What is an upper respiratory infection?

An upper respiratory tract infection is a viral/bacterial infection that affects the nose, throat, and airway. The upper respiratory tract consists of sinuses, nasal passage, pharynx, and larynx. These components direct air that we breathe which is gradually inhaled to the lungs through the trachea and that constitutes the process of respiration. The infections of the different parts of the respiratory tract are generally specific to certain regions of the respiratory tract and are named based on the area that is infected. For instance, rhinosinusitis or sinusitis is for a sinus infection,  inflammation of the nares, pharynx, tonsils, uvula and the hypopharynx is referred to as nasopharyngitis, rhinitis is the inflammation of the nasal cavity, laryngotracheitis and so on.

Upper respiratory tract infection is one of the most common condition people encounter, especially children. Though present throughout the year,  it is all the more common during the fall and winter months.

How is this infection caused?

The inner walls or lining of the upper airway are called mucosa or the mucous membrane. During an infection, bacteria or virus attack the joints of the membrane causing the body to initiate an inflammatory response. The membrane starts creating more mucous to trap the invading bacteria/virus and expel them from the body. The body also starts preparing an adaptive immunity mechanism to repel the particular bacteria/virus. Usually, this is enough to clear the infection, but viruses tend to create different adaptive mechanisms to protect itself from the immune response. They reduce the strength of the epithelial tissue through toxins and increase the pathways between cells for easier access to other cells. They also damage the repair mechanism of the epithelial layer.  They interfere with the immune response and cause the inflammatory response to become harmful to the body. When the body starts creating too much mucous, it makes it easier for bacterial infections to become prominent and cause damage to the lungs and the antiviral response of the body.

Is it contagious?

Yes, upper respiratory tract infection can easily spread from one person to another. The virus causing infection in the upper respiratory tract is often known to thrive in the low humidity of winters. The infection spreads when people inhale the respiratory droplet in the air that is expelled through coughing and sneezing by the infected person. The transmission can also occur by touching the nose or mouth by hand or other object exposed to the virus

What are the most common symptoms of upper respiratory infection?

Upper Respiratory Infection is often accompanied by the following signs and symptoms and these symptoms are most often the result of the toxins released by the pathogens alongside the inflammatory response by the immune system to combat the infection:

• Blocked nose

• Constant nasal breathing

• Fever

• A cough

• Nasal congestion

• A sore throat

• Nasal discharge

How to handle a child with upper respiratory infection?

You must be informed that this condition is one of the most common and is not too dangerous. It is non-threatening and does not generally cause any severe harm to the body. Keeping a few of the following points in mind can help you save your child from getting affected by upper respiratory infection and also reduce its effects if they are already affected by it.

• Homemade recipes to cure this condition have been the most used and most effective way to fight this condition. Mixing ginger, pepper, turmeric and tea can be highly useful in relieving a congested throat/chest.

• Using a mild hand wash to clean your child’s hands before and after a meal and in regular intervals is extremely necessary.

• Make sure to pack a hand sanitizer with your child when they go to play or school to protect them from accidentally spreading or getting affected by other children.

• Instruct your children to sneeze or cough into their own handkerchief or napkin and not share it with anyone.

• To ensure your children and his/her friends’ safety, it is also smart to instruct your child to drink or eat only their food and not share with others.

Let’s start this article with a simple question “How many of us have tried to remove those extra drops of oil floating over our dishes”. Well, in all honesty, the answer is almost all of us! It worries us, we get a little anxious but then how can we avoid oil, after all, Indian cooking is all about some nice desi tadkas.

Oil seems essential for cooking, but if you’re not careful, cooking with too much oil can lead to a lot of health problems and added calories. If your diet consistently includes greasy foods, it raises your risk for chronic conditions- particularly heart disease.

Research indicates that a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease is the use of cooking oils containing high levels of unhealthy fats such as saturated and trans fats. Saturated fatty acids and trans fats are harmful to health and raise blood cholesterol levels which increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

The promotion of healthier cooking oils is a key action to make your dishes nutritious and heart-healthy. Healthier oils include oils that have acceptable levels of saturated and trans fats. Where possible, saturated fats should be replaced with small amounts of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

MONOUNSATURATED FATS

Monounsaturated fats can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels in the body and lower the risk of heart disease. Let’s take a look at some of the healthier cooking oil options rich in monounsaturated fats.

