Simple tips to prevent asthma attacks

  

Although there's no asthma cure, you can take steps to control the disease and help prevent its symptoms from worsening. However, asthma patients should reduce exposure to asthma triggers as they can aggravate the symptoms such as-coughing, wheezing, and difficulty catching your breath.
Below are some simple tips to help you prevent an asthma attack:

• Identify things that trigger asthma attacks and avoid them. While physical activity can trigger asthma, it should not be avoided since it's a part of healthy lifestyle. Instead, one should consult the doctor about the medicines that can help to stay active.
  
  
• Have regular check ups and take medicines as your doctor prescribes.
  
  
• Know your asthma and ways to control it.
  
  
• Avoid all sources of smoke- tobacco, incense, candles, fires, etc. If you smoke cigarettes, quit immediately to avoid the disease from getting worse.
  
  
• Try to stay away from people who have a cold and flu to avoid asthma because symptoms may worsen if you get infected.
  
  
• People who have allergies and asthma should cut down their exposure to allergens. Exposure to allergens can temporarily elevate the inflammation of the airways in asthmatic patients which in turn make them more vulnerable to an asthma attack.
  

Tips to cure dry eye syndrome  

New Delhi: According to the American Association of Ophthalmology, approximately 3.2 million women and 1.7 million men over the age of 50 suffer from chronic dry eyes. So, it's time to react. Experts suggest that use of lubricating ointment and fish oil supplements can help in curing the condition.
The surface of eye is always covered with a thin layer of liquid known as the tear film, essential for health of eye.
Sanjay Dhawan, director, Ophthalmology, at Fortis Hospital, says that chilly winds of winter season affect the eyes, causing dry eye syndrome because of cold, dry outdoor air and dry indoor heat.
People above 50 years are at higher risk of dry eye condition. It commonly occurs among men of 50-plus age and women above 55-60. If menopause occurs at early age, than the chances of developing dry eye syndrome during winter weather gets increased even among middle-aged women, reads a statement.
It is necessary to prevent and manage dry eyes. Some of the steps that one should practise are:
* Patients should wear sunglasses to protect eyes from cold wind and excess light.
* Artificial tears also known as tear substitutes should be applied at least four times a day. It may be used as often as necessary - only once or twice a day, or as often as several times an hour.
* If the condition aggravates, use lubricating ointment at bedtime.
* Run a humidifier to put moisture back into the air.
* Lay a warm, damp washcloth across your eyelids for a couple minutes.
* Add more Omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil supplements to your diet.
* Keep the home environment humid, between 30 and 50 percent. During winter, a humidifier may be used to add moisture to dry indoor air. Additional humidity can be created by wearing special glasses that form a moisture chamber around the eye.
* Drink extra fluids and use a hot- or cold-air humidifier.
* Eat plenty of fish and foods with vitamin A, C, E and Omega-3 fatty acids.
* Drink lots of water and get plenty of rest.
* Green tea and chrysanthemum tea are beneficial for eyes and prevent eyes fatigue.
* Turn down the heat at homes which dries out the eyes. Use a humidifier.

Why mindfulness is good for you  

Most of us, in the hustle of day-to-day life, miss the state of 'mindfulness' in our being. In the rush to fulfil our daily necessary tasks, we do many things at a time, which in turn has turned us into masters of multi-tasking.
While the ability to multi-task has been great and helpful in many ways, it does not always do us good when it comes to our health (both physically and mentally). It can even affect our relationships.
Mindfulness can be defined as a state of active, open attention on the present without distracting your mind to other things, and accepting it without judgement. Scientifically, mindfulness has been found to be a key element of happiness.
Most people practice mindfulness through meditation by choosing a defined period everyday where they sit comfortably and open their mind to awareness of the current moment. However, we can also incorporate mindfulness into our daily life through different basic techniques:
As you begin your day, walk yourself slowly down to the car and check within your body and loosen up if you observe any tension.
While walking to the office, try doing breath in and out with every three steps and notice the sensation of walking. If you sit at a desk, take a few breaths before checking your mails or updates.
To lead a blissful life, it is important to practice mindfulness no matter how busy we are. Research on mindfulness has identified several benefits, below are some of them:

Stress reduction: Many studies have shown that practicing mindfulness can be a great tool in reducing stress. Mindfulness can help cut your body’s cortisol levels, which quickly lowers stress on a neurochemical level. Practicing mindfulness can also help you get rid of internal resistance.

Improves physical health: Mindfulness has many health benefits. It is good in treating fatigue, sleep issues, cancer, headaches, heart disease, gastrointestinal problems, weight issues, asthma, low immune function, allergies, skin problems, arthritis, etc.

Improves mental and emotional health: Mindfulness can play an important role in the treatment of a number of problems including- anxiety, depression, unhappiness, discontent, worry, fear, rumination, low self-esteem, shyness, etc.

Improves relationships: Practicing mindfulness can help build a healthy relationship between partners. With the everyday tension interfering in the couple's life, using mindfulness can improve your relationship as it helps you both focus on each other. Mindfulness can help you recapture some of those feelings as you are solely concentrating on your partner and the moment. Hence, by avoiding other thoughts like office work, household chores, etc, but purely focusing on moments between you and your partner, it will help you both feel special about the time spend together.

