Gynecologic cancers are cancers that start in a woman’s reproductive organs. They include cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Each has different symptoms. However, sometimes
symptoms can be hard to recognize. That is why it is important to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you.

If you have any of the symptoms listed below for two weeks or longer, or if you have bleeding that is not normal for you because of when it happens or how heavy it is, see a doctor.

It may be nothing to worry about, but find out for sure.

Avoid drinking much with meals. The liquid dilutes your body’s natural digestive enzymes that are needed in full force to cope with all the heavy food most of us ingest. Limit your liquid intake with meals to less than a cup. If you’re drinking with meals, choose fermented beverages like kefir or yogurt-based drinks.

Snack more and eat smaller meals throughout the day rather than eating huge meals. Your body is better able to digest food in smaller amounts.

Take your time. Chew your food well and really savor the taste by slowing down. Chewing mixes food with digestive enzymes that get started immediately to improve digestion. The stomach and intestines cannot do the job of the teeth, so make sure you chew well.

Eat earlier in the day and not too much just before bed. Your body needs adequate time for digestion. Lying down too soon afterward is a recipe for heartburn, indigestion, and poor nutrient absorption.

Try not to eat when you’re feeling stressed out. If you’re frequently stressed, try to create a more relaxing time to eat. Stress hormones send energy needed for digestion to other parts of your body and can result in indigestion.

Eat more fermented foods. Unpasteurized sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir, kimchi, or kombucha (a fermented tea beverage) are just a few examples of these delicious, health-promoting foods. The naturally present bacteria aid digestion and replenish the body’s natural bacteria in the gut.

Supplement with a probiotic supplement on an empty stomach upon rising in the morning. Choose a formula that contains a range of proven intestinal flora such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidus. By regulating intestinal flora, you will also regulate bowel movements and improve digestion.

Supplement with a full-spectrum digestive enzyme product. It should contain a wide range of enzymes, as each one serves a unique purpose. Lipase aids fat digestion, protease aids protein digestion, amylase assists with carbohydrate digestion, lactase assists with digestion of dairy sugars, cellulase and hemicellulase assist with breaking down plant fiber.

Take apple cider vinegar for better digestion. If you struggle with digestion, start with a tablespoon of unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar diluted in a half cup of water about ten minutes prior to eating your meals. The naturally fermented apple cider vinegar stimulates the body’s natural production of hydrochloric acid to aid protein digestion. Avoid apple cider vinegar if you have been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.

Enjoy a peppermint or ginger herbal tea. Both have been shown in studies to improve digestion. Have them a few times during the day, though they are best drunk between meals rather than with meals, so wait at least an hour after eating to enjoy these delicious beverages.

Instead of sugar, choose stevia, a sweetener that is naturally three hundred to one thousand times sweeter than sugar without having any impact on blood sugar or insulin levels.

Eat a largely plant-based diet and reduce your meat consumption. Meat and dairy products negatively affect the gut microbes within twenty-four hours of eating these foods. Eat more plant-based foods and protein sources.

Photo by Niclas Illg on Unsplash

Many people claim they don’t have time to be healthy, and with fad diets and conflicting information it can seem daunting and time-consuming to eat. It may seem a whole lot easier to take advantage of time-saving meal options, but this usually means highly processed choices.

The challenges of pregnancy: nausea, fatigue and food aversions, can make planning a wholesome meal totally undesirable. But you need to make sure that every meal you eat during your pregnancy will be the best choice for you and your baby.

A healthy diet has many rewards. You will feel great and add longevity to your life, all the while knowing you are doing the best for your baby. Fresh food also tastes so much better than processed foods and if you follow a highly nutritious diet you can happily enjoy the occasional (and naughty) treat. We are, after all, only human.

A healthy diet can:
• reduce a mother’s risk of developing anaemia, pre-eclampsia, hypertension and long-term diseases, including diabetes and osteoporosis
• contribute to a more comfortable pregnancy by avoiding or minimising symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, constipation, leg cramps, reflux and heartburn
• help prepare for labour and delivery – energy stores help you endure labour, while a healthy uterus can ‘push’ more effectively and well-nourished women are less likely to deliver early
• stabilise your emotional state – a balanced diet helps moderate mood swings and anxiety
• lend towards a quicker recovery – a healthy body seems to bounce back faster, with an easier return to pre-pregnancy body weight
• ensure nutritional breast milk for a happy, healthy baby
• provide you with more energy to enjoy your newborn – a quick recovery leaves you less fatigued and less likely to suffer postnatal depression.
A well-nourished woman is also more likely to experience a more comfortable pregnancy.

