A ‘premium’ relief for diabetes, hypertension

Mumbai: New India Assurance—India's largest non-life insurer—has decided to stop charging additional premium for those with diabetes and hypertension under its revised health insurance policy. The state-owned insurer has also withdrawn a clause from its policy that excluded cover for ailments caused by tobacco consumption. 

    The move will come as a relief to a significant chunk of India's urban population and will also eliminate disputes arising out of wrongful rejection of claims. The company has decided to include tobacco-related ailments because the exclusion was causing hardship to a lot of policyholders and also because it amounted to rejection of claims on account of lifestyle. The new health insurance policy, however, continues to exclude cirrhosis of liver caused by alcoholism. 
Drunk driver liable for insurance claim 
    An insurance firm has been told to pay the insured sum to the widow of a biker killed in an accident despite the presence of alcohol in his blood. The order held that a claim can't be denied on the basis of a exclusion clause the insured was not informed about. P 6 All renewals from Aug under new terms 
Mumbai: The New India Assurance company's decision to stop charging extra premium for diabetese and hypertension patients will come as major relief for urban policy holders. 
    "Under the new policy there will be no difference in rates for a standard proposal and someone with diabetes or hypertension," said G Srinivasan, chairman, New India Assurance. He said that one of the reasons for the decision was the high incidence of people with such conditions. However, the earlier practice of having a four-year cooling period for pre-existing conditions will continue. This means that if a diabetic buys a policy, the coverage for diabetes-related hospitalisation will begin only after four years. 
    The new 2013 mediclaim policy now allows health insurance up to Rs 8 lakh as against Rs 5 lakh earlier. "Senior citizens will also be given a one-time option to increase their sum insured if they have had two claim free years," said Segar Sampathkumar, head of health insurance at New India Assurance. 
    The new policy has come into effect from July for new sales and all renewals from August 2013 will be under the new terms. TOI had earlier reported on the increase in health insurance charges by all the state-owned insurance companies from the current fiscal. Following the revision prices have gone up by on an average around 23%.

Affluenza leading to spike in diseases SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE, DENSE POPULATION LAY CITY LOW

Malathy Iyer TNN  Mumbai: The good and the bad of Mumbai are meshing into an unhealthy portrait of the city.      On the one hand, its status as the city with the highest per capita income could be fuelling its biggest health problems — namely the twin epidemics of diabetes and hypertension.      On the other, being one of the most densely populated cities in the country is ensuring that one tuberculosis patient spreads the air-borne disease to at least 15 others within a year, according to a WHO figure.      An analysis of how the Mumbai milieu affects the city's health by a non-government organization shows that one in every six deaths occurs due to tuberculosis, diabetes or hypertension.

Rare blood need finds a rare heart

Mumbai: In a city which rarely stops to help someone in distress, Aadesh Gajre, a youngster from Badlapur, has performed a task as rare as his blood group—the Bombay Rh-negative. 

