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Panchakarma, series of ‘five therapys’ help to remove deeprooted stress illness causing toxins from the body while balancing the ‘doshas.

To Purify Your Body

AYURVEDA Editors Choice

VYTHIRI

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| JANUARY 2011 | VOL 1 ISSUE 1

GET WELL AT KOCHI

MediCity @ Kochi, spread across 40 acres in the picturesque and serene Cheranellur in Kochi, will be a conglomeration

Gateway to the Hills

MUNNAR

Secret to Usain Bolt’s incredibly fast times on the track

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Publisher Biju Ninan ninan@greymatter.ae Editor-in-chief Sunny Kutty Abraham sunnykutty@greymatter.ae Media Manager Kuleena George kuleena@greymatter.ae Beauty & Spa -Editor Linda Groennevik Ninan lindaninan@greymatter.ae Consultant Editor -Fashion Veen kurian veena@greymatter.ae Art Director Mohammed Shine Graphic Designer Gerald Tan Assistant Editor Travel & Hospitality Preanka Nanda preankananda@greymatter.ae

Healthcare Editorial Advisors Padmashree Dr Azad Moopen : Dubai -UAE Dr Mohan Thomas : Doha -Qatar Dr C Thomas : Muscat- Oman Dr Sunny Kurian : Sharjah-UAE

Advertisement Manager India Shashikumar VK Shashikumar@greymatter.ae Advertisement Asst Manager Dubai -UAE Jijo KN jijo@greymatter.ae Circulation Manager India Abhishek KV abhishek@greymater.ae CiRculation Asst manager- Dubai -UAE Jijo VK jijo@greymatter.ae

Editorial & Advertising Gray Matter Publications-Kerala, Chiramel Chambers-Ravipuram, Kochi- Kerala Phone- 0091 484 3197566 | info@greymatter.ae Gray Matter FZ LLC-Dubai-UAE, PO Box- 487219, Dubai -UAE. Phone-:00971 4 8820937 Publisher from Kerala,India by Gray matter Publications.

Registered under the Regstrar of news papers association of India. regn: number 56783

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There was a time when everybody spoke of nothing working in Kerala. The State has been maligned for its labour unrest, unnecessary politicization of everything from education to industry and its lack of entrepreneurial culture. But the same Kerala gifts its people with one of the highest per capita incomes for any State in the country and is the acclaimed test market for consumer non-durables from mascaras to motor cars. Kerala is certainly not a great production centre, but it is a place which has the widest circulation of money and where consumer appetite is voracious. And, unlike in the past, Keralites are increasingly becoming mobile these days, travelling across the globe for work, business and vacation.

Kerala’s human resource is renowned worldwide, though with the rider that Keralites work best when outside the State. Even here things are changing, productivity in the IT sector in Kerala is considered to be the highest in the country. The legacy of English education that we have inherited, with all its shortcomings, has come in handy for our boys and girls to land jobs in the BPO and software segments of the IT industry. Equally significant is the role that youngsters from Kerala play in the entertainment, leisure and hospitality industries across the country and abroad.

Several prescient investors have already entered the entertainment, wellness and hospitality sectors with clear roadmaps for the future. If the early birds just focused on the Kerala market, the new entrants are looking at spaces much beyond the shores of Kerala.

Our thought process is that-:The quality of human resources of Kerala has, the spread of the Malayali population across the world and the focused interest in Kerala from all over the globe besides its excellent connectivity both by air and the information highway make Kerala the ideal location for launching publication ventures that can reach out to a very large audience and patrons.

Biju Ninan

Publisher

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main causes of liver damage

Weight loss without exercise

(walking, climbing stairs, lifting weights, etc.) results in lighter and less dense bones Total health includes exercise for health.

Concentration on nutrition alone without exercise is like rowing with one oar.

You keep going in circles getting nowhere.

There have been numerous studies which have upheld the beneficial aspects of exercise.

These studies have shown that exercise for health can increase insulin sensitivity, reduce blood pressure, strengthen muscles, improve balance, decrease risk factors for various cancers, control weight and more. WFM

• Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause.

• Not urinating in the morning.

• Too much eating.

• Skipping breakfast.

• Consuming too much medication.

• Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener.

• Consuming unhealthy cooking oil.: As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.

• Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.

Diabetes may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? (One study found that there was

a 65 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in people with diabetes.)

People with type 2 diabetes or in the early stages of getting the disease appear to be at an increased risk of developing the brain plaques of Alzheimer’s disease. The findings are troubling, as diabetes is becoming alarmingly common in the United States and many other countries and may contribute to the growing number of Alzheimer’s cases in coming years. WFM

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Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.

We should prevent this without necessarily spending more.

We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits.

Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'

• On average, smoking will shorten your life by 10 years, but obesity will shorten it by 13 years?

• One in 500 people got cancer in 1900 and today it is 1 in 2 • People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.

• The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.

• Sleep Deprivation : Sleep allows our brain to rest.. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells..

• Working your brain during illness: Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.

• Lacking in stimulating thoughts: Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.

top five cancer causing foods 1. Hot Dogs Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2. Processed meats and Bacon Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3. Doughnuts Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams, may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4. French fries Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancercausing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams .

5. Chips, crackers, and cookies All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.

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Keeping Clean on Flights 5 Hygienic Travel Accessories Due to security and safety regulations, even frequent travelers can have difficulty recognizing which travel accessories are allowed on flights. Hygiene is especially difficult when liquids aren't allowed past the security gate. Below are a few flight-friendly accessories to help keep travelers clean on their next flight.

1.Non-Alcoholic Wipes While gels and liquids over 3 ounces are restricted on flights - as are any products containing alcohol because of its flammability - non-alcoholic moistened wipes are not.

Travelers can pack hand wipes or even baby wipes to keep their hands clean when it's difficult to get to a sink. The wipes can also be used on other areas of the body to quickly freshen up, even in a cramped plane bathroom.

2. Disposable Toothbrushes Toothpaste is not allowed on flights in containers weighing more than 3 ounces. While it may be acceptable to pack travel toothpaste, packing both travel toothpaste and a travel toothbrush is cumbersome, especially when one-timeuse disposable toothbrushes with toothpaste built right into the brushes make the perfect travel accessories. These are convenient for brushing teeth to freshen breath on long flights.

3. Dry Soap Sheets Wipes can be used to wash most of the body, but generally aren't recommended for the sensitive skin on the face, as they may lead to breakouts or. dry skin.

Instead, pack a container of dry soap sheets formulated especially for the face. Travelers need only splash a little water on their face in the airport or plane restroom, hold the sheets under running water to get their hands soapy and then use their hands like washcloths to scrub their faces, without irritating the delicate skin.

4. Disposable (or Washable) Seat Covers Airlines don't have time to thoroughly clean seats after each flight and yet crumbs, spills and germs are commonplace on plane seats. Some studies have even found traces of urine and vomit soaked into the plush seats.

Rather than sitting on someone else's mess, travelers can bring along travel accessories such as attractive disposable seat covers,

"Sex is a great mode of exercise," says Patti Britton,

PhD, a Los Angeles sexologist and president of the American Association of Sexuality Educators and Therapists. It takes work, from both a physical and psychological perspective, to do it well, she says.

Thirty minutes of sex burns 85 calories or more. It may not sound like much, but it adds up: 42 halfhour sessions will burn 3,570 calories, more than enough to lose a pound. Doubling up, you could drop that pound in 21 hour-long sessions.

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sold in packs of two for around $13. Fitted to standard airline coach and first class seats, the traveler simply hooks the sheet on the top and bottom and sits in a perfectly clean environment.

These are also available in reusable, washable and sturdy fabric.

5. Clean Air Filter Located above each seat is typically a pressure nozzle that controls the air flow directly over the individual traveler. Travelers can purchase travel accessories such as a reusable clean air filter that they attach temporarily over the nozzles above their seats. The air flow directed at the traveler is filtered for allergens, viruses and bacteria, decreasing the chances of catching an illness in the small environment, and even alleviating pressure headaches.

Hygienic travel accessories that meet security and safety regulations can make any traveler's trip a lot more comfortable. These accessories are a must in any healthconscious traveler's carry on bag.

The Adiri Natural Nurser Baby Bottle was recently awarded the “red dot” quality seal for high design in the “product design” competition. So what’s the big deal about this baby bottle?

The bottle features an easy-to-use and dishwasher-safe Fill Twist and Feed system that allows the caregiver can quickly prepare a bottle, even with one arm (the other would likely be quieting the hungry baby).

The bottle is made from soft BPAfree and phthalate-free materials with a nipple realisticly shaped like a mother’s breast and a unique Petal vent that helps reduce colic.

The Lunar Baby Thermometer Zen: it’s the best way to describe it. We’ve all had a parent touch our foreheads to see if we have a fever. Designer Duck Young Kong has wed the loving touch of a parent with technology in his uber-elegant Lunar Baby Thermometer. It’s not as high tech as taking temperature through the ear, not as Norman Rockwell as taking it orally, and definitely not humiliating like rectally. But, it’s simple and human! “Checking the temperature by scanning the forehead with this device is easier and faster, since it eliminates the need to insert an external tool while holding them in a still position,” the designer says. “After simply placing the device on the forehead, a beeping sound followed by a flashing LED alerts the user when it is done.

Baby Fetal Heartbeat Monitor A Doppler fetal monitor or Doppler fetal heart rate monitor is a hand-held ultrasound transducer used to detect the heart beat of a fetus for prenatal care. It uses the Doppler effect to provide an audible simulation of the heart beat. Some models also display the heart rate in beats per minute. Use of this monitor is sometimes known as Doppler auscultation. Doppler fetal monitors are commonly referred to simply as "Dopplers".

Doppler fetal monitors provide information about the fetus similar that provided by a fetal stethoscope. One advantage of the Doppler fetal monitor over a (purely acoustic) fetal stethoscope is the electronic audio output, which allows people other than the user to hear the heartbeat.

One disadvantage is the greater complexity and cost and the lower reliability of an electronic device.

GADGETS SHOW

Adiri Natural Nurser is Like a Breast

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mineral springs spa

Mineral springs spas vary greatly in the degree of luxury and amenities they offer. Some are historic bathhouses where you go to soak for 20 or 30 minutes in a private room that may be very simple.

A mineral springs spa has a source of natural mineral water that you can soak in. Mineral springs have been valued for thousands of years for their power to ease joint pain, arthritis, and other physical ailments.

Mineral springs may come out of the earth at a tepid temperature and then be heated for bathing.

If there is a lot of geo-thermal activity, the mineral water is literally heated by the earth and is called a hot springs. Sometimes the water is so hot it has to be cooled.

Mineral springs have naturally occurring minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium,

iron, manganese, sulphur, iodine, and bromine. The exact makeup of the water vares from spring to spring, and many spas post the exact chemical make-up. Different waters are considered beneficial for different ailments.

Mineral springs spas vary greatly in the degree of luxury and amenities they offer. Some are historic bathhouses where you go to soak for 20 or 30 minutes in a private room that may be very simple. Usually you can get a massage. There might be communal outdoor pools. But some of the world's most lavish hotels and resorts were built on the site of mineral springs.

Some of the world's great spa

cities rose up because of mineral springs, include Baden-Baden in Germany, Spa in Belgium and Bath in England. The U.S. has its share of historic spa cities that sprang up in the 18th and 19th centuries, including Berkeley Springs, Virginia, Calistoga, California and Hot Springs, Arkansas.

In the 18th and 19th centuries drink the mineral waters was an important part of the cure. This was a time when the wealthy classes went to spas to mingle, and the sipping pavillon provided the perfect opportunity. Today most people prefer a good soak to drinking the pungent, odd-tasting waters. WFM

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Face Make it a ritual to cleanse, tone and moisturize the skin before applying makeup. It's a safe choice to use oil-based foundation during the monsoons.

Eyes Never step out of the house without applying waterproof makeup products like waterproof makeup, waterproof mascara and waterproof eyeliner to avoid ugly smudgy eyes.

Avoid wearing Kohl however, if you are a hardcore fan of kajal, L'Oreal Eye pencil is worth relying on during heavy showers as it smudge proof.

Light green and cream eye shadow lined with a thin liner and two coats of mascara are for those sparkling eyes.

Cheeks Creamy cheek tints of peach, apricot and light pink work naturally perfect this season. You can even blend gold tints with peach to reveal shiny porcelain cheeks.

Lips Glosses are totally out this season as no one wants gooey lips. Semi matted lipsticks are the best option this season in colours of rose pink for the day and berry red for evening wear.

Hair

The Rain has come, Beauty tips for monsoon 20

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You can play a lot with your look this season because of the monsoons have a lot to offer.

Minimalism is the keyword this season.

Oil your scalp every weekend with olive oil two hours before your hair wash. It is very important to keep your scalp clean and nourished. Never step out in the rain with oil in your hair, it can cause irritation and dandruff on the scalp. Wash your hair thrice a week during this season. It is best to keep your hair short to mid length for easy maintenance. Black hair colour is blazing hot this season.

Clothing Be smart and say no to leather.

Stay miles away from white and light coloured clothes. After all you don't want to look like

a wannabe bollywood starlet.

Bright reds, oranges, greens and yellows are 'in' colours this season. Denims are a total no-no.Capris, short skirts, knee length bermudas is what you want to get caught with.

Transparent raincoats and stylish umbrellas are a strict dress code for the rainy days.

Shoes Rubber slippers embellished with funky designs and colours like orange, dark blue and red work great this season. Say no to leather, canvas and cloth this season. Rexene made shoes is the best alternative for funky

monsoon footwear.

Bags Gigantic bags in various bizarre shapes, sizes and colours are appropriate this monsoon. Only bright coloured bags works right with the gray monsoon.

Jewellery Minimal Jewellery is the best option this season. Stay away from anklets and leather wristbands. Steel watches and wristbands are hot this season.

