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June 14, 2022 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 2 Comments

Is Blood Donation Really That Important?

Priyanka struggled to get blood for her father who was undergoing a surgery. The blood bank did not have her father’s blood type. As things got tougher, she tried to get in touch with other blood banks but none of them had it. In fact, she was ready to pay, but the blood banks did not have the blood type! Time was running out. She also started getting in touch with her friends but to no avail. Her friends all refused to donate blood due to their preconceived notions and myths.

Due to the shortage of blood, within a few hours, Priyanka lost her father. While she was inconsolable, what shattered her completely was the fact that in India, a country with such a large population, she could not garner enough blood for him, even though every human possesses it.

Timely, affordable access to screened blood is essential to the provision of safe surgical care. This depends on three key aspects:

Adequate volume of blood supply
Safe protocols for blood donation and transfusion
Appropriate regulation to ensure safe, equitable and sustainable distribution.

Different medical procedures require different components of blood. However, due to the lack of facilities, much of it goes to waste. Many low-income and middle-income countries experience a deficit in these categories, particularly in rural areas. This is coupled with lack of donor awareness and information.

The WHO recommends that the blood requirement of 1% of a country’s population be used as a ballpark estimate of its blood needs. By this measure, India was short of 1.9 million units of blood according to the data presented on March 2018.

One requires blood transfusions in various emergencies like women with complications during childbirth, anemia, accidents, complex medical surgeries, patient with thalassemia, sickle cell disease or it is also used to make clotting factors for people with hemophilia. Among other issues coupled with low donor rate, the blood banks in India face a crisis of blood almost every year.

Physical Benefits of Blood Donation

1. Lower Risk of Heart Disease: Blood donation may lower the risk of heart disease and heart attack since it reduces the blood’s viscosity. It also significantly lowers the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, protecting against cardiovascular disease. Researchers note this is consistent with findings in other studies which found that blood donors had a lower risk of heart disease and heart attack.

According to a study, donating blood regularly may also lower iron stores which may reduce the risk of heart attack. The risk of heart attacks increase when the body stores a lot of iron.

2. Donating blood is an opportunity to get a basic health checkup done for free since the technician checks your:

Pulse
Blood pressure
Body temperature
Hemoglobin levels

This is an insight into your health! The blood is also checked for:

Hepatitis C
HIV
West Nile virus
Syphilis
Trypanosoma cruzi

Psychological Benefits

Donating blood has a feel good factor. It tends to improve one’s emotional well being. Hence, it might have an impact on stress reduction and providing a sense of belonging

Side Effects of Donating Blood

Post donating blood, one might feel

Nauseous, lightheaded or dizzy after donating blood. This usually settles in a few minutes
There might be slight bleeding at the site of the pick, or you might develop a bruise. I believe it is all good since it is for a wonderful cause!

However, get in touch with a doctor or your blood center if you:

Still feel lightheaded, dizzy, or nauseous after drinking, eating, and resting
Develop a raised bump or continue bleeding at the needle site
Experience arm pain, numbness, or tingling

Where to Donate Blood

I personally suggest citizens to donate blood at a blood bank or nearby government run tertiary health centers. Otherwise, get in touch with Red Cross centers near your house and donate! Avoid donating at generic blood camps since one is not sure of the storage procedures. But ensure that you do donate!

People’s lives are usually at stake just because of myths people have on donating blood. Priyanka’s friends, even though educated, did not understand the importance of blood donation! Donating blood is giving the gift of life. As a human being, it is the duty of every person to donate blood at least once a year as a service to mankind! The decision to donate your blood can save a life, or even several if your blood is separated into its components — red cells, platelets and plasma — which can be used individually for patients with specific conditions.

May 31, 2022 By GOQii 2 Comments

11 Real Reasons Why Tobacco is Bad!

LUNG CANCER! MOUTH CANCER! THROAT CANCER!

When we talk about smoking or chewing tobacco, the only thing that pops up is cancer. And now, we also have COVID-19 on this list which directly attacks your lungs! Apart from all of this, we have also heard about tobacco use causing COPD, heart disease, strokes and what not! Yet, smokers and tobacco chewers seem almost immune, if not indestructible as they continue to use tobacco day after day.

Maybe these conditions are extremes that arise after addictive, prolonged use of the substance. After all, we have all heard of that one grandpa who lived his entire life disease-free despite burning through a packet a day or that one aunt who is healthy despite smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Just because the effects aren’t immediate, doesn’t mean they are nonexistent.

While no amount of reasoning will help a tobacco user quit unless they choose to, here are some very real reasons why quitting tobacco today will be the best health move you can make!

1. Problems with Immunity

Consuming tobacco makes you more prone to infections by reducing immunity and depressing antibodies that fight infections. This results in body aches, pains and in severe cases, may result in rheumatoid arthritis.

2. Digestive Disorders

The digestive system converts food into nutrients which are supplied to various parts of your body. This ability is hindered upon tobacco consumption. A person may experience digestive issues such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, crohn’s disease (inflammation of the intestines) and may even form gallstones. Quitting will improve digestive health drastically!

