Simple Home Exercises for Elderly

Every year October 1 is celebrated as World Elders day, and we take this opportunity to remind you of the old saying, “Age is just a number”. With simple rules and precautions, it is possible to improve the quality of life for the elderly. Exercises are essential for muscle fitness, and thus our bone specialists have listed some of the activities that the elderly can do at their homes without much effort.

Rising from the sleeping position

Postural hypotension is a common condition in older people, and thus while rising from the lying position on the bed, it is best not to make sudden movements. The correct way to rise from the bed while a person is lying on his back is given below:

•          Take deep breaths twice while lying on your back
•          Now turn on your side and take deep breaths.
•          Now let your legs down from the bed and then rise from the bed.

When you follow this procedure to rise from the bed, it is possible to reduce postural hypotension in a person.

Strengthening the neck muscles

To increase the range of motion in the neck muscles, here are some exercises to follow.

•          Move the head slowly from one side to another side.
•          Repeat this motion about 5-10 times.
•          Now move the head from to look up and down.
•          Repeat this motion about 5-10 times.
•          Now move your head sidewise so that your ears touch your shoulders, and then move the head to the other side.
•          Repeat this motion about 5-10 times.

Also Read: What are the benefits of doing cardio exercises like Running?

Shoulder raising exercises

Raise your hand to chest level and then move your shoulders back to widen your chest area. You can move your shoulders back to the range of your movements and then bring the hands back to the original position. Repeat this exercise about 5-10 times.

To know more, watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2mwvWYAjrs

Kauvery Hospital

Injuries due to falling are one of the major causes for which the elderly visit the hospital. Strengthening the muscles using these simple home exercises can avoid weakness and consequently falling. Kauvery hospital has some of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the country and immediately provides you with the proper care.

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Blood in stools

Blood in stools is a common problem and can occur in people of any age group. Blood can appear in stools for various reasons, but the most common among them are piles and anal fissures. Other reasons may include colon cancer, rectum cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, stomach ulcer, and more. To find the right cause and choose an appropriate treatment, it is important to consult with a doctor or an expert. You can use options like a Gastroenterologist near me to find immediate care.

Most people assume the reason to be ‘piles’ when they notice blood in stools. But when you visit the doctor, the diagnosis is made considering various symptoms, and then the treatment is done. For example, those who suffer from constipation have the risk of developing anal fissures. For some people, there might be a lot of blood, and it might be due to leakage of blood from different organs like the small intestine or large intestine.

When the stool is black or dark in colour it might indicate GI bleeding, which means bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, or small intestine. Blood mixed with stool might be a symptom of cancer.

Diagnosis

First, the symptoms are evaluated, and then a physical examination is done. Then for piles diagnosis, an assessment using an instrument called a proc to scope is done. To examine the rectum and lower part of the large intestine, a test called sigmoidoscopy is done. If there is a problem suspected CT scan, MRI and angiogram are done.

Also Read: Testing for Abnormal Blood Flow with Doppler Ultrasound

Treatment

Simple problems like fissures and piles can be treated with medications and diet changes in the early stage. In severe cases, surgery might be needed. For cancer, different treatments like surgical procedures and radiation are done.

Kauvery Hospital

If you notice blood in stools, do not assume the reason yourself. Instead, please consult with a doctor and get it diagnosed properly. If you don’t get satisfactory results, with search options like Gastroenterologist near me, visit our hospital since we have experienced experts with advanced treatments.

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High BP and Its Causes

Hypertension or High Blood Pressure is a condition where the pressure of the blood against the artery walls is too high. High BP often has no symptoms but, if left untreated, can cause health conditions like heart disease and stroke.

Causes

•          Smoking
•          Alcoholism
•          Obesity
•          A sedentary lifestyle where the patient goes for long hours without moving from the place

Since the pandemic and the rise of IT jobs, the sedentary lifestyle has become a part of our daily life.  But according to the cardiologists, “Sitting is second smoking,” and thus, this can be one of the causes of high BP even if you do not have any of the first three risk factors.

