Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Why do We Burn Camphor In Any Pooja?

Why do We Burn Camphor In Any Pooja?


No Aarati is performed without camphor. Camphor when lit burns itself out completely without leaving a trace of it.
Camphor represents our inherent tendencies or vaasanas. When lit by the fire of knowledge about the self the vaasanas burn themselves out completely, not leaving a trace of ego.
Ego is responsible for a sense of individuality that keeps us separate from the Lord or consciousness.
Apart camphor when burns emit a pleasant perfume. This signifies that as we burn our ego we can only spread love and nothing else.

Soya Milk – The Health Answer As 68% Of Milk In India Adulterated

Soya Milk – The Health Answer As 68% Of Milk In India Adulterated


Over 68 per cent of milk inIndiadoes not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India as per the govt. in a statement to Supreme Court.
According to the FSSAI’s 2011 survey, the most common adulterant was found to be the addition of water, and the main reason for deviation from the standards was addition of glucose and skimmed milk powder.  Addition of water will reduce the nutritional values and if contaminated can cause health hazards. It also found that in some samples, detergent was mixed.
A PIL alleged that synthetic and adulterated milk and milk products are prepared using urea, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda and white paint which, according to studies, are “very hazardous” to human life and can cause serious diseases like cancer.
These adulterants are hazardous and cause irreversible damage to the organs. As per ICMR detergents in milk causes food poisoning and gastrointestinal complications. Other synthetic compounds cause impairments, heart problems, cancer and even death. The immediate effect of drinking adulterated milk with urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis but the long term effects are known to be far more serious.
The health answer is to shift to soya milk, During festive season, especially Diwali as non adulterated milk is often used to prepare sweets it is impossible to get pure milk to drink. Atleast during these days it is safe to shift to soya milk.
Some facts about soya milk
1, Soy milk (also called soya milk, soymilk, soybean milk, or soy bean juice and sometimes referred to as soy drink/beverage) is a beverage made from soybeans.
2.  It is produced by soaking dry soybeans and grinding them with water.
3. Soy milk contains about the same proportion of protein as cow’s milk: around 3.5%; also 2% fat, 2.9% carbohydrate, and 0.5% ash.
4. Soy milk can be made at home.
4. The coagulated protein from soy milk can be made into tofu, just as dairy milk can be made into cheese.
5. The AmericanAcademyofPediatricsconsiders soy milk a suitable alternative for children who cannot tolerate human or cow’s milk, or whose parents opt for a vegan diet.
6. It is associated with a reduction in low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) and triglycerides.
7. It is good for women undergoing menopause.
8. Soy affects bone mineral density.
9. Gout sufferers limit consumption of soy products.
10. It is good for the health of the thyroid gland.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Dealing with Stress

Dealing with Stress


Stress may be broadly defined as comprising of 3 components, namely a “known situation, interpretation of a situation and the physical and mental reaction to that interpretation of the situation”.
Stress is a situation: There cannot be a stress without a situation. One cannot be stressed about some event occurring in USA without knowing the person or the situation. The situation requires familiarity with the particular sensory object (knowm situation).
Stress is an interpretation of a situation: Without interpretation, stress is not possible. The same situation can be interpreted differently by different people. A stimulus may be stressful to one but not to another.
Stress is a physical and mental response to the interpretation of the situation: Stress manifests because of a chemical imbalance resulting due to sympathetic over-activity, which manifests as mental and or physical symptoms.
Stress, therefore, is the body’s physical and mental response to the interpretation of a situation. Management of stress, therefore, involves either changing the situation, changing the interpretation of the situation or making the body resistant to physical and mental changes in the situation.
Practising Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga via living a yogic lifestyle, adhering to the various Dos and Dont’s in life as taught in various religious teachings, and learning to meditate helps our body to resist these sympathetic-activating changes and handle the stressful situation.These involve proper diet, exercise, meditation and relaxation exercises.
Changing the interpretation of a situation involves counseling. Cognitive behaviour therapy used in counseling is one such example. Change in interpretation requires deeper understanding of the problem and removal of the obstacles. This can be done by using Ganesha’s principles of stress management, Rosenburg’s Principle of Non-Violent Communication, or the principles of counseling from Bhagwad Gita.
Change of the situation is the final resort for solving the problem, even though this may not be always possible. For example, in a dispute between husband and wife, divorce should be the last choice, after all counseling efforts have failed to resolve the issue.

Seven Behaviors Cut Heart Deaths

Seven Behaviors Cut Heart Deaths


Seven heart-healthy behaviors can reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease,.
The forthcoming MTNL Perfect Health Mela being held in November will focus on prevention of heart attack and paralysis.
In a prospective study, by Enrique Artero, PhD, of the University of South Carolina, and colleagues and published in the October issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, those who met 3-4 of the American Heart Association’s ‘Simple Seven’ heart-health criteria had a 55% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality than those who met no more than two of those practices over 11 years.
Four core behaviors
  1. No smoking
  2. Normal body mass index
  3.  Engaging in physical activity
  4. Eating healthfully
Three parameters
  1. Cholesterol lower than 200 mg/dL
  2. Blood pressure lower than 120/80 mm Hg
  3. Not having diabetes

MTNL Perfect Health Mela To Focus On Revival After Sudden Death

MTNL Perfect Health Mela To Focus On Revival After Sudden Death

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Promoting Peaceful Death

Promoting Peaceful Death


Having a peaceful death is a common wish. Many cultures and religious beliefs offer practical ways to enhance having a peaceful death.
Dying in an intensive care unit is unnatural and oftentimes painful for the patient and their loved ones.
ICU nurses can promote peaceful death through a three-dimensional process
1.    awareness of dying
2.    Creating a caring environment
3.    Promoting end-of-life care.
(Source: Int Nurs Rev. 2009 Mar;56(1):116-22.)

