Effects of Air Pollution..

 What is Air Pollution ? Air pollution is the presence of one or more harmful stuff, in the atmosphere, such as dust, gas, odor, smoke in quantities for too long that can be injurious to human health

How Air Pollutions lead to disease in our bodies?

• Shorter Life: Breathing in bad air for a long time can make your life shorter.
• Asthma Trouble: Dirty air with things like ozone and particle pollution can make asthma attacks happen more.
• Heart and Stroke Risk: Air pollution raises the chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
• Lung Cancer Risk: Breathing in particle pollution can lead to lung cancer, which is the main reason for cancer deaths.
• Hurtful to Kids: Breathing dirty air when growing up can slow down how kids’ lungs grow, which is bad for their health.
• More Infections: Bad air makes it easier to get lung infections, especially for kids.
• Irritated Lungs: Even if your lungs are healthy, dirty air can still make them irritated and swollen. 
• Breathing Issues: Dirty air can cause wheezing, coughing, and trouble breathing, both in the short term and over a long time.

 Ways to limit breathing polluted air

• Choose Low-Traffic Routes:

When walking, jogging, or cycling, opt for routes with less vehicular traffic to reduce exposure to vehicle emissions.

• Time Your Activities:

Plan outdoor activities during times when air pollution levels are lower, such as early morning or late evening when traffic is lighter, and industrial activities are reduced.

• Green Spaces:

Exercise in parks or green spaces, as they often have better air quality due to the presence of trees and plants that can help filter pollutants.

• Avoid High-Pollution Areas:

Stay away from areas with known high pollution levels, such as busy highways or industrial zones, and choose cleaner environments for your activities.

• Use Masks:

Consider using masks designed to filter out particulate matter, especially on days with poor air quality. Look for masks with N95 or equivalent ratings.

• Indoor Exercise:

On days when outdoor air quality is poor, opt for indoor exercise alternatives like gyms or home workouts to minimize exposure to polluted air.

• Stay Hydrated:

Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins from your body and can help mitigate the impact of inhaling pollutants.

• Ventilate Your Home:

Ensure good indoor air quality by ventilating your living spaces. Use open windows, and maintain good airflow to reduce indoor pollution.

Written By:  Dr. Fozia Ansari

Aneesa Clinic

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DEPRESSION

 

Depression is a serious mental health problem where someone feels really sad or hopeless most of the time for at least two weeks. It's not just feeling down for a little while. It can make it hard to do normal things like work, go to school, or be with friends and family. It's not something that can be fixed by just wanting it to go away. It affects your body, mood, and thoughts, and can change how you eat, sleep, and feel about yourself.

Factors contributing to depression include:

1.      Abuse: Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can increase vulnerability.

2.      Age: Elderly individuals, especially those living alone, face higher risk.

3.      Certain medications: Some drugs like isotretinoin or corticosteroids can increase risk.

4.      Conflict: Personal disputes or conflicts with loved ones can trigger depression.

5.      Death or loss: Grief after losing a loved one can heighten risk.

6.      Gender: Women are twice as likely to experience depression.

7.      Genetics: Family history of depression can increase susceptibility.

8.      Major life events: Positive or negative events like job changes can lead to depression.

9.      Personal problems: Social isolation or rejection can contribute.

10. Serious illnesses: Depression may occur alongside major medical conditions.

11. Substance misuse: Misusing drugs or alcohol can exacerbate depression.

Treatment usually involves three things:

•       Support: This means talking about what's going on and finding solutions. Family members might get involved too.
•        Therapy: This is also called talking therapy. It can be one-on-one counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy.
•        Medication: Sometimes, doctors prescribe antidepressants to help manage symptoms.

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IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA by Dr. Fozia Ansari

Anemia is when your body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells or they aren't working properly. 

The most common type is called iron-deficiency anemia. This happens when your body doesn't have sufficient iron.

Iron is that helps create a special type of red blood cell responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of your body through the bloodstream.

 

WHO GETS IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA?

1.   Pregnant Women:

About one in six pregnant women get iron-deficiency anemia because they need extra iron to help their baby grow.

2.   Women with Heavy Periods:

Up to 5% of women with heavy menstrual periods, especially those in the childbearing age group, can develop iron-deficiency anemia due to significant blood loss during periods.

3.   Kids and Teens:

Babies, little kids, and teenagers are also more likely to have iron-deficiency anemia.

 

 SYMPTOMS OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

 

1.            Feeling Tired (Fatigue):

                  Very common, a constant feeling of being worn out.

2.            Weakness:

Lack of strength and energy.

3.            Dizziness:

Feeling lightheaded or unsteady.

4.            Headaches:

Experiencing persistent head pain.

5.            Low Body Temperature:

Feeling colder than usual.

6.            Pale or Yellowish Skin:

Skin appearing unusually pale or sallow.