High BP and its effects

High BP can lead to other health risks like

•          Renal failure
•          Stroke
•          Heart attack

Also Read: Pulmonary Hypertension – Symptoms and Treatment

Treatment

High BP needs more preventive factors rather than treatment. Here are some things that you can include in your lifestyle to manage and prevent high BP.

•          Meditation
•          Regular exercise
•          Diet changes
•          Lifestyle changes
•          Yoga

Kauvery Hospital

The risk of developing high BP has increased in recent times. Thus it is important to choose the proper lifestyle to avoid its risk. Kauvery Hospital has the best cardiologists in Chennai, and we can help you manage high BP or any other conditions about it.

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Know about Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. In severe cases, rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent joint destruction and deformity.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes

• The most common cause of rheumatoid arthritis is the immune system's abnormal response to healthy body cells. This is caused due to hormone changes.
• Infectious agents like bacteria and viruses can also cause RA
• Obesity
• RA can be triggered by stressful events like physical or emotional trauma
• Environmental factors can also play a part

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

•  Joint pain, tenderness, swelling, or stiffness for six weeks or longer
•  Morning stiffness for 30 minutes or longer
•  Pain in more than one joint
•  Small joints like joints in wrists and fingers are affected
•  It affects joints on both sides of the body

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

Various factors diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis. If you notice any of the above symptoms, you need to visit a doctor, and you will be recommended to visit the Orthopaedics. The doctor will perform the following evaluations to make the diagnosis.

•  Medical history
•  Physical examination
•  Blood test
•  Imaging test
•  Ultrasound
•  Check for inflammation and antibodies

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

After the evaluation, the Orthopaedics will determine the extent of severity and then recommend you the treatment. The treatment can range from:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Corticosteroid medications
• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
• Surgery for severe cases. Joint fusion or joint replacement is done to relieve pressure and pain
• Physiotherapy

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Tips

 Even if there is no specific RA diet, some foods reduce the inflammation in your body. Here are some diet tips that you should keep in mind if you have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

•  Reduce the amount of salt and sugar in your food
•  Reduced amount of alcohol
•  Avoid saturated fats
•  Avoid foods rich in Omega-3
•  Avoid refined carbohydrates

Tips for dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis

•   Pay attention to the triggering factors of RA
•   Avoid sitting in the same position for an extended period
•   Walk and stretch for every half an hour
•   Cold and hot compresses may help ease the pain
•   Take breaks between long stretches of work

Also Read: What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Kauvery Hospital

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a common problem that usually affects older people but has become prevalent even among the younger generation. Rheumatoid Arthritis can be managed with early diagnosis and help from qualified Orthopaedics. Kauvery Hospital has the best Orthopedic department in the city and can help you with quality and swift treatment.

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Reasons for Heart Attack at a Young Age | #Doctalks | Dr. Vijay Shekar, Cardiologist

Heart attack has become a phrase that we often hear in our society. Before two decades, heart attack was a common cause of death among older adults, but it has become more prevalent among the younger generation.

Studies have also shown that about 10% of the people who experience heart attacks are below 40.

Reasons for heart attack at a young age

About 60-70% of the people below the age of 40 who suffer from a heart attack are found to have the habit of smoking. Thus, smoking is considered a major contributor to increasing the risk of heart attacks in a person. Smoking causes the body to accumulate over 100 toxic particles like nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, hydro carbide, and other such elements.

This can cause various problems in the human body like increased blood pressure, shrinkage of blood vessels, and increased blood coagulation. All these reasons, in turn, raise the chances of the person getting a heart attack at a younger age.

Preventive measures

The simple and best way to reduce the risk of heart attack for individuals and society is to quit smoking altogether. Some people believe that limited smoking or using several brands might reduce the risk. But the truth is any form of tobacco, or any amount of tobacco is dangerous.

Also Read: Is it Heartburn or a Heart attack?

Kauvery Hospital

Awareness against smoking is being done for a long time now, but it is in our own hands to stop making it a habit. Heart attack can be fatal, and if you notice any symptoms, it is important to contact the doctor immediately. You can try searching best heart specialist in Chennai on Google, but the results can be vague. Kauvery Hospital offers premium care and treatment for the patients and employs the best in the industry.

