General Health Topics

The list below provides some examples of the articles available in the InsHeal Content Repository on general health topics. For further details and sample articles, please reach out to us at: insheal@insiwi.co.in.

Topic	Description
Allergy to Antibiotics	Allergic reactions to medications, especially antibiotics, are not uncommon. Alternative options are available for those who are allergic to a particular group of antibiotics.
Antibiotic Resistance in India – Time for Action	Antibiotic resistance could result in redundancy of some of the commonly used antibiotics, and create a deficit in the available treatments. Judicious use of antibiotics is the need of the hour.
Chronic insomnia	Insomnia is a sleep disorder associated with a difficulty in falling asleep and/or maintaining the sleep for the required duration. While sleep hygiene techniques may help some individuals with insomnia, others may need medications.
Companion diagnostic tests	Companion diagnostic tests detect an abnormality in a gene or a protein responsible for a cancer, and an associated treatment to specifically treat that abnormality is available.
Conditions associated with Insomnia	People with insomnia are at a risk of conditions such as heart disease, depression, diabetes and obesity. On the other hand, people with conditions such as psychiatric disorders, chronic pain and respiratory issues are at a risk for insomnia.
Dengue	Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that could follow a mild course or progress to complications such as bleeding and a fall in blood pressure. The prevention of mosquito bites and early detection of the infection can prevent severe disease.
Drugs and Kidney Damage	Some medicines can have adverse effects on the kidney, and could even result in kidney failure. These should be avoided in individuals with pre-existing kidney disease.
Effect on Reduced Sleep on health	Reduced sleep in terms of duration as well as rhythm can affect the physical and mental health. It also increases the risk of accidents.
Informed Consent	The informed consent form is a written document that indicates the willingness of a person to participate in a clinical trial after being informed about the relevant information related to the clinical trial.
Late-life Depression	Elderly individuals may suffer from depression due to their underlying health conditions. They may not respond as well as younger individuals to antidepressant medications.
Low vitamin D Levels – Causes and Effects	Inadequate exposure to sunlight and/or inadequate intake of vitamin D through the diet are common causes of vitamin D deficiency. The deficiency primarily affects bone health, though it may also have an impact on immunity.
Neck pain – Risk Factors	Neck pain is due to physical factors affecting the bones and/or the muscles of the neck. It could also be associated with psychological factors such as stress or mental disorders such as bipolar disorder.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)	NAFLD is a condition characterized by infiltration of fat in the liver followed by inflammation and fibrosis. With no drugs currently approved for its treatment, diet control and regular exercise with the aim of promoting weight loss constitute the mainstay of the treatment of NAFLD.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea	Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where a person temporarily stops breathing during sleep. Weight loss and special appliances could help to overcome the breathing problems.
Omics technologies in Cancer Therapy	Omics technologies, which include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics, analyze data related to genes, transcripts, proteins, metabolites and microbial flora, thus contributing to a personalized approach to cancer treatment.
Parkinson’s Disease – Symptoms	Parkinson’s disease is a condition associated with symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement and problems with balance. Symptoms unrelated to the motor system such as depression and sleep disturbances may be present.
Personal health records	Personal health records, especially those related to current illnesses and routine medicines, as well as health insurance details should be available in person as well as with the immediate family or friends. These could be required in case of a medical emergency.
Precision / Personalized Medicine	Precision medicine, also referred to as personalized medicine, moves away from the one-size-fits-all to a tailored approach to individualize treatment for complex diseases such as cancer.
Remission of type 2 diabetes	Some people with type 2 diabetes may be able to come off their diabetes medications following interventions such as bariatric surgery or lifestyle modifications. They should however continue to routinely monitor their blood glucose control and check for diabetes complications.
Tinnitus	Tinnitus is a symptom where a sound appears to be generated by the body, rather than by outside source. It could be due to simple conditions such as excessive wax in the ear to more serious conditions. In some cases, the cause is not known, and the patient can be taught to cope with the condition
Tumor board	A tumor board is a group of cancer specialists that meet either physically or virtually to discuss the treatment of a cancer based on its molecular profile.

Hypertension-related topics	Description
ACE inhibitor Induced Cough	Drugs like ramipril, lisonopril and enalapril ,which are used to treat patients with high blood pressure and heart failure, belong to a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. They could cause cough as a side effect, which if persistent, may require the replacement of the medicines with other drugs.
Blood Pressure in Normal and Hypertensive Individuals	According to the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) guidelines 2020, when measured in the doctor’s office, a blood pressure of less than 130/85 mm Hg is normal. Hypertension is diagnosed when repeated blood pressure readings are ≥140 mm Hg and/or ≥90 mm Hg, or a single reading is very high, i.e. ≥180/110 mm Hg, along with evidence of cardiovascular disease.
Feet swelling due to calcium channel blockers	Calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, nifedipine and felodipine, which are commonly used to treat hypertension and angina, are often associated with swelling around the ankles. The physician may substitute the medication or add another antihypertensive drug if the adverse effect disturbs the patient.
Hypertension-induced organ damage	Uncontrolled hypertension can damage organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes. The organ damage can be avoided through the early diagnosis and treatment of the high blood pressure.
Measurement of Blood Pressure	The blood pressure readings are taken in the doctor’s office and /or at home using validated blood pressure monitors and under recommended conditions to ensure the accuracy of the readings.
Resistant hypertension	Resistant hypertension refers to a high blood pressure that cannot be controlled by the optimal doses of even 3 antihypertensive drugs. These patients are at a high risk of complications and should be treated at specialized centers.
Tests in Hypertension	Blood and other tests are recommended in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension. Additional tests may be advised to detect possible causes of hypertension or organ damage due to the high blood pressure.

Work-related Health Issues and Digital Health	Description
Digital eye strain	Digital eye strain refers to eye issues that follow the use of digital screens such as computers and smartphones. Symptoms could include dry eyes, difficulty in focusing and headache.
Effect of the Internet and Smartphone on the Brain	Research suggests that use of digital devices could affect the brain functions such as attention span, cognition and multitasking.
Effect of personal listening devices on hearing	Personal listening devices can affect hearing, especially when used at loud volumes and/or for prolonged durations.
Effect of Shift Work on Health	Shift work can affect the physical, mental and psychosocial health. Several factors such as regularization of the work schedules and introducing dietary changes could prevent some of the adverse impacts of shift work on health.
Health Impact of Social Media	Social media and networking connect long-lost friends but can also introduce feelings of social isolation, affect academic performance and interfere with privacy.
Mental health at the workplace	The high demands at the workplace predispose individuals to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. These could reduce work performance and affect productivity.
Physical effects of smartphone use	The constant use of smartphones could affect posture and result in joint and muscle pains. Appropriate steps at the right time could help to avoid such complications.
Problematic use of the Smartphone and the Internet	The compulsive use of the smartphone and the internet has been compared to addiction. Self-help interventions or therapeutic counselling can help to overcome such problematic use.
Validation of digital health solutions	Digital health solutions should be validated for technical features, effect on clinical outcomes, usability and cost to ensure the maximum benefit to the end user.
Work Stress and Cardiovascular Disease	Work stress may be associated with cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic stroke and coronary artery disease. Further studies are needed to establish if a link exists between the two.

Disclaimer: The content provided on this site is meant for informational purposes only and not intended to replace the relationship between the doctor and the patient. It should not be used for self-treatment by patients or by doctors to treat patients. Consult your doctor before using any of the above information.