Archive for April, 2012

Summer care regime for babies can be a real challenge. Tiny tots are always on the move and get dehydrated so easily that constant fluid intake is a must. Summer woes can be more than heat; power cuts, rising mercury, mosquitoes and water shortage closely follow the list.

Summer care for your wonderful busy bee...

During summer, two or three bathes a day should be the norm rather than the exception. Attacks of heatstroke can be foiled only by regular baths, constant hydration, full sleeved clothing and umbrellas when going out. It is time to pack away your baby’s frills, synthetics and silks, and adopt cool cotton clothes. Let light-coloured, long sleeved and loose clothes with a sunhat be the summer fashion statement for tots this year.

Unlike you and me, a baby’s body does not take kindly to sudden changes. Taking a bath or having chilled fluids immediately after an outdoor trip, having overtly chilled fluids on a particularly hot day etc are a few of the common instances. This is as good as inviting fever, cold, throat or chest congestion. Summer care skin creams will ensure nourishment, hydration and health for skin and keep away rashes and blisters. Splashing around in a play pool is absolute bliss for tiny tots. But ensure that water does not enter their ears and always supervise babies in splash pools. No matter how big or small the pool is, there are always chances of accidents in unsupervised pool activities.

Outdoor activities increase during summer; hence it is best to schedule excursions before 9 am or after 5 pm, if possible. If you have to get out seek shade – carry an umbrella, get under a tree or canopy. Sunscreen application should be avoided for babies less than 6 months old. For older babies some sunscreen can be used but ask your doctor first. For prickly heat use a baby powder or emollients that will tackle rashes and in case of sunburn please consult your doctor.

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Mosquitos’ best pal is malaria…

World Malaria Day 2012

Spread by the magnanimity of female anopheles mosquito, Malaria affects more than 10 million people and claims around 40,000 lives annually in India. This is all the more unfortunate because, if some steps are taken, Malaria can be prevented. Simple measures like protective clothing, mosquito nets and eradicating breeding places of mosquitoes will bring down the graph noticeably. Poor sanitation is an area that needs to be addressed aggressively to weed out this menace.

Malarial symptoms are not something that you immediately connect to Malaria. As a result people disregard chills, fever, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting etc in the initial stage. Untreated symptoms can lead to complications such as cerebral malaria, liver failure, kidney failure, spontaneous bleeding which may even prove fatal. There are certain drug resistant varieties of malaria that can are really challenging to treat. Even as we speak, a company is all set to release India’s first indigenous malarial drug. A toast to that. Search for a vaccine is ongoing, notably the development of RTS, S Vaccine and it is hoped to be launched by 2015.

The theme for World Malaria Day 2012 is “Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria”. Yes, the fight against malaria is at a crucial juncture. Whether the worldwide malaria map will keep shrinking or will be reclaimed by the malaria parasites, depends largely on the quantum of resources and efforts that will be invested in control efforts worldwide over the next few years.

How do you keep yourself from providing free meals to mosquitoes? Wear earthy colored, khakis or light colored clothes, as studies have shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to dark colors. Mosquitoes find you by body odor and sweat; stay clean to avoid unwanted attention from mosquitoes.

Since, antimalarial vaccines are not yet available to provide the immunity, protecting yourself from mosquitoes is the only preventable measure you can rely on. Five effective ways to protect yourself are:

1. Self protection (wear long-sleeved clothes, applying repellent ointments)

2. Repel mosquitoes (use mosquito-repellant coils/liquids/sprays)

3. Prevent mosquito entry (use bed nets, window nets)

4. Prevent mosquito breeding (cover garbage bins, prevent collection of water in flower pots, cooler trays, etc)

5. Destroy mosquito breeding sites (use insecticides/ larvicides)

Protect yourself, don’t fall prey to the buzzing menace.

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World Hemophilia Day is celebrated on April 17 every year. The aim of this day is to increase awareness about this medical condition amongst people. Hemophilia affected people lack the factors that helps blood clot when we have a cut or bruise. In severe cases a hemophilic can bleed to death if specialized care and drugs are not administered in time.

The theme of 2012 is ‘Close the Gap’. It indicates closing of the gap in care of hemophiliacs that sadly is more of a norm than aberration. Although Hemophilia is largely genetic and not curable, early detection helps. Advanced treatment regimes include administration of clotting factors that can prevent, manage and control this condition. Patient support groups can share stories and strategies to make life simpler. Rising levels of awareness will ensure that society at large comprehends the issues involved and become more supportive towards hemophiliacs.