    He braved the heavy rains on Sunday and the crippling mega block on the Central Railway to reach a blood bank in Bandra around 8.30pm to donate blood for a seriously ill patient in far-off Kochi. 
    Blood banks generally don't accept donations on Sunday evening, but doctors at Mahatma Gandhi Seva Mandir Blood Bank made an exception given the 21-year-old Aadesh's humanitarian gesture. 
    "I don't know who he is, but had to do it because no one else in India could have helped him at that moment,'' Aadesh told the TOI. 
    Indeed, the Bombay blood group is among the rarest blood groups. The rarity of Adesh's blood group can be gauged by the fact that there are only about 70 eligible donors across the country. Think Foundation, an NGO that helps patients and families with organizing blood, has a list of 25 people in the city with the Bombay positive group and only four with the Bombay negative group. 
    "Social networking sites and newspapers in Kochi had carried a plea for donors of this rare blood, but couldn't come up with any donation,'' said Think Foundation's Vinay Shetty. "When ever we get a request for this blood group it's a nightmare call," Shetty added. A SPECIAL GIFT 
The Bombay Blood Group is an extremely rare ABO group in which the basic protein called H antigen is missing in the red cells. The group is so named because it was discovered 50 years ago at KEM hospital in then Bombay. This group is incompatible with all A, B and O donors In India, not more than 70 people (29 in Mumbai) are eligible to donate this blood 'Learnt about my rare blood group only on Sat' 
Mumbai: The 21-year-old Aadesh Gajre had responded to the call to donate blood for Renjeeve V R, a 26-year-old at Medical Trust Hospital in Kochi, who had undergone a bowel resection and needed blood transfusion urgently to recover. "We learnt that the few eligible donors in Bangalore couldn't be contacted. So we began contacting people on our list,'' said Shetty. Two numbers were untraceable and the third was out of town. 
    That left them with Aadesh, who until Saturday didn't know that he had such a rare blood group. "I have been donating blood at Bharat College where I study for the last two years, but I wasn't ever told that I had the Bombay blood group,'' said Aadesh. On learning that he was the only help for Renjeeve, he carried out the Badlapur-to-Bandra trek on Sunday determined to help a person he doesn't even know. 
    As for Renjeeve, the blood components reached him by air on Tuesday. 
    "The operation was successful, but he will need twothree more bottles,'' said his college friend, Bengalurubased Sharat Parabhakaran who is coordinating the effort.WHAT IS BOMBAY BLOOD GROUP? 
    50 years ago, a patient admitted to KEM Hospital in Parel needed a blood transfusion. As the red cells in his blood sample grouped like they do in O group, he was administered O group blood. But he developed a reaction, leading to the transfusion being stopped 
    The patient's blood was studied in detail and it was found that it didn't conform to any of the known groups —A, B, AB or O. As the discovery took place in Bombay, it was called the Bombay Blood Group 
    The group doesn't contain the basic protein called H antigen. All other groups contain a versions of H—Antigen A in A, Antigen B in B, antigen AB in AB and Antigen H in O. Bombay Blood group is also termed as OH or absence of H

Aadesh Gajre

Dead gene halts inflammation Researchers have identified a single gene that controls inflammation, accelerated aging and cancer

 Agene long presumed dead comes to life under the full moon of inflammation, Stanford University School of Medicine scientists have found. 

    The discovery, described in a study to be published in eLife, may help explain how anti-inflammatory steroid drugs work. It also could someday lead to entirely new classes of anti-inflammatory treatments without some of steroids' damaging side effects. 
    Chronic inflammation plays a role in cancer and in autoimmune, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. 
WARNING SIGN 
When pathogens such as viruses or bacteria invade our body, the immune system reacts by producing a flurry of chemical signals that call specialized defender cells to the scene. This first line of defence is known as inflammation. "It is a necessary defence mechanism — you can't live without it," said Sourav Ghosh, lead author. 
To be effective against pathogens, yet prevent collateral damage from body's own defences, the immune system has to maintain just the right level of inflammation, explained Ghosh. 
    Vertebrates have two powerful lines of defence: a non-specific, or innate, immune response and the specific, or adaptive, immune response. In the non-specific response, the immune system throws a first wave of measures at the intruders, ing of aggressive destructive enzymes kamikaze-like neutrophils. don't know who the enemy you fire everywhere with eyes closed," Ghosh "But once you know, you shut this off and bring in cial ops so to speak." 
    This is specific immunity, ble of targeting pathogens cisely, while sparing microbes and cells belonging the body. "Once activated, has to be a mechanism that vents adaptive response going into overdrive," he 
PROTEIN S 
Two immune cells that used Protein S to communicate 'ceasefire' turned out to be the key players in mediating the immune response. The findings could help scientists develop treatments for inflammatory diseases by designing substitute for insufficient Protein S. According to Ghosh, patients with inflammatory bowel disease are 20 times more likely to develop colon cancer, underlining the significance of this study. 
    AGENCIES

Just six months of steroids and his hip bones collapsed

Cautionary tale for those taking short-cuts to gain weight, or lose it 
Waghmare, just 40 kg at five foot eight, wanted to gain muscle, and took advice from a friend and started taking steroids

