How an unhealthy lifestyle aids diverticulitis

(Reuters Health) - Men’s risk for a painful inflammation of colon walls may be drastically reduced if they follow an overall healthy lifestyle, a recent U.S. study suggests.  

Risk of falling can increase when there is Diabetics related eye damage

(Reuters Health) - People with diabetic retinopathy are more likely to fall than diabetics who have not developed vision problems, a study in Singapore suggests.   Among almost 9,500 middle aged and older adults, those with moderate diabetic retinopathy were almost twice as likely as individuals with diabetes but no eye damage to experience falls during the study. Mild retinopathy, meanwhile, was associated with 81% greater odds of fall

Experienced that tightening chest pain?

Angina and Ischemia are two common terms we often come across in the specialized branch of medicine known as Cardiology-study of heart. However, people use these terms interchangeably during many instances due to a lack of clear knowledge about what they refer to.  

Myth Buster

MYTH: If you sprain your ankle you should walk it off for it to heal faster.  

Education ‘aids’ combat this deadly disease

Themed ‘Right to Health’, the World AIDS Day falls today and the World Health Organization is sending a strong message across borders, advocating for the rights of the 36.7 million people living and affected with HIV/AIDS and their right to enjoy universal health coverage. Sri Lanka being a very low prevalence country for HIV and AIDS, nevertheless has an equal responsible role to play in this 

Towards a dignified silver age

There are a few inevitable things in life. Ageing and death are at the foremost among them. Health Capsule last week highlighted the attitude change towards ageing in an effort to make readers embrace old age with enthusiasm, instead of being resigned about the inevitable.   

Whiter teeth bring a brighter smile

Ever wanted that gleaming white picture perfect smile? But your teeth gradually losing its white colour may make you unable to break into that bright smile. The key in maintaining a proper white set of teeth is to follow dental and oral hygiene. But sometimes you may need extra help in achieving that perfect white teeth. That’s when you may consider approaching Teeth Whitening. But your head may 

BMI Keeping a check on your child’s weight

In the current day and age children lead sedentary lifestyles and have more access to fast food, making gaining weight a serious health issue. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation made by taking into account the height and weight of a child. BMI assesses whether or not the child is overweight. 

Saving skin from workout effects

Activities such as walking, jogging and other workouts in the mornings and in the evenings have become part of the daily routines of many. Exposure to the sun and sweating are therefore 

Tied to lower risk of early death for older women

(Reuters Health) - Older women with cataracts who get surgery to treat the eye problem may be less likely to die prematurely than those who don’t get the operations, a recent U.S. study suggests.  

SUGAR IS A SILENT KILLER

Combatting diseases during the cold season

It’s quite common for people to contract influenza throughout the year. But there are particular times of the year when there is an increase in the spread of the disease. Influenza spread rises during the months of November, December and January. This is the time of the year when the onset of seasonal influenza commences. So it’s important that we protect ourselves against it. Dr. Kosala Karunaratna, 

What you should know about dehydration

 In this day and age due to climate change and global warming, we often experience very hot weather when the rainy season is over. The busy lives people lead at present make them forget to have a regular intake of water. This can cause dehydration. According to Prof. Arjuna de Silva, Professor in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama, Dehydration happens when the amount of fluids required by the body to maintain normal functions are inadequa

Screening sportsmen with potential for cardiac arrest

 Screening exams to identify young athletes at risk of cardiac arrest might not be worthwhile, a new study suggests.  Having your heart stop while playing a sport is very unusual, and fewer than 1 in 5 cases of sudden cardiac arrest among competitive amateur athletes would have been predicted by a screening examination, the authors of a study from Canada say.  

Thyroid Problems explained right on time

 Are you one of those people who often experiences fatigue and laziness for no reason despite daily sleep requirements are fulfilled? Do you find it difficult to tolerate cold like never before, wanting to wear sweaters when everybody else is sweating due to hot weather? On the other hand, do you 

Myth Buster

MYTH: You should take antibiotics to stop diarrhea  

Recognising early signs to battle Schizophrenia

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual  of Mental Disorders has thus far elaborated on various psychological conditions, sometimes common and not-so-common among people. One such condition is schizophrenia, which is a challenging disorder that often makes it difficult to distinguish between what is real and unreal, to think clearly, manage emotions, relate to others and function normally.  

Shaping society’s thinking on ‘silver age’

Ageing and death are things that each one of us has to experience, bringing with them their own series of challenges. But if we anticipated these challenges beforehand, and not wait for fate to make decisions for us, we will be able to embrace old age with enthusiasm. This mentality will help reap the fruits of the youth’s labour. We contacted Dr. Dilhar Samaraweera, Consultant Physician at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and the Presid

Living with diabetes

We’ve heard the lamentations of the older generation ‘apey amma muttha kalewath mehema leda thibila na’, (We didn’t have these kind of diseases during our parent’s time), when talking about Diabetes and other non communicable diseases. 

Have the scary blue coloured veins surfaced?

A comfortable & sedentary lifestyle, modern fashion and special postures adopted while performing professional duties have contributed to increased incidence of a set of diseases unheard of in the past. Varicose veins are one of them and is a direct result of a sedentary life style, adopted by modern youth. Varicose veins have become very common at present. According to an estimate, 15 to 20 per cent of the population in our country (India) i

Narcolepsy Dealing with daytime sleep attacks!

Travellers napping is a common sight when using public transport in the morning as well as in the evening. During the rush hours of the day, one or two people in an office doze off during working hours.   

When you need help for a troubled mind

People at present are running in a never-ending rat race, further tensed by persistent competition between each other. All this leads to a tragic struggle between body and mind. During a time like that, experiencing bad phases with mood swings isn’t hard to overcome, especially when you have identified where the issue lies.   

Exercise influences longevity

(Reuters Health) - People with type 1 diabetes who exercise - and the more the better - are less likely to die prematurely than their sedentary counterparts, a recent study suggests.   

Parents shouldn’t expose themselves to hazardous agents Eye tumors in offspring

(Reuters Health) - Parents’ exposure to chemicals at work might be linked to eye cancer in their children, a report from some of the world’s leading childhood cancer experts suggests.   

Myth Buster

BUSTER: “Antibiotics are medications that fight infections, caused by bacteria. A flu is an influenza or virus causing fever. Viruses aren’t affected by antibiotics. They will only have an effect on bacterial infections. In fact it is not good to give antibiotics when there are some symptoms since you can be

Taking a closer look at waterborne diseases

With the rains comes various diseases. Speaking to the Health Capsule Prof. Arjuna de Silva, Professor in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama, explained the different water borne diseases and infections that are commonly present in Sri Lanka. Such diseases can spread due to the 

Don’t allow COPD to obstruct your life!

“People who are COPD patients should understand that it is not the end of the world for them. Pulmonary rehabilitation is available in many hospitals which will help them lead comfortable and better quality lives. Refrain from giving up,”

Facts about Diabetes

The number of people with diabetes has nearly quadrupled since 1980. Prevalence is increasing worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Myth Buster

BUSTED:  “This is definitely a myth. It is one of the biggest tragedies of our time, where a doctor falsified his research and published a paper which stated that autism is caused by the MMR vaccine (measles mumps rubella vaccine). This resulted in many people not taking the vaccine, which led to 

Giving medicine that much needed feminine touch

Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine is one of the most acclaimed international publications in medicine for undergraduates and junior doctors. It’s considered as the bible in the subject of medicine by many Sri Lankan medical students, including this writer.