Mint and Fresh Lime Juice with Ginger

 Find the recipe for Summer Special Drink 

Ingredients:

• 1 lemon
• 4 tsps sugar
• 3-4 mint leaves
• A small piece of ginger
• Pinch of rock salt
• 1 glass of water
  

 Method:

• Soak the sugar in some water for 5
  minutes (helps dissolve the sugar fast).
• Squeeze out the juice of the whole lemon (remove the seeds)
• Blend sugar, lemon juice, pinch of rock
  salt, mint leaves and water.
• While serving, float a thin ¼ inch of ginger for flavour and 1 mint leaf.
• Serve with lots of ice. (It works wonders
  against dehydration.)

Skincare Myths Busted

As the Sun blazes out this Summer, here is helpful advice on taking care of your skin.

Myth #1:
The higher the SPF (Sun Protection Factor), the better the protection
It is a myth that SPF is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to protect against sun’s damaging effects. SPF only measures how well a sunscreen will block UVB rays (UVB causes skin tanning and burning). Like say, if you apply a sunscreen with SPF 30, it implies that you can stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning or tanning your skin than if your skin was bare. For Indian skin, SPF 15-30 is adequate. However, you should ensure that the sunscreen is a broad spectrum one which provides both UVA and UVB protection. So look for the label ‘broad spectrum’ while buying a product, or look for ingredients like avobenzone, zinc oxide, mexoryl etc which will offer UVA protection also (UVA rays cause skin ageing) .

Myth #2:
Facials and microdermabrasion are good for your skin care routine Studies comprehensively show that facials do nothing more than make you feel good. They can’t reduce wrinkles or improve complexion. Facials can actually damage your face if the aesthetician picks, squeezes or rubs too hard! It can break down elastin and collagen (the skin’s component that adds support and elasticity), so you have to be sure the massage is very gentle. Facials shouldn’t break the skin. The basis of a good facial is to re-establish balance in the skin usually by cleansing, exfoliation, skin analysis, massage and mask.

During microdermabrasion, fine grains of aluminum oxide are forced over the skin under high pressure. This exfoliates dead skin and stimulates collagen production. But people with sensitive skinned to be prepared to see some redness afterwards. A more effective alternative is to use an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) product. AHAs are great exfoliators and slow the aging process. Recent studies indicate that AHAs may act as free radical scavengers, helping to increase collagen production. In a nutshell, facials and microdermabrasion should be used as and when your skin demands. If you follow a good skin care at home, these might not be required on a regular basis.


Myth # 3:
Expensive skin care products work best A product should not be judged by its cost, but by its ingredients and your requirements. If your skin is oily, no product meant for normal skin, however expensive, will work for you. Routine skin care products like a cleanser, moisturiser, toner and sunscreen should be selected carefully. They should enhance your skin health and should be well tolerated. You might need to change products according to the weather conditions. A summer product might not work as well in winter. You can also take the guidance of your dermatologist, who will assess your skin type, your working schedules, your requirements, budget etc. and prescribe a feasible skin care routine.

Browse ApolloLife to get some more info on the same.

Pranic Healing: Heart of the Matter

Have you ever gotten irritated with your spouse, while your spouse may not even know that you were angry until you exploded? This shows lack of sensitivity. When a woman says that a man is sensitive, it does not mean that the man is a cry baby.

It means that the man is aware of the woman's needs and feelings, so he tries to behave and act in a certain way to make the woman happy.

These conditions apply to both men and women. Some can be insensitive to the feelings and needs of their partners. Sensitivity is connected with the heart chakra.

The body has many energy centres called chakras which have various psychological and spiritual functions. One of the important centres is the heart center, also known as the anahata chakra in Sanskrit. In the Hebrew Kabbalah, chesed (meaning mercy and loving-kindness) corresponds to the heart chakra. In acupuncture, a hysterical person can be calmed down by stimulating certain acupuncture points, which activate the heart chakra.

