Your Guide to a Healthy Diet During Pregnancy

A healthy diet is the most important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, it is all the more important for a woman during her pregnancy. Your baby needs a healthy and nutritious diet to develop and grow. Gynaecologists at AMRI Hospital, one of the best maternity hospitals in Kolkata, state that you don’t need a special diet during pregnancy, but a well-balanced diet is a MUST for ensuring the right amount of nutrients both the baby and the mother.

Listed below are some of the best tips for women during pregnancy:

Don’t ‘eat for two’

Women during pregnancy tend to feel hungrier than usual, say health experts at AMRI Hospital, Kolkata. However, you do not have to ‘eat for two’. Starting your day with a healthy meal can help you avoid food items that are high on fats and sugar. Instead of cutting down on your favourite food items, you can change the amount of food to make your diet varied. Following a proper diet chart can also help you in maintaining the right balance. Your diet chart should show the quantity of nutrients you need each food group to achieve a healthy and balanced diet.

High intake of fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a storehouse of essential nutrients. In order to attain different nutrients needed by the body, it is important to eat a wide variety of food products, especially during pregnancy.  Various studies show that fruits are a good source of various nutrients potent enough to enrich your diet. Nutritionists at AMRI Hospitals recommend including at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables in your everyday diet – that can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced. It is important to ensure that you wash all the fruits and vegetables carefully before eating them.

Food items rich in carbohydrates

Women during pregnancy are advised to increase the intake of food rich in carbohydrates as it is a good source of energy. Your diet should include food items like bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, maize, millet, oats, yams and cornmeal. If you want to have chips, go for the ones with low fat and salt. You should also avoid refined starchy (white) food, and go for wholegrain or higher fibre options such as whole wheat pasta, brown rice or simply leaving the skins on potatoes.

Protein in pregnancy

Proteins are the building blocks of the body. Hence, your diet should include ample amount of protein rich food products like beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat (but avoid liver), poultry and nuts. Pregnant women should to go for lean meat and remove the skin from poultry. They should avoid adding any extra fat or oil while cooking.  Also, poultry or lamb should be cooked all the way through.

8 Tips to Prevent Dental Problems

Dental problems are easy to identify, but we do not often give much attention to these problems in the early stages, which include gum diseases, sensitive teeth and tooth decay. By ignoring these diseases, the severity of these diseases only increases with time, leading to a number of dental problems.

Here are some of the things you need to know to avoid various dental problems:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day: This is a very common advice that we have been hearing since childhood, but we hardly follow the same. According to medical practitioners at AMRI Hospital, one of the best dental hospitals in Kolkata, more than 50 percent people brush their teeth only once a day, which results in cavities. It is important to brush teeth twice a day to remove plaque and sticky substances that accumulate on the teeth. This helps in preventing gum diseases.
2. Regular Dental Check-ups: It is important to maintain dental health, which can be easily done through regular check-ups. Diseases pertaining to mouth, lips and throat can be avoided by visiting a dentist for an oral check-up after every 6 months. Regular check-ups can also prevent root canal and gum diseases, oral cancer, and other dental conditions.
3. Proper nutrition: One should always look to avoid excessive non-nutritional foods, which are often the reasons behind cavity and gum diseases. Soft drinks are also responsible for attacking the tooth enamel, which is not good for overall oral health. On the other hand, nutritional food can always limit the damage and help in maintaining good dental health for years.
4. Change your toothbrush: Dentists recommend that a person should change one’s tooth brush every 3 months. However, if you have some cavity issues or gum disease, you must change only it after 4-6 weeks. Also, remember to brush each and every part of your teeth and take at least a minute more than usual.
5. Treatment is vital: You need to understand that dental problems won’t go away without treatment. If you are suffering from any dental problem and hoping for it to go away without doing much, then you need to know that the condition will never improve without treatment. According to dentists at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best dental hospitals in Kolkata, it will get worse and you may need surgery to save other teeth from getting infected.
6. Bad breath means problem: Many people tend to ignore bad breath because they believe it is natural. According to a survey, however, more than 85 per cent of people with bad breath have a dental problem. A mouthwash will never cure the problem, it will at best mask the odor. So, one should consult a dentist and eliminate bad breath after a thorough oral check-up.
7. A dentist won’t hurt you: It is a myth that things like root canal are very painful. A number of people never visit a dentist out of fear, as they believe that the procedures of a dentist are painful. They feel that they will have to bear the pain for many days if they visit a dentist. However, this is not true as dentists use anesthesia before performing a major surgery, which does not cause pain. Also, a number of other procedures have become simple nowadays. So, if you have any problem, don’t think too much.
8. Tooth loss is avoidable: It may seem irrelevant, but tooth loss is actually avoidable till the age of 60 or even more. It is linked to gum diseases. If the gums are healthy, you will hardly develop such problems, which ultimately result in tooth loss. Brushing teeth twice a day, regular dental checkups and cleanings are the best methods of prevention against gum diseases. If you can avoid these diseases, half the battle against tooth loss is already won.

