Health Zone

Guide To Pregnancy Month 6

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:36:00 +0000

The sixth month of pregnancy.
What is happening in your body ?

The urge to urinate frequently may decrease as the uterus rises and takes pressure off the bladder.
Stretch marks or dark streaks may begin to appear on your abdomen, breasts or thighs. After delivery, these marks will slowly fade.
You will continue to gain about 3 to 4 lbs. a month.
Your appetite will be good and nausea wiil be rare.
You will feel more involved with the baby growing inside.

What are the changes happening in your baby ?

Your baby can open and close his eyes and hear sounds inside you.
Babies unique fingerprint and footprint have formed.
The baby can cough and hiccup, which you may feel as knocking movements.
Your baby measures about 15 inches and weighs 2.5 lbs.

What care you should take ?

Eat balanced meals with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and the whole grains.
Take rest lying on your left side.

Guide To Pregnancy Month 5

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:17:00 +0000

The fifth month of pregnancy.
What is happening in your body ?

You will gain about 3/4 lb a week or total to 3 -4 lb's
As your baby grows, the uterus will enlarge and may put pressure on the lower bowl, causing bowel irregularity.
You may see varicose veins, don't be alarmed they are common.
Avoid siiting or standing for a long time, elevate your legs , move around frequently.
You may feel baby kicking high in your abdomen or low near your abdomen.

What are the changes happening in your Baby ?

Baby has become very active and is doing a lot of kicking and turning.
The baby sleeps and wakes at regular interwal.
The baby has hair and is begining to develop a coating of white greasy substance that protects his skin.
Babies eyelids are still closed, fingernails begins to grow and the heartbeat can be detected.
At the end of 20th week your baby will be around 7.5 inches and weigh 1 pound.
The kidney of the baby is now functioning well that can make them urinate.

What care you should take ?

Continue your prenatal check.
Eat balanced diet. Include plenty of milk and milk products. Drink 8 glasses of water everyday.
Avoid alcohol, smoking drugs and junk foods.
Take time for a rest period everyday. Lying on your left side may be more comfortable.

Guide To Pregnancy Month 4

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:42:00 +0000

The fourth month of pregnancy.
What is happening in your body ?

Your skin may undergo some changes. You may also begin to see blotchy skin on your face.
You will get tired more often, try to take more rest.
You may have also trouble with costipation, which is normal.
Some mother's are able to recognize the baby's movements during the fourth month, although it is normal not to recognize it until the fourth month. It may feel like bubbles or butterflies fluttering in your belly.

What are the changes happening in your Baby ?

Your baby's ear bones begin to harden this month, he may begin to hear some sounds.
The lungs also continue development and as a part of that your baby will " breathe" amniotic fluid.
Babies face will be developed.
Eyebrows and scalp hair are begining to appear. He can even suck his thumb .
At the end of the sixteenth week your baby will be around 5.5 inches and weigh 6 oz . The baby is big enough that his heartbeat can be heard with regular stethoscope.

What care you should take ?

Get your prenatal checkup.
Eat balanced meals with lots of fruits and vegetables. Take your prenatal vitamins and iron.
Avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs not prescribed by your healthcare professional.
Exercise daily, walk atleast 1 mile. learn and practse Kegel exercise and pelvic rock exercises.
Take a break several times a day.
Choose comfortable clothes to fit your changing size.

Guide To Pregnancy Month 3

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:52:00 +0000

The third month of pregnancy.
What is happening in your body ?

You will start gaining weight around the waist. Weight gain is normal in pregnancy and should not be discouraged.
You may suffer from bouts of indigestion and flatulance as hormones have reached their maximum.
You will feel less fatigue, however you will probably still tire more easily.
It's important to take frequent breaks and get adequate rest throughout the day.

What are the changes happening in your baby ?

By the end of this month your baby will be recognizable as a human Embryo.
The face is formed, complete with 32 permanent teeth buds.
There are even nails at the end of the fingers and the nails.
The genital organs are forming.
Cartilege bones are forming rapidly, and the muscles have already begin to be laid down.
At the end of the twelth week your baby will be around 3.5 inches and weigh 1.7 oz

What care you should take ?

Get your prenatal checkup. Ask about body changes that worry you.
Eat balanced meals( whole grains,proteins, fruits and vegetables).
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
Exercise each day by walking, swimming for 15-30 minutes.

Guide To Pregnancy Month 2

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:47:00 +0000

The second month of pregnancy.
What is happening in your body ?

A feeling of exhaustion, more tirednessand less energy.
You may start getting nauseous feeling, urge to vomit.
You may become sensitive to certain smells and food habbits.
Your breast become extra sensitive and you may feel certain amount of throbbing or tingling sensation.
You will feel hungary and your caloric intake will increase. There may be increased vaginal discharge, or aslight bleeding around your date, but it's normal, unless you are experiencing major pain and cramps.

