Positive affirmations and optimism in life prolongs life by 15%

I am the best, MY IMA is the best, My CMAAO is the best, My WMA is the best

Positive affirmations and optimism in life prolongs life by 15%

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO and HCFI

Researchers from Harvard, Boston University and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System have shown a link between optimism and longer life expectancy i.e living 10 to 15 percent longer and 50 to 70 percent chance of reaching age 85.

Optimists look for and find opportunities in negative situations. Optimism can be learned and practiced.

During this X Mas to New Year’s period take time out to review the CMAAO 2019 year, celebrate your successes, and look forward to a positive and productive new CMAAO 2020 year.

1.            Give yourself credit. Think about accomplishments in 2019 of which you are proud. Have you completed a project that was difficult? Take 15 minutes and write out these accomplishments.

2.            Practice positive self-talk. If you find yourself regularly using negative self-talk, write down some of the common phrases you use and change them into positive statements.

3.            See mistakes as opportunities. Thomas Edison said “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

4.            Seek solutions to difficulties. When faced with a challenging situation, ask yourself, “What can I do?” or “How can I solve this problem?” Brainstorming potential solutions or asking friends for ideas is the first step in seeking solutions to challenges.

5.            Accentuate the positive. Write positive happenings. Underline the good things that have happened, as well as things you’ve enjoyed and concentrate on them. Consider how they came about and what you can do to keep them coming.

6.            Eliminate the negative. Turn on your favorite music, reread a novel you love, or get in touch with a good friend.

7.            Act locally: instead of discussing global or national affairs do something that can make a small positive change

8.            Take good care of your body, eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep.

9.            Learn mindfulness. Practice focusing your attention on the present moment.

10.         Positive affirmations that I am the best.

Remember people with a positive outlook on life are less likely to experience serious heart-related problems, according to a review published Sept. 27 by JAMA Network Open 2019. Researchers found that optimism was associated with a 35% lower risk of angina, heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes.  [ Harvard News Letter]

From "Formula of 80" to "Section 80". Invest wisely for a healthy future

India is the midst of an epidemic of lifestyle diseases or noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, the genesis of which lies in an unhealthy lifestyle.

All the major lifestyle disorders or NCDs share common lifestyle-related risk factors like physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco and excess alcohol intake, which are modifiable. Hence, patients should be advised a common lifestyle that will prevent all lifestyle disorders and not just one.

I have devised a ‘Formula of 80’, which I teach all my patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I have chosen the number 80 as common to all risk factors - as most recommendations are to keep the values below 90 - so that it is easy for patients to remember.

Here is my Formula of 80 to live up to the age of 80.

·         Keep lower BP, LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, resting heart rate, fasting sugar and abdominal girth levels all less than 80.

·         Walk 80 minutes a day, brisk walk 80 min a week with a speed of 80 steps (at least) per minute 

·         Eat less and not more than 80 gm or ml of caloric food each meal. 

·         Observe cereal fast 80 days in a year.

·         Do not smoke or be ready to shell out Rs. 80,000/- for treatment.

·         Do not drink alcohol; if you do, do not consume more than 80 ml per day for men (50% for women) or 80 grams per week. Ten grams of alcohol is present in 30 ml or 1 oz of 80 proof liquor.

·         If you are a heart patient, consider 80 mg aspirin and 80 mg atorvastatin a day.

·         Keep kidney and lung functions more than 80%.

·         Avoid exposure to PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels < 90 mcg/m³.

·         Avoid exposure to >80 dB of noise.

·         Take vitamin D through sunlight 80 days in a year.

·         Do 80 cycles of pranayama (parasympathetic breathing) in a day with a speed of 4 per minute.

·         Spend 80 minutes with yourself every day (relaxation, meditation, helping others etc.).

Health has been defined by the WHO as “not just the absence of disease, but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”. 

This means that “the social contexts of health and disease” including socioeconomic status also influence our health.

Stress is one such factor that has an adverse impact on health and well-being. Excessive stress can interfere with your productivity and performance, impact your physical and emotional health and also affect relationships and domestic life.

Financial insecurity can be stressful for the body and the mind.

