22% Indians Suffer From Constipation: 4 Foods That Can Help Ease Bowel Movement

Agencies
January 24, 2018

People in India often shy about talking about their bowel movement. For instance, an issue as serious as constipation is never talked about openly, they are mostly embarrassed or make jokes about it. Constipation is a common digestive issue in which people suffer with infrequent bowel movement or face tremendous difficulty in passing stool. According to a latest survey, nearly 22 per cent of country's adult population suffers from constipation and Kolkata tops the charts with 28 per cent respondents suffering from it.

"The findings suggest that 22 per cent of the adult Indian population is suffering from the condition, with 13 per cent complaining of severe constipation. 6 per cent of the Indian population suffer from constipation associated with certain comorbidities," healthcare firm Abbott said in its Gut Health Survey here.

Constipation is a problem faced by people across ages, from elders to youth to middle-aged population.

According to the survey, Kolkata tops the charts with 28 per cent respondents suffering from constipation. The survey also pointed that about one-fourth of Kolkata's population leads a sedantry lifestyle, practices self-medication and does not consult a doctor, which further aggravates the problem.

Chennai follows Kolkata, with a whopping 24 per cent population claiming to experience extreme pain while passing stools. Delhi was found to have 23 per cent respondents suffering from constipation. The survey also pointed that Delhi has the highest number of people consuming outside food along with high intake of junk food,

Patna, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Lucknow and Hyderabad among other cities were reported to have lower number of constipation sufferers compared to other three cities in the survey.

After common cold and cough, constipation is one of the most common self-claimed problems for Indians, the survey noted.

Constipation is emerging to be one of the most common medical problem in India. Experts blame the diet and lifestyle habits for the rampant growth. People who are not taking enough water and fibre or leading a sedantry lifestyle are most likely to suffer from the condition. Fibre adds bulk to the stool which regulates the bowel movement.

Various lifestyle disorders like diabetes, hypertension are also associated with symptoms of constipation, the survey noted.

"The study succeeds in highlighting the issue existing around constipation. One of the key aspects being how people neglect the problem and delay seeking medical help. In fact, constipation can be completely avoided by leading a healthy life style, eating right, embracing physical exercises, having ample of water (1litre / every 20 kg weight) to keep body hydrated. However, anyone can face the issue but it should be managed or treated early to avoid complications later on," Medicare Hospital coloproctologist Kushal Mital said.

Here are some foods that may help you rectify the bowel movement.

1. Berries

Berries are rich in fiber. Raspberries provide 8 grams of fiber in one cup.You can have them topped over your oatmeal for breakfast or even with a bowl of yogurt which has a soothing effect on your stomach. Some of the Indian berries like mulberries, strawberries, jamun ans cape gooseberries are also good options.

2. Oranges

Oranges are full of Vitamin C, which helps enhance bowel regularity. Oranges are also rich in fibre, naringenin, a flavonoid that researchers found can work like a laxative.

3. Almonds

Almonds are rich in heart-healthy fats, protein and fibers. The high magnesium content gets our intestines to work. It neutralizes the stomach acid and moves the stool through intestines. They too act as a perfect portable snack and you can also add it to your breakfast smoothie.

4. Wheat bran

Studies have shown that wheat bran can relieve constipation and improve digestion. The outer layer of the wheat kernel comprises of a lot of fiber force. You can sprinkle it over your oatmeal, whip up a batch of bran muffins, or eat a bowl of all-bran cereal.

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Agencies
June 27,2020

After admitting that the world may have a COVID-19 vaccine within one year or even a few months earlier, the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday said that UK-based AstraZeneca is leading the vaccine race while US-based pharmaceutical major Moderna is not far behind.

WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan stated that the AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine candidate is the most advanced vaccine currently in terms of development.

"I think AstraZeneca certainly has a more global scope at the moment in terms of where they are doing and planning their vaccine trials," she told the media.

AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by researchers from the Oxford University will likely provide protection against the disease for one year, the British drug maker's CEO told Belgian radio station Bel RTL this month.

The Oxford University last month announced the start of a Phase II/III UK trial of the vaccine, named AZD1222 (formerly known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), in about 10,000 adult volunteers. Other late-stage trials are due to begin in a number of countries.

Last week, Swaminathan had said that nearly 2 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine would be ready by the end of next year.

Addressing the media from Geneva, she said that "at the moment, we do not have a proven vaccine but if we are lucky, there will be one or two successful candidates before the end of this year" and 2 billion doses by the end of next year.

