World Alzheimer’s Day – Faces of Damentia

Did you know! Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia (a general term used to describe group of symptoms affecting mental function)  This neurological brain disorder is named after a German physician, Alois Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906. And till date 36 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s disease. There is one new case of dementia worldwide every seven seconds, and the number is set to rise to 65.7 million in 2030 worldwide and nearly 3.7 million people in India are suffering from dementia, and this number is set to double over the next 20 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Alzheimer’s disease affects your memory, thinking and even judgment badly, making you forget things quickly, which further hampers your ability to carry out even the most trivial day-to-day tasks. This problem arises when the nerve cells in your brain die due to aging, which affects the transmission of signals to the brain. The nerve cells die gradually over the years, so this ailment is most commonly seen in old people.

Common Symptoms:

·         Impaired memory

·         Afflicted thinking

·         Poor judgment

·         Disorientation and confusion

·         Tendency to misplace things

·         Excessive abstract thinking

·         Trouble in carrying out day-to-day activities

·         Personality and behavioral changes

·         Difficulty in following commands

·         Language problems and impaired communication

·         Bad visual skills as well as spatial skills

·         Lack of motivation and initiative

·         Changes in sleep patterns

More about Alzheimer’s

The progression of Alzheimer’s disease is different from patient to patient. In some people, the symptoms can worsen very quickly, within a span of a few years even; but for others, the same symptoms can take up to 20 long years to develop. In the early phase of the disease, long term memory is not affected, whereas short-term memory of the patient is seen to be impaired badly. The patient is most likely to forget recent conversations, and may ask same questions over and over again that had already been asked and answered before. Also, the patient forgets common language words during conversation. After being diagnosed for Alzheimer’s, the average period of survival of the patient is from 3-9 years.

Treatment

There is no sure cure for this disease till date, and also no identified process to slow down brain nerve damage. However, Alzheimer’s disease progression rate can be slowed down by some medications. If these medications and treatment is started at the early stage of the disease, then, it will be possible for your loved one to remain independent and function normally in the day-to-day life for a much longer span of time. If your loved one has developed any of the above mentioned symptoms, then it is important that you take him/her to the doctor immediately for diagnosis.

Is your loved one becoming forgetful of things or rather feeling confused doing activities of daily living?

Do I Need to Do Aerobic (Cardio) Exercise?

If you want to reduce your fatty curves and if you want your heart to strengthen and lungs to breathe more, then, you need to do cardio or aerobic exercises.

What It Is?

An aerobic exercise is any rhythmic activity which involves use of major muscle groups to help maintain your fitness. You can also call it the cardiovascularC exercise or the cardio respiratory exercise or even simply cardio. Some of the commonly performed aerobic exercises are walking, running, jogging, cycling, rowing, climbing on stairs, swimming, etc.

The Benefit Meter of Doing Cardio!

·         Repeated exercise causes increased demand for oxygen-rich blood  which can only be met with increased workload on your heart thereby making it stronger. 

·         Reduces blood pressure while resting.

·         Lowers the total cholesterol in your body.

·         Regular cardio exercise can increase your lungs capacity and make your breathing more efficient, as your ability to hold your breath longer increase. (new point)

·         Increased blood supply improves muscle power, endurance, and stamina.

Who Can Do?

Be it age 18–64, obese or lean weight or any gender is no bar to do aerobic exercises, but you must follow aerobic instructor advise before an aerobic workout. Being a woman, this is the best you can do for your body to stay fit and healthy.

Being a woman, this is the best you can do for your body to stay fit and healthy. Adults aged 18–64,

How Much to Do - FITT Principles?

With Cardio, always remember Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type.

·         Frequency: Start with 3 days a week with at most 2 days off between two subsequent sessions. Gradually increase to 5 days a week.

·         Intensity: For general health and weight loss benefits, moderate intensity is recommended, i.e., neither very easy, nor very intense.

·         Time: Aim for around 20 mins per session. Slowly and gradually, take this up to 60 mins at a stretch in one session, as per your built up endurance level.

