Protecting Yourself Against HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is by far, one of the most common and contagious sexually transmitted diseases (STD). HPV infection is caused due to a virus, which is said to have more than 100 types of strains. A few of the HPV infections cause mucous membrane growth on the skin which are also known as warts. The other types of virus strains cause different types of cancers around the genitals, anus, vagina, penis and vulva. The infection is highly contagious and the infected person may or may not develop any symptoms, but can still be a carrier and infect the others through sexual or intimate skin contact.

HPV can prove to be deadly when the infected person starts to develop cancer of the genitals and cervical cancer. Hence, it is highly important to protect yourself against HPV, either through vaccination or taking precautions while being sexually active. Preventing yourself from the HPV virus should be your first defence measure.

How to protect yourself from HPV virus

One should understand the severity of HPV and follow the below mentioned strategies to protect themselves from contacting the deadly virus.

1. HPV vaccination to avoid HPV cancers and skin warts:  The HPV vaccine is effective enough to protect against the HPV infections that cause most cervical cancers and cancer of the genitals including anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Since most HPV infections spread through sexual contact, the HPV vaccination proves to be highly effective when given before the person becomes sexually active. If you are aged between 15-45 years, the vaccine is given is 3 separate shots in a duration of about six months. 

2. Limit the number of sex partners: Another effective way to prevent yourself against the HPV virus is limiting the number of sexual partners. Higher the number of active sexual partners, the higher is the chance for you to get infected with HPV. Being in a mutually monogamous relationship will also help, as this will ensure that your partner is sexually active with none other than you.

3. Use of condoms: If you have an active sexual life, it is highly important for you to use condoms while you are involved in any kind of sexual activity, be it oral, anal or vaginal sex. This will considerably bring down the chances for you to contact the HPV infection. Use of latex condoms is considered to be highly effective. However, HPV can also attack those areas of your skin which are not covered by condoms, but it still offers a greater probability of safeguarding yourself from the infection.

4. Timely screening for women to catch precancers: In some women, HPV infection begins to change the cells of the cervix which later on develop into cervical cancer. It is very important to conduct timely screening so that early detection and treatment can prevent the infection from becoming cancerous. There are mainly two types of tests that are used for the screening of HPV infection to check for cervical cancers. One of the tests is a Pap Test which is done by collecting cells from the cervix and checking for any abnormal cell growth. The other type of test checks for the presence of any virus rather than abnormalities.

Presently, there are no specific medical tests to find out about the HPV infection in a person. However, tests may be conducted to investigate cervical cancer or precancerous. These tests are also conducted only in women who are more than 30 years of age. There are also no specific signs and symptoms to know whether a person has HPV infection or not, which is why most people never know that they are infected and unknowingly become carriers of this infection. Even if the person is infected, it may take a few months for them to develop symptoms like warts on the skin and other health problems. It is suggested that women above 30 years of age should regular see their gynecologists for Pap tests, to diagnose any precancers or cervical cancer.

Treatment for health problems caused by HPV

There is no specific treatment for the HPV virus, however, medical experts have laid down certain treatments to bring down the effect of health problems caused due to the HPV virus.

1. Genital warts: Warts can start to develop in any part of the genitals and if left untreated they keep growing in size and number. Warts can be treated with proper medication, so it is important to consult a healthcare provider as and when you notice such developments around your genitals.

2. Cervical precancer: Prevention is the first tool of defence and women who undergo regular Pap tests are able to diagnose and significant chances of precancers. If pre cancers are treated well on time, the chances of developing cancer reduces significantly.

Returning To Work After Maternity: Tips, Tricks To Keep Organized And Decrease Anxiety

The beginning of maternity leave serves great pleasure as you feel you have ample amount of time with your little one. But soon after a few weeks, the greater transition comes when you have to return to your workplace, that too leaving behind your little child. Returning from maternity leave is perhaps the most difficult emotional roller coaster that a new mom gets through. It triggers different feelings where you would want to be with your child and on the other hand, you would also want to keep a balance with your career and job. Even the thought of returning back to work after maternity leave is very stressful, leave aside when the day of returning actually arrives. Being away from your baby and adjusting to the whole new challenge of getting back to the workplace, can be physically and mentally exhausting.

It is very important to create a balance between your motherhood and professional life, but that should not come at the cost of making you feel guilty. Never feel that if you are returning to work, it would make you less good of a mother. Rather, you are setting an example for your little one that being a mother offers you with great superpowers to balance both home and professional life.

Tips to Ticks to Keep Yourself Organized and Decrease the Anxiety

1. Never feel guilty: Guilt is an emotion that triggers inside us while doing something wrong. But, if you are a new mother, it is important for you to understand that while you decide to return to work to support your family or balance your career, you choose to do nothing wrong. You may feel a little anxiety about leaving your child, but let go of the guilt, to remain stress-free.

2. Get in touch with your employer: A little anxiety before returning to work is inevitable, so talking to your employer in advance might bring down the stress level. Having a casual conversation with your employer will give you insights on new projects that are currently going on, any other technical changes that you need to have hands on, and this will help to get comfortable at the workplace. You can also place requests with your employer, if you want flexible working hours or flexibility in meeting deadlines with projects. Also, speak to your employer about your responsibilities and workload during normal days, so that you can adjust your breastfeeding time, day-care management and new work schedule. When you are at your workplace, try speaking to some new mothers to know how they manage work after maternity leave.

3. Practice Dry run: A dry run is a kind of practice day that you should follow a day or two before the actual day of returning to office. This will give you insights about how much time you need to breastfeed your baby, how many hours will it take to reach the office and day-care and other small kinks. Spend a day with the child-care provider to know about your child’s needs and what it takes to make him feel comfortable with the new environment.