With all the style advice given to you for this season, be geared up to beat the rains. WFM

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Eye

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A woman’s eyes are her best beauty asset and they express moods and emotions.

The simplest and the most dramatic way to enhance your appearance is to play up your eyes with make up.

The skin around the eyes is the first to show signs of ageing as they develop wrinkles faster. Too much strain on your eyes or sickness takes away some of

the beauty and brightness of your eyes.

However, a little care and using the right beauty products and techniques one could have beautiful eyes. Eat enough of Vitamin A and C. Take special care in the choice of eye make-up. Don’t use make-up that can irritate and harm the eyes. Avoid spending too much time in smoky rooms and don’t neglect a check-up on a regular basis.

Tip 1: Soak 1 tspn dry Gooseberry powder in a cup of water overnight. Strain this in the morning and add 1 cup of plain water to this. Splash the eyes with this or wash them with the help of an eyecup.

Tip 2: Dip a pad of cotton wool in some Rose water to which 2-3 drops of Castor oil is added. Place these soaked pads on the eyelids and relax for 15-20 minutes.

Tip 3: Splash the eyes with a weak tea solution, thoroughly strained and cooled.

Tip 4: Cotton pads dipped in a cold tea solution and placed on the eyelids whilst relaxing.

Deep Sunken Eyes Tip 1: Apply 1 tspn of Honey with ½ tspn of almond oil. Apply at bedtime.

Tip 2:

Soak 5 Almonds overnight. Peel them, eat them by chewing well followed by a glass of milk. Done first thing in the morning for 21 days should definitely help.

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DARK CIRCLES Tip 1:

Grate 2’ piece of cucumber. Squeeze through a muslin cloth and extract the juice.

Dip cotton pads in this and place on eyelids.

Relax for 15 minutes.

Tip 2:Take 1 tspn Tomato pulp,1 pinch of

Turmeric powder ½ tspn of limejuice and 1 tspn of gram flour. Make a paste and apply gently. Remove gently with moist cotton pads after ½ an hour.

Tip 3: Soak 2 Almonds overnight. Peel and

grind to a smooth paste. Add a few drops of limejuice to this Apply for 20-25 minutes.

This should be followed daily and gradually after 2 weeks, every 3rd day and finally when the difference is visible, to once aeek.

A paste of Almonds can be stored in a clean bottle in the ‘fridge.

EYE PUFFINESS Tip 1:

Slice a raw Potato, circle the closed eyes gently with these halves. Or else grate a raw Potato and place on Muslin cloth squares. Place these on the eyes and relax for 15-20 minutes.

Tip 2:

Dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on eyelids while relaxing.

Tip 3:

In a bowl of chilled water add a few drops of Vitamin E oil.

Dip cotton pads in this and place on the eyes while relaxing for 20 minutes.

Tip 4: Apply a paste made by crushing a handful of Mint leaves.

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Imagine your monthly beauty routine.

Perhaps you go to the salon and get a manicure and pedicure, or to the hairstylist for a cut and dye. Every six months you go to a dentist to have your teeth cleaned and examined, and to the doctor once a year for your physical exam. Three hundred years ago, your routine would have been much the same, except for one thing. It would all have been done at the barbershop. Barbers in the modern period are known to do mainly one thing: cut hair. This was not always the case, however.

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Barbers through the Ages Beginning in the Egyptian era, throughout Roman times and in the Middle Ages, barbers were known to perform much more than simple haircuts and efforts of vanity. They were called on to perform minor surgical operations, pull teeth, and embalm the dead. Their many duties made them the surgeons of the day.

The barbering occupation began in ancient Egypt, where both men and women shaved their heads and wore wigs, and higherranking officials often shaved their entire bodies.

The Greeks, in their heyday, wore long hair and curled beards, which required much tending. Alexander the Great, fearing that enemies would use long hair as handles in battle, encouraged his men to cut their hair and shave their beards, which required a skilled set of haircutters.

These expert Greek barbers spread along with the widening influence of the Greek state, eventually entering Roman territory, where they set up stalls in the city streets.

Many settled communities around the world also employed a set of skilled barber-surgeons. Cortez encountered barbers upon entering Tenochtitlan; European colonists relied on the surgical abilities of the newfound Indian populations in American colonies; and Chinese traveling barbers wandered through the streets, ringing a bell to announce their presence. Because barbers employed an array of sharp metal tools, and they were more affordable than the local physician, they were often called upon to perform a wide range of surgical tasks.

From Barbers to Barber-

Surgeons After the fall of the Roman Empire, barbers were a staple of monastery life. Monks required barbers to shave their faces and tonsures, the round area on the top of the head.

At this time, physicians were forbidden to perform surgical procedures as the body was considered holy, and should not be violated by the hands of doctors. But monks, who also practiced as doctors, considered operations and surgical procedures as dirty and beneath their dignity, and passed those responsibilities to barbers.

One of the keystones of the barber’s surgical duties was bloodletting. Bleeding was done for a number of reasons, but the basis of the ideas was that by letting out the bad or morbid blood in the body, it would be replaced by fresh healthy blood. Bleeding of patients was done in many ways, including cupping and using leeches, but the most common was cutting a patient’s vein and letting the blood flow into a small basin.

As bleeding became one of the main responsibilities of the barbers, they came to signify their presence in the marketplace with a red and white striped pole, the colors reminiscent of the blood and rags used in bloodletting.

As they also often pulled teeth, they would string a row of teeth in front of their windows to alert potential customers of their services.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, secular universities began to develop throughout Europe, and along with an increased study of medicine and anatomy came an increased study in surgery.

This led to a split between academically trained surgeons and barber-

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surgeons, which was formalized in the 13th century. After this, academic surgeons signified their status by wearing long robes, and barber-surgeons by wearing short robes. Barber-surgeons were thus largely referred to as “surgeons of the short robe.”

Certain barber-surgeons became very skilled at performing surgical procedures. Ambroise Paré, considered the father of modern surgery, was one such barber.

One of the keystones of the barber’s surgical duties was bloodletting.

The Separation of Barber and Surgeon Gradually, the split between barbers and surgeons became more severe, and in 1743 in France and 1745 in England, barber-surgeons who cut or shaved hair were not allowed to perform surgery. In 1800 the College of Surgery was founded in England, and the last practicing barber-surgeon in England died in 1821.

Dentistry, which was another one of the many responsibilities of the barber-surgeon, was also gradually relegated to its own specialty. Surgeon-dentists were practicing as early as the 17th century.

Barbers, who had once performed an entire plethora of surgical procedures, were now primarily responsible for the care of a patron’s hair and nails.

It is hard to imagine going to the barber shop today to get a boil lanced or a tooth pulled, or for an occasional bloodletting, but for much of human history this was the case. As medicine, and surgery, advanced, so did the profession of barbery. From haircuts to hangnails, they did it all. WFM

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If you're less than confident about how you look and about how you perceive other people see you, you still have some work to do and some goals to set in your beauty health or beauty fitness area.

Beauty health is the last of the four health womens health areas, which you must work on to achieve your holistic woman health. It is of paramount importance that you look as confident, attractive and assured on the outside, as you feel on the inside.

If you want to maintain your outer glow, then beauty food is your main allie. Yes, eating the right kind of food will help you to look your most youthful and beautiful.

A healthy balanced beauty food diet such as the low calorie and vegetarian diet, consisting of fruit, vegetables, seeds and nuts, or even by incorporating some raw food into your diet etc., is by far the best and cheapest way to ensure your anti-aging nutrition and prevent wrinkles.

Body and beauty foods contain

antioxidant-rich beauty fitness food and vitamins - namely, those from the vitamin group A - E. In addition, ensure an adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids, which are one of the key ingredients for maintaining smooth skin and will help your skin in fighting off free radicals and loss of elasticity.

The current and perhaps general perception of fitness health however appears to be a measure of your ideal weight loss goal or your food health vitamin and nutrition intake or even how hard you work out doing weightloss exercise etc., Woman fitness or women's wellness is about all of these things but its also, equally about paying attention to the mechanisms that turns your health and fitness wheel - i.e, your inner mental and emotional workings.

Nutrition Goal Setting The first thing you'll need to ensure when goalsetting your

healthy eating plan, is that it clearly focuses on what you want to bring into your life, and not what you want to let go of.

Example - 'Eat a healthy diet', 'Eat healthy foods', 'shop for healthy foods'.

It is important to develop your food health and nutrition knowledge about foods you plan to eat. You can also achieve a great deal by learning about different kinds of foods and how to prepare/cook them.

The high salt, sugar and other additive content in junk and convenience foods are designed to make them tasty and appealing, so don't be surprised if your healthy foods initially taste bland in comparison.

However, this should be shortlived until your taste buds readjust to the healthy and nutritious alternatives you start preparing.

To really go beyond junk food or convenience foods and succeed at eating healthily, - as well as learning about food nutrition, you'll also need to develop your knowledge of how

“Please listen: It is important to develop your food health and nutrition knowledge about foods you plan to eat�

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to flavour, prepare and cook healthy foods.

Today I want to bring to your attention, several other woman there are other fitness requirements of paramount importance to wellness health plan. These are: Sleep It's no good embarking on those wonderful health goals - and expecting to achieve them, if you are intentionally or unintentionally being deprived of sleep. Improve your sleeping habits to optimise your level of functioning.

Stress: Physical or emotional stressful events places physical and emotional demands on your body, which in turn responds to those demands with stress sympthoms - learn to combat stress Beliefs: The direction and quality of your health is the result of your beliefs, - which have the potential to create or destroy.

It's no good setting your health goals if you don't believe in your potential to achieve them. Just the same as not setting goals is destroying your potential through under- utilisation what are your beliefs telling you?

Fear: Fear is crippling. It hyjacks you, your personal resources and stops you from taking action. Fear stops you from embarking on the most basic of steps toward your health and fitness, because you fear you won't succeed. True fitness is the ability to get on with your daily life without feeling drained - emotionally, physically or spiritually. Place no limits on achieving your holistic health Which weightloss exercise is right for you?

Most importantly, choosing a weightloss exercise program, fitness equipment or fitness products that you'll enjoy will make all the difference to your motivation levels and to you achieving your fitness health

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weightloss goals.

In the pursuit of a trimmer and toned abdomen, some women often resort to some dubious measures such as 'starvation diets', 'fat burning pills' or various 'abs exercise equipment'.

All of which of course will not only fail to deliver the results you seek but can also expose you to unwanted side effects and risks.

A common feature of these methods is that they are shortterm measures for treating symptoms, rather than addressing the cause and need for lifestyle changes you must make to succeed with your abdominal weight loss goal.

If up want then weight loss exercise, combined with diet and good nutrition is the way to go. The two most common types of tummy exercises are sit-ups and crunches. But, are these abs exercises or workouts really an effective way of losing abdominal weight Exercises you can do on your own For many people, cycling is a favourite pastime. Take advantage of this and get out at the weekends or weekday evenings with the whole family.

No exhaust fume routes!

Benefits: Cycling exercise the body and build a stronger cardiovascular system. And just think of the wonderful scenery you could be enjoying whilst benefiting from some fresh air. Don't have time but have an exercise bike at home? Then pedal away whilst you're watching your favourite TV soap. You'd be amazed at what you can achieve.

Swimming: is an excellent choice for your weightloss and exercise goal and it's a great way of getting into shape. The water gives you that much more support.

Benefits: Water aerobic helps you to get an all round workout, by toning your body and helping you to lose weight. Why not make some enquiries to your local

aquatic centers and find out about water aerobic classes.

Jogging and walking are also great ways to get fit.

Benefits: Tones the muscles, increase healthy heart function, improve lung capacity and make you look wonderfrul. You might even get more motivated to do other fitness exercise. Get advice before attempting jogging exercise.

Dancing DVD is so much fun - especially with other people. Take your pick from clubbing to ballroom dancing, to dance DVD or even dancing around the kitchen with the mop - don't knock it, I've tried it, much to the amusement of my daughter who thought I was stark raving made!

Benefits: Dancing has long been recommended as an route to fitness. It's An excellent, safe and most enjoyable weightloss exercise which gets you sweating, puffing and panting - which is great for the heart.

Not only does it increase the 'feel good factor;' you're doing something you really enjoy; and on top of that, it won't even feel as if you are having to work.

If you enjoy dancing, why not choose a Dancing DVD as one of your weightloss exercise - its a great way to lose weight while having fun in the process.

Try it out with the kids they'll really think you're great.

In addition, why not research dance classes, in your area, i.e. salsa, belly dancing, ballroom dancing, line dancing or even African dancing. It'll be great fun meeting with other people - you'll even fall about the place laughing at yourselves. What matters is that you enjoy this fab way to get fit.

Tennis: Any one for tennis? Tennis is a great choice for your weightloss exercise. Is there a tennis court near you. If you're working away from home, why not spend 30 minutes of your lunch break playing a game with a colleague. You could then have

Benefits: Put some extra va va voom into all your chores - I usually find that putting on some upbeat music helps to quicken the pace and really make you work up a sweat. Remember, just put in some extra movement and resistance for instance - when mowing the lawn; have a dance as you go about your day to day activities; inject some vigor while sweeping; walking briskly up and down the stairs (take care).

Make a point of exaggerating your movements - movement is key, you'll know you're burning calories by the way you start to sweat.

Inject fun into what could otherwise be a 'chore day' and you will really start to enjoy your weightloss exercise.

a light lunch afterwards. You could even consider taking some lessons, if you're no Pete Sampras that is.

Benefits: A great and fun way to strengthen your cardiovascular system and lose weight.

Video Yoga This is an excellent way to exercise if you are short for time or if you're a very busy work from home mum, you can get stuck in once the kids have gone to school.

