Category: Wellness

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Wellness

Indians are suffering from more cavities than before

We don’t have the time to take care of our teeth. Worryingly, this is increasingly causing cavities like never before.

‘You are what you eat’ goes the age-old adage, which simply means that good health and fitness depends on eating healthy. However, our ever-changing lifestyles mean lesser time to pay attention on what to eat, how to eat, and if it is affecting the overall and oral health. In fact, our increasing affinity for modern foods not just affects the overall health but has implications on one’s teeth as well.

This is leading to an increased prevalence of cavities and other oral health problems. This concern was further affirmed by a recent survey conducted by the market research firm GFK Mode. The survey confirms that 88 per cent dentists agree that the incidence of cavities nowadays is higher than before.

Increasingly, the survey brings to light the fact that today, ever changing food habits and modern foods are leading to the prevalence of cavities. Commissioned by Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited, the survey found that not only modern day foods but also everyday foods like rice, dal, dalia and fruits produce sugar acids that are responsible for cavities.

According to the survey, 94 per cent dentists agree that modern foods like burgers and pizzas cause cavities. Dr Sandesh Mayekar elaborates, “It’s interesting to know that in addition to modern foods, everyday foods like dal, dalia – otherwise considered healthy – can cause cavities, too. Cavities are a result of both modern and everyday foods.  Therefore, the use of a clinically proven oral care solution, which will help eliminate the root cause of cavities, is a must.”

Also, cavities are not just restricted to sweet and sugary food items. Most foods that we consume on a regular basis have the potential to cause cavities. This is because regular and modern foods contain sugars, which get converted into harmful acids inside the mouth. These acids – known as Sugar Acids – are the primary cause of cavities. The sugar acids eat away the external surface of the tooth, destroy the enamel and lead to the formation of cavities. If not neutralised in time, they can cause demineralisation, which can ultimately lead to tooth damage. Therefore, neutralisation of sugar acids is the key to fighting cavities.

(Picture courtesy health.howstuffworks.com)

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Wellness

Smoking ups dementia risk

A recent report by WHO confirms that smoking increases dementia risk, like it is a factor in cancer and cardiovascular disease.
by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)

Smokers have a 45 per cent higher risk of developing dementia than non-smokers, according to information published recently by the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).

Evidence reviewed by WHO reveals a strong link between smoking and the risk of dementia, and the more a person smokes, the higher the risk. It is estimated that 14 per cent of Alzheimer’s disease cases worldwide are potentially attributable to smoking. WHO warns that exposure to second-hand smoke (passive smoking) may also increase the risk of dementia.

“Since there is currently no cure for dementia, public health interventions need to focus on prevention by changing modifiable risk factors like smoking,” says Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO. “This research shows that a decrease in smoking now is likely to result in a substantial decrease in the burden of dementia in the years to come.”

Tobacco use is already recognised as the one risk factor common to four main groups of non-communicable diseases (NCDs): cancers, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes. “Tobacco is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing nearly six million people a year,” says Dr Douglas Bettcher, Director of the Department for Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO. “WHO urges governments to actively implement and enforce the measures of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, especially smoke-free environment laws and access to tobacco cessation services”.

Laurent Huber, Director of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) for Tobacco Control, comments: “It is no surprise to see these findings confirm that tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for dementia. This adds yet another item to the long list of the devastating consequences of tobacco and gives even more reason for personal and public health action to help people to quit smoking.”

“The research also shows that quitting smoking later in life might be beneficial so encouraging and supporting current tobacco users to quit should be a priority,” says Serge Gauthier, chair of the ADI’s Medical Scientific Advisory Panel.

Dementia affects more than 44 million people worldwide, with almost two thirds of them living in low- and middle-income countries. “Every year, there are 7.7 million new cases of dementia. In 2010, the global cost was calculated at US$ 604 billion, which represents 1 per cent of global GDP (gross domestic product),” says Marc Wortmann, ADI Executive Director. “No government can ignore the opportunity to link this new information into its planning and health system activities to reduce smoking and control NCDs.”

ADI believes that this information brief can form the basis for countries to add messages about brain health and dementia risk into public health anti-smoking programs and interventions.

(Pictures courtesy www.express.co.uk, www.dailymail.co.uk)

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Wellness

How meaningful is your nostalgia?

With the ever changing nature of our metropolis, will getting nostalgic lose its meaning, or simply evolve into something else?
by Ritika Bhandari Parekh

RainfallLast week it rained for the first time this season, the way it rains only in Mumbai. And yet the leaking Metro train, the flooded roads and the emergence of a sea of black umbrellas didn’t excite my heart. When I think about it, it has all got to do with missing the earthy smell brought by the first showers. Maybe it is the fact that I live on a higher floor now, or that I no longer live at the place where I grew up, but that wonderful fragrance of the earth which heralds the Mumbai rains is gone.

