A Guide to Health Check-ups during Winters

 Health check-ups are essential in every season. But the season of winter brings an extra load of challenges, making it difficult for the body to adjust. The sudden drop in the temperature, the chilly breezy and chilly air and a decrease in sunlight play a great role in reducing the body’s immunity. 

That is why for people over the age of 35, medical experts suggest regular health check-ups every 3 months. By taking various tests to diagnose and detect body problems at an early stage, it becomes much easier to treat them or take preventative actions. Here are the major check-ups that one should take in winters:

Heart problems:

It is a common fact that heart problems are increasingly aggravated during the winter season. Due to cold, the blood vessels contract, thus, reducing the amount of blood flow to the heart, which leads to health problems such as hypertension, stroke, heart attacks, etc. During winters, doctors recommend to stay inside the house as much as possible, and if stepping out, wrapping self in warm clothes. Labs such as Scientific Pathology usually design check-ups such as Cardiac Management Panel that is easy to take and extremely affordable.  

Seasonal Flu

During winters, runny nose and sore throat are quite common issues among a large number of people. These are caused by the flu, which is a viral infection that can be transmitted from one person to another. As it is easily spreadable, the only way to stay safe is to avoid meeting the infected person. If you have caught the flu, take precautions such as washing hands, drinking warm liquids and resting your body. For diagnosing what kind of flu you have got, contact one of the best pathology labs in Uttar Pradesh, Scientific Pathology. Their tests would help you identify how your health is at risk, and then the consulting doctors can suggest the course of action. 

Winter Allergy

Apart from flu, people can also be prone to winter allergens that can attack you indoors as well. The most common form of allergens- house dust mites, animal dander and bird droppings, are all issues that can cause you allergy at home. When it comes to allergies, pro-activeness is a must. If you are facing any symptoms that are common for your allergies, reach out to an allergy testing lab in Agra to diagnose what is the core issue. Then consult with the doctor about the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment and what steps need to be taken to ensure your well-being. 

Dealing with problems during winters is not just about taking precautions and conducting health check-ups. It involves creating a well-thought-out plan with the consulting doctor to be one step ahead in how to mitigate any issue that might prop up. With the right preparation and ensuring regular check-ups, it is possible to deal with the health problems in the winter, all the while improving the quality of life in parallel.

5 Tips to Relieve Stress Easily

Around 89% of the Indian population is suffering from stress, out of which, 75%  hesitate in seeking medical help or talk about it. People witnessing excessive sadness or decreased motivation tend to be a victim of this problem. While it can make the person feel mentally and physically exhausted, it also reduces their ability to function normally at work as well as at home.

Here are some useful tips using  which you can combat stress:

Build a routine: Setting a schedule largely helps to conquer stress issues. Lying on a bed all day while trapped in thoughts will make your condition worse. Having a proper routine will help you in getting back on track.

Exercising: Needless to say, exercise is good for everyone’s health. And in case of stress, it is the best. While working out, our body secretes happy chemicals known as endorphins which eventually helps a person in being happy and positive. You don’t need to follow a hardcore gym or workout schedule; walking and mild exercises every day will work too.

Let it out: Keeping your thoughts to yourself will make you feel more sad and gloomy. Whatever you feel, be it good or bad, share it with your family or friends, they will definitely hear you out. If you don’t feel like conversing with anyone, then pen down all your thoughts and you will sense a certain amount of relief.

Stay away from negative thoughts: Being extremely stressed highly affects your mental health. When depressed, there is no limit to negative thoughts. People tend to jump to the worst conclusions for every situation. Try to indulge in activities like watching movies, dancing, attending concerts, etc., whatever you like to do the most.

Sleep properly: Sleep is the first thing to get affected during stress. Following the policy of ‘early to bed and early to rise’ will help you heal gradually. And while sleeping, stay away from all the distractions like TV, computers, mobile phones, etc. and slowly, you will observe that your sleeping schedule has improved.

People suffering from stress issues can also experience psychological symptoms like loss of interest, constant negative and unpleasant thoughts, slow thinking process, inefficiency in doing work, etc., and physical symptoms like loss of energy, sleep, appetite, weight and interest in sexual activities. Taking up diagnostic services will help you in knowing the exact cause of stress. Scientific Pathology, the best pathology lab in Agra,  can be trusted for undergoing such tests. Being guided by one of the prominent doctors of India Dr. Ashok Sharma, the lab offers effective health check-up packages at affordable charges.

Understanding Blood Cancer

More than 10,000 cases of childhood leukemia are reported annually in India. A study by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research articulated that India is the third-largest country encompassing blood-related cancers patients in the world, after US and China. 

What is Blood Cancer?

Blood cancer in a human being (from infants to 90-year-old people) is induced due to the dysfunctioning of the blood cells and bone marrow. The malfunction starts because of the disrupted production of the blood cells leading to their abnormal growth. The three different kinds of blood cancer are Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.

Leukemia: The condition in which the production of red blood cells is affected.

Lymphoma: The lymphatic system, highly responsible for producing immune cells in the body, is severely affected in this condition.

Myeloma: The white blood cells that help in producing disease-fighting antibodies are affected in this ailment.

Signs and Symptoms:

Some of the common signs and symptoms are- extreme weakness, shortness of breath, weakening of bones, easy bruising, bleeding gums, unusual weight loss, frequent nausea, lymph node enlargement, body pain, frequent headaches, visual difficulty, rashes or dark spots, and difficulty in urinating, amongst others.

