A Cup of Coffee Every Day May Lower the Risk of Liver Cancer

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Finally, some respite for caffeine lovers! Your daily cup of coffee may not be as bad as you have been told.

A new study, published in the journal BMJ Open, suggests that a your daily dose of coffee can help prevent the risk of liver cancer by nearly 50 per cent. For the longest time, coffee has been regarded as a villain primarily because of its high caffeine content. Caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is responsible for perking you up and giving you an instant boost of energy on drinking coffee. It is also present in other beverages like energy drinks.

A lot of previous studies have indicated that too much consumption of caffeine may cause an upset stomach, indigestion, high blood pressure, increased heart rate and anxiety. However, this new study suggests that one cup of coffee daily may actually be good for you. 

For the study, researchers from the University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh universities examined data from 26 previous studies that involved more than 2.25 million participants. The results showed that people who drank one cup of coffee daily had a 20 per cent lower risk of developing the most common type of liver cancer known as hepatocellular carcinoma. Further, they found that those who drank two cups of coffee daily had a 35 per cent reduced risk of suffering the disease while drinking five cups cut their risk by half. Decaffeinated coffee may also be able to lend similar benefits but its effect was very small in comparison to regular coffee.

The researchers are not suggesting that everyone should start consuming lots of coffee every day but they found a link and more study is required to strengthen the evidence that shows positive effects of moderate consumption of coffee. When consumed in moderation, coffee may act as a ‘wonderful natural medicines’, they say. They are still working on trying to find why coffee has a liver cancer-protective effect. Drinking coffee has also been linked to better heart health and increased mental alertness. 

We know that moderation is the key but how much is too much? According to the US FDA, 400 to 500 milligrams of coffee consumption per day is considered to be ‘safe’ (that’s almost 4 cups). However, the effects may vary from person to person. Excess coffee consumption can have side effects like stomach pain, diarrhea, acid reflux, insomnia and restlessness. If you’ve been experiencing any of these frequently for a long time, it’s time to cap your coffee intake.  Bangalore-based Nutritionist, Dr. Anju Sood does caution us and suggests,”Drinking one or two cups of coffee may be fine but if you exceed that it may cause dehydration in your body. In that case, the essential water soluble minerals and vitamins are also flushed out of the body. Therefore, you must stick to your daily dose and combine it with other fluids like warm herbal teas, fresh juices or buttermilk to keep yourself hydrated all day,”

Source: http://food.ndtv.com/health/a-cup-of-coffee-every-day-can-lower-the-risk-of-liver-cancer-1703890

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Pregnant mothers, beware! Pre-eclampsia may increase stroke risk by 6 times

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Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by the onset of high blood pressure and often a significant amount of protein in the urine

Pregnant women, who suffer from chronic hypertension, bleeding disorders or urinary tract infections are at risk of stroke during or after childbirth.

One in ten pregnant women, who suffer preeclampsia — characterised by high blood pressure, swollen feet, ankles and face and severe headaches — may be six times more at risk of suffering a stroke during or after childbirth, researchers said.

Preeclampsia — a high-blood pressure disorder unique to pregnancy — develops in about 3 to 8 per cent of all pregnant women.

The study showed that certain conditions like chronic hypertension, bleeding disorders or urinary tract infections may increase the risk of stroke in women with preeclampsia.

Pregnancy-associated stroke occurs up to 6 times more often in women with preeclampsia compared with pregnant women overall.

“Women with preeclampsia who had chronic hypertension, bleeding or clotting disorders, or infections — particularly urinary tract infections — appeared to be at significantly increased risk of stroke,” said lead author Eliza C Miller, postdoctoral student at Columbia University in the US.

Infections cause inflammation, which is known to play an important role in triggering stroke, especially in young people.

Preeclampsia itself is an inflammatory disorder. Infections may be what pushed some of these women over the edge, the researchers explained.

For the study, published in the journal Stroke, the team analysed the health records of 197 women who had a preeclampsia-related stroke and 591 women with preeclampsia who did not have a stroke.

