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Coronavirus COVID-19 – What To Expect If You Are Infected

March 22, 2020 Dr Vivek Baliga Dr Vivek Baliga, General , ,
what will happen if i get coronavirus

There has been a lot of chatter in the last few weeks about the Coronavirus infection pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected, and there have been a large number of casualties.

These are no doubt stressful times for all of us. 

There have been a plethora of reports about how many people are affected on printed media. There have been even more falsehoods shared about the coronavirus infection on social media.

Many of these talk about the symptoms in short, with only some reports really covering what could happen should you get affected.

how to boost immunity

Preventive measures are the best way to limit spread and to avoid a pandemic of outstanding proportions. But what you should do to ensure you don’t get this infection is a discussion for another day.

I have a feeling you probably know about it anyway. If you don’t, I have an article for you here. 

Today, I will talk about what you can expect should you get affected by the virus.

My information in this article is from reliable sources – Emcrit, New England Journal, etc – that have detailed guidelines on how doctors should manage this condition.

I will try and simplify it to the best of my ability here.

Transmission Of COVID -19

The transmission of the virus appears primarily to be through droplets floating around in the air. These droplets tend to be fairly large and can catapult to around 6 feet from the patient if they cough or sneeze.

The droplets can also be smaller in the form of aerosols (airborne) that float around in the air.

Larger droplets do not penetrate the normal surgical mask. However, to prevent getting affected by aerosols, the N-95 mask is a lot more effective than the surgical mask.

I figure you might be confused about what droplet infection and airborne infections actually are.

This is not a new confusion; it has existed previously as well during the times of Ebola virus and other viral infections.

Let me explain.

Large droplets are generated when a person coughs or sneezes. These large droplets directly land in a person’s eyes, nose or mouth.

So if you in close proximity to someone with COVID-19 infection and they sneeze, large droplets would land on your face and infect you.

Similarly, it is the large droplets that land on surfaces. When you touch these surfaces and then touch your face, nose or mouth, you can introduce these droplets into your system (hence the advice to stop touching your face).

An airborne infection is one where the virus floats around through the air long after the person coughs or sneezes. For example, if a person sneezes and then leaves a room, the virus continues to float around in the air for a while, and does not land on any surfaces.

These viruses can still be inhaled a long time after the person affected has left the vicinity. An example of an airborne illness is tuberculosis.

Currently, it is believed that the Coronavirus COVID-19 primarily spreads through droplet infection. The airborne route is still controversial, but not implausible, as published in an article in the New England Journal Of Medicine (NEJM).

Given the majority of evidence pointing towards droplet infection, the advice for the public is to use normal surgical masks.

However, in hospitals, healthcare professionals are also prone to airborne infections if they are treating COVID-19 patients, and hence they are advised to wear N-95 masks.

Furthermore, healthcare workers are involved in ventilating patients, placing oxygen masks on patients with low oxygen levels, performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and conducting life-saving procedures, all of which generate airborne particles. 

They are directly in the line of fire.

The CDC have currently stated that in the absence of N-95 masks, regular surgical masks could be used for now.

Okay, so what about direct contact?

There are so many messages about the virus lasting on surfaces for a few hours to days. Some even go on to day that they last for a shorter duration on metal surfaces, longer on cardboard surfaces etc.

But what is the truth really?

When a person coughs or sneezes, the droplets fly out of the respiratory tract, landing on surfaces within 6 feet or so. The virus persists as ‘fomites’ in the environment. 

In the NEJM paper I mentioned earlier, the research group found the virus was more stable and lived longer on plastic and stainless steel (up to 72 hours), and for a shorter duration on copper (4 hours) and cardboard surfaces (24 hours).

So if you touch these surfaces within this time frame and then touch your face, you could catch the infection.

When Do People Transmit The Infection?

You will already know that the first transmission occurred from animal to human in the Huanan Seafood And Live Animal Market in Wuhan, China. Since that index case, transmission has been between humans.

The problem lies in the fact that some people with the virus do not have symptoms. These are ‘asymptomatic’ patients, and can transmit the virus to other unsuspecting folk.

