EYE CARE

EYE CARE

1. Precautions

·         Over-exposure to the sun’s UV rays, without proper eye protection, can temporarily harm eyes, or cause photokeratitis.

·         Winter causes eye infections such as redness, burning, irritation, watering, swelling, pain, or blurred vision, in people prone to dryness, allergies, and seasonal changes.

·         Fine lines and wrinkles develop near the eyes because the cold air hits your face when you are walking or driving.

·         Always wear anti-glare sunglasses before going outside.

·         They help fight the cold winter air as well as the harsh sun rays.

2. Practical tips

·         When using air heaters, maintain a healthy level of moisture with a humidifier, which prevents fluid evaporation from eyes and combats burning or itchy sensation in the eyes.

·         Ensure your eyes are not exposed to cold dry winds by shielding them with sunglasses to prevent evaporation of their tear film.

·         If you use contact lenses, use artificial tears regularly as soft contact lenses are like little sponges and need lots of moisture.

·         If they start to dry out, they can change shape and stick to the eye, becoming painful and cloudy.

·         Also, limit your alcohol intake if you use contacts, as they dehydrate the skin.

·         If dry eye symptoms worsen in winter, use lubricating eye drops that ease common pain and itchiness.

·         Splash cool water regularly on your eyes to remove dust and dirt.

·         Do not use hot water for cleaning your eyes as they lose moisture and become dry.

·         Don’t rub your eyes with dirty hands.

·         Apply good quality eye cream around the eyes, which protects the delicate eye area and reduces intensity of black circles.

·         Avoid self-medication and consult an eye doctor for your eye care.

BUILDING YOUR CREDIBILITY FOR A NEW INDUSTRY

5 PATHS TO BUILDING CREDIBILITY FOR A NEW INDUSTRY

1. Study

·        Academic qualifications are the first source of credentials for a recruiter.

·        If you have the time and money, acquire one relevant to the new industry.

·        Choose from generic degrees like a full-time MBA or specific ones like a journalism course.

2. Volunteer

·        Volunteer and contribute your skills through an NGO working in that space.

·        This can be done full-time for a few months or even part-time before quitting your current industry.

3. Consult

·        Look out for strategic or operational consulting firms that work with your firm or industry.

·        Such firms are always open for hiring a high-calibre talent.

·        Working for them for a couple of years helps you build a bridge into the industry of your choice.

4. Intern

·        In tough times, you could offer to work with a target firm as an intern (often unpaid) for 1-6 months.

·        Both the potential employer and you will get a risk-free option to evaluate if an offer of employment will be worthwhile.

5. Contract

·        Take the high-adrenaline, high-reward option and become an entrepreneur.

·        Offer outcomes and results to the target industry instead of your time.

·        If you are wildly successful, you may not want to stop.

·        If less successful, the experience will count highly with future employers.

DANGERS OF SELF-MEDICATION

DANGERS OF SELF - MEDICATION

·         We often pop pills for common ailments without bothering to consult a doctor.

·         Self-medication of Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, such as pain relievers, cough remedies, anti-allergies, laxatives, antibiotics, antacids and vitamins, could cause drug reactions, allergic reactions, risk of stroke, damage to organs and even addiction, due to wrong diagnosis, incorrect dosage, indiscriminate usage, and habituation.

·         Self-medication may suppress the symptoms of an illness temporarily, but could become difficult for a doctor to correctly diagnose and treat later, prolonging recovery from the illness.

·         Regular self-medication, especially of OTC antibiotics, could lead to antimicrobial resistance.

·         Excessive use of OTC vitamins can cause vitamin poisoning (hypervitaminosis).

·         Some antibiotics such as penicillin or sulpha drugs can cause fatal allergic reactions in the body.

·         Some herbal drugs and medicines may cause harmful drug-to-drug interactions in the body.

·         The most often used painkillers can induce gastritis and increase risk of strokes.

·         You could also become addicted to antacids, cough syrups and pain relievers.

·         Self-medication by pregnant women could harm the unborn child causing congenital anomalies and birth defects.

BUSTING EXERCISE MYTHS

BUSTING EXERCISE MYTHS

Myth-1: Swimming is great for weight loss

·         Swimming helps in toning muscles and increasing the lung power, but not in losing weight greatly unless you swim for several hours everyday.

·         The reason is that the buoyancy of the water provides support to your body.

·         In fact, running for the same period of time can be more effective in reducing weight.

Myth 2: Several repetitions make muscles better

·         For strength gains, ideally 3-7 reps are best and for muscle gains, 8-12 reps are ideal.

·         The truth is, heavy weights lifted for 5-12 reps per set, can build rock-hard muscles.

Myth 3: Weight training tightens muscles

·         Weight training, when done properly, will in fact increase flexibility.

·         What is required is consistently following a weight training programme.

Myth 4: Inactive muscles will convert to fat

·         Muscle is made up of individual living cells that perform complex metabolic processes.

·         Fat cells are simply storage sites of lipids and entirely different from muscles.

·         If you stop working out on your muscles on a consistent basis, they will simply adapt to the new condition and will shrink, but will not convert to fat.

  

Myth 6: Taking steroids will make you huge

·         Taking steroids without training will not make you muscular.

·         Most steroids allow faster muscle growth through greater recovery, only if the muscle is stimulated and given the right nutrients in the right proportions.

·         Without food to build the muscle, or training to stimulate it, nothing will happen.

·         Most of the weight gain seen with the use of some steroids is due to water retention and is not actual muscle.

Myth 7: Working hard requires sweating

·         Sweating is not necessarily an indication of exertion.

