Heart Disease Archives - InnoHEALTH magazine

Fit to Fail: Exploring the Reality of Heart Attacks in Daily Exercisers

Khushi Khandelwal — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 06:30:00 +0000

Dr. Soumya Singh

India is a diverse country, whether the diversity is in culture, religion, eating habits, or exercising habits. Earlier, there was this notion that if you eat healthy and exercise daily, your heart will stay healthy. The heart is an organ that needs to beat continuously so that every organ can get oxygenated blood to function. To let it function properly, one needs to take care of it. The effects of your daily lifestyle have a major impact on your heart, and along with that, heredity and environmental factors play a role in heart health. If you compare the day-to-day lives of 21st and 20th-century individuals, a massive difference in their eating and working habits will be inevitable. The difference in time showed the fast-paced life evolution where exercise habits have also changed. There were gyms earlier as well, but for boxers or sports people. Common people’s physical labor was cycling or walking to anywhere they went.

Most of them didn’t have machinery such as bikes, cars, etc. But physical exercise is not the only way to protect your heart; it involves multiple factors. Let’s see what the other factors are. One of them is eating healthy, which is another way to reduce consumption of processed food, less sugar, and less saturated fats or trans fats, as these will gradually lead to increased obesity, blockages in heart vessels, and the heart having to struggle for every beat, eventually leading to a heart attack.

The environment also has its effects on overall health as well as on heart health. Most people are aware of these facts but choose to ignore them. Some do care; they eat healthy and they workout, but what went wrong was that they got a heart attack. Sometimes, when everything is right, there is something wrong hiding behind that right. Changes in the working lifestyle and trying to be ahead of the competitive nature of today’s generation have left no space to relax and calm down. This not only affects their health but also their relationships with family and loved ones.

Thus, a lot of emotions are piling up in the form of stress, which is one of the major reasons for heart attacks in people who have a balanced diet and exercise. Not only that, but stress – smoking and alcohol consumption—and lack of sleep also contribute to it. For adults, at least – 8 hours of sound sleep is required.

“Eat right, sleep tight, and exercise light” should be the new life mantra for this generation”. Apart from this yearly checkup of your heart, invest in certain basic tests like an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, and a stress test (exercise tolerance test (ETT) or treadmill test) and certain advanced tests like cardiac CT, chest x- ray and Thallium scan (myocardial perfusion scintigraphy) as per your physician’s recommendations on the basis of your blood test and symptoms, if any. So, you can make it a habit to visit your physician once or twice a year to keep up with your heart health.

This discovery suggests we should change public health messages. Instead of pushing intense daily exercise for everyone, we should focus on personalized, moderate, and varied physical activities. It encourages us to tune into our bodies, to find equilibrium between activity and rest, and to recognize that health includes physical, mental, and emotional aspects. By doing this, we aim for a healthier life that reduces risks and embraces overall well-being. It also shows how important
scientific research is in updating our knowledge about what’s best for our health. “Fit to Fail” reminds us that real health is not simple.

Author’s biography

Dr. Soumya Singh, Head of Partnerships at InnovatioCuris, is a healthcare expert with a postgraduate degree in Health and Hospital Management and a background in dentistry. Her articles provide valuable insights into healthcare administration

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Integrating Spirituality in State of Art Modern Heart Care

InnoHEALTH magazine digital team — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:11:31 +0000

Dr Satish Kr. Gupta is the Director, Cardiology & Medicine, RMM Global Hospital Trauma Centre and JW Global Hospital & Research Centre, Brahmakumaris, Mount Abu.He was conferred with “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the then President of India late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam ji in 2006 for outstanding contribution in Preventive Cardiology and subsequently was also honoured for Excellence in Cardiology. Apart from receiving several accolades he has organized 12 World Congress on Clinical and Preventive Cardiology from 2006 to 2017 as Secretary General in which more than 14000 Cardiologists and Physicians took part from all over the World and India to propagate the message of “Integrating Spirituality in State of Art Modern Heart Care”. Meditation for preventing / reversing disease process’ through this meditative approach he was able to stop or decrease insulin and anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive medication requirements and almost all other ailments of mind and body.

Surgeon R Admiral V K Singh, Editor-in-Chief & MD InnovatioCuris interviews him to share his experience and also elucidate the importance of yoga in our life. V K Singh has been to his center number of times and also attended his workshop.

“Practice of Rajyoga Meditation along with a healthy diet, healthy exercise, and proper sleep as per our biological clock/circadian rhythm can regress CAD and prevent fresh angina or heart attack.”

Q. How did you turn yourself from clinical cardiology to preventive cardiology and adopt meditation to prevent/reverse heart disease.

While working in one of premier Heart Institute in Delhi in 1994-95, I noticed the number of heart patients in the 30-40 yrs age group, coming to the hospital with acute coronary events have increased. After managing the patient the next day we used to perform coronary angiography and we used to put a stent in the culprit lesion. I remember one patient, who was about 36 years old, got admitted to the emergency room with a heart attack. Next day in coronary angiography we found 80% blockage in Left artery and 60% blockage in right coronary artery.

