Is Your Child Not Gaining Enough Weight? Try these

One of the most common concerns for mothers is whether their child is gaining enough weight or not. Underweight children are a perpetual concern for doctors and parents alike as being underweight predisposes the

child to a host of medical conditions. Balanced nutrition plays an integral role in healthy growth and development of a child.

The essential nutrients required for the proper growth of the child include the following:

1 . Minerals: are required for growth, repair, and regulation of body functions in small quantities like iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium

2 . Proteins: help in building, repairing, and maintaining the muscles, immunity, hemoglobin, etc. Most importantly, they are needed to build muscle mass which adds to weight gain.

3 . Vitamins: help in utilizing other nutrients and are vital for all metabolic functions of the body, although in microscopic quantities

4 . Fats: help in gaining weight and provide energy due to their high calorie content per gram of food.

5 .  Carbohydrates: contain sugars that provide instant energy.


FOODS THAT HELP IN HEALTHY WEIGHT GAIN

1 . Bananas

Bananas are the most effective for helping gain weight. Whip up a banana milkshake with sugar or give 1-2 bananas a day to help put on weight. Bananas are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. They

provide instant energy and help in building muscles and bones.

2 . Mangoes

Mangoes are high in sugar, vitamins, and minerals. Mango milkshake is a delicious way to get your dose of vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre, protein and calories on the road to gain weight.

3 . Eggs

Eggs are a complete source of protein, fat, and calories. Eggs help in building muscle mass and energy. Give your child at least 2 eggs daily- either boiled, as an omelette, bhurji, fried or any of the hundred ways it

can be eaten in.

4 . Potatoes

Potatoes a staple diet for Indians is also a rich source of calorie-loaded carbohydrates.

5 . Beans

Beans such as soy, kidney, black, and red are rich in proteins, carbohydrates, iron, and fiber. They can be easily eaten daily to pile on pounds.

6 . Ghee

Ghee is proven to be a healthy fat providing enough calories and nutrition as well. Ghee is recommended to be consumed across all age groups for nutritious benefits.

7 . Cheese

Cheese is one of the tastiest options for your child to gain weight. It is rich in fats, proteins, and calcium. Easily add it to just about anything and your child will happily eat it!

8 . Nuts

Nuts are rich in good fat, iron, proteins, and calories. Include peanuts, almonds, cashews, raisins, figs, and walnuts in your child’s daily snack regime or hand a fistful to eat while enroute to school. They can be easily

included in salads, milkshakes, sprinkled on ice creams, or crushed and added to milk if consuming them whole doesn’t go down too well with your child.

Other foods such as chicken, wheat bran, cashews, and pumpkin seeds are rich in zinc, which help in improving appetite. Better the appetite, higher the calorie consumption, quicker the weight gain!

Fruits can treat your high blood pressure

High blood pressure is called a silent killer since it does not manifest any symptoms. The number of people suffering from high blood pressure has been increasing each year. Studies attribute the high number of blood pressure cases to increasing stress levels, unhealthy lifestyle,  poor dietary choices. There are some foods that naturally help to lower the blood pressure levels in addition to taking medicines:

1 . Bananas

Containing high amount of potassium which help in lowering blood pressure levels, bananas are a great option for people suffering from high blood pressure. Eat it whole or as part of breakfast cereal, smoothies, cakes or milkshakes

2 . Sweet Potatoes

This fiber-rich root is loaded with potassium and magnesium that helps maintain normal blood pressure levels and in proper kidney functioning. You can try out baked dishes, salads or sweet potato chips.

3 . Spinach

Being a nutrient powerhouse, spinach comes with high potassium and magnesium which lowers blood pressure. It is also high in fiber and calcium. Include it in salads, stir fry, sandwiches or as juice.


4 . Watermelon

This refreshing fruit has high fiber, antioxidants and amino acids that lower blood pressure. Eat it as a fruit, in salads or as juice in the morning with your breakfast.

5 . Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds have been gaining popularity as a healthy snack option but many might not know that this seed helps decrease your blood pressure levels too. It contains significant amounts of magnesium. Eat them as a snack but without salt to get the beneficial

6 . Beans

Beans are on the healthy foods list in general but they should be in high blood pressure patients diet lists for their blood-pressure lowering effects. Have all kinds of beans like red kidney beans, white beans, black beans as part of soups, as side dishes or as fillings in sandwiches and wraps.

