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Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Mumbai woman's heart attack linked to oral contraceptives: How does long-time pill use raise risks?
A 27-year-old woman in Mumbai suffered a heart attack with no marked risk factors except that she was taking contraceptive pills to deal with her polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder causing irregular periods and cysts in the ovaries. She had been living with this condition for 10 years and had been on the pill for seven years. What she didn't know is that prolonged use of pills can often lead to blood clots that can trigger a heart attack. While oral contraceptives are recommended to PCOS patients to regulate irregular periods and male hormones, prevent thickening of the uterus walls and provide symptomatic relief, they also affect the heart. Many patients ask me, since estrogen is cardio-protective and oral contraceptives also contain it, why should there be a risk? The fact is that oral estrogen therapy comes with risks. How do oral estrogen pills increase risk of heart disease? Oral contraceptives containing estrogen can increase the risk of heart attacks by increasing the risk of blood clots (thrombosis), which can lead to blockages in arteries, potentially resulting in a heart attack. They also raise blood pressure, a known risk factor for heart disease, and alter blood cholesterol levels. In other words, oral estrogen pills can elevate LDL or low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL or high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol, further increasing the risk of heart disease. Estrogen increases clotting, which happens in many parts of the body, some of which could be lethal. For example, blood clots could form in one of the deep veins in the legs, arms or pelvis, obstructing blood flow and causing localised swelling and pain. If the clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, it could cause embolism or blockage of blood channels there, reducing oxygen supply and stressing both the heart and lungs. Such clots can also trigger brain strokes. A study found that the use of oral contraceptives is associated with approximately a two-fold and over four-fold increased relative risk of clotting in arteries and veins. Which women are most at risk? The risk of heart attack associated with oral contraceptives is higher for women older than 35, smokers and those with other heart disease risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, high haemoglobin levels and very high counts of platelets. What are preventive measures? If you have been advised oral contraceptives for PCOS, then simultaneously meet a cardiologist and get your heart risk factors assessed. Anything underlying will show up. Oral anticoagulants should be prescribed when there are signs of blood circulation issues like leg swelling. While oral contraceptives containing estrogen pose a higher risk, progestin-only pills have a lower risk and may be a better alternative for some women. (Dr Singh is Chairman, Cardiac Sciences, Max Healthcare)
Indian Express
a day ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Why calcium and iron supplements should not be taken together
Are you one of those who has been advised to take calcium and iron supplements to make up for deficiencies but not found them to be effective enough? 'That's because many do not know how to take them, the way they should be gapped and the right time to take them,' says Dr Rommel Tickoo, Director, Internal Medicine, Max Healthcare. According to him, calcium and iron supplements should never be taken together because they compete for absorption in the digestive system, potentially reducing the effectiveness of both. 'Both calcium and iron use the same pathways in the intestines for absorption and vice versa. Taken together they could effectively cancel each other out. That's why when you pop both pills together after a meal, you don't see the intended effect,' he says. How should one take iron and calcium supplements during the day? One must take them several hours apart. So one can be taken in the morning while another can be taken in the evening. There is no hard and fast rule but considering both pregnant women and menopausal women need calcium, it is best taken in the morning. That's because the higher activity phase of the human body and the sunlight during the day can enhance your body's ability to absorb Vitamin D better and metabolise this mineral. Also avoid taking calcium at evening or night as the absorption is slower and can cause calcium stagnation. For those needing a quick boost of iron, taking it after they wake up works best because the body's iron levels are typically at their lowest. Should they be taken with meals or after them? One must realise that both iron and calcium are absorbed best when the stomach is empty as food can deter absorption. So make sure that you take them either 30 minutes before or at least two hours after a meal. Should one avoid taking dairy foods, which contain calcium, before taking an iron supplement and iron-rich foods before taking calcium pills? There is no study that proves dietary calcium and iron collide with supplements. Some foods contain oxalates and phytates, both of which can bind to calcium and iron, limiting their absorption. That's why we insist on having supplements before or well after a meal. Who needs these supplements? Iron plays a role in the production of red blood cells and enzymes, enhancing the immune systems. So those diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia or those at risk of developing it, such as pregnant women, infants, children and people with certain medical conditions need it. Calcium supplements are generally recommended for those who cannot get enough calcium through their diet, including those following vegan diets, those with lactose intolerance, those with certain digestive diseases, and pregnant, breastfeeding and menopausal women. In children, calcium and iron are critical for the nourishment and development of the skeleton and teeth.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
