Page 30 - INSIGHT 2021

“EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN
“GIVE ME SOME SