Lockdown Tips To Take Care of UR Skin Health
01
Follow UR Daily Skin Routine
With almost everything closed for four months and not an open salon in sight, our skin care and daily routine has really taken a hit. Our sleeping patterns and eating habits are just not the same anymore. All of these affect not only UR mind, body and UR skin too! We can use a few simple tips in our daily routine to avoid the impact on our skin. Gently wash UR face with products which are suitable for UR skin type. Moisturizers must be applied every time you wash UR face, even if UR skin is oily. Ask UR dermatologist or skin specialist to suggest the most suitable skin care routine you can follow. Exfoliators are optional and should be used only once or twice a week.
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02
Circadian Rhythm
Being isolated during lockdown has brought challenges to almost every household, and many people say that their regular daily routine has been completely disrupted. Not having a daily routine can lead to anxiety and unnecessary stress on UR body. Eating healthily, sleeping well and staying active are all recommended during the lockdown. Maintaining a consistent sleep and meal pattern is key to improving UR health, which in turn will eventually reflect on UR skin health.
03
Balanced Nutrition
Healthy diet tips to improve your skin during lockdown include reducing alcohol intake and eating the rainbow diet. Avoid sugary drinks and caffeine and drink plenty of plain or infused water to hydrate your skin. Vitamin C-rich foods provide antioxidants needed for glowing and radiant skin. Eating the right nutritious foods can also boost your immunity, improve digestion, gut health and help you lose weight.
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04
Be In Touch With UR Doctor
Sometimes, people suffering from skin issues wait for a long time before getting proper medical care or attention. Using many products to treat the symptoms without knowing the underlying cause also redefine UR skin's health. Nipping a problem before you experience the full-blown symptoms does help.
05
Stay Happy
Some wrinkles or implacable blemishes can put you in a bitter mood. But it turns out that a bad mood could be the cause of wrinkles and scars, too. This is because negative emotions like stress release cortisol in UR body. All this fluctuated in UR hormone levels and showing up on your face. On the other hand, just as negativity can wreak havoc on your skin, positive emotions can help improve your skin. And the best part is that positive emotion increases your skin's ability to repair and renew itself naturally!
Staying happy will definitely keep UR hormones in check, which means that pesky imbalances that may be the major cause of skin problems will no more be a problem. And to top it all off, some research also suggests that people who smile or laugh more often tend to look younger, as a result.
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4-Step Skin Regime
While you cannot avoid little zits and breakouts once in a while as UR body adjusts itself, a good skincare regime can see you through the toughest skin phase of UR life. As a teenager, UR skincare regime is different from UR mom’s. It’s much simpler, and you do not need a cupboard full of beauty potions. UR skincare routine should be about proper cleansing and protecting UR skin’s natural oil and moisture balance. It is a good idea to invest in a good cleanser and moisturizer meant for younger skin. Avoid using creams meant for UR mother, as they are formulated to handle older skin, which is very different from a young person’s skin. Here's a 4-step skin routine perfect for lockdown! Step 1 Use a gentle foaming cleanser that will remove makeup and excess oil but won’t dry out UR skin. Once a week, you can try a mild exfoliator to remove tanning and dull skin. Step 2 For daytime, use a light moisturizer that contains sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection. Or pick up a broad-spectrum sunscreen. If you suffer from acne, then do some spot treatments with salicylic acid. Look for hydrating creams with some skin brightening optical illusion properties in them that brightens UR skin immediately and doubles up as makeup. Step 3: If you have irregular sleep cycles and spend a lot of nights staying up, then add an antioxidant like vitamin C and Omega fatty acids to UR diet as well as UR skincare regime. You can look for creams with pomegranate, grape seed extracts, amla or Indian gooseberry, or vitamin C and Coq10. You can pick a serum to use under UR sunscreen or makeup. Try some face packs on UR day off to pep up UR skin and give it that little extra pampering it needs. Step 4: At night, after washing UR face, you can apply a hydrating mask or a layer of UR cream or moisturizer. Clean off before you hit the bed.
The ABC Of Hypertension
You May Develop Hypertension Without Knowing. What Are The signs? Hypertension or High blood pressure occurs when UR blood pressure increases to unhealthy levels. UR blood pressure reading takes into account how much blood is passing through UR blood vessels and the measure of resistance that blood meets while pumping the heart. Hypertension develops for quite a long while. Initially, you don’t notice any symptoms. But even without symptoms, high blood pressure causes damage to UR blood vessels and organs, especially the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys. Early detection is essential. Signs of Hypertension ● shortness of breath ● nosebleeds ● visual changes ● dizziness ● headaches ● chest pain ● blood in the urine ● flushing What causes high blood pressure? There are two types of hypertension. Primary hypertension Primary hypertension is also called essential hypertension. ● Genes: Some individuals are genetically inclined to hypertension. This might be from gene mutations or genetic abnormalities inherited from UR parents. ● Physical changes: If something in UR body transforms, you may begin experiencing issues all through UR body. Hypertension might be one of those issues. For instance, it’s thought that changes in your kidney function due to ageing may upset the body’s balance of salts and fluid. This change may cause UR body’s blood pressure to increase. ● Environment: Over time, unfortunately, lifestyle choices like lack of physical activity and poor diet can take their toll on UR body. Lifestyle choices can lead to weight problems. Being overweight or obese can increase UR risk of hypertension. Secondary hypertension Secondary hypertension usually occurs quickly and can become more severe than primary hypertension. This includes: ● obstructive sleep apnea ● adrenal gland problems ● congenital heart defects ● kidney disease ● use of illegal drugs ● side effects of medications ● problems with UR thyroid ● alcohol abuse or chronic use Diagnosis Diagnosing hypertension is simple as it depends on taking a blood pressure reading. Most doctors’ workplaces check blood pressure as part of a routine visit. If you don’t get a blood pressure reading at UR next appointment, request one. If UR blood pressure remains high, UR doctor will likely conduct more tests to rule out underlying conditions. These tests can include: ● ultrasound of your heart or kidneys ● cholesterol screening and other blood tests ● electrocardiogram (ECG) ● urine test Home remedies for hypertension Healthy lifestyle changes will help you control the risk factors that cause hypertension. Here are some of the common home remedies. ● Increasing physical activity ● Developing a healthy diet ● Managing stress ● A healthy weight ● Adopting a clean lifestyle High blood pressure during pregnancy Women with hypertension may deliver healthy babies despite having the condition. But it can be hazardous to both mother and baby if it’s not monitored and managed during the pregnancy. Women with high blood pressure are bound to develop complications. For example, pregnant women with hypertension may encounter decreased kidney function. Babies born to mothers who have hypertension may have a low birth weight or conceived prematurely. Preeclampsia In a few cases, pregnant women with hypertension can develop preeclampsia during their pregnancy. This condition of increased blood pressure which causes kidney and other organ complications. This condition results in high protein levels in the urine, problems with liver function, fluid in the lungs, or visual problems. Monitor UR blood pressure regularly. The best way to avoid complications and problems is to analyze hypertension early. You can go to UR doctor’s office for a blood pressure reading, or you can purchase a blood pressure cuff and take periodical readings at home. Keep a log of UR blood pressure readings and take it to UR regular doctor appointments. This can help UR doctor see any possible problems before the condition advances.
