Planning a safe pregnancy: Expert tips to prevent birth defects in India

Preventing birth defects begins even before conception and continues throughout pregnancy. In India, awareness about prenatal care, proper nutrition, timely vaccinations and regular medical check-ups plays a crucial role in ensuring a healthy baby.

Birth defects are seen in many children and impact their quality of life. However, understand that simple care before and during pregnancy can greatly reduce the risk of birth defects and support a healthy baby. Here, the expert gives some vital tips for expectant parents. It is imperative for parents to follow the guidelines given by the doctor to ensure a healthy conception.

According to Dr Ronak Khandelwal, Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospitals, Greater Noida, birth defects are health problems that develop in a baby during pregnancy. Many birth defects develop in the first 4-6 weeks often before a women knows she is pregnant. Preconception health check-ups help identify nutritional deficiencies , chronic illness, infections or genetic risks early reducing the risk of birth defects even before conception. They can affect the baby’s body, brain, or organs and may be present at birth. 

In India, lack of awareness, late prenatal care, poor nutrition, and unmanaged medical conditions can raise the chances of birth defects in children. Common birth defects seen in children are heart defects, neural tube defects (such as spina bifida), cleft lip or palate, Down syndrome, and limb abnormalities. These conditions develop during pregnancy and may affect a child’s growth, appearance, or organ function. 

Fortunately, many birth defects can be prevented with timely planning, healthy habits, and regular medical care. Couples with a family history of genetic disorders, repeated miscarriages, consanguineous marriage, or advanced maternal age should consider genetic counselling and screening to reduce the risk of inherited birth defects.

Tips to prevent birth defects

• Take folic acid as early as possible: It is a known fact that folic acid is important for the healthy development of the baby’s brain and spine. Women planning pregnancy should start folic acid supplements at least one month before conception and continue during early pregnancy. 
• Go for regular antenatal check-ups: Early and regular pregnancy check-ups help doctors monitor the baby’s growth and detect problems early. Tests like ultrasound scans and blood tests can help detect any issues so that timely treatment can be initiated. 
• Manage comorbidities: Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, and epilepsy should be tackled during pregnancy. Poorly managed health issues can also raise the chances of birth defects.
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• Quit alcohol, tobacco, and drugs: Are you aware? Alcohol, smoking, tobacco chewing, and substance use can negatively impact the baby’s health. It is essential to avoid secondhand smoke as well.
• Adhere to a nutritious diet: So, opting for a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, iron, calcium, and vitamins supports the baby’s growth. Avoid raw or undercooked foods, too. Take the help of an expert when it comes to the diet and follow the recommendations right away!
• Get vaccinated: Vaccinations against infections like rubella and hepatitis B help prevent infections that can cause birth defects. It is necessary to consult a doctor about safe vaccines during pregnancy. So, schedule an appointment with the doctor on an immediate basis.
• Avoid exposure to harmful chemicals: Limit exposure to pesticides, strong cleaning agents, and harmful fumes as they can also put the child at risk of birth defects. 

Also, avoid self-medication during pregnancy. Certain painkillers, acne medicines, herbal products, and antibiotics can harm the developing baby. Always consult a doctor before taking any medication.

Prevent infections such as toxoplasmosis, urinary tract infections, and viral fevers by maintaining good hygiene, washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly, and avoiding contact with contaminated food or water.

It’s time for parents to go for timely check-ups with the expert before and during pregnancy and adhere to the vital tips to prevent birth defects in children.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Apparently garlic can be a great solution to pimples

 Who’d ever thought that garlic could be a solution to pimples?

If you get pimples on a regular basis, you know how annoying it can be. Especially because they usually appear right when you have something important coming up, like a job interview or a date. You can get busy will all kinds of creams that promise to dehydrate the pimple or you could even try popping it. The result? Red skin with perhaps even a tiny wound. Luckily, we’ve got the solution. Next time you want to reduce your pimples, grab some garlic!

Are you going to give this a try?

Garlic

Nearly everyone will have a bulb of garlic lying in the pantry. A clove of garlic adds instant flavour to any pasta sauce, but it’s also a great addition to soups or Asian dishes. Besides being delicious, garlic is also very healthy. This bulbous plant is very good for your immune system and it has an anti-inflammatory function as well. Because of this anti-inflammatory function, raw garlic also helps against high cholesterol levels: it prevents clogging of the arteries. So, try making tzatziki or aioli with raw garlic a little more often, or add a bit of it to a salad dressing to enjoy this health benefit.

Skin

So, there are plenty of health benefits to eating garlic, but there are even more benefits besides those. Garlic is especially beneficial to the skin. Back in the 18th century, soldiers rubbed garlic on their wounds to prevent infections. We don’t recommend doing this now we have modern medicine to do a better job, but it does prove that garlic can prevent or even heal infections and inflammations. This is exactly the kind of thing we need when it comes to pimples because a pimple is nothing more than a small inflammation of the skin.

Pimple

Do you have a pimple and are you now walking around with one of those ugly white things on your face? No need to panic; just grab a clove of garlic! First, you need to clean your face. Then, cut off the top of the clove of garlic and use your knife to slice a few notches so the clove can release more of its juice. Rub this side of the clove onto the pimple. Leave the juice on the pimple so it can dry overnight. Because of the anti-inflammatory properties, the pimple will disappear. This also works for pimples that sit beneath the surface of your skin. You’ll notice that after a night’s rest the pimple will be a lot flatter and less red. Small pimples will disappear completely!

Psoriasis

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, garlic is also said to work against psoriasis. You can use the garlic just like we described above, or you can mix it with oil or cream. This can considerably reduce the itchiness and irritation.