What are the changes happening in your baby ?

Your baby continues to develop internal organs and the major structures of the body.
By the end of the eighth week, all the organs are present.
Brain and spinal cord continue to develop.
The arms and legs will start to lengthen and tiny finger and toe buds begin to form.
At the end of the eighth week your baby will be around 1 inch long and weigh 0.1 oz.
Your baby's eyes and ears are begining to form and teeth buds are also forming.

What care you should take ?

Eat balanced meals ( whole grain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat fish and milk ).
Tke extra rest when3ever you feel tired or exhausted.
Take your prenatal medicines as prescribed by your physician.
Do some light exercises, if it is normal pregnancy.

Guide To Pregnancy Month 1

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:13:00 +0000

The most amazing dream of any women is to give birth to a child. It's the women who brings a new life into this most fascinating world. This is the most wonderful and marvelous experience !!!! of any women.
What is happening in your body ?

You'll be expecting your periods (or hoping it won't come if you have planned pregnancy)
You have missed a menstrual period, and you may feel nauseated any time of the day.
There are generally the first two signs of pregnancy. When you missed your first period, you are already 2 weeks pregnant
You feel fatigued and tried very easily unlike earlier.

What are the changes happening in your body ?

Your baby develops from a single cell to to an embryo. He already has a head and body.
Baby grows inside a sack of amniotic fluid (bag of water).
Babies brain, eyes, mouth, inner eyes, and digestive system are starting to develop.
Brain , nervous system, heart and lungs are forming.
Babies heart begins beating around the 25'th day.
Tiny spots for ears, eyes and nose exist and arm and leg buds are forming.
The baby measures about 0.1-0.2 mm.

What care you should take ?

Avoid X-rays while you are pregnant.
Limit drinks that have caffeine and avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
eat balanced meals ( whole grain, breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, meat , fish and milk)
Start taking prenatal vitamins, as directed by your health care professional.

Five Foods You should eat everyday

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:18:00 +0000

The wide variety of foods you eat, the better chance you have to get all the nutrients needed for good health. There are some foods which has strong link to disease prevention and wealth of nutrients that it makes sense to eat them everyday.

ORANGES: (or Orange Juice) It is a great source of folic acid, fiber, antioxidants and vitamin C, and other anticancer compounds flavonoids and cartenoids. Drink fresh juice, eat fresh oranges for snacks, make fruit salads and toss peeled orange sections into spinach salad.

DARK LEAFY GREENS: It's full of anti-cancer compounds. Contains folic acid to help prevent neural tube birth defects. It also contains beta carotene , vitamin C, fiber and anti cancer compunds beta carotene and lutein. Try spinach, collard greens, kale,turnip greens, eat raw or lightly cooked. Use salads and stir fry.

BRAN CEREAL: It prevent constipation, is a potent anti cancer agent, may fight breast cancer by diminishing estrogen suplies. Mix in with other cereals, make bran bran muffins,sprinkle on salads, mix into casseroles.

YOGURT: It has some unique properties with low fat, with live cultures. It supplies calcium to prevent osteoporosis, boost immune function, fights bacteria, has anti cancer properties. Make fruit and yogurt smoothies, top vanila yogurt with fresh fruit and granola, use on baked potatoes instead sour cream.

GREEN TEA: A lot of evidance support that green tea's cancer fighting properties are likely due to it's anti-oxidant content. Boost metabolism and aids in weight loss or maintenance. Drink your green tea either with caffene or without it. Most studies showing the weight loss benefits of green tea were designed with green tea being consumed with meals.

How to ease Mouth Ulcers ?

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:53:00 +0000

In this fast moving world, where there is no time to give ourself

some of the common problems always arise, in our life. One of the common is mouth ulcers. Here are some tips to ease-

Gargle with a solution made from salt mixed in warm water. A saline mixture has a sterlising effect on mouth blisters and sores.
Avoid caffeinated drinks and hot foods that contain sodium or spices.
Rubbing garlic directly to the ulcers also helps. It may sting initially, but the ulcers will be gone soon.
Add a tsp of honey to a glass of wter and use it to gargle or gargle with coconut oil.
Mouth ulcers can be result of a lack of vitamin c. drink plenty of orange juice or take a supplement.
Raw onions are good for ulcers as they contain sulphur. munch them alone or eat with salads.
Take a glass of chilled water and one glass of hot water and gargle alternately with both.

If you liked this article just leave your comments.