·         Type: Any activity that can meet the above three requirements of frequency, intensity and time can be your pick for cardio.

  Determine How Effective Is Your Workout?

  

Moderately intense physical activities such as cycling and fast walking raise your heart beat rate & make you sweat. You can know this & assess your activity by a simple Talk Test. During moderate workouts, you will be able to talk but not sing. If exercising vigorously, u will be too breathless to talk. Did you know that 75 mins of vigorous physical activity (such as jogging, running, riding a cycle up road and aerobics) is same as 150 mins of moderately intense physical activity.

How to Go about It?

·         Consult your doctor before taking up an exercise regime

·         Choose a physical activity  of your choice. It can be cycling, swimming, jogging or even walking.

·         Remember to always warm up for 5 to 10 mins before you start an exercise session

·         Start slowly, listen to your body and then pick the pace to match your comfort level

·         Relax your muscles and cool down a bit for 5-10 mins after you finish the activity

·         Doing the same exercises everyday and getting bored? Try increasing the intensity, duration, or try some new exercises with help of your gym instructor 

Do you have a healthy heart to keep up with the pace of your activities of daily living?

Food safety is a priority year round

Whether it is your parent’s anniversary, your daughter’s first birthday or a friend’s pot-luck dinner party, one thing that is common to all these events is the yummy and tempting food! You simply cannot stop your taste buds from getting lured. But you can definitely stop the food borne bacteria from making way into your body system by keeping up with a few precautions. Events would not end, but with these precautions, you can be sure of a year round food safety, which are as follows:

•  Make it a habit to wash your hands before and after having food
•  Wash the surfaces of your cooking area
•   Avoid cross-contamination. For example, before touching food, remove rings and bracelets, use waterproof dressings to cover up cuts and sores, and wash your hands. When you can, use kitchen utensils not fingers for handling foods.
• All foods should be thoroughly cooked with the core temperature reaching at least 75℃.. Remember to cook the food properly. 
•  Store food in refrigerator when you have to eat it after long hours. And reheat to a temperature of 82°C for atleast two minutes before eating it.

Food Shopping with Safety

•  Use separate plastic bags to keep raw meat, sea food and poultry items, from other foods like raw juices helps to avoid bacterial contaminatio
•  Make the practice of checking the expiry date a second nature.
•  Checking the expiry date on food labels should be your default second nature.
•  Always remember that bacteria grow in high temperature, so refrigeration of food is must during summers

Cooking Precautions

• Wash your hands before you begin. Also, wash hands after you are done with the cooking. Always use warm water, soaps and paper napkins. Keep the utensils and kitchen slab clean. Chopper boards, knives etc., should always be cleaned before each use. Wash fruits and veggies adequately before cooking them. Remember, clean cooking is the right cooking.
• Refrigerate food if not to be eaten immediately. Leaving the food uncovered on the kitchen slab to cool down is not a good practice. Keep the food in uncovered container in refrigerator, and cover the container only when the food is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cautions while Serving

·         Use small platters to serve food to avoid prolonged exposure to air-borne contaminants.

·         Don’t keep the food at room temperature for long.

Safety Stores

·   Leftover food should be stored in refrigerator quickly.

·       Reheating of the leftover food should be done at 165 degrees Fahrenheit at least.

Are you following the healthy food safety precautions?

       

World Suicide Prevention Week

Suicide is often depicted as an acceptable and unavoidable reaction to disappointment, failure, and may be stress. The notion of suicide is pretty ambiguous and has been smeared with too many grey shades that this trend has been growing at an alarming rate. Media too has time and again glorified the act of suicide. Some says it’s a cowardly means, like running away from a problem. What really prompts a person to take this path?

Suicide never has one reason alone. But lack of stress management is always one of the root causes. Most people who felt that they have nothing to live for at some point, say they were so weighed down by pessimistic emotions that they saw no other way except suicide. Yet, with proper intervention & treatment, these people were able to move on in life as the bitterness passed.

