Healthcare is a holistic subject and involves due care. Hence, such a comprehensive subject matter brings with it a whole lot of doubts, questions, fears, and ambiguities. Let’s try to delve deep into some of these today.

1. What is a Second Opinion? Why should one opt / not opt for it?

Getting an opinion from a doctor on a disease/symptom diagnosed by another doctor is taking a second opinion. It is similar to the multiple sites and customer reviews you check before actually purchasing an expensive item, just that it is way more critical, being a medical opinion. It helps you gain confidence in the treatment or medication you’d be going for. However, it might not just stop at a single second opinion and extend to multiple opinions depending upon the criticality of the case & required treatment. It is required to take a second opinion, especially if it is a crucial or sensitive medical case or a case that has not benefitted from the administered set of medicines or therapies. It helps you have a comprehensive knowledge of all the treatment options available for a particular ailment and possibly figure out the best one for you. Many other essential aspects like diagnosis, co-morbidities, post-treatment impacts & cautions, costs involved, medications, etc., are clarified through a second opinion.

2. What ailments usually require a second opinion, and would taking the same offend our previous doctor?

In most cases, we take a second opinion only in case of critical ailments or crucial surgeries, like heart surgery, cancer treatments, brain surgery, kidney transplants, liver/lungs treatment, etc. It is also advisable to take a second opinion in sensitive pregnancy cases. You may also go for one if you are not satisfied with your initial treatment process, be it any case. Consulting someone for a second opinion is a patient’s right; no one should feel offended or guilty about the same.

3. What is the role of Information Technology in Healthcare?

In the current generation, when practically there is nothing untouched by Information Technology, how can something so critical & primary as healthcare be spared? When we say healthcare is holistic, we do need solutions to it that are comprehensive, efficient, and quick. Information technology is one such thing that aids in improving our healthcare systems (not just specific to a region or sect, but worldwide) in these aspects. So, while we must invest wisely, investment in information technology is the most worthwhile investment for the healthcare sector.

4. What is a lifestyle, and how does it influence health?

Lifestyle is the way of life, a routine & practices followed by an individual, group, or society in day-to-day life. Lifestyle is the main factor influencing one’s health. It is a combination of all the habits and choices of an individual, good or bad. It is the way a person lives, eats, survives, and hence is the prime factor defining that individual’s health and wellbeing.

5. How can I assess my lifestyle?

Do you live happily and enjoy a good night’s sleep? Well, that’s one of the significant indicators of a healthy lifestyle (but of course, if the answer is Yes, majorly). Physical health check tests & reports can help assess your lifestyle in terms of physical wellbeing if required. Morally, emotionally, and mentally your state of being, happiness index, sense of contentment, the feeling of confidence, and relations you enjoy, define your lifestyle. Other crucial checks could be assessment of your hygiene levels and food intake.

6. What are Antibiotics? Why do we always go for antibiotic intake for any kind of infection?

Whenever hit by any type of infection, the doctors recommend antibiotics - so much so that now we consider ourselves as exceptional physicians and ourselves administer antibiotics for common diseases, don’t we? Well, antibiotics are medications that treat infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens. There are also certain limitations to these antibiotics that are not effective in treating the common cold and flu. These antibiotics must ideally only be taken if prescribed by the doctors, and their intake must be monitored.

7. How do antibiotics fight infections? Do they have any side effects?

Antibiotics treat infections by killing the germs that cause them. This materializes as the antibiotics interfere with the structure of bacteria and other pathogens. While in some cases, the antibiotics stop the pathogens from going further. The excess intake or overuse of antibiotics might lead to side effects. Some of the common ones are:

• Diarrhea
• Development of rashes
• Fungal infections of some body parts
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach problems

Some of the rare ones are:

• Developing sensitivity to sunlight
• Hearing problems leading to deafness
• Development of kidney stones
• Blood clotting or other blood disorders

8. What is Antibiotics Resistance or AMR?

There can be cases, and are, in indeed many, wherein bacteria, viruses, other microbes, or the disease itself become immune to the antibiotics, i.e., start resisting the antibiotics. In that case, the antibiotics are rendered ineffective against these microbes & resultant illness. This is what is called Antibiotics Resistance or Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Due to this reason, the overdose and unprescribed usage of antibiotics is never recommended. AMR is becoming an issue of glaring concern worldwide. Various prominent health organizations across the world, including we at Venus, are working to address this problem, and it requires efforts from everyone. World’s antibiotic awareness week (WAAW) is celebrated every year, from 18-24 November, seeing participation from global healthcare giants to spread awareness about antibiotics and AMR.

These are a few of the FAQs covered here. However, curiosity must never end when it comes to taking care of your health. We’ll be back soon, probably with FAQ Season II 😉. Until then, if you have had some common (or uncommon) yet unanswered questions, please fill our comments section and let us know. We’ll surely bring the relevant answers and also feature them in our upcoming blogs.

Thanks for reading - have a healthy day ahead!