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Do You Want To Stay Healthy During Seasonal Changes? Read This Blog.
Winter season is knocking on our doors with full swing. Time to relish on hot beverages and hot dishes. We eagerly wait for winters to arrive so that we can get a respite from unpleasant, sweaty and humid temperatures. But we tend to ignore that winter is accompanied by obnoxious colds and cough, even fever. This happens due to change of season and the fact that our immune system slows down in low temperatures.
Here, we, at ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata, presents you with some suggestions on how to stay healthy during this winter season. So, let’s take a thorough look at these suggestions.
1. Practice good hygiene:
We try to avoid water during winters and discount the importance of hygiene. Bad hygiene habits are one of the main reasons for flu and common colds. Some essential good hygiene habits that you should religiously follow even during the flu season are shown below:
– Properly wash your hands before and after eating and after using the restroom
– Bath regularly with warm water
– Wear clean clothes and woollens
– Brush and floss your teeth daily
– Keep your surroundings clean
– Wash your hair frequently.
2. Eat seasonal food:
There’s a reason why we have certain fruits and vegetables only available during winters. Even Ayurveda believes in following a “ritucharya” diet which means eating according to season. Eating seasonal food has many advantages on your body including strengthening immunity. You should consume seasonal fruits and vegetables like the following:
– Oranges
– Mustard greens
– Spinach
– Beets and Carrots
– Peas
– Dates
– Strawberries
– Cauliflower
– Cabbages.
3. Make the sun your best friend:
Winter sun is the best because it does not have a burning effect on our skin, although winter sun still radiates harmful UVA and UVB rays so always apply sunscreen before your winter sunbathing sessions. Also, keep your mattresses, blankets and pillows under the sun to make them germ-free. Allow your rooms the warmth of sunlight to get rid of viruses and microbes and make them well-lighted. Also, Vitamin D is crucial for a good immune system which you can get from sunlight, so do not shy away from the winter sun.
4. Dress warm:
Wear proper winter clothes that keep you warm throughout the day. Always cover your ears with earmuffs, your feet with woollen socks, your head with a woollen cap or beanie and neck with a cosy muffler whenever you go outside.
We hope you follow these above-mentioned suggestions during winter months. Winters can be really enjoyable if you take good care of your health. If you experience any health-related problems, come to ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata to get a professional medical consultation.
Acquaint Yourself With These 4 Different Types Of Hernia
A hernia is an abnormal bulge in the affected area that occurs when the organ or fatty tissues comes out through a weak muscle opening. Hernias are painful and if left unaddressed or untreated can become serious and dangerous (a hernia can strangulate and even burst that leads to grave consequences).
Hernia repair surgery is the ultimate and preferable hernia treatment by the doctors. Most people are not familiar with the different types of hernia. So, we thought to acquaint you with 4 different hernia types for your awareness.
Here are different and common types of hernia
1. Inguinal Hernia
In case of inguinal hernia, a part of the intestine exists through a weak opening in the abdominal muscles. Some symptoms of inguinal hernia are as follows:
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Pain in the groin area while coughing and lifting anything
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A visible bulge in the groin area
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Swollen and painful scrotum or testicles in men.
2. Incisional Hernia
Incisional Hernia occurs due to an unhealed surgical wound of abdominal surgery. The symptoms of an incisional hernia include:
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Redness and swelling in the bulge
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Constipation
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Nausea and vomiting.
3. Umbilical Hernia
This type of hernia is commonly found in new-born babies but that does not mean adults do not encounter umbilical hernia at all. An umbilical hernia is formed in the belly button due to protrusion of an organ or fatty tissues. A few symptoms related to this hernia are as shown below:
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Painful and discoloured bulge
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Fever
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Vomiting
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Pain in the abdomen.
4. Hiatal Hernia
If the upper part of your stomach exits from its assigned spot and enters into the chest cavity, then it’s known as a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia happens due to various reasons like injury or certain surgeries, obesity, old age and abnormal hiatus. The symptoms of hiatal hernia are the following:
- Difficulty swallowing food
- Acid reflux
- Regurgitation or vomiting
- Chest pain
- Abdominal pain
- Constant belching or burping
- Vomiting blood
- Black stools.
