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Drinking Hot Water During Pregnancy
As a pregnant woman, you are bound to be getting a lot of advice on pretty much every topic. While the information might seem overwhelming, one piece of advice that you must take to is to drink the right amount of water during the pregnancy. Water is vital to the overall health of your pregnancy; however, most pregnant women have worries regarding drinking hot water and its effects on their pregnancy.
Is Drinking Hot Water Safe During Pregnancy?
Drinking water in the right quantity is extremely important when you are pregnant, for the proper development of your baby. The right amount of water will ensure that you are energised and detoxified, aside from being hydrated.
Drinking warm or hot water has plenty of benefits and helps combat dehydration, fatigue, and infections. However, ensure that the water isn't scalding hot because it can burn the lining of your mouth, which makes it harmful whether you're pregnant or not. Dehydration is usually the gateway for a host of other issues such as nausea and cramps, and it can even cause preterm labour.
Benefits of Drinking Warm Water While Pregnant
As mentioned above, staying hydrated during your pregnancy is something you must prioritise. The following are five of the most important benefits of staying hydrated during your pregnancy.
Helps With Detoxification and Digestion
Drinking warm water will aid in digestion by clearing out all the toxins from your body. It also cleans out the digestive tract, allowing your body to absorb nutrients better. These nutrients are then easily passed on to the baby. Warm water is also said to dissolve fat and oil droplets.
Reduces Morning Sickness
Most mothers will attest that morning sickness is one of the hardest aspects of being pregnant. Nausea is caused by dehydration, and this kickstarts a vicious cycle where nausea will put you off, wanting to drink water. In order to break the cycle and keep yourself comfortable, it is imperative that you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Relieves Constipation
With so many changes occurring in your body and in your diet when you are pregnant, you will most likely find yourself battling constipation, which is a common issue during pregnancy. Warm water is known to be a good combatant for constipation and will help you have regular bowel movements.
Maintaining Bronchial Health
One of the things that your doctor will tell you is that you must avoid unnecessary medication during your pregnancy in order to keep your developing baby’s health intact. This means that you must take care of your general health and avoid situations that will cause common illnesses like the flu. During winter months, it is especially important that you consume warm water in order to keep certain conditions like throat infections, cough, cold, and flu at bay.
Better Hydration
Drinking warm water will result in better hydration, which will help your body perform its functions with ease. With your body’s hormone levels changing, your system will need all the hydration it can get to continue its normal functioning. Adequate hydration helps you combat common pregnancy issues like oedema, morning sickness, cramps, and dizziness.
Does Drinking Warm Water in Pregnancy Harm Your Baby?
While hot water will not harm your baby directly, very hot or scalding water can cause burns in your mouth and throat. This can cause a lot of pain and restrict the type of food you can eat. A reduction in food intake can cause you to become weak and reduce the amount of nutrition reaching your developing baby. The burns may also get infected and may need medication for healing. These medications, in turn, could cause harm to your baby, as any changes in the mother’s body can have a direct impact on the foetus.
Precautions to Take
There are certain precautions you may take if you are still worried about the intake of warm water. Here are a few:
Make sure that the water you consume is boiled for long enough to ensure that all the bacteria and germs are all killed off.
Do not drink water from places you are unsure of. Carry a bottle of water with you from home wherever you go.
Make sure the water you drink has no occurrence of lead, which can be an issue if you live in an old house that still uses lead pipes.
Make sure that you use filtered water to boil and not regular tap water. It is best to be on the safer side when it comes to prenatal health.
Drink the right amount of water, but with frequent intervals. Drinking too much water too fast can put too much pressure on your kidneys.
Drink one cup of water for every hour that you are awake.
If plain water is not something you enjoy drinking, then add a couple of slices of lemon, or a few pieces of watermelon into your water for added taste.
Incorporate liquids into your diet. Soups and fresh fruit juices are great sources due to their water content. Make sure that the juice is made at home and that it is sugar-free.
Do not consume caffeine, soda, or processed fruit juices with too much sugar. These substances act as a diuretic, which is counterproductive.
Avoid strenuous exercise and going out when it is hot. You will need a large quantity of water and put unnecessary pressure on your body.
Ensure that you keep yourself hydrated, especially during your pregnancy when the hormonal imbalance can cause serious dehydration. It is imperative to recognise your body’s needs.
