Vaccine call for 'silent killer'

By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News

Nayeem died from complications

When little Nayeem Hossain became sick at his home in a village in Bangladesh, his family were desperately worried.

Doctors at the local clinic said the five-month-old boy had a viral fever and needed paracetamol to reduce his temperature.

For eight days his parents tried to reduce his fever, but as he grew worse and started having convulsions they took him by bus from their home to the children's hospital in Dhaka.

Left paralysed

Fluid was taken from his backbone and doctors confirmed that Nayeem had advanced pneumococcal meningitis and there was nothing that could be done.

Nayeem's father and mother were determined not to give up hope and sold off the little property they had to pay off his hospital bills.

Despite doctors' efforts, Nayeem was left completely paralysed. He stayed in hospital for two weeks before his parents had to take him home, against medical advice, because they could no longer afford to pay for his care.

Until his death 18 months later from complications of the disease, his days were spent lying on the floor staring blankly at the ceiling.

Vaccination hopes

Experts warn that Nayeem's case is not unique, but say such tragic cases could be avoided with a global vaccination programme.

Now there are calls, from the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on pneumococcal disease prevention in the developing world, to have the disease given equal standing with HIV, malaria and TB.

Monica, Nayeem's twin continued to thrive

Medics say that diseases caused by serious pneumococcal infections kill more children than any other illness - more than Aids, malaria and measles combined.

Between 800,000 and one million children die from pneumococcal infections, mainly pneumonia and meningitis - at least one child every minute.

In developing countries, pneumococcal meningitis alone kills over 40% of the children who get the disease.

The impact is so devastating because of the lack of vaccination programmes and resources.

Speedy access

A vaccine to protect children against pneumococcal meningitis is credited with saving hundreds of lives since its introduction in the UK in February 2006.

But getting the vaccine into developing countries is slow.

Dr Orin Levine, executive director of PneumoADIP, a dedicated team working from John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the US, supported by a $30m grant from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), aims to help vaccinate children in developing countries.

"Pneumococcal disease is probably the biggest killer that nobody ever hears about," said Dr Levine.

"We can do a lot to prevent these deaths.

"Vaccination is a proven, safe and effective solution to the global burden of this deadly disease.

"If you are fortunate enough to be born in the UK your risk of dying in your first year of life is less than 1%, and you have access to a healthcare system and all the immunisations.

"But if you are born in Africa you probably have around a one in 10 risk of death before your first birthday and you probably live in an environment where there is very little healthcare, and generally of a less than high quality.

"Your access to immunisations is seriously constrained unless there is concerted aid to vaccinate.

"Tackling pneumococcal disease requires resources and sustained international commitment. But this effort pales in comparison to doing nothing."

Dr Des Turner, MP and chair of the APPG, said now was the time to do something.

"We have a responsibility to help reduce the global health problem of pneumococcal disease, which is under-recognised and, until recently, has had few dedicated efforts made to tackle it."

THINK GLOBAL, EAT LOCAL!

That's what globe-trotter Kareena Kapoor's diet is all about, finds Urvashi Ashar

