Health-&-Fitness
Postpartum Depression, Mood Swings: How can new moms deal with these issues?
Some women experience postpartum depression after giving birth. It not only causes extreme sadness and despair but also lead towards physical, emotional, and behavioral change. It usually begins within 4 weeks after delivery. It is a severe mental illness.
The mood swing is also related to postpartum depression. This familiar concept is used to describe rapidly and intensely fluctuating emotions. People compare mood swings to a “roller coaster” of feelings from happiness and contentment to anger, irritability, and even depression. Here we are going discyss the causes, symptoms and reasons of postpartum depression and mood swings.Don't miss this article if you are a new mom suffering from postpartum depression or mood swings.
Read Pregnancy Anxiety? How to reduce the stress of pregnant mothers?
Postpartum depression and mood swings: common causes, reasons, and symptoms
Comparison of causes, symptoms and reasons between postpartum depression and postpartum mood swings.
Postpartum Depression
Mood Swing
Cause
Hormones: The drop of Hormones after giving birth may play an important role to make you feel tired, sluggish, and depressed.
Lack of sleep: With a newborn baby naturally the mother doesn't get sufficient sleep which ultimately makes you overwhelmed and so you may not handle even minor problems.
Anxiety: Like the moms of older kids, a new mom may be anxious about her ability to care for her newborn.
Self-image: After delivery a new mom may feel less attractive and so she struggles with her sense of Identity. Ultimately, the new mom may feel that she has lost control over her life.
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Stress
- Psychiatric causes
- Hormone imbalances
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
Symptoms
- Depressed mood
- Excessive crying
- Difficulty bonding with the newborn baby
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of taste or eating much more than the mom used to eat usually
- Inability to sleep or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy
- Lack of interest and pleasure in activities you love to do
- Intense irritability and anger
- Fear that she is not a good mother
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, or inadequacy
- Feeling inability to think clearly, and make decisions
- Restlessness
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Thoughts of harming her oneself or the newborn baby
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- Feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless
- Failing to enjoy favorite activities
- Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Feeling exhausted, tired, and fatigued
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Experiencing thoughts of death or suicide
Reasons
- Having a history of depression
- Feeling bipolar disorder
- Experiencing postpartum depression after a previous pregnancy
- Experiencing stressful events (like illness, or job loss) regarding pregnancy.
- Baby's health problems
- Having twins or multiple births
- Experiencing difficulty breastfeeding
- Going through bad relationships with her spouse or partner
- Having a weak support system
- Feeling financial problems
- The pregnancy was unplanned or unwanted
- Living alone
- Marital conflict
- Bipolar Disorder
- Sleep -Deprivation
- Low Blood Sugar
- Certain Medications
- Thyroid Issues
- Caffeine
- Too Much Sugar
- Depression
How can new moms deal with Postpartum depression and mood swings
Be friendly with your baby
You need to maintain attachment-the emotional bonding with your baby. This wordless relationship is really necessary and essential to enable a child to feel secure. It helps enough to develop your child fully and affects how he or she will interact, communicate, and form relationships throughout life. So, make sure you respond warmly and consistently to your baby’s physical and emotional needs to build a secure attachment with your baby.
Read Postpartum Weight Loss: How to lose baby weight fast after pregnancy
Response quickly to your baby's demands and needs. But, remember, postpartum depression can interrupt this bonding. However, if you learn how to bond with your baby, it will be beneficial for your baby and for you as well which makes you feel happier and more confident as a mom.
Take others’ help and support
We are social beings and we can relieve our stress by building positive social contact with others. Positive social contact is faster and more efficient than any other means of stress reduction.
Naturally, a new mother needs help from others to care for the infant. Although at present nuclear families are available, new mothers often find themselves alone, exhausted, and lonely for supportive adult contact.
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So, it is important to be connected to family members and friends. Share what you’re experiencing with your nearest ones, especially with your mother or elder sister.
Be a joiner
Naturally, isolation begets anxiety. Make sure you may want to consider seeking out other women who are handling the same situation in motherhood although you have supportive friends. You can share your worries, insecurities, and feelings with them and they can give proper solutions to that as they have experience with these issues.
