NEVER FOLLOW THESE DIETS.

Whether it's a dress that no longer fits, a pair of jeans you can't pull above your knee or a tagged photograph that you thought was of someone else - the trigger to get healthy usually comes with a bang, not a whimper. While I applaud any effort to get healthy, it's the immediate need to lose weight that matters more to the dieter. That's when the fad dieter's bag of tricks appears. Liquids replace solids, shortcuts replace nutrition, and panic replaces common sense. But I am here to tell you that there is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to health. Nothing can replace a goody-two-shoes diet-and-exercise approach to weight loss. The weight has settled in with time, it will leave you, too, in time. Never follow these crazy fad diets.

The Tapeworm Diet: The dieter eats tapeworms! And the tapeworms eat the food. You read that right. In this grizzly approach to dieting, parasitic tapeworms inside your body feed on the food you eat, helping you 'lose weight'. But what if these worms get bored and decide to travel to your brain?

The Cotton Ball Diet: Cotton balls are on the menu in this one. Where dieters swallow cotton balls - which are not food, by the way - in a bid to fill up the stomach. Yes. Cotton balls. Replacing food.

The TeaTox Diet: This one seems innocuous but can mislead people into thinking that you are losing weight in a healthy way. Teatox, as its name suggests, is derived from Tea Detoxing, where tea is the path to weight loss. Many of these teas claim benefits like weight loss, reduction in bloating, etc.

However, please note that according to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), these teas have higher caffeine levels than usual, cloaked under names like 'yerba mate' or 'guarana' and/or contain diueritics/ laxatives. These ingredients may make you appear slim but the weight lost is usually water weight. It always comes back. 

The Diet Pill Diet: This needs no introduction, unfortunately. Whether it's masked as Ayurveda or wears the appearance of being natural, anything that comes in the form of a pill and promises weight loss will go back on its word sooner or later - leaving your body more damaged than when it started  out.

These are dietary extremes, but extreme dieters exist. More in numbers than you think. The idea here is to remind you to love yourself, not punish yourself. If you are patient enough, you will get the results you want.

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SOON VACCINE TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL.

A vaccine jab to immunise people against high levels of cholesterol and the narrowing of arteries may soon be possible, according to a study published on 20th June, 2017 (Tuesday). The research was carried out in mice. The vaccine, called AT04A, induces antibodies against a target protein that is produced by the body, the researchers said. The researchers injected AT04A under the skin in mice that were fed fatty, Western-style cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis, a disease of the arteries characterised by the deposition of fatty material on their inner walls. The study published in the 'European Heart Journal', found that the vaccine reduced the total amount of cholesterol by 53 percent. It also shrank atherosclerotic damage to blood vessels by 64 percent, and reduced biological markers of blood vessel inflammation by 21-28 percent, compared to unvaccinated mice.

"AT04A was able to induce antibodies that specifically targeted the enzyme PCSK9 throughout the study period in the circulation of the treated mice", said Gunther Staffler, Chief Technology Officer at AFFIRIS, the biotech company that developed the vaccine. "As a consequence, levels of cholesterol were reduced in a consistent and long-lasting way, resulting in a reduction of fatty deposits in the arteries and atherosclerotic damage, as well as reduced arterial wall inflammation", Staffler added.

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DEPRESSION CATALYSES SUICIDE AMONG YOUTH.

[Based on an article written by Kaniza Garari, published in Deccan Chronicle dated 14th June, 2017].

Of late, suicides are on the rise among the youth as increased depression manifests itself. Many of them are not even aware of their condition as multiple studies published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry show that sub-clinical depression is afflicting 20 percent of students. More than thirty percent of students showed moderate depression, 37.7 percent severe depression and 13.1 percent extreme depression. Dr. K. Chandrashekhar, senior psychiatrist, said, "There is too much expectation placed on students and they are supposed to deliver good results within a short time. 

"This increases their stress levels and when things don't click as expected, it leads to a cycle of negative thoughts which cause a very low feeling". 

There are over-expectations from students who are always under pressure to give their best. But the capability and social realities have to be taken into account before setting targets for them.