4. Get organised a night before the actual day of return: Organising all the stuff and getting prepared for the next day, makes the morning easier and hassle-free. Decide on your clothes, change your handbag, put all the important stuff, prepare the baby's bag with diapers, wipes, nappies, clothes and toys, a night before. After a tiring day you might not feel the need to keep things organised, but it is surely an effective way to save plenty of your time and keep you stress free. 

5. Find the right amount of work: While you were away on your maternity leave, the workplace must have gone through various changes and you might feel outcast or sidelined. Just make sure to fulfil all your work commitments that you are expected to do as a professional. If you are not given any challenging assignments, due to the fact that you just had a baby, go ahead and ask for it, if you think you are prepared. It will always be challenging to manage a child and your workplace responsibilities, but with the right balance, the whole schedule can be less chaotic.

6. Try and Cope up with stress and tiredness: Try and carve out special time to bond with your little one so that he or she does not feel that there is any sort of growing distance between you two. You would also have to learn to balance the most difficult part of the day, which is when you return from office and your child also returns from day-care. Both you and your child would be very much tired during that time of the day, but you need to have patience. Slowly and gradually, your baby will also be aware of your routine and he might know what to expect next.

At times, you might sit down and re-consider the idea of returning back to work. Many new mothers start to feel that returning to the workplace was a bad idea. All new mothers have to struggle in the initial days so that there is no lag with their careers. Initially, it may be very psychologically and physically challenging, but once your routine is sorted, everything will fall into place. During this time, do not forget to take good care of yourself, and remember nobody gets to perfection immediately.

Diagnosis And Management Of Anaemia Before Gynecologic Surgery

Anaemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cells become inefficient and are unable to carry oxygen to the tissues and organs of the body. It is important to understand the severity of anaemia and start your treatment accordingly. If you are anaemic, you are likely to feel fatigue and tiredness all throughout, even when you are not much involved in physical labour.

Symptoms of Anaemia

The following are some of the common and established symptoms of anaemia:

• Fatigue

• Weakness

• Pale or yellow skin

• Irregularity in heart rate

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness 

• Chest pain or congestion

• Cold hands and feet

• Headaches

Diagnosis of Anaemia

It is important to look out for signs and symptoms, to check whether your body is anaemic. Signs and symptoms of anaemia can vary depending upon the cause of anaemia. It is important to understand the underlying cause of anaemia, only then your doctor can start your treatment. This is because treatment for one type of anaemia can prove to be dangerous and ineffective in curing the other type of anaemia. The following are some of the established causes of anaemia:

1. Anaemia caused due to iron deficiency:  

This is the most common type of anaemia and is caused when the body is unable to produce red blood cells, due to deficiency of iron. Our bone marrow produces haemoglobin for the red blood cells and when iron deficiency attacks the body, the red blood cells fall short of haemoglobin, causing tiredness and fatigue. In young women, iron deficiency generally occurs due to heavy menstrual bleeding. Other causes of this type of anaemia are use of pain relievers, history of ulcers or cancer.

2. Anaemia caused due to Vitamin deficiency: 

Our body needs vitamin B-12 to produce healthy red blood cells that can carry oxygen and haemoglobin throughout the body. 

3. Anaemia of inflammation:

Chronic diseases like cancer, HIV, AIDS, kidney diseases, colon diseases and other inflammatory diseases can obstruct the production of healthy red blood cells in the body.

4. Aplastic anaemia: 

This is a rare condition of the body which occurs due to use of certain inflammatory medicines, infections or any autoimmune diseases. If your body is under the attack of aplastic anaemia, it will not be able to produce enough of healthy red blood cells.

5. Anaemia associated with a bone marrow disease:

Certain diseases like leukemia and myelofibrosis, can cause anaemia as they hamper production of haemoglobin by affecting the bone marrow.

6. Sickle cell anaemia: 

This type of anaemia is generally a genetic disease. Under this condition, the haemoglobin of the body is defective and causes the red blood cells to form a crescent shape. These oddly shaped red blood cells die prematurely, causing a shortage of healthy red blood cells in the body.

Managing and Treating Anaemia- The Right Way

It is important for your doctor to identify the root cause of your anaemia and start treating it the right way. 

1. If anaemia is caused due to blood loss, the patient is treated with fluids, blood transfusion, oxygen and iron. This will help the body in building new red blood cells.

2. If anaemia is caused due to iron deficiency, iron supplements that contain ferrous form of iron will help the body cope with iron deficiency. During the treatment, it is important to monitor red blood cell counts, haemoglobin and ferritin levels.

3. Anaemia caused due to Vitamin B12 deficiency is treated with Vitamin B12 pills and injections. If the patient has folate deficiency, it is treated by folic acid supplements.

4. If the anaemia is caused due to any chronic ailment like a kidney disease, it is treated with recombinant human erythropoietin, which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body.

5. If anaemia is caused due to red blood cells destruction, intravenous fluids and pain medication are given. A blood transfusion is also done in cases where medication does not come to the rescue.

6. If anaemia is caused due to production of sickle red blood cells, in most cases, will require a bone marrow transplant.

Managing Anaemia before Gynecologic Surgery

Managing anaemia before a patient is subjected to Gynecologic surgery forms an important part of Patient Blood Management and is often termed as checking the preoperative anaemia.

Even if the patient is suffering from a mild preoperative anaemia, it can increase the chances of mortality, when the patient is subjected to any kind of gynecologic surgery. It might also pose serious risks in blood transfusion and the chances of further blood loss increase ten-folds in such cases. It is thus, highly crucial to subject the patient to preoperative anaemia screening. This will allow time to conduct further workup and treatment and raise the haemoglobin levels.

If the patient is at multiple preoperative risks, a gynecologic surgery will further put the patient’s life at risk, for any transfusion, intraoperative organ or a difficult postoperative period. While we talk about managing anaemia before any major gynecologic surgery, a thorough risk assessment and patient blood management (PBM) should be conducted with specific procedures laid down for improving the haemoglobin levels.

