A Brief Introduction to Sickle Cell Anaemia
Sickle cell Anaemia is a rare, genetic illness. It is a form of anaemia in which the red blood cells are incapable of carrying an adequate amount of oxygen in the body. It is an extremely difficult illness that is quite challenging to live with. Only the best hospitals can provide medication and treatment for the same. Let’s understand the various aspects around Sickle Cell Anaemia.
Blood carries vital nutrients throughout the body and also facilitates the exchange of gases, namely the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide. The usual shape of the blood cells is just like a donut without any cavity inside. The bi-concave surface facilitates easy transportation of oxygen molecules. In case of sickle cell anaemia, the red blood cells resemble that of a sickle or crescent moon, thereby justifying the name.
This gives rise to 2 problems, inadequate oxygen supply, and the irregular shape of the cell leads them to get stuck in thin blood vessels, causing inflammation. A patient with sickle cell anaemia is likely to suffer one or more of the following symptoms.
- Anaemia that keeps on recurring and is closely followed by fatigue, and drained out of energy.
- Painful swells on feet, knees, and hands or other areas where the blood vessels are extremely narrow.
- Delayed growth which involves both natural and reproductive growth.
- High chances of gallstones, which often required gallstone operation to resolve.
- Poor vision that is purely due to blocked blood vessels reaching eyes.
- Frequent infections as this illness damages spleen, the organ that fights infections.
- Episodes of pain, particularly in chest, abdomen, and joints that lasts anywhere between few hours to few weeks.
Sadly there is no cure for sickle cell anaemia but with proper medication, it can be managed effectively through proper timely measures. The normal RBC has a lifespan of about 120 days, but the same reduces to 15-20 days for a sickle RBC. Needless to say, some of these patients require undergoing a periodic blood transfusion. These efforts along with proper medication can help the patient to get ease from the painful symptoms and to prevent the complications associated with the same.
On this 19th June, as we witness World Sickle Cell Day, we encourage people with this illness to stay strong and seek treatment from time to time. Also, we salute the never-ending support of their family, the doctors and most important the blood donors for their contribution.
A Brief Introduction to the Types of Blood Donation
Blood transfusion is a process of supplying blood of a matching group to an individual in need of it. Even though advanced procedures such as laparoscopic surgery rarely needs a blood transfusion, it is needed for medical emergencies, life support systems, several specific diseases, such as thalassemia, or even a major pre-scheduled invasive surgery.
Whether or not you have been a part of blood transfusions, you are more likely to be accustomed to only one type of blood donation. However, did you know that there are 4 types of blood donations, as per the element of the blood? Let’s have a quick look at each of them
1. Whole blood donation
The most common procedure, in which about a pint of whole blood is extracted out of the body. It may or may not be further segregated into platelets, plasma, and red cells, depending upon the need of the recipient. The procedure takes about half an hour or even less, while the patients can donate the same every 2 months.
2. Platelet Apheresis
It requires a special apheresis machine that collects blood and separates all its elements with centrifugal effect. The platelets component is kept for transfusion while the remaining elements return back to the body’s blood circulation. The process takes about 2 hours.
This type of blood is needed by patients battling cancers, undergoing organ transplant therapy and surgeries/medical emergencies that may involve massive bleeding. Moreover, while a single platelet donation can be used for multiple blood transfusion, it takes about 5-6 whole blood donations to make up for a single platelet transfusion. It can be donated every seven days, up to 24 times a year.
3. Plasma Apheresis
This type of blood donation goes simultaneously with the previous one. In this type, only the plasma is kept for the blood transfusion, while the rest is returned back to the body. The process takes about an hour and a half. It can be done after every two weeks.
4. Power Red
This one is yet another donation type involving the apheresis machine, which collects only the red cells while it returns the plasma and the platelets. Often the rare blood types have short supply as the donor need to meet few special guidelines for donating this type. It includes having higher levels of haemoglobin and specific body height and weight.
A single donation usually takes about an hour and collects two units of red cells. The donor can contribute every 120 days.
Each blood donation types has its own features. On this World Blood Donor Day, 14th June we honour every blood donor and feel our duty to pay tribute to one particular donor named James Harrison of Australia. This blood plasma donor rightfully earned the title of ‘man with the golden arm’ as he has donated blood plasma 1173 times throughout his entire life. After receiving 13 liters of blood for a surgery at the age of 14, he committed to donate blood in the future. Having a rather strong antigen against the group Rh antigen, he was able to donate blood plasma, which as per estimation, saved about 2.4 million unborn babies.
