Lifestyle

By IANSlife
New Delhi, May 12 (IANSlife) This Mother's Day, are you considering surprising your mother with something special? Give her something she can enjoy with you so you may make some special moments together. With a well-thought-out getaway that you can both enjoy and tick off her bucket list, surprise your super-mom. Whether your mother loves an adrenaline thrill or some downtime at the spa, a walk in the mountains or an authentic culinary experience, Booking.com has put together a list of events that are sure to make her feel particularly special.


For the foodie mom

If your mother is seeking for a culinary experience, Hyderabad is a fantastic destination thanks to the world-famous Charminar and mouthwatering cuisine. She might celebrate Mother's Day by enjoying a gourmet tour of the city, which is home to many street food booths, recognisable bakeries, and well-known restaurants serving Nizam's rich gravies and luscious sweets. Hyderabadi biryani is a delicacy that must be indulged in while visiting the city. Booking the Biryani tour, which examines the interesting history of biryani in Hyderabad, or the Evening Street Food Walk, which also allows you the chance to eat this Hyderabadi staple and indulge your inner foodie, are two ways to experience this.

For the mom who is spiritual

If your mother has a spiritual bent, she would adore Varanasi's Ganga Aarti's sights and sounds. A sight to behold is the evening aarti conducted at the banks of the Ganga, which features lights, cymbals, incense, and people chanting and singing hymns. While in Varanasi, you can either book the Guided Holy City Tour with a Boat Ride to experience the culture of Varanasi, indulge in some local cuisine, and participate in a variety of local activities, or you can visit the ancient temples of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Monkey Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, and Birla Temple and soak up the spiritual vibe of the city. The ideal Mother's Day idea to honour her faith and compassion.

For the mom who loves to shop

Shopping is a great idea for a Mother's Day celebration. And no better place to take her than Jaipur. Plan a day of shopping so you and your mom can spend some memorable time together exploring the vibrant local markets and fascinating local brands. Sign up for the Jaipur Markets Shopping Tour where you can explore some traditional bazaars and shop for jewellery, clothes, footwear, local handicrafts, pottery and souvenirs to take back home. You can also visit the Sanganer factory to see how the handmade paper goods are manufactured or Tripolia Bazaar for some local spices. Wrap your Mother's Day special shopping trip by heading over to a local restaurant and indulging in some local Rajasthani cuisine as you soak in the experience of the Pink City.

For the mother who loves nature/adventure

Munnar, where the hills are bordered by tea plantations and where adventurers throng, is the ideal place for your mother to visit if she likes the outdoors. Paragliding is available in the city, as are walks that start at the meeting of three mountain streams and ascents to Anaimudi, the tallest hill in South India. On Mother's Day, you and your mother can escape your normal routine and experience an adrenaline rush by going on a trek and engaging in activities like the Letchmi Hills Hike, all the while learning about the meadows, tea plantations and mountain slopes. You might also simply unwind in Munnar's serene surroundings at the end of the day.

For the mother who loves to rejuvenate

Everyone occasionally needs to focus on taking care of themselves by partaking in rejuvenating activities while taking a much-needed vacation from their everyday routine. Exercise, meditation, reading, writing, viewing your vision board, speaking affirmations, and writing them down are just a few of the straightforward but effective rituals that can make one feel good throughout the day. Why not give your mother the much-needed break she deserves this Mother's Day by taking her on a yoga and meditation experience? Yoga and meditation not only refresh the body and mind while reducing stress, but they also help boost the mood. Give your mum a day off from work; she deserves it.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, May 12 (IANSlife) A workshop is designed to provide children with a platform to learn, grow and showcase their skills in various fields such as acting, dancing, personality development, and other activities. Big Boy Toyz's "Rise to Fame" workshop will be a ten-day workshop event taking place from May 22 to 31 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. at Big Boy Toyz, Gurgaon creating a unique opportunity for children aged between 5-18 years old to showcase their talents and feature on the brand's social media channels.


A variety of subjects will be covered in the session, such as how to increase confidence, how to walk on a ramp, how to pose and dress attractively, and how to perform in front of cameras and live audiences. Lessons on the significance and influence of Indian culture, self-introduction, and how to present a profile during auditions will also be covered. The session will end with performances in the theatre, dancing, photoshoots, reels, and other things.

Ritika Jatin Ahuja, Chief Operating Officer and Marketing Head of Big Boy Toyz, stated, "We are excited to offer this unique opportunity to young talent across India. At Big Boy Toyz, we believe that every child has a unique talent waiting to be discovered, and we want to provide them with a platform to showcase their skills. Through this workshop, we aim to help children build confidence, learn new skills, and tap into their creative potential."