 Actor Kareena Kapoor is busy shooting in Venice for Sajid Nadiadwala's Kambakht Ishq. And one wonders how the vegetarian is coping with her diet and staying away from the Venetian wonders. BT speaks to her dietician-nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar who lets us in on Bebo's flabto-fab story. "Kareena was always into workouts. She exercised diligently but saw little results. It was when she met a common friend who had lost tons of weight post delivery, that she decided to consult me. But the best thing about Kareena was that she loved herself and her body even when she was plump, and she loves it even now.
    In spite of being a Punju and a complete foodie, Kareena, before she met me, was on a 'mythical' diet. She tried hard to avoid the bananas, cheese, parathas… food that everyone usually considers 'fatty'. She was clueless, and ate randomly, and her 'selfmade diet plan' was based purely on trial and error. It would have, on the contrary, been better had she consumed the bananas, cheese and parathas. The first thing I changed about her diet was the long gaps in between meals. I got her to eat every two hours instead, and that made all the difference," says Rujuta.
    Called the 'chana-singdaana' girl of the fraternity thanks to her constant munching of chana and peanuts on the sets, Kareena has stunned everybody. "While she was shooting for Tashan, a private number flashed on my phone," narrates Rujuta. "It was Anil Kapoor asking me what magic I'd done. He made Bebo his official dietician, so much so that before he popped anything into his mouth, he sought her permission with a simple 'Main yeh kha sakta hoon kya?'" laughs Rujuta.
    Talking about Tashan, did the nutritionist go the extra mile the day Kareena had to wear a bikini? "I think a woman should be bikini fit 24 x 7, 365 days a year! And no, I didn't make Kareena starve; she on the contrary had a normal day and ate her normal meals. Many people still think that Bebo survived only on orange juice. But that's not true. Kareena's simply eating right, and in fact eats more today than she ever did in the past. Some people even believe that she is anorexic, not true again! And there are many who are waiting to see her put on all that weight she has lost. Well, it's not going to happen. Because what the actor has done is adopted a new, healthy lifestyle. And when you do that, your fat cells shrink as a response. Alternatively, when you're on a crash diet, you lose lean body weight, your metabolic rate decreases gradually and the body ages faster. You deprive yourself of food, which is the most primitive form of punishment, your blood sugar levels are unstable and it's the worst thing you can do to yourself."
    Claiming diets like compensation, detox, weight loss, maintenance to be 'shams', Rujuta says, "It's all about eating the right thing at the right time and place, and in the right quantity. Kareena can eat whatever she wants, all that she needs to do is decide in advance and 'plan' it. Her diet plan doesn't deprive her of any food group," informs the dietician, adding that Bebo definitely had the famous HPMC apple juice when she was shooting in Ladakh, indulged in cake and pie in Bangkok and also makes it a point to have Christmas pudding every year. Does being a vegetarian make it more difficult? "Vegetarianism is a global phenomenon. To organise a vegan diet is not that difficult anymore. The only thing that happens due to vegetarianism is that Kareena's food choice gets limited. But honestly, ten out of ten times she manages wonderfully."
So what does Bebo do to eat right when she is travelling? "Her diet plan, her calcium and her vitamin B supplements. And if she is shooting in a remote place, she'll carry along with her packets of chana, peanuts, yoghurt and soy milk. Calcium supplements, as they're more prone to osteoporosis. The vitamin B supplement complements her vegan meals."
How often does her diet plan change? "I have her schedule with me, and know where she is headed. I try to locate some good restaurants for her and suggest what she should eat where. I try and locate local health stores where she can pick up her yogurts, packs of soymilk and fruits. My motto is 'Think global, eat local'. I encourage all my clients to have the local food wherever they go instead of having them carry packets of khakhra from back home," says the expert.
So currently in Venice, what is Bebo gorging on? "Wholesome pasta with gorgonzola cheese. She's filling herself up with malta, minestrone soup. When she's in Bangkok, she feasts on Thai curry, steamed rice and noodles. And in New York salads and soups. When Bebo was shooting in Ladakh recently, she ate momos and thupka noodles! You see, the diet changes with the place you're in. For example, in a place like Ladakh, which is 3,500 m above sea level, you get dehydrated, so you automatically up the carbohydrate and liquid intake. The logic behind increasing the carbs in your diet is that if there aren't enough carbs, you can't store enough water. So sometimes it's essential to have a carb-rich diet," explains Rujuta. "It's when you're working and active that you must have carbs. So when Bebo has a night shift, her diet changes all over again. In the night your digestive capacity is hampered, and a night shift means sleeping during the day, so the sleep is not as deep and comfy as night sleep. So there's not enough rest. There are a lot of things that complement your diet. You need enough rest, you need to workout, and Bebo is very spiritual too. This helps her with her willpower and mental strength. All these aspects simultaneously go a long way in getting results. Your body responds to food according to your state of mind and degree of contentment. And Kareena is very content."

Rujuta Diwekar

PICTURE PERFECT: Kareena Kapoor

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY: Laughter clubs are mushrooming all over the city

HA HA HO HO!

