DON’T FEAR SWINE FLU, FIGHT IT!

There have been cases of swine flu in Mumbai and Pune recently, but fret not. We suggest a few simple precautionary measures that can help you keep germs at bay

WHAT IS SWINE FLU? 

Quite similar to the seasonal flu that we're so familiar with, swine flu spreads fast and swiftly by touch. Swine flu or A/ H1N1 is a new strain of flu virus, a disease with symptoms identical to the seasonal flu. If you handle a person infected with swine flu, there's a high chance of acquiring the virus unless you properly sanitize your hands. 

    Children, who tend to touch their eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands frequently, are at huge risk of contracting the virus. One of the best ways of protecting oneself from infection is by washing hands regularly with soap and water or using a sanitizer to eliminate the chance of contracting infections transmitted through contact. 

HOW DOES SWINE FLU SPREAD? 

Swine flu spreads in humans through similar routes of a seasonal flu virus. Like, if an infected person coughs or sneezes and virus-carrying droplets fly into the air and infect others through the eyes, nose or mouth. Or if an infected person sneezes in cupped palms but doesn't wash hands afterwards, they would start spreading the virus to surfaces and people they go on to touch. Or, if someone touches a contaminated surface (like a doorknob an elevator button or bus-door handle) and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. Once the swine flu virus is on your child's hands, they may accidentally 

spread it to other people, objects and surfaces by being an innocuous carrier even if they don't get sick themselves. 

WHAT CAN MOTHERS DO TO PROTECT THEIR FAMILY FROM SWINE FLU? 

On of the most simple ways to avoid contracting swine flu is by exercising basic hygiene. For starters, advise your child to cover their mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing with a clean tissue and throw the tissue safely in the bin. If they don't have a tissue, instruct them to use their hands but wash them thoroughly with soap straight away, especially after being in crowded public places and around food; wash their hands well with plenty of soap and dry them with a clean towel; clean their hands when contaminated; don't let them touch their eyes, nose and mouth; don't let them shake hands or get too close to someone who seems unwell. If they feel ill, ensure that they stay at home and call your doctor for advice. 

WHY IS WASHING HANDS WITH SOAP AND A GOOD HANDWASH IMPORTANT? 

Organisations like the Centre for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation strongly recommend people, especially children, wash their hands with soap and water thoroughly or disinfect for at least 20 seconds to help prevent infection from swine flu. To protect against direct contact (for example, shaking hands with an infected person who 

has touched his/her mouth or nose) and indirect contact (for example, touching a doorknob handled by an infected person) with the flu virus, washing hands regularly with soap and water can help. 

HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR CHILD NEED TO WASH THEIR HANDS ? 

An infected child could land up being contagious for a day before feeling sick and upto seven days later. Mothers need to instruct their children to disinfect their hands with soap and water or by a sanitizer after returning from school as being out in crowded public places, shaking hands with people exhibiting flu-like symptoms, coughing or sneezing, handling animals and going to the toilet can be harmful. Also, mothers need to exercise the same caution before preparing, serving or eating food, especially meat. 

KEEP A SANITIZER HANDY! 

The risk of contracting a disease, especially swine flu at this point of time, is heightened when children come in contact with people and objects outside their home. 

    In situations where there may be no access to water and soap when we need it the most, it's important to carry and use an effective hand sanitizer proven to protect from swine flu. 

    The Lifebuoy Hand Sanitizer effectively disrupts bacteria's cell membrane and virus' outer coat, thereby killing bacteria and inactivating viruses on your child's infected hands. 

    It has also been proven to instantly kill 99.99 per cent germs without water and soap 

    And, it has been proven to kill H1N1 virus 

A MOTHER'S DILEMMA 

As a mother, one is really worried about their child picking up swine flu from school and outdoor spaces.What are the best measures to prevent swine flu? To put to rest this dilemma that most mothers face, experts advise that keeping your children indoors is not recommended. It is important to remember that 

although not trivial, the swine influenza symptoms are generally mild, (although the infection can be severe in a small minority of cases). Most children recover fully a few days after contracting the disease. For these reasons, experts recommend the mother and the child continue with their normal daily activities, unless they develop symptoms of flu. 

    But many mothers may resort to antibiotics. Is this the right solution? Experts say that antibiotics are drugs which can only be used to treat bacterial infections and have no effect on viral infections like influenza. Antibiotics should not be used to prevent infection. 

    There are a number of things you can do in your everyday life to reduce the risks of spreading the flu virus within your family including avoiding contact with anyone that becomes infected, disposing of tissues immediately and washing your hands often with handwash and water (or use an alcohol gel sanitizer 

if you are in a location without access to soap and water) to help protect you and your family from invisible germs. 

    Therefore, it is vital to maintain cleanliness at all times and practicing proper hand hygiene is the easiest way to help reduce such infections.

