Mental Health in Adolescents: Challenges and Solutions.

Mental Health in Adolescents: Challenges and Solutions. - Aashi 

Adolescence is a critical period characterized by significant physical, emotional, and psychological changes. Navigating these years can be challenging, and many young people face substantial mental health issues. Understanding these challenges and exploring effective solutions is crucial for promoting the well-being of adolescents.

Common Mental Health Challenges in Adolescents 

1. Hormonal and Physical Changes: Adolescence is marked by significant hormonal fluctuations that can affect mood and behavior. The brain undergoes crucial development, particularly in areas related to emotion regulation and impulse control, leading to mood swings and heightened emotions. These changes can contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

2. Academic Stress: The pressure to excel academically can be overwhelming for adolescents. High expectations from parents, teachers, and peers can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. The constant pressure to perform well in exams, complete assignments, and achieve high grades can negatively impact self￾esteem and mental health.

3. Social Media Impact: The pervasive use of social media exposes adolescents to unrealistic standards of beauty and success, leading to feelings of inadequacy. Adolescents often compare themselves to curated and filtered images, which can result in low self-esteem and body image issues. Moreover, cyberbullying is a significant problem that can cause emotional distress and exacerbate mental health problems.

4. Family Dynamics: Family relationships play a crucial role in adolescent mental health. Conflict, lack of support, or a dysfunctional family environment can contribute to emotional problems. Adolescents from families experiencing divorce, financial instability, or substance abuse are at higher risk of developing mental health issues. A supportive and stable family environment is essential for the emotional well-being of adolescents.

5. Identity and Self-Image: Adolescence is a time of self-discovery and identity formation. Issues related to body image, sexual orientation, and gender identity can cause significant stress and confusion. Adolescents who feel misunderstood or unsupported in their identity may experience heightened levels of anxiety and depression. Acceptance and support from family and peers are crucial during this period.

6. Peer Pressure and Risky Behaviors: Peer pressure can lead adolescents to engage in risky behaviors, including substance abuse. Experimentation with drugs and alcohol can have serious mental health implications, including the development of addiction and exacerbation of underlying mental health conditions. Adolescents may also feel pressured to conform to group norms, which can lead to stress and anxiety. Solutions for Promoting Adolescent Mental Health 

1. Encouraging Open Communication: Creating an environment where adolescents feel safe to express their feelings and concerns is vital. Parents, teachers, and peers should foster open and honest dialogue about mental health issues. Encouraging open communication can help identify problems early and provide the necessary support.

2. Mental Health Education: Integrating mental health education into school curricula can raise awareness and reduce stigma. Teaching adolescents about mental health, coping strategies, and available resources can empower them to take charge of their well-being. Mental health education can also help adolescents recognize the signs of mental health issues in themselves and others.

3. Access to Professional Help: Ensuring that adolescents have access to mental health professionals, such as counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists, is crucial. Early intervention and appropriate treatment can prevent the escalation of mental health issues. Schools and communities should provide resources and support for accessing mental health services.

4. Building Resilience: Helping adolescents build resilience can equip them to handle stress and adversity more effectively. Encouraging healthy habits such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, and balanced nutrition can support overall mental health. Teaching stress management techniques, such as mindfulness and relaxation exercises, can also be beneficial.

5. Healthy Social Media Practices: Educating adolescents about the responsible use of social media and the potential dangers of cyberbullying can mitigate some of the negative impacts. Encouraging breaks from social media and promoting in-person interactions can also be beneficial. Adolescents should be taught to critically evaluate the content they see on social media and to recognize the difference between curated images and reality.

6. Parental Involvement: Parents play a key role in supporting their adolescent’s mental health. Being actively involved in heir lives, showing interest in their activities, and providing emotional support can make a significant difference. Parents should also be educated about the signs of mental health issues and how to respond appropriately. Creating a supportive home environment is essential for the well-being of adolescents.

