You probably know that testosterone is the primary male sex hormone. It plays a crucial role in men's health, including muscle mass, libido, and mood. However, when testosterone levels rise beyond normal ranges, it can result in a series of noticeable symptoms and potential health risks. In this blog, we will learn about the signs of high testosterone in a man.

What are the Signs of High Testosterone in a Man?

Here are the signs of high testosterone in a man as it can manifest in several distinct ways:

• Acne:

Elevated testosterone can stimulate sebum production, leading to frequent acne breakouts, particularly on the face, chest, and back.

• Aggressive or Risk-Taking Behaviours

Men with high testosterone may exhibit heightened aggression, increased irritability, and a propensity for risk-taking activities.

• Excessive Body Hair

High testosterone levels can result in hirsutism, causing men to develop excessive body and facial hair growth.

• Headaches

Frequent headaches are a potential symptom of elevated testosterone.

• Heart or Liver Problems

High testosterone has been associated with liver issues, including hepatic adenomas, and can contribute to cardiovascular problems.

• High Blood Pressure

Elevated testosterone levels have been linked to hypertension, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

• Libido

A heightened libido is a common symptom of high testosterone.

• Increased Appetite

Men with elevated testosterone levels may experience a stronger appetite, which can lead to weight gain.

• Infertility

High testosterone can negatively impact sperm production, leading to infertility issues.

• Insomnia

Sleep disturbances and insomnia can be associated with high testosterone levels.

• Low Sperm Count

Elevated testosterone may reduce sperm count, making conception more challenging.

Croup is a respiratory disease, also known as laryngotracheobronchitis, that affects young children. Viral infections such as parainfluenza RSV, measles, adenovirus, and influenza are the most common cause of the condition that causes swelling of the child’s voice box (larynx) and windpipe (trachea), due to which the airway below their vocal cords become narrow and makes breathing noisy and difficult. Croup disease is most common in babies and children between 3 months to 5 years of age. In this article, we’ll explore the main Croup symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Croup?

Listed below are Croup signs and symptoms:

• Loud barking cough that worsens by crying and coughing
• Common cold symptoms like running and stuffy nose
• Conjunctivitis
• Hoarse voice
• Retractions in which the child has sucking in the skin around the ribs and on top of the breastbone
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Redness in the eyes
• Cyanosis in which a child has blue-tinged skin
• Difficulty swallowing
• Acid reflux
• Allergies
• Cyanosis, where the child has blue-tinged skin around the nose, mouth, and fingernails
• Noisy and heavy breathing.

Cerebral palsy is a group of conditions impacting movement and posture. It's caused by damage that has occured to a child's developing brain. The word “cerebral” refers to the workings of the brain, and "palsy" referes to issues with using the muscles. Cerebral palsy is a disability commonly seen in young children that occurs as a result of damage to the brain during fetal development. The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy show up early in childhood and also affect a child’s vision, hearing, and sensation. Let us explore the main cerebral palsy symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

The main signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy include:

• Head size differences: A child with cerebral palsy can have an unusually small head (microcephaly) or an unusually large head (macrocephaly), which is one of the main cerebral palsy signs.
• Irritability: Babies with the condition of cerebral palsy may seem to be fussy or irritated
• Lack of interaction: Babies and children with cerebral palsy may not interact or react with people around them.
• Hypotonia: It is a condition which develops when there is a lack of muscle tone and a floppy-like appearance.
• Delayed development: Children with cerebral palsy often have delays in reaching some expected developmental milestones because of slow development in motor skills such as rolling over, sitting up alone, or crawling affected by the brain cells
• Difficulty walking
• Spasticity or stiff muscles
• Ataxia condition showing lack of muscle coordination
• Involuntary movements
• Delays in speech development
• Difficulty swallowing
• Neurological problems like seizures, intellectual disabilities, and blindness

Nasal congestion is the feeling of a blockage or obstruction in your nasal passages. Infections such as the common cold, flu or sinusitis, as well as allergies, can make your nose feel both stuffy and runny. On top of that, irritants like tobacco smoke, perfumes, dust, and car fumes in the air can also lead to these symptoms. Some people go through persistent nasal congestion and excessive nasal discharge. This condition is called non-allergic rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis. Dealing with a stuffy nose can be a bothersome experience, but luckily, there are several simple ideas on how to open a blocked nose with home remedies that can instantly provide relief from this uncomfortable condition.

Home remedies to open a blocked nose

The following are some of the popular ideas on how to open a blocked nose at home.

