Probiotics: A Healthy diet of Life

By Blogsikka October 30, 2018

Probiotics: A Healthy diet of Life

“A Healthy Body helps to lead a Healthy Life”. It is very essential to maintain a proper health. The best way to improve health is to eat healthy because what you eat is closely linked to your health. In many cases, illness and injuries occur due to the lack of care of your body. One of the best ways to have a healthy body is firstly to have the proper Digestive system. The digestive system is said to be the root cause of all illness. A Digestive system consists of good and bad Bacteria, a proper balance of good and bad bacteria contributes to the healthy Digestive system.

Research shows that there are more than 400 species of good and bad Bacteria in your gut. It is therefore very essential to maintain a good balance between these Bacteria for the overall health of the body. Most of these Bacteria’s resides in the intestine. The good and bad Bacteria supports in the digestion of food. A healthy working of intestine helps in filtering and eliminating harmful Bacteria and waste products.

There are various causes of imbalance of good and bad Bacteria like Lack of sleep, Emotional stress, poor diet, and bad eating habits and overuse of antibiotics etc. When there is an imbalance of good and bad Bacteria, i.e. when the population of bad Bacteria exceeds the good Bacteria in the gut, it leads to several health problems like infections in the urinary system, Diarrhoea, skin infections, Allergies, Fatigue, etc. Knowing the consequences of the growth of bad Bacteria in your gut it’s very essential to increase the number of good Bacteria in your gut. Probiotics are the one which helps to solve this problem.

Probiotics in the simple term are a type of ‘Good Bacteria’ or can say are the live micro-organisms found in some foods and supplements. Probiotics help in maintaining a healthy balance of Bacteria in the gut. Even if you are living a healthy lifestyle and having healthy food like vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates or proteins still you cannot obtain the Probiotics from these foods. Basically, there are few food items which are the natural source of Probiotics. You can get Probiotics naturally from cheese, Yogurt, tempeh, miso, and kimchi. There are also Probiotics supplements available in the market if taken in right dosage helps in the optimal health of your gut.Probiotics are basically live Bacteria and yeasts that are good for your digestive system. Whenever we normally think of Bacteria, we consider them as something that causes diseases or other health problems. But this is not true. As mentioned above, our body is full of good and bad Bacteria and the Probiotics are called ‘good’ or ‘helpful’ bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.

Probiotics contain following micro-organisms in it:

Saccharomyces-

This is a type of micro-organism found in yeast which helps to treat acne problems and Diarrhoea. It also helps in reducing the side effects caused due to gastric ulcer treatments.

Streptococcus-

This micro-organism produces the enzyme lactase, which helps in the prevention of bowel inflammation and lactose intolerance.

Lactobacillus-

These type of micro-organisms are found in the urinary, digestive and genital system. They are also found in fermented food like yogurt and helps prevent skin disorders, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections.

Bifidobacteria-

This type is found in a healthy colon and appears in the intestinal tract of babies within the days of birth. They prevent dental cavities and bad cholesterol.

There are several benefits of Probiotics:

Preventing and treating skin infections, Urinary tract infections.
Helps in treating Skin conditions like eczema.
Helps in treating Allergies and Asthma.
Lactose intolerance.
Helps in treating stomach and respiratory infections especially in children.

After knowing several benefits of Probiotics, the first question arises in mind is How do Probiotics work…? Researchers are still trying to find as how does Probiotics exactly to work..? It is said that when you lose good Bacteria in your body after taking antibiotics or due to any other reason, Probiotics helps to lower the number of bad bacteria in your gut by replacing them with the good Bacteria. They also help in maintaining the good balance between good and bad Bacteria in your gut.

Some suggest for Prebiotics to maintain the healthy digestive system. Although Prebiotics if selectively utilized helps to increase healthy Bacteria in your gut but still there is a major difference between Probiotics and Prebiotics. Just like Probiotics, Prebiotics isn’t a food but they are found in various foods. Prebiotics are classified as non-digestible food ingredients that can be utilized by Probiotics. They aid digestion and increases the production of valuable vitamins. The major source or Prebiotics is dietary fiber which naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables. We can say about Prebiotics as the fuel that feeds Probiotics successful restoration of good Bacteria.Dupont range of Probiotics popularly known as HOWARU can add documented health benefits to dairy products, frozen desserts, beverages etc. HOWARU range are scientifically proven for the smooth functioning of the digestive system and improves the body’s immune system. Dupont’s Probiotic dietary supplements enhance in maintaining the digestive system and immune system of the all age group consumers.

After knowing what exactly Probiotics is..? how it helps for the healthy functioning of the body…? I can understand why our elders always used to insist to have either a bowl full of curd or buttermilk while having lunch. The amount of Probiotics present in a bowl of curd or a glass of buttermilk helps to increase the number of good Bacteria in your gut. But in many cases, the small amount of curd or buttermilk or other dairy products are not enough to eradicate the number of bad Bacteria in your body, in such cases you can opt for Probiotic supplements available in the market. Approximately we need 40bns/perday of Probiotics cfu/ml.

The FDA regulates Probiotics as food items and not like medications. But still, in some cases, the consumer might have mild side effects such as gastric problem, upset stomach, diarrhea for the first couple of days after taking supplements. So, it is always suggested to first consult your doctor and then opt for the Probiotics supplements.

