Friday, May 8, 2009

12 Healthy Habit Changes For 2009






Habit 1: Drink more water.
Sure, I know about all the news reports that say it's possible to drink too much water.
Surprisingly, this same story is told just about every 4 years when news stations have no other "news" going on, and it always seems to stir up all sorts of awareness on the topic. The truth is, in all my years of guiding individuals on proper nutrition, I have yet to run into one person who had an H2O disorder.
A well-hydrated body has a much easier time at shedding unwanted body fat and preserving lean muscle mass. A healthy, active individual should be consuming 6to 7 Litres of water per day.

Habit 2: Eat more fiber.
I'll say it again. People do not get nearly enough fiber in their diets. Work on trying to get anywhere from 25 - 30 grams of fiber per day into your eating plan. Fiber provides a plethora of benefits from increasing the thermic effect (calories burned from digestion) of a meal, to trapping and evacuating excess fats.


Habit 3: Eat every 3 hours.
Start splitting your larger meals up into smaller, more frequent bouts of eating. Spreading your calories throughout the day allows for an increase in metabolism and insures that none of the nutrients you are consuming go to waste.
This can be difficult for many people who maintain busy lifestyles, which is why I suggest picking one or two days a week to do all of your cooking. At that point, Tupperware containers become your new best friend.

Habit 4: Eat more fruits and vegetables.

And eat a large variety as well. The more colors you consume the better. They're packed with fat-burning fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
We all know that vegetables are gold, but when it comes to fruit, it sometimes gets a bad rep. I often get the question "but doesn't fruit have a lot of sugar in it?" Again, I have yet to meet the person who has a well-balanced diet who has found that fruit was the main reason they couldn't let go of the extra body fat.
Get over it. If you're obese fruit isn't the culprit. Take a long look at everything else you're eating, and I'm positive you'll find something a little more worthy to drop.

Habit 5: Avoid alcohol.

Alcohol has damaging effect on your lungs, brain, and on your psyche, it makes you unaware and unconscious about life itself. Alcohol, makes you to destroy yourself.

Habit 6: Choose organic and local foods when possible.

There is no doubt in my mind that we will start to see more and more studies come out showing the adverse effects of consuming over-processed food. It's only a matter of time.
Digestion is a delicate process, a process our bodies have spent hundreds of thousands of years perfecting. In just the past few decades we have started introducing extra hormones, antibiotics, and other impurities into our foods. Our bodies have filters that take care of these things, but let's not put them to the test.

Habit 7: Reduce the amount of sugars consumed.
At this point it should be a no-brainer. If anything good has come from the hundreds of diet books written this past decade, it's the awareness that controlling your blood sugar is crucial to achieving optimal health. The sweets do not have to be eliminated from your diet completely, but you should have them well under control.


Habit 8: Stop going to the super market hungry.
Real simple. If you're hungry, you'll buy what you want, not what you need.
Our bodies are still hard-wired for survival. Unfortunately when you stroll down the aisle at your local food supply your brain will target just about anything in your field of vision and deem it an acceptable choice of nourishment, regardless of its nutritional value.

Habit 9: Take regular stand up breaks at work.
Do it for your posture, do it for circulation, and do it for your own sanity. Our bodies were not designed to be in a seated position all day long.
You could prevent much of life's chronic pains if you would just take a moment to stand up and stretch your legs every 30 or 40 minutes. Set a timer on your desktop if you have to; just get it done.

Habit 10: Start using the stairs instead of the elevator.
Even park farther away from your destination so you have to walk a few extra steps in the day. Adding a tiny bit of extra footwork can add up at the end of the year. I know it's not exciting or drastic, but the difference can be a few extra pounds that you don't need hanging around your waist.

Habit 11: Balance your physical and sedentary activities.
I'm talking about what you do with your free time. Have you ever spent a couple of hours on the weekend watching TV, playing video games, or browsing the Internet looking at cat pictures?
Try to create some balance by doing an equal amount of leisure activities on your feet. Take a walk, shoot some hoops, and maybe take up a new physically active hobby. Who knows, you might find something new you really like.

Habit 12: Keep a health journal.
One of the most powerful ways to be successful with your health is to write it all down.
Keep track of your workouts and your nutrition. It can be very hard to figure out where you're going if you don't remember where you've been. You'll be giving yourself a point of reference so you can truly see if any of the changes you make are creating a difference. If they're not, then at least you know that and can change your plan of action and recalibrate.

A lot of times we get a little too ambitious when it comes to our New Year's resolutions and try to take on more than we can handle. This inevitably leads to failure. Start with the small habits and work your way up the fitness ladder for a more subtle and long-term experience.



NADEEMUDDIN
[B.com, PG in P.P.H.C, RIA, PGD in M& A]
CEO, activelifeconsulting
Mail : activelifeconsulting@gmail.com
Call-9849345798

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Living Happily with Asthma - a practical situations fact sheet






One third of worlds 115 million Asthma patients are in India. By 2025 there will be an estimated 100 million more asthma patients due to Environmental pollution and Lack of awareness towards the disease and its morbidity. India has second highest mortality rate of asthma in the world. Day by day the pollution levels are increasing everywhere forcing the humanity for suffocation. As with decrease in natural forests and increase in urban concrete forests, the newer spectrum of photochemical pollutants, due to combustion of petrol and diesel are on rise. Today the principal pollutants posing detrimental effects on Human lungs are the oxides of Nitrogen (NO2), Ozone (O3) and particulates.

→ Ozone levels more than 100µg/m3 is hazards to human lungs.
→No2 is emitted from unvented gas appliances and heating appliances, in indoor conditions and vehicular traffic fumes, at outdoors pose great threat to lungs. A level of NO2 more than 28.2microgram/m3 may contribute to Asthma.
→Particulate matter (PM10) consists of a mixture of particulate components including traffic and combustion generated Carbon. Particulate matter can be, Centered ultra fine particles, secondary salt particles (Nitrates & Sulfates), geological and also biological particles (Spores and pollens) of Particle size 2.5µm (PM 2.5 diameter) are capable upon inhalation of reaching, the deepest portions of the lungs and can cause irreparable damage to lungs. All these factors act as potential triggers of Asthma and make worse conditions in an already known asthmatic.

“People with Asthma are often sensitized and exposed to more than one allergen. And there also exists variability between individuals in the magnitude of response to the same levels of allergens.” Says Dr. Vyakarnam Nageshwar, Consultant Pulmonologist , Wockhardt Hospitals. He further adds “A high allergen exposure in sensitized individuals may contribute to poor asthma control. Exposure to dangerous allergens like “alternaria allergen” has been shown to cause sudden respiratory arrest leading to death in Asthmatics.


Indoor Pollutants or Domestic Allergens:-
Practical measures for Avoidance majority of exposure to indoor allergens and mite probably occurs in bed, where we spend on average a third of or lives in close contact with mattresses, Pillows and duvets.

a) Covers: - Covers of pillows, beddings and other furniture are the most common site of allergens. It is very important to cover mattresses pillows and duvet with covers that are impermeable to mite allergens. It is also must to ensure that covers are wiped at each change of bedding.
b) Washing: - All the exposed beddings should be washed at 55*c .as this temperature kills mites in beddings.
c) Feather vs. Synthetic Pillows: - Asthmatics are often wrongly told to avoid using feather pillows. In the last few decades, sales of synthetic pillows have increased enormously based on the misconception that synthetic pillows are non-allergic. But recent studies have confirmed that synthetic pillows being non allergic is just a Myth. A synthetic pillow accumulates the mite allergens more significantly faster than feather filled pillows.


Dr. Vyakarnam stresses on the fact that "People should be more aware of the fact that so called ‘Hypo allergic’ synthetic pillows and quilts are not hypo allergic at all.”

d) Carpets:-

These are important microhabitat for mite colonization and possible source of allergens.
-All fitted carpets should ideally be replaced with polished wood or vinyl flooring.
-Steam cleaning or exposure of carpets to direct sun light for at least 3 hrs will kill mites.
e) Pets at Home: -
The most powerful risk factor for severe asthma in children was pet ownership. Concentration of both cat and dog allergens are high in almost in all homes with pets. It was observed in recent studies that 62% of children are sensitized to dog and cat allergens, who had a poor control over their asthma, inspite of correct medication.
The best way to reduce exposure to cat or dog allergens is remove the animal from bed rooms and living rooms. “One should be alarmed that it takes months before reservoir allergen levels decrease and the symptoms of the patient subside, even after the animal removed from home.” Air borne allergen levels increase by 5 folds when pet is in the room.
It is an unfortunate condition that “Asthma is often severe and difficult to control in pet exposed Asthmatics.”

It is always safe to undertake an investigation of Lung Function Test (Spirometry) at the earliest sign of breathlessness, chest tightness, dry cough, nocturnal wheezing, sleeplessness at nights, which may or may not be associated with cold and sneezes. There exists a scientific way to get treated with inhalation devices to achieve an early and complete control on Asthma.

Dr. Vyakarnam further adds that “In a recent discussion with Yogic Guru Ramdev Baba we have been able to unveil a completely new dimension in the management of Asthma, which is the use of Scientific Yogic Pranayams which will benefit the Asthmatic sufferers . It is after a two hour discussion on Pranayamic postures for Asthmatic patients that we have been able to identify 4 basic Pranayamic Postures , a) Anulom Vilom, b) Kapal Bhati, c) Bhramari and lastly d) Bhastrika, these postures increase the lung capacity of the Asthmatic patient and decreases the symptoms”

How is management of Asthma different at Wockhardt?
At Wockhardt, we use a team approach which consists of a Pulmonologist , Clinical immunologist , Dietician and a physiotherapist for the treatment of our patients, providing our patients with complete comprehensive holistic treatment. We make sure that every patient is aware of his/ her condition, and there is adequate knowledge sharing with even the family members to provide adequate support to the patient. At Wockhardt we believe that we are only the facilitators in your care management and it is our patients who manage their Asthma in their individual ways. In the year 2008 Dr. Vyakarnam Nageshwar Consultant Pulmonologist, had patented a special Allergen Identification Record, which is a completely new approach for the management of Allergy and Asthma this has been recognized and published at the proceedings of the World Congress of Asthma. Talking about this Dr. Vyakarnam added “ The Contribution of Wockhardt Hospitals, Hyderabad towards management of Asthma has come across not because we have done something new its because we have looked at asthma from a different perspective our patients perspective.”

ABOUT DOCTOR





Dr. Vyakarnam Nageshwar is a young, dynamic Pulmonologist, active in clinical practice since half a decade. Over these years he has been involved in performing interventional Pulmonology procedures. To his credit there are over 500 Tube Thorocostomies, 600 Pleural Aspirations, 300 Pleural Biopsies, 200 Fiber Optic Bronchoscopies ,35 FNAC Procedures, 20 Tru Cut Lung Biopsies and 30 Thoracoscopies.
Dr. Vyakarnam Nageshwar, has also been involved in many Health Awareness Campaigns organized at different levels. The District Collector, Khammam, has honoured him as “Best doctor of Khammam District” for his care and compassion towards his patients. Besides many other laurels, he distinctly holds the honour of treating thousands of patients suffering with Chest diseases especially in HIV positive cases. For this work he received appreciation and blessing from The Holy Father Benedict XVL from the Vatican City (The Holy Pope) in recognition of his attitude of sincere commitment and involvement in relief of patient’s suffering. He is known for his Clinical acumen and dedication towards his patients.
His success rate in treatment of Asthma (Acute / Chronic) is noteworthy with very good patient satisfaction.




Expertise

· Fiber Optic Bronchoscopies
· Thoracoscopies
· Asthma Allergy Counselling
· Needle Aspirations
· Transbronchoscopic Lung Biopsies


Papers, Publications & Awards
· Author of the Text “ The Fundamentals of Hospital Practice and Patient care.”
· Co-author of the “Textbook of Community Medicine”
· He has presented many papers at the state and the national level conferences.

DR. VYAKARNAM NAGESHWAR
M.B.B.S., MD, FCTP, ATC (New Delhi)
CONSULTANT INTERVENTIONAL PULMONOLOGIST.
WOCKHARDT HOSPITALS
HYDERABAD. INDIA
PH : +91 99495 29392

Friday, May 1, 2009

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?


Swine flu is a type of virus. It's named for a virus that pigs can get. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human. Symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Q. What is swine flu?
A. Swine influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory disease that affects pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round.
The most common version is H1N1. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.

Q. Does swine flu affect humans?
A. While the virus causes regular outbreaks in pigs, people usually are not struck by swine flu. However, there have been instances of the virus spreading to people -- and then from one person to another. The only difference is, says the CDC, transmission in the past did not spread beyond three people -- as it has done this time.

Q. What is behind the spread of the virus this time?
A. Researchers do not know yet know. People usually get swine flu from infected pigs. For example, farmers handling infected pigs can contract the virus. However, some human cases have occurred without contact with pigs or places they inhabited.

Q. What are the symptoms of swine flu?
A. The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Q. How does the virus spread?
A. The virus spreads the same way the seasonal flu does. When an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person, the latter is put at risk. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. An infected person can pass the virus to another before any symptoms even develop.

Q. Why is this spread troubling?
A. Scientists are concerned whenever a new virus is able to jump from an animal to a person -- and then spread from person to person. When the flu spreads person to person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to treat or fight off.
The World Health Organization has said the current outbreak has "pandemic potential," and has urged governments to take precautions to prevent its spread. If the virus continues to mutate, drug makers won't be able to come up with vaccines fast enough.

Q. Can swine flu be fatal?
A. Just like the regular flu, swine flu worsens pre-existing medical conditions in people. So people with already compromised immune systems can die after contracting it.

Q. But doesn't the common flu kill more people?
A. Yes, common seasonal flu kills 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide every year. But what worries officials is that a new strain of the flu virus can spread fast because people do not have natural immunity and vaccines can take months to develop.

Q. Have there been swine flu outbreaks in the past?
A. From 2005 to January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the United States, without deaths occurring, the CDC said. In September 1988, a healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died a week later. And in 1976, a swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey, caused more than 200 illnesses and one death.

Q. What does the World Health Organization mean when it says swine flu has "pandemic potential"?
A. If the virus spreads over a wide geographic area and affects a large segment of the population, it is upgraded from an "epidemic" to a "pandemic."

Q. How deadly have pandemics been in the past?
A. In 1968, a "Hong Kong" flu pandemic killed about 1 million people worldwide. And in 1918, a "Spanish" flu pandemic killed as many as 100 million people.

Q. How can one keep from getting swine flu?
A. There are no vaccines available. But several everyday steps can help prevent the spread of germs: Washing hands frequently; avoiding close contact with people who are sick; and avoiding touching surfaces that might be contaminated.

Q. Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
A. Yes, the CDC recommends using anti-viral drugs. They keep the virus from reproducing inside the body. And in an infected person, the drugs make the illness milder.

Q. Can one contract swine flu from eating or preparing pork?
A. No. Pork and other pig-derived products, if properly handled and cooked, do not transmit swine flu. The flu virus is killed by cooking temperatures of 160°F (70°C).



There are antiviral medicines you can take to prevent or treat swine flu. There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. You can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza by

  • Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.
  • Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Trying to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • Staying home from work or school if you are sick.