Diwan Sandeep Madhusudan

Measures to be taken before surgery for fast recovery from Abdominal Surgery.

Ancillary measures

1. Take regular walks several times daily to prevent blood clots and help the bowels moving.
2. Avoid climbing the stairs every day, at least for the first ten days. 
3. Avoid strenuous exercise such as lifting, carrying, pulling, or moving heavy objects (more than 5 pounds) until your surgeon advises as it may open the sutures due to pressure. Avoid lifting anything over a certain weight for at least six weeks after your operation.
4. Maintaining a good posture will help your wound heal correctly. Use a comfortable pillow while sitting to give rest to the operated site.
5. Take good sleep and proper rest for a quick recovery as most of the repair and healing occurs during sleep.
6. Avoid straining with bowel movements by eating a high-fiber diet or taking stool softeners to avoid constipation.
7. An abdominal binder can also help with the recovery process. These help keep everything in place and can decrease the possibility of a hernia.
8. A gradual return to work may be advised because sudden resume to work may cause opening of sutures and delay the process of healing.
9. Use table that easily wheels away from the bed but can also straddle the bed. This will allow you to read, use the computer, and eat without putting any pressure on your stomach or twisting around.
10. Cough and sneeze carefully by applying pressure to the incision with your hands or a pillow to avoid reopening of the surgical incision.
11. Improper dressing or not maintaining hygiene during dressing and keeping dressing unchanged for a longer period of time may lead to infection which may cause delayed healing. Thus, in order to prevent this a gentle wash with soap and water is required to avoid infection.

Dietary measures

1. A protein-rich diet should be consumed in order to hasten wound healing.
2. Have a liquid diet with lots of vitamins as vitamin C and zinc help with healing. Also, include B12 and Iron – as both aid bone marrow in forming new blood cells.
3. Intake of Fiber and probiotics help boost the immune system and also keeps your digestive tract moving along.
4. Have plenty of water-this will help the recovery process and removal of toxins from the body.
5. Try sitting in the sunlight as it will help with getting some extra Vitamin D.
6. Keep control over sugar levels if you are diabetic as increased levels of sugar in the blood helps bacteria to grow rapidly. This will further lead to infection and delay the process of healing.

Ergonomics to prevent body pain With a constant increase in the use of computers, desk jobs are becoming more and more common in the current job trends. Individuals are confined to their cubicles and it becomes customary to spend 8 to 10 hours daily on an average seated on the chair.

This trend of desk jobs has rendered the routine human lifestyle to become sedentary and thus, a rise in health issues has been observed. Right from metabolic diseases to posture related problems, various diseases and disorders are affecting the world population. Body pain is one of the most common problems that people suffer from.

Although pain can be very discomforting and can be considered as a negative symptom, it is a kind of a signal body gives us at the start of any health issue.

Etiological factors like lack of an active lifestyle, tedious working hours, improper posture, and lack of adequate rest are triggers for body pain. The symptom of body ache is no longer associated only with the older age group, since the working community belongs to a middle aged group. Young people tend to suffer from chronic back pain since their work routine involves long hours of sitting at a single place, without many breaks. Also, people undergoing strenuous work hours become a target for chronic body pain.

To overcome this health problem, certain simple measures can be undertaken for prevention. The term ergonomics suggests the interaction of the environment with the occupation of the person. Management and adaptability to the environment with respect to the health concerns of the working professionals is looked after in ergonomics which ensures an enhancement in the quality of life for the workforce in a working environment.

The goals of ergonomics can be enlisted as follows –

1. Work related illness should be prevented

2. Workplace productivity should be increased

3. Quality of work should be improved

4. Work environment should not be detrimental to the physical as well as mental health of the working professionals.

Work ergonomics that are beneficial for people employed at a desk job are as follows:

1. The desktop should be placed at the distance of an arm’s length. Eye level of the operator should be at the apex level of the desktop’s screen.

2. Arms should be allowed to move freely and be able to rest on the arm rest of the chair.

3. Shrugging of the shoulders should be avoided.

4. Back rest of the chair should be used for support. The back rest of the chair should be present up to the shoulder and should be designed in a way that it is angled at a right angle to the sitting surface.

5. A convexity should be present in the lower back area of the chair for better support while sitting.

6. The chair height should be adjusted in a way that the knees form a right angle. Feet should touch the floor and not dangle in the air.

7. During typing or while using the computer’s mouse, wrist should be kept at a neutral position.

8. Back posture should be checked every hour and corrected if faulty.

9. A small break of 5-10 minutes should be taken at an interval of 2-3 hours to change position. Walking around and stretching the body helps relax the muscles.

