7th April, 2023 Mumbai: It’s simple to disregard our own health in a society when our schedules are jam-packed with countless obligations. Until there is a major health problem, we frequently neglect our health. The significance of early detection and treatment for preserving excellent health, however, cannot be overstated.
Serious illnesses like cancer, arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes can be managed and the likelihood of a successful outcome is increased by early detection and treatment. Several medical professionals offer their professional guidance on how to prioritise your health in the present era in honour of World Health Day. Join us in pursuing good health proactively, starting right now.
Lead Cardiologist at KokilabenDhirubhaiAmbani Hospital in Indore and Secretary of the Cardiological Society of India, Indore Chapter, Dr. Manoj Bansal is a doctor who holds the following degrees: MBBS, MD, DM Cardiology (Gold Medalist), FCSI.
According to the WHO, “health” includes total physical, mental, and social well-being and goes beyond simply being free from disease. This year’s World Health Day has “Health for All” as its theme as we commemorate the WHO’s 75th anniversary. A shared obligation is fostering health and preventing illnesses.
As a cardiologist, I only see a small part of the affected people, and a sizable portion of my patients are ignorant of the existence of their lifestyle diseases. Our nation is being severely affected by heart disease, and heart attacks are more common in the young and active age group.
On World Health Day, I encourage my countrymen to follow a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity, yoga, and a balanced diet. The importance of maintaining healthy blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol levels cannot be overstated. People who have a history of heart disease in their families should exercise extra caution.
Smile 4U Family Dental Clinic, Tata Memorial Hospital, Consultant and Lecturer Dr. Sajid Shaikh, MDS, Mumbai
I can’t emphasise enough how vital it is to practise proper oral hygiene for general health as a dentist. I implore everyone to prioritise their dental health on this World Health Day. Gum disease, tooth decay, and even heart disease are major health repercussions that can result from poor dental hygiene.
To prevent tooth decay, floss everyday and brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride-containing toothpaste.
Limit foods and beverages that are high in sugar and acid since they can erode dental enamel. Additionally essential to avoiding and treating oral health problems are routine dental exams and cleanings. If you have any dental issues, don’t wait to get treatment. Always keep in mind that your general health and wellbeing depend greatly on your smile. Any disease’s chances of being successfully treated and its survival probability are considerably increased by early detection.
Dr. S. S. Murthy, Director and HOD of Ayushman Hospital in New Delhi, is an MD, DNB, and MNAMS.
Given that cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the primary cause of morbidity and mortality, early detection and treatment of CVD are essential for a healthier life. Most occurrences of CVD can be avoided by being aware of its early warning symptoms and living a heart-healthy lifestyle. In people without symptoms or obvious risk factors for CVD, screening tests are useful in detecting early vascular and cardiac abnormalities. Heart disease prevention depends on early detection of CVD risk factors and non-invasive diagnostics for early disease start.
Clinicians can gain from early CVD detection and treatment by more quickly diagnosing ischemia and through shorter appointment wait times for patients who require urgent medical attention.
Early identification also reduces morbidity and death, causes fewer complications, and increases patients’ chances of long-term survival.
The public must prioritise heart health, alter their lifestyles when needed, and collaborate with doctors to stop CVD. People can enhance their quality of life and steer clear of avoidable health problems by doing this.
Dr. Neha Bhandari is a senior consultant in paediatric nephrology at Aakash Health Care Super Speciality Hospital and Kompal Child & Kidney Clinic in Delhi. She is a doctor of medicine and a doctor of nephrology. You can have a healthy life by getting treatment and diagnosis as soon as possible. Through normal prenatal testing, many kidney conditions can be identified before birth and treated with medicine or surgery while the child is still a small child.
By controlling risk factors such obesity, hypertension, hydronephrosis, recurrent urinary infections, protein in the urine, diabetes, and congenital kidney and bladder abnormalities, chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be prevented and treated early. For an early diagnosis, have your blood and urine checked. The key elements of treatment are controlling diabetes and high blood pressure, losing weight, eating less salt, avoiding junk food, and being active.
Dr. Upendra D. Bhalerao is a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and transplant surgeon at the Jaslok Hospital Research Center in Mumbai. He holds the following degrees: MS, MCh, DNB, FIACS.
One of the most expensive diseases in society, heart disease is on the rise. To evaluate lifestyle and pharmaceutical therapies that can delay disease development and improve patient outcomes, early identification of heart disease and heart failure is essential. Heart disease risk is increased by lifestyle factors like smoking, eating poorly, having diabetes, having high cholesterol, having high blood pressure, and not exercising.
