Archives for June 2017

June 15, 2017 By GOQii Editor 11 Comments

Walk with a Doc – Reimagining Healthcare between doctors and their communities

Walking is considered one of the best and simplest forms of exercise which can be done by all. Patients with chronic ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, cholesterol, hypertension etc., are recommended to walk as a form of exercise daily. Keeping in line with this, GOQii, the Health and Lifestyle start-up is launching a 10-year-old international movement called ‘Walk with a Doc’ (WWAD), a unique physician-led walking program focusing on encouraging physical activity among patients.

Dr Aashish Contractor, widely recognised as the pioneer of cardiac rehabilitation is kick-starting the first edition of WWAD in Mumbai on June 18, 2017, from NCPA at 7 am. Apart from GOQii, Dr Contractor is also supported in this initiative by his hospital Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital where he is currently, the head of Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. He is also the author of the book ‘The Heart Truth’.

The 40-minute long walk will start at 7 am from NCPA and cover a distance of 5 KMs on Marine Drive and end at NCPA at 8 am. This walk will be followed by a summation by Dr Contractor.

Each local walk will be hosted by a doctor, in addition to the health benefits that everyone enjoys just by walking, the doctors also get a chance to talk their patients while they walk. The movement first started in the United States 10- years ago by Dr David Sabgir, a Mount Carmel Cardiologist from Ohio.

In the US Dr Sabgir started this movement based on his own learnings from observing patients in his clinic for over a decade. As a cardiologist, he thought he was doing everything he could to help his patients. He spent extra time during appointments, listening to their issues and giving advice on how to live a healthier life. But in his own words “In the end, I just wasn’t successful at encouraging them to get out there and get physically active.”

WWAD Standee

Heart disease is the number one killer in America and India is no different. Recently, in an interview with GOQii, Dr Contarctor says, “Heart Disease is the leading cause of death among men and women worldwide and even in India”. Both Dr Sabgir and Dr Contractor believe that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable with more exercise and simple lifestyle changes.

Yet, Sabgir found that only five percent of his patients were getting the recommended 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity. He was frustrated, so one day he asked a few patients to meet him and his family in the park to take a walk. That was the first Walk in 2005 where 101 people showed up. After ten years, there are 301 WWAD chapters spread across 44 states in the USA averaging 25 walkers per walk; which are done weekly / bi-weekly/ monthly by doctors.

“We are ecstatic that you are starting Walk with a Doc in India. We have been thrilled and humbled to see WWAD transform hundreds of new communities in the United States. The opportunity to collaborate with the great physicians of India is a tremendous honour that we will never take for granted,” says Dr Sabgir.

Talking about kick-starting the first walk in Mumbai, India, Dr Contractor says, “I advise my patients to instil the habit of healthy living, however, very few get motivated on their own. WWAD is a good concept and removes that barrier and makes healthy living a routine and fun. Therefore, when GOQii & WWAD- India chapter approached me to host the first edition of WWAD, I agreed. I have been regularly walking and running with my patients, WWAD is a new platform to do the same. I hope that through this program we will be able to inculcate healthy living as part of daily routine of the people.”

From GOQii’s perspective, the health start-up has been advocating healthy living and preventive healthcare. “We felt that this collaboration will compliment us in our vision to create a healthier society. I am thankful to Dr Contractor who agreed to spearhead the first edition in India,” says Vishal Gondal, Founder and CEO, GOQii Technologies Inc.

Walk with a Doc has already helped thousands commit to a healthy lifestyle in the USA and today the movement has reached 6 countries and India being the 7^th.

June 14, 2017 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 14 Comments

Menstrual Pain: Every Woman’s Nightmare No more!!

I know of many women, especially adolescents who don’t like ‘being a woman’ because of the pain during menstruation. If you are one of those or you know of such women, this article is to stop by.

Primary dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) is a normal process of menstruation. It affects girls during adolescence and eases as they mature. It may be painful but is not harmful.

Prostaglandins (hormones that make your uterus contract during menstruation and childbirth) causes the pain. Its pain probably results from contractions of your uterus that occur when the blood supply to its lining (endometrium) is reduced. (But hey! It is a part of you and it is important, so blame it, but accept it and get on with it).

Other factors include- a uterus that tilts backward instead of forward, lack of exercise, psychological or social stress, smoking, drinking alcohol or being overweight.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is generally related to some kind of gynecological disorder. It is most likely to affect women during adulthood.

