Women folk, often complain of backache and stomachache without really taking them seriously. And Rewati was no exception. When pain became unbearable, she went to the Doctor who upon ultrasound investigation found she had a little cyst which is amenable to treatment. Had she got herself checked routinely, said, Doctor, her malady wouldn’t have progressed that far. After crossing 35 year of age, women should be more vigilant about their eating habits and personal hygiene. Often a lack of cleanliness during menstrual flow, and even day to day living, leads to bad odour followed by local and systemic infections. If neglect continues, it may lead to painful smelling in genital organs. Any further delay in care and treatment will cause the genital infection is spread out in rest of the body systems.
At times women even from elite families are seen to suffer from lack of blood (anaemia). Reason being they take an excess of fat (ghee) and dry fruits whereas what body actually needs is proteins (from pulses), carbohydrates (from cereals) and good quality calcium (from milk and curd). Ofcourse, even fat is essential ingredient of balanced diet. For a wholesome meal, women, apart from green vegetables, should include fruits, eggs and other nutritive items in their diet.
Ovaries, the reproductive organ of females, secrete a hormone called oestrogen—which is extremely useful. However after 35 years of age body hormones tend to get disbalanced. Hence ladies need to ensure that they create a bank of nutrients like protiens, calcium etc. in their body systems which should act as buffer in times of deficiency. An improper diet is invitation to diseases like anaemia, fibroid, cyst, cervical cancer and related disease conditions. Cervical cancer owes its genesis to an excess of sexual intercourse. If a girl is married at an early age, indulgence in sex is bound to be on a higher side as also the number and frequency of conception. Having sexual relations with more than one male also increases the chances of cervical cancer in women.
Pep smear test
Indian Council of Medical Research recommends that after 30 years of age, women should get their pep smear test done every year, irrespective of whether they are married or single. With the help of cancer detection gizmos, malignancy of genital tract can be easily detected in routine medical inspection.
The actual procedure involved in this exercise is pep smear test. It can show the actual status of cervical health, and cancer can be detected in initial stages itself. Statistically speaking, 15 women out of every 1000 screened, are found positive for cervical cancer.
A positive pep smear test meant that cervix is dirt ridden and foul smelling, and that the cells of this organ are undergoing degenerative changes (displacia). In such situations, coloscopy is advised. Coloscopy is an advanced technique of cancer detection, wherein ovaries can be cleary seen and investigated. Also, through technical manoeuvre, a piece of target tissue can be taken out for biopsy examination. Thus a 100% diagnosis is made possible. Ergo, routine checkup is important after 35 years of age, for every woman.
Fibroid and cyst
A fibroid is swelling in genital tract. It may be a tumour (cancer) or an abscess (filled with pus). It is characterised by frequent and excessive bleeding from the female genitalia. Cysts on the other hand are of many kinds. Some cysts develop on account of bacterial infections. What causes such infection is lackadaisical attitude toward personal hygiene, particularly during the days of menstrual bleeding. At times the cavity that forms on ovarian surface after release of ‘egg’ (from it), may develop into a cyst. Apart from this, they may develop consequent upon use of unsterilized instruments during abortion, or if proper course of antibiotics is not given following medical termination of pregnency. When cysts and fibroids undergo further retrogressive changes, they become cancerous.
Hormonal imbalance
Past the age of 35 years, the balance of hormones in females tends to go haywire. Frequent complaint of ceassation of menstrual flow, for as long as 2 months at a stretch, are a direct outcome of this upheaval. The problem sets in when a ripe egg fails to trip off the ovary. Often this menifests in errectic and irregular flow of blood down the genital organs. This, actually, happens on account of benign tumour, which, if treated timely, can avoid a bigger catastroph waiting in the wings.
Pay attention to contraceptive measures
You must remember that a contraceptive like Copper-T must necessarily be dislodged after a period of 3 years use. At times users don’t remove implants even after many years of use, leading to swelling and infection in reproductive organs. Pelvic inframative disease may also be a likelihood. Apart from this, even operative interventions can lead to infectious diseases—triggering bouts of pain in back, stomach, and in sex act.
Often ladies are cherry of getting themselves examined, fearing they may come out positive for one or the other disease entity. Just think of it, if at all some ailment is detected, it can be correct by timely intervention. If you fight shy of facing a disease, you won’t be able to keep good health for long. Happiness of your home and times depends on your well being. So, at least for sake of others, leave this habit of ignoring the status of your health. You are as important as any one else in your family. So gear up to following suggestions, and make them part of your daily living.
- Always take a balanced and nutritive diet. Exercise regularly like jogging, brisk walking, scurrying up and down the staircase or ladder etc.
- Get yourself medically examined at regular intervals. For example past 30 years of age, you must go for pep smear screening test every year.
