This Mother’s Day, gift your mother a long and healthy life

This Mother’s Day, gift your mother a long and healthy life

New Delhi, May 07, 2016: Women play multiple parts in the course of their life that of a career woman, mother, wife, daughter, and sister. In the course of fulfilling all these duties, they often neglect their own health and well-being. After the age of 18, every woman must get regular preventive health check-ups to stay healthy and disease free. This Mother’s Day every daughter should gift her mother a health check-up, educate her about the importance of taking care of her health and give her the special care and attention she deserves.

Speaking about the same, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India & Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “Regular preventive health checkups are a must especially for women and mothers, who often have a tendency to ignore their own health. A woman’s body is always evolving and is prone to developing illness especially after childbirth due to the hormonal changes. Maternal deaths are at an all-time high in our country and so is post-pregnancy stress. It is imperative that awareness is raised about necessary preventive check-ups all women must get post the age of 30 and ways in which their family can help them safeguard their own health.”

Gynae check-up

In their late twenties, thirties, ever women should get a complete gynaecological check-up that includes a manual pelvic and breast examination plus a Pap smear. This must be done every year.

Heart check-up

Women in their thirties must also get a full heart check-up which includes blood pressure examination, a blood test to check LDL and HDL cholesterol. Those with a family history of heart disease may be asked to undergo a few additional tests. For those whose blood pressure is normal, they must get it measured every two years. Cholesterol checks when normal needs to be repeated every five years.

Thyroid

An underactive thyroid, measured via blood test, can lead to weight gain; an overactive thyroid can indicate an autoimmune disease. All women should get tested for thyroid disorders at 35, or younger if you have symptoms like unexplained changes in mood, weight, sleep habits, and cholesterol level.

Diabetes Test

Women in their forties must get checked for diabetes.  The text must be repeated every three years after the age of 45. Women must consult their doctor about testing earlier if they are overweight and have any other risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or if you smoke or have a family history of diabetes. If suffering from prediabetes, they must get checked every one to two years.

Vitamin D Test

Vitamin D helps protect bones. It may also defend against diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, and hike your body’s ability to fight off infections. You typically get the nutrient from sun exposure and fortified dairy products. But nowadays women prefer to stay away from the sun because they are more cautious about the suns harmful rays and about getting a tan. 80-90% of Indians suffer from Vitamin D deficiency also because they have a genetic predisposition to the deficiency and because of their predominantly vegetarian diet. In such cases supplementation is crucial.

Bone Density Test

Women above the age of 50 must get a bone density test to determine the amount of calcium and minerals in their bones. Menopause makes women more prone to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis due to the hormonal changes that happen in women. To help bones stay strong, regular aerobic exercise, eating a healthy and balanced diet and getting an adequate amount of sunlight is important.

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About Heart Care Foundation of India

Initiated in 1986, the Heart Care Foundation of India is a leading National NGO working in the field of creating mass health awareness among people from all walks of life and providing solutions for India’s everyday healthcare needs. The NGO uses consumer-based entertainment modules to impart health education and increase awareness amongst people. A leading example of this is the Perfect Health Mela, an annual event started in 1993 that is attended by over 2-3 lakh people each year. The Mela showcases activities across categories such as health education seminars and check-ups, entertainment programs, lifestyle exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and competitions. In addition to this, the NGO conducts programs and camps to train people on the technique of hands only CPR through its CPR 10 mantra for revival after a sudden cardiac arrest. They currently hold three Limca book of world records for the maximum number of people trained in hands-only CPR in one go. Keeping article 21 of the Indian constitution in mind, which guarantees a person Right to Life, Heart Care Foundation of India has also recently initiated a project called the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund to ensure that no one dies of a heart disease just because they cannot afford treatment.