Mountaineering has become an adrenaline adventure for many these days! But if necessary precautions are not taken, it may lead to a downward spiral and deteriorating health conditions. It is mainly due to decrease in the oxygen content of blood. At high altitudes thought the percentage of O2 is the same as that at sea level, the pressure is low and hence the partial pressure is also less. This is why airplanes are provided with pressurized cabins so that the crew and all the passengers can travel without any ill effects. The ill effects of high altitude mountaineering is:
1. Headache, dizziness
2. Nausea, vomiting
3. Impairment of mental faculties.
4. Cracking of lips.
5. Pain in the ear.
6. Frostbite.
7. Dehydration.

These may proceed to drastic conditions if not treated. The mountaineer has to be given 100% O2 and made to rest. This doesn’t happen in high altitude dwellers due to certain mechanisms. Some people who are occupants of high altitude villages or other areas do not experience such effects as mountaineers do. This is due to:
1. Increased red blood cell count of 6 to 8 million cells/cu.mm
2. Increased blood flow to muscles, heart and brain.
3. Compensated respiration to acquire more oxygen in blood.

Hence mountaineers are not advised to go solo and are best to have a companion!

You must probably be wondering at the less than common topic right here. Champissage is word that denotes ‘head massage’ done the traditional Indian way. It has been gaining popularity in London, the United States and Canada. A traditional head massage done the traditional Indian way is best a person can ask for to fight everyday stress! Head massage is found in ancient Indian Ayurvedic scripts that date 4000 years back. This lost art has been revived and is now one of the much preferred ways to get through the rigors of our stressful life. According to therapists, there are different charkas of energy in all parts of our body. Balancing them provides relief and revives the energy levels. Champissage incorporates effective ways to get rid of headaches, tension build-ups and migraine. The therapist places his hands on your scalp and relaxes the upper three charkas in the neck, between the eyes and at the center of the scalp. It first begins with a massage of the back and shoulders and then progresses on to the scalp. People who opt for this therapy have better mobility, a clearer head, less sensitive eyes and achieve a glowing skin. If you are in London, the best place to beat stress will be at the London Centre of Indian Champissage International. It’s a good stress buster go try it!

Heart is the major organ responsible for all our day to day activities. It works non stop pumping blood to all the distant tissues throughout our whole life. It is the only organ that never shuts down even for a second. If that happens, it can lead to disastrous consequences. A sudden collapse and death takes place if there is cardiac arrest. You need to stay aware of these facts and keep your heart healthy to stay fit all your life. And hence to keep your baby safe, congenital heart diseases are best diagnosed soon after birth. Congenital heart diseases are due to malformations during the development of the fetus. It may be due to genetic, environmental or chromosomal aberration. Some diseases in the pregnant mother can lead to abnormalities in the child. Rubella known as German measles in first trimester of pregnancy leads to congenital heart disorders in the child. Some of them are:

1. Atrial or Ventricular septal defect.
2. Patent ductus arteriosus.
3. Stenosis of heart valves.
4. Tetralogy of Fallot.
5. Transposition of great arteries.

The disorders can be diagnosed early by some cardinal features such as:

1. Breathing difficulty due to pulmonary congestion.
2. A machinery murmur.
3. The child appears blue.
4. Impaired growth.
5. Hypertension in upper half of the body.

These signs if noted early can lead to better treatment avenues and help your child lead a better life

Walking is one of the best ways to shake off those extra fatty layers of your body! The early morning walk is a mantra for many a middle aged man to remain fit as a fiddle. The idea a long, brisk walk down a winding road surrounded by cool, green trees filled with scenic beauty can inspire many people to take up walking as their favorite past time. But it fizzles out once lethargy creeps in or if you don’t get some like minded individual to give you company on your walk. Many walking clubs have been set up by people who have an interest in it. You can find hordes of people walking down the lanes as the sun rises above the horizon. You can see them discussing politics or the latest news but this isn’t good for someone there for shedding flab. You need to concentrate on what you do to lose weight. Some people consider walk a stress buster while some regard it a fitness regimen. Those on a weight reduction program should not get diverted but instead focus on their objective. Taking a brisk walk of 200 steps a day can help you lose weight dramatically. Walking facilitates the release of endorphins which relieve pain and create a sense of well being. Breathe deeply while walking so that your respiration picks up. You get immune to diseases once your respiration gets normal. Sweating it out 30 minutes a day can work wonders. Try it out to lead a better life!