4 August, 2017

High blood pressure, joint diseases more common among people living in high-rises: Survey

A survey has revealed that lifestyle diseases such as high blood pressure and joints diseases are becoming more common among people living in high-rises. It also revealed that nearly 20 per cent of adults between 40-55 age group had blood pressure levels between 140-159, which is an indication of prehypertension.

The survey was result of a free health screening camp. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.

Blood is carried from the heart to other parts of the body in vessels. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the vessels. Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels (arteries) as it is pumped by the heart. The higher the pressure, the harder the heart has to pump. In the medical screening camp, 40 per cent of the senior citizens, above 60, had more problems of joints-related issues, such as arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Doctors say that India may become the osteoarthritis capital of the world with over 60 million cases by 2025.

The survey said,"The factor which was found common among both the age groups, which according to the doctors was adding to the health woes of the respondents, were lack of mobility and physical activity due to staying in the high rise buildings."

The free health screening camp was organised by Polo Foundation, a pan-India NGO, working in the areas of health, Information Technology education and solar energy at corporate multi-storey societies in Noida. The doctors who took part in the social initiative were mostly from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences and some private practitioners.

Over 100 people, mostly adults and senior citizens, attended the screening camp.

According to the survey, many complained of high BP and other lifestyle related problems despite being on various forms of medication.

The residents of upper floors tend to suffer from a self-induced cabin fever, a tension caused by confinement in a closed space, because they often lack the initiative to go out and exercise, according to the findings of Fumio Osaka.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

04.08.2017

Success does not lie in “Results” but in “Efforts”

3 August, 2017

'50% new mothers quit jobs for lack of breastfeeding facilities'

Fifty per cent of working women in Indian metro cities feel that corporate houses lack breastfeeding facilities and nearly 54 per cent quit their jobs after giving birth to ensure that their newborns are breastfed, revealed a survey on Tuesday.

The survey was conducted by Medela, a manufacturer of breast pumps and nursing accessories. 

"There is a need for corporate preparedness in enabling working women to breastfeed, as only 35 per cent of new lactating mothers of India were able to go back to their jobs within six-nine months," said the survey.

The findings highlighted that 78 per cent of Indian mothers planned to exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months post-delivery to ensure a strong and healthy foundation for the child.

The survey was conducted to find recent trends and breastfeeding habits of Indian mothers.

The World Breastfeeding Week is from August 1 to 7.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

03.08.2017

If it can be dreamt, then it can be done

Mrs.Roosevlet

2 August, 2017

Beware! Blowing the candles on your birthday cake could be bad for your health

No celebration is complete without cakes, let alone birthdays, where your celebration revolves around the cake. But did you know blowing your birthday candles could affect your health adversely? In a recent research [1], scientists have found out that this famous tradition could increase the bacteria by 1,400%. Yes! It sounds shocking but is true. In a study, researchers from Clemson University in the United States analysed the spread of bacteria while blowing the candles on a birthday cake before cutting the cake.

The researchers said in the study published in the Journal of Food Research, “Bacteria are an unavoidable part of life, present in and on almost everything humans contact. Whether benign or pathogenic, it is important to understand how bacteria are transferred and become familiar with measures for avoiding contamination. Illnesses related to pathogenic bacteria, which can spread rapidly throughout the population, are a major public health concern in today’s society.”

Due to blowing the candles the chances of transferring bacteria in the cake increases drastically. In the research, they said, “Blowing out the candles over the icing surface resulted in 1400% more bacteria compared to icing not blown on. Due to the transfer of oral bacteria to icing by blowing out birthday candles, the transmission of bacteria and other microorganisms from the respiratory tract of a person blowing out candles to food consumed by others is likely.”
Would you still blow candles before cutting your birthday cake?

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

02.08.2017

Accept that you have lost, but never accept that you have failed

1 August, 2017

Doctors in India witness a rare case of 'fetus-in-fetu' after baby is born 'pregnant' with twin brother

The world of medicine has seen and heard it all, but rare cases still have the power to stump the best doctors. In another such rare case, an Indian baby was born 'pregnant' with its twin brother! While half-formed, the male baby – complete with a brain, arms and legs – was discovered by doctors inside his perfectly healthy brother's stomach after he was born.

Doctors suspect this to be a rare 'fetus in fetu' twin pregnancy – one of around 200 ever recorded in the world.

The 7 cm mass was successfully removed from the baby through surgery. According to a report in the Daily Mail, radiologist Dr Bhavna Thorat, who spotted the problem during a routine scan, said: 'It was inside a fetal sac of the newborn.' The unnamed baby and his 19-year-old mother from Mumbra, in India, are both healthy and doing well.

