Dr Khalid's Health blog

How to relieve Menstrual pain or Cramps

2020-10-19T00:10:00.001-07:00

Applying heat to your abdomen and lower back may relieve pain. A 2012 study focused on 147 women 18 to 30 years old who had regular menstrual cycles found that a heat patch at 104°F (40°C) was as effective as ibuprofen

If you don't have a hot water bottle or heating pad, take a warm bath or use a hot towel.

Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Clinical Operations and Coordination Manager at Baidyanath says, "You can reduce period pain with the help of fenugreek seeds. All you need to do is soak it in water for 12 hours, and then drink up."

"You can make a herbal tea out of cumin seeds to reduce period pain," suggests Dr. Ashutosh Gautam, Baidyanath. Cumin has a relaxing effect, and its anti-spasmodic and anti-inflammatory properties are useful for for getting rid of menstrual cramps.

According to a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Chemistry, Chamomile tea has pain-relieving properties. It helps relax the uterus and decrease the production of prostaglandins, thus reducing period pain.

Yogi Anoop, MediYoga suggests, "Do yoga asanas such as pranayama and shavasana (the corpse pose) while menstruating, as it eases pain and helps the body to relax. It also helps if you lie on your back with your knees bent."

How hormone dopamine causes addiction to social media/smart phones ?

2019-12-12T19:36:00.003-08:00

How we develop addiction to social media/smart phones ?

New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote: “Tech companies understand what causes dopamine surges in the brain and they lace their products with ‘hijacking techniques’ that lure us in and create ‘compulsion loops’.” Most social media sites create irregularly timed rewards, Brooks wrote, a technique long employed by the makers of slot machines, based on the work of the American psychologist BF Skinner, who found that the strongest way to reinforce a learned behaviour in rats is to reward it on a random schedule. “When a gambler feels favoured by luck, dopamine is released,” says Natasha Schüll, a professor at New York University and author of Addiction By Design: Machine Gambling in Las Vegas. This is the secret to Facebook’s era-defining success: we compulsively check the site because we never know when the delicious ting of social affirmation may sound.

What dopamine does ?

Dopamine, as one of the major neurotransmitters – the bicycle couriers of the brain – carries many different kinds of message, only some of which are known and understood.

As well as its core function in learning, through identifying the extent to which a reward differs from expectations, dopamine is also vital for movement control, and plays a role in memory, attention, mood, cognition and sleep.

Recent research has shown that dopamine levels are one of the key differentiators between human beings and other apes; Nenad Sestan and André Sousa of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut discovered that 1.5% of the neurons in the human striatum produce dopamine, three times more than in the ape striatum.

Ref
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/04/has-dopamine-got-us-hooked-on-tech-facebook-apps-addiction

How does cell phone/tablet/PC use before bedtime disrupts sleep through hormone melatonin

2019-12-12T19:26:00.001-08:00

A study, published on a university website in 2012, from the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute showed that a two-hour exposure to electronic devices with self-luminous “backlit” displays causes melatonin suppression, which might lead to delayed bedtimes, especially in teens.

The research team, led by Mariana Figueiro, associate professor at Rensselaer and director of the LRC’s Light and Health Program, tested the effects of self-luminous tablets on melatonin suppression. In order to simulate typical usage of these devices, 13 individuals used self-luminous tablets to read, play games, and watch movies. Results of the study, titled “Light level and duration of exposure determine the impact of self-luminous tablets on melatonin suppression,” were recently published in the journal Applied Ergonomics.

“Our study shows that a two-hour exposure to light from self-luminous electronic displays can suppress melatonin by about 22 percent. Stimulating the human circadian system to this level may affect sleep in those using the devices prior to bedtime,” said Figueiro.

The actual melatonin suppression values after 60 minutes were very similar to those estimated using a predictive model of human circadian phototransduction for one-hour light exposures. “Based on these results, display manufacturers can use our model to determine how their products could affect circadian system regulation,” said Figueiro.

