Health Insurance Covers hospitalization when a patient is in hospital for more than 24 hours due to:

1)  Surgery requirement
2)  Illness
3)  Accident
4)  Symptoms, when diagnosis is been done

According to the Document of Cholamandalam MS General Insurance the costs covered are :

1. Room, Boarding Expenses in Hospital/Nursing Home
2. Nursing Expenses, intensive care unit expenses,
3. Surgeon, Anesthetist, Medical Practitioner, Consultants, Specialist fees
4. Anesthesia
* Blood Oxygen,
* Operation Theater Charges,
* Surgical Appliances, Medicines,
* Drugs,
* Diagnostic Materials,
* X-ray,
* Dialysis,
* Chemotherapy,
* Radiotherapy,
* Pacemaker cost,
* Artificial Limbs,
* Cost of Organs.
5. Pre-Hospitalization Expenses
6. Post-Hospitalization Expenses
7. General Health and Eye Examination (Optional with extra premium)
8. Local Ambulance Services (Optional with extra premium)
9. Hospital Daily Allowance (Optional with extra premium)

Admissible Limits:

• Minimum 24 hrs. Hospitalization except Dialysis, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Eye Surgery, Dental Surgery, Lithotripsy, D&C, Tonsillectomy (insured discharged on same day)
• Pre-Hospitalization Expense: Laboratory, X-ray or any other medically necessary diagnostic procedures ordered by a physician (60 days prior to Hospitalization in case of all type of covers)
• Post-Hospitalization Expenses: The medically necessary treatment ordered by a physician and readered (within a time period of the Insured person’s discharge from Hospital or Day Treatment) (90 days after hospitalization in case of all type of covers).
• General Health and Eye Examination: Radiology, Blood Diabetes, Liver, Renal/Kidney, Cardiac Lipid, Phospholids, Lung, Abdomen, Cancer, Optometry, Slit Lamp Examination, Direct Fungus Examination, Indirect Fungus Examination, Color Vision Testing, Prescription of Glasses if necessary.
• Local Ambulance Services; Emergency ambulance road transportation by a licensed ambulance service to the nearest Hospital.
• Hospital Daily Allowance: The Hospital Daily Allowance benefit is payable per day of Hospitalization in India for a limited period per person and policy period.
• Day care Surgeries: Microsurgical operations on the middle ear, other operations on the middle and internal ear, nose and the nasal sinuses, the eyes, the skin and subcutaneous tissues, the mouth and the face, Traumatological surgery and orthopedics, the breast, the digestive tract, the female sexual organs, the male sexual organs, the urinary system. For Applicants aged 45 and above a medical test is mandatory.

Weigh the cost and benefits.

When selecting an affordable and cheap health insurance plan, think about the benefits you may need, and what level of protection you feel comfortable with in case the unexpected happens, and be sure the plan you choose includes them.

Health plans have various benefit structures-some of the typical benefits excluded or limited in cheaper plans include:

1.Doctor’s consultation fee
2.Prescription drug coverage
3.Maternity benefits
4.Chiropractic care

Conversely, some health plans provide limited benefits that may only cover some preventive care or doctor’s office visits, and very limited hospital care.

Look at the premium.

The premium is the monthly fee you must pay in order to keep your health insurance plan. This is the first step in determining if you can afford a health care plan. Make sure you can pay this fee each month; if you fail to make a payment, you may be dropped from your plan.

If benefits are important to you, look past the cost of the premium.

Usually, paying a higher premium will result in more benefits. If certain benefits are important to you, you may want to pay the higher premium to get them. As with many things, you can pay more to get more.

Buying the best individual health insurance requires some knowledge about health insurance companies and their plans. Most people have never been educated in Insurance.  No company will pay benefits not covered in a policy, and the commissioner of insurance will uphold the company’s decision to decline benefits that are not specifically covered.

Law suits against insurance companies are seldom won as companies are experts in making sure every detail of coverage is spelled out. Yet, the average client has never actually read an insurance policy from cover to cover.

The policy arrives in the mail and is shoved into a drawer or a file box and never actually read. Bear in mind that neglecting to read the policy does not make a company liable for things you didn’t understand.

That being said, you will avoid confusion and have greater peace of mind if you work with an agent who is willing to take the time to help you understand your policy. Don’t just assume your agent will do this.

Many will simply send the policy in the mail and leave you to figure it out. A truly good agent from a reputable company is worth working with even if the premium is a few dollars more. When you do select an agent, you should be sure to ask the following questions.

• How long do pre-existing conditions apply?

When you go from one group coverage plan to another, the pre-existing condition clause is waived. This is not true when going from group coverage to private coverage. Your new company may refuse to pay for a pre-existing condition for as long as two years. They may also look back over your entire life for that pre-existing condition. Thus, if you had cancer 15 years ago but are still taking some sort of preventive medication, you will have a waiting period even though you have been cancer free for 14 years.

• What are the exclusions? There will always be some as no company pays for everything. You need to know what they are.

• What are the anticipated rate increases?

Your agent may tell you that he doesn’t know as rates are approved by the commissioner on an annual basis. That much is true, but the company has charts showing what your premium would be today for any given age. They also know the average company increase rates over time. Don’t buy if they won’t provide you with that information.

• What is the lifetime maximum benefit?

• Can you reduce the premium by taking a higher deductible?

• How are co-payments determined?

• How do you get permission to go to the hospital?
  

• Are prescription drugs included? Is there a separate deductible? What is the copay?
• How are customer service issues handled? Can you get help from the agent?

Health insurance is not very expensive when compared to the cover it gives you.

Healthcare is increasingly expensive, with technological advances, new procedures and more effective medicines that have also driven up the costs of healthcare.

While these high treatment expenses may be beyond the reach of many, taking the security of health insurance is much more affordable.

The costs payable for a health insurance policy generally depends on various factors like the number of persons insured, their age group, the sum insured opted for, the cost sharing mechanisms like co-payments and deductibles in the policy, health status of the proposed insured persons, and the kind of coverage sought.

The costs thus start from a subsidized premium of Rs 100 under a Universal Health Insurance Scheme policy for a person below the poverty line, and could reach up to tens of thousands for high amounts of comprehensive coverage.

For illustration purposes, the data of the insurance regulator for 2007-08 indicates that the average premium per person was in the range of Rs 1143 per person during the year, which comprised of a mix of group individual policies with varying cover.

It is important to be an informed customer and do proper research on insurance companies and the health insurance products as there is so much variety and choice available.

Despite the variety available, there is no single policy which could fit all the needs of all individuals.

It is important to assess one’s needs from a health insurance cover and choose a cover, or covers, appropriately.

It is possible to combine different products for coverage appropriate to one’s needs.

Thus, for example, a hospitalization indemnity policy could be complemented with other insurance covers like a

• Critical illness benefit policy or
• A hospital daily cash benefit policy, which could be used to cover incidental costs not covered by hospitalization indemnity products, like excess room charges or the loss of income due to hospitalization, and
• Various other ‘non-medical’ expenses not reimbursed in health insurance plans.