Benefits: Devoting just 30 minutes or so daily, would most likely give you

the same benefits but cost much less than going to the gym, say 5 days per week. It's an excellent way to get into shape and much more convenient because of flexibility. Just think about all the choices you have. You can opt for a weightloss exercise DVD or video, video yoga, dance DVD or an aerobics workout. The choice is yours.

Housework: Yes, surprisingly you are in fact burning calories whilst doing housework. Have'nt you noticed how much you sweat after a round with the hoover or tidying up after the kids in the morning?

Home Exercise If you hold a negative perception of your body image, or you you're short on funds, you may not want to go to a gym initially. An alternative might be to acquire home exercise equipment. It is important to make sure you invest in the right equipment for your weightloss exercise goal and that it is appropriate for you personally.

Do try to stay away from used equipment, unless these have been reconditioned and are being offered by a reputable supplier.

After all, you don't want to end up with somebody else's cast off - which does not function appropriately or could even be dangerous to use.

Benefits: will depend on what you choose but you will have a greater degree of flexibility as to when and how often you work out.

Additionally, you can choose from a range of Aerobics Fitness Equipment and or DVD. Without doubt, having good health is the most important contributor to a happy Life.

When you have health, you experience a sense of balance and harmony. You feel wonderful on the inside and you look fabulous on the outside. WFM

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“The major benefits of organic foods are that they are safe, healthy to consume and contain high amount of nutrients when compared to other type of foods�

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ORGANIC FOOD For healthy diet

Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.

To start with, they exclude all the foreign materials added to traditional foods which tend to be toxic. If one practices eating organically produced foods, one is guaranteed of a better and healthier diet to sustain the human body. This is because all the nutrients, the vitamins and minerals required for the maintenance of the human body are constantly being made available. Consumption also reduces the risk at which one can get cancer which is very important. No one wants to die a painful death or at a young age and for this to be a possibility organic foods are highly recommended.

Organic Foods Reduce Risk of Cancer Organic Foods helps in reducing the probability of getting cancer.

It sounds unbelievable but this is true and has been scientifically proved over and over again.

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One may ask how, well it is simple. Organic foods increase the antioxidant level in the body.

Antioxidants are essential in eliminating the chances of getting cancer as one grows older.

To further open the eyes of people on the benefits of organic foods, it must be observed that traditional foods make use of pesticides, herbicides and hormones which contribute largely to cancer development.

It is better to prevent than to neglect an impending situation.

To stick on the safer side, the population should encourage organic food consumption for good health and in the long run reduction in the death rates.

The major benefits of organic food are that they are safe, healthy to consume and contain high amount of nutrients when compared to the non organic or the conventional food products.

This is mainly because these foods are grown in healthier soil.

Organic foods do not consist of any artificial products nor do they have any other toxic elements.

The various types of organic food products are: Organic Vegetables and Fruits: They are the most common and widely available organic food products in the market. There

are various types of organic vegetables and fruits and they are generally of high quality.

Organic Meat: It is a great option for all the meat lovers since it is extremely healthy and does not have any chemicals.

This is mainly because the animals are fed natural food. In order to get organic meat special precautions are taken to ensure that the animals are not provided with any antibiotics, or hormone stimulants and that they are fed 100 percent organic feed and are made to graze in organic pastures.

Organic Dairy Products: organic dairy products are very popular and safe as well as healthy to use. Organic dairy products include all the products such as milk, cheese, cottage cheese, ice creams, butter, etc.

Organic Fish: Fishes which are caught from the open seas are not considered as organic fishes.

Organic fishes are the ones which are rared in various fish farms.

Some startling facts is that traditional foods or non organic foods can lead to cancer, obesity, altzheimer’s, some birth defects etc. Our bodies are delicately balanced wonderful machines.

Any form of foreign chemical is bound to cause irritation at the least. WFM

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“Scuba diving is a good way to exercise your muscles, but it is demanding both physically and mentally�

To ask, "how safe is scuba diving?" one could easily answer with another question, "how responsible is the scuba diver?"

Scuba diving is a sport with risks, like every other sport. What makes scuba diving seem riskier than other sports is the fear associated with drowning and the nervousness using a scuba system as "life support". Many people are afraid of water, afraid of sharks, afraid of relying on a strange contraption of hoses and tanks to provide air in an airless environment. In reality, scuba diving is not as dangerous as people seem to believe and in those rare instances of a scuba fatality it is almost always shown diver recklessness was the cause.

The one kind of scuba diving that makes it onto the "most dangerous" list is cave diving.

Granted, there are a lot of things

that can go wrong during a cave dive. That's why we get trained to learn how to do it properly.

Injuries and fatalities do occur in cave diving, even sometimes to people who are properly trained and prepared. But, by far, most scuba diving injuries and fatalities become Darwinian forces that tragically claim the lives of the ignorant, the reckless and the irresponsible.

Scuba diving is demanding both physically and mentally, but once you have had a bit of practice it is a great way to maintain shape and fitness. It is also a much more enjoyable form of exercise too compared with being stuck in the confines of a gym Scuba Diving is a good way to exercise your muscles, like with swimming many muscles in your legs and arms are used

constantly; these muscles develop and become a lot stronger.

Muscles in the upper back also strengthen and develop, due to carrying relatively heavy scuba gear plus getting on and off the boat. Muscles become more defined and your body tends to become firmer after regular exercise so as well as stronger muscles you also become a little firmer.

Diving helps refresh the mind and eliminate the distractions of everyday life, and is great for reducing stress and tension.

Besides relieving stress, diving is also expected to improve other mental abilities, such as coordination and concentration.

As with all exercise you will burn off calories whilst diving. In a 45 minute dive, a diver weighing 71kg will burn approximately 600 calories. WFM

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“Panchakarma, series of ‘five therapys’ help to remove deeprooted stress illness causing toxins from the body while balancing the ‘doshas’”. Panchakarma is Ayurveda’s primary purification and detoxification treatment. Panchakarma means the “five therapies”.

These 5 therapeutic means of eliminating toxins from the body are Vamana, Virechana, Nasya, Basti and Raktamoskshana. This series of five therapies help remove deep rooted stress and illness causing toxins from the body while balancing the doshas (energies that govern all biological functions).

Panchakarma is ineffective if special detoxification diet is not given along with the treatments.

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to purify Your Body, to eliminate Toxins

Pancha karma

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AYURVEDA

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Vamana

Vamana is a medicated emesis therapy which removes Kapha toxins collected in the body and the respiratory tract.

Benefits of Vamana: Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Allergies, Hay Fever, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Hyperacidity, Chronic Indigestion Nasal Congestion, Edema, Obesity, Psychological disorders, Skin disorders.

Virechana (Purgation)

Virechana is medicated purgation therapy which removes Pitta toxins from the body that are accumulated in the liver and gallbladder, it completely cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract.

Benefits of Virechana help root out Chronic Fever, Diabetes, Asthma, Skin disorders such as Herpes, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia Joint disorders, Digestive disorders, Constipation, Hyperacidity, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Headaches, Elephantiasis and Gynecological disorders.

Basti (Enema or Colonic Irrigation)

Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon.This procedure is usually applied for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical condition of a person. Benefits Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Colitis, Convalescence, Cervical Spondylosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation, Digestive disorders, Backache & Sciatica, Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly, Obesity, Piles, Sexual Debility & Infertility.

Nasya (Nose Cleaning)

Nasya involves administration of medicated oil through the nose to cleanse accumulated Kapha toxins from the head and neck region.Improves memory

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Health The wrong diet, habits, lifestyle, incompatible food combinations (e.g. milk and fish, melons and grain, yogurt and meat or cooked honey etc.), seasonal changes, repressed emotions and stress factors can all act either together or separately to change the balance of V-P-K. According to the nature of the cause, Vata, Pitta or Kapha undergo aggravation or derangement that produce Ama (toxins). To stop the further production of Ama, Ayurvedic literature suggests placing the patient on a

According to Ayurveda, every human being is a unique phenomenon of cosmic consciousness.

The three Dosha (humors) determine every individual’s psychosomatic temperament or constitution.

& eye sight, Insomnia, Elimination of excess Mucus Hyper pigmentation in the face, Pre-mature graying of hair, clarity to voice, Headaches of various origin Hemiplegia, Loss of smell and taste, Frozen shoulder, Migraine, Stiffness of the neck, Nasal Allergies Nasal Polyp, Neurological dysfunctions, Paraplegiar, Sinusitis.

Raktamokshana

Raktamokshana is procedure to cleanse the blood and is advised only in very rare conditions. It is not advisable during general Panchakarma.

Why Panchakarma

According to Ayurveda, every human being is a unique phenomenon of cosmic consciousness.

The three Dosha (humors) determine every individual’s psychosomatic temperament or constitution. Vata (ether plus air), Pitta (fire plus water) and Kapha (water plus earth) are called the Tridosha, meaning the three Dosha. The internal environment is governed by Vata -Pitta -Kapha (V-P-K), which is constantly reacting to the external environment.

proper diet together with an appropriate lifestyle, habits and exercise, and administering a proper cleansing program such as Panchakarma.

Ottamooli or Single Medcine Therapy

Ottamooli is the malayalam word for a “Single Ingredient”. This is the homecure or folk-cure practice of medicine, usually based on traditional wisdom mixed with Ayurveda.

The medicine contains most of the time only a single ingredient, or the treatment is

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just once or there are no other medicines to be taken along with it etc. These medications are based on easily available substances, and usually have only one or two ingredients.

There are many ottamooli medicines for different conditions most of which are guarded jealously by particular families or vaidyas.

There is no such thing as a single ottamooli for all illness.

Ottamooli medicines used for complete treatment is found

to be most effective. The most important advantage of this medication is that it has no side effects.Heart patients & pregnant ladies are not recommended for ottamooli treatment.

Ottamooli can be described as “the treatment, which helps in expelling all the free radicals, toxins and disease causing factors which had gained entry into the human body through different means�. This treatment

helps the body to get rid of any ailments and to retain its health by rejuvenating it. It provides a long and healthy life. Why is this therapy needed? A variety of toxins enter into our body through different means, majority of which we are unaware. This results in weakening of our body and reduces our immunity.

It is here where Ottamooli plays a major role. It rejuvenates the body by expelling all the toxins and produces a miraculous result.

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Other miscellaneous therapies of Panchakarma Shirodhara: It is recommended in anxiety,

Shashti-Shali Pindasweda: Useful in

depression, hypertension, insomnia etc.

neurological ailments.

Tarpanam: Useful in the ailments of the eyes.

Shirobasti: Useful in hair loss and the falling hair and other diseases of skull.

Uttara Basti: Useful in genitourinary diseases and infertility of female.

Udvartana: It is a medicated Ubtan to be applied over the skin for fair and glowing skin.

Kati Basti: Useful in different backaches.

Janu Basti: Useful in arthritis of the knee joint.

Nadi Sweda: Useful in pain disorders of different sites.

Pinda Sweda: Useful in neurological ailments and in the management of different pains.

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Sun-kissed beaches, verdant forests, meandering, serene backwaters and a rich n diverse culture were the prime factors that lured western tourists to Kerala and made it a not-to-miss global tourist destination.

Now God’s Own Country not only offers hospitality but also a healing touch to worn out minds and bodies to tourists from India as well as abroad.

Globalisation and liberalization have given a boost to the health sector of India’s greenest and cleanest state.

Hospitals like the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute in Trivandrum, Lakeshore Hospital, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical Trust Hospital in Kochi, the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Calicut have etched an enviable position in global health care by their pioneering medical solutions and facilities. No wonder foreign tourists are thronging God’s Own Country in search of quality health care which does not burn a hole in their wallet.

Health tourism is fast emerging as a major revenue source for the state. Among the cities in Kerala, Kochi, the Queen of the Arabian Sea, has earned an enviable position by transforming itself into a commercial hub and haven for investment. The Bolgatty Marina, Vallarpadom Transshipment Terminal, Puthuvype LNG Terminal, the proposed Smart City project, etc. are some of the notto-miss milestones of Kochi’s journey of transformation. Interestingly, the health care sector in this city is also witnessing a parallel boom in the

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number of patients from foreign countries.

A recent report in the New Indian Express said Kochi was seeing a spurt in the number of health tourists from West Asia.

According to tour operators, the number of middle class tourists from the GCC is going up. They say the state of the art infrastructure of hospitals, the quality of treatment that matches Western standards and the mushrooming of ayurvedic resorts have spurred the increase in the number of visitors. Experts say that the state can rake in the moolah by properly channeling the flow of health tourists.

More importantly, the state should extend all support and cooperation to enthusiastic Malayali entrepreneurs who would like to invest in the health care sector and provide an impetus to the fast growing health tourism.

Among the Keralite business magnates, celebrated health care mogul Dr Azad Moopen, chairman of the Dubai-based Dr Moopen group and the Kozhikode-based Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, holds pride of place. A physician-turnedentrepreneur, Dr Moopen scripted success in Dubai, where he started a clinic in 1987 with just two doctors. Today, his health care empire spans 70 clinics and pharmacies in the region, including the 60-bed Medicare Hospital and the 20-bed Al Rafa

Hospital for Maternity and Surgery in Dubai. His conglomerate provides primary secondary and tertiary health care to over 2 million patients every year in the GCC and India apart from management and consultancy services. In view of his contributions to the NRIs in the GCC, Dr Moopen was honoured with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

by President Pratibha Patil in 2010, followed by the second highest civilian honour the Padma Shri in March this year for his contribution to community health care.

Under the watchful eyes of Dr Moopen, DM Healthcare is all set to revolutionise the health sector of Kochi and set new standards as far medical tourism is concerned by providing high end clinical care to patients from abroad and from within the country.

Its iconic project, MediCity @ Kochi, spread across 40 acres in the picturesque and serene Cheranellur in Kochi, will be a conglomeration of multi-super

specialities led by renowned medical practitioners from across the world.

