Narcolepsy is a condition that causes patients to fall asleep uncontrollably throughout the day for periods lasting less than a minute to more than half an hour. These “sleep attacks” occur even after getting enough sleep at night. The unusual sleep pattern that people with narcolepsy have can affect their schooling, work, and social life. Falling asleep during activities like walking; driving, cooking, or talking can have dangerous results, both professionally and personally.

People with narcolepsy may also have one or more of the following signs and symptoms : –

Sudden loss of muscle tone and control (muscle weakness) over parts or all of the body while awake (cataplexy)
Sudden inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up (sleep paralysis)
Vivid dreams while falling asleep or waking up (hallucinations

Narcolepsy can occur in both men and women at any age, although its symptoms are usually first noticed in teenagers or young adults. There is strong evidence that narcolepsy may run in families; 8 to 12 percent of people with narcolepsy have a close relative with the disease.

Narcolepsy usually is a genetic (inherited) disorder, although it may be associated with brain damage or neurological disease

Diagnosis of Narcoplepsy

Epworth Sleepiness Scale : – During the test, you will be asked to answer 8 questions using a scale from 0 (not at all likely to fall asleep) to 3 (very likely to fall asleep). The resulting total score is between 0 and 24. Scores of 0 to 10 are normal. Total scores above 10 generally warrant further investigation.

Nocturnal polysomnogram : – This test will measure the electrical activity of your brain (electroencephalogram) and heart (electrocardiogram), and the movement of your muscles (electromyogram) and eyes (electro-oculogram), and usually requires an overnight stay at a sleep clinic for observation purposes.

Multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) This test measures how long it takes for you to fall asleep during the day, plus the kind of sleep you get during such a nap. Sleep specialists analyze your brain waves (EEG), heart rate (EKG), muscle activity, and eye movements

Spinal fluid analysis : – The lack of hypocretin in the cerebrospinal fluid may be a marker for narcolepsy. Examining spinal fluid is a new diagnostic test for narcolepsy

Narcolepsy is usually treated with amphetamine or amphetamine-like stimulants and a couple new pharmacologically different drugs. The most common amphetamine-like drugs are dextroamphetamine, pemoline methamphetamine, and methylphenidate.

In addition to drug therapy, an important part of treatment is scheduling short naps (10 to 15 minutes) two to three times per day to help control excessive daytime sleepiness and help the person stay as alert as possible. Daytime naps are not a replacement for nighttime sleep
Article by
BGS Hospitals

What is a Laryngectomy ?

The surgical procedure is performed to remove the voice box (larynx) and the separation of the airway from the esophagus, nose and the mouth. A part or all of the larynx can be removed. Owing to its location, larynx (voice box) plays a crucial role in swallowing, speaking and breathing. The larynx is located in the front of the esophagus (food pipe) and above on the trachea (windpipe). Larynx consists of two small bands of muscle (vocal cords) that helps in preventing the food from entering into the lungs and it vibrates to generate the voice. Laryngectomy is performed to remove the cancerous or tumor tissues.
Throat Cancer Symptoms

Location and size of the tumors are the two important factors for determining the symptoms-

While coughing the blood comes out
Constant cough
A mass or lump either in the throat or in the neck
Persistent or constant sore throat
Difficulty in breathing
The pain from the throat can result in ear pain

Laryngectomy Procedure

The surgical procedure is performed under general or local anesthesia. The surgeon in total laryngectomy will make cuts in the neck in order to open up the area. The crucial parts of the surgery

The first step is the removal of lymph nodes
The surgeon then removes the tissues and the larynx around it.
An opening is made in the patient’s trachea along with a hole in front of the neck.
The patient’s trachea is brought up and is then attached to stoma (hole)
After the surgical procedure, the patient will breathe from the stoma and the stoma is never removed.
Clips or stitches are used to thoroughly close the skin and the muscles.
Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is a little hole in the trachea (windpipe) and the tube which is responsible for sending food from the throat into the stomach (esophagus).
Prosthesis (a little man-made part) will be placed into the opening. With the help of Prosthesis, the patient is able to speak after the removal of the voice box.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Laryngectomy