All in all, most dental problems are avoidable, suggest medical practitioners at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata. It all comes down to following procedures and maintaining dental health to fight with the diseases in the longer run.

AMRI Hospitals are ensuring the availability of affordable Heart stents in Kolkata By Nisha Malwani

Heart diseases are common in both developed and developing countries, and India is no exception. The death rate due to heart diseases has been rising across India over the last couple of decades. It has shot up by 34 percent, from 155.7 deaths per 1 lakh population in 1990 to 209.1 deaths in 2016.

According to the doctors at AMRI Hospital at Mukundapur, heart stents can play a big role in treating the heart disease, reducing the chances of a heart attack considerably. By, doing this, increasing death rate can be curbed in the future.

Stents are becoming increasingly common in several countries. A stent is a tube that helps in keeping the arteries open to carry the blood from heart to all the parts of the body. Most stents are made of wire mesh and are permanent, while some are made of fabric. These are called stent grafts and are often used for larger arteries.

However, the hefty expenses attached to heart stents have kept most patients at bay. They have not been able to benefit from the device, explain medical practitioners at AMRI Hospitals. But, a recent notification has raised hopes with National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) bringing prices down by as much as 85 percent. The prices have been fixed at 29,600 and 7,260 for drug eluting stents and bare metal stents.

Earlier, the same stents were available in the range of Rs 40,000 to Rs 1.98 lakh (drug eluting) and Rs 30,000 to Rs 75,000 (bare metal). The hidden costs added to people’s woes, making it difficult for a common man to afford the stent. But, it is possible for most to afford these now.

On the other hand, what needs to be seen is whether the revised pricing will lead to high quality stents disappearing from the market. Although most patients would be glad with the mere idea of being able to afford a stent, there is still a section of the society that will give importance to quality stents, regardless of the price.

AMRI Hospitals, best cardiac hospital in Kolkata, understands the challenges of providing quality stents at subsidized rates. However, they are confident of meeting the requirement by gearing up for the challenge. They believe in providing top notch and cost-effective services, without any hidden charges. AMRI Hospitals values the lives of people and aim to make all medical facilities available at affordable prices.

5 Tips to keep your Eyes Healthy

It is important to look after your eyes and stop taking them for granted to avoid serious medical conditions and developing eye-related problems.

• • Eye surgeries and eye conditions can be avoided, unless hereditary, by including few daily habits in your routine. You can effectively reduce puffiness, fine lines and dark circles near your eyes, after all, eyes are the windows to your soul and your health.

• • Take frequent breaks while working on a computer/laptop: This has been said time and again and believe it as it’s true. Continuous staring into screens can put strain on your eyes, resulting in vision problems and fatigue. Taking frequent breaks, blinking your eyes continuously for a short duration and looking in a particular direction about 20 feet away every 20 minutes, will keep your eyes healthy.

• • Food habits: We all have heard carrots are good for eyes. But, you should also include dark green leafy vegetables, fish, almonds, spinach, sunflower seeds and oranges in your diet. Drink at least 8 glasses of water.

• • Clean your eyes: This is most important, especially for women. Wash your eyes with cold water and clean them with a cleaner. Do not rub. Ladies, please take off your eye make-up completely before going to bed.

• • Sunglasses: You must wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Also, wear protective eyewear while doing sporting activities. Make sure you wash your hands before you touch your eyes or remove lenses.

• • Proper sleep: Try to get 8 hours of sleep. Also, switch off your gadgets 30 minutes before going to sleep. You need to rest your eyes after a long day. Exercising can improve oxygen levels and remove toxins from the eyes. Visit the best eye hospital now.

