Selfitis is now a real medical condition

Selfitis is now a real medical condition

Constant need for external appreciation and approval can lead to depression in the longer term

New Delhi, 21 December 2017: As per a recent study, clicking selfies is actually a medical condition that may require treatment. The condition is being called Selfitis. Researchers have also developed something called the 'Selfitis Behavior Scale' that can help determine the severity of one's addiction. Statistics indicate that India ranks number one in accidents related to selfies. About 60% of the total selfie accidents that happen throughout the world occur in India.

Selfitis has been classified at three levels: borderline, which involves clicking at least three selfies a day but not posting on social media; acute, which involves clicking at least three selfies a day but posting it on social media; chronic, where there is a constant urge to click selfies and posting at least six on social media.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “Today’s generation is constantly looking for external appreciation and approval. Youngsters want to show to the world that they have achieved a milestone that none or only a few others have achieved. The more daring a selfie, the more appreciation one gets. Such selfies help them in getting instant approval from their peers. We live in an age where mobile phones have penetrated our lives and actual human interaction is almost non-existent. Although technology has made life easier for everyone, there is a severe limitation of actual human empathetic interactions. We have begun to place more importance on what others think of us and how they perceive us. All of this can lead to anxiety and depression in the longer term.”

Those suffering from this condition typically seek to increase their self-confidence, seek attention, improve their mood, connect with the environment around them (to create a record of memories), increase their conformity with the social group around them, as well as being socially competitive.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “n this digital era, the key to good health should be moderation – moderate use of technology. A lot of us have become slaves to devices that were really meant to free us and give us more time to experience life and be with people. Unless precautionary measures are taken at the earliest, this addiction can prove detrimental to one’s health in the longer term.”

Some tips for preventing problems caused due to overuse of mobile phones are as follows.

• Electronic curfew means not using any electronic gadgets 30 minutes before sleep.
• Facebook holiday: Take a Facebook holiday for 7 days every three months.
• Social media fast: Avoid use of social media once in a week for the entire day.
• Use your mobile phone only when mobile.
• Do not use computer for more than three hours in a day.
• Limit your mobile talk time to more than two hours in a day.
• Do not recharge your mobile battery more than once in a day.
• Mobile can also be a source of infection in the hospital setup; therefore, it is disinfected every day. 

Smartphones can cause depression and other health hazards

Smartphones can cause depression and other health hazards

The blue light emitted from screens can affect a person’s sleep cycle

New Delhi, 05 December 2017: Prolonged use of smartphones may significantly increase the risk of depression, anxiety and insomnia among teenagers, as per recent findings. The findings indicate that there may be an imbalance in the brain chemistry of young people addicted to devices and the internet.[1] The motivation for going online is an important factor in relating technology usage to depression and anxiety.

While people are concerned about cancer, which remains a controversial issue, there are other future health problems caused by use of smart phones. Prolonged use of mobile phone can also cause neck pain, dry eyes, computer vision syndrome, and insomnia. About 60% of youth between 20 and 30 years of age fear losing their mobile phone, a condition called nomophobia.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, "Prolonged use of smartphones can cause multiple health issues, not just depression and anxiety. Smartphones and tablets give off a blue light, which can affect a person’s sleep-wake cycle. This blue light reduces the amount of melatonin secreted in our brains, which is a hormone required for good sleep. People who use smartphones in bed have a delayed REM sleep and wake up less alert in the morning. Cell phone elbow happens when one talks on the phone a lot. Holding the phone up to the ear causes the ulnar nerve to get compressed over time, which can lead to problems with motility and sensation. These are just some of the issues. Behaviors can be as addictive as substances, and many of us have the tendency to pull out and check our phones much more often than is necessary.”

Having access to so many different streams of information through gadgets has been found to decrease the brain’s grey matter density, which is responsible for cognition and emotional control.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “In this digital era, the key to good health should be moderation – moderate use of technology. A lot of us have become slaves to devices that were really meant to free us and give us more time to experience life and be with people. Unless precautionary measures are taken at the earliest, this addiction can prove detrimental to one’s health in the longer term.” 

Some tips for preventing problems caused due to overuse of mobile phones are as follows.

·         Electronic curfew means not using any electronic gadgets 30 minutes before sleep.

·         Facebook holiday: Take a Facebook holiday for 7 days every three months.