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Breast cancer and reconstruction - Part 2

Breast reconstruction is a procedure by which, after mastectomy, the breast or breasts of the patients undergoing surgery is rebuilt. This can be done during or after mastectomy, but there is little awareness among the women and even the cancer patients. Even after years of undergoing cancer surgery, breast reconstruction can be done.

Before going into the details, know that early detection of cancer is very important, and thus we recommend everyone go with regular screenings. Search with options like "oncologist near me" and find the best to get your screenings or treatments done.

Our plastic surgery specialists answer some of the important questions about breast reconstruction surgery and how it can help cancer patients.

1.      What is oncoplastic breast surgery, and how is it done?

This is a type of surgery that combines both the techniques of plastic surgery and breast surgery. Using this procedure, you can provide better aesthetic results for the patient undergoing the mastectomy procedure. There are two types in this:

·         Volume displacement technique: After removing the tumour and some of the surrounding healthy tissues from the breast there will a cavity present. The breast shape is remodelled to look normal or similar to the other breast's symmetry using this breast reconstruction technique.

·         Volume replacement surgery: If it is a small breast or rearranging the tissues inside the breast is not possible, volume replacement surgery is done. In this technique, tissues from other body parts, like from the back, are removed and then filled in the breast cavity.

Planning is the most important part of oncoplastic breast surgery. The oncologist and oncoplastic surgeon discuss all the possible options with the patient and then decide on the method. There are custom-made flaps that can be done according to the type of tumour and the patient's breast size.

Also Read: The Difference between Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery

If you want to learn more about breast reconstruction techniques and how it can benefit the cancer patient, then watch the full video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=266845055140999

Kauvery Hospital

70% of women who undergo breast cancer surgery do not know that a breast reconstruction is an option. Also, there aren't many institutions with experienced oncoplastic surgeons who can carry out the technique perfectly.  In Kauvery Hospital, we offer premium treatments with the best oncoplastic surgeons and cancer specialists in Chennai.

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Breast cancer and reconstruction - Part 1

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. Breast cancer requires surgery, and this is where breast reconstruction comes in. Breast reconstruction can build back your breast or breasts after mastectomy. This can be done during or after the mastectomy procedure, but most women aren’t aware of this or do not have access to experienced professionals in the procedure.

Here are some common questions people have on breast cancer and breast reconstruction that our plastic surgery specialists answer for you.

1.      Why is it important to diagnose breast cancer early?

When cancer is detected early, the treatment can be done early, resulting in the patient with a better quality of life and survival outcomes. Screening mammograms are used to detect the cancers early, thus making the outcome better than when it is found at the last stages. Therefore, you must regularly screen for cancers. If you feel any lumps or symptoms, try searching “Oncologist near me” to get help immediately.

Other than this, when breast cancer is detected early, the tumour can be removed with breast-conserving surgery while preserving the rest of the breast. This procedure is usually followed with radiation therapy to treat the breast entirely locally.

Also Read: Life during and after Breast Cancer Treatment

2.      What are the options available in breast reconstruction during early breast cancer surgery?

In breast-conserving surgery, the tumour and some normal tissues around it are removed. After this, there is an option of refilling this cavity with our body tissues.

Oncoplastic breast surgery is a form of breast-conserving surgery that combines plastic surgery techniques and breast cancer surgery. This gives the patient a better aesthetic outcome and quality of life after the surgery without compromising the local control of cancer. There are two types in this called volume displacement techniques and volume replacement techniques.

To know more about breast cancer and reconstruction, watch our video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=266845055140999&ref=watch_permalink

Kauvery Hospital

Detecting breast cancers early can lead to the person getting faster treatment and returning to their normal lifestyle sooner. Breast cancers can be treated thoroughly, and breast reconstruction can ensure better aesthetic outcomes. Kauvery Hospital has some of the best cancer specialists in Chennai and experienced plastic surgeons who can carry out these procedures.

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