Health

Is self-diagnosis a healthy habit?

Swathy · December 26, 2016 · 6 Comments

Updated on 21st December, 2016

Earlier, we had a cough or cold, we would visit a doc or take a tablet we have been prescribed previously. These days, a minor fever and we are all googling the symptoms to know what it could be. Everyone has become a doctor. Everyone has started self-diagnosis. The information explosion online is more or less responsible for this behavior.

I am sure it irks the doctors that their patients are well able to conduct self-diagnosis and talk knowledgeably. Do not get me wrong. It is good to be aware of your body and your need to understand it. But, may be, somewhere down the line, the information is making us more self-reliant and less trusting of our doctors. Saves us from bad ones but when we actually need treatment, it might end up harming us. It would do us good to remember that not all that information is right and pertinent.

Let me just recount instances when I have obsessively self-diagnosed myself.

Irrationally, I have always been convinced that I have PCOS/PCOD all because of the facial hair. I did visit a gyneac for this!!
Again at some point of time, I started taking too many fluids and visiting the washroom too many times. My mum was staying with me at that time so she asked me if I have developed diabetes. I suddenly became so conscious that I reduced the intake of fluids!! And, started to search for other symptoms of diabetes.
I have done this multiple number of times like when I wanted to find out whether rheumatoid arthritis was genetic or when retina detachment was diagnosed in my eyes.

Thankfully, either of the time I did not really land up with the doctor but it is a serious habit which can have long term implications if it becomes an obsession.

OZiva Nutritional Meal Shake for Women Product Review

S&S Partners · October 25, 2016 · 9 Comments

The nutritional meal shakes are the latest fads in the market. They can be for weight loss, to act as meal replacers or just as protein shakes after a workout or with breakfast. OZiva Nutritional Meal Shake for Women is supposed to be a complete food and provide all the necessary nutrients to the body.

I have taken almost 3 months to review this product and I am glad that I took this time. Had I reviewed it earlier, I would have missed out on analyzing its ingredient list. Recently, I came across another very famous health drinks brand and realized how important it is to read and research on the ingredient list of health drinks.

Consequently, this other famous brand which I am not going to talk about has very poor list of ingredients and is quite expensive on the pocket as well. The contents of the health drink are debated and the jury is out there as is the usual case.

OZiva Nutritional Meal Shake for Women Product Review

Price: Rs 1499 for 500gms

Ingredients

5 Ways to Improve Immunity with Ayurveda

Swathy · October 21, 2016 · 7 Comments

Chikungunya and dengue are the most prevalent infections right now, not to speak of the regular allergies. Weather conditions are bad, immunity levels are at all time low, nutrition is not balanced, almost everyone is suffering from joint pains, hospitals are almost full to the brim. Should we not try to improve immunity?

At such times, it is probably a good idea to inculcate the wisdom of the ancients. A few additions to your daily routine and you can help boost your health and improve immunity levels by a zillion times. These simple to use and everyday tweaks may improve your overall immunity as well as may give you hayfever relief. So, lets us see 5 simple ways how ayurveda can helps us.

The Golden Milk

I always used to like a simpler version of this. I am sure all moms prescribe this concoction for any and every small health issue be it cold, cough or insomnia.

Just mix ¼ tbsp of turmeric in hot milk and you are done.

Did you know you can increase the potency of turmeric with black pepper. So, a little of crushed pepper in the above concoction is even better.