    Taking supplements or pills for weight loss, fat loss, weight gain, muscle gain? Vishal Waghmare's story should serve as a warning to all those who blindly pop capsules for speedy, magic results. 
    Waghmare, who took steroids to gain weight, ended up with severe pain, stiff bones and crumbling hip joints. He spent six bedridden months before going to hospital for a hip replacement surgery. Now he can barely walk and needs physiotherapy to regain his mobility. 
    On Tuesday even the Food and Drugs Inspector RV Jhadbuke, visited Waghmare in hospital to investigate the matter, "We have to see what steroids he was taking, whether they were banned drugs, and how the chemist sold them to him without a prescription," said the Inspector. 
    Waghmare, who was in the computer software section in the octroi department, was willing to talk about his ordeal. "I started taking steroids in January last year to build muscle. My friend advised some medicines and I bought them from a chemist's and started taking them twice a day. Within a month I gained four kgs and was feeling very good. For six months I took the medicine and gained almost 20 kg." 
    Waghare said he had taken Dexamethasone.Thisisapotentsynthetic member of the glucocorticoid class of steroid drugs that has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties. The other medicine he took was `Ciplacting Gain Weight'. 
    Over time, Waghmare could not attendworkashisbonesstartedtofeel stiff. It was so bad he was unable to move his legs. Still, he continued to take the medicines, only stopping them when he got severe body ache and fever. 
    Thelocaldoctorswhoaskedforhis medical history told him to immediately stop using the steroids, warning him about their side effects. "I stopped the medicines at once, but I was not aware the damage was done and that I would become paralysed," Waghmare said. 
    Amonthafterhediscontinuedthe steroids, he started getting severe paininhislegs:"Onedayitwassobad, I remember going to office and suddenly falling down while walking. The pain was so severe that many times I thought I should end my life, I couldnottolerateit.Eversincethefall and even today, I am not able to walk," he added. 
    Waghmare , who got married just twoyearsagoandhadonlystartedhis career, really regrets taking the steroid."Onemistakeleftmeparalysed.I am the oldest in the family. My father has retired and my younger brother has just finished his education. I had taken on all the family responsibility but now I depend on them for everything,"he said. 
    Acouple of months ago the family approached Dr Pradip Bhosale, head of the orthopedic department at KEM hospital. 
    "I was shocked to see that at this agethehipbonesweredead.Generally this happens either from a blood disorder, or a history of regular consumptionofalcohol,ortheuseofanabolic steroids. With what the patient has told us, it is 100 percent confirmed that both his hip joints collapsed and become rough as a side effectofthesesteroids,saidDr.Bhosale. 
    Dr. Bhosale said the use of anabolic steroids over a long period of time affectedbloodsupplytothehipjoints which slowly became irregular and eventually died. In view of this, preservation of Waghmare's hip bones wasnotpossibleandhipreplacement was the only option left, said Bhosale. 
    Waghmare underwent two surgeries, one for the left and the other for the right hip, which was done just last week. "The patient is doing well, we put ceramic artificial hip joints," added Dr. Bhosale. 
    "I am thankful to doctors for giving me a new lease of life. At the same time I want to be an example to others, especially to youngsters, of what can happen if one takes muscle building steroids without a doctor's guidance," Waghmare said. 
    Dr Piyush Nashikkar, orthopaedic registrar at KEM hospital said: "In the past too, we have seen a couple of cases of young patients who were using steroids, suffering from weak joints. In many cases we have managed to save their joints with medicines. In Waghmare's case this was notpossible,ashewasinthelaststage of bone deterioration. Waghmare will need physiotherapy now."

Waghmare underwent a painful hip replacement surgery at KEM

A month after he discontinued the steroids, he started getting severe pain in his legs

Skipping breakfast ups heart attack risk by 27%

London: Skipping breakfast has for the first time been linked to increase in coronary heart disease risk, reveals a 16-yearlong study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.      Men who skip breakfast have a 27% higher risk of heart attack or death from coronary heart disease, the study says.  Those who reported skipping the morning meal were younger, more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol.      Also, men who reported eating late at night had a 55% higher coronary heart disease risk than those who didn't.      "Skipping breakfast may lead to obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, which in turn may lead to heart attack," said Leah E Cahill, lead author from Harvard School of Public Health. FOOD FOR THOUGHT  Survey: Impact of skipping breakfast on males  Duration:  16 years (1992-2008)  Sample size:  26,902 male health professionals  CONCLUSIONS  Men who skip breakfast have a 27% higher risk of heart attack Those who reported not eating breakfast were younger and more likely to be smokers, employed full time, unmarried, less physically active and drank more alcohol'Healthy foods in breakfast provide adequate energy'      Researchers analyzed food frequency questionnaire data and tracked health outcomes for 16 years (1992-'08) on 26,902 male health professionals aged 45-82.      "Our study group spent decades studying the health effects of diet quality and composition, and now this new data also suggests overall dietary habits can be important to lower risk of coronary heart disease," said co-author Eric Rimm.      Men who reported eating breakfast, on an average, ate one more time per day than those who skipped breakfast, implying that those who abstained from breakfast were not eating additional make-up meals later in the day.      The study collected comprehensive questionnaire data from the participants and accounted for many important factors such as TV watching, physical activity, sleep, diet quality, alcohol intake, medical history, and bodymass index. It also included social factors like whether or not the men worked full-time, were married, saw their doctor regularly for physical exams, or smoked currently or in the past.      "Don't skip breakfast," Cahill said. "Eating breakfast is associated with a decreased risk of heart attacks. Incorporating many types of healthy foods into your breakfast is an easy way to ensure your meal provides adequate energy and a healthy balance of nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. For example, adding nuts and chopped fruit to a bowl of whole grain cereal or steel-cut oatmeal in the morning is a great way to start the day."

