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It’s the Great Indian Wedding season. You are home, stuck enduring unlimited loops of the party anthem of the year, playing at the wedding next door. You just want the song to stop. You plug a finger in each of your ears and hope for the ordeal to be over with. Finally, the song ends. You remove your fingers and another problem now irritates you more than the song did. Your ears have blocked and now you hear everything at a lower volume. You try undoing the damage but in vain.
This kind of situation happens to everyone at some point of time in their lives. Ear blockage can be very irritating and the causes may be multiple. Sometimes it is a simple air pocket that releases on its own. While at other times it might be a symptom of something more severe like anxiety or Meniere’s disease. So what causes ear blockage? What are the symptoms and treatment for ear blockage? For all these queries and a lot more awareness read on…
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When you start hearing less and when loud voices also start sounding muffled, your ears might be clogged or plugged up. Multiple reasons can lead to ear blockage. Common ear wax is the primary reason for the blockage, but sometimes there could be nothing in your ear canal and the blockage still exists.
Let us understand the various causes of ear blockage in the next segment.
While the reasons are not always apparent, the most common causes behind ear blockage are:
Our ear’s self-protective measure is earwax. The stickiness of ear wax acts as a lubricant for the middle ear canal, traps dirt & pollutants, and helps clean out the ear canal like a natural cleaning agent when it falls off the ear by itself. But when the ear wax becomes impacted, it directly affects your hearing ability.
How to know if your blockage is due to impacted ear wax? Here are the symptoms
Never try to poke your ear or extract wax with a cotton swab, peroxide or baby oil. This will make matters worse and might end up affecting your eardrums.
When the fluid gets stuck in the middle ear it can lead to ear blockage. This can also happen in several ways. Such as:
A stuffy nose, blocked ears and tenderness on the face are the outcomes of sinus pressure. These symptoms can also lead to a temporary hearing loss. This is because the sinus is located beside the ear canal. So when the sinus cavity experiences inflammation, it results in the swelling of Eustachian tubes closing the connection between your throat and your ear. This makes clogged ears feel much worse. But if the inflammation grows more severe it can lead to temporary hearing loss.
Barotrauma or aeroplane ear condition is another cause of ear blockage. When you are on a flight, your ears cannot properly adjust to the changing air pressure.
Noise is the biggest cause of hearing loss in people. Exposure to loud noises, explosions and blasts can lead to people experiencing blocked ears.
Ear blockage can be due to various other underlying health causes also. Such as anxiety or panic disorder. This can cause fullness, pressure and pain in the ears due to some triggering event. During these episodes, You have a constant urge to pop your ears to relieve the stress and feel better.
The most severe cause is linked to Meniere’s disease. This inner ear condition is often accompanied by tinnitus, dizziness and hearing loss. This makes our bodies lose their balance over time.
Trauma or injury to the head can cause ringing and aural fullness of the ear. This makes you feel as if your ears won’t ever pop.
Sometimes children put small things in their ears which can cause blockage. An insect worm or any foreign object inside the ear can also create problems.
Unclogging your ears at home is a welcome option for all of us since the experience of a clogged ear can be frustrating. However, we need to understand what is good or bad in terms of home remedies that will not impact the overall well-being of our ears.
| What not to do for earwax blockage? | What to do for earwax blockage? |
Any invasive means of cleaning is not advisable:
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Find only the minimally invasive means of cleaning and maintaining the hygiene of your ears. |
Now let us understand the various treatment options available to us in case of an earwax blockage.
In addition to these, you can always use the humble hair dryer to easily dry out all the water after a bath and keep the ear dry.
You Can Also Read: Ear Bleeding – Causes and Treatment
The ears are very delicate parts of our body. Blocked ears can make you very distracted from your daily work. However, in case this comes along with symptoms like fever, pain or earache, do not waste time seeking medical help.
As a preventive measure, one can always get their ears assessed by a specialist who will evaluate their hearing to set a good benchmark for your healthcare provider to use in an emergency.
To summarise, a blocked ear or ears can be a huge inconvenience, and worse, a health risk. When a blockage happens out of the blue, you are left preoccupied with trying to relieve yourself of it. To help you in the long run, consult a professional ENT specialist who will be able to regularly keep your ears clean and monitor your ears for any kind of problems. At the CK Birla Hospital, we urge all our patients to get into the habit of regular checkups to stay ahead of any kind of health hazards. Think you might want to start now? Then walk in or book an appointment here with the leading ENT Doctor at CK Birla Hospital.
