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How To Add Enough Vitamin K In Your Diet

Do you know what Vitamin K is? Like all other vitamins, Vitamin K is another vitamin vital for the human body. So, what makes Vitamin K essential for our bodies?

Vitamin K is responsible for the clotting of blood or coagulation. Coagulation is a vital process that helps prevent excessive bleeding after a cut or injury. The said vitamin also helps in bone metabolism and calcification. Vitamin K deficiency is a serious condition and can lead to many health issues including:

– Decreased bone strength

– Osteoporosis

– Tooth decay

– Coronary Heart Disease

– Certain types of cancer.

Do you know the symptoms of Vitamin K deficiency? They are mentioned as follows:

  • Heavy menstrual bleeding

  • Easy bruising

  • Excessive bleeding during cuts, injuries, injection or surgical sites

  • Presence of blood in the urine or stools

  • Bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Today, ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata, would like to give you a list of food items that are rich in Vitamin K so that your body never lacks in this essential vitamin. Before we proceed further, let’s make you know that there are mainly two types of vitamin K – K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 is derived from plant sources whereas we acquire vitamin K2 from animal products.

Make these Vitamin K-rich foods a part of your daily diet!

Soybeans

Soybeans, the only plant-based food that contain both vitamin K1 and K2, a relief for vegetarians who cannot get their vitamin K2 supply from meat sources. Apart from the mentioned fact, soybeans and soya chunks are an excellent protein provider for non-meat eaters. You can also consider cooking your meals in soybean oil as the oil contains not only vitamin K but also other pivotal nutrients, like polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids etc.

Leafy Greens

Green leafy vegetables are another plant-source for vitamin K. If you want to have sufficient vitamin K in your diet, eat lots of spinach, mustard greens, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, beet greens and so on.

Eggs

The yolk of an egg has more vitamin K than the white portion. It is always advised to consume eggs for receiving adequate nourishment. You may eat boiled eggs daily for a healthy body.

Pumpkin

Another vegetable that contains vitamin K is pumpkin. One cup of cooked pumpkin has almost 1.96 mcg vitamin K1. So, do include pumpkins in your diet.

Other good sources of vitamin K are chicken, pine nuts, blueberries, dried basil, sage and thyme etc.

To get your customized diet-chart, visit ILS Hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.

Peptic Ulcer: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

A peptic ulcer is an inflammation that develops in the lining of the stomach, the lower part of the esophagus and upper portion of the small intestine. It is a gastroenterological condition and thus, treated by gastroenterologists. They are open lesions and mainly of three types based on their location as follows:

  • Gastric (stomach) ulcer: Ulcers that occur in the stomach.

  • Esophageal ulcer: Ulcers that happen in the esophagus.

  • Duodenal ulcer: Ulcers that develop in the upper portion of the small intestine.

It is important to know why peptic ulcer happens in the first place. The primary reason behind the occurrence is when the stomach acids responsible for digestion damages the lining of the stomach and sometimes even travel to the esophagus causing esophageal ulcer. The bacteria Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) also contributes by inflaming the lining of the stomach. Surely, other causes are present as well which you’ll find below:

  • Smoking

  • Overuse of over-the-counter drugs

  • Infection from H. Pylori bacteria due to consuming contaminated food, water, using uncleaned utensils etc.

  • Overconsumption of alcohol.

Let’s now focus on the symptoms of a peptic ulcer.

  • Indigestion

  • Heartburn or acid reflux

  • Vomiting or regurgitation

  • Bloating and burping

  • Belching

  • Black stools

  • Nausea

  • Fatigue

  • Unintentional or unexpected weight loss

  • Loss of appetite

  • Pain in the abdomen and chest

  • Facing difficulties in breathing.

A diagnosis is always needed to confirm any medical condition. Apart from the mandatory physical examination in which the doctor check for bloating and pain, certain other crucial diagnostic tests can also be prescribed by the medical professional for an accurate diagnosis. They include:

  • Blood test – to determine the presence of H. Pylori bacteria.