If you have any concerns or apprehensions related to the consumption of hot water during pregnancy, the best option is to consult your doctor. Make sure you are comfortable with the amount and temperature of water you are consuming and stop if you are feeling uncomfortable.
Also Read: Alcohol During Pregnancy -How To Avoid & Its Effects Read more
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How to Get Rid Of Spiders and Spider Webs From Home
Pests can be a nuisance no matter which way you look at it. They are unhygienic to have around, spread diseases and infections and can be potentially poisonous, especially spiders. Not only are spiders dangerous, but they can be extremely annoying and hard to get rid of. Their webs are nearly invisible and frustrating to deal with, especially when they get in your hair. Learning how to prevent spider webs and spiders can make your life at home much easier.
Natural Ways To Keep Spiders and Cobwebs Out Of Your Home
Considering that a pest control agent would use harmful chemicals that could have side-effects on you and your family, ridding yourself of these pests through those means may not always be the answer. So, this means that the organic options as the healthiest. Here is a guide on how to get rid of spiders.
1. Seal The Cracks In Walls
The easiest way to get rid of spiders is to prevent them from getting into the house. To do this, you need to know how these creepy-crawlies get into the house. The most common manner in which spiders gain access to your house is through the little cracks and gaps in doors and windows. You can prevent spiders from accessing your home by simply using caulk on the edges of your windows and on any cracks on doors. Use caulk on wires and cables that lead outside. Use wire mesh around any openings like vents or a chimney. This should keep them out of the house in most cases.
2. Lights Out
In most cases, spiders actively enter your home in search of food. Their meal preference - other bugs. These bugs are most commonly attracted to lights, so make sure that after a reasonable hour, you switch off all outdoor lights. For indoor lights, try using opaque filters or sodium vapour lights in a yellow colour. This will keep most bugs out and in turn, keep spiders out.
3. Get Rid Of The Clutter
When you consider how to clean spider webs from the house, cleanliness is key once again. Much like the outside with plants and leaves, the inside being clutter-free helps remove hiding spots for spiders. Ensure that keep decluttering stray newspaper piles, unwashed clothes and other clutter-friendly objects. This will give them no place to hide. When sighted, you can simply usher the spiders out of your home.
4. Remove Those Plants
Spiders hide in plants, leaves and stones. Remove these from the proximity of your house entrances and they should often have no place to hide. Spiders are not the bravest or most forthcoming of bugs. They usually hide, trap and eat their prey. Remove the vegetation near your house doors and windows to ensure they don’t have access to the inside of your house.
5. Dust Regularly
When you think of how to remove spider webs, the classic way works the best. Dust and clean your home regularly. This doesn’t allow a spider to build a web. This cuts their hunting techniques down and in turn, it stops them from staying in your house. Remove their ability to trap and kill their prey and they’ll turn to new hunting grounds. Dusting regularly not just keeps the webs away, but also ensures other insects attracting elements are cleaned from your house, keeping the prey away too.
6. Clean Those Dishes
Prevention of prey is the best way to prevent the hunter from gaining access to your home. Dirty dishes are often the bug equivalent of a feast. Keeping those dirty dishes around will attract flies, mosquitos and other creepers. This is like placing a gourmet five-course meal in front of a spider and asking it to eat for free. Wash those dishes immediately and you will save yourself quite some trouble.
7. Get Rid Of Leftover Food
Another reason bugs gather to your home could be the amount of leftover food. Eat your fill and either refrigerate the leftovers or throw them out, possibly outside the house. Leftovers attract numerous bugs that carry diseases and infections, including spiders that hunt bugs for food. Apart from general hygiene, making sure you have no leftover food idly standing in the house also prevents a spider infestation.
8. Peppermint Spray
Peppermint essential oils are easily available on most e-commerce sites and local stores. They are the worst enemy to spiders. Fill a normal spray bottle with water, and to that, add 25 drops of peppermint essential oils. Spray this all over your house, on your furniture and curtains too. This will send those spiders running in the opposite direction of your house.
9. Eucalyptus Oil
Similar to peppermint essential oils, spiders cannot tolerate eucalyptus. Eucalyptus essential oils have a large number of benefits. They fight the common cold and help detoxify your body pores. One of the unsung benefits of using eucalyptus essential oils at home is that they prevent an infestation of spiders. Simply use the technique mentioned above for peppermint essential oils and either replace peppermint with eucalyptus or add it to the peppermint concoction. This will make your home anti-spider.
