Category Archives: Awareness Day/Month

‘World No Tobacco Day’ (31st May 2018): Tobacco and Heart Disease.

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World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is celebrated every year on 31st May, since its beginning in 1988. The main aim to mark this day is to encourage a 24-hour period of abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption around the world. It also aims to spread awareness about the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and the health risks associated with tobacco consumption. The resolution to celebrate 31 May as WNTD was passed by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1998 (WHA40.38). The World Health Organization (WHO) has continuously supported WNTD, every year for this campaign and decides on a theme for the day to create a more unified global message. The global theme for WNTD 2018 is – “Tobacco and Heart disease”. The theme focuses on the association between tobacco consumption and cardiovascular health and aims to inculcate the sense of refraining from tobacco use among general people.

Tobacco contains nicotine, a drug classified as potent parasympathomimetic stimulant. Nicotine is a poisonous alkaloid of the plant genus Nicotiana (family Solanaceae). The WHO declared tobacco as the world’s single greatest preventable cause of death in 2008.

Tobacco use is an important risk factor for the development of various diseases such as cancers (lung, blood, kidney, bladder, brain etc.), respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, peripheral vascular disease, pregnancy complications etc.

Key Facts from 2017 World Tobacco Reports

  • Worldwide, each year tobacco causes nearly 6 million deaths, and current trends show that tobacco use lead to more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030.
  • Almost every child regularly breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke in public places.
  • As per the WHO’s, Global Health Observatory (GHO) data 2016, 40% of children are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke, accounting for over 600,000 deaths per year. Close to a third of those deaths were reported in children under the age of five and two-thirds were in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asia.
  • In 2011, tobacco caused one-tenth of CVDs worldwide. About 12% of all heart disease deaths are due to the use of tobacco and second-hand smoke.
  • After high blood pressure, tobacco use is the second leading cause of CVD.

Aim of the World No Tobacco Day 2018

  • Highlighting the connection between the use of tobacco products and CVDs.
  • Increasing awareness within the masses to refrain from tobacco use and resist exposure to second-hand smoke to improve their cardiovascular health.
  • Promoting heart health by feasible government actions and public measures that can help to reduce the risks to heart health posed by tobacco.
  • Encouraging countries to include tobacco control in their national agenda.

Turacoz healthcare solutions, aims to increase awareness about the negative health impact of tobacco consumption and motivate them to refrain from the use of tobacco products. We must all join hands and raise our voice against both active and passive smoking so that a brighter and healthier future can be ensured for our younger generation and our Nation. Turacoz is a medical communications company, which offers services to healthcare professionals in clinical research, regulatory writing, publication writing, medico-marketing writing, and support for conducting medical advisory board meetings.

World Malaria Day (25th April 2018)

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“Ready to Beat Malaria”

World Malaria Day has become a global phenomenon and is celebrated on 25th April every year since its inception in 2007. This year’s global theme for World Malaria Day is ─ “Ready to Beat Malaria”. This theme encloses the universal goal of developing a malaria-free world. Further, it emphasizes the progress achieved in the past to tackle one of humanity’s oldest diseases; and at the same time grabs our attention towards the escalating trends reported in the 2017 World Malaria Report. After a remarkable period of success in controlling the spread of malarial cases, the progress appears to have slowed down. Hence, this year, World Health Organization (WHO) demands a greater expansion and investment of recognized tools that can prevent, diagnose, and treat malaria.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes (malaria vector). Initial symptoms include mild fever, headache, and chills, which might become lethal if left untreated for more than 24 hours. Severe malaria often leads to development of cerebral malaria or severe anaemia or involvement of multiple organs.

Statistical Facts according to the 2017 World Malaria Report:

  • In 2016, 216 million cases of malaria were estimated in 91 countries, corresponding to a surge of 5 million cases over those reported in 2015.
  • A total of 445,000 fatality cases were reported in 2016 compared to 446,000 in 2015.
  • In 2016, African regions shared a high global malaria burden, with 90% of malaria cases and 91% of mortality cases.
  • In 2016, India reported 6% of the world’s new malaria cases.

