HOME REMEDIES - I

The following suggestion have been practised by me at some or the other stage in my life and found to be very useful. So I am listing them here. 

For gas problems chew a few pieces of ginger which will help wonderfully. If it is not possible to chew ginger pieces, take dry ginger. One more alternative is in mornings instead of coffee, drinking ginger tea is of great help. 

Hot water helps to clean your stomach. Take a cup of hot water either soon after brushing your teeth in the morning or at the time of going to bed in the night.

Drinking water in the morning as soon as brushing the teeth is so helpful in preventing acidity developing in the stomach and keeps it fit for the whole day.

Omam and Jeera, half a spoon of each in warm water, taken sip by sip cures from indigestion and stomach upset. 

Take half spoon of dry ginger, a pinch of turmeric, half a spoon of palm candy, a pinch of pepper powder and either jaggery or sugar, small quantity in 150 ml water. Let this boil for about 3 minutes. Drink this concoction slowly. This will cure cold and sore throat. 

Drinking buttermilk with either Jaljira or fresh curry leaves keeps the stomach free from acidity. 

For heart burn due to acidity one can have a small amount of Fenugreek powder mixed either in water or bittermilk. 

If you are feeling heavy after a meal try Dabur's hajmola. It really helps!. As one ages, the digestion gets slower. 

Of course, meditation and yoga are great healers. Kapal bati is particularly helpful to keep stomach (madhya pradesh) under check. 

Another very effective general remedy has been suggested by Art of living Sri Sri Ravishankar ji. I have practised it and it helps to take care of bad bacteria in the digestive system. Take 5 to 6 pieces of cucumber in about 150  ml water and soak it overnight. In the morning squeeze a few drops of lemon juice in it and drink this on an empty stomach. This is called alkalinising the body and is very effective. 

PRESENT STATE OF MEDICINE

Ever since the advent of Corporate Hospitals, the human beings have become a saleable commodity for the Doctors. There is a lot of insensitivity in handling the patients. The soothing touch is sadly lacking. In the name of comfort, lot of things are provided for except the curing (and caring) hand. Doctors are under increasing pressure from their Hospital Marketing personnel to keep the beds always occupied and to look for ways to increase revenue for the hospital.

Earlier the body temperature and pulse rates of the patients were taken by the Doctors. Today even the nurses consider it below their dignity to handle these. Nowadays, in many Hospitals these are left to the trainee nurses, that too in the ICU. Witness the harsh words of the nurses nowadays, that which was a noble, respected profession. True, they were not earning much and their work was considered was menial, but I have known patients who have worshipped them as Gods and Godesses.

I wonder whether the costly and exalted instruments which they use do really contribute to the recovery of the patients. Just like, a jail is supposed to reform the criminals, not increase their antagonization, the same way, a hospital is supposed to cure the patients. Is it happening?.

IDENTIFY A STROKE

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters.... S. T. R.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a woman stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening

Jane's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital -
(at 6:00 pm Jane passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)

(i.e. It is sunny out today.)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency numberimmediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

HOPE FOR HEART PATIENTS

I had earlier mentioned that undergoing Angioplasty or By-pass surgery is not without risks as they are invasive techniques. The remedy offered by these techniques are limited as they take care of only those arteries mended during operation. They cannot in any way rule of possibility of recurrence in other arteries.

