Editorial
Mental Health – Understanding the Reality, and Improving Awareness, Management
and Quality of life
– Dr. Varsha Narayanan, Dr. Pawan Mittal
Mental health is a barometer of individual productivity and community wellness. It is important both for the people, as well as general and family physicians to be well informed about symptoms, types, and treatment modalities of mental health conditions, as well as remove misconceptions and stigmas attached to some mental health disorders. Awareness and understanding of mental health conditions can enable timely help, referral, and management, to provide a fulfilled life.
Reflections
International Women’s Health Day, 2024
– Dr. Kamini A Rao, Dr. Reena Wani, Dr. Ashwini Nabar, Dr Pratibha Narang
With this, we have launched a new feature titled ‘Reflections,’ which will present views of leading medical experts on specific topics of the World Health Days.
In honour of International Women’s Health Day on May 28th, 2024, our editorial team solicited the views of doctors nationwide on women’s healthcare and associated challenges.
Original Article
Genetic Counselling in Obstetrics- The Need and Necessity
– Dr. Chaitanya A. Datar
Genetic counselling refers to investigating individuals or families affected by or at a risk of genetic disorders in order to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychosocial, and familial implications of a genetic condition. It is especially important and relevant in obstetrics. One should assess risk factors for genetic aetiology, determine the underlying aetiology, accurately interpret the genetic test results before counselling. Genetic counselling, which involves a two-step strategy of pre- and post-test counselling, should be performed by clinical geneticists and trained genetic counsellors, keeping in mind the ethical, social, and cultural issues related to clinical genetic testing and counselling.
Review Article
Nocturnal Leg Cramps Relieved With Nisha-Amalaki as ‘Add on Therapy’ in
Diabetes Mellitus – A Case Report
– Dr. Ashwinikumar Raut, Dr. Sushma Shankre, Dr. Jayashree Josh
Eighty-year-old female physician sought consultation for continued use of Nisha-Amalaki (N-A), which had relieved her Nocturnal Leg Cramps (NLCs). She had well-controlled hypertension (HT) for 28 years and diabetes mellitus for 26 years, and experienced occasional NLCs since the age of 35 years without a need of any pharmacotherapy. For increased NLCs frequency and severity post diagnosis of diabetes, she recently started N-A (500 mg) once daily. She was already on metformin (500 mg) twice a day, glimepiride (0.5 mg) once a day, telmisartan (40mg) + hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg) once a day, and cilnidipine (5 mg) once a day, along with nutritional supplements (multivitamin, vitamin-B12, and calcium 500 mg once daily).
Special Article
Shadow Pandemic: Violence Against Women in COVID Times and Now
–Dr. Reena J. Wani , Dr. Varun J. Wani
Violence towards women remains terribly pervasive and affects 1 in 3 (roughly 736 million) women across their lifetime. This violence can be from an intimate or non-intimate partner and has been fairly unchanged over that last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic had put a great burden on the existing healthcare system. The patients requiring treatment for other ailments were also suffering. Among these were the antenatal services which were hampered and added to the stress in pregnancy. This situation has been suggested to make women more prone to violence in different forms.
Call for Action
Addressing Healthcare Issues During Election Campaigns
– Dr. Naresh Purohit
Healthcare is one of the most important issues in India, but often overlooked and not discussed during election campaigns.Poor medical infrastructure, insufficient public health services, and unmet healthcare needs persist in the country. Though people do want the right, high quality, and cost-effective medical treatment when they fall sick, this is put on the backseat when they are healthy, thereby the demand and struggle for health care in the future remains un-articulated by both the people and the administration.
Column
Psychotherapy and Yoga: A Holistic Clinical Perspective
– Dr.Ashoka Jahnavi Prasad
Psychotherapy and yoga have become indispensable tools in everyday clinical management. It is, therefore, astounding that despite their widespread usage in clinical settings, an endeavour to understand their fundamentals is shockingly sparse.
Yoga is perhaps the most visible and widespread gift of India to the world. And its introduction into clinical practice and psychotherapy has brought a revolution in psychotherapeutic modalities. It is hardly surprising that I very often get quizzed on the fundamentals of yoga.
