Watifhealth....a boon for us all

Ever since the advent of internet, we have been flooded with innumerable write ups on medical issues together with tips for their prevention and cure. There is no dearth of information but watifhealth is refreshingly different. Apart from offering valuable insights into non communicable diseases, this website has launched an application which analyses the possible risk ratio of developing problems like diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases etc.

How can an application analyse the likelihood of disease developing in a person? Yes,its because this has been scientifically evolved with an extensive data base which over a period of time analyses the inputs given by the app user. Aren't we all aware that NCD are essentially lifestyle diseases ? Any programme which strikes at the level of primary care is bound to get the best results. It can be said that the watifhealth app is an attempt to re-engineer primary health care.

What is primary health care? Primary or primordial prevention is the care given to people before the disease has taken roots in their system meaning that intervention at this stage can abort  signs and symptoms of problems before they are full blown. Watifhealth app is designed to achieve this result.

Having said that, the most logical question would be..if the disease process has already begun then would this app be of any use? Definitely. Let's take the example of hypertension and diabetes. We feed the height, weight, blood parameters, BP reading, blood sugar level etc in the app and in a graphic format we get a detailed analysis of our state of health. There will be authentic medical advice from a dedicated team of doctors regarding the drugs to be taken and need of further lab tests if they deem it necessary for further insight. If the analysis says that some lifestyle modifications would stem the progress of the disease then the person just has to follow that advice. The app will keep  track of his blood parameters and monitor the progress. Conversely, in the case of a hypertensive or diabetic patient, the app will store the prescription, lab reports and even remind the patient about his doctor appointments. It will act like an alarm clock so that no medicine is missed, no appointment is forgotten and no paper is misplaced.

We may ask if an app is qualified to make an authentic analysis? Sure it is. There is a department which keeps a check on its services and makes it foolproof to deliver the best possible results. The conclusion drawn by the app is based on a plethora of data which have been collected from a variety of cases and studied over a period of time. There is no hurry in coming to the conclusion. Life is precious and this app recognises the implication of its results.

Many people are averse to the standard drug regimens and look for alternative forms of therapy. Believe it or not, this app has been designed even for those people who prefer alternative medicine and a non traditional approach to disease management. Thus it caters to a wide audience who are willing to take just one step to circumvent any negative habit or lifestyle problem which may affect them adversely. Definitely an app to watch for and use to enhance the quality of life.

Hypertension! Major challenge of modern living

High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the major challenge of modern living which manifests itself in a variety of ways. It may be a side effect of other systemic diseases or may be brought on oneself by the tensions and pressures of life.

What is hypertension and why is it important to be aware of its symptoms? Hypertension has an arbitrary definition  which is  based on levels of blood pressure which are  specific for different age groups. It means that a certain range of blood pressure reading may be normal for a higher age group and at the same time be alarming for the young ones. What is important is that after the age of 30 years all individuals should get their blood pressure checked at regular intervals. This is imperative to keep a check on major fluctuations which may become a threat in times of stress or otherwise and also to be aware of any impending health risk.

Exercise, anxiety, unfamiliar surroundings, work pressure may all lead to a transient increase in blood pressure. In such cases measurement should be made repeatedly in relaxed conditions for proper assessment of the person's actual condition. It is important to remember that for transient rise in blood pressure, medicines may not be administered but they are potential candidates of hypertension who should be closely monitored for warning signs and symptoms.

It is frequently asked if hypertension runs in families. In the majority of patients with hypertension, no underlying mechanism may be found to be responsible for the high blood pressure. These cases are called 'Essential hypertensives'. This condition is familial. In 70% of these cases another member of the family is found to be affected. Hence the role of genes cannot be denied in the development of this health problem.  Some races also are more susceptible to this disease. American blacks and the Japanese tend to have a higher incidence of essential hypertension. It is commoner where there is a higher intake of salt.

