1 June, 2017

Beware! Facebook makes us sad, unhealthy

People who check their Facebook profile all the time are likely to be more sad and unhealthy than those who use it sporadically, a new study has revealed. Researchers from Yale University and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), studied the pattern of Facebook use and mental health of 5,208 volunteers between 2013 and 2015 for the study. The findings showed that increased use of Facebook was closely linked to “compromised social, physical and psychological health”, Metro.co.uk reported on Sunday.  It also revealed that if users were updating their profiles or liking posts more than average, they were more likely to have mental health issues. The report appeared in the American Journal of Epidemiology and was led by UCSD’s Assistant Professor of Public Health Holly Shakya and Yale’s Nicholas Christakis, who is Director of the University’s Human Nature Lab.

Social media also has its effects on sleep. A new survey has revealed that pupils from a school in Cheshire are regularly going to bed in the early hours because they are constantly on social media. A poll of 250 students at Tarporley High School revealed that the teenagers spend an average three to four hours on the social networks every night. Fear of ‘missing out on something’ was cited as the main reason for students sacrificing sleep. The survey was conducted by students taking part in BBC News School Report. Fourteen-year-old twins Chris and Ollie asked fellow students about their social media habits and sleep patterns, which have been revealed to be a main reason why they are tired when they go to school. 

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

01.06.2017

It is easy to stand with the crowd. It takes courage to stand alone

31 May, 2017

Adults Who Exercise May Gain 9 'Biological' Years

Could regular, strenuous exercise be a "fountain of youth"? New research suggests it could be -- for your cells, at least. "Just because you're 40 doesn't mean you're 40 years old biologically," said Larry Tucker, a professor of exercise science at Brigham Young University in Utah.

"We all know people that seem younger than their actual age. The more physically active we are, the less biological aging takes place in our bodies," Tucker said in a university news release.

He and his colleagues analyzed data from a survey of more than 5,800 Americans. The researchers concluded that people with consistently high levels of physical activity have significantly longer "telomeres" than those who are moderately active or inactive.

Telomeres are the protein endcaps on chromosomes. Each time a cell replicates, a tiny bit of the endcap is lost. That means the older you get, the shorter your telomeres.

But telomeres in adults with high levels of physical activity had seven years less aging than those in moderately active adults. And the advantage was nine years compared with inactive adults, the researchers concluded. The study authors defined "highly active" as at least 30 minutes (women) or 40 minutes (men) of jogging a day, five days a week.

"If you want to see a real difference in slowing your biological aging, it appears that a little exercise won't cut it. You have to work out regularly at high levels," Tucker said.

The study doesn't actually prove that exercise delays telomere shortening. Still, "we know that regular physical activity helps to reduce mortality and prolong life, and now we know part of that advantage may be due to the preservation of telomeres," Tucker added.

The study is scheduled for publication in the July issue of the journal Preventive Medicine.

Source: www.webmd.com

31.05.2017

Criticism of you isn't the truth - it's just someone's opinion

Cindy Francis

30 May, 2017

You may die if you sleep less than 6 hours a day! - Read

New Delhi: It is an established fact that 6 to 8 hours is the requisite amount of sleep that everyone needs in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

However, the rat race that everyone has become an integral part of has a higher priority in people's lives than how a certain lifestyle choice can prove detrimental to their health.

'Catching up' on sleep is one thing, but the fact remains that you are ultimately missing out the required amount of 'Z's. The impact of sleep deprivation on health has been shown and proven through many studies carried out over the years.

But, a new study has found its way through emphasising a discovery that is quite concerning. As per the study, less than six hours of sleep may nearly double the risk of death in people with metabolic syndrome – a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

The study further noted that people with metabolic syndrome who slept for more than six hours were about 1.49 times more likely to die of stroke. Conversely, those who slept less than six hours were about 2.1 times more likely to die of heart disease or stroke.

For those who got more sleep, the risk of death was more modest, the researchers said.

