Latest news with #CAREHospitals
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
‘Hepatitis is a silent threat that affects all age groups'
Hepatitis is no longer a disease that affects only a specific group, it is a silent threat that spans across ages, from children to adults. On July 28, observed as World Hepatitis Day, doctors in Hyderabad have raised an alarm on the growing burden of liver disease in India, and have called for urgent awareness, early screening, and preventive action. Hepatitis, which refers to inflammation of the liver, can be caused by a wide range of factors, including viral infections, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, obesity, and even certain medications. In India alone, over 40 million people are living with Hepatitis B, and up to 12 million with Hepatitis C, most of them unaware of the problem. The virus often stays dormant for years, silently damaging the liver, and only revealing itself when the damage is severe, said Kavya Dendukuri, Lead Transplant Hepatologist at Gleneagles Hospital. She further added that hepatitis is not a single disease. It includes types, A, B, C, D, and E, each with its own causes and modes of transmission. Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated food and water, while B and C are transmitted through infected blood, unprotected sex, shared needles, or from mother to child. Hepatitis D occurs only in those already infected with B. 'Earlier, hepatitis was largely seen in the elderly due to alcohol or long-standing infections. Now, we are seeing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in people as young as 40 due to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and obesity.' said V.R. Sumanth Kumar and Tejaswini Tumma, Consultant Gastroenterologists at Kamineni Hospitals. Auto-immune hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis, and alcohol-related liver inflammation are also on the rise. 'Many people don't realise that certain herbal medicines, painkillers, or even overdosing on paracetamol can trigger serious liver inflammation,' warnedSrinivasa Reddy G from Star Hospitals. One of the greatest challenges in tackling hepatitis is that most people show no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Common signs, when they do appear include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, pale stools, and jaundice. But by then, the liver may already be scarred. Akash Chaudhary from CARE Hospitals shared that hepatitis is preventable and, in many cases, curable. Vaccines are available for Hepatitis A and B, and all new-borns and high-risk adults should receive them. 'Treatments for Hepatitis C, once considered expensive and complex, now involves short-term oral medication with near-total cure rates. Hepatitis B can be managed through daily anti-viral tablets, which have become highly affordable,' he added.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Should you boil pasteurised milk before consuming it?
To boil or not to boil is often a dilemma that faces those who use packets and cartons of pasteurised milk. To address the age-old question of whether pasteurised milk needs boiling, spoke with G Sushma, clinical dietician at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Sushma said that there is no need to boil pasteurised milk before consumption. 'Pasteurised milk undergoes a heating process to kill harmful bacteria,' she explained. In fact, boiling may compromise its nutritional value. 'Prolonged heating can cause the loss of heat-sensitive vitamins like B12 and C,' Sushma said. She also confirmed that pasteurised milk available at convenience stores can be safely consumed directly before the expiry date, provided it is stored at an appropriate temperature to maintain its shelf life. Packets and cartons of pasteurized milk are an everyday staple in our kitchen cabinets. The Internet is a wonderful place to gather information, but, of course, everything we learn must be taken with a grain of salt. To answer this age-old question plaguing mothers and grandmothers, spoke to G. Sushma, Clinical Dietician at CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, and gained more clarity. According to Sushma, the texture and taste of milk may change when it is boiled. 'Boiling pasteurised milk is not known to cause negative health impacts on the body. However, alterations in the protein structure of milk may cause difficulty in digestion. Denatured proteins are hard for the body to break down and lead to increased waste formation,' said Sushma. 'This may even result in inflammation and other digestive health-related issues. Calcium present in pasteurised milk is also believed to be of poor quality and may cause severe risks such as kidney stones,' she said. According to Sushma, individuals prone to allergic reactions or sensitivity to milk protein, and those diagnosed with lactose intolerance, should avoid pasteurised milk. 'If you have been advised to cut out milk from your diet by the advice of a healthcare professional, or if consumption of pasteurised milk aggravates your pre-existing medical conditions, such as galactosemia, you should avoid drinking such milk,' she said. 'And of course, those more prone to a sensitive digestive system may experience difficulty in digesting proteins present in pasteurised milk,' she added.