I informed the patient’s wife about the urgent coronary intervention by putting stent. Patient was discharged from the hospital three days after the procedure. About 3 months later, same patient was again admitted to our hospital with chest discomfort, he was managed conservatively in CCU and repeat coronary angiography revealed 100% in stent restenosis in one artery and 80% in other artery his wife had sold their house and for the last 3 months, he is not able to join his work and now what should they sell to get angioplasty. I had no answer to his query and after the round I went to the library and found few research articles, which related psychosocial stressors e.g Type A behaviour, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, lack of social and emotional support etc. with rapid progression of CAD (Coronary Artery disease) and acute coronary events e.g. unstable angina or heart attack.

I met Brahmakumaris Rajyoga Meditation in 1986 when I was at AIIMS, New Delhi. I have been doing Rajyoga Meditation since then and experienced a lot of changes in my thought patterns. Just a few days of practice of Rajyoga Meditation made me experience internal peace, true love, and happiness. Then, one day after early morning meditation I had clairvoyance, in which I realised how psychosocial stressors are responsible for rapid progression of coronary blockages and acute coronary events. Practice of Rajyoga Meditation along with a healthy diet, healthy exercise, and proper sleep as per our biological clock/circadian rhythm can regress CAD and prevent fresh angina or heart attack.

After few days of this realization, when I was delivering a talk on “Stress & Heart Diseases” in Doctors meeting, I shared my thoughts on how stress can lead to rapid progression of coronary blockages & acute coronary events and how meditation and healthy lifestyle changes can reverse coronary blockages and prevent further heart attacks.

After this, we planned a research project in collaboration with Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences and Defence Institute of Psychological Research, DRDO, New Delhi. To conduct this research project I shifted to J Watumull Global Hospital & Research Centre, Brahmakumaris, Mount Abu in April 1995.

“Brahmakumaris Rajyoga meditation uses Rajyoga meditation to open the blockages, role of healthy diet, exercise, sleep and de-addiction from smoking and alcohol.”

Q. Could you elaborate how you have reversed angiographic proven heart blocks for which you had received a Lifetime achievement award from President of India Sh Abdul Kalam who had conceived this project with you as Scientific Advisor of the Ministry of Defence provided all technical support You have also written about it in my book published in the USA.

In the CAD Research Project, for every angiographically proven CAD patient psychological analysis along with physiological (EEG, HR variability), endocrinological (adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, cortisol; beta-endorphins, serotonin) was carried out. With 24 long years of research, we have been able to co-relate every coronary artery blockage with various thought patterns (type A behavior, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, lack of social and emotional support, etc).

We educate our CAD patients how to change various thought patterns with Rajyoga Meditation. This change in thought patterns along with better adherence to health-promoting behavior e.g. healthy diet, exercise, sleep and de-addiction from smoking and alcohol leads to normalization of endothelial function thereby reverse cholesterol transport of LDL from the plaque into the lumen, hence regression in coronary blockages.

Q. Can you give details of protocol you used in your one-week workshop for lifestyle changes.

Angiographically documented CAD patients along with spouse are invited for “3D Healthcare Rajyoga Meditative Lifestyle or Healthy Heart, Happy Mind & Healthy Body”, 7 days in-house program in RMM Global Hospital Trauma Centre & Brahmakumaris shantivan campus.

In the first day morning weight, height, BMI, skin for thickness, Heart Rate, blood pressure, ECG, and various tests e.g. Haemoglobin, Serum creatinine, serum lipid profile, blood sugar: fasting, two hours after the breakfast, Glycosylated Haemoglobin (only on day 1), Serum uric-acid are assessed on day one and day 6 (after 6 days of workshop). Along with these baseline assessments detailed Clinical and Psychological Analysis is also carried out. After these baseline assessment patients are given intense information, education and counselling about body, heart, mind, mind-body connection, about Heart Disease, conventional and psychological risk factors of heart disease. Brahmakumaris Rajyoga meditation uses Rajyoga meditation to open the blockages, role of healthy diet, exercise, sleep and de-addiction from smoking and alcohol. On day 6 repetition of clinical, psychological, pathological assessment is carried out. On day 7 every patient along with the spouse is given individual clinical, psychological healthy lifestyle counselling, overall risk factors modification and optimization of medication is advised.

Q. Could you explain how Meditation can help reversing diseases. Some details of Rajyoga you used extensively may please be brought out. There are around 35,000 thoughts a day out of which many are useless negative thoughts, how these can be reduced.

It has been observed in many studies that stress e.g. type A behaviour, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility etc leads to prolonged endothelial dysfunction. Rajyoga Meditation normalizes endothelial function thereby reversing the heart disease. When we are in stress our thought speed increases from 10-15 thoughts per minute to 30-45 thoughts per minute.

Rajyoga Meditation is conscious training of the mind for enjoying inner self consciousness for enduring the immortal spirit/soul and it leads to stability and full proof security. This further leads to the understanding of truth, purity, peace, love, happiness, bliss and powers from outer self-consciousness of the mortal body, or ever-changing role & material things which leads to instability and insecurity therefore they in-turn leads to type A behaviour, anger, anxiety, depression, isolation and chronic life stresses. Conversely, a healthy lifestyle is an ‘inner self-conscious lifestyle’ in which all negative and waste/useless thoughts disappear and only positive thoughts of peace, love and happiness, which leads to relaxation response and release of happy hormones e.g. endorphins and encephalins.

