Know your Body signals...

The human body has delightful ways
of sending out warning signals. Here
are a few signs you wouldn't have
seen coming
The mystery of the human body
never ceases to surprise. Did you
know, laughing after meals is
actually good for you, or that
premature graying of hair could
possibly be a malfunctioning thyroid
glad? Here are a few interesting
telling signs that the body sends out
on a regular basis that we often
miss out on. Take a closer look at
what it's telling you.
Painful ankles could signify
cholesterol problems
According to researchers, painful
ankles can be an early warning of
inherited high-cholesterol levels. It
hurts as cholesterol builds up around
the Achilles tendon.
What to do: If your ankles
regularly hurt for three days or
more, see your doctor for a
cholesterol check, especially if other
family members have heart
problems.
Strong lungs lower the risk of
alzheimer's disease
Studies show that poor lung
functioning leads to the brain
receiving less oxygen which
increases the risk of dementia.
What to do: Strengthen lungs by
inhaling for five seconds then
exhaling hard for the same. Repeat
six times daily to boost lung
strength by almost 20 percent.
Grey hair before 30 can
signify thyroid problems
Trichologists say, thyroid
imbalances can interfere with colour
production in hair follicles.
What to do: If you've got early
greying hair, plus other possible
symptoms such as weight loss/ gain,
depression and period problems, visit
your doctor for a thorough checkup.
Treating gum disease cuts the
risk of giving birth
prematurely
Bacteria in infected gums may
cause a reaction that triggers the
cervix to open early.
What to do: Floss daily. And if
you're pregnant, make the most of
your dental check ups - getting
problems treated early in pregnancy
cuts premature labour risk by 70 per
cent, says research.
Keeping your feet warm cuts
chances of catching a cold
When feet are cold the blood vessels
in the nose constrict, which stops
infection-fighting white blood cells
from getting around.
What to do: Wear socks! Keeping
things warm ensures your defences
work at full power.
Laughing after meals reduces
blood sugar levels
It's believed the muscles we use to
giggle burn blood sugar for energy,
reducing your risk of diabetes,
obesity and some cancers.
What to do: Relax in front of your
favourite sitcom after dinner.
Talking and walking at the same
time can lead to back pain
Walking and talking prevents us
from synchronising our breathing
with our feet hitting the ground,
which normally absorbs some of the
shock of walking.
What to do: Next time your mobile
rings while you're shopping, sit
down!
Clenching your buttocks can
stop you from fainting
If you get dizzy after standing up
too quickly, or feel yourself getting
light-headed, this simple move
causes blood to surge to the brain
stopping the fainting.
What to do: Keeping both feet on
the floor, cross one leg over the
other, squeeze your legs and
buttocks together as hard as you
can. Hold position for 30 seconds.
Ignoring back aches is bad for
your brain
Doctors found that people who had
back aches for more than a year,
had up to 11 percent fewer brain
cells in the areas of their brain that
control learning. It's believed the
stress of dealing with the pain
adversely affects cells.
What to do: Get help from doctors
immediately. If treated early, most
back problems can be cured.
Being fat doubles your risk of
headaches
Excess weight causes inflammation
of blood vessels in the head that are
known to cause pain.
What to do: Start slimming down
to reduce pain, and switch to a
natural headache remedies. Taking
painkillers every day can actually
cause headaches.
If your penis isn't performing,
your heart might not be either
According to latest research,
erectile dysfunction might be an
early sign of narrowing blood
vessels.
What to do: Don't go online and
order Viagra, instead, see your
doctor and get a full health check.
Trust us, they've seen it all before.
Slouching makes you crave
sugar even more
Doctors believe slouching reduces
bloodflow to the brain, triggering
sugar cravings (as less glucose
reaches the appetite centre of the
brain).
What to do: Sit up straight. Keep
your feet flat on the floor, lengthen
your spine and tighten your tummy
to push your back against the chair.
Treating colds could adversely
affect your fertility
Medicines that dry up nasal
secretions can also reduce the
amount of cervical mucus you
secrete, making it harder for sperm
to reach your cervix, say doctors.
What to do: Avoid decongestants.
Try topical remedies such as Vicks
to un-bung things instead.

Are you feeling midday tiredness..?