3. Disturbed Sleep

Consuming tobacco products affects one’s sleep cycle causing sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea or wakefulness. Quitting will improve your sleep quality and reduce sleeping disorders.

4. Fertility Issues

This is a big one! Both men and women who consume tobacco may face fertility issues. Men’s sperm and Women’s egg get damaged due to the harmful chemicals present in tobacco. The DNA present in the sperm and the egg also get affected, resulting in an unhealthy baby or a baby with cleft lips or cleft palate. If you are trying to conceive, quitting 3 months prior will help a lot!

5. Eye Problems and Blindness

Did you know that tobacco consumption can cause blindness? The nicotine present in tobacco causes AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) where a person loses central vision making it difficult to see and read things. Cataract is also common in people who consume tobacco. The retina is also affected which results in blindness.

6. Buerger’s Disease

This disease is common in people using tobacco products. In the beginning, the arms and legs tend to become cold followed by pain in the legs, ankles and feet due to the thickening of blood vessels. In severe cases, ulcers are also noticed on the hands and feet. If infection due to the ulcers spread inside the arms and feet, doctors may advise amputation. There is no cure for this disease, and the only way to prevent this is by quitting tobacco products. Ouch!

7. It Cripples Your Sense of Smell and Taste

Tobacco consumption damages the sense of smell and the taste buds. Smell and Taste are connected to each other by a channel present at the roof of the throat to the nose. Without the sense of Smell, your food may turn tasteless. Blood vessels of Taste buds are also affected making your food less palatable. Quitting may help you enjoy your meals more!

8. Effect on Skin, Nails and Teeth

The harmful chemicals present in tobacco stain fingernails and the teeth of a user making them look yellowish. It is also an enemy of the skin as it makes you look older than your age. Quitting may help you look younger and retain the brighter side of your teeth and nails.

9. Loss of Hearing

Tobacco consumers are more likely to face hearing problems like tinnitus (ringing in ears) as nicotine results in narrowing of blood vessels present in the body. It also affects nerves present in the inner ear and also the neurotransmitter responsible for identifying noises. This makes you more sensitive to loud noises and more prone to noise related hearing loss.

10. Baldness

Toxins present in tobacco harm hair follicles, causing hair loss. It may also damage melanin, resulting in premature greying. Quitting tobacco reduces hair damage or hair loss to a very large extent.

11. Wound Healing

Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels. As a result, blood supply to body parts decrease and makes it difficult for a wound to heal.

Apart from these reasons, your social life can get affected too as many people find the smell of chewing tobacco and cigarette smoke very repulsive! Clear the smoke and wipe the stains of an unhealthy lifestyle to breathe the freshness of a healthy one!

Was this article helpful? Did we miss out on anything? Let us know in the comments below! If you have trouble quitting, reach out to a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more on living healthy, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce

May 26, 2022 By Madhu Soni Leave a Comment

6 Foods That Help Reduce Acid Reflux

Ever felt that burning sensation in your chest after a big meal or when you eat after a long gap? That feeling is known as acid reflux. Acid reflux is a condition where the acid content of the stomach flows up to the esophagus and pushes the food out from the mouth.

This is often called a heartburn but has nothing to do with the heart. One of the major reasons for this condition is a weak lower esophageal sphincter – which acts like a valve to prevent the food in the stomach from going back to the food pipe. Besides this, other factors contributing are excessive caffeine intakes, erratic meal patterns, eating in large portions, excessive junk food, sleeping immediately after meals and obesity, etc.

How Can You Reduce Acid Reflux?

Modifying our diet is the easiest way to reduce acid reflux. Try these simple and easily available foods from your kitchen to get some relief.

1. Fruits
Alkaline food will help to reduce the backflow of acid and fruits are the best example. Fruits like bananas, watermelon, pomegranate and cantaloupe help to neutralize the acid content and numb the effects of reflux. Banana is a natural antacid. The high fiber content of fruits helps to improve the digestion and ward off indigestion.

2. Herbal tea
Herbal tea with ginger, licorice, mint and Tulsi [Holy Basil] helps to curb acidity. Ginger has anti inflammatory properties and along with Mint leaves, stimulates the digestive system to produce more bile for better digestion. Ginger has the capability to destroy the acidity triggering pylori bacteria. Licorice is said to increase the mucus lining on the esophagus and thus have a calm effect on the stomach. Tulsi leaves are a natural cure for acidity and burning sensation in the stomach.

3. Curd & Buttermilk
Curd is a probiotic which help in digestion and has a soothing effect on the stomach. It keeps discomfort at bay. Being a good source of protein it helps digest the food and boost the immune system.

Cold buttermilk is a good antidote for acidity. The good bacteria in buttermilk helps in digesting the food well and prevents bloating and gas formation which eventually leads to acid reflux. Adding a pinch of jeera powder and pepper makes it more beneficial.