Q. You have published several scientific papers. Could you please elaborate in which all diseases meditation helps.

We have observed that more than 10,000 heart patients also had other lifestyle-related diseases e.g. anxiety, depression, hypertension (about 35%), diabetes (about 30%), high cholesterol (65-70%), obesity (35-40%), GERD/Acidity (45-50%), migraine (10-15%), cervical & lumbar spondylosis (20%), osteo-arthritis of knee joints (25%). We observed that most of these heart patients had better control of all lifestyle-related diseases of mind and body with significant reduction in requirement of medication.

Q. Can you explain your concept of three-dimensional healthcare (3D) ? How many patients have you handled with a positive response?

“3D Healthcare Rajyoga Meditative lifestyle” has the following principles to be sustained as far as possible in daily living:

Self-responsibility through self-empowerment: The word ‘healthy’ is derived from two words; ‘heal’ + ’thy’ i.e., to heal yourself. To heal oneself, one needs to be empowered by appropriate information about the mind-body connection, psychological and conventional risk factors, stress management, diet, exercise, sleep, substance abuse, and usual medical care.

Self-awareness: The very word HUMAN-BEING has two components: HUMAN+BEING: HUMAN word has its origin from HUMUS- a Latin word, which means SOIL (I-ness to illness) & BEING meaning Lifeforce/SOUL(We-ness to Wellness).

The Hindi word for healthy is ‘swasth’, which consists of swa-, meaning ‘inner self’, and -asth, meaning ‘conscious’. The word ‘healthy’ could also mean ‘inner self-conscious’. Outer self-consciousness of the mortal body, or ever-changing role & material things, leads to instability and insecurity, which in turn leads to anger, anxiety, depression, type A behavior, isolation, and chronic life stresses. Conversely, inner self-consciousness of an enduring and immortal spirit leads to stability and security, which in turn leads to peace, love, and happiness. A healthy lifestyle is an ‘inner self-conscious lifestyle’.

Multi-dimensionality: The current medical approach addresses only one dimension, the physical body. A new model of health, “3D HEALTHCARE” (Soul-Mind-Body Medicine) is called for. As per this new model, health is a dynamic process of harmony inflow of spiritual energy: knowledge of truth, purity, peace, love, happiness, bliss;

power: of discrimination, to judge, to withdraw, to pack up, to tolerate, to face, to accommodate, to cooperate;
mental energy: is positive thoughts, emotions, attitudes and memories (TEAM), and
physical energy: healthy diet, exercise, sleep, cessation of smoking and alcohol, proper adherence to prescribed treatment regimen and medication.

Biological clock and circadian rhythm: When activities are in rhythm with one’s biological clock, energy expense and stress are reduced, beneficial for the health of mind, intellect, and body.

More than 93% of patients adhere to this program sincerely. It has been observed that “Better the program adherence, more the reversal of heart blockages and other lifestyle-related diseases-in a dose-response manner.”

Q. No money is being charged from patients for treatment, boarding and lodging. How are you supporting your initiative?

We have not kept any formal fee for participation in these 7 days in-house retreat but most of the patients contribute as per their will and economic condition.

“For the last 24 years we have been using this scientific, evidence-based “3D Healthcare Rajyoga Meditative Lifestyle for Healthy Heart, Happy Mind & Healthy Body” for almost all the NCDs/lifestyle related mind and body diseases.”

Q. What is your message to the community to remain healthy by lifestyle changes?

At present due to industrialization, urbanization, acculturation, social and digital media, change in food, exercise, sleeping habits, and addictions, the whole world including India is suffering from pandemic of Noncommunicable diseases(NCDs). These all NCDs including cardiovascular disorders (such as hypertension, heart attacks, and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), depression, diabetes, etc. are psychosomatic/lifestyle-related diseases and only permanent solution for all these NCDs is integrating Meditation with modern state of art medication to enjoy healthy and happy life. For the last 24 years we have been using this scientific, evidence-based “3D Healthcare Rajyoga Meditative Lifestyle for Healthy Heart, Happy Mind & Healthy Body” for almost all the NCDs/lifestyle-related mind and body diseases.

I understand It is not very easy to follow such a regime by everyone as it requires utmost commitment. I would like to narrate a story that a Vice-Chancellor of a University friend of mine was advised angioplasty and I requested him to come with me to Dr Gupta and told him what all is required to be done by him to reverse heart block and avoid angioplasty. He told me it is better to have angioplasty and have my whisky and fried fish every day and enjoy life rather than a restricted lifestyle and stay many years miserably. I request you to follow 3D healthcare

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130 Mm Hg Is the New Reading for High B.P.

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 09 May 2018 06:22:08 +0000

According to American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guidelines, the high blood pressure is now defined as readings of 130 mm Hg and higher for the systolic blood pressure measurement, or readings of 80 and higher for the diastolic measurement. That is a change from the old definition of 140/90 and higher. Reflecting complications that can occur at those lower numbers. The category of pre-hypertension eliminates in the first update to comprehensive U.S. guidelines on blood pressure detection and treatment since 2003.

Also Read: Insomnia – A Short Communication Study

High blood pressure should treat earlier with lifestyle changes. And in some patients with medication – at 130/80 mm Hg rather than 140/90, according to the first comprehensive new high blood pressure guidelines in more than a decade.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) are publishing the guidelines for detection, prevention, management and treatment of high blood pressure. The guidelines were presented on November 13, 2017, at the Association’s 2017 Scientific Sessions conference in Anaheim, the premier global cardiovascular science meeting for the exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians.

