Health updates from Diagram Healthcare

Health updates from Diagram Healthcare
News & updates from Diagram Healthcare

Specialists from Diagram interact with Mt Carmel College students

Know-your-doctor program by Diagram Healthcare conducted at Mount Carmel College, Bangalore was received with enthusiasm and a fair deal of seriousness too, considering the scope of the topics that were touched upon by three specialists and the students' queries.



Dr Shoba Puttaraju, senior Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the compact secondary care hospital, spoke about common concerns like Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) and how to prevent and manage it. The women and & childcare specialist also addressed critical questions on Poly-cystic ovarian disease and cervical cancer vaccines, among other such issues, emphasising on the need for regular, preventive health checks. 'Today, the pressures for young women are a lot higher than it was for previous generations - academics, work-related fatigue, peer pressure and changing lifestyle habits are some of the contributing factors to immense stress. 'Preventive and early changes in lifestyle patterns will ensure lesser complications as one gets older'. Many young women today aspire for careers and the need for good health is therefore greater, Dr Shoba added. 


Dr S S Amarnath, Orthoapedic surgeon and Medical Director at Diagram Healthcare, in his address also emphasised the need for regular health checks particularly in women. 'A DEXA Scan is a modern diagnosis tool to assess bone densitometry.' Dr Amarnath also explained the do's and don'ts in bone and joint care - 'Always be conscious of your seating position, your posture and angles at which you flex or strain your muscles, he said, demonstrating the wrong manner in which most young folk balance the mobile phone on the neck, much to the audience's amusement! 'Diet plays an important role in the strengthening of bones, especially at this young age,' advised the orthopaedician, saying, 'Milk or Calcium can never be substituted for its goodness. Fundamentals that our grandparents taught us, still hold good - good, clean food, hardwork (exercise) and ample rest.'



Dr Suraj Sachidanand, Dermatologist (Skin and Hair Care specialist), in his talk and presentation touched on wide ranging issues like hair fall, shampoo and soap usage, skin creams lotions, with useful recommendations on what to use, how much and why not to use certain combinations, pointing out that commercialisation and advertising priorities dominate the agenda of most personal care product manufacturers today. 'A Dermatologist is in a good position to assess the skin type of the individual and accordingly recommend. What works for one, need not necessarily work for another. Skin sensitivity, hereditary factors and of course nutrition and diet all contribute to one's skin and hair type. Among key topics, Dr Suraj spoke on were fungal infection, psoriasis and dry skin related issues. 


As a special gesture from the Core Specialty Hospital, students were extended a concessional consulting with all the three specialists. The offer was extended to the students' family members as well. A Concessional offer was also extended on a DEXA Scan- the bone densitometry assessment machine.



Discoloured Nails

Nails continue to grow throughout life at the rate of 3 mm per month for fingernails and 1 mm per month for toenails. They are hard due to the presence of hard keratin (a protein). They contain about 18% water and if it drops below this level, nails become brittle. They become hard and opaque when the water content reaches more than 30%.

Nails can be of a different color due to a variety of reasons. The commonest cause of discolored nails is a fungal infection, affecting toenails more than fingernails. This is usually seen in housewives, diabetics and people with a lowered immune function. The fungus needs to be identified under a microscope and response to treatment usually takes a few months as the rate of nail plate growth is slow.
Nails can also look abnormal in a wide variety of skin disorders like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, nevus (moles), alopecia areata, peripheral vascular disease, medications and nutritional deficiencies.

A dermatologist would help identify the cause and start appropriate treatment. 


- Dr.Suraj Sachidanand MBBS MS MSEd (USA)

How to deal with chapped lips?


Lip chapping is another manifestation of dry skin. The skin in this area is a lot more thin than skin elsewhere on the body. So exposure to cold, wind, sun will have a bigger impact on the lips than other exposed parts of the body. People who have the habit of licking their lips are at a greater risk of this condition. Patients who have certain medical conditions or on certain medications can also develop chapped lips. Excessive sun exposure is another risk factor. Using a petrolatum based lip balm with a sunscreen 3-4 times a day will work well for this problem. Applying a lip balm before brushing your teeth is another good idea. Hydrating yourself well through the dry season is a must. 
 - Dr.Suraj Sachidanand MBBS MS MSEd (USA)