Gut Health and Deworming

Signs and symptoms of unhealthy gut:

• Digestive problems such as bloating, gas or diarrhea- Gas is a sign that food is not digested properly in the gut, resulting in gastrointestinal problems such as gas, bloating or diarrhea.

• Undesired urge to consume sugars- Bad bacteria release certain proteins which lead to excessive food cravings, especially for sugars.
• Haolitosis or bad breath- Bad breath is one of the indicators of poor gut health
• Sensitivity to food or allergy to certain foods- Food intolerance to foods such as gluten or dairy is a sign of leaky gut

• Mood swings, anxiety and depression- Bad gut bacteria affects mental health as it decreases the capability to utilize hormones such as dopamine, serotonin and vitamin D, which play a crucial role in alleviating the mood
• Common skin problem like eczema- Skin problems such as eczema are an indicative of poor gut
• Diabetes-According to Journal of endocrinology connections, a link between Type 2 diabetes and gut health has been observed. A poor gut healthy can lead to Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Autoimmune disease- Researchers are able to find a link between the leaky gut and autoimmune disease.

What influences gut health?

• A big role in maintaining good gut health is played by the healthy bacteria present in the gut. These are up to a thousand different species and the number can be in trillions. These healthy bacteria help in digestion of food and also help in the production of some vitamins like vitamin B and K. Any imbalance in these healthy bacteria can cause gut issues like bloating, cramping and even diarrhea. There are some healthy foods that can help in boosting these vital bacteria. These include bananas, cauliflower, broccoli, blueberries and beans.
• Another vital part of maintaining good gut health is practicing good food hygiene. This includes using only fresh produce to prepare meals, correct storage of the food at the right temperatures and washing of hands before meals. It’s important to put food away into the fridge within two hours of cooking or buying, so it stays fresh.
• Having clean drinking water is just as vital to maintain the health of the gut. Many infectious diseases like diarrhea and typhoid are spread via contaminated water. It’s best to have water from a water purifier or a validated source of drinking water. If in doubt, boiling the water for a minute generally makes it safe to drink.
• Sometimes, an imbalanced diet or infections can affect the balance of the gut. For issues like bloating, it might be a good idea to stop foods like beans and spices for a few days. An antacid can be helpful too.
• Cramps and diarrhea might be due to irritation of the gut by some foods. Having lots of water, oral rehydration salts and rest might be all that’s needed generally. Sometimes, the infection might be more severe and a bacterial infection might be the cause. It’s best to consult your doctor if your diarrhea is not settling within a day, or you feel weak. The doctor might prescribe a course of antibiotics to deal with the infection.
• Key steps for promoting good gut health: Eat whole, unprocessed foods. Make sure to include plenty of fiber from foods like vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
• Avoid food allergies.
• Treat any infections or overgrowth of bacteria or parasites. Parasites, small bowel bacteria, and yeasts can all inhibit proper gut function.
• Replenish your digestive enzymes. When you don’t have enough digestive enzymes in your gut, you can’t properly convert the foods you eat into the raw materials necessary to run your body and brain. Take broad-spectrum digestive enzymes with your food to solve the problem.
• Probiotic consumption is good for gut health
• Consume Omega-3 supplements which help to reduce the  inflammation in the gut.
• Glutamine and zinc help to heal the gut lining .

Worm infestation and deworming:

• At times, the gut gets affected by worms, which can enter the body via contaminated food and water.
• Worms can cause cramps, itching in the anal area and might sometimes even be seen in the stools, especially in kids. They can also lead to an increased appetite, loss of weight and even bleeding in the gut. Leading to symptoms of anaemia, like pale skin and a feeling of weakness.
• Your doctor will prescribe a medicine like albendazole, which is specifically meant to deal with the problem of worms. The dose will need to be repeated after 15 days if advised.
• To avoid worm infestation, it is important to wash fruits and vegetables well. Also, washing hands for at least 20 seconds after using the toilet and before eating can help in preventing the entry of worms into the body.
• Some worms, called hookworms, can enter the body via the skin by walking barefoot. Wearing footwear can prevent this.