7 . Berries

Berries have recently gained attention for the large amounts of anti-oxidants found in them. Besides this, berries also contain potassium and fibre that helps in lowering blood pressure.

8 . Quinoa

Having gained the status of a super-food quinoa comes loaded with protein and magnesium. Easy to cook and incorporate in diets, quinoa can be added to salads and other dishes as substitute to white rice.

Besides these foods, high blood pressure patients should reduce their intake of salt and avoid high salt foods like processed foods and fast food. Eat a healthy diet and say goodbye to problems of high blood pressure.

Osteoarthritis

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. In most cases, over time, cartilage in joints breaks down, and OA symptoms begin to occur. OA is most commonly found in the:

• Knees
• Hips
• Hands and fingers
• Spine
• Wrists, elbows, shoulders, and ankles can also be affected by OA, but this occurs less frequently. When OA is found in these joints, there may have been a history of injury or stress to that joint.

The symptoms of osteoarthritis
Typically, OA comes on slowly. For many, the first signs are joints that ache after physical work or exercise. As the disease progresses, other most common symptoms include:

• Pain in a joint
• Swelling or tenderness in one or more joints
• Stiffness after periods of inactivity, such as sleeping or sitting
• Flare-ups of pain and inflammation after use of the affected joint
• Crunching feeling or sound of bone rubbing on bone (called crepitus) when the joint is used
• 
  

OA most often occurs in the following areas:
Knees 
Because knees are primarily weight-bearing joints, they are very commonly affected by OA. If you have OA in your knees, you may feel that these joints are stiff, swollen, and painful, making it hard to walk, climb, and get in and out of chairs and bathtubs.
Hips 
OA in the hip can cause pain, stiffness, and severe disability. Hips both support the weight of the body and enable movement of your lower body. When you have OA in your hips, you may also feel the pain in your groin, inner thigh, or knees. OA in the hip can lead to difficulty moving, bending, and walking.
Fingers and Hands 
When OA occurs in hands and fingers, the base of the thumb joint is commonly affected and people experience stiffness, numbness, and aching. Other symptoms of hand and finger OA include:
Heberden's nodes: small bony knobs that appear on the end joints of fingers
Bouchards's nodes: small bony knobs that appear on the middle joints of fingers
Spine 
If you have OA of the spine, you may experience stiffness and pain in the neck or in the lower back. Sometimes arthritis-related changes in the spine can put pressure on the nerves, causing weakness or numbness in your arms or legs.

What causes osteoarthritis?
While the exact cause of OA is unknown, joint damage can be due to repetitive movement (also known as "wear and tear"). It can also begin as the result of an injury. Either way, with OA there's erosion of the cartilage, the part of the joint that covers the ends of the bones.
Cartilage acts as a shock absorber, allowing the joint to move smoothly.
As cartilage breaks down, the ends of the bones thicken and the joint may lose its normal shape.
With further cartilage breakdown, the ends of the bones may begin to rub together, causing pain.
In addition, damaged joint tissue can cause the release of certain substances called prostaglandins, which can also contribute to the pain and swelling characteristic of the disease.
Here are some factors that may increase your risk of developing OA:
Age
Age is the strongest risk factor for OA. Although OA can start in young adulthood, in these cases, it is often due to joint injury.
Gender 
OA affects both men and women. However, before age 45, OA occurs more frequently in men; after age 45, OA is more common in women.
Joint injury or overuse caused by physical labor or sports
Traumatic injury to a joint increases your risk of developing OA in that joint. Joints that are used repeatedly in certain jobs may be more likely to develop OA because of injury or overuse.
Obesity 
The chances of getting OA generally increase with the amount of weight the body’s joints have to bear. The knee is particularly affected because it is a major weight-bearing joint.
Joint Alignment 
People with joints that don’t move or fit together correctly, like bowlegs, dislocated hips, or double-jointedness, are more likely to develop OA in those joints.
Heredity 
An inherited defect in one of the genes responsible for manufacturing cartilage may be a contributing factor in developing OA.
 Diagnosis
If you experience joint pain, stiffness, and/or swelling that won't go away, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor will be able to determine if you have arthritis and, if so, what type.
When you see your doctor about your symptoms, he or she may ask questions about when and how you started experiencing them. The doctor will probably give you a physical examination to check your general health, and examine the joints that are bothering you.
You may also need other tests to help confirm the diagnosis of OA and determine the extent and severity of joint damage.
Some of these may include:
X-rays can help the doctor determine whether you have OA or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A series of X-rays obtained over time can show how fast joint damage is progressing. X-rays of the affected joints can show cartilage loss, bone damage, and extra bone growth (known as bone spurs) that can develop on the surface of normal bones.
Joint Aspiration.
If your doctor is still uncertain about the diagnosis or suspects that you may have an infection, he or she may perform joint aspiration. In this procedure, your doctor withdraws and examines synovial fluid (a liquid that lubricates the joint) from affected joints using a needle.
If you are experiencing some of these symptoms, the sooner you talk to your doctor, the sooner you may get diagnosed and get treatment.