While saluting such a determined spirit, we, on behalf of ILS Hospitals, urge every healthy, capable individual to donate blood, at least once in their lifetime.
What Exactly Is General Surgery?
While visiting the best hospitals, you must have gotten familiar with multiple domains of the treatment offered by them. If you have discomfort or pain in a particular region, you get treated by a specific specialist. However, many a time, the symptoms are not persistent and thereby you need a consultation with a general physician. Thereafter, either you receive treatment from them or referred to a specific doctor.
Let’s understand the domain of general medicine and surgery in details.
In spite of the usage of the term ‘General’ in the medical domain, the General Surgery mostly deals with the surgeries carried out in the abdominal region. It also includes the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland as well. Moreover, it also comprises the soft tissues of the body and thereby consists of other organs such as breasts, skin, reproductive organs, and more.
The list of surgical procedures carried out by general surgeons is pretty long, but the following general surgical procedures are the most common ones.
1. Appendectomy – Surgical removal of the appendix, when inflammation of the same occurs due to an untreated infection.
2. Breast biopsy – Invasive diagnosis to extract cells in the breast/s to check for malignancy.
3. Breast surgery – Surgical removal of a harmful or unwanted mass of tissues from the breast/s
4. Cataract surgery – Surgical removal of the cloudy lens of the eye to enhance vision.
5. Caesarean section – Surgical delivery of a baby through the mother’s abdomen and uterus.
6. Cholecystectomy – Surgery for removal of the gallbladder, mostly because of gallstones.
7. Debridement – Cleaning of the wound, burn, or infected skin or organ to control damage promote healing.
8. Skin graft – Surgical treatment to replace damaged skin.
9. Haemorrhoidectomy – Surgical removal of haemorrhoids.
10. Hysterectomy and Hysteroscopy – Surgical diagnosis of the uterus and its surrounding organs and removal of the uterus.
11. Hernia repairs – Surgical procedure to correct a hernia.
12. Mastectomy – Partial or total removal of breast/s, mostly because of a malignant tumor.
13. Colectomy – Surgical removal of a part of the colon.
14. Prostatectomy – Surgical removal of partial or total prostate gland.
15. Tonsillectomy – Surgical removal of one or both tonsils.
Several of these procedures are nowadays carried out by laparoscopic technique, in the best hospitals. Laparoscopic surgery is the state-of-the-art surgery procedure that ensures speedy recovery and overcomes multiple drawbacks of traditional, open surveying technique.
How Plastics Are Affecting Our Health
We all have plastic bags in our homes which in it has other plastic bags too, isn’t’ it?
This is a statement that is both funny and frightening. Keep in mind that these are the reusable plastics, that we decided to keep. So, can you imagine how much plastics have we thrown out there?
The excessive exposure of the plastics around us has adversely affected our health, more than ever in the recent years.
Let’s have a detailed analysis of the same.
Polythene or more commonly known as plastic was one of the most revolutionary inventions of all time. Being durable, lightweight, and inexpensive, plastics became the material for almost every domain, within an extremely short duration. In exchange for all these comforts, this non-biodegradable started claiming health and wellness of human, wildlife, and environment altogether.
The air that we breathe, the land that we live on and grow food, the water we drink, everything contains plastics. Sadly even our food chain is no longer devoid of the plastic traces in it. As a result, the overall health has begun to decade gradually. Directly or indirectly, it contributes towards health disorders and complications, but not limited to the metabolism, cardiovascular, respiratory and several forms of cancer.
According to leading gynaecologists, the rising statistics of couples unable to conceive naturally or suffering multiple miscarriages is often due to exposure to harmful elements released by plastics. Many chromosomal and congenital abnormality also arise either from the current or the successive generation. Moreover, impaired brain and neurological functions, cancer, cardiovascular system damage, adult-onset diabetes, early puberty, obesity, and resistance to chemotherapy have also been found prevalent in both men and women.
Many people do not realize the same as often the source remains discrete from plain sight. For instance, the traces of plastic can be also found in food and water, which is packed or stored in plastic containers. Moreover, the contamination of animal’s food (eg, goat, poultry, cow etc.) with plastic components also act as an entry for it in our food chains.