The ear blockage depends on a lot of conditions. But primarily the ear with more accumulated ear wax will have a greater tendency to get clogged or blocked. This can also be due to the existence of a fungal or bacterial infection in the middle ear. The ENT will usually clean out the infection through professional ear drainage and prescribe a course of antibiotics to overcome the infection.
Sometimes in very rare cases, a blocked ear may be due to a benign growth inside the middle ear. This might take a serious turn if the benign growth goes rogue. A blocked ear can also indicate harm and cuts to the ear canal or the ear drums. Since the area of the ear is very small a blockage, though usually harmless, must be given due importance if it does not disappear on its own.
Passive techniques and activities to open up your eustachian tubes such as yawning, chewing gum, gulping frequently, saltwater gargling and drinking water may ease ear clogging naturally.
Apart from this, you can always take steam with essential oils like peppermint or tea tree which will help ease out the blockage.
Sometimes an ear blockage might be due to an air pocket stuck between ear wax. Sometimes it tends to resolve on its own without any intervention. A blocked ear can last a few minutes to even months depending on the underlying cause.
If you are undergoing your periods it is very common to think that when you pass urine you are passing blood with it. The source of the blood is not the same as the source of the urine. However, in cases other than this if you notice red or pink urine it might be a warning sign from your body about an underlying disease waiting to surface. What does this mean? What are the possible diseases it might indicate? To know all about this,
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In medical terms, the condition where you get blood in your urine is called Hematuria. There can be several different causes of hematuria or blood in the urine. It can range from rare blood disorders to cancer or kidney disorders. But don’t be alarmed, sometimes the blood is visible and other times it might be present in such small quantities that it’s not even seen by the naked eye. Mainly hematuria is of two types:
But no matter what the reason or amount, any signs of blood in urine is a sign of a serious health problem, which is why ignoring hematuria is never a good idea. This might just be a symptom of a fatal disease like prostate cancer or kidney failure, hence it is important that it is promptly treated.
You Can Also Read: Hematospermia (Blood in the Semen)
While there are multiple causes, in some cases, the blood may be coming from a different source. So first one must confirm the source of the blood, this is because in the following cases it may show up when you urinate:
When it is none of the above and the blood is in your urine, then these may be the possible causes:
Apart from diseases, blood in urine can be due to blunt trauma to the prostate or Kidney area.
While this can happen to anyone, there are some who are at greater risk of getting blood in their urine.
| Risk Factor of Hematuria Explained |
| Age Factor | Men above the age of 50 are at higher risk due to the chances of an enlarged prostate gland. This risk is similar in cases of prostate cancer. |
| UTI (across ages) | Men, women and children get blood in urine whenever they contract UTI. |
| Inherited Problem | A family history of kidney diseases can be a high risk factor. |
| Medication Side-effects | Blood thinners, pain medication, antibiotics etc., taken in a frequent manner can trigger hematuria-like conditions too. |
| Hardcore Exercise | Contact and high-performance sports can also cause this problem. It is very commonly seen in marathon runners. |
It is advisable to consult a urologist for the blood in the urine. They will assess the amount of blood you find during urination, your frequency of urination, the pain you feel and the medications for any other existing comorbidities you’re currently on.
After that, you will have a physical examination and a urine sample will be collected for testing and urine culture. The analysis will confirm the presence of blood and detect the cause of the infection. The doctor will also suggest blood work in case there is any symptom that might indicate cancer. If the CA 125 blood test suggests cancer, an imaging test like a PET CT scan will be done to isolate cancer.
Apart from this, your doctor might suggest a cystoscopy, where a small tube is sent up the urethra with a camera to examine the insides of your bladder to isolate the cause of the blood in your urine.
Simply put the treatment will not be directed towards blood in urine, but instead towards what is causing this.
Sometimes athletes who undergo rigorous aerobic training can also end up with slight bleeding in their urine. So the best way to treat the problem is by treating the underlying disease that caused it.
If the underlying disease stays untreated, then the body might develop complications associated with hematuria. If it is a symptom of cancer, ignoring it will lead to the formation of new tumours and if it is a symptom of a UTI then it might lead to kidney failure. Basically, it will reach a point of no return. Hence prompt diagnosis is the best way forward.
You Can Also Read: Guide to identifying UTI and managing its risk
Preventing blood in urine will require preventing the underlying causes. Hence each situation will need to be dealt with accordingly.
Runners are most often affected, although anyone can develop visible urinary bleeding after an intense workout. If you see blood in your urine after exercise, don’t assume it’s from exercising. See your doctor.
