What is Kidney transplantation?

Kidney transplantation is a surgical procedure that involves replacing the damaged kidneys of a patient with a healthy kidney from a donor. It is a life-saving procedure for people suffering from end stage kidney failure and chronic kidney diseases. When both the kidneys start to fail, a person is usually left only with two options, either kidney transplantation or dialysis. Although, dialysis is also an option, people choose transplantation as it provides a greater quality of life to the patient over the long term.

Types of Kidney Transplant

Living donor transplant: - If members of a patient’s family or friends are willing to donate a kidney, it is termed a living donor transplant. In rare cases, a living donor may also be a stranger who voluntarily wishes to donate a kidney to someone in need.

Deceased donor transplant: - When the kidneys are extracted from a diseased person, it is termed as a deceased donor transplant. This happens when a person chooses to donate organs after death. In situations where the wishes of the deceased is not known, the family member can make the decision to donate.

How to initiate the process of transplant?

To start the transplantation procedure, you will have to find doctors who specialise in kidney transplants. A nephrologist is specialist who deals with the treatment of kidney disorders and transplantation. In India, Apollo Hospitals are considered the best for kidney transplantations.

What to expect after transplantation?

Urological disorders or problems associated with the urinary function of the body is something that is not discussed openly. Most people choose to suffer in silence, because they are embarrassed to discuss about such problems. If you have been facing any difficulty while urinating or notice unusual changes in your urinary patterns, you must schedule an appointment with a urologist without delay. A urologist is a physician who specializes in treating the disorders related to the kidney, ureter, urethra, bladder, as well as prostate issues. A urologist also specializes in surgical treatment of the disorders if needed. Here’s a list of some common urological disorders that must be treated with a urologist.

Urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection or UTI is a common disorder, which is more prevalent among women. The disease is characterized by a burning sensation while passing urine. UTI is generally treated with antibiotics. However, if the disease is left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys and cause serious damage.

Urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence is a condition wherein the affected person loses control over his bladder. Due to the weak bladder, there is a constant leakage of urine. Although, this condition is more common among the elderly, it can affect people of all ages. Women are twice as more likely to develop this condition than men.

Kidney stones

Kidney stones are deposits of certain minerals and waste materials that harden and form small stones. These stones can block the normal flow of urine in the kidneys or the bladder. The major symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain in the side of the abdomen. Kidney stones can be treated through medications that dissolve the stone. However, stones of larger proportions might require surgery.

An ENT specialist is a doctor who specialises in the ailments of the ear, nose and the throat. By and large people have a habit of running to a general physician no matter what the ailment is. This can often lead to wrong diagnosis or inadequate treatment. Although for common diseases such as sore throat or a running nose, you need not visit an ENT specialist. However, if your sore throat refuses to go away or you experience a runny nose of a daily basis, it is definitely time to visit an ENT specialist. They are experts in both medical as well as surgical management of the diseases related to the ear, nose and throat. Here are some of the most common disorders that would require treatment from an ENT specialist.

Sinus ache

If you are experiencing constant pain near your forehead, upper teeth or ear you should visit an ENT specialist as this could be a condition related to the sinuses. Other symptoms include abnormal nasal congestion and perpetually runny nose.

Chronic sore throat

A sore throat that does not get better even after a dose of antibiotics, should not be ignored. If left untreated, a chronic sore throat would lead to loss of voice or difficulty in swallowing. An ENT specialist will be able to give you a correct diagnosis, as this condition could be related to the sinuses or the upper digestive track.

Hearing loss

Many people experience hearing loss due to issues with the eardrum or ear canal. In most cases, hearing loss occurs due to build up fluids and ear wax in the ear canal which can be eliminated. However, if the hearing loss is due to problems with the nerves or the ear drum it can be corrected with a hearing aid. An ENT specialist will be able to diagnose the exact cause and suggest appropriate treatments.

You must have heard people trade in different currencies. Do you know why? It is a form of trading. A market where currencies are exchanged is called as forex market. This market serves as a platform for various organisations and individuals such as governments, traders, businesses, banks, and investors to exchange currencies and speculate on them. The foreign exchange market is addressed by many other names such as ‘Currency market’ and ‘Fx market’. The necessity to exchange currencies makes forex market the largest and most liquid financial market in the world.

What is the Need of Foreign Exchange?

