Q Body too thin...some diet tips

Weight gain depends upon your diet and exercise pattern. Include calorie and protein rich foods in your diet such as eggs, chicken, fish, milk and milk products, nuts, pulses etc. Every morning have a glass of milk with honey and 2 bananas. Consume handful of mixed nuts everyday. Weight gain should be healthy and hence you should limit your intake of junk food. Instead of 3 large meals have 5-7 small meals. Join a gym and practice weight training under supervision.

Q Does sex cause hair-loss?

No. Sexual intercourse has many health benefits and has no connection with hair-loss.

Q Is non-vegetarian food safe during pregnancy?

There is no harm in consuming non-vegetarian food during pregnancy. Infact eggs, chicken, fish etc are packed with nutrients which are beneficial for you as well as your baby. But care should be taken to maintain the highest standards of hygiene because non-vegetarian food is liable to become contaminated easily. Make sure you eat only well cooked non-veg food. Avoid anything that is raw or under cooked. Avoid fish which are high in mercury such as mackerel, swordfish, tuna, etc. As long as you follow these guidelines, you can safely consume non-vegetarian food.

Q Why do babies spit up?

Spitting up tends to peak at age 4 months, and most babies stop spitting up by age 12 months.nThe reason for it is babies have esophageal valve still in developing phase that means its immature yet so it results in backward flow of food. Until this valve take time to mature, spitting up may be an issue — especially if your baby eats too much or too quickly. Having food too much or hurriedly cause air to get inside babys stomach along with food. While sucking milk from breast or bottle nipple, babies engulf much amount of air too. This is then come out along with some liquid in the form of spitting. Try these tips to help your baby keep his food down: 1. Hold your baby in a fairly upright position when you feed him. 2. Try smaller, more frequent feedings. 3. Frequent burps during and after each feeding can keep air from building up in your babys stomach. 4. Try to avoid distractions or noises while feeding him, which will reduce his air intake.

Q Entamoeba histolytica infection

Entamoeba histolytica is a parasite and you must start anti parasitic drugs under care of a physician. Here are a few guidelines to avoid reinfection as well as to avoid spraeding infection to others. 1. Wash your hands before eating and after using the washroom. 2.Wash fresh vegetables carefully. Many people get E. histolytica by eating contaminated raw fruit and vegetables. 3.Wear gloves when gardening or working with soil or sand, because it is contaminated with the eggs of the parasites. 4.If you have pet, deworm him regularly.

Q Is it normal for a 12-year-old boy to play and fondle with his penis?

Its normal for kids of of all age groups to play with genitals out of curiosity about their growing body. This is seen in both boys and girls. Younger kids do it because they feel good about the way it feels. It is not harmful or abnormal in anyway. Do not get angry or reprimand your child. Try and educate them that it might lead to infection sometimes. Some kids even do it to seek attention but this is rare.

Q I have been suffering from hyper-acidity as a result of antibiotics. Please advice.

Hyper-acidity is a common side effect of most antibiotics. Most physicians will prescribe an antacid or a H2 blocker along with antibiotics to circumvent this side-effect. If your physician hasnt done so, please visit him and ask him to prescribe the same. If you are on long term antibiotics, a multivitamin will help. As a home measure, include plenty of cold milk and yogurt in your diet to counteract hyper-acidity.

Q I am feeling weekness from past 2-3 days

Excessive physical exertion, excessive mental stress, prolonged lack of sleep, viral infection are some of the probable causes of weakness. Take adequate rest, follow well balanced diet, stay well hydrated, if you are overly stressed, try and find the cause and work towards improving it. Consultation with your physician will be necessary if the weakness is not relieved in few days or you develop any other symptoms.

Q What is dry patchy skin around eyes?

Dry patchy skin around eyes indicates that skin in that area is devoid of its water content or moisture. Several factors can cause dry patches around eyes such as extremes of temperature, strong facial cleansers, soap, acne products. Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can also cause dry patchy skin.

Q What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or apprehension without any known cause. A panic attack comes suddenly lasts for few minutes and may disappear of its own without any medicine. Sometimes, panic attacks can be very frightening. Some of the symptoms you may experience during the panic attack include - palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, a choking sensation, chest pain and feeling sick etc. If the attack is recurrent, it is advised to consult the physician to get the best possible treatment.