In major gynecologic surgeries, a preoperative Hb <13 g/dL should be considered suboptimal women, and if the level is below the range then procedures will be started to improve the levels. If the patient needs to be put to immediate surgery, oral iron or intravenous iron formulations should be infused.

Menstrual Pain And Irregularity

Menstruation is a monthly process that occurs as the female body prepares itself for pregnancy. The female reproductive system forms eggs to make pregnancy possible. When the pregnancy does not happen, the egg along with tissues and blood, leaves the lining of the uterus and comes out of the vagina. The discharging process lasts for about 3-5 days. Menstruation usually starts during puberty and lasts until menopause, within a one-month interval.

The menstrual cycle completely depends upon the hormonal changes that take place inside the female body every month. Ideally, the menstrual cycle is of about 28 days, which may vary, depending upon the hormone secretion. The average age when girls start menstruating is around 12 but these bodily changes are best to be kept range bound between 8-15 years.

Menstrual Pain

Apart from heavy vaginal bleeding that most women suffer from, menstruation also causes various other discomforts. Some women face severely painful periods which are highly dominated by menstrual cramps, throbbing and pain in the lower abdomen. Such painful menstruation is also termed as Dysmenorrhea. Apart from cramping and abdominal pain, other symptoms that women suffer from during the menstrual cycle are mood swings, irritability, headache, fatigue, tenderness in breasts and lower back pain.

Dysmenorrhea is also categorized into primary and secondary, depending upon the cause of period pains. Primary dysmenorrhea is caused due to prostaglandins hormone secretion from the uterus. This hormone causes contractions in the uterus, which block the blood and oxygen supply to the uterus. This causes severe pain and cramps during thse menstrual cycle. Studies also reveal that women who suffer from severe menstrual cramps and likely to have strong uterine contractions at the time of giving birth. These pains usually start a day or two before the beginning of menstruation and may last for two to three days after the start of menstrual cycle.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is not usually found in younger women but starts later in life of a female. The prominent cause of this pain are conditions that affect reproductive organs, like uterine fibroids and endometriosis. These pains are highly discomforting and may even get worse with time. Some studies also reveal that secondary dysmenorrhea is also caused due to pelvic inflammatory diseases which cause the egg to implant outside the wall of the uterus and scare the fallopian tubes. During menstruation, the hormone secretion affects the uterus and the scar tissues, which increases the menstrual bleeding, inflammation and pain.

While you know about the basic dysmenorrhea, it is also critical for you to know the other factors that cause severe pain during menstruation. Menstrual pain is predominantly normal, but it is important to understand the other causes of menstrual pain, before such pain causes serious problems to your body.

1. Adenomyosis is a gynecological condition in which the tissue that usually lines to the inside of the uterus, implants itself outside the wall of the uterus. This causes the uterus to become bruised, causing severe cramps and painful intercourse.

2. Uterine fibroids are one of the most common gynecological problems and every one in three women suffer from this. If you are suffering from uterine fibroids, you are most likely to have severe menstrual cramps. The reason behind such painful cramps is that that uterus contracts forcefully to expel out the blood clots that are formed due to fibroids.

3. Women who have a copper IUD inserted, can also experience painful periods along with heavy menstrual bleeding.

4. When a female child is still a foetus in the mother’s womb, its own uterus starts to develop. In some cases, due to certain structural deformation, the uterus does not form correctly and causes period pain, infertility issues and painful intercourse.

Irregularity in Menstrual Cycle

Menstruation is considered to be irregular when the menstrual cycle does not fall on the due date. In most women, the usual length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days which may extend to even 35 days. A menstrual cycle is considered to be irregular when the cycle occurs more than 35 days apart. 

In medical terms, irregular periods are also called oligomenorrhea. Studies have revealed that primary causes for irregular periods in women are use of contraceptives, hormonal imbalance, indulgence in certain endurance exercises and hormonal changes during menopause. If the menstrual cycle is irregular during the early stages of puberty or during the menopause phase, the problem might not be serious, however, it might be a concern when the menstrual cycle is irregular during the reproductive years. In such cases, you should consult a doctor at the earliest, to avoid any further complications.

Irregular periods are indicative of a serious problem so it is important to investigate the cause for your irregular periods. Understand the below stated causes for irregular periods: 

1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): It is a medical condition in which small cysts begin to develop in the ovaries, which is why the ovaries do not release eggs every month.  

2. Thyroid: Women who are suffering from thyroid disorder also suffer from irregular periods. This is because, thyroid causes the body to release hormones that affect the metabolism. 

3. Cervical or uterine cancer: If a woman is suffering from cervical or uterus cancer, she is likely to experience bleeding between the menstrual cycles and sometimes even after intercourse.

4. Endometriosis: It is a medical condition where cells start to grow outside the lining of the uterus instead on the inside.  Endometrial cells are released every month and come out from the vagina along with menstrual blood. In certain cases when the blood gets stuck around the tissues, it damages the tissues and this causes irregularity in menstrual cycle and even causes infertility in certain cases.

If you encounter any of the above stated causes for irregular menstruation, you should immediately consult a doctor and start with the remedies. If irregular menstruation is due to contraceptives or birth control pills, the doctor might change your medication with pills that have a balance of estrogen and progestin. For PCOS and thyroid related issues, eating habits, a healthy lifestyle and lowering down the testosterone levels, will help women to ovulate timely.

Urinary Tract Infections in Adolescents and Adults

Our urinary tract is made up of kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a type of microbial attack on any one of the organs comprising the urinary tract. The main function of the urinary system is to flush unwanted waste out from the body, in the form of urine. Urine normally does not flush out bacteria from the body and when these bacteria get into the bladder or kidney, they multiply ten-folds and cause serious tract infections. 

