TIPS FOR RELIEVING KNEE PAIN

Ice and cold compress remedy is very effective.

Warm bath is highly beneficial for joint pains treatment

Massaging of warm olive oils or mustard oil is good to relieve knee pain.

Take mustard oil and soaked fenugreek seeds in it. Now smear these

seeds on the knees and allow it to dry. It is great remedy for knee

pain. It increases the blood flow and warms up the knees.

Make a paste of warm milk, turmeric powder, castor oil and add wheat

flour. One gets instant relief from knee pain by applying this paste.

Diet for Joint Pains -

Among fruits, bananas are considered the best for joints as provide

strength and grease to the joints.

Take 1 teaspoon of turmeric in hot milk to cure all kinds of pains.

Take half teaspoon turmeric powder with warm water at least 3 times a

day. It is also helpful in curing arthritis. This is effective home

remedy for joint pains.

Carrot juice is also highly ben eficial as it strengthens the ligaments

Drink lime juice with warm water early morning without taking anything.

Take spinach, grapes, garlic, fenugreek, and vegetables in your diet.

Take equal quantity of dried ginger, heart leaved moonseed with

chebulic myrobalam twice in a day.

Rub the aching joints with hot vinegar before going to bed. Good Home

remedy for joints

Take higher quantity of vitamin D, E and B3. It is good for your knees.

Peanuts and flaxseed oils are good. They have power to stop

degeneration of knees.

Drinking lots of water is necessary to hydrate your body. Joint

muscles remain soft in hydrated body.

In ayurveda basti (enema) with sesame oil is good treatment for knee pain.

Take sun bath for 15 minutes.

Your knees always stay healthier if you get into regular activity like

walking, cycling for minimum 40 minutes daily.

Hot epsom salt bath can reduce pain and discomfort o joints.

Drink 1 cup of mix vegetable juice.

Take 1 teaspoon of black sesame seeds and soaked it overnight in ¼ cup

of water. Next morning take this water along with seeds. It is

effective prevention for frequent joint pain.

Stretching exercise of knees is essential. It strengthens the calf and

thigh muscles.

You can try these herbs like ginger, boswellia and wintergreen

Steam baths are good alternative to solve knee pain.

A gentle massage with warm olive oil is cheap and effective.

Exercise increases your joint flexibility and stregthens your bones.

Exercise in water - it can reduce pain and improves flexibility

Read more...

‘Tweeting for hours is bad for health’

Washington: Don't spend hours tweeting, it's 'unhealthy' — that's the message from Twitter's boss. 

    Biz Stone, co-founder and creative director of Twitter, has told the popular micro-blogging site's 500 million users that spending hours tweeting is not healthy. 
    He says he'd prefer that people visit the popular social networking site frequently than sacrifice their life to it. 
    Instead fans should use the site to find what they want — and they go and do something else, the Daily Telegraph online quoted Stone as saying. Users have complained that the 140-character messaging site is addictive, with some staying logged on for up to 12 hours at a time. 
    He said using Twitter that much was not what he had intended. "I like the kind of engagement where you go to the website and leave because you've found what you are looking for or something very interesting. PTI

PAY HEED TO TWITTER'S BOSS

Read more...

Oranges and grapes cut the risk of stroke: Study

London: Want to reduce the risk of a stroke? Eat oranges and grapefruit daily, if possible, says astudy. 

 Researchers at Norwich Medical School in the University of East Anglia have found that oranges and grapefruit protect against a 'brain attack' due to anti-inflammatory properties, the Stroke journal reported. 
    For their study, researchers analysed 69,622 women who were taking part in the ongoing Nurses' Health Study in US. 
    They investigated the strength of protection from flavonoids, a class of antioxidant compounds present in fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate and red wine. 
    The study used 14 years of follow-up data provided by 69,622 women who reported their fruit and vegetable intake every four years. 
    The team examined the relationship of the six main subclasses of flavonoids with risk of ischemic, hemorrhagic and total stroke. 
    Women who ate high amounts of flavanones in citrus had a 19% lower risk of blood clot-related (ischemic) stroke than women who consumed the least amounts, the Daily Mail reported. PTI

Read more...

Rollercoaster weather takes health for a ride

The freak fluctuation in city temperatures over the past few days has led to more than just a spike in viral infections. Other than cough, cold and respiratory problems that are characteristic of a flip-flop weather, several Mumbaikars have also been seeking medical advice for loss of appetite, digestion troubles and overall lethargy. 

    City doctors told TOI on Thursday that they have been tending to complaints of low blood pressure, lack of focus and day-long drowsiness as well. They reason that these could be an outcome of metabolic imbalance, as body cells may not be able to cope with the extreme fluctuation of over 15 degrees Celsius in day and night temperatures. Doctors said that any gap in temperatures beyond 15 degrees can affect one's health and coping mechanism. 
    Dr Hemant Thacker, who consults at Jaslok and Breach Candy hospitals, said, "The temperature clock exposes the internal cellular metabolism to this 
fluctuation, which then cannot function normally." He said that by the time the cell adapts to the high temperature outside, it is already evening and cooler, and the cycle continues. 
    Dr Shahid Barmare, who consults in Kohinoor Hospital, seconded that after extreme heat during the day, the body is unable to adapt to a dip in temperature at night, and then, it's back to hot weather the next day. "Apart from an increase in respiratory worries, we are also seeing a high number gastrointestinal problems." Explaining the phenomenon, Barmare said even food tends to get stale faster in this weather. "Moreover, because humidity increases during the day (which causes people to sweat more), there are a few cases of dehydration too, especially among children and the elderly." 
    Besides, said Thacker, "special functions" such as thinking, eating, sleeping and digestion can get affected. "A person may suffer behavioural dysfunction... Moreover, the cells want water during the day because of the heat. But by night, the cells do not know what to do with the excess water they have collected during the day. Thus, the body passes more urine during the night and preserves water in the day. The kidneys too work overtime." 
    Dr Khusrav Bajan, intensivist at Hinduja Hospital, though, remained hopeful that Mumbaikars would weather the erratic temperatures. He said the current conditions are not as extreme and the body's thermal system is good enough to combat the fluctuation. "More viruses are thriving and thus there are more viral infections 
    —including respiratory 
    infections and conjunctivitis. The body needs good 
    hydration, regardless of the season. Since we feel hungry and eat more in winters, it does become a bit of a problem during the transition period between seasons—as it is now. Sweat glands get constricted at night, so there is no sweat and energy is conserved. That, however, is not the case during the day, which is why one may feel tired or lazy." 
    Doctors advised Mumbaikars to minimize exposure to extreme temperatures by not entering an air-conditioned room right after coming from outside heat. Avoid extreme body exertion and eat easily digestible food, they added.

SUN BLOCK: (Above and below left) Tourists and Mumbaikars take cover against the sudden heat on Thursday; (left) pigeons make the most of a puddle

Read more...

Soon, state to get 972 hi-tech ambulances

UK Agency Ties Up With Indian Co For Service Mumbai: A UK-based ambulance service will provide as many as 972 hi-tech emergency medical services (EMS) in the state. The venture is being undertaken in consortium with Indian firm Bharat Vikas Group (BVG).      The initiative aims to offer assistance to accident victims and other critical patients in the crucial first hour known as the "golden hour".      While BVG is new in the field, the other bidders—GVK and Mather— are out of the race as they failed to meet criteria such as providing hi-tech devices in ambulances that were mentioned in the tendering process.      Asked why the EMS was being handed over to an inexperienced company, Bhushan Gagrani, secretary, public health department, said, "We are aware that BVG is new in the service industry. But the tender floated by the state government was global. The BVG tied up with the UK-based ambulance service provider which has good experience in handling the EMS. Before awarding the final contract, the department has called representatives of the UK ambulance services to give its presentation to the government. Also, thehealth department will take an undertaking from the foreign service provider that whenever the government calls for a meeting to discuss the subject, its representatives and technical support will be made available to the state administration."      Aware that there might be allegations and litigations, the state has kept itself away from the tendering process. "A three-member team of All India Institute of Medical Sciences was appointed to set the technical specification required for the EMS," a senior official said.      Asked how long it will take for 972 ambulances to hit the road, the official said, "If everything goes well, the work order will be issued in a couple of months. Thereafter, in phases, the ambulances with advance life support and basic life support will be on roads. For 972 ambulances to roll out in Mumbai, Thane, Nagpur and other parts of the state, it will take a minimum 12 months."      The state will spend around Rs 900 crore for the entire project for five years.  What They Offer      These ambulances will have nearly 40 types of advanced equipment to treat cardiac and other critical patients. For instance, they will be equipped with a defibrillator—a device used to counteract fibrillation of the heart muscle. TNN

Read more...

Homeopathy treats hair loss safely and effectively

HEAL WITH HOMEOPATHY

 Twenty-eight-year-old Biju (name changed), a postdoctoral research fellow, presented with hair loss. He reported that his hair loss on the scalp, which first appeared to be insignificant, was now worrying him no end. He thought that he would go bald quite early, like his father and uncle. Biju said he had lost 30-35 per cent of his scalp hair, during the past one year. It was apparent that his hectic work schedule and chaotic lifestyle were taking a toll. Add to this smoking and alcohol to 'beat' his stressful existence, and Biju's hair loss was only adding to his woes, affecting his selfesteem and work performance. He felt that he was falling behind in his boss' view — and, this would affect his appraisal. 

    When hair loss is not appropriately treated, it can progressively lead to baldness, or bald-headedness — not a pleasant feeling. It can also upset one's 'apple-cart' of self-esteem and self-belief and lead to psychological distress. Besides, hair loss can precede or co-exist with systemic disorders like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, aside from thyroid or hormonal problems. 
    We reviewed Biju's case and symptoms in detail and diagnosed his problem as Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA). AGA is a progressive disorder. It presents with receding hairline and balding over the scalp. After thoroughanalysis, we prescribed him the homeopathic Lycopodium — a remedy which we deduced matched Biju's temperament and presenting symptoms. We also advised him to change his frenzied lifestyle, get adequate sleep, quit smoking, avoid alcohol — smoking and alcohol 'activate' hair loss — and, include soy-rich food in his diet for good hair health. With regular followups, we recorded a noticeable improvement in Biju's hair loss. In a year's time, his hair loss responded favourably to homeopathic treatment, so also his sense of self-confidence. 
    Homeopathy treats the underlying cause, not just hair loss on the surface. If, for instance, hair loss stems from depression and emotional stress, it is best treated with the homeopathic remedy, Acid Phosphoricum, along with lifestyle changes. International research studies have demonstrated that homeopathic remedies are clinically effective in treating hair loss from the'root.' They stimulate hair follicles; they also strengthen hair, without side-effects. 
For inquiries you can: Call: 022-66789899; Toll-free: 1800-209-6767; SMS: DB to 9757070707; or Log on to: www.drbatras.com. Suggested remedies are indicative. To be taken under competent medical supervision only.

Dr Mukesh Batra

Read more...

Fasting once or twice a week could help you live longer

London: For many people, the key question regarding fasting is whether it's good or bad for health. Now, a new study says that skipping meals for a couple of days a week could help a person live longer. 

    Researchers at the National Institute on Ageing have found that fasting for one day or two days a week is key to a longlife because it can protect the brain against Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other degenerative brain conditions. Chemical messengers in the brain are boosted when calorie intake is restricted, say the researchers. 
    It has long been known that severely restricting calorie intake can increase the lifespan of rats and mice and it has been suggested there could be a similar effect in humans too but the theory is difficult to test. 
    Now, the researchers have found the positive effects of fasting, 'The Daily Telegraph' reported. 
    Prof Mark Mattson, head of the institute's laboratory of neurosciences, said: "Reducing your calorie intake could help your brain, but doing so by cutting your intake of food is not likely to be the best method of triggering this protection. It is likely to be better to go on intermittent bouts of fasting, in which you eat hardly anything at all, and then have periods when you eat as much as you want." PTI

STARVATION DIET

Read more...

The best of machines-with-a-mind

GEEK SPEAK

'Smart' technology has spread from mobile phones to sundry gadgets

- Norbert Rego 

Fridge that plays dietician 
I What? LG ThinQ smart refrigerator I Features: It's a dietician-in-a-fridge with a built-in screen that shows you what lies inside. You can feed in your BMI (body mass index) and target weight loss and, using a voice recognition feature, the fridge tells you whether you've made the healthiest choiceavailable. It can download recipes based on the food items that lie in it. Scan the barcode of items inside and it reminds you of expiry dates through a text message on your phone. I USP: Food lying forgotten in the vegetable case is a thing of the past. I Price: 1,55,665 (approx) 
I Available on: 
www.lg.com 

Doctor on your wrist 
I What? Basis watch I Features: This hi-tech watch tells you how your heart responds to various stimuli throughout the day, monitors your heartbeat and comes up with reasons — fitness level or erratic sleep patterns — that could be affecting your health. Sensors fitted within it track blood flow, motion, temperature, sweat levels and blood oxygen level. I USP: It catches and deciphers body signals. I Price: 9,793 (approx) I Available on: 
www.mybasis.com 

Sting operation tool 
I What? Hammacher Schlemmer HD video pen I Features: This ball-point pen's built-in camera captures high definition videos and still images with 
    the click of a button. The built-in 1.3 MP image sensor captures up to five hours of AVI video, which you can store on the pen's 8GB memory. Its colour camera lens is located above the pocket clip, and microphone on the side of the barrel under the pocket clip. The pen's lithium battery lasts for up to two hours, and is chargeable on a USB or AC adaptor. I USP: Its built-in USB 2.0 port allows you to download videos when connected to a Mac or PC running Windows 7, Vista, or XP, without having to load software. I Price:7,379 (approx) I Available on: www.hammacher.com 

GADGET OF THE WEEK 
I What? Brookstone WiFi cufflinks I Features: These are cufflinks Bond would buy. Their built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and covert data storage turn your wrist into a mobile hotspot you can use to surf the net with your smart phone or iPad. The cufflinks also double as a USB storage device and come with 2GB space. I USP: They let you create wireless hotspots. I Price: 14,764 (approx) I Available on: www.brookstone.com 

Read more...

A new blood test can reveal individual lifespan

Don't put expiry dates on people 

    We thought that medical science was about extending people's lifespans, rather than about telling them how long they have to live. Therefore a new medical test, which will be available in India from this year, seems of questionable value. A simple blood test like the one that estimates cholesterol, it will tell patients the rate at which they are ageing. Unless means can also be found for slowing down this rate, just coming to know how fast our biological clock is ticking – from the length of telomeres or protective chromosome caps in our cells – is hardly helpful. A person's longevity is determined by several factors, some of which can hardly be measured. Not knowing how long one lives is part of the glorious uncertainty of life. But the telomere test threatens to take all that away by putting an expiry date on each person. When scientism induces undue fatalism, it's time to discard it. 
    Proponents will misleadingly argue that taking the test is a matter of individual choice. But imagine the Orwellian uses to which such a test can be put. The marketing of the test as a definitive gauge of one's health makes it susceptible to mischief and misuse. For instance, insurance providers could deny a customer their service based on her telomere test. An 
employer could use the test as an excuse to fire an employee. In addition to their existing stringent criteria, matrimonial advertisements could demand the test for prospective brides and grooms. 
    But the biggest argument against the test is that it militates against hope. Hope is the ultimate embodiment of the human spirit. It can push people to conquer the impossible, allowing us to celebrate life rather than brood over its finiteness. In that sense, the telomere test focusses on the empty half of the glass, breeding a negative outlook on life. 
Test is a boon to mankind Pyaralal Raghavan 
    Asimple blood test to measure lifespan and pace of ageing is yet another important gift that science has bestowed on humanity. Uncertainties about individual lifespan have been a 
major worry that has plagued civilisations since ancient times. So much so that scientific study of lifespan has now even slowly evolved into a distinct branch of science called life extension science, with disciplines like experimental gerontology or biomedical gerontology. The ultimate goal in these disciplines is to discover how to slow down or even reverse the ageing process. But even short of that, there can be a lot of value in finding out how long one's lifespan extends. 
    The issue, after all, fascinated human beings for centuries before modern scientific methods took over. That's why soothsayers, fortune tellers, palm readers and so on had a field day speculating on it. To this day, probably the most popular question directed at fortune tellers has to do with the length of one's lifespan. If there's so much curiosity on the issue, a blood test can now tell all. 
    An accurate projection of lifespan will be a major breakthrough and a boon as it will empower people to take informed decisions on major matters of personal importance. These include career choices, marriage and size of families. One would not, for example, like to have children and then leave them orphaned at a young age. The test will help many to fulfil longcherished dreams, ensure smooth succession planning, help provide for retirement or dependents and also ensure safe transfer of wealth to inheritors. And, above all, it will also allow more motivated persons to even grab a second chance by attempting to prolong the estimated lifespan by making substantial changes in lifestyles or seeking other medical remedies.

Read more...

‘HIGH-TECH TOYS’ GIVING ADULT INJURIES TO KIDS

 Children as young as eight are suffering adult injuries such as repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and neck pains from using hand-held electronic devices, experts say. According to chiropractors, children using 'tech toys' such as touchphones and tablets and hand-held games are complaining of repetitive strain injuries of the thumbs, wrist and elbows, stiff necks, headaches and sore shoulders, which are injuries usually associated with adults working with computers. Chiropractors Association spokesman Dr Kerein Earney said children were risking permanent damage because of excessive game play. Dr Earney said she saw an eight-year-old with an opposite neck curve from playing hand-held games. She also saw a 15-year-old boy who spent the whole school holidays watching TV and playing computer games in his room and began experiencing muscle aches and migraines. "When children play these games, or use these tech toys, they are often slouched in a chair, head down and they're putting a lot of pressure on their head," the Herald Sun quoted Dr Earney as saying. "They're like that for quite significant periods of time. It's only going to get worse unless they do something about it. It will end up being costly and will lead to long-term health problems," she added. IANS

TECH TALK: Children are suffering from repetitive strain injuries and neck pains from using hand-held electronic devices

Read more...

TV stokes aggression in children, say doctors

New Delhi: Call it stress in school or undemocratic parenting at home, more and more children, specially adolescents, are being pushed to the edge. Child psychiatrists say the message being drilled into kids that life is a competitivesport,isturning thejoy of learning atschoolinto a struggletoexcelfor thesechildren.      Several questions are being raised following the class IX student stabbing his teacher in Chennai: Wasthestudent lonely? Did his parents ever try to listen to him? Was the teacher excessively inconsiderate towards him? Could TV have played a role in pushing him tocommitsuch an act?      Dr Jitendra Nagpal,senior consultant at the Institute of Mental Health and Lifeskills at Moolchand Hospital, said children brought up in happy and communicating families have been seen to be less aggressive, less defiant and not hostile. "I don't agree with what the boy in Chennai did. But such cases of adolescent aggression arebecoming common. We see 10 such patients every week,"Dr Nagpalsaid.      So can parents help do? "Bonding with real time communication with their children, democratic parenting by allowing children in the family to express their opinion... can really help," Dr Nagpal added.      Doctors say parents and teachers should look out for warning signs like trouble concentrating on homework, physicalor verbal aggression.      According to Dr Samir Parekhfrom Max Hospital,TVis playing a major role in stimulating aggression among youngsters. Experts say a child sitting with parents and watching violent soap operas that delve into family politics and conspiracy can end up believing in the idea of a fragmented family. The kid, then, failstotrust.      Several studies on the effects of TV and video game violence on children have found that kids may accept violence as a waytosolve problems and identify with certain characters, victimsor aggressors.  Killer Chennai boy can't face parents  Chennai: The 15-year-old boy who was arrested and sent to a government juvenile home for murdering his school teacher on Thursday told cops that he didn't want to meet his parents. "I've brought dishonour to my family. I can't face them," a police officer quoted him as saying. TNN

Read more...

Teach children to enjoy eating vegetables and fruit with positive persistence

This article is part of a series by the Ismaili Nutrition Centre that examines evidence-based studies published in scientific journals, and distills what they mean to our readers.

Children, like adults, should be eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruits daily. Photo: Fayaz Chunara

Few children are born with a liking for every vegetable, but researchers in France and Switzerland wanted to know if infants could learn to enjoy a specific vegetable, and how many tastes it would take. They published their results in the Journal of Food Quality and Preference in April 2007.

The researchers found 49 mothers who had stopped offering a vegetable because their child refused it. The mothers were asked to give the disliked vegetable and a well-liked one (ex. carrot puree) on alternate days, so that the infant would eat the disliked vegetable only once every two days.

Initially, the infants only ate 39 grams of the disliked vegetable compared to 164 grams of the liked food, but this changed very quickly. By the eighth exposure, infants were eating 174 grams of the initially disliked vegetable! The effects were long-lasting, with two out of three infants still eating the initially disliked vegetable nine months later.

A more recent Belgian study published in the journal Appetite in December 2010, looked at 755 families to see the effects of parenting styles (laxness, over-reactivity, etc.) and children's personalities (shyness, stubbornness, etc.) on fruit and vegetable eating habits. Although no parenting style or child personality trait was seen to make a big difference, the study made two important observations: first, parents who ate more fruits and vegetables had kids who ate more fruits and vegetables. Second, kids ate more fruits and vegetables when parents tended to use child-centered techniques such as reasoning, offering choices, and praising, rather than parent-centered techniques such as warning or physical struggling.

What this means for you

Children, like adults, should be eating at least five servings of vegetables and fruits daily. When it comes to infants or toddlers, it may take more than 10 attempts to get the child to try something new, so don't give up as it takes time to get used to flavours, textures and consistency of food.

It's okay if your child refuses to eat one or two items, but parents have to just let it go and focus on encouraging kids to try new flavours and increase the variety of vegetables and fruits eaten in the home. Each meal should have at least 1-2 fruits or veggies.

Start with sliced fruit with cereal in the morning, coloured pepper strips in their lunch or sweet potatoes at dinner and frozen berries or sliced mangos as a dessert. Get kids involved in the kitchen and at the grocery store, and soon they will be more excited about trying more vegetables and fruits, just like their parents.

References

1. Maier, A., et al., Effects of repeated exposure on acceptance of initially disliked vegetables in 7-month old infants. Food Quality and Preference, 2007. 18(8): p. 1023-1032.
2. Vereecken, C., A. Rovner, and L. Maes, Associations of parenting styles, parental feeding practices and child characteristics with young children's fruit and vegetable consumption. Appetite. 55(3): p. 589-596.

Read more...