Similarly, adding a personal accident cover helps maintain life style and also accommodate for additional cost of disability caused by accidental injuries.

For those already covered under a group insurance scheme by their employers, a high-deductible health insurance policy is a useful add-on which enhances coverage and provides continuity as an individual product.

When comparing policies, do not compare them just on the premium structure, but also on the details of the scope of coverage, waiting periods, exclusions, cost sharing provisions and other policy terms and conditions.

Cost sharing provisions

Health insurance policies also use cost-sharing provisions though the extent and amount of such cost sharing requirements varies between products and insurers.

The cost sharing provisions include sub-limits, which cap the maximum amount payable by the insurer for a particular procedure or cost component, as also co-payments, which are a cost-sharing requirement that provide that the insured will bear a specified percentage of the admissible costs.

Another cost sharing mechanism, a deductible provides that the insurer will not be liable for a specified rupee amount of the covered expenses, which will apply before any benefits are payable by the insurer

Always buy a health insurance policy when you are young

Buy a policy at a young age to avail richer benefits and do cover your entire family- all of them are exposed to the risk of medical costs. Make sure that you pay the premium regularly & renew your policy in time, as failure to do so may lead to loss of continuity benefits.

Fill the proposal form correctly and completely

It is important to fill the proposal form correctly and completely, including the questions on health status. Otherwise, any non-disclosure or incorrect disclosure may lead to the policy being rendered invalid or the claims on the policy being denied.

Insurers may also require a medical examination and lab tests before buying a policy, especially when the proposal form for a new health insurance policy indicates the need for the same and also where insurance is sought for the first time by a person above a certain age, say 45 or 50 years, though this varies from insurer to insurer.

It may also be required when the sum insured is sought to be raised at renewal time.

There are multiple channels available to purchase Health insurance.

• You can buy health insurance products either directly from the various channels offered by the insurance company, including online sales and telephone or
• Through IRDA licensed intermediaries like agents and brokers.

It is important to purchase health insurance only from authorized channels.

Swine Flu -Is it covered or not?

Insurance companies have come out with some clarifications and these are;

1. Cost of Tami flu is not covered as this is being given by the Government on free of cost basis.
2. Private hospitals can charge the patient for facilities like tests, beds and doctors fees. And this will be covered.
3. If admitted in a hospital and the tests are negative then nothing is payable. If positive then it is payable.
4. If it is a new policy then 30 days clause is applicable. Summary of all points is do not wait ,get health insurance policy ,otherwise be prepared to be treated in one of the government owned hospital. Wish you best of luck so that you don’t get affected with this disease.

TPA’s to deduct TDS when releasing payment to Hospitals

Recent news item indicates that this decision is being implemented. We are not going into details but we feel that the impact of this will be increase in rates by hospitals as they will find it a necessity to increase the rates with a view to handle the increased need for working capital.

The normal inflation of health acre in India is 15% per year-should we expect 18% this year. Let us wait and watch.

Medical Mafia Aug 28, 2009 issue of Fortune

It is always a pleasure to read independent articles in publications like Fortune, where unbiased article can be eye opener for all of us.

This article is worth reading – where a group comprising of doctors and lawyers handles the cases and fights with Health Insurance co’s so that the genuine or inflated claims are passed.

They manage the best of doctors assisted by lawyers to appear in the court so that the client gets paid. Ofcourse the agreed % out of this payment goes into their (lawyer/doctors) pocket. Question before us is does it happen because Health Insurance co’s are hesitant in passing of claims?

We do hope that Indian Non Life Insurance co’s as well as Health Insurance co’s will take corrective steps and we can avoid excessive role for lawyers to get the claims passed.

Definition of Child Sexual Abuse

There is no uniform definition pertaining to child sexual abuse. But the characteristic feature of child sexual abuse is the dominant position of an adult that allows him or her to force or coerce a child into sexual activity.

Child sexual abuse may include fondling or playing with the genitals of a child, anal intercourse, oral-genital contact, vaginal penetration, masturbation, digital penetration and touching of private parts (including breasts).

Child sexual abuse does not only mean physical contact. It involves abuse in the form of non-contact that involves exposure, voyeurism and child pornography. It includes abuse by Peers too.

There are incidents when your own family member could be involved in this issue. Before the situations turns murkier transforming your family including personal life in to a nightmare, tackle this entire issue with deftness and firmness, accompanied with patience and composure of mind. Avoid taking abrupt decisions. Remember that this is a social issue of prime importance. Never shove such incidents under the carpet-even though it may involve your own kith and kin.

Steps in dealing with the issue of Child Sexual Abuse by a Family Member

• Accept the fact that your child has been sexually abused.
• Face the reality
• To take charge of the situation.
• Discuss this topic with your family members who support the abuse of your child.
• Be calm and composed in your approach while dealing with the issue.
• Trash out the outstanding issue pertaining to sexual abuse with the concerned member of the family involved.
• Adopt a balanced and pragmatic approach pertaining to the issue of child sexual abuse.
• Sternly warn the concerned person in the family regarding the grave consequences incase if further sexual abuse of the child continues, by keeping a tab on the activities family member.
• Discuss this issue with your family physician and counselor.
• Counsel the concerned person (abuser) involved in child sexual abuse.
• Analyze the mindset of the abuser and the reason for committing such a heinous crime on the child.
• Provide ample support and counsel the child.
• Shower abundant love and repose confidence on your child. Lend your ears to her grievances.
• Never leave your child alone or let him/her feel lonely.
• Give ample time to the child to overcome the trauma. 
• Take preventive measures to see that such an incident does not re-occur again.
• Report abuse to your local child protection service agency and ask about crisis support help.

It can be hard for adults if the abuser is close to them. Still, the abuse should be reported to your local child protection agency or family-physician. It is the best method to deal with the issue of child-abuse within your own family.

Dr Sameer

Child sexual abuse is the most horrific abuse perpetrated on unsuspecting children and has the potential to erase the essence of childhood—happiness and trust. Child sexual abuse is a significant dimension of child abuse that is brought into focus each year on November 19, the day earmarked as World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse.

Appropriate and timely intervention can help ease the pain and set the child on the road to recovery. It requires a multi disciplinary approach involving doctors, the police and social workers to achieve a holistic healing in the affected child. In developing countries where child abuse, though rampant, is only now coming into public focus, there is no planned intervention to address this issue at the practical level.

Case in point is this unspeakable horror that a 5-year-old had to face on her way back home from school in a suburb in a South Indian state. A man offered to ride her home on his bicycle. Trusting him, the little girl went with the man who took her to a secluded spot. He raped her and ran away when the child started screaming. The girl was too young to realize what happened to her and there was nobody for help in the vicinity. Bleeding, she limped home and could only tearfully tell her worried parents that “a man lay on her and pushed something long and hard into her private part.”

