Health News

If you are of the view that constipation could only occur in adults, then this article would surprise you!! Truth is that constipation can also occur in the babies. When there is a hard and dry bowel movement, this issue is termed as constipation. It is a common digestive issue. Many parents are not aware of the fact that certain foods could cause constipation in their babies and they keep feeding their babies with such kinds of foods. These foods would slow down the digestion in the babies. It is worthy to note that when the babies move from breast milk to solid foods or formula foods etc, then the babies could get constipation issues in them. Signs of constipation: Babies with constipation issue would show several signs such as difficulty in passing stools, bloating, stomach pain and loss of appetite etc. There are many foods that can lead to constipation in babies. Hence, it is the duty of the parents to know these foods and avoid giving them to their babies. Foods that can lead to constipation in babies are Bananas in raw or unripe form: It must be noted that unripe bananas could exacerbate constipation in the babies. So, parents must avoid giving them to their babies. Milk proteins:  It is worthy to mention here that most babies are allergic to milk proteins present in the formula milk and breast milk etc. Parents must be careful regarding this. Steamed carrots: The stools of the babies would get hardened when they consume steamed carrots. It must be taken into account that the constipation issue does not occur if the babies are given raw carrot or carrot juice etc. Cheese: Parents must be careful and not give cheese to their babies. The reason for that is though cheese is packed with nutrients it has low fibre content. This would lead to constipation in the babies. White bread: It is known that white bread is made from processed all purpose flour and white bread lack n nutrients for the baby. This food can lead to constipation in the babies. Steamed apples: The babies could get constipation problems if parents give them steamed apples. It is important to mention that applesauce having stool hardening component pectin could also lead to constipation in the babies. Yoghurt: Yoghurt is rich in probiotics but its binding properties on certain foods would cause constipation in the babies. Parents must be careful. Tubers: Many parents do not know the fact that except sweet potatoes all other tubers are low in fibres. Fact is that the presence of starch in the tubers would lead to constipation in the babies. White rice: Low in fibre content, rice is a popular baby food is known. Parents must refrain from providing rice to their babies as it could lead to hardening of stools. Oatmeal or barley meal could be good for the babies. Packages or processed foods: There are certain foods that have low fibre content and the examples are crackers, sweet puris, baby snack foods etc. These foods can lead to constipation issues in the babies. Note for the parents: It is important for the parents to consult a doctor or paediatrician before giving solid foods to the babies. Parents must always keep the babies` meals simple and fresh.

Many of us would feel surprised if we come to know the truth that our gut health could also be a factor in weight loss. Yes it`s true!! Mostly, weight loss is associated with exercise, diet etc only and gut health is a hidden factor. According to a famous gastroenterologist from Hyderabad based hospital it was clear that a healthy gut would support better metabolism and would help our body to burn more calories. There are trillions of bacteria present in our digestive system known as gut microbiome and these bacteria not only help in the food digestion but also play a role in metabolism, fat storage, energy use etc. It is worthy to note here that when our gut health goes out of balance then it would slow down weight loss and we might never realise it also. Gut health affecting fat loss: The bacteria present in our gut would break down the food and assist our body in absorbing nutrients. Metabolism would be kept efficient if these bacteria are balanced. Point is that our body would be able to burn more calories effectively and this could be possible even when we don`t exercise also. Not many would know that an unhealthy gut could lead to slowdown in metabolism, increased sugar cravings and this could lead to fat storage around the belly portion. So, please take care. Research study in 2021: It was brought to light by a research study in the year 2021 that in the105 persons in a lifestyle programme diet and blood markers did not create any impact but certain gut microbiome traits predicted weight loss in certain persons. The research study was published in the American Society for Microbiology. From the above study it was found out that persons whose gut bacteria had genes linked to breaking down complex foods, managing stress and growing faster were more likely to lose their weight. Various signs that would show that the digestive system is not functioning well are getting digestive issues like bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhoea etc often, getting skin issues like acne etc, anxiety issue/poor mood, having bad breath, sudden weight gain or loss etc. How can poor gut health slow down our weight loss? It is true that poor gut health can lead to slowing down in the weight loss process. It must be taken into note that gut bacteria would affect everything from hormonal balance to appetite control etc. There are more chances of chronic inflammation if bad gut bacteria outnumber the good bacteria in the gut. By this, f fat burning or weight reducing capacity would also be reduced. Finally, losing weight would become difficult. Final note: Please do not ignore the role of your gut if your weight loss journey feels struck up despite your huge efforts. Certain signs like digestive issues, fatigue etc would reveal that gut health would need attention. Simple dietary and lifestyle changes could restore gut balance and would provide the metabolism the boost it requires.