The short sleepers with metabolic syndrome were also 1.99 times more likely to die from any cause compared to those without metabolic syndrome.

"If you have several heart disease risk factors, taking care of your sleep and consulting with a clinician if you have insufficient sleep is important if you want to lower your risk of death from heart disease or stroke," said lead author Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

For the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the team selected 1,344 adults (average age 49 years, 42 percent male) who agreed to spend one night in a sleep laboratory.

The results showed that 39.2 percent of the participants had at least three of the risk factors – body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 and elevated total cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and triglyceride levels. During an average follow-up of 16.6 years, 22 percent of the participants died.

"Future clinical trials are needed to determine whether lengthening sleep, in combination with lowering blood pressure and glucose, improves the prognosis of people with the metabolic syndrome," Fernandez-Mendoza said.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

30.05.2017

Our words must match what we do

27 May, 2017

More women report osteoarthritis than men

Osteoarthritis — a disease of joints — is reported more among women than men, says a study conducted by the Arthritis Foundation of India (AFI). The study suggested that the severity of arthritis is also much higher in females as compared with males.

It found an alarmingly high incidence of arthritis — 26.5 per cent — among younger people in their 30s. “In all, 55 per cent of the patients (with osteoarthritis) were females, as compared to 45 per cent males,” said the AFI study conducted among 600 OPD patients in Doctor Hedgewar Aarogya Sansthan, Vir Savarkar Hospital, Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital and R.K. Hospital here. The AFI, Indian member of International Osteoporosis Foundation and the World Health Organization (WHO), conducted an epidemiological study on the situation of osteoarthritis in Delhi and found obesity and lack of awareness as a leading factor contributing to its prevalence. “Obesity was a major contributing factor, with 53 per cent of the respondents found to be obese,” the study said. Also, with the risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, thyroid and others, the progress of the diseases was much quicker in many cases within two years, it added.

The study also considered the socio-economic background of the patients and found that 70 per cent of the total participants (in the study) belonged to less than Rs 25,000 per month income group, while the remaining 30 per cent belonged to above Rs 25,000 a month bracket.  

“The marginally high severe cases can be attributed to the lifestyle in lower socio-economic group like elevator-less multi-storied housing, Indian toilets and more of them sitting frequently on the floor, etc.” In terms of the age bracket, 73.5 per cent patients, who attended the arthritis OPD for knee arthritis, were more than 40 years of age. 

“This study throws light on the prevalence of osteoarthritis in Delhi, and the general public’s response to the disease. Unfortunately, there is very little awareness among the masses, which is not a good sign and is preventing people from getting the right treatment at the right time,” said Dr. Sushil Sharma, Senior Orthopedician and AFI Chairman. The study noted that progression of the disease could have been prevented and the suffering minimised to quite an extent had it been reported in the mild stage.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

27.05.2017

One of the sources of success is our ability to change

Vlad Zachary

26 May, 2017

PM Modi stresses on affordable treatment for all

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed on reducing dependence on other countries for getting medical equipment so as to make treatment affordable for people.

"Seventy per cent of medical equipment used are imported from foreign nations. This situation has to change because it makes the treatment very costly," he said after launching a book to mark Tata Memorial Centre's 75 years of social service.

He was addressing the event held in Mumbai through video conferencing from New Delhi.

The aim of the National Health Policy is to ensure affordable health care, he said.

"We have come out with a National Health Policy. With this, our aim is to ensure affordable health care for all," the prime minister said. He said the government was aiming at providing the best medical care to all sections of the people and, as part of it, new AIIMS and medical colleges would be set up across the country.

"We are coming up with new AIIMS and medical colleges across the country. We want every citizen to have access to best medical treatment," Modi said. "I congratulate Tata (Memorial) hospital on their platinum jubilee. I am happy to release this book," Modi said after releasing the book titled 'Indelible footprints on the sands of time'.

