Health Screening for Women

I know I should have written about this weeks ago, but it is better late than never.

This month of March, Beauty Parlours, Apparel Stores, etc have several schemes for women customers and offer good discounts on account of the Women's Day Celebration.

There is something more important that many women miss out during this time .Many hospitals too offer discounts on Health Screenings. With changes in our lifestyle, annual health exams are a must for all - especially women. Regular health check-ups and tests can help find problems before they start or early, when your chances for treatment are better. Even for Cancer, there are several cures in alternate medicine as well such as Panchagavya treatments, Aloe Vera, Asparagus, and so on. Here again, complete cure is possible only when the problem is identified in the early stages. So, it is very important that women do regular health screening - once a year to ensure that all is well.

Based on experience, here is some brief information I would like to share. Several hospitals have different health screen packages depending on your age. Broadly, the tests would cover the following.

1. CBC (Complete Blood Count)
2. Blood Grouping
3. Chest X-Ray
4. Urine Routine
5. Stool Routine
6. Fasting blood Sugar
7. Post Prandial Blood Sugar
8. Lipid Profile
9. Ultrasound of the Abdomen
10. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Harmone test)
11. ECG
12. Pap Smear
13. Mammmogram (including ultrasound)
14. Bone Density Scan (Dexa)
15. Physical Examination

Some do's and dont's.

• Ensure you fix up an appointment
• Visit the hospital early 
• You need to go on empty stomach
• Wear a loose fitting salwar kameez preferably. You may have to change to the hospital gowns for several tests, and so jeans, tight fitting clothes and even sarees may not be all that comfortable.
• When you are filling up your health history, ensure that you give precise information about yourself and your family.
• The complete screening would easily take about 5-6 hours. So, please be prepared and stay relaxed.

You will need to visit your doctor again on another day when all the reports come in - so please fix the next appointment too when you leave.The whole process is not a very pleasant experience, but you need to do these exams in order to take treatment early if something is not alright.

And, do not panic if you are diagnosed with an illness. Discuss with your doctor at length about the treatment. You may also want to try alternate medicines if you wish, especially if you are advised to take medication for a prolonged duration. Also, if you are diagnosed with an illness, you may also want to take a second opinion, especially if you are advised of surgery, etc.

So, that's about it.  I would also like to request the men reading this post to urge the women in your family to go in for the health screenings, which is vital for their well being.

Take care, and Stay Healthy.

Cheers!

Love is not Blind

Several years ago, I happened to read a blog post by a good old friend on Zen principles. The last few lines of the post went like this – ‘Everything that moves around is a creation of the mind, and if we firmly have our feet on the ground, we will see that every moment we live life itself is a miracle of nature. The way our organs work, the way we breathe without any sound, the way the earth spins without we spinning - all are perfect examples of miracles at work’.

How very true! We often don’t count our blessings, but keep searching for new miracles. God makes us walk through difficult times so that we learn through adversities. The two weeks that I spent with my mother at the hospital when she was very ill several years ago, made me look at life with a totally different perspective. I firmly believe that God had a reason for putting us through difficult times, and in my case I just became a better person - to thank God everyday for what I have and do whatever I can for the needy.

Over the last few years, my association with some good old friends has got me involved in several noble causes for the society, and I feel blessed that God has been using me in small ways to make a big difference in the lives of a few people, some of whom I have not even met.

I am writing this post specially to make an appeal to readers for a Trust for the Blind.

Padhmam Blind Welfare & Charitable Trust (PBWCT) is a Charitable Trust formed in the year 2014, and is managed  by Mr. Padmaraj Jain, a retired Professor from a City College. Incidentally, Mr.Padmaraj Jain is also blind. 

The Trust runs a hostel for the poor, blind girls who are pursuing their higher studies in various colleges in Chennai. All the inmates of the hostel hail from very poor families in the small towns and villages of Tamilnadu. Being blind and poor girls, they need a secure place to stay and this need is fulfilled by Padhmam Blind Welfare & Charitable Trust (PBWCT). The Trust is run largely with the funds from the Public and has no other concrete source of income. 

I visited them a few weeks ago, and also interacted with some of the girls residing there. I felt very sad when I saw all those young girls confined to a small space which was smaller than even the size of my living room! Ever since we came to know about this Trust, some of us have got together to buy them educational and other material that they badly needed.

I must mention there that while many of us would want to spend our retired life in the comfort of our homes, here is one gentleman - Mr.Padmaraj Jain, who has spent a considerable sum of money from his retirement benefits for the upkeep of the Trust as he feels it is his duty to be of help to people like himself. Many a time, in order to pay the rent and meet the regular expenses of the hostel like food, he shells money from his own pension.

It is very rare to find people like him around, and it would be a great Punyam (am not able to find an equivalent English word) if each one of us can do something to bring light to the lives of these very poor, blind girls.

Am giving below the contact and bank details of this Trust. Please also take some time to call and speak to this nice gentleman.  There are so many way that you can extend your support.

a) Sponsor the expenses of atleast one girl for a year

b) Sponsor food for a day on your birthday, wedding anniversary or some other special occasion

c) Donate some essential grocery items - like rice, dal, oil, sugar and salt

d) Donate some essential study materials

e) Donate a sum of money - whatever you can afford

Padhmam Blind Welfare & Charitable Trust

Old No: 101, 1st Floor, Natesan Road,
Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004
(Behind City Centre )

Mobile No: +91: 80564 76316 / 94441 68100

Website - www.padhmamblindwelfare.org

E-mail: padhmamblindwelfare@gmail.com

Bank Information

 

State Bank of India
Account Number: 34198242929
IFS Code - SBIN0013067
RK Salai Branch, Mylapore
Chennai, Tamilnadu.

"There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark." - Helen Keller

"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain

I pray and hope that many of you who come across this post will help and support this Trust in some form or the other.

We never know when our last day on earth will be. So, face each day with a smile and thank God for giving you yet another day to live, and love.

God bless!

Shat Karma for Women

International Women’s day celebrated on 8^th March every year is generally spent in exalting women who have had successful careers and held important positions in the society. We talk about women’s freedom, liberty, safety and security (more so in the recent times). We also speak about how the woman should climb up the Corporate ladder and prove herself worthy.  

 

However, has anyone wondered what a woman should be like – what her Swadharma is?

 

The ‘Needhi Shastra’ (நீதி சாஸ்த்ரம்) explains the Six Karmas (Shat Karma) for Women. It goes like this: 

 

Karyeshu Dasi, Karaneshu Manthri, Roopeshu lakshmi, Kshamaya Dharitri,  Snehesha Mata, Shayanethu Veshya, Shat dharmayukta Kuladharma Pathni.  

 

கார்யேஷு தாஸீ, கரணேஷு மந்த்ரீ, ரூபேஷு லக்ஷ்மி, க்ஷமயா தரித்ரீ,  ஸ்நேஹேச மாதா, சயநேது வேச்யா, ஷட்கர்மயுக்தா குலதர்ம பத்னி.  

 

1. Karyeshu  Dasi – to be like a servant in doing the chores of the house.  

 

கார்யேஷு தாஸீ  - வேலைகாரியாக கார்யம் பண்ணுவது. இதில், மனைவி கணவனுக்கு அடிமை என்று அர்த்தமில்லை. கணவனுக்கு வேலைகாரியாக இருப்பதோடு நிற்காமல், சகலமாகவும் இருப்பவள் அவள் என்று 'நீதி சாஸ்த்ரம்' சொல்கிறது. 

 

2. Karaneshu Manthri – she must be like a minister when advising her husband. 

கரணேஷு மந்த்ரீ - கணவனுக்கு ஆலோசனை சொல்வதில் மந்திரியாக இருக்க வேண்டும். இதன் அர்த்தம், தான் வைத்ததே சட்டம் என்று கணவன் இல்லாமல் மனைவியின் ஆலோசனை கலந்தே எதுவும் பண்ண வேண்டும் என்பது.  

 

It is clear that the husband should consult his wife also for her opinion on matters related to the family. It is also evident that our women were appreciated those days for possessing a sharp mind and fit enough to advice her husband just as a Minister would do. Again, this implies that a wife also has to play a role and offer advise while taking important decisions for the family and not leave all responsibilities to the husband alone.  

 

3. Roopeshu lakshmi – In appearance, she must be like beautiful like Lakshmi   

 

ரூபேஷு லக்ஷ்மி - தோற்றத்தில் லக்ஷ்மியாக, அதாவது லட்சுமிகரமாக இருக்கவேண்டும்.  

 

This is clear. It implies that the wife must be presentable – so certainly not walk around in nighties and shorts/leggings, and un-kept hair, but dress up decently, beautifully and modestly at the home too.  

 

4.  Kshamaaya Dharitri – While being like Sridevi in appearance, she must have the forbearance of Bhumadevi 

 

க்ஷமயா தரித்ரீ - ரூபத்தில் ஸ்ரீதேவியாக இருப்பவள் பொறுமையால் பூமாதேவியாக இருக்கவேண்டும் 

 

Patience is a virtue. Ego destroys relationships, but a little patience and understanding can save and help flourish a relationship. 

 

5. Snehesha Mata – This means when showing love, she must love her husband just like how a mother shows love towards her child. 

 

ஸ்நேஹே ச மாதா - அன்பு காட்டுவதில் ஒரு தாய் குழந்தையிடம் எப்படியிருப்பாளோ, அப்படியே கணவனிடம் மனைவி  இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று அர்த்தம். 

 

This is one of the highest status given to women in our Dharma. This implies that she should take care of her husband lovingly just like how a mother would love her child. 

 

6. Shayanethu Veshya, - after mentioning about the 5 karmas, it is only lastly it is said that she must also give pleasure to her husband like a courtesan - says the “Needhi Shahstra” 

 

சயநே து வேச்யா - கடைசியாகத்தான், அவள் கணவனுக்கு  சிற்றின்பம் அளிப்பவளாகவும் இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று சொல்லி, அதில் வேசிகள் மாதிரி இருக்கவேண்டும் என்று (நீதி சாஸ்திரத்தில்) சொல்லியிருக்கிறது. 

 

A successful woman does not only imply that she holds a high position in the society or at office. Women need to understand that taking care of the family and showering warmth and love towards her husband and children also makes her a successful woman. So, let not the modern woman get confused with all this and slacken in her duty towards her own family in the name of ‘equality’.

 

Finally, all these qualities can be developed and molded with just one factor – UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. When there is unconditional love, there is Trust, you Forgive and Forget, you become more Understanding and Patient, you Patch-up quickly after a quarrel, Ego vanishes, and Love and Harmony dominate the home.

 

Best Wishes for a Happy Women’s Day!

இனிய மகளிர் தின வாழ்த்துக்கள்!