10. Tea Tree Oil
Another essential oil that scares away spiders, tea tree essential oil is great for your skin too. Simply add tea tree oil to the mixture mentioned above or apply a few drops directly over furniture, your clothes and even yourself. You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil on cotton balls and patch any cracks on windows or doors with them.
11. Vinegar
Possibly the most easy-to-access home remedy for spider prevention. Vinegar is known to keep spiders away because they despise it more than cats despise a hot bath! The smell of any kind of vinegar will send shivers up their spines. Add half a bottle of vinegar to half a bottle of water and spray around your house. If you see a spider, spray it on the spider. You can also add bowls of vinegar in dark corners of the house to keep the spiders away.
12. Walnuts
This healthy midday snack is also considered a spider deterrent. Spiders can’t stand walnuts, they fear them. The reasons are unknown but as a natural deterrent to spider infestations, you can place a bowl of walnuts in the corners of your house. If you run across spiders in a particular area, place them there too. This will help get rid of them.
13. Red Night Lights
While bugs are usually attracted to bright lights, spiders live in the darkness. They can’t handle the light. So, a compromise would be a dark red nightlight. This keeps the prey away and removes the darkness of the room making it uninhabitable for spiders.
14. Lemon Peels
Lemons aren’t just useful for juices or as a dressing on a snack. Lemon and lime peels are assumed to keep spiders away. It’s believed the citric nature of the peel itself has a repellent feature. So peel some lime or lemon, place the peels in the corner of your house daily and get rid of spiders.
15. Citrus Plants
Similar to placing peels around your house, having citrus plants in your garden can keep the spiders from entering the proximity of your home. While it can’t stop them from entering the property altogether, it can reduce the frequency in which they enter.
Verified Pest Control Methods
While home remedies are the safest option, in the case of a mass infestation, you may need to use tried and tested methods. Here are a few of those methods to help you keep a spider free home.
1. Herbal Insecticide
An insecticide is basically a form of pesticide that kills all bugs and insects, which include spiders of course! This, in turn, prevents them from entering your home. While non-herbal insecticide is known to work better, the herbal option is better for your health.
2. Vacuum
Vacuuming the house regularly will pull the spider and its webs into your vacuum bags, this is an effective way of minimizing the spider presence in your house while cleaning regularly. This also helps in web prevention which keeps spiders away.
3. Exterminator
Sometimes, it is best to seek professional help. If the infestation goes beyond two or three spiders, it may be time to call the exterminator to hunt and kill all of the creepers in your house.
While spiders can cause you no harm, it is understood that only certain species like the tarantula or black widow spiders are generally dangerous. Sometimes spiders, like lizards can be a blessing in disguise as they hunt and kill other bugs which carry life-threatening diseases. When ridding your house of spiders, consider the non-lethal option if they aren’t poisonous spiders or if they are present in smaller numbers.
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10 Toys Every Baby Needs to Own
Come baby’s naming ceremony, and as you sit going through the gifts and presents everyone got for your little angel, you will see a number of them are toys! Indeed, children and toys go hand in hand – nobody’s childhood can ever be complete without having had played with toys! But did you know that there is more to play-time than just playing?
Benefits of Play-Toys
Here are some of the ways in which play-time actually helps your child become stronger and smarter!
Toys facilitate physical development by promoting simple actions like grasping, pushing, throwing, gripping, etc.
Developmental milestones like pincer grasp, object permanence, etc. are promoted through play-time that involves toys.
Toys improve functioning of three important senses: sight, sound, and touch.
Through playing with toys, children learn how to interact with their surroundings. Their inherent curiosity is further encouraged through toys.
Toys offer a unique chance for parents to bond with their babies by engaging in common activities.
There are more than enough reasons for you to supplement your baby’s play-time with toys. So why wait? Let’s look at which toys your baby needs.
10 Toys Your Baby Must Have!
Play-time is no child’s play, and it is time you got serious about it! So, here is a list of 10 toys your baby needs for guided and speedy growth and development.
1. Musical Toys
Musical toys are a great way to enhance your baby’s hearing. Most musical toys have buttons that you need to push in order for the toy to ‘sing’. Some toys have buttons that just make singular sounds – these can be fun for older babies, as they push button after button and make their own melody!
