Q: My daughter, 15 years old, is an excellent dancer. She was recently down with typhoid. Now, she is too weak to go for her dance lessons. Please suggest a few exercises that she can do at home to feel revitalised. Do you have any diet suggestions? Also, what can I do to help her hair growth as she has lost quite a bit due to the strong medicines she was taking?

MP, Siliguri

It takes nearly three months to recuperate from typhoid. If it’s less than three months, your daughter is bound to feel weak. This may, of course, vary from person to person.

Encourage your daughter to go for walks instead of taking up light exercises. This will refresh her mentally. She has spent a long time confined in bed. A change of scene might work wonders.

Don’t worry about her hair loss. She is just 15 and she has a lot of time to get back what she has lost. A homoeopathic lotion might be of some use. You can also apply coconut or mustard oil half-an-hour before applying shampoo.

To improve blood circulation and hence stimulate hair growth, try the following exercise:

Hang the head over the bed for four to five minutes after getting up in the morning or before going to bed.

Your daughter must take at least two teaspoons of some health drink powder added to a glass of milk. If she is not fond of milk, make her drink sugarcane or any other fruit juice.

Her meals should include a lot of seasonal vegetables, lentils, sprouts, etc. You can toss the vegetables or sprouts with a few chopped onions and oil. Lastly, ask your doctor to prescribe a good tonic for daily use.

Q: I want to learn swimming but I am already 28 years old. Is it too late for me to start now? I have started gaining weight which makes me feel embarrassed about the way I look. I think I am too conscious to learn swimming from any school or club. Can I have private lessons? I am also slightly asthmatic. Will that be an issue?

PD, Calcutta

It is never too late to learn swimming, and you are just 28! If you are shy of swimming in public view, you should take your coach into confidence and find out a time when the pool is virtually empty.

Try sea cod liver capsules to improve your breathing condition. Pursue this on a regular basis.

After your swimming class gets over, you must head for the shower. You must carry a flask of some hot drink which you must consume after class.

If you are still left with any problem, then you might consider gymming instead of taking to the pool.