FDA Adds 8 Drugs to Watch List

FDA Adds 8 Drugs to Watch List


The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added 8 drugs to its list of products to monitor because of possible signs of serious risks or new safety information. The agency spotted yellow flags for the 8 drugs in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database during April, May, and June 2012.
The agency will study the drug to determine whether there is truly a causal link. The FDA is also not suggesting that clinicians should stop prescribing watch-list drugs, or that patients should stop taking them, according to an agency press release.
Potential signals of serious risks/new safety information identified by FAERS, April to June 2012
Product Name: Active Ingredient (Trade) or Product ClassPotential Signal of a Serious Risk/New Safety InformationAdditional Information (as of August 1, 2012)*
Cetirizine HCl (Zyrtec, McNeil)Oculogyric crisis 
Codeine sulfateRespiratory depression or arrest resulting in death in children taking codeine who are CYP2D6 ultra-rapid metabolizersFDA Drug Safety Communication (http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm313631.htm)
Docetaxel (Taxotere, Sanofi-Aventis)Drug interaction with dronedarone HCl resulting in deathFDA decided that no action is necessary at this time based on available information.
Fluoroquinolone productsRetinal detachment 
Levetiracetam (Keppra, UCB)Potential for drug abuse, misuse, or dependence 
Mefloquine HCl (Lariam, Roche)Vestibular disorder 
Olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar, Daiichi Sankyo)Malabsorption resulting in severe diarrhea and weight lossFDA is continuing to evaluate this issue to determine if the current labeling, which contains information about diarrhea, is adequate.
Proton pump inhibitorsPneumonia 

Friday, October 26, 2012

MTNL Perfect Health Mela To Focus On Revival After Sudden Death


 The forthcoming 19th MTNL Perfect Health Mela being organized by Heart Care Foundation of India jointly with Health Department, Government of NCT Delhi will focus on revival of a person after clinical death.
  

Over 10,000 persons will be trained in Compression Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation technique. Various Mela related activities will be held from 1st to 11th November, 2012 and the main Mela will be held from 7th to 11th November, 2012 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi

Addressing a press conference, Hon'ble Dr. A.K. Walia, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of NCT Delhi, said that one percent of the population of Delhi should be trained in Compression-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as the incidence of heart disease and diabetes is maximum in India in the world. Sudden death is common in both conditions.

Sudden death can only revived in the first 10 minutes and the revival technique can be attempted by bystanders.

More than 25 lakhs people die of sudden death in the country in a year and 80% of them can be revived if bystanders try to resuscitate them timely with compression only CPR.  

CO-CPR is not for done for a heart attack. The first aid for a heart attack is to chew a tablet of 300 mg water-soluble aspirin at the onset of chest pain.

Formula of 10 for preventing sudden deaths

Co-addressing the press conference, Padma Shri & Dr. BC Roy National Awardee, Dr. K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India said that the CO-CPR Mantra is “Within 10 minutes of death of a person for the next 10 minutes, one should compress the centre of the chest of the victim with a speed of 10x10 = 100 per minute.” In absence of electric shock machine, two thumps should be given with the fist in the centre of the chest before starting CO-CPR.

To be covered in LIMCA BOOK OF RECORDS

The Mela will be launched with a CO-CPR camp at Birla Vidya Niketan where 1000 school teachers and students will be trained on 200 dummies. The event will find its place in Limca Book of Records.

Focus on all systems of medicine

One of the attractions of this year’s Mela will be workshops on Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Veterinary Medicine with focus on Zoonotic diseases and Yoga, Pranayama cum Meditation. A special seminar will also be organized in collaboration with AIR with specialists from all pathies under one roof. A special conference will also be organised with Ministry of Earth Sciences on Women Health & Climate Change.

Programs on health
Dilli Aajtak will air five special lifestyle programs every day in the evening with eminent faculties. The topics will be life style, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.


Artificial intelligence
For the first time, there will also be a conference on physics of consciousness and artificial
intelligence. Scholars from physics and other fields will participate.

Nursing home problems
Delhi Medical Association will also organize a workshop on nursing home problems. The event will be coordinated by Dr Harish Gupta President DMA.

Exhibition on food adulteration
The Mela will also have practical workshops on food adulteration, its identification and prevention. It will also focus on permissible and non permissible food additives.

Exhibition on science behind miracles
Dept. of Science & Technology will also be placing special exhibitions on science behind miracles.

Over 500 children, 2000 nurses and 1000 college students to take part
Interschool competitions will be coordinated by Birla Vidya Niketan and Ryan Global School. Over 5000 school children will participate in various health and environment competitions. Over 2000 nurses and 1000 medical doctors and young students will be participating in various health related competitions.

Seminar on ‘All Pathy Consensus’
A seminar on ‘All Pathy Consensus’ on obesity and on spiritual gurus white paper on prayer and health will also be held. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan will coordinate the spiritual gurus’ workshop.

Poonam Jhawar for awareness on road traffic accidents
Cine actress Ms Poonam Jhawar from the movie (OMG - Oh My God)..who plays the character of. Gopi Maiyya, star attraction of the press meet, said that stars live a stressful life and should learn to relax and do pranayama and meditation.  She said that a special exhibition that will be organised at the Mela on road safety will be dedicated to Mr. Jaspal Bhatti. A special booklet will also be released by the Dept. of Transport, Govt. of Delhi.