·         It is your body’s way of cooling itself, and has little to do with the caloric count.

·         It’s possible to burn calories without breaking a sweat at all.

·         It is also possible that you have excessive sweat but haven’t lost the desired number of calories.

  

Myth 8: Deep stretching will reduce muscle injury

·         Before exercising vigorously, your muscles and joints should be warm and limber.

·         However, light exercise does this more efficiently than deep stretching.

·         In fact, it is better to stretch during and after your workout to avoid injury.

Myth 9: Morning is the best time to work out

·         Select a time when you have the most energy, need stress release, or have the best chance of making exercise a habit.

·         It may not necessarily be in the morning.

Myth 10: Yoga can get rid of all back pain

·         Yoga can help you get rid of back pain provided the pain is a muscle-related one.

·         Some of the yoga exercises stretch the muscles and help cure back pain.

·         However, if the pain is due to any other reason, yoga will do no good.

COMMON ADULT VACCINATIONS

COMMON ADULT VACCINATIONS

1. Hepatitis A vaccine

·         2 shots; second shot after 6-8 months; immunity estimated to last for 5 years.

·         Recommended for hostellers, or people living in areas where water is not treated properly.

2. Hepatitis B vaccine

·         3 shots; second shot after 1 month; third shot after 6 months; booster after every 5 years.

3. Tetanus vaccine

·         3 shots within a period of 7 months; booster after every 5 years.

·         No need to ‘over-immunize’ ourselves by getting vaccinated after every injury.

4. Typhoid vaccine

·         1 shot of intra-muscular injection or

·         3 tablets of typhoid tablets, one every alternate day.

5. Influenza vaccine

·         1 shot annually every fall.

·         Recommended for persons prone to infections like the sick and the elderly.

·         However, it cannot give full cover as there are too many strains of the influenza virus.

6. Pneumococcal vaccine

·         2 shots; second shot after about 6 months.

·         It prevents pneumonia and is usually given to immuno-compromised persons or those with diabetes, chronic heart, liver, and lung or kidney disorders.

7. Meningococcal vaccine

·         1 shot

·         It is given to prevent meningitis when there is an epidemic.

8. Chicken pox vaccine

·         1 shot

·         Recommended for young adults who have never contracted the illness in childhood.

·         However, older adults can leave this out as it is mainly a disease of the young.

BETTER LIFESTYLE HABITS

HABITS FOR A BETTER LIFESTYLE

·         The urban lifestyle that you lead comes at a high cost of time, freedom, peace and happiness.

·         When your demanding lifestyle starts taking a toll, it's time for a change.

1. Opt for juice over coffee

·         Dependence on coffee is actually a bane and poses health hazards.

·         Substitute your daily cup of coffee with a glass of fresh juice.

·         It will reverse the ill-effects of your lifestyle on your body.

2. Opt for writing over typing occasionally

·         With the convenience of typing, people have forgotten the essence of writing.

·         Just like an artist needs his canvas to paint, the occasional experience of writing will add freshness to your daily boring routine.

3. Plant a tree every birthday

·         It will bring you a sense of satisfaction and happiness in the long run.

·         By doing so, you pledge your support to help the environment in a small way.

4. Ditch your car, at least once a week

·          When you pool your car, you get the opportunity to mingle with your colleagues.

·         Using a public transport serves as an excuse to enjoy the journey.

·         This way, you can appreciate the little things that you miss observing while driving.

5. Have some 'Me' time everyday

·         When your priorities are everything else but yourself, you need some 'me' time.

·         Extract at least half an hour a day for some self-introspection.

·         This will refresh your mind and contribute to your mental and emotional well-being.

6. Sunday should be a holiday from all gadgets

·         While they are crucial in today's world, spending one day without them is also possible.

·         Your Sundays should not only mean a holiday from work but from these gadgets too.

7. Laugh more often

·         Laughter is the best medicine for worries, pain, stress and heartache.

·         Try to laugh whenever the occasion gives you an opportunity.

8. Explore the magic of classical music

·         If you enjoy listening to music, it can enhance relaxation and lower the levels of stress hormones.

·         Of all genres, classical music is said to have the most soothing effect on the human mind.

9. Walk

·         Walking is said to help you more than any doctor or his medicine can.

·         It improves your mood, reduces anxiety, improves blood circulation and makes you more sensitive to your surroundings.

·         An While you can walk on your treadmill, an open space is a better option.

10. One good deed a day

·         Instead of only thinking about benefiting yourself, think for the benefit of others for a change.

·         A good deed can be offering your neighbour a lift, helping an elderly person cross the road or taking an injured animal to the vet.

·         Anything that makes you feel humane will help your growth as a real person.

STRATEGIES FOR BUILDING YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

1. Make building self-confidence a habit through practice, and not only when you are vulnerable.

2. Imitate a behavior of confidence including posture, actions and thoughts as if it is done.

3. Be yourself, be flexible, sensitive to others, don’t be inhibited and don’t stick to a well-studied path.

4. Make the most of your mistakes and then ignore them.

5. If you fail, no matter, try again, fail again.

6. Disregard the mistake, but learn from it and get on with the business at hand.

7. Limit the self-blame.

8. Don’t fuel your internal voice and replace it by an encouraging voice.

9. Don’t torment yourself with criticism and just allow the blame to fade away.

10. Be kind to yourself by giving yourself treats.

11. Don’t behave as if pleasure will be destroyed by use.

12. Don’t do tasks only out of guilt or duty.

13. Do not turn effort into drudgery and purpose into pointlessness.

14. Don’t be a martyr.