Rather than 1 in 3 U.S. adults having high blood pressure (32 percent) with the previous definition. The new guidelines will result in nearly half of the adult population (46 percent) having high blood pressure, or hypertension. However, there will only be a small increase in the number of U.S. adults. They will require anti-hypertensive medication, authors said.

These guidelines, the first update to offer comprehensive guidance to doctors on managing adults with high blood pressure since 2003, designs to help people address the potentially deadly condition much earlier.

The new guidelines stress the importance of using proper technique to measure blood pressure. Blood pressure levels should be based on an average of 2-3 readings on at least two different occasions, authors said.

High blood pressure accounts for the second largest number of preventable heart disease and stroke deaths, second only to smoking. It’s known as the “silent killer”. Because often there are no symptoms, despite its role in significantly increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Paul K. Whelton, M.B., M.D., M.Sc., lead author of the guidelines published in the American Heart Association journal, Hypertension and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, noted the dangers of blood pressure levels between 130- 139/80-89 mm Hg.

“You’ve already doubled your risk of cardiovascular complications compared to those with a normal level of blood pressure,” he said. “We want to be straight with people. If you already have a doubling of risk, you need to know about it. It doesn’t mean you need medication. But it’s a yellow light that you need to be lowering your blood pressure, mainly with non-drug approaches.”

Blood pressure categories in the new guideline are:

• Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg;
• Elevated: Top number (systolic) between 120-129 and the bottom number (diastolic) less than 80;
• Stage 1: Systolic between 130- 139 or diastolic between 80-89;
• Stage 2: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90 mm Hg;
• Hypertensive crisis: Top number over 180 and/or bottom number over 120, with patients needing prompt changes in medication. If there are no other indications of problems, or immediate hospitalization if there are signs of organ damage.

The new guidelines eliminate the category of pre-hypertension, which was used for blood pressures with a top number (systolic) between 120-139 mm Hg or a bottom number (diastolic) between 80-89 mm Hg. People with those readings now will be categorized as having either Elevated (120-129 and less than 80) or Stage I hypertension (130-139 or 80-89).

Previous guidelines classified 140/90 mm Hg as Stage 1 hypertension. This level is classified as Stage 2 hypertension under the new guidelines.

The impact of the new guidelines expects to be greatest among younger people. The prevalence of high blood pressure expects to triple among men under age 45. And double among women under 45 according to the report.

After blood pressure elevates, blood vessels begin damage soon, said Whelton. He is the Show Chwan professor of global public health at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and School of Medicine in New Orleans. “If you’re only going to focus on events that ignore the process when it’s beginning. The risk is already going up as you get into your 40s.”

The guidelines stress the importance of home blood pressure monitoring using validated devices. And appropriate training of healthcare providers to reveal “white-coat hypertension,” which occurs when pressure elevates in a medical setting but not in everyday life. Home readings can also identify “masked hypertension,” when pressure is normal in a medical setting. But elevated at home, thus necessitating treatment with lifestyle and possibly medications.

“People with white-coat hypertension do not seem to have the same elevation in risk as someone with true sustained high blood pressure,” Whelton said. “Masked hypertension is more sinister and very important to recognize because these people seem to have a similar risk as those with sustained high blood pressure.”

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Specific health situation of Indian states

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Thu, 03 May 2018 09:14:37 +0000

Importance of understanding the specific health situation of each state

Understanding the health and disease trends in groups of states at a similar level of development or epidemiological transition is an important intermediate step in teasing apart the heterogeneity of disease and risk factor epidemiology in India. However, effective action to improve health must finally be based on the specific health situation of each state. This point is elucidated by significant variations in the burden from leading diseases and risk factors in 2016 between the following pairs of states that have physical proximity and are at similar levels of development and epidemiological transition.

The major EAG states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh both have a relatively lower level of development indicators and are at a similar less advanced epidemiological transition stage. However, Uttar Pradesh had 50% higher disease burden per person from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 54% higher burden from tuberculosis, and 30% higher burden from diarrheal diseases, whereas Madhya Pradesh had 76% higher disease burden per person from stroke.

The cardiovascular risks were generally higher in Madhya Pradesh, and the unsafe water and sanitation risk was relatively higher in Uttar Pradesh. The two North-East India states of Manipur and Tripura are both at a lower-middle stage of epidemiological transition but have quite different disease burden rates from specific leading diseases.

Tripura had 49% higher per person burden from ischaemic heart disease, 52% higher from stroke, 64% higher from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 159% higher from iron-deficiency anaemia, 59% higher from lower respiratory infections, and 56% higher from neonatal disorders.

Manipur, on the other hand, had 88% higher per person burden from tuberculosis and 38% higher from road injuries. Regarding the level of risks, child and maternal malnutrition, air pollution, and several of the cardiovascular risks were higher in Tripura.

The two adjoining north Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab both have a relatively higher level of development indicators and are at a similar more advanced epidemiological transition stage. However, there were striking differences between them in the level of burden from specific leading diseases.

Punjab had 157% higher per person burden from diabetes, 134% higher burden from ischaemic heart disease, 49% higher burden from stroke, and 56% higher burden from road injuries.