• Olive oil

High in monounsaturated fatty acids and natural levels of antioxidants; olive oil has been linked to healthy cholesterol levels and a lower risk of heart disease. Olive oil can be used for cooking or as a salad dressing and the olive itself can be eaten both raw and cooked.

• Peanut Oil

Rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, antioxidants, vitamin E, and phytosterols, peanut oil will become your kitchen staple in no time. It is also considered ideal for deep frying, due to its high smoking point. So next time you worry about excess oil, look no further than peanut oil.

• Other oils rich in monosaturated fats include rapeseed, avocado and sesame oil.

POLYUNSATURATED FATS

Polyunsaturated fats are termed ‘essential’ fats as they cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from our diet. These can be found in corn, sunflower, safflower and soya bean oils. Essential fats play a role in many body processes, including immune and nervous system function, blood clotting, and blood pressure regulation.

By reducing or eliminating the unhealthy saturated and trans fats in our diet, we will be getting a better balance for our heart and overall health. But apart from making an informed choice on what oil we want to line our pan with, we also need to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Start with cutting back on the use of oil. Cook with less oil, say instead of sautéing your vegetables in oil, try vegetable broth or a little water. Or better yet, steam your vegetables. Remember the oil could be swapped for a better choice, but the key to healthy living is to stay within your fat gram and calorie goals.

Motivation is the key to living a life of reaching every goal – and when it comes to health and fitness goals, its importance just can’t be overstated. But hitting the gym, spending hours lifting, eating right day in and day out, can sometimes be real tough and become monotonous. And more often than not, our motivation gradually fizzles out.

If your fitness regime is also suffering, follow these simple tips to overcome feeling demotivated.

Right Focus

Rather than focusing on losing weight, focus on being fit. One of the main reasons why most of us deviate from our health regime is due to setting wrong goals. Fitness is more important than weight loss simply because optimal weight does not always mean optimal health. Research indicates getting fit makes weight loss easier. Plus, you’re more likely to NOT gain the weight back.

Make Exercise Fun

The problem with exercise is, for many of us, it can be boring and repetitive. But it doesn’t have to be. You are likely to have more success in your fitness regime if you plan a new activity every day.

Remember there are many more ways to exercise than just lifting weights or running on the treadmill.

Meal Prep

It is vital to understand the importance of right food intake and to calculate the ideal amount of calories required for your body to stay fit. Carefully designed meal plans will help you reach your fitness goals while saving your time. Moreover, if you have your food prepped your mind can’t wander, and it is less likely that you will give in to those cravings.

Smart Apps

Fitness apps have completely changed the dynamics of the fitness world. Using fitness apps to take your well-being into your own hands can be really beneficial. You can use these apps to monitor your workouts, keep track of what you eat and how much you drink while getting some useful tips and advice and most importantly, reminders.

Reward Yourself

Let’s face it, it’s much easier to stay motivated to do things when we know we will get rewarded for it. Give yourself a tangible reward for exercising and reaching a particular goal. This could be anything - a nice dinner out, new workout shoes, a spa session or a beach holiday.

In order to keep your fitness motivation on track, your fitness regime needs to be sharp, planned and effectively executed. Besides, keep reminding yourself of the benefits of improved fitness - weight management, better mental and physical health. And if nothing seems to be working out, ask for help. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Taking advice from the experts can be super motivating and most definitely will make you accountable.

Dementia is a condition where a person experiences loss of mental functions such as memory, thinking, decision making and language which can disrupt the individual’s day-to-day life. Often times, dementia can also lead to changes in mood and behaviour. Dementia is both reversible and irreversible depending on its causes. When dementia is a result of trauma or a disease, the impacts cannot be reversed. On the other hand, in cases where the onset of dementia is due to drugs, depression or alcohol, the symptoms can be controlled to an extent.