7.            Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat:

Heart beating too fast or in an irregular pattern.

8.            Shortness of Breath or Chest Pain:

Difficulty breathing or pain in the chest, especially during physical activity.

9.            Brittle Nails:

Nails becoming weak and prone to breaking.

10.          Pica (Unusual Cravings):

Strange cravings for things like ice, very cold drinks, or non-food items like dirt or paper.

 As iron-deficiency anemia progresses, these symptoms may become more noticeable. If you're experiencing these signs, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and guidance.

 

WHAT CAUSES IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA? 

1.   Causes of Iron Loss:

•     Stomach Issues: Problems in your stomach like ulcers, colon polyps, or colon cancer can make you bleed.

•     Medicine Use: Taking pain relievers for a long time, like aspirin, can lead to    bleeding.

•     Blood Donation: Giving blood too often without enough time to recover can make you lose iron.

•     Menstrual Factors: Having really heavy or long periods can cause a lot of iron loss.

•         Uterine Fibroids: Growths in the uterus that are not cancerous can cause heavy bleeding.

 

2.   Increased Iron Needs:

•     Pregnancy: When you're pregnant, your body needs more iron. Not getting enough can lead to anemia.

3.   Dietary Factors:

•     Low Iron Intake: If you're not eating enough foods with iron, especially from animals like meat, chicken, and fish, it can cause anemia.

4.   Absorption Issues:

•         Health Conditions: Certain health problems like Crohn’s disease or celiac disease can make it hard for your body to take in iron from food.

To sum up, iron-deficiency anemia often happens because of bleeding, higher iron needs during pregnancy, not eating enough iron-rich foods, or having trouble absorbing iron due to specific health conditions.

 

HOW CAN I PREVENT IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA?

 

1.      Fix the Reason for Bleeding:

If you bleed a lot from heavy periods or have tummy troubles like frequent diarrhea or bloody stools, talk to your doctor.

2.      Eat Iron-Rich Foods:

Include foods with iron in your meals, like lean meat, chicken, dark leafy veggies, and beans.

3.      Boost Iron Absorption:

Eat and drink things that help your body soak up iron, such as orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, or fruits and veggies with vitamin C.

4.      Make Smart Food Choices:

Choose healthy and balanced foods; most folks who do this naturally get the iron and vitamins their bodies need.

5.      Skip Coffee or Tea with Meals:

Avoid having coffee or tea while eating because they can make it tough for your body to take in iron.

6.      Discuss Calcium Pills with Your Doctor:

If you take calcium pills, chat with your doctor. Too much calcium can make it tricky for your body to absorb iron.

In a nutshell, if you're losing blood, talk to your doctor. Eat iron-rich foods, pair them with things that help absorption, make healthy food choices, skip coffee or tea with meals, and discuss calcium pills with your doctor to make sure you're getting enough iron.

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Importance of Folic Acid by Dr. Fozia Ansari

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a vital form of vitamin B known as folate. It's crucial for everyone, but especially essential for women who can get pregnant or are already pregnant. This is because it shields unborn babies from serious birth defects, such as neural tube defects. You can obtain folic acid from vitamins and enriched foods like bread, pasta, and cereals. Folate, the natural form, is present in foods like leafy greens, oranges, and beans.

Folic Acid Support the formation of healthy red blood cells

The main role of folic acid and folate is to support the formation of healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. Insufficient red blood cells can lead to anemia, causing symptoms like paleness, fatigue, and weakness. Folate-deficiency anemia, more common in women of childbearing age, can result from a lack of folic acid.

Getting enough folic acid is vital for everyone

Getting enough folic acid is vital for all, but particularly crucial for women, especially before and during pregnancy. It helps prevent neural tube defects in unborn babies. You can obtain folic acid from natural sources like spinach, nuts, and beans or from fortified foods and vitamin supplements.

400 micrograms of folic acid is recommended daily

For women, a daily intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid is recommended. Pregnant women may need 400 to 800 micrograms.

Insufficient folic acid can lead to health issues

Insufficient folic acid can lead to health issues, including folate-deficiency anemia and complications during pregnancy. Neural tube defects, like spina bifida and anencephaly, pose serious risks to the baby's health. Taking 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid daily, even if not planning pregnancy, is crucial due to the unpredictable nature of contraception effectiveness and the early occurrence of birth defects.

Natural sources of folate

Natural sources of folate include spinach, oranges, nuts, beans, poultry, meat, and whole grains. Additionally, folic acid is added to refined or processed foods such as cereals, bread, pasta, flours, cornmeal, and white rice.

Folate-deficiency anemia, common during pregnancy

Folate-deficiency anemia, common during pregnancy, can cause symptoms like fatigue, headaches, pale skin, and mouth and tongue soreness. Treatment usually involves folic acid supplements and a diet rich in folate-containing foods.

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