'Narcotics' Harmful Effects & Strategies to Stay Away.

The purpose of this article is not to list out the types of narcotics (illegal addictive drugs), available across the world. This article explains the harmful effects of 'narcotics' and precautionary measures one (specially teens) should take to not to get addicted to it.

All narcotics are very dangerous and carry severe health hazards.


All stimulant drugs can make the heart-beat abnormally high and lead to collapsed veins and fatal heart attacks.


Injectable drugs can even lead to HIV, AIDS or Hepatitis due to repeated use of syringes.


Slight overdose of some drugs can make the consumer stop breathing and go into a coma.


Some stimulants can lead to muscle break-down, kidney, liver and heart damage, brain swelling and even death.


What parents & teens should adopt some strategies to stay away from narcotics? Here are some tips.


Teens should never fall prey to peer pressure at any cost. They should have the courage to say 'NO' firmly to all tempting invitational offers of drug consumptions.


During any type of functions / party, it is advisable not to drink anything, that is not opened or poured before you.


Parents should spend enough time for their children. They should talk to children about the risk of drug use and its abuse.


Parents should themselves set an example. Children of drug abusing parents are at a greater risk of drug addition.


Teens should always watch their drinks, if a drink is left unattended for any amount of time. It is better to dump it and get a fresh drink.


If your friend has been drugged, do not leave him / her alone. Seek help immediately, but not from any stranger.


It is advisable for the teens to travel or go to any party in a group of 3-4 (trusted) friends.


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Sexting! What? Do's & Don'ts.

'Sexting' is the act of sending, receiving or forwarding sexually explicit messages or photos via cellphone, computer or other digital device. What are the do's and don'ts of 'sexting' to keep yourself safe in this internet world? Explained here:-

It is best to avoid sending a picture even to your husband / wife. If you have to, make sure you crop the face. In case of photo leak, your identity will not be revealed.


Use 'Snapchat' app as it sets a timer to your pictures and they exist only for a few seconds.


Avoid casual flirting with the guy at the bar. Keep your phone away when you are drunk, horny and have no control over yourself. You do not want a series of 'oops' moments in the morning.


You might not be aware who is snooping around. So, delete all kinds of intimate communication between you and your partner, and advise him / her to do so as well.


'Sexting' has also lot of negative impacts. What seems like momentary fun might lead to shameful moments in the future.


If the post goes viral, you might end up getting a bad reputation in the society.


Your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend might seek revenge and, in turn, find ways to seek revenge.


Whatever age-group you are in, companies, schools, individuals, family members, friends and even strangers do background check before dealing with you.


Digital devices and social media have made sexual exchanges instantaneous and more gratifying. Just the slightest mistake can put your reputation on the line always.


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Migraines! What? Why? Impacts & Solutions.

Migraine, a disease, is very common in children & about 10 per cent of school-going kids suffer from it. Some ins and outs of 'migraines', reasons & solutions are here:-

Migraine is more likely to attack in boys than girls before puberty, due to change in oestrogen levels.


It is a neurological disease which manifests through headache and other allied symptoms like one-sided, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, mood changes, sensitivity to light and sound.


Though 'migraine' does not last long, but it is enough to disrupt a child's normal life.


Chronic daily migraine is one of the most disabling types of migraine. It lasts for more than four hours in teenagers. Inadequate sleep or disturbances in sleeping pattern can lead to migraine.


To be active throughout the day, kids need to drink at least three litres of water.


Exam pressure, competition with peer group and family problem leads to stress and depression.


Migraine is generally hereditary and chances of a child getting one are higher if any of the parents has had the same problem. Weather changes can also cause an attack and attacks in girls are associated with menstrual cycles.


First solution to cure the migraine is the acute treatment. Drugs are used to relieve the symptoms. Acute therapy curtails all the symptoms before it becomes severe.


Second alternative solution is a preventive treatment to reduce the number of migraine attacks.


