The Last Wish - Please Come Back

It has been more than 11 years now that I have been working in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department. 

Time and again I see instances where an equally old husband/wife comes all alone with their old ailing spouse, a patient who requires an ICU admission, a quick decision to be put on a ventilator, get thrombolysed for a stroke, be immediately taken to Cath Lab for a heart attack or to the OT for emergency surgery. On further inquiry, the picture becomes clear that their children are well settled abroad, leaving the old couple back home to fend for themselves, only sending them money for their existence.

Many times I have myself spoken on phone to the son/daughter of the patient, staying thousands of miles away, briefing them of their parent’s condition and receiving the same reply, “Please go ahead do your best, whatever it takes. Don’t worry about the cost of the treatment & the investigations.” Seldom have I heard anyone say, “Doctor, you proceed, we will be there soon.” It really hurts me to the core…. At the end of the day, I feel that the only people who can leave everything behind (for want of money/better quality of life) and never look back at their own parents, are those who are selfish and self-centred.

With the following few lines, I have only tried to bring out the pain, the feeling and the thought process of such a patient lying on the bed, right before my eyes in my A&E.

I’m weak now, I can’t even walk,
You became all busy, with no time to talk,
Education gave you wings, I showed you the way,
Our life is difficult now, alone we stay,
Please come back… Please come back

The money you sent, few phone calls you made,
Never made us happy, wish together we stayed,
Not playing with your kids, not meeting your wife,
What wrong did we do, to deserve such a life?
Please come back… Please come back

I fight to breathe now, with pain in my chest,
Remembering old times, I did my best,
I might die soon, do you really bother?
After I’m gone, who' ll look after your mother,
Please come back… Please come back

These tubes and pipes on me, really make me think,
Wish I could see you all, and not even blink,
In my dying moments, by my bedside you stand,
Consider it’s my last wish, come hold my hand,
Please come back... Please come back

(06/12/12)

Seize the golden moments after a heart attack.

The sudden death of singer KK today was a shocking news for music lovers and his fans across the world. What was even more shocking was that he showed the typical symptoms of a heart attack including sudden onset chest uneasiness and profuse sweating, which was not recognised in time. Off course he could have survived if the all important ' PAL - In the Golden Hours' would not have been wasted. Read on to find out more.

Heart Diseases are the number one killer in India. A Heart attack is caused when a clot completely blocks a blood vessel in the heart.

Worldwide, people fail to identify heart attack symptoms on time or seek appropriate medical help.

Post a heart attack, the heart muscle starts to die within 60-90 minutes after it stops getting blood, and within six hours, almost all the affected parts of the heart could be irreversibly damaged.

As a consequence of damaged heart muscles, either the heart can go into a sudden complete standstill, or into abnormal heart rhythms called “ventricular tachycardia” and “ventricular fibrillation” where the heart muscles contract at a rapid rate, without any active pumping of blood from the heart – called as a cardiac arrest. A person with a cardiac arrest will be unresponsive, will not be breathing and will not have a pulse.

Cardiac arrest occurs suddenly, disrupting the blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body. Lack of oxygen causes irreversible damage to vital organs, and within minutes, patients die.

Most patients don’t get another chance if heart attack is not treated in time.

The first hour of definitive medical care is called the “golden hour”. Nearly 47 % of deaths occur due to cardiac arrests during this period, even before an individual reaches the hospital. It is a window of opportunity to the patients, their families, and doctors to take appropriate and quick actions, thereby impacting a patient’s survival and quality of life following a heart attack.

Reaching a hospital, which has an in-house cardiac cath lab, within this Golden Hour period, provides emergency physicians and cardiologists ample time to perform ECGs, appropriate diagnostic tests and scans on the patient to ascertain the occurrence of heart attack and the extent of damage, and take necessary steps to reinstate proper blood flow to the heart immediately.

A person who reaches the hospital and gets treated within this period can expect near-complete recovery.

Hence, “Golden Hour” becomes “the game-changing event” in saving the life of the patient.

Note: Global Hospital, Mumbai provides multidisciplinary, extensive emergency medical services to all patients, with the highest level of care, and is capable of offering definitive treatment for any type of cardiac emergencies. We have a 24 hour functioning Cath lab, Operation theatres, blood bank, NABL accredited laboratory and Radiology department.

With our comprehensive emergency medical services, we are able to care for the most life threatening emergencies at a moment’s notice.

Count your Blessings - My COVID Story

 

It was exactly a year back on 19th May when I was rushed to the hospital with complaints of breathlessness due to COVID, and oxygen saturation of 84% at home.

 
I had just landed in Mumbai on 12th May after 1.5 -2 months in Delhi, when my brother who came to receive me at the airport told me that my voice was a bit hoarse. There was no fever, no cough, but surprisingly I developed a 102’F fever the next day. Though I knew at the back of my mind that after treating more than 10,000 patients (over the past 14 months in my last organisation), I too would have contracted the virus. Akhir bakra kab tak khair manayega !!

On the 14th of May, my test came back positive and I started myself on the same treatment regime that I had started all my patients on, and who had done extremely well to recover on home isolation. 

When my oxygen saturation started dropping, I knew that it was getting serious! I was in the second week of the illness, probably in cytokine storm and suffering from severe pneumonia – a stage which I knew not many people were recovering from. Unlike the 1st wave where most of the casualties were the elderly, in the 2nd wave of COVID, it was common to see people in their 30s and 40s dying. The trend seen all over the country then was that patients who mandated admission to the ICUs, especially on high flow oxygen or ventilator, were not coming out of the ICU alive.

While I was being taken to the hospital, there were only negative thoughts racing in my mind - if I would even survive, if I would ever get to see my family again, or if they would get to ever see me again (dead bodies were packed in body bags then, and families were not allowed to even have a last glimpse of their patient), would I even come back home, or be directly taken to the crematorium from the hospital, etc.

I felt like crying but still held onto my tears. My brother was my biggest strength then. My initial workup showed a Chest CT severity score of 16/25 (staged as severe bilateral pneumonia, with dense consolidation), WBC counts of 25,000 plus and Lactate of 7, to mention a few reports – all pointing to a poor prognosis. I was then moved to the ICU. Those 5.5 days spent in the ICU were something I would really not want to remember ever again.

There were 23 other COVID patients in the unit, and it was easy for me to make out if there was a CPR happening on one of the beds, if someone had deteriorated enough to need invasive ventilation, I could even hear the doctors discuss the case next to me, etc.

It was the time when I realised that the ability to even be able to take a breath, eat your own meal, drink water, able to pass urine or stools on your own can be such a blessing.

As days progressed, my oxygen saturation held up and I was recovering, I knew it was probably all the prayers and blessings of my family, friends and those the patients I had successfully treated over the years, because which I made it out alive. While I was being wheeled out to the ward from the ICU, my bedside nurse told me, “Sir, you’re the first patient who has been SHIFTED OUT of the ICU in many weeks and months!”

I finally spoke to my parents once I was in the ward. Fearing for the worst, they hadn’t slept for days while I was in the ICU, hardly eating anything, too dumbstruck to even talk to anyone and continuously praying. All I did on video calls from the ICU was show my hand that I’m alright, and would smile from behind the oxygen mask, asking them to take care of themselves at home.

After spending another 2.5 days in the wards, and a total of 8 days in the hospital, I was finally set to be discharged home on 26th May. The nurses, doctors and all those involved in my treatment, because of whom I’m still alive (and writing this story of mine), are all in my prayers every single day.