The first phase of the project, which will see an investment to the tune of Rs 500 crore, will have 500 beds and will be commissioned in 2012. “We have already started the Medicity project in 40 acres of land in Kochi. It is a $100 million project and will be completed in three years,� said Dr Moopen in an interview to a prominent Indian daily.

Anchor hospital, the fulcrum of this unique project, will feature patient care beds/ day care beds, emergency and trauma care, ICU beds, a centralised imaging unit, consulting rooms, centralised laboratory units, general medical disciplines and a central pharmacy. Phase two of Medicity will feature ten centres of excellence which will facilitate the smooth functioning of the Anchor

Hospital. Operated and managed by internationally acclaimed medical centres, the centres of excellence span departments like oncology, cardiology, orthopaedics, neurosciences, urologynephrology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, ENT, Gastroenterology, alternative medicine, cosmetology, assisted reproduction and diabetes. The final phase will see convention centres, residential centres for the staff as well as community centres for the benefit of the residents of surrounding areas.

With the arrival of Medicity, the healthscape of Kerala, especially Kochi, is bound to witness a sea change, with its repercussions in the tourism and economic fronts as well.

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Wayanad is ideal for travelers with a passion for the outdoors. The landscape is majestic, composed of rugged, lofty ridges interspersed with dense forests, deep valleys, spectacular waterfalls and mountain streams. Numerous outback trails and trekking routes snake through the forests with many spots ideal for adventure sports.

Visitors will also find delight in the dazzling profusion of flora and fauna endemic to the Western Ghats. Wayanad is home to many ancient, indigenous nomadic tribes who still practice their age-old customs and rituals. The forests also contain the fascinating Edakkal Caves, a Neolithic cave dwelling with Petroglyphs, the only known example in South India and a protected UNESCO Heritage Site.

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The different

Vythiri Haven Exterior

1. Tree House 4 Tree houses (including 1 exclusive child friendly Tree House) set high above the lush canopy of the rainforest. Built by indigenous tribals with locally available materials, the cottages are designed to

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accommodations available in Vythiri resort utilize natural spring water that flows down from the surroundings hills and to use solar energy for power. The ultimate jungle retreat, ideal for couples and for small families.

2.Serenity Cottage 18 spacious, rustic styled cottages with terracotta floors finished with red oxide, some with views of the stream and others, of the forest stretching out above the resort. Offering a degree of seclusion, yet close enough to the pathway and the general areas, the cottages are ideal for small families and couples.

3. Vythiri Habitat 4 rooms with exclusive balconies that face the stream rushing by below. The balconies are great spots to watch a wide variety of exotic birds in the overarching trees or to sit back reading a book.

Ideal for small families and couples.

4. Vythiri Haven Exquisite cottages with spacious sit outs, elegantly furnished and facing the stream downstream.

Secluded hideaways set aside from the general areas, ideal for couples and families seeking a little quiet with the gurgle of the frolicking stream and the chatter of the birds for company.

5.Planters Retreat 6 adjoining rooms inspired by traditional Kerala architecture with generous use of wood, each with private plunge pools and balconies with splendid views of the forest.

Yet you could very well listen to the stream passing through next to the Planters Retreat. Set away from the pathway, secluded and intimate, ideal for couples.

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A discreet hill station located in north western Kerala, Wayanad is set along the higher slopes of the Nilagiri Biosphere on the southern fringe of the Deccan Plateau.

The region is a part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves in India and Wyanad's evergreen forests mark the transition zone between the northern and southern eco regions of the Western Ghats. This is the most species-rich eco region in peninsular India with eighty percent of the flowering plant species of the entire mountain range found here.

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Vythiri Resort Spread across either bank of a sprightly mountain stream that runs through the 150 acre property, the Vythiri Resort is a delightful jungle hideaway and a naturalist's treasure trove.

Wrapped in the cool embrace of a rainforest, stone lined pathways, canopied by majestic trees, lead to brick coloured cottages built in the style native to the region. Built of brick with wooden rafters on the roof, furnished in cane, wood and fabrics of discreet elegance, the cottages are equipped with all modern amenities. The accommodations are designed so as to provide residents an immediate experience of the surrounding sights and sounds.

Available in configurations ranging from heady tree houses, to cottages on stilts overlooking the stream and further downstream, cottages with

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Wrapped in the cool embrace of a rainforest, stone lined pathways, canopied by majestic trees, lead to brick coloured cottages built in the style native to the region.

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Facilities available in Vythiri • Spa

• Health Club

• Kids Park

• Conference Hall

• Travel Assistance

• Natural Pool

• Ayurveda Centre

• Swimming Pool

• Safe Deposit Lockers

• Multi-Cuisine Restaurant

• Games Room

• Coffee Shop

• TV Salon

jacuzzis, private pools and a suite, everywhere, the muted hiss of the stream is a continuous serenade.

A rope bridge across the stream, leads to the restaurant overlooking the swimming pool at one end and a sweeping view of the forest all around.

Days begin with the rousing melody of a Malabar Whistling Thrush. The forest comes alive with an orchestration of sounds and bands of foraging monkeys. The day ahead is ripe with possibilities.

Guests may chose to relax in their cottages, go for walks in the forest in the company of the resident naturalist, swim in the freshwater pool , opt for treatments at the Ayurvedic spa, play indoor games or take part in the many outdoor activities that the resort has included in its itineraries.

Apart from these, the distinctive environs of Wyanad offer a host of options that make the area ideal for trekking, to visit a village of indigenous tribal’s who still follow an ancient way of life, to go on plantation tours nearby, take part in Yoga and meditation sessions or visit the many other attractions in Wyanad. WFM

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6 Entertaining Travel Accessories That Don't Require Batteries Long flights can be quite a bore, especially if you didn't bring any travel accessories with you. If you're lucky, your carrier will provide in-flight entertainment, or even Audio/Video On Demand through a personal screen and controls. Otherwise, it will be up to you to entertain yourself during those long hauls. Granted that iPods, handheld consoles and other battery-operated gadgets can keep you entertained, here are 6 travel accessories that don't require batteries, that will definitely keep you occupied.

Books and Magazines Take advantage of the long flight by catching up on your reading.

You may opt to bring your favorite novel, pick up a light read from the airport or stock up on magazines.

Most flights also provide issues of leading international magazines and newspapers for you to browse.

This will give you a chance to catch up on your current events knowledge.

Sudoku Puzzles, Crossword/Paper Puzzle Games Exercise those brain cells by poring over challenging paper puzzles during those long flights. Sudoku is very popular, and some airlines even provide electronic Sudoku games. To be sure you keep yourself occupied, bring your own Sudoku or Crossword puzzle book. These books also give you a variety of difficulty options to choose from.

Journal, Sketch Pad /Scrapbook Why not begin a chronicle of your travels? Starting a journal or scrapbook is a great way to unleash your creativity. If you don't consider yourself a wordsmith, maybe doodling on a sketch pad is for you. For those who wish to keep a memory of your travels, a scrapbook is a great way to do it. Traveling is also the perfect time to find your creative outlet.

Rubik's Cube/ Puzzle Toys This is another great way to get those brain gears working. Instead of lulling off to dreamland, challenge yourself with a Rubik's Cube, Snake puzzle and other mind puzzle toys. These can be found in hobby shops, toy stores and other specialty shops.

Playing Cards

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A deck of playing cards is a great way to pass the time, especially if you're travelling with a companion or two. You can show off your card-playing skills in Poker, Bridge, Gin Rummy or just about any card game that will amuse you. If you're alone, a little game of Solitaire can be soothing and engaging. Or why don't you invite your fellow passengers to a game? You might just win a friend.

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Pocket Board Games Yet another great travel accessory if you're traveling with someone.

Popular board games come in pocket sizes, perfect for bringing on the flight. Challenge each other with a little game of Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Reversi and the like. If you're on the flight alone, then maybe you can find someone who's willing to take you up on your board game challenge.

Long flights don't necessarily have to be lacking in social interaction.

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Gateway to the Hills

Munnar is one of the attractions that contributed to Kerala’s popularity as a travel destination among domestic and foreign travellers. Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, and perched about 1600 m above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India.

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Munnar is also known for Neelakurinji, a rare plant which flowers only once in twelve years. The ‘kurinji season’ in Munnar is a magnificent sight when the hills and valleys get bathed in the blue of the Neelakurinji blooms. Every year thousands of travellers from around the world reach Munnar, the famed South Indian hill station, to enjoy their holidays in a magnificence called nature. Right from a glorious sunrise, holidaying is a refreshing experience in Munnar which would live in their memories for ever.

Location

Munnar is part of the Idukki district in Kerala. The Munnar region is situated at an altitude of 1500 – 2500 m above sea level where the average rainfall is 275 cm.

Anamudi, the highest peak in South India, with a height of 2,695 m is the pride of Munnar.

Reaching Munnar The State of Kerala, which boasts of three international airports, has good road and rail connections. The nearest airport to Munnar is the Cochin International Airport at a distance of around 119 km. International travellers, directly heading to Munnar, can prefer Ernakulam Town near to the Cochin International Airport as the starting point for their journey to Munnar.

The nearest railhead is Ernakulam Junction, about

120 km away. Public transport services are available to Munnar from almost all major bus stations in the State.

History of Munnar The early history of Munnar is not perfectly known today.

The early inhabitants of the region are members of the Muthuvan tribal community.

However, it remained a wild and unexplored landscape till the later half of 19th century when ambitious planters from as far as Europe started plantations here.

Plantation era Munnar came to be known to the outside world in the 1870s with the visit of the British Resident of the then Travancore kingdom John Daniel Munro. Munro, who visited the place as part of settling the border dispute between Travancore and the nearby state of Madras literally fell for the beauty

of the region. Though the Munnar region fell under the jurisdiction of the Travancore kingdom, it was the jenmam land of Poonjar royal family.

Since it was a ‘jenmam land’ the royal family enjoyed absolute powers over the land as the landlord.

Munro had a great interest in plantation. Of the several hills in the region, he found the Kanan Devan hills with high potential for plantation crops. Without wasting any time Munro visited the Poonjar Palace and met the then head of the royal family, Rohini Thirunal Kerala Varma Valiya Raja, fondly called as Kela Varma Raja.

The entrepreneur in Munro won the confidence of Kela Varma Raja and he agreed to lease out Kanan Devan hills to Munro for a handsome payment.

Thus in 1877, Poonjattil Koickal Rohini Thirunal Kerala Varma Valiya Raja

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leased out the Kanan Devan hills comprising about 1,36,600 acres of land to John Daniel Munro for an annual lease rent of Rs. 3,000 and a security deposit of Rs. 5,000.

Munro formed the North Travancore Land Planting & Agricultural Society in 1879.

Members of the society started cultivation of crops, including coffee, cardamom, cinchona and sisal in various parts of the region. However these crops were later abandoned when tea was found to be the ideal crop for the region. A.W. Turnor was the first to start cultivation.

Interestingly, it was not Munro or Turnor who started tea cultivation in Munnar. The credit goes to A.H. Sharp, a European planter, in 1880. Sharp planted

RIGHT FROM THE GLORIOUS SUNRISE, HOLIDAYING IN MUNNAR IS A REFRESHING EXPERIENCE WOULD LIVE IN MEMORIES FOR EVER tea in around 50 acres of land at Parvathy, which is now part of the Seven Mallay estate. In 1895, Finlay Muir & Company (James Finlay and Company Limited) entered the scene and bought 33 independent estates. The Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company was formed in 1897 to manage these estates.

Planters get a setback In 1924, the plantations of Munnar suffered a major setback in the form a disastrous monsoon.

Heavy landslides and flooding literally redrew the landscape in several places. There was a heavy loss of property and life.

Though it was hard for them, the inhabitants managed to bring back life to a normal in a few months. Large-scale replanting was carried out in several estates.

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Tourists Spots in and around Munnar

Mattupetty A 13-km drive from Munnar on a winding road cutting through lush greenery would take you to the Mattupetty hills. The hills are situated at about 1,700 m above sea level.

Besides the green rolling hills, the attractions here include a dam, lake and a dairy farm of international standards.

The lake is on the border of a forest and if the travellers are lucky they could have the sight of elephant herds strolling on the grass land.

About 7 km from Mattupetty is Kundala, another beautiful picnic spot where large green tea plantations and a dam with a scenic reservoir await travellers.

Marayoor It’s not just sights that make Marayoor, a scenic locale situated around 40 km away from Munnar, special.

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Besides two pre-historic sites, a sandalwood forest and vast sugarcane farms known for a tasty variety of solid molasses (sarkara in Malayalam) are among the attractions of Marayoor.

Travellers can see here ‘Muniyara’ or dolmenoid cists which are burial chambers belonging to the megalithic age. Another prehistoric site is Ezhuthupara, located inside the Marayoor Forest Range where cave paintings can be seen. Another interesting sight in Marayoor would be a scenic river called Pambar which flows between the villages of Marayoor and Kanthalloor.

Eravikulam National Park The Eravikulam National Park, spread over 97 sq km, is a green paradise which is home to rare flora, fauna and wildlife. However, the biggest attraction of the park is Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), an endangered species of mountain goat.

Around one-third of the world’s population of this species lives in this park.

Neelakurinji, the plant which flowers once in twelve years, grows in abundance here making the park a mustvisit place during the kurinji flowering season.

Anamudi, the highest peak in South India, is situated in the park. The Eravikulam National Park is around 13 km away from Munnar town.

Every year sometime during January-February, which is the calving season, the park remains closed to the public.

Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a well-guarded treasure trove of nearly a thousand species of flowering plants. Its not just flora, the Chinnar forest is also home to a thriving animal life.

From birds and butterflies to mammals and moths, the 90.44-sq km sanctuary is home to a wide variety of species. It is also credited with having the largest number of reptilian fauna among other sanctuaries in the state, including a celebrated inhabitant - the mugger crocodile.

