Health Tips - Orgasm kickstarts brain better than a puzzle

Orgasm kickstarts brain better than a puzzle:

Researchers have revealed that having an orgasm is a better workout for your brain than solving a crossword puzzle or sudoku.

Professor Barry Komisaruk, from New Jersey in the US, has claimed that unlike orgasms, mental exercises increase brain activity, but only in relatively localized regions, the Daily Star reported.

Komisaruk said the feelings of sexual climax also block pain.

The neuroscientist asserted that when you have an orgasm, there is a tremendous increase in the blood flow to the brain.

He said that orgasm brings all the nutrients and oxygenation to the brain.

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Health tips - Poor mental health in adulthood triggered in the womb

Poor mental health in adulthood triggered in the womb:

A new research has linked hormonal imbalance in the placenta to anxiety and possible vulnerability to poor mental health in mice.

According to new research by scientists at Cardiff and Cambridge universities, adults could be at greater risk of becoming anxious and vulnerable to poor mental health if they were deprived of certain hormones while developing in the womb.

The research conducted on mice has revealed the role of the placenta in long-term programming of emotional behaviour and the first time scientists have linked changes in adult behaviour to alterations in placental function.

Insulin-like growth factor-2 has been shown to play a major role in foetal and placental development in mammals, and changes in expression of this hormone in the placenta and foetus are implicated in growth restriction in the womb.

Professor Lawrence Wilkinson and his colleagues Dr Trevor Humby, Mikael Mikaelsson - both also from Cardiff University - and Dr Miguel Constancia of Cambridge University, examined the behaviour of adult mice with a malfunctioned supply of a vital hormone.

"We achieved this by damaging a hormone called Insulin-like growth factor-2, important for controlling growth in the womb. What we found when we did this was an imbalance in the supply of nutrients controlled by the placenta, and that this imbalance had major effects on how subjects were during adulthood - namely, that subject became more anxious later in life," Dr Humby said.

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Health Tips - Chiropractic care: Solution for migraines

Chiropractic care: Solution for migraines:

The remedy for a migraine eludes most people despite the many years of suffering, until they are introduced to chiropractic care. A migraine is described as an incapacitating condition that is characterised by a throbbing headache, which occurs in episodes that lasts from several hours to 3 days.

According to the World Health Organisation, 10% of the world's adult population suffers from migraines and it accounts for over 2% of years lost as a result of disability globally. Close to 40 million people have migraines with at least three million of them suffering from chronic migraine in the United States alone. In addition, over 90% of migraine sufferers miss work or cannot attend function during an attack. These figures are staggering and they indicate the imminent threat migraines pose to individuals and the economy in general. Therefore, it makes sense for people to embrace the answer for migraines; chiropractic care.

How Chiropractic Care Works in Treating Migraines?

For those who know the pain, stress and cost of dealing with a migraine for years on end without success, they find it hard to believe that their migraine can be cured by simple and drug free solutions.

People with chronic migraines have been victims of empty medical promises for so long they become wary of anything or anyone suggesting that migraines are treatable.

What they do not know is that the main cause of their migraines is a misalignment of their upper cervical spine, which can effectively and efficiently be readjusted through chiropractic care, resulting in recovery from migraine.

One of the simplest and most effective treatments to cure a migraine provided at a Chiropractic Clinic is the touch of a feather. Yes, you read right, a feather.

To treat a migraine, chiropractic care treatments do what other traditional migraine treatments do not; focus on the underlying causes of a migraine.

Causes of Migraines and How to eliminate them Through Chiropractic Care?

The most common cause of migraines is neck muscle tension.

In Physiotherapy, the muscle tension is eliminated by combining different chiropractic migraine treatments including the Atlas Orthogonal Program, Gonstead technique and upper cervical spine manipulation among others.

Some of the other causes of migraines that chiropractic care treatment identifies and rectifies include stiff necks, tension in the shoulders, tension in the lower or upper back and even postural misalignment.

Once the underlying causes are located and dealt with in the most suitable chiropractic techniques, the occurrences of migraines are greatly reduced and in most instances, stopped.

Is Chiropractic Care Treatment Really Better Than Other Migraine Remedies?

Debates have been raging on for years about the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic care in dealing with various health problems including migraines. Recent studies have brought the debate to a close.

According to studies conducted to examine the ability of chiropractic care to treat migraines, chiropractic care is the most effective, safest and most efficient in providing long term benefits with the least number of side effects compared to other remedies.

The results of the study were obtained by comparing two different groups of people suffering from tensionheadaches. The two groups had to undergo six weeks of traditional medication and chiropractic treatment respectively.

Conclusively, chiropractic care cured migraines.

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Health Tips - Be kinder to your ears, please!

Be kinder to your ears, please!:

Research shows modern living is too noisy for our ears. Here's how you can be kinder to them

Our ears at all ages are in danger from the sounds of the modern world. Look around and you'll realise that we are personally responsible for most of it — MP3 players, iPods, nightclubs, hair dryers, and motorcycles inflict injury on our delicate and sensitive hearing apparatus. Sound waves entering the ear set off vibrations in the flexible eardrum. Loud noise can test this membrane to ear-splitting points.

Here's how it happens
A chain of tiny bones transmits the vibrations to the cochlea in the inner ear where fluid carries them to rows of hair cells. These stimulate fibres in our hearing nerve along which impulses travel to the hearing centre in the brain, and we hear sounds. The most sensitive bit of this whole chain is the hair cells in the inner ear.

Very loud noises over an extended period actually kill off the hair cells and once dead, they stay that way. They can't be replaced. This damage to the hair cells further adds up.

So, every loud Friday night at the club inflicts cumulative damage and you can't go back. Damage in your teenage years shows up as deafness in middle age.

Doctors say, we measure sound in decibels and hearing loss begins at 85 decibels. That is the noise a hair dryer or a food mixer makes — MP3s or iPods inflict worse, mainly because we tend to over use them. In fact, a study in 2006 showed more than one third of adults and more than half of teenagers listened to MP3s with the volume turned up high. It is too loud if other people can hear what you are listening to.

Measures to follow
But you don't need to shun all of them to protect your fragile ears. There are steps we can all take to protect our ears, even down to wearing ear plugs while you dry your hair. Some MP3 players can produce sound levels equal to a jet taking off. If you listen with earphones that drown out people speaking that's too much, throttle back. Remember, at a given volume, ear buds deliver more noise than headphones that cover the ear. Choose loose ones and never insert them tightly into your ears. Pick only over-the-ear headphones that cut out the background noise so you can listen at a lower volume. Also, beware noisy children's toys, otherwise you're inflicting damage on your child's ears at a very early age.

Avoid cap guns, talking dolls, walkietalkies, squeaky toys. They are cute but extremely damaging. Toy sirens and squeaky rubber toys can make sounds of 90 decibels — as loud as a lawn mower and just as damaging. At a nightclub, make sure you are standing far away from the speakers and enjoying the music.

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Health Tips - What is pneumonia, causes, treatment and prevention

What is pneumonia, causes, treatment and prevention:

Pneumonia is a serious life threatening illness in children. It is a form of acute respiratory infection (ARI) that affects the alveoli in the lungs, which are the small sacs that fill with air when a healthy person breathes.

When there is an infection in the lungs, these alveoli fill with pus and fluid, which is the body's natural response to fighting infection. This infection in the lungs makes breathing difficult and limits oxygen intake.

There are two kinds of bacteria that are responsible for most pneumonia related deaths: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumonia (Spn). Hib and Spn bacteria can also cause acute meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain) in young children, which can lead to life-long disabilities.

Symptoms of pneumonia
Cough is a common symptom of respiratory infections including pneumonia. Many children with cough, cold and fever have upper respiratory tract infections caused by viral infections.

Children with pneumonia experience fast breathing along with a severe cough. In severe cases the child may have in-drawing of the lower chest wall when he breathes in, which might lead to grunting and difficulty in breathing. If your child exhibits such a cough with fast breathing, an immediate check-up is recommended even if these other symptoms do not occur, as it could be a case of pneumonia.

Disease burden of pneumonia
Very few people are aware that pneumonia is the single largest cause of death in children worldwide. Every year, it kills an estimated 1.2 million children under the age of five, accounting for 18% of all deaths of children under five years old worldwide. In India, it kills nearly 397,000 children every year and is the leading cause of infant mortality. However, pneumonia can be easily prevented. Death is not the only consequence of pneumonia -severe illness which affects a child's development is caused by pneumonia. Pneumonia can cause serious sickness, leading to several visits to the doctor and often times hospitalizations, placing significant burden on families, the healthcare system and society at large.

Prevention
Pneumonia can be easily averted with existing child survival interventions. These interventions include a variety of comprehensive prevention strategies such as frequent washing of hands and general cleanliness, reducing the spread of disease, access to healthcare, and, vaccination. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is vital to ensure the child gets adequate nutrition and build natural immunity against infections. Addressing environmental factors such as indoor air pollution (by providing affordable clean indoor stoves, for example) and encouraging good hygiene in crowded homes also reduces the number of children who fall ill with pneumonia.

Immunisation of pneumonia
Vaccines are the most cost effective way to safeguard your child against pneumonia. A comprehensive approach to prevention of pneumonia, including access to new and available vaccines, is needed to combat this deadly disease.

In India vaccines for both Hib and Streptococcus pneumoniae are available. The Government of India has recently introduced the pentavalent vaccine in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, Goa and Puducherry. Pentavalent protects children against 5 diseases including Hib pneumonia/meningitis/blood infection, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus and hepatitis B. This vaccine is available free of cost in Government hospitals and health centres in the above mentioned states.

Infants are given three doses of the pentavalent vaccine at the 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. After that, they need a booster dose of DPT and Hib at 15 to 18 months of age. The vaccine follows the normal immunization schedule and can be integrated into the immunization program of the country. Hib vaccine has been demonstrated to be effective in numerous studies and is widely supported by global and Indian health communities. Hib vaccine has been introduced in more than 180 countries worldwide including the neighbouring countries of India including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, etc. All these countries are currently administering the pentavalent vaccines.

Treatment of pneumonia
Pneumonia is not only preventable but is also treatable, particularly with early diagnosis. While children with viral respiratory tract infections do not require medicine, children with bacterial pneumonia should be treated with appropriate antibiotics. Treatment in hospitals or health centres often includes supportive care such as the administering of oxygen.

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Health Tips - Prolonged use of digital devices bad for kids

Prolonged use of digital devices bad for kids:

Prolonged use of handheld devices is causing spinal deformities in children as young as 10, it has been revealed.

Auckland chiropractor, Margaret Bryce is concerned by the increase in the number of people coming to her with straighten of the neck curve problems, Stuff reported.

The curve, which is developed among infants during "tummy time" when they are placed on their stomachs and naturally practise lifting their heads, provides flexibility, shock absorption and strength for the spine.

Dr Bryce said that straightening out this curve could interfere with the 17 trillion messages that passed through the spinal column every minute.

She said that because the heavy use of handheld electronic devices such as cellphones and gaming machines, the body starts interfering with those 17 trillion messages.

She said that when trying to send messages from the brain to the arms and vice-versa, that co-ordination isn't there.

Dr Bryce added that pain from the condition was rarely a problem for younger people but it could become an issue in later life.

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Health Tips - Canshala : A school of hope for kids with cancer

Canshala : A school of hope for kids with cancer:

It's called Canshala and is an island of peace and learning for a group of ailing children for whom education had, at one stage, become a distant dream due to their treatment for life-threatening cancer.

The children mingle with normal children in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) school in south Mumbai's Parel area, where they are taught by regular teachers, two of whom are provided by the civic agency and the remaining by NGO CanKids.

This formal education helps them make up the time lost due to staying away from school or dropping out for treatment.

This special school has come about thanks to a public-private partnership between the BMC and CanKids, which also has a family support group for children with cancer.

Four rooms in the Jagannath Bhatankar Municipal School have been provided by the civic agency for the special school. Two of these serve as classrooms for the brave hearts, one as a therapy room and another as an office.

"The school bridges the gap in education these children have so far been facing during treatment," Canshala mentor Surabhi Kakar said.

"Now, with continuity of education, the children not only get a feeling of normalcy but they can carry on with education in their regular school after treatment, reducing chances of their becoming dropouts," Kakar added.

Corporation employee Neelima Vijaykumar Rawler, who teaches the children with cancer, said: "They are all hardworking students...after coming to school they forget about their painful brush with cancer."

Of the 80 cancer patients registered with Canshala, at least 20 attend classes daily.

Free books, meals, uniforms and school bags provided by the civic agency add to the attempt to make them feel at par with other normal children in the school.

Another BMC teacher, Suvidya Ramchandra Shinde, says there's not much difference between the two groups of children.

"But the hunger for learning in children with cancer has to be seen to be believed," said Shinde, who teaches Marathi, Hindi, English and Mathematics to the brave hearts.

A majority of the cancer-afflicted students of the school hail from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

"They attend school when they are not undergoing treatment at city hospitals like Tata Memorial, Sion and Bai Jerbai Wadia," CanKids director Enid A. Kerr said.

"We contact parents in hospitals or dharamshalas meant for patients' families and motivate them to send their kids to our school when they are not required at the OPDs," Kerr added.

Shuba Devi Singh, mother of Gaurav Kumar Singh, 12, a patient of Hodgkin's lymphoma that weakens the immune system, is happy with her son's exposure at the school.

"He is a talented artist and got the first prize in an inter-school BMC art competition in Mumbai," she said proudly.

"Gaurav is always eager to head to the school. Interaction with the other kids has made him forget his trauma and he is no more an introvert," she added.

Niyali D. Chaurasiya, 11, who hails from Madhya Pradesh and is undergoing treatment for bone tissue cancer, acknowledged the gains from Canshala.

"I am making up for the lessons I have missed over the last two years," she said.

Kerr said the syllabus for the cancer patients is on the lines of that for other children but has been refined by experts.

"On completion of the course, we give them a certificate of our own depending on the standard they have achieved. We are trying for an arrangement under which the certificate would be awarded by the BMC," she said.

While most of the students afflicted with cancer are at the primary level, there is one at the Class 7 and another at the Class 9 level, Kerr said.

Shinde said that as a teacher, she has been experimenting with the curriculum's content. "We need a different approach. The students come after long breaks from formal schooling and need a lot of background material to cover the lost time."

The school also helps the patients overcome their trauma. Social worker-cum-counsellor Raju Pawar said: "It gives great satisfaction to help the kids."

Apart from support from the NGO in travelling between the hospital, school and dharamshalas, the special students also get a helping hand from European volunteers.

Netti, an economics student from Hungary, is on a six-week volunteer programme at Canshala. "I am preparing manuals on the curriculum to be taught and the responsibilities of teachers and workers," she said.

Worldwide, 70-80 percent of children can be cured of cancer. According to CanKids director Priti Dhall, in India just 40 percent of the affected children manage to do so.

"Imparting education to kids with cancer is one way of empowering them to lead normal lives as cancer survivors," Dhall said.

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Health Tips - Top 20 symptoms that it's time to fill up on H20

Top 20 symptoms that it's time to fill up on H20:

We cannot live without water as up to 60% of the adult human body is made up of water.

Water is the essence of the human body and the functioning of the body depends on it. A lack of water can lead to a plethora of health problems from hair loss to blood pressure. Here are the top 20 signs and symptoms of dehydration.

Dehydration: Symptoms of lack of water in the body

Muscle cramps/spasms:
Muscle spasms are involuntarily contraction of muscle or groups of muscles. A muscle cramp may last for anything from a few seconds to a few minutes. Lack of calcium, potassium and magnesium and dehydration can stimulate muscle cramps or spasms.

Early ageing:
It is well known that the body is made up of 80% of liquid, when this amount depletes, the skin shrinks. Lack of water increases our chance of getting wrinkles. Drink sufficient water to prevent ageing.

Exhaustion:
When you have a refreshing drink of water, you feel energised. Dehydration results in a lack of energy and leads to fatigue. So it is important to consume water in its natural state or you can opt for naturally flavoured water.

Stomach ulcers:
Lack of food or water can result in a build up of acids in the stomach. So, to protect the stomach lining it is advised to consume food at regular interval of 2 hours and also drink plenty of water.

Constipation:
Hard stools are a sign of constipation. Consume water to soften the stool as this prevents the straining of the rectum, which can lead to piles. Also, consume a high fibre diet.

Digestive problems:
Lack of water or dehydration can increase the acid levels in the stomach causing the lining to erode, it also increases your chances of ulcers and can reduce the levels of digestive juices resulting in digestion related problems.

Dry mouth:
This is one of the symptoms of dehydration. A parched throat is a common when one is thirsty. Lack of fluids depletes the flow of saliva and this gives leads to a dry throat.

Blood pressure - high and low:
Lack of water reduces the blood flow to the arteries and veins and this increases your chances of developing blood pressure.

Obesity:
Studies and research reveals that thirst and hunger can be confused. Hence, you may feel hungry when you are actually thirsty, resulting in overeating. When hungry, drink water or consume fruits as they have high water content.

High cholesterol levels:
Lack of water or dehydration causes an increase in cholesterol levels in the cells. When liquids are depleted from the cells, your body prevents loss of liquids by producing cholesterol, this increases your cholesterol levels.

Dizziness:
Dizziness may be caused due to high or low blood pressure, but lack of liquids in the body can lead to fainting spells, that are common during summer. Lack of water can also cause headaches.

Heart palpitations:
Dehydration can cause heart palpitations. Calm your nerves with water or liquids to prevent heart palpitations.

Respiratory troubles:
Your nasal or respiratory tract should be moist to prevent external elements from entering the respiratory tract and going straight to the lungs. Lack of liquids makes the nasal tract dry and increases our chances of respiratory problems.

Eczema:
Lack of liquids can cause your skin to dry up and turn sensitive. Dry skin gets irritated easily when our body is dehydrated. Sweating is a way to reduce eczema.

Lack of sweating:
Lack of liquids results in lack of sweating. This leads to a build up of toxins in the body, which can increase your chances of developing other health problems.

Nausea:
Lack of liquids can cause nausea but water is also a treatment to stop nausea. When dehydrated, nausea can also be accompanied by headaches, so drink up!

Dry eyes:
Dehydration can also make the eyes dry; sleep, water and right food can reduce the chances of dry eyes.

Lack of urine:
If you consume less water or if you're liquid intake drops, your urine colour changes and the amount of times you urinate drops. Lack of urine also leads to high levels of toxins in the body.

Rheumatism:
Lack of water in the body increases toxins in the body and can also cause joint pains or rheumatism. Lack of liquids to keep the joints lubricated can cause friction resulting in wear and tear.

What is right amount of water intake?
According to research women need two and half litres of water while men need three and half litres of water. Also, check the colour of your urine to determine if you are dehydrated. Dark brown urine reveals your body's lack of liquids and light yellow says you are hydrated.

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Health Tips - Learning-related protein induces cocaine addiction

Learning-related protein induces cocaine addiction:

Researchers have claimed that it has solved the longstanding puzzle of why a key protein linked to learning is also needed to become addicted to cocaine.

The study describes how the learning-related protein works with other proteins to forge new pathways in the brain in response to a drug-induced rush of the "pleasure" molecule dopamine.

By adding important detail to the process of addiction, the researchers, led by a group at Johns Hopkins, said that the work may point the way to new treatments.

"The broad question was why and how cocaine strengthened certain circuits in the brain long term, effectively re-wiring the brain for addiction," Paul Worley, M.D., a professor in the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said.

"What we found in this study was how two very different types of systems in the brain work together to make that happen," he said.

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Health Tips - Teen girls at infertility risk

Teen girls at infertility risk:

Love for fast food and inability to handle stress is predisposing teenage girls to a hormonal disorder that raises risk of infertility and diabetes

Last year, a 17-year-old college student from Bandra visited gynaecologist Dr Rishma Dhillon-Pai, complaining of a delayed menstrual cycle. The teenager told Dr Dhillon-Pai that she would get her periods only on taking hormone medication. If she stopped the course, her cycles would stop too. At 5'2", weighing 75 kilos, the teenager was overweight (her ideal weight should have been 52 kilos) and had excess facial hair. Dr Dhillon-Pai suggested that she undergo a battery of blood and hormone tests. These revealed that she had high insulin levels and an abnormally high LH/ FSH ratio (luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone — responsible for ovulation). She was found to be suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS is a hormonal disorder among women which derives its names from the appearance of ovaries — enlarged and containing numerous small cysts located along the outer edge of each ovary (polycystic appearance). PCOS interferes with the menstrual cycle causing either oligomenorrhea (few menstrual periods), hypermenorrhea (very frequent menstrual periods) or amenorrhea (no menstrual periods).

While doctors have reported a rise in the number of PCOS cases among adult women, it's the high incidence among teenage girls that they find worrying. Dr Dhillon-Pai, a consultant with Lilavati and Jaslok Hospitals, says, "Of the total PCOS cases I see, 25 per cent are adolescents."

While Dr Dhillon-Pai put her patient on a strict diet and exercise regime, the girl lost only a kilo over three months. When further tests showed that she was also insulin resistant, the teenager was put on a combination of insulin-sensitising drugs and low dose cyclical hormones (hormonal pills that help regularise periods). Six months later, she had lost eight kilos, her skin was free from acne and there was a dramatic reduction in facial hair.

Catch it early
With patients worrying most about skin problems such as, acne and excess facial hair, dermatologists are the first doctors the teens tend to consult. Irregular menstrual cycles are often ignored, attributing them to 'hormones settling down' during the teenage years. At his Bandra and Malad clinics, dermatologist Dr Sushil Tahiliani, sees nearly six to eight teenaged patients suffering from this condition every week. "With high levels of the male hormone testosterone in their body, they have unwanted hair in a pattern normally seen in men — hair on the face, chest and around the nipples. This also causes hair fall, thinning of hair, and darkening of complexion," he adds.

These symptoms, says Dr Uddhavraj Dudhedia, an Andheribased consultant gynaecological endoscopic oncosurgeon, need to be caught early and shown to the doctor immediately. For correct diagnosis, it is best to consult a gynaecologist. PCOS is a complicated condition and your child may show one or a combination of all symptoms. The right specialist will be able to customise treatment according to the patient's complaints.

Watch the insulin
However, the problem is not just cosmetic. Dr Dudhedia, who sees 15 cases a week, adds, "Such patients have high levels of serum insulin, insulin resistance and homocysteine (amino acids). Therefore, they have a tendency towards central obesity."

PCOS is a condition which predisposes patients to other ailments. "Obese patients with PCOS are insensitive to insulin. This raises the risk of diabetes and metabolic problems. Over time, this could result in cardiovascular disorders and endometrial hyperplasia," he points out. The condition can also affect reproductive capacity. Dr Dhillon-Pai says, "Most patients don't ovulate (release an egg) every month and face issues when they want to conceive."

How to correct it
While studies state that many patients are genetically predisposed to PCOS, eating excessive junk food, stress and a sedentary lifestyle increase the risk manyfold. Treatment, experts warn, will not cure the problem, but help manage it better. And it might mean being put on medication for a prolonged period.

Doctors suggest following a lowcarb diet with a low glycemic index (GI) where a significant part of total carbohydrates are obtained from fruits, vegetables and whole grain sources. "As the treatment is multidisciplinary (involving medical therapy, dietary alteration, exercise and sometimes a laparoscopic evaluation and procedure), it is important for the patient to stick to it," says Dr Dudhedia.

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Health tips - Arthritis ups leg and lung blood clots risk

Arthritis ups leg and lung blood clots risk:

Risk of potentially fatal blood clots in the legs and lungs are increased by rheumatoid arthritis, a nationwide study has claimed.

According to the evidence, between 11 per cent and 30 per cent of people who develop a blood clot in the legs, known as a deep vein thrombosis or DVT, or a blood clot in the lungs, known as a pulmonary embolism, or PE, die within 30 days of their diagnosis.

Researchers tracked the health of most of the population of Taiwan (23.74 million people) through the country's compulsory national insurance scheme between 1998 to 2008, and included a further monitoring period up to the end of 2010, to find out if rheumatoid arthritis raised the risk of potentially fatal blood clots.

Just less than 30,000 people developed rheumatoid arthritis during this period, and their details were entered into a national (catastrophic illness) registry of the National Health Insurance Database (NHIRD). By way of comparison, they were matched with almost 117,000 healthy people of the same age and sex.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were more likely to have other underlying conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart failure and fractures, than were those in the comparison group.

But even after taking account of these influential factors, and allowing for age, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were still significantly more likely to develop potentially fatal blood clots, the analysis revealed.

They were more than three times as likely to develop a DVT, and twice as likely to develop a PE as those without the condition, the figures showed.

Furthermore, rheumatoid arthritis packed the greatest punch in the under 50s, who were almost six times as likely to develop a DVT and more than three times as likely to develop PE than were either middle aged (50 to 65) or older adults.

The findings of the study have been published online in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

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Health Tips - Breast cancer awareness campaign in DU

Breast cancer awareness campaign in DU:

A month-long "Pink Chain" campaign to create awareness about breast cancer among Delhi University (DU) students has been launched.

The campaign, launched Wednesday, is an initiative of Punarjeevan Bihar, a non-governmental organisation, along with eminent doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in association with the Department of Bio-technology (DBT) Science Centre, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College.

"Two to three DU colleges will be grouped together and the students will be given information on breast cancer," Komal Kamra, secretary, DBT Star College Scheme, SGTB Khalsa College told us.

The students will be made aware about breast cancer through screening of documentary-drama, power-point presentations and experiences of people who have seen the disease closely.

"AIIMS doctors will make presentations and hold interactive sessions with the students," added Kamra.

Students from Miranda House, Daulat Ram and Khalsa colleges were present at the launch.

"Pink Chain" is a campaign dedicated to the nation's women. It is to create awareness regarding feeling of self care, for the protection of their feminism and self worth, and maintenance of their healthy or disease-free journey of life.

The Star College Scheme is a DBT initiative to improve infrastructure and academic capabilities in undergraduate (UG) colleges in order to promote research. Only colleges which offer courses for a minimum of 10 years are considered for the scheme.

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Excellent Health Tips - Men’s health: What is vasectomy?

Men’s health: What is vasectomy?:

Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for permanent birth control in the males. It is the surgical cut made in the vas deference (the tube that carries sperms from the testis).

In comparison to female sterilization (tubectomy) vasectomy is a simple office procedure requiring just about half an hour

Indications

When a married couple decides not to have any more children and are very sure about the decision.
When a married couple have some genetic disorder in either or both, and do not want to pass this to their offspring
Complications of Vasectomy

Generally no serious complications, some may have a mild infection or swelling and pain. Rarely the vas deferens may join together and may lead to pregnancy.
Have no doubts!!!
Vasectomy does not interfere with erection or orgasm or ejaculation
Does not prevent sexually transmitted disease (insist on a condom)
One is not sterile immediately after vasectomy
It takes about 3 months (due to live sperms in storage)
So use contraceptives for the duration.
Procedure of Vasectomy

Done under local anaesthesia
A small cut in the scrotum is made and a tie and cut of small piece of vas deferens It can be done without a cut called (non scalpel vasectomy) where no stitches are needed One can return to work after a few days

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Eye care: Top 8 tips to improve eye vision - Health Tips

Eye care: Top 8 tips to improve eye vision:

Nearly half of our days are spent in reading text, working on the computer or staring at lavish LCDs.

All these leads to eye fatigue and eye related problems, which further causes diminished vision. Follow these simple tips by Ophthalmologist Dr. Vijay Bhatt, to sharpen your vision so you can see your way to a future of longevity.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 1: Practice relaxation exercise
One of the simplest relaxation exercise you can do to your eyes is - place your hands together palm to palm and rub them together briskly creating heat. Place them over your eyes and allow your eyes to relax. Do not let light in. Do this whenever you have time during the day.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 2: Blink your eyes regularly
Constantly blinking your eyes is a very simple way to keep your eyes fresh and avoid eyestrain. Computer users tend to blink their eyes very less, thus it is recommended that they should follow the exercise of blinking their eyes every three-four seconds.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 3: Stare at a distance
Most of the computer victims are a victim of far-sightedness (have trouble seeing things, which are at a distance). To correct this or avoid this problem, make an effort to stare something at a distance every 30-45 minutes, for 5 seconds. This technique will help to improve your focus of distant objects.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 4: Splash water
If you feel that your eyes are strained, go to the washroom and wash your eyes thoroughly. Make this a daily habit. Splashing your eyes with water will help to relieve your eyes from excessive stress and make them fresh.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 5: Do '8' exercise
Practicing '8'exercise will help to increase your eye flexibility. Start it by imagining a giant figure of eight in front of you about 10 feet in front of you. Now trace the figure of eight with your eyes, slowly. Practicing tracing it on either side.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 6: Practice zooming exercise
Start this muscle straitening exercise by sitting in a comfortable position. Stretch out your arm with your thumb in the hitchhike position Focus on your thumb as your arm is outstretched. Now bring your thumb closer to you, focussing all the time, until your thumb is about 3 inches in front of your face. Now move your thumb away again until your arm is fully outstretched. Keep practicing this exercise for few seconds.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 7: Take an early walk
Get up early and go for a walk. This technique will make your eyes fresh and relaxed. Besides, it will also get sufficient sunlight.

Tip to Improve Eye Vision # 8: Don't make your eyes depended on glasses
Spectacles are just a great fix for your deteriorating vision power. It does not improve or fixes your eyesight. Thus, don't depend on your glasses too much.

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7 steps for a healthy heart in your 30s - Health Tips

7 steps for a healthy heart in your 30s:

When you enter your 30s, life gets more and more stressful and complicated. Your career has gained momentum, perhaps you're married and have children, a mortgage, some other loans.

Before you know it, stress adds up and raises the risk of heart problems. There are many ways to avoid the risk of heart problems at this age and enjoy your life. Practice these seven steps to live life without heart problems just like you lived at your 20s.

Getting away from the office or family tensions is not easy, but try to change how you handle them. The more you relax, the more easily your body will be able to regulate stress levels. Research suggests that exercise, in any form, is the best way to de-stress and relax. Select something you enjoy and stick to it.

Exercise regularly whether to deal with stress or to just get fitter. It's a smart move to have a healthy heart in your 30s. Even a 15-30 minutes exercise session, every day, will be beneficial for your heart, and will also prevent you from putting on extra weight and thereby compounding any potential health ailments.

Eat healthy

Try and avoid those unhealthy food items during the weekend with your friends and family. These unhealthy foods can add up to your calorie and cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart problems. Instead opt for a diet full of protein, omega 3 or healthy food restaurants like Gostana.

Sleep well

Sleeping less than five hours a day, can increase the risk of stroke or cardiac arrest. Make sure you sleep well, maintain a daily bed time and wake up time and avoid smoking or consuming alcohol in excess, or heavy food before going to sleep.

Breakfast is essential

Never skip your breakfast. It is indeed very important to eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast. A good breakfast gives your body that much needed fuel to get active and stay fit.

Birth control needs some revamping

You should reconsider using contraceptives like pills and the patch, if you have high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease. According to Dr. Goldberg, using these may worsen the case if you have any heart ailments. Hence, talk to your gynecologist before trying any contraceptives. (as mentioned in fitnessmagazine.com)

Limit sugar and salt intake

Intake of sugar can raise your cholesterol and triglycerides level and salt can cause high blood pressure. You don't have to completely avoid salt and sugar but limit your daily intake to avoid heart problems. Cut off from indulgences in cakes, pastries and creamy food items.

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Love hormone helps cut background clutter - health Tips

Love hormone helps cut background clutter:

 A new study has found that oxytocin, typically known as the "love hormone" helps promote social and parental bonding in a crowded environment.

In the study, NYU Langone Medical Center researchers decipher how oxytocin, acting as a neurohormone in the brain, not only reduces background noise, but more importantly, increases the strength of desired signals.

These findings may be relevant to autism, which affects one in 88 children in the United States.

"Oxytocin has a remarkable effect on the passage of information through the brain," Richard W. Tsien, DPhil, the Druckenmiller Professor of Neuroscience and director of the Neuroscience Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center, said.

"It not only quiets background activity, but also increases the accuracy of stimulated impulse firing. Our experiments show how the activity of brain circuits can be sharpened, and hint at how this re-tuning of brain circuits might go awry in conditions like autism," he said.

Children and adults with autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle with recognizing the emotions of others and are easily distracted by extraneous features of their environment.

Previous studies have shown that children with autism have lower levels of oxytocin, and mutations in the oxytocin receptor gene predispose people to autism.

Recent brain recordings from people with ASD show impairments in the transmission of even simple sensory signals.

The current study built upon 30-year old results from researchers in Geneva, who showed that oxytocin acted in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in memory and cognition.

The hormone stimulated nerve cells - called inhibitory interneurons - to release a chemical called GABA.

This substance dampens the activity of the adjoining excitatory nerve cells, known as pyramidal cells.

"From the previous findings, we predicted that oxytocin would dampen brain circuits in all ways, quieting both background noise and wanted signals," Dr. Tsien explains.

"Instead, we found that oxytocin increased the reliability of stimulated impulses - good for brain function, but quite unexpected," he said.

The study is published in the journal Nature.

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When it comes to health, wine wins over beer:

The battle being fought in laboratories and tasting rooms around the world is between beer drinkers and wine drinkers.

Each side claims that their drink is the best, arguing over everything from taste to overall "classiness" of their libation of choice. Given that beer and wine are the two most popular alcoholic drinks in the U.S., it's safe to say that each drink has certain merits.

However, there is one area in which wine has a clear advantage, and that is when it comes to your health. While no one is suggesting that wine is a health food, or that someone who doesn't drink at all should take up imbibing vino just for the health of it, when consumed in moderation, wine does offer some clear benefits for our health that beer doe not.

Wine is good for your heart
While a Danish study in 2000 indicated that all forms of alcohol can lower the risk of heart disease, thanks to its ability to increase HDL cholesterol and hence reduce the thickening and hardening of the arteries, red wine was shown to be the most effective in preventing heart disease. Researchers chalk this up to the fact that red wine (and white wine, to a much lesser extent) contain tannin procyanin. This antioxidant encourages cell growth while also preventing plaque build-up in the arteries and reduces the risk of stroke and other serious heart problems. In fact, this antioxidant is believed to the be the explanation for the so called "French paradox," the fact that the French have lower rates of heart disease than people from other countries, despite diets that tend to be high in fat and cholesterol.

That's not to say that beer does not offer any heart benefits. A 2001 study indicated that beer does contain heart-healthy amounts of vitamin B6, which reduces the amount of the heart-disease causing amino acid homocysteine in the blood. However, this limited benefit pales in comparison to the proven and powerful benefits of red wine.

Lower risk of cancer
While red wine may be best known for reducing the risk of heart disease, it's also beneficial in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer. Researchers chalk this up to the fact that red wine contains the flavonoid resveratrol, which is believed to help improve cell growth and block the development of tumour cells. Beer contains some antioxidants, but does not offer the same cancer-fighting properties as wine.

Wine equals lower weight— In moderation
There's a reason that you don't ever hear of anyone complaining about having a "wine belly": In general, wine is far lower in calories than beer. The fact that one glass (about six ounces) of wine has fewer calories than an equivalent amount of beer helps wine drinkers maintain a healthy weight more easily compared to beer drinkers.

In fact, several studies have also indicated that wine drinkers tend to have healthier lifestyles than beer drinkers overall. One 2006 study in Denmark even tracked the grocery purchases of wine drinkers as compared to beer drinkers and found that those who chose wine tend to buy more fresh produce and lean meats, as opposed to beer drinkers who purchased processed and junk foods.

But that doesn't mean that wine is a diet food. Overindulging in any type of alcohol, wine included, can send your calorie intake skyrocketing. Not only does heavy drinking create serious health risks including liver problems and a higher risk of certain cancers, it also raises our calorie intake considerably, leading to unhealthy weight gain.

However, beer drinkers are statistically more likely to overindulge than wine drinkers; one report showed that more than 81 per cent of those who drink more than five drinks in a day choose beer, while only four percent of heavy drinkers choose wine. It's important to note that every study touting the health benefits of drinking advocate for moderate alcohol consumption, meaning one five or six ounce glass of wine for women and one or two glasses for men per day.

Choosing wine over beer, or vice versa, is often a matter of personal preference. However, if you want to help your heart and give your cells a boost, a glass of wine is clearly a better choice.

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Top 5 male fertility risks you might not know about - Health Tips

Top 5 male fertility risks you might not know about:

Most people are aware that male infertility maybe related to certain surgical procedures, hormonal imbalances within the body's endocrine system and chemotherapy. However, some of the other most common reasons for loss of fertility are quite surprising. We have listed these here.

Requirements for fertility: Investigating the complex biological process
A recent Wall Street Journal article points out that popular culture focuses a great deal of attention on the effort, timing, and planning put into fertility by women, even though the process of ensuring fertility is actually quite complicated for men as well. First, the body has to be functioning properly so that it creates sperm within the testicles, at the astronomical level of at least 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Hormonal imbalances or biological damages can be the primary cause of decreased sperm production. Second, the system of tubing within the genitals must be unblocked and functioning properly in order to carry the sperm into the semen and prepare the mixture for ejaculation. This tubing is very fragile, and sometimes requires treatment in terms of repairing tears, or removing clogged portions. Furthermore, the sperm created by the body may be healthy and in proper counts, but may not have the movement levels or proper shape to be able to swim to a partner's egg and penetrate it. Since there is a great deal of stigma surrounding male fertility, many men are not aware that the process of impregnating their partners can be affected by some common behavioral choices.

Dangerous risks to male fertility
As aforementioned, fertility levels are determined by a complex process with many fragile factors. Since this biological process is so complex, it presents many areas in which your fertility levels might be lessened, whether your sperm becomes unhealthy or reduces in number, are not transported well into the semen, or if the motility and morphology of the sperm are faulty.

Laptops overheating the genital area: When the testicles overheat, they tend to produce less sperm and often, computers that we hold on our laps are enough to cause both temporary and permanent damage to the region. Using saunas or hot tubs frequently also produces the same effect within the body.

Alcohol abuse: Drinking can present many health risks, but few men realise that alcohol can actually lower your testosterone levels. Besides leading to erectile dysfunction, an abuse of alcohol can permanently decrease the production of sperm and also lower the mobility levels and general health of the sperm themselves.

Obesity: With all of the talk about weight inspired by the media, it seems like we really don't need one more motivator to keep our BMIs under control. However, if you are looking for that one last bit of inspiration to get you to the gym or to put down that slice of pizza, consider this: being overweight can throw your hormonal system off-balance and lead to lower sperm counts.

Bicycling: Though riding your bike is a fantastic way to get the body in shape, it has been shown to lead to damage within the perineum and testicles, both of which can lower the count of healthy sperm within the semen. The same effect is often produced through the use of motorcycles, and also through horseback riding.

High-stress occupations: Turns out, a stressful work environment can increase your risk of infertility by reducing healthy sperm count. Furthermore, scientists have noticed that extended use of computers and other visual display monitors can trigger hormonal reactions that leave testosterone levels imbalanced. Don't expect your boss to be accommodating, however, see if there are changes you can make within your own working style to reduce stress that you face while on the job.

Of course, there are many other biological and hormonal reasons that fertility might be affected by, some of which are not preventable. But without a doubt, staying informed about the most common behaviours that lead to a decrease in sperm count and potency will help to ensure that you enjoy a more fertile future.

Perhaps the risk of fertility loss that these activities and behaviors present is not worth you changing your behaviors. However, by staying informed, you know that you'll make better choices. If you have any fertility concerns, it is best that you speak to your primary care physician and undergo proper tests to determine whether fertility treatment might be necessary.

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Tearing your hair out? - Health Tips

Tearing your hair out?:

...Literally, we mean. Called Trichotillomania, it's a condition in which stress and anxiety make you pull your hair out

The habit of pulling one's hair, and sometimes even chewing it to relieve stress and anxiety may seem bizarre, but many people actually do it. Called Trichotillomania, this disorder is more common than we think it is. Here are some examples...

Case 1: Rachna Pujari (name changed), 21, would get anxious before her exams and repeatedly pull her hair out, knowingly and unknowingly. She would usually pull the hair in the forehead region, which led to a visible bald spot.

Case 2: Madhav Mehta (name changed), a 12-year-old, would often pull his hair out and even chew it, if nobody's watching. He would stick to one particular patch and when that goes bald, move on to another.

Case 3: 27-year-old Naina Shivkumar (name changed), a happily married professional, had been suffering from this disorder from an early age, but she was unable to understand the cause. She finally sought counselling and during therapy, Naina revealed that she was sexually abused as a child. She also had an alcoholic father and other domestic problems. The disorder was triggered by the trauma that she underwent.

What is it?
"Trichotillomania is the uncontrollable urge to pluck or twist hair from the scalp, eyebrow or other body areas. Such behaviour can lead to bald spots that individuals may go to great lengths to cover up or disguise. It is considered a disorder as the urge to pull out hair is accompanied by considerable distress," explains psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Anjali Chhabria.

Symptoms

Psychologist Mansi Hasan lists the symptoms:

-Recurrent pulling resulting in noticeable hair loss (typically from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes or other parts of the body).
-Increased tension before pulling out the hair or when attempting to resist the urge to do so.
-Pleasure, gratification or relief when pulling out the hair.

Not uncommon
The disorder is more or less equally present in males and young girls. However, in adults, women are more susceptible to it than males. Dermatologist Dr Satish Wadhwa says he has encountered Trichotillomania more among children; boys and girls in the age group of seven to 12- and to some extent, among young adults who are 20-25 years old.

Hair plucking is common in places like eyebrows, scalp and eyelashes. In rare cases, even underarms and the pubic area are targeted. Dr Wadhwa prescribes a soothing cream and directs the parents to take the children to a counsellor because, the underlying reason is always psychological and stress-related.

Causes
Though there is no specific cause, high stress can trigger it. "Hair pulling becomes a way of gratification- it helps some people handle negative emotions such as sadness, loneliness, anxiety and frustration. Emotional, physical or environmental stress can be responsible. Chemical imbalance of the neurotransmitters in the brain- Dopamine and Serotonin- are also contributing factors. In some cases, it can even be hereditary," explains Hasan.

Treatment
The first step in the management of this condition is educating oneself about it. A combination of various methods is used to treat Trichotillomania. Cognitive behavioural techniques like self-monitoring and substituting the urge to pull hair with another response are effective. The person is made aware of what triggers the urge and how to control it. Social support is also an important aspect of treatment. Medication should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy, says Dr Chhabria.

Olivia Munn
Hollywood actress Olivia Munn recently admitted to often ripping out her eyelashes. "I don't bite my nails, I rip my eyelashes," the 32-year-old said, adding, "It doesn't hurt, but it's annoying. Every time I step out of the house, I have to stop and pick up a whole set of fake eyelashes."

Sam Faiers
British actress Sam Faiers also confessed to the same habit. "False eyelashes are important for me, because I suffer from Trichotillomania. I know that sounds weird," the 21-year-old was quoted as saying.

Other celebrities rumoured to suffer from Trichotillomania are Naomi Campbell, Kate Beckinsale, Victoria Beckham and Fergie.

Interesting facts

-Trichotillomania is commonly known as 'trich'. Those suffering from the condition are called 'trichsters'.
-There is a documentary film, titled Trichster, which follows the lives of patients with the aim of spreading awareness about the condition.
-A National 'No Pulling Week' campaign was started in the UK, by hair-loss expert Lucinda Ellery, in September last year.

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Hair damage: Treating hair loss - Beauty Tips

Hair damage: Treating hair loss:

What causes hair damage and hair loss?

The causes are many. Chemicals used during straightening treatments, perming, highlighting, bleaching and colouring are some of the major culprits when it comes to damaging hair. Chemicals in some hair gels, shampoos or hair conditioners can also cause hair damage. Not to forget, malnutrition, fever, some drugs used in cancer medication, stress, pregnancy and childbirth are some of the common causes of hair damage and hair fall.

Tips for treating hair loss

1. Avoid using chemicals unnecessarily for styling hair
2. Clips and bands to tie the hair should not be too tight.
3. Cut the tip of the hair to remove split ends.
4. Use a shampoo formulated for dry or damaged hair.
5. Shampoo only on alternate days.
6. Do not use very hot water to wash hair.
7. Avoid hair driers.
8. Avoid brushing or styling hair till it has dried completely.
9. Use a deep conditioner with protein base once a week.
10. Eat healthy food with plenty of vegetables and fruits.
11. Exercise regularly to de-stress.

If all this does not work, it's time to consult a dermatologist.

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