10. When a laptop is in use, it should be placed on a stand in a way that the screen is placed in front of the operator’s eyes. To determine whether a person’s posture is correct or not, a physical therapist can be consulted. Maintaining a correct posture is very important to avoid suffering from a back ache.

People who suffer from conditions affecting the spine should seek expert opinion for maintaining their posture and avoiding spine related complications. The postural muscles play an important role in maintaining the body’s posture for long hours. Exercises that are targeting to enhance the strength of these muscles can help to build up adequate muscle strength.

Most women attain menopause between the ages of late 40s and early 60s, the average age being about 51. This is an important milestone in a women's gynecological history. One major change is altered female hormone levels, and this leads to a lot of physiological changes. From hot flashes to mood swings, there is also increased predisposition to osteoporosis and uterine cancer.

If you have not had your menstrual cycles for close to 12 months, chances are you are into menopause. So, that means absolutely no vaginal bleeding anymore whatsoever. However, if you experience bleeding, even spotting, be on the alert. It is not normal and needs to be examined, and if required, diagnosed and treated.

Postmenopausal bleeding or PMB, as it is popularly called, can be due to a variety of reasons. While it could be something as trivial as inflammation of the uterine or vaginal lining, it could also be an indication of more severe issues like cancer.

• Atrophic vaginitis: Decreasing hormonal levels lead to increased dryness and therefore inflammation of the vaginal and uterine tissue. This is one of the common causes of bleeding after menopause.
• Endometrial atrophy: Also caused by lower hormone levels, the lining of the body of the uterus gradually thins down and can get inflamed.
• Polyps: Noncancerous growths in the uterus, cervix, vulva, or vagina can also lead to bleeding.
• Infections: General infection of any area along the uterine tract could lead to occasional bleeding.
• Cancers: Though only 1 in 10 PMB cases turn out to be cancers, the prognosis improves with early diagnosis and intervention.

Diagnosis: As repeated above, reach out to your doctor if you notice postmenopausal bleeding. Diagnostic methods could include the following:

1. Physical examination
2. Transvaginal ultrasound
3. Endometrial biopsy
4. Hysteroscopy
5. Dilatation and Curettage

Treatment: Needless to say, this would depend on the diagnosis. For very minor cases with diagnosis like altered hormone levels, no treatment may be required other than modification of the hormone replacement therapy. For endometrial atrophy and atrophic vaginitis, use of estrogen creams and pessaries would be sufficient. Polyps would require removal followed by cauterization (application of slight heat) to stop the bleeding.

Cancer: This would depend on the type and location and require a combination of chemotherapy and surgery.  Removal of the uterus also may be required in some cases. So, if you have had bleeding of any sort after a year of menopause, do not ignore it.

Is your male reproductive organ is small? Is it the cause of embarrassment to you? Does the small size affects your love life? The penis is indeed one of the most important organs of a man’s body, and a strong, healthy penis is a matter of pride for most men in general. A small penis may cause a lot of stress in life and may result in reduced self-confidence or self-esteem. Penis enlargement is carried out by many men all over the world who are not satisfied with the size, length or health of their penis.

There are several ways by which penis enlargement can be conducted. Ayurveda can be used for penis enlargement, and one should consume proper Ayurvedic medicines and practice several exercises. Many men want to have an enlarged penis as it would make women more sexually attracted towards them. An enlarged penis is supposed to make a man more sexually desirable.

Ayurvedic remedies for penis enlargement
In Ayurveda, there are several ways in which you can have an enlarged penis. These include the following:

1. Ayurvedic penis enlargement oil and cream: You may use Ayurvedic oils and creams, which are used especially to benefit penis enlargement. These oils and creams are totally natural and are made from pure Ayurvedic herbs. They are safe for use and have aphrodisiac properties, which help in increasing the penis size and deal with several problems regarding erection. These oils and creams give strength to the penis, resulting in a much harder erection. The ingredients used in these creams and the oils act as stimulants and increase the flow of blood in the penis. They also help in dealing with premature ejaculation (PE).
2. Ayurvedic capsules: You may take Ayurvedic capsules, which help in penis enlargement. The capsules are made of processed Ayurvedic herbs. Being natural, they are considered totally safe for long-term use. These capsules enhance blood circulation in the vessels and cavities of the penis. This enables smooth stretching and relaxation of the penis. The penis size becomes enlarged and these Ayurvedic capsules also cause enhanced libido or sex drive. You will be able to achieve much bigger, stronger and harder erections during sexual activity. You will also be able to maintain an erection for a longer time.
3. Exercises: There are certain exercises which you can practice for having an enlarged penis. Some common and effective exercises associated with Ayurveda for penis enlargement include jelqing andstretching.

