The Preventive Pulse

 " Is it necessary to be shrewd and clever in life......" Short answer: No. You don’t have to be “clever and shrewd” to live well or succeed. Many people build rich, stable lives through reliability, kindness, and steady effort. That said, a dose of smart judgment helps protect you and expand your options. Useful distinctions:    Clever: solving problems creatively and fast.    Shrewd: reading situations and people accurately, acting strategically (sometimes with a hint of cunning).    Wise: aligning choices with long‑term values and consequences. Shrewd: # When being shrewd helps: *High‑stakes decisions (job offers, contracts, big purchases) *Environments with competition or information asymmetry *Protecting boundaries with manipulative people *Negotiations where anchoring, timing, and alternatives matter # When it can backfire: *Over-optimization erodes trust and relationships *Short-term wins create long-term reputational costs *Constant vigilance i...

🚭 Freedom from Tobacco: Why & How to Quit: Tobacco may give a temporary sense of relief, but in reality, it steals health, money, and happiness. Every cigarette or chew damages your body, while quitting brings immediate and long-term benefits. ❓ Why Should You Quit Tobacco? 1. Protect Your Lungs – Smoking causes chronic bronchitis, COPD, and lung cancer. Within weeks of quitting, breathing improves. 2. Save Your Heart – Tobacco increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by 2–4 times. 3. Prevent Cancers – Mouth, throat, lung, pancreas, and bladder cancers are strongly linked to tobacco. 4. Look & Feel Younger – Quitting reduces wrinkles, bad breath, yellow teeth, and tired skin. 5. Protect Loved Ones – Second-hand smoke harms your family, especially children. 6. Save Money – A pack-a-day habit can cost ₹6,000–₹8,000 a month. 7. Add Life to Years – Quitters live longer and enjoy better quality of life. ✅ Tips to Quit Smoking or Chewing Tobacco 1. Set a Quit Date – Choose a me...

🥖 Brown Bread vs White Bread – Which One Should You Eat? Choosing bread can be confusing. Let’s simplify it for you: 👇 🍞 Brown Bread (Whole Wheat Bread) ✅ Pros *High in fiber → Aids digestion, prevents constipation. *Better satiety → Keeps you full longer, useful for weight control. *Rich in nutrients → Contains B-vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc. *Lower glycemic index → Causes slower rise in blood sugar, better for diabetics. *Heart health → Whole grains reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. ❌ Cons *Taste & texture → Some find it less soft and palatable than white bread. *Possible additives → Some "brown breads" are just colored with caramel, not truly whole grain (check labels). *More expensive → Usually costs more than white bread. *Phytates present → Can slightly reduce absorption of some minerals (iron, zinc). 🍞 White Bread (Refined Flour Bread) ✅ Pros *Soft & tasty → Preferred for sandwiches, kids, elderly with chewing issues. *Easily digestible → Suitable...

  Teen Health Alert: Screen Time & Its Hidden Effects:     👉 Why today’s teens are at risk — and what parents can do.   📱 The Reality Today’s teenagers spend 6–9 hours a day on screens or more — smartphones, laptops, tablets, gaming consoles. While technology connects them to education, entertainment, and friends, excessive use is quietly harming their physical and mental health.   Hidden Health Effects: 1. Eye Strain & Vision Problems i. Digital Eye Strain (blurred vision, dryness, headaches) after long screen sessions. ii. Rising myopia (short-sightedness) in teens linked to reduced outdoor time. Tip: Apply the 20-20-20 rule — every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. 2. Poor Posture & Neck/Back Pain i. Long hours hunched over screens cause "text neck" and early spinal strain. ii. Weak core muscles from inactivity add to musculoskeletal issues. Tip: Encourage upright posture and regular stretching. 3. Sleep Disturbanc...

  🦠 Hepatitis  Always remember: “Hepatitis Can’t Wait – Test. Treat. Prevent.” Let us raise awareness about hepatitis—a silent yet serious threat affecting over 350 million people globally. Many don’t even know they’re infected until liver damage is advanced. 🚨 What is Hepatitis? Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, commonly caused by viruses (Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E), but also due to alcohol, toxins, medications, and autoimmune diseases. Additionally, there are non-viral forms of hepatitis, including autoimmune, alcoholic, and drug-induced hepatitis. Each type of hepatitis varies in severity, mode of transmission, and impact. Mode of TransmissionVaccineCan It Become Chronic? A. Contaminated food/water✅ Yes B. Blood, sexual contact, mother to baby✅ Yes C. Blood (e.g., unsafe injections)✅ Yes D. Only in those with Hep B✅ Yes E. Contaminated water (esp. in pregnancy)✅ Limited 🧪 Why Early Detection Matters Most forms of hepatitis have no symptoms in early stages...

 To-day -  National Deworming Day , an initiative aiming to deworm all children between the ages of 1 and 19, including those enrolled in and out of school, through government and government-aided schools and Anganwadi centres - a key intervention to improve the overall health, nutritional status, educational’ The official theme for National Deworming Day 2025: “ Eliminate STH: Invest in a healthier future for children.” ·        Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) Deworming offers a range of health benefits for both children and adults, especially in areas where parasitic infections are common. Here's a breakdown of why it's important and how it helps: 🌿 What Is Deworming? Deworming is the process of eliminating intestinal parasites—like roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms—using medication. These parasites feed off nutrients in the human body, often without showing symptoms for years. ✅ Benefits of Deworming For Adults ...