Health News

Do you have pets at home, especially cats? If yes, here is an important piece of information for you!! It is true that cats are superb companions to many. There are many people who like to play with cats and their paws etc. Not many would be aware of the fact that we could get one disease through the cat scratches. Shocking isn’t it!! A zoonotic infection called Cat Scratch Disease or CSD caused by bacterium Bartonella Henselae could be transmitted through cat scratches, bites or through saliva from the infected cats. So, please be careful and take care. Those with CSD would show several symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, fever etc. This was mentioned by a Neurologist working in Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. In certain severe cases, the person could develop brain encephalopathy with symptoms like confusion, seizures, headaches etc. How can CSD affect brain health? Mostly, CSD affected persons would show mild symptoms only. Brain encephalopathy occurs when bacteria affect the brain. The person affected would have altered mental state and other severe symptoms. To manage the symptoms well, early diagnosis of CSD and prompt treatment would be essential. Prevention methods: Especially those with weak immunity must follow preventive measures. Kittens would carry Bartonella Henselae and rough play with kittens must be avoided. Maintaining good hygiene is very essential after playing with cats. In this regard, we must wash our hands well after handling cats and clean any scratches or bites etc. Never pick up stray kittens from roads etc. Finally, fleas on cats must be controlled as they can spread the disease. Medical attention: It is necessary that we must seek a doctor immediately if we get symptoms like persistent fever, swollen lymph nodes and neurological issues etc. Blood tests are done on the affected persons and antibiotics would be provided. Those with CSD can manage the symptoms at homes also by taking OTC medicines for pain relief. Warm compress can be applied to swollen lymph nodes. Note: There are less chances of getting CSD from indoor cats as the cats would get B. Henselae infection through fleas only.

How many of us are aware of what kiwi fruit is? A small oval shaped fruit with brown skin and loaded with many ingredients like fibres, antioxidants, vitamin C etc is kiwi fruit In Tamil it is known as Kiwi Pazham and it is a powerhouse of nutrients. It is native to China but developed in New Zealand. It is true that we can get numerous health benefits from eating this kiwi fruit. The health benefits are Boosts immunity: Not many would know that one kiwi fruit has got more vitamin C than orange. Kiwi fruit is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C.  By consuming this kiwi fruit, our immunity would get boosted and we would be able to avoid infections, diseases etc. Especially during changing weather, intake of this fruit would be superb. Helps digestion: The enzyme that is present in kiwi fruit is actinidin and this would break down proteins more efficiently. This would help in easier and smoother digestion. The fibre present in kiwi fruit would help in maintaining gut health. Point is that those persons who have indigestion must eat atleast one kiwi fruit daily. Good for heart health: For our lives to be normal, it is essential that we must have good heart health. In this regard, the intake of kiwi fruit would be superb for us. Being potassium rich, kiwi fruit would help in balancing sodium in the body and BP would get controlled. It has been brought to light that eating kiwi fruit would help us to prevent heart diseases. Good for skin: Collagen production would get supported by the presence of vitamin C in kiwi fruit. Our skin would be firm and glowing. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles etc would get slowed down due to the presence of antioxidants in the kiwi fruit. Improves sleep quality: Many these days have insomnia or poor sleep. It is worthy to note that eating kiwi fruit would improve sleep quality. It must be noted that persons who suffer from restless nights must eat this fruit. Good for weight management:  Intake of kiwi fruit would help us to manage weight. Point is that we would feel full by eating kiw fruit and by this we would avoid eating unnecessarily. This would help p us to lose weight in a healthier manner.