Sadly, solving this problem is quite challenging. The best way to start is by taking proper measure and seeking guidance from best hospitals, in case any health discomfort arises and persists.
The theme for this World Environment Day, 5th June 2018, is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. Since it is being hosted in India, let’s pledge to accomplish (4‘R’s) – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and most importantly Replace. Stay away from plastic materials, and whenever possible, go for the substitutes.
Let’s try our best to save our planet!
6 Superb Reason to Raise a Glass of Milk in Your Everyday Diet
You are what you eat!
This simple statement rules our lives. The diet, lifestyle, and heredity are the three main factors that contribute to our overall health. We have no control over our genes and amidst our busy lives, often we have no time to exercise routinely. So, we all must pick our food choices very carefully.
One of the best source of nutrients for everyday diet is a glass of milk, not only for the kids, but for every individuals. Let’s list out the advantages that it provides-
1. It Strengthens Your Bones
Fancy having the iron fist? Then you better start including milk in your diet soon. As per orthopaedic specialist, Milk is a rich source of calcium and sufficient dosage of calcium ensure that the bone stays healthy and keep issues such as bone decay and brittle bones at bay.
2. It Protects Your Smile
Cheese makes you smile while taking a shot, right? So does milk and other milk products in protecting that beautiful smile of yours. It protects the enamel of teeth and also reduces the chances of tooth decay and gum diseases.
3. It Offers a Diversified By-Products
Do not like milk or allergic to it? You don’t have to compromise on your health as milk offers a wide range of by-products or processed food. It includes curd, cheese, butter, yogurt, dips, sour creams. Moreover, it can be used to make frozen desserts ice creams, buttermilk, lassi etc. as well. Each of them has its own contribution towards our health.
4. It Provides Vitamin D
You don’t have to go and lie down under the scorching sun to absorb vitamin D if you are routinely consuming milk in your diet. Moreover, it also replenishes your body and keeps it nourished.
5. It is a Complete Product
It is the one food that contains everything – carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. It comes as no surprise that infants are prescribed to have their mother’s milk alone, not even water during the initial 6 months.
6. It Can Be Processed Accordingly
Do not want the extra layers of cream in your glass of milk? Go for the skimmed milk and still enjoy the other benefits the milk offers. Moreover, options like soya milk and soybean milk are available in the market as well, you cannot have dairy milk altogether.
In a nutshell, a glass of milk certainly belongs to your everyday diet, so, on this World Milk Day, 1st June, let’s ‘raise a glass’ too and take a step towards a healthier tomorrow. Cheers!!
6 Health Complications That Will Motivate You to Quit Smoking Now
How do you define a cigarette?
A pinch of tobacco wrapped in a roll, with fire on one side and a fool on the other side.
Work is stressful, for most of us, isn’t it? How often do you rely on your ‘so-called friend’ to relieve this never-ending stress? The answers will range from never, rarely, depends, often, to all the time.
The more your answer titles towards the right, the earlier and the deeper you are digging for your own grave.
Here we present 6 health complications associated with smoking that will motivate you to quit smoking –
1. Heart and Lungs diseases
Our lungs are capable of filtering the air and supplying oxygen to the bloodstream. However, over the years of smoking, both lungs and heart begin to perform inefficiently and as a result, the person develops several types of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
2. Diabetes Type 2
The direct impact of smoking on-setting diabetes is still a matter of conflict among research scholars, but it certainly has been found that prolonged smoking increases the complications associated with diabetes type 2. Several patients, who also happens to be chain smokers, often visits diabetes clinic to address a common complication of loss of sensation in feet/legs.
3. Reproductive Health
Let it be men or women, prolonged smoking can affect their reproductive health. As per leading gynaecologists, for women, it can lead to ectopic pregnancy and a lower rate of natural conception. Whereas, in case of men, it can lead to erectile dysfunction.
4. Poor Metabolism
The component nicotine makes people addictive of the same and as a result, many chain smokers suffer from several digestive and metabolic malfunctions. As a result, a person can either lose or gain significant body weight. People seeking liver treatment often turn out to be chain smokers.
5. Oral and Throat
Holding the cigarette between the teeth, in a long run leads to misalignment of teeth along with severe gum diseases. As per ENT specialists, several kinds of mouth/throat ulcers and cancer is a result of smoking too.