The heart chakra is the 'emotional heart'. When we love our parents, partner, children or relatives, it is the heart chakra manifesting. By activating the heart, the lower emotional energies like anger, hate, irritation, resentment, worry, anxiety, tension, stress, fear, selfishness, aggressiveness, abrasiveness, addiction etc can be transmuted into higher forms of emotional energies. The heart chakra is the center of higher emotions like love, compassion, devotion, peace, serenity, joy, compassion, kindness, gentleness, tenderness, caring, considerateness, patience, sensitivity etc.

For most people, the other chakras are quite activated. The basic, sex and solar plexus chakras are activated in practically all persons. Their instincts for self survival, sex drive and tendency to react with their lower emotions are very active. With the pervasiveness of modern education and work that require the use of the mental faculty (development of the concrete and abstract mind) the ajna and throat chakras are developed in a lot of people. The heart and the crown chakras, however, are not developed in most people.

As a result, we often encounter persons who are quite intelligent but very abrasive. They have not matured emotionally or, have quite underdeveloped heart chakras. Although they may be intelligent and quite successful, their human relationships may be very poor, hardly having any friends and may have no family. The activation of the heart chakra ensures that the enhanced intellectual faculty and the increased will power will be used properly and harmlessly.

Source: ApolloLife

Ways to Manage High Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure is usually between 110/70 up to 120/80. Anything above that and up to 140/90 is often referred to as borderline or mild hypertension, numbers above that may be referred to as high blood pressure.

What is Blood Pressure?

The pressure exerted by the flow of blood inside the blood vessels is known as blood pressure. When this pressure is abnormally high, it is referred to as high blood pressure or hypertension. The pressure inside the artery rises and falls with every beat of the heart. Maximum pressure is exerted when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. This pressure is referred to a Systolic pressure. When the heart relaxes between contractions and is not pumping blood into the arteries, the blood pressure within the arteries falls, this is known as Diastolic pressure and is the lower of the two numbers.

Is It Harmful?

If ignored, yes it is. Hypertension puts a considerable strain on the heart and blood vessels and is often referred to as a silent killer because it displays no clear symptoms. Untreated hypertension is the leading cause of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney damage and severe eye damage. About 20 percent of our population is affected by High Blood Pressure which is categorized either an Essential Hypertension or Secondary Hypertension.

Tips to Manage High Blood Pressure:

1. Medical Check up: Since High Blood Pressure is a silent killer and has no discernable symptoms, the first thing to do is to have a medical check-up every year to monitor your blood pressure.
2. Medication: Is often prescribed by the physician to reduce fluid retention, relax the artery muscles etc.Make sure you don’t miss even a single dose of medication and have it on time, to avoid further complication or even serious situations.
3. Lose Weight: In case you are overweight, you must shed your excess weight. You can do this by containing your dietary intake to not more than 1200 calories per day. Include sufficient fruits, vegetables and dietary fiber in your meals to lose 2 to 3 kilograms per month.
4. Avoid Saturated Fats:   These include butter, ghee, whole cream milk, meat fats, eggs, coconut oil, margarine and other hydrogenated fats. Instead, use moderate quantities of unsaturated oils including mustard oil, olive oil, rice bran oil, groundnut oil, sunflower oil etc.
5. Reduce Salt Intake: All foods contain natural sodium and potassium salts. Avoid salted snacks like chips, nuts, salted popcorn and other fast foods, all of which contain large amounts of salt, sugar, fat and other chemicals and preservatives.
6. Exercise Regularly: For at least one hour a day, 5 to 6 days a week. The easiest exercise is brisk walking, yoga is excellent so is swimming. Avoid weight lifting and active competitive sports.
7. Quit Smoking: This includes all types of cigarettes including cigars, pipes, hookahs.
8. Control Alcohol: Never exceed one or two units of alcohol per day. A unit is a 60ml peg of spirits, 200ml of wine, or 400 ml of beer. Do not drink more than once or twice a week and never drink on two consecutive days.
9. Manage Stress: Stress and mental tension are caused by over ambition, at work, problems at work, difficult relationships, home problems, financial problems, health problems etc. These daily tensions are the prime cause for hypertension. Daily exercise, support from family and friends, helps to manage and reduce the effects of stress.
10. Rest and Relaxation: Sleep for at least 8 hours every night. Spend the weekends with family and friends. Cultivate a hobby and take a 10 to 15-day break from work and give yourself a well-deserved holiday at least once or twice a year.

