All About Swine Flu (H1N1)

What is Swine Flu (H1N1)?

Influenza-A (H1N1) (earlier know as swine flu) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people.  First detected in Mexico in April, 2009, it has spread to many countries in the World. Swine flu is basically a misnomer. This was originally referred to as "swine flu" because laboratory testing showed that many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to those found in pigs in North America.  Further on, it has been found that this new virus has gene segments from the swine, avian and human flu virus genes. The scientists calls this a "quadruple reassortant" virus and hence this new (novel) virus is christened "influenza-A (H1N1) virus".

How do people become infected with influenza-A (H1N1)?

The new influenza A (H1N1) virus spreads from person-to-person, in the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread. The main form of transmission is through the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. Infected droplets are released into the air and breathed in by others. However, these droplets do not remain in the air long and generally only affect people within two metres.

It is also possible to get influenza by touching contaminated surfaces, and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Water chlorination also makes it very unlikely that people will get this virus from drinking water or swimming in chlorinated pools.

How infectious is it?

Because this virus is new, people have no immunity to it so it will spread more quickly and widely than the seasonal flu. The pandemic situation could mean lots of people become sick at the same time and this could have a big impact on our day-to-day lives, and place considerable pressure on the health services.

Infected person may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick.

What are the signs and symptoms of influenza-A (H1N1) in people?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also experience diarrhoea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu:

• the worst symptoms usually last about five days, but coughing can last up to two to three weeks.
• some very young children, people with some long-term medical conditions, pregnant women, and older people, can get very sick.

How to keep away from getting the flu?

Currently available seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against H1N1 flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza:

• Wash and dry your hands frequently:Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and dry them for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand rub. Wash your hands before preparing food and eating or smoking; after coughing, sneezing, wiping children’s noses, visiting the toilet or changing nappies.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put your used tissue in a bin (if you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve - not your hands). Remember to wash your hands afterwards. Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Germs spread that way.
• Stay away from other people if you or they are sick: If you become unwell, stay away from other people. Try to stay a metre away from sick people to reduce the spread of germs. Reduce time spent in crowded settings.
• Contamination and cleaning: Regularly clean flat surfaces such as bathroom sinks, bedside cabinets, desks and table tops where germs can live for up to 48 hours. Wipe them down with a household disinfectant.
• If you've got flu symptoms: Stay at home until essentially well, that is not sneezing and coughing as this is how the virus spreads. This is usually around three to four days after symptoms start, but coughing may last up to two or three weeks.
• Get medical advice if you have a serious condition: This includes if you have respiratory disease, heart disease, liver disease, blood disorders and neurological conditions or immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV).

Try to stay in good general health.  Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

Are there medicines to treat this flu?

Yes. The new influenza A (H1N1) virus can be treated with antiviral drugs, such as Oseltamivir. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or inhaler) that fight against influenza by keeping viruses from reproducing in your body. They make your illness milder and make you feel better, faster. They may also help stop serious influenza complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

The Government has  necessary medicines in sufficient quantity available. The Government has in the designated hospitals stored medicines if required.  It is strongly advisable not to take medicines of your own, as it will lower your immunity.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What kills influenza virus?

Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time. For example, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used to clean hands. The gels should be rubbed into hands until they are dry.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where influenza A H1N1 cases have been identified and become ill with influenza like symptoms e.g. fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms.

Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.  If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

Can swine flu be fatal?

Just like the regular flu, swine flu worsens pre-existing medical conditions in people. So people with already compromised immune systems can die after contracting it.

What are the precautions I should take while removing the mask?

1. Remove the mask by holding the strings that support the mask at your ears.
2. Do not touch the surface of the mask (not even the outer surface) as it might have the virus.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly after removing the mask.

Is it safe to take pork items?

Pigs have nothing to do with this disease.  Pork products are absolutely safe if properly cooked.  There is no need to cull pigs.  Do not panic if some pigs die in the community due to natural disease.

