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Know all about Dengue and Chikungunya and how to prevent it

Dengue and Chikungunya

Chikungunya and Dengue have created havoc in the capital city of Delhi and certain other parts of the country. The death toll from the two vector-borne diseases has been climbing every day even as the number of affected people crossed 2,800. It has been reported that according to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), the number of chikungunya cases in Delhi had spiked to over 2000 till September 11 as fever clinics in the city continue to be swamped with patients.

The World Health Organisation has said that in recent years, globalisation of travel and trade, unplanned urbanisation and environmental challenges including climate change has had a “significant” impact on transmission of vector-borne diseases.

However, the key to averting such an adverse outcome is timely diagnosis and appropriate monitoring along with supportive care.

Let me begin with the basics about dengue and chikungunya…….the culprit for both is the Aedes aegypti mosquito and hence a person can be infected with both diseases simultaneously by its bite. Viruses are the cause of both problems, which enter the mosquito when it bites a human suffering from dengue or chikungunya.

The most likely time for this mosquito to bite is 2 hrs after sunrise and 2 hrs before sunset but, probability of a bite occurring is anytime during daylight hours. So it’s active during the time when most of us are also likely to be outdoors.

Chikungunya begins with sudden onset of high fever, ranging from 101 to 105 degree Fahrenheit accompanied by severe pain in joints. Other symptoms like chills, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite and conjunctivitis can also be seen. Rash occurs typically on day 2 or 3 when the fever has subsided along with itching.

The Complete Blood Count (CBC) may show reduction in the total White cell count and platelet count, though neither are severe nor life threatening. IgM (Immunoglobulin M) antibody against Chikungunya can be detected in blood after 5 days till months after onset of symptoms. Joint pains and stiffness can last for weeks or months and can be distressing.

Treatment involves paracetamol to control fever, although NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs like Brufen and diclofenac) may be needed to reduce fever and joint pains as paracetamol may not suffice. Ice compress on the joints can reduce pain. Ensuring water intake of at least 3 liters/day for adults is a must to counter the dehydration resulting from high fever. Antihistamines reduce the rash and itching. Extreme joint pains get relieved by oral steroids.

Dengue is equally dangerous and spreading. According to New Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s research finds that the Dengue virus is the most rapidly spreading virus transmitted by mosquitoes and is a major source of illness in the tropics and subtropics, infecting as many as 400 million people annually.

Dengue symptoms are no different from Chikungunya. Both have similar onset with high grade fever (102 to 105 degree fahrenheit), headaches especially behind the eyes, back pain, muscle & joint pains, weakness. Rash can also occur. Cold and cough, vomiting and diarrhoea may accompany other symptoms. The diagnosis can be done through blood tests like Dengue NS1 which comes positive during first 3 days of fever & Dengue IgM which is detected from 5th to 7th day from onset of fever.

Treatment of uncomplicated dengue is same as chikungunya. Hospitalization is a must in worsened abdominal pain & vomiting, significant fall in blood pressure, breathlessness and platelet count going lower than 30,000. Platelet transfusions may be needed along with fluid infusion.

There are no antiviral medicines yet for dengue and chikungunya. Prevention of mosquito bites is the easiest way of avoiding these diseases, wearing full length shirts & trousers helps, applying mosquito repellent & using mosquito nets goes a long way in avoiding bites.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito breeds in stagnant fresh water which is avoidable by disposing used plastic bottles & discarded tyres properly. Pooling in plant trays and coolers also needs to be prevented. Also one should cover water containers that can be mosquito breeding grounds.

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Let’s understand Cravings

Three colorful green, pink and yellow tart cakes wrapped in measuring tape on white background, unhealthy lifestyle concept, studio

Food craving (defined as an intense desire to eat a specific food) is of interest because it is extremely common and because it influences obesity or nutritional status. It has also been suggested that food craving may be the evolutionary source for cravings of all kinds including cravings for drugs and alcohol.  “Surveys estimate that almost 100% of young women and nearly 70% of young men had food cravings during the past year,” says Mercia Levin Pelchat, of Monell Chemical Senses Center in her published article ‘Food Cravings in Young and Elderly Adults’ in the journal Appetite*

As humans, we’re biologically wired to crave for Food. The more bad food we eat, the more our body will learn to accept and want them. We become addicted to highly palatable, energy dense food. Well, yes many of the food we eat today (ready made) are extremely addictive, and we are hardwired to crave them. Anything that gives us pleasure and offers relief, our body will want more and crave.

What food am I referring to?

Processed food. They are prepared with a combination of fat, sugar, and salt and provide very fewer nutrients.

Studies have found, highly processed food have the same effect on the brain as some drugs. It helps release feel good hormone which in turn helps to relieve stress temporarily.

What about those people who have food craving even without indulging in processed foods often? The answer for this could be due to missing micro nutrients from your diet, which causes you to crave for certain foods.

amazed young woman eating popcorn

What’s the Solution to Carvings?