• Steam inhalation can be a reliable method to provide relief. For this method, you need to lean over a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head to inhale the steam. However, nowadays, you have the convenience of modern steamers that offer the same benefits. To enhance the experience, consider adding antiseptic herbs like peppermint seeds to the water. Repeat this process 2-3 times a day for optimal relief.
• Applying gentle heat to the outside of your nose helps reduce inflammation and opens up the nasal passages. By targeting the swelling in your nostrils and sinuses, the warm compress offers much-needed relief.
• Ginger, with its impressive anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants, is a great solution against nasal congestion. You can use ginger to create a compress by boiling ginger pieces in 2 cups of water. Soak a fresh washcloth in the ginger-infused water and place it on your face for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, sipping on ginger tea three times a day can also provide quick relief from a stuffy nose.
• Honey is one of the most popular remedies to open a blocked nose at home. It's soothing for your nasal passages and can help reduce the build-up of mucus. Mixing two tablespoons of honey with lukewarm water creates a solution that effectively clears nasal passages. Additionally, adding honey to milk or tea can further ease your symptoms.

Dealing with the throbbing discomfort of sciatica can feel like a constant battle. But there is a silver lining — targeted exercises can play a significant role in alleviating sciatica pain. Sciatica is pain along the sciatic nerve, a pathway from the lower back to the feet. It arises from nerve compression, causing sharp pain down the leg. In this article, we will see five effective exercises for sciatica that can bring you relief during those painful moments.

Best exercises for sciatica

So let’s look at the best exercises for sciatica pain:

• Knee to chest stretch
• Child's pose
• Piriformis stretch
• Cat-cow stretch
• Standing hamstring stretch 

1. Knee to chest stretch

The knee-to-chest stretch can provide soothing relief for sciatica. Begin by lying on your back, then gently bring one knee near your chest while keeping the other leg straight. Hold this position for 20 to 30 seconds, feeling a stretch in your lower back and buttocks. Alternate legs and repeat a few times. 

This stretch helps elongate the muscles of the lower back and buttocks, releasing tension and pressure on the sciatic nerve. Regularly practising this exercise can promote flexibility in the lower back, reducing the strain on the sciatic nerve and potentially minimising sciatica discomfort.

2. Child’s pose

The child’s pose is known for its ability to relax and gently stretch the muscles of the lower back, hips and spine. Start on your hands and knees, then sit back on your heel while stretching your arms forward. Feel the stretch along your spine and buttocks. Hold for 20-30 seconds and repeat a few times. 

While doing a child’s pose, you create space in the lower back region. This elongation can help alleviate compression on the sciatic nerve and reduce radiating pain. This yoga-inspired pose can help release lower back tension and promote relaxation. 

3. Piriformis stretch 

This stretch is a critical player in alleviating sciatica pain by directly targeting the piriformis muscles (present in the deep gluteal muscles). While lying on your back, cross one ankle over the opposite knee, then gently pull the lower knee towards your chest. You will feel a stretch in the buttocks and outer hips. Hold for 20-30 seconds and switch sides.

The piriformis muscles run near the sciatic nerve and you may experience  irritation and discomfort when they tighten. Stretching these muscles can help release the pressure on the sciatic nerve, providing relief from radiating pain.  

4. Cat-cow stretch

The cat-cow stretch focuses on the flexibility and mobility of the spine and is one of the most effective stretches for sciatica. This movement can indirectly promote healthy spine alignment and reduce tension in the lower back. Begin on your hands and knees, then arch your back upwards like a cat, and lower it while lifting your head like a cow. 

The arching and rounding of the back during the stretch can gently massage the muscles along the spine, potentially reducing pressure on the static nerve. Over time, improved spinal mobility can contribute to the reduction in sciatica discomfort.

5. Standing hamstring stretch

Tight hamstrings can lead to sciatica pain by pulling on the pelvis and affecting lower back alignment. The standing hamstring stretch targets these muscles, promotes flexibility and reduces tension. 

For a hamstring stretch, stand straight and place one foot on a slightly elevated surface like a step. Keep your leg straight and lean forward from your hips until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg. Hold for 20 -30 seconds and switch legs. This is the best exercise for sciatica that targets the hamstring and alleviates pressure on the sciatic nerve.

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Medical aid has become a costly affair but it is extremely essential for the ailing individual to ensure complete recovery. However, arranging for bills single-handedly is likely to cause panic and loss of savings when footing large treatment bills. It is in situations like these that a mediclaim insurance policy will come to your rescue and offer respite during such trying times.

When opting to buy insurance policy for yourself, you must carefully consider the policy offerings so as to enjoy maximum benefits when faced with a medical emergency. You must ensure that the policy that you plan to opt for offers coverage for different types of treatments. The policy must also clearly state the types of ailments and diseases covered under the mediclaim policy. It should also mention if the policy offers coverage for ailments or hospitalisation cost due to accidents or mishaps.