The less invasive surgeries works for specific people and largely depends upon the type of the cancer and also on how much the cancer has spread. Some of the procedures are vertical partial laryngectomy, supracricoid partial laryngectomy, supraglotticor horizontal partial laryngectomy and endoscopic surgery.
Partial Laryngectomy

The procedure of removing a part of larynx instead of the whole is a very rare case. In this, a part of the voice box is left in order to be able to speak. But this results in the hoarse and weak voice. A temporary tracheotomy may be present that enables one to breathe.

Treatments for Laryngeal Cancer
What is a Laryngectomy ?

The surgical procedure is performed to remove the voice box (larynx) and the separation of the airway from the esophagus, nose and the mouth. A part or all of the larynx can be removed. Owing to its location, larynx (voice box) plays a crucial role in swallowing, speaking and breathing. The larynx is located in the front of the esophagus (food pipe) and above on the trachea (windpipe). Larynx consists of two small bands of muscle (vocal cords) that helps in preventing the food from entering into the lungs and it vibrates to generate the voice. Laryngectomy is performed to remove the cancerous or tumor tissues.
Throat Cancer Symptoms

Location and size of the tumors are the two important factors for determining the symptoms-

While coughing the blood comes out
Constant cough
A mass or lump either in the throat or in the neck
Persistent or constant sore throat
Difficulty in breathing
The pain from the throat can result in ear pain

Laryngectomy Procedure

The surgical procedure is performed under general or local anesthesia. The surgeon in total laryngectomy will make cuts in the neck in order to open up the area. The crucial parts of the surgery

The first step is the removal of lymph nodes
The surgeon then removes the tissues and the larynx around it.
An opening is made in the patient’s trachea along with a hole in front of the neck.
The patient’s trachea is brought up and is then attached to stoma (hole)
After the surgical procedure, the patient will breathe from the stoma and the stoma is never removed.
Clips or stitches are used to thoroughly close the skin and the muscles.
Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is a little hole in the trachea (windpipe) and the tube which is responsible for sending food from the throat into the stomach (esophagus).
Prosthesis (a little man-made part) will be placed into the opening. With the help of Prosthesis, the patient is able to speak after the removal of the voice box.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Laryngectomy

The less invasive surgeries works for specific people and largely depends upon the type of the cancer and also on how much the cancer has spread. Some of the procedures are vertical partial laryngectomy, supracricoid partial laryngectomy, supraglotticor horizontal partial laryngectomy and endoscopic surgery.
Partial Laryngectomy

The procedure of removing a part of larynx instead of the whole is a very rare case. In this, a part of the voice box is left in order to be able to speak. But this results in the hoarse and weak voice. A temporary tracheotomy may be present that enables one to breathe.

Treatments for Laryngeal Cancer

Radiotherapy : It is the most common treatment and is used for treating early stage cancers. The therapy helps in shrinking a large tumor of the larynx that makes it easy to remove.
Chemotherapy : Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be performed simultaneously to treat the cancer. Chemotherapy is also used when the cancer of the larynx again occurred after radiotherapy. The advanced cancer can be treated before with the help of chemotherapy (induction therapy).
Biological Therapy : This type of treatment is made up of natural body substances. The patient may opt for biological therapy which is also called as cetuximab. In this, radiotherapy can also perform for locally advanced squamous cell laryngeal cancer.

What is Throat Cancer ?

The throat (pharynx) is a cancer that develops in the throat. The throat is a five inch long tube that connects from the nose to the neck. The two major places of the throat cancer forms are pharynx and larynx. Head and neck cancer is the type of throat cancer that includes the salivary glands, nose, neck lymph nodes, mouth, tonsils and sinuses. Throat cancer is of two types –

Adenocarcinoma : This type of cancer starts in the glandular cells of the throat.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma : This type of cancer occurs in the flat and thin cells which lines the throat.