The worst was yet to come. The parents who were poor construction workers took her to a nearby clinic that couldn’t handle the situation and sent them to a police station to file a complaint, which they did. They went to 3 hospitals who didn’t want to take the case but the third hospital kindly put them in an ambulance and sent them to a fourth hospital which refused admission and sent them back to the third hospital, which, by then had a senior doctor who had arrived, and took in the child immediately. It was 1 am in the night by then.

At that point in time when the child was semiconscious, the police dragged in a “suspect” for the child to identify. The doctor sent them packing. All this happened in 2005. The family has since then moved to a different locality and trying to forget the nightmare. The case however remains open and each time the police station sees a new person in-charge, the family is approached for details. The girl is now nine years old and is asked to identify a man who sexually abused her when she was 5-years-old!

Can there be a more crass case of handling such a sensitive issue pertaining to a child? Intervention that is inappropriate and untimely can be more painful than the primary abuse. Abused children are looking to a kinder world that will respond to their silent shout for help in a responsible way.

Tea is a widely consumed beverage across the world. It is an integral part of everyday societal life.  Not only is tea a nature’s wonder herb, but a stimulant, too. Of late, this herb has been receiving a lot of attention from the media. Tea has existed since centuries in countries like China, Japan, India and Sri Lanka. Its potentiality in promoting health has received world-wide attention.People across the globe are turning to this ancient herb to re-discover its magical benefits. This herb contains protective, anti-oxidant and revitalizing properties. Today it is cultivated across the world especially in tropical and subtropical regions

Latin name – Camellia sinensis
Sanskrit Name – Shyamparni/Chaha

The degree of processing of this plant determines whether the tea would be green, black or red variety.

• Green Tea: It is the least processed amongst all the available varieties of teas. It is simply steamed quickly before packaging.
• Black Tea: It is partially dried, crushed and fermented.
• Red Tea: It is similar to the black tea wherein partial drying, crushing and fermentation processes are carried out.

But the most popular varieties as are:

a) Black Tea
b) Green Tea

The major constituents of tea that contributes in establishing its distinctive identity as a beverage include caffeine, Poly-phenols and essential oil, theanine (an amino acid unique to tea), vitamins, minerals, and methyl-xanthines. Pantothenic acid and riboflavin are active principles present in its leaves. Kaempferol and Quercetin are active principles present in the fresh leaves and green tea. It contains fluoride essential for strong teeth. and contains half the amount of caffeine found in an equally-sized cup of coffee. It is devoid of calories – which is Good News for Health Conscious individuals!!!

Recent research has depicted anti-oxidant properties (i.e. cancer fighting properties) in the herb-especially Green Tea. Extensive clinical research studies have been conducted to establish its efficacy.

Benefits of Drinking Herbal Tea:

• As a beverage and a stimulant
• Helps to fight against mutagenic agents i.e it contains anti-oxidant properties that prevents cancer.
• Helps to curb high blood pressure
• Prevents viral and bacterial infections in individuals
• Helps in delaying ageing process in individuals  
• Helps in improving and regulating the functions of the digestive and excretory systems.
• Helps to prevent occurrence of blood clots
• Helps in lowering cholesterol levels
• Helps in neutralization of enzymes that aid in the growth of tumors
• Helps to stimulate the immune system of an individual

Today, as part of this series, we present a recipe on how to prepare Herbal Tea from Chamomile herb which has been described below:

Chamomile Herbal Tea

Ingredients
1 ounce chamomile (Babunphool/Babuna)
2/3 ounce peppermint
1 ounce caraway seeds (Aniseed/Saunf)
2/3 ounce angelica (Babhool)

Use 1 teaspoon of the mixture per cup of hot water. Steep this mixture 10 minutes and strain.

Caution:  Never give an infant or young child a medicinal tea with peppermint in it. The menthol in the peppermint could have a reverse reaction.

Uses:

• For Gastric complaints
• For digestive disorders
• As a beverage and stimulant
• As an energizer

Dr Sameer Sippy

In the initial stages of this disease it is necessary for a patient to be engaged in a variety of physical, social and mental activities to exercise and stimulate the brain. New experiences for the patient –plays an important role; the trick is in providing stimuli to the brain and preventing it from getting bored. However one should ensure that the patient is not over-stimulated and stressed.

There are various methods that can be used to keep the mind stimulated and active. The patient should be encouraged to take part in various activities to provide a novel experience. Activities that kindle the interest of the patient like art, cooking, walking, swimming and gardening can be focused on; the main objective being able to provide enjoyment and the emphasis on achievement should take a backseat.

It is also to be recognized that a healthy mind requires a healthy body. So, the patient should be encouraged to do daily exercises; the exercise that appeals to the patient most must be encouraged. It has been found that going for a walk of four miles in a week cuts the chances of developing dementia by fifty percent. Going outdoors for a nature walk or a drive has great therapeutic value.

In addition, brain activity and coordination can be improved by encouraging the patient to do activities by the hand like knitting, model making or playing a musical instrument. Also playing video games can help to improve eye and hand coordination, spatial visualization skills, and can increase the number of things an Alzheimer’s patient can visually attend to simultaneously.

Besides certain brain games and puzzles like doing crosswords and number puzzles, memory games and board games can be encouraged as activities to a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. However this cannot be done if the patient is not lucid. They also help exercise the parietal lobes of the brain. Spending time with pets can also provide the peace, calm and entertainment.

Laughter and humor can also help. Even if an Alzheimer’s patient is no longer able to appreciate your jokes, he is sure to know that it is a joke and will smile or laugh which can provide some relief to them. Using humor like clowning, or teasing can be fun for them.

Besides it is also necessary to help such people to strengthen their memory. Helping an Alzheimer’s patient to learn new words can play a great part in enhancing his brain language centers, which would be of a great help. In addition, spelling exercises can help to improve his power to see a word before using it by mouth or in writing. This can help in activating various language related brain areas. In addition paying more attention to sensory exercises like practicing sharpening your brain by recollecting names of herbs, essences that you encounter in your day-to-day life can also help.

All these activities are sure to keep Alzheimer disease at bay and help a person to lead to improve the quality of life.

Links:
Alzheimers
The Brilliant Human Brain – Animation

Latin Name – Momordica charantia
Sanskrit Name – Karvellaka
English name – Bitter Gourd

Amongst the several home remedies that are used in controlling diabetes, one of the most important ingredients that are widely used is bitter gourd. Its active principle is called as plant-insulin possessing hypoglycaemic or insulin-like properties. Charantin another active principle helps in reducing the sugar levels of both-blood and urine.

Bitter gourd should be liberally included in the diet of the diabetic. For reducing high sugar levels in the diabetics and subsequently leading a healthy lifestyle, Momordica charantia (Karvellaka) should be used in the following ways:

• Consuming bitter gourd juice about four or five in number on an empty stomach every morning
• The seeds can be added to food in a powdered form
• Preparing a decoction by boiling the pieces of this fruit in water
• By drying the fruit totally under the sunlight, crushing it and consuming it in the form of dry powder. To consume this powder, lukewarm water is used as Anupana (vehicle)
• Having bitter gourd cooked in original cow’s ghee for a period of three months will bring the diabetes down by a significant amount
• It can be cooked, boiled, sautéed or baked and eaten as a vegetable.

