Staying healthy
The best treatment is the illness that never starts. Which checks and vaccines you need and when, how to eat, move and sleep well, how to stay safe in the heat and the rains, and what to do in the first minutes of an emergency.
For
26 guides
Check-ups and screening
- Cancer screening: breast, cervical and mouthAlso called Breast cancer screening, Cervical screening, Pap smear, VIA test, Mammogram, Oral cancer screeningScreening looks for cancer in people with no symptoms. India's national programme offers a mouth check to people aged 30 and over, and breast and cervical checks to women aged 30 to 65. A lump, a sore that does not heal or unusual bleeding needs a doctor without waiting.
- Health checks by ageAlso called Health screening, Routine check-ups, Preventive health check, Annual health checkIndia's national programme invites everyone aged 30 and over for a yearly blood pressure and blood sugar check, and for mouth, breast and cervical cancer checks. For older ages, advice comes from societies and other countries.
Vaccines
- Vaccines for adultsAlso called Adult immunisation, Adult vaccination, Vaccines for older adults, Booster vaccinesProtection from some childhood vaccines fades, and some vaccines are advised only for adults. India's national programme vaccinates adults only in pregnancy, so other adult vaccines come from society advice. This page says who advises what.
- Vaccines for babies and childrenAlso called Childhood immunisation, Baby vaccines, Vaccination schedule, Universal Immunisation Programme, UIP scheduleIndia's Universal Immunisation Programme gives babies and children free vaccines against 12 diseases, in a fixed schedule from birth to 16 years. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics advises some further vaccines.
Eating well
- A healthy plate for Indian familiesAlso called Balanced diet, My Plate for the Day, Healthy eating, Dietary guidelines for IndiansA healthy plate is half vegetables and fruit, with the rest made up of whole grains and millets, dal, some milk or curd, a few nuts and a little oil. India's national dietary guidelines show how much of each, and what to cut back on.
- Cutting down on salt, sugar and oilAlso called Salt reduction, Reducing sugar, Cooking with less oil, High fat, sugar and salt foodsToo much salt, sugar and oil raises the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and weight gain. India's dietary guidelines and WHO give clear daily limits, and small changes in cooking, snacking and label reading can keep you within them.
Staying active
Sleep and stress
- Coping with stressAlso called Managing stress, Stress management, Feeling overwhelmedStress is a normal response to pressure, but stress that goes on for a long time can affect health. Slow breathing, activity, sleep, time with people you trust and talking about what worries you all help, and stress that does not ease needs a doctor.
- Sleeping wellAlso called Good sleep, Sleep habits, Sleep hygieneAdults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night, and children and teenagers need more. A regular bedtime, a dark, quiet room, less caffeine and fewer screens in the evening help, and trouble sleeping that lasts is worth seeing a doctor about.
Tobacco and alcohol
- Drinking less alcoholAlso called Cutting down on alcohol, Reducing drinking, Alcohol and health, Stopping drinkingAlcohol can harm health even in small amounts, and the risk rises with how much and how often you drink. Cutting down helps, and anyone who drinks heavily every day should see a doctor before stopping suddenly.
- Quitting tobaccoAlso called Quit smoking, Stopping chewing tobacco, Giving up gutkha, Tobacco cessationTobacco harms the body whether it is smoked or chewed, and no amount is safe. Stopping helps, and counselling together with medicines from a doctor can more than double the chance of staying off it.
Seasons and weather
- Preventing mosquito bitesAlso called Mosquito control, Dengue and malaria prevention, Stopping mosquitoes breeding, Mosquito repellents and netsMosquitoes spread dengue, chikungunya and malaria. Stop them breeding in water at home, cover your skin, use repellents, screens and nets, and remember that dengue mosquitoes bite by day while malaria mosquitoes bite mostly at night.
- Safe drinking water and foodAlso called Boil water advice, Water safety at home, Food hygiene, Preventing diarrhoea, ORSDirty water and food spread diarrhoea, typhoid and other infections, most often in summer and the monsoon. Boil or treat water you are unsure of, wash your hands, handle food safely, and start ORS at the first loose stool.
- Staying healthy in the monsoonAlso called Rainy season health, Monsoon illnesses, Monsoon precautionsThe monsoon brings illnesses spread by mosquitoes, dirty water and food, flood water and damp skin, and more snakes. Drink safe water, eat fresh hot food, keep out of flood water, stop mosquitoes breeding, and get any fever checked.
- Staying safe in the heatAlso called Heat wave safety, Summer safety, Preventing heat illness, Loo lagnaNagpur's summer heat can make anyone ill, and heat stroke is life-threatening. Drink water often, stay out of the midday sun, keep your body and home cool, and learn the signs of heat illness so that you can act fast.
Pregnancy and babies
- Caring for a newbornAlso called Newborn baby care, Caring for a new baby, Neonatal careThe first weeks need warmth, early and exclusive breastfeeding, a clean and dry cord, safe sleep and clean hands. Know the danger signs that mean a baby needs a doctor at once.
- Check-ups in pregnancyAlso called Antenatal care, Antenatal check-ups, ANC, Pregnancy check-ups, Prenatal careIn India, every pregnant woman should have at least four check-ups, the first within 12 weeks, with iron and folic acid tablets and a tetanus vaccine. Some signs, such as bleeding or less baby movement, need care at once.
- Staying healthy in pregnancyAlso called Antenatal care, Pregnancy care, Taking care in pregnancyRegular check-ups, a varied diet, iron and folic acid tablets, gentle activity and the right vaccine help to keep you and your baby well. A few signs in pregnancy mean you need care at once.
Growing older
First aid
- Bleeding and woundsOften an emergencyAlso called First aid for cuts, Severe bleeding, Stopping bleeding, Wound careMost bleeding stops if you press firmly on the wound with a clean pad and keep pressing. Call for an ambulance if the bleeding is heavy or will not stop, and have deep, dirty or large wounds seen by a doctor.
- First aid for a seizureOften an emergencyAlso called Fit, Convulsion, Epileptic fit, What to do in a seizureStay with the person, keep them safe, note the time and put nothing in their mouth. When the shaking stops, turn them onto their side. Call for an ambulance for a first seizure or one that lasts longer than 5 minutes.
- First aid for broken bones and sprainsOften an emergencyAlso called Fracture first aid, Sprain first aid, Bone injury first aid, Twisted jointKeep an injured arm or leg still, support it as you found it and do not try to straighten it. Call for an ambulance for a bone through the skin, heavy bleeding, or a possible back, neck, hip or thigh injury.
- Hands-only CPROften an emergencyAlso called CPR, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Chest compressionsHands-only CPR means pushing hard and fast on the middle of the chest of an adult who has collapsed and is not breathing normally. Call for an ambulance, then keep pressing until help takes over.
- Nosebleed first aidOften an emergencyAlso called Epistaxis, Bleeding from the nose, Nose bleedSit down, lean forward and pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 to 15 minutes without letting go. Do not tilt the head back. Get medical help if the bleeding is heavy or will not stop.
- Severe allergic reactionOften an emergencyAlso called Anaphylaxis, Anaphylactic shock, Serious allergic reactionAnaphylaxis is a sudden, life-threatening allergic reaction. Call for an ambulance at once, use an adrenaline auto-injector if there is one, and lay the person down with their legs raised. Do not let them stand or walk.
- What to do when someone faintsOften an emergencyAlso called Fainting first aid, Syncope, Passing out, BlackoutLay the person flat on their back and raise their legs. Most people come round within about 30 seconds. If they do not wake within a minute, are not breathing normally, or have chest pain or a pounding heartbeat, call for an ambulance.