Health Adda

The ways in which our mind works to face an impending challenge, such as an examination, job interview or marriage (let us not forget elections nowadays!) are so many, that even experts could not tell you which is the best. Some thoughts work as traps, guaranteeing disillusionment, disappointment and depression. It makes sense to “look in,” identify, and then avoid them. 1. Worse Case Scenarios Before a competitive examination or an interview for a job with limited vacancies, it is impractical to “believe” that you will certainly make it. It all sounds great when motivational speakers try to pump in positivity to bring out your best performance and overcome anxiety, but for most realists” or “pragmatists”, it is unreal. Several youngsters do not really seem to give a thought to "Plan B" or a back up plan for a worst case-scenario. They are the ones who tumble badly down into hopelessness and loss of self-esteem as they find themselves unprepared to deal w...

There is perhaps no other branch of science as in medicine where unexpected events and outcomes occur often enough to invoke ‘luck”  as an explanation. Every surgeon will have a story to tell of how the condition of an otherwise “stable” patient thought to have a very low risk suddenly plunged down after a small procedure despite everything being done right, much to his embarrassment and dismay! But when a patient’s condition tumbles down unexpectedly due to the “luck” factor and results in death, it is hard for relatives to accept. Take a look at the recent story of a 65-year healthy farmer who met with a road traffic accident and sustained severe injury to his right upper limb for which he was brought to hospital and underwent an amputation. A week later when he was sitting up in bed, eating his dinner and gearing up to go home, he experienced sudden severe chest pain and sweating. An emergency angiography done within hours, as he was luckily in hospital, sh...

The present outbreak of this viral respiratory infection is hogging the headlines, and triggering scares and concern across the world. On balance, while the number of people who have died till now is small (around 200, compared with 3000 deaths in road traffic accidents in India every year), there are two valid reasons to be cautious. 1. Viruses of the Corona group (named due to their resemblance to a crown) are not new; they account for a third of the common colds and fevers we suffer and recover from during change of every season. But this strain is a “new" virus called Wuhan Novel Co-V or 2019-nCo-V. 2. It has new antigens that can enable it to evade our immune radars. We do not presently have specific measures to protect or treat ourselves, such as a specific vaccine or medications. New things, like UFOs, always create awe and fear and make us panic. It is difficult to say at this stage how “badly” this viral infection can harm us or how infective it could get...