On the other hand, Himachal Pradesh had 63% higher per person burden from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Consistent with these findings, Punjab had substantially higher levels of cardiovascular risks than Himachal Pradesh.

The Executive summary says these examples highlight why it is necessary to understand the specific disease burden trends in each state, over and above the useful broad insights provided by trends common for groups of states at similar levels of epidemiological transition, if health action has to be planned for the specific context of each state.

The chances of achieving the overall health targets set by India would be much higher if the biggest health problems and risks in each state are tackled on priority than with a more generic approach that does not take into account the specific disease burden trends in each state.

Application of the state-level disease burden findings and future work. The findings in this report of the India State-level Disease Burden Initiative can be used for planning of state health budgets, prioritisation of interventions relevant to each state, informing the government’s Health Assurance Mission in each state, monitoring of health-related Sustainable Development Goals targets in each state, assessing impact of large-scale interventions based on time trends of disease burden, and forecasting population health under various scenarios in each state.

Future plans of the India State-level Disease Burden Initiative include annual updates of the estimates based on newly available data, and more disaggregated findings such as the rural-urban estimates planned for next year and sub-state level estimates subsequently when adequate data become available.

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Lifestyle diseases: A threat to backward states

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 02 May 2018 08:13:02 +0000

Lifestyle diseases like chronic respiratory and heart diseases are killing more people in India than communicable ailments like Tuberculosis (TB) or Diarrhea in every states, including most backward belts, says the India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative’s Report.

Among the leading non-communicable diseases, the largest disease burden or Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) rate increase from the period of 1990 to 2016 was observed for diabetes at 80 per cent, and ischaemic heart disease at 34 per cent.

In 2016, three of the five leading individual causes of disease burden in India were non-communicable, with ischaemic heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as the top two causes and stroke as the fifth leading cause. The range of disease burden or DALY rate among the states in 2016 was nine-fold for ischaemic heart disease, four-fold for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and six-fold for stroke, and fourfold for diabetes across the country.

The key metric used in the study is DALYs, which is the sum of the number of years of life lost due to premature death and a weighted measure of the years lived with disability due to a disease or injury. The use of DALYs to track disease burden is recommended by India’s National Health Policy of 2017.

While ischaemic heart disease and diabetes generally had higher DALY rates in states that are at a more advanced epidemiological transition stage toward non-communicable diseases, the DALY rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were generally higher in the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states that are at a relatively less advanced epidemiological transition stage.

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The report shows that communicable diseases constitute almost two-thirds of the disease burden in India from a little over a third in 1990. Despite the transition, which is associated with development, malnutrition remains the single top risk for health loss.

All states have thus made what’s called the ‘epidemiological transition’ there remain wide variations in their disease profiles with some having made that transition as early as 1986, and others as recently as 2010.

The first group to make the transition in 1986 included Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. The last group to do so, accounting for the highest number of people (588 million), made the transition almost a quarter of a century later, in 2010. This group included Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Odisha. India as a country made the transition in 2003.

The Report’s executive summary says with almost one-fifth of the world’s population living in India, the health status and the drivers of health loss are expected to vary between different parts of the country and between the states.

Accordingly, effective efforts to improve population health in each state require systematic knowledge of the local health status and trends. While state-level trends for some important health indicators have been available in India, a comprehensive assessment of the diseases causing the most premature deaths and disability in each state, the risk factors responsible for this burden, and their time trends have not been available in a single standardised framework.

The Report finds that the Health status improving, but major inequalities between states Life expectancy at birth improved in India from 59.7 years in 1990 to 70.3 years in 2016 for females, and from 58.3 years to 66.9 years for males.

There were, however, continuing inequalities between states, with a range of 66.8 years in Uttar Pradesh to 78.7 years in Kerala for females, and from 63.6 years in Assam to 73.8 years in Kerala for males in 2016.

The per person disease burden measured as DALYs rate dropped by 36% from 1990 to 2016 in India, after adjusting for the changes in the population age structure during this period. But there was an almost two-fold difference in this disease burden rate between the states in 2016, with Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh having the highest rates, and Kerala and Goa the lowest rates.

While the disease burden rate in India has improved since 1990, it was 72% higher per person than in Sri Lanka or China in 2016. The under-5 mortality rate has reduced substantially from 1990 in all states, but there was a four-fold difference in this rate between the highest in Assam and Uttar Pradesh as compared with the lowest in Kerala in 2016, highlighting the vast health inequalities between the states.

Large differences between states in the changing disease profile of the total disease burden in India measured as DALYs, 61% was due to communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (termed infectious and associated diseases in this summary for simplicity) in 1990, which dropped to 33% in 2016. There was a corresponding increase in the contribution of non-communicable diseases from 30% of the total disease burden in 1990 to 55% in 2016, and of injuries 18 %.

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Genetic link to heart disease in Indian population

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 08:18:07 +0000

A team of Indian researchers have discovered that carriers of a set of genetic variants in the Chromogranin A (CHGA) gene called‘CHGA promoter haplotype2’ may be at higher risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. An estimated 35 to 40 percent of Indian population may carry this genetic variant.

The study is based on analysis of genomic DNA samples from over 750 individuals from Indian population. The research findings have been published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

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Though the CHGA promoter haplotypeis present in other ethnic populations, it occurs more frequently in population of South Asian ancestry. “It is a protein of neuroendocrine origin and is secreted along with hormones like catecholamines. Earlier studies had suggest edits role in regulation of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases but there was no data aboutit in South Asian population,” said Lakshmi Subramanian, first author of this paper.