There are many more types of hernia but these 4 types are quite common. A hernia cannot be left on its own and should be taken seriously. We offer general and laparoscopic hernia treatment to our patients with this condition. We are one of the best hospitals in Kolkata due to our perfect infrastructure, expert medical team and the latest facilities.
How Dangerous Is Hyperuricemia Or Higher Level Of Uric Acid?
To say the least, an “excess of everything is bad”. Hyperuricemia certainly reminds us of this good old proverb. Hyperuricemia is a serious medical condition of high uric acid concentration in the blood. The uric acid levels should be within the normal range or else it may result to many serious and unpalatable health conditions. If your uric acid crosses the normal and expected levels then you have high uric acid levels. You have high uric acid levels when your uric acid is more than 6 mg/dL if you’re a woman and greater than 7 mg/dL in the case of a man.
The main concern is to know whether hyperuricemia is dangerous or not. Hyperuricemia can be injurious and dangerous if one turns a blind eye to it as it can result in many chronic and serious diseases of essential organs like heart and kidney.
Our body excretes uric acid through urine but if the body starts making excess uric acid then it puts pressure on the kidneys to get rid of them. The body makes uric acid through purines which we receive from certain foods (seafood, red meat, some vegetables, mushrooms, alcoholic drinks, etc). An excess of uric acid means you are eating a lot of purines in your diet, thus your extra uric acid will crystallize in mostly your joints and kidneys producing pain and inflammation.
There are a few serious medical issues that are a plain result of hyperuricemia and by default, they help to determine hyperuricemia. They are as follows:
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Gout (swollen, tender and stiff joints)
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Kidney stones
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Kidney diseases and even renal failure
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Diabetes
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High blood pressure
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Cardiovascular conditions.
So what are the causes and are you at risk of hyperuricemia? Let’s see the points below.
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Obesity
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Excessive alcohol consumption
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High-purine diet ( which include alcohol, seafood, and liver meats)
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The incapability of kidneys to filter properly
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Certain medications
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Heredity
To keep your uric acid within the normal range, your doctor will recommend you some drugs or medications as a treatment. If you’ve developed other medical conditions associated with hyperuricemia, then you will be directed to the doctor respective to your condition for treatment. For instance, if you have diabetes, you will require diabetes treatment along with the treatment for hyperuricemia. You will also be required to follow a purine-restricted diet (which include healthy nuts, eggs, low-purine vegetables, and fruits) to normalize the dangerously high levels of uric acid.
Diagnosis of hyperuricemia is done by conducting blood (serum uric acid test) and urine tests.
We, at ILS Hospitals, provide diagnostic tests for high uric acid levels to our patients. ILS Hospitals is one of the best hospitals in Kolkata for diagnostic and accurate medical treatment.
8 Tips To Stay Healthy During The Festival Season
It is the festive season, the month we all wait for every year. This is the time when we get to enjoy the most with our family and friends. But if during this time anyone gets sick, then all plans are bound to go down the drain. So, ILS Hospitals in Kolkata is going to give you tips on how to stay healthy and disease-free during this time.
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Over the last few years, the rain has been an ever-present factor in the festival season especially before diwali, which also makes it easy for diseases like malaria and dengue to fester. So use mosquito repellent when going out and a net when going to sleep.
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Viral infections like cough, cold, and fever are also very common during this season. Don’t drink cold water or cold drinks after coming from outside. Try to avoid them as much as possible, even at home. This will prevent you from getting infected with a cold infection. Especially at late night, the temperature falls and the chances of getting a cold increase. So try to avoid cold drinks, ice-creams etc. at night.
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While going out during the day, make sure to carry an umbrella, sunglass and sunscreen with you at all times, or you may get sun-burned badly.
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When burning crackers during Diwali, take extra precautions against any accidental burning. Be careful about smoke and loud noises specially for the children and aged individuals.
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Eating out during the festive season is very common and half the enjoyment is in that only. So as we cannot completely avoid eating out but rather can eat wisely. Most roadside stalls are not much healthy, so choose wisely from where you are eating. If possible, carry water from home before going out.
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It’s also a holiday time and we like to go out more as well. Going out every day during the festive season can make one tiresome, drenched out of energy and make feel thirsty. If possible carry lemonade or ORS with you. This would help to restore the electrolyte imbalance of the body.