The incidence of stroke in women with preeclampsia was over 200 per 100,000 deliveries, and more than one in 10 women in the study who had a preeclampsia-related stroke died in the hospital.

“It’s important to note that the risk of stroke in women with preeclampsia doesn’t end with delivery, as is commonly thought. Nearly two-thirds of preeclampsia-related strokes occur after birth, when the mother has gone home,” Miller said.

“Women with preeclampsia should take any neurological symptoms, such as severe headache, very seriously, especially during the postpartum period,” she suggested.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/health-pregnant-mothersbeware-preeclampsia-may-increase-stroke-risk-by-6-times-4675003/

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Important Health Tips For Ramadan

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For Muslims, Ramadan is a holy month dedicated to prayer, Quran recitation, introspection and fasting during the sunlight hours. Ramadan is a month of the Islamic calendar in which Prophet Muhammad is said to have revealed their holy book – the Qu’ran – to Muslims.

Here are some things you must do for Ramadan:

Eat in moderation – The breaking of the fast should traditionally include dates which provide a burst of much-needed energy. Include fibre-rich foods that will digest slowly and release energy throughout the day. Make room for vegetables, lentils and whole grains along with fruits such as apricots, prunes and figs.

Get adequate rest – Get a good night’s rest during Ramadan. You should ideally sleep for 6 to 8 hours a day. You might not be able to accomplish that during the night, since you have to up before the crack of dawn for Suhoor. Stay cool and rest during the hottest part of the day to avoid dehydration and thirst.

Stay hydrated – It is easy to fall victim to the heat during Ramadan. Drink at least 8 glasses of water from Iftar to Suhoor. Keep track of the water you drink by using a measured water bottle. Include soups, milk and fruit juices in your meals along with plenty of fruits and vegetable. Try and avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea or cola as these are diuretic and can lead to fluid loss.

Exercise lightly – Your fasting should not be an excuse to give up your exercise. Rather than a gruelling regimen at the gym, opt for things like yoga or walking that do not tire out the body, yet allow you to relax and de-stress.

 Source: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ramadan-2017-important-health-tips-for-ramadan-1704086

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Zika virus reaches India, WHO confirms 3 cases in Ahmedabad

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Zika virus disease has reached India, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirming first three cases in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad.

The WHO endorsed the findings of laboratory tests conducted in the country, saying all three cases, including that of a pregnant woman, were reported from Bapunagar area of the city.

The disease is spread by daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes and an infection during pregnancy can cause birth defects in newborns known as microcephaly — a condition in which babies’ head is abnormally small. It is characterised by brain damage and may cause other defects like blindness, deafness, and even seizures.

“The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – Government of India (MoHFW) reported three laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus disease in Bapunagar area, Ahmedabad District, Gujarat State, India,” the global health body said in a statement.

India has strengthened its surveillance system in the past few years to detect and contain new infections. Only three Zika cases have been detected in around 50,000 tested so far, a senior Health Ministry official said.

According to the WHO statement, routine surveillance detected a laboratory-confirmed case of Zika virus disease through RT-PCR test at B J Medical College in Ahmedabad.

This was further confirmed at the national reference laboratory at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on 4 January this year. The WHO said two additional cases were then identified through the Acute Febrile Illness (AFI) and the Antenatal clinic (ANC) surveillance.

Between 10-16 February in 2016, a total 93 blood samples were collected at BJ Medical College (BJMC) out of which one sample from a 64-year-old male had tested positive for Zika virus.

“This was first Zika positive case reported through AFI surveillance from Gujarat,” the statement said. Also, a 34-year-old woman delivered a baby at BJMC on 9 November and during her stay in the hospital she developed a low-grade fever after delivery.

The woman had no history of fever during pregnancy and had no history of travel for three months. A sample from the patient was referred to the Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) for dengue testing and was found to be positive for the virus.

“She was discharged after one week (on 16 November, 2016). The sample was re-confirmed as Zika virus positive at NIV,” the statement said.

Besides, a 22-year-old pregnant woman in her 37th week of pregnancy was tested positive for Zika virus disease at the same hospital.