“Westudied genomic DNA of Indians and discovered a specific set of changes in the CHGA genesequence called Haplotype2 which contributed to increased CHGA gene expression, and ultimately increased CHGA protein levels in plasma. When the clinical parameters of those in the study were compared, Haplotype2 carriers displayed higher levels of metabolic and cardiovascular traits like plasma glucose, blood pressure and body mass index,” explained Dr. Nitish R. Mahapatra, Professor at IIT Madras.

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However, he said, these results need further validation in animal models as well as large scale studies in individuals with metabolic syndrome. “We hope these findings would help unravel biological pathways and mechanisms underlying these complex diseases and would help in the development of therapeutic as well as preventive strategies,” said Dr. Mahapatra.

“Basic research in cardiovascular biology is in a very nascent stage in India with only a handful of researchers working in this field. This new study significantly contributes towards understanding molecular basis of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This is a fast emerging area with tremendous therapeutic and diagnostic potential,” commented Dr Shyamal K. Goswami, a professor at School of Life Science, JNU, who is not connected with the study.

The study was led by Dr. Mahapatra in a collaborative effort with Dr. Ajit S. Mullasari at Madras Medical Mission, Chennaiand Dr. Madhu Khullar at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

(Article shared from India Science Wire)

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Clove Dental launches dental health plan

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 08:38:02 +0000

Oral health is a window to your overall health. It is medically proven that prevention and looking after your teeth will save you from many medical problems such as heart disease, sleeping disorders, pre-term delivery, etc. So, clove dental has come up with a plan keeping in mind how preventive dentistry play a key role in maintaining your overall health.

Clove Dental, the largest dental chain in India promoted by Star Dental Centre Pvt. Ltd. recently launched the first of its kind ‘Platinum Dental Membership Plan’, pan India which is a complete annual dental health plan for the entire family that includes a complementary oral care kit, with required toothpaste, brushes, mouthwash, floss, etc., delivered to your doorstep every few months.

Members get Clove vouchers up to Rs. 5000 for any treatment in Clove clinics. Also included are many preventive treatments at no cost and discounts on all other treatments.

Platinum Dental Membership Plan is offered to individuals, couples and families of four. The plan offers Clove Vouchers, 4 complementary kits, biannual scaling and polishing, Dental X-rays, and fluoride treatment for a child of the family. The Platinum members can also avail 10 % discount on all treatments, 5% discount on Implants, and priority consultation with specialist doctors from Clove. This is one of its kind membership plan that no other dentist or dental chain offers. Another first from Clove Dental, which is India’s largest dental chain.

Preventive dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth to keep them healthy to avoid cavities, gum disease, enamel wear, and other dental problems. Preventive dentistry includes regular dental care routine at home like brushing twice a day, flossing etc. Also, to maintain optimal oral health, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends visits to the dentist at regular intervals determined by a dentist. These practices are designed to ensure that our teeth stay clean, strong, and white. Children should be taught proper oral hygiene at an early age to prevent tooth decay. Preventive dentistry can help avoid dental disease, protecting our smile and saving us from expensive dental procedures.

Clove Dental has set an ambitious target to launch 200 Clinics by the end of this year. For the next phase, they will launch 600 clinics over the next 3-4 years. The company has so far made an investment of $25M and plans to invest another $25-30M, till they reach the 600-clinic target.

Clove Dental is the only player in the Oral Care space in the country who holds a membership of the prestigious Royal Society of Medicine, UK. Backed by advanced technologies the Clove clinics offer International Standards of Dental Care to the patients. Clove has introduced transparent, ethical, patient friendly delivery with focus on Global standards of sterilization, treatment protocols across all disciplines of Dentistry. Clove Dental plans to build community awareness programs to improve appreciation towards Oral Hygiene and Preventive Oral Care to ensure other diseases linked to poor oral health like Diabetes, Heart ailments, Pre-term birth etc. are eliminated.

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Vitamin D deficiency – A 'Silent Epidemic'

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 10:32:26 +0000

Due to adoption of urban lifestyles, vitamin D deficiency has reached epidemic proportions; 90% of patients we see are severely vitamin D deficient. The issue with Vitamin D deficiency is that patient complaints are extremely vague and possible to be missed by most doctors and sometimes even patients may not report them putting them down to the general wear and tear of life. Some can, however, get severe symptoms including stress fractures as well as neurological symptoms. Studies have shown that vitamin D decreases the risk by half in certain forms of Cancer like Colon and Breast Cancer. People with deficiency have been shown to have significantly higher incidences of various neurological disorders like Dementia, Depression, Multiple sclerosis, Psychosis and even Schizophrenia. The biggest plus point is that people who have good vitamin D levels have a much lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, which is another epidemic we are facing in urban India.

Vitamin D plays another important role; boosting the immune system. Multiple studies have shown that people with high vitamin D levels are less likely to get Influenza and Flu like infections. Other less well established but actively under research benefits of Vitamin D includes protection against heart disease, high blood pressure and Autoimmune Disorders. Vitamin D supplementation is a no-brainer. Supplementation is extremely easy and after an initial weekly dose can be consumed once a month. However, you can obtain it naturally; the only problem lies in the consistency of sun exposure. To obtain a day of sufficient vitamin D supply, you have to spend time in direct sunlight, approximately between 60 and 120 minutes with 30% body surface exposed.

