The day doctor pronounced the ill-fated

                                                  



The day the doctor pronounced the ill-fated word , and her first reaction was , 'Why , Why me?'

For Sukhada , my close friend , always lead an active and healthy life-style devoid of intake of fast-food and aerated drinks.

She was a firm believer of the grandma's advice that home-made food is the best and shunned tinned and packaged foods even preparing her own ketchup , sauce , chocolates and biscuits. 

A long and a brisk walk combined with yoga was on her agenda and rarely she gave it a miss. 

A self-disciplined and a simple soul could be the target of a painful and dreaded ailment who rarely visited dispensaries , was hard to digest.

I was  too stunned to react and disbelief enveloped me . I was hoping of a wrong diagnosis and praying for a miracle . But that was not to be. A second opinion sought ,  confirmed the worst fears. For her family coming to terms with her ill-health was difficult and painful.

All the prescribed treatments followed  to prolong the life in years albeit the quality of life took a backseat and ultimately snatched a gem of a person leaving me poorer .


When Sukhada breathed her last , her battle with pain and suffering came to an end. In a moment of grief and subsequent anger I questioned myself if the big C has triumphed over her.
Months later I realized that she had succumbed to the ailment but her spirit to overcome the daily obstacles , the fervent desire to heal faster and the race against  time to fulfill the goals that she had set , had not been defeated. But  she moaned the fact that she had to be dependent on her family , help-givers and friends. It is but natural for a human to feel so. 



                                                    

Report any bodily changes , however minute , to your doctor. A doctor is your best friend and confidante. Do not be shy to talk about delicate matters that need urgent attention. Awareness of the disease is the biggest tool to combat it. Early detection saves lives.

Every year , at least 10 lakhs are detected in India and six lakhs die of it. Medical companies are reporting more claims by cancer patients , indicating a rise in the incidence of the disease.


                                                         FOR :  WRITE TRIBE

 Please read       Shilpa Garg's post on  Breast Cancer from A to Z. It is informative.

                          Ruchira Khanna's post on Prostrate-Cancer-a-Silent-Killer.

                          Kajal Kapur's post :  I defaulted  
    

parcel

Write Over the Weekend theme for this week

This time your entry must contain, ‘I was surprised to see a parcel with my name on it.’

I was talking to my friend , Varsha and I felt a tingling sensation on my hand. I must have held the receiver for a long time and cradled the receiver in the other hand and kept rubbing my palm on to the sofa. Sensing the change in my voice , Varsha asked me if I was feeling okay. I rested her fears saying that we had conversed for a long time and the numbness seemed to be telling me. We both of us laughed. I told her that I was 3 kgs lighter despite feeling hungry and munching all the time. She asked me whether I was feeling thirsty too. I replied in the affirmative. After putting the handset into its proper place , I wondered how Varsha knew that my throat was feeling parched. She is a health-conscious person. 

                                      

I was enjoying my siesta after a heavy lunch when the ringing of the bell fell on my sleepy ears. I cursed the person at the door who dared to disturb me at this time of the day. I dragged myself forcibly and was about to open the door when I remembered the warnings of Mumbai Police in the print media about the safety measures.  I looked through the peep-hole and found a man standing on the other side of the peep-hole. I cautiously opened the safety  door. 

                                               

"Mrs. Kalpana S.?"

"Yes", I replied.

"Sign here", said he slipping the not -so-thick brown paper parcel through the wrought iron grille. 

I closed the door after he left and  ‘I was surprised to see a parcel with my name on it.’ 

I observed that there was no name or address of the sender. Should I open it or not? I shouldn't have accepted it. My mind was plagued with a thousand doubts. The custodians of law brief the general public about informing them of strange parcel or brief-cases. My curiosity defeated the rationale thinking and I tore the glossy brown paper parcel held together with a red and white thread.

There was confusion writ of my face. There were three books. Being a bibliophile , I was thrilled but a speck of doubt troubled me. It was neither my birthday nor my wedding anniversary that I should be at the receiving end .

I sat down and was lost in the pages  of the book , the content being very timely , interesting and an eye-opener. Soon I guessed the name of the sender. I counted my blessings and gratitude filled me. I am fortunate to be surrounded by friends who cared for me and there is no greater wealth than health and friends.You must be wondering what I have just finished reading. 

Tomorrow I will met my doctor.


I f people like me ignore warning bells soon India will the world capital of diabetes.
I cannot  quote what I read in the thick book ad verbatim but in a nutshell , blogger Vidya Sury has put across interesting facts which I read in that book and I am  yet to read  the other two books on health care. 