Dr. J.M. Reddy, a senior psychiatrist at Yashoda Hospital, said, "We have found students coming under extreme pressure to do their best when their capabilities are not of that level. They are just struggling to prove themselves and there is always an internal conflict. This gives way to anxiety, anger and depression. Here, we not only have to treat the young  patient but also intensively counsel the parents as only then will the pressure ease and make way for better outcomes".

The number of student suicides gives an insight into the mental health trauma that they are facing. There have been 39,775 student suicides from 2010 to 2015. In 2015 alone the number of students who killed themselves was 8,934. 

Dr. Naresh Vadlamani, a senior psychiatrist, explained, "The number of attempted suicides are much higher but there are no details. Whenever there have been cases of self-harm the parents and college administration have blamed each other, rather than helping out the young student. Most of them are not able to articulate what they are going through as there is a poor relationship with parents, poor understanding from their peers, as well as romantic relationships. Hence, suicide in most cases has been found to be an impulsive act rather than well-calculated and thought-out step".

With the stigma attached to mental health, those coming out and speaking about it are very few. The number of people opening up is not encouraging as there are many more suffering silently. There is need for counsellors on the campus to help students and these must be qualified psychiatrists or psychologists who can deal with the problem and not brush it under the carpet, causing more harm to the student and closing the door for help. 

Signs of Depression: 

1. Disturbed behaviour, lack of sleep, aloofness, negative thoughts towards the smallest things and feeling of uselessness.
2. There are some who put an excessive show while they are suffering inside, like putting up their best pictures on social media more often than required.

Treatment Opinions:

1. Medications in case of severe depression along with counselling and support from family members.
2. Depression requires prolonged treatment and it has to be completed.

[Based on an article written by Indulekha Arakkal, published in Deccan Chronicle dated 14, June, 2017].

Grades pressure leaves all feeling degraded: After the hassle for results and admissions, the stress levels of parents and students remain the same even after schools have reopened. Students are expected to perform exceptionally well throughout the year to meet society's standard of grades, which often ranges from 95 to 100 percent. With parents adding to the pressure, students sometimes resort to drastic measures. The education system is rigid. Students are expected to perform brilliantly in subjects regardless of their interest or talent. It is important to encourage a system that promotes holistic development of students that is not based on grades alone. "There is a lack of awareness on the importance of counselling for both students and parents. Schools must regularly let parents know about their child's progress and ask them to encourage their child's talent. A certain amount of pressure is needed to encourage students but pressuring them more than required will not get results", said Ms. Seema Agarwal, a counsellor.

The stress on parents often leads to them taking it out on their wards. At the Hyderabad Schools Parents Association campaign against the hike in school fees, the tension of parents was palpable. 

"Children need a healthy environment to grow. Today, dinner table conversations revolve around the amount of money to be paid for fees. This leads to children feeling guilty of being a burden. Parents tend to pressurise their kids because they want to get full value for their money. As the schools do not notify the parents about their child's development, they are just becoming a money-minting machine. How can a healthy environment be guaranteed for students and parents in these circumstances", she said.

An education system that doesn't view students based on their grades should be encouraged. With schools promoting extra-curricular activities, it is a leap forward, however, the general conception of grades being used as a yardstick to measure success is yet to be brought to a stop. Ms. M. Lalitha, additional secretary of the Telangana State School Education Department said, "It is important for the students to be relieved from stress while they study. However, our education system is an outdated one and building up a new one requires a lot of planning and time.      

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REASONS FOR CANCERS IN MEN AND WAYS TO TREAT THEM.

For many men, smoking, along with the use of gutka and alcohol, becomes an addiction over a period of time. They are also used to eating outside food, which contains many chemicals and preservatives. Along with these, high stress levels, environmental pollution and many other factors are found to cause cancers among men. Except those cancers which affect the reproductive system in women, men are mostly affected with other forms of cancers. The incidence of cancer is expected to increase by 45 percent between 2007 and 2030. Smoking, and use of pan, gutka and tobacco are the main causes for oral and lung cancer. With 80,000 deaths happening annually, India has the highest numbers of oral cancers in the world. Consumption of food with more salt and spicy food causes cancers in digestive system. Statistics show that Indian men are more prone to such cancers. Among men, mouth and oral cancer, oesophagus, lungs, stomach and colon cancers are common. Irregular lifestyle, unhygienic food and stress result in such cancers. The risk of having lung, head and neck cancer is more in individuals working in aluminium and asbestos companies, beverage and tobacco manufacturers and places where there is more exposure to Gamma radiation. 