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2. Play Gyms & Mats
Even babies as young as only a couple of months old still need exercise! Agreed, you are going to have to ‘give’ your baby exercise, till he gains enough control over his limbs and body, but a baby gym is a fun way to start doing just that... while making it interesting for your baby.
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3. Baby Rattles
Picture a baby in your mind, and we bet you’ll see one that’s either putting his fists in his mouth, or holding a rattle in his hand, waving it happily! Rattles are versatile in the things they can help you achieve: hand-eye coordination, muscle strengthening, and of course the sound and colours boost hearing and vision respectively.
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4. Push & Pull Toys
These are one of the best kinds of toys to help your baby learn about action and consequence: you pull, and the toy comes closer; you push, and it goes away! Push and pull toys can also serve to motivate older babies to crawl.
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5. Blocks & Stacking Toys
There is a lot going on when a baby tries to stack his blocks or rings together – he is recognising shape, size, and colour; he is using his hands and eyes in a coordinated fashion; he is exercising his hands and practising gripping. Blocks and stacking toys are very versatile and can teach your baby a lot of things!
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6. Learning & Educational Toys
Educational and learning toys for babies boost their cognition by making learning visually pleasing. They usually come with instructions and are intended in helping your baby gain certain skills. For example, alphabet blocks or fridge magnets can teach your little one the letters of the alphabet, sorting toys can teach him about shapes, etc.
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7. Bath Toys
Bath toys are more about having plain old-school fun! They make bath-times more fun, especially for babies who are not very fond of bath-time. And let’s admit it – don’t you want to click at least one picture of your baby with a rubber duckie in his baby bath-tub?
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8. Stuffed Animals & Teddy Bears
Not only are teddy-bears and stuffed animals important, but it might also be a good idea to buy a few softballs and blocks too. While most babies love teddy bears, a few might be afraid of them! However, it is important to give your baby stuffed toys of some kind, in order to promote better
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9. Mobile Toys
Worry not, we are not talking about a play cellphone! We mean the hanging toys that you can put above your baby’s cradle or baby-cot. Mobile toys help develop vision, by compelling your child to focus on the moving toys and try to hold his gaze steady. They can even help you put your baby to sleep.
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10. Teething Toys
A blessing for when your baby starts chewing and gnawing at everything as his first teeth start making an appearance! Teething toys not only make teething more bearable, they also strengthen the gums. Just hand one to your baby, and don’t ever worry about him putting the wrong things in his mouth.
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Toys are a wonderful way for babies to develop skills to explore the world around them. They set the base for sound physical, mental and emotional development. Give your child the gift of learning by buying these toys today! Read more
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10 Tips to Deal with Office Politics
The term 'office politics' needs no introduction as we know that all of your must be familiar with it. Everyone from your co-workers who try to your backstabbing managers at some point may have tried to sabotage your work, and you must have not known how to deal with it. Office politics is the reality of life in every organisation. Everybody who works in an office setting will be affected by some form of politics or the other. But if you don't want to get affected by it, you will have to learn to deal with it. But how can you sail through in an organisation when you are surrounded by sly co-workers who are hard to trust? How do you navigate the murky waters?
How to Handle Office Politics
Facing politics at work is inevitable, the only way to cope with it is to be conscious of your behaviour and pay attention to the behaviours of others. Here are ten tips that will assist you in dealing with office politics.
1. Take Time to Understand the Psyche of Your Co-workers and Seniors
Politics is driven by the motivation of people and what they are after; therefore the first step is to understand the people around you, what they aspire to achieve, and what they think about the organisation. This information is never handed to you on a platter, therefore being tactful and a good listener is what you need to be to get people to open up. Everybody likes being heard and paying attention to what they have to say will help you gain their confidence. Listen even when they tell you things you don’t agree with and keep your opinions to yourself. This is especially important when you’re a new employee, do not try to correct or change them.
2. Analyse the Organisational Structure and the Informal Network
Office politics can be complex and bypass the formal organisational structure, therefore stand back and observe to understand how it works in your office. Instead of focusing on the job titles or ranks of people, examine who has the real influence over the political dynamics in the office; who is more respected; and who has the authority but tends not to exercise it much and who doesn't have the authority but tends to exercise it whenever they get the chance. Understanding where the power and influence lie, can help you examine the relationship between people and map out their networks. Also, observe who gets along with whom and who the troublemaker is. Notice the drive behind their connections, whether it is based on respect, friendship, romance, or other reasons.
