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Tag: CT Scan

10 significant tips about Heart Health

Here are 10 significant tips about Heart Health by Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi.

World Heart Day is celebrated on 29th September 2020 which brings in focus the vital organ of our body heart. To discuss more on heart health and its several parameters Famhealth is in an exclusive conversation with Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi.

When asked about the scale of Heart Diseases in India Dr. Ashok Seth says,

  1. India has become the heart attack capital of the world. In last 30years there’s an increase for about 300% in the rate of heart diseases whereas it has dropped in the west by almost 50%.
  2. In last 50 years heart diseases have grown in young people by 100% which is almost double if we compare to west. India is a young country with 60% of population less than 40 years of age so these numbers are really scary because half of the country is at risk of getting a heart disease.

When asked about the reason for such astonishing numbers about Heart Disease in India Dr. Ashok Seth says,

  • Lifestyle is one of the most obvious reasons for the country to develop a heart disease. Today’s is a competitive world with job competitiveness, educational competitiveness, meeting deadlines, stress, no exercise and eating junk all of these lead to a unhealthy heart.
  • Unhealthy lifestyle issues lead to developing of cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes and ultimately leading to blockage of arteries and a stroke.
  • Pollution is another major factor that leads to blockages of arteries, results in hypertension and youth are most vulnerable to develop all these because they mostly remain outside for work or study.
  • Another leading and very obvious factor is smoking. Youth is under stress due to one or the either reason they develop a habit of smoking and alcoholism thus digging in their own graves i.e. pushing one to develop a heart disease.

When asked about possible ways to avoid a heart disease Dr. Ashok Seth says,

  • A regular routine check-up of lipid profiles, diabetes, and cholesterol level above the age of 25 in men is very necessary. If a person is beyond 45 years of age then they should go for a complete check-up and should be very cautious about their heart health.
  • Leading a very healthy lifestyle is very important exercising for 45 minutes 5 times in a week reduces the risk of heart disease by 25%.
  • Go for tests like blood tests, ECG, exercise tests are recommended for a person to know about the functioning of heart which reveal almost 10%-20% blockage of arteries in heart.
  • CT scan and CT angiogram are very important to know about the heart health of a person. This test reveals almost 30%-40% blockage of arteries in the heart which means a person is at high risk of getting a heart disease.
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MELANOMA

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It gets its name from the pigment producing cells of the skin, called melanocyte. Sometimes, these melanocytes get triggered to start replicating very rapidly and erratically and they are termed to have turned cancerous.

What are the causes for Melanoma?

Melanomas are most commonly caused by sun damage- the harmful ultraviolet sun rays damage the DNA of the cells. Melanomas can run in families and tends to be more common in people of Caucasian descent.

How to recognize Melanoma?

The most common way that people recognize melanomas is by seeing changes in a mole. Most melanomas tend to be brown but they can be pink, purple or even white.

It also helps to know some things that you need to keep a watch for

  • Asymmetry in a mole- Moles tend to be uniform in their shape. Any change in their shape would be a warning sign that needs to be checked.
  • Uneven border of a mole- Most moles are quite smooth to touch. But, if the edge feels rough or irregular, then it’s a significant change.
  • Any colour change in a mole is another warning sign and should be examined by a doctor.
  • Any bleeding or itching in a mole should be checked.
  • A sudden increase in the size of the mole is another warning sign.

If you notice any of these signs, a visit to your doctor is called for. Your doctor might recommend a skin biopsy in which a small piece of skin is removed and examined. In case required, a biopsy of lymph nodes, CT scans and other tests might also be advised.

If diagnosed early, most melanomas are easily cured by surgery which involves removing the affected part of the skin. If the cancer is more advanced, the surgery might also involve removing the lymph nodes in the surrounding area. In case of the cancer having spread to other parts of the body, immunotherapy or chemotherapy might be recommended. Immunotherapy involves energizing the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer. In chemotherapy, strong drugs are used to destroy the cancer causing cells.

Can I prevent Melanoma?

  • The commonest cause of melanomas is excess sun exposure. So, a few precautions, like using sunscreen with an SPF of 20-30 and a four or five star UVA protection can help. Reapplying sunscreen every 2-3 hours is also important.  Also, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, especially between 11 am and 3 pm, can actually help in preventing melanoma. It’s also advisable to avoid tanning rooms as these are also damaging.
  • Self-monitoring of moles can also help. By keeping the warnings signs in mind, any change in a mole can be checked immediately.

Just a few precautions and timely detection can help in keeping a check on melanomas.

 We strongly recommend that you consult your doctor before starting any treatment regime.

For more related topics please visit: https://famhealth.in

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