So, be a joiner and join the new-mommy support group which is offered by community organizations and hospitals to provide relief from the social isolation that comes with having a new baby, as well as perspective.
Read Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer
Take care of yourself
You may avoid postpartum depression effectively by taking care of yourself. By taking care of your mental and physical well-being, you can feel better. So, follow a simple lifestyle. Put priority on yourself and your baby. Minimize your household chores.
Take Regular exercise and Meditation
Studies show that exercise may be excellent for treating depression. So move and take easy regular exercise like walking for 30-minutes each day. You can take stretching exercises like yoga that have shown to be especially effective. Besides, do meditation to make you feel calmer and more energized.
Build a sweet relationship with your partner
Research has shown that most divorces happen after the birth of a child. Many couples think that the relationship with their partner is their primary source of emotional expression and social connection. As a new baby needs enough time and concentration, it can fracture this relationship unless couples put some time, energy, and thought into preserving their bond.
Read Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
Consult your doctor for postpartum depression
If you are still suffering from postpartum depression after getting both self-help and family support, make sure you consult with your doctor. Take treatment as soon as possible. You can consult with a therapist who can help you successfully cope with the adjustments of motherhood.
However, you take marriage counseling if you are experiencing marital difficulties. Moreover, for cases of postpartum depression where your ability to function adequately for yourself or your baby is compromised, antidepressants may be an option.
Online alcohol marketing increasingly targets young people, heavy drinkers
Alcohol is increasingly being marketed across borders, with young people and heavy drinkers particularly targeted, according to a recent report by the UN health agency.
The study shows how the digital revolution in marketing and promotion is being used to advertise alcohol across national borders, and in many cases regardless of social, economic, or cultural environments.
Drinking alcohol is causally linked to an array of health problems, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, ranging from alcohol dependence and other mental and behavioural disorders to major non-communicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis, cancers and cardiovascular diseases, as well as injuries and deaths resulting from violence and road traffic accidents.
Around 3 million people die each year worldwide as a result of the harmful use of alcohol – one every 10 seconds – nearly five percent of all deaths.
Young people account for a disproportionate number of these alcohol-related deaths, with 13.5 percent of all deaths among people aged 20-39 being alcohol-related.
"Alcohol robs young people, their families and societies of their lives and potential," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Yet despite the clear risks to health, controls on the marketing of alcohol are much weaker than for other psychoactive products. Better, well enforced and more consistent regulation of alcohol marketing would both save and improve young lives across the world."
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The WHO report highlights how recent changes in alcohol marketing have created new opportunities to reach audiences.
The collection and analysis of data on users' habits and preferences by global internet providers have allowed alcohol marketers to target messages to specific groups across national borders.
The study found that targeted advertising on social media is especially effective, and further bolstered by influencers and through sharing posts.
One data source quoted in the report calculated that over 70 percent of media spending of leading alcohol marketers based in the US in 2019 was through promotions, product placement and online advertisements on social media.
"The rising importance of digital media means that alcohol marketing has become increasingly cross-border," said Dag Rekve of the alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours unit at the WHO.
"This makes it more difficult for countries that are regulating alcohol marketing to effectively control it in their jurisdictions. More collaboration between countries in this area is needed."
Alcohol companies are also sponsoring major sporting events at the global, regional and national levels, which, according to the report, can also significantly increase brand awareness among new audiences.
They are also partnering with sports leagues and clubs to reach viewers and potential consumers in different parts of the world.
Other opportunities include sponsorship of competitive gaming events or product placement in movies and serials streamed on international subscription channels.
The report "Reducing the harm from alcohol – by regulating cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotion" also examines how specific audiences are targeted, with particular concern for children and adolescents, women, and heavy drinkers.
The WHO said studies have shown that starting to drink alcohol at a young age is a predictor of hazardous drinking in young adulthood and beyond.
Read: Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Risks, Symptoms, Treatment and Ways of Prevention
Marketers are also particularly targeting areas of the world with young and growing populations, such as Africa and Latin America.
