Let's Talk Health – The official blog of Apollo Hospitals

HEALTH CARE HEALTHY HABITS INDIA GENERAL INFORMATION SURGERY & RECOVERY TIPS & PREVENTION

Long sitting causes joints pains

Have you experienced the jerk in your knee while getting up from your chair in the office or did you find it difficult to bend down and pick up things from the floor? There are many such little pains here and there in the joints across the body that gives sometimes mild and other times severe pain. For elders, the conditions are every grave because of their long sitting positions and less activity. Even the young generation is becoming a victim of joints pains due to long sitting hours in the office and less physical activity. There are a number of other contributing factors too, the understanding of which can make us aware and avoid such troubling physical inabilities. Joint Pains due to Long Sitting Hours - A Kind of Psoriatic Arthritis One of the common conditions that people experience due to sitting for long hours is Psoriatic Arthritis. This may cause stiffness and pain in your joints. In the initial stage, it can be controlled with a little exercising, yoga, hot pads, ice packs etc, however, if is pain is persistent, never attempt to reduce the pain yourself, as it may lead to other consequences. It is recommended to consult your doctor for its proper diagnosis and treatment. There are multiple diagnostic approaches available to establish the main cause of such knee pain and give appropriate treatment. By addressing the exact cause and initiating the right treatment, the severance of the diseases can be reduced or stopped. Causes of Joint Pain after sitting Long Hours Here are some of the major causes of joint pain after sitting for long hours:

● This condition may be caused due to damage in the joint due to arthritis. Arthritis is further categorized into Osteoarthritis, caused due to wear and tear to joints, which is very common with aging factors, and Rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused due to dysfunction of the immune system resulting in damages to joints.
● Osteomyelitis, which is an infection in the bone causing joint pain after sitting for long hours. This may result in septic arthritis which refers to the infection of joint space.
● Other conditions like tears, tendons, rupture of cartilage and ligaments can also cause knee pain
● Gout, a disorder in which the crystals are built up in the knee and joints can cause joint pain.
● Tumors in bone joints is a severe condition that can also result in joint pains

Know the Risk Factors of Joint Pain Caused Dye to Long Sitting Hours There are many risk factors involved in causing joint pains. Some of the common factors include:

● Increase in age
● Smoking / alcohol
● Family history
● Improper diet
● Too much of physical strain and others

The joint pains are commonly caused in hip joint, neck, knees, wrist and other parts of the body. When not treated at the initial stage, they may eventually worsen. However, there are some recommendations with combined with good sitting posture can help you improve the symptoms. Tips to Manage Your Joint Pain Due to Sitting long Understanding the condition is very important before you try to find out a remedy. If you are serious about dealing with this condition without heavy medications, then try to bring a little life style change and good habits. Here are a few tips;

● Change your sitting posture at least once in 30 minutes
● Try to go for a small walk in between your work hours to relax your legs, hip, neck and shoulder
● Try to stretch your body doing some physical exercise that may relax your entire body
● Remember, stiffness is one of the main problems causing such joint pain, therefore you may need to follow flexibility improvement tips.

Final Note: To verdict, giving complete details about your medical history to your Orthopedic doctor is very important for proper diagnosis of your condition. This will help to derive appropriate medications and treatment procedure. Moreover, taking treatment at right time can eliminate the need for surgeries too while preventing the severity. Try to practice yoga daily and other simple exercises to relax your bones and muscles and keep you healthy. fot2

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Give Your Liver A Long And Healthy Life

