Five ways to safely research your health symptoms online

Help your doctor to help you. (Posed by models.) Photograph: RyanJLane/Getty Images Be confident , but considerate There is no need for you to feel self-conscious about letting your GP know that you have researched your symptoms online. Your health means more to you than it does to anyone else, so embrace the information at your fingertips: it may help your doctor to help you. But it is important to remember that they are the expert, and to respect their time limitations. Before your appointment, form some plan for how to…

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Prediabetes symptoms, don’t ignore warning signs of frequent urination, thirst, fatigue

If you’ve been visiting the loo too often to urinate or are feeling thirsty like never before or experience blurry vision, you might have progressed from prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes. But the million dollar question is what is prediabetes and its symptoms? “Prediabetes is a condition in which the fasting blood glucose level falls between 100 and 125mg/dL. In people with this condition, blood sugar levels increase but not enough to be categorised as Type 2 diabetes,” explains Bangalore-based Dr M Udaya Kumar Maiya, medical director of home healthcare app, Portea Medical.…

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How to control high BP in pregnancy, symptoms and cure for a healthy baby

Pregnant women are advised ample rest and there’s a good reason for it. In fact, pregnant women undergo constant blood pressure check up so that the doctor can monitor the pressure levels throughout pregnancy. Developing high blood pressure during pregnancy is not always harmful but it could also lead to several complications. “These days high BP during late pregnancies is very common. There is also a high possibility that women have hypertension as a pre-existing condition,” says Dr Anjali Talwalkar, obstetrics and gynecology, Kohinoor Hospital. These are some of the symptoms that you…

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Heart failure causes and symptoms, experts say even moderate drinking could be fatal

Alcohol is bad for our health and we don’t need a doctor to tell us that. However, how much alcohol is ok has always been debatable. There have been many studies conducted on the consumption of alcohol and its impact on our bodies, but there has never been a conclusive figure or amount that we could agree on. But in the interest of good health, it is best to avoid alcohol. Because according this latest study, even moderate level of alcohol consumption may worsen the condition of heart failure patients with a…

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Cauda Equina syndrome: Causes, symptoms, cure for back pain, weak leg muscles

Have you been experiencing severe back pain, difficulty in walking, or weakness in your lower leg muscles? These could be symptoms of the Cauda Equina syndrome. Never heard of the term before? “Cauda Equina syndrome is a rare disorder that affects the bundle of nerve roots (called cauda equina) at the lower (lumbar) end of the spinal cord. In this condition, the nerve roots in the lumbar spine become compressed, due to which sensation and movement are cut off. Nerve roots controlling bladder and bowel functions are particularly vulnerable,” explains Dr Ramananda…

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Dear parents, take note. Pre-schoolers with ADHD symptoms may have reduced brain size

Pre-schoolers with symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have reduced brain volumes in regions essential for behavioural control, says a new study. ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed form of psychopathology during the pre-school years, and during early childhood it is associated with significant long-term health. The study represents the first comprehensive examination of cortical brain volume in pre-school children with ADHD and provides an indication that anomalous brain structure is evident in the early stages of development. According to the researchers, the findings can help in determining new ways…

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