While men consume three-quarters of the alcohol that the world drinks, the lower rate among women also presents an opportunity for growth. Alcohol marketers often depict drinking by women as a symbol of empowerment and equality, according to the report.
"Alcohol-dependent people frequently report a stronger urge to drink alcohol when confronted with alcohol-related cues, yet they rarely have an effective way to avoid exposure to the content of the advertising or promotion," the WHO said.
The report recommends that comprehensive restrictions or bans on alcohol marketing, including its cross-border aspects, are integrated into public health strategies. It also calls for greater collaboration between countries.
The WHO said although many governments have implemented some form of restrictions on alcohol marketing, they tend to be relatively weak.
A 2018 study by the UN agency revealed that while most countries have some form of regulation for alcohol marketing in traditional media, almost half have no regulation that applies to the internet and social media.
End/UNB/MA
Postpartum Weight Loss: How to lose baby weight fast after pregnancy
You may gain extra weight during pregnancy as you take extra food & enough rest during that period. Now that your new baby is here and you always think about how to get rid of those extra pounds. Don’t worry! You need to maintain a gradual approach to lose weight. Be relaxed, hold patience and follow our secure and prudent ways to lose baby weight just after pregnancy and get back fitness.
Weight gain during pregnancy
It is important to understand how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. You should also know why your body is putting on pounds, and how it plays a role in what happens after the baby arrives. How much weight you should gain during pregnancy will depend on your body mass index (BMI) before you get pregnant.
Institute of Medicine (IOM) says women who are underweight need to gain 28 to 40 lbs. (12.7 to 18.1 kg) while women with a normal BMI need to gain 25 to 35 lbs. (11.3 to 15.9 kg) but women in the overweight type should aim to gain 15 to 25 lbs. (6.8 to 11.3 kg), and women in the obese category should aim to gain 11 to 20 lbs. (5.0 to 9.1 kg). The women who carry twins, the recommended weight gain amounts for them are higher.
Read Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
According to IOM, the most important reason women should limit their weight gain during pregnancy is to reduce risks both to the mother and the baby's health. According to IOM's recommendation, women can gain between 0.5 to 2 kg during the first trimester. And during both the second and third trimesters, women may gain 0.5 to 1 lb. (0.23 to 0.45 kg) per week.
Of course, that will depend on their pre-pregnancy BMI. The IOM also says that, during these trimesters, underweight and normal-weight women generally gain 1 lb. per week, overweight women gain 0.6 lbs. (0.27 kg) per week and obese women gain 0.5 lbs. per week.
Read Pregnancy Anxiety? How to reduce the stress of pregnant mothers?
Weight Gain and Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a complex including physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happen in some women after giving birth. It is a serious but treatable medical illness that involves feelings of extreme sadness, indifference, and anxiety. It can affect the new moms.
Some mothers suffer from Postpartum depression due to gaining excess weight during their preganancy periods.
Australian researchers make breakthrough in rare blood cancer treatment
Australian researchers have made a breakthrough in overcoming drug resistance in patients with rare blood cancer.
In a study published on Monday, the team from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and SA Pathology's Center for Cancer Biology said they have found a way to suppress a protein that boosts resistance to drugs used to treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.
AML is a kind of rare cancer that affects blood and bone marrow that kills more than 70 percent of patients within five years of diagnosis.
"Each year in Australia, around 900 people are diagnosed with AML, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow characterized by an overproduction of cancerous white blood cells called leukaemic blasts," Stuart Pitson, a lead author of Monday's study, said in a statement.
Read: Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Risks, Symptoms, Treatment and Ways of Prevention
"These cells crowd out normal white blood cells, which then can't do their usual infection-fighting work, thereby increasing the risk of infections, low oxygen levels and bleeding."
Patients initially respond to Venetoclax, a new treatment for AML, but over time cells grow resistant to it.
However, the research team discovered that modulating lipid metabolism in the body can inhibit a protein called Mcl-1 which facilitates drug resistance.
Pitson said the finding could revolutionize how AML is treated.
The team is now working to optimize drugs targeting the protein to take into clinical trials.
"For most people with AML, the chances of long-term survival are no better now than they were last century," SA Pathology hematologist David Ross said.
