Migraine or headache, how do we know?

Headache is a very common yet unpleasant term we come across in our day today conversations. The severity of it might not keep us away from our daily lifestyle. Yet some headaches can be really torturing and could make us remain in bed, doing nothing.  

Steps to be taken to prevent accidents

Accidents have been recognized as the leading cause of the most numbers of hospitalizations in Sri Lanka. Accidents also account for so many deaths and lifelong disabilities. Millions of people meet with accidents ,  are hospitalized and receive treatment as in-house  patients each year. According to statistics,  the number of people affected by accidents annually is around four million. When data is carefully observed it is obviou

Case of the Phantom Limb

Today, in our mission to take our reader through the obscure pathways in medicine, which lead to quite fascinating destinations, but remain mostly unexplored by the layman, we are exploring the subject of ‘Phantom Limb’.   

Surpassing coronary complications with bypass surgeries

With the ascending number of patients suffering from coronary complications, the need for bypass surgeries has also increased. Though heart surgeries are complicated and serious, if it is done by skilled medical professionals counting years of practice,

Ironing out doubts on Iron Deficiency

It’s very likely that you are familiar with the term ‘Anaemia’. But did you know that approximately 41% of children who are of  pre-school age and 37% of non-pregnant females in the world, according to the WHO, are suffering 

The disease that plagues your gums

Dental hygiene is one of the most important factors that should be maintained when it comes to personal health. There are a variety of illnesses and diseases that can cause discomfort and lower the quality of life which originate due to bad dental hygiene. One of these problems is gingivitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gum or the gingiva, which gets inflamed due to certain bacteria.

Child obesity soars tenfold worldwide in 40 years

(Reuters) - The number of obese children and adolescents worldwide has jumped tenfold in the past 40 years and the rise is accelerating in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Asia, a major study said this week.  

How to plan for a good night’s sleep

“Sleep is the golden chain which ties our health and bodies together”-Thomas Dekker, 1602 Sleep plays an essential part in our daily routine. After a long day we all crave to jump into bed and have a good sleep, so that work on the next day could be started off with a relaxed mind and body.

Myth Buster

BUSTED: “No. The problem is when you use the computer for a long period you will experience dry eyes and discomfort, it won’t cause any permanent damage. Sometimes in children, aged two to three years, 

A guide to reduce breast cancer risk

Senior Dietitian Fahma Sunarja at Parkway Cancer Centre talks about how a nutritious diet can help women reduce the risk of breast cancer.  

Spread awareness and save lives...

EACH YEAR, THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS CONSIDERED AS THE WORLD BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH. THIS BEING THE MOST COMMON CANCER AMONG FEMALES 

Vitamin Vitality

For a diet to be a balanced one, it should contain all essential nutrients in the right proportions. These nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, fibres and also water. Vitamins are only needed in small amounts but if a vitamin deficiency occurs, the consequences become a large threat to health. So it is vital that the importance of vitamins is understood. Addressing this matter, Dr. Kosala Karunaratna, Consultant Pa

Curtains Up in the Surgical Theatre

Have you ever had to be under the mercy of a surgeon’s knife? The knowledge that your skin is split apart, the muscle layers separated, ultimately making way into a body cavity is a bit intimidating, even when it’s a ‘minor’ surgery. I was intrigued by the concept when I was around 10 years, when my 

Myth Buster

MYTH: Wearing someone else’s spectacles can damage your eyesight.  

Are You Allergic To Hair Dye ?

Dying or colouring one’s hair has become a normal occurrence among both men an women. Maybe it is to get a new look, to hide your greys or a daring lifestyle change. But how safe are these hair dyes? Do we ever stop to think about the chemicals that are being applied on our hair and what it can do to us? Speaking to the Health Capsule Dr.Nayani Madarasingha, Consultant Dermatologist explained how allergies to hair dyes can occur after repea

Detoxification Decoded

Our body is a place full of amazing activities, taking place in every spur of a second. Not only does it interact with cells, tissues and organs inside the body, but also with various external factors in the environment. The modern day environment is far more different than what we used to have decades back. It is full of toxic substances existing in all three forms; solid, liquid and gas. 

Fixing a frozen shoulder

A very painful shoulder with lots of stiffness and inability to lift the arm above the head might be due to a condition called frozen shoulder. The more complicated medical term given for this is “adhesive capsulitis “ but this name is not used often. There are many reasons for frozen shoulder and also various treatment options available.    

Even a little exercise is good for your heart heart

People with heart disease who are sedentary most of the time may be able to improve their survival odds by getting just a little bit of exercise, a recent study suggests.  

Many adults with diabetes delay insulin therapy

(Reuters Health) - Three in ten adults with type 2 diabetes who need to start taking insulin to lower their blood sugar don’t begin treatment when their doctors tell them to, a recent study suggests.   On average, these patients delay insulin for about two years, researchers report in  Diabetic Medicine.  

The ayurvedic approach to treat fractures

“The ‘paththuwa’ has a therapeutic effect that helps the merging of the broken bones by inducing calcium production and also heals damaged blood vessels,”- Dr. K. A. Nirosha Tharangani, Senior Medical Officer, CMC

The benefits of Palliative Care

Ageing is a wonderful process of nature. We all age on a daily basis and what matters is what you do when you are strong and healthy so that you can be satisfied and relaxed when ageing takes place. 

How to treat Tennis Elbow

You may have come across people who suffer from elbow pain. Some have symptoms without any trigger, where the elbow becomes swollen and painful spontaneously. In others it happens after strenuous activity or sports.

RABIES IN HUMANS DEADLY BUT PREVENTABLE

When your child suffers from diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common problem among children. It’s when one’s bowel movements or stools are loose and watery. Speaking to Dr. Kosala Karunaratne, Consultant Pediatrician, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, 

A glimpse at the body’s blueprints

The level of organisation within the body is so vast that even after much advancements in medicine, scientists are a long way from figuring things out completely. Look at a bowler at a cricket match or a ballerina and try to think of the coordination that is going within their bodies in order to maintain 

Pumping out awareness on preventing CVD

Today, September 29 is the world Heart Day. The theme this year is ‘share the power’.   

Importance of Cardiac Rehabilitation

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease relate to men. 

Hyperlipidemia - The Lipid Factor

“Hyperlipidemia is the medical complication where there is an increase in lipid levels of the blood,”-Prof. Arjuna De Silva, Professor in Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ragama

Let’s see whether you really need a stent for CAD!

There are several investigations carried out to diagnose the presence and extent of CAD. The type of investigation a doctor may choose for this purpose depends on the patient.There are guidelines which help cardiologists make the correct decision. I have summarized a few important ones below.  

Does your breath smell bad ?

Everyone has some time or other wondered if they have bad breath, maybe even let out a breath into their palm to get a quick whiff of it. There are many reasons as to why people have bad breath, which is medically known as halitosis. This condition occurs due to bad oral hygiene and can even be a sign or symptom of another health problem. To enlighten us on this matter the Health Capsule spoke to Dr. Pravna Dunuwille, Dental Surgeon, who spoke ab