42-year-old man from Beed undergoes rare small intestine transplant; organ airlifted from Delhi
MUMBAI: In a rare and clinically complex procedure, a 42-year-old man from Maharashtra's Beed district recently received a life-saving small intestine transplant at Nanavati Max Hospital in Mumbai. The transplant in the first week of May was made after a cadaveric organ was retrieved from a brain-dead donor in Delhi and transported over 1,400 kilometres within just under five hours — a feat requiring precision, interstate coordination, and rapid emergency logistics. The patient, Siddheshwar Dake, a resident of rural Beed in the drought-prone Marathwada region, had been suffering from worsening abdominal pain and gastrointestinal issues for more than two years. Despite consulting multiple hospitals, he received inconclusive diagnoses—ranging from ulcers to suspected malignancy. His condition continued to deteriorate until he was referred to the specialised liver, intestine, and pancreas outpatient department at Nanavati Max Hospital earlier in January. A detailed evaluation in February revealed that Dake had developed Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) thrombosis—a condition in which a blood clot blocks the major artery supplying the small intestine. The resulting loss of blood flow had led to extensive gangrene. 'He was in a hypercoagulable state, which increases the risk of clot formation. We had to act swiftly to remove the necrotic segment. However, an intestinal transplant was his only curative option,' said Dr Gaurav Chaubal, director of HPB surgery and liver and multi-organ transplant at the hospital. With no suitable living donor in the family, Dake was placed on the national cadaveric transplant registry in April. A month later, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) notified the Mumbai-based team about a matching donor in Delhi—a 21-year-old woman who had been declared brain-dead following a road traffic accident. Her family's consent to donate her organs enabled the transplant. A highly trained surgical retrieval team from Nanavati flew to Delhi to coordinate the organ harvest, working alongside Max Healthcare's hospitals at Shalimar Bagh and BLK-Max. Following the procedure, an emergency 'green corridor' was activated in both Delhi and Mumbai. Airport authorities, local police, and civic agencies collaborated to establish a traffic-free route, ensuring rapid and uninterrupted ground transportation between the hospitals and airports. 'The harvested organ was transported from the Delhi hospital to the airport with a police escort, then flown to Mumbai via a chartered medical aircraft. On arrival, it took less than 10 minutes to reach Nanavati Max Hospital due to the pre-cleared traffic route,' explained Dr Aditya J Nanavati, associate director of HPB surgery and liver and multi-organ transplant. 'Every minute counts, as the viability of the intestine outside the body is extremely limited.' The transplant surgery lasted around eight hours and was completed within the acceptable ischemic time. Post-operatively, Dake was closely monitored in a dedicated transplant ICU. After recovering with immunosuppressive therapy, infection control measures, and specialised nutritional support, he was discharged within three weeks and is currently in a stable condition, responding well to follow-up care. 'This is among the rarest forms of solid organ transplantation in India,' said Dr Vivek Talaulikar, COO (Western Region), Max Healthcare. 'Such procedures demonstrate the importance of clinical expertise and national-level collaboration in saving lives.' A NOTTO official from Delhi said, 'Compared to more common liver and kidney transplants, small intestine transplants are extremely rare due to surgical intricacies and complex post-operative care requirements.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bupa weighs foray into private hospitals market in India