Pharyngeal cancer and Laryngeal cancer are the two most common forms of throat cancer.
Throat Polyps

The condition where there is an abnormal growth of the tissue which grows in the throat is known as throat polyps. Throat polyps may become cancerous and that is why a biopsy is performed. The symptoms include a feeling of having something at the back of the throat or can also be a feeling of sensation while swallowing.
Head and Neck Cancer

The cancers of head and neck usually starts in the squamous cells which lines the moist and mucosal surfaces in the head and neck. They are referred to as Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The cancers can also start in the salivary glands and that is a very uncommon situation. Salivary glands consist of a large number of cells which can become cancerous and ultimately leads to many types of salivary gland cancer.

To know more about Laryngectomyy cost in India keep browsing our site Medical India Tourism and to book a medical tour to India please fill the given form.

Radiotherapy : It is the most common treatment and is used for treating early stage cancers. The therapy helps in shrinking a large tumor of the larynx that makes it easy to remove.
Chemotherapy : Both radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be performed simultaneously to treat the cancer. Chemotherapy is also used when the cancer of the larynx again occurred after radiotherapy. The advanced cancer can be treated before with the help of chemotherapy (induction therapy).
Biological Therapy : This type of treatment is made up of natural body substances. The patient may opt for biological therapy which is also called as cetuximab. In this, radiotherapy can also perform for locally advanced squamous cell laryngeal cancer.

What is Throat Cancer ?

The throat (pharynx) is a cancer that develops in the throat. The throat is a five inch long tube that connects from the nose to the neck. The two major places of the throat cancer forms are pharynx and larynx. Head and neck cancer is the type of throat cancer that includes the salivary glands, nose, neck lymph nodes, mouth, tonsils and sinuses. Throat cancer is of two types –

Adenocarcinoma : This type of cancer starts in the glandular cells of the throat.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma : This type of cancer occurs in the flat and thin cells which lines the throat.

Pharyngeal cancer and Laryngeal cancer are the two most common forms of throat cancer.
Throat Polyps

The condition where there is an abnormal growth of the tissue which grows in the throat is known as throat polyps. Throat polyps may become cancerous and that is why a biopsy is performed. The symptoms include a feeling of having something at the back of the throat or can also be a feeling of sensation while swallowing.
Head and Neck Cancer

The cancers of head and neck usually starts in the squamous cells which lines the moist and mucosal surfaces in the head and neck. They are referred to as Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. The cancers can also start in the salivary glands and that is a very uncommon situation. Salivary glands consist of a large number of cells which can become cancerous and ultimately leads to many types of salivary gland cancer

Procedure Details

This is an operation to remove part of the tongue and adjacent tissues. At the same time,reconstructive surgery is performed to restore normal appearance and speech. A tracheostomy may be performed to assist breathing postoperatively, and a skin graft may be needed to replace removed tissue. Carried out under general anesthesia, the procedure may take several hours. A lengthy hospital stay is usually necessary.Hemiglossectomy and subsequent reconstructive surgery are major procedures and as such entail risk. At present, this operation is the treatment of choice for some types of tongue cancer.Hemiglossectomy may be performed when a malignant growth is found in the tongue.Diagnosis depends on microscopic examination of cells obtained at biopsy (tissue sampling).Important decision on treatment are based on staging, a process to determine the extent of the primary growth in the tongue and whether it has metastasized (spread) to another part of the body.A graft may be needed to replace tissue removed during surgery. If skin cover only is needed, a thin layer of skin (split-skin graft) may be taken from the thigh and placed over the wound. When tissue loss is greater, a full-thickness graft of skin, underlying muscle, and blood vessels, may be taken from the chest, back or forehead and used to reconstruct the tongue and mouth.