Mela, a bhagidari project for people from sectors of the society
Mr. Rajesh Kumar from LIC, Mr K J Kumar(DGM) from Indian Oil Limited, Ms Renu from Prohibition Department, Delhi Govt. , Dr N K Yadav from MCD South, Dr P K Sharma of NDMC, Mr Deepak Chanduka (GM MTNL- Corporate Office)  and Mr A K Srivastav (GM Mktg-MTNL Delhi), Dr ABP
Mishra (DST) also addressed the press.

Teleconsults by MTNL
MTNL will focus on telemedicine and teleconsultations. Both MCD and NDMC will have special focus on dengue menace in the city. The awareness will focus on how to prevent deaths from dengue.


White paper on preventing deaths from dengue
The Mela will also come out with a white paper on dengue and suggestion to the government for prize control policies when facing any epidemic situation and the right treatment guidelines. It has been seen that non serious patients often occupy the beds and the serious patients end up in getting no beds. The policy should define clinical situations where beds should not be denied in dengue.

Cultivating Positive Thoughts

Cultivating Positive Thoughts


Darkness present in a room cannot be removed physically. It can only be removed by switching on the light. Darkness therefore can be defined as absence of light.
In the same way negative thoughts can be defined as absence of positive thoughts. It is very difficult to remove negative thoughts but it is very easy to cultivate positive thoughts. Persistent negative thoughts creates sympathetic over activity and leads to lifestyle disorders like blood pressure, acidity, depression, diabetes and heart blockages.
Many Vedic scriptures have talked about modalities of living a positive life and cultivating positive thoughts.  The ritual Navratra observed twice in a year involves three phases of three days each, the first phase where one tries not to do negative things willfully (worshipping the Kali), the second phase of three days where one willfully performs positive activities (worshipping the Laxmi) and finally the last three days where one reads about positive lifestyle (worshipping the Saraswati).
 Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in one of the sutras talks about removal of negativity by cultivating opposite thoughts. For example the thoughts of theft can be removed by bringing the thoughts of charity in mind. Patanjali wrote (2.32, 2.33) “that to counteract destructive attitudes one should cultivate thoughts of the opposite kind. These destructive attitudes, as for example thoughts of violence, whether they are done, caused to be done, or merely approved of; whether motivated by greed, anger, or preceded by ignorance; and whether mild, moderate, or extreme will result in infinite suffering and ignorance. Therefore one should cultivate thoughts of the opposite kind”.
 Lord Buddha in his teachings has given another formula by which one does not have to cultivate opposite thought to cultivate any positive thought. Buddha said that hatred couldn’t be removed by hatred; it can only be removed by bringing the love back. It is a fact that one cannot hate an unknown individual. One can hate only a person to whom he or she loved once. Generalized positive behaviour involves promoting smile, appreciating and passing on compliments to others.
 Adi Shankaracharya in his teachings propagated the third way of negating the negative thoughts. He said that every thought has multiple perspectives and one should think differently for every situation. Giving an example he said that if one happens to face a situation of a young beautiful girl with bare chest, instead of feeling shy or closing the eyes one can look at those breasts and think in the mind that these are very breasts from where I drank milk in my childhood. The feeling of physical desire will immediately change to the feeling of motherhood.
 Cultivation of positive thoughts, opposite thoughts or changing the perception of the thoughts, can be all in the mind, may remain silent or end up with an action. Even giving a silent blessing to some one without his or her knowledge is considered as a positive thought.
 Satwik thoughts comes from satwik mind and satwik mind in turn comes from satwik food. The best way to remember a satwik food is that whatever is offered to God is satwik in nature. The food is fresh, seasonal, locally grown, with cooking done on Ayurvedic principles, usually naturally white and in most instances contained in the top part of the tree or the plant.
 The frame and state of mind also has to do with death and the rebirth. Both Buddha and Bhagwad Gita (chapter  describes it in great details. The state of mind at the time of death, determines the rebirth. If the mind is calm and peaceful and imbued with positive thoughts at the time of death, this will augur well for a happy rebirth. However, if the mind is in a state of anger or has strong desire or is fearful etc, this will predispose to an unhappy or lower type of rebirth.
The mind that arises at the time of death is usually the one that the person is most habituated to. People tend to die in character. So Buddha wrote that the time to prepare for death is “now”, because if we gain control over our mind now and create positive aura we will have a calm and controlled mind at the time of death and be free of fear.

Driving Fitness Awareness For Commercial Drivers In The Forthcoming Perfect Health Mela

Driving Fitness Awareness For Commercial Drivers In The Forthcoming Perfect Health Mela


When appointing a driver, look for his medical fitness. Commercial vehicle driver should be completely medically fit as he they risk multiple lives while driving.
Patients suffering from diabetes on insulin should not be allowed to drive commercial vehicle. People who snore in the night should have a medical fitness before they can become commercial drivers.
People who snore and have more than five episodes of stopped breathing per hour of sleep are four times more likely to get road accident. People with 15 or more episodes of stopped breathing per hour of sleep are seven times more likely to get road accidents. People with uncontrolled blood pressure, preexisting heart diseases, visions disturbances and dementia should not drive commercial vehicles.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

On 8th Navratri Enjoy A Purified Mind

On 8th Navratri Enjoy A Purified Mind

Maha Gauri is worshipped on the Eight Day of Navratri. SHE looks as white as moon and jasmine. White means purity of mind. She has three Eyes and four hands. SHE is dressed in a white sari.