Try out this mouth-watering Indian dish prepared with bitter gourd as a chief ingredient given below

BITTER GOURD FRY OR STUFFED KARELAS (Andhra Style)

Ingredients

10 bitter gourds, ½cup ground nut (peeled & crushed);
6 dry red chillies; salt to taste & for boiling;
1½ teaspoon sour curds
1 tsp lemon juice;
2 tsp cumin seeds;
5 garlic pods
3 to 4 tbsp oil to fry
1 pinch turmeric

Method: 

• After washing bitter gourds, slit them from both sides. Boil them 1½ teaspoon with sour curds adding with ½ sp salt, lemon juice & turmeric for 5 minutes.
• Allow to cool, strain water & keep aside.
• Grind onion. Red chillies, ground nuts, salt, coconut powder, garlic coarsely. Fry it in oil till it gets fine aromatic flavour. Remove from the oil and squeeze bitter gourds & remove extra water.  
• Stuff the spices in each bitter gourd evenly. Place all stuffed bitter gourds in the same oil and fry them on low heat to golden crispy brown.
• Turn bitter gourds gently without splitting the spices. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with plain rice.

Dr Sameer

The bearded women in those yesteryear circuses   never failed to  evoke the interest of curious onlookers. Had these women been around today they, possibly, would have lived different lives.

Unwanted hair in men and women has always been considered a nuisance; in some cases they are nothing less than  a nightmare. It was expected of people with unwanted hair growth  to resort to all possible ways such as waxing, tweezing and shaving to combat the  frizz onslaught.

In India, the use of turmeric for cosmetic purposes is common among  women although men are not encouraged to do so. The reason cited is that turmeric, when used on the face, and other body parts, keeps the skin smooth and controls hair growth .

But all the above methods are not permanent solutions to ‘hairy’ problems. That is  the main reason why laser hair removal is considered as a blessing by many.

Growth of a single hair is characterized by cycles of   growth, dormancy and shedding . The laser hair removal treatment has been known to be the most effective when carried out during the growth cycle. Due to  varied cycles of  hair growth a schedule will have to be designed to suit the patient, for optimal results. It is also necessary to avoid getting tanned  before the procedure.

The procedure begins by shaving and cleaning the body area that needs to be treated, followed by the application of an anesthetic cream. After this, pulsed laser beams are directed  to the target area and these are absorbed by the pigments in the hair follicles. The light from the laser is converted to heat, which damages the follicle and its ability for hair growth.

This treatment can be used to remove hair permanently, from any body part such as the face, neck, underarms, shoulders, groin or legs. It is tested and proven and is, therefore, safe and effective. The procedure may be uncomfortable but is not painful.

In advanced clinics, FDA approved equipments are used for the procedure.

The duration of the procedure depends on the area to be covered and may extend from a few minutes to an hour. Four to six laser sessions, at monthly intervals, are necessary for the effect of the procedure to be permanent.

Initially some skin reactions, such as redness, or swelling, may be visible but that would soon disappear and the person can soon revive normal activities .The procedure must be carried out by trained  experts,  in certified clinics, in order to minimize blisters, burns, scarring  or any other unwarranted skin reaction.

The cost of the method depends on the body geography of the concerned individual, the kind of laser used, the intensity of hair growth and the time taken for the procedure. It is, by and large, affordable.

Now if you have been craving for that perfect -looking bikini line you know how to go about it, don’t you?

Written by:
Dr. Reeja Tharu

World over people are drooling over ‘size zero’ damsels.  Much has been written about their diet fads and their exercise regimes and how they go about making thousands swoon! While they swirl and twirl in their attempt to fascinate the public, and make tons of money in the process, there has been a group of people who have been feeling increasingly alienated—of course I am talking about the chronically obese!

This group find themselves bearing the brunt of public ridicule and often realize with angst  that they are not welcome everywhere. Many become victims of self pity and low self esteem, withdraw into a shell and interact only with those who are  sympathetic towards them.
 Such a situation prompted a horizontally- challenged woman in the US  to start a fat club where obese individuals can assemble and interact without having to worry what the world thinks of them. It is a venue intended for plus -sized party animals who can flirt without fat being a cause of concern.

Let us remember one thing—this is not a group of geniuses, writers or political strategists assembling to exchange  ideas. This is a human assemblage that has resulted from discrimination that, probably, manifests as stares, uncalled- for comments and careless gestures. Instead of trying to motivate them to loose  weight for their own health’s sake, the community’s discriminatory mindset has alienated these large -sized individuals and has prompted them to form smaller islands within the community.

The ‘size zero’ ads with their ‘thin- is- in’ themes really does not help! These ads can be depressing for those who are chronically battling obesity and  can prompt them to go on a feeding binge!

Since eternity skin color, tone and race have been the basis of discrimination; physical and mental handicap have been other reasons. Now ‘obesity’ is the dirty word and a reason  to alienate fellow humans.  Tomorrow those with black eyes and black hair may be considered freaks and candidates to be sidelined. And the list will grow.

The  best thing that we can possibly do is to motivate  an obese individual in his battle with the bulge and guide him to lead a healthier life. It is time we recognize the discriminatory streak in us and work towards eliminating intolerance towards fellow humans!

Dr. Reeja Tharu

We are as old as we look or, rather, our skin looks .

Although a smooth skin remains the glowing aspiration of  all women, it becomes an unreal goal with age. This is when antiaging creams steps in.

But how safe are these ‘harbingers of youth’? It seems that the users of these products have more to fear than just aging.

It has been recently reported in the media that several prominent brands of  anti ageing creams contain the active ingredient alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs).

According to Dr Sam Epstein, chairman of the US Cancer Prevention Coalition, these are “probably the most dangerous cosmetic products on the market”.

Many of these age- controlling products, that claim to erase fine lines and diminsh wrinkles, actually work by peeling away the top -most layer of the skin, thereby making it vulnerable to damage through sun exposure and  enviornmental toxins.It is exactly for this  reason that many  companies that sell  products with AHA  warn  consumers that it is mandatory for them to use a sunscreen.

But obviously,  it is not enough!

The US Food and Drug Administration has cautioned consumers that AHAs “could destroy the upper layers of skin, causing severe burns, swelling and pain”.

Apparently, AHA is not the only culprit. Another  harmful product, limonene, a known carcinogen also finds its way into several anti -aging creams.

What is it that prompts these companies to churn out these creams in tons? I believe it is our obsession — with  youth and anything young. We started living out of harmony with nature, and the consequence was telling.That is when the ‘cosmetic rasputins’ stepped in with their bottled remedies.

