Sister Act

WHOEVER said 8216;8216;beauty is skin deep8217;8217; hadn8217;t met these two lovely and talented sisters. One is a highly qualified gy...

Written by Rashmi Uday Singh

March 21, 2004 12:00 AM IST

4 min read

WHOEVER said 8216;8216;beauty is skin deep8217;8217; hadn8217;t met these two lovely and talented sisters. One is a highly qualified gynaecologist who is a consultant in Mumbai8217;s premier hospitals and has set up the comprehensive Everywoman Cliniq. The other is well-known for her Bollywood and TV roles. Having acted in over 80 films, Poonam Dhillon looks as refreshingly lovely as ever. So does her sister, Dr Rishma Pai, a mother of two.

Last month, Dr Pai set up the Everywoman Cliniq, which emphasises a holistic approach to women8217;s health. Here, issues such as infertility, high risk pregnancy, malignancy screening, menopause as well as cosmetic endocrinological problems management, counselling and weight loss are handled by specialists.

8216;8216;We offer a holistic approach and prefer to ocus on prevention,8217;8217; says Dr Pai. Here are a few useful 8216;8216;prevention8217;8217; guidelines from her:
8226; Every woman must take time off for check-ups. Even a simple thing like irregular periods needs to be checked up as neglecting them can have long-term consequences leading to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
8226; Pre-marriage consultation can answer lots of useful questions on topics ranging from contraception to sex.
8226; Have a comprehensive approach to menopause management and osteoporosis prevention with a good diet, exercise and nutritional supplements.

The clinic offers a free cancer screening program for women on the fourth Thursday of every month a general examination, pap smear, ultrasound examination, and a mammography at subsidised rates. Call 9820224000 for appointments.

Besides, the clinic will also include grooming classes by Poonam Dhillon. 8216;8216;For 25 years I8217;ve had the privilege of being exposed to the finest of everything in the world,8221; she says. 8216;8216;Now is the time to share it.8217;8217; Here are some of her pointers:
8226; Cleansing and moisturising of the face is most important, even if you don8217;t use make-up.
8226; Use a sunscreen
8226; It is not correct to say that make-up is not a good idea. It also serves as a protective screen.
8226; Never stay hungry, eat fruit or crunch on a carrot.

Everywoman Cliniq
203, Sagar Fortune,
Waterfield Road, Bandra W, Mumbai, Ph: 022-56755886 or e-mail: rishmapaihotmail.com

You Ask, They Answer

HEARING AID
8226; Amit, 35, has been suffering from weak hearing since birth. A hearing aid is of no use. He also suffers from night blindness retinitis pigmentosa. He wants advice on the best treatment for both ailments.
Since you already have retinitis pigmentosa which is a degenerative condition, it is quite likely that your hearing loss can also be a progressive degenerative condition. An ENT specialist will carry out an audiogram, which will show the type and amount of deafness, after which he can give you suitable medication. There8217;s no treatment regimen for curing or preventing progression of disease in retinitis pigmentosa patients.

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Dr A Shukla, Consultant ENT, Hinduja Hospital 038; Dr Nisheeta Agarwala, Consultant Opthalmology, Hinduja Hospital

AUTISM TRAITS
8226; Aryan, 4, does not talk yet. He plays with his toys all day. The pediatrician says he may have traits of autism. Please advise.
Autistic children have poorly developed communication skills. They rarely make eye contact and have few friends. They spend hours in solitary play. Children with autism are borderline retarded. There is no single test to diagnose the malady. The diagnosis is reached by observation of the individual8217;s behaviour and developmental levels. There is no specific treatment or 8216;8216;cure8217;8217;. Management of the condition focuses on development of communication skills. Also, there is no specific medication for this condition. However, certain medications may be helpful in select cases and for associated symptoms. Alternative forms of therapy remain unproven.

Dr Mukesh Sanklecha, MD Pediatrics, DCHDNB Pediatrics

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