Source: Ministry of Health - India, Ministry of Health - New Zealand, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - US, (LMT-RC-Aug09)

Issued in public Interest by NGO ASHA

    

    "Amateur Society for Human Aid" 

(a Non-profit Philanthropic Organisation)

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Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress

Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress  

                                                         -----    by Dr S. Tamer

(Natural News) Stress is a big challenge in life nowadays. The sources of stress are many and the helpful ways to reduce stress are also plentiful. Common symptoms of stress include skin problems, impotence, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia and frustration.

We don't need to set a time to reduce stress, we need to incorporate some strategies in our daily life routine to prevent stress and reduce its effect on the body.

Here are 11 simple steps we can easily take to reduce stress:

1. Multivitamins: I take a Vitamin B complex regularly to decrease stress and this has been a great help in my stress reduction.

2. Talking through your problems: talking about your feelings acts as a releasing mechanism and you will soon find that talking about your problems with your partner or best friend may help the solution to the problem come to light and will help to release blocked emotions.

3. Spiritual healing: prayers and the act of helping others are very important components for happiness and stress reduction. You will feel calmer and have a sense of inner peace.

4. Breathing techniques: Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi all use deep breathing techniques. To meditate, simply sit with closed eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathing deeply regularly is great for health and from there, you can learn various other breathing techniques to gain enhanced benefits.

5. Exercise: This is one of the important things you can do which will reduce stress and bring happiness. When we exercise, our brains release substances which bring feelings of happiness and relaxation; we need engage in some exercise regularly such as walking, dancing or swimming.

6. Aromatherapy: in the office you can use aromatherapy to relax and avoid stress. One of the best ways is to use lavender oil on a source of heat and take in the scent; this is a great way to relax during the day when you need it the most.

7. Massage: this is a great way to reduce stress, I do this when other ways fail, I feel better after receiving a massage. You can get a professional massage or you can simply ask your partner to massage you.

8. Take hot baths regularly: after a very busy day or when we feel that we need to relax (I do this three times a week). You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.

9. Relaxation techniques and self hypnotherapy: we can easily do this after the hot bath to relax even more, simply sit or lie down in a comfortable place with your eyes closed, imagine there is a spot light above your head and concentrate on it, then concentrate on your body part by part and try to relax the body and feel the relaxation deepening -- you can also use a self hypnotherapy audio tape to help in this process.

10. Take control of your diet: we can use simple ways in our diet plans to reduce stress by avoiding some stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, tea and sugar and we can use chamomile tea as an alternative because of its calming and relaxing effect. We need to eat slowly in a calm environment to allow our digestive system to work well. We can use honey as an alternative to sugar but in small amounts (one or two spoonfuls per day).

12. Define your goals: we must define our life goals and begin to achieve these goals; this action will support us against stress because we will feel that we know what our life purpose is and why, and that we control our own lives.

I hope that you find these suggestions helpful, my hope in sharing this information with you is that you can benefit from it. Reading about this is not enough to reduce stress, you must take action.

Source: Dr. S. Tamer; Jun,'09

About the Author
M.B.B.C.H, Physician, D.H.P. , D.C.M.T, S.N.H.S Dip. (Nutrition),
S.N.H.S Dip. (Herbalism), I.R.F member, Reiki master,
Member of the Royle Institute of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy,
Member of the Complete Mind therapists Association,
Member of the International Reiki Federation

Issued in public Interest by NGO ASHA

    

      "Amateur Society for Human Aid" 

(a Non-profit Philanthropic Organisation)

Diet for High Blood Pressure

Diet for High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the most common cardiovascular disease. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against artery walls as it courses through the body. Each time heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. Blood pressure is highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, the blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms. Although a few people with early-stage high blood pressure may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal, these signs and symptoms typically don't occur until high blood pressure has reached an advanced - even life-threatening - stage.

