How to book a Covid-19 vaccine dose: step-by-step explanation
With the conclusion of the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination for frontline workers and healthcare workers, the second phase for people aged above 60 and between 45-59 with some 20 odd comorbidities have commenced from March 1, 2021.
With the conclusion of the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination for frontline workers and healthcare workers, the second phase for people aged above 60 and between 45-59 with some 20 odd comorbidities have commenced from March 1, 2021.
However, for the people eligible in the second phase of vaccination, there are some steps which need to be followed for booking an appointment and get the required dose. Following is the entire procedure in an elaborative manner:-
First of all, you have to visit the web page www.cowin.gov.in authorized by the government of India.
Under this page, there is an option of ‘register yourself’ on this website, which you have to click.
Under the above category, you have to enter your valid contact number, and then click on the ‘OTP’ bar. By doing this, you will receive an OTP on your phone number through a text message.
After receiving the required OTP, enter it into the required column, and then click on the ‘Verify’ option.
Clicking on the ‘Verify’ option will validate the OTP, following which the page for registration of vaccination will pop up.
The page opened up in the last step will require some personal details of yours, like photo ID proof and its number, name, gender, year of birth and various comorbidities (if any), All these details have to be mentioned as per their order.
After entering all the details of yours, click on the ‘Add’ button.
Apart from the ‘Add’ button, the person registering can add three more people by clicking on the ‘Add More’ button, on the condition that all those three additional people are linked to the same mobile number as that of the first person.
After entering all the additional data in the last step, it signals the completion of the registration, following which the system will display the final details of the account.
After this successful registration of the user, he/she will get a confirmation message on his/her mobile number.
After entering all the details post receiving the confirmation message, you need to click on the ‘Register’ button which is present at the bottom right.
Post doing this, the user will have the option of deleting the additional names which are linked with the mobile number entered before, by clicking on the ‘Delete’ button. After this, a confirmation message will appear on the screen.
After doing all this, you can navigate through the dashboard by logging in using the required username and password.
Now, the user has the permission to schedule the needed appointment(s) from the page of account details.
For finalizing the booking of vaccination appointments, click on the ‘Schedule’ or ‘Schedule Appointment’ button.
After clicking this, a new screen will pop-up which will navigate for booking the appointment.
A new page will appear, which possesses all the details of centers of vaccination as per the state, district and pin code, and you need to select one of them based on your criteria and preferences.
There appears a ‘Search’ button on this screen, clicking on which will show up all the vaccination centers based on your search criteria. The name of the center(s) selected will appear on the right panel.
After selecting the center of your choice, the screen will show up the available slots, based on the date and capacity of the center.
After clicking on the ‘Book’ button post the selection of the center, the page which shows up the appointment confirmation gets displayed.
Post this, you need to click on the ‘Confirm’ button, which has to be done after verification of the details for final confirmation of the booking of appointment.
After clicking on the ‘Confirm’ button, a message will pop up on the screen which will show ‘Appointment Successful’.
After booking the appointment, in any condition, if the registered user relocates to another city by any chance, the required appointment can be rescheduled as per the nearest available vaccination center to him/her.
After the user gets vaccinated once with the first dose at the selected vaccination center, the appointment for the second dose of the user gets automatically done at the same center where he/she received the first dose.
For the people of Jodhpur and Western Rajasthan, they can opt a seamless vaccination experience at hospitals like Medipulse with a standard rate of INR 250.
Who is eligible for COVID vaccine in India – list of all the age and medical conditions included
After almost a year full of dilemma and fear amidst the spread of COVID-19, there is finally a ray of hope in the form of the arrival of the much needed vaccine. Currently, the Indian citizens are gradually having access to two vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin, both of which are now available in different parts of the country.
After almost a year full of dilemma and fear amidst the spread of COVID-19, there is finally a ray of hope in the form of the arrival of the much needed vaccine. Currently, the Indian citizens are gradually having access to two vaccines – Covishield and Covaxin, both of which are now available in different parts of the country.
However, the availability of vaccines is not as freely accessible in the country, as there are some conditions which need to be followed for getting the required dose. Came March 2021, and the vaccination drive in India reached the second phase. However, not all have access to this second phase, and only certain people with certain age and medical conditions can have access to it. It is to be noted that only healthcare and frontline workers had access to the COVID-19 vaccine in the first phase.
The first and foremost priority of vaccination dose is given to those people who are aged above 60, or will reach the age of 60 by the date of January 1, 2022. Apart from that, people who are aged from 45 to 59 can also have access to the vaccine, provided they are suffering from 22 odd comorbidities which are listed down by the government of India. Following are those 22 comorbidities:-
If one is suffering from a particular heart ailment, or was admitted in the hospital in the duration of past one year.
If one has undergone a minor or major cardiac transplant or left ventricular assist device in the duration of the past one year.
If one has been suffering from a minor left ventricular systolic dysfunction, with the level of less than 40 per cent.
If one has been suffering from a moderate or severe medical condition related to valves in his/her heart, and might require a surgery.
If one has been suffering from congenital heart disease with severe or idiopathic PAH.
If one has ever suffered from coronary artery disease with CABG/PTCA/MI, alongside hypertension or diabetes.
If one has been suffering from angina, along with the conditions related to hypertension or diabetes.
If one has suffered from CT/MRI documented stroke, and has been suffering from hypertension or diabetes.
If one has been suffering from pulmonary artery hypertension, along with hypertension or diabetes.