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Women won’t report lump, men weight loss Urban Cancer Paradox: High Death Rate Despite Best Treatment

 Urban Indians pay heavily for their unwillingness to see doctors to detect and treat cancer early. While more urban than rural Indians suffer from cancer, the death rate in both the segments is almost the same, says India's Million Death Study (MDS). The study was done by Tata Memorial Hospital along with the Centre for Global Health Research. 

    "Age-standardized cancer mortality rates per 1,00,000 were similar in rural (men 95.6 and women 96.6) and urban areas (men 102.4 and women 91.2)," says MDS. 

    An Indian pecularity crops up here. As MDS says that cancer deaths were two times higher in the least educated than in the most educated adults, it would follow that educated Indians living in cities and enjoying better access to cancer care should be able to beat the disease. But this is clearly not the case. "Women won't come to hospitals to show a lump in their breast because it's not painful. Men won't get themselves checked despite losing weight drastically. This is true in both urban and rural India," says a senior doctor. 

The problem, analyzes Dr Shastri, is that greater awareness in urban areas hasn't really translated into attitudinal changes. "People in urban areas, too, visit doctors only when their cancer is advanced. Therefore, the death rate is high in cities despite the availability of world-class treatment." 

    Doctors point out that the incidence of cancer is three times higher in some western countries, but the death rate wasn't as high as in India. "People there are not only aware about cancers, but also actively seek detection and treatment," adds a doctor. 

    Rising incidence of cancer among Indians is another area of concern. Says medical oncologist Dr Sudeep Gupta from Tata Memorial Hospital, "The main reason for this is the aging of our population. Earlier, our population was younger but it is not so now." He also blames lifestyle factors such as late marriages, late motherhood and lack of exercise for growing incidence of breast cancer. "We are adopting a Western lifestyle," Dr Gupta adds. 

    Cancer surgeon Dr P Jagannath, who consults at Lilavati Hospital, says that better access to tobacco in the city also worsens the statistics. "People in urban areas use lifts, don't exercise and are obese, which is emerging as one of risk factors for cancers." 

    However, he says there is a need to take a closer look at the causes of high mortality in urban hubs as reported in MDS. "Urban centres have better detection and treatment facilities. Hence, we need to ensure that all these reported deaths were indeed due to cancer and not a case of a cancer patient suffering a heart attack." 

BIG C IN THE CITY REASONS CONTRIBUTING TO RISING INCIDENCE OF CANCER IN CITIES 

CHANGING COMPOSITION OF DIET 

Intake of animal source food—meat, fish and milk—is rising rapidly Diets' energy density is rising rapidly Oil consumption has risen rapidly Food supply has become sweeter Food preparation time has shortened Consumption of food away from home has increased Portions or serving sizes are bigger 

REDUCTION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 

Major shift away from manual labour or energy-intense work (like agriculture) to sedentary roles (like the service sector) General reduction in physical activity linked to most occupations Changes in transport from physical (walking, cycling, public transport) to motorized (car/motorcycle) Greater mechanization of tasks at home 

Limited facilities for physical activity and recreation in overcrowded cities and towns 

WHAT FAMILIES CAN DO… 

Children and young adults should eat regular meals, including breakfast, in a pleasant, sociable environment — without distractions such as television Parents should eat with children — with all family members eating the same food Parents should encourage active play — for example, dancing and skipping Try to be more active as a family. For example, walking and cycling to school and shops, going to the park or swimming Gradually reduce sedentary activities — such as watching television or playing video games — and consider active alternatives such as dance, football or walking Encourage children to participate in sport or other active recreation, and make the most of opportunities for exercise at school 

(Union for International Cancer Control, 2009)

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HOT NEWS Spicy curry key to healthy heart

London: Think of a healthy meal — and a spicy curry might be the last thing that springs to your mind. But, a new study has now claimed that the hot dish could be the key to a healthy heart. 

    Researchers have found that a compound in hot peppers, used to spice up curry, lowers the total cholesterol levels and benefit blood vessels — in fact, the secret lies in the "hot" part of the chilli, the capsaicin, which they say helps ward off heart disease. 

    The spicy ingredient is something of a health wonder. It has been found to help shrink prostate and pancreatic tumours, works well as a painkiller and helps treat asthma, colds and flu. It has been used for weight loss. 

    And, now the researchers at Chinese University of Hong Kong say they have found that capsaicin and a close chemical relative aid heart health in two ways, the 'Daily Express' newspaper reported. 

