About Dr Manali Rao

Dr. Manali Pawan Rao is a general practitioner who believes that lifestyle modification plays a major role in today's' world of the sedentary living. According to her eating healthy and regular exercise has worked miracles in the life of many. She has had 2 years work experience as a Medical officer and Primary consultant physician in Sion Hospital-Mumbai, Nightingales home health services, and My Care. As much as she advises others to follow a lifestyle modification, she personally too stays healthy by exercising regularly. She is trained in yoga and is a professional Bharatnatyam dancer and teacher. All of these activities helps her stay calm and happy.

September 21, 2022 By Dr Manali Rao 1 Comment

Everything You Need to Know about Alzheimer’s

If you’ve read ‘The Notebook’ by Nicholas Parks, later adapted into a film by the same name, you might have a fair idea of what Alzheimer’s really is. The book is centered around Allie and Noah, an all-time romantic couple. There’s a beautiful scene in the film where Noah, who is an old man now, narrates a story to Allie about a couple and how their love blossomed through hardships. Amazed by this story, Allie only realizes later that this story is about them. Noah read this to her as he had promised before the disease set in. The disease was Alzheimer’s!

Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disorder which results in memory loss, personality changes, global cognitive dysfunction and functional impairments. It is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. The disease begins at a slow rate. Initially, it captures the brain and slowly overcomes human thoughts, activities, and language as well. People start having trouble in remembering things and the one evident sign is forgetting the names of people.

What Causes Alzheimer’s?

The exact etiology is unknown, but a few risk factors can be marked out.

Age: Incidence and prevalence increases after the age of 60
Family History: First-degree relatives at greater risk
Genetic: ApoEepsilon 4 gene
Lack of Sleep
Regular and high consumption of junk food

Clinical Features

Progressive memory loss and decline of higher mental functions
Example: problem-solving small issues, confusion in time, date and month, the problem faced in doing family activities of daily routine, misplacing things, poor judgment and problem in speaking and writing as well
Difficulty in naming and understanding what others are speaking
Apraxia: The inability to carry out skilled motor activities, inability to recognize objects, places and people
Behavioral changes: Agitation, aggression, wandering and persecutory delusions, loss of insight, depression
Loss of inhibition leading to inappropriate social behavior
In advanced stages, a person may be mute, inactive and can succumb to different infections
Inability to recognize color and visual picture
In case there is an underlying cause, additional clinical features may be present

Management

The most important management for Alzheimer’s is support – Physical, mental and moral support from family members and caregivers.

Antioxidants (Vitamin E) can slow the decline of cognitive function
Drugs like anticholinesterase inhibitors (like donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine), memantine, N-methyl-D aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist
Ginkgo biloba, a plant extract has been shown to be useful
Treatment of the underlying cause, if any

Alzheimer’s and Ayurveda

According to the principles of Ayurveda, Alzheimer’s is caused as a result of the imbalance in vata – this imbalance is quite common as a person begins to grow in age. It affects the vata – in the tissues of the central nervous system of the body – mainly the brain which then slowly becomes imbalanced.

Treatment begins with a Vata balancing diet. Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) in the powdered form along with either ghee or milk is included in the patient’s daily diet. This helps charge and soothe the Vata. Herbs such as Brahmi and Ashwagandha that serve as nerve tonics are mainly used.

An oil massage daily, prior to a bath is also considered significant in this form of treatment. Ayurveda specialized preparations for Alzheimer’s treatment that are made from rice have proved highly beneficial to the patients besides providing the required nutrients to the old age person.

How Can Turmeric Help?

Turmeric or Haldi, as it’s known in Hindi, is a part of almost every Indian recipe. It is known all over the world for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-spasmodic, anti-allergic properties and hence is used in medicines, cosmetics etc.

Curcumin that is found in turmeric has radical scavenging properties thereby preventing damage that can be caused to the cells of our body by free radicals. Alzheimer’s alleviation could be based upon the ability of curcumin to combat the development of amyloid plaque (accumulation of protein) in the brain leading to inflammation and impairment of cells.

Prevention

There’s no real guarantee when it comes to preventing Alzheimer’s. The only way to minimize your chances is by living a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Make sure you don’t stop learning new things. Continuous learning like a musical instrument, a new language or any subject that you didn’t have knowledge about keeps the memory intact.
Forget your phone and start memorizing important numbers like bank accounts, mobile numbers, life insurance/investment policy numbers, credit and debit card numbers, passwords and recalling them when needed is an easy way of jogging your memory.
Make sure you get your hands on challenging puzzles like Sudoku, different crosswords, etc.
Consumption of antioxidants via diet/supplements is helpful in preserving memory function.

We hope this blog helped you lean more about Alzheimer’s and what we can do in case a loved one is ever affected by it. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

October 4, 2018 By Dr Manali Rao 4 Comments

The 3 S of Breast Cancer: Signs, Symptoms and Self Examination

CANCER!!! The very word is feared and dreaded by everyone around the globe. Most people suffering this illness feel it’s a death sentence that cannot be reversed. But, seriously it is not the end of the road. There are ways to overcome this illness.

But, before trying to understand how to overcome, it is important to understand what Cancer is? Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth which may or may not spread to other parts of the body. All forms are not cancerous as it is only the malignant ones that spread to various parts of the body and not the benign ones.

One of the most common invasive cancers prevailing around the world today is ‘BREAST CANCER’. More commonly seen in developed countries but, the outcome generally is better-developed countries than in developing countries.

Who would you say is at Risk for development of breast cancer?