United News of India
17-07-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Single surgeon performs 17 joint replacements in 8-hours at Care Banjara
States » South Hyderabad, July 17 (UNI) In a rarely accomplished surgical feat in Indian healthcare, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills witnessed 17 joint replacement surgeries successfully performed within a single day—all conducted within a span of eight hours (8 AM to 4 PM), led entirely by one surgeon, Dr. Sanjib Kumar Behara. Such high-volume, single-surgeon execution remains an exceptional occurrence even among India's leading orthopedic institutions, the hospitals said in a release here today. Commenting on the milestone, Dr. Sanjib Kumar, Clinical Director & HOD, Dept. of Orthopaedic and Joint replacement surgery, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, said, 'This wasn't a race for numbers. It was about proving that we can deliver excellence, at scale. When systems are tight, protocols are trusted, and teamwork is instinctive, high volume becomes high value.' Biju Nair, Zonal Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, stated, 'This achievement reflects a deeper transformation underway at CARE Banjara. We are not just rebuilding scale, we are reasserting our place in India's clinical imagination. Our teams are aligned on one purpose, to make CARE Banjara a benchmark of trusted outcomes, speed, and surgical excellence.' UNI KNR SS
India Today
16-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
I can't work without my earphones, but is it harming my ears?
I enter my office, swipe in to mark attendance, and walk up to my desk. I put down my bag, take my laptop out, charger, water bottle, dear diary, and most importantly, my soon as I sit down and get ready to work, I plug them in and 'Oops, battery low,' is what I hear. Dreadful. "How am I going to work now?" I panic. But hey, at least I didn't leave them at home. Small relief. That's what my brain processes in those few relatable? You're not earplugs, earphones, pods, whatever you call them, have become just another work essential. It's incredibly common to see people with little white (or red, in my case) devices tucked into their ears, typing away in deep focus. They tune out the chaos and tune in the concentration, which is why surviving without them in a chaotic place (like an office) is just not recently, when I read about a Delhi-based woman who suffered minor hearing loss after wearing AirPods for eight straight hours, I'll admit, I sat up straighter and took mine off. The scare is coming back to the big question: is it safe to use earphones for long hours, and does it really boost productivity?Does music lead to productivity?advertisementScience says yes, but with terms and conditions genre of music, whether it's instrumental or not, the nature of the work you are doing, and how your individual brain processes sound, all play a role. Studies have shown that music can be helpful, but only if these conditions match up. Wondering how? I chose to leave it to experts to explain it further. 'Music can help people focus, especially when the surrounding environment is distracting or noisy. I know patients who say they simply can't concentrate unless there's something playing in the background, it sort of gives the mind a buffer,' Dr. Umesh T, clinical director and senior consultant neurology, CARE Hospitals, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, tells India he further notes that this tends to work better with instrumental or ambient music - something that doesn't grab too much attention. If it's a song with lyrics, and you are doing work that involves reading or writing, it can interfere. So, it really depends on the task and also on how a person's brain processes everyone has a different liking for sound. Some listen to instrumental music, while some prefer brown noise. (No, not every noise is chaos). There are anecdotal reports of how it helps several people improve their the uninitiated, brown noise is steady, low-pitched, and surprisingly calming. Unlike music, it doesn't carry melody or emotion, which makes it easier for your brain to anchor without distraction.'People with attention difficulties or low tolerance to background noise often find that brown noise helps them stay focused,' says Dr. Umesh. 'Music works better for repetitive tasks. For deep focus, brown noise usually keeps the brain from getting overstimulated.'Therefore, brown noise could be helpful. But if it turns into the brain's only cue to concentrate, it is not good you always listen to something while working, your mind begins to expect that cue - sound for focus. After a while, silence may feel strange or even make it harder to concentrate, according to the that doesn't mean music or background noise is bad. But some mix doing some tasks without it. Give your brain a chance to focus just by itself, without an intervention. That balance is what keeps attention has been said about music and productivity. What often gets overlooked is our relationship with the device use can be damaging? Common knowledge, right? But we still do it (guilty). And the consequences go beyond just hearing side effects no one talks aboutPlugging into your earphones and listening to a podcast or music can help with concentration in some cases, but doing it for longer hours isn't as harmless as it stylish new pod might not fit your ear canal properly and a bad fit can lead to discomfort, irritation, and in some cases, even let's talk about that wax (gross, but important).While our ears are self-cleaning marvels, there are chances of mild impairment and infection. 