People all over the world have discovered the benefits of laughter yoga, a trend which was first started in Mumbai, writes Glacxy Ferrao

    There is nothing like laughter to beat the blues and feel alive and zestful, as people all over the world who are attending laughter clubs have discovered to their delight. Laughter also works your muscles. Twenty seconds of a good, hard belly laugh is worth three minutes on the rowing machine. Incorporating hasya or laughter yoga can boost the benefits derived from a regular exercise routine.
    A brainchild of a family physician Madan Kataria, from India, Mumbai to be precise, hasya yoga as it is called, is fast becoming a way of life for many people — to attain physical and mental fitness. The hasya laughter course is a growing trend in the United States, India and other countries. It's observed that kids laugh about 400 times a day, and adults only 15. So people are re-learning something children already know instinctively: that laughter makes you feel better. And mind you, no jokes are used to illicit the laughter in these clubs.
    Abroad in the US, a laughter class begins with chants like "ho ho, ha ha ha," a warm-up exercise, amid clapping of hands and walking around the room. Over the next half-hour, students attending the class stretch their muscles and work on breathing exercises. They'll also laugh for most of the 30 minutes, from self-conscious giggles to uninhibited belly laughs. Laughter is a gift that has been given to us to make us feel better. It is not only fun to laugh, but hasya yoga also reduces stress, boosts immune, cardiovascular and respiratory systems and helps overcome bad digestion and constipation.
    The biggest effect that people have got from laughter yoga is it has lightened up their day and week. It has also improved their breathing especially at a time when we have forgotten to deep-breathe due to all the pollution around. It relaxes and brings out the child in them. Talking about the benefits of laughter yoga, Kishore Kuwawala, chairman of Priyadarshini Laughter Club International, Napean Sea Road, Mumbai, says, "Laughter is a God-given gift which ups your confidence levels and improves your concentration. It relieves stress and tension as humour is the best stressbuster. When you laugh, you breathe 100 per cent and at that time, the oxygen intake improves and the flow of blood too is faster. In a way it acts as a kind of alternative medicine to many pychosomatic illnesses. And to top it all, interpersonal relations of people who laugh also improve," he says.
    The laughter clubs that were started in Mumbai have found a good response abroad. There are around 60 laughter clubs in Mumbai itself — a trend which is gaining a lot of momentum in the city. "In 2007 when we had organised a laughter competition for senior citizens, according to their age groups, around 350 people attended it, and more than 20 people who participated in the competition were from the 81 years and above — which itself points to the growing popularity of these laughter clubs among our seniors," says Kishore. Competitions like Laughter Shree and Laughter Shrimati for elders, Laughter Kumar and Laughter Kumari for school kids have also garnered a lot of interest in this exercise. "The loud laughter in a way integrates people of all religions as there are no barriers of religion, caste and creed in these clubs. In a way, they promote communal harmony," informs Kishore also adding that 4th May is celebrated as World Laughter Day. And by including even the police force, the BEST bus staff, the dabbawalllas into their laughter sessions, the popularity of laughter yoga is only growing by the day.
    Vandana Sawant, who is associated with the Ladies Laughter Club
    at Sion starts her
    day at 6.30 in the
    morning with yoga,
    followed by chanting of
    the Gayatri mantra and other
    prayers and of course a session of
    laughter. "People come to us with various problems like depression, blood pressure problems, disturbed personal life, etc. They don't know to laugh at home. So when they come to our sessions, they laugh and feel good. They even tell us that they feel relaxed after the session. We even give them counselling if they have problems and believe me, it has worked wonders in their lives," says Vandana.
    Laughter is already a serious business, anyway! What say you?