Prolonged working in AC rooms without exposure to sunlight, night duties, junk food and exposure to pesticides and chemicals also make men more susceptible to cancer. Men above fifty years need to undergo a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) to detect prostate cancer in advance. This form of cancer also affects the sperm, leading to blood in urine, complications in waist and urinary infections. Other forms of diagnosis include Digital Rectal Examination, Prostate Biopsy, Ultrasound, Bone Scan, CT scan, MRI, etc., to detect prostate cancer.

Men should not neglect certain symptoms which are alarming factors for cancer. These include:

1. Continuous cough with/without blood;
2. Loss of weight and appetite;
3. Body pain with fever;
4. Blood in Urine or obstructions in Urine discharge;
5. Blood in stool;
6. Severe indigestion;
7. Severe neck pain and difficulty swallowing;
8. Painful ulcers in mouth;
9. Severe Bone Pain.

These symptoms can be just brushed off, but they are attributed to regular infections and side effects of smoking. It's important to seek the right treatment when these symptoms occur and also maintain a healthy lifestyle.

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BEST SURGERIES TO TREAT SPINE PAIN.

Patients who are unable to carry out their daily chores because of spine pain or are frustrated with limited physical activity may consider lumbar spinal fusion surgery for symptomatic lumbar degenerative disc disease. 

Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery: Lumbar fusion surgery is designed to reduce the pain by stopping the motion at the segment of the spine. Depending on which level of the spine is affected, the fusion may vary. One-level fusion at the L5-S1 segment is the most likely level to break down due to degenerative disc disease. A fusion at this level of the spine does not significantly change the mechanics in the back. Fusion of the L4-L5 level removes some of the normal motion of the spine as this is a major motion segment in the lower back (as opposed to L5-S1, which has limited motion). Considered to be a major surgery, fusion surgery could be an effective option for patients to enhance their activity level and overall quality of life. This potential positive outcome is particularly true now that less invasive surgical techniques are available to decrease post-operative discomfort, maintaining more of the normal anatomy of the lower back that will result in higher rates of fusion than previous techniques.

Lumbar Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery: A novel way to treat pain and disability from lumbar degenerative disc disease is called artificial disc replacement. It replaces the disc instead of fusion the disc-space together and maintains more of the normal motion in the lumbar spine, thereby reducing the chance that adjacent levels of the spine will break down due to increased stress. The major worry with artificial disc replacement is that anything that moves can wear out with time. Many patients who undergo surgery for DDD are younger than those patients, who had used artificial joints for hips and knees. Although there is less wear and tear on a spinal joint than a major joint like a hip or knee, gradually there may be considerable risk which will lead to the replacement of artificial discs in the future. Artificial discs are placed through an anterior approach to the spine under the great vessels (aorta and vena cava). Once it's done, these vessels become scarred down onto the spine, making revisions problematic.

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NASTY DIVORCES CAN HARM KIDS' HEALTH FOR DECADES.

When children live through a contentious divorce or separation between their parents, the fallout appears to harm their health for decades, even into adulthood, according to a group of researchers. The study involved 201 healthy adults who agreed to be guaranteed, exposed to a virus that causes the common cold, and monitored for five days. Those whose parents had separated and had not spoken to each other for years were three times as likely to get sick, compared to those whose parents had separated but had stayed in touch as the children grew. Previous research has shown that adults whose parents separated during childhood have an increased risk for poorer health. The latest study showed that this higher risk of illness is due, at least in part, to heightened inflammation in response to a viral infection, the report said.

"Early life stressful experiences do something to our physiology and inflammatory processes that increase risk for poorer health and chronic illness", said Michael Murphy, a psychology post-doctoral research associate at Carnegie Mellon University.