  • H. Pylori stool antigen test – to look for H. Pylori infection.

  • Urea breath test or H. Pylori breath test – to conduct this test, the patient is asked to consume something with radioactive carbon (either in pill or liquid form) and then the breath samples are taken for lab testing procedure which accurately confirms the existence of the bacteria.

  • Gastroscopy – an endoscope is anaesthetically inserted inside the patient’s mouth to view the stomach, duodenum and esophagus for ulcers.

  • Endoscopy biopsy – the same as gastroscopy and in case of an ulcer detection, the samples are taken for clinical purposes.

The treatment options are as follows:

1. Antibiotics (to kill the bacteria, H. Pylori)

2. Antacids (to neutralize the stomach acid)

3. Cytoprotective drugs (to protect the mucous lining of the stomach)

4. Surgical treatment (if the above method fails and the ulcer recurs)

Get accurate diagnosis and treatment for peptic ulcer only from ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.

What Is Food Poisoning? Is Food Poisoning A Medical Emergency?

Food nourishes our body but sometimes it can even become poisonous due to the presence of dangerous bacteria, parasites and viruses like Salmonella, E.Coli, Listeria, Trichinella, Toxoplasma, and Norovirus. Food poisoning is a common gastrointestinal condition caused by the consumption of infected or contaminated food. If left ignored, it can even become a medical emergency.

Today, ILS Hospitals would like to discuss food poisoning in brief. So, read this blog to understand more about this unpleasant medical condition.

Symptoms

There are always tell-tale symptoms of any medical condition. The symptoms of food poisoning are mentioned below:

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Diarrhoea

  • Poor appetite

  • Abdominal cramps

  • Fever and chills.

Immediately rush to the hospital’s ER if the above symptoms persist for more than three days and when you notice severe symptoms as shown below:

  • Dehydrated body (dry mouth and no urine)

  • Blood in vomit, stool or urine

  • Dizziness and weakness

  • High fever

  • Hazy vision

  • Muscle cramps

  • Severe weakness.

Causes

Apart from certain bacteria, parasites and viruses, are there any other causes for food poisoning? Yes, the following can also cause food poisoning.

  • Eating raw or undercooked eggs, fish, chicken and other meats

  • Eating uncleaned or not properly washed fruits

  • Consuming raw and imperfectly cooked vegetables and leafy greens like cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, cauliflower, mustard greens etc.

  • Preparing food without maintaining any hygiene

  • Drinking unpasteurized milk and consuming its products

  • Having improperly stored food.

Diagnosis

The doctor will diagnose your food poisoning through physical exams and by keeping note of your medical history and present condition. In the case of food poisoning, you’ll be prescribed these primary diagnostic tests by the medical practitioner:

– Samples of the eaten food

– Blood test

– Stool test.

Treatment

Mostly, food poisoning cases solve on their own by doing the following things:

  • Sipping plenty of fluids and oral rehydration solution (ORS)

  • Eating a bland and nutritious diet

  • Avoiding spicy, fatty and oily foods

  • Eating lighter meals

  • Consuming vegetable soups and fruit juices

  • Avoiding dairy and dairy products

  • Taking plenty of rest

  • Having medicines prescribed by the medical professional.

If the condition still doesn’t get better, then it might indicate a serious medical condition. Food poisoning is surely a medical emergency if it lasts for many days and the symptoms get worse. So, always eat fresh, clean and properly cooked food. Also, ensure that the food is prepared by freshly washed hands. Come to ILS Hospitals in Kolkata or Agartala for any medical help.

Mouth Ulcer? Know The Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

What is a mouth ulcer? Mouth ulcers or informally known as canker sores are white or red bruises that occur on areas like- inside the mouth, cheek, gums, tongue and even lips. We all have witnessed canker sores at some point in our lives and know how annoying and painful they can get. Generally, mouth ulcers can be self-treated but if it prolongs for, say, three and a half weeks, then it’s a serious condition and you need to get medical supervision from the hospital at that immediate moment.