However, from the available data, it appears transmission occurs over 8 days after the illness begins and symptoms develop.

This number comes from virus culture tests, which are usually negative after 8 days of the illness in affected patients. 

This information still remains vague. Some study groups have found that the virus might be transmitted over a longer duration. 

Just so you also know that the basic reproduction number, or R0 (pronounced R-naught) is 2.2. This means that one person can transmit the infection to 2.2 people. The SARS virus transmitted it to 3 people.

Watch this space for more information. 

So You Catch The Infection – Now What?

Once the virus enters your system, it will multiply over a period of around 4 days (may take up to 14 days), after which the symptoms begin. This period is called the incubation period.

Symptoms begin after this. There is no particular order of appearance of symptoms.

Fever is the primary symptom, accompanied by cough and breathing difficulty. Fever is seen in around 50% of cases, and the absence of fever does not rule out COVID-19 infection. 

As the disease evolves (and if it becomes severe), patients may develop breathing difficulty around 6 days after exposure. They end up getting admitted around 8 days after exposure, and on a ventilator around 10 days after exposure.

hospital icu coronavirus covid

In essence, severe cases will be on a ventilator within 48 hours of admission to hospital.

Bear in mind that nearly 80% of patients have mild disease. Of the remaining 20%, only around 2 to 5% will end up with severe disease (these numbers might change in the near future). 

Besides the above symptoms, around 10% of patients may develop gastrointestinal symptoms. Diarrhoea and vomiting are a part of this, and can occasionally precede the fever and breathing difficulty.

Runny nose is a rare feature, though it has been seen a few cases.

The Lungs

One problem with the COVID-19 patients is that some of them have what is called ‘silent hypoxemia’.

Hypoxemia refers to low blood oxygen levels. Normally, if we have low oxygen levels, we would breath at a faster rate in an attempt to inhale more oxygen.

A proportion of COVID-19 patients would have low oxygen levels, but would not be breathing at a fast rate. 

In severe disease, a large part of the lungs will get filled with infection, leading to a ‘ground-glass’ appearance on a chest x-ray or CT scan. As the virus is filling up the lungs, there is insufficient space for oxygen to enter. This is why patients with lung involvement need oxygen treatment.

CT scans are better at picking up COVID-19 lung infections compared to chest x-rays.

The Heart

There have been reports of patients with COVID-19 infection suffering from heart attacks. The ECG changes are similar to those with a heart attack, but angiograms just show mild disease.

This is likely due to the virus attacking the heart muscle, leading to a condition called myocarditis. A troponin test will confirm whether there has been heart damage or not.

I have been talking to doctor friends of mine abroad, who are at the frontline managing COVID-19 cases actively.

Currently, when screening patients entering hospital, everyone’s temperature is checked, travel history is ascertained and oxygen levels are checked. Those with a fever and cough and low oxygen levels (below 94% – normal is 96-99%) are considered high risk and will likely be admitted.

Diagnostic Tests

Once admitted, tests will be conducted to confirm the viral infection.

Confirmation of the presence of the coronavirus infection is through an oral and nasal swab test. Orals swabs are taken before nasal swabs.

Blood tests will show a normal white blood cell count, though a specific subset of cells called lymphocytes will be low in number in up to 80% of patients.

It is rare for platelet counts to drop (seen in conditions like dengue fever), but those with a platelet count below 1 lakh carry a poorer outcome (normal platelet count is between 1.5 to 4 lakhs).

In practice, when we admit patients in hospital with suspected infections of any sort, we conduct a blood test called serum procalcitonin levels. These are generally elevated in infections.

However, in COVID-19 infections, it appears the procalcitonin levels are normal. If elevated, an alternative diagnosis may be considered. 

Another blood test called C-Reactive Protein, or CRP, will be elevated. The higher it is, the poorer the outcome. A normal CRP should prompt searching for a different diagnosis. 

I have already mentioned chest x-ray and CT scans as tests to determine how badly the lungs have been affected.

A small proportion of people who undergo a swab test may turn out to be negative in the early stages despite them being infected. Studies have found that up to 23% of them become positive shortly after.

This could mean that sequential testing may be needed if the clinical suspicion is high.