Health

Remedies to get relief from Nasal Congestion in babies

By Blogsikka August 13, 2018

My Baby Sleeps Peacefully Again!

Every parent is very anxious about their child’s health. From a little sneeze to a high fever, they are always ready to fight any issue that disrupts their child’s health. Today, I am going to share my own story, as a parent, about how I cured my child’s nasal congestion. Initially, I noticed that she’s sneezing a lot and her nose is a bit stuffy all the time. But in reality, both of these symptoms are very common in babies. They are prone to cold and their nose is plugged right away. Mucus actually helps them to clean their airways and prevents germs from entering the body, but on the other hand, excessive mucus can also give babies a hard time breathing, and also bother them when they are eating or sleeping peacefully. Not only this, while feeding, the milk mixes with mucus and the baby cannot digest it, as a result of which the baby vomits it out.

Small babies of 0-1 years are obligatory nose breathers. So when their nose gets congested, they face difficulty in breathing. Children of 1-4 years of age can have as many as 8-10 times of runny nose every year. Although this is common, if the cold remains for a longer period of time, then there’s a bit to worry about. So, I will tell you how I got to know that it is not just a cold but nasal congestion and what all my child went through all that time and what I did to cure it.

Difference Between COLD and Nasal Congestion

The main difference between cold and congestion is the time period. If the baby is having runny nose for 3-4 days followed by 2-3 days of stuffy nose then it’s a common cold. But in case of my baby, these symptoms remained for more than 8 days.
Her eyes were always watery and the mucus was itchy and irritating her skin. All this made her very cranky and she was always in a bad mood, ready to cry every time you try to touch her or play with her. She also refused to eat and also became frustrated due to unstoppable sneezing and stuffy nose all the time. Sometimes she would became a bit grumpy and fatigued. I faced a lot of problems feeding her. Lack of peaceful sleep was again another problem. She would wake up a number of times in the night and in the morning she was heavy eyed. I became very worried. I was well aware of the fact that nasal congestion is usually caused in babies due to cold or by allergies due to change of weather and is very common. But there are still a lot of parents who clearly have no idea about what to do and what not to do when their child is having a stuffy nose. So, I decided to tell all of you what all I did to cure my child’s nasal congestion. I have made a list of things that helped me and my baby a lot and hopefully you will also find it helpful.

Remedies to cure Nasal congestion

Steamed up bathroom

Warm steam effectively helps to remove mucus and provides slight relief to the baby from chest congestion and opens up the blocked nasal passage. Every day, I fill my bathroom with steam by leaving the hot water tap open. When the bathroom becomes steamy, I sit with my child there for some time. Make sure to not to go in the hot shower directly as it can scald the baby.

No to air conditioners and yes to humidifiers

Yes, it’s true that it’s tough to avoid air conditioners in hot weather but this is the main reason of congestion as air conditioners tend to instantly dry out the air in the room and the direct air from the fans directly strike the face of the child. Still if you are using these devices to keep the room cool make sure that to have a humidifier running in the same room. It helps to keep the room well moistened.

Nasal drops

Many parents hesitate to use nasal drops in children. They feel that it isn’t safe to use nasal drops in small children. But believe me, it is my own personal experience that nasal drops give the best results in curing nasal congestion in children. I used Nasivion pediatric 0.025% that is especially made for children. I’m highly satisfied with the results and would suggest you that ask your pediatrician for your child.

How Nasivion worked best during Nasal Congestion :

Nasivion is a brand which deals with nasal decongestant products that help you to breathe easily. They have a different product range for adults, children and infants. I prefer Nasivion because it is very effective and its effect is long lasting and well tolerable by children of all age groups. Do consult your pediatrician before taking any treatment. Nasivion Nasal Saline Solution is considered the first line of treatment, as it is safe and can be used by anyone. If the problem is aggravated then after consulting the doctor, one can opt for Nasivion (Mini) Baby Nose Drops or Nasivion Pediatric (Child) Nose drops depending on the age of

the child.

Nasivion for children comes for two different age groups:

1. NASIVION® MINI (BABY) 0.01% NOSE DROPS

This product is for infants between 0-1 years of age.
For infants below 4 weeks, use only one drop of solution 2-3 times every day.
For infants between 5 weeks to 1 year of age, instill 1-2 drops of solution 2-3 times a day in each nostril.

2. NASIVION® PEDIATRIC (CHILD) 0.025% NOSE DROPS

This product is for children between 1-6 years of age.
Use 1-2 drops of the solution in each nostril at least 2-3 times a day.

How to use the drops after consulting your doctor:

First of all clean the runny nose of the child gently using a soft cloth or a tissue.
Don’t just directly put it into the nose. It trickles down the nostrils and the child may start coughing. Use the drops when the child is in lying down position with head a little elevated with the help of a pillow or the edge of the bed. Gently squeeze the bottle and pour only the required amount of drops in each nostril. Make sure you stick to the prescribed number of drops. Overdose can be harmful for the child.
Do not use the drops for more than 10 consecutive days.

Above was my experience with my child’s runny nose. How was your experience with your children? Do let me know in the comments below! Must Check out this Happynosehappymoms for more info
Be sure to consult your doctor before using the product.

