Tag: Health

Researchers at Georgia State University have found a potential new strategy for developing new drugs to control inflammation without serious side effects. Jian-Dong Li, director of Georgia State’s Center for Inflammation, Immunity and Infection, and his team discovered that blocking a certain pathway involved in the biological process of inflammation will suppress it. Inhibiting a molecule called phosphodiesterase 4B, or PDE4B, suppresses inflammation by affecting a key gene called CLYD, a gene that serves as a brake on inflammation. Li explained the process of overactive inflammation using a “police” analogy. When a pathogen – such as bacteria or viruses — infects a patient, he said, it triggers an “alarm” to which the “police” of immune system respond.

In turn, it triggers neutrophil attractant called cytokines to respond, leading to inflammation that serves to help rid the body of the pathogen. But if inflammation isn’t stopped, tissue damage can result. The pathways during the response are termed “positive,” like a gas pedal on a car, and “negative,” like a brake, with the process in the positive pathway going down the line from the pathogen to inflammation, and negative going the other direction.

PDE4B is involved in controlling the negative pathway. Many researchers have been focusing on developing anti-inflammatory agents by stopping the positive pathway, but the discovery by Li and his colleagues gives scientists a new route to stop inflammation using safer or even existing drugs proven to be nontoxic as they have found that accelerating the negative pathway will reduce inflammation.

There is a need for better drugs to control inflammation, because current treatments come with serious side effects, Li said. Steroids are commonly used, but cannot be used over the long-term, as they suppress the immune system.

Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center have found that omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolite products slow or stop the growth in the number of triple-negative breast cancer cells more effectively than cells from luminal types of the disease. The omega-3s worked against all types of cancerous cells, but the effect was observed to be stronger in triple-negative cell lines, reducing proliferation by as much as 90 per cent.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish like sardines and salmon, and also in oils derived from plants like hemp and flax. Previous studies suggest these compounds can negatively affect critical mechanisms in cancer cells, namely those responsible for proliferation and for apoptosis, or programmed cell death.

Lead author on the study Thomas J. Pogash, a scientific technician in the Fox Chase Cancer Center lab of Jose Russo, MD, said that the new work underscores the important role common compounds found in food may play in keeping cancer at bay. “When you compare a western diet to a mediterranean diet, which has more omega-3s, you see less cancer in the mediterranean diet. They eat much more fish,” Pogash said.

Afresh flower arrangement never fails to lift your spirits. It adds colour to your house, filling it with positivity and energy. But what measures can one take to make all this last longer? As laymen, we are aware of certain measures such as adding a spoonful of sugar or an aspirin for the nourishment of the flowers or using a water spray to keep them looking bright. But, the process of making fresh flowers stay fresh starts right from its selection process. Be careful while taking your pick as these flowers are expensive compared to their artificial counterparts. Ideally, one should look for the ones that look youthful and not matured.

The tell-tale signs of the latter would be drooping petals with a yellowish or brownish tinge at the corners. Fresh ones shall always have petals that are firm and are just beginning to bloom. The vase or the container in which the flowers are to be kept should be clean.

They should be free from any leftover mucous from the earlier arrangements. Light is the source of life. Hence, it is advisable to keep flowers in a place where there is enough light coming in. This surely does not mean that you expose them to direct sunlight, as that will only make them shrink. Just make sure they aren’t put away in some dark corner of a room, and expose air them once in a while.

An important thing to remember is that one should not keep flower arrangements atop devices that heat up such as a television, a refrigerator or an oven. This can cause the flowers to lose excess water and wither away quickly. Sharing some tips, florist Munira Taherbhoy says, “It is important to keep a constant watch that the stems do not catch any fungus. The trick to achieve that is by removing the leaves that are below the waterline. They are the main cause of promoting the growth of fungicausing bacteria. It also helps to retain the freshness of these flowers, as the leaves soak up a lot of water resulting in less water being transported to the other parts.” Taherbhoy also suggests a daily change of water in the container.

Some other tried and tested ways are adding a mixture of a pinch of salt and baking soda or adding a copper element to the water. Also, ready pouches of medicine are available in the market. They keep these colourful creations of nature smiling.