Consult a cardiologist if you have chest pain, heaviness, unease, extreme fatigue, or shortness of breath. Exercise stress tests, echocardiography, and ECG are tests that evaluate heart function and look for ischemia symptoms. Everyone over 45 should have regular health screenings for diabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol including ECG, echo, and stress testing.
High-risk individuals under 45 should undergo annual exams. Early abnormality detection and prompt treatment are key to preventing severe cardiovascular morbidity and heart disease.
All India Superspeciality Hospital, Mumbai; Dr. Sonik Shah, M.S. (Ortho, Mumbai); FIMIAS; FIAS (GERMANY); and Diploma in Sports Medicine (International Olympic Committee Certified, Swiss).
Overuse injuries are common in young and recreational athletes, and prompt diagnosis and care are essential for a safe comeback to play. Early diagnosis and treatment of common overuse injuries, including “Little League Elbow,” stress fractures, knee and shoulder pain, can hasten healing and avert long-term consequences.
The untrained musculoskeletal system of recreational athletes makes them more prone to these injuries, according to recent studies. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to sports-related injuries in activities like gymnastics, running, and baseball due to developing growth plates. However, not all overuse injuries are linked to growth plates and, if ignored, might result in long-term issues. A safe rehabilitation programme should be developed by athletes in collaboration with trainers and experts before they return to play once their injuries have healed. Injury-related contact for the knee, shoulder, and hip.
Joint replacement surgeon Dr. Varun Aggarwal, MBBS, MS-Orthopedics, Golden Clinics, Chandigarh
It is crucial to emphasise the importance of Keyhole spine surgery on this World Health Day. By providing patients with a safer, less traumatic, and quicker recovery option than conventional open surgery, this minimally invasive surgical approach has revolutionised the area of orthopaedic surgery. Keyhole surgery involves employing specialised devices to access the spine through tiny, less than an inch long holes that spare the muscles and tissues around it.
Patients can resume their regular activities more quickly as a result of the decreased risk of complications and postoperative discomfort.
If you have spinal issues, I advise you to look into Keyhole spine surgery as a possible solution. The quality of life for patients can be significantly increased thanks to this safe and efficient therapy.
Dr. Rachana S. Shah is a Mumbai-based doctor who holds a DNB (Opthal) and a fellowship in vitreoretinal disease and surgeries.
Urbanization, industrialization, and evolving lifestyles have all contributed to an increase in the prevalence of diabetes and its related complications, such as neuropathy, nephropathy, and vascular illnesses. In India, diabetic retinopathy is a major contributor to preventable blindness. Blindness’s burden can be lessened with early treatment interventions. Diabetes problems can be delayed by maintaining good glucose control. The problem can become worse due to smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
Any changes in vision or pain must be reported right away. Even when a patient is asymptomatic, regular follow-up treatment with an ophthalmologist is essential. Progression can be slowed down with early therapy with lasers or injections. A thorough dilated eye exam is the most effective method for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy. Patient education regarding these aspects can aid in the management of diabetic retinopathy.
Gastrointestinal Laparoscopic Cancer and Robotic Surgeon, Dr. Saurabh Bansal, The Clinics by Surgeons House, Delhi
It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, especially in times of chaos. I constantly tell my patients to put their gut health first as a clinician. I place a lot of emphasis on gut health in honour of World Health Day. Gut diseases like gastritis, infection, and reflux are frequently caused by unneeded stress, poor eating habits, and inadequate water and fibre consumption.
Alcohol and smoking make things worse.
Gastrointestinal cancer may be detected by signs such as a mass in the abdomen, weight loss, exhaustion, recurrent reflux, vomiting, abnormal bowel habits, and jaundice. Healthy dietary practices, keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol use, and giving up smoking can all be beneficial. It’s crucial to get regular exams and to deal with stomach issues that last longer than 3–4 weeks. Keep in mind that a healthy existence depends on a healthy stomach!
Interventional pulmonologist at One Healthcare in Nagpur, Dr. Sameer Arbat, MBBS, MD Pulmonology, PDDM (Mumbai), FCCP (USA), Fellowship in Interventional Pulmonology (Italy).
Every year on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates World Health Day to promote global health awareness and commemorate the organisation’s inception. The importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and ensuring everyone has access to high-quality medical care are both emphasised on this day. It motivates people to pay attention to their health, alter their lifestyles, and make the required adjustments. WHO wants to ensure that everyone has access to the necessary healthcare services without facing any financial hardships. Sadly, about 30% of the world’s population lacks access to even basic healthcare, and about two billion people must pay exorbitant medical bills.
Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) can help people escape poverty, improve their communities, and protect them from serious public health problems. We require access to high-quality medical care, trained medical personnel, and governments who are willing to fund UHC if we are to attain Health for All.