The midday tiredness is a by-
product of a modern lifestyle that
keeps us always on the move, hardly
leaving us with time to stop and
have a proper breakfast. At work,
you'll see colleagues drinking cups
and cups of coffee just to stay
awake or engaging in mindless
chatter to bide time and ward off
boredom. But why are we prepared
to give up on the day by noon while
pending work mounts, and there is
so much more to generally go
through?
We talk to experts on the reasons
for the dismal energy levels at
noon, and how best we can correct
it.
No goodnight's sleep
Most of us bring the office home,
continue to talk on the phone, or
work on laptops and endlessly watch
television till midnight. This takes
away from our prime sleep hours
that help restore tired nerves and
rejuvenates the body. A routine of
sleeping late and waking up early,
and then rushing to work, leaves you
exhausted much sooner in the day.
Get at least 7-8 hours of
undisturbed sleep. Preferably, turn
your cell phones off while you do
so.
No time for play
When you have no exercise routine
sketched out, you do burn out
faster. Agreed, morning hours are
the busiest, but it is not easy to
squeeze in a brief workout schedule.
Anything from brisk walks, jogging,
skipping to running on the treadmill
helps, if going to the gym is too
far-fetched an idea for you. An
evening workout is not half as
effective as an early morning warm
up sets the pace for the remainder
of the day. If nothing else, it
secretes 'happy hormones' which
gives your body the much-needed
inward push.
Anxious, all the time
Taking too much stress not only
gives you high blood pressure, but
reduces your attention span as well.
Avoid being restless and edgy, and
consciously try to stay happy and
hassle-free. Take pride in your
work, your family, your house and
your surroundings. It'll keep you
going.
No time for breakfast
Most people who feel tired by
afternoon are the ones that skip
breakfast in favour of a large
lunch. If you do not take meals in
the designated time frame, it'll
affect your hormonal secretion and
leave you lethargic. Not taking
breakfast works up your appetite,
and subsequently, you overdo the
lunch.
Tips to stay vivacious
- Take a timely and balanced
breakfast comprising a bowl of
oats, or cereals of your choice,
fruits, and toast with some butter
or margarine on it.
- Avoid drinking too much coffee
or tea after breakfast and before
lunch. Not only are you ruining your
appetite, the excess caffeine makes
you anxious as well.
- Don't overeat at lunchtime as
you are bound to feel tired for the
rest of the day. However, your
lunch should be a right balance of
carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
You can take chapattis, a bowl of
dal, and a portion of green
vegetables. Non-vegetarians can
substitute dal with chicken stew,
both a source of proteins. Try to
avoid rice in the afternoon as it will
invariable give you a belly bulge. In
fact, if you go for a balanced diet
at lunchtime, you wouldn't require
any of the calcium and multi-
vitamin supplements.
- Sleep adequately at night.
- Swing into action an exercise
schedule. Be it heavy duty
gymming or a workout at home.
- Drink at least 8-10 glasses of
water though the day.
- Avoid snacking between
breakfast and lunch. It's good to
indulge in fresh fruits of various
hues. From apples, peaches, oranges,
berries, pomegranate to banana,
fruits have their own distinctive
properties, and are an abundant
source of Vitamin A, C, potassium
and flavonoids among others.
- Potato chips are a total diet
killer. Take sprouts instead. You can
even carry it in a little box with you
to work, and have it when you feel
the urge to snack. It keeps you
fresh and your body, lighter.

How to live a healthy longer life.

According to scientists, our genetic
make-up is thought to contribute
just 25 per cent to how long we live.
The real key involves simple
measures such as regular exercise,
indulging in pleasant natter with
friends and eating healthy food, a
newspaper has reported.
Age UK, a charity, states that it's
never too early or too late to adopt
a healthy lifestyle so as to improve
one's later life. Some of these
changes include having enough
good-quality sleep, engaging
socially with other people and
staying positive about ageing. These
simple steps can make a world of a
difference to how people age.
It also suggests that people should
engage in regular exercise, have a
healthy and moderate diet, undergo
regular medical check-ups and not
smoke. One should also take care to
protect one's eyes from sun-
damage.
People are also encouraged, for both
their physical and mental well-
being, to keep an eye on their
pensions and to seek expert financial
advice when necessary.
Ian Philp, the professor who helped
produce the information said, "We
really can influence how we age. For
example, it may seem obvious but
regular health check-ups are really
very important, especially when one
starts getting older.
"Getting an early diagnosis of an
illness, taking advantage of
screening programmes and being
up-to- date with vaccines etc., are
all crucial. Other tips I must mention
are engaging socially with others
and staying positive about ageing."
This study is especially relevant to
India as a very large percentage of
our population comprises youth, and
these tips will ensure their health as
they age.