What symptoms should make us wary of developing this disease? There are no specific symptoms attributable to hypertension. It may be detected during routine examination or because of one of its complications. Headache and palpitations are some of the frequently encountered symptoms. Chronic backache, prolonged fever and breathlessness may also be clues to this disease.  It is also closely associated with obesity, smoking and high levels of cholesterol.

Can hypertension be prevented from developing? Though genetic factors are beyond our control, there are some steps which could be taken to prevent this disease or at least to lessen its intensity. Diet modification is extremely important. Table salt and foods with high sodium intake are an absolute no. Excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental for blood pressure and should only be taken in moderation. Alcohol, obesity and hypertension go hand in hand and should be tackled vigorously.

Life style modification remains the mainstay of treatment. Regular exercise, healthy diet, relaxation techniques can go a long way in keeping this problem under control. Once a person becomes hypertensive, he should be under close supervision of a physician who may titrate the dose as per the requirement and response of the patient to the medicines. It is inadvisable to discontinue the medicines without thorough medical check up. No age is immune hence we should be careful right from the beginning.

Programmatic Need of Managing Diabetes in Employed People

Are you working and suffering from diabetes? Then you could be like millions of other working individuals who are either neglecting their disease or having difficulty in managing this lifestyle disorder. If not managed properly diabetes could cripple your lifestyle and become a heavy burden on your pocket. Moreover, the hoard of associated diseases can literally bring you down and play a damper in your life. So, managing diabetes should be a top priority with you.

It has been noted that while diabetes is a world problem, the working people are the greatest sufferers as they have difficulty in managing the disease and integrating diabetes management with professional and private issues. Money is also a problem as managing diabetes could be a costly affair. Yet, by effectively managing this lifestyle disorder you can have your life back and enjoy all the perks associated with it.

In America, the employment and health cost of diabetes is immense. A 2007 study showed that diabetes costs more than $174 billion dollars to the country. While most of the money is spent in medical related expenses, there is also considerable labor loss due to lower level of productivity, reduced work capacity, augmented work absenteeism, joblessness due to disease related  disability and even premature death.

Diabetes is not a threat as long as it is effectively managed. Some people find diabetes as a wakeup call that alerts them to the bad choices present in their lives. Hence, diabetes forces them to prioritize health requirements and make some positive changes in their lives. These people adopt a positive attitude and view management of diabetes as a personal obligation. Thus, they develop proactive thinking to combat with this disorder.

As a working individual you must plan for all your meals in advance. The meals should include in-between healthy snacks because fasting also triggers the production of blood sugar. You should try to eliminate carbohydrate and sweet from your diet and stick to fiber rich healthy foods which are smaller in quantities. You should be regular with your blood sugar tests and pressure tests as diabetes often gives way to other forms of complications. You should also focus on managing blood sugar fluctuation.

Some people also experience emotional stress due to diabetes. Negative emotional effects like irritability, anger, stress, depression, denial and fear come associated with diabetes. Hence, counseling is also recommended for persons diagnosed with blood sugar disorder. In fact, emotional stress and diabetes are linked to one another. So, while emotional stress increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, getting diabetes also induces emotional stress which again has an adverse effect on the person’s blood sugar level. So, a counselor’s visit is recommended when newly diagnosed with blood sugar to keep the blood sugar level under control. Few people also experience psychological barriers towards their diabetes disorder and they refuse to acknowledge their disease or the symptoms of the disease. This could put a barrier to their disease management. For this you could find help in diabetes support groups. Here you could learn secrets from other diabetic sufferers to augment motivation and will power to manage their disorder. The diabetes complications, comorbidities and side effects of medications, could cause a setback in diabetes management. Here you can benefit by joining special exercise classes that would keep your disability or problem in mind. 

There was also the limitation of time since due to work and family responsibility people did not find adequate time to deal with their problem and take time to exercise. Moreover, there is always a queue at doctor’s place. Here, prepared diabetes meal would be helpful for busy individuals to combat with the disease along with healthful, affordable convenience foods.

So, make health your first priority and take time to manage diabetes. A healthy body would be more effective in looking after work and family responsibilities.