Tips for taking care of skin during winters revealed

  

Washington: Winter time can be hard on the skin, making it dry, flaky and itchy, but with proper care you can effectively banish your skin woes.
Dermatologist Rita Pichardo-Geisinger, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, provides tips that are easy to incorporate into your daily routine to help keep your skin and hair in prime condition.
First of all use a fragrance free soap because perfumes and additives can dry the skin which can lead to flaking and itching or exacerbate conditions like eczema.
It is also important to use a moisturising lotion after the shower because when you apply a moisturizer to damp skin right after showering, this helps seal in water to prevent skin from drying out.
"A moisturizer helps to act as a barrier of protection for your skin so look for one that has ceramides, a new technology that helps restore and protect the skin barrier," she said.
Next, keep the temperature at home on the cool side, not too warm, to avoid skin dehydration because if your home or workplace temperature is warm enough to make it feel like a sauna, you might be drying your skin out.
Do not forget to use a fragrance free detergent and liquid fragrance free conditioner for the clothes because some people with skin sensitivities can experience skin irritation or rash after wearing clothes washed in a detergent with fragrance additives.
Also, do not forget your moisturizing lotion with sunscreen for your face, even if it is winter time.
If lips get chapped, avoid cracking by using a lip balm with sunscreen to get the double benefit of smooth and protected lips, Rita asserted.
And, your hair can get dry in the wintertime too, so you might need to use a hydrating shampoo or an anti-frizz leave-in conditioner.
Lastly, tend to your toes and feet and treat them with good lactic acid creams that can help keep feet soft and supple.

Useful safety tips for epilepsy patients

Suffering from epilepsy doesn't mean you can't enjoy your life and live happily. You may have epilepsy, but if have a good health and good mental powers, and with proper measures and necessary precautions, you have the ability to live independently well into adulthood.
However, it is important to note that all the suggested tips may not be equally right or helpful for every person. Some tips may not be applicable to you although it is relevant to others.
For example, people who have frequent seizures without warning may need to take extra precautions and care than those who get a useful warning sign of seizures. Here are some useful safety tips for epilepsy patients.

-Try to find a place or a house that does not have stairs. This will help avoid any accidental falls or injuries caused by a seizure.
-Buy electric and home appliance devices that have automatic shut-off switches.
-Place padding around table corners or any furniture that has sharp areas to prevent hitting them during seizure.
-Family members should never leave a person who has uncontrolled seizures alone in the room, especially when there is a fire in the fireplace.
-Always have a plan of action ready so that you can alert your family, friends or neighbours even when you are alone at home.
-Try to cook in a microwave rather than a stove for safety purpose.
-Use plastic utensils and containers.
-Try to use precut meat so that you not not require using a knife.
-In the bathroom, make sure that the doors are not locked from inside, someone from outside should always be able to get in, if you need help.
-All electrical appliances should be kept away from the sink or bathtub.
-Always keep the water heater temperature low to prevent burning if a seizure should occur.
-Plan your activities when seizures are less likely to occur, if seizures usually occur at a certain time.
-While exercising, avoid extreme heat and keep yourself hydrated by taking lots of water to reduce seizure risks.
-Before starting any new fitness program, make sure you talk to your doctor/neurologist.
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. It is also known as a seizure disorder. A person is considered to have epilepsy when he/she has two or more unprovoked seizures.

5 superfoods for a healthy skin

  

New Delhi: Today's busy lifestyle schedules might leave you with a dull face that lacks lustre. In such a condition, diet plays a very important role as there are no short cuts to attain a healthy and glowing skin naturally.
Here are a few foods that you should eat for a clear, healthy and glowing skin
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Salmon: Salmon is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids that protect the skin from sun exposure thereby providing radiance and glow to the skin.

Yoghurt: Yoghurt is a natural source of probiotic and excellent food for your face as it is effective in treating acne, eczema, dandruff and other problems to some extent.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes basically have an anti-ageing affect on our body as they contain antioxidant lycopene which is easily absorbed by our body thereby leaving you with a healthy skin and hair.

Green Tea: Green tea as we all know contains a good amount of antioxidants which when gets absorbed in the body, leaves you with that healthy glow.

Kiwis: Kiwis are a rich source of Vitamin C which help main a firm skin thereby keeping wrinkles at bay, This wonder fruit to contains antioxidants that keeps the skin healthy.

Simple tips to prevent lung cancer

  

Even if most lung cancers are caused by tobacco use accounting for 80-90% of all the lung cancer cases, preventing the disease goes beyond avoiding smoking.

While experts have identified various causes of lung cancer, half of the people who develop the disease are non-smokers currently. Below are a few tips to lower your risk of developing lung cancer:

Quit smoking: If you smoke, quit now immediately. If you do not smoke, never try it. Research suggest that quitting at any time, although you have been smoking for some years, still lowers your risk of developing the disease.
Also, try to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke from other people's cigarettes, as that too, puts you at risk.

Exercise: Regular exercise may aid in lung cancer prevention. Studies have linked physical activity with a lower risk of getting lung cancer. It suggests that even simple physical activity like gardening twice a week can reduce your risk of developing lung cancer.

Fruits and vegetables: Studies suggest that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help in lung cancer prevention. Try to include a variety of foods with different colours, including dark greens such as broccoli, spinach, onions, apples, tomatoes, oranges etc.

Radon exposure: Check your home for radon since it is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers, and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall. Radon is a colourless and odourless gas generated by the breakdown of radioactive radium, which in turn is the decay product of uranium, found in the Earth's crust.