Global Pattern of Diseases

One of the major challenges faced at the regional and global level is the emergence and spread of diseases. Therefore, medical geography assumes a new significance as it focuses on the geographical distribution of diseases worldwide. This also has a tremendous impact on the socio-economic environment. The effects of environmental pollution have been really devastating and alarming-more than 4.2 million deaths occur globally due to air-pollution out of which 1.1 million are attributed to India alone!

It is important to understand the global pattern of diseases to analyze the risk factors, mortality and disability rates. This helps in assessing the effectiveness of the public health systems. The statistical data results aid concerned the health authorities to determine the focus of their actions and adopt relevant measures accordingly. Such steps are particularly crucial for the developing and the under-developed countries for improving population health and reducing preventable deaths. 

 Types of Diseases 

Based on the economic status of countries, the inferences on disease patterns are as follows-  

Low-Income Countries 

• 1. More than fifty per cent of deaths happen due to Communicable Diseases (CD), maternal conditions including complications arising due to childbirth and pregnancy and malnutrition. 
• 2. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) caused about forty per cent deaths in these nations. 
• 3. Injuries were also a major cause. Specifically, road accidents had the highest mortality rates and were among the leading reasons for fatality.
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Middle and High Income Countries 

• 1. CD caused less than ten per cent of population deaths. 
• 2. NCD caused nearly eighty per cent deaths here. 

Lower respiratory infections are also one of the major reasons of mortality across both the country-groups. 

Common Global Diseases 

It is surprising that nearly seventy per cent of deaths in global population are due to slow progressing diseases. Most of these are partially preventable. The risk factors may be attributed to the patient’s location of stay, accessibility to preventive healthcare and quality of clinical services available. 

 The most common diseases in the global scenario are entailed below- 

(Source: World Health Organization (WHO)) 

• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (also called Ischemic Heart Disease)-CAD happens to be the most prevalent and dangerous disease in the world. It may be attributed to modified lifestyles, longer life-spans and changes in socio-economic factors. 
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• Stroke-Stroke is known to result in mortality and long-term disabilities which may be reduced if patients receive treatment in less than three hours after the attack. Family history, high blood pressure and unhealthy habits cause a stroke. It is preventable by lifestyle changes, medications and preventive healthcare measures. 
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• Lower Respiratory Infections –These may be caused by flu, pneumonia, bronchitis and influenza. Left untreated, it causes breathing difficulties leading to death. It is largely preventable by immunization. 
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• Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease (COPD)-COPD is a long-lasting, progressive disease of the lungs. Since it has no permanent cure, early medical intervention is recommended for slowing down its progression. 
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• Respiratory Cancers-These include cancers in the lungs, trachea and bronchus. It is primarily caused by smoking, tobacco usage or environmental pollutants which can be avoided.  
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• Diabetes Mellitus-This disease group and its related complications result in a substantial number of deaths. The symptoms can be controlled by regular exercise and balanced nutrition. 
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• Dementia-Alzheimer and other forms of dementia mostly attack the senior population. Risks can be reduced by healthy diets and brain exercises. 

 1. Besides the above, other major diseases include 

• 2. Dehydration due to Diarrhoea 
• 3. Tuberculosis 
• 4. Cirrhosis (Liver Disease) 

  

Therefore, Medical Tourism (MT) is gaining more prominence worldwide due to the exorbitant rise in NCD and preventable diseases. Medical treatment in India offers quality care with customized services at affordable rates. Cardiovascular disease treatment, particularly, happens to be highly sought in Indian MT thanks to very high success rates and low costs.   

  

Medical Information for Travelers to India

India is everything you could imagine as a tourist. It is exciting, intoxicating, bamboozling, exasperating, beautiful, nostalgic, crowdy, fantastic and much more! India has a piece for every tourist who visits it. Sometimes, the given piece can be something you would not like. 