Health

Celebrating World Yoga day with Top 5 benefits of yoga

By Blogsikka June 16, 2018

Top 5 Benefits of Yoga

What is the very first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “yoga”? Let me guess, difficult exercises, complicated asanas, tiring workout? Well, if you have any of these misconceptions regarding Yoga, then I would ask you to remove them from your mind as soon as possible because that is not the truth. Yoga isn’t something that was invented a decade ago, rather it is an art form, an art form which was discovered in the ancient times and was originated in India and at that time people didn’t care about getting six packs, rather they cared about mental peace and spirituality.
Yoga is an art that helps you attain the mental peace and fulfil your spiritual needs. These aren’t the only benefits that one gets from Yoga, the benefits of Yoga are countless; they start right from making you a healthy person and go as far as improving your personality. To get you started with Yoga, we’ve listed below some tempting reasons that will make sure you start doing yoga.

Reasons to start doing Yoga

There is hardly any reason that should stop you from practising yoga. Yoga is not just for serious health problems. Even if you do not possess any serious health problem you can still do the little bit of Yoga daily.

Below are some more reasons for you to start doing yoga:
Yoga helps you to get in touch with your body. You might not have felt or used various muscles in your body during your day to day activities. While performing yoga, you will discover many such muscles or pain points which you didn’t even know existed till now in your body.
Yoga can do wonders to get you a good night sleep. It helps in burning the required number of calories and keeps you in good shape that helps in inducing natural sleep. Yoga also decreases the stress levels and calms the mind. The peaceful state of mind helps you to sleep like a baby.
Yoga plays a major role in improving not only the physical strength but also the mental strength. A highly improved mental and physical strength can be achieved through the continuous practice of yoga. Yoga reduces stress and tension which helps in attention, focus and concentration.
Yoga is a great stress buster and it also improves overall work performance. It helps in boosting up the energy levels and decreases the chances of fatigue. Daily practice of simple yoga poses can literally act like magic in your life.

Health benefits of Yoga

Reduces belly fat: Getting a flat tummy is one of the hardest things to achieve. Stubborn belly fat can be extremely irritating. Yoga for weight loss can be very effective as it helps in two things firstly, it builds stronger muscles and secondly, it boosts your metabolism. These two things are most important components for reducing belly fat. When you have a good metabolism, it means that all the food you eat is getting digested properly and all the energy is being utilized instead of getting stored as fat. When you perform yoga asanas, the energy is consumed by breaking down the fat in your body which helps you in reducing belly fat with yoga.
Anti-ageing: As you grow old, your body starts getting weaker, less flexible and even slower. Thankfully, with the help of Yoga, you can improve your health and slow down the ageing process. Yoga can also help with diseases like Arthritis and Osteoporosis.
Better breathing: With increasing pollution and less green exposure, breathing problems like asthma and many lung diseases have become common nowadays. Breathing practices in yoga also known as pranayama can be very effective in improving lung functioning and can help you to get a balanced breathing. It also helps in purifying the blood and the respiratory system which in turn enriches the blood with oxygen.
Pranayam: Pranayam helps in reducing your stress response which gives you a more relaxed feeling. You just have to focus on your inhalation and exhalation which will help you to get a better respiratory system. Yoga breathing exercises also calm your nervous system which is extremely helpful to the people who are challenged by a respiratory condition.
Improves posture: A good posture is very important for a healthy body. But poor lifestyle habits such as sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time, carrying heavy bags or constantly looking down at phones etc. are causing people to have really bad postures.
Regular yoga practice stretches and tones the body muscles and strengthens them. It also improves your body posture when you sit, stand, walk or sleep and helps you to get relief from body pain due to incorrect posture. A good posture also improves blood circulation, makes you look taller, improves breathing, improves digestion and most important makes you look and feel confident.

Once you start doing Yoga, it won’t seem like exercising to you at all and will rather become a lifestyle for you. You will be a completely different person when you start doing Yoga. Now, as you’re well aware of the benefits and importance of yoga in your life, pick up your yoga mat and yoga pants and you are good to go. If you think we have missed any benefits of Yoga, then do let us know in the comment section below!

This post is part of the blog train for World Yoga Day called “On track to good health“. I would like to introduce my fellow blogger and host sabeeka to takeover the train and share what health means to her.

This blog train is hosted by Momsmethods and Blogsikka and Sponsored by MOJOCO Coconut Water. Mojoco brings 100% Natural and Affordable Coconut Water right to your doorstep. Mojoco Nariyal Pani is good for health and can boost your energy. It is a cholesterol-free, low-calorie energy drink, enriched with essential electrolytes. The next time you are thirsty, ditch those unhealthy drinks and go for the goodness of Mojoco Coconut Water, Nature’s Energy Drink!

This post is also a part of “Yoga Day Blogtrain” hosted by sayeri and she blogs at Sayeri diary Jhilmil from Mommyinme. Here we 11 bloggers are sharing our views about yoga in different ways. The main intention is to make people more aware about the benefits of YOGA.

I would like to Thanks Sayeri for introducing me and my blog and I would like to introduce Papri who blogs at Through my pink windows

You can buy MOJOCO from Amazon (https://www.amazon.in/dp/B06XCQMGHW) or big basket (https://www.bigbasket.com/pd/40103865/mojoco-tender-coconut-water-200-ml/?nc=as&q=mojoco)

Health

Make your kids Summer Ready with Pediasure Cookies and Cream

By Blogsikka May 30, 2018

Are you summer ready !!!