Prevention:

Transmission of malaria can be prevented and reduced with effective vector control. Vector control can be achieved in the following ways:

  • Insecticide-treated mosquito nets: WHO recommends the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) for people residing in areas at high risk of malaria. Pyrethroids are the only class of insecticides presently recommended for use in LLINs.
  • Indoor residual spraying with insecticides: This is a powerful method for rapid reduction of malaria transmission. The effect of indoor spraying persists for 3-6 months, depending on formulation of the insecticide used.
  • Antimalarial drugs: The travelers can use chemoprophylaxis as an effective method for prevention of malaria, as it suppresses the blood stage of malarial infections. WHO recommends the use of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for pregnant women at risk, and monthly courses of amodiaquine in addition to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for children at risk below 5 years during high transmission season.
  • Vaccines: Partial protection in children can be achieved by administration of an injectable vaccine “Mosquirix”. The vaccine is a complementary malaria tool rather than a replacement for treatment strategies.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

The diagnosis and treatment of malaria at an early stage limits transmission of the disease, reduces the risk of complications, and prevents death. Parasite-based diagnostic testing (either microscopy or rapid diagnostic test) is suggested by WHO prior to administering the treatment. Post-parasitological confirmation, artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is used for treatment of Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions aims to spread awareness about malaria and strategies for its prevention, to aid ‘World Health Assembly’ achieve the global target of reducing 90% of incidence and mortality rates by 2030. Turacoz is a medical communications agency, which offers services to healthcare professionals in clinical research and regulatory writing, publication writing, medico-marketing writing, and support for conducting medical advisory board meetings.

Rare Disease Day: Raising Awareness towards Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs

Awareness Day/Month

Rare Disease Day

On the 28th of February, rare disease day is celebrated globally every year. This day was established for the first time by EURORDIS (The European Rare Disease Organization) in 2008 to spread awareness amongst the public about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of patients suffering with them. Further, it sought to raise awareness about the challenges faced by these patients, their unmet needs and the importance of research and development in the field. In 2009, NORD [The National Organization for Rare Disorders, United States (US)] supported the initiative by EURORDIS and Rare Disease Day was sponsored in the US by both the organizations in partnership. The concept was then propagated beyond Europe and US to spread awareness around the world.

Rare/ Orphan Diseases

Rare diseases also called as orphan diseases affect small number of patients. These diseases might cause serious and life threatening or fatal consequences. The designation of disease as rare/ orphan differs from country to country. As per World Health Organization (WHO), a disease affecting 6.5-10 individuals for every 10,000 people is referred to as rare/orphan disease. However, as per European Union (EU), the diseases with prevalence of 5 per 10,000 people are considered as orphan. While, USA designates a disease as rare if it has an incidence lesser than 7.5 individuals per 10,000 of population. As a clear definition of rare diseases in Indian context was not defined, a non-profit organization namely Organization for Rare Diseases in India (ORDI) took the initiative to define them. According to ORDI, a disease with a prevalence of ≤1 per 5000 people may be referred to as a rare/orphan disease. The estimated prevalence of rare diseases in South Asian countries according to Foundation for research on Rare Diseases and Disorders (FRRDD) is given in Table-1.

Table:1 Prevalence of rare diseases in South Asian countries

 

Challenges Related to Rare Diseases

There are numerous challenges that pertaining to rare diseases. These are as follows:

  • Lack of general understanding about the underlying mechanism responsible for these diseases.
  • Difficulty in recruitment of clinical trials and experimental studies owing to the rarity of diseases and their widely dispersed prevalence.
  • Centers for their diagnosis and treatment are scarce.
  • Research and development is this field is also highly neglected.