Let us now know the causes behind these unbearable mouth ulcers.

  • Brushing vigorously with a hard-bristled toothbrush

  • Using toothpaste and mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulphate or other harsh chemicals

  • Improper oral hygiene

  • Unintentional bites inside the tongue and cheeks

  • Being allergic to certain foods like eggs, coffee, nuts, citrus foods (such as lemons, apples, tomatoes, strawberries), chocolates and so on

  • Side effects of some medicines

  • Deficiency of iron, zinc, vitamin B-12 and folate

  • Incorrect dentures or new braces

  • Infections caused by bacteria, viruses and fungi

  • Constant stress and anxiety

  • Insomnia.

The symptoms associated with mouth sores are visual and include the following:

– Swelling and redness in the affected area

– Facing difficulties while brushing teeth

– Problems in eating spicy, sour and salty foods

– Poor appetite.

Mouth ulcers are common and can get self-healed but if you frequently get them, then it becomes a problem and you should seek medical help from a good hospital or clinic.

The diagnosis is a visual exam for mouth ulcers and in case of recurring and serious mouth ulcers, other diagnostic tests are prescribed by the concerned doctor.

Here are some ways to self-treat mouth ulcers. Let’s look at them below:

  • Drink plenty of cold fluids preferably through a reusable glass straw (because environment matters too)

  • Applying a cold compress to the sore area

  • Avoid eating spicy, sour and salty foods

  • Avoid drinking too hot or cold beverages

  • Do not chew any gum

  • Gargle with warm saltwater

  • Get medically-prescribed medicines.

If you get no respite from your mouth ulcer, then visit your dentist or an ENT specialist without any excuses.

There’s no sure-fire way to prevent mouth ulcers but we can always avoid them to some extent by

– Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild toothpaste

– Avoiding foods that trigger allergies

– Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet

– Getting regular dental check-ups from a clinic or hospital.

For getting medical assistance, contact ILS Hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.

Let’s Know Everything About Computer Vision Syndrome

Everything has pros and cons including our digital world. While the digital world has given us access to vast information and improved our lives, it surely made our eyes pay the price. Constant engagement with digital devices like computers, smartphones, tablets, and television can cause a lot of strain and eye-related problems. This is called Computer Vision Syndrome or Digital Eye Strain.

ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata, would like to enlighten everyone on this particular syndrome. Since we know the main culprit behind Computer Vision Syndrome is being engaged for prolonged periods with a computer or other digital devices generally at  work , it becomes important to minimize contact or get frequent breaks for protecting the eyes. When we work on a computer, our eyes overwork due to constant focusing and refocusing, also the brightness and glare from the monitor screen affect the eye vision.

Computer Vision Syndrome does not differentiate between a person’s age. It can happen to both children and adults. Here are some more common reasons responsible for digital eye strain.

  • Using computer, smartphones, e-reader etc. in improper lighting

  • Wrong body postures

  • Untreated vision problems

  • Incorrect monitor viewing distance.

Let’s look at the symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome.

  • Overexerted eyes or eyestrain

  • Vague or blurred vision

  • Dry eyes

  • Pain and discomfort in the eyes

  • Itchy, irritated, and red eyes

  • Headaches

  • Pain in areas like the neck, back, and shoulder.

Computer Vision Syndrome can be easily diagnosed by an ophthalmologist through an inclusive eye examination. So, is there any solution for preventing and treating Computer Vision Syndrome? Certainly yes, just look at the tips below:

1. Maintain proper posture at the workplace:

Almost a majority of people have a job that demands them to work in front of a computer. You cannot avoid the computer but can surely do things like sitting on a proper back-support chair and following minimum monitor viewing distance of 20 inches. Also, keep your back straight and sturdy.