LASIK SURGERY

Hi  friends today i am talking about LASIK EYE SURGERY.you can see world now with your eyes without any contact lenses or specs, I have a personal experience of it and i am enjoying,

LASIK, which stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, is a popular surgery used to correct vision in people who are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism.

All laser vision correction surgeries work by reshaping the cornea, the clear front part of the eye, so that light traveling through it is properly focused onto the retina located in the back of the eye. LASIK is one of a number of different surgical techniques used to reshape the cornea in most cases, laser eye surgery is pain-free and completed within 15 minutes for both eyes. The results — improved vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses — can usually be seen in as little as 24 hours.

Laser eye surgery requires only topical anesthetic drops, and no bandages or stitches are required.
It works! It corrects vision. Around 96% of patients will have their desired vision after LASIK. An enhancement can further increase this number.

• LASIK is associated with very little pain due to the numbing drops that are used.
• Vision is corrected nearly immediately or by the day after LASIK.
• No bandages or stitches are required after LASIK.
• Adjustments can be made years after LASIK to further correct vision if vision changes while you age.
• After having LASIK, most patients have a dramatic reduction in eyeglass or contact lens dependence and many patients no longer need them at all

Before LASIK Surgery
Your eye doctor will perform a thorough eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy enough for the procedure. He or she will evaluate: the shape and thickness of your cornea; pupil size; refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism); as well as any other eye conditions.

BEST CANDIDATES
mild/moderate myopia, hyperopia and/or astigmatism, adequate corneal thickness

• The moistness of your eyes will also be evaluated, and a precautionary treatment may be recommended to reduce your risk of developing dry eyes after LASIK.
• Usually, an automated instrument called a corneal topographer is used to measure the curvature of the front surface of your eye and create a "map" of your cornea.
• With wavefront technology associated with custom LASIK, you also are likely to undergo a wavefront analysis that sends light waves through the eye to provide an even more precise map of aberrations affecting your vision.
• Your eye doctor will also note your general health history and any medications you are taking to determine if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK.
• You should stop wearing contact lenses for a period of time advised by your doctor (typically around two weeks) before your eye exam and before the LASIK procedure, as contacts can alter the natural shape of your cornea.

What To Expect During LASIK

Before your surgery begins, numbing eye drops are applied to your eye to prevent any discomfort during the procedure. Your doctor may also give you some medication to help you relax.

1. Your eye will be positioned under the laser, and an instrument called a lid speculum is used to keep your eyelids open.
2. The surgeon uses an ink marker to mark the cornea before creating the flap. A suction ring is applied to the front of your eye to prevent eye movements or loss of contact that could affect flap quality.
3. After the corneal flap is created, the surgeon then uses a computer to adjust the excimer laser for your particular prescription.
4. You will be asked to look at a target light for a short time while he or she watches your eye through a microscope as the laser sends pulses of light to your cornea.
5. The laser light pulses painlessly reshape the cornea, although you may feel some pressure on your eye. You'll also hear a steady clicking sound while the laser is operating.

LASIK is performed on each eye separately, with each procedure taking only about five minutes.

Immediately After LASIK Surgery
Upon completion of your LASIK surgery, your surgeon will have you rest for a bit. You may feel a temporary burning or itching sensation immediately following the procedure. After a brief post-operative exam, someone can drive you home. (You cannot drive after LASIK until your eye doctor sees you the following day and confirms your uncorrected vision meets the legal standard for driving.)