SHE holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull (control over the desires). Her above left hand is in fearless pose and she holds ‘Trishul’ in her lower left hand. Her above right hand has tambourine and lower right hand is in blessing Mudra.

Spiritual mantra on the 8th Navratri

By the 8th day of spiritual; detoxification once gets purity of mind.

Multivitamins May Lower Cancer Risk in Men

Multivitamins May Lower Cancer Risk in Men


After about 11 years, the daily multivitamin use resulted in an 8% reduction in total cancer incidence in men according to the results of a very large randomized trial by John Michael Gaziano, MD, MPH from Harvard at the Annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting and also published in JAMA. Cancer mortality also went in 12% reduction.
Previous studies have reported conflicting results. As reported by Medscape Medical News, two studies evaluating the association of multivitamins and breast cancer found opposite results — one study found an increased risk while the other found that multivitamins decreased the risk. Another study reported more neutral results, in that multivitamin use had no influence on the risk for common cancers, cardiovascular disease, or overall mortality.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

On 7th Navratri Enjoy A Mind Devoid Of Inner Darkness

On 7th Navratri Enjoy A Mind Devoid Of Inner Darkness


Kalaratri is worshipped on the Seventh Day of Navratri. She is dark and black like night. Her hairs are unlocked. SHE has three eyes and four hands.
She holds a sharp Sword in her right hand and blesses her devotees with her lower hand. HER vahana is a donkey, destroyer of darkness and ignorance (or shava). She spills out fire from her nostrils. She has put on necklaces shining like lightening. In Yoga Shastra she represents the Sasahara Chakra
Spiritual mantra on the 7th Navratri
By the time chanting of Bija mantras LAM, VAM, RAM, YAM, HAM and AUM is over the inner darkness goes over.

SSRIs Linked to Stroke

SSRIs Linked to Stroke

Use of SSRI conferred a small, but statistically significant risk of brain hemorrhage, according to an analysis of multiple epidemiologic studies. SSRI users had a 40% to 50% increase in the relative risk of intracranial and intracerebral hemorrhage compared with people who had never taken one of the drugs, according to Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, and Marko Mrkobrada, MD, of the University of Western Ontario in Hamilton.

Monday, October 22, 2012

On 6th Navratri chant AUM

On 6th Navratri chant AUM


Mata Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri. SHE has three eyes and four hands and rides on a Lion.
The top right hand is positioned in a gesture of providing courage and the other hand is positioned in a gesture of rendering a boon. The top left hand is holding a sword and the other holding a lotus.
In Yoga Shastra she represents the Ajna Chakra and AUM bija mantra.   AUM chanting helps attaining success in religion, wealth, passion and salvation and removing fear and sorrows.
Spiritual mantra on the 6th Navratri
AUM chanting is one of the most powerful chakra and should be done concentrating on the Ajna chakra.

Statins and Diabetes Risk

Statins and Diabetes Risk
Use of statins was associated with a slight increase in fasting glucose levels in patients at increased risk of type 2 diabetes in a new observational study published September 13, 2012, in BMJ by Dr Nina Rautio at Pirkanmaa Hospital, Tampere, Finland. The findings suggest statin use might have unfavorable effects on glucose metabolism and hamper beneficial effects of lifestyle in people at high risk of type 2 diabetes. Intensive Lifestyle Intervention therefore is the Key.

On 4th Navratri Be Happy In All Situations

On 4th Navratri Be Happy In All Situations

Kushmanda is worshipped on the fourth day of Navratri. SHE shines brightly with a laughing face.
 Out of eight hands (Ashtabhuja) in her four arms, she carries weapons like bow, arrow, discus and mace.
In other three hands, she holds a lotus, a beaded rosary and a Kamandalu. In remaining hand, she carries a jar of nectar.
SHE rides on Lion. Rosary represents her power to bless her devotees with Ashtasiddhi (eight types of studies or wisdom sources) and Navanidhi (nine types of wealth). In Ayurveda SHE represents the control over the air element.
In Yoga Shastra SHE represents the heart or Anhata Chakra with the Bija sound YAM.
Spiritual mantra on the 4th Navratri
One should continuously (beaded rosary) control the air (anahata plexus) within us by using our sharp intelligence (sword) and balancing the mind (Trishul) by focusing on one point (arrow and bow), practicing detached attachment (lotus), accepting things as they are (Kamandalu), keep smiling in both acceptable and difficult situations (smiling face) and killing the negative energies by using discus (power) when needed.

Who Should Not Donate Blood?

Who Should Not Donate Blood?


