All posts by Sumana Rao

Don't worry about the people in your past; There's a reason they didn't make it to your future.
Children playing in mud

Let your children play outside in dirt

Dirt is a prescription for health and happiness. Allow your child play outside in garden and dirt. Don’t worry about child’s clothes getting dirty. There are many positive benefits a child gets while playing outside in yard.  Playing outside is important for children’s growth and development.

According to epidemiologist David Srachan, children raised in clean environments , who are exposed to very little to outer microbial environment that are generally found in soil and mud are more likely to develop allergies. Children who are raised in farms are significantly less likely to develop allergies as compared to those who are raised not in green environment and exposed to dirt.

Dirt is good for your child. Here are reasons you should allow your child to play outside.

Children who don’t spend time outside run the risk of serious health issues, such as obesity (CDC, 2008), myopia (Reuters, 2009), and vitamin D deficiency (AAP, 2009). The good news is that outdoor activities kids love, like running, jumping, climbing, playing games with friends, and taking nature walks are a great strategy for keeping children healthy (NWF)

For stronger immune system: Do you know there are good microbes outside in dirt? Studies show that children who play in dirt will have good intestinal microbiota. Visiting garden and greenery in general helps their intestine to have gut friendly microbes. It helps their immune system. When kids play outside in yard, gravel and garden their immune system boosts and their T-cells increases! This means, their system is stronger to fight diseases!

Exposure to Vitamin D: Vitamin D gives many health benefits. Playing outside means exposure to Sunrays and vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for bones and to protect the system. Not getting enough Sun exposure is unhealthy for both children and adults.

Lower level of stress: Kids when play outside in yard or greenery, it is fun for them as there is no structured playtime. It is just like adults going for hiking or walks in park. Playing outside will improve their mental health, removes worries and stress. Their performance in school and studies takes positive turn. A study from American Journal of Public Health reported that symptoms of ADHD lessened in children who played in greenery!

Socializing and happiness: Playing outside with other children improves socializing skills of child. They will make friends, look forward to play and this brings happiness and you will notice the smile on your child’s face.

Helps to be active: Instead of spending time on TV, smart phone and video games playing in dirt helps them to be physically active. Running, playing, crawling, jumping – all these activities are essential for the body development.

Allow your child to play in mud, dig trenches, build something out of clay, pick up dirt, leaves etc. This is natural play that improves health. Make it a habit of taking and allowing child to exposed to dirt for better health and development of child.

References:

https://www.nwf.org/

https://www.parentmap.com/

https://www.sciencealert.com/daycares

Image credit: Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay  (CC by 0)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: October 11, 2022
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Music therapy

Music Therapy for Autistic Children

Music is one of the best way of communication. It brings people together.  Beyond the boundaries world is united under various types of music. It is a “universal language” that crosses all cultural lines. Music is a basic human response, spanning all degrees of ability/disability. Music holds universal appeal. It provides a bridge in a non-threatening setting between people and/or between individuals and their environment, facilitating relationships, learning, self-expression, and communication. Music captures and helps maintain attention. It is highly motivating and may be used as a natural “reinforce” for desired responses.

Music is a complex amalgam of melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre and silence in a particular (intended) structure.

What is Music Therapy?

Children show curiosity towards instruments and sound. They like rhythmic beatings and singing. This behavior of children has been in use in treating children who have difficulty in communication and who has autism. Music Therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish Individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program. It is a well-established allied health profession that uses music therapeutically to address behavioral, social, psychological, communicative, physical, sensory motor, and/or cognitive functioning. Because music therapy is a powerful and non-threatening medium, unique outcomes are possible.

The treatment includes the use of behavioral, biomedical, developmental, educational, humanistic, adaptive music instruction, and/or other models. Music therapy enhances one’s quality of life, involving relationships between a qualified music therapist and individual; between one individual and another; between the individual and his/her family; and between the music and the participants. These relationships are structured and adapted through the elements of music to create a positive environment and set the occasion for successful growth.

Why Music Therapy?

Music therapy may address several needs simultaneously in a positive and exciting medium: it may provide pleasurable learning that promotes success. Furthermore, music therapy can greatly enhance the quality of life of the young child and his/her family. Music is often the first thing to which a child relates.. Music occurs naturally in our environment in many settings and is a socially appropriate activity and leisure skill. Music provides a predictable time-oriented and reality-oriented structure while offering opportunities for participation atone’s own level of functioning and ability. Not only may music activities be opportunities for a child to “shine,” but they may also be used to reinforce non-musical goals. Most people, especially children, enjoy music – therefore, music therapy can be the therapy that reinforces all other therapies.