3. Be Friendly and Cordial to All
This applies more to large organisations as there’s always a chance that you will have to work with new people or teams at any time. In smaller offices, the established groups don’t normally change. However, being nice and friendly in general will help you a great deal as you can make allies, who can offer information when needed. Being nice doesn’t mean you always have to smile or flatter people. If you disagree with something, ensure your opinion is put across. Staying consistent and standing up for things you deem to be right will also help people understand you and eventually earn their respect. Your disagreement need not be shown unless it is a do-or-die circumstance which most often can be an illusion.
4. Make Friends
There are plenty of good reasons to make friends at work. For starters, you won’t be alone, and you’ll have someone to count on in times of trouble. Having friends will also make you happier as there are people around who understand what you go through at work and offer support. Living in isolation can adversely impact the physical and mental health of employees, therefore, if you’re feeling excluded by bad office politics, it’s good to try and make friends. Making friends and uniting with co-workers against a common bully is also an excellent way to contain the problem of bullying.
5. Maintain Your Integrity and Change the Culture from Within
When bullies try to undermine you or make you look bad, it’s natural that you will feel to do the same. But this is a poor strategy and can sometimes backfire by making you look small. It is impossible to change the behaviour of a person who is mean to you, but what you can do is to talk to them in private and calmly ask why they behaved the way they did. It gives them an opportunity to reflect on the situation and take you more seriously. The antidote to a toxic culture is compassion and empathy where you encourage teamwork and praise others for their work. By putting effort into building a culture of honesty and integrity, you can create a better workplace for everyone.
6. Be Genuine as Much as You Can
While you do all the above, ensure you are genuine and come across as a genuine person as well. It’s easy to give opinions or criticise as you listen to tales of the treachery of your co-worker or their cribbing episode but control the urge to comment. Listen more, stay silent, and judge less. Being more humane and accepting other people for who they are is a quality that will help you and bring you closer to other people.
7. Document Your Work
Being genuine and not wanting to engage in politics doesn’t mean people will let you be, you will inevitably get dragged into political tactics. It could be someone trying to take credit for your work or badmouthing you behind your back. It’s tempting to expose such people publically, but it’s important not to retaliate. Be smarter and document your work carefully and keep your bosses or co-workers in the loop about what you have done so when your productivity is questioned you can always prove yourself.
8. Refuse to Conform to Bad Politics
The pressure to conform to bad politics at the workplace can be quite strong as you try to fit in. If you’re often the good person in groups, this wouldn’t be the first time that you have stood apart from the crowd. Surely there are people getting ahead using the system, but you need not follow it to move ahead, there are other ways, and you can do things differently. Commit to being your ethical self and make your own course to your goals.
9. Build Better Connections
Once you’ve mapped out the workplace and how everybody relates to everybody else, you can start building your own network of people you want to associate with. It pays to look beyond your immediate team and through the formal hierarchy for people to build connections. Don’t be intimidated by influential people, even those who are up in the hierarchy, get to know them, so your high-quality network builds. Avoid empty flattery but be friendly with everyone. Try not to associate too closely with one group or another.
10. Aim for Win-Win Outcomes
Political conflicts come into to play mainly because of people’s conflicting interests. Many are raised with the notion that to succeed, someone else has to lose. They are often afraid of someone else’s victory because it implies a loss for them. It need not be the case most of the time. When people think in terms of how their success might benefit others so they can take something out of it as well, it creates better solutions to problems. Such a win-win strategy always endures and earns allies.
Office politics can make life hard for everybody. Through patience, observation and making better choices, it is not only possible to survive, but also beat the negative influences and even change how it plays out.
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How to Fight Depression - 15 Coping Strategies to Try
If you are battling depression, it can drain you of your energy, and you may struggle to keep a positive outlook in life. Depression can make you feel hollow on the inside as this mental state can take a toll on your overall health and well-being, too. Seeking professional help and medication will surely help you overcome this state; however, there are many strategies that you can try on your own to deal with this situation. If you wish to learn more about this, take a look at some of our suggestions.
How to Deal with Depression?
