HEALTH

Awareness campaign on dengue, malaria
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 25
The district Health Department launched a five-day awareness campaign against dengue and malaria, here today. The people will be told about symptoms and precautions about the two diseases during this campaign.

According to an official press note, an awareness rally would be flagged off by the Civil Surgeon, Dr S.N.Tiwari, from his office tomorrow. “Several dengue cases are reported every year between September to November.

The fever can be avoided if certain precautions are taken. The people should not let the water accumulate in coolers, flower pots, washing machines and tyres because mosquitoes breed faster in stagnant water,” stressed Dr Tiwari.

The threat of the two diseases is more during monsoons. Dengue can be identified with the onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, restricted eye movement and pain in muscles and joints.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is the severe form of fever and can be life threatening also.

The high fever continues for five to six days and comes down on the third or the fourth day and rises again. This is often associated with frequent vomiting, black stools, severe and continues pain in the abdomen, bleeding from the nose, mouth or gum, excessive thirst and pale and cold skin.

The fever is caused by the bite of a small mosquito, Aedes Agypti, which becomes active during rains. The life-span of the mosquito is two to three weeks. It breeds in the temperature range between 16 and 14 degrees celsius and mostly bites in early mornings or late afternoons.

Stretch to bust tension
Dr Anil Dheer

TENSION headaches are common in all age groups. More than 92 per cent of headaches are caused by tension. Tension headaches are often caused by fight muscles in the neck, back and shoulders. Both emotional stress and physical stress, such as sitting in front of a computer for too long, can cause muscle tension. A previous neck injury can also cause tension headache.

A tension headache may cause pain all over the head, pressure or a feeling of having a band around the head. The head may feel like it is in a vise. Some people feel a dull, pressing, burning sensation above the eyes. The pain may also affect the jaw, neck and shoulder muscles.

Prevention and remedies:

Reduce physical stress. Change positions often during desk work and stretch for 30 seconds each hour. Make conscious effort to relax your jaw, neck and shoulder muscles.

Daily exercise helps relieve tension.

Evaluate your neck and shoulder posture at work and make adjustments.

Reduce emotional stress

Cut down on caffeine. People who drink a lot of caffeinated beverages often develop a headache several hours after they have their last beverage, or may wake with a headache that is relieved by drinking caffeine.

Take one teaspoon Ashwagandha powder with fresh water during tension.

Treat yourself to a massage. Some people find regular massages very helpful in relieving tension.

Massage the neck muscles with til oil. Rub gently and firmly towards the heart.

Apply heat with a heating pad, hot water bottle or a warm shower.

Drink more lime water during tension.

Lie down in a dark room with a cool cloth on your forehead.

Talk to your near and dears. Try to discover the source of the headache and deal with it. Tension headaches are sometimes attention headaches.

Stop whatever you are doing and sit quietly for a moment. Close your eyes and inhale and exhale slowly. Try to relax your head and neck muscles.

If you are a woman, note any association between headaches and your menstrual cycle or use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy.

If a headache is very severe and cannot be relieved with home treatment, consult your doctor.

Eve scores baskets, wins match
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 25
Five feet eleven inches tall Ms Gargi Singh nee Vashisht is a basketball player settled in Ludhiana after marriage. But the fact that the parents do not like their daughters to play basketball makes her unhappy as she loves the game . Gargi wants to coach the girls as she thinks basketball is a very fascinating game. But the city schools and parents both do not seem to be much interested in the game.

She says since all students cannot be brilliant and be in the top bracket , they should develop skill in some game so as to improve their chances in life. Ms Gargi represented Delhi and UP State in basketball while she was in college and school, respectively. On the basis of her performance she got admission to the prestigious Sri Ram College for Commerce in Delhi University.

Her friends who had scored 90 per cent marks were surprised to see an average student enter into the college where the cut off line was about 85 per cent. But due to her excellence in basketball, she gained admission to the college.

An alumini of Delhi Public School, Noida, she started playing basketball from class IV onwards. As she was exceptionally tall for her age, her brother and school coaches coaxed her to play basketball. Gargi says," When I started playing, I shot up more but my height proved to be very advantageous in basketball. I represented UP at district level and later at state level."

In college, she represented Delhi State in inter-state basketball matches. She was selected to attend a basketball camp for the Indian team held in Bangalore by the Sports Authority of India in 2000( SAI). She said at the camp, she felt she was a pygmy as girls as tall as 6ft 3 inches were in the team. She says,‘‘There is lot of politics involved in sports. The players who are sent to play in international tournaments are some how connected with politicians or big wigs. Thus the status of women’s basketball is very poor. They do not have any standing at the international level’’.

She came to play in Senior Basketball Championship held at Guru Nanak Stadium , Ludhiana, in 2000. Unknown to her at that time, her pretty face captured the hearts of a mother and son. They were fascinated with her when she appeared on television screen during the matches.

The mother and son went to meet her in Guru Nanak Stadium and spoke of their admiration for her. Her prospective husband Pablo proposed to her. Gargi said she was taken aback by the proposal. More so as she was from a Brahamin family and Pablo was from a Sikh family. But love conquers all hurdles and their courtship started and they got married this March and she had to take her graduation examination wearing a bridal chura.

Gargi says that if a player is good then he/she can promote himself/ herself in one’s own steam. Nonetheless sports should be steered clear of politics or else how does one account for India's dismal performance in different games and disciplines of sports at international level. ‘‘Transparency in the selection of players is a must if Indian sports want to make a mark.