Bronchitis and Asthma How can I know what exactly my problem is?

Bronchitis and Asthma are two common medical conditions related to our respiratory system and as most people find them quite confusing, today we thought of discussing those separately to give you a clear understanding on which is which.

Respiratory health hurdle

There are always many health hurdles to clear. Days set aside in the world to remind citizens of maladies is a great way to raise awareness against them. World Pneumonia Day falls on November 12, reminding us to strengthen our guard against Pneumonia. If medical attention is sought on time,

The evolution of Gigivitis

Many of us ignore the pain we feel in our jaw, striking it off as a toothache. we regard this as a trivial problem. But this ‘trivial’ problem could worsen as you continue to ignoring it. This is how people develop periodontitis. Speaking to the Health Capsule Dr. Vipula Wickramasinghe, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Dental Association and Regional Dental Surgeon of the Colombo District, explained that the most common reason for t

Tackling child obesity in a developing world

The world around us is developing rapidly, and this advancement sometimes comes at a cost. Obesity results from a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy diet. These two factors are a huge drawback in a country’s progress, especially with low and middle income countries. Obesity is a worrying condition 

Breastfeeding at least two months tied to lower SIDSSIDS risk

Babies who are breastfed for at least two months may have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) during sleep than babies who aren’t nursed as long, a research review suggests.   

The small sting that’s a potential lifesaver

The community has been abuzz with the topic of a new vaccine added to the immunization programme this year. Known as the HPV vaccine, this little vial of fluid brings along many questions to the parents who are concerned about the need and the safety of the vaccine. This is why Health 

What to do following a nervous breakdown

The world we are living in is advancing rapidly. As a result the majority of us find it difficult to survive in this fast moving world owing to the competition that exists.   

Recognizing Postpartum Depression

There is a huge stigma associated with the topics related to mental illnesses in Sri Lanka. One of these mental illnesses is Postpartum  Depression. Patients don’t recognize treatment for Postpartum Depression as important. This can negatively impact the health of both the mother and the baby. 

Myth Buster

MYTH: There’s nothing you can do to prevent vision loss 

Preventing poisoning accidents at home

Household poisoning is viewed as a global crisis. The elderly in modern Sri Lanka get hospitalized mostly by poisoning themselves. The young generation experiences poisoning due to individuals being unable to deal with life’s pressing issues. According to the records that reveal the number of hospitalizations due to poisoning, the highest number of such cases involve children who mistakenly poison themselves. This article emphasizes on the

A cataract catastrophe

Cataracts have become a common issue that deteriorates the quality of vision. This is especially common in the elderly as the cataract formation probability increases with age. Dr. M. Wijetunge, retired Consultant Eye Surgeon of the Ragama Teaching Hospital, clarified on what cataracts are and answered many questions that are raised at forums with regard to this condition in the eyes. 

Cow’s milk protein allergy on the rise

Baby milk formula has been a true facilitator to working mothers, mothers who are unable to produce breast milk and adoptive parents. However, there has been a rise in the number of babies receiving allergies due to the frictional proteins found in cow’s milk. This entity is called cow’s milk protein 

Women have many treatment options for urinary incontinence

(Reuters Health) - Roughly half of adult women may experience urinary incontinence, but few of them get diagnosed and treated despite a wide range of options to address the problem, doctors say.   

Individualized diets may help ease irritable bowel syndrome

(Reuters Health) - People struggling with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) might do better on an individualized diet, a recent study suggests.   

Strokes can be prevented only if you know!