Most commonly, UTI affects the lower urinary tract, that consists of the bladder and urethra, but they can be treated quickly and easily. UTIs that affect the upper urinary tract, consisting of kidneys and ureters, are rare and difficult to treat due to their severity. UTI causes severe discomfort and pain, hence it is important to get a prompt treatment to avoid further spread of the infection to the kidneys, which can ultimately prove to be fatal.

Common Symptoms of UTI

It is important to be aware of the basic symptoms of UTIs so that you can immediately start the treatment, as and when you encounter any one of its symptoms. When someone is infected with a lower tract UTI, the lining of the bladder and urethra starts turning red and you may also develop irritation and itching. The infected person may also feel an urge to urinate at frequent intervals. This is caused because the irritation in the bladder forces you to urinate even if you do not have much urine in your bladder. The texture of the urine also changes to a different colour which can be red or pink and also has a foul smell. The irritation in the bladder also causes pain in the lower abdomen pelvic area and lower back. 

Types of Urinary Tract Infections

UTI infections differ with their signs and symptoms depending upon the particular organ which is infected. The three different types of UTI are:

1. Infection of the bladder (Cystitis)

Symptoms

• Cramping and pain in the lower back and abdomen

• Blood in the urine

• Constant urge to urinate

• Painful urination

• Pelvic pain

2. Infection of the Urethra (Urethritis)

            Symptoms

• Burning sensation while urinating

• Discharge

3. Infection of the Kidneys (Acute Pyelonephritis)

Symptoms

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Shaking

• Chills

• Mental changes

• Upper back and side pain

• High fever

Causes of UTI in Adolescents and Adults

UTI is very commonly found in adolescents and adults. Also, girls and women are more prone to be infected with a UTI and they can develop serious UTI at more than three times the rate as compared to young boys and men. This is because girls and women have shorter urethras, so the germs and microbes can easily pass on from the bowel to the bladder. 

For adolescent girls and young women, who are menstruating, it is highly advised to change sanitary napkins and tampons frequently to avoid the risk of infection. They should also wipe from front to back with toilet paper after bowel movements. 

Another common reason for UTI in adolescents and adults, is an active sexual life. Thus, it is important to counsel adolescents about sexual activities and its consequences, to mitigate the risk of UTI. All adolescents with UTIs should be queried for sexual activity and should be checked for presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Other factors responsible for contacting a UTI are use of spermicide and birth control medicines. 

How is UTI Diagnosed

In order to test for UTI, a urine sampling is conducted which is known as urinalysis. In some cases, the urine is also checked for the presence of bacteria through a urine culture. In young children an ultrasonography examination can also help with the detection of UTI. 

Treatment of UTI

In healthy adolescents and women, who are diagnosed with a bladder infection (Cystitis), the usual treatment includes a complete course of antibiotics. In men, the same antibiotics are used, provided there is no issue involving the prostate gland. 

If a urine culture has been performed and is negative for infection, other causes of pain, burning, and frequency should be investigated. In some cases, infection is caused by small amounts of bacteria that are not detected through a typical urine culture. Therefore, in some cases, even if the report is negative the doctor may prescribe you to take the complete course of antibiotics.

If there is severe pain and irritation in the bladder and urethra, one can also ask for numbness medication from the doctor. These medicines help to numb the bladder and urethra, to reduce the burning pain caused by UTIs. It is also recommended to drink more fluids while treating bladder infections to help flush bacteria from the bladder. 

Can UTIs prove to be fatal

While in most of the cases, it is possible to treat and cure UTI with proper treatment of antibiotics, but not if it gets “complicated”. There are several reasons for a UTI to get complicated and then it becomes difficult to cure it with regular antibiotics. 

1. Women with repeated cases of infections: Women who get UTI repeatedly over and over again might have to take a longer medication of about six months. They should also be cautious while switching birth controls and practice a habit of peeing right after having sex.

2. Permanent kidney damage: If you don't treat a UTI, it can damage your kidneys forever. An untreated UTI, could travel to the kidneys and cause sepsis. While your body is trying hard to fight sepsis, it causes respiratory issues, and other problems related to heart rate, white blood cells and body temperature. It can affect the way your kidneys function and lead to kidney scars and high blood pressure. Sometimes it can prove a fatal disease for the infected person.

3. UTI in pregnant women: UTIs are very commonly found in pregnant women. If not cured timely, they prove to be fatal for both mom and the baby. There are also chances of premature delivery, delivery with low birthweight, anemia and high blood pressure.

Can UTI be Prevented

There are several ways through which you can reduce the risk of a UTI. Natural remedies, hygienic bathroom habits, probiotics and urination before and after sex, are highly recommended to prevent yourself from contacting a UTI. Women who are in their menopause stage can also benefit from estrogen therapy in order to balance the vaginal bacteria.

Difference between a Neurosurgeon and Neurologist

The diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the brain, nervous system, spinal cord, blood vessels, muscles, and nerves are neurology subjects. Doctors in the field of, neurology and neurosurgery deal with these diseases.

Medical science has advanced tremendously due to the introduction of new and high-tech technology, built computers, and ever-increasing research. It's becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between medical practitioners who work in the same field as they specialize.

Neurology is a branch of medical science that focuses on the brain and its different aspects. It focuses on treating conditions that affect the nervous system and diagnoses ailments that affect the brain. The terms neurologist and neurosurgeon are often interchanged when referring to medical practitioners who treat the brain's disorders, but the two occupations are vastly different.

What makes a Neurologist different from a Neurosurgeon?

Let's start with a simple understanding of the differences between Neurologist and Neurosurgeon careers:

A neurologist is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the brain and nervous system. They also treat illnesses such as neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities, and other central nervous system-related conditions.

Neurosurgeons are qualified to perform surgical operations on people with chronic diseases that impair the nervous system's normal functioning, such as Parkinson's disease, aneurysms, and congenital disabilities.