Source: MoneyControl.com

How Kolkata’s Healthcare System is changing with a shift in focus

Healthcare is a contentious issue in India, especially in a city like Kolkata with its high population density. Lack of infrastructure, unpredictable costs, inefficiency are some of the diseases ailing the healthcare in Kolkata.

Cases for medical negligence, expired medicines and fake doctor rackets are making the headlines almost every day. There is a huge gap between the demand and supply offered by the government. If not for private healthcare providers like AMRI Hospital Kolkata, the situation could have been even worse.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), only one in five doctors in rural India is qualified to practice medicine. There is one government doctor for every 10,189 people, one government hospital bed for every 2,046 people and one state-run hospital for every 90,343 people.

However, there is a ray of hope for the people of Kolkata. Recently, the state government has taken a few steps to overcome the healthcare problem. They have come up with a proposed healthcare Bill that will make all the private healthcare providers accountable. Apart from this, the law will review costs related to ICU, ventilation, implants, surgeries, etc. The law intends to make positive changes to the healthcare sector, making it more accessible and affordable.

There will be no room for self-styled doctors. There will also be a better assessment of quackery by state and district, and a better enforcement to ensure they don’t indulge in high-risk practices, such as use of injections and IV fluids.

Not only government, but some the private hospitals have started to tighten the screws when it comes to providing efficient healthcare services. AMRI hospitals in Kolkata are providing good healthcare facilities at Dhakuria, Mukundapur and Salt Lake. They also have one super specialty hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. All these hospitals are conducting 15,000 surgeries annually, with a roster of more than 5,000 healthcare professionals.

There are over 1,000 beds across the four AMRI hospitals, backed by advanced technologies and latest equipment. The group treats more than 3.5 lakh people every year, taking up the challenge of treating the most complicated cases. Over the last few years, it has made an immense contribution to the lives of people.

Although there are still a number of problems like shortage of healthcare providers, doctors,mismanagement and inadequate resources, the recent developments are surely changing the trend. It was common to hear people leaving Kolkata for Vellore, Chennai, Mumbai or other parts of India to get their serious ailments treated, but not anymore.

There has been a progress in all aspects of healthcare delivery due to investment in technology. The combined efforts of government and private hospitals like AMRI hospitals have changed the landscape of healthcare in Kolkata.

SOURCE – NewsPatrolling

Common Skin Disorders You Should Know About!

Your skin is vulnerable to a number of ailments, irritations and allergies. Skin-related issues can vary to a great extent in terms of symptoms and severity. Dermatologists at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best multispecialty hospitals in Eastern India, explain that these issues can be both major or minor, genetic or acquired, temporary or for a long term.

Listed below are some of the most common skin disorders:

Eczema

A skin disorder characterised by patches on the skin, which can become inflamed, itchy, red and cracked. It can also lead to blisters in a few cases. Eczema is a non-curable condition, which can be triggered by various environmental factors like smoke and pollen. However, the symptoms of this disease can be controlled with a proper treatment. It is not contagious and does not spread from one person to another. Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, which tends to develop various allergic conditions, like asthma and hay fever.

Psoriasis

A chronic autoimmune condition that results in a major change in the life cycle of skin cells. It mainly causes scales on the skin surface. These scales usually develop on the joints, such elbows and knees. They can also develop on other body parts like the hands, feet, neck, scalp and face. Psoriasis is the result of a quickened skin production process, say dermatologists at AMRI Hospitals. Although the condition is not curable, it can be controlled using mediations. Dermatologist in Kolkata, i.e. at AMRI Hospital warn that psoriasis is also related to a number of health conditions like diabetes, high blood lipids, cardiovascular disease, and a variety of other inflammatory diseases.

Acne

Nearly everyone suffers from acne at some point in their life. They usually occur on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, upper back and can leave scars or dark spots on the skin if untreated. Excess production of oil (sebum), bacteria, hormonal changes, dead skin cells and ingrown hair usually result in acne. They can occur in the forms of blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts.

Rosacea

A common, long-term, incurable, adult acne-like skin condition which causes redness in the skin and pimples on the face. According to the dermatologists at AMRI Hospitals, it usually affects the middle-aged and older adults. Rosacea can make your skin thick and also cause eye problems like redness, swelling, and pain. Stinging and burning sensation on the skin, rough patches, dry skin, a swollen and bulb-shaped nose, visible blood vessels, larger pores, broken blood vessels on your eyelids, bumps on your eyelids are some of the most common symptoms of Rosacea. Although the exact cause of rosacea is not known, factors like excess alcohol consumption, smoking, stress and spicy food can increase its risk significantly.