Stress isn't intrinsically the villain. What other than stress can push you to ‘face the challenge’, and to improve yourself. Your body and mind should be tuned to know when stress becomes too much and intensifies suicidal feelings. And of course these stressors are so subjective that its difficult to pin down some common solutions. Reducing factors that compliments suicide is one simple way; be it at individual, familial or societal level.

If someone you know talks of suicide even in a joking manner, don’t take it lightly. If you cant get him/her to confide in you, keep a close watch and don’t hesitate to get professional help. According to WHO Statistics suicide is one of the leading causes of death among youth aged from 15 – 25. Is it because they are naturally more emotionally vulnerable or is it the skewed relationships or inability to cope with life’s setbacks?

Remember, steering of your life lays with you alone. So you took a wrong turn. Just turn back or go for a new road. Why would you crash yourself? We all have a cool & happening person inside us. You decide what you want to be, where you want to be and who you want to be with. If you cant cope with a ‘bad boss’, change your job. Find new friends. Talk to your family. Do what you need to do. Such a plethora of options to limit your stress! 

Hence, limit your stress, and find outlets to vent stress. Then there is no question of straying towards ‘danger zone’.

Commemorating the World First Aid Day on September 8th

In any emergency situation, you can be the first one to provide the necessary first aid to your dear one as it requires no real technical skills. A little courage and a bit of common sense can do the trick for you in saving your loved one's life. You can also minimize the damage due to casualties caused by day-to-day road accidents with simple first aid skills.

Break-Free from All Misconceptions on World's First-Aid Day

• Burns - Never apply butter or cream on any type of burns. The only first line treatment to prevent blister formation is cold running water on the affected area.
• Bone injury - If you are unable to move a limb, don't even try to move it. It might be broken. Place some cushioning material or some sort of support to prevent further injury and restrict limb movement before an x-ray can be taken.
• Bleeding from wound - It is a misconception that running water can put a hold on bleeding from a wound or injury; rather it will wash away the cells responsible for clot formation making the wound bleed more. A little pressure on to the wound area can control bleeding from the wound.
• Nosebleed - It is a myth that putting your head backwards can treat a nosebleed. Rather, pinching the nose at the end with the head forward and breathing through the mouth will certainly help. 
• Fallen tooth due to injury must be replanted immediately. Rinse off the root on tooth in water. Try putting the tooth in its position, or else put tooth in a cup of milk & rush to dentist.
• Moving an accident victim from vehicle is not as simple as it looks. It needs stringent training. Often well-meaning spectators end up making the injuries worse by attempting what they are not trained to do.

You are not required to put any heroic efforts, nor is any extensive training required to provide first aid to anyone. It is a matter of simple common sense, and a little knowledge that you can easily gather either by books, attending a first aid course, or through online media.

Mostly, manipulation or improvisation of the nearby handy materials along with best hygiene-friendly techniques can be your tools for saving a life.

Have you ever been through an emergency situation where you desperately required first aid? Please share your experience with Health on Move...

 

Eating to Energize

Are you feeling low in energy and unable to keep up with the activities of daily living? Is mental fatigue and stress keeps you away from performing your work duties? Is your diet sufficient for you to see the day through?

Right eating habits and hygiene-friendly cooking techniques can keep you in shape and physically active. At times you might find it little confusing as to what items you should eat and what foods you must avoid as there are innumerable mouthwatering recipes knocking on your door everyday.

Are you Feeling Rundown Following an Enticing and Adventurous Day?

Here you go with things that can tickle your muscles and help regain your strength!

• Having a handful of dry fruits within 10 minutes of waking up can supply your body with necessary magnesium to aid in conversion of glucose into energy.   
• Whole-grain bread in breakfast can be an energy booster with its essential carbohydrates which are preferred body fuels.
• 8-10 glasses of water intake can prevent your body from dehydration & reduce fatigue.
• Eating fresh fluid-filled fruits such as orange, apple, strawberries, grapes etc. is another perfect way of keeping yourself energetic and hydrated. 
• To boost your energy as well as mood, nibble at some chocolates. It will do the trick for you.
• Don’t pamper your sweet tooth too much as it may cause immediate spikes followed by a rapid drop in blood sugar levels, making you less energetic by the end of the day. 
• A whole-wheat cracker with peanut butter is a power snack that can keep up your energy level for longer periods.
• Whole-grain cereal with milk is another strategy.