2. Use eye protection software and apps:

Digital devices like computers and smartphones emit blue light that can even damage retinal cells so install a blue eye filter software or app in your office computer and your smartphone. You should customize the display settings of your device as well.

3. Get anti-glare computer glasses:

You should consider anti-glare computer glasses if you spend more than three hours in front of a computer.

You can always consult an eye specialist from ILS hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala to get a proper diagnosis and prescription for computer power glasses.

Make These Health Resolutions For New Year 2020 To Lead A Healthy Life

Finally, it’s New Year 2020. A new year represents new beginnings, new opportunities, and new resolutions. Many people make New Year resolutions every year but find it difficult to implement them. It happens because they are not adamant enough to make their New Year resolutions into a success. But we all want to live a healthy and happy life, isn’t it? In that case, following certain health resolutions is a compulsion.

This New Year 2020, let’s not make an excuse and practice these health resolutions said by ILS Hospitals, to proudly lead a healthy and prosperous life.

1. Eat nothing but healthy:

We all make this promise almost every day to ourselves but cannot keep it when we see our favourite not-so-healthy foods, like french fries, cheeseburger, chicken wings, and many more. It’s time to become resolute and eat nothing but only nutritious meals. Here are ways to execute your healthy diet plan.

  • Less consumption of processed and canned foods

  • No to fatty, oily, deep-fried, and stale foods

  • Eat healthy nuts, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, legumes, sprouts, millets, etc.

  • Eat fresh, seasonal, and home-cooked meals

  • Less sugar, salt, and refined flour or maida

  • More plant-based diet, less meat consumption

  • Less tea and coffee, more fruit juices, coconut water, vegetable soups, and green tea.

You can also get a customized diet chart made by the best dietitians in our hospitals.

2. Quit unhealthy habits:

The New Year 2020 is the perfect time to get rid of our bad habits, one of which is smoking. Seek therapy for your nicotine addiction without any fail and add a few more years to your life. Other unhealthy habits that ruin our health are excessive alcohol consumption, drinking less water or healthy fluids, being unhygienic, living in uncleaned surroundings, undereating or overeating, living an inactive lifestyle, being constantly stressed and depressed, and getting angry over petty things. It’s time to strike off these unhealthy habits from your life. Change starts with you!

3. Get regular health check-ups:

Regular health check-ups allow the doctors to get an early diagnosis for any potential health condition, thus, ensuring that you live a healthy and disease-free life. You can avail health check-up packages offered by ILS Hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.

For any health-related solutions, come to ILS Hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.

Discharge Instructions To Follow After A Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a surgery in which the laparoscopic surgeons use special surgical tools and make few smaller incisions to treat a person. Laparoscopic or minimally-invasive surgery is known for its immense benefits as follows:

  • Speedy recovery

  • Less blood loss

  • No or minimal pain

  • Low chances of infection

  • No or less discomfort

  • Higher rate of success

  • Early discharge

  • Cost-effective.

After any laparoscopic surgery, the patients get certain discharge instructions from their laparoscopic surgeons. The recovery time is different for each patient, but, in general, it is much faster than traditional open surgery. Today, ILS Hospitals would like to share the general discharge instructions that need to be followed post laparoscopic surgery. So let’s look at the discharge instructions that a patient must follow post keyhole surgery for a quicker recovery.

1. Consuming a soft diet:

A bland and nutritious soft diet has to be followed after a person undergoes minimally-invasive surgery. Soft foods are good because they are digestible and aids faster recovery as your body does not have to work hard for digesting food. The food should be cooked with less oil and spices. Some of the examples can be boiled and mashed- potatoes, vegetables, rice, peeled fruits, poached eggs, strained vegetables and meat soups, fruit juices, porridge or dalia, pureed dal, lentils or masoor ki dal, and so on depending on the patient’s choice.

2. Avoiding certain foods:

Some foods should be avoided or else they may delay the patient’s recovery. Some of them are fried and oily foods, fatty foods (like red meat), spicy foods, and stale foods as they may cause indigestion, heartburn, and acidity. Also, there’s no question of eating roadside and outside food, so home-cooked food is your only good companion.