Is eye strain bothering you?

Invariably, almost all of us, whether office goers, students or even homemakers, usually spend most of our waking time in front of the computer, without knowing how it could affect our eye health. This can lead to eye strain and also lead to dark circles, puffy and tired eyes and headaches. Dr Keiki Mehta, ophthalmic surgeon says, "We tend to feel physical and visual discomfort, just after a few hours of being in front of the computer. That starts of as tiredness and leads to eye muscle stress, headaches, burning sensations, blurred vision, loss of focus, double vision, watering of eyes and neck and shoulder pains. Before it is too late, take preventive measures."      Eye surgeon Dr Himanshu Mehta explains, "With increased use of computers in air-conditioned rooms at a stretch, when you are concentrating on writing, or even when kids are playing computer games, you blink less. Normally blinking three to four times a minute is necessary. When you don't blink properly, the tear film, which allows us to see clearly, gets affected. Because of that, your vision gets fuzzy and you experience itching, burning, redness of eyes, fatigue and heaviness of eyes."  TIPS TO REDUCE EYESTRAIN  Adjust your chair level to an appropriate height as per your computer. The contrast between the background and on-screen characters should be high.  Minimise glare — use window shades, blinds to block excessive sunlight and install an anti-glare screen.  Blink often as tears evaporate rapidly during non-blinking phases and cause dry eyes.  Re-focus your eyes by looking away from the computer screen for five to 10 seconds. Focus on a distant object and look at the computer again.

THE LOVABLE LYCHEE Now is the season for this fruit and here’s why you should tuck into it

The onset of the monsoon season coincides with the lychee season. This delicious fruit originating South-East Asia is loved by many people and so is a popular squash drink and ice cream flavour too. Botanically it is known as Litchi chinensis and belongs to the soapberry family. Besides their taste, it's the numeroushealth benefits that should be the reason for your to consume this fruit.  CONTAINS OLIGONOL      Oligonol, a polyphenol is present in abundance in lychees. This polyphenol not only contains antioxidant but also anti-influenza virus properties. It is also believed to protect the skin from harmful damage by UV rays, reduce fat, increasing stamina.  PREVENTS ANAEMIA      The high iron content in lychees is beneficial for the haemoglobin levels in the body, thereby preventing anaemia.  PROTECTS AGAINST CANCER      The antioxidant properties present in lychees help fight the damage caused by formation of free radicals in the body, and preventing the expansion of of cancer cells, offering protection against breast and prostrate cancer. In fact, lychees contain greater amount of betacarotene than carrots.  PROTECTS FROM HEART  DISEASES      Lychees are good for cardiovascular health by helping to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL) levels in the body. This helps improve blood flow to the heart thereby, reducing the risk of heart diseases.  BOOSTS IMMUNITY      An excellent source of Vitamin C coupled with antioxidants helps to boost immunity offering protection against flu, cold, cough and infections.  FOSTERS BLOOD FORMATION      Lychee contains a host of minerals like folate, manganese, iron, copper that are essential for the formation of red blood cells. Also, the Vitamin C content helps in absorption of iron in the body.  BOOSTS METABOLISM      A generous amount of fibre and Bcomplex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin, and folates that stimulate metabolism. Fibre-rich foods are known to increase metabolism rate and suppression of appetite.  REDUCES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE      Studies have shown that foods that are high on antioxidants tend to lower high blood pressure. Lychees are also a good source of potassium, which helps in maintaining sodium levels and balance electrolytes in the body.