Let’s take a look at why we should be adding more veggies, fruits, and other unprocessed food to our diet.

I have covered here few very commonly reported cravings and deficiency associated with the same:

Food Craving Bread
Nutrient Deficiency Nitrogen
Nutritious food Green Leafy Vegetables, Nuts, Seeds, Legumes, Grains
Food Craving White Pastas, Cake, Pastries
Nutrient Deficiency Chromium
Nutritious food Onion, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Cinnamon, Grapes
Food Craving Crisps/Potato Chips, Salty foods
Nutrient Deficiency Chloride
Nutritious food Celery, Olives, Tomatoes, Kelp, Himalayan Sea Salt
Food Craving Chocolate
Nutrient Deficiency Magnesium
Nutritious food Raw Cacao, Whole Grains, Beans, Nuts, Seeds, Fruit, Green Veggies
Food Craving Fizzy/Aerated Drinks
Nutrient Deficiency Calcium
Nutritious food Broccoli, Kale, Sesame seed, legumes, mustard, turnip, greens
Food Craving Coffee / Black tea
Nutrient Deficiency Sulphur
Nutritious food Cruciferous Veggies, Cranberries, horseradish, garlic, onion
Food Craving Ice, Chilled water
Nutrient Deficiency Iron
Nutritious food Beans, Legumes, Dates, Black raisin, Jaggery, Spinach
Food Craving Sweets
Nutrient Deficiency Phosphorous
Nutritious food Citrus Fruits, Green Leafy Veggies, Banana, Tomatoes, Black Olives.

As you can see on the table, a simple mindful inclusion of certain food does not only save you from lot more cravings and its ill effect but can also provide you with lots of nutrients and minerals.

So what will you choose?

*Appetite is an international research journal specializing in cultural, social, psychological, sensory and physiological influences on the selection and intake of foods and drinks. It covers normal and disordered eating and drinking and welcomes studies of both human and non-human animal behaviour towards food

 

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Understanding Autism


I have had firsthand contact with 2 children with autism in my complex and hence I wish to share my experience with these children and talk about Autism. An autistic child lives in her/his own world and finds it quite difficult to associate and relate to the external world. The child takes a long time to bond with another person, even the mother child bonding takes very long to develop. Children with autism seldom establish eye contact, do handshakes and give high fives like their counterparts. They seem extremely shy but the issue is deeper than just being plain simple shy.

Let me take you through these kids’ stories and also in the process talk about what is Autism?

This is the story of Rudraesh, 13. He is the second son and his mother recalls that when he was brought home from the maternity ward after 4 days, he cried a lot for the next 2 days. This behaviour of his was peculiar as she remembers her elder son never reacted this way. In hindsight, she says that it was typical of an autistic child to be uncomfortable in a new environment. When her son did not develop the social milestone of smiling at another person which her elder one had, she got worried and consulted the paediatrician who confirmed her fear that he was autistic.

Autism is a spectrum of disorders in which the difficulty to adapt to the world and be able to take care of oneself varies from mild to severe. Rudraesh is severely autistic since it took 12 years for him to get toilet trained and hygiene conscious. Since his elder brother is normal, his mother feels the reason for his autism is the undue emotional stress she had while she was pregnant with him.

The exact cause of autism still eludes mankind. Researchers are trying to find possible associations which lead to autism. A strong belief is that MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) predisposes a child to autism. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics during pregnancy and infancy is also suspected to increase the chances of autism. It appears that autism runs in families since many extended families have more than one child affected by it.

Rudraesh has the good fortune of having a dedicated and caring mother and a father who is earning well. She has painstakingly ensured that he picks up basic survival skills and his father spares no expense in getting best possible assistance in the form of special schooling and occupational therapy. Their dream is that Rudraesh can earn a living for himself and be self-sustained. It’s a challenging dream but with the hard work that both parents are putting in, it looks like a reality albeit in distant future.

The second story is that of Madhav, 5. Madhav’smom was heartbroken when the paediatrician diagnosed him to be a mildly autistic child. Initially, she thought her son was mentally retarded. Unlike mentally retarded children, autistic children usually are gifted e.g a few of them have a drawing and painting talent and some are excellent with numbers. Remember Dustin Hoffman’s character in the epic movie Rainman?

Hoffman played an autistic adult who won his brother millions in the casino because of his mathematical gift of predicting permutations in the card deck. Madhav is a mild case because he was able to do a lot of other activities which kids his age did except that he didn’t know his name was Madhav, something a normal 8 months old definitely knows. He wouldn’t respond when his name was called out. Since his autistic trait was diagnosed in time and his parents took help from a good team of therapists who treat children with developmental delays, at age 4 years he is now at par with other normal children. The therapy involves multiple innovative ways of stimulating the child’s brain to grow and learn and catch up.

To summarize, autistic individuals need a lot of support and patience from the society so that their troubles can be minimized.Occupational and behaviour therapy specialists along with parents of these children make a lot of efforts to help them learn to integrate with the world around them and we as mature citizens also need to support them by being non-judgemental and understanding.