Scientists predict that the world may have a COVID-19 vaccine within one year or even a few months earlier, said the Director-General of the World Health Organization even as he underlined the importance of global cooperation to develop, manufacture and distribute the vaccines.

However, making the vaccine available and distributing it to all will be a challenge and will require political will, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday during a meeting with the European Parliament's Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety.

One option would be to give the vaccine only to those who are most vulnerable to the virus.

There are currently over 100 COVID-19 vaccine candidates in various stages of development.

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Agencies
July 4,2020

The Union health ministry on Friday revised the dosage of anti-viral drug remdesivir to be administered to coronavirus patients in the moderate stage of illness from the earlier six days to five days as it issued an updated 'Clinical Management Protocols for COVID-19'.

The drug, administered in the form of injection, should be given at a dose of 200 mg on day one followed by 100 mg daily for four days (total five days), the new treatment protocols stated.

The Health Ministry on June 13 had allowed the use of remdesivir for restricted emergency use in moderate cases under "investigational therapies".

"Under emergency use authorisation, remdesivir may be considered for patients in moderate stage requiring oxygen support," the document stated.

It is not recommended for those with severe renal impairment and high level of liver enzymes, pregnant and lactating women, and those below 12 years, it said.

The ministry also okayed off-label application of tocilizumab, a drug that modifies the immune system or its functioning, and convalescent plasma for treating COVID-19 patients in the moderate stage of illness as "investigational therapies".

It also recommended hydroxychloroquine for patients during the early course of the disease and not for critically-ill patients.

On June 27, the ministry had included an inexpensive, widely used steroid dexamethasone in treatment protocols for COVID-19 patients in the moderate to severe stages of their illness among other therapeutic measures.

The ministry advised use of dexamethasone, which is already used in a wide range of conditions for its anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant effects, as an alternative choice to methylprednisolone for managing moderate to severe cases of coronavirus infection.

India's COVID-19 cases soared by over 20,000 in a day for the first time taking the country's total tally to 6,25,544 on Friday while the death toll climbed to 18,213 with 379 new fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated at 8 am.

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Agencies
July 8,2020

Scientists have designed a “catch and kill” air filter which they say can trap the novel coronavirus and neutralise it instantly, an invention that may reduce the spread of COVID-19 in closed spaces such as schools, hospitals and health care facilities, as well as public transit environments like airplanes.

According to the study, published in the journal Materials Today Physics, the device killed 99.8 per cent of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, in a single pass through its filter. It said the device, made from commercially available nickel foam heated to 200 degrees Celsius, also killed 99.9 per cent of the spores of the deadly bacterium Bacillus anthracis which causes the anthrax disease.

“This filter could be useful in airports and in airplanes, in office buildings, schools, and cruise ships to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Zhifeng Ren, a co-author of the study from the University of Houston (UH) in the US.

“Its ability to help control the spread of the virus could be very useful for society,” Ren added.

The researchers said they are also developing a desk-top model for the device which is capable of purifying the air in an office worker’s immediate surroundings. According to the scientists, since the virus can remain in the air for about three hours, a filter that could remove it quickly was a viable plan, and with businesses reopening across the world, they believe controlling the spread in air conditioned spaces was urgent.

The study noted that the novel coronavirus cannot survive temperatures above 70 degrees Celsius, so by making the filter temperature far hotter — about 200 degree Celsius, the researchers said they were able to kill the virus almost instantly.

Ren said the nickel foam met several key requirements. “It is porous, allowing the flow of air, and electrically conductive, which allowed it to be heated. It is also flexible,” the researchers noted in a statement.But they added that nickel foam also had low resistivity, making it difficult to raise the temperature high enough to quickly kill the virus.

The researchers said they solved this problem by folding the foam, connecting multiple compartments with electrical wires to increase the resistance high enough to raise the temperature as high as 250 degrees Celsius. By making the filter electrically heated, rather than heating it from an external source, they said the the amount of heat that escaped from the filter is minimised, allowing air conditioning to function with very low strain.

When the scientists built and tested a prototype for the relationship between voltage/current and temperature, they said it satisfies the requirements for conventional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and could kill the coronavirus.

“This novel biodefense indoor air protection technology offers the first-in-line prevention against environmentally mediated transmission of airborne SARS-CoV-2, and will be on the forefront of technologies available to combat the current pandemic and any future airborne biothreats in indoor environments,” said Faisal Cheema, another co-author of the study from UH.

The researchers have called for a phased roll-out of the device, “beginning with high-priority venues, where essential workers are at elevated risk of exposure.” They believe the novel device will both improve safety for frontline workers in essential industries and allow nonessential workers to return to public work spaces.

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