Read: Clean hands may make the difference between life and death: WHO
"Now, we have a chance to remedy that. New treatments that prevent Venetoclax resistance have the potential to prolong survival, or even increase the chances of a cure in a disease for which improved outcomes are desperately needed."
Sleep Paralysis: Causes, Risks, Symptoms, Treatment and Ways of Prevention
Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon in which a person is conscious but unable to move while they are asleep. This state can last anywhere from a few seconds to minutes or even hours. It is most common during the onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is the stage of sleep when people experience dreams. In most people, this is the last stage of sleep before waking up. People who experience sleep paralysis are unable to progress from one stage of sleep to the next. They are fully aware of their surroundings but are unable to move. Stay with us to know the risk factors, causes, symptoms, treatment and preventive measures of Sleep Paralysis syndrome.
Risk Factors and Causes of Sleep Paralysis
About 8% of people experience sleep paralysis at least once in their life. While the rate is higher for students, people having psychiatric conditions, and people of color, anyone can experience it. Sleep paralysis can be a frightening experience, but it is not always dangerous. Let's see the common reasons for sleep paralysis.
Read: Clean hands may make the difference between life and death: WHO
Sleep Deprivation or Insomnia
People who are sleep-deprived are more prone to sleep paralysis. Sleep deprivation can lead to a person experiencing sleep paralysis due to the lack of REM sleep. This is the stage of sleep where most dreams occur and where muscles relax. If a person is deprived of REM sleep, they will be more likely to experience sleep paralysis.
Anxiousness and Nervousness
When a person is anxious, they will often focus on their breathing or shallow breathing as if it could save them from some danger or threat that may be threatening them. If a person's breathing is shallow enough that it causes them the experience of being caught in a trap, unable to move, and unable to speak.
Nervousness may also cause a person to have shallow breathing, which can then lead them to experience sleep paralysis when they begin to panic or are so nervous that they are unable to control their breathing or feel safe.
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Medications
Many medications can also cause sleep paralysis. For example, high blood pressure drugs, hormonal medicines, steroids, and inhaled respiratory drugs can lead to sleep disorders. Eventually, these can cause sleep paralysis.
Alcohol
Alcohol can also cause people to experience sudden awakenings from deep stages of sleep like NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) and REM causing them to have difficulty returning back into deeper stages of sleeping, causing them to experience a feeling of being awake and not being able to move or talk. This feeling can last for up to 20 minutes or so, in which the person may experience a variety of symptoms, including panic attacks, hallucinations, and amnesia.
Stress
We have all experienced stress in our lives; some of us probably have experienced it on a regular basis, and many of us probably have experienced it at some point in our life. When you are experiencing stress, it can cause you to face sleep paralysis because the body goes into fight or flight mode when you are stressed out. And you may experience symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, and feeling like you are going to pass out.
Read: Tips to Keep Home Cool in Summer Without AC
Sleep Positions
One thing that many people do not realize when it comes down to their bedtime routine is that when they get into bed at night, they need to make sure that their body is in the correct position for sleeping. And this means you always make sure that your head is on a pillow which will allow you to have a comfortable night's sleep.
Also, if you are having trouble sleeping due to an episode of sleep paralysis, then it may be a good idea to try sleeping on your side. This position will often help keep you from falling into a state of sleep paralysis. It will also allow you to breathe in a more natural way, which will often help reduce the amount of time that you are experiencing these episodes.
Being Overweight
There has been a lot of research done on this subject over the years, which shows that people who are overweight often experience more sleep paralysis symptoms than those who are of normal weight. Being overweight can lead to sleep disorders, which may cause sleep paralysis.
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Symptoms of Sleep Paralysis
The most common way to know if you have sleep paralysis is you will have a feeling of being awake but unable to move. One of the most common symptoms is that your body remains paralyzed for a few seconds after the mind is awake and the eyes are open. Another symptom is that your head may feel like it's stuck in a vise or a vice grip. The last and most scary symptom of sleep paralysis is when you can hear noises in your head like someone whispering or calling out to you or when you hear an intruder in your house.