Treatment Options For COVID-19 – What’s Available?

There is active research ongoing with scholars and scientists testing out different tablets.

is there a vaccine for corona
Scientists are working around the clock to come up with an effective vaccine.

Drugs that were used to treat HIV infections are under scrutiny to evaluate their effects. Vaccines production is underway, and human trials have started. However, an effective vaccine is still months away.

Just recently, hydroxychloroquine (HCQS), a close cousin of the anti-malaria drug chloroquine, has been shown to be effective in lowering overall viral load.

Regime of administration varies, with some suggesting a loading dose of 400 mg twice daily for the first day, followed by 200 mg twice daily for 5 to 10 days, while others suggest 200 mg twice daily for 10 days. 

However, do note that while the benefits have been demonstrated, they have been on a small patient group and not on a large scale.

And of course, always talk to your doctor about the real benefit versus the risks of taking the medicine. For example, if you have had certain forms of cardiac disease in the past, you may not be suitable for HCQS.

Anti-HIV drugs and other antivirals are being evaluated, and none of them are effective as of yet.

Some groups advocate adding Azithromycin, an antibiotic, to the HCQS regime. This has some effect on the COVID-19 virus, but has the added advantage of treating any super-added bacterial infections that may occur as well.

Vitamin C has gained some media attention and ‘WhatsApp forward status’ as being effective in battling the Coronavirus. But the evidence is limited. 

Tablets and vaccines that were effective against H1N1 swine flu virus are not effective against COVID-19. So don’t rush to get the flu vaccine – it’s not going to protect you.

Steroids do not seem to help in early coronavirus infection, and may in fact be harmful. But in more advanced disease where the lungs are affected, they may have a limited role. 

Patients who are admitted to ICU will be put on high flow oxygen delivered directly into their nostrils through a nasal cannula. This appears, so far, to be the most effective way of helping the body get enough oxygen.

More advanced therapies such as non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP) is believed to be useless.But one modality called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, may have benefits, especially if delivered through a hooded device.

If these measures fail, then a tube will be inserted into the wind-pipe to ventilate the patient. Doing this can release a large number of viruses into the air, and can affect healthcare personnel greatly. 

I will not go into any more detail about these ventilator modalities as it is fairly technical and out of the scope of this article.

Who Gets Better?

Around 80% of patients affected with a coronavirus infection do not need to be hospitalised and can be managed at home.

Of the hospitalised patients, up to 20% require ICU admission. Of this, around 2 to 5% die.

Antibody Testing

If you have suffered from a COVID-19 infection, then you will develop antibodies in your blood that will confirm your immunity.

It is easy to get it arranged at home, as it is a simple blood test.

You can learn more about COVID-19 antibody testing here, or you can book a test online by clicking the link here.

Staying Safe

There has been a vast amount of information sent out on different media platforms about how to prevent further spread of this virus.

Now that you know what it can do to you, please remember that you should practice preventive strategies to the ‘T’. 

Wash your hands periodically. Practice social distancing. Basically, follow what the WHO and CDC say about staying safe.

Closing Remarks

You may be one of those people who feels they are invincible. Well, the virus thinks its the same.

Are you prepared to take it on a coronavirus infection, given that nearly 1 out of every 20 people who did fight it died trying? It’s up to you.

And for god’s sake, stop messing around with nature.


Gallbladder Stones – Do I Need Surgery?

April 18, 2021 Dr Vivek Baliga Abdomen, Dr Vivek Baliga, Liver ,

Gallbladder stones are a common finding on a routine ultrasound scan. Many get concerned about it, but often it is nothing to worry about.

A common question I am asked is whether having gallbladder stones means surgery is needed.

Fortunately, it is not always the case.

Today, I will discuss gallbladder stones with you, and explain what is normally done about them.

What Are Gallbladder Stones?

Gallbladder stones, also called gallstones, are basically small deposits of hardened digestive enzymes inside your gallbladder. The gallbladder is a small balloon-shaped storage organ that is located directly below your liver as is shown in the picture.

It is quite common to find all stones on a routine ultrasound abdomen scan. However, only 1% to 2% of patients develop any complications related to it. Over a 15 year period, 20% of patients will develop a problem.