How Does Music Therapy works?

Music therapy enhances the quality of life. It involves relationships between a qualified therapist and child; between one child and another; between child and family; and between the music and the participants. These relationships are structured and adapted through the elements of music to create a positive environment and set the occasion for successful growth.

How Does Music Therapy Make a Difference with Young Children?

Through music, children take an inner experience and move it into a shared creative experience. Group music releases energy which can be channeled in creative, productive directions. Children learn about themselves and others by playing music together and by listening to each other. Music is perfectly designed for training children’s listening skills. Good listening skills and school achievement go hand in hand. The literature reports that most individuals with ASD respond positively to music. Children with ASD often show a heightened interest and response to music, making it an excellent therapeutic tool for working with them.

The development and the remediation of speech of an autistic child are carried out by music therapy. The communication deficit that is observed in autistic children may include expressive speech which may be impersonal or nonexistent. Speech can range from complete silence to grunts, humming, cries, explosive shrieks as well as guttural sounds.

Musically intoned vocalizations along with consonant-vowel combinations may be used and this is a classy mix of babbling words that are  recognized vaguely. This may also seem like a foreign sound that is new to a child.

  • Music stimulates all of the senses and involves the child at many levels. This “multimodal approach” facilitates many developmental skills.
  • Quality learning and maximum participation occur when children are permitted to experience the joy of play. The medium of music therapy allows this play to occur naturally and frequently.
  • Music is highly motivating, yet it can also have a calming and relaxing effect. Enjoyable music activities are designed to be success-oriented and make children feel better about themselves.
  • Music therapy can help a child manage pain and stressful situations.
  • Music can encourage socialization, self-expression, communication, and motor development.
  • Because the brain processes music in both hemispheres, music can stimulate cognitive functioning and may be used for remediation of some speech/language skills.

References:

  • http://www.musikgarten.org/
  • http://www.musictherapy.org/
  • http://www.coastmusictherapy.com/free-resources/
  • http://www.therhythmtree.com/
  • Image credit: Image by thedanw from Pixabay (Free for commercial use)
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Premature early menopause and dementia

Premature And Early Menopause Are Linked to Dementia In Women -Study

Women experience premature menopause before age  40. A menopause that happens between age 40 and 45 is known as early menopause. Most women go through normal menopause between age 48-52. Menopause is when the ovaries stop making hormones and periods stop. The average age of menopause is around 52.

Those women who go through premature or early menopause will have difficulty in getting pregnant and cannot conceive. Reasons for early and premature menopause are:

  • History of smoking: Those who smoke at young age and as young adults, might experience early menopause two years earlier than nonsmokers. Smoking has huge negative impact on fertility of women
  • Family history: It runs in genes, women whose family including mothers, aunts and grand mother who experienced early, premature menopause could carry it in their genes too.
  • Radiation and chemotherapy: Such harsh treatments could damage ovaries and affect periods. Not all women who undergo chemo and radiation therapy have this issue.
  • Surgery: After surgical removal of ovaries (oophorectomy),  women will have menopausal symptoms. During which one will experience hot flash and less sexual desire.
  • Uterus removal: In cases where uterus is removed and ovaries left behind, period will stop. Natural menopause happens earlier than expected.
  • Other health conditions such as: autoimmune diseases, AIDS, missing chromosome, chronic fatigue  could cause premature or early menopause.

When women experience hot flash, sweating, sleepless nights, mood changes, vaginal dryness, irregular period – they should let OBGYN know the symptoms. If you are not pregnant doctor will have series of tests done to make sure that it is premature menopause or not.

Why it is important to understand menopause symptoms?

A recent study showed that there is a modest association between premature menopause and subsequent risk of dementia. According to President of American Heart Association Dr. Donald Lloyd jones Professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of medicine Chicago “ women undergo premature menopause when there a more rapid biological aging of all the body’s tissues, including premature aging of our organs and their function”  The only other reason they could go through premature menopause is when their uterus, ovaries are removed.

This data obtained from the participation of 153000 women in Biobank UK in an ongoing study that (will be presented this week) examines genetic and health information of half a million people. The study is adjusted for race, weight, age, education and income level, alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, heart conditions and physical activities. In the study it was found that the women who became menopausal before age 45 were 1.3 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia as early as 65 ages. And, early menopause can also have a negative effect on a woman’s thinking ability, including visual memories and verbal fluency.

As per Prof Lloyd- Jones “Functional menopause due to surgery is less risky than the biological menopause that happens early in  women’s life. It is red flag that the tissues and organs are aging rapidly. Which is the reason woman needs to see a doctor and have plant to optimize all her health factors”

Study also mentions that Estrogen hormone when decreases will cause early menopause. The lack of estrogen over the long term enhances oxidative stress, which may increase brain aging and lead to cognitive impairment” An oxidative stress occurs when body’s antioxidant defenses cannot keep up with an overabundance of free radicals. These free radicals that by product of cell metabolism damage cells. The increase in free radical number is directly proportional to smoking, toxins, pesticides, dyes, and air pollution.

Can a woman control the early menopause or premature menopause happening?

Eating balanced diet, avoiding spicy and hot temperature food, keeping in temperature controlled cool room, dressing in layers, being regular in physical activity, trying to control weight gain,  controlling alcohol and smoking. improving lifestyle and if needed medication – all could help a person to not get into early or premature menopause.

Being aware of the risk of certain lifestyle and the other reasons listed above that could cause early menopause and knowing how to prevent dementia will help a person closely monitor their cognitive status. Such awareness will help doctors to help you in the process of solving future major health issue that could happen.

References:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Passionflower benefits

Calming Benefits Of Passionflower Plant

Passionflower vine is well known for its gorgeous flowers. Its fruits are edible and are used for making delicious passionfruit juice. Passion  fruits are known as maypops and looks like an egg. Passionflower grows both in wild and as cultivated variety. It is commonly grows in warmer climates and is a garden favorite plant and many herbal gardens grow them for flower, fruits and as well as for its medicinal properties. Its flowers appear like a clock and exhibit beautiful colors. Most common passionflower that one can find is purple flower passionflowers.

Passionflower plant leaves, fruits, roots and flowers – all exhibit medicinal properties.

What is in passionflower plant?

  1. Amino acids: It is loaded with GABA an inhibitory neurotransmitter. GABA’s receptors are distributed in human brain.
  2. Indole alkaloids
  3. Maltol
  4. Fatty acids such as linoleic, linolenic and palmitic fatty acids
  5. Flavonoids such as orientin, vitexin, apigenin, luteolin

Presence of these compounds makes one of the best herb for calming human system. Presence of GABA helps in calming brain. Appropriate levels of GABA helps to relax muscles. Not only calming mind, consuming passionflower in different forms helps to get relieve from muscle cramps, seizures, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.

Presence of flavonoid glycoside in this plant, makes it a sedative, analgesic and anxiolytic herb.

  1. Passionflower helps in anxiety and insomnia – improves sleep quality
  2. It reduces anxiety
  3. It is good for calming nervous system
  4. It helps to control body pain, chronic pain, and inflammation
  5. It is a muscle relaxant
  6. Helps in improving memory
  7. Helps in seizures and neuralgia conditions
  8. According to some studies, it is good for children who are diagnosed with ADHD.
  9. Good for heart health, it lowers blood pressure
  10. Recommended for  menopause relief
  11. It helps to alleviate spasmodic asthma symptoms.

How Passionfruit vein parts are used?

  1. Dried aerial parts are used as infusion
  2. Tincture made of aerial parts are used for topical application.
  3. Passionflower tea is used for reducing stress and anxiety
  4. Passion flowers are edible and eating them helps to reduce anxiety.
  5. Passion fruits – ripe fruits are edible. One can eat them (spit black seeds) or fruit pulp can be used for making juice. Unripe fruits are sour, ripe fruits taste better and good for preparing juice.
  6. Leaves of passion fruit plant can be used for making tea by infusing 2-5 grams of leaves into one or 2 cups  of water.
  7. Roots of the plant is used as poultice to reduce inflammation of wounds.
  8. Tea from the root is used to bring down earache
  9. Infants can be weaned using the root tea.
  10. Entire plant is used as blood tonic, to improve blood.

How to include passion fruit plant in diet? Before collecting passion fruit plant or vein parts, make sure the vein is not sprayed with pesticide or herbicide.