If the above tips don't work for you and if your energy levels are constantly on the lower side, you must be missing out on some of the essential nutrients in your diet. Before it is too late, seek a doctor’s advice to prevent any unwanted harm to your body.

Low Blood Pressure or Hypotension in Women

If your feet and hands go numb after prolonged sitting or lying down or if your vision go blur when transferring from sit-to-stand or from lying down to sitting, this can be an indication for you to see a heart specialist. You might be dealing with low blood pressure or postural hypotension.

Your body needs to put the best effort against gravity to pump up the necessary blood that is required for you to stand. This causes a decline in your blood pressure. The sudden drop in blood pressure can cause dizziness, blurred vision, and uncomfortable feeling all over your body. You must seek immediate medical attention if you have a fainting spell upon rising.

What Low Blood pressure?

• Pregnancy - Right from the moment your urine pregnancy test turns positive, you will witness hypotension as your blood vessels start to dilate.
• Dehydration - Any spike in temperature, exhaustion due to heat, or chronic diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration thereby lowering your blood pressure.
• Heart conditions - Continuous low blood pressure can be a result of heart condition. Unusually slow heart rate is a common cause of hypotension.  
• Severe blood loss - Any severe blood loss, whether menstrual loss or accidental injury, can lower your blood pressure, and you can end up having a life-threatening shock.  
• Medication-induced - Certain antihypertensive and antidepressants are known to cause hypotension.

 Preventing Hypotension 

• Engaging in cardio exercises such as brisk-walking, swimming, jogging, or bicycling or doing aerobic exercises can help improve your blood circulation and lower the chances of hypotension.
• Try to stay away from heat exhaustion when outdoors as extreme temperatures are known to cause dehydration and lowering of blood pressure.
• Replenish yourself with lots of liquids to stay protected from adverse effects of dehydration and hypotension. Add a little salt for increased water retention in your body.
• A 3-step-approach for any postural changes will be your best bet to prevent hypotension episodes. Or you can slow down your movements to prevent dizziness and fainting spells. 

“When did you last check your BP?”

Simple Natural Ways to Keep Your Skin Healthy and Glowing in Monsoon

After the scorching summer heat, you cannot stop getting yourself underneath the first few drops of rain. Even though it is an open invitation for various skin infections, the increased humidity, sky-riding dust and pollution can really push you on the back foot forcing you to stay indoors. Now, how to protect your skin this rainy season?

     Natural Ways to Protect Skin Damage

• Cleansing allows your skin to breathe by washing away the impurities like dirt and excess oil from your skin surface. Do not use antifungal lotion or cream or soaps with perfumes.
• Toning your face with a non-alcoholic toner can help you tighten up your skin pores. To prevent unwanted acne and skin infections, apply it before going to bed and in the morning after waking up.
• Moisturizing is useful to keep your skin well hydrated.
• Let avoiding heavy makeup be your mantra this rainy season. Use light waterproof makeup instead and always pat it dry as any kind of friction can cause hyper-pigmentation.
• Keeping the skin well nourished by eating salads can be a good move to provide your skin with essential vitamins and nutrients to keep it healthy and glowing.
• Proper hydration with at least 8-10 glasses per day, can keep your skin glowing and even eliminate any pollutants that went deep inside the skin.
• Wearing a sunscreen is always necessary when you go out even on cloudy days to protect it from harmful UV radiation.
• Don’t hesitate to follow it up with a skin specialist even for slightest of skin conditions such as swelling or irritation.

     Are you ready to go out in rain with your skin guard on?