4. Coconut Water
One of the lesser known reasons for acid reflux is less intake of water. Sipping on coconut water is a great way to stay hydrated. Coconut water is rich in potassium which regulates the pH balance crucial for acid reflux. Having coconut water daily helps to reduce bloating drastically.

5. Aloe Vera
The antibacterial compounds of Aloe Vera fight the bad bacteria in the digestive system which cause bloating and belching. The bad bacteria present not only weaken the digestive system but also reduces the digestion ability of the body. Aloe Vera juice and gels work very well on acid reflux condition. Aloe Vera soft gel and powder can also be tried.

6. Lemon Water
Although lemons are acidic in nature, they have an alkaline effect on the stomach and help in neutralizing the acid and thus reduce acid reflux. For better results, replace the sugar with rock salt in the lemon water and feel instant relief. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C, which help fight infection and boost immunity.

Was this article helpful? Do you have your own home remedy? Want to know more? Drop us your thoughts and queries in the comments below!

For more tips on how to reduce acid reflux, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized health coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce

May 24, 2022 By Divya Thampi 1 Comment

Making Sense of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood mental disorders in our society. Hence, let’s start with what Schizophrenia is NOT:

It is not split personality or multiple personality disorder
People dealing with schizophrenia are not “Mad”
A vast majority of them are not violent and do not pose a threat to others

With that out of the way,

Let’s Understand What Schizophrenia Is:

It is a major psychotic illness that impacts thoughts, feelings and behavior of individuals. Schizophrenia is in fact, an umbrella like diagnosis used for categorizing a wide range of symptoms, all of which may or may not be experienced by people with this condition.

The experience of schizophrenia is unique to each person. It impacts about 1.1% of the world population i.e. about 51 million people worldwide and symptoms generally start showing up during adolescence or early adulthood.

The Symptoms Include:

Social withdrawal: The person may avoid spending time with others and may prefer being alone.
Loss of Interest & Enthusiasm: There may be reduced sense of enjoyment. Things and activities that used to interest them may no longer give them pleasure.
Disorganized Thinking: Here, the individual switches from one track of thought to another abruptly and without warning. This may seem bizarre and illogical to the listener, and is one of the defining features of schizophrenia.
Delusions: These are beliefs and impressions that seem disconnected with reality. For example, the person may believe that they are part of royalty or in a position of power with special abilities, or that people are plotting revenge against them, or that a catastrophe is about to occur, or that someone is in love with them.
Hallucination: This refers to seeing or hearing things that don’t exist, but for the person experiencing it, it feels very real and vivid. While it could involve the sense of sight, hearing or smell, the most common hallucinations include hearing voices speaking, murmuring or whispering.
Emotional Blunting: This refers to reduced expression of emotion on face, speech and bodily movements. It may appear that there is reduced interest and personal warmth in the individual dealing with schizophrenia.
Cognitive problems: They may have difficulty focusing on any one thing for longer durations and may quickly lose interest when someone is speaking to them. They may forget to do routine things which most of us take for granted and the lack of attention could impact their performance at work, studies and other areas.

Like mentioned earlier, people dealing with Schizophrenia may experience some of the symptoms and may not experience others. Also, the frequency and severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. There may be psychotic episodes where the severity of the symptoms may be more and continue to be severe for the duration of the episode.

The exact cause of schizophrenia has not yet been established. Studies indicate that a combination of genetics, environmental factors and brain chemistry contributes to the development of the disorder.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder that requires life-long management, just like in the case of diabetes and blood pressure. While there is no known cure for it, with the right treatment, symptoms can be managed and the individual can lead an independent, productive and meaningful life.

Early diagnosis, the right treatment and adhering to the treatment plan, go a long way in helping people manage the symptoms and live a functional life. A psychiatrist is qualified to diagnose the disorder and treatment is generally a combination of medication and therapy. In many cases the impacted individual may not have the insight that the changes in their behavior are due to a disorder and the family may have to take the initiative to take them for a diagnosis and treatment.

However, the stereotypes about this disorder compounded by the stigma around mental illnesses, often prevent families from reaching out for help, thus aggravating the condition. The impact of the ignorance of this illness is obvious in the statistics which show that 1 out of 10 people who deal with schizophrenia commit suicide and 4 out of 10, at the least attempt suicide.

Being aware of the diagnosis of schizophrenia can be deeply distressing for the individual and they require a supportive environment for recovery. Due to fear, ignorance or awkwardness, friends, family members and others, may be overcautious or insensitive to people who may be dealing with the disorder.

If you have a colleague, friend or a known person who is dealing with the condition, educate yourself about the condition, talk to them, treat them normally and also let them know that you are there to help and support them. The illness can cause the individual to become socially withdrawn and isolated, hence it is important for them to have contact and connection with others.

Initiating conversations with the individuals dealing with schizophrenia, whether it is purely to discuss practicalities or for fostering a connection, is critical for them to be able to lead a normal life and overcome isolation.