- Take adequate sleep. Keep tension at bay. Remain busy in your work. Remember menstrual flow has a direct link with brain. If you are tensed up, your monthly flow will get irregular.
- Keep examining your breasts, by self as well as by expert opinion. Also keep a watch on your blood pressure, blood-sugar, and body weight parameters.
- Use contraceptive pills and gadgets once you cross 35 years of age.
An excess of iron is harmful During pregnancy
Pregnant ladies and lactating mothers are often prescribed medicines which are rich in iron—a blood forming essential element. But recent investigations have proved that an excessive dose of iron proves inimical to uptake and utilization of zinc—are another important mineral element. And zinc being a critical requirement for mother a few weeks prior to as well as after child birth, as proved by medical research, the harm done by an excess of iron is easy to anticipate. What when this very element, zinc, is responsible for pre-natal nourishment and growth, as well as for after birth secretion of milk in mother’s breast. A survey was conducted at Human Nutrition Research Centre, California (America) of such expectant mothers who were keen to breast feed their new born.
During this above research, their food habits were meticulously receeded, and their health parameters regularly screened. It was during this investigation that importance of zinc came to light. Significantly, the women subject went out of their way to help researchers. So much so, many of them stayed put at guest house away from their homes, and religiously followed the directions of research workers regarding what to eat and drink and what not.
The truth of the life sciences
Ayurveda literally means the science of life. The sages of yore realised the importance of this science right during the ancient times. Even today, those who value health and well being, patronize Ayurveda. Man, as a matter of fact, is a conglomerate of five basic elements granted by nature. These elements are : earth, water, air, sky (ether) and fire. Accordingly, Ayurveda treats human body in tandem with nature’s formation. Actually, it’s a balance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha in our body which makes us tick with good health. If their balance is disturbed, we fall ill.
Ayurvedic treatment procedures aim at removing this disbalance of life systems. Oils and medicaments used in Ayurveda are 100% natural substances. They are made from medicinal plants, flowers, fruits, bark of tree trunks, mineral elements, milk etc. Since such medicines have no chemical or toxic ingredient, they are free from side effects of all shades and description.
The sole objective of Ayurveda is to boost up body’s immune surveillence system. Ergo it holds that prevention is better than cure. Naturally therefore, physical and mental health are given prime importance under all circumstances. Ayurveda is as relevant to day-to-day living, as to treating the sick. Adopting Ayurveda as way of life makes health an easy proposition.
In any case, if a disease is sought to be tackled by Ayurvedic means, the first thing that a physician goes for is the history of patient. Status of disease process and patient’s innate ability to fight it out is assessed in terms of the age and sex of subject. Cure is greatly facilitated if morale of the sick person is kept high. To achieve that aim yoga and meditation are resorted to. Apart from these appropriate diet during the course of illness is critically important. In particular, care is taken to avoid alcohol and the non-vegetarian diet. Ayurvedic treatment is generally carried out under two broad categories.
Under the first, diseases associated with specific body system or organs are attended to. It is noteworthy that Ayurveda has grown more and more popular in recent times for its deft handling of diseases like paralysis, arthritis, diseases of bones and joints, slipped disc, diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. Immense benefits have also been recorded in sinusitis, migraine, obesity and other life style diseases.
In the second category efforts are made to increase body’s disease fighting ability while keeping other health parameters under control. For this the Ayurvedic technique called Panchkarma is put to use. This entails massaging of head and facial area with medicated oils. Apart from that rest of the body too is massaged manually using herbal oils and powders. This regime tones up body skin. Apart from massaging, medicated steam is also used for cleansing and euphoric effect. Whole lot of this programme results in upping of blood circulation and lowering of body fat. Disease related pain in body is also brought down. And most of all, you look better and feel better.
Some of the methods of Panchkarma are as follows:
1. Abhyangam : This is a simple massaging procedure. Two experts masseurs stand on either side of the patient and massage later’s head portion in slow rhythm.
Gradually, this massage is extended on to neck, shoulders, chest and back portions of patient’s body who lies supine on a table. The body is thus massaged from head to toe in a professional manner. After this the patient is given steam bath and shower.
This massage, carried out once in a week, is deemed beneficial in relieving physical and mental stress.
2. Dhara : It’s an arrangement to let go a jet of medicated fluid kept in a receptacle and positioned at a resonable height, in such a way that the stream falls on patient’s head region. It is Urdhang Dhara when aimed at eyes and body skin, Shirodhara when used for persistent headache, mental tension and hysteria and Sarvang Dhara when used both for head and the trunk region of patient.
3. Netra Dhara : This technique is used to give rest to sore and tired eyes, as also to make them bright and good-looking.
4. Shirovasti : This exercise involves tackling sinus, migraine and such like disease conditions with the use of appropriate medicated oils.