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Medical Equipments Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Extended full cooperation, says Metropolis Healthcare on I-T raids

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 24, 2022
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Synopsis

“Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. strictly adheres to the highest standards of corporate governance and ethics. We ensure today, as we always have, compliance with all rules and regulatory norms to the full extent across the organisation,” the company said in a statement.

Mumbai-based medical diagnostics company Metropolis Healthcare on Tuesday said it had extended cooperation to the income tax department which searched its premises last week. The raids were launched on November 16 and the premises of the company in the capital city of Maharashtra were covered.

“Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. strictly adheres to the highest standards of corporate governance and ethics. We ensure today, as we always have, compliance with all rules and regulatory norms to the full extent across the organisation,” the company said in a statement.

“We have extended our complete cooperation to the team,” it said.

The company is a prominent player in the medical tests and diagnostics domain.

Tax officials said the department is scanning the documents recovered during the searches including those related to the company’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early this month, the company reported a consolidated profit after tax of Rs 40.5 crore for the second quarter that ended September 30.

“There were some records that were required of us, and as always keeping with the letter and spirit of compliance, we have shared this with the (income tax) department,” it said.

Sputnik takers in a fix as Russian vaccine is still not widely accepted

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 22, 2022
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Synopsis

Sputnik-V is one of the three main vaccines that was used in India. The vaccine is based on human adenoviral vectors and uses two different vectors for the two shots. India had approved a gap of 21 days between the two doses.

There seems to be no end to hurdles for the takers of Sputnik vaccine for Covid-19. Vishal Patil, an IT executive in Pune, has not been able to attend a conference in Paris as he was vaccinated with Sputnik, which is not an accepted vaccine in France.

Like Patil, some of the Sputnik recipients have approached the government now to allow them revaccination so that they can generate a new certificate, which they can use when they travel.

“I was supposed to attend a conference in Paris in November but could not due to the vaccine issue. There are a few countries that allow travel with a Covid negative report but there are some in Europe and US which do not allow longer duration of stay,” Patil told ET.

He said that there are many countries mandating vaccines to visit them and many do not recognise Russia’s Sputnik vaccine. “This is making it difficult to travel or get a visa even if it is for a temporary company work or job,” he said.

Patil said that a set of people who are facing the issue have approached the government to allow paid revaccination. “As this would solve our problem. We can take a WHO-approved vaccine and travel with a new vaccine certificate,” he added.

Sputnik-V is one of the three main vaccines that was used in India. The vaccine is based on human adenoviral vectors and uses two different vectors for the two shots. India had approved a gap of 21 days between the two doses.
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Tags #Healthy, #Medical, #Medicalcare, health and medicine, health news, Russian Vaccine, Sputnik takers, Sputnik-V, vaccination, WHO

Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Meet the jury of ZS PRIZE healthcare tech challenge

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 21, 2022
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Synopsis

The top eight teams who are selected after completion of multiple phases will present their healthcare innovations to the ZS PRIZE jury.

Healthcare challenge ZS PRIZE, which is designed by global management consulting and tech firm ZS, recognizes and rewards the most disruptive healthcare innovations solving for India, and is powered by an august jury.

The top eight teams who are selected after completion of multiple phases will present their healthcare innovations to the ZS PRIZE jury. The jury comprises 7 eminent members from the healthcare and innovation space.

Here’s more on the jury of ZS PRIZE healthcare tech challenge:
The jury chair is Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman of the board for Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. He is also the founder and chairman of Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME). Venkatesan has also held the post of the UNICEF Special Representative for Young People and Innovation, and served as the Chairman of Microsoft India for nearly 8 years. He has been on the board of multiple other multinational companies as well. He did his Btech from IIT Bombay and MBA from Harvard Business school.

G V Prasad is the co-chairman and the MD of Doctor Reddy’s Laboratories. He is also the chairman of the CII National Committee on Pharmaceuticals and has served on the board of multiple higher education institutions including IIT Hyderabad and Ashoka University. He did his bachelors in Chemical Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and his masters in Industrial Administration from Purdue University.