From the grounds of 'it is better to be safe than feeling sorry', there are certain pre-travel measures that need to be taken care before your travel to India. Not just India but these measures are applicable to every country where certain medical conditions are prevalent. Fear not! These safety measures include just a few travel vaccines and tips that make you understand more about the typical characteristics of this subcontinent. 

If you are a first-time traveler to India, these are the things you should keep in mind to complete your journey without any difficulty. 

Vaccinations to Take Before Travelling to India

India is a diversified country with vast geological differences. A handful of medical conditions are prevalent in a few locations and could be avoided with simple vaccination shots. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, the travelers to India are advised to take vaccines for health diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis A and B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and Influenza. 

Vaccines for malaria and dengue fever also recommended based on the time of travel as these conditions are prevalent only in the rainy seasons. 

Documents Required to Travel to India

India is a welcoming country and provides simplified travel documentation process. The travelers and medical travelers from the other countries are required to have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity to process the visa. Based on the purpose of the visit and the duration of the stay, the visa will be issued after checking the locality and family background of the visitor. 

The passport of the visitor should have at least one blank page. Documents such as driver's license copy, properly filled India Visa Application form and Additional Particulars form should be filled and submitted. Based on the type of the visit, the documents need to be submitted. For example, medical tourists to India need to submit the hospital invitation. 

How Should Be the Preparation for a Trip to India?

India is a vast country with diversified weather and cultures. The packing could be tricky on this front but below are the must for your travel to India. 

Pack Only One Bag - The travel means in a few locations in India are public transportation. Hiring a cab would be difficult sometimes due to unavailability. Pack everything in a single bag except the documents, water bottle, purse and emergency tablets (if any). Carry them in a satchel or in a purse. A single backpack is easy to carry in different modes of transportations. 

Be Prepared for Weather Weather Conditions - India houses different weather conditions and packing should be according to the time of the year you are traveling. The usual weather conditions would be summer from April to June, monsoon from July to December and winter from January to March. 

      

Carry a First Aid Kit - Apart from the standard things in a first aid medical kit, additionally carry a sunscreen, mosquito repellent, tablets for diarrhea like DiaResQ and hand sanitizers. 

      

Wear Right Clothing and Footwear - You might have to be ready for a lot of walking and standing in India and the footwear should support you in this regard. Keep a pair of sandals and boots as they are suitable for all weather conditions. 

      

Take efforts to get to know about your destination. Know about the culture, food, weather and about people as it helps you in accommodating yourself as per conditions without much difficulty. 

Eye Bag Surgery in India to Enhance your Appearance

‘Face is the index of the Mind’. Therefore facial appearance is important to understand one’s mental state. Eye, one of our vital sense organs, is the indicator of our expressions, be it happiness, tiredness or melancholy. Many people have eye problems like dark circles, puffiness (eye bags) and drooping of the lower or upper eyelids. These issues can make them look weary and worried. The cosmetic eye lift surgery deals with these eye-related appearance issues and is exclusively meant for those seeking better looks.  

The various options for affordable eye surgery in India help people to look dynamic and vibrant. It also enhances self-confidence. India has always been a favourite destination for medical tourism thanks to its competitive offering with state-of-art healthcare technology and cost–effective treatment. Several cosmetic eyelid surgery treatments (including laser procedures) are available here.  

Blepharoplasty surgery is a medical procedure for improving and modifying the eyelid. In this procedure, the surplus skin and fat tissues are positioned again. The adjacent tendons and muscles may also be reinforced. This surgery serves both the functional and cosmetic purpose as it improves the area around the patient’s eye to make them look more young and appealing. It may be done as a stand-alone procedure or combined with other cosmetic facial surgeries like Facelift and Eyebrow Lift Surgery for regaining the youthful look.

