Category: Medical Diseases

This category includes blogs about different diseases

The history of hysteria, our frenzy of womb or mind

Index Home Hysteria is a state of emotional extreme. Today we know it as an uncontrolled frenzy or excitement, that may stem from intense happiness, spirituality or even grief. Attendees of a pop-concert often become hysterical, and this emotion often consumes spiritual congregations. The range of emotions is wide, from a hysterical laugh to a cry.… Continue reading The history of hysteria, our frenzy of womb or mind

Round blood cells get curved to clog our vessels

Index Home Our red blood cells are spherical, slightly flattened on the top and the bottom. This shape allows them to squeeze through tiny blood vessels. A genetic disease that goes by the name sickle cell disease (SCD) makes these cells curved or sickle in shape. Since this is a genetic condition, limited in its geography… Continue reading Round blood cells get curved to clog our vessels

Caring for age and to cherish our lives

Index Home We do not want to age, yet all of us will. We also want to live long, and defy both age and death. However, this wish gets fulfilled in mythology, and for a selected few. Hindu mythology identifies seven ‘immortals’ or ‘chiranjeevis‘. Six of these were blessed (Hanuman, Parashuram, Vibhishan, Mahabali, Kripacharya, and Ved… Continue reading Caring for age and to cherish our lives

Blood banking: Life in a bag

Index Home Blood is life. Human beings know it well. Over the centuries we have bled many of our own to death. In Mythology and history, blood represents valor, kinship, revenge and vitality. For example, in Indian mythology, goddess Kali sucks entire blood of a demon, to prevent its regeneration. There is also a reference to… Continue reading Blood banking: Life in a bag

Neglected tropical illnesses and their postage stamps

Index Home All diseases are not equal. While some get more attention, others are neglected. This unequal treatment is often due to either a threat-perception, our ability to make a change, or simply because fewer people talk about them. Further, modern medicine has always had its focus on disease-threats in the northern hemisphere. For instance, tuberculosis… Continue reading Neglected tropical illnesses and their postage stamps

When sun, air, water and food treated Tuberculosis

Index Home Let’s begin this story in 1906. This is the year of first ever postage stamp on tuberculosis (TB). On 21st December, Netherlands issued a postage stamp. This was a semi-postal Christmas charity, where postal authorities sold 1c, 3c, 5c stamps at double the price. One half went to postage. They gave the other to… Continue reading When sun, air, water and food treated Tuberculosis

Lively Liver and Kind Kidneys

Index Home Liver is single, kidneys are in a pair. Our hollow intestines absorb whatever we eat or drink, and send it to more solid liver to process. It’s cells undergo a flurry of activities. Liver cells create substances, store nutrients, and let-go of things we do not need. Feed makes it busy, and starvation busier… Continue reading Lively Liver and Kind Kidneys