How To Deal With Comorbidities And Be Prepared To Re-open With Covid-19

Submitted by PatientsEngage on 8 June 2020

A handy list of resources for living with the coronavirus and managing your chronic conditions. Just look for your condition below. If you don't find what you are looking for, please leave a comment and we will get back to you.    

We must live with Covid-19 pandemic for a while. For people with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, rheumatic conditions, pulmonary conditions, it is even more essential to manage these conditions better. For e.g. a person whose blood sugars are under control is better equipped to deal with the coronavirus infection. 

As we prepare for the easing of restrictions, we must be aware of the risks of infection associated with it and mitigate these risks by practicing safety guidelines viz. mask hygiene, regular washing and sanitisation of hands, and maintaining safe distance at all times. 

We must also recognise that we cannot delay seeking help and treatment of our chronic conditions, and seek out the doctor. The process of these has changed in some places. While some places have started OPDs, most still require that you first connect and consult with the doctor through telemedicine. If the doctor advises you to go for tests or go see the doctor in person, please go ahead and not delay diagnosis and treatment. Do not let your fear of Covid-19 risk overtake your need for timely care.

We have also compiled resources for various conditions. Click on the topics you are interested in to get a detailed understanding of your specific condition. If you have specific questions, you can ask in our discussion forums or contact us at  https://www.patientsengage.com/contact

Cancer

1. How to manage cancer treatment during Covid-19 by Dr. Vinay Deshmane, Consultant in Surgical Oncology & Breast Diseases and Medical Director and Jnt. Hon secretary of the Indian Cancer Society. Link to the webinar recording.

2.Also, here is the link to the key notes from the recording of the above webinar    

Diabetes 

1. How to live well with Diabetes during Covid-19 by Dr. Debashis Basu, Diabetes Awareness and You

2. How to manage diabetes during Covid-19 lockdown by Dr. Piya Balani Thakkar. Summary of her webinar recording

2a. How to manage diabetes during Covid-19 lockdown by Dr. Piya Balani Thakkar. Link to the webinar recording

Dementia

1. Dementia Home Care, the COVID-19 infection risk, and Lockdown/ Unlock challenges

This is a good resource to track the impact of the changes due to lockdowns and re-opening of cities and areas and how it impacts dementia care and even elder care. Useful tips for family caregivers of persons with dementia.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

Community
Auto Immune conditions
Caregiver Community
Coping With Covid-19 Pandemic
Diabetes
Kidney, Urinary, Gastro Intestinal, Liver
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Neurological Conditions
Cancer
Condition
Breast Cancer
Cancer
Chronic Kidney Disease
Coronavirus Covid 19
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Stroke
Changed
Tue, 04/13/2021 - 19:04