This exotic chicken recipe is surely a treat for your taste buds. The barbeque sauce and red wine enhances the taste of the meat but make sure that it’s well cooked as half cooked chicken will spoil the dish.A perfect recipe for a friends gettogether.
3 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme,3 Tbsp olive oil ,1 1/4 teaspoons minced garlic,2 boneless chicken breast halves (200gms each),Salt and pepper to taste,Zucchini cut into 4 round halves,30 ml white wine,2 stick Blanched asparagus,30 gm broccoli,40 gm Barbecue sauce,20 ml red wine
Directions
Get the grill started on medium high heat. While the grill is heating up, whisk together half of the thyme, oil and 1/4 teaspoon of the minced garlic in a shallow dish.
Sprinkle salt and pepper on the chicken and add it to thyme mixture. Leave it for ten minutes.
Saute garlic in a large heavy-bottomed pan. Add zucchini and handful of chopped thyme. Let it cook uncovered on low flame.
Heat a new skillet and add white wine. Reduce it to half and add zucchini. Cook for a minute and remove the pan.
Grill chicken until brown for approx 5 minutes on each side.
Blanch the broccoli and asparagus in hot water and keep them aside.
Take barbecue sauce and dilute it with red wine. Add black pepper.
Place the chicken on the bed of braised zucchini. Pour barbecue sauce and top it with broccoli and sauteed asparagus.

Recently, Lady Gaga joined the list of other celebrities to use anti-baldness cream as she feared she was losing more hair. It’s not just who are possessive about their mane beauty. All of us fuss about hairstyle which is what makes one stand out. Here are a few common hair-related problems we encounter and some tips to overcome them

Dandruff
Soak a few fenugreek (methi) seeds overnight in water and grind it to a fine paste in the morning. Apply the paste on the head for 30mins and wash off. This not just has cooling effect, but also keeps your hair dandruff-free.

Hair fall
Mix cocnut and gingelly (sesame) oil. Add an amla (gooseberry), a few leaves of white hibiscus and boil for 20mins. Let the mixture cool and apply this oil on your head and wash off after 20 mins. This will help prevent hair fall.

Grey hair
Soak henna in an iron vessel for at least 3 hours. Add sour curd and squeeze half a lemon to the paste and apply on the hair. Wash off after 2-3 hours. This will also keep the head cool.

Lack-luster hair
Take egg white and apply on the hair. Leave it for 30 mins and rinse with shampoo. Egg gives shine to the dull hair.

Brittle hair
If your hair is brittle due to over use of henna. Give your head an oil massage the day you wash the hair. This will not only enhance the hair colour, but also makes the hair smooth.

Split ends
Get an oil massage done on your head. Dip the ends of your hair in hot coconut oil and wrap a tower dipped in hot water around the head. After sometime, wash off with cold water.

Flat teeth are an indicator of untackled stress. Dental problems are not just a sign of neglected oral health. The problem is rooted much deeper — in stress levels, eating habits and even kidneys. Dentists say, reading these signs and tackling them at the earliest is key to maintaining not just your pearly whites but also a healthy body.

Flat teeth
ROOT CAUSE: HIGH STRESS
Do you wake up with a pain in your jaw? Have the biting surfaces of your teeth become shorter? It’s possible that you suffer from bruxism, a disorder in which people grind their teeth, especially while sleeping. Dentist Dr Beenal Kuckian says, “People can clench and grind their teeth during the day and night without being aware of it. However, it is a bigger problem during the night because it’s difficult to control.” Long term grinding of teeth makes them flat, causing jaw tenderness, fatigue of cheek muscles, headaches and ear aches.

Stress is one of the major causes of bruxism. “People tend to clench their teeth when stressed. Clenching becomes more pronounced in people with high stress jobs and is common among policemen, body builders (who clench their teeth while lifting heavy weights), bank clerks, or those suffering from depression and anxiety disorders,” she adds. Kuckian says, most young professionals do not realise that they are under stress. “The problem surfaces when they come to us with broken or flat teeth,” she says. The cure is stress management. “We also recommend mouth guards to patients whose teeth are still in good condition. The plates cover the entire surface the teeth and prevent them from rubbing against each other.” However, she warns, severely damaged teeth can only be fixed with a root canal with caps or artificial implants.

