Full vaccine course key to developing immunity

Every year, a large number of children get vaccinated for diseases like pertussis, tuberculosis, hepatitis-B, measles under the national immunization programme. But very few go on to complete the full course losing track of booster doses that are administered at 10 and 16 years. The lack of awareness among parents are to blame for the low turnout rate.      Doctors say most children don't get mandatory booster dose for tetanus at the age of 10 and 16. ''If they are given the booster doses, the kids can develop immunity for life. It would also bring down indiscriminate use of tetanus. But we don't see many turning up for booster doses at 10 and 16 years of age,'' said Dr Bir Singh, professor of community medicine, AIIMS.      Similarly, the incidence of the contagious pertussis (whooping cough) is rising among kids in the 10-plus agegroup. The national immunization programme recommends booster doses for diphtheria and tetanus at the age of 5. ''These days, we see a lot of pertussis cases in children above 10 years. With time, the effect of the vaccine decreases. That is why booster doses of DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) are required at the age of 10,'' said Dr Pankaj Garg, consultant, neo-natology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.      Doctors say the national immunization programme is religiously followed for children up to two years. ''Till 24 months, vaccines are given at an interval of 2 to 3 months. But when we ask parents to come after two or four years, their turnout is dismal,'' said Dr Sisir Paul, paediatrician, Max Healthcare.  TIME FOR FOLLOW-UP  BOOSTER  A number of diseases are covered under the national immunization programme, but doctors say that follow-up rate of booster doses, especially given at 10 & 16 years of age, is very poor in India IMMUNIZATION ROUTINE  Primary vaccination  Bacillus Calmette-Guirin  Vaccine against tuberculosis  Administered at  Birth  Oral polio  Vaccine against polio  Administered at  Birth, 6, 10, 14 weeks  DPT  Vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis & tetanus  Administered at  6, 10, 14 weeks  Hepatitis B  Against bloodborne disease  Administered at  Birth, 6, 10, 14 weeks  Measles vaccine Administered at  9-12 months  Optional vaccines  H influenza (type B)  Against flu Administered at | 6, 10, 14 weeks Booster dose at | 18 mths  Hepatitis A  Against water-borne diseases Administered at | 12 mths Booster dose at | 18 mths  Chicken pox Administered at | 1 yr Booster dose at | 10 yrs  Pneumococcal vaccine  Against pneumonia  Administered at  6, 14, 20 weeks  Typhoid (VI) Administered at | 2 yrs Booster dose at  Every 3 yrs*  Meningococcal  Against meningitis Administered at | 2 yrs Booster dose at  Every 3 yrs*  *(until 18 years of age) BOOSTER DOSES  DPT & oral polio  16-24 months  DT  5 yrs (doctors recommend DPT booster dose at 10 years of age)  Tetanus Toxoid (TT)  At 10 years & again at 16 years  Vitamin A  9, 18, 24, 30 & 36 months after birth of the infant

Get rid of dandruff

Avoid oily and junk food since they are among the main reasons for dandruff. Applying fermented curd on your scalp and hair for an hour is another popular remedy. Dandruff is more common in dry hair — get into the habit of oiling your hair as often as you can. Make a mixture of olive oil and ginger root and apply it on your scalp. This reduces dandruff and also keeps the hair healthy. Avoid colouring or streaking your hair if you suffer from a dandruff problem — it will only worsen your problem. Take a bit of sandalwood oil and thrice the amount of lemon juice to make a paste. Keep this mixture on your scalp for some time and then wash off. Curtail drinking caffeine as well as eating sweet things like chocolates, pastries and sugar. Rinsing your scalp with lemon juice works wonders in getting rid of dandruff. If you have found that dandruff shampoos have not helped eliminate your problem, then you may want to consider using vinegar. Mix half a mug of warm water with half of vinegar and pour it over your scalp and rinse out thoroughly.      Make a paste of two egg whites mixed with lime juice and apply it on your scalp. This also gives you relief from an itchy scalp.      Make a mixture of almond oil and olive oil and apply it on your scalp. Wash it off after about five minutes.