Article by
Dr. Balabhai, Nanavati Hospital
Mumbai

Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) for Abnormal Cervical Cell Changes:

The loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) uses a thin, low-voltage electrified wire loop to cut out abnormal tissue. LEEP can:

Cut away abnormal cervical tissue that can be seen during colposcopy camera.gif.
Remove abnormal tissue high in the cervical canal that cannot be seen during colposcopy. In this situation, LEEP may be done instead of a cone biopsy.

LEEP is also known as large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ).

A vinegar (acetic acid) or iodine solution, which makes abnormal cells more visible, may be applied to the cervix before the procedure is done.
How it is done

LEEP is usually done at your doctor’s office, a clinic, or a hospital as an outpatient procedure. You do not have to spend a night in the hospital.

You will need to take off your clothes below the waist and drape a paper or cloth covering around your waist. You will then lie on your back on an exam table with your feet raised and supported by footrests (stirrups). Your doctor will insert a lubricated tool called a speculum camera.gif into your vagina. The speculum gently spreads apart the vaginal walls, allowing the inside of the vagina and the cervix to be examined.

Medicine is injected to numb the cervix (cervical block). If a cervical block is used, an oral pain medicine or pain medicine given into a vein (intravenous, or IV) may be used along with the local anesthetic.
What To Expect After Surgery

Most women are able to return to normal activities within 1 to 3 days after LEEP is performed. Recovery time depends on how much was done during the procedure.
After LEEP

Mild cramping may occur for several hours after the procedure.
A dark brown vaginal discharge during the first week is normal.
Vaginal discharge or spotting may occur for about 3 weeks.
Pads should be used instead of tampons for about 3 weeks.
Sexual intercourse should be avoided for about 3 weeks.
Douching should not be done.

When to call your doctor

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

You have severe vaginal bleeding. You are passing clots of blood and soaking through your usual pads each hour for 2 or more hours.
You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
You have signs of infection, such as:
Increased pain.
Vaginal discharge that smells bad.
A fever.

Why It Is Done

LEEP is done after abnormal Pap test results have been confirmed by colposcopy and cervical biopsy. LEEP may be used to treat cell changes on the cervix. These include:

Minor cell changes called low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) that may be precancerous and that persist after a period of watchful waiting.
Moderate to severe cell changes that can be removed.

How Well It Works

LEEP is a very effective treatment for abnormal cervical cell changes. During LEEP, only a small amount of normal tissue is removed at the edge of the abnormal tissue area.

After LEEP, the tissue that is removed (specimen) can be examined for cancer that has grown deep into the cervical tissue (invasive cancer). In this way, LEEP can help further diagnosis as well as treat the abnormal cells.

LEEP is as effective as cryotherapy or laser treatment. If all of the abnormal cervical tissue is removed, no further surgery is needed, though abnormal cells may recur in the future. In some studies, all the abnormal cells were removed in as many as 98% of cases.1
Risks

Infection of the cervix or uterus may develop (rare).
Narrowing of the cervix (cervical stenosis) that can cause infertility may occur (rare).
After a woman has had LEEP, she has a higher risk of delivering a baby early

Psoriasis and Eczema
Treatment & Cure

Psoriasis & Eczema are non-infectious skin diseases that cause red, scaly rashes and patches on the skin. Though they are similar, the symptoms for psoriasis and eczema are usually different. Both Eczema and psoriasis cause painful swelling, bleeding cracks, severe scaling, itching, burning and plaques. Both psoriasis plaques and eczema rashes affect any part of the skin including scalp, palms, elbows, and knees, nape of the neck, genitals and soles of feet. Psoriasis is found in all age groups and most commonly it appears between 15 and 35. It is considered as a hereditary disease that passes down to the next generation whereas eczema is considered as allergic reaction that leads to long-standing irritation.
Herbal Treatment for Psoriasis and Eczema