If one is suffering from hypertension or diabetes for more than ten years or with even any minor complication
If one has undergone kidney, liver or hematopoietic stem cell transplant
If one has reached the last stage of any kidney related disease and has undergone haemodialysis or CAPD.
If one has been consuming oral corticosteroids or immunosuppressive medicines for a long period of time, and is taking them on the current basis as well.
If one is suffering from decompensated cirrhosis, which is a liver disease caused due to degeneration of cells or inflammation of tissues due to excessive alcoholism or hepatitis.
If one has suffered from any particular respiratory disease and was admitted in hospital even once in the last two years, or has an FEVI level of less than 50 per cent.
If one has suffered or has been suffering from lymphoma, which is a form of cancer caused in cells of lymph nodes, spleen or thymus.
If one is suffering from or has suffered from leukaemia, which is a disease caused by production of increased numbers of abnormal leukocytes by bone marrow or any other blood forming organ.
If one has suffered from or has been suffering from myeloma, which is a form of cancer caused in the plasma cells, which results in deficiency of formation of antibodies.
If one has been diagnosed with any other form of major cancer on or after July 1, 2020, or is currently undergoing any form of cancer therapy.
If one is diagnosed with sickle cell disease, bone marrow failure, thalassemia major or aplastic anemia.
If one is suffering from HIV infection or any other primary immunodeficiency disease.
If one is suffering from any one of the following disabilities – intellectual, muscular, respiratory caused by any acid attack, deafness or blindness.
The shots of the vaccine can be taken at any of the registered government hospitals all over the country, including that of western Rajasthan, free of cost. In Jodhpur, one can be easily vaccinated at private hospitals like Medipulse, at a price of INR 250.
Know and manage your acute asthma attack easily
Acute asthma attack, also known as asthma exacerbation in medical terminology, is one common ailment primarily found in adults, in which the airways leading to one’s lungs are swollen, due to which muscles around
Acute asthma attack, also known as asthma exacerbation in medical terminology, is one common ailment primarily found in adults, in which the airways leading to one’s lungs are swollen, due to which muscles around them contract, thus leading to narrowing of breathing tubes. This condition leads to shortage of breath, which can turn into life-threatening situations at times. While minor asthma attacks can be treated at home using medicines, severe asthma attacks need proper medication and treatment at the hospital.
Basic symptoms:-
Following are the basic symptoms of acute asthma attack which one faces, and can differ in terms of intensity:-
Severe shortness of breath – Even in optimal conditions, if one is facing a lack of oxygen while breathing
Chest pain or tightness in the chest – Even in mild breathing conditions, if one is suffering from chest pain, or can sense tightness in the chest or surrounding areas.
Coughing – If mild pain in the chest is followed gradually by a series of dry or wet coughing.
Low PEF readings – Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) readings, which are measured using a peak flow meter, can be low (between 51% to 79%) during acute asthma attack conditions.
Early diagnosis:-
If one has met with the conditions of an acute asthma attack, he/she should immediately undergo lung function tests. This gives a clearer picture of the condition of your lungs, which will indicate the severity of the asthma condition. Following are all the procedures included in the basic lung function tests:-
Peak flow – The first and foremost step is to check the peak expiratory flow, which is done by a PEF meter. This can be done by the doctor at your home too, provided if you have the access to PEF meter at home. In this test, one needs to blow into the mouthpiece of the PEF meter in a single breath as hard as possible.
Spirometry – Using a device called a spirometer, one needs to take deep breaths and exhale in the hose connected to it, the outcome of which is termed as Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV). This is done to determine the amount of air one can breathe in a second as well as the amount of air one can hold in his/her lungs.
Nitric oxide measurement – This test is conducted to calculate the exact amount of nitric oxide which is present in your breath while exhaling. If the amount of nitric oxide is high as per this test, it indicates that the bronchial tubes of your lungs are swollen beyond normalcy.
Pulse oximetry test – One of the most basic tests to find out the amount of oxygen in your blood, this test is conducted by placing one of your fingernails on the tip of the oxymeter, the outcome of which appears within few seconds.
If the intensity of the early symptoms (aforementioned above) is higher than normal conditions, it is better to seek emergency treatment and medications, which are as follows:-
Short-acting beta-agonists – This medication is carried out using a device called a nebulizer, through which beta-agonists/medicines like albuterol is pushed in your lungs. With the nebulizer, the beta-agonists are turned in the form of mists, inhaling which is quite an easier task.
Oral corticosteroids – These medicines are usually taken in the form of pills and can be given intravenously to those people who have been suffering from repeated respiratory problems or nausea/vomiting. These corticosteroids aid in the reduction of lung inflammation and controlling the early symptoms of asthma to a substantial amount.
Ipratropium – If the beta-agonists mentioned in the first step (like albuterol) do not show effective signs of healing, ipratropium is generally consulted. This medicine is used as a bronchodilator in case of a severe asthma attack.
Intubation and mechanical ventilation – If all the medicines mentioned above prove to be ineffective in reducing of symptoms and one’s condition is turning severe, the final step is to put the concerned patient on mechanical ventilation. In this procedure, the doctor puts a breathing tube into the upper airway of the throat of the patient. Through this, oxygen is pumped into the lungs, which will enable the lungs to come back into normal condition of breathing. Besides doing this, general medication mentioned above will be given simultaneously.
One needs to consult with a proper pulmonologist to determine whether the symptoms and issues he/she is facing are too severe or not.
10 Signs which indicate it’s high time to see a cardiologist
For proper functioning of a human body, regular supply of blood as well as oxygen is of utmost importance, and for that, heart is the biggest role player in the whole picture. However, one can experience some warning signs which indicate that his/her heart is not functioning to the fullest.
