Women's Health and Pregnancy

Tara Sharma* 23 is a Delhi-based young woman who shares her experiences of trying to tackle Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) with all its symptoms of acne, facial hair, painful periods, and weight gain. Please tell us a bit about your condition, as in what you are suffering from? I am suffering from a hormonal imbalance called PCOS- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which is caused due to excess male hormones (androgen levels) in females. I was diagnosed in early 2017, about one and a half years back.…

First time mothers are often very stressed about many different things. In one study on Indian women, 70% felt breastfeeding was a challenging experience. We speak to Dr Zinal Unadkat Shah, a Pediatrician and Lactation Consultant from Mumbai on the effect of stress on lactation. How does stress affect lactation physiologically? Whenever a woman takes stress, it increases the hormone cortisol in the body. Cortisol levels in turn work on the pituitary gland thereby reducing the hormones prolactin…

In recognition of Breastfeeding Week (August 1-7), Dr. Shital Patel reiterates the many benefits of breastfeeding babies.  Breastfeeding is known to be beneficial for not only the mother and child but for the society as a whole. It is the most natural and ideal way to feed babies. The World Health Organization recommends that mothers exclusive breastfeed (no other food or water, only breastmilk) for the first 6 months and then along with complementary foods till age 2 years and beyond. For…

Dr. Snehil Mishra, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Hinduja Healthcare Surgical Hospital, dispels the fallacy that heart disease is a man's disease. On the contrary, it is the number one killer of women with symptoms in women being different than men.   Are women at a higher risk for heart disease than men? The risk of heart disease in women is significantly underappreciated due to under reporting as well as lack of awareness. In most Western countries, the incidence of heart…

Menstual pain or period pain is often considered normal, even when it is severe. This Menstrual Hygiene Day, PatientsEngage highlights the misdiagnosis of endometriosis and what women can do to detect the condition in its early phases. Women all over the world, have experienced menstrual pain at some point of their monthly cycles. Menstrual pain, usually begins a couple of days before the period date, and sometimes continues for two days after it. Women generally experience cramps in their…

Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed a baby but for some mothers it can be a harrowing experience that is never talked about. Porrselvi A.P., a cognitive and psychosocial interventions specialist, narrates the complications she faced, like breast engorgement, plugged ducts and sore, bleeding nipples, to feed her hungry baby. Make sure you get good lactation support at the hospital. When I chose to become a mother, I did not realize how much breastfeeding would come to mean to me in a few…

Dr Chetan Shah, Chief Cardiology Consultant at Global Hospital, Mumbai answers some of the commonly asked questions pertaining to Hypertension in our #AskTheDoctor series.  1.   Only half of people with high Blood Pressure (BP) know they have high BP. When should people start measuring BP? In an asymptomatic person (a person with no symptoms) with no known risk factor, the ideal age to start measuring BP is 18 yrs. 2.   Should people be measuring their BP at home? If…

Mothers are often so busy looking after everyone else in their lives that they neglect their own health. This Mother's Day give a gift of health to your mother. Contributed by Portea Medical Mothers are the best caregivers, hands down. From in-laws, kids and husband to her own family, looking after and catering to all their needs doesn’t leave her much time to sit back and reflect on her own self, at the end of the day. So much so, that even modern day workplaces have working women who have…

Jyotsna Kumar, was living with Sensiro Neural Deafness. But the birth of her child with congenital heart defect and cerebral palsy changed her priorities in life. Jyotsna, tell us about your condition.  I was diagnosed with Sensiro Neural Deafness in 1997, I was 30 years old then. What were the early symptoms? During my childhood I never took annual audiograms and remained unaware of what impact anything could have had on my nerves considering the fact that my mother and most of my…

This mother-daughter interview takes us through a journey of a patient and caregiver, facing the turmoil of ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment. Alina Rizvi is a resident of New Delhi, who has been taking care of her mother, Rabab Rizvi, a cancer patient for the last three years. Their journey has been tough, but a source of inspiration, affection and sheer joy that a mother-daughter relationship constitutes. Please tell us a bit about your condition  Daughter - My mother was diagnosed…