Spirituality and Healthcare

SPIRITUALITY HELPS CURE ILLNESS

WASHINGTON: Saints and religious gurus have been saying this since ages, now a new study has reinforced their idea that spirituality improves health outcomes for both men and women facing chronic illnesses.

Researchers at the University of Missouri in the US found that being involved in religious or spiritual activities improves women's mental health, while men experience better physical health as well as improved mental health. "The new findings reinforce the idea that religion or spirituality may help buffer the negative consequences of chronic health conditions," study author Stephanie Reid-Arndt said.

Numerous previous studies have shown the positive effects of spirituality and religion on health. To delve deeper into the religion-health link, Reid-Arndt and her colleagues looked at the role of gender in using spirituality to cope with their chronic health conditions such as stroke, cancer, spinal cord injury or brain injury. For their study the researchers recruited 168 people, aged 18 and more, from an academic health center who had chronic health conditions.

After gauging each participant's level of religiousness or spirituality, the researchers measured their general mental and physical health by asking them to fill out questionnaires. Though women are stereotypically regarded as more religious than men, the researchers found no differences between two sexes in terms of self-reported levels of spiritual experiences, religious practices or congregational support.

PIMPLES ? GO FOR GARLIC

KILL PIMPLES WITH GARLIC AND MUD PACK

If pimples and acne scars on the face are bothering you, try putting some garlic juice or a mud pack. Or if you are game for medical help, laser treatment and chemical peels are an alternative, say dermatologists.

The acne problem usually starts around the age of 10-13. Though many get rid of it by their 20s, for some it lingers.

"In teenagers, there are two things that trigger acne problem. First is hormonal changes in their body. In boys, it is the increased secretion of testosterone and in girls, the levels of both testosterone and oestrogen rises," Chytra V. Anand, cosmetic dermatologist, Kosmoderma Clinics, Bangalore, said in an interview.

"Due to these hormones the oil secretion in the body increases and the skin becomes oily and more prone to acne and breakouts. The other trigger for acne is bacterial infection," she added.

Anand says about 90 per cent of teenagers suffer from acne in varying degrees of severity. It has a psychological effect on youngsters who want to have clean and clear skin.

Various medical and natural treatments are available.

"Medicated creams and face washes are there. Topical treatments for teenaged acne include benzoyl peroxide, sulphur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid are there. The US Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) has found these effective for treating acne," said Meenakshi Agarwal, a Mumbai-based cosmetic surgeon.

If the condition worsens, doctors prescribe oral antibiotics for bacterial infection, hormonal pills and light therapy with lasers.

The lasers can cost Rs.5,000-Rs.10,000.

"Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are used to lighten post-acne scarring and cost anything between Rs.1,500 and Rs.3,000," said Indu Tolani, dermatologist, Clinic Dermatec.

"Post-acne scars can be cleared by clean-ups with salicylic or glycolic acid at a clinic. Gentle exfoliation with these acids helps in taking out blackheads and whiteheads. Also, the skin becomes acidic and the bacteria doesn't grow in an acidic environment," said Anand.

But she warns teenagers against random treatments at beauty salons, saying: "It is important that the clean-up should be undertaken under the guidance of a dermatologist in a clinic."

Some natural remedies like garlic juice, clay packs and lemon juice also help in avoiding acne and lightens scars.

"To avoid acne, wash your skin twice a day. Make sure that you use a mild face wash that is meant for your skin type. Washing your face too frequently, especially with harsh cosmetics, can aggravate your acne. Try to avoid processed foods like white bread and noodles as they often trigger outbreaks," Agarwal said in an interview.

"Use a face pack made of Fuller's earth (non-plastic clay or claylike earthy material) at least once or twice a week. This will help extract excess sebum and is therefore one of the best natural methods to treat acne.

"You can also apply a little garlic juice on your face, for about an hour at least once a week. Although garlic juice will kill off acne-causing bacteria, do not keep it for too long as it can aggravate sensitive skin," she added.

Mix equal parts of milk cream and lemon juice and apply on your face, says Anand. The lactic acid and citric acid in these two (respectively) help in lightening the scars.

Tolani says natural remedies help, but medical treatments are more efficient.

"A lot of people try out natural, home-based remedies like clay packs to cut back the oil from their face. Some use gram flour to scrub away the debris and acne-laden skin, but these treatments are not sufficient and can't replace the efficacy of medical treatments," she said.

SLIMNESS AND HAPPY MARRIAGE

SLIM WIFE, KEY TO HAPPY MARRIAGE

Researchers have revealed the secret of a happy marriage - wives weighing less than their hubbies.

A four-year study has suggested that in the short and long term, both partners are more contented if the woman has a lower Body Mass Index.

The researchers concluded that initially men stay in the relationship because they find their thinner partners attractive.

Further down the line, women feel confident and loved because they know their man still wants them.

The study from the University of Tennessee, which selected 169 married couples aged under 35, discovered that men who had a higher BMI, which is calculated from height and weight, were happier at the start of their marriage and stayed that way.

The same effect was true for the women - by the end of year four wives with a lower BMI than their husbands were significantly happier than those who weighed the same or more.

"The great message from our study is that women of any size can be happy in their relationships with the right partner," the Daily Mail quoted lead author Andrea Meltzer, as saying.

"It's relative weight that matters, not absolute weight. It's not that they have to be small," added Meltzer.