There is one Doctor at New Delhi by the name of Dr.Bimal Chhajer who has done extentive studies on the subject of Coronary Heart Diseases (CHD). He has founded SAAOL Research Centre at Lajpatnagar-IV in New Delhi. According to him the blockages in arteries occur due to the deposition of fat. He has a credible solution to the patients suffering from CHDs. By a combination of oil-free diet, yoga, dhyana and walking which have to be strictly adhered to, he feels that the heart blockages can be reversed (This view is not held by allopathy doctors). I am myself a patient of this doctor and in the last 1-1/2 years have seen marked improvement in my condition. Moreover, the treatment is affordable by middle-class people. The doctor's camps are conducted at regular intervals at all major cities. One can avoid the costly Angioplasty and By-Pass surgeries. The contact address and numbers are;

SAAOL Heart Center, 14/84-85, Vikram Vihar, Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi - 110024.
Tel : 011-26235168, 26283098, 26211908 Fax : 26212016 email: info@saaol.com
Website: www.saaol.com

SAAOL's Regional Centers:
South Zone - Bangalore Mr.S.S.Prasad / Ramani 3/1, 4th Teple Street, 13nth Cross Malleswaram, Bangalore - 560003. Tel : 080-23310856, 23344626. Mobile : 9343736554 email; ssprasad@yahoo.com

West Zone - Mumbai Mr.Deepak Dalal B-301, Gold Mist, Thakur Complex, Kandivili (E), Mumbai - 400101. Tel : 022-56995378, 28543088 Fax : 022-28544217

East Zone - Kolkata Mr.Praveen 65/4A, Flat No. 1A, Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata - 300025
Tel : 033-30930329, 24545981 Mobile ; 9330870713

SAAOL Products are available at the following places;
Chennai Sales Office : Mr.Kamal Chhajer c/o Jeans Park India Pvt. Ltd., 566, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600018 Tel : 044-24337236, 55360450

Hyderabad Sales Office : Mr.S.L.Chhajer Sarda Adeifice, Flat No. 203, H.No.3-5-590 Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad - 500029 Tel : 23224084

ANGIOPLASTY OR BYPASS FOR HEART BLOCKAGE

Whenever there is a blockage in the arteries of the heart the patient is generally advised angioplasty or a Bypass surgery depending on the severity of the blockage and the artery in which the blockage has occurred. This has become almost very common nowadays and is being performed by Doctors routinely. The operation may be one of the many that the Doctor may be performing but for the patient, it is for the first time. Often, no effort is made to put the patient at ease and therefore he is given no time and no choice but to undergo whatever the Doctor prescribes.

But there is no need for patients to feel alarmed whenever one has a heart attack. God has given our body excellent powers to administer it’s own medicines and remedial measures even in case of emergency. But we have take attention within a time period beyond which the body may loose its capacity to fight back. In case of heart the time for attention is within the first 6 hours. Therefore one must get attention and medication within the first 6 hours. Therefore while immediate medication is being given there is time for one to consider and plan a curative and lasting remedy.

Both Angioplasty and Bypass are by no means lasting remedies and there are risks associated with these. Blocks may reoccur in the same artery or another after a period of time. Therefore the lasting remedy in such a situation is to get rid of the causes of heart attacks. This is to reduce the thickening of the arteries which can cause the blockage. Towards this purpose one’s diet is very important. Cholesterol (fats) and Triglycerides have to maintained under strict control in the body. For this purpose the diet has be simple and calorie intake has to be watched. Weight and Blood Pressure has to be maintained at acceptable levels. Regular exercise, walking and meditation have to be practised regularly. The mind has to be kept calm and without worries. One must lead a simple life and enjoy everyday life.

The good news is that there are alternatives to Angioplasty and Bypass surgeries. One is known as PAN Angiography. Angiogram need not be performed to know the level of blockage in the heart. There is something called as Scan 64 machine which is non-invasive scan of the heart. Once the position and extent of the blockage is known, then the patient can be made to undergo PAN Angiography which can reduce the blockage and cure this disease. The duration of this treatment is about one month daily for about 2 hours.

The other is Biochemical Angioplasy which is an injection given everday for 30 days and results in the dissolving of the blockages. These are easy to undergo and costs much less than Angoiplasty and Bypass surgery. An added advantage is that both are non-invasive techniques. Therefore there is no need of hospitalization, no foreign bodies inside the body and no pain associated with surgeries.