WORK IT OUT

If you're looking at burning the extra fat and toning up, these exercises are a must-do When it comes to working out, everyone wants to see results, and fast. While there are a plethora of exercises that you can try out, nothing delivers like the following seven.  Walking  Walking is the most basic form of exercise ever. Still better, you can walk anywhere, anytime, on a treadmill or in the park, on the beach, literally anywhere and all you need is a good pair of walking shoes. If you're starting out, beginwith 10 minutes at a time, gradually moving up to at least 30 minutes non stop.  Interval Training  Interval training can add to your cardio workout and boost fitness, burn more calories and help you lose weight. As you progress, vary the intensity of your aerobic workout. Bring up the pace for a minute or two, then back off a bit and again increase it.  Squats  Squats have often been associated with a boot-camp style workout. They workmultiple muscle groups and hence deliver great results. The ideal way of doing squats is keeping your feet shoulder-width apart and your back straight. Bend your knees and lower your rear as if you were sitting down in a chair, keeping your knees over your ankles. They help increase you muscle mass and overall strength and power.  Lunges  Like squats, lunges work all the major muscles. They have the ability to affect your entire lower body with emphasis on different muscle groups depending on the particular type of lunge that you decide to do and help to improve your balance.  Push-ups  Push-ups help strengthen the chest, shoulders, triceps and core muscles. Beginners can start by leaning into their kitchen counter, then gradually advance to a desk or a chair, onto the floor with knees bent and then on the floor on the toes. For push-ups, keep your face down, place  hands slightly wider than the shoulder-width, place toes or knees on the floor making a smooth line. Keep the rear-end muscles and abdominals engaged, lower and lift body by bending and straightening elbows. Remember to keep your torso stable throughout the move.  Abdominal Crunches  There are two methods to do abdominal crunches. Start by lying on your back with feet flat on the floor and palms supporting the head. Press your lower back down, contract abdominals and raise first your head, then neck, shoulders and upper back off the floor, in this order. Remember to tuck your chin when raising your head. For the second method, keep your knees bent, feet off the floor for doing crunches. This engages hip flexors and avoids arching your back. Notice that you keep your neck in line with your spine and keep your elbows out of your line of vision to keep chest and shoulders open. Don't stick your chin out or don't hold your breath.  Bent-Over Row  Beginners should not do the movements with weights. This exercise works for all major muscles of back and the biceps. Stand with feet shoulderwidth apart and knees bent. Flex forward at the hips and engage abdominals, extending spine to support. Hold weights beneath shoulders with hands apart. Flex elbows and lift both hands toward the sides of body. Slowly, lower hands to the first position. SWEAT IT OUT: Start your day with a quick run STRETCH OUT: Lunges work at all major muscles

VEGGIE DELIGHT

Dietician Richa Anand tells you why going veg is a good idea, even if it's for at least once a week     We dare not ask you to junk the cold cuts lying in your freezer, but if you wish to shed a few digits from your waistline (and your grocery bill), listen up. Studies conducted only second the long-believed benefits of going completely vegetarian. And for starters, here's how you can benefit by going veg, at least once a week.  DETOXIFIES YOUR BODY  Ditch that expensive spa and munch on fruits and veggies, known for their detoxifying qualities. A veggie diet contains dietary fibre (bottle gourd, pumpkins, spinach, methi, cabbages and other greens being the main sources). This fibre binds with the toxins and flushes them out of the body, making you feel light and energetic. On the flipside, a diet c o n t a i n - ing only e g g s , fish and mutton is a poor source of fibre.  STRONGER BONES  Gorging on meat can lead to excessive intake of protein, thereby interfering with the absorption of calcium. So much so that it may even prompt the body to draw out the existing calcium from the bones so as to correct the fluctuation in the blood's acidity level. Among vegetarians, this calcium excretion is known to be less common. Also, a protein overload can tax our kidneys.  CARB DEFICIENCIES  A non-vegetarian diet is a poor source of carbohydrate, a crucial fuel for the body. So make sure veggies are a regular part of your diet since carb-deficiency can lead to ketosis — a condition where the body starts breaking down fat (instead of carbs) as a source of energy.  EASY ON DIGESTION  The complex carbohydrates in vegetarian foods are digested gradually providing a steady source of glucose. Conversely, meats that are mostly rich in fat and proteins are difficult to digest and utilise a lot of energy to process. Now you know why a heavy non-veg meal leaves you feeling lazy.  HEALTHY SKIN  Research has shown that eating vegetables such as beetroot, tomato, pumpkin, bitter gourd and green leafy vegetables can clear off your blemishes. And fruits such as guava, apples, pears, peaches, eaten along with their peel promise a glowing complexion. Plants enriched with Vitamin C act as a natural sun block, delaying the ageing process. Also, the high water content and antioxidants present in cucumber and water melon can work wonders for the skin.  WEIGHT MANAGEMENT  Avoiding meat, especially red and organ meats such as liver and kidney is the simplest way of reducing your fat consumption.      Instead, consuming a      diet rich      in whole      g r a i n s ,      l e g u m e s ,      vegetables, nuts,      and fruits, along      with a regular exercise programme results in lower blood cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, less obesity and consequently less heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.  DESIGNED FOR VEGGIES  Our molars (flat teeth) are more suitable for grinding grains and vegetables than tearing flesh. Also, in humans, the process of digestion begins with the saliva in the mouth. This saliva contains the enzyme alpha- amylase (absent in carnivores) which can only digest complex carbohydrates present in plant foods.  PHYTONUTRIENTS  These nutrients do not appear to be immediately necessary to the human diet, but they do confer some benefits, protecting you from cardiovascular disorders being the most important one. Diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, stroke, and bone loss are partially preventable with a good intake of phytonurtients. Since these are present only in vegetarian diet, the non-vegetarians are at a loss.  —COORDINATED BY SONAL VED