“Mohit, bahut hua Delhi… ab Mumbai mein hi job karo. Humein nai pata ki aage COVID kaisa hoga, hum bhi bachenge ki nai”, was my emotional mother’s ultimatum.

I had applied for a job in my current organisation a day after landing in Mumbai, and my interview was scheduled for 22nd May, which was subsequently rescheduled for 29th May. I remember being breathless even during my interview, not able to talk in long sentences. Against the wishes of my parents (since I had not recovered completely), on 1st June, I flew back to Delhi to continue our fight against COVID.

With the clear intent to come back home to Mumbai, on 3rd June, I decided to put down my papers there. On 16th June I received my offer letter from here at Global Hospital, and the rest has been my best professional and personal decision to be back in Mumbai, and be associated with this organisation that I’m so proud to be a part of.

Though it was the toughest time of my life then, COVID completely changed my perception and priorities in life. I’ve realised that we all keep running behind money, professional success, fame, etc – but that truly IS NOT THE ANSWER.

Private hospital launches package for scam accused convicts.

Mumbai – In a major marketing feat which could soon become the industry trend setter for other healthcare players, the Quack Multispeciality Hospital (QMH) today announced the launch of their highly anticipated ‘Jailed Scamster & Fraudster Package’.

It is a well-established fact that the health of most jailed accused (of high value frauds) and corrupt politicians suddenly deteriorates during interrogation while in custody. Citing existing medical comorbidities & loopholes in the Indian judicial system, they are then admitted to private hospitals with five-star facilities for months and years, with ‘illnesses of unknown origin or treatment’.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, the hospital’s CEO, Dr. Ghoos Dey said, “We are proud to announce that we’re the first hospital in the world to officially come up with this visionary and unique idea. Addressing the huge demand of such hospital packages amid the rising corruption, our aim is to be ‘the preferred choice for healing and good health, for jailed accused’, like Wadhwans of DHFL scam, Anil Deshmukh, Nawab Malik, and all politicians who will become victims of ED and CBI in future. Our package includes a minimum of 6 months stay for un-indicated medical and surgical admissions, blood and other investigations which take weeks and months to be reported, surgical fitness which takes months, and other time consuming services, to mention a few gimmicks for keeping such patients out of jail. Our secret tests for fitness are difficult to perform and interpret, easily fakeable, and have been successfully used abroad by criminals and fakers before being adapted to the Indian market. We will be happy to provide them our expensive medical services, using the proceeds of their crime.”

Unconfirmed sources have claimed that QMH is also looking for direct corporate tie ups with jails in future, to make this business model a runaway success.

Learn CPR - Save a Life - Be a Hero

 

A young 44 year old female was brought to our Accident & Emergency 8 days back, in a drowsy state with no recordable blood pressure. She had been having pain in abdomen since 2 days prior to arrival, and was diagnosed to have a ureteric calculus causing hydroureter and hydronephrosis (a kidney stone stuck in the tube / ureter connecting the kidneys to the urinary bladder, causing swelling in the tube and in the kidney).

Looking at her poor neurological status, her family was counselled regarding the need for immediately putting her on a ventilator, to which they reluctantly agreed to after a gruelling 20 minutes.

By the time patient was brought to us, she had already been drowsy in the government hospital for more than 4.5 hours, and was in full blown sepsis with pulmonary edema (fluid collection in her lungs) and early ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). Within few minutes of securing her airway (after intubating her - putting her on a ventilator) and starting all resuscitative measures (with intravenous fluids and drugs to support pumping of her heart), her heart slowed down and suddenly stopped beating.

Immediate lifesaving CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was started, lifesaving drugs given, and we were able to revive her heart within few minutes.

There are always chances of brain getting permanently damaged if it doesn’t get blood supply for 3 - 5 minutes, in her case it was too early to predict if there was any.

Her husband and sister were distraught as they saw her getting wheeled out to the ICU with all the tubes in her body, IV lines, monitor, ventilator, drug infusion pumps, etc. Only thing they could do now was pray and hope.

Over the next few days, the husband would spend a lot of time in our Emergency waiting area, waiting to just talk to me regarding his wife – I knew that the clinical updates were given by our team of doctors upstairs in the ICU, but he wanted to share his grief too. I would also daily visit the ICU to check on her.

5 days after she was brought to us in that state, she was well on her path to recovery.

3 days back, she was off the ventilator, was given food orally the next day, and today she will most likely be moved to the wards.

This news itself gives such a sense of satisfaction and calm, feelings which can be felt only the heart, and I just thought that stories like this need to be told.

There can be no better reward for we doctors, nurses, and the entire team involved in patient care to see our patients doing well, and come out on top. It always is a great feeling to see the smile on the faces of patients & their relatives as they are being wheeled out from the ICU to the ward, and from the hospital to their homes.

What makes such patient recovery stories special for me is that for a country like India, the survival to discharge percentage for patients suffering an In-Hospital cardiac arrest (heart stopping) will ‘practically’ be less than 15 – 20 %, and I’m glad she will be one of them.

It really has been satisfying to train thousands of healthcare providers and lay persons over the last decade in CPR, as part of ‘Be a Life Saver’ campaign, an initiative I wish to continue in my healthcare journey with the sole objective being – TO SAVE LIVES.

A Hypocrite With No Conscience.

Dear Aamir,

I would not like to begin this by highlighting your professional achievements (like your media dogs do) – but will come straight to the point.

I was really surprised to see you featuring on the advertisements of PharmEasy, and it suddenly hit me that you have signed up as its brand ambassador !! How shameless can you really get?

Episode after episode, season after season, you ridiculed, defamed and constantly showed in bad light on your social reforming STUNT show ‘ Satyamev Jayate’, the hardworking healthcare workers, even claiming they received kickbacks from the same pharmaceutical companies and diagnostic centres that you now chose to endorse.

Where is the intellectual actor who advocated social responsibilities and moral obligations hiding now, when doctors are making a mockery of your double standards on social media? Don't you want to come clean or share any words of wisdom or encouragement with your half baked knowledge and selective outrage, like you did in your show?

Even during the pandemic, where had you disappeared, my friend? Enjoyed in your cosy farm house, going about with your daily life, waiting to get back to your vanity van, to be back on the big screen - while the medical fraternity around the world struggled to deal with the deadly virus. I was sad that we didn’t get to see you clapping or beating your utensils at your balcony to appreciate the healthcare workers (not that it really mattered to me).

The same healthcare workers you ridiculed on your show were the real heroes, serving the nation – Doctors, Nurses, housekeeping staff, etc along with the police and the essential service providers, who were out there – working – trying to save people’s lives – risking their own lives, working tirelessly, mostly without PPEs, without caring for their own families – the wounded healers.

Forget the appreciation that doctors and nurses deserved in times of crisis when they were the front line warriors in the pandemic, in the past too you have never ever spoken when the doctors were assaulted, nursing homes or hospitals vandalized, when Indian doctors have done breakthrough surgeries or research, when doctors have protested against the government for their rights, etc. Only your acting is an art, medical science is not?

Why? Because it will not generate TRPs, or it will not make you rich (I heard you used to charge 3 crores for 1 episode and 2 lakhs per 10 second ads of the series). Had you even thought about donating a small amount out of it when the country needed it the most? Akshay Kumar had donated Rs. 25 crore to the cause; at least Rs. 20-25 lakhs from you would not have brought down your monthly rashan budget.