CHOICE OF FOOD

Apples - Protects your heart Prevents constiption Blocks diarrhoea Improves lung capacity Cushions joints

Apricots - Combats cancer Controls blood pressure Saves your eyesight Shields against Alzhiemer's Slows ageing process

Artichocks - Aids digestion Lowers cholestrol Protects your heart Stabilizes blood sugar Guards against liver diseases

Avocados - Battles diabetes Lowers cholestrol Helps stop strokes Controls blood pressure Smoothes skin

Bananas - Protects heart Quiets a cough Strengthens bones Controls blood pressure Blocks diarrhoea

Beans - Prevents constipation Prevents hemorrhoids Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Stabilizes blood sugar

Beets - Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Strengths bones Protects heart Aids weight loss

Blue-berries - Combats cancer Protects heart Stabilizes blood sugar Boosts memory Prevents constipation

Broccoli - Strengths bones Saves eyesight Combats cancer Protects heart Controls blood pressure

Cabbage - Combats cancer Prevents constipation Promotes weight loss Protects heart Prevents hemorrhoids

Canta-loupe - Saves eyesight Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Supports immune system

Carrots - Saves eyesight Protects heart Prevents constipation Combats cancer Promotes weight loss

Cauli-flower - Protects against prostate cancer Combats breast cancer Strengthens bones Banishes bruises Guards against heart diseases

Cherries - Protects heart Combats cancer Ends insomnia Slows ageing process Shields against Alzhiemer's

Chestnut - Promotes weight loss Protects heart Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Controls blood pressure

Chillipeppers - Aids digestion Soothes sore throat Clears sinuses Combats cancer Boosts immune system

Figs - Promotes weight loss Helps stop strokes Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Controls blood pressure

Fish - Protects heart Boosts memory Protects heart Combats cancer Supports immune system

Flax - Aids digestion Battles diabetes Protects heart Improves mental health Boosts immune system

Garlic - Lowers cholesterol Controls blood pressure Combats cancer Kills bacteria Fights fungus

Grape-fruit - Protects against heart attacks Promotes weight loss Helps stop strokes Combats prostate cancer Lowers cholesterol

Grapes - Saves eyesight Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Enhances blood flow Protects heart

Greentea - Combats cancer Protects heart Helps stop strokes Promotes weight loss Kills bacteria

Honey - Heals woumds Aids digestion Guards against ulers Increases energy Fights allergies

Lemons - Combats cancer Protects heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skins Stops scurvy

Limes - Combats cancer Protects heart Controls blood pressure Smoothes skins Stops scurvy

Mangoes - Combats cancer Boosts memory Regulates thyroid Aids digestion Shields against Alzhiemer's

Mushrooms - Controls blood pressure Lowers cholesterol Kills bacteria Combats cancer Strengthens bones

Oats - Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Battles diabtes Prevents constipation Smoothes skins

Oliveoil - Protects heart Promotes weight loss Combats cancer Battles diabetes Smoothes skins

Onions - Reduce risk of heart attacks Combats cancer Kills bacteria Lowers cholestrol Fights fungus

Oranges - Supports immune system Combats cancer Protects heart Straightens respiration

Peaches - Prevents constipation Combats cancer Helps stop strokes Aids digestion Helps hemorrhoids

Peanuts - Protects against heart diseases Promotes weight loss Combats prostate cancer Lowers cholesterol Aggravates diverticulites

Pineapple - Strengthens bones Relieves colds Aids digestion Dissolves warts locks diarrhoea

Prunes - Slows ageing process Prevents constipation Boosts memory Lowers cholesterol Protects against heart diseases

Rice - Protects heart Battles diabetes Conquers kidney stones Combats cancer Helps stop strokes

Straw-berries - Combats cancer Protects heart Boosts memory Calms stress

Sweetpotatoes - Saves eyesight Lifts moods Combats cancer Strengthens bones

Tomatoes - Protects prostate Combats cancer Lowers cholesterol Protects heart

Walnuts - Lowers cholesterol Combats cancer Boosts memory Lifts mood Protects against heart diseases