You may feel blue and helpless; believe us, you're not alone. Cases of depression are on the rise due to a multitude of factors. However, what holds importance is that you bounce back from this state at the earliest, either by nipping it in the bud yourself or by seeking help. Do not be ashamed that you need help for your mental health; it's just as important as your physical health. If you are thinking about how to fight depression alone or how to deal with depression without medication, well, here are some tips that may help you effectively deal with depression:
1. Make a Routine and Stick to It
Depression can make your life haphazard and aimless. You may feel lost and directionless. Getting in a routine may help in providing some direction and structure to your life. You may find it difficult to follow it at first, but as the days keep passing by, you may notice that it becomes your habit and before you know it, you may find yourself back on track.
2. Get Ample Rest and Sleep
It is important that you are well rested. It is difficult for people dealing with depression to get some peaceful sleep. However, lack of sleep or rest can take a toll on your mental health and make it worse. However, you can make efforts to snooze well by following some lifestyle changes such as not taking naps during the day, going to bed and waking up early, removing any kinds of distractions from your room, etc., which may help you sleep better.
3. Eat a Good Diet
Depression can squeeze out your energy by making you feel emotionally and physically exhausted. Eating the wrong kind of foods, like fatty or oily foods can make you feel worse. Some people may find solace in food and thus, pile on calories as if there is no tomorrow. Although there is no sure-shot diet to fight depression, including more fresh fruits, green vegetables, and other healthy foods in your diet may help you feel better and may energise you from within. Foods that are rich in folic acid and Omega-3 fatty acids may also help in reducing the intensity of your depression.
4. Exercise
You may struggle to even get out of your bed, so we're sure this suggestion may seem almost ridiculous. Well, exercising is one of the best ways to feel good about yourself and better your mood. When you exercise regularly, your body releases endorphins, also known as 'feel-good' hormones. Exercising at least thrice a week makes your body produce ample amounts of endorphins, and thus, your spirits will rise! Also, this certainly does not mean that you need to slog to get your endorphins kicking; just brisk walking or jogging 3 to 4 times a week can be enough too.
5. Smile More
Whenever you smile, your serotonin levels become higher than usual, making you feel good and happy about yourself. It's no wonder that laughter is called the best medicine. When you feel happy, your body feels good too. Now the question is how to smile and feel happy in such a state. Well, you must do the things that make you happy, such as going on a lunch date with your friends, joining a dance class, playing with your kids, etc. Little by little, these things will make you feel better.
6. Focus on Positive Things
It is easier said than done because whether we're suffering from depression or not, most of us like to focus on the things that we do not have, and we are seldom paying heed to what life has bestowed upon us. Instead, you should focus on all the good things life can give you and count your blessings. When you are burdened with depression, looking for the small positive aspects of your life may help you feel good about yourself.
7. Acknowledge Pain or Sorrow
A major setback at work, losing a loved one, financial troubles or other such situations are bound to make anyone feel heartbroken or lonely, and some people may slip into depression too, if they're unable to handle the pain. If you are going through such a phase, it is essential to make peace with it. This doesn't mean that you shun your feelings or emotions and completely push them to the back of your mind, because it is normal to feel sad. You should embrace your emotions rather than shying away from them. Doing so may help you get closure, and you may get over them more easily.
8. Spend More Time with Loved Ones
Spending time in the company of your family and friends is like therapy. Depression can make you lonely, and you may shy away from people. However, it is important to remember that people who love you and care for you are your support systems. You should not let any negative feelings seep in when it comes to them, but instead, spend more time interacting with your family and friends. If your fears grope you, talk to your near and dear ones about them.
9. Practice Meditation
If you feel too stressed or anxious, it may aggravate your depression. Practising meditation is a great way of keeping stress and anxiety at bay and keeping your mind calm and relaxed. If you are battling with depression during pregnancy or postpartum depression, well, mediation is a great way of calming down and reminding yourself to live more in the present.
10. Refrain from Consuming Alcohol
Sometimes, depression may lead to you taking refuge in alcohol because it may help you forget your emotions and fears for some time. But forgetting about your problems is not a solution; rather, turning to alcohol to solve your problems is plainly inviting an addiction. To forget about your problems, you consume more and more alcohol, which is even worse. Therefore, if you are battling with this mental state, staying away from alcohol is highly recommended.
11. Challenge Your Thoughts
People experiencing depression may shy away from their fears and opt for all sorts of ways to keep their fears at bay. Running away from your inner demons is not the right approach. Instead, you should face them head-on. The best ways to deal with your negative emotions or thoughts is by challenging them. So, the next time you feel that you are a good-for-nothing person, think logically and tell yourself that these thoughts are baseless and are not true at all.