Dil Ka Doctor
We often forget that our hearts are not just made for falling in love. They help us stay alive and healthy too. All of us know the secrets to a healthy and strong heart lie in the positive changes we make in our lifestyle – a balanced diet and regular exercise can go a long way. But then, how many times have we really applied this to our lives? Keeping that in mind, we may know that binging on junk food isn’t the best choice for our health, but we still go ahead and dig into that bucket of fried chicken! To set things straight, we have Dr Sai Satish, Apollo Hospitals’ Dil-ka-doctor who shares his personal experiences, fitness mantras and tips on how we can come out stronger and healthier during, and after this pandemic. So, let the heart games begin! Rapid Fire with Dr Sai Satish What is UR diet like? The simple thing is to eat as many meals as you can in a day. Eat just enough to feel good at the moment, but make you feel hungry after two hours. This is my trick to keep the metabolism fully-fired. Dr Sai Satish’s Diet As soon as I wake up (7 am): 5 almonds soaked in water overnight Breakfast (8 am): 3 - 4 idlis with ghee, sambar or nallakaram Mid-morning snack (2 hrs later – 10 am): Tender coconut water with the meat of the coconut Lunch (1 pm): 2 fistfuls of rice and 1 fistful of meat or veggies Evening snack (5 pm): Murukku with green tea Dinner (7 pm): Curd rice with omelette and sabji on the side Five Fab Indian Foods We Must Eat For A Healthy-Heart Most of our wisdom has already been passed down to us from our ancestors. We have fabulous indigenous foods high in antioxidants. You’d be surprised to know that ghee is now emerging as a super-food! Five Heart-Healthy Indian Foods Ghee Garlic Turmeric Ginger Onion Bonus: Once a week, try and eat every color you see in nature The basic rule is to eat what you are used to eating. Eat what your grandparents and parents have been telling you to eat. The “Indian Thali” is a fabulous meal! It has 50% of grains, 35% of meats & veggies and 15% of papads & pickles. To me, this is the perfect recipe for good digestion. Many people have a misconception that if they ate like this, they would become fat. It’s a myth! Your lean body mass is your greatest asset, so your goal should be to increase it (muscle and bone density). Your muscle is your most efficient fat burning machine. Eat what you’re comfortable eating as your primary food. For example, if you are used to eating rotis, then eat rotis. If you are used to eating rice, then eat rice. There is no point in demonizing rice or roti. You don’t need to switch to or add fancy foods like kale. However, if your grandparents ate burgers, you should be more conscious and mindful by choosing the healthy foods your grandparents should have eaten, minus the burgers! Food Myths That Affect UR Heart Myth: Eating too much rice is bad for you! Fact: No. Rice is a fabulous source of carbohydrates. If you are used to eating rice, it’s not bad for you. Let’s take ghee as an example. People have demonized ghee as an unhealthy fat for years. Today, ghee has emerged as a super-food, as I said earlier. It has so many amino acids, and it’s good for UR heart as well. Like the Indian maxim goes, anything in excess, even if it’s amrutam (elixir of life) is poison. Is drinking a glass of wine good for your heart? Any form of alcohol is bad for you. But I like my alcohol. There! I’ve said it! Bear in mind that with moderation, one can drink alcohol and still be out of harm’s way. The younger UR, the more relaxed you can afford to be. I call it “The Rule Of Tens.” There are things that you can do in UR ’20-’30s, which you shouldn’t do when UR 30-40, and 40-50. By 50, you should give-up drinking so you can reach a glorious 100. There’s a beautiful study on habits that made people centenarians, and giving up alcohol is one of them. If UR used to drinking one glass of wine or 30 ml of whisky every day, I don’t think it will harm you. It may help you relax, but not many of us are people with enough discipline to control our urges and temptations. We go partying and end up having a few drinks (myself included!). My logic used to be that if I have to drink only 30ml of alcohol, I would rather not drink at all. My favorite thing was telling people, as a cardiologist, I have the right to prescribe alcohol. I’ll prescribe you UR drinks. Why has that changed now? When you start working out, you realize that alcohol slows down muscle building and protein synthesis. The key for you to stay slim and look healthy is to have lean muscle. For UR body to build muscle, you workout. We are all aware of that beautiful pain after our workout sessions. This signifies the damage you have done to muscle fibers (by working out) that your body will now have to repair using protein, and alcohol slows this process of rebuilding drastically. So, what I do is, the day I drink, I don’t exercise, and I don’t exercise the day after that either. Ever since I’ve started following this, I’ve had zero injuries. The quarantine period is not a holiday period, so for anyone who is drinking every day, I strongly advise them to cut down or stop. What are the COVID protocols that you, as a doctor, are maintaining at home? I haven’t caught a cold in ten years! It’s because I follow two simple rules: I never touch my face with my hands I never touch or eat any food without my hands being washed or sanitized No matter what I’m doing, my hands will never touch my face, and I never catch a cold. So, it is just a little extension of that with COVID. The first thing I did at home is, Informed all my staff to stay in-house and assured them that I would look after them the best I can. No going home and coming back. Whoever