Aarti Shah was the former senior vice president, chief information and digital officer at Eli Lilly & Co. Her time at Eli Lilly & Co. gave her 28 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She currently sits on the board of NVIDIA and Northwestern Mutual. She has a Ph.D. in applied statistics from the University of California, Riverside, Master’s in Science and mathematics from Gujarat University.

Prof. K. Srinath Reddy is the president of Public Health Foundation India. He was the former head of the Department of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He was a visiting Professor of Cardiovascular Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Harvard Medical School. He is also the advisor on Health to the Indian State Governments of Odisha, Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.

Vijay Chandru is the co-founder of Stradn life sciences. He was also the co-founder of PicoPeta Simputers. In 2007 he was Technology Pioneer of the World Economic Forum and the Biospectrum Biotech Entrepreneur. He has a Ph.D. in Mathematics of Decision Sciences from MIT, MS from UCLA.

Sandeep Singhal is a pioneer in the Indian Venture Capital industry. He is the senior advisor at Avaana Capital. He is also the co-founder and senior advisor at Nexus Venture Partners and an independent director at Titan Company Ltd. He has an MBA from Wharton with a dual major in Finance and Marketing; BS from Stanford in Electrical Engineering.

Dr. Ferzaan Engineer is the co-founder and chairman of Cytecare Hospitals. He is also the Co-founder and Joint Chairman of Medwell Ventures and Member of the Board of Directors of Sun Pharma Advanced Research Company (SPARC) and Cytespace Research. He received the AACP New Investigator’s Award in 1990 and received research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA. He has a Ph.D in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of South Carolina, B Pharm from LM College of pharmacy.

Heart disease and diabetes are interrelated. Here are tips for diabetic patients to keep cardiac problems away

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 19, 2022
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Do you have diabetes? Then, you will be at a greater risk of suffering from cardiovascular problems. You will be shocked to know that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in diabetic patients. Here’s how to control your blood sugar levels in order to prevent heart problems.

Heart disease includes various problems that impact the heart hence, one can suffer from a stroke and blood vessel disease while the most common type is coronary artery disease, which affects the blood flow to the heart but did you know that there is an association between diabetes and heart problems? Apart from that, problems such as heart failure and heart attack are also seen in a majority of people and having diabetes can worsen one’s heart problem.

Are you having diabetes? Then, you will be at a greater risk of suffering from cardiovascular problems. Yes, you heard us here! You will be shocked to know that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in those with diabetes so, try to control your blood sugar levels in order to prevent heart problems.

Decoding the connection between diabetes and heart problems, Dr Bipeenchandra Bhamre, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai, explained in an interview with HT Lifestyle, “Having constant high unmanaged blood sugar levels will damage one’s blood vessels, arteries and veins that are responsible for supplying blood to the entire body.”

He elaborated, “If the vessels get exposed to high blood sugar levels for a long time, then plaque is formed on the walls of the arteries. Later, the blood vessels become narrow and the heart will have to make a lot of effort to pump blood. This condition is known as atherosclerosis, which can further put you at risk of heart failure. High blood sugar levels in the body lead to inflammation and decrease the blood flow to the heart. One having diabetes needs to be cautious when it comes to his/her heart health.”

He suggested that those with diabetes should follow these essential tips to keep heart problems away –

· Go for regular check-ups: It will be imperative for you to measure your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels in order to know about your health status. You need to maintain blood sugar levels in the recommended range to avoid heart issues. It is better to check blood sugar levels and BP on a daily basis at home.

· Exercise daily: One will have to opt for walking, jogging, swimming, Parkour training, Pilates, or aerobics to stay in top shape, control blood sugar levels and safeguard himself/herself from heart problems.

· Eat well: Try to stick to a well-balanced diet consisting of all the vital nutrients. You need to add fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet. Opt for spinach, kale, tomatoes, asparagus, whole grains, lentils, pulses, nuts, and seeds, and drink enough water. Limit the intake of saturated and trans fat, sodium and sugar. This means you will have to avoid pizza, pasta, burger, bakery items, Chinese food, sweets, desserts and sugary drinks. Moreover, it is also essential to cut down on alcohol and smoking.