Get a flat tummy without the pain of dieting

 It is not rare to see women cribbing about sacrificing their most favorite dishes for the sake of slimming     down. Even though the aspiration of getting a flat tummy is so intense, still the fact remains that your stomach never wants you to diet, let alone your taste buds. How good would it be for you to trim down your inches without experiencing the pain of  giving up your favourite food? Here are a few tips that you can follow and a few lifestyle changes that you can inculcate to carve your curves without forgoing food!

Eating Habits to Help Slimming Down

• Adequate protein and complex carb intake changes your plus size to smart size they help in slowing down the release of sugar into your blood by the food you eat. This in turn reduces your hunger pangs considerably and increases energy, whereby inhibiting the body’s tendency to accumulate excessive calories in the form of fat. It even adds to the fiber intake in the body, which is known to aid in digestion.

Food Sources:

Complex carbs: Green leafy vegetables, veggie salads, beans, brown rice, pasta, oats, – barley.
Protein: Meat, fish, eggs, chicken, nuts, beans, soya, soy products, dal and quinoa.

• Don’t say no to Fats. It is a misconception that cutting down completely on fats helps reduce your inches quickly. Actually, a regular fat intake helps create a texture in your mouth due to which you get a full feeling, and thus eat less. Also, it helps trigger some hormones that give your brain a message of having a full feeling.

Food Sources:

Low-fat dairy products, seeds, olive oil, sunflower oil, fish, nuts and Desi Ghee.

• Extra Tips to Habituate:

Eat small frequent meals, 8-10 servings a day, and drink plenty of water to – reduce your hunger pangs
Increase wholegrain foods in your diet such as brown rice, wheat, pasta, brown bread, etc.
Use small utensils for eating and have starters like salads or soups for early satiate.

What BMI (body mass index) do you get a flat stomach?

Health Tips for Pregnant Women

First of all, hearty congratulations!

Being pregnant is a thrilling experience and having a baby born out of your own flesh is the most miraculous thing that can ever happen. But it can also become quite overwhelming. Pregnancy is a time of uncertainty with all sorts of questions arising in your mind. Plenty of info and facts are swimming around to get into your head. It might seem like all and sundry has an advice or opinion about you and your baby. The best way to keep away from confusions, contradictions, myths and information-overload is to educate yourself from reliable sources.

If you are healthy during pregnancy and afterwards too, then that will be an icing on the cake for you, your child and your spouse. After all, you can take care of your family only when you are healthy yourself. So, if your urine pregnancy test comes positive or if you are planning to be pregnant, then, certainly there are things that you must keep in the back of your mind.

Healthy Eating for To-be-moms

For a healthy pregnancy, you need to eat a balanced diet which must include foods from a variety of sources including vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods, milk & dairy products, meat, as well as fish. Have a fruit along with a fistful of dryfruits within 10 minutes of waking up & before going for your morning walk. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast after an hour. You’ll feel great!

On an average, 5-6 servings in a day are sufficient. In between your meals, grab a fruit or yogurt or even a glass of milk to supplement your diet with necessary nutrients and most importantly, calcium.

How to Relieve Nausea, Vomiting, Heartburn and Constipation Symptoms

• Small portion size meals with lots of liquid in between meals.
• Avoid foods that are high in fat, spicy, and have a strong odor. 
• Eat slowly & chew thoroughly.
• Avoid reclining immediately after meals.
• Eat whole-grain foods and exercise regularly.

Some More Health Tips during Pregnancy

• You must abstain completely from smoking and drinking all through your pregnancy, as there is no safe amount and also no safe time to smoke or drink alcohol.
• Try to be regular with some physical activitythroughout your pregnancy period as it helps to improve your mood-swings, facilitates proper weight gain, reduces stress, promotes sound sleep, increases muscle tone, builds stamina for forthcoming labour and delivery.
• Create a healthy and pleasant atmosphere as being a happy mother guarantees for a healthy baby.

How smartly can you avoid overeating this festive season?

When it comes to festivals and feasts, no other country on earth can beat India. The excitement is in the air; family gatherings, new clothes, holidays and immeasurable fun being laced with them.

