Dr. Anil Mehta

Viral fever refers to a wide range of conditions caused by viral infections of the body. These infections lead to an elevation of body temperature, along with a variety of other symptoms such as headaches, body aches, chills and skin rashes. Viral fever can affect people of all age groups and may even be highly contagious if it is not contained and treated.

What causes viral fever?

Viral fever is caused by the infestation of viruses that spread through various avenues. These viruses enter the body and multiply at a specific site, leading to an infection that manifests itself as the symptoms of fever. This fever may be chronic or acute, depending on the nature of the infection and can easily spread from one person to another.

Some of the ways in which viral fever spreads are as follows:

1. Aerial transmission (coughing and sneezing).

2. Sexual transmission.

3. Consumption of contaminated food and water.

4. Contact with contaminated surfaces.

5. Contact with infected animals.

The symptoms of viral fever begin to show after an incubation period during which the virus multiplies within the body. The nature and duration of the illness varies from case to case. The most common symptoms of viral fever that accompany high body temperatures include the following:

• Muscle soreness

• Fatigue

• Nasal congestion

• Running nose

• Redness of the eyes

• Headaches

• Coughs

• Inflammation of the throat

• Skin rashes

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

How is viral fever treated?

A case of viral fever can be quite easily treated if there is an absence of complications. For this, the illness simply needs to be diagnosed early. The use of antibiotics and steroids for treatment is advised against unless the infections have escalated beyond a certain extent. Some of the ways to treat viral fever are:

• Prescription of antiviral medication

• Adequate bed rest

• Ample fluid intake

• Administration of nasal decongestants

In most cases, the illness gets treated within the span of a few days. However, if the symptoms persist any longer, it is advisable to consult a specialist to check for underlying problems or complications.

Haemophilia is a type of disorder in which blood does not clots easily or in a normal way. Haemophilia A is one of the common types of disease which causes due to deficiency of blood clotting factor VIII. Haemophilia B is another type which is caused due to the deficiency of blood clotting factor IX. Haemophilia is a lifetime condition which has no exact cure but can be managed by treatment. Haemophilia is a hereditary disorder which is mostly seen in men but is also observed in women sometimes if they carry the gene.

Symptoms of Haemophilia
Symptoms of haemophilia can vary depending on the severity of the disease. In most of the cases, bleeding is the common symptom of haemophilia. Sometimes, haemophilia causes internal bleeding which if left untreated can cause joint pains. There are some other general symptoms seen in people suffering from haemophilia. They are listed here.

1. Bleeding through the nose
2. Bruising
3. Bleeding seen in faeces or urine
4. Continuous bleeding when removal of tooth, surgery and when injured
5. Unprompted bleeding
6. Bleeding seen in joints which lead to swelling and pain
7. Bleeding seen in urinary and gastrointestinal tracts

In some cases, internal bleeding happens in the brain which may come into notice during an injury. Such type of internal bleeding can be detected by the following symptoms.

1. A severe headache
2. Drowsiness
3. Neck pain
4. Severe stiffness in the body
5. Abrupt weakness
6. Problems in walking

Treatment for Haemophilia
The standard treatment of haemophilia involves mainly in replacement of missing clotting factor. As haemophilia is caused due to deficiency of factor VIII, the treatment involves the injection of factor VIII concentrates into the body which can be identified depending on the severity of bleeding, the site of bleeding and the age of the patient. Depending on the seriousness of the disease, factor VIII concentrates are given to the patient before going for surgery or dental extractions. This can help in preventing the bleeding.

As haemophilia is a hereditary disease, it is advisable to concentrate on prevention rather than cure of the disease. In order to prevent the disease, it is wise to undergo a genetic counselling. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The lifestyle we lead plays an important role. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important to overcome many diseases as it helps in bringing the blood pressure to normal and in turn reduce the risks of diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. Factors like smoking, diet, stress and sedentary lifestyle can lead to hypertension and diabetes. Hypertension is known as silent killer as it is symptomless.