Quit, Quit and Quit Smoking

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:53:00 +0000

You want to quit smoking. You have promised to quit smoking. But for some reason you haven't been able to quit smoking. Why is it so hard ? You are not alone

70 % of somkers want to quit. Millions of people each year try to quit smoking but fail.
Most smokers make multiple attempts to quit before being successful.

Do You Stop and Start and Stop and Start

Everyone knows that smoking is harmful to health, and it plays a lot lot of impact on your health. Some consequences of smoking are-

Every 6.5 seconds, someone dies from diseases related to tobaco use.
Worlwide, smoking cause nearly 5 million deaths every year.
Half of all smokers who begin to smoke as teenagers can be expected to die from tobaco use.
Fatal heart attacks are 4 times more common in young men who smoke than in those who dont smoke
1 out of every 3 cancer deaths is related to smoking.

The early and long term benfits of quitting is good for health. you all know that cigarette smoke contains about 4000 chemicals, some of which are known to cause cancer.. The good news is that after quitting can reverse the efffects of smoking.

After Quitting

20 minutes: heart rate begins to normalize.
12 hours: Carbon Monoxide levels drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months: Circulation can improve, lungs can work better.
1 to 9 months : Shortness of breath and coughing can decrease, lungs can increase ability to handle mucus and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year: risk of heart disease falls to half that for someone who continues smoking.
5 years: Risk of stroke is sharply decreased.
10 years: Risk of lung cancer falls to half that for someone who continues to smoke.
15 years: risk of heart disease becomes the same as for someone who has never smoked.

Amazing Human facts

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Some of the most amazing human facts.

The average person laughs about 15 times a day.
The average person walks the equivalent of twice around the world in a lifetime.
You blink over 10,000,000 times a year.
About 10% of the world population is left handed.
While sleeping, one man in eight snores, and one in ten grinds his teeth.
In one square inch of skin, there are four yards of nerve fibres, 1300 nerve cells, 100 sweat glands, 3 million cells and 3 yards of blood vessels.
One human brains generates more electrical impulses in a single day than all of the world's telephone.
A person can expect to breathe in about 40 pounds of dust over their lifetime.
Most people have lost fifty percent of their taste buds by the time they reach the age of sixty.
If you could save all the time your eyes blink in one lifetime and use them all at once you would see blackness for 1.2 years.

Know About Thalassemia

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Thalassemias are hereditary disorders characterized by defective production of haemoglobin. This leads to low production and excessive destruction of red blood cells. About 100,000 babies worldwide with severe forms of the disease each year, of about 8000- 10,000 are in India alone.

How is the disease transmitted ?

All forms of thalassemia are transmitted only through heredity. It cannot be caught from another child who as it. The disease is passed on through parents who carry the thalassemia gene, but do not suffer from it. When two carriers become parents, there is a 25% of their child having a severe form of disease(thalassemia major). There is 50% chance that the child will become a carrier like its parents(thalassemia minor) and 25% chance that the child will be completely free of the disease or carrier state.

How does thalassemia affect a child ?

Most of the children with thalassemia appear to be healthy at birth. But during the first year or second year life they become pale, listless and fussy, have a poor appetite and grow slowly. Without treatment, the spleen, liver and heart soon become greatly enlarged. bones becomes thin and brittle, face becomes distorted. Heart failure is the leading causes of death among children with untreated thalassemia major.

What is the treatment ?

The use of frequent blood transfusion every 3 to 4 weeks, is the only treatment of thalssemia major.. The repeated blood transfusions lead to a buildup of iron in the body which can damage the heart, liver and other organs. An iron binding agent can help to rid the body of excess iron but its expensive treatment with a lot of complications. Children with thalassemia major who are treated with frequent blood transfusions and iron chelation live to 20 to 30 years rarely. Thalassemia has been cured using bone marrow transplants.. This form of treatment is available for a small minority of patients who have a suiatable bone marrow donor.

Test for Thalasemia Blood tests can show whether an individual has thalassemia or is a carrier. Early diagonsis is important so that treatment can prevent as many complications as possible.

The disease can be prevented by a program of health education, testing of carriers, genetic counselling and avoiding marriage between two carrier individuals to help them have healthy children.

Podiatry Foot Care

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:48:00 +0000

What is Podiatry ? Podiatry is a field of medicine that strives to improve overall health and well being of patients by focussing on preventing, diagonising and treating conditions associated with foot and ankle.
Why is Podiatry (footcare) important ?
As everyone knows that feet are very important in our movement, when we have any injury in our feet we know that its how difficult to walk.
Few facts about Feet:

Diabetic foot is one of the common causes of hospital admission in diabetics.
Diabetes is leading cause of Non Traumatic lower foot amputation.
In India alone there are 40,000 Diabetic Foot amputation in a year.
More than 50% of diabetic amputations can be avoided by good foot care.