3. Taking medications on time:

No matter wherever you go, when it comes to timely medications, doctors from different hospitals are on the same page.

4. Avoiding overstrenuous activities:

It is important to not overexert the body post any surgery. The incisional site is still raw and not completely healed, so all sorts of vigorous activities (outdoor sports, running, moving furniture, carrying heavy weights, climbing stairs, jumping etc.) need to be postponed for some time.

5. Taking care of the incisional region:

The incision, even though minute, must be taken care of by keeping it clean, dry and safe. Do not scrub, scratch and disturb the surgical incisions site and wear loose-fitting comfortable clothes. Never expose the surgical site to sunlight.

After any laparoscopic or minimally-invasive procedure, please get proper discharge instructions from your doctor or medical professional for better recovery. You can get your laparoscopic treatment done from experienced laparoscopic surgeons at ILS Hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala.

Female Infertility: Signs And Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis And Treatment

Infertility means being unable to conceive children. In this blog, we will mainly focus on female infertility. In basic words, female infertility is the incapability to conceive a baby even after numerous unprotected sexual intercourse with a fertile partner. There are many reasons responsible for infertility in women. To be on the safer side, regular visits to the gynaecologist should become the norm of every married or unmarried woman. You need to look for these below-mentioned signs and symptoms to find the status of your fertility. Here are some signs and symptoms related to infertility:

  • Irregular menstruation: If you have a history of frequent missed periods or irregularities in the duration (if your period lasts for than seven days) of the menstrual cycle, it is a sign of female infertility.

  • Painful menses: Periods are painful, but if they become intolerable and give excruciating muscle cramps and are accompanied with heavy bleeding, then it might indicate towards infertility.

  • Dyspareunia: If every time you suffer from pain and agony during sexual intercourse, it’s time for you to consult medical advice as it is not a normal phenomenon.

  • Unwanted hair growth or hair loss: Another common symptom is hirsutism which is the excessive growth of hair on unwanted areas or alopecia or baldness on the hair scalp.

  • Sudden weight loss or gain: One of the symptoms of female infertility is unanticipated weight loss or weight gain. There are various factors responsible for gaining or losing weight so getting medical consultation is the only way to find out the cause.

Let’s find the causes responsible for infertility in women.

  • Tubal infertility or blocked and damaged fallopian tubes

  • Earlier miscarriages

  • Multiple abortions

  • PCOS

  • Endometriosis

  • Ectopic pregnancies in the past

  • Sexually transmitted infections

  • Fibroids or ovarian cysts

  • Obesity

  • Smoking

  • Alcohol consumption.

We will now throw some insight on diagnosis and treatment available for known causes of female infertility.

Diagnostic tests recommended by OB-GYN doctor to determine female infertility

  • Urine test

  • Blood test

  • Ultrasound scan

  • X-Ray: Hysterosalpingography (HSG)

  • Hysteroscopy

  • Laparoscopy.

Surely, there are various treatment methods available for this. The prescribed treatment differs for every woman. To name a few treatment methods, we have mentioned them below:

1. Fertility drugs and medication.

2. Hysteroscopy

3. Tubal surgeries

4. IVF (In vitro fertilization)

5. Artificial insemination.

We, at ILS Hospitals, provide a precise diagnosis and necessary treatment for female infertility. Book an online appointment for medical consultation from our expert gynaecologists in kolkata.

Do You Know These 4 Common Respiratory Diseases? Know Now

Pulmonology is a branch of medical science that deals with issues associated with the respiratory tract.

We live in a polluted world, so getting diseases that affect the respiratory system is an unsurprising reality. ILS Hospitals would like to introduce some common respiratory diseases so that people can recognize the symptoms and seek medical advice on time. 4 common respiratory diseases are disclosed below:

1. Asthma:

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease where the bronchial tubes become inflamed and produce more than natural mucus. It is a disease that can only be controlled by following the doctor’s advice. Asthma attacks can be deadly so it is advisable for patients with asthma to always keep the inhaler sprays with them wherever they go. The symptoms related to asthma are as follows:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Wheezing

  • Chest discomfort

  • Coughing.