SOURCE – SuperHealthVoice

Your guide to a healthy diet during pregnancy

A healthy diet is the most important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, it is all the more important for a woman during her pregnancy. Your baby needs a healthy and nutritious diet to develop and grow. Gynaecologists at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best maternity hospitals in Kolkata, state that you don’t need a special diet during pregnancy, but a well-balanced diet is a MUST for ensuring the right amount of nutrients both the baby and the mother.

Listed below are some of the best tips for women during pregnancy:

Don’t ‘eat for two’

Women during pregnancy tend to feel hungrier than usual, say health experts at AMRI Hospital, Kolkata. However, you do not have to ‘eat for two’. Starting your day with a healthy meal can help you avoid food items that are high on fats and sugar. Instead of cutting down on your favourite food items, you can change the amount of food to make your diet varied. Following a proper diet chart can also help you in maintaining the right balance. Your diet chart should show the quantity of nutrients you need each food group to achieve a healthy and balanced diet.

High intake of fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a storehouse of essential nutrients. In order to attain different nutrients needed by the body, it is important to eat a wide variety of food products, especially during pregnancy.  Various studies show that fruits are a good source of various nutrients potent enough to enrich your diet. Nutritionists at AMRI Hospitals, best hospital in Eastern India recommend including at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables in your everyday diet – that can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced. It is important to ensure that you wash all the fruits and vegetables carefully before eating them.

Food items rich in carbohydrates

Women during pregnancy are advised to increase the intake of food rich in carbohydrates as it is a good source of energy. Your diet should include food items like bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, maize, millet, oats, yams and cornmeal. If you want to have chips, go for the ones with low fat and salt. You should also avoid refined starchy (white) food, and go for wholegrain or higher fibre options such as whole wheat pasta, brown rice or simply leaving the skins on potatoes.

Protein in pregnancy

Proteins are the building blocks of the body. Hence, your diet should include ample amount of protein rich food products like beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat (but avoid liver), poultry and nuts. Pregnant women should to go for lean meat and remove the skin from poultry. They should avoid adding any extra fat or oil while cooking.  Also, poultry or lamb should be cooked all the way through.

SOURCE – GetAHealth

Your guide to a healthy diet during pregnancy

A healthy diet is the most important part of a healthy lifestyle. However, it is all the more important for a woman during her pregnancy. Your baby needs a healthy and nutritious diet to develop and grow. Gynaecologists at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best maternity hospitals in Kolkata, state that you don’t need a special diet during pregnancy, but a well-balanced diet is a MUST for ensuring the right amount of nutrients both the baby and the mother.

Listed below are some of the best tips for women during pregnancy:

Don’t ‘eat for two’

Women during pregnancy tend to feel hungrier than usual, say health experts at AMRI Hospital, Kolkata. However, you do not have to ‘eat for two’. Starting your day with a healthy meal can help you avoid food items that are high on fats and sugar. Instead of cutting down on your favourite food items, you can change the amount of food to make your diet varied. Following a proper diet chart can also help you in maintaining the right balance. Your diet chart should show the quantity of nutrients you need each food group to achieve a healthy and balanced diet.

High intake of fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a storehouse of essential nutrients. In order to attain different nutrients needed by the body, it is important to eat a wide variety of food products, especially during pregnancy.  Various studies show that fruits are a good source of various nutrients potent enough to enrich your diet. Nutritionists at AMRI Hospitals, best hospital in Eastern India recommend including at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables in your everyday diet – that can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced. It is important to ensure that you wash all the fruits and vegetables carefully before eating them.

Food items rich in carbohydrates

Women during pregnancy are advised to increase the intake of food rich in carbohydrates as it is a good source of energy. Your diet should include food items like bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, maize, millet, oats, yams and cornmeal. If you want to have chips, go for the ones with low fat and salt. You should also avoid refined starchy (white) food, and go for wholegrain or higher fibre options such as whole wheat pasta, brown rice or simply leaving the skins on potatoes.

Protein in pregnancy

Proteins are the building blocks of the body. Hence, your diet should include ample amount of protein rich food products like beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat (but avoid liver), poultry and nuts. Pregnant women should to go for lean meat and remove the skin from poultry. They should avoid adding any extra fat or oil while cooking.  Also, poultry or lamb should be cooked all the way through.

