Q How is jaggery different from sugar?

Jaggery is much more complex than sugar and takes longer time to digest and provides energy slowly for longer time. It does not have harmful effects on the body; but, this does not qualify jaggery to be safe for diabetics.

Q Is there any reliable tips to reduce weight as I am working woman and do not find time for exercise but yes if you can suggest diet I can follow

When it comes to losing weight, good eating plan and regular exercise schedule go hand in hand. It is not possible to achieve permanent result by substituting one for another. Along with healthy eating a minimum of 150 mins of exercise in a week can make huge difference. As far as eating healthy is concerned you can make following changes in your routine. Instead of three large meals, have 5-7 small meals. Replace refined foods with whole grain foods. For example replacing white bread with brown bread. Include plenty of fresh fruits and green veggies in your meal. Avoid intake of processed foods, junk foods and sugary drink. Make sure your there is some amount of protein rich food in your breakfast, lunch and dinner. Foods such as eggs, chicken, fish, milk, cheese, curd, paneer are good source of proteins.

Q Why do kids suck thumb? Does it mean that they are hungry?

Babies suck thumb because thumb sucking has a soothing and calming effect on them. No, it does not always suggest that the kid is hungry. Thumb sucking around the feeding time could indicate that the kid is hungry, but not otherwise.n Babies may suck thumb when they are lonely, bored, or sleepy too! This habit usually stops by the age of 3 to 6 years.n Some babies develop habit of thumb sucking right in the womb!

Q Does sperm die when it touches water?

Yes. The sperm will die in the water after sometime and not instantly as it touches it. This is due to change in the environment of the sperm in the body and outside the body like change in the temperature, pH etc.

Q Though it takes lots of courage to commit suicide why suicidal people are called coward?

Committing suicide is considered wrong and unjustifiable. Suicide gives up all your future, everything you could have done, because you cant put up with the past or the present. People usually commit suicide when they lack the courage to go on. Its like giving up on the hope that things will ever get better. Under the influence of emotional despair, a suicidal person kills himself in total disregard for those who care for him, those who would have helped him. However at the same time, it is not right to call suicidal people cowards. In fact, they need maximum help and support from those around them. One should lend them a helping hand until they start feeling better about themselves and the situations in their life. There is light at the end of the tunnel. It is important for suicidal people to remember, "this too, shall pass."

Q What are the symptoms of kidney failure?

Symptoms may vary form person to person. Usually kidney failure is asymptomatic in early stage but as disease progresses symptoms become prominent. Sign and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fatigue, weakness, changes in urine output, fluid retention, swelling over ankles and feet, shortness of breath, persistent itching, hiccups, high blood pressure, difficult concentration, abnormal heart rhythms, sleep problems. If left untreated life threatening circumstances may develop.

Q My baby has a white curd-like coating in the mouth. It bleeds when I try to clean it. What could it be? Is it normal?

Hello. The white coating you have described in your babys mouth could be a fungal infection! It is not normal. It could be acquired from the mothers birth canal at the time of birth and called as thrush in medical terms. It looks like elevated white patches of cheese or curd on tongue or cheeks and leaves behid a red bleeding surface when cleaned. Dont worry! It is not dangerous; but, it is surely painful for your baby and interferes with the feeding. In some babies the condition is self limiting and needs no treatment. In others an antifungal gel or medications might be needed.

Q My doctor tells me my test results are normal, but I still have a few thyroid symptoms. Should I worry?

If the thyroid function test is done for the first time and the reports are normal, then there is nothing to worry about. However if you are taking the medicine for any thyroid disorder, then though your results are normal you may have the symptoms for few days.

Q What is histrionic disorder?

Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by a long-standing pattern of attention seeking behavior and extreme emotionality. Someone with histrionic personality disorder wants to be the center of attention in any group of people, and feel uncomfortable when they are not. While often lively, interesting and sometimes dramatic, they have difficulty when people arent focused exclusively on them. People with this disorder may be perceived as being shallow, and may engage in sexually seductive or provocative behavior to draw attention to themselves.

Q What do you mean by Social Phobia? How it is expressed?

Social phobia is a strong fear of being judged by others, and of being embarrassed. This fear can be so strong that person start worrying about the things he is going to do in front of others weeks before, or it may restrict him from going into public places/school/work etc. Person will have overwhelmed fear that others will judge him wrongly or make fun of him. He might be afraid of eating or drinking in front of others, using public restrooms, going in social functions, performing anything in front of a crowd etc. This may end up with staying away from such situations or completely avoiding them. For some, it is a problem only in few situations, but some may have this fear constantly. This fear can express itself in the form of difficulty in getting acknowledged with others, talking with other people, high level of self-consciousness when in public, worries excessively before weeks or days of any upcoming social function, difficulties in making friends and becoming friendly with others, physical symptoms of fear may appear like sweating, trembling, blushing, palpitations, nausea, etc.