For insuring a single person, many health insurance companies offer individual health insurance policies that help financially during an unexpected medical exigency. The Personal Protect policy offered by ICICI Lombard provides relief by offering medical security to the insured individual when faced with a medical emergency. According to this mediclaim policy, coverage is offered in case of death due to mishaps occurring due to natural calamity, rail or road accident and terrorist acts.

This policy has a large sum insured that paid to the family of the insured individual if his demise occurs within the policy period. The financial assistance offered by this policy helps to keep financial crisis at bay especially if the family has lost the sole breadwinner in the accident. Coverage for severe injuries is also offered by this mediclaim insurance policy that could occur during an accident or mishap. Permanent loss of functioning of the hands, eyes or feet makes the insured person eligible to receive financial aid with the sum insured amount. In case the insured person is unable to remain gainfully employed due to the severity of his injuries, then the complete sum insured is awarded to reduce financial crisis for the family.

To purchase this policy, no medical checkup is required which enables you to purchase this policy almost instantly. This policy can also be purchased for the elderly members of your family who are below 80 years of age.

Thus, medical assistance and financial aid offered to the insured individual will enable you to offer optimal medical aid when faced with an exigency.

Some major progress made by the 3-year-old government in the sphere of healthcare

The UPA-led Congress Government witnessed their worst defeat in the general elections of 2014 and India got a fresh new start. The NDA government targeted major reformation and development in a number of sectors, including healthcare.

The main focus of the government was on preventive healthcare and long-form immunization drive to minimize or completely eradicate certain preventable diseases like Kala Azar, Tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis, and measles.

Here are some initiatives by the Modi government that made a difference in the health sector.

Benefits with E-Health

The Digital India campaign of 2015 brought better efficiency in the healthcare sector. With an increase in the knowledge database and simplified concepts, a greater transparency was achieved, removing many malpractices from the industry. Through E-Heath initiative, healthcare became more accessible to people in remote areas who had very limited access to the healthcare facilities.

An eHospital app was launched with an online registration system to minimalise the formalities at hospitals, before a check-up or treatment.

Door to Door Check-up Initiative of 2017

The most recent initiatives include door-to-door screening for chronic diseases like cancer, heart disorders and diabetes. This programme took place on World Cancer Day (4th February) and offered early detection and treatment of the diseases for people between the critical age group of 30 to 69 years.

Making India Open Defecation Free by 2019

Unhygienic conditions lead to diseases. In 2014, the Modi government launched a nationwide campaign to make India open defecation free by 2019. Many known faces from the Hindi film industry, like Vidya Balan and Amitabh Bachchan, took part to preach the campaign effectively to every house in India. More than 80 lakh public toilets were built across the country. Recently, states like Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala were declared ODF states.

Swachh Bharat Cess

In the reiteration of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream for a Swachh India, Clean India Initiative or Swachh Bharat Mission was launched in 2015. The government imposed Swachh Bharat Cess on 15th November 2015 on taxable services at the rate of 0.5%. The government raised an amount of ₹3901.76 crore between 2015- 16 that was utilized for different Swachh Bharat initiatives of the government.

National Health Policy 2017

According to the latest healthcare policy, the public health expenditure was increased from 2% to 2.5%. The policy also targets reducing mortality rates of mothers, infants and children due to avoidable diseases. Leprosy is to be eradicated by 2018, while diseases like Kala azar and Lymphatic Filariasis are targeted for elimination by 2017.

The policy also aims to reduce consumption of alcohol and cigarettes by 30%, reduce cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases by 2025 and reach the global target for HIV by 2020.

FASTag has revolutionised the way we pay for tolls on Indian highways, making travel quicker and more convenient. It is an electronic toll collection system implemented in India to facilitate cashless payments at toll plazas on highways. It has become mandatory for all vehicles in India, and non-compliance may result in penalties. But how to find FASTag customer ID using vehicle number? It’s easier than you might think. Here, we will guide you through the steps to do just that.

Procedure to Find FASTag Customer ID Using Vehicle Number

Visit Official Website: The most straightforward way to find your FASTag customer ID is by visiting the official website of the National Highways Authority of India (i.e., NHAI). Here is how:

• Open your Web browser and go to the official NHAI FASTag website.
• Look for an option that allows you to “Find FASTag customer ID” or something similar. It’s often located in the “Customer Support” or “Help” section.
• Click on this option to proceed.
• You will have to enter your vehicle number. Make sure to provide accurate information.
• Once you have entered the vehicle number, submit the request.
• The website will search its database and retrieve your FASTsag customer ID associated with the provided vehicle number.
• You can now see your FASTag customer ID on the screen.

