Diseases and Stigmas that Haunt Them

What are stigmas of diseases? Stigma is a “collection of negative attitudes, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviours that influence the individual, or the general public, to fear, reject, avoid, be prejudiced, and discriminate against people”. It is the negative feedback or discrimination done by a healthy individual on a diseased individual. This enables varieties of discrimination that leads to denial of the individual from full social acceptance and ignites social inequalities. In a society stigma draws a fine invisible line between “normal” and “outsider,” and between “us” and “them”. And to our surprise God doesn’t discriminate but we humans do - one of the finest creations of God. This is how humans treat humans. We say we are educated but such behaviour towards anyone makes one educated illiterate. These stigmas sometimes break the individual so much that he himself starts to think that he is a so-called “outsider”. This sounds like a stereotype, doesn’t it? Don’t you think this is another way of discrimination just like racism and caste discrimination?

Question is how we can erase this line of discrimination which is adding another challenge that is disturbed mental health? So, it should have the same norms as for any other discrimination. Also stigmatizing an individual not only affects that person but also the family and immediate community. Sometimes this leads to not getting acceptance from the family itself due to the society pressure. So, the affected individual starts losing confidence and not approaching for professional help. Along with physical illness, they are forced to go through mental illness which at times brings them to a point of committing suicide. Many suicides in India are due to such chronic illness. Such stigmas are way more harmful than the disease itself. The disease a person is suffering from may be curable, however, the stigmas suffixed to it can’t. Most commonly the people suffering from AIDS, leprosy, mental illness and recently COVID-19 are the preys to these stigmas. What we need to understand is this can happen to us as well.

It’s important to make them realize that there’s no “right” or “wrong” way to respond. We should give them sufficient time to process the news so that they are kind to themselves while adjusting to new situations. So, let's take a decision of not letting them go through another level of distress when they are already going through one. It not only affects people who are suffering, but also creates a negative impact on ordinary people. It makes people to hide symptoms or illness, keep them from seeking help on time and ultimately leading to increased suicide rates. The laws should be as strict as for discrimination and harassment because we all know this is no less than a crime. So, let's come together and join hands against such stigmas!

Stop the Stigmas, Support the Stigmatized!

 

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Yoga: The Harmony WIthin

The Bhagavad Gita quotes “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” Every human desires to live in harmony with self and environment, however he is never able to strike balance between demands and necessities. As a result of imbalance he suffers from physical and mental stress. Practicing yoga helps in detachment and gaining control over mind, body and soul. It brings physical and mental disciplines in unison to attain a peaceful bliss. Undoubtedly it helps in keeping stress, anxiety and health anomalies at bay.

Yoga had a very humble beginning in India some 5,000 years ago during Indus-Sarasvati civilization. Earlier it was only practiced by rishi’s and supreme sages, but later on as the sages started including yoga in their curriculum for their disciples yoga gained popularity. Today yoga is practiced by millions of people worldwide, millions of people have experienced the profoundness of yoga and the surreal benefits it offers. The word “Yoga’’ finds its reference in Sanskrit which means “to join, to unite”, the word itself  has comprehensive meaning. Yoga consists of practical instructions for the body, breath, concentration, relaxation and meditation.  Hence yoga helps in developing holistic effects on body, mind, consciousness and soul. 

Yoga exercises are taught worldwide in education centers, rehabilitation centers, health resorts and fitness clubs. It can be performed by people of any age group owing to its easy and age flexible exercises, yoga doesn’t require any special acrobatic skill so it can be practiced by ill, handicapped and convalescent people. It helps in restoring respiration, energy and vitality. Yoga can improve the way you feel, look and move. Regular practice aids in keeping check on weight gain, disturbed immunity, and helps gain confidence.

Yoga integrates all areas of life and offers something in each phase of life.

“The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.”

