How to stop thumb sucking by your child
Dr Vivek Sharma
Thumb sucking is one of the first coordinated acts by a baby for comfort and pleasure. For much younger children thumb sucking can be just a way to relieve the feeling of hunger. It is a comforting behaviour and doesn’t usually need to be restricted. Parents usually start to worry too early about how to stop the thumb-sucking habit of their children. It is not necessary to stop thumb sucking before the age of four unless parents notice a problem in their teeth due to vigorous thumb sucking.

Stroke is a medical emergency
Dr Deepak Gupta
What is stroke?
A stroke (also called “brain attack” or “CVA”) occurs when blood circulation to a part of the brain stops. This leads to the death of brain cells because the cells need oxygen and nutrients from the blood to survive. A stroke most commonly results from the blockade of a blood vessel called artery of the brain. This type of stroke is called “ischemic stroke”. In some cases, stroke is caused by the rupture of an artery in the brain, which is referred to as “haemorrhagic stroke.”

Right diet during pregnancy
Dr Meenal Kumar
Right diet is essential for fitness and good health, and assumes great importance during pregnancy. Poor maternal nutrition is one of several factors which may result in growth restriction of the baby. Growth-retarded babies suffer from an increased risk of foetal, neonatal and infant death. Childhood growth, immunity and intellectual development may all suffer. Poor foetal nutrition has also been shown to result in a higher risk of chronic disease in adult life; notably, heart disease and diabetes.

Health Notes

How to stop thumb sucking by your child
Dr Vivek Sharma

Thumb sucking is one of the first coordinated acts by a baby for comfort and pleasure. For much younger children thumb sucking can be just a way to relieve the feeling of hunger. It is a comforting behaviour and doesn’t usually need to be restricted. Parents usually start to worry too early about how to stop the thumb-sucking habit of their children. It is not necessary to stop thumb sucking before the age of four unless parents notice a problem in their teeth due to vigorous thumb sucking.

When thumb-sucking becomes a problem

A. Thumb sucking causes serious teeth problems if it continues long after the eruption of permanent teeth. The problem gets more serious if it continues after the age of four and five.

B. Prolonged finger and thumb sucking can create crowded, crooked teeth, or bite problems.

C. A child may also develop speech problems or problems with swallowing properly.

D. Protrusion and displacement of front teeth are usual results.

E. Malformation of teeth can affect the child’s appearance and cause further emotional problems.

Panacea

Most children outgrow this behaviour by their pre-school years until that point when it is relatively harmless. Though beyond pre-school it can be a problem once permanent teeth start coming in. The best way to get your child to stop sucking his/her thumb is to find ways to help him do it.

Do’s and don’t’s

Do’s

• Talk about the ‘bad’ germs that are on our hands and how the child puts them in his mouth while indulging in thumb sucking.
• Carefully remove your child’s thumb from his mouth during sleep.
• Give your child extra-attention and observe if conflicts or anxiety provoke thumb sucking. If so, help him find more healthful ways to deal with stress.
• Reward your child for progress made towards his goal. Don’t think of it as a bribe because it’s something he has earned through effort.
• Paint something that tastes bad on his thumb, like vinegar or pickle juice. Don’t do it forcefully or without his permission, but as a way of helping him achieve his goal. Then when he’s engaged in viewing television and sucks his thumb out of sheer habit, the bad taste will quickly remind him of what he’s trying to accomplish.
• Distract your child when you see him putting his thumb in his mouth. If you engage him in an activity that requires both hands, he’ll have to take his thumb out of his mouth to do the task. Keep the child’s hands occupied with a toy, puzzle, or some other interesting activity.
• Give the example of his friends who have managed to stop thumb sucking. Invite friends who don’t suck their thumbs for frequent play dates. Peer pressure is a powerful motivator, and if he surrounds himself with kids who don’t suck their thumbs, it will be easier for him not to suck his thumb.
• A paediatric-dentist can also install an oral appliance that makes it uncomfortable to suck his thumb and release pressure on the teeth and palate. This is important if his thumb sucking is affecting his oral development.

