PatientsEngage General Community

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of India was established in 1985 at Mumbai. Mrs. Rehmat Fazelboy, a social worker and Mr.Tobaccowalla (Chairman, Voltas Ltd, Mumbai) are the founding members. Presently there are 9 chapters with 2 support groups.  The Chennai Chapter was inaugurated on September 1997. Our patron doctor is Prof.Dr.G.Arjundas. Mrs.Ann Gonsalvez is the Chairperson of the Chennai Chapter. We have about 210 patients on our rolls in Chennai.  Our Vision: Create awareness of…

Although characters portrayed with mental illness have progressed from the Victorian era, more novels with believable and real protagonists need to be authored, says writer, poet and activist Jhilmil Breckenridge.  If you say you have diabetes, people engage, ask about your medication, and say, oh you should not be eating rice, or potatoes, and so it goes. But if you say you have schizophrenia, for example, there will be an uncomfortable hush, as though you have just…

1. What is Zika virus disease and what are the symptoms? Zika is a disease caused by Zika virus that is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Zika virus is not a new virus and has existed in South East Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. 2. How is Zika transmitted? Zika is…

Prolonged lack of sunlight is the most common cause of Vitamin D deficiency, writes Shital Raval. And how can you treat Vitamin D deficiency. It is as simple as stepping out of doors, yet a fear of sunshine is one of the factors that leads to Vitamin D deficiency. This in turn can give rise to a number of health conditions.   What is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which is structurally classified into D2 and D3.  Vitamin D2 is known as Ergocalciferol and D3 is known as…

Here is a round up of the PatientsEngage top 10 most popular stories of 2015 1. My Special Child Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication. Mousumi Dutta shares her stirring narrative about bringing up her daughter, Aria who is on the Autism Spectrum with remarkable fortitude, dignity and unwavering optimism.  http://www.patientsengage.com/personal-voices/autism/my-special-…

Did you know an individual gains an average of 2-5 Kgs in winter? Winter is a season of indulgences pushing us often to have food loaded with calories. Dietician and diabetes educator, Ujjwala Baxi tells us how to enjoy the winter without gaining weight. Come winter, the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness, and we tend to gear up for both warm clothes as well as those mouthwatering season-specials that make every nippy evening worth its while. We throw our calorie-consciousness to the winds…

Don't just sit back and watch someone struggle with cancer. Join this walkathon or pledge your support Breast Cancer Survivor Rita Banik and the Race to Rein in Cancer team.  Theme: To reduce the Impact of cancer on Individuals, Families and Communities  Date :  Sunday, February 7,  2016 From :  Orlem Church, Malad (W)  to  Ijmima Complex, Malad (W)  Interested participants may register by 27th January  2016  At 345 Ijmima Complex, 3rd Floor,…

What to do when the munchies strike and you feel like snacking? Hear it from Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator Ujjwala Baxi. One of the questions I ask my clients is: How often do you snack and what do you choose to snack on? A client, Mrs. Juneja (name changed) complained of weight gain of 5 kg in 2 months since starting her job. On interviewing her, it became clear that more than her main meals, her snacks, along with her sedentary desk job, were contributing to her weight problem.…

Are eggs off-limits? How to make sense of the numbers on ‘low-cholesterol’ packaged foods? Is extra virgin coconut oil all it is made out to be? These and other questions answered by nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju  Does our body need cholesterol? The surprising answer is Yes! Cholesterol, a fatty substance that circulates in the blood is an important component of human cells. It is often viewed as an all-out villain, but our body needs some amount of cholesterol to…

3 Key takeaways on this topic: Is Coconut Sugar or Coconut Palm Sugar more nutritious than Regular Sugar? Yes, it is. But while Coconut Sugar is more full of nutrients, it also has the same amount of calories as regular sugar.  Does it have a lower glycemic index than table sugar? While it has a lower glycemic index compared to glucose, it has not been tested against table sugar. Does it have less fructose than regular sugar? Coconut sugar supplies almost the same amount of fructose as…