The results of this study, together with the LRC predictive model of human circadian phototransduction, could urge manufacturers to design more “circadian-friendly” electronic devices that could either increase or decrease circadian stimulation depending on the time of day—reducing circadian stimulation in the evening for a better night’s sleep, and increasing in the morning to encourage alertness. In the future, manufacturers might be able to use data and predictive models to design tablets for tailored daytime light exposures that minimize symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, and sleep disorders in seniors. Individuals would be able to receive light treatments while playing games or watching movies, making light therapy much more enjoyable than just sitting in front of a light box.

Ref

https://news.rpi.edu/luwakkey/3074

How much physical activity gives you long life without diseases ?

2019-06-25T21:23:00.001-07:00

1. For Children and Adolescents

Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness
Improved bone health
Improved cardiovascular and metabolic health biomarkers
Favorable body composition

2. For Adults and Older Adults

Lower risk of early death
Lower risk of coronary heart disease
Lower risk of stroke
Lower risk of high blood pressure
Lower risk of adverse blood lipid profile
Lower risk of type 2 diabetes
Lower risk of metabolic syndrome
Lower risk of colon cancer
Lower risk of breast cancer
Prevention of weight gain
Weight loss, particularly when combined with reduced calorie intake
Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness
Prevention of falls
Reduced depression
Better cognitive function (for older adults)

Ref
https://health.gov/paguidelines/2008/chapter2.aspx

3 Sure shot tips to stop sleepiness / drowsiness after Lunch and improve health too !!

2018-08-08T03:50:00.001-07:00

Tip1

Limit the carbohydrate portions in your lunch. The refined grains in processed foods get digested quickly that results in blood sugar spike and dip contributing to low energy levels. Choose to eat more energizing meals that includes more iron (leafy green veggies), lean proteins (lean meat, fish and eggs) and complexed carbohydrates (whole grains and legumes).

Eating a smaller lunch with snacks in the morning and afternoon will keep your blood sugar levels balanced throughout the day.

Try not to consume more and more sugar and fats present in processed foods in order to avoid energy crash.

Tip2

Physical activity improves blood flow, providing oxygen and nutrients to muscle tissue and naturally
increasing energy. Carl Bazil, MD, PhD, director of the Division of Epilepsy and Sleep at Columbia University, recommends exercising before afternoon drowsiness kicks in—stretch, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk around your building.

Simply getting away from your desk can re-energize.

Tip3

Take Coffee only from morning till lunchtime.