Normal blood pressure is 120/80, where 120 is the systolic (maximum) blood pressure and 80 is the diastolic (minimum) blood pressure. When systolic blood pressure is above 140mm Hg or when diastolic blood pressure is above 90mm Hg, blood pressure is considered high. Hypertension may be caused by a variety of reasons such as: heredity, your genes, high salt in your diet, not being active, obesity, excessive alcohol intake and/or low potassium in your diet.

Hypertension is an all too common condition in today's hectic society. With many people being overweight, eating a poor diet, and experiencing high stress levels, blood pressure problems will likely remain a reality. Although some people are genetically predisposed to hypertension, there's plenty of evidence that a healthy life style and good nutrition can help during hypertension. Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Vegetarians, in general, have lower blood pressure levels and a lower incidence of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Experts postulate that a typical vegetarian's diet contains more potassium, complex carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fat, fiber, calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and vitamin A, all of which may have a favorable influence on blood pressure.
• Eat plenty of fresh and frozen vegetables instead of canned vegetables. If canned vegetables are used, rinse them under running water for two to three minutes prior to cooking. Rinsing canned vegetables will decrease the sodium content by approximately 40 percent.
• A high-fiber diet has been shown to be effective in preventing and treating many forms of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension.
• Read the "Nutrition Facts" information on the label to find the sodium content of a packaged food. You will find the sodium content in milligrams for a single serving. The "% Daily Value" (sometimes shown as "% DV") for sodium is also given. The amount is based on 2,400 milligrams of sodium for the day.
• Choose low-sodium products. Read the label and look for words such as, "unsalted," "no-salt-added," "reduced sodium," "sodium-free" or "low in sodium."
• Weight reduction will help lower blood pressure. To help decrease calories from fat, consume low-fat or fat-free products.
• Take a diet that is rich in high potassium foods (vegetables and fruits) and essential fatty acids. Daily intake of potassium should total 7 grams per day. The diet should be low in saturated fat, sugar and salt. In general, a whole food diet emphasizing vegetables and members of the garlic/onion family should be consumed.
• Consume adequate calcium by including low-fat dairy products in your diet three times per day.
• When eating out, taste your food before you add salt. Better yet, request that foods be prepared without added salt.

Beneficial Vegetables and Spices for Hypertension

A number of common vegetables and spices have beneficial effects in controlling hypertension. Incorporate these into your cooking:

·      Celery (ajmud): Oriental Medicine practitioners have long used celery for lowering high blood pressure. There are some experimental evidence that shows that celery is useful for this. In one animal study, laboratory animals injected with celery extract showed lowered blood pressure. Eating as few as four celery stalks a day was found to be beneficial in lowering blood pressure in human beings. However, celery does contain sodium and other compounds that can have negative effects when large amounts are ingested.

·   Garlic (lahsun): Garlic is a wonder drug for heart. It has beneficial effects in all cardiovascular system including blood pressure. In a study, when people with high blood pressure were given one clove of garlic a day for 12 weeks, their diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced. Eating quantities as small as one clove of garlic a day was found to have beneficial effects on managing hypertension. Use garlic in your cooking, salad, soup, pickles, etc. It is very versatile.

·       Onion: Onions are useful in hypertension. Two to three tablespoons of onion essential oil a day was found to lower the systolic levels by an average of 25 points and the diastolic levels by 15 points in hypertension subjects. This should not be surprising because onion is a cousin of garlic.

·       Tomato: Tomatoes are high in gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), a compound that can help bring down blood pressure.

·    Broccoli (hari phoolgobhi): Glucoraphanin, also known as sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS), a naturally-occurring compound found in broccoli sprouts and broccoli, help reduce the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

·    Carrot: Carrots are high in potassium, which can help prevent and control high blood pressure. They are also high in beta-carotene, which studies show can reduce the risk of heart disease leading to high blood pressure. Carrot juice helps to maintain normal blood pressure by regulating heart and kidney functions. A recommended dose is a 240 ml blend of one part celery juice, one part carrot juice and one part water, taken at least once a day.