More often seen in Females compared to males (yes males can also develop breast cancer although the occurrence is rare).
-Obesity
-Lack of exercise
-Sedentary lifestyle
-Hormone replacement therapy
-Early menarche
-Late pregnancy
-Nulliparous women
-Family history
-Alcohol consumption
-Smoking

Let me now take you through the 3S of Breast Cancer- Signs Symptoms and Self Examination

Look out for these Signs and Symptoms:

-Almost every time the first symptom noticed is a lump in the breast that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue.
-Dimpling or puckering of the nipple.
-Change in position or shape of the nipple may become inverted.
-Orangish discolouration of the skin around the breast or the skin appears like orange peel, called peau de orange.
-Discharge from the nipple.
-Size of one breast may vary from the other.
-Constant pain in the breast area or armpits.
-Swelling in the armpits or around the collarbone.
-Redness / itching / discoloration / increased sensitivity / burning

Please beware that you might not have any symptoms till very late which brings about the need for regular check-ups.

How to self-examine?

The best way to be aware of breast cancer is by self-detection.

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Look out for:
– Their size, shape, and colour.
– Dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin
– A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out).
– Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

Step 3: While you’re standing in front of the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step4.

Indian Breast Cancer Support Groups:

Support groups play a very important role in helping a patient fight cancer, as also give an opportunity to learn from others about the same. By seeing others who have faced the same disease, it gives the patient strength to face and fight her own battle. The most important thing for these patients is hope. If they have hope, they have everything.

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.

May 31, 2017 By Dr Manali Rao 5 Comments

Hypertension during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most blissful times in every woman’s life. Along with the happiness comes a sense of responsibility. Along with the responsibility come all the advices and the worries about antenatal period. What to expect? Whom to believe? What advices are to be followed? Having gone through all of this recently myself, I can say that pregnancy is one heck of a roller coaster ride.

Many women face complications during pregnancy. Some related to Physical health and some related to Mental health. Out of the problems related to physical health, Gestational Diabetes (GDM) and Pregnancy induced Hypertension (PIH) are of utmost concern.

What is Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)?

PIH is the development of hypertension for the first time after 20 weeks of gestation without the presence of protein in urine or other signs of pre-eclampsia (a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication characterised by high blood pressure along with swelling of hands and feet.). Hypertension (HTN) is defined as blood pressure more than 140/90 mmHg.

What can cause PIH?
There are several possible causes of PIH, namely;
● Being Overweight or Obese
● Lack of Activity through the day
● Smoking and Alcohol
● Family history of PIH
● PIH during previous pregnancy
● Multiple pregnancy (like twins)
● Maternal age (over 35 or adolescent pregnancy)
● Living with a single kidney
● IVF mothers
● Past history of diabetes, hypertension, renal disease
● Placental abnormalities

What are the types of PIH?

● Gestational Hypertension:
Women with gestational hypertension have high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy. There is no excess protein in the urine or other signs of organ damage. Some women with gestational hypertension eventually develop preeclampsia.

● Chronic hypertension:
Chronic hypertension is high blood pressure that was present before pregnancy or that occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy. But, because high blood pressure usually may not be present with any symptoms, it might be hard to determine when it began.

● Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia:
This condition occurs in women with chronic HTN before pregnancy who then develop worsening high blood pressure and protein in the urine or other health complications during pregnancy.

● Preeclampsia:
Sometimes chronic HTN or gestational HTN leads to pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by HTN and proteinuria (protein in urine)— usually after
20weeks of pregnancy. If left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious — even fatal — complications for mother and baby. Previously, preeclampsia was only diagnosed if a pregnant woman had HTN and proteinuria. However, experts now know that it’s possible to have preeclampsia, yet never have proteinuria.

● Eclampsia:
In a woman with pre eclampsia, if tonic clonic seizures appear it is considered as eclampsia.

What signs and symptoms should one look for?
● Presence of protein in the urine or additional signs of kidney problems
● Severe headaches
● Changes in vision, including temporary loss of vision, blurred vision or light sensitivity
● Upper abdominal pain, usually under your ribs on the right side
● Nausea or vomiting
● Decreased urine output
● Decreased levels of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia)
● Impaired liver function
● Shortness of breath, caused by fluid in your lungs
● Sudden weight gain and swelling (edema) particularly in your face and hands — often accompanies preeclampsia. But this can also occur in many normal pregnancies, so they’re not considered reliable signs of preeclampsia.
● Spots before your eyes
● Blood in the urine
● Dizziness
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned, immediately report to your Gynecologist or health care provider.

What problems can you face if you develop PIH?
1. PROM – pre mature rupture of membrane can happen before the mother goes into labor
2. Placental abruption- in which the placenta partially or completely separates from your uterus before your baby’s born. This can deprive your baby of oxygen and nutrients, and cause severe bleeding that can be dangerous to you both.
3. Premature delivery
4. IUGR baby (Intra Uterine Growth Restriction)
5. Liver, kidney and blood clotting problems
6. IUD – Intra Uterine death

What is best way to manage PIH?
Consult your Doctor at the earliest and keep up with your follow ups and the prescribed medications. Along with medicines make sure you follow a healthy lifestyle keeping a close watch on your weight gain. Include the below to aide a normal pregnancy.
1. Bed rest depending on your blood pressure.
2. Manage your stress with the help of Meditation and try indulging in hobbies.
3. Salt restriction goes a long way in reducing your blood pressure.
5. Maintaining a healthy and nutritious food pattern is the best remedy for any form of disorder and works for PIH too.

It is very important to maintain a healthy blood pressure through the entire pregnancy and one must not wait till pregnancy to start adopting good lifestyle practices. Always remember Healthy Mother – Healthy Baby !!