Yoga and Naturopathy for Hypertension

Hypertension or increased blood pressure is a staggering health problem today. It has become very common and about 20 percent of adults all over the world suffer with hypertension without even knowing, as it remains asymptomatic until late in its course. Hence it is called a silent killer.

 Its effects when unattended are devastating, affecting every system of the body, and could be fatal. 50 years ago, hypertension or high blood pressure was a relatively uncommon condition.Today, it has become more than just a chronic complaint. It has become a disease of the affluent and middle class population. It still poses a challenge for the medical world for its dependency on continuous medication, and is the most common risk factor for heart attacks."

Blood Pressure and Hypertension
The force with which the heart pumps blood through arteries to reach various parts of body is called blood pressure. The pressure is greatest when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. This is called systolic pressure. The pressure is lower during the relaxation phase of heart and is known as diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure in an adult male (20 – 50 years) during systole when a left ventricle contracts is around 100 - 140 mm of Hg, and during diastole when left ventricle relaxes is around 60 - 90 mm of Hg. Without this pressure, blood will not be able to supply the body oxygen, food and essential nutrients. The pressure varies with physical and mental activity and from person to person with an average of 120 / 80mm of Hg. When the blood pressure is constantly recorded above 140/90 mm of Hg in successive intervals, then it is called hypertension.

Source: Apollo Life

Spine Health and Signs of an Ageing Spine

Curves are a normal part of the spine’s structure. A side view of the spine resembles a soft ‘S’ shape. The normal curves are termed lordosis and kyphosis. However, the natural curves should not be mistaken for spinal disorders also called Lordosis and Kyphosis.

Good posture is about all parts of the spine being in correct alignment so that the body weight is evenly distributed. This means that if someone is not in correct posture it can put strain on certain parts of the spine (usually the lumbar or lower back).

The spine is not straight and it was never meant to be straight. Each part of the spine has a soft curve to it. The curve directions alternate down the spine. These form a kind of spring that enables shock absorption by the spine. It would actually be very bad if the spine were to be straight!

During our lifetime, our spines are required to withstand considerable physical weight bearing stresses resulting from activities of daily living. As a result of these stresses, ‘wear and tear’ or degeneration occurs in all parts of the vertebral column. Degeneration which occurs in the spine as a consequence of daily living is considered part of the normal ageing process.

Signs Of An Ageing Spine:

Most people are concerned with changes in their body shape as they age. Although some changes inevitably occur with ageing, your lifestyle choices can slow down or speed up these changes. With age a person may become shorter. After the age of 40, people typically lose 1cm every 10 years and the height loss increases after the age of 70.

Some people live to old age without experiencing any of the symptoms typically associated with an ageing spine. Others may experience the following:

• Loss of bone density
• Spinal fracture, even from minor trauma
• Stiffness
• Decreased range of motion in the joints: difficulty in bending, twisting, or walking
• Discomfort or pain after long periods of sitting or standing
• Difficulty in getting up from a sitting position
• Difficulty in lifting heavy objects
• Loss of flexibility
• Increased susceptibility to back problems in colder weather

 Check out Apollo Life website to know what are the Conditions Associated With An Ageing Spine

Effectiveness of Liquid Diets

In today’s context and lifestyle, liquid diets not only help a lot by detoxifying your system, but are almost imperative to maintaining good health.