12. Fulfil Your Duties and Responsibilities
You may find yourself feeling deeply morose, and you may not want to do anything. You may not do your day to day chores, you may not take care of your house, you may neglect your work etc., and in short, you may shy away from your duties and responsibilities. We understand that you may lack the urge to do anything. However, you need to push yourself. You can start by taking baby steps in the right direction; for example, instead of your full-time job which will demand a lot of your energy, you could look for a part-time job to keep you occupied for a while but still gives you the time to rest during the day. Set yourself little goals that you can tick off your list every day.
13. Try Something New
Day-to-day activities may bring in monotony, and you may not want to do anything. However, doing something that you have never done before can ignite a lost spark. Enrol yourself for a Zumba class, go on a hiking trip, join a cooking workshop; the options are endless! There are many such activities that you can try out to push yourself!
14. Reward Your Efforts
Self-motivation is very important as it keeps your spirits high. The greatest way to keep yourself motivated is by rewarding your own efforts. Who says you cannot pat your own back? Yes, you can! If you have joined a new dance class and you have been regularly going there, it certainly calls for a celebration. You don’t have to throw a party to celebrate yourself. Even something as small as realising the fact that you are making progress may help a great deal.
15. Find Solace in Nature
How often do we go outdoors? We all may struggle in answering this question because most of us spend our entire day indoors only. However, getting out of your house and spending time in the midst of nature is important, especially if you are fighting depression. Spending time out in the sun helps you feel less stressed and anxious because your body releases endorphins when you bask in the sun. These hormones will make you feel happier and better.
All the tips mentioned above are extremely safe, and you can try them without even thinking twice. We hope you incorporate these lifestyle changes and feel better. However, lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient enough to help you come out of this mental state. You must seek the help of a therapist and take medication, if necessary, to get better.
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Copy of – 8 Common Diseases in Cats That Every Cat Owner Must Know
Cats are beautiful animals that many people have fallen in love with and choose to have as pets. They are small and easy to look after and are most famous for their aloof personalities and graceful demeanour. As with any pet, it is important to see to their needs to ensure that they are in the best of health to be able to get the best out of the relationship.
8 Most Common Cat Diseases and Infections
Here are some cat illnesses that every cat owner must know about:
1. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
This slow-acting virus weakens the immune system over time, so the symptoms of this disease do not show up until years after it was initially contracted.
Signs
Dishevelled coat
Weight loss
Poor appetite
Anaemia
Enlarged lymph nodes
Fever
Diarrhoea
Inflammation in eyes, mouth and gums
Discharge from eyes or nose
Sneezing
Urinating outside the litter box or frequent urination
Skin problems like redness or hair loss
Treatment
A healthy diet will be recommended so that your cat stays at the peak of health and have relevant medication for the secondary infections that occur. Electrolyte or fluid replacement therapy, parasite control, anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs that enhance immunity are some of the treatments available for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.
2. Feline Rabies
Rabies is a central nervous system that transfers through the bite of the infected. There are three stages of development that it goes through, prodromal, furious and paralytic. After getting bit, symptoms will take about twelve weeks to show.
Signs
Increased yowling
Poor coordination
Excessive drooling
Conjunctivitis
Strange behaviour like eating stones or fighting imaginary foes
Unusual irritability
Cat Vomiting
Fever
Weight loss
Depression
Lack of appetite
Deep breathing or respiratory failure
Treatment
There is no treatment available for this feline rabies and the only way to prevent it is to ensure that your cat has been given anti-rabies vaccines.
3. Feline Panleukopenia
Also known as feline distemper, this viral disease is extremely contagious amongst cats and works by killing off all the defence systems of the body.
Signs
Dehydration
Diarrhea
High fever
Rough fur coat
Anemia
Loss of appetite
Neurological symptoms
Depression
Treatment
Fluid treatment, antibiotics, B-Vitamins and anti-nausea medications are used to treat cats suffering from this disease.
4. Feline Herpes Virus
Also known as Feline viral rhinotracheitis virus, this virus is one of the main cat disorders responsible for developing upper body congestion.