HEALTH TREND HAVE YOU TRIED FITSPIRATION?

The cyberspace is brimming with people working out and posting inspiring pictures, slogans and diet plans to motivate others to get fit and fab. Purvaja Sawant finds out all about this fitness trend     EVERY time someone on your timeline shows off pictures of their just-workedout abs or chiselled muscles, you roll your eyes and dismiss them as vain! But haven't you secretly wished you had that kind of bod too? What perhaps started off as narcissism, has become an online fitness phenomenon the world over. Called Fitspiration, these people work out and keep posting the results (pictures, diet fads etc) on microblogging and social networking sites to motivate themselves, as well as others to keep fit.  How to fitspire  From photographs of flat tummies to stirring slogans about health, F i t s p i rat i o n junkies post a variety of things to get their message across to their followers. Carrie McMahon, an avid fitspirational blogger, says, "I upload my pictures, motivational sayings and random tidbits on fitness regularly on all my social accounts. My programmes have  helped a lot of people to learn how to get in to the exercise mode and eat in a way that will last them a lifetime. In return, I have a wonderful group of followers who continue to motivate me daily to keep working out."  The visual impact and connect  You can't underestimate the impact of toned bodies to grab attention and eyeballs. Fitspiration usually focusses on athletic bodies: washboard abs, toned legs etc. Images are a sure-shot motivator, whether they're of fit people or pushy slogans. Fitness expert Neeraj Mehta agrees, "If you're a fitness aspirant, the pictures and images of a toned body will subconsciously have an impact on your mind and thought process, thus motivating you. People get so inspired that they immediately start following the fitness advice/article." Perhaps it's the power of suggestion, but many a time, after seeing positive changes in another person's fitness levels, in the hope of getting fit, we may ape the same regime. As celebrity fitness guru Vinod Channa says, "Take the example of Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham, whose physiques are idolised by youngsters. Just like these stars motivate people to be like them, fitspiration also encourages people." What's more, it is easier to relate and connect to ordinary people than fitness experts and professionals. Seeing their positive body transformation, one can be inspired to think that 'if he or she can, then so can I'. "We want to know that we are not alone in this journey and there are many like us, looking to find the best versions of ourselves. It is also about support and having like-minded people doing it with you," says Ling Lim, a fitspiration enthusiast.  Inspiring or frustrating?  Unfortunately, Fitspiration can lead people to some dangerous practices. Since everyone's body type and lifestyle are different, aping another person's fitness routine, without weighing the pros and cons, can cause major problems like an overdose of supplements and steroids. "The pictures or testimonials should be used to strengthen your weak mental resolve to work out. Don't follow the workouts or diet blindly," says fitness expert Dr Ajish Abraham."  FITSPIRATION IS MEANT TO...      Inspire you to be fit and healthy. It should motivate you to feel good about yourself. But if you start feeling guilty or ashamed about your body, it isn't a healthy form of encouragement      Fitspiration is about health, not just looks. Your mission should be to accomplish your physical and wellness goals, not just aesthetic ones

State bans flavoured supari and khaini Gutka, Pan Masala Stay On Ban List

Taking off from its tough stand on gutka and pan masala, the Maharashtra government has banned the sale and manufacture of processed tobacco and flavoured betel nut (supari) in the state.      The administration issued a notification on July 18 extending for a year the ban on gutka and pan masala, which was first put in place last July. In the same notice, the state expanded the embargo. From now on, it will be a violation of rules to add khaini (flavoured tobacco), supari (processed betel nut) and maava or kharra (a mix of processed tobacco, betel nut and lime) to a paan.      "Tobacco products are injurious to health. The new ban is to curb the sale of these products," said minister of state for food and drug administration Satej Patil.      The ban, which would be in force for a year, does not apply to unprocessed betel nut and tobacco. This is so because the two are not "consumed in large quantity" in raw form, said food and drug administration commissioner Mahesh Zagade.      In 2004, the World Health Organization had classified areca or betel nut as carcinogenic to humans even without the addition of tobacco to it. "Tobacco can be made more attractive for a wider section of the population, including kids, by flavouring and scenting it or by mixing additives with it. Hence, the revised ban," Zagade said.      Asked about the availability of gutka and pan masala in the state despite the ban, Zagade said: "The department's aim is to have a complete ban on these products. We never claimed we have fully achieved the goal. But, certainly, our efforts have yielded good results."      According to the FDA, it has seized gutka and pan masala worth Rs 20.7 crore in the last one year. "Of the total, material worth Rs 13.5 crore was destroyed. The remaining is being destroyed," Patil said. "FIRs have been filed in 391 cases, and 437 cases are in different courts in the state."  INJURIOUS TO HEALTH  Like tobacco, areca or betel nut is a psychostimulant, an addictive substance or carcinogen  Betel nuts contain N-nitroso compounds that convert into alkaloids, which can cause cancer  The World Health Organization classifies betel nut as a Group 1 human carcinogen  Experts from Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, say there is sufficient evidence to show that sustained intake of betel nut increases risk of submucus fibrosis (precancerous oral lesion), cancers of oral cavity, pharynx and oesophagus  Studies have shown a link between supari chewing and cancers of the liver, stomach and lung  Its use is associated with diabetes, obesity, several metabolic disorders, causation of certain psychological disorders, hypertension and ischemic heart disease  Its use also adversely affects reproductive health in women and foetus  CHEW ON THIS  STATE BAN Gutka and pan masala, flavoured and scented tobacco, scented supari, kharra and similar products  MAX PENALTY Sale and manufacture of the banned products can attract up to 25,000 and life imprisonment

Virulent dengue strain at work, 250 cases already reported in Mumbai Lethal Strain Affects 85% Of City Patients

Mumbai: As reasons behind dengue's increased incidence and severity continue to puzzle experts, the closest explanation seems to be the circulation of its virulent type DEN-2. It is one of the four virus types that cause dengue, and can be lethal when it combines with any of the other types to infect humans. 

    "In Mumbai, 85% of the dengue cases can be attributed to the DEN-2 type of the virus," said Dr Jayanti Shastri, incharge of the BMC's molecular diagnostic reference laboratory. Dengue has four types, commonly called DEN-1, 2, 3 and 4. "Literature suggest that if the primary infection is by DEN-2 and a secondary one by DEN-4, there is a likelihood of the patient suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, both deadly manifestations of the disease," said Shastri, also head of the microbiology department at the BYL Nair Hospital. 
    The additional director of the New Delhi-based National Vector Borne Disease Programme, Dr P K Sen, shared a similar observation. "In recent years, we have found DEN-1 to be the commonly circulating type but that seems to have shifted to 2 now. Even in Delhi, the serological studies have found type 2 to be more predominant," he said. At the national level, dengue cases had jumped to a whopping 50,222 last year, an almost 166% increase from 2011. 
    Mumbai, too, had recorded a 142% increase in dengue cases in 2012 when compared with the previous year. This year, one-third of the 727 dengue cases reported in the state were detected in the city. While, at the state level, 15 lives were lost to dengue this year, the city has not reported any fatalities. One death was reported from Mira Road on Thursday. 
    Experts say the types of dengue viruses in circulation keep shifting with one type gaining strength over the other, or at times, two or more types circulating together. Scientists from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, observed that while DEN-1 almost remained the same in 50 years, there has been a genotype shift in DEN-2, which also coincided with the disease becoming more severe. 
    Director of Haffkine Research Institute, Dr Abhay Chaudhary, said cross-infection or infections by two strains could be behind the severity of cases. Intensivist Dr Khusrav Bhajan, who consults with PD Hinduja Hospital, said, "We have treated over 10 cases, some very serious. People should not delay seeing a doctor," he said. MBMC notice to hospital on death The Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has issued a notice to the Bhaktivedanta hospital at Mira Road for failing to notify a dengue case after a patient died of the disease in the hospital on Wednesday. Vishwanath Sahu (42), a Mira Road resident who became the first victim of dengue this season, was not on the list of MBMC's list of suspected dengue patients did not have Sahu's name. The hospital authorities admitted they failed to notify the case due to miscommunication. The name of another patient being treated at Bhaktivedanta hospital for suspected dengue, Prasad Jadhav, has been notified to the municipality and his blood was sent for testing. 
Sandhya Nair | TNN

Sleeping well? Five common nocturnal problems and the warnings they may be signalling