6. Bone Decay
Prolonged smoking leads to a much faster rate of bone decay as compared to non-smokers. It is often closely followed by severe orthopaedic complications and rheumatoid arthritis as well.
Despite the frightening consequences of smoking, the silver lining is the fact that putting down smoking can help significantly in damage control.
On this World No Tobacco Day, on 31st May 2018, ILS Hospitals encourages every smoker to quit smoking. Not only it affects your own health but it also causes damage to your family, friends, and colleagues, who eventually becomes passive smokers, over the years.
5 Reasons to Address Your Hypertension For Good
The number of patients seeking treatment and care of cardiologist due to acute cardiac emergencies is increasing day by day.
Hypertension is a very prevalent precondition for most heart illnesses. Hypertension is the condition in which the blood pressure of the individual stays elevated for a prolonged period of time. The excessive pressure build-up can cause damage to the walls of the blood vessels as well on the organ.
Normal blood pressure ranges between 120/80 mmHg to 140/90 mmHg. A blood pressure exceeding this limit is considered as high blood pressure.
As we celebrate World Hypertension Day this 17th May 2018, we, on behalf of ILS Hospitals presents the major complications that arise due to unresolved hypertension, over a period of time.
1. Stroke and haemorrhage
Prolonged pressure can lead to thickening of arteries of the body. The ones reaching the brain are most crucial and thereby, bursting of these particular arteries leads to stroke and haemorrhage. It can occur in patients suffering from long time hypertension, but the ones with an age more than 65 are at highest risk.
2. Heart attack and heart failure
The same thing happens to the heart as well, in case the connective arteries get rusted. It leads to heart attack. Also, thickened blood vessels make it hard for the heart to pump blood effectively, in such cases, heart failure may occurs.
3. Eye damage and vision loss
The arteries reaching the eyes play a crucial role in our overall vision accuracy and range. Due to hypertension, one can face conditions like vision loss and hypertensive retinopathy.
4. Metabolic disorders
Prolonged hypertension can also lead to several problems associated with the overall metabolism. This includes an increase in waistline, high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney problems etc.
5. Psychological complications
Though it is more prevalent in aging patients, untreated hypertension has also been found to interfere with common abilities like learning, recollecting and having a decent presence of mind.
In a nutshell, a prolonged, unresolved hypertension can lead to coronary heart diseases, heart failure, renal complications, stroke etc. Having an elevated blood pressure is not life-threatening if it is for a small time being. However, its treatment is crucial. Thus, it is always advisable to keep track on the blood pressure from time to time and seek timely treatment in case, it deviates too much from ideal range.
5 Most Common Complications To Watch Out For Every Expecting Mother
Mother – the only person who nurtures you for 9 months in her womb and forever in her heart.
As rightly said, mother’s love is beyond words. We, on behalf of entire ILS Hospitals family, salutes all the mothers in the world on this International Mother’s Day, on 13th May 2018. We hereby, list out the 5 most common pregnancy-related complication most of the expecting mother faces and should seek gynecologists for.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) onsets when the urinary tract gets a bacterial infection. It can be recognized by persistent primary symptoms such as frequent urination, cloudy urine, pain/burning sensation while urination and secondary symptoms such as fever, fatigue, back pain etc.
It usually is not something very severe and can be easily diagnosed with urine sample test. It is usually treated with oral antibiotics.
Anemia
Not having the ideal range of healthy red blood cells is very common complications of pregnancy. It can lead to extreme fatigue and weakness. It is addressed by folic acid and iron supplements and proper nutritional diet.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women can develop a unique kind of diabetes, particularly during the pregnancy, without any prior occurrence. It happens when the body fails to process the carbohydrates properly. It is crucial to keep the blood sugar level in check during pregnancy as unmanaged diabetes can lead to pregnancy complications like preterm birth, preeclampsia, childbirth complication etc.
It is usually resolved through diet and medication, but it leaves the mother susceptible to diabetes in future.
Hyperemesis Gravid arum
It is more commonly known as morning sickness and is extremely common among mothers. It causes nausea and vomiting, especially during the morning hours, however, it can persist throughout the day as well. Often few expecting mothers experience severe morning sickness that requires treatment.
Hypertension
Commonly known as the high blood pressure, is yet another common problem during pregnancy. Unresolved hypertension can lead to severe complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, miscarriage, malnutrition baby, placental abruption etc.
