Before you think how incompetent the editor of the site has to be allow such a grammatically incorrect headline, let me clarify that this is a real search query that some one had on our site. This question is so deep at different levels, that it is astounding. It shows how most Indian men see us women – a collective pool of vaginas floating around – to be used and abused when they need to.

Having lived in Delhi (and two other metros) for a while , I can personally compare the experiences of a girl/woman whilst going about her routine – travelling, shopping or doing something as ‘non-sexy’ as eating. One of my attempts at boarding a DTC bus in Delhi alone when I was just 14 ended in four men surrounding me and asking me to come with them. Thankfully, people did come to my rescue when I screamed.  Things have only gotten worse now with men not sparing even innocent kids who don’t even know the word ‘sex’. Perhaps the English alphabet books in India should teach them that ‘S stands for sex’ instead of ‘sun’ or ‘sand’ like they are taught. 

What do the moral police who think women are ‘asking for it’ when they get raped have to say now? Did the 5-year-old dress provocatively? Did she act salaciously? Was she out with some male other than her husband? Did she smoke? Was she drunk?

What went on in the mind of the rapist? Did he choose a minor just because he could get away with it? Wasn’t he scared of the consequences – the police, the law, the punishment? What drives a man to such a heinous crime? Even after Nirbhaya’s case getting so much media attention finally moving the public out of their homes? Is it a case of some men being ‘possessed’ by the devil himself? Or is it a case of rapes getting the publicity and public support only now, which for years were conveniently brushed under the carpet for the fear of the victim and the family being ostracized by society?

I am scared – for my 8-year-old daughter, for my 70-year-old mother-in-law. Age, looks, social status, nothing matters anymore. No one is safe.  After all, we are nothing but ‘India’s vaginas’.

According to an experienced anaesthesiologist who does not want to be named, it is a routine practice to administer a mix of xylocaine with adrenaline to control bleeding at the surgical site. Adrenaline is a vasopressor (causes constriction of blood vessels thus reducing bleeding). However, when it is given in increased doses or when it is accidentally injected intravenously, it can cause cardiac arrest. And this might have caused the boy’s death.

A 16-year-old who chose plastic surgery to get rid of his gynecomastia problem at the Panacea Hospital in Bangalore died due to an anaesthesia overdose. This is the second case in Bangalore after the 3-year-old died during a dental procedure due to the same issue.

It is a well-known fact that general anaesthesia always carries some amount of risk. A thorough examination and history of the patient are necessary to determine the type of anaesthetic and the dosage to be used.

Factors that can cause an overdose of anaesthesia include opting for the wrong anaesthetic, using too much anaesthetic, problem with the equipment amongst many others. The increase in concentration of the anaesthetic in the blood basically causes severe fall in blood pressure. If this fall isn’t raised almost immediately, it can cause severe damage and probably death.

The other reason that could have caused the boy’s death could have been allergy or hypersensitivity to the anaesthetic used. It is important that the doctors follow strict protocol and do appropriate allergy testing before the surgery.

The boy, Abhishek, suffered a cardiac arrest and it is most likely that his body reacted badly due to the allergy which could have caused respiratory arrest which leads to cessation of breath and ultimately cardiac arrest.

What is General Anaesthesia?

General Anaesthesia is administered to patients who are undergoing surgeries or procedures and causes a reversible loss of consciousness. They are either delivered via inhalation through a machine or in an injection form.

March 8 is International Women’s Day.

Aashna, 33, is the typical superwoman wannabe. She is a successful techie and works for more than 10 hours a day. She makes sure she spends enough time with her daughter, is the ideal bahu and wife. She believes she is ‘healthy’ as she isn’t suffering from any major disease. However, since the last month or two, she has been feeling extremely fatigued after she returns home from work. She has been skipping the gym because she gets short of breath even with mild exercise. She can’t concentrate on anything and can’t sleep well at night. Her friends suggested it might just be that her age is ‘catching up’ or maybe her hormonal levels were dipping.  When she finally visited a doctor and was asked to get blood tests done, she realized she had iron-deficiency anaemia.

Like Aashna, most of us women do not realize how important getting the right nutrition is. We neglect our diet till the point that we need to be told by our doctors that we have anaemia and need to take iron supplements for it.

Iron is an element that helps our red blood cells carry oxygen better. More oxygen in the blood means better nutrition of various parts of the body leading to better health. Iron also helps helps all the muscles in the body including the heart muscle function better.