For proper functioning of a human body, regular supply of blood as well as oxygen is of utmost importance, and for that, heart is the biggest role player in the whole picture. However, one can experience some warning signs which indicate that his/her heart is not functioning to the fullest.
Following are some of the major signs which signal that it’s high time you need to pay a visit to a cardiologist:-
If you experience chest pain – At the time of heart attack, the first and foremost sign one gets as an early symptom is chest pain, for the fact that the heart lies just behind the chest of a human. There are a number of reasons for the occurrence of chest pain, however, the biggest reason is one when your heart is not getting enough blood for circulation, possibly caused due to a blocked artery or valve.
If you have high blood pressure – The force with which blood pushes against the wall of artery levels, commonly known as blood pressure, should be optimum for regular flow of both blood as well as oxygen. If the blood pressure rises abruptly, there are chances that the heart might not be able to regulate the pumping action, which might result in heart attack.
If you have shortness of breath or dizziness – While there are a multiple number of reasons behind dizziness and is a common phenomenon among humans, the lack of breath is not a mainstream thing to happen. If any one of these, either shortness of breath or dizziness, happens in a severe amount, it signals that the optimum amount of oxygen is not circulated by heart, thus finally resulting in abnormal heart beat.
If you have diabetes – While the major cause of occurrence of diabetes is lack of insulin in your body causing sugar levels in your blood, this particular disease also affects the smooth operation of the heart. If blood sugar levels are not optimum, the functioning of blood vessels is affected, which can lead to coronary artery disease.
If you are a constant smoker – There is a strong reason behind your daily packet of cigarettes carrying the phrase ‘smoking is injurious to health’. Regular smoking affects the functioning of lungs, which in turns restricts the flow of oxygen in blood. This eventually disturbs the pumping function of blood from your heart, and can gradually become a major reason behind high blood pressure.
If you have high cholesterol level in your body – The major sources of cholesterol are the foods you consume and residues from your liver. If there is a sudden increase in the levels of cholesterol in one’s body, primarily due to irregular or unhealthy eating habits, it can lead to formation of plaque in arteries, thereby causing blockage and eventually, flow of blood from heart as well.
If you have chronic kidney disease – After your heart, your kidneys are the major organ sources which can lead to a potential heart failure, since the major root cause of diabetes mentioned above lies in the ill-functioning of kidneys. Improper functioning of kidneys can result in increase in blood pressure and sugar levels, which over the time can lead to heart failure, if not suddenly.
If you have a family history of heart disease – Genetics do play a major role in a healthy being of a human. If the previous generation members of a person have had a history of a heart disease, primarily who are in their late years of age, there is a strong possibility of transfer of their genes in their successor, i.e. the concerned person.
If you have peripheral heart disease – Apart from the major disease directly linked to your heart, if you are suffering from other peripheral ailments linked via other arteries, like leg or arm arteries, and are constantly suffering from pains and aches in those linked body parts, chances are that you might be suffering from a coronary artery disease.
If you have an inactive lifestyle – If you are someone who has been avoiding the words like ‘exercise’ or ‘workout’ in your life, and lead a pretty inactive lifestyle, it can lead to weak functioning of the heart in the longer run. Regular physical activities on a daily basis, including your exercise regime, results in proper and smooth functioning of heart as well as flow of blood.
In all the aforementioned circumstances, if any one particular cause is something you can relate with, proper consultation and advice from a trained cardiologist will serve good results in a longer run to avoid heart related ailments.
7 things to keep in mind when you are monitoring your blood sugar levels
Worried about your abruptly fluctuating sugar levels in your blood, with them majorly rising northwards? Worry not. While the major controlling practices are still in your hands (in terms of changes required in your lifestyle and eating habits), the proper conduction of sugar level tests is also a must to ensure that whether you are going wrong or right in controlling the same.
Worried about your abruptly fluctuating sugar levels in your blood, with them majorly rising northwards? Worry not. While the major controlling practices are still in your hands (in terms of changes required in your lifestyle and eating habits), the proper conduction of sugar level tests is also a must to ensure that whether you are going wrong or right in controlling the same.
Nowadays, one can check the sugar levels in his/her at the comfort of his/her home without paying a visit to a clinic or hospital, thanks to a new range of test devices available at all the medical clinics. However, there are some pointers which one must be aware of before conduction of such tests by himself/herself and monitoring the processes and results of them. Following are those pointers:-
Take proper advice while choosing suitable glucometer – Thanks to innovations in the medical world in the last three decades, one can find whether sugar levels in his/her blood are high or not at the comfort of his/her home. There are many glucometers (a device which shows how much sugar level is there in your blood) available in the market right now. However, one must consult with a doctor or properly research about the right and suitable brand to go for.
Take proper advice before getting started – All the glucometers have proper guidelines and procedure to use imprinted on their packet or leaflets provided along with them. However, if one is not able to understand the required guidelines through them, it is advisable to consult with a doctor on how to use the device on your own. This has to be insured because if the procedure is carried out wrongly, you won’t be able to get the right and desirable results.
Clean the point of body where the test has to be conducted – The blood tests are usually carried out with glucometer primarily on fingertips or hands. So before putting the device to its use, it is advisable to thoroughly clean the fingertips and hands with an antiseptic hand wash. If not done so, chances are that the possible dirt accumulated on those points of the test might create hindrance in getting optimum test results.