Let me show you the mirror, the real "Satyamev Jayate", from the perspective of every Doctor, Nurse, and a healthcare worker who felt offended by your comments over the years – you are nothing but an insensitive coward, a low life, self centered guy who likes to be called Mr. Perfectionist (you have never asked media or your friends to not address you as that). In your eyes, your work and profession as an actor is unparalleled, heavenly, pure and honest hard work – the rest can go f*** themselves. You are nothing but Aamir the actor, nothing more than that. A hero with no conscience. Your hypocrisy stands exposed. Shame!!

Doctors across the country are having the last laugh now, and the joke is on you !!

I really hope this article reaches you soon and #GharBaitheBaithe'YOU'TakeItEasy

- From An honest, hard working, ethical, committed Emergency physician: for whom every single life matters, every single day.

Pulmonary Embolism: Beware of a possible clot risk when binge- watching television

A young 20 year old patient was rushed to the Accident & Emergency Department of Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai last week with complaints of sudden onset chest pain, profuse sweating, hypotension (low BP), Hypoxia (low Oxygen concentration).

Doctors were quick to make a bed side clinical diagnosis of a massive Pulmonary Embolism, a life threatening Emergency where a patient could have suddenly gone into cardiac arrest and died.

With clockwork precision, he was gives the definitive treatment in the Emergency itself, within 38 minutes of arrival, and by the time the medication infusion was over in 2 hours, he had stabilized completely - Chest pain gone, BP picked up, Oxygen levels up and he was much more comfortable.

Cause of this life threatening Emergency - Binge watching television.

Yes, it’s true! Binge-watching television, more than 4 hours a day, not only causes brain rot — it can also lead to blood clot, raising the risk of life-threatening blood clots in the legs or lungs by almost 35%.

Watching back to back episodes of your favorite web series online or too much screen time during work from home may have become be a fab these days, but binge watching of TV, which involves prolonged sitting in cramped positions for long periods of time, has been linked with an increased risk of developing a venous thromboembolism (VTE). This is a condition where a blood clot forms in a vein. It includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, which is when a clot travels to the lungs – which can be serious or even fatal.

DVT’s tend to form in the leg and are more likely to occur when you spend long time sitting down. When you’re sitting, the normal circulation of blood through the legs and feet is impaired
and slows down, so it is more likely to pool and start to clot. When you move your legs, the action of your calf muscles helps to squeeze the blood back up towards your heart. Some people do not know they have a DVT until the clot moves from their leg or arm and travels to their lungs.

Even individuals who regularly engage in physical activity should not ignore the potential harms of prolonged sedentary behavior such as TV viewing. Exercise can reduce the risk of death in relation to time spent sitting, but exercise doesn’t seem to reduce this risk as much in people who watch a lot of television. The increased risk could also be due to unhealthy eating habits often associated with watching TV (an unhealthy diet can also increase your risk of blood clots).

Hence it becomes extremely important that whether you’re watching TV or working at your computer, it’s a good idea to frequently get up and take breaks from sitting still. One should try to move around every time there’s an ad break, at least stand and stretch every 30 minutes, or be involved in other physical activities whilst watching to ensure you are staying active.

What are the symptoms of DVT?

A DVT usually forms in one leg or one arm. Not everyone with a DVT will have symptoms, but symptoms can include:

1. Sudden or slowly developed swelling of the leg or arm
2. warmness or pain in the swollen limb
3. Pain or tenderness in the leg on standing or walking.
4. Redness or discoloration of the skin
5. Veins near the skin’s surface are prominently seen

What are the symptoms of pulmonary embolism?

1. Sudden shortness of breath or fast breathing
2. Sharp chest pain that often comes with coughing or movement
3. Pain in the back
4. Cough - with or without bloody sputum/phlegm
5. Sweating more than normal
6. Fast heartbeat
7. Feeling dizzy or fainting

O Re Sathi - The Friendship Song

O Re sathi,

Kahan kho gye woh din
Aao phir jeelen,
Woh pal jo beete tum bin
Koi Shikwa nahi, wahi dhadkanein, umeed
Koi Shikwa nahi, wahi dhadkanein, umeed

Bhule kya, gale lag k,
Jo Bachpan k pal the guzare
Aisi yaari thi, k socha tha,
Beech honge na koi fasle
Shikayat nahi, gila bhi nahi, tumse
Shikayat nahi, gila bhi nahi, tumse

Dosti ka, aisa rishta tha,
Tarane nadani bhare the,
Na bandhan tha, Na fikren thi,
Roothe ko manate the
Koi Shikwa nahi, wahi dhadkanein, umeed
Koi Shikwa nahi, wahi dhadkanein, umeed

Yaad hai kya, tumne maine,
Na bichadne k wade kiye the,
Sath honge, sukh dukh mein,
Juda na kabhi honge
Shikayat nahi, gila bhi nahi, tumse
Shikayat nahi, gila bhi nahi, tumse

O Re sathi,
Kahan kho gye woh din
Aao phir jeelen,
Woh pal jo beete tum bin
Koi Shikwa nahi, wahi dhadkanein, umeed
Koi Shikwa nahi, wahi dhadkanein, umeed

Plastic Surgeons cheerful as state government makes mask optional.

Mumbai - The Maharashtra government’s decision to withdraw all restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic and making facemasks optional has brought happiness and cheer among the plastic surgeons in the city.

It is a well-known fact that plastic surgeons are like Photoshop and Auto-Tuner of the healthcare industry, to correct God’s mistakes. For the last two years, plastic surgeons were the worst hit among all the medical specialisations, battling drought like dry OPDs. Due to the mask, no facial features are seen, and there were hardly any patients seeking enhancement of their facial structures, bosoms and other ‘stare inducing’ features.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Dr. Kutting Chahiye, a famous Mumbai based surgeon said, “Plastic surgeons were hit hard twice in recent years. 1st was when the government banned ‘plastic’ in the country and we had to then start calling ourselves reconstructive or cosmetic surgeon. 2nd was due to COVID when people stopped coming for planned nose, chin or lip jobs, skin surface and other beauty enhancing procedures. With such wide reader base of the Quackdoses, we would like to urge everyone that, for facial rejuvenation, crease-free and scar-free look in the ‘mask free world’, do visit the plastic surgery departments now.”

Unconfirmed sources have claimed that SoBo (South Bombay) ladies are still in shock thinking it is an April fool joke by the government, and are left wondering what to do with their designer masks and diamond studded mask chains now.

Dust of Time.

The days of joy, the nights of fun,
It looked so pretty watching everyone,
Every moment spent together was fine,
Soon they’ll disappear, in the dust of time
Soon they’ll disappear, in the dust of time

I was by your side when you were in fear,
You all hugged me when I shed my tears,
In my setbacks you’d look so divine,
Wish you’re spared, by the dust of time
Wish you’re spared, by the dust of time

Soon we move away, get far a mile,
Gone are old days and gone is our smile,
Distance will shorten of yours and mine,
If memories are clean, from the dust of time,
If memories are clean, from the dust of time

Then life welcomes us on the road to jerks,
Years pass by while we’re at work,
The clock still ticking and we move on,
Without our notice, the time is gone,
Lost in the dust of time, somewhere in the dust of time,

The day you’re left alone, your heart in pain,
You wish those days back again,
Don’t search too far through the hue,
Look behind your shoulder, I'll be there for you
Through the dust of time, through the dust of time.