Have you ever experienced dizziness or head spinning and found it very difficult?  Once in a while feeling dizzy is normal for women and children. If this happens frequently, then it is a serious issue and must be treated without fail as it can be due to an underlying health condition also. Please take care. Why do children experience frequent dizzy spells? It was mentioned by a paediatrician that dizziness in the kids is always not a sign of serious issues in them. Point is that children could feel dizzy if they have issues like dehydration, low sugar levels, anaemia, ear infections etc in them. He spoke about how even fatigue could trigger dizziness in the kids. Dizzy feeling from dehydration versus inner ear issues: It must be taken into account that parents often confuse light headedness due to lack of fluids with dizziness due to inner ear issues. It is worthy to note that dizziness that could occur due to dehydration (or lack of adequate intake of fluids etc) could be corrected by drinking lots of fluids. Dizziness can also be due to inner ear vertigo and is associated with nausea and vomiting etc. Truth is that vertigo doesn`t resolve after drinking fluids and the issue would need to be evaluated by a doctor. Dizzy feeling from low blood pressure of low BP: Especially when the children suddenly change positions, they could get low BP and this can result in dizziness. It was brought to light by a medical professional that dizziness in the kids is associated with postural or orthostatic hypotension. Dizzy feeling in the kids due to low BP is usually identified by the relief a child from the feel gets after sitting or lying down. Point to be noted is that the doctors would confirm this by checking the BP of the child in several positions. First aid tips to overcome sudden dizziness in children: When a child gets dizzy then he or she must stop all movements, steady their bodies and take deep breaths. The possibility of falling down can be avoided either by sitting or lying down. It would be good to drink water also. Routine activities of the kid can be continued once the dizziness gets resolved. It was explained that skipping foods, iron deficiency and low vitamin B12 etc can also cause dizziness in the kids. Reasons why women get dizziness more than men: According to a gynaecologist it was clear that in most women dizziness could be due to the hormonal changes related to m menstrual cycle or menopause etc. A woman can get dizziness if she has ear issues, low BP and dehydration etc. Bitter fact is that stress and sleep deprivation could worsen dizziness in women. Identifying dizziness from dehydration & dizziness from inner ear issues in women? If the light headed feeling gets better after drinking fluids, then the dizziness is due to dehydration. If a woman experiences dizziness due to inner ear issues then the dizzy feel wouldn`t stop and she could get the feel even while resting or lying down. Steps to be taken by women during dizziness: Women must sit down or lie down immediately if she gets dizzy or head spinning. She must focus on a stationary object and breathe slowly. It would be good to eat some snacks or drink water if dizziness is due to low sugar levels. Sudden movements must be avoided without fail. If needed, it is necessary for women to hold on to some support also. Please take care.

In countries like Iran, India and Afghanistan etc, muskmelons are found is well known to us. They belong to the family Cucurbitaceae. Musk word in muskmelon is a Persian word referring to strong sweet aroma or perfume. Melon is French and it comes from the Greek or Latin word melonem or fruit.  Not many of us are aware of the fact that intake of muskmelon can be superb for our health. This could be due to the presence of many ingredients in musk melon like water, dietary fibre, vitamins like A and C, minerals like potassium, iron, copper, magnesium and antioxidants like beta carotene etc.  Health benefits of consuming muskmelons are                 Boosts heart health: Our heart health would get boosted if we consume muskmelon seeds that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. By this, the risk of various heart diseases would be lowered. The heart muscles in us would be in a relaxed state and due to this we would have less chances of getting strokes, heart attacks etc. Improves digestion: Our digestive health would get better by intake of muskmelon seeds. Here, the dietary fibres present in the seeds play a huge role. The fibres would help us in regular bowel movements and by this constipation would be avoided. Boosts immunity: The immunity in us would get improved by the intake of muskmelon seeds. This is due to the presence of vitamin C and other antioxidants in the fruit. We would be able to avoid many infections and diseases etc. Good for skin health: By consuming muskmelon seeds, it would be possible to protect skin damage due to various factors. This would be due to the presence of vitamins like A, C and E. Collagen would be produced by intake of muskmelon seeds and this would slow down the skin ageing process. Helps in weight loss: Losing excess weight is not easy and intake of muskmelon seeds would be useful in this. The dietary fibres in these seeds would make us feel full for a long duration. This would help us to avoid unnecessary foods. This would help me lose weight loss in a healthier manner. Lowers inflammation: We can get inflammation in us due to many reasons. Intake of muskmelon seeds having many antioxididants would lower inflammation in us. This would further help us to avoid chronic diseases etc. Good for bone health: The minerals like phosphorus, magnesium and calcium that are needed for good bone health are present in plenty in muskmelon seeds. When we consume muskmelon seeds, our bone strength would improve and we would not get issues like osteoporosis etc. Improves hair health: By providing good strength to the hair follicles, hair health would get boosted and this would occur by consuming muskmelon seeds. Our scalp health would be maintained due to the presence of vitamins. Good for eye health: The vitamin A that is present in muskmelon seeds would be superb for eye health. The presence of antioxidants like beta carotene and zeaxanthin would boost vision and promote good ocular health.