Gaucher Disease: Understanding the disease burden in India and the available treatment

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 18, 2022
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Since GD manifestations are variable, a high level of suspicion is required to ensure a timely diagnosis.

By Dr. Sankar VH

A rare lysosomal storage disease (LSD), Gaucher disease (GD) affects less than 20,000 people globally, with some remaining undiagnosed. An inherited genetic disorder, it was first described by French physician Philippe Gaucher in 1882.

Significantly, GD is considered one of the most frequent LSD among all ethnic groups. The natural history and clinical manifestations of GD remain highly heterogeneous, showing extreme ethnic and geographic variations. The metabolic defect manifests due to a deficiency of acid β-glucosidase (lysosomal glucocerebrosidase) because of biallelic mutations in the GBA gene. This leads to the accumulation of glucocerebroside in lysosomes, typically in tissue macrophages.

In layman’s terms, people with GD lack an enzyme that breaks down lipids or fatty substances. The lipids then begin building up in specific organs such as the spleen and liver.

Immune cells, hepatocytes and osteoblasts are among other cells linked to disease pathophysiology. Gaucher cells (glucocerebroside-laden macrophages) that accumulate across the body characterise its multi-systemic disease manifestations.

Disease Burden in India

Given the convention of consanguineous weddings in some parts of India, the occurrence of GD in the country could be higher. Of 300-plus GD mutations classified in India, L444P seems the most prevalent.

Broadly, Gaucher disease is categorised into three phenotypes, depending on the presence or lack of neurological manifestations and their severity. Type 1 is the most common, affecting around 95% of those with the disorder. Such patients lack adequate platelets in their blood, making them prone to bruising easily and feeling fatigued.

Manifestation and Complications

Those with type 1 GD in India manifest the symptoms in early infancy up to late childhood, with 3.6 years being the median age. Without treatment, this extremely aggressive phenotype with cytopenia, spleno-hepatomegaly, irritability, bone issues and failure to thrive is linked to early mortality.

Type 2 is a form of GD that affects infants within the first three to six months. Since it is fatal, these children don’t survive more than two years. As for type 3, unlike in Western nations, it is comparatively common in India. In such patients, a common, early neurological manifestation includes oculomotor apraxia. To help differentiate between type 1 and 3 GD, this ocular sign needs to be evaluated in every patient during each clinic visit.

A range of complications arises in GD. These include splenic rupture; bleeding diathesis due to thrombocytopenia and acquired coagulopathy; hypersplenism and pancytopenia; fractures and collapsed vertebral bodies; hepatic fibrosis; portal hypertension; avascular osteonecrosis, chronic bone pain and bone crisis; haematological malignancies (multiple myeloma and hepatocellular carcinoma); hepatopulmonary syndrome; Parkinson’s disease with Lewy body dementia; and progressive neurodegenerative disease in GD type 2 and 3.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Since GD manifestations are variable, a high level of suspicion is required to ensure a timely diagnosis. Due to frequent diagnostic delays, patients can develop severe and irreversible complications. As a result, it is mandatory to undertake leucocyte acid β-glucosidase activity to establish GD diagnosis.

Management of GD includes ERT (enzyme replacement therapy) and SRT (substrate reduction therapy). For GD type 1 and 3, ERT is the preferred standard of care. With early therapy initiation, the favourable outcomes can be achieved before irreversible and potentially life-threatening complications emerge.

But ERT is not recommended in cases of progressive neurological symptoms such as neuro-regression and seizures, as the blood-brain barrier cannot be breached. Herein, the recommendations are for diagnosis, therapy initiation, monitoring and follow-ups of patients. Additionally, in India, preventing the recurrence of GD through prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling is imperative because of the consistently severe phenotypes that occur in the local populace.

ERT greatly improves haematological and skeletal manifestations while ameliorating organomegaly and preventing avascular necrosis. Usually, GD patients in India are affected more severely with earlier disease onset than those in the West. Therefore, ERT can be considered even after the occurrence of avascular osteonecrosis since studies show that it reduces the risk of these complications.

