Fissure in Ano, also known as Anal Fissure, is basically a small longitudinal cut in skin that lines the opening of the anus. Fissures cause bleeding and severe pain in the bowel movements. These are very common in the general public, but often confused with other pain. A fissure can happen at any point in your lifetime and can have equal general distribution.

Types of Fissure in Ano:

  Acute Fissure: Fissure in Ano less than 6 weeks of duration is known as Acute Fissure.

  Chronic Fissure: Anal Fissure with more than 6 weeks of duration is known as Chronic Fissure. 

Causes of Fissures in Ano:

  Anal fissures are basically caused by stretching of the anal muscles beyond its capability.

  In adults, it is caused by the passing of large stools, constipation or by prolonged diarrhea.   In older adults it is caused by the less flow of blood to that area.

  It is also caused by sexually transmitted infections (syphilis, chlamydia, herpes) and it results in fissures.

  Anal sex can also be the cause of fissures.

Symptoms of Fissures in Ano:

  Tear in the skin around the anus

  Small lump of skin, or skin tag next to the tear

  Pain during bowel movement

  Stools with blood or pus

  Itching and burning in the anal area 

Preventions During Fissures in Ano:

  One should drink enough water.

  One should have high fibre diet so that one does not suffer from constipation.

  Be careful and hygienic after anal defecation.

  In case of suspected fissure or any kind of pain, use a lubricating ointment.

  Sit in lukewarm water

Treatment for Fissures in Ano

Surgical treatments are not recommended, but there are some other measures that can be taken and are listed as follows:

  Some prescribed medication to lower the severity of pain.

  Nitroglycerin ointment may help heal the fissure.

  Having a rich fiber diet as a lifestyle change.

  Drink enough water as that helps in softening the stool.

  Sometimes Stool softeners may be required to soften the bowel movement.

When Anal Fissure does not heal with all of the above listed things, then a surgery may be required:

  Lower most part of the internal anal sphincter is divided laterally. With this acute fissure heals of its own. In chronic cases one may require to undergo fissurectomy.

  The surgery decreases the anal pain and spasm, allowing the fissure to heal.

  If a sentinel pile is present, it is removed to heal the fissure. 

It is important to note that any kind of treatment requires 6-10 weeks to recover. However, the pain may disappear just after 2-4 days after the surgery. One must consult a doctor before going for any treatment. This surgery can also be performed with LASER,where there is less trauma and early recovery is posssible.

Fissure In Ano

If not for Edward Jenner, millions would have lost their lives to several diseases. The discovery of smallpox vaccination in the last leg of the 18th century marked the beginning of a new chapter of vaccination and became a lifesaver for the human race from fatal and limiting diseases like smallpox, polio, tetanus, rotavirus, etc.

World Immunization Day, observed each year on November 10, is celebrated to increase the awareness on getting vaccinations in time to protect individuals against preventable diseases. 

Immunization is very important to help create resistance and to prevent your body from getting infected with a number of diseases. Timely administration of vaccine can help protect both children and adults from major diseases. 

Why must you get vaccinated? Is it really important?
Yes, getting vaccinated is indeed important. It helps the body stimulate its own immune system to protect against subsequent infections and also prevents them from spreading through any form of contact.  Vaccination is more important for children because the immune system of a child developed through breastfeeding starts to diminish, once the development cycle of the new immune system begins.

Vaccinations are highly cost-effective and easy to access. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), timely vaccination has helped prevent up to three million deaths per year, but still, there are almost 19 million infants who are not given timely vaccinations.

Vaccination in India
The Universal Immunization Program (UIP) of India is one of the largest in the world in terms of the amount of vaccine given, the geographical area covered, and the number of people who have benefited from the program. The program has been in effect for more than 30 years. However, due to a lack of awareness among citizens, it has only been able to reach out to two-thirds of children all over the country. 

We should seek to achieve complete immunization of not only children but also of adults. Under the Mission Indradhanush, which was launched by the government in 2014, the program allowed all children of up to 24 months of age and pregnant women to get free vaccinations. 

Important vaccinations for children
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends several vaccinations to be administered from 0 months to 10 years of age, the important ones being for polio, tetanus, rotavirus, typhoid, chickenpox, and MMR amongst others. It is essential for the parents to follow the immunization schedule and have the baby vaccinated against preventable diseases.

Vaccinations for adults
Vaccination is not just for children, but also for adults. All adults between the age of 20 and 30 should get a screening done for major preventable diseases like influenza, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, and Hepatitis B. An influenza injection should be administered once a year while a tetanus injection needs to be administered once every 10 years. 

