In India, crimes against women have been on the rise; they might have always happened at the same rate but today's media have become more attentive towards these crimes by bringing them to the forefront. Recently, the devastating news of an Assamese higher secondary student being raped and killed has surfaced. Her floating decomposed body was not discovered until 4th of May when the incident itself occurred on 28th of April. If a rape victim dies, it is the most unfortunate consequence that the parents and the loved ones have to live with but there are numerous victims who survive and they can lead a normal life with guidance and care. Any occurrence of sexual assault not only leaves scars on the outside but also have deeper psychological and emotional effects. The emotional scars can manifest in the form of post-traumatic disorder, depression and suicidal tendencies. If you know anyone who has undergone such an experience, then read on to find out how you can help her get back to her life.

Medical Examination: Physical effects of rape can be adverse on the victim. Forced sexual assault causes bruising, wounds and vaginal bleeding and immediate medical attention is required to ensure safety. Subsequent medical tests should also be carried out to check for Urinary Tract infection, Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and uterine fibroids.

Therapy: Wounds of the flesh heal, but it takes a lot of time to recover from emotional damage and in some cases the survivors bear the burden of psychological scars all through their lives. They may see the incident as an assault to their souls and develop depression, post-traumatic disorder, borderline personality disorder, sleeping and eating disorder. The loved ones have to be understanding and be patient with them. One-on-one therapy or group therapy sessions can be very helpful. Talking about their emotions and resolving issues of anger, regret, pain, fear, guilt in a friendly, supported and understanding environment can help them reconstruct their self-image.

Counseling: Guilt and shame are two most common stigmas that most survivors have to deal with. They somehow blame themselves for the incident and regret any step they think that might have led to the incident. They become so consumed by the incident that they think the experience defines them, instead of their persona which is called dissociative identity disorder. In such cases counseling sessions can prove to be very beneficial. They need guidance to understand the situation and separate themselves from the incident. The survivors may feel weak and victimized, overpowered and violated; they may also think that they have lost control of their bodies. Counseling can assist to resolve such issues and help them empower themselves with time.
It is important to make the survivors realize that it is not the end of their lives. With a positive attitude, proper rehabilitation and counseling rape survivors can lead a normal, happy life.

Overcoming Sexual Harassment: You Are Stronger Than You Think

5 signs your body is lacking in water

Water is indispensable for the human body as 90% of the brain and almost 60 per cent of an adult body is chiefly made up of water. Water is just as important as any of your meals. Each cell and organ depends on water for its proper functioning and for flushing out toxins and fats from the body. An average man must consume roughly 3 litres (10-12 glasses) of water per day; and a woman requires about 2.5 litres (8-10 glasses). If you're not meeting this requirement, you might be fall prey to dehydration.

The state of water deficiency or dehydration can be determined through various symptoms. Read on to know the 5 most common signs:

1. The colour of your urine is dark

The colour of your urine indicates your health. The lesser the water you drink, the darker is the colour of your pee. If your urine is pale yellow, you drink a sufficient amount of water. If it's dark yellow and concentrated, it's a sign for you to refill on water. Also, if you haven't urinated for more than two hours, you should immediately gulp 2 glasses of water.

2. You experience frequent headaches

Headaches are often caused by dehydration when the pressure from your blood vessels falls. Dehydration makes it tough for your heart to pump enough oxygen to the brain. Drinking sufficient amounts of water ensures the flow of oxygen in your body.

3. You feel dizzy and fatigued

Lack of water can often lead to laziness and restlessness. It may also cause a rapid change in your blood pressure. Low or high blood pressures are stimulants of fatigue. Water gives you instant energy that wakes up your whole system, thus making you feel revitalised.

4. You have constipated bowel movements

Water is one of the top natural remedies for constipation or troubled bowel movements. If your fluid intake is low, you're likely to have stomach, gastric and bowel problems. The digestive system depends on water to help food move through both the intestines. It checks the functions of the digestive tract, while also keeping it flexible and clean.

5. You experience brain fogs and blackouts

Your brain cells and nerves react severely to water loss. You may start feeling a lack of concentration along with temporary memory loss. Blackouts and fogs are common when you have a deficit of water. You might even experience difficulty in carrying out cognitive tasks.

If you're experiencing similar issues, you must enhance your daily water intake. You can try carrying a sipper around, which allows you to keep a tab on your water consumption. To relish water as a refreshing beverage, you can infuse freshly chopped fruits and herbs in a pitcher of chilled water. This flavoured water also cleanses your body of all toxins and chemicals, thus keeping you fresh.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on consult.