·         Social media fast: Avoid use of social media once in a week for the entire day.

·         Use your mobile phone only when mobile.

·         Do not use computer for more than three hours in a day.

·         Limit your mobile talk time to more than two hours in a day.

·         Do not recharge your mobile battery more than once in a day.

Mobile can also be a source of infection in the hospital setup; therefore, it is disinfected every day.

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[1] Research conducted at Korea University

People with Darier’s disease can go into depression

People with Darier’s disease can go into depression

It is a rare disorder, inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern

New Delhi, 04 December 2017: Recently, a case of Darier’s disease was reported from a city in North India. So far, about 15 cases have occurred in India, with this being the first in Uttar Pradesh. The disease is so rare that it affects only one out of one lakh people. Although the disease does not kill, it can be potentially debilitating for the person in question and put them on lifelong precautionary treatment.

Darier disease is a skin condition characterized by wart-like blemishes on the body. The blemishes are usually yellowish in color, hard to the touch, mildly greasy, and can emit a strong odor. The most common sites for blemishes are the scalp, forehead, upper arms, chest, back, knees, elbows, and behind the ear. The mucous membranes can also be affected, with blemishes on the roof of the mouth (palate), tongue, inside of the cheek, gums, and throat.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, "The wart-like blemishes in this disease usually appear in late childhood to early adulthood. Without precautionary measures, it can become more severe over time with the affected people experiencing flare-ups alternating with periods when they have fewer blemishes. The appearance of the blemishes is influenced by environmental factors such as heat and humidity; UV light; minor injury or friction; and ingestion of certain medications. At times, people with Darier disease may have neurological disorders; and issues with learning and behavior as well. This condition is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means one copy of the altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder.”

Itching is very common in those with this condition.  The affected skin may smell unpleasant, particularly in moist areas. This is probably caused by increased numbers of ordinary skin bacteria growing in the affected skin.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “The diagnosis of Darier’s disease can often be made on the appearance of the rash and the fact that it runs in families.  To confirm it, a small sample of skin (a biopsy) can be removed under a local anesthetic and examined under the microscope in the laboratory. Genetic testing to identify a mutation in the ATP2A2 gene can be used to confirm the diagnosis as well.”

Some precautions to be taken for those with this disease include the following.

• Avoid stress, excessive humidity, heat and tight clothes and use moisturizers, sun block and wear the right type of clothes which absorb sweat and keep the body cool.
• For localized lesions, dermabrasion can be done. Topical retinoids are also prescribed and are beneficial.
• If the patient has secondary bacterial infection, then antibiotics are prescribed. Antiviral medications are prescribed if the patient has herpes simplex.
• For severe symptoms, oral retinoids  can be prescribed, but these medications have serious side effects and need to be used with caution. Topical or oral antibiotics can be prescribed during flare ups.
• Using sunscreen and taking vitamin C tablets helps in preventing flare ups in some patients.

Patients should also maintain good hygiene to prevent flare ups. 

People living with lupus are prone to depression

People living with lupus are prone to depression

New Delhi, 13 October 2017: Statistics place the prevalence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in India at 30 per million people. Women are affected more frequently than men (10:1). SLE is a frequently overlooked disease, primarily due to lack of awareness, with the average diagnostic delay standing at almost 4 years.

A chronic disease, SLE is an autoimmune disease with phases of active disease when the symptoms worsen and phases of remission when the disease is quiet or has minimal symptoms. It is the most common form of lupus. The disease also involves the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain and can be life threatening. People living with lupus are prone to depression.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “SLE is an autoimmune disease. The immune system is designed to fight off infectious agents, bacteria, and foreign microbes. One of the ways that the immune system fights infections is by producing antibodies that bind to the microbes. People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies called ‘autoantibodies’ in their blood, which attack the body’s own healthy tissues and organs rather than foreign infectious agents. While the exact reason for abnormal autoimmunity is unknown, it could be a mix of genes and environmental factors. Sunlight, infections and certain medications such as anti-seizure drugs are known to trigger SLE.”
The symptoms of lupus can vary over time but the common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain and swelling, headaches, a butterfly-shaped rash over the cheeks and nose, skin rashes, hair loss, anemia, increased tendency to form blood clots and poor circulation in fingers and toes, which turn white or blue when cold, known as Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “There is no cure for SLE. However, treatment can help ease or control the symptoms and can vary depending on the severity. The common treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for joint pain and stiffness, corticosteroid creams for rashes, antimalarial drugs for skin and joint problems, oral corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs to minimize immune response.”

