Skin infections go up as rainy season sets in
Dr Vikas Sharma

The first showers of the monsoon are heartily welcomed by everyone after experiencing the scorching heat of summer. But monsoons reduce the immunity of our body and make us susceptible to many diseases which are commonly associated with this season. It is time to keep our body resistant against diseases by boosting our immunity and taking precautions against these diseases.

The frequent change in the weather that comes with the rainy season usually renders people susceptible to diseases.

The rainy season is the time when due to the high humidity in the air there are various infectious bacteria, fungi and viruses which become active, and this leads to skin infections.

A rise in cases with skin fungal infections is being reported. Besides this, viral skin infections coupled with secondary bacterial infections have also gone up. The few chronic skin disorders like atopic eczema tend to worsen in this season. There are more cases of plantar fungal infections and verrucae. The disease is commonly transmitted to humans by contact with contaminated water.

The disease is common at the places having poor sanitary conditions. It affects people who walk around barefoot in water. Therefore, ensure that your inner clothing is completely dry. Even slightly damp inners can favour overgrowth of normal skin flora.

Stagnant water causes skin diseases in children and serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The most common problem is the outbreak of paederus dermatitis, also known as blister beetle dermatitis.

Preventing human-beetle contact is the primary method of preventing paederin-based trauma. The tactics that can be employed to achieve this include the following:

1 Learn to recognise paederus beetles and avoid handling or crushing these insects against exposed areas of skin.

2 Keep your doors closed and put screens on the doors. We must reduce the entry of beetles into buildings.

3 Sleeping under a bed net, preferably permethrin-treated, may also reduce the probability of a beetle falling on the skin during the night.

4 A net or mesh can be tied under the lights to prevent the beetle from dropping onto humans.

5 Avoid crushing the beetle on the skin, or rubbing the eyes following primary involvement.

6 If a beetle lands on the skin, try to remove it gently (example: blow it off, try to get the beetle to walk on to a piece of paper and then remove it). Wash the contact areas of the skin.

7 Check different areas for beetles (especially walls and the ceiling around the light) before going to bed. Beetles, if present, should be killed by using insecticide (pyrethroid) followed by sweeping up and removal of the carcasses. Remember that beetles can cause symptoms, alive or dead, and hence avoid handling it directly.

8 Clear excess vegetation from and around the residence, as beetles may rest in these areas.

Monsoon is the time when the humidity level in the atmosphere is high. In fact, this is the time when digestion is at its lowest. If people eat some incorrect food during this time the result is illness! So, here are some suggestions for food hygiene precautions and diet modification.

Avoid heavy, salty food as it promotes water retention and bloating. It is better to have medium-to-low salt food.

Start body massages once a week with a light oil like olive oil. Massages promote the lymph channels movement which not only aids to decrease the bloating but also assists weight loss by improving the bile flow.

Eat light foods like vegetables, fruits and cereals and avoid too much of meat and fish.

Avoid fried foods as they decrease the digestive efficiency.

Do not indulge in heavy exercises. Instead, walking along with yoga or stretching is better as heavy exercises cause an increase in the body temperature which leads to headaches, body aches, etc.

Eat foods which are drying in nature — the most popular being makka (corn), chana (chickpea), besan (gram flour) and jow (oats). Eating watery foods like rice, lassi, watermelon and muskmelon creates swelling in the body.

Avoid heavy oils like mustard oil, peanut oil, sesame oil. Consume drying oils like corn oil, or light oils like olive oil.

Maintain general hygiene while eating out. Definitely avoid roadside vendors as very few people have the high immunity to handle the bacterial overload at such places.

Avoid salads or choose warm/steamed salads as there are many infectious organisms in this season.

Avoid foods which are very sour like tamarind (imli), chutneys and pickles as they promote water retention.

Avoid consuming dairy foods like paneer, raita, etc, at a street vendor.

Wash all green vegetables thoroughly as a lot of worms and insects are hidden in the leafy vegetables.

Follow these guidelines to remain safe and healthy during the monsoon!

The writer is the head of the Dermato-Laser Surgery Department, National Skin Hospital, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula. Email: drvikas.nscindia@ gmail.com

l Avoid heavy, salty food as it promotes water retention and bloating. It is better to have medium-to-low salt food.

l  Eat light foods like vegetables, fruits and cereals and avoid too much of meat and fish.

l Avoid fried foods as they decrease our digestive efficiency.

Why do we have neck pain?
Dr Ravinder Chadha

Neck pain is an affliction which almost everyone suffers from in one’s lifetime. Reasons could be many; it may be because of injury, wrong posture, stress, etc. The general perception is that neck pain is an inevitable part of one’s life, and it is all-right to ignore or neglect it. There are many situations during the day when a lot of strain is placed on the muscles supporting the neck. It is pertinent to point out here that a good or correct posture entails bones, muscle and ligament working in harmony. This also protects the body from various kinds of injuries.

The most common cause of neck pain is anterior head positioning while reading, working on the computer, watching the television, etc. It occurs when the centre of the ear moves forward or ahead of the shoulder resulting in rounding of the shoulders exerting pressure on the neck and upper back muscles.