Signs
Cat eye diseases like conjunctivitis
Attacks of sneezing
Ulcers in the eyes
Lesions around the eyes, even appearing in the eyes
Discharge from the eyes and nose
Congestion
Loss of appetite
Fever
Lethargy
Squinting
Drooling
Depression
Treatment
Oral antibiotics and antiviral medications are prescribed by vets to help treat any of the symptoms that your cat shows. Ointments or drops may also be prescribed to help relieve your cat of the uncomfortable eye problems that occur.
5. Upper Respiratory Infections
Often, this term is used to describe a number of problems that cause the same type of symptoms in your cat, that is, those that affect the throat and nose of the cat. Upper Respiratory Infections are a very common affliction in kittens and is highly contagious.
Signs
Nasal discharge
Fever
Conjunctivitis
Coughing
Rapid breathing
Drooling
Gagging
Runny eyes
Loss of appetite
Hoarse voice
Sores in the nose and mouth
Treatment
Managing the symptoms of this disease is focused on, and ointments or drops for the eyes are often prescribed. While this disease is caused by a virus, antibiotics are also prescribed as bacterial infections are often a secondary infection that occurs along with it. If your cat is not eating or drinking, he may need to be kept at the vets and given drips.
6. Renal Failure
Renal failure in cats usually refers to kidney problems that your cat may face. With age, your cat’s kidneys may begin to fail, though there are some kittens who may even be born with this problem. If this disease is caught in the early stages, it is treatable, but once the disease progresses, treatment becomes harder.
Signs
Frequent urination or urinating outside the litter box
A lot of water consumption
Weight loss
Infections by bacteria in the kidneys and bladder
Vomiting and bloody or cloudy urine
Diarrhoea and constipation
Indifference to what is happening around
Weakness
Ulcers in the mouth
Treatment
Depending on how severe this renal failure is, your vet will suggest the appropriate treatments for your cat. These can include IV treatments and specialised diets to surgeries to remove any blockages that may be present. Cats with this problem will benefit greatly from a diet that is rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin D.
7. Feline Leukaemia Virus
This infectious disease is seen as one of the most important when it comes to cat diseases across the world. It often manifests itself through anaemia, immunosuppression and malignancies in cats and, apart from trauma, is the leading killer of cats as it causes them to become prone to other deadly illnesses as well.
Signs
Yellow colour in the white of the eyes and mouth
Pale gums
Upper respiratory problems
Cat skin diseases
Weakness and lethargy that progresses slowly
Breathing problems
Fever
Diarrhoea
Stomatitis, a gum disease
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Enlarged lymph nodes
Unspayed female cats will have problems with fertility
Treatment
There is no treatment that helps to get rid of the disease itself, so the secondary infections that may arise as a result of this disease are often treated.
8. Heartworm
This problem is caused by the parasitic roundworm that we know as the heartworm. The severity of the condition really depends on how many heartworms have infested your cat and how the cat responds to it. This spreads through the bite of mosquitoes that are carrying the larvae of heartworms.
Signs
Laboured breathing
Coughing
Vomiting
Respiratory problems
Irregular heart rhythm
Treatment
Prevention is easier than cure in this case, and the treatment for heartworms is a long and painful one. Keeping your cat healthy through the right diet, play and other environmental factors such as ensuring that there is no room for mosquitoes to breed near where your cat stays. Sometimes, if the infestation is very severe, your vet may decide to opt for surgical removal of the same. Medications to help kill the adult worms and the offspring will also be given.
Though these diseases may leave you worried, ensure that your cat is fed the best diet and is taken care of very well. Take your kitten for regular check-ups at the vet, and you will not have anything to worry about.
References:
1. The Most Common Diseases & Infections in Cats; Animals Matter to Me; https://www.amtmindia.org/the-most-common-diseases-infections-in-cats/?psafe_param=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtsCgBhDEARIsAE7RYh3xiSwMFgtyte2JOfoJTEaUlxDrk2IGGYmC9HzrZhkvJVyThUINyIEaAuGGEALw_wcB; August 2022
2. Common Cat Diseases; ASPCA; https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-diseases
3. Jim Scott; 24 COMMON CAT DISEASES & HEALTH PROBLEMS [PLUS SYMPTOM GUIDE]; Rawz; https://rawznaturalpetfood.com/common-cat-diseases/
4. 5 Common Cat Illnesses and What You Need to Know; Drake Center; https://www.thedrakecenter.com/services/cats/blog/5-common-cat-illnesses-and-what-you-need-know
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Homemade Foods Ideas for Cat
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