Categories of Blepharoplasty 

• Upper Lid Blepharoplasty: This is done more with a functional purpose and is largely meant for elderly people. It helps in restoring proper vision for carrying out normal routine activities. 
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• Lower Lid Blepharoplasty: This process is done for treating the so-called ‘eye bags’ (puffiness) in the lower eyelids. It enhances the facial appearance of the patient. 
• Double lid surgery: This procedure is also termed as Asian Eyelid Surgery as it is very popular amongst Asians. Here, a lid crease is introduced in the upper eyelid for making a double lid appearance. 
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Ideal Candidates for Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) 

Adults (above 18 years of age) who are concerned about the look of their eyes and have a realistic goal in mind may opt for Blepharoplasty. It is important that they have healthy facial tissues and do not suffer from major physical ailments and emotional instability which in turn would impair the healing process. These potential candidates should also be non-smokers and have no serious eye problems. 

Treatment Possibilities of Blepharoplasty 

• Removal of Eye Bags - The puffiness or extra fat deposits in the upper eyelids can be removed with the help of upper eyelid surgery. 
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• Removal of Excess Skin and Fine Wrinkles – This can be accomplished by the lower eyelid surgery. It is also helpful in making remedies for lower eyelid drooping. 
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• Treatment of extra sagging skin – This problem which causes vision impairments and also disturbs natural outline of the upper eyelid. It can be cured by Blepharoplasty. 
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Most patients can resume routine activities in about a week or ten days after surgery. Strenuous work and activities must be avoided for a duration of five to six weeks at least post-surgery. 

Benefits  

• Gives a refreshing appearance as the tiresome and stressful appearance is minimized with upper and lower eyelid lift-ups. 
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• Offers an appealing look as the eyes look much younger and vibrant portraying a new rejuvenated look. 
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• Improves vision as the patient’s visual perception area is widened especially in severe cases of upper eyelid sagging. 
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India’s Medical Tourism facilities offer best possible outcomes with minimal health complications and high success rates. Additionally, the facilities and clinical-care provided in cosmetic surgery centres here have world-class standards. These advantages coupled with India’s highly experienced and qualified eye-specialists (ophthalmologists) make it a lucrative destination for Eyelid Surgery.  

  

Blood Donation - What You Should Expect as a First Timer?

While you are reading this, there are so many people who are in dire need of blood donors to overcome their health difficulty. For every two seconds that count, there are 4 people who are in need of blood in India. It is required for various reasons and almost all medical procedures require blood.

Everyone above 18 years old and is in good health can donate blood irrespective of gender. Donating blood is a simple and easy task and wouldn't even take 15 minutes. The assessment and screening will take about 15 minutes. So, all it takes to save up to 3 lives is 30 minutes. Yes, a single donation can save 3 lives, sometimes even more.

There are various components in the blood and after the donation, the components such as red blood cells, platelets and plasma etc., will be used for patients in need of that particular component. The human body consists of 4.75 to 5.5 liters of body and only a 400ml to 500ml blood is collected per donation. The donated blood volume will be refilled in the body within a day or two. Overall, there is nothing to lose by donating this vital fluid.

People are still struggling for blood when they are undergoing major procedures such as heart transplants in India. Frequent blood donations can address this issue.

If you are donating the blood for the first time and you have been declared to fit to do it, here is what you should expect after donating the blood.

Medical Tests and Screening

• Even though you are in good health condition, certain blood tests and physical examinations need to be conducted before you donate the blood.
• The doctor may ask for your medical history to check if you have any medical condition that could be transmitted to the other person through blood.
• Questions regarding the current medications usage, chronic disorders, heart conditions and hypertension are also asked.
• Recently done tattoos and body piercing need to be conveyed as the chemicals of the ink in the blood may cause serious health complications.

Blood Donation

• It is absolutely normal to feel a bit anxiety just before you are preparing to donate blood. All you need to do is sit back and relax.
• It would not pain more than an injection or a vaccine shot. The needle is inserted in your skin and sucked the blood slowly with into a sack.
• You will be provided with a stress ball that increases the blood flow into the sack whenever you press it.
• The whole process of blood donating takes 10 to 15 minutes. However, the plasma or platelet's donation takes 45 minutes.