What does a Podiatrist ( Foot Care specialist) do ?

A Podiatrist takes care of foot related problems in a clinic or in a hospital.

Simple heel pain or foot pain.
Nail problems like fungal infection of nails and in grown toe nails.
Infections of feet like Atheletes Foot.
Corns, Callouses and Planter warts.
Flat feet, high Arch feet, Bunion deformaties and hammer toes for which advice is given.

If you are Diabetic when to see Podiatrist:

If there is no complain see the Podiatrist once in a year.
If there is numbness once in a six month.
Neuropathy with fungal infection in nails once in three months.
If there is any ulcer see the podiatrist atleast once in a week.

If you felt that this article was informative , kindly leave a comment what you feel , it will be an appreciation to me.

Guide To Pregnant Women Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:33:00 +0000

The other complication's which are very common during pregnancy.

CONSTIPATION: During pregnancy, hormones that are naturally producedsuch as progestrone slow down the intestines. This, in turn causes water in the stool to be reabsorbed and the stool will become dryer and harder to expel. Vitamin and iron can also be another source of constipation, but do not stop taking them. Also, the decreased space caused by the enlargement of the utresus can prevent the intestines from working properly.

What You Can Do ?

Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily, and 1-2 glasses of fruit juice.
Eat a balanced diet with extra fiber foods, such as bran, fresh fruits, raw vegetables, and whole grains.
Try to maintain a regular schedule for emptying your bowls each day.
Daily exercise is recommneded , such as walking.
Do not use, enemas, mineral oil. castor oil.

Breast Tenderness & Care: This occurs because of increased blood flow to the breasts caused by the hormones of the pregancy . This increased blood flow can also cause enlargement of the breasts and make them heavier and more tender.

What Can You Do ?

Wear a good support bra, 24 hr a day if needed.
Wash breasts with warm water, no soap keep dry.
Nursing pads may be used for leaking, but only those without palstics backs.

HEARTBURN: During preganncy, digestion slows due to the progetrone, a natural hormone secreted during pregnancy and this can cause a back up effect. The further along the pregnancy the uterus gats larger and then begins to crowd your stomach . This can give you a burning sensation in your chest.

What Can You Do ?

Eat several meals a day instead of three large meals.
Eat slowly and try not to swollow air.
Avoid fried foods and gas forming foods.
Go for a walk after eating or remain in the sitting position.
Do not use baking soda or antacid which are high in salt.
Drinking small amount of milk can sometimes give temporary relief.

Hope you all liked this article, Kindly give your comments what you feel.

Guide To Pregnant Women Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:55:00 +0000

The most amazing dream of any women is to give birth to a child. It's the women who brings a new life into this most fascinating world. During the 9 months when the child is growing in her mother's womb, there are lot of complications , which every pregnant women should take care. Your doctor Rx medicines such as calcium , iron, folic acid etc, besides this there are other complications which you should know and how to overcome it.
Some of the complication's are -
VOMITING:

About 50- 70 % of all pregnant women have some form of vomiting . It usually starts between the first and the second missed period(6-8 weeks pregnant) , and lasts until the begining of the fourth month (12 week pregnancy) It may occur throughtout the entire pregnancy in a small percentage of women.

Why it Occurs ?

Increase in the hormone levels during pregnancy.
Decrease amount of vitamin B-6 or glycogen in your system.
Emotional upset.

What to do ?

Eat small frequent meals instead of three meals per day.
Take extra Vit B-6 , but it should be not more than 50-100 mg per day.
Avoid fried, greasy ,spicy and gas forming foods, and foods with strong odours.
Lie still and quiet at the first sign of vomiting.
Take outdoor walks as much as possible.
If vomiting occurs several times aday consult your doctor.

SWELLING:

A build up of fluid can be caused by rising hormone levels of pregnancy, and also by the increased amount of blood volume that is normal in pregnancy.

What you can do ?

Good posture.
Moderate exercise.
Avoid constrictive clothing like waistbands.
Drink atleast 8 glasses of water per day.
Rest with feet elevated as often as possible.
Increase Protien in your diet about 100 grams per day. Low salt is also helpful.
Avoid crossing your legs at the knees.
If there a large amount of swelling in the face consult your doctor immediately.

ROUND LIGAMENT PAIN:

AS the uterus enlarges, it becomes heavier and will stretch the ligaments that support it. Sometimes it can cause a sharp pain that can be confused with appendicitis or other emergency.

What you can do ?