I'll be there for you, through the dust of time

18/01/08

The Vicious Cycle of the Congress

Over the past many years, we have seen the shameful performance of the crippling and almost finished ‘Grand Old party’. The only thing constant has been the following pattern of events, which have become monotonous like the daily TV soaps:

1. Election announced many months in advance.
2. Pappu (Raoul) will be off for an international vacation, with zero interest in the upcoming elections.
3. Sister Bianca will then go to some poor women’s house in the election going state and come up with some senseless political slogan eg. Ladki hun, lad sakti hun.
4. Meanwhile, Pappu will come back and be a silent spectator to the aggressive rallies and preparations of the other political parties and leaders, only looking for opportunity for any blame game on Twitter.
5. Election comes, party is disastrously wiped out.
6. Senior leaders will show dissent, but will not say anything against the leadership publicly.
7. After every poll debacle, ‘Alakaman’ & working committee will announce a 'Chintan Manthan / shivir, a brainstorming session they call ‘post-mortem of results’ to introspect the reason for party’s defeat.
8. Familiar scenes of workers raising slogans to show support for Pappu to lead while the meeting is on.
9. Mummy, beta or beti will then offer to resign from their post, and entire focus will shift to who’s going to be the net party president.
10. The working committee, chaired by mummy, will then unanimously accept responsibility for the electoral loss, and not blame it on the moronic leadership.
11. The committee will then "unanimously reaffirms" its faith in Mummy’s leadership and requests her to lead from the front and address the organisational weaknesses (after all, the moolah of the 70 years of loot is with her and she’s the chief financier of the elections).
12. Mummy will then claim to take up corrective measures to "revamp and re-strengthen" the organisation and nothing will ever happen till next election comes.
13. No work is done on ground for the people and public welfare for next 5 years.

Vicious cycle repeats starting from point number 1, and will forever continue till we have a ‘Congress mukt Bharat’ or a ‘Gandhi Mukt Congress’ !!

Mile Sur Mera Tumhara....

On occasion of World Kidney Day today, sharing a small jingle that I had written for a NGO - Women for Nephrology, dedicated to creating social awareness on prevention of Kidney Diseases and organ Donation.

Mile sur mera tumhara,
Toh sur bane hamara

Awareness kidney disease ki, har disha se
Behke logon tak, pahuche

Diabetes, BP, Smoking control se,
CKD ruke, halke halke

Mile sur mera tumhara,
toh sur bane hamara

Sandesh angdaan ka, Marne k baad,
Hum se logon mein, faile

Transplant ka, roop lekar,
CKD se, theek ho, badte badte

Mile sun mera tumhara,
toh sur bane hamara

Majhya Tumchya Julta Tara
Madhur Suranchya Barasti Dhara (Marathi)

Tomaar Shoor Moder Shoor
Srishti Koroor Koi Ekshoor (Bangla)

Male Sur Jo Taro Maro,
Bane Aapno Sur Niralo (Gujrati)

Tera Sur Mile Mere Sur De Naal
Milke Bane Ek Nava Surtal (Punjabi)

Mile sun mera tumhara,
toh sur bane hamara...

Jingle to promote awareness for kidney transplant

This was written to promote organ donation, on occasion of the foundation day of Narmada Kidney Foundation (NKF), an NGO with which I've been associated with since 2005.

Jab creatinine out of control,
Transplant ka rasta khol,

Dhink ka chikda….
Dhink ka chikda….

Transplant ka rasta khol,
Goodbye dialysis ko bol

Dhink ka chikda….
Dhink ka chikda….

Jab creatinine out of control,
Transplant ka rasta khol,
Transplant ka rasta khol,
Goodbye dialysis ko bol

All is well….

Doctor hain jane transplant se kya hoga,
Dialysis rukegi, Patient k muh pe smile hoga
Relatives na mane itni jaldi fine hoga,

NKF tu aa, Guidance tu paa
Transplant kara k bol,

Bhaiya all is well,
Papa all is well,
Mummy all is well,
Your bacchu is well.

My 'memorable patient' story.

With Omicron driving India’s 3rd COVID wave, and cases continue to surge in the country, there seems to be no respite in sight for the healthcare workers.

Unlike the 2nd wave, though the the number of COVID patients requiring ICU admission at hospitals, or dying from it are less, but we surely cannot let our guard down.

Looking back at the past close to 2 years of COVID in the country, there were multiple heart wrenching moments I witnessed as a doctor on the frontline, which I would really love to forget.

Following is one such conversation with the son of a patient, which has been hard to erase from my mind.

It was the last week of April' 21, the 2nd wave was at its peak and there was a shortage of hospital beds and oxygen as India battled COVID.

Though my work in the Emergency involves catering to all types of medical or surgical cases coming to the department, over the last decade, I had never admitted any patients under my care as the primary treating physician.

It so happened that the chief consultant in a small 25 bedded hospital (near to my last place of work) had to go on a week-long leave for his brother’s wedding, and the owners approached me to cover for him temporarily.

For the 1st time in my life, I was responsible for treating and saving the life of 22 COVID patients admitted under me, 5 of whom were on high flow oxygen requirement.

A young 30 year old male brought his 62 year old mother to the hospital with complaints of breathlessness and she had been diagnosed as severe COVID pneumonia, with a CT severity score of 17/25.

I explained to him that it was better that they admit her in a bigger hospital since she needed admission to the ICU, and might clinically deteriorate over time.

“Doctor, main abhi shamshan ghat se aa raha hun apne father ka cremation karke. Meri mother aur sister dono hi COVID positive hai. Sab jagah dekh liya, kisi bhi hospital mein bed nai hai. Agar koi bhagwan sach mein hai, toh ab aap hi ho mere aur mere poore pariwar k liye. Please kuch bhi karo, meri mummy ko bacha lo, warna main anath ho jaunga (Read: Doctor, I'm just coming back from the crematorium after performing the last rights of my father. My mother and sister are both COVID positive. We have looked everywhere, but there are no beds in any of the hospitals. If there is really a God, right now, it is only you for me and my family. Please do anything but save my mother's life, or else I will become an orphan)”, he said with both hands folded in front of me, and tears flowing down his eyes.

Hearing this, his sister and mother also started crying, and I couldn’t control my emotions as well (my eyes got wet then, they’re wet now too as I write this).

Every day, during my patient rounds in the morning and evening, every time I would enter her room, she would just bow down with hands folded as say, “Thakur ji aa gye (Read: God has come)”.

Over the next 7 days, I did everything to care for those 22 patients to the best of my abilities. I truly consider it as a miracle / God’s blessings that all of them recovered well (except 1 patient whom we referred to a higher centre as soon as an ICU bed with a ventilator was available for him). That feeling to see the smile on the faces of patients on their path to recovery, to see their oxygen requirement come down gradually, see their happy and relieved relatives and to finally write ‘Patient can be planned for discharge today’ on their file, is something that I cannot completely express in words.

Seeing her getting discharged from the hospital was a really emotional moment for me (her daughter too recovered with oral medications on home isolation). The son did not say a word as I bid her goodbye - just folded hands, tears in his eyes and he bowed down. That said it all.

On her follow up visit to my clinic after a week, he said, "Kash hum pehle hi aapke paas aa jate, shayad aaj papa bhi zinda hote (Read: I wish we had come to you earlier, may be my father would have been alive today)", and I was at loss of words.  

It was God doing his miracles all this while, I was only a medium.

Over the last more than 10 years, I would have treated 1000s of patients, but she will remain one of my most memorable patients, just due of the sense of responsibility and the burden on my shoulders that the son had put – I had to save her at all costs. Those words from him when he got her on the day of admission reverberate in my ears even today.

Till date, I still receive a Whatsapp forward every morning from her, just showering her blessings and expressing her gratitude.