The book traces the journey of the hospital, identifying and defining its growth and development.

"After 75 years, this institute is known for education, human resource development and research. Very few hospitals in India have done so much for human ailment," said the prime minister.

Stating that cancer was one of the biggest challenges of our times, he said it was vital to create a common platform where patients get affordable treatment. "Cancer is no less than an 'agni pariksha' for anyone," he said.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

26.05.2017

Optimists enrich the present, enhance the future, challenge the improbable and attain the impossible

William Arthur Ward

25 May, 2017

Should you have ‘chai’ in summer?

Tea lovers are often asked, 'How do you have your chaiunder a scorching sun?' Well, the answer could be out and simple; hot teas do not make you feel warm in summer. On the contrary, they may just be helping you feel cooler.

People who understand the body mechanism often see iced teas as a very ill-thought-of replacement for teas during the summer. The thought is also backed by traditional Chinese medicine experts who see stomach as a 'yang' organ. It means that it is hot and needs to be kept so in order for it to be working properly. Water, on the other hand, is 'yin', meaning cold. As your body needs to be in equilibrium of both the energies, having more water in summer should be balanced out with having more hot drinks.

Tea will cool your body down

A fact: The maximum number of chai, or tea, drinkers belongs to tropical or desert regions. Many studies have begun to emerge that say that one should actually not skip on their tea during hot weather. This is because they may help you cool down.

In 2012, a study was published by Ollie Jay which concluded that after the ingestion of warm drink by body, the overall heat storage in the body gets lowered after exercise as compared to the body temperature after having cool drinks.

The explanation for this phenomenon lies in the concept of sweating induced by tea or hot beverages. Once a person has tea, there is increased heat load in his body, making him sweat more. As a result of the increased sweat output, there is more sweat evaporation in the body, making it cool down. For a drink at 50˚C, there is a 570ml sweat loss from the body, increasing heat loss due to evaporation and lowering body heat storage.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

25.05.2017

Feeling appreciated is one of the most important needs that people have

Steve Brunkhorst

24, May 2017

Hypertension in young adults increases the risk of stroke, kidney damage later in life

A study has found that people aged between 18 to 49, with high systolic blood pressure over 140, are at greater risk of stroke, damage of kidneys and brain. The condition, called isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), occurs in people aged 18 to 49, who exhibit systolic blood pressure of 140 or higher (versus the optimal of under 120), but a normal diastolic pressure of around 80. Systolic pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading and diastolic is the bottom number. The researchers took cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) pictures of the participants’ hearts to assess the condition of the aorta – the major artery that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body. The common approach of ignoring higher systolic blood pressure levels in younger adults may be wrong, said study author Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin from UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Hypertension Program.

Dr Vongpatanasin added that doctors should consider treating these patients sooner rather than later, as not treating these individuals can lead to more brain and kidney damage in the future. The findings suggested that the incidence of isolated systolic hypertension in Americans 18 to 39 more than doubled over the last two decades and is now estimated to be about five percent. The study, published in the journal Hypertension, found that the threat of aortic stiffness is not only real, but also visible. The team examined 2,001 participants in the Dallas Heart Study. The next step will be to scan kidneys brains, and hearts of participants from the Dallas Heart Study to determine what effect the aortic stiffening has had. Identify new genetic, protein, and imaging biomarkers that can detect cardiovascular disease at its earliest stages, when prevention is most effective. 

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

24.05.2017

Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character

23 May, 2017

Headache could spell doom for the heart

In any organization, the head honcho has a final say in all the activities that are being performed. In many instances, the future of the company rests in the hands of the chief custodian, who steers it to doom or safety. In the human body, the head has assumed the role of the supervisor. A healthy brain is imperative for properly functioning organs. So when the head is trapped in the throes of debilitating pain such as a migraine, then the rest of the body also suffers. A recent study indicated an association between heart health and incidence of migraines.