The Founder of LittleTagsLuxury, Chandni Agarwal, expressed her delight by saying, "Success is not just about talent, it's also about opportunity. That's why we at LittleTagsLuxury are thrilled to collaborate with Big Boy Toyz for the Rise to Fame workshop, which aims to provide young artists with the tools and resources they need to succeed in today's competitive world. We believe that every child deserves the chance to shine, and we are excited to help them do just that."

The workshop will be conducted by certified professionals and will offer a chance for kids to meet and greet with popular YouTubers such as My Miss Anand, RS 1313 VLOGS, and Rachit Rojha. Participants will also have a chance to walk on a ramp, win the BBT 2023 crown, and receive certification and winning gifts. For further details and registration, interested participants can visit the Big Boy Toyz website or social media channels.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
IANSlife/tb

By IANSlife
New Delhi, May 12 (IANSlife) Designer Amit Aggarwal opened his third store, this one at Delhi's DLF Emporio, setting a new record. For the opening, attendees were treated to Aggarwal's unique world, where fashion and art converged to create a mesmerising experience, and set out on an enchanted voyage.


His collections have always been built around innovation, and the shop is no different. A clean and contemporary ambiance is created by the store's elegant minimalist design, which combines charcoal and metal materials. The goal was to infuse the store's merchandise with a feeling of adaptability and timelessness as well as an understanding of the ways in which fashion and art may interact with one another and affect one another.

Each pod constructed with distinctive handcrafted textiles is reminiscent of a nucleus that contains the blueprint for how we live, grow, reproduce, and regenerate. This is in keeping with the brand's language and values about perpetual evolution, narrating the tale of peace attained in a place of newfound optimism, creation, and the feeling of the absolute and infinite.

The evening witnessed conversations, an array of eclectic cocktails courtesy GreyGoose and a delectable culinary experience. The event kicked off with a magical tour of the store brought to life with whimsical floral arrangements by Interflora. Some of the prominent names that were present at the event included the ever so iconic and timeless Zeenat Aman wearing one of the most captivating designs of Amit Aggarwal. Guests from the evening included people from varied fields of fashion, design, art, bollywood and business included Uorfi, Kusha Kapila, and cast from the popular netflix show Class - Ayesha Kanga, Chayan Chopra, Moses Koul, Anjali Sivaraman and Naina Bhan.

Also present at the event were members from Indian Art Fair and Serendipity Arts festival.

Speaking on the occasion Amit Aggarwal adds "The idea was to have a space which speaks of brand narratives that transcends the boundaries of clothing and art and we needed an extension of the same to speak about the deeper, more thoughtful aspects of the brand that gets lost in retail."

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
IANSlife/tb

By Anurag Saxena
New Delhi, May 9 (IANSlife) An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! This came into realisation during the chaotic times of the pandemic when washing hands thoroughly was the most basic precaution asked by the government and healthcare authorities. However, hygiene has always lagged behind in most countries of the world resulting in the WHO recognising WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) as a human right for all and including it in the Sustainable Development Goals tailored for the world.


In India, the state of WASH is gradually improving but still has a huge scope for improvement and increased awareness drive. During the period of 2010-2013, India recorded 7.5 per cent of deaths among all age groups because of diarrhoea, malaria and some tropical diseases while more than 1.32 crore cases of acute diarrhoeal disease were listed in the country in 2019. The data is enough to highlight how important it is to integrate hygiene practices like washing hands in our lives as effective preventive measures.

Hands are used in almost every activity we perform throughout the day. Washing them rigorously is the cornerstone of maintaining good hygiene. And hygiene has never harmed anyone! Knowingly or unknowingly we get in contact with a lot of germs and these are carriers of many infections along with troublesome conditions like diarrhoea. To protect against a wide range of diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea and more, washing hands is the most pocket-friendly method. We prepare, eat food, touch a public place, and touch and handle things that many people previously handled, treat wounds, care for a sick person and do much more with our hands. Thanks to the pandemic, the significance of washing hands was spread broadly, but did we take it seriously? According to UNICEF, people, especially men, do not use hygiene facilities consistently. There is a dire need for impactful political support and behavioural change interventions to spread awareness for sizable improvements in this direction.

Diarrhoea and washing hands

Germs like Salmonella, norovirus, and E. coli O157 are responsible for diarrhoea. These are also important sources of faeces from people or animals. They have the capacity to spread respiratory infections like hand-foot-mouth disease and adenovirus. The germs can easily get on the hands of people and spread when using the toilet or doing any other activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, handwashing education in the communities can help reduce diarrhoeal issues among people with weak immune systems by approximately 58 per cent. Around 1.8 million children under the age of five lose their lives every year due to diarrheal diseases and pneumonia. These are the top reasons why kids end up in fatal situations around the world

What do facts say?

