Health : Skin care tips for Summer

1. Stay Hydrated: Instead of drinking carbonated drinks, drink water, fresh lime, fresh fruit juices, aam panna (green mango drink) or coconut water to stay hydrated. It’s also best to minimise the intake of diuretics like alcohol and caffeine as they reduce the water from your system. Drink a lot of water and liquids and your skin will stay soft and moisturised as well. Buy books for preparing smoothies at home.
   
   
   
2. Sun protection: Try and stay indoors between 11am and 3pm. That’s when the sun’s rays are the strongest and can have an adverse effect on your skin. Apply sunscreen with high SPF at least 15 while going out.
   
4. Moisturiser: Use a water based moisturiser if your skin is too dry.Cleanse your face at least twice a day.
   
5. Use a toner: Try rose water as its natural cooling properties make it an excellent toner for the hot season. 
6. Healing: Application of moisturizer containing aloe extracts or for that matter application of aloe gel serves to be an effective summer healing option.
   
7. Exfoliate: It’s really important to exfoliate your skin in the summer to remove dead skin and improve blood circulation to the face.
   
   
8. Sun tan: In order to get rid of uneven summer tanning, go for a blend of gram flour, yogurt and lemon juice, to apply the same on parts affected. There are sun tan removers available in the market which can be used to remove the tan.
   
9. Wash: Wash your face gently with water a number of times in a day. You can splash as many as 20 times but don't use very hot or cold water on your skin.

Health: Eye care tips for summer

Summer is nearing & we need to take good care of our eyes. Follow the eye care tips below to keep your eyes healthy during the hot summer months:

Ten eye care tips for Summer:

1. Make sure your glasses provide 100% protection from UV rays. Wear glasses with lenses which provide 100% protection from UV rays.
2. Wear large shades. Make sure to choose shades with wraparound frames and wide lenses.
   
3. Wear a broad protective hat . A wide brimmed hat will block the sun before it gets to your eyes.
   
4. Wear sunglasses on cloudy days. UV can still reach your eyes in cloudy summer days and cause damage. So, wear sunglasses in cloudy days too.
5. Drink enough water. Drink at least 8 cups of water a day to keep yourself properly hydrated. This will keep your skin and eyes moist as well.
   
6. Stay indoors during the middle of the day. Stay indoors as much as possible particularly in the late morning and afternoon when the sun is at its strongest and the highest levels of UV are in the atmosphere.
7. Consider polarized lenses. Since they reduce glare from reflective surfaces, polarized lenses are great for water-based activities and driving.
8. Wear swimming goggles to protect your eyes from water-borne bacteria or chemicals and from UV rays. 
9. Be careful not to apply sunscreen too close to the eyes or eyelids as it can enter the eye and cause irritation.
10. Use allergy relieving eye drops. If you suffer from itchy, watery eyes due to allergies, use eyes drops that contain an antihistamine. Whenever necessary, hit the sink and splash cold water on your eyes to relieve them from the heat.

Pet care: Cats

Bathing, Feeding, and Grooming Cats

Bathing cats:

• Cats normally don't require bathing, but if your cat does need a bath, don't try to do it alone, get someone to help you. A cat gets panicky on a slippery surface, so place a towel or rug over the side of the tub or basin for the cat to cling to. Hold the cat with one hand and lather quickly with the other. 
• Make certain the water is lukewarm.
• Use a hand-held spray hose to thoroughly wet your pet, taking care not to spray directly in her ears, eyes and nose. If you don’t have a spray hose, a plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup.
• Always use shampoo for cats, buy them from pet stores & follow proper instructions. 
• Wash the head, ears, and neck first. If you don't, any fleas that are on the animal will take refuge there while you clean the rest of its body. Be careful not to get shampoo in the eyes.
• To avoid colds, keep your cat inside for several hours after a bath.
• Wrap your cat in a large towel and dry her with it in a warm place, away from drafts. 
• Do not keep your cat in the water for too long.

