Our Services |
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"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Start by testing yourself."
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| Skin test is a method of testing for allergic reactions to substances, or allergens, in the environment.
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| A test consists of introducing small amounts of allergens into the skin and noting
the development of a positive reaction, which consists of a wheal (swelling) and
flare (surrounding area of redness).
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| We employ the prick method, where the skin is pricked with a sharp device that
introduces the allergen into the skin. Other allergy testing options include injecting
the allergen with needles or going to a lab for blood tests. However, Skin Prick Test is the Gold Standard Test for diagnosis of allergy.
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| The entire procedure takes about 30-45 minutes. We test a variety of important
allergens that are found in the local region including pollen of trees, grasses and
weeds, spores of moulds, dust mites, insects and animal dander, as well as
common food allergens. Depending on a patient's history, specific individualised
allergens can also be arranged. After administering the allergens, we wait
approximately 15-20 minutes to review the results. A positive reaction occurs when
the skin becomes red, raised, and itchy. This skin reaction will gradually dissipate
within 30-60 minutes.
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| All skin prick tests are done by our Allergy Specialist, Dr. Ritu Malani , under
fully controlled conditions.
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"Allergy shots can bring you long term relief"
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| AIT or Allergen Immunotherapy (also called desensitization) is the only potential
treatment available today for allergies, mainly dust mite, pollen and insect allergies. While pharmacotherapy in the form of oral
anti-histaminics, intra-nasal steroids, inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled
bronchodilators, leukotriene antagonists etc help to reduce symptoms, they do not
cure the disease. |
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| Allergen immunotherapy - commonly referred to as allergy shots - involves
repeated injections of specific allergens to build up tolerance against reactions associated with the natural exposure to those allergens. During the
initial phase of immunotherapy, which is referred to as the buildup, shots are given
weekly. After reaching the second phase, the injection frequency can be lengthened
to every four to eight weeks. |
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| An allergy shot uses a mixture of allergens - whether it is dust mites, pollen, mould
spores, animal dander, etc. The mixture, called an allergy extract, acts similar to a
vaccine. Increased doses of the allergy extract teaches a person's natural immune
system to respond differently to the allergens in the environment, so that the
individual stops reacting and experiences long term relief from his symptoms. |
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"Take care of your body, it's the only place you have to live."
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| The importance of a healthy diet for an optimal and healthy life cannot be
emphasized enough. The hustle and bustle of modern life, compounded by
improper eating habits, stress and pollution are major culprits for the frequent
illnesses encountered by people today; and they are also the major factors that are
modulating our immune system and leading to chronic ailments. |
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| As part of our integrative care approach to the treatment of chronic diseases like
food allergies, food intolerances, leaky gut syndrome, irritable bowel disease,
diabetes, dyslipidemia, heart disease, auto-immune disease etc, we have, on
board, experienced and able nutritionists, who can guide our patients
to achieve their optimal health. The guidance is individualised according to each
patient's specific health issues and his/her nutritional requirements. |
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"Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured."
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| Yoga is a form of therapy that is increasingly backed by science. The most
promising health outcomes come from a yoga practice that combines asanas (or
the physical poses and sequences) with pranayama (breath work) and meditation. |
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| Well studied health benefits of Yoga: |
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- Physical fitness, increased flexibility, increased muscle strength.
- Pain relief
- Emotional health, reduced anxiety and depression
- Protection against cognitive decline
- Reduced inflammation and stress responses
- Better sleep
- Slowing of cellular ageing
- Better functioning of the immune system
- Decrease in rate of osteoporosis
- Better spinal and joint health and flexibility
- Decrease in obesity
- Better control of diabetes
- Better control of hypertension
- Improvement of dyslipidemia
- Improved cardiac function
- Improved lung function
- Decrease in allergies
- Reduction of medication use
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| But physical and mental health are not the only health benefits Yoga offers. Yoga, in fact, means the union of the individual consciousness with the supreme
consciousness. It involves eight rungs or limbs of yoga - yama, niyama, asana,
pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. Intense practice of these
leads to self-realization, which is the primary goal of yoga.
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| An analytical look at the rungs and the goal of yoga shows that it is a holistic way
of achieving a state of complete physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being.
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| Hence yoga and meditation play very important roles in our integrative care
approach to the management of medical illnesses.
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