Latest news with #Healio
Forbes
a day ago
- Health
- Forbes
The Unsung and (Often Exhausted) Heroes: Moms
The young mother was visibly exhausted. She had been up for two nights as her six-month-old ran a fever and cried nonstop. She had thought about going to the ER but worried about the long wait, especially without childcare for her two-year-old as her husband was out of town. Now she was in the pediatrics office with an air of despair. 'Please help me. I don't know what's wrong with my child". Parenting Can Be Stressful Being a parent is a journey, even in the best of times. Whether it's a sick infant, a clumsy toddler with a broken arm, a 9-year old starting the soccer season with a concussion, or a teen struggling with anxiety at school, the potential challenges can be endless. Unfortunately, the weight of parenting and supporting kids through this myriad of issues often falls disproportionately on moms. Almost 25% of women leave their jobs in the first year after having kids. After five years, only about 30 percent of these moms have returned to work. Over three-quarters of moms report they are the ones responsible for managing their children's healthcare. It is not surprising to see that JAMA recently published a study about the stress and decline in mental health that moms are experiencing. This seems to be relevant to many professions. In a Healio survey of physicians, 64 percent of women reported that they had caregiving responsibilities, and greater than 50% reported that this had a significant impact on their stress levels. Mental Health is Often Impacted Maternal stress and mental health can have rippling effects and impact kids' own mental health, affect their social skills, educational success, and even their weight. These consequences may begin even before birth – infants of mothers dealing with depression, anxiety, or stress while they were pregnant have been shown to struggle more with social and emotional development. Parental mental illness is one of the adverse childhood experiences that the American Academy of Pediatrics flags as high risk for leading to poor health as adults. Community is Key Stress and mental illness do not exist in a vacuum - a multitude of external factors exert stress on a parent's day-to-day life, from financial instability and food insecurity, to lack of childcare and mental health services. Policies that protect and expand social services for families would help to alleviate many stressors that parents may face, including protections for SNAP, Medicaid, and legislation to support affordable childcare. Guaranteed robust and paid maternity leave policies would allow new moms to heal, rest, and adapt to this next chapter. In Europe, for example, many countries offer up to a year of parental leave, with much of it paid. Online community support can be helpful and some resources do exist. The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) via text or call as a 24/7 service for pregnant people or moms to talk to counselors who can provide support and refer them to local resources. Self Compassion Can Buffer Stress But an essential change to help our moms, often the 'Chief Health Officers' of the family, is a culture shift. Moms and caregivers should be encouraged to get off the treadmill, pause, take care of themselves and support systems should be in place to allow this to happen. This concept of 'self compassion' has been studied extensively and has made a difference in teachers, healthcare professionals and parents. The 'reset' includes breathing techniques, visualization, guided meditation and mindset shifts. To allow for these pauses, our essential caregivers must also have an inner team of family and friends that they can hand off to, or lean on, so they can take time to reset and breathe. Imagine this - the young mother calls her neighbor, who watches her toddler while she takes her baby to urgent care. The doctor diagnoses the child with an ear infection, prescribes antibiotics and shows her how to suction her baby's nose so he (and she) can sleep soundly. Everyone wakes up the next day rested and calm. Self compassion, connection and a village are essential parts of helping our most significant caregivers- moms. When we uplift our moms and other caregivers, there is a rippling effect to the health of the children now and longterm. Written with Alice Gao, MD.
