Ravi Mehrotra, MD

Thursday musing 4/4: Cancer survivorship starts at the time of the initial diagnosis. Survivors need holistic support for health, career preservation, and mental well-being from day one. Let's move beyond mere survival to thriving. @chipfoundation #BeyondSurvival #CancerSurvivorship

Humbled to contribute to the chapter on ‘The global burden of liver cancer: patterns, inequities, and precision opportunities.’ In our latest book, “Precision Oncology in Liver Cancer: Genomics, Infection, and the Exposome in African and Global Contexts” Liver cancer continues to be a significant global health challenge, particularly in resource-constrained regions like Africa. Understanding the intricate interplay between genomics, infectious diseases, environmental exposures, and cancer biology is essential to advancing cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. This underscores the imperative to translate scientific breakthroughs into equitable cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, especially for historically marginalized populations. Thanks to my co-authors and Editor @mazozozetzt .

Wall sits, done regularly, has been found to decrease systolic blood pressure in a recent RCT. Reduction Amounts: Studies in the British Journal of Sports Medicine and recent clinical trials show that an isometric wall-sit routine can drop resting systolic blood pressure by an average of about 8 to 13.7 mmHg, depending on the frequency of training. Recommended Routine: A standard effective protocol involves holding a wall sit for 2 minutes, resting for 2 minutes, and repeating this sequence 4 times per session (totaling about 8 minutes of work), performed 3 times a week. Maintenance: Even scaling back to 1 or 2 sessions per week can help maintain lower blood pressure levels, though a full 3-times-weekly schedule yields the largest reduction. Completely stopping the routine causes blood pressure to return to baseline control levels. Why It Works? Wall sits are a form of isometric exercise (contracting muscles without joint movement). When you hold the position, the tensed leg muscles temporarily restrict blood flow. When you stand up and release the muscle contraction, a surge of blood rushes back in, which helps improve blood vessel elasticity and overall vascular function over time. Elementary, my dear Watson?

Tuesday musings: Affordable, accessible, and equitable cancer treatment for all should be a right, not a privilege.

2/4: Tuesday Thoughts: Early detection is important and saves lives. Whether it’s routine screenings, listening to your body, or checking in on your mental health, catching things early makes all the difference. Don't put off what you can check today until tomorrow. What’s one healthy habit you’re prioritizing this week? #TuesdayThoughts #HealthFirst #Wellness #EarlyDetection

1/4 Monday musings: While changing lifestyle choices can be challenging, focusing on the "low-hanging fruits" of cancer prevention makes a massive impact. From tobacco control and HPV vaccination to maintaining a healthy diet and reducing harmful exposures, prevention truly is the first step. @chipfoundation What lifestyle change do you think is the hardest to adopt, but worth the effort? #CancerPrevention #PublicHealth #HealthyLifestyle #PreventionSavesLives