Take a warm bath for approximately 30 minutes.Do not use hot tubs or whirlpool baths.
Squatting, or bringing your knees to your chest can sometimes relieve the pain.
Rest on left or right side to keep affected side relaxed.
Avoid further stretching by getting up slowly.If lying down roll to side first, then push up with your hands to a sitting position.
If vomiting, temprature, bleeding, constipation, or any diarrhea accomplish pain consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Some of the Topics will be covered in the next post.

Why to Bank Stem cell

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:56:00 +0000

Cord blood stem cells are not just for your baby- but a rare investment for the whole family. The stem cells match 100% for your baby, but also the siblings have a 25 % chance of being a suitable match if they require these stem cells. Some clinical studies show that the success of stem cell transpalnt becomes double, when the stem cells come from a family member rather than a non relative. When you bank your baby's cord blood stem cells.
Banking Cord Blood Stem Cells is:-

A once in a life time opportunity to preserve a biological resource that could be a life saver for your child and other family members.
A genetically unique resource, your baby's stem cells have 25% probability of being a perfect match for a sibling.
A life saving alternative to bone marrow transplant. Doctors have increasingly turned to cord blood stem cells as there is lower probabilty og graft vs. host disease, and greater likelihood of finding an appropriate tissue type match.
Ideal for treating genetically inherited diseases.
Cord blood is easy to retrive and is readily available, whenever it is needed.

So consult your doctor for more about stem cell banking.

The Building Blocks of the body - Stem Cells

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:15:00 +0000

Stem Cells are unspecialized cells that have two defining properties : The ability to differentiate into other cells and the ability to self regenerate. The ability to differentiate is the potential to develop into other specialized cell types. Self regenaration is the ability of the stem cells to divide and produce more stem cells. Stem cells are the building blocks of various organs and tissues in the body. They have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the body. When a stem cells divide , each new cell has the potential to either renain a stem cell or become another type of cell with amore specialized function, such as muscle cell, a red blodd cell or a brain cell.

Cord Blood Stem Cells: These stem cells hold great potential in treating a number of diseases and disorders. Cord blood stem cells are actually more primitive than bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells these stem cells are taken from umbilical cord blood shortly after birth; once the umblical cord has been cut and clamped the doctor can can collect the blood from the cord. This blood can then be frozen and stored privately foe family use or donated to public blood bans. When it is needed , stem cells are thawed and ready to use in transplant therapy.

Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking-Your child's Right
As an expectant parent, you have some options that what should you do with your baby's cord blood.

You can store your baby's cord blood privately , As there are lot of projects worldwide going on regenaritive medicines that means regrowing body parts lost through injury, illness or aging.
You can donate your baby's cord blood, as by donating you are possibly saving the life of another human being. This cord blood can be used in treatment or can be used in research process.

Stem Cells Can Treat

There has been a lot of research on stem cell therapy and it has shown that these could be used to treat lot of life threatening diseases, some are:

Cancers
Thalasemia
Blood Disorders
Immune Deficiencies
Connective Tissue Disorder
Metabolic disorders.

Scientists are predicting that in the coming future stem cells someday may be used to treat other diseases such as Diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease, Heart Disease, Liver isease and lot more.

Consult Your doctor for more information about Stem Cells.

Know more about Irritable Bowel Syndrome

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:04:00 +0000

Irritable Bowl Syndrome or IBS is a very common intestinal disorder. About 20% of all the adults have the symptoms of IBs. It is an essential dsorder that can cause abdominal pain and changes in the bowl habbits
A bowl movement is considered normal if it is

Is well formed.

It contains no blood.

Is passed easily with pain and cramping.

Symptoms

Common symptons of Irritable Bowl Syndrome include: abdominal cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea or constipation or both. The symptoms of IBS can vary, depending on what patient eats, how much trhe patient eats, emotional stress, and menstrual cycles in women. There it is very important for the patients with IBS to keep an accurate record of what makes their symptom worse. Some kind of food are known to cause symptoms of IBS. They include - milk products, fatty foods, chocolate caffeine and alcohol.

Diagnosis : IBs is diagonised after other diseases that could cause similar symptoms are ruled out. A detailed medical history and physical examination are done first. Stool samples may be taken to check for blood and infection. radiological tests, such as barium enemaor cat scans, may also be needed. If tests show that the patient does not have a different condition, then the diagonosis of IBS can be made.

Treatment : The treatment of IBS includes a variety of lifestyle changes.. Deepending on what seems to be causing IBS. Decreasing emotional stress is the first step in the reducing symptom of IBS. Changing the diet in various ways can help to reduce IBS symptoms. Limiting the intake of dairy products, chocolate, fatty foods, coffee and alcohol is often beneficial. Including more fiber in the diet make the stools more regular. eating a lot of vegetables add more fiber to your diet. eating smaller meals may also help.

Diet changes and stress reduction, as well as medication, can help patients with IBs to lead a normal life.