Teeth sensitivity
ROOT CAUSE: ACID REFLUX AND HEARTBURN
The normal pH level of teeth is 5.5. When stomach acids — with a pH level of 2.2 — travel back to the mouth through the food pipe, they erode the enamel, increasing the teeth sensitivity. Those with sensitive teeth suffer a shooting pain when they eat something very hot or cold. “Those who suffer from frequent heartburns or acid reflux will invariably have eroded teeth enamel. Unhealthy eating habits such as eating large meals, lying down on the back right after a meal or snacking before bed time are some factors that cause the valve at the entrance of stomach to become loose and stomach acids to travel backwards,” says Dr Karishma Jaradi, an aesthetic dentist at Dentzz and brushing teeth gently will help.

Dry mouth
ROOT CAUSE: KIDNEY DISEASE
“If you have persistent dryness in the mouth, it is probably a good idea to consult a nephrologist,” says Dr Dilip Deshpande, consulting prosthodontist and implantologist at Lilavati Hospital. The kidneys are responsible for forming and excreting urine, regulating fluid and electrolytes throughout the body, and excreting hormones into the blood stream. He says that a kidney infection causes an imbalance in the regulation of fluids and this shows up as a symptom in the mouth. Temporary dryness can be a sign of dehydration rather than a kidney disease.

Tooth loss
ROOT CAUSE: BONE PROBLEM
Your teeth are held together by your bone quality.When that deteriorates, your teeth either become loose or fall. Conditions such as osteoporosis are one of the major causes of teeth loss. “The diseases can be detected early by identifying a receding alveolar process — the portion of the jaw bone which supports and anchors the teeth,” says Jaradi, adding that vitamin D deficiency, common among urban Indians, is also leading to tooth loss.

Pain in upper molars
ROOT CAUSE: SINUSITIS
Jaradi says, she often gets patients who complain of acute pain in their upper molars, but examinations show healthy gums and teeth. Jaradi explains,”The cause of pain in such cases is sinusitis.When the maxillary sinus — air cavities within the cheek bones, above the upper jaw — becomes inflamed due to infection, it exerts pressure on the upper jaw. The roots of the upper molars are in close proximity with the sinus, and on being pressed they mimic pain of dental origin.”

Pale gums
ROOT CAUSE: LOW HAEMOGLOBIN LEVELS
Pale gums accompanied by fatigue and an occasionally sore tongue are signs of haemoglobin deficiency. The haemoglobin is protein, which helps the blood carry oxygen to various parts of the body. Iron is essential for formation of haemoglobin in red blood cells. Sources of iron include egg yolks, leafy greens, dry fruits, beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans.

Workout for happy teeth
In 2012, 32-year-old Abhishek Balar had to visit Kuckian and undergo root canal in his lower jaw. He was told that his habit of regularly grinding his teeth during his sleep had caused the dentin – calcified tissue underneath the enamel — to erode right up till the gum line. Balar, a old businessman working with a real estate agency would work 10 hours a day and travel frequently to constructions sites. He didn’t realise that the stress of dealing with clients and managing property matters with government officials was getting to him. “I didn’t know I was grinding my teeth unconsciously,” says Balar.

Your handbag not only stores your essential items, but also loads of germs. Thought your handbag only stored your most essential items? Well, researchers say most women don’t realise the impact of their handbags on their health. Remember that your handbag travels with you wherever you go, gets placed in different places and pick up germs on the way. You’ll be surprised to know the health hazards that are lurking in the recesses of your precious bag.

Hazard 1: Water bottles
Carrying a water bottle may seem to be sensible, but constantly drinking from a plastic bottle is not good for your health. Experts say unsafe chemicals like phthalates, present in the plastic, can mix with the water over time. And this can lead to hormone imbalances and fertility problems. The longer you use a plastic bottle, the more the concentration of harmful chemicals that gets seeped into the water. Solution: Use a metal or glass bottle instead. While stainless steel or aluminium bottles will minimise the possibility of breakage, you can wrap glass bottles in a protective plastic or silicone bag.

