GETTING NOSTALGIC ABOUT RAGGING AND MEDICAL LITERATURE

 

If there is any one thing that radically changes an individual during his training and learning days, then that would be ragging. Young boys and girls come from different parts of the country, different socio-economic strata, and different family backgrounds to live and study together in a professional institution. Till the day of their admission they had only dreamt dreams that their family constraints allowed them to. They were, for the first time, away from the protection of their parents, home and all that was familiar. And then an introduction to a brave new world awaited them!

 

Oh what a grand introduction it was with a traditional ceremony called ragging, a ritual which goes on and on, till you require no more. The new melting pot, which churned and homogenized the differences and diversities among all our batch mates, was a highly scientific and professional shock treatment, which metamorphoses us from adolescence to adulthood. The good boys with pure thoughts (satwik vichar) and discipline (anushashan) were suddenly transformed into a worldly wise and tough guys and girls, ready for all eventualities and equipped for all occasions. All prudish concepts and taboos were stripped and discarded as came out of the melting pot. Ragging not only taught us how to get things done, but hook or by crook, but also exposed us to a wide variety of hooks and crooks and told us about the scope and utilities of each one of them. Sam, dam, dand, bhed, goli, gali and gapp all crept inside the sulci and gyri and became a part of our autonomic nervous system. The two biggest life lessons learnt then was failure was not an option, it was just an attempt gone wrong, and excuses were of no use in life.

Stuffing you up with one Kg of kalakand (a white coloured dry sweet like sandesh) without allowing you to drink a sip of water or forcing you to gulp down two glasses of gehri hari Raja ki thandai (a herbal drink with almonds, cashew, dries betel leaves, poppy seeds, cardamom, pepper, rose petals, saffron and milk prepared by the iconic Raja, which is cream in colour but gets greener with every extra dose of cannabis)are raggings I am ready to subject myself to even today. I wish my seniors take up the call! Dares like tying a bleating lamb to the back row seat in a lecture theatre or, worse still, replying to a beautiful senior girl who is coyly asking ‘Mujhse shadi karoge”(Will you marry me?) This is a question which can have no correct answer, if you say yes, she will slap you and if you say no she will ask Kyon, main sundar nahin hoon (why, am I not beautiful) and again slap you! The only correct answer then is to lie prostate at her feet and do a Tera number salam (No. 13 salute). She will not only lift you up but also give you thirteen rupees laundry charges. In no time all our inhibitions were gone and we became genuine Baby Georgians!

 

It is all too easy to allow the demands of advanced scholarly achievement to make one insular, to isolate one from the remarkable scope and breadth of what goes on within the boundaries of this haloed Medical College in particular and this city of Lucknow in general. This may not be Hogwarts's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but there is magic here and spells in its air that help students to succeed in life! The best spells are not found in classrooms but in the culture and ambience of the Institution. These spells and the education that comes with them helps students from becoming just another brick in the wall. Ragging teaches fresh entrants all these spells and integrates them in the campus life. Education is what is left with you, when you have forgotten everything that was written in books. It is that attitude, and ragging brings out that attitude in an freshman.

 

During our ragging period we were introduced to a sacred scripture called 'Medical literature'. It was recited loudly as a prayer in the hostels, and the challenge was not only to learn it by heart, but to start reciting it from anywhere in the middle at the drop of a hat. Our seniors were excellent teachers, but their job was not at all difficult, because the sacred scripture, despite its voluminous size, was composed in highly imaginative verses, with the most innovative comparisons and the wildest of outlandish ideas. Even Sri Sukumar Roy's nonsense verses or Abol Tabol failed in comparison. It was as if the language's secret sauce was revealed to us, with taste so heady and intoxicating that we are still in its spell.

 

Learning the Medical literature by heart was non-negotiable. It improved our learning abilities and acted like a scientific filter of our intellect. "If you can't remember the Medical literature then how the hell do you think you will be able to remember the complex anatomy of the brain, the ear, and the hand" our seniors would yell!

 

Learning the Medical literature by heart brought a sea change in our personality. Our protective childhood and hesitant adolescence were buried once and for all and we suddenly metamorphosed into adults. The change was more obvious than a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. Our vocabulary multiplied manifold, and now, at the slightest provocation, we could verbally blast out even the ugliest opposition with the filthiest tongue. With effortless ease we could lambast any offending target into smithereens without even lifting a finger.