There are various traditional medicines known to lower the blood pressure. Also, there are certain herbs that help in controlling blood pressure and preventing other diseases.

Some of these herbs are:

1. Basil: This herb has a strong aroma and can be used in the preparation of many foods. It also helps in lowering the blood pressure, though for a brief time. Adding freshly chopped or torn basil to soups, salads, pastas and casseroles not only enhance the taste but are also beneficial for health.
2. Cinnamon: This herb requires some effort to add in the diet, but is helpful in maintain the blood pressure. Diabetic people should have cinnamon everyday in some or the other way. Cinnamon can be included by sprinkling over cereals, oats, coffee, stews and curries.
3. Cardamom: Cardamom if consumed daily can be helpful in bringing down blood pressure and in turn controlling hypertension and diabetes. Cardamom is very popular in South Asia, the seeds can be powdered and used in stews, soups or baking. It not only has an enhanced flavor but is also packed with numerous health benefits.
4. Flaxseed: This is very rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to lower the blood pressure and also protect the body against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They are known for reducing cholesterol levels, and improving glucose tolerance thus acting as antioxidant. Flaxseeds can be added in smoothies and soups or baked goods.
5. Garlic: Garlic often synonymous with bad breath and pungent seasoning has immense health benefits. It dilates and relaxes the blood vessels allowing the blood to flow freely and in turn reduces the blood pressure. 
6. Ginger: Adding ginger to the diet helps to control the blood pressure. It relaxes the blood vessels and improves the circulation of the blood. Ginger can be used in sweets, savories and beverages and is very common in Asian food.
7. Celery Seed: This is a diuretic and in China it is used to treat hypertension. This can be used to flavor stews, soups, savory dishes and casseroles. Both the seeds and the plant have various benefits and uses of their own.
8. Hawthorn: This herb is used to treat high blood pressure in China. Decoctions of the herb have health benefits such as reduction of blood pressure, controlling hypertension and blood circulation.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

A quite serious bacterial infection, diphtheria is caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheria. It usually tends to affect the throat and the mouth of an affected person, although there are other varieties which can infect your skin as well. However, the most common cases of diphtheria affect the throat and the mouth. 

Symptoms of diphtheria in general
It may take up to five days for symptoms to show up when you are infected with the disease. Some of the symptoms would be:

1. You neck would swell up due to swelling in the lymph nodes, especially in the neck
2. Your throat and tonsils will develop a thick grayish membrane 
3. Your throat may become sore and hoarse
4. You may face difficulty in breathing, depending on the size of the membrane and the resultant inflammation
5. You may have difficulty swallowing as well

These are the primary symptoms which will affect your throat in general. Some of the other symptoms that may show up are:

1. Fever
2. Nasal discharge
3. Malaise or a general feeling of discomfort 
4. Chills

The parts of your body, which are affected the most tend to be your throat, tongue and the neck. The pain tends to persist for quite some time as you recover.

Causes of diphtheria 
Diphtheria is usually spread by the following methods

1. Airborne droplets: This is possibly the most common method of contracting the disease. This usually happens when a person is infected with diphtheria coughs or sneezes around you. The airborne droplets then travel from one person to another, transmitting the infection. This is particularly the case in crowded area such as public transport and public spaces.
2. Touching personal items which may be infected: Touching used towels, paper tissues or drinking from an unwashed glass may cause an infection as well. These tend to happen mostly in an indoor setting such as offices and houses. Even toys, door and equipment handles can cause transmission of this virus. 

If you are showing any of these symptoms, it is prudent to go visit your doctor immediately as diphtheria, if left untreated, may also result in serious complications.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The best ways to look after your heart is with a healthy lifestyle.

• Be smoke-free
• Be physically active
• Look after your mental health
• Manage your blood cholesterol
• Manage diabetes
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Enjoy a variety of nutritious foods

These are the basic and easy steps which you can follow to maintain a healthy life. In round the clock atleast reserve 45 minutes for you health, still you have 23.15 hours a day for all other activities. Just think over it.