 Naturopathists are of the opinion that if you follow a liquid diet once a week, not only will this help the digestive system to rest but also allow it to get rid of toxins accumulated over time. In all, it energizes you, helps in rectifying water retention problems as well as it contributes to weight loss leading to a general overall feeling of well being.

A sample of a liquid diet that I have seen working with people I know is as follows:

You can kick start your day at, lets say, 7 a.m. by taking a glass of water and then every one hour, you can consume some form of a liquid diet alternating it with a glass of water, the next hour. The options are in plenty ranging from tea, coffee, juice (fruit/vegetable), buttermilk, soup and finally a cup of milk at 10 p.m. if you are hungry.

A Reiki master once told me about several juices that enhance a person’s well being. For example carrot and celery juice, chaal kurunda/white pumpkin juice, pomegranate juice and sweet-lime juice. All these juices should be combined with 6—8 glasses of water taken at various intervals.

Source: Apollo Life

Know Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts of Dates

Whether you are looking for a sweet treat with natural goodness or a nutritionally packed snack to fight fatigue, dates easily qualify as the perfect choice for most health enthusiasts. High in carbohydrates and fibre, and rich in exotic taste and essential minerals, dates can be a healthy addition to any diet.

 Originally dates came from the Middle East and South Asia. It was prominently so around the Persian Gulf and River Nile. Today they are grown extensively in the warm climate zones across Africa, Europe and Asia. The date fruit belongs to the ‘drupe’ category having a fleshy outer layer and an inner hardened pit with a seed.

Date variants are available either as the soft ‘Medjool’ and ‘Khadrawy’, the semi dry ‘Deglet Noor’ or the dry form ‘Thoory’. The popular and revered cultivars include ‘Medjool’, ‘Khadrawy’, ‘Amer Haji’, ‘Khalasah’, ‘Kenta’ and ‘Khajoor’.

Weighty Affair!

Dates are cholesterol free and loaded with dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These energy-dense delicious fruits are rich in potassium (which helps to check hypertension), calcium (which is useful for skeletal and dental health), selenium (the immunity booster), magnesium and copper.

If the antioxidants in dates are chiefly the powerful carotenoids, the vitamins comprise the entire range of the B complex – B6, niacin, and folic acid. It is also rich in amino acids. About 100 g of fresh dates provide 400 kcal approximately. So, the flip side is you must be careful about nibbling on too many dates! It is especially so if you are trying to watch your weight.

Browse our online health magazine Apollo Life to know more benefits of Dates.

Its all About King of Fruits - Mango

Delicious, fragrant, and a powerhouse of nutrients, this succulent fruit makes it to the top of almost every Indian’s list of favourite fruits.

A potent source of fibre and iron, mango is rich in Vitamins A, C, E and K. It contains significant amounts of phosphorus, manganese and potassism. The presence of flavonoids
and polyphenol antioxidants in the fruit provides a variety of health benefits

Digestion
The fibre found in mango helps regulate bowel movement and keeps constipation at bay. Mango contains digestive enzymes that help relieve acidity and break down proteins thereby aiding digestion

Diabetes
Mango has a low glycemic index - between 41 and 60 and it is known to reduce complications associated with diabetes. A decoction made with mango leaves is an excellent remedy for diabetics.

Heat Stroke
Unripe mango is a rich source of pectin. When steamed and juiced with cumin (jeera), rock salt and sugar, it offers relief against heat stroke or heat exhaustion in summer.

Cancer
New research suggests that the polyphenol antioxidant compounds in mango act as protection against breast and colon cancers. It is also rich in carotenes that are known to protect the body from cancers of the lung and oral cavity.

Source: ApolloLife

Benefits of Brahmi The Healing Herb!

Herbal healing is one of the most ancient forms of holistic healing. The latest Ayurvedic herb that is finding its wave in beauty and health care is none other than Bacopa. Known by different names such as Brahmi or Water Hyssop, this creeping herb with white and pink flowers grows wild across India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, China and Florida.

