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Hair Today, Not Gone Tomorrow.

An older gentleman of my acquaintance hates his bald pate. In a job role where he meets new people every day, his claim that lack of hair lowers his self confidence may be a valid one.

Anyway, in an effort to rid himself of this feeling, he started off with a toupee, a hair patch designed to cover the bald spot, of course as age progresses the toupee becomes a wig and the bald spot becomes a bald head.

This new development lead to a new treatment, stem cells to re-grow hair, picking samples from the back of the head, making cultures in a Petri dish and then transplanting the same in one’s head.

Seems OK in theory but, I saw the process first hand. From invasive hair plucking and even more invasive hair transplant, bandages, medicines, wooziness, and many many head punctures, which need to be treated as small wounds. The road to hair re-growth is fraught with perils of all kinds; at least this method seems to be.

And the costs involved even though may seem like a by-line here, are pretty high with very little guarantee of the procedure actually working and not to mention the number of sittings and time taken to complete this procedure.

There are simpler, less invasive, cheaper and pain free options available out there that one might use.

Alternative medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani and Homeopathy claim to have everything from, oils to control hair loss to treatments which make your hair re-grow.

All I’m saying try something that’s easier to commit to, and don’t journey down the path of feckless experimentation; it’s your head after all.

Fashion for the Full Figured Gal

I have always been conscious of my larger than normal size, and for as long as I can remember shopping has been an experience best avoided.

From sighing over pretty clothes I can’t dream of wearing to dreaded visits to the tailors to stitch salwar kameezs which cover my ample figure.

Of course today with plus sized clothes a reality, I don’t feel the same way about shopping or dressing up in a way that expresses my style. With the variety that is available both online and offline, armed with knowledge of cuts, colours, statement pieces, and spanx, women like myself can venture forth well heeled and well turned out.

So here are my must dos for a full figure, cos we all get by with a lil help from our friends.

Must invest in Statement Accessories - From bold shoes, to neckpieces, printed scarfs and eye grabbing bags. Flaunt your style with accessories and make that outfit go from drab to fab.

Must work what your mamma gave you – Figure out your strengths and flaunt em. If you have great legs, skirts with blouses and sexy heels will go a long way. Work out what you want to show off and go for it.

Must indulge in some serious lingerie – It doesn’t matter what size one is, ill fitting lingerie is a confidence killer. From body shapers to full coverage bras, today one can access a full range of products for maximum comfort and support. Invest in pieces that are versatile and can be used with different outfits.

Must find the perfect pair of jeans – A pair of Jeans that fit well, are a must have for any wardrobe. Dress em up for an evening outing or dress em down for a casual day with friends. Straight fits with allowances for curvy bottoms are ideal to pair with tunics or kurtis.

Must banish all adjustments, tugging and pulling at tops – Common problems when wearing tops are blouse gaps, low necklines, slipping straps. Banish these with simple measures such as quick fix tapes to secure buttons of a top, or a cleavage cover up for gaping necklines, pick up some shoulder cushions to stop the straps from slipping. Elegant fixes for regular woes.

 Must be confident – Size is only a number, the way you carry your self is more important than any number. 

Spinal Injuries

Recently my father, who is 64 years old and about 85 kgs, fell down the stairs and suffered a fracture between the C5 and C6 vertebrae of his spine.

No one was home when it happened, and we had to break the door to get to him, just to find him sprawled on the floor, unable to get off the floor on his own.

We immediately took him to the doctor, my father was in extreme pain, and the doctor first recommended that we take him for an X-Ray, unfortunately due to the kind of trauma his spine had suffered an MRI was recommended for the best possible image to detect the extent of the injury.

An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a medical imaging technique that uses a strong Magnetic Field to make images of structures inside the body.

An MRI is used in cases where X-Rays are not able to provide enough information about the trauma, because of bones or tissues that are in the way of a clear view of the trauma/injury.

Finding out where I could take him for the MRI was the hard part. I had no information about which centres provided MRI scan, which were better facilities, better machines, where the scans were most competitively priced? Which centres were better for Cervical Injuries?

That's when I came across Zywee.com, a website that is a one stop shop for all hospital and healthcare options in Bangalore, from doctors to specialities to reviews and prices. Zywee has everything one needs to know when it comes to healing oneself or a loved one.

To my joy I was able to locate the nearest MRI Centre and was prepared with what it would cost me, but mostly I was glad that I could access this information with a few clicks on my laptop. 

Geriatric Care in India

For all those who have old and ailing parents, deciding on the appropriate care centre is crucial. There are many options available in India based on the level of care to be given to geriatric patients.

1. Old age retirement homes: These are places where the old can come and live in a community. They are expected to be in full health, with ability to do minimal chores for themselves. They usually have canteen, where they can come together to eat. The facilities in such places are for able bodied old citizens .There are a variety of places with services like physiotherapy, on call doctor facilities etc. The prices range from Rs.8000 to Rs.1,50,000 per month depending on the location and services provided such as special meals, swimming pools, attendees etc. They have a vibrant community with the Retirement homes arranging for festivities and regular day outs for the members.

2. Old Age homes: These are places where the patient’s partly ailing .They have on call doctors, physiotherapists, attendees, nurses, medical equipment etc. Food will be provided and they will be given attendants to feed, bathe & clothe and take care of ablutions. They will also be given medications regularly and have monthly visits from a variety of doctors. They have a vibrant community and aim to improve the quality of life for the aged.

3. Rehabilitation Centres: There are few specialized rehabilitation centres in India. They are specialized for post operative care from the minimal to the extreme cases with severe mobility disability. They aim to help the patient recover and therefore have in-house doctors, therapists, nurses and staff. These centres are cost prohibitive (Rs.50000 and upwards) since they provide specialized care.