 

The F word, the B word, the C word or their Hindi and Punjabi MC BC counterparts were now like long forgotten nursery rhymes after that crash course of imbibing the Medical literature. Adults don't recite 'Mary had a little lamb', do they? They grow out of it and recite Milton, Wordsworth, Byron, Shelly and Keats. From learning the Medical literature our expressions became more authentic, more innovative and far more imaginative. We were the new Byron, Shelly and Keats, our expression had gone rogue, our imagination deliciously astray, dancing drunk on a table top, almost as sophisticated as a drunken sailor!

 

Ragging taught us that a colourful vocab relieves stress. We came to know for the first time that the medical benefit of profanity as a substitute of Aspirin was both immediate and effective. It can take us to a cooler elite group and can establish the best amongst us as the alpha of that group. This is not the first time I am writing about Cuss words and profanities. Ragging made me a veteran in this field. If you have missed my blog on the F bomb then please click: https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-f-bomb-and-such-profanities.html

 

I am of the opinion that cuss words were invented before actual speech, when we were grunting and panting. They are vital to our vocabulary to express a visceral need to vent. It feels so amazingly refreshing after the act of uttering them with proper expression. The same word in different situations, in different contexts and with different volume of delivery and accompanying expression, can mean vastly different things and even a thousand words couldn't take its place. Many people have stubbed their toes only to find deep solace in these words. But my dictionary of these beautiful words changed completely after ragging. Medical literature made them more colourful, and colourful language carries its own dictionary. Though these cuss words usually change with generations and today's cuss becomes tomorrow's common lingo, but Medical literature learned five decades back still sounds like recent advances. In fact, so successful has been its existence that a newer edition was never required! In social life when obscenities become mundane we need higher grade of obscenity to shock, but our Medical literature has stood the test of time and a lot of water has flown down  the Gomti since its sacred origin.

 

Academicians who research the history and etymology of cuss words will never understand, because just reciting these words may be misinterpreted as reciting a prayer from a religious text. These words are nothing without the feelings and the expressions that naturally accompany them. Similarly, reciting the Medical literature with the correct feeling, attitude and expression took us to a state of Trans! 

 

One only has to give in to the perverse desire to let go orally to experience the joy after a tired and frustrating day's work. You can thus air your worst mood with minimum verbiage. If you think that loudly saying f*** or s*** brings such emotional, physical and spiritual release that it clears all the cobwebs in your brain, imaging a drug which is thousand times more potent - that is our Medical literature. With its frank inappropriateness and lack of corners it is both an ageless balm and benediction. As we prepare to celebrate the golden jubilee of our Georgian '75 batch next year I am getting nostalgic, remembering the transcendental power of our Medical literature. 

 

Unadulterated academics often gets monotonous, and if you are far away from your loved ones in a lonely hostel room, very alarmingly frightening! Boredom is a big bully, when you step up to it and take it by its beards, you will be surprised to see it coming out in your hands, as it was stuck there only to scare away timid adventurers! Ragging converted us from timid adventurers to brave soldiers.

 

It is a pity that ragging is confused with mindless violence and so has been rightly banned today, but it has robbed this generation of a very vital maturity podium, after climbing which, one gets integrated with the ethos of an institution. One can then mingle seamlessly into the pool of seniors and foster most wonderful relationships for life!

WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND INHERITANCE PLANNING

 

When you die, what are you going to leave behind........an inheritance or a mess?

Wealth management is all about leaving behind an inheritance to whom we desire and for the purpose we desire. Wealth management has 3 parts

1. Accumulation or Wealth enhancement 

2. Conservation or Wealth preservation 

3. Distribution or Wealth transfer

 

All of us are still pursuing Wealth enhancement, without even bothering about conservation, and still not planning for distribution of our Wealth. This is being postponed indefinitely for far too long, and if we don't act today, we will surely leave behind a mess.

 

Protection planning

Reliability of income (ROI)for you and your spouse till you two are in this world is vital. This can be threatened by many ways

(i) Inflation and increased cost of living

(ii) A stock market crash

(iii) Unexpected medical expenses 

(iv) A predator or a disgruntled family member 

The last point should not be underestimated. So long as you are alive you will surely protect both your wealth and your family because the predators will lie low, but when you are not around they will raise their ugly head and drag your children to court. So, Wealth protection is a must.