In the medical world, gallstones are called cholelithiasis.

Interesting trivia

Gallstones have been present in humans over thousands of years. In fact, Egyptian mummies have also been found to have gallbladder stones.

It is a common condition in women who are overweight.

What Causes Gallstones?

The main composition of gallstones is cholesterol, bilirubin (a liver pigment), calcium, proteins and other materials.

There are three different types of gallstones:

  1. Pure cholesterol stones contain around 90% of cholesterol.
  2. Pigment stones contain varying proportions of compounds I have listed earlier. They may be brown or black in color.
  3. 3. Mixed composition stones which contain varying proportions of cholesterol, calcium phosphate and calcium palmitate along with calcium carbonate.

Bile is a compound that is released by the liver in order to dissolve cholesterol. Sometimes though, the liver can produce too much cholesterol and it is not possible for the bile to dissolve this.

As a result, tiny crystals form which eventually become gallstones. In the early stages, these crystals are present in the form of a thick liquid called gallbladder sludge.

Sometimes, certain clinical conditions can lead to the excess production of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is formed in the body when the red blood cells break down. Too much bilirubin can eventually lead to gallstone formation.

Finally, if the function of the gallbladder is impaired, the bile can remain within the gallbladder and eventually form stones.

Who Is At Risk?

The risk factors in the development of gallstones include obesity, increasing age, pregnancy, female gender, rapid weight loss and certain medications such as oral contraceptives.

risk for gallbladder stones

As I have mentioned earlier, most patients with gallbladder stones do not have any symptoms and they are found incidentally on an ultrasound scan.

However, on some occasions the stones may pass through the tiny tube coming out of the gallbladder called the cystic duct. When this happens, symptoms may begin.

Sometimes, the stone will have passed through the cystic duct further down digestive tract into the ducts coming out of the pancreas. This can result in a condition called acute pancreatitis which is a serious problem.

Symptoms And Signs of Gallbladder Stones

A majority of patients will remain asymptomatic. This means they will be completely unaware they have gallbladder stones unless they undergo an ultrasound scan of the abdomen.

However, some patients may develop intermittent episodes of very sharp and constant pain just below the lower part of the right side of the cage. Associated with this pain can be nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, the pain can be felt in the right shoulder as well.

gallbladder stones symptoms

This pain is called biliary colic. This occurs because the stone is attempting to come out of the gallbladder through the cystic duct.

On occasion, the gallbladder stone will move back into the gallbladder and the pain relieved.

If you are aware you have gallstones and experience a sudden pain, then make sure you see your doctor.

A common trigger for gallbladder stone pain to occur is the ingestion of a fatty meal. Many times, when food that is full of fat is consumed, pain may begin an hour or so later and can last up to 6 hours. Not everybody will experience this.

If the stone gets stuck, the gallbladder can become distended and inflamed. This can cause severe pain, vomiting and even fever. This is called acute cholecystitis and is a condition that sometimes requires hospitalization.

If the stone is stuck and there is a superadded bacterial infection around the stone, it can lead to jaundice along with fever and abdominal pain. This condition is called cholangitis and requires intravenous antibiotics and surgical removal of the stone.

Diagnosis Of Gallbladder Stones

Initial diagnosis can be made through blood tests which include a liver function test. Often the alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels are elevated on the blood report. A complete blood count may show an increase in the total white blood cell count which is indicative of an active infection. ESR and CRP may also be elevated.

A simple diagnostic tool in determining whether the patient has got gallbladder stones is an ultrasound scan. This is a painless procedure and can be done in just a few minutes. While gallbladder stones can be visualized fairly easily, the presence of thickening of the gallbladder wall and fluid around the gallbladder indicates acute cholecystitis or gallbladder infection.

Additional imaging of the gallbladder is rarely required.

However, if there is concern or if further information is required, a test called a magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or MRCP, will be performed. This is essentially an MRI scan.

In individuals in whom the gallbladder stone is stuck, a procedure called an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, may be performed. This is a test where an endoscope is inserted through the oral cavity all the way into the stomach up until the opening of the gallbladder into the digestive tract. Once a stone is removed, a stent is usually placed to keep the cystic duct and common bile duct open to allow free flow of bile from the gallbladder.