Stroke is a medical emergency
Dr Deepak Gupta

What is stroke?

A stroke (also called “brain attack” or “CVA”) occurs when blood circulation to a part of the brain stops. This leads to the death of brain cells because the cells need oxygen and nutrients from the blood to survive. A stroke most commonly results from the blockade of a blood vessel called artery of the brain. This type of stroke is called “ischemic stroke”. In some cases, stroke is caused by the rupture of an artery in the brain, which is referred to as “haemorrhagic stroke.”

Who is at the risk of stroke?

Stroke most commonly occurs in the middle and old age groups but can very well occur in the younger age group also. Older patients with long-standing and poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol or smoking are at a increased risk of stroke. Diseases of the heart as heart rhythm problems (or atrial fibrillation) and shrinkage of the heart valves pose a risk of stroke to any age group. Uncommon causes of stroke in the younger age group include direct injury to the brain artery, bleeding and clotting disorders of the blood and inflammation of the brain arteries.

What are the symptoms of stroke?

The symptoms of stroke depend upon the region of the brain which is affected. Symptoms can be mild or severe. The most common symptoms of stroke are:

• Sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Sudden weakness of arm or leg (paralysis)
• Sudden difficulty in speaking or understanding speech; the patient may look confused
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking or loss of balance or dizziness
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Why stroke is an emergency

The most common kind of stroke, ischemic stroke, can be treated with a “clotbuster” drug that dissolves the clot blocking the blood flow. The “Clotbuster” drug saves more lives and increases the chances of a better recovery. But it can only be given in the first four and a half hours from the stroke onset — the window period. Of these , the chances of recovery are best if the drug can be started in the first one hour of the stroke onset. Like a heart attack, every minute after the onset of stroke counts. The longer the blood flow to the brain is cut off, the greater the damage.

What should someone do if he/she has stroke symptoms?

If anybody has symptoms suggestive of stroke, he/she should immediately go to the nearest emergency to confirm the diagnosis by getting a CT scan and a clinical examination done.

A neurologist, after seeing the patient and the scan, should be able to decide whether the patient can be given the “clotbuster drug”.

Is stroke preventable?

Yes, stroke can be prevented by lifestyle modification and treatment of stroke risk factors.

• People with high blood pressure should get it under control. Many people do not realise that they have high blood pressure because high blood pressure usually produces no symptoms but is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
• Those with diabetes should consult a doctor for its treatment. As with high blood pressure, diabetes usually causes no symptoms but it increases the chance of stroke.
• Those who smoke should quit.
• Those who are overweight should take healthy diet and lose weight
• Exercise regularly.

Right diet during pregnancy
Dr Meenal Kumar

Right diet is essential for fitness and good health, and assumes great importance during pregnancy. Poor maternal nutrition is one of several factors which may result in growth restriction of the baby. Growth-retarded babies suffer from an increased risk of foetal, neonatal and infant death. Childhood growth, immunity and intellectual development may all suffer. Poor foetal nutrition has also been shown to result in a higher risk of chronic disease in adult life; notably, heart disease and diabetes.

Dietary requirements

Three hundred calories a day, over and above a daily requirement of 1500 calories, is what pregnant women additionally need. Your diet must include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Protein is essential for the buildup of tissues, and pregnant women need around 60 grams of protein per day.

Here is a list of things to incorporate in your diet:

Dairy products (milk, yoghurt, and cheese): 3 cups a day, preferably low fat. Bread/chapatti/cereal/ rice: 6 ounce equivalent

Vegetables: 2.5 cups of fruit: 2 cups of meat/poultry/ fish/dry beans/eggs/ nuts: 5.5 ounce oil and fats: sparingly.

Vitamins and minerals

Folate: It belongs to the B group of vitamins, and its synthetic form, present in supplements, is called folic acid. It helps prevent abnormalities of the brain as well as the spinal cord. Preterm delivery, low birth weight and poor foetal growth have been shown to be related to a deficiency of this vitamin. Nearly 600 micrograms of folate or folic acid is required per day before conception and during pregnancy. Naturally occurring folate is present in leafy green vegetables, dried beans and peas, and citrus fruits. Remember to take folic acid supplements, too, generally prescribed in tablet form by your doctor.

