How to keep your heart healthy - Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist) Bangalore

A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya

(Heart Specialist) Bangalore was arranged by WIPRO for its employees . 

The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.

Q: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
Ans:
1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2. Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and
avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Q: Is eating non-veg food good for the heart?
Ans: No

Q: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person
gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past
the age of 30 to undergo routine health checkups.

Q: Are heart diseases hereditary?
Ans: Yes

Q: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do
you suggest to de-stress?
Ans: Change your attitude towards life. Do not look for perfection in
everything in life.

Q: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required
to keep a healthy heart?
Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue
and injury to joints

Q: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
Ans: Mother Theresa , who was my patient.


Q: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?
Ans: Extremely rare.

Q: Does cholesterol accumulates right from an early age (I'm currently only 22)
or do you have to worry about it only after you are above 30 years of age?
Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Q: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart ?
Ans: You tend to eat junk food when the habits are irregular and your body's
enzyme release for digestion gets confused.

Q: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Q: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
Ans: Yoga helps.

Q: Which is the best and worst food for the heart?
Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.

Q: Which oil is better - groundnut, sunflower, olive?
Ans: All oils are bad .

Q: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?
Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill
test after an echo.

Q: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position , place an aspirin tablet under the
tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit
since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Q: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that
caused due to gastric trouble?
Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Q: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters?
I see people of about 30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.
Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking,
junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more
vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Q: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be
perfectly healthy?
Ans: Yes.

Q: Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
Ans : Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a
software engineer as a child

Q: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late
nights in office. Does this affect our heart ? What precautions would you recommend?
Ans : When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities.
However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Q: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?
Ans : Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs
are extremely safe.

Q: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Q: Are asthma patients more prone to heart disease?
Ans : No.

Q: How would you define junk food?
Ans : Fried food like Kentucky , McDonalds , samosas, and even masala dosas.

Q: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the
reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?
Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately,
Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Q: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?  
Ans : No.

Q: Can a person help himself during a heart attack (Because we see a lot
of forwarded emails on this)?
Ans : Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description
under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care
unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the
time, the ambulance does not turn up.


Q: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low hemoglobin count lead
to heart problems?
Ans : No. But it is ideal to have normal hemoglobin level to increase your
exercise capacity.

Q: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise.
So, does walking while doing daily chores at home or climbing the stairs in
the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Ans : Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the
act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.


Q: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Ans: Yes. A strong relationship since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks
than non-diabetics.

Q: What are the things one needs to take care of after a heart operation?
Ans : Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight.


Q: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when
compared to day shift workers?
Ans : No. ((BUT I question this !! - NOT IN THE SCRIPT)).

Q: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?
Ans : There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will chose the right combination
for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways
of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to
reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Q: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
Ans : No.

Q: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
Ans : Nature protects women till the age of 45. (Present Global census show that
the Percentage of heart disease in women has increased than in men )


Q: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
Ans : Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke and,
go for health checkup s if you are past the age of 30 ( once in six months recommended) ....

Nchi za Ulaya zijilaumu zenyewe kwa kuwasababishia matatizo wananchi wao

Msemaji wa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje ya Jamhuri ya Kiislamu ya Iran amesema kuwa, serikali za nchi za Ulaya zinapaswa kujilaumu zenyewe kutokana na matatizo ziliyowasababishia wananchi wao.

Bw. Ramin Mehmanparast ameongeza kuwa, wananchi wa Ulaya wanapaswa kujua kuwa matatizo yote yanayowakabili yanatokana na siasa mbovu za watawala wao.

Pia amesema, kutokana na mitazamo yake ya kibinaadamu, Iran haipendi kuona wananchi wa Ulaya wanateseka katika kipindi hiki cha baridi kali na mgogoro mkubwa wa kiuchumi, lakini pamoja na hayo imelazimika kuchukua hatua kali za kukata kuziuzia mafuta baadhi ya nchi za Ulaya na kutishia kuacha kuziuzia mafuta yake nchi nyingine zote za bara hilo kutokana na siasa za kiadui za viongozi wa Ulaya dhidi ya Iran.