  • Rinse and dry passion flowers and add to desserts and drinks – use them for garnishing dishes.
  • Both flowers and young leaves can be added to salad.
  • Steep passion flowers in tea or cold juices (like lemonade)

If you are a lactating mother or suffering from serious conditions, before consuming this plant parts contact your physician and seek advice.

Image credit: Image by wurliburli from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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How to deal with rejection

How To Deal With Rejection in Life

At one point in our life, we all would have faced rejection for one or other reasons. It could be a rejection from a friend, rejection at co-workers, job, university, school, sports, family, or love. Any type of rejection can be hard for a person who is sensitive by nature and unable to face relatives, outsiders, friends, or family. Rejection means no for the thing which we approach and not accepted. Generally, human nature wants to be accepted by everybody. When there is a rejection, it hurts.

Rejection can hold us back and put a setback on our personal life. It could cause havoc in one’s life. Not everyone will know how to deal with rejection. When one doesn’t know how to deal with rejection it can only have a negative impact on life and relationship, and it could lead to anxiety, stress, and depression.

How to deal with rejection?

It is important to deal with rejection boldly and come out stronger. Rejection should not define a person and personality. Overcoming rejection and coming out stronger is essential to lead a successful life.

Process your emotions: If you feel rejected or received a message of rejection, you might feel down, angry and anxiety can kick in. Focus on what you are feeling, if possible, write down your emotions and thoughts. By writing it down, one may feel better. Whatever the emotions you have by writing it down you may feel the intensity of sadness coming down. There is no right or wrong in what you are feeling.

Spend time with people whom you love and trust: When you face rejection from anyone, remember there are others who consider your happiness and care about you. Spend quality time with parents, siblings, or friends. Try to connect with friends who care about your wellbeing. Talk to near ones in confidence, what you are feeling about rejection, and seek advice on how to overcome it. Think about those people who make you happy and support you all the time.

Be kind to yourself: Don’t beat yourself for the rejection. It is not your fault if someone rejects you. Whether it is your love life or job or college admission -they may not have understand your worth and hence the rejection could have happened. Don’t be unkind to yourself. Come out and look at the world which will give you new ideas, better opportunities,  a new path to lead a happy future life.

Do not stop yourself: Rejection should not stop you from what you want to achieve. If you stop pursuing it could only pull you down. Find other avenues to reach a goal or find a new goal. Sometimes rejection means something better is waiting for you in the future. You must have the patience to find and figure it out.

Develop healthy hobbies: Remember, you deserve best like any others. If you don’t have a hobby, go find a hobby. Instead of sitting in a place and worrying about what and why someone rejected you, develop a hobby or find your lost hobby that will help you forget the rejection and the incident. Cooking, exercise, gardening, reading club, painting, continuing studies, volunteering, acting, reading inspirational stories of great personalities etc.- all these good hobbies will give you sense of relief and calmness leading to clarity.

Life is too short to worry about the rejection and such incidents. World is big enough to give opportunities and bring back happiness to all.  

 

 

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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How to cool sibling rivalry?

How to cool sibling rivalry?

There is no surprise when more than one kid is at home there will be always fights, complaints, crying, arguing and jealousy between children.

This is natural and very rarely we find families where kids have understanding and continue to grow without arguments.

For many parents it is a dream. What parents should concern about is  sibling rivalry that might remain for life long.

Parents can teach and handle kids to make them understand what matters and how all kids are important to them.

The squawk and yelling starts at young age itself. When there is not much of an age difference between kids and one kid grabs another’s toy or other belonging fight starts. Sharing is a difficult thing for kids especially for elder kids to share things with new born or younger sibling. Elder kids does not like the feeling of negligence towards them. Neither they don’t like sharing attention to other sibling.

