Category health

Mumbai, 8 March 2023: In commemoration of International Women’s Day celebrated worldwide on the 8th of March, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, one of India’s largest networks of eye hospitals, is conducting free eye checkup camp for women of all age groups across all branches in Mumbai till March 31, 2023. For registration, contact 080-48193434.

The hospital has made special arrangements for screening for certain eye diseases and disorders that women are at a higher risk of getting, and the prevalence rate of which has seen a rise among women in recent times. Such issues include ocular manifestations of autoimmune diseases, dry eye, low vision, thyroid eye diseases, and refractive errors. Dr Agarwals Group of Eye Hospitals has also launched their new state-of-the-art Eye Hospital in Chembur.

Dr. Nita A Shah, Head – Clinical Services, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, Chembur, Mumbai, said, “Biological sex differences affect ocular structure, gene expression and other functions of eye that influence eye health. Pregnant women could develop gestational diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels become high during pregnancy, and some may develop diabetic retinopathy, vision issues caused by damage to blood vessels in the eye. Pregnancy can also cause dry eyes, and light sensitivity. Hormones in birth control pills can cause vascular changes, indirectly contributing to vision problems.”

Menopause and perimenopause, the time when the body makes the natural transition to menopause, usually accompany a dip in estrogens, a group of hormones. When estrogens drop, the oil glands in the eye produce less lubrication, causing dry eyes and blurry vision.

“About 80% of those affected by autoimmune issues are women. Eye inflammation is one of the many possible effects of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, psoriasis, Reiter’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and uveitis. Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder, which results in overproduction of the thyroid hormone affects more women than men. Thyroid eye diseases affect 16 in 100,000 women, while only 3 in the male population of equal size” added Dr. Nita A Shah.

Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital will also conduct awareness sessions on the steps women have to take to minimize the risks of eye diseases that arise from factors exclusive to them: hormonal surges during pregnancy, menopause, and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, among others. The month-long eye checkup and awareness campaign of the hospital throughout Mumbai would make women aware of the risks, better informed and would result in early diagnosis and early intervention for better eye health outcomes.

The 8th edition of the 7km race for patients with rare diseases will be held in New Delhi on March 12

New Delhi, March 2023: To commemorate World Rare Disease Day, the Organization for Rare Diseases India (ORDI) is holding the 8th edition of Racefor7®️ on March 12 in New Delhi. An annual event by ORDI to raise awareness for the rare disease community and advocate better policies and access to treatment for rare disease patients, RaceFor7 is a seven kilometer walk/run/cycle symbolizing 7000 known rare diseases, the average of 7 years it takes to diagnose a rare disease and the 70 million estimated rare diseases patients in India. The event is open to the general public and will see participation from rare disease patients and their families too. Registration details are available at racefor7.com. Dr Neerja Gupta, Additional Professor, Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi and Prasanna Kumar Shirol, Co-founder and Executive Director, ORDI addressed the media.

Besides New Delhi, the event is being held in 12 other cities nationally including Davangere, Mysuru, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kochi, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Thiruvananthapuram.

Dr Neerja Gupta, Additional Professor, Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi comments on the race, “Rare diseases now have a special place among many other medical conditions, thanks to the declaration of rare disease policy and steps taken by the government towards its implementation. Despite diagnostic technological advancements, awareness of these conditions at the grassroots level is still required for suspicion and timely referral, which can facilitate early diagnosis and opens the possibility of timely initiation of therapy which is available for a few but evolving very rapidly, improving not only the patient’s but also the entire family’s quality of life. “Treatment without prevention is simply unsustainable,” and this is especially true for genetic diseases where prevention is possible through newborn screening and prenatal diagnosis. We congratulate ORDI members on their unwavering commitment to raising public awareness for recognizing, preventing, and caring for rare disorders through this walkathon.”

