A man's fertility potential is at its best until the age of 50. After this age, the quality of sperm produced and sperm count go down. For women the ideal age to get pregnant is 25 to 35 years. Q:How long should a couple try to conceive naturally before opting for Fertility Testing?   Dr:After a year of carefully timed, unprotected sexual intercourse, if a couple is unable to conceive, it is time to...

  Having unprotected sex as close as possible to to the time of ovulation increases the chances of conception For couples trying to conceive, being aware of the four phases of the menstrual cycle can help time intercourse in order to improve their chances of getting pregnant. But first, what are the phases of the menstrual cycle?   THE MENSTRUAL PHASE   It is the time when women have their periods. It lasts for 4...

  Gestational Diabetes is usually a temporary condition and goes away on its own after the baby is delivered. However, having gestational diabetes means that you can develop type 2 diabetes later on in life. Doing an annual check-up is a wise choice. A woman undergoes several changes in her body during her pregnancy. Sudden increase of hormonal activity produces emotional and physiological changes, and it can be quite a rollercoaster ride. Considering her own...

  The Movember movements is all about creating an awareness on major men's health issues and urging men of all ages to pay attention to their body For most people 'Movember' is just about growing a moustache or a beard and exploring a new look in the month of November. But NO, that's not it.   MEN + NOVEMBER = MOVEMBER   The Movember campaign was started to raise awareness on health issues that affect...

  Pulmonary Rehab aims to educate people on lung health and to equip them with exercises that promote the same Most of the time we barely notice how we breathe. The process of inhalation and exhalation is so natural and familiar that we live most of our life, without even realising we are constantly doing it. Only when we do strenuous activity, which makes us gasp for breath do we feel the heaving of our...

  Uncontrolled diabetes will cause blood vessel damage in the long run leading to foot ulcers or amputation, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. Diabetes is a global issue with 463 million known cases of the disease amongst adults across the globe. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to maintain blood sugar levels in the body. Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can lead to several complications such as blindness, kidney failure, stroke,...

  It has been found that a man's coping mechanism in the face of stressful events is less adaptive, increasing their risk for heart disease. That being said, fewer women than men survive their first heart attack. There are some conditions that only affect men, and some that impact only women. Heart disease is not a gender specific condition. Worldwide, millions of people are diagnosed with heart disease irrespective of gender. The difference lies in...

  Leukemia, which is the cancer of the white blood cells. It is the most prevalent type of blood cancer amongst children under the age of 15.   Q:What is Blood Cancer?   Ans:It is the occurrence of cancerous cells in the blood. In most cases blood cancer begins in the bone marrow which is where blood is produced. Blood cancer is often the result of abnormal/ excessive production of white blood cells.   Q:What...

  Since it takes up to 15 years for the polyps in the colon to turn malignant, screening at regular intervals is the best method for prevention of colon cancer.Cancer. In most cases, metastatic cancer responds to the same treatment to which the primary tumor responded. Transformation of normal cells to malignant cells in the colon leads to Colon Cancer. The colon is the first part of the large intestine and is about 5 feet...

  Screening is done even before symptoms are visible, so as to catch the disease in its nascent stage. The sooner the cancer is detected, the better are the chances to treat the disease successfully Lung Cancer is the leading cause for cancer related deaths worldwide. And while smoking increases risk of Lung cancer, non-smokers can develop lung cancer as well. Can Lung Cancer be prevented? Certain lifestyle changes can definitely improve one's chances to...

  Cancer can silently creep up on an individual and go undetected until it's too late. Hence, there is no harm in understanding the risk factors and then considering what changes one needs to make in order to be protected from the disease. In order to prevent Breast Cancer, one must first understand what the risk factors are. In most cases the onset of a cancer happens with next to no symptoms and once the...

  Metastatic Breast Cancer can develop in any part of the body. However, the most common regions include Bone, Brain, Lung, and Liver. No matter where breast cancer spreads it is still considered Breast Cancer. In most cases, metastatic cancer responds to the same treatment to which the primary tumor responded. Cancer forms when healthy cells turn abnormal and multiply at an uncontrollable rate leading to the formation of tumour in some part of the...

  If you notice someone clutching their chest or breathing heavily, or if they drop to the floor unconscious, it's most likely that they have had a sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden Cardiac Arrest as the name suggests, happens quite suddenly giving the person little time to even call for help. However, if you are alert to changes in your body, you just might be able to recognise the signs and help yourself. Timing is everything....