Whatsapp emerged as the most influential online medical journal in India, claims survey.

Mumbai: In a survey which has sent shock waves among the global medical fraternity, doctors in India rated Whatsapp as the most influential online medical journal, since the COVID Pandemic began. In surprising results of the controversial survey, Whatsapp beat the top medical journals like the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), The Lancet, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Annals of Internal Medicine, and others, to emerge as the clear winner.

It is a well-known fact that Whatsapp in India over the last 2 years evolved as a multilingual encyclopedia, slowly becoming the nation’s largest and most visited online reference platform, giving opportunities to compounders, politicians, housewives, actors, You tubers and every one to project themselves as a COVID expert amid the lockdown, and share their unscientific remedies.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Dr. Clueless, who emerged as the leading COVID expert in the country said, “When WHO and ICMR were as clueless as I was, Whatsapp & the useless webinars were the only source of mis-information. Whatsapp is arguably, the largest collaborative project of humankind in its fight against COVID. Even traditional journals increasingly cited Whatsapp formally, with decreasing general distrust of Whastsapp in academic circles. It not only reflected the state of (un)scientific knowledge about COVID in India, but also shaped science and accelerated research, including the use of Gharelu Nuskhe, Coronil, Thali Beating, lighting firecrackers to scare the virus, drinking alcohol based sanitiser & chanting of the famous GO-CORONA-GO.”

Doctors in the West have rubbished the survey on grounds that the quality of medical information on Whatsapp is low, culturally influenced, partly dependent on the writer’s experience and only as true as the news articles of the Quackdoses.

Kal se Daru Band Hai...

Madhoshi mein kho gaya yaaron,
Zindagi ke rang mein,
Khafa na ho oo meri jaanu,
Tu jo itni tang hai...

Kal se daaru band hai...
Kal se daaru band hai....

Tu jo mere sang hai,
Angaron pe ang hai,
Teri jo pasand hai,
Chodunga par jung hai...

Kal se daaru band hai...
Kal se daaru band hai....

Yaaron se keh dunga main,
Ab party khatam hai,
Chakna bottle le jayenge,
Tu jo itna dang hai...

Kal se daaru band hai...
Kal se daaru band hai....

Peele de na oo meri baby,
Dost mein chand hain,
Tere liye main jiyunga kal se,
Adat ab yeh bhang hai...

Kal se daaru band hai...
Kal se daaru band hai....

Jan' 2012

A beer a day keeps kidney stones and urologists away, says study.

Mumbai: Kidney stones can be incredibly painful for sufferers, and now a new study has found that a beer a day, keeps kidney stones and urologists away.

The study stated that people who reported drinking beer frequently had a 50 percent lower risk of developing kidney stones than people who did not consume alcoholic beverages. Alcoholics from all over the world participated in this prospective study, and phase 4 clinical trials will even answer, if other alcoholic beverages, like mixing a concoction of vodka and soda, help dissolve kidney stones.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Dr. Vijay Mallaya, the principal investigator of the study said, “Beer is a diuretic, meaning you have an urge to urinate even more than what babies without diapers do; and urination, in turn, helps flush small stones from your kidneys before they get bigger. Daily dose of moderate amount of beer can reduce your risk of giving a shit about kidney stones. What is different regarding this revolutionary study was that we also tried to integrate a stone prevention ‘Chakna’ diet into our beer drinking recommendations. It is true that alcohol kills people, but imagine how many are born because of it!"

Unconfirmed sources have claimed that another study is underway, if drinking alcoholic beverages before pregnancy can cause pregnancy.

Love defined...

It so happens that over the years, I happen to find loose papers (treasures) in my cupboard, drawers & shelves with small random lines & thoughts scribbled on them; thoughts which I would have intended to publish on my blog later but forgot about them in the day to day life.

Following is one such piece I had written during my post-graduation (residency) which I found, so thought of publishing it now, before I lose it again.

WHAT IS LOVE?

Love is living for each other… caring without boundaries… the early morning talks… the late night discussions… planning the future together… travelling together… going on an adventure trail… enjoying the craziness of life… cherishing every moment… laughing together… crying together… sharing secrets... respecting each other’s needs… giving equal contribution to the relationship… standing rock solid ever in all the highs and lows… knowing when to draw the line… sharing dreams together… the fights, the arguments… forgiveness… accepting each other’s flaws… complementing each other… doing household chores together… playing games… enjoying music… dancing… communicating… constructive criticism… keeping in touch with family members… buying small gifts… surprises and movie tickets… spontaneous shopping… mutually respecting each other… walking on the beach together… enjoying the sunrises and sunsets… pulling each other’s leg… pulling pranks on each other… watching old videos and photographs together… buying flowers… experimenting with cooking… and the list goes on (I will try to continue to build it up).

It really doesn’t cost much to really love someone!!

I had a Dream...

In early 2007, when I was in 2nd year of MBBS, my father underwent a major surgery at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital. As I sat in the lobby waiting for the surgery to end, I happened to glance at the wall with the name plates of all Consultants of the Hospital (displayed based on their medical specialisation).

 
For a budding medical student, to me they really looked like the names in the ‘Hall of Fame’, representing such a prestigious organisation. I thought to myself then, that one day, I can only dream to see mine somewhere too.

Honestly, over the years, I had forgotten about it, until yesterday.

I was having tea with a senior surgeon colleague of mine at the hospital’s lobby, and I happened to glance at similar nameplates on the hospital wall, with names of all my colleagues at the hospitals, many of whom truly are legends, stalwarts, well respected teachers and doctors of repute, in their respective field.

 
And in the corner, was my name, alongside theirs, and I was left dumbstruck & numb for a moment. Those images from 2007 flashed right before my eyes.

 
All I did was to look at the Lord Ganesha’s idol (in the lobby), and say a heartfelt thank you to express my gratitude.

 

I guess, for me, this was one such small moment of happiness, which really did mean a lot.

Patients names ‘Sulpha’ Drug he was allergic to, sends doctors in a tizzy.

Mumbai: In a never before seen incident in the history of modern medicine, a patient was able to give name of ‘Septran’ as the Sulpha drug he was allergic to, sending shock waves among doctors and other healthcare professionals across the country.

It is a well-established fact that on being asked regarding their allergy history, most patients in India by default say ‘Sulpha Drugs’ without ever knowing a single Sulpha Drug or a history of even being prescribed one.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Dr. Steven Johnson, famous for his syndrome and research work on ADRs (Adverse Drug Reactions) said, “Sulpha allergy has been known to run in families in India, and the secret allergic history has been passed on from generations to generations like an autosomal dominant genetic inheritance. The patient naming ‘Septran’ was at least a start, to break the taboo and tradition of patients being clueless so as to what Sulpha drugs were. Many patients when asked what symptoms they develop after taking the alleged 'Sulpha' drugs, the standard reply doctors get is ‘pet kharab ho jata hai’, instead of the redness, itching, hives and others. Our treating team doctors have decided to submit the patient as an interesting case study to journals like Lancet & the New England Journal of Medicine.”

Unconfirmed sources have now claimed that a junior resident Arun Swaminathan (name changed) who was examining another patient on the next bed almost put a rectal thermometer in the patient’s mouth, due to the shock he experienced on hearing 'Septran'.

To reduce the risk of a litigation suit, the hospital neither confirmed nor denied the news regarding Dr. Arun’s misadventure.

Ghost of Infection Control Nurse spotted in hospital, staff protests.