Build your body’s protection shield

I-M-IMMUNE Does a minor change in weather pull you down? Build your body's protection shield — a strong immune system. Experts tell you how GO RUN!  It's well-known that cardio reduces the risk of stroke, improves blood circulation, lowers hypertension and relieves stress. However, a crucial benefit of cardio is that it boosts the body's immunity. Regular exercise ensures constant flow of nutrients and infectionfighting cells throughout the body, and of waste products out of it.      Simply put, diseases often follow blockage in the body's intricate mechanism. Hence, an easy defence against diseases keeps the body mechanisms ticking.  BOWEL-ED OVER  Two or three bowel movements per day ensures that the body's defence system is not put under any excess strain. Any less frequency in bowel movements causes putrid material to leak into the body cavity increasing the chances of serious internal infections.      So keep the body well-hydrated for regular and healthy bowel movements, and have foods rich in fibre such as cereals, whole grains and fruits like apples.  STRESS CHECK  The big 's' factor also affects immunity. Keep stress under check, incorporate a relaxing practice such as meditation, yoga or deep breathing into your daily routine. You may even try Tai-chi, a Chinese martial art.  CHEW THIS MUSHROOMS  A recent Arizona State University study says that mushrooms can indeed help cement the body's immunity. Interestingly, the common white button mushroom has stronger immunity boosting properties as compared to the exotic varieties.  CHOCOLATE  Chocoholics rejoice! Chocolate is a good source of arginine amino acid (a component of most proteins) which is crucial in boosting the body's immunity. Besides, it is also known to play a role in weight control and is also beneficial for the liver.  TEA  Good ol' chai fights infections attacking our body says a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School. The study conducted showed that the immune system of tea drinkers responded five times faster to germs,as compared to those who had coffee. The chemical in question in tea that supports immunity is L-theanine.  FISH  Apart from being a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids which have a host of benefits of their own, fish is also a rich source of glutamine that helps build immunity.      BREATHE RIGHT BELLY BREATHING  The most efficient way to breathe is diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing. Most infants and young children do it easily, but as we get older, we tend to breathe using our chest and shoulder muscles and less of our diaphragm.  Practise the follwing exercise and re-learn your breathing technique.  • Pick a comfortable position, sitting, standing or lying on your back.  • When standing or sitting, make sure that your feet are flat on the floor, the back is straight and hands are at your side, on your lap, or on the belly.  • Inhale thrice deeply, through your nose and exhale from your mouth. Feel the stress leave your body with each exhalation.  • As you inhale, let the breath completely fill your lungs and push your belly out.  • Exhale completely, feeling your belly move back in.  • Do a series of seven breaths. Rest for two minutes and repeat  ALTERNATING NOSTRIL BREATHING  Recommended for those suffering from chronic sinusitis, allergies and lung infections.  • Sit comfortably on a chair or on the floor. Press the thumb of your left hand against the left side of your nose, blocking the air passage, the other fingers of your hand kept straight, not touching your face.  • Breathe in through your right nostril for a count of ten.  • Move your hand such that your index finger closes the air passage on the right side of your nose.  • Breathe out of the left nostril for a count of ten.  • Repeat five times.  • Switch hands. Inhale through the left nostril and exhale from the right nostril for a count of ten.  • Repeat five times. (Inputs from Nuri Khan, proprietor, Studio 5 Aerobic Center and dietician Shilpa Joshi) —COORDINATED BY VIKAS HOTWANI