  In the case of metastatic cancers the tumor did not originate at the given site but has in fact spread from the original or primary site.   WHAT IS METASTATIC CANCER?   Advances in medicine have improved survival rate for most cancers when detected in the early stages. Cancer screening offers even more hope to those in the high-risk zone. And yet we can never fully celebrate because ever so-often, even after successful treatment,...

  Unfortunately most patients with atherosclerosis don't even know they have it until the atheroma causes a heart attack or a stroke. This makes it important to check with your primary health provider about being screened for the condition.   Q:WHAT IS AN ATHEROMA?   Ans:The build-up of plaque in arteries is called atheroma. Fat, cholesterol, calcium, connective tissue, and inflammatory cells are amongst the materials that deposit inside arteries and over time form an...

  Long-term alcohol consumption is linked with Liver Cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption on a regular/ daily basis can damage the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. Liver Cancer is a relatively rare cancer, and most often goes by unnoticed because in its initial stages there are next to no symptoms. The most common type of cancer in the liver originates in the hepatocytes which is the main type of liver cell. This is called hepatocellular...

  Inhaling tobacco smoke causes several chemicals to enter your bloodstream. These chemicals damage the very DNA of the lungs. In due course of time the build up of damage can lead to the formation of cancer cells. Cigarette Smoking is injurious to health and can lead to cancer. Though it’s said often enough, surprisingly, it has not put an end to the habit. From being a rare form of cancer until the 19th century...

  Breast Cancer is one of the few cancers that can be detected long before physical signs occur and this improves the chances for complete recovery. Hence it is important for women to talk to their doctor and find out if they are at high risk and if they require a screening test. Breast Cancer is one of the most common cancers among women, and today the number of lives lost due to Breast Cancer...

  In most cases surgery is the first line of treatment. Advances in robotics have made it possible to use minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove the tumor. Head and neck cancers encompass cancers originating in the squamous cells that line the mucosal surfaces inside the mouth, throat, and voice box. These are called squamous cell carcinomas. They are much more common than cancers that begin in salivary glands, sinuses, or muscles or nerves in...

  UVA rays and UVB rays in sunlight damages skin cells on overexposure. Sun damaged cells can develop into skin cancer. WWhile most claims made by cosmetic companies come across as suspicious, there's one that does hold a considerable amount of truth – the need to use make-up products that have UV protection. And for those who do not use make-up, a sunscreen lotion is a must-have. Why? Ultraviolet Rays in sunlight can damage skin...

  There are over 50 types of Sarcomas and the possibility of at least 100 subsets. However, Sarcomas can be broadly categorised into: soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas Breast cancer is most common among urban women. This also means that they may lose a part of or a whole breast. From time immemorial, breasts have been seen as an integral part of the feminine form and her sexuality. Hence at any age, losing this...

  All the vitamins, proteins, fats and other nutrients that the newborn needs are found in breastmilk. These nutrients help the baby grow and gain the right amount of weight. Choosing to breastfeed your baby is one of the most important decisions the mother makes for her new-born. There are significant advantages for the mother and for the child, that many first-time mothers may not be aware of.   BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING TO THE BABY...

  Most women are not happy about losing a breast or having a misshapen one due to lumpectomy. In today's scenario they have the option of Breast Reconstruction Surgery, which involves having the breast mound rebuilt to restore the breast's appearance. Breast cancer is most common among urban women. This also means that they may lose a part of or a whole breast. From time immemorial, breasts have been seen as an integral part of...

    Q:What is Geriatrics?   Ans:Geriatrics refers to specialized medical care for older adults, especially for the senior citizens (elderly people after the age of 60 years) in India.   Q:Why do you need Geriatric Care?   Ans: Life expectancy has increased. Hence, elders aged 60 years and above are increasing in numbers. Diseases interact with aging effects and cause old age-related syndromes. Hence, the effects of aging must be considered during the diagnosis...

    Over the last two years the whole world has turned on its head and the dynamics of health care have changed drastically due to the COVID 19 pandemic. With the entire focus shifted towards the diagnosis and treatment of COVID 19, all other chronic and fatal diseases have been left forgotten. Dr. TG Govindarajan, Founder & Chairman of Dr. Kamakshi Memorial Group of Hospitals, set-up his hospital with the vision to make quality...

  Life after a heart attack will involve a considerable number of changes, and if this is affecting your mental health going for therapy will help cope.   The nature of Cancer is such that patients and their doctors know that in spite of several treatment options, the road to recovery is long. The goal of the treatment is two-fold - removing the cancerous cells and ensuring that it does not recur. One of the...

  IGRT & ART REDUCE MORBIDITY WHEN TREATING PELVIC TUMORS & PEDIATRIC TUMORS   Prostate Cancer is an age related cancer, which means it mainly affects those over 40 years of age. Radiotherapy plays an important role in treating it and other Pelvic cancers as well,” explains Dr. Surendran J – Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology (at Dr. Kamakshi Memorial Hospital) as he discusses the efficacy of their latest linear accelerator in the treatment of Pelvic...

  STATE-OF-ART PRECISION TREATMENT FOR CANCER PATIENTS WITH RECURRENCE IN LUNG & LIVER   Cancer is the unwelcome guest that must be eliminated at all cost. Today advanced technology in Cancer treatment helps doctors attack and remove cancerous cells, without destroying healthy tissue. However, in spite of the successful treatment, in some cases cancer recurs and not necessarily at the primary site. Secondaries can show up a few years down the line in the brain,...

  Two important factors that determine the mode of treatment for carcinomas are - where the cancerous cells have developed and how far have they spread from the primary location. Our body is made up of various tissues which are basically pile up of cells of various types. These cells undergo constant repair and replacement at various paces depending on the origin of tissue. During this cell replacement - which is called as cell division,...

  Gadget addiction is a kind of behavioural addiction like gambling, shopping, food addiction unlike substance addiction like alcohol, cannabis, smoking behavioural addiction does not involve any harmful substance intake but it can cause serious physical and psychological consequences which can hamper an individual’s socio occupational functioning.   Gadget usage includes using mobiles, I pad, I pod, tablet, laptop, and television. A person is said to be addicted to gadgets when he /she has the...

  Geriatrics refers to specialized medical care for older adults, especially after the age of 60 years in India. Life expectancy has increased. Hence, people living beyond 60 years are increasing in numbers. Diseases interact with pure aging effects to cause old age-related syndromes. Hence, the effects of aging must be considered during the diagnosis and treatment of senior citizens.   Why “specialist” for elderly people? Clinicians may often: Mistake pure aging for disease Mistake...

  WHAT IS TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT?   TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT OR TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY is a surgical technique that helps to treat arthritis of knee joint. During the procedure, the arthritic bone is removed by bone cuts and replaced with high grade metal and high-grade plastic inserts.   WHO NEEDS TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY?   Patient with severe arthritis of the knee joint, severe pain, and difficulty to walk or do their day-to-day activities. Osteoarthritis (most...

  Total hip replacement or arthroplasty (THR/THA) is one of the most cost-effective and consistently successful surgeries performed in orthopedics.   THR provides reliable outcomes for patients suffering from end-stage degenerative hip osteoarthritis (OA), specifically pain relief, functional restoration, and overall improved quality of life. Once considered a procedure limited to the elderly, low-demand patients, THR is becoming an increasingly popular procedure performed in younger patient populations.   During a hip replacement, the head of...

  Following fad diets that help you shed too much weight too soon can lead to heart disease. A certified nutritionist will help customize a diet best suited to you. You can't see it, and you rarely even feel its presence but you know it's there. Beating for you. Caught up with day-to-day activities and routines, we often tend to overlook Cardiac Health up until a lightening pain runs across our chest and we wonder...

  Life after a heart attack will involve a considerable number of changes, and if this is affecting your mental health going for therapy will help cope.   Q:What is the most common type of heart disease?   Dr:That would be Coronary Artery disease which occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or harden from the build-up of plaque. This lowers the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and puts more...

  Knee arthroscopy is a surgical technique that can diagnose and treat problems in the knee joint. During the procedure, your surgeon will make a very small incision and insert a tiny camera called an arthroscope into your knee. This allows them to view the inside of the joint on a screen. The surgeon can then investigate problem with the knee and, if necessary, correct the issue using small instruments within the arthroscope.   Who...

  Congestive Heart Failure is a chronic condition which means one will require life-long medical management to keep a check on the functioning of the heart The heart is composed of four chambers, the upper two are called the atria and the lower two are the ventricles. The right atrium and ventricle receive deoxygenated blood return through veins. They pump to lungs, and after oxygenation reach left atrium, ventricle and is pumped throughout the body....

