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Conjunctivitis has recently affected a significant number of people in Delhi. We’ll walk you through some simple and friendly steps to prevent conjunctivitis and offer practical tips on how to take care of yourself if you happen to catch it. So, let’s get started and keep those eyes happy and healthy!

Part 1: Preventing Conjunctivitis

1. Keep It Clean:

First and foremost, good hygiene plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of conjunctivitis. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, especially before touching your eyes. Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes unnecessarily, as this can introduce harmful germs into the eye area.

2. Avoid Sharing Personal Items:

Sharing is caring, but not when it comes to personal items like towels, handkerchiefs, or eye makeup. Conjunctivitis is highly contagious, so be cautious and refrain from sharing these items with family or friends to reduce the risk of transmission.

3. Stay Away from Infected Individuals:

If you notice someone with symptoms of conjunctivitis, such as redness, itchiness, or discharge from their eyes, be kind and keep a safe distance. Avoid close contact until their symptoms have fully resolved to prevent catching the infection.

4. Protect Your Eyes:

In dusty or polluted environments, wear sunglasses or protective eyewear to shield your eyes from irritants. This can reduce the chances of conjunctivitis caused by airborne particles or pollutants.

Part 2: Taking Care of Infected

1. Consult an Eye Specialist:

If you suspect you have conjunctivitis or experience symptoms like redness, itching, or excessive tearing, consult an eye specialist immediately. They can diagnose the infection correctly and suggest the appropriate treatment.

2. Avoid Touching and Rubbing:

Resist the urge to touch or rub your eyes, as this can worsen the infection and spread it to your other eye or to other people.

3. Keep It Clean and Soothing:

Gently clean your eyes with a clean, damp cloth to remove any discharge. You can also use over-the-counter saline eye drops to help soothe irritation and keep your eyes moisturized.

4. Follow Doctor’s Instructions:

If prescribed eye drops or ointments, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Finish the full course of medication even if your symptoms improve, as this ensures complete recovery and prevents the infection from coming back.

5. Rest and Self-Care:

Give your eyes some rest during the infection period. Avoid wearing contact lenses until your eyes are fully healed. Get adequate sleep and maintain a balanced diet to support your body’s natural healing process.

With these simple tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of conjunctivitis and protect your eyes from infections. Remember to prioritize hygiene, avoid sharing personal items, and protect your eyes in polluted environments. If you do get infected, don’t panic; just consult an eye specialist and follow their guidance.

Let’s work together to keep the eyes healthy and happy! Stay safe and take care! 🙂

A statistical analysis conducted by Mumbai’s International Institute for Population Studies shows that life expectancy in India has dropped by roughly two years due to Covid-19 pandemic.

According to IIPS assistant professor Surayakant Yadav, the life expectancy at birth for men and women has declined from 69.5 years and 72 years in 2019 to 67.5 years and 69.8 respectively in 2020, reports Times of India.

‘Life expectancy at birth’ is defined as the average number of years that a newborn is expected to live if the mortality pattern during their birth remains constant in the future.

The study was conducted to analyse the effect of the Covid pandemic on the mortality patterns across the country, as thousands of lives were lost due to the deadly pandemic waves.

The study also found out that the Covid toll was reported to be the highest for men in the age group of 35-69. The excess deaths in this age bracket due to Covid led to a sharp drop in life expectancy.

The IIPS based its study on the data collected by the 145-nation Global Burden of Disease study and the Covid-India Application Programme Interface (API) portal.

Yadav further added, “The Covid impact has wiped out the progress we made in the last decade to increase the life expectancy figure. India’s life expectancy at birth now is the same as it was in 2010. It will take us years to catch up.”

However, IIPS director Dr K S James added that epidemics in the past in countries, including Africa, massively impacted life expectancy, but it recouped in a few years.

Source : IndiaToday

Dry skin, also called xerosis, can crack, cause pain and even become infected if left untreated. This season, we bring to you some simple remedies and hacks to get by winters without letting your skin suffer. 

Winter is here, and so is dry skin. Caused by a number of factors like lack of hydration, choice of fabric, hygiene of the skin or irritation of the skin when it reacts to products, dry skin, also called xerosis, can crack, cause pain and even become infected if left untreated.

Many people suffer from dry, flaky, moisture-ridden skin during winters and hope for winters to pass by sooner than usual. But fret not, this season, we bring to you some simple remedies and hacks to get by winters without letting your skin suffer.

Avoid hot showers

Hot showers in winters make sense but it not might be a very good idea to go for hot showers in the cold season. The problem is that hot showers can strip your body of its natural oils, that help in keeping your skin smooth and moist.

Moisturize with coconut oil

Smear some coconut oil on your skin and gently massage it before hitting the sack or after a bath. Coconut oil contains saturated fatty acids that have emollient properties. An emollient is a fat or oil that acts as a moisturizer, making your skin smooth.

Go for an oatmeal bath

Oatmeal is a great natural ingredient when it comes to treating dry skin. Adding powdered oatmeal to a bath or using creams that contain oatmeal may help to relieve dry skin.

Use a humidifier

Cold, dry air can result in dry, irritated skin. Heating your house keeps you warm, but it also removes moisture from the air, which can make dry skin even more parched. To replenish the missing moisture, quickly and effectively, you can use a humidifier in your house.

Go for soft fabrics

Do not use scratchy rough woollens during winters. It might irritate the skin and cause dryness. Instead, opt for softer fabrics.

Apply sunscreen when you step out

Sun damage is one of the main causes behind dry skin, wrinkles, and roughness. You can help prevent damage by wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen year-round and dressing right. When it’s cold, it’s advisable to dress in layers.

Source: IndianExpress