Healthy Habits – Apollo Hospitals Blog

HEALTH CARE HEALTHY HABITS TIPS & PREVENTION

Winter skin damage for all age groups

Hello, Winter! Here comes the most pleasing and soothing weather that everyone looks forward after being troubled from hot burning summer! But, one common problem that all age group people experience badly is the skin damage. Do you agree with this fact? Although the season is cold and lovable, you may also need to think about certain measures to handle the upcoming skin problems due to over chillness in the atmosphere. If you really want to look beautiful with healthy skin, then finding the right solution is imperative. It is now time to go an extra mile to keep your skin protected from dryness and itch and pay enough attention. As a measure to help you become aware of protecting your skin from worst consequences of winter, you should understand its causes and the remedies. Why skin becomes dry in winter? When the weather turns frightful outside, it creates an impact on your skin too. The main reason for the dry winter skin is the lack of moisture in the skin, which as a result tightens the skin cells and weakens the protective barrier. Regardless of the age groups, everyone gets a rosy glow on the cheeks. At the same time, we also experience a sort of uncomfortable dryness in the skin on face, hands, and feet. For some people, this condition may worsen with extreme dry feeling, causing cracks, eczema, and flak. Some of the common symptoms you can notice as a result of winter skin damage are: ● Dry skin ● Flaky in appearance ● Uneven and grey skin If you find your skin worsening, then try to consult your doctor for quick remedy and prevent serious skin and health impacts. Tips to Prevent Winter Skin Damage There are ample ways which you can follow to prevent skin damage, especially during winter. One of the most common and popular remedies people follow to treat skin damage in winter is moisturized. It is obvious that during winter, skin loses moisture at a faster rate, which leads to weakening of the top protective layers. To feel comfortable, you can apply moisturizing lotion, which will also help to keep the skin healthy. To get better results apply moisturizer soon after you take a shower and before bed. You can consult your dermatologist if your skin is sensitive for the recommendation of a safe to use and quality moisturizer. Here follow additional skin care methods: Exfoliate: Next, to moisturizing your skin, you can try the exfoliating method, which can remove dead skin cells from the surface and help your skin to look less flaky and dry. However, it is recommended to use exfoliator formulated with fruit acids, which contains more antioxidants. Hydrate: Daily hydration is very important the moment winter begun. Try to drink more water you can. You can also take more fruits and vegetables as a measure of hydration. The best way to start with is to drink lukewarm water with few drops of fresh lemon juice in the morning. This lemon water can gain you Vitamin C, which is essential for skin health. Avoid hot shower: It is obvious that hot shower on freezing winter days will make you feel comfort, but not for your skin. Perhaps, it is good you can take a lukewarm shower to avoid irritation and maintain moisture on your skin. Olive oil: Rich in antioxidants, olive oil works as an excellent moisturizer and skin protector. It is also rich in Vitamin A and E, which helps in neutralizing the oxidizing effect that causes damage to skin collagen and wrinkles while help in good blood circulation in the dermis. You can also use oils like almond oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil as an alternative to olive oil. Before you apply the oil, try to slightly warm up to get a better result and prevent winter skin damage. In addition to the above-said skin care methods, you can also use castor oil, aloe vera gel and other natural products for better results. It is, however, recommended to consult your dermatologist to use safe skin care product, especially, to prevent winter damages. skin footer

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HEALTH CARE HEALTHY HABITS INDIA GENERAL INFORMATION SURGERY & RECOVERY TIPS & PREVENTION

Long sitting causes joints pains

Have you experienced the jerk in your knee while getting up from your chair in the office or did you find it difficult to bend down and pick up things from the floor? There are many such little pains here and there in the joints across the body that gives sometimes mild and other times severe pain. For elders, the conditions are every grave because of their long sitting positions and less activity. Even the young generation is becoming a victim of joints pains due to long sitting hours in the office and less physical activity. There are a number of other contributing factors too, the understanding of which can make us aware and avoid such troubling physical inabilities. Joint Pains due to Long Sitting Hours - A Kind of Psoriatic Arthritis One of the common conditions that people experience due to sitting for long hours is Psoriatic Arthritis. This may cause stiffness and pain in your joints. In the initial stage, it can be controlled with a little exercising, yoga, hot pads, ice packs etc, however, if is pain is persistent, never attempt to reduce the pain yourself, as it may lead to other consequences. It is recommended to consult your doctor for its proper diagnosis and treatment. There are multiple diagnostic approaches available to establish the main cause of such knee pain and give appropriate treatment. By addressing the exact cause and initiating the right treatment, the severance of the diseases can be reduced or stopped. Causes of Joint Pain after sitting Long Hours Here are some of the major causes of joint pain after sitting for long hours:

● This condition may be caused due to damage in the joint due to arthritis. Arthritis is further categorized into Osteoarthritis, caused due to wear and tear to joints, which is very common with aging factors, and Rheumatoid arthritis, which is caused due to dysfunction of the immune system resulting in damages to joints.
● Osteomyelitis, which is an infection in the bone causing joint pain after sitting for long hours. This may result in septic arthritis which refers to the infection of joint space.
● Other conditions like tears, tendons, rupture of cartilage and ligaments can also cause knee pain
● Gout, a disorder in which the crystals are built up in the knee and joints can cause joint pain.
● Tumors in bone joints is a severe condition that can also result in joint pains

Know the Risk Factors of Joint Pain Caused Dye to Long Sitting Hours There are many risk factors involved in causing joint pains. Some of the common factors include:

● Increase in age
● Smoking / alcohol
● Family history
● Improper diet
● Too much of physical strain and others

The joint pains are commonly caused in hip joint, neck, knees, wrist and other parts of the body. When not treated at the initial stage, they may eventually worsen. However, there are some recommendations with combined with good sitting posture can help you improve the symptoms. Tips to Manage Your Joint Pain Due to Sitting long Understanding the condition is very important before you try to find out a remedy. If you are serious about dealing with this condition without heavy medications, then try to bring a little life style change and good habits. Here are a few tips;

● Change your sitting posture at least once in 30 minutes
● Try to go for a small walk in between your work hours to relax your legs, hip, neck and shoulder
● Try to stretch your body doing some physical exercise that may relax your entire body
● Remember, stiffness is one of the main problems causing such joint pain, therefore you may need to follow flexibility improvement tips.

Final Note: To verdict, giving complete details about your medical history to your Orthopedic doctor is very important for proper diagnosis of your condition. This will help to derive appropriate medications and treatment procedure. Moreover, taking treatment at right time can eliminate the need for surgeries too while preventing the severity. Try to practice yoga daily and other simple exercises to relax your bones and muscles and keep you healthy. fot2

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HEALTHY HABITS TIPS & PREVENTION

Winter Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Prevention

Winter Sun Safety and Skin Cancer Prevention When the temperature goes down, or it had been a few days when you had last seen the sun, do not think that you can give few days off to your sunscreen. Even in the chilly winters and cloudy days, the harmful Ultraviolet rays are everywhere around you. What’s more? They can penetrate through the dark clouds and hit your skin and can raise chances of Skin cancer. So, even in the winters, you cannot go loose on protecting your skin from the sun. What does statistics have to say? Studies have been conducted and various research have been carried out to understand what happens with the skin in winters and who are at more risk of skin damage: Out of all the skin cancers, approximately 90% are caused by overexposure to the harmful UV radiation. Winter sports’ enthusiasts are at a greater risk of sun-induced skin damage and potential skin cancer. Even on cloudy days, winter sports addicts are at higher risk of skin damage – that is because up to 80% of the sun's harmful Ultraviolet rays can easily penetrate the clouds. Snowboarders and skiers mostly forget to put sunscreen and are more likely to catch windburn and frostbite than sunburn. How to protect skin during winters? There are few tips to prevent skin from the bad effects of the winter. Guard your skin on cloudy days Even if there is no sun out, you should not miss on applying a good sunscreen on your skin. As per a renowned Oncologist Chon, a good sunscreen can dramatically reduce the risk of skin cancer. While going out, wrap your face with scarf or stole and carry an umbrella with you. Maintain good sunscreen habits Applying sunscreen while going out should be your habit. You can follow the below year-round sunscreen tips: Use a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 which is effective in broad spectrum blocking both Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B rays and is waterproof as well. If you have dry skin, put sunscreen half an hour before going outdoors. Apply it all over the face, hands, ears and arms. While applying on sensitive areas, use the sunscreen with zinc oxide. Both snow and chilly winds can throw away any sunscreen protection used and hence reduce its effectiveness, therefore, it is strongly recommended to re-apply it at least after every two hours. Reapply the sunscreen lotion after sweating or swimming. Enjoy the sun safely To completely protect your skin in the winter, take little extra care: Use a lip balm with SPF 30. Wear long-sleeved jacket, gloves and hat. Wear wrap-around goggles or sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Try to be in the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is right above the head and the rays are the strongest in this duration. If you feel anything unusual or you fear any symptoms of skin cancer, see an Oncologist without delay. How to find the best sunscreen that suits your skin? Confused which sunscreen is the best for you? Below are some quick tips to get you through: Identify your skin type – normal, dry, oily Be informed of any allergy that you may have Choose a sunscreen with SPF more than 15 Go for a water-resistant sunscreen You can always seek help from a dermatologist So be careful with your skin during winters. Don’t let winters to trick with your skin; a little awareness and a lot of alertness can prevent your skin from the bad, very bad Skin cancer! footer-winter

