It’s no coincidence that immediately two days after the International Menopause Day (October 18), World Osteoporosis Day (October 20) happens. The two share an intimate link. To begin with, women have lower bone mass than men and they lose bone density during pregnancy and breastfeeding years. Moreover, when they reach menopause (cessation of periods) women lose up to 10% of bone density during the first 5 years. How osteoporosis affects the bones The World Health Organisation (WHO) first technically defined osteoporosis in 1994. It’s an unseen and dangerous process that leaches calcium from our bones, decreasing bone mineral density. It causes back pain as it progresses and,

You don’t need a survey to tell this. A visit to your kid’s school should be more than enough. Children are becoming extra large these days! The experts blame the marketing muscle exercised by fast food chains and quick serve restaurants for this. There is also a greater likelihood for plump kids to grow in overweight teens and finally as obese adults. Hence, it becomes imperative to curb childhood obesity. But, let’s understand first, what’s making kids overweight. You are what you eat Like always, weight and food share relationship with each other. In the Indian scenario when the baby is young, mothers tend to force feed the child thinking that this wil nourish

Parents are constantly concerned about the health and safety of their children and take many steps to protect them. Disease prevention is the key to public health. It is always better to prevent a disease than to treat it. Vaccines work to protect infants, children, and adults from illnesses and death caused by infectious diseases. With the advent of a variety of effective childhood vaccinations, we now have a low rate of numerous fatal childhood diseases Facts • Ideally, one should follow immunization schedule, but in case baby is brought late for vaccination, she should still receive all vaccines. • Do not disturb vaccination schedule on a mild cold and cough. • Oral polio vaccine

Pneumonia is concerns for older adults and people with chronic illnesses or impaired immune systems, but it can also strike young healthy people. Worldwide, it’s a leading cause of death in children. Pneumonia can be difficult to spot. It often mimics a cold or the flu, beginning with a cough and a fever, so you may not realise you have a more serious condition. Chest pain is a common symptom of many types of pneumonia. Pneumonia symptoms can vary greatly, depending on any underlying conditions you may have and the type of organism causing the infection. Adults aging 50 or more and very young children, whose immune systems aren’t fully developed, are at an increased risk of

The flu season is back, almost anyone we know is falling ill with cold and cough. And if such ailments are related to your child’s health you would never take a chance. You rush to the doctor and naturally expect a prescription for antibiotics. Do you know antibiotics are only effective against infections caused by bacteria, and do not help against diseases caused by viruses. So taking antibiotics when your child has a virus may do more harm than good and in addition it may create a risk of adverse reaction, such as: • Infection • Stomach upset • Diarrhoea World of antibiotics Antibiotics are drugs that are used to treat infections, particularly those caused by bacteria. These

  Bunty had always been a restless kid. Even as a preschooler, he would poke his nose at the most unexpected places at home. He was forever screaming and bouncing on top of the furniture. No toy or activity ever held his interest for more than a few minutes. When his teacher’s comments about his inattention and disruptive behaviour in class became too frequent to ignore, his parents took him to the doctor, who recommended an evaluation for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with it, though it’s not yet understood why. Dr. Rajeev Chhabra, consultant—paediatrics and neonatology, Artemis Health

Almost all mothers encounter bedwetting—nocturnal enuresis. Most kids become fully toilet trained between ages 2 and 4 — but there’s no target date for developing complete bladder control. Girls get toilet trained faster than boys. Causes • Kids, who wet the bed are not able to feel that their bladders are full and don’t wake up to use the toilet. • During childhood, some kids don’t produce enough anti-diuretic hormone, or ADH, to slow nighttime urine production. • A urinary tract infection can make it difficult for child to control urination. • Sometimes bed-wetting is a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which the child’s breathing is

Are you one of those parents who are apprehensive of your child’s sleeping pattern? Then, this is the wakeup call for you. Just like adults, children need to sleep well to replenish their energy reserve and get ready for another day. Study says that sleep deprivation in children has been linked to lowered immunity, diabetes, depression, obesity, hindered physical development, stress and anxiety. When children don’t get enough sleep, it can have a negative effect on their overall health. Why sleepless? What causes turmoil in bed for young children? In young children, however, failure to establish a regular routine is frequently to blame. Physical factors such as bedwetting, general

Anaemia is not a disease but rather a symptom. Anaemia saps energy in children. Dr. J.L. Seth, paediatrician,  says, “Anaemia is haemoglobin levels less than 11 gm per decileter (100 millileters). It is common in children, more so in the children belonging to lower economic backgrounds. Even children coming from higher income strata are not immune and may get anaemic at some point in their lives.” What causes anaemia? There are many possible causes of anemia in children. Infection. Children may be temporarily anaemic if they become ill with a virus or chronic inflammation. The virus slows the body’s ability to produce haemoglobin. Dr. Seth informs, “ Hook worms are a common

As mothers we fret and fume to make our kids down milk every morning and evening. Errant kids will cajole, plead, argue and throw tantrums to escape milk making us think– blessed is the mother who have kids that drink milk minus tantrums! After all bones provide the framework for your child’s growing body. Milk is rich in calcium and thus crucial for bone health of your kids. Exasperated mothers can heave a sigh of relief from the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study says that higher intakes of fruits and vegetables throughout the teen years improve bone density in adulthood. This does not mean negating the importance of dairy but other factors