Best-known for its memory boosting and mood stabilizing capacities, the Bacopa or Brahmi is being extensively used in beauty treatments of the hair, body and skin because of its potent antioxidant properties.

Many centuries ago, the Bacopa herb was used as a tonic for the heart and the nervous system. The main credit for it being an ideal herb for increasing brain function goes to bacopasides, chemical compounds responsible for repairing damaged neurons in the brain.

Uses Of Brahmi

• To improve memory
• As a nerve and cardio tonic; helps in Alzheimer’s disease
• As a diuretic, to help solve urinary problems
• As an adaptogenic (to adapt and adjust to a new place); helps relieve anxiety
• Increases cognitive ability; helps in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Works as an antioxidant to purify the body of harmful toxins and impurities

Brahmi For Skin And Hair:

• It strengthens hair roots and helps in treating dandruff.
• Juice extracted from the plant is used for treating epilepsy.
• Brahmi oil, infused with sesame or coconut oil, has useful benefits for the hair. When massaged deep into the scalp, it helps promote healthy and strong hair, thereby preventing hair damage such as split ends and hair discolouration.
• It works as a cooling agent. Massage the head with Brahmi oil and it will surely give you a restful night’s sleep.
• Regular use of Brahmi oil helps increase concentration, improve retention and memory.
• A paste prepared from its leaves works as an antibacterial cure for
  treating Syphilitic sores.
• Brahmi oil, used in a warm bath, helps in treating dry and damaged skin.
• Powdered organic Brahmi, added to cream cleansers, works effectively as an effective exfoliant.
• Source: ApolloLife

Know Common Causes Of Occupational Nerve Injuries

Things like complex-regional pain syndrome or carpel tunnel syndrome account for some common occupational nerve injuries. All these injuries are mostly related to the peripheral nervous system. Injury to a peripheral nerve or a dysfunctional peripheral nerve can be cause for concern, because it can distort or interrupt the signals or communication between the brain and the related part of the body.

Patients with acute trauma are easily identifiable by the emergency of the event, as in the case of crush injury or laceration. But, repeated mechanical injuries resulting from external forces, as when using a tool in a certain manner or maintaining a body part in a certain position for long periods, may cause sub acute or chronic dysfunct of nerves. The affected person or worker is likely to overlook or ignore the problem until the impaired function affects productivity and safety.
Common Causes Of Occupational Nerve Injuries

• Laceration
• Focal contusion
• Stretching/traction injury
• Compression
• Electric injury

The peripheral nerves are susceptible to such injury because they do not have the barrier of protection that the skull or the spinal cord or the bloodstream provides to the other nerves.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of individual nerve dysfunction can be done with an assessment of the history of loss of specific motor and sensory function and with standard neurological examination. Nerve conduction test and electromyography study help in differentiating between lesser and higher grades of injury. If the nerve injury is a result of trauma, X-rays, CT scan or MRI scan may be needed to assess the associated injury to bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments. 

Source: ApolloLife

Some Ayurvedic Principles in Diet

Whilst the basic elements of a healthy balanced diet regime comprising fibre-dense grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts remain the same, an ayurvedic diet also outlines the specific foods which must be included or avoided as per the existing doshas in an individual. Such a personalised diet with a holistic approach ensures optimum health and vitality.

Ayurvedic Diet Principles

As per ayurvedic classification, our body’s metabolism is governed by three doshas or characteristic body humours which determine our physiology, temperament and risk to diseases. It is believed that the Panch Tatva i.e. jal, vayu, agni, aakash and prithvi make up our body and the way they work in our body is described as doshas, namely Vaata, Pitta and Kapha . Each dosha constitutes a combination of any two Tatva or elements and the two most predominant dosha decide the ‘Prakruti’ of an individual. This unique doshic thumbprint must be maintained and any imbalance or ‘vikriti’ in the dosha levels results in ailments. An ayurvedic practitioner analyses the individual’s prakruti, dosha tendencies, degree of ama (or toxins) and the strength of digestive fire before designing a customised ayurvedic diet.

