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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 27, 2017 By Farida Gohil 3 Comments

Low fat, low carb, or Mediterranean: which diet is right for you?

Losing weight sometimes takes experimentation. If you give a diet your best shot and it does not work long term, may be it was not the right one for you, your metabolism, or your situation.Genes, families, your environment – even your friends – influence how, why, what and how much you eat, so don’t get too discouraged or beat yourself up because a diet that “worked for everybody” didn’t pay off for you. Try another, keeping in mind that almost any diet will help you shed pounds – at least for a short time.

Here is a look at three common diet approaches.

Low fat: does not taste Great… and is less filling

Once the main strategy for losing weight, low fat diets were shoved aside by low-carb frenzy. But, healthy fats can actually promote weight loss, and some fats are good for the heart; eliminating them from the diet can cause problems.

Since fat contains nine calories per gram while carbohydrates contain four, you can theoretically eat more without taking in more calories by cutting back on fatty foods and eating more that are full of carbohydrates, especially water-rich fruits and vegetables. Still such a diet tends to be less filling and flavourful than other diets, which lessens its long-term appeal. And, if the carbs you eat in place of fat are highly processed and rapidly digested, you may be sabotaging your weight loss plan.

Low carbohydrate: Quick weight loss but long-term safety questions

Eating carbohydrates – especially highly processed ones like white bread and white rice quickly boosts blood sugar, which triggers an outpouring of insulin from the pancreas. The surge of insulin can rapidly drop blood sugar, causing hunger. Low-carb proponents claim that people who eat a lot of carbohydrates take in an extra calories and gain weight. Limiting carbs in favour of protein and fat is suppose to prevent the insulin surge and make you feel full longer.

To make up for the lack of carbohydrates in the diet, the body mobilises its own carbohydrates stores from liver and muscle tissue. In the process the body also mobilises water, meaning that the pounds shed are water weight. The result is rapid weight loss but, after a few months, weight loss tends to slow and reverse, just as happens with other diets.

The American Heart Association cautions people against following the Atkins diet because it is too high in saturated fat and proteins, which can be hard on heart, kidneys and bones. The lack of carb rich fruits and vegetables is also worrisome, because eating these foods tends to lower the risk of stroke, dementia and certain cancers. Most experts believe that the south beach and the less restrictive low-carbohydrate diet offer a more reasonable approach.

Mediterranean style: Healthy fats and carbs with a big side of fruits and vegetables

Good fats are the monounsaturated fats found in olive oil and other oils like Coconut oil etc,and the polyunsaturated fats found in fish, Canola oil, walnuts and other foods.(Saturated fats and trans fats are the bad guys.) Mediterranean diets tend to have a moderate amount of fat, but most of it comes from healthy fats. The carbohydrates in the Mediterranean-style diet comes from unrefined, fiber-rich sources like whole wheat and beans. These diets are also rich in fruits and vegetables, nuts,seeds and fish with only modest amount of meat and cheese.

People living in the Mediterranean countries have a lower-than-expected rate of heart disease. But the traditional lifestyle in the region also includes lot of physical activity, regular meal patterns, wine, and a good social support. It is hard to know what relative role these different factors play – but there is growing evidence that, in and of itself the diet can reduce cardiovascular risk and the development of Diabetes.

MAKE YOUR OWN

A good diet should provide plenty of choices, relatively few restrictions, and no longer grocery lists of sometimes expensive special foods. It should be good for your heart, bones, brain and colon as it is for your waistline. And, it should be something you sustain for years. Such a diet will not give you a quick fix. But, they can offer you something better- a lifetime of savoury, healthy choices that will be good for all of you, not just a part of you.

May 3, 2017 By GOQii Editor 7 Comments

GOQii ‘India Fit’ 2017 reveals alarming facts

1/3^rd Indians over 30 years suffer from Lifestyle diseases

4% people are suffering from high cholesterol, followed by 7.7% with diabetes and 6.7% with thyroid
Improper nutrition, lack of sleep and stress are adding to the fitness woes of Indians
Kolkata is the unhealthiest city with 35.7% population suffering from at least one lifestyle diseases; Bangalore is the new fitness capital of India closely followed by Mumbai and Pune on second and third spot
Average step count of Indian increases from 6680 to 7746 steps

GOQii, the health and wellness ecosystem that is striving hard to get Indians to be fit and healthy and prevent illness, has recently released it’s India fit report which reveals some hard facts. As per the GOQii India Fit’ 2017, while, the average daily step count of an individual across India is 7746 steps, a steady increase over last year’s figure of 6800 step counts, it still does not match the recommended daily step count of 10,000 steps by World Health Organization in order to lead a healthy lifestyle.

According to the report, Bengaluru and Much as moved ahead of Mumbai and is dubbed the most active city with a daily average step count of 7915. Bengaluru and Mumbai are followed by Pune. Younger population (below 35 years age bracket) in Bengaluru and Chennai is more active as compared to people in other cities.

While it is overwhelming to note that people are walking and striving to be fit, the alarming fact is that chronic lifestyle diseases are a cause for concern in the current times and the epidemic is spreading like wildfire here in India. There have been disruptive lifestyle changes in the country over the past two decades mainly due to the rapidly evolving urban economy and the Indian Middle class.

Chronic diseases (eg, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer) and injuries are the leading causes of death and disability in India, and this is only likely to increase in their contribution to the burden of diseases over the next two decades.

