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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
What is trigeminal neuralgia? Salman Khan's battle with 'suicide disease'
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan first began experiencing symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia—a rare and intensely painful nerve condition—while shooting for Partner in 2007. For years, he endured excruciating facial pain that affected his ability to speak, eat, or move comfortably. In 2011, he underwent surgery in the United States, finding some relief from what's often dubbed the 'suicide disease' due to the unbearable nature of the pain. His story has drawn attention to a condition that is frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed. What is trigeminal neuralgia? According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder involving the trigeminal nerve, which branches across the eye, cheek, and jaw. While humans have two trigeminal nerves—one on each side—pain usually affects only one side of the face. Even light touch, a smile, or a breeze can trigger sudden, stabbing pain that feels like an electric shock. The condition is also called tic douloureux, meaning 'painful tic.' Why is it called the 'suicide disease'? The pain from TN can be so severe and unpredictable that it leads to suicidal thoughts in some patients. Many live in fear of the next attack, and while not everyone experiences mental health effects, the condition can take a serious emotional toll. What causes trigeminal neuralgia? 'TN often occurs when a blood vessel presses against the trigeminal nerve near the brainstem, disrupting its function and causing pain,' said Dr Animesh Kar, Neurologist, Narayana Hospital, Kolkata. Other causes include: Multiple sclerosis (MS) Tumours Nerve damage from surgery or trauma Unknown causes (idiopathic TN) What are the symptoms? Sudden, sharp facial pain (usually one-sided) Pain triggered by actions like brushing teeth or chewing Episodes lasting a few seconds to several minutes Increasing frequency of pain over time Who is at risk? A 2022 study places the global incidence between 4 and 13 cases per 100,000 people. Women are more commonly affected, and most cases occur after age 50—though younger individuals can also develop the condition. Genetics, autoimmune disorders, and neurological diseases may raise risk. How is it diagnosed and treated? 'The biggest challenge is getting the right diagnosis,' said Dr Kar. TN is often mistaken for dental or ENT problems. Diagnosis is typically clinical, supported by MRI to rule out other causes, which may cost ₹5,000–₹15,000. Treatment options include: Medications: Anticonvulsants like carbamazepine Surgery: Microvascular decompression Minimally invasive: Gamma knife radiosurgery, radiofrequency ablation Carbamazepine may cost a few hundred rupees monthly, while surgery can cost ₹1.5–₹4 lakh depending on hospital and technology. Mental health support is also vital, given the toll of chronic pain. Salman Khan's story puts the spotlight on TN Despite living with the condition, Salman Khan continued to act and host TV shows. While promoting Sikandar in Dubai, he called it 'one disease that basically has the highest rates of suicides,' highlighting its severity. Trigeminal neuralgia may be invisible, but its pain is real. Salman's story is a reminder to take unexplained facial pain seriously—early diagnosis and proper care can be life-changing.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
If You're Struggling With Constipation, These 5 Foods And Drinks May Be To Blame
Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, affecting millions of Americans of all ages. Prevalent as it may be, it's an unpleasant issue that you'd probably prefer to avoid. And what you eat can either help or hinder things in the poop department. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you're typically considered constipated when you're passing 'small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week.' But when it comes to poop frequency, the normal range is pretty wide: anywhere from three times a day to three times a week. So consider what's a deviation from your usual pattern. Constipation is about more than just frequency of bowel movements, though. Other symptoms include pain or difficulty pooping, feeling like you haven't fully emptied your bowels, bloating, sluggishness and stomach discomfort. Most people deal with short-term constipation at one point or another. Chronic constipation, however, is an ongoing issue that can negatively affect your quality of life and lead to complications, like hemorrhoids or fecal impaction, if left untreated. When you're constipated, you might also experience bloating, sluggishness and stomach discomfort. You may become constipated due to dehydration, lack of exercise, changes to your routine (such as travel), stress, certain medications and health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. But below, we'll focus on some of the ways