Mumbai and summer seem to be synonyms to me now. Every Mumbaikar would relate with me when I say summers are like bread toasts on pan. It’s mid-May and we are struggling to beat the heat. Being a microbiologist, I know that summers are best temperature for microorganisms to grow fast and hence we tend to fall sick more. I am going through the same phase right now, because eating outside made me sick but as an adult, we can handle the situation. But what about our kids? Are they ready for summer? Have you made plans on how to make summer friendly for children? Are you making amazing summer drink for kids.
I am sure you must have made all possible arrangements to make this summer cooler but with so many activities to distract them, food is never their priority. And since they aren’t receiving enough nutrition, they become more prone to diseases.

Make your kids summer ready with Pediasure cookies and cream flavor- An amazing summer drink for kids

Recently I came across Pediasure which has launched a new cookies and cream flavored powder for kids. My daughter doesn’t like drinking plain milk and hence I always make sure that I add something which is healthy and tasty to drink. Pediasure comes as a saviour to me as it contains 37 nutrients which help support height & gain weight, and boosts immunity & brain development. The newly launched flavor is the best since kids love cream cookies so much!

The event was an eye-opener as the esteemed panel comprising doctors, nutritionist and celebrity couple Lara and Mahesh Bhupathi, discussed how summer growth if one of the most important time in a kids life. It is their #TimeToGrow.

panel on dias

lara and mahesh with kids

paneslist doctors
Insights from Event

Us mommies also got to taste the new flavor made by chef kichaa aka Nihal, and it was such a treat for us adults I cannot wait to see how my kid will react to it! As a mother, I am super happy as I have now made my kid summer ready. Now I can send my angel for all summer camps with a bottle of Pediasure. I suggested to my friends to make kids summer ready by boosting their immunity, growth and development with such health drinks. Pediasure is a complete nutrition cup for your kid. Pediasure Cookies and Cream is truly an amazing summer drink for kids.Being a mother I know kids get bored of same flavor too so make sure you give Pediasure cookies and cream in different ways. Take it as a parenting hack from me and I know you and they will love it. For instance, you can make banana smoothie with Pediasure Cookies and Cream which is an amazing summer drink for kids one day.

Ingredients for Banana and Pediasure shake

Banana mashed 1 piece🍌

Condensed milk 2 tbps

1tbsp PediaSure cookies and cream flavor powder.

1 glass milk

Honey 🍯

Ice

Method

Take a jar, put all ingredients and churn it to give a nice smoothie texture and serve to your kids.

2)You can also try making a moose with whipped cream using PediaSure cookies and cream to make another amazing summer drink for kids.

Ingredients for pediasure moose

Whipped cream

Powdered sugar

2 tbsp of Pediasure’s Cookies and Cream flavor

One cup of plain vanilla icecream

Method :

Take double ice bowl 🍚 and stir all the ingredients to give a fluffy mixture and serve it small shot glasses and serve with lot of fruits.

Or You may also like to make a spread and give it to your kids with oats bread, or make healthy ice candy of same banana shake.

If your kid is a fussy eater, these hacks can ensure your kid is getting proper nourishment.
I hope my tips and tricks will help to keep your kid summer ready and you can make many recipes using Pediasure Cookies and Cream to make amazing summer drink for kids.

Disclaimer:

@Snehalata jain Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links used, provided that full and clear credit is given to blogsikka.com with right and specific direction to the original content.

DISCLAIMER :

The content is not intended or prescribed as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always take proper advice from your doctor for any medical treatment.

Health

Brushing is fun with Mamaearth Natural Berry Blast Kids Toothpaste

By Blogsikka May 2, 2018

The magical Mamaearth Natural Berry Blast Kids Toothpaste

Every morning 7 am, alarms starts and make all of us to get up and brush, but other than alarm the noise which I get irritated is my daughter tantrum for brushing teeth. From the day 1, I am making my angel brush forcefully and also clean her tongue daily twice. But this task makes me tiring and irritating. The problem with angel is that her senses are very strong. I guess she has superpower of smelling things from distance itself and thats the fact as she doesnt like strong smell of toothpaste used by adults. She wud either get irritated because of intense smell or she will started feeling nauseating everytime she sees the tooth paste.

Recently I came across one amazing child friendly toothpaste from Mamaearth which is Mamaearth berry blast kids toothpaste. This product is just made for such kids, who throw many tantrums to do brushing thier teeth. When I tried this toothpaste with angel, she didn’t felt any strong smell and hence she cleaned her teeth without a single tantrum which she used to throw in morning. And when I asked her how is the taste, she said its amazing. This made me research on the product, and let me tell you why angel loved it so much that now she brushes twice a day. 😊 Mom me. Not only we teach her brushing but also save water while brushing.

How Mamaearth Natural Berry Blast Kids Toothpaste Changed angels attitude towards brushing teeth.

1) 100% NATURAL ingredients – Mamaearth’s 100% natural toothpaste is specially formulated with high quality ingredients like xylitol, aloe vera and stevia for newly forming teeth and gums. Xylitol which is a natural plant ingredient, protects the teeth from tooth decay and plaque formation. Aloe Vera Gel relieves pains in sore gums when new teeth is coming.

2) Color and smell : Transparent gel like paste which doesnt have any artificial colors added plus it has

FRUITY FLAVOUR of strawberry which appeals to your child’s taste developing habit of brushing after every meal too. And the kids love to start and end their day with Mamaearth’s berry toothpaste.