·   Saffron (kesar): Saffron contains a chemical called crocetin that lowers the blood pressure. You can use saffron in your cooking. (It is a very popular spice in Arabic cooking.) You can also make a tea with it. Many Indians add a pinch of saffron in the brewed tea to give a heavenly flavor. Unfortunately, it is very expensive.  

·    Assorted spices: Spices such as fennel (saunf), oregano (ajwain), black pepper (kali mirch) and basil (tulsi) have active ingredients that are beneficial in hypertension. Use them in your cooking. 

  The link between hypertension and diet is irrefutable. Generally speaking, making small changes to one's diet is one of the best ways of dealing with something as unspecified in origin as hypertension, and natural treatment of the condition addresses that which contributes to hypertension.

--- Issued in Public Interest by

    "Amateur Society for Human Aid" 

    (a Non-profit Philanthropic Organisation)

Source: RC/LMT, dtd Jul 11

__________________________________________________________________________

You might also like:

1):  Foods to Lower Cholesterol
2):  Nutrition Supplements to Lower Your Cholesterol
3):  Tips to Control Triglyceride Levels
4):  Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress 

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Tips to Control Triglyceride Levels

Tips to Control Triglyceride Levels

Time is a healer, they say. Lack of time is a killer, isn't it? These days, we don't get enough time to cook a healthy meal. We are constantly on the run. At the end of the day, when we are too tired, we end up taking whatever we see in front of us. Little do we realize that the "bite we have grabbed" is loaded with cheese, refined flour, or maybe deep fried in some trans-fat. But who has the time to think? Later, much earlier than you expect, you have all the "prestigious" lifestyle-related illnesses; hypertension, diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia.... and you cry out, "where did I go wrong?"

What are Triglycerides?

Triglycerides are fatty substances that is found in the blood and stored in the fat cells of your body. It is composed of three molecules of fatty acids combined with glycerol. The excess calories in the body that is not used up immediately is stored in the fatty tissues as triglycerides. When the body requires energy in between meals, hormones release triglycerides from the fat tissues to meet the requirements.

Benefits of Triglycerides

While excess of triglycerides is bad, within the normal limits, it has certain important functions to perform in the body. It provides energy to perform our daily chores. Triglycerides form a cushion around vital organs to protect and insulate them. It also acts as a medium of absorption for fat-soluble vitamins in the body.

Harm Caused by Excess Triglyceride Levels

• Hardening of Arteries: Triglycerides are thought to be responsible for hardening of the arteries, thus causing the condition atherosclerosis. This leads to heart disease and stroke.
• Risk of Developing Diabetes: When the level of triglycerides increases in the fat cells, this stimulates the release of certain inflammatory cells called cytokines into the blood stream. These, in turn, compromise the body's ability to control the sugar level in the blood, and increase your risk of developing diabetes.
• Metabolic Syndromes: High triglyceride levels can be linked to a condition called metabolic syndrome which is a combination of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.
• Fatty Liver Disease: High triglycerides lead to more fat cells in the body. When there are excess fat cells in the body, it gets deposited in the liver leading to a condition called fatty liver disease, which could lead to liver complications.
• Xanthoma: Excess triglycerides spark the eruption of itchy, pimple-like xanthomas on the hands, feet, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Triglyceride Levels Classified

Below is a table that shows how triglycerides are classified

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Classification	Triglyceride level (mg/dL)
Normal	Less than 150
Borderline High	150-199
High	200-499
Very High	500 or higher

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Factors Contributing to High Triglyceride Levels

There are many factors that could contribute to the buildup of excess triglycerides.