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Breast lump? Why you shouldn't panic

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 06:53:25 +0000

It’s every woman’s greatest fear: Finding a breast lump while showering or doing a monthly breast self-exam. But the truth is, a lot of that fear is unfounded, due to the fact that 80% of all lumps turn out to be benign. Here’s what those lumps really mean. Writes Indu S.

We all know the stats: One in nine women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. For most of us, those numbers make every bump in our breasts a cause for panic. But while a lump should never be ignored, the fact is that the texture and feel of a perfectly healthy breast — whether lumpy or smooth, sore or sensitive — can vary from month to month, woman to woman. So when should a bump evoke concern? Read this B&S advisory article compiled by information from leading doctors in the field.

Why your breasts are lumpy?

Doctors have a scary name for lumpy breasts: Fibrocystic breast disease. But although the word disease may induce panic, doctors reassures that lumpy breasts are common. “Many women experience lumpiness, tenderness or thickening of the breast tissue due to monthly hormonal changes. It’s not unusual.”

In fact, there isn’t even a specific test to diagnose these kinds of lumps. It’s not like having a mammography or biopsy and finding a result. It’s kind of in the fingers of the beholder.

Sussing out the good lump from the bad

If your breasts are on the lumpy side, it can be tough to know what to feel for during those monthly self exams. The good news is that “normal” breast lumps tend to feel distinctive; usually they’re soft, smooth and movable. Cancerous lumps, on the other hand, tend to be hard, rough-edged and immobile.

The best way to keep yourself healthy is to examine your breasts every month so that you’re intimately familiar with their geography — every dip and lump and thickening. The best time to do it is about a week after your period, when breasts tend to be least lumpy. (Breast lumpiness and soreness is most likely to occur the week before a woman’s period and ease up after menstruation begins.)

Once you have a sense of the normal texture of your breasts, it will be easier to figure out when something doesn’t feel right and merits a trip to your doctor.

Lumps and cancer risk: Is there a connection?

The good news is fibrocystic breast condition does not increase your risk of breast cancer. There is no relationship between this condition and breast cancer, claim doctors.

What to do when your breasts hurt

Try taking the Pill. Birth-control pills seem to ease pain and lumpiness for some women. This is probably because they keep a woman’s hormone levels more stable throughout her cycle.

Ditch that skimpy lingerie — at least on top. Some women find that wearing a supportive bra (read: one with underwires) can help ease pain.

Go easy on caffeine — Though studies haven’t proved a connection between lumpiness and caffeine, some doctors recommend that women with monthly breast pain cut back on the coffee.

Your Breast Health

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women today, and every woman is at risk. Although there is no proven way to prevent the disease, there are ways that each woman can protect her health. Here are steps you can take to maintain good breast health.

Follow an early-detection program:

* Get regular mammograms, beginning at age 40; one every year or as directed by your doctor.

* Have a breast examination by a doctor or nurse, every year, starting at age 20.

* Learn the normal feel of your breasts, and perform monthly self exams. Many women have lumpy breasts, which are usually not cause for concern. However, if you feel a change or a lump that is new, be sure to have it checked by a doctor or nurse right away.

* There are other steps you can take for good breast health. Researchers are continuing to explore the effect that a healthy, active lifestyle can have on reducing breast cancer risk. While it is not yet known whether losing weight will reduce your risk of developing breast cancer, maintaining a lifelong healthy weight is good for your breast health as well as for your heart and bones.

Results of breast cancer research also suggest you should:

* Maintain a diet low in fat; one that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These low-calorie, high-fiber foods have proven health benefits.

* Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Regular use of even small amounts of alcohol — whether it is liquor, beer or wine — has been shown to increase breast cancer risk.

* Don’t smoke. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease and many chronic illnesses; it also negatively affects the health of others.

* Exercise regularly. Work out, do aerobics, bike or walk briskly — exercise in some way so as to raise your heart rate — three or more times a week. Several studies have shown that regular vigorous exercise can reduce breast cancer risk.

Reducing your risk: Self examination techniques

Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but it can be detected at an early, treatable stage. Women ages 40 and older should go for regular screening mammograms, a simple procedure that can reveal breast cancer at its earliest stage — up to two years before it can be felt. Annual screening mammography should begin at age 40. And, annual breast examinations by a medical professional are a required complement to screening mammography. Every woman, age 20 and over, should have a clinical breast exam by a doctor or nurse every year.

Many breast irregularities are found by women themselves, yet women often do not know how to perform breast self-examination (BSE), and few do so regularly. Although BSE has never been proven to affect survival (BSE usually finds lumps at a later stage), becoming familiar with your breasts and what feels normal for you is a recommended component of every woman’s breast health program. Your annual exam is a good time to ask your doctor or nurse about how to do a good self-examination every month. Giving yourself a correct and comprehensive breast self-exam is vital to your health.

For Monthly Breast Self-Exams:

* Use the flat part of your fingers of your three middle fingers to feel your breast. Always use your left hand for your right breast and your right hand for your left breast.