“We are thrilled to bring Racefor7 back to an in-person event after a virtual event the last two years because of the pandemic,” said Prasanna Kumar Shirol, co-founder and Executive Director, ORDI. “Racefor7 is one of the world’s largest multi-city events to raise mass awareness about Rare Disease. Racefor7 aims to create awareness and the need of preventive measures to contain Rare Diseases such as Consanguineous Marriages, Prenatal Tests, and Informed decision about childbirth, New Born Screening, Precision Healthcare and Innovation etc. Thanks to the Central Government, today we have a National Policy for Rare Diseases. This is just the beginning of recognition of Rare Diseases in India. We still need to address the many challenges that this patient community faces like complete care and support for all Rare Diseases, Local Drug Development, and Insurance Coverage etc.

It’s time that all the state governments come forward and take the initiative to join hands with the central Government and extend support from their side. This calls for more support and we request all of you to come forward, participate to make this movement bigger by creating more awareness about the Rare Disease patients in India.”

“Need of the hour is indigenous drug development for the rare diseases. The National Rare Disease Policy, 2021 states that pharmaceutical industries would be encouraged to develop drugs for rare diseases. The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will be roped in to create a conducive policy framework for domestic pharmaceutical companies to focus on the research development and manufacturing of indigenous drugs for curing rare diseases”, comments Mr Samir Sethi – Chairman -ORDI Advocacy Committee and President Indian Rett Syndrome Foundation

Racefor7 is a step towards building awareness for rare diseases as also raising funds to meet the needs of the rare disease community. Globally, Rare Disease Day is observed every year on the last day of February Month. It plays a critical part in building an international rare disease community that is multi-disease, global, and diverse but united in purpose. Though Rare Disease Day is patient-led, everyone including individuals, families, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, clinicians, policy makers, industry representatives and the general public can participate in raising awareness and taking action today for this vulnerable population who require immediate and urgent attention. Racefor7®️ is one such event in India.

New Delhi, 06th March 2023: Glamyo Health, a healthcare brand that specialises in elective and cosmetic surgeries, has been on a mission to make quality secondary surgical care affordable to the aspiring middle class of India.

To this end they have entered into a strategic collaboration with multiple healthcare financing partners to convert the medical bills of its patients into easy and affordable Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) at no interest and additional charge to the patient. The tie-ups with Fibe (previously Early Salary), Bajaj Finance, Mahila Money, GMoney, and Unofin would empower the mid-income groups to get these wide varieties of secondary care surgeries done on time without having to worry about medical finances disrupting financial harmony.

With the intention to establish an affordable healthcare system that is easy to finance, Glamyo Health has created various innovative products with financing partners to offer Salary Advances, Instant Personal Loans, Cards, and Buy Now Pay Later options to pay for treatment. Patients and caregivers under this proposition, can now seamlessly avail of Healthcare financing from ₹ 10,000 – 1,50,000, depending on the surgical case.

Archit Garg, Co-Founder, Glamyo Health said, “Healthcare in India faces great inequality. A privileged few have either medical insurance or enough money to access quality care viaprivate hospitals. Most of the population have no option but to avail medical services from public systems where quality can vary significantly. It is a multifaceted challenge to make healthcare available, accessible, and affordable to all citizens. To address a whole set of healthcare problems and financing holistically, Glamyo healthcare is pleased to collaborate with some well-known financing partners. Of All the patients that we are supporting atleast 20 percent are availing financing options. ”

Dr. Preet Pal Thakur, Co-Founder, Glamyo Health said, “ We started Glamyo Health with one simple motive of easing out the surgical experience of middle class Indians. Most of the population is just one bad healthcare outcome away from being pushed into poverty making healthcare financing the key parameter. Over the last 24 months, we have helped more than 650,000 patients in their surgical journey and over the next 12 months, we intend to disburse healthcare financing worth INR 100 Cr to ease out their financial burden”

Glamyo Health offers financial assistance for all minimally invasive elective surgeries, of various categories such as proctology, laparoscopy, urology, vascular, ophthalmology, gynaecology, cosmetic, ENT, orthopaedic, and dental. The healthcare brand only requires checking a few things, such as credit history and monthly income, before they can involve their financing partners to help their patients. The average cost of treatment for a patient who doesn’t have insurance is

