Keeps To Dad Healthy

Apart from healthy and nutritious food, and exercise, vaccines also play an important role in nurturing long life, said experts on Thursday, pressing the need for timely vaccination for children as well as adults. The World Health Organisation (WHO) marks the last week of April, between April 24 and 30, as World Immunisation Week. This year, the theme is 'Long Life For All'. According to the WHO, the Week "aims to highlight the collective action needed and to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease". It estimates that about 1.5 million deaths worldwide can be prevented due to timely vaccination. Vaccination has proved to be successful in eradicating many diseases, such as polio and smallpox. Vaccinations have helped in preventing sickness and death associated with infectious diseases such as diarrhoea, measles, pneumonia, and have also resulted in higher gains in education and economic development. Recently, the shots developed against Covid-19 have also proved to curb the risk of hospitalisation and death. "Vaccines have proven their efficacy time and again and in today's time vaccinated people have chances of leading a better life," Dr Raja Dhar, Pulmonologist from CMRI, Kolkata, told IANS. "Vaccines are the most important preventive measure that also helps in longevity and reduces the morbidity rates. This is the best time to talk about vaccines as more than 29 vaccine-preventable infections are present. When vaccination is given timely, the immunity gets stronger irrespective of age," added Mumbai-based pulmonologist Dr Agam Vora. However, pandemic-related disruptions, increasing inequalities in access to vaccines, and the diversion of resources from routine immunisation have left too many children without protection against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. In 2020, 23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccines through routine health services, the highest number since 2009 and 3.7 million more than in 2019. As a result, the world is also seeing outbreaks in infectious diseases such as measles and hepatitis. "The Covid-19 pandemic has interrupted immunisation services, health systems have been overwhelmed, and we are now seeing a resurgence of deadly diseases including measles. For many other diseases, the impact of these disruptions to immunisation services will be felt for decades to come," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, in a statement recently. "Now is the moment to get essential immunisation back on track and launch catch-up campaigns so that everybody can have access to these life-saving vaccines," he added. The WHO noted that reported worldwide measles cases increased by 79 per cent in the first two months of 2022, compared to the same period in 2021. The global health agency also recorded at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin in about 12 countries. While children getting vaccinated is a common topic of discussion, adult immunisation is also the need of the hour, the experts said. Adults, and elderly people with underlying conditions such as respiratory disease, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney diseases, among others are more vulnerable to infections that can be effectively prevented by vaccines, which would also help increase life expectancy. As per a National Statistical Office Report, India's elderly population is going to increase by 41 per cent, with more people being vulnerable to diseases, the greatest benefit of vaccination would be reduced hospitalisation and severity, Dhar said. "To increase immunisation coverage in India, everybody needs to take ownership of getting themselves vaccinated according to the schedule. Only then will we be part of a healthy community," he added. (Agency) Read More► Rising Infertility in Women Aged 25-30

A nutritious breakfast in the morning can provide the fuel you need to keep going until your next meal. A healthy bowl of muesli or flakes can serve as a mental pick-me-up as well as a sensory treat. Cereal foods have numerous nutritional benefits and can also aid in weight loss. It is high in vitamins and minerals and can help you feel more energised. Healthy Crunch Muesli Contains British oats, golden wheat flakes, Californian almonds, delicious raisins, and natural honey. There are no artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives - just the goodness of all-natural ingredients. Bagrry's Healthy Crunch Muesli is high in fibre, low in saturated fat, and contains no trans fat. It contains more than 40 per cent + oats with added bran. An extra crunchy breakfast cereal for a delicious start to your mornings! Oatmeal Italiano True Elements recreates the mouthwatering flavours of Italian cuisine, but with a True twist! True Elements Oatmeal Italiano is a one-of-a-kind savoury oatmeal made of fiber-rich oats with a creamy cheese flavour, the crunch of almonds, and the earthy flavour of oregano. This bowl of savoury oatmeal will be your new favourite breakfast for all cheese lovers! It's creamy, cheesy, and incredibly tasty! A filling and delicious meal that is ideal when you want something savoury and cheesy! There is no added sugar, so it is suitable for diabetics. It is also high in protein and fibre, making it a healthier alternative to pasta. Grain Free & Vegan Granola - Salted Peanut Butter Our grain-free granola is loaded with nutritious ingredients like nuts, seeds, amaranth puffs, and quinoa flakes, making it a perfect breakfast or on-the-go snack. This healthy home-styled granola is high in protein, healthy fats, and dietary fibre, making it an excellent source of energy at any time. Combine it with a serving of cold milk, yoghurt, or smoothie while baking, or enjoy it on its own for a tasty, yet healthy snack. Veggie Masala Oats A tasty combination of vegetables, seeds, and premium golden rolled oats that makes for a super-healthy meal. Each bite contains beta-glucan, which helps to lower cholesterol. This is extremely beneficial for weight loss and should be taken to heart. It's great for weight loss, and it's naturally delicious, with the added benefit of vegetables. Corn Flakes Plus - Real Honey The flavour of Corn Flakes with the added benefit of prebiotic fibre! Bagrry's excels at innovation; using food processing technology, they have infused fibre back into corn flakes. Bagrry's Corn Flakes Plus have twice the fibre of regular flakes. The added fibre slows sugar absorption and thus lowers the Glycemic Index (GI). A bowl of these light and crispy golden flakes with the natural flavour of raw Himalayan honey will keep you going until lunch. Read More► Fruit to Keep You Hydrated in Summers

