Health

As we age, one or both of our legs can pain. A slip or fall or even an awkward step can sprain the ankle. It bears half the weight of the upright body but is a relatively weak joint. If the ligaments are strained, swelling and pain occur. If the ligaments are torn, there may be bruising as well. The R.I.C.E. treatment (rest, application of ice every 20 minutes, compression with an elastocrepe bandage and elevation ) for 2-3 days will usually work. Medication such as paracetamol and ibuprofen help relieve the pain. If there is no improvement after three days, a fracture may have occurred.

Anxiety is universal and commonplace. We have all experienced anxiety at some point of time in our lives, and most of us don’t even think it is something to be taken seriously. Perhaps we assume that it’s natural to be worrying, anxious and high-strung in today’s world and so, we don’t see how anxiety wreaks havoc on our lives. 

All over the world, fish is one of the main sources of animal protein. According to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, it comprises about 20 per cent of all animal protein consumed. In developing countries such as India, half of all animal protein consumed is fish. Certain communities have a well-established tradition of eating fish every day.

Q I feel that my face is asymmetrical and I am very self-conscious about it.

Sleep is the most important piece of the health and wellness puzzle. If it has a profound impact on both psychological and physical state of our health. We spend one-third of our day sleeping, and studies have reported that seven-eight hours of sleep is positively associated with health and longevity. So, sleep plays a vital role in overall well-being. 

Could a pot of full-fat yogurt for breakfast be an alternative to a daily aspirin to prevent strokes? New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that a fatty acid found in dairy could lower the risk of death from cardiovascular disease — and strokes in particular.

The kidneys in a human body produce around 1.5 to 2.5 litres of urine a day, which travels to the bladder through the ureters and is stored there. A person empties his or her bladder via the urethra around 6-8 times a day.

I seem to have a problem in getting even small tiffs out of my mind. I keep thinking about them, even at night, so much so that I am not able to sleep well. What to do?

Football fever reached its crescendo over the last one month. While we marvelled at the creative skills of the best on the pitch, I wonder how many actually appreciated the demands the sport places on the physical system of the human body. Football, arguably, is possibly the most physically demanding of all sports.

More than six crore Indians currently suffer from heart disorders, according to an estimate. Many of them will eventually be advised either a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) - colloquially known as bypass surgery - or an angioplasty. While some people will be worried about the physical impact of a major surgery like the bypass, almost all will be chary of the immense costs. In fact, about 80 per cent of people prescribed bypass or angioplasty cannot afford these procedures. So they look for alternative treatments and there are quite a few on offer - pharmaceutical intervention or pills, Harvard-researched natural bypass, US Food and Drug Administration approved EECP, laser surgery and so on. While most of these methods are scientifically sound, none of them are foolproof. There is also no one-size-fits-all solution - only an experienced doctor can judge which therapy will suit a patient.