Coffee is a go-to energy booster, but don't wait too long after lunch to drink it. Many people may think the caffeine is okay as long as you have it before dinnertime, but even mid-afternoon caffeine could linger in your body and affect your ability to fall asleep at night. That creates a vicious cycle that could leave you feeling tired the next afternoon.

~~~ ~~~~~
For people who want to know Why ?

Food that you eat for lunch diverts your blood away from your brain to help with the digestion process.

Accredited practising dietitian Jemma O'Hanlon agrees, saying the amount of carbohydrates we eat at lunch can affect how sleepy we feel afterward.

"After eating -- particularly sugary foods -- insulin is produced by the pancreas which then converts these sugars (glucose), circulating in the bloodstream into glycogen within our cells," Clark said.

"Excessive secretion of insulin causes the essential amino acid tryptophan to move into the brain. Once in the brain, it leads to increased production of serotonin and melatonin, which are two neurotransmitters that have a calming effect and help regulate sleep. Interestingly, around 90 percent of the body's serotonin is found in the gut, where it regulates intestinal movements."

Ref:

https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/08/31/sleepy-after-lunch-we-found-out-exactly-why-it-happens_a_21463330/

For further reading

https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/energy-after-lunch/

Nipah virus (NiV)- How to prevent, how to identify the disease, what are the lab tests used to diagnose?

2018-05-23T02:39:00.001-07:00

Nipah virus (NiV) infection was first identified during an outbreak of disease that took place in Kampung Sungai Nipah, Malaysia in 1998.

Fruit bats (Pteropodidae) are the natural host of Nipah virus.

How to prevent infection? What are the precautions? :

Nipah virus can be transmitted to humans from animals (bats, pigs), and can also be transmitted directly from human-to-human.

Bat-to-human transmission --

Fruits should be thoroughly washed and peeled before consumption. As Indian bat eats any available fruits, we have to be cautious before eatinng any fruit. Fruit of about 300 types of plants are eaten by Indian bats for food. Bats consume any fruit ranging from bananas to mangos, dates, avocados, wild dates and any type of pulpy fruit

Pig-to-human transmission --
Gloves and other protective clothing should be worn while handling sick animals or their tissues, and during slaughtering and culling procedures. As much as possible, people should avoid being in contact with infected pigs.

Human-to-human transmission--
Regular hand washing should be carried out after caring for or visiting sick people.

What are the signs and symptoms you should watch for:

Human infections range from asymptomatic infection, acute respiratory infection (mild, severe), and fatal encephalitis.

Infected people initially develop influenza-like symptoms of fever, headaches, myalgia (muscle pain), vomiting and sore throat. This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis.

Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.

The incubation period (interval from infection to the onset of symptoms) is believed to range between from 4-14 days. However an incubation period as long as 45 days has been reported.

Most people who survive acute encephalitis make a full recovery, but long term neurologic conditions have been reported in survivors. Approximately 20% of patients are left with residual neurological consequences such as seizure disorder.

The case fatality rate (percent of people who die after being infected) is estimated at 40% to 75%; however, this rate can vary by outbreak depending on local capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and clinical management.

How is diagnosis of NiV done?:

Initial signs and symptoms of NiV infection are non-specific and the diagnosis is often not suspected at the time of presentation.

In addition, clinical sample quality, quantity, type, timing of collection and the time necessary to transfer samples from patients to the laboratory can affect the accuracy of laboratory results.

NiV infection can be diagnosed together with clinical history during the acute and convalescent phase of the disease.

Main tests including real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from bodily fluids as well as antibody detection via ELISA. Different tests include:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay
·virus isolation by cell culture.

On this occasion, pigs were the intermediate hosts. However, in subsequent NiV outbreaks, there were no intermediate hosts. In Bangladesh in 2004, humans became infected with NiV as a result of consuming date palm sap that had been contaminated by infected fruit bats.

NiV infection in humans has a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory syndrome and fatal encephalitis.

Reference:

All except the below material is taken from: WHO http://www.who.int/csr/disease/nipah/en/

Information for food habits of Indian Bats is taken from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_flying_fox#Diet

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For Kerala farmers:

Round-the-clock help can be requested from the state animal disease emergency control (Nipah viral fever) helpline number 0471-2732151.

Farmers should contact the veterinary hospitals if the domestic animals or birds show any symptoms like respiratory disorder or uneasiness in their behaviour.

RNA used to transplant memory between snails

2018-05-22T11:48:00.001-07:00

A team successfully transplanted memories by transferring a form of genetic information called RNA from one snail into another.

The snails were trained to develop a defensive reaction.

When the RNA was inserted into snails that had not undergone this process, they behaved just as if they had been sensitised.

The research, published in the journal eNeuro, could provide new clues in the search for the physical basis of memory.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-44111476

Your irregular sleep routine may cause depression - BBC