could work in-house stayed. Those who couldn’t be returned to their respective homes. Only necessary people can come inside the house. A virus is most deadly when it is new. We are all going to become COVID positive at some point, but the later we become COVID positive, the healthier we can be. So, the trick is to stay away from the virus as long as you can. Restrict and limit yourself in the beginning so that you can ease off towards the end. The government is doing a fabulous job, and we just have to run with it. 5 Symptoms Of A Heart attack/ Stroke Globally the number of heart attacks has come down. Multiple things have made this possible. People are less stressed, they are staying at home, smoking less, eating healthy food, and they have become more mindful because they are home. So, the global heart attack rate has dropped drastically across the country. Coming back to UR question, the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke can be varied and diverse. Tightness in UR chest, like someone, has forcefully put their knee on UR chest and you can’t get it off. Choking sensation in UR throat Sweating and lightheadedness Pain radiating in UR left arm Jaw pain Nothing is typical today. It is better to treat any uneasiness/symptoms like it’s a heart attack than ignore it. To avoid going to the hospital because COVID might kill you, for a heart attack that will definitely kill you, is stupidity. We, at hospitals, are more mindful of COVID than you are as a patient. We all want one less COVID patient to treat, so we are all the more careful that you don’t fall sick. If you are in doubt, don’t take a group of people to the hospital. Go with one person and get yourself checked. Treat any uneasiness in the chest like a heart attack, rather than treating it as a gastric issue. Better to be safe than sorry. What should the patient or a family member do in case of an emergency? If there is an emergency at home, don’t wait or waste time. If you have someone who can drive, and if you feel you will reach the hospital faster than an ambulance, then get into the car and make UR way to the hospital. The key is to make it to the hospital you trust. Don’t do or give the patient anything, because they can choke on water or if you give them Sorbitrate, it might drop her/his blood pressure. Just get UR family member to the hospital ASAP. That is the only mantra I want you to remember – single-minded focus to get to the ER in the hospital. If unfortunately, the person stops breathing then give the patient 50 - 60 compressions on their chest every 30 seconds until you reach the hospital. If you have an AED machine in the house and know how to use it, try and revive the person. This machine doesn’t cost much, and it is good to have in the house if there are senior citizens living there. But the key, as I’ve said before, is to get the patient to the hospital. Why is it important for doctors to be on social media? My passion is to make sure as many people as possible DO NOT need me! To put it simply, all the technology and infrastructure which has been built and all the skills I’ve mastered over the years should be made redundant by looking after UR health. I want you to become more conscious about making yourself healthy, rather than seeking a better expert to look after you when you are sick. This can only be achieved by reaching out to the greatest number of people possible in a day, and that’s what social media does for me. No matter how hard I work, I can only see a limited number of people at the hospital. 5 simple rules of life The less you eat, the longer you live The more you walk, the longer you live The more you laugh, the longer you live Sleep at least 7-8 hours a day And go for a health check every year Carve out 10 minutes in a day for something that you love and enjoy doing the most. Take that time to read a Tinkle or an Astrix comic. Meet friends at least once a week. So many studies say that the people who meet friends regularly live longer than the people who don’t. Make good friends and once a year, don’t forget to get a health check. Check UR sugar, blood pressure and stay healthy. Did you know that 70 percent of all diseases which can kill you are in UR hands to prevent? Don’t worry about the things you can’t change, like if UR Indian you will die sooner or if UR a diabetic UR going to die sooner. Boohoo, so what? Change what you can. Stop smoking. Laugh, eat right, workout and have fun! Are doctors insecure about nutritionists and can doctors prescribe diets? I have no business prescribing a diet. But, what I can tell you to do is that you have to eat right. If you have someone who is dedicated to teaching you how to eat right, then they’re making my job easier! I should be grateful to them and not feel threatened. There is no place on this planet anymore for insecure doctors. You, as a patient or as a concerned loved one, have the right for a second opinion. If UR doctor is insecure about it, then you may need to change UR doctor. It is UR, birthright. Every doctor should realize - the biggest honor anyone can do is bring someone they love and hand them over to you for care. UR not doing a patient any favors and there is no room for insecurity. If a nutritionist is making your job easy, you should tip your hat to her/him and thank them, instead of disagreeing with them. As a doctor, my job is to heal people from diseases, and a nutritionist’s job is to help people stay healthy. The key is to hold a nutritionist hand-in-hand and walk the grey areas. Not compete for that place. You (nutritionists) fix everybody, so they don’t come to me (cardiologist), and if they slip by you, then I will take care of them. That’s how I look at it!
