According to WHO, the tobacco industry spends billions around the year in advertising, promotion and sponsorship. In countries like ours where direct advertising is banned, the tobacco industry usually adopts a technique called ‘surrogate advertising’ in which they promote other products to drill the brand name into the consumer. The long-term goal is a total ban on direct and indirect advertising, promotion and sponsorship, as provided in guidelines to Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, can substantially reduce tobacco consumption and protect people, particularly the youth, from industry marketing tactics. To be effective, bans must be complete and apply to all marketing categories.

Currently, it’s believed tobacco kills nearly six million people every year and of them six lakh die due to exposure to passive smoking. While the Section 5 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act prescribes a complete ban on all forms of tobacco promotions, advertisements and sponsorships, companies get around this loophole by using surrogate advertising which employs similar imagery logos for tobacco and non-tobacco products.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, a cancer surgeon at Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital who recently won the prestigious Wilkenfeld Award in the US for his innovative leadership in the fight to reduce tobacco use in India feels that industry manipulates people by forcing them to use their products.  He said, ‘The industry uses strategic tactics to dilute the tobacco control policy. They lobby with the government and see to it that the policies are delayed and weakened before implementation. They promote their products either through indirect advertisements or diversify their products. They showcase as a doing good for the well-being of the society by investing in corporate social responsibility or giving bravery awards.’

‘Second-hand smoke is in fact more dangerous that inhaled smoke and 40 per cent of children worldwide are exposed to it. Moreover, exposure to this smoke at early childhood is particularly dangerous, as the child’s brain is still developing,’ said researcher Linda Pagani.

‘I looked at data that was collected about 2,055 kids from their birth until ten years of age, including parent reports about secondhand smoke exposure and from teachers and children themselves about classroom behaviour. ‘Those having been exposed to secondhand smoke, even temporarily, were much more likely to report themselves as being more aggressive by the time they finished fourth grade,’ Pagani said.

Pagani relied on longitudinal data collected by Quebec health authorities from birth onward on an annual basis. Although no direct causal link can be determined, the statistical correlation suggests that secondhand smoke exposure does forecast deviant behaviour in later childhood, the study found. The very detailed information collated for the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development enabled Pagani to do something no other researcher has done to date: distinguish the unique contribution of secondhand smoke exposure on children’s later deviant behaviour.

‘Previous studies looking at groups of children have generally asked mothers whether they smoked or not, and how much at each follow-up, rather than asking whether someone smoked in the home where young children live and play,’ Pagani said. ‘Furthermore, few studies have looked at antisocial behaviour in the parents and even fewer have investigated the subsequent influence of prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke over the long term.

‘None have taken into account the fact that disadvantaged families are less likely to participate in a long study like this one, which of course skews the statistics,’ Pagani said. The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

According to WHO, passive smoking causes 600,000 deaths every year. Here are 10 facts you should know about about passive smoking. 

Unofficial medical fraternity estimates say that 60 per cent of patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension have been hit by kidney ailment. While India is said to reap the demographic dividend, doctors lament the rising incidence of kidney disease hitting Y-gen in the country. Dr. P.N Gupta, consultant, nephrology at Paras Hospital, Gurgaon, warns, ‘young people are more prone to kidney diseases because of an unhealthy diet, smoking, drinking and unnecessarily popping pills.’

India is estimated to add about 1.5 lakh new knidney patients every year. Dr. Q Hasnain, consultant, nephrology, at Moolchand Renalcare & Dialysis, Delhi, says, ‘for the diabetes capital of the world, it is alarming that sixty percent of the patients suffering from chronic kidney diseases are either diabetic or suffer from high blood pressure. One of the most serious consequences of diabetes mellitus (DM) is renal or kidney disease, also known as diabetic nephropathy. If diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause kidney damage and finally  nephropathy.’