  The survival rate after Breast Cancer has increased to 20 years without local or distant metastasis thanks to modern chemotherapy and targeted pharmaceutical drugs. Before modern advances in cancer treatment, surgery was always the first line of treatment. However, in spite of removing the tumour and in the case of breast cancer, the breast itself, the recurrence of the cancer at another site, had doctors befuddled. Interestingly, as breast cancer treatment evolved over the...

    Q:What is the mode of transmission for covid-19?   Ans:Sars-CoV-2 virus is transmitted directly through droplets or aerosols generated when a covid-19 patient coughs or sneezes.   Q:What is the incubation period?   Ans:Incubation period is the time interval between the entry of organism into your body and appearance of first symptom, this is 2 to 14 days for covid-19. (Mean: 5 – 7 days)   Q:Who are said to be “At risk...

  UV radiation is made up of UVA and UVB rays that can penetrate the top layers of the skin causing damage to the cells. Skin cancer usually develops in the top or outer layer of the skin and this is the area of attack by UV radiation. Skin Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the world. It's prevalence amongst darker skinned people is lesser, but not absent. Sudden rashes...

  20 to 30 percent of melanomas develop in existing moles and go unnoticed. 70 to 80 percent of melanomas arise on seemingly normal skin, and are shrugged off as beauty spots. Melanoma is a type of skin cancer – it is not that common but it is the more dangerous type. Like all skin cancers, it develops due the abnormal growth and multiplication of skin cells. In the case of Melanoma, the cancer originates...

  Precancerous Lesions can appear on any part of the body. They are often rough, scaly patches that range in color from brown to dark pink. These lesions can be warning signs for cancer and should not be ignored Cancer continues to baffle us in the way it attacks and stakes claims of the human body. In spite of the availability of top-notch treatment, it happens way too often that the individual allows the cancer...

  Women who have PCOS are able to become pregnant. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and reproductive disorder among women of reproductive age. Women with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods or excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries may develop numerous small collections of fluid (follicles) and fail to regularly release eggs.   Prevalence estimates ranging from 2.2% to as high as 26%   What is the cause for...

  The risk is not that those with diabetes are more susceptible to infection. The risk lies in the fact that the severity of the COVID infection can be greater in those with diabetes In trying to understand the nature of the Coronavirus and how it attacks individuals, studies have shown several findings because the virus seems to attack every individual differently. This has a lot to do with the personal medical history of the...

  Shying away from a routine fertility evaluation is something to avoid. Like many inherited conditions, infertility is in most cases beyond the control of the individual. For couples trying to conceive and seeing no success after at least a year of unprotected sexual intercourse, evaluating their fertility and scope for pregnancy can help to understand what is causing the delay. These days we need not make assumptions as to who is infertile and whether...

  Chemotherapy is essentially a rigorous treatment, and can have severe side-effects. However, chemotherapy in early stages of cancer is found to be very effective, which makes enduring the side-effects worth it. Chemotherapy uses drugs to treat cancer or cope with cancer related side-effects. Cancer cells multiply and divide at a much faster rate than normal cells. In general cancer treatments aim at killing these cancer cells. While Radiation Therapy and Surgery target a specific...

  Previously infertility was considered purely a female problem, however studies have proven it's the female factor in 40% of the cases and the male factor in 40% of the cases. Having a child of their own is what most married couples dream of. However, today for various reasons conceiving a baby naturally has become difficult for many couples. There is hope yet. Fertility Investigation & Treatment can help couples conceive a child naturally or...

Certain vaccine shots are more painful than others. This is not a reason to fear vaccines. It is easier to treat the soreness at the injection site or the fever, than the disease for which the child was vaccinated. It's true. To fall victim to naysayers who spin conspiracy theories around vaccines, is to put yourself and your loved ones in danger. Vaccines are run through several tests and evaluation to ensure it is safe...

  The Indian Way of Life is quite different from the American Dream. We are brought up under the notion that “To care for those who cared for us is one of the highest honours”. So, are you feeling honourable these days? Are you able to dedicate enough time to your parents as is to your spouse & children? This is a never – ending struggle of the happily ever after.   However, the rainbow...

  Some summer days can really put you in the danger of a heat stroke, so be watchful for symptoms of heat exhaustion such as severe headaches, dizziness and weakness. The first quarter of the year is almost done. The next couple of months the heat is going to go up several notches and the only thing we are going to want is to chill indoors with a cup of cold lemonade and a light...