Many of us think that keeping blood pressure and sugar in control, getting a routine heart check-up, and getting tested for normal hemoglobin levels is just enough to live a healthy life, without giving much of thought on how is our liver doing! Everything you eat or drink has to pass through your liver, so it is crucial to keep it healthy so that it can perform its functions rightly. Are you aware how much does a normal human liver measure? It measures around 7 cm in women and 10.5 cm in men, but the most interesting fact is that it is still the largest and the heaviest gland of the human body. Amazing! Isn’t it? There are more interesting and surprising details about this vital organ of the body in this blog. Quick facts about liver There are certain things that one should know about a healthy human liver: ● The liver is located in the upper right portion of the stomach just under the ribs, and so it cannot be felt with hands. ● It consists of a left and a right lobe, while is connected with two large blood vessels – the portal vein and the hepatic artery. A gallbladder is found in the liver along with some parts of pancreas and intestines. ● The liver's primary function is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. It also metabolizes drugs and detoxifies the chemicals found in the blood. As it does this, it produces a dark green to a yellowish-brown fluid called ‘bile’ that ends up back in the intestines. ● The liver also generates proteins that are essential for blood clotting and other functions. ● A normal liver has the capability to regenerate itself and so many a times there are no remarkable symptoms of a malfunctioning liver. ● In the case of severe or chronic liver diseases, there may be serious interruptions in the normal liver functioning and the diseased liver can lose the capability of regeneration and eventually lead to liver failure. ● The branch of medicine which deals with the prevention, diagnosis and management of liver disease in called Hepatology. Many times, the liver disease could also affect stomach and intestines then experts from both the Hepatology and Gastroenterology look into the case. Why is Liver a vital organ? Given below are the functions of the liver that makes it a vital organ of our body: ● Clears bilirubin which can turn the skin and eyes yellow on accumulation clearing the blood of drugs and other harmful substances ● Converts harmful ammonia to urea. Urea is one of the by-products of protein metabolism which is excreted in through the urine ● Processes hemoglobin for using its iron content as the liver stores up the iron ● Produces bile, which is an important fluid that carries away the waste and breaks down the fats in the small intestine during digestion process ● Produces certain proteins for plasma of blood ● Produces cholesterol and some special proteins that help in carrying out fats all through the body ● Regulates the clotting of blood ● Resists infections by producing immune factors and removes bacteria from the bloodstream ● Stores and releases glucose as and when needed How to keep a healthy liver? There are several things you can do to protect your liver and keep it healthy: ● Eat on the anti-inflammatory foods such as bitter tasting foods, leafy green vegetables, fresh herbs, high antioxidants, apple cider vinegar, green tea, etc. ● Use natural liver boosting supplements like milk thistle, dandelion root, holy basil, etc. ● Reduce stress. ● Exercise more and keep your body active. ● Include a liver panel test in your routine check-ups. ● In case you have any digestive disorder for a noticeable period or any other unusual symptom like darker spots on the skin of leg or hands, consult your doctor, as it may indicate any liver condition. It won’t be wrong to say that the liver is actually the ‘lever’ of our body. So, for living a healthy long life, it is very important to ensure all the organs of the body are performing well, without forgetting about the liver!

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Dying British man brought back to life at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital!

Simon Powell, a 63-year-old British citizen, was brought back to life after suffering severe decompression while diving in Maldives at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. As his condition had progressively deteriorated, he was required advanced medical facilities and was airlifted from Male’ Maldives to the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. It was while holidaying at a private resort with his wife, Simon had experienced breathing difficulty. A resident doctor who attended him suggested that he needed a hyperbaric chamber immediately and he was rushed to a nearby island and for eight hours placed in the hyperbaric chamber. Although there was quite an improvement in his condition, it had later deteriorated, with his kidney failing and the movement of the arms and legs had also stopped. Doctors attending to him felt he required to be in intensive care urgently and the nearest hospital with this facility was in Male, so he was rushed there by a boat around midnight. Although at the Male hospital, the doctors had to struggle to keep his condition stable, his condition kept deteriorating. It is then that the doctors recommended that Simon be shifted to an advanced institution with world-class medical facilities. East-West rescue, which runs air ambulance services was able to coordinate with Simon’s insurance company doctors. And as per their recommendation, he was shifted to Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, well equipped to handle cases which are of delicate nature such as this. After a four-hour flight, Simon was in the hands of experienced doctors of Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals’ Delhi. As per Dr Tarun Sahni, Senior Consultant, Internal & Hyperbaric Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, revealed, “When Simon arrived, though conscious, he was mildly disoriented. He received immediate recompression therapy. His brain MRI indicated some embolic areas in the brain, attributed to Decompression Sickness. Having treated him as he pulled through, he truly seems a miracle man, thanks to his tremendous strength and positivity, which allowed him to emerge from such a traumatic event. Slowly, his cognitive functions and recall of the incident have improved. Mild parenthesia in both lower limbs has decreased and his gait has steadily improved. Simon’s survival story is an excellent example of a miracle.” At Apollo Hospitals, we have been providing domestic and international patients with high-quality, patient-focused medical care. We constantly look for ways to raise the bar on quality healthcare and safety for our patients. Apollo Hospital’s Quality Steering Committee, made up of representatives from the hospitals' senior leadership, and leaders of the medical staff, set direction as a continuous process. To book an appointment with our doctors you can logon to www.askapollo.com