Msemaji huyo wa Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje ya Iran ameongeza katika mahojiano aliyofanyiwa na kanali ya 3 ya televisheni ya Jamhuri ya Kiislamu ya Iran kwamba, Tehran inajua kuwa nchi za Ulaya hivi sasa zinahitajia sana nishati kutokana na msimu wa baridi kali na mgogoro mkubwa wa kiuchumi, lakini watawala wa nchi za Ulaya nao inabidi wajue kwamba, wanapaswa kuwa na siasa sahihi mbele ya mataifa mengine ili wasiwasababishie matatizo kama ya hivi sasa wananchi wao.

Britney Spears Planing for the Third Wedding?

Birtney Spears and Jason Trawick

Britney Spears is reportedly planning to get married for the third time. The boyfriend, Jason Trawick singer reportedly will apply for the song ‘Toxic’. The rumors spread after Jason went to one of the leading jewelry designers to discuss the diamond.

Quoted from Stuff, Trawick was seen in upscale Mouawad jewelry showroom in Los Angeles. Britney’s former manager was serious talk with the designer Pascal Mouawad. According to a source, they spent up to two hours talking about an engagement ring for Britney.

“They discussed Mouawad diamond from a private collection. This is the first time Jasin met Pascal,” said the source.

Britney and Jason had been dating since spring 2010. Previously, both could claim to be ready towards a more serious level in their relationship. Britney also seems to want a family with her partner.

“Britney wanted to married again and have more children. But she’s a woman who is holding the tradition and do not want to start a family with Jason until they tied the sacred,” said the source.

The woman was aged 29, was previously married twice. In 2004, she married Jason Alexander, a friend in high school in Las Vegas. But the wedding is cancelled 55 hours later.

Then in October 2004, Spears married with background dancer Kevin Federline and divorced in 2006. From Kevin, Britney has two children: Sean Preston and Jayden James.

A parent’s obvious preference of one child over another can provoke sibling rivalry and resentment as siblings compete for their parents’ attention

A parent’s obvious preference of one child over another can provoke sibling rivalry and resentment as siblings compete for their parents’ attention, says developmental psychology professor Beth Kelley.

Whether it’s because of intelligence, charisma or physical attractiveness, it’s no secret that some parents favour one child over another.

If you have siblings, you’ve likely witnessed the undeniable favouritism seen in families and perhaps even been a preferred child yourself.

However, a parent’s clear and systematic preference of one child over another can have far-reaching effects.

Mike Levine, ArtSci ’12, said though he hasn’t breached the subject of favouritism with his parents, it’s been a reoccurring theme throughout his life.

His 18-year-old sister Amanda is the favourite because of her musical talents, he said.

“My sister’s a really good opera singer, and I’m not good at literally anything,” he said. “Whenever guests are over they always show videos of her singing or on YouTube … It’s all about her opera talent.”

However, Levine said picking favourites seems natural.

“I think it’s really hard not,” he said. “As a kid, you feel like you favour your dad or your mom, and it’s just as hard with parents as it is as a kid. It’s inevitable.”

A 2005 study from the University of California Davis followed almost 400 families for three years, conducting a total of nine interviews with each set of parents and their children.

After asking them questions and videotaping family interactions, the study concluded that, “65 per cent of mothers and 70 per cent of fathers exhibited a preference for one child, usually the older one.”

Social Darwinism can point to biological reasons for parents’ favoritism. According to a Sept. 22 article in Time Magazine, Time journalist Jeffrey Kluger argues that just like in the animal kingdom, parents are biologically inclined to favour their biggest and healthiest offspring.

These children are seen as the most capable of replicating the family’s genes in future generations.

Queen’s professor of developmental psychology Beth Kelley said parent favouritism can take factors such as physical attractiveness and personality into account.

“There’s research that shows parents pay more attention to their more attractive children, which is kind of scary,” Kelley said. “Parents often bond easier with children who have the same temperament as themselves.”

Favouritism often occurs in families where parents have children from a previous marriage, she said.