• Food Habits: Eating fatty meals and refined products like pasta, white bread, and maida (refined flour) products.
• Medical Problems: Diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease.
• Medications: Certain medications contribute to high triglyceride build up. Examples are high-dose thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, estrogen, tamoxifen, steroids, isotretinoin, and some anti-HIV drugs.
• Hormonal Imbalance: Over production of cortisol and aldosterone.
• Smoking/Alcohol: Both smoking and excess alcohol intake leads to excess triglycerides.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: Leading a sedentary life style without any physical activity.
• Obesity: As mentioned before, excess calories leads to it being stored as fat, forming triglycerides.
• Hereditary: Familial hypertriglyceridemia, familial hypercholesterolemia.

Tips to Control Triglycerides

There are several ways in which you can control the formation of excess triglycerides in your body.

• Choose the Right Fat: Avoid red meat, butter, ghee, margarine. Avoid trans-fats that are present in fried fast foods like fries and wedges.
• Choose the Right Carbs: Choose complex carbohydrates like whole wheat flour, brown bread, broken wheat, oats, and brown rice. Avoid refined flours and its products like white breads, pasta, noodles, etc.; that have simple carbs. Avoid carbonated beverages, colas, and sugary foods.
• Choose the Right Proteins: Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acid are beneficial in controlling excess triglyceride formation. Examples are salmon, tuna, sardines, and other fatty fish. Having fish twice a week will serve the purpose. Vegetarians can have walnuts, soaked almonds, or flaxseed.
• Fruits and Veggies: Having plenty of fruits and veggies can never go wrong. These provide fibers, both soluble and insoluble, that helps with controlling weight, thereby bringing down triglyceride levels.
• Limit Alcohol Intake: There is enough research to suggest that red wine is good for the heart, but there is a limit to how much it can be consumed. When it comes to alcohol, the tendency to move from red wine to beer, then to whiskey, etc., is high. Regular alcohol intake is linked to increased triglyceride levels, so go slow on alcohol!
• Watch Your Weight: Obesity is an important factor that leads to elevated triglyceride levels. Try to keep yourself in the normal weight range. If you are overweight, try to lose some weight; this will bring down your triglyceride levels.
• Exercise: Exercise is beneficial for the body in more ways than one. Exercise helps you both physically and mentally and streamlines the bodily functions in a positive manner. Also, regular exercise brings down the fat level in your body, thereby reducing triglyceride levels too.

Even though our body mechanism is so complex, body has its own way of troubleshooting minor hiccups and, if needed, give clear signals of what is going on.  However, many a times, we are so busy to understand those signals or we totally ignore it. That is when real trouble starts. 
So, slow down, listen to your body signals, and find a balance in life. After all, we have only one body and one life to live!

Source: PB/LMT, dtd Jul11

---Issued in Public Interest by

   Amateur Society for Human Aid
  (a Non-profit Philanthropic Organisation)

SEC 80G Tax Benfits
Your Contributions are eligible for Tax benefit under Sec 80G of IT Act
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You might also like to read: 

 Diet for High Blood Pressure

 Foods to Lower Cholesterol

 Nutrition Supplements to Lower Your Cholesterol 

 Eleven Great Ways to Reduce Stress 

Health Benefits of Garlic

Top Health Benefits of Garlic

The humble garlic is a treasure trove of health benefits.

1 ounce of Garlic (28.35 grams) provides about 42 calories, contains about 9 grams of carbohydrates, 1.8 grams of protein and 0.60 grams of fiber.

Garlic is rich in mineral manganese and contains calcium, copper, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Garlic contains Ajoene and Allicin, which has anti-oxidant properties.

Nutrients in garlic are anti-bacterial and anti-viral

• Garlic reduces inflammation
• Sulphur compounds in garlic protects from cancer
• Garlic protects against asbestos induced toxicity

Vitamin C and Allicin in garlic are powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents
Allicin is effective for infections like colds, flu, stomach viruses, candida yeast, tuberculosis and botulism.
Garlic prevents peptic ulcers caused by infectious bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Onion and garlic protective against many cancers
If onions and garlic are in your daily diet you lower risk of several common cancers (pharynx, esophageal, colorectal, laryngeal, breast, ovarian, prostate and renal cell).