A healthy diet, the right balance of exercise and stress management can ensure that your gut is always in a state of good health.

Mosquitoes and Diseases

Mosquito-borne diseases result primarily due to viruses, bacteria or parasites and are transmitted by mosquito bite.

Here is a list of Top 5 diseases caused by mosquitoes in India

1. Dengue

Dengue is a viral mosquito-borne transmitted disease and is caused by female mosquito known as Aedes. This mosquito bites in early morning hours and late evenings, usually before the sunset and holds the capacity to bite multiple people at the peak of its breeding period. The symptoms of dengue usually start appearing after 4-5 days after the mosquito bite and generally last for 2-7 days after the infection.

What symptoms I may have, if I suffer from dengue?

Dengue is associated with high fever (104°F) and usually results in 2 of the other below mentioned symptoms:

• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Pain in the muscles and joints
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Swollen glands or rash

How do I know, if dengue getting lethal?

Severe abdominal pain, continuous episodes of vomiting associated with blood, frequent breathing, bleeding from the gums, fatigue, restlessness are some of the symptoms which indicate that disease has progressed towards the fatal state. Consult the doctor immediately and look for an early treatment advice.

2. Malaria

Malaria is a parasitic form of mosquito-borne transmitted disease and is caused by four different species of the Plasmodium (P) known as P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. vivax, and P. ovale.

How the malaria infection spreads?

Transmission of malaria follows a series of chain

What all the malarial symptoms?

• Chills ranging from moderate to severe
• High fever
• Sweating
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If malaria not treated well could lead to below mentioned complications:

• If malarial parasite enters and clogs the blood vessels in the brain, this condition is known as Cerebral malaria
• Fluid retention in the lungs leading to difficulty in breathing
• Organ failure such as spleen, kidneys or liver.
• Anemia
• Low blood sugar

3. Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a viral form of mosquito-borne transmitted disease and is caused Culex species of mosquitoes. Pigs and birds are the prime hosts for this virus. Japanese encephalitis attacks the brain and spinal cord and if not treated well in time, could be fatal.

Symptoms

• Symptoms appear in less than 1% of people infected with JE
•  Symptoms start appearing after 5-15 days of the mosquito bite.
• Early symptoms often include fever, headache, and vomiting.
• One may land up having other symptoms such as shift in the mental change, weakness, and movement disorders.
• Young children may also experience seizures.

4.Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral mosquito-borne transmitted disease and is caused by female mosquito known as Aedes, the virus which causes dengue.

Signs and Symptoms include

• Sudden onset of fever along with joint pains, joint pain may last for several months, or even years.
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Rash
• Upset belly

Do you know some few more mosquito-borne transmitted diseases?

• Yellow fever
• Zika fever
• Western equine encephalomyelitis virus
• Eastern equine encephalitis
• West Nile virus
• Ross River fever

When I am at risk factors and how can I combat those risks for developing mosquito borne illnesses?

Living or travelling in tropical and subtropical countries-If it can’t be avoided follow below steps to avoid insect bites:

1. Use a mosquito repellent
2. Plan your day outdoor activities, when mosquitoes are less active
3. Wear full covered clothes
4. Never allow water to stand near your vicinity
5. Use a mosquito net
6. Keep the air circulated by using fans. It will make mosquitoes difficult to fly near you

Sources:

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/111008/WHO_DCO_WHD_2014.1_eng.pdf;jsessionid=40677D88B5AA81EA3A74835DFC67F3B7?sequence=1

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/arboviral/documents/prevention.pdf

http://www.mosquito.org/page/diseases

https://blog.mosquito.buzz/6-diseases-spread-by-mosquitoes

http://www.mosquitoworld.net/when-mosquitoes-bite/diseases/

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/outdoor/mosquito-borne/default.html

http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/mosquito-borne-diseases/prevention.html

https://www.ebmedicine.net/topics.php?paction=showTopic&topic_id=405

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184

https://www.cdc.gov/japaneseencephalitis/index.html

 

​Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know I have Diabetes?