• B. K. S Iyengar

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Nutrition

Nutrition is sum of the processes by which an animal or plant takes in and utilizes food substance which affects our health. Food consists of macronutrients including protein, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrate and fat. This fat not only offers calories to fuel the body and give it energy but also plays a specific role in maintaining health. Nutrition plays a very important role in growth and development of an individual. People with adequate nutrition are found to be more productive and are at lower risk of non-communicable disease such as diabetes.

Eating habits:

● Drink plenty of water.

● Avoid processed food - Stick with real food like vegetables, fruits, lean meats, nuts and low-fat dairy.

● Get into the habit of eating breakfast every day; it can help reduce snacking later on. Avoid getting extra hungry or eating too much.

● Eat a balance of 45 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent proteins and 35 percent good fats.

● Increase the amount of healthy vegetables such as zucchini, spinach, and tomatoes.

● Limit salt, sugar, alcohol, saturated fat & trans-fat in your diet.

If you take care of yourself, you can keep your cholesterol and blood pressure within a safe range thus decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Exercise habits:

Exercise in the morning. It's easier to stick to your good habits if you have a comrade. Participate in a variety of activities you enjoy, whether it's walking, running, aerobics, or tennis. Track your progress - You know you are on the right track when you sleep better, think more clearly, have a lower resting heart rate and feel stronger.

Balanced diet:

A balanced diet is one that fulfills all of a person's nutritional needs to stay healthy without going over the recommended daily calorie intake.

Components of a balanced diet:

●Carbohydrates. A vital source of energy, carbohydrates comprises about 60% of an individual's diet.

● Protein. Protein is needed to assist your body to repair cells and make new ones.

● Fats, Vitamins, Minerals and Water.

Malnutrition:

Malnutrition is a serious condition that happens when your diet does not contain the right amount of nutrients (poor nutrition). Two types:

1) Undernutrition – not getting enough nutrients

2) Overnutrition – getting more nutrients than needed

Signs and symptoms of malnutrition:

• Feeling tired and weak all the time

• Getting ill often and taking a long time to recover

• In children, not growing or not putting on weight at the expected rate unintentional weight loss – losing 5% to 10% or more of weight over 3 to 6 months is one of the main signs of malnutrition

• A low body weight – people with a body mass index (BMI) under 18.5 are at risk of being malnourished

• A lack of interest in eating and drinking

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Hygiene: The Key to Wholistic Health

According to World health organization (WHO), hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to prevent the spread of diseases. The definition itself explains that hygiene maintenance helps us to keep away from diseases. Hygiene maintenance is essential part of day to day life and it also has great impact on our health as well as on environment. Good hygiene is key to prevent infection when wounds and skin irritations are present. Poor hygiene can result in dirt and other bacteria to enter and stay inside skin wounds, while good hygiene can ward off this bacteria to prevent infection.

Hygiene is not only limited to individual but also has a great impact on environment and community. There are different types of hygiene:

● Personal hygiene includes avoiding unsanitary habits and actions, wearing proper attire, etc.

● Environmental hygiene involves solid and liquid waste management, air pollution control, soil pollution control, etc.

● Occupational hygiene means safety and hygiene at workplace.

● Institutional hygiene involves communal hygiene in schools, hospitals, etc.

No matter what is type of hygiene, it's our prime responsibility to maintain personal as well as community hygiene. In India within 5 years nearly 1,00,000 diarrheic death of children occurred.

Poor hygiene impairs the health leading to high rates of malnutrition and productivity losses.

There are lot of diseases related to poor hygiene for example:

● Hot tub rash

● Chronic diarrhoea

● Pinworms

● Body lice

● Lymphatic filariasis

Though, there are many diseases but it is in our hands to prevent it by taking various precautions in our daily life. 

Some of them are:

● Frequent hand washing

● Avoid open defecation

● Proper solid and liquid waste management

● Conducting cleanliness drives and educational camps to promote hygiene among local people.

So, taking proper precautions will lead to healthy living. Indeed personal hygiene heals more than doctor's prescribed medicines.

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