2018-05-15T23:52:00.001-07:00

Disruption to the body's internal clock may put people at increased risk of mood disorders, scientists say.

A clock ticks in nearly every cell of the body. And they change how the tissues work in a daily rhythm.

A Lancet Psychiatry study of 91,000 people found a disrupted body clock was linked with depression, bipolar disorder and other problems.

The Glasgow researchers said it was a warning to societies becoming less in tune with these natural rhythms.

Those who were highly active at night or inactive during the day were classed as being disrupted.

And they were between 6% and 10% more likely to have been diagnosed with a mood disorder than people who had a more typical - active in the day, inactive at night - pattern.

Prof Daniel Smith, a psychiatrist and one of the University of Glasgow researchers, told the BBC: "These are not huge differences.

Jobs to be available and attractive in USA and developed world in 2026 ?

2017-11-26T10:05:00.001-08:00

Manufacturing will fall. Retail will wobble. Automation will inch along but stay off the roads, for now. The rich will keep getting richer. And more and more of the country will be paid to take care of old people. That is the future of the labor market, according to the latest 10-year forecast from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These 10-year forecasts—the products of two years' work from about 25 economists at the BLS —document the government's best assessment of the fastest and slowest growing jobs of the future. On the decline are automatable work, like typists, and occupations threatened by changing consumer behavior, like clothing store cashiers, as more people shop online.

The fastest-growing jobs through 2026 belong to what one might call the Three Cs: care, computers, and clean energy. No occupation is projected to add more workers than personal-care aides, who perform non-medical duties for older Americans, such as bathing and cooking. Along with home-health aides, these two occupations are projected to create 1.1 million new jobs in the next decade. Remarkably, that's 10 percent of the total 11.5 million jobs that the BLS expects the economy to add. Clean-energy workers, like solar-panel installers and wind-turbine technicians, are the only occupations that are expected to double by 2026. Mathematicians and statisticians round out the top-10 list.

Ref https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/543915/

4 in 10 cancer cases can be prevented, largely through lifestyle changes.

2017-11-21T23:35:00.001-08:00

There are no proven ways to prevent cancer, but you can reduce your risk of getting it.

According to Cancer Research UK, 4 in 10 cancer cases can be prevented, largely through lifestyle changes. It will help to lower your risk of cancer if you:

Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Maintain a healthy weight
Stay physically active
drink less alcohol
Stop smoking
Protect your skin from sun damage
Know how to recognise any potential symptoms of cancer

Red more at: https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/preventing-cancer/Pages/diet-and-cancer.aspx#know

The 10 Most Common Cosmetic Surgery Complications

2017-11-21T19:42:00.001-08:00

Hematoma. Hematoma is a pocket of blood that resembles a large, painful bruise.
Nerve Damage.
Infection.
Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism.
Scarring.
General Appearance Dissatisfaction.
Organ Damage.
Anesthesia Complications.

https://www.healthline.com/health/most-common-plastic-surgery-complications

FDA Gives Strong Heart Attack, Stroke Warning for Pain Relievers

2017-10-20T00:23:00.001-07:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , apparently under pressure from rising reports of dependence on pain killers. It's unfortunate these warnings were not strong enough earlier. strengthened requirements for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), which include pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These drugs are sold under brand names such as Motrin®, Advil® and Aleve®.

Some combination drugs that relieve various symptoms, such as multi-symptom cold medicine, also contain NSAIDs.

While the revamped warnings still say that NSAIDS may increase the chance for heart attack or stroke, new language will say that these serious, life-threatening side effects can occur as early as the first few weeks of use. In addition, the risk of heart attack or stroke might increase if you take NSAIDs for a longer time, the FDA says.

"There is no period of use shown to be without risk," FDA spokeswoman Judy Racoosin, MD, MPH, said in a news release.

Aspirin also is an NSAID, but the revised warning doesn't apply to aspirin.

Ref https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/07/fda-boosts-heart-attack-stroke-warning-for-pain-relievers/amp/

Suffering chronic pain ? Experts say a diet makeover with a focus on vegetables can have a dramatic effect

2017-10-19T15:58:00.001-07:00

Patients who follow strict vegan or Mediterranean diets have seen a complete turnaround in their pain symptoms, according to pain management specialist William Welches, DO. He says getting regular exercise, controlling stress and eating healthy foods all work together to reduce inflammation and chronic pain.

"Research shows that diet should be an integral part of a pain management program — especially as patients age," says Dr. Welches. "A vegan or Mediterranean diet — or healthier eating inspired by these diets — can control insulin and cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation — which is the pain culprit."

Eat the rainbow: Consume eight to nine servings of vegetables each day — make a couple of those servings fruit, if you like. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower are best.
Restrict dairy and grains: Eat dairy products in limited quantities. When choosing grains, stay away from simple carbohydrates with refined sugar. Opt for whole grains, including barley, buckwheat, oats, quinoa, brown rice, rye, spelt and wheat.