LAUGHING ALL THE WAY: Laughter clubs are mushrooming all over the city

‘YOGA IS ALL ABOUT WELLNESS’

Want a 24-inch waist like Shilpa Shetty? The Bollywood hottie who's become synonymous with fitness, shares her well-being secrets with Sharin Wader

    Shilpa Shetty's cool as a cucumber, that she proved during her stint at the Big Brother's house — the UK reality show where she was reportedly subjected to racism. But the world didn't just sit up and take notice of her calm composure, they also noticed her hot bod. The body she so meticulously carved and sculpted over the years. As a housemate of Big Brother, the cameras followed her every move and people got to know of her fitness mantra. Her chanting of the Om Namah Shivay and doing the yoga became a fad worldwide. From being the global face of Bollywood, she went on to become the global face of fitness. No doubt, one of the things she did after winning the contest, was to launch a DVD on yoga. "My aim was to clear the misconception of the youth that yoga is meant only for the elderly. I wanted them to know that yoga is all about wellness. Now I see a huge difference the way they perceive yoga. It's valued as much in our country as it is in the West. Another reason why I decided to do the DVD was because I realised that all videos and DVDs on yoga were done by foreigners. So I took the initiative," said Shilpa, who is known for having the best bod in Bollywood. "I have been practicing yoga ever since I've been into fitness. I have tried different forms of fitness and found yoga to be the most holistic and scientific way of curing problems. It also tones and stretches your body at the same time. Yoga is the only form of exercise that loosens your body as well as sculpts it. It's an all-in-one quick fix," said the actress, who follows the ancient form of yoga. "People assume that if they do power yoga or dynamic yoga, they will lose weight instantly but that's not true. I don't even do the Suryanamaskar. It's not a part of yoga, it's just a prayer to the sun. And if you don't do it under proper guidance, you could injure your back. It's dangerous especially if you do it fast," informed the actress, who does the Ashtanga yoga, the Bhujangasana and the Dhanurasan. "Once when I was doing crunches, I hurt my neck. That's when I turned to yoga. So now even if I'm doing any other form of exercise like cardio or weight training, I do a bit of yoga at the end because it loosens my muscles," said Shilpa who has attended yoga guru Ramdev Baba's classes too. "I admire Ramdev ji because he single handedly created awareness about yoga in our country. But his style of doing it is different as compared to mine. I feel whatever form of exercise that suits you — be it running, swimming, cardio or yoga — you should do it. It's all about being fit," said Shilpa, who recommends yoga specially to those who, like her, are frequent travellers. "Yoga can be done even when you are sitting in a plane," she said. But that's not the only thing related to fitness that she wants to promote. The actress who boasts of a 24-inch waist, intends to share her food secrets too. "I'm planning of coming out with a DVD on that. It's not difficult to eat right and be fit. People have this wrong concept that if they work out, they can eat anything. Diet is THE most important thing in order to have a great body," informed the actress. But does she binge once in a while? "I'm human. I do get cravings. I eat whenever I feel like it. I believe in what Buddha said, 'The only way to overcome desire is to yield it'. It's perfectly fine to binge once in a while. But if it's a daily thing then it's no longer a desire, it's greed," said the fitness freak, who wants to make another thing clear: yoga has nothing to do with spirituality. "If you don't want to say Om, you can say Allah. Pranayam is just a breathing technique. When you breathe right, your life is on the right track," said the actress who feels that today people lead such fast-paced lives that they forget to breathe properly. "Many are mouth breathers like me. You have to fill your lungs with air and breathe it out while saying something. So that's why the yogis said Om," she informed. "Yoga calms you down. When you are happy inside, it shows from the outside," she smiled. Well if you thought the glow on her face was only because the lady is in love with the UK businessman Raj Kunder, then now you know there's more to it than just that! For a 24-inch waist, Shilpa...
Works out three times a week, but if she's doing yoga, then she works out five days a week Does a bit of yoga after cardio or weight training Does the Ashtanga, Bhujangasan and Dhanurasan Is currently doing weight training as she's preparing herself for an action film. For her spiritual wellbeing Shilpa...
    Meditates every night. She chants the Om Namah Shivay 108 times. Follows the teachings of the Oneness University. "I went there to discover more about myself. It has nothing to do with religion. It talks about your perception of life and how you can change it. The core of your wellbeing is your family life. If you don't have good relations with your family, other things are affected. So you need to sort out that first and then everything else will fall into place."
What yoga can do
It has a scientific effect on you. It cures ailments. Makes you more disciplined. Your concentration power doubles besides cleaning your insides and making you glow and look fitter. It helps in losing weight, though it's a slow process. But if you have a major weight problem, combine cardio with yoga.