3) Safe even if its swallowed : since kids cant clean themselves completely sometimes they swallow, but we moms don’t have to worry with MAMAEARTH BERRY TOOTHPASTE as it is made without Fluoride, SLS, Paraben, Phthalates, and Petrochemicals to bring you the safest products for kids.

Health

Cochlear Implant Surgery -Boon to hearing impaired as #Hearingmatters

By Blogsikka April 11, 2018

Cochlear Implant Surgery in India – Boon to hearing impaired people because #HearingMatters

Imagine a world without sound, no chirping of birds, no sound of flowing water, or no whistle of a cool breeze! How does it feel? Awkward, right? Now imagine a world without car-horns, crackers, honking, shouting and annoying voices. How does it feel? Heavenly, right? Now imagine a person who is born without the ability to hear and is unable to listen to both the pleasant and the annoying sounds. It does make a huge difference to that person, doesn’t it? The importance of listening can only be understood by the person who is hearing-impaired. What if I say you that Cochlear implant surgery can be boon to hearing impaired children or people who have profound sound loss. Thanks to Cochlear India for making me aware of this.

Recently I got a chance to meet a brave, optimist and a very talented 11-year-old boy who was born with profound hearing loss. Currently studying in Class 6^th at the Balmohan Vidyamandir, Divyesh Indulkar now lives like a normal child, and show his talent to the world like any other child. Thanks to the unilateral Cochlear implant surgery he underwent at the age of 1.8 years at Hinduja Hospital by Dr. Milind Kirtane .

Divyesh’s parents who too were hearing-impaired from birth had a gut feeling that he too might be afflicted with hearing loss. And as fate would have it, their worst nightmares turned out to be true. After 5 months of Divyesh’s birth, his parents realized that he too was born with the hearing-impaired condition, since he was unable to respond to any of the sounds around him. All hell broke loose on Divyesh’s parents as the very thought of seeing their beloved son tread the same path like theirs gave them sleepless nights. The pain of seeing Divyesh go to a school for the hearing-impaired and communicating in sign language with others seemed like a repeat telecast of what they had been through all their lives.

cochlear implant surgery — divyesh’s happy family (parents and aunt)

There’s a saying, ‘Not all superhero wear capes’, so in such a situation Divyesh’s maternal aunt Chitra aka the superhero of the house, who had seen her sister her entire life without uttering a word, decided that Divyesh would not endure the same path like her sister. Therefore, she took him to a paediatrician to get him treated, after which certain tests were recommended. The tests revealed that Divyesh had profound hearing loss. Chitra was then educated about Cochlear Implant surgery at Hinduja hospital and how Cochlear implantees lead a normal life after the implantation. Divyesh was operated at the age of 1.8 and after 1.5 years of continuous therapy Divyesh was able to distinguish between the sound of a falling glass and the sound of a falling spoon. This was when the doctors started his speech therapy thereby enabling him to communicate. Divyesh loves to call himself ‘Shivba’ since he was born on Shiv-Jayanti.

Everything written above may seem to be simple for some people but Divyesh’s family had to go through tremors of financial and psychological setbacks every time they saw Divyesh not performing inspite of the effective therapy. But nature always pays of if you do hardwork to achieve something. In this case her aunt and Divyesh’s maternal grandparents stood up like giant tree to make Divyesh live normal life. It was Divyesh positive attitude right from birth to accept what comes to him.

divyesh’s best hobby -playing tabla

divyesh’s cochlear implant

Unlike his parents, Divyesh was lucky to get an implant at a very early age and now lives life-like a normal child. Divyesh is now a master at playing the Tabla and that’s been possible only because of the Cochlear Implant surgery. Is it a miracle or an irony of life? I don’t know! Such is Divyesh’s optimism that he dreams of becoming a pilot. He also does a lot of mono acts and dramas on stage. He loves to dance and has been featured in many Marathi ads and has also hosted many live shows at schools for the hearing impaired.

After seeing his family, I feel that we need to make other people aware of Cochlear Implants and its importance for hearing-impaired people. Many people take life as it is gifted to them, and don’t want to change for better. I have seen many cases where parents didn’t bother to take their children for the therapy sessions even after a successful cochlear implant. Therapy sessions are an important part of the Cochlear Implant as both go hand-in-hand. Avoiding therapy sessions post the implant would leave the child with speech disorder. The pain of seeing one’s child go through all the stress is a psychological setback for every parent but one must always remember that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Never give up. Today is hard, tomorrow will be worse, but the day after tomorrow will be sunshine.” by Jack Ma, Co-founder, Alibaba Group

A Cochlear Implant does the work of a human ear, but what teaches the child to speak and comprehend are the exercise and practice sessions with the therapist. Cochlear Implant is a boon to the soundless world.

Factors responsible for hearing loss:

Family history
Premature birth
Infections during pregnancy
Lack of oxygen at the time of birth
Listen to audio at high levels
Head or ear injury
Measles, meningitis, mumps or ear infections
Ageing
High blood pressure
Diabetes

Who can get a Cochlear Implant?

People or children who have moderate to high profound sensorineural hearing loss (more than 50% hearing loss to 100% loss)
Cases where hearing aids are no longer helpful.