SOURCE – GetAHealth

Stomach Ache Symptoms and Treatment

Overeating, gas, and mild viral infections are some causes of stomach aches. Learn how to spot the symptoms and give the right treatment.

What Causes Stomach Aches?

Stomach aches are caused by eating too much or too little food, intestinal gas, or a mild viral infection. A child who has recurring stomach aches should always be examined by a doctor. Repeated stomach aches may result from colic, constipation, or urinary tract infection. If there are additional symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and/or blood in the child’s stools, the child may have a chronic intestinal illness such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or celiac disease. But most cases of recurring stomach aches, especially in school-aged children, are related to psychological stress or anxiety. Children who are unable to verbalize their feelings of discomfort or stress often will express their discomfort by having stomach aches or headaches.

Help your child by recording information about his stomach aches. This information will help you understand why your child has recurring stomach pain and will help your child’s doctor to make the right diagnosis. The questions below can help you chart the necessary information:

• When did the pain start?
• Did it come on suddenly or gradually?
• Where is it located?
• Is the pain constant, or does it come and go?
• Is it in the same each time or does the pain’s location change?
• Is there anything that seems to trigger the pain?
• How long does the pain last? Is there anything that makes the pain better or worse (such as food, hunger, or body position)?
• Are there other symptoms, such as fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, present?
• Overall, how is your child’s condition?
• Is she less active than usual?
• Has your child lost any weight?

Treatment for Stomach Aches

For general abdominal pain, let your child lie down and rest until he feels better. If your child feels nauseated or is vomiting, give him small sips of clear fluid and avoid solid foods. Learn how to provide home treatment for two common causes of stomach aches below.

Colic

Colic generally improves over time. No medicine has been shown to improve colic and there isn’t one treatment that works for all babies. Do make sure that your baby is getting enough to eat. Some infants may have a sensitivity to dairy proteins, so if you’re breastfeeding, avoid eating milk, cheese, and butter for a week, and if you’re bottle-feeding, try giving your child a soy-based formula. If your baby’s condition improves, reintroduce dairy products after 14 days and see if the colic returns. Weigh your baby periodically to make sure that he is eating enough to gain weight. To prevent your baby from swallowing air, make sure that he is in a comfortable position when breastfeeding; if you’re bottle-feeding, try different types of bottles to see which ones minimize swallowed air.

You can give your baby a massage, but do not overstimulate him, which can make him feel more unsettled. Try carrying and rocking your baby or swaddling him with a blanket and letting him lie quietly in the dark. Some babies sleep better after a warm bath or become calmer with a pacifier; others respond well to singing, music, or monotonous sounds (a washing machine or vacuum cleaner). Other infants may calm down the repetitive movements of a car ride or a swing.

Constipation

A healthy diet is the key to preventing constipation. Have your child eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to get enough fiber, and give her plenty of fluids — water or juices — to drink. For constipated babies on formula, try adding 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls of prune juice or corn syrup for each 4 oz of formula. With older children, avoid meat, sugar, and milk or other dairy products because they can cause constipation. Children over 12 months old should not drink more than 16 to 24 oz of milk in 24 hours. Some children may have a sensitivity to milk, so their condition should improve after milk is eliminated from their diet. Give your child calcium-fortified soy milk to make sure she gets enough calcium.

Teach your child good toilet habits. Start toilet training as soon as your child shows the motivation for this. Use the time after meals for a trip to the toilet. Set up an area in the bathroom just for your child and use rewards as an incentive for the child. For older children, consuming prune juice and fibrous fruits (pears, apricots, and peaches) may provide relief. A warm bath can also help your child relax before using the toilet. Do not give your child pain relief medicines or laxatives if you don’t know the cause of the stomach ache, as some medicines can cause stomach pain.

SOURCE – Parents.com

3 Summer Skin Problems You May Not Know About

You may not realize that some skin problems may come along with the heat this summer. While there are popular skin problems like sun burn or sun poisoning, we share 3 other skin issues that you may encounter this summer. Read about these and learn more about how to prevent them.

