Health

Scared, witless by dire warnings from medical friends about the horrifying ailments that await those who turn fifty, one decides to embark on a fitness drive. Thus, clad with one ‘Reeback' tracksuit from a roadside boutique (Made as USA - assures the label), one pair of cloned Nikes, one Chinese iPod and walking tips from the internet, one sets off on a morning walk.  In Puttenahalli. The walker's website advises ‘Start with a deep breath'. So, one goes ‘Aaaahh, Inhaaaale!' Bad mistake. There's an overflowing garbage bin at the corner. Gasp, choke, gag.   ‘Avoid main roads', the website further…

On a bright Sunday during the first week of this month, Namma Santhe - Navachetana Trust's first organic market, with 20 odd stalls selling vegetables and fruits, spice mixes, packaged health products, herbal plants, and eco friendly bags, attracted a mixed crowd. Middle class couples hoping for fresh produce and interesting pickles, a considerable number of the elite who had developed an interest in sustainable living, and the common man curious as to what the whole thing was about.One could hear occasional grumbles about the setting - the grounds of a school in Vidyaranyapura in north Bangalore. When some visitors…

He is a 5-year-old boy. Most days, he is happy playing by himself, with his bead string or colour blocks. Occasionally his gaze is fixed outside the window, lost in the light. He throws tantrums when his favourite toys are taken by his 2-year-old sister. He is happy when he hears music - anything from classical to Bollywood numbers. He cannot sense any approaching danger. He has no fears of heights or heat. When Shyamantak was 3.5 years old, he was diagnosed as autistic. His parents were counselled and trained to adapt to the child's world. He goes to a…

Which are the schools in Bengaluru for children living with autism?Academy for Severe Handicap and Autism (ASHA)L-76/A, (Opposite to L-50) Kirloskar colony,HBCS 3rd Stage, 4th Block, Basaveswarnagar,Phone: +91 80 23225279 / 23230357Email: info[at]ashaforautism[dot]comSunshine Autism Trust280, 6th Cross, Domlur Layout,Phone: +91 80 65360892Email: rao_vanitha[at]yahoo[dot]com, Sunshineautism[at]vsnl[dot]netApoorva Centre for Autismc/o Lions Club of Sarakki,21st main, 1st cross, Marenahalli,J P Nagar Phase-2,Phone: +91 80 65710445 / 9243195154 / 9845076140Email: apoorva{at]SAIautismcenter[dot]orgRainbow Centre For Autism Spectrum DisorderSpastics Society of KarnatakaNew #31, 5th Cross, 5th MainIndira NagarPhone: 25280935, 25281831Communication DEALL47 Hutchins Road II CrossSarvajna Nagara (Cooke's Town)Bangalore 560 084Phone: 91 080 2580 0826Email: info[at]communicationdeall[dot]orgWhich are the support…

One of the most important projects of Rotary International is to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. In 1985, Rotary International launched 'Polio Plus', a time bound commitment to eradicate polio. The Polio Plus is one of the most ambitious humanitarian undertakings ever undertaken by a private entity. On the immunisation day, in India more than 1,00,000 Rotary volunteers and their families  join hands with Government and all concerned to facilitate administering polio drops to the children below five years, signaling the largest public health event ever in the world.Philanthropists worldwide including Microsoft Founder Bill Gates are taking…

From yoga classes to aqua aerobics, kickboxing to Krav Maga or doing time on the treadmill, fitness now has interesting options to choose from.  Krav maga is a form of martial arts developed by the Israeli defense forces. The same goes for health clubs and gyms. This makes it even more important for the consumer to be aware of what they are opting for and what to be conscious about. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GYMa. Check if the gym has a physiotherapist, nutritionist, certified and well-informed instructorb. Speak to existing gym members for their feedbackc. Most gyms offer…

Bengaluru is a city that’s learning to stay fit. Running the marathon or biking to work or hitting the gym with increasing regularity, most Bangaloreans are up, about and active. The health and fitness market is India is estimated at around Rs 2,900 crores, according to a Technopak report in Business Standard. It pegs the average annual spend on health and fitness by individuals at approximately Rs 2,600. The statistics are not specific to Bangalore but do give you a general idea of the average citizen’s interest in fitness. Is fitness as an industry seeing satisfied consumers? And who’s rushing…

Your father needs a set of diagnostic tests to be done. Your child is prone to allergic coughs. You need a second opinion before you go in for a treatment. You have a sore throat and you want to be sure it is not a serious virus attack. Who can you check with? Paramedicals explaining the Anyuta scheme. Pic courtesy: Anyuta Trust.What you need is a ‘Family Physician' or a ‘General Practitioner'. Someone who can provide primary and preventive healthcare, as well as advice and educate you to make an informed choice. Unfortunately, the concept of a family physician is…

When D T Thyagaraj (50) of Padmanabhanagar, suffered a heart attack 10 years ago, he was wheeled into one of the prestigious hospitals in Bengaluru. Once he survived the attack and was out of the ICU, Thyagaraj sensed that the world around him had changed so completely in so short a time. First he was isolated from the general ward and then supplied food in plastic plates. The doctors and nurses armed themselves with double gloves each time they came to check on him. Their hush-hush talk, suspicious glances, and curt answers left him and his family shocked. Launch of…

People running for a cause is quite common in Bangalore. But, this event was a little different. Sunday October 25th saw a misty, breezy morning. It was 7.30 AM, when most Bengaloreans were sleeping there were almost 80 women of all ages, assembled at the start of the run trail in Bellandur, in the outskirts of Bengaluru. This was the first "Girls on the Run" event in Bangalore, organised by RunnerGirlsIndia (RGI), a group dedicated to empowering women toward a healthy lifestyle, promoting personal fitness, increasing physical activity and emotional health. The run, as the organisers said, was meant to…