The Thoovanam waterfall, a spectacular waterfall located in the sanctuary, is also an attraction for travellers.

Periyar Tiger Reserve The Periyar Tiger Reserve is one of the twenty-seven tiger reserves in India. The sanctuary is known for an attractive boating option in the scenic lake. During the ride travellers can have a variety of sights – of elephant herds frolicking in the lake, deer herds grazing on the grasslands, birds roosting in trees - and many more. The sanctuary is about 110 km away from Munnar.

Travel

Neelakurinji

Peerumedu

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) flowers once in every twelve years and thousands of travellers visit Munnar during this time to watch the rolling hills and the seemingly endless valleys bathed in the purplish blue.

The last time Neelakurinji bloomed in Munnar was in 2006. Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) flowers once in every twelve years and thousands of travellers visit Munnar during this time to watch the rolling hills and the seemingly endless valleys bathed in the purplish blue.

The last time Neelakurinji bloomed in Munnar was in 2006.

Neelakurinji National Park The Government of Kerala, in a noble initiative to protect the Neelakurinji and the unique biodiversity of the region, declared around 32 sq km area in the Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Munnar as the Neelakurinji National Park.

The 2006 season saw some 10 lakh travellers from in and around the country visiting Munnar to watch the rare beauty.

Experience peace and quiet in Peermedu – a hill station of outstanding natural beauty. Decades ago, Peer Mohammed, a Sufi saint lived in Peermedu, and it was after him the place earned the name Peermedu or the Peer’s valley. Peermedu’s history has a royal touch for it was the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore.

Ammachikkottaram, the summer residence of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai who ruled the Travancore kingdom as Maharani Regent from 1924 to 1931, is a prominent landmark of Peermedu. The elegant bungalow is today a private residence. The hill station also played host to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime Minister of Independent India.

a national park in 2003. About 131.80 hectares of land falls in the park area. The park that greets travellers with cloudy skies and mist offers wildlife watching and trekking options. April-September is the ideal time to visit. The park is situated about 35 km from Munnar. The important mammals found in the park include Elephant, Gaur, Leopard, Wild Boar, Sambar and Common Langur. Nilgiri Marten, the only species of marten found in South India, can be spotted in the park. The biggest surprise that awaits travellers to the park is an amazing variety of butterflies that inhabit the shola forests.

Pambadum Shola National Park The Pambadum Shola National Park, which is home to several endangered species of flora and fauna, is the smallest national park in Kerala. Located in the eastern part of the South -Western Ghats, the area was declared

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Entry of Tatas In 1964, the Tata Group entered into collaboration with Finlay which resulted in the formation of the Tata-Finlay Group. Tata Tea Ltd. was formed in 1983. In 2005, the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company Pvt. Ltd. was formed and Tata Tea transferred the ownership of its plantations to the new company. Employees of Tata Tea hold stake in the company.

Tourism, the new hope of Munnar If plantation industry ‘discovered’ Munnar in the 19th century, it was re-discovered by the tourism industry in the later half of the 20th century. The hill station, situated about 1600 m above the sea level, began to be flocked by travellers from around the world. The town, which still retains its colonial charm, has a large number of hotels to greet travellers.

Virgin forests, savannahs, rolling hills, scenic valleys, numerous streams, waterfalls, sprawling tea plantations and winding walkways are attracting thousands every year.

Poonjar Royal Family The history of Munnar is never complete without a mention of the Poonjar royal family. Over a long period of history, this royal family had the privilege to be the custodians of the virgin hills of Munnar.

The history of Poonjar Royal Family begins in Tamil Nadu from where they had to flee following a ruthless struggle for power. Long ago, the Madurai kingdom was ruled by Manavikrama, a mighty king of the Pandyan dynasty. Besides a powerful kingdom, Madurai had the distinction of being a centre of arts. The Pandyan kings had great reverence to the goddess Madurai Meenakshi.

The artful sanctum sanctorum of the temple is believed to have been built during the reign of the Pandyas.

Once Madurai came under the attack of the nearby Chola

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dynasty and after a fierce battle, the Pandyas recaptured their kingdom. The recapturing of Madurai was celebrated with spectacular festivities.

But in the night, when everyone was asleep after the celebrations, Viswanatah Naicken a general of the Pandyas who had sided with the Cholas, opened the fort gates for the enemy.

The Chola army unleashed a ruthless attack slaying the sleeping soldiers. A minister safely took Manavikrama and his immediate family out of the fort through a long secret tunnel. The family had managed to take a good portion of their

fortune in the form of jewellery, gems and gold.

The tunnel led them to a forest area from where they reached Palghatusserry (the present day Palghat). There they lived for a brief period in the house of a Brahmin.

But when he came to know that his guest was King Manavikrama, the Brahmin family feared the displeasure of the Cholas and asked them to leave the place.

From there, Manavikrama moved to Vanneri, which is part of the present day Thrissur. There he built a residence and after sometime some of his former subjects came to visit him. They were the poligars of Theni, Uthamapalayam and Kumbam.

Though they extended support to their dear king to win back Madurai, Manavikrama had scant interest. Though the poligars returned, they didn’t loose hope

Travel in a come back of the King.

They built a palace at Mele Goodalloor in anticipation of a change of mind of their dear king.

As time passed by Manavikrama was racked with a feeling of insecurity at Vanneri and during this time he was approached by the king of Elangallur (present day Edappally). Both the royal heads soon struck a chord of friendship which resulted in Elangallur king marrying the daughter of Manavikrama.

The Elangallur king, as a token of his love, gifted the Ernakulam region in his principality to the queen.

Unfortunately, Manavikrama who found great solace in getting an affluent relative didn’t live for long. After Manavikrama’s death, his eldest son

Kulasekhara took charge of family affairs. The prince was an ambitious gentleman who wanted to regain the glory of his family. He made arrangements to move to the Goodalloor palace and regroup the loyal Poligars.

Fate was more generous than the young prince had thought. He came to know that the kingdom of Poonjar was for sale following the death of its chieftain.

Poonjar lay opposite to the Goodalloor hill ranges and it was quite natural for the prince to have interest in the region. With the help of the fortune his family had brought from Madurai, the prince bought the Poonjar region from its custodians, the royal family of Thekkumkoor. Besides selling the land, Aditya Varma, the

Thekumkoor King, installed Kulasekhara as the king of Poonjar.

Kulasekhara was an ardent devotee of the goddess of Madurai Meenakshi temple and the first thing he did was to build a temple for the goddess on the banks of Meenachil river which flowed through Poonjar.

A grand palace and fort was also built soon. It is said that the idol installed at the temple was the original idol of Madurai Meenakshi temple, which King Manavikrama had brought with him.

The Pandya kings were generous rulers and had high regard for their subjects.

Though their original title was Perumal, they adopted the title Raja for male members and Thampuratty for female members. WFM

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Bolt became the fastest human ever when he won gold smashing his own world record in an unforgettable showboating performance.

Secret to Usain Bolt’s incredibly fast times on the track

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Wakeup at nooN

Eat

T

Chicken Nuggets

The secret weapon behind sprint sensation Usain Bolt's incredible Olympic 100metres triumph has been revealed as . . . a diet of chicken nuggets and yams.

Bolt became the fastest human ever when he won gold smashing his own world record in an unforgettable showboating performance.

Jamaican Bolt, 21, was so far ahead of his rivals he coolly slowed up in the last 30 metres, looked over his

shoulder and beat his chest Tarzanstyle before crossing the line.

And experts were last asking how fast the man dubbed Lightning Bolt could run if he decided to go hell-forleather until the finish line.

After the race Bolt gave the credit for his incredible stamina not to a scientific high-protein regime meticulously planned by a team of dieticians - but plenty of chicken nuggets.

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He said: "I woke around 11am and decided to watch some TV and had some nuggets.

"Then I slept for a couple of hours more. Then I got some more nuggets and came to the track." Bolt's diet is typical of his laidback attitude summed up by the slogan on his nation's yellow and green strip that reads "Jamaica - No Problem."

As the athletes lined up for Saturday's 100metres, most looked tense.

But the reggae-loving Bolt did a little dance then fired an imaginary arrow into the crowd as his name was announced.

He said afterwards: "I like to do that for the crowd. I just love dancing.

"You have to enjoy yourself to stay relaxed. When I made that gesture going over the line, I was just having fun. That is just me.

I didn't even know I'd beaten the record until after the lap of honour."

Millions watched Bolt's triumph on TV. And no one was cheering him on harder than dad Wellesley back home in the quiet village of Sherwood Content.

Yesterday proud Wellesley insisted his son's path to gold had been powered by a regular

I woke around 11am and decided to watch some TV and had some nuggets. Then I slept for a couple of hours more. Then I got some more nuggets and came to the track.

Bolt's diet is typical of his laidback attitude summed up by the slogan on his nation's yellow and green strip that reads "Jamaica No Problem." diet of yams when he was a boy.

He said Bolt, who is also hoping for Olympic gold in the 200metres and the 100 metres relay, loved the starchy vegetable as a child and insisted it helped build up his 6ft 5ins frame.

Wellesley insists he had no doubt his son would triumph in Beijing on Saturday. He said: "Once he got going I knew they were not gonna catch him."

Experts are convinced Bolt will dominate sprinting for a decade - and believe he will run even faster than the 9.69 that shaved three hundredths of a second off his previous world record.

Scott Drawer, UK Sport's head of research, said: "Usain has a very different body to that of traditional 100m sprinters. It's

rare to see someone so tall.

"It means he is a lot slower out of the blocks but once he is up to speed his long legs and his superior stride length is a very important factor that gives him a major advantage. He's got a huge amount of natural talent and you could tell he could have run even faster in that race.

"It remains to be seen how many more tenths of a second he will shave off his own record. It's hard to say just how fast he can go."

The Secret of my success Born in Trelawny, Jamaica, Usain Bolt, 23, is the world's fastest man, holding the world records for the 100m, 200m and, with his team-mates, the

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4x100m relay. As a child, his favoured sports were cricket and football, his pace helping him excel as a bowler and a winger. True stardom came at the 2008 Olympics, when he became the first sprinter since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win three gold medals at one Games. The following year he broke his own records at the World Championships in Berlin, setting astonishing times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds in the 100m and 200m respectively.

Be prepared to make sacrifices.

When I was starting out I had to stay at home and maintain my focus rather than going out with my friends. When you're training as hard as you can, you have to try to get your rest in the evenings. It was hard saying, 'I'm going to stay in' while my friends were going to clubs such as Quad or Fiction in Kingston. But you have to do it.

The biggest motivator in the world is the fear of losing.

I don't want to lose; I'm very competitive. My greatest fear as a professional athlete - in fact, the only fear I've ever had when racing - is the fear of losing. It's always there, and the only way you get over it is by focusing and by working harder and training harder than anyone else.

It's important to have role models.

When I was younger mine were Michael Johnson and Don Quarrie. Johnson was pretty much the best runner in the world, particularly at the 200m - my favourite event - and Quarrie was one of the best Jamaican sprinters in history, so I just wanted to be like them. I still have people I look up to even now.

At the moment it's Kevin Durant, the basketball player (he plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder).

Kevin is a good leader; he's very strong and very determined. Whatever he does, whether he's tired or injured, he works through it, pushes on and challenges his team-mates to do their best.

Learn to be street-smart.

Education is important, but being street-smart is just as useful - to my mind it's what gives me an edge. And it's something that's always come naturally to me.

You need the right people around you.

Building my success has been fairly simple, to be honest, because I have the best team. Yes, I try hard at what I do, but without them it wouldn't work. My family, my friends, my coach - they've all helped me to succeed. In particular, my parents were really supportive. They made sure I got to track meetings and I had everything I needed to train.

At the same time, they made sure I trained. You knew what would happen if you didn't behave - my dad was very strict and a real disciplinarian. We feared our dad.

He's big, and when we were small he instilled this fear in us.

Enjoy whatever you do.

The best advice I was ever given

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was to always enjoy the sport. My coach told me that when I was starting out. If you enjoy what you do you can really put your heart into it.

No matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement.

Getting a good start in sprinting is very important, and it's something that's hard for me because I'm tall (6ft 5in). It doesn't come naturally, so I've had to practise a lot. Being tall really helps when I get going, as I've got a long stride, but it's not ideal for starting. It took me a while, but I finally got there, and now my start's a lot better.

Control your aggression.

In sport, if you're too aggressive, you don't know how it'll end. Although I'm still competitive on the track, I don't believe in aggression - I don't take those kinds of risks. I'm not that kind of guy. I'm a calm, laid-back person; I prefer to just wait to see what will happen. I don't believe in gambling with any part of my life, and I think that aggression is a gamble.

Never write anyone off.

I can't think of anyone I admire more than my coach, Glen Mills, and what he does that's so great is that he gives everyone a chance. Whereas other people might say, 'You're not going to make it,' he makes sure that everyone has the best chance to succeed. He puts in a lot of effort and work for everyone he coaches and that's the most admirable thing I can think of.

Don't believe your own hype.

My proudest moment was the day I won the 200m gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Jamaica. I was just 15, which made me the youngest world junior gold medallist ever.

However, as soon as it was done, it was done. I didn't think about the world record, I didn't wake up and think, 'I'm the fastest man in the world', or anything like that. I got straight back to training.

Make sure your money works for you.

I think regardless of what you do, it's most important to invest wisely. If you don't know what you're doing then hire someone who does. I have a financial adviser, and he and my manager make sure everything's OK. Having said that, I do like to treat myself when I win - and I buy cars in particular. I bought a BMW back in 2008, and last year I bought myself a Nissan Skyline. I crashed the BMW, but I've still got the Skyline.

Relish a good rivalry it helps push you harder.