Water - Promotes weight loss Combats cancer Conquers kidney stones Smoothes skins Reduces stomach acidity

Water-melon - Protects prostate Promotes weight loss Lowers cholesterol Helps stop strokes Controls blood pressure

Wheatgerm - Combats colon cancer Prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stop strokes Improves digestion

Wheatbran - Combats colon cancer Prevents constipation Lowers cholesterol Helps stop strokes Improves digestion

Yogurt - Guards against ulcers Strengthens bones Lowers cholesterol Supports immune system Aids digestion

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICAL TREATMENTS

Conventional Medicine or Allopathy : This is the most widespread form of Medical Treatment which involves diagnosis, treatment and in some cases surgery. There has been lot of research done and the procedures are well documented. But it is expensive. There has been tremendous advancement made in diagnostic methods and treatment. There is however criticism that this type of treatment is only palliative and not curing. There is growing disillusionment with Allopathy due to its temporary healing ability and its alarming side effects.

Ayurvedic Medicine: This is an ancient medical treatment that originated in India long long ago. It is derived from two words, ‘Ayus’ denoting life and ‘Veda’ implying knowledge.
The treatment is based on plant herbs which are ground and made into a paste and applied to the body. The ancient medical practitioners of this treatment were of the belief that both the body and the mind are to be treated for any illness. Ayurveda emphasiasis holistic living. It does not merily incorporate physical well-being but, includes your lifestyles such as your diet,clothing, the way you conduct yourself and a host of other aspects. The treatments are described in various ancient literatures which are scattered, well documented but may not be easily understood. It was generally passed on down the hierarchy. This form of treatment is closely associated with nature. Ayurveda is being revived now and this can become popular in the coming years.

Homeopathy: Homeopathy has a German origin . The name is derived from the Greek word, ‘Homeo’ meaning similar and ‘Pathos’ meaning suffering or treatment by the same. It is said to improve ones immune system and then cure the disease.This branch of medical treatment is based on drug and rare-metal formulations which have found favour with people. This method of treatment takes into account the patients family history. The treatment is prolonged and takes a long duration. There is claim that there are medicines for even the most dreaded diseases.

Unani Medicine : the fundamentals of Unani medicine are similar to that of Ayurveda. This form of treatment originated from ancient Greece. Like Ayurveda it recognizes that body is made up of four elements, viz., Water, Fire, Earth and Air. i.e., khoon (blood), balgam(phlegm), safra (yellow bile), and sauda (black bile). In Unani it is believed that if any imbalances occur in these in the body then it is to be treated accordingly.

Pranic Healing : This form of treatment is based on curing of the physical body through the mind and ones breathing patterns. This form of treatment believes that any disharmony in breathing, if addressed properly can lead to the cure of the disease.

COUNT YOUR CALORIES

It is necessary for one to maintain his body weight nowadays if they want to contain the many diseases that plague humankind. One must maintain his Body Mass Index that we discussed in the last topic. Therefore one must plan one’s food intake. The following calculation will make it easier to calculate ones calorie intake that will help to maintain one’s BMI.

It is found that calorie requirement of an individual is about 1600 Calories, not more, not less.

It is divided for various times as follows;
Breakfast 25 % --- 400 Cals.
Lunch 35% --- 560 Cals.
Evening Snacks 10% --- 160 Cals.
Dinner 30% --- 480 Cals.

We eat three kinds of food everyday. They are carbohydrates, Proteins and fats. These break down to give energy, which is measured in calories. If these calories are not spent then they accumulate in the body tissues and that is how one tends to put on more weight. The energy giving capacity of these three types of food are;
Carbohydrates --- 4 Cals / gm.
Proteins --- 4 Cals / gm
Fats --- 9 Cals / gm.

