Health News

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.

Dyspepsia or upset stomach is pain in the upper part of the abdomen. Many experience an upset stomach and they find it uncomfortable. It must be noted that an uncomfortable and upset stomach would lead to discomfort, bloating, nausea etc. Upset stomach can be due to various reasons and these are infectious diarrhoea, peptic ulcer disease, food allergies and intolerances, dietary habits, malignancy and lifestyle variables etc.   There are naturally available drinks that can heal the upset stomach faster and these are   By consuming peppermint tea: To reduce the digestive issues in us, peppermint tea has been used for many decades. It is worthy to note that peppermint tea has antibacterial, antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anaesthetic properties in it. Truth is that food pipes uncomfortable muscle contractions can be eased by peppermint tea intake. By consuming figs smoothie: There are certain compounds present in figs and these could help us to get relief from dyspepsia. It is possible to make fig smoothie by combining 2 pieces of soaked figs with 2 cups of water. Point to be taken into note is that due to the laxative property of figs people must not drink fig smoothies if they have diarrhoea issues also. By consuming aloe vera juice: By consuming aloe vera juice, symptoms related to colitis and IBS can be reduced. It must be noted that issues like heartburn, flatulence, belching and nausea etc can be reduced also. By consuming ginger tea: One of the most effective ways to treat an upset stomach is by intake of ginger tea. It is believed that the anti-inflammatory properties of ginger tea could make the stomach calm. Not only as tea, but ginger can also be taken as chew or supplement also. This tea would improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol and BP. By consuming chamomile tea: It is noteworthy that an upset stomach could be reduced by consuming chamomile tea. The anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile play a role here. There are other benefits of drinking this tea and these are lowering stress and anxiety, boosting immunity etc. By consuming ACV: It is also revealed that intake of ACV or apapple cider vinegar could help us to get relief from an upset stomach. If ACV concentration is too high, then it can be mixed with water and honey and then consumed. Drinking ACV could lower cholesterol and boost the immune system etc also. By consuming carbonated beverages: Many drink carbonated beverages as it can treat an upset stomach effectively by calming down the stomach. Truth is that drinking carbonated beverages would help in the release of stomach pressure by burping. Bitter fact is that for some persons drinking carbonated drinks can increase acidity and gas issues. 

One of the embarrassing issues that some of us have but don`t talk or share with others is urinary incontinence or urine leaking.  While laughing or sneezing etc, some people would leak urine. This is a urinary incontinence issue. It is true that these people need not always live with this kind of issue in them. Truth is that by following the right lifestyle they would be able to lower this issue and feel confident. There are certain superb ways by which urinary incontinence issues could be managed. In other words, there are ways by which loss of bladder control could be avoided.  By strengthening pelvic floor: Not many would know that doing pelvic exercises are one of the best long term solutions for urinary incontinence problems. With regular training, the pelvic floor would get stronger. Urine leaks can be avoided by squeezing and holding for a few seconds daily. By training bladder: This is also one important method to manage urinary incontinence issues. Bladder training would help us if we have a constant urge to rush to the bathroom. It must be taken into account that those with poor bladder control must try slowly increasing the time between bathroom visits by a few minutes every week. By this, balder would be trained to hold urine for longer periods. By watching what we drink: Though we must hydrate throughout the day we must try to avoid drinking too much caffeine or fizzy drinks etc. These drinks could irritate our urinary bladder. Instead we could drink water or herbal teas etc. By managing weight: There would be extra pressure on the bladder and pelvic floor etc when we are overweight. Therefore, even small loss would help us to have good control over the urinary bladder. By quitting smoking: By smoking, we could get chronic coughing. Over a long time, this could weaken our pelvic muscles. It is true that by saying no to smoking we could reduce both coughing as well as urine leaks etc. By keeping constipation in check: Our pelvic floor would become weak if we strain too much in the toilet. In other words, due to constipation our pelvic floor would become weak. By eating fibre rich fruits, vegetables s etc, we could avoid constipation and urine leaking issues also. So, please take care. By staying active: It is worthy to note that low impact exercises such as walking, yoga etc would help us to maintain healthy weight. Therefore we must try to avoid high impact workouts like heavy jumping etc as they would cause urine to leak out. By wearing right clothes: It is good to use liners or absorbent underwear if you work on bladder strengthening. There are products available that are comfortable and would help us to stay confident in the public. By seeking medical help: There is no use if we remain silent due to the urine leaking issue. It is essential to go to a doctor for treatment. The doctors could provide medications, physiotherapy etc for this issue.

Not only monsoon can bring high humidity but it can also bring many infections etc especially in the diabetic persons. Hence, these persons must be very careful. It is worthy to note that the monsoon would provide an ideal environment for the infections to grow. Those with diabetic conditions would get affected if they commute to work in the torrential rains etc. These persons could get gangrene in their legs, toes etc. It was revealed by a famous vascular surgeon from Chembur based hospital that highest risk factors for gangrene include undiagnosed diabetes, high humidity and poor hygiene etc. He spoke about how gangrene in the legs could be a life threatening condition and it would need amputation of legs. What is gangrene? Death of body tissue due to poor blood supply is gangrene or it could be a serious bacterial infection. Risk factors of gangrene: It must be noted that there are certain risk factors that can lead to gangrene in us. These are poor blood circulation due to diabetes condition, open wounds or ulcers, wet shoes, socks etc fungal or bacterial infections and weak immune system. Symptoms of gangrene: Persons would show several symptoms like numbness or pain in the toes and legs, skin becoming black/blue etc, foul smelling discharge, fever, swelling etc. Complications of gangrene: Bitter fact is that persons with gangrene could get complications like sepsis, tissue loss, amputation of legs to save the lives of affected persons. How diabetic persons can avoid leg gangrene during monsoons: Firstly, persons with diabetic condition must keep their legs clean and dry. Changing wet shoes and socks etc is essential. Those with diabetic must inspect their legs for cuts, blisters or change in colour etc. It is necessary to wear footwear even while walking inside the home. Finally, it is essential for the diabetics to maintain good control over their blood sugar levels. How to detect gangrene: Blood tests, tissue or fluid culture and imaging tests etc can be used to detect gangrene in persons. Treatment: It would not be possible to save the tissue that has been damaged by gangrene but gangrene can be prevented from spreading by treatment. Doctors would prescribe medicines such as antibiotics etc. Surgical procedure is also used to treat gangrene. By means of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, more oxygen would be carried by the blood. Point is that this hyperbaric oxygen therapy would last for 90 minutes.

Have you stepped into the cold shower and felt uncomfortable then you are not alone!! A natural wellness routine that has been making many heads turn these days is cold showers. It is noteworthy that cold showers can boost both physical as well as mental wellbeing of an individual. There are numerous health benefits of cold showers which we might not be aware of. Cold showers can lower inflammation, boost immunity, boost circulation, stimulate metabolism, improve kidney health etc. From a mental health aspect, cold showers can boost our mood, reduce anxiety and stress etc. How would a cold shower be beneficial for our heart health? Enhanced circulation and vascular health: Point to be noted is that alternating vasoconstriction and vasodilation would improve blood circulation. Toxins etc would get flushed out. Oxygen rich blood would be delivered to the tissues. It must be taken into note that improved blood circulation would support organ functions and lowers fatigue feeling etc. Boosted metabolism and calorie burning: When we take cold showers, brown adipose tissue would get activated and heat would get generated by burning of calories. By this, metabolic rate would get increased and weight would get managed in us. By this our heart health would get better. By regularly exposing us to cold showers, insulin sensitivity would get enhanced and inflammation would get reduced. Finally, metabolic and heart function would get support. Lowers inflammation: Chronic inflammation would lead to heart disease is known. Superb piece of information is that cold showers would lower the inflammation in us. Muscle soreness etc would get reduced and there would be speedy recovery after exercise. Stress reduction etc: When we expose ourselves to cold showers regularly, then our cortisol levels would reduce. By this, our heart health would benefit as blood pressure would get reduced. It is worthy to note that many persons had improved mood after cold showers due to release of happy hormones or endorphins How would our heart get affected due to a cold shower? Sudden hypertension or BP: By exposure to cold showers suddenly, we could have a spike in the blood pressure or BP. This could be a serious issue. Arrhythmias and heart beat disorders: In sensitive individuals, sudden exposure to cold showers could lead to irregular heartbeats or arrhythmia. Coronary heart disease: It must be noted that vasoconstriction would reduce the flow of blood in the already narrowed arteries. By this, there are more chances of angina or heart attacks etc. Safe incorporation of cold showers every day: It is necessary to start cold shower exposure gradually. Beginning with warm water and slowly lowering the temperature over several days etc would be good. It is necessary to aim for short exposure to cold showers. Exposure to cold showers must be stopped immediately if there is dizziness etc. Consulting a doctor would be important especially for those who have heart disease, high BP or other respiratory issues etc. Please take care. 

In today`s hurry burry world, the majority of us do not have time at our disposal even to take care of our own health. In such a scenario, not many of us would be aware of nigella seeds or kalonji seeds that could be superb for our health. Nigella sativa or kalonji seeds belong to the family named Ranunculaceae and they are annual flowering plants.  They are found in western Asia, Cyprus and Turkey etc. Point is that kalonji seeds, fennel seeds and celery have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for many decades. These three can be roasted lightly and consumed before bed. How to consume roasted nigella seeds On a low flame for about 15 minutes, roast one teaspoon of nigella or kalonji seeds and then consume the seeds in lukewarm water before sleep. What happens when we consume a spoon of roasted nigella seeds before bed? Keeps digestive system in good health: When we eat roasted nigella seeds before bed, the fibre and antioxidants that are present in the seeds would help us to avoid digestion issues like gas, constipation, indigestion etc. our intestines would be kept clean by eating these roasted seeds daily. We would have a good appetite for food. Strengthens our immune system: Here, the antiviral and antibacterial properties of nigella seeds play a huge role. Our immunity would be strengthened by the intake of roasted nigella seeds. For those persons who get affected frequently by cold, cough etc, these kalonji seeds would be superb. Controls blood sugar and cholesterol: For many of us, diabetes and high cholesterol levels are two huge issues. The presence of thymoquinone in nigella or kalonji seeds would help us to manage diabetes well. By consuming roasted nigella seeds before bed daily, our bad cholesterol or LDL would be reduced and good cholesterol would be enhanced. By this, our heart health would be good. Good for the skin and hair etc: Not many would know that intake of roasted nigella seeds would be good for skin and hair health. Our hair roots would get strengthened by consuming roasted nigella seeds daily before bed. Our skin would get a natural glow.

Have you ever heard about forever chemicals? Truth is that forever chemicals are present from the water we drink to the food we eat and even in our cells etc. The important question now is can these forever chemicals trigger any health issue in us? In a recent study, it was found that these forever chemicals are linked to type 2 diabetes. Shocking isn`t it?? USA based Mount Sinai researchers have identified a close association between forever chemicals and type-2 diabetes and their findings have been published in eBioMedicine journal. In the 1940s, forever chemicals were developed and they have become part of our lives. It must be noted that forever chemicals or PFA or per and poly fluoro alkyl substances belong to the class of synthetic chemicals. They are said to be resistant to heat, oil and water. Point to be noted is that these PFAs are used in products ranging from Teflon pans, cosmetics, dental floss etc. In other words, PFAs are present in non-stick cookware to stain resistant furniture etc. A link between PFAs and type- 2 diabetes has been identified by the researchers now. According to the researchers, exposure to PFAs could lead to type-2 diabetes in humans. Metabolic irregularities in amino acid biosynthesis and drug metabolism and might explain how PFAs could affect our body`s ability to regulate blood sugar. What work do the researchers do? It is learnt that the researchers looked at the data of more than 70000 study participants who have sought care at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City from 2007 onwards.  It is noteworthy that the researchers analysed as many as180 people who were diagnosed with type-2 diabetes or T2D and compared them with those who did not have T2D. For analysing PFAs, the researchers took blood samples from these persons. Inference from the study: It has been brought to light by the researchers that the high levels of PFAs have been associated with greater risk of developing type-2 diabetes. They have found out that increased exposure to PFAs would lead to 31% increased risk of getting type-2 diabetes. It was later explained by Vishal Midya, PhD, MStat, who is the corresponding author and assistant professor of environmental medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital that PFAs were synthetic chemicals resistant to heat, water and oil etc. He added that these chemicals are present in everyday products of the consumer. HeHe concluded that since these chemicals do not break up easily they accumulate in the environment/ human bodies etc. Importance of the research study: Point is that this study emphasizes the importance of preventing exposure to PFAs to promote public health. With the help of the findings, it would be possible to design more effective interventions for early prevention of type-2 diabetes.

Nothing can bring more joy and happiness for a parents or couple than watching their babies grow before their eyes!! The growth of a baby would have numerous sweet memories for the parents like seeing their baby smile and seeing the first teeth etc. The appearance of teeth in the baby for the very first time can not only bring happiness for the parents but also tears, drool, and sleepless nights for the newborn as well as parents. Teething in babies: There are some babies who do not have teeth even when they are one year old. It must be noted that by the third month itself babies would put their fingers in their mouths and have excess saliva coming out of their mouths. The first teeth in the baby would come out after 6 months in most babies. By the time the babies turn 3 yr of age, they would have almost all their teeth. Common signs: Parents must watch out for these common signs of teething in their babies. These signs are irritability, fussiness, swollen gums, excess drooling, chewing objects and disturbed sleep patterns etc. Finally, some babies might even have a slight rise in the temperature. How to make a teething baby comfortable? It is true that teething is a difficult stage for the babies. Hence it is the duty of the parents to make their babies comfortable. Point is that parents can provide teething toys to their babies. Secondly, parents can gently massage their baby`s gums. Parents can provide extra comfort, cuddles, play time etc. This would reduce the irritability and fuzziness of the babies. Cold compress can also be applied on the baby`s gums to comfort them. Consulting a paediatrician is very essential for the parents if teething causes significant pain in their babies. Important note for parents: Parents must be aware of the difference between teething and ear infection in their babies. The reason for this is both teething as well as ear infection can have similar kinds of symptoms in the babies. The parents must be able to differentiate teething and ear infections. Babies with ear infections and teething might show similar symptoms crying, fuzziness, bringing their hands to mouth, change in eating and sleeping patterns etc. Babies with ear infections alone would show symptoms like high fever, severe pain plus fluid from ears and difficulty in responding to sounds etc.