Girly Games to Play

Palliative care is a medical specialty caring about pain relief, stress and other symptoms of serious illness. The aim of Palliative care is to relieve the suffering and better the quality of life for patients and their families.  Patients have different kinds of diseases and they respond to treatment differently also. The key factor of palliative care is that the treatment is customized to fit in the individual needs of the patients. Palliative care helps patients to gain insight into their problems as well as gain strength to manage their daily life better. It enhances their tolerance levels towards their medical treatments. In short, palliative care offers the patients best quality of life during and in spite of the illness.
Palliative care helps both the patient and their family members. Along with medical treatment, supports for the family and solving the communication blocks among the family members are also the main goals.

Hospice Care
Hospice care is different from palliative care. Palliative care is provided to a patient during anytime of the patient’s illness, even from the first time of diagnosis and carried on as curative treatment, whereas hospice care is given to terminally ill patients, for whom no kind of treatment will cure them and who are expected to live only for a few months or less.

Palliative care is a team work of experts, consisting of palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers. Nutritionists, massage therapists, pharmacists, counselors and others too help in the palliative care giving as the need arises.  Usually the patients get non-hospice palliative care in the hospitals through palliative care program.

Mercy killing or Euthanasia
All over the world today, a fierce debate is going on whether people with terminal illness should be helped to die or not!
What is mercy killing?
What is merciful death?
Medical technology has advanced to such a level that can keep a person’s body alive for months and years even after the life of the person has come to an end. Such a stage demands a new mindset and a new terminology for the process of ending the life of another person who is not able to take a decision independently as he is no more the former person he was.
As the thought wave emerges that if the person is not able to live with dignity he should certainly be allowed to end his life with dignity. It is high time now to distinguish the two concepts mercy killing and merciful death- in other words, irrational suicide from voluntary death.
To begin with we have to analyze the differences between mercy killing and merciful death:
•    Will the proposed death bring relief for the patient’s sufferings?
•    Is the decision of the proposed death rational or irrational?
•    Is the proposed death taken at the spur of the moment or is it much thought about and well-planned?
•    Is the proposed death regrettable later or admirable

Mercy killing will continue to take place and that has to be dealt with by the law, police, court, and prisons. But the new concept of merciful death can be formulated with the help of medical supervision. The medical professionals can advise the close relatives to take a decision when the facts of the case suggest that a merciful death is the best choice under the circumstances.
When every organ fails and the doctors recommend removing the patient from the life supporting system, it brings about death and it is long ago recognized as a valid reason to bring life to close. When other methods are necessary to shorten the process of dying – such measures can be termed as merciful death.

Sibling Rivalry and Possible Solutions
Welcome to the world of sibling rivalry, if you have more than one child at home. It is an age-old problem experienced by previous generations. Sibling rivalry is not age related issue. Differences can come about anyway with any age group.
Main reason for sibling rivalry is because the children do not get enough of their parents love and affection. When they feel so, they do not know how to express the feeling and it manifests into something else like sibling rivalry.
Most of the times, sibling rivalry is caused by the arrival of a new baby in the house. The older children experience jealousy when they see the new born getting all the attention. Again, that depends on age factor. If the siblings are close to each other in age, it brings in a lot of left-out feeling in the older child.
There is no ready made formula for the parents to solve this age old problem, but they can surely use a few tactics that will solve the issue to a considerable level.
•    All children want to be special to their parents and they long for attention and appreciation. A hug, a kiss or a loving word and an outward show of affection can do the trick and make a lot of difference to the children’ psyche.
•    Parents’ behavior can play a major role in sibling rivalry. If they start arguing and quarrelling for every little thing, the kids assume that is the way to be in life. Avoid by all means arguing in front of the kids or even otherwise.
•    Parents can show how much they love each other so that children can feel secure and peaceful while growing up.
•    Give freedom to handle their conflicts and find solutions themselves. Parents can do that by not interfering too much in their conflicts. At the same time be firm in letting them know that they cannot hurt themselves physically and have to stop being aggressive or violent.
•    Do not let the fight get out of hand. Instead, try the age old system of punishment, time-out. Choose a place for time out and be firm in sending them to it for a prescribed period of time, especially the one who started the fight and who is unreasonable about it. That will give them time to cool down. Once they calm down, you can reason it out with them and make them to apologize to the other.
•    Avoid comparing one to the other. Be a role model. Create a calm and secure atmosphere at home. Love and also demonstrate your love to them.