There are discomforts or symptoms common to being pregnant namely morning sickness, fatigue, digestive problems, constipation and stretch marks. And there are the more serious conditions of hypertension, anaemia, gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. The good news is that all of these conditions can be relieved, and even avoided, by good diet.

Food is medicine. It’s a natural remedy that encourages your body to cure and heal itself while building up resistance to infection and disease. Food remedies have been curing illness and ailments for centuries.

A nourishing diet is the best form of preventative medicine. This is especially relevant when pregnant as it is generally not recommended to take medication while expecting, not even a cold and flu tablet! So it is easy to conclude that a well-balanced diet is your best bet for a healthy and happy pregnancy.

Photo by Katie Smith on Unsplash

Q. What are the common symptoms of piles ?
Ans. Common symptoms of piles are:

• Bleeding during bowel movement
• A lump around the anus
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation
• Feeling of lump coming out of anal region
• Itching, discharge in anal region
• Painful swelling in anal region

Q. If you have bleeding or pain in the rectum, does it mean that you have piles?
Ans. No, it is not always that bleeding per rectum is due to piles. However, Piles are the most common cause of bleeding per rectum. There can be other causes of bleeding per rectum like polyps, ulcers, inflammatory bowel diseases, diverticulitis and colorectal cancers. Presence of fresh blood not mixed with stools can be due to piles. Pain can be due to thrombosed piles, anal fissure or abscess. A common cause of painful bleeding per rectum is anal fissure. Painful swelling can be due to thrombosed piles or abscess. A doctor can diagnose the cause of bleeding or pain by examination, proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

Q. What to do when you see blood in your stools? Should you visit doctor as soon as you notice blood in your stools?
Ans. Yes, a doctor will examine to diagnose the cause of bleeding

Q. If I visit a surgeon, then he/ she will recommend surgery – Does every case of piles require surgery?
Ans. Most of the patients of piles can be treated without surgery. The surgeon will usually advise you medications along with certain life style modifications. Should you require operation he can tell you the best option.

Q. I have been told by my family member to have only boiled food because I have Piles. I have also been advised to stop non-veg food. Is it right?
Ans. The diet should include plenty of fluids and fibre. All green leafy vegetables, whole grain flour and fruits are rich in fibre. It is not necessary to eat boiled food only.

Q. What can I do to prevent Piles?
Ans. Apart from increasing fluid and fibre content in diet, one should perform some form of exercise which may include brisk walking, jogging and cycling. One should not delay in responding to the urge for defecation, prolonged straining in toilet should be avoided. Newspapers, books or mobile phones should not be carried to the toilet.

Q. Does Piles lead to cancer?
Ans. No. Piles do not lead to cancer. The initial symptoms of anorectal cancer may be similar to that of piles. This is why it is important to consult a doctor for any symptoms.

Q. Why should you not treat Piles as a taboo?
Ans. Piles related problems are very common and can be treated with very simple measures. Hesitation and embarrassment can lead to self-medication or seeking advice from internet. Sometimes one can land up in getting treatment from quacks or unqualified self-proclaimed care providers. This can lead to worsening of the problem.

Q. Can you live a normal life with Piles?
Ans. Absolutely yes. Most of the cases can be treated with simple lifestyle measures and some patients require medical treatment. Few patients require operations which can be performed with very advance techniques which are safe and done on daycare basis.

Q. Does the risk of piles increase during pregnancy?
Ans. Yes, the symptoms of piles can occur more frequently during pregnancy. However, the treatment in most cases remains simple. The symptoms tend to improve after the pregnancy is over.

Q. Are piles, fissure and fistula different problems?
Ans. Yes, these are different problems. Anal fissure is a cut or ulcer in the anal canal which is very painful and often bleeds. This can also be precipitated by constipation and straining defecation. A rich fiber diet, plenty of fluid and exercise can help to prevent the problem of anal fissure also. Anal fistula is a due to infection of anal glands and subsequent abscess formation. The treatment of anal fistula is usually surgical.

Q. Whom should I consult in case of symptoms?
Ans. You should consult a qualified physician or surgeon. Do not start self-medication or seek information from internet for treatment. One should not be lured by unscrupulous marketing and advertisements by many unqualified self- proclaimed treatment providers. They often provide symptomatic treatment without finding the cause of the problem and patient can land in a worse situation.