SEXY LADY: Shilpa Shetty

THE OOMPH FACTOR

CALM YOUR SENSES

Meditation centres are mushrooming not only all over India but also globally as an antidote to stress. Dr Parul R Sheth gives an overview

 More and more people are into meditation today, using it as an effective antidote to stress. Meditation centres are mushrooming not only all over India but also globally. These centres are outlets for stress, cultivating a deeper spiritual awareness and positive thinking.
    Repetition of a mantra or sound, for example chanting of Om, takes you into a transcended state. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Transcendental Meditation centres are around the world and so are the Osho meditation centres. Yoga retreat centres too have spread across the globe.
Siddha Yoga, Sahaj Yoga, Raj Yoga,
are all a part of yoga meditation.
    The Brahma Kumari World Spiritual University, teach Raj Yoga as a method of meditation. World Meditation Hour was introduced by the Brahma Kumaris, when people all over the world collectively meditate for one hour. The practice has spread to over 90 countries now.
    Buddhist meditation centres offer meditation classes with advanced Buddhist study programmes and mindfulness meditation. It is based on the concept of being mindful, or having an increased awareness and total acceptance of the present. You are taught to bring all your attention to the sensation of the flow of the breath in and out of the body. Buddhist meditation is divided into Samatha and Vipassana meditation. Samatha helps develop concentration and calms the mind. Vipassana builds positive emotions and helps develop awareness of the inner self. Several Vipassana centres are running all over India. The global Vipassana Pagoda, a 325-feet monument is built on Gorai Island, Mumbai, which has a Dhamma Hall for over 8,000 meditators to sit and meditate.
    The Tao Zen meditation centres offer Zazen as the centre of Zen meditation and the World Community for Christian Meditation practices and promotes contemplative prayer in the form of silent meditation.
    Today meditation has been regarded as a form of mind-body medicine. It is practiced for physical relaxation, mental peace and psychological balance or tolerance capacity to cope with anger, diseases and overall wellness. It can help in coping with anxiety, stress, depression, pain or insomnia. Simple breathing techniques practiced at meditation centres, help calm a racing heart or help in digestion too. The slow, quiet, regular deep breathing exercises can control your emotional states such as anger and moods.

IN SEARCH OF PEACE? Meditation clubs provide the answer to a stressful lifestyle

The beverage that fights stroke

The artery-friendly polyphenols in green tea reduce risk of heart disease

You can blow the whistle on "brain attacks" by turning on your teapot. That's right. If you've got green tea brewing in there, it's one celestial seasoning that can help you live longer. If you drink enough, you just might lower your risk of dying from a stroke by up to 42 per cent!
Holy Teacup, Batman
In a large study of women, those who sipped at least five cups of green tea a day had a 42 per cent lower risk of death due to stroke, compared with women who drank less than one cup a day. Other research shows that just two 227 gram cups of tea daily can dramatically reduce the risk of dying from heart disease — most likely because of the arteryfriendly polyphenols in tea.
Here's to Life
So raise your mug — and celebrate these additional benefits of drinking green tea: Great skin. Green tea rejuvenates skin cells. Healthy joints. You've heard of a green thumb. But how about green knees? A trim waistline. You'll burn more fat if you drink green tea. A smart brain. Drink this cup to stay sharp.