For most of us, night is a time for rest and recuperation. But it's also the time when you might experience symptoms that are clues that things are not well. A problem with sleeping can be a symptom in itself. General practitioners believe night sweats, for example, could be a sign of tuberculosis, teeth grinding depicts stress levels in the body and leg cramps are a result of poor diet. HERE ARE SOME COMMON NOCTURNAL PROBLEMS AND WHAT THEY MAY MEAN  SYMPTOM HEARTBURN  COULD BE Barrett's Oesophagus      Experts says that up to 40 per cent of people have heartburn at some stage of their life and the majority have nothing wrong with them.      However, long-term, persistent heartburn isn't normal and should be investigated. It can lead to changes in the lining of the gullet — this is called Barrett's Oesophagus. It makes the oesophagus more resistant to acid but more prone to cancer. Regular check-ups can catch cancer early. It can also be treated with lifestyle changes to reduce acid. Many people who are troubled by heartburn get it day and night. At night, you lie flat on your back, so with no help from gravity, more acid can enter the oesophagus. COULD ALSO BE  Gastritis, oesophagitis,  gastro-oesophageal  reflux or hiatus hernia  SEE YOUR DOC IF  Heartburn is long term, you have difficulty swallowing, you're losing weight  SYMPTOM TEETH  GRINDING COULD BE STRESS      This is either clenching the jaw and teeth, or teeth grinding. A lot of people make so much noise with their teeth that their partner can't sleep.      Teeth grinding is a recognised sleep disorder — the third most common behind insomnia and snoring. There are many different causes, including stress and anxiety. Don't pop the sleeping pill, it can make things worse. However, hypnotherapy may help find the cause of the stress.      Other treatments include mouth guards and mandibular advancement devices, which hold the lower jaw and tongue forward. Bruxism can also be affected by lifestyle — alcohol, smoking and excessive caffeine can bring it on. COULD ALSO BE Linked with obstructive sleep apnoea where you  stop breathing at night  SEE YOUR DOC IF You're suffering from stress and anxiety, or have sleep apnoea. Else, see your dentist. SYMPTOM NIGHT SWEATS COULD BE TUBERCULOSIS      With TB, the body temperature tends to rise in the evening and at night, rather than during the day time. It tends to be severe — the kind of sweating where you need to change the sheets. In such a case, the body temperatures could go up to 100.4ºF.      However, be warned that night sweats happen with other conditions, too, so you need to check for those.      According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India accounts for one-fifth of the global TB incident cases. Each year nearly 2 million people in India develop TB, of which around 0.87 million are infectious cases. COULD ALSO BE Menopause, pneumonia or leukaemia, or lymphoma. Or you could be wearing a ticker blanket  SEE YOUR DOC IF It lasts longer than a week and you have lost more than three kilos of weight  SYMPTOM VISITING THE LOO A LOT — NOCTURIA COULD BE DIABETES      Going to the loo at night is a common symptom of undiagnosed diabetes. The body has high sugar levels and is trying to push it out with the urine, which makes a person want to relieve their bladder often.      People above 40 years of age often put it down to getting old, but it's a symptom that needs to get checked. Other symptoms may include drinking more than usual and excessive tiredness.      If a child who has previously been dry at night starts to wet the bed, parents often think that they're upset about something at school. But it's also a red flag symptom of type 1 diabetes.COULD ALSO BE Pelvic floor and urogynaecological conditions (women), enlarged prostate (men)  SEE YOUR DOC IF It's a new problem, especially if you have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes  SYMPTOM LEG CRAMPS COULD BE POOR DIET      Leg cramps can be a sign of deficiency in electrolyte nutrients, such as, potassium and magnesium, which help control the balance of fluids in the body. This affects the muscle's ability to function. Calcium is also needed for effective muscle fibre contraction. Magnesium helps with nerve impulses across muscle tissue. Build up magnesium by eating pumpkin seeds, fish and green vegetables. Stock up on potassium with bananas or a supplement. Leg cramps in healthy people can be due to low levels of sodium (salt). This happens if you exercise and sweat a lot. Drink plenty of fluids. Coconut water is a good hydrator and contains electrolytes. COULD ALSO BE Caused by your  medication, especially diuretics  SEE YOUR DOC IF You also have cardiovascular issues  — Daily Mirror

OFF THE TABLE The one thing that you will never find on these city nutritionists’ plates