Causes

Fibroids that develop within the uterine wall or are attached to it cause inflammation leading to pain.
Adenomyosis – the tissue that lines the uterus (called the endometrium) begins to grow within its muscular walls. This makes the uterine walls grow thicker. It may lead to heavy or longer-than-usual menstrual bleeding, as well as pain during menstrual cycle or intercourse.
A sexually transmitted infection.
Endometriosis – fragments of the endometrial lining that are found on other pelvic organs.
Pelvic inflammatory disease, which is primarily an infection of the fallopian tubes, but can also affect the ovaries, uterus, and cervix. It is caused primarily by sexually transmitted infections that spread up from the opening of the uterus to these organs.
An ovarian cyst or tumoris a sac filled with fluid that forms on or inside of an ovary causes pain.
The use of an intrauterine device (IUD), a birth control method leads to painful menstruation which decreases overtime.

‘Pain’ is the body telling us that something is not right. So listen to what your body is telling you. While you must seek medical advice for secondary dysmenorrhea, do consider the following as well.

Be comfortable with your body. The negative messaging at times can become a part of the sub-conscious mind which rejects the female body. So anything which reminds the body of being a ‘woman’ will hurt.

Have a balanced diet. Ensure your diet includes foods rich in Vitamin B12, D, omega-3 fatty acids and calcium. As an extra tip, ginger is a wonder herb that can effectively ease menstrual cramps as it lowers the levels of pain-causing prostaglandins.

A hot water bag relaxes the contracting muscles in your uterus.

Make sure your hemoglobin level is within the normal range by including iron rich foods along with foods high in Vitamin C in your everyday diet.

An orgasm can help relieve all kinds of pains. Before an orgasm, the uterus is more relaxed, and during climax, blood flow increases, helping to relieve the cramps. The endorphins released after sex will make you feel better instantly.

Eat 2tbs of flaxseeds every day during periods reduces prostaglandin levels in the body.

Keep yourself hydrated during your period (and otherwise too!).

Exercise increases the blood flow which will calm the pain naturally.

Be happy and you will feel your body responding better and dealing better with pain during your period.

Yoga Postures to relieve menstrual pain

One Legged PigeonPose stretches the entire lower part of the body, stimulates the abdominal organs.

Matsyasana (Fish pose) is a back-bend that stretches and stimulates the belly muscles.

JanuShirasana (One-legged Forward bend) massages the abdominal organs.

Dhanurasana (Bow pose) strengthens the abdominal muscles and stimulates the reproductive organs.

Bhujangasana (Cobra pose) stretches and tones the abdomen.

Ustrasana (Camel pose) stretches and opens the front of the body.

Yoga is one of the means to reach your goal of painless menstruation. Don’t forget to respect your body and give it time to overcome the pain.

June 13, 2017 By Anusha Subramanian 2 Comments

Going beyond Barriers with Divyanshu Ganatra

Late August Last year he tread upon the road unseen. He rode 550 kilometres from Manali to Khardung La along with his sighted captain Gagan Grover to become the first tandem cycling pair with a blind rider to achieve a feat like that! He is doing this same ride again this year but with 8 more blind individuals and 4 amputees and one quadriplegic and few sighted riders. He is raising funds for the same through a crowd sourcing platform.

https://gocrowdera.com/in/ngo/M2K2017/Adventures-Beyond-Barriers-1459

“This is a chance for cyclists to discover new perspectives while simultaneously spreading the message of inclusiveness and accessibility,” Says Divyanshu to Vishal Gondal, in the newly launched ‘Beneath the Force-The Vishal Gondal Show’.

Divyanshu, is somebody for the last two decades, ever since he turned blind one morning has been fighting attitudinal barriers on a day to basis. No matter how educated, well read and a great orator that he is, his resume never finds takers.

“There is a shame and stigma associated with disability,” says Divyanshu. There are 200 million disabled people that is close to 15% of the population. “We are the largest invisible minority community,” he adds.

According to Divyanshu, blindness is not his disability. Disability is in people’s mind and it is a social construct. He says that his biggest handicap is because the world is not designed for persons with disability and not designed the way it should be wherein there is equal opportunities for all. Today, the able bodied people are decided what a person with disability can do and not do.

“People in my community want to do new things. They want to experience outdoor adventure sports but, unfortunately nobody has presented them that opportunity. Most do not want to empower us. They want us to remain the way we are. Therefore, ABBF was started to provide that opportunity to one and all,” says Divyanshu.

Divyanshu’s message to persons of disability and the others out there is ‘believe in yourself and don’t let the world decide for you. Imagine possibility for yourself’.

Going forward Divyanshu wants to get away from the city and stay amidst the mountains and grow his own food, keep continuing to work for the betterment of his community and want to see the end of special schools.

Listen here :-

https://soundcloud.com/vishal-gondal-show-beneaththeforce/episode-2-going-beyond-barriers-with-divyanshu-ganatra

June 9, 2017 By Dr Manali Rao Leave a Comment

Vaccination: Prevention is better than Cure!