Suppose there was a method that would hold a fractured bone together within a few minutes and that without the need of screws, plates etc, how would it be? Sound`s Unbelievable right!! For all these years, those persons who had broken bones would have felt severe pain and they would have stayed long in the hospitals for treatment etc. Moreover, healing would also have taken longer for them. Soon, these issues would not be there as the researchers have now found out a speedy fantastic solution in the form of bone glue. What is bone glue or bone-02? It is learnt that a research team in China led by Dr. Lin Xianfeng at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospitals have developed a Bone-02 an adhesive which was inspired by Oysters natural ability to attach to the wet surfaces. It is known that Oyster`s stick well even in the rough water filled conditions and based on this the China based researchers have developed a glue that can hold or bond broken bones. The specialty of this bone glue is that it is bio-absorbable, that is it is easily absorbed in the body as the healing progresses. As a result, there would be no need for a second surgery to remove the metal implants etc. About 150 patients with broken bones were tested with this glue and it was highly effective even under stress. It is worthy to note that this bone glue or Bone 02 worked in real surgeries rather than just lab tests. Potential advantages of this bone gel are It has been found out that this bone glue sets in just 2 to 3 minutes and due to this the operation times could become short. This bone glue would help the doctors to avoid metal plates, screws etc to fix the broken bones.  Hence, issues like complications of rejection, corrosion of the implant and infection would not be there. Finally, no subsequent surgery would be needed to remove the bone glue as it is bio-absorbable. By this, the patient body as well as money would be saved. Things which are not clear as of now: Point is that early results have been superb and encouraging but there are some questions that haven`t been answered. Long term durability is very important and there is a doubt regarding the effectiveness of this bone glue over several years. Just1 50 patients have been tested with this glue but to confirm its safety much broader studies would be required. It is also not clear now regarding the cost, manufacturing of glue and surgeons training etc. Point is that putting new glue for bone fixation means modifying procedures, ensuring supply and   training surgeons for correct use etc.

There is a food that is rich in fibres, rich in omega 3 fatty acids, a complete protein source, mineral enriched etc. This article is all about Chia seeds. Do you know what these are? The chia seeds have become stable in many diets and this has been brought to light by many television shows and Instagram feeds etc. Being both versatile and with high nutritional value, chia seeds have found their way into our everyday meals. Point is that smoothies and baked goods are prepared with chia seeds. Bitter fact is that not all foods could be eaten along with chia seeds. Don`t combine milkshakes and full at fairy with chia seeds: When mixed with liquids, chia seeds would form gel-like consistency. Truth is that those who have a sensitive gut would get a bloating/heavy feeling when chia seeds are consumed along with full- fat dairy. It was brought out by research study in 2013 that high fat foods would slow down digestion and this would make it hard for the body to process fibre present in the chia seeds. To keep the digestive system to function well, it is important to consume chia seeds and full-fat dairy separately. Don`t combine deep fried products with chia seeds: It was revealed by research study in 2021 that chia seeds when combined with deep fried products like pakoras and samosas etc would lead to discomfort, acidity etc. The reason for this is chia seeds would promote digestion but fried foods would slow down digestion. Don`t combine white rice with chia seeds: We could get a digestive imbalance when we eat chia seeds with white rice. Truth is that white rice is carbohydrate rich and has little fibres and chia seeds are full of fibres. There are chances of getting an upset stomach by eating this combination. Don`t combine alcohol with chia seeds: Our body would get dehydrated while chia seeds swell after absorbing water. We could get digestive issues like stomach cramps etc by eating this combination. Don`t combine bananas with chia seeds: What would happen if we eat soluble fibres in excess? We could get constipation and heaviness etc. So, please be careful and don`t eat these foods together. This has been mentioned by a research study in 2021. It is known that both bananas and chia seeds are rich in soluble fibres. Those with a sensitive gut must avoid consuming banana and chia seed smoothies every day. Don`t combine excess sugar with chia seeds: Those with a sensitive gut would find it uncomfortable if they eat excess sugar with chia seeds. Truth is that excess sugar can cause spikes in the blood sugar levels and chia seeds with fibres would clash with this spike. For best results, it is necessary to keep chia seeds with low sugary foods and not add to high sugary desserts etc. Don`t combine excess caffeine with chia seeds: We could get dehydrated when we consume caffeine heavy drinks. This is similar to alcohol intake. By combining excess caffeine with chia seeds, we could get acidity, stomach irritation etc. it must be noted that combining chia seeds with caffeine would be tough for the gut as chia seeds already add bulk. How to consume chia seeds? Firstly, we must soak chia seeds in water for 20 minutes minimum and then consume. It is important to start with small amounts (1 or 2 teaspoons) and then increase gradually. Combining chia seeds with yoghurt, frits would be superb. It is necessary to consume adequate amounts of water throughout the day to prevent bloating.