A lifelong treatment, ERT is given once every 14 days as an intravenous infusion. As a recombinant enzyme that needs reconstitution before infusion, one must strictly adhere to the precautions stated in the pack insert to obtain optimum drug activity. Yet, as disease manifestations are heterogeneous, personalised modification of doses on a need basis could be necessary.

Coming to SRT, this works by partially blocking the body from making glucocerebroside – the fatty chemical that accumulates in the bodies of GD patients. While excess glucocerebroside is broken down by ERT, SRT works differently. While ERT helps the body in recycling more waste (glucocerebroside), SRT assists it in producing less of this. Although it doesn’t wholly shut down production, it allows the present enzymes to keep one’s body in balance.

Ultimately, the management of GD requires a multidisciplinary approach. This team generally includes a geneticist, gastroenterologist, haematologist, paediatrician, neurologist, orthopaedic surgeon and occupational therapist. By following the standard therapy guidelines, physicians and allied healthcare providers can ensure the efficient management of patients with Gaucher disease.

Nikon India enters healthcare sector with microscopy solutions

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 17, 2022
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Synopsis

The company has launched its ‘AXR Point’ scanning confocal microscope that has the capability to provide a field of view of 25mm in one single shot thereby helping researchers to generate most accurate statistical data while imaging, Nikon India said in a statement.

Imaging products firm Nikon India Pvt Ltd on Tuesday announced its foray into the healthcare sector through system product microscopy business.

The company has launched its ‘AXR Point’ scanning confocal microscope that has the capability to provide a field of view of 25mm in one single shot thereby helping researchers to generate most accurate statistical data while imaging, Nikon India said in a statement.

The product is targeted at premier research institutes, research centres funded and established by the India government, academic educational institutions, clinical centres such as hospitals and medical research institutes to boost research and development in medicine, it added.

“We plan to install AXR system in a few research institutes in India namely IIT Bhilai, IIT Mumbai, ACTREC Mumbai to name a few,” Nikon India Managing Director Sajjan Kumar said.

He said the microscopy business offers huge potential, and “we are extremely upbeat about its growth prospects…Our expected annual turnover for FY 22-23 will be around 5 per cent of Nikon’s India operations and we anticipate it to grow 10 per cent plus by the end of next year.”

A guide to new-age parenting

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 16, 2022
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Most parents believe that the way to raise their children is to raise them the way they were raised.

Most parents believe that the way to raise their children is to raise them the way they were raised. After all, most parents have “done well” in life and so should their children adhering to the same school of parenting. I say “doing well” as we in India we are very particular about “doing well”.

The old school needs tweaking as times have changed and changing at an unprecedented pace. A generational shift in terms of what is acceptable and what is the norm is not 20 or 10 anymore it is 5 years now. I see this everyday, when I interact with a 10 year old and her or his sibling who is 5 years younger. This poses a big challenge as parents need to adopt, adapt and be open to change.

New age parenting requires parents to embrace new parenting styles. While the fundamentals in terms of instilling virtues that are important like humility, honesty, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude among others remain unchanged, the approach on how to get through to children needs recalibration.

How does one communicate with children who don’t want to hear, forget listen. One can do that by having a meaningful two way communication with the child driving the conversation – the topic, the duration, the frequency, the flow, and when to end. The conversation has to be devoid of sermonising, comparisons and in “my experience”. It would be good to remember what Charles Wadsworth has said.

“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong”.

While such a conversation can take place with an older child, it is important to realise that young children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes closely observe, their ears intensely listen and their minds keenly process what their environment has to offer. These experiences at a young age can have a lifelong impression.

Parents should not forget what Jim Hansen had said “They (your children) don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are”.

While conventional parenting expects children to show deference, accept without protest what a parent wants and not engage in a debate or an argument, that today is an unrealistic expectation. Children have access to a lot of information and will accept only what meets with their knowledge of the subject and not just because it is expected. Children will respect their parents but that respect needs to be earned. It can no longer be taken for granted. I know, you must wonder, what am I saying. Look around with an open mind and you might agree.