I don't really see myself as having big rivals nowadays - although there are a couple of guys out there who are getting close - but there was a guy at high school who beat me in the first year we were together. The next year, I worked harder than ever before.

WFM

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ur heart is the center of our lives, is the engine that keeps us alive. That is why it should be the first and most important organ to take care of.

Unfortunately in these rushing times, full with problems we do not have enough time and strength to take care of our body, this way causing severe damages to our heart. The first step needed to be made for our heart to remain healthy is changing our lifestyle and eating habits.

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An Interview with Dr. Bartley Griffith, M.D.

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New technology is revolutionizing the way surgeons treat heart problems.

Internationally known heart surgeon Bartley Griffith, M.D., the chief of cardiac surgery at University of Maryland Medical Center and professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, talks about the exciting advances that have occurred and the positive impact these have had on patient care in the following interview.

?

Talk about some of the technological advances that are changing the way you are able to help your patients who need heart surgery It's been an amazing ride for heart surgery. It's only been around for 30 years. And if you think about any other industry, such as the aircraft industry, how much time it really has taken to go from the Wright brothers to the 747, and you compare that time frame to the field of heart surgery, a lot has happened in a very short time. In the late 60's it was a miracle to do a heart surgery on anybody and expect survival. Today, we have been able to amass tremendous experience and new technologies as you mentioned, such that the average patient undergoing heart surgery today is not only expected to live but only less than one in 100 is not expected to survive.

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?

One of the big changes in the last few years is the move to minimally invasive surgeries, smaller incisions, all kinds of technical advances and devices.

We used to have a saying in surgery, the bigger the better.

The bigger the incision, the more you could do. That's not gone over well with our population of candidate patients. So we learned in fact that we can do an amazing amount of heart surgery through very small incisions. The key technological breakthrough to facilitate that has been the use of fiber-optic telescopes to place the heart on a screen in front of us and enlarge the size of that

If we lose Mammary Artery, if it blocks off, the Heart will never be the same and it will never work like the nice, efficient pump that it's supposed to be.

heart by a factor of two and three and have plasma screen-type definition of what we are working on. So we can work at the end of a very small tunnel, a small wound, if you wish, and create basically a platform to repair a valve or actually stitch an artery on the heart in a way that we actually can see better than we could when we could hold the heart in our hand.

?

How do these fiber-optic telescopes work?

It’s inserted through the chest wall. In doing so, it connects to a kind of a special video player or camera that will record the images and put them up on the screen, watching what's going on. The surgeon often is not even

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looking at the patient but looking at the screen, while his or her hands are working in the wound. It's quite a change in how we have approached things. In the past we used big incisions and we basically had to put our hands down into the holes to make our stitches go where we wanted them.

Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery

?

ne of the most common types of heart surgery is bypass surgery. Can bypass surgery be done in a minimally invasive way?

Sure. Heart bypass surgery really was the mainstay in the treatment of blockages of the arteries of the heart, which was the primary cause of heart attacks. Cardiac surgeons were getting very good at performing the classic bypass operation where we would take a piece of vein from the leg and basically make a detour around the blockage in the heart artery.

We were learning to do that very well, and our colleagues, who are called cardiologists as opposed to cardiac surgeons, were learning how to fix those heart arteries on a

good number of patients from the inside.

This is done by using technology that really began with catheters that had little balloons on them that could open up the blockages and now extends from that technology to catheters that have little stents, or little wire meshes, on them that can open up the artery.

It’s amazing how much more treatment we can render without making any incision, compared to the past. The problem with that treatment is that not everybody has a blockage that they can get to from the inside, so we teamed up with the cardiologist to give the best possible care.

?

Aren't there some people who have multiple

blockages and may be treated easily with the angioplasty and the stent but others where a bypass might be better in keeping the vessel open?

We believe so. There is a wonderful artery in our body called the mammary artery that runs along the left side of the breastbone. It's a good conduit to take blood into the heart. Once it's stitched into the heart it's immune from being closed off, so we love to put that artery into the closest artery to it, which is the left anterior descending artery.

It's the master artery in the heart and it's basically in charge of giving blood flow to one of the most important portions of the heart. If we lose that artery, if it blocks off, the heart will never be the same and it will never work like the nice efficient pump that it's supposed to be. It will become more swollen and work more like a workhorse, a little tired and ultimately can fail from lack of muscle supply.

So that vessel is in a perfect location for this

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mammary artery. Team members at the University of Maryland, have basically strategized a procedure that we think provides best practice for patients with multiple coronary artery blockages. In one single sitting, a patient goes into an operating room that's outfitted just like a heart catheterization laboratory, so we can do both a standard bypass operation and a stent procedure at the same time.

This particular operating room has very, very fancy imaging capability, meaning we can look through the heart with X-rays and actually see where our catheters are going.

So the standard operation would be a very small incision in the left breast, not much bigger than a few inches long and no longer a big incision where we divide the breastbone. We can make an incision, take that artery under the breastbone and plug it into this master artery in the heart. When that's completed, before the patient wakes up from a short anesthesia, our colleagues are working through catheters to open the other arteries that are blocked.

?

It makes sense to have the cardiac surgeons and cardiologists work together in the same place at the same time, but that's not how it has been done for many years. The patient would see one or the other and had to be referred elsewhere and have separate procedures.

Right. Our theme or mindset at the University of Maryland is ‘Let's work together to give best practice,’ and I think

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It's an amazing development to operate on the Heart while it is beating.

It is the part of the upswing in Technology

others are beginning to pick this up as well. There are certain bypass operations that patients need that will really be better than a stent procedure and there are certain stent procedures that are better than coronary bypasses. The patient needs to think about the procedures as 'what's best for me for the next 10 or 20 years.' Combining best practice today offers a tremendous advantage to patients without big incisions and really with one modestly large procedure.

?

It used to be when you did heart surgery, you would put the patient on a heart-lung machine so the heart could be stopped and do the bypasses that way. But now you let the heart continue to beat while you do it, which you call "beating heart surgery"?

It's an amazing development to operate on the heart while it's beating.

While we were learning about heart artery bypass surgery, we would always

stop the heart and use the heart-lung machine, and patients were scared about that. The most common question I had from patients is ‘If you stop my heart, how do you know it will start again?’ it's terrifying to have all your blood drained and put into the pump and pumped back to you while your heart is not moving.

Beating heart surgery gives the surgeon very good exposure where we can stitch these angel hair-sized stitches into really tiny blood vessels.

We have learned how to do this now with the heart beating and that's part of the upswing in technology.

We have better tools to help us with this type of surgery.

For example, the surgeons now wear these long glasses, not because they have poor eyesight, but because those glasses will magnify the surgical view by up to four times. Plus, using the heart-lung machine to assist heart surgeons in doing their job does come with a certain price, and that price is maybe an increased risk of bleeding after the operation, and also of having a stroke.

So we think that beating heart surgery for heart bypass is preferred when it can be done well. WFM

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Dr William O’ Neill M.D speaks

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William O’Neill, M.D., professor of cardiology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, discusses aortic stenosis, and how treatment for this disease of the elderly has become less invasive.

?

Tell us a little bit about the study that you are currently involved in?

closes without difficulty throughout life, but as people get older (70’s and 80’s) the valve starts to calcify.

We are part of a national study called the Partner Trial, which is a trial of an innovative way of treating deadly diseases of the elderly called aortic stenosis.

We are enthralled to be a part of this national study.

How many people out of the elderly population have this disease?

?

Discuss aortic stenosis, and the risks that are inherent for these older people?

Aortic stenosis is a disease of the elderly. It’s basically calcification and narrowing of the aortic valve. The aortic valve usually opens and

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?

1 out of every 3 people over the age of 80 has some component of aortic stenosis. As we treat a lot of other deadly diseases – heart disease, cancer and infections – people are living longer. The average age for a woman to live to right now is 78, so more and more people are getting into their 80’s and 90’s and this disease is really starting to affect all of them.

?

How deadly is this disease?

What is really important to know about the disease is that when people begin to become symptomatic . . . they have less than 2 years to live.

This disease is in due course exceptionally deadly.

It is really far more deadly than any of the malignant cancers. The fortunate thing is that there is really a very good treatment for it.

?

How did these patients respond to the old method of treatment in comparison to the novel less invasive methods?

The traditional method of treatment for these patients is valve surgery. The

surgeon goes in and cuts the breastbone open, opens up the chest, and then puts the patient on bypass and puts a new one in.

People in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s can usually tolerate that very well, but patients in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s . . . well, it’s really a lot to put them through.

and I don’t want to have to go through the pain of having open-heart surgery."

Before, there wasn’t much of an option for them; however, with these less invasive treatments they are very interested in having something that can increase their function as well as their quality of life.

?

Can you discuss the new-fangled method of putting the stent in that offers patients a less invasive form of treatment?

How do patients respond to having an invasive treatment that late in life?

In my experience over the past 20 years, I have experienced countless patients say that they don’t want to go through with the surgery.

They say, "Look doc . . . I don’t need to live that much longer . . . I’ve had a full life

?

The new treatment for aortic stenosis is putting a stent that is crimped on a balloon, and then the valves inside open and sit along the aorta valve.

Usually we put the valve

through a blood vessel in the leg and run the valve all the way to the heart and ultimately implant it there.

?

Are there ever any difficulties that come with running the valve through the blood vessels in the leg?

Sometimes, the blood vessels in the leg of the patient may be too small, so the surgeon in point of fact has to make a small incision on the side of the chest – they will actually puncture the heart and once the valve is put in that hole is sown shut.

This is a little more invasive, but it is no more risky than doing a regular open-heart operation. WFM

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Dr G. Vijayaraghavan Dr G. Vijayaraghavan, who completed his medical studies at CMC, Vellore, is Kerala’s first heart specialist. A veteran cardiologist who has worked in India and abroad, he was instrumental in setting up the cardiology department in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, and served as its head for many years. He was the personal consultant of AKG and counts socio political leaders and literary personalities among his patients. A Padmasree awardee, Dr Vijayaraghavan is the vice-chairman and head of cardiology department in KIMS Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram.

O

On August 7, 2010, I celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of joining Thiruvananthapuram Medical College by having a get-together with my former classmates in my alma mater.

During the celebrations we shared our growing concerns about the unprecedented growth in the number of heart patients in Kerala in the last fifty years. Though one can find laudable progress in many areas, which makes one feel proud, when you look at the future, there are matters of grave concern as well. How did Kerala become home to so many heart patients is a million-dollar question.

I did my medical studies in the early half of the 1960s. I wished to learn more about heart diseases and gain proficiency in cardiology ever since my father had a heart attack when I was

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doing matriculation. While studying with a special focus on cardiology, most of the classes I attended were related to that topic. The classes on all specialties, except those on neuro cardiac diseases, comprised only 20 per cent. We had realized the importance of heart diseases in the curriculum even at that time. That was why much importance was given to cardiac studies. But in spite of that, we need to introspect why heart diseases are on the rise in Kerala.

Based on the medical experience of half a century, I have made a few observations. Earlier, heart ailments were mostly confined to valve complaints caused by rheumatism and the symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitation and oedema. We used to get patients with the above mentioned symptoms for

our exams and most of them were between 15 and 30.

Open valve surgery and replacement of the valve are the treatment options that give a lasting cure. Although Thiruvananthapuram had open valve surgery by 1963, it took another decade for it to become popular. In those days, only CMC, Vellore, had facilities for open heart surgery and valve replacement. But the casualty rate was high even there. High blood pressure and cardiac arrest, which are common today, were very rare in those days. Even the treatment options and medicines were limited. And worse, the drugs had more side effects.

But today, the situation has improved tremendously.

Although I became a professor in 1986, I assumed charge as head of the department of cardiology

in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College only in 1993, after working abroad for quite some time. When I came to Thiruvananthapuram, most of the heart patients were those who were suffering from high blood pressure, cardiac failure and related ailments. Unlike the 1960s, those suffering from valverelated problems were comparatively few. Most of the patients complained of chest pain and fatigue.

Many of them were either

obese or addicted to tobacco or alcohol. In the last two decades, the number and characteristics of heart ailments affecting Keralites have undergone a sea change.

What has happened to Malayalis with the changing times?

Not all changes are bad; I would like to point out one aspect. With rise in the levels of literacy and educational standards, health of children has improved tremendously.

Now it is customary to rush the child to a doctor if he/

she has a sore throat, and the result? Rheumatic fever has almost disappeared. If close to 15 patients were admitted for rheumatic fever every week in the sixties, the number has come down to one or two patients a month.

And as a result, valves affected by rheumatism are also very rare nowadays.

However, many Keralites are oblivious of the fact that they are inviting heart diseases because of their altered food habits.

From a diet that included

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rice gruel, rice, boiled tapioca, vegetables and fish, Indians have switched over to beef, chicken, biriyani and ghee rice. Decades ago, in the state capital, beef was only available in Palayam market. But now it is readily available in hundreds of cold storages which are a part of the city scape. One can find fast food joints and wayside food kiosks (thattukadas) everywhere. Earlier one chicken was sufficient for a family, and the dish was enjoyed for lunch and dinner.

But now there are many families where the children themselves polish off a whole fried chicken at one go. Thanks to the availability of milk, snacks made out of ghee and butter are dime a dozen. Most of the bakeries are crowded in the evening.

No wonder a survey found out that 15 per cent of Keralites are obese and 30 per cent have a paunch.

Apart from the change in food habit another ‘disaster’ struck Kerala in the span of half a century. Even the remotest hamlets, including those in the high ranges and forests, are now connected to towns by a good network of roads, thanks to five year plans and panchayat initiatives. The net result?

Very few people prefer to walk to school, office or the market. Why walk when there are a whole variety of vehicles to suit one’s needs, isn’t it? Open spaces for recreation and sports have come down in schools and offices.

Children have a whole lot of subjects to study and tuitions are inevitable for success in exams. In such a situation, they don’t have time for games and other activities.