I have just named a few harmful products  but it is anyones guess that there are many many more . It is ok for the countries where  paranoia and regulations control  the sale and recall of such products.What about ‘lesser’  countries? Do we allow ourselves  to be  enthralled by porcelain models and blissfully  continue to use these creams ?

There are so many factors that promote  aging. Poor nutrition, lack of exercise and stress are just a few.It goes without saying that diseases and familial predisposition are also among the factors that enhance ageing. Therefore, it is important to understand what is wrong in the first  place and analyse thoroughly before succumbing to charlatans.

The need for the hour is the ‘back to nature’ approach .Make sure you put the right things into your system to support it for life — this includes sensible healthy foods and clean water. Regular exercising is mandatory for a youthful and a disease-free state.Eliminate stress .You can choose your own methods to de stress—there are plenty around.All these methods will reduce the production and action of free radicals which damage cells.

Traditional practices have come up with their own antiaging products and beauty -enhancing creams that use only natural ingredients. Ayurvedic products are one of them. .It would be worth while to give them a try.

Aging is unstoppable. The challenge is to age gracefully and not cut a sorry figure .If the above  tips are carefully followed  you will be forced to smile at the  youthful  ‘stranger’ you see in the  mirror.

What’s stopping you?
 
Dr. Reeja Tharu

An Australian study has revealed that there is a definite rise in the number of couples seeking the aid of Artificial Reproductive Technique (ART) to produce children — the real good news is that the number of multiple gestations, resulting from this procedure, has steeply declined.

It is common for twins and triplets to be born as a result of ART, which, needless to say, is an already complicated and sensitive procedure.

The recent decline in multiple fetuses could be assigned to the fact that several ART laboratories have made it mandatory to adopt the ‘single embryo transfer’ policy whereby only a single embryo, with morphologically viable features, is transferred into the uterus. Sometimes Pre implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is used to select the embryo.

In India, however, ART continues to flourish under a shroud of secrecy. There are no regulations in place to govern and monitor the functioning of ART labs and, (honest) record- keeping is still considered unnecessary by many. The shady nexus between ART specialists and their promoters (pharma companies) lays emphasis on success rate ‘at any cost’. One of the measures employed is to transfer multiple embryos (3 to 4) into the uterus which often results in multiple gestations. These are eventually downsized to allow the survival of a single fetus.

Such a move is justified by several specialists; while some enter the denial mode. Whatever the case, this subject deserves a more sensitive approach than what is currently being attributed to it.

After all, every life is precious… including that of the Unborn!
Dr.Reeja Tharu

Related links

1. Artificial Insemination
2. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – Animation
3. Genetic Technology and Eugenics
   

Actress Suzanne Somers made a recent statement that chemotherapy killed Patrick Swayze.

It must be remembered that the ‘Ghost’ actor died recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

As a cancer survivor herself, Somers  felt entitled to make a statement on a subject that was close to her. “They took a beautiful man and put toxins in his body,” she said. The actress felt that instead of chemotherapy Swayze could have been put on a special diet to fight cancer by boosting his immune system.

Perhaps she was right…perhaps!

Researchers at Johns Hopkins recommend  alternative ways (besides chemotherapy) to counter cancer.

According to them, cancer cells are ubiquitously present in everyone but they are constantly kept in check by an ever – vigilant surveillance  system (read  immune system).A compromise in this surveillance leads to the growth and proliferation of cancer cells.
This compromise could be a result of multiple nutritional deficiencies which can be overcome by resorting to a suitable diet that includes supplements.

It is a well known fact that chemo- and radio therapy snuffs out healthy cells in the various tissues of the body. These treatments also cause a build up of toxins  which impairs the immune system resulting in the person succumbing to infections and several other complications.

Therefore, it appears ( for obvious reasons ) that the best way to contain  cancer cells is  to starve them by abstaining from foods that promote their  growth .

Sugar is a great favorite of cancer cells; most of the sugar substitutes too are harmful as they contain aspartame.

Cancer cells flourish in an acidic environment. Therefore keeping meat- based food to the minimum helps to control the growth of  malignant cells.

Milk is reported to produce mucus especially within the GI tract –cancer cells are reported to thrive on mucus.It would therefore be a good idea to substitute milk products with that of soy products including soy milk.

Vegetable juice is excellent for replenishing the damaged healthy cells. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains  help to maintain an alkaline environment which is necessary to check cancer.

Of course, Patrick Swayze  smoked  3 packs a day. It would help to refrain from abusing the body by smoking or drinking  excessively. Also, never abstain from regular exercising.

No promise is made but, when  all these factors are followed it would be easier to fight the harbingers of cancer, a disease that seems to have  gripped all of mankind by the tail!

Dr.Reeja Tharu

Related links

1. Pancreatic cancer
2. Patrick swayze
3. Super Foods
   

Lowering one’s blood pressure to reach ‘ normal’ values is known to have little clinical benefit according to Cochrane analysis.
 
According to Cochrane Review’s systematic analysis  of available  evidence, researchers found that the use of  anti -hypertensive drugs to bring down the  blood pressure below  140/90 mm Hg did not reduce associated  death rates or the morbidity linked to  high BP.

A number of publications suggest that “lower is better” and recommend aiming for lower BP targets. The present study does not endorse this view.

The review included seven trials involving 22,089 people. It showed that there was no difference, between the standard group (aiming for a BP of  140/90Hg) and the second group (aiming for 135/85Hg), in terms of death rates or associated morbidities like heart attacks, strokes and  heart  or kidney failure.
 
Says Jose Arguedas, lead researcher of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Costa Rica, “At present there is no evidence from randomized trials to support aiming for a blood pressure target lower than 140/90, in the general population of patients with elevated blood pressure,”
 
“Our research included patients with diabetes or chronic renal disease, and the evidence was slightly less robust for those subgroups of patients. We intend to carry out separate systematic reviews for those subgroups, especially because guidelines recommend even lower blood pressure targets for them”, states Arguedas.
 
Perhaps the trick to increase one’s life span is to keep lifestyle diseases, like diabetes, at bay. This can be realized by   following the ‘take it easy’ policy to reduce stress and by maintaining a healthy lifestyle regime. Life then becomes more pleasurable and worth every living  minute!

Dr.Reeja Tharu

Related links

1. Quiz on Hypertension

2. Blood Pressure charts

3. Stroke – First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide

There are over a million alcohol- related deaths each year, world wide. A considerable number of these deaths occur among the young, including students.

Cochrane Systematic Review came with the following interesting observation — providing students with personalized feedback regarding their penchant for drinking, and how their behavior compares to social norms, might help to reduce alcohol misuse.

Substantial social science research has revealed  that students are inclined to verestimate the quantity of alcohol that their peers consume. This overestimation has an impact on their behaviors and contributes to the escalating numbers of alcohol-related deaths among them.

According to the 22 trials conducted by  Cochrane research, providing personalized  feedback about students’ drinking  behaviors (and that of their peers’) using the internet or individual face- to- face  counseling sessions may help to address these misconceptions  and to minimize alcohol – related problems!