Padanjali is an Ayurvedic psoriasis treatment centre that provides the best treatment for psoriasis and eczema. We provide herbal treatment for psoriasis especially hand psoriasis treatment, baby eczema treatments, eczema face treatment, infant eczema treatment, treatment for scalp psoriasis, skin psoriasis, guttate psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, genital psoriasis, eczema scalp treatment, severe eczema treatment, hand eczema treatment, eczema in children and infant eczema treatments. Treatment for eczema and psoriasis requires utmost care and therefore we recommend beginning your treatment program after the consultation with our Physician- Dr. Parameswaran Nair.

The treatment for psoriasis can start after initial consultation with doctor through phone or internet. A complete cure for psoriasis and eczema requires certain precautions before and during the period of medication

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What Is Shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster) is reactivated in your nerve tissues. Early signs of shingles include tingling and localized pain. Most, but not all, people with shingles develop a blistering rash. Typically, the shingles rash lasts two to four weeks, and most people make a complete recovery.

Doctors are often able to quickly diagnose shingles from the appearance of the rash.

Symptoms:

Early symptoms of shingles may include fever and general weakness. You may also feel areas of pain, burning, or a tingling sensation. A few days later, the first signs of rash appear. You may begin to notice pink or red blotchy patches on one side of your body. These patches cluster along nerve pathways. Some people report feeling shooting pains in the area of the rash.

During this initial stage, shingles is not contagious.

Blisters:

The rash quickly develops fluid-filled blisters (vesicles) similar to chickenpox. They may be accompanied by itching. New blisters continue to develop for several days. Blisters appear in bunches over one area and do not spread to your whole body. Blisters are most common on the torso and face, but they can occur elsewhere. In rare cases, the rash appears on the lower body.

You can’t catch shingles. However, direct contact with active blisters can spread the virus that causes chickenpox to nonresistant people

Scabbing and Crusting

The blisters sometimes erupt and ooze. They may then turn slightly yellow and begin to flatten. As they dry out, scabs begin to form. Each blister can take one to two weeks to completely crust over. During this stage, your pain may ease a little, but it can continue for months or, in some cases, for years.

Once all blisters have completely crusted over, there is no danger of spreading the virus.

The Shingles “Belt”

Shingles often appears around the rib cage or waist. This appears to form a “belt,” or a half belt. You might also hear this formation referred to as a “shingles band” or a “shingles girdle.” This classic presentation is easily recognizable as shingles. The belt can cover a wide area on one side of your midsection. Its location can make tight clothing particularly uncomfortable.

Ophthalmic Shingles:

Ophthalmic shingles affects the nerve that controls facial sensation and movement in your face. In this type, the shingles rash appears around your eye and over your forehead and nose. Ophthalmic shingles may be accompanied by headache. Other symptoms include redness and swelling of the eye, inflammation of your cornea or iris, and drooping eyelid. Ophthalmic shingles can also cause blurred vision or double vision.

Widespread Shingles

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20 percent of people with shingles develop a rash that crosses into multiple areas of skin. When the rash affects three or more areas, it is called disseminated (widespread) zoster. In these cases, the rash may look more like chickenpox than shingles. This is more likely to happen if you have a compromised immune system.

Healing

Most people can expect the rash to heal within two to four weeks. Although some people will be left with minor scars, most make a complete recovery with no visible scarring.

In some cases, pain along the site of the rash can continue for several months or longer (post-herpetic neuralgia).

You may have heard that once you get shingles, you can’t get it again. The CDC doesn’t have figures regarding recurrence of shingles, but the CDC and the Mayo Clinic caution that shingles can return multiple times in some people.

Peak flow meter:

A peak flow meter is a portable, easy-to-use device that measures how well your lungs are working. If you have asthma, your doctor may recommend that you use a peak flow meter to help track your asthma control.