As per the WHO statement, immediately after the cases were reported, the Health ministry had shared the national guidelines and action plan on Zika virus disease have been shared with the states to prevent an outbreak of the disease and containment of spread in case of any outbreak.

It also constituted an inter-ministerial task force. A technical group tasked to monitor emerging and re-emerging diseases regularly reviewed the global situation on Zika virus disease.

All the international airports and ports have displayed information for travellers on Zika virus disease while the airport health officers along with airport organisations, the National Centre for Disease Control and the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme are monitoring appropriate vector control measures in airport premises.

In addition to NIV and NCDC in Delhi, 25 laboratories have also been strengthened by Indian Council of Medical Research for laboratory diagnosis, while three entomological laboratories are conducting Zika virus testing on mosquito samples.

“The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has tested 34,233 human samples and 12,647 mosquito samples for the presence of Zika virus. Among those, close to 500 mosquitoes samples were collected from Bapunagar area, Ahmedabad district, in Gujarat, and were found negative for Zika.

“The Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is monitoring microcephaly from 55 sentinel sites. As of now, no increase in number of cases or clustering of microcephaly has been reported from these centers,” the WHO said.

While coming out with the report, the WHO said it assumes significance as it describes the first cases of Zika virus infections and provides evidence on its circulation in India.

“These findings suggest low level transmission of Zika virus and new cases may occur in the future,” it said, while stressing on strengthening surveillance to better characterise the intensity of the viral circulation and geographical spread and monitor Zika virus related complications.

“Zika virus is known to be circulating in South East Asia Region and these findings do not change the global risk assessment. WHO encourages member states to report similar findings to better understand the global epidemiology of Zika virus,” the statement said.

The risk of further spread of Zika virus to areas where the competent vectors, the aedes mosquitoes, are present is significant given the wide geographical distribution of these mosquitoes in various regions of the world.

Those infected with the virus may have mild fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.

While countries in the Caribbean are worst hit by the disease, a large number of cases have been reported from South and Central America.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/india/zika-virus-reaches-india-who-confirms-3-cases-in-ahmedabad-3488985.html

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These Tiny Ear-Implants Spun By Silkworms Can Help Restore Hearing

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For the first time in the world scientists have come up with a tiny implant that can heal a person’s damaged eardrum to help restore their hearing. The implant is made of silk, and spun entirely by silkworms! And you thought the critters were only good to spin you some silk!The tiny implant combines science with nature(silkworm), to bring an easier and cheaper alternative to the currently existing grafting techniques.

The implant is said to aid the Chronic Middle Ear Disease and the resultant perforated ear drum or more commonly known as the “burst eardrums”. The condition is common in several millions across the world, causing hearing impairments like reduced hearing and infections,that costs about 30,000 lives every year.

The complicated infection can result in damaging the eardrum and mastoid bone with hearing loss and also cause severe pain occurring within the ear. The infection is tough to contain, but this new device, known as the ClearDrum, is said to provide immense relief. Similar in appearance and size to a contact lens, the novel implant born out of the combination of science and silkworms, can restore hearing of patients with painful damaged ear drums.

The team of researchers led by Marcus Atlas from Ear Science Institute Australia, has invented a tiny bio-compatible silk implant on which the patient’s own cells grow and flourish ensuing in a healed eardrum.

Tested over numerous years in exhaustive set ups, scientists claim that the implant can perform even better than a person’s original eardrum. Atlas claims that the USP of the implant is its strength and its biocompatibility, which has never been seen before. It can bring down the complexity attached to the current surgical procedures used for repairing damaged ear-drums. The current technique involves making grafts from the patient’s own tissues and using specialised and delicate microsurgery techniques and applying them to the eardrum to close the hole. Patients are also often supposed to follow up the surgery with more surgeries and medications due to the limitations of the current techniques.

The greatest advantage of the implant is its reduced time of surgery, and its strength which makes it last longer, which will allow the implant to be used in more cases and by more surgeons in more countries than current solutions. Also, the new process is expected to be less expensive, less invasive and also speed up the healing of the ear drum.