Group counseling and mailed feedback did not produce the necessary impact.

Lead researcher Maria Teresa Moreira, from the School of Health and Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, UK says “We can’t make direct comparisons between the different interventions, but ,based on a small number of studies, web-based interventions would certainly seem to be a cost-effective option for reducing alcohol misuse.”

“We know that social norms have a powerful impact on thought and behaviour, so changing people’s perceptions about what is normal can really help. Most of the effects lasted for a few months, but some lasted over a year, particularly for the web-based feedback,”  Moreira added.

So the next time your teen binges on alcohol, feed him back his drinking behavior and don’t forget to use the net!

Dr.Reeja Tharu

Related links

1. Alcohol abuse

2. Natural Remedy – Alcoholism

Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder that causes irregular, often painful menstrual periods and pelvic pain. It commonly occurs in women in the reproductive age group and is a cause of infertility in them.

Several treatments are available for endometriosis –the most common being laproscopic surgery and medications. However, surgery does always guarantee a complete cure; drugs, on the other hand, may have unpleasant side effects—acne, hot flushes and weight gain being a few of them.

There was news doing the rounds in the scientific circles that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM)  had an impressionable  effect on patients suffering from endometriosis and that these herbs have less side effects.

The stake was too good – which led the Cochrane review researchers to conduct systematic study on the effect of Chinese herbs on endometriosis patients.

Two trial studies were conducted —one trial proved that the symptomatic relief provided by CHM was comparable to that provided by the hormonal drug gestrinone;  the good news was that there were fewer side effects.

The other trial revealed that CHM provided greater relief than the drug danazol and therefore was much effective .It also resulted in fewer side effects.

Lead researcher Andrew Flower of the Complementary Medicine Research Unit at the University of Southampton in the UK says, “These findings suggest that Chinese herbs may be just as effective as certain conventional drug treatments for women suffering from endometriosis, but at present we don’t have enough evidence to generalize the results”.
It may be interesting to see how long the symptom relief provided by CHM lasted in comparison to the conventional drugs. One is also curious to find out if the CHM resulted in side effects that appeared with time.

The Cochrane review researchers apparently had a difficult time selecting the studies for review because many of them had poor research methodology and poor reporting quality. These are the features that future studies must look into  in order for CHM to be accepted by the scientific world and for the majority to benefit from them!
 
Dr.Reeja Tharu

Related links

1. Endometriosis

2. Alternative medicine

Creativity springs from near-desperation it is said. Ransacking the imagination in a near-desperate situation does throw up an inimitable Mickey Mouse every once in a while. But imagine the marriage ceremony of a couple of frogs solemnized by a huge group of people, who then reverently looked heavenwards for rain! That is precisely what the villagers in Padapalli, a drought-hit village in the southern state of TamilNadu did to invoke the rain gods.

Assam, Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and TamilNadu are among the many states that have performed “froggy” weddings since the beginning of the year as a desperate resort to ward off the looming threat of drought and a season of failed food and cash crops. Villages in India abound in superstitious beliefs that rush to the forefront during a crisis. Getting a nude virgin to run around the village when it is pitch dark and getting a couple of donkeys or asses “married” are some weird customs raked from the hoary past by desperate villagers waiting for rain.

Encouraged by a report in the local newspaper of a downpour in Udipi, Karnataka (another south Indian state) after a marriage ceremony of frogs was performed, enthusiastic villagers in Padapalli, Tamil Nadu, decided to follow suit.

On an auspicious hour last Friday evening, the people caught a male and a female frog from the village well, placed them in a brass pot in the village temple, garlanded them and married them off amidst the chanting of mantras, drum beat and bursting of fire crackers. The frogs were then fed with banana and milk—a ritual feeding of the bride and the bridegroom soon after many Indian marriages. About 2000 people from neighboring villages joined in the fanfare.

Will the froggy couple live together happily ever after? Nobody knows. And did it rain in Padapalli after the froggy wedding? Well, there was a drizzle on Tuesday, said the villagers defensively. They are certainly praying for more!!

Thilaka Ravi

Hopes of arriving at a global consensus to tackle the serious challenge of climate change were dashed last week at L’Aquila, Italy, when the developed nations dragged their feet on arriving at concrete short term plans and a definite roadmap to reduce polluting emissions that can cause disastrous global climate change. Instead, the developed nations chose to pass the buck to the developing nations.

Close on the heels of this setback to set right the emission cuts of green house gases (GHG) that threaten to play havoc on global climate, comes the bombshell in the guise of the El Niño update that can spell disaster for Asian climes. Australia’s weather bureau has reported a spike in the El Niño weather pattern that is gaining in strength at the moment.

El Niño (literally “little boy” in Spanish) is the term used for the abnormal warming pattern in the Eastern Pacific Ocean which has the potential to dramatically change weather patterns across the Asia-Pacific region for the worse. A heightened El Niño can result in monsoon failure in Asia, cause drought in Australia and a horrendous downpour in parts of South America.

“We are warming reasonably rapidly,” said Andrew Watkins from Australia’s meteorological department. The speed with which the equatorial Pacific region warms up will determine how the monsoon is gearing up to show its presence in India. The Indian meteorological department recently forecast a ‘near normal’ monsoon but with a reduced 81% of the normal rain. According to the director of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune’s National Climate Center, D.S. Pai, if the warming spikes faster its effect may weaken the monsoon earlier and drastically reduce the predicted rainfall.

North India is already gearing up to face the impending threat of drought in most areas. The repeat of the bumper paddy crop as in 2008 in places like Punjab is clearly ruled out this year. The sowing of wheat, paddy, pulses and sugarcane has been delayed following the rains playing truant.

Changing climate and weather patterns make a global impact, no doubt. But it is inevitably the developing nations that take the hit badly.

Thilaka Ravi

Have u come across anyone who is obsessively preoccupied with her dark skin or worried  beyond redemption about his ‘larger than normal’ nose?

Well, it may help to know that we are dealing with someone suffering from a psychological condition called the Body Dysmorphic disorder (BDD)  also known as ‘Dysmorphic syndrome’ or ‘Body dysmorphia’.

The disorder shot to  prominence recently with  the king of pop – Michael Jackson- himself being diagnosed with  it.

Obsessive-compulsive traits are clearly seen in several individuals with this disorder — which usually sets in during adolescence.

Several symptoms are exhibited by the BDD sufferers but the most prominent feature is the  heavy grooming that they indulge in and the gargantuan amount of time that they spend before the mirror, worrying  about a  perceived defect (often non existent) .

The illness causes psychological distress to the point of severe anxiety, depression  and  impaired  social functioning. Social phobia and  eating disorders like anorexia  nervosa are some of the co- morbidities associated with  BDD (Little wonder that  MJ faded out on an empty stomach!).

In an attempt to set right their ‘mal-aligned’ features many of these patients seek the help of dermatologists and plastic surgeons. One surgery is often followed with requests for more!! (don’t we know all know that MJ’s later day identity became synonymous with his much- operated -upon nose?)