Orphan Drugs

Orphan drugs are those that are used for the treatment of an orphan disease. Apart from disease rarity, other concepts also underlie the designation of a drug as orphan. Certain drugs are assigned as orphan based upon their feasibility and financial profits. Illustrating this, few vaccines and drugs which are employed to manage tropical diseases are categorized as orphan drugs. This is attributed to the fact that financial benefits to the drug developers is minimal. The population suffering from these diseases is often incapable to bear their cost and thus they must be provided at a subsidized rate thereby, giving minimal financial benefits to drug developers.

In addition, the drug is also categorized as orphan if it might have earlier been withdrawn from the market and later revives back afresh with recognition of its role in treating some other affliction. For instance, thalidomide, which was once withdrawn from market due to the landmark tragedy in mid-1960s has revived back in recent years is an orphan drug to treat lupus erythematosus.

The recent paradigm shift in market trends and profitability in research and development of orphan drugs and related regulation shall be discussed in our upcoming blog.

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions understands its responsibility towards society and this blog is an initiative to draw attention of healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies towards the unaddressed needs of patients with rare diseases.

Summing up Results of Research with Meta-Analysis: How it is Done and Why is it Important?

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We all are aware of the different types of publication documents, and meta-analysis is one of those documents with the highest level of evidence (Figure). Meta-analysis is a statistical analysis that combines or integrates the results of several independent clinical trials considered by the analyst to be combinable. It usually aims to resolve controversy over true effect, when results of individual studies are variable; and validate a statistically non-significant but clinically important result of small studies.

A meta-analysis usually considers the main outcome of the overall magnitude of the effect. The process of conducting a meta-analysis is often rigorous and well defined which leaves very less opportunities for bias to distort the results. While systematic reviews summarize the medical literature textually, meta-analyses statistically summarize results to obtain overall estimate of treatment effect.

Conducting a Meta-analysis

Over the years, the methodologies involved in conducting meta-analyses have changed. The Cochrane Collaboration has been the most important contributor to streamline and validate the procedures involved in conducting a meta-analysis. Major contributions of the Cochrane Handbook include development of protocols which describe literature search, and analytic and diagnostic methods for evaluating the output of meta-analyses. Additionally, the PreferredReporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses(PRISMA) statement provides a more robust procedure in which meta-analyses can be conducted. Steps involved in a meta-analysis include:

A sound literature search is the key to achieving robust results. A clear definition of the hypotheses to be investigated can provide the framework for the overall process to be followed in a meta-analysis. The PRISMA statement recommends inclusion of PICOS (Participants, Interventions, Comparators, Outcomes, and Study Designs) explicitly in the research question. Inclusion of PICOS incorporates all aspects being considered for the selection of studies which further helps in searching for studies with specific information/results. Searching most electronic databases with relevant search terms is important to identify articles. However; identifying appropriate search terms is the first step to achieving this. According to the PRISMA statement, complete search strategy used for at least one electronic database must be reported.

The quality assessment of studies to be included is done by evaluating each study for the eligibility for inclusion, study bias, study quality, and reported findings. Often, two independent reviewers are involved in assessing the study quality of the included studies. This assessment basically provides insights to the degree to which the trial design, conduct, analysis, and presentation have minimized or avoided systematic biases.Several tools are available to assess the study quality of which JADAD, and QUADAS are a few to name.

Data extraction decides the result of the meta-analysis. Important data which requires to be collected includes study design, description of study groups, diagnostic information, treatments, length of follow-up evaluations, and outcome measures. Sometimes, data extraction may pose a challenge when studies use different outcome metrics. In these cases, the data must be converted to a uniform metric for easy pooling.

Measuring inter-study heterogeneity is very important to understand whether the data of the meta‑analysis has addressed the two most important questions:

  1. What is the overall relationship between the treatment/intervention/ exposure and the health outcomes?
  2. Is this association consistent across the studies that constitute the systematic review and meta-analysis?

Heterogeneity can be addressed by checking if the data is correct, analyzing variation in results of the study, further exploring heterogeneity by conducting sub-group analysis/ meta‑regression, using analysis procedures which ignore heterogeneity, change the effect measure, and finally exclude the studies which may create conflict.

The data analysis is very complex and involves several analysis techniques. This is usually done using the random effects model or the fixed effect model. The random effects model is used when there is considerable heterogeneity in the studies included while fixed effects model is used when the overall outcome is similar in all studies included. Meta-analyses may also include sensitivity analysis which is a repeat meta-analysis substituting alternative decisions and a meta-regression in which the outcome variable is predicted according to the values of one or more explanatory variables.

Interpretation of the analyzed results must provide answers which are relevant to the context of the current healthcare, state the methodological limitations of studies, consider size of effect in studies and review, their consistency and presence of dose-response relationship, consider interpreting results in context of temporal cumulative meta-analysis, make recommendations that are clear and practical, and finally propose future research age.

In conclusion, conducting a meta-analysis can prove beneficial as it summarizes the overall results in an area of research. However; it must be noted that a single study cannot provide definitive conclusions. In addition, larger randomized controlled trials may sometimes contradict to the results of a meta-analysis. Meta-analysis can summarize the results of studies with varying sample size, diverse populations across different ages which provide an opportunity to explore newer hypotheses. Having said that, meta-analysisstill remains the most important and efficient tool in adding value to the already available evidence. Turacoz Healthcare Solutions (THS) provides guidance in understanding the different attributes of a meta-analysis and its finer details.

World Blood Donor Day

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Nations around the globe celebrate World Blood Donor Day (WBDD), every year, on 14th June. The event was established in 2004 not only with the purpose to aware people about the importance and necessity of safe blood and blood products, but also to thank all the blood donors for their unconditional intention and effort to save lives.

The history of blood donation takes us back to the 17th century when blood transfusions performed with poor science knowledge led to some shocking outcomes for the patients. Richard, being the first one to safely transfuse blood among animals, raised a hope of similar practice among humans.  Subsequently, an obstetrician, in 1818, brought blood transfusion back into limelight. Since then, transfusion of blood and blood products is being used to spare many lives each year by supporting people experiencing life-threatening conditions.

This year, the theme of the WBDD campaign is “What can you do?“, with an optional message “Give blood. Give now. Give often“. The campaign underlines the role that every individual can play to save lives just by endowing blood. It additionally focuses on the frequency that should be followed by people in donating blood so as to maintain adequate stock in blood banks to meet crisis.

The International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) and World Health Organization (WHO) are playing an important role making the World Blood Donor Day, a success. They highlight the importance of this day and expect a satisfactory supply of blood through regular donations by intentional unpaid blood donors. In 2014, 60 nations had their national blood supplies in view of 99-100% voluntary unpaid blood donations, with 73 nations still dependent on family and paid donors. The WHO’s global objective is to get all their blood supplies from deliberate unpaid donors by year 2020. To attain the same, numerous events are held far and wide on June 14 to mark WBDD. These include football matches, shows and mobile blood donation camps, etc.

World Blood Donor Day

Turacoz Healthcare Solutions extends its support and cooperation to be a part of this campaign of blood donation. The most ideal approach to observe and celebrate WBDD is to go out and donate blood. Every drop is important, so even a solitary contribution from time to time will help save lives.

 

‘World No Tobacco Day’ (31st May 2017): Tobacco – A Threat to Development

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A yearly celebration since 1987, ‘World No Tobacco Day’ observed on 31st of May, is an initiative by World Health Organization (WHO). The main aim to mark this day is to highlight the health risks associated with tobacco consumption and advocate for implementation of effective policies which in turn can help in reducing tobacco uses.

Facts and Figures

  • Tobacco causes cancers (head and neck, lung, blood, stomach, kidney, pancreas, colon, bladder, cervix etc.) cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, pregnancy complications and still birth, congenital malformations and several other debilitating diseases.

  • Every year 6 million people die from tobacco use. By 2030, the number is predicted to rise upto 8 million, if intensified quick action is not taken.