Source: http://food.ndtv.com/health/hear-this-out-these-tiny-ear-implants-spun-by-silkworms-can-help-restore-hearing-1705229

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Tips to stay healthy in monsoon/ rainy season

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Tips stay healthy in monsoon season

– If desired to eat road side food, the rainy season isn’t the time to indulge. water and raw vegetables is are not hygienic during the monsoon.
– Use a powerful insect repellent to hold mosquitoes away and prevent getting bitten. It’s furthermore good concept to take anti-malarial drug during this monsoon.
– Where likely, try to avoid walking through rainy water. It can lead to numerous fungal diseases of the feet and heels.
– Keep the items like Umbrella, rain coat etc when you are going out.
– Take moderately hot food and drinks in this monsoon.
– Keep away the children to play in the rain and rainy water.
– Also avoid walking where water is lying on the street, as traffic will propel by and spray it all over you. – Dry your feet when they get wet.
– Avoid colds and coughs by keeping your body moderately hot and dry.
– Don’t go in air conditioned rooms with wet hair and damp apparels.
– If you suffer from asthma or diabetes, avoid residing any place with wet walls. It encourages the development of fungus and can be especially hurtful.
– Drink many of heating herbal teas, particularly those with antibacterial properties

Choice of diet during monsoon
– During the monsoon season, it is advised not to consume fast food and the snacks from the roadside stalls. This can give rise to stomach infection. Most of the time people suffer from the problem of indigestion during the monsoon season as the airborne bacteria are very well active in the environment and can easily get inside your body with the food you eat. Since during the monsoon season, humidity is really high in the environment, the ability of body to digest comes down. It will be better for people to avoid the oily food which are prepared in street. Only the healthy food prepared at home must be considered.

Fruits
It is really essential for you to consume adequate fruits during the monsoon season as this helps you restore energy. But there is also choice of fruits as well. Go for the items like pears, mangoes, apples and pomegranate. Even there are some fruits that helps bringing out pimples on your face. On order to remove pimples from your face, you need to avoid the fruits like muskmelon and water melon. Even consuming excessive mangoes can give rise to pimples.

Dry food
It is better not to go for the watery food during the monsoons such as juices available outside, lassi ad other watery fruits. Instead go for the dry category of food such as pea, flour, corn etc. As consumption of too much watery food during monsoon can give rise to swelling in your body. So, it’s better to avoid.

Increase your immunity
One of the major problems suffered by people during the monsoon season is reduction of immunity level in body. Today, there are ways in which you can easily increase your immunity level through home remedies. Whenever you are preparing soup, add a clove of garlic at the beginning ones the oil is hot. This will increase immunity level of an individual during monsoon.

Water
Since water borne diseases are quite common during the monsoon season, try not to drink water that is not purified. Even after filtration, it is better to drink the boiled water as this will kill all germs and bacteria that have formed in water.

Stay away from high blood pressure
If you have a problem of high blood pressure, it will be better to consume very little salt in meal or else this will give a boost to the problem of high blood pressure. Thus, it is important to avoid those food items that have good amount of salt.

Bitter vegetables
You should definitely have a dish of bitter vegetables in your meal such as neem, bitter gourd etc to avoid skin infections and allergies. If you don’t like to consume it in a boiled form, make a fried form to add taste in your tongue. This is a wonderful remedy to stay away from all types of skin infections.

Stay away from stagnation
During the monsoons, stagnant water will be very well available at your home and outside. It is really important to avoid stagnant water as this will give rise to diseases like malaria and dengue. You should always throw away the water inside the unused tank, flower pots as well as water coolers. Since stagnant water is a place where the mosquito can breed, avoiding such stagnant water will be an important consideration when you are living in monsoons. Also don’t forget to place mosquito net or a repellent when you are asleep at night.

Medium low salt food
During monsoons when you are preparing meal for your family, it will be important for you to include low salt. During the monsoons people can get high blood pressure level due to salty food. Water retention is again another problem which can be checked with the help of low salt food.