Food like rice, wheat and flour are sources of carbohydrates.
Food like Dals, soya and meat are sources of Proteins.
Food like Ghee, Butter, oils are sources of fats.
Vegetables and fruits contain fewer calories. They are sources of vitamins and minerals.

The food intake can be calculated as follows;

If one chapatti weighs 75 grams, it gives 75 calories energy.
100 gms of rice give 100 calories.
A gulab Jamun that weighs 50 grams gives 450 calories.
100 gms of vegetables or fruits give 30 – 40 calories only. Therefore more intakes of vegetables and fruits are preferred. Exceptions are potatoes (100 gms give 100 cals, Banana 100 cals.)

If one eats 4 chapattis and 200gms of vegetables, he gets 380 cals. A cup of Curd/Dahi made from toned (30 gms ) milk will give approximately 150 cals.

The calorie intake depends on one’s physical efforts. If one is doing strenuous physical work he may require more calories accordingly.

( The above information sourced from Dr. Bimal Chajjer’s SAAOL Foundation, New Delhi ).

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

If one is fat or not is determined by their Body Mass Index. The BMI is calculated by the following method.

Body Mass Index = Weight in Kgs / Sq. of (Height in Meters )

for Eg. Consider that the weight of a person is 70 Kgs and his height is 172 cms.
( i.e 1.72 Meters ). His Body Mass Index is :

BMI = 70 / (1.72 X 1.72) = 23.66

If the BMI is greater than 25 an individual is overweight and if it more than 30 he or she is obese.

Ideal BMI is between 20 and 25.

COMMON PROBLEMS IN TODAY'S WORLD

There are some problems in the world which affect the health of the people.

POLLUTION : Today’s environment is not the same what it was 25 years ago. That time it was not the same it was 50 years ago. Today there are more factories producing various goods. There are more vehicles on the roads. While one may argue that they have made life more comfortable, these have created their own problems also. Factories have contributed a great deal to air & water pollution, which have affected the quality of air we breathe and the water we consume. Vehicle exhausts have increased the level of toxicity in the air and affected our atmosphere. Affected parts are our lungs and respiratory system.

STRESS : Our work atmosphere has become more fast-paced and complicated thereby contributing to the stress, both physically and mentally. This stress has given rise to lot of health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, spondilytis, gastric disorders etc.
Stress is basically a resistance of our mind to something. Our expectations are many and if the happenings are different from our expectations we develop stress. Some amount of stress is actually good for us as it makes us to pursue something in life. But in today’s complicated world there are many stress producers. Stress can be tackled by meditation. Meditation is the single biggest remedy for stress. Other stress busters are change in lifestyle, walking, exercising etc.
Cacophony of noises through television also produces stress particularly in Children. Adults too can get affected by it in a passive way though they may not be watching children’s programmes.

IMPURE FARM OUTPUTS: Due to indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides by some farmers the vegetables and fruits have high level of toxicity which when consumed can created disorders. Often we find colour variations in vegetables, their tastes etc. which are a result of pesticides/fertilizers misuse or overuse.

LACK OF GENERAL HYGIENE: People in some places do not follow hygiene. They throw garbage onto the roads. They spit, urinate and defecate at all places. Water is allowed to accumulate in open grounds which breed mosquitoes and other insects which cause deadly diseases. In some places the gutters and sewers are open causing bad breath and harmful bacteria that can spread many types of diseases.

VANISHING NATURE: Nature is being repeatedly abused instead of being preserved. Forests are destroyed to satisfy the greed of a few individuals. Animals are shot for their skins and their body parts again for money, thereby making some species extinct. All these play havoc with the cycle of nature. Trees in cities are felled to make way for roads, but not enough are planted to compensate their loss. Rivers are drying up causing water scarcity and killing aquatic life.