  • National economies and health-care costs are negatively impacted by tobacco uses.

  • Low- or middle-income countries (LMIC) reports approximately 80% of premature tobacco‑related deaths.

  • Tobacco cultivation contributes to global deforestation (2% – 4%), water and land pollution (since growing requires large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers) and significant generation of solid waste.

  • The National Cancer Institute (NCI) in collaboration with WHO found that the global economy is burdened with US$1 trillion annually as a result of tobacco use.

 

 

According to the WHO 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries must prioritize and accelerate tobacco control efforts. Tobacco epidemic once controlled will support the health, economy and development of a nation. Alongside, it will lessen the environmental burden of tobacco growing, manufacturing, trade and consumption.

Indian Scenario

As per the National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), an Indian federation of 20 non-governmental organizations (founded in 1992) works towards networking and coordinating campaigns of various institutions and NGOs across the country and aims to bring about governmental policy changes which tackle the tobacco problem of our nation.

Way Forward and Developmental Goals

  • The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) treaty, signed with 180 Parties (179 countries and the European Union), guides countries to ward off interference from the tobacco industry in government tobacco control policy.

  • Increase in worldwide cigarette taxes will contribute to government revenue generation. Alongside, it will also reduce the demand for tobacco and help in financing national development activities.

Tobacco control laws and regulations generated and implemented around the globe can promote sustainable agriculture and economic growth, save people dying of hunger, break the poverty cycle, and fight against climate change.

We, Turacoz healthcare solutions, support ‘World No Tobacco Day’, 2017 and urge people to refrain from any form of tobacco consumption and use. We must all join hands and raise our voice against both active and passive smoking so that a brighter and healthier future is ensured for our younger generation and our nation. Healthy food, healthcare and education is what we all deserve, let us not lose it to the tobacco smoke.

World Down Syndrome Day – Let Them Be Heard!

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World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. Every year it is observed on 21 March with the same zeal and enthusiasm. On this day, people with Down syndrome and their close friends and acquaintances throughout the world organize and participate in events to raise public awareness.

Why the Date March 21?

The date for this day was selected being the 21st day of the 3rd month to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which is the cause of Down syndrome.

Who Manages WDSD Platform?

The WDSD website is managed by the charity organization, Down Syndrome International (DSi). DSi created this platform as a single global meeting place where everyone can share their experiences, advertise their activities and participate in DSi’s WDSD initiatives. The website is a hub of activity taking place around 21 March each year. DSi, a global network of individuals and organizations from all over the world, is committed to improve the quality of life of people affected by Down syndrome and advocating their inherent right to be accepted.

What is the WDSD-Theme this year?

Each year DSi takes up a theme to champion the cause of Down syndrome. The theme for WDSD this year, My Voice, My Community, has been taken up to encourage people with Down syndrome, and their supporters to speak their mind, and let their voice influence government policy and action, to ensure that they can be included, on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

What is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, being universally present across racial, gender or socioeconomic lines, and affecting approximately 1 in a few hundred live births, although there is considerable variation worldwide. Per an estimate given by the United Nations, the incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide. Down syndrome usually causes varying degrees of intellectual and physical disability and associated medical issues.

 

DSi encourages people all over the world to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, and how people affected with this disorder play a vital role in our lives and communities. Turacoz Healthcare Solutions, as a part of its corporate social responsibility, joins hands with DSi to raise awareness about Down syndrome and for the well-being of the affected people. Our aim is to communicate our concern and draw more people to be a part of this campaign for those who need our help.

Liver Cancer Awareness Month: October

Awareness Day/Month

Facts

  • Approximately 83% of liver cancer cases are diagnosed in developing regions of the world.
  • 1 year survival rate of patients with liver cancer is 44% while the 5-year survival rate is 17%.
  • 1 in 105 men and 1 in 195 women will present liver cancer during their lifetime.