At the beginning there may not be any symptom. When blood sugar is above 180 mg%, sugar starts appearing in the urine. Sugar in the urine drags water and you pass a lot of urine and feel dry and thirsty. You may also feel tired and lose weight. Your appetite increases and peculiarly you may notice that you are losing weight in spite of eating more. Chance of infection is higher if you have high sugar and also you’re healing from infection, cut or wound may be unusually delayed. Some people complain of poor eyesight.

Who is at risk of Diabetes?

Family history of Diabetes is the major risk factor. Sedentary life-style, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, high blood pressure and in case of women previous Diabetes in pregnancy or delivering big baby (birth weight more than 4Kg) are risk factors.

Can I prevent Diabetes when my risk is high?

If you have family history, you cannot do anything about that. Things in your hands are healthy eating (i.e., eating vegetables and fruits, avoiding fast food), healthy life-style (regular exercise, avoidance of smoking, moderation of alcohol, etc) and keeping your weight in accordance to your height. Certain medicines are being used recently for preventing Diabetes in people who have borderline Diabetes.

I have nobody in my whole family with Diabetes, how did I get it then?

Family history certainly is an important factor, but the fact is being Asian, we all have high-risk gene for Diabetes. Remember it is not your fault that you have Diabetes. You are just happened to be the person who got it. In India 4% of villagers and up to 15% of city dwellers have Diabetes. Not only we have more Diabetes we are getting it at an earlier age than people in the west (around 10 yr).

Can I have drink when I have Diabetes?

Yes, you can. Alcohol is not banned in people with Diabetes. As always a little alcohol is pleasant but a lot is not, regardless of Diabetes and can damage the body badly. Remember “Hypo” (low blood sugar) can occur with alcohol and you should not skip meal after a drink with the fear of calorie in the drink.

You need to know the medically allowed limit of alcohol. A small measure of Whisky, Rum, Vodka or Gin, a small glass of Beer or Wine is measured as one unit. The limit for men is 21 units and for women 14 units a week. It is better to space that rather than taking weekly quota on a day! Sweet wine or Sherry should be avoided as they have very high sugar content.

Do I need to stop eating out? Can I have ice cream? Can I take artificial sweetener?

Certainly not, as long as you are not planning to eat out everyday! You need to know what the right food is and correct amount.

Occasionally yes, but do not make a habit of eating ice cream regularly. There are certain ice cream available now with no added sugar, but do not forget they have calories.

Certainly yes, artificial sweeteners are safe. Do not put them in cooking, they break down when heated. So they will not be sweet any more.

Can I control Diabetes with Diet only?

Diet is a very important aspect in the treatment of Diabetes particularly the timing of it. At the beginning you may be successful in controlling Diabetes with diet only, but unfortunately a time will come when only diet won’t be enough, you will require medicine. This time is different for different people, for somebody this can be a few months while for others it may be a few years. It is very important to try with diet first; this will help you to understand the principles of diet and will convince you the need for treatment to control Diabetes.

Once started, do I need to take tablet for life?

This all depends on your Diabetes. If your Diabetes is very well controlled with a small dose of tablet, you may try only with diet. If that is fine, why not to control your Diabetes only with diet and life-style measures. But if you see, your control is not good with diet alone, you must accept that your body needs medicine and you should start again.

Who with Diabetes needs Insulin?

In Type 1 Diabetes Insulin is a must for living. In type 2 Diabetes we advice Insulin in certain situations like pregnancy, during and after surgery, severe infection and for some reason or other when you are not able to eat. Obviously, when tablets do not work, you need Insulin for Diabetes control.

Is there any job restriction for people with Diabetes?