Hepatitis A and B injections need to be administered during one's childhood. However, if adults aged above 19 and up to 49 years do not have any documentation of vaccination, it is strongly advised to take two doses of Hepatitis A and three doses of Hepatitis B.

Prevention is better than cure, and the most important gift that you can give your child and to yourself is good health. On this day, let's be aware of the importance of vaccination, and spread the same. Get vaccinated, stay healthy, and happy! 

World Immunization Day 2017 - Why Immunization Is Important?

The spine plays a very crucial role, both from a person s movement and sensation point of view. It carries the nervous supply for a lot of internal organs and the lower body. By virtue of its structure, it also helps in movement through the disks. Due to various reasons, spinal injury is common, causing pain along the back, lower extremities, neck etc.

Medicines and exercise are the first line of treatment for most spinal injuries. The issue, however, is that these only provide relief from the pain and the medicines, but do not actually  rectify  the underlying problem. Whether it is a herniated disk or a pinched nerve, the medicines and exercise can relieve the symptoms, but the disk continues to be herniated and the nerve continues to be pinched. Definite treatment is in the form of surgery, and with recent advancements in the field of spinal surgery, there are minimally invasive surgical options, which provide complete cure with minimal recovery time. Some of the benefits of this are listed below-

Smaller incision compared to traditional surgical procedures, where only the injured area is accessed

The surrounding tissues are untouched, unless they are injured and require repair

Lesser bleeding compared to earlier techniques

Lesser painful procedure

Reduced hospitalization period

Quicker recovery and return to normal activities

The question, however, is whether this is indicated in everybody. A detailed discussion with your surgeon keeping the below points in mind will help identify the answer for this. The main driver should be the answer to the question   will the surgery be able to effectively relieve you of the pain and symptoms? Additionally, the following factors help in getting better results out of a minimally invasive spinal surgery.

Presence of symptoms relating to nerve compression, including pain from the spine down the leg.

Recent onset of symptoms, with pain starting days to months before seeing the doctor. This indicates the condition is relatively new and so damage is minimal, indicating favorable outcome. Chronic pain conditions take slightly longer time compared to recent injuries.

People with active lifestyle who engage in regular physical exercise are likely to have better benefits from the minimally invasive procedure.

Smoking reduces blood flow to the spine, leading to disk degeneration and weakening of bones. Healing is highly slowed down and recovery is overall delayed.

Excessive weight puts strain on the back, and so healing can be delayed or badly affected with more complications. It is not a contraindication, but be prepared for a longer recovery period.

Talk to your doctor keeping these points in mind, and you can bid farewell to your back pain forever.

Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Right For You?

Haemorrhoids or piles is a condition where the veins in and around your anus become swollen. This swollen vein sticks out from the anus and can make sitting and moving difficult. Laser haemorrhoidoplasty is one of the best ways to treat advanced forms of the condition. However, before knowing more about the procedure, you should learn more about piles in general.

Causes of piles-
You are likely to develop piles in the following events  
  If you strain excessively during bowel movements
  If you sit for prolonged periods on the toilet
  If you suffer from constipation or chronic cases of diarrhoea
  If you are overweight or obese
  If you are pregnant
  If you engage in anal sexual intercourse
  If your diet lacks proper quantities of fibre
The likelihood of having piles increase with your age. This is because the tissues supporting your veins tend to lose their strength, as you grow old.

Symptoms of piles-
If you suffer from piles, you can easily notice certain symptoms from the condition. Here are the most common signs of haemorrhoids  
  You will notice bleeding during bowel movements. However, you will not feel any pain from the said bleeding.
  Your anal and rectum area will itch throughout the day. You will experience irritation in the region as well.
  You will notice a lump formation near the anus, which will lead to extreme pain and discomfort. Sitting and walking may also become painful due to the presence of the lump
  You may also notice a general swelling in your anus region.
However, the exact symptoms may vary from one affected person to the next, based on the location and type of haemorrhoids.

How does laser haemorroidoplasty help in the treatment of piles?
While most haemorrhoids are treated with medication and lifestyle changes alone, advanced cases require additional procedures. Laser haemorrhoidoplasty is one such procedure used to treat severe piles cases.
This treatment results in the reduction of the size of the haemorrhoid. The laser energy passes through the haemorrhoidal node, destroying it in the process.

Here are some advantages of laser haemorrhoidoplasty  
  Closes the arteries carrying blood inside the haemorrhoid
  Reduction of the haemorrhoidal node tissues
  Preservation of most of the mucosa, anal lining and muscle
  Rectifies the issues with the anatomical structure and restores it to normal
  A minimally invasive procedure, which limits post-operative pain and scarring

If you suffer from an advanced stage of piles, speak to your doctor and see whether laser haemorrhoidoplasty is an option for you.