Hazard 2: Your makeup
An average woman carries at least three to eight pieces of makeup in her handbag. And if one glance at your handbag reveals tons of lipgloss, mascaras, blushers, foundations, etc – it is time you sat down and discarded all the expired products. Makeup that is past its expiry date harbours bacteria. Mascaras, especially, should be used very carefully because they can harbour bacteria. The bacteria multiply in the dark, warm and moist environment of the mascara tube. Using this mascara can then lead to eye infections. Solution: Throw out your mascara every six months and other products once they are past their expiry date. Keep your makeup brushes clean by washing them regularly and avoid sharing makeup.

Hazard 3: Used tissues and handkerchiefs
How many times have you kept a used tissue or a hanky in your handbag, only to tell yourself that you will soon discard it? Studies say the viruses that cause the common cold and cough can survive for a long time on these tissues. And each time you put your hand inside your bag, you inadvertantly spread germs. Solution: After using a tissue, throw it out. If you keep a packet of tissues or wet wipes in your handbag, make sure it is sealed. As an added measure, wash your hands often and use a hand sanitiser.

Hazard 4: Cellphone
Studies say that our cellphones carry a host of bacteria. One study found that one out of every six phones were contaminated with faecal matter. Cellphones, unfortunately, travel with us wherever we go – all the while collecting harmful bacteria. Solution: Keep your cellphone in a cover or a pouch and clean it with a soft cloth once a week.

Hazard 5: Heavy handbag
Women are facing neck, back and shoulder problems due to the heavy handbags they lug around daily. While a big handbag may be fashionable, it also invites you to dump things in it. Solution: Either switch to a smaller bag or make it a habit to empty it out weekly.

Who said dance classes are only for kids and dance enthusiasts? Dancing is also recognised as an excellent calorie burner. According to a survey published by the American Council on Exercise, experts see dance-based workouts as a growing trend.

It is said that you burn approximately 200 to 400 calories per hour through intense dancing, almost on par with the number of calories burnt while cycling or swimming!

If done regularly, it is said to slow down heart rate, lower blood pressure and improve good cholesterol levels. Says Althea Shah, fitness expert, “Dance improves strength and flexibility, which keeps muscles and joints healthy.” We give you the dope on the most popular and effective dance workouts.

Belly dancing
While you are wiggling and jiggling your hips, you are also toning your abs, lower back and butt.
Benefits
1)Belly dancing helps relieve stress to the back, counteracting the almost constant compression of the disks that occurs from a sedentary lifestyle.
2)Your arms and shoulders are also exercised when doing lifts, circles or rippling motions.
3)You burn approximately 300 calories per hour.

Zumba
Zumba is a Latin dance-inspired group exercise. It engages a tonne of muscle workouts — from squats to lunges. It is also one of the best forms of cardiovascular exercise. In India, zumba is also combined with hip hop and aerobic moves. Says Kinjal Thakkar, fitness instructor, “Zumba has well-choreographed dance moves, which aid in weightloss and toning, well-synced with fast-paced music to help you stay energetic.”
Benefits
1)It improves your cardiovascular health by pumping blood throughout your body.
2)It’s great for weight loss. If you dance for approximately an hour, you could lose about 400 to 500 calories.
3)It is also known to improve body co-ordination.

Pole dancing
For women who look fitter and want to feel more sensual and confident, pole dancing is the answer. Derived from the pole dance culture, the workout has a mix of seductive music and slow or medium-paced moves. It’s all about having fun and twirling, spinning and swinging your body. But don’t think it will be a twirl in the park. You’ll need to throw your body weight up, down and around, hold the pole with your ankles, with the back of your knees or with just one hand.
Benefits
1)It strengthens your core and skeletal muscles.
2) It lends a firmer, tougher and toned look.
3) It improves balance and agility.
4) It is a physically challenging activity, so check with your fitness instructor before you sign up for a class.

Bhangra aerobic workout
A euphoric harvest dance, this style has evolved over the years with other kinds of music and dance moves such as hip hop, disco, reggae and techno. It has made it into fitness circles as the bhangra aerobic workout — which aids in weight loss. The dance involves continuous and rhythmic body movements designed to raise your heart rate, strengthen your lungs and tone all the major muscle groups in your body, including your legs and hips. This workout is done to pulsating bhangra music.
Benefits
1)The bhangra aerobic workout is good for your cardiovascular health and helps avoid chronic ailments like heart disease, hypertension and stroke.
2)It lowers blood pressure and builds strong bones and helps control weight.
3)A 45-minute workout burns 500 calories.