When Do You See a Neurologist?

Since neurologists treat patients with disorders affecting the brain and nervous system, there are clear signs that you should be aware of before seeing a neurologist. Here are some typical auto symptoms to help you understand a neurologist's function and the difference between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon.

• Persistent dizziness

• Variations in sensations or emotions

• Difficulties with balance

• Headaches

• Emotional Confusion

• Muscle Fatigue

• Persistent sense of heaviness throughout the head

When Do You See a Neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgeons, like Neurologists, treat a variety of diseases. People who visit neurosurgeons are frequently those who have been recommended to do so by neurologists because neurosurgeons perform surgery on the whole nervous system and associated body parts. As we previously mentioned, a neurosurgeon's key role includes surgical procedures. Here are some of the cases they may operate on:

• Clipping

• Endovascular Repair

• Disk Removal

• Craniotomy

• Lumbar Puncture

• Aneurysm Repair

Since neurosurgery is one of the most advanced and challenging areas in modern medicine, it often necessitates the collaboration of a team of specialists from various fields, such as plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, manual therapists, interventional radiologists, and others.

Neurologist vs. Neurosurgeon:

The distinctions between neurologists and neurosurgeons are essential. However, there is a lot of variation between the two in terms of medical management.

Neurologists and neurosurgeons both diagnose and manage nervous system disorders, but neurologists do not perform surgery. Neurologists concentrate on finding complex neurological diagnoses that can be treated with other medications or treatments or need close monitoring. Suppose your diagnosis reveals a physical cause for your neurological illness. In that case, your neurologist will refer you to a neurosurgeon if surgery is required to improve your condition or improve your performance.

You will almost certainly see a neurologist the first time you visit the Department of Neurology. Your neurologist will perform your initial screening, which could include an MRI, during your first visit. A neurologist will refer you to a neurosurgeon if he notices something troubling that necessitates surgery, such as a tumor.

The primary distinction between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon is self-evident. While a neurosurgeon may conduct surgery to treat medical problems, neurologists treat specific conditions with medications and other procedures.

The work of neurologists and neurosurgeons is complementary. When treating a condition, a neurologist will recommend that the patient see a neurosurgeon for surgery, with the neurologist handling the long-term treatment.

Both a neurologist and a neurosurgeon can perform complex neurological tests such as EEG and MRI. Still, only neurosurgeons can use the findings to perform surgery to cure the condition, while neurologists can only administer drugs or refer the patient to a neurosurgeon for care.

Training and Educational Qualifications

To understand the distinctions between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon, it's necessary first to grasp the differences in the degrees and specializations required to become a specialist in each sector. Four years of pre-medical school are required to become a neurologist, followed by a medical degree in neurology and additional training in movement, stroke, etc.

The educational path to becoming a neurosurgeon is more extended, requiring four years of pre-medical school and four years of medical school. The applicant must complete a more extended house residency. Neurosurgeons must learn how to operate on the spine and peripheral nerves, among other things.

Treatment for the ailment

Another crucial aspect to understand while differentiating the neurologist and neurosurgeon is the conditions that each specialist handles. Neurologists are interested in treating neurological conditions such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, peripheral nerve disorders, and ALS.

On the other hand, neurosurgeons deal with brain injuries, tumor removal, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Both practitioners work closely together to treat their patients appropriately, integrating medical and surgical procedures as necessary.

These two groups of physicians and the diseases they handle have some similarities. When surgery is needed (such as for a brain tumor), these doctors may collaborate; for example, a neurologist may refer a patient to a neurosurgeon for surgery.

Ask your primary care physician which type of specialist to see if you have a disorder or symptoms that demands a brain and spine specialist.

While there are significant discrepancies between neurologists and neurosurgeons, it is their roles in medical management that, in the end, bring the general public together. To put it another way, neurologists and neurosurgeons treat people with nervous system disorders, but neurologists do not perform surgery.

Neurologists seek to identify the underlying condition that can be treated with medications or therapy when adhering to a strict regimen. If a neurological disorder's physical origin is discovered during diagnosis, neurosurgeons enter the picture and assist patients by conducting surgical procedures. You'll run into situations where neurosurgeons and neurologists collaborate to help patients recover from illness.

When to visit a neurologist?

The human body performs on neural impulses which are carried by the nerves distributed all across the body. The two main types of nerves are motor and sensory nerves, each responsible for a separate set of functions. For example, the sensory nerves will carry neural impulses to and from the sense organs and the cerebrum while the motor nerves will act with the muscles.

Since nerves are essential for carrying the information between two specific spots, any problem in their general function will cause a disparity in your body’s functioning. Let’s say you are suffering from a cervical pinched nerve. This neurological problem will affect your neck movements and to a certain extent the hand movement also. Similarly, if you are feeling shooting pain in the back of your thigh muscles, you are most probably suffering from sciatica nerve pain.

It’s difficult to tell whether one is suffering from neurological problems or not without any expert’s help. This is why as soon as you witness the symptoms, visiting a neurologist is mandatory. But, the question is what symptoms you should look out for?

That’s what we will answer here for you- the symptoms which will suggest probable neurological problems so that you can visit the doctor at the earliest.

Severe headaches followed by dizziness

Normal headaches usually happen due to sleep deficiency, excessive stress, migraine, and others. However, if your headache persists and becomes intolerable as the days pass, it’s a clear indication that you are suffering from probable neurological pain. As the brain is the largest organ in the human nervous system, any problem will lead to severe and chronic headaches. This is why you should visit the neurologist at the earliest before the problem worsens.

Pain in the neck and shoulder region

Wrong posture or sudden muscle strains usually cause intense pain in the neck and shoulder region. However, if the pain persists and radiates out to the chest and upper limbs, you are most probably suffering from a pinched nerve or cervical spondylosis. Some of the major symptoms of this neurological problem are numbness in the hands, especially the fingers, shooting pain near the sternum or in the extreme side of the chest, tingling sensation, and others.

