Unhealthy Discharge, Vaginitis, Bacterial Vaginosis: Women’s Health Issues You Should Be Aware Of

Unhealthy Discharge, Vaginitis, Bacterial Vaginosis: Women’s Health Issues You Should Be Aware Of

All women should be concerned about the health of their private parts. But what exactly does it entail? While it varies depending on a woman’s age, a woman’s private parts normally has an acidic pH, a high concentration of helpful bacteria that help fight infections and is naturally lubricated. A healthy vagina secretes tiny quantities of the discharge as well. While some women may be unaware of it, others may detect up to a teaspoon or tablespoon of discharge every day.

“Discharge is a natural physiological response; it is essentially the loss of cervical and vaginal cells. But, if women suffer changes invaginal odour, a change in the colour of their discharge that may be related to discomfort, whether it’s pelvic discomfort or vulvar discomfort, itching, or burning, any change must be investigated,” cautions Dr Padma Srivastava, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Lullanagar, Pune.

Talking to The HealthSite, Dr Srivastava mentions some of the issues women ought to be aware of and how they should take care of their vaginal health.

Q. What is essential to maintain the vaginal health?

It’s all about balance, as with many things in life. Several different types of bacteria coexist in a healthy vagina. Indeed, a healthy vagina is teeming with germs. Certain bacteria are regarded as “healthy,” while others are deemed “bad.” Beneficial bacteria serve to keep the vagina somewhat acidic. This prevents harmful germs from multiplying too quickly. Yet, harmful bacteria can sometimes take control and cause difficulties.

Q. What causes bacteria to go out of balance?

Many things can affect this balance. Antibiotics, douching, tight trousers, vaginal goods (sprays, lubricants, birth control devices), and pregnancy are among them. Discharge is one indicator that things are out of equilibrium. A healthy vagina produces a discharge that is slick and transparent or white while moist, may become yellowish when dried, and has minimal odour. This healthy discharge may be thicker at times of the month. Unhealthy discharge is not the same. It has an unusual hue (yellow, greenish, grey, or thick white) with a strong, disagreeable odour.

Nevertheless, discharge isn’t the only indicator to be on the lookout for. An issue might also be indicated by swelling, itching, or burning in and around the vagina. These symptoms are known as vaginitis, a wide word used to describe several forms of vaginal infections. Vaginitis is quite common, and most women will have it at least once in their lifetimes.

Q. How one should be dealing with vaginal issues?

It’s critical to know what you’re dealing with before considering therapy for any vaginal issues. A healthcare expert can correctly diagnose the cause of vaginitis and ensure that you receive the appropriate therapy. While it may be tempting to self-diagnose and self-treat with over-the-counter or natural medications, many women do so, it is critical to make an accurate diagnosis.

If left misdiagnosed and untreated, bacterial vaginosis (BV), resulting from an overgrowth of bacteria, can raise a woman’s risk of STIs, including HIV. Pregnant women may encounter extra complications since BV can cause infants to be delivered prematurely or with low birth weight.

 

H3N2 influenza: How to keep kids safe from aggressive flu virus

H3N2 influenza: How to keep kids safe from aggressive flu virus

Currently, not only adults but even children are down with fever, cold, cough, sore throat, diarrhoea, and body pain owing to H3N2 infection. It is the need of the hour for patients to take the utmost care of their children by following certain guidelines. Read on to know more about this, and seek timely medical intervention when it comes to your child’s health.

 

Preeclampsia Can Restrict Foetal Growth, Raise Chances Of Stillbirth: How To Manage The Condition

Preeclampsia Can Restrict Foetal Growth, Raise Chances Of Stillbirth: How To Manage The Condition

Preeclampsia means developing high blood pressure levels during pregnancy. It is seen after the 20th week of pregnancy and usually disappears within days to weeks after delivering the baby. It can affect both the mother and her baby. Pregnant women with pre-eclampsia are at higher risk of having high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart problems later in life, especially if the illness develops early in pregnancy. In the fetus, this condition can cause growth restriction as well as increase chances of stillbirth.

