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Make Love: It’s Fun & Beneficial!

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It cannot be denied, sex if consensual can be a lot of fun and has numerous benefits. In this blog, I will refer to ‘sex’ as ‘making love’, since that is exactly what I mean. The article will take you through the benefits of “making love” and not “sex”! So if you have a partner who is not that much “into it”, get them to read this blog and be ready for some fun!

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Psychological Effect:
Making love has numerous psychological benefits. I am not referring to people into extensive meditation and the ones who have been able to channelise this sexual energy. But, for us ‘mortals’, sex is healthy. There is a deep energetic connection that bonds two people when they make love and it is not just the intermingling of juices.

Kamasutra not only describes the different ways to physical intimacy but, also speaks about equally involving your partner and developing a synergy for greater fulfilment. The physical bond builds an emotional connect which eventually leads to a happy family life. If you want to feel more connected to your partner, consider the simple act of saying “yes” to your partner, and see the shift in dynamics. If you’re both honoring each other correctly, sex will most likely help you feel closer to your love. Not to mention suppression of this primal need can distract a person from his routine activities, so might as well just do it and be happy.

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Physical Effect:
Making love releases endorphins and oxytocin, and these feel-good hormones activate pleasure centers in the brain that create feelings of intimacy and relaxation, keeping anxiety and depression at bay. You don’t have to climax for the effects but, there is a surge of soothing hormones if you have an orgasm.

The same endorphins that help you de-stress can also relax your mind and body, and makes you sleep well. But, if you’re wild in the sack, highly active session can make you feel more energized than sleepy. Let it not be a snooze but, if you are sleeping thereafter, opt for a subdued session.

The endorphins that are released during an orgasm closely resemble morphine, and they effectively relieve pain. Have a migraine?? Even if your partner isn’t around, medicate by treating yourself with some solo sex!

Use your healthy days as sex days! People who have sex regularly were found to have higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA), according to researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. These antibodies help combat diseases, enhances immunity & keeps the body safe from colds and flu.

Making love decreases the risk of prostate cancer as well. What better reason than this to slip into sheets with your partner!

Apart from making you feel good, making love makes you young and vital due to release of testosterone and estrogen. Estrogen also promotes soft skin and shiny hair.

The uterus contracts during orgasms and in the process, rids the body of cramp-causing compounds. The increased number of uterine contractions can also help expel blood and tissue more quickly, helping to end your period faster.

Sexual activity = modest workout on a treadmill. A romp can burn anywhere from 85 to 250 calories, depending on the length of the session. Your abs, back muscles, butt & thighs get a good workout.

It is also a workout for your pelvic floor muscles. When you have an orgasm, it causes contractions in those muscles, which strengthens them.

Slipping into the sheets with the one you love lowers your blood pressure & is good for your heart, because you are naturally in a relaxed state. It lowers your cholesterol by tipping the high density lipoprotein (HDL)/ Lower density lipoprotein (LDL). It keeps your estrogen and testosterone levels in balance; unbalance increases risk of osteoporosis and even heart disease.

Remember, the benefits listed above is for “making love” which implies consensual physical intimacy. Ensure when you indulge, it is consensual and preferably with one partner. Multiple partners creates a havoc with the body apart from creating risk of STDs (Many Indian scriptures stress on having one sexual partner because the cells in our body remember every physical touch on a subconscious level. Too many physical interaction lead to psychological & physical issues.).
Be safe and have a good time!

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Do You Really need an Antibiotic??

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It’s December and with the slight nip in the air or with temperatures dropping come to all common illnesses like fever, cold, cough, sore throat, body ache etc. It’s a very common sight to find most people self-medicating with antibiotics. Every second person knows about it from the previous prescription or just by walking into the chemist’s store voicing their symptoms and getting their strip of antibiotics, like Azithromycin, Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Cefuroxime, Cefixime etc. But, I really doubt if these people even know what antibiotics are and what they are used for!

Most of the people have this notion that it is a magic pill for common ailments like cold, cough, fever.  Also, most are of the belief that with one or two doses of these tabs, they will be immediately cured of their ailment.

Well yes, I would say it is a magic pill but only for BACTERIAL INFECTIONS! Not all cold , cough, fever are due to bacterial infections, many a times its of viral infections which are self-limiting and needs to be controlled with paracetamol, taking rest and antibiotics have no role in treating viral infections.

So what are Antibiotics?
Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. When used properly, antibiotics save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing. Your body’s natural defenses can usually take it from there.
Common viral infections that do not benefit from antibiotic treatment include:

  • Cold
  • Flu (influenza)
  • Most coughs
  • Most sore throats
  • Some ear infections
  • Some sinus infections
  • Stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis)

Frequent and irrational use of antibiotics can cause Antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic has lost its ability to effectively control or kill bacterial growth; in other words, the bacteria are “resistant” and continue to multiply in the presence of therapeutic levels of an antibiotic leading to treatment complications and increased healthcare costs.

