All posts by Turacoz Group

Surya Namaskar: A Complete Health Guide for Recent Times from Ancient India

Health & Fitness

Surya Namaskar or sun salutation is a way of saluting sun, the ultimate source of energy and life on earth. Our solar plexus or second brain which is located in the central part of the body, i.e. behind navel, is assumed to be connected to the sun. This rationale must be behind the gurus and rishis of ancient and current times who recommend Surya Namaskar regular practise to increase one’s creativity and intuitive abilities.

The 12 postures of Surya Namaskar are in sync with the sun’s cycles which run at twelve-and-a-quarter years. In addition to having the known health benefits, performing Surya Namaskar also makes your body ready to vibrate and breathe with the natural solar cycle.

According to Sathguru, young women are already in sync with the smallest natural cycle i.e. lunar cycle. Now if women do Surya Namaskar also every day, they will be synced to both solar and lunar cycles, and that gives a lot of energy.Probably that is why God gave the privilege to propagate the race to the women.

The 12 steps of Surya Namaskar are:

  1. Pranamasana or Prayer pose
  2. Hastauttanasana or Raised arms pose
  3. Hasta Padasana or Hand to foot pose
  4. Ashwasanchalanasana or Equestrian pose
  5. Dandasana or Stick pose
  6. Ashtanganamarkara or Salute with eight parts/points
  7. Bhujangasana or Cobra pose
  8. Parvatasana or Mountain pose
  9. Ashwasanchalanasana or Equestrian pose
  10. Hasta padasana or Hand to foot pose
  11. Hastauttanasana or Raised arms pose
  12. Tadasana

Some quick facts:

  • Twelve sets of Surya Namaskar is equivalent to 288 poses and can be done in only 12 minutes.
  • One round of Surya Namaskar can burn upto 14 calories for an average weighing person.
  • The sets can be increased up to 108 in a day.

Surya Namaskar is a complete exercise of body and soul. Including it in our daily routine can help us enjoy better life and be more productive.

One of the pillar of Turacoz Healthcare Solutions is our people and we always try to inculcate healthy habits and life style modifications to attain a comprehensive health, enjoy the life, and God’s creations. On this #InternationalYogaDay, Turacoz team pledges to inculcate healthy habits in their lifestyle and spread the awareness as a part of their corporate social responsibility.

Men’s Health Month: Make a Commitment to Improve Your Health

Awareness Day/Month

Men’s Health Month is a special awareness period for men’s health observed across the globe. It was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on May 31, 1994. The purpose of “Men’s Health Month” is to increase the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Alarming statistics show that men’s health is at great risk. On an average, men die almost 5 years younger than women and have higher mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases.Research has also shown that men do not consult physicians for a physical exam as often as women.

There are also health conditions that only affect men, such as prostate cancer and low testosterone. Many of the major health risks that men face, like colon cancer, heart disease orlung cancer, can be prevented and treated with early diagnosis. Besides, men are associated with the most dangerous occupations, such as mining, firefighting, construction etc. which affect their health adversely.

Men’s health has unique aspects and it should be properlytaken care of. So, this month gives health care providers, public policy makers, the media, and individuals an opportunity to encourage men and boys to seek regular check-ups, medical advice, and early treatment for diseases and injuries.

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions is passionate to spread the awareness on such social or healthcare related issues as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. CSR is at the very heart of everything we do at Turacoz. Our medical writing team is well-versed with recent advances in various therapeutic areas which give them a head start in various publication, clinical research and regulatory writing projects.

Ramadan Fasting and Diabetes Management

Health & Fitness, ,

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims in which consumption of food and drinks, medications, and smoking is forbidden between dawn and dusk. During Ramadan, millions of Muslims fast during the daylight hours. People generally consume only two meals per day during this month, one after sunset (Iftar) and the other before dawn (Suhur). However, this can lead to metabolic changes in the body and can give rise to various health complications, especially in diabetic patients. Although any person who is ill or has some medical condition like diabetes can choose not to fast, it becomes a personal decision. In casediabetic patients choose to fast, they should consult their doctors before starting fasting during Ramadan.

Diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels in the body due to insulin deficiency or inability of the body to use insulin properly. Long fasting and fluid restriction during the day can lead to dehydration and fluctuations in sugar levels. These patients can experience any one of the following:

  • Hypoglycemia (lowering of blood sugar levels) due to long fasting hours leading to seizures and loss of consciousness
  • Hyperglycemia (increased blood sugar levels) due to increased food/sugar intake during Iftar and abstaining the use of antidiabetic medications
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (a life-threatening situation) in patients having high blood glucose levels and taking reduced dosage of insulin during Ramadan
  • Dehydration leading to volume and electrolyte depletion and causing syncope, falls, and injuries

 

Managing Diabetes During Diabetes:

It is very important that patients with diabetes make a personal choice of fasting during Ramadan only after considering their health condition and proper consultation with their physicians. They should be aware of the associated risks and adhere to the doctors’ recommendations in order to have a safe fasting. Diabetic patients should monitor blood glucose levels regularly during Ramadan. If the blood glucose falls below 70 mg/dL, the fast needs to be ended. Checking blood glucose is very important and does not mean breaking the fast. Secondly, dosage of antidiabetic medications need to be modified during Ramadan. That doesn’t mean that a person has to stop taking his medications. Only the doses will be altered based on his sugar levels and current condition.