Immobility or pain in limbs

The human body has two major muscle types- voluntary and involuntary. Both the limbs have voluntary muscles since a person can move the appendages of his own will. These muscles are controlled by the motor area of the brain- the cerebellum. Under certain situations, you might face difficulties in moving your limbs or rotating them about the ball and socket joints. Primarily, the reason for this immobility could be an injury but most times, the person suffers from neurological problems which is why one becomes unable to move arms and legs freely. Under such conditions, a visit to a neurologist shouldn't be kept impending for too long.

Shooting pain in the lower back

The lower part of the spine, i.e. the lumbar and sacral region has several nerves which control the action of your lower appendages and the surrounding areas. If somehow you suffer a spine injury, the nerves can get compressed. Due to this, you will often feel a shooting pain originating near your spine and then radiating out in a particular direction. For example, people who suffer from slip discs in the lumbar region usually have symptoms like swells, sharp pain in the hips while bending, inability to walk properly, and others.

Numbness and tingling sensation

Another common symptom that will tell you that your body needs an immediate inspection from a neurologist is numbness. The nerves are responsible for your senses. When you accidentally touch a hot utensil, you retract your hand because your skin can sense the hot temperature. Similarly, if someone is pinching you hard, you will feel the pain. However, sometimes, the senses stop working and you will feel the body part becoming numb for a couple of minutes. Usually, numbness is followed by tingling sensations. These two symptoms combined define a neural problem that needs immediate attention.

Conclusion

Neural pains are often confused with other health issues, and that’s why proper diagnosis is not done. This can further worsen the situation, where one might even suffer from neural degenerative diseases. For this reason, the moment you notice any of the above-mentioned symptoms, you need to consult a neurologist immediately. After inspecting thoroughly and seeing the test reports, the professional will be able to deduce exactly what the problem is and which nerves have been affected. If you are searching for neurologist assistance in Jodhpur then you must visit MediPulse as their experienced staff will be able to help in an effective manner.

Covid vaccination in Jodhpur: Overview and details

After a much worrisome year which 2020 was for all, the arrival of COVID-19 vaccine was something that was very well accepted by the people. The home-developed vaccines such as Covishield and Covaxin have been developed in record times, with the implementation of their doses already commenced not only in all the corners of India but also in many other countries as well.

If the city of Jodhpur is taken into consideration, the vaccine which has been allotted for the ‘sun-city’, as well as all the other cities of the state of Rajasthan, is Covishield. Along with the other two major cities of Jaipur and Udaipur, Jodhpur was selected as a city for storage of the COVID vaccine, given its good airway connectivity.

The vaccination drive commenced in Jodhpur during the last week of January 2021, with the health and front line workers being the first ones to receive the vaccine in that phase. The second drive of vaccination in Jodhpur commenced in the first week of March 2021, with the eligible people in this drive being the people aged above 60 and those aged between 45-60 who are suffering from one of the 20 odd comorbidities listed by the government.

Some of the centers in Jodhpur where the vaccination drives are being conducted are Mathuradas Mathur Hospital, AIIMS Jodhpur, UPHC Residency, ANM Training Center Ummed Hospital Campus, and private medical hospitals such as Manidhari, Medipulse Hospital, Shriram Mandor, and Vasundhara Hospital. The vaccination drives are being well conducted even in the rural areas such as Bilada, Mathania, Kelansar, Dhundara, Salawas, Chamu, Dechu, Bhopalgarh, Balesar, Jhanwar, Shergarh, etc. The collectorate of Jodhpur has set a target of giving the doses of vaccine to almost 4 lakh people in the second phase in the city of Jodhpur, which is quite appreciable.

Perfect management, regarding distribution and monitoring of the vaccination doses, is executed. The people who are eligible for getting the shots of vaccine can apply on the website www.cowin.gov.in, where they can select the time and center of the vaccination as per their convenience, as listed in the sections on the website. While government hospitals are carrying out this vaccination drive free of cost, the private hospitals and clinics are charging Rs. 250 for the same vaccine, which has been set by the government itself.

Does insurance pay for home health care – costs and methods of payment explained

Out of all the services mankind has access to, health care has to be ranked at the top of all of them. And why not – after all, it boils down to the matters of life and death. All the changes which the world has seen post the COVID-19 pandemic have made us realize the importance of health care in general even more. And finally, governments too are taking this very seriously, which has resulted in even more refined and better evolutions in the medical world.

One such evolution is that of home health care services. While it has always been a popular thing in other countries, India has only recently started recognizing this fine facility. There are many benefits which home health care services do provide over hospitals and nursing homes in many of the ailments and medical conditions. However, people are still skeptical of the outcomes and benefits of home health care services over them.

One such dilemma is the amount of costs involved, various expenditures and their management. Thanks to various innovations and enhancements in the medical world, home health care services are not a thing only for affluent people, but even common people can have easy access to them. And thanks to their better acceptance, there have been many easier and more convenient methods which have emerged in recent days for the finances involved in treatments and medications for the same.

The most obvious choice which one can think of while covering medical expenses is through long term health insurance plans. For those who have doubts and questions regarding whether insurance policies are as effective in covering the expenses of home health care services as they are in covering the hospital bills, they surely can take a sigh of relief. Like hospital bills, nowadays many insurance companies are covering up a majority of home health care service, predominantly the ones related to medical professionals and medications in general.

All you need to do is check with your insurance provider whether the insurance policy you have opted or willing to opt for are covering these expenses or not. There are various plans and premiums which cover the home health care services, and these are the ones you should definitely be taking into consideration and add up in your policy. A majority of private health insurance providers are even giving short term professional nursing care even after discharging procedure from hospital. Also, all of these plans also offer various tax advantages, which can prove beneficial in saving up additional money.