In spite of growing awareness of antibiotic resistance in recent years, overuse still occurs for a number of reasons:

  • Doctors may prescribe antibiotics before receiving test results that identify the actual cause of infection.
  • People who want quick relief from symptoms, regardless of the cause of illness, may pressure doctors for antibiotic prescriptions.
  • People may take antibiotics over the counter or via the Internet for self-diagnosed illnesses.
  • People may take antibiotics that are leftover from a previous prescription.

Consequences of Antibiotic resistance

  • More-serious illness or disability
  • More deaths from previously treatable illnesses
  • Prolonged recovery
  • More-frequent or longer hospitalization
  • More doctor visits
  • More-expensive treatments

“Then what do we do to get better”, patients ask??

Antibiotic Stewardship is the answer for this problem which is basically the appropriate use of antibiotics.

Many hospitals and medical associations have implemented new diagnostic and treatment guidelines to ensure effective treatments for bacterial infections and reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics.

The public also plays a role in antibiotic stewardship. You can help reduce the development of antibiotic resistance by taking the following steps:

  • Use antibiotics only as prescribed by your doctor.
  • Take the correct daily dosage and complete the entire course of treatment.
  • If for some reason you have leftover antibiotics, kindly consult your Doctor before self-popping as they might not be the correct antibiotic.
  • Never take antibiotics prescribed for another person.
  • Don’t pressure your doctor to give you an antibiotic prescription. Ask your doctor for advice on how to treat symptoms and look into Lifestyle options for better prevention.
  • Practice good hygiene.

As for viral infections like common flu, we can fight it by building our immunity by modifying our lifestyle for the better. Eat right, exercise often, de-stress and make sure you sleep well to give your body the much needed rest.

So let’s bid adieu to 2016 on a healthy note and a pledge to Stop Antibiotic Resistance!

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Living Healthy with HIV – Reality or Myth

 

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Have you seen the latest#CondomEmoji campaign by Durex, the Global Sexual-well-being brand depicting an “Umbrella with Raindrops”? This was the unofficial safe sex emoji launched ahead of World AIDS Day today. It was an interesting campaign to communicate ‘Safe Sex’ among the young adults. The campaign called for putting a safe sex emoji on every smartphone in order to help young people communicate about safe sex. The campaign has trended both on Twitter and Facebook with supporters from over 160 countries backing the movement.

The survey findings noted while more than 60 per cent of young people surveyed admitted to being uncomfortable discussing safe sex, 72 per cent of respondents admitted that they found it easier to express emotions using emojis and more than three quarters admitted that they use emojis to discuss sex and relationships.

Why is this discomfort about talking of sex or sex related diseases such as HIV/Aids even in the 21st Century?
One of my earliest memories of AIDS would be the movie PHILADELPHIA where Tom Hanks sues his Company for being fired from his workspace for being HIV positive.

Whenever we hear the word AIDS or HIV the word itself it creates a lot of fear and makes one judgmental. This is not the case only among the lay man but also is the case equal judgment, not only among general public but also within the medical fraternity. Unfortunately more than a the disease, AIDS is considered to be a social stigma and a taboo.
It’s become imperative to understand why this stigma is attached to HIV/AIDS?

AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) as we all know is a syndrome caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) which directly attacks the immune system of the patient leaving the body vulnerable to a host of infections. Aids is the last stage of HIV infection where the disease progresses and the body can no longer defend itself leading to more severe infections, malignancies and eventually death (if left untreated).
Let me try to look into the ways one can get infected with this Virus which are considered some of the main reasons for fear and stigma.

1. Unprotected sex- with an individual who is infected with HIV is the biggest cause of new HIV cases be it vaginal or anal sex. Oral sex also predisposes one to HIV if there are any cuts, ulcers or sores in the mouth. Wearing a condom is the easiest way to protect yourself and your partner against the disease. Unprotected Sex is more prevalent among young adults.
2. Blood transfusion with infected blood. This is one of the most unfortunate ways to contract the disease as the recipient is unaware of the blood being infected. It is always a good idea to make sure that the blood has been screened for HIV infection.
3. HIV infected mother can pass on the virus to her baby during pregnancy lactation or even delivery. These mothers can now take treatment to protect their babies.
4. Sharing razors or needles with infected people also puts you at risk of contracting the virus like in the case of drug abuse or needle prick in hospital.
In short the virus can be transmitted through infected blood, semen and vaginal fluids. In fact, when the disease first came to light in India, it was the sex workers and their clients who had the maximum prevalence followed by truck drivers.

The latest ‘DIPPER’ at night campaign where the Condom is disguised as the dipper is a great way to create awareness among truck drivers in India to frequent sex workers often.
But, honestly it’s not so bad as it’s been made out to be over the years. Currently, experiments are being conducted to find a cure for this disease. The good news in India is that we are seeing an overall reduction in HIV infections among the adult population.

According to more recent National AIDS Control Organisation data, India has demonstrated an overall reduction of 57 percent in estimated annual new HIV infections (among adult population) from 0.274 million in 2000 to 0.116 million in 2011.

HIV-data pic

India has the third largest number of people living with HIV in the world, according WHO.

LIVING WITH HIV / AIDS:

It’s not as bad. One can live with HIV.