CHANGING SOCIAL ORDERS: There are a lot of things changing socially. There is materialism all around with money as the chief ambition in life. Joint family system is breaking down to give way for smaller families. The cases of divorces between husband and wife are increasing. Good age-old values are becoming obsolete and there are no takers for these values among today’s younger generation. It is as if people enter into this kind of life though they know that it spells doom for them. Violence and crimes are on the rise. People are self-centered and do not care for their neighbours or the fellow citizens. Drinking and drug abuse are on the rise and young are becoming victims of these vices.

One mention here has to be made about smoking. There has been such a widespread campaign against smoking that probably has reduced this phenomenon among the people. Otherwise smoking has lead to innumerable problems affecting health. Similarly successful campaign is the one against HIV and AIDS which did produce appreciable results.

ORGANS IN THE BODY - II

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM : The digestive system in our body consists of the mouth, the food pipe called as the esophagus, duodenum or the small stomach, stomach, the small intestine and the large intestine. Food when we eat starts getting digested in our mouth. This is the reason one must eat slowly so that the food particles are ground well making it easy for digestion. The food passes through the food pipe into the deodenum and then the stomach. Stomach is the main part which digests the food. The muscles of the stomach grind the food thoroughly. Liver supplies the stomach with the necessary enzymes and dfigestive juices that are necessary in breaking down the food particles. If the food eaten is too hot or spicy or fried then it puts the stomach into a lot of burden and the walls on the stomach get damaged causing blisters. This is the ulceration condition of the stomach. The food then passes into the small intestine where the digestion process continues through the long tube it is. The large intestine is the place where the excreta of the food are stored which is then excreted through the anus.

The digestive system is the place which is exposed to the external particles like the food and therefore more prone to getting damaged. Therefore one must consume food carefully and in moderation so as not to put too much burden on the digestive system. The food consumed must be clean, free from chemicals, dirt, insects and other impurities. The vegetables and grains must be cleaned thoroughly. Hands must be washed before having food. One must also not let the stomach be empty for a long time because the enzymes & acids which come into the stomach to digest food will go unutilized and therefore can cause ulceration in the stomach or in the intestines. Indigestion must be address carefully with food supplements. It is necessary to have a smooth bowel movement everyday in order to remain healthy and not cause constipation. Adequate fibre intake must be taken to ensure smooth bowel movement and also to reduce cholestrol.

BRAIN : Brain is the important organ in our body which is responsible for our actions, memory and reaction. It is well enclosed inside the skull in our head and is protected well. The neck is an important part which carries the blood vessels and nerves to and fro from our brain to the rest of our body.

SENSE ORGANS : Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue and Skin are organs which help us to enjoy the world. Except for eyes and skin, rarely do these organs give trouble to us.

OTHER IMPORTANT ORGANS : There are nerves in our body which are carriers of impulses from every corner of the body to the brain and back. Then there are the blood vessels which are the carriers of nutrition. Bones in the body act as frames to our body and help us to support the body other than helping us to walk,run and sit. With ageing, bones get deficient in Calcium and develop something called as osteoporosis, which give pain in the joints. There are muscles in the various parts of the body, which perform various functions.

ORGANS IN OUR BODY

Let us look at the functions of the various organs in our body. It is a wonder that God had made each organ in our body for its specific function and the concerned organ performs that task throughout the life without asking for anything in return. The least we can do therefore is not to abuse these organs. We abuse these organs by the intake of too much of junk and fried foods. Even if they are abused each of these organ tries to adjust as much as possible and works till its last.

HEART : Heart is one of the most important organs in our body. It does the job of a motor pump. Its function is to pump the blood throughout the body. The blood is the conveyor of energy and nutrition to the various organs in the body and therefore is vital. Heart pumps this blood through the arteries that supply pure blood to the various parts and impure blood is brought from various parts of the body to the heart through the veins. The heart is the size of one’s fist present slightly to the left side of our chest. The arteries, after they start from the heart, branch out in several smaller strands to reach every nook and corner of the body. The heart has four chambers two on the left and two on the right. Two chambers are for impure blood and two are for the pure blood. The heart also gets the blood from these arteries.

