Cardiologist shares most dangerous food habits that could silently increase your risk of heart attack: ‘Eat more fibre'
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Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Prenatal yoga: Doctor shares dos, don'ts and trimester-friendly asanas for a safer practice
Pregnancy brings several mental, physical, and emotional changes, from swollen ankles and nausea to discomfort and mood swings. Amid all these changes for a holistic respite, many women turn to yoga for a gentle yet powerful practice that helps in supporting the mind and body. Dr Sonu Taxak, Director and Senior IVF Consultant at Yellow Fertility, shared with HT Lifestyle how yoga offers physical, emotional, and mental support during pregnancy. Follow these tips to practice yoga during pregnancy.(Freepik) Furthermore, Dr Sonu also explained how yoga helps in supporting health during pregnancy. He said, 'As the body adapts to support new life, yoga can be a powerful companion through this journey by offering emotional balance, improved circulation, and better sleep. For women who have conceived through IVF or have a high-risk pregnancy, yoga offers physical benefits and a sense of calm and connection. The key is personalisation, moderation, and listening to your body. Just make sure to stay hydrated and rest well. Always carry a water bottle to class, and take frequent breaks. Avoid overheating and listen to your body's signals.' ALSO READ: Yoga for high-risk pregnancy: Doctor shares what to practise and what to avoid Dr Sonu Taxak shared a detailed guide with us, covering all the vital dos and don'ts, along with suggestions for yoga asanas for each trimester: Dos: By following some simple techniques and habits, prenatal yoga can be made safer. Make sure you follow safety precautions while you are practising yoga during pregnancy. (Shutterstock) Consult first: Before stepping on the mat, speak to your obstetrician or fertility specialist, especially if you've conceived through assisted methods like IVF or have a high-risk pregnancy. Before stepping on the mat, speak to your obstetrician or fertility specialist, especially if you've conceived through assisted methods like IVF or have a high-risk pregnancy. Choose the right instructor: Prenatal yoga isn't regular yoga. It requires an understanding of trimester-specific needs and anatomical changes. Always work with an instructor certified in prenatal yoga who can guide you safely through each stage. Prenatal yoga isn't regular yoga. It requires an understanding of trimester-specific needs and anatomical changes. Always work with an instructor certified in prenatal yoga who can guide you safely through each stage. Prioritise breathwork: Gentle breathing techniques like Anulom Vilom or Ujjayi breathing help improve oxygen flow to the baby and reduce anxiety. This is especially valuable in IVF pregnancies, where stress levels may be higher. Pranayama also promotes emotional well-being. Don'ts: Pregnancy yoga needs to follow certain precautions to ensure safety. So knowing what to skip is just as important as knowing what to practise. Skip inversions and deep twists: Poses like headstands, shoulder stands, or full wheels are a strict no. They can disturb blood flow to the uterus and increase the risk of injury. Poses like headstands, shoulder stands, or full wheels are a strict no. They can disturb blood flow to the uterus and increase the risk of injury. No flat back lying after the first trimester: This can compress major blood vessels, reducing blood circulation to the baby. This can compress major blood vessels, reducing blood circulation to the baby. Don't overdo: Pregnancy isn't the time to increase flexibility or hold poses for long durations. Avoid competitive or overly intense practice. Pregnancy isn't the time to increase flexibility or hold poses for long durations. Avoid competitive or overly intense practice. Avoid hot yoga: High temperatures may lead to dehydration and fetal distress. High temperatures may lead to dehydration and fetal distress. Never ignore discomfort: Any physical discomfort, breathlessness, or pelvic pain during yoga should be taken seriously and followed up with your doctor. Trimester-friendly asanas: Every trimester brings its own set of challenges, so not all yoga asanas can be practised throughout. Modifying your poses in tune with trimester-specific needs is important. First trimester: Gentle poses like cat-cow, butterfly pose, and seated stretches improve blood flow and relieve fatigue. Gentle poses like cat-cow, butterfly pose, and seated stretches improve blood flow and relieve fatigue. Second trimester: Try modified warrior pose, supported tree pose, and pelvic tilts to strengthen posture and core. Try modified warrior pose, supported tree pose, and pelvic tilts to strengthen posture and core. Third trimester: Focus on supported poses like side-lying savasana, gentle stretching, and breathing exercises. Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition. Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crick-it, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Quizzes, Polls & much more. Explore now!. Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Taylor Swift, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Breast cancer can return years later: Oncologist shares how to spot early signs of relapse
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and like every cancer, there is a chance of breast cancer recurrence even after completion of the prescribed treatment. Hence, every woman has to undergo regular follow up as advised by the treating doctor. Can we catch breast cancer before it returns? Here's what doctors want you to know.(Image by Pexels) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Anjali Kulkarni, vice president, RWE Strategy and Analytics and oncologist at 4baseCare, shared, 'Breast cancer recurrence can happen locally i.e. within the same or other breast or regionally i.e. in the axilla or neck nodes. To detect the signs of local recurrence, women can do a routine self breast examination and check overlying skin for any changes. This helps to detect local recurrence quite early. Local recurrence can be confirmed by mammography or ultrasonography.' Going to bed too soon after eating may increase the risk of breast cancer coming back, says a study.