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HEALTH CARE MEDICAL INFORMATION PATIENTS SPEAK SURGERY & RECOVERY TIPS & PREVENTION

Know the Surprising Benefits of Power Napping

It is quite visible that with our increasingly busy life schedules, we devoid ourselves from taking time for an afternoon siesta which is considered to have extraordinary health benefits. However, the perception towards power napping is different in this modern world, where people are not expected to wink sleep during working hours, and this is widely considered unacceptable behaviour. Unlike other mammals, who are polyphasic sleepers which mean they doze throughout the day for short periods. Many people believe that humans are monophasic sleepers which say that our day is divided into two distinct periods, one for sleep and one for wakefulness. Or is it the modern society that has made us think so. Regardless, it’s quite clear that we are not getting enough sleep. But there is a solution to harness the power of sleeping hours through “Napping”. But, What exactly is a Napping? Napping is a short snooze which terminates just before the occurrence of deep sleep or slow-wave sleep (SWS). Power napping helps you to revitalise and stay refreshed all day quickly. Power naps last for up to 5, 10 and 20 minutes. A power nap of 10-minute is considered to boost your alertness and productivity. But, having a rest for 30 minutes or more may lead to impaired alertness and sleep inertia. Power nap needs are short to be efficient, as sleeping for extended will interfere with the body's circadian rhythm causing a disturbance to sleep in the night. The perfect timing to have a great nap is mid to late morning or early afternoon. Despite the practice to have power naps during work hours is shunned and evokes an intense feeling of guilt in the accused, but taking 'power nap' is considered to promote good health and enhance work efficiency. Health benefits of Power Nap: While a good sleep is a key to health, a few recent studies suggest that mid-day dozing has countless benefits on both mind and body. That includes:

● Productivity: A nap of 10-20 minutes enhances your creativity, verbal memory, perceptual learning and reaction time. It also lowers your mistake frequency and prevents burnout.

● Happiness: Power nap releases a neurotransmitter “Serotonin” that is responsible for the feeling of well-being and also reverses the effects of stress. ● Dementia: Napping prevents dementia; a decline in mental ability, i.e., Memory loss ● Skin Health: Napping enhances and speeds up the skin repair system. ● Weight control: Lack of proper sleep tends to produce a hormone “Ghrelin” that is responsible for the greed of food. Hence napping can quash the hunger out. ● Immunity: Napping combats the adverse effect of stress and weight gain hormone produced due to lack of sleep that weakens the muscular and immune system. ● Heart Health: Daytime nap can confer heart-related benefits by accelerating cardiovascular recovery after bouts of psychological stress and also promotes controlled blood pressure. Power naps not only nurture good health but, can also alleviate our sleep deficits such as sleep apnea or insomnia. Napping is good for people of all ages. But, particularly in children crossing toddlerhood, their sleep pattern transits from biphasic (twice a day) to monophasic sleep (once a day). In kids, power nap helps in

● Creative problem-solving ability
● Verbal memory
● Object learning
● Perceptual learning
● Statistical learning

Power naps also improve performance in math, logical reasoning and symbol recognition. Classroom naps are essential for preschool children as they help in enhancing their concentration and learning capabilities. By now you are probably thinking how to incorporate naps into your daily routine. Keep in mind that getting enough sleep is the best way to stay alerted and feel fit. But when fatigue sets in, a quick power nap can do wonders for your mental and physical stamina. If it is not working for you, consult a doctor for professional advice and medical help. fot nap

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Get your back muscle right with spinal surgery – The Best Remedy for Your Troublesome Back Muscle Spinal Problems!

Back pain is the most daunting condition for the majority of the population across the world. Almost everyone becomes the victim of back muscle spinal cord pain at some stage of their life. If you are one suffering from back pain and spinal cord problem, then this article is for you! What is a back pain? Back pain can be experienced constantly or sporadically. The pain may be dull, piercing, sharp or even felt with burning sensation. Besides, the pain can be in one place or it may radiate to other regions such as legs, sides, front and even entire back. The back pain can be categorized into acute and chronic. The acute pain will be sudden, severe, and lasts for a short period. Whereas, chronic pain lasts long and requires doctor’s consultation and medication. It is not only the pain that a person may experience with back muscle and spinal problem, but there are also other symptoms associated with this and they include;

● Stiffness
● Muscle spasms
● Decreased motion
● Shifted posture
● Numbness in groin
● Muscle weakness and much more

Acute pain is most commonly experienced by the majority of the population. Although it lasts only for a short time, when you tend to experience for a long time, it is important to give medical attention and thus consult your doctor soon. Some of the other problems associated with back muscle pain and spinal surgery are;

● Infection in spine
● Spinal fracture due to injury
● Spinal stenosis
● Tumor in spine
● Loss of control of bladder/bowel
● Weakness or loss of feeling in back or legs, which may get worse over the time

Can Back Muscle Injury get serious? Any muscle strain can result in inflammation and severe pain in the back. This injury may lead to muscle spasms causing an uncomfortable condition to the patient to make any movements, Is surgery required for back muscle injuries? The fact is, in most of the cases, surgery is not required for a back muscle injury unless muscle fibers are torn and severely damaged. Muscle strain in back and neck in most cases can be easily addressed through a combination of medications such as muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, heat therapy, cold compress, massage therapy and others. However, stretch and core exercise will be recommended for the patients to strengthen their back and neck muscles that are injured. During the diagnosis after the above-said medications, the doctor may determine if the patient certainly needs a surgery or not. Conditions Treated in Spinal Surgery Here are some of the notable conditions associated with back muscle pain for spinal surgery; Sciatica: This condition is associated with leg pain due to bony stenosis or disc prolapsed from lumbar spine, which results in pressure in sciatic nerve. Myelopathy: This is twitching and stiffness of arms and legs due to the pressure on spinal cord at a thoracic or cervical region. This can be due to canal stenosis, disc prolapses or tumour compression. Claudication: This is bilateral or unilateral leg pain due to standing or walking even a short distance that is associated with numbness, burning sensation or paraesthesia in feet. The patient may experience pressure on cauda-equina, spinal nerves from the central canal stenosis in the lumbar spine. Radiculopathy: This is the nerve pain caused due to pressure in spine and neck. Some of the other surgery choices may include;

● Spinal fusion
● Discectomy
● Surgery for tumour and infection
● Laminectomy for spinal stenosis
● Kyphoplasty
● Vertebroplasty
● Percutaneous discectomy

Most of the back or spinal surgeries are done to majorly treat nerve pain from the herniated discs. On detecting the right spinal surgery choice for the patient, the surgeon will carefully work to repair damaged muscle tissues. However, the recovery may depend on the extent of which the muscle is damaged. The surgeon may also advise patient about possible future muscle injuries and gives some exercise tips to prevent them to prevent. spinal f

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HEALTH CARE HEALTHY HABITS MEDICAL INFORMATION MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TIPS & PREVENTION

How To Run – A Beginners Guide

If you’ve decided it’s time to begin an exercise program, running is one of the human body’s most natural ways to do so. In fact, studies have found that running promotes a person’s overall well-being of body, mind and soul. Running boosts one’s self-confidence, relieves stress, and helps you lose those unwanted pounds; while also toning your muscles and increasing physical endurance. And, running has further been medically proven to reduce the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, and some forms of cancer! More positives related to running include the fact it can be done virtually anywhere, anytime, and that it is a relatively inexpensive form of exercise. As a beginner, doctors recommend several important steps to follow when getting started, and as you gradually increase your running distance over time. A Beginner’s Running Program Starts with the Shoes

Artboard 1ad Starting a new running habit doesn't have to be hard. This guide makes it easy to get started, get inspired and stay on track. When you consult a doctor, they will inform that running comfort starts with a good pair of shoes. Make sure that they are specified for running, and that the shoes are not too loose or tight. Ideally, they need to be a little larger than your dress or casual pairs, so that they don’t “heel slip”, and fit securely and comfortably in the midfoot area.

Alright, now you’ve got your shoes, and you are ready to begin running. Here are some other recommendations when starting a running program, and as you progress over days, weeks, and months:

It is important that you stay hydrated before and after running, and the best source of hydration is regular water. Right after running, water should be the only beverage that you drink, and make a conscious effort to increase your daily water intake in relation to how far, and how often, you run.