A strong bond needs to be formed with children at a young age and then as the child goes older, the relationship needs to evolve into a deep friendship. A child will always need someone they can turn to, who will love her or him unconditionally and won’t be judgemental. Who can be better than a parent at that.

Some dos and don’ts:

1. Making Mistakes and Accepting Flaws

• No parent is perfect, so parents shouldn’t expect their children to be perfect.

• Every mistake is a lesson; parents and children must learn together.

• Parents need to avoid being judgemental as that can destroy a parent–child relationship.

2. Be a Dreamer

• Parents need to encourage children to dream.

• Parents should help fulfil the dreams of our children to the greatest extent possible.

• Just because a child wants to do something different, he or she should not be discouraged.

• Parents must not kill our child’s dream.

• Parents should not expect their children to fulfil their (parents’) dreams.

3. Handling Pressure

• Children face a lot of pressure to perform anyway. Parents should not add to that pressure.

• Parents should handle pressure better themselves and serve as role models.

• Some amount of pressure is inevitable, so we need to help our children learn to feed off it.

4. Forgive and forget

Unless children see their parents forget and forgive, and that too frequently, they will find it very hard to even try to walk down the path of forgiveness.

5. Be the Change

• If parents themselves do not want to change, they should not expect any change in their children.

• If children see their parents change, they will want to do the same.

IHH Healthcare says Fortis remains its main platform for growth in India

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 14, 2022
1 Comment on IHH Healthcare says Fortis remains its main platform for growth in India

Synopsis

The company, which acquired a 31.17 per cent stake in Fortis by infusing fresh capital of Rs 4,000 crore in November 2018, is currently waiting for a go-ahead from capital markets regulator Sebi to proceed with its stalled open offer to acquire additional 26.1 per cent stake in the domestic healthcare major.

Malaysia’s IHH Healthcare has stressed that it is committed to the Indian market on a long-term basis and Fortis Healthcare remains its main platform for growth in the country.

Terming the freeze on its open offer to acquire additional 26.1 per cent stake in Fortis as ‘unfortunate’, the Malaysian entity feels that the ongoing legal battle has prevented it so far from injecting additional capital into the Indian healthcare provider.

The company, which acquired a 31.17 per cent stake in Fortis by infusing fresh capital of Rs 4,000 crore in November 2018, is currently waiting for a go-ahead from capital markets regulator Sebi to proceed with its stalled open offer to acquire additional 26.1 per cent stake in the domestic healthcare major.

The open offer, which was originally scheduled to commence on December 18, 2018 and close on January 1, 2019, entailing a total sum of Rs 3,300 crore, could not materialise due to a Supreme Court order.

In an interaction with PTI, IHH Healthcare Managing Director and CEO Kelvin Loh said the last four years have turned out to be very frustrating for the company which counts India as one of its key markets.

“Is there frustration? Yes there is,” he said when asked about the legal proceedings which began in 2018.

“We feel that we are the aggrieved party here because the Supreme Court case was really between Daichii Sankyo and Singh brothers, in which we really had no part,” he noted.

Loh noted that IHH counts India, Turkiye, Malaysia and Singapore as its major markets even as it operates 82 hospitals across ten nations. “When we say we are committed to healthcare in India, we see a lot of opportunity for growth. We will be here for the long term because we are not financial investors, we are a strategic healthcare operator and the main platform for growth in India for us is Fortis,” Loh said.

The IHH-Fortis deal got stuck due to a legal battle between Daiichi and the former promoters of Fortis Healthcare.

The former promoters of Fortis Healthcare — Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh — were facing the court battle after Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo challenged the Fortis-IHH share deal to recover the Rs 3,600-crore arbitration award that it had won before a Singapore tribunal against the Singh brothers.

In 2018, when some Indian lenders sold the pledged shares of Fortis Healthcare to the Malaysia-based firm, Daiichi went to court alleging that the former promoters of Fortis had assured them that their shares in the Indian hospital chain will cover the arbitral award amount.

Later, the Supreme Court ordered status quo with regard to the sale of controlling stakes of Fortis Healthcare to IHH Healthcare by Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh, and put on hold IHH’s open offer for an additional 26.1 per cent stake in Fortis.

