About Dr. Viral Thakkar

Dr. Viral Thakkar, M.B.B.S is a general physician with extensive experience in community and preventive medicine. He also has a vast experience in emergency care. With years of experience in allopathy and understanding of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Mind Empowerment, Dr. Thakkar is a firm believer that the body can cure itself with the right management. The human body is the best software designed by creation which guides every moment to keep one healthy. The body produces the disease and also has an innate ability to heal. Modern medicine is a quick fix to the disease (body) but, ignores the mind and soul which are an important aspect of human existence. Hence a holistic approach of healing of mind, body and soul is essential and modern medicine should be judiciously used. He practices what he preaches. Meditation and yoga along with a complete diet govern his lifestyle. As a mentor, Dr. Thakkar conducts individual sessions, group sessions with corporates and civil society groups on ideal lifestyle.

January 8, 2019 By Dr. Viral Thakkar Leave a Comment

Stroke: Straight Drive or Pavilion

“Doctor please help! Half of my body does not move anymore” came a slurry cry from a helpless Vinod Agrawal, a businessman. His wife stood next to him in the emergency department weeping profusely and their 16 year old son watched his parents helplessly.

When examined thoroughly, Agrawal was diagnosed with STROKE. Thanks to the lifestyles that most people lead these days, this is a common site in hospitals.

A stroke strikes when the blood supply to the brain is affected either due to blockage leading to ischemia or rupturing of vessels. Due to this the brain does not receive enough oxygen and nutrition causing cell death, which is the ideal condition for stroke.

How does a stroke happen?

Ischemia: Occurs due to narrowing or blockage of blood vessels due to blood clots formed either in arteries connecting brains or other vessels or due to dislodgment of fatty deposits called plaques (atherosclerosis).
Haemorrhagic: Bursting or leaking of blood vessels which compresses the brain cells. This leakage of blood puts pressure on brain cells which is accumulated in brain due to trauma, hypertension or some blood thinning medication.
TIA- Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini Stoke): Brief episodes of stroke which is self-limiting. Blood flow is briefly interrupted and these are the warning signs of future stroke. It is like an alarm from the body.

Common Presentation of Stroke –

Weakness or tingling in half or full body depending on the involved artery
Deviation of face with difficulty in speech and closure of one eye
Mental Confusion, severe headache, loss of power in the limbs

When any of the above symptoms are seen, the patient must be rushed to the hospital.

After thoroughly understanding the history and general examination, few specific tests and examination like CT scan are done to find out the cause of the stroke. The treatment is very complicated and management is done in ICU and Neurophyscican may be required.

As there are two major causes of stroke- ischemia and haemorrhage-both have different management. If ischemic– the focus is to restore adequate blood flow-clot is broken or dissolved.

If haemorrhagic -stop bleeding or leakage of blood, to reduce the pressure of brain cells. Surgical intervention may be required if there is any arterial malformation or rupture of vessels.

Rehabilitation activities like physiotherapy, speech therapy, etc help to restore the physical activities gradually.

Prevent Stroke!

All the above symptoms and complications can be prevented if a healthy lifestyle is followed. Eat a healthy- diet which includes fresh fruits, vegetables, avoiding processed meat and avoid junk food.

Yoga, especially pranayama, as this ensures that every cell of the body receives adequate oxygen for appropriate functioning. Pranayama rejuvenates the body cells which ensures the ideal functioning of the body.

Stress kills! Accept what life offers happily and keep working towards your goal without killing yourself.

Remember Smoking Kills — all advertisements shown are true. STOP smoking. Avoid alcohol, if you do consume it, make it minimal.

If you are hypertensive keep absolute check on blood pressure and follow all dietary and physical discipline so the blood pressure is controlled.

If one is diabetic, regular check of sugar is important.

Listen to your body. It always warns you before the disease sets in.

Stroke is an acute emergency but the root cause lies in chronic habits and patterns of life. Every moment, even at this moment of reading the blog, we can choose health or disease. Either you choose to pick up alarming signals of body and take necessary preventions to live a healthy life or be undisciplined and get hospitalised. THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

January 4, 2019 By Dr. Viral Thakkar Leave a Comment

Safe Pregnancy

safe pregnancy

It is said that a child gives birth to a mother.

Bringing a new life in this world is a huge responsibility. The woman bears’ the responsibility of creating the new generation. It is sad to see that something so essential and pertinent is taken lightly today. And no wonder, that the instances of risk pregnancy have steadily risen.

You are at risk if you-

Have a history of chronic hypertension, diabetes, heart disorders, breathing problems, Hypothyroid
Your age is above 35 years
Smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or consume drugs- before and during pregnancy
Malnutrition like anaemia
Mental health issues like stressful life and depression
Had complications like abnormal placenta position, fetal growth fetal growth restriction and Rh (rhesus) sensitization — a potentially serious condition that can occur when your blood group is Rh negative and your baby’s blood group is Rh positive.
Have a history of surgery on your uterus, including multiple C-sections, multiple abdominal surgeries or surgery for uterine tumours (fibroids)
Pregnancy risks are higher for women carrying twins or higher order multiples.