The diagnosis is confirmed by a blood test and depending on the extent of severity of the immune deficiency, anti-viral medication is started which improves the number of immune cells which help fight infections and restore near normal life.

The medicines though expensive are distributed free of cost to patients at Government and NGO run clinics.Psychological help for not getting overwhelmed after the diagnosis, is also readily available. Confiding in a trusted person who won’t be judgmental. Judgmental helps in calming your nerves.

One must realize and believe that they can live to their potential  inspite of being HIV positive. Having social and emotional support is very essential, hence patients must not isolate themselves from their near and dear ones and f.amily and friends should also not ostracize the patient.

The Constitution of India prevents any discrimination against anyone having HIV and AIDS and neither is it a legal ground for dismissal from occupational services.

Patients living with HIV must maintain a healthy lifestyle just like diabetics or any other chronic disorders. Having a healthy diet and exercising regularly are a must to boost your immunity along with the medication. Till date HIV and AIDS has no cure but anti-retroviral therapy (ART medicines) are helping people live a healthy and happy life for almost 2 to 3 decades.

Currently, Art drugs have become ‘very good’ at controlling infection but patients need use the medication for life. If they stop the treatment, the virus rapidly replicates, eventually leading to the fatal AIDS disease.

Pregnant mothers have successfully delivered children without HIV with the help of anti-viral medication.
Lot of research by brilliant minds is being done around the globe to find more effective medicines and a cure.
HIV facts to know

• According to the WHO, more than 70 million people have been infected with HIV so far and about 35 million people have died of from the virus.

• In 2015, an estimated 36.7 million people were living with HIV and so far the infection remains incurable.

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DECODING DIABETES

Diabetes-Day

Last month, I had 2 patients on the same day diagnosed with Diabetes- one an overweight 34 year old IT professional and the other a 6-year-old girl. The reason, why this incident comes to my mind today is because they were both diabetics but, had different diabetes and even their course of treatments was different.

But, the first question I was asked in both the cases was whether they will need to be put on insulin injections immediately. Well, this is a common question asked by patients. To understand this condition better, let me try and explain a bit about the different types of diabetes on the basis of which the required treatment is normally recommended.

Diabetes is a group of metabolic disorders in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin or both. Common symptoms of either diabetes are unexplained weight loss, excess hunger, and excess thirst and delayed wound healing.

Today, I would like to take you through specifically 3 major types of diabetes namely, Type 1, Type 2 and gestational Diabetes.

Let’s talk about

Type 1 Diabetes: is caused by a loss or malfunction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. Damage to beta cells results in absence or insufficient production of insulin. Most cases of Type 1 Diabetes have an autoimmune basis in which immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys its own beta cells. These cases are detected either in childhood or teenage years. There are many theories about what causes type 1 diabetes like autoimmune disease, viral infection, genetic predisposition and environmental factors may also play a role.

Whatever be the cause, this missing insulin has to be replaced as insulin is necessary to sustain life. It is responsible for entry of glucose into the body cells from where the glucose is further utilized for energy and other activities. This glucose which is not entering the cells is circulating in the blood which gets detected as high blood sugar. The replacement insulin is administered by injection using a syringe or an insulin pump. Thanks to the invention of Insulin clubbed with a healthy lifestyle, a Type 1 diabetic is able to lead a happy good quality life.

Coming to Type 2 diabetes most often than not your tissues will be resistant to insulin, so the insulin is being produced but unfortunately not being utilized properly. It is the most common form of diabetes worldwide and accounts for 90-95% of the cases.

Insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes means the signal insulin gives to a cell is weakened. This results in less glucose uptake by muscle and fat cells and a reduction in insulin mediated activities inside cells.

Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include an Unhealthy Lifestyle (being physically inactive or less active, erratic food and sleep habits, stress), being overweight or obese and importantly family history of diabetes in close relatives.

Diabetes-Risk

We have ample medicine combinations for type 2 diabetes like tablets which keep the blood sugar under control. But if sufficient sugar control is not achieved in spite of oral medications and a healthy lifestyle, then insulin might be required for further management.

Another type of Diabetes I would like to talk about is Gestational diabetes which basically refers to diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy.

Pregnancy hormones can interfere with the way insulin works in the mother’s body which can lead to elevated blood glucose levels during pregnancy. Women are typically screened for gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, however, women who have risk factors may be screened earlier.

Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include having a family history of diabetes, being overweight, or over 28 years old. Blood glucose control during pregnancy is critical as elevated maternal glucose levels can lead to pregnancy complications and pose risks to the health of the baby. Gestational diabetes is likely to recur during subsequent pregnancies.

Gestational diabetes requires specialized treatment for the rest of the pregnancy. After the pregnancy is over, most women will have normal blood sugars again; however, up to 20-50 % can develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Regular screening is recommended.

A study conducted on people at risk of type 2 diabetes, it was seen that those who lost just 7% of their weight and exercised about 30 minutes a day cut their risk of diabetes by nearly 60%. In a nutshell, irrespective of the type of diabetes the best prevention or diabetes management strategy is to eat healthy, stay active and keep a check on your weight.

Reference: University of California, San Francisco – Diabetes online Education website.

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]