First cross-liver transplant in India a success

Nigerian Tot, Mumbai Woman Benefit From Rare Surgery Kounteya Sinha | TNN  New Delhi: Three months ago, nobody could have guessed their fates would be tied, but a little Nigerian boy and a woman from Mumbai were brought together in Delhi by—of all things—terminal liver failure.      Unable to find suitable donors with matching blood types for both 18-month-old Dike Ezeanya and 44-year-old Priya Ahuja, doctors at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital decided to attempt a liver swap, similar to a swap kidney transplant which is now a fairly common procedure. Thus Dike and Priya have become India's first patients to successfully undergo such liver surgery.      Five months after his birth, Dike was diagnosed with Billiary Atresia—a rare condition in newborns in which the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent. This condition can lead to liver failure, which is exactly what happened to little Dike.      Priya's state was also critical. On top of advanced liver failure due to Hepatitis C infection, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.      With transplants their only hope, doctors were at a loss when compatible cadaver donors could not be found. It was fortuitous that Drs A K Soin (chief of liver transplant unit), Neelam Mohan (paediatric hepatologist) and Sanjiv Saigal (transplant hepatologist) discovered that Dike's mother Chinwe had the same blood group (A) as Priya, and that Priya's husband Haresh had the Type B blood, as did Dike. Liver swap carried out in 16 hrs in 4 theatres  New Delhi: Doctors at Delhi's Ganga Ram Hospital, unable to find suitable liver donors for Nigerian toddler Dike Ezeanya and Mumbai resident Priya Ahuja, decided to attempt a swap liver transplant surgery after learning that Dike's mother Chinwe had the same blood type as Priya, and that Priya's husband Haresh shared the blood group of Dike. A 35-member surgical team then took 50% of Chinwe's liver and transplanted it into Priya, while Haresh gave 20% of his liver to save Dike. Almost two months after the surgery, both Dike and Priya are doing well.      "While the donors' blood groups did not match the recipient they were related to, they were suitable for the other recipient. Dike's father had the same blood group as the kid but he had a fatty liver and wasn't a suitable donor. When we suggested donor exchange—also called paired donation—both families jumped at the opportunity,'' Said Dr Neelam Mohan, paediatric hepatologist at Ganga Ram Hospital.      Dr A K Soin, who heads Ganga Ram Hospital's liver transplant unit, added, "The biggest challenge in paired donation transplants is that both must take place simultaneously, otherwise the donor for the second transplant (first recipient's relative) may refuse to undergo surgery once his own loved one has been transplanted.''      "While donor swaps are common in kidney transplantation, which takes two hours, they have not been previously attempted in liver transplantation as conducting two simultaneous living donor liver transplants (four operations) is a daunting task that takes 10-12 hours per person. The swap transplant was carried out over 16 hours in four operating theatres on June 25,'' Dr Soin said. Dr B K Rao, chairman of Ganga Ram Hospital said, "This swap transplantation is a blessing at the time of acute organ donor shortage. Around 30% of rejected donors can become suitable swap donors, increasing transplant rates by 30%.''      India at present requires 30,000 liver transplants a year. Unfortunately, due to the country's low level of cadaver donation, doctors end up doing just 400-odd transplants a year. Transplant hepatologist Dr Sanjiv Saigal said, "We have now instituted the registration of patients with medically suitable family donors who don't match their own recipients due to inappropriate blood groups or liver size. This opens up opportunities for matching donors and recipients from different families, helping us save more lives." AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER: Eighteen-month-old Dike Ezeanya of Nigeria is the toast of doctors, his mother (L) and the Ahuja couple (R) at Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi

Coorect way of eating Fruits

 

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think It's important to know how and when to eat..

 

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

 

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! - FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

 

If you eat fruit on an empty stomach, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

 

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD - Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit.. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

 

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid.. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

 

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat water-melon I burp, when I eat durian (fruit from Asia with a foul smell yet delicious flavor) my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc. - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

 

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes - all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

 

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

 

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans.. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.
Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

 

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

 

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

 

KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

 

 

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoid which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

 

 

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

 

 

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine, eating 2 to 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

 

 

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

 

 

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.