Research says that around 2.3 people lack hand washing facilities with soap and water at home. Such a lack of facilities is highly problematic for children. Half of the schools have a paucity of handwashing facilities with soap and water. This affects approximately 802 million school-going children. Also, there is a lack of hygiene facilities, especially soap and water to wash hands at places providing health care facilities. These places have a high chance of catching viral bacteria and other contaminations. If there is no proper hygiene maintained here, serious consequences and even fatal outcomes can happen.

Maintaining hand hygiene

One should take responsibility for understanding the key timings and duration of washing hands. Awareness regarding hand hygiene in the home and community needs to be implemented to spread the message as much as possible. Health promotional materials along with the resources to wash hands should be distributed in remote areas and educational institutions. Soap, sanitisers and other materials come under the resources. October 15 is Global Handwashing Day. There can be numerous activities and creative competitions like poster making etc in schools to highlight the importance of hand hygiene. As a responsible citizen, one can promote awareness via videos, creative campaigns, social media hashtags, podcasts and more to get the noble cause a direction.

Monitoring change by making services available and driving policies

The government and healthcare authorities can come together to develop handwashing policies, strategies and action plans. India is almost the leading country in terms of population at the moment. Hence, it is impossible to reach every nook and corner of the country to spread awareness. Thanks to digitalisation! Digitisation can reach everywhere throughout the world. Effective messages on government, as well as healthcare online platforms, can make a big difference. Making services accessible to the most vulnerable is the foundation of achieving this goal.

Failing to plan is planning to fail. A country with massive diversity needs strict measures to come out of the traditional beliefs, social stigma and financial issues in order to take action for healthy citizens. Children suffer more than anyone due to the lack of hygiene. Their bodies are not ready to deal with harsh conditions and vulnerability at a very young age makes it much more complicated for them to battle. Keeping them clean and encouraging hygiene habits in them is the first step to saving them from a wide range of diseases.

(Dr. Anurag Saxena, HOD-Internal medicine, Primus Super Speciality Hospital)

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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New York, May 7 (IANS) Quitting smoking early was associated with higher survival rates following a lung cancer diagnosis, according to a study.

The study, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, showed that compared to those who never smoked and were being treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), current smokers had 68 per cent higher mortality and former smokers had 26 per cent higher mortality.

"Our participants' smoking histories varied, with some having stopped smoking a few years before their diagnosis and others having stopped several decades before," said senior author David Christiani, Professor of Environmental Genetics.

"This wide range gave us confidence in our results -- that the benefit of pre-diagnosis smoking cessation persists even after lung cancer is diagnosed."

The study, published online in JAMA Network Open, followed 5,594 patients with NSCLC -- which accounts for 85 per cent of all lung cancer cases -- enrolled between 1992 and 2022. Of these participants, 795 had never smoked; 3,308 were former smokers; and 1,491 were current smokers.

During the study period, 3,842 of the participants died: 79.3 per cent of the current smokers, 66.8 per cent of the former smokers, and 59.6 per cent of the never smokers.

While never smoking was associated with the best odds of survival after a lung cancer diagnosis, the findings showed significant associations between lower mortality and having quit smoking pre-diagnosis.

The longer a patient went without smoking, the more health benefits they accrued: For former smokers, doubling the years of smoking cessation before their lung cancer diagnosis was significantly associated with prolonged survival.

Conversely, doubling smoking-pack years was associated with shorter survival among current and former smokers diagnosed with NSCLC.

The researchers noted that associations between survival and smoking history may vary depending on the clinical stage at which lung cancer was diagnosed, and that the study did not account for the different kinds of treatment participants were receiving.

--IANS
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New Delhi, May 7 (IANS) Genetics, coupled with increased consumption of tobacco products, may explain the reason why men are more prone to bladder cancer, experts said here on Sunday.

Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most prevalent cancer among men, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). About 550,000 new cases are detected every year worldwide.

The disease develops when bladder tissue cells begin to separate uncontrollably, and the incidence of bladder cancer is higher in males compared to females.

India has about 21,000 new cases of bladder cancer, and the incidence has been increasing over the last few years.

A recent report from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) showed that Delhi has the highest cases of bladder cancer, followed by Thiruvananthapuram and Kolkata. Delhi also has the highest incidence of bladder cancer in females followed by Mumbai and Mizoram.