Sulphur compounds in garlic protects from cancer

• Eating garlic reduces your risk of many common cancers (cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, laryngeal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, renal cell cancer)
• Ajoene an organo-sulfur compound in garlic is used topically in treatment of skin cancer
• Allicin found in garlic protects colon cells from cancer causing chemicals and stops the growth of cancer cells once they develop
• Vitamin C and selenium in fresh garlic helps prevent colon cancer
• Allium in garlic helps reduce risk of prostate cancer

Garlic is heart healthy

• Garlic contains many heart healthy nutrients like sulfur compounds, vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium and manganese
• Eating garlic inhibits platelet aggregation, lowers triglyceride levels, and lowers cholesterol levels. Eating garlic stimulates the production of nitric oxide that helps relax blood vessel walls and reduces high blood pressure.
• Garlic is known to inhibit coronary artery calcification. Coronary artery calcification is a marker for plaque formation as the body lays down calcium in areas that have been damaged.
• Atherosclerotic plaques develop when cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream is damaged or oxidised by free radicals. Garlic also helps reduce the amount of free radicals in the blood stream.
• A 'nanoplaque' is formed when calcium binds to proteoheparan sulfate and then to LDL cholesterol. Garlic inhibits plaque generation as it prevents the binding of calcium to proteoheparan sulphate.
• Garlic greatly reduces and reverses plaque deposition and size of atherosclerotic plaque. Garlic acts like HDL (good) Cholesterol in preventing the build-up of nanoplaques.

Garlic reduces inflammation

• Garlic is a potent remedy against common cold or infection.
• Allergenic foods, a cold, any infection, physical trauma, excessive exercise, will cause an inflammatory response.
• Excessive consumption of foods containing high levels of omega 6 fatty acids such as meat, corn or safflower oil will also cause an inflammatory response. 
• The inflammatory response may promote inflammation that creates an ideal condition for viruses to replicate. Garlic significantly reduces the risk of infection and severity of inflammatory symptoms.
• Garlic reduces the activity of NF kappa-B a chemical mediator of inflammation thus reducing risk of infection and reducing severity of symptoms.

---Issued in Public Interest by

   Amateur Society for Human Aid
  (a Non-profit Philanthropic Organisation)

Source: G2E 

1 in 3 of the world's malnourished children lives in India

1 in 3 of the world's malnourished children lives in India

Malnutrition is more common in India than in Sub-Saharan Africa. One in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India.

Malnutrition limits development and the capacity to learn. It also costs lives: about 50 per cent of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition.

In India, around 46 per cent of all children below the age of three are too small for their age, 47 per cent are underweight and at least 16 per cent are wasted. Many of these children are severely malnourished.

The prevalence of malnutrition varies across states, with Madhya Pradesh recording the highest rate (55 per cent) and Kerala among the lowest (27 per  cent).

Malnutrition in children is not affected by food intake alone; it is also influenced by access to health services, quality of care for the child and pregnant mother as well as good hygiene practices. Girls are more at risk of malnutrition than boys because of their lower social status.

Malnutrition in early childhood has serious, long-term consequences because it impedes motor, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional development. Malnourished children are less likely to perform well in school and more likely  to grow into malnourished adults, at greater risk of disease and early death. 

Around one-third of all adult women are underweight. Inadequate care of women and girls, especially during pregnancy, results in low- birthweight babies. Nearly 30 per cent of all newborns have a low birthweight, making them vulnerable to further malnutrition and disease.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies also affect children’s survival and development. Anaemia affects 74 per cent of children under the age of three, more than 90 per cent of adolescent girls and 50 per cent of women. Iodine deficiency, which reduces learning capacity by up to 13 per cent, is widespread because fewer than half of all households use iodised salt. Vitamin A deficiency, which causes blindness and increases morbidity and mortality among pre-schoolers, also remains a public-health problem.

---Issued in Public Interest by NGO ASHA

   (Amateur Society for Human Aid)

[Source: UNICEF-India]