Easy Ways You Can Care For UR Hands During COVID-19
We all know that one way of protecting ourselves from the tricky coronavirus is to keep washing our hands with sanitizer or soap, stay indoors and follow other safety measures. One thing all these precautions have in common is that they all require us to touch, wash, clean and move things with our hands. So, scrubbing them several times a day can take a toll on them, making them rough and flaky in texture. You might have also noticed that there are many places on UR body where UR skin varies in texture and thickness, like around UR eyes, neck, lips and the back of UR hands. This is why all these areas need proper care, especially, UR hands. Usually the skin on the back of our hands is thin and lacks any oil glands; in other words, it gets dry and wrinkles faster. Along with dryness, even our nails become brittle, chip or break easily. Here are some fab home remedies which you can DIY! Ways You Can Take Care Of UR Hands Needless to say, it is important to protect UR hands by wearing rubber gloves while doing house chores which may involve washing, gardening, dusting or wiping. After washing UR hands make sure to lather on some hand cream under and around UR nails, massage the front and back of UR hands at night with a good nourishing cream. This is the area prone to early wrinkling. Work down each finger, starting from the tip. Use tiny circular movements on the joints of the fingers. Massage the back of the hand, using strokes moving from the fingers towards the wrist. Fab DIY’s To Keep Ur Hands Soft, Smooth And Healthy For dry hands and nails Mix one tablespoon of almond oil with one tablespoon sesame seed (til) oil and one teaspoon wheat germ oil Apply daily and massage it into the skin Massage around the nails too, in order to soften the cuticles For dry hands Warm some milk and soak your hands in it for ten minutes. To soften the skin and remove tan from UR hands Hand scrub Take half a handful of sugar in UR palm (or in a container), and add lemon juice Mix everything for a minute and apply this mixture on the back of UR hands and gently rub UR hands clockwise and anticlockwise for five-seven minutes on each hand for best results Rinse UR hands with water and moisturize Sunflower oil finger soak Take two tablespoons sunflower oil, two tablespoons lemon juice and three tablespoons Coarse sugar. Mix together till it becomes a paste Apply and rub into hands Wash UR hands after 15 minutes. Do this three times a week Tan remover Take fresh orange peels, pierce them with a fork Rub the peels on the hands to brighten them Remedies for cleansing, softening and tightening UR skin Facepack Choker (wheat bran) and besan (gram flour) mix with turmeric and milk into a paste and apply it on UR hands Wash UR hands after 20 minutes For nail skin softening Mix almond oil and honey in equal parts in a small cup Massage this concoction on UR nails, cuticles and the skin under and over UR fingers and toes For dry nails Warm any vegetable oil and soak fingers in it for ten minutes Wipe UR fingers with a moist towel DIY for dry nails Mix three tablespoons of rose water, two tablespoons of lemon juice and one tablespoon of glycerin Apply this mixture on UR hands and feet Leave it on for 30 minutes A luxurious overnight treatment for UR hands Take four teaspoons of almond oil, add one tablespoon of rose water Now add half-a-teaspoon of tincture benzoin, drop-by-drop Mix everything together and apply this mixture on UR hands Wear loose cotton socks on the hands and leave it on overnight Remove the cotton socks and rinse your hands with plain water in the morning Bath time is also appropriate for pampering the hands and supplying them with the oil and moisturizing they need. Before your bath, apply warmed oil on the hands and massage it into the skin. This helps to soften the skin. You can use coconut oil, which is very nourishing. Or use pure almond oil. Immediately, after your bath, apply a moisturizing lotion or cream, while the skin is still damp. This helps to seal in moisture. Before bath treatment for hands & full body Twice a week, have a pre-bath treatment by mixing powdered almonds with curd and a pinch of turmeric Apply it on UR hands or full body After 15 minutes, rub the paste gently on UR skin and wash it with water The 5-Step Manicure First, remove old nail polish with a remover. To cut nails, use a nail clipper. Then shape them with an emery board. File in one direction only for uniformity. Soak UR hands in a small bowl of warm water for 5 minutes after adding a few drops of shampoo. Use a soft brush to clean nails. Wash UR hands, then apply cream and massage UR nails and skin. Push UR cuticles back gently using a cotton bud. Keep them soft and smooth. Otherwise, it will stick to UR nail and get dragged as the nail grows. Avoid cutting cuticles or cleaning nails with sharp instruments. Use a cotton bud to clean under UR nails. Then apply the nail polish, using three-long smooth strokes, from the base of the nails to the tip. Use two coats of UR desired colour for an even finish. A few almonds are eaten daily, make the nails strong. Try these DIY remedies and let us know how they work for you!
How To Make Compost At Home With Kitchen Waste ?