Doctors at Mumbra's Bilal Hospital noticed the abnormality during a routine scan of the mother in early July. Their suspicions came true nine days later after the baby was born, when a scan revealed 'another small baby' inside the newborn's abdomen.

Dr Thorat said: 'I could see bones of the upper and lower limbs of the fetus. 'The unique thing about it was I could see a tiny head with the brain inside. 'However, this parasitic twin didn't have a skull bone,' the Daily Mail reported. The newborn was taken to Titan Hospital in Thane for surgery to remove the 150g mass.

The baby is reported to be in good health and the mother will start feeding him soon.

Fetus in fetu is a developmental abnormality in which a mass of tissue resembling a fetus forms inside the body.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

01.08.2017

Forget yesterday, live for today, tomorrow will take care of it itself

31 July, 2017

The dangerously sweet highway to the heart!

6.5 crore Indians suffer from cardiovascular disease and 6.51 crore people suffer from diabetes, as per latest public health reports. These numbers being so close isn't completely a coincidence. Statistics show that eight out of every 10 diabetics develop heart disease.

High glucose in blood for prolonged period compromises the health of blood vessels, affecting various functions that are integral in maintaining blood flow to heart muscle. Uncontrolled diabetes decreases fluidity of blood making it more prone to clot. In addition, people with diabetes develop soft plaques that are more vulnerable to rupture in the coronary. Upon rupture it triggers clotting of blood which clogs the coronary artery causing heart attack.

Each time you consume added sugar, overeat or binge-starve yourself, blood glucose levels spike to levels that require extra insulin to be generated to normalise it. In a predisposed individual eventually, it would result in insulin resistance. One of the major causes of type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance which is rising at an epidemic rate in India. This means that your body gradually starts to lose its ability to bring blood glucose levels down to healthy levels.

To lower the risk of diabetes, even if there is no family history, maintain a healthy balanced lifestyle. If already diabetic, lower the risk of heart disease by consciously keeping your blood glucose levels under control.

Uncontrolled blood sugar is the dangerously sweet highway to developing heart disease. Stay off this highway to live a better quality, fit and healthy life.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

31.07.2017

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do

29 July, 2017

Researchers generate human antibodies in the lab

A new laboratory technique that will accelerate development of vaccines to protect people from a wide range of diseases has been reported by an international team of scientists. Normally, vaccines induce B-lymphocytes or B-cells of the body's immune system to produce antibodies that fight against invading pathogens like viruses.

In the new study, researchers have developed a method to rapidly produce specific human antibodies in the laboratory itself from B-cells isolated from patient blood samples and by replicating the same processes these cells use in the body to prevent infections.

The technique, reported in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, could potentially accelerate the development of new vaccines by allowing the efficient evaluation of candidate target antigens, it is claimed. The researchers, from Francis Crick Institute in London and the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital in the US, successfully demonstrated their approach using various bacterial and viral antigens and proteins from several strains of influenza A.

In each case, the researchers were able to produce specific high-affinity antibodies in just a few days and were also able to generate antibodies against HIV (which causes AIDS) from B-cells isolated from HIV-free patients.

The scientists believe their approach will help researchers generate therapeutic antibodies within a shorter time frame in the laboratory for the treatment of infectious diseases and other conditions such as cancer.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

29.07.2017

Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great

John D. Rockefeller

28 July, 2017

Eating walnuts may protect the digestive system and reduce cancer risk

Consuming half a cup of walnut per day may help protect the digestive system by increasing the amount of probiotic bacteria in the gut and ward off risks of heart and brain disease as well as cancer, researchers say. The findings, from the animal study, showed that a walnut-enriched diet reshapes the gut microbe community and causes a significant increase in beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Ruminococcaceae. Walnuts act as a probiotic to help nourish and grow the bacteria that keeps the digestive system healthy, the researchers said.

“The health of the gut is related to overall health in the rest of the body. Our study is showing that walnuts change the gut, which could help explain why there are other positive health benefits to eating walnuts such as heart and brain health,” said lead researcher Lauri Byerley, Associate Professor at the Louisiana State University in the US. Consuming walnuts also has been associated with health benefits including a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, Byerley added.  The bioactive components of walnuts may be contributing factors in providing these health benefits, the researchers explained in the paper appearing in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.  “Greater bacterial diversity may be associated with better health outcomes, whereas low diversity has been linked to conditions such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease,” Byerley noted.

Walnuts are the only nuts that contain a significant amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid (2.5 grams per one ounce) and also offer protein (4 grams per one ounce) and fibre (2 grams per one ounce).  For the study, rats were randomly assigned to a diet containing ground walnuts, equivalent to about 2 ounces (1/2 cup) per day in humans, or a diet without walnuts for up to 10 weeks.

Source: www.thehealthsite.com

28.07.2017

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it

Henry David Thoreau