Some tips to combat SLE symptoms include the following.
• Maintain a good doctor-patient relationship. It is also important to get adequate family support.
• Take all medications as advised. Visit your physician regularly and get involved in your care.
• Stay active as this will help in keeping the joints flexible and prevent cardiovascular complications.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure as the ultraviolet rays can cause the skin rash to flare up.
• Avoid smoking and try to minimize stress and fatigue.
• Maintain normal body weight and bone density.
• Young women with lupus should time pregnancies for periods when lupus activity is low. Pregnancies must be carefully monitored and certain medications should be avoided.

Postnatal depression is a silent killer in India

Postnatal depression is a silent killer in India Timely intervention can help cure 80% of such cases New Delhi 24 May 2017: Postnatal depression is an illness that affects about 20% of mothers in developing countries like India, according to the World Health Organization. However, this kind of depression is still not recognized much. There are roughly 130 million births every year in India and provided this situation is addressed, the number or women with clinical depression is only likely to increase in the coming years. There are many factors that trigger depression in new mothers, some of them being unplanned pregnancy, an abusive relationship, alcoholic spouse, pressures to have a male child, and hormonal changes. The symptoms of postnatal depression tend to often go unnoticed. Some of them include anxiety, crying spells, mood swings, lack of sleep, difficulty in bonding with the baby, and negative thoughts and hallucinations. Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, "A majority of new mothers experience some amount of distress. This may sometimes require medical help and counseling. However, the symptoms often go unnoticed in the excitement of welcoming a baby. Postnatal depression is often accompanied by phobia and anxiety. Timely intervention can help cure 80% of such cases in a matter of 5 to 6 months. However, the remaining 20% can develop severe mental depression and other related ailments." Postnatal depression can have other related effects as well. Stress can affect milk production in new mothers thereby hindering lactation. As a result, the baby may become irritable and not achieve adequate physical and mental growth. Dr Aggarwal further added, "One of the major challenges in addressing postnatal depression is the lack of awareness, ignorance and social stigma surrounding this condition. A majority of women do not recognize or are unable to understand the symptom that follow childbirth. Even if they do, many are unwilling to seek medical help as psychiatric problems are not taken very well in the Indian society even today. The need of the hour is to create awareness among pregnant women, new mothers, and the family and counsel them on how they can support the women through this phase. " Here are few things one can do as a new mother to understand and cope with their anxiety. • Get enough rest. Tiredness can make anxiety worse and give you a constant gloomy feeling. Try catching small naps when the baby is asleep. • Eat at smaller intervals. Low energy levels can impact mental health. • Try not to feel guilty about not helping around the house. Understand that this is a temporary phase and it is not wrong to ask for help. • Indulge in activities that can help you in getting distracted from any negative thoughts, such as reading a book and listening to music. Take a short walk if it helps you feel better • Lastly, do not compare yourself with other mothers. Each pregnancy is different and understanding this will help you feel better.

Living alone after heart attack can be risky

Living alone after heart attack can be risky New Delhi, April 7, 2017: "Living alone after a heart attack increases the chances of death in the next four years. Heart patients are more prone to depression and mental health issues making family and social support crucial," said Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and National President IMA. Citing a recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, Dr KK Aggarwal further added that the chances of death one year after a heart attack was roughly the same for individuals living alone compared to those living with someone else. However, patients who lived alone had 35% greater risk of death at four years after the heart attack. “Social support greatly influences the outcome of an illness. It not only enhances physical health but also mental health. Family support, including that of their friends, helps these patients to recover and lead a good quality life”, said Dr RN Tandon, Honorary Secretary General IMA. Lack of social support in people who live alone hampers their recovery. They do not have the assistance they need to take their medicines, the motivation to follow the prescribed exercise regime, and keep up with follow-up visits to their doctor.

