Healthcolumn

What is hair transplantation? It is a surgical technique to treat baldness. This technique removes hair follicles from one body part, known as the ‘donor site’, which are then transplanted to the bald or balding scalp, known as the ‘recipient site’. It primarily treats male baldness. This baldness can be due to – Poor diet Illness Hormonal imbalance Medications Stress Is hair transplant for every type of baldness? A hair transplant is not recommended for all types of baldness. For instance, a hair transplant is not done if the baldness is due to anagen effluvium and telogen effluvium. Hair transplant is usually done when the baldness is permanent or hair regrowth does not occur even after medicinal treatment. The procedure of Hair Transplant Surgery During the  hair transplant procedure , the surgeon thoroughly cleans the scalp. With the help of a small needle, the surgeon numbs an area of the head with local anesthesia. Generally, to obtain hair follicles for transplantation, two ...

What is a twisted ankle? Your ankle joint connects your foot with your lower leg. Three ligaments keep your ankle bones from shifting out of place. A twisted ankle is when one of these ligaments is stretched too far or torn. When an Ankle Sprain Won’t Heal Ankle sprains are one of the most common orthopedic injuries. Each year, hundreds of sprained ankles are treated by our orthopedic urgent care providers. In many cases, these ankle injuries will heal with conservative treatments. In more serious injuries, however pain, swelling, or instability may persist and more intensive treatment options may be needed. How Do Ankle Sprains Happen? Anything that stretches your ankle more than it’s used to can hurt a ligament. This usually happens when your foot is turned inward or twisted, such as when you: Plant your foot the wrong way when running, stepping up or down, or doing everyday things like getting out of bed Step on an uneven surface, like in a hole Step on someone else while playing sp...

Being a woman is not an easy job in this modern world. We are so trapped in the complicated juggle of both work and home life so we often neglect our health.  We may face a plethora of health issues in today’s fast going life. The thyroid is among the most common problems faced by women of today’s generation.  A projected study shows that about 42 million people in India suffer from thyroid diseases. However, women are more likely to have thyroid diseases as compared to men. Every eighth woman develops thyroid problems during her lifetime. But, the reason why women are more vulnerable is not known.  One reason can be the high flux of hormones during pregnancy and again at menopause. A common cause of hypothyroidism and its variants is autoimmunity, which is more common among women.  Special antibodies can destroy thyroid cells leading to autoimmune thyroiditis. Hence, it enhances the chances of thyroid in women. How do thyroid problems affect women? Our thyroid gland...

If you notice blood in your urine, it is often alarming and stressful. However, the cause is harmless in many instances, blood in the urine (hematuria) may indicate a severe urinary disorder. As many studies show that 24 million Indians suffer from urinary problems. By itself, hematuria will be the symptom of a rare medical condition. Therefore, ignoring it can cause the worsening of underlying life-threatening diseases like cancer and kidney disease. Hematuria may be a medical term used for the presence of red blood cells in your urine. If the blood cells are in excess, the urine can become bright red or pink in color. The blood in your urine may or may not be visible to the eye. So hematuria is usually classified into two types. Gross hematuria When you can clearly see that the urine has turned red or notice the passage of blood clots in urine, it’s mentioned as gross hematuria. Microscopic hematuria If your urine appears clear to the eye but when seen under a microscope, red blood c...

What are spinal cord tumors? Spinal tumors are defined as abnormal growth arising from any of the tissues that make up the spine. The spine tumors can be malignant [ cancerous ] or benign [ non-cancerous]. As spine tumors grow, they can put pressure on the spinal cord.  Where do these tumors form? Our spine is made up of different tissues that span the entire length of your back, into your neck and pelvis. A tumor can form in almost every issue. The tissues that may develop tumor are: Bones that form the spinal vertebrae, including your bone marrow The cartilage that protects the joints in vertebrae Peripheral nerves Spinal discs Spinal cord Types of spinal tumors Spinal cord tumors are generally of two types. It includes: Primary spinal tumors This tumor originates within the vertebral column by growing within the bones, discs, nerves, or other elements within the spine. Such tumors are usually non-cancerous and occur mostly in younger people. Hemangiomas are the foremost common b...