Calcium: The circulatory, muscular and nervous systems depend on an adequate intake of calcium for their normal functioning. Both you and your developing baby require calcium for strong bones and teeth. One thousand mg of calcium a day is needed during pregnancy, and is best obtained from dairy products. Your baby’s needs during this period will be met by drawing on calcium reserves in your bones if your dietary calcium is found wanting.

Iron: Iron is required for the production of haemoglobin. This protein is contained in red blood cells and transports oxygen to your tissues. A deficiency of iron results in anaemia, with the loss of energy and fatigue. Premature delivery and low birth weight are often a consequence. Iron requirements double during pregnancy (27 milligrams a day) and can be derived from poultry, lean red meat and fish. Iron-fortified foods, dried fruit and nuts are other important sources. Dietary iron can rarely meet all your requirements. Supplements are a must.

Zinc: Eleven milligrams of zinc is required per day during pregnancy, an adequate intake of which is considered essential for normal growth and development. A deficiency of this mineral may result in prolonged labour and growth-retarded babies.

Fluids: Drink lots of fluids, especially water and fresh fruit juices. Make sure you drink clean, filtered water. Most diseases are caused by water-borne viruses. Go easy on packaged juices as they have a high sugar content.

What you must avoid

Avoid alcohol altogether during pregnancy, as alcohol intake is clearly harmful to the developing foetus. Smoking during pregnancy will adversely affect your health as well as your baby’s health during pregnancy and thereafter. Substances like nicotine (the addictive substance in cigarettes) and carbon monoxide, inhaled while smoking, are carried through your bloodstream to your developing baby. Foetal growth may suffer as a result of maternal caffeine intake. Eight or more cups of coffee a day are associated with a higher risk of stillbirth. So, restrict the coffee breaks during pregnancy. Similarly, unnecessary use of drugs of any kind, especially the addictive ones, are a strict “no”.

The other food to be avoided is raw seafood such as oysters or uncooked sushi, large predator fish such as shark or swordfish as it may contain unsafe levels of mercury. Also avoid processed or canned fish, which is preserved in a salt solution, which may lead to water retention.

The writer is a Chandigarh-based senior gynaecologist.

Health Notes

Red wine has no special protective qualities

Sydney: The myth that red wine is good for preventing heart attacks has come under question from health experts, who have said that any type of alcoholic drink can only do a drinker damage. The Alcohol Policy Coalition has challenged the red wine “myth” with recent international research showing that light drinkers are at less risk of heart disease than abstainers. The coalition cites studies finding that the harms from alcohol are likely to outweigh any benefits. “Every drinking occasion contributes to the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted the report as saying. The coalition, whose members include the Australian Drug Foundation, the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Council of Victoria, has released the report to coincide with the United Nations meeting to promote international efforts to counter non-communicable diseases. — ANI

Early symptoms of ovarian cancer can help beat disease

Washington: A new study led by an Indian-origin researcher has claimed that recognising early symptoms of ovarian cancer can assist in early detection of the disease. Diljeet Singh, MD and co-director of the Ovarian Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, says that the best defence against ovarian cancer is to make use of preventive methods, understand the risks and recognize potential warning signs of the cancer. “Currently, there is no reliable screening test to identify early ovarian cancer. Women need to focus on good health habits, listen to their bodies and tell their doctor if a change occurs,” he said. — ANI

High intake of calcium raises risk for prostate cancer

Washington: A new study has found that high intake of calcium causes prostate cancer among African-American men who are genetically good absorbers of the mineral. “High dietary intake of calcium has long been linked to prostate cancer but the explanation for this observation has been elusive,” said Gary G. Schwartz, associate professor of cancer biology, urology, and public health sciences at Wake Forest Baptist and co-author on the study. Schwartz and colleagues from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC) and the Cancer Prevention Institute of California studied 783 African-American men living in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas, 533 of whom were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Their study found that men who reported the highest intake of calcium were two times more likely to have localised and advanced prostate cancer than those who reported the lowest. — ANI