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THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013

THT HEALTH
MEDICAL BOARD

Some seek comfort of their therapists office, other head to the corner pub and dive into a pint, but I chose running as my therapy Dean Karnazes

SMOOTHEN WINTER

THE HIMALAYAN TIMES

Problem urinating?

Consult a urologist
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu

rough patches
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T
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he changing weather usually has an impact on human health. As the mercury drops hinting at the arrival of winter, various health problems begin to rise common cold, various respiratory diseases, fever to name a few. Along with all these, you also need to combat with various skin diseases during the winter days. The cold days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They bring uncom-

the room or bask under sun, the skin starts to dry, informed Dr Eliz Aryal Rajouria, Dermatologist and STD Specialist at Dhulikhel Hospital. The reason being humidity in the air which makes it difficult to maintain moisture in skin as per Dr Aryal Rajouria. It thus results in cracks in skin of lips and feet, she explained. They are rough to the touch, she added. Lack of proper skin care will also lead to change in skin colour, inflammation, itchiness and reddening of skin. Thus, skin is a body part that needs to be protected during this cold weather.

take care
Afraid of cold but yet you dont need to surrender yourself to the weather. By taking some extra care to keep your skin moisturised as the days grow chilly, you can avoid common hallmarks of the season, like itching and swelling. Use minimal soap to avoid dryness in skin. Use mild, soaps Wear cotton clothes before wearing any woollen or nylon garments Skin moisturisers are an important weapon in your arsenal to fight dry skin. Use petroleum jelly to maintain moisture in your skin Home remedies like any kind of oil can be gently applied to maintain moisture in skin. But note that you must not be allergic to any kind of oil Mix a pinch of salt with butter and apply it on skin for the best skin results Use diluted glycerine at night time Gently apply sun screen lotions. Do not massage Wear proper socks and shoes Use umbrella and wear hats when you are walking under the sun Wash your hands and feet regularly Do not scrub your skin with stones and natural scrubbers Move your fingers and toes for better blood supply Take regular baths Avoid licking your lips Visit your doctor if the situation aggravates

I am 14 years old but I still have a hard time urinating. Sometimes when I urinate, there is a very uncomfortable sensation in my anus. Please give some solution to this problem. Anonymous our condition in medical terms is what is known as dysuria. Of course, it could mean difficulty in urination, painful urination or basically when one does not have painless free urine flow. The fact that you have stated your age as only 14 rules out the role of the prostrate gland (BPH/benign prostrate hypertrophy) being the cause, which incidentally is the most common cause with advancing age. In your age group, the causes could be varied from renal stone, urethral stricture, infection like cystitis of the bladder, UTI (urinary tract infection) due to different organisms, and lastly malignancies which would be unlikely in your age group but not to-

tally unlikely. Still other possible entities would be BOO (bladder outlet obstruction), urinary retention problem or a bladder stone. From the symptom which you have stated, I would suspect some kind of stricture or obstruction in the urinary flow tract. The urine basically is formed in the kidney as a waste product which is transported via ureters to bladder, the storage organ. Once the bladder gets full, one gets the urge to urinate which is discharged via the urethra. Of course some basic and detailed investigations done in cases like yours would be an abdominal ultrasound, routine urine test, IVP (intravenous pyelogram) which gives one the outline from the kidney to urethra, KUB or plain abdomen X-Ray and finally a cystoscopy, which is a camera visualisation via the urethra. So, the doctor concerned for you to consult and proceed initially would be a urologist. Dr Ranjeet S Baral

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fortable dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a general dry feeling. The skin gets so dry that it results in flaking and cracking. As soon as you heat

Psoriasis is common
Ensuring proper skin care can be challenging even under

the best of circumstances. But in the winter months, when the weather turns cold and humidity drops, keeping your skin hydrated becomes even more difficult. The tight and warm clothes that we wear during the winter season make the skin comparatively dry. Therefore, psoriasis is more common in people during this weather. Red itchy, scaly patches are seen on the skin when one suffers from psoriasis, she added. Psoriasis is more prominent in knees, elbows, and scalp. It can also affect the torso, palms, buttocks and soles of the feet. Bike riders could also suffer from chill blain. The cold air turns the colour of your nose into bluish-red if you dont cover yourself. College students who have morning classes too might suffer from such chill blain because of the chilly weather. This chill blain can become skin ulcer followed by scarring if proper treatment isnt done in

time. Because of cold, blood vessels might squeeze, which results in the loss of lymph. And this condition might aggravate to gangrene. Therefore, one needs to take care of their skin right on time, Dr Aryal Rajouria cautioned.

Winter itch
Winter itch is another skin problem one commonly encounters during the cold weather. People frequently scratch their skin without any pathological problems. It is because of the dryness in the skin, she pointed out. All people children, teenagers as well as males and females of every age group can suffer from skin dryness. We bask in the sun and the heat has an adverse effect on our skin. But we dont usually apply sunscreen lotion during winter which causes tanning of the skin. Therefore, everyone must apply sunscreen lotion during the winter season.