Pain Management

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:39:00 +0000

Pain Management is required for the people who suffer from conditions such as:

Backache and Neckache
Arthritis
Muscle or joint pain resulting from injury

Understanding Backache

Accident's, injuries and other forms of trauma account for only about 30% of backache and neckaches. The other 70 % occur as we age and our backs are subjected to routine daily activities. Backaches affect men and women equally, but women are more likely to suffer from back pain after the age of 60. People who are overweight or very tall are more prone to back problems because of the additional stress and strain placed on their backs.

Causes of Backache

Overe 95% of backaches are caused by mechanical problems, its not a disease. A mechanical back pain will typically have three characterstics:

The pain is aggravated by some movements and temporarily relived by others.
The pain may increase while staying in a certain position and decrease with a change in a position.
The pain is intermittent.

Most mechanical backaches will get better on their own with a brief rest period and a gradual return to physical activity. Recent studies have shown that patients with low back pain recover more quickly if they return immediately to ordinary activity within limits permitted by the pain.

Changes in lifestyle can prevent Backache

Exercise and fitness
Posture and body Mechanics
Good nutrition and diet
Stress management and rest
Stop smoking

The other condition of pain is Arthritis just go here Maniging Arthritis

Cervical Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:53:00 +0000

Cervical Cancer is the No 1 cause of cancer related deaths amongst women in India, which is more than the breast cancer.

What is Cervix ? The Cervix is located at the entrance of the uterus . The cervix prevents infections from reaching the uterus. This is especially important during pregnancy, where the cervix keeps infections outside the uterus and protects the growing foetus.
What is Cervical Cancer?
Cervical cancer is the cancer of the cervix. It is the most common cause of cancer related death amongst women, even more common then breast cancer. In India alone every year 132,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 74,000 women die every year.
How does one get Cervical Cancer ?
It is causes by a virus the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) The virus is most common and is transmitted through skin to skin contact of the genital area.
Who is likely to get Cervical Cancer ?
Every sexually active women ia at risk of Cervical Cancer, through out her life. In fact, upto 80% of women will be infected with an HPV infection at the some point in their life. The risk of infection begins in adolescence and continues in to adulthood. Cervical cancer affects women at the prime of their lives, when they play a central role in their families. It affects older women, younger women are at tghe high risk of acquiring an HPV infection that might lead to cerical cancer later in their lives.
How is Cervical Cancer detected ?
Screening tests (eg. Pap smears) can detect abmormalities which indicate the pre-cancerous and early stages of cervical cancer. Screening can only detect an HPV infection after it has happened.
Can Cervical Cancer be prevented ?
Yes vaccination is the only way to prevent Cervical Cancer before it happens. Vaccination works by making the body produce antibodies against the virus. These antibodies protect the body from an HPV infection, by fighting the virus when it attacks the cervix. By protecting the cervix fron an HPV infection, vaccination offers protection against Cervical cancer.
Who should take the vaccine ?
All sexually active women are at risk of cervical cancer, girls and women of all ages will benefit from vaccination. The vaccine offers Lasting Protection against cervical cancer and is therefore recommended as early as possible, before an HPV infection has occured.
So consult your doctor about this infection and the vaccine.

Role of Calcium and Iron during Pregnancy

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:21:00 +0000

Calcium and Iron are good for you and your baby.
Pregnancy is an amazing time of changes to your body and your life. Eating nutritious foods gives your baby the best chance of a healthy beginning.
1’st Trimester- 0 to 12 weeks
Everything you eat or drink will be delivered to your baby through placenta. Good nutrition is
required so your body has the right building blocks for a healthy pregnancy.
2’nd Trimester- 13 to 28 weeks
Your baby is very active. You need to drink plenty of healthy fluids and eat nutritious foods to help your body and support your growing baby.
3’rd Trimester – 29 to 40 weeks
Maximum growth of baby takes place in this trimester. Calcium is especially needed now for proper bone and tooth growth.
Choose Healthy Foods
When a pregnant mother eats well, her baby has a better chance of being bornwith a strong, healthy body. What you eat, as well as How Much is very important. Two minerals that deserve special attention are Calcium and Iron.
CALCIUM - It is important to get calcium through out your life, and is especially important during pregnancy. It is vital for expectant mothers especially in the second and third trimesters. Calcium helps ensure that your bone mass is preserved while the baby's skeleton develops normally. A good intake of calcium is essential also storage to meet the high demands during lactation and also reduces muscular cramps of pregnancy.
Daily Requirement of Calcium is 1000-1500 mg/day
Calcium plays a vital role in-

Strengthening bones and teeth
Regulating muscle funtion
Regulating heart function
Blood clotting
Transmission of nervous system messages.