The study, published in the BMJ , involved a prospective analysis of data from 115, 541 women who participated in Nurses' Health Study II. The subjects were between 25 and 42 years of age, did not suffer from heart pain or heart disease to begin with, and were followed up for an average of 20 years for heart disease-related incidents or death. Of the subjects included in the study, 15.2% reported having been diagnosed with migraine before the study. During the course of the follow-up, 1,329 women reported cardiovascular events, and 223 women died from heart disease-related incidents. The risk of heart disease, heart attacks, stroke etc. was found to be higher in women who complained of migraines, when compared to women who did not suffer from the ailment. In addition, the risk of death due to heart disease was higher with a diagnosis of migraine. These results were consistent even when other risk factors for heart disease, such as age, smoking status, hypertension and hormone treatments, were accounted for. The risk of heart disease is significant on a population level, as the prevalence of migraine is quite high. These findings support the inclusion of migraine as an important risk factor, along with the factors classically associated with heart disease, such as obesity, diabetes, cholesterol etc.

In other words, the head may have a say in the health of your heart, so listen carefully!

Source: www.timesofindia.com

23.05.2017

Commitment in the face of conflict produces character

22 May, 2017

Good news! New gastric balloon pill may help reduce obesity without surgery

Shedding those extra kilos may become as easy as popping a pill. Researchers have developed a new gastric balloon that can be swallowed, rather than surgically inserted, effectively inducing weight loss. “It may be a safe and effective way to induce substantial weight loss as well as curb obesity,” say researchers. 

Once the pill is swallowed, the gastric balloon swells up in the stomach with the (50 ml) water used to pop the pill. Thus inducing a feeling of satiety, restricting the quantum of calories a person can consume. It also reduces risk and discomfort caused by the common intragastric balloons (IGBs) — weight loss devices that require endoscopy and sedation.“Because the balloon does not require endoscopy, surgery or anaesthesia, this may make it suitable for a larger population of obese patients not responding to diet/lifestyle treatment,” said Roberta Ienca from Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 

For the study, presented at European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Porto, Portugal, the team examined 42 (29 men and 13 women) obese individuals (BMI 30-45 kg/m2) who had failed to lose weight by diet alone and who had refused other IGB treatment, because of the need of an endoscopy and/or anaesthesia, and were offered the balloon.

The balloons remained in the stomach for 16 weeks, during which patients were put on a very low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diet.  At the end of 16 weeks, an internal release valve automatically drains out the balloon from the body. The results showed that th participants shed more than 15 kg, on an average, which amounted to 31 per cent of excess weight. No serious side effects were reported. Significant reductions were also observed in co-morbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome, the researchers said. “The balloon appears to be a safe and effective weight loss method. Furthermore, the introduction of a very low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diet improves weight loss,” Ienca added.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

22.05.2017

Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character

Albert Einstein

20 May, 2017

Foods that can help you repel mosquitoes

The messengers of summer - mosquitoes - are here already. The annoyance doesn't end with their buzzing, whining, biting and itching. Recent stats show the number of cases of Chikungunya and Denguegoing much higher, causing much anguish among people. When indoors, we have ways to control mosquitoes around us but what about when we are outdoors? One with a humanitarian bent of mind might even think before hitting them down. So, the best way out - eat what would repel these pesky flies naturally.

There are foods the smell of which mosquitoes repel naturally. If you eat them more during summer, chances are you will turn into a mosquito repellent yourself. Include the following in your diet to do so.

Garlic, Onions

Much infamous for repelling mosquitoes, garlic and onions make you release a compound called allicin when consumed. Other members of this plant family, such as shallots and chives, also function the same way. Consume them raw or add them to your dishes.

Chilli Peppers

If you love chilli, here's your bonus: They repel mosquitoes. They contain capsaicin, a heat-producing compound that helps repel mosquitoes. Add them to your favourites and you are good to go.