Out of the population of 21 million in the country, there are 200,000 who have survived strokes. Strokes are a serious threat to the quality of health and a severe medical malady. As world Stroke Day is around the corner (October 29),

Learn about Nephrotic Syndrome in children

Ever heard of the term Nephrotic Syndrome? Even if you haven’t, you might be familiar with a disease where small children lose protein with their urine. This condition requires them to be hospitalized and be on long term drugs. If you notice such symptoms it’s likely that you have Nephrotic Syndrome. The reason that this condition demands attention is because it makes the child more susceptible to certain infections. In addition, in r

When you let the cavity erode your tooth

Almost everybody has experienced cavities and other aches and pains that originate from the mouth. You usually think that it’s a trivial matter and you’ll pay a visit to the dentist to have it checked. But what happens when you ignore the pain in your mouth and allow the cavity to progress deeper into your tooth? The Health Capsule spoke to Dr. Vipula Wickramasinghe, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Dental Association and Regional D

Hidden threats of antibiotics

  Powerful antibiotics are prescribed for trivial illnesses. Some doctors love to cure their patients fast to maintain a high profile in the medical profession. They prescribe powerful antibiotics for children as well. The long - term effect of this is that those children develop the “resistance” to antibiotics. This leads to the condition where more powerful medicines have to be prescribed to cure the simplest of diseases. 

Ondine’s Curse and Respiratory Physiology

Each and every organ in our body needs energy to function. The process of generating energy in humans requires Oxygen, and generates Carbon Dioxide as a waste product. Blood collects this 

Myth Buster

MYTH: You shouldn’t stand near a fire when wearing contact lenses because they can melt into your eyes.  

All you need to know about Hepatitis

Hepatitis in general is an inflammation of the liver which can either be self-limiting or proceeds to fibrosis or scarring, liver cirrhosis or malignancy.  

HEALTHY POSTURE

Physical exercise

The world is moving faster than we ever expected, so is the spread of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. If not for various pharmaceutical compositions, introduced targeting pathogenic culprits, we wouldn’t be standing steady because illnesses would have taken control over us. This has always happened where preventive measures haven’t been effectively carried out. Invasive miscreants have the potential to rise up and sur

Get your protein intake right

Proteins are an essential component of a balanced diet. Proteins play a vital role in maintaining a healthy life. Dr. Kosala Karunaratna, Consultant Paediatrician of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Colombo, in this issue of ‘Health Capsule’ discusses the significance of proteins with regard to our health.  

Eczema The itchy rash on your skin

Eczema is a medical condition where inflammation and redness occurs in the outermost layer of the skin. It is also known as dermatitis. Speaking to Dr. Nayani Madarasinghe, Consultant Dermatologist, the Health Capsule learned that although eczema isn’t a curable medical condition it can be managed with proper treatment and isn’t a contagious disease. Dr. Madarasinghe further emphasized about the different types of eczema, the symptoms

Tests showing low egg reserves not linked to infertility

(Reuters Health) - Lab tests showing that women have low reserves of eggs in their ovaries may not necessarily mean they will struggle to get pregnant, a U.S. study suggests.  

How to tackle constipation

Every single person at one time or another have experienced the uncomfortable condition called constipation. Constipation is especially a frequent complaint among elders. In addition, this condition is becoming increasingly common among the younger population due to the sedentary lifestyle most of them are leading. Constipation is preventable and can be treated with lifestyle changes. In addition this condition can also be a warning sign for a mo

A glimpse of Anatomy: The upper limb

The subject of anatomy is a necessary evil when studying medicine. This is because in order for the illness to be diagnosed, you need to identify exactly where the problem lies. That is why the first and second year medical students spend hours poring over the exact pathways of the vessels and nerves, 

Myth Buster

MYTH: Crossing your eyes can make them stay like that   BUSTED: “Nothing will happen when you do that. When you are younger you have the ability to see very close and focus on closer objects, but gradually as we age we lose that ability. Adults might not be able to see things closely, but children can see objects close to their eyes. They can see them very clearly. That is called accommodation and with age they lose that accommoda

The importance of proper Footwear

The feet don’t receive enough attention compared to other body parts of the that we generally put out on display. Sometimes I am tempted to inquire from patients whether their feet receive one tenth of attention compared to their faces or hair? Hence it is no wonder that most feet I see are in ‘bad shape’.