Symptoms of Dementia:

The common signs and symptoms of dementia include cognitive and psychological changes. Here are few such symptoms:

Cognitive changes:

These changes include noticeable memory loss and confusion. Also, an individual starts facing difficulties in:

• Communication
• Handling difficult tasks
• Organization and planning
• Coordination
• Reasoning or problem solving

Psychological changes:

When an individual starts showing the following behaviours :

• Depression and anxiety
• Agitation and inappropriate behaviour
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Behaviour and personality changes

If you or your loved ones start noticing these symptoms, know that it is time you visit a medical professional for a proper diagnosis of dementia and its causes so necessary treatment can be done at the earliest. There is no cure for dementia, but certain treatments can help manage symptoms in a better way.

Treatment for Dementia:

Medications:

• To boost levels of chemical messengers involved in judgement and memory, medications such as Cholinesterase inhibitors are used.
• To regulate the activity of glutamate, a chemical messenger involved in learning and memory functions, Memantine is prescribed.
• To treat symptoms such as depression, agitation and abrupt sleep patterns, doctors may prescribe specific medications.

Therapies:

Several symptoms can be treated at an early stage with the help of therapies:

• Occupational therapy can help the patient learn coping behaviours. Occupational therapy works by making the home a safer place to prevent accidents and prepare them for dementia progression.
• Modifying the environment around the patient can help them focus and function in an easier way. Safety can be ensured by decluttering the space around the patient and reducing noise. Also, adding monitoring systems to alert you when the patient is wandering off will also help a lot.
• Modify tasks by structuring and add a routine to the tasks to avoid confusion in the patient.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies:

These suggestions can help the patient in dealing with everyday activities:

• Exercise is helpful in protecting the brain from dementia when combined with a healthy diet. It can help the patient deal with depression as well as slow the progress of impaired thinking.
• Activities such as painting, singing can help the patient connect with family and friends.
• Learning gestures to communicate can help the patient stay in touch with people around
• Calendars to keep track of day to day activities, events and medication timings can help the patient with schedules.
• Nighttime rituals are important for dementia patients as the behaviour becomes worse at night. It is often advised to keep the patient away from TV noise and active family members to ensure a calming bedtime ritual.

It is always important to consult your doctor before you start on any kind of treatment at home. Remember proper care and support can help dementia patients lead a much more organised and normal life.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disabling disease of the brain and the spinal cord which essentially damages the entire central nervous team. In Multiple Sclerosis, the protective sheath known as myelin that helps to cover nerve fibers is attacked by the immune system. The attack results in the damage or disruption in the communication of the brain with the other parts of the body. It is known to gradually deteriorate the nerves itself and also cause irreversible damage to them.

Signs and symptoms of someone suffering from Multiple Sclerosis are highly likely to differ from person to person and directly depends on the level or severity of damage of the nerves.

The symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis manifest themselves based on the severity and time of the course of the condition and it is also dependent on which part of the body has been affected.

Below mentioned are a few of the most common and reported symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.

• Tingling sensation or numbness in parts of the body
• Double vision for a prolonged period of time
• Complete or partial loss of vision
• Sudden slurring of speech
• Extreme fatigue
• Episodes of nausea
• Severe pain in specific parts of the body on one side
• Sensation of electric shocks
• Feeling nauseous
• Encountering dizziness
• Failure in the coordination of muscular movements

Cause

There is no specific cause identified yet for Multiple Sclerosis. However, it is observed to be caused by a combination of factors such as genetic and environmental aspects.

Risk Factors

These factors are known to have effects on raising the risk of Multiple Sclerosis:

Family History

If a close relative or a family member had it, you are at a higher risk of having Multiple Sclerosis too.

Old Age

Multiple Sclerosis can occur to anyone, however, it is most commonly seen in people of the age range of 16-60.

Smoking

Smokers who may have a first event indicating Multiple Sclerosis are highly likely to develop the second event of MS in comparison to non-smokers.

Climate

The climate of the place you belong in may also affect your condition. It is known to be common to areas with a temperate climate.

Plausible Complications

These are some conditions that you might develop if you already have Multiple Sclerosis -

• Paralysis of legs
• Extreme muscle spasms
• Deterioration in sexual functioning
• Noticeable mood swings
• Feeling of depression

Treatments

There are several ways to treat Multiple Sclerosis. Some of the methods of treatment are as follows:

Immunosuppressant medications

Medicines are prescribed that are known to help reduce or suppress the response of the immune system and aid in slowing down the progress of the disease.

