The Junk in our life

These days we are hearing a lot about junk food and the related side effects. This ready to eat food, relishing our senses is no doubt dreadful for our overall health. Its regular consumption deteriorates our life beyond imagination. We all know this, we all realize this but still we are unable to give up. 

The Junk in our lives is eating us up. Other than this junk food there is one more category to this demon, the junk in our mind and lives. After days of efforts and some self help, I am able to throw most of the junk in my life. Here is the small list:-

I was able to free my mind of some unnecessary thoughts and emotions.

I have a better control on my level of anger, which mostly remained suppressed and used to feed on my peace of mind.

I am able to forgive people in a much better way for petty offences they do to me. (Forgetting is still to achieve).

I have stopped my unnecessary efforts to please people and make them happy. (We cannot make everyone happy).

I am learning to be more patient and relaxed. (There used to remain some sort of hurry, worry and rush in my thoughts, earlier I just tried in vain that even day to day task should complete with a blink of an eye) I can understand better now that each task would take its due course of time.

And I could achieve all this wisdom through:-

Reading - my long lost habit, which I have resumed now. Earlier my time would go to melancholy and feeling of lowness would overpower me. 

Meditation – I am still a learner but trust me it’s nothing less than a miracle.

Talking and sharing with friends - No matter how busy my schedule is I have to take time out for my friends.

Engaging myself in activities that foster positive thoughts like gardening, clicking photos, coloring and painting (shall share some soon).

Faith, Hope & Belief – in God and myself.

It is entirely up to us how we shape up our lives. Time never stops for anyone. Moments we lose now shall never come back. Stop comparing your journey with anybody else. Make most of your life. Never give up, be happy and keep smiling.

Anti Arrack Movement

It is not a story or any other ordinary tale. It is an example of sheer courage and determination. Having faced the brunt of extreme physical and verbal abuse, it was enough for these rural women of Nellore district of AP. These men would come home heavily drunk, use foul language, and beat up their wife and kids. The men used their entire earning on ‘arrack’, and when left with no money they would start selling household items including hard earned food material, utensils even wives’ sari in exchange of liquor.

‘Arrack’ is a rectified spirit. It is generated by distilling fermented molasses, grains or fruits depending on the country where it is being produced. Due to its low cost and easy availability, ‘arrack’ was the most widely consumed drink by poor people. ’Toddy’ – locally made liquor.

Communication, education and sharing helped women a lot - At the community wells and while working on fields these women used to discuss their problem. And one day they decided to talk about it with the Sarpanch, who agreed to them but could not help much. The very next day these women gathered and moved to the outskirts of the village from where the ‘toddy’ cart enters, they stood in front of the cart and strongly told the person in unison to throw this menace away. Seeing the collective power of these women the driver got scared and moved back.

Many people tried to manipulate the ladies so that liquor may enter village anyhow, but these women decided not to give up, they demanded that ‘arrack’ should not be sold in their village. The women stood unmoved. The ‘arrack’ contractor felt cold nerve, they made various attempts, plans but none worked. 

This gave immense strength to the women who stood united and strong. Gradually this achievement encouraged women from other neighboring villages to join hands, they too had similar problems. Women from urban localities too joined this team, and hence it took the shape of a massive revolt against liquor. They got support later from NGO’s, opposition parties and local leaders. 

Eventually these women succeeded in their endeavor and things changed for better.  It clearly sets an example of great courage as their journey was not easy as it is told. They sailed the storm bravely because they were united.

(Image - here)

The Threat of Tuberculosis

India has approximately two to three million people infected Tuberculosis. India bears a disproportionately large burden of the world's tuberculosis rates, as it resides to be the biggest health problem in India.

Cause –

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria ‘Mycobacterium Tuberculosis’.  It primarily affects the Lungs.

Infection –

It is highly contagious and can easily spread through airborne droplets e.g. sneeze, cough.

Symptoms –

A bad cough lasting 3 weeks or longer

Pain and discomfort in chest

Coughing up blood or sputum

Weakness or fatigue

Weight loss

No appetite

Chills

Fever

Sweating at night

Risk Factors –

People recently infected with TB bacteria

People infected with medical conditions that weakens immune system

People have higher chances of TB infections if:

HIV Infection

Child younger than 5 years

Cigarette smoking, drug or alcohol abuse

People not treated correctly or fully for previous TB infection.

Malnutrition

People with Diabetes Mellitus are also at risk.

  

Diagnostic tests

Mantoux tuberculin skin test - A hard, raised red bump means you're likely to have TB infection (Within 48 to 72 hours)

Blood Test

Chest X - Ray

C T Scan

Sputum Test

Extra pulmonary TB (Infection spreading outside lungs)

Pleura (in tuber0063ulous pleurisy)

The central nervous system (in tuberculous meningitis),

The lymphatic system (in scrofula of the neck),

The genitourinary system (in urogenital tuberculosis), and

The bones and joints (in Pott disease of the spine)

(When it spreads to the bones, it is also known as "osseous tuberculosis”, a form of osteomyelitis.)

Treatment

This is most crucial to Tuberculosis. Once a person is confirmed diagnosed with TB, medication should start immediately without break of even a single dose. This is important to stop the further spread of infection. Infection spreads rapidly which is deadly. It is a contagious disease and so medication needs to start quickly.

The course of medication last from 6 months to 9 months.

Stopping treatment too soon or skipping doses can allow the bacteria that are still alive to become resistant to those drugs, leading to TB that is much more dangerous and difficult to treat.

Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB, also known as Vank's disease)

It is defined as a form of TB infection caused by bacteria that are resistant to treatment with at least two of the most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs.

Primary MDR-TB occurs in patients who have not previously been infected with TB but who become infected with a strain that is resistant to treatment.

Acquired MDR-TB occurs in patients during treatment with a drug regimen that is not effective at killing the particular strain of TB with which they have been infected.

This can occur due to patient not taking the medication correctly, which can be due to a variety of reasons, including expense or scarcity of medicines, patient forgetfulness, or patient stopping treatment early because they feel better.

TB facts

India has the highest number of TB cases in the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) statistics for 2014 give an estimated incidence figure of 2.2 million cases of TB for India out of a global incidence of 9 million.

India has over 71,000 notified cases of MDR-TB (multi-drug resistant-TB).

India reports more than 3 lac TB deaths every year.

Children comprise 40% of the population but are currently under-diagnosed in India. 

Tuberculosis is curable and preventable; all we require is awareness and support. There is no stigma attached and no need of embarrassment. The patient needs to be careful, take complete course of treatment and should be educated by health provider about precautions and prevention. We need to wake up, take the call and step forward to help make India TB free nation, communication is always the keyword.

References:-

Wikipedia 1

Wikipedia 2

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Mayo clinics

TB Facts

 

Image

Pic 1

Pic 2