7. Creating Supportive Environments: Schools and communities should strive to create environments that support mental health. Thisincludes having anti-bullying policies, providing safe spaces for discussions, and offering extracurricular activities that promote a sense of belonging and purpose. Supportive environments can help adolescents feel valued and understood.

8. Encouraging Peer Support: Peer support programs can be highly effective in promoting mental health. Adolescents often feel more comfortable discussing their issues with peers who understand their experiences. Peer-led support groups and mentoring programs can provide valuable assistance and create a sense of community. Encouraging peer support can help adolescents feel less isolated and more connected.

Conclusion 

Adolescent mental health is influenced by numerous factors, including hormonal changes, academic pressure, social media, family dynamics, and identity formation. By fostering open communication, providing mental health education, ensuring access to professional help, and creating supportive environments, we can help adolescents navigate these challenges. Supporting our young people with the tools and understanding they need is essential for their healthy development and future well￾being. As a society, it is our responsibility to support our adolescents and help them thrive during this critical period of their lives.

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Yoga Day 21st June

 "Yoga is the cessation of mind." 

The profound impact of yoga on young minds and bodies, aiming to unite thousands in the practice and promote global health and wellness. "Yoga for Self and Society," the theme for this year, highlights yoga's dual role in fostering individual and societal well-being, encouraging grassroots participation and the spread of yoga in rural areas.

Key aspects of the Yoga day. 

Physical health: Yoga elevates flexibility, strength, and endurance.  

Regular practice can prevent and alleviate various physical ailments, including back pain and cardiovascular issues.  

Mental well-being: Yoga aids in stress reduction, enhances concentration, and promotes mental clarity.  

Practices such as pranayama (breath control) and meditation ameliorates anxiety and depression.  

Spiritual growth: Rooted in spirituality, yoga fosters inner peace and harmony, guiding individuals toward self-awareness and self-realisation.  

Community and Global Unity: The day brings together people from diverse backgrounds, promoting unity and harmony. It underscores the universal appeal of yoga, transcending age, gender, and nationality. 

#internationalyogaday #yoga #mind #meditation #heeals #ngo #india #international #instagram #volunteer #internship #mentalwellbeing #youngmind #yogaforkids #love #happiness #kindness #spreadlove #spiritual #compassion #yogaforselfandsociety

Mental Health in India

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Various types of mental illnesses exist, displaying a range of intensities and severity. They can be categorized into common mental disorders and more severe mental conditions. Mental health disorders encompass a spectrum, spanning from psychosis—indicative of chemical imbalances in the body—to neurosis—stemming from inadequate attitudinal learning during the developmental or formative years. 

Common Mental Health Illnesses include:

1. Depression1
2. Anxiety/Phobias
3. EatingDisorders
4. Stress

Severe Mental Health Illnesses Include:

1. Schizophrenia
2. Bipolardisorder (Manicdepression)
3. Clinicaldepression
4. Suicidaltendency
5. Personalitydisorder

Statistics indicate that 20% of the population experiences symptoms associated with mental health disorders. Half of these conditions manifest by the age of 14, with 75% emerging by the age of 24. Mental health problems can be influenced by a variety of factors. The interplay between the mind, body, and environment contributes to the development of psychological disorders. Some of these factors include persistent and prolonged stress, biological elements, substance abuse and overdose, cognitive patterns like persistent negative thoughts and low energy, as well as social issues such as financial difficulties, relationship breakdowns, and social isolation.

The discourse around mental health in India is still relatively recent, and persistent myths and taboos surround the subject. As per the National Health program administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 6% of Kerala's population grapples with mental disorders, while one in every five individuals experiences emotional and behavioral issues. The country is home to a staggering 60 to 70 million people facing both common and severe mental disorders. Disturbingly, India holds the unfortunate title of being the world's suicide capital, with an alarming 2.6 lakh cases reported annually. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, the average suicide rate in India stands at 10.9 per lakh people.

According to the data problems related to mental health are stigma. There are a lot of factors . The main ones are :

1 Lack of  help. Due to fact that people can not afford specialists they are not able to get treatment.The treatment given by government or free treatments are not enough. We have limited workers and

Places where to go .

