Dr. Ashish

Health benefits of dark chocolate

1. Slow the sign of aging

2. Lower blood pressure

3. Rich of vital vitamins & minerals

4. Increase blood flow to the brain and heart

5. Contain anti depressant agent

6. Improve your mood

7. Reduce stress

8. High in potassium, copper, magnesium iron

Vaginal yeast infection occurs when too many yeast cells grow in the vagina, causing inflammation. It can spread by sexual contact but is not considered as a sexually transmitted infection. A yeast infection results in soreness or itching in the vagina with a burning sensation while urinating.

Causes of yeast infections in the vagina:
The vagina contains a balanced mix of yeast and bacteria; but if the balance is disrupted, it can lead to yeast infection. The reasons for overgrowth of yeast infections are:

• If antibiotics are used more than usual, they can decrease the level of lactobacillus bacteria present in the vagina, changing the pH of vagina
• Having high estrogen levels during pregnancy by using high dose birth control pills and hormone therapy can lead to the overgrowth of yeasts.
• Having diabetes, especially when the blood sugar level is not checked and tends to be high
• Having a weak or impaired immune system
• Being overweight and having poor eating habits, including foods high in sugar level

Risk factors associated with the condition:
A number of factors can increase your risk of getting a vaginal yeast infection.

• Using antibiotics heightens your risk of developing vaginal yeast infection as it disrupts the balance between yeast and bacteria. Excessive intake of antibiotics can kill healthy bacteria, leading to overgrowth of yeast organisms.
• Having a weak immune system with conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes and HIV can lead to an overgrowth of yeast in the vagina. Corticosteroid medicines also weaken the immune system.
• Wearing pants that are tight-fitting, nonabsorbent and undergarments that trap warmth and moisture
• Having high estrogen levels due to an imbalance of hormone levels during pregnancy or menstrual cycle can also lead to vaginal yeast infection. If you wish to discuss any specific problem, you can consult a gynaecologist.

How to ensure a normal period when you're suffering from PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder affecting 12-18% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a condition where at least two of the following conditions occur:

1. Appearance of acne, excessive hair on your body

2. Irregular delayed periods

3. The presence of 10 to 12 small cysts in the ovaries.

You do not ovulate each month, and some women do not ovulate at all if they are suffering from PCOS. This is because although the ovaries of women, suffering from PCOS, usually have many follicles, they do not develop fully and so ovulation often does not occur. If you do not ovulate, you may not have periods.

So what can you do to have normal periods?

Although some women with PCOS have regular periods, high levels of androgen and also the hormone insulin, can disrupt the monthly cycle of ovulation and menstruation. If you have PCOS, your periods may be irregular or may stop altogether. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days with one ovulation, but anywhere between 21 and 35 days is considered normal, and for a woman suffering from PCOS, this cycle can take as much as 3 months to complete.

To ensure a normal period during PCOS, your doctor can prescribe hormonal contraception. The medication can also reduce menstrual cramps, acne, and excess hair growth. The estrogen and progesterone in hormonal contraception act to override the body's normal hormonal control of menstrual cycle and ovulation. Production of hormones such as testosterone is greatly reduced by the oral contraceptive pill. Some oral contraceptive pills not only aim to block the effects of testosterone but also increase insulin resistance.

By allowing the regular shedding of the uterus lining during menstruation, the pill can reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer while ensuring you get normal periods.

Note: it is important that you closely watch your weight. Lifestyle changes and weight reduction help a lot when you are suffering from PCOS.

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Related Tip: How Not to Miss Your Workout During Your PERIOD

STDs or STIs are usually transmitted from one person to another through body fluids while being in a physical relationship. Herpes, Chlamydia, HIV and gonorrhea are some of the common STDs you may be susceptible to. These diseases are extremely unpleasant and usually cause long term health issues. Sometimes they might even be fatal. Here are a few ways you could use to prevent yourself from getting affected with STDs:

1. Abstinence: The best and most certain way of preventing STDs is practicing abstinence. Although abstinence from any type of sexual activities including oral, vaginal or anal sex is a surefire method of prevention, it is not a very realistic method to do so. If you don't want to practice abstinence, make sure you educate yourself about other prevention methods.
2. Single partner: Practicing monogamy in terms of sex is the safest kind of sexual activity. Make sure both you and your partner get tested for any STD. If you and your partner are not suffering from any STD and you both agree to practice monogamy with each other, then you automatically cut down on the risk of suffering from STDs.
3. Talk: Talk to your sexual partner about his/her sexual health. Inform him/her about yours as well. Avoid having sex with someone who does not inform you with his or her sexual health information.
4. Avoid taking drugs or alcohol: Try not to get drunk or take drugs before having sex. They reduce inhibitions which actually tend to make you reckless. You tend to become more adventurous and do not keep the sexual hygiene in mind at that time. Using a condom in the influence of alcohol and drugs can also result in a condom failure. Be sober enough before you have sex.
5. Do not indulge with a person with symptoms: If someone shows symptoms of suffering from any kind of STD, do not indulge in any sexual activity with him or her. Refrain from having sex with him or her until he or she is treated by a doctor.
6. Take precaution: Use different forms of protection while having sex to prevent pregnancy as well as STDs. But you have to realize the fact that these forms of protection are not full proof and always have a slight percentage of risk embedded in them.

Be extremely careful before you indulge in any type of sexual activity with anyone. After all, your health is in your hands.

Health tip: Prepare the juice of 5 grms nimb-morr, 50 ml water, 1 pinch of salt and 1 pinch of black pepper powder. Take it daily morning empty stomach in chaitra month to prevent yourself from seasonal acidity, indigestion and viral infections like small pox.

When was the last time you got a full eight hours of sleep? If you’re like most population, you probably had to think about it. In a 2013 poll, nearly two thirds of pepole reported getting less than eight hours of sleep most nights. In fact, a lack of sleep has become so pervasive that it’s become a public health crisis.

But even though we always hear that we need to get the right amount of sleep, why is that important? Here’s what happens to your body when you don’t get enough sleep.

You May Fall Asleep and Not Know It

Even if you feel like you function well without enough sleep, your brain may think otherwise. It takes correct action through “microsleep” — split seconds where you unknowingly fall asleep and your brain simply stops processing things. Even if it’s just for a fraction of a second, there can be significant consequences whether you’re at home, at work, or driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes and 800 deaths in 2013 in U.S.A.

Your Response Time is Impaired

Even one night of less-than-perfect sleep can result in slowed response times — and if you’re chronically fatigued, it’s even worse. In one study, they found that with just one night of less-than-great sleep (about six hours), response time is already significantly slower than normal. In chronically sleep deprived individuals, response times on par with people with blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.10%. In addition to impaired driving, that can also mean problems at the office — a Harvard Medical School study found that 43 percent of workers with insomnia have admitted to making serious workplace error.

Your Quality of Life and Emotional Function Go Down

How do you feel after a poor night of sleep? Probably not great. So, it should come as no shock that, as the amount of sleep you get decreases, so does your enjoyment of your life. It makes sense — when you’re tired, you’re more likely to opt out of social activities. But on top of a lighter social calendar, a lack of sleep can contribute to anxiety and depression. You’re also less able to regulate your emotional responses. That means you may be more volatile, less able to deal with things that go wrong, and less likely to see things from a positive perspective. But there is good news — once you do catch up on your sleep, your mood will quickly return to normal.

Your Rhythm is — Literally — Off

When you get quality sleep, the neurotransmitters and hormones that regulate your circadian rhythm are operating normally, telling you to sleep at night and stay awake during the day. However, when your sleep cycle gets thrown off a bit, so do those hormones. After a few nights of unusual sleep patterns, your body may get turned around, telling you to sleep at the wrong time. It’s a vicious cycle — the more it happens, the more difficult it is to get back to normal patterns.

You’re Making Yourself Sick

The list of conditions sleep impacts is long — and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t take years for them to develop. Heart disease and diabetes are two of the most significant risks of poor sleep. One night of bad sleep can increase blood pressure for 24 hours, and regular hypertension can lead to coronary artery disease later down the road. The American Heart Association even recently added lack of sleep as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Inadequate sleep also makes your body unable to metabolize glucose as effectively, leading to weight gain, increased appetite, and potentially diabetes. 

The health impacts of poor sleep don’t stop there, though. If you aren’t sleeping well, you’re also putting yourself at risk for respiratory problems, cognitive impairments, decreased immune function, and more.

So What Can I Do About It?

There are small things you can do to counteract one bad night of sleep — coffee, exercise, getting out in the sunlight — but if you’re chronically sleep deprived, you need to start a conversation with your primary care provider (PCP). Sleep can sometimes be a challenging topic to discuss, so come prepared with notes about your sleep habits, including what you’re doing before bed, how long it takes you to fall asleep, how often you wake up at night, what time you wake up, and how your energy levels are. Data from apps or devices like Fitbits can also be useful in providing insights into your sleep habits. The more information you have for your PCP, the better — it helps them know the extent of your sleep problems so they can make the best possible treatment recommendations.