• You should expect some blurry vision and haziness immediately after surgery; however, clarity should improve by the very next morning.
• Your eyesight should stabilize and continue to improve within a few days, although in rare cases it may take several weeks or longer. For most people, vision improves immediately.
• You may be able to go to work the next day, but many doctors advise a couple of days of rest instead.

Also, it is usually recommended that you refrain from any strenuous exercise for at least a week, since this can traumatize the eye and affect healing.
Generally, you will return to see your eye doctor or your LASIK surgeon the day after surgery.
At this initial check-up, he or she will test your vision to make sure you are legal to drive without glasses or contact lenses. In most states, this requires uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better.
As with any other surgery, always follow your doctor's instructions and take any medication prescribed. Also, avoid rubbing your eyes, as there's a small chance this could dislodge the flap until it heals and adheres more securely to the underlying cornea.


Long-Term Results
Laser eye surgery offers numerous benefits and can dramatically improve your quality of life. Most people achieve 20/20 vision or better after the surgery, but LASIK results do vary. Some people may achieve only 20/40 vision or less.

PCOS (POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME)

Hi friends today i am talking about PCOS or you say PCOD..PCOS cases in young women in India revealed, that one in five women suffer from PCOS problem and East India leads the chart with 1 in 4 women suffering from PCOS.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age. Infertility is one of the most common PCOS symptoms. Because the symptoms of PCOS are seemingly unrelated to one another, the condition is often overlooked and undiagnosed.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20 women of childbearing age suffers from PCOS. The condition currently affects up to 5 million women in the United States.
While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, doctors believe that hormonal imbalances and genetics play a role. Women are more likely to develop PCOS if their mother or sister also has the condition.

Overproduction of the hormone androgen may be another contributing factor. Androgen is a male sex hormone that women’s bodies also produce. Women with PCOS often produce higher-than-normal levels of androgen. This can affect the development and release of eggs during ovulation. Excess insulin (a hormone that helps convert sugars and starches into energy) may cause high androgen levels.

Symptoms of PCOS

PCOS is a syndrome disease defined by a collection of signs and symptoms. The symptoms of PCOS that one patient experiences can be very different from the symptoms of another patient. If you have two or more of the following symptoms, you need to have a thorough checkup to determine if you need PCOS treatment:

• Irregular or missing menstrual periods
• Infertility
• Excess or unwanted body or facial hair growth
• Thinning hair on the scalp
• Weight problems, often including weight gain around the waist
• Skin problems, including skin tags, darkening skin and acne

While not symptoms of the disease, many women with PCOS have other concurrent health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. These are linked to the weight gain typical in PCOS patients

PCOS DIAGNOSIS

There is no definitive test for PCOS. To make a diagnosis, your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms and perform tests to rule out other possible conditions. Your doctor will perform a physical and pelvic examination to look for signs of PCOS, such as swollen ovaries or a swollen clitoris.

Blood tests to measure hormone levels are typically ordered, as well as:

Thyroid function tests to determine how much of the thyroid hormone your body produces

fasting glucose tests to measure your blood sugar levels

lipid level tests to assess the amount of cholesterol in your blood

 

Treatment for PCOS

Treatment for PCOS is not curative. Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and managing the condition to prevent complications. The treatment will vary from woman to woman, depending on specific symptoms.

A healthy diet and regular exercise is recommended for all women with PCOS, particularly those who are overweight. This can help to regulate your menstrual cycle and lower your blood glucose levels.

The earlier your PCOS is diagnosed and treated, the lower your risk of developing these complications. Avoiding tobacco products and participating in regular exercise can also reduce your risk of some of these comorbidities. Talk with your doctor about what PCOS means for your overall health and how you can prevent serious complications.

GM DIET PLAN FOR WEIGHT LOSS IN 7 DAYS.

General Motors reportedly developed the GM Diet to help its employees lose weight and feel healthier. GM is said to have collaborated on the diet with both the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture and that it was first used in field tests at Johns Hopkins Research Center in 1985.

People have reported losses of between 10 and 17 lbs per week on this plan.

It not only reduces weight but puts the body through a detoxification process. This is because the content of it is mostly water: fruits, vegetables, milk and soup, as well as 6-8 glasses of water daily.