Gallstones Treatment

Patients who have gallstones and do not have any symptoms do not require any treatment.

Lifestyle changes

Dietary advice in the form of a low fat diet (avoid fried foods, ghee and sweets) and regular exercise will be provided.

If you are attempting to lose weight, don’t crash diet and lose weight too quickly.

Increase the fiber intake in your diet. Green leafy vegetables, green beans, oats etc have a lot of fiber. There are also high fiber supplements available as well.

Medical treatment

As such, there is not much in terms of medical treatment of gallstones.

If the patient has cholesterol stones, then treatment with a medicine called ursodeoxycholic acid may be offered. This tends to be useful in only 50% of cases and in stones that are less than 1 cm. The treatment can take up months to reach some degree of benefit.

If the tablet is stopped, gallbladder stones can recur.

Surgical treatment

However, if biliary colic i.e. abdominal pain is a problem, then elective surgery to remove the gallbladder along with the gallstones will be advised. Surgeries are now done laparoscopically and rarely are open surgeries required.

In children who have gallbladder stones, symptoms will inevitably develop. In such cases, gallbladder removal will be advised as a preventative treatment.

In patients who are undergoing weight loss surgery, the gallbladder is often removed simultaneously.

Those who have long-standing gallbladder stones more than 3 cm in diameter and calcification of the wall of the gallbladder (porcelain gallbladder) will be advised gallbladder removal as well.

Conclusion

Gallbladder stones are a common problem but is often nothing to worry about. Surgery is not needed in all patients but in only those who have made a risk factors or symptoms from the stones.

At Baliga diagnostics, we commonly come across patients who have gallbladder stones and manage them medically, sometimes offering surgical corrections. Visit our clinic today if you wish to learn more.


Urine Infection? Causes, Treatment & Prevention

July 15, 2020 Dr Vivek Baliga Dr Vivek Baliga, Urine , , , ,

Today, I will talk about urine infections.

One of the commonest reasons why patients come to our general medical clinic is fever.

On questioning, many of them have a high fever for a day or two, that is associated with burning sensation when they pass urine. It is likely that the patient is suffering from an infection in the urine, commonly called UTI, or urinary tract infection.

Given how common this is, we thought we should briefly touch upon what a UTI is, and how it is treated.

What Is A Urine Infection?

A urinary tract infection, also called a urine infection, refers to an infection that has affected the bladder or any other part of the urinary system.

It is commoner in women when compared to men, and is often seen in older individuals.

Before we dive into urine infections and how they are managed, here is a brief look at the urinary tract, or your urinary excretory system.

The Urinary Tract

The urinary tract consists of the following –

bigstock-Urinary-System-35562683

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Vitamin D – All You Need To Know

July 11, 2020 Dr Vivek Baliga Bones, Dr Vivek Baliga, General , , , , ,

Our body requires a number of different nutrients to function normally. Vitamin D is one such nutrient that has a variety of different functions in the body. Women (and men) in India are surprisingly low in Vitamin D levels. This can have detrimental effects on the body, and can affect your health in the long term.

Let’s take a brief look at why this vitamin is essential, and how low levels can affect your health.

What Is Vitamin D?

Our body requires vitamins and minerals that ensure normal functioning of all the cells in the body.

Vitamin D is what is called a ‘fat soluble’ vitamin, and forms an essential component of our bones. It plays an important role in the regulation of calcium and phosphate levels in the blood, and these are primary components of bones and teeth.

Once vitamin D is synthesized in the body, it is converting into an active hormone in order to exert its benefits.

What Are The Sources?

Vitamin D is primarily obtained from sunlight. Our skin absorbs the sunlight, and a series of different chemical reactions occur which ultimately results in the production of vitamin D. While a detailed discussion regarding how this occurs is out of the scope of this article, we thought we would include a diagram that illustrates this for those who love science!

vitamin D

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What To Eat At Night For Weight Loss

April 26, 2020 Dr Vivek Baliga General

Making a healthy dinner choice can be the perfect way to end the day when you are committed to the weight loss journey.