During Suhur, a diabetic patient should go for healthy breakfast including starchy carbohydrates and some proteins to slow down the digestion and maintaining the feeling of fullness. Breakfast can include: whole grain cereals, some lentils, and low-fat milk. During Iftar, one should drink plenty of fluids, but avoid caffeine and sugar containing beverages. One should not overeat during Iftar and have small meals. Fried food, sweets, and excessive sugar containing foodsshould be avoided.

With proper management plan and regular glucose monitoring, diabetic patients can experience a healthy living and maintain their religious beliefs during the month of Ramadan.

 

HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY RAMADAN!

Turacoz aims to spread the awareness on various healthcare related issues as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. Our medical writing team is well-versed with recent advances in various therapeutic areas. We provide support in publication writing, clinical research and regulatory writing, medical advisory board meetings and medical marketing services.

Turacoz Medical Writing Workshop At ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre

News

Turacoz skill development program conducted a medical writing workshop on publication at Tata memorial hospital, Mumbai on 4th June,2016. The workshop was headed by our lead trainer and medical director, Dr. Namrata Singh who focused on publication planning and submission. The participants involved doctors, research scholars and residents from ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre from medical oncology departments where they acknowledged that the workshop was really helpful. Dr. Namrata addressed the queries and day to day challenges faced by the doctors while writing their publication papers. There was an overwhelming responseand participants requested to conduct similar workshops in other departments.

Turacoz Medical Writing Seminar At Jamia Hamdard

News

Turacoz skill development program conducted a seminar on 02 June, 2016 in Center for Faculty Development (Faculty of Pharmacy), Jamia Hamdard University on medical writing. The participants involved experienced faculties from universities like KIET, BS Anangpuria Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University and reputed personalities from organizations like YES Regulatory Healthcare Services, Sun Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo. Dr. Namrata, Director of Turacoz introduced the scope of medical writing for both professors who are the contributors for scientific content and students who can choose it as a career option. There was an overwhelming response and participants suggested that such workshops should be organized more often at institutional level to help students enter the industry.

Arthritis Awareness Month

Awareness Day/Month

It’s not just a pain.It’s a complete physical, mental, and emotional assault on your body.

-Jamie Wingo

May is declared as “National Arthritis Awareness Month” by Arthritis Foundation, America. Arthritis is a common chronic disease which affects 1% of the worldwide population.Itis one of the major health problem in the US population, by which more than 50 millionAmericans are affected. In India, it is believed to affect 15% populationi.e. around180 million people.

About Arthritis:

Arthritis is best characterized as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) and involves bothimmunological and inflammatory pathways. The exact pathophysiology of this disease is still unclear.

Types of Arthritis:

There are variousforms of arthritis,but the two most commontypesare osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are over 100 other forms of arthritis such as arthritis associated with psoriasis, arthritis associated with lupus erythematosus, and septic arthritis. However, all these forms are much less common than OA and RA.

Signs and Symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Stiffness
  • Swelling
  • Redness
  • Joint deformity

Risk Factors:

  • Family history
  • Older age
  • Being female
  • Previous joint injuries
  • Being overweight and obesity
  • Infections

 

Diagnosis:

Arthritis is diagnosed based on complete medical history, including symptoms, and physical examination. Imaging techniquessuch as X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound are generally performed.

Management:

  • Drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease-modifying drugs like methotrexate and leflunomide, biologics like etanercept and rituximab etc.
  • Non-pharmacological therapies like physical or occupational therapy and patient education
  • Surgery
  • Self-management

Self-Management:

  • Control your weight
  • Exercise regularly
  • Eat a healthy diet
  • Use heating pads or ice packs for pain-relief
  • Assistive devices such as canes, walkers, and raised toilet seats can help perform daily tasks

May is marked as National Arthritis Awareness Month.Turacoz Healthcare Solutions joins with the Arthritis Foundation, America to be a part of this awareness program as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. Our medical writing team is well-versed with recent advances in various therapeutic areas which give them a head start in publication writing, clinical research and regulatory writing projects and medical marketing services.

