Health GlareEvery human being is the author of his own health or disease

Have you been wondering what an article on “Top 10 Health Tips” doing on a website dedicated to Beauty?

Are you one of those individuals who think “Top 10 Health Tips” and “Top 10 beauty Tips” are two separate concepts and need to be dealt individually? Have you been splurging an aweful lot of money trying to look “good” by getting Spa treatments, visiting Beauty Salons, Buying Designer Labels, Eating Health Foods, and yet every time you look into the mirror, you feel there’s something “lacking?”

If you think that way, you’re not the only one. Whereas most of us spend a whole lot of time, money and effort to make our skin, hair, face, hands and feet look beautiful, we often miss out on the critical role our health and wellness plays in making us look physically and mentally beautiful.

Follow these Top 10 Health Tips in your daily life to stay beautiful on the inside and outside:

1.Follow A Healthy, Balanced Diet: A balanced diet is the first step towards a beautiful, healthy body. Follow a healthy balanced diet that complements your lifestyle. An ideal diet should be high on fiber, low on fat, and must be supplemented with adequate amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables. Besides knowing what to eat, it is equally important to know the right proportions, meaning how much or how little to eat. Talk to a fitness expert and find out what’s your daily calorie intake. Make food choices that have high nutritional value but are low in calories.

2.Eat Different Types Of Foods: According to Ayurveda, the Ancient Indian science of healing, rotating your food habits not only strengthens your immune system, it can also protect you from most illnesses. Try to eat vegetables and fruits of different colors each day. Try eating a different food at least thrice a month. Begin your day with an apple a day as the apple pectin cleanses the body’s digestive system by removing toxins and therefore preventing degenerative health problems such as cancer.

3.Don’t Skip Your Breakfast: Are you surprised to see how some people manage to stay so fit, energetic and active the whole time and are able to stabilize their weight while you continue to put on weight and feel exhausted most of the time? Well, chances are, they eat a good breakfast and you don’t! According to nutritionists and health experts, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and skipping your breakfast can lead to serious health problems besides adding those extra pounds as a result of binging on unhealthy snacks later in the day. Besides re-charging your energy levels, eating regular breakfast has several long-term benefits like:

• It results in faster weight loss
• Your body get more nutrients everyday
• Breakfast rich in fiber foods and wholegrain helps keep the heart healthy especially if you suffer from metabolic disorders like fluctuating blood pressure, obesity and cholesterol. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels
• A good breakfast early in the morning sets your mood right and enables you to handle stress better
• You stay overall healthy! So begin your day with fresh fruits, fruit juices, hard-boiled eggs, wholegrain cereals and breads and stay healthy all day!

4. Drink Lots Of Water: Drinking a minimum of 7 to 8 glasses of water everyday cleanses all the impurities and toxins from your body and helps to get healthy, flawless skin.

In addition, the fluid in your body is responsible for the functioning of your internal organs including the metabolic processes.  So if you’re dehydrated, this whole process gets affected and your body tends to slow down leaving you feeling low and lethargic.

5. Exercise Regularly: Who does not dream of getting those six-pack abs? Besides making you look sexy and popular, regular exercising is also the best natural “anti-aging” recipe because it helps you stay and feel young by raising your energy levels, stabilizing your body weight, and enhancing flexibility, which reduces the wear and tear in your body.

You don’t need to exercise for hours everyday, just take 15-20 minutes off your busy schedule everyday to sweat out that pot-belly or burn those extra-pounds that have been making it difficult for you to get into your favorite outfit! If you can’t, make one of these a part of your routine: take the stairs instead of elevators and escalators to climb; Make it a habit to walk about 15 minutes everyday. If holistic healing is your thing, enroll yourself for yoga classes. If not, go swimming, take aerobics lessons or start shaking a leg or two at the local dance academy-whatever keeps you going, juts do it! If you’re into sports, you can make it part of your fitness routine.

Remember, your external fitness is only a reflection of your inner fitness and a beautiful, healthy body reflects a fit, healthy mind.

6. Quit Smoking: Okay, so you’ve heard this countless times from your doctor, but here it comes again as one of our most important health tip-Quit Smoking! If you’re one of those people who smoke to lose or gain weight, we’d stay think again! While smoking may have been related to an increase in metabolism, it is certainly not a good enough reason to substitute it with the huge risk of dying from lung cancer!

If that doesn’t make you change your mind, this will. Recent studies have proved that smoking is also one of the leading factors that stimulate the process of aging in both men and women. So say no to cigarettes and stay young and healthy for the rest of your life!

7. Say No To Stress: We know what you’re thinking-easier said than done! Agreed, but leading a stressful life can only make matters worse. On the other hand, leading a relaxed, stress-free life will not only reduce the risks of health related disorders, it will also calm you down and let you enjoy your life better.

While planning your day, strike a balance between home and work. If you have trouble remembering things-make a list of all the “things-to-do” before going to bed each night or simply set a “reminder” in your cell phone so you don’t have to run around at the last minute. Staying positive and thinking happy thoughts is one of the most effective stress buster technique you can easily follow in your daily life.

Spend atleast 15 minutes doing something you love and enjoy each day. It could be a simple activity, like cuddling up in bed by yourself and watching a funny movie, enjoying a glass of your favorite wine, socializing with friends, reading, sweating it out at the gym, pampering yourself with a stress-releasing body massage, soaking in a hot tub, taking a stroll on the beach, playing with your dog, listening to your favorite music or simply lazing around and doing nothing!

8. Take Care Of Your Teeth: Remember the phrase “million dollar smile?” Well, your teeth have a lot to do with your smile and they can make or break your looks depending on how much or how little you’ve cared for them over the years! Dental health is an important aspect of your overall heath. One of the best ways to have healthy teeth, prevent gum-related infections and protect your heart is by flossing your teeth every day. Few of us know that gum infections if left untreated can cause inflammatory reactions in the body, which can lead to stroke and heart ailments.

9. Sleep Well: A good 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is a must for our body to reboot itself and feel energetic next day. Lack of sleep affects our hormone levels and slows down metabolism often resulting in weight gain. Studies have shown that deep, uninterrupted sleep helps cell growth and cell repair, which can increase the metabolism and help in burning calories. If you suffer from sleeplessness, try some of these simple remedies:

• Avoid alcohol before going to bed
• Stay away from stimulants like coffee, tea and chocolates before going to sleep
• Regularize your sleeping habit
• Keep your bedroom clean and uncluttered; Use decors and furnishing with peaceful and soothing colors
• Avoid taking longer daytime naps
• Follow relaxation techniques (for ex-meditation) to reduce stress

Keep Your Brain Active: Keeping your mind in “good shape” is just as vital as taking care of your physical health, so be sure to indulge your brain on a daily basis. An idle mind is not only the devil’s workshop, often the feeling of “aimlessness” or “nothingness” can cause boredom and can lead to depression and anxiety-related disorders.

One way to keep your brain engaged and busy is to constantly challenge yourself with new ideas and by learning new skills. Studies have shown than an active brain makes new connections between nerve cells that help cells communicate with one another. This allows our brain to store and access information easily, regardless of our age. Try some of these activities to keep your mind active and free from boredom:

• Learn to play a new musical instrument
• Learn a new language
• Indulge in crossword puzzles
• Play scrabble with a friend
• Participate in discussions and forums
• Maintain a blog and update it daily
• Switch careers or make a new beginning
• Read books on unfamiliar topics
• Pursue a new hobby
• Stay aware about what’s going on in the world

Follow these “Top 10 Health Tips” to stay physically and mentally beautiful for the rest of your life. Remember-”Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away!”

What is the common cold and the flu?
Both the common cold and the flu are infections of the respiratory tract, which includes the throat, nose, airways and lungs.

How do I know if my child has a cold or the flu?
Although the common cold and the flu share many similar symptoms, they are two different conditions.

The symptoms of a cold include:

* Fever up to 102 degrees
* Runny or stuffy nose (often with green or yellow-colored discharge)
* Sore throat
* Cough
* Sneezing
* Fatigue and muscle aches
* Headache

The symptoms of the flu include:

* Fever over 102 degrees
* Stuffy nose
* Diarrhea
* Nausea and vomiting
* Chills and sweats
* Fatigue and muscle aches
* Cough
* Headache
* Loss of appetite

What medicines can I give my child?
There is no cure for the cold or the flu, and antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (one brand: Children’s Tylenol) can help ease the pain of headaches, muscle aches and sore throats as well as treat fevers. Be sure you are giving your child the correct dose according to his or her age and weight.

Nasal sprays and decongestants are not recommended for young children, as they may cause side effects. Cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children, especially those under 2 years of age. There is also little evidence that cough and cold medicines and nasal decongestants are effective in treating children.

To treat a cold or the flu, make sure that your child rests and drinks plenty of fluids. You can use a humidifier to help moisten the air in your child’s bedroom. This will help with nasal congestion. You can also use a saline nasal spray to thin nasal mucus, and a bulb syringe to suction mucus out of your baby or child’s nose.

Is there a way to prevent catching a cold or the flu?
The best way to prevent colds is to make sure you and your family frequently wash your hands. This will kill the germs that can lead to the cold and the flu.

Encourage your child to cough and sneeze into the inside of his or her elbow (rather than into his or her hand). Clean common surfaces such as table and counter tops, your child’s toys, door handles and bathroom facilities with anti-bacterial disinfectant. This can help stop the spread of germs.

To prevent the flu, a flu vaccine is available every fall (October or November). The flu shot is safe for all children age 6 months and older, and it is strongly recommended that all children age 6 months to 59 months get a yearly flu shot. A nasal spray that prevents the flu is also available. It is safe for all children 2 years and older that do not have asthma or breathing problems.

Whooping cough, a bacterial infection in childhood is caused by the bacterium Bordetalla pertussis. The bacteria is highly infectious and is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected child. Infection is spread by inhalation of airborne drops coughed out by the infected persons. It can be very serious for children under 2 years of age.  But there is effective vaccination against this dissease so the incidence and severity of the disease has been lessened.

The disease begins with a cold and a mild cough and effects the respiratory tract and the lungs. After this,  continual coughing bouts which lasts up to one minute sets in. At the end of each coughing bout, the child draws in the breath with a characteristic whooping sound. Coughing attacks may occur up to 40 times a day, and is often worse at night. After about two weeks the symptoms begin to subside although the cough may persist for 6-10 weeks.

Symptoms
The incubation period (the time between contracting the infection and the appearance of the main symptoms) of the disease is usually one to three weeks. The early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to a cold. Other symptoms may include :

A runny nose

Sore, watery eyes

Poor appetite

Coughing bouts

Whooping sound when breathing in between coughing bouts

Fever & diarrhoea

Lips, tongue, and nails may turn blue during coughing spells

Nose bleed & vomiting after the cough

Adverse effects
Whooping cough attacks can be distressing for both the child and parents. Complications from whooping cough may include damage to the tiny air sacs and airways in the lungs which may lead to asthma, ear infections, broncho – pneumonia or convulsions. Other serious complications include rupture of blood vessels in the brain (cerebral haemorrhage) or eye, retinal detachment caused violent coughing, tuberculosis and inflammation of the brain. Severe complications can result in permanent brain damage or death.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually made from the symptoms and in case of contact with a person suffering from whooping cough. Swabs from the nose and throat are taken for analysis for confirmation of the disease.

Treatment
Most cases of whooping cough require no specific treatment. Antibiotics are not recommended except for infants and patients who have other complications. Treatment is usually by means of bed rest, pain relief and plenty of drinks. The patient should be kept isolated from others. Very severe cases should be treated in hospital.

Whooping  cough can be prevented by means of vaccination. This is a combined vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus and hib (dpt/hib) which is usually given at the age of 2, 3 and 4 months. There is also a booster at 18 months and at 4-6 years of age. The vaccination may cause fever, redness and swelling in the injected area which may last upto one or two days. Rarely whooping cough can occur in spite of taking the vaccination. But these attacks will be mild.

It is advisable that all children should be vaccinated against whooping cough, as it is important to prevent this dangerous disease.

Rubella or German measles is a highly contagious viral disease occurring mainly in childhood, but also can occur in adults. The disease is charecterised by pink-red rashes. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, the virus spreads through droplets of saliva or mucus inhaled. The symptoms are similar to measles, but it is very mild in effect. It effects the skin, respiratory system and lymph glands in the neck.

Symptoms
The incubation period of the disease is 2-3 weeks before the symptoms appear. Symptoms may be minimal and may not appear at all. Symptoms include:

* Headache
* Shivering
* Sore throat
* Mild fever
* Swollen lymph nodes along sides of the neck and below the ears
* Pink – red rashes.

The disease begins with swelling of the glands in the neck and soon a pink-red rash appears on the face and later spreads to other parts of the body. This is followed by mild fever and other symptoms. The rashes are not itchy and usually they disappear completely after 4-5 days. But the infection is contagious from a week before the rash appears to seven days after it goes away.

Adverse effects
German measles is not dangerous for young children but it can cause high risk to a developing foetus in the early stages (first trimester) of pregnancy if the mother catches the infection. It can lead to miscarriages, stillbirth and severe birth defects such as cardiac defects, deafness, mental impairment and cataract.

Diagnosis
Diagnosis is done usually on the basis of symptoms. The doctors may take blood samples to confirm the diagnosis so as not to mistake the infection with measles which has similar symptoms.

Treatment
No specific treatment is required for this disease. Treatment includes isolation until three or four after  rash disappears plus mild pain killers for pain and fever and bed rest. Plenty of fluids along with a normal diet is recommended. Pregnant women should avoid contact with infected persons.

Rubella can be prevented by immunization. The rubella vaccine is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series given to children beginning at 12 months of age and again at 4-6 years. This vaccine gives lifelong immunity against rubella and an attack of the infection also gives life long immunity.  Any women who has not had the disease in childhood and who is considering pregnancy should be vaccinated.

Mumps is an infectious inflammatory viral disease caused by the paramyxovirus. It occurs mainly in children between the ages of 5 and 15. The virus is contagious for about a week before the disease breaks out and is spread by airborne droplets from the nose or throat. The disease is charecterised by swelling in the parotid salivary glands, which lie in the cheeks just in front of the ears on one side of the face. The virus can also effect other salivary glands, kidneys, thyroid gland, pancreas, sexual glands and meninges of the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms

Incubation period is 2-3 weeks before symptoms start to appear. Symptoms include

Feverishness

Head ache

Discomfort

Sore throat

Swelling of the parotid glands

Pain while chewing or swallowing and opening the mouth.

Mumps begins with temperature and discomfort for the first two days followed by swelling of the gland. The swelling may be confined to one side or spread to the other side of the face. After three to four days or more the swelling subsides but remains infectious until the glands have returned to normal.

Diagnosis
Usually the diagnosis is done based on the symptoms.

Adverse effects
Usually Mumps is a part of growing up for children. Complications may arise especially in adults and youngsters past puberty. In adult men the disease may infect the testicles (orchitis) causing swelling, pain, soreness in the testicles and a higher temperature and in rare cases cause can cause infertility. Some women develop inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) but it doesn’t effect fertility. Other rare complications may include Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) three to ten days after the onset of Mumps. Pancreatitis can cause vomiting and nausea leading to dehydration.

Treatment
There is no specific treatment other than bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping the child isolated from others to prevent infection. Acidic foods and drinks like fruit juices should be avoided and food should be soft to make swallowing easy.

For orchitis in adult men, icepacks are applied to relieve pain in the testes and corticosteroids may be prescribed by the doctor. Meningitis which is a serious disease require appropriate treatment in hospital.

Mumps can be prevented by immunization. The mumps vaccine is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series given to children beginning at 12 months of age. This vaccine gives lifelong immunity against Mumps.

Meningitis is a serious infection or inflammation of the meninges or membranes of the brain or spinal cord. Meningitis can be classified according to organisms which causes the infection like bacteria (bacterial meningitis), viruses (viral meningitis), fungi (fungal) etc. and also according to the membranes effected. Bacterial or acute meningitis is the most severe form which is commonly caused by three types of bacteria such as Meningococcal (Neisseria meningitidis), Haemophilus influenzae type B and Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae).

Meningococcal meningitis is the more common meningitis among children under 4 years with greatest risk for babies about six months of age and young adults in the age group of 15-20 years. The bacteria inhabits the back of the throat and mouth and is spread by coughing and sneezing. Only some people who are exposed to the bacteria are susceptible to infection while others become carriers of the bacteria but remain well.

Symptoms
The incubation period for meningitis is usually between two and five days and may be up to 10 days. Symptoms may include:

Sore throat

Runny nose

Discomfort

Vomiting

Severe head ache and stiff neck

Fever and rash

Intolerance of light

Drowsiness, unconsciousness and coma

A high-pitched cry, refusal of feeds, vomiting and convulsions  are the signs of meningitis in infants.

Infants can become severely ill with in a few hours and there should be no delay in seeking medical attention. The bacteria enters the blood stream and multiplies at a very high rate releasing toxins that causes the onset of early symptoms like sore throat, runny nose, lethargy followed by severe symptoms as illness progresses very rapidly.

Adverse effects
Bacterial meningitis can prove fatal with in a short span of time. Meningococci bacteria can cause Septicaemia (blood poisoning) along with meningitis. Septecaemia can cause damage, inflammation and disintegration of the walls of the blood vessels leading to bleeding or fall in blood pressure and the development of shock. Patients who do recover from the disease, occasionally has the risk of long term brain damage, hearing loss, mental retardation, occurrence of fits etc.

Diagnosis
Early diagnosis is based on symptoms. A lumbar puncture or spinal tap to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid will be done for confirming the infection and to find out the causative organism. The type of bacteria responsible for infection should be identified to give the correct Antibiotics treatment.

Treatment
Recovery from the infection is more likely if treatment begins early in the course of the disease. If meningitis is suspected, immediate hospitalisation and a broad spectrum antibiotic, usually penicillin injections effective against the common meningitis bacteria is given even before the test results are known. Further treatment is based on the causative bacteria responsible. In addition patient will be isolated and measures to control fever and pain, lots of fluid and electrolyte replacement therapy will be given.  People who are in close contact with the patient are also recommended to take oral antibiotics (one dose or a very short course) to prevent further spread.

A vaccine is available for meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenza type B (hib) and this is normally given to babies along with dpt vaccination at 2, 3 and 4 months. Vaccines are also there for meningococcal (for one strain of the bacteria) and Pneumococcus bacterial infections. But this is not effective for the group which is most at risk i.e. children below 2 years. The pneumococcal meningitis is the most common type of meningitis in adults so pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all persons over 65 years of age and younger persons with certain chronic medical problems.

Measles is a extremely infectious viral disease caused by paramyxo virus. It usually occurs in children and is charecterised by the presence of a rash on the body. It effects the skin, upper respiratory tract and eyes. The disease is most infectious during three to five days before the rash appears and is usually spread through airborne droplets.

Symptoms
The incubation period – the time between infection and the outbreak of the condition – is usually one to two weeks. Initial symptoms include:

Cold & cough

Sneezing

Loss of appetite

Red, watery eyes

High fever

After 4-5 days of the initial symptoms, small red spots with a white centre appear in the mouth and on the inside of the cheeks. An itchy rash appears on the skin spreading from behind the ears and the face and also effecting other areas and the small red spots may be group together in patches. The temperature shoots up while the spots are developing. Symptoms usually disappear five days after the rash begins.

Adverse effects
Complications like pneumonia, middle ear infections resulting in deafness, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or meningitis can occur as a result of measles. It may be fatal sometimes. Having measles during a pregnancy can result in an infection of the unborn child and may in the worst case result in the death of the baby.

Treatment
Treatment of measles consists of bed rest and isolation. Plenty of fluids should be given. Doctors should be consulted immediately in case of very high fever, ear ache, head ache or any signs of breathing difficulties. Vaporizers and a warm room help relieve respiratory symptoms; taking acetaminophen reduces the fever.
Measles can be prevented by immunization. The measles vaccine is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series given to children beginning at 12 months of age. Once infected, the disease gives life long immunity and re-infection does not happen. It is advisable that all children should be vaccinated against measles.

Chronic asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes airways
to tighten and narrow, causing difficulty in breathing. It is an chronic allergic condition which often begins in early childhood.

When the airways become irritated, they become narrower obstructing air from moving in and out easily. Exposure to allergies, viral infections causing cough and cold, smoke, dust and pollution causes the mucous membranes in the small branches of the sensitive airways (bronchi) to swell and fill with mucus which makes breathing a struggle. Asthma attacks can also be triggered by hard physical exertion (exercise induced asthma) and can also be related to genetics. This can cause, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and produces a wheezing sound when breathing out.

The symptoms, frequency, severity and duration of an asthma episode vary from child to child. Severity of the attack depends of the extent to which bronchi are narrowed. In a severe attack, the child may be so breathless that he may not be able to speak and may show a bluish colour of the skin and mucus membranes due to lack of oxygen in the blood. In such cases emergency medical care is needed.

Symptoms in children

• Wheezing sound when breathing out

• Coughing, wheezing or breathlessness.

• Prolonged coughing, not because of a cold, especially at night.

• Generally feeling unwell.

• Recurrent colds from which it takes a long time to recover.

• Chest tightness

• Increase in pulse rate.

Diagnosis

If any of the symptoms persist, you should consult a medical practitioner whether your child has asthma. The diagnosis of asthma involves checking whether you have a family history of asthma, medical history of hay fever, eczema, itchy eyes, allergies, frequent colds, nasal stuffiness and persistent cough etc. Physical examination involves examination of the nasal passages and listening to the lungs.

Several tests has to be done to find out the exact cause of asthma. A chest X-ray, blood test and sputum test are usually done along with a number of other tests for evaluating the airway responsiveness and allergies. The airway responsiveness tests include Spirometry, exercise challenge test and methacholine inhalation tests etc and allergy prick skin test to confirm the presence or absence of allergies.  Other possible causes of shortness of breath, wheeze, cough and chest tightness must be investigated in order to rule these out heart disease, other lung conditions etc.

Spirometry, a breathing test which measures the amount and rate at which air can pass through airways is a very dependable method of making a diagnosis. But with children under the age of five years, this test is not usually done because of the effort and cooperation required.

Treatment

If asthma is triggered by allergy to a particular substance, one should take measures to avoid such allergens. Treatment includes medications and drugs which are mostly inhaled. Drugs mainly belong to two groups (a) bronchodilators which are used to dilate the airways like Beta 2 agonists such as  salbutamol, terbutaline (short acting drugs) and longer acting drug like salmeterol etc. and Anticholinergics such as Theophylline, not commonly used in children. These drugs are quick acting and relieve the symptoms of wheezing, coughing and breathlessness (b) anti-inflammatory drugs such as Corticosteroids and sodium cromoglicate which is a good first-line preventative treatment in children.