Women and yeast infection are closely related!! Yes it`s true!! Not many of us have the courage to speak about our intimate health and hygiene etc with others.  It is worthy to note that many women get affected with yeast infection and find it difficult to talk about the issue with others. This yeast infection also called as candidiasis is a common fungal infection caused by overgrowth of yeast Candida. It must be noted that daily habits could trigger yeast infection in women. Point is that getting yeast infection is common but it is treatable. Identifying  yeast infection is very important and if mistaken for other infections then it might be risky. There are several surprising habits that can trigger yeast infection in women and these are Not drying properly after bath: Yeast infection can occur in women if they do not dry properly after taking a bath. Overgrowth of yeast can be avoided by maintaining a dry environment around the gential area. It is true that the presence of moisture would provide a favourable condition for the yeast to grow. Therefore, thorough drying after taking a bath is essential to prevent yeast infection. Wearing tight damp synthetic inners: Yeast would also grow fast when a woman after taking a bath wears tight damp synthetic inners. This would lead to heat and moisture and due to this yeast could develop fast in them. So, please be careful. It is advisable to wear natural light cotton inners especially if prone to yeast infections etc. Using scented soaps and intimate washes etc: It was brought out by a gynaecologist from Gurgaon that using scented soaps and perfumes etc in the intimate parts would not be of huge help.  She spoke about how scented soaps and perfumes etc would disturb the natural pH in the intimate parts of a woman. Good bacteria would be reduced. By this there would be yeast overgrowth also. Consuming a diet with high sugars etc: It is worthy to note that consuming a high sugar diet would feed yeast and would help it to grow faster. It is for this reason that those with diabetes would get yeast infections much more easily than others. It was revealed by a study in 2024 that those with type 2 diabetes have higher chances of developing yeast infections in them. Antibiotic usage: It is surprising to note that use of antibiotics can increase yeast t infection in women. Point is that while antibiotics would help women to fight bad bacteria they also kill the good bacteria that would keep yeast growth in control. There is often a window where yeast has got more chances to take over after a course of antibiotics intake by women.

What would be your reaction if you come to know the truth that the colour of the teeth would indicate the health issues or diseases present inside the body? Having white teeth would give us more self confidence but the fact is many of us would not have white teeth. In some people, their teeth would get discoloured. They might also ignore their teeth discoloration in the beginning and later on these persons would develop many diseases and would find it difficult in their lives. So, please be careful and take care of your teeth (health) from the beginning itself. Various medical conditions related to teeth colour are Liver disease: Persons affected by liver cirrhosis or liver hepatitis etc might show greyish or green coloured teeth. Point is that liver in such persons might not be able to produce bile pigments properly and due to this the teeth would have greyish or greenish tinge. Please take care. Diabetes: Not only blood vessels and nerves get affected by high blood sugar levels or diabetes but also oral health. Truth is that persons with diabetes would have poor gum health plus slow healing and teeth stains etc. It is worthy to note that the presence of high sugar levels in diabetics would help the bacteria to thrive in the mouth. Therefore, proper dental care is essential for diabetics. Genetic disorders: Our teeth would become translucent or bluish-grey coloured when we have genetically inherited diseases such as dentinogenesis imperfecta etc. The person would have affected tissues beneath tooth enamel. From this, it is true that genetics play a role in our dental heath and teeth colouration etc. Chronic infections or drugs: When a person consumes long term medicines then their teeth would get discoloured. It is learnt that tetracycline when taken would cause permanent grey bands on the enamel. Oral health would get altered by chronic infections in us and this could lead to teeth colour change also. Eating disorders: Teeth would get exposed to strong stomach acids frequently when a person is suffering from eating disorder or bulimia. This would remove the protective outer layer and would expose the yellow coloured inner layer. For this reason only, teeth of bulimia affected individuals would be worn out and yellowish in colour. Other common reasons for tooth stains in us are Truth is that those persons who chew tobacco, smoking, drink aerated beverage consumption, with poor oral hygiene, and missing dental checkups etc would have teeth discolouration.