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HEALTHY HABITS TIPS & PREVENTION

5 Benefits of Using Coconut Oil

In today’s society, it seems as though women, as well as men, are constantly on the lookout for the next big thing in health and beauty. Whether it is a new makeup brand, a newly discovered super food, a trendy form of exercise, or the latest fad diet to share with your friends, health and beauty are at the forefront of daily life. However, amongst all of the modern innovation and constant recreating and rehashing of ‘innovative’ trends, it is sometimes easy to forget the health and beauty products that are the most efficient are the ones that are simple and have been around for the longest time. Before you head to the shop to try to find the most unique and newest products, preparing to jump on the next bandwagon, take a minute to read this article and rediscover some of the benefits that coconut oil can bring to your life. Read more...

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HEALTHY HABITS

Need Inspiration? Here’s a List of Great Books to Read to Get Inspired!

If you are feeling uninspired in your daily life, the remedy might be as simple as picking up a great book and engaging in an interesting story. It is too easy to switch on the TV or watch videos online when you are bored, blocked, or frustrated, however, this only seems to compound the problem rather than solve it. Reading an engaging book can take you on a journey, offer insight to a problem, or give you a new perspective on life. If you lack motivation on a daily basis, reading can help kick-start your imagination and thought processes by discovering new ideas and becoming inspired by other people's experiences.

Reading also has some other benefits that are backed by science. Some studies suggest that settling down to read a book can help to reduce stress, better your brain function, and improve sleep. Apollo Hospitals encourages people to do more reading for these reasons and to help them through the healing process. Here is a list of some of the world's most inspiring books to add to your personal reading list. We highly recommend that you pick up a copy of any of these books. While recuperating after health treatments or surgery, these books could be very motivational and uplifting to you while you recover. Read more...

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HEALTHY HABITS

Stay Hydrated with 7 Sensational Homemade Fruit Smoothies

According to preventative health specialists at Apollo Hospitals India, staying well hydrated is one of the most important steps that you can take to improve your well-being today. When we take in less fluid than we lose through the natural process of breathing, sweating and urination, we become dehydrated. Mild dehydration causes symptoms including dizziness, headache, confusion, fainting and lethargy. These symptoms are tell-tale signs that your organs are struggling to do their job properly, and you need more fluids to sustain it. Chronic (long-term) mild dehydration can lead to dry skin, bad breath, muscle cramps, constipation, urinary infections and high blood pressure. Of course, the best thing for your body, says experts at Apollo Hospitals, is to avoid becoming dehydrated and putting your body under such strain. As well as drinking 2 – 3 litres of water each day, you can help your body maintain its natural equilibrium by including plenty of fresh fruit. If you look at hospital menus for medical tourism India, you'll notice that fruit is a staple ingredient, not only because it is abundant in the nutrients needed to heal the body, but also because it helps to keep patients well hydrated. Read more...

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