    First, they lower cholesterol by reducing its build-up in the body and increasing its breakdown and excretion. Secondly, they also block action of a gene that makes arteries contract and restrict blood flow. PTI

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Dark secret: Gorge on chocolates to stay slim

Study Finds Daily Consumers Thinner Than Others

London: Here's the perfect excuse to gorge on chocolates — eating the mouth-watering snack regularly can help people stay slim, say researchers. The findings come from a study of nearly 1,000 American people which looked at diet, calorie intake and body mass index — a measure of obesity. It found those who ate chocolate a few times a week were slimmer than those who ate it occasionally. 

    Even though chocolate is loaded with calories, it contains ingredients that may favour weight loss rather than fat synthesis. So, despite boosting calorie intake regular chocolate consumption was related to lower BMI in the study, say the researchers. 

    The link remained even when other factors, like how much exercise individuals did, were taken into account. And it appears it is how often one eats chocolate that is important, rather than how much of it one eats. 

    The study found no link with quantity consumed. And, according to the researchers, there is only one chance in a hundred that their findings could be explained by chance alone. 

    "Our findings appear to add to a body of information suggesting that the composition of calories, not just the number of them, matters for determining their ultimate impact on weight," lead author Beatrice Golomb at the University of California at San Diego, was quoted by the 'BBC' as saying. 

    Golomb and her team believe that antioxidant compounds, called catechins, can improve lean muscle mass and reduce weight —at least studies in rodents would suggest this might be so. 

    Mice fed for 15 days with epicatechin (present in dark chocolate) had improved exercise performance and observable changes to their muscle composition. 

    They say clinical trials are now needed in humans to see if this is the case. PTI

SWEET NEWS: Though chocolate is loaded with calories, it contains ingredients that may favour weight loss rather than fat synthesis

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25% cancer deaths in Maha, UP

Of 5.35L Fatalities In 2011, State Accounted For 50,989

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra together accounted for 25% of all cancer deaths in India past year. 

    Delhi recorded lowest cancer mortalities — less than 9,000. West Bengal recorded the fourth highest cancer deaths (40,199), followed by Tamil Nadu (39,127). India recorded over half a million deaths due to cancer in 2011 — 5.35 lakh as against 5.14 lakh (2009) and 5.24 lakh (2010). UP recorded 89,224 deaths due to cancer, while Maharashtra saw 50,989 fatalities. 

    Bihar reported 43,864 cancer deaths. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh saw 37,144 deaths, Rajasthan (30,976), Madhya Pradesh (27,214) and Gujarat (26,588). 

    The Union health ministry says there are 28 lakh cancer cases at any given point of time in India, with 10 lakh new cases being reported annually. World Health Organization says, the estimated cancer deaths in India are projected to increase to seven lakh by 2015. 

    Cancers account for 14% of the overall non-communicable diseases (NCDs) mortality in India. Also, they account for about of 3.3% of the disease burden in the country, and about 9% of all deaths. 

    "Cancer has become one of the 10 leading causes of death in India. Around 40% of cancer cases are due to tobacco use," said a Planning Commission paper for the 12th Five Year Plan on NCDs. 

    Over 70% of cancer cases in India are diagnosed during the advanced stages of the disease, resulting in poor survival and high mortality rates. Cancer is curable if detected early. The results of treatment in stage I and II (early stage) are about 80%. 

KILLER CLAWS 

India recorded 5.35 lakh cancer deaths in 2011 Bihar recorded the third highest deaths (43,864) followed by West Bengal (40,199) & TN (39,127) Union health ministry says there are 28 lakh cancer cases at any given point of time in India 

10 lakh new cases being reported annually across the country 

WHO says the estimated cancer deaths in India are projected to increase to 7 lakh by 2015 

Over 70% of cancer cases in India are diagnosed at the advanced stage of the disease

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‘Don’t sell some drugs without prescription’

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday directed chemists to sell certain medicines, including cough syrups, only on production of a physician's prescription and in the presence of a qualified pharmacist. 

    A division bench of Justice P B Majmudar and Justice Ramesh Dhanuka was hearing three petitions filed by chemists from Malad, Andheri and Goregaon challenging an order passed by the assistant commissioner of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), cancelling their licences. The cancellation order was confirmed by the minister of food and drugs department, with FDA's contention being the chemists sold Rexcof syrup, which has a high alcohol content, without prescription and in the absence of a pharmacist. 

    Their advocate Sanjiv Sawant argued that the penalty of cancelling their licences was harsh and excessive. "This is a solitary incident in the case of the petitioners. They have produced documents to show that the pharmacist was present. They have not sold any medicine without prescription," said Sawant. He also urged the court to considering imposing a lesser punishment. 

    Government pleader D A Nalawade said Rexcof contained codeine phosphate, which was a narcotic substance and such medicines were supposed to be sold only upon producing the doctor's prescription. "Cough syrups are misused by those addicted to it," said Nalawade. 

    The judges, in their order, directedthe modification of FDA'sorder to the extent of suspending the chemists' licences for four months. They, however, allowed the petitioners two weeks to "finish stock of medicines" in their shops. 