IRON- Iron is important during pregnancy because it helps in the formation of hemoglobin which is increased during pregnancy and carries oxygen to our tissues and organs of growing baby. The increase in the blood volume of a pregnant woman greatly increases her Iron needs. Anemic women may be at increased risk for premature labor and infection after childbirth. Iron is required for foetus and also for the mother due to increased production of hamemoglobin and for loss during childbirth.

Daily Requirement - 60 mg daily

Important Iron source are Peas, beans , lentils, cereals, fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy foods.

Thyroid Alert

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:15:00 +0000

Do you a need a thyroid test? Here are some clues that will tell you about thyroid. There are two main thyroid conditions.

Hypothyroidism It is also called under-active thyroid found commonly in women past the age of 50. The pituitary gland sends more thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) into the bloodstream when it senses that the levels of the thyroid hormone thyroxine are low. If the condition is severe is severe enough and left untreated, hypothyroidism can raise your cholesterol and blood pressure, and increase your risk of heart disease.

Signs of Hypothyroidism:

Mild depression or mood swing
Fatigue
Inability to concentrate
Muscle soreness
Dry skin and cold intolerance
Constipation
Heavier and more frequent menstrual flow.

Hyperthyroidism: If your TSH is below normal , it means there’s too much thyroid hormone, and production slows down to compensate for the excess. This condition is most commonly diagonised in the women in their 20s and 30s. Women over 50 with hyperthyroidism are at greater risk for osteoporosis because the body breaks down the bones faster than it can make it.

Signs of Hyperthyroidism

Nervousness or irribility
Weight loss
Heat intolerance or increased sweating
Insomnia & Fatigue
Decreased menstrual flow
Heart palpitations.

Everyone should get a TSH test starting at the age of 50 and then every 5 years after or sooner if you are having symptoms.

Go for Detox Foods and give your body a healthy, fresh start.

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:56:00 +0000

As a human being we a spend a lot of time eating what we like, picking up that food that taste good or give a appeal to us. But we never give a thought what our body needs. Have you considered what foods will be good for your body, rather than foods you like to eat? Here are some DETOX foods which will give your body a healthy, fresh start.
The six great DETOX foods, which will help you in giving your body a healthy, fresh start.
Green Vegetables: Taking in crunchy, leafy vegetables are the best favor you can do to your body. Eat them raw, juice them or try in soup. The chlorophyll in green vegetables washes out environmental toxins and protects the liver.
Garlic: add it to sauces and soups. It helps in activating liver enzymes that filter out toxins. It has a great cardio benefits also.
Fruits: They are full of all the good things. They are rich in fibre, vitamin C, nutritious fluids, and all kinds of antioxidants.
Cabbage: The potent veggie helps activate the two main types of detoxifying enzymes in the liver. It can be taken in salad or cooked.
Green Tea: It is an antioxidant, and contains catechins, which helps stimulate the liver. It’s a great way to get more fluids into your system during the hot months.
Lemons: It is perfect for any season, fresh citric and easily available. It is fully loaded with Vitamin C, it is known as “detox” vitamin. It converts toxins into a water soluble form, making it easy to flush them out of your system.

How to make your Sleep Comfortable?

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:59:00 +0000

Insomnia and other sleep related disorders are common in all age groups. Gradually the importance of good sleep has been realized by all. Good sleep provides assurance anytime of comfort. Sleep deprivation is rampant. A large proportion of the problem is due to the high paced lifestyle causing the lack of time to get the sleep we need. The other reason people are so sleep deprived is due to sleep disorders. We need enough good quality to feel alert during the day.
Reasons for Sleep Deprivation
Personal Sleep- Some people don’t realize that the body needs adequate sleep. Instead of regularly going to bed at a reasonable hour, they prefer to stay up late to socialize, watch television or read.
Poor Sleep hygiene- Drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes close to bedtime stimulate the nervous system and make sleepless likely. Another common problem is lying in bed and worrying rather than relaxing.
The sleep environment – Sleep may be disrupted for a range of environmental reasons; because the bedroom is too hot or cold or because of noisy neighbors’ or snoring bed partners.
Medications- Some drugs used to treat disorders such as epilepsy or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause insomnia.
Tips for eating healthy for good Sleep
What does food have to do with sleep? Actually, a great deal. Your eating habits can influence how good a night’s sleep you get.
Complex carbohydrates help to boos serotonin (your body’s feel-good chemical) which in turn helps to promote sleep. Found in food like whole meal bread and whole meal pasta.
Warm milky drinks, one of the oldest and the best remedies for sleeplessness, work because milk is converted into serotonin in the body which helps bring on sleep. Try a mug of chocolate about an hour before bed.
Whole grain food such as brown rice, whole grains and oats not only contains complex carbohydrates but have a soothing effect on the mind and the nervous system too.
Lettuce is another old favourite for helping sleep, along with nuts and poultry products which have also been found to aid good sleep.
Tips for Better Sleep Environment

Make sure your bed is large enough and comfortable.
Make your bedroom primarly a place for sleeping.
Keep your bedroom peaceful and comforatble.
Hide your clock.
Avoid watching TV or a computer screen at least 30 minutes before you lie down.
Meditate and take deep, long breaths.