Medical Treatment of Sleep Paralysis
Sleep paralysis is not a major issue, and it is a common phenomenon. Therefore, most people don't need any treatment for sleep paralysis. But if it occurs more often, you may need to consult a doctor to find out the reasons. If you have sleep paralysis due to anxiety or depression, or mental health issues, you might require medical treatment. For example, you may need to take a sleeping pill to improve sleep habits to make sure you are getting six to eight hours of sleep.
Sometimes, doctors may prescribe you antidepressant medication to regulate sleep cycles. Also, treating any mental health issue will improve sleep paralysis. You may also need treatment for other kinds of sleep disorders such as leg cramps or narcolepsy.
Read: Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer
Preventive Measures for Sleep Paralysis
If you are experiencing sleep paralysis, here are a few things you can do to make it easier to fall asleep. First, make sure your mind is calm as you go to bed. Try not to think about anything that might cause you anxiety. Second, try to go to bed at the same time every night. Often, when we change the time we go to bed, we will find ourselves falling asleep at a different time.
Lastly, try to keep things in your bedroom as simple as possible. Sometimes, when we have too much stuff in our bedroom, we end up worrying about our stuff. Therefore, try to keep your bedroom as simple as possible and, if possible, leave a few things like pictures or items from your childhood, so it reminds you of happy times.
Final Words
So far, we have discussed the common symptoms, risk factors, reasons, treatment and preventive measures of Sleep Paralysis. Not to mention, Sleep paralysis is a common and often frightening experience, but it can be largely avoided through simple precautions. Practicing safe sleep habits, such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, can help reduce the chances of experiencing sleep paralysis in the first place. If you do experience sleep paralysis, be sure to seek help from a physician or other trusted source to get relief.
Read: Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
Clean hands may make the difference between life and death: WHO
When good hand hygiene and other infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are followed, 70 percent of infections can be prevented in health care settings, according to a new World Health Organization report.
The coronavirus pandemic and other disease outbreaks have highlighted the extent to which healthcare settings can contribute to the spread of infections.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed many challenges and gaps in IPC in all regions and countries, including those which had the most advanced IPC programmes, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Today, out of every 100 patients in acute care hospitals, seven in high-income countries and 15 in low and middle-income nations will acquire at least one healthcare associated infection (HAI) during their hospital stay – one in 10 of whom will die.
Newborns and patients in intensive care are particularly at risk, the report reveals, and almost half of all sepsis cases with organ dysfunction in adult intensive-care units are linked to healthcare.
The first Global Report on Infection Prevention and Control published Friday brings together evidence from scientific reports, and new data from WHO studies.
Also Read: Nearly 15M deaths associated with COVID-19: WHO
The impact of healthcare linked infections and antimicrobial resistance on people's lives is incalculable, says the WHO.
Over 24 percent of patients affected by healthcare associated sepsis and 52.3 percent of those treated in an intensive care unit die each year.
Moreover, deaths are increased two to threefold when infections are resistant to antimicrobials.
In the last five years, the WHO conducted global surveys and country joint evaluations to assess the implementation status of national IPC programmes.
Comparing data from the 2017-18 to 2021-22 surveys, the percentage of countries with a national IPC programme did not improve; and in 2021-22, only 3.8 percent of countries had all IPC minimum requirements in place at the national level.
In healthcare facilities, only 15.2 percent met all the IPC minimum requirements, according to a 2019 WHO survey.
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However, some encouraging progress has been made, with significantly more countries appointing IPC focal points; dedicated budgets for IPC and curriculum for front line healthcare workers' training; national IPC guidelines and programmes for HAI surveillance; and hand hygiene compliance established as key national indicators.
Strongly supported by the WHO and others, many countries are scaling up actions to put in place minimum requirements and core components of IPC programmes.
Sustaining and further expanding this progress in the long-term is a critical need that requires urgent attention and investments.
"Our challenge now is to ensure that all countries are able to allocate the human resources, supplies and infrastructures this requires," said Tedros.
104 and no more: Amputee wraps up marathon record quest
When amputee athlete Jacky Hunt-Broersma says her mantra is, “I can do hard things,” she’s not kidding — the amputee athlete has run 104 marathons in as many days, all using a carbon-fiber prosthesis.