Test

Some people are allergic to garlic, so it’s important to test out how your skin will react to it. First test this method in an inconspicuous spot, like your wrist or your elbow. If you’re allergic to garlic, or your skin reacts badly to it, you might do more damage than good if you apply it directly to a pimple.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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12 Myths About Coronavirus, According to the World Health Organization

As the novel coronavirus—now known as COVID-19—continues to spread across the globe, so does misinformation surrounding it. While it’s true that there is still a lot to be learned about the incredibly infectious and sometimes deadly disease that originated in Wuhan, China, there are many things we do know about it in terms of how it can and can’t be spread and prevented.

Still, that hasn't stopped myths regarding the coronavirus from circulating. Luckily, the World Health Organization (WHO) decided to debunk all of those falsehoods with some pretty helpful graphics. (Knowledge is power, especially when we may be on the brink of a pandemic.) Here's what you need to know about the myths surrounding COVID-19—and what the experts have to say about them.

Myth #1: Hand dryers can kill the new coronavirus
Nope. According to the WHO, hand dryers are not effective in killing the new coronavirus. Instead, the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to wash your hands frequently (or clean them with an alcohol-based hand rub), then dry them thoroughly with paper towels or a warm air dryer.

Myth #2: An ultraviolet disinfection lamp can kill the new coronavirus
So, it's true that some hospitals use UV light to kill microbes on surfaces—like in operating rooms or labs—but, per the WHO, UV lamps should never be used to sterilize hands or skin, as they can cause skin irritation. 

Myth #3: Thermal scanners are effective in detecting people infected with the new coronavirus
This one's twofold: While thermal scanners can detect fevers (aka, a higher than normal body temperatures) in those infected with the coronavirus, they cannot detect the infection in those who are not yet showing symptoms. "This is because it takes between 2 and 10 days before people who are infected become sick and develop a fever," the WHO explains.

Also important to note: The flu also causes similar symptoms to COVID-19, including a fever—so just because someone has a fever doesn't necessarily mean they've been infected with the new coronavirus.

Myth #4: Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body can kill the new coronavirus

While spraying alcohol and chlorine is a great method to disinfect surfaces—and even using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help keep your hands clean—using the chemicals all over your body isn't going to kill the virus if you've already been infected. “Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth),” the WHO points out. 

Myth #5: It isn’t safe to receive a letter or a package from China
This simply isn’t true, according to the WHO. “People receiving packages from China are not at risk of contracting the new coronavirus,” they explain. “From previous analysis, we know coronaviruses do not survive long on objects, such as letters or packages.”

This type of thinking is also harmful since it only helps perpetuate the stigmatization of specific populations linked to the coronavirus. This stigma—which can force people to hide their illnesses, prevent people from getting health care immediately, and discourage people from following healthy behaviors—can lead to more severe health problems and ongoing transmission, per the WHO.

Myth #6: Pets can spread the new coronavirus

While pets can spread certain forms of coronavirus, the WHO confirms that presently, there is no evidence that your domesticated animals can be infected with or spread the new coronavirus.

"However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets," according to the WHO. “This protects you against various common bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella that can pass between pets and humans.”


Myth #7: Pneumonia vaccines can protect you against the new coronavirus
Currently there is no vaccine to protect you against coronavirus—including pneumonia vaccines, such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib) vaccine. “The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine,” the WHO explains. That said, researchers are trying to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus ASAP—it just may not be ready in time to battle the current outbreak.

Still, despite the pneumonia vaccines and other flu vaccines not being effective against COVID-19, the WHO still suggests getting vaccinated against respiratory illnesses to protect yourself from those specific illnesses.

Myth #8: Regularly rinsing your nose with saline can help prevent infection with the new coronavirus
While regularly rinsing your nose with saline may help you recover more quickly from the common cold, it hasn't been shown to help prevent respiratory infections in general, including coronavirus.

Keep in mind too, when you do rinse your nose with saline to help cold symptoms, make sure the product is sterile. And if you opt for a neti pot, make sure that water has also been sterilized—either distilled water or water that's been boiled and then cooled back down—instead of tap water, which can increase your risk of infection.

Myth #9: Eating garlic can help prevent infection with the new coronavirus
If you've ever eaten a piece of raw garlic, you know that stuff is pungent—but it won't protect you against illness. Despite having some antimicrobial properties, according to the WHO, “there is no evidence” from the current outbreak that the potent herb will protect you from coronavirus.


Myth #10: Slathering yourself in sesame oil can block the new coronavirus from entering the body

We're not entirely sure where this myth come from, but rubbing sesame oil all over your body definitely won't keep the coronavirus away.

Per the WHO, “there are some chemical disinfectants that can kill the 2019-nCoV on surfaces," including bleach and chlorine-based disinfectants, ether solvents, 75% ethanol, peracetic acid, and chloroform.”However, they have little or no impact on the virus if you put them on the skin or under your nose.” In fact, it can even be downright dangerous to put those chemicals on your skin. 

Myth #11:The new coronavirus only affects older people

Unfortunately, people of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus. However, "older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus,” the WHO points out. 

Myth #12: Antibiotics are effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus
Keep in mind that antibiotics do not work against viruses of any kind—only bacteria. So, because the new coronavirus is an actual virus, “antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.”

In fact, there are no specific medications recommended to treat or prevent the new coronavirus at all, per the WHO. "However, those infected with the virus should receive appropriate care to relieve and treat symptoms, and those with severe illness should receive optimized supportive care,” the WHO explains, adding that some specific treatments are also under investigation, and will be tested through clinical trials.

The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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source-health.com