There are so many things that we buy and have no clue how to dispose them properly. Taking the pandemic into account, so many people are buying masks right now, but do they know how to dispose a mask properly? Unfortunately no, and all of this is going to end up in our landfills polluting our precious environment. But, what if I told you that you could make a positive impact on the planet simply by learning how to manage waste properly. From making compost from UR kitchen waste to learning how to manage waste, we have it all covered for you. So, let's work together to stop this endless cycle of garbage! The components of waste could be many things starting from dry waste, packaging, bottles, kitchen waste, hazardous waste (like broken bottles) and other plastics. These components of waste are so vast that when all these various forms of unwanted waste/garbage are combined and picked up by the municipality. With the unavailability of waste management facilities or proper protocols, this waste ends up being dumped in a landfill or in water bodies. The way I look at it is that, until we understand what these landfills can do to our environment, we will not take action to contribute to a better future for our planet. How Landfills Affect Our Environment? Compressed garbage mountains in the landfills are considered to be more harmful than carbon dioxide. It was life-changing when I visited a landfill and saw the impact myself. 60 per cent of biodegradable waste is from our kitchen. It is broken down anaerobically in the landfills, as it is constantly being compressed and this process emits methane. This is one of the deadliest gases, and is considered to be 20x worse than carbon dioxide. We contribute to the greenhouse gases once we discharge kitchen waste out of our homes. It could be in a lake, river, ocean or it's in a plastic cover and a cow could be eating it. So, we really don't know where our garbage ends up! Did you know that Bengaluru produces 4,500 tonnes of garbage/waste everyday? My waste is my responsibility. This is why I chose to live sustainably and not be a burden on the planet. I do my bit by making compost, disinfectant, stashing milk packets and much more. And it just doesn't stop here. There is a dark liquid called leachate which runs out of the landfills, contaminates our groundwater and the soil. The three things which we need to sustain on this planet are air to breath, water to drink and soil to grow our food. We have unfortunately contaminated it all by discharging biodegradable waste out of our homes unnecessarily. If you say no to a landfill, what do you do with the waste ? You can first start by understanding the categories of waste your home or household may generate. All the waste from UR kitchen is organic matter, which should essentially go back to the soil by making compost. If you have a composting facility available in your neighbourhood or city, so you can drop off your organic waste for it to be processed. Did you know that 60 per cent of biodegradable waste is from our kitchen? All the waste from your kitchen is organic matter, which should essentially go back into the soil in the form of compost. For example, the USA has many facilities for recycling and managing waste. India, is yet to introduce waste management centres and reduce its carbon footprint. We have a long way to go. Meanwhile, why don't we take the responsibility of learning the categories of waste and making compost at home? Categories Of Waste 1st category Dry waste(recyclable): Packaging, cardboard, newspapers, cinema tickets, plastic, metal cans, bus tickets and every bit of paper that can be recycled. 2nd category Kitchen/food waste: Vegetable peels, fruit peels, coffee or tea powder. 3rd category Sanitary waste: Medical waste, band-aids, sanitary pads, anything which is body contaminated. Hazardous waste: Broken items like bottles etc. In Bangalore, we have a system called 2 bin 1 bag. The green bin is for your kitchen waste and the red bin is for rejects (things which can't be recycled or composted) goes into that bin. And, the third is your bag which you can hang and collect milk sachets without the ends being snipped fully. Every bit of packaging can be collected, sent to the recycling centre or given to your kabadiwala. In Bangalore, we have recycling centres. 198 wards in total and each ward has a DWCC (Dry waste collection centre). This is one of the ways you can dispose UR dry waste correctly. By not mixing dry waste with other types of waste helps us all contribute to a better world that mitigates climate change together. Another way of making a positive impact on the planet is by making compost. Here is how I make my compost from my kitchen waste at home. How To Make Compost At Home With Kitchen Waste Ingredients Greens: Vegetable peels, fruit peels, coffee or tea powder and leftover food bits (organic matter only) - 1 large bowl Browns: Dried leaves, cardboard or sawdust - 2-3 bowls Microbes: Sour buttermilk- 1 tbsp or cow dung - 2-3 tbsp Container: Terracotta pot, a red mud pot with a lid, or a small bucket with holes (for air circulation) and a lid. Preparation Step 1: Drain out excess moisture from the vegetables and fruit peels in a colander. For example; watermelon or papaya need to be drained of moisture. Use a kitchen towel or a paper napkin to remove the moisture. Cut the large pieces of leftover veggies or fruits for them to break down easily. Step 2: Add the dried leaves in a small container or bowl. Crush the leaves and add the vegetable peels, fruit peels, coffee or tea powder. Mix everything. Now, add the buttermilk or cow dung using the mentioned quantities and mix everything well. Step 3: Transfer everything into a bucket, a pot, or a container with small holes and a lid. Repeat the same action every day. Once in 4 to 5 days turn the ingredients in the container to introduce oxygen, as this is anaerobic composting. Add vegetable peels, fruit peels and Brown's until UR container is completely full. It takes 45 days for the ingredients to break down and become compost. You can repeat the same process in another container for your next batch of compost. Note: Always keep the composter (container) away from the rain. You can use this to fertilise your soil to grow veggies at home. This is how I do my bit and so can you to break the cycle of mismanaging waste and being more mindful. For more information on waste management, log onto these websites Swachagraha or 2bin1bag to find out how you can start managing and making the most out of waste.
Are you an addict? Take the test and find out now!
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a ten-item questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess alcohol consumption, drinking behaviours, and alcohol-related problems. It’s a reliable, simple and effective method of screening for unhealthy alcohol use, defined as risky or hazardous consumption or any alcohol use disorder. The AUDIT can also help identify alcohol dependence and specific consequences of harmful drinking. 1. How often do you have a drink containing alcohol? 2. How many drinks containing alcohol do you have on a typical day when you are drinking? 3. How often do you have six or more drinks on one occasion? 4. How often during the last year have you found that you were not able to stop drinking once you had started? 5. How often during the last year have you failed to do what was normally expected from you because of drinking? 6. How often during the last year have you needed a first drink in the morning to get yourself going after a heavy drinking session? 7. How often during the last year have you had a feeling of guilt or remorse after drinking? 8. How often during the last year have you been unable to remember what happened the night before because you had been drinking? 9. Have you or someone else been injured as a result of your drinking? 10. Has a relative or friend or a doctor or another health worker been concerned about your drinking or suggested you cut down?
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How life would C.H.A.N.G.E for youngsters post the quarantine period?
