Through our eyes only we see this beautiful world isn`t it!! Hence, we must take care of our eyes very well.  It is worthy to note that our eyes could be like a mirror to our overall health. Do you know that various serious health issues or diseases would be revealed in advance through subtle changes in the eyes? Surprised!! These major health problems would be revealed in advance through our eyes. Vision changes linked to Alzheimer`s disease or AD: One of the earliest signs of Alzheimer`s disease would be shown in the eyes. The parts of our brain responsible for the vision would get affected by the toxic amyloid plaques associated with AD. The cognitive decline due to AD would be shown by signs like issues in distinguishing between colours, contrast sensitivity, trouble with eye movement control etc. Red spots linked to diabetes: Presence of red spots in the eyes must not be ignored as it would show the presence of diabetes in us. It is noteworthy that the red spots occur due to bursting of tiny blood vessels in the retina due to high blood sugar levels. This condition is also known as diabetic retinopathy. Proper treatment must be given or else it could lead to vision loss also. Dry eyes linked to autoimmune diseases: Please be careful if you have dry eyes as it could be due to Sjogrens syndrome also. This is an autoimmune disorder that would affect the moisture producing glands in the eyes. There are also possibilities of other autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus etc that would lead to dry eyes. High BP linked to blurred vision: Many of us would dismiss blurry vision as an ordinary eye problem but it is not. High blood pressure or BP would also be revealed by the blurred vision. It is learnt that hypertension or high BP would lead to damage to the blood vessels in the retina causing blurred vision. Immediate medical attention must be given if you get sudden blurry vision. Sudden specks/flashes linked to retinal tear: Warning signs of torn retina would be revealed by sudden specks or flashes of light or floaters etc. Bitter fact is that when left untreated then it could progress into a detached retina also. By this, we could get permanent vision loss. Floaters would normally occur as we grow w older. Abrupt increase in the numbers or size of floaters must not be ignored. White/yellow rings linked with high cholesterol levels: Signs of high cholesterol levels in us are revealed by white coloured ring around the cornea. In the same way, the appearance of yellow coloured bumps on the eyelids would show the presence of high cholesterol levels also. Unexplained eye pain related to tumour: It is true that some cancers are detected through an eye exam. For example, ocular melanoma is a serious and rare cancer and it won`t be visible externally. Eye doctors would be able to detect this through routine eye exams. Brain tumour would be revealed through unexplained eye pressure or pain also.

Have you come across kleptomaniacs in your real life? Tamil film goers would not have forgotten the films titled `Micheal Madana Kamarajan` and  `Gethu`. In these films or reel life, the movie goers would have surely come across kleptomaniacs . Some persons would have impulse control disorders and kleptomania is one such example. It is true that this is a serious mental health disorder where a person would have the urge to steal things but without any motive behind it. That is stealing without any financial necessity or personal gain. It is a type of psychiatric disorder and it would coexist with anxiety, substance abuse etc. This was according to the American Psychiatric Association or APA. These are the symptoms associated with kleptomania Compulsive stealing: Those with this mental disorder would have a huge urge to steal things from others. These persons do not have any motive behind stealing. Increased tension: It must be noted that before stealing the person would have increased anxiety, tension etc. It would be difficult to resist the temptation of stealing due to psychological build up. Truth is that the act of stealing relieves the anxiety for the time being. Guilty feelings: In normal thefts, the person involved would not feel guilty etc after stealing others things but persons with kleptomaniacs would have a guilty feeling. Bitter fact is that despite the negative feeling the person would have an urge to steal. Fear of arrest: The fear of getting arrested and getting punished would be present in the kleptomaniacs. Repetitive stealing: Point is that those with this mental health disorder would repeat the cycle of stealing. Associated with other mental health conditions: It is noteworthy that kleptomaniac disorder is often associated with other types of mental disorders like OCD or obsessive compulsive disorder or depression or anxiety disorders etc. Difficulty seeking treatment: The fear or shame of legal consequences would make the kleptomaniacs to avoid seeking treatment for their mental health condition. In such a situation, encouragement from the dear ones and medical professionals would play a vital role in seeking treatment. Treatment and management of kleptomania: Cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT: Here, CBT would help the persons to identify triggers associated with kleptomania and develop methods to resist stealing impulse. Medications etc: To regulate brain chemistry and to reduce compulsive behaviour, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and mood stabilisers etc would be prescribed. Support groups: It must be noted that group therapy and support networks would help the persons with this medical disorder to cope with the guilt and prevent relapses. Training for impulse control: The individuals would resist the urge to steal by means of self controlling methods and mindfulness etc.