Hunt-Broersma, 46, completed that epic quest on Saturday near her home in suburban Phoenix, setting an unofficial world record along the way.
“What a journey,” she tweeted.
The South Africa native, who lost her left leg below the knee to a rare cancer, gained worldwide attention and a huge social media following after beginning her record attempt on Jan. 17.
Brick Runners, an organization that supports athletes who raise money for charities, even designed a Jacky-inspired Lego-style character complete with one of her favorite T-shirts, which reads: “Strong Has Many Forms.”
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Hunt-Broersma also raised more than $67,000 to help fellow amputee blade runners get the expensive prostheses they need. Health insurance typically doesn’t cover the cost, which can exceed $10,000.
Every day since mid-January, she covered the classic 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) marathon distance either on a loop course laid out near her home in Gilbert, Arizona, or on a treadmill indoors.
Her original goal was to run 100 marathons in 100 days so she’d beat a record of 95 set in 2020 by Alyssa Amos Clark, a nondisabled runner from Bennington, Vermont, who did it as a pandemic coping strategy. But last month, after nondisabled British runner Kate Jayden unofficially broke Clark’s record with 101 marathons in 101 days, Hunt-Broersma realized she’d need to run at least 102.
In an interview with The Associated Press, she said she hoped her quest would inspire people everywhere to push themselves regardless of their physical limitations.
Guinness World Records spokesperson Amanda Marcus said the Britain-based organization was aware of Hunt-Broersma’s attempt, and that it would take 12 to 15 weeks to review the evidence before the record can be confirmed.
Guinness lists the men’s record for consecutive daily marathons as 59, set in 2019 by Enzo Caporaso of Italy.
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Tips to Keep Home Cool in Summer Without AC
The hot summer days can create several heat-related health conditions like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn, and heat rash. Among these, the most serious ones are heatstroke and heat exhaustion. So, it is necessary to keep your house cool during summer days. Is it possible to control the temperature of the home without AC? If you want to avoid the high cost of air conditioning, follow our tricks to keep your home cool in summer through some cost-effective eco-friendly ways.
15 Effective and natural ways to keep your house cool without AC
Shut the blinds
Naturally, through windows about 25 percent of summer heat can come. Research has shown that up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains, and the like can save a minimum of 7 percent on bills and can minimize indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
So, if you want to cool down your room without AC, make sure to block the heat with shades or blinds during the sunniest hours of the day. Moreover, by closing the blinds you essentially prevent your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse, which is especially the case with south- and west-facing windows.
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Adjust your ceiling fans seasonally
You need to set your ceiling fan to rotate counter-clockwise in the summer season. You do it so that the fan blades should rotate counter-clockwise to push the air straight down. This will definitely increase the fan speed on really hot days and will create a wind-chill breeze effect that will make you and your guests feel cooler.
Strip in the cool
Another category of insulation is weatherstripping. Although it’s thought of as a winter measure, it is equally helpful in summer. It is helpful to keep cool air from escaping through doors and windows. You can easily do it as it is very inexpensive and doesn’t take much time to install. You just need half an hour to strip the area around a door.
Read: Newborn Baby, Infant Care Tips during Summer
Bake and wash at night
Generally, large appliances like ovens, ranges, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers give off significant amounts of heat. So, make sure you save their operation for evening hours when cooler temperatures will offset their output.
Hack a fan
Hacking a fan is an amazing idea to create a faux ocean breeze. Just fill a mixing bowl with ice or an ice pack, and put the bowl in front of a fan. Turn the fan on and get a chilly, misty breeze.
Make your air conditioner
What would it be if you could create your own air conditioner? Yes, you can do it by using a fan, 3/8 copper coil, a water pump, ice, a cooler box, and a plastic pipe. You make this air conditioner and you can watch videos available on youtube.
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Turn on your bathroom fans
Nowadays about every flat or apartment has bathroom fans and exhaust in the kitchen. If you turn on your bathroom fans along with the exhaust fan in your kitchen, they can easily drag the hot air that rises and push it out of your home. Exhausts pull the hot air that rises after you cook and bathroom fans take a steamy shower out of your house or apartment.