Depression, severe mental illness and loneliness are not heart friendly

Depression, severe mental illness and loneliness are not heart friendly New Delhi 05April, 2017: Depression, severe mental illness and loneliness are linked to heart disease and dementia, said Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA. A 3-year study by Dr Jesse Stewart, formerly of the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine found a correlation between depression and hardening of the arteries. The arteries of those who are most depressed were narrowed twice as much as those who were least depressed, in the study. Hardening of the arteries is a precursor to a heart attack or stroke. Depression may also upset the body’s regulation of glands that release chemicals governing energy level and growth, and alter the functioning of cells responsible for blood clotting. Hardening of the arteries leads to an overreaction of the immune system and the resulting inflammation is known to release chemicals that can cause the disease. Quoting a British study, Dr Aggarwal said that severely mentally ill people are more than three times as likely to die from coronary heart disease and stroke as those not suffering from mental illness. Mental illness more than doubled the risk of dying from heart disease for people up to the age 75. The risk of dying from heart disease was even higher among those taking antipsychotic medications. A persistent feeling of loneliness among the elderly doubles the risk of developing Alzheimer's-like symptoms compared to those who felt connected to others.

Denial of justice: Mediclaim does not cover treatment for any mental illness or psychosomatic disorder

Denial of justice: Mediclaim does not cover treatment for any mental illness or psychosomatic  disorder

Dr KK Aggarwal

National President Elect and Honorary Secretary General IMA

On 10^th October we are observing World Mental Health day.  We have been propagating that there is a paradigm shift the way we need to tackle mental illnesses. That depression is no more a stigma or a social issue, that depression is treatable, that depression is a manageable disease and that depression needs to be diagnosed early.

If it is a disease then why still it is not covered under mediclaim?  Why would people disclose ‘depression’ when getting admitted when their whole claim can get cancelled?

We say suicidal ideation is a medical emergency and such patients needs admission. If it is not covered in mediclaim nobody will disclose or one will get admitted under the disguise of some other illness.

On one hand we want special act for mental health and on the other hand we deny their right to get treated.

Some facts

1.      “I have carefully looked into this. As of now there are no specific government guidelines or legislative provisions about insurance coverage of psychiatric disorders. Hence the insurance providers are not providing coverage for Depression. This is denial of justice and we must fight against it. Prof Roy Abraham Kallivayalil. Secretary General, World Psychiatric Association”

2.       Travel Medical Insurance Policy Exclusions: No claim will be paid arising from suicide, attempted suicide or wilfully self-inflicted injury or illness, mental disorder, anxiety, stress of depression, alcoholism, drunkenness or the abuse of drugs.

3.      The World Health Organisation has recently estimated that 1 in 4 persons will be affected by some form of mental illness once in their lifetime.

4.      In 2005, it was estimated that 6-7% of the population suffered from mental disorders, and about 1-2% suffered from severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

5.      Nearly 5% of the population suffer from common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. This number is much higher as mental illness often goes underreported due to the associated stigma and non-coverage in mediclaim like policies.

Good News

As passed by Rajya Sabha on 8th August 2016, the new mental care health bill clause (4) every insurer shall make provision for medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness. Also under the new bill suicide has been treated as a form of severe stress which will not be punishable under 309 of IPC. But as on day the act is not applicable and depression patients are not under the coverage of mediclaim or other reimbursements.

Obsessively yours: Signs That You May Have OCD New Delhi, July 26, 2016: Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disabling and potentially chronic anxiety disorder and is characterized by anxiety–provoking intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, said Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Honorary Secretary General IMA. Obsessions may consist of aggressive thoughts and impulses, fears of contamination by germs or dirt, or fears of harm befalling someone. Compulsions such as washing, checking, or counting are rituals whose purpose is to neutralize or reverse the fears. OCD occurs in 2 to 3 percent of the population. People with OCD have uncontrolled thoughts that compel them to develop habits or rituals to ease their anxiousness. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America offers this list of potential warning signs of OCD: • Persistent irrational fears or concerns, commonly about being dirty or getting sick. • Obsessing about things being in order or arranged a certain way. • Being afraid that your thoughts or actions will cause harm to you or someone else. • Hoarding objects with no value. • Irrational doubts or fears that you will harm someone else. • Impulsively and repeatedly cleaning your body or your home. • Repeatedly checking something, such as if the doors are locked, appliances are unplugged or the stove is turned off. • Habits such as repeatedly saying a word or a name, or walking in the same place or in the same way. • Constantly re–living conversations, repeating words or counting.