Preferably use fingertips for the test – While there are many modern kits through which one can conduct the blood tests on other parts of the body as well, it is always advisable to preferably use fingertips for the purpose. Also, while conducting tests more than once, it is recommended to use different fingertips every time, as using the same finger again and again can injure it, thus increasing pain levels.
Ensure the lancets are properly sharpened – The lancets are basically the pointed objects provided with the glucometers, which are used to poke the finger resulting in blood to come out of it. Before the test, one must ensure that the lancets are sharp enough without causing any hurt to the finger. Also, it is advisable to use different lancets every time you conduct the test, as repeated use of the same lancet can cause infection. In addition, the expiry date of the lancets should be checked, failing of which can result in improper reading.
Ensure proper calibration of glucometer – To ensure that you get the closest-to-right reading of sugar levels in your blood, it is advisable to always well calibrate the glucometer before use. This should be a regular practice every time you use the device, and the first-ever calibration should be done at the diagnostic center or medical shop from where you purchased it.
Keep track of the readings in the record – While conducting and knowing about the results of the test might be a one-time process, it is important to keep a track record of all the readings of every time you conduct the test. Following this procedure will only help to track your progress towards healing. Nowadays, thankfully, many glucometers come equipped with result recorders inbuilt in them. However, if your device doesn’t have this feature, you can maintain the series of results in a logbook.
While following all these steps might seem quite easy, failing any one of these might not get you the accuracy you want in your sugar level test results. So, if you think that you have gone wrong in any one of the above steps, you should consult with a trained endocrinologist for suitable advice regarding this.
Advantages of regular health checkup
When it comes to general health, there is a very prominent saying – ‘prevention is better than cure’. While in many cases, the oncoming of a condition of disease is not well in our control, there are many situations, where if proper precautions are taken, can lead to the minimization of risks involved. And this is where a general health checkup comes into play.
When it comes to general health, there is a very prominent saying – ‘prevention is better than cure’. While in many cases, the oncoming of a condition of disease is not well in our control, there are many situations, where if proper precautions are taken, can lead to the minimization of risks involved. And this is where a general health checkup comes into play.
Following are the key advantages of a regular health checkup:-
Reduces the risk of getting risk – First and foremost, conduction of a general health checkup, as said above, reduces the risk of any oncoming disease. One can get a general hint or idea of the possibility of any wrong thing happening to anyone organ or part of your body, grabbing the nerve of which you can take further required precautions, changes and actions for the same.
Early detection of life-threatening diseases – There are certain life-threatening diseases like cancer, heart problems or nervous disorder, the symptoms of which can come early or quite late as well. If proper general health checkup is conducted on a prior basis, even the slightest of detection of any forthcoming detection of a possible symptom can be known, following which one can take necessary medication for the same.
Increased chances of treatment – If in a prior health checkup, one gets detected of any unfortunate problem in its initial phase of growing, one gets ample amount of time to mentally prepare for the forthcoming treatment. This includes consultation with the concerned doctors, taking references, knowing about all the possible treatments, side effects, etc.
Limit the risk of complications – This can be done if you closely monitor the outcomes of the general health checkup. If there is any negative outcome from the early checkup, one gets enough time and resources to control any bigger risks involved in future, both in terms of issues related to your health as well as finances involved.
Increase in lifespan and health enhancement – If one gets detected of any ill condition in his/her health, one gets aware of all the changes he/she needs to take for his lifestyle and medications involved. Incorporating these changes, such as workout schedules, clean eating habits and necessary precautions to be taken, brings in a series of positivity for your future lifespan, thus enhancing it in a better way.
Reduction of healthcare costs – As mentioned in one of the points above, conduction of a general health checkup helps in minimizing a lot of possible expenditure which might be involved if not taken proper care. The more serious the ailment becomes in a longer run, the higher are the risk levels and the finances involved in the rectification of the same. So, in order to avoid any possible higher risks, general health checkup is a must.
Better camaraderie and rapport with doctors – A general and periodic health checkup is considered to be a healthy practice in the medical world. Conduction of regular health checkup from time to time means that one is paying more visits to the concerned doctor, which helps in building up his/her mutual trust with the doctor.
Awareness about the latest trends in the medical world – Conduction of regular health checkups from time to time is also helpful in getting more aware and knowledgeable about the latest trends and innovations happening in the medical world. Apart from getting much more knowledgeable about the treatments and medications involved for a particular ailment or issue, one also gets to know about all the new enhancements and evolution of the existing treatments involved.
Adaptation of cleaner eating habits – In this hectic lifestyle, one might not have enough time to research and prepare a proper diet chart in order to stay healthy. Having a regular health checkup gives a basic idea of adaptation of cleaner eating habits, by knowing what to eat and what can be avoided in order to stay healthy.
There are a number of health checkups which are separate for different parts/organs of your body. Conduction of prior tests related to all of them will require consultation of specialized doctors in them, which should be practised in order to follow a structure out a healthy lifestyle in a longer run.
Surprising facts about high blood pressure you might not have heard of
One of the most common diseases in the modern generation era is the issue of high blood pressure. Any blood pressure reading above 120/80 mm Hg is considered to be higher than normal and indicates that one needs to take extra care to maintain optimum blood pressure levels in his/her body.
One of the most common diseases in the modern generation era is the issue of high blood pressure. Any blood pressure reading above 120/80 mm Hg is considered to be higher than normal and indicates that one needs to take extra care to maintain optimum blood pressure levels in his/her body.