How to tamp down sibling rivalry? Here are grandma’s suggestions

  • Give each kid one on one attention that is meaningful to her/him: Playing, watching movie, listening to music, story with them soothes them.
  • Always set ground rules not to shout at each other or not to complain.
  • Listen to both child when they still bring complain – understand each ones’ point of view
  • Tell children to listen to each other – when one-person talk, the other must listen
  • Ask children what could be the solution and how they would handle. Let them reason it.
  • Tell children to exchange their role and be the other person for few hours to make them understand each other.
  • As a parent you should stop comparing children. Stop labeling children. Don’t say “smart one” athletic one, wild child – this creates competition amongst kids
  • Give individual attention and listen to each one of their story 10-20 minutes.
  • Ignore – when you hear arguments, fights don’t jump to solve the issue. Ignore and give them a chance to solve the issue.
  • When kids cannot reach an agreement and their flight escalates then step in. Without taking sides tell them to come up with solution.
  • If they don’t listen and continue their fight, put them in the same boat and tell them the consequence of fighting – punishment or time out

Keep in mind, like all parents you are also raising your children. There is no need to compare yourself with other parents. One minute they play and next minute they fight and cry. It is a common challenge. The only thing you should be doing is trying to stop rivalry. If you need suggestions, ask other parents how they handle their kids. You may hear interesting story or get good suggestion.

Image credit: Photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: September 27, 2022
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Helping baby sleep at night

Tips to get your baby sleep throughout the night

Most parents with babies face one common challenge when it comes to baby’s sleep at night. Babies need to be fed every few hours or so as they have small tummies that need filling often. Newborns sleep around the clock as they cannot make out the difference between day and night. As babies grow, parents expect them to get sleep at night, but many babies cannot sleep at night. This leaves parents tired and exhausted in the daytime.

Why babies don’t sleep at night?

Like adults, babies need to learn how to sleep. Sleep regression is common in babies at 4 months. But it can happen at any time of their growth. Reasons for them not to sleep could be any of the following:

  • Baby is overstimulated by surroundings that are causing excitement and cannot keep calm.
  • Baby could be overtired and becomes fussy rather than drifting to sleep.
  • There is no set routine for feeding, bathing or to play with toys
  • Babies bed is not comfortable or there may be physical discomfort
  • As the baby grows, food habit needs to be changed. Improper nutrition affects a baby’s sleep
  • Baby’s room exposed to too much hot or cold settings

How to get baby to sleep throughout the night?

  1. Establish a routine to sleep: Setting up a bedtime routine will help the baby. It is never too early for setting up a routine. Soothing and calming activities and rituals for which baby responds will help to put the baby to sleep. For example, summertime taking a small stroll in the evening with baby during dawn will help. Singing lullaby is another way to put them in sleep. Turning on soft music every day before bedtime or nap time gives comfort and baby will know it is sleep time.
  2. Weaning the nighttime feeding: Depends on baby’s age weaning night feeding will help. Talk to your doctor and slowly reduce nighttime feeding. Slowly reduce the number of times of feeding over a few days or weeks at night.
  3. Daytime sleep: Baby’s will sleep in the daytime too. It helps them to grow. They just sleep around the clock when they are newly born. As they grow older the long stretch of sleep should be nighttime. If the baby sleeps long hours in daytime, then it disturbs or reduces their sleep at night. Up to three months babies might sleep longer hours in daytime. At 4-6 months sleeping patterns could change with probably 2 naps per day.
  4. Learn to be patient: During baby’s growth sleep regression can happen anytime and it will go back to normalcy after a few days. Parents must focus on baby’s sleep with the fact that sleep regression won’t last long.
  5. Learn baby’s sleep pattern: There are times at night baby’s will be in deep sleep and any sounds will not wake them. If you observe them you will notice when they enter deep sleep or what time they sleep light. To prevent waking them up during light sleep you might need to cautious not to disturb the baby.
  6. Create a calming ambiance: Make sure the room stays dark, the right temperature and add some soft sound to make them feel comfortable. Soothing sounds will make them fall asleep. Other noises that can cause excitement in the baby should be avoided or hidden or reduced.
  7. Bath, eating, and pooping schedule: These three daytime schedules of baby will make a difference at nighttime sleep schedule. Engaging baby in activities, slowing down activities, and putting them to sleep – all should be a routine in a baby’s life. These routines could change every few months with a baby’s growth.
  8. Notice the smallest things associated with baby’s sleep: Does baby needs burping after feeding. Whether room temperature is perfect, did diaper is soiled, does baby startle, is there any sound that disturbs baby, is there any creek sound in floor? – These are a few examples of small details that will help parents to put the baby to sleep.

In case the baby is not sleeping at all and crying most time, then you must consult your pediatrician to see whether the baby has any health issues. Generally, parents should know that baby’s sleeping cycle changes as they grow. Understanding baby’s needs and creating ambiance atmosphere in the room will help the baby to sleep.

Image credit: Photo by Tatiana Syrikova from Pexels (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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