 

Wealth transfer 

Inter-generational Wealth transfer requires Estate planning. This is not about real estate, anything which you own or will own after your death is your estate. We have 4 types of assets

1. Physical - land, house, jewellery 

2. Financial - shares, debentures,  mutual funds, fixed deposits, insurance 

3. Digital - Mobile phone, Credit and Debit cards, Email ID, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook account.

4. Intangible - reputation,  goodwill, practice

 

We need to make a complete list of all 4 types of assets most meticulously. In today’s day and age the usernames and passwords of your digital payment system, your emails and your social media accounts are your assets and you need to keep them safely in a file to be transferred to your desired beneficiary.  It is also important to know the present value of your future earnings and whether they will depreciate with age. Every human life has a value H.L.V or Human Life Value. With age this value rarely appreciates if you are not invested well. Your Chartered Accountant will give you a fair idea whether your savings will last your lifetime. 

 

Estate Planning

The term "estate" refers to the total net worth of an individual family leader and other members, including their assets, properties, investments, bank accounts, and personal belongings in India and globally. It encompasses all assets like immovable, movable, intellectual, business, artifacts, pets, etc.

Estate Planning involves a comprehensive approach to manage this estate during a person's lifetime and determining how it should be distributed after their death to optimize tax benefits as well as smooth transfers. It goes beyond simply creating a Will and encompasses various legal and financial strategies to protect and transfer wealth according to the individual's wishes.

This is the systematic distribution of your estate to the next generation. This requires a motive. What you like most is not your wealth but the people you love the most. So, often it is essential that your loved ones know about your entire estate. Do you have any assets about which you have not told anyone? Then how will your loved ones know about it after you have left the world?

For whom is your wealth? Who is the person you love most, and your first responsibility - your spouse. The next are your children. But in your wealth transfer plan there are many options 

1. A sequence has to be established perhaps - first to my spouse, and after her, to my children. By doing this you have ensured that in his/her lifetime your spouse cannot be forced to pass on your estate to your children. This ensures her financial independence as well as physical safety. 

2. Do all your children get equal share of your estate. This depends on both you and your religion. In Muslims, the married daughters do not have a right to their parent's estate, whereas in Hindus, they do.

You are not a Muslim and you intend to distribute your estate amongst your children, how do you do it?

1. Do you do it equally?

2. Do you give more to the one who is less successful, and perhaps needs it more? This sounds logical........but does it? Are you not encouraging inefficiency and discouraging diligence, dedication and efficiency?

3. Or do you want to give a bigger share to the child with whom you spend your senior days? This may be your way of compensating for the expenses he/she has to incur towards your health and nutrition.

Incidentally, if you are a Muslim and you want your daughters to get a share of your estate, then what can you do? If you marriage is not registered and it was performed as a Nikah by Muslim customs then you can get your marriage registered under 'Special Marriage Act', on the same date of your marriage and to the same spouse. Now your wealth can be transferred to your daughters in your will.

 

There are some cardinal rules in estate planning.

1. Have complete control on your property/ Estate when you are alive, and possibly even after your death. This ensures your physical and financial security. Love everyone but never love them more than yourself. If you are not secure and safe, you cannot ensure the security and safety of any loved ones.

2. What wealth you leave behind signifies those extra years you need not have toiled tirelessly. So, enjoy life and spend your wealth on yourself and your loved ones. Pamper them, and don’t forget to pamper yourself.

3. Your estate planning should be such that you can take care of yourself and your loved ones even when you are incapacitated, and your loved ones when you are no more.

4. Your estate planning should be such that you can give what you want, to whom you want, the way you want and when you want both before and after your death.

5. You have to ensure that the next generation gets your wealth peacefully and there are no misunderstandings or animosity among your children.

Components of Estate Planning

Will: A Will is a legal document that outlines how an individual's assets and properties should be distributed after their death. It allows individuals to name specific beneficiaries, appoint an executor to carry out their wishes, and make provisions for minor children or dependents.

Family Trusts: Family Trusts are legal structures that hold and manage assets on behalf of beneficiaries by way of single or multiple trusts. They offer benefits such as asset protection, tax planning, and controlled distribution of wealth. Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable, and individuals can specify conditions for disbursements.