Stories

  • Image: Stock photo of colon over white t-shirt and dark jeans set against a pink background
    Why You Should Know About Lynch Syndrome
    Colorectal cancer is the 4th most common cause of deaths related to cancer worldwide. Lynch syndrome or HNPCC is one of most common genetic causes of Colon cancer. Here are a few questions to better understand Lynch syndrome and how we can screen for it. 1. What is the Lynch syndrome? Which genes are involved? Lynch Syndrome is also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer or HNPCC. It has a genetic disposition, hence the term hereditary and is known to be associated or  the…
  • Image: A woman's left arm is visible, attached to a diagnostic machine in a hospital setting
    I Cried Bitterly The Day I Lost My Hair
    Dora Mukherjee went through the entire battery of tests and procedures after being detected with a Right Breast Carcinoma. She recalls her pain and anguish as well as the love she received during the critical period. The beginning with a diagnosis My painful journey with cancer started on 1st February 2014 when I was referred by my Bank's Medical Officer to Dr Gandhi's Imaging Clinic for Bilateral Mammography in Mumbai. Sonomammography was done which revealed a case of carcinoma…
  • Image: Marianne with her 3 sons and her husband
    I Want To Fight Diabetes To Stay Alive For My Grandchildren
    Marianne de Nazareth, 60, who has diabetes, began controlling her sugar levels in all earnestness after she received a jolt with partial loss of her eyesight. Now she is super conscious about her diet and runs with a passion. Take a leaf from her journey. To be diagnosed with diabetes at 35 was the lowest point of my life. It was during the birth of my third child, Steve, that I was detected with borderline sugar. But I never really had time to bother about it. I was caught in the throes of…
  • Image indicates a caregiver holding the hand of an older person
    Life Lesson I Learnt Watching my Papa Die
    We prepare ourselves for everything, but most of us are in denial about death. Aparna Das shares the one final lesson her father taught her during his last few days as he breathed his last. My father was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in October 2017. Of course, he and all of us did everything in our capacity to save him. But he passed away on the 20th of April 2018. The three days leading to his death were probably the most painful that our family had faced collectively. But I have a…
  • Jacqueline Colaco on a wheel chair, in white at the TCS 10K with some of the other participants
    Adding Abilities with Advancing Age
    Jacqueline Colaco, a feisty 68, does not permit the senior citizen tag to prevent her from pushing her boundaries, acquiring new skills, participating in a range of community activities. She is active on Facebook and has even shaved her head in empathy with her school classmate who was on chemo for cancer! Be ever young at heart. At sixty I thought I’d retire from life... Wanting to go into oblivion with a bang, I gathered about two hundred of my nearest and dearest and celebrated this diamond…
  • Image: Stock pic of a woman wearing a grey jacket, light blue pants staring in front with nooks lined up behind her
    A Tumour In The Heart And a Cerebral Stroke!
    And she still counts her blessings! Bhairavi (not her real name) fainted and lost her vision, speech all at once. Read more to find out how she came to understood the cause and how she resumed painting.  The beginning It all started in summer of 2004, when my husband had just lost his mother and we went to Calcutta for her last rites. The evening of the shraadh or memorial gathering, I was looking for a mouth freshener since I hadn’t eaten all day. My relative offered me some supari (…
  • Image: A young lady in a summery white crop top, a cool drink with a straw in hand, dark glasses in the other hand
    Tips for a Healthy Summer for People with Chronic Conditions
    With summer upon us, our body systems can go through various changes just like the outside temperature. With certain chronic conditions like diabetes, skin allergies, thyroid problems, the weather change can be even more bothersome with unwanted symptoms. Here are a few tips to best cope with the sizzling hot season. Food tips for summer: Eat smaller meals through the day instead of fewer, heavy meals. Stay hydrated! Keep a bottle of water handy at all times and sip it through the day. To make…
  • Image: Stock pic of a bright healthy liver in the hands of a medical professional
    The Liver Is A Very Forgiving Organ, But Has Its Limits
    Dr. KR Vasudevan, Director Liver Transplantation, PSRI Hospital talks about the major risks for a liver disease and how to keep our liver healthy. Also, are herbs and supplements safe for the liver?  #WorldLiverDay NonAlcoholic Liver disease or NAFLD is the most common cause of Hepatic disease around the world. Why is that? Increasing opulence has brought about changes in life style. Availability of processed food and decreasing physical activity has resulted in accumulation of body fat.…
  • Is Scar-less surgery a safe alternative for Breast reconstruction?
    An interview on a wide range of issues - from survival rates of breast cancer to quality of life, from the use of chemotherapy to breast reconstruction - with Dr. Vinay Deshmane, Consultant in Surgical Oncology & Breast Diseases and Medical Director and Jnt. Hon secretary of the Indian Cancer Society  1.    Has the survival rate of Breast Cancer changed in India in recent years? Why is that? There is paucity of data on survival rates of most cancers including Breast…
  • Image: Stock image of two people communicating with each other but the words in the speech bubbles are jumbled
    Speech and Language Breakdown after Stroke
    After a stroke nearly 20-40 per cent patients develop communication problems or aphasia, the inability to comprehend and formulate language because of damage to specific language areas in the brain. Dr Sujata Gandhi, Speech Therapist, Nanavati Hospital, advises that speech and language therapy is the best way to restore normalcy and quality of life. How does a stroke or ‘brain attack’ affect speech and communication? A stroke causes damage to the Speech and Language areas of the brain. For most…