Be careful of what you eat

We all love to munch on roadside chaats in the monsoon; however, these are often contaminated. Other commonly contaminated foods include uncooked vegetables, meat, seafood, unpeeled fruits and unpasteurised milk and dairy products. When you eat such things, food- and water-borne organisms are transmitted that can cause acute infections and diarrhoea [also called Traveller’s diarrhoea]. Watery diarrhoea is the predominant complaint; however, a small percentage of people may also have blood in their stools. Diarrhoea generally lasts for one to three days and is sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain.

Treatment is required for any symptoms that persist as well as for bloody diarrhoea and visible signs of dehydration. For severe diarrhoea [more than 4 stools per day] with or without traces of blood, a course of antibiotics is best.

Precautions to take

• Foods served steaming hot are best
• Avoid eating at unhygienic commercial establishments
• Drink bottled or boiled water
• Carry some oral rehydration solution when travelling with children and ask your physician to suggest an antibiotic, which can be included in your medical kit.

Give cholera the boot

Cholera is a severe form of infection that can lead to dehydration due to the diarrhoea. A person with cholera may sometimes also need to be hospitalised for treatment. The risk factors of acquiring cholera are similar to those of Traveller’s diarrhoea. High standards of personal hygiene practised by those handling food and those consuming it can help in reducing the spread of any diarrhoeal illnesses.

And then there is Hepatitis A

Another common infection transmitted by ingestion of contaminated food or water is Hepatitis A. Symptoms include malaise, loss of appetite and fever followed by jaundice. The disease is self limiting and only symptom-based treatment is given. The disease is also now preventable by giving a vaccine to children who are older than a year.

Look out for Leptospirosis

Flooding of the streets during monsoons is unavoidable. But be careful as you might get leptospirosis after being exposed to water contaminated by urine from infected rodents and other domestic animals. It is caused when mucous membranes or broken skin come into contact with contaminated water, moist soil or vegetation. Occasionally, infection also occurs through the ingestion/inhalation of food/droplet aerosols of fluids contaminated by urine. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and jaundice. Liver and kidney failure can also occur.

Precautions to take

• Wear high gum boots/rain-proof boots
• Avoid swimming in water that may be contaminated.

Chase those mosquitoes away

Accumulated rainwater, open jars of water or tyres left in dumps exposed to rain—all provide ideal sites for mosquito breeding. Various breeds of mosquitoes cause different life-threatening diseases. Malaria, caused by the female Anopheles mosquito, leads to fever and anaemia and can also give rise to severe organ disturbances, especially cerebral malaria. Dengue is caused by the Aedes egypti mosquito and symptoms include fever, headache, muscle, joint aches and skin rashes. There can be a drop in the platelet count, which can result in clinical bleeding.

Precautions to take

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when travelling
• Use mosquito repellent cream and mosquito nets

Wave pink eye goodbye

The rise and fall of temperature in quick succession, coupled with humidity, allergens and pollutants form a perfect environment for conjunctivitis. It spreads by direct or indirect touch or by swimming in contaminated water. Symptoms include reddish eyes, itching, discharge and matting of eye lashes. If not adequately treated, it can lead to corneal scarring, infectious keratitis and permanent reduction of vision. Treatments include washing the eyes frequently with cold water, antibiotic eye drops or ointment and tear substitutes.

Precautions to take

• Avoid sharing towels, handkerchiefs and pillows
• If you’ve been out, wash your hands after coming in
• Do not let your hands touch your eyes, they might be contaminated
• Contact lens users must be extra hygienic
• Consult an ophthalmologist if your eyes become red.

The post Protect yourself from these monsoon diseases appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Are my symptoms due to piles/haemorrhoids?

Piles can cause the following symptoms:

• Severe pain while passing stool
• Lump or a protrusion near the anus
• Rectal bleeding during or after passing stool. Blood is usually not mixed with stool.
• Redness and soreness around the anus, along with an urge to itch ever too frequently.
• Pain and discomfort in the anal region while sitting for long durations

If ignored for long, piles can lead to anal infection, faecal incontinence, development of fistulas and even anaemia, owing to the excessive bleeding. It might seem a little embarrassing for you to discuss this condition with your doctor, but piles are a very common condition, and hence there is no need for you to suffer in silence. The sooner you seek treatment for this condition, the higher are your chances of full recovery without surgery. If they are at the early stages, they usually go away in a few days after diet correction and treating the cause. Here are a few simple home tips and ayurveda remedies to treat piles.

The ayurvedic approach to treating piles

Generally piles may be either internal or external and this can be confirmed by your physician after a physical examination and also using an instrument called the proctoscope. Ayurveda indicates that there are five types of piles or the arsh roga.

1. Born out of vitiation of vata dosha [air body humor]
2. Born out of vitiation of pitta dosha [fire body humor]
3. Born out of vitiation of kapha dosha [phlegm body humor]
4. Born out of vitiation of any two doshas
5. Born out of vitiation of all the three doshas—vata, pitta and kapha.

Home remedies and ayurveda advice for managing piles

According to ayurveda, the use of certain herbs, along with a combination of diet and lifestyle modifications can provide relief from the problem.

• Soak 1 tsp each of fennel and cumin seeds in 1 litre lukewarm water for 2 hours, strain and consume this water 2 – 3 times a day.
• Aim to drink one glass water per hour and at least 8 glasses per day. This would reverse any dehydration or constipation you could be suffering from, thus making your bowel movement smooth and comfortable.
• Make a detox drink by adding 1 tsp chopped ginger, handful of mint leaves, lemon wedges and 1 tbsp honey to 500ml water. Sip on this during the day to help flush out toxins.
• Eat green leafy vegetables, ghee and buttermilk daily.
• Consume foods that are high on fibre such as apples, papaya, oranges, sweet lime and cucumber to relieve the problem of constipation and hard stool.
• Dried, soaked figs are also known to be effective stool softeners.
• Including some raw garlic in daily diet helps prevent the bleeding associated with piles.
• Carrots are also known to reduce rectal bleeding. You can have fresh carrot juice or well-cooked carrot.
• You need to include some mild laxative in your diet like Triphala [Herbs combination of harad, baheda and amla], Gulkand [sweet jelly made from the rose flowers] and fennel or saunf.
• Fresh juice of amla taken on an empty stomach proves useful.
• If blood oozes out of the swollen piles, have ½ tsp sesame seeds mixed with some butter.
• Warm fomentation of the affected area with a warm poultice using the Haridra [Turmeric] helps.
• Sesame seeds paste may be applied on the piles for relief.

Most people with this condition swear by Sitz bath to give them relief. In this you sit in a tub of warm water for about 15 – 20 minutes. Soaking the anal region in warm water helps to relax the area and this should especially be done after passing stool. Do this at least twice a day.

Simple home hacks

• Massaging your abdomen area using tea tree oil or rosemary oil may help relieve the pain.
• Avoid using soap containing harsh chemicals around the anal region. After stools, gently wash it with clean hands using lukewarm water.
• Make sure to avoid using alcohol based wet wipes around the anal region. It only worsens the problem. You may try using a soft, moist cloth if you wish to.
• Taking oral pain killers or applying a local anesthetic cream can help relieve the pain to some extent, but only temporarily.
• In case, prolapsed piles becomes a permanent feature, surgery may be needed.

What to avoid

For someone who is suffering from the distressing condition of piles, soft and bland foods are usually recommended. Avoid chillies, hot and spicy foods, processed foods and caffeinated drinks. Also avoid foods that are high on starch, such as potatoes, and bakery items.

The post Ayurveda and home remedies to relieve painful piles appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.