While most of us may be eager to kick-start our healthy eating habits for attaining our weight goals, by the end of the day, we tend to eat whatever is most conveniently available for dinner. This tendency could hinder your weight loss program.

The diet plan you follow remains the key to your healthy lifestyle goals.

While it is true that the quantity of food eaten should be monitored closely per your goals, but you must not resort to starving yourself and ultimately introducing a sense of frustration.

There are many healthy and fulfilling options that can be a part of your daily meals. Here are a few tips for dinner that will complement your weight loss journey:

Pack On The Vegetables

Vegetables are not just a cheaper option but are also the most nutritious route to weight loss.

Why?

Because of the well-known fact that vegetables are low on calories and high on fibre and nutrients.

As a thumb rule, you can do two things to help your weight loss along:

a. Fill half of your dinner plate with vegetables

b. Keep the contents of the dinner plate as colourful as possible

This will ensure that you eat the right amount and a variety of vegetables. Some healthy veggie options can be spinach, kale, tomatoes, broccoli and sweet potatoes. Season them with herbs and spices for enhancing the taste.

More Of The Beans

Beans are a rich source of minerals such as magnesium, zinc and iron. They also provide proteins, which makes them the perfect dinner option for weight loss.

You can cook your beans in canola or olive oil to keep the calories as low as possible. Adding them to soups is also a great option.

Include Healthy Fats In Your Meals

When it comes to losing weight, you should know the basics about the fats you consume.

In the simplest terms, trans fats and saturated fats will certainly not help you lose those extra pounds. This means you must avoid food items such as margarine, palm oil, animal products and meat.

When planning your dinner, be aware of the fats you will be eating. Include food sources that give you healthier fats, such as polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats.

These can be found in vegetables and fish (salmon and mackerel). Other sources of healthy fats can be avocados and olive oil.

Did you know that these fats can help lower your risk of heart attacks and some forms of cancer?

It is extremely important to know that weight loss is a combination of healthy practices such as good diet and routine exercise. Your focus in terms of diet should be on:

  1. Whole grains
  2. Vegetables
  3. Fruits
  4. Healthy fats

With these simple health facts in mind, you can achieve your weight goals gradually.

Of course, if you are really struggling, as your physician for any replacement supplements that help in weight loss.


Dr Vivek Baliga

November 27, 2019 Dr Vivek Baliga Dr Vivek Baliga

Dr Vivek Baliga is a consultant physician and cardiologist with a special interest in the management of diabetes and heart disease. He is the director of Baliga Diagnostics Pvt Ltd and proprietor of HeartSense.

He has a specialist interest in echocardiography and heart failure management, and currently serves as the treasurer of the Indian Academy of Echocardiography for Karnataka. His experience encompasses a wide variety of medical conditions.

Current Posts

  1. Director, Baliga Diagnostics
  2. Visiting Consultant in Internal Medicine – Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road
  3. Visiting Consultant in Internal Medicine – Aster RV Hospital
  4. Visiting Consultant in Internal Medicine – Neighbourhood Hospital
  5. Former visiting consultant – Garden City Hospital
  6. Former visiting consultant – Ashwini Nursing Home

Education

Dr Vivek Baliga B

Dr Vivek Baliga studied in the prestigious Manipal Academy of Higher Education where he completed his MBBS.

Following a brief stint of working in Bangalore, he moved to the UK where he worked his medical rotation and post graduate training in various parts of England. He secured his MRCP (Membership of The Royal College Of Physicians) and while training as a specialist registrar went on to complete his doctorate. He is certified proficient in echocardiography by the British Society of Echocardiography.

During his time there, he contributed to and authored numerous medical publications that you can find on Google Scholar by clicking here. Given his interest in lipid management, he pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Lipid Management from the University of Middlesex, United Kingdom.

Besides this, Dr Vivek has also completed a certification program from the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR). 

Dr Vivek has also completed the post graduate program in Cardiology from Johns Hopkins University with distinction. He has attended the Advanced certificate course in the management of Diabetes held by the Cleveland Clinic.

He is an International Associate Member of the American College of Cardiology.