There are some facts related to high blood pressure which might be unknown to many people out there. Following are those:-
It is not restricted only to older adults – Yes, while high blood pressure is more prevalent among older adults, younger adults are not left untouched with this problem. Curse the challenging lifestyle issues, irregular eating habits and higher anxiety and stress levels in the modern generation, one out of four younger adults, who are aged between 21 to 44 are suffering from the issue of high blood pressure.
It is directly linked to dementia – For those who don’t know what dementia is, it is a mental disorder caused by a chronic brain disease, the major forms of which are memory disorder, impaired reasoning and abrupt changes in personality. Higher anxiety and stress levels cause an adverse effect on the nervous system of a person, the pace of which can differ from person to person. People suffering from uncontrolled high blood pressure have shown higher risk levels of dementia in their later life.
It might not have any symptoms – High blood pressure is one of the most silent diseases which can happen to a person. And in case of a healthy person, it can happen without any prominent early symptom or sign. One should get his/her blood tests while conducting general health check, in order to ensure whether his/her blood pressure levels are optimum or not.
There are two types of readings of blood pressure – The blood pressure tests involve two types of readings – systolic (on top) and diastolic (on bottom). While the systolic reading shows the amount of force exerted by blood flow against the walls of arteries during the beating of your heart, the diastolic reading shows the same in the duration when your heart rests between two beats.
It can lead to major heart disease – Heart is one of the most important organs of a person’s body which is responsible for the flow of blood throughout the body. If one is suffering from high blood pressure, in the longer run, it will directly impact the condition of his/her heart and can lead to more severe health conditions related to it such as sudden stroke or heart failure.
Only medication is not enough – While there are several medicines and treatments in the modern era which are there for controlling high blood pressure, they simply are not enough to keep the whole situation under control. One needs to make significant changes to his/her lifestyle and eating habits to complement the medications he/she is undergoing. For controlling high blood pressure, one should practice enough workout and exercises and clean eating habits.
It is more prevalent among alcoholics and smokers – For those who consume alcohol or smoke on a regular basis, the risk of high blood pressure is higher than usual. While consumption of alcohol leads to gradual dehydration, smoking has an adverse effect on the functioning of lungs, both of which are big factors of deterioration of oxygen levels which are important for normal blood flow.
Genetic and racial factors matter too – Strange it may sound, but the factors like your predecessors and your race are somehow responsible too if you are suffering from high blood pressure. People whose predecessors have suffered from high blood pressure problems in the past can suffer from the same problem as well, because of genetic transfers. In addition, studies have shown that descendants of African-American origins are more prone to the problem of high blood pressure.
It is related to pregnancy as well – Women have to deal with more issues as compared to men when it comes to health, and high blood pressure is one of them too. Studies have shown that types of birth control and development of preeclampsia during pregnancy are a couple of risk factors which can increase the probability of high blood pressure in women. In addition to it, if a woman who is suffering from high blood pressure becomes pregnant, there are higher risks of complications during pregnancy, both for herself as well as the child she is carrying.
Here’s what an ideal diet for corona patients should include
Given how draining the impact of coronavirus can be on a person suffering from it, it is very important to keep the levels of stress as low as possible and that of energy as high as possible. And when it comes to having optimum energy throughout a day, one needs to have proper and healthy food always, which also plays a major role in boosting immunity for faster healing.
Given how draining the impact of corona virus can be on a person suffering from it, it is very important to keep the levels of stress as low as possible and that of energy as high as possible. And when it comes to having optimum energy throughout a day, one needs to have proper and healthy food always, which also plays a major role in boosting immunity for faster healing.
Following are some pointers which one should focus on while preparing an ideal diet plan for corona patients:-
Proper hydration – Staying hydrated is the key if you have been contracted with corona virus. In such conditions, one should drink the optimum amount of water as prescribed on a normal basis, which is essentially 6-8 glasses of water, which roughly translates to 1.5-2 liters of water a day. In addition to the consumption of water, one can rely more on liquids like milk, fruit juices, tea and coffee. It is recommended to stay away from liquids-rich in sugar content, and that means consumption of fruit juices too should be in a limited amount (not more than 150ml).
Stay away from alcohol – If one is diagnosed with coronavirus, facing stress can be a direct outcome in these tough times. In such conditions, those who consume alcohol on a normal basis see it as a natural way to relieve from stress. Considering the fact that alcohol leads to dehydration, it is purely recommended to stay away from alcohol in these times. However, if one can’t stop the urge to have it, ensure that he/she should consume it in a minimum amount as possible.
Foods rich in nutrition, but low in calories – If one is suffering from corona virus, boosting immunity through foods should be a prime focus. It is advisable to consume foods which are rich in nutrients like vitamins and minerals, which will help in enhancing immunity. The most essential nutrients in such situations include proteins, Vitamin A, C, D and E as well as zinc content. For this, the most recommended things are quinoa, lentils, eggs, boiled fish, spinach, pumpkin, carrots, fruits, yogurt, dried fruits and nuts, nut butter, fruit smoothie and soup (chicken/carrot/tomato).
Avoid some food items – While there are a number of food items which can boost your immunity, as mentioned above, there are certain food items which can be best avoided in order to not invite any further trouble. In such times, one should avoid food items which are quite hard to digest or can cause gas, such as fried and spicy food, packaged snacks and acidic drinks including soda. In contrast, one can find alternatives by having foods which are easier to digest, such as bananas and cooked vegetables like spinach and beets, the latter of which can be consumed in liquid form like soups.
Grain consumption – In order to facilitate easy eating in these tough times, one should keep his/her fiber content in optimum condition to ensure smooth digestion. For this, in such a duration, one can have include whole grain items like oats, brown pasta, brown bread and quinoa, and avoid refined grain foods like white pasta, white rice and white bread.