"Bladder cancer ranks among the top 10 types of cancer affecting thousands of people in India annually. While it can occur in both men and women, men are more commonly affected, likely due to genetics and lifestyle," Dr Bhaskar Singh, from HCG NCHRI Cancer Centre - Nagpur, told IANS.

"Consumption of tobacco is a common reason for the increasing incidence of bladder cancer in India. The other reason is exposure to aromatic amines and carbon black dust in rubber, leather, and dye industries. The smokers have three-four times higher risk of bladder cancer as compared to non-smokers," added Dr (Brig) A.K. Dhar, Senior Consultant Medical and Hemato Oncology, American Oncology Institute, Gurugram.

Dhar stated that the incidence of bladder cancer is four times higher in males as compared to females.

Another reason behind increased risk among men include the role of sex hormones.

"It is believed that androgen promotes, and oestrogen inhibits bladder carcinogenesis in the progression phase," Dhar told IANS.

In addition, men who undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer also have an increased risk of bladder cancer, the expert noted.

However, changing some lifestyle habits can lower the risk of bladder cancer.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do, as smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for bladder cancer.

"Tobacco is responsible for 40-50 per cent of bladder cancer. Quitting all kinds of tobacco will help in reduction of bladder cancer," Dhar said.

Staying hydrated and avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals, such as those in certain industrial or agricultural settings, can also help reduce risk.

Regular screenings can also greatly increase the chances of successful treatment, as bladder cancer is often easier to treat in its early stages.

"If you experience symptoms such as blood in your urine, pain during urination, or frequent urination, it's important to see a doctor immediately. Several conditions can cause these symptoms, but it's important to rule out bladder cancer as a potential cause," Singh said.

--IANS
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New York, May 7 (IANS) Heart inflammation post Covid vaccination was not caused by antibodies created by the jab, rather it was the result of a more generalised response involving immune cells and inflammation, finds a study.

Myocarditis is a generally mild inflammation of heart tissue which can cause scarring but is usually resolved within days.

The increased incidence of myocarditis was seen primarily in males, who had been vaccinated with mRNA vaccines -- designed to elicit immune responses specifically to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among males aged 12 to 17, about 22 to 36 per 100,000 experienced myocarditis within 21 days after receiving a second vaccine dose.

For the study, scientists at Yale University conducted a detailed analysis of immune system responses in those rare cases of myocarditis among vaccinated individuals.

They identified the immune signature of these heart inflammation cases.

"The immune systems of these individuals get a little too revved up and over-produce cytokine and cellular responses," said Carrie Lucas, associate professor of immunobiology, at Yale.

The findings, published in the journal Science Immunology, rule out some of the theorised causes of the heart inflammation and suggest potential ways to further reduce the incidence of a still rare side effect of vaccination, the authors say.

Earlier research had suggested that increasing the time between vaccination shots from four to eight weeks may reduce risk of developing myocarditis.

Lucas noted that, according to CDC findings, the risk of myocarditis is significantly greater in unvaccinated individuals who contract the Covid-19 virus than in those who receive vaccines. She emphasised that vaccination offers the best protection from Covid-19-related disease.

"I hope this new knowledge will enable further optimising mRNA vaccines, which, in addition to offering clear health benefits during the pandemic, have a tremendous potential to save lives across numerous future applications," said Anis Barmada, doctoral student at Yale School of Medicine.

--IANS
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London, May 7 (IANS) Women, who have suffered domestic abuse, may have a higher risk of developing atopic diseases, including asthma, according to a research led by one of Indian origin.

Published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, the research found that in analysis of patient records, there were a significantly larger percentage of women who had atopic diseases and had a history of being exposed to domestic abuse and violence compared to those who hadn't.

"Our results show women with a recorded exposure to domestic violence and abuse had a 52 per cent increased risk of developing atopic diseases," said Dr Joht Singh Chandan from the University of Birmingham, UK.

"Domestic violence and abuse is a global issue that disproportionately affects women. We set out to deepen our understanding of the health impacts of domestic violence so evidence-based public health policies can be further developed to address not only domestic violence, but secondary effects like the development of atopic diseases," he added.

The team of researchers performed a retrospective study in the UK, looking at adult women (those aged 18 and older) with a physician recorded exposure to domestic violence and comparing them to women over 18 without a recorded exposure.

Patients with pre-existing reports of atopic disease were excluded from the study.

A total of 13,852 women were identified as being exposed to domestic violence and were matched to 49,036 similar women without a reported exposure.

In total, 967/13,852 women in the exposed group were diagnosed with atopic disease compared to 2,607/49,036 in the unexposed group.