Certain basic principles of an ayurvedic diet regime are:

A meal must include the six rasas or flavours like sweet (madhur), salty( lavana), sour (amla), pungent (tikha), bitter ( katu) and astringent (kasahaya). Each flavour or taste enjoys a unique impact on different doshas.  Vaata is pacified by sweet, sour and salty foods; kapha by bitter, pungent and astringent foods and pitta by sweet, pungent and astringent foods. But it is not as simple as a formula! For instance, eating more of vaata pacifying foods by a vaata person may aggravate his kapha dosha and again create imbalance. So moderation is the key.

Apollo Life will guide you more on types of different diet types.

Tooth Paste Types and their Main Purposes

The humble toothpaste makes its way into all our grocery lists. But how many of us are truly informed about this hygiene essential, is a different story altogether. The earliest toothpastes originated in India, Egypt and China. They were made of flower petals, salt and water mixed into a thick paste and rubbed onto teeth using twigs of medicinal plants. 

Modern day toothpastes have a base of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide along with various other additives which cater to a variety of dental requirements.

Types Of Toothpastes:

Just the number of options you have when you buy a tube of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control or fluoride or both? Not to mention whitening toothpastes or formulas with all natural ingredients. When it comes to choosing the best toothpaste for you, it’s important to think about your unique oral health needs.

• Fluoride Toothpaste

Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starch that remain on your teeth after eating. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acid that is released when this happens. It works in two ways. First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and therefore it is less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by re-mineralising areas that have started to deca.

• Toothpaste For Sensitive Teeth

For people who have teeth that are easily irritated - for instance, by hot or cold temperatures - there are toothpastes that are specially formulated for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These chemical compounds, which can take up to four weeks to offer relief, reduce tooth sensitivity by blocking pathways through the teeth that attach to nerves.

• Whitening Toothpaste

To help people on a quest for pearly whites, many whitening toothpastes are now being marketed for everyday use. Whitening toothpastes do not typically contain bleaches. Instead, they contain abrasive particles or chemicals that effectively polish the teeth or bind to stains and help pull them off the tooth surface. Although you might be concerned that the abrasiveness of whitening toothpastes could damage your teeth, studies suggest that whitening toothpastes are no harder on tooth enamel than other types of toothpastes.

Read our site ApolloLife to know how to Choose The Best Toothpaste?

Underarm Sweating can be Treatable

Excessive sweating of the underarms is called axillary hyperhidrosis. Although neurologic, metabolic and other systemic diseases can sometimes cause excessive sweating, most cases occur in people who are otherwise healthy(primary hyperhidrosis).

Heat and emotions may trigger hyperhidrosis in some, but many who suffer from hyperhidrosis sweat nearly all the time, regardless of their mood or the weather.

Treatment :

Over-the-counter antiperspirants:
Home remedies like these are usually tried first because they are readily available. Antiperspirants containing aluminum chloride (for example: by Dove or Oriflame) may be more effective when other antiperspirants have failed. So-called "natural"antiperspirants are often not very helpful.

Prescription-strength antiperspirants:
These are the ones containing aluminum chloride hexahydrate.

Iontophoresis:
A device that passes direct electricity through the skin using tap water – difficult to use.

Oral medications:
From the group of medications known as anticholinergics, which reduce sweating – have uncomfortable adverse effects.

Botox (botulinum toxin):
Has been approved in the U.S. by the FDA for treating excessive axillary (underarm) sweating.

Surgery:
Cervical sympathectomy (ETS), as a last resort.

Check out ApolloLife website to know what is the Role of Botox in order to treat excessive sweating.

Explore various options for Childcare

The outlook for a child with a hole in the heart is very good, irrespective of whether it is remedied by surgical intervention or non-surgical intervention. Explore the options for the child in your care.