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HEALTH CARE MEDICAL INFORMATION TIPS & PREVENTION

Signs of heart problem during exercise

A healthy heart demands a healthy lifestyle. Making your life sedentary is a forward step you are putting towards your contribution to cardiovascular diseases. The recent studies suggest that lack of physical activities can increase the risk of heart disease by 50%. Staying fit and active reduces the chances of pushing your heart towards severe problems and keeps your heart safe and protected. Physical activities that include walking, swimming and aerobic has proven to improve heart health. Besides, it also helps in weight loss and maintaining proper blood pressure levels. Every year nearly 17.3 million people die globally due to heart diseases. Exercise is one way to fight against this statistic, but it’s important to do so under care. However, in few instances exercises can increase the chances of heart problems, in particularly to those who earlier had cardiovascular disease and who don’t follow the physical activities suggested by their physician at the time of discharge. Here are the facts that underlines the signs of heart problems during exercises. Why should precautions be taken? There is a very old saying “Prevention is better than cure,” which means it's better to take prevention rather than finding a cure for it because not all problems have a cure. Though exercise is safe for most of the people and also vital for maintaining good health, precautions should be taken, especially if: ● Your doctor has informed you that you are prone to heart diseases. ● You have recently experienced any heart problem that includes minor heart attack or cardiac arrest. In spite of these precautions, it can be difficult for your physician to predict the possible health issues that you may encounter while exercising. It’s you who know your body better than a doctor. So to be safe, one should be familiar with the symptoms that can, later on, cause complications if left unnoticed. Being aware of warning signs of heart problems could be life-saving. Signs that indicate your heart is in the red-zone: The signs and symptoms of heart problem differ from person to person. Here are some common symptoms that are experienced by people during exercise and if you are encountering any of them, then immediately seek medical help. ● Chest pain: It’s the most common sign of heart danger. During a chest pain one feels mild to severe discomfort, uncomfortable pressure, squeezing or fullness in the chest. Some people express their pain comparing it to an elephant sitting on their chest. The pain can be subtle and may come and go, so it can be difficult to tell what’s wrong. In case you encounter such feeling for more than a few minutes then immediately stop exercising and consult a doctor for medical attention. ● Early exhaustion with shortened breath: A lot of things can make you lose your balance or make you faint for a moment. Feeling fatigued or winded, along with unusual breathlessness with chest discomfort during exercise that causes dizziness or lightheadedness is an unhealthy sign and is often a precursor to a heart attack. Take this warning sign seriously and stop exercising right away. ● Vigorous Sweating: Sweating is good during exercising. But breaking out in a cold sweat for no reason could signal a heart attack. ● Abnormal heartbeats: The feeling of your heartbeat skipping, palpitating, or thumping could indicate a heart problem. Seek medical attention if you observe any unusual heart rhythms during your workout. What to do ? When it comes to dealing with a heart problem, time plays a critical role because every second counts. Don’t go with wait-and-see method. Seek immediate medical help if you are experiencing any of the warning signs mentioned above. Remember your heart is the most delicate organ and needs intensive care, apart from keeping it healthy, also keep it safe. heart blog footer

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HEALTH CARE HEALTHY HABITS INDIA GENERAL INFORMATION SURGERY & RECOVERY TIPS & PREVENTION

Long sitting causes joints pains

● This condition may be caused due to damage in the joint due to arthritis. Arthritis is further categorized into Osteoarthritis, caused due to wear and tear to joints, which is very common with aging factors, and Rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused due to dysfunction of the immune system resulting in damages to joints.
● Osteomyelitis, which is an infection in the bone causing joint pain after sitting for long hours. This may result in septic arthritis which refers to the infection of joint space.
● Other conditions like tears, tendons, rupture of cartilage and ligaments can also cause knee pain
● Gout, a disorder in which the crystals are built up in the knee and joints can cause joint pain.
● Tumors in bone joints is a severe condition that can also result in joint pains

Know the Risk Factors of Joint Pain Caused Dye to Long Sitting Hours There are many risk factors involved in causing joint pains. Some of the common factors include:

● Increase in age
● Smoking / alcohol
● Family history
● Improper diet
● Too much of physical strain and others

● Change your sitting posture at least once in 30 minutes
● Try to go for a small walk in between your work hours to relax your legs, hip, neck and shoulder
● Try to stretch your body doing some physical exercise that may relax your entire body
● Remember, stiffness is one of the main problems causing such joint pain, therefore you may need to follow flexibility improvement tips.

