Healthcare

6 Mandatory Medical Tests for Senior Citizen

Most of us visit hospitals only when we face health issues. We mostly associate sickness with old age and start planning for our health related funds only when we cross 40 years of age. With Senior Citizens Day being celebrated across the world this Sunday, we decided to highlight the importance of certain medical tests that need to be taken by 50+ people every now and then.
These days the need to be fit and healthy is prevalent across all ages and one can see a lot of people over the age of 50 making the extra effort to keep themselves on the fitness track. Although exercising is a healthy option it doesn’t always protect you from having health issues. For this reason, we decided to throw some light on some of the medical tests that have to be mandatorily taken up by senior citizens. When it comes to medical tests, all of us wonder how and where to start. The development in the field of medicine has increased exponentially and each field is swarmed with multiple lab tests. We often get lost in the series of tests prescribed by doctors. Although these tests have become life savers and have successfully increased the average life span of human beings, they can be quite confusing if not explained properly.
Here we have listed 7 health tests that have to be taken up by people over the age of 50:

1. Cholesterol tests: Tiny globules of fat that run in your bloodstream and are carried around your body, constitute Cholesterol. The onset of cholesterol increases the risk of heart diseases by blocking your arteries. For this reason, it is always good to keep your HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides at check.

2. Blood pressure checks: A lot of old people can be seen suffering from blood pressure. It can be either high or low but the ideal stands at 120/80 mm Hg. By maintaining normal blood pressure, you can ward off kidney disease, heart diseases and stroke.

3. Eye tests: An eye test not only tells you if you need glasses or not, it can also detect a number of conditions well in advance if you take them up periodically. People especially above the age of 50 may develop cataracts which have to be surgically removed by a qualified physician. Reading glasses are being commonly used by people over the age of 40. Your job doesn’t stop after you buy a reading glass. You need to check for variations in power and change your lenses accordingly.

4. Thyroid tests: This test is especially mandatory for women over the age of 50 because women of this age have high chances of developing an overactive or an underactive thyroid. When your thyroid produces more hormone than the body needs, your metabolism goes into an overdrive mode. Symptoms can include hand tremors and rapid or irregular heartbeat, leading to serious cardiac problems. Too much thyroid hormone can also leech away calcium in bones, leading to osteoporosis. Clues to the possibility of hypothyroidism include a positive family history of thyroid disease, past treatment for hyperthyroidism, or a history of extensive surgery and/or radiotherapy to the neck. Symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism may include weight gain, sleepiness, dry skin, and constipation, but lack of these symptoms does not rule out the diagnosis and hence it is mandatory to do thyroid tests periodically.

5. Diabetes: Diabetes is a very common disease across age groups and it mostly occurs because of genetics or lifestyle changes. Usually people having a blood pressure of above 135/80 mm Hg are at a higher risk of getting diabetes. Also, it is important for old people to take care of their feet and protect themselves from hurting their feet since diabetes can cause gangrene after injuries which if not taken care of can force you to get your feet amputated because of a severe infection. Never walk barefoot.

6. Colorectal Cancer Screening: Colon cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men and women. If you have celebrated your 50th birthday and haven’t done this test yet, it is time now. You should get it screened earlier if you have a family history.

References:

http://www.today.com/parents/want-be-healthy-over-50-get-these-tests-exams-2D80555198

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/MensHealthNews/story?id=8083450

6 Quick Ways to Fall Asleep As Soon As You Hit the Bed

A good night’s sleep is all that is required to keep you active the next day. Poor sleep immensely affects your thinking capabilities and can have deteriorating effects in the long run. Healthy living starts with a healthy sleep pattern. Insomnia is the term that is being widely used for this syndrome and has been affecting half the people above the age of 50 around the globe. Lack of sleep can be attributed to a lot of things but the most common reason is anxiety. When you’re anxious, you tend to worry and think a lot thereby preventing the brain from shutting off. So the next time you are on the bed not being able to sleep and simply staring at the ceiling or tossing and turning waiting for sleep to kiss you goodnight, remember the following tricks that could help coax yourself into a dreamland.

Sleep music: Studies have shown that a mild music that has a slow rhythm of 60-80 beats per minute can help lull you to sleep. You can pick the style of music you wish to hear but ensure that it is slow and soothing. You can either listen to this music before you lie down or you can turn it on while you are lying down on the bed. A lot of options are available for free online and you can try different kinds of music to see which one puts you to sleep faster.
Set your room temperature right: Your room and body temperature have to be mediated to allow your body to enter into its sleep mode. The sleep-friendly room temperature has been found to be 20 degree Celsius. Also ensure that the room in which you sleep is dark and comfortable and also free from noise and other distractions. Some people might even have their sleep disturbed due to ticking clocks. Make your room free from all kinds of disturbances. Sometimes wearing socks while sleeping also helps keep your body warm and can induce sleep quickly.
Rewind the day: This is a technique similar to counting numbers in reverse or even saying the alphabets in reverse. By recapitulating all the events that happened during the day in the reverse order, you tend to work out your brain a little more thereby making it tired. A brain that’s tired easily goes to sleep.
Shower before sleep: Having a warm shower just before you sleep and then immediately stepping into a relatively cooler space will cause the body temperature to drop suddenly. This rapid decrease in temperature lowers your body’s temperature and prepares your body for sleep. For some people immersing their face in cold water for 30 seconds can have similar effects (this may not work for people with sinus, asthma and other such disorders)
Stay away from blue rays: Blue rays are predominantly attributed to the gadgets ruling the present scenario. It is always advised to keep your phone 10 feet away from where you are sleeping since the rays are quite harmful for the brain. Similarly avoid scrolling your phone at night while lying down on the bed with all the lights turned off. This causes too much strain on the eyes and it tends to lose its visual balance. This in turn causes the brain to work hard to maintain the visual balance and keeps it working actively thereby hindering the process of sleep.
The 4-7-8 Method: This is a very famous sleep inducing technique which involves a few breathing sessions in a set manner. This technique has been proved to put people to sleep in less than a minute by slowing your heart rate and releasing more carbon dioxide from the lungs.

Place your tongue against the ridge of tissue behind your upper front teeth and maintain this throughout the exercise
Now exhale completely through your mouth making a whoosh sound
Then close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a count of 4
Hold your breath for a count of 7
Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of 8
This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat the cycle 3 more times for a total of 4 breaths

References:

http://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/15-ways-to-fall-asleep-faster_us_55dde3e7e4b04ae497054470

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/unable-sleep-eleven-ways-you-2300449

Live Healthy with Diabetes

It is not possible to control everything that can impact your health. Genetic makeup is one such thing, and is one of the main causes of diabetes. Some people just end up with it even with a perfectly healthy lifestyle. Diabetes mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a complex disease that occurs due to the abnormal levels of the hormone called Insulin secreted by the pancreas. Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to varying sugar levels in the blood and therefore causes low or high sugar in the blood. There are two types of diabetes namely Type 1 & Type 2. When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin it is Type 1 diabetes and when the body is unable to process the insulin that is produced, it is Type 2 diabetes. Both Type 1 & 2 diabetes are serious and may be detrimental to the health if proper care is not taken.

Here are a few care tips to remember for people with diabetes.

1. The DUCH check: Wondering what DUCH test is? It’s the acronym for Dental, Urine, Cholesterol & Haemoglobin test. Never skip your routine medical health check-ups at any cost. It is imperative that you do the DUCH Test in a manner indicated by your physician just to be sure that your numbers stay within the stipulated health limits.

2. Quench your craving: Often people with diabetes experience a sudden craving for food and often end up eating more than what their body actually requires. Most of the time, the high blood sugar level in the body tricks you into thinking you’re hungry when all you need is water. So the next time this happens, drink water and wait for 20 minutes and you’ll win this game.

3. No late snacks: Always remember to sleep on an almost empty stomach. Keep your dinner light and sugar-free since your body needs to be very active to burn this sugar. Also ensure that you get 6 or more hours of proper sleep to help your nervous system in its rejuvenation process.

4. Quit smoking: Giving up on smoking has a lot of positive effects on the body. Diabetic people have to be extra cautious since smoking poses higher risks for serious complications like heart and liver disease and also results in poor blood flow to the legs and feet resulting in serious infections and other complications.

5. Extra care for your feet & eyes: It has been observed that most of the complications arising out of diabetes show up first on the feet, eye or the kidney. Hence is it always a good habit to check these organs regularly and protect yourself from the ill-effects of diabetes.

6. Moisturize your skin: Dry skin is a very common phenomenon occurring in people with diabetes. So always remember to moisturize your body after a shower as this tends to stay longer and makes your skin feel hydrated.

References:

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/diabetes/7-tips-for-living-well-with-diabetes/1/

http://www.idf.org/about-diabetes

4 Natural Ways to Regularize Menstruation

Most women have experienced delayed or missed periods at some point in their life. Irregular periods and missed periods are the kind of stories that all women can relate to. Such problems are mostly benign and can be treated through oral medicines and by incorporating certain changes in lifestyle that will help regulate the menstrual cycle by checking hormonal imbalances. However common these symptoms are, it is always better to check these symptoms with a gynaecologist if they exist for a prolonged period of time or occur frequently. There are a lot of natural ways that you could try to regularize your cycle but before that it is important to understand why you’ve been facing this issue. In women who are in the early menopausal phase, these symptoms are quite common. Similarly for women who just underwent a surgery in their uterus or experienced a miscarriage, these symptoms tend to show up as well. In other cases, you can try the following remedies that will help you tackle the issue:

1. Say no to white food: Most natural foods are not white and look the way they do due to the chemical processing. These chemicals are known to disrupt your menstrual cycle and can also result in increased storage of fat. This excess fat affects your ovulation and can cause irregular periods.

2. Eat unripe papaya:You can indulge in this fruit in the form of juice or just the whole fruit. Unripe papaya is more effective in being a cure than ripe ones. But ensure you don’t consume too much of it when you menstruate.

3. Dark Chocolates ‘only’: Yes you read that right. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids which help improve blood circulation by reducing platelet clumping, Make sure it has at least 70% cocoa solids and don’t confuse your hormones by eating too much of it.

4. Castor oil to the rescue: This magical oil has a tendency to balance your hormones. Dip a small piece of cloth in castor oil and spread it flat on your lower abdomen. Place a hot water bag on top of this and cover the entire set-up with a towel. Do this for an hour everyday for a few months to see results. Avoid this practice during menstruation.

Always remember that your body reacts in the way you feed it. What you eat is very important for the body to secrete the right hormones and maintain a healthy balance. So always watch what you eat. Go natural in every possible way!

Reference:

http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogbaby/5-foods-that-make-your-menstrual-cycle-regular/http://deliciousliving.com/health/natural-ways-regulate-your-menstrual-cycle

Pokemon Go is Healthy After All

It’s Pokemon Go everywhere and it’s almost impossible that you would have missed hearing about it. We hear crazy stories about people walking everywhere and doing all sorts of interesting things all around the world. The idea was conceived in the year 2014 and has succeeded in creating a revolution after being released into the market by being the talk of every house. According to scientists, playing Pokemon Go has had positive health benefits and this new age adventure encourages the players to walk outdoors to find Pokemons and access locations called PokeStops – where useful items are collected.The super entertaining game that has been going viral comes with health benefits. We decided to talk about the interesting benefits that this game has been offering to its users. Continue reading to find out what they are!

Social Interaction:

As the game has a huge fan base it brings people together which in turn leads to social interaction. Parents are happy about this game as it demands the user to get up and move unlike other digital games that simply glues gamers to their seats. It also encourages parents to go outside while their children play and walk around in the neighborhood with their own set of friends. A lot of community gatherings are being organized around the world where conversations and bonds are building and hence bringing people from different backgrounds together. It eliminates the concept of social anxiety in people who were otherwise uncomfortable in going and meeting random people.

Mental Wellness:

The game is also believed to have a positive effect on people dealing with depression by creating the perfect opportunity for them to motivate themselves to break out of their aloofness and refresh their minds by transporting them to new environments. Many users who have been suffering from anxiety have reported that Pokemon Go has given them the necessary motivation to spend time outside and do something they enjoy. Read more about this here: http://www.sliceofhealth.in/beat-depression-with-pokemon-go/

Exercise:

A research suggests that a 10-minute walk outdoors can have a measurable, positive impact on a person’s mood. This game is a perfect form of exercise for people who usually do not enjoy going to the gym. As the app insists that the person to needs to move/walk around, the habit automatically starts setting in. People have been spending hours and hours rushing to places to catch these digital creatures. The most interesting thing to note here is the fact that people are being self motivated to play this game unlike going to the gym which most of the time needs an external source for motivation.

Clearly, a game that began as a hobby is having a strong influence on a person’s daily life. This one’s a game with benefits, after all!

Reference:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160715181715.htmhttp://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/pokemon-go-has-health-benefits-claims-researcher-862786

5 Habits that Help Avoid Stomach Bloating

How many times have you felt like your stomach has become twice its usual size after a sumptuous meal? Bloating of the stomach is quite common and is experienced by everybody at some point or the other. Most of the times bloating might just fade away with time but in many cases it can severely interrupt the regular lifestyle of a person by causing a lot of trouble and discomfort. Bloating can occur due to some underlying health condition or because of the type of food you eat. By watching your intake, bloating can definitely be kept in check. Read below to understand ways in which you can avoid bloating.

Say bye to carbohydrates:Bean varieties are rich in raffinose, a complex sugar which is hard for the body to digest. While it gets digested in the stomach it produces a lot of gas which results in bloating. Also in the list are cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. Instead of staying away from such foods completely you can indulge in one culprit at a time.
Ditch the chewing gum:How many times have you popped in that chewing gum just because you’re bored? Next time you do, remember that while chewing the gum you tend to intake a lot of air which paves the way for bloating. Also, the artificial sugar present in it is difficult for the stomach to digest.
Soda, anyone? :Learn to limit carbonated drinks of any kind as these make you take in direct packets of air into your body and cause bloating especially when you drink it quickly. Instead choose plain water to mix your drink and be rest assured to enjoy it.
Slowly & Steadily:Do you always scarf food down your throat due to want of time? Remember that you take in a lot of air during this process which gets accumulated inside your body. It is always advisable to take some time to chew your food well and eat – Never rush!
Avoid dairy products:Dairy products are rich in lactose which the stomach finds hard to digest. This is called lactose intolerance and is a common problem which causes bloating. If you think you are lactose intolerant, try avoiding dairy products and feel the difference.

Reference:

http://www.healthline.com/health/foods-that-cause-gas

5 Quick and Easy Tips for Those Computer-Strained Eyes

Computers and cell phones have become inevitable parts of our daily lives these days – thanks to the growing digital world. It is almost impossible for the white-collared professional to avoid looking at the computer screen for long hours. This gradually results in straining and drying of our eyes. Fatigued and overworked eyes are a result of the high usage of computers for work, school and entertainment. Eye strain is a common problem across all ages due to the extensive consumption of digital media which starts at a very early age these days. In this article, we show you 5 simple and quick ways that will help you tackle this problem without the usage of pain relievers or eye drops.

Blink, Blink, Blink: While blinking is a sub-conscious activity, your eyes sometimes forget to blink while working under extremely focussed situations where you are forced to look into the computer screen for a long time. Aim for a blink every 15 seconds to stay away from dryness and itchiness of the eyes.
The 20-20-20 Rule: A break is all your eyes need. After every 20 minutes of work on the computer, look at an object for 20 seconds which is 20 feet away from you. This will give the necessary refreshment and lubrication that your eyes require.
Read a virtual book: Book reading has always been an appreciated concept and now you will know why. When you read a book, your eyes move slowly from left to right creating a soothing effect on the eye muscles that will help reduce the strain. So start by imagining like you are reading a book that is being projected on a wall. Move your eyes slowly from left to right across the wall for 30 seconds to calm your eye muscles.
Eye Rolling: Eye exercises are pretty simply but the difficulty arises when you realize that you need to remember to do it from time to time. It is natural that when your brain focuses on something a lot, it has the tendency to change the regular movement of the eyes, thereby creating a sore eye muscle like any other muscle in the body. It is for this reason that it is advised to close the eyes for 15 seconds every hour and roll your eyes from left to right, up to down and in clockwise and anti-clockwise motions.
Simply Yoga: Palming is a very effective technique that is suggested by yoga experts. All you have to do is to rub your hands together for 10 to 15 seconds until they feel warm and place your hands over the eyes with the fingertips resting on the forehead, the palms over the eyes and the heels of the hand resting on the cheek. Do this and see it work like magic for your stressed eyes.

Reference

http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/blog/vision-conditions/computer-vision-syndrome/6-refreshing-eye-exercises-for-tired-computer-users/

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/4-yoga-exercises-for-eye-strain

Summer Allergies

Although proper skin care is essential all time round the year, during summer your skin deserves that extra bit of attention owing to the harsh radiations from the sun and humidity. While scorching summer takes a toll on you, watch out for the summer allergens waiting to attack your skin making it dull and lifeless.

Some of the common allergies

1. Most commonly, allergens surround the environment as an impact of the air quality at home or anywhere. As we keep air conditioners running throughout the day, it’s important to clean the air filters of the AC as it only re-circulates the surrounding air but does not purify it.

2. Constant exposure to the AC causes dehydration and drying of the mucus membranes, causing sore throat and sneezing, and can lead to upper respiratory tract infections.

3. Other allergies include – itchy & dry skin, watery eyes and conjunctivitis. In such cases, take the help of a doctor or a dermatologist to examine the condition.

4. It is important to note that unventilated homes and humid conditions can breed moulds, dust mites and bad bacteria making the skin more prone to irritation, itching and rashes.

Treatments at home:

1. Keep your homes nicely ventilated for fresh air and also make it a practise to regularly dust your carpets. It’s a good idea to wash them in hot water once a week. This can help in keeping dust allergies and various asthmatic symptoms at bay.

2. Make sure to take bath atleast twice a day. This could keep you away from prickly heat, and other fungal infection caused by excessive sweating.

3. Using a good quality waterproof sunscreen with a minimum of 30 SPF is of great benefit as it helps decreasing the chances of skin cancer and sunburn.

4. Due to excessive heat and high exposure to the sun, there are chances for the skin to develop rashes. Apply sandalwood paste mixed with rose water on the affected areas for a soothing effect.

5. Include aloe-vera, cucumber or mint based lotions/ gels or moisturisers in your daily skin care regime.

6. Cucumber mixed with curd, lemon mixed with honey and turmeric can work wonders on sensitive skin during summer.

7. Watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, lemon juice, mint juice, aloe-vera juice and tender coconut water could come in handy to serve you the best of health and freshness.

8. In case you sense some kind of irritation in your eyes, immediately splash warm water mixed with salt and consults your doctor for medication.

9. Continue drinking plenty of water and include lots of fresh fruits and salad in your diet. This helps you stay well-hydrated.

Picture Courtesy:

meds.com

References:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://www.newindianexpress.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

World Immunisation Week: An Endeavour to ‘Close the immunisation gaps’

Immunisation is one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective healthcare investments that has been instrumental in averting close to 2 – 3 million deaths each year. However, an additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided if global vaccination coverage improves. Following this ambition, on the occasion of World Immunisation Week, WHO, reaffirms its commitment to ‘Close the immunisation gap’ so that no one misses out on vital immunisation. Last week of April primarily dedicated for World Immunisation week in the medical calendar, aims to encourage vaccination among the community as a whole from new born children to adults to protect them against major epidemic diseases.

What is immunisation?

Immunisation is a process where the person is provided essential vaccines to make him/her resistant to certain deadly and infectious diseases for which there are either no or limited medical treatments. Such powerful vaccines help stimulate the body’s immune system thereby mitigating the vulnerability to life-threatening diseases. For instance, if there is a sudden outbreak of an epidemic, with immunisation, the chances of people suffering are either zero or very minimal.

Importance of Immunisation

A vast majority of health professionals and experts in the world recommend immunisation. Immunisation helps save millions of lives. It is important particularly for two reasons – to protect you and those around you. Vaccination is the only way to prevent infectious diseases. In certain cases, some people are susceptible to having an impaired immune system, a condition that critically weakens the body’s immunity and doesn’t respond to any vaccination. And for such people, protection is only when others get vaccinated so that the diseases are less prevalent.

Although, some diseases, such as polio, rarely occur, all the vital childhood immunizations and booster vaccines are still necessary. Although certain diseases have been eradicated from our country, it still exists in other parts of the world. In such a scenario, there is a major likelihood for strange diseases to permeate the country infecting people at large through travellers who are unknowingly affected. Hence, with immunisation, the body’s immune system can fight a disease better and faster.

While immunisation is important, improved sanitation, hygiene, and other living conditions also contribute to reducing exposure to critical and fatal diseases. A successful vaccination programme and a healthy environment depend on the co-operation of every individual. Thus, immunisation is a proven healthcare tool and is each one’s prerogative.

Sources:

http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2016/en/

http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2016/event/en/

http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/

http://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/tc/importance-of-immunizations-topic-overview

Kids Health during Summer

During summer, children feel great as they are away from all the schoolwork and it is the perfect opportunity to spend time outdoors. Parents tend to worry about their kids falling sick due to the heat, but it is important to prepare them for the heat at home while letting them play outdoors during the evening hours.

Here are some tips that you can follow in order to keep your kid healthy.

Hydration

It is important to keep children well hydrated. Do not wait until a child says he is thirsty. Make sure you provide plenty of fluids before your child goes outside, while out in the heat and afterwards. Playing in the hot sun depletes body fluids, so keep them indoors during the peak hours (10am- 5pm).

What to drink

Water is always the first preference to ensure your kid is hydrated! You can also give buttermilk, tender coconut water and lemon juice with salt (with no ice). These drinks help to add some electrolytes if they have been playing.

Sun Protection

Heat-related illness like sunstroke happens when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. Infants and children are at a greater risk. Ensure they wear protective clothing, a wide brimmed hat and maybe even sunglasses (with 99-100% UV protection). Sunscreen is a must. Look for products with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 15. Make sure to apply the sunscreen liberally, 30 minutes before they go out in the sun.

Health

Diarrhea is a common infection during summer. Water is the main source for this infection. Hence it is important to always boil drinking water. Carry your own water while travelling and make sure your kids do not drink water that is not boiled. Don’t drink from a public water source directly. If you notice any symptoms such as vomiting, fever or diarrhea, consult your pediatrician at the earliest.

Having said all these things, it is important to let children play outdoors and have fun. Keep these tips in mind and have a great summer with your kids!

Article by our collaborator, Dr Manigandan Chandrasekaran is a Consultant in Neonatal Medicine at Cloudnine Hospital in Chennai. He is trained in Neonatal Medicine and joined the Cloud Nine hospitals aiming to deliver high quality care to neonatal infants in India.

Picture Courtesy:

dailyburn.com

vedicastrologyguide.com

blog.mybabycart.com

huffingtonpost.com

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