Avoid red meat: Eat red meat the way most of us eat turkey right now — twice a year, Dr. Welches says. Have it on very special occasions, very infrequently. Instead, include fish as the "meat" or eat vegetarian main dishes. Chicken is neutral — not harmful but not beneficial in the anti-inflammatory sense.

Ref

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/11/anti-inflammatory-diet-can-relieve-pain-age/?utm_campaign=cc%20posts&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=191017%20anti&cvosrc=social%20network.twitter.cc%20posts&cvo_creative=191017%20anti

Always Tired? 7 Hidden Causes for Your Fatigue

2017-10-16T12:18:00.001-07:00

You may be missing some very basic causes of fatigue.

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2017/07/always-tired-7-hidden-causes-for-your-fatigue/

A1 and A2 milk: Is the difference really what is being advertised? Here are the scientific facts !

2017-10-10T23:48:00.001-07:00

A1 milk is not a non-organic milk . It is not un-natural milk. However, there is some difference in the ease of digestion of A2 milk. This difference has been falsely exaggerated for commercial reasons.

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The distinction in varieties of milk A1 and A2 milk was discovered about 25 years ago in milk's most abundant protein, beta-casein. The variation occurs in the protein's chain of 209 amino acids: A1 has the amino acid histidine at position 67 in the chain, while A2 has proline there instead.

Despite its name, A2 is actually the original variety. Historians believe that the A1 mutation originated in Europe somewhere around 8,000 years ago, but why it occurred is open to speculation. Some believe that farmers began breeding for higher output at this time, and favored the A1-dominant breeds like Holsteins known for producing more milk. Others speculate that the mutation was caused by forces more cosmetic than substantive; Holsteins are the classic black-and-white cows that dot pastures throughout the western world.

Ref https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/a-tale-of-two-milks/514397/

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Consumption of milk containing A1 β-casein was associated with increased gastrointestinal inflammation, and some other problems

Research also says: Consumption of milk containing A1 β-casein was associated with increased gastrointestinal inflammation, worsening of PD3 symptoms, delayed transit, and decreased cognitive processing speed and accuracy. Because elimination of A1 β-casein attenuated these effects, some symptoms of lactose intolerance may stem from inflammation it triggers, and can be avoided by consuming milk containing only the A2 type of beta casein.

Ref https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818854/

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Preliminary results suggest differences in gastrointestinal responses in some adult humans consuming milk containing beta-casein of either the A1 or the A2 beta-casein type, but require conﬁrmation in a larger study of participants with perceived intolerance to ordinary A1 beta-casein-containing milk.

Ref https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2014127.epd

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Research by New Zealand scientists Bob Elliott and Corran McLachlan in 1993, showed that A1 milk produces inflammatory compounds in the human digestive system that can cause mild symptoms like stomach pain, or much worse.

The research also showed, however, that a second type of milk—a variation known as A2—did not have these effects. McLachlan posited that A2 could be better for overall health, and maybe even digestible by those who consider themselves lactose intolerant.

Ref https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/01/a-tale-of-two-milks/514397/

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Curtin University research conducts first human study on A2 milk with subjects reporting less bloat than digesting A1 milk

Less than 5 per cent of the population are medically diagnosed with an allergy to milk, lactose, but there are an unknown number of people self-diagnosing intolerance.

For nearly 20 years, there have been claims that the A2 beta-casein protein is easier to digest than A1, but it's been dismissed as unscientific.

This pilot study at Curtin University, by Associate Professor Sebely Pal of the School of Public Health, found subjects on an A2 milk diet reported less bloating abdominal pain, and firmer stools, by staying off A1 beta-casein.

"The surprising finding in this study is that ordinary milk drinkers, who did not consider themselves to be milk-intolerant, found they had slightly softer stools when they consumed A1 as opposed to A2 milk.

"These softer stools can be associated with increased abdominal pain and this was highly significant."

Curtin University recruited 41 people, for a double-blind randomised trial over eight weeks.

They were asked to consume no dairy for two weeks, followed by two weeks of either A1 or A2 beta-casein milk. This was repeated and reversed after two weeks.

Ref http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2014-08-11/a2-milk-research/5658502

Are you in a desk sitting job ? Beware of painful ‘dead butt’ syndrome?

2017-10-09T09:12:00.001-07:00

What causes 'dead butt' syndrome?

Not surprisingly, sitting for long periods in front of a desk or in a car is the most common cause of dead butt syndrome.

"The weakness is gradual, happening over time," Dr. Bang says. "Most patients have no idea what they did to cause the pain."

How to prevent? Read here: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2017/10/no-joke-your-desk-job-promotes-dead-butt-syndrome/amp/

Turmeric soap for good skin by HUL

2017-10-09T07:55:00.001-07:00

AYUSH by HUL in collaboration with 60 year old Ayurvedic 'Arya Vaisya Pharmacy' of Coimbatore is a reliable product. Tried it today! Skin feeling good.

Tips to keep a healthy heart and body: as per Dr. Devi Shetty, renowned Cardiologist

2017-10-08T05:44:00.001-07:00

A chat with Dr. Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Famous Heart Specialist) Bangalore. The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.