Install a shade
If you can install a shade above your windows, it will work to shield your home from the sun’s rays. Of course, it will ensure the amount of heat your home absorbs is reduced.
Hack your windows
Hacking windows is another great way to minimize heat. You can do it by opening the top section of your windows on the downwind side of your house. Besides, you need to open the bottom section on the upwind side. This system will create a cooling pressure. Moreover, you can make things even cooler by facing a box fan out the window.
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Open windows at night
Make sure you open windows and interior doors at night. At night, the sun is not there, and naturally, you can enjoy the cool night breeze. So, you should always open the windows and interior doors in your home at night to create a cross breeze that will fill your room with cool air. During the daytime, your rooms become hot because of your kitchen. However, you need to open the door or window related to the kitchen to get rid of the hot air.
Set fan right way
Fans help keep air moving around. So set your fans in windows or hallways so you can create a cross breeze that will draw in cooler air from the outside.
Sleep Low
Naturally, the air at your feet is less hot than at the ceiling. So, you can disassemble your bed and put the mattress on the floor. Of course, you will experience something different. Besides, on hotter days, you can also sleep on the floor. By lying on the floor of tiles you can beat the heat. Then your sleeping will be more comfortable.
Read Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
Let the night air in
The night air is more natural and cool. So, if it’s raining, you can open the windows to let the cool air come in but make sure the rain doesn’t come in. Thus, you can make your room colder during the rainy season.
Upgrade All light bulbs to LED
Undoubtedly all electronic equipment emerges in heat light bulbs also. When these lights are on, it is difficult to keep a room cool during the day. But LED lights stay cool. Moreover, they are more energy-saving, so you’ll save on your utility bills.
If you don’t want to change your light bulbs right now, you can keep your lights off and use the natural daylight around your home. But you can turn the lights on at night. This will also help to reduce the amount of energy you need.
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Use blackout curtains
Blackout curtains naturally block sunlight. Research has shown that neutral-colored curtains with white plastic backings can reduce heat gain by up to 33 percent.
Global Covid cases near 511 million
The overall number of Covid cases is fast approaching 511 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 510,784,182 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,224,790 Wednesday morning.
The US has recorded 81,100,497 cases so far and 991,938 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 43,062,569 on Tuesday with 2,483 new cases registered in 24 hours in the South Asian country, as per the federal health ministry's latest data.
This is the seventh consecutive day when the number of daily new cases has surpassed the 2,000-mark, after lower tallies were reported in recent weeks.
Also Read: India's COVID-19 tally rises to 43,062,569
Besides, 1,399 deaths due to the pandemic recorded since Monday morning took the death toll to 523,622.
Covid Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 19 fresh Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, taking the total caseload to 19,52,602.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,127 as no deaths were reported during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily positivity rate dropped to 0.38 per cent from Monday's 0.43 per cent after testing 5,020 samples during the period.
On Monday, the number of infections was higher as 27 new cases were reported with zero death. Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 97.01 per cent with the recovery of 364 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.
Among the 85 deaths during the period, 44 were unvaccinated patients, 11 were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 28 with the second dose and two with the third dose.
The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
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On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Bug-free Home: How to get rid of insects indoors
Who can resist the existence of creepy crawlies and bugs in home? They not only create unsanitary conditions, but also give annoying experiences. Fly, the mosquito, bees, wasps, scorpions and other insects can cause painful stings. Furthermore, fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks can carry diseases that they can transport to the body of pets or humans. Are you confused about how to keep insects away from the indoor areas of your home? Just keep scrolling!
Effective Ways to Keep Insects, Bugs Out of Your Home
Seal Your Doors
A properly sealed door can help keep out unwanted pests. It is efficient just like a locked door that can keep burglars out. You will be surprised to see that there are a number of unsealed gaps in your doors, each of which makes an easy entrance path for bugs. You can install an aluminum threshold under the door to prevent insects from crawling under your door.
Besides, you can combine this with a door sweep for better protection. Moreover, do not forget to add weatherstripping or door-seal kits to the perimeter of the frame to keep insects from entering along the sides or top of the door.