Bollywood
If you can’t get enough of the entertaining moves that actresses pull off in infectious item songs, this filmy alternative is for you.
Bollywood dancing has it all — thumkas, latkas, jhatkas along with desi folk, pop and classical dance.
Benefits
1)Tones your thighs and hips.
2)A great workout for those who are bored of going to the gym.
3)Indulges your love for the song-and-dance routine of Hindi films.

We have all heard this advice innumerable times. Drink eight to 10 glass of water a day. Experts say that if you are overweight or tend to get most of your calories from processed and salty food, eight to 10 glass of water could actually help you reduce your weight.

Water could lower your BMI. If you drink eight to 10 glass of water everyday you will end up eating less and also drink fewer calorie-laden beverages.

Drinking about 500 ml of water before meal can cut the calories and help in losing weight and as a result lower body mass index (BMI). Water helps in burning fat. You can burn about 50 per cent more fat after drinking water compared with a higher calorie beverage. Water helps you play your sports better.

Sweating away just two per cent of your body’s water content affects the performance of a sportsperson to a great extent.

Drinking enough water can improve your game and save you from the risk of dehydration. Water can fight hangovers. Being adequately hydrated is the best way not to feel lousy and grouchy after a late night party.

Drink a couple of glasses of water hours before the event. Even when you are flying a long distance flight, staying hydrated helps you fight hangover.

Drinking red wine can ward-off cholesterol buildup resulting from eating red meat, say scientists. Harmful compounds from red meat form in the bloodstream, creating “bad” cholesterol that damages blood vessels and heightens cardiac risks. The researchers showed, however, that anti-oxidants in the wine known as polyphenols prevented these compounds from being absorbed into the bloodstream where they can cause harm, the “Journal of Functional Foods” reports.

Ron Kohen, professor from the Institute of Drug Research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said this may help to explain why red wine has frequently been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, according to the “Telegraph”. “Meat is rich in polyunsaturated fat and cholesterol.

Our results could provide an explanation for the association between frequent meat consumption and increased risk in developing cardiovascular diseases. Including polyphenol rich products as an integral part of the meal significantly diminish these harmful effects,” said Kohen. Over four days, the researchers fed a group of healthy volunteers a series of meals of dark turkey cutlets and asked them to avoid other meats and fish. A smaller group of the same individuals then repeated the fourday diet, accompanying each cutlet with the equivalent of a glass of red wine.

Do you feel old and tired because of your eyes? It is really hard to feel fresh and alert when your eyes are tired and droopy, because of those annoying bags under them. They are a sign of stress and fatigue. Fret not as Asian Roots Luxury Spa, Delhi, has come up with some totally handy and effective tips to get rid of under eye bags and dark circles.
Go potato
Slice a raw potato (after refrigerating for a couple of minutes) into two and circle the closed eyes gently with those halves. Place it on your eyes so that it also covers the puffed ares under your eyes and leave it like that for 15-20 minutes. You’ll notice a tremendous change in those bags as they’ll be diminished in size.
Milky way
If you have extremely puffed up eyes this is the regular regime that you will have to follow. Dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on your eyelids and relax for 20-30 minutes. This well help your eyes in water retention and it would also cool them off.
Oily help
Take chilled water in a bowl and add a few drops of vitamin E oil to it, now mix the two well. Dip cotton pads in this mixture and place on the eyes for 20 minutes, this well help in reducing the swelling around the eyes.
Cucumber relief
Cucumbers are a fantastic natural remedy to get rid of under eye puffiness. Take 2 slices of fresh refrigerated cucumber and place it on your eyes for 25 minutes. Relax with the cool soothing slices over your eyes and slip into a short nap, it will help refresh your mind as well as your eyes, and the antiinflammatory properties of the cool cucumber will naturally help reduce puffy tissues.
Chilled tea bags
If you are in a hurry and do not want to go with droopy eyes then teabags are the way to go. Moisten two tea bags in cold water and refrigerate them for a while. Then place them over your eyes for 25-30 minutes. Lie back and relax with the cool teabags over your eyes. Finish by washing your eyes and face with cold water, and dry your skin thoroughly. You would feel relaxed and rejuvenated.
Of spoons & iced water
The puffiness of the eyes can be reduced with the help of a glass of ice water and four stainless steel spoons. Chill the spoons in the water and then place one over each eye. Keep switching the spoons while letting the other one chill in the glass of water. Keep switching until you see improvement.
Egg white
Stiffly beat a few egg whites and apply it around your eyes with a brush. It will result in making the area around and under the eye feel tighter and look less puffy. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse your face in cold water. Green tea bag
Settle down for 10-15 minutes with a chilled, steeped chamomile or green tea bag over each eye and then relax. The natural properties of these herbal teas will help bring puffy eyes back to their original size.
Hydrate your body
Drink as much water as possible. Yes, it seems counter-intuitive when you are retaining water, but hydrating reduces puffiness. So drink a glass of water whenever you notice your eyes getting a little droopy.