1. Yeast rash: Women know what this is only too well, especially around their chest or abdominal skin folds. When you perspire in the summer, the moisture between the skin can become a home for yeast and if it is scratched or irritated by clothing or inadvertent scratching, by a secondary bacteria. This problem will go away with dryness by using powder to create a barrier between the skin. There are also some topical medications that a doctor may suggest. If you have concerns, you can add a picture of the rash or show it to a doctor. In most cases it can clear up within 2 weeks.
2. Back acne: This can happen to anyone, but sometimes the summer causes breakouts because we’re using abundant amounts of sunscreens and perspiring more than usual. These are just 2 things that can cause acne breakouts.  In the summer women, in particular, wear clothing that shows off their backs, arms and upper chest, where this pesky acne flare can occur.
3. Hair Folliculitis: When it comes to bathing suits, women may shave in areas that are not used to it. The sudden increase in removing the hair in these areas can cause a temporary red, sore irritation in the hair follicle.  While this often goes away without any specific medication, it can be unsightly and uncomfortable. Talk to a doctor for treatment tips.

If you have a skin problem, rash or other medical question, see a doctor.

SOURCE – LiveHealthOnline

Effective ways to control high blood pressure without Medications

Control High Blood Pressure without Medications

High blood pressure is a common health condition in which the pressure of blood against the artery walls is high. Health experts at AMRI Hospitals, one of the best multi-speciality hospitals in Kolkata, explain that the amount of blood pumped by your heart along with the resistance to blood flow in the arteries determines the blood pressure of your body. More the blood pumped by your heart, the higher is the blood pressure.Though, there is no specific cause of high blood pressure, a few factors play a major role in contributing to it:

Smoking

Narrowing the blood vessels, smoking results in high blood pressure. It also reduces the oxygen content in blood, which makes your heart pump faster

Lack of exercise

Physical inactivity is one of the major causes of high blood pressure. Fitness experts at AMRI Hospitals state that exercise is one of the best ways to manage blood pressure

High salt intake

Various studies show that blood pressure is majorly determined by an individual’s salt intake. People who do not eat much salt have lower blood pressure

Mental stress

High stress levels have a serious impact on blood pressure. It causes a temporary spike in your blood pressure, which can damage your blood vessels, heart and kidneys.

Alcohol intake

Blood pressure is also determined by the amount of alcohol intake. The people who consume alcohol regularly tend to have higher blood pressure than non-drinkers.

High fat diet

Consumption of a high fat diet is also one of the major reasons for high blood pressure. Nutritionists at AMRI Hospitals state that not all type of fats lead to high blood pressure. Fats from plants like avocados, omega oil, nuts and olive oil are beneficial for you. It is the fats from meat of animals and related food products — trans fats and saturated fats — lead to high blood pressure

Diabetes

High blood pressure is also common among diabetic people (especially Type 2 diabetes). Along with hypertension, it is also said to cause several other health conditions like obesity and a few cardiovascular diseases

How to control high blood pressure without medication?

There are several ways to keep a check on your blood pressure without medication. Minor lifestyle changes can lower your blood pressure.

1. Maintain a healthy body weight
2. Ensure physical exercise
3. Stick to a healthy diet
4. Avoid food products rich in sodium
5. Keep a check on your alcohol intake
6. Quit smoking
7. Avoid caffeine
8.  Manage your stress levels
9. Keep a check on your blood pressure level at regular intervals

Eastern India Intensifies Dengue Surveillance

Dengue has widened its grip across India in the last couple of years. The number of deaths resulting from outbreaks of this disease has been increasing, especially in densely-populated areas of the country.

More than half the Indian states were affected by the deadly disease in 2017. Delhi, Maharasthra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala were the worst-affected regions. To address the dengue situation in Eastern India, primarily West Bengal, AMRI Hospitals in Kolkata has started an awareness campaign on social media, with the tag #AMRIagainstDengue, as well as created adequate medical facilities to address patients afflicted with the disease.

The disease, which hits its peak between July and November, has a lot of serious implications not just for the health of individuals but also for healthcare facilities. This year as well, the conditions are pointing towards a possible outbreak in Eastern India. However, the government administration as well as private healthcare enterprises like AMRI have created a buffer to counter the disease at the very ground level. In addition to the mobile care units in Kolkata by the West Bengal government, there also has been sufficient awareness initiative in the region to combat the very basic problems associated with Dengue.

On that line, AMRI has been particularly proactive with their social channels — publishing news, social posts and campaigns. In addition to their social work, AMRI Hospital Dhakuria has also planned to organize an Anti-Dengue month throughout August. Doctors at AMRI Hospitals have also geared up to combat any critical situation.