The main problems connected with the heart are; holes in the valves between the chambers and thickening of the arteries due to the deposition of fat tissues on the arterial walls which are actually cholestrol deposition. The latter is more common and this is what we shall address in this column that can cause heart attacks. The heart can maintain blood flow even when the artery is blocked to 70% without any trouble. If the blockage is more than 70% then some individuals feel what is known as Angina or commonly known as chest pains. If this blockage is allowed to worsen with unrestricted intake of fat ( cholestrol & triglycerides ) then it may lead to heart attack with blood clot taking place in the constricted area of the arteries. This will stop the flow of blood to the heart and cause the deficient area to die. This may prove fatal.

Symptoms : When one gets the angina or chest pain in the left side of the chest with pain radiating to the shoulders and arms along with palpitation, sweating, and shortness of breath then one needs to consult the doctor. An ECG ( Electro Cardiogram ) will reveal whether there has been a heart attack.

MEDICAL SERVICES SCENARIO

In India particularly Medical Service is somewhat inadequate to cater to the needs of the ailing public. Government Hospitals in India are badly maintained and the quality of medical service offered are mediocre. Private Medical Clinics and Hospitals are too costly and are beyond the reach of the common man. For a patient consulting a doctor today there is his consultancy charges, diagnostic referrals and testing charges, the cost of several visits to the doctors that are a great burden. A person who does not have the medical benefit facilities provided by his employer or who is not covered by any medical insurance cannot meet the medical costs for himself and his family. The clinics and the hospitals treat the patient as a mechanical device and more often do not aim to identify the causes of the disease but to meet their marketing targets. They divulge little or no information about the patient's condition which he is entitiled to know. With the advent of multi-speciality hospitals nowadays, there are not many General Practitioner's clinic available in the neighbourhood and the concept of family physician of yesteryears has vanished. Your heart speciallist will not handle your queries regarding your stomach problems and instead refer you to a gastroentrologist. This gastroentrologist will not listen to you unless you come to him again with your endoscopy and abdominal scan reports. Similarly for a complaint on nect pain you are referred to an ortho and for a headache you are referred to a neuro.


With all these, your symptoms continue with more drain on your financial resources, not to speak of your mental agony. You are finally left to fend for yourselves, pcik up tips from here and there, become your own doctor and cure yourself.


This blog therefore invites your comments. You can also air your symptoms and experiences so that fellow readers can learn and share their opinions. This may aid in finding a solution to illness. But at the same time one must note that the opinions given may not be expert advices and are only a pointer to one to take steps to cure oneself.

TIPS FOR GOOD HEALTH

1. Think positive always because it is all in the mind.

2. Maintain a good diet. Good diet must include lot of green vegetables. Reduce oil in your food to the bare minimum. Avoid fried food and fat intake.

3. Exercise regularly. Go for at least 45 minutes of walk every day. Walk to the nearby shops and do not take your two-wheeler. Do house chores like dusting, cooking, dishwashing, cleaning etc. whenever it is possible.

4. Maintain a clean surrounding and prevent your neighbours from littering your neighbourhood.

5. Think well of others. As you sow you reap.

6. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohols. Keep coffee and tea to the minimum.

7. Avoid outside and hotel foods as much as possible.

8. Know the nutrients in your food. This will help you to adjust your food accordingly.

9. Practise breathing exercises and yoga. It will help to keep calm and avoid stress.

10.Have adequate sleep as per your body's requirement. This will rest your nerves and keep it fresh.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY

In todays frenetic pace of life one tends to neglect one's body in preference to earning money. This is particularly true of youngsters. One must listen to one's body speaking to them. In a stressful environment such as ours, one must learn to listen to one's body very early, soon after one reaches his/her twenties.



Watch out for more of such insights in this blog.