TOAST TO TEA: Sip atleast five cups of green tea a day

HEAL WITH HOMEOPATHY

Homeopathy helps treat osteoarthritis

 Among the worst afflictions of old age is osteoarthritis which affects 80 per cent of the elderly. It attacks mainly the knee, hip and thigh joints. The usual suspects are obesity, family history or a traumatic injury. Until the age of 55 it occurs equally in both sexes, but after 55 it occurs mainly in women. While the world average is 4 per cent, the incidence of osteoarthritis in India is as high as 12 per cent.
    A balanced lifestyle helps to avert or relieve osteoarthritis. Being overweight places extra strain on the joints of the load bearing lower limbs. Regular exercise and a sensible diet are a must. Osteoarthritis patients are allergic to all fish and meat products. Additionally they should avoid alcohol, coffee, dairy, sugar, excess salt and spinach.
    Given that patients are elderly and their bodies frail, homeopathy is the best choice of treatment. However, osteoarthritis being a degenerative disease with pathological changes almost irreversible, it cannot be completely cured. What homeopathy can and does do is slow it down and offer considerable pain relief.
    I recall the case of 55-yearold Mrs Joshi who came to us complaining of knee joint pains which prevented her from squatting, walking or even getting up easily. The stiffness was worst after a bout of inactivity. Diagnosing her with osteoarthritis, an orthopaedic advised her to lose weight, prescribed painkillers which caused hyperacidity, and condemned her to a lifelong sentence of suffering. Luckily upon a friend's advice, she came to us where post a detailed case examination, she was prescribed Rhus Tox. Soon enough her pain had eased so dramatically that she could easily resume a normal routine.
    Homeopathic Remedies:
    Rhus toxicodendron 30:
Pain and stiffness, worst in the morning and during cold, wet weather.
    Ruta graveolens 200:
Severe stiffness and lameness, worse from cold, damp and exertion.
    Bryonia 200: Tearing or throbbing pain aggravated by motion. Rest and pressure may bring relief (if the pressure adds stability), but movement is intolerable. Cold applications often reduce discomfort.
    Apis mellifica 30: Acute conditions with redness, tenderness, and swelling. Joints feel hot with stinging pain.

Dr Mukesh Batra

To be mentally stronger

BT gives you simple day-to-day pointers that could help you in your pursuit of peace and happiness

DR KANAN KHATAU CHIKHAL

With the rise of mental illness in the city, anxiety, depressions, panic attacks, suicides, schizophrenia, low self-esteem are our new found best friends. In the rat race of science and technology, where we have to prove our productiveness, we have proudly forgotten to be humans — something that we are all born with.
    We tend to blame our family, friends, peers, superiors to be the cause of stress in our health. But how many people will you blame? The list just goes on. Ever thought of looking within?
    All of us are in the pursuit of peace and happiness… but somewhere along the line, trying to strike a balance between the social, spiritual, economic and mental aspects of our lives is a learning and growing process forever.
    Lack of a stoic balance makes us feel like an emotional 'Tarzan' swinging from one end to another. We experience a sense of unpredictability and instability.
    Moreover, for some of us who are unable to call the 'shots', life may almost be like a puppet in the hands of the other. Creating a balance in the core of our lives is somehow the essence of having a strong foundation.
    Here are a few simple day to day pointers and tips that could help you 'live and see the brighter colours of your mind'.
Mind your mind: Get into the habit of introspection and look within. Have you acted out of proportion to a situation or not expressed yourself ? Practicing introspection on a regular basis will make you more aware of who you really are.
Are you able to live in the NOW? Life is a mystery — a box of chocolates you will never know which one you get! It is with this realisation that clarity comes in and your life improves.
Relax unwind: If too much work is weighing you down, learn to say to yourself, 'I have had enough for the day'. Listen to music, watch a film and meditate. Taking ten minutes out of your busy office schedule to do something you enjoy may destress you.
Meditate: Make meditation a ritual like you brush your teeth, it is essential to feel the space within. Our mind is clogged with thoughts, actions, words, emotions leaving no room for silence and the emptiness within. Meditation helps in getting touch with the silence within.
Accept yourself: We are all different human beings, individual in our own nature. The only thing that is common to all of us is that 'we aren't perfect'. So, don't judge yourself or anybody else.
Be a part: Be a part of a club, a course, or a non-profit organisation. Look around, you will find a lot to do. Not only will you feel better but you will benefit from supporting others too.
Keep in touch… 'untouchability' is a crime: If you are going through a difficult time like a messy divorce, a bad month at work, or just a painful experience, you don't need to pretend to be strong and put up with it alone. Friends are essential at this time so remember to keep in touch.
Feel oneness with Mother Nature: Go on a nature trail, making your own road will give you confidence and make you feel free. A simple act like watching a bird or a butterfly can bring an immense sense of relaxation.
Do something creative: Start a hobby. It will help you when
you are anxious or low by increasing your confidence. It could be writing a poem, learning a dance, cooking, gardening. Experiment and find your forte. Step it up! Regular exercises in the form of a sport you enjoy like swimming, walking, dancing, and cycling may be a lot of hard work but are surely worth the effort. Not only are they good for the physical body but mentally they release hormones that help you feel positive.
Feed your mind: Having a balanced diet not only fills your physical body with the right nutrients and energy but the food you eat affects the moods you feel. The simple key is to eat regularly every two to three hours and have a good proportion of fruits, nuts and vegetables everyday. Zzz…: Clocking in the zzzs…is an essential part of keeping your mind healthy.
Talkety talk: Our problems tend to overwhelm us and push us into our shell. It may always help to confide in a friend you trust and let the steam off. The friend may in fact give you a third person's perspective which may not have occurred to you earlier.
Lean on… support: The truth is if you are physically sick, you normally very readily run to a doctor for help but somehow the embarrassment creeps in when you may have to ask for help for your mental health. You tend to perceive it as a sign of weakness. On the contrary it is only a sign of personal strength. Everyone needs strength from time to time and honestly there is nothing wrong in asking for it.
Value yourself!: The feeling of being valuable — 'I am a valuable person is essential to mental health and is a cornerstone of self discipline': (Scott Peck).
    For only after you realise this will you allow love, joy and peace to flourish in your life! (The writer is a clinical psychologist and counsellor)