As per the GOQii India Fit’ 2017 report, 33% of the Indian population above 30 years of age is suffering from one or more lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, cardiac problems including high cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid, and Cancer. Close to 9.4% people are suffering from high cholesterol followed by 7.7% suffering from diabetes and 6.76% people suffering from thyroid.

Based on data from over one lakh subscribers of GOQii both male and female from across 8 fitness conscious cities in India namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune, the report states that since 2015 there is a consistent increase in lifestyle diseases. As per data, a major cause for concern is high cholesterol among individuals.

It is estimated that around 130 million may suffer from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes in the next few years. Apart from these two diseases, the other prevalent chronic diseases are Cardiac ailments, hypertension, and high blood pressure. The risk factors for chronic diseases are highly prevalent among the Indian population.

Vishal Gondal, Founder, and CEO of GOQii says: “Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of chronic diseases due to the disruptive lifestyle changes in the country. Lack of exercise, erratic eating habits, increase in stress levels and poor sleep patterns are just some of the key reasons behind the increase of this epidemic’’.“

Data starting January 2016 through December 2016 was collected to determine the various fitness metrics (rest & activity) such as steps, food, water, sleep, etc. We have been very meticulous in collecting data and then deciphering it to be realistic so as to bring out near accurate results.

Another alarming fact is Kolkata has earned the tag of being the unhealthiest city in India. The majority of the population in Kolkata suffers from lifestyle diseases related to stress, cardiovascular ailments, and digestive disorders. Kolkata also tops the chart with the highest number of digestive disorders. Cities like Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad have maximum cases of obesity amongst Indians. Although awareness around the use of medication amongst people has increased, their lifestyle is still the same as there is no one to tell them the benefits of lifestyle change.

GOQii India Fit’ 2017 report indicates that an average Indian sleeps for 6.72 hours every day which is less than a healthy average of 7-9 hours daily. Lack of proper sleep is a grave concern for 31.3% population. And with age, India is sleeping lesser by the day. This coupled with the lack of exercise and increase in stress is adding to the cause of falling health levels of Indians. People in the age group of 31-60 years are the most stressed people in the country.

Gender wise data reveals that men across category are focused on staying active with weight training, playing sports and running apart from adding more protein in pre and post workout meals to their diet. Women, on the other hand, are focused on weight management and eating healthy. Women also prefer dance, yoga, and aerobics as part of their daily exercise.

Overall, the report recognises the fact that Indians are trying to improve their lifestyle but a lot is yet to be done. Eating right and exercising regularly is the first step in the right direction. ‘’It is encouraging to see that young Indians are increasingly focusing more on preventive health and controlling illnesses as they age. I hope that through such initiatives, we are able to motivate more people to adopt a healthy lifestyle,’’ ConcludesGondal.

April 17, 2017 By GOQii Editor Leave a Comment

GOQii Sanjeevani : Our Village Experience

It was a big day for all of us at GOQii as the company was kick-starting its new project GOQiiSanjeevani in the village of Waghadi in Palghar district on April 7^th-World Health day. 10 of us expert coaches along with our two in-house doctors and 5 tech team personnel and other senior members from GOQii including our CEO Vishal Gondal travelled on the morning of April 7^th to Waghadi for the launch. We were going there with a purpose to consult the villagers and guide and educate them on their health issues.

For the last 3 years that most of us have been here at GOQii, we have been dealing with urbanites who have a hectic, stressful and majorly sedentary lifestyle. GOQiiSanjeevani gave us a fresh new opportunity to Coach the villagers who have totally different concerns when it comes to health.

50 villagers with smartphones were shortlisted. They were given the band and also asked to install the app in their phones. Once that was done they were sent to the expert coaches for an interaction. Initially, the villagers were a little apprehensive to share information but when we explained to them how the band, the app along with the coaching is going to help and prevent them from falling ill they got interested.

We found that the villagers are active in their own ways as they walk quite a distance due to lack of frequent public transportation.Women here take care of farming while men are involved in different occupations like teaching, driving etc. However, on talking to them we realized that they do not have major health issues as of now but are almost on the brink of developing disorders like diabetes, thyroid, acidity, UTI due to poor diet habits and hygiene etc. It was hard to believe that many are indulging in regularly eating processed food and junk foods like Chinese, VadaPav (Indianised burger), Samosa etc.

Issues Seen in them:

Acidity due to skipping Breakfast and large meal gaps through the day
Lack of Fibre in terms of Veggies & Fruits in regular daily diet
Joint Pain and Anemia in Women
Sleep Issues

As for now, GOQii Expert Coaches have majorly started working on

Regular meals
Inclusion of fruits and vegetables in their daily food
Have Breakfast
Add Iron & Calcium food sources for women

Once we finished interacting with the 50 villagers there was a bit of an apprehension from our side. Most of us were not sure if the villagers would keep in touch and interact with us

But, we are pleasantly surprised with theresponse we are getting from the villagers. On a dailybasis, they are informing us how much they are eating and what they are eating, if they’re sleeping well etc.They are following our instructions and that is overwhelming for us.

Our overall experience was enriching. It was a new learning on how to communicate with the villagers.

Vaccination: Prevention is better than Cure!

Low fat, low carb, or Mediterranean: which diet is right for you?

GOQii ‘India Fit’ 2017 reveals alarming facts

GOQii Sanjeevani : Our Village Experience

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