At ILS Hospitals, we address every aspect of pregnancy and provide treatment, care, and support through every stage of it. Moreover, we offer other maternity-related services such as family planning, assistance during pregnancy and childbirth and for conception and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for critically ill babies. We urge every mother to seek medical help without wasting precious moments.
A Guide To Management And Treatment For Thalassemia
Transmitting Thalassemia by parents carrying thalassemia genes to their children is a horror for such parents. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder and is characterized by the abnormal production of hemoglobin in the blood. The blood test can determine the severity of the same. Accordingly, the most effective treatment is sought from the reliable hospitals.
On this 8th May 2018, as we observe World Thalassemia Day, we on behalf of ILS Hospitals, spread awareness regarding its treatment options. But at the onset, we need to understand what are the various kinds of thalassemia patients and how are various treatment done to manage the same. Thalassemia minor are the individuals who are simply carrying the genes of the same, without any major impact on their own life. Whereas Thalassemia major are the individuals who are carrying the genes having a high risk of severe impact.
Thalassemia minor does not require any strict supervision or treatment post its primary evaluation. Thalassemia major with alpha and beta thalassemia must be warned regarding their respective conditions and best possible treatment options. They should also be aware of the closely related conditions such as iron deficiency and anemia so as to avoid misdiagnosis.
Blood transfusion
The most prevalent treatment options for thalassemia major includes a routine blood transfusion. It usually helps to prolong the life. The frequency varies as per the severity of the case, narrowing down to a couple of weeks for some cases. However, many a time, this frequent transfusion might result in the excess iron build up in few organs such as liver, heart etc.
Medication
As already mentioned multiple blood transfusions is a widely availed treatment for thalassemia, it often leads to an excess iron build-up in the body. To negate its ill-effects, routine medication is needed. This is usually done as chelation therapy, shots/oral medication of deferoxamine, deferiprone, or deferasirox. There are few side effects associated with each one whose severity varies from person to person.
Bone marrow transplant
As the marrow plays a crucial role in the overall composition of the blood. For very young thalassemia patients, a bone marrow transplant from a suitable donor can prove to be somewhat of a permanent cure for thalassemia, the success rate has been found as high as 80% to 90%.
Therefore, it is recommended for every thalassemia patient and their family to take note of the severity of the same and avail treatment accordingly.
A Brief Introduction to Asthma
Asthma is an illness that results due to the blockage of the airways of the lungs. The severity of the Asthma ranges from mild to severe. A mild episode of asthma can be treated with an asthma pump and over the counter medicine, whereas a major one needs more professional help. It is important to threat and keep a tab on every respiratory illness, particularly Asthma. As we are observing this World Asthma Day on 1st May 2018, we present a brief overview of symptoms of asthma and how it is diagnosed and treated.
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to the lungs happens through the bronchial tubes, the passage to the lungs. Having asthma leads to inflammation of the bronchial tubes to the lungs. The swollen bronchial tubes and muscle make it difficult to facilitate smooth effortless air passage in and out of the lungs.
Possible asthma can be diagnosed by looking for the symptoms of the same. The exact symptoms may vary from person to person, but the most common are as follows-
- Chronic coughing or wheezing
- Chest pain and tenderness
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty sleeping, particularly at night
- Whistling sound while breathing out
- Fatigue upon exercise
Many of these may arise even without asthma, but seeking the opinion of a doctor is always advisable. It is particularly recommended if the symptom gets prominent right after exercise, crying, laughing, exposure to allergies and during the night. Remember the severity of asthma increases upon the time span of the same, particularly untreated time period.
The diagnosis of asthma includes factors like family history, personal history, at its basics. Then it advances to certain diagnostic tests. These include Spirometry, which estimates the capacity and fictions of the lungs. Several other tests record the effects of particular allergens and stimulants.
On this World Asthma Day, we spread awareness regarding its crucial aspects to every people out there. Asthma cannot be cured permanently once infected. However, it can be managed effectively through medication, and healthy lifestyle. The chances of managing it effectively enhances significantly if the patients seek the diagnosis and treatment at its earliest. Timely measures ensure fewer, less severe attacks in future. Needless to say, the vice versa leads to the exact opposite scenario and can even cause permanent damage to the respiratory system.