Biothesiometry test is done in diabetic (Sugar) patients, persons taking alcohol, persons with vitamin B12 deficiency and in liver diseases. If you feel pins & needles sensation in tour hands and feet, burning sensation or pain in feet, loss of ability to detect changes in heat, cold or pain perception, you should undergo this test. In sugar patients, high blood glucose level is main cause of diabetic neuropathy and is responsible for 50% to 75% of non-traumatic amputations The diabetic neuropathy can be detected by the use of Vibration perception threshold (VPT) measured by Biothesiometer. VPT is considered as a gold standard for diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.. Ideally, all diabetic patient should undergo biothesiometry annually for early diagnosis of neuropathy & future therapy to prevent progression of disease which leads to diabetic ulcers.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency internationally and is seen in more than 50% of people all over the world. Maximum affected are the females and the children. Iron is required for haemoglobin formation along with many other nutrients in our body. If there is iron deficiency, person will feel lethargic & tired because of low haemoglobin (Anaemia). The immune system of the body will become weak. So one should get tested for haemoglobin and iron levels in blood. There are certain group of anaemia profile tests to know the type and probable cause of anaemia. There are many reasons of anaemia (Low haemoglobin) but iron deficiency is the most common cause. Out of many causes of Iron deficiency, low dietary intake of iron is the main culprit. So, iron supplements & diet rich in iron is the solution to this problem. Diet rich in iron can be taken as routine but iron supplements in the form of tablets, capsules or injections should be taken only after proper testing from a reputed specialist path lab managed by a pathologist only. There are many natural dietary sources of iron which include green leafy vegetables, jaggery, dates, apple, broccoli, brown rice, whole meal bread, dry fruits, fortified cereals, eggs, fish, chicken, lean red meat etc. Vegetables cooked in iron utensils is also one of the traditional & age-old method to get a good amount of iron daily in our diet. Iron should be consumed with vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) which increases iron absorption. Certain things decrease iron absorption so these should not be taken with iron supplements or capsules such as tea, coffee, calcium, phytates in whole grain & dried beans. According to World Health Organization (W.H.O.), the minimum levels of haemoglobin should be 13 grams per 100 ml. of blood in adult males, 12 grams in adult females and 11.5 grams per 100 ml. of blood in children. For this we need minimum 10 to 30 mg. of iron everyday depending upon the age, gender & specific requirement like pregnancy, convalescence & exercise. Your doctor may prescribe you different types of salts of iron with different bioavailability. Iron tablets can cause constipation, nausea or mild pain in stomach in some persons. In that case do not stop iron, just tell your doctor to change the formulation of iron. The other salt of iron probably might suit you. Anaemia treatment and iron supplementation after proper testing can make your life more livable & healthy. Be healthy and contribute well to your family & country’s growth. Dr. Yogesh Chhabra* MBBS, MD (Pathology)

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. BMI of more than 30 is considered as obesity whereas a BMI of 25 to 30 comes under overweight. Overall, about 13% of the world’s adult population (11% of men and 15% of women) were obese in 2014. A sedentary lifestyle plays a significant role in obesity Obesity is most commonly caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity, and genetic susceptibility. Obesity may lead to diabetes (Sugar), high blood pressure, heart diseases, osteoarthritis, asthma, obstructive sleep apnoea and more tendency to get some cancers of endometrium, breast, ovary, prostate, liver, gall bladder, kidney and colon. As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy How can overweight and obesity be reduced? Controlled food and good amount of exercise can reduce anyone’s bosy weight. Obesity is mostly preventable through a combination of social changes and personal choices Limit energy intake from total fats and sugars. Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts. Engage in regular physical activity (60 minutes a day for children and 150 minutes spread through the week for adults). Diet quality can be improved by reducing the consumption of energy-dense foods, such as those high in fat and sugars, and by increasing the intake of dietary fiber.

The age old phrase “Health is Wealth” still holds true in 21st century as well. Rather, it is more important in new era of life where life has become more busy, hectic and full of artificial and man-made things. Taking care of one’s health is most essential part of life. If health is good, one can do all other activities. With good health one can earn the name, fame & money, and enjoy the life. To maintain good health, one must follow good healthy habits. Certain time-tested guidance given by parents & grand-parents should be followed. The traditional guidelines with a background of scientific evidence can teach us good health etiquettes. Regular exercise, low calorie diet, some dietary supplements & regular routine health checkups are part of this. Certain routine blood, urine, stool tests can tell many thing about our body’s inside. Any deviation from normal can be managed as early as possible without many complications with proper and timely treatment. “Basic complete body tests” should be done for any person of more than 35 or 40 years of life from a good reputed lab., where a lab specialist doctor i.e. pathologist himself is working to give you the true results of your blood tests. Be sure that the tests are being done under the direct supervision of lab specialist doctor. The test results are not valid medically & legally in the court of law if not done by a certified and properly qualified pathologist. So make sure about the presence of a pathologist in the lab. “Basic diabetic profile” should be done for all diabetic patients at least twice a year. Extended or specific requirement of tests will vary from patient to patient depending upon the results of basic tests. These tests should include fasting and 2 hours blood sugar, 3 months average blood sugar test (HbA1c), CBC, LFT, KFT, lipid profile, thyroid, urine, stool, BP and ECG. Cervical “pap smear” test is also an important test in females to know the early chances of cervix (opening of uterus) cancer. This cervical cancer is most common cancer in Indian women. Fortunately, this is curable if picked up early by routine regular “pap smear” test after the age of 35. In UK, USA & other developed countries, routine & compulsory pap smear test has very much reduced the incidence of cancer cervix. “DEXA scan” for checking Bone Mineral Density (BMD) is also an integral part of our sedentary life style to know the weakness of bone (Osteopenia & osteoporosis) and to know the probability of fracture of bones. To prevent this osteopenia & osteoporosis, everybody should take good amount of calcium from any source, vitamin D and do regular exercise of any type. All females after the age of 45 and males after the age of 45 to 50 should undergo a safe & harmless test of “DEXA SCAN” at least once. “HORMONES TESTS” are also important with certain symptoms of certain diseases like weight gain or weight loss, lack of interest in sex etc. People are shy to discuss these sexual desire related issues, but a healthy sexual life is also an important part of health. So going for sexual hormones testing and then taking a treatment of this can help people to retain their healthy sexual life. To conclude, Prevention is better than cure. One must spend a certain minimum time & money to know the diseases in early stage to get a proper and effective treatment. The author, Dr. Yogesh Chhabra, is a pathologist with an MBBS, MD (Pathology) degrees with Gold medalist, and running a private lab in sector 14 of city Karnal.