How life would C.H.A.N.G.E for youngsters post the quarantine period? Dr. Rithvik Ryaka, International Business & Life Coach, Celebrity Wellness Mentor, Inspirer and Trainer Here are the six ways to take care of your Career & Finances from today! C: Change in Job? First and foremost, if you are employed as of now, try to get assurance from your employer that your current job is safe. This is important as the employer may also consider changes in the approach to the changing scenario. You need to be performing at your best than ever before, to be considered by the employer as of now, to stay on the job. This is crucial because you do not know when the employer might consider the removal of staff later. H: Hustle your time to learn If you are in college, you might be attending online lectures which are mandatory to cover the syllabi. What other webinars/lectures have you considered these days to study non-academic? There is ample time to consider a few things like Communication skills which will benefit you in the longer run. A sufficient number of platforms offer free courses online. Do check them out with the help of your mentors in college. A: Accept the reality of the world There might be a lot of initiatives by the Government outside your home, city and even the country. Remember that these are not in your control. You cannot consider doing something against the law, which might have been allowed earlier before the lockdown. It is better to cut down unnecessary expenses for the next few months. N: Not to accept rumours on social media This is a critical point to be understood. Do not follow the steps above with the opinions directly seen on social media. Every country has different scenarios as per their laws. Do not fall prey to few posts from unverified sources. At the same time, you should also not share any information if you are not sure about its origin. This is important because decisions related to finance and career should happen through sustainable ideas with mentoring from elders. G: Go online to learn and earn! This is the best time to learn a new skill and master it without spending much money. Remember that it is just not a resume-building activity. You should engage with it actively for its knowledge and not the certificate which is awarded later. You might even re-join a few courses you had left earlier due to lack of time or any other reason. You can freelance and earn with this skill, even post lockdown. E: Exercise out of the comfort zone! Do not neglect your health by getting tensed about the uncertain future! Remember that you are giving your best. You cannot do complete justice to your mind if you are ignoring your body. Do not expose your eyes to extreme screen time on laptops or mobiles. Stick to a proper routine to manage time as you may also need to assist family members for various errands during this tough time. Majority of youngsters have been pondering over the uncertainty because of the lockdown. The primary point to be addressed is that her professional life includes one’s own choices, but this is the crucial time to depend on your top skills than the passion for being realistic. Youngsters should reach out to elders who can help them to learn new skills. Whatever happens or is bound to happen, keep learning and updating yourself and also keep your family informed about your approach towards career and finance. Keep the hope alive and accept the CHANGE. Everything is possible with heart!
5 Smart Ways To Choose A Mask
5 Smart ways to Choose A Mask The most significant change in our new norm is wearing a face mask at all times while being outdoors. There's growing evidence that masks help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Although your mask is protecting you from COVID carriers in contaminated areas, a lot could be brewing under that shield that affects UR skin. Committing to wearing a mask all the time can raise questions on, how to choose what best suits you. Face masks create moisture that can affect the production of sebum in your skin, leading to clogged pores, white heads and breakouts. The worst part is that if any part of the mask touches any of the acne on your face, it can aggravate acne even further. At the same time, severe inflammation and eczema may also worsen. A few masks with rough mask edges can cause irritation, sores, or even cuts. Here is a checklist to keep in mind while choosing a mask. 1. Type of facemask Face masks can be split into two basic categories: disposable and reusable. Choosing a face mask that's reusable is, therefore, the financially, logistically, and environmentally friendlier option. Opt for a pure cotton mask to allow your skin to breathe even when the mask is on Ideally, masks should be made of tightly woven cotton instead of synthetic fabric, as they are more breathable and softer on the skin. 2. Fabric Fabrics with tighter weaves and thicker threads have been shown to block respiratory droplets more effectively than those with looser weaves and thinner threads. Masks with two or more layers of fabric are considered more effective than one layer masks. When choosing a face mask, opt for one that fits snugly over your mouth and nose. You don't want one that you'll have to touch repeatedly to adjust. It shouldn't feel uncomfortably tight, either. The mask should be breathable and easily washable. 3. Masks That Fit Due to our anatomy and cheekbone structure, few masks like surgical masks leave some gaps that don't provide protection. If you are using an N95 mask, it may not be suitable for children as it is too big for their face. So the key is to make sure you are covering the nose and mouth without suffocating yourself. 4. Mask Etiquette Don't contaminate your mask by touching it and avoid rubbing your chin against UR shoulder. The germs will end up landing on UR mask, which can make you more vulnerable to the virus. If you happen to sneeze, change your mask immediately. As a precaution, always carry an extra mask with you, even if UR using a reusable mask. 5. Disposing Masks Dispose one-time use masks after every use and avoid reusing them. Reusing invites skin rashes, breakouts, redness and unnecessary skin concerns. Its best to use cotton masks that can be washed or bio degradable masks that don’t pollute our environment.