Since there are special delicacies for every occasion, fridge would be always full, crammed with indescribable snacks that are carefully baked to precision. These are also the times when you gorge on sweets guiltlessly while health takes a backseat in your priorities.

Now you know that festivals will disturb your carefully planned diet and the hidden diabetes traps too do not escape your notice. But how can you refuse a bite when sweets are served all pink-yellow-brown in a platter? It is not just killing your sweet tooth but you also fear of offending the host if you say no. So you just turn off your mental calorie alarm, indulge or eat out more often than healthy.

Most of the health problems, trips to doctors and rigorous gymming after festivals can be avoided if you listen to your stomach. After effects of festivals can be worse in Indian scenario because of our, especially women’s tendency to ignore the body’s warnings until it gets excruciatingly painful.

It is festival season and yes, if you can’t be epicurean now, when will you? Let the treatment begin from your palette without depriving you of the yummy indulgence.

Smart Things That Can Prevent You from Overeating

• Eat slowly and chew the cud – According to a recent study, women, who have been eating slowly, consume 70% less calories than the women who eat faster.
• Get more fiber and eat whole-grain foods – Whole grain foods can never be a foodie’s delight, but fiber in it will balance overeating by making you feel full. 
• Increase your water intake – Water can be the mainstay of your dieting plans as it can keep your food cravings under control. Mixing it in with lemon in the morning can help you burn those extra calories too.
• Habituate for a starter before meals – A platter of vegetable salad or a bowl of tomato soup will help you improve your digestion.
• Eating in portions help proportion your body fat accumulation – Eating frequent portion size meals will not only let you enjoy different recipes but also promotes proper digestion.
• Keep your hunger at bay with healthy foods – You can curb your desire to binge on junk food by grabbing a fruit, a platter of salad, or cracking a few crackers when hungry.

Are you able to keep a watch on your diet and eating a healthy diet? Do you always carry an antacid pill in your purse? Are you afraid of eating too much junk food this festive season?

Have you recognized the Calcium call of your body?

Calcium deficiency is serious as your body may give you the alarm a little too late for your bones. According to a recent study, about 90% of women and 60% of teens are found to be calcium deficient. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body and a prime constituent of your bones.

                                                                                                                   
Being a woman, you need much more dietary calcium for your bone health. Adequate amount of calcium intake not only makes your bones stronger but also increases the bone density thereby reducing the risk of fractures. The figure-conscious females would be happy to know that including sufficient amount of calcium in your daily diet promotes weight loss too. Adequate calcium intake prevents osteoporosis, high BP, colon cancer and even breast cancer.

On an average, every woman in the age group of 19-50 years needs around 1000mg of calcium on a daily basis. As your body is incapable of producing calcium, you are bound to rely on other dietary sources for fulfilling this need. Based on your age, your daily calcium requirements are as follows:

Now is the time to give serious thought to your daily calcium intake. According to a recent study by British Medical Journal, eating calcium rich diet and taking supplements may not do you any favor at a later stage. This is a habit that needs to be cultivated at a young age. Do you think your current diet takes care of your bone health adequately?

Why Women Require Flexible Work Arrangements?

Aching of the back-bone of the ‘back-bone of society’, the women, is a common phenomenon. But the worst hit arena is that of the working women. Imagining a daily schedule of a work-to-home mum explains how hard it is for a lady to cope with her responsibilities. Switching roles from being a mother taking care of her children, a wife looking after her spouse, a daughter attending to her parents, and being a professional leaves little time and attention for her own personal health.

Women know too well about being a bouncy tennis ball being whacked from home to office and vice versa. And it blurs away the personal front out in the ‘no-attention’ cloud, welcoming the mist of ailments into her body, which can turn chronic if remain unattended on a prolonged basis.

Most working women tend to face problems managing their daily schedules. Some common needs of working women start right from pregnancy, which will become even more demanding with the arrival of a child.

Common problems of a working woman:

• Lack of adequate rest & sleep with multiple stressors at office & home.
• Need for multitasking with no me-time.
• No time for breastfeeding.
• Uncertainty of getting maternity leave.
• Culpability of leaving the child alone.

