Swastha

  Pneumonia is basically the inflammation of the small air sacs of the lungs. It can be caused due to bacterial, viral or even fungal infection. This inflammation eventually leads to increased fluid accumulation in the lungs which results in breathing difficulty. Pneumonia after COVID recovery has become very common. COVID-19 and Pneumonia Due to the association of pneumonia to COVID, initially, Novel Coronavirus-infected Pneumonia (NCIP) was the name given to COVID-19. It was later renamed by WHO as COVID-19. What exactly happens in COVID associated pneumonia? Pneumonia as mentioned above will directly affect the small air sacs of the lungs. This will lead to improper functioning of the lungs. As we all know, the lung supplies oxygen to all parts of our body. And as the air sacs are affected, there will be oxygen insufficiency. When there is no oxygen, or when there is a reduced amount of oxygen, the tissues will get affected. These affected tissues will start breaking off and th...

 There are numerous veins in the body. Function of most of the veins is to carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart. Varicose vein is a term used to describe enlarged and tangled or twisted veins. It is other wise called as spider veins.  This is very common these days. Especially for people who stand for a long time. Initially it might not be symptomatic. On a later phase veins may appear in dark blue colour . And it is very painful for few people. It might also cause severe itching and skin discolouration.  When should you consult a doctor? When you have pain especially during long standing When you observe discolouration or when you observe tortuous vein anywhere in your body When you experience itching If you have a family history of varicose vein Ayurvedic Treatment for Varicose Veins There are various treatment options for varicose veins. But according to Ayurveda, blood letting is the most effective treatment option. Blood will be collected by the physician from...

 According to Ayurveda, the body humor is categorized into three - vata, pitta and kapha . This is together called as tridoshas (tri in sanskrit means three and dosha means that which is capable of causing a disease or in simple words fault) or dosha.  Health in Ayurveda is a balance between physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. And foundation for this is basically 5 elements namely - air, water, fire, space and earth (known as panchabhuatas). Combinations of these elements constitutes the tridoshas. 1. Vata: Vata is a combination of air and space. This category otherwise is termed as ether. Their body is generally considered to be cold and people who belong to this category are slim and considered very creative. Their health will be highly dependent on the weather. There are certain health issues that is specific to this group like digestive problems, sleep related issues (mostly insomnia), circulation related issues and will have severe mood swings. People in the vata ...

Corona has made us all prisoners at home. And in a very small period, there has been a boom of home cooks and chefs. Unwanted fat also seems to have become a part of our lifestyle. Why not try some detox drinks?  These can be made in your kitchen with easily available ingredients.   1. Lemon and Ginger detox drink     Lemon has many qualities. It keeps your breath fresh; it is good for your skin and is even said to boost immunity. Being a natural diuretic ; it drains off unwanted water weight. Lemon; not many know, helps with digestion. So when you consume lime before a meal, you are given a feel of a full tummy even with small amounts of food.     Ginger is a well-known detoxifier. Ginger; it is proved, removes unwanted chemicals from your body. It keeps one's metabolism in full strength and improves digestion. Ginger also helps suppress your appetite. Method of preparation Take a mixer grinder and add a small piece of lemon and a small piece of ginger. Gr...

                              Karkidakamasam Ramayana Masam or Karkidakam is one month in the Malayalam calendar that has rituals and practices attached. From the recital of the epic Ramayana to Pithrutarpanam( a ritual for the dead), the month has a special aura to itself. Why is Karkidakam the month dedicated to personal health and well being? Read on.                 Image courtesy: Prasath G  Seasons do contribute positively and adversely to human health. Accordingly, precautionary treatments and food habits are developed in all ancient health realms. The Malayalam month Karkidakam( from mid-July to mid August approximately), was the season of rain in Kerala. Torrential downpour used to leave the farming community devastated and people were out of job and income. To top up the misery, tagging along with rain came diseases. But, olden days were indeed ...

Best Natural Hair Care Routine for Smooth and Silky Hair There are many hair care products available in the market these days. These hair care products will definitely give results in a very short period of time. But in the long run, it will end up ruining the natural texture of the hair.  From the Ayurvedic perspective, hair is very much related to your general health. If you do not have a healthy lifestyle, it will definitely affect hair growth. So healthy hair is not only about applying oil or applying shampoo it is also about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. According to Ayurveda, healthy hair is attributed 80% to what you eat and 20% to how you take care of your hair.  There are many ingredients that are prescribed as an essential part of the hair care routine in the ayurvedic textbook. In this blog, we are going to discuss one such ingredient. Fenugreek Seeds (Methi or Medhika) Fenugreek belongs to the family  Fabaceae. They are a rich source of saponins and f...

 In this blog, I have tried to answer the most frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 vaccination.                                                              Image Courtesy:  Mufid Majnun                                               1.   What are the possible side effects after getting vaccinated?            One should understand that not everyone will have noticeable effects after vaccination. It depends upon the body type of the person and several other factors. Following are the most common effects after vaccination   Fever Skin rash Body Pain Weakness Though these are reported to be the most common effects, other effects like swelling, redness and i...

CRP Test is something that people have been wanting to know about in recent times. With Corona and its spread, it will prove useful to know in detail about the CRP Test.  Image courtesy:  Hush Naidoo 1. What do you mean by the CRP test? CRP Test is that test which tells you about inflammation. CRP test when expanded reads c-reactive protein test . The protein produced by the liver is sent to your bloodstream when there is any inflammation in your body.  2. How is the test performed? CRP test is similar to normal blood tests. A professional inserts a small needle into your vein. He collects the blood sample and it is then checked for CRP levels. The whole process takes utmost five minutes. 3. What is the normal CRP level? Less than 0.3 mg/dL: Normal  0.3 to 1.0 mg/dL: Normal or minor elevation  1.0 to 10.0 mg/dL: Moderate elevation  More than 10.0 mg/dL: Marked elevation  More than 50.0 mg/dL: Severe elevation  4. What if the CRP levels ...