Important Diagnostics To Maintain A Healthy Heart

According to the World Health Organisation, heart ailments account for a large number of deaths around the world. With an estimated 23.3 million deaths by 2030, care for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases becomes all the more important.

Cardiovascular diseases involve disorders of heart and blood vessels, which can be prevented by following a balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding smoking/alcohol and getting regular checkups. There are simple techniques available today to check if your heart is functioning properly or you have a heart disease or not. Following diagnostic test will help you monitor your heart health and prevent it from any disease.

HEART RATE CHECK

In this test, cardiologists monitor your heart rate, its rhythm and regularity. They check if each pulse measures up to the heartbeat that pumps blood into the arteries and the amount of blood circulation to multiple organs of the body. 

You can easily check your pulse and know whether your heart is pumping blood normally or not. Put your index and middle finger on the inner wrist of the arm, below the base of the thumb. You will feel pulsing; count the number of taps in 10 seconds. Multiply that number by 6 to calculate your heart rate.

HEARTBEAT CHECK

Medical professionals use stethoscope to listen to your heartbeat. They evaluate the sounds made by opening and closing of your valves to determine the heart’s functionality.

BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK

Blood pressure is the pressure exerted in the arteries by the blood when pumped to different parts of the body by the heart. It never remains the same. It floats according to your age, emotions, daily activities and the medications you take. One time high does not assure of a bad heart functioning. Hence, it is important to check blood pressure at regular intervals to find out your average BP value.

OTHER WAYS

Your cardiologist can examine your heart through blood tests or physical examination. He can check your eyes, legs, skin or arms to tell you about your heart’s function. Checking hearty through blood tests includes monitoring cholesterol levels.

Apart from diagnostic tests, you need to implement healthy eating habits, follow an exercise regime to reduce the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. 

Fed up of weight gain? Try these home remedies

Nutritionists are of the opinion that there is a meticulous weight stipulation for both males and females, one that relates to the height, age and gender of the person. When the amount of fat in an individual’s body exceeds the normal value, he/she is considered fat or obese. Excess weight can lead to scores of health problems, but thankfully, there are some home grown remedies which when used effectively can keep a check on your weight.

BOTTLE GOURD

Bottle gourd is enriched with fibre and contains no fat. It restricts hunger pangs by keeping stomach filled for a longer duration. You can either consume it in the liquid form or make a vegetable puree.

CABBAGE

If you are unable to resist the sweet chocolate bar daily, you have the option of preventing that chocolate converting into fats by consuming lots of cabbage. This superbly beneficial vegetable has tartaric acid which aids in burning fat from thighs and belly.

CAPSAICIN

Capsaicin is a substance found in profusion in chili peppers. It is widely acknowledged for its ability to boost metabolism and tumble fatty tissues while keeping a check on a person’s appetite.

CARROTS

Carrots are full of fibre and most of it is soluble. This content is what makes it a natural weight loss food. Drinking carrot juice daily is not only healthy but stomach-filling as well that does not accumulate calories.

CUCUMBER

Cucumber has long been considered as numero-uno cooling agent for both internal and external parts of the body. Cucumber is mostly water which assists in breaking fat cells. So, try to mix cucumber with your daily diet. It will keep your appetite in check without any threat of weight gain.

GREEN TEA

Thanks to the anti-oxidants in it, green tea has always been a strong source of weight loss. If drunk regularly, you can experience a significant loss in your weight. Nutritionists recommend consuming green tea without sugar for maximum benefits.

Obesity is the root cause for multiple health problems such as high blood pressure, heart ailments, diabetes and more. If we control our diet, exercise regularly and implement these home remedies, we can surely stay away from those diseases. 

Are We Responsible for Our Children’s Lack of Growth?

Children find themselves in precarious situation as society is fast adapting to reminiscent changes. Relationships and lifestyles are amended to fit in a new trend. It is the time when society’s old trends are paving way to newer ones. Eating habits too have drastically taken a makeover. We hardly see people having proper food. Instead they crave on what is popularly known as the JUNK FOOD. Junk food is anything that is tongue-twister, tasty, easy to make and in accordance with the latest trend. Every age group is in the grip of junk food and the latest to be mesmerised by its aura are new age children. Burgers, pizzas, chips and aerated drinks are suddenly the need of life. For instance, a child returning home from an arduous session at school suddenly pops in a bagful of chips and lay in front of the television. Don’t be shocked. It’s a common trend these days. Suddenly children have stepped into a whole new world of eateries that our ancestors wouldn’t have thought of.

The growing age for boys and girls vary. However, 6-12 years is considered to be steady time of growth. Top priority should be given to nutrition at this time. Children must understand what they eat is directly proportional to their behaviour, growth and over all development. Our society is revolutionised to such extend that it needs children to be educated upon the benefits of healthy eating. They need to be told how a balanced diet is essential for survival. Most of the working mothers are so much occupied with their corporate responsibilities that they tend to neglect the fact that their children actually need love and support. Conventional and more reliant food skills are not passed on automatically from parent to child. Most people just mug up food greatly undermining its nutritional effect. Since children are often glued to television sets, commercials and advertisements laced with promotional offers are the biggest culprits. We should be focusing more on structuring an atmosphere that pulls back our children from the claws of junk food.

Children who are unaware that consumption of junk food can lead to heart ailments, cancer, high BP or diabetes should not thrive on them knowingly. Studies have shown that clogging of arteries begin as early as 30 years and lay the foundation for future heart ailments. What children consume at early age affects their chances of prostate and breast cancer. Hypertension and Osteoporosis are other disorders that lay their roots in early childhood when lifelong eating habits are being shaped. Poor diets can affect growth, decompose new teeth, endorse obesity and sow the seeds of health issues that ultimately lead to non-treatable diseases.     

Most of the junk food is filled with artificial colours which are often unpalatable, carcinogenic and damaging to the body. These foods and their colouring can seriously damage digestive system, hamper immunity, the effects of which are seen when the children start to age. Results of surveys have proven that artificial colouring in junk food leads to hyperactivity and descending of attentiveness in children. Children distressing from learning disabilities are often counselled not to intake food with artificial colouring. Aerated drinks, chocolates, wafers all are laced with artificial colouring. 

Unsurprisingly, junk food not only has physical consequences but also mental ones- affecting a child’s psyche and personality. Smartly attending their dietary needs boosts their morale and exhilarates further unearthing. School days pose plenty of educational challenges requiring high level of concentrations and stamina. Poor eating habits can virtually sap children from participating in school events, indulging in games, interacting with family members or feeling confident about themselves.

Shamelessly, the traditional Indian diet that consists chapattis, pulses, rice, vegetables, upma have been replaced by pizzas, burgers, chowmein, spring rolls etc. Instead of having regular food, we are consuming what is considered by many dietitians as dangerous to the health. The comfort level you get after having a complete meal is predictably absent when we intake junk food. The question now arises who is to blame? Is it the society or we the parents who are pushing our children to adversity? The answer is both. Society trends have changed when it comes to choice of food. But in the end, it is our responsibility to educate our children on what is the right kind of food for them. We have to ensure that first; we have to set the trend so that they can carry the same to many more generations to come.