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Winter Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Prevention

Winter Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Prevention When the temperature goes down, or it had been a few days when you had last seen the sun, do not think that you can give few days off to your sunscreen. Even in the chilly winters and cloudy days, the harmful Ultraviolet rays are everywhere around you. What’s more? They can penetrate through the dark clouds and hit your skin and can raise chances of Skin cancer. So, even in the winters, you cannot go loose on protecting your skin from the sun. What does statistics have to say? Studies have been conducted and various research have been carried out to understand what happens with the skin in winters and who are at more risk of skin damage: Out of all the skin cancers, approximately 90% are caused by overexposure to the harmful UV radiation. Winter sports’ enthusiasts are at a greater risk of sun-induced skin damage and potential skin cancer. Even on cloudy days, winter sports addicts are at higher risk of skin damage – that is because up to 80% of the sun's harmful Ultraviolet rays can easily penetrate the clouds. Snowboarders and skiers mostly forget to put sunscreen and are more likely to catch windburn and frostbite than sunburn. How to protect skin during winters? There are few tips to prevent skin from the bad effects of the winter. Guard your skin on cloudy days Even if there is no sun out, you should not miss on applying a good sunscreen on your skin. As per a renowned Oncologist Chon, a good sunscreen can dramatically reduce the risk of skin cancer. While going out, wrap your face with scarf or stole and carry an umbrella with you. Maintain good sunscreen habits Applying sunscreen while going out should be your habit. You can follow the below year-round sunscreen tips: Use a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 which is effective in broad spectrum blocking both Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays and is waterproof as well. If you have dry skin, put sunscreen half an hour before going outdoors. Apply it all over the face, hands, ears and arms. While applying on sensitive areas, use the sunscreen with zinc oxide. Both snow and chilly winds can throw away any sunscreen protection used and hence reduce its effectiveness, therefore, it is strongly recommended to re-apply it at least after every two hours. Reapply the sunscreen lotion after sweating or swimming. Enjoy the sun safely To completely protect your skin in the winter, take little extra care: Use a lip balm with SPF 30. Wear long-sleeved jacket, gloves and hat. Wear wrap-around goggles or sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Try to be in the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is right above the head and the rays are the strongest in this duration. If you feel anything unusual or you fear any symptoms of skin cancer, see an Oncologist without delay. How to find the best sunscreen that suits your skin? Confused which sunscreen is the best for you? Below are some quick tips to get you through: Identify your skin type – normal, dry, oily Be informed of any allergy that you may have Choose a sunscreen with SPF more than 15 Go for a water-resistant sunscreen You can always seek help from a dermatologist So be careful with your skin during winters. Don’t let winters to trick with your skin; a little awareness and a lot of alertness can prevent your skin from the bad, very bad Skin cancer! footer-winter

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HEALTH CARE HEALTHY HABITS MEDICAL INFORMATION MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY SURGERY & RECOVERY TIPS & PREVENTION

Tips to overcome Jet Lag

Many people choose to travel across the world to receive the best medical care which is often unavailable in their own country. Flying long distances, especially for medical treatment can be a daunting and strenuous task and so can be coping up with Jet Lag. Jet Lag is caused due to misalignment between the external environment and the internal clock in the brain that drives our daily activities, alertness and ability to sleep. People who travel long distances crossing several time zones, find ambient light and other environmental cues make their internal clock go haywire. For few it may feel a little out of whack while others are dogged by the symptoms of Jet Lag like experiencing fatigue, irritability, nausea, difficulty in concentrating, headache, and stomach upset, they may also find trouble sleeping, which makes them shallow and fitful. What happens during Jet Lag? An internal master clock — a cluster of nearly 20,000 neurons in the brain just above the optic nerve controls the circadian rhythms. In response to light and other environmental cues, it harmonizes the functions of different body systems over a 24-hour period. As the light and environment changes, our internal clock uses environmental cues to reset itself, at an average of an hour or a day. In case if you cross several time zones within a day, your internal clock doesn't get enough time to synchronize your body with the new time zone. Tips to minimize the effects of Jet Lag: There is no sure way to avoid jet lag entirely, but you can reduce its effects. Try these tips the next time you travel:

● If you are travelling shorter distances

On the trips that involve crossing one or two time zones, you may just need to make some minor adjustments to your regular home schedule like eating meals, going to bed and awakening a little earlier (if travelling towards east) or a bit later ( if heading towards west). Tip: At your destination, schedule appointments or get engaged in activities to avoid sleeping in daytime.

