Month: August 2016

8 Tips To Stop Procrastinating Your Exercise Plans

8 Tips To Stop Procrastinating Your Exercise Plans

‘I will start exercising from Monday’

‘Let me have 5 more minutes of sleep’

‘It’s too hot to exercise’

‘I can’t go out, it’s too cold’

‘Yayy…it’s raining…no exercise today.’

 

Sounds familiar? Then read on, this one is for you.

 

Agreed that maintaining a routine is one of the most difficult things, but there comes a time when you actually need to get out of your comfort zone and get moving. Being fit is a choice but keeping fit is a habit. For fitness to become your habit, you need to pull up your socks and be committed to your exercise routine. Here are 8 ways to give up procrastinating and start exercising today.

  1. Let’s begin – It will be hard for you to give long hours so, to begin with, commit for at least 5 minutes every day. This is just to get your body in the habit and once you do that you’re more likely to continue for long as time goes ahead.
  1. Pick up easy ones first – Struggling to get back into the exercise routine is completely understandable and that’s why it is better to start with some easy exercises like skipping, running, stretching, yoga for beginners, etc. It will make you feel good and you will automatically want to continue.
  1. Set your goal – Because it’s important. Goals keep you motivated and help you keep going. Short term goals work better than long term goals. Keep reminding yourself of these goals and you will never miss a good workout session.
  1. Write it down – Write it down from day one and see how far you can go. Your progress will make you not only happy but also more confident about your strengths and your body. One more benefit is that you will get to know your body and its adaptability to different exercises.
  1. Keep your gym bag handy – The chances of missing your workout session if your gym bag is already packed when you get up in the morning are rare. Therefore, make sure you prepare it the night before and keep it close to your bed.
  1. A month to notice any change – No matter how many times you want to discontinue your exercise routine, keep it going for at least a month. The reason behind this is that it takes a month for anyone to notice any physical change in your body.
  1. It’s ok if you’re not a gym person – Gym is just one way to get your body moving. You can pick up your favorite sport; go for a jog on the beach, dance lessons, or simple brisk walk to stay fit and healthy.
  1. The real reason should be you – Get fit for yourself, not for others. It is all about making yourself feel good and confident and not for anyone else or for those who decide how you should look.

 

 

 

Essential Blood Tests for EVERYONE

Essential Blood Tests for everyone

You may look fit and fine from the outside, but to ascertain your inner health a simple blood test may be required. After all, a healthy outside starts from the inside. As most of you won’t know what to look for and how to interpret blood tests, we will guide you around these blood tests.

Get all the below six tests done the next time you go for a check-up to get to know your body better.

  1. The Basic Blood Test: CBC – The complete blood count test aims to evaluate an individual’s overall health and screens for a wide range of disorders and disease including anemia, infection and leukemia. It also helps in monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment after a diagnosis is established.
  1. Testing for Diabetes – The preferred method for diagnosing diabetes is blood glucose test (fasting) as it is easy to do, convenient and less expensive than other tests. Blood glucose test (fasting) is a one time reading of your blood sugar and hence it’s often accompanied with the HbA1c test which paints the picture of your average blood sugar level for the past 3 months. If your HbA1c ranges of about 7%, you will face less complication in your eyes, kidneys and your nerves. If you experience any pre-diabetes symptoms, go for OFTT test which can diagnose diabetes at an early stage.
  1. Keep a check on fats – Lipid profile is a panel of blood tests used to determine individual’s risk of heart disease. This test is used to screen abnormalities in lipids, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Make sure your HDL (good cholesterol) is between 45-50 mg/dl and LDL (bad cholesterol) should fall under 150.
  1. Look for signs of inflammation – C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood test marker for inflammation in the body. It helps the doctor to determine your risk for heart disease or stroke. C-reactive protein is a substance produced by the liver in response to inflammation. A high CRP count and high cholesterol put you at greater risk of having a heart attack. If you’re a smoker, your level of CRP may be increased.
  1. Last but not the least: Check your thyroid – although thyroid issues are more common in women, but men can get it too. Thyroid disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer. Stress and poor sleep are its main culprits. Go for a thyroid-stimulating hormone test (TSH) if you feel the need.