Laser Haemorrhoidoplasty - What All Should You Know About It?

No matter how well you take care of yourself, everyone catches a cold or flu at some time or the other. That s probably the reason why it is popularly known as a  common  cold. A cold on its own does not harm the body much but it leaves you feeling weakened and suppresses the immune system. Cold is a viral infection and hence is usually unresponsive to antibiotics and other medication. However, Ayurveda can help manage a cold better and speed up the recovery process.

Cough and cold can be triggered by a number of factors including a sudden drop in temperature, exposure to dust or pollen or staying in rooms with poor ventilation. Additionally, aggravating the structure, stability, and cohesiveness of the body can also cause a cold or cough. When the food we eat is not digested properly, it turns into partly digested that triggers cold or cough when it reaches the respiratory system. Some common ayurvedic remedies for coughs and colds are:

Enhance your body heat: Keeping the body warm, especially the head, throat, chest and feet, is the first step to recovering from a cold. Drinking a cup of hot spiced tea or a glass of warm water mixed with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, a few times a day, can also help. Spices like cumin, coriander and black pepper are considered heat generating spices and hence should be used liberally when preparing food.
Vapour therapy: To recover from a cough that is accompanied by congestion, try inhaling the hot vapours of water mixed with a little eucalyptus oil. This helps dilate the bronchial tubes and unblocks the nostrils. Inhaling the vapours of water mixed with rock salt can help relieve heaviness in the head and a mild cold. Simple hot water vapours itself can even be inhaled to relieve sinusitis pain. To benefit from vapour therapy, it is essential to sit in a room without the fan on and to cover your head and the vapour source while inhaling the steam.
Turmeric Smoke: Inhaling turmeric smoke is said to have an antiseptic effect on the lungs and respiratory tract. To benefit from this therapy burn a dried root of turmeric and inhale the smoke a few times. If you do not have access to the dried root of turmeric, place a red hot piece of charcoal with a few dried leaves in a clay pot, add a heaped spoon of turmeric powder to this and blow gently till it catches fire before inhaling the smoke.

Common Cold & Cough - Home Remedies For It!

5 simple and effective ways to cure that hangover

Most people experience prominent side effects on their body and mind the morning following a night of heavy drinking. These after-effects of consuming excessive alcohol, popularly called a hangover, include rapid heartbeat, headache, anxiety, exhaustion, vomiting, dizziness, lack of energy, and body pain.

Drinking too much alcohol (5 to 7 drinks for men and 3 to 5 for women) not only causes a hangover but also can negatively impact your health by damaging your liver, central nervous system, brain and gastrointestinal system. It takes about 8 to 24 hours to cure a hangover completely, but you can try these natural remedies to get quick relief from the symptoms and reduce the recovery time.

1. Have a banana

A hangover is often associated with decreased potassium levels in your body and having a banana will help replenish it as it contains an adequate amount of the mineral.

Directions: you can either have one or two whole bananas or a banana smoothie with few drops of honey to get relieve from most hangover symptoms.

2. Try honey

Honey contains fructose, which helps to neutralize the negative impact of alcohol on your body. Moreover, honey provides relief from the hangover as it also helps digest the alcohol better.

Directions: take 3-4 teaspoons of honey after each hour (post-hangover) till you feel yourself getting better. You can increase the dosage according to the severity of your hangover.

3. Go for a glass of tomato juice

Tomato juice proves to be very effective in curbing the symptoms of a hangover as it compensates for the dehydration caused in your body due to excessive alcohol consumption. Also, due to its fructose content, tomato helps in metabolizing the alcohol present in your body.

Directions: drink a glass of fresh tomato juice or soup laden with 1 tablespoon each of honey and fresh lemon juice. You can have this juice in the morning once and repeat in the afternoon if needed.

4. Drink a lot of water

When it comes to beating a hangover, there is no substitute for water. Drinking water is not only a tried and tested remedy, but is also the most effective way to cure a hangover. This happens because water fights the dehydration of fluids in your body caused by drinking alcohol.

Directions: to keep the hangover at bay, drink one glass of water after each glass or shot of alcohol you consume. If you forget to do this, starting your day with a bottle of water the next morning will help reduce hangover symptoms drastically.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'consult'.

Related Tip: 5 Quick-fix Detox Drinks That Will Do Damage Control This Wedding Season

5 Most Effective Home HANGOVER Hacks

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