Q. Some center’s claim to give 100% or guaranteed results with no pain. Is it advisable to seek their consultation?
Ans. One should be beware of false claims by some doctors/center’s who claim to give 100% results or guaranteed and painless treatment etc. It is unscientific to make such claims and should be discouraged.

TIPS FOR MALE FERTILITY

• Improve the health of your sperm and be in the best shape for parenthood
• Take a multivitamin: choose one that includes selenium, zinc, and folate for optimal sperm production and health.
• Clean up your diet: eat plenty of fruit and vegetables because their antioxidants promote sperm health.
• Maintain a healthy weight: too much or too little body weight can inhibit the production of reproductive hormones and affect sperm quality.
• Quit smoking tobacco or marijuana: both substances can affect fertility. Seek help to quit if necessary.
• Limit alcohol: too much can affect sperm quality.
• Enjoy a caffeine boost: there’s nothing wrong with an occasional coffee.
• Exercise moderately: bicycling a lot could compress the testes, but bicycling in moderation is fine.
• Reduce stress: being stressed may affect certain hormones required for sperm production.

TIPS FOR FEMALE FERTILITY

• Prevent hormone imbalances and help regulate your menstrual cycle
• Take folic acid: take 400mcg a day, either as a single supplement or as part of a preconception multivitamin.
• Eat well: make sure your diet is well balanced to maximize essential nutrients.
• Maintain a healthy weight: being overweight or underweight can affect fertility. Stay at a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet and exercising moderately.
• Watch what you drink: alcohol and caffeine can affect fertility. Your doctor will tell you to quit drinking alcoholic beverages to protect your baby, but if you don’t want to give up coffee, that’s okay. Limit your caffeine intake to 200mg a day (about two cups of coffee). Remember, soft drinks, energy drinks, and tea also contain caffeine. Choose decaffeinated and fruit teas.
• Quit smoking: the toxins in cigarettes age your ovaries, damage your eggs, and adversely affect fertilization and implantation. Seek help to quit if necessary.
• Manage stress: find ways to relax. Try your best not to make getting pregnant your main focus.
• Being relaxed can double your chances of becoming pregnant within a year so have fun and enjoy trying to get pregnant!

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Your growing baby essentially eats the food you eat. Food is broken down, absorbed and distributed as energy and nutrients via the bloodstream. The placenta draws nourishment directly from your bloodstream and in turn nourishes the foetus. It will absorb everything that enters your body. This is why alcohol is a particular worry. The foetus absorbs alcohol from your bloodstream, but in a much more concentrated form. Compare your body mass to that of your unborn and you can understand the concern. Dieting and skipping meals can also be dangerous. As blood sugar levels drop from lack of food, not only do you deny yourself energy, you also deprive your baby of the fuel it needs to grow and develop. A foetus never stops growing and needs this constant supply of energy. In fact, the best and most common advice given about planning a pregnancy diet is to eat small, regular meals, and you can prevent most of the complaints of pregnancy by doing so.

Try to eat every two to three hours, five to six times a day, and make breakfast the most important meal of your day. No one, pregnant or otherwise, should skip breakfast. It refuels your body after a fast and keeps blood sugar levels in check from the word go. If you find it difficult to eat in the morning, have a single slice of toast or a healthy smoothie until you can stomach something more substantial. Studies carried out at Harvard School of Public Health have proven how much a newborn’s health is a result of its mother’s diet during pregnancy. Of the women in the study who had nutritionally balanced diets, 95 per cent gave birth to babies in excellent health. Only 8 per cent of women with poor nutritional diets gave birth to babies in good to excellent health. Looking after yourself goes hand in hand with producing a healthy baby.

Your body works harder during pregnancy than at any other time in your life. Your major organs function faster and more efficiently to cope with the increased blood supply required in pregnancy. Your heart works 40 per cent harder, pumping extra blood around your body. Your lungs keep this blood enriched with oxygen and your kidneys clean and filter it. A well-nourished diet ensures excellent health and strength of your organs and constantly replenishes essential nutrients. This is important because kidneys cannot distinguish between waste and nutrients. Water-soluble nutrients (vitamins C and B-group) are excreted and lost at a much higher rate when pregnant as the body flushes more fluids out more quickly.

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