What can you do?

To ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby’s health, ensure you prepare your body. Be sure that you and your partner both want a child. The mental state of a mother plays a very important role in the health of the baby and mother too, and hence the partner also should be equally involved. Nowadays we see a lot of couple marking as ‘WE’ are Pregnant as it is very important that both are involved together. Sit in a quiet place, contemplate and decide.

Eat right! Food rich in folic acid, protein, calcium and iron goes a long way to ensure a healthy pregnancy. If you love smoking and drinking, please adopt a baby! Spare the new life!

safe pregnancy 1

Get your body to move and groove! Exercise! Yoga and pranayama ensure holistic health and pregnancy is a part of it. However, if you are pregnant, consult your healthcare provider for appropriate yoga poses or any exercise.

Pregnancy or not, happy thoughts ensure good health. While you are eating right and exercising, include some smiles- you are in the process to get life into this world! Meditate for this and keep stress at bay!

A Specialised Tests which you want to know about!

Lab tests might be conducted for urinary tract infections and screen you for infectious diseases such as HIV, syphilis, etc.
Specialized or targeted ultrasound targets a suspected problem, such as abnormal development.
Amniocentesis can identify certain genetic conditions, as well as neural tube defects — serious abnormalities of the brain or spinal cord.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can identify certain genetic conditions.
Also known as percutaneous umbilical blood sampling, can identify certain genetic disorders, blood conditions and infections.
Ultrasound for cervical length might use an ultrasound to measure the length of your cervix at prenatal appointments to determine if you’re at risk of preterm labour.
A biophysical profile is used to check on a baby’s well-being. It might involve only an ultrasound to evaluate fetal well-being or, depending on the results of the ultrasound, also fetal heart rate monitoring (non-stress test).

Some prenatal diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling carry a small risk of pregnancy loss. The decision to pursue prenatal testing is up to you and your partner. Discuss the risks and benefits with your healthcare provider.

Rush to the hospital if you have

Severe headaches
Vaginal bleeding
Pain or cramping in the lower abdomen
Watery vaginal discharge — in a gush or a trickle
Regular or frequent contractions — a tightening sensation in the abdomen
Decreased fetal activity
Pain or burning with urination
Changes in vision, including blurred vision

If you have any condition different from the norm, it is best to speak with your healthcare provider. Discuss nutrition, healthy weight or any ailment you might have. Your health care provider might also discuss your risk of having a baby with a genetic condition. If you are pregnant, do not take any medicine without the advice of your health care provider- allopathy, homoeopathy, ayurvedic or any pathy!

November 15, 2018 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 5 Comments

Turmeric- ‘Haldi’- for Health

Bablu disliked ‘Haldi Dhoodh’ (Turmeric Milk) to no extent. He could endure anything but turmeric powder in his milk. But alas, his mother insisted and as a child he could not do much about it. Bablu’s mother believed that turmeric is a wonder ‘drug’ for numerous ailments. As he got a bit older he also got aware and realised during winters he never succumbed to common ailments like cough and cold. His immune system was stronger than many of his friends. He enjoyed his health! But, always wondered how!

Turmeric is derived from the rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa, which is a member of the ginger family. It has the compounds with medicinal properties which is Curcumin. Even though Curcumin is 3% of turmeric, the use of turmeric is not lessened in anyway. Curcumin is the most active component of turmeric and has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This is precisely the reason that ‘Haldi’(turmeric) finds a special place in India (Ayurveda) for many ailments.

Turmeric is Anti- inflammatory

Turmeric contains more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds including six different COX-2-inhibitors (the COX-2 enzyme promotes pain, swelling and inflammation).
External application of turmeric is beneficial for sprains and swellings because of the Curcumin compound.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties and pain relieving properties, Curcumin and turmeric is used for arthritic pain.
Because inflammation is closely linked to tumor promotion, Curcumin with its potent anti-inflammatory property is anticipated to exert chemopreventive effects on carcinogenesis. Hence, the past few decades have witnessed intense research devoted to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Curcumin.

Turmeric Prevents

The antibacterial and anti-viral action of curcumin makes it the best remedy to treat cough and cold naturally. The anti-inflammatory action of curcumin aids in relieving the chest congestion that develops in people suffering with chronic cough. It is advised to include turmeric in a daily diet during winters to prevent viral and bacterial infection. The dosage could be –one tsp turmeric with a glass of warm milk.One can also have a 1-2 tsps of turmeric powder without mixing it for the same effect.