However, all this does not mean that women should completely give up their career after childbirth, but this surely calls for a proper time-management.

Flexible Work Arrangements Can Be Helpful

A good way to help women cater to their needs is to make their work arrangements flexible. A flexibility brought into the working schedules can help them manage, both office and home with efficiency. A discussion with the HR about negotiation in terms of salary for reduced work effort. Is shifting your house to nearby office location possible for you?

Flexible working hours help a woman decide upon her daily priorities and to take time out for herself too. Getting a little time-off for doing yoga and meditation will be immensely helpful in rejuvenating the expected compromised health during pregnancy.

Are you compromising on your own health? Are you feeling stressed out with hectic work schedule? Is your work schedule flexible enough to allow you to breast-feed your newborn?

My Period Is Late..! What does that mean?

No doubt, periods might be one of the most hated things that happen to you every month. Yet their absence or delay is even more bothersome since you need regular periods to enjoy a perfectly healthy gynecologic health. Are you watchful of your periods occurring regularly? Does your period date move back and forth from the expected date every month? Late menses is surely an indicator of some issue grounding roots in your body. Now let us try and get down to that root.

Below are some factors that can potentially cause late periods:

• Stress: Increased stress affects your entire well-being and causes decrease in GnRH hormone levels that is responsible for ovulation. This delays periods.
• Pregnancy: If delayed period is followed by unprotected sex, it is high time you undergo a self-pregnancy test.
• Breastfeeding: While breastfeeding, your irregular menstrual cycles will take a small cycle of time to return to regular menses.
• Anorexia or Weight Loss: Some eating disorders such as anorexia or unintentional weight loss can cause delay in your periods.

When to Consult a Doctor!

• If you are missing your periods for more than 3 months in a row.
• When your periods become irregular or erratic.
• Your period lasts more than 7 days.
• You have unusually heavy flow, wetting more than 12-15 pads or tampons in a day.
• The time gap between two periods is either less than 21 days or is more than 35 days.
• If you notice spotting on the days in between two periods.
• Unbearable pain during periods.
• Feeling feverish or sick during periods.

Are you a victim of late periods? What is the probable cause in your case? Consult a doctor for answers. After all, what is the point of harboring that fear in your heart? 
 

Pain during Sex – Are you suffering in silence!!

Painful sex might lead to no sex at all if it is prolonged and untreated. Saying bye to pain and not to love-making will open a healthier chapter for you and even for your love relationship. For most women, especially who shy away from vocalizing their feelings, sex is another name for pain and they view it as a painful experience always. To shake hands with enjoyment and to get the most out of your love-making experience, a little attention is what is needed to make this a pleasurably wonderful experience. The word Dyspareunia perfectly describes this condition in medical diction. Don't give any room to dyspareunia for disrupting your fun, destroying your sexual health, and dismantling your relationship. 

You need to know what actually is causing this and why you are not having so much fun during intercourse? There are very many common causes for this pain. Find out what holds true in your case. As the cause, so will be its treatment.    

Shedding Light on the Five Most Common Causes for Dyspareunia

• Inadequate Lubrication: A good foreplay before actual intercourse is vital for appropriate lubrication effect and to lessen the pain during intercourse. Be open to discuss and if required suggest this to your spouse.
• Vaginismus: This is most common in females who are 1st timers, overwhelmed and preoccupied with fears of performance during intercourse. Spasming vaginal muscles make intercourse difficult and painful. Don't let mental blocks block your mental, physical, emotional, and sexual health. A care-free and let go attitude will do the trick. It will relax your mind and body both together.
• Urinary Tract Infection: You may be having an infection of your urinary tract. Don't worry, there is cure for this. Drink lots of fluids, stress on H2O intake. Your Gynae can help suggest an antibiotic for treatment.
• Vaginal Infections: Sometimes yeast and fungal infections crop up in hot and humid weather and your badly sanitized pelvis plays host to these infections. The thumb rule to avoid this is to - STAY CLEAN.
• Childbirth or surgery: After childbirth, many factors accumulate like stress, fatigue, exhaustion, decline in estrogen level which cause lack of sexual desire, which all can collectively cause pain during intercourse.