A prolonged static posture is the root cause of neck pain. In fact, our body can tolerate being in a particular position for about 20 minutes. Then the tissue elasticity starts waning increasing stress and discomfort. Individuals having weak muscles are more vulnerable to neck pain.

Another important cause is cervical disc herniation wherein pain is referred to the arm which at times is agonising and may impact the quality of life. The disc is a flexible material between the vertebrae which holds the bones together during movement.

The symptoms

l  Pain at the back of the neck and upper back.

l  Restriction of neck movements.

l  Pain radiating to arm/hand.

l  Numbness/tingling sensation in one of the arms/hands.

l  Dizziness/vertigo.

Treatment

The goal is to have a correct posture via appropriate exercises. Proper head positioning goes a long way in alleviating pain.

While sleeping it is advisable to be lying on the back on a firm bed with adequate support of the neck curvature.

Sleeping with the face downwards should be discouraged as it exerts undue strain on the neck muscles. Putting a pillow under the chest can minimise head rotation.

When sleeping sideways, place a pillow between the head and the neck and not under the shoulder.

Foam pillows are best avoided as they can cause strain on the muscles supporting the neck.

The computer screen best serves its purpose when it is at the eye level. To confirm whether the position is really correct, close your eyes and then open them slowly. If the gaze is at the centre of the computer screen, then the level is perfect, otherwise this needs to be raised or lowered accordingly.

The keyboard should be kept close to the body. If a table is not available it is advisable to keep the keyboard on the knees so that the arms and the shoulders are not raised to put strain on the upper back muscles.

Arm-rest of a chair helps take off the load from the shoulder/neck. This should permit the forearms to rest comfortably with elbow at 90 degrees.

When sitting behind a table, the height of the chair should be such that forearms rest comfortably on the table without hunching the shoulders up or down.

The following exercises can help in reducing a forward head posture and should be performed two or three times a day:

Bringing the ears in line with the shoulder without keeping the nose up/down, open the mouth for a count of five and then relax.

Shoulder roll — Starting in a standing/ sitting position with the arms by the side, moving up and down your shoulders 10 times.

Doing strengthening exercises by putting pressure on the hand at the front, the sides or the back of the head is ideal. In addition, the following exercises supporting the upper back muscles also prove beneficial:

Rowing — While sitting, loop a stretch tube/band around one foot, holding the ends by the hands. Pull the band towards the body. Repeat it 10-15 times.

Shrugging — While standing, looping the band under one foot, holding the ends. Pull the band upwards with the lifting of the shoulders. Repeat it 10 to 15 times.

Hold the ends of the band with the arms overhead. Pull the band outwards and feel the pressure at the upper back. Repeat it 10 times.

To prevent neck pain/disability, it is important to maintain a correct posture and strengthen our muscles supporting the neck.

The writer runs a pain management clinic in Chandigarh.  E-mail- chadha_r2003 @yahoo. co.in 

Health Notes
Cell phone towers don’t increase cancer risk for newly born

Washington: A recent study has revealed that the children whose mothers lived near cell phone towers during pregnancy do not have an increased risk of cancer. British researchers at Imperial College London’s School of Public Health carried out the study. The researchers studied nearly 2,000 cases of childhood cancer in Britain between 1999 and 2001, and found that there was no correlation between how close their mother lived to cell phone towers and incidence of cancer. Several types of cancers were examined, including cancers of the brain and the central nervous system, leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. — ANI

Obese mums putting babies’ health at risk

Melbourne: Obese mothers are risking the health of their babies — they are more likely to have miscarriages and give birth to malformed babies, according to new Australian research. Sydney gynaecologist Andrew Zuschman, who studied the pregnancy outcomes of obese women between June 2008 and July 2009, also found that nearly half of overweight women give birth by caesarean section, often weeks before the child is due. One in four babies born to obese women weighed more than 4kg and their weight — and that of their mothers — can cause problems during the birth, according to Zuschman. — ANI

Hot cuppa after exercise may boost mental health in elderly

London: A hot cuppa after a gruelling exercise session might just be the perfect mix for the brain in old age, according to a research. In two separate studies, US scientists found that physical activity and regular consumption of tea or coffee both protect against mental decline. One team led by Dr Zaldy Tan from Harvard Medical School, Boston, followed the progress of 1,200 elderly men and women with an average age of 76. The researchers conducted health checks after an average of 10 years, which showed that those who engaged in moderate to heavy levels of exercise had a 40 per cent lower risk of developing dementia than the least physically active. The trend was more prominent in men than in women. — ANI

Now a jab that may halt the most deadly forms of cancer

London: In a major breakthrough to prevent cancer, scientists have created an injection that may help killing the most deadly cancers, including breast, bowel and cervical tumours. The drug, which is already being tested on patients, shrinks tumours and stops them from spreading. The research has shown that a form of hCG is also made by around half of bladder and pancreatic cancers. Some breast, bowel, ovarian and cervical tumours also pump it out. The most aggressive of tumours quickly grow and spread. — ANI