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If you are going out at night then make sure that you get enough sleep during the day as good sleep is important for the body. Also, staying awake at night is not good for small children and the aged individuals. So, make sure that they get their proper sleep.
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Try to avoid the crowd if you are an asthma patient or this may aggravate your problems and may sustain attacks of asthma. Diabetes patients should continue their diabetes treatment as usual during this time and limit eating sweets as well, especially when it can be tempting once you get so many sweet boxes from your neighbors on Diwali.
Follow these tips to stay healthy and have a great Diwali and a festive season ahead.
The 3 Different Types Of ADHD You Should Know About
You have probably heard of the term ADHD a lot. ADHD means Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. If your child or anyone in your family is hyperactive or cannot concentrate on a specific task for much time, it is possible that they might be suffering from ADHD. It is a chronic condition and most of the time, it is seen among children. It may also occur in adults, but that is very rare. A person suffering from ADHD mainly shows three types of behaviors. They are inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Today, on behalf of ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata, we are going to tell you the different types of ADHD.
Predominantly Inattentive ADHD
The name suggests itself that someone who has this type of ADHD has difficulty in paying attention. Some of the symptoms apart from inattentiveness are:
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If someone does not pay much attention to details of any important task or situation.
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Everyone makes careless mistakes, but if someone makes a lot of careless mistakes all the time, it is worrisome.
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Due to inattentiveness, they will fail to pay attention and keep on doing the piece of task again and again.
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Zoning out or not listening when someone is talking is a pretty common occurrence.
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Being unable to follow or understand instructions.
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Avoiding tasks that involve effort.
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Being distracted or forgetful is also a sign.
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The habit of losing things regularly that are needed to complete tasks.
If you have at least five symptoms out of eight, then you are most likely to have this kind of ADHD.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD
It is more common in kids. If your kids are very hyper-active and move a lot around constantly then it is possible that they have this condition.
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Fidgeting and Squirming a lot.
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Getting up often or not being able to stay at one seat for a long time.
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Running or climbing anywhere at inappropriate times.
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Having trouble playing quietly.
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Talking too much.
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Talking out of turn or blurting out the first thing that comes into mind.
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Interrupting a lot in between other’s conversations.
Combined ADHD
As the name suggests combined ADHD is caused if you have symptoms combining both the other types. If you are both inattentive and hyperactive, it’s a more severe condition. Combined ADHD is the most common type of ADHD. People showing only one or two symptoms doesn’t likely have ADHD. Most people who have ADHD have these symptoms on a more severe level.
Usually, for kids, these symptoms can be detected easily before they turn 7 years old. But there is no particular test to diagnose the type of ADHD. In a lot of cases, the symptoms tend to change over time especially in adults. ILS Hospitals, being one of the best hospitals in Kolkata, provides effective treatment in the form of therapy and medication.
A Brief Introduction of Gynecomastia
We all have heard at some point in time that, it is important to love oneself, at every condition to be happy. However, it is rather difficult to do, than to say when an individual is suffering from a condition, they are very embarrassed from within. Gynecomastia is certainly one of such condition that qualifies for the same and can turn any man’s life into a nightmare. Often a surgical solution is the only way to make things better.
Gynecomastia or male breast enlargement is a condition characterized by enlargement of breasts in men. This swelling occurs due to the proliferation of fatty tissue underlying the breast. The breasts are the symbol of feminism and maternity and play a vital role in the well-being of a newborn baby in terms of providing nutrition and immunization from several diseases. Having well-developed breast in case of any men is not only useless but more like an embarrassment.
Even though most of the times the cell growth is non-malignant, which means it like not likely to grow into cancerous growth, but it may possess some difficulties and discomfort such as pain, swelling, and adjustment required to sleep to getting dressed. Also, the deformation of the normal chest contour of a man can hamper the self-confidence and social image, leading to depression and low esteem.
It has been found that the count of men suffering from this condition reach as high as 65 percent, however, not all of them require surgical intervention. Reason being several male individuals encounter this condition solely during the adolescent age due to hormonal change. With time, it readjusts on its own, eliminating any correction treatment. Some other men acquire this condition while battling with obesity. As obesity itself is a condition of accumulating fat, the breasts are no exception. However, work and metabolic treatment often address the situation.