(Shutterstock) In many cases, recurrence happens at distant organs like liver, bone, lungs, brain and abdomen. Dr Kulkarni revealed, 'For distant recurrence there can be symptoms like bone pains, jaundice, severe headache, blood in cough or loss of weight. For such advanced stages, imaging is a definitive diagnostic method for recurrence. Mainly radiology tests like PETCT, bone scan, CT, MRI or ultrasound can detect recurrence. These methods usually detect cancer recurrence when the tumour or lesion size reaches at least 7-8 mm and visible on images.' A blood test could spot breast cancer relapse months before any scan Currently, there is an advanced technique ctDNA to identify recurrence even before it appears on the radiology images. Dr Kulkarni explained, 'This is called Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), a type of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) released by tumour cells into the bloodstream which can be used to identify cancer recurrence.' She elaborated, 'ctDNA detection can precede clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence by several months, allowing for early intervention. ctDNA levels can be done after treatment and can even help identify patients who are at higher risk of recurrence. Changes in ctDNA levels can be used to assess the effectiveness of treatment and guide treatment decisions.' Will your breast cancer come back? New blood test can predict with 100% accuracy. Here's all you need to know (Image by Freepik) Dr Kulkarni pointed out, 'Usually after completing the prescribed treatment, women are on follow up protocol every 3 months for the first year, then every 6 months for 5 years and then once a year. Few women with advanced breast cancer, the cancer may never go away completely. These women may continue to get treatments to help keep the cancer under check.' The follow up regimen will vary depending on the stage of disease and certain tumour types like Triple negative breast cancer which is known to be aggressive. Dr Kulkarni said, 'Women with BRCA gene mutations have a higher risk of developing bilateral breast cancer. Women who are presented with the early-stage breast cancer can be monitored clinically and radiological tests can be done at 6 monthly intervals. But aggressive cancer types require close monitoring. Technologies like ctDNA will be very helpful in these women for close surveillance.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Cardiologist warns against anti ageing injections post Shefali Jariwala death, plastic surgeon reveals if they even work
Shefali Jariwala's untimely death at 42 has come as a shock and raised concerns over cosmetic procedures like anti-ageing injections. The Kaanta Laga fame actor and model died on June 27 in Mumbai. The exact cause of her death is still under investigation. However, multiple reports suggest that Shefali's death might be linked to low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and gastric issues, potentially triggered by an anti-ageing injection she took on an empty stomach. In the light of Shefali Jariwala's death, a cardiologist and plastic surgeon talk about anti-ageing injections, if they actually work, what are the risks of taking them, and more.(Representative picture: Freepik) Also Read | Shefali Jariwala death: Doctors warn skin lightening glutathione injections aren't without risk or 'severe side effects' In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Jyoti Kusnur, consultant, interventional cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Goa, and Dr Karthik Shrinivas Tallam, senior consultant, plastic and reconstructive surgery, Manipal Hospital Varthur, talked about anti-ageing injections – if they actually work, what are the risks of taking them, and more. No proven research substantiates existence of 'anti-ageing therapies' According to Dr Kusnur, a cardiologist, 'There is no proven research in medical literature substantiating the existence of any 'anti-ageing therapies'; however, several beauty consultants claim cosmetic benefits by administering different compounds.' Certain additives in anti-ageing injections may cause allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, causing blood pressure to fall to dangerous levels, thereby precipitating a cardiac arrest. The cardiologist stressed that these injections cover a diverse range of substances, like Botox, which has been used for wrinkle treatment for many years. As for Shefali, speculations are rife that she took Glutathione injections for anti-ageing treatment. 'Any therapy which is not medically supervised or indicated is best avoided. In the absence of any verified data relating to the formulation and production of these substances, as well as their therapeutic effects on the human body, it would be very difficult to ascertain the damage they cause. In this instance, certain additives might have caused allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, causing blood pressure to fall to dangerous levels, thereby precipitating a cardiac arrest,' Dr Kusnur explained. 'Debatable whether such treatments will work for everyone' Dr Karthik Shrinivas Tallam, a plastic surgeon, agrees that it is debatable whether anti-ageing treatments work for everyone, and advises people to ask a professional before getting the treatments done. Giving examples of a few anti-ageing treatments, Dr Shrinivas said: Anti-ageing treatments can be IV injections, skin or subcutaneous injections. Anti-ageing injections given by an IV are glutathione injections. These injections act as an antioxidant. Oxidation of cells leads to ageing; hence, antioxidants will slow the ageing of the cells. He added, 'Studies have not shown any increase in life span due to such treatments, but people do get lightening of skin colour and a glow in the skin due to such treatments. So, it is debatable whether such treatments will work for everyone.' The plastic surgeon warned, 'Skin and subcutaneous injections are fillers and Botox. All of these are safe and tested. Some individuals do get reactions like allergy and anaphylaxis, which can be fatal. Treatments done by certified physicians at a standard hospital will have the least risks, as all of these risks will be assessed prior to the procedure, although the costs will be higher. Always get the procedures done at a certified hospital which has other specialities to take care of in case of an untoward event or complication.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