Nostalgia is such a heady concoction of familiarity, not only through smell or taste, but also sight. Ask any newly married girl and she will vouch for how different the food tastes at her new home, just because it is not served in the same type of katori as she is used to. Who knew that stainless steel katoris could hold such strong memories? As for the married man, not only he has to appreciate the new style of cooking but the same ‘katori’ with a different flavour definitely needs some adjustment.

The beauty of nostalgia lies in its quality to penetrate us, unknowingly yet in a known manner. Remember that song your mother hummed while making rotis, doesn’t it stop you in your tracks even now? Or the firm handshake of your father which acknowledges your academic or sports success? Speaking of sports, the start of Wimbledon has to coincide with the monsoon in India, or else it really doesn’t hold the same thundering success for old timers. A bit of pitter-patter with some serve and volley and an all-white uniform code, and you are right there in England.

Research shows that nostalgia has evolved from a malady to being accepted as a universal feeling.  From helping the village boy cope with the pressure of finding a job in the dreamland called Mumbai, to giving emotional strength to newlyweds – nostalgia is good for humans, in general.

This New York Times article points out that “Nostalgia counteracts loneliness, boredom and anxiety. It makes people more generous to strangers and more tolerant of outsiders. Couples feel closer and look happier when they’re sharing nostalgic memories. On cold days, or in cold rooms, people use nostalgia to literally feel warmer.”

So what if the rains of today are different from the ones you were used to? Go ahead and take a splash in the rains, click a photo in your mind, make it your moment and relive it every time Mumbai is flooded. Let our buildings be torn down and our few public spaces disappear in the cosmic universe of malls and traffic, for as long as it rains, our chai pakoras are enough to transport us in the realm of a heaven called Bombay.

(Pictures courtesy physicsworld.com, lightnarcissus.com)

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Wellness

5 ways to protect your child this monsoon

There are many ways you can keep your child safe and protected this monsoon season. We’re listing five easy tips.

The rainy season heralds the arrival of freshness and along with it a number of common infections. It is a season when children love to spend most of their time outside playing in the rain. However, don’t forget the rains also create a conducive habitat for infectious bacteria and germs. This is the reason why visits to the pediatrician goes up during the rainy season. By taking simple preventive measures, you can safeguard your child’s health and save time, efforts and money.

Five tips for your child’s healthy monsoon:

1. Rain gear

Rain gear for childBuy a proper rain coat and boots for your kids to wear during the rainy season. Make sure your kids carry the rain gear whenever stepping out of the house. The rain boots will do a better job of protecting children’s feet from bacteria.

2. No water containers

The cases of malaria rise during the rainy season. The reason for this is that water containers make perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Hence, if you have empty buckets or tires lying around, get rid of them as soon as possible. If you are into rain water harvesting, you should make sure that the water holders are regularly cleaned and not stale. You can ward off dengue and malaria by taking these simple yet effective precautions.

3. Sleep well

During the rains, some children will find it difficult to sleep due to the constant thunder. Help them relax with some organic diffuser oils that help them ease into a comfortable sleep. You can take the help of relaxing eye pillows to cover their eyes from lightning. There are many retailers who specialise in quality materials at reasonable prices.

4. Clean water

The chances of water pollution increase tremendously during the rainy season. Hence, you should undertake measures that ensure that the water consumed for drinking is pure at all times. Methods like boiling, chlorine treatment and filtration are all effective ways to treat water. Ensure that your child does not consume water through external sources. By taking simple steps, you can prevent diarrhea, dysentery and other water borne diseases.

5. Proper washing

Proper and thorough body wash is necessary during the rainy season. Use a scrubber to clean your child’s body and remove all the mud, dirt and grime. You can also use an organic foot scrubber to clean their feet and prevent spread of bacteria, germs and dirt.

The listed tips can help keep the rain borne diseases at bay and protect your child’s health.

(Pictures courtesy engage.babyoye.com, www.babycenter.in)

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Wellness

Heal yourself with mudras

Your hands have the capacity to heal most disorders – each finger connects to a specific organ in the body.
by Humra Quraishi

Last month, I attended a workshop on mudras, also known as ‘yoga for the fingers’.

I confess I was going through an extremely low emotional phase at the time, and what prompted me to try the therapy out at Zorba The Buddha, the MG Road-situated retreat, was Mudrasthe simplicity of it all – I was very intrigued by the thought of one’s fingers being equipped with the power to heal the entire system.

During the day-long interaction with the Santa Barbara, California based yoga guru Siddhi Ellinghoven, who travels to India twice a year, she explained the significance of nerves embedded in each finger and how each finger reaches out to particular organs of the body.

