May 26th, 2004, Viewed: 708 times
Recently I went through an interesting article on Aspirin by Family Medicine Notes. It recounts the history behind the revelation of Aspirin, a prototype of NSAIDS (Non Steroidal anti-Inflammatory Drugs). I was really unaware of the late findings of its uses. Well it seems that this drug can do more wonders than expected. Every time a study is done for its utility limits, it crosses the boundary. What more do we want from this drug? It is known for its actions as a pain reliever, an anti-inflammatory, and an antipyretic. Its antiplatelet effect preventing heart attacks and strokes is the most important one. And now the study shows it can be used for preventing breast cancer and colorectal cancer also!
Aspirin can have serious side effects, including stomach ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding and brain hemorrhage. (NYTimes)
Despite it’s serious side effects, contribution of aspirin is quite consequential to be ignored. Needless to say we have to weigh the benefits and uses against the risks. A simple drug like Aspirin, also called Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), has so much yet to give but it still needs more study and clinical trials before entering as a drug with multitude attributes.
- Shephali
Posted in Medicine | No Comments »
May 21st, 2004, Viewed: 124 times
- Shephali
Posted in Personal | No Comments »
May 21st, 2004, Viewed: 122 times
I became a member of Santa Clara library and spent my time reading books in it’s quiet environment. I commuted by bus and did that almost five days a week. An incident happened on one of those days that till today I remember.
It was a nice day, sun retiring from it’s assigned job. Sitting on the wooden bench I was waiting for my bus, number 58, to take me home from my visit to the library. I was killing my time looking at the passing vehicles. Out of the blue a short old lady comes near me. She had a hunch back, thick glasses over her fragile nose, a heavy bag on her drooping shoulder and a wooden stick in her hand. She sat on the bench looking exhausted, reclining a little, making herself comfortable. I looked at her from the corner of my eyes and estimated her age to be about seventy-five or may be eighty. I assumed she was also waiting for her bus.
Few minutes passed and I heard a soft voice near my ears…can you tell me the bus route to the library. I looked at her, this time straight into her eyes. She had a very kind face and a smile that tried to keep up with her wrinkled skin. I returned a warm smile and then explained to her that the bus to the library will stop on the other side of the road and would be there in a few minutes. Her eyes twinkled and thanking me she rushed towards the pedestrian crossing. I looked at her shuffling gait and then smiled to myself thinking of her sweetness.
Then suddenly I heard a screeching sound of the tires of a vehicle. I looked up, and to my horror I saw a car just stop within inches of that old lady. The old lady didn’t have the patience to wait for the green signal for crossing the other side of the road. Anyway, by Gods grace she was saved. She finally crossed and reached the other side of the road. Her face was expressionless as if nothing had happened. Well for me it was terrifying! I thought what if the car wouldn’t have stopped? She could have got hurt or may be worse. Would I have been responsible for it in some way? Did I know the woman so much in a few minutes of observation that I felt so much for her? I looked across the street. A bus was standing hooting to start for it’s next destination. When the bus was gone the old lady had gone too leaving a strange feeling in my heart and an unforgettable day in my life.
- Shephali
Posted in Personal | No Comments »
May 20th, 2004, Viewed: 149 times
![[Image of Brain]](/images/brainrbc1.gif)
Iron deficiency anemia is caused mostly by increased blood loss from the body. Blood loss can be of two types. It may be gastrointestinal or menstrual. Other causes are urinary blood loss, mal-absorption, hemolysis and poor oral intake. Women are more prone to develop iron deficiency anemia because of blood loss through menstruation or reduced oral intake.
Women in the Penn State study who were iron-deficient performed significantly worse on memory and attention tests than healthy women, and an iron supplement was all it took to correct the problem.
This can be very crucial in young women as theirs is an age when so many things are happening inside and outside them. So young women should be alarmed and try eating iron rich food. Check out Iron Rich Food for Iron Deficiency Anemia for choosing your diet. A tip for ensuring a better assimilation of iron in the body is to take in vitamin C rich food along with iron. Vitamin C (Ascorbic) acid helps in better absorption of iron from our intestine.
- Shephali
Posted in Medicine | No Comments »
May 19th, 2004, Viewed: 227 times
There is a need to make a reasonable co-payment plan in healthcare costs. Numerous studies have found that the rise of co-payment may have unforeseen implications on patient’s healthcare that require further understanding. Patients will cut back on prescription drugs and this may aggravate their disease leading to complications.
…simply raising drug co-pays across the board is a fairly blunt instrument in the effort to control rising health-care costs. In the long term, some worry that tactic could actually increase health-care costs for certain patients, if cutting back on medicine leads to expensive complications.
Well, I really think that increasing the copay may actually have a negative impact on chronic diseases. Anyway, the question that arises in my mind is that why do we need to pay a copay. Already there is so much copay for a doctors visit and insurance charges. There should be some other altenative to fix this problem in health care industry.
- Shephali
Posted in Medicine | 1 Comment »
May 14th, 2004, Viewed: 137 times
Asking the Mirror…
Deep slumber ended
I woke up to find, no arms to embrace me
I looked up in the mirror
Is it a dream?
My heart yearned to be
Accross seven seas, where my love had gone
I looked up in the mirror
will we meet?
The wait lasted
More than I expected, I was to meet him now
I looked up in the mirror
have I changed?
The meeting occured
Tears flooded my eyes…No mirror this time
I looked up into his eyes
Was it me?
- Shephali
Posted in Poetry | No Comments »
May 13th, 2004, Viewed: 144 times
Creations
Sitting at home alone
looking out from my window,
I see the oceanic blue sky
Holding all that it can.
Mockingbirds flying swiftly
racing for their nests,
A big eagle gliding across
ravenous all the while.
Manmade dynamic carriers
soaring against the gravity,
occupying the titanic space
depriving birds of their share.
God has a foresight
man should acknowledge,
share and care he wanted
and to leave the cupidity behind.
- Shephali
Posted in Poetry | No Comments »
May 13th, 2004, Viewed: 144 times
![[Image of Rava Upma]](/images/ravaupama.gif)
In my previous post I mentioned about a recipe named Rava Upma. This is a south Indian dish and can be eaten as a snack at teatime or breakfast. It has been passed on to me by my mother. Well here is how to prepare this dish for which my husband is crazy!
Ingredients
1 cup Rava (Semolina, Suji)
2 tsp.mustard seeds
1 stalk curry leaves
5 tsp. coriander leaves chopped
3 green chillies chopped
1 onion (medium size) chopped coarsely
2 tbsp. oil (refined)
2 tsp. lemon juice
2-3 cups boiling water
2 (medium size) tomato chopped evenly
1/4th cup green peas
1 potato (big size) chopped evenly into small pieces salt to taste
Method
Heat oil in a heavy pan.
Add mustard seeds and wait till you hear a cracking sound.
Add curry leaves and potato. Fry till the potatoes are almost cooked.
Now add the green chillies and onions. Stir and saute till the onions are pink.
Add the green peas, tomatoes, coriander leaves and stir for 2-3 minutes.
Add the the semolina and stir continuously till the semolina gives out a nice aroma and is a little brown in color.
It takes about 7-8 minutes to roast the semolina on low heat.
Add the salt and lemon juice and stir. Carefully pour in 2 cups boiling water and stir well.
Use a long handled ladle for stirring to keep away from the spluttering.
Keep on low heat and simmer for 2-3 minute still the water evaporates. If it feels too dry, add more water and stir.
Rava Upma is ready to eat!
- Shephali
Posted in Cooking | No Comments »
May 13th, 2004, Viewed: 157 times
![[Image of a Cooking Cartoon]](/images/cooking_cartoon.gif)
I always dreaded cooking. Before my marriage, my biggest concern was whether I will be able to cook? Everyday? I guess I need to provide some context hear. I am (for those you haven’t yet figured out) a typical Indian housewife. Indian wives by tradition are supposed to cook wonderful food for their husband - if not the whole household! So coming back to my big concern - how will I have the stamina to sustain myself through the whole process of cooking? And that too Indian food! I discussed my problem with my mother many times. The answer I got was very straight - “you will get used to it “. Well, I must admit she was right. I have really gotten used to it. 
Now the question arises - DO I ENJOY cooking? Well, I have a very diplomatic answer for this. I love cooking special recipes on special occasions. Hmm…so the bottom line is, I don’t enjoy cooking everyday! Doing the same meal (the staple diet which consists of rice, pulses and vegetables) is really monotonous affair for me. Anyway, you have to live and for that you need to eat and in order to eat you need to cook.
Now, I can eat outside if I want to instead of cooking, but then both the purse and the stomach won’t allow it! 
So all these days of cooking has taught me that the key to being a good cook is PATIENCE. Well…Duh! Another important reason for eventually overcoming my fear of cooking (everyday!) is my husband’s unabashed love for whatever I cook! Really! He just loves my cooking and that has helped me in developing a passion for cooking. One of the food he relishes is “Rava Upma”. A south Indian speciality that requires a lot of preparatory work. If he be given a choice to select the food for his three meals, I bet on it that he will choose this dish every single time! And to think that he did not even like it when I had first met him! As I mentioned above, this dish takes a little time to cook but then I cook it almost everytime he wishes to eat. Needless to say my love for cooking is growing for some specific reason but the fact remains that I don’t love to cook everyday!!
- Shephali
Posted in Cooking | No Comments »
May 12th, 2004, Viewed: 154 times
Eve of War
Love brings joy, peace all around,
a father brings a toy, for his little boy confound.
Has the war begun, asks the young son,
playing with the gun, which his father had bought for fun.
He tells him it is time, to play the game again,
but he knows in the back of his mind, distracting him will be in vain.
A question by every child, who knows nothing of war,
everyone who smiled, cried in dismay what for.
He knows in the core of his heart, will never be able to explain,
it comes with all the wrath, is not simple and plain.
So small and naive, yet has so much to question,
who doesn’t know how to grieve, and knows nothing of aggression.
Such pure mind and soul, should be let to live a beautiful life,
if everyone has this same goal, there will be no suffering or strife.
Have the memories been erased, what war beholds for us,
the only balm which is chaste, is to say a no to yes.
- Shephali
Posted in Poetry | No Comments »
![[Image of Aspirin]](/images/aspirin.gif)
![[Image of Birthday]](/images/bday10.gif)
![[Image of an Old Lady]](/images/oldlady.gif)
![[Image of CoPay]](/images/copay.gif)