BDD is a chronic condition that could worsen with lack of treatment. However, it must be appreciated that Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) has proven beneficial for many.

Dr. Reeja Tharu

Related links

1. Michael Jackson’s Swan Song : Sans Voice

2. Michael Jackson’s tryst with Vitiligo

It may be a boon where the population is exploding but… the distant toll of humanity’s  death bell can also be heard!

Apparently man has been paying , and will continue to pay, a heavy ransom for his tryst with technology and for his penchant for modern living.

Cell phones Stunt Sperm Count

“Mobile phones are sperm suckers”,  screamed  headlines in the United Kingdom a few years ago, striking panic  into the hearts of nearly  72 per cent of mobile-touting men keen on starting  a family.

Scientists  from Hungary’s  University of Szeged have proved that  mobile phones could reduce sperm count by a third, thanks entirely to the radiation these phones  emit.

Some scientists believe that there is much ado about nothing and that more studies need to be carried out to endorse the Hungarian study. Nevertheless the verdict is out. Beware of thy mobile!

Daddy Cool

There is some bad news for young dads- to- be who spend long hours behind  wheels. Italian researchers claim that driving for prolonged periods is detrimental to the life and quality of  sperms—a fact confirmed by research on  taxi drivers and other men with driving jobs.

Sperms even find body heat harmful — which is why they are stored in  testicular pouches (outside the body) that provide a cooler ‘ambience’. Driving long hours increases testicular temperature, which hampers sperm survival. This damage can be minimized by taking intermittent  breaks.

The above fact also means no steam baths and Jacuzzi when the wife is ovulating. Also remember to wear clothes that allow your ‘two little boys’ to breathe!

Baby Dreams go up in Smoke

Smoking tobacco in any form — be it the ubiquitous cigarette or the more destructive ‘pot’— has a negative impact on sperm production. This is due to the  damaging effect of tobacco on the sperm DNA.

Starting family-Waisted effort

Obese men too have far little chance of fathering children when compared to men of average weight –this  is because  localized fat is capable of generating heat that is potent enough to harm  sperms.

A waist that measures 40 inches warrants weight reduction in order to start a family.

Stress and Sperms

Stress has long been known to have a negative impact on sperm count. So melt the stress if you are really keen to increase your chances to make babies.

Others

Those men who are exposed to solvents such as decorators, painters, dry cleaners and builders run the risk of low  sperm count .Using gloves and wearing a mask is known to help.

Sexually transmitted diseases also affects male fertility negatively. Practice safe sex…always!

All these efforts and sacrifices may be worth their while when you see your baby smiling toothlessly at you.
What then are you waiting for?

Dr. Reeja Tharu

RELATED LINKS

1. Genetics of  male infertility
2. Journey of male sperm- animation
3. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – animation

Dr. Pauline W. Chen in her recent article on “patient centered care” (published in The New York Times) has debated the viability of a new medical model which centers on “shared decision making” between doctor and patient.

This, she believes, if made mandatory in all areas of care, will give
greater magnitude to patient preference, thereby (occasionally) putting evidence-based care on the back burner.

This novel system seems set to gain popularity even as an increasing number of stories have been reported from patients who feel doctors take them for granted.

The value of their individual experiences is diminished by doctors who are pressed for time and who are forced to make snap decisions that may, at times, be questionable.

Dr. Chen has pointed out that ” the system around clinicians makes it impossible to customize care the way it needs to be. We don’t have the standard of services or processes that are comfortable for the patients. We have built a technocratic castle, and when people come into it, they are intimidated.”

Any step taken in the direction of the new model would seem extremely challenging. At present, it is still very difficult for patients with chronic illnesses or rare diseases to find physicians who would genuinely consider their opinions and who would be
supportive of their needs.

Though initially you might be bogged down by the prospects of holding your own against a physician, the process might eventually help to generate optimum care.

Here are some suggestions on ‘How to handle a Difficult Doctor’ as suggested by the WEGO Health Dystonia Community:

* Try to approach the problem with the goal of minimizing friction, instead of attempting to prove who is right and who is wrong. The doctor’s office appointment can be reset with this goal in mind.

* Before an appointment, list out the questions that you need to ask the doctor. Acting professionally is paramount to get the doctor to value your opinion.

* Listening to what the doctor has to say is vital. It is also important to note the tone of his voice. Being defensive does not mean that the doctor is sidelining your suggestions; instead it may merely mean that he is frustrated by results. So weigh out the situation and act /talk accordingly.

* Be assertive and not confrontational while dealing with the problem. While expressing your opinion your words should be assertive and firm but the tone of your voice should not convey anger or annoyance.

* Sometimes it may be imperative to have an intervention with the difficult doctor. In this case a social worker or behavioral health specialist may be consulted on how best to approach the problem without making the doctor go on the defensive. It may be well for the patient to remember that, more often than not, a compromise may be unavoidable.

Related Links

Should Docs Wear a White Coat?

Scientists don’t know yet what causes dreams, but we do know something about the state of dreaming.

Immediately after we go to sleep, our brains enter a stage called ’slow wave’ sleep. The brain waves (electrical activity in the scalp) slow down distinctly from the awake stage,  the muscles are completely relaxed, and the heart beat, blood pressure, and body temperature reduce. If someone is woken up at this stage, they don’t remember dreams.

Then the brain waves change: as we enter what is known as ‘rapid eye movement’ (REM) sleep, the brain waves are indistinguishable from when we are awake. This is when we dream.

When we dream, our heart rate and blood pressure may rise, and the eyes move behind the eyelids (hence the term REM sleep). The rest of the muscles, though, are in a state of paralysis (except for those that control the basic body processes). This is what prevents us from acting out our dreams.

Normally,  slow-wave sleep alternates with REM sleep. Over one night of sleep for the normal adult, the REM sleep stages become gradually longer till the person awakens. Babies, though, spend much of their sleep in slow-wave sleep.

When the switch between slow-wave sleep and REM sleep does not work properly, it can cause a lot of trouble. In people who walk or talk in their sleep the mechanism that causes low muscle tone during REM sleep doesn’t seem to switch on. On the other hand, in people with narcolepsy,  the muscles may suddenly lose tone (like during REM sleep) when the person is awake. The person will not be able to move – a state called cataplexy. People with narcolepsy also switch between the waking and sleeping states suddenly (they may have a sleep attack in the middle of a cooking or driving, for example) as well as between slow-wave and REM sleep.

Why? Scientists suspect that a mixture of genetics and environmental factors cause narcolepsy. But like so many things connected with sleep, we don’t understand much about what is the trigger.

Susan Vinodh Pandian

Read more about dreaming and sleep:

1. Sleepiness calculator

2. A brain scanner that can reconstruct dreams?

3. Dreams affect our judgement and behavior

4. Why sleep deprivation affects some people more than others

Poverty and mental illnesses often go together. Depending on the studies you follow, poor people are between two to nine times as likely as wealthy people to suffer from mental illness, whether depression, schizophrenia, or substance abuse.