All cannot donate blood  Here is an updated list as to who cannot donate blood.
• People with coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, arrhythmia, significant cerebrovascular disease, or heart failure.
•  People with any active lung disease impairing gas exchange.
•  Persons who have undergone recent surgery in the absence of blood transfusion until healing is complete and full activity has been resumed.
•  Pregnant women are deferred during pregnancy and for six weeks after delivery.
•  Persons with seizure disorders are acceptable provided that they have had no seizures within the past 12 months with or without medications.
• The minimal age for donation is generally 16 to 18. Most blood centers do not impose an upper age limit for donor eligibility.
• Blood is not collected from persons who are febrile at the time of donation, who state that they do not feel well, or who are taking systemic antibiotics.
• A donor with a history of a solid organ tumor should be deferred and will be eligible to donate only if he/she has been symptom-free and considered to be clinically cured for a defined time period.
• Persons with a history of blood cancer are permanently deferred.
• Some drugs may pose a risk due to their demonstrated cancer producing potential at low plasma concentrations. One should not donate blood for one month after taking isotretinoin and finasteride, six months for dutasteride, three years for acitretin and permanent for etretinate.
•       Persons should not donate if they have taken bovine insulin (risk of variant CJD transmission) or human growth hormone derived from pituitary glands (risk of iatrogenic CJD).
•       Persons who have received Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) or an unlicensed vaccine are not allowed to donate for one year.
•       Most donors are also temporarily deferred if they are taking warfarin, heparin, or another anticoagulant.
•       Collections of platelets for pheresis should not occur from donors who ingested aspirin, aspirin-containing drugs, or feldene in the previous 48 hours or from donors who ingested clopidogrel or ticlopidine in the previous 14 days.
•       One should not donate blood if suffering from HIV, AIDS, for men having sex with men, IV drug users, commercial sex exchangers, receiving clotting factor concentrates for hemophilia or other clotting disorders.
•       One should not donate blood for one year if he/she has had sex in the past one year with a person who has HIV infection or AIDS; a prostitute; a person who currently or previously used intravenous drugs; for women: a man who has had sex with another man; a person receiving clotting factor concentrates.
•       Persons with a history of viral hepatitis after age 10 are permanently deferred.
•       Persons currently or previously testing positive for HBsAg are permanently deferred.
•       Persons with a history of close contact with someone who has viral hepatitis are deferred for 12 months following their last potential exposure.
•       Persons who have received a blood transfusion are deferred for 12 months.
•       Deferral is not required when the donor’s history is based solely on a positive serologic test result (i.e., anti-HBc or anti-HBs) that indicates past exposure to HBV.
•       Receiving a tattoo or body piercing within the last 12 months has also been included on the donor questionnaire, due to concerns about hepatitis transmission. Some blood centers will accept donors with body piercing, provided that the procedure was performed with sterile, single use equipment. Donors with tattoos or permanent makeup are deferred for 12 months after the exposure.
•  Donors with a history of malaria are deferred for three years after becoming asymptomatic.
•  Travelers to a malaria endemic area are deferred for one year (provided they have not had malarial symptoms).
•  Immigrants from or residents of malarial endemic countries, defined as living in that country for more than five years, are deferred for three years after their departure from the endemic country based upon the premise that such individuals may have partial tolerance to malarial parasites, thereby resulting in the delay of malarial symptoms beyond one year.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

MCD South to train its teachers on Health and Hygiene at Perfect Health Mela



MCD South in association with Heart Care Foundation of India will be organizing a training program for its teachers on 7th November, 2012, Wednesday, at Constitution Club of India, the venue for the 19th MTNL Perfect Health Mela being organized from 7th to 11th November, 2012.

Addressing a press conference here, Padmashri & Dr. BC Roy National Awardee, Dr. KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and Mr. Satish Upadhyay, Chairman Education Committee, MCD South said that a series of health educational activities are being organized for MCD school teachers.

In September this year in Dil Ka Darbar, 300 school teachers were trained in cardiac first aid and now in the forthcoming MTNL Perfect Health Mela, there will be a training of 300 school teachers on Health and Hygiene. These 300 teachers will be certified as trainers who in turn will train other school teachers and students. The training will be coordinated by Ryan Global School.

Hygiene is the most important part to be taught right at the primary school level. The components of hygiene include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, sleep hygiene, respiratory hygiene, food and water hygiene and sexual hygiene.

Hand washing done in proper way can prevent 80% of food and water borne diseases including diarrhea, typhoid and jaundice.

Respiratory hygiene involves correct way of coughing into the sleeves and not in the hands can prevent spread of rheumatic fever and flu. Water hygiene involves safe drinking water techniques. Unsafe water is responsible for most of the water borne diseases. Food hygiene involves following the principle of heat it, boil it, cook it, peal it or forget it.

 MCD South will also post its teachers and students in the mela on daily basis for acquiring knowledge about health. MCD Health Department will also be putting up dengue, malaria exhibitions and conduct health checkups.

 Following recommendations by heart care foundation of India were also released in the press conference:
 1.    All school children should be given deworming tablet albandazole once in three-six months.
2.    All school children should be given iron folic acid tablets once in a week.
3.    Hand wash technique involving six steps should be taught to every school child.
4.    Revival of heart technique learning should be compulsory for school teachers.
5.    Availability of safe water should be mandatory in school premises.
6.    Toilets in every school should be made hygienic.

The entry to the mela will be free. The mela will be a mix of exhibitions, checkups, competitions and infotainment.

Vandana Sharma Headmistress Ryan Global School said that the training program after the event will be hosted in YouTube.