Lemongrass
This one contains an oil called citronella, a popular bug repellent. You can consume it in your Thai recipes or in soups and curries.

Beans, Lentils, Tomatoes

These three are grouped together because they all contain thiamine, a component that makes you release a bug-repelling smell. Flavor your food with tomatoes and have beans and lentils as sides or as entrees.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

20.05.2017

Being angry, anxious, defeated and depressed are not God's plans for us

Robert E. Baines

19 May, 2017

India's first womb transplant at Pune hospital today

New Delhi: A 21-year-old woman will become the first person to undergo a womb transplant in India when doctors transfer her mother's uterus to her on Thursday in a brain-storming procedure.

The woman, who is a Solapur resident and is unable to conceive it due to absence of uterus, is being operated at Pune’s Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute (GCLI) by a team of 12 doctors.

“We will start to retrieve the uterus at around 9 am from the donor and transplant it in recipient,” Dr Shailesh Puntambekar, medical director, GCLI, was quoted as saying to HT, adding that the entire procedure would take around eight hours.

Using a laparoscopic technique, surgeons will retrieve the uterus from the donor, who is in her 40s.

On completion of the transplant, the recipient is expected to in ICU for a week and another two weeks in general care.

On Friday, may 19, the hospital will conduct another uterus transplant on a 24-year-old woman from Gujarat who suffers from Asherman’s Syndrome (scar tissue in the uterus) and will also receive her mother’s womb.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

19.05.2017

Forgiveness is not an occasional act: it is an attitude

Martin Luther King

18 May, 2017

Should you eat rice and chapati together?

A developing school of thought is premising that one should not consume rice and chapati in the same meal. A challenge to the age-old Indian 'paushtik aahar' which has both placed against each other in a single thali, one can't help but question the basis of such a premise. Should one really split the two chums? What happens when one has rice and chapati together? We got the questions answered by two nutrition advisors - Akansha Jhalani Sinha, Founder, Beyond the Weighing Scale and Ramni Sood, Founder, Wellness to Lifestyle. Here's what they had to say.

Why you CAN have them together

For Akansha, there is no damage in having the two grains together. She said, "There is no harm in consuming wheat and rice together in a meal. The two things you should insist upon are pairing the cereals with rich fiber from vegetables and salad and practicing moderation."

"In terms of caloric density, both wheat and rice have an almost similar profile but there is a significant difference in terms of their fiber content. Wheat retains its fiber that aids in subsequent sugar release in your body whereas rice, containing simple carbs, causes a sugar spike in your body," she said.

Why you CANNOT have them together

For Ramni, these grains shouldn't be mixed. Owing to distinct nutritive properties of different grains, she advises that one must consume only one grain at a time. A time gap of at least two hours should be maintained between consuming grains of different types.

She said, "They both ferment in the intestines and have very high glycemic index. Because the carbohydrate content for both the grains is too high, having them together leads to absorption of starch in your body. If you do so, it can lead to indigestion as well as bloating."

The verdict

Because different opinions co-exist on this subject matter, one may decide what works for them. Do not ditch the habit of eating them together if that has been working fine for you and you are fit and healthy. However, if you are amongst those who want to ensure strict and meticulous eating, you must skip either of them during one meal.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

18.05.2017

Stop thinking in terms of limitations; start thinking in terms of possibilities

17 May, 2017

ICMR to test efficacy of two medicines for tackling drug-resistant TB

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is planning to test the efficacy of two medicines — Metformin and Bedaquiline Delaminate — for tackling the drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Metformin is widely used to treat type-II diabetes. ICMR now plans a clinical trial to examine its effectiveness in fighting the TB microbe following encouraging scientific results from Indian biologists, reports Deccan Herald.

Bedaquiline, which received the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval in 2012 for the treatment of drug-resistant TB cases, is yet to be used in India’s public-funded national TB control programme.

The Metformin trial is expected to start in a couple of months, while the Bedaquiline trial may take about six months to kick off, according to ICMR director general Dr Soumya Swaminathan.