This leaves with that individual who is seriously suffering from this condition and is in desperate need of proper medical help. Though oral medication and hormonal therapy can help with the entire treatment, often the breast reduction surgery is required to settle the problem completely. It is either done through liposuction or tissue extraction, depending on the condition.
With proper medication, if required a surgery at the best hospitals in Kolkata and help for family, friends and support groups, this condition can be overcome completely.
A Brief Introduction of Depression
We all spend our lives between phases of happiness and sadness and obviously in between several shades of the mentioned emotions. A state of extreme happiness is euphoria and usually does not ring any alarm but the state of extreme grief or sadness, however, is called depression and it can cause some serious damage if not addressed on time.
Sadly, many myths surround depression, its treatment, and cure. And thus, many do not seek medical treatment for it in the best hospitals in Kolkata. Moreover, several individuals do not consult the treatment for the recommended time period and thus, often does not make full recovery and relapse due to the same in future.
Several people assume depression as a made up illness, ruling it out altogether from the list of medical problems itself. For them, it is a mood fluctuation that does not affect the overall physical or mental health or ability. However, it has been found that an individual suffering from clinical depression, might lose functionality in several aspects.
Another group believes that depression resolves on its own. Well, since anything is possible, it may be true for those with exceptional willpower, but for the rest, sadly it is not. Professional help, individual or group therapy are often required to cure the individual out of clinical depression. However, a handful of the reformed patients recommends making lifestyle changes, medication, yoga, and spiritual guidance can make a significant change and also empower them to deal with it in future.
There’s yet another group of people who do count depression as an illness and believes that it does not resolve on its own. Though it might appear like a sensible class of people, sadly, they believe no drug in the medical world can cure an illness of mind and mood. However, thankfully, in this era, medical science has ways to treat most of the problem. And depression is no exception. After ruling out the possibility of the thyroid through physical examination, an actual depression can be effectively addressed through medication.
In fact, about 80% patients respond positively to treatment. The remaining patients are musty those who discontinue treatment in between and relapse again. Thus, in a nutshell, depression is a very real medical illness and more people suffers from it than they admit it openly. But with medical help, it can be treated completely. Thankfully many hospitals in Kolkata offer best treatment for the same.
Importance and Role of a Doctor in the Society
‘Some heroes don’t wear capes, we call them doctors’
This one-liner said by an anonymous person is something we all have felt at some point or the other in our lives. Indeed, doctors play a significant role in our lives. The absolute first and the last event of a human are both certified by doctors, in maternity hospitals and morgue. A doctor is a person with extensive knowledge in the domain of medical science, who applies and dedicates his knowledge to identify the medical problem faced by the patient and then uses his skill to prevent or cure it.
Hippocrates and Imhotep are some of the most ancient doctors in the world who contributed a lot towards mankind. In India, the history of medicine goes way back as well. Sushruta was the first surgeon in the world who lived around 800 BC. All these men belonged to different era and background, however, their dedication and passion for saving lives and mending them are what makes them stand together. They represent the community known as doctors.
Their contribution to human health is beyond comparison and the rich culture of the medicinal world is still in its glory in this era. So let’s have a look at how the doctors play an important role in our lives.
1. Saving life
Mostly this arises during the event for an emergency procedure or an elective procedure for a rather time sensitive or serious illness. An accidental injury and troubled labor also account for the same.
2. Extending life
Unfortunately, not every illness can be cured completely. But with the effort of doctors and medicines and therapies, the lifespan of the patient or onset of the worst effect of an illness can be extended significantly. Though this time varies greatly from case to case and patient to patient, the efforts behind the cause are commendable.
3. Improving lives
Not every disease threatens the life of the patient. However, living with the discomforts for a lifetime is not an acceptable option either. The effort of doctors makes it possible to mitigate these discomforts and help live their life to fullest.
4. Controlling the epidemics
Some diseases claim an entire population than just handful of random people. Contagious disease and other epidemic conditions are for instance, are a huge threat to the health of a common people living in that geographical boundary. Timely measures and awareness by doctors can curb or eliminate such catastrophic situation.