The early onset of kidney disorders is taking its toll on the mental well being of youth in India. Reiterating the view, Dr. Ripan Sippy, clinical psychologist, Delhi, says, ‘most  young people suffering from diabetes and other lifestyle disorders deal with weight issues which makes them feel insecure among their peer groups. When you are overweight, it affects the confidence level which ultimately gives rise to many psychological disorders.’ According to National Kidney Foundation of India, kidney diseases rank third amongst life-threatening diseases (after cancer & cardiac ailments) in India.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means that the kidneys have been damaged to such an extent that they tend to start malfunctioning. They can get damaged either from a physical injury or a diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure. Once the kidneys are damaged, they cannot filter the blood nor do other jobs expected of them. Over five lakh patients in India require kidney transplants according to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). However, doctors say in reality only 300-400 transplants are done annually.

Kidney treatment involves huge costs and there is need to lower them. Dr. Gupta at Paras Hospital says, ‘kidney transplant is a costly affair. India has very limited dialysis centres. In a private set–up, the cost of a kidney transplant ranges between five–six lakhs. A dialysis patient spends approximately Rupees 30, 000 per month. It’s high time that the government open more dialysis centres for people who can’t afford it.’

Suggesting measures which should be adopted to overcome kidney ailments, Dr. Hasnain at Moolchand says, ‘control your blood sugar by following a good diet for diabetes. Get regular exercise and increase your  fluid intake, especially water.’

Government of India launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 in 100 districts of 21 states with a focus on awareness generation for behavior and lifestyle changes, early diagnosis of persons with high levels of risk factors and their referral to higher facilities for appropriate management.

Under this programme, opportunistic screening for diabetes and hypertension has been taken up for people who are above 30 years of age. As on March 14, 2013, nearly 1.70 crore persons have been screened for Diabetes and Hypertension out of which 12.22 lakh (7.18 percent) and 11.13 lakh (6.57 percent) persons have been found to be prone to Diabetes and Hypertension respectively.

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 Moreno and her colleagues randomly selected incoming college students from two universities, one in the Northwest and one in the Midwest to participate in the longitudinal study. Students were interviewed prior to entering college and again at the end of their freshman year regarding their attitudes, intentions and experiences with substances, reports Science Daily.

 Specifically, students were asked if they had used tobacco or marijuana ever in their lives and in the past 28 days. Researchers also assessed the quantity and frequency of marijuana and tobacco use in the past 28 days.

Source: IANS

Despite the development of multitudes of hair products and treatments, why are so many men balding in their 20s? Excessive hair fall is a major indicator of alopecia.

Is premature balding a hereditary problem?

Although heredity is one of the major factors that causes balding, these genes do not kick in so early in life. In the current world, there are several other elements including stress and poor living habits that accelerate permanent loss of hair. What’s more, the balding bug is not just restricted to men but is also victimising women also.

Stress

High stress has become the most common cause of numerous problems. Trichologists and hair experts agree that stress triggers problems such as alopecia areata, telogen effluvium and trichotillomania that lead to balding. The silver lining is that balding caused due to stress can be reduced by adopting stress management techniques.

Poor nutrition

Bad diet might not be the cause of what is technically defined as ‘balding’. However, lack of essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals can lead to severe hair fall that could account to baldness. Balanced meals ensure proper supply of nutrients to hair follicles. Moreover, healthy food suppresses hormones such as DHT. Dihydrotestosterone or DHT is a hormone that plays a major role in causing hair loss in men.

Hormonal changes

Unhealthy lifestyle and certain kinds of medications or diseases can lead to hormonal imbalance in men. This imbalance could trigger excessive secretion of DHT hormone. As a result, hair begins to fall off.

Smoking

Your hair feeds on oxygen-rich food, supplied through the blood. Smoking reduces oxygen levels in your blood. The carbon monoxide, which you inhale, not only makes hair unhealthy, but also damages hair follicles. Additionally, nicotine hampers blood flow and affects hair growth.
Undisciplined life and lack of sleep are also causes of hair loss. Some of these causes can be controlled and balding can be prevented.

Ways to prevent premature hair loss

• Take a diet enriched with proteins and vitamins, particularly B3, B5, B9 and E.
• Minerals such as zinc, iron and magnesium are essential to maintain optimal health of not just your body but hair as well.
• Simple changes in the lifestyle like a 7-8 hours of sleep and a glass of water every hour to replenish hair strands will surely bring a noticeable change.
• Milk, almonds, spinach, broccoli, oranges, whole grains, spinach, fish, soya beans, egg yolk, leafy greens are all hair-happy foods, which boost hair growth.
• Green tea is also effective to block out DHT.

In some cases, balding is beyond control. In such cases, men need to change their attitude towards balding and agree with Sheng Wang. He says, ‘Going bald is not about hair loss. It is about face gain. I hear the term ‘receding hairline,’ I say, ‘expanding facial frontier.’

Also read rub your fingernails to say goodbye to hair problems

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Content sourced from BollywoodShaadis.com

The Wilkenfeld Award was established in honour of Judy Wilkenfeld, the founder of Tobacco-Free Kids’ international programme, who passed away in May 2007. The award recognizes international tobacco control advocates who contribute significantly to reducing tobacco use and inspire others to do the same in the spirit exemplified by Wilkenfeld. ‘We have seen great progress in India and hope to serve as an example for the global community,’ said Chaturvedi accepting the award. ‘The world must hear the voice of tobacco’s many victims and know that progress in the global fight against tobacco is possible.’

‘Cancer specialists like me who work with tobacco victims are the constant witnesses of the crimes perpetrated by the tobacco industry,’ Chaturvedi said. ‘I could no longer sit back and watch how helpless my patients and their families felt. I hoped these victims’ personal stories would rock the consciences of policy makers who must be convinced to take action.’ ‘Dr Chaturvedi has not only created a lasting legacy in India, but also provided a global example in combating tobacco use,’ said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

As a head and neck cancer surgeon at one of India’s leading cancer hospitals, Chaturvedi was motivated to act by the suffering of patients with tobacco-caused cancers. Described by his colleagues as visionary, tireless and undaunted, Chaturvedi recognized that fundamental change wouldn’t happen until public figures had to confront the horrifying reality that he sees every day in his operating room, according to a media release. So Chaturvedi ‘launched the Voice of Tobacco Victims campaign. This revolutionary campaign has mobilized tobacco victims and their doctors to confront India’s leaders and demand that they enact and implement strong tobacco control laws,’ the release said.

Today, this group is one of the leading forces behind India’s growing tobacco control movement that has resulted in bans of smokeless tobacco products in 23 of India’s 28 states and five of seven union territories. It has also contributed to tobacco tax increases in 20 states.

Source: IANS

Genetic disposition

If most of your family members have yellow teeth, it’s highly likely it is genetic. But what you should know is that it isn’t the colour which is genetically transmitted but the thickness of the outermost layer of the teeth. The thinner the enamel layer is, the more visible the yellow dentin layer will be.

Age

Aging is a natural process and so is yellowing of teeth with age. With advancing age, the outer layer of enamel wears away and becomes thinner. This causes the dentin’s yellow colour to show through and give your teeth a yellowish appearance.

Certain medicines

If you were given antibiotics tetracycline or doxycycline before the age of eight, chances are that your permanent teeth have striated or banded stains on them. And also, these antibiotics when given to a pregnant woman will cause yellow staining of her child’s teeth. This happens because the teeth are still developing before the age of eight and these antibiotics become incorporated into the mineral structure of the enamel causing the stains.

Other medicines which cause teeth discoloration are chlorhexidine (found in mouth rinses), antihistamines, anti-hypertensives and antipsychotic drugs.

Excess Fluoride

Excessive fluoride intake can occur due to high fluoride levels in water, a child swallowing excessive fluoride toothpaste or fluoride supplements taken by mouth. This can cause yellowish stains on the teeth.

Foods and drinks

Various foods and drinks are known to cause teeth discolouration. Foods like blueberries, cherries and drinks like coffee, tea, colas and wines are the obvious ones. Did you know that even apples and potatoes, the not so obvious ones, can cause teeth yellowing? The colouring molecules in these foods and drinks adhere to the enamel or penetrate the tubules of enamel to cause discoloration.

Tobacco

We all know that tobacco is hazardous to health. Well, it can be distressing to your smile too. Smoking or chewing tobacco can leave extrinsic stains on the enamel of the teeth. Tobacco contains many hard-to-remove staining elements that cause a gradual yellowing of teeth and mar the appearance of your teeth.

Poor oral hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for your oral health and to maintain the colour of your teeth. Inadequate brushing and flossing allow stains from coffee, tobacco, etc. to develop and calculus (tartar) to build up on teeth. This will make your teeth appear yellow.

Tooth fillings

Dental restorative materials like amalgam (silver fillings) can leach out over time and get deposited in the enamel and cast a dark colour to teeth.

Certain diseases

Certain diseases and infections in pregnant mothers can affect the development of enamel and the underlying dentin causing tooth discoloration later in the child. Sometimes, treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation to the head and neck for cancers can also change the colour of teeth to a yellow shade.

Trauma

Trauma and discolouration – wondering what the connection is? When your tooth is injured due to trauma from sudden fall or accidents there may be bleeding in the innermost layer of the tooth (pulp chamber). Blood clot and remnants of decomposed pulp tissue may also get into the tubules of the dentin thereby staining the dentin and causing tooth discolouration. In young children, the teeth are still developing. Trauma in such children can also disturb enamel formation and cause discoloration of their permanent teeth.

‘A total 9,885 people were fined across 20 police districts, netting Rs.15.75 lakh (Rs. 1.57 million). For the sake of administrative convenience, 14 districts in the state have been grouped under 20 police districts,’ said the website www.keralapolice.org.

The fines were collected from Oct 1 last year to Feb 28 this year. The ban on smoking in public places was found to be most strictly enforced in Ernakulam rural where 3,793 people were fined. Kannur district came in second with 3,172 people penalised for smoking in public places. With no case reported in October, police consistently stepped up their vigil in Kannur and collected Rs.6.34 lakh between November and February. The fines collected in Idukki district also showed an upward trend. From six cases of violations in the district in October, the number rose to 65 cases in February. Sale of tobacco products to minors has also invited police action with 1,248 people fined and Rs 2.26 lakh collected from violators from across the state, according to the website.

Smoking is prohibited in public places in India under Section 4 of the provisions of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) 2003.

Source: IANS

Mukhopadhyay said the West Bengal chief minister announced a 10 percent tax hike on cigarettes. ‘Higher prices discourage youth from initiating cigarette smoking and encourage current smokers to quit, but such a move should certainly not be accompanied by suggestions that people should use more tobacco.’

‘We appreciate the tax increase on cigarettes, on the one hand. However, it is shocking to hear the statement encouraging people to smoke more, instead of protecting people of West Bengal from the dangers of tobacco use,’ she said.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India released by the union ministry of health and family welfare, reveals that about 36.3 percent of West Bengal’s population uses a tobacco product in one or other form. Among these, 21.3 percent people are cigarette smokers, 15.7 percent are bidi smokers, and 21.9 percent use smokeless tobacco.

In a bid to cut down on the consumption of products containing tobacco or nicotine in West Bengal, the office of the commissioner of food safety, under the state health and family welfare department, recently issued a notification prohibiting manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutka, pan masala and other products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients for a period of one year with effect from May 1, 2013.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a Rs.500 crore fund on Wednesday to compensate the poorest among lakhs of depositors who have lost their savings in the Saradha chit fund collapse. The chief minister announced a 10 percent additional tax on cigarettes to mop up revenue to reimburse the poor people defrauded by Saradha chit fund, and suggested, with the hint of a smile, that people should smoke more for a few days to help raise the money sooner.