Causes:

There is no particular reason that leads to blood cancer, yet some of the common causes that can be considered are :

- Consumption of alcohol and tobacco

- Weak immune system

- Genetic inheritance

- Certain infections

Diagnosis

If you sense any aforementioned symptoms, you are highly recommended to consult a doctor. He will suggest you to take-up tests from authentic diagnostic centres like Scientific Pathology. Under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Ashok Sharma in Agra, who offers health check-up packages and diagnostic services.  

Treatment

Any remedial therapy or medicine for blood cancer is directed towards the complete eradication of the disease. A few common ailments are-

- Biological therapy to kill cancers

- Chemotherapy

- Bone Marrow Transplantation

Blood cancer is one of the many dreadful diseases. The situation can be handled by detecting the issues at the right time. Take up diagnostic services from Scientific Pathology, the leading diagnostic centre in Uttar Pradesh. They deliver precise results and offer various health check-up packages at feasible prices. Moreover, you can also benefit from their home collection centre facility. All you need to do is provide your address and details and everything else will be taken care of by them.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology Test: Know it all

When a lump or a bump is found in the superficial areas of the body like the breast and neck, then a test known as Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is conducted. A lump may be found during the doctor’s examination or with the help of imaging tests such as CT scan, mammogram and ultrasound. Doctors usually prescribe FNAC to conduct tests on thyroid, salivary glands, cysts (fluid-filled lumps), nodules or masses (solid lumps), and enlarged lymph nodes.

What does FNAC procedure involve?

The FNAC procedure includes insertion of a small hypodermic needle, which is usually the size of an office pin, which may have a syringe attached to it. When the syringe is used, suction is put in to obtain more material. Furthermore, the needle is injected and drawn in and out for about five seconds and then is finally taken out. The material is then marked out on a glass slide and the pathologist stains it under a microscope to draw out a conclusion.  

What to expect before FNAC?

No standard preparation has been defined before undergoing the FNAC test. However, one may be asked to make some changes in medicines as well as diet. Few days before the test, one should avoid the intake of aspirin or other blood thinners. Also, do not eat or drink anything before a few hours of the procedure. Don’t forget to follow whatever your physician and pathologist suggest you to.

What to expect during FNAC?

Mostly the fine needle aspiration is an outpatient procedure. Those who go for this diagnostic service have to go through the following steps:

>The skin of the area is firstly cleaned with an antiseptic solution and will then be covered with towel or a sterile drape.

>The area is then injected with a numbing medication

>To locate the right area for fine needle aspiration, ultrasound is conducted

>The vacuum inside the syringe forces the body fluid into the syringe
>The entire process takes about 10 minutes  

What to expect after FNAC?

As sedatives are given during the fine needle aspiration procedure, one might feel dizzy and unable to work for the day. Just after the process, you may feel swelling, soreness or pain in body. Some people are provided with pain medicines in case of higher discomfort.

Is the procedure safe?

It has been proven by doctors that the FNAC procedure is safe. Besides that it holds numerous benefits while delivering quick and accurate results. No scars are left during the procedure and the patient can easily go home without getting hospitalised. Just remember to trust only recognised pathology labs, like Scientific Pathology that performs FNAC tests in Agra with the help of latest techniques to deliver 100% accurate results. 

5 Ways to Combat Depression

Around 300 people are affected by depression worldwide. Being different from the usual mood fluctuations and irritability, it is a medical disorder that makes one feel negative about everything. People who witness excessive sadness, decreased motivation, and lose interest in fun things are tend to be a victim of this serious problem. It can make a person feel both mentally and physically ill, while reducing their ability to function at work and home as well.

Causes and Symptoms

Though the exact cause has not been detected, yet doctors predict genetic factors to be one of the main reasons of depression. Apart from this, stressful events going on in life like conflicts with near ones, financial difficulties, unemployment, loneliness, etc. are also responsible for depression.

People suffering from depression will experience psychological symptoms like loss of interest, constant negative and unpleasant thoughts, slow thinking process, inefficiency in doing work, etc., and physical symptoms like loss of energy, sleep, appetite, weight and interest in sexual activities.

Though depression cannot be detected by availing any of the diagnostic services, yet symptoms like fatigue and weight loss should be once tested for discarding the possibility of any other disease. 

Scientific Pathology can be trusted for undergoing such tests. Being guided by one of the prominent doctors of India Dr. Ashok Sharma, the lab offers effective health check-up packages at feasible charges.

Steps to fight depression

If you sense these symptoms then here are some of the pointers that will help you in coping depression.

Build a routine: Setting a schedule largely helps to conquer depression. Lying on bed all day while trapped in thoughts will make your condition worse. Having a proper routine will help you in getting back on track.

Exercising: Needless to say, exercise is good for everyone’s health. And in case of depression, it is the best. While working out, our body secretes happy chemicals known as endorphins which eventually helps a person in being happy and positive. You don’t need to follow a hardcore gym or workout schedule; walking and mild exercises everyday will work too.

Speak it out: Keeping your thoughts within yourself will make you feel more sad and gloomy. Whatever you feel, be it good or bad, share it with your family or friends, they will definitely hear you out. If you don’t feel like conversing with anyone, then pen down all your thoughts and you will sense a certain amount of relief after this.

Stay away from negative thoughts: Depression highly affects your mental health. When depressed, there is no limit of negative thoughts. People tend to jump to worst conclusions for every situation. Try to indulge in activities like watching movies, dancing, attending concerts, etc., whatever you like to do the most.

Sleep properly: Sleep is the first thing to get affected during depression. Following the policy of ‘early to bed and early to rise’ will help you heal gradually. And while sleeping, stay away from all the distractions like TV, computers, mobile phones, etc. and slowly, you will observe that your sleeping schedule has improved.

The aforementioned pointers can help a person struggling with depression disorders to fight with the problem up to a great extent.