Mint
08-06-2025
- Health
- Mint
How to manage high blood pressure with simple lifestyle tweaks
Just under a month ago, the world celebrated Hypertension Day on May 17. Considering an even more recent report published by online medical site Healio, Hypertension unawareness rose from 2013 to 2023, you might reason that having a day just for this condition that silently creeps on us is essential. Furthermore, a May 2024 WHO (World Health Organisation) report states that Indians have been consuming nearly twice the recommended amount of sodium (10.98 gms). And this is making the population more susceptible to high blood pressure (hypertension). WHO's recommendation is to use Lower Sodium Salt Substitutes (LSSS). Unavoidable as hypertension or blood pressure is, Lounge spoke to experts to know if there are simple tweaks you could make to your daily to control this condition before it turns severe. Also read: A guide to understanding inflammation and ways to combat it's negative effects 'While the risk of developing hypertension increases as one ages, recent research has revealed alarming statistics about its prevalence among Indian adolescents, with rates as high as 25 per cent. That's why it's important for people with a family history of diabetes and hypertension to start getting regular BP checks in their mid-20s. Others can wait until their early 30s to start testing for hypertension," says Dr Anuja Agarwala, vice president, Indian Dietetic Association, Delhi. According to Agarwala, parents should be aware that hypertension can exist in children too. So, if high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases run in the family, schedule regular BP checks for your children too. SYMPTOMS 'About a decade back, hypertension would happen to those in their 50s. These days, due to high stress, lifestyle, genetic factors and addictions, people are getting hypertension at even 28. And the risk is higher if you're obese," notes Dr Swarup Swaraj Pal, head of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai. Pal explains that hypertension happens when calcium gets deposited in the lining of the blood vessels, causing it to harden. This adds pressure to the heart as it's pumping harder. If left unattended, this can eventually result in cardiovascular disease. The most common symptoms of hypertension, according to Pal, are sleep deprivation, an inability to focus, throbbing headaches and fluctuation in energy levels. More serious symptoms could include blacking out and being on the verge of collapsing. 'Get your blood pressure checked every three-six months, especially if you're above 30," he advises, and reiterates that the risk of one being affected by hypertension is high if you have parents who are obese or have a history of heart disease. 'While women are more or less protected by the hormone estrogen till age 45 or 50, after menopause, they too are at a risk of suffering from hypertension," Pal adds. Hypertension, Agarwala says, manifests in symptoms as small as headaches. 'What makes it particularly dangerous is that it does not cause specific symptoms until it's too late. If not managed well, hypertension can lead to serious health issues, such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease," she cautions. Also read: Why short bursts of cold showers are good for you WAYS TO MANAGE HYPERTENSION Apart from medication, Agarwala's top tips for managing hypertension naturally include quitting drinking and smoking; getting adequate sleep for about eight hours; reducing exposure to stressful environments– if your work environment is stressful, step out every four hours or so; and exercise three-four times a week. She cannot stress enough about the importance of physical exercises. 'It is important to make time for it at least 3-4 times a week. But those who are unable to dedicate time for exercise should try and include more walking into their daily routine. Walking 10,000 steps a day is considered beneficial for your cardiovascular health." It's also crucial to be aware of how sodium insidiously adds up in your diet. It might be the chutney you eat at lunch or those rice crackers you have at tea. According to Agarwala, including fruits and vegetables in your diet is another effective way to maintain healthy blood pressure. GET CREATIVE WITH INGREDIENTS Mysuru-based Dr. Jamuna Prakash, former professor, food science and nutrition, University of Mysore, says, managing hypertension isn't about entirely cutting out namkeens us Indians are so fond of from our diet, but consuming it judiciously. 'Whilst cooking, pairing salt with low-sodium seasonings like MSG (monosodium glutamate), along with an assortment of herbs and spices, can bring out an ideal balance of umami, saltiness, and other traditional Indian flavors—making for a satisfying meal without the need for additional sodium," she says. Adding smokiness to your paneer and chicken preparations can provide additional complexity to the flavor profile of the dish, says Mumbai-based chef Ajay Chopra. 'Borrowing from culinary practices around the world, like using kombu or seaweed broth, as done in Japan, can create umami in certain soups and curries. Adding lemon juice is another way to add flavour to your dishes, and stimulate your taste buds," he notes. Sumitra Nair is an independent journalist based in Kochi. Also read: Anxiety attacks: When should you get treated?