1. Cosmetic Surgeries is ₹ 40,000-60,000;

2. Piles Surgery is ₹ 40,000,

3. Kidney Stones Surgery is ₹ 60,000,

4. Vascular Surgery is ₹ 100,000,

5. Ophthal Surgery is ₹ 50,000, and

6. Dental Surgery is ₹ 40,000.

Glamyo Health

Glamyo Health is a full-stack healthcare service provider with 450+ partner hospitals across 30+ cities. With 250+ highly experienced surgeons in various medical fields, Glamyo Health provides patients with a hassle-free experience from admission to discharge, including 24*7 personalised assistance, free insurance documentation, free OPD consultation, second medical opinion with medical experts, discounted medicines and diagnostic tests, free pick-up and drop on the day of surgery, and post-surgery follow-ups. All treatments are available to patients with the touch of a button and at the nearest Glamyo-affiliated hospitals, eliminating the requirement for patients to travel to major cities.

India March 6, 2023: MediBuddy, India’s largest Digital Healthcare Platform, released data indicating that men have taken more health check-ups than women in the last six months. The statistics showed that men accounted for 60% of the total health check-ups done by the digital healthcare platform, while women only accounted for 40%. Additionally, there was a 10% difference in total doctor consultations, with more men seeking consultations than women. This data comes to light as we celebrate International Women’s Day this week and highlights the need to raise awareness about women’s health in India.

Traditionally, Indian women have prioritized the well-being of their loved ones over their own, leading to neglect of their health. The female body undergoes constant changes and requires monitoring at every stage, but many women have relied on home remedies or ignored health complications, leading to a rise in health emergencies. Social conditioning, stigma, and lack of knowledge about menstruation and reproductive health have also deterred women from seeking healthcare. Additionally, women’s multiple roles as daughters, wives, mothers, and professionals often leave them with limited time for self-care. The emergence of digital consultations offers women an opportunity to overcome these barriers and more openly discuss their health concerns.

The data has brought forward the underlying concern of neglect of healthcare by women in the nation and highlights the lack of awareness both in the metros and the Tier II & III centres. Among the metros, Bengaluru tops the list with 25% of women taking health check-ups followed by Delhi at 15% and Hyderabad at 10%. Other prominent metros like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai lag in women’s participation in health consultations and check-ups. Women sought the highest number of consultations in categories such as Gynaecology, Dermatology, Pregnancy-related issues, Orthopaedics, and general check-ups.

Dr. Gowri Kulkarni, Head of Medical Operations, MediBuddy said, “Today women are at par with men in every walk of life, however, women are trailing where healthcare is concerned. Culturally, women with their varied roles in a family set up be it as a daughter or a wife or a mother tend to prioritise the well-being and health of their family over themselves. The recent data underlines the urgency of promoting awareness of good health among women. Women with their varied responsibilities managing home and work tend to feel pressed for time and may not actively reach out for consultations or health checks. However, Teleconsultations can make it easy for women to seek help and manage their health better. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is befitting to encourage the women in our lives to seek regular advice from health experts and not wait for serious emergencies.”

Throughout March, MediBuddy is providing exclusive health check-up packages and doctor consultations for women at a discounted price. Women of all ages can benefit from the Women’s Primary Prevention Health Checkup, which is offered at INR 1500. Additionally, the Women’s Staying Strong Health Checkup, which is suitable for women aged between 18 to 40 years, is being offered at INR 2699. Women aged 40 years and above can avail themselves of the Women’s Golden Gift Health Checkup at INR 4250. Make the most of these packages from MediBuddy to prioritize your health and well-being.

MediBuddy’s vision is to make high-quality healthcare accessible to a billion people. Through our campaign #HerHealthMatters, MediBuddy urges all women to take care of themselves first and all men to give the #giftofgoodhealth to their women. The campaign #HerHealthMatters encourages women to prioritize their health and take the necessary steps to maintain it. Regular health check-ups, a balanced diet, and exercise can go a long way in ensuring a healthy lifestyle. After all, good health is not just an individual’s responsibility but a collective effort of the entire family.

