A complete guidebook to a healthy lifestyle for every woman
Mumbai: India’s renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Rishma Dhillon Pai authors ‘Fit at 40’- a book targeted at all women in the reproductive age-group and beyond, to understand their bodies better, to comprehend the changes which take place as they grow older and be better equipped to deal with them. Dr. Rishma Dhillon Pai is a consultant Gynaecologist at Jaslok and Lilavati Hospitals, two of the best known and reputed hospitals in Mumbai. She is also the Director of the ‘Everywoman Cliniq’ at Kemps corner and Bandra, Mumbai.
The 40’s is a neglected age- group. 40 is the age at which your doctor recommends you
to do cancer screening tests and investigations. There is a lot of focus on women when it comes to fashion, fitness, menopause and related problems, but the mid-zone – the 40’s has felt neglected for a long time. This is what encouraged Dr Pai to write a simple and easy-to-read book on common gynaecological problems, as well as health issues such as diabetes, thyroid problems, hypertension etc. The book not only focuses on prevention of diseases, on recognizing if one is at high risk for any health related problem but also on early diagnosis and recommended treatments.
Dr. Pai explains why she chose 40 and not 30 or 50 – “40 is the turning point in a woman’s life. 40’s is the age at which a woman is physically, psychologically and socially seeing changes. For e.g. – women who never had weight issues, notice their waistline broadening. Those who never had any menstrual problems start getting irregular menses. The hormones start going haywire, there are mood swings, perimenopausal symptoms and anxiety. You hear of some friends being diagnosed with breast cancer or cervical cancer. Another one, getting a surgery done for uterus removal etc.”
Good Health and Fitness are the two of the most important things in life. A woman cannot enjoy a lovely new dress or a pair of shoes if she has terrible abdominal pain, cramps and heavy menstrual bleeding with clots. A diamond solitaire will seem futile if she has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Even when a tiny part of the body malfunctions – a toothache, a migraine or UTI, it makes us realize how we take our body for granted and how a slight problem can give us a huge distress.
Dr. Pai adds, “As a gynaecologist, I often meet women who think that they don’t need a gynaecologist any more since they have completed their families. And I tell them – You need your gynac even more now! While you are young, very often your system functions well and there are few problems but as age advances the health issues multiply.”
In today’s age of internet with vast and easy information, general public often feel as if they have been dropped into an ocean of online information – sometimes with contradictory opinions. This can be confusing as well as terrifying. That’s where ‘Fit at 40’ comes into the picture. It focuses on what is important and relevant and puts it across to the readers in simple, easily comprehendible language.
With inputs from experts in various fields, ‘Fit at 40’ is a comprehensive book on health and fitness for the women of today.
“They say, rule no 1 of dieting is, if it tastes good, spit it out.” Dr. Sarita Davre, famous nutritionist writes about eating right and tells us how food can be healthy yet tasty. “I’m in shape, unfortunately it’s the wrong one.” If that is your situation then, Dr. Purnima Mhatre, leading dermatologist writes up on how to take care of your skin and appearance, so you can look gorgeous always. “My doctor told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel 10 years older already.” To tell you which is the best exercise for your age and body type, fitness expert Leena Mogre’s chapter is just what you need to follow.
About the author: Dr Rishma Dhillon Pai is an honorary consultant gynaecologist at the Jaslok and Lilavati Hospitals, two of the best known hospitals in Mumbai. Her special interests are infertility, minimal access surgery (keyhole or endoscopic surgery), menopause, and adolescent problems. She has trained in minimal access surgery, IVF and ICSI at Antwerp, Belgium. She has also trained in egg and embryo freezing at the world’s biggest IVF centre in Japan and also advanced her skills in this field in Italy, China and Portugal. Dr Pai has served as the senior vice president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India. She is presently the Jt clinical secretary of MOGS (The Mumbai Obstetric & Gynaecological Society), treasurer of Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (IAGE), and honorary secretary of the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR). She is the first Indian to be elected on the board of the World Endometriosis Society. She was also the chairperson of the Food, Drugs and Medicosurgical Equipment committee of FOGSI. She was the organizing secretary of the All India Congress of Obsterics and Gynaecology, AICOG 2013, Mumbai. Dr Pai is among the first doctors in India to start the procedure of uterine balloon ablation therapy for heavy bleeding. She is one of the first in Asia to offer a non-surgical treatment for the common problem of fibroids, using MRI guided ultrasound. She was one of the first in India to start and teach other gynaecologists the use of abortion pills. She also holds distinction of having delivered a 60-year-old woman’s baby, one of the oldest patients in India. She, along with her husband Dr Hrishikesh Pai, has had the fortune of treating thousands of infertile couples and helped them to have their own child.