They never tire of telling you to eat a well-rounded diet involving whole grains, vegetables and fruits, or to keep off your favourite bites — fried foods, colas and pastries. But what foods do nutritionists and dieticians themselves avoid to stay healthy and fit? Mirror asks experts to share their diet secrets. Vinod Channa Celeb diet advisor  AVOIDS MEAT GRAVY      When it comes to chicken or fish dishes, I never eat the gravy because it is soaked in all the fat of the meat that it holds. I separate the meat chunks and eat them as they are. I also never reach for pastries when I get a sweet craving. I snack on dates instead.      Also, as a rule, I stay off white rice because it contains both fat and carbs, and the fat gets stored in your system. Brown rice though is fat-free, packed with pure carbs and a lot of high-quality protein. Kajal S Khaturia Dietician  AVOIDS 'DIET' FOODS      Iam so wary of diet foods that I don't touch any snack with a 'diet' label, because although they are baked instead of fried, they are high on salt content. You are essentially replacing too much fat with too much sodium. Diet khari, for instance, is full of hydrogenated fat, which is the same semi-solid, trans fat you find on the sides of an oil pan in which vadas have been fried for hours. Even wheat kharis are laden with trans fats so that they are soft.      Also, artificial sweeteners an absolute 'no-no' for me. The 'nutritive sweeteners' present in candies and some chocolates, for instance, give 2-3 kilocalories per gram while sugar gives 4 kilocalories per gram. I would rather have a teaspoon of sugar, if at all, as it has no sideeffects unlike nutritive sweeteners which cause diarrhoea if consumed in excess. I also avoid non-nutritive sweeteners found in zero-calorie drinks, because there are studies which claim that they may damage our nerves in the long run. Shonali Sabherwal Macrobiotic diet expert  AVOIDS DAIRY PRODUCTS      Istay off all dairy products because I believe our body doesn't assimilate them well. Unlike the olden days when milk would be pure, dairy is far from healthy now due to pasteurisation and homogenisation. Not only are they very high in saturated fat, dairy foods predispose you to cholesterol deposits and their protein, casein, doesn't augur well for our bodies. We end up with digestive problems and fat deposits in the gut. Also, the pH balance (measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution) of dairy products is very high.      What's also banned for me is sugar. It doesn't give you anything, but strips you of minerals and makes you prone to a lot of melodrama like anxiety and mood swings. Apart from throwing off the pancreas and stomach out of gear, sugar also adversely affects the spleen, which is governed by the emotions of anxiety and worry. Also, it disturbs the body's pH balance. I prefer using grain-based sweeteners, or at times, agave. Samreedhi Goel Nutritionist  AVOIDS 'SUGAR-FREE' PRODUCTS      Ialways make it a point to read the labels of each item I buy. Breakfast cereals and some cookies, for instance, have a lot of added sugars that are buried in fine print under terms like malt extracts and fructose corn syrup. Often, products that scream 'sugar free' are laden with hidden sugar components that I am always keep an eye out for. While we are mindful of adding sugar to our coffee, we are getting cheated by loading unnecessary calories in our system by letting these slip through. I ensure I don't fall prey to that.      I also never eat salads at restaurants in the rainy season, mainly because leafy veggies like lettuce may harbour worms. Also, I never touch sauces and chutneys given as accompaniments with Chinese or Indian cuisine as those bottles, having been used by other patrons, contain a high bacterial count. Besides, to preserve them for long, a lot of oil and salt is added. You can certainly do without them.

Reading books could boost your brainpower

 New research suggests that reading books, writing and participating in brain-stimulating activities at any age may preserve memory. The study is published in the journal N e u r olo g y. 

    "Our study suggests that exercising your brain by taking part in activities such as these across a person's lifetime, from childhood through old age, is important for brain health in old age," said author Robert Wilson, with Rush University Medical Center. 
    For the study, 294 people were given tests that measured memory and thinking every year for about six years before their deaths at an average age of 89. They also answered a questionnaire about whether theyreadbooks,wroteandparticipatedinothermentally stimulating activities during childhood, adolescence, middle age and at their current age. 
    After they died, their brains were examined at autopsy for evidence of the physical signs of dementia, such as lesions, brain plaques and tangles. 
    The research found that people who participated in mentally stimulating activities both early and late in life had a slower rate of decline in memory compared to those who did not participate in such activities, after adjusting for differing levels of plaques and tangles in the brain. Mental activity accounted for nearly 15 per cent of the difference in decline. 
    The study found that the rate of decline was reduced by 32 per cent in people with frequent mental activity in late life, compared to people with average mental activity, while the rate of decline of those with infrequent activity was 48 per cent faster than those with average activity. MM