New York: India has witnessed 66 per cent decline in the under-five mortality rate from 1990 to 2015 but most of the new-born deaths -- 24 per cent of all -- still occur in the country, according to a new UN report.
According to the UN report, India is among the five countries -- Pakistan, Nigeria, Congo and Ethiopia being the others -- responsible for half of all newborn deaths in the world. Read: 97 million children in India underweight, figure global highest for 2016
The report, "Levels and Trends in Child Mortality 2017", revealed that 5.6 million children died before reaching the age of five in 2016.
However, this is a marked decrease compared to 2000 when nearly 9.9 million children had died before turning five.
Despite the progress, neonatal deaths -- defined as deaths during the first 28 days of life -- accounted for 46 per cent or 7,000 every day. Another 2.6 million babies were stillborn in 2016, the report said. Also Read: Nutritional deficiencies, tuberculosis – How to stop India’s two most common health issues
While India was accountable for 24 per cent of these new-born deaths, Pakistan accounted for 10 per cent, Nigeria nine per cent, the Democratic Republic of Congo four per cent and three per cent of the deaths occurred in Ethiopia.
Pneumonia and diarrhoea caused 16 per cent and eight per cent of deaths respectively among children under five globally. 30 per cent of newborns succumbed to preterm birth complications and complications during labour or childbirth last year.
"It is unconscionable that in 2017, pregnancy and childbirth are still life-threatening conditions for women, and that 7,000 newborns die daily," Tim Evans, Senior Director of Health Nutrition and Population at the World Bank Group, said in a statement on Thursday.
"The lives of 50 million children under five have been saved since 2000, a testimony to the serious commitment by governments and development partners to tackle preventable child deaths," said Stefan Swartling Peterson, Chief of Health at UNICEF.
"But unless we do more to stop babies from dying the day they are born, or days after their birth, this progress will remain incomplete. We have the knowledge and technologies that are required -- we just need to take them where they are most needed," Peterson said.
Going by the current trends, 60 million children would die before their fifth birthday between 2017 and 2030, half of them newborns, said the report released by the UNICEF, World Health Organisation, World Bank and the Population Division of UNDESA.
By way of possible solutions, the report suggests improved access to skilled health-professionals during pregnancy and at the time of birth, lifesaving interventions, such as immunisation, breastfeeding and inexpensive medicines, and increasing access to water and sanitation, could aid in ending preventable child deaths.
World Osteoporosis Day: Take these four lifestyle measures to keep your bones healthy
New Delhi: Osteoporosis takes a heavy toll on an individual’s health and future if left undiagnosed and untreated. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle, making them fragile and more likely to break.
Since osteoporosis typically shows no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss, the disease frequently remains undetected and untreated despite the many effective treatment options. It is said that osteoporosis results in nearly 9 million fractures each year worldwide. Read Men’s health - Four ways to keep bones strong, healthy
There are a number of factors that increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Knowing and understanding these can help prevent or reduce the risk of getting this crippling disease. Here are some lifestyle measures you can take to keep your bone health healthy:
Eating a healthy diet consisting plenty of dairy products, such as milk, yoghurt and cheese, etc, to provide enough calcium and vitamin D, which is essential for bone health. It is recommended that one should aim for around 750-1000 mg/day of calcium in the diet (the amount in one pint of milk is approximately 700).
Not smoking cigarettes or not drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol – up to 2 drinks for men and one drink for women daily.
Taking regular physical exercise such as walking briskly for 30-45 minutes at least 3-4 times per week. However, you should consult with your doctor before taking up any exercise or physical activity programme if you have recently broken a bone or are unable to do this for other reasons. In addition, knowing what sort of exercise is suitable for you and adapting to the right amount of exercise can help reduce bone loss and also lowers the risk of falling.
In case you have had one or more falls recently, make sure that you see your doctor and take steps on how to reduce the risk of having further falls.
If you have risk factors, including first fractures, seek testing and treatment if required, in order to protect your future independence and quality of life.
World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) is marked on October 20 each year. It seeks to raise global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related bone diseases. It also aims to put osteoporosis and fracture prevention on the global health agenda and reaches out to health-care professionals, the media, policy makers and the public at large. The event calls on the general public to take early action to protect their bone and muscle health to enjoy a good quality of life and independence in the future.
http://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/world-osteoporosis-day-take-these-four-lifestyle-measures-to-keep-your-bones-healthy/109677Post Diwali detox: Seven ways to lose weight in less than a week
Updated: Oct 19, 2017 | 21:37 IST | Times Now Digital
New Delhi: Diwali, popularly known as the festival of lights, is surely one of the sweetest festivals in the country. But the festival, which involves fireworks and plenty of sweets, is also infamous for being the time when people cheat on their diets and gorge on foods packed with calories mindlessly. This ultimately results in a lot more weight gain. Read: Five best Ayurvedic tips for weight loss
And if you’re worried about how to get back in shape and want to lose that extra flab you have gained during the festive season, we have some amazing tips to help you lose those extra kilos naturally without taking pills or going on an extreme diet plan. Just follow these steps for a quick Diwali detox and weight loss:
Go green
Including detoxifying foods in your diet to cleanse your system, especially post-festivities, should be your first step to drop those extra pounds fast and keep them off. Opt for fresh fruits, vegetables and whole ingredients. Spinach, red and green peppers, celery, tomatoes, and fruits like grapes, oranges, melons, apples and bananas are some of the detox superfoods that can help you lose weight fast. Don’t forget to sprinkle your dishes with cinnamon, ginger and grated garlic. These spices are packed with health benefits and would reduce the inflammatory chemicals your body produces as a result of eating too many sweets. Also Read: Honey and lemon water for weight loss - Four reasons to drink this miracle mix every morning
Eat home-cooked food
Try sticking to home-cooked meals to avoid consuming hidden calories present in sauces, marinades, salad dressings, etc. This will not only help you save money but also allow you to control serving sizes and prevent overeating. Eating home-cooked meals means healthier eating and better health outcomes. Avoid junk food completely. Also Read: Five amazing health benefits of drinking this magic mix every morning
Incorporate yoghurt into your diet
Include a bowl of curd (dahi) in your meal to speed up the digestion process and cleanse your system. That’s because yoghurt contains probiotics which stimulate healthy digestive function and contribute to the maintenance of a healthy gut balance. In fact, yoghurt specifically has been studied as a calcium-rich food that helps burn fat and promotes weight loss.
Eat light dinner
Eating a light, low-calorie dinner is essential if you’re trying to lose weight. That’s because your metabolism becomes sluggish and slows down at night, and hence can’t burn calories properly and stores more fat in the body instead. In addition, don’t starve yourself, keep eating small meals and often as this can help you win the battle of the bulge.
Get moving
A healthy diet combined with exercise can help you shed those extra calories you’ve gained in less time. Try to work out for 30-45 minutes every day – you can include moderate-intense activities, such as dancing, swimming, aerobics, cycling, skipping, etc. You can even opt for walking, which is by far the easiest and best activity to stay fit and healthy.
Get enough sleep
Make sure that you get 7-8 hours of sleep every day to help your body repair and revitalise the wear and tear in the muscles as well as eradicate the harmful toxins. Also Read: Weight loss - Six tips to burn belly fat while you sleep
Drink more water
If you don’t drink enough water to flush out toxins stored in your body, all these efforts will be of no use. Drink water throughout the day even if you are not thirsty. This will help you stay hydrated and cleans your system naturally, helping you to lose weight. Drinking water before meals fills the stomach, thus reducing your appetite and aids in weight loss.
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