If you thought that the only benefit of sex was, well, pleasure, here’s some news for you. Making love is good for adults. And making love regularly is even better. Not only does it help you sleep well, relieve stress and burn calories, there are also several other reasons why you need to have sex more often.

Improves cardiovascular health
A recent study says that men who have sex more than twice a week, have a lesser risk of getting a heart attack, than men who had sex less than once a month.

Increases immunity
Regular lovemaking increases the level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA), which in turn makes your body stronger against illnesses like the common cold and fever.

Reduces stress
Stressed out with work or family problems? Don’t let it affect your performance in the bedroom. Not only will having sex improve your mood, but a study has also proven that folks, who indulge in regular bedroom activities can handle stress better and are happier people.

Relieves pain
If you’re using a headache as an excuse to not make love, stop doing that. Have sex instead, because, when you’re about to have an orgasm, the level of the hormone oxytocin increases by five times. This endorphin actually reduces aches and pains.

Promotes longevity
When one has an orgasm, a hormone called dehydroepiandrosterone is released. This improves immunity, repairs tissue and keeps the skin healthy. Men, who have at least two orgasms a week, live longer than men who have sex just once every few weeks.

Increases blood circulation
Because your heart rate increases when you have sex, fresh blood is supplied to your organs and cells. While used blood is removed, the body also expels toxins and other materials that cause you to feel tired.

You sleep better
The sleep that you get just after you’ve made love will be much more relaxed. Getting a good night’s sleep will make you feel alert and overall healthy.

Improves overall fitness
If you find going to the gym mundane or working out at home a task, here’s another way to help you lose the flab and keep in shape. Regular sex will do wonders for your waistline. Half an hour of lovemaking burns more than 80 calories.

Increases levels of oestrogen and testosterone
In men, the hormone testosterone is what makes them more passionate in the sack. Not only will it make you feel way better in bed, but it also improves your muscles and bones, keeps your heart healthy and keeps a check on your cholesterol. In women, on the other hand, the hormone oestrogen protects them against heart disease and also determines a woman’s body scent.

Doctors say that a diet rich in calcium, and a simple exercise like brisk walking can help prevent Osteoporosis. More than 60 per cent people in our country suffer from osteoporosis and around 90 per cent of them are women. Alarming isn’t it? “The mortality rate associated with the osteoporosis related fractures is greater than the rates associated with breast and cervical cancer combined,” says Dr Ashish Phadnis, orthopedic surgeon. But all is not lost as this can be treated and prevented.

What is it?
Osteoporosis is one of the most widespread degenerative diseases in the world. Decrease in bone density experienced by the patients of this disease often leads to bone fractures that may cause severe disability and even death. The fact that osteoporosis occurs without symptoms is what makes it a little dangerous.

That is the reason it is called the silent disease. Doctors says that people may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a hip to fracture or a vertebra to collapse. Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterised by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased risk of fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist.

Mainly affects women
Osteoporosis mainly affects women but may also affect men develop when bone resorption occurs too quickly or when replacement occurs too slowly.