 The commonest of the birth defects observed in infants and newborns are largely related to the heart. The incidence of congenital pediatric cardiac abnormality is almost one in every 100 pregnancies. The diagnosis may be made during pregnancy or sometimes after the birth of the baby. The diagnosis of heart defects in a newborn or pediatric cardiac abnormality or pediatric cardiac ailment usually involves a pediatrician hearing a heart murmur. A heart murmur happens to be an abnormal heart sound. A cardiologist comes into the picture for confirmation – he will perform an echocardiogram to confirm whether the heart murmur is from an abnormality or whether it is just an innocent murmur. An abnormality noted thus is often a condition of the heart, which on occasions also warrants surgical intervention.


Cardiac defects in newborns and infants are mainly of two types -
One of them is the case where the newborn or the baby turns blue and the case where the baby does not turn blue. Almost all conditions in which the baby turns blue require surgical intervention. The other may be treated by balloon angioplasty or device closure. Both these methods are nonsurgical. The more common defect is a ‘hole in the heart’.

Pure And Impure Run Ins

The case presenting as a ‘hole in the heart’ may be a ventricular defect or an atrial defect. The isolated hole is found between the chambers carrying red and blue blood (pure or oxygenated blood and impure or deoxygenated blood respectively). The condition arising from an isolated hole in the heart should not be confused with conditions where a hole is present in association with many other abnormalities of the heart. The outlook for a child with a hole in the heart is very good, irrespective of whether it is remedied by surgical intervention or non-surgical intervention; non-surgical remedy is generally done through stenting or angioplasty as in adults.

A hole in the heart results in extra blood flow to the lungs. The affected child is susceptible to chest infections and has difficulty in gaining weight; the child’s parents and guardians will encounter problems when feeding the child.

ApolloLife guide you to know further on the heart care condition in kids.

Things to know about Asthma

No one really knows what causes asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways in the lungs. The consensus is that a mix of hereditary and environmental factors cause it, but the scientific community is still to crack the ‘how exactly’.

 What every asthma patient knows too well though, is that it causes recurring attacks of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing.

Tightening Airways:

Asthma makes the airways become extra-sensitive, when the inflammation lasts a while. Various triggers like allergens, viruses, dust, smoke, stress, etc. can then cause faster and impacting damage, by:

• Swelling up the airways, making them narrower, limiting the airflow.
• Tightening the muscles that surround the airways, making them even narrower
• Producing too much mucus, which blocks the airways
• Making the airways extra-sensitive to irritants

Sitting Ducks:

• Blame it on the genes, but you are more likely to get asthma if it’s been already running in your family.
• Children with eczema or food allergy are more likely than other children to develop asthma.
• If you have an existing allergy to pollen, house dust mites or pets, your chances for developing this illness go up.
• Exposure to tobacco smoke, air pollution or other inhaled irritants can also cause asthma symptoms.

 Browse Apollo Life to know more details on Asthma and its treatment.

Facts about Endometriosis

As the lining of the uterus is also in the intestines and stomach region they have other problems like constipation, flatulence and painful bowel movements? Hence how can it to cured? 

Yes if the disease is sometimes spread to other organs surgical treatment can cure, but many times these women require some kind of medication lifelong.

Feeling of bloating or altered bowel habits is one of the nonspecific symptoms often ignored by women. In fact the gold standard method of diagnosis of endometriosis is laparoscopy. 

It is also one of the reasons for three types of ovarian cancer, which are they and how many such cases are found in India? 

Yes studies have shown that women who have endometriosis can have 2-3 times higher chances of developing certain types of ovarian cancer namely endometroid or clear cell ovarian carcinoma. 

At which stage does the cancer develop in these women? 

This is s a difficult to answer this question. We do not know if all women with endometriosis will develop cancer and if so when. It is important for women with endometriosis to be in follow up of a doctor and take appropriate treatment as and when required.

Author: Dr.Rooma Sinha