Friday, October 19, 2012

On 3rd Navratri Control Your Fire And Negative Energies

On 3rd Navratri Control Your Fire And Negative Energies

Chadraghanta is worshipped on the third day of Navratri. SHE is shown with golden skin and riding a tiger. She is depicted with ten hands and 3 eyes with a crescent moon on the head.
Eight of HER hands display weapons. The rest two are in the mudras or gestures of boon giving and stopping harm (Varada and abhay mudra) indicating protection.
Out of eight hands five contains
1&2. Bow and arrow (to bend, focus, one point determination,  The bow and arrows also represent energy. Holding both the bow and arrows in one hand indicates control over both potential and kinetic energies)
  1. Trishul (balance)
  2. Sword (sharp intelligence)
  3. Cace (power to destroy the evil).
Rest three hands contains
  1. Rosary (tapas)
  2. Lotus (detached attachment)
  3. Kamandalu (acceptance).
In Ayurveda SHE represents the control over the fire element. In Yogashstra SHE represents the solar or Manipura Chakra with the Bija sound RAM.
Sound of her bell terrifies demons as well as all enemies. SHE represents protector and bravery.
Spiritual mantra on the 3rd Navratri
One should continuously (beaded rosary) control the fire (solar plexus) within by using our sharp intelligence (sword) and balancing the mind (Trishul) by focusing on one point (arrow and bow), practicing detached attachment (lotus), accepting things as they are (Kamandalu) and killing the negative energies by using gada (power) when needed.

B12 Deficiency Can Present With Recent Memory Loss

B12 Deficiency Can Present With Recent Memory Loss

If you are forgetting things instead of worrying that you are going towards dementia get your vitamin B 12 levels done.
Animal products (meat and dairy products) provide the only dietary source of B12 (Cbl) for humans. Strict vegans avoid all animal products, and are at risk of developing nutritional Cbl deficiency. The usual western diet contains 5 to 7 micrograms of cobalamin per day, while the minimum daily requirement is 6 to 9 micrograms per day. Total body stores of Cbl are 2 to 5 milligrams and one-half of which is in the liver. It takes years to develop vitamin B12 deficiency after absorption of dietary B12 ceases.
There is a link between infection with Helicobacter pylori (as seen in peptic ulcer) and low serum B12 levels.  Mild and usually subclinical cobalamin deficiency can also occur in 24% of the elderly.  10 to 30 percent of patients taking metforminj (diabetics, obesity, polycystic ovarian disease) have impaired Cbl absorption and lower B12 levels, which can be reversed with supplemental oral calcium.  Prolonged use of omeprazole (given for acidity) can result in Cbl deficiency. Women who are only moderate vegetarians may become Cbl deficient during pregnancy and lactation; their infants may also be Cbl deficient.

On 2nd Navratri Let Go Your Impure Thoughts

On 2nd Navratri Let Go Your Impure Thoughts

Brahmacharini (Uma or Tapacharini) is worshipped on 2nd day of Navratri as the goddess who performed ‘Tapa’ (penance or continuous efforts) (Brahma – Tapa, Charini – Performer).
SHE personifies love and loyalty and provides knowledge and wisdom. Those who worship her, attain, Tap (Religious Austerity), Tyagi (Sacrifice), and Vairagya (Asceticism).
She is shown to hold Japa mala (rosary beads) in her right hand and Kamandal in left hand.
This form of Shakti as per Yoga Shastras is present in second gonad chakra (in Allopathy gonad plexus) called Svadhisthana Chakra.  The bija sound for the chakras is VAM which removes attachments. In Ayurveda the 2nd Chakra represents the water element.
In mythology ‘white’ represents purity of mind; beaded rosary or japa mala represents continuous efforts (meditation and concentration) and Kamandal represents acceptance and water in it represents pure thoughts.
Kamandalu also means living an egoless state of mind. Kamandalu is a water pot made from a dry pumpkin contains nectar and is shown on the ground next to Shiva. The process of making Kamandalu has deep spiritual significance. A ripe pumpkin is plucked from a plant, its fruit is removed and the shell is cleaned for containing the nectar. In the same way, an individual must break away from attachment to the physical world and clean his inner self of egoistic desires in order to experience the bliss of the Self, symbolized by the nectar in the Kamandalu.
Spiritual mantra on the 2nd Navratri
“ Purify the mind (white cloths) with continuous efforts (japa mala) by accepting the things and situations as they are (kamalandu) and building humility in the mind (egoless state)”

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

MTNL Perfect Health Mela to focus on revival after sudden death




Every family member of a heart patient should learn the revival technique as it is possible to revive a person after sudden cardiac death provided compression only CPR is done within 10 minutes of the heart stopping. The formula of 10 means “within 10 minutes of death for the next 10 minutes compress the centre of the chest with a speed of 10x10=100 per minute”.

Addressing a press conference in Ghaziabad, Padma Shri & Dr. B.C. Roy National Awardee, Dr. KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India and Dr. B.P. Tyagi, Convener, Heart Care Foundation of India said that in the forthcoming Perfect Health Mela being organized from 1st to 11th November, 2012, the Foundation will train 10000 people in Compression Only CPR. And, 300 special dummies have been procured for practical training of these people.

Demonstrating the technique on a dummy, Dr. KK Aggarwal said that it is not always possible to reach the medical facility within 10 minutes of death.
The main Mela to be held at the Constitution Club of India will have competitions, exhibitions, workshops and seminars under one roof. Health education will be imparted through competitions and entertainment. Events like choreography, western dance and fashion shows will be utilized to communicate the health sutras to the general public.

Few health sutras released on the occasion were:
  1. Foods of plant in origin contain no cholesterol.
  2. Keep your lower blood pressure, fasting sugar, resting heart rate, bad cholesterol and abdominal circumference all lower than 80.
  3. One should walk 80 minutes a day, brisk walk 80 minutes a week with a speed of more than 80 steps in a minute.
  4. One should eat less than 80 gm or 80 ml of caloric food at a time and omit carbohydrates 80 days in a year.
  5. One should not take alcohol more than 80 ml in a day and 80gm in a week.
  6. One should do 80 cycles of pranayama in a day with a speed of 4 per minutes.
Entry to the Mela will be free.