    The judges said because it was the first such incident, they were imposing a lesser punishment of suspending thelicences and notcancelling them. Asking the chemists to be more careful, the judges directed them not to dispense certain medicines without the prescriptions of doctors and the drugs should be sold in the presence of qualified pharmacists. The judges added that if medicines were sold in the absence of prescriptions and pharmacists, there might be adverse health problems in society.

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New form of TB gives docs sleepless nights

Mumbai: Fifteen-yearold Vina's diagnostic report looks dismal. The lab report shows that the tuberculosis (TB) bacillus in her lungs is sensitive only to two drugs and resistant to eight others. 

    "The world may debate whether to call her TB an extremely, extensively 
or a totally drug-resistant form but the fact is how does one treat a child with only two drugs?'' says Ghatkopar-based Dr Amol Manerkar, who is treating Vina. "For all practical purposes,'' he adds, "the child's disease is totally resistant to drugs.'' 
    In the last two months, Mumbai has gained in terms of government attention (a special TB programme), money (the city's TB budget may increase 6 times) and infrastructure (new labs, machines), but the ground reality is grim, say doctors on World TB Day. 
WHO sticks to its stand 
    The World Health Organization, in a special meeting in Geneva, said it was too early to dub the new, severely drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis as totally-drug resistant TB. P 6 
Another H1N1 case in city 
T^he the grandmother city's first H1 of N1 a case Mulund in nine boy, months, is also suffering from the flu. Meanwhile, a one-year-old became Pune's eighth victim in 10 days. P 2 TB patients' woes worsen due to expensive drugs 
Victim Can Infect 10 Others In A Year: Docs 
Mumbai: Incidence of the new form of highly drug-resistant TB is growing across the city. Areas with a high population density-—such as Ghatkopar and Kurla—are particularly vulnerable. 
    Vina (name changed), who lives in Ramabai Colony in Ghatkopar (E), is only one of the three patients whom Dr Amol Manerkar diagnosed with severely drug-resistant TB in the Ghatkopar-Kurla belt in March. One of these new patients is only sensitive to 
one drug. TB is treated with a combination of drugs. "How can I ask this patient from a modest background to buy this one drug which is not only expensive but cannot guarantee a cure if taken alone,'' asks the doctor. 
    Mumbai's special TB programme had proposed that patients going to private doctors would also be able to access the government's free drugs. But private doctors say this partnership has not yet started. "I sent two of my patients who have severe drug resistance to government hospitals as they are too poor to afford to buy medicines privately. But they haven't been given any second-line drugs as the government is waiting to test them all over again,'' complains a doctor from Dadar. 
    In January, Hinduja Hospital had revealed that 12 of its patients had totallydrug-resistant TB (TDRTB). A central team visited Mumbai thereafter and said that it would be premature to label the cases as TDR-TB. However, the Union government gave the green signal for a pilot project in Mumbai to recognize each of the 24 civic wards as a TB district with special staff and infrastructure.
    The BMC has diagnosed 683 patients with drug-resistant TB. "As per our protocol, 347 of these patients are in category IV treatment and eight others in Category V treatment,'' says Dr Mini Khetrapal, who is Mumbai's first TB control officer. 
    She is hopeful. "We have increased the capacity in Sewri TB Hospital to treat drug-resistant TB from 44 to 90 beds. Within a couple of months, all these drug-resistant patients will be covered,'' she says, adding that medicines have already been given to all to ensure that their disease doesn't spread to others. 
    Soon, the BMC will kickstart an initiative of door-to-door surveillance in 10 wards that include Ghatkopar and Kurla. 
    "TB is a disease that spreads easily due to overcrowding. The government needs to strengthen its surveillance process to ensure that the disease doesn't spread,'' says a senior doctor at a south Mumbai hospital. 
    Dr Manerkar points out to hubs such as Thakar Baba colony in Kurla where people work in small, overcrowded shoemakingunits."If oneperson has drug-resistant TB, the airborne disease can spread to many others. After all, each TB patient can infect 10 others in a year,'' he says. 
TUBERCULOSIS OVER THE YEARS 
In mid-90s, multidrug resistant TB was first reported In 2006, extensively drugs-resistant TB (XDR) emerged In 2008, two cases were reported from Italy that had resistance to both first and second-line treatments In 2009, 15 TB patients in Iran were reported to be resistant to all anti-TB drugs tested, prompting researchers to coin new terms "extremely drug resistant" (XXDR-TB) and "totally drugresistant TB" (TDR-TB). In January 2012, four patients in India were described as having "totally drug-resistant" tuberculosis. Media subsequently reported a further eight such cases. In March, WHO said insufficient evidence to use term TDR-TB As per WHO nomenclature, multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is TB that is resistant to both of the main first line drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin WHO says extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is MDR-TB with additional resistance to any of the injectables (amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin), plus resistance to any fluoroquinolones 
NOT YET TIME 
WHO has given three technical reasons for its decision not to use the label of totally drug-resistant tuberculosis 1 Drug susceptibility testing (DST), key to defining new levels of drug resistance, lacks accuracy for several drugs used to treat multi drug-resistant (MDR) and extensively 
    drug-resistant (XDR)-TB 2 Insufficient correlation of DST results with clinical response to treatment for several drugs used to treat XDR-TB 3^Newdrugs are undergoing clinical trials and could prove effective against drugresistant strains

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Cheap jewellery can be toxic!

HEALTH FLASH

Experts have detected alarming levels of harmful chemicals in the composition of low-priced jewellery items targeted at youngsters, which may have dangerous health implications. A non-profit environmental safety organisation found lead, cadmium, chromium, mercury and arsenic among other highly toxic chemicals, in jewellery items. The health issues linked to these substances in past tests on animals and humans comprise acute allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer. 

    Of the 99 pieces tested Using X-ray fluorescence, 25 per cent contained levels of lead which exceeded the limit of lead permitted in the manufacturing of children's products. "It ends up in the jewellery because it's cheap, it's easy to melt, it makes nice heavy pieces of jewellery and in fact we've found in a lot of the pieces we've tested that are 95 per cent lead by weight, that the alloy composition is almost identical to what you'd find in lead acid car batteries," the report said. 
    Additionally, 10 per cent of the items contained known carcinogen cadmium, most likely because there have been no restrictions on its use. The biggest concern is that children put the necklace pendants and rings in their mouths, chipping and wearing away the thin protective coating. Over time, the levels of cadmium or lead to which a child could be exposed this way is quite dangerous.

BEWARE! Junk items contain harmful chemicals

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Dust haze sees pollution levels INCREASE BY 500%

Suspended Particulate Matter Rises From 200 To 1,200 Units Per Cubic MetreHosps See Increase In Patients With Breathlessness

Mumbaikars woke up on Wednesday to a thick layer of dust that had enveloped the city reducing visibility levels to six times lower than normal and increasing pollution levels by nearly 500%. But the dusty haze, as the MET has called this phenomenon—it was more pronounced in north India—is not benign, and doctors spent the better part of the day fielding calls from citizens who complained of breathlessness. Because of the haze, suspended particulate matter (SPM) levels rose from 200 units per cubic meter to 1,200 units, reported the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Dr Ajay Deshpande, joint director of MPCB, described the SPM levels as "a historic rise", never before witnessed in the city. 

    Though weather officials say the haze is a temporary 24-hour phenomenon, the particulate matter will take a longer time to dissipate, and doctors have advised patients susceptible to respiratory ailments to take extra precautions (See box). 
    "The sun was pale. The journey from home to office felt like I was travelling through a large construction site. By the time I reached office, I could feel the dirt on me," said Amey Bashisht, who resides in Dahisar and works at Churchgate. Commuters said they could barely see the train approaching the platform. 
    MET officials in Mumbai blamed the haze on a sandstorm in Rajasthan. "There was a sandstorm in Rajasthan as the temperatures rose very high. The dry winds displaced the sand particles there. Northerly winds carried forward the storm southward towards Mumbai," said V K Rajeev, director of weather forecast at Indian Meteorological Department, Mumbai. 
    But many meteorologists are attributing the haze across the country to the dust storms in the Middle East. Agencies like NASA released satellite images of a giant dust plume across the Arabian Sea from the Middle East to India on Tuesday, March 20, which affected many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and Rajasthan. "A dust haze was brought to the northern parts of India from Saudi Arabia by south westerly winds. It's a global phenomenon and India is also being affected. In Punjab and Rajasthan, visibility was 1km," said Ajit Tyagi, former director general of IMD. 
    Senior weather officials said the haze was due to a dust plume and was not a dust storm. Tyagi said: "A dust storm is a local phenomenon caused by winds blowing near the ground. What we are witnessing is a haze, which has been carried over miles across countries." 
    The high pollution levels spelt trouble for those who already suffer from asthma, sinusitis or rhinitis. Anjali Pujari (32) was one of many Mumbaikars who had problems breathing. Pujari, who already suffers from asthma, found her symptoms aggravated by noon. "When I went to the doctor's clinic, it was full of people with chest problems," she said. Doctors reported a sharp rise in the number of patients complaining of respiratory problems. Dr Ashok Mahasur, chest physician at Hinduja Hospital said: "Most were senior citizens who complained of breathlessness. There were also a few students, who were brought in after their exam or had to leave their paper mid-way because of bouts of coughing." A senior KEM doctor said: "It is a temporary problem. Patients need not fear." 
    Inputs from Chittaranjan Tembhekar COAST UNCLEAR 
HEALTH ALERT 
People suffering from chronic respiratory ailments like asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis, bronchitis, etc are more susceptible to the sudden rise in suspended particulate matter 
SYMPTOMS 
    Wheezing 
    Breathlessness 
    Long bouts of coughing 
ADVISORY 
Stay indoors early morning when there is more pollen in the air Keep your doors and windows shut if your house is near a construction site Close your window and use air-conditioners to prevent dust from entering your home Travel by train to avoid pollution from vehicles Wear a mask and use gloves while cleaning Consult your doctor if wheezing and breathlessness persist 
WHAT'S CAUSING THE DUSTY HAZE IN MUMBAI? 
South-westerly air currents, on Tuesday, carried the dust from Saudi Arabia to many parts of northern India 
By Wednesday morning, dust/haze was carried to Mumbai by northerly winds 
MET department says a sandstorm in Rajasthan is responsible for the haze 
SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTER RISES 
Pollution levels increased six-fold from 200 units of suspended particulate matter to 1,200 units per cubic meter 
Visibility was reduced to 1,200 km. Normal visibility is 6,000 km 
Visibility was as low 1km in parts of Punjab and Rajasthan 
FORECAST 
MET officials say the haze will dissipate by today

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First 1,000 days shape health for life

New data shows what a woman eats during pregnancy and the newborn's diet till age 2 determine the child's well-being

It's now official — the first 1,000 days of your life — conception to your second birthday is what decides how healthy or brainy you will be the rest of your life. For mothers force-feeding their teenage children with "healthy food" or pushing them to go out to play, scientific evidence now clearly proves that what a mother eats while pregnant influences the child's memory, concentration, judgement, intellect, mood and emotions. 

    Scientists say there are at least 50 brain chemicals or neurotransmitters that are affected by the intake of food and micronutrients by the child in his or her first 1,000 days. The impact of inadequate nutrition during this golden period is lasting and irreversible, with effects beyond physical health to affect the child's cognitive development. 
    This prompted The Times of India and Nestle to jointly launch an initiative to promote healthy nutrition in the crucial first 1,000 days. 
    The nutrition available in the first 1,000-day period also predisposes children to chronic disease in adulthood. India at present suffers from the vicious cycle of malnourished pregnant women who most often give birth to underweight children. Of the 2.6-crore births in India annually, 23% babies are low weight (below 2.5 kg). Infant deaths and illnesses increase sharply as birth weight declines. Many of these children who survive become stunted or wasted by the time they are five. 
    Pediatrician Meharban Singh says stunted children have smaller head size, impaired neuromotor coordination, sub-optimal learning skills and mental capabilities. Stunted children have around 11 points lower IQ compared to normal children. Maternal and child health expert professor Zulfikar Bhutta from the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi told TOI that low birth weight among Indian children is mainly due to the effects of malnutrition during the 1,000-day period. "Consequences of malnutrition are permanent and often passed down from mother to child. Steady decline has been noted in maternal and child mortality in India. Prevalence of severe nutritional deficiencies has also dipped but the pace has been slow. This is mainly because enough importance has not been accorded to the first two years of a child's life that are critical," professor Bhutta said. Experts even add that the seed of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, schizophrenia and obesity are laid in the womb itself. 
    Dr Swaroop Sampat Raval, chief of the Early Childhood Association says during pregnancy, the foetus is solely dependent on maternal intake and nutritional stores, mostly fat, for its energy. "Poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy in turn implies a risk of poor nutritional availability to the fetus. Diet intake of a pregnant woman should look at being healthy overall rather than high calorie intake," Dr Raval said. 
    Experts say the last three months of pregnancy and first three years of post-natal life are most crucial for a child's brain development. The size of a baby's brain at birth is almost 70% of the adult size but his body weight is only 5% of an adult. During the first year of life, 15% brain growth occurs. The remaining 10% of brain growth occurs during preschool years. 
    Dr Sanjeev Ganguly, an expert on pediatric nutrition said "what a mother eats decides how the genes of the child will express itself. Culturally in India, a woman eats last, even when she is pregnant. A socio cultural change therefore needs to come about which recognizes that a pregnant woman needs the maximum amount of nutrition. Its not about how much she eats as it is about the quality of food she consumes. Pregnant Indian women are concerned about calorie intake rather that protein intake which is essential for an unborn child." 
    Proper intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 during this crucial 1,000 days by mothers can ensure the overall growth and well being of the child, added Prof. Kalhan. 
    Professor Jatinder Bhati, paediatrician at Medical College of Georgia School of Graduate Studies says underweight childhood, micronutrient deficiencies and poor breastfeeding combined cause 7% of deaths and 10% of the global disease burden.

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Breastfeeding can save 22% of newborns

New Delhi: Dramatic health benefits have been proven to pass from a mother to her newborn through breast feeding. Experts say breast milk is packed with nutrients, vitamins and minerals and carries antibodies from the mother to help the baby combat life-threatening disease. The WHO and Union health ministry recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. They say breastfeeding should begin within an hour of birth and should be on demand, as often as the child wants day and night. However, fewer than 50% mothers in India follow this.      Swati Popat Vats, president of Early Childhood Association says when a baby is born, the only organ that  is ready but not developed is the brain. Vats said "A baby is born with trillions of neurons which are not connected. The neurons require covering of a particular kind of fat which is essential for the child's brain to develop. This fat is available in right amounts in the mother's breast milk. Breast milk also help build the child's immune system." Experts say nearly two-third of the brain weight is phospholipids and long-chain fatty acids. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachi-donic acid (AA) are key fatty acids. Human milk contains 30 times more DHA than cow's milk. According to WHO, infants should get 20 mg DHA/kg every day. Breast-fed babies have at least eight points higher IQ in later life as compared to formula-fed babies.      Dr Arun Gupta, chair of the Global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival said starting to breastfeed immediately after birth increases chances of survival of babies. "If mothers start breastfeeding within an hour of birth, 22% babies who die in the first 28 days (about one million newborns each year) could be saved. Likelihood of death increases significantly each day the start of breastfeeding is further delayed," Dr Gupta added.      Breast milk is also economical as the baby requires no other food or liquid, even water in the first six months. "Exclusive breastfeeding is an important part of building optimal child nutrition during a baby's first 1,000 days failing which the damage is irreversible," Dr Gupta added. The milk produced in the first few days after childbirth, called colostrum, is rich in protective antibodies. It helps increase the baby's immunity, protects his intestines, and strengthens his respiratory system.

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Monthly income for your family for 60 months from ING Life Insurance

ING Life Insurance presents ING Secured Income Insurance Plus, a safety net which ensures continued income for your family. Besides peace of mind, it features:   Assured income for 60 months* Limited premium payment term ( choose from 5 / 7 / 10 years ) Guaranteed addition of 10% on the sum assured on policy maturity                       * Available as death benefit only; Insurance is the subject matter of the solicitation; For more details on risk factors,terms and conditions, please read the sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale; #For policy of 10 years ,10 years ppt not available ING Secured Income Insurance Plus UIN: 114N061V01;Accidental Death Benefit Rider (ADB) UIN: 114C003V01; Accidental Death Disability and Dismemberment Benefit Rider (ADDDB):114C002V01; ING Term Life Rider: UIN 114B007V01; ING Critical Illness Rider UIN No. 114B009V01, ING Critical Illness Limited Pay Rider UIN No. 114B008V01; ING Vysya Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Registration No.114, Regd. and CorporateOffice: 'ING Vysya House', 5th Floor, No.22, M G Road, Bangalore-560 001, India. Tel: 080-25328000. Fax : 080-25559764.URN:ILI/Online /002/2012ING Secured Income Insurance Plus is a Non Linked,participatinglife Insurance product.Bonuses are not guaranteed and depends on the fund performance.@2011-12 ING Vysa Life Insurance Company Limited.All rights reserved.

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Green tea can beat bad breath, cancer

HEALTHY DRINK

London: Green tea's status as a superfood is growing gradually, as a new study has claimed that drinking the beverage could help you fight bad breath and even mouth cancer. The study by a team from Israel's Institute of Technology found that antioxidants found in the tea, called polyphenols, destroy a number of compounds in the mouth that can lead to bad breath, tooth decay and even mouth cancer. 

    The new findings will add to green tea's status as one of nature's so-called "superfoods", the Daily Mail reported. Past studies have suggested that green tea helps prevent cancer and heart disease and lower cholesterol — and even ward off Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. 
    In the latest study, the researchers examined the properties of the polyphenol called epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG) in particular. 
    "EGCG constitute the most interesting components in green tea leaves," the researchers reported in the journal Archives of Oral Biology. "All together, there is increasing interest in the health benefits of green tea in the field of oralhealth," they said. Green tea is made from the same plant as black tea but processed in a different way that means it retains less caffeine and more polyphenols. It has been drunk in China and the Far East for thousands of years and is fast becoming popular in UK because of its health benefits. It's drunk without milk, sugar so it is low in calories. PTI

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MODEL THERAPY New dimension: 3D ‘avatars’ of patients to let docs test treatments

London: Doctors in the UK are looking to build 3D computer 'avatars' of patients to test treatments before prescribing, a step that can revolutionize medical science. Doctors are taking the first steps towards a Google Earth style map of the human body, scientists said on Friday. 