2 Mentality. Most of the people do not take mental problems seriously and as a result their mental

Health will get worse.

3 Individuals suffering from mental illnesses face a significant hurdle as insurance companies typically do not offer medical coverage for hospital admissions related to mental health conditions. For some, access to quality hospitals is unattainable due to this limitation. Effective treatment can be expensive, and the absence of insurance coverage further compounds the challenge, making it even more difficult for individuals to afford the necessary care.

This factors can lead to bigger problems . For example, not treated depression among females can lead to of low birth weight and preterm birth.

That is why our team is putting every effort to solve this problem . You can donate or join us to make this world better.

Join  HEEALS .We believe that by starting small and working with one community at a time, we can begin to make changes that will spread gradually throughout India, all the while working hard to create and maintain a self-sustaining society. We aim to facilitate the fulfilment of the millennium development goals, set out by the United Nations, by ensuring that every household in India has unimpeded access to proper WASH facilities.

Email : communications@heeals.org

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written by volunteer-coordinator Kenenbaeva Janyl.

Menstrual hygiene too and how it effects mental health

Menstrual hygiene too and how it effects mental health: 

Written by volunteer-coordinator Janyl Kenenbaeva 

First of all, let me introduce you what is “Menstrual Hygiene Taboo”

Menstrual hygiene taboos are social and cultural restrictions, beliefs, and practices that surround menstruation and affect the way menstruating individuals are treated and how they manage their menstrual hygiene. These taboos vary widely across different cultures and societies, and they can have significant negative consequences for the physical and emotional well-being of those who menstruate. Some common menstrual hygiene taboos and the reasons behind them include:

Menstruation as Impurity: In many cultures, menstruation is often viewed as impure or dirty. Menstruating individuals may be considered unclean and are sometimes excluded from participating in religious activities, entering certain places, or even cooking during their periods.

Silence and Secrecy: In some societies, menstruation is surrounded by a code of silence. Many individuals are discouraged from talking openly about menstruation, leading to a lack of information and misconceptions.

Restrictions on Activities: In some communities, menstruating individuals are restricted from engaging in certain activities, such as swimming, cooking, or participating in social events, due to the belief that their presence might contaminate these activities.

Isolation: In some cases, people who menstruate are isolated during their periods. They may be required to stay in separate huts or designated areas, away from their families, during their menstrual cycles.

Limited Access to Sanitary Products: In some areas, the lack of access to affordable and safe sanitary products can be a significant issue. This, in turn, can lead to unhygienic practices, such as using old rags or leaves, which can increase the risk of infections.

Stigma and Shame: The shame and stigma associated with menstruation can lead to negative psychological and emotional effects. Menstruating individuals may feel ashamed or embarrassed about their periods, which can affect their self-esteem and overall mental health.

Lack of Education: Due to taboos surrounding menstruation, many individuals receive little or no education about menstrual hygiene, proper sanitary product use, or menstrual health. This can lead to a lack of awareness and can result in harmful practices.

Addressing menstrual hygiene taboos is crucial for promoting gender equality, women's health, and well-being. Efforts are underway in many parts of the world to challenge these taboos and promote open discussions about menstruation. Organizations, activists, and governments are working to provide better education and access to sanitary products, as well as to challenge cultural norms that stigmatize menstruation. Breaking these taboos is essential for improving the lives and health of menstruating individuals and promoting gender equality.

So according to the text in has its own consequences.

The next thing that is going to be talked it is how does it effect on mental health

The societal menstrual hygiene taboos and the stigma surrounding menstruation can have a significant impact on the mental health of individuals who menstruate. Here's how these taboos can affect mental well-being:

Shame and Embarrassment: When menstruation is considered a taboo topic, individuals may feel ashamed or embarrassed about their periods. This can lead to feelings of self-consciousness and a desire to hide their menstrual cycle, even from close family and friends. This secrecy can contribute to a sense of isolation and emotional distress.