The spurt in dengue cases in the twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack has belied the claims of the civic administrations of maintaining cleanliness. Apart from the poor sanitation, prolonged monsoon and low-pressure rains have also added to the woes.

Here are a few facts you must know in order to beat dengue –

Aedesaegypti mosquitoes are responsible for spreading dengue. They breed in stagnant, fresh water. When the mosquito bites a person, the virus is passed into the blood stream, causing complications.

A person only gets symptoms after 7 to 10 days of getting bitten by an infected mosquito. It causes severe joint pain, nausea, abdominal cramps, fever, bleeding from gums, nose or ear.

Some patients also develop hemorrhagic fever that may cause death from shock or even cause multiple-organ failure. These complications make it a deadly disease.

In the last few years, dengue outbreaks were reported from a number of countries across the tropics, putting 3.5 billion people at risk of infection.

Around 390 million people get infected with dengue in more than 100 countries. Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to this disease.

According to the medical practitioners at AMRI Hospitals, early management of symptoms can prevent complications. People often get treated symptomatically, which is good.

There is a need to get tested if symptoms last for 2–3 days or get worse with every minute. Although dengue has no cure, the symptoms can be managed if things are controlled at the earliest.

SOURCE: yourwellness4life.com

How to Stop a Silent Heart Attack

Silent heart attacks may masquerade as nasty heartburn, a bad case of stomach flu, an achy arm or weird fatigue. The only way to uncover one is with an electrocardiogram (ECG)—a test that tracks electrical activity—or another heart-imaging test that looks for signs of damage after the fact. That’s exactly what researchers from Wake Forest School of Medicine did, sticking ECG electrodes on the chests of 9,498 women and men several times over nine years as part of a major, on-going study. What they discovered was that while 386 study volunteers had conventional heart attacks that sent them to the hospital, another 317 had silent heart attacks so quiet they escaped notice. Those 317 silent heart attack survivors are three times more likely than people who didn’t have any type of heart attack to die later from heart-related problems. And while men were more likely to face one of these stealth attacks, women were more likely to die in the aftermath.

With more advanced testing, silent heart attack numbers could be even higher. In a high-tech study from Iceland, researchers used cardiac MRI tests to take detailed pictures of the hearts of 936 people. The researchers found signs that silent attacks were almost twice (1.7 times) as common as conventional heart attacks.

As these reports reveal the staggering heart-damaging numbers, here’s what you need to know.

High blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol levels and high blood sugar raise your risk for a silent heart attack.

Just as they do for a not-so-silent one. If your numbers aren’t in the healthy zones, get serious about following a healthy diet. You know the drill: plenty of produce, whole grains, lean protein, plus good fats and low-fat or fat-free dairy. Banish added sugars and syrups as well as most saturated and all trans fats from your diet. Walk a minimum of 30 minutes daily (aiming for 10,000 steps) and make time for stress reduction. If your doc recommends medications, take them as directed while you make healthy lifestyle changes. And don’t smoke.

Don’t ignore whispers (or shouts) of trouble.
Diabetes, heart disease, congestive heart failure and pain when you walk (due to narrowed arteries in your legs) seriously elevate your risk for a silent heart attack. And silent heart attacks aren’t actually symptom-free, but the red flags are easy to write off. Even though blood flow’s been cut off to part of your heart, you may chalk up your odd symptoms to one too many burritos, over-doing it at the gym, a bad night’s sleep or a stomach bug.

If you have chest or abdominal discomfort that feels like heartburn or indigestion, unexplained tiredness, even nausea and vomiting or odd tightness in your throat and think it may be a silent heart attack, call 911. Getting treated quickly saves as much heart muscle as possible. But folks who have silent heart attacks often miss out on interventions, with deadly consequences.

Think you’ve had one? Tell your doctor
If you’re wondering about weird symptoms in your past or if you have on-going tiredness, shortness of breath and/or chest twinges, talk to your doctor. A silent heart attack can cause valves in your heart to leak or leave scars that make the heart work less efficiently. Your doctor may order an ECG, a cardiac ultrasound or other tests. If needed, you’ll get a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes (nutrition upgrade and more physical activity) as well as possible medication (a statin and/or daily 162mg of aspirin with a warm glass of water before and after) to protect your heart from further damage and make yourself strong again.

SOURCE – Sharecare.com