Liver, which is the second largest and the most complex organ in the body, after the brain, can be easily damaged if not taken good care of, said experts. The liver is a key player in our body's digestive system, and helps in proper digestion, metabolism, removal of toxins, and nutrient storage. The organ plays a vital role in affecting our overall health and wellness, thus to improve its functioning to prevent damage, a healthy lifestyle is important, the health experts said. "A healthy liver is the key to a long life term. With slight changes in lifestyle you can maintain good liver health," said Dr Ameet Mandot, Senior consultant and Clinical lead - Adult Hepatology and Liver Transplant unit - Global Hospital, Parel, Mumbai. "Maintaining the health of the liver is quite necessary as it performs many functions and plays a vital role in the human digestive system. Everything you eat or drink passes through the liver. You cannot survive without a liver. It is an organ that can be easily damaged if you don't take good care of it," added Dr. Abhishek Deepak, Senior Consultant - Gastroenterologist at Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida. The health experts explained that leading an unhealthy lifestyle - with improper diet, lack of physical activity, being overweight, can all lead to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, and abnormal cholesterol levels. All these are major risk factors for developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which then progresses to liver cirrhosis -- late-stage liver disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue and the liver is permanently damaged. Mandot suggested maintaining a healthy diet along with weight management. "Avoid fatty foods, exercise regularly, consume alcohol responsibly and in moderation, cut down or stop smoking, avoid use of illicit drugs," Mandot noted. According to Dr. Gaurav Gupta, Consultant & Chief Surgeon, Department of Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery, Fortis Hospital Mulund, not drinking enough water, taking stress as well as taking some painkillers and other drugs may also contribute to liver disease. Gupta said that "painkillers containing acetaminophen, paracetamol, and narcotics; sleeping pills; stimulants/ADHD drugs like ritalin, amphetamine; and cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy," can easily surpass a safe threshold of liver tolerance and can cause significant damage to the organ. "Intravenous drugs can transmit infections like hepatitis B and C, which can also lead to chronic liver disease and even liver cancer," he added. The experts also suggested to avoid use of contaminated needles, getting proper medical care if exposed to blood, do not share personal hygiene items, practice safe sex, wash hands, follow directions on all medications and importantly get vaccinated. Read More► How Exercise Keeps Dementia at Bay

London: Exercise maintains insulin and body mass index (BMI) levels, which helps, protect brain volume and thus help stave off dementia, researchers have found. The study, published in the journal Neurology, showed the relationship between exercise and the metabolism of glucose in the brain was not affected by insulin or BMI levels. Reduced glucose metabolism in the brain can be seen in people with dementia. "These results may help us to understand how physical activity affects brain health, which may guide us in developing strategies to prevent or delay age-related decline in memory and thinking skills," said Geraldine Poisnel, from Inserm Research Center in Caen, France. "Older adults, who are physically active, gain cardiovascular benefits, which may result in greater structural brain integrity," Poisnel added. The study involved 134 people with an average age of 69 who had no memory problems. The people filled out surveys about their physical activity over the past year. They had brain scans to measure volume and glucose metabolism. Information was gathered on BMI and insulin levels as well as cholesterol, blood pressure and other factors. People with the most physical activity had a higher total volume of grey matter in their brains than people with the least amount of physical activity, with an average of about 550,000 cubic millimetres compared to about 540,000 cubic mm. When researchers looked only at areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer's disease, they found the same results. Those with the most activity also had a higher average rate of glucose metabolism in the brain than those with the least amount of activity. Higher physical activity was not associated with how much amyloid plaque - a marker for Alzheimer's disease - people had in their brains. Poisnel said more research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind these relationships. "Maintaining a lower BMI through physical activity could help prevent disturbed insulin metabolism that is often seen in ageing, thus promoting brain health," Poisnel said. (agency) Read More► Allergies, Asthma May Raise Risk of High BP, Heart Disease