TOP OF THE WORLD: Regular exercise helps you to feel positive

UNWIND: Listen to music or do something you enjoy

Internet use 'good for the brain'

Areas activated by reading a book in the brain of an experienced web user

For middle aged and older people at least, using the internet helps boost brain power, research suggests.

A University of California Los Angeles team found searching the web stimulates centres in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning.

The researchers say this might even help to counter-act the age-related physiological changes that cause the brain to slow down.

The study features in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

A simple, everyday task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults Professor Gary Small University of California Los Angeles

As the brain ages, a number of changes occur, including shrinkage and reductions in cell activity, which can impact on performance.

It has long been thought that activities which keep the brain active, such as crossword puzzles, may help minimise the impact - and the latest study suggests that surfing the web can be added to the list.

Web use stimulates much more activity in the same brain

Lead researcher Professor Gary Small said: "The study results are encouraging, that emerging computerized technologies may have physiological effects and potential benefits for middle-aged and older adults.

"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function."

The latest study was based on 24 volunteers aged between 55 and 76. Half were experienced internet users, the rest were not.

Compared with reading

Each volunteer underwent a brain scan while performing web searches and book-reading tasks.

Both types of task produced evidence of significant activity in regions of the brain controlling language, reading, memory and visual abilities.

However, the web search task produced significant additional activity in separate areas of the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning - but only in those who were experienced web users.

Brain activity in web newcomers: similar for reading and internet use

The researchers said that compared with simple reading, the internet's wealth of choices requires that people make decisions about what to click on in order to get the relevant information.

However, they suggested that newcomers to the web had not quite grasped the strategies needed to successfully carry out a web search.

Professor Smith said: "A simple, everyday task like searching the web appears to enhance brain circuitry in older adults, demonstrating that our brains are sensitive and can continue to learn as we grow older."

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "These fascinating findings add to previous research suggesting that middle-aged and older people can reduce their risk of dementia by taking part in regular mentally stimulating activities.

"Older web users - 'silver surfers' - are doing precisely this.

"Frequent social interactions, regular exercise and maintaining a balanced diet can also reduce dementia risk."

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Use it or lose it may well be a positive message to keep people active but there is very little real evidence that keeping the brain exercised with puzzles, games or other activities can promote cognitive health and reduce the risk of dementia."