Apart from the feasibility of long term health insurance plans and policies, there are a couple of other ways through which one can cover medical expenses. There are many policies which have been authorized by government for different types of patients, such as Ayushman Bharat, Awaz Health Insurance Scheme, Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana, Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana, Central Government Health Scheme and more, all of which have separate policies and benefits which can be availed even in the case of home health care services.

These additional services offered by the government do come handy in case of people who are living below poverty lines. Also, these schemes do encourage and have made people aware about the emergency procedures and finances involved in medical emergencies, so they are anyway proving to be a win-win situation for patients and their family members.

While the step of availing the benefits of insurance policies has to be the first and foremost step one should take in case of ailments and emergencies, one anyways has the final and default option of private paying options, which are done on an out-of-pocket basis. There are some monetary managements like savings, equity, retirement income or gifts from family members, which can be utilized in case of any medical emergency which can be done under home health care but in case are not covered in insurance policies. In such cases, it is always advisable to discuss with any financial advisor or elders, as money can be depleted faster than what you think. However, this is one of the easiest, most convenient and direct methods of payment to home health care services.

If you are looking for home health care services in Jodhpur or any other part of Western Rajasthan, Medipulse should be in your list of screening as the management has curated a team of experirenced professionals that offer their best in accordance to the patient’s requirements.

Why is Home Care better than a nursing home – benefits explained

For all the emotional and physical connection a home offers, most of us prefer our homes as our last resort of memories and comfort. No matter how much you might love the outside world for the beauty of nature or the glitz of urban jungle, for most, there is no place like our homes when it comes to sheer peace of mind.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize the importance of our homes and our families in our lives even for the fact that many of us were taking these luxuries for granted. There are many aspects of our lives, including our work, which can be controlled from the comfort of our homes. One of such aspects is health care.

In recent times, home health care services have found their footing very rapidly, thus giving many people the option of taking care of their health with all the optimum solutions which are available at all the hospitals. There are many reasons, which prove that home health care services are proving to be better alternatives to hospitals and nursing homes. Following are ten such advantages:-

●        Faster recovery – Thanks to the presence of nurses and other trained professionals along with those of the family members and loved ones, a patient tends to show signs of recovery faster at his/her home, rather than in a hospital. In case of a major ailment, a patient can be relieved from hospital sooner, if he/she wishes to choose the option of home health care services.

●        A feasible option for hospital – While in previous times, there were not many facilities which can be operated from the comfort of our homes, with the hospitals being the last resort in case of even a minor ailment. However, thanks to the era of digitalization and better facilities, a home can be converted into a hospital, with all the trained medical professionals and even some of the required tests being conducted at one’s home itself.

●        Involvement of family members in treatments – At hospitals, due to the presence of many other patients and other restrictions and regulations, the family members of a patient are refrained from the treatment procedures most of the time. However, thanks to home health care services, the family members can now be directly involved in various practices like administering medicines, physical therapies and giving them more emotional support.

●        Sense of independence – Sometimes, hospitals do impose unwarranted restrictions on both patients as well as family members when it comes to various practices like meeting hours, diet, etc. However, in case of home health care services, there is a controlled but fine sense of independence, and that too, under proper medical consultation from professionals.

●        Sense of comfort – There are many people who can’t find a level of rest and comfort anywhere in the world as they get in their homes. For such people, and in general, home does give a lot of sense of familiarity and comfort, for they are well versed with the surroundings and environment. Such a thing helps in recovering them faster, as they find an emotional connect with them.

●        Presence of family and friends – Apart from visiting hours, hospitals sometimes imposes restrictions on the number of people meeting the patients. There might be some loved ones who want to meet the patient, but unfortunately, step back due to restrictions of hospitals. Home health care services do lose such restrictions by a fine margin.

●        Morale boosting – Given the sense of familiarity a patient gets in his home in the presence of his/her loved ones or family members, the morale of the patient boosts up significantly. This thing can be very essential, as in most of the cases, it does make the recovery procedure faster.

●        Costs – Nowadays, treatments and medications in many private hospitals have somehow become much more expensive than what they actually should be. From that point of view, the home health care services do cut off these costs by as much as 66 per cent, which definitely digs a less deep hole in one’s pockets.

Thanks to the fast rising popularity of home health care services, many service providers are now offering additional benefits apart from trained professionals, like emotional companionship, homemakers, volunteers, nutritionists, etc. If you are seeking home care services in Jodhpur or western part of Rajasthan, one can check Medipulse which has a diversified staff  to handle different requirements in an effective manner.

Advantages of home health care services – explained in detail

Given a lot of uncertainty revolving around COVID-19, the access and adaptation of home health care services has seen a considerable hike in recent times, in order to follow optimum social distancing and minimum hassle and costs involved.

Home health care services have proved to be a boon for those people who have been struggling to strike a perfect balance between their home and work commitments. And for people who are staying away from their parents or children, especially in different cities, home health care services come as a solution for emotional support as well. For people residing in bigger metropolitan cities, home health care services have gained bigger acceptance, as they have ensured minimum consumption of time required for transportation to and from hospitals and test centers

However, there’s a bigger picture which elaborately shows the benefits of home health care services in general. Following are those:-

●        Access to constant attention to the patient – If you are worried about the patient who is your family member, friend or loved one who is residing at a distance from you and you have no regular access to him/her, home health care services do ensure constant attention to the patient even in your absence. All the safety risks as well as attention and medication are well executed by the trained professionals under various services, thus ensuring a mental relief at your end.

●        Optimum adaptation of activities of daily living – Home health care services help in allowing the patients in maintaining a quality life despite their illness or medical condition, as their basic work isn’t restricted by their medical condition and is executed in continuation by the staff employed under home health care services.