    A digital 3D replica of a patient would be created using their medical data to give an overall picture of their health. 
    The 3D computer 'avatar' which would then allow doctors to test how different treatments would work on that person's body. The detailed simulation would warn of unwanted side-effects before they happen. 
    Doctors are already piloting a model of a cerebral aneurysm which could assist clinicians in predicting how likely rupture would be and if treatment is necessary, the Daily Mail reported. 
    Professor Alejandro Frangi of Sheffield University said, "There is a lot of data about us in the healthcare system, but it is fragmented. I think the modelling framework gives us a mechanism, I like to see it as Google Earth, putting all of these layers of information together." 
    The advance could also help predict the likelihood of bone fractures in patients with osteoporosis by producing a musculoskeletal model from bone density data. 
    "By developing models of complete organ systems, such as the cardiovascular system, we can help clinicians predict whether treating a constriction in one coronary artery, for example, might improve or worsen blood supply in other coronary arteries in patients with multiple lesions," Frangi said. PTI

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HEALTH SCARE? Coke, Pepsi alter recipes to avoid cancer warning

New York: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are changing the way they make the caramel coloring used in their sodas as a result of a California law that mandates drinks containing a certain level of carcinogens bear a cancer warning label. 

    The firms said the changes will be expanded nationally to streamline their manufacturing processes. The changes have already been made for drinks sold in California. 
    The American Beverage Association, which represents the broader industry, said its member companies will continue to use caramel coloring in certain products but that adjustments were made to meet California's new standard. 
    A representative for Coca-Cola, Diana Garza-Ciarlante, said the company directed its caramel suppliers to modify their manufacturing processes to reduce the levels of the chemical 4-methylimidazole, which can be formed during the cooking process and as a result may be found in trace amounts in many foods. 
    "While we believe that there is no public health risk that justifies any such change, we did ask our caramel suppliers to take this step so that our products would not be subject to the requirement of a scientifically unfounded warning," Garza-Giarlante said. 
    The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group, in February had filed a petition with the US Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of ammonia-sulfite caramel coloring. A spokesman for FDA said the plea is being reviewed. But he noted that a consumer would have to drink more than 1,000 cans of soda a day to reach the doses administered that have shown links to cancer in rodents. 
    The American Beverage Association said California added the coloring to its list of carcinogens with no studies showing that it causes cancer in humans. It noted that the listing was based on a single study in lab mice and rats. AP

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Let’s give ourselves the space we deserve

If there's one aspect of city life that has upset Mumbaikars the most over the years, it is the poor availability of open spaces. There aren't enough parks to stroll in, grounds to play on, or beaches and promenades to simply unwind. 

    Open spaces like gardens, waterfronts and green patches not only positively affect the physical well-being of citizens, they also help soothe the stresses and strains of the 24x7 life in a metro. Health experts agree that playing in the outdoors not only takes children away from their sedentary lifestyle but also teaches them how to interact with nature, 
develop friendships and become independent. 
    On the face of it, the BMC's open space policy says there are 2,398 spaces reserved for gardens, parks, playgrounds and recreation grounds in the city. In reality, not even 50% of the reserved open spaces (a mere 19 sq km or 2.1% of Mumbai's land mass) has been acquired by the BMC. When a team of city architects led by P K Das traced 2,053 of the 'open' spaces, it found a quarter encroached upon. Another survey, by the Urban Design Research Institute five years ago, found that 45% of the city's open spaces had been completely or partially covered up or encroached upon. 
    Whatever the figure, the crime is obvious: There are several open spaces out there, but they are not being acquired as green lungs for the city. Meanwhile, many of them fall prey to illegal slums and land sharks. 
    The Times of India seeks to open a debate on not just the complaints against such official apathy, but also on the solutions offered by citizens, professionals, social organizations and governmental agencies. In TOI's 'Mumbai For Me' campaign, we seek to bring together various sections of society to discuss how the quality of life can be improved by enhancing the availability and quality of open spaces. 
    Das and his team have drawn up a plan that seeks not only to protect and develop reserved open spaces, but also develop public areas along lakes, ponds, beaches, hills, mangroves, promenades and other green zones. It seeks to create and integrate open spaces in a manner that they "intermingle with daily life", says Das. (An exhibition of the team's solutions will run at the NGMA from March 15.) 
    There is no reason why a city with a wealth of untapped reserved areas, a national park within the municipal limits, a 34-km coastline, a profusion of beaches, lakes, and creeks, and promenades with world-class potential, has to languish in congested and concretized confines that offer just 0.03 acre of open space to every 1,000 people. 
    That sorry figure was computed 40 years ago, when Mumbai had a population of a little under 9 million. Today's 12.4 million Mumbaikars must demand the environment and atmosphere they deserve.

TOI will help debate the solutions to Mumbai's lack of open spaces

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