Certain Ayuredic home remedies can be used for penis enlargement as well. You can consume a mixture of walnut and honey with milk, a mixture of carrots with milk or carrot juice with honey. No side effects are associated with these Ayurvedic remedies for penis enlargement.

A kidney stone may not be as big as the stones in your garden but can be quite a pain. Kidney stones are actually mineral crystals formed that are usually a combination of calcium and phosphates. The size of a kidney stone ranges from the size of a sugar crystal to a ping pong ball. While some kidney stones pass out of the body with urine, others can block the urethra and become painful. 

In addition to being painful, a kidney stone can cause permanent damage to your kidneys. Since large kidney stones are usually painful, they rarely go undiagnosed. However, if a kidney stone is left untreated, it could cause the kidney to atrophy and lower the functionality of the kidney. Kidney stones that are related to an infection can also lead to chronic urinary tract infections and damage the kidney through scarring and inflammation. This could eventually lead to kidney failure.
 
Not all kidney stones need to be treated with surgery. Of the kidney stone is very small, your doctor may prescribe plenty of water and medication to treat the pain. With plenty of water, you should be able to pass the stone in your urine. Ideally, you should take plenty of rest until the stone is passed. 

 Larger kidney stones may need you to be hospitalized for treatment. These are:

-   Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL)
To begin this form of treatment, a painkiller is administered. Ultrasonic waves are used to determine the location of the kidney stone. Shock waves are then passed though the kidney stone to break it into smaller pieces. These can then be passed out of the body through urine.

-   Ureteroscopy
This is also called retrograde intrarenal surgery and is performed when the kidney stone is stuck in the ureter. A ureteroscope is passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. Laser energy may then be used to break the stone into smaller pieces to unblock the ureter. 

-   Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
This surgery is performed under general anesthesia.  It involves a small incision being made in the back and a nephroscope passed into the kidney through it. Laser or pneumatic energy is then used to break up the stone into smaller pieces and pull them out. 

-   Open surgery
Open surgery is performed only in the case of an abnormally large stone or abnormal anatomy of the person. An incision is made in the back that allows the doctor to access the kidney and manually remove the stone.
 

Erectile dysfunction refers to the situation when a man has difficulty in getting a firm erection or an erection which is required to achieve sexual penetration. Several cases of erectile dysfunction can cause impotency in men. 

Causes- 

1. Any problem in the blood flow, proper hormone secretion and nervous supply in the body may cause erectile dysfunction. 
2. Erectile dysfunction also happens due to vascular causes along with neurological causes.
3. Arthrosclerosis is a disease which often leads to erectile dysfunction. This disease is most commonly caused by smoking and diabetes. The arteries to the penis become narrow and clogged and erectile dysfunction occurs. 
4. Neuropathy caused due to diabetes, known as diabetic neuropathy, is a primary neurological cause of erectile dysfunction. Nerve damage on account of surgery around the pelvis area may also lead to erectile dysfunction. 
5. High blood pressure or hypertension damages arteries all over the vascular system. Blood flow is impaired and proper erection is prohibited, which signifies erectile dysfunction. 

Erectile dysfunction also happens due to physical causes such as: 

1. High cholesterol and obesity. 
2. Parkinsons disease and multiple cases of sclerosis. 
3. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and substance abuse. 
4. Disorder in anatomy or structure of the penis. 
5. Surgical complications. 
6. Several prescribed medicines may lead to erectile dysfunction because of reactions and side effects. 

Erectile dysfunction may also result due to several psychological causes: 

1. Depression makes a person uninterested in sex due to lower libido and may cause erectile dysfunction. 
2. A large amount of stress, fear, tension or anxiety may also lead to erectile dysfunction. 
3. Many men suffer from performance anxiety and feelings of sexual failure. This may result in erectile dysfunction. 
4. Poor communication with a partner or pressure from partner regarding sex may also cause erectile dysfunction. 

Point to be noted – 
Among all the causes, the psychological cause (i.e. anxiety, depression, fear of performance, low confidence etc.) is the most common and important cause in young individuals between 20 to 50 years of age group. These psychological reasons affect the trigger release of hormones responsible for erection. 

Role of Homeopathic medicines in Erectile Dysfunction- 
Homoeopathic medicine has the great ability to treat psychological causes because the medicine selected is on the basis of person cognitive ability, his personality, thinking, mood & behavior. Apart from the psychological cause, homeopathic medicine can cure various pathological reasons like high cholesterol level, diabetes, poor blood flow.