It physically hurts to be economically insecure, concluded a study published in April 2016 in the journal Psychological Science (Psychol Sci. 2016 Apr;27(4):443-54). Those who reported extremely stressful money or work-related events were at greater risk of metabolic syndrome (Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb;33(2):378-84)

Yet another study published in August 2013 in the journal Social Science & Medicine observed that “high financial debt relative to available assets is associated with higher perceived stress and depression, worse self-reported general health, and higher diastolic blood pressure” (Soc Sci Med. 2013 Aug; 91: 94–100).

People often try to cope with stress by adopting unhealthy behaviors such as overeating or eating unhealthy food, substance or alcohol abuse, tobacco use, social withdrawal; they skip exercise. All these behaviours are linked to lifestyle diseases. Hence, stress is recognized as a risk factor for NCDs.

But, this is not the right way to deal with stress.

Management of stress involves either removing the known situation or changing one’s interpretation or preparing the body in such a way that the stress does not affect mind and the body. Our needs and wants are not synonymous; it’s important to understand the difference between the two.

Section 80 of the Income Tax Act is most commonly used to save income tax legally. By choosing to invest in certain tax-saving options, the tax burden can be reduced.

Here is a summary of various provisions under section 80.

Section	Deduction on	Allowed Limit (maximum) FY 2018-19
80C	Investment in PPF – Employee’s share of PF contribution – NSCs – Life Insurance Premium payment – Children’s Tuition Fee – Principal Repayment of home loan – Investment in Sukanya Samridhi Account – ULIPS – ELSS – Sum paid to purchase deferred annuity – Five year deposit scheme – Senior Citizens savings scheme – Subscription to notified securities/notified deposits scheme – Contribution to notified Pension Fund set up by Mutual Fund or UTI. – Subscription to Home Loan Account scheme of the National Housing Bank – Subscription to deposit scheme of a public sector or company engaged in providing housing finance – Contribution to notified annuity Plan of LIC – Subscription to equity shares/ debentures of an approved eligible issue – Subscription to notified bonds of NABARD	Rs. 1,50,000
80CCC	For amount deposited in annuity plan of LIC or any other insurer for a pension from a fund referred to in Section 10(23AAB)	-
80CCD(1)	Employee’s contribution to NPS account (maximum up to Rs 1,50,000)	-
80CCD(2)	Employer’s contribution to NPS account	Maximum up to 10% of salary
80CCD(1B)	Additional contribution to NPS	Rs. 50,000
80TTA(1)	Interest Income from Savings account	Maximum up to 10,000
80TTB	Exemption of interest from banks, post office, etc. Applicable only to senior citizens	Maximum up to 50,000
80GG	For rent paid when HRA is not received from employer	Least of : – Rent paid minus 10% of total income – Rs. 5000/- per month – 25% of total income
80E	Interest on education loan	Interest paid for a period of 8 years
80EE	Interest on home loan for first time home owners	Rs 50,000
80CCG	Rajiv Gandhi Equity Scheme for investments in Equities	Lower of – 50% of amount invested in equity shares; or – Rs 25,000
80D	Medical Insurance – Self, spouse, children Medical Insurance – Parents more than 60 years old or (from FY 2015-16) uninsured parents more than 80 years old	– Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 50,000
80DD	Medical treatment for handicapped dependent or payment to specified scheme for maintenance of handicapped dependent – Disability is 40% or more but less than 80% – Disability is 80% or more	– Rs. 75,000 – Rs. 1,25,000
80DDB	Medical Expenditure on Self or Dependent Relative for diseases specified in Rule 11DD – For less than 60 years old – For more than 60 years old	– Lower of Rs 40,000 or the amount actually paid – Lower of Rs 1,00,000 or the amount actually paid
80U	Self-suffering from disability : – An individual suffering from a physical disability (including blindness) or mental retardation. – An individual suffering from severe disability	– Rs. 75,000 – Rs. 1,25,000
80GGB	Contribution by companies to political parties	Amount contributed (not allowed if paid in cash)
80GGC	Contribution by individuals to political parties	Amount contributed (not allowed if paid in cash)
80RRB	Deductions on Income by way of Royalty of a Patent	Lower of Rs 3,00,000 or income received

 (Source: https://cleartax.in/s/80c-80-deductions)

Lifestyle changes should start right in childhood. Similarly, a person should start planning for a secure financial future, the day he or she starts working.