British health insurance major Bupa is looking to enter the fast-growing private hospital and healthcare market in India, currently dominated by players like Max Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals, Fortis, Narayana Health, and Medanta, as the company grows its engagement beyond the traditional insurance business (Niva Bupa), global CEO Inaki Ereno told TOI in an interview. Excerpts: How do you assess the Indian health insurance market in India? The Indian health insurance market is the most attractive and best in the world. It's still under-penetrated, and we believe there will be many more people requiring private medical insurance. We need more beds, more hospitals, more clinics, and more insurance here... In terms of our own growth, it's been 35% over the last three years. We're clearly seeing a massive opportunity. In markets like Europe, UK, Australia , Latin America, you have a Bupa Payvider programme where you provide not just insurance and easy claims processing, but also a network of healthcare providers. These include dental and mental health clinics, and hospitals. Any plans to start hospitals and such other services in India? With Payvider, we are not just insurers but also providers. Of the claims that our patients go through, we always want around 25% in a place called Bupa - in a Bupa clinic, in a Bupa hospital, in a Bupa digital place. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo This helps us to learn the cost of things, and also allows us to personalise the service. It is too soon to talk about India. I cannot commit yet on the dates but, yes, you can expect that Bupa will keep investing here... we do have a plan, a commitment to study the situation and be ambitious and come up with something big. We believe that 25% of the activity that we do should be run in a place like Bupa. Inflation in health costs is a concern for customers, which also sees policy costs go up. Your views? When it comes to the cost of claims, there is inflation across the world. This is why developing a private medical insurance market helps everybody. When you have more people into private medical insurance, that helps lower costs of claims. Normally, premiums go up with inflation. So, they will not reduce. Are we expecting a big increase in premiums? The answer is no. We expect premiums to go in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Apart from metros and bigger cities, how do you see the opportunity in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns and rural India? We are clearly targeting markets beyond the top 50-60 cities. We think there's a massive opportunity to get people into the fold of insurance. India is at a very nascent stage, and awareness is still low with respect to health insurance. India is a growing country, with lots of construction and other infrastructure activities happening. Do you think that dust, pollution, and long traffic snarls in congested cities create health hazards for people? The answer is yes, though no one can make a direct correlation in elements like these. But we are working with the Norman Foster Foundation to understand what is the impact that living in a particular city has on your health, including in Delhi. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Nutritionist explains how protein-rich snacks can maintain weight and support heart health: ‘Avoid mindless munching'
Between tight schedules, skipped meals, and digital overload, it's no wonder that many of us run out of steam before the day ends. While several factors influence our daily energy, one habit stands out as a silent game-changer, and that is how we snack. Reaching for the right kind of snack, especially those high in protein like almonds, can go a long way in keeping your energy stable, your immunity strong, and your heart healthy. (Also read: Nutritionist shares common signs you shouldn't ignore: From cracked to unusually cold feet ) Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head of Dietetics at Max Healthcare, New Delhi, shared smart snacking tips with HT Lifestyle, highlighting how the right choices can boost energy, support immunity and improve overall health. Most people associate protein with gym goals, but its role in everyday health is far broader. It helps repair tissues, balances metabolism and sustains energy without the spikes and crashes caused by sugar-laden foods. Protein slows digestion, which helps you stay full longer and keeps your mind sharp between meals. Snacks that deliver high-quality protein, such as boiled eggs, Greek yoghurt, paneer cubes, or almonds, are excellent choices. Among them, almonds offer a natural, plant-based option that fits perfectly into even the busiest lifestyles. Their portability and satiety make them a reliable fix for unexpected hunger pangs. Immune resilience is not built in a day, it's shaped by daily habits. Nutrients like vitamin E, zinc, iron, and folate play a vital role in immune function, and protein supports the production of immune cells. That's why it makes sense to choose snacks that naturally combine these elements. Nuts and seeds, especially almonds, are a compact source of these essential nutrients. Just a handful can supply a potent mix of protein and key vitamins and minerals that your body uses to fight off infections and stay resilient. Your snack drawer might not seem like the place to start taking care of your heart, but it should be. Many packaged and processed snacks are loaded with unhealthy fats and sugars that can quietly impact cardiovascular health over time. "Snacking doesn't need to be a mindless habit, it can be a strategic part of your wellness routine. With a bit of planning and a focus on nutrient-rich foods, you can turn snack time into a health-supporting ritual. Opting for protein-rich snacks like almonds isn't just about avoiding hunger, it's about nourishing your body, protecting your heart, and staying energised all day long," concludes Ritika. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