Do you like consuming green chillies?? Do you chew green chillies resulting in watery eyes, burning tongue and mouth etc? Sounds crazy? Many of us like to eat spicy foods that are prepared with the help of green chillies or capsicum annum etc. There are many who consume green chillies directly also. It is surprising to note that green chillies have nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin A, C and K plus other antioxidants etc. We would be able to combat damage caused by the free radicals. Not many of us know that green chillies contain metabolism boosting and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of a compound named capsaicin. There are plenty of health benefits we could get by consuming green chillies. Helps in weight loss: Thermogenesis or heat production in the body would be increased and metabolism would be boosted when we consume green chillies. Rich in vitamin C for immunity: When we consume green chillies, our immune system would get strengthened. This is due to the presence of vitamin C in green chillies. By regular intake of green chillies, we could get resistance against cold, flu etc. Regulates blood sugar levels: Insulin sensitivity would get better due to the presence of capsaicin in the green chillies. Consuming green chillies would be good for those with diabetes. Good for digestion and gut health: The digestion would be enhanced and bloating would be reduced when we consume green chillies. The reason is due to the secretion of digestive juices. Healthy gut microbiomes would be maintained in us due to the antibacterial properties of green chillies. Supports heart health: Our bad cholesterol would get lowered and good cholesterol would get increased by eating green chillies having capsaicin and other antioxidants. As a result, plaque build up in the arteries would be avoided and by this we could prevent heart diseases in us. Reduces inflammation etc: The anti-inflammatory properties of capsaicin play a huge role here. Those with arthritis, muscle pain etc would feel relieved from pain. Mood booster and stress r reducer: Our stress would get lowered and our mood would get boosted due to the release of endorphins or happy hormones by consuming green chillies. The symptoms associated with depression etc would get reduced also by regular intake of green chillies. Promotes skin and hair health: For healthy hair and skin, collagen is needed and presence of vitamin A and C in green chillies would help in the production of this collagen. Premature ageing of the skin would be prevented by antioxidants present in green chillies. Anti-cancer properties: The anti-cancer properties of green chillies would slow down the growth of cancer cells. Point is that the antioxidants would fight against the free radicals and lower the risk of certain cancers. Good for respiratory health: The nasal congestion would get cleared and airways would get opened by intake of green chillies having capsaicin. By this, persons with cold, sinusitis and respiratory infections would benefit.

Is there any other fruit that is better to eat during the scorching summers other than water melons? The refreshing juicy taste of this fruit would be mind blowing. Not just taste but intake of watermelon would provide us with many health benefits. Watermelon has many nutrients like vitamins A, C plus potassium, calcium, magnesium, antioxidant lycopene plus folate, fibres, water content etc. Several health benefits of eating watermelons in summers are Rich in vitamins and minerals: Our immune system would be strengthened by consuming vitamin C rich water melon. Our skin as well as eyes would be healthy also. Especially in the scorching summer, the nutrients would be highly beneficial to us. Refreshes and cool us down: Summer could be unbearable due to the heat and in that situation it would be superb to eat watermelons. We would feel refreshed immediately. We would get cooled down due to the presence of high water content in this fruit. Helps in digestion: It is known that water melons are full of fibres and water content is high. By intake of watermelons, we would have smooth digestion. Constipation would be avoided by us. Consuming this fruit during summers would make us feel light and refreshed. Good for eye health: The presence of lycopene in water melons would give red colour to this fruit plus would safeguard our eyes also. Our eyes would be free from age related damage and vision health would be good. By eating watermelons our eyesight would be sharp in the summers. Good for heart health Lycopene in this fruit would lower inflammation and cholesterol levels in us. By this, our heart health would get better. We would have a low risk of heart diseases. Helps in weight loss: Watermelons are low in calories and full of water and consuming this fruit would help us to lose weight. The reason is that the presence of water and fibres in this fruit would make us feel full for a long duration. We would not eat unnecessarily and would lose weight. Supports healthy skin: During hot summers, our skin would get exposed to sunlight directly. The presence of antioxidants and vitamin C would help us to fight free radicals and promote a healthy glowing skin. Good for kidney health: By consuming water melons rich in potassium and water etc, our kidneys would be kept healthy during summers. We would be free from issues like kidney stones etc due to superb functioning of kidneys.

Have you ever consumed contaminated food and found it difficult? There are high chances of us getting serious health issues like food borne illnesses, infections and other long term health problems etc if we consume unhygienic foods. We can get digestive disorders, food poisoning and even some life threatening problems if we consume contaminated foods. The reason for this is due to the fact that the contaminated foods contain harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites etc. It has been brought to light by the World Health Organisation or WHO that every year about 600 million people across the globe suffer from food borne illness. Poor sanitation practices and unsafe street foods are responsible for cases of GI infections and food poisoning etc. Various reasons or health risks of consuming unhygienic foods are Food poisoning: One important health issue we could get by intake of unhygienic foods are food poisoning. This issue is mostly caused by bacteria like E.Coli, Salmonella etc. We could get issues like nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea etc. Please take care. Gastrointestinal infections: It is possible to get affected by gastrointestinal or GI infections when we consume contaminated meat or water or spoiled dairy etc. We could get severe diarrhoea, dehydration and stomach inflammation etc. Hepatitis A and viral infections etc: By eating contaminated uncooked sea foods or by drinking contaminated water, we could get Hepatitis A etc. The person could show symptoms like inflammation, fever, fatigue, jaundice etc. Parasitic infections etc: Improperly cooked meat, fish or vegetables etc could result in parasitic infections in us. Please be careful. It is revealed that parasites like Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium etc could contaminate food and water. Chemical poisoning: It is true that when we consume unhygienic foods we could get chemical poisoning also. Various symptoms we could show are vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea etc. There are chances of chemical poisoning due to pesticides and herbicides used in agriculture, heavy meats like lead, mercury etc in the foods, chemicals in foods etc. Various sources of unhygienic food in India are Street food stalls, where the vendors opt for re-used oil, use contaminated water and function in unhygienic conditions etc. Examples of common unsafe foods are samosa, pani puri etc. Another source is local dairy products where unpasteurised milk etc could harbour harmful bacteria. Thirdly is meat and seafood markets where poor refrigeration facilities etc could result in bacterial growth on raw meats etc. Fourthly, in fast food chains where cross contamination could lead to E. coli outbreaks. Finally, pacackaged salads and pre-cut fruits could also cause contamination in us (here listeria and salmonella could lead to illnesses and food recalls etc). Please be careful.