Qn1. What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?

Ans:

1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil

2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week;

3. Quit smoking

4. Control weight

5. Control BP - Blood pressure and Sugar

Qn2. Can we convert fat into muscles?

Ans: It is a dangerous myth. Fat and muscles are made of two different tissues, fat is fat ... Ugly and harmful... Muscle is muscle. Fat can never be converted into a muscle.

Qn3. It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person

gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?

Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Qn4. Are heart diseases hereditary?

Ans: Yes

Qn5. What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?

Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in everything in life.

Qn6. Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?

Ans: Walking is better than jogging, since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints. (True for people above age of around 45-50 only. Jogging is one of the best exercises if you do properly.)

Qn7. You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?

Ans: Mother Theresa, who was my patient.

Qn8. Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?

Ans: Extremely rare.

Qn9. Does cholesterol accumulate right from an early age (I'm currently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?

Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn10. How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?

Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body's enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Qn11. How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?

Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn12. Which is the best and worst food for the heart?

Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and oil is the worst.

Qn13. Which oil is better - groundnut, sunflower, olive?

Ans: All oils are bad.

Qn14. What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?

Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn15. What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?

Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position, place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit, since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Qn16. How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?

Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn17. What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.

Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Qn18. Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?

Ans: Yes.

Qn19. Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?

Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may NOT have a software engineer as a child.

Qn20. Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Does this affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?

Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as yougrow older, respect the biological clock.

Qn21. Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short/long term)?

Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn22. Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?

Ans : No.

Qn23. Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?

Ans : No.

Qn24. How would you define junk food?

Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , Samosas, and even Masala Dosas.

Qn25. You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?

Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn26. Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?

Ans: No.

Qn27. Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot of forwarded e-mails on this)?

Ans: Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn28. Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead to heart problems?

Ans: No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.

Qn29. Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?

Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.

Qn30. Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?

Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn31. What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?

Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight.

Qn32. Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?

Ans : No.

Qn33. What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?

Ans: There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn34. Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?

Ans : No.

Qn35. Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?

Ans: Nature protects women till the age of 45. (Present Global census show that the Percentage of heart disease in women has increased than in men).

Qn36. How can one keep the heart in a good condition?

Ans: Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke and, go for health checkups if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six months recommended) ....

Please, don't hoard knowledge.

It takes sharing of knowledge to discover and understand the world in which we live. Do send it to all your friends and relatives....... They might benefit

How To Reverse Brain Aging: Grow New Brain Cells

2017-10-07T06:03:00.001-07:00

As per a leading scientist, the following will grow new brain cells.

Practices that increase neurogenesis include:

Calorie restriction of 20 to 30 percent
Intermittent fasting (i.e., spacing the time between your meals)
Intake of flavonoids, which are contained in dark chocolate or blueberries
Omega-3 fatty acids, present in fatty fish, like salmon

Conversely, some dietary habits have a negative impact on neurogenesis, like diets rich in high saturated fat and alcohol consumption.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_56253c16e4b0bce347019a2c

China breaks ground in curing genetic diseases: edits gene of Human embryo to prevent thalassemia

2017-09-28T00:26:00.001-07:00

Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, from the Francis Crick Institute in London, described parts of their latest study as "ingenious".