Therapy

Different types of group engagements help in relieving from the pain or distress caused by MS. Physical therapy, Acupuncture are highly effective forms of treatment in MS cases.

Self Care

The best and the most effective way is to engage in physical exercise by yourself. To stay motivated and encourage yourself to work out for a fixed period of time to reduce the inflammation and stiffness in your body or any affected area.

These are all the necessary information you might need to keep in mind or understand to handle the situation if you or a loved one develop Multiple Sclerosis.

Scoliosis is referred to as the condition that causes the spinal cord to bend or curve. A regular spine appears straight when viewed from the front, however, there is a natural curve in our spines but Kyphosis is a curve that is visible when viewed from the side which clearly indicates a forward bend in the spine. People who have this condition develop an additional bend or curve in their backbone or spine on either side of the body that causes the bones in the spine to twist on themselves creating a ‘C’ or ‘S’ formation in the spine.

Based on research, it is observed that scoliosis is rampant amongst women or girls over men or boys. Statistically, over 0.5% of females develop scoliosis wherein only 2% of males develop the same condition. It is also observed that if a parent has scoliosis, the child is also highly likely to be born or develop scoliosis eventually. It is however not correlated to the degree or severity of the curve of a parent to their children’s spine.

Scoliosis with an unknown cause is referred to idiopathic scoliosis and is the case in most patients. Scoliosis is categorised into three major types, namely:

• Infantile idiopathic scoliosis
  This is the condition when a child below the age of 3 years develops it.
• Juvenile idiopathic scoliosis
  When a child in the age range of 3-10 years develops this condition, it comes under this category.
• Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
  Any child/adolescent of the age 10-18 falls under this category if they develop scoliosis.

Scoliosis is also referred to as several other names based on the degree of curvature on the spine. These are the listed medical terms that refer to scoliosis:

• Kyphoscoliosis
• Dextroscoliosis
• Levoconvex
• Rotoscoliosis
• Thoracolumbar

Symptoms

It is known to be painless in most cases but these are some of the most common signs and symptoms of Scoliosis:

• Abnormal visible curve in the spine/ backbone
• Difficulty in the functioning of the heart and the lungs
• Breathlessness
• Back pain and neck pain for a prolonged time
• Sudden muscle spasms
• Pain around the chest or diaphragm

Treatment

Generally, treatment for scoliosis is based on the severity of the curve in the spine and the plausible chances of further degradation of the condition, however, scoliosis does not have a cure but the treatments are intended to reduce the symptoms. The treatments are also categorised into three types:

• Observation
• Bracing
• Surgery

Surgery is usually only recommended by the doctor is that appears to be the best and only solution to their condition or the severity of their case.

Scoliosis is an intimidating condition but at the same time, it is almost, always painless and does not cause any major pain to the person. The curve itself may not be a very noticeable or obvious one as such and might be only spotted by close ones who live with you and see you on a regular basis. Overall, it does not have a cure but it does not affect your life in any major way in most scoliosis cases and people lead their lives as any regular person would!

The amount of force or pressure exerted on the periphery or walls of the arteries during the process of blood circulation is called as Blood Pressure. Higher levels of pressure on the arteries amount to high blood pressure levels. High blood pressure is also called Hypertension. It is one of the most common conditions prevalent today.

Blood that is pumped by the heart travels to the lungs which are then filled with fresh oxygen and then circulated to the body’s cells and muscles. The pressure that is applied to pump out this blood is essentially the body’s blood pressure level and an increase or obstruction in the flow of the blood through the arteries causes the level of blood pressure to rise.

Science has not been able to pinpoint the exact reason or cause of high blood pressure, however, the below-mentioned causes may have a high chance of causing high blood pressure levels.

• Age

  Age increases the level of blood pressure naturally. This is due to the change in the structure of the arteries. Most often this is seen in large arteries which stiffen over time.

• Temperature

  Based on recent studies, hypertension has been observed in people over the age of 60 and has also been noticed to fluctuate based on the temperature. The blood pressure level is noticed to be lower during warmer temperatures and vice versa.