The ABC Of Hypertension
You May Develop Hypertension Without Knowing. What Are The signs? Hypertension or High blood pressure occurs when UR blood pressure increases to unhealthy levels. UR blood pressure reading takes into account how much blood is passing through UR blood vessels and the measure of resistance that blood meets while pumping the heart. Hypertension develops for quite a long while. Initially, you don’t notice any symptoms. But even without symptoms, high blood pressure causes damage to UR blood vessels and organs, especially the brain, heart, eyes, and kidneys. Early detection is essential. Signs of Hypertension ● shortness of breath ● nosebleeds ● visual changes ● dizziness ● headaches ● chest pain ● blood in the urine ● flushing What causes high blood pressure? There are two types of hypertension. Primary hypertension Primary hypertension is also called essential hypertension. ● Genes: Some individuals are genetically inclined to hypertension. This might be from gene mutations or genetic abnormalities inherited from UR parents. ● Physical changes: If something in UR body transforms, you may begin experiencing issues all through UR body. Hypertension might be one of those issues. For instance, it’s thought that changes in your kidney function due to ageing may upset the body’s balance of salts and fluid. This change may cause UR body’s blood pressure to increase. ● Environment: Over time, unfortunately, lifestyle choices like lack of physical activity and poor diet can take their toll on UR body. Lifestyle choices can lead to weight problems. Being overweight or obese can increase UR risk of hypertension. Secondary hypertension Secondary hypertension usually occurs quickly and can become more severe than primary hypertension. This includes: ● obstructive sleep apnea ● adrenal gland problems ● congenital heart defects ● kidney disease ● use of illegal drugs ● side effects of medications ● problems with UR thyroid ● alcohol abuse or chronic use Diagnosis Diagnosing hypertension is simple as it depends on taking a blood pressure reading. Most doctors’ workplaces check blood pressure as part of a routine visit. If you don’t get a blood pressure reading at UR next appointment, request one. If UR blood pressure remains high, UR doctor will likely conduct more tests to rule out underlying conditions. These tests can include: ● ultrasound of your heart or kidneys ● cholesterol screening and other blood tests ● electrocardiogram (ECG) ● urine test Home remedies for hypertension Healthy lifestyle changes will help you control the risk factors that cause hypertension. Here are some of the common home remedies. ● Increasing physical activity ● Developing a healthy diet ● Managing stress ● A healthy weight ● Adopting a clean lifestyle High blood pressure during pregnancy Women with hypertension may deliver healthy babies despite having the condition. But it can be hazardous to both mother and baby if it’s not monitored and managed during the pregnancy. Women with high blood pressure are bound to develop complications. For example, pregnant women with hypertension may encounter decreased kidney function. Babies born to mothers who have hypertension may have a low birth weight or conceived prematurely. Preeclampsia In a few cases, pregnant women with hypertension can develop preeclampsia during their pregnancy. This condition of increased blood pressure which causes kidney and other organ complications. This condition results in high protein levels in the urine, problems with liver function, fluid in the lungs, or visual problems. Monitor UR blood pressure regularly. The best way to avoid complications and problems is to analyze hypertension early. You can go to UR doctor’s office for a blood pressure reading, or you can purchase a blood pressure cuff and take periodical readings at home. Keep a log of UR blood pressure readings and take it to UR regular doctor appointments. This can help UR doctor see any possible problems before the condition advances.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease
Understanding Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's disease affects memory, thinking and behaviour of a person. It is a type of dementia. Though the symptoms develop at a gradual pace worsening over time, it can slowly develop into a severe problem that interferes with doing your daily tasks. According to the India Ageing Report 2017, more than four million cases of Alzheimer's are reported per year in India. So saying, Alzheimer's isn't a normal part of ageing, as one may confuse it with being. Also, owing to the nature of the disease and its effect on mankind at large, a definitive solution to combat this disease is the need of the hour. The human mind is a fascinating amalgamation of ideas, emotions and functions that empower our body and lives, creating a variety of experiences. It holds the collective sum of whatever we do, building our choices to improve our past, present and future. Hence, it is essential to keep our mind in top shape. However, due to the hustle and bustle of daily life, combined with undue stress, our mind tends to get neglected. Early Symptoms The symptoms can be varied, yet studies have provided a ray of hope in its proper detection and diagnosis the initial signs of Alzheimer's may be depression and irritability. Also, the symptoms occur in three stages with inter-related characteristics that meld into each other. Irritability, depression and night time behaviour changes are said to develop first. Anxiety, appetite changes, agitation and apathy, follow at a successive pace. The third stage has a variety of mixed symptoms elation, mobility disorders, hallucinations, delusions and impulsive, inappropriate behaviour. Causes Along with a host of health-related complications, mental deterioration is something that often takes place. Yet, as mentioned before, Alzheimer's has more to do with the mind than ageing. The cause lies in the gradual degeneration and death of brain cells. The brain connections are lost on the process. Due to this, the critical mental functions and memory is destroyed. For a person suffering from Alzheimer's, the tissue has negligible nerve cell connections, making it impossible to function and retain things. Diagnosis While prevention is better than cure, we need to talk about the appropriate diagnosis and treatment for the same. Certified tests should be involved to diagnose the stage the deterioration has reached. So here's what can help doctors reach a conclusion: • Consulting immediate family to note change of behaviour. • Conducting tests of memory, problem-solving, attention, counting and language. • Brain scans like computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PeT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) helps in eliminating other causes that trigger the symptoms this needs to be repeated time after time. Coping With Alzheimer's Alzheimer's is a disease that affects the life of the patient, as well as his/her family and caregivers. Keep the following tips in mind as they help in healing and caregiving. • Try to keep things simple, focusing on a single question or activity. • Establish a daily routine to instil faith and semblance. • Create a safe space for the patient to thrive and build a connection. • Shift the focus from words to feeling or intention. • Keep agitation to a minimum level, to keep the energy flow in controlled levels. • Maintain a peaceful and calm demeanour, putting negativity aside. • Enlist the power of humour whenever you can. • Try using music, singing or dancing to empower the person.