Iron deficiency anaemia is usually detected by assessing the hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the body. Normal range of Hb is anywhere between 12-14 gm/dL (for women) and 14-18 mg/dL (for men). Anything below this is considered anaemia. Women are more prone to this deficiency during adolescence (initiation of menstrual periods), during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Though most women end up opting for iron supplements for anaemia, it is much better to go natural and turn to food instead. Here are some of the natural options:
1. Eat more meat (especially the red variety), fish and eggs if you are a non-vegetarian. Iron from these sources are absorbed much faster than plant sources.  
2. Include more green leafy veggies like spinach (palak) and fenugreek (methi) in your diet. Though they have a good amount of iron, it isn’t absorbed well due to the oxalic acid content in these veggies. Add tomatoes, potatoes to the preparations to enhance the iron absorption.
3. Add sesame seeds (til) to your food. They not only make your food more crunchy and tasty, they up your iron content.
4. Dump sugar and use jaggery (gur) instead. It has a distinct sweet taste and can replace sugar in your tea/coffee, morning cereal and desserts.
5. Eat more legumes like chickpeas (chana), lentils(dal) and soyabean. They are one of the richest sources of iron after meat (half a cup of chana contains around 4.5 mg iron).

So, go get strong and active. Load up on some iron!

Also read: Why you need calcium

Special nutritional needs of women

As per the doc’s instructions, he keeps a close check on the calories he consumes (yes, there’s an app which tells you how many calories that plate of pani puri or that sneaky jalebi contains). In addition to his calories, he keeps track of his daily activity with a ‘button-like’ trendy tracker he could wear anywhere. And it isn’t just trendy, it works like magic – just place it on the screen of your android phone or on iOS and all your activity is synced to the app on your phone. And his friends on the health social network inspire him to keep going!

If you think Mayank is smart, his diabetologist’s smarter! When Mayank visits him, the doctor uses an app on his iPad not only to display several instructions but to record the entire conversation for Mayank to hear again, when he needs to.  He also tracks all of Mayank’s calorie and activity data online with a service that syncs, analyzes and presents it to him. The service also provides Mayank with daily feedback on his diet and activity.

Second scenario: Geeta is a happy-go-lucky housewife. She never in her wildest dreams thought she could be diagnosed with breast cancer. The oncosurgeon suggests she undergo a mastectomy. She quickly opts for a second opinion from a top oncosurgeon in the US at an ‘online hospital’. Not only does she video consult her oncologist for a second opinion, she also orders the blood tests and the medications she has been advised on the same site. 

The scenarios described above are not something out of a sci-fi movie. All of these products and services written about are either already present or are taking shape thanks to some very innovative companies in the field of healthcare. They, along with many more companies, were featured at the Health 2.0 conference in Bangalore this year held on the 9th of February at the CMR Institute of Technology. Organized for the second time in India, the event was a great success and saw healthcare entrepreneurs, investors, hospitals and tech companies come together to collaborate and solve problems in the field. The team has been organizing the event at San Fransisco, Berlin, Paris and Dubai since 2007.

Many thanks to James Mathews (Chairman, Health 2.0 India) , Indu Subaiya, Pascal Lardier and others from the Health 2.0 team for making this a grand success. I promise to bring you more on each of these promising healthcare companies and how they could change the face of healthcare as we know it, forever.

You can read more about the event here.

According to the latest statistics released by the Punjab Government, Punjab has over 90 cancer patients per one lakh population. This is much higher than the national average of 80 per lakh. The Malwa region, also known as the ‘cancer belt’, has the highest average of 136 cancer patients per one lakh of population. Data over the last five years has shown that 18 people die of cancer every day, on an average.

The connection is hard to ignore – Punjab with just 2.5 per cent of the agriculture land of the country consumes around 18 per cent of pesticides used in India, a very high number by any standard. There are high subsidies provided by the Government on pesticides in the state and this has led to their indiscriminate use.

Aamir Khan’s show Satyamev Jayate  took up the subject for discussion when Kavitha Kurugganti of the Alliance for Sustainable Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) said that the blame didn’t lie with farmers alone but the policy-makers. She said that 67 pesticides that were banned in other countries  were still being used in India.  Only 1 per cent of the pesticides sprayed reaches its intended target and the rest 99 per cent remains in the environment.

Though the use of pesticides for fruits and vegetables seem to have decreased due to awareness, it continues to be used on other crops especially cotton, which is a cash-crop contributing to the economy of the state and is highly susceptible to pests. Of the top 15 pesticides used on the crop, the US’s Environmental Protection Agency considers seven as ‘possible’, ‘likely’, ‘probable,’ or ‘known’ human carcinogens (acephate, dichloropropene, diuron, fluometuron, pendimethalin, tribufos, and trifluralin). Add to that the contaminated water with high heavy-metal toxicity and you have a lethal cocktail.

Women in the state are affected by uterine and breast cancer, while cancer of the oesophagus, lymphoma and leukemia are the other types prevalent amongst men. Pesticides also cause the destruction of folic acid especially during pregnancy leading to neural tube defects, stunted growth and mental disorders in infants. Reduced sperm counts, spontaneous abortions, premature deliveries are heralding a ‘reproductive-crisis’ in some belts in the state.