● If you are travelling longer distances

1. Start to shift before the trip: For few days before you leave, adjust with the mealtimes and bedtime incrementally closer to the scheduled destination. Even a partial switch may help.

2. Stay hydrated: Mild dehydration is common when travelling by air. Drink plenty of fluids during, and after your flight. Avoid caffeine and alcohol entirely as they promote dehydration and worsens the symptoms of jet lag, both can also disturb your sleep.

3. Switch as rapidly as possible upon arrival: Don't sleep in until it's bedtime in the new time zone.

4. Move around: Take a walk, do some static stretch exercises on the flight. But after you land, avoid heavy workout near bedtime, as it can delay sleep.

5. Use the sun to help you re-adjust:. Exposure to sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythms. In case of travelling from west to east, you need to wake up early, get exposed to the early morning sun and if travelling east to west, you need to wake up late, get yourself exposed to late afternoon sunlight.

6. Eat sensibly: Avoid heavy diets such as high carb or fatty diet close to bedtime because that can be disruptive to sleep.

At Apollo Hospitals, our mantra is: “Tender Loving Care”, and we cheerfully welcome international travelers. It is our goal to make all foreign patients feel at home and comfortable, to make your health care experience in India a pleasant one. To know more visit www.apollohospitals.com

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Kidney Pain and Back Pain

Every disease or illness is characterized with certain symptoms, knowing the signs and symptoms helps us identify and treat the illness effectively. But, what if the symptoms of two different illness appear to be undistinguished, overlapped and create a confusion. One such illness that is often misinterpreted is the lower back pain and the kidney pain. Many of us fail to figure out the difference when we experience pain particularly when it's either kidney or lower back pain.Let’s explore the exact differences between the symptoms, triggers, and characteristics of these conditions to spot out the difference more accurately. It is signified as back pain when you experience vacillating pain anywhere in the lower back or buttocks whereas kidney pain also occur in the back but, the pain is specifically more constant and sharp between the hips or flanks and the ribs. The location of Back pain varies and extend up to the neck and upper back, on the other hand kidney pain is pin point. Back pain may also spread or radiate to other parts of the body, like the back of the thigh, buttock, calf, or foot. Diving down to Kidney pain, it may spread to the lower abdomen and inner thigh. The other parameters that differentiate the Back pain and Kidney pain include:

Parameters	Back Pain	Kidney Pain
Causes	● Sciatica ● Backbone fractures (vertebral body fracture) ● Fracture of pedicle ● Fracture of lamina ● Disc bulge ● Disc herniation ● Spinal stenosis ● Osteoporosis ● Metastatic vertebral cancer ● Paravertebral muscle spasm	● Kidney stones ● Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) ● Glomerulonephritis ● Kidney cancer ● Renal infarction
Symptoms	● Fever ● Swelling on the back ● Persistent back pain ● Pain traveling down the legs ● Pain reaching the knees ● A recent injury to the back ● Urinary incontinence ● Difficulty urinating ● Fecal incontinence ● Numbness around the genitals ● Numbness around the anus ● Numbness around the buttock	● Fever ● Blood in the urine ● Nausea ● Vomiting ● Dizziness ● Constipation or diarrhea ● Rash ● Fatigue ● Chills ● Cloudy or dark urine ● Burning urination ● Body swelling (edema)
Triggers	Prolonged sitting, lying, standing (sciatic pain)	Drinking large amount of fluids (in ureteropelvic junction [UPJ] obstruction) Usually not triggered by movements
Pain Management	● Physical therapy Massage therapy ● Heat therapy ● Cold compression therapy ● Electrotherapy ● Acupressure	● Antibiotics and medications ( If it’s an infection) ● Laser surgery or a minimally invasive surgery (If it’s due to kidney stone, where medication doesn't work)

No matter what may be the cause or how minimal the severity of the pain is. It is advisable toconsult a doctor for signs or symptoms of back pain or kidney pain to figure out the root cause and to avoid further complications. To book an online consultation with our best Orthopedician or Nephrologist, log on to www.askapollo.com

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