Third solution is complementary treatments in which, cognitive-behavioural therapy, acupuncture, exercise, proper rest and diet help avoid attack triggers. Balanced diet, regular exercise as well as walking and going to bed at the same time every day help decrease migraine occurrences.


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Halitosis - What? Why? Solutions.

'Halitosis' or bad breath is offensive to others. Bacteria are very fond of teeth, gums and tongue. When they act on food remnants stuck between teeth, they release certain chemicals leading to bad breath. What are the factors, contributing to bad breath & How to overcome it? Here are they:-

(i) Certain medicines used for high BP & allergies contribute to bad breath. (ii) Smoking (iii) Foods like Garlic & High Protein diets. (iv) Eating disorders (v) Chronic mouth breathing due to sinusitis, tonsillitis and nose block. (vi) Dry mouth, caused by decreased saliva production (vii) Dental plaque (viii) Infections in gums teeth or oral mucous membrane and mouth ulcers. (ix) Liver, kidney and gastrointestinal disorders. & (x) Orthodontic problems.


Now follow the solutions to overcome this bad breath problems. Drink water after every meal and in between whenever your mouth feel dry.


Abstain from smoking and / or chewing tobacco.


As you cannot avoid heavily spiced food, you can limit it.


Underlying medical conditions like tonsillitis, sinusitis, nasal problems & diabetes should be taken care of.


Fad diets and very high protein diets should be avoided.


As sugar food, sticky chocolates & fizzy drinks generate bacteria, it is ideal to limit or avoid them.


Use a proper toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Take care by keeping them clean always.


Visit your dentist on a regular basis to ensure that your teeth and gums are in good condition.


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Colors - Meaning & Messages They Convey

Colors play a major role in our visual perception as it influence our reactions about the world around us. Here are the qualities of colors, positive/negative meanings and its connection towards human physiology:-

Black: Sophistication, Glamour, Security, Emotional Safety, Efficiency, Oppression, Coldness & Menace. It creates protective barriers, as it absorbs all the energy coming towards you, and it enshrouds the personality. It communicates absolute clarity with no fine nuances and it works well with white. It creates a perception of weight and seriousness.


Blue: Intelligence, Communication, Trust, Efficiency, Serenity, Duty, Logic, Coolness, Reflection, Calm, Unfriendliness, Lack of Emotion & Aloofness. It is the color of mind and is essentially soothing. It affects us mentally. Strong blues clams the mind and aid concentration. It is the color of clear communication. Blue is the world's favourite color. Contrarily, sometimes it can be perceived as cold, unemotional and unfriendly.


Grey: Psychological Neutrality, Lack of Confidence, Dampness, Depression, Hibernation & Lack of energy. Pure grey has no direct psychological properties. It is quite suppresive. Unless the precise tone is right, greay has a dampening effect on other colors used with it. Heavy use of grey usually indicates a lack of confidence and fear of exposure.


Green: Harmony, Balance, Universal Love, Restoration, Environmental Awareness, Equilibrium, Peace, Boredom, Stagnation & Blandness. Green strikes the eye in such a way as to require no adjustment whatever and is restful. It is the color of balance and negatively it can indicate stagnation and will be perceived as being too bland.


Orange: Physical Comfort, Food, Warmth, Security, Sensuallity, Passion, Abudance, Fun, Deprivation, Frustration & Immaturity. Orange is stimulating and reaction to it is combination of the physical and the emotional. It focuses our minds on issues of physical comfort. Too much organge suggests frivolity and a lack of serious intellectual values.


Violet: Spiritual Awareness, Containment, Vision, Luxury, Authenticity, Truth, Suppression & Inferiority. This color takes awareness to a higher level of thought, even into the realms of spiritual values. It is highly introvertive and encourages deep contemplation or mediation. It has associations with royalty and usually communicates the finest possible quality. It also has associations with time and space and the cosmos.


