PatientsEngage General Community

With nearly 5 lakh Indians dying of tuberculosis every year, India is labeled the Tuberculosis capital of the world. Dr Shet Masih, molecular biologist with Core Diagnostics, says that the best way to prevent contracting this life-threatening disease is to avoid unhygienic, congested areas and lead an active lifestyle.    Efforts are being made to make India Tuberculosis (TB)-free in the near future, and yet there’s been an increase in the number of TB patients recently. Why is that…

Small tips to keep the Seniors happy and comfortable during winter can go a long way in keeping them well-cared for during the difficult months. A look at a few helpful pointers: Amid the winter months, things can be exceptionally troublesome for seniors, not only in light of the frosty but also the unforgiving occasional temperatures. Potential threats are all over the place, hence home care services might be just what your elderly friends and family require. Listed below is an expert curated…

Raising the Bar, an Indo-Australian documentary, is a lively, cheerful narrative on Down syndrome and has won many prestigious awards and accolades. Here we speak to director Onir who says the film aims to create awareness, encourage inclusion, celebrate differences and conquer preconceived boundaries. You are an acclaimed Indian film director known for unconventional works like ‘My Brother…Nikhil’ (on AIDS and homosexuality) and the National award winning ‘I am’ (on gay rights, sperm donation…

TB is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease. If you observe your employee has prolonged coughing with no relief for more than two weeks, please get him/her checked out by a doctor immediately. Dr Shital Raval informs how to recognize and evaluate hazards of Tuberculosis.   What is TB? How can it spread? Tuberculosis or TB is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It is airborne which means it can spread by tiny droplets in the air when an…

With ‘Sitting is the new smoking’ belief gaining ground globally, offices are beginning to introduce the workout culture to beat the health risks of a 9-5 desk job. Siemens, a European conglomerate and one of the largest industrial manufacturing companies, has started The Healthy Break in all its offices across India. PatientsEngage talks to Mr. S Ramesh Shankar, Head, Human Resources, Siemens. Working out in office is still a new concept in India. Your company, Siemens, is one of the few…

Smriti Sawhney, an experienced Clinical Psychologist writes on body shaming and how harbouring a negative body image about ourselves, is ultimately a self-defeating exercise. I have struggled with hair thinning the past 7 years and have cried endless nights, gone through phases of lows and irritability, gone doctor shopping, hair products shopping and may even have consumed enough number of multivitamins to cause a toxic reaction in me…all for fitting myself to the image I have for a beautiful…

India's Supreme Court has upheld the right to die with dignity and ruled that people have a right to refuse medical treatment and having their advance directives honored. Are there any concerns?  PatientsEngage reached out via e-mail to Dr. M.R Rajagopal, Chairman, Pallium India and Director, Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief) "The judgement of the Supreme Court…

Do you know when you need to call an ambulance or when you can drive or take your loved one in a cab? Dr. Shital Raval talks us through the decision criteria of making the right choice.  During a medical crisis, getting immediate medical help is critical! In cases of emergencies, often it may seem that driving to the hospital may be faster than calling an ambulance. Although this may be true, let’s examine the reasons why and when, calling an ambulance is the best choice. When to call the…

Deepa Kannan, who has an 8-year-old son suffering from a rare condition called Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), bares her heart and mind about all her family has been through in trying to cope with the disorder and also about how she is spearheading an awareness movement for affected parents in India. Please tell us a bit about your son Omkar’s condition? Omkar has a condition called salt wasting Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. It is an Autosomal Recessive disorder, where both parents are…

If you or your loved one is admitted to the hospital for any reason, make sure to keep these questions in mind. These questions are meant to clarify the medical status of the patient, gain information and understand the care needed after a procedure. This will ensure peace of mind for all.  This checklist of questions is aimed to streamline the hospitalization process and make it a comfortable experience for patients and their caregivers. Consider having a family member or friend with you…