Invest wisely...from Formula of 80 to Section 80 for healthy finances and a healthy you...

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Elect Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania   (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA

Perfect Health Mela to have special arrangements for Haryana Residents

Heart Care Foundation of India is organising the 20th MTNL Perfect Health Mela from October 23 to 27, 2013 at Constitution Club of India, Rafi Marg, New Delhi. The Mela will be a mix of exhibitions, competitions, infotainment and workshops under one roof incorporating all pathies and for people from all walks of life.

The Marwadi Yuva Manch will be organising a special campaign for people with special needs at the Mela and will provide free Baisakhis (crutches). The campaign will be held during 23rd to 27th October, 2013 at the Mela venue.

On 26th October, Saturday, a special festival ‘Anmol’ for children with special needs will be held from 8 am to 12 noon. A workshop on Family health and climate change will be organised on 25^th October, 2013 for women.

Addressing a press conference here, Padma Shri & Dr. BC Roy National Awardee, Dr. KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India said that there will be special provisions for people from Haryana at the Mela venue. He said that Mela will be a perfect picnic spot for people and yet an opportunity to learn health sutras.

Co-addressing the press conference, Mr. Kamal Agiwal, Mr. Pawan Gupta and Mr.Sanjiv Marwadi Yuva Manch said that Faridabad schools with children with special needs will also be participating in the event.

The Mela will be open to general public from 23rd to 27th October, 2013 with no entry fee. Following health sutras were released in the press conference:

1.    Formula of 80: To live > 80 years without lifestyle diseases, keep your abdominal circumference, lower blood pressure, LDL (bad) cholesterol, pulse rate and fasting sugar all below 80. Walk 80 minutes per day with a speed of 80 steps per minute. Do not smoke to avoid paying a hospital bill of Rs. 80 thousand. Do not drink, if you drink, do not drink more than 80 ml a day or 80 gm a week.

2.    Formula of 10 (CPR-10): To revive a dead person after sudden cardiac arrest, within 10 minutes of  cardiac arrest (earlier the better) for the next 'at least' 10 minutes compress the center of the chest, continuously and effectively, with a speed of 10 x 10 (100) per minute.

3.    To prevent vitamin D deficiency, expose 40% of your body to the sunlight for  40 minutes 40 days a year.

4.    Foods of plant in origin contain no cholesterol.

5.    Non-permissible colours in sweets can harm the body.

6.    Vegetables and fruits which are cheapest in the morning time are locally
      grown and season and are health friendly.

7.    Avoid white sugar, white maida and white rice.

8.    Avoid eating extra salt in diet.

9.    Hepatitis B vaccination prevents liver cancer.

10. Even adults need vaccination like hepatitis B, typhoid, pneumonia and flu.

About HCFI : The only National Not for profit NGO, on whose mega community health education events, Govt. of India has released two National Commemorative stamps and one cancellation stamp, and who has conducted one to one training on” Hands only CPR” of 63425 people since 1^st November 2012.

The CPR 10 Mantra is – “Within 10 minutes of death, earlier the better; at least for the next 10 minutes, longer the better; compress the centre of the chest of the dead person continuously and effectively with a speed of 10x10 i.e. 100 per minute.”

Emedinews: Dr. KK’s formula of 80

To live up to the age of 80 without heart attack, one should adapt to Dr. KK’s formula of 80 i.e. to keep lower blood pressure, fasting sugar, abdominal circumference, pulse-rate and bad cholesterol level all below 80.

For that, one should walk 80 minutes a day wherever possible a day at a speed of 80 steps in a minute. Do 80 cycles of pranayama in a day. Eat less, not more than 80 gm of caloric food or  80 ml of caloric drink at a time. Avoid alcohol or drink less than 80 ml per day or 80 gm per week. Do 80 laughter exercises in a day. Clap 80 times in a day. Finally, not to smoke as it may end up into Rs. 80000  hospitalization bill.