Q Can asanas be performed after having morning tea or coffee?

Yoga asanas should preferably be done on an empty stomach. However, a cup of tea/coffee/milk is allowed before Yoga. You should not eat anything for about 30 minutes after performing Yoga.

Q How does aids kill cells in immune system?

The AIDS is caused by the virus HIV, which attacks the CD4 cell (T-cells) of the immune system. Because, CD4 cells have a specific protein for the HIV. The HIV also affects other cells like B cells and macrophages which are the main part of the immune system. Thus, limiting the action of the immunity of the affected individual. Due to decreased immunity, the individual is prone to any infection leading to further decline in the health status of the individual. In most of the cases, the individual dies due to some other infection to the AIDS patient.

Q Is it possible to raise your IQ?

Intelligence is mostly hereditary. Intellectual ability grows until about age 16, and after that changes very little. Practicing various skills which are tested on IQ tests will increase your IQ score some, but it is not likely to increase your intelligence. Intelligence is basically the abilities to learn, to reason, to remember, to think abstractly, to problem-solve, etc. These abilities are very difficult to improve once you are an adult, though you may improve specific skills. E.g. you can improve basic mathematical skills by practicing them often and learning certain mathematical shortcuts, or you can learn to read faster by pushing your reading speed and learning to scan for meaning. Generally, the best way to improve your performance in specific work tasks is to do those tasks a lot. When you do that, you gradually learn the best possible techniques to efficiently and accurately complete that work, in the minimum necessary amount of time.

Q My WBC count is increased up to 16000, 5 days back. I had some antibiotics prescribed by doctor. Today I checked still the count is same or increased. Why is this? Is it a symptom of cancer?

The normal count of WBC is 4000-11000. Raised WBC count is not the only sign of cancer. There are other causes as well, of which infection is the most commonest cause. You should finish the course of antibiotic given by your doctor an then check the count. If it is still raised than it is necessary that you consult your doctor again.

Q What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects the way a person acts, thinks, and sees the world. People with schizophrenia have an altered perception of reality, often a significant loss of contact with reality. They may see or hear things that dont exist, speak in strange or confusing ways, believe that others are trying to harm them, or feel like theyre being constantly watched. With such a blurred line between the real and the imaginary, schizophrenia makes it difficult even frightening to negotiate the activities of daily life. In response, people with schizophrenia may withdraw from the outside world or act out in confusion and fear.

Q Whats the treatment of nervousness?

Nervousness by itself is not considered a serious problem. If nervousness is related with an anxiety disorder treatment is needed. The Nervousness refers to fearful thoughts with basic physical symptoms. The most important tool for reducing nervousness is exercise. It allows you to easily reduce your nervousness because it increases production of relaxing neurotransmitters while simultaneously burning hormones caused by stress and tiring the muscles so that anxiety symptoms are less severe. Sleep deprivation has a profound effect on nervousness. So sound sleep at least for 7 to 8 hours is necessary. Nervousness may be produced due to empty time, so stating busy is helpful to reduce it. Get yourself involved in work. Take interest in your hobby. Writing a diary is also good way as it provides a mental outlet. Consultation with a doctor is necessary if the symptoms are not controlled and are causing disturbance in mental and physical health.

Q What kind of diet is not advisable for when you have pain in neck and shoulder?

Unhealthy diet and lifestyle are on second rank when it come to pain in body like neck and shoulder pains. Modern food habits are actually producing harmful effect on body by promoting accumulation of toxins in body. These type of food include: chocolates, ice-creams, food containing caffeine, highly processed food, canned or preserved food specifically with MSG, junk food or fast food, food high in sodium and sugar, high fat dairy products, meat, cigarette, wine, beer or any other alcoholic drink etc. These type of food in diet put your body under constant metabolic stress and promote production and accumulation of unhealthy chemicals or toxins in your body. This combined stresses, irritate and spasms nerves and skeletal muscles resulting in pain. So, healthy way to avoid or reduce neck and shoulder pain is to eat healthy, well cooked, preferably home made and fresh food including lots of veges and fruits.

Q What is the true cause of trichotillomania aslo known as severe obsessive compulsive hair pulling?

The cause of trichotillomania is unclear. But like many complex disorders, trichotillomania probably results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Also, abnormalities in the natural brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine may play a role in trichotillomania. While the underlying biology is not clearly understood at this time, we do know that people with trichotillomania generally have a neurologically based predisposition to pull their hair as a self-soothing mechanism. The pulling behavior serves as a coping mechanism for anxiety and other difficult emotions. It does not hurt and they are not trying to damage themselves. While the average age of onset is 11, trich can be found in children as young as one year old. Onset of trich can be triggered by simple sensory events, such as itchy eyelashes, or by stressful life events, and it can occur quite suddenly. For example, it may be a tingling feeling that can only be relieved by pulling. ny relief that comes with hair pulling usually only lasts for a moment. The urge almost always returns. Thats because when the mind becomes used to giving in to the powerful urges that go with compulsive behaviors, the behavior is reinforced, and then becomes a habit. The mind gets trapped in a cycle of expecting to have the urge satisfied. The longer this goes on, the harder it can become to resist the urge.

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 Why do my vagina pain when penis is inserted ?

Pain during sex is called as dyspareunia. Most women experience some degree of pain when they have sex for first few times. The main reason for it is fear of sex. This pain subsides with the number of acts. However if the complaint remains even after repeated number of sex then one needs to find the specific cause behind it. The causes can be an infection, lack of proper lubrication before intercourse, due to dryness of vagina, allergy to latex condom, etc. In such cases it is necessary that you consult a gynaecologist for proper treatment.