After Donation

• As a first time donor, you may feel nausea and uneasiness for the initial few minutes after the blood donation.
• The medical staff at the donation center may ask you to sit back and relax for at least 10 minutes.
• You will be given a refreshing drink or snack as a complimentary and it will mostly consist of the nutrients that give you instant energy.
• You will also be given a water bottle that you need to drink the way back to the office or home in order to stay hydrated.

You can resume your day to day work right after donating blood. Avoid workout or any heavy physical work on the same day. Eating healthy and staying hydrated is very important.

You will feel fantastic about donating blood and enjoy every bit of it. Share the good deed you have done with others not because they praise you for your good work but it may motivate them as well to donate blood.

5 Ways Gender can Impact Hypertension

High-blood pressure aka hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases. It is often left unnoticed as there are no particular symptoms that a person with hypertension may experience. Untreated and prolonged hypertension may affect the arteries and lead to impaired blood circulation to multiple organs, including to the heart and brain. 

Gender of the person, along with the age and lifestyle, influences the chances of getting hypertension. Recent medical researches have proven that women develop cardiovascular diseases more than men due to the increased blood pressure after menopause.

A study conducted by the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre has revealed that women will have 30 to 40 percent higher chances to be affected by the heart and artery-related disorders, even though both genders’ elevated blood pressure readings were almost same. In addition, factors such as pregnancy, oral contraception and menopause affect the blood pressure in women. 

The research also cites that the differences in the inflammatory chemical levels, estrogen levels and hormonal imbalances between both genders may also increase the chances of cardiovascular diseases in women compared to men.  

There are various other factors that influence the blood pressure rate and cause various health complications in women compared to men. 

1.  Reduced Estrogen Levels 

    • Women’s cardiovascular system features some differences compared to men’s. This differences may vary starting from the hormones that regulate the blood pressure.

    • The decreased anti-inflammatory immune cells in women leads to inflammation in the blood vessels.

    • The reduced levels of estrogen as women age would be the major cause of the increased cytokine-stimulating hormone. 

2. The Size of Blood Vessels 

    • In addition, men have bigger blood vessels compared to women. The blood circulation would be seamless in bigger blood vessels. 

    • This is also the reason why women experience higher blood pressure rates even though the BMI of a man and woman are same. 

3. Menopause 

    • Women will experience various psychological and health-related challenges in personal life when they are around the menopause age. 

    • The increased mental tensions simultaneously trigger the blood pressure rates in the women.

    • Hormonal imbalances due to the menopause can trigger increased blood circulation and kidney-related health issues. 

4. Pregnancy 

    • Pregnancy is considered as the greatest gift of all but the sad fact is it also leads to few health issues. One among them is blood 

      pressure. 

    • The blood pressure rate in a normal woman is lower than the pressure in a pregnant woman.     

    • High-blood pressure in pregnant women has become a common issue these days, triggering health complications 2 to 3 percent in 

      overall pregnancies. 

    • According to a study, the weather shows a significant impact on the chances of increased blood pressure. 

5. Reduced Physical Activity 

        • Health issues in women start once the menopause occurs and there are various reasons for it. 

    • The level of physical activity significantly gets reduced as women age and the plaque forms in the blood vessels of a woman faster 

       than in a man. 

    • Obesity or overweight is the main reasons for blood pressure both in men and women

Apart from that, men and women who live in the cold weather conditions are likely to increase their blood pressure compared to the people who live in warm weather conditions. 

It is a common myth that men are at higher risk of getting hypertension compared to the women. The results of few medical researches have proven that women develop hypertension faster than men after menopause. Especially, few health conditions and reduced estrogen levels put the women at the receiving end of hypertension than the men. 

It is imperative for women above 40 to check their blood pressure at regular intervals, stick to a balanced and healthy diet and involve in some kind of physical activities everyday is the best treatment for hypertension.

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