'Wax tends to move outward and fall off on its own when we talk or eat. When you frequently use earbuds, not only do you push the wax inward, but you also scrape off the wax along the outer walls of the ear canal. This leads to dryness, which increases irritation and the likelihood of infections or mild hearing loss,' Dr Manjunath Mk, senior consultant - ENT surgeon, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, Bengaluru, tells India did you know that overusing earbuds can make your ears too sensitive to real-world noise? At least, I didn't."When environmental sounds are constantly suppressed, by relying solely on earbuds or earplugs, the brain becomes less accustomed to processing natural sound stimuli," explains Dr Manjunath. Over time, this can result in auditory hypersensitivity, making individuals more irritable or less tolerant of everyday environmental sounds . long is too long?Experts say that there is no universal rule, but there is a trick up their sleeve that can be implemented. It is called the '60/60 rule' - listen at no more than 60 per cent volume for no more than 60 minutes at a like having diet tips, there are earbud etiquette too:Take 5-10 minute breaks every 30–60 minutes for the eardrums to take a your earbuds clean and push them too listening the working in silence once in a these rules, etiquettes, and mindful usage tips might sound like common sense, but clearly, they're not common practice. Not yet, at know that long hours with earbuds jammed in aren't exactly a friend to ear health. But what often slips under the radar is how constant audio input, without intention or pause, could also be quietly chipping away at our ability to focus.- EndsTrending Reel
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
This is what happens to the body if you start your day with two figs soaked overnight
Figs, one of the oldest known plants, are an integral part of the Mediterranean diet. Anjeer, as it is known in India, is a small pear or bell-shaped flowering plant that belongs to the mulberry family. From being a tasty treat to a healthy midday snack, fig comes packed with numerous benefits and ticks all the checkboxes, making it a great addition to one's diet. 'Figs possess a diverse array of bioactive components, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, and tocopherols, which have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for their health-promoting effects, addressing gastrointestinal, respiratory, inflammatory, metabolic, and cardiovascular issues,' said Deepti Khatuja, Head – Clinical Nutritionist, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. 'Proximate composition analysis shows that figs are high in protein (6.31 g/100 g (dry weight basis, DW)) and fiber (17.81 g/100 g, DW), with fat content varying from 1.02 to 2.71 g/100 g DW in edible wild fig fruits. Different fatty acids have been characterized in various fig varieties, with linoleic acid reported as the most abundant, followed by linolenic acid, palmitic, and oleic,' she said. Figs also contain high amounts of carbohydrates (26.02 ± 0.63 g/100 g fresh weight) and amino acids, such as leucine, lysine, valine, and arginine. According to her, the taste and flavour profile of most fruits is determined by the ratio of organic acids to sugars. 'Organic acids are essential for preserving the nutritional value and enhancing the sensory qualities of foods. They also help in reducing inflammation, regulating the immune system, promoting calcium absorption, and preventing blood clots,' she said. Khatuja added that figs have the highest mineral content compared to other common fruits. An important source of potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous, they also contain trace elements such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, nickel, and strontium. But how can you get the best out of these superfoods loaded with nutrients? Experts suggest soaking them overnight and having a couple every morning. 'Starting your day with soaked figs provides a good kick start by preventing unnecessary weight gain and providing micronutrients to keep one healthy,' said Khatuja. 'When soaked, they get easier to digest and gentler on your gut. Eat them first thing in the morning, and they help move things along – Regular bowel movements, better digestion, and less bloating,' said Dr Vinitha Krishnan, Chief Clinical Dietitian, SIMS Hospital, Chennai. There's more: She added that the iron helps fight fatigue, especially if you're borderline anemic. The calcium supports bone health. For women, figs can even help with hormonal balance. Plus, they keep sugar cravings in check, thanks to their natural sweetness and fiber. Sadia Sana, Senior Dietician, CARE Hospitals, Hi-tech city, Hyderabad concurred, adding that having 2 soaked figs first thing in the morning is a simple and healthy habit that helps with digestion, keeps your bowels regular, and gives you a gentle energy boost thanks to the natural sugars and fiber. Soaked figs are also easier on the stomach than dry ones. Dr Krishnan recommended daily consumption to be ideal. 'Just stick to two. More isn't better as it can cause bloating or affect blood sugar,' she added. If you're diabetic or have a history of kidney stones, speak with your doctor first. However, she added that it is important to consume them in moderation and as a part of balanced diet and consult a nutritionist/healthcare expert before making changes to the diet.