In addition to all these, there are some conditions which one should keep in mind while having a proper diet plan in these tough times. Here they are:-
Prepare a proper schedule and diet chart for the healing period – Since one might need to stay only at home during the healing period, he/she should not indulge in the practice of panic buying. This only leads to negative consequences like a sudden increase in prices of food items or shortage of essentials. You can focus more on food items whose shelf life is longer, in order to avoid frequent buying.
Focus more on home-cooked meals – Most of the restaurants and take-away places rely on frozen items which might not be too fresh for consumption purposes. While you might feel a strong urge to eat outside food, it is better to focus more on home-cooked food, which ensures optimum freshness and exact amount and type of ingredients as per your choice. However, if conditions enforce you to have outside food, try to order foods which are easy to digest as well as simplistic in their cooking and digestion approach.
Limit salt and sugar intake – It is recommended to consume less than 5g of salt and less than 5% of energy intake from free sugar in your daily routine. So, in these times, one should avoid adding extra salt or sugar to your already cooked food. For added flavor, one can experiment with fresh or dried herbs.
Safe food handling practices – Since coronavirus is one rapidly spreading disease, one must ensure following safe hygiene practices as and when required. While having food, there are certain steps, both before and after, which ones should follow, such as keeping kitchen and utensils always clean, keeping raw and cooked food separate and keeping food at safe temperatures.
While preparing this entire food and diet plan, one must consult the type of food item and amount of it for consumption with a trained dietician, for faster recovery purposes.
Diabetes – Symptoms, treatment and early diagnosis
Among the modern people with ill lifestyle and irregular eating habits, diabetes has become one of the most common ailments in the modern generation. This metabolic disease is responsible for abrupt increase in blood sugar levels, due to which your body might not be able to produce enough insulin by itself, which in turn might damage your kidneys, eyes, nerves or other related organs.
Among the modern people with ill lifestyle and irregular eating habits, diabetes has become one of the most common ailments in the modern generation. This metabolic disease is responsible for abrupt increase in blood sugar levels, due to which your body might not be able to produce enough insulin by itself, which in turn might damage your kidneys, eyes, nerves or other related organs.
Following are the three different types of diabetes usually found in humans:-
Type 1 diabetes – It is an autoimmune kind of disease, in which the cells of the pancreas are attacked and destroyed by the weak immune system itself. The pancreas is the part of the human body where insulin is made, the chemical compound responsible for keeping sugar levels of your body under control.
Type 2 diabetes – It is the most common kind of diabetes, in which the body of the affected person develops a kind of resistance to insulin. Due to this, the sugar level starts increasing abruptly, prominently in the blood.
Gestational diabetes – This is commonly found only in women, and that too during pregnancy, when the sugar levels in blood starts increasing due to production of hormones which block the formation of insulin. Majorly, placenta (organ that develops in uterus during pregnancy) is responsible for production of the hormones responsible.
Apart from the usual detection through compulsory blood tests, there are some pre-signs which can indicate whether a person is suffering from diabetes or not. Here are those early indications:-
Increase in hunger – This is usually a common thing among obese people, when they have consistent urge of eating something at frequent intervals. This only increases the cholesterol levels, and in turn, sugar levels as well.
Increase in thirst – It’s not only the urge of eating something again and again, which is a common sign among people with diabetes. In some cases, if a person feels thirsty on a regular basis and drinks much more water than required or in normal condition, chances are that he/she might have increase sugar levels in his/her body.
Loss in weight – While weight reduction can be done properly through work out, medication or exercises, but if a person loses a lot of weight abruptly, despite having a regular diet plan, the increase in sugar levels might be responsible for this action.
Increase in frequency of urination – Since sugar levels increase in case of diabetes, the person affected will have his/her urinary system affected in turn as well. Due to this, the frequency of urine formation and disposal increases as well.
Not healing of sores and minor wounds – If a person is suffering from diabetes, and his minor wounds or sores are not healing at all completely, it is considered to be one of the clearest indications of diabetes, prominently that of type 2.
Increase in fatigue – A person suffering from diabetes is unable to perform heavy physical activity on a regular basis, considering the fact that he/she gets tired quite easily. And even in regular activities, he/she might suffer from fatigue much more than the usual levels.
Blurry vision – It is one of the rarest signs of diabetes, but if a person is suffering from blurriness in his/her vision, further eye-tests and blood tests can confirm the condition of diabetes in him/her.
Additional symptoms among men – Conditions like erectile dysfunction as well as a decrease in sex drive and muscle strength are some of the symptoms which can be found only in men suffering from diabetes.
Additional symptoms among women – Like men, women too have a couple of symptoms of diabetes restricted to them only, like dry and itchy skin and urinary tract infections.
Diabetes can be treated gradually, and it’s a slow process in which the sugar levels in the body are brought down. Following are some of the treatments and medications prescribed for diabetic people:-
Type 1 diabetes patients – For these people, insulin is the most important medication involved. There are four types of insulin which are fed in the body of the affected person – rapid-acting insulin (lasts for 3-4 hours), short-acting insulin (lasts for 6-8 hours), intermediate-acting insulin (lasts for 12-18 hours) and long-acting insulin (lasts for 24 hours or more).
Type 2 diabetes patients – The first step for these people is proper control and moderations in their lifestyle, with changes made to their diet and exercise plans. If these actions feel to be lesser than required, medicines like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, DPP-4 inhibitors, glucagon-like peptides, meglitinides, SGLT2 inhibitors, sulfonylureas and thiazolidinediones are prescribed under various situations and conditions.
