As you grow old, your health starts to deteriorate. Everything, whether it is your mental health or your physical health, starts to slow down. However, with age, your mental health gets overshadowed by your physical health.

Signs You Should Note

If you note these signs in your ageing parents or grandparents, take note of it. Try to get involved with them. It is also important to ensure that they have a separate social circle apart from the family. This way, they can have friends who they can also relate to.

With age, suggests Sinha, you are more prone to be depressed, and anxious. “Mental health conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorders are not something that happens when you grow older. You may have been living with these for the last 40 years, but the management differs, she suggests.

As you grow old, your symptoms start to overlap with other mental health conditions. For the proper treatment professionals use differential diagnosis, suggests Sinha. “The lines become blurred and to differentiate the symptoms from one mental health condition to another becomes difficult,” she says.

Preventive Measures

There are also food habits like eating leafy vegetables, nuts, fish, virgin coconut and beans that help with brain functions.

Sinha suggests that keeping a social circle and continuing your hobbies can help your mind stay healthy. “Men especially face this issue, after they retire, they feel like they are at the loss of authority, and they start to lose control. It is thus important to keep doing things and learning a new skill to keep your brain active. While for women, since they continue taking care of the house, their brain stays active,” she says.

Cognitive stimulation is the key, especially to managing dementia, she notes.

“Just with weight training, you push your body and after a while, it becomes your muscle memory. Same with the brain. However, one should not get into solving too many puzzles, or trivia after being diagnosed with dementia. Because that would mean you are making your already injured brain exercise which might lead to agitation,” she recommends.

How to support?

“The most important part is for the caregiver to understand what is happening and come to terms with the conditions. Because the elderly with cognitive conditions are not able to understand, they cannot be told or instructed to do anything. Thus, the responsibility is solely on the caregiver,” points out Sinha.

So, what can be done?

Awareness

Reach out to therapists and counsellors to know the ways to create such a healthy environment.

Be Patient

She suggests adopting the same approach that you do with kids and with your pets. This is when you focus on gestures, body language and mood over language. Due to cognitive disorders, parents experience a loss of language and the only way to communicate and to understand what they are communicating is through these means.

Be Empathetic

Create a healthy environment by agreeing with them and listening to their stories. The responsibility of creating a safe environment is totally with you.

There might be times when your parents may do socially unacceptable or non-compliance behaviour. But it is important to understand the triggers and ensure that the triggers do not occur anymore.

Help Them Stay Fit

COVID-19 is not only a name but a terrible memory for the world, which made people stuck in their homes for months and caused thousands of deaths. Although after the advent of vaccines, normal life regained its pace, the impact of that turbulent time persists in everyday life. One example of a negative after-effect is the rising number of hip replacement surgeries among young Indians, which is, without a doubt, a worrying post-pandemic orthopaedic trend.

This very trend of rising cases of hip replacement surgeries is so serious that it was a major issue of discussion in the 2nd DELHI HIP 360 Conference, held at Crowne Plaza New Delhi. Where doctors reported a significant rise in cases of hip arthritis and avascular necrosis (AVN), a painful condition caused by disruption of blood supply to the hip bone, particularly among younger and middle-aged adults. The conference was organised by the Delhi Orthopaedic Association in association with the Indian Arthroplasty Association.

In the second edition of this conference, Dr. L Tomar, Organising Chairman of DELHI HIP 360 and Director, Department of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Max Hospital, New Delhi, said, “We are observing 40% rise in hip replacement surgeries in younger people. Steroids played a life-saving role during the COVID pandemic, but indiscriminate or prolonged use in some patients has been associated with a rise in osteonecrosis and early degenerative changes in the hip joint." He also added that they are now seeing relatively younger patients coming with severe hip damage, collapse of the femoral head, and advanced arthritis requiring early hip replacement surgeries.

Dr. L Tomar further added, “India is witnessing a silent rise in hip disability due to a combination of post-COVID complications, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, trauma, alcohol consumption, and increasing life expectancy. Early diagnosis is critical because if AVN is detected in the initial stages, joint-preserving procedures may still be possible before destruction of the hip occurs.”

Dr. Karun Jain, Organising Secretary of the conference, said, “One of the biggest challenges with AVN is that patients often ignore early symptoms such as groin pain or stiffness, assuming it to be muscular pain. By the time they seek medical advice, the hip joint may already have undergone irreversible collapse. Awareness, timely MRI evaluation, and early intervention can help reduce disability.”

The conference has brought together leading orthopaedic surgeons, arthroplasty specialists, fellows, and residents from across India to deliberate on the latest advances in Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), complex hip reconstruction, robotic-assisted surgery, rehabilitation, and management of post-COVID hip complications.

The experts at the conference emphasize that the AVN, which was thought of as a disease of the elderly, is no longer limited to a certain age bracket. It can affect young people as well due to the modern sedentary lifestyle. Thus, doctors at the conference are also expecting even greater demand for hip replacement surgeries.