March 6, 2023: In honor of International Women’s Day, Fazlani Nature’s Nest – A Wellness Retreat has unveiled its latest initiative: a three-day Women’s Wellness Programme. Designed to cater to the unique health concerns of women at different stages of life, the program offers a comprehensive approach to enhancing mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being

The Women’s Wellness Programme includes a range of therapies, such as naturopathic and ayurvedic treatments, massages, yoga, meditation, and animal-assisted therapies. Guests will also be provided with organic, farm-to-table meals to support their health goals.

The program addresses a wide range of health issues that women may face, including urinary tract infections, menstrual anomalies, obesity, high cholesterol, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, chronic diabetes, fatty liver, menopause, and gynecological issues. The retreat’s Ayurveda and naturopathic physicians tailor each program to meet each guest’s unique needs, ensuring they feel refreshed and revitalized.

Fazlani Nature’s Nest’s Women’s Wellbeing Initiative empowers women to prioritize their health and wellness. The retreat provides an environment of tranquility, personalized attention, and a range of wellness activities to help women relax, rejuvenate, and rediscover their inner strength.

Celebrate International Women’s Day by investing in your health and well-being.

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Bengaluru March 2023: Goeld ( part of Shri Bajraj Alliance Ltd a listed company), a renowned frozen food company, has announced the launch new products which will be exclusively available at Reliance Retail across the country. The new range of products include Pizza Pocket, Paneer Pakoda, and Idli. This new range of frozen foods by GOELD is specially designed to cater to the needs of Indian consumers who are always on the go and looking for quick and tasty snack options.

The Pizza Pocket is a delicious snack that combines the flavours of pizza and samosas, making it a unique and mouth-watering treat for pizza lovers. The Paneer Pakoda is a crispy and crunchy snack that is made with fresh paneer and a blend of Indian spices, making it a perfect tea-time snack. The Idli is a classic South Indian dish that is loved by people across India, and Goeld has made it easier than ever to enjoy this traditional dish at home. The ingredients are freshly picked from company-owned farms.

Speaking at the launch of GOELD products at Reliance Retail, Archit Goel, Executive Director and CFO of Shri Bajrang Alliance Ltd. shared, “ We are thrilled to launch our new range of frozen foods exclusively at Reliance Retail across the country. Our frozen Pizza Pocket, Paneer Pakoda, and Idli are perfect for all across age groups who want to enjoy delicious snacks without compromising on taste or quality. We are confident that our new range of frozen foods will be a hit with customers, and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”

All three frozen food products are made using high-quality ingredients and have undergone stringent quality checks to ensure that customers get the best possible product. They are easy to cook and can be enjoyed at any time of the day, making them an ideal snack option for individuals of all ages.

GOELD range of Products comprises of Indian bread like Garlic Naan and Aloo Paratha, to drooly snacks like Paneer Cheese Samosa, Mac & Cheese Pops and Veg Seekh Kebab; they also provide curries like Paneer Butter Masala, Dal Makahani, Pindi Chhole, as well as an array of vegan treats like Quinoa Patty, Soya Shami Kebab and Lachha Paratha (Made from Whole Wheat Flour).

The new range of frozen foods from Goeld is now available exclusively at Reliance Retail across India. Customers can also order these products online through the Reliance website or app. So, go ahead and indulge in these delicious frozen snacks from Goeld and experience the perfect blend of taste and convenience.

The last thing we want to do when we have friends and family over is be unable to spend time with them. So don’t slave away in the kitchen, let GOELD snacks come to your rescue!