Gestational diabetes patients – For these patients/pregnant women, mild doses of insulin or noteworthy changes in diet and exercise plans need to be carried out.
All these medications and remedies suggested above should be taken after proper diagnosis, blood tests and advices from trained endocrinologist only.
Heart Attack – Signs, symptoms and emergency treatment
Medically known as myocardial infarction, the condition of heart attack is one of the most common ailments, prevalent among the current generation adults, and even many teenagers. While the condition of heart attack among adults occurs prominently in those adults who suffer other medical complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels or simply high age, among children and teenagers, it might happen due to bad cholesterol levels and obesity, caused by improper eating habits or even smoking and alcohol consumption.
Medically known as myocardial infarction, the condition of heart attack is one of the most common ailments, prevalent among the current generation adults, and even many teenagers. While the condition of heart attack among adults occurs prominently in those adults who suffer other medical complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels or simply high age, among children and teenagers, it might happen due to bad cholesterol levels and obesity, caused by improper eating habits or even smoking and alcohol consumption.
Following are the most common symptoms and early signs of a heart attack which usually occurs among people of all age groups:-
Pressure in chest – If one feels immediate and abrupt pain in the areas surrounding his/her heart, and that prominently includes upper chest, it is considered to be one of the clearest early signs of a heart attack.
Pain in other parts of the upper body – Apart from the chest, there are other parts of the upper body where pain can happen in the circumstance of a heart attack. These parts of the upper body include upper back, chest and shoulders, and this kind of pain occurs more prominently in women as compared to men.
Lack of breath – If someone is suddenly feeling shortness while breathing, chances are that it happens due to an incoming condition of heart attack, as the flow of blood and eventually oxygen gets disrupted.
Sweating – The lack of flow of oxygen and blood can also be determined if someone suddenly starts sweating abruptly, without any heavy physical activity. This kind of heavy sweating is followed by chest pain, which is a clear indication of a heart attack.
Nausea – While there are many reasons why common nausea occurs to a human, if someone is feeling nausea on a sudden basis, without any major physical activity or body movement, it can lead to heart attack in a couple of minutes.
Vomiting – In the condition of a heart attack, a person might start vomiting, which is usually followed by nausea or severe pain in the chest, and this condition might occur hours after eating something as well.
Anxiety – While anxiety is a common phenomenon among individuals who usually take stress, if a person suddenly starts feeling anxious, which can lead to nausea or chest pain, it is also considered to be an oncoming sign of a heart attack.
Dizziness – Dizziness is usually confused with headache or nausea, but it actually differs from both of them. A person might undergo dizziness followed by nausea or vomiting if he/she is facing the consequences of a blocked artery, obstructing the flow of oxygen.
Sudden increase in heart rate – While a sudden increase in the pace of heartbeat is a common phenomenon while doing a cardiovascular exercise like running or cycling, if someone is sitting or lying idle and his heartbeat increases suddenly, it is considered to be an early sign of a heart attack.
While the condition of heart attack is a serious ailment, if treated with immediate effect and time, it can be treated perfectly. Here are the following kinds of treatments usually followed after a person suffers from heart attack:-
Angioplasty – In this operation, the blocked artery is treated by removing the plaque built up inside it with the help of a balloon.
Heart bypass surgery – It is one of the most complex treatments when it comes to cardiovascular operations, and requires a lot of time and careful inspection. In this, the flow of blood is rerouted around the area/artery where the blockage of flow of blood has occurred.
Heart valve surgery – If the blockage of flow of blood happens inside the valves of heart and not arteries, the heart valve surgery is conducted to replace the leaky valves, in order to facilitate the pumping action of heart.
Heart transplant – If the heart of the person suffered from a heart attack has damaged beyond the boundaries of repairing or operation, his/her heart needs to be replaced completely. This condition usually occurs when heart attack permanently damages the tissues of the heart of the concerned person.
Pacemaker – A pacemaker is a device which is planted beneath the skin of the affected person. This is done in order to regain the regular rhythm of the heart-beat of the affected person.
In case of a heart attack, the affected person has to be immediately rushed to a hospital, seeking proper medication and further possibilities of operation by a trained cardiologist.
How to detect kidney stone
Medically termed as nephrolithiasis, the formation of kidney stones is one of the most common ailments in adults. Scientifically, these stones formed in kidneys are known as renal calculi, which are basically hard substances formed of salts and minerals made up of calcium and uric acid in your body.
Medically termed as nephrolithiasis, the formation of kidney stones is one of the most common ailments in adults. Scientifically, these stones formed in kidneys are known as renal calculi, which are basically hard substances formed of salts and minerals made up of calcium and uric acid in your body.
These stones create an obstruction of the flow of urine in the urinary system, or create blockages in the kidneys and hamper the basic functioning of them. The size of these stones is invariable, and can vary between a fraction of an inch to even the size of the whole kidney.
The first and foremost major effect of formation of stones in kidneys results in irregular functioning of the urinary system, of which there are many symptoms. Usually, one of every 20 adults around the world faces this condition once in their entire lifespan. Also, being a disease more common in men as compared to women, with the most prominent age group of patients being between 20 to 49 years of age.
Following are some of the very basic symptoms as per which one can detect the formation of kidney stones in his/her body:-
Pain in the lower back – If you are suffering from excruciating pain in your lower back, and it is not going off even after a change in body postures while sitting, standing or even laying on your bed, it signals that your kidney(s) is suffering from the formation of kidney stones within.