Turmeric Heals

Curcuma has natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties and can be used as effective disinfectant in case of cuts and minor burns. Turmeric also helps repair damaged skin and may be used to treat psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Turmeric with other constituents has a great effect- Having haldi (Turmeric) mixed with mustard oil and onion juice every hour stops rectal bleeding in piles in most of the cases.
As a rich source of iron, turmeric is valuable for anemia.
Curcuma has protective action on intestinal flora. Curcuma is beneficial in Crohn’s disease (an ailment that affects the digestive tract) and ulcerative colitis.

Turmeric Boosts General Health

Curcumin Detoxifies the liver- It helps in stimulating bile production in the liver and encouraging excretion of bile via the gallbladder, which improves the body’s ability to digest fats.
It balances cholesterol levels, fights allergies, stimulates digestion, boosts immunity and enhances the complexion.
Studies suggest that curcumin has several properties that could make it effective at preventing Alzheimer’s disease.

Turmeric is Anti- cancer

Curcumin powder mixed with pure cow’s ghee(Clarified Butter) might wade away cancer cells in most cases and also regenerates new cells in the body.
Curcuma has been demonstrated to inhibit tumor growth and stimulate apoptosis, an intracellular mechanism for cells of all types to “kill” themselves. It neutralizes those substances and conditions which can cause cancer.
It directly helps a cell retain its integrity if threatened by carcinogens.

Turmeric is an Effective Cosmetic

Turmeric paste mixed with aloe vera, water and milk will clear your skin as well. Turmeric mixed with gram flour (besan) is an effective & cheap scrub, and is known to clear tan.

So if you say yes to your health, haldi (Turmeric) has to find some space in your scheme of affairs!

May 15, 2018 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 8 Comments

Strong as a Diamond! Vajrasana

VAJRASANA_YOGA

Ever wondered why zen masters sit on their knees? Karate and other martial arts masters also to sit in that “uncomfortable” position- the ‘vajrasana’. Vajrasana is a kneeling pose; vajra is a Sanskrit word meaning diamond or thunderbolt. Asana means pose. This diamond pose is also called Adamantine Pose.

Usually, breathing exercises like Pranayama, Kapalabhati, and Anulon Vilom are done sitting in this position. Many masters also prefer this position for meditation.

vajrasana

This is how you do it..

Kneel down, stretching your lower legs backwards and keeping them together. Your big toes should touch each other.

Gently lower your body such that your buttocks are resting on your heels and your thighs on your calf muscles.
Place your hands on your knees, and set your gaze forward with your head absolutely straight.
Turn your attention to your breathing. Be fully aware of how you breathe and carefully observe as you inhale and exhale.
You could close your eyes to concentrate on your breathing and to calm your mind.

As a beginner, when you assume this position, it is likely that your legs will pain. If this happens, all you need to do is undo the asana, and stretch your legs forward. You can try to stay in vajrasana for a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes and extend the time as per your comfort.

Work slowly and gradually on bettering the strength of the lower back muscles before you go deeper into the pose or increasing the duration. Once the lower back is strengthened, the strain on the breath is decreased. Also, do not push yourself more than your body can take, the benefits of the pose are minimized.

This asana is one of the few asanas which can and should be practised post a meal since it promotes proper digestion.

While this is one of the easiest and safest asanas to practice, however, keep the following in mind:

Do not practice this asana if you have a knee problem or have undergone surgery in your knees recently; Or if you have intestinal ulcers, hernia, or any other problems related to the large or small intestine. If you are very keen, seek advice from your doctor/ yoga practitioner.
If you are pregnant, keep your knees slightly apart to avoid putting pressure on your abdomen.
If you are suffering from any spinal column ailments on the lower vertebrae, it is best to avoid this pose.

Practice this asana because

It improves digestion. It regulates blood circulation in the lower pelvic region. Sitting on your legs reduces the blood flow in the legs and increases it in the digestive area, therefore increasing the efficiency of the digestive system. Better digestion prevents GERD- Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease and acidity.
With the regular practice of vajrasan one can get relief from constipation and flatulence.
It strengthens the back and relieves patients suffering from lower back problems and sciatica.
It strengthens the pelvic muscles too. It positively impacts the urinary and reproductive systems.

According to Ayurveda, one of the major nerves in the human body is also named Vajra Nadi (Nadi means nerve). Vajra Nadi is connected with the genitourinary system which is responsible for regulating sexual energy in human body. Hence practising this yoga pose for an extended duration of time may make a person control his/her sexual energy for spiritual aims.

It strengthens muscles and nerves almost curing varicose pains.
It helps to ease out labour pains and also reduces menstrual cramps. It is a safe asana to perform during pregnancy.
This asana is one of the best ones to assume when you wish to go into a meditative state since it is an upright pose.
According to Ayurvedic Sciences, there are marm points in our body. These points impact different parts of the body when we assume different positions. While sitting in vajrasana, katikatarun marm is stimulated. This impacts the spine and stomach releasing the pain in the spine and improves digestion.

Make a habit to practice this asana at least post your meals and become ‘diamond’ strong!