronic diseases. The earlier you quit, the better it is as smoking cessation decreases the risk of middle-aged smokers dying by almost half.
  • Focus on prevention
    Annual health checkups, cancer screenings, as well as screenings for diseases that run in the family must form a part of healthcare for the elderly. Seniors must consult their doctors from time to time and review their medications.
  • Care for your mental health
    Loneliness, particularly at this age, can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. Spend time socialising with family and friends, even if it means interacting virtually. Aside from that, doing crossword puzzles, sudoku, reading a book, and trying new hobbies all help to stimulate your mind and improve your mental health.
  • Screen for vision changes
    Seniors who wear glasses should have their prescriptions checked for changes and their eyes screened for health issues once a year. Their risk of accidental falls can be reduced considerably by wearing the proper glasses.
  • Be regular with dental checkups
    As you age dental cavities, as well as gum infections, may increase. These may be linked to serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Exercise Tips for Seniors

Irrespective of your age and physical condition, it’s never too late to start exercising and get fit. People tend to slow down and become more sedentary with age. You may feel discouraged by health problems, aches, and pains, or concerns about injuries or falls. As you grow older, an active lifestyle becomes more important than ever before. Here are some health benefits of exercise:

  • Maintain or lose weight – As your metabolism naturally slows with age, maintaining a healthy weight can become a challenge. Regular exercise helps increase your metabolism and build muscle mass, helping your body to burn more calories.
  • Reduce the impact of illness – People who exercise tend to have improved immune system, better digestion, reduced risk of heart disease, controlled blood pressure, and better bone health.
  • Enhance your flexibility, and balance – Exercise improves your strength, flexibility, and posture, which in turn can help with your balance and coordination, and reduce your risk of falls.
  • Improves your sleep – Quality sleep is vital for your overall health as you get older. Regular activity can help you fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and wake up feeling more energetic and refreshed.
  • Boost your mood and self-confidence – Exercise is a great stress reliever, and the endorphins released can help reduce feelings of sadness, depression, and anxiety. Being active and strong can also help you feel more confident.

Here are some ways to make your fitness routine fun and keep yourself motivated:

  • Use guided meditation.
  • Listen to music while exercising.
  • Meet a friend for a walk.
  • Walk or play fetch with a dog.
  • Play with your grandchildren.
  • Find an exercise buddy for daily workouts.

Always listen to your body and never over-exert yourself. Stop exercising immediately if you experience discomfort, pain, feel dizzy or short of breath. Start slowly and build up your exercise program little by little. Prevent injury and discomfort by warming up, cooling down, and keeping water handy.

Following a healthy lifestyle, investing in preventive healthcare, staying active and access to prompt medical attention can help you lead a happy and healthy life in your yesteryears. Doctors at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital are available to attend to all your medical concerns with utmost care and expertise. For further information, please visit:

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com

« Older Entries