Medical Writing workshop in Dubai

News

Turacoz Skill and Development program under the umbrella of Turacoz Healthcare Solutions successfully organized its second Medical Writing workshop in Dubai on 20th May, 2016 at Four Points by Sheraton, Bur Dubai. We had a pool of doctors from various hospitals in UAE including Al Garhoud Private Hospital, Latifa hospital, Emirates Hospital, Dubai Hospital, NMC Hospital. Also we had people from medical affairs team of pharmaceutical companies.

It was a six hours workshop with live assignments and discussions. Our trainer doctor Namrata Singh gave an update to the participants about the latest guidelines on publication and the participants reciprocated with their experiences and queries related to publication. We got an overwhelming feedback and suggestions to continue this knowledge process.

We, Turacoz skill and development program will come up with our next workshop in UAE soon.

KNOW ABOUT ASTHMA AND ALLERGY!!!

Awareness Day/Month,

The month of May is declared as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month” by Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. It is the perfect time to educate people about asthma, its causes, and the ways to lead a normal life with asthma.

Asthma is an episodic yetchronic respiratory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing due to bronchospasm and inflammation of the airways. It is the most common chronic disease among children. More than 100 million people worldwide are believed to from asthma, of which 15 to 20 millions are Indians. Asthma can influence the quality of life by causing missed school or working days, increased medical expenses, and poor work performance.

Asthma attacks can be mild, moderate, severe, or sometimes life threatening!!!!Shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, chest tightness, andpus-like sputum (in the recovery phase) are some of the symptoms of mild to moderate asthma. Labored and shallow breathing, bluish discoloration of the skin, and loss of consciousness may indicate life-threatening condition.

Allergy and asthma often occur together. Asthma occurring due to allergens is referred to as “allergic asthma”.

How Does Allergy Cause Asthma?

Exposure to allergens causes release of inflammatory cells such as mast cells, eosinophils, and neutrophils in the bronchi and bronchioles leading to inflammation and obstruction of the airways. This leads to increased contractibility of smooth muscles, that further results in narrowing of the airways.

Allergens Causing Asthma:

  • Pollens
  • Dust mites
  • Cockroaches
  • Animal dander
  • Mold
  • Exposure to indoor volatile organic compounds
  • Air pollution

How is Allergic Asthma Managed??

“Prevention is better than cure”, an age old saying holds good for asthma too. Asthma patients are advised to avoid exposure to known allergens and triggering factors. Though there is no cure for asthma till date, the symptoms can be improved by prompt medications. Bronchodilators are recommended for short-term relief, while low-dose inhalational corticosteroids or mast cell stabilizing drugs are recommended for long-term therapy.

Recent studies have revealed that oligonucleotide agents are found to decrease allergen-induced early and late asthmatic response. Infliximab, etanercept and golimumab are found to provide a short-term efficacy in patients with the severe disease.

Can an Asthmatic Patient Lead a Normal Life??

Asthmatic attacks may occur periodically, based on the exposure to triggering factors. However, a few changes in lifestyle can help an asthmatic lead a normal life. Here are a few:

  • Maintaining good physical and mental health
  • Regular intake of medications
  • Regular physician check-ups
  • Keeping distance from the known allergens
  • Avoiding the use of tobacco

Why is it Important to Raise Awareness About Allergy and Asthma?

According to a survey, 51-68% of the patients experiencing severe asthma and 30-61% of patients with moderate symptoms said that they suffer uncontrolled asthma. As most people may be unaware of the causes and triggering factors of asthma, educating people about allergy and asthma may yield a better treatment outcome.

What are the Various Methods to Spread Awareness About Allergy and Asthma in Public?

  • Conducting a questionnaire study about allergic asthma
  • Publishing the articles on allergy and asthma in social media
  • Organizing medical camps to reach rural population
  • Organizing awareness programs in educational institutes
  • Publishing articles in newspapers and arranging for correspondence
  • Organizing lectures about the disease
  • Organizing for a marathon, to create awareness, will help gain enormous public attention

Some Facts About Allergic Asthma

  •  People with food allergy, allergic rhinitis, hypersensitivity, familial history of asthma are at higher risk of developing asthma
  • Once an individual is sensitized to an allergen, a very minor exposure to the allergen may also precipitate the asthmatic attack
  • 50% of people with allergic rhinitis have asthma
  • Actopic eczema is probably the first sign that a future asthmatic patient develops as a child
  • Treating rhinitis may improve the symptoms of asthma, especially cough
  • In children, males are twice as susceptible to asthma than girls, while, after puberty, it is more common in females

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions is passionate to spread the awareness on such social or healthcare related issues as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. CSR is at the very heart of everything we do at Turacoz. Our medical writing team is well-versed with recent advances in various therapeutic areas which give them a head start in various publication, clinical research and regulatory writing projects.