Given his enthusiasm in business, Dr Vivek Baliga continued his education by pursuing an Masters in Business Administration from University of Phoenix, USA. He has trained in digital marketing including website designing and WordPress and is responsible for the development of not just this website but also his own website and blog HeartSense. Over the years, he has designed websites for friends and colleagues, including paid clients across the world.

HeartSense is an information portal offering free health related information to patients on health and heart disease. Dr Vivek Baliga is the author of almost all the articles on that site. Attached to the website is a shop that sells quality health care products. He runs the shop along with his wife who is a partner in HeartSense.

In 2017, Dr Vivek Baliga won an online echocardiography competition held by 123sonography.com. As his prize, he was enrolled on their Echocardiography Masterclass course. Having completed that and passing the test, was awarded a Diploma Certificate in Echocardiography by the University of Vienna.

In addition to this, Dr Vivek Baliga is responsible for the publication of Sowkhya Magazine, of which he is the author. The magazine has been received well by readers and is currently in its 6th successful year. It boasts readership not only in India but also in the USA, Singapore, and other parts of the world.

As a part of his venture to educate the public, Dr BV Baliga also publishes videos on YouTube that remain quite popular with his patient. You can visit his YouTube Channel here.

Dr Vivek Baliga also writes academic articles, not just for his professional career, but also as a ghost author on Fiverr.com, a popular microbusiness site. He is also a writer for Medlife, India’s largest medicine delivery portal.

He is now an invited author on myteacher.in, an information portal for teachers all over India. He authors health articles on this website every month.

Dr Vivek Baliga on LinkedIn

As an active member of LinkedIn, Dr Vivek participates in numerous discussions that take place in the academic and business world.

dr vivek baliga review

Time and again, he posts updates from this blog and also pens his thoughts on various conditions that would help the remainder of the professional world.

Find Dr Vivek on LinkedIn here.

Dr Vivek Baliga In The News

The recent coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak has created a great deal of panic. Dr Baliga’s article on the virus was taken up by a Kannada newspaper and published in print and online.

Dr Vivek has been a part of medical studies, and recently was the chief supervisor for the state of Karnataka of a clinical study on hypertension conducted across India. The article was published in numerous papers.

You can view the article using the below links.

Deccan Herald

Corporate News For You

Here are some other links to view more about Dr Vivek Baliga

Personal website – Click here

Blogger – Click here

Presentations by Dr Vivek – Click hereSave

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4 Marvels Of The Human Body

July 2, 2019 Dr Vivek Baliga Dr Vivek Baliga
human body dr vivek baliga reviews

The human body has never ceased to amaze me. It is not just bones, muscles and vital tissues – it is a complex physiological system that consists of thousands if not millions of concurrently running processes that keep every cell in the body functioning normally.

Now that’s just amazing.

Every organ has a function. Every cell has a purpose. Different parts of our brain control different parts of our body.

I thought I would highlight some of the most remarkable aspects of the human body that I know will just baffle you.

Temperature Regulation

Our body has a core temperature (temperature deep inside our body) of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).

Ever wonder how it is maintained at that level though?

temperature regulation

We are exposed to extremes of temperature every day, and the body has to be able to keep our temperature at this value to allow our vital organs and tissues to function normally.

This ‘thermoregulation’ is essential for life. If the balance is tipped, we will not survive as our organs will all fail, and fast.

Inside the brain is a structure called the ‘hypothalamus’. It is the temperature regulation center of the brain. When the surrounding temperature changes, the hypothalamus sends signals to blood vessels, skin, muscles and glands to change their function and keep the temperature normal.

For example, in extreme heat, the hypothalamus signals the skin to regulate temperature by sweating. The hair on the skin stick to the surface. The muscles relax. The heat from the body is disseminated through vaporization, radiation, conduction, and convection (remember your physics??).

The exact opposite happens in cold weather, where the muscles begin to contract fast (shivering), the hair follicles stand erect and we get goosebumps due to this.

When we are ill, thermoregulation is what helps get rid of the virus or bacterial infection.