• Hereditary

  The chances of you having hypertension increase significantly if you have a very close relative or family member who has this condition. Hypertension is one of the conditions that have a higher chance of running in the family.

• Obesity

  Being overweight is directly linked to an increase in the risk of high blood pressure. This due to the fact that they might also have high cholesterol levels which affect the arteries and the flow of replenished blood.

• Lack of physical exercise

  A sedentary, lethargic lifestyle poses a direct threat to your blood pressure levels. People who engage in minimum to no physical activity have a greater chance of suffering from hypertension.

• Smoking & Drinking habits

  Smoking causes the blood vessels to shrink or narrow down that automatically increases the risk of high blood pressure. Drinking, on the other hand, raises the systolic blood pressure level.

• Treatment

  There are no specific treatments for hypertension but there are several ways to reduce, maintain and control the blood pressure levels. These are some of the ways to control high blood pressure:

• Regular Exercise

  Engaging in regular exercise helps to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

• Weight Loss

  Studies suggest that weight loss and loss in the waistline has a great impact on the lowering of blood pressure levels.

• Sleep Cycle

  Maintaining a proper sleep cycle ensures better management of your blood pressure level. It allows you to keep your blood pressure level on the lower side.

• Meditation & Yoga

  These may be a slower way to control the condition, however, they are extremely useful and can effectively bring down your high blood pressure level.

These are some easy but effective ways to control, manage and prevent high blood pressure or hypertension. The most important method, however, is to maintain a healthy diet, keeping yourself motivated and active as much as possible.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease which causes damage to various parts of the body and is responsible for causing joint pain. It is known to cause joint pain on both sides of the body which implies that if you have a joint pain on one side of your limb, it is highly likely to affect the other side of your limb as well. This attributes makes the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis easier and helps to distinguish it from other types of arthritis such as osteoarthritis.

To relieve yourself from the pain caused by Rheumatoid arthritis, you must first be able to identify and notice the different kinds of symptoms associated with RA. To further enable you to identify the early symptoms of RA, we’ve listed them down below:

• Mild to severe pain in the joint for prolonged periods of time
• Swelling in the joints
• Stiffness in the joints
• Failure in the functioning of the joint

Symptoms might appear in an irregular pattern, however, it is highly recommended that you take immediate action when you identify them early.

Treatment

Rheumatoid Arthritis does not have a known cure or treatment, however, various treatments for RA are directed towards the control and management of the joint pain, inflammation and discomfort. The suggested treatment often involve:

• Medications that are nonsteroidal and anti-inflammatory like corticosteroids, acetaminophen
• Homeopathic treatments
• Physiotherapy
• Changes in the diet

There are several other ways to treat Rheumatoid by yourself especially to help control and feel relieved from the prolonged pain in the body. Here are some ways:

Get plenty of rest

It is highly recommended that you take a lot of rest, especially during flare-ups. This will allow the joints to stay rested and provide you with short-term relief.

Eat right

You must switch your dietary habits to a much simpler, calcium-rich diet to help strengthen your bones and keep you fit.

Avoid Vices

This is extremely necessary for you to follow- quit smoking and drinking alcohol as it will help restore your body’s equilibrium and not add to your pain caused by arthritis.

Hot & Cold Compression

Keep a hot water bag or ice pack handy at all times. Apply them from time to time to the affected area to aid the process of inflammation reduction and release muscles from spasms.

Exercise

As much as it is necessary to rest, it is also essential that you exercise your body from time to time. You must make sure to do some warm-up exercises to reduce the stiffness in your joints and also relieve yourself from muscle pain and spasms.

These are all the things you need to know about Rheumatoid Arthritis and the preventive or relieving measures that can help you combat the pain in your joints and body. RA might not have a definite cure but it can be combated with the right approach, dedication and motivation from you!