“Relate to your fingers as your best friends. There is the highest concentration of nerves in your hands. And each finger has a special and a very significant connect with a particular organ – like the thumb with the lungs, the index finger with the large intestine, the middle finger with the heart membrane, the ring finger with the colon and spleen, the little finger with the small intestine and heart,” Siddhi explained.

There are some astonishing facts about the instant connect of the fingers with the brain – such as, you eat 30 per cent less if you eat using your fingers, than with a spoon and fork

How the mudras work

Mudras “The human body is built and is dependent on the five elements: fire, air, ether, earth and water. If there is an imbalance in one of these elements, it will create a disturbance in the physical body. All imbalances can be balanced through the use of our five fingers,” Siddhi explains.

“Healing through mudras is a science that changes the elements within us. Every area of your hand is associated with a reflex zone for a specific part of the body and brain. With mudras we can access our entire nervous system, engage certain areas of the brain and exercise a corresponding influence on them. Scientific research shows that we can effectively engage and influence our body and mind by bending, crossing, extending, or touching the fingers with other fingers. In these mudras, intuition and inspiration form a close unity,” she adds.

Through the various mudras – which finger to place atop which finger and the evolving combinations of the fingers and the thumb – one could sense the energy flowing into one’s palm. Meanwhile, Siddhi related some astonishing facts about the instant connect of the fingers with the brain – such as, you eat 30 per cent less if you eat using your fingers, than with a spoon and fork. Or that you feel less hungry if you have served food or cooked it through the day.

“The fingers instantly relay information to the brain, pass impulses to the brain, such as how much you have eaten and you can still eat or not at all,” she explains. So powerful are these mudras, she says, that she does not let pregnant women perform mudras that remove blockages from the body, for fear of them suffering a miscarriage.

Self-experience helps

Siddhi says she was cured after a back injury left her bedridden for six months. “Almost 20 years ago I suffered a back injury after an accident. I was advised surgery but I refused it. Only mudras cured me totally. Through these 20 years, I have not been to a doctor or taken allopathic medicine. I start each day with yoga and pop some turmeric and neem leaves that I carry back from India,” she says.

(Pictures courtesy Siddhi Ellinghoven)

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Wellness

Beware of melanoma

This skin cancer is less common but extremely deadly. If diagnosed early and before it spreads, melanoma may be cured.

Melanoma is a less common type of cancer, yet it is considered extremely serious when compared to the other types of skin cancer. Melanomas are usually brown or black in color, nonetheless can appear pink, tan or even white for that matter. Here is an article that will deepen your understanding of this particular type of skin cancer.

What is melanoma?

Melanoma skin cancer is a cancer that begins in the melanocytes. Most of these skin cells still produce melanin, and hence melanoma tumors are often brown or black in appearance. Nevertheless, there are numerous melanomas that could appear pink, tan or even white.

This condition usually occurs on the chest and back in men and on the legs in women, however, it could start at other places too. Another fact is that having dark skin reduces one’s chances of getting melanoma, yet people with dark skin could also develop this type of cancer.

Since, this is a rare skin condition, cancer specialists consider it extremely dangerous, and, nonetheless, if diagnosed in the early stages, it can be cured. Also, if not caught early could spread to other parts of the body as well.

wear sunscreenWhat are the risk factors for melanoma skin cancer?

Ask any oncology specialist and he/she will tell you how there is no exact cause to this rare skin cancer. However, there are certain risk factors that are linked to this disease such as too much exposure to UV light, numerous moles on the body, light coloured skin and hair, a family history of melanoma, a weak immune system, etc.

How can you prevent getting melanoma?

– Some prevention techniques include limiting your exposure to strong sunlight and other sources emitting UV rays.

–  Stay in the shade, especially in the middle of the day, between 10 am and 4 pm, as the sun’s rays are the strongest then.

– Covering your head with a hat works perfectly well, as a hat helps protect the neck, ears, the area around your eyes, forehead, and nose.

– Protect your skin with a sunscreen. Coat your lips with a protective lip balm.

– Use a pair of sunglasses as and when you know you’re going to stay out in the sun.

How can melanoma be treated?

On being diagnosed with this type of cancer, your oncologist and his/her team will discuss all the possible treatment options with you. This discussion is solely going to be based on your individual case. Some of the options may include:

1. Surgery

2. Immunotherapy

3. Targeted therapy

4. Chemotherapy

5. Radiation therapy

Who are the experts specialists that could be involved in treating melanoma skin cancer?

Some of the experts include dermatologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, dieticians, nurses, etc.

Understand the fact that melanoma can be treated with surgery alone, if detected in its early stage; nonetheless, there are times when more than one type of treatment could be used as well.

Concluding, if you are someone who is diagnosed with this type of skin cancer, try and get a second opinion. It is important to consult the right doctor and start your treatment plan as early.

 (Pictures courtesy skincancerawarenessproject.com, www.dailymail.co.uk)

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