Grooming Cats

• When your cat starts to shed hair, usually after the cold-weather months, massage its coat with your hands, then stroke the animal from head to tail with your palms. 
• If you encounter tangled fur when combing a long-haired cat, use your fingers, not a comb, to separate the tangles.
• When brushing short-haired cats, be sure to brush between the shoulders where the cat can't reach to groom itself.
• Your cat's claws will be easier to trim if you press the paw to expose the nails. Use special clippers from the pet supply store - never use human nail clippers on a cat. 
• Clean only that part of the ear canal that you can see, using a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil or alcohol. This should be done monthly.

Feeding Cats

• Never offer bones to your cat, they may catch in your pet's throat.
• If moist pet food is not eaten within two hours, refrigerate it. Dry food and biscuits are the only foods that can be left out for any length of time.
• Do not feed dog food to a cat. Buy only cat food.
• If you're going to change your pet's diet, do it gradually. A sudden change may be a shock to the animal's system.
• Don't worry if your cat eats grass; many animals actually graze.
• On a hot day, fill your pet's bowl with cold tap water and freshen it often.

You can always get some good tips and tricks about taking care of your kitty by reading a good book about raising cats.

Health: Post-Holi Skin, Hair & Nail Care Tips

Post-Holi Skin, Hair & Nail Care Tips

Hope you guys enjoyed a lot this Holi. But now you must be trying to get rid of the colours on your skin and hair. We are here to help you. Follow the tips below:

• Do not exfoliate your skin, rubbing your skin will only inflame it further. Instead, apply a cleansing gel or baby oil on to your face. Massage it in a circular motion for about a minute. Wash it off with cold water (hot water will make the colour stick). 

• Shower off all the dye from your body with a soothing shower gel or body wash with a loofah. But be gentle and don't rub too vigorously as it may cause rashes over your skin.

• As soon as you step out of the shower, apply a moisturiser on your face and body. This will keep the skin hydrated and cool.

• Also strictly avoid bleaching, waxing or facial for a week before and after Holi.

• If you want you can also rub some lemon wedges over your skin. The natural bleaching agent in lemons helps remove the sturdy stains which otherwise doesn't go away easily. Rub it on for some time and then wash it off. After washing it off, make sure to apply ample moisturiser to prevent the skin from dryness.

• Don't ignore the nails, they need caring too. Use a nail polish remover to get off as much colour as you can from your nails. Every few hours, pamper your tips with a nail cream.

• Hair care: Wash off as much colour as you can from your hair with cold water. Then, use a protein based shampoo followed by a nourishing conditioner.

• Don't expect to be squeaky clean after the first wash, so be gentle on your skin and hair.  Follow this skin and hair care regime daily and the colours will come off eventually.

Health Tips: Swine Flu

Health Tips

Causes, Symptoms, Preventive Measures & Treatment of

Swine Flu

(H1N1) is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus. It is commonly known as Swine Flu and Pig Flu.

Causes

• Most of these cases occur in people with direct exposure to pigs (e.g., people working on pig farms or slaughterhouses). 
• It is spread from person to person when the virus enters the body through the eyes, nose, and/or mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• The virus can also rest on hard surfaces like doorknobs, ATM buttons, and counters. A person who touches these surfaces with their hands and then touches their eyes, mouth, or nose can become infected with the virus.
• You cannot get infected with swine flu from eating pork products that have been properly cooked to an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F).

Symptoms

• cough
• fever
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• diarrhea
• rash

Preventive measures

• Get flu vaccination or flu shot on annual basis.

• Prevent the germs to get into the body by washing your hands properly using soap or sanitiser.
  
• Avoid contact with people suffering from swine flu. 
• Avoid crowded places.
• It is important to have properly handled cooked food. The raw food must be properly washed and cooked.
• Wear masks on mouth and nose to avoid virus intake from the air.
  

Treatment

• Most cases of flu, including H1N1 flu, require only symptom relief. If you have a chronic respiratory disease, your doctor may prescribe additional medication to help relieve your symptoms.
• The antiviral drugs oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are sometimes prescribed to reduce the severity of symptoms.
• Antibiotics are given by doctors to combat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, which may occur as a complication of influenza.