Pain in abdomen or groin – Not only in your lower back, but the pain caused by the formation of kidney stones can become more prominent and longing in terms of duration if it is caused in abdomen or regions surrounding groin. This pain usually waxes and wanes with time, and might vary in the degree of severity.
Nausea and vomiting – If you are suffering from sudden nausea or conditions of vomiting after suffering from continuous pain in lower back or abdomen, it is one clear sign of formation of kidney stones. It can be followed by pain which is usually very high in terms of severity.
Bloody urine – Kidney is one of the key organs of the urinary system of your body, and if there is formation of stones in your kidney(s), the process of formation of urine will eventually get disturbed. This will lead to the irregular formation of urine, which usually flows out with blood.
Fever and chills – The phenomenon of fever occurs due to a variety of reasons, and the formation of kidney stones too is one of them. If you are suffering from severe fever, accompanied with pain in lower back or abdomen or chills in your whole body, it is one clear indication of this medical emergency.
Lack or difficulty while urinating – Even after consumption of liquid (prominently water), even if you are not able to urinate as your usual frequency, it signals that your kidney(s) are unable to fully function for the required process in the urinary system of your body. In such cases, the flow of urine is obstructed by the stones formed within the kidney(s).
Penile/testicular pain – More prominently a condition faced by male individuals, if one is suffering from unusual pain in other parts surrounding the urinary system, like penis or testicles, it is perceived as a side effect of the ill-functioning of kidney(s) or urinary system in a whole.
While all of the aforementioned phenomena are usually perceived as prior symptoms of kidney stones, there are further in-depth processes and diagnosis which can further confirm the formation of kidney stones and make way for the treatment processes.
The first step of the diagnosis of kidney stones is the conduction of imaging tests, as per which a non-contrast CT scan is done in an emergency room. Conduction of these tests usually confirms the exact reason which is causing the lower back and abdominal pain, which is one of the most common reasons for the formation of kidney stones.
If these tests signal a basic idea of confirmation of kidney stones, further processes like radiation and ultrasound as well as abdominal X-Rays are carried out, which give a further elaborative idea of the ill-functioning of the components and reasons behind the formation of kidney stones.
All these tests and treatment should be carried out under careful supervision as per the guidance and advises followed by concerned and well-trained medical professionals.
How to detect breast cancer at an early stage
One of the most common types of cancers primarily found in women, breast cancer is usually not as easy to know about as other kinds of cancers and tumors, in terms of symptoms. However, if early detection of breast cancer can be done, it saves up a lot of hassle of treatments and stress.
One of the most common types of cancers primarily found in women, breast cancer is usually not as easy to know about as other kinds of cancers and tumors, in terms of symptoms. However, if early detection of breast cancer can be done, it saves up a lot of hassle of treatments and stress.
The symptoms of breast cancer are usually very minor and can be hard and very minute to find. However, if one is able to witness these changes in her breast, there are strong chances of her suffering from breast cancer and should immediately consult a doctor regarding the same and following treatment procedures.
Following are the most common symptoms by which one can detect breast cancer at a very early stage, which if known or felt at the right time, will save a lot of resources:
If there is any kind of swelling or redness occurring in one or both the breasts, there are strong chances that it is the same spot where the tumor might be in the process of formation.
Women usually have both their breasts similar in size, however, if one is feeling that one of her breasts is showing sign of growth in terms of its size, this might be an unusual swelling occurring due to tumor.
When the nipple of one or both the breasts shows signs of dissimilarity or appearance, there is a strong chance that the tumor might be in formation around the area of that particular nipple(s).
If the nipple discharges some other kind of fluid apart from breast milk, it shows that the affected breast(s) is unable to form breast milk and this particular fluid might be formed due to the formation of tumor inside.
Pain is one of the easy forms to detect whether something is wrong in one particular part of body or not. In the case of breast cancer too, one can suffer from gradually increasing pain in one or both the breasts.
If one is able to feel any kind of lump or swelling after touching her one or both the breasts, it shows that the tumor has grown in size big enough to directly be felt.
While one can detect this by feeling whether there is any kind of lump in one or both the breasts, if there is no lump to be felt, but an unusual swelling in a part or whole breast, it is a clear sign of invasive breast cancer.
If one is feeling any kind of irritation or swelling on or around one or both the breasts, it signals that the breast tumor is forming such kind of symptom.
If the nipple(s) of one or both the breasts are retracting inwards, this might happen as a result of an increase in the swelling of tumor, which might be forcing the nipple(s) to not be in their optimal situation.
Usually, nipples in humans are in light or dark brown in color. However, if one is sensing any change in the color of her nipple(s) – they might be turning reddish or scaly – it is a clear sign of tumor.
If one is feeling that her nipple(s) of one or both the breasts have shifted off from their usual positioning, it shows that the formation of tumor inside the concerned breast(s) is forcing such a thing to happen.
If one can feel that the surface of her breast(s) is showing sign of formation of a ridged pattern unlike the usual soft touch, this hardening of skin is diagnosed as a sign of breast cancer.
Apart from swelling or pain, if one is feeling that one or both of her breasts are feeling heavier than the usual feel, it usually happens due to the swelling of tumor inside one or both of them.
All these are preliminary symptoms of both invasive as well as inflammatory breast cancer, which are quite minute and might not be too noticeable at the very first place. However, such careful observations, if done rightly, will not only save a lot of possible medication but also mental stress. If one feels any of these symptoms, it is advisable to consult the respective doctor for further processes regarding diagnosis and treatment, including all the essential check-ups.