International Infection Prevention Week Prevention better than cure

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPV) falls onto the 3rd week of October annually. According to the World Health Organization, infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in developing countries and the second major cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases. 

A fun way to keep legs and feet strong

The feet and legs are as important as every other part of our body. But do we take enough care of our feet? In most instances our feet are neglected to the point that as we age we become less stable and the legs become weak. This is why regular exercises and exercises especially aimed at the feet, ankles and the lower feet are important.   

Does vision struggle darken a child’s future ?

The health of children is a key factor which determines their outcome in childhood achievements, which form the foundation for a successful future. Good vision is perhaps the most important parametre in all health indices which helps a child in not only academic activities, but also in extra curricular activities; for example sports. 

Are you suffering from pain outlasting periods?

Periods! This is yet another name for ‘pain’ in some of us women which can be awful enough to take 3-5 beautiful days off a month, due to discomfort and pain. Most of us with such unbearable features during periods would just lie on a bed, doing nothing-which in turn would affect the productivity of our lifestyles, efficiency and thus the overall quality of life.  

Youth must make themselves the priority

Exams, assignment submissions, work stress and parental conflicts are some of the external challenges experienced during youth and adolescent phases in life. While some may look at it as a matter of being organised, living the life of a youth is much more than these involvements.

Start working out now!

Overweight and obesity have become two terms of major concern not only due to their effects on one’s outer appearance, but the potential they have in giving rise to hundred and one negative consequences which are related to health. This is of course if you don’t understand and managed these issues properly.

Early symptoms of cancer

Previously I have explained why early detection of cancer can significantly improve the chances of a complete cure. Today I will discuss early symptoms and signs of some common cancers which we can keep a lookout for.  

Knowing your blood report

Many decades ago, only a handful of laboratory investigations were available to diagnose diseases or to support the diagnosis of even critical diseases. Even those few tests had many limitations due to inaccuracies, human errors and limited research. Fortunately, we live in  the 21st Century where the world is flooded with medical laboratory tests which can interpret the body’s illnesses with much higher accuracy and precision. 

Frequently asked questions about cancer

The human body comprises millions of cells. In a healthy person these cells grow, divide, form new cells and die in a controlled manner. However due to environmental factors, diet, genetics or simply due to random chance, this control can be lost in some of the cells. This will result in the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells which can not only outlive their ‘normal’ counterparts, but also divide much faster. When this occurs in a

The ultimate cure for knee pain

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis affecting millions of people worldwide. Rheumatoid arthritis will have a similar effect on the knees, but to a lesser extent. The disease process will damage inner lining of the bone within the joint, changing its surface from smooth to rough.

Three promises to prevent heart attacks

Juggling between work, family and personal life? Well, it may be a daily struggle for some with added amounts of stress. Stress accompanies unhealthy changes in lifestyle,

Learn how to treat migraine

Migraine is a neurological condition that affects many in Sri Lanka. It has multiple symptoms, but it is frequently characterised by intense, debilitating headaches   In an interview with the Health Capsule Dr. Bimsara Senanayake, Consultant Neurologist of the National Hospital, elaborated more about the condition.   

Pneumonia Dreaded malady of lungs

How many times during your childhood have you heard the phrase, ‘child, don’t get wet, you’ll end up with pneumonia!”. Pneumonia is one of the diseases that all of us fear and this concern is justifiable considering the significant morbidity and mortality associated with it.   

An Existence from moment to moment

Once in a while, you tend to misplace your keys, forget about a cup of tea until it’s gone cold or even completely forget about what day of the week it is. But what if one day you’re unable to recall your last meal, or simply fail to recognise a family member? For a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, this would be the harsh reality he or she is forced to live with. 