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Ageing is not skin deep! Rejuvenate the Natural way!

japanese-green-tea

Age is just not a number! Aging affects the way we look and the way we feel. It affects our bodies in more than many ways as what we anticipate. The good news is that the aging process can be delayed by incorporating the right ingredients in your daily diet. The key is to focus on improving your cellular health and hormonal levels.

Aging does not stop at the surface level. It profoundly depletes the deeper layers, leading to unmistakable signs that no makeup can disguise and only anti-aging supplements, foods and products that work at both the cellular and hormonal levels can repair. Not even cosmetic surgery can correct some of these consequences.

To achieve true anti-aging effects, you must activate cellular mechanisms, plus biochemical and hormonal anti-aging pathways, and restore them to youthful functioning. So it’s important to understand how the combination of certain anti-aging supplements, foods and herbs can promote deep and long-lasting effects.

ageing

Green tea: – Green tea consists of leaves that haven’t been fermented and so contain the highest level of antioxidants. These teas contain polyphenols called catechins. Green tea catechins reduces the level of damaging free radicals. When applied to the skin, tea repairs scar tissue and prevents wrinkles, blemishes and other impurities. When used as a sunblock, tea can actually reduce or completely erase sun damage. It also helps with warts, psoriasis, acne, and rosacea. Tea sachets are beneficial when cold, too, helping to reduce puffiness by virtue of combining a cool compress with tannins. Tannins are a type of astringent that help to constrict blood vessels and reduce swelling. The caffeine in tea also tightens facial skin for a leaner look.

Turmeric:-Turmeric contains high amount of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for protecting the integrity of the skin by preventing free radicals from destroying its texture and elasticity. Research shows that turmeric inhibits a key enzyme (elastase) that reduces the ability of elastin from forming. Elastin, along with collagen, is a protein needed for making the skin smooth and pliable, and also helps it to retain its original position when pinched. In fact, turmeric, in vitro, may inhibit elastase by up to 65%.

Red Grape Juice:- Grapes and grape juice contain alpha hydroxy acids that help to make skin wrinkle free and smooth. Alpha hydroxyl acids in grapes are useful in removing surface scars as well.

Gingko Biloba:-Ginkgo’s antioxidant properties neutralize the free radicals that can damage proteins within the cell, enzymes, or the fragile lipid membranes that surround and protect the cell. The leaves of the ginkgo tree contain flavonoids and turpenoids – types of antioxidants which make it one of the best natural anti-aging supplements.

Hop plant: – Hops are also great if you have mature skin as it helps to balance moisture levels in the skin. Hops inhibit the elastase enzyme that is responsible for causing cross-linking in collagen. When our collagen is cross-linked, it breaks down, and the signs of aging gradually emerge.

Fennel: – It has powerful antiaging properties that will protect both skin and hair from premature aging. Fennel contains super-antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, all of which are known to have properties effective at protecting the skin from environmental stressors.

Fenugreek:-The seeds are a rich source of vitamin B3 and niacin that helps in recovering the damaged skin cells and promotes the regeneration of new cells and tissues that help in lightening age spots, hyper pigmentation wrinkles, fine lines and crow’s feet that form on the forehead, at corner of eyes and lips.

Aloe Vera: – It functions as an effective natural remedy for pimples and acne and reducing excessive oiliness of skin. Malic acid present in aloe vera gel improves skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles and fine lines- the most evident signs of skin aging. Zinc present in the gel increases the youthfulness of skin by shrinking the pores whereas mucopolysaccharides – long chain sugar molecules present in the gel helps in retaining moisture and improves formation of collagen – the protein that forms the basis of cell structure and maintains skin elasticity.

Banana: – This fruit is loaded with skin benefitting nutrients such as potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C and vitamin E that makes it a complete remedy for all skin problems. It helps in hydrating and moisturizing dry skin, improving collagen production, skin elasticity and suppleness and fighting the damage causing free radicals and oxidative stress to provide a flawless and younger looking skin and adds a healthy glow to it.

Almonds:- Almonds are loaded with nutrients such as vitamin E, iron, zinc, folic acid and oleic acid that function as powerful antioxidants which prevent the degeneration of collagen fibers of skin and delay the aging process by treating wrinkles and fine lines.

Avocados:-It acts as a nourishing moisturizer for excessive dry skin that also helps in repairing damaged cells and promotes the regeneration of new cells. The antioxidants and amino acids present in this exotic fruit flushes out toxins from skin and prevents premature skin aging.

Pineapple Juice: – Pineapple juice is also effective for preventing premature aging. Being loaded with antioxidants such as potassium and vitamin C, pineapple juice helps in neutralizing the harmful effects of free radicals and oxidative stress of cells thus preventing premature aging of skin. It also helps in improving skin tone and correcting uneven skin tone, dark patches, age spots and hyper pigmentation.

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 […]