Prefer dry fruit
Not all foods are good for all seasons. For example the watery fruits and juices are good during summer as we get dehydrated. But, during monsoons this can be a reason for trouble. The food such as watermelon, lassi, rice etc can create swelling in your body during monsoons. It is better consuming the food that is dry in nature. Other forms of milk
During monsoons it is better to avoid milk. Rather, it will be good to consume other forms of milk in condense form such as yogurt, curd, sweet etc. If you want to drink milk, it is better to boil it in 100 degree Celsius and then drink it. This will help you stay away from the harmful germs that are likely to attack your body.

Avoid spicy food
During monsoon since the weather is not too hot or too cold, you will be inclined towards the spicy foods. But this will be absolutely a wrong step for you. You must avoid having spicy food during the monsoon season. It can lead to skin allergoes and irritation.

Source: https://beautyhealthtips.in/best-healthy-health-tips-monsoon-rainy-season/

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Working over 8 hrs a day raises stroke risk by 33%

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It’s now official -working over 8 hours a day increases the risk of stroke by 33%.

Scientists have for the first time quantified the number of hours of work that could cause serious harm. Working 55 hours or more per week is linked to a 33% greater risk of stroke and a more modest (13%) increased risk of developing coronary heart disease compared with working a standard 35 to 40 hour week. The largest study till date on the issue, involving over 6,00,000 individuals will be published in The Lancet on Thursday .

It clearly shows that the longer people worked, the higher their chances of a stroke. In the study , data from 25 studies involving 6,03,838 men and women from Europe, USA and Australia were looked into, with each of them studied for nearly nine years.

The study was carried out by Mika Kivimaki, professor of epidemiology at University College London.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Working-over-8-hrs-a-day-raises-stroke-risk-by-33/articleshow/48550484.cms

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How to Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

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Kidneys maintain a balance of bodily fluids and control the formation of urine to excrete toxins. The right kidney is situated a little lower than the left one. They are placed in the upper abdominal cavity touching the back muscles as support. Kidneys play an important role in waste excretion, blood pressure regulation, water level balancing, acid regulation and the formation of red blood cells. Therefore, it is very important to keep our kidneys clean and healthy so that all these functions can be performed smoothly. Here are few things you can ensure to help your kidneys function well:

1. Drink lots of water

Water helps in detoxifying the body and flushes out toxins. It is also one of the simplest ways to keep the kidneys clean. It dilutes the minerals that can cause harm and helps in their excretion. Drinking water with baking soda may help in relieving discomfort caused due to infections in the urinary tract.

Drinking lime water helps in the filtration of blood. Dr. Varun Verma, Senior Consultant (Nephrology) at Fortis Hospital in Faridabad suggests that you must drink at least 2 liters of water every day. He says, “Start your day with 2 glasses of water and end your day with a glass of water. If you have stones in the kidneys, you should drink at least 3 liters of water daily”. 

2. Have less salt, sugar and soy

The sodium in salt increases the calcium content in the body which has a negative effect on the kidneys. Excess calcium in the body may lead to the formation of stones. Similarly, too much sugar absorbs more calcium and magnesium which also contributes to kidney stones. Soy and soy-related products may have a high content of oxalate that can be harmful for the kidneys. According to Dr. Verma, Indian meals contain 25-30 grams of salt in our daily diet, while one shouldn’t consume more than 5-10 grams. 

3. Have a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar early morning

Apple cider vinegar is known for its antioxidant properties that fight oxidative stress and it also helps in controlling your blood pressure and sugar levels in the body. 

4. Exercise regularly

Any form of exercise is good for you as it it keeps the heart healthy, burns unwanted fat and helps with the flow of blood to other organs which includes the kidneys. Dr. Deepak Kalra from the Nephrology Department at Fortis Hospital stresses on maintaining your weight, “It’s important to eat healthy, drink healthy and maintain a healthy body weight for your kidneys to be able to function well.”

5. Cut caffeine 

Coffee has its benefits, but excess intake of caffeine can harm your health. Caffeine tends to dehydrate your body and absorb all the moisture which can lead to kidney stones.