Source: www.indiamedicaltimes.com

17.05.2017

Most people fail in life because they major in minor things

Anthony Robbins

16 May, 2017

NHS cyber-attack: Patients asked to use services 'wisely'

New Delhi: A computer virus known as 'Wanna Decryptor or WannaCry' that hit the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Scotland last week has forced British hospitals to turn away patients and affected tens of thousands of organisations.

The ransomeware, which locked files and demanded payment to allow access, has infected 200,000 machines in 150 countries since Friday, BBC reported. Patients have been urged to use the NHS 'wisely' as the impact of the attack still persists, while also asking them to turn up for appointments, unless advised otherwise.

It is said that seven trusts out of 47 that were hit are still facing serious issues.

In England, 47 trusts reported problems at hospitals and 13 NHS organisations in Scotland were also affected, added the BBC report.

Urging people to be patient with the staff due to the impact of the Friday's global cyber attack, Anne Rainsberry, NHS incident director, said pathology services were the most seriously affected, alongside imaging services, such as MRI and CT scans, and X-rays, which transmit images via computers. Reports also suggest that now there are fears that some NHS files may not have been backed up.

Some hospitals were compelled to cancel treatments and appointments, and divert ambulances to other sites as authoroties try to deal with the situation.

Meanhwile computing giant Microsoft said 'the governments of the world should treat this cyber attack as a wake-up call'.

The ransomeware spread to 150 countries, including Spain, Russia, and the United States.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

16.05.2017

Life presents many choices,

 the choices we make determine our future

15 May, 2017

Nurses crucial for cost-effective, good quality healthcare: Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said nurses and midwives are crucial in delivering "cost-effective and good quality healthcare". He was speaking at Rashtrapati Bhavan after presenting the National Florence Nightingale Awards to nursing personnel on the occasion of International Nurses Day.

"Nurses in India are at the forefront of our national healthcare system. Their contribution is central to its success. Our nation is proud of their services," a release quoted Mukherjee as saying.

The President also said significant gains were made in "increasing life expectancy and reducing child and maternal mortality" in both urban and rural India throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century.

Saying that the need to adapt our standards to the evolving demands of healthcare and update the capacities was self-evident, Mukherjee said: "Our country needs to respond swiftly to healthcare challenges that keep coming up."

As per the release, Mukherjee was glad to see that the National Health Policy, 2017, "envisages a new momentum in innovation and nursing". He added that Indian nurses take on greater local, national and international roles.

"We need to ensure appropriate professional development and human resource policies in our country and increased involvement of nurses in policy development," he said.

"The complexity of medical and healthcare practices today demands that nurses are fully involved in the planning, implementation, research and evaluation that goes into the successful delivery of patient care," he said.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

15.05.2017

Ability to succeed, to fail, to win, to loose is just a matter of attitude

13 May, 2017

Having painkiller every day ups heart attack risk

Regular use of commonly prescribed painkillers can increase the risk of a heart attack as early as in the first week of use and especially within the first month of taking high doses, suggests a study. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat pain and inflammation can increase the risk of a heart attack from about 20 to 50 per cent, the researchers warned. The study, published in the journal The BMJ, found that taking any dose of NSAIDs — such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib and naproxen– for one week, one month or more than a month was associated with an increased risk of heart attack.

“Given that the onset of risk of acute myocardial infarction occurred in the first week and appeared greatest in the first month of treatment with higher doses, prescribers should consider weighing the risks and benefits of NSAIDs before instituting treatment, particularly for higher doses,” said Michele Bally from the University of Montreal. For their study, the researchers carried out a systematic review and a meta-analysis and analysed results on 446,763 people of whom 61,460 had a heart attack. Here is a detailed information on common risk factors of a heart attack.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

13.05.2017

Never make a decision when you are hungry, angry, lonely or tired

David DeNotaris