Paan which is prepared using tender green betel leaf and areca nut is very popular and widely consumed in many countries of South and South East Asia such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. There are many variations to the preparation, some might contain tobacco, slaked lime paste also known as choona and a paste that is known as kattha which is a breath freshener.

The betel leaves used to make paan have a range of healing and curative benefits. The leaves contain vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, vitamin C and many more. Chewing paan can, therefore, have a good impact on your health.

1. Digestive Health: The chewing action when consuming paan helps to stimulate the salivary glands. This causes the secretion of saliva which contains the enzymes necessary to ensure that the food is properly broken down. This aids in a good digestion. Betel leaves are also very effective in relieving constipation. The extract of these leaves also have good gastro-protective properties and can, therefore, be used for treating gastric ulcers.
2. Oral Health: The various variations or ingredients of paan such as the addition of cloves or fennel work as a mouth freshener. The betel leaf too helps to reduce or get rid of bacteria that cause bad breath. Chewing paan maintains ascorbic acid levels in saliva which can prevent and lower the risk of oral cancer. Ascorbic acid is an antioxidant which works to reduce the levels of free radicals in the body, this prevents cancer.
3. Treatment for warts and boils: In the practice of ayurvedic medicine in India, betel leaves have been used as a cure for warts and boils. Treatments using betel leaves can permanently remove a wart without any scars. Therefore chewing betel leaves can help to cure and prevent boils and warts from forming in the mouth and other parts of the body.
4. Treatment for common ailments: The analgesic properties of the betel leaf has made it very popular in traditional medicinal remedies in India for various ailments such as cough, headache and in the treatment of small cuts and wounds. The slight bitter taste of the leaf has an anti-diabetic property and can be used to control blood sugar levels.
5. Treatment for skin disorders: The antimicrobial properties of the betel leaf make it a good natural treatment option for skin disorders such as rashes, acne, itching and body odours.

As with all things chewing paan can be both good but excess of the same can be bad. The health benefits of chewing paan are not widely known and they can be further enhanced by using ingredients that are good for your health. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a General Physician.

Along with food, the structure of a restaurant is also influenced by trends. One of the most popular types of restaurants and bars today is the rooftop restaurants or bars. Given the concrete jungles our cities have become, the idea of eating a meal under the stars seems more appealing than in a closed room. However, do you know the other side of this idyllic picture?

1. Playing I Spy: The lighting in most rooftop restaurants is dimmed. While this may seem romantic and cozy, it interferes with how well you can see your food. When you can’t see your food well, you cannot pay attention to how fresh a salad may be and what you are really eating. In contrast to this, eating in a normal restaurant with good lighting allows you to enjoy your evening out and see what you’re eating as well.
2. The great outdoors: Getting fresh air is great but in cities, our air isn’t really that fresh. When you eat out at a rooftop restaurant, you are unwittingly breathing in exhaust fumes and smoke from the surrounding area. Rooftop restaurants also do not stop smokers and hence you may be unknowingly breathing in second-hand smoke.
3. Breeding area for mosquitoes: Since a rooftop restaurant does not have a roof or walls, insects may also find their way to your table. Mosquitoes in cities are a menace and eating at a rooftop restaurant is akin to inviting them to a feast.
4. Exposure to pollution: Restaurants with all their walls and ceiling typically have air conditioning. This not only keeps the air cool but also filters air thereby protecting you from the outside pollution to a certain extent. The walls and roof also act as barriers for insects and small animals thereby allowing you to enjoy your meal in peace.
5. Lowered nutrition: The cost of eating out isn’t just in terms of money. This food is usually not as healthy and nutritious as the home made food. When you eat out, you have no idea what quality ingredients are being used to prepare your meal and how well they have been cleaned. Thus, you are also paying for it with ill health and decreased nutrition. Additionally, the food served in a restaurant may not always be fresh. Given the dim lighting, you may not realize this until your stomach gets upset.

So, try limiting your rooftop meals and prevent yourself against the dangers lurking in the shadows! Consult an expert & get answers to your questions!