The 26.1 per cent stake would have increased IHH’s shareholding in Fortis to 57 per cent.

“But unfortunately it got stuck. Even more unfortunate has been the suspension of the (open offer) process for four years now and that really frustrates us,” Loh noted.

IHH has already brought in management and operational changes in Fortis helping the company, which was on the verge of bankruptcy, recover financially.

IHH, however, aspires to help Fortis grow even faster, Loh said.

“We are committed to Fortis, we are committed to healthcare in India. We keep transforming and improving the healthcare product that we provide here in the country… and of course we aspire that we can grow even faster. Maybe inject more capital to grow on this,” he noted.

Fortis through its own means can grow from its current 4,000 beds capacity to 5,000 beds in the next two years, Loh said.

“With our support it can grow even faster. If we can bring in additional capital for growth for greenfield expansion or even acquisitions, it can grow even more. We would like to do that,” he noted.

Fortis Healthcare Chairman Ravi Rajagopal said it was unfortunate the way things have turned out for IHH Healthcare.

“In its ruling (the Supreme Court), according to my mind, has not cast a single negative aspersion either on IHH or Fortis. Despite that, the fact that it has taken so long, the frustration for Fortis is that it has been bereft of capital to grow its business,” he said.

IHH stake consolidation would have resulted in capital infusion in Fortis helping it scale up operations.

Rajagopal said that the majority of the initial Rs 4,000 crore capital infusion by IHH went into buyback of assets and debt payoff, leaving Fortis with little funds for expanding operations.

“If we want to grow in the way the rest of our peer group has grown, through both internal investments as well as inorganic, then we would need that extra capital. As a major shareholder, we look at IHH to help us secure that capital. Till such time, till September (this year), while the status quo was in force, those possibilities could not have been explored, but now those options are open,” he said.

In a statement last week, IHH Healthcare noted that following the recent judgment of the Supreme Court of India, the special leave petition, the original contempt petition and the suo moto contempt petition are disposed of.

“The honourable Supreme Court has not found nor indicated any wrongdoing by IHH in terms of our investment into Fortis in its final written judgment dated September 22, 2022. There is also currently no court order pending against IHH in these proceedings,” it said.

Accordingly, IHH is now in discussion with Sebi to determine the next steps pertaining to the mandatory tender offer in Fortis, in full compliance with all requisite regulations, the Malaysian firm said.

On replacing Fortis brand name with Parkway, Rajagopal said: “The Fortis board had decided a year ago to change the brand name to Parkway because the Fortis brand does not belong to Fortis Ltd, it belongs to a company which was owned and controlled by the former Fortis promoters.”

He further said: “We filed a notice with the stock exchange as well as with the Supreme Court last year on our intent. Now with the Supreme Court order behind us we will be moving very quickly to change the brand name.”

When asked for the timeframe for the same, Rajagopal said the matter involves trademark registration.

“We already have checked out the trademarks, but there is a process of filing it formally and going through that due process. It should take a few months,” he added.

IHH had pipped rival Manipal-TPG combine in the race to acquire Fortis Healthcare.

Yoga for asthma: Breathing exercises for patients with bronchial asthma

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 12, 2022
2 Comments on Yoga for asthma: Breathing exercises for patients with bronchial asthma

Yoga expert suggests the following Yoga asanas or easy breathing exercises for patients with bronchial asthma. Here are their steps and health benefits.

Every organ, muscle and system in the body is affected by our breathing, which happens naturally and without our conscious involvement however, when we breathe intentionally like during Yoga practice, we may change this especially for the better for patients with bronchial asthma. Once the entire body is in balance, our thoughts and actions will be in harmony as breathing’s roles include bringing the body into alignment, calming it down and reawakening it.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Institutions, Himalaya Yoga Ashram and World Yoga Organisation, explained, “Controlling our breathing can aid in emotional regulation. You’ll notice that when we cry, when we’re angry, etc., our breathing becomes laboured and shallow. Therefore, by just controlling our breathing, we can control our emotions. We can learn to remain composed and support our own growth.”