These are some of the many, many contributions these apron-wearing armies make for us. To pay our tributes to doctors in India, we celebrate Doctor’s day on 1st July every year. This date coincides with both the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. It reminds us the special contribution made by this legendary physical, who treated thousands and inspired millions of lives, including the life of Mahatma Gandhi.
On this very special event of Doctor’s Day, we are proud to say that ILS Hospitals house some of the most talented medical professionals in the country. These doctors are fully capable of dealing with any kind of medical emergencies, and thus, we feel that it is our privilege to be one of the best hospitals in Kolkata.
Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
Kidney is the organ that filters the blood and formulates urine as a waste. Occasionally, salt and some other minerals solidify together to form kidney stones. The medical terminology for the same is Nephrolithiasis. The site for the stone formation is either in the kidney itself or in the urinary tract. The size of the stones may vary from sugar crystals to tennis balls.
Kidney stones usually do not cause any trouble and go unnoticed, if it is very minute in size and passes through the urine. According to the studies by the ILS Hospitals, approximately one in every 20 individuals, at some stage in life, develop kidney stones. It comes to notice only when it moves to the ureters causing hindrance to the urine flow and onset pain and discomfort while passing urine. Most of the stones will eventually pass from ureter to bladder with time.
Recognizing kidney stones can be quite tricky because abdominal pain can relate to several other factors as well, such as ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis. Also painful urination indicates possible urinary tract infection or any STD.
What are the symptoms?
When the stones descends to the urinary tract, it may either pass with urine, without any trouble or may initiate several symptoms such as:
- Sharp pain in the belly, back or groin
- Presence of blood in urine
- Frequent urination, usually accompanied by pain
- Nausea and vomiting
What are the causes?
Though anyone can develop kidney stones, some people with medical conditions like gout or taking certain medication are more prone to have it as compared to others. ILS Hospitals recommend that dehydration is one of the prime factors for the same. Moreover, diet and family history plays an important role in it as well. Urinary tract infection is another reason for the same, the stones develop because of infections. Certain metabolic abnormalities also increase the chances of having the stones.
Diagnosis and Treatment
A majority of people diagnosed with kidney stones falls in the age range of 20 to 49. A prior occurrence of kidney stone elevates the risk of having it again in future. The diagnosis of stones is mostly done by ultrasound. Additionally, intravenous pyelography and CT scan can be recommended depending on the severity.
Pain killers are usually given to deal with the pain. Occasionally, some medication is given to ease the flow of urine, so that small stones can pass without hindrance. If oral medication does not yield desired results, the surgical technique, lithotripsy is done.
Health Packages – Why Should You Get One Today?
No one fancies getting sick. But remaining healthy all the time is more like a fantasy than reality. Thus, it is important that one keeps track of their health from time to time. Mostly people go for one or few particular screenings, neglecting the remaining ones. However, to maintain a good health, it is important that you keep in check several aspects of your health. So, what is the most feasible way to do it? The answer is – avail the health checkup packages in ILS Hospitals.
What is a health checkup package?
Regular check-ups can detect problem as soon as they begin, which makes the treatment easier and ensure complete recovery. A health check-up is a complete package that includes all necessary tests together under a single roof. It contains a range of checkups to detect and prevent illness. Going for appropriate screening and health care service helps you to ensure a healthier and longer life. The frequency at which you need to undergo these tests depends on individual’s age, family history, lifestyle and previous health history.
Why it is better than individual test?
An ideal health check-up package consists of all necessary tests in a single set. So, it saves from deciding, which one to choose and which one to skip. It also enables you to get a complete screening in one go. Thus, it helps you to pick the one as per your specific need. Moreover, if you are having it done at a proper place, most of these packages include additional consultation, in which the doctor helps you to understand your results, which otherwise looks like a foreign language, and gives you proper guidance regarding your health.
Where to go for Health check-up in Kolkata?
Due to today’s robust lifestyle, no one has the time to follow balanced diet and adequate exercise. It is not surprising that most of us fall into the trap of illness every now and then; making diabetes and depression the giant players in the world of common illness. Now it’s time to show some dedication towards your health. Make ILS Hospitals, your first choice if you are considering for health check-ups. We, at ILS Hospitals, offer several health check-up packages to meet the requirements of different age group.
