health-fitness
Breast Cancer Prevention: How to Cut Your Risk?
Breast cancer is a common fear for most women. Almost everyone knows someone who is suffering or has suffered from its consequences. While breast cancer sounds worrisome, modern medical science offers excellent ways to treat it. Along with advanced effective treatments, there are also a couple of actions that can be taken in order to prevent breast cancer. Most of these tips are associated with lifestyle changes. Apart from risk factors like family history and age, most of these lifestyle habits can be formed to prevent breast cancer.
10 Breast Cancer Prevention Tips
Here are 10 tips for women to prevent the risks of breast cancer.
Maintaining healthy weight
Maintaining a Body Mass Index (BMI) that falls within the normal range is extremely important when it comes to breast cancer prevention. Especially older women who have hit menopause are at a risk of getting breast cancer. Therefore, it becomes imperative for women to maintain a healthy weight so that they can reduce its risk. Regular weight measurements to ensure that the weight falls within the normal BMI for an adult of 18.5- 24.9 is a necessity to avoid being obese as it will only increase its risk.
Read Korean Skincare Routine: 10 Skincare Hacks
Taking part in regular physical exercise
Research suggests that taking part in regular physical exercise can reduce the chances of breast cancer by 10 percent. Starting to work out at even a later stage of life can be helpful in this regard. A daily walk of 30 minutes or engaging in yoga or doing any kind of physical activity on a regular basis that makes the body sweat can aid in the prevention of breast cancer to a certain extent.
Eating healthy
Eating a healthy and balanced diet can lessen the risk of getting breast cancer. This balanced diet should be ideally recommended by a registered nutritionist according to the individual needs of a person.
4 years ago
Korean Skincare Routine: 10 Skincare Hacks
Korean Skincare has revolutionized skincare like none other. It cannot be traced back to a certain person or a company, rather it gradually started to take over the world of beauty with its effective ways of taking care of the skin. Korean skincare refers to a skincare routine that is based on prevention than cure. It is formulated as such that the well-curated skincare hacks leave one with glowing glass skin and take care of skin problems before they even appear.
10 Steps of Korean Skincare
Let’s take a look at the 10 step skincare routine which can also be used as hacks for beautiful skin.
Steam massage
A steam massage helps to circulate blood within the skin. The heat from the steam opens up pores and allows the skin to breathe. Using their own hands, one can massage the skin in repetitive circular motions starting from the forehead to the cheeks and jaw. A jade roller can also be used to enhance blood circulation and soothe the skin. Massaging the skin can tighten the skin, decrease any sort of inflammation and also provide a natural dewy finish to it.
Read:10 Post- Pregnancy Skincare Tips: Get Your Glow Back
Cleansing (Oil-based)
After a long day outside, one needs to get rid of all impurities that have been collecting on the skin, especially when one has got makeup on. Since makeup, sunscreen and the skin’s natural sebum are oil-based, it requires an oil-based cleanser to remove all the dirt from the face. Besides, using an oil-based cleanser along with a steam massage can actively hydrate the skin. These cleansers also help to protect the skin’s moisture without stripping it away.
Cleansing (Water-based)
Using the second round of cleansers is a good idea as it removes any residual impurities from the skin. Water-based cleansers foaming face washes are used to remove excessive oil from the skin. This step will also ensure that the face is not polluted by any sort of filth or sweat.
Read Fairness Creams: Dangerous Side effects of Skin Whitening Beauty Products
4 years ago
ADHD in Children and Adults: Meaning, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
ADHD stands for “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,” which is a neurodevelopmental condition detected in children and adults characterized by the inability to pay attention and hyperactivity. Although all human beings find it difficult to maintain the same level of attention at all times, people diagnosed with ADHD face it more frequently and more intensely, hampering their professional and personal lives in general. The symptoms usually start from early childhood even though the symptoms might not be recognized during this time.
Types of ADHD
ADHD is mostly diagnosed in men than in women. It can be divided into three categories according to the behaviors of the patients and the intensity of their symptoms. Let’s take a look at the types of ADHD that the patients are diagnosed with.
Predominantly inattentive
People diagnosed with this type of ADHD frequently are unable to focus on a single thing. So the primary symptom of their mental issue is the inability to pay attention which might include things like getting distracted easily, forgetting to do basic chores, having difficulty following instructions, etc.
Read 10 Post-Pregnancy Skincare Tips: Get Your Glow Back
Predominantly hyperactive
This type comprises people who predominantly show symptoms of hyperactivity like fidgeting, talking a lot, unnecessary movements, etc.
Combined
People with the combined type of ADHD fall victim to a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive behavior.
Read Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Causes of ADHD
Although researchers are trying their best, research on the causes of ADHD has not revealed anything specific yet. Recent researches have suggested that factors like genetics, low birth weight, problems with the central nervous system, premature birth, intake of tobacco or alcohol during pregnancy, injury to the brain, exposure to unfavorable environments are some of the major causes that might be responsible for causing ADHD in children and in adults.
4 years ago
10 Post- Pregnancy Skincare Tips: Get Your Glow Back
There is no doubt that pregnancy marks the beginning of a life- changing experience in a woman’s life. In addition to going through bodily changes during pregnancy, some of these changes persist even after pregnancy. When a woman gets pregnant, her body requires a new system of hormonal balance to sustain the life inside. After the baby is delivered, the mother's body slowly goes back to its original flow. But this fluctuation of hormones results in visible changes of the body as well as the skin of the mother. The skin might lose its natural glow and give rise to different skin related problems like dark circles, melisma, breakouts etc. Hence, postpartum skincare is important.
How to take care of your skin after delivery
Here are 10 tips for new mothers to revive their glow back without affecting the breastfeeding process.
Cleansing
What any skin type demands is regular cleansing. A good cleanse will wash away the impurities on the skin and will help to prevent unsolicited breakouts. Although new mothers will, more often than not, feel the urge to skip cleaning their face due to a whole day of tiredness.
If you are a new mom, your skin will thank you after going through this step. Cleaning the face with a mild cleanser will also get rid of the oil or any sebum that accumulates on the skin, ultimately allowing the skin to shine through.
Read Easy Skin Care Tips For Men
Healthy diet
Post- partum diet requires special attention as it does not only provides a good supply of breast milk for the baby, but also helps to sustain the skin’s natural glow. Eating the right kind of food that is full of fibers and vitamins not only keeps the skin firm and glowy but also helps to restore the mother’s stamina.
Thus, eating a healthy diet including whole grain foods, vitamin- enriched vegetables and fruits can help the new mother maintain sound health as well as a healthy looking skin. However, each breast-feeding mother should consult with a dietitian to get their individual diet chart.
Read When to See a Nutritionist?
Hydration and Toning
To maintain a healthy skin after delivery and also to ensure that the body remains fit, there is nothing more important than hydration. A recommended amount for new moms is drinking 8 glasses of water on a daily basis.
Apart from hydrating the body, the skin requires its own hydration and so after cleansing it, it is important to use a toner to make the skin supple and to restore the natural pH of the skin. Using products that are rich in hyaluronic acid will help maintain the skin’s hydration without affecting the breastfeeding process.
Read Fairness Creams: Dangerous Side effects of Skin Whitening Beauty Products
Sufficient sleep
While getting a sufficient amount of sleep is a basic need for the human body, it is also required for the glow on the skin. The new moms can hardly manage time for sleep, as the newborn babies tend to keep them awake the whole night and sometimes even the whole day. This disruption in the sleep cycle is the main culprit behind breakouts and dark, puffy eyes, which can make the skin look dull and spotty. Hence, ensuring at least 6 to 7 hours of sleep is an essential skin care tip for the new mothers.
Sun damage prevention
Most pregnant women go through a skin discoloration condition during their pregnancy, which is called chloasma. The dark spots from this disease get worse when exposed to the rays of the sun. To prevent this from happening, a good and reliable sunscreen with adequate SPF is recommendable. Application of sunscreen is such a significant postpartum skin care tip that it should also be maintained even when a mother stays indoor.
Read SaadMua: The First Male Beauty Blogger of Bangladesh
Moisturizing
Cleansing, toning and moisturizing are the three foundational steps of any skincare routine. Often, just cleansing and toning the skin are not enough to keep the skin’s hydration intact. This is why the skin demands to be moisturized.
Application of a light moisturizer twice a day, after waking up and before going to bed, would help the skin to soften up and remain supple. It also helps to prevent dry skin during the post-pregnancy period.
4 years ago
Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Food poisoning is a condition most people are familiar with. It results from eating foods that have been contaminated with parasites, viruses, bacteria, or other chemical toxins. It is a common infection that usually causes mild symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting. In most cases, patients suffering from it get better within a few days even without any kind of treatment. But in some cases, this condition may take an ugly turn and cause severe symptoms like rectal bleeding associated with fever.
To identify and prevent this condition from occurring as much as one can, it is important to know what the symptoms of food poisoning are, what causes such conditions and how these can be treated.
Read When to See a Nutritionist?
Symptoms of Food Poisoning
These symptoms of food poisoning can appear within a few hours of food ingestion to several days later of food intake.
Nausea
One of the most common symptoms of food poisoning is that it makes people feel nauseous. The affected person will feel the inclination to vomit every now and then. This queasiness might also be accompanied by a feeling of dizziness.
Read Low-grade Fever: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention
Diarrhea
Another major symptom of food poisoning is that it can upset the stomach. A doctor’s assistance should be immediately sought if the patient spots blood or mucus with their stool. Rectal bleeding happens quite often in people with food poisoning and it should not be ignored at any cost.
Abdominal Pain
Diarrhea is mostly accompanied by cramps in the abdomen. These can make the patient feel the urge to defecate frequently and is an unpleasant experience.
Read How to Overcome Depression Without Medication?
Fatigue
The aforementioned symptoms can cause severe fatigue or loss of energy in the affected person. Feeling weak or dizzy while standing up can be a sign of this fatigue in the body.
Fever
Although this does not happen quite often, some people with food poisoning can be seen with a raised temperature that suggests fever in the body. The patient might also come down with chills to indicate the inception of fever in the patient.
Read Mosquirix: WHO Recommends World's First Malaria Vaccine RTS,S
Muscle Ache
All these symptoms can make the body feel weak and sore. It might hurt for the affected person to raise their arms or to even walk as there is a chance of muscle ache occurring in the whole body.
4 years ago
When to See a Nutritionist?
A nutritionist or a dietitian is a person who can direct others towards a healthier lifestyle by selecting the right nutrients that will improve their metabolism and digestion. Everyone wants to have a healthy meal that will cater to their personalized needs of nutrients. But with so much information pouring in from all directions, it can be quite a challenge to “eat right.” This is when one should seek help from a registered nutritionist.
10 Reasons Why You Should See a Nutritionist
Let’s look at 10 reasons why one should consult a dietitian.
To manage blood sugar, high blood pressure or other chronic conditions
There are some chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases or even high cholesterol which require constant monitoring and management. Since these diseases are closely associated with dietary restrictions, seeking the help of a nutritionist is highly recommendable.
Read: Speakers for standard services from nutritionists, dieticians
A skilled dietitian can help the patient with a dietary chart consisting of food to serve their individualized need of nutrients that can not only manage these diseases but also can improve their current conditions.
To lose or gain weight
Weight gain or weight loss requires extensive research as a slight imbalance can push the body towards malnutrition or obesity. These can be pretty challenging owing to how different it is for each person. No two people lose or gain weight in the same way. Thus, in order to preserve the body’s dietary balance, it is essential to take help from someone who has reliable knowledge in this field. In this case, a dietitian can prepare a meal chart that can help people reach their desired weight goals without having to compromise on the nutrition they need.
Read How to Overcome Depression Without Medication?
Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings forth a variety of changes in a woman's body. During this time, a woman does not only take food for herself, but she also has to ensure proper nutrition for the child inside of her. Naturally, this calls for some attention to the kind of food she is taking.
To secure such a diet which can provide the necessary nutrients for both the mother and the child, the advice of a nutritionist is vital. Apart from this time during pregnancy, the consultation of a dietitian is also essential after the pregnancy during the post- partum period to facilitate breastfeeding and post- partum health.
Read Low-grade Fever: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention
Digestive problems
Signs of digestive problems include frequent diarrhea, constipation, acidity, irregular bowel movement etc. People who suffer from these constantly might take it as a normal part of their digestion. But they need to understand that it is not and this requires immediate attention from a registered dietitian.
A nutritionist can specify a list of food for such patients to control and improve their digestive issues. With proper management and restriction of certain food items, these conditions can even be brought to normal.
Read Mosquirix: WHO Recommends World's First Malaria Vaccine RTS,S
Mood Issues
Mood disorders can be referred to as anxiety, depression, panic, ADHD etc. With the interconnection between the mind and the body, if anything goes down with the body, it automatically affects the soundness of mind. Hormones like Cortisol or stress hormones are released in the body when a person suffers from various types of mood issues.
4 years ago
Low-grade Fever: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention
Many people get affected by fever during the season change. From children to the elderly, anyone can feel that way. In some cases, people visit the doctors and convey that they feel feverish, but the thermometer does not show a high body temperature. In these cases, there is a general feeling of fever, body aches, and discomfort. This condition is normally identified as low-grade fever.
What is low-grade fever?
For a healthy person, the normal body temperature is 98.6° Fahrenheit or 37° Celsius. So, if anyone has a slightly high body temperature, that is considered a low-grade fever. So, what is the idle range for low-grade fever?
According to Healthline, the range for low-grade fever is between 98.7°F and 100.4°F (37.5°C and 38.3°C). This fever may last for more than 24 hours, while chronic fever usually lasts for more than 10 to 14 days.
Read Mosquirix: WHO Recommends World's First Malaria Vaccine RTS,S
Normally, fever can be many types, but in most cases, low grade, and mild grade fevers are not a serious matter and may go away within a few days. In most cases, it can happen due to cold or flu. However, there are some other causes of a persistent low-grade fever.
What causes a low-grade fever?
Many times, people feel feverish due to the impact of warm weather, wearing heavy clothes, dehydration, or walking in the sun for a long time. It is normal for children to get such fever when new teeth erupt.
But in some cases, low-grade fever can also be a symptom of serious diseases like tuberculosis, thyroid problems, various stomach complications, diabetes, cancer, and more. This type of fever can sometimes be caused by inflammation of the joints or muscles, urination, or ear-throat-tooth infection. So, the person needs to look for other symptoms to find the cause of such a fever.
Read Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health: 10 Tips for Parents
The most common cause of low-grade fever is the difference in weather and humidity, and the body may get hot. Further, hormonal imbalance in older women can also raise body temperature.
A new medication can also create low-grade fever, which is sometimes called drug fever. Some drugs associated with low-grade fever are quinidine, phenytoin, beta-lactam antibiotics, such as cephalosporins and penicillins, carbamazepine, methyldopa, procainamide, and carbamazepine.
Symptoms
Mild fever can have many symptoms, such as loss of appetite, chronic cold cough, shortness of breath, ear and throat pain, nausea and abdominal pain, weight loss, joint and muscle pain, abdominal digestion noise, etc.
Read Memory loss: Types, symptoms, and when to seek help
Fever should first be measured with a thermometer four to five times a day for five to seven days to check if the temperature rises or not. If measuring at a regular interval shows a temperature rise, the person might have a low-grade fever. Further, if the temperature list shows fever during the day or night, caution should be taken.
Low-grade fever can also occur due to seasonal flu or influenza. Seasonal flu or influenza is a sort of acute respiratory infection through influenza virus. The flu can be four types, and of the four types of influenza viruses (A, B, C, D), both influenza A and influenza B viruses can cause seasonal epidemics, perhaps fever.
Usually, Influenza signs include fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and bone pain, sickness, sore throat, and runny nose. However, In most cases, treatment is not needed, and it recovers within a week.
Read How to Overcome Depression Without Medication?
4 years ago
Advice shifting on aspirin use for preventing heart attacks
Older adults without heart disease shouldn't take daily low-dose aspirin to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, an influential health guidelines group said in preliminary updated advice released Tuesday.
Bleeding risks for adults in their 60s and up who haven't had a heart attack or stroke outweigh any potential benefits from aspirin, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said in its draft guidance.
For the first time, the panel said there may be a small benefit for adults in their 40s who have no bleeding risks. For those in their 50s, the panel softened advice and said evidence of benefit is less clear.
The recommendations are meant for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or other conditions that increase their chances for a heart attack or stroke. Regardless of age, adults should talk with their doctors about stopping or starting aspirin to make sure it's the right choice for them, said task force member Dr. John Wong, a primary-care expert at Tufts Medical Center.
"Aspirin use can cause serious harms, and risk increases with age,'' he said.
Read: Eating chili peppers may prevent fatal heart attacks and stroke
If finalized, the advice for older adults would backtrack on recommendations the panel issued in 2016 for helping prevent a first heart attack and stroke, but it would be in line with more recent guidelines from other medical groups.
Doctors have long recommended daily low-dose aspirin for many patients who already have had a heart attack or stroke. The task force guidance does not change that advice.
The task force previously said a daily aspirin might also protect against colorectal cancer for some adults in their 50s and 60s, but the updated guidance says more evidence of any benefit is needed.
The guidance was posted online to allow for public comments until Nov. 8. The group will evaluate that input and then make a final decision.
The independent panel of disease-prevention experts analyzes medical research and literature and issues periodic advice on measures to help keep Americans healthy. Newer studies and a re-analysis of older research prompted the updated advice, Wong said.
Aspirin is best known as a pain reliever but it is also a blood thinner that can reduce chances for blood clots. But aspirin also has risks, even at low doses — mainly bleeding in the digestive tract or ulcers, both of which can be life-threatening.
Dr. Lauren Block, an internist-researcher at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, said the guidance is important because so many adults take aspirin even though they have never had a heart attack or stroke.
Read: Millions should stop taking aspirin for heart health
Block, who is not on the task force, recently switched one of her patients from aspirin to a cholesterol-lowering statin drug because of the potential harms.
The patient, 70-year-old Richard Schrafel, has high blood pressure and knows about his heart attack risks. Schrafel, president of a paperboard-distribution business, said he never had any ill effects from aspirin, but he is taking the new guidance seriously.
Rita Seefeldt, 63, also has high blood pressure and took a daily aspirin for about a decade until her doctor told her two years ago to stop.
"He said they changed their minds on that,'' recalled the retired elementary school teacher from Milwaukee. She said she understands that science evolves.
Wong acknowledged that the backtracking might leave some patients frustrated and wondering why scientists can't make up their minds.
"It's a fair question,'' he said. ''What's really important to know is that evidence changes over time.''
4 years ago
Mosquirix: WHO Recommends World's First Malaria Vaccine RTS,S
Mosquito-borne disease malaria is responsible for around 435,000 deaths per year, and 80-90% of those deaths occur in rural sub-Saharan Africa. However, there was no vaccine until a few years back to prevent this disease. Finally, after 100 years of effort, a vaccine has become a beacon of hope. The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed a vaccine to fight malaria on October 6, 2021. After conducting pilot vaccination programs in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, the WHO said it could now be used in children's bodies to prevent moderate to high levels of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions.
Six years ago, Mosquirix based 'RTS, S' proved to be effective and getting endorsed from WHO is considered a historic event.
What is Mosquirix Vaccine?
Mosquirix is a malaria vaccine for children aged 6 weeks to 17 months. Additionally, it can also protect against liver infection due to the hepatitis B virus. However, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) suggests not using the vaccine solely for liver infection purposes.
Read Covid-19 threatens global progress against malaria: WHO
GlaxoSmithKline or GSK invented the vaccine back in 1987. But, they went through many development processes, and today's outcome took more than three decades. However, since the invention Mosquirix has faced some challenges as the protection faded after a few months and required up to four doses.
The European Medicine Agency approved this in 2015. In one experiment, Mosquirix was found 30% effective when applied 4 times to children.
The World Health Organization has set a target of vaccinating 360,000 children each year in three countries. GSK and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have funded about $750 million for the vaccine. Currently, the company is providing 1 crore vaccines free of cost in the ongoing project. Later, they are planning to recoup the money invested through large-scale projects.
Read: UN endorses world's 1st malaria vaccine as 'historic moment'
Since 2019, around 2.3 million doses have been applied to infants in Kenya, Ghana and Malawi on a large scale, which was coordinated by the WHO.
Usage of Mosquirix
A 0.5 ml Mosquirix injection is given into the muscle around the shoulder or in the muscle of the thigh. The child will need to take three injections in three months with one month gap between each dose. Further, a fourth dose is also necessary after 18 months of the third dose. However, a prescription is required to get the vaccine.
How does Mosquirix RTS, S work?
According to the European Medicines Agency's researchers, the active substance in Mosquirix is basically made up of proteins found on the Plasmodium falciparum parasites' surface. When it enters into the body, the immune system takes it as a foreign protein and eventually builds antibodies against them.
What does RTS,S stand for?
RTS,S is mainly the scientific name of the malaria vaccine candidate. The 'R' means the "central repeat region of Plasmodium (P.) falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)." The 'T' stands for the T-cell epitopes of the CSP, and the 'S' stands for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
Read Trump's use of malaria drug likely to be welcomed in India
4 years ago
Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health: 10 Tips for Parents
A child’s mental health determines how they feel, behave, think and act. Their cognitive and emotional developments depend on how they process emotions and thoughts from a young age. Unfortunately, the social stigma dictates that ensuring a child’s physical well-being is more significant than protecting their mental well-being. Now, it is high time to reassess this stance and break out of this misconception; because the mental health of children is as important as their physical health. Let’s find out some basic ways of protecting a kid's mental health.
How to Support Your Child’s Mental Health?
Forming the right kind of habits and thought patterns that can protect your child’s mental health is not an easy chore. To help parents succeed in their journey to protect their child’s mental health, this article has brought forth 10 well-researched tips and techniques.
Expressing and showing love
A sense of belonging is created in children when they feel loved, welcomed, and accepted. Often, parents disregard the importance of making it a point to show or express their love as it is in a parent’s nature to love their offspring.
Read How to Overcome Depression Without Medication?
But to a child, a simple gesture of love may go unnoticed until they are reassured of the love and acceptance they are surrounded by.
Embracing them or telling them how much they are loved are, thus, as significant as expressing your love through other gestures of love. When children observe these expressions of love, they grow up to channel their emotions better and form stronger and healthier relationships in the future.
Read UNICEF: Battered by pandemic, kids need mental health help
Validating their feelings
Children often go through bouts of sadness and anger which is considered normal child behavior. As their caregiver, it is imperative to validate all of their feelings. Invalidating or ignoring their emotions hampers their mental health to the extent that they can grow up to be shameful of certain emotions.
Contrarily, if they are encouraged to talk about their feelings, and their emotions are recognized, they feel seen and heard. They become prone to validate their own feelings and begin to develop a sense of self-esteem where they can depend on themselves for mental support. These children are also good communicators of their emotions and hence, can deal with problems better.
Read Mental Health: Types of Mental Illness and supporting someone with a mental health problem
Showing how to deal with problems
A child learns how to deal with adversities from the people they are surrounded by. If the caregivers give up easily in the face of an obstacle or simply choose not to take risks in fear of failure, the child imitates this behavior. Children who develop these behavioral patterns show signs of anxiety and even grow up to be anxious adults with other mental health issues like depression and panic attacks.
On the other hand, if a child is taught that it is okay to fail while solving a problem, that there are several ways to solve a problem or to think of a solution without panicking, that child learns to take care of their own mental health.
Read Memory loss: Types, symptoms, and when to seek help
Asking questions and listening
As a parent, asking your child questions shows that you are interested in their lives. Asking about their day or their interests in life can make them feel more connected to the caregivers. Children long for this bonding and doing so helps to protect their mental health to a great extent. Listening to them without any distraction while they answer is also significant as it shows them the importance they have in their parent’s life.
4 years ago