Talking about Yoga for patients with bronchial asthma, he suggested, “It is advised to begin with Shaant gathi (Slow Speed) while learning these techniques for the first time and gradually increase your practise intensity before progressing to Madyam (Medium Speed), then Tivra Gami (Fast Speed). By practising in Tivra gami, you can graduate to that level but Shant gati is still ideal for experienced practitioners because all three of these levels have positive benefits on the body and the mind.”

He recommended the following Yoga exercises or easy breathing techniques:

1. Bhastrika Pranayama

Breathing exercises are known as pranayama and this one is referred to as bhastrika. Your breath should make a sound similar to the bellows blacksmiths use while performing this pranayama.

The practice of bhastrika helps the body’s capacity grow. As you deepen your practice of this breathing method, you’ll benefit in a number of ways—physical, psychological, and spiritual.

Method

• Take up any comfortable position for sitting, such as Sukhasan, Ardhapadmasan, or Padmasana.

Close your eyes, arch your back, and place your hands in the Prapthi Mudra on your knees.

• Take a full, deep breath in and out. Inhalation to exhalation should be a 1:1 ratio. For instance, if you take six breaths in, you must also take six breaths out.

2. Anulom Vilom

The term anulom vilom refers to a specific type of controlled breathing (pranayama) utilised in the practise of yoga. In order to do it, you must keep one nostril closed when inhaling and the other closed while exhaling. After that, the process is repeated in reverse.

A few of the many stated medical and psychological benefits of alternate nostril breathing include stress reduction, improved breathing, and improved circulation. Scientific evidence backs up some of these statements.

Method

• Sit down in a relaxed position, ideally cross-legged. (such as Ardhapadmasan, Sukhasan, or Padmasana) • Align your spine and close your eyes

• The technique entails breathing via your opposing nostrils, with your left nose inhaling and your right nostril expelling.

• To complete a breath cycle, close your right nostril for left-sided inhalation, your left nose for right-sided exhalation, and your right nostril for right-sided inhalation.

• Use your thumb to gently press the air out of your nostril. The right nostril’s airflow is intended to be stopped.

• Make sure that when you inhale through your left nose, your right nostril feels equally pressured.

• Breathe deeply as you inhale.

• As you open your right nose, close your left nostril to let

Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar concluded, “These four pranayama breathing techniques—Basthrika, Udgeeth, Anulom Vilom, and Kapal Bhati—will be very helpful to you. When carried out correctly, it enables us to go deeper and gain a number of physical, psychological, and spiritual benefits. Every practitioner should take the time to completely master them as a result.”

Gambia deaths: ‘WHO yet to give relevant papers’

Post author By Pragya sharma
Post date November 11, 2022
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Synopsis

India’s drug regulator has written thrice to the WHO to provide documents but there has been no response, they said. Last month, the WHO had issued a warning on cough syrups after which Indian health authorities halted all production of the company.

The Indian government has not been able to make headway into the mysterious deaths of children in Gambia as the World Health Organization (WHO) has failed to provide it “relevant documents” needed to investigate and find causality between the deaths and cough syrups made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals, people in the know told ET.

India’s drug regulator has written thrice to the WHO to provide documents but there has been no response, they said. Last month, the WHO had issued a warning on cough syrups after which Indian health authorities halted all production of the company.

“We have so far not got anything from the WHO to take a step forward into the investigation,” said a person in the know.

A detailed email sent by ET to WHO on November 3 regarding the issue did not elicit any response.

Earlier last month, Indian government formed a committee under noted pharmacologist YK Gupta to investigate the mysterious child deaths that were thought to be linked to cough syrups made by Sonipat-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

The committee met three times but has not been able to make any headway.

Gambia’s national drug regulatory body, which has also been investigating, has so far not found any link between cough syrups from India and deaths of at least 70 children, and said some children died without consuming the suspected drugs, a local newspaper had reported early this month. However, the real cause of the acute kidney injury cases linked to the child deaths is still “unknown”, Medicines Control Agency ,The Gambia, told The Point newspaper.