World Thyroid Day is observed on 25 May every year. This day aims to spread awareness about thyroid disorders, their symptoms, and management options that can help women. However, one concern that continues to linger with respect to thyroid disorders is why they occur more often in women. Hormonal changes, lifestyle factors, and a higher risk of autoimmune conditions can increase the risk of thyroid problems in women. Yes, that’s right! Hence, women should ensure they go for timely health check-ups. Here, an expert highlights vital tips for women. Read on to know more about this and seek timely help. Remember, thyroid problems should not be left untreated at all.

In an interview with Health and Me, Dr Shruti Kotangale, Consultant Gynaecologist, Obstetrician, and Infertility Expert at AIMS Hospital, Dombivli, explained why thyroid problems are more common among women. Read here to know how gender makes a difference.

Why do thyroid disorders occur more often in women?

Thyroid disorders are rising among many women. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck, but it plays a critical role in controlling metabolism, energy levels, and maintaining hormonal balance. Women can suffer from thyroid problems because of frequent hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. These changes can impact thyroid health. Lifestyle factors such as stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep can also worsen thyroid imbalance. Hence, women are at a higher risk of suffering from autoimmune conditions, where the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland.

Hypothyroidism vs hyperthyroidism

Conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) are commonly seen in women. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland is underactive. Symptoms can include tiredness, weight gain, dry skin, hair fall, constipation, feeling cold, a slow heartbeat, and low mood or depression. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive, and women may experience weight loss, a fast heartbeat, sweating, anxiety, tremors, irritability, frequent bowel movements, and even difficulty sleeping. Women are advised to seek immediate medical attention and manage these symptoms without any further delay.

How to manage thyroid disorders?

Thyroid disorders may be concerning, but they are manageable with appropriate care and management tips as recommended by experts. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be managed with timely diagnosis, regular screening, and taking medications as suggested by the doctor. It is also important to eat a balanced diet, exercise daily for at least 30 minutes, get sound sleep at night, and de-stress through yoga and meditation. This World Thyroid Day, the focus should be on awareness, regular check-ups, and taking small steps to stay healthy and manage thyroid problems. Moreover, follow the doctor’s advice and do not self-medicate, as doing so can be risky.

So ladies, this World Thyroid Day, make an effort to know more about this group of disorders that affects your gender more often than men. Be it fatigue, mood swings, or weight fluctuations, it is imperative to know the early warning signs of this condition in order to work towards a more preventive approach.

IBD or Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a growing health concern worldwide - particularly amongst young adults. The two main types of IBD are Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. However, these can be confused because they share symptoms.

Some of these are abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss. They affect the digestive tract differently, thus also have different complications and treatment plans. It is important to understand these differences so that patients may seek out timely diagnosis and better disease management.

1. Different Parts of the Digestive Tract Are Affected

Ulcerative Colitis is limited to the colon and rectum. Inflammation begins in the rectum and spreads continuously upwards. In Crohn’s disease, any part of the digestive system can be impacted. Including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. However, it is most commonly the small intestine that is involved in Crohn’s disease.

2. Inflammation Pattern is Different

In ulcerative colitis, inflammation is continuous. There are no healthy gaps in between the affected areas. Crohn’s disease causes patchy inflammation. Meaning, there are sections of healthy tissue known as “skip lesions”.

3. Crohn’s Disease causes more serious damage

Ulcerative colitis affects only the innermost lining of the bowel. Crohn’s disease, on the other hand, can involve all layers of the intestinal wall. This increases the risk of complications such as fistulas, bowel obstruction, and intestinal narrowing.

4. Symptoms May Look Similar, But Often Differ

Both conditions can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fatigue, and unintended weight loss. However, bloody stools are more common in ulcerative colitis. Crohn’s disease may also cause mouth ulcers, severe nutritional deficiencies, and pain in the anal region.

5. Nutritional Problems Are More Common in Crohn’s Disease

Because Crohn’s disease frequently affects the small intestine, patients may struggle to absorb nutrients properly. This struggle results in anemia, a vitamin B12 deficiency, low iron levels, and weight loss.

6. Surgery Has Different Outcomes

Ulcerative colitis can be cured by removing the colon. In Crohn’s disease, surgery is used mainly to treat complications, but inflammation can affect another part of the digestive tract.

7. Smoking Affects the Diseases Differently

Smoking worsens Crohn’s disease. It increases the risk of flare-ups, complications, as well as repeat surgeries. However, Ulcerative Colitis does not show the same pattern. Some studies have found lower rates of ulcerative colitis among smokers. Although smoking is never recommended as a treatment because of its serious health risks.

8. Treatment Approaches

Both conditions are treated with anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressing drugs, and dietary changes. But in Crohn’s disease, often more aggressive and long-term treatment is required. This is because it can affect the deeper layers of the bowel and multiple parts of the digestive tract.