Can you guess the food that is most commonly eaten during breakfast in many homes? The answer is egg and it is one of the primary sources of proteins. The eggs can be consumed either boiled or fried or as omelette also. Health benefits of eating eggs are plenty. Intake of eggs would improve heart health, improve eye health, boost brain health etc. This is due to the presence of many ingredients in eggs like proteins, vitamins A, B, D, E, K, folate etc. Bitter fact is that eggs are not for everybody though they are versatile and healthy. There are some people who are allergic to eggs and these people must refrain from eating eggs. Why do egg allergies occur? It is worthy to note here that when our immune system mistakenly identifies the proteins in the eggs as harmful foreign invaders then egg allergy occurs in us. As per a research study conducted in 2012 it was confirmed that in infants and young children hen`s egg allergy is the second most common food allergy after cow`s milk allergy. Truth is that 0.5% to 2.5% of kids are allergic to eggs. Not only kids, even adults are allergic to eggs and they could develop this problem later on in their lives. It is learnt that 70% of the children with egg allergy would outgrow the condition by the age of 16. Symptoms of egg allergy: Those who are allergic to eggs would show various signs or symptoms such as hives, rashes, swelling, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, running nose, cough, wheezing etc. Sometimes, eating eggs could lead to anaphylaxis in some persons and this is a medical emergency. Difference between egg allergy and egg intolerance: Another term that is being used frequently in association with eggs is egg intolerance. Egg allergy is different from egg intolerance. While the former refers to immune systems overreaction to proteins present in the eggs but latter refers to symptoms related to digestion and do not include an immune reaction. Managing egg allergy: It was mentioned by a famous dietician from Faridabad based hospital that there is no cure for egg allergy and the only way to manage this is by totally avoiding eggs/ egg products of all types. Managing egg allergy can be done by checking the food labels carefully. It is also good to bake with substitutes like chia seeds, flaxseeds etc.

Have you ever experienced a headache after tying your hair very tightly that is in a ponytail hairstyle? Have you ever thought about what could be the real reason behind this type of headache? It has been brought to light by some dermatologists that it is a real phenomenon termed as ponytail headache or it is also called as external compression headache. Why does ponytail cause headaches actually? It is worthy to note that when we tie our hairs too tightly, the scalp and hair follicles etc would be kept under tension.  Truth is that yanking or pulling hairs too tightly all of a sudden would stimulate the nerve endings on the scalp and produce pain messages. This would be shown as headaches. Our scalp is very sensitive and repeatedly pulling hairs through the ponytail could engage blood vessels and nerve elements resulting in headaches. The shocking piece of information is that in some persons even combing activity can cause headaches. Various factors involved are: Nerve sensitivity- Scalp tightness can result in overstimulation of sensory nerves. Muscle strain- Small muscle of the hair follicles would get stretched due to repeated tension and this can cause headaches. Hair density and weight- Those with denser and longer hairs have more chances of getting ponytail headaches due to weight contributing to tension. Longer time of hairstyles – Headaches can occur due to having a tight hairstyle for a longer time period. The hairstyle is too tight and would be known by certain signs like pain, a delayed headache, redness on the scalp, aching dullness worsening over time etc. It was revealed by a research study in 2004 that out of 93 females as many as 50 women reported headaches due to ponytail hairstyle. It was found out that headache was present in the hair tie area in 10 cases whereas others felt pain in the vertex, forehead, temples, neck, parietal region etc. The surprising piece of information is that loosening of the ponytail relieved headache immediately in 4 cases, within 30 minutes in 32, within an hour in 5 and 9 were unsure of the duration of time.  How to avoid ponytail headaches? It would be possible to avoid getting headaches due to tight ponytail type hairstyles by loosening up the hairstyle, by changing hairstyles, by using relaxing accessories, by hair follicle care etc.

Babies are very precious to their parents. Do you know when parents would feel happy regarding their babies? They would feel happy when they come to know that their baby is healthy and growing perfectly. The parents would feel reassured when they see their baby is growing perfectly. Important signs that newborn is growing perfectly are Sleeping 14 -17 hours per day: The bodies of babies are developing and their brains are maturing. As a result, the babies sleep a lot in a day. Truth is that sleeping is essential for memory, body repair and brain functions etc. Frequent hiccups: It is true that newborns would get frequent hiccups and this would indicate that the baby is growing perfectly. The hiccups in the babies would be due to the underdevelopment of diaphragm. The hiccups in the babies are normal and harmless. Feeding every 1 to 2 hours: It must be noted that the stomach of babies is small and it would be able to digest milk rapidly. It is due to this reason that mothers must feed their newborn every 1 to 2 hours in a day for the sake of adequate calories and nutrients for normal growth. Sleep smiling: During the rapid eye movement or REM period, sleep smiling would occur in the babies. Working brain development is indicated by this. Crying while urinating: The babies would cry while urinating and this would occur for a short time. It is worthy to note that in the babies the response is due to a new sensation and it is normal. Parents must consult a doctor if the baby cries persistently. Frequent sneezing: A mechanism by which the body expels mucus, milk, dust etc from the nasal passage is sneezing. It is brought out that in the babies this reflex would maintain healthy and clean airways. Steady weight gain: One important predictable sign of baby development is regular weight gain. It is worthy to note that a baby would regain birth weight in 10 to 14 days and would gain 150 to 200gms per week in the initial months. Baby acne: Due to maternal hormones, neonatal acne can occur on the face of the baby. Truth is that baby acne is not dangerous and would go away after a few weeks. Noisy sleeping: Newborns while sleeping would make sounds like grunting, squeaking etc. It is worthy to note here that these sounds are produced as the nervous system of the newborn matures and the baby adjusts to breathing and digesting.

In the monsoon season, have you felt tired, sluggish and puffy? Monsoon season not only brings a welcome break from heat but also diseases etc too. Water retention in the monsoon season would make us feel uncomfortable due to swelling in the legs, weight gain etc. It is worthy to note that by eating the right kind of food and following simple habits we would be able to reduce water retention in us, especially in the monsoon season. Reason for water retention in monsoon season: Our body`s ability to regulate fluids would get regulated due to humidity in the monsoon season. As a result, water would get trapped in our tissues. There are also other reasons for water retention in the monsoon season and these are intake of salty foods, absence or reduction of physical activity, irregular hydration and sluggish kind of digestion etc. Various signs or water retention in us are swelling in the ankles, feet etc, puffiness in face/eyes,  sudden weight gain, feeling of heaviness etc. Various foods to eat to lower water retention in the monsoon season are Intake of cucumber: It is noteworthy that cucumbers are the simplest and most effective foods to eat to lower water retention in us. By eating cucumber with high water content excess sodium would be flushed out of the body. It is known that sodium can lead to water retention in us. In the humid months, intake of cucumber could cause a soothing cooling effect on the digestive system. Intake of bananas: For regulating water balance in us, consuming bananas would be amazing. It is learnt that bananas rich in potassium would counter sodium and prevent water retention in us. In addition, bananas are gentle on the stomach plus would provide us energy. Intake of watermelon: Especially in the rainy or monsoon weather, few fruits like watermelon would feel satisfying for us. By consuming watermelons rich in water content would help the body to flush out excess fluids through urination. Natural antioxidants present in watermelon would support digestion and boost hydration. Intake of coconut water: Especially in the monsoon season, if there is a drink that can be an alternative or substitute for sugary drinks then it is coconut water. It has been brought out by research study in 2021 ththat coconut water would replenish electrolytes like potassium and magnesium etc and acts as a mild diuretic. Intake of bottle gourd: It must be taken into account that bottle gourd or lauki can be a superb remedy for water retention. By regulating fluids and supporting digestion, bottle gourd plays a huge role. Bottle gourd can be consumed in the monsoon season. Intake of yoghurt: By promoting gut health and indirectly controlling water retention, yoghurt does superbly in the monsoon season.  It must be noted that a healthy gut would improve digestion and would prevent sluggish/ bloated kind of feeling in the damp weather. Intake of green tea: It was revealed in a study in 2019 that green tea is diuretic and would help in the removal of excess water. The antioxidants in the green tea would support digestion and immunity etc. By drinking a cup of green tea, we could reduce puffiness and heaviness due to water retention in the body in the monsoon season.

Belonging to the family Linaceae, flax seeds or linseed is a flowering plant and is mostly seen growing in temperate climates across the world. Flaxseeds are known as Alsi in Hindi language. It is good to consume one to two teaspoons of ground flaxseeds every day. Intake of flaxseeds every day could improve our health in numerous ways. That is due to the presence of many nutrients in it.  Various nutrients present in the flaxseeds are fibres, proteins, carbs, minerals like copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc etc. Moreover, flax seeds also have vitamin B6, folate etc. Health benefits of intake of flaxseeds every day are Boosts heart health: The omega 3 fatty acids rich (ALA or alpha linoleic acid) flaxseeds would boost our heart health. It must be noted that intake of these seeds would lower inflammation and prevents atherosclerosis. It has been brought out by research that daily intake of ALA rich flax seeds would lead to reduced death due to heart disease. Protect against cancer: Here, lignans present in flaxseeds play a big role due to their cancer fighting properties. Research study has revealed that intake of flaxseeds could be beneficial against various types of cancers like colon, lung, blood and skin etc. Prevents constipation in us: The fibre rich flax seeds would be superb for us and we could avoid issues like constipation etc. It is known that constipation refers to difficult and irregular bowel movements. There are many people who suffer from this issue. Our gut health would be superb by intake of flaxseeds having both soluble and insoluble fibres. Lowers cholesterol levels: Consuming flax seeds everyday would lower the bad cholesterol in us.  This would help in improving our heart health. Lowers blood pressure:  Having high blood would be dangerous and it could result in many complications. Intake of flaxseeds every day would help us to lower BP and this would prevent us from serious issues like heart attack strokes etc. Controls diabetes: Like BP, diabetes has now become a very common issue. Managing or controlling diabetes or high blood sugar levels is essential for our lives to be normal and safe. In this regard, intake of flaxseeds daily would be superb.b. The soluble fibre present in flaxseeds would lower the blood sugar levels in us. Helps in weight management: Weight gain or weight increase would be dangerous as it could lead to many health issues in us. Many of us struggle to lose our excess weight. In this regard, consuming flax seeds daily would help us. The digestion would get slowed down due to the soluble fibres in the flaxseeds. Feeling of fullness would get more and by this we would not consume excess foods. By this, we could lose excess weight also. Important note: Intake of flaxseeds is not for everyone. It must be noted that those persons who are taking blood thinner medicines, those with digestive issues like inflammatory bowel disease, pregnant and breast feeding women etc. Those persons who are allergic to flax seeds must refrain from consuming flaxseeds.

Who said hernia can occur in men only? It is true that not only men but also women can get hernia in them.  Especially in women, the symptoms of hernia would be subtle when compared to the symptoms in men. This could make the woman mistake hernia to bloating, menstrual cramps etc. The hernia in women doesn`t get diagnosed until it becomes a serious issue for them. If the women could know about the early warning signs of hernia it could make a huge difference. Some signs of hernia in women are dull pain in the lower abdomen, pressure and discomfort etc. Types of hernias: There are 2 main types of hernia in women such as umbilical hernia and femoral hernia. The hernia that would occur in the upper part of thighs is femoral hernia. Sometimes, hernia can occur around the belly button or navel and this is umbilical hernia. There are also other types like incisional hernia, ventral hernia and hiatal hernia etc. It was later explained by a popular hernia surgeon from Mumbai based hospital that hernias could occur if the muscles in the belly wall becomes weak. The internal organs would start pushing through the weak spot. Important piece of information is that pregnancy, being obese, frequent coughing etc could cause or worsen weakening. Truth is that these vague signs are often mistaken for PCOS, endometriosis, indigestion etc.   Umbilical hernias would develop in women after pregnancy and would go unnoticed as the woman would be busy with childcare and other household chores etc. Seeking medical help would be delayed. Only when pain arises or when complications get worse, women would seek the attention of a doctor etc. Recommendation of surgery: When medical treatment is not effective then surgical procedure is used to treat hernia. Surgery would be needed for incarceration and strangulation of hernia. Incarceration:  In the abdominal wall in women, tissue would get trapped and cannot be pushed back again and this is incarceration. This would require surgery. Strangulation of hernia: Truth is that strangulation could result in permanent damage and could be a serious life threatening issue. If there is acute pain, fever etc, women must seek medical help immediately. Surgery for hernia: There are 2 types of treatment foror hernias like open surgery and laparoscopic method. In the former, a cut is made over hernia and hernia is pushed back and muscle is closed with stitches. Recurrence of hernia is prevented with the use of mesh. In the laparoscopic method, cuts are made and the camera is inserted with other tools inside the abdomen. For better visibility, the area is inflated with gas and a mesh is placed for extra support. The downtime in case of open surgery would be longer than that of laparoscopic surgery. The patients would return to normal activities within a week. Based on the location of hernia, size etc, choice of surgery would be chosen.