Why am I having this test? Arterial blood gases (ABG) testing measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are known as gases. This test also shows whether your blood pH is balanced. Blood pH balance means that your blood is not too acidic (acidosis) and not too…
A CT scan (computed tomography scan) is an imaging scan. It uses X-rays and a computer to make detailed pictures of different areas inside the body. A CT scan can give more information than a regular X-ray exam. A CT scan provides data about internal organs, soft tissue structures, blood vessels, and bones. In this…
If you have an infection, may have been exposed to an infection, or are taking care of someone who has an infection, it is important to know how to keep the infection from spreading. Follow your health care provider’s instructions and use these guidelines to help stop the spread of infection. How infections are spread…
After being diagnosed with the disease ,it is natural to also feel overwhelmed about the treatment ahead and what it will mean for your life. With care and support, you can manage this condition and recover from it. How to cope with anxiety? Dealing with stress Stress is your body’s reaction to life changes and…
Oximetry is a technology that measures the oxygen level in the blood. This measurement is taken with a device called an oximeter. This device may also measure the heart rate (pulse). The measurement helps to assess: A person’s oxygen level and breathing. The need or effectiveness of oxygen therapy or other treatments for lung disease.…
Knowing how to take your temperature is important because it helps you identify fevers and treat illnesses properly. The normal temperature range is 96.8–100.4°F (36–38°C). To find out what temperature is normal for you, take your temperature when you are well.Whenever you take your temperature, write it down. Record the date, time, and any symptoms…
Washington: US President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Dr Vivek Murthy as his Surgeon General, exuding confidence that the renowned Indian-American physician will be a key public voice in his response to the coronavirus pandemic to restore public trust and faith in science and medicine. Murthy, 43, served as Surgeon General of the United States during the…
The investigational neutralizing IgG1 monoclonal antibody bamlanivimab has been granted an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for treatment of recently diagnosed mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients who are ≥12 years old, weigh at least 40 kg, and are at high risk for progressing to severe disease and/or hospitalization. Bamlanivimab was shown in clinical trials…
Influenza (also known as “flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of…
HPV vaccines are vaccines that protect against infection with human papillomaviruses (HPV) which is a group of more than 200 related viruses, of which more than 40 are spread through direct sexual contact. Among these, two HPV types cause genital warts, and about a dozen HPV types can cause certain types of cancer—cervical, anal, oropharyngeal,…
The Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) is a groundbreaking nationally-representative, longitudinal survey to examine aging and retirement among India’s 45+ population. It is a joint undertaking of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai, India, and the University of Southern California. The study was…
Healthy Ageing: Why and How? Geriatric care management is the process of planning and coordinating care of the elderly with physical and/or mental impairments to meet their long term care needs, improve their quality of life, and maintain their independence for as long as possible. According to the Census of India, the number of senior…
Polypharmacy in the Elderly: How many medicines are too many? There is an increase in the total population worldwide, and a sizable number of this population is of the elderly above the age of 65. India with people aged 60 years and above is going to be the highest in Asia. The population study has…
BIRD FLU IN INDIA: CAN I EAT EGGS AND CHICKEN? Avian influenza or bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A viruses, which generally affects poultry birds such as chickens, ducks and turkeys. These viruses occur naturally among birds. Wild birds carry these viruses in their intestines, but they usually…
AN OLD MAN IS LIKE A CHILD : WHY WE MUST VACCINATE THE ELDERLY. The increase in elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon. It is due to increased life expectancy and decreased mortality resulting from improvement in healthcare: the advent of antibiotics, vaccines, newer treatments, diagnostics and improved standards of living. The increase in elderly…
NUTRITION IN ELDERLY Nutrition is about eating a healthy and balanced diet so your body gets the nutrients that it needs. Nutrients are substances in foods that our bodies need so they can function and grow. They include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Adequate nutrition, especially in older age, aids in the maintenance of…
HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment to relieve symptoms of the menopause. It replaces hormones that are at a lower level as you approach the menopause. Menopause is not an illness ,but a natural transition from the years in which a female can reproduce to the next phase of life.Many women…
OSTEOPOROSIS Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps. Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a…
WHAT IS DIABETES? Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both. TYPES The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 and type 2 also known as insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, or juvenile onset…