5 Signs Your Body is Lacking in Water

Urinary Incontinence is the sudden urine loss that occurs involuntarily in women. Some of the factors which cause urinary incontinence are pregnancy, menopause and childbirth. It should be noted that urinary incontinence by itself is not a disease, but is a symptom of other underlying disorders such as diabetes, infections and other conditions.

Causes of temporary cases of urinary incontinence include:
1. Constipation
2. Urinary tract infections
3. Excess consumption of alcohol and caffeine
4. Consuming carbonated drinks
5. Use of artificial sweeteners
6. High doses of vitamin B and vitamin C
7. Being on sedatives, muscle relaxants, blood pressure and heart medications
8. Eatables which are too spicy, acidic or sugary

However, persistence of incontinence might be due to a more serious condition. Some of the causes are stated below:

Age: The bladder muscles tend to weaken with age. This affects the bladder s urine holding capacity.
Pregnancy: Hormonal changes and increase in weight during pregnancy can cause incontinence.
Menopause: Oestrogen is responsible for the healthy maintenance of the lining of the urethra and bladder. The onset of menopause causes the oestrogen hormone levels to drop. The gradual damage of the bladder tissues causes incontinence.
Childbirth: The bladder control muscles are weakened during normal vaginal delivery, thus leading to incontinence.
Obstruction: Occurrence of tumours in the urinary tract can block the normal flow of urine which can cause incontinence.
Hysterectomy: The same ligaments and muscles support both the bladder as well as the urethra. With removal of the uterus by hysterectomy, the pelvic floor muscles are deteriorated. This leads to urinary incontinence.
Neurological disorders: Conditions such as multiple sclerosis (autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the protective sheath of the nerves), Parkinson s disease (disorder affecting motor functioning of the body), brain tumours, spinal injury or strokes are capable of causing incontinence.

Different forms of urinary incontinence are classified on the basis of their symptoms:

Urge incontinence: Urge or urgency incontinence occurs when there is a leak before the person reaches the toilet.
Stress incontinence: Small amounts of urine leak out during normal physical movements such as sneezing, coughing and exercising. This happens because of the minimum stress exerted on the body, and hence, the name.
Functional incontinence: Sudden leakage of urine occurs due to external deterrents or physical disabilities such as not being able to find a toilet.
Overactive Bladder: This is characterized by frequent and urgent urination.
Overflow incontinence: A full bladder, at times, leads to unexpected leakage.
Transient incontinence: If urine leakage occurs due to temporary situations such as infections, or new medications.

Did You Know - Constipation Can Also be a Sign of Urinary Incontinence

Dandruff is one of those uncalled for hair conditions we all have trouble dealing with. It not just takes our self confidence down but also acts as a trigger to a number of scalp problems that we might face in the future. But, it is not as if one has to go through an expensive salon treatment to get rid of the unwanted dandruff. Basic hygiene and a few good rules could be effective in treating the irritable condition of dandruff. Here are a few:

Coconut oil: This oil is supposed to have anti fungal properties and also keeps the scalp from getting itchy. For best results, mix coconut oil with lemon and rub it in the scalp gently. Leave for some time and then again wash the hair. This should be done at least three times in a week to get rid of dandruff.
Vinegar: It is one of the other ingredients that are a proven anti-dandruff. Application of fungus helps to kill the fungi and bacteria associated to dandruff. Vinegar is rich in acidic content and thus reduces flaking a great deal. White vinegar and water should be mixed in equal proportions and applied to hair thoroughly. Leave it for some time and wash the hair thoroughly. Follow this for three times a week for best results.
Neem: Ancient herbs hold relevance till today. The medicinal and cooling properties of Neem are a great remedy for treating dandruff. Nature is the best way to go and Neem has been a tested element for all skin ailments and same applies to the fungi that accumulate as the result of flakes. Boil Neem leaves in water and use the broth to wash hair.
Garlic: A lot of people seem to avoid garlic on their hair because of the pungent smell associated to it. However, the medicinal properties of garlic are too many to be overlooked. The benefits of raw and crushed garlic are too many to be listed and have been tested since a long time. For best results, pound garlic cloves with water and wash your hair with the liquid. And for the smell, you could add honey and ginger to the mixture.
Yogurt: Perhaps the most common method used for treating dandruff since a long time. Yogurt continues to win our trust every time. This is simple as it could get. Apply yogurt to the scalp and leave it for some time. Then wash the yogurt after around an hour and use a mild shampoo to wash off the hair. Repeat the procedure for at least two days a week.