What is the cost of data breaches for India? According to a study, as of July 2022, the average cost of a data breach in India went up to an all-time high of ₹17.5 crores a 6.6% increase from last year. The question is however what is the real cost of a data breach, the answer is – loss of trust and brand value; set back to digital advancement and acceptance; general mistrust of technology. The ransomware attack on one of India’s premier healthcare institutes AIIMS Delhi made the common man question the digitalization of the healthcare sector.

Harikrishna Prabhu COO, TechnoBind Solutions

This particular ransomware attack brought down nearly 5 of the hospital’s servers halting all the digital work and forcing the staff to work manually including checking the patients in and out. The biggest hit however was the suspected data encryption of nearly 1.3 TB belonging to the patients. According to various media reports, the initial prognosis of the attack said this incident occurred due to the lack of robust cybersecurity infrastructure.

This hampers the purpose and progress of the sector’s digitization process

The Indian government’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) is built to provide a digital health ID to every citizen in the country where health records can be saved securely in digital format. But the increasing and repeated attack similar to that of AIIMS Delhi has made people skeptical about trusting medical data in digitized formats and there is a good reason for it too. As per a data published, in 2022 alone till the month of November India’s healthcare vertical has suffered 1.9 million cyberattacks. As healthcare is a critical infrastructure the threat actors seem to have found this to be a lucrative vertical to take advantage of. The right way is to act rather than react. CERT-In noted a 51% increase in the number of ransomware attacks, including on critical infrastructure in 2021. Currently, the safety of a patient’s data will depend on how safe the hospital servers are. The evident lack of awareness about cyber risks and the use of legacy technologies have contributed immensely to the healthcare sector’s vulnerability.

The solution is an 8-step recalibration of the current cybersecurity infrastructure

Assess and analyze the current state of the cybersecurity infrastructure in individual hospitals and hospital chains

Understand the capacity of what the organization needs and put in place cybersecurity solutions relevant to the organization
Regularly update the software patches and encrypt data

Conduct frequent training of the staff and random audit exercises to check on any malfunction lacking in the deployed protocols
Control, limit and manage access to the staff, 3rd party and the leadership teams

Create a backup, restore and response plan

Enabling multifactor authentication and biometrics

Restrict access to external endpoint devices like personal mobile phones, laptops and desktops of healthcare staff

By Dr C N Patil, HOD and Lead Consultant – Medical Oncology & Haemato-Oncology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore

With the ongoing techade, scientific advancements in cancer treatment have grown by leaps and bounds leading to immense progress in medical science and research in treating cancer. Today, breakthrough methods like immunotherapy are being referred to as a “game-changer” and a “miracle in the making” in cancer treatment and has shown promising results in treating patients with advanced cancer.

This method prompts our body’s immune system to specifically combat and target diseases like cancer. This therapy utilizes our body’s natural immune system to kill cancer cells. Also known as immuno-oncology, immunotherapy is a targeted treatment method that can be administered to patients in different forms such as medications, vaccinations, antibody treatments, cellular therapies, intravenously, orally and topically or through a catheter.

This is an approved therapy to treat cancers like melanoma, lymphoma, and lung cancer and is also being tested in clinical trials for immune-based treatments for many other types of cancers. Compared to common cancer treatment methods such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, immunotherapy is a fairly new method. Depending on the type of your cancer, your oncologist may use immunotherapy along with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy or solely as a separate treatment if other methods have failed. This method is extremely advanced and doctors sometimes also use it as a first line of treatment.

How does immunotherapy work?

Our immune system plays a critical role in helping our body to ward off external and internal diseases and illnesses, however, it cannot detect the issues inside like cancer cells. This usually happens because the cancer cells lack the external markers which are used by our immune system to identify hostile bodies that are essentially ‘hiding’ from it. Furthermore, cancer cells also signal our immune system to not destroy them and in some cases, our immune system is too weak to identify and destroy these cells and may require external help. This is where immunotherapy becomes critical as it enhances our immune system’s ability to destroy the tumour cells, stops the growth of cancer cells and prevents them from travelling to the other parts of the body.

What are the different types of immunotherapeutic options available?