TV has invaded the Indian living room, and it is very common to find family members seated in front of the TV in the evening, munching snacks like mixture and wafers while

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watching their favourite soaps or movies. People seem to be oblivious of the need for exercise. As the panchayats and five year plans have left out maidans and joggers’ paths from its agendas, our kids can no longer play and elders find it difficult to go for walks or a jog. So how do we burn excess calories accumulated from our rich diet. Lack of exercise, salt content of food and obesity have made high blood pressure a common malady.

As you know, excess fat gets deposited in the blood vessels, which leads to blocks.

A block in the blood vessels to the heart causes cardiac arrest and if the blood flow to the brain is obstructed, the result is a paralytic stroke.

The above-mentioned reasons have also made diabetes a household disease in Kerala.

One should also not forget the role of alcohol and tobacco. Keralites seem to have conveniently ignored the fact that in many countries, the number of deaths resulting from cardiac arrest was halved when

they cut down tobacco use.

Although the recent High Court order has enforced some restrictions on smoking in public, tangible results are yet to be seen. Excessive consumption of alcohol, which is rampant in Kerala, is another grave danger.

It is sad fact that Kerala, a humid state, consumes more liquor than Punjab, which is much cooler.

While competing to for the maximum intoxication, Malayalis conveniently forget that they are inviting a host of ailments like liver cirrhosis, ulcer, high blood pressure, stroke, cardiac arrest, diabetes and cancer, which are on the increase in the state.

Many intellectuals and artistes have met an untimely death because of alcoholism.

An analysis of this dreadful situation reveals the lack of health awareness despite our high educational standards.

Looking back, I feel that we seem to be exerting a counter force against the health achievements in the last fifty years. WFM

Dr George Thayil Dr George Thayil graduated in medicine from the prestigious Munich University in Germany. Interestingly, he did his post graduation and doctorate in the same institution. He underwent special training in Austria under the Cardiology National Board and has several foreign fellowships under his belt. Dr George, who has won the highest honour of the American College of Cardiology, is the head of the cardiology department of Lourdes Hospital, Ernakulam. His erudition finds expression in two reader-friendly books that he penned on cardiology. His bestseller, ‘Heart Attack Bhayappedathe Jeevikkam’, is a compilation of 200 research articles.

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“If you meet a person who complains of a pain blitzkrieging across the chest and on to both arms, then tell him, death is fast approaching.” These words were etched on a plaque by an Egyptian physician in 3,500 BC. His wise words hold true even today, despite the achievements in cardiac research. Any affliction suffered by the heart, which is safely enclosed within tough muscles and the rib cage, shortens one’s thread of life.

Which is the most severe pain in the human body?

There can only be one answer—angina or chest pain which is the telltale sign of cardiac arrest. It manifests itself as heaviness in the chest, heartburn, tightness and a jabbing sensation. It gradually spreads to the shoulders, arms and the chin in varying degrees of intensity.

Like any organ, the

heat muscles need an incessant supply of blood for its smooth functioning.

Cholesterol, fibrin and other subsidiary elements get deposited on the inner layer of the coronary artery, which supplies blood to the heart.

In the course of time, the deposits thicken, diminishing the diameter of the artery, posing hurdles to smooth blood flow. Studies indicate that cholesterol formation in

the artery begins from early teens. Research conducted by the famous Cleveland Clinic in the US found that one in six teenagers in the 12-19 age group had plaque (hardened cholesterol deposits) formation in the blood vessels. Severe deposition of plaque leads to atherosclerosis, which causes insufficient blood flow to the heart, thereby limiting the supply of oxygen to the cells

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of the heart. This jeopardizes the metabolism and toxic lactic acid accumulates in the cells. If this complicated condition -myocardial ischemia -persists beyond a certain point, it affects the cells of the heart. In such a condition, patients experience acute chest pain.

Damage of heart cells and the duration of insufficient blood supply are intrinsically linked to each other. If the blood supply is restored within a certain time limit, it would prevent damage of the cells. This is where the skills of advanced medical science come into play.

When ischemia persists for a longer period of time, then the cells of the heart die, and it is impossible to

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rejuvenate them. The block in a blood vessel will ultimately destroy the cells of that particular area of the heart where it supplies blood. This condition is called myocardial infarction--heart attack in layman terms. When the cells of a particular area die, then the pumping capacity of the heart deteriorates.

Although there are many people with blocks in the coronary artery, not all fall prey to ‘heart attack’. The unknown reasons as well as the triggering factors need to be evaluated to ascertain the real cause of cardiac arrest. Logically, a person is susceptible to heart attack when the deposits on the inner lining of arteries thicken into plaques and

completely block the blood vessel. Surprisingly, studies show that the rate of heart attack is more in patients with smaller amounts of plaque. Because of other reasons, fat deposits in the coronary artery suddenly get bloated and they burst, creating a blood clot. This blocks the artery, leading to an attack.

One should also note that cardiac arrest can occur even if the arteries remain intact, without any structural changes. In certain rare cases, blood clots from other parts of the body, lumps of ruptured cancerous cardiac tumours, infected cell clusters containing bacteria, etc. may sometimes clog the arteries, cutting off blood supply to

Painless heart attacks in diabetics Painless heart attacks are common among diabetics, those suffering from high blood pressure, senior citizens and women.

The weakening of the autonomous nervous system of the heart because of diabetes causes painless cardiac arrests.

Studies indicate that 35 per cent of diabetics do not experience pain at all during cardiac arrest. Instead they manifest other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, fatigue and stomach cramps.

the heart, resulting in cardiac arrest. Other reasons are coronaries arising from the pulmonary artery, carbon monoxide poisoning, oversecretion of the thyroid gland, abnormalities in the molecular structure of the blood cells and cocaine use.

In many cases, youngsters, especially women, fall prey to cardiac arrest because of a certain abnormality—the over contraction of coronary arteries because of mental stress and other unknown reasons. In such cases the coronary artery remains in a contracted state for quite some time, affecting the flow of blood. If an angiogram is taken at that particular moment, it would reveal a block. This condition is termed coronary spasm. But once the artery regains its normal size, the angiography would not show any blocks at all.

Physical and mental strain is often blamed for cardiac arrest. In such cases the heart beats faster and more blood has to reach the heart.

But when blocks obstruct blood flow, a certain part of the heart becomes affected causing heart attack. Studies indicate that physical exertion is the reason for 15 per cent of heart failure cases. Surprisingly, 8 per cent of people fall prey to heart attack when asleep.

Over secretion of hormones could be one reason. Research indicates that an agitated mind enhances the chances of cardiac arrest. Heart ailments are aggravated when one’s mental equilibrium is disturbed by untoward incidents like death of someone dear, change of place, financial liabilities, loss of job and so on.

The extensive study, Interheart’, which was organized by Canadian Indian Prof Salim Yusuf involving 27,000 people from 52 nations, proves that the rampant spread of nine risk factors—smoking, high

blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, food habits, lack of exercise, alcoholism, stress and apolipoprotein has a 95 per cent chance of triggering a heart attack. Apart from these factors, it was found that pulmonary diseases, hypoglycemia, surgery, binge eating and severe winter can trigger a cardiac arrest. Even in the absence of risk factors, many people succumb to heart attacks.

Normally, angina lasts for more than an hour. Some patients feel the pain in the abdomen instead of the chest and take medicines for indigestion, mistaking it for gas trouble. In many cases, a cardiac arrest is mistaken for gas trouble and vice versa. In 50 per cent of cases, angina is accompanied by vomiting. Excessive sweating, palpitation, breathlessness, irritable bowels, dizziness, fatigue, etc. are some of the accompanying symptoms.

When elderly people and women suffer a heart attack they exhibit other symptoms.

During cardiac arrest, the patient is hospitalized when he complains of severe chest pain. Sometimes if the pain is not acute, the patient tends to pop in a pain killer. But think of silent heart attacks that do not manifest angina. Studies indicate that 20 to 60 per cent of people are hit by silent attacks, which are revealed by chance when an ECG is taken at some point of time.

Silent attacks are mostly seen in senior citizens, women, diabetics and those having high blood pressure. Thirtyfive per cent diabetics are susceptible to silent attacks.

They don’t feel pain because of the deterioration of the autonomic nervous system in the heart due to diabetes.

But they exhibit symptoms like breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fatigue. Interestingly, chest pain can also be caused by physical and mental stress. This often jeopardizes diagnosis.

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In 50 to 60 per cent cases patients die within one hour of the cardiac arrest.

Therefore medical assistance should be provided at the earliest if someone complains of angina. Once cardiac arrest is confirmed, the treatment has to start immediately, as delay of each second claims the life of a heart cell. Accurate diagnosis is possible by analyzing the ECG variations and the levels of substances like trofonil, CKMB myoglobin, etc. in the blood. (These substances can be found in the blood stream when death of cardiac cells occurs.) In some cases, the ECG readings are fuzzy.

Treatment for those who have suffered a heart attack comprises three levels.

Emergency treatment, which has to be carried out within the first 24 hours after the onset of angina, is the most important. Primary angioplasty is of utmost significance. The patient is rushed to a hospital with cathlab facilities and he is made to lie on a cathlab for angiography to locate the block and determine its structure. Later, a balloon catheter is used to inflate the blood vessel and a metal roll (stent) is placed on the spot to regularize blood flow. This procedure rejuvenates the dying heart cells. However, because of the heavy cost involved this therapy is beyond the reach of ordinary patients in Kerala. If primary angioplasty is unavailable then thrombolytic therapy is employed to dissolve the block. In this procedure

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In many cases, youngsters, especially women, fall prey to cardiac arrest because of a certain abnormality—the over contraction of coronary arteries because of mental stress and other unknown reasons. special drugs are injected within a stipulated time period.

After the patient overcomes the critical stage, he/she is shifted from the intensive coronary care unit to the ward. It is a fresh lease of life and a sort of initiation into a different lifestyle. Although the main symptoms and consequences of cardiac arrest are under control now, the chances of getting further complications like ischemia, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, etc. should be analysed in detail and treated. Just before discharging a patient, his/her health condition should be closely analysed apart from driving home the dos and don’ts that he/she needs to strictly follow. Depending on the severity of the attack, patients should also be briefed on the possible ramifications and also on how to overcome them.

Doctors should also advise patients on the necessary

changes to be made in their lifestyle and diet. The importance of brisk and systematic exercise should also be stressed.

They also need to be told to stay away from risk factors like smoking, alcohol, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle apart from keeping an eye on blood sugar levels and pressure variations.

Controlling stress is also very important. Patients should also be briefed on the necessity of angioplasty or bypass surgery if intake of medicines fails to alleviate chest pain or cure the ailment of the heart.

People with diabetes, obesity, tobacco and alcohol addiction, high blood pressure, aversion to exercise, hereditary traits of cardiac disease and women after menopause need to take extra care of their heart.

As cardiac treatment is very expensive, it is better to take preventive measures at the earliest. WFM

Dr S.K. Prabhu MSFRCS (Edin) A consultant cardiac surgeon at SUT Royal Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Dr Prabhu is a specialist who treats heart problems in newly-born babies and children.

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The heart has two upper and two lower chambers. Impure blood is collected in the upper chamber of the right ventricle from where it reaches the chamber beneath it via the tricuspid valve. From there the blood passes into the pulmonary artery via the pulmonary valve and reaches the lungs where it expels carbon dioxide and receives oxygen from inhaled air.

Oxygenated blood from the lungs is brought to the upper chamber in the left ventricle by pulmonary veins. It then passes on to the aorta via the aortic valve and reaches all parts of the body.

This process constitutes blood circulation.

As impure blood and oxygenated blood are collected in the heart, both ventricles are separated by a strong wall. Four valves—tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic—regulate the blood flow within the heart.

caring for a little

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Valve defects are the most common cardiac ailments seen in children.

Earlier, surgery was the only treatment option in such cases. But today the situation has changed, with surgery recommended only for certain cases which may pose a grave threat in future.

Trivial defects get rectified as the child grows up; but there should be regular follow ups.

Certain heart defects can be combated by strengthening the heart muscles through medication. However, strong intervention is required when there are problems in the blood vessels. But even in such a stage, surgery is still not necessary. Modern treatment options like angioplasty are also helpful for children. Balloon therapy rectifies congenital defects like shrunken aorta and valves.

Diagnosis of heart defects in new born children requires a good deal of concentration and careful scrutiny because external manifestation of serious symptoms will be absent in most cases.

However, close examination with a stethoscope will reveal problems like erratic heartbeat.

In normal cases, the pulse rate in both legs and hands should be the same. But sometimes the pulse in the legs will be delayed. In such circumstances, clinical examination procedures like echocardiogram can be employed to diagnose the malady.

If the baby suffers from a serious heart disease, the child would exhibit symptoms like the skin turning blue, shortness of breath, difficulty in drinking the mother’s milk and retraction of the area below the thorax. Phenomenon like blue baby is also associated with heart disease.

If impure blood mixes with oxygenated blood when the valve between the ventricles shrinks, then the level of

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oxygen in the blood drops, and the baby’s skin turns blue. This is called the blue baby phenomenon.

There are two types of heart surgeries—open heart and those that are performed from outside. Open heart operations comprise two to three stages. Open heart surgery is costly as it has to suit the age of the child.

Another reason is that tiny artificial valves to suit newborns are not available.

If at all an artificial valve is implanted, then it has to be replaced at that particular stage of the child’s growth when it fails to function properly. If the aortic valve needs to be replaced, then it can be replaced with a portion of the pulmonary artery. This valve will grow along with the child.

Most children return to normal lives after surgery.

get only partial relief. It is found that those children are affected by certain problems between the age of 10 and 30.

Many parents of girls with heart problems hide their daughter’s illness at the time of their marriage.