Foreign bodies being ingested by toddlers and children have been an occurrence that is rampant throughout the world. In general, children belonging to the age range of 6 months to 3 years are ones that are known to ingest foreign particles. Medical attention is given to most cases who have been reported by parents or someone who may have witnessed them swallowing something that appeared like a foreign body. Most of these children are asymptomatic or have symptoms that are transient at the point of ingestion.
Children have a tendency to put everything in their line of sight into their mouths to feel it and it is almost impossible to child-proof one’s house completely as there will always be something that they might intake in any case. Even after having your house, the daycares made child-proof, there is still a great possibility of your child ingesting something that he/she might be playing with such as an eraser, torn part of a nipple, hair clips, chalk, pencil shards, etc.
Let us further discuss the risks, diagnosis, and management for such situations in detail.
Background
The background of these cases must be considered to detect and understand such situations. Children with psychiatric conditions or any mental anomaly may ingest foreign objects voluntarily without the awareness of their consequences. Unsupervised children below the age of 4 years are likely to eat or swallow foreign bodies too. The ingestion of any foreign particle is unlikely to cause grave damage to the child as it is highly likely to be excreted eventually, but the risk lies if the foreign bodies get lodged in their esophagus by any chance which would need immediate attention.

Main points
• Most of these cases of ingestions hold little or no risk to the child’s life and can be managed first hand.
• Consumption of button batteries and magnets may pose a direct threat to the child’s life and can prove to be fatal.
• Foreign objects bigger than 6cm and wider than 2.5cm have a high risk of getting stuck in the pylorus.
• Failure of transit through the stomach of lead-based products are highly likely to lead to acute systemic lead absorption.

Identification/Assessment
• It is extremely important to identify the object that your child may have swallowed and time must be noted for future requirements at the doctor’s clinic.
• It’s necessary to identify any high-risk item, so measures can be taken accordingly.
• It must be noted if the child has developed any signs of vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsions, coughing, drooling, etc.

Treatment
When a child ingests any kind of foreign bodies such as plastic shard, a piece of a toy, straw, buttons, etc generally comes out of the body naturally through the digestive tract without much complication.
If the condition requires medical attention then you must visit the doctor at once after which the child can be managed as usual if he/she is able to eat or drink normally, is completely pain-free and does not complain of any breathing trouble.

Blood donation is not a novel act as it has been prevalent for decades, however, it is considered to be extremely noble. Blood donation is the process of having one’s blood drawn voluntarily and further used for blood transfusions and made into biopharmaceutical medications through fractionation. Though donating blood is rampant but there are several myths and misconceptions about it. This article is aimed to educate you about blood donation and how it can actually help your health and encourage you to donate blood and do your part to help someone in need.
Blood donations are generally required when patients require transfusion due to cancer, chronic anemia, bleeding disorders, sickle cell anemia, severe accidents, hereditary blood abnormalities.

So, here are some reasons why blood donation is a boon and can help improve your health:

Prevents Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis is a condition that is caused by excessive absorption of iron in one’s body that may be caused by anemia, alcoholism or other disorders. It is known to help reduce the risk of Hemochromatosis.

Cleanses your system
Blood donations are very useful in order to cleanse your body. Blood generally replenishes itself within one day and donating blood not only might save someone in need but also helps cleanse your system. It also helps in maintaining a good blood circulation.

For a healthy heart & Liver
Blood donations have high chances of reducing the risks of liver and heart ailments that may have been caused due to over-absorption of iron in the blood. Excessive iron in the body causes liver cirrhosis, liver failure, etc and donating your blood will help maintain the iron level in your body.

Weight Loss
Blood donors who donate blood regularly usually lose weight. This kind of weight loss is often considered healthy. Blood donation also helps reduce risks of cardiovascular diseases especially for those who are obese or on the verge of obesity.

Builds positivity
This particular point might not be directly related to your health but definitely affects the overall aspect of your body. Blood donation is often done to help others in need, especially if you have a rare blood type, which implies that the person who might be in need of the same blood type was looking for someone’s blood for longer than the rest as it is rare to get such blood types. However, having donated your blood has a positive and motivating effect on you as you are made aware that you could be the reason of someone’s treatment or might even be the cause of saving someone’s life especially in cases of accidents, disasters, etc.

Overall, blood donation has more advantages than you can imagine. However, blood donation must be done regularly but after meeting the necessary criteria to do so such as age, prerequisite health conditions, etc. Once, you are given the green flag from the doctor to go ahead and donate blood, there is nothing that should stop you from doing so!