To summarise, it is never a good sign to spot blood in the urine. So if this is ever a problem you find yourself in, reach out to our team of award-winning urologists and get prompt treatment before conditions worsen. Book an appointment with a leading urologist at the CK Birla Hospital, today.
A polycystic kidney is a congenital disorder where one has a tendency to develop multiple cysts in the kidneys. In case any of these cysts burst, one will find blood in the urine. Over time unless properly managed, polycystic kidneys lead to kidney failure or cancer. So it is better to get diagnosed early on and live a better life.
Yes. This means that you are undergoing gross hematuria. You should immediately seek help from an experienced urologist who will diagnose the cause of the blood. In case you experience painful and frequent urination or pain in the pelvic region with pink urine it is a clear sign of a major problem in your kidneys.
When we pass our first urine of the day or we don’t urinate for long hours our urine resembles a reddish-hay colour. This is because urine also contains blood which is not visible to the eye. The normal range of blood in this situation is 4 RBCs under the microscope. Anything more is a cause for concern.
Anxiety and urination are well-linked. We always urinate more before any major event where we are stressed or anxious. Similarly, bloody urine and anxiety can also be linked to each other. When we are anxious, the mucosal defences of our body are lowered which might lead to bloody urine.
Yes. It may come and go. However, it is always safe to consult a specialist for this. Especially if you are nauseous, feverish and have pain in the lower back or abdomen. Seek emergency support if you start seeing blood clots in your urine.
Every morning, after you wake up there are two things you need- a hot cup of tea or coffee and a clean gut. There is no bigger satisfaction than a clean gut and a refreshed mind to make your day productive. But every day might not be the same. While some days are sunny, others days might be cloudy. Similarly, on days your system does not clear up, you feel bogged down, preoccupied and simply constipated. Now imagine if this happened for prolonged periods. Constipation is relatively common, but chronic constipation could last several weeks making it difficult for the body to function properly.
So how can we avoid this? What are the ways in which we can ensure proper bowel functions every day? To know about this in detail, read on…
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When your regular bowel movement is restricted to less than thrice a week, you are having constipation. This is common and often tends to interfere with your ability to go about your day-to-day tasks. However, when this stretches out for several weeks or more, it turns into chronic constipation.
Chronic constipation causes people to strain excessively in order to force a bowel movement. But in most cases, constipation is the symptom of an underlying cause, most of which do not reveal any clear answers.
You Can Also Read: Facing Frequent Abdominal Pain: Know the Causes & Treatments
Constipation changes your bowel habits and messes with your daily routine. When constipation is prolonged, it becomes chronic. But how to tell whether matters are getting worse? Look for the following signs:
When any of these symptoms keep happening for a prolonged period of time, it is advisable to seek medical help.
As per a recent Gut Health Survey carried out by a healthcare giant, approximately 22% of the Indian adult population suffers from constipation. The survey also suggested that this was not an age-related problem, anybody can suffer from constipation.
Source: https://www.abbott.in/media-center/press-releases/indian-adults-suffer-from-constipation.html
The intestines in our body are the organs responsible for bowel movements. Constipation commonly occurs when the excretory waste or stool moves very sluggishly through the digestive tract. So much that it cannot be eliminated effectively from the rectum. This leads to the stool becoming hard and dry. To get a better understanding let us first explain the digestion to excretion path, step by step:
During constipation, the stool stays in the colon for much longer, giving it time to absorb water to a bigger extent leading to a dry and hardened consistency of stools that are difficult to push out.
Chronic constipation follows the same internal mechanism where it seems that the stool is stuck and refuses to budge.
The main cause of chronic constipation, therefore, is a blockage in the rectum. This slow or restricted stool movement can be due to the following reasons:
While constipation on its own is nothing major, a few lifestyle changes can make the problem non-recurring.
In conclusion, it is essential that you pay attention to your diet and lifestyle to avoid constipation. Patients undergoing treatments that lead to constipation should get a proper diet chart and follow the same to help their recovery and avoid further complications from chronic constipation. Those who are undergoing nerve-related issues or diabetes need to get a proper diagnosis from their physicians and follow up with the proper medication to avoid constipation. If things look bad, always reach out to a doctor for proper medical support to relieve this constipation. Our team of experts are ready to help. Book an appointment with CK Birla Hospital.
If you don’t pass stools regularly, find problems in pushing it out of your rectum, or have passed stools less than 3 times a week for over 2 weeks you need help getting your intestines cleared out. When you experience discomfort, drink water and healthy fluids except dairy products to assist your intestines to push out the stools.
When the digested food residue lies in the large intestine for longer than it is supposed to then the stool starts getting hard and it becomes difficult to excrete it. So the problem does not lie in eating the food but the kind of food you eat will decide how long your body will take to push it out of your system.
Food which is not fibre or roughage rich like vegetables, beans, bran, etc. takes longer to leave the system. Roughage from fibre acts like a lubricant for your intestines to help smooth the blockage. So eat fibre-rich food and hydrate with ample fluid intake to relieve constipation.
Food which is not fibre or roughage rich like vegetables, beans, bran, etc. takes longer to leave the system. Roughage from fibre acts like a lubricant for your intestines to help smooth the blockage. So eat fibre-rich food and hydrate with ample fluid intake to relieve constipation.
When your poop is stuck in the rectum for too long it starts developing gas and you will pass gas even when you’re constipated. If you don’t hydrate enough then the gas will build up causing abdominal pain too.
Bananas have a medium glycemic index and are high in fibre which helps prevent and relieve constipation. However this applies to normal constipation and might not help with chronic constipation. Bananas when ripe have soft soluble fibre that absorbs water, helping the stools stay large and soft. Also, the enzymes in bananas act as a lubricant to improve the movement of stool through your digestive tract.
Constipation is largely caused by to lack of water in your stools. So it will not go away on its own unless you do something.
When a newly pregnant woman gets her first sonogram the doctor shows her a small little blip growing inside her womb. This is by far the most emotional moment for her, as it is the first time she sees her baby. In the first trimester, the baby is just a foetus, ready to grow into an infant and start a new life. This entire process of a foetus turning into a baby is called foetal development. This is a critical part of the entire pregnancy journey and needs proper monitoring by an experienced maternity team comprising the doctor and the ultrasound technicians who will be able to track the growth of the foetus inside the womb.
As an informed parent-to-be, it helps to know how your baby is supposed to develop. This is the time when all the organs and the body of the baby develop with which it will arrive into this world. Different growth trends can be noted in some babies so the timelines depend on each baby. Having said that, to know how a foetus usually grows, read on…
You Can Also Read: A Guide to Increasing Baby Weight When 9 Months Pregnant
At an average of two weeks from your last menstrual period, your egg will fertilise, and you will conceive. Within the first 24 hours of fertilisation, cell division begins on the fertilised egg. Then it moves down the fallopian tube as a blastocyst, develops into an embryo and simultaneously the link between your cervix and birth canal is sealed by a layer of mucus. By the 8th week of pregnancy, the embryo evolves into a foetus. At this time the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) will start showing up in your blood works confirming your pregnancy.
An average full pregnancy takes about 40 weeks which is divided into 3 trimesters of roughly 12-13 weeks/ 3 months each.
You and your foetus undergo a lot of changes throughout each trimester and your maternity team will be able to monitor the growth on a weekly basis. Depending on the calendar months you are pregnant, the entire pregnancy can last from 9 to 10 months which is normal.
The closer you get to the end of your pregnancy, the more critical it becomes to track the changes in the baby’s growth. The last few weeks of pregnancy are vital because babies born before full term have a higher risk of breathing, hearing or learning issues than babies born in the full term.
The last few weeks of pregnancy are divided into 4 groups, each showing the first number as the number of weeks a.k.a. Gestational age, followed by days in a week. So 6/7 means the 6th day of the week.
| Term of pregnancy | Time Period of Human Gestational Age |
| Early term | 37 0/7 weeks to 38 6/7 weeks. |
| Full term | 39 0/7 weeks to 40 6/7 weeks. |
| Late-term | 41 0/7 weeks to 41 6/7 weeks. |
| Post-term | 42 0/7 weeks and on |
This will last for 3 months or 12 weeks. The fertilised egg will evolve from a cell to a blastocyst, then an embryo and finally a foetus that starts developing the baby’s features.
At this stage, the risk of miscarriage has dropped by half, morning sickness is gone and you feel much more comfortable now. The baby’s facial features are starting to develop and the foetus is able to flip and turn.
You are in the endgame now! The final leg of your pregnancy can make you anxious as the foetus gains weight quickly with body fat that will help the baby grow after birth. The duration of the last trimester can last up to 10 months, which is completely normal. In case you pass your due date without spontaneous labour, your doctor might induce your labour through medication. Make sure your maternity team is well prepared for the main event.
To summarise, this is how your baby develops in your womb and the whole experience of feeling the kicks and the hiccups can be extremely emotional for the parents-to-be. At this precious time in your lives, it is essential that you have a maternity team ready to be by your side at every beck and call to ensure a smooth and complication-free delivery. If proper monitoring is done then the baby and the mother can be saved from multiple fatalities at birth. Our team at the Mother & Child Department of the CK Birla Hospital is prepared to handle any sudden requirements that may crop up to assist you in your pregnancy journey. Book an appointment Now.
When planning and undergoing pregnancy, nobody is more excited than the expectant parents, for the baby’s arrival. Counting days is normal in this state of euphoria. But it’s not just you but also your doctor who has to count the days to understand how the little blip in your womb is growing and developing before it arrives healthy and happy.
This concept of counting days in medical terms is called a gestation period. It is a vital part of your pregnancy, not just for you but also for your OB-GYN. So let us understand what is the significance of a gestational age as we read ahead.
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The time period between conception and childbirth is called the Gestation period. This is the period during which the baby develops inside its mother’s womb. Therefore, gestational age is commonly used to describe how far along the pregnancy is at that given point in time. Usually, it is measured in weeks.
Pregnancy has to be carefully monitored to help keep it smooth and free from complications. This is why the gestational age becomes a vital piece of information needed by doctors. It helps them identify the right time to perform various tests and assessments of the baby and the mother’s health at different points throughout the pregnancy.
The thumb rule is: we start from the first day of the expectant mother’s last menstrual cycle to the date on which we are currently prior to the delivery. The gestational age ends with childbirth, however, it can be determined before or after birth.
A normal pregnancy tenure lasts between 38 to 42 weeks. This is why gestational age is also measured in weeks. A child born before the completion of 37 weeks, is considered premature. And if they are born after the 42nd week, they are considered postmature.
Gestational age before birth can be ascertained through ultrasound imaging, where your healthcare partner will measure the baby’s size, especially that of its head, abdomen, and thigh bone. This gives a clear indication of the baby’s fetal development in the womb.
Gestational age can be measured after birth by physically examining the newborn’s weight, length, head circumference, vitals, reflexes, posture, muscle, skin and hair. When the baby’s gestational age equals its calendar age, then the baby is said to be Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA). These children have lower mortality rates than those who are born too small (SGA) or large (LGA) for their gestational age.
Source: Gestational age chart, how to calculate gestational age & corrected age (healthjade.net)
Over the years ultrasound has emerged as an accurate method of assessing gestational age, especially through transvaginal and transabdominal probe assessments. Transvaginal USG is preferred during the first trimester of pregnancy. Here are some of the sonographic methods of evaluating gestational age:
USG within the first 13 weeks and 6 days gives the best estimate of gestational age. Here, the transvaginal approach often provides a more clear and more accurate view. The gestational sac and yolk sac are the first visible markers, but sometimes they don’t really correlate with gestational age.
If it is not determined within the first trimester, then the crown-to-rump measurement of the foetus is considered a good way to assess the development during the second trimester as the baby is bigger and more palpable to USG imaging.
This is an old but proven method where postnatal gestational age is determined on a point-scoring pattern based on physical and neurologic assessments of tone, patterns, reflexes, movements, abnormalities, and behaviours. Higher scores translate to greater maturity.
This is an improved postnatal scoring system used for premature babies. It assesses 6 physical maturity components: skin, lanugo, plantar creases, breast, ear/eye, and genitals. And six neuromuscular components: posture, wrist, arm recoil, heel to ear, etc.
However, there are other non-sonographic methods also used to measure gestational age.
Identifying the gestational age accurately is the task of fertility experts and gynaecologists. The team of experts at the CK Birla Hospital, Mother and Child Department will not only help you plan your pregnancy smoothly but will also regularly assess your and your baby’s health and development to promptly identify any complications that can be completely averted.
Miscarriage is most likely to occur during the first trimester of the pregnancy itself. The commonly noted gestational age is around 12 weeks. However, it must be noted that the first trimester is the time when most miscarriages take place without the person knowing they are pregnant. Due to a hostile environment in the womb, the fertilised egg does not develop and the body miscarries the pregnancy.
When a pregnancy terminates before 24 weeks, it is termed a miscarriage. Miscarriages are common in the first trimester due to developmental problems with the baby in the womb. It can happen early on in the pregnancy, even before 14 weeks.
A full-term pregnancy lasts for 9 months. To assess the bodily changes and foetal development, these nine months have been divided into 3 equal parts of three months each. This is why they are called trimesters. However gestational age is measured in weeks, so it is not the same as a trimester. But if the pregnancy has completed 13 weeks of gestation, it has completed a trimester. Trimesters apply to the pregnant mother, gestational age applies to the growing baby.
Gestational age is measured from the first day of your LMP or last menstrual period. Fetal age is calculated from the actual date of conception, that is when the woman is ovulating. This implies that the fetal age is approximately two weeks behind the gestational age, which is the actual age of the fetus.
Pregnancy is a wonderful time when a woman is filled with the hopes of giving birth to a whole new life and preparing for the sleepless nights that lie ahead. By sleepless nights we not only mean the nights after birth, handling the newborn, but the nights full of anticipation towards the time ahead. Usually, as the baby grows inside the womb, the mother also grows in size. The pregnant belly makes it very difficult to sleep sometimes. As the delivery date nears, sleeping postures keep changing to accommodate the baby and keep the mother calm and at ease.
However, did you know that sleeping postures can sometimes create unnecessary complications in your pregnancy? That’s right. Pregnant women need to be mindful of how they sleep in order to avoid complications at birth. To know which postures are ideal and what are the necessary precautions for the mother and her baby, read on…
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When you’re pregnant, getting a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep can be hard. As your body grows to accommodate the growing baby, it gradually becomes tougher to find a comfortable sleeping position. The main causes of interrupted sleep are:
In conclusion, sleeping is essential for the baby’s growth and it keeps the body of the mother well rested. Not getting sleep or restricted sleep is very common during these delicate times. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that you are monitored throughout, with a hands-on healthcare partner, who is available to advise patients on how to keep their pregnancy going smoothly. If you seek advice, then we recommend you book an appointment at the CK Birla Hospital for a comprehensive and compassionate approach to childbirth.
Yes. During the onset of pregnancy, the hormone progesterone increases in our body. This increases the metabolism as well, causing daytime drowsiness and fatigue. In case this also happens to be a subsequent pregnancy, then looking after your other child might also make you very tired and, hence sleepy.
With the next trimester, it is imperative that the body gets ample rest in order to be able to carry the excess weight of the baby around all day. So even if there is uninterrupted sleep at night, it is good if you take frequent naps to stay rested and energised at the same time.
Research suggests pregnant women who don’t end up getting enough sleep during pregnancy, develop a higher risk of developing complications like: Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure (hypertension). This means that there will be problems during the birthing process making it risky for both the mother and her child.
Pregnancy back pain gets worse at night because of the venous engorgement in the pelvis. As the uterus expands it presses on the vena cava, which is the main vein responsible for the circulation of blood from the heart onto the lower parts of the body, including feet. This happens particularly at night when the expectant mother is lying down.
To relieve this make sure that there is ample pillow support all around to keep the position comfortable for the mother without affecting the position of the baby. Apart from this
The world is moving at a break-neck speed and we are all trying to power our way through it. In the process, we are all compromising our health in some way or the other. With so much happening around us, our minds are overworked and tired, and so is the neck that holds it up.
Roughly 80% of the world’s total working population suffers from neck pain at one time or another. Out of which half the population consists of those suffering from chronic pain. There are multiple causes for this which range from wrong sleeping posture to osteoarthritis.
So what causes this pain in the neck? How can we prevent it? And what to do if the pain is unbearable? To know all about this and more, read on…
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When you experience pain in your neck muscles and it does not go away for a while then you are having neck pain. This is a common problem and poor posture is often responsible for this in most cases. But there can be various causes, but very rarely it is linked to any serious problem. In most cases, the cause of pain is rooted back to our everyday habits and movements.
Neck is a vital connective part of our body. It is responsible for supporting our head. So whenever the neck pains it somehow impacts the entire body since the movement of our body is restricted. So what are the possible causes of this pain, let us find out:
Apart from this, a recent study suggests that psychological risk factors also play a role in neck pain. Long-term stress, lack of social support, anxiety, and depression might trigger neck pain as well.
Source: https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-021-04957-4
Now that we know what can be the possible causes of neck pain, it is safe to say that the situation is not alarming in any way unless you are suffering from any pre-existing life-threatening disease.
It’s possible that our daily activities are causing our neck to hurt. Your neck is a complex blend of muscles, bones, ligaments, nerves, and tendons which hold your head in place. It is the pathway to your brain. It can become stiff or painful because of the posture and sleeping habits that put stress or strain on them.
The following are the main signs and symptoms associated with neck pain:
Experiencing neck pain due to bad posture can be managed by applying a warm compress on the neck to soothe the nerves and muscles. One can also get relief with over-the-counter balm or medications. However, if the pain is
Immediately seek medical help from your physician. It is seen that in most cases this pain is related to the spine. The more we lead a sedentary lifestyle the more the chances of pain tend to increase. So when seeking a physician it is advisable to seek consultation from a spine specialist.
The most prominent cause of neck pain is poor posture and age-related weakness of muscles and tissues. To help prevent this
At the CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon we have a specialised wing of spine care specialists who are prepared to deal with any and every ailment related to the spine and spinal cord. With over 40 years of combined experience and some of the best specialists in Delhi NCR, we ensure every patient gets the best treatment and lasting relief. Set up an appointment with a doctor at Ck Birla Hospital.
It is a serious problem when
There are seven types of neck pains depending on the point of origin of the pain.
The ideal doctor would be orthopaedic since they would be able to assess the state of the muscles, tissues and bones. If the pain is isolated to the nerves, then it is a nerve disorder and needs the attention of a neurologist.
The ideal doctor would be a spine specialist since they would be able to assess the state of the muscles, tissues and bones. A spine specialist has specialised experience in handling the nerves and bones governing the spine and spinal cord. Based on their judgement and assessment they might refer the patient to a neurologist for nerve triggers or an orthopaedist for bone-related problems.
Congratulations! You have entered the third trimester of your pregnancy! It is amazing how you have been able to overcome some of the most testing phases of your pregnancy journey. Now, all we do is make sure we welcome the baby in the most healthy and happy way. Your pregnant belly is booming and you are glowing in anticipation with the happy pregnancy hormones doing their job.
This is also a time when you and your family start planning for the actual delivery. How to choose a birthing plan? How to remain agile during this phase? What are the best sleeping positions? How to ensure breastfeeding is properly done? For that here’s a brief guide on how to prep for your delivery.
But in the third trimester, what are the problems pregnant women need to deal with? What should you eat, what should you avoid, there are a whole lot of questions you need answers to. Don’t worry, just read on…
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Pregnancy happens in 3 stages of 3 months each called trimester. When you reach week 27 of your pregnancy tenure, it means you’re now in your third trimester. In an ideal scenario, this trimester ends at week 40, however, depending on your condition or complications it ends when your baby is delivered. A full-term pregnancy ranges between weeks 37 to 42 of pregnancy. Anything before week 37 is considered premature, and if your baby has not arrived by week 42, your OB-GYN will induce labour to avoid complications or opt for a c-section if there are complications.
Currently, around 49.4% of pregnancies in India are under the high-risk pregnancy bracket as per research data. This is why it is very important to be extra careful in the final trimester to avoid unwanted complications.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10502764/
The third trimester is more tiring and uncomfortable than the other two trimesters primarily because the embryo grows to its full form. The discomfort is mainly attributed to the baby’s position and size, and with the due date approaching soon, anxiety also reaches its peak, making this trimester emotionally challenging as well. It is very important that at this stage you remain positive and try to adapt to the upcoming changes. Here is what you can expect during this stage:
It is essential that you take all sorts of health and medical precautions for some of the most commonly seen problems during the third trimester of pregnancy. These are:
Apart from this adequate prenatal care should be taken w.r.t. Your babies, such as checking the baby’s progress in terms of size, heart rate, position and movements. Make sure you and your gynaecologist have chalked out a proper birthing plan and made your choices.
During the third trimester, you will need frequent checkups, especially during week 32 to week 36. The doctors will check your weight and blood pressure and thoroughly examine you for any signs or symptoms you experience. Take your vaccines and more importantly the doses of tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccines. These are recommended for each pregnancy ideally taken between weeks 27 and 36 of the third trimester. This will build immunity for the baby at the time of birth.
There are ample emotional changes in expectant mothers. Some are good and some not so good, but it must be ensured that the mother is always in a positive frame of mind.
Make a checklist of all the things you will need during your third trimester. Start with charting out a birthing plan with your OB-GYN and healthcare provider. This will include monitoring your health pre-labour, any concerns that may indicate a c-section and consultations post-delivery.
At the CK Birla Hospital®, we take pride in planning things out for our expectant families for a seamless and memorable experience of welcoming a child into this world. For this, we don’t leave any stones unturned.
Everyone who sees you now is extra careful around you and more attentive to your needs. This is by far the second-best feeling during a pregnancy trumped only by the news of the baby’s arrival. But like they say, “with great power comes great responsibility”. This is why, our hands-on team of professional caregivers make sure you are well supported and looked after in a homely atmosphere, under compassionate care. Check out our comprehensive maternity package offer here (link to offer blog)
There is a virus ready to affect your body the moment your immunity shows the slightest dip. The onset of the recent pandemic has increased our general awareness about our health and possible diseases incredibly. One of the silent pandemics the world is still suffering from is cancer. This has been there for a long time mostly without a cure. Cervical cancer is also becoming a growing concern worldwide affecting a few men and mostly women. Its main cause is HPV or human papillomavirus.
What are the ways this virus attacks? Is it contagious? Is there any cure?
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The widely popular Human papillomavirus (HPV), can affect different parts of your body. There are over 100 types, including strains that cause warts on different parts of your body.
Roughly 30 HPV strains can affect your genitals, this includes your vulva, vagina, cervix, penis, scrotum, rectum and anus. Most of these are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that pass on through skin-to-skin contact. However, the majority of genital HPV strains are harmless, including those responsible for genital warts. But others can be potentially high-risk variants, which may lead to cervical cancer. Early detection can lead to better results and prevent cancer from becoming severe. This leads us to the next question: Are all warts HPV?
Yes. All warts happen due to HPV, but all forms of HPV do not form warts. But whether or not these are fatal is the main concern. The HPV strains which lead to genital warts are nuisances.
The other types of HPV warts are:
| Flat Warts | smooth, flat-headed, fleshy or brownish-coloured bumps. |
| Plantar Warts | Small rough growths around the balls of the feet. |
| Common Warts | Small, grainy skin growths on your fingers or hands. These warts are transmitted by touch. |
| Periungual and Subungual Warts | These happen around your nails and fingers and disappear on their own. |
The type of HPV that can progress to cancer doesn’t cause warts. Which brings us to the next question: How is HPV related to cervical cancer?
HPV type 16 and type 18 can cause cervical dysplasia. Simply put this changes the cells of your cervix, the opening between your vagina and your uterus in women. When it is left untreated, it tends to advance to cervical cancer. Up to the age of 30, most HPV strains clear up by themselves. If found during a pap smear, it is advisable to perform regular screening to ensure the risk is eliminated at the onset. This then brings up the next question: Who is at a higher risk of getting HPV?
Irrespective of your reproductive anatomy, it’s vital to prevent HPV by either getting vaccinated and/or practising safe sex.
You Can Also Read: All you need to know about cervical cancer | Know your risk
First and foremost one must understand how one can get an HPV infection.
HPV is highly contagious since it spreads easily via skin-to-skin contact. No body fluids have to be exchanged either, so it will not spread through ejaculation (cum).
Genital HPV doesn’t usually come with any symptoms. The only visible symptom is a wart in your genital area. These are rough, cauliflower-like lumps that suddenly start growing on your skin. The timeline for the infection and the wart is not defined. It may appear weeks, months or even years after you’ve been infected. The only saving grace is that these are harmless.
The rest of the variants don’t have any symptoms. The only time the symptoms surface is when they progress to cancer. With cervical cancer, we must keep in mind that having HPV does not guarantee developing cancers.
The first step to any treatment is diagnosis. The doctor/ specialist will advise the following tests:
When the virus’s presence is confirmed, treatments will be prescribed. However, please note that once you get HPV it will never leave your body. So your healthcare partner will provide means to manage the situation by:
You Can Also Read: 10 Best Gynaecologists to Visit in Delhi-Gurgaon
Since the only way to prevent HPV is by abstaining from sex, here are some realistic ways in which you can protect yourself and your loved ones:
To conclude, HPV is a cause of concern but it can be prevented from escalating into cancer. As per WHO, the Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the name of a group of 200 known viruses, which can cause genital warts or cancer. Our body is able to control up to 90% of the existing HPV in our bodies, but a persistent infection can lead to Gynae, Uro and Cervical cancers. While HPV contributes to only 5% of all cancer cases worldwide, women are more likely to get it. Therefore a regular screening is essential.
Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papilloma-virus-and-cancer
At the CK Birla Hospital, we understand the importance of being a reliable healthcare provider, especially in cases that need extra care. Our Gynae and Cancer specialists will not only help you prevent these morbid diseases but also guide you towards early detection, protection and treatment. Our judgement-free approach ensures we give the best possible treatment for your problem in the most compassionate and caring manner. To reach out to our sexual health experts book your appointment here.