Dr. Priya Deshpande, Consultant Maternal Foetal Medicine, Motherhood Hospital, Kharghar, explains how preeclampsia impacts the baby, and how to keep it under control.

Causes of Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia can be caused owing to age, family history, previous preeclampsia, diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease, thrombophilia and an autoimmune condition such as lupus and even obesity before pregnancy. Moreover, having high blood pressure in the previous pregnancy can also lead to this issue in the second pregnancy. Preeclampsia can take a toll on the other organs of the body and harm the mother and her developing foetus (unborn baby). Hence, expecting mothers should be aware of the signs and symptoms of the condition.

Signs and symptoms of Preeclampsia

Proteinuria (excess bloodborne proteins in urine), low platelet numbers in the blood (thrombocytopenia), headaches, weakness, dizziness, water retention, blurred vision, light sensitivity, shortness of breath due to pulmonary fluid, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain are some of the signs and symptoms of Preeclampsiathat one shouldn’t ignore. Timely diagnosis and regular monitoring of blood pressure can help keep it under control.

How preeclampsia impacts the baby

High blood pressure during pregnancy can restrict the baby’s growth and raise the chances of stillbirth. Those babies who fail to grow properly are likely to develop hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes in adult life. Moreover, it can also lead to under-developed organs, breathing difficulties, jaundice and low immunity in the baby. There can even be foetal death that can occur from a sudden detachment of the placenta from the uterus called as abruption placenta due to this condition.

Tips to managepreeclampsia

Screening for development of pregnancy-induced hypertension can be done in the first trimester scans. High risk cases can be started on preventive medications till 9th month to delay the onset and reduce severity of this condition.

To manage this condition, the doctor will suggest appropriate medication and monitor the blood pressure from time to time. One will also be advised to eat a well-balanced diet inclusive of all the vital nutrients. One will be asked to reduce the salt intake and stick to healthy eating habits. It will be essential for pregnant women to take charge of their health and prevent this condition.

 

Stillbirth:Gynaecologist Manju Gupta explains how to deal with life after stillbirth

Stillbirth:Gynaecologist Manju Gupta explains how to deal with life after stillbirth

Life After Stillbirth: अपने बच्‍चे को खोना शायद इस दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा दुख और सदमा होता है। कोई अपने दुश्‍मन के लिए भी इस तकलीफ को नहीं चाहता है। जब मरा हुआ बच्‍चा पैदा होता है यानि स्टिलबर्थ (Stillbirth) होता है या जन्‍म लेने के कुछ समय बाद ही शिशु की मृत्‍यु हो जाती है, मां-बाप को बहुत गहरा सदमा लगता है और उनके शरीर में कई शारीरिक बदलाव भी आते हैं। ये बदलाव पैरेंट्स की सेहत को लंबे समय तक प्रभावित कर सकते हैं और इनका असर मानसिक और भावनात्‍मक, दोनों पहलुओं पर पड़ सकता है। नोएडा के मदरहुड हॉस्‍पीटल की सीनियर कंसल्‍टेंट गायनेकोलॉजिस्‍ट डॉक्‍टर मंजू गुप्‍ता से हम जानेंगे कि निओनेटल डेथ और स्टिलबर्थ के बाद मां-बाप की जिंदगी में किस तरह के बदलाव आते हैं।

प्रेग्‍नेंसी शरीर को कई तरह से बदल देती है और स्टिलबर्थ या निओनेटल डेथ के बाद शरीर इनवोल्‍यूशन नाम की प्रक्रिया में चला जाता है। इस प्रक्रिया में गर्भाशय अपने पुराने साइज और शेप में आने की कोशिश करता है। इस प्रक्रिया में कुछ हफ्तों से लेकर कुछ महीनों का समय लग सकता है और इसमें यूट्राइन लाइनिंग यानि लोचिया गिर जाती है। लोचिया भारी हो सकती है और इसे गिरने में कई हफ्तों का समय लग सकता है। इसकी वजह से पैरेंट्स को अपने बच्‍चे को खोने की तकलीफ याद आती रहती है।

भावनात्‍मक बदलाव

स्टिलबर्थ या निओनेटल डेथ के बाद पैरेंट्स को भावनात्‍मक बदलावों से भी गुजरना पड़ता है। हर किसी को अलग तरीके से दुख महसूस होता है और हर किसी का इससे निपटने का तरीका भी अलग होता है। स्टिलबर्थ या निओनेटल डेथ के बाद पैरेंट्स को गिल्‍टी महसूस हो सकता है। उन्‍हें लग सकता है कि उन्‍होंने प्रेग्‍नेंसी के दौरान कुछ चीजें नहीं की जिसकी वजह से ऐसा हुआ है। शिशु की मृत्‍यु के लिए वो खुद को जिम्‍मेदार समझ सकते हैं।

गुस्‍सा आता है

पैरेंट्स को खुद पर, अपने पार्टनर पर या डॉक्‍टर पर या यहां तक कि मृत शिशु पर भी गुस्‍सा आ सकता है। उन्‍हें लगता है कि जो भी हुआ वो गलत था और ऐसा क्‍यों हुआ। कुछ मां-बाप खुद को अकेला कर लेता है और अपने दुख को अकेले में झेलना चाहते हैं। उन्‍हें लगता है कि वो उन लोगों से बात ही नहीं कर सकते जिन्‍होंने इस तकलीफ को महसूस नहीं किया है।

कैसे करें हैंडल

इस स्थिति में मां-बाप को काउंसलिंग की मदद लेनी चाहिए। इससे वो अपने इमोशंस और तकलीफ को हैंडल करना सीख सकते हैं। यहां पर पैरेंट्स को अपनी भावनाओं के बारे में बात करने, सवाल पूछने और दुख से बाहर निकलने में मदद मिल सकती है। अपने जैसे दूसरे पैरेंट्स से कनेक्‍ट करने के लिए आप सपोर्ट ग्रुप्‍स से भी जुड़ सकते हैं। उनके अनुभव, सलाह को जानकर आपकी तकलीफ थोड़ी कम हो सकती है। इसके अलावा पैरेंट्स को अपनी देखभाल पर भी ध्‍यान देना चाहिए। पर्याप्‍त आराम करें, पौष्टिक आहार लें और ऐसे काम करें जो उन्‍हें आनंद देते हों। इससे आप शारीरिक और भावनात्‍मक रूप से स्‍वस्‍थ महसूस कर सकते हैं।

 

Parents of children born like this drown in the sea of ​​sorrow

Parents of children born like this drown in the sea of ​​sorrow

Losing your child is probably the biggest sorrow and shock in this world. No one wants this trouble even for his/her enemy. When a dead child is born i.e. stillbirth or the death of a child shortly after birth, the parents are deeply shocked and many physical changes take place in their bodies. These changes can affect the health of the parents in the long run and can have an impact on both mental and emotional aspects. We will know from Dr. Manju Gupta, Senior Consultant Gynecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Noida, what kind of changes come in the life of parents after neonatal death and stillbirth.

 

physical changes

 

Pregnancy changes the body in many ways and after stillbirth or neonatal death, the body goes through a process called involution. In this process, the uterus tries to return to its old size and shape. This process may take a few weeks to a few months and involves the shedding of the uterine lining called lochia. Lochia may be heavy and may take several weeks to pass. Because of this, parents keep remembering the pain of losing their child.

emotional changes

​Parents also go through emotional changes after a stillbirth or neonatal death. Everyone feels grief differently and everyone has a different way of dealing with it. Parents may feel guilty after a stillbirth or neonatal death. They may feel that they did not do some things during pregnancy due to which this has happened. They may consider themselves responsible for the death of the child.

