AHA advisory backs prescription omega-3s for triglycerides

Prescription omega-3 fatty acids — products containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or EPA alone — are an "effective and safe" way to reduce elevated triglyceride levels when used alone or with other lipid-lowering therapy, according to a science advisory from the American Heart Association (AHA) published online August 19 in Circulation. Dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, which are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), should not be used in place of prescription medication for the long-term management of high triglyceride levels. Prescription omega-3 fatty acids at the FDA-approved dose of 4 g/day are safe and are generally well tolerated, the advisory states.

Vedic Fasting

Fasting and starvation are two different terms commonly confused with each other.

Starvation means not eating or drinking altogether, while fasting means control and restrain of five sensory and five motor senses.

During fasting, one may continue eating or drinking but under discipline. Vedic fasting or spiritual fasting is mentioned in Karam Kanda in Yajurveda. Every fast in our mythology has a scientific basis and rituals are added so that the common man can follow it.

Healthcare News Monitor

Bystanders, doctor help Odisha woman deliver baby on roadside

Odishatv- Vikash Sharma

Berhampur: The world is full of good Samaritans who come to the rescue of people in distress from time to time and such stories of humanity are truly inspiring. In one such incident, bystanders and a doctor turned messiah for a pregnant woman who reportedly fell unconscious on road after going into labour pain in Berhampur on Friday. The pregnant woman, identified as K. Parvati of Samantiapali village, had arrived in Berhampur in a bus to conduct an ultrasound test and went into labour pain at around 9 AM today. As Parvati was not accompanied by her family members when her condition deteriorated, a group of passersby and staff of a diagnostic centre rushed to the spot after seeing her in trouble. However, it was only after Dr. Smruti Ranjan Patnaik reached the spot, steps were initiated to conduct the delivery on the road itself. “I was coming to the hospital when I saw crowd on the road. Later, with the help of some staff of a diagnostic centre, we conducted the delivery and later shifted the woman and her newborn to MKCG hospital. The condition of the woman and her baby is stable,” said Patnaik. “The pregnant woman alighted from the bus and her labour pain started. Later, some staff of diagnostic center and some doctors of MKCG assisted the woman in delivery,” said an eye-witness.

Indian packaged foods least healthy in world: survey

LiveMint- Neetu Chandra Sharma

New Delhi: Packaged food in India has been ranked lowest in terms of its healthiness in a major global survey of packaged foods and drinks, according to a global study. The George Institute for Global Health analyzed more than 400,000 food and drink products from 12 countries and territories around the world. Countries were ranked using Australia’s Health Star Rating system – which measures the levels of the nutrients such as energy, salt, sugar, saturated fat as well as protein, calcium and fiber and assigns a star rating from ½ (least healthy) to 5 (the most healthy). The UK tops the charts, with the USA in second place and Australia coming in at third. The study published in Obesity Reviews Journal has also highlighted the high levels of sugar, saturated fat, salt and calories in many of Indian favorite packaged food items. India’s packaged foods and drinks were found to be the most energy-dense (kilojoule content 1515 kJ/100 g) and South African products were least energy-dense at an average of 1044kJ/100 g. The UK had the highest average Health Star Rating of 2.83, followed by the US at 2.82 and Australia at 2.81. India got the lowest rating of just 2.27 preceded by China at 2.43 with Chile coming third from bottom at 2.44.

76% of healthcare professionals in India use digital health records: Report

ETHealthWorld

New Delhi: India is a forerunner in the adoption of digital health technology with 76% of healthcare professionals in the country already using digital health records (DHRs) in their practice, reveals Royal Philips, in India findings of the 15-country Future Health Index (FHI) 2019 report unveiled on Wednesday. According to the report, India meets the 15-country average when it comes to the usage of AI within healthcare at 46%. Commenting on the launch, Rohit Sathe, President – Philips Healthcare, Indian Subcontinent said, "Philips’ Future Health Index 2019 report confirms that digital health technology is a pivotal pillar in delivering value-based care across the healthcare continuum in India.” “Tools including telehealth and adaptive intelligence (AI) solutions can help lower the barriers between hospitals and patients, thereby improving access to care and enhancing overall patient satisfaction, particularity in tier II & III cities in India,” he added. The report highlights the acceptance of digital technologies for healthcare delivery. For instance, a majority of Indian healthcare professionals who use DHRs in their practice report that DHRs have a positive impact on quality of care (90%), healthcare professional satisfaction (89%), and patient outcomes (70%) when compared to the 15-country average of 69%, 64% and 59% respectively. 64% of Indian healthcare professionals agree that patients having access to their health data (including test results, prescriptions, scans etc.) has positively impacted their patients’ experience.

Delhi hospital helps Uzbek man regain his voice after 15 years

The New Indian Express

Khusan Saidov, a 35-year-old Uzbek man, who had lost his voice after a surgery for treating his hypothyroidism went wrong, was able to speak again after 15 years following a laser surgery at a hospital here. Saidov got himself operated back in 2002 at a hospital in Uzbekistan for his thyroid condition but the surgery led to complications which damaged both his airways and vocal cords, Dr Ameet Kishore, senior consultant- ENT at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals said. “The patient lost his voice as recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLN) got damaged after he underwent the surgical procedure tracheostomy. This which resulted in paralysis of the vocal cords leading to loss of speech and difficulty in breathing,” Dr Kishore added. Saidov had lost the ability to speak and waited for 15 years before approaching doctors in India. “Saidov was breathing from a hole created in his neck. He developed bilateral vocal cord palsy.

RML, Safdarjung among government hospitals without fire NOC

The Times of India

NEW DELHI: Several major government hospitals in Delhi, including Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, have not renewed their no objection certificates (NOCs). A scrutiny by the fire department has revealed major lapses at the city-based hospitals. The scrutiny was conducted following the massive fire at AIIMS on August 17. It had gutted two floors at the PC Block that housed the offices of the director and other senior professors. At most of the hospitals, the mandatory six metres wide roads required for fire tenders to enter the hospital premises remain encroached. Even though there was surplus water supply during the AIIMS fire incident, bigger fire tenders could not reach the fire as the road leading to it was encroached upon by debris