2. Pulmonary Tuberculosis:

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a communicable lung infection and an airborne disease caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

To know the symptoms of this infectious disease, please read the below points:

  • Cough that lasts for more than two weeks

  • Difficult breathing

  • Involuntary weight loss

  • Chest pain

  • Anorexia or loss of appetite

  • Fever and chills

  • Night sweats

  • Haemoptysis (blood in the sputum).

3. Chronic Bronchitis:

Another common COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is Chronic Bronchitis. This disease and its symptoms are similar to asthma, but bronchitis is caused by certain viruses and pollutants. Here are some symptoms of chronic bronchitis.

  • Shortness of breath

  • Discomfort in chest

  • Chronic cough

  • Wheezing

  • Sore throat

  • Blood-streaked or greenish mucus

  • Blocked sinus

  • Headaches.

4. Pneumonia:

Pneumonia is a common lung infection that occurs due to either of the organisms- bacteria, fungi or viruses. It makes the air sacs of the lungs fluid-filled. Let’s find out the symptoms of pneumonia.

  • Fever

  • Shivering chills

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Sweating

  • Rapid heartbeat

  • Diarrhoea

  • Breathing problems

  • Chest pain

  • Body aches

  • Green phlegm

  • Dementia.

For any health-related queries, come to ILS Hospitals, a multi-speciality hospital in Kolkata and Agartala famous for providing advance medical supervision at reasonable rates. Our hospital team is always available for catering the needs of our patients. Visit our website for more information.

Are You More Susceptible To Heart Attacks If You’re A Man? Let’s Discuss

A distressing fact to convey is that heart attacks are getting more common in our country. The prevalence is strong among men as they get their first heart attack at a younger age compared to women. We do not imply that women cannot get a heart attack. Women usually deals with severe heart attacks after menopause. For any heart-related conditions, the respective person should visit the best heart hospital as the heart deserves timely and appropriate medical supervision. In this blog, we will discover why men are at more risk when it comes to heart attacks. The heart’s anatomy of men and women differ from each other. Women have smaller hearts than men and have finer veins, the response to stressful events of both the gender is contrasting as well. When a man encounters a stressful situation, his blood pressure levels rise, whereas in case of women, instead of blood pressure, we find an increase in the pulse rate which makes her heart to pump more blood. It is interesting to know that symptoms of heart attack are distinct for both the genders as well.

The primary reason that shields women from heart attacks at an early age is the presence of female hormone estrogen, the levels of estrogen drops when a woman enters or is about to enter her menopausal phase. However, after menopause, the risk of women getting a heart attack escalates, so women at the age-group of 50 – 60s should take special care of themselves.

We have discovered that the fault lies in the hormones, which makes men more susceptible to heart attacks. Though there’s a greater chance of men getting a heart attack, surely, not all men might get one in their lives. Let’s find out apart from your gender, are there any other risk factors?

So, what factors contribute to cause heart attacks in men? Read the points below to find out if you’re at a risk of experiencing a heart attack:

  • High blood pressure or hypertension

  • High blood cholesterol

  • Diabetes

  • Previous cardiovascular conditions

  • Chronic stress

  • Obesity

  • Consumption of alcohol

  • Smoking

  • Poor nutrition

  • Inactive lifestyle

  • Social isolation

  • Genetics.

People with underlying cardiovascular conditions should be extra watchful about their health. If you notice symptoms like chest discomfort, abnormal sweating, fatigue and irregular heartbeat, rush to ILS Hospitals, one of the best heart hospitals in Kolkata. Because your heart health matters a lot!

Also read: Why Are Indians So Vulnerable To Heart Diseases?