You can read here. about Vidya Sury's writing. Please spare some time and you won't be disappointed.




showered upon us, only one life
precious it is , make it free of strife.
Like a pearl from the deep ocean
nurture it with Buddha like devotion.
When little warning bells toll
do not wait for a popular poll.
rush to your pal , your doctor
trust him and he will monitor
your heart beats and blood
listen and follow him , do not brood.
when clouds of doubt gather
clear them , talk , as he is a guiding father.

P.S. : Science and technology had made inroads in healthcare but it the ultimate responsibility upon the individual to be alert and listen to any bodily changes. No ailment crops up overnight. A doctor is a friend and a guide. Trust him/her.Women are prone to neglect their health but worry about the health of their family members.



This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Osteoporosis

                                             



World osteoporosis day is celebrated on October 20 every year.  It is 'celebrated' by creating awareness about the health problem , its causes and preventive measures. Women are at a greater risk of osteoporosis after menopause which can lead to chances of risk of painful fractures.


Osteoporosis ("porous bones", from Greek: is a progressive disease of the bone that is characterised by a decrease in bone mass and density and that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced .

In childhood, our bones grow and repair and renew quickly.  Bones stop growing in length between the ages of 16 and 18, but the bones continue to increase in density till the age of late 20s. Bones are the thickest and strongest in early adult life.But as one ages the constant growth , repair and renewal slows down and the bones become weaker and are more susceptible to fractures.

After the age of 35 , one gradually and slowly loses bone density. This is a normal part of ageing, but for some people it can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures and women are at greater after menopause.

.

               Who are affected by osteoporosis?

Both man and women are affected by this disease but is more common in older people but younger people can be affected.

Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men. This is because changes in hormone levels can affect bone density. The female hormone oestrogen is essential for healthy bones. After the menopause the level of oestrogen in the body falls, and this can lead to a rapid decrease in bone density. 

Women are at even greater risk of developing osteoporosis when:

Some women have menopause before the age of 45.

Some women undergo hysterectomy , a surgical procedure to remove the womb (uterus)

Some women become victims of fad diets.

For most men who develop osteoporosis, the cause is unknown. However, there is a link to the male hormone testosterone, which helps to keep the bones healthy. Men continue to produce this hormone into old age, but the risk of osteoporosis is increased in men with low levels of testosterone.

• Factors that increase the risk of osteoporosis.

              diseases of the hormone producing glands

              a family history of osteoporosis.

             long-term use of certain medications that affect bone strength or

             hormone levels.

             Heavy drinking and smoking

             A low Body Mass Index of 19 or less 

             Rheumatoid  arthritis

             Some drugs used in Treatment of breast cancer and prostate cancer

             Long periods of inactivity, such as long-term bed rest

             Disorders of pituitary gland

                                                       Symptoms

Healthy people usually would not suffer from fractures. Osteoporosis has no outward 

symptoms but  its main consequence is the increased risk of bone fractures and 

hence they are therefore regarded as fragility fractures. Fractures occur in 

the vertebral column, rib , hip and wrist.

A simple cough or a sneeze may cause the fracture of a rib or the partial collapse of one of the bones of the spine.

A fractured bone in an older person can be serious, depending on where it occurs, and can lead to long-term disability. For example, a hip fracture may lead to long-term problems with mobility.

One visible sign of osteoporosis is the characteristic stooping (bent forward) position that develops in older people. It happens when the bones in the spine are fractured, making it difficult to support the weight of the body.

                                              

                                           Is osteoporosis painful?

Osteoporosis usually doesn't cause pain unless a bone is broken as a result of the condition. 

                                               Preventing osteoporosis

It is important that people at risk of osteoporosis take steps to help keep bones healthy and reduce their risk of developing the condition. This may include:

• regular exercise
• healthy eating
• lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and reducing or refrain  alcohol intake.
•                    
• 
  

       Certain foods that reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Flax-seeds : These seeds may boost bone density and are good for post-menopausal women.

Sunlight :  is a natural and best source of Vitamin D. Exposure to early morning sun-rays  is beneficial.

Tuna and Salmon are also good sources of Vitamin D.

Ragi (Nachani) is very nutritious.

Dairy products like milk , yogurt and paneer are good sources of calcium.

Nuts , Green leafy veggies and whole grains should be consumed.

Taking of calcium supplements under medical advice.

                   

                                       Precautions

Preventing fractures, preventing falls :

Simple changes can make a difference e.g. do not leave things lying on the floor,

avoid spillage of water. Special handrails and trailing wires should be fitted for support and easy movement. Place anti-slip mats , which are easily available in the market, in bathrooms and near wash-basins. Use of adult diapers at night means no trips to the toilet at night. 

Go for regular checkups to E.N.T.

Your doctor is your best friend. Seek help and advice from your G.P.

Have regular sight and hearing tests.