 

Low Self-Esteem: Menstrual stigma can erode self-esteem. When individuals are made to feel that a natural bodily function is dirty or impure, they may internalize these negative beliefs and perceive themselves as less valuable or worthy. This can have long-term effects on self-worth and self-confidence.

 

Anxiety and Stress: The fear of leakage or odor, especially in situations where individuals are discouraged from openly addressing menstruation, can lead to heightened anxiety and stress. Worrying about others discovering their period can be a constant source of anxiety, affecting mental health.

 

Social Isolation: In cultures where menstruating individuals are isolated or excluded during their periods, social isolation can be emotionally distressing. This separation from family and community can lead to feelings of loneliness, depression, and a lack of emotional support.

 

Limited Access to Education: Menstrual taboos often result in inadequate education about menstruation. This lack of knowledge can lead to confusion and fear regarding menstrual health and hygiene. Individuals may not know how to properly manage their periods or identify signs of potential health issues, which can lead to increased stress and anxiety.

 

Impact on Academic and Professional Life: For students and professionals, menstrual stigma can disrupt daily routines. The fear of leakage, the need to hide menstrual products, and dealing with pain and discomfort can impact one's ability to concentrate, participate, and excel in academic or workplace environments.

 

Reproductive Health Concerns: In some cases, the fear of discussing menstruation can prevent individuals from seeking medical advice when needed. Ignoring or neglecting reproductive health issues can lead to further mental distress and physical complications.

 

Addressing menstrual hygiene taboos and stigma is essential for promoting good mental health among individuals who menstruate. Education, open dialogue, and breaking the silence around menstruation can help reduce feelings of shame and isolation. Initiatives that provide access to affordable and safe sanitary products, promote menstrual hygiene education, and challenge harmful cultural norms are crucial for improving mental health outcomes and overall well-being for those who menstruate.

To sum up, we need to educate people and comfort girls to make them feel better and not embarrassed.

It will help them to go to school to ask for help they will not feel bad for just human-being .

As a volunteering organization we can say that our main mission is to make people happier and better , so we will do everything that we can do in order to complete our mission by helping and educating world about menstruation

We are “HEEALS” and we are always happy to offer our help to everyone. By donating you can help us make world different .

Email: communications@heeals.org

WhatsApp: +91-7982316660

 

 

The International Day of the Girl Child

 Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being

This year, at a time when we are seeing a range of movements and actions to curtail girls’ and women’s rights and roll back progress on gender equality, we see particularly harsh impacts on girls. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes; there is an urgent need for increased attention and resourcing for the key areas that enable girls to realize their rights and achieve their full potential. 

Responding to girls’ calls for change, the global community must move beyond reaffirming commitments and invest boldly in the action needed to make that change. When we pay attention, we see that, already, many girls are championing solutions and change in their communities. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability. Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind. Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

Did you know?

·         Nearly 1 in 5 girls are still not completing lower-secondary and nearly 4 in 10 girls are not completing upper-secondary school today.

·         Around 90 per cent of adolescent girls and young women do not use the internet in low-income countries, while their male peers are twice as likely to be online.

·         Globally, girls aged 5-14 spend 160 million more hours every day on unpaid care and domestic work than boys of the same age.

·         Adolescent girls continue to account for 3 in 4 new HIV infections among adolescents.

·         Nearly 1 in 4 married/partnered adolescent girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million girls were at risk of child marriage in the next decade. And now over the next ten years, up to 10 million more girls worldwide will be at risk of marrying as children because of the COVID-19 pandemic

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 NO ONE TALKS ABOUT TEACHERS MENTAL HEALTH !

By Sachin Solanki 

 

We are living in times when talking about mental health and its intersection with and influence on other forms of health is being normalized more than ever before. More and more people are coming out with their stories and experiences, making discussions around mental health more stigma-free. From celebrities to house-helps, mental health leaves no one. Yet, it is only unfortunate that we don’t talk enough about the mental health of people whom society depends so much on- about people who build lives through sharing and creating knowledge and these people are none other than our teachers.

 

What’s troubling them?

 

Teaching can be both a rewarding and a gruelling profession. The sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that comes through the dissemination of knowledge and ideas can be an enriching and illuminating feeling.

 

But teaching can also be a field filled with challenges and hurdles. Rigorous and exhausting schedules, requirement of tailored and student-specific approaches and pressure from various actors like parents, school authorities and sometimes even the government can act as major obstacles in making teaching a safe and fulfilling profession.

 

This profession demands a continuous shift in how we organize and share ideas. And no ideas can be shared to the last mile if it’s not well-cooked in the first few steps. It is precisely for this reason we believe that the mental health of teachers and people involved in the education system is a sine qua non for a healthy learning atmosphere.

 

Another obstacle is the lack of adequate infrastructure and tools to share knowledge. This can become a frustrating and demoralizing exercise, more so at the ground level where things get more complicated by the intersection of factors like caste, class and affordability. And together such factors can discourage and undermine the teachers’ confidence and ability to create better learning spaces. Last but not least, teachers in public and state-aided schools carryadded responsibilities and duties of contributing to other assignments other than teaching. Being available even on offdays to contribute to non-teaching duties is explainable and justifiable in the short run but can be deleterious in the long game. While private schools with better funds at their disposal have the wherewithal to provide teacher-friendly spaces and flexible working environments, it’s the non-private institutions that suffer the most.

 

What we must do?

 

It is no exaggeration that such setbacks can truly disincentivize young people from choosing teaching as a profession and owing to this, more often than not, teaching in our part of the world becomes a last refuge for people against unemployment and not a first choice. This also tampers their performance, thereby creating vicious cycles of poor results.

 

Efforts must be made to organize counselling sessions for teachers where they can express not just their grievances but also their doubts and fears. For this, we need a network of dedicated safe spaces consisting oflocal NGOs and mental health experts. We also need to configure how we view efficiency and hard work. Long working hours do not necessarily mean better outcomes. It can very well turn into disasters and senseless labour.

 

Efforts are required to make working hours and schedules more teacher-friendly with adequate time for leisure and relaxation. At HEEALS, we believe that proper mental health cannot be looked at in a separate silo. It must be seen as one ingredient of a larger system.

 

Mental health’s intersection with physical, social personal and sexual health should also be explored more to provide better results. Creating helplines and safe avenues for discussions and individual expressions can be good baby steps but we will eventually need more.

 

Ministry of Education provides psychosocial support through its MANODARPAN initiative to deliberate on mental health issues of both the teachers and students. Similar initiatives need to be multiplied with support of local institutions and communities which can participate in unleashing a social transformation.

 

Last but not least, what we need in the end is a shift in attitude where teaching as a profession must be treated with respect and thoughtfulness because teachers are also human beings and their emotional well-being matters because without teachers there are no students.

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Negative Impact of Taboos on Mental Health

Negative Impact of Taboos on Mental Health

By Saniya Islam 

Walking into your house at the ripe age of eight throwing the shiny new ball your friend had just bought you, enamored with how it bounced and tossed up in the air until - Crack! The mirror reflects back at you in its shattered pieces, your mother close behind yelling, “You better wish away the 7 years of bad luck you’ve doomed to yourself,” unleashing anxiety across your body for the next three weeks. 

This is the effect of baseless taboos and superstitions; the issue, however, extends beyond shattered mirrors and knocking on wood. Superstitions are most harmful in the space of periods, an area in which many women and impressionable girls are uneducated. But why? 

Despite their seemingly harmless intention, period taboos are often the only true advice or education that women in underdeveloped countries - like India - receive to guide them through menstrual cycles. This unproven folklore, however, creates fear mongering around periods. 

There are a myriad of superstitions passed around the world that create unnecessary rules for women. In India, for example, there is a superstition that whilst on your period one cannot enter a kitchen or cook for anyone else according to Hello Clue. The consequence of this rumor is that women are taught that they are dirty and disgusting for their period - furthering menstrual health into an unmentionable and disgraceful topic. 