If you are having Dyspareunia, what is inhibiting you from enjoying this natural luxury. A little open discussion might open the door for your treatment.

World Breastfeeding Week - Join the League

Just as the motherhood has come natural to you, so will be the urge to breast-feed your baby. Don't let it go! Stick on to it. Some babies might find it difficult to latch, but your patience and sweet persuasion will help your baby learn to latch quickly. When breastfeeding becomes a part of your routine, your baby will also get used to it and cherish it more than anything else. Your baby's taste buds will recognize your milk - give him/her the feast of breast-feed every few hours, but on demand!

Breastfeeding Is Easier Than You Think!

Feed it right, with a little insight - breastfeeding is easier and more convenient than you might assume. The best part about breastfeeding that it is the natural way of nourishing your child, and that too, without a cost. Feeding the baby with your milk is not just helpful in its growth, but it also boosts up your health too. Worried about your figure? Don't want to layer up your bones with an extra layer of fat? Breastfeeding helps to shape you up in long run. When you breast-feed your baby with your milk, it helps you maintain your physical health, improve your cosmetic appearance, and strengthens the emotional bond between you and your baby giving you immense pleasure and satisfaction.

Benefits for Mother

• Breastfeeding minimizes the preparation time to zero in contrast to infant formulas that take too much time to prepare.
• Breastfeeding not only helps you keep your baby healthy, but it also keeps you in shape, and works as a natural contraceptive. Chances of pregnancy while breastfeeding are very rare.
• Breastfeeding will reduce the chances of you developing a breast cancer and even ovarian cancer later in your life.

• You can also decrease the risk of becoming overweight and developing obesity with continuous breastfeeding.

Benefits for the Baby 

• The initial breast milk is highly concentrated with Colostrum that is a perfect first food for your baby rich in bilirubin to prevent jaundice and can be easily digested.
• Not only does the breast milk provide proper nourishment to your baby, but it also instills vital antibodies into your child's system developing greater immunity levels.
• Breastfeeding helps to keep your baby healthy, active, fit and well nourished by providing necessary nutrients.

 So, how many times in a day your baby yarns for a feed and what is the average time gap between two successive feedings?

Hepatitis can knock your health! It’s closer than you think

In 2008 the World Hepatitis Alliance launched the World Hepatitis Day to focus for patient and people living with hepatitis B and C. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about the disease, its facets and usher in some real change in preventing the disease and increasing access to testing and treatment. With huge support from governments worldwide, NGOs and international bodies like Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Health Assembly of May 2010 agreed to recognize World Hepatitis Day on 28 July.

Almost 1 in every 12 people lives with hepatitis B or C. If left untreated/unmanaged it will lead to severe liver scarring, maybe even liver failure or cancer. People worry more about HIV/AIDS but the fact is that every year some 1.5 million people worldwide die from either hepatitis B or C and that too way faster than they would from HIV/AIDS.

World Hepatitis Day provides a scope to focus on actions like spreading awareness to strengthen prevention, screening and control of viral hepatitis and its related diseases, increasing hepatitis B vaccine coverage, and coordinating a strong global response to increase awareness and ensure treatment of hepatitis.

The different type of Hepatitis viruses- A, B, C, D and E cause acute and chronic infection and inflammation of the liver leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis is a major global health risk and affects some 350 million people who are infected with hepatitis B and some 170 million people infected with hepatitis C.

 

The 2012 theme is “This is hepatitis… It’s closer than you think” The disease does not discriminate- against age, race or gender, economic status, nothing so just confront it – get yourself tested. You can prevent Hepatitis A with safe food habits like avoiding cut fruits, street side juices, clean drinking water and such simple steps. A 2011 study showed over 42 million Indians suffer from chronic hepatitis B infection and vaccination profiles are shockingly lows. July 28 is just a commemoration – make every other day a day against the dreaded virus and only then will it be controlled.