Do you clean your belly button daily? Many of us would have been of the opinion that the belly button or navel doesn`t have any other purpose after birth after the umbilical cord is cut. Truth is that the belly button could be prone to several infections. It is known that the umbilical cord attached to the fetus in the pregnant mother womb provides nutrients and oxygen etc to the baby from the mother.  Once a baby is born, this cord would be cut and the wound heals later on. It is essential that we must give importance to our belly button or navel and prevent bad odour etc to avoid infections and many health issues. Why is the belly button prone to infections? It was explained by a doctor from a Delhi based hospital that the navel is a small enclosed area of the body that would stay moist and warm. As a result of these conditions, bacteria and fungi could thrive well here. Without being noticed, sweat, oil, soap reside etc would accumulate in the belly button as it is a recessed part of the skin. This would become food for the microorganisms also. He concluded that when the belly button is not cleaned well then the balance between normal skin bacteria and harmful germs would get disturbed. This could result in infections. Types of belly button infections: Both fungal as well as bacterial infections can occur in the belly button. It must be noted that the bacterial infections would be caused by staphylococcus species that could enter through small cute, irritation etc. This can lead to redness, pain, swelling etc. In the moist conditions, fungal infections would develop and it can lead to itching, redness etc. It would be possible to identify early signs of belly button infection by certain important signs like tenderness, mild swelling, unusual smell, yellowish discharge etc. Various factors that can lead to belly button infections: They are poor hygiene plus others like diabetes, overweight, psoriasis/eczema, piercings near belly button etc. Cleaning of belly button safely: Firstly, we must simply wash our navel with warm water and mild soap while taking a bath. Secondly, we must rinse thoroughly to remove soap residue etc. Drying the belly button would be essential to avoid fungal growth. Those who have a deep belly button must use a clean cotton swab dipped in warm water to clean the belly button. It is necessary to avoid harsh scrubbing.

Especially after taking a shower bath we all would feel refreshed and hydrated. How would you react if your skin becomes dry, flaky etc after taking a shower bath? Shocked isn`t it!! It is noteworthy that dry skin after showering is not always a serious problem and it might also be due to our routine. There are few mistakes we could make every day while taking shower bath and these are Taking long showers: After a tiring day, it would be superb to have a long hot shower. It is true that our skin would not feel the same. Natural oils that would keep our skin soft and hydrated would be stripped off by hot water baths. Point is that when the protective barrier weakens moisture would escape and it would lead to dryness. To avoid unnecessary dehydration, it is necessary to take a bath in lukewarm water for just 8 to 10 minutes. Using harsh foamy soaps: It must be noted that tough skin cleansers filled with sulphates and alcohol have the ability to disrupt the pH levels of the skin and strip skin of its natural barrier. Truth is that it is essential to use mild, pH balanced cleanser or moisturising shower gels having glycerine. Skipping moisturiser after shower: After taking a shower, it is essential to use moisturiser within 2 to 3 minutes when our skin is in a humid state. Many of us don`t follow this and take a long time to use or don`t use moisturiser at all. Over exfoliating the skin: Dead cells would be removed by exfoliating the skin and by overdoing it would lead to different results. So, please be careful. The natural oils would be stripped off from the skin by exfoliating too much. Exfoliating skin once or twice per week would be fine. Instead of harsh scrubs, it is important to use mild exfoliants. Using extremely hard water: Water rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium is called hard water. This would dry out our skin. It is worthy to note that these minerals would form residue that would clog pores and would lead to itchy flaky skin. Staying in wet clothes for long: It is important to note that after a shower we must not stay in wet clothes for too long as it would make the skin lose moisture etc. Skin must be dried by gentle patting and not rubbing etc. Wearing gentle clothes after taking showowers is necessary. Ignoring shower products: Using sulphate free hair care products would be important. Dryness of the skin can also be due to shampoo and conditioners we use. Truth is that harsh surfactants could cause irritation in our body especially to those with eczema conditions etc. So, please be careful.