The study also showed that the adult children of parents who had separated but stayed in touch were no more likely to get sick than the adult children of intact families.

"Our results target the immune system as an important carrier of the long-term negative impact of early family conflict. They also suggest that all divorces are not equal, with continued communication between parents buffering deleterious effects of separation on the health trajectories of the children", said the study's co-author Sheldon Cohen.

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WHAT IS CONGENITAL GLAUCOMA?

1. Congenital glaucoma is a disease where high fluid pressure in your eye damages the optic nerve.
2. It affects children between birth and three years largely and untreated cases are a major cause of childhood blindness.
3. In a healthy eye, the fluid provides proper pressure and brings in nutrients. But in congenital glaucoma, the fluid doesn't drain properly and the build-up makes eye pressure rise.
4. If a baby's eye cells and tissues don't grow properly, the baby can have trouble with drainage after it is born.
5. About twice as many boys as girls are born with it. Most of the time, it affects both the eyes.

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CURVATURE OF THE SPINE.

1. When bones do not grow normally and result in short stature.
2. It is a condition in which the vertebrae, slips forward.
3. When the vertebrae become fragile and break.
4. Obesity, or being extremely overweight.
5. Kyphosis - A condition marked by an abnormal rounded upper back.
6. Discitis - Inflammation of the disc space between the bones of the spine mostly caused by infection. 

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KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF CANCER SCREENING TESTS.

Cancer is a serious health condition affecting mankind. The quicker the cancer is diagnosed, better are the treatment options available with good recovery chances. Having knowledge about different types of cancers and how to prevent them along with proper cancer screening helps to detect cancer early.

Early Symptoms: So what should one watch out for? Formation of lumps, high bleeding, and prolonged problems with digestion are some of the symptoms. These symptoms are common for breast cancer, cervical cancer, mouth cancer, intestinal cancer and skin cancer.

Screening: Screening helps in detection of cancer before symptoms appear. If cancer is detected early, it will be easier to treat. By the time symptoms appear, cancer might have begun to spread, making it harder to treat. It involves simple tests that have been shown to reduce deaths by cancer.

Risk Factors For Different Cancers: The most common risk factors for cancer include smoking, gutka consumption, addiction to alcohol and liver cirrhosis' lack of exercise, obesity and excessive consumption of fat and consumption of less fiber and more spicy food.

Screening In Women: Women above forty years of age need to undergo digital mammography tests once in a year. From twenty years of age, women need to undergo breast examination, under doctor supervision to look out for onset of cancer. Self-examination by young women for lump formation is the key for early detection.

Cervical Cancer: Women need to undergo screening for cervical cancer, right from third year of active sexual life. They need to undergo PAP Smear test once every year. Liquid-based PAP test can be taken once every two years. After thirty years of age, women need to undergo PAP test once every three years, including DNA and HIV test. Those above seventy years, can discontinue PAP test. Those who undergo hysterectomy and removal of uterus need not undergo this test. It is important to administer Cervical Cancer Vaccine in women, from the age of ten years to forty-six years, which reduces the risk of cervical cancer by ninety percent chances.

Screening Test For Prostate Cancer In Men: This type of cancer occurs widely in Indian men, but there is less awareness regarding the disease. Regular Prostate Screening procedures is recommended. Men beyond fifty years of age, need to undergo a blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen, once every year including Digital Rectal examination. If there is family history of prostate cancer, men beyond forty years of age need to undergo regular prostate screening test.

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HATE ACNE? HERE IS HOW TO GET BACK THAT SMOOTH SKIN.

Imagine you asked the hottest girl in your college out for a date and she agreed. You are in seventh heaven and went to sleep thinking about the next day and things you would do to impress her. But, all your planning went for a toss as you wake up in the morning with your clean-shaven face ravaged by pimples. Bummer!