Consequently, the confidence of women is tattered by period myths as is that of young girls. Period superstitions establish a stigma around periods and those who have them. When on one’s period, girls feel ashamed to be in their own bodies because societal taboos tell them to ‘wash your hair’ or ‘not pray’, as though it is an infectious disease rather than a normal bodily function. 

Once disgusted by periods, girls are thereby told to be disgusted with themselves and the body that contributes to such a process. Through low self-esteem comes low-confidence, growing into many mental health issues in the process. 

Women deserve to be reminded that their period is a normal process and one that should not be frowned upon or that they should be judged for. They deserve more than unsupported rumors and hostility toward their bodily functions. Girls deserve not to fear that if they are on their period without a matchbox in their pocket, evil will come to them. They deserve to be educated, to be heard, and to be met with information about their menstrual cycle that will help them manage it and continue with their lives rather than living in isolation and fear constantly. 

By educating women and abolishing these superstitions from their mind, they can live with knowledge and comfort whilst on their period. These are the standards that we should hold menstrual education toward. This is the standard that HEEALS NGO holds itself to when educating young girls on their periods in order to protect them from period anxiety and allow them to reestablish their confidence. By getting rid of period myths, we allow women to accept themselves and their womanhood. To contribute to the cause of revoking rumors and replacing them with facts, donate to HEEALS today. 

 

Sources: 

https://helloclue.com/articles/culture/36-superstitions-about-periods-from-around-world

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We Request To All The People To Help and Support Our Work .

Please Donate / Support Us In Anyway You Can. Spread Share Support #HEEALS Donation Details Are Below:

DONATORS LOCATED IN INDIA 

Account Number: 002101200566 Bank: ICICI Address: ICICI, Gurgaon Branch Sco-18 & 19 Sector -14, Huda Shopping Center. Gurgaon -122001 RTGS/NEFT IFSC CODE: ICIC0000021

INTERNATIONAL DONATORS Please email: communications@heeals.org Forward this message to your contacts to help this campaign reach its goal! 

Thank You!

Girls Dropout Because Of Menstrual Hygiene

Many Girls Dropout From Their School Just Because Of Periods .

Taboos related to menstrual hygiene is a major player in Girls dropout from schools. Together we can bring back the Girls in school. Join Our Menstrual Hygiene Project . Whats app : +91-- 7982316660

How to Deal with PCOD: At Home, In Clinic, and More...

How to Deal with PCOD: At Home, In Clinic, and More...

By Saniya Islam 

With the mood swings and loss of motivation clouding your life recently, perhaps you have felt like you hit rock bottom. Good news, you might have instead hit a PCOD diagnosis. Polycystic Ovarian Disease 

(PCOD) is defined as a medical condition in which a woman’s ovaries produce abundant numbers of underdeveloped eggs, either immature or partially mature, that become cysts over time - according to Dr. Kamna Nagpal of Max Healthcare. Despite the daunting medical vocabulary, this is a common condition that affects 20% of Indian women and is easily treatable. Read further to understand the symptoms of PCOD, and if you are possibly one of the five women affected by it. 

            Polycystic Ovarian Disease, in spite of its frequent effect on many women, is often a disease suffered in silence, as many are unaware of its symptoms. Symptoms of PCOD include issues with infertility, irregular periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, weight gain, balding or excess body hair, acne, depression, and sleeping disorders. These symptoms lead to serious implications upon women’s mental health and stimulation due to the hormone imbalance created by a secretion of androgen (male hormones) from ovarian cysts. Women experience low self-esteem, mood swings, and pessimistic social relationships - leading to 34% of women diagnosed with PCOD having clinical depression and 45% of women diagnosed with PCOD suffering from anxiety.  