COVID-19 And A New Way To Be Happy
Originally published in The San Francisco Gate Diseases point the way to the future if we pay attention. This holds especially true of the global outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19. It is clear that some important lessons have emerged already. Some of these are obvious because they are so visible: Uncertainty is a major cause of panic. No one could miss that lesson. Economies reflect mass psychology. This lesson follows from the first, because the plunge in worldwide markets has been driven by uncertainty. But if you look a bit deeper, COVID-19 exposes a need to take human well-being more seriously. The great push to create a welfare state is around a century old, and certain countries like Sweden and Denmark went much further than the United States. But even in places where democratic socialism won the day, true human welfare wasn’t addressed. The basic right to have guaranteed housing medicine, and education—the cornerstones of the modern welfare state—treat people as economic units. Actual well-being looks very different. Its hallmarks are community and mutual support, valuing happiness as essential to human life, affording lifelong good health, living in an environment with pure air and water, a lack of violence with a necessary emphasis on peace, equal acceptance for all, and the abolition of us-versus-them thinking of the kind that builds barriers of every kind. When you list these ingredients in one place, it becomes painfully clear that a welfare state is far from being a well-being state. COVID-19 exposed how insecure most people actually feel, to the point that the real pandemic is fear, not the virus. It has been largely futile to spread actual facts in the face of the mass fear that social media and 24/7 news incite so easily. The people who are chiefly at risk of dying from the virus as the elderly and disadvantaged, two groups likely to have compromised immune systems or underlying chronic medical conditions. COVID-19 has made people aware at some level that their well-being is of little interest to the leaders they elect. But the underlying issue is that the wellness movement hasn’t caught on even to the extent that the average person knows how to be well, secure, happy, and self-sufficient for life. For everyone else, standard prevention is the best recourse, with the additional advice not to go on extended planes trips or a cruise ship if you are already at risk. But such sensible medical advice is being drowned out. Moreover, the recent tendency toward authoritarian reactionary leadership has exposed that such leaders have a shocking lack of interest in anyone’s welfare but their own and the privileged class they belong to and protect. COVID-19 has made people aware at some level that their well-being is of little interest to the leaders they elect. But the underlying issue is that the wellness movement hasn’t caught on even to the extent that the average person knows how to be well, secure, happy, and self-sufficient for life. I mean this in personal terms, not economic ones. The average person is so fixated on holding a job and the price of gas that it seems like fantasy to talk about a fulfilling job and the price of unhappiness. We need a new way to be happy based on well-being. To instigate such a radical shift has already begun—the wellness movement is here to stay. Global warming, despite reactionary resistance, has already alerted the world that any solution must be global. Nationalism only makes the problem worse. Sectarian violence, terrorism, and civil unrest are pointless (as they always have been) if you and the person you hate are both under the same climate threat. If the progressive wing in politics really values well-being, it should propose a secretary position in the cabinet to boost everything that well-being stands for. If that proposal sounds too ideal or even foolish, then you might look in the mirror and ask what your own happiness is based on. If it is based on money, status, possessions, and lifelong consumerism, you need to wake up. Those have been the normal standards of happiness for a long time, but they have led to gross income disparity, a huge carbon footprint, a pitiful level of well-being for the world’s under-privileged, an ingrained prejudice against the poor and anyone “not like us,” and a society in which, beyond our immediate family and friends, all of us feel like strangers in a strange land. COVID-19 has brought the situation under a glaring spotlight. If the past is prologue, the immediate reflex will not be positive—stores will be cleaned out of essential products when the right thing to do is to share these products, not hoard them. Rumor, gossip, and absurd untruths will block sensible advice, correct facts, and a healthy caution toward the outbreak. But for all that, COVID-19 implies a new future and makes it more urgent. Passivity and inertia are no longer affordable. We’ve all booked passage on cruise ship Earth. There’s nowhere anyone can disembark, and all the passengers, including the ones in first class, are literally in the same boat. Only a new way to find happiness, based on a global self-care movements and personal well-being to replace empty consumerism and mass distractions, has any hope of leading to a better future. Consider this as seriously as you can, and make your own well-being the start of global wellness. DEEPAK CHOPRA MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. He is the author of over 89 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. Chopra is a Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego and serves as a senior scientist with Gallup Organization. His 90th book, Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential, unlocks the secrets to moving beyond our present limitations to access a field of infinite possibilities. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.”
All About Sickle Cell Disease
The word sickle cell means the red blood cells take the shape of a sickle or crescent moons making it difficult for these cells to move around easily through the blood vessels. This slows down or could even block the adequate flow of oxygen and blood to the different parts of the body causing health problems. In adults the haemoglobin is of three variants: • HbA: This involves a significant portion of 95 to 98 per cent • HbA2: This involves 1.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent • HbF: This involves less than 2 per cent and is age dependent Haemoglobin is a tetrameric protein composed of two pairs of globin chains each with a heme group. In sickle cell disease or sickle cell anaemia, there is a point mutation of the beta-globin chain, thus impacting in replacement of glutamic acid to valine residue in the beta-globin which causes sickling of the RBC. Sickle haemoglobin is HbS which is responsible for sickle cell disease. It leads to micro- vasculature obstruction and tissue damage. Sickle cell disease is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from a person's parents. Causes Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder causing red blood cell distortion, destruction. The inheritance is homozygous for sickle cell disease if transferred from both the patients. If inheritance from one parent impacts in the milder form, it is called sickle cell trait (Hb AS). The HbSS molecules (RBC) build up into polymers when deoxygenated, yet giving rise to chronic haemodialysis, microvascular occlusions at the same time tissue damage. During deoxygenation, the cytoplasm in red blood cell/RBC turns from free-flowing liquid into viscous gel and assemble themselves into long needle-like fibres within RBC and produce a sickle shape. ________________________________________ Symptoms Young patients will show signs of the following: • Weakness • Jaundice (due to RBC destruction) • Painful bones (due to hypoxia caused by microvascular occlusion due to haemolysis) • Fever, cough and chest pain if the lungs are involved • Erectile dysfunction in males after puberty • Stroke • Retinopathy, loss of vision and blindness • Shock due to rapid splenic enlargement • Worsening of anaemia and aplasia if there is an infection by a virus, especially parvovirus B19 • The patient loses the ability to concentrate urine and thus becomes dehydrated and the vicious cycle continues Diagnosis, Treatment And Complications Diagnosis • Prenatal diagnosis by analysis of fetal DNA by amniocentesis or chorionic biopsy • Haemoglobin electrophoresis • High-performance liquid chromatography Treatment • Mainly by giving hydroxyurea (which is a DNA synthesis inhibitor), it increases levels of HbF and thus decreases HbS levels; it also has an anti-inflammatory effect • Blood transfusions if anemia is severe • As it is a genetic disorder, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the cure Complications • Increased infections • Congestive heart failure • Stroke