In cases with congenital hearing loss, early intervention is advised, especially for kids below 10 years as most of the brain development happens by the age of 10. Kids learn early and that’s why an early intervention with a Cochlear Implant is beneficial for a child’s growth.

Understanding what a Cochlear Implant is –

Cochlear Implant is an electronic device which is used for medical purpose that does the work of damaged parts of the inner ear (cochlea) to provide sound signals to the brain. It’s not a normal hearing aid that amplifies sound. Instead Cochlear Implants bypasses the damaged hair cells of the cochlea to provide sound signals to the brain.

How does a Cochlear Implant works?

A sound processor (for instance, the Nucleus 6 processor that Divyesh wears) worn behind the ear captures sounds and turns into digital sound code. The sound processor has a battery that gives power to the entire system and is easy to charge and clean as per your need.
The sound processor then transmits the digitally coded sound through the coil on outside of your head to the implant that’s surgically placed just below it, on the outside of the skull.
The Cochlear Implant transform the coded sound of digit into electrical impulses and transfer to the electrode array which is fixed in the cochlea.
The implant electrode stimulates the hearing nerve which then sends the impulses to the brain where they are converted into sound.

Facts and stats related to Cochlear implant surgery

A recent survey by WHO shows that over 466 million people live with disabling hearing loss. Hearing loss can be avoided and its impact reduced. Unless action is taken by 2030 there will be nearly 630 million people with disabling hearing loss and the figure could soar up to 900 million by 2050, which means, that nearly one in every ten people will have hearing loss. In India Neonatal tests or Newborn screening is given very less importance, which leads to late detection of newborn defects. As a parent, its difficult to accept that your child can be born with defects. But faster you accept , early you can start its treatment. This is exactly why it’s important to educate people about cochlear implants and raise awareness about disabling hearing loss.

Watch Cochlear’s™ Global Hearing Ambassador, Brett Lee, talk about how a cochlear implant surgery changes lives for good:

Explore more about Cochlear Implants: http://www.cochlear.com/wps/wcm/connect/in/home/discover/cochlear-implants

Health

Malaria: Symptoms, Complications, Treatment and Prevention

By Blogsikka March 31, 2018

Malaria: Symptoms, Complications, Treatment and Prevention.

Being a mother of six year old, I am always worried about the health of my daughter. As she is growing I can’t stop her playing outside in garden as this is the major physical activity she does apart from indoor activities. Here comes the gardener into the picture who is giving water to plants making the water puddles. These puddles harbor lot of mosquito larvae which ultimately grow into blood sucking mosquitoes. I see as the sunset, the children in my garden starts crying about mosquito bites. We all moms have to take our kids in middle of the play with crying faces of kids. Recently in our society so many people suffered from Malaria. This made us realize that our garden water is a major cause of malaria being spread. Malaria symptoms were so evident that we had to admit many people from society in hospitals.

Let me tell you about malaria and its symptoms.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a plasmodium parasite present in gut of female Anopheles mosquito. In 2016, there were 216 million cases of and, thousands of deaths due to malaria.

Malaria symptoms :

Malaria symptoms usually it starts with a flu-like illness, with a high fever and chills and shivers. Other than this patient may also get symptoms of malaria like vomiting and nausea, headaches, tiredness, body pain, weakness, and fatigue.

What are the complications?

Fatal situations may occur due to malaria infection. If Plasmodium falciparum have infected the person, symptoms may include: infection in brain (cerebral malaria), with seizures, confusion, and increasing tiredness leading to coma and death. If due to malaria any Fluid gets accumulated in the lungs it leads to pulmonary edema. Sometime Kidney failure can occur if it damages the blood circulation system. Most dangerous is when a pregnant lady suffers from malaria

What is the treatment for malaria? Are there any vaccines available?

As we say prevention is better than cure in case of malaria we need to save ourselves from mosquito bites and take antimalarial medication, mainly Artemisinin Combined Therapy (ACT) as prescribed by doctors. The medicine will depend on a variety of factors, including age, kind of malaria parasite, and in cases of pregnant women. If fever doesn’t stop for days and it’s high as well as fluctuating, you must see doctors immediately for malaria fever symptoms.

Ps: As such there is no vaccine against malaria but one should take utmost care to prevent mosquito bites and malaria.

How can one find out if they have malaria?

First of all high fever itself is indication could be a lead to understand and to go for a test. Malaria is diagnosed by a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or blood test. The malaria parasite in the blood sample under microscopy is a clear indication of disease. RDTs are often used when the sample has come from public health sector worker who is more prone to disease. A nucleic acid amplification-based test is also kind of test done in case of place where malaria is uncommon.

How can malaria be prevented?

Malaria is affected by female Anopheles mosquito and parasite is transferred into the blood stream. It is very important to be protected by bites of mosquitoes, both inside and outside because a one bite by mosquito can cause you malaria. Before going to garden, we use mosquito repellents like GoodKnight fabric roll on or Goodknight patches to prevent mosquito bites. When we are at home, I always shut window before 6 pm and also the doors and windows in the evening, and use of household-level repellents like Goodknight Activ+ and Goodknight flash card will keep mosquitoes away. People should always use bed nets for more protection.

Ps: Always consult the local doctor, health clinic centres to prevent loss of lives due to malaria.

Health

Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream – Dark spot Remover

By Blogsikka March 25, 2018

Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream

Be it a woman of any age group, the most they are concern is of their looks. It’s the Woman’s tendency, they want to look stunning and gorgeous at any particular age, be it in their 50’s or 60’s. Blemishes can make you feel under confident sometime or what if you face the problem of blemishes…?. I am sure you don’t want patchy or uneven skin. But There is no need worry, to solve the problem of every woman or Mommy, Mamaearth have come upon with new product i.e. Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream. It is an awesome product and I am here to share with you the experience which i had after using blemishes.

Why Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream ?

Recently I had attended a marriage at my native place. Since everyone knows that I use all branded product for make up, my so called relatives used my compact and foundation without even asking me and someone who had lot of pimples and acne used my sponge. That infection was contagious like hell on my face. I tried many home remedies to remove many blemishes also tried skin medicines but nothing worked. Someone suggested me to use Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream. After 10 days the visible changes on my face was so prominent that i actually forgot about blemishes, until my friend who met me after two month told me that your face is so clear.

How Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream works ?

Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream is very effective cream and is enriched with organic Daisy Flower extract, Vitamin C and Mulberry extract. It is made of Glycerine, Shea butter, Lavender oil, Geranium oil, Aqua, Hydrogenated Olive oil, Vetiver oil, etc. The ingredients mentioned are very beneficial for skin and when they are used together, the resulting product will surely be extraordinary and so is the Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream. It’s market price is 599 rupees and the quantity is 50ml. The cream comes in white bottle and has a sturdy pump. The shape of the bottle is very lovely and it is also travel friendly, you can carry it and can adjust it at any of the small corner of your luggage bag while travelling. The packaging of this product is very economical and hygiene, as it contains a pump dispenser which helps prevent contamination of product from outside pollution and also from you own fingers.

How to apply Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream ?

Now you must be thinking How to apply it and what are it’s benefits…?. Its application is very simple, you just have to take few drops of Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream and apply it lavishly and slowly on freshly cleaned skin, starting from the neck moving your palm in circular motion towards upside of your face. For best results use it twice a day. It clears all dark spots and removes pigmentation from deep.

How Effective is Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream ?

The day from its launched till today, this product and it’s effective use has shown a remarkable growth. Its unique and natural extract not only makes its organic but also prevents melanin synthesis to give your skin a glowy effect. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It is also non-greasy and gets easily absorbed by the skin once applied. It reduces pigmentation and also restricts the melanin deposit appearing as dark spots, patches or hypertension, overall giving you a complete fresh and clean skin. Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream has no harsh chemicals and is free of Parabens, SLS and Mineral oil. It is also Dermatologically tested and can be used for normal, dry, oily, sensitive or any combination skin. Yes, it’s true it has a strong smell but it can be neglected knowing the extraordinary benefits of it.

The unique benefits of Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream

Travel friendly
It is organic.
Non-greasy and helps reduces blemishes, it does what it claims.
It is Dermatologically tested and can be applied on any skin tone and type.
It is available online, so can purchase it from anywhere and anytime.

Final Verdict

Overall, I like this product a lot, the perfect blend of organic and natural product has helped me to lighten my blemishes and has made my skin look much better. Regular use of Mama Earth Bye Bye Blemishes Cream will surely give you a positive result. At last, I would definitely like to recommend it to the Woman who are currently facing the problem of Blemishes. Also women who have pigmentation can use to see visible changes.

Health

Normal Delivery: Tips and special Exercises for easy delivery

By Blogsikka March 23, 2018

Have you ever heard of grandma or your mom talking about normal delivery or C -section delivery when they used to go to meet new moms, As a girl I used to wonder what they are talking about. In Fact have seen my mom giving tips for normal delivery to pregnant women. When I was pregnant my mom and my mom in law both were behind me and gave all possible tips for having a normal delivery.

The best moment for every women in her life when her child comes out from her womb. The first cry of the baby makes the mother happiest person on earth. Every women who becomes mother enjoys the moment when after lot of pain you deliver a baby . The feeling can’t be expressed in words. But sometimes moms have to undergo C-section which is less painful than Normal delivery but more risky for mother and the child. Since the human life came to existence,normal vaginal delivery is the only method which our ancestors have used. But since science was not developed at that time, so many mothers died during deliveries.

5 years back when I was pregnant ,only advice my mom in law gave to me is to have Normal delivery until something goes wrong. She gave me so many exercises from her experience which help me to deliver my child normally.

*What is Normal Delivery

Normal Delivery is a natural process that every woman is capable of giving birth to a newborn to bring in this world. Normal Delivery is a beautiful combination of gains and pains. Almost every Pregnant Women wishes to have Normal Delivery, which not fulfills in every case since medical condition of every Women varies. Since many new moms have asked me tips ,i am here to give you Tips for having a normal delivery.

Tips for having Normal Delivery

Giving birth to a baby in the form of Normal Vaginal Delivery is the best way for both a child as well as for mother. So to increase the chances of Normal Delivery, Women’s should follow the below points:

Use Water
Use your Prenatal Education
Spend early Labor at home
Don’t gain excess weight and watch your diet
Stay Healthy and stress free with regular exercises
Pick a Health care provider
take proper advice from your gynaecologist.
Never take calcium and iron dose together ,they both dont allow to get absorbed in the body.so take both tablets separately and at a distance of 2 hrs.
Always use squatty potty to increase the flexibility of your abdominal muscles.
Walk ,use staircases and do normal breathing yoga exercises.

