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.