What’s adding to the tragedy is the fact there are only two state-run hospitals in Chandigarh (PGI) and Faridkot. And the treatments provided here too are not affordable by some of the poor farmers. So, it isn’t surprising to see cancer patients catching the ‘cancer train’ from Bathinda to get treatment at the hospital in Bikaner, Rajasthan.  

The state seems to be taking some steps to improve the situation. It has now made cancer a notifiable disease, holds several awareness camps and has provided free travel on trains for cancer patients.  Just last week, the centre has given approval for setting up a 300-bed cancer hospital in Sangrur, in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre. 

So, what are the alternatives to the deadly pesticides and fertilizers? Apart from using animal and green manure, preventive techniques like crop rotation, using pest-resistant varieties and planting pest-free rootstock can be used. If the constant monitoring of the crop indicates that pest control is necessary, then less risky pest control measures can be applied. 

Also read: War on Cancer

Before you take your wedding vows with him, you need to take your fitness vows seriously. Think of the fitness goal long term rather than just losing kilos for the wedding. Studies show that married people gain more weight than others do in their first few blissfully wed years. Here are some tried and tested tips to help you with your goal:

1. Start early: If you really want to lose some extra pounds just before the wedding, start at least three to six months before the D-day. Plan your fitness regime carefully with a good nutritionist and a trainer.
2. Morning’s the best time: Hit your gym/go for a walk/do some yoga or aerobics earlier in the day. The more you postpone this, the lesser the chances of success due to your hectic schedule before the wedding.
3. Avoid crash diets: Do not fall for any crash diet that promises quick weight loss – you run the risk of looking worn out and depressed on your big day.
4. Small meals are good: Eat small, healthy frequent meals throughout the day. Apart from a good breakfast, lunch and a light dinner, grab something small every 2 hours (it could be just some groundnuts/a cup of milk/ some curd/an orange etc).
5. Rope him in: If you are lucky enough to have your man staying close to you, work out together. Lay the foundation for a healthy (and health-conscious) relationship.
6. Stretch: Get into the habit of stretching – you very well know how supple muscles can benefit you (and your sex life!) soon.
7. Meditate: You need it after all that stress you are going through. More stress = more hormonal imbalance = more weight gain and bloating.
8. Learn to cook: Start spending some time buying veggies and fruits. Try cooking exotic low-fat recipes at home. While it helps control your current weight, you are also consciously learning healthier cooking for your life after marriage.
9. Load up on supplements: Get your daily dose of vitamins with supplements. With all the stress and running around, you need it girl!
10. Don’t get stressed out: Your man has chosen you for what you are, in whatever shape you are. Be confident, just follow these tips and lose weight without fretting!

So, go shopping for your dream wedding dress/saree/ghagra now – you’re worth it.

Here are ten tips to keep your inner glutton at bay:

1. Never attend a party on an empty stomach. Just before you leave your house, bite into a juicy apple or have a bowl of oats. These should keep you going for at least 3-4 hours.
2. Attending the party with a friend/relative? Take them into confidence; share your weight loss goal. Ask them to keep a watch on you and give you timely reminders not to binge.
3. If you are someone who likes their starters, stick to it. Make it your main course.
4. If it’s a buffet before you stand in the queue ask for the menu and plan what to eat. This will stop you from tasting everything.
5. Ditch the huge plates; opt for the dessert plate instead. Serve yourself only small servings of things you’ve decided to eat.
6. Once you’ve picked what you wanted, pick a corner and eat in peace. Pay attention to what you eat. If people persist you socialize let them know you’ll join them in a bit.
7. Eat with proper etiquette. If the occasion dictates, use a fork and knife. It’s harder to be glutton if you eat like a normal human being.
8. Just because there is free alcohol doesn’t mean you drink till you drop. Drink judiciously. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself. Have a glass of water between drinks.
9. Take small portions for dessert. Even if it’s ice-cream remember those calories count.
10. Remember just because the host urges you to eat doesn’t mean you have to.  Learn to say no politely but firmly.

 Just follow these ten party commandments and your waistline will have everyone green with envy. It’s party time!

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Sepsis is not severe infection per se as is commonly misunderstood. It is the body’s response to serious infection. Chemicals are triggered by the body to fight the infection and these may end up causing widespread inflammation. The girl’s severe injuries and resultant infection may have led to her body responding with sepsis.

Sepsis leads to reduced blood flow to all organs compromising their health and may lead to organ damage or failure. The BP may fall and if this isn’t treated in time, it may lead to what is called ‘septic shock’.  The girl is being treated for infection and for increasing her blood pressure. Since she is a young and healthy woman with a good immune system, her chances of fighting this are good.