Top 5 Home Remedies To Treat The Irritable Condition Of Dandruff

Hematuria is the medical name of what is commonly known as bloody urine. It s an unpleasant and particularly painful feeling where the discharge of urine from your system is either cola coloured with blood clots or just a light shade of pink. It varies in visibility, that is, it can either appear to the naked eye or it may only appear under a microscope when a sample is examined. If it isn t easily visible then it can only be detected as a part of your regular check-up as the symptoms are more often than not invisible. Which is why it is very important to get a full body check-up done as often as possible.

Hematuria is an indicator of other serious conditions that could be underlying and not easily apparent. You should not sit on it and definitely visit your doctor if you notice something similar or if you feel any sort of discomfort while urinating. The number of reasons that can cause bloody urine are:

UTI: Urinary tract infection is one of the reigning causes of most renal and gynaecological problems. It is when your urethra and bladder are affected and it causes a perineal urge to urinate which is also a painful experience. Along with this your urine might carry a strong stench. Bloody urine, in this case, is not visible to the naked eye so you have to go in for a check-up as soon as the other symptoms arise.
Stones: Stones in your bladder or kidneys are caused due to the accumulation of minerals from highly concentrated urine. These harden over time and become stone-like. Kidney stones are extremely painful and can cause bleeding both microscopic and visible.
Exercise: Exercise should be practised in moderation. If you are not used to regular exercise then the first time you start, take it slow and gradually build up from that point onwards. Even then, if after a workout you see blood in your urine, then visit your doctor immediately. It is rare for exercise to cause bleeding but it can be the trigger to other problems that might be the actual culprits behind the bleeding. If you have any injuries in your kidney from working out or from contact sports then you are likely to see blood in your urine.
Prostrate: This is a problem aging males are likely to face no matter how active and healthy a lifestyle they lead. The prostate gland can sometimes get enlarged and cause obstruction in the flow of urine by pushing the urethra into a compressed corner, as the prostrate takes up more space than is allotted to it. The signs include microscopic bleeding but also a painful need to urinate perpetually. There may also be a visible bloody discharge of urine.
Thus, hematuria can be sneaky or it can come with ringing bells. Either way, it is best to not avoid going to the doctor and most importantly get regular check-ups done for your own health and safety.

4 Underlying Causes Of Hematuria!

Dermatology is a very vast subject and many times it crosses the medical field to the cosmetology sector, where beautiful skin maintenance is concerned. The case of mole removal, for example, is handled by dermatologists. However, while examining the moles they first confirm that they do not, in any way, pose the risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. In fact, it has been reported that a dermatologist in Christchurch, New Zealand is offering free checkups during weekends for melanoma. Her plight is that she lost her brother to melanoma and many people make the mistake of ignoring moles on their skin and pay the heavy price.

A Professional Way Better than Trying at Home
For exactly the reason mentioned above, if you find moles on your skin, you should have the area examined by a dermatologist. The doctor would have the right instruments to identify and check whether they are only moles and then advise the appropriate removal. If the advice from the doctor itself indicates a simple procedure at home, then you can do this. There are over the counter products, such as peels available which can be used and then the moles can be removed. For other cases, you will need to subject yourself to a proper mole removal procedure.

Simple Methods For Surgeries
Chemical peels and burning away the extra growth using Cantharidin are some of the options available to dermatologists to remove moles from your skin. They may either have their own proprietary peels made or use the ones available in the market. Either way, the dermatologist will know how to prepare the skin before applying the remedy and also after treatment care. Skin is a very sensitive part of the body and no risk can be taken. If the mole removal has to be carried out only through a surgical procedure, the dermatologist will make that decision and do it as soon as you are ready.

Again, within the surgical method of removing moles, the doctor may use very simple procedures such as a scalpel to cut and remove the mole as well as a small amount of skin and dress it up. In the next level, the doctor may have to make a proper incision and then stitch up the area around the cut portion. Care will be taken regarding the scar on the skin.

Take Care of Your Skin
Depending on which part of the world you live in, there are steps you must take to protect your skin from getting damaged. In particular, the areas, like the face, neck, shoulders and hands which are exposed to the sun or cold winds or other vagaries that pose risks to the surface of the skin. The moment you observe signs of any abnormality in the skin, consult a good dermatologist to get healthy skin.

Mole Removal - What To Know?

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