Mumbai: The nursing team of the Emergency Department at the Quackdoses Multispecialty Hospital has been spending sleepless nights after spotting a “ghost” of the Infection Control Nurse (ICN) at the hospital.

ICNs are responsible for ensuring hand washing compliance of all hospital staff, and present the data in the monthly Infection Control Committee (ICC) Meetings. Many have claimed that the data is often forged or entered randomly to show a higher compliance of various departments. To counter claim that hospital staff hardly sees them watch over for hand washing, ICNs rebut that there are always ghost auditors.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, the ICC chairman Dr. Hath Dho said, "Some 15 nurses in the ER stopped work today, and smashed beds with IV stands demanding action to remove the ghost, which some nurses claimed had attacked them in the ladies’ washroom, after they did not wash their hands. The nurses then held special prayers -- recitation of the NABH and infection control guidelines -- at the hospital, and started regularly washing their hands before and after touching patients in a bid to drive out the "ghost”. The department will reopen in evening after few hours of shutdown due to the ghost-related protests.”

Experts have now claimed that the "ghost attack" could be a sign of psychological distress among hospital staff in the wake of the COVID pandemic, and have asked ICNs to be careful in maintaining their ‘Ghost’ auditor status quo.

Patient sues hospital, alleges delay in administering lifesaving medicines.

MUMBAI: In a never before seen incident in the history of medico-legal cases, a patient has sued a multi-speciality hospital in the city for not giving him Pantoprazole & Ondansetron intravenously on admission, thereby causing emotional distress.

It is a well-known fact that ordering Inj. Pan and Inj. Emset are like the developmental milestones for any doctor, similar to how a baby learns to speak monosyllables at 9-12 months of age. Both these injections are considered the ‘welcome drinks’ for all patients getting admitted to any hospital or nursing home, and are often referred to as ‘masala’ or ‘cocktail’ when consultants dictate treatment sheet to residents. Even nurses over time develop reflex actions to load the vials without prescription and use the drug filled syringes as flush while putting the IV lines.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Mr. Pan-dey, the patient said, “Like how hotels give a complimentary bottle of mineral water at the time of check in, as a customer, is it wrong to expect a vial of Inj. Pan and Inj. Emset on completion of formalities at the admission desk? I expected that these basic life-saving drugs should have been administered immediately to me for my long standing bleeding piles. I wonder now if my treating doctor was really a quack.”

In their prayer application to the court, Pan-dey’s lawyers have claimed that these were unpardonable lapses from the doctors at the hospital, since the standard side effects of any medicine is ‘nausea, vomiting & gastritis’, as seen in pharmacology viva exams, which should be controlled with pre-treatment of Pantoprazole and Ondansetron.

Our attempts to contact the hospital for explanation went unanswered due to lack of relevant options on the IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System).

Acute Stroke Management - A Race Against Time

Did you know that every 3.3 minutes someone dies of stroke, or that stroke is the third leading cause of death and adult disability worldwide!

In India, 1 person suffers from stroke every minute.

The word Stroke (Paralysis or lakva) is derived from the word ‘Strike’ – an analogue to the sudden, severe attack with which it affects the patient and changes their mortality and morbidity completely, if not treated in time.

It is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually because a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic) or is blocked by a clot (Ischaemic). This cuts off the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain, causing damage to the brain tissue. Ischaemic strokes account for approximately 85% of all strokes whereas 15 % are hemorrhagic strokes.

Treatment of Acute Ischaemic stroke and its outcome is time dependent. Every second a person has stroke symptoms, brain cells die. As seconds tick away, permanent cognitive (mental process involved in knowing, learning, and understanding things) and physical abilities are lost, and the risk of death looms. A stroke can have a profound effect on patients, their spouses and other family members.

Rapid injection of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (r-tPA – a thrombolytic / clot dissolving injection) in blood is the early treatment. It should be administered within 3 – 4.5 hours of onset of above mentioned symptoms. International guidelines recommend a ‘door-to-needle time’ of 60 minutes or less (the time from entry of patient in emergency to administration of drug).

Lack of knowledge about stroke among the general public delays the initiation of immediate management of stroke. Delay in arrival of patient to the hospital, delayed consent by relatives for thrombolysis and unavailability of emergency ambulance services (especially in rural India) are the major reasons of treatment delay. The proportion of stroke patients reaching hospital within 3 hours in India is only 15%. Less than 20% of the general physicians are aware that r-tPA should be administered within the first 3 to 4.5 hours of stroke onset.

New drugs, advanced surgical techniques and interventional neuro-radiology procedures are among the effective new medical options available for stroke patients. These therapies have the potential to reverse the effects of stroke, significantly reduce permanent disability from stroke and lead to an optimal recovery, if administered within the first few hours after the onset of stroke symptoms.

On recognizing symptoms of stroke, patients should be rushed to any nearby hospital equipped to provide care for stroke management - 24/7, with a stroke team, 24 hour MRI / CT imaging facility, a laboratory and a Cathlab. A Stroke Team is a highly specialized, multidisciplinary team working round-the-clock to combat stroke emergencies. It includes the Emergency Physicians, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Neuro-Intervention radiologists, Intensivists, Rehabilitation specialists and the nursing team.

Unfortunately, in India, most patients present to the Emergency Departments beyond the 3 - 4.5 hour guideline from symptom onset, thereby missing the important brain and life-saving treatment.

Stroke is a life-changing event that affects not only the person who may be disabled, but their family and caregivers. This year, stroke will affect 4 out of 5 families in India - don't let yours be one of them.

City gynecologists unhappy as COVID plays spoilsport during Navratri.

Mumbai: The BMC's refusal to permit garba dandiya within city limits for the second consecutive year has evoked disappointment among obstetricians and gynaecologists. Expressing displeasure over the BMC's decision, city doctors shot off a letter to PM Modi demanding compensation from the central government against the losses due to the acute patient deficiency seen during 2 years of COVID affected Navratri festival.

It is a well known fact that apart from being the celebration of dance & life, and being Falguni Pathak’s bread and butter, the 9 day festival is also a breeding ground for young couples looking for a casual physical relationship. A study conducted at the Quackdoses Multispeciality Hospital had found that the sale of contraceptive devices and pills in Mumbai jump by a whopping 75 % during the 9 day celebration.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Dr. Unglikar, a leading gynecologist in Mumbai said, “Like winter is the season for Chest Physicians and dentists with the increased number of patients coming with LRTI, exacerbation of Bronchial Asthma and COPD or tooth ache respectively, Navratri is a season for the obstetricians and gynecologists. Looking at the statistics of casual and unprotected sex people have after a garba-dandiya session, the 9 day festival is a boon for the obstetrician and gynecologists. Such couples come to us for abortions and even delivery after 9 months in select cases. Last 2 years have been so dry that even OPD consultation of couples with Questions like ‘kuch tension ki baat toh nai haina?’ has gone down.”

Unconfirmed sources have claimed that the National Association of Wicketkeepers (Obstetricians) and gynecologists are planning to organize a ‘yagya’ to please the Gods above and pray for a COVID-less Navratri next year.

Doctor spot diagnosed with encephalitis after returning pen to nurse.

Mumbai: In a never before incident in the history of modern medicine, a doctor was spot diagnosed with encephalitis after presenting with the ultimate sign of brain damage when he returned a pen to the nurse. The news has sent shock waves across the medical fraternity.