In addition to watching for worsening signs and symptoms, such as wheezing or coughing, you can use a peak flow meter to help you decide when you need to act to keep your asthma under control. Regular use of your peak flow meter can give you time to adjust your medication or take other steps before your symptoms get worse. A peak flow meter can be useful for adults and children as young as preschool age.

A peak flow meter allows you to measure day-to-day changes in your breathing. Using a peak flow meter can help you:

Track the control of your asthma over time
Show how well your treatment is working
Recognize signs of a flare-up before symptoms appear
Know what steps to take when you have signs of an asthma flare-up
Decide when to call your doctor or get emergency care

RESULTS:

Once you and your doctor have established your peak flow zones, you’ll use a color-coded system based on your symptoms and your peak flow. This system tells you what to do when you are in each zone.
Green, yellow and red: Understanding your peak flow zones

Your doctor will use your personal best to set your peak flow zones. Each zone is determined by your peak flow rate and symptoms. The color code for each zone reflects progressively more-severe symptoms:
Green zone = stable

Your peak flow rate is 80 to 100 percent of your personal best, an indication that your asthma is under control.
You probably have no asthma signs or symptoms.
Take your preventive medications as usual.
If you consistently stay within the green zone, your doctor may recommend reducing your asthma medication.

Yellow zone = caution

Your peak flow rate is 50 to 80 percent of your personal best, an indication that your asthma is getting worse.
You may have signs and symptoms such as coughing, wheezing or chest tightness – but your peak flow rates may decrease before symptoms appear.
You may need to increase or change your asthma medication.

Red zone = danger

Your peak flow rate is less than 50 percent of your personal best, an indication of a medical emergency.
You may have severe coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Stop whatever you’re doing and use a bronchodilator or other medication to open your airways.
Your asthma action plan will help you decide whether to call your doctor, take an oral corticosteroid or seek emergency care.

Peak flow: Just one tool for asthma control

Using a peak flow meter can be an effective tool for managing your asthma — but there are other things you need to do:

Use an asthma action plan. An action plan is a simple but important part of managing your asthma. It helps you keep track of which medications to take, when to take them and what doses you need, based on whether you’re in your green, yellow or red zone.
Meet with your doctor. Even if your asthma’s under control, meet with your doctor on a regular basis to review your action plan and revise it as needed. Asthma symptoms change over time, which means your treatment may need to change, too.
Avoid your triggers. Pay attention to things that trigger your asthma symptoms or make them worse and try to avoid them.
Make healthy choices. Taking steps to stay healthy — for example, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and not smoking — can make a big difference in reducing your asthma symptoms
Article by
Fortis Healthcare

Arthroscopy:

Arthroscopy (ahr-THROS-skuh-pee) is a procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems. During arthroscopy, a surgeon inserts a narrow tube containing a fiber-optic video camera through a small incision — about the size of a buttonhole. The view inside your joint is transmitted to a video monitor.

Arthroscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your joint without having to make a large incision. Surgeons can even repair some types of joint damage during arthroscopy, with pencil-thin surgical instruments inserted through additional small incisions.

Doctors use arthroscopy to help diagnose and treat a variety of joint conditions, most commonly those affecting the:

Knee
Shoulder
Elbow
Ankle
Hip
Wrist

Diagnostic procedures:

Doctors often turn to arthroscopy if X-rays and other imaging studies have left some diagnostic questions unanswered.
Surgical procedures

Conditions treated with arthroscopy include:

Bone spurs or loose bone fragments
Damaged or torn cartilage
Inflamed joint linings
Joint infections
Torn ligaments and tendons
Scarring or tissue overgrowth within joints

Your surgeon will review the findings of the arthroscopy with you as soon as possible. You may also receive a written report, as may your primary physician.

After arthroscopic surgery to treat a joint injury or disease, healing may take several weeks. Your surgeon will monitor your progress in follow-up visits and address any problems that arise.
Article by
Fortis Healthcare