Diabetes should not be a selecting or refusing factor in employment arena. We need to make this clear to employers and employees. Driving is a problem if you are getting frequent hypoglycemia, as a rule people with Diabetes on Insulin are not given license to drive heavy vehicle and buses. Remember it is not your fault that you have Diabetes and there is no reason to hide it. Make sure that people around you know that you have Diabetes. Tell them about “Hypoglycemia” and what they should do in case you have a severe hypoglycemia.

To read more on Diabetes, click on the link below.

https://famhealth.in/infocus-detail/diabetes

Immunization- Mother and Child

 

Immunization is a process wherein a person’s natural immune system is triggered to protect the person from a particular infection in the future. This is done by giving the person a vaccine, which contains disease-causing germs that are either dead or too weak to cause any disease. These vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that protect the body from disease-causing germs.

Recommended Immunization during pregnancy

As a mother, you pass the immunity to your child in the womb. Immunization at the time of pregnancy protects you and your baby against many infections and diseases. Here is a list of various safe vaccinations which can protect you and your baby against many infections and diseases.

 Influenza

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Gynecologists (ACOG) pregnant women should get immunized against the inactivated (shot form) flu vaccine while pregnant. It has been observed that women get infected with the flu during pregnancy have a greater risk for serious problems for their unborn baby such as premature labor and delivery. Flu vaccination not only protects the mother but the child also, as the child receives his flu vaccine only at 6 months from the age.

Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)

Tdap vaccine protects against three deadly diseases tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). This vaccine is essential in spite of the fact that the mother has been immunized before or not. Tdap should be administered between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect against these diseases. Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is important because babies cannot be vaccinated with DTaP (the children’s vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) till they become two months old and this vaccination will offer them complete protection till 6 months of their age.

According to CDC live vaccines should not be injected into the mother. Some examples of live vaccines are measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), BCG (tuberculosis), smallpox vaccine, typhoid vaccine, and the nasal spray flu vaccine.

Child Immunization

The Indian Association of Paediatrics (IAP) recommends the vaccination schedule that is followed in India ad discussed below:

At birth- The baby is given 

• BCG injection (for protection against tuberculosis)
• Oral polio drops (OPV- for polio) 
• Hepatitis B immunization 

At six weeks – It is recommended that the baby be given shots of 

• DTP (protects against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus)
• IPV (injectable polio vaccine)- this protects against polio
• Booster for protection against hepatitis B infection
• HIB vaccine- This protects the child from a type of meningitis 
• Rotavirus vaccine- To protect the child from a type of diarrhea
• PCV – this vaccine protects against a pneumococcal disease that can cause a serious infection of the blood, meningitis and ear infections

At ten weeks the baby should receive booster doses of

• DTP
• IPV
• HIB
• Rotavirus vaccine
• PCV

At fourteen weeks, the baby should ideally be immunized with booster doses of the following vaccines

• DTP
• IPV
• HIB
• Rotavirus vaccine
• PCV

At six months, the baby should receive booster doses of

• Oral polio vaccine (OPV)
• Hepatitis B vaccine

At nine months, it is recommended that the baby receive immunization with

• OPV
• MMR vaccine- This protects against mumps, measles and rubella infections

Between nine to twelve months, the baby should be immunized with

• Typhoid vaccine- this protects against typhoid infection.
• Once the baby is a year old, there is a need to protect the baby against hepatitis A infection, which is mainly a water-borne infection that infects the liver.

At 15 months of age, the child should be immunized with

• MMR booster dose
• Varicella vaccine to protect against chicken-pox
• PCV booster

Between 16 to 18 months of age, the child should ideally receive the following vaccines

• DTP booster
• IPV booster
• HIB booster
• Hepatitis A booster dose

At 2 years of age, the child should receive a booster of the typhoid vaccine.