your diet could be contributing to your constipation woes. The main takeaway: Foods that are high in fat but low in fiber tend to be the worst offenders. No one specific food or drink is likely to cause constipation on its own for most individuals — however, your daily eating habits can worsen an existing issue, according to Medical News Today. We asked experts — including gastro doctors and dietitians — to explain which foods and drinks you might want to consider cutting back on when you're backed up and why. Refined grains 'Refined grains like white bread, white pasta and white rice are known to be binding and can contribute to constipation,' registered dietitian Stefani Sassos, nutrition and fitness director for the Good Housekeeping Institute, told HuffPost. 'This is due to the fact that they are lower in fiber than whole grains.' Baked goods such as pastries, cookies and cakes, as well as crackers and flour tortillas fall under this umbrella, as well. With refined grains, the fiber our bodies need to facilitate digestion is stripped away during the milling process. 'Fiber promotes regularity by helping food move through your digestive system,' gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao previously told HuffPost. 'This is because fiber absorbs water and bulks up stools, making them easier to pass.' Cheese and dairy products Related: Invent The Next Big Soda Flavor — Will It Be Delicious Or The Next Big Disaster? Cheese is low in fiber and high in fat, which can worsen constipation. Dairy products like cheese tend to be high in fat, yet low in fiber, which can make constipation worse, gastroenterologist Dr. Rabia A. De Latour told HuffPost. For those with a lactose intolerance, consuming dairy products typically leads to diarrhea and gas. But according to a 2022 literature review, about 30% of lactose-intolerant individuals experience constipation after eating dairy. Red meat Related: Warning: This Ice Cream Generator Is Highly Addictive — What Delicious Or Disastrous Flavor Will You Create? Red meat, such as beef and pork, these kinds It is also rich in protein, the most satiating macronutrient. This means you might feel full after eating that steak or burger, making you less likely to reach for high-fiber foods like fruits and veggies. Fried foods French fries, fried chicken, mozzarella sticks and other fried fare can make you more backed up. 'Fried, greasy foods are very high in fat and can be hard for the body to digest, contributing to constipation,' Sassos explained. 'Plus, they often are void of fiber.' For other folks, these kinds of foods may lead to more urgent and looser stools — it really depends on the individual and the other components of their diet. Alcohol Booze is another one that causes different GI symptoms for different people. For many individuals, a night of drinking leads to soft stool or diarrhea. In other cases, it can have a constipating effect. If you're backed up, Dr. Kenneth Josovitz — a Virginia gastroenterologist with Gastro Health — recommends avoiding alcohol, 'which can cause dehydration and worsen constipation.' So why does alcohol have this effect? Alcohol suppresses the release of vasopressin, a hormone which helps your body hold onto fluids by telling the kidneys to reabsorb water, rather than excrete it. 'That [suppression] is why people will pee more when they drink,' gastroenterologist Dr. Sunana Sohi previously told HuffPost. 'The alcohol is making them pee out all the water in their body, and so they get dehydrated and then constipated because of it.' How To Alleviate Constipation In addition to cutting back on the aforementioned foods and drinks, try to incorporate more high-fiber foods into your diet to help you stay regular. Women should aim to consume at least 25 grams of fiber a day, De LaTour said. For men, that number is about 38 grams per day. Sassos recommends foods like raspberries, apples and pears with the skin on, lentils, beans, broccoli, leafy greens and nuts. Prunes, known for their laxative properties, can also be a good at-home remedy to try, she said. 'If you're not used to eating prunes and fiber-rich foods, start with one to two prunes per day,' Sassos said. 'You can work your way up to five or six as tolerated. Prune juice can be effective too, especially warm prune juice since warm liquids in general can speed up digestive motility.' When increasing your fiber intake, go about it slowly and be sure to drink enough water, she advised. 'We need adequate hydration to help fiber digest properly in the body,' Sassos said. 'If you don't drink enough water, high-fiber foods may actually constipate you even more.' Incorporating more high-fiber foods like leafy greens can help relieve constipation. To ease constipation, you can also try drinking a cup of tea as 'the hot temperature speeds up the motility and the caffeine stimulates the bowels,' Josovitz suggested. Reducing stress and exercising can help get things moving as well, he added. Sassos also emphasized the importance of physical activity in keeping you regular. 