(Note: Toxins are stored in the fatty areas of the body. The GM approach can initiate rapid fat loss and hence, detoxification.)

This detox will cleanse the body and set it up for better overall health after the seven days. After you have completed the detoxification process, you might find that you can no longer face the unhealthful, processed foods that may have led to your becoming overweight in the first place.

Day 1
You can eat any fruit but bananas. There is no limit on quantity; eat as much fruit as you want. It is recommended that you eat a lot of melons on the first day. In fact, if you limit your fruit consumption to melons, it will get your weight loss off to a great start.

Day 2
Fruits are replaced with vegetables on the second day. You can eat them either cooked or raw and there is restriction on the types or amount you can eat. You can even have a baked potato for breakfast on this day, with a pat of butter if you like. This will provide the body with the complex carbohydrates that will provide energy for the rest of the day. Vegetables provide plenty of essential nutrients and fiber and are virtually calorie-free.

Day 3
Except for bananas and potatoes, you can eat a mixture of fruit and vegetables on this day—as much variety as you like, in whatever quantities you choose. Potatoes are no longer needed, as carbohydrates will come from the fruit. By this stage the body is prepared to start burning excess pounds.

Day 4
Bananas, milk and soup make up the menu. You can eat up to eight bananas and three glasses of milk on this day (although you may find that you don’t eat all the bananas). You may consume as much of the soup as you like. (Soup recipe below) The bananas are important because they will help to replace the potassium and sodium that the body would have lost in the previous three days. There should be fewer cravings for sweets by this point.

Day 5
Today, you will eat beef and tomatoes: six whole tomatoes and two 10 oz. portions of beef. The beef can be eaten in the form of hamburger patties. All of the tomatoes should be eaten but not all the beef needs to be consumed. Increase your water intake by one quart today to help the body cleanse itself of the uric acid that will be produced by digesting the beef. The meat will provide your body with iron and protein and tomatoes provide fiber, which aids digestion.Day 6You will eat beef again today but will replace the tomatoes with a variety of vegetables of your own choosing. You may eat as much of each as you like. Note that by this day, the body is completely inclined towards weight loss and you should see a noticeable difference in the way you look and feel compared to when you started the diet.

Day 7
On the last day of the plan, you eat brown rice, fruit juice and unlimited vegetables. After following the meal plan for the last seven days, you should have completely cleansed and flushed out your system and should also find that you are 10 to 17 lbs. lighter than you were a week ago.

Bronchitis

In today's life many of us having that breathing problem with some cold and cough,,me also suffering from that as i am staying in Bangalore,here the weather changes so fast.... i went to doctors and they are saying that u have asthma.

Today i reveal u the fact that its not asthma its bronchitis. Bronchitis is an inflammation or swelling of the bronchi. Bronchi are the passageways that move air into the lungs. If you look at a picture of the anatomy of a lung (below) the bronchi are what look like upside down broccoli stalks. When these passageways are swollen and inflamed, it makes getting air into the lungs difficult and can cause difficulty breathing. Bronchitis is always associated with a cough that produces mucus. There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic

.

Acute bronchitis happens after being sick with a virus or cold. The illness will start in the nose and travel to the throat and eventually land in the lungs in the form of bronchitis. People can feel very sick with bronchitis, but it usually is not serious and they eventually return to their normal health.

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term illness. It is diagnosed in individuals who have a productive cough (a cough with mucus) for more than three months. This form of bronchitis is often found in people who have smoked and have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). It is the more serious bronchitis that can lead to lifelong oxygen use.

symptoms of Bronchitis

Both acute and chronic bronchitis have many of the same symptoms, but there are also some differences. The primary symptom for all forms of bronchitis is a cough that produces mucus, known as a productive cough. This cough can also cause some shortness of breath or wheezing, which is a tightening of the lungs when coughing.

Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is a shorter illness that commonly follows a cold or viral infection, such as the flu. It consists of a cough with mucus, chest discomfort or soreness, fever and sometimes shortness of breath. Acute bronchitis usually lasts a few days or weeks.

Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a serious, ongoing illness characterized by a persistent, mucus-producing cough that lasts longer than three months. People with chronic bronchitis have varying degrees of breathing difficulties and symptoms may get better and worse during different parts of the year. If chronic bronchitis occurs with emphysema, it may become chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)