Your chances of developing osteoporosis are greater if you are a woman. Women have less bone tissue and lose bone faster than men because of the changes that happen with menopause. One in every three post menopausal women are affected by this disease say experts. Orthopedic specialists say that osteoporosis is more likely to develop if you did not reach optimal peak bone mass during your bone-building years. Dr Phadnis explains, “As long as a person lives formation (new bone is added to the skeleton) and resorption (old bone is removed) of bones keep happening. When one is a child and later during one’s teenage years, new bone is added faster than old bone is removed. As a result bones become larger, heavier, and denser. Bone formation is outpaced and resorption until peak bone mass (maximum bone density and strength) is reached around age 30. After that time, bone resorption slowly begins to exceed bone formation.

Especially for women, bone loss is fastest in the first few years after menopause, and it continues into the post-menopausal years.”

Calcium intake and absorption is essential
There are many women who completely avoid taking milk and almost never exercise and this makes then extremely prone to the disease say doctors. Published studies show that low bone mass, rapid bone loss is associated with low calcium intake.

Dr Namdev Eatam corroborates, “Inadequate calcium intake contributes to the development of osteoporosis. Vitamin D also plays an important role in calcium absorption and bone health. Exposure to sunlight is important and people who work in closed air-conditioned offices, travel in cars that have tinted glasses don’t get enough of it.” Dr Phadnis adds, “Proper intake of calcium and Vitamin D may decrease the fracture rate by upto 25 per cent.”

Exercise is important
Exercise is also very important to prevent this disease.Dr Etam says, “Regular exercising can help bones.” Just like muscles our bones are living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger. “Walking is one of the best exercises possible to prevent osteoporosis,” emphasizes Dr Phadnis. He adds, ” Smoking, alcohol consumption and intake of some medicines and steroids can also lead to a decrease in bone mass.” Proper nutrition, regular exercise and safety issues in order to prevent falls that may result in fractures can help treat osteoporosis. Along with this medication to slow or stop bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce fracture risk may be prescribed by doctors

Patients with heart disease who have anxiety have twice the risk of dying from any cause compared to those without anxiety, a new study has revealed. Researchers said that patients with both anxiety and depression have tripled the risk of dying. “Many studies have linked depression to an increased risk of death in heart disease patients. However, anxiety hasn’t received as much attention,” Lana Watkins, Ph.D., lead author of the study and an associate professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C said. Studies show that depression is about three times more common in heart attack patients.

The American Heart Association recommends that heart patients be screened for depression and treated if necessary. Depressed heart disease patients often also have anxiety, suggesting it may underlie the risk previously attributed solely to depression,Watkins said. “It’s now time for anxiety to be considered as important as depression, and for it to be examined carefully,” she said. Anxiety and depression each influence risk of death in unique ways.

Anxiety, for example, increases activity of the sympathetic (adrenaline-producing) nervous system that controls blood pressure. “People who worry a lot are more likely to have difficulty sleeping and to develop high blood pressure,” Watkins said. The link between depression and mortality is more related to behavioral risk factors, she said. Future studies should test strategies to manage anxiety alone and with depression in heart disease patients,Watkins said.

Lychee, which means ‘gift for a joyful life’, surely lives up to its name. Here is why… It is a truth that the fruit is sweet and delicious, and almost anyone can get addicted to it. However, it is one addiction you should be proud of. As there are numerous studies to show the health benefit of this wonder fruit.

The fruit
Lychee, the juicy fruit that belongs to soapberry family, is sparsely found in the Philippines, Indonesia, in northern Vietnam, in southern Taiwan and in southern China and India.

It is a seasonal fruit, especially found in plenty during the summer season. The lychee fruit contains vitamins and minerals that promote a healthy diet.

What the studies say…
Studies show that lychee fruit can fight the growth of cancer cells as it contains flavonoids in its pulp, which is effective against breast cancer. It is also a great source of vitamin C that helps the body to fight heart disease, apart from cancer.

Vitamin C is also good for bones, skin and tissue. Due to its high vitamin C content, the fruit benefits those suffering from cold, fever and sore throat. Lychee also helps the body to digest food properly for the best nutrition, and is said to have the ability to relieve pain too.

Choose the best
When choosing lychee, select those with a firm shell that has no cracks. It is best if the fruit is still attached to its stem. The fruit’s colour should be pink or red but never brown. Brown lychee are overripe and will not be as tasty.