Brown: Seriousness, Warmth, Nature, Earthiness, Reliability, Support, Lack of Humor, Heaviness & Lack of Sophistication. It has much of the same seriousness as black, but is warmer and softer. It has associations with the earth and the natural world. Most people find it quietly supportive - more positively than the ever-popular black, which is suppressive, rather than supportive.


Yellow: Optimism, Confidence, Self-esteem, Extra-version, Emotional Strength, Friendliness, Creativity, Irrationality, Fear, Emotional Fragility, Depression & Anxiety. Yellow is the strongest color psychologically. The right yellow color will lift our spirits of our self-esteem. However, too much of it can cause self-esteem to plummet, giving rise to fear and anxiety.


Red: Physical Courage, Strength, Warmth, Energy, Basic Survival, Masculinity, Excitement, Defiance, Aggression, Visual Impact & Strain. Red is a powerful color and it has the property of appearing to be nearer than it is an therefore it grabs our attention first. Its effect is physical and stimulates us and raises the pulse rate, giving the impresion that time is passing faster than it is. It is stimulating, lively and very friendly. But it can also be perceived as demanding and aggressive.


Pink: Physical Tranquility, Nurture, Warmth, Love, Sexuality, Survival of the Species, Inhibition, Emasculation & Physical Weakness. Pink soothes and it is the only color that has an entirely separate name for its tints. Psychologically it represents the feminine principle. However, too much pink is physically draining and can be somewhat emasculating.


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Teens! Tips to Lose Your Weight

Body weight is closely linked to body image and self-esteem. Adolescents who are overweight often become the target for bullies at school, office & in the neighborhood. Some teens may succumb to unhealthy and harmful methods of losing weight in their desire to achiev the ideal body. Some facts about teenage body-weight & solutions to lose it:-

Adolescence is a period of rapid physical growth. Pubertal weight gain accounts for 50% of an individual's ideal adult body weight. The first step is to understand the growth process in adolescence and assess if obesity is actually present by measuring the body mass index (BMI). BMI between 85th to 95th percentiles indicates overweight and above 95th centile indicates obesity.


Diets that promise rapid weight loss are usually harmful as the teen years are the only time where growth is completed. These diets can have adverse effects, causing nutritional deficiencies like anemia, stunting of growth and menstrual disturbances in girls.


Diet pills are not effective in the long run and may even adversely affect the teen's health.


If you want to lose your weight, involve your family members also to support you in eating healthy foods.


Avoid carbonated and high-sugar beverages as they provide empty calories.


Make physical activity a part of your daily routine. Play a sport of your choice. Whenever possible, walk to shops, use stairs instead of lift or do cycling.


Choose smaller portions when you eat out. Check the food labels before buying.


Eat small and frequent meals and choose healthier snacks. Eat slowly as the brain takes time to get cues from a full stomach.


Try replacing certain food with healthier alternatives like whole grains, dried fruits, salads and low-fat milk.


Avoid emotional eating. Using food to fight your frustrations and bad moods will add to your weight.


Reduce time on sedentary activities like watching television or sitting with your electronci gadgets.


Make small and gradual changes as they are easier to follow and also help you stay motivated.


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Tips for Parenting Teenage-Children.

When a child enters adolescence, the psychological changes of puberty can be very subtle and cause considerable anxiety in the parents. An understanding of adolescent development and behaviour plays an important role in learning how to parent a teenager:-

First of all, love your children. Maintaining a channel of communication, giving unconditional love, showing affection, hugging the teen-children and praising their achievements will boost their self-esteem.


Teens also like boundaries. Involving them in setting the limits and making them clear about the rule negotiable and non-negotiable will build a good rapport between the parents and the children.


Giving freedom within limits, involving them in making decisions, allowing them to make healthy choices, will also foster growth in the children.


Other positive parenting skills include : (i) Tuning to the challenges faced by the teens in today's competitive world. (ii) Discussing sensitive issues like sexuality. (iii) Being emphathetic and learning to express emotions without fear. (iv) Imparting coping skills and learning to deal with failures & (v) Giving opportunities for physical activity and creative learning.


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