All of us have seen Mr. Amitabh Bachchan saying ‘Do boondhZindagiki’, but very few of them would have realized the magnitude of importance of that advertisement. The fact that one of the most vivacious and accomplished Bollywood star is chosen as the brand ambassador for the campaign of immunization shows us the important role it plays in every child’s life.

What lead me to writing this blog?

Having a month old baby at home and finding myself pouring over the immunization schedule made me think that there are so many people unaware of the importance of vaccination.

The last week of April is the World Immunization Week. It is a global public health campaign to raise awareness and increase rates of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases around the world.Each World Immunization Week focuses on a theme and this year it is “VACCINES WORK”.

So what is IMMUNIZATION?
It is the process by which an individual’s immune system becomes fortified against an agent (known as the immunogenic).

Immunization is done through various techniques, most commonly vaccination. Vaccines against microorganisms that cause diseases can prepare the body’s immune system, thus helping to fight or prevent an infection.

Immunization can protect against 25 different infectious agents or diseases, from infancy to old age, including diphtheria, measles, pertussis, polio and tetanus. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates active immunization currently averts 2 to 3 million deaths every year.

The WHO lists 25 diseases for which vaccines are available:

Anthrax
Measles
Rubella
Cholera
Meningococcal disease
Influenza
Diphtheria
Mumps
Tetanus
Hepatitis A
Pertussis
Tuberculosis
Hepatitis B
Pneumococcal disease
Typhoid fever
Hepatitis E
Poliomyelitis
Tick-borne encephalitis
Haemophilusinfluenza type b
Rabies
Varicella and herpes zoster (shingles)
Human papilloma-virus
Rotavirus gastroenteritis
Yellow fever
Japanese encephalitis
Malaria
Dengue fever

There are also some vaccine-preventable diseases, which are not on the WHO-list, probably either since the vaccine is not very good according to present standards, or the disease is not any longer a threat.

Anthrax
Plague
Q fever
Smallpox

IMMUNIZATiON SCHEDULE :

SL. NO.	AGE	VACCINE	DISEASE
1.	Birth	BCG + OPV	Tuberculosis + Polio
2.	1.5 months	DPT + OPV + IPV + HBV + HiB	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio Hepatitis B H Influenza B
3.	2.5 months	DPT + OPV + IPV + HBV + HiB	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio Hepatitis B H Influenza B
4.	3.5 months	DPT + OPV + IPV + HBV + HiB	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio Hepatitis B H Influenza B
5.	9 months	Measles	Measles
6.	15 months	MMR	Measles Mumps Rubella
7.	18 months	DPT + OPV + IPV + 1st booster HiB	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio
8.	4.5 – 5 years	DPT + 2nd booster OPV	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus Polio
9.	10 years	Tdap/ Td	Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus

VACCINES UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES;

SL. NO.	AGE	VACCINE	DISEASE
1.	2 years Booster dose to be given every 2-5 years	Meningococcal	Meningitis
2.	< 9 years : 2 doses to be given every year. > 9 years – 1 dose to be given every year	Influenza	Flu
3.	0,3,7,14,28 days	Rabies	Rabies

SIGNIFICANCE:

Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of vaccine-preventable diseases which can include amputation of an arm or leg, paralysis of limbs, hearing loss, convulsions, brain damage, and death.

Elimination of polio in India:

Polio was last reported in India in West Bengal and Gujarat on 13th January, 2011.

On 27th March 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared India a polio free country, since no cases of wild polio had been reported in for three years.

As of mid-2016, only Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan have wild polio cases.

The Pulse Polio Initiative (PPI) aims at covering every individual in the country. It aspires to reach even children in remote communities through an improved social mobilisation plan.

No child should miss the immunization.
Cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) are to be reported in time and stool specimens have to be collected within 14 days.
Outbreak response immunization (ORI) should be conducted as early as possible.
Maintaining a high level of surveillance.
Performance of good mop-up operations where polio has disappeared.

ADULT IMMUNIZATION:

Even adults need to be immunized from time to time. It is recommended for adults who meet the age requirement, lack documentation of previous vaccination or lack of evidence of previous infection. Also older adults with medical conditions like Diabetes need to be immunized as recommended by their Doctor.

IMMUNIZATION AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER:

> 10 years females

0 dose

After 1 month

After 6 months

Protects against HPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS) which causes cervical cancer.

Immunization is one of the safest ways for you to protect your health. Vaccine side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. Severe side effects are rare.

Regular immunization of your child will prevent many serious diseases. Follow the schedule and the advice of your child’s Pediatrician. Minor illnesses are not a contraindication to vaccination. Report any adverse events following immunization.