“In step families, parents clearly unfavour or favour children. Parents could favour their biological children over step-children even though they try consciously not to,” she said.

Parental favouritism isn’t always intentional.

“Parents adapt their behaviour to what they think meets the child’s needs. Some kids need more supervision, encouragement or structure and rules than others,” she said. “Some kids could misinterpret this as favouring.”

It’s difficult to find an objective way to measure how parents treats their children, because each individual interprets the parent-child relationship differently, Kelley said.

“We see how our parents treat us through the lens of all our experiences and relationships, and how we’ve been treated by our friends and romantic partners,” she said.

Perceived favouritism can provoke sibling rivalry as brothers and sisters compete for their parents’ affection.

In addition, academic achievement is potentially affected by favouritism, Kelly said.

“Certainly the feeling of being loved and valued is related to self esteem and self esteem is related to academic motivation,” she said. “The better your self esteem is, the more empowered you feel to strive to achieve and stick to a difficult task.”

If a child feels favoured by their parents, their other relationships will be affected, Kelley said.

“The relationship one has with their parents and how they feel they’ve been treated is very important,” she said. “Whether you think your parent really loves you and is sensitive to your needs … this is projected on to all your other relationships.

“It’s an internal working model. If you feel your parents didn’t love you as much as your other siblings, you will think other people don’t like you as much as you would like. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

A study conducted in 2003 by Frank Sulloway at the University of California Berkeley, showed that parental favouritism had a significant effect on personality.

The study found that middle children were less likely than either first-borns or last-borns to report they had been favoured by their parents.

In addition, respondents who said they were favoured by their parents attained higher scores on conscientiousness, and lower scores on openness to experience and neuroticism.

Regardless of perceived favouritism within a household, strong social relationships are built in many ways, Kelley said.

“Parents are not the only people that socialize you,” she said. “Even if you don’t have a great relationship with them, those difficulties can be made up by really good friends, supportive teachers and extended family.”

Kerry Mendelsohn, ArtSci ’13, said she often feels favoured by her parents.

Mendelsohn said she’s typically stronger academically than her brothers.

“When they’re praising you, you feel like you’re favoured in that moment,” she said. “You want to uphold that title almost, I think it’s motivation to succeed and do well.”

Throughout her childhood, Mendelsohn provoked less anger from her parents compared to her two older brothers, she said.

“Being the youngest and being the only girl, I would get yelled at a lot less for similar crimes,” she said. “My dad was a lot rougher when he was mad at the older brothers.”

Favouritism is hard to miss, Mendelsohn said.

“Favouritism is really consolidated and obvious, I think a lot of kids can try too hard to impress their parents, you could feel rejected if you don’t uphold to their standards,” she said.

According to Mendelsohn, both her brothers would disagree that she was the favourite.

“Good parents will make every child feel like they’re the favorite.”

— With files from Katherine Fernandez-Blance

Google turns iPhones into spy phones

Google has been spying on millions of iPhone users around the world, according to a leading newspaper in the United States.

In a special report published on Friday, The Wall Street Journalsaid Google, working together with numerous advertising agencies, placed a special computer code on millions of iPhones that permits the companies to track user behavior. 

Google has denied that it monitors the activities of iPhone users and said the imbedded code, or cookies, tracks users and is only made active when users opt-in to one of Google's services, for example Gmail. 

However, the company admitted that the code unintentionally allowed additional Google Web advertising cookies to be installed on users' phones without their permission. 

Apple's Safari web browser obstructs tracking behavior, but Google's code "tricks" the Safari browser into monitoring iPhone user behavior, the report said. 

Stanford University researcher Jonathan Mayer recently discovered the code. Acting on Mayer's advice, a technical advisor to the The Wall Street Journal discovered that the Google tracking code was installed on iPhones by 23 of the top 100 websites. 

The code was implanted on advertisements from Fandango.com, Match.com, AOL.com, TMZ.com, UrbanDictionary.com, and a number of other sites. 

After the code is installed, Google can follow user movement across a large number of websites.