The first step towards finding the right care for liver cancer is to have a better understanding of the disease. Liver cancer awareness month is observed to spread awareness among the general population and a bright emerald-green color ribbon is used to imply this objective.

Liver is the second most important organ in our body, weighing about three pound and located under the rib cage on the right side. It plays a major role in metabolism, hormone production, plasma protein synthesis, glycogen storage, bile secretion and detoxification. Liver cancer or hepatic cancer begins with the tissue of the liver and is the sixth most common cancer in the world.

Risk factors

  • Chronic hepatic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Cirrhosis
  • Aflatoxins
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Male gender
  • Family history
  • Old age

Types

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of primary liver cancer accounting of almost 75% of all liver cancer cases. Some other types of liver cancer are bile duct cancer, angiosarcoma, fibrolamellar carcinoma, hepatoblastoma etc. There is even a secondary type of liver cancer (liver metastasis) which develops when another primary cancer spreads to the liver (most commonly from colorectal cancer).

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms are not very specific and may include the following

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Diagnosis

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Treatment

Treatment generally depends on the number, size and location of the tumor. Also, the metastatic spread and the overall hepatic functionality determines the treatment course.

Liver transplantation, tumor ablation, embolization, targeted therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the current treatment options for liver cancer patients.

Prevention

The American Cancer Society mentions that reducing exposure to known risk factors can prevent some incidences of liver cancer cases. Some of the listed measures are:

  • Proper vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Treatment of hepatitis infection
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight
  • Limiting tobacco use and alcohol consumption
  • Avoiding exposure to cancer-causing chemicals
  • Treatment of diseases like cirrhosis, which increase the  risk of liver cancer

Liver cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer, and in 2012 it was estimated to be responsible for nearly 746,000 cancer related deaths worldwide. People having some form of liver disease, are infected with HBV or HCV, and don’t even know it. Turacoz Healthcare Solutions supports the cause of Liver Cancer Awareness Month and urges everybody to become more conscious about their liver health and get screened for liver infections. Our accelerated efforts can help in preventing and treating liver cancer.

World Osteoporosis Day-October 20, 2016

Awareness Day/Month

“Love Your Bones and Protect Your Future”

World Osteoporosis Day is observed every year on October 20, with a year-long campaign to raise global awareness on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases. Organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) every year, the campaign aims to promote awareness about the disease and its associated risk factors. It encourages high-risk individuals to become proactive about their own bone health and advocate for a worldwide preventive care.

Osteoporosis: The Disease

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by decreased bone mass and deterioration of the bone tissue, leading to an increased risk of fracture. It causes a net loss of bone strength; as a result, even a slight bump or fall can lead to a broken bone (referred to as a fragility fracture). Osteoporosis affects all bones in the body; however, fractures occur most frequently in the vertebrae (spine), wrist, and hip. Osteoporotic fractures may also occur in the pelvis, upper arm and lower leg. Osteoporosis itself is not painful but the broken bones can result in severe pain,major physical disability and sometimes, complete immobility.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Bone pain or tenderness
  • Fractures with minimum or no trauma
  • Loss of height with time and age
  • Neck or lower back pain
  • Stooped posture

 

Risk Factors

Modifiable Risk Factors Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Smoking Family history
Alcohol consumption Previous fracture
Low body mass index Certain medications (glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, steroids etc.)
Poor nutrition Primary/secondary hypogonadism in men
Vitamin D deficiency Menopause/hysterectomy
Frequent falls Certain medical disorders (HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, malignancy etc.)
Insufficient exercise
Eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia)
Sedentary lifestyle

 

Treatment Options for Osteoporosis

Goals of osteoporosis treatment includes pain management, stopping or slowing down bone loss, preventing bone fractures, and minimizing the risk of falls.