Contact customer support: If you encounter difficulties while trying to find your FASTag customer ID online, don’t fret. You can always reach out to FASTag customer support for assistance. They are usually available via phone or email and will guide you through the process.

Check your FASTag account: If you have a FASTag account or wallet associated with your vehicle, you can find your customer ID within your account settings or dashboard.

Use MYFASTag App: NHAI has provided a simple solution to checking your FASTag balance and other details through their mobile app. Download the app, log in, put in your details and you can check your balance and FASTag ID.

Visit the Issuer's Office or Nearest Toll Plaza: If you are facing issues with the online methods, visit your nearest toll booth or issuer’s office. Give your vehicle registration number, identity card, and proof of vehicle ownership to get assistance.

Is it Important to Link the Vehicle Number to the FASTag Customer ID?

Yes, linking your vehicle number to FASTag ID is recommended due to government rules and for a smooth toll experience:

1. Easy Toll Transactions

FASTag ID is your vehicle’s unique identity, which allows the toll booths to easily check and automatically deduct the fees from your account.

2. Managing FASTag Account

You can watch your transactions, balance, and other details with one click after linking your FASTag ID to your vehicle number.

3. Prevents Fraud

Linking the vehicle number to FASTag ID protects you from fraudulent uses of your ID, especially after loss or theft.

4. Government Mandates

Government regulations require every vehicle to have an active FASTag linked to its registration details.

Conclusion

Finding your faster customer ID using your vehicle number in India is a relatively simple process, thanks to the user-friendly features provided by the NHAI. Additionally, ensuring your vehicle insurance details are up-to-date can further simplify this process. You can update your car insurance online in a few easy steps. So the next time you need your FASTag customer ID, remember a few clicks on the NHAI website can save you time and get you back on the road faster.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.

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Treatment costs for various diseases is usually higher in Northern cities of India as compared to Southern cities like Bengaluru and Chennai

Treatment costs are not uniform across India. For the same disease, it could vary vastly between different cities located in different parts of the country. For example, healthcare costs are usually higher in northern cities like Delhi and Kolkata when compared with South Indian cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

This is the precise reason why millions of people in India choose to migrate from one city to another to save their medical expenses. In this article, we’ve tried to provide brief information about the treatment charges of few common diseases like cancer, kidney failure, cataract, etc. in commonly preferred Indian cities, namely New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.

1. Cancer-There are numerous well-equipped cancer hospitals in various metropolitan cities of India. The two most common type of cancer treatments are as follows:
   • Lung Cancer Treatment which costs approximately ₹27000 to ₹42000 per cycle. In case it requires lung surgery, it can cost you roughly ₹3 to ₹3.7 lakhs. Chennai and Hyderabad will be the preferred cities for affordable treatment, while New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru will on the higher side of the range.
   • Ovarian Cancer Treatment includes two phases. The first two stages of ovarian cancer are customarily treated with surgeries that can cost you approximately ₹3 to ₹4.5 lakhs. Whereas, treatment for the last two stages of ovarian cancer would cost ₹27K to ₹48K, depending upon the city and hospital.
2. Cardiovascular Diseases- - Nearly 25% deaths before the age of 70 in India occur due to cardiovascular diseases. On the flip side, India is considered as one of the best places in the world for cardiac surgery. The most common treatments for cardiovascular diseases include bypass surgeries, angioplasty, valve replacement, and open-heart surgeries. The rate of bypass surgery in different cities is tabulated below:

The rate of angioplasty in different metropolitan cities are tabulated below:

3. Kidney-related ailments- 

Around 17 out of 100 people in India suffer from kidney-related ailments. Dialysis is the most common treatment method for curing such diseases. According to Nephrologists, India has only 300 to 400 dialysis centres. Dialysis is mainly of two types, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

The average cost of haemodialysis ranges from ₹12000 to ₹15000 per session while the average cost of peritoneal dialysis ranges from ₹18000 to ₹20000 per session which requires 4 to 6 sittings. The minimum and maximum charges for the dialysis treatment in six different cities are depicted in the table below:

4. Cataract-

A cataract surgery is one of the most common and least complicated operations performed in India. Phacoemulsification or ‘Phaco’ and Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) are the two most common types of cataract surgeries. Here is a tabular description for cataract surgery charges in different Indian cities:

5. Gall-bladder-

Gallstone surgery has become very common in India over the years due to the rising cases of gall-bladder stones. Also known as ‘Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy’ in medical terms, this type of surgery is quite cost-effective in the country. The table below depicts the gallstone surgery charges in various Indian cities. Out of all the options, New Delhi offers the most economical alternative.