So does poverty cause mental illness? Most researchers today acknowledge that an intersection of social, environmental, psychological, and genetic causes lead to mental disorders, though research into causes and cures have tended to focus disproportionately on genetics and drugs in recent years.

But public health experts acknowledge that the conditions of poverty – poorer medical care, fewer resources, higher levels of mortality and substance abuse – seem to themselves lead to mental disorders. Poorer people also recover at lower rates from mental illness and they are more often admitted to institutions, less likely to have jobs, and are more alone and stigmatized.

But there is one surprise: mentally ill people from developing countries are more likely to recover than those from developed countries, with double the rates of remission. This goes against experience in every other medical field, where fewer hospitals and less availability of drugs, for example, produce worse outcomes in public health.

Why? We don’t really know. The WHO in its World Mental Health Report of 2001 speculated that the greater familial support, lesser stigma, and the fact that it is easier to go back to earning your livelihood in developing countries, for example with domestic or other kinds of physical labor, help mentally ill people in countries like India do better than mentally ill people in wealthier countries.

Which is something that reinforces what I believe in: where mental illnesses and disorders are concerned, drugs alone are simply not enough. You also need to provide shelter, food – and sympathy and respect for the person who is suffering.

Susan Vinodh Pandian

Read more about it:

1. Poverty and health

2. Financial crises affect the mental health of children

3. War makes Afghan children more vulnerable to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

4.  Global recession can cause rise in mental health problems

5. Poverty forces couple into depression and suicide

The bladder shows one example of the mind-body connection: many children lose bladder control when they are afraid, or in periods of stress like when a new brother or sister is born.

Perfectly healthy adults, with no previous incontinence problems, have been known to urinate when in extreme fear. There is also a connection between incontinence and depression – depressed women are more likely to be incontinent, and incontinent women are more likely to be depressed, though the causal link is not clear.

We don’t know yet how this happens: the walls of the bladder are normally relaxed and the sphincter (the ring-shaped muscle leading out of the bladder which dilates to allow urine to flow out) closed in the ‘fight or flight’ response to stress or fear. In extreme cases, though, it seems the digestive system in effect ’shuts down’, and a person will have an urge to urinate, or feel as if he has an attack of diarrhea.

The mind-body connection works the opposite way too. So if you suffer from incontinence, some mental training can help. A study by the Loyola University Health System, reported in the April issue of the Journal of Urology, showed that cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and meditation helped ten patients (mean age: 62) reduce their episodes of incontinence to almost one-fourth of what it was before the therapy.

So should those who suffer from incontinence choose meditation and CBT over the many other surgical treatments, exercises, and drugs available for urinary incontinence? Is it a sign of mental strength? Not necessarily – some people try CBT and meditation and if they are not successful look for other options.  Others find surgery and drugs have not helped so much, and try out meditation and CBT as their final desparate resort.

It’s a cliche, but it’s true: combining positive mental imaging, CBT, bladder retraining (learning how to predict and control urination, for example, through keeping a bladder diary), pelvic-floor exercises, and if necessary drugs and surgery, will help you most.

Susan Vinodh Pandian

Read more about it:

1. Urinary incontinence calculator for women

2. For women with incontinence: keeping a bladder diary

3. Stress incontinence

4. Scientists try to identify mechanism of mind-body connection

Everyone has some risk for mental illness, like everyone has some risk getting a disease. Today, scientists believe that mental illness is at least partly genetic but there are strong social and environmental triggers. So the risk may be higher for one person and lower for another.

Things that increase risk of mental illness:

• Physical factors: having older parents increases the risk of Down Syndrome (old mother) and autism and schizophrenia (older father).
• Some infections like syphilis and meningitis can cause dementia, as do other diseases like pellagra (vitamin B3 deficiency) and head injuries.
• Alcoholism and substance abuse.
• Family history of psychotic illness.
• Breakdown and conflict in the family or at work.
• Emotional trauma, being a victim of violence.
• Poverty.

Things that protect from mental illness:

• Strong family ties or ties with other people in religious or social contexts.
• Parents who are functioning well in the family and at work, who are loving and supportive.
• At least one person to connect with and who is dependably around.
• Good relationship with peers and other adults outside the family.
• Personal resilience and emotional skills.
• Religious faith.
• Economic security.
• Good physical health.
• Success at school and work.

Susan Vinodh Pandian

Read more about mental illnesses:

1. About mental health on Medindia

2. Understanding mental illnesses through gene-environment interactions

3. Twenty million Indians have serious mental disorders

4.  Support groups for mental illnesses and addiction

Today (July 1) is Doctor’s Day in India, and, in the din of malpractice, side effects, and conflicts of interest, we often forget what a service many nameless doctors do. Look at these statistics:

The baby born today will live to be 66 years on average. In 1900, he could live to be 30.

In the beginning of the  last century, 10% of babies died before they were one year old. Today, the figure is 0.7%.

In the beginning of the twentieth century,  ten mothers died for every 1000 babies born. Today, the figure is just 1% of that, <0.1 death per 1000 births.

Almost one person in three was infected with smallpox in 1900, and of those infected one in three would die. Today, smallpox is eradicated. Many other infectious diseases like polio and  guinea-worm disease are much less common than they used to be. Seventy percent of people infected with cholera would die because of fluid loss due to diarrhea in the nineteenth century. Today, with oral rehydration therapy, less than 3% die.

Let’s give credit where credit is due.  A lot of this is due to modern medicine and its practitioners, and public health measures spearheaded by them.

Susan Vinodh Pandian

Read more:

1. Health facts

2. Top ten facts about senior health

3. AIDS statistics

4. Understanding epidemics using statistics

We have heard of individuals who perennially complain of fatigue. A visit to the doctor does not usually bear fruit as no illness is diagnosed… and the person’s tired state continues.

Welcome to the world of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)!

CFS has finally managed to garner enough support and harness the recognition it deserves.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA, now recognizes the fact that 1 million to  4 million Americans are affected by Chronic Fatigue Syndrome( CFS). However, only half these numbers seek medical attention for their illness.

What triggers this condition still remains a mystery. Epstein –Barr virus, anemia, allergies and other factors have been implicated.

As can be guessed by the name, CFS causes severe fatigue in the sufferers to the extent that their normal life is seriously impaired. Pain (non specific) and debilitating fatigue are common hallmarks of this condition. A wide range of symptoms  have been listed including flu-like symptoms and memory loss. The vast majority of CFS patients are women and no one knows why!

Depression in these patients is quite common as the current medicines are unable to relieve the pain. However anti depressants and anti histamines are used to treat this condition. Alternative therapies, like acupuncture, are  known to relieve the pain.

Dr. Reeja Tharu

Related Links

1. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome- An Overview

2. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Calculator

3. CPAP Treatment Improves Complaints of Fatigue and Tiredness in People With OSA