*What are the chances of Normal Delivery

There are certain factors which improves your chances of having Natural Delivery. If you follow Tips for having a normal delivery you will be safe and your child too. Afcourse this factors may not be true in all the cases but increases your chances of having Normal Delivery.

Stay at home until you are in excess labor.
Work with your natural labor hormones.
Stay calm, stress free, have patience and sleep well.
Practice breathing and relaxation techniques.
Trust and educate yourself and your support people
Choose your labour support and birth training partner carefully.
Stay active and prepare your mind and body for Normal delivery.
Hire an experienced doctor.
Avoid having an epidural for pain relief because it may result in longer pushing stage.
Try to avoid induction because induction of Labor tends to more interventions and lowers the chances of normal delivery.
Plan to give birth at a birth centre or proper hospital.
Practice perineal massage.

*What is the process of Normal Delivery

A normal child-birth involves three basic stages:

First stage consists of three phases: Latent, Active and Transition phase.

In the Latent phase the cervix dilates from 0-4 cm. This phase is also called as Early phase.In the second phase i.e. Active phase cervix dilates from 4-7 cm. In the third phase i.e. transition phase. Here a patient will feel fatigued, shiverings, and nausea since contractions becomes more strong, painful and frequent.

In Second stage baby is pushed out and delivered.

This is the second stage and it begins with fully dilated cervix. Here a patient will experience a severe pain. The baby makes her way down through the pelvic region and birth canal.

The Placenta is removed from the body.

This is also called as after birth stage. Here the cord is cut and the baby is cleaned and placed on the abdomen.

*How painful is normal Delivery

It will be completely wrong If I say normal Delivery is not painful because Normal Delivery is actually an intense painful process apart of some rare cases. The Labor pain of a Pregnant Woman differs from woman to woman and also for the number of deliveries of a same woman. Basically the Labor pain is result of contracting of uterus in pushing the baby out, resulting in intense pain in abdomen, pelvic belt, bladder, vaginal area, rectal area, etc. Though Normal Delivery involves an intense paining process but it is for short period and helps keeping you healthy for a longer period. But if you follow Tips for having a normal delivery ,you might get less pain .

*Why should you prefer Normal Delivery

In today’s age it is seen whatever may be circumstances many Women as well doctors suggest C-section Delivery. However birthing of a child is largely a natural experience and unless there is emergency one should always prefer for Normal Delivery. Natural delivery results in quick recovery and is also beneficial for the mother. Natural Labor and normal Delivery of child enables Women to connect to child’s birth closely. Above all, Normal Delivery has been proved healthier for both the mother and for the baby and so you should always prefer Normal Delivery over C-section Delivery.

*Food consumption and tips for having a Normal Delivery

A healthy Mother will deliver a healthy baby. You can follow below tips:

Iron is very essential for a pregnant Woman, so she should have iron rich diet products.
Avoid alcohol and junk food
Avoid eating meat.
Should have green vegetables and fruits.
Should increase the intake of calcium and vitamins food products, especially the dairy products.
Reduce intake of sugar.
Have proper and timely meal.
Include Bromelain rich foods in your diet. It is an enzyme that reduces Labor pain and soften the cervix part. Fruits such as Mango and pineapple are rich in Bromelain should be consumed but not in excess.

*Signs and symptoms of Normal Delivery

The signs and symptoms of a Normal Delivery may vary from a patient to patient. But there are some basic symptoms which even a doctor tell a patient to keep in mind regarding Normal delivery.

Signs and symptoms of Labor pain which occurs few weeks before

Cramping and pain in lower back as joints and muscles and stretches.
Feels to urinate frequently as baby’s head pinches and puts pressures towards urinary bladder.
Loosened joints.
Lack of coordination in the body movements.
You may experience a baby turning between 30 and 34 weeks.

Signs and symptoms of Labor pain which occurs few hours before

More frequent and stronger contractions which gradually increases with time.
Vaginal discharge increases and becomes thicker in consistency.
Cramping and pain in lower back
Your pelvic pressure will increase.
You will feel to pee more often.
May experience lower belly cramps.

*Pregnancy exercises and Tips for having a normal delivery

Doing Exercise during Pregnancy period helps a lot in the proper birthing position of a child and also increases chances of Normal Delivery. But the exercise should be done under the guidance of an expert. Fitness is most important part of pregnancy.

In the first trimester period Women’s should do some basic Warm up exercises.
Should do some pelvic stretch exercises.
Swimming
Squat
Walking
Prenatal Yoga (yoga should be a habit and not only for pregnancy period)

*Normal Delivery v/s C-section Pros and Cons

Many Pregnant Women having low risk Pregnancies are also opting for C-section delivery, making it a common way of Delivery as compared to the natural way of normal Delivery. Knowing the fact that C-section delivery involves risk for both child as well as mother, still there are few advantages of C-section delivery in case of emergency.

No labor pain
Convenient
Baby is safe
No injuries to vagina
Risk of death is low

But there are also some disadvantages of C-section

C-section is painful
Decreases the chances of Normal Delivery in future
C-section is expensive
Takes long time to recover.

Hope this article which is my personnel experience of life may help to every new wannabe moms to have Normal delivery and also follow my tips to have smooth journey of delivering baby. I hope you liked my Tips for having a normal delivery.