4. Palliative Care: These are centres for the severely ill and dying patients suffering from cancer or aids among other diseases. They have full medical facilities with in-house doctors, specialists, therapists, nurses, attendants etc. Their aim is to manage the quality of life of the patient while providing long term medical attention. Most palliative centres are run by NGO’s and therefore they provide services for patients across the economic spectrum.

Deciding where to house and care for depends on a few factors which you can consider.

1. Health: The decision on which caregiver is appropriate would be based on the health and amount of care to be given to the patient. You can consider the amount medical assistance and help required to perform everyday duties. Among others, consider the length of the recovery for the right choice.

2. Cleanliness and Hygiene: Since most doctors will confirm the chances of “catching something” like an infection is higher in a medical facility, cleanliness and hygiene is critical. Check the beds, bathrooms, kitchen and their maintenance routine to be sure. And odour free environment, with plenty of sunshine is ideal in most cases.

3. Cost: Though we want to provide the safest care for the elders in our life, we have to consider the cost of rehabilitation & recovery. While the palliative centres in India are some of the most affordable in the world, the cost in an old age home can range anywhere between Rs.15000 to Rs.1,50,000 and higher per month. Most of the places also ask for donation or advance amount which can range from Rs.20000 to a couple of lakhs. The monthly rentals typically include accommodation and food.

 

4. Emergency Services: Most of the old age homes have associations with hospitals, ambulances, clinics etc. Depending on the health of the aged, you can choose a home that provides these services and are closest to your home.

5. Quality of Life: The primary attention though, is to find a loving and caring environment. Speak with the other elders housed in the facility and gather their experiences, to judge the timeliness and gentleness of response from the Home. Also consider the community experience that the Home can provide to the elders. 

www.zywee.com

The best thing you can do is get more information in case you know of someone who needs these facilities, websites like Zywee offer  information that you can use to figure out the best possible solutions for you and your loved ones.

Health Woes when Travelling

In a country where start ups, new ventures, franchisees and multiple branches across the country are common place, it is but obvious that one has to travel a fair amount for work.

A friend who travels very often for work, finds herself in a different city every third week, and invariably after the travel itself, a change in the air (rather the pollution), the water, causes her to fall ill.

Everything from an upset stomach (Delhi Belly is real), to sore throat, fatigue of travel, fever, or worse viral infections.

And since one is travelling for work, taking a day off to recuperate is not really an option.

Recently this friend was off to Bangalore for a month long stint as part of her consulting job. And on day 3, she started feeling a bit under the weather; it was a bad bout of inflamed tonsils.

A visit to the GP closest to his Hotel, and some antibiotics later, she was healed and back to work for a total of 5 days before it came back, and this time with a vengeance, and inflammation was a lot worse, difficulty in swallowing food, even water, stuffed nose, you know the symptoms.

And this time she wasn't ready to go back to the same doctor, because obviously, the doctor didn't do a good job the first time.

And now the question was who and where?

That’s when my friend used a very cool service that exists in Bangalore, called Zywee. 

www.zywee.com

It’s basically a listing service for Doctors, Hospitals, and Healthcare. With reviews, contact details, timings, and prices. 

In a world where reliance on technology is at an all time high, we need more services like Zywee to help us with our very real, non technological, can't troubleshoot to fix, health problems.

Do yourself a favour and stay informed of services like Zywee, in your city or the one you travel to, you never know when you might need it.

The importance of First Aid for Spinal Injuries

10 days ago, my father slipped and fell down the stairs. 

He is 64 years old, weighing 85 kgs and a highly diabetic patient. We found out the next day, when we took him to the hospital that he had suffered a fracture between C5 and C6 vertebrae of his spine. This had compressed the nerve next to it rendering his arms stiff and unmovable. The doctor told us that the best thing we did was give him the right first aid that saved him from paralysis. 

Here are some of the things you can do when a geriatric in your house falls down.

1. Do not move the person unless they are in an emergency such as fire or if they have fallen in an awkward position. If you have to move them, ensure their head is balanced. Do not attempt this single handedly. Have one person near the neck and one near their feet. Call your doctors immediately.

2. Check for their breathing, especially if they are vomiting or have difficulty breathing, roll them to their side. If they have breathing problems, do not attempt CPR, because that can strain the neck, instead attempt chest compression techniques.

3. Make them lie on their back with least stress to the neck. Any extra pressure may severe the nerves, rendering them paralysed (worst case scenario).Add a neck brace if you have one handy.

4. Check for swelling and bruises. Most of them will not appear immediately. Make them move their arms and legs to check for onset of nerve damage.

5. Check their memory with a few simple questions, such as the year, the current president or a few arithmetic problems, to see impact on their speech pattern and brain function.

6. To manage the pain till the doctor arrives, you can give them any pain killer such as Dolo 650, after they have ingested some water and food.

First aid is critical to ensure the patient does not suffer from any severe damage. Since spinal cord bones are non regenerative, to ensure minimum damage, they need to be taken to the hospital within 12 hours. Also any surgery that has been suggested needs to be done within 24-36 hours to minimize the damage.

Currently, my father has undergone surgery, where the doctors have inserted a titanium plate to help healing. A graft from his neck was used to fuse the cervical vertebrae with the titanium. He is healing slowly with the help of physiotherapy, which the most important postoperative care, for any bone & muscle related injuries. 

www.zywee.com

Scary situations like this need expert help, find an expert near you who can help you in your time of need. Zywee can help you locate everything from Doctors to Tests to Hospitals to Medicines that are delivered home.