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Maintain Your Yard
Yard maintenance can prevent bug invasions, especially in the case of mosquitoes and fleas. Mosquitoes breed easily in the stagnant clean water. Storage of pooled water in your yard can enhance the mosquito population. So, you need to replace the water of your swimming pool regularly.
When you are watering plants into your yard, let the water get naturally absorbed into the soil. After rain let the stagnant water pass through the drainage system.
Besides, you must pay attention to the drainage system of your yard, which is related to the slope of the earth. Make sure your yard’s regular drainage channels are properly maintained. Try to keep the drainage channels free from leaves, grass clippings, and debris so they are able to operate effectively. This will reduce the number of bugs that are trying to enter your home.
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Finally, you need to remove any piles of leaves or debris from your yard because these areas are the perfect hiding spot for insects to hide and reproduce.
Repair Cracks
If you can fill in your cracks, you can stop fewer bugs from sliding through. There are the microscopic sizes of many bugs and they can enter the home through cracks or holes that are nearly invisible to the homeowner. So, make sure you seal cracks on your home's exterior. Don’t forget to pay special attention to the roofline, where bees and wasps frequently build nests.
Set out sticky traps
You can use old-fashioned sticky traps. You can trap every different type of pest that comes through, especially spiders and scorpions by using these sticky traps. Sticky traps are inexpensive. They are available in different shapes and sizes and are perfect for placing in areas where chemical insecticides can do damage to plants.
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Add Screens
A little hole can allow pests to crawl through so make sure there are no holes in your screen. Many people like natural ventilation from doors and windows to bring fresh air into the home, especially in the summer season. But it is a matter of sorrow that summer is the worst time of the year for mosquitoes, fleas, and other pests to invade your home.
If you wish to enjoy the fresh air without the annoyance of insects, install screens on windows and doors. However, you need to make sure that you seal all tiny holes to prevent insect entry.
Cover Large Openings
If there is a hole in your roof, it allows all the bugs — and bigger intruders into your home. You can fill larger openings and keep bugs out by using very fine wire mesh, often called hardwire cloth. However, you need to check to see if yours are operating properly and repair or replace the dampers as necessary.
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Store Trash Properly
Make sure you have a secure lid for your compost bin. The trash cans in a home are an epicure smorgasbord of cockroaches and other pests. So, if you want to prevent bugs from feasting on your trash, proper storage and handling are essential. Besides, it is important to clean and sanitize regularly all interior and exterior trash receptacles and recycling bins.
Keep Foundations Clear
Remember that your home's foundations are the closest part of the house to the ground and they are also one of the most common entry spots for bugs. So, you can reduce the likelihood of infestation by keeping foundations clear and protected.
Try to avoid chemical insecticides or termiticides and instead use natural solutions and non-toxic substances like boric acid or diatomaceous which will not harm pets or family members.
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Clean Up the Kitchen
At night your kitchen becomes a safe living place for bugs. So, besides sealing the holes of your home, you need to deep-clean your kitchen every day. First make sure that there’s no food particles left out in the kitchen which can attract the insects and bugs.
Moreover, don’t forget to cover all of your foodstuffs with lockable containers. Following these steps, you can go a long way in keeping a bug-free kitchen.
Dry Up Damp Areas
Make sure you always dry up the damping areas of your home because bugs are seeking food and water as well. Some home-invading pests like silverfish, springtails, and house centipedes hang out in damp places. So, fix any leaky faucets, drains, or pipes whenever you find them.
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Besides, don’t forget to test that your air conditioner, washing machine, and dryer are all working properly. In the case of damp areas run a dehumidifier and check the attic to make sure it’s dry.
Kill the Bugs You See
You can prevent the indoor bug invasion from becoming serious problems by taking early actions. So, make sure you kill any bugs you see first.
Dust Cleaning
Sometimes, tiny, microscopic bugs and insects have invaded your home escaping your attention. To prevent such incidents you need to make sure that you vacuum your floors at least once a week. It will help your home get rid of the insects. You need to clean all the corners of your home to eliminate their attraction to your home.
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