JUST RELAX & SLEEP

Protein: The most important Nutrient of our body after Water

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Protein is the second most important nutrient for our body after water.
What is protein?
Protein is an important constituent of all the tissues and cells of our body, primarily found in muscle and other vital body fluids etc. Protein forms the basic chemical unit of living organisms and is essential for nutrition, growth and repair. The word Protein has originated from the Greek word “Protos’s” which means to come first. We know that our body is composed of-
# 60% of the human body constitutes of water and 40% is dry matter.
# 40% of body’s dry matter is protein, the rest being fats, carbohydrates, vitamins.
Where Protein is found in the Body?
Protein is found everywhere in our body. It is found in every single cell, tissue, muscle, bone, liver, intestines, kidneys, eyes, skin, hair, nails, in our immune system. Enzymes and even haemoglobin is a protein.
Role of Protein:
Protein is the basic building block of the human body.
# It repairs the loss due to wear and tear.
# It helps to build immunity.

Protein is to human body what fuel is to car. Without it body can’t function.
Do we need Protein Everyday?
Our body requires protein everyday, a small amount of protein is lost through the normal metabolic process. Our body cannot store protein & hence there is need to replenish the same everyday, otherwise it could lead to loss muscle mass causing physical weakness, fatigue and weakened immune system.

Some Imporatnt Facts:

1. An adult needs 1 gm of Prtein per kg of body weight.

2. A growing child around 7-10 years would need 41 gms of protein.
Types of Protein:
Complete Protein: Protein in foods that contain all of the 9 essential amino acids in sufficient quantity and ratio to meet the body’s needs are called complete protein. Animal sources are rich in complete protein.
Incomplete Protein: Protein’s in food that does not contain sufficient amounts of 1 or more of the 9 essential amino acids is referred to as incomplete protein. Generally , protein from plant/vegetable sources are incomplete, but make a valuable contribution to the total dietary protein.

Does Protein help in weight Gain or weight Loss? There is a perception that protein intake results in weight gain. Fact is, in overweight and obese people, a high protein intake actually aids weight loss as it helps to burn out excess fat stored in the body. when energy producing nutrients like fats and carbohydrates are taken in controlled portions with high protein intake, body fat stored breakdown to meet energy requirements with gaining weight.

Chicken Pox

noreply@blogger.com (Raj) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:10:00 +0000

What is Chicken Pox?
It is viral disease caused by the first exposure to the Varicella Zoster Virus(VZV). It is a highly contagious viral disease. The disease is identified with fever and blisters over various parts of the body.
Symptoms of Chicken Pox:
The common symptoms are fever, headache, and loss of appetite. The symptoms of Varicella begin 14 to 16 days after contact with an infected person. The blisters start appearing on the scalp, face and upper part of the body and later spread to the arms and the legs.
Is Chicken Pox contagious?
Yes, it is. Patients with chicken pox are contagious a couple of days before the rash appears and until scabs have formed on all the lesions i.e. till they dry up, which usually occurs in a week time after the onset of the rash or blisters.
How can you contact Chicken Pox?
The virus commonly spreads from person to person by air borne droplets. This occurs when an infected person coughs or sneezes and releases secretions. It can also spread by direct contact with infectious fluid from the blisters. In few cases, it can also be transmitted from an infected pregnant mother to her unborn or newly born child.
Who is most susceptible to this virus?

Chickenpox can occur in children, adults, males and females. Most people get chickenpox sometime during childhood or adolescence. But adults who have not been infected before are susceptible to infection and can develop chickenpox in adulthood if and when they come in contact with a case. As chickenpox usually affects young children, people who spend a lot of time with children such as teachers, personnel running day care centre’s, etc. have higher chance of getting this infection. In addition health care providers (doctors, nurses) are at the high end of developing this infection. Chicken pox is usually more severe in older individuals who missed getting it when they were children.
How Chicken Pox can be Prevented ?
It is difficult to prevent because patient is contagious for 24-48 hrs before we know that the patient is suffering from Chicken pox. Isolating infected individuals by keeping them away from school or work will help to reduce transmission of the virus to some extent.
Vaccination is an effective way of preventing suffering from chicken pox.

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