Source: IANS

• Eat regular meals. Have at least three meals at about the same time everyday. Eating every four to five hours can help control blood sugar. Always carry with you some type of carbohydrate food or drink that has 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrate which you can use in case of emergency (low glucose level).
• Eat a variety of foods. Choose foods that fulfill your body’s nutritional needs. Eat less fat, less sugar and less salt.  Avoid fried foods. Baked, boiled or steamed foods are healthier to eat. Avoid red meat. Have low fat dairy products. Eat more high-fiber foods, like vegetables, fruit and whole grain breads and cereals.
• Monitor your blood glucose two to four times every day with a blood glucose meter, if your doctor has advised you to. It is an electronic device for measuring the blood glucose at home. The blood glucose test is performed by pricking your finger with a small, sharp needle (lancet), putting a drop of blood on a chemically active disposable test strip and then placing the strip into a digital meter that displays your blood sugar level. Within a few seconds, the blood glucose level will be shown on the digital display.
• Get an A1C test done once every 3 months. This helps assess your diabetes control for the past few months by basically measuring the amount of glucose that has been sticking to your red blood cells. Each red blood cell is replaced by a new one every 3 to 4 months. Hence, this test tells you how high the glucose levels have been during the life of the cells. Your aim is to keep your A1C around 6-7%. If most of your recent blood glucose readings have been near normal (70 to 140mg/dL), the A1C test will be near normal (about 6-7%). Many readings above normal will make your A1C test read higher.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking. They can cause health problems, especially if you are diabetic. Alcohol adds calories without giving you any nutrition. Drinking alcohol may cross-react with the medicines for diabetes and cause problems. Your blood glucose can also go down drastically if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
• Be active. Physical activity keeps you fit and helps you control your blood glucose and weight. It can help prevent heart and blood flow problems. It helps you lose weight.
• Keep a check on your blood pressure and cholesterol. Have your blood pressure checked two to four times a year and cholesterol checked (fasting lipid profile) at least once every year. If you have diabetes, you are at a greater risk of developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can lead to other serious conditions.
• Watch out for the nerve damage symptoms. Diabetic neuropathy is damage to nerves in the body that occurs due to high blood sugar levels from diabetes. Symptoms may include numbness and tingling of extremities, diarrhoea, erectile dysfunction, loss of bladder control, vision changes, dizziness, etc. If you have any of these symptoms report to your doctor. During your physical exam, your doctor will check how well you can feel touch, pain, movement, etc. and also your strength and reflexes. If nerve damage is suspected electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction studies may be done.
• Take care of your feet. Nerve damage and poor circulation are common complications of diabetes. This makes foot problems common among diabetics. Check them every day for signs of injury and infection. Avoid walking barefoot to reduce the risk of injury. Trim your toenails straight across to help prevent ingrown nails. Keep your feet warm at all times.
• Get your eyes examined every year to check your vision. Prolonged and inadequate blood glucose control can damage and weaken the small blood vessels in the retina (innermost layer) of the eye; a condition called diabetic retinopathy. It can cause blurred vision, double vision and a severe, permanent loss of vision. It also increases the risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma.
• Get your kidneys checked once a year because diabetes can cause damage to the blood vessels in your kidney (diabetic nephropathy) and the risk increases if you have both diabetes and high blood pressure. The first sign of nephropathy is protein in the urine. When damage to the kidneys gets worse, your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels rise. There may be swelling in your body, at first in your feet and legs. In a urinary albumin test your urine is tested for albumin protein. Blood urea nitrogen and urine creatinine are the other tests that may be done to check kidney function. Kidney damage, if caught in early stages, can be slowed with treatment.
• Get your teeth and gums checked by your dentist twice a year. Diabetes can affect your teeth, gums and oral cavity as well. Increased blood sugar level increases your risk of tooth decay. Gum disease can happen more often, be more severe, and take longer to heal if you have diabetes.

Also read: Living with diabetes