            Although upon the surface level it may seem like an objective health issue, PCOD is an effect of various environmental and social issues. When using spatial analysis, it can be observed that the areas with the most women impacted by Polycystic Ovarian Disease often overlap with those that suffer under pollution and sedentary lifestyles impacted by the culture around them. Though you may be experiencing these symptoms or live in this environment, ensure a clinical diagnosis from your doctor prior to attempting to treat PCOD, as there may be other underlying medical conditions at work. 

            If you are diagnosed, however, there are a myriad of ways to treat and manage your PCOD. The easiest and most effective way to naturally manage PCOD is through a lifestyle change. By adjusting your dietary plans in order to accommodate a low-cholesterol diet, PCOD can be improved upon massively. Furthermore, consistent exercise and lowering overall body fat by about 5% is an extremely effective method of regulating PCOD. Despite the plentiful medications such as progestin, birth control pills, or metformin, an overall shift in perspective and health is the most accessible and worthwhile method in administering PCOD. 

            To close, PCOD, seemingly a daunting condition, is one that is extremely common and treatable. Women everywhere - remember that this is a struggle that many share and simply requires your effort and time. To aid women in similar conflicts and continue to educate, donate to HEEALS NGO. 

 

Sources: 

https://www.maxhealthcare.in/blogs/are-you-suffering-from-pcod#:~:text=Polycystic%20Ovarian%20Disease%20(PCOD)%20is,in%20the%20ovaries%20over%20time.

Be A Part Of Our International Internship /Volunteering/Volunteer travel program At HEEALS Please Contact Us At : communications@heeals.org Please Come Join Us!

Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/ 

Twitter Page: http://www.twitter.com/heeals 

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We Request To All The People To Help and Support Our Work .

Please Donate / Support Us In Anyway You Can. Spread Share Support #HEEALS Donation Details Are Below:

DONATORS LOCATED IN INDIA 

Account Number: 002101200566 Bank: ICICI Address: ICICI, Gurgaon Branch Sco-18 & 19 Sector -14, Huda Shopping Center. Gurgaon -122001 RTGS/NEFT IFSC CODE: ICIC0000021

INTERNATIONAL DONATORS Please email: communications@heeals.org Forward this message to your contacts to help this campaign reach its goal! 

Thank You!

Can You Get Anemia from Your Period?

What is Iron-Deficiency Anemia?

According to the Mayo Clinic, iron-deficiency anemia is a condition caused by having an insufficient amount of iron in your body. This deficiency causes your body to not be able to produce enough hemoglobin-a protein that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin is important because all of our organs need oxygen to function! Without hemoglobin carrying oxygen around the body, our organs would never get the oxygen that they need. 

According to Healthline, if you suffer from menorrhagia (heavy periods), you may also suffer from anemia. If you lose more blood than your body can produce on your period, your body will have a deficient amount of iron from which it can utilize. Therefore, your body won’t be able to produce enough hemoglobin, resulting in a deficiency of oxygenated blood. Basically, period-induced anemia can cause iron-deficiency anemia (there are many factors that may cause period-induced anemia; like diet). 

How Can You Increase the Amount of Iron Your Body Has? 

According to Healthline, there are many ways, including:

1. Eat more iron! Though you can take iron supplements, there are many

foods that have a high amount of iron. This includes red meats, turkey,

spinach, and legumes.

2. Eat foods that are high in Vitamin C! This is because Vitamin C helps

your body absorb iron. Your body being able to absorb iron is very

important because if it can’t absorb the iron, it can’t make hemoglobin

from it. Some foods that are high in Vitamin C include: broccoli,

oranges, and kale.

3. If you drink coffee or tea, try to avoid it at meal times. This is because

they make it harder for your body to absorb the iron that it gets from

the food you eat.

Sources.

“Anemia Period: Can Menstruation Cause Anemia?” Healthline, 11 Nov. 2020,

www.healthline.com/health/anemia-period#prevention.

Mayo Clinic. “Iron Deficiency Anemia - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic,

Mayo Clinic, 18 Oct. 2019,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptomscauses/

syc-20355034.

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