 

Treatment

Non-pharmacological options Pharmacological Options
Calcium supplementation Hormone replacement therapy
Vitamin D supplementation Selective estrogen receptor modulators
Exercise Calcitonin
Surgical intervention Bisphosphonates

 

Preventive Measures

Proper nutrition with regular weight-bearing and resistance exercises are very crucial in protecting bone and muscle health, irrespective of age. Every individual must proactively try to identify their personal risk factors and seek early diagnosis and treatment. Lifestyle modification and medical assistance together could significantly reduce the likelihood for future fractures in osteoporotic patients and give them a better quality of life.

 

Food for Healthy Bones

It’s very important to include adequate daily amounts of calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, and magnesium for good bone health. These vitamins and minerals are the most important in building bones and teeth. Examples include:

  • ¾ Dairy products (low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese)
  • ¾ Fish
  • ¾ Green vegetables
  • ¾ Fruits
  • ¾ Fortified foods (soy milk, rice milk, breakfast cereals, and breads)

Dietary supplements of calcium and vitamin D might be needed,if our diet does not provide us with the required minimum dose.

Though our genes are responsible for our skeletal properties like body height and bone strength, we can positively influence our bone health by incorporating certain lifestyle changes (diet and exercise) and becoming actively involved in monitoring the early signs of osteoporosis.

So much we ignore our bone health and intake of nutritious diet,that we forget that deficiency of calcium and vitamin D may lead to osteoporosis and serious fractures. The disease osteoporosis is not gender-specific; both men and women are affected by its painful consequences. Turacoz Healthcare Solutions supports the cause of healthy bones and tells you about the osteoporosis. So, learn to love your bones and protect your future. On World Osteoporosis Day, let’s join in to know more about your bone health.Include healthy food in your diet and say cheers to the healthy bones!

Breast Cancer: Early Detection Saves Life

Awareness Day/Month

October is the “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death due to cancer in women, after lung cancer. Lately, there has been an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in the developing world, owing to increase in life expectancy, urbanization and adoption of western lifestyle.

Some Statistical Facts about Breast Cancer

According to the World Health Organization (WHO),

  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, both in the developed and the less developed countries
  • Over 508, 000 women died due to breast cancerin 2011
  • 58% of breast cancer deaths occur in less developed countries
  • Incidence rates are quite high in non-Hispanic white women
  • Asian/Pacific Islander women have the lowest incidence and death rates due to breast cancer

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

There are no specific symptoms when the tumor is small. Therefore, it is very important for women to follow recommended screening guidelines for detecting breast cancer at an early stage. When breast cancer has grown to a large size, it can be felt as a painless lump.Breast cancer can spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause a lump or swelling. Less common signs and symptoms include:

  • Breast pain or heaviness
  • Persistent changes to the breast, such as swelling, thickening, or redness of the breast’s skin
  • Abnormal discharge from nipple

Prevention of Breast Cancer

The American Cancer Society has recommended guidelines for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention. They can be enlisted as:

  • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight throughout life.
    • Be fit throughout life without being underweight.
    • Avoid excess weight gain at all ages.
    • Do regular physical activity and limit the intake of high-calorie foods and drinks.
  • Adopt a physically active lifestyle.
    • Adults should doat least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week.
    • Children and adolescents should performat least 1 hour of moderate- or vigorous activity each day.
    • Limit the sedentary behavior such as sitting, lying down, watching television, and other forms of screen-based entertainment.
  • Follow a healthy diet, with an emphasis on plant foods.
    • Choose foods and beverages in amounts that help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
    • Reduce the consumption of processed meat and red meat.
    • Eat at least 2½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day.
    • Choose whole grains over refined-grain products.
  • Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
    • Limit to no more than 1 drink (per day) for women or 2 (per day) for men.

Approximately,eight out of ten women develop malignant lumps in the breast. Therefore, don’t underestimate the importance of a monthly breast self-exam. Breast cancer can be fatal at any age. Women should therefore undergo proper counseling and screening for early detection. Turacoz Healthcare Solutions (THS) aims to raise awareness about the breast cancer. We, as a medical writing company in Delhi, consider it our corporate responsibility to share the healthcare measures for prevention of breast cancer.