Dancing in the rain

By:
Dr Madan M Vasandani

 

 

 The day had ended, the kids are asleep and it was time for me to unwind. I seated myself on my sofa and turned on the TV flipping through the channels. I reached an Indian channel and one of my favorite movies was playing. Like all Indian movies, this one had an outdoor scene with a beautiful Indian actress singing her lungs out while dancing in the rain with minimum clothing. The first thing that flickered in my mind (remember I am a doctor) was “Wouldn’t she catch a cold?” Well, believe it or not, that beautiful actress dancing in the rain was my inspiration to write this article. With the rainy season just at the horizon, we should all be prepared to ensure that we do not become sick. Here are some tips to prevent you and your family from acquiring common illnesses during the rainy season

 1.    Ensure your vaccinations are up-to-date– The common vaccine preventable illnesses that surfaces during the rainy season are Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Influenza. The belief that vaccines weaken the immunity is a false one; on the contrary, it enhances your immunity. Bacteria and viruses tend to proliferate in damp and dark situations. Because of this our body is exposed to higher numbers of these organisms during the rainy season. Getting vaccinated adds on to our already present natural defense mechanism. Hence, to ensure that you experience a cozy and comfortable rainy season without interruptions of infections ensure you get vaccinated.

2.    Keep your surroundings clean and DRY – If you have lived in Indonesia for a long time then you would’ve realized that Indonesian mosquitoes have become extremely sophisticated in developing strategies to sink their blood sucking needle into human flesh. So much so, that no Hollywood vampire movie could ever hope to relive it. In Indonesia, Dengue fever is most common during the end of summer and the beginning of the rainy season. After reading this article make sure you go around your house and look for places where rainwater can collect. Get rid of these potential “water dams”. Remember mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus breed in “stagnant clean water”. Keep the mosquito population in check by keeping your house clean and ensuring that all windows are protected with mosquito nets. The Dengue mosquito tends to bite between dusk and dawn.  Hence ensure that you close your windows and doors at around 5 pm and keep it closed till about 7 am. This is one of the best strategies to bring down the mosquito population in your house.  Buy the ever useful ‘electrocution’ racket and make sure it’s fully charged to give you the pleasure of electrocuting mosquitoes.

3.    Be as tough as old BOOTS– How many times have you heard or experienced a fall due to a slippery surface? Statistics prove that the number of fractures is highest during the rainy season. Ensure you wear proper footwear when you decide to walk down the treacherous sidewalks of Jakarta. Make sure you dry slippery surfaces, especially areas near doors where water tends to collect after a rainy day. Your house should also be equipped with non-slip mats. All this will minimize the risk of accidents during the rainy season.

  4.    Wash, washandwash – One of the most common diseases that the rainy season delivers is Gastroenteritis (more commonly referred to as the stomach flu). The reason for this is compromised hygiene which commonly happens at this time. Be especially careful of the vegetables that you buy. Ensure you purchase your vegetables from a reliable clean source. Wash the vegetables thoroughly under running warm water before cooking it. Wash your hands regularly as your hands can be a source of disease. Make sure you encourage your children and house staff to always wash their hands. Maintaining hygiene is of utmost importance especially during the rainy season.

5.    Go HERBAL!!– An excellent home remedy to stay healthy during the entire rainy season is to drink herbal tea. Include a number of body warming contents in this tea like pepper, cloves, ginger, mint, basil and other traditional ingredients. In a recent study, Japanese scientists found mixing a half a teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water, then gargling for at least 10 seconds twice daily reduces a person’s risk of viral infections as much as 34 percent. Consume half a cup of broccoli three to four times weekly to boost your white blood cell function. A clove of garlic a day can boost your ability to fight off flu viruses in as little as two weeks.
Personally, I love the rainy season. The thought of sitting at home sipping on a cup of mint tea with my family gives that warm sensation that the rainy season usually brings. The traffic in Jakarta will be bad, work may pile up and the floods may finally arrive but all this should not disturb this wonderful season. Stay warm and keep healthy to ensure a joyous rainy season.

Call 5706208 to book an appointment with our doctors at Centrepoint Healthcare. Remember, your health is our Centre Point.

ALLERGY TEST

Centrepoint Healthcare offers Allergy Test for you and loved ones.

Finding out what you are allergic to is an important first step to effective allergy treatment.

Today allergy tests are more convenient and accurate than ever before.

When combined with a detailed medical history, allergy testing can identify the specific things that trigger your allergic reactions.

Adults and children of any age can be tested for allergies.

For more information on Allergy Test, contact Centrepoint Healthcare 021 570 6208 / 14 or email to info@centrepointhealthcare.com

The Adult Well Male Examination

By:

Dr Madan M Vasandani

                As men, we are faced with challenges that I feel are sometimes beyond us and the number of responsibilities that is put on our shoulders  seem to be on the rise. Men are put in the work field at a younger age and their career life is becoming longer and longer. The span of this intense career life has definitely brought on its consequences. Many chronic disease like Diabetes Mellitus, High Cholesterol, Hypertension, Obesity and Heart Disease are appearing at a younger age. In the 60’s and 70’s a heart attack at the age of 35 is unheard of, but now its becoming a common site. Men, its time for you to take control of your health. Do not neglect your health because of your career. Remember, the secret to have a long successful life is by ensuring pristine health 

               Patients often ask me “Doc what vitamin should I take to ensure good health?” Men let me assure you, there are no magic pills to maintain your health. It depends on how you maintain your body. These vitamins are only beneficial if you are lacking them in your diet, which is a very rare possibility if you are eating 3 regular balanced meals. The first step to fixing your health is to find out exactly what your body is going through. Have you ever said “I do not feel healthy” or “Why am I feeling tired all the time”. Well, if you are a male 35 years and above and you fall into this group get an Adult Well Male Examination. You will be surprised what this test will reveal.

            An Adult Well Male Examination consist of a comprehensive History of your current complains, Past Medical History, Family history and also Social History. A Complete Physical Examination from Head to Toe which also includes a Body Mass Index and a Fat percentage  by a Physician is done as part of the examination. An Essential part of the Adult Well Male Examination is a blood test to rule out Cholesterol related diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Liver and Kidney abnormalities and also the presence or absence of Sexually Transmitted Disease. An ECG and a chest x ray is also performed.

               

 Here are some statistics which might encourage you to get an examination done

1.  48 percent of males do not engage in Physical activity
2.  33 percent are obese
3. 32 percent have had five or more alcoholic drinks in one day at least once in the past year
4. 31 percent have hypertension
5. 22 percent smoke
6. 20 percent of men younger that 65 years do not have health insurance
7. 12 percent rate their overall health as fair or poor

 

The Adult Well Male Examination is a fantastic tool to find out a number of health conditions that you might be having. Our body is like a car, after a few thousand kilometers we need to bring the car to the garage to get a diagnostics done and also an oil change. Our body also needs a diagnostics after the age of 35. If you are male more than 35 years  of age, book an Adult Well Male Examiination as soon as you finish reading this article. It may save your life. Call Centrepoint Healthcare at 021 570 6208 to book an Adult Well Male Examination.

Dr. Madan Vasandani in the Jakarta Globe

Sahil Punjabi from The Jakarta Globe interviewed Dr. Madan M Vasandani about healthcare in Indonesia.

Please click this link for the article 

 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/myjakarta/my-jakarta-madan-doctor/518162

FLU, Gejala, Pengobatan dan Pencegahannya

FLU, Gejala, Pengobatan dan Pencegahannya

Saat musim pancaroba kebanyakan dari kita telah terbiasa dengan penyakit flu. Dan beberapa dari kita mengganggap penyakit flu ini adalah penyakit musiman yang sulit dicegah datangnya. Namun tahukah Anda apa sebenarnya penyakit flu dan bagaimana pengobatan serta pencegahan penyakit flu ini?

Penyakit Flu

Penyakit flu adalah salah satu penyakit pernafasan yang disebabkan oleh virus (virus influenza).

Penyebaran virus penyakit flu biasanya melalui udara, berbagi alat makan dan minum, atau kontak langsung dengan penderita. Virus yang menempel di kulit dapat masuk ke dalam tubuh saat menyentuh atau menggaruk hidung dan mulut dan penyebarannya begitu mudah.

Mencuci tangan sangat penting guna membatasi penyebaran virus ini. Umumnya setelah terserang, gejala akan mulai terasa pada hari ke-1 hingga hari ke-4 pasca infeksi.

Gejala Penyakit Flu

Gejala - gejala apa sajakah yang timbul saat kita terserang virus flu?

Biasanya tubuh akan demam, bersin-bersin, hidung tersumbat dan keluar cairan, sakit kepala, nyeri otot, nyeri persendian, rasa tidak enak badan, lesu, dan kehilangan selera makan, terkadang disertai juga dengan batuk dan sakit tenggorokan.

Untuk anak-anak dan orang dewasa, penyakit flu adalah penyakit yang bisa sembuh sendiri dalam satu minggu. Namun untuk orang yang tidak sehat atau daya tahannya menurun, penyakit flu bisa berakibat fatal karena tanda-tanda penyakit flu bisa menjadi sangat parah dan mungkin terjadi komplikasi seperti pneumonia, sinusitis, dan radang dalam telinga. Kebanyakan komplikasinya adalah infeksi kuman karena daya tahan tubuh menjadi menurun untuk melawan kuman-kuman yang masuk.

Mengobati Penyakit Flu

Sebagai penyakit yang berasal dari virus, pengobatan penyakit flu dapat dilakukan dengan dua cara, yaitu:

Pertama, Simptomatis (hanya untuk mengatasi keluhan) dengan beristirahat dan mengonsumsi makanan sehat bergizi demi meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh yang melemah.

Pada fase ini penderita dianjurkan meminum obat flu sebagai pereda dini ketika gejala masih ringan. Obat flu setidaknya harus mengandung:
1. Anti nyeri dan anti panas (analagetik/anti piretik) untuk mengatasi gejala demam, sakit kepala, nyeri otot dan sendi.
2. Penurun bengkak (dekongestan) untuk gejala hidung tersumbat
3. Anti Alergi (anti histamin) untuk gejala bersin dan gatal pada
hidung/tenggorokan.

Kedua, Ke dokter untuk mendapat antibiotik. Antibiotik untuk mengatasi infeksi sekunder akibat bakteri; bila Influenza ditandai dengan perubahan warna lendir hidung dari jernih menjadi kuning atau kehijauan, suara menjadi serak dan nyeri menelan.

Mencegah Penyakit Flu

Walaupun 'hanya' flu, namun penyakit flu ini tetap saja dapat mengganggu rutinitas dan produktivitas kerja dan mengarah ke penyakit yang lebih serius seperti pneumonia. Bahkan setiap tahun ribuan orang meninggal di rumah sakit akibat komplikasi flu.

Oleh sebab itu berikut ini adalah beberapa hal  yang harus diperhatikan :

Cucilah tanganmu
Cuci tangan dengan sabun termasuk cara yang sangat efektif untuk mencegah penularan penyakit flu. Lebih baik lagi bila Anda mempersering melakukan cuci tangan, karena  dengan mencuci tangan kuman-kuman penyakit di tangan akan larut bersama air.

Jauhkan tangan Anda
Menyentuh hidung atau mata Anda bisa jadi membuat Anda sakit. Pasalnya, lewat tempat-tempat itulah biasanya kuman masuk.

Tidak perlu menggigit jari Anda
Hilangkan kebiasaan untuk menggigit jari. Sebab, kuku Anda adalah tempat berkumpulnya kuman.

Beristirahat
Cukup istirahat merupakan salah satu cara mudah untuk menangkal penyakit flu. Disarankan untuk istirahat antara 8-10 jam semalam.


Vaksin flu
Vaksin flu memang bukan obat untuk menyembuhkan flu, namun dapat mencegah dari terjangkitnya penyakit flu.

Konsumsi makanan sehat
Mulailah dari mengkonsumsi buah dan sayur-mayur yang bisa mendukung sistem kekebalan tubuh. Langkah ini jauh lebih baik daripada mengobati flu.

Berolahraga
Olahragalah hingga berkeringat. Sebab olahraga teratur dapat meningkatkan kekebalan tubuh.


 Jaga jarak dengan penderita
Ketika ada orang sekitar Anda yang sedang terkena gejala flu, seperti bersin, atau batuk, jagalah jarak untuk memperkecil resiko Anda tertular darinya.

Berhenti merokok
Selain sebagai penyebab utama penyakit kanker, serangan jantung, impotensi, serta gangguan kehamilan dan janin, merokok bisa meningkatkan resiko infeksi yang menyebabkan perubahan struktur pernafasan dan mengurangi kekebalan tubuh. Merokok bisa membunuh cilia, serat tubuh mirip rambut di dalam hidung yang berfungsi menghambat infeksi.