Power of attorney: A power of attorney is a legal document that grants authority to another person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) to make financial or legal decisions on behalf of the individual creating the document. It can be general or limited in scope, depending on the specific needs and preferences of the individual.

Succession planning: Succession planning is particularly relevant for business owners. It involves creating a plan for the smooth transfer of ownership and management of the business to the next generation or a chosen successor. This ensures the continuity of the business and minimizes disruptions during the transition.

 

Some Family concerns

If you are a man and you die without making a will then your estate will not automatically be inherited by your wife, as you might imagine. Actually, the estate will then be equally distributer between your spouse, your living children, children of your deceased children and adopted children. Is this agreeable to you? Or do you want your wife to be the first inheritor and only on her death should it go to the next generation. Then, that needs a will expressing your desires in so many words.

The legal heirs of a woman are her husband, her living children, and the children of her deceased child but not his/her spouse. In both the cases, all children, both male and female share equal right to inheritance among Hindus, but Muslims girls are deprived of this right.

 

Do we have to notarize a will?

It is good if we do, because it becomes difficult to legally challenge a notarized will. However,  a will need not be stamped, typed or registered.  By doing so one shows his/her intention. In case you make changes in the will after it is notarized, then the changed will should ideally be notarized too, otherwise it may be challenged in court. A perfect will is a misnomer. Make the first one, and change it as many times you wish afterwards. With every revision you will be clearing ambiguity that might have crept in and persisted in your previous document. There are many ways in which you can avoid confusion 

 

Some salient points

(i) Specify the landed property by their registration number - house, flat, clinic, hospital, factory, shops, and specify who is inheriting what.

(ii) Divide a house into different floors for different children 

(iii) Have jewellery in different lockers for different children and give them their locker numbers

(iv) Ensure that different children inherit different bank accounts, FDs and Debentures, all designated by numbers

(v) Ensure who inherits your stocks held in demat accounts. Have different Demat accounts for different children

(vi) Tabulate all your mutual funds and Ensure that the inheritors know which folio numbers are they inheriting

(vii) Agricultural tools like tractors and their accessories, farm animals, orchards, ponds all will require a mention, along with the names of the children who are inheriting them.

(viii) Your motor vehicles should be mentioned by Registration numbers and their individual inheritance decided.

(ix) Your e mail id, your Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram accounts, your Website, your blog space are all your assets, just like your credit and debit cards and your bank accounts and UPI or Pay tm  accounts. All these need to be mentioned in your will along with who will inherit them.

(x) Lastly, your pet is your responsibility, where does your pet go after your demise should also be mentioned. 

 

The more elaborate and clear the contents of a will are, the less are the chances of dispute for inheritance. Do not forget to make provision for minor children. It is better to transfer all your offshore assets but if that is not possible then make different wills country wise. 

 

The status of nominee 

If you are under the impression that all your bank accounts, demat accounts, FDs, Mutual funds, and Debentures already have nominees, as the government has made mandatory, and now you need not bother, and they will automatically be passed on to your designated nominee, nothing can be farther from truth. A nominee is just a caretaker and not an owner. He/she will not be until you mention in your will that after your death the nominee becomes the owner. 

 

The truth about "Either of Survivor"

You have been ticking this box all your life while filling forms of bank accounts,  Demat accounts, Mutual funds and Debentures, and you think that it means that when you are not around your spouse will automatically become the owner of the financial instrument. Again you are mistaken. Either of survivor is the mode of operation and not the mode of ownership. So, after your death only 50% of the proceeds of the instrument will go to your spouse and the remaining 50% will be equally distributed among all your legal heirs.

 

Importance of a Professional Wealth manager or Estate planner

Engaging a professional estate planner is crucial. They can provide valuable guidance and expertise in navigating the complex legal and financial aspects of estate planning. A professional estate planner can assist with drafting legal documents, evaluating tax implications, identifying suitable strategies, and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Their role involves understanding the individual's goals and objectives, analyzing their financial situation, and recommending appropriate estate planning tools and techniques. By leveraging their knowledge and experience, estate planners help individuals create a customized estate plan that aligns with their specific needs and preferences. Making a will does not mean that you are going to die. This should not be treated as a taboo. Your estate should not be a source of conflict and spoil the relationship between your children.