'Even a short 10-to 15-minute walk after a meal can help,' she said. The occasional bout of constipation typically resolves on its own with minor lifestyle adjustments. But in other cases, constipation may warrant a visit to your doctor — especially if it's coupled with significant abdominal pain. 'You should seek medical attention if the constipation is new, severe, lasts more than a few weeks, or comes with bleeding, weight loss or weakness,' Josovitz advised. This post originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Food: "Over Time, It Starves The Brain": Neurologists Shared The Foods They Would Never, Ever Eat And Why Also in Food: People Are Sharing Their Go-To Food Hacks They're Shocked More Home Cooks Don't Already Know Also in Food: People Are Revealing The Homemade Food Items That Cost Less And Taste Better Than Store-Bought, And I'm Taking Copious Notes
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
25 kg weight loss in 1.5 years without counting calories: Woman shares the diet and workout that changed her life
Years ago, a young woman struggled with relentless ridicule from her peers and even close ones due to her weight. Schoolmates and loved ones constantly mocked her appearance, leaving deep emotional scars. Feeling exhausted and demoralized by the constant criticism, she made a decision to reclaim her health and confidence. Determined to silence the voices that belittled her, she began a personal journey of transformation that took her from 90 kilograms to a healthy and fit 65 kilograms. She shared her transformation story on the Fitness India subreddit, where she posted striking before-and-after photos along with a detailed account of the lifestyle changes that fueled her weight loss. Discovering the Power of Intermittent Fasting Her turning point came in early 2020, when she started learning about different dietary strategies. Intrigued by intermittent fasting , she decided to test it for herself. By May that year, she had already dropped 10 kilograms. Sticking with it, she reached her goal weight of 65 kilograms by August 2021. While she became noticeably leaner, she also noticed that she had lost a significant amount of muscle mass, which left her feeling physically weak despite the smaller frame. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Lima (ver precio) Verisure Más información Undo "Started researching, found out about intermittent fasting and gave it a go around Feb 2020. By May, I was down 10kg. By Aug 2021, I dropped from 90kg to 65kg. But tbh, I lost a lot of muscle too. I got lean, but also kinda weak...." she wrote. From Fat Loss to Fitness: Embracing Strength Training Recognizing the need to build strength, she began taking her fitness regimen more seriously. Strength training became her new focus. She embraced weightlifting and appreciated the structure and discipline it brought into her life. With a cleaner, more protein-rich diet and a consistent gym schedule, her body grew stronger. Over time, the gym evolved into more than just a workout space—it became a source of emotional healing and mental clarity. She followed a simple push-pull-legs routine across the week, typically taking Sundays off unless she felt energized enough to work out. She added 20 minutes of daily cardio and stuck with straightforward eating habits. Her meals consisted primarily of homemade food, prioritizing protein through easily accessible sources like chicken, eggs, paneer, and soya chunks. Though she didn't count calories strictly, she aimed to stay around 2000 per day and limited excessive fats. Drinking 3–4 liters of water each day kept her hydrated. She hadn't started using protein supplements or creatine but was open to trying them eventually. Understanding Intermittent Fasting: A Lifestyle Shift According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, intermittent fasting involves alternating between periods of eating and fasting. Unlike many diets that focus on what foods to consume, this approach centers on when to eat. Research suggests that such time-restricted eating not only helps with weight loss but may also play a role in preventing or reversing certain health conditions. One common method is the 16/8 routine, where eating is limited to an 8-hour window, followed by a 16-hour fast. Another approach, known as 5:2 fasting, allows normal eating for five days a week, while two non-consecutive days involve consuming only one meal of about 500–600 calories. However, longer fasting periods of 24 to 72 hours are not generally recommended and could cause the body to go into starvation mode, potentially leading to fat retention rather than loss. A Testament to Resilience and Self-Love Her journey from being mocked to becoming a stronger, healthier version of herself stands as a powerful reminder of what determination, discipline, and self-love can achieve. Through patience, research, and consistency, she turned years of pain into a success story that now inspires thousands across the internet.