Between 4 to 6 years, the child should receive booster doses of

• DTP
• OPV
• Varicella
• MMR

Between 10 and 12 years of age there is a need to receive booster doses of 

• HPV vaccine for girls- this protects against infection by human papilloma virus that can cause cancer of the genital tract in women.
• TD vaccine for protection against diphtheria and typhoid

Sources

https://familydoctor.org/pneumococcal-conjugate-vaccine

https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/hib-h-influenzae-type-b-vaccine

https://www.iapindia.org

https://medlineplus.gov/immunization

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4928530

http://www.immunizeforgood.com/resource-center/immunizations-pregnancy

Multivitamins and Nutritional Supplements

A Vitamin is a substance that is required in small quantities to maintain good health. There are 13 known vitamins. These are divided into

• Water soluble vitamins which our body can’t store. So they have to be provided on a regular basis.
• Fat soluble vitamins (A, D,E ,K). These get stored in the body and don’t need to be taken regularly, as excess amounts can have harmful effects.

What are the sources of vitamins and why do we need them?

We get most of our vitamins from the diet we consume, especially fruits and vegetables, milk products, meat and eggs.

Vitamin D 

• Itis produced in the body in the presence of sunlight. It is also available in fatty fish, meat, eggs, mushrooms.

Vitamin A

• Common sources are meat, cod liver oil, spinach, pumpkin, milk, cheese, eggs.
• Lack of vitamin A can cause dry skin, dryness of eyes and night blindness

Vitamin B

• It consists of many subtypes
• Common sources are meat, grains, brown rice, milk, green leafy vegetables, eggs and potatoes.
• Lack of vitamin B can cause nerve disorders, mental disturbances, diarrhea, anaemia and birth defects

Vitamin C

• Common sources are citrus fruits like lemon and raw vegetables. Heat tends to destroy vitamin C.
• Lack of vitamin C can cause scurvy which causes bleeding gums, delayed wound healing, anaemia, tiredness.

Vitamin E

• It is found in green, leafy vegetables, meat, milk.
• Lack of vitamin E can cause a type of anaemia in newborn babies

Vitamin K

• It is found in green vegetables, avocado, parsley.
• Lack of vitamin K increases chances of bleeding.

Are vitamin supplements needed for everybody?

Generally, for a healthy adult, a well-balanced diet provides all the vitamins that are needed. There are some situations where additional supplements are required, which might include vitamins as well as certain other necessary substances, like iron or calcium.

• Pregnant women require additional amounts of a vitamin, called folic acid, which is needed for the healthy growth of the fetus.
• Breast feeding women required added calcium and iron to make up for the loss in breast milk
• Added iron is needed for small children who primarily have milk.
• People over 50 need added calcium and vitamin B12, as the gut starts absorbing these in lesser quantities.
• People who take excessive amounts of alcohol need supplements with B vitamins.People who follow strict diets and vegetarians, require added B vitamins, especiallyB12.

What are the precautions I need to take if I’m taking supplements?

• Commercially available nutritional supplements and multivitamin preparations contain different types of vitamins. Generally, these are safe to take.
• But, some people might have an allergy to one of the ingredients, so it’s important to check the list of ingredients carefully before use.
• Also, there are some vitamins, called fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K), and iron, which can be harmful if taken above the recommended daily allowance (RDA). This is because these get stored in the body unlike the other vitamins, called water soluble vitamins, which get removed from the body if taken in excess. So, it’s best to check with your doctor before taking a supplement which has a fat soluble vitamin, or iron, listed as one of the ingredients.
• Some people take vitamin K which might interfere with the action of blood thinning medicines. So, do keep your doctor informed if you are taking this vitamin.
• If you do display signs of some vitamin or nutritional deficiency, it might be possible to check the blood levels to ensure that the need for supplementation is actually there. This is applicable especially for vitamin D, B12 and iron.
• Like any other drug, you might get some irritation on taking supplements. This can include nausea, a burning sensation in the abdomen, bloating sensation and even skin eruptions. If you do get any of these, please report them to your doctor and avoid that preparation in future.

While supplements help in certain situations, most people can stay in good health just by following a healthy diet and exercise plan.

Sources

https://search.medscape.com

https://www.medicinenet.com

https://medlineplus.gov/vitamins

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com