Today, various types of immunotherapeutic options are available and can be used to treat cancer. These include –

Immune checkpoint inhibitors: These drugs help the immune system in recognizing and attacking cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines: These expose our immune system to an antigen and trigger it to recognize and destroy that antigen or related materials and prevent the spread of cancer cells. For instance, HPV vaccine is used to prevent cervical, vaginal, vulvar or anal cancer in males and females.
CAR T Cell Therapy: This therapy removes and alters our T Cells to improve their ability to combat cancer cells.
Non-specific immunotherapies: These treatments boost our immune system and help in attacking cancer cells.

What are the side effects of immunotherapy?

The side effects of immunotherapy are very different from those in chemotherapy or radiation and are largely related to the stimulation of the immune system. These include –

● Rash

● Itching

● Fever

● Severe diarrhoea

● Thyroid dysfunction

● Liver dysfunction

● Breathing difficulty

What are the advantages of Immunotherapy?

A major advantage of immunotherapy is that it can train our immune system to remember cancer cells and creates an “immune memory” which results in long-lasting disease remissions that are maintained even after treatment is completed. Other advantages include –

● Prevents the destruction of normal cells during the treatment

● Avoids conditions like Osteoradionecrosis (bone death) and prevents loss of taste

● Affordable and cost-effective as the approximate cost of treatment ranges from 1 to 4 lakhs per cycle.

When should you undergo immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy does not work on all types of cancer and if your cancer has been stopped by surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, then you may not require it. This therapy is not recommended for all types of cancer and you may have to discuss it first with your oncologist before undergoing any trials.

How do you know whether immunotherapy is working or not and how many cycles does a patient require?

It usually takes 3-4 months for our body to respond to immunotherapy. This response is assessed using CT/PETCT scans. A patient generally undergoes 3-4 cycles of immunotherapy before showing any response. In case there is a response to the treatment, then the treatment is continued till the patient is benefitting and the drug is having an effect on the tumour.

Dr V Keshavan Senior Consultant Pulmonologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderaguda.

Smoking of tobacco is one of the most important preventable causes of deaths worldwide, with 1 smoking associated death occurring every 6 seconds that results in around 6 million deaths annually. It has been estimated every cigarette smoked by an individual, causes a reduction of life span by 11 minutes and that on average, tobacco users lose 15 years of life. More than 75% of these deaths occur in middle- and low-income countries. It is important to note that nearly 10% of these deaths occur among non- smokers, due to the harmful effects of passive smoking. There are enormous annual global economic costs involved, totalling more than USD 1 trillion (directly due to health care costs and indirectly, due to loss of productivity).

India is the 3rd largest tobacco producer and has the 2nd largest number of tobacco users in the world. In India, there are over 1.3 million tobacco related deaths annually. Nearly 25% of all deaths due to cardiovascular causes and over 75% of all deaths due to respiratory causes are smoking related. Indian data reveals a high incidence of oral cancer, which exceeds even the incidence of lung cancer, such that nearly 50% of all cases of oral cancer globally are detected in India every year. Smoking also increases the risk of Tuberculosis by two- fold.

Apart from the adverse health effects of tobacco use, there are also adverse environmental effects. It has been estimated that over 84 megatons of green house gases are generated globally. Also, more than 600 million trees are chopped down every year by the tobacco industry.

The second Wednesday of March every year has been designated as “No Smoking Day”. This year, it is on the 8th of March. The main objectives are two-fold: to raise awareness among people of the harmful effects of smoking and to encourage people to quit smoking.

As this is such a vitally important public health issue globally, The World Health Organization (WHO), in 1988 passed a resolution to observe the 31st of May every year as “World No Tobacco Day”.

As per Indian data (GATS- 2) published in 2017, there were nearly 100 million active smokers in India. The prevalence of smoking ranged from 3.8% in Maharashtra to 34.4% in Mizoram.

The prevalence of smoking was 11.9% in rural areas when compared to 8.3% in urban areas.

Nearly 33% of the active smokers had started smoking before the age of 18.

