Health Anaemia

How To Attract A Man- Healthy Hair & Better Cosmetic Appearance

2010-08-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Having long, beautiful, shiny hair is every man & lady's dream. It gives a glamorous, sexy appearance. Its equally important for a man to have nice hair which a part of his personality. Well-groomed hair is an important part of personality.
Hair loss & premature graying of hair are becoming increasingly common in younger generation. Brittle, thin hair leading to hair fall is seen commonly. We see many youngsters with receding hair line & some with baldness. Baldness & premature graying of hair in young has become a serious cosmetic problem. One feels very bad if one sees young people with hair wig. Some develop patches of baldness
You have to check following -
. Polluted water & environmental pollution, excess stress are responsible for hair loss
. Avoid using hard water (which has many chemicals) for washing hair. Due to industrialization, problem of polluted water is increasing. Use boiled & cooled water for hair wash. If you reside near industrial area, you have to be careful
. Avoid too hot water for hair wash.
General health & diet
. General health should be good. People with good general health are more likely to have healthy silky hair ( exceptions exist)
. Eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, milk, dairy products, curds, eggs. These will provide proteins, vitamins, minerals.
. Eggs & milk provide high quality proteins. Balanced diet provides proper nutrition for hair.
. Amla juice is very good.
. Such nutrition will also help in having healthy glowing skin
. Biotin (vitamin H, vitamin B7) , vitamin B6, zinc, keratin are essential for healthy, long hair
. Avoid junk food. Healthy diet is the secret for healthy, long, silky hair
Stress is harmful for hair
. Avoid mental & emotional stress
. Avoid too strong hair dyes for premature graying of hair. These dyes will prove harmful
. Apply coconut/ almond/ brahmi (herb with Ayurvedic medicinal properties) oil daily with head massage so that oil can give nourishment to hair root
. Apply mixture of egg, curds, lemon to hair & keep for 1 hour
. Be gentle while cleaning & drying hair. Avoid forceful rubbing
. Use shikakai, herbal shampoo containing amla to wash hair
. Certain yogasanas ( Shirshasan) help in improving blood supply to head & scalp. Do yoga regularly
. See that you don't get dandruff. If you have it, get treated. Use medicated shampoos like nizral, scalp, which contain ketoconazole ( antifungal drug). Apply antifungal shampoo 3-4 times a week. Use shampoo containing ZPTO. Use selsun shampoo.
. Take vitamin B complex & iron supplements if you have anemia
. Consult hair / beauty expert to know which shampoo is suitable for you

Stretch marks during pregnancy- Causes & solutions

2009-05-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Very rapid weight gain is to be avoided. Excess weight gain & higher levels of hormones causes Stretch marks appear on the abdomen, breasts and thighs. Gentle exercise during pregnancy can reduce formation of Stretch marks. Its all related with skin elasticity
Stretch marks will fade slowly. It may leave behind a silvery white color. Marks while healing cause scar formation. Natural collagen production gets affected
Don't touch frequently. Apply soothening creams & moisturisers.
. Add nuts and seeds in your diet. Both are rich in zinc and are known to reduce stretch marks
. Don't use any over-the-counter anti-stretch mark creams without consulting your doctor as most are ineffective and often costly.
Read -
Common problems & their solution during pregnancy
I will suggest simple home remedies for pregnancy related stretch mark
1. Apply egg white on stretch marks. Allow it to dry. Wash it with cold water.
2. Use fresh cream of milk, gram flour (besan), and turmeric powder. Apply this mixture. Wash it after 10 minutes
Radio Frequency and Laser ( pulse dye laser, excimer laser treatments ) are tried as new method.
Use tanning lotion or cream is suggested for silvery white color marks.
Aloe vera, Sandalwood or cucumber Gel is also recommended. Vitamin E creams are useful.
Include foods high in vitamins A and C, zinc in diet.
Dermabrasion, chemical peels -Dermatologist will decide about this.
Dermabrasion has been used predominantly to treat acne scars, small pox /chicken pox marks with promising results
Sagging skin & severe wrinkles do not respond well to chemical peels.
Chemical solutions used are -
. Trichloroacetic acid

. Glycolic acid,
. Carbolic acid (phenol)

Family planning methods to enjoy sex life

2009-05-13T06:06:00.001-07:00

Family planning operation in male is called as vasectomy & in female as tubectomy. Tubectomy can be done either by opening abdomen or laparoscopic method. Laparoscopic method is preferred now. Both, vasectomy & tubectomy are safe. Couple has to discuss & decide. One myth about vasectomy is that man's sexual potency may decrease after surgery. This is totally wrong. Vasectomy doesn't make a man impotent or it doesn't affect sperm count. Man can start working after a few ( within 1 week) days. Both these surgeries are included in national Family planning programme & available free of cost in Govt recognized centres. These are very safe & done under sedation & local anaesthesia. One can start work after a few days. Rarely one can develop complication like skin infection. One more rare possibility is risk of peritonitis in ladies. After completing family, couple should undergo Family planning operation to prevent longterm side effects of oral contraceptive pills. Also use of condom will take away the pleasure in sex.
Both surgeries are irreversible. In rare instances, doctor can try reopening of fallopian tubes foe special cases like couple who lost their only child & is not ready for adoption.
Another advantage of Family planning operation is that chances of failure are very less. So couple can enjoy sex life without fear & stress of getting pregnant

Pregnancy diet

2009-05-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Eat bananas daily. It has a lot of Calcium and Potassium which prevents muscle cramps in the legs. During pregnancy due to fluctuating hormones, cramps in the legs can occur.
Eat rich fiber food content like green vegetables, fresh fruits, green salads, whole grains etc.
Folate comes from citrus fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts and whole grains. Enough of this vitamin may even prevent neural tube related birth defects like spina bifida in the first trimester

Hair loss - Baldness

2009-05-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

1. Water impurities cause hair fall. Impurities come through industrial waste. certain elements like mercury, selenium, lead cause hair fall. this is about people in cities. What about village people? Wells contain water with heavy metals. Find out if your area of residence is very close to the industrial area. If you think water is the culprit, use filtered water to wash hair.
2. Control dandruff if you have. You can use medicated shampoo like -
a. Containing fluconazole - Nizral, scalpe,
b. Selsun
c. ZPTO
3. Don;t rub hair very forcefully while cleaning
4. Do you have a family history of hair fall? Whether your father lost hair at younger age? Heredity also has a role.
5. Excess stress can cause hair fall.
6. Excess male hormone testosterone can cause hair fall.
7. Use jasmine, hibiscus oil
8. Use shikakai
9. Include food containing biotin, pantothenic acid in diet. Take vitamin supplements.
Its better if you consult a dermatologist / physician.
Read -
Healthy, shiny, silky hair- Prevent hair loss

Prevent hair fall

Sickle cell anaemia, piles

2009-05-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

In Sickle cell anaemia ,RBC's (red blood cells) are fragile & become sickle shaped.Their oxygen carrying capacity is poor.The disease has variants like
1)Sickle cell trait
For worms drugs like mebendazole ,albendazole are useful.
For correction of piles,surgical consultation should be made.This is an important cause of blood loss.
Read -

Sitz bath for piles

One should eat nonveg diet adequate so that he gets vit B12 as veg diet contains very less amounts of vit B12.
Certain drugs like primaquine which is used in Rx of malaria can cause bone marrow toxicity.

Causes of gum bleeding & treatment

2009-04-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

This may be due to -
1. Scurvy -
This occurs due to vitamin c deficiency. One gets tender swollen painful gums. Such gums become very sensitive & bleed easily.
2. Don't use very hard brush. Use soft brush
3. Regularly include lemon, amla, citrus fruits in diet.
4. Don't brush forcefully. Brush is for teeth & not for gums. Direction of brush movement should be vertical & correct. Consult a dentist
5. Do gentle gum massage daily 2-3 times with finger.
6. If these steps don't help, consult a dentist to see if you have any disease.
7. Take vitamin c tablet like Celin / chewcee 500 mg / day.
8. Other rare causes are -
bleeding & clotting disorders or blood cancer- Do you get more bleeding after injury which does not stop easily? If this is true, then consult a hematologist. Get total & differential blood cell counts done.
9. Don't cook vegetables too much. Eat destroys vitamin C
Read more -

Eat Vitamins & Remain Young

Delay Aging

Breast feeding Protects Against Breast Cancer

2009-03-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

Advantages of Breast feeding

1. Breast feeding will help you to reduce body fat that gets stored during the pregnancy.

2. Breast feeding protects one from getting breast cancer. This has been proven by science. Christian nuns who don’t have children have more chances of developing breast cancer. Ladies who voluntarily don't have children and ladies who are infertile also have more chances of developing breast cancer. Research in developed countries like US, UK, Canada has proved this.

3. Breast feeding helps in developing a bond between the baby and the mother. This “ bond of love and affection” is stronger than any other bond and formula milk can never provide this.

4. Breast feeding helps in gum development for the baby.

5. Breast feeding helps in emptying the breasts and reduces the chances of developing breast abscess, mastitis both of which are very painful conditions.

6. Breast feeding provides the most essential nutrients to the baby. Breast milk alone is sufficient for the baby up to the age of 5-6 months. Some mothers continue breast feeding up to 1 year. Most of the Pediatricians recommend to start “ weaning” after the age of 4 months.

7. Breast feeding provides antibodies from mother to the baby. This is an important advantage which increases the immunity ( ability to fight the diseases) of the baby. No formula milk can provide this. This aspect is so important that Pediatricians recommend breast feeding even though the mother is having diseases like chicken pox.

8. Breast feeding is the cheapest and the best food for the baby. Mother doesn’t have to take any extra efforts to produce breast milk. Breast milk is produced as a natural process.

9. Breast feeding prevents the risks associated with bottle feeding. These risks will be covered in next resource.

10. Breast feeding ladies automatically get some protection from the risk of getting pregnant again while they are breast feeding though this is not 100% reliable protection. This is a natural contraception.

11. Lactation helps in normal involution of the uterus. During pregnancy, the uterus enlarges in size. After delivery, slowly it comes back to its normal size. This process is known as involution of the uterus.

Who tends to avoid breast feeding and why?

Ladies who are beauty conscious generally avoid breast feeding. This is seen in affluent society or in case of celebrities. This is really wrong. Why?

1. Some ladies think that breast feeding will alter the shape of breasts, make breasts more flabby, etc. Breasts do contribute in a female's beauty and lady looking more sexier and glamorous. Properly shaped breasts do improve sex appeal. But all these reasons can’t justify avoiding breast feeding. Nature has made a female’s breast for breast feeding. The whole anatomy and physiology of the breast is suitable for breast feeding. Improving sex appeal and cosmetic appearance can be improved by using properly sized bracieres, breast pads, etc.

2. Breast feeding will help you to reduce body fat that gets stored during the pregnancy.

Will continuous breast feeding reduce my milk production or affect my health?

This is a common doubt which many ladies have. The answer is no. Breast milk is produced as a natural process and will continue till the lady continues breast feeding. Sucking of the nipple by baby itself acts as a stimulus for milk production. Some ladies produce breast milk up to 1 year.

What precautions and nutrition ladies should take while breast feeding?

1. Proper hygiene is very important. The lady should clean the breasts daily while having bath and also after every feeding. This is to prevent any skin related problems.

2. During lactation, body needs extra calories to produce milk. By taking consideration of your age and nutrition needs, you should have extra intake of iron, calcium, vitamin B complex, proteins, calories. You should have balanced, nutritious meals instead of sweets, oily foods, fast food, junk food.

3. Drink adequate milk – 2 glass / day. Include buttermilk, curds, paneer and other dairy products in diet.

4. Eat green leafy vegetables and fruits.

5. Ragi is a cheap and excellent source of calcium.

One should take calcium, iron, vitamin – folic acid supplements in the form of tablets / syrup.

6. Have regular morning walk or evening walk. This will prevent further weight gain.

Problems which ladies face during breast feeding will be covered in next resource

Who should avoid breast feeding?

1. Ladies who are HIV +ve should avoid breast feeding because the virus passes through breast milk and the baby can get infected.

Summary

All other advantages mentioned above explain the importance of breast feeding.
Breast milk is like " Amrit" for the baby. ( Literal meaning of the word "Amrit": ‘non-dead’or "without death". The water of life in Hindu mythology. The nectar of immortality, amrit. After drinking it, the gods regained their immortality and defeated the demons.)
Ladies who avoid breast feeding are actually depriving their baby from getting the most essential nutrients.

What Should Be The Contents Of A Vitamin Supplement

2009-03-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

Vitamin Supplement

Vitamin Supplement is available in the form of tablets and syrup.
Vitamin Supplement is one of the most common prescription that one can see.

In Which Conditions One Needs Vitamin Supplements

1. Tuberculosis

2. Chronic illnesses

3. Malnutrition

4. Before and After surgery

5. Recurrent infections

6. Convalescence

7. Growing children if balanced diet is not available

In all the conditions mentioned above, body needs extra energy and vitamins, minerals to maintain proper metabolism and enzyme function. In these conditions, body loses a lot of energy as metabolism is increased.

Why Vitamins Are So Vital

Read at -
vitamins

What Should Be The Contents Of A Vitamin Supplement

Let me first tell you a few abbreviations which I am going to use.

I.U.- International units
mg- milligram
microg-microgram

Ascorbic acid ( Vitamin C) - 150 -500 mg
Vitamin A Concentrate ( acetate form) - 5000-10000 IU
Thiamine Mononitrate - 10mg
Riboflavine - 10mg
Niacinamide - 45mg
Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12 ) - 45microg
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride - 3mg
Folic Acid - 1.5mg
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) - 15 mg
Copper - 2mg
Magnesium - 1.5mg
Selenium - 60 microg
Chromium - 50microg
Zinc - 15mg

Some Market Preparations

1. Becosules

2. Neurobion forte

3. Maximin forte by Anglo-French Pharmaceuticals

4. Healvit-AX

5. Lutivit

6. Cobadex forte by Glaxo

7. Supradyn by Bayer

Read more at -

Delay Aging

Anaemia

2008-11-13T09:37:00.001-08:00

In developed countries like India,anaemia is a major cause of mortality during pregnancy

Food Customs and preferences

Certain families don’t eat nonveg food. Actually during childhood, there is no harm in eating nonveg food. Child should eat nonveg food which is properly cooked. Nonveg food provides good quality proteins, vitamin B12 which is very essential. Good quality proteins are the building blocks of the body. Vitamin B12 is not available in large quantities in vegetarian food. Its deficiency leads to megaloblastic anaemia. Child should have nonveg soups like chicken soup and adequate fish.

Pregnancy & anaemia

2008-11-13T06:53:00.000-08:00

Pregnant ladies especially are supposed to be more careful as severe anaemia may need blood transfusion during delivery/caesarean section if there is a lot of blood loss. Therefore blood group testing is done routinely in pregnant ladies.

2008-10-11T23:55:00.000-07:00

Anaemia is a condition when one's hemoglobin (Hb) is low.In Indian setup levels are as follows _ For males <13gm% & for females <11%

Causes of anaemia

1)low dietary intake of iron & folic acid

2)blood loss - due to piles,gastric ulcer,major surgery,accidents & injuries,bone marrow suppression as in blood cancerssome drugs can cause bone marrow suppression,worms

3)What are the effects- early tiredness because Hb helps in carrying oxygen

4)Anaemia if not corrected earlier can have deleterious effects on health.It can cause 'Anaemic retinopathy" in which bleeding occurs inside the eye.

5)Long-standing severe anaemia can lead to heart failure

6)It can be associated with other conditions like "pancytopenia"in which all the blood cells production decreases

How to correct it

1)Eat foods rich in iron & folic acid,vitamin B12-almonds,apple,jaggery,dates,meat

2)Take iron supplements as per doctor's advice

3)Take Rx for following conditions-worms especially in children,piles
In Sickle cell anaemia ,RBC's (red blood cells) are fragile and become sickle shaped.Their oxygen carrying capacity is poor.The disease has variants like

1)Sickle cell trait

For worms drugs like mebendazole ,albendazole are useful.For correction of piles,surgical consultation should be made.This is an important cause of blood loss.One should eat nonveg diet adequate so that he gets vit B12 as veg diet contains very less amounts of vit B12.Certain drugs like primaquine which is used in Rx of malaria can cause bone marrow toxicity.Bleeding gastric & duodenal ulcers can lead to loss of blood.Pregnant ladies should monitor Hb levels If they are anaemic,they may need blood transfusion during delivery