Nail Growth

Our nails are protein tissues at the tips of our fingers and toes. They don’t really serve much of a purpose, except to relieve us when we have an itch.

nail growth humans dr vivek baliga

Nail growth has been studied extensively, with each finger demonstrating different growth rates. You might be interested in hearing that the nail growth of the middle finger of the right hand is a lot faster than that of the little finger of the left hand.

The growth rate of the nails of the toes is slower than the fingers. Toes average a rate of 0.43 mm in 10 days, while fingers can average between 0.74 – 0.94 mm in 10 days.

Those who bite their nails seem to have more rapid growth of their nails. If you lose a fingernail, it can take nearly a year to grow back. Toenails can take around 1.5 years to grow back! Fingernails grow faster during the day and in the summer months.

Sperm Storage

Did you know that for sperms to be active and to aid reproduction, the temperature at which they are stored must be less than the rest of the body? Ever wondered why the testicles are outside the body, and not on the inside?

human sperm count

The male scrotum, which harbours the two testicles, has a temperature that is 2 to 3 degrees centigrade lower than the rest of the body. This is ideal for the sperms to flourish, and the ideal temperature for this to happen is 34 degrees C.

Those who place laptops over their lap and work for long hours can, over a period, affect the quantity and quality of sperm produced, making it difficult to father children. This is because the heat from the laptop affects the scrotal temperature.

Handedness

So why is 90% of the world’s population right handed? Studies have found that it might be because the part of the brain that controls the speech is located on the left half of the brain. Cross wiring means the left brain controls the right half.

But then, those who are left-handed can also have their speech center on the left side of their brain.

Closing Remarks

I hope this article piqued your interest! For more of my reviews, visit our blog.


Dr Vivek Baliga B Starts Podcasts

June 23, 2018 bgbaliga Dr Vivek Baliga

Giving patients the right information is extremely important. Dr Vivek Baliga B, Consultant Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Baliga Diagnostics, believes that it is essential to spend time with patients and give them all the information that they deserve about their medical condition.

However, time constraints make it very hard to achieve that. At the most, doctors only spend a few minutes with their patients.

Dr Vivek Baliga B podcasts

This is mostly because they are busy and find it difficult to answer questions.

Dr Vivek Baliga B came up with a solution to help patients who feel they do not get enough time with their patients. He started a podcast.

Podcasts are audio interviews or discussions on different topics.

In these podcasts, Dr Vivek Baliga B reviews (along with Dr BG Baliga), common conditions that patients encounter and how simple conditions can be managed at home.

They are easy to understand, and are helpful to many. He has had some great feedback so far!

Here is a link to the podcasts – Click here


Here’s How You Can Keep Your Eyes Shining Bright

February 17, 2017 bgbaliga Dr Vivek Baliga ,

Your eyesight is a precious commodity.

If you are looking to keep your eyes healthy, then there are certain things that you need to do to ensure that. Here are a few ways you can do so.

  1. Eat healthy foods, especially ones that are colored orange. They are rich in vitamin A that is essential for good eyesight.
  2. Stop staring at the computer for too long
  3. Give your eyes some rest
  4. Sleep well

There are many more ways that you can keep your eyes healthy. Rather than go into the specifics, I would like to draw your attention to an article Dr Vivek Baliga published on how to keep your eyes healthy.

Take a look at it when you get a chance.


How Thick Are Your Bones? Dr Vivek Baliga Presentation

February 15, 2017 Dr Vivek Baliga Bones, Dr Vivek Baliga , ,

Our bones get thinner as we get older. Osteoporosis is a common problem that is faced by many, especially women in the post menopausal age group.

In this presentation, Dr Vivek Baliga discusses a simple test that helps determine the thickness of bones and whether they are prone to fracturing.

Take a look at the presentation below.

As is very evident from the presentation, bone thickness can be affected due to a number of reasons. Dr Vivek Baliga clearly explains what can be done to keep the bones healthy. In addition to this, he also talks about how a bone mineral density test is done and how useful it is in determining whether the bones are of normal thickness or whether they are thin and weak.
Bone fractures can be very painful, and Dr Vivek clearly describes how the BMD test can help detect bone thinning early. This will help you start treatment sooner rather than later.


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