Dont miss on applying sunscreen lotion of more than SPF 15 on your skin, Dr Aryal Rajouria advised. Meanwhile, there are people who are scared of taking a bath during winter. They are even lazy to change their inner garments. Such people usually suffer from round, scaly, itchy red patches on the skin a form of eczema. Therefore you need to wear clean clothes, Dr Aryal Rajouria cautioned.

Exercise and relax to de-stress

Stay mentally fit

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THE DOCTORS ON THT MEDICAL BOARD ARE

DR SANDUK RUIT Medical Director, Tilganga Eye Hospital DR BHAGWAN KOIRALA Cardiac Surgeon,TUTH PROF UPENDRA DEVKOTA Chief of Neurosurgery, National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences DR KUNDU YANGZOM Chief of OBGYN Services, Patan Hospital DR KISHORE PANDEY Pediatrician, CIWEC DR SAMEER ARYAL Dentist, Advanced Dental Care DR DWARIKA P SHRESTHA Professor, Teaching Hospital and Consultant, Dermato-Venereologist, B&B Hospital DR RANJEET S BARAL Consultant cardiologist, GP and Aeromedical Examiner at Ganga Lal, VAYODHA, Advanced Polyclinic and Norvic Hospital

READERS CAN SEND THEIR MEDICAL QUERIES TO

features@thehimalayantimes.com

ONDON: A balanced dose of exercise and relaxation can go a long way in helping you to live a happy healthy life. In todays past-faced lifestyle, people are neglecting the mind, body and soul, and so, the two elements play a vital role, reports femalefirst.co.uk. Here are some tips which will aid ones overall well-being Exercise: Maintaining our fitness levels is extremely important. That allows us to lead a healthy lifestyle. Exercise and

workouts can help you to feel less tired and more focused on everyday tasks, as well as help to keep ones weight at a healthy balance. Yoga is a beneficial form of exercise that can greatly benefit your physical, mental and spiritual state. It can be used to increase energy and physical well-being and its disciplines can be incorporated into everyday life. Relax: Taking time out to relax and unwind is crucial to ensuring a good state of physical and emotional health. IANS

oost your well-being and stay mentally healthy by following a few simple steps. Connect with others: Develop and maintain strong relationships with people around you who will support and enrich your life. The quality of personal relationships has a great effect on our well-being. Take time to enjoy: Set aside time for activities, hobbies and projects you enjoy. Let yourself be spontaneous and creative when the urge takes you. Do a crossword, take a walk in your local park, read a book, sew a quilt whatever takes your fancy. Participate and share interests: Join a club or group of people who share your interests. Being part of a group of people with a common interest provides a sense of belonging and is good for your mental health. Contribute to community: Volunteer your time for a cause or issue that you care about. Help out a neighbour or do something nice for a friend. It helps you feel good about yourself. Take care of yourself: Be active and eat

well these help maintain a healthy body. Its easier to feel good about life if your body feels good. Deal with stress: Be aware of what trig-

HEALTH SMART

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gers your stress and how you react. You may be able to avoid some of the triggers and learn to prepare for or manage others. Rest and refresh: Go to bed at a regular time each day and practice good habits to get better sleep. Allow yourself unfocussed time each day to refresh. betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Fruits and veggies for winter

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ust because its winter doesnt mean you should skip the produce aisle. For starters, the cold months are the perfect time to branch out to bolder fruits, and some of the best hit their peak just in time to snap your tastebuds out of their winter funk. Many offer a great combination of sweet flavour and an acidic tang. They are refreshing and can provide a nice mental boost during long, cold winters.

But heres the catch: A healthy diet is made from more than just fruit. Canadian scientists recently compared the cancer-protective properties of 33 vegetables and found that the most powerful tumour fighters brussels sprouts, leeks, beets, and kale are often among the ones least likely to land on your plate. Here are five fruits and four vegetables that you must eat this winter. If you find any of them hard to swallow, use our tips to

unlock their flavour potential.

Fruits
Pomegranate: Pomegranate seeds are high in polyphenols, plant chemicals that fight inflammation. Mix the seeds into oatmeal for more flavour and crunch. Persimmon: The antioxidants in persimmons can help control diabetes and the cell damage it causes. Serve the fruit with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella. Kiwifruit: One kiwi contains about 100 milligrams of immunity-boosting vitamin C. Add kiwi slices to a spinach salad. Guava: One cup of raw guava contains more than 8,500 micrograms of the antioxidant lycopene, which may help prevent coronary artery disease. Pair it with blue cheese and figs for a snack. Pomelo: Pomelos pack flavanones, a class of antioxidants that have been shown to help prevent the spread of cancerous cells. Include them in a topping for a dessert sorbet.

FOOD FAD
outer layer of leaves, trim the stems, and toss with olive oil and sea salt. Place them on a baking sheet and roast at 425 degree-F until theyre nicely browned. Leeks: Many restaurants offer potato-leek soup in the winter, but you can also finely slice leeks and add them to omelets, salads, and rice. Beets: Wrap one or two beets in foil and bake them in a 350 degree-F oven for an hour or until theyre cooked through. Then cut them into cubes to toss into a salad of greens and crumbled goat cheese. Add a drizzle of walnut oil. Kale: To temper kales bitter taste, gently saut it with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, chopped garlic, and pine nuts. eatthis.menshealth.com

Vegetables
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Brussels sprouts: Remove the