On 1st Navratri Let Go Your Desires

On 1st Navratri Let Go Your Desires


Navratri is the detoxification of body, mind and soul. Body detoxification involves Navratri diet containing
  1. Eating less.
  2. No cereals. You can take wheat grass juice.
  3. Eating once if possible.
  4. Satvic lifestyle.
In Navratri diet
  1. Flour is replaced with Kuttu or Singhara flour.
  2. Pulses are replaced with amaranth or Rajgiri.
  3. Rice with Samak rice.
Mental and soul detoxification involves practicing Yoga Sadhna as described in nine forms of Durga.
As per mythology
Mata Shailputri is daughter of mountain king – Himalaya. She is the first among nine avatars of Durga and worshiped on the First day of Navratri. In Yogashstra she represents the lowest Muladhara chakra. The bija sound to chant is LAM in the sacral root area. In Allopathy she represents activation of sacral autonomic plexus.
The Goddess has a half moon in her forehead & holding a trident (trishul) in her right hand & lotus flower in her left hand.  She rides on Nandi a bull.
Shailputri represents the shakti or power of the root chakra, who, upon awakening, begins Her journey upwards in search for the last crown chakra (Shiva).
Bull in mythology represents ‘desires’. On the first day we must let go our desires. Trishul represents balancing Tamas, Rajas and Satwa. Lotus represents practicing detached attachment. We are required to donate all Rajsic and Tamsic foods and items so that we are not attracted during Navratre. Moon represents thinking with a cool mind.
In Navratri pooja on the first day Yogi keep their mind concentrated on Muladhara chakra as the starting point of spiritual discipline or Yoga Sadhna.
What to do on first day
1. Let go your desires
2. Keep the mind cool
3. Practice detached attachment
4. Balance Tamas and Rajas guna with Satwa or to stay in balance.
5. Concentrate on Muladhara chakra (sacral root)
 6. Chant LAM reducing the respiratory rate to 2-4 per minute.
 7. In Ayurveda Muladhara chakra represents the earth element (attachments).
Mantra
On the first day control (riding), your desires (bull) by balancing (Trishul) the mind with cool thoughts (moon) and practicing detachment (lotus). This can be assisted by chanting LAM focusing on sacral chakra.”

Sports Drinks Linked To Obesity

Sports Drinks Linked To Obesity

As per a Harvard study presented at the Obesity Society’s 30th Annual Scientific Meeting, both sugary-beverage and sports drinks are linked to obesity.
  • Nurses’ Health Study II study results have shown that at the end of each 2-year interval of the study, the teens had gained almost 2 pounds for each can of soda they drank every day. If they drank 2 sodas a day, they gained 4 pounds over each 2-year interval.
  • The teens gained an average of 3.5 pounds for every sports drink consumed per day.
  • Sports drinks are sold as being part of a healthy lifestyle, of being active. Unfortunately, kids don’t get 2 hours of exercise a day.
  • Sports drinks are labeled as having 50 calories per serving, but each bottle contains multiple servings, so the calories add up: 130 calories per 20-ounce bottle and 200 calories per 32-ounce bottle. By contrast, sodas are most commonly sold in 12-ounce individual cans or bottles containing 120 calories.
  • Kids often drink the entire sports drink container at one time, so they consume all the servings in that single container.
  • The label says, ‘amount per serving, 50 calories,’ but it’s not clearly labeled that a quart bottle contains 4 servings.
  • Schools are substituting sports drinks for sodas.

Navratri To Diwali A One Month Period Of Spiritual Yagna

Navratri To Diwali A One Month Period Of Spiritual Yagna


One day someone asked me why Muslims and Hindus fight with each other when they worship each other’s GODS. Hindu worship ALI in DIWALI and Muslims worship RAMA in RAMAZAN. Diwali and Ramadan both have one thing in common and that is one month of spiritual Yagna.
In Hindu spiritual Yagna, the process starts from first day of Navratri on Amavasya and ends up on Diwali, again on Amavasya. The first 10 days involve intense spiritual practice and the rest 20 days entails receiving its benefits.
The first nine days, called Navratri are devoted to a process of purification and detoxification of mind, body and soul. During this period a person is required to lead a Satwik spiritual life devoting first three days into activities, which reduces negativity in the mind and the body; the next three days he is supposed to indulge in positive behavior and happenings and in the last three days he is supposed to read and learn about spiritual positive things in life.
Respectively, these three phases of purification are symbolized as worshiping the Goddesses, Kali, Laxmi and Saraswati. The spiritual purification process involves eating only Satwik food, one which is offered to God, and following the principles of Satwik lifestyle which are Satwik Ahaar, Satwik Vichar, Satwik Vyavahaar and Satwik Achaar. There is a custom of worshiping wheat and barley grass during this period. They are detoxifying grasses when consumed in the form of juices. The Satwik fast observed during this period helps in cleansing the internal body.
Once the nine days purification process is complete, on 10th day one gets the first benefits symbolized with Vijaydashmi as one conquers on that days a victory over Tamas (Kumbhakaran), Rajas (Meghnad) and Ego (Ravana). The victory over the Ego entails the ruling of Satwa (Vibshishan) and reunion of Mind (Lakshamana), Body (Sita) and Soul (Rama).
As per the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali when one attains an ego free mind one is likely to get benefits over a period of time.
The first benefit is seen on the fourth day after Vijaydashmi, on Sharad Purnima, a day known for health benefits. People on this day gather in the night and eat kheer rich in moon rays.
Again after four days on the day of karvachauth one gets benefit of the longevity of the spouse which gives safety to the family. On this day all married women fast and prey for their husbands.
Four days later on “hoi ashtami” one prays for the longevity of their children. This ensures old age protection for the family.
Four days later again on “dhanteras” one gets the benefit of wealth. On this days people worships silver items. On this day no dealings are done and people spend only to invest of silver and gold items for future needs of the family.
By this time the person, who has indulged in the process of purification, learns the true purpose of his or her existence. The inner ignorance and darkness goes away and one gets the true meaning of wealth and that is inner happiness. The day it happens it is called Diwali where on the day of Amavasya (darkness) one gets internal lighting (Diwali).
Diwali, therefore, is a one-month long spiritual Yagna with nine days of purification and 21 days of acquiring spiritual benefits out of it.
Ramadan similarly involves a deep intense purification process of mind, body and soul. In Christians the similar spiritual purification process is celebrated as Easter.