It is a well-known fact that most doctors never carry their own pen and end up borrowing one from their nurses to put patient notes. On most occasions, doctors pocket the pen, knowingly or unknowingly, and often forget or misplace pens in wards, patient rooms, operating theater, patient's abdomen or anus but never return them to anyone.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Sister Pen-de, the nurse who was felicitated with the clinical acumen award for making this spot diagnosis of encephalitis said, “Doctors get this habit of borrowing pens from nurses right from their internship days. I was in utter disbelief and shock when the doctor came back and handed over my pen back to me. In all my years, I have shouted at and been shouted by many doctors but I have never seen them return a pen. That contributed to making the diagnosis as I knew he was in altered sensorium.”

Unconfirmed sources have claimed that Sister Pende is hopeful to spot diagnose her second case of encephalitis, and is now waiting for another doctor to return the stethoscope borrowed from the nursing counter.

The Golden Hour

Heart diseases are major causes of mortality and disease in the Indian subcontinent, causing more than 25% of deaths. It has been predicted that India will be host to more than half the cases of heart disease in the world within the next 15 years.

In urban India, over the last few years, the prevalence of coronary artery disease in young adults and the incidence of young deaths due to heart attacks (myocardial infarction) have significantly increased. It can be attributed to the stressful lifestyle in the city, and also evolving risk factors like smoking, diabetes and Hypertension in the younger population.

50 % of the heart damage occurs within the first 2 hours of heart attack where there is risk for sudden cardiac death, arrhythmias, and permanent damage to the heart. In an Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction, every 30 min delay from symptom onset to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) increases patients’ risk of dying by 7.5 %.

Hence it becomes extremely important that the symptoms of heart attack are best recognized within the ‘Golden Hour’ – the first hour of definitive medical care where the patient’s medical fate is sealed.

Most people do not plan for a medical emergency, although everyone will have one at one time or another. Also, lack of knowledge and self-denial about cardiac emergencies among the general public delays the initiation of immediate management. It is unfortunate that most people take their symptoms lightly and think that symptoms may be due to ‘acidity’ or an upset stomach.

So next time you or your relative suffers from a sudden onset chest pain or heaviness, breathlessness, sudden profuse sweating or fatigue, visit your treating doctor or the nearest Hospital’s Emergency department immediately.

Global Hospital, Mumbai, is equipped to provide cutting edge care for cardiac emergencies – 24/7. Our team of trained emergency physicians, cardiologists and CTVS surgeons, critical care specialist, rehabilitation specialists, nurses and technicians are committed to providing the best treatment for emergency management, and we value every passing second and minute.

Most patients will be sick enough to know when they are in the golden hour and most of them will miss it when it is gone.

Rising number of heart attacks

COVID has changed the world and especially the healthcare industry forever.

A striking feature during COVID was the disappearance of the cardiovascular emergencies, including heart attacks and strokes.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, all emergency visits and admissions to hospitals in the country for heart related ailments had declined drastically by 40-60 % compared with pre-pandemic data.

Much could have been attributed to the fact that people were apprehensive and were delaying receiving prompt care for heart attacks or strokes due to fear of contracting COVID at the hospital, without realising that untreated heart attacks could lead to long-term serious complications. Researchers concluded that people were more than twice as likely to die from a heart attack when compared with pre-pandemic times, probably because they were less likely to be hospitalised.

In various studies over the last few months, it has been found that COVID evolved as a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. It is fatally affecting a large number of young people with no pre-existing heart ailments or any traditional risk factors like diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol. Also, the risk of heart attacks and strokes is increased three-fold in the first two weeks following COVID, with patients suffering a heart attack even after seven to eight weeks of recovery from COVID. Unfortunately, we saw a large number of patients in emergency between the age of 20 to 25 years suffering a massive heart attack and succumbing to it.

Off lately, there has been a sudden rise in cases of cardiovascular diseases presenting to the emergency. We can only ponder if it can be due to COVID?

It has now been established that Coronavirus does on occasions infect and damage the heart muscles directly. Studies have shown that up to 1 in 5 patients with the illness end up with heart damage. Heart failure has been the cause of death in COVID patients, even those without severe breathing problems.

Since people with COVID-19 can have symptoms similar to those of a heart attack, including chest pain, shortness of breath and changes on their 2D echocardiogram, or ECG, we will never be able to tell whether the large number of dead bodies which were brought to the Emergency Departments across the country were fatalities due to COVID lung infection or due to a heart attack caused by COVID.

Another undeniable truth is that the pandemic has lead people into developing the very lifestyle factors that cause heart disease over the long term. We’re a country which eats too much unhealthy food, exercises too little, fails to undergo regular health checkups - and with the lockdown for more than a year, the drivers of cardiovascular diseases only got worse. The American Heart Association (AHA) has predicted a surge of heart attack and strokes in the months and years to come as a lagging indicator of the lifestyle changes and stress forced upon the world by the pandemic.

With the ongoing battle against COVID, we need to combat perceptions that everyone must stay away from the hospital. People should not avoid seeking care for life-threatening, yet treatable, conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Fitness is a buzzword nowadays, and we live in an age where everyone wants to be fit. A lot of Indians are hitting the gym with an aim of well-toned muscles and a lean six-pack, apart from staying fit and maintaining a healthy weight. With information freely available on the internet, people are also adopting to various types of diets. To act as a catalyst, various fitness apps on your phone, fitness bands, health startups and other technologies have been driving the market.

However, just because someone looks fit on the outside, does it mean that the person is healthy on the inside too? Fitness and health, though closely associated and often used synonymously, should not be confused to be the same. Even if you are fit, you may not be healthy. Why? – Read on.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

A slim and muscular body signifies that a person is physically fit. However, if the person is eating lots of unhealthy food and burning calories with a disciplined exercise regime to maintain their physique, or being a chain smoker or consuming high levels of alcohol, is not an indicator of good health.

Too much exercise is also not good for the body as it may lead to injuries, exhaustion, depression and anxiety, apart from possible cardiac arrhythmia or sudden cardiac arrest.

So how often should one workout? Studies have shown that 30 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity each day, totalling a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week with 1 days break, or a minimum of 75 minutes of intense exercise each week is ideal. Moderate aerobic exercise includes activities such as brisk walking or swimming. Vigorous aerobic exercise includes activities such as running and aerobic dancing. Strength training can include use of weight machines, your own body weight, or activities such as rock climbing.

Even in patients with pre-existing heart diseases, regular exercise is extremely important. Apart from making heart muscles stronger, it may also help patients be more active without chest pain or other symptoms. Exercise helps lower down the blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol levels, and help control the blood sugar, and in reducing weight – thereby controlling most major risk factors associated with heart diseases.

Along with regular physical exercises, nutrition plays an extremely important role in having a healthy heart. Healthy food choices can reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke as well as food related risk actors like obesity, high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes.

A regular exercise routine along with a healthy diet can substantially reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

Is it important for young adults to do their heart check ups at regular interval ?

Did you know that 1 in 4 deaths in India are due to cardiovascular disease, with heart disease and stroke responsible for 80 % of this burden? It has been predicted that India will be host to more than half the cases of heart disease in the world within the next 15 years.

Most Indians assume that there is no need to visit a doctor until something is wrong.

Gone are the days when Heart attacks were common only in the aged. Over the last few years, there has been a worry some tread of heart diseases and deaths due to heart attacks in the young population. Much of it can be attributed to the several lifestyle-related issues such as lack of exercise, stress, inconsistent eating habits, and also evolving risk factors like smoking, tobacco use, diabetes, Hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol in the younger population.

As our nation’s number one killer, the risks associated with cardiovascular disease cannot be overstated.