Buzz Feed
7 days ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Foods And Drinks That Cause Constipation
Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, affecting millions of Americans of all ages. Prevalent as it may be, it's an unpleasant issue that you'd probably prefer to avoid. And what you eat can either help or hinder things in the poop department. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you're typically considered constipated when you're passing 'small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week.' But when it comes to poop frequency, the normal range is pretty wide: anywhere from three times a day to three times a week. So consider what's a deviation from your usual pattern. Constipation is about more than just frequency of bowel movements, though. Other symptoms include pain or difficulty pooping, feeling like you haven't fully emptied your bowels, bloating, sluggishness and stomach discomfort. Most people deal with short-term constipation at one point or another. Chronic constipation, however, is an ongoing issue that can negatively affect your quality of life and lead to complications, like hemorrhoids or fecal impaction, if left untreated. You may become constipated due to dehydration, lack of exercise, changes to your routine (such as travel), stress, certain medications and health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. But below, we'll focus on some of the ways your diet could be contributing to your constipation woes. The main takeaway: Foods that are high in fat but low in fiber tend to be the worst offenders. No one specific food or drink is likely to cause constipation on its own for most individuals — however, your daily eating habits can worsen an existing issue, according to Medical News Today. We asked experts — including gastro doctors and dietitians — to explain which foods and drinks you might want to consider cutting back on when you're backed up and why. 'Refined grains like white bread, white pasta and white rice are known to be binding and can contribute to constipation,' registered dietitian Stefani Sassos, nutrition and fitness director for the Good Housekeeping Institute, told HuffPost. 'This is due to the fact that they are lower in fiber than whole grains.' Baked goods such as pastries, cookies and cakes, as well as crackers and flour tortillas fall under this umbrella, as well. With refined grains, the fiber our bodies need to facilitate digestion is stripped away during the milling process. 'Fiber promotes regularity by helping food move through your digestive system,' gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao previously told HuffPost. 'This is because fiber absorbs water and bulks up stools, making them easier to pass.' Dairy products like cheese tend to be high in fat, yet low in fiber, which can make constipation worse, gastroenterologist Dr. Rabia A. De Latour told HuffPost. For those with a lactose intolerance, consuming dairy products typically leads to diarrhea and gas. But according to a 2022 literature review, about 30% of lactose-intolerant individuals experience constipation after eating dairy. Red meat, such as beef and pork, these kinds It is also rich in protein, the most satiating macronutrient. This means you might feel full after eating that steak or burger, making you less likely to reach for high-fiber foods like fruits and veggies. Fried foods French fries, fried chicken, mozzarella sticks and other fried fare can make you more backed up. 'Fried, greasy foods are very high in fat and can be hard for the body to digest, contributing to constipation,' Sassos explained. 'Plus, they often are void of fiber.' For other folks, these kinds of foods may lead to more urgent and looser stools — it really depends on the individual and the other components of their diet. Booze is another one that causes different GI symptoms for different people. For many individuals, a night of drinking leads to soft stool or diarrhea. In other cases, it can have a constipating effect. If you're backed up, Dr. Kenneth Josovitz — a Virginia gastroenterologist with Gastro Health — recommends avoiding alcohol, 'which can cause dehydration and worsen constipation.' So why does alcohol have this effect? Alcohol suppresses the release of vasopressin, a hormone which helps your body hold onto fluids by telling the kidneys to reabsorb water, rather than excrete it. 'That [suppression] is why people will pee more when they drink,' gastroenterologist Dr. Sunana Sohi previously told HuffPost. 'The alcohol is making them pee out all the water in their body, and so they get dehydrated and then constipated because of it.' In addition to cutting back on the aforementioned foods and drinks, try to incorporate more high-fiber foods into your diet to help you stay regular. Women should aim to consume at least 25 grams of fiber a day, De LaTour said. For men, that number is about 38 grams per day. Sassos recommends foods like raspberries, apples and pears with the skin on, lentils, beans, broccoli, leafy greens and nuts. Prunes, known for their laxative properties, can also be a good at-home remedy to try, she said. 'If you're not used to eating prunes and fiber-rich foods, start with one to two prunes per day,' Sassos said. 'You can work your way up to five or six as tolerated. Prune juice can be effective too, especially warm prune juice since warm liquids in general can speed up digestive motility.' When increasing your fiber intake, go about it slowly and be sure to drink enough water, she advised. 'We need adequate hydration to help fiber digest properly in the body,' Sassos said. 'If you don't drink enough water, high-fiber foods may actually constipate you even more.' To ease constipation, you can also try drinking a cup of tea as 'the hot temperature speeds up the motility and the caffeine stimulates the bowels,' Josovitz suggested. Reducing stress and exercising can help get things moving as well, he added. Sassos also emphasized the importance of physical activity in keeping you regular. 'Even a short 10-to 15-minute walk after a meal can help,' she said. The occasional bout of constipation typically resolves on its own with minor lifestyle adjustments. But in other cases, constipation may warrant a visit to your doctor — especially if it's coupled with significant abdominal pain. 'You should seek medical attention if the constipation is new, severe, lasts more than a few weeks, or comes with bleeding, weight loss or weakness,' Josovitz advised.
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Five foods that might be quietly spiking your blood pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Doctors advise limiting foods high in saturated fats and sodium to prevent high blood pressure, as dietary choices can significantly impact health. A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine identified the DASH diet, a low-sodium and low-saturated fat plan, as effective in reducing blood pressure for people with Type 2 diabetes. Several common foods, often consumed without awareness, can contribute to high blood pressure due to hidden sodium or high saturated fat content. Examples of these "sneaky" foods include pickles, coconut oil, cottage cheese, bread, and commercially prepared chicken, which can contain surprisingly high levels of sodium or saturated fats.