6. Eat green vegetables and avoid meat

The minerals present in green vegetables reduce the oxalate levels in the body that can have a damaging effect on your kidney. One should also avoid consuming too much meat and shellfish as they may contain harmful uric acid that can affect the functioning of the kidneys.

7. Eat berries and beets

Berries are a powerful source of antioxidants which help prevent the risk of kidney diseases. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are great for your kidneys. Similarly, beetroots contain betaine which is an antioxidant that helps in the removal of calcium phosphate build-up and increases the acidity of urine. The iron, magnesium and folate present in beetroots helps in the flow of blood.

Apart from these simple tips, people who are diabetic need to take extra care as it can affect their kidneys. In fact, it is recommended, that every individual above the age of 50 years should undergo a full body check-up twice a year and those who are younger should get it done at least once a year. 

Source: http://food.ndtv.com/health/how-to-keep-your-kidneys-healthy-1707050

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Sleeping More On Weekends May Lead to Obesity, Diabetes and Hypertension

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Irregular sleep time has long been linked to a host of health ailments. Sleep plays a pivotal role in regulating some of the most vital processes in our body. Experts suggest that not sleeping for at least 7-8 hours every day may have severe health repercussions. Also, sleeping late at night – even though you may end up meeting the 8-hour sleep mark – is also linked with health issues.

Some of the previously conducted studies note that loss of sleep incurred during the week cannot be compensated by sleeping for longer time over the weekend. A latest study conducted by American experts explains that sleeping for long hours over the weekend may actually be adverse for the health and trigger heart issues and weight gain.Experts called this phenomenon ‘social jet lag’ described as a situation when one goes to bed and wakes up much later on weekends than during the week. This ‘social jet lag’ is associated with an 11 per cent increase in the likelihood of heart disease. The study was published in the journal Sleep and assessed sleep pattern and associated effects on health in close to 984 adults ageing 22 to 60 years.

“Results indicated that sleep regularity, beyond sleep duration alone, plays a significant role in our health. Regular sleep schedule may be an effective, relatively simple, and inexpensive preventative treatment for heart disease as well as many other health problems,” lead author Sierra B. Forbush, from the University of Arizona in the US.

Sleep deprivation may affect the brain activity, trigger memory problems, induce moodiness, anxiety and depression; it may also lead to lack of concentration, lethargy. Prolonged sleep deprivation is also tied to risk of heart disease, diabetes, weakened immune system, hypertension among others.

source: http://food.ndtv.com/health/sleeping-for-long-on-weekends-may-lead-to-obesity-diabetes-and-hypertension-1708090

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New gene therapy may ‘turn off’ asthma

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The findings showed that the single treatment may give life-long protection from asthma as well as those who have severe allergies to peanuts, bee venom, shell fish and other substances by de-sensitising the immune system to tolerate the protein.

Researchers have developed a new gene therapy that may help to ‘turn-off’ the immune response which causes allergic reaction such as asthma, or potentially lethal food allergies, researchers have found.

“When someone has an allergy or asthma flare-up, the symptoms they experience results from immune cells reacting to protein in the allergen,” said Ray Steptoe, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland in Australia.

The findings showed that the single treatment may give life-long protection from asthma as well as those who have severe allergies to peanuts, bee venom, shell fish and other substances by de-sensitising the immune system to tolerate the protein.

“The challenge in asthma and allergies is that these immune cells, known as T-cells, develop a form of immune ‘memory’ and become very resistant to treatments,” Steptoe said.

“We have now been able ‘wipe’ the memory of these T-cells in animals with gene therapy, de-sensitising the immune system so that it tolerates the protein,” he added.

For the study, detailed in the journal JCI Insight, the team took blood stem cells, and inserted a gene which regulated the allergen protein and put that into the recipients.

“Those engineered cells produced new blood cells that express the protein and target specific immune cells, ‘turning off’ the allergic response,” Steptoe noted.

The eventual goal would be a single injected gene therapy, that is simpler and safer which could be used across a wide cross-section of affected individuals, he said.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/new-gene-therapy-may-turn-off-asthma-4690204/

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