Have you a young one suffering from this condition? Try to get him stretch his imagination. Video games provide an alternative reality environment. It encourages role play, helps improve reflexes and promotes quicker decision making. Group therapies can help children get over the fear of needles and infusions. Hiding information from the child only worsens the situation. You can consider learning from video tutorials, flip cards and hemoaction online game provided by World Federation of Hemophilia.

Children will have questions. Why can’t I go to play? Why do I have to visit hospitals often? What is hemophilia? Of course you may find it difficult to explain things, but don’t discourage them. How else will they understand and accept? You can always search for the answers together and voila, a new activity for him.

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A wrinkle is “A furrow, fold, or crease in the skin, particularly of a type seen with increasing occurrence as a result of sun exposure or, in perioral skin, cigarette smoking; associated with degeneration of dermal elastic tissue.”  ~ According to Medilexicon’s medical dictionary

Does it take more than common sense to appreciate that what you give your body is going to have an effect on it? It is simple logic really. Fat, grease and high sugar come to haunt as extra pounds in you. But feed the body healthy foods, and your body will favour you by looking and being beautiful.

So if you think frown lines and wrinkles are all down to your genes, think again. Here are a few tips to help keep your skin youthful and ward off wrinkles.

Beat Summer Wrinkles

1. Did you know that 90% of the visible symptoms of ageing are caused by the sun?

Avoid sun when it is at its strongest, say from late morning to evening. Wear an SPF of at least factor 20 daily, even on cloudy   days as UV beams can pass through clouds. Switch to a higher SPF if necessary.

2. If exposure to sun isn’t enough, poor diet is also a chief cause of skin ageing.

When blood-sugar level hikes, a process known as glycation takes place in the body which damages and hardens the collagen in your skin. The result is saggy and wrinkly skin. A little less sugar in your diet would be bett

3. Smoking! If you aren’t fazed by its dire effects like cancer, cardiac diseases etc, just wait. More are on the  way, like a disastrous skin.

Cigarette smoke can aggravate the skin and rob it of oxygen and nutrients, while causing enormous wrinkles to materialize around the jaws. Are you a smoker? There is only one thing you can do. Try and break the habit now.

4. For a silky and supple skin, it is vital to keep it hydrated in and out.

The topmost thing that you can put into your body if you desire great-looking skin is water. Since fruits and veggies claim all the vitamins, fibers and antioxidants required for a glossy skin, it makes most sense to feast on them.

To moisturize your skin from the outside, use an apt moisturizer or hydrating oils rich in vitamin E (like avocado or almond oil).

5. Yes, your stress shows on your face.

Research shows that constant stressing and anxiety can actually speed up ageing of the cells which leads to wrinkles. To maintain your skin lines-free, try a few stress-busting methods like developing and giving time for hobbies like music, sports, yoga; or even talk to a friend.

“Prevention is always better than a cure”. Prefer to pass on your secret summer mantra to keep skin supple and youthful…!

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Condom is sadly attached with traits like promiscuity, morality etc. In a country like India, where innocence is stupendously overrated and ignorance about sex (safe or otherwise) is glorified, lessons in condom usage are hard to place. So experience of first condom purchase becomes a nightmare. You have a right to safe sex and even peace of mind that comes with protecting yourself and your partner from STDs that includes the dreaded HIV.

Play it Safe...! Have you met him?

Awareness doesn’t cost much, but stigma does – your health and sanity. Condoms come in varieties –scented, lubricated, glow in the dark, even edible. There is one to suit every fancy, fantasy, need and pocket. Sexual health revolves around prevention and using condoms (male or female) is definitely responsible, mature and safe. Both the Government and private companies are ensuring that condoms are easily available through innovative channels like vending machines, postal orders and online purchases. Good way of skirting social stigma but overall awareness levels needs an overhaul.

Female condoms were launched in 2006. A female condom is a thin but strong latex/plastic sheath to trap the sperms during sexual intercourse; an effective method to prevent pregnancy & STDs.  It was conceptualized as an empowering tool for women by making fertility decisions her to make. The female condom is a pouch with a soft ring on each end. One end fits inside the vagina to keep the condom in place & the other end stays outside. They are now cheaper and more reliable but attitudes have changed very slowly. And usage and availability remains an issue.

Condoms the only effective dual protection method recommended by WHO. If used properly they offer more than 90% protection from unwanted pregnancy and almost 100% protection from sexually transmitted disease.

Sadly many young in our country do not know how to use condoms correctly nor are they educated about it. They are too shy to ask and too coy to read. Condoms come with a clear instruction label. Please give it a read. And ladies do make an effort; it gives huge returns when used scrupulously.

Contemplate a bit. When has shyness ever helped you? It has always been a barrier. So jump the hurdles to be responsible, safe, healthy and happy

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