feel angry

Parents may feel angry at themselves, at their partner or at the doctor or even at the dead baby. They feel that whatever happened was wrong and why it happened. Some parents isolate themselves and want to face their grief alone. They feel that they cannot talk to those people who have not felt this pain.

how to handle

In this situation, parents should take the help of counseling. With this, they can learn to handle their emotions and pain. Here parents can find help to talk about their feelings, ask questions, and move through grief. You can also join support groups to connect with other parents like you. Knowing their experience and advice can reduce your pain a bit. Apart from this, parents should also pay attention to their care. Get enough rest, eat nutritious food and do things that make them happy. This can make you feel physically and emotionally healthy.

 

What is Endometriosis, and how can this cause chronic pain in women?

What is Endometriosis, and how can this cause chronic pain in women?

Endometriosis is a painful condition affecting millions of women worldwide. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the lining of the pelvis. This condition can cause chronic pain, which is often challenging to manage. 

Endometriosis can cause other symptoms, such as infertility, heavy or irregular periods, fatigue, and gastrointestinal problems. It is a complex condition that can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Many women with endometriosis go undiagnosed for years, which can lead to a delay in treatment and increased pain and discomfort. Therefore, it is essential to recognize the symptoms of endometriosis and seek medical attention promptly. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into how endometriosis causes pain and the different types associated with the condition.

Endometriosis can cause chronic pain by the following mechanisms:

Inflammation: Endometriosis causes inflammation, which can irritate nerves and cause pain. Inflammation can also cause scar tissue to form, contributing to pain.

Hormones: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent condition, meaning hormones influence it. The growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus can cause hormonal imbalances, which can lead to pain.

Nerve Endings: Endometriosis can irritate the nerve endings in the pelvic area, causing pain.

Types of Pain Associated with Endometriosis
Endometriosis can cause several types of pain, including:

●    Menstrual Pain: Women with endometriosis often experience severe menstrual cramps which may interfere with their daily activities.

●    Chronic Pelvic Pain: Endometriosis can cause sharp chronic pelvic pain lasting more than six months. 

●    Pain During Intercourse: Endometriosis can cause pain during intercourse, making sexual activity uncomfortable or even impossible.

●    Pain During Bowel Movements: Women with endometriosis may experience pain during bowel movements, especially during their periods.

●    Painful Urination: Endometriosis can cause pain during urination, especially during menstrual periods.

Ways to Manage Pain Symptoms:
Endometriosis is a difficult condition to manage, but there are several strategies that women can use to reduce their pain symptoms. Some of these strategies include:

●    Pain Medications: Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen can help to relieve menstrual cramps and other types of pain. Prescription pain medications may be needed for more severe pain.

●    Hormonal Therapies: Hormonal therapies such as birth control pills, progestins, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists can help to regulate hormone levels and reduce pain.

●    Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove endometrial or scar tissue causing pain.

●    Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Pelvic floor physical therapy can help reduce pain by strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.

●    Relaxation Techniques: Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can help to reduce stress and alleviate pain

●    Diet Modifications: Certain dietary modifications, such as reducing the intake of caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods, may help to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain.

Conclusion:
Endometriosis is a painful condition that can cause chronic pain, often difficult to manage. However, by understanding how endometriosis causes pain and implementing strategies to manage pain symptoms, women with endometriosis can improve their quality of life. If you are experiencing chronic pain, you must talk to your healthcare provider about your symptoms and develop a personalized treatment plan.

 

Heatwave: Children more prone to heat related illness, dizziness and fatigue are warning signs

Heatwave: Children more prone to heat related illness, dizziness and fatigue are warning signs

On Sunday, both Delhi and Mumbai recorded the season’s highest temperatures at 34.1 degrees Celsius and 39.4 degrees Celsius respectively. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that this trend is going to keep up for the next few days as well.