Rules For Preventing Heart Attack Deaths

Rules For Preventing Heart Attack Deaths

Heart attack deaths can be prevented.
1.      Rule of 30 seconds: Chest pain, burning, discomfort, heaviness in the center of the chest lasting for over 30 seconds and not localized to a point unless proved otherwise is a heat pain.
2.       Rule of pinpointing finger: Any chest pain which can be pinpointed by a finger is not a heart pain.
3.      Rule of 40: First-onset acidity or first-onset asthma after the age of 40, rule out heart attack or heart asthma first
4.      Rule of 300:  Chew a tablet of water-soluble 300 mg aspirin and take 300 mg clopidogrel tablet at the onset of cardiac chest pain. You will not die.
5.      Rule of 10:   Within 10 minute of death for the next 10 minutes do effective chest compression with a speed of (10 x10) 100 per minute. Most people can be saved.
6.      Rule of 180: Reach hospital within 180 minutes in heart attack to receive clot dissolving angioplasty or clot dissolving drugs.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Why Puffed Rice And Not Rice Are Offered To Lord Ganesha

Why Puffed Rice And Not Rice Are Offered To Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha is shown with big tummy and craving for eating sweets (ladoo or modakas) and puffed rice.
Both sweets and rice are addicting in nature and consuming them regularly can lead to metabolic syndrome which presents with diabetes and high blood pressure. In Hindu mythology for this reason it is said to avoid eating carbohydrates atleast once in a week.
Ganesha is in each one of us depicting our inherent weakness for eating carbohydrates.  To prevent metabolic syndrome Ganesha is shown to consume Bilva leaves, Durva grass juice, fruits of elephant apple and Jamun, all having anti diabetic and insulin sensitizing properties.
Ganesha is also shown to be eating puffed rice and not plain rice. Puffed rice is a safer carbohydrate than plain rice.
The importance of puffed rice is mentioned in many places in mythology. The main mention comes in Kubera Ganesha interaction in one of the Purana (Vedic message in the form of stories) story.
Kubera (the god of wealth) became proud of his wealth and invited child Ganesha for a meal. Ganesha increased his appetite so much that there was nothing else to eat. When Kubera made Shiva to intervene, Shiva gave Ganesha a handful of puffed rice, which he ate, and immediately his hunger was suppressed.
This teaches us two Vedic lessons. Firstly that handful of puffed rice given with love and eaten with devotion is more important and filling than all the wealth of Kubera flaunted to impress others.
Secondly that a man of perfection (Ganesha) has an endless appetite for experiences. Lord Shiva, the perfect Guru, alone can satisfy the hunger of such devotee by giving them a handful of “puffed rice”, representing the “baked vasanas”, burnt in the fire of knowledge’. Only when the lust is burnt up the enthusiasm for experiencing life is quietened.
The spiritual message is that one should learn to control the lust and burn it in the fire of knowledge.
In mythology the symbolic representation of rice is for lust (attachments, desires and greed) and puffed rice for baked lust.   Rice is equated to lust being a carbohydrate with high glycemic index and proneness to obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Apart from carbohydrates lust can also be for sex, cigarettes, alcohol and narcotics. The answer for any lust is either to discard the lust or to think before getting indulging in it.
Medically also puffed rice is better than plain rice. Puffed rice or murmura is to rice what popcorn is to maze. Puffed rice however lacks the essential amino acid lysine and therefore is not a complete meal by itself. It is about 10 times the volume of regular rice. A cup of plain puffed rice contains only 20-25 calories. Puffed rice is recommended healthy snack and healthy fast food for preventing diabetes. It is light, dry and gives a feeling of fullness. It is also gluten-free.
In mythology puffed rice has been mentioned at many other places also.
1.When Sudama went to meet Krishna he carried puffed rice as a gift which Krishna relished. Puffed rice indicates a healthy gift and that only a person who has controlled his lust can meet Krishna the consciousness.
2.Ramakrishna has been mentioned having his first spiritual ecstasy at the age of six or seven while eating puffed rice. Spiritually again it means that only those can achieve spiritual ecstasy who have mastered lust.
3.In marriage rituals also both bride and groom are required to offer puffed rice into the fire. The spiritual message is again that both groom and bride need to leave their lust before they enter into a new relationship. This is again shown in another marriage ritual Laaja Homam where the bride with the assistance of her brothers makes offerings of puffed rice into the sacred fire.
4.In Buddhist mythology puffed rice also depicts the end “one who cannot be reborn” and puffed rice is used at funerals. Puffed rice represents rice that cannot be grown again.