The key to maintain a healthy heart and best possible long term prognosis is dependent on early detection & treatment. Heart Checkups performed in young adults can give doctors & patients a great insight into their overall heart health; and help safeguard them from any potential heart problems, before serious health complications occur.

A healthy lifestyle and routine monitoring of heart health factors are more than just recommendations; they are necessities for long-term well-being. It’s a small measure but one that may be life-saving.

Healthcare Awards Are Rigged and There's a Formula to Win: QMH

Mumbai: In an unexpected development which has shocked the healthcare industry, the Quackdoses Multi-speciality Hospital (QMH) was declared the best hospital in the country in a survey by ‘U-pay Healthcare Awards’.

With changing trends in digital marketing, over the past few years, most hospital websites and their social media posts boast of various paid awards the hospitals and its consultants win. The voters of these surveys are non-existent entities or fake profiles on social media who are used to like, comment, share and boost the posts.

In an exclusive interview with Dr. Paisede Prizele, the Quackdoses Unit Head who ‘paid’ to win the ‘Emerging Player’ award said, “Off lately, there are too many organisations instituting countless Heathcare awards. The distance between you and your Facebook photograph receiving the award with your fake smile in the ‘Achievers Award’ category is just Rs. 15,000. If that’s expensive for you, the event organising company will create another subcategory of award to bargain, just like the Bollywood awards. Even individual doctors without any credibility or fame can get featured to win the best doctor award these days. It’s simple, Jo dikhta hai, who bikta hai !”

When Quacknews pointed out to representatives of ‘U-pay Healthcare Awards’ that this is not sustainable from a credibility point of view, they offered us the ‘Hall of Fame’ award for etching the undisputed leadership position in medical news journalism in India, for an undisclosed amount.

On crossroads between Life and Death.

Did you know that Heart Attacks and Paralytic Strokes have beginnings, which can best be treated within a “Golden Hour”?

An Emergency Can Strike Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime - an undeniable universal truth where few minutes can mean the difference between life and death, and the only thing standing between it is timely medical care. Most people do not plan for a medical emergency, although everyone will have one at one time or another.

The first hour of definitive medical care is called the “golden hour”. It is usually this first hour where the patient’s medical fate is sealed and is very important in situations such as trauma, heart attack or stroke, where time is heart or time is brain. In general, the faster the medical care is rendered, the better is the patient’s chances of survival and ultimate ability to function.

The Accident & Emergency (A&E) department is the “shop window” and insight mirror for a hospital. It is the part of the hospital most closely in contact with the public as it offers the most informal access. Today, modern emergency departments not only are capable of providing round-the-clock lifesaving care in individual emergencies and disasters, they also conduct timely diagnostic workups and serve as the “safety net of the safety net” for millions of patients. Also it is surrounded by so much drama, tragedy, and media interest.

The A&E at Global Hospital, Mumbai is an 8 bedded state of the art facility dealing with a wide spectrum of patients with acute emergencies for initial evaluation, resuscitation, treatment, investigation, stabilization, monitoring and disposition. The dedicated team of trained emergency physicians, nurses and other health professionals provide an extraordinary level of knowledge, skill and compassion to the full spectrum of patients we serve at the Hospital.

Most patients will be sick enough to know when they are in the golden hour and most of them will miss it when it is gone. When seconds and minutes count, count on us!

After 'Mixopathy' & 'Khichdification', ‘Googlopathy’ gets official recognition.

Mumbai: In another major jolt to the already crippling healthcare system in the country, the government has passed a bill to recognise ‘Googlopathy’ - the most modern branch of medicine where patient prescribes medicines to his doctor, as a non-conventional system of healthcare and healing.

After ‘Mixopathy’ and ‘Khichdification’ in medical education, the decision to recognise ‘Googlopathy’ has further raised eyebrows and dissent among the doctors & medical pundits.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, Mr. Fees Naidunga, the brainchild behind the movement said, “Most of the time, patients have already diagnosed themselves on Google, but go to a doctor only for a second opinion or because of the lack of license to prescribe medicines to themselves. It is a well-known fact that doctors also update their knowledge by reading articles off Google. Doctors should not presume that they have a proprietorship on medical knowledge, but should be open-minded within reason to any scientific fact introduced by their patients without condescendingly dismissing it. Hence we welcome this decision by the government.”

Condemning the bill, Allopathy Doctor’s Association has now released an official statement that patients who self-diagnose from Google search will only be prescribed medicines after searching on Google.

Elon Musk announces humanoid ‘Tesla Bot’, medical interns cheerful.

Mumbai: A wave of happiness has swept among the medical interns of the country after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that his electric automobile company is taking the next step in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is all set to launch a humanoid robot prototype. Images of the upcoming robot have taken social media by storm and were widely shared on Whatsapp groups and Facebook pages by the medical fraternity.

In an exclusive interview with the Quackdoses, the billionaire entrepreneur said, “Tesla Bot has been designed for dangerous, repetitive or boring work that people don’t like to do. My inspiration behind this idea were the ‘mama’ medical interns in India who have often complained about their boring work like filling up pathology or radiology requisitions in the OPD, holding the limbs of patients in the Orthopedic OTs during surgeries and other day to day mundane jobs.”

Healthcare experts and medical pundits have claimed that the Terminator like robot would have “profound implications for the healthcare sector”and address the labour shortage in medical colleges.

Unconfirmed sources have meanwhile claimed that the Surgeon’s Association of India have written to Musk to design the Bot’s fingers for doing ‘nausea inducing’ procedures like manual evacuation of faeces and Ryle’s tube insertion among others.

It all starts with you...

A 65 year old female was brought to my Emergency Department yesterday with a history of sudden collapse and breathlessness just outside Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

She had been recently diagnosed with a tumor of the thyroid gland with metastasis to the lungs. Unfortunately, the tumor was also pressing onto her trachea (wind pipe). She had gone to Tata Memorial to get few blood tests done as advised by the oncologists. Since the doctors there informed that due to heavy patient load, they might have to wait for a while before emergency treatment could be initiated, attendants decided to get her to our Emergency.

After all life saving measures and stabilizing the patient, I called for the attendant to take a detailed clinical history. Unlike the patient who looked extremely poor and frail, the attendant was a very well dressed, educated middle aged male.

Hi, Good Morning, I’m Dr. Mohit. How are you related to her?”, I asked.

“She has been working in our office as a cleaner for the past many years and has no family here in Mumbai. She only has a distant cousin, but he stays far off in some place in interior Maharashtra”, he replied.

“Her initial blood work is not good. There is acid build up in her body, she’s on high flow oxygen and will need ICU admission for further workup and management”, I informed.

“Doctor, please go ahead with whatever is best for her”, was the reply.

“Do you wish to find out any hospital charges before we proceed ?”, I curiously inquired.

“What has to be done, has to be done, at whatever cost. I cannot abandon my employees in such testing times, especially when we are dealing with such a life saving decision”, was the reply I got, and he proceeded to get the admission formalities completed.

I reason I write about this is not only to appreciate people like the employer in this case, but for all readers to contemplate. How many of us would do something like that, for any of our lowest level employees including peons, drivers, cleaner, and others? Lending money is one thing, but to be physically present when someone is in need, is something I have not seen often, and especially not during this COVID time when everyone is facing financial crisis.

I feel that the world would be a better place if we all yearn for a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Every single thing we do with the intention of ‘doing good’, no matter how small, does make a difference.

This incident has also reinforced my belief in Sir Richard Branson’s famous quote, “Clients do not come first. Employees do. If you take care of the employees, they will take care of the clients.”