People with sepsis show symptoms like fever with chills (or even very low body temperature), difficulty in breathing, nausea and vomiting, rapid pulse, confusion, light headedness, pain in the joints, decreased urine output and sometime diarrhoea. Patient X, the victim, is now showing signs of respiratory distress and has been put on ventilator support.

Patients with sepsis also have acidosis (high acid levels in the blood), positive blood culture for bacteria, abnormal kidney or liver function, abnormal WBC count and a low platelet count. Doctors are now worried and treating Patient X’s low platelet count. It fell rapidly from 41000 on Sunday morning to around 19000 in the evening (the normal platelet count in a healthy person is around 1,50,000 to around 4,50,000). A low platelet count like hers could lead to spontaneous bleeding (internal bleeding may be more serious) and delay in clotting.  The doctors might now be treating her with blood or packed cell transfusions to treat the low platelet count. As a result of low platelet count, it may be very difficult to perform any surgery or invasive procedure like the intestinal transplant they have been planning.

We hope the doctors manage to treat her sepsis and low platelet count in time. Here’s wishing her a speedy recovery and good health!

Recently, the Asian Heart Institute became one of the first few hospitals in the country to conduct an angioplasty with the new generation biodegradable stent.  Surgeons there successfully performed a biodegradable stent implant on a patient on the first day after the launch of Abbott’s Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold in the country. A team of surgeons, including cardiologists Dr Nilesh Gautam and Dr Praveen Kulkarni performed the procedure on 49 year-old Sushma Mallawat with 100 % blockage in her Left Anterior Decending Artery (LADA).  This was a particularly high risk case as the patient was diabetic with acute coronary syndrome and had symptoms of breathlessness, chest pain and her heart pumping was less than 35 %, said doctors. 

According to doctors, this new generation bio re-absorbable stent serves the same purpose as that of the normal version, but is manufactured from a material that dissolves in the body over time. 

How are they better? 

Metallic stents have been around for a while now as treatment of choice when it comes to treating chest pain and/or heart attack.They are basically small tubes used to keep the affected coronary arteries (in the heart) open so that the heart gets enough blood, oxygen supply and is able to function properly. They are implanted in the heart with a procedure called angioplasty. However, these metallic stents do come with disadvantages – they can lead to scarring of the vessel tissue which in turn can cause ‘restenosis’ which means that the arteries could close up again. Though there have been further advances like the use of drug-eluting stents (stents coated with medicines that could reduce the risk of restenosis), they still had complications.

The latest in the armamentarium against heart disease is ‘bio-absorbable’ stents which were launched in Mumbai this wednesday. These basically dissolve in around 18-months reducing the risk of scarring, restenosis and other issues with the earlier stents. It has been launched by Abbott Vascular and was given an approval by the Drug Controller general of India after a clinical trial with 100 patients.

The option is now available at the following Mumbai hospitals – Bombay Hospital, Jaslok, L H Hiranandani Hospital in Powai and the Asian heart Institute.

Apart from reduced complications like clotting, re-stenosis, the doctors are of the opinion that follow-up also becomes easier. In cases with metallic stents, it becomes very difficult to see other blockages since the metal refracts the rays of the scan. With a bio-absorbable stent, since the diagnosis is better, there is a better chance of catching and treating other blockages on time.

While the long-term success and the cost factor is still to be figured out, it does seem like a breakthrough of sorts in the world of cardiac surgeries.

The girl is now in such a ‘critical’ condition that she needs a ventilator to breathe. The men not only raped her repeatedly but also beat her with a blunt object and shoved it into her vagina leading to multiple injuries all over.

Dr B D Athani, medical superintendent at the Safdurjung Hospital in Delhi said ‘She has sustained serious abdominal and genital injuries. It seems she was repeatedly hit with a blunt object on her abdomen or an object was shoved into her private parts. She has several injury marks on her body but the injury to the intestines has created a life-threatening condition.’ The girl has been operated on and large portions of her intestines were removed. She has lost a lot of blood but has regained consciousness.

India.com health view:

What drives people towards such barbarism? What kind of frustration pushes men to commit such heinous crimes against women? Are they men who are pretty ‘normal’ otherwise, have decent jobs, married with kids and are frustrated? Or are they alcoholics and drug addicts beyond redemption? 
What encourages these men is perhaps the fact that justice in such cases takes years in the court and leading to mere mockery of the woman, albeit as public entertainment the second time around. Perhaps it is the fact that these cases are forgotten soon enough. Perhaps they have ‘connections’ they could use to get out of the mess. 

Whatever it is, such crimes are not justified.  It is time our Government gets such cases into fast-track courts. It is time our media realize that it isn’t just about TRPs and eyeballs when the case is on fire and that they could make a bigger difference following up on such cases. It is time men realize that women are not mere objects to help them get rid of their frustration or ‘up their game’.