The researchers also acknowledged limitations to the study such as women in the exposed group were more likely to be a current smoker than women in the unexposed group.

--IANS
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By IANSlife
New Delhi, May 7 (IANSlife) Bhavin Bheda, the business manager for Cadiveu Professional, understands that having frizzy hair may be a tremendous pain, especially in the morning. But don't panic, there are plenty of simple hairstyles you can try to manage your frizz and look great even on the busiest of mornings.


The Messy Bun: This classic hairstyle is perfect for frizzy hair as it allows you to embrace your natural texture. Simply gather your hair into a loose bun and secure it with a hair tie.

The Low Ponytail: A low ponytail is another simple hairstyle that's perfect for busy mornings. To make it more interesting, you can add a braid or twist to the front section of your hair.

The Top Knot: If you're short on time, a top knot is a great option. Gather your hair into a high ponytail, twist it around and secure it with bobby pins.

The Half-Up, Half-Down: This hairstyle is perfect if you want to show off your curls while still keeping them under control. Simply gather the top half of your hair and secure it with a hair tie or clip.

The French Braid: A French braid is a chic and elegant hairstyle that's perfect for frizzy hair. It keeps your hair off your face and is ideal for both casual and formal occasions.

The Side Braid: A side braid is a great option if you have long hair. Simply gather your hair to one side and braid it, securing it with a hair tie.

The Fishtail Braid: This trendy braid is a great option for frizzy hair as it looks great with a bit of texture. It may take a little practice to get right, but once you've mastered it, you'll love the results.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

--IANS
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Noida, May 7 (IANS) Even as the police continue to take action against them, youngsters, who perform dangerous stunts in vehicles to make the reel viral on social media, refuse to budge risking not only their lives but of others as well.

In the last two months, such cases have increased three times. FIRs are being registered against the owners and vehicles are being seized, yet such videos are flooding social media platforms. In the last four months this year, 75 cases of making stunt videos have come to the fore.

Most of the cases have been reported in the last two months as about 44 such cases have come to light. Along with imposing heavy fines on owners, their vehicles have been seized and FIRs have been filed. The lowest 7 cases came in January. The number increased to 14 in February and then gradually these cases kept increasing every month.

In the past, videos of two Scorpio drivers went viral in Noida, in which stunts are being performed. The first video is being said to be of the expressway, while the second video is being investigated by the police.

The first video is of 14 seconds, in which a young man is performing a dangerous stunt by opening the front gate of the black coloured Scorpio. He is driving in a zigzag manner at high speed. The traffic police has issued a challan of Rs 37,000 on the basis of the number of the Scorpio.

The second video is of nine seconds. In this video, a young man sitting on the driver's seat of a gray coloured Scorpio is displaying a pistol by putting his hand out of the window. Another young man is seen hanging on the back gate and firing with a pistol. This video is also said to be of Noida.

DCP Traffic Anil Kumar Yadav says that whenever such cases come before the police, they take strict action and impose the maximum challan. He said that even before this videos have been going viral in Noida.

But for the past several days, the trend of youths making reels with pistols has increased, be it a real pistol or fake. He says that as soon as the video goes viral on social media, the police automatically take cognizance of it and this action will continue.

He stated that youths do perform stunts like this to become famous and to assert their supremacy. But this puts their lives as well as the lives of others at risk.

He said that till now challans ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 37,000 have been issued. But still such cases are coming up continuously. The police are trying to take stricter action against such people so that the youths stop doing such dangerous stunts.

In the initial period, it was seen that the youths used to make reels by doing stunts or from places which made their real look different, and they can get more and more likes and views. But now, it is being seen that along with stunts, the trend of making reels while waving arms with pistol in hand is also increasing.

The trend of driving vehicles while waving arms is a hit among the youth these days. Hundreds of such videos are going viral on social media, in which youths are seen making reels while waving their arms in vehicles. Such cases are continuously increasing in the district as well.

According to the traffic police, in the last two months, more than a dozen such incidents have come to light, in which a case has been registered in the concerned police station and the process of strict action is going on.

Many incidents have come to light in the last 15 days in Noida. According to a video that went viral on April 15, stunts were being performed sitting on the bonnet of a car. In this case, the police have issued a challan of Rs 25,000. The second video surfaced on April 19, in which a young man was seen performing stunts on a bike in front of a police post, in which the police issued a challan of Rs 18,500.

A challan of Rs 2000 was issued on April 21 when the video of a bike riding girl's stunt went viral. A challan of Rs 25,500 was issued on April 28 when the video of waving arms in a car went viral. On May 1, the video of a car driver waving arms went viral, in which a challan of Rs 37000 was issued.

--IANS
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