Tobacco usage during adolescence and early adulthood has profound public health implications. Adolescent tobacco usage leads to “accelerated dependency” within a short period after first exposure. Tobacco usage among youth has been recognized as one of the behaviours that defy social norms.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve and safeguard their health. This is true regardless of the age or the duration that they have been smoking. This can reduce the risk of premature death and also reduce the risk for many adverse health conditions like cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. Quitting smoking is the single best way to protect family members, coworkers and friends from the risks associated with passive smoking.

There are various pharmacological and non- pharmacological methods for smoking cessation.

The pharmacological methods include nicotine replacement therapy and prescription medications like varenicline and bupropion. Nicotine replacement therapy may include nicotine patches, gums and lozenges or nicotine in the form of a nasal spray or inhaler.

Non- pharmacological methods include counselling through smoking cessation clinics or by telephone helplines and by behavioural therapy.

Vaping (the use of electronic cigarettes) has generated a lot of interest recently as a replacement for traditional cigarettes. However, it has not been found to be safer or more effective than nicotine replacement therapy in helping people to quit smoking. Electronic cigarettes also contain nicotine, and can cause addiction like regular cigarettes. Long term use of electronic cigarettes can significantly damage the blood vessels in the body, and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Data from GATS- 2 indicates that over 90% of individuals were aware that smoking causes serious illness and that passive smoking was also harmful to health.

Over 50% of active smokers had an interest in quitting smoking and nearly 40% of active smokers had made an attempt to quit smoking. In the latter group, over 70% of individuals attempted to quit smoking without assistance of any formal method of smoking cessation.

The Government of India launched the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in 2007 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoking and to help people to quit smoking. Various public health measures that have been adopted to tackle this issue include strict laws against smoking in public places, ban on direct and indirect advertisement, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco related products and encouragement to farmers growing tobacco, to shift to alternate crops. It is also mandatory to have pictorial and text warning labels on the covers of tobacco products.

It is heartening to note that as a response to all these measures, between 2009 and 2016, there has been significant progress in reduction of prevalence of tobacco use as per data from

GATS-2. However, it is important to note that while efforts to quit tobacco use have increased, the proportion of those who quit successfully still continues to be low. There is need for sustained efforts at all levels and coordination between various sectors to further reduce tobacco use.

Any tobacco user willing to quit usage can join the “m-cessation programme” of The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). A missed call can be given on 011-22901701 for registration. E-registration can also be done on http://www.nhp.gov.in/quit-tobacco.

An exclusive email ID quittobacco@gov.in has also been set up for promotion of this programme.

In order to quit smoking, the most important thing is to have a firm resolve. Indeed, it is difficult to stop smoking, as nicotine in cigarettes is very addictive. Patience and will power are necessary to quit the habit.

“Where there is a will, there is a way”

Dr V Keshavan

Senior Consultant Pulmonologist,

Apollo Hospitals, Hyderaguda.

“Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality”

World Hearing Day is held on 3 March each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world. This Year’s Theme is “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality”.

Hearing loss can affect anyone right from newborn to elderly population.

Most common causes in terms of frequency with which they manifest include diseases of middle ear, exposure to loud noises, medications used for other diseases. Less common are trauma and congenital causes.

Sound pollution in public places due to the high decibel horns in traffic / Use of regular voice prompts of electronic equipment at workspace / home and self-inflicted (earphones or headphones) leads to Noise Induced Hearing Loss which is ‘silent pandemic’.

Especially by the young generation for prolonged periods which will manifest hearing loss after few years of use.

Lifestyle changes like smoking, alcohol intake, high stress environment all contribute to hearing loss which is preventable.

Ringing sensation in ear, burning sensation, pain in ear after prolonged ear-phone use, are routinely encountered symptoms in these patients.

Prevention is better than cure. Avoid ear buds, loud music and noisy environment exposure. These precautions should be taken up by everyone.

Consult ENT specialist when you have an Ear complaint at the earliest.