If you are living in India and wish to buy oil from Dubai, either you or the company that you purchase oil from has to pay the Arab for the fuel in Dirhams. This implies that the Indian importer will be required to exchange the equivalent currency of Indian Rupees into Dirhams. The same applies for travelling. A French tourist in India cannot pay in euros to see the Taj Mahal because it is not a local currency. Therefore, the tourist needs to exchange the Euros into Indian Rupees in accordance with the current exchange rate. This is why forex trading is one of the most significant financial modes of trade.

Where is Forex Trading Conducted?

Cash crunches are experienced by everyone at some point in their lives. Instances such as weddings, vacations, medical treatments, home renovations or purchase of expensive assets can leave a huge dent on your savings. Personal Loans can come to your rescue during all types of financial emergencies. The best feature of a personal loan is that the amount issued from the loan can be used for any purpose and is completely subject to the discretion of the borrower.

Personal loans are broadly classified into two categories, secured personal loans and unsecured personal loans. Unsecured personal loans are the most common form of personal loans. They are not secured against any asset as opposed to secured loans which holds assets as security. However, personal loans come with a higher rate of interest because the borrower does not need to provide a collateral. The amount of loan is calculated by taking into consideration the current financial status of the borrower and his cash flow, such as salary, rental income, profit and loss in business, servicing of other loans, etc.

Personal loans can be highly beneficial while settling liabilities with high interest rates.  To avoid paying exorbitant interest rates, it a good idea to pay off the debt with a personal loan, only if the interest rates of such a borrowing are lower. Instead of taking longer to pay the principal amount, it better to settle the debt early with a personal loan. Also, as a personal loan is with a bank you can create a good repayment record which will, in turn, create a good credit history. You can leverage this credit score to get bigger loans at lower rates.

ULIP stands for a unit linked insurance plan. This type of insurance is unique as it provides a combination of insurance and investment. A part of the premium paid will be utilized to provide insurance cover and the rest of the amount will be invested in the share market. ULIP plans are framed in a way to avail the benefits of market linked returns. This enables long term wealth creation as opposed to pure insurance policies which are not linked to the market.  

ULIP plans can be broadly divided into four categories: ULIP for retirement, wealth creation, child education and health solutions. Under ULIP plans, a person has to pay a premium amount over a period of time which results in market linked returns. This kind of plan greatly assists a policy holder in handling the constant inflation of the economy effectively. Although ULIP plans are market linked, a minimum amount of return on investment is assured which is relatively 10 times the amount invested.

You can also customize ULIP plans according to your appetite for risk as there are different plans available having varying measure of risk exposure. While deciding on the amount of money to invest, one needs to consider various parameters like risk taking ability, investment goals and the period of investment.

ULIP plans typically have a transparent set of norms so that the customer can make an informed decision. All the benefits and risks are made clear to the customer beforehand to minimise risk. These plans also offer flexibility in relation to the kind of market investment to be made i.e. Debt, equity or money market. A ULIP plan holder is also allowed to withdraw money partially which is subject to emergencies. They also help a policy holder to save tax, as the returns at the period of maturity are completely tax free. For all of the above reasons, a ULIP plan is a rather attractive tool for long term wealth creation for any individual.

A fixed deposit account is one of the safest scheme of investing money. It promises guaranteed returns on your investment without grave risks. If you want to play it safe, a fixed deposit will surely befit your investment needs. A fixed deposit account is a financial tool wherein an investor deposits a certain sum of money on which the bank is supposed to pay an amount of interest. Although the opening of a fixed deposit account isn’t as quick as other forms of investment such as buying a share. However it is quite safe and much more convenient.

As compared to the share market, a fixed deposit account is a much safer investment as the investor is assured a fixed rate of return on this investment. Therefore you can be assured of guaranteed returns at the end of your investment tenure. Once the amount is deposited, it cannot be withdrawn unless there is an emergency. In case of such unavoidable circumstances, the bank will deduct a certain amount as penalty. The period of fixed deposits usually ranges between 15 days to 10 years.

Apart from being a safe investment a fixed deposit has many other advantages such as:

1.      Attractive rates of interest on investment and flexibility with regard to interest pay outs i.e. you can choose, if you want the interest to be paid annually, monthly or at maturity.

2.      Encourages saving habit as deposits need to be in the account for a period of time and cannot be withdrawn.

3.      You can always choose to have multiple fixed deposits of varying time periods and amounts to meet your various investment goals.

4.      Borrowing up to 90% of the fixed deposit amount is permissible.

5.      Save tax by investing in a tax saver fixed deposit which is exempted from income tax up to a certain amount.

6.      To determine the amount you can earn through fixed deposits easily, many bank websites feature fixed deposit calculators so that customers can make an informed decision before investing.