Dermatologists are of the opinion that acne is one of the most common skin condition affecting young adults. "Acne (pimples) can leave either red or brown marks on the skin. While many people recover from acne without any permanent effects, some are left with scars on their faces which is one of the most distressing side effects of it", says Dr. Deepika Narra, consultant dermatologist and trichologist. Acne occurs due to improper healing of the skin. Depending on the skin healing of the skin. Depending on the skin healing, scars may be either depressed or elevated. Depressed scars (atropic scars) are due to inadequate production of repairing substance called collagen in the skin whereas elevated scars (hypertropic scars and keloids) are due to excessive and haphazard production of collagen, says experts.

Though some tropical creams can improve mild scarring, most of the acne scars need individual or a combination of treatment modalities for optimal therapeutic outcome. The therapeutic options that are currently available to treat acne scars include subcision, chemical peels, TCA cross, ablative lasers, fractional lasers and dermal fillers. 

"Fractional resurfacing (pixel) laser is one of the most effective treatments for acne scars. It is a minimally-ablative technique that creates microscopic zones of injury in a grid-like pattern in the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate proper skin healing. This helps in collagen remodelling thus leading to scar improvement without any damage to surrounding structures in the skin. This also causes to some extent skin tightening, reduction in fine lines, improvement in texture, tone and colour of the skin", explains Dr. Deepika adding that a series of four to six sessions are usually needed for optimal results. "Each session lasts for one hour and is performed at monthly intervals", she says. 

Certain types of scars such as the ice pick scars are treated with TCA cross technique whereas rolling scars may need pixel laser combined with subcision. In addition, punch excision and softening of margins with laser can be done for box scars. All the above mentioned procedures are well-tolerated with local application of anaesthetic creams before procedure. Lately, injectable dermal fillers are being used for correction of acne scars, giving it a smoother appearance. This is a semi-permanent treatment and needs to be re-done as and when required. 

Timely treatment of acne is necessary to keep both post acne marks and scars at bay. So, get rid of your scars and make the dream of blemish free and smooth skin come true.

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YOGA BOOSTS LOVE LIFE.

Yoga is extolled as a great way to boost the quality of relationship. Couples who practice yoga together before or after marriage have a lot to benefit from this ancient wisdom. The various asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation work on the mind, body and soul. Yoga improves the blood flow, stamina and energy levels, thereby strengthening your love and relationship. Yoga helps you connect to your own body. It helps you to look beautiful and boosts your self-esteem. It enhances body awareness, and thus helps in appreciating your body and that of your partner. Yoga helps you to feel good about yourself and increases the happiness hormones. Therefore, it improves love life, relationships and the sex drive. It can bring couples closer and strengthen their love and bond. Hence, yoga is the epitome of a loving and healthy relationship with yourself and with your spouse. 

Many yoga experts believe that the act of sex itself is yoga, as it is the unison of male and female energies. "Yoga in principal is about oneness through integration. It bridges the gap between the polarities and harmonises opposite energies of duality, and also creates attraction and increases the pull force between the Yin and the Yang. Yoga helps one to calm down transforming the sex instinctive energy into appreciative and celebrative energy", informs health guru Dr. Mickey Mehta. The composure derived from the state of mind in yoga, and the stimulation of the nervous system improves hormone secretion through asanas and pranayama increases the blood flow into the genitalia. The dynamism attained from the pranayama, the postures and the tranquility attained through meditation, prayers and chanting, levitates energy upwards and equally downwards towards the mooladhara kind of cultivating super human capabilities. The choice is with us if we wish to concentrate the energies in just one direction. This promotes healthy sexual activity arising out of biological and organic soundness.

"Yoga also teaches patience, tolerances, and brings flexibility of the mind and body. This improves relationship management. There are certain asanas like Veer Badrasana, Vajrasana, Baddha-Konasana (popularly known as cobbler pose), and Mahabands which are very good for a healthy sex life and for the health of reproductive organs. The 12 steps of Surya Namaskara in particular increase the growth hormones. For improved energies on a more advanced level Vajroli Kriya can also be learnt. The polarities of Anulom Vilom and Kapaal Bhati complement each other", said Dr. Mehta. Yoga helps sex translate into love, and helps love energy transcend into worship. 

Short points:

1. Yoga improves the blood flow, stamina and energy levels, thereby strengthening your love and relationship.
2. It also helps you to feel good about yourself and increases the happiness hormones.

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