Precise "chemical surgery" has been performed on human embryos to remove disease in a world first, Chinese researchers have told the BBC.

The team at Sun Yat-sen University used a technique called base editing to correct a single error out of the three billion "letters" of our genetic code.

They altered lab-made embryos to remove the disease beta-thalassemia, which were not implanted.

The team says the approach may one day treat a range of inherited diseases.

Base editing alters the fundamental building blocks of DNA: the four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine.

They are commonly known by their respective letters, A, C, G and T.

All the instructions for building and running the human body are encoded in combinations of those four bases.

The potentially life-threatening blood disorder beta-thalassemia is caused by a change to a single base in the genetic code - known as a point mutation.

The team in China edited it back.

They scanned DNA for the error then converted a G to an A, correcting the fault.

Junjiu Huang, one of the researchers, told the BBC News website: "We are the first to demonstrate the feasibility of curing genetic disease in human embryos by base editor system."

He said their study opens new avenues for treating patients and preventing babies being born with beta-thalassemia, "and even other inherited diseases".

The experiments were performed in tissues taken from a patient with the blood disorder and in human embryos made through cloning.

Read full at:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-41386849

Origin of gelatin in your capsules in India

2017-09-16T19:17:00.001-07:00

From news item 1:

MUMBAI: It might be a hard fact to digest for those agitating for a ban on beef, but cattle are slaughtered not only for the pleasure of beef eaters, but also to serve the medicine industry.

Gelatine, a key element in capsules, vitamin drugs and chicken fodder, is manufactured by processing the bones, skin and tissue of cattle.

"So in some way or the other, we all consume beef in our everyday lives," says a senior executive of a pharma company who did not wish to be identified, fearing prosecution by the state.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/gelatine-in-capsules-vitamin-drugs-manufactured-from-bones-skin-tissue-of-cattle-say-pharma-cos/articleshow/46669729.cms

From news item 2:

Soon, you can out-vegan the staunchest vegan with your 'pure-vegetarian' medicine capsules. According to pharmabiz.com, an online portal for India's pharmaceuticals industry, the Union Health Ministry is looking to replace gelatin capsules with cellulose-based capsules.

Gelatin is obtained by boiling the connective tissues, bones, and skin of animals.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, the national daily reported citing official documents, took to the idea with gusto and asked for "necessary steps" to be taken on "priority".

http://wap.business-standard.com/article-amp/economy-policy/veg-capsule-for-veg-society-govt-wants-gelatin-out-of-your-medicines-117061900174_1.html

Why you should start the day with Lemon water ?

2017-09-15T09:24:00.001-07:00

How can you help maintain good number of good bacteria of your intestine ?

2017-09-03T10:39:00.001-07:00

Trillions of bacteria live in your intestines — Many of them are "good" bacteria that help keep us healthy. And as with any bacteria, you've got to feed these good bacteria. Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease Institute's Gail Cresci, PhD, RD, who studies gut bacteria, says a modern Western diet heavy on processed foods can upset the balance of what's called your gut microbiota.

The solution? That's where fermented foods can help. Here, Dr. Cresci explains why bringing back traditional fermented foods, such as fermented sauerkraut or pickles, in to your diet is good for optimal health.

Don't worry. This doesn't mean you have to eat lacto-fermented pickles for breakfast, lunch and dinner for gut health! The byproducts of fermentation (and thus the benefits) vary depending on the type of food that is being fermented — whether it's cabbage or cheese.

Get the list of foods here:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2016/01/5-reasons-you-should-add-more-fermented-foods-to-your-diet-infographic/

32% Nursing Homes facilities in England inadequate or substandard. Elders suffering !

2017-07-05T23:59:00.001-07:00

Inspectors making unannounced visits to care homes found medicines being administered unsafely, alarm calls going unanswered and residents not getting help to eat or use the toilet. Some residents were found to have been woken up by night-shift care workers, washed and then put back to bed, apparently to make life easier for staff.

Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care at the Care Quality Commission, which carried out the inspections, said such practice showed a fundamental lack of dignity and respect. She admitted disappointment that only one in 50 of all care services had managed to achieve the top rating of "outstanding".

Of all adult 24,000 social care services in England, 21% have been judged "inadequate" or "requires improvement" in the first full checks of their kind by the Care Quality Commission – which have taken almost three years to complete. One quarter of those checked have been found wanting on grounds of safety.

Ref:

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jul/06/safety-alert-as-watchdog-warns-that-one-in-three-nursing-homes-is-failing

Why good footwear is important when you cross middle age

2017-06-19T17:39:00.001-07:00

Good footwear supplements the changing and weakening of the natural support system of the feet. This is specially true if you are overweight.

The feet get wider with time. The ligaments get lax. The plantar fascia becomes stretched leading to lowering of the arch.

The fat pads that act as a cushion at the bottom of your feet grow thinner with age. So your feet absorb lesser shock, which can cause a feeling of soreness and pain when you walk around in shoes without good soles.