Women with problematic hearts run a high risk of cardiac arrest when they become pregnant. If the girl says that she is unwilling to conceive, then it will lead to marital discord. Therefore, it is very important that the girl’s health condition should be disclosed before marriage.

It is advisable to consult a doctor before marriage.

Once they become pregnant, they should be careful not to contract viral infections like measles.

If at all they fall a prey to such infections, then an echocardiogram should be done to ascertain whether

Heart problems in children have to be approached with utmost care. Congenital heart diseases and the ones that affect kids after birth should be treated differently.

What is important is that they should be brought up without reminding them that they were once gravely ill. Just allow them to lead normal lives.

Children suffering from heart failure and irregular working of the heart should be brought up in consultation with a paediatric cardiologist.

If the child suffers from a heart ailment that does not require surgery, then he/ she should be shielded from every possible infection. If they are to be treated for any other condition or if they are to undergo dental therapy then the cardiologist has to be notified and the child has to be administered antibiotics before initiating the treatment.

While most children get a lasting cure, some of them

the child has any severe heart problem. If there is a serious problem, it is better to conduct an MTP. Viral infections contracted by pregnant women, the medicines they take and diagnostic tests affect the foetus as well.

In Kerala, treatment is available for all types of cardiac health problems of children. Thanks to increased levels of awareness, many parents seek treatment for their wards.

If the heart problem is detected early, then there is no reason to worry, as medical science has advanced by leaps and bounds. Unlike in olden days, kids with heart problems do not die because of unavailability of treatment options, and this fact is immensely gratifying. WFM

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U. Venugopal

Bellaire Health Club, Kowdiar, Thiruvananthapuram.

Phone: 9895480954

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Cardio is a certain form of exercise as well as a nickname for youngsters. It comprises exercises like treadmill and cycling. But how helpful is cardio? It is a fact that any exercise has cardio vascular benefits. We perform cardio for the sake of the heart. When we exercise, the heart has to beat faster to supply more blood to the muscles.

1. Avoid stuffing. Do not go on eating till you feel that your tummy would burst.

It is advisable to stop eating once you feel that your stomach is half full.

2. Have 14 glasses of water a day.

3. Don’t take extreme steps like drastically cutting down the quantity of food or skipping meals.

4. Have a moderate breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In between, have a light snack of fruits.

This strengthens the muscles of the heart.

But one should bear in mind that more strenuous exercises will cause fatigue to the heart and lead to complications. So it is important to find out the right exercise suitable for oneself as well as to what extent it can be done.

5. Avoid sweetmeats totally.

Stick to naturally fruits and honey, which will do you no harm.

6. Moderate intake of alcohol is not harmful, say doctors. But most people are ignorant of what constitutes ‘moderate intake’. Fifteen milliliters of alcohol facilitate digestion and act as an appetizer. But the milliondollar question is how many people can limit their intake to just 15 ml.

7. Apart from exercise

Exercise does not benefit the heart alone.

When we exercise, the production of serotonin, a chemical substance, increases and it provides an energizing effect to the body, reducing physical and mental stress. We would have noticed that our heartbeat increases when we do something under stress and when our heartbeat is normal we seem to be stress free. So low stress levels prevent overexertion of the heart.

Apart from exercise, the food we eat also influences cardiac health. By avoiding sugar and fat from our diet we can ensure that our heart stays healthy.

Problems like high cholesterol and high blood pressure affect the working of the heart. Today, evening tea is invariably accompanied by fried snacks and bakery delicacies. It is difficult to find children who love fruits and vegetables. Now let us look at how we can help the heart stay fit through our diet. WFM and a regulated diet, it is essential to try out mental exercises for sometime in order to relax and avoid stress. By doing so we can train the mind to calm down. With your eyes closed, try visualising the face of someone you know.

Concentrate on minor details like the person’s ears, nose, hair, etc. and visualize them with your inner eyes. If you practice this, you can easily regulate the thought patterns of your mind, thereby enhancing the health of your heart.

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“Common psychological attributes among terrorists are a lack of empathy with their victims, dogmatic or ideological mentality,or a simplistic or utopian world view�

Psychology of

Terrorism

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The most popular psychological explanations of terrorism involve disruptive or psychopathological personalities. According to biographical studies, people joining the same terrorist organisation have different motivations and personalities.

Some common psychological attributes among terrorists are a lack of empathy with their victims, dogmatic or ideological mentality, or a simplistic or utopian worldview.

However, one must consider

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that psychological profiles are based on information about the more fanatical and higher ranking members of terrorist organisations. While terrorist activity involves spreading one's ideology or carrying out attacks, it also requires strategic planning, logistical support, raising funds, and recruiting.

Each of these activities usually requires people with different capabilities and varying psychological traits. Finally, it is not clear if the psychological attributes of the terrorists are

fixed traits or attitudes induced by the experiences of the terrorist's life.

In sum, neither the individual psychology of terrorists, nor the social environments provide a complete explanation of why individuals become involved in terrorism.

First psychosocial principle terrorism must not be seen as a syndrome but as a method of social and political influence The psychosocial perspective

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is not congruent with the widespread interpretation of terrorist attacks as a direct effect of any social or psychological determination, but viewed as several social interactive processes that take place both in both inter and intragroup environs. According to research conducted by experimental social psychologists, minorities attempt to gain influence by persuading majority members to consider their point of view.

Through such persistence, a minority may be able to change or influence the majority position. Terrorism is not much different from this process because the spreading of fear or terror through violence has a communicative dimension.

After all, terrorist violence is a means to direct people's attention to certain problems (real, exaggerated or fictitious) and publicize the terrorist's political or religious demands.

values. In other cases, joining a terrorist organisation is the result of making contact and relationships with people who embrace extremist political or religious ideas.

Sageman (2004) states that personal paths, interactions, and choices may lead young Muslims to become radical jihadists.In the sample of 168 subjects who were investigated by Sageman, 68% said friendship was the main influencing factor contributing to joining jihadist groups. In about 14% of the cases, one joined a jihadist organisation because of familial bonds.

The two other explanatory variables also dealt with socialization experiences prior to involvement in terrorist activity: 1) experiences related to education in certain madrassas or Koranic schools (8% of the members of the sample,) or

The terrorist act as the final step on a narrowing staircase. Although the vast majority of people, even when feeling deprived and unfairly treated, remain on the ground floor, some individuals climb up and are eventually recruited into terrorist organizations.

Second principle the attributes of terrorists are shaped by processes of social interaction The psychological characteristics of individuals a result of several processes of socialization and social interaction. process of joining a terrorist group was heavily influenced by the prevailing political and social environment shared by friends and relatives. Obviously, growing up in an environment marked by radical ideas and values could lead one to a join terrorist group which embraces the same ideas and

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2) assiduous participation in the activities of certain radical mosques.

In any case, there is no doubt that the activities and lifestyles developed inside terrorist organisation shape the mentality of its members, intensifying their commitment to such organisations, and preparing them to engage in criminal activities.

Third principle terrorist organisations can be analyzed by analogy with other social movements Typically, terrorist organisations present themselves as the

defenders of the values and interests of an ethnic or religious community (see Javaloy, Rodriguez and Espelt, 2003). As Social Identity Theory predicts, the self-identification of terrorists as members of a much larger community will help them to fulfil their goals Fourth principle terrorism only is possible when terrorists have access to certain resources It is important to note that a majority of a terrorist's time and effort is dedicated to obtaining the resources such as money, technology, militants, collaborators, supporters and others.. In order obtain these primary resources, terrorist may engage in predatory activities such as theft, extortion, kidnapping or various legal and illegal businesses. To obtain their human resources, terrorist organisations design unique methods of radicalization, recruitment strategies, and training programs.

Fifth principle the decision to begin and sustain a terrorist campaign is always legitimized by an extreme ideology Ideology here refers to a system of extremist beliefs and values that are shared by a terrorist organisation and its allies. When the terrorist's ideology is rooted in the traditions and history of their reference community (for example, the Palestinian community for Hamas or the Basque people for ETA), it is possible that ideology also earns the acceptance of many individuals and other groups not involved in terrorist activity.

As stated by Krunglanski (2002), the latter is important because the more people who share a similar point of view to that of the terrorists, the greater the potential for violence.

Sixth principle every terrorist campaign involves strategic goals but the rationality which terrorists apply to their

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violence is imperfect A rational actor only chooses those actions that he considers as the most effective means to attain his objectives or satisfy his preferences. Certainly, it seems that terrorist perceived themselves as rational actors.

Many terrorist organisations have been able to introduce changes into their strategies in order to adapt themselves to changing situations and to react to their opponents (State, social audiences, etc).

This paper will discuss only two aspects of the concept of human rationality. First, many of the forecasts and assessments conducted by terrorists will not be completely accurate.

Second, the emotions (anger, desire for revenge, hatred, etc.), ideological motives, and other psychological elements could influence the terrorist's subjective perspective in the sense to distort their expectancies and their reflections about the result of

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their violent actions.

If individual actors' rationality tends to be limited and imperfect, the rationality of collective actors (groups, organisations, social movements, institutions, etc.) becomes even more problematic.

Seventh principle the activity of terrorists partly reflects the internal features of their organisations The structure of any organisation is equivalent to the formal pattern of social relations that are established among their members depending on certain roles and norms. There are two main structures of terrorist organisations (De la Corte, 2006). The first type is a more or less hierarchical one, as in the case of terrorist groups such as the IRA or the Italian Red Brigades. The second structure is much less hierarchical and much more flexible and decentralized. It corresponds

to terrorist groups composed by multiple cells which usually operate almost autonomously.

The small jihadist networks which today operate in various parts of the world offer the most obvious examples of this second type.

Human groups tend to polarize attitudes and decisions to a greater extent than individuals. Sometimes this group polarization effect promotes highly risky actions.

Terrorist cells exhibit the same conditions which facilitate group polarization. For instance, during certain periods, terrorists tend to reduce drastically their contact with people who do not embrace their similar extremist ideology. Other group aspects that facilitate terrorist activities concern: the norms and roles to which terrorists use to adjust their behaviour; the influence exerted by group leaders; and the material benefits and psychological rewards associated with the terrorist's militancy.

Finally, research on social influence, persuasion and changing attitudes show that reasons which people use to justify some of their actions are actually only developed after such actions haven take place.

The terrorist act as the final step on a narrowing staircase.

Although the vast majority of people, even when feeling deprived and unfairly treated, remain on the ground floor, some individuals climb up and are eventually recruited into terrorist organizations.

These individuals believe they have no effective voice in society, are encouraged by leaders to displace aggression onto out-groups, and become socialized to see terrorist organizations as legitimate and out-group members as evil.

The current policy of focusing on individuals already at the top of the staircase brings only short-term gains. The best long-term policy against terrorism is prevention, which is made possible by nourishing contextualized democracy on the ground floor. WFM

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Healthy Family, Healthy Pets Pets can enrich your family life, and taking a few precautions can protect your kids from getting sick.

Protecting your family from pet-related infections begins before bringing a pet home. For instance, reptiles and amphibians should not be allowed as pets in any household with infants and young children.

Nutrition, bone developement, preventive care and maintenance; everything you should know to keep your dog in peak performance and condition.

Pets can add fun, companionship and a feeling of safety to your life.

Care your

Dog

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Some Dog Care Tips • Dogs should always be in collar. Even while bathing he should not be without the collar. A tag mentioning the name of the dog, the owners name and address should always be attached to the collar of the dog. Also use a leash when you are taking your dog out for a walk. If there is a swimming pool in your house make sure of training your puppy not to go close to the pool.

• Your dog would need plenty of attention in order to make him more close to you. Especially if your dog is of a big size you are required to devote a considerable amount of time to increase the sense of attachment in-between you and your pet. Else, you will find abnormal behavioral changes in your dog.

• You should take up effective steps to save your dog from the attack of fleas. You may even consult a vet doctor

regarding how to get rid of fleas and heart worms. He might turn up with effective flea control suggestions like topical application of Advantage, Front line, Revolution, Sentinel and such. You are advised not to make use of flea collars as they can be dangerous for the health of your dog.

• Make yourself update with all the vaccinations that are necessary for your dog. Visit the veterinary clinic for routine check up of your dog.

• Give your dog to eat food items that are made up of pure ingredients. Choose the right dog food item that would have a balanced combination of nutrients like vitamins, protein, minerals and right amounts of calories. Some of dog’s food packets have excess of nutrients and calories that cause harm to the health of the dog. The amount of nutrition to be taken by a dog depends on the age, the breed and the level of activities carried out by your dog. So, be very particular about the nutritious diet that you should be giving to your dog.

• Dogs are more susceptible to heat than you are. So, especially during the summer season

provide your dog with a cool resting place and do not force your dog to run or walk with you or to perform exercises in case your dog is not willing to do so.

Give them plenty of water to drink. If you find your dog to be feeling restless due to heat do not hesitate to contact a veterinary doctor as a heatstroke for dogs can be life threatening for them.

• Make sure of spaying your dog or neutering if you are not willing to face pet over population. It is also beneficial for the health of the dog as well. You will find him to be less restless, aggressive as well as less susceptible to diseases like prostrate cancer and development of tumors related to hormonal activities.

Get your male dog neutered when he reaches the age of 5 to 6 months. A female dog if neutered will not have to bear the emotional turmoil and the bleeding that takes place in every three months. The scent of a female when in heat may attract male dogs which are even miles away from her. They might gather near her and may even fight among themselves.

WFM

Once you own a pet, keep it healthy. Know the signs of medical problems. Take your pet to the veterinarian if you notice: • Loss of appetite • Drinking a lot of water • Gaining or losing a lot of weight quickly • Strange behavior • Being sluggish and tired • Trouble getting up or down • Strange lumps

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Wellnesss Feelgood Magazine

Wellnesss Feelgood Magazine

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Wellnesss Feelgood Magazine