* Go from your neck, down under your arm, across and to the bottom of your rib cage and up the breastbone. This area is all breast tissue.

Check for any lumps, hard knots, swelling, dimpling or thickening. Perform your self-exam in front of a mirror and observe for any abnormal change in size, shape, color or discharge.

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FETAL MEDICINE TREATMENT

InnoHEALTH Magazine — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 07:59:37 +0000

Fetal medicine makes treatment of abnormalities in the unborn child possible

Medical advancements in heart treatments have taken giant steps and is poised to treat congenital problems in the heart of a fetus today. However, due to a severe lack of awareness in India about what problems can be detected at fetal stages, expectant mothers are in oblivion about the health of their unborn child. This leads to an uniformed decision and many children are born with challenges that could have been detected and treated even before they were born.

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In India where Fetal medicine is still an upcoming discipline, the pregnant women aren’t much aware about its scope from diagnosis to therapy. Fetal medicine pertains to the use of Ultrasound, genetic tests, MRI etc. in the pregnancy period to determine the health of the newborn. Though fetal experts in India usually restrict themselves to treating complications of Identical twins, bladder outlet obstruction , fetal anaemia , the horizon for diagnosis has touched the Western mark. The motive is diagnosis of birth and chromosomal defects as early as possible so as to offer a fair chance to the couple on deciding fate of pregnancy. Fetal echo-cardiography is one worth mentioning which can pick up most early manifesting cardiac problems in the unborn in expert hands.

Fetal medicine practitioners try to spread awareness and say that one needs to see a fetal medicine specialist if they have any of the following conditions:

• Recurrent pregnancy loss/ death of baby in womb/death immediately after birth or delivery before date.
• Mothers who’s blood group is Rh negative
• Known genetic disease in family
• Pregnancy with previous child or family member affected by thalassemia/ haemophilia etc
• Pregnancy with h/o fever with rash/chickenpox
• Pregnancy with Diabetes/high BP/heart disease//Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s syndrome, Rheumatoid arthritis
• Pregnancy with hepatitis/ cancer/seizure/organ transplant
• Pregnancy with slow growth of fetus.
• Pregnancy with previous history of structural defect in the baby in previous pregnancy or in the family
• Pregnancy with previous history of mental retardation or heart defects in previous pregnancy or in the family
• IVF conceived pregnancy

Latest studies reveal that approximately 3-4% of pregnancies are diagnosed with a fetal defect. This can either be a genetic defect or a structural defect. With a lack of awareness in mothers; lack of exact diagnosis and monitoring this can result in a severe mental or physical handicap in a new-born and can prove to be traumatic for the family and pose a significant mental burden on the new mother. So India, now is the time to look up, ask and use the available expertise to join hands for the healthy next generation.

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The post FETAL MEDICINE TREATMENT appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Heart Disease Archives - InnoHEALTH magazine

Fit to Fail: Exploring the Reality of Heart Attacks in Daily Exercisers

Integrating Spirituality in State of Art Modern Heart Care

“Practice of Rajyoga Meditation along with a healthy diet, healthy exercise, and proper sleep as per our biological clock/circadian rhythm can regress CAD and prevent fresh angina or heart attack.”

Q. How did you turn yourself from clinical cardiology to preventive cardiology and adopt meditation to prevent/reverse heart disease.

“Brahmakumaris Rajyoga meditation uses Rajyoga meditation to open the blockages, role of healthy diet, exercise, sleep and de-addiction from smoking and alcohol.”

Q. Can you give details of protocol you used in your one-week workshop for lifestyle changes.

Q. Could you explain how Meditation can help reversing diseases. Some details of Rajyoga you used extensively may please be brought out. There are around 35,000 thoughts a day out of which many are useless negative thoughts, how these can be reduced.

Q. You have published several scientific papers. Could you please elaborate in which all diseases meditation helps.

Q. Can you explain your concept of three-dimensional healthcare (3D) ? How many patients have you handled with a positive response?

Q. No money is being charged from patients for treatment, boarding and lodging. How are you supporting your initiative?

“For the last 24 years we have been using this scientific, evidence-based “3D Healthcare Rajyoga Meditative Lifestyle for Healthy Heart, Happy Mind & Healthy Body” for almost all the NCDs/lifestyle related mind and body diseases.”

Q. What is your message to the community to remain healthy by lifestyle changes?

130 Mm Hg Is the New Reading for High B.P.

Blood pressure categories in the new guideline are:

Specific health situation of Indian states

Lifestyle diseases: A threat to backward states

Genetic link to heart disease in Indian population

Clove Dental launches dental health plan

Vitamin D deficiency – A 'Silent Epidemic'

Breast lump? Why you shouldn't panic

It’s every woman’s greatest fear: Finding a breast lump while showering or doing a monthly breast self-exam. But the truth is, a lot of that fear is unfounded, due to the fact that 80% of all lumps turn out to be benign. Here’s what those lumps really mean. Writes Indu S.

Why your breasts are lumpy?

Sussing out the good lump from the bad

Lumps and cancer risk: Is there a connection?

What to do when your breasts hurt

Your Breast Health

Follow an early-detection program:

Results of breast cancer research also suggest you should:

Reducing your risk: Self examination techniques

For Monthly Breast Self-Exams:

FETAL MEDICINE TREATMENT

Fetal medicine makes treatment of abnormalities in the unborn child possible