Indian markets are flooded with digital cameras now. Days of film cameras have gone past. In fact, most of the photographers – experts and amateurs alike prefer digital cameras to film cameras. A few years back, film cameras dominated Indian markets. The 35mm film cameras were very popular and that was a pride possessions of many a photography buffs in Indian scene. Films shot would be developed and printed at many a film processing centre as per the clients’ orders. But with the advent of digital cameras, Indian customer- fancies too have changed within a short span. Many renown companies like Nikon, Panasonic, Casio, Fuji etc., have introduced digital SLRs and point and shoot pocket sized digital cameras and they have become immensely popular with beginners and experts alike.

The main advantage of digital camera is that it cuts out the recurring cost of film and printing. The other factor of popularity is because digital cameras can store the picture information in a card reader which is readable and reusable. It can also be downloaded to a computer for further use and management. Apart from all these advantages, the amateur photographers can edit and delete the common errors and blemishes using software like Photoshop®. Regular prints can also be taken from the memory cards using modern technology.

Most parents are baffled looking at different kinds of toys available in a toy shop not knowing what to select for their toddlers. There is no guideline and it is a challenging decision for parents, especially the new ones. They end up buying what the sales person recommends. Many times they spend money for toys that give no enjoyment or any developmental stimulation to the toddler. Always buy a toy that makes a sound or some music, especially for 0-3 month’s old baby. Music gives important stimulation for sense development in a new born. It is good to buy a toy that will promote some activity than  passive toys that evokes no action. The child gets bored by just looking at a toy, whereas an activity promoting toy will give joy and a sense of achievement. So choose toys that will encourage the babies to do something. Parents should go for colorful toys which creates visual awareness even in the youngest. Colors attract the attention of babies and help them focus and distinguish colors near and at distances. Buy quality toys from well known brands which will last for a long time. Never buy toys with small, loose particles. It is dangerous as babies tend to swallow them. Always check the safety standard mark. Good brands use baby safe materials which are non-toxic.

Organic farming is a safe method of cultivation used to produce healthy crop without using the poisonous chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides. Organic farming is a responsible way of cultivation that produces chemical free healthy food and the environment is protected. Organic farming is cheaper than chemical farming. It protects environmental condition and health needs of the people. Organic farming feeds the soil without making unreasonable demands on the soil that feeds the plant in a natural way. Agriculture in ancient India was a way of life. It was not a money making or industrial activity. It was an interaction with nature in the most natural way.  But today’s agriculture using chemical fertilizers has affected the environment , farm animals, food quality and health of the people adversely and in turn, has given rise to various diseases like cancer and  reduced  immunity level.
Chemical farming has brought about:
•    Contamination of water resources by pesticide
•    Loss of seed diversity
•    Reduced soil quality
•    Diminished ground water level
•    Dependence of farmers on external help due to rise in cost of crop production
•    Farmers around the world have grown poorer and have committed suicides in large scale

A good laugh makes one feel good. Laughter lifts your mood up from difficult situations and disappointments. It helps you face life with optimism. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow and thus protects you from a possible heart attack or stroke. Laughter relaxes the whole body by relieving stress and tension and gets the muscles relaxed. Laughter brings about the release of endorphins that is the natural feel-good chemicals of the body. Endorphin promotes a sense of well-being.  Laughter relaxes the atmosphere also. It melts away depression, sadness, irritation, anger, tension, anxiety, and other negative emotions. After a hearty laugh, anyone would feel an enhanced sense of well being. It creates exercise for the whole brain – the right and left hemisphere. Like the old saying ‘the world loves a lover’, everyone loves a person who makes them laugh. The more sense of humor one has, more friends he has. Laughter has the power to attract others to you. Laughter is contagious and creates a chain reaction. It is available free of cost and has no negative side effects. “Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone”.

All over the world, people are getting extremely health conscious today. People are willing to do anything to stay and be healthy and disease free. They consult doctors or hospitals even for a small disease, with the result more and more hospitals are coming up in each city. Most people go to hospitals for a complete medical check up every year.  Some exercise every day. People have grown weight conscious too. They regularly take health food supplements like omega 3, antioxidant Green tea to aid slimming, vitamin B3 to lower cholesterol and garlic and vitamin C to have protection against infection. Some take to vegetarianism. Some go for organic and less processed food. Physical fitness and nutrition is the most favorite subject for those who believe in a healthy body with a healthy mind. Some take to ‘walking’ in a serious manner. Thirty minutes a day of brisk walk can really do well for those who are health conscious. Some follow a strict and healthy diet. Most effective way to be healthy is to stay active. To stay healthy one should be aware of obesity and overweight. Weight steadily keeps growing on you if you are not careful and the healthy conscious people have to be alert and take necessary measures to avoid overweight.