Congratulations, you have just upgraded your knowledge of these blood tests. Now you will know what tests are meant for which disorders and how to read your reports. Feel free to contact us for more information- 011-30611467/432. Also, you can book a home visit for getting tested at your home.

Tips To Stay Healthy During the Rainy Season

It is a big relief when we see the clouds turning dark and those tiny water droplets falling down along with an earthy scent. After experiencing the scorching summer heat, the monsoon is nothing less than a welcome euphoria. However, the season also invites a number of health problems which should be avoided while we enjoy the rains.

Tips To Stay Healthy During the Rainy Season

Here are some important tips for you to stay healthy during the rainy season.

  1. Keep rain gear with you always – Rains are unpredictable. The best thing you can do is be always prepared by keeping the rain gear with you. A raincoat and waterproof are a must during this season.
  1. High Vitamin C Intake – Increasing the intake of Vitamin C will help your body drive away the cold virus faster. A sufficient supply of this vitamin will help in restoring the immune system by activating the antibodies.
  1. Shower after being caught in the rain – Having an after rain shower will protect you from many infections.
  1. Hot drinks – There would be an inner desire for hot drinks like tea or soup after getting drenched in rains. This will not only help you from catching a cold, but will also save you from getting any kind of infection which might occur due to changes in temperature of the body.
  1. Make sure your surroundings are clean – Cleanliness is very important during the rainy season as it is the perfect season for the microorganisms to grow. So, try to maintain a hygienic surrounding. Not only this, maintain personal hygiene by regularly washing your hands as most of the infections we get are from the hands.
  1. Drink ample amount of water – Your water intake may reduce naturally due to the sudden drop in the temperature. So don’t wait to get thirsty and drink water at regular intervals as it will help you drain toxins from your body.
  1. Look at what you are eating – It is not advisable to eat roadside fried food during this season. Try to prepare nutritious foods by including foods that boost immunity like garlic, ginger, carrot, etc. Do not forget to wash them before preparing.

Besides the coolness and fresh air that monsoon brings, it also plays a great host to various health conditions and infections. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions and be prepared whenever you go out of your home.

Debunking Myths About Diabetes

Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate in India. With millions of diabetics living in India, there are lots of misconceptions about the disease. Here are some common myths and the facts about diabetes:

Debunking Myths About Diabetes

Myth 1: Diabetes is not a serious disease.

Fact: Diabetes is a serious and chronic disease. Having diabetes doubles your chances of getting cardiovascular diseases. However, it can be managed with proper medication and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Myth 2: Diabetes is caused by too much sugar.

Fact: While Type 1 Diabetes is caused by genetics and some unknown factors, Type 2 Diabetes is a result of genetics and lifestyle factors. One is at greater risk of type 2 diabetes if he is overweight.

Myth 3: A diabetic can’t consume any kind of sweetener.

Fact: Avoiding direct sugar is a must for a diabetic person. However, artificial or low-calorie sweeteners can be used to sweeten foods and drinks.

Myth 4: People with Diabetes are more likely to get colds and other illnesses.

Fact: Having diabetes doesn’t put you at greater risk for illnesses like colds. But, an illness can make your diabetes difficult to manage.

Myth 5: If you’re diabetic, you cannot participate in sports or exercise.

Fact: Being a diabetic, you don’t have to refrain yourself from playing your favorite sport. Any sport can be followed while managing diabetes.

Myth 6: Women with diabetes shouldn’t get pregnant.

Fact: Women who manage their diabetes well can have a normal pregnancy and can give birth to a healthy child.

Myth 7: A diabetic person can feel when the blood glucose level goes down.

Fact: It’s not certain that a person will always realize his blood glucose level going down. That’s why it is necessary to keep a record of blood sugar levels for each day.