Knowing your blood report

Blood tests have become such an integral part of disease diagnosis and treatment process that when you go to a doctor, more often than not, you are asked to obtain a blood report related to your condition. That’s why we decided to bring you a series of articles to provide information regarding blood tests; ordered commonly. Dr. K.A.C. Wickramaratne, Consultant Haematologist, Senior Lecturer in Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of R

All you need to know about Appendicitis

It’s not unusual for many of us to get stomach aches from time to time; often due to the ingestion of contaminated food, usually prepared outside one’s own dwelling. Commonly associated with fever, loose stools and episodes of vomiting, gastroenteritis is not too difficult to recognise. However, do you remember a time where you got a tummy pain on the right side or a pain around the belly button and this happening despite not eating f

What you should know about a stroke

We are constantly entangled in our busy lifestyles that we often forget to have some time for ourselves. Indulging in a healthy meal, taking some time off to warm up your body or to relax your mind have become challenging tasks. In fact, we don’t bother about these lifestyle goals at all. As a result, people may develop unhealthy habits such as drinking or smoking. But have you ever thought what would happen if you are paralysed all of a su

Treating excessive vaginal bleeding

In this week’s Health Capsule we take a closer look at vaginal bleeding. 

Taking a close look at this cosmetic abnormality

Congenital anomalies are abnormalities that occur from the time of birth itself. Many of them happen due to a slight misstep in the normal, yet extremely intricate pathway of embryo formation where a single cell evolves into a complex human being.   

Facial scars can be removed permanently

The face is a very important organ in the human body. Maintaining a beautiful face becomes increasingly important with the development of the social status of a country. The face is the main organ involved with social relationships and it contributes a lot to one’s personality. In an interview with Health Capsule, Dr. A. Shashanka Rathnayake, Consultant Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon Teaching Hospital - Kandy shared his knowledge with

Preventing premature heart attacks

It is not uncommon to observe heart attacks in relatively young diabetic patients in our country. By young the author implies those who are less than 60 years of age. Some of them are company executives while the others are professionals and include even doctors. These patients are in the 

Of blood groups, pregnancy and mothers

I’m sure that most of our readers, who are up-to-date about health issues, are aware that in addition to grouping blood as A, B, AB and O, they are further categorized into Rh groups, as Rh positive or Rh negative. But did you know that Rh negative mothers who have Rh positive babies experience a phenomenon that is called ‘Rh incompatibility’ during their pregnancy?

Ayurvedic cure for premature grey hair

Having had a few grey strands of hair is a common experience for most of us, at some point in our lives. Ageing is a natural process for human beings, but seeing grey hair gives us the feeling that world would end. 

Is your thyroid gland playing up?

Are you gaining weight and feeling unable to concentrate? Then it could be a problem with that little gland in your neck. Located above the Adam’s apple, the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormone which regulates, among other things, your body’s temperature, metabolism, and heartbeat.

The cellulitis conundrum

The proper and timely treatment of a patient possesses potentially lifesaving benefits. In tandem, with the advancements in science & technology pertaining to the field of medicine, wondrous miracles have been performed during the past few decades. However the number of individuals receiving treatment due to Cellulitis continues to rise. 

The ‘Yellowing’ that is a ‘red light’

If you have ever visited a newborn baby unit, you would have seen some babies kept under special devices emitting a blue light. You may have heard that this is a form of treatment for a condition called neonatal jaundice. Not only does neonatal jaundice rank high among the complications occurring in newborn babies, it has the potential to cause significant adverse effects later in life

Taking a close look at a painful lump on your kid’s breast

As parents your most valuable asset would be your children and there is no doubt about the fact that you won’t be reluctant to go out of the way at times to ensure the topmost happiness for them. Seeing your child sick would be one of the most devastating moments in your life and satisfactory health care facilities with expert medical advice would be highly comforting and reassuring at such times.

For those who’ve just got pregnant

Now that you are expecting your precious gift on the way, taking good care of yourself is more important than ever. That’s because making healthy lifestyle choices can directly impact the health of your growing baby. Unless you are exposed to pregnancy complication risks and your doctor tells you to, you don’t have to completely overhaul your lifestyle. Instead, you only have to make simple 

Preventing kidney function failures

Every single cell, tissue and organ leads to the organisation of various vital body systems that ensure proper functioning of the human body. A discrepancy in one organ could lead to the collapse of the body system thereby affecting the functioning of the human body as a whole. A dysfunctional organ  brings about the domino effect, 

Treating varicose veins with laser treatment

‘Varicose veins’ is a common condition which mainly presents in middle aged females and if neglected may lead to complications. With the advancement of medical technology LASER treatment is successfully used to cure this condition. To shed light on the topic we spoke to Dr. Charith Weerasinghe Consultant Vascular and Transplant Surgeon attached to the Teaching Hospital, Kandy.