●        Proper access to skilled nursing at the comfort of home – All the assistance which a patient expects to be at his/her access in hospital from a trained nurse can be accessed even at the comfort of his/her home under home health care services. The trained expertise and knowledge of nurses do come handy in the absence of doctors and even your loved ones.

●        Proper support in the form of diet and nutrition – All the patients, particularly those who are in age or are already suffering from chronic conditions, do require proper nutritional care, even more during the period of their ailment. There are various home health care services which nowadays provide additional benefits of help from a nutritional counselor, who keeps a track on the patient’s diet and what all restrictions he/she needs to follow for faster recovery.

●        Medication management – For those patients who are not well aware of their medication requirements, like what all medicines he needs to take and their timings, home health care services keep a proper track record. This also helps in avoiding the possibility of wrong drug intake or overuse of any medicine.

●        Getting caring and emotional companionship – For those people who have the fear of missing out on emotional support from their loved ones staying away from them, the professionals coming under home health care services offer proper emotional support as well as help in various other basic daily chores and recreational activities like cooking, playing recreational games and activities, walks, etc.

●        Additional help in daily chores – In some cases, the condition of patients might not be optimum enough to perform daily chores like laundry, cooking, grocery shopping and dish washing. In such cases, the people coming under home health care services do provide optimum assistance as and when required.

●        Ensuring better and faster health outcomes – For people who are suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, COPD, high blood pressure and pneumonia, they do show faster recovery when they have access to home health care services. This is achievable due to all the additional care the service personals give and restrictions which the patient has to follow as per the guidance by the service personals.

●       Direct one-to-one focus and attention – Since there are no other patients admitted at your home unlike how they are in a hospital, the concerned patient gets a one-to-one direct approach and care by the medical professionals coming under home health care services. This also ensures stronger emotional connect and skillful attention which generally can get diluted when the patient is not at his/her home, but admitted in a hospital.

●        An affordable option – Studies have shown that home health care services do cut off costs which are involved in a nursing facility or hospital by up to 66 per cent.

You can opt for Home Health care services from either a reputable hospital or other nursing homes providing the said services. If you are seeking home health care services in Jodhpur or Western Rajasthan, Medipulse should be in your screening list.

What are various home health skilled nursing services – all the services described

Given the fast paced and hectic work life balance people are undergoing these days, taking out time for health care has also become quite a task. And when it comes to hospitalization due to a particular medical ailment, things can become a bit challenging.

Thankfully, the culture of home health care services has gradually picked up a lot of traction in India, after having a successful adaptation in other countries. Currently, there are a lot of services which do come under home health care, with which one can be ensured of optimum attention and benefits, sometimes even more than what one can get in a hospital.

Following are some of the most sought after services which one can avail under home health care:-

●       Doctor care – As per this service, a dedicated doctor is assigned to one, whose duty is to visit the home of the patient, in order to diagnose, treat and keep a periodic record of the detected illness at the patient’s home itself.

●       Nursing care – This is one of the most popular services, and has been in demand for a long time now. Under this, a registered nurse is appointed after proper consultation with the doctor, who takes care of the patient’s various needs, like monitoring the progress of health of the patient, wound dressing, medications, intravenous therapy and pain control and any other medical support which is required.

●       Physical/occupational/speech therapy – In some medical conditions, a person’s ability to hear or speak unfortunately gets affected, either temporarily or permanently. This affects his/her daily duties and work, for which he/she might need external support. For those who get temporarily affected by this condition, a physical therapist is appointed who charts up a plan which helps in normalizing the hearing or speaking ability of the affected person with a gradual pace. This helps in bringing back the normalcy of the affected person in performing various daily tasks such as eating, dressing up, bathing and more.

●       Medical social services – For those who require various counseling or locating many community resources in order to maintain a social balance, medical social workers are appointed under home health care services. These medical social workers can also double up as the patient’s major case manager, given the complexity of the medical condition of the patient.

●       Care from home health aides – For bare basic daily duties such as walking, dressing up, eating or even getting out of bed, which can get affected if the medical condition is too serious (like paralysis or road accident), home health aides can help out the affected patient. Sometimes, these home health aides do take proper training under a medical nurse, for specialized care.

●       Homemaker or basic assistance care – There are various other tasks which are executed on a primary basis not even for the patients but also his/her family members or caretakers, such as cooking, grocery shopping and laundry. For these tasks, aid from a homemaker or basic assistance care can be taken.

●       Companionship – This is one of the most basic home health care services, which can come very handy in case the affected person does not have the presence of his loved ones like family members or friends around him. In this service, a dedicated person is appointed to provide just companionship and even execute household duties as well.

●       Volunteer care – Nowadays, various community organizations, under which the affected person might be enrolled, do assign volunteers, in order to provide a basic level of comfort to the patient. Such volunteers can help out the patient in his daily chores as well as support on the grounds of emotions or providing transportation and other daily chores.

●       Nutritional support – While dieticians are nowadays very much sought after for workout and self-improvement plans, they also prove to be very helpful in charting up proper dietary assessment for the patient for faster recovery and health monitoring.

●       Laboratory and X-Ray imaging – In recent days, many complex tests and examinations, such as blood and urine tests and X-Ray imaging need not to be done only in dedicated laboratories but can also be done at the patient’s home. These can be done with the help of portable machines and testing devices.

●       Pharmaceutical services – Thanks to the adaptation of online shopping culture, even medicines and medical and testing equipment can be ordered directly at home. However, this needs to be done only after proper guidance from the assigned doctor and medical staff.

●       Transportation – If a patient is required to leave the comfort of his/her home for some medical tests or other physical examinations, there are some companies which also assign dedicated drivers, who can provide transportation to and from the patient’s place.

●       Home delivered meals – If the patient is not having proper access to homemaker or cook, there are some home health care services and communities which provide freshly cooked meals at doorstep, whenever required.