Do you wear ear pads for prolonged duration of time, please be very careful!! These days, there are many who use ear pads frequently in the trains, buses etc. By means of ear pads, we could listen to the music without disturbing others etc. Not many of us know that prolonged wearing of ear pads could be dangerous for ear health. What happens when we wear ear pads for a long time? Bitter fact is that whether we wear ear pads accidently for longer duration or out of habit, it can impact our ears to a huge extent. This was revealed by a famous ENT specialist belonging to Bangalore based hospital.  He spoke about how by wearing ear pads continuously moisture as well as heat would get trapped inside our ear canal resulting in irritations or higher chances of ear infections etc. Moreover, the pressure of ear pads can also result in pain, soreness etc in the outer ear. By hearing loud music sound regularly using ear pads, there are high possibilities of noise induced hearing loss. This is especially in the teenaged persons and kids etc. It must be taken into account that listening to loud music for a long time could damage the small hearing cells present inside the inner ear. This might lead to tinnitus etc also. There are also more chances of building up ear wax inside as the natural cleaning process of ears gets blocked. In such a scenario, it is necessary to take breaks and keep the volume low for the sake of ears. How long is it safe to wear ear pads? It is worthy to note here that using ear pads safely would depend on both volume as well as time. According to some experts, the 60/60 rule is important. This means listening at no more than 60% of the maximum volume for not more than 60 minutes at a stretch. It is essential to give ears a break to avoid damage to the ears. It is safe and okay to use ear pads for 3 to 4 hours a day at moderate volume. This was mentioned by the ENT doctor. What about using noise cancellation ear pads? If used properly, noise cancellation ear pads would be superb as they block the outside noise. As a result, there would be any need to increase the volume. By this, our inner ear would get protected from loud sounds and risk of long term hearing damage would get lowered. There are also some disadvantages in using noise cancellation ear pads. Truth is that the users might not hear traffic sounds, alarms, or someone calling etc and this can result in safety issues outdoors. The noise cancellation ear pads are safer for hearing but must be used carefully. Ear hygieiene tips that we must follow compulsorily: We can lower the risks of using ear pads through good ear hygiene. In this regard, it is important to clean the ear pads regularly with a soft dry cloth and this would prevent dirt and bacteria from entering the ears. Please do not share ear pads with others to prevent spreading of germs etc. It is essential to give ears a break in between for airflow and to prevent building up of moisture. It`s your ears, please take care.  

Living with high blood sugar levels or diabetes is not easy. Fact is that those with diabetes must pay lots of attention not only to the foods (with less sugar) they eat but also pay attention to those foods that would help their bodies to function well. Many people are unaware about the importance of mineral chromium here. It is superb to mention that chromium is a trace mineral that would help in managing high blood sugar levels or diabetes in us. What makes chromium important is that it has the ability to make insulin function effectively. In those persons with diabetes, chromium would help in better glucose control plus fewer spikes in the blood sugar levels and provide steadier energy throughout the day.  It is not necessary to opt for supplements and intake of chromium rich foods would be superb in controlling diabetes. Various easily available foods that are rich in chromium for diabetes control are Broccoli consumption: Being one of the richest natural sources of chromium, intake of broccoli would help in managing blood sugar levels or diabetes levels in us with superb effect. Not only diabetes control, intake of broccoli would also provide us many other benefits like better digestion, improved immunity, improved bone health etc. Whole grains consumption: Those with diabetes can eat whole grains rich in chromium. Their blood sugar levels would get managed well. Since it is full of fibres, eating whole grains would also improve digestion well. The presence of nutrients like minerals, vitamins etc in whole grains would provide us with superb benefits like lowering cholesterol, improved heart health, lowering the risk of colo-rectal cancers etc. Lean meats consumption: Non vegetarian food eaters would get good amounts of chromium by eating lean meats etc. Other important benefits of consuming lean meats are it lowers bad cholesterol, improves heart health, helps in weight loss etc. Eggs consumption: Many of us would not know the fact that eggs contain chromium. It is superb to note here that boiled eggs for breakfast would provide us with super energy throughout the day without raising the blood sugar levels in us. It is well known that eggs are important sources of proteins. Green beans consumption: It is true that green beans are low in calories, high in fibres and chromium. Various health bebenefits of eating green beans are weight loss, improved digestion, improved skin health etc. Nuts & seeds consumption: We can get healthy fats by consuming almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds etc. In addition, these have chromium and consuming them would help us to manage our blood sugar levels. Nuts and seeds intake would lower inflammation, boost heart health, aid in weight loss etc. Sea foods consumption: It would be possible to manage our high blood sugar levels by consuming sea foods like shellfishes etc rich in chromium. The presence of omega 3 fatty acids in these sea foods would be superb for our health. Other health benefits of consuming sea foods are improved heart health, improved brain health etc.