 

The process of estate planning

This involves:

1.      Assessing assets and liabilities. This involves taking stock of all the properties, business ownership / investments, bank accounts, and personal belongings, intellectual properties, Email and Social media accounts that make up the individual's estate.

2.      Identifying beneficiaries and their needs. This includes immediate family members, children, spouses, and other dependents. Individuals may also choose to include charitable organizations or causes as beneficiaries in their estate plan.  if there are minor children, provisions for their care, education, and guardianship should be addressed. 

3.      Setting goals and objectives. It ensures that the plan aligns with the individual's values, priorities, and long-term aspirations.

4.      Choosing appropriate Estate Planning tools. This may involve the creation of a Will, establishing trusts, designating nominees on insurance policies and retirement accounts, and granting powers of attorney.

5.      Drafting and executing legal documents. This includes detailing the distribution of assets, specifying beneficiaries, appointing executors or trustees, and including any additional provisions or conditions. The legal documents should be clear, unambiguous, and properly executed to ensure their validity and enforceability.

6.      Periodic reviews and updates. Changes in their personal circumstances, such as marriage, divorce, birth of children, or significant changes in financial status. Simultaneously, individuals should also evaluate their liabilities, such as outstanding debts, mortgages, etc. Assessing both assets and liabilities provides a clear picture of the individual's current net worth and helps determine how these should be managed and distributed.

 

When should we make our estate planning?

Yesterday was the best day. We are already late, and are incredibly lucky to be alive, and get this opportunity.  Ideally one should make a will at the age of 18, when one inherits the first property, otherwise your loved ones will suffer. Estate planning is not for the classes, it is for the masses. We must take some time out of wealth enhancement and wealth preservation and spend it on planning our wealth transfer so that we can smoothly transfer our estate to the next generation. It is vital that we leave behind an inheritances and not a mess.

To know more about Estate Planning and Wealth transfer from a professional please click on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bkh3ZtsLxc

Mr. Deepak Jain, the wealth management professional in this video, was invited to one of our batch-meets in Agra and this blog is the result of the knowledge gained from his hour long talk.

 

ALL ABOUT FLU

 

We are in the midst of an influenza season. Hundreds of different viruses can infect the respiratory system and cause colds and the flu. The respiratory system is your throat, sinuses, windpipe (trachea) and lungs. Symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, head congestion and cough can also be caused by allergies.

Flu can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly. People who have flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

·       fever or feeling feverish/chills

·       cough

·       sore throat

·       runny or stuffy nose

·       muscle or body aches

·       headaches

·       fatigue (tiredness)

·       some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

 

Varied Clinical Presentation

Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some people will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death.

Sinus and ear infections are examples of moderate complications from flu, while pneumonia is a serious flu complication that can result from either flu virus infection alone or from co-infection of flu virus and bacteria. Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle tissues (myositis, rhabdomyolysis), and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Flu virus infection of the respiratory tract can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body's life-threatening response to infection. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse. For example, people with asthma may experience asthma attacks while they have flu, and people with chronic heart disease may experience a worsening of this condition triggered by flu.

Serious problems related to flu can happen to anyone at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

If you often get symptoms of a cold or flu, there could be three reasons:

1.     You are exposed to more respiratory system viruses than most people

2.     You are more susceptible to catching respiratory viruses than most people

3.     Your symptoms are really caused by allergies. (You call the symptoms "colds" but they are not caused by viral infections.)

 

Emergency care

People experiencing these warning signs should obtain medical care right away.

In children

·       Fast breathing or trouble breathing

·       Bluish lips or face

·       Ribs pulling in with each breath

·       Chest pain

·       Severe muscle pain (child refuses to walk)

·       Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)

·       Not alert or interacting when awake

·       Seizures

·       Fever above 104 degrees Fahrenheit that is not controlled by fever-reducing medicine

·       In children younger than 12 weeks, any fever

·       Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen

·       Worsening of chronic medical conditions

In adults

·       Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

·       Persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

·       Persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse

·       Seizures

·       Not urinating

·       Severe muscle pain

·       Severe weakness or unsteadiness

·       Fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen

·       Worsening of chronic medical conditions

 

Prevention

Vaccine

The best time to get the flu shot is the end of August and during September. The protection should last through the winter into March. Getting the flu shot at this time allows immune protection to build before the flu activity ramps up, and it makes it more likely that the protection will last through the winter. The flu shot does not work right away because it takes time for the body to develop antibodies, which help fight off the virus. It takes about two weeks after getting vaccinated for the flu shot to provide full protection. Some children may need two doses of the flu vaccine, which are given at least four weeks apart. Influenza is a nasty virus, particularly for older, frail people and people with underlying illnesses. But the more we all get vaccinated, the better we protect ourselves and others.

 

There are several different types of flu shots available — the one that is appropriate for you will depend on your age, health status, allergies and other factors. It’s always good to talk to a primary health care provider who knows you well. We use Influvac Quadri or Flu Quadri, which are quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines. These vaccines are manufactured using inactivated (killed) influenza virus grown in eggs. This egg-based flu shot contains four times the antigen of the standard-dose, inactivated virus vaccines to produce a stronger immune response in the body. It’s approved for individuals 65 and older. Cell based flu shot contains virus that was grown in cell culture, so it is completely egg-free.

 

Adjuvanted flu shot is an egg-based flu shot approved for people 65 and older that contains an adjuvant, which makes an individual have a stronger immune response. Recombinant flu shots are egg-free flu shot made using recombinant technology, which contains three times the antigens of standard-dose flu shots. Nasal spray vaccine is a nasal mist and it uses live, attenuated (weakened) virus, and it’s approved for people from 2 to 49 years of age. Senior citizens should go for recombinant flu shots or adjuvant flu shots. It's safe for pregnant people to get the flu shot during any trimester, which also helps protect the baby after birth according to National Centre for Disease Control.

 

Other measures to stop spread at home

When somebody in the family comes down with the flu, all it takes is a couple of hours for the virus to spread. From the kitchen to the bathroom, keep illness at bay with these room-specific strategies and prevention tips.  

In the kitchen

60 percent of refrigerator handles, drawer knobs, and light switches test positive for the flu virus in a home when one person in the family is sick? And, to top it all off, the virus can live for up to three days! So, keep germs from spreading by wiping down these hot spots and other frequently touched surfaces with disinfectant.  

 

In the bedroom

When someone in the family is sick, keep germs from spreading by washing your bedding daily and tumble dry on high heat. On this note, even though the linens may contain germs, it's okay to mix it with the rest of your family's laundry when in the wash. Alternatively, if your spouse is feeling under the weather, sleeping in a separate bed may feel unkind, but it's your best defense against the flu.

In the bathroom

Keeping the lid of the toilet closed when a family member is sick is essential. When you have a viral infection, the organisms are in your stool. And as unpleasant as it may sound, when you flush, germs are spat into the air, potentially contaminating nearby bathroom countertops, hand towels, and toothbrushes. But putting the toilet lid down before you flush ought to keep things in your bathroom germ-free.  

 

In the dining room

When someone in the family is feeling under the weather, serve Kadha. This contains abundant micro-nutrients, that help in recovery. I have discussed all about Khada in one of my previous blogs: https://surajitbrainwaves.blogspot.com/2020/07/kadha-my-grand-mas-magic-potion.html

 

 In the foyer

Keep hand sanitizer on your entryway table, serving as a reminder to clean your hands upon walking through the door. Studies show that over 80 percent of common infections are spread through contaminated hands, so using a hand sanitizer, even if it's just once a day, can seriously reduce your risk of getting sick. Airing out a room is also important when someone at home is feeling a little unwell. Opening a window, even if it's just for an hour, will help cleanse the air, allowing fresh oxygen to come in - making everyone at home feel much better.  

 

In the living room

Be sure to clean your remote controls with disinfectant to remove any germs. And be sure to give all doorknobs a wipe too - they tend to be a germ hot spot.   It may surprise you to discover that your workspace harbors 400 times more bacteria than your toilet. Whenever possible, be sure to use a disinfectant wipe to clean your desk and appliances like your phone and keyboard, at least once a week.

Any adult, who is exposed to young children a lot, such as parents and teachers, is exposed to all the viruses that children carry. Some people are more susceptible to allergies. Many people are allergic to things that are in outdoor or indoor air, such as pollen, dust, molds, or dander from household pets. I see lots of patients who think they have a cold, but it turns out they have allergies. It might be worth talking to your doctor about allergies. There are probably lifestyle changes or treatments that could reduce your symptoms.