"Prevention is better than cure"

"Prevention is better than cure"  How can we prevent ourselves from Diseases?  and  What are the things which help to build our immunity?    Here we are going to discuss some preventive measures  for a healthy life.. This prevention should be started from Infant life itself. We can discuss preventions as one by one.. 1)Prevention during Perinatal life _ How? For this question only a single and simple answer .. Through Breast milk only..   _Benefits of breast milk for the child:- *Enhances the immunity. *Enhances mental health. *Improves mother-infant bonding. *Reduces the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity  and diabetes. * Reduces allergies and asthma. *Reduces digestive system problems.     That's why WHO recommends exclusive breast feeding for  first 6 months of life and supplemented feeding at least for  2 years of life.       Breast feeding offer benefits not only to the baby, but also for the mother. -Maternal benefits of breast feeding: *Burns calories and promotes weight loss. *helps the uterus to return to its normal size. * reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer. *helps to constrict the uterus and decreases chance  of bleeding. *helps in pregnancy spacing. *reduces the risk of developing post-partum depression. 2) Prevention through the Foods we eat. "We become what we eat" *Eat a healthy diet which is rich in vegetables, fruits,  pulses and cereals. *Some foods which help to boost our immunity are  Citrus fruits like oranges,lemons etc.,Pappaya, Kiwi, Pomegranate, Garlic,Ginger,Turmeric,  Green leafy vegetables like Spinach, drumstick leaves etc,  Dry fruits like almonds,cashew etc,  Probiotics like yoghurt, Small fishes like sardines, mackerel and Shell fishes like crab,prawns etc. * Drink plenty of water is a good way to maintain a healthy life.  Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day  even if you are thirstless. *Only 5 grams of Salt per day:- Don't worry,here we go.. We are all eating too much salt which raises our  blood pressure and increases our risk of strokes,  heart attack and heart diseases. Follow these 5 steps and  bring your salt intake down today- "5 ways to 5 grams" 1. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables than canned ones.  If u choose canned ones,drain and rinse it. 2.Gradually add less salt to your favorite recipes- your taste buds will adapt. 3. Use herbs,spices,garlic and citrus in place of salt to  add flavor to your food. 4.Take salt and salty condiments off the table  so younger family members won't develop  the habit of adding salt. 5.Check food labels before you buy to help you  choose less salty options. * 30 grams of sugar per day_ Sugar is considered as a  white poison.So we must reduce the consumption  of sugar also. Should not consume foods which have added sugars. Avoid soft drinks, baked foods and  processed foods  which is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. 3) Prevention of Infection..       An Infection is an illness caused by germs such as  bacteria and viruses.These germs can be passed  from person to person,animal to person or things to person. The common cold is an example of an infectious disease  which can be transmitted from person to person.      Simple steps can reduce the risk of spreading germs: 1. Clean your hands often: *Hand hygiene is the simplest and most effective measure  to prevent infection.Hand hygiene is a general term  referring to the use of soap and water or a water less  hand rub to cleanse your hands. * When should you clean your hands? -before you enter and leave a healthcare facility like  hospitals,clinics,labs etc. - before and after taking medications. -after sneezing, blowing your nose and coughing. _ before and after visiting a sick or diseased person. -whenever your hands are dirty. -after using bathroom and toilet. _ before and after eating. 2.Cover your cough:     Cough etiquette or respiratory hygiene will help  to stop the spread of infections through respiratory secretions  like influenza, SARS,TB etc.     When coughing or sneezing please follow the 3 "C" steps: *Cover your mouth and nose with a towel ,clean tissue, upper sleeves or elbow when coughing or sneezing. * Contain or throw used tissue in the waste bin. *Clean hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. 3.Get vaccinated: - Vaccines are among the safest medical  products available. It is a very effective way to prevent  communicable diseases like flu, polio and hepatitis- B.  Make sure that you are vaccinated according to  the immunization  schedule of the country you live in. 4. Homoeopathic prevention and prophylaxis:_ Whenever there is an occurrence of an epidemic disease,  Genus epidemicus are ascertained and administered to  healthy persons of the locality and  saves them  from becoming victims of the disease. * Constitutional remedies are the best  Homoeopathic  preventives. * Nosodes also used as prophylaxis. Eg:- Morbilinum for Measles, Malandrinum for Chicken pox,  Parotidinum for Mumps etc. * Certain medicines are proved to be specific against certain  diseases. Eg: Bell for scarlet fever , Cuprum met for cholera,  Rhustox for chicken pox ,pulsatilla for measles. * Ideal potency for homoeopathic preventive is 200th. *Duration of preventive is also important. We must give preventive medicines according to  the incubation period of a disease. For eg: in case of chicken pox I.P is 2 to 3 weeks,  so we must give our preventive at least for 2 weeks. In case of measles I.P is 1 to 2 weeks , so we give at least for 10 days. * Percentage of efficacy of Homoeopathic preventive  depend upon the time of administration of medicine  after the exposure of infection.In case of epidemic in  surrounding area and the persons within the house  is not affected we can give preventives and  offer 100% efficacy. If one person within the house is  affected and we give medicine to other members  within 24 hrs of infection, then we can offer 80% only.. * Homoeopathic prophylaxis will prevent  the  progress of the disease also.       4) Other preventive measures for a healthy life. * Be happy and enjoy the life.Don't burden your life  with unnecessary ambitions and expectations.  Be content and don't compare your life with others. * Do regular physical exercises like walking, cycling , swimming etc. * Have adequate sleep at least 8 hrs in a day. * Do regular health check ups and consult your doctor  whenever there is alarming symptoms. Don't become a doctor for yourselves and  never allow the Google to treat you ..                Thanks a lot... Dr. Dhanya Deepak B.H.M.S,  MSC Psychology

CRACKED NIPPLES IN NURSING WOMEN

CRACKED NIPPLES IN NURSING WOMEN:-

   The following tips can be very helpful if the skin on the nipple is broken for any reason. The cracked nipple may cause due to shallow latch,  tongue-tie/lip-tie or other anatomical variations, thrush, a bite, milk blister, etc..Increased frequency of feeding, tooth bite and dry humid climate are other predisposing factors.

-Keep in mind that one of the most important factors in healing is to correct the source of the problem.

- Correct latch and positioning during feeding , take proper thrush treatment, etc.

-During the nursing session:

*Breastfeed from the uninjured (or less injured) side first. Baby will tend to nurse more gently on the second side offered.The initial latch- tends to hurt most – a brief application of ice right before latching can help to numb the area.

* Try different breastfeeding positions to determine which is most comfortable.

*If breastfeeding is too painful, it is very important to express milk from the injured side to reduce the risk of mastitis and to maintain supply. If pumping is too painful, try hand expression.

-After nursing:-

*Salt water rinse:-

This special type of salt water, called normal saline, has the same salt concentration as tears and should not be painful to use.

Preparation of saline solution:

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one cup of warm water. Make a fresh supply each day to avoid bacterial contamination. You can also add fresh homemade turmeric powder to this saline which will help in rapid healing as turmeric possess an antibacterial effect.

-After breastfeeding:-

*Soak nipple in a small bowl of warm saline solution for a minute or so–long enough for the saline to get onto all areas of the nipple. Alternately, put the saline solution into a squeeze bottle and squirt it on gently; use plenty of saline, making sure to get it on all areas of broken skin.Avoid prolonged soaking (more than 5-10 minutes) that “super” hydrates the skin, as this can promote cracking and delay healing.Pat dry very gently with a soft paper towel.If baby objects to the taste of the residual salt from the saline rinse, rinse directly before nursing by dipping nipple into a bowl of plain water. Pat dry gently.

*After the salt water rinse

apply expressed breastmilk to the nipples to promote healing–this can be done in addition to other treatments.To promote “moist wound healing” (this refers to maintaining the internal moisture of the skin, not keeping the exterior of the skin wet) apply any healing ointments or natural moisturisers like butter,ghee. Application of frozen butter helps alot..

*If your baby have thrush, follow the saline soak with an antifungal ointment or other thrush treatment.

-Between nursings:-

*Keep nipples exposed to air when possible. Avoid using tight bras and other tight clothings. Some mothers use breast shells to protect the nipple from the dampness and friction of the bra.If there is a specific injury–like a bite–cold compresses (ice packs over a layer of cloth) may help: 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off; repeat as needed.

*Once a day, use a non-antibacterial, non-perfumed soap to gently clean the wounded area, then rinse well under running water. Using soap on the nipple area is not recommended unless the skin is broken.

* If you suspect mastitis ie, if there is pain, tenderness or heaviness of breasts, apply frozen  cabbage leaves on the breast for not more than 10 minutes, 3 times a day which will help to reduce the pain, but take care not to exceed the time as  it will sometimes affect the supply.

-Contact your doctor if you notice:Fever, inflammation/redness, swelling, oozing, pus, or other signs of infection. It is possible to have multiple infections (both fungal and bacterial).

-If the nipple is obviously infected immediately consult your doctor.

   Homoeopathy can offer you a rapid and gentle cure for your sore and cracked nipples. Medicines are selected according to the cause and symptomatology.  Important medicines are:-

1. CASTOR EQUI :-Cracked, sore nipples, excessively tender. Swelling of mammæ. Violent itching in breasts; areola reddened. Sensitive even to the touch of clothes. 

2. SARSAPARILLA:- Nipples small, withered, retracted.  itching and humid eruptions. Rash from exposure to open air; dry, itching; comes on in spring; becomes crusty. Rhagades; skin cracked, hard, indurated, summer cutaneous affections.

3. NATRUM MUR:-Painful scars, eruptions and cracks due to dry wind. Child refuses breast; nursing sore mouth. Lancinating pains in breasts.Stitches beneath nipples.Dull stitch beneath right nipple.Breasts sensitive to slightest touch.

4. RATANHIA:- Cracked nipples, burning type of pain with, constricted feeling of  breast.

5. CALENDULA :- clean with diluted calendula  Q and apply  calendula  ointment, 3times  a day. 

      Other important medicines are Silicea,  Graphitis,  Petroleum, Phytolacca,  Hydrastis, Balsamum peruvianum, Hepar sulph,   Sulphur,  Zinc met etc.