Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Lifestyle Diseases Affecting More Young Men in Metros

Lifestyle diseases are taking toll on men's health with a new survey showing how men need to get proactive about their health in today's often fast-paced society.

According to a survey released on the occasion of World Men's Health Week, lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, are now hitting more young Indian men in metropolitan cities.
The survey by Metropolis Healthcare states that more than half of the men in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai suffer from diabetes, despite rising awareness.

Of the 38,966 samples screened during June 9-15, 56.81 percent reported high diabetes levels.
Over 41.48 percent of the samples were in the age group of 20-40, indicating an increasing trend of younger population getting hit by diabetes.



The survey also found 8.21 percent with high cholesterol levels and 23.01 percent in the same age group with growing rate of cholesterol in another sample collected from 35,886 males.
While high diabetes levels are usually associated with age, other factors like body mass index, stress, family history of the disease, lack of physical activity etc significantly add to the problem.
Both diabetics and high-cholesterol patients are highly risk-prone to cardiovascular diseases besides other major health problems.

The study suggested that besides regular screenings, people should go for preventive measures like reducing obesity, increasing physical activity, decreasing salt intake, among others.
Moreover, the study also disclosed a worrying trend of prostrate cancer.

Of 20,054 samples tested for it, 4,064 samples showed marginally high risk of prostrate cancer.
“Individuals have become more aware of the fact that heart disease is not just a disease of the elderly and are now a lot more determined to go a long way in combating this disease.”

“Regular screening of unhealthy cholesterol and lipid levels would help identify people who are at a greater risk of high cholesterol,”said a statement from Metropolis Healthcare.

Source: zeenews.india.com

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

International Patients storm into India for Cancer Care

Driven by High Quality Medical Expertise & Latest Technology

International patients are accessing Indian medical centres for cancer care driven by the positive outcome from oncologists expertise followed by dependable access to technology at a reasonable cost. From HCG to Apollo Hospital Group, Fortis, Medanta-The Medicity, Max Healthcare Artemis Hospital, Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre, to name a few are a hot bed for international patients to access treatment for cancer and related complicated and chronic conditions. These hospitals are accredited by international agencies and recognised by patients and are offering world-class care.

According to Dr B S Ajaikumar, founder, chairman, HCG Enterprise, foreign patients usually say that it is an Indian oncologist at the hospitals in the US and UK seen to have the expertise. This led many such patients to come to India for the treatment. In fact, the patient care for cancer in India is on par and can be accessed at one-tenth the cost.

The high quality medical expertise and advanced technology invested by us helps diagnose, treat and allow early control of disease manifestation. In fact India is now home to a team of well qualified oncologists, state of the art infrastructure with latest equipment like CyberKnife and genomic based tests for cancer prevention, diagnostics and targeted therapy now available through the Strand-Triesta Centre for Cancer Genomics, he added.

Use of information technology has paved a way for paradigm shift in patient management and interface especially in the areas of telemedicine, tele ICU, electronic medical records and system driven drug delivery and dispensing system. This has brought in a sea change in the prevention of medical errors hence saving lives and costs. Top-of-the-line diagnostics and imaging services have made a huge impact in the area of clinical prognosis which is aiding doctors for accurate and quicker turnaround. State-of art-technology like True Beam and Cyberknife for cancer treatment both of which are available with Apollo Group has made a difference in delivery of treatment with high level of accuracy with less pain and quick recovery, said Dr Umapathy Panyala, chief executive officer, Karnataka Region, Apollo Hospitals.

The International Journal of Business and Management Invention has reported that Indian medical tourism would grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of over 19per cent and will reach up to $1.3 million by 2013 end.

The Union government has issued medical visas for a year. It has also provided a provision to extend the medical visa if prescribed by the hospital.

The big drivers of medical tourism in India, according to Dr. Pratap C Reddy, chairman Apollo Hospital are the presence of the highest number of JCI accredited centres carrying out complex cardiac procedures, advanced orthopaedic surgery which includes knee and hip replacement surgery, besides organ transplant, complicated neurosurgery, ophthalmology, dental care among others. There are foreign direct investments coming in too not just in pharmaceuticals but also healthcare. The Columbia Hospital and the 300-bed centre which is a joint venture between Kirloskar India, Toyota Tsusho Japan and Secom Hospitals Japan was commissioned in 2013.

Every hospital in the country are now well equipped with qualified doctors with global exposure, English speaking staff covering nursing and paramedics. This led India to receives maximum of its international medical tourist from USA, UK, UAE, Nepal, Sri-Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives and Mauritius, said Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and chairman, Narayana Health.

Source: www.pharmabiz.com