How to Help Your Child's Fight Against Pneumonia

Did you know that pneumonia kills 2,500 children every day? According to data updated by UNICEF in August 2016, pneumonia is the leading infection responsible for deaths among children under five. Worldwide, this infectious disease killed 920,000 children in 2015, of which a large percentage was children less than 2 years. Poverty-related factors, such as malnutrition and the lack of sanitation and safe water, are found to be leading causes of this ailment among children in India. The drier and milder climate of cities like Bangalore offer good breeding grounds for such bacteria and viruses, say some of the best pediatricians in the country.

Pneumonia is a condition of lung inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with pus and become solid. It can affect only one or both the lungs. Children might experience symptoms like dry cough, fever, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches.

Malnutrition: A Major Contributor to Pneumonia in Children

About 50% to 60% of children below the age of 5 suffer from moderate or severe malnutrition in India. In case a child suffers from pneumonia, then the severity of the disease increases because of malnutrition, increasing the chances of it turning into a fatal ailment. Malnutrition decreases muscle strength and muscle mass of the child, followed by a decrease in immunity or the power to fight various diseases.

The body secretes an antibody known as IgA, which is reduced in a malnourished child. There is also a decrease in T cells, which help fight infections. Hence, factors that could help with systematic resistance against diseases are missing in a malnourished child. In the country's IT hub, Bangalore, slums are increasing at an alarming rate, which is a major concern of the best pediatricians in the city. Due to poverty, children do not have access to proper food and water. In addition, the absence of breast feeding in the first 4-5 months of birth is also a major contributing factor.

Treatment of Pneumonia

• In case of severe pneumonia, the child needs to be admitted to a hospital immediately, where they will be given fluids and antibodies, along with oxygen therapy and breathing treatments, where needed.
• Children should be given plenty of fluids, which will help loosen secretions and bring up phlegm, recommend the best pediatricians in Bangalore.
• They should also not be allowed to participate in strenuous activities, which could deplete their existing energy level.
• Parents should encourage the habit of carrying a handkerchief everywhere and use it while coughing and sneezing to avoid spreading any infection.

It is strongly advised to take antibiotics, cough medicines and anti-inflammatory drugs only with a doctor's prescription.

What is devotion, and how do you practice Bhakti yoga?

Understanding the state of devotion is crucial to understanding the essence of Bhakti Yoga. Let’s examine the two.

You may have heard of somebody being ‘devoted to their job’ or their spouse or a certain movie star! In your idle moments, you may have wondered what this really means. Is it infatuation? Is it obsession? How is devotion different from love or worship?

Devotion (or ‘bhakti’) is an intangible concept that may take one many years to fully understand. Simply put, it is a state of mind that is driven by intense emotion. Human beings are driven by emotion in daily life. But the difference between emotions driving devotion and other emotions is that the former are pleasant. These pleasant emotions are intense enough to keep one awake at night, just like a person in love cannot sleep at night owing to thoughts of the beloved. Bhakti makes the entire world seem like a lovely place to be in, and life seems rosy and bright.

Uniting devotion with yoga

You have control over only four things in your life: your body, mind, energy and emotion. You can use your emotions to search for and find the ultimate truth in life. This is called Bhakti yoga.

Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion, and it converts unpleasant intense emotions into pleasant ones that light up one’s life. It can be explained in terms of a love affair in which one does not expect a favourable end result – if you fall in love with someone but do not expect them to reciprocate or marry you, but you still continue to love them with the same intensity, that is devotion. Another example is that of Radha’s devotion to Lord Krishna. She did not expect favour or commitment from the Lord, she was a married woman who did not have romantic illusions about her relationship with Krishna. Yet, her devotion to him was unabated.

In the same way, Bhakti yoga is like a love affair multiplied several times over. A person practicing it places their ultimate devotion in God or their Creator, and sends out enduring love towards the Lord. God’s way is the only way, God’s wish is their command. They surrender themselves to God’s will and go along with the rhythms of the universe on a constant path to reach God.

There is no room for expectation of reward in Bhakti yoga. Nor is this devotion an obsession. Over time, bhakti becomes more and more committed to God and His will. It means that the person is able to convert unpleasant, nasty emotions into pleasant emotions at will. It induces a slightly euphoric state that may seem like a trance to the rest of the world. However, one is not in any hypnotical trance, one is simply in abject surrender to the object of one’s devotion. 

4 Major Reasons Your Feet Hurt by the End of the Day

A recent study in India revealed that excessive smoking may not only lead to heart and lung diseases but can also cause peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or in simple words, narrowing of the arteries in the legs. The disease was found in its severest forms in Patel Singh, a resident of Delhi.

Your feet carry the entire weight of your body and any problem faced by them can even lead to a collapse. Just to tell you the importance of these small body parts, the heel bone, which is the largest of the 26 bones present in the foot, not just supports you while walking but also acts as an insulator to absorb the impact of the body weight hitting the ground while you are involved in activities like dancing, running, etc.

It is obvious that there can be many cause of foot pain, given its vital role in our life. Interestingly, stress on your foot is 1¼ times your body weight, which increases to 2¾ when you run.

Common Causes of Foot Pain

1. Injury: One of the common reasons for heel pain in adults is a stress fracture in the heel bone. If you are involved in many activities through the day that involve pressure on the heels, it could trigger this pain. However, it is believed that one episode of injury might not be the reason for pain and repetitive stress fractures are the cause of persisting or frequent pain. Such fractures can occur due to strain on the muscles, bones, ligaments or because of repeated landing on harder surfaces.
2. Plantar Fasciitis: Inflammation of the Plantar Fascia, a tissue that connects the heel bone and ball of the foot, is known as Plantar Fasciitis. Walking in flat shoes is considered to be the major reason for this issue, while in women, it can be triggered by wearing high heels, which lead to the tissue being overstretch. You can use products like Scholl Foot Care to get overcome this problem.
3. Bony Spurs: This refers to abnormal bone growth at the point where plantar fascia is attached to the bone. The reason for this is prolonged strain on the feet, which can occur due to various reasons. It keeps growing in the direction of the stretch, leading to pain.
4. Arthritis: This is a medical condition where your bones become weak and can lead to pain in various body parts. Rheumatoid arthritis is often associated with foot and heel pain. People diagnosed with this condition experience pain if they walk or stand for too long.

Cracked heels can be another cause of foot pain but it can be taken care of easily using a moisturizing cream like Scholl Heel Repair.

If you are facing frequent pain, avoid:

• Standing for long hours.
• Walking too much in a day.
• Getting involved in any physically demanding activities like sports that require running, trekking, hiking etc.
• Travelling for long hours.

Try to get as much rest as you can and have a balanced diet so that body gets enough nutrients to recover. 

3 major reasons why yoga is more important than you think

Yoga is the path to better health and a better life. We list three reasons why yoga must become a way of life for all.

Though most people are aware that yoga is beneficial to them, they do not realise just how beneficial it can be. Consider the following reasons that underline the importance of yoga in daily life:

1. It lightens your being. Regular practice of yoga helps dispel the negative emotions that weigh you down. Since asanas and meditation require concentration, you are forced to leave aside other thoughts while your yoga session is on. This soon becomes a habit, where you can detach from stressful situations at will. In turn, you find that you experience a lightness of being that you had never known before.
2. It shows the way to enlightenment. Yoga and meditation pave the way to greater focus and clarity. By aiding concentration, you are able to channel your energies better and finish the task at hand. On a spiritual level, this mental acuity can help one sift through the many thoughts one has and focus on the one that is most important. All other thoughts can fall by the wayside as you focus on the one truth of your life and centre your being around it – this is the essence of ‘sadhana’ and deep meditation to achieve enlightenment.
3. It helps one make sense of the world. With your mental processes sharpened, you are able to face the world with renewed vigour. The world appears more positive and joyful. What seemed scary and stressful now becomes an optimistic place to be in. When you do not feel threatened by outside forces, you are able to understand the world better.

Arising from these three major reasons that stress the importance of yoga in everyday life, there are some key physical and mental benefits as well. Broadly, these are:

• Yoga improves heart health by reducing stress and anxiety.
• It calms the nerves and helps overcome negative emotions. This is an important benefit for those suffering from depression.
• The practice of deep breathing clears the nasal passages, helps the oxygenation of blood and eliminates toxins from the body.
• The asanas improve bone and joint health, while the muscles become stronger and flexible.
• Chronic aches and pains may be relieved by the regular practice of yoga.
• Some practices like Surya Namaskar induce sweating and give an overall cardiovascular workout to the body. This eliminates impurities and improves skin, hair and muscle health.
• Yoga increases mental focus and boosts memory.
• Regular practice of yoga induces feelings of wellness, confidence and contentment. 

4 Flavoured Condoms You Should Try Out!

In September 2016, Durex, one of the leading condom brands in India, took the whole country by storm by announcing a new Brinjal flavoured product, or as they say in Hindi, 'Baingan' flavoured condoms. Within minutes, the social media was abuzz with posts and tweets flooding in.

After the chaos continued for almost 24 hours, the manufacturers revealed that they were not actually coming up with such a product and that it was just an attempt to promote the usage of condoms among Indian youngsters.

For years, the government of India has tried to sell the idea of safe sex and kept giving away free condoms but couldn't get people talking about it as much as just one tweet about a new flavour did. This only goes to show how the idea of flavoured condoms can capture the imagination of the people of the country and lead to higher use of the product and therefore increase the instances of safe sex. Here are some products that are definitely worth a try.

Condoms that will Enhance Your Experience

1. Extended Pleasure

This product is designed to deliver long lasting performance and has a special lube called Benzocaine in it that helps in delaying climax for men. Durex Extended Pleasure also helps provide increased intimacy.

Key Features:

• Nominal width: 53mm
• Nominal height: 180mm
• Transparent, lubricated and teat ended
• Straight walled shape
• 100% electronically tested 

2. Apple

“An apple a day (or night), keeps doctor away.” In this case, the gyneacologist! This dotted and flavoured condom is designed to intensify the experience for both partners and provide stimulation that is needed for great sex. Durex Apple Flavored Condom brings so much extra to the table with its flavour and fragrance keeps you away from all other distractions.

Key Features:

• Nominal width: 53mm
• Nominal height: 180mm
• Colored and lubricated natural rubber latex condoms
• Straight walled and teat ended for comfortable fit
• 100% electronically tested 

3. Pleasure Me

Durex Pleasure Me Condom comes with specially designed shaped and has uniquely placed ribs and raised dots to ensure stimulation for you and your partner.

Key Features:

• Nominal width: 53mm
• Nominal height: 180mm
• Transparent, lubricated and teat ended
• Straight walled shape
• 100% electronically tested

4. Feel Thin

Durex Feel Thin gives you the same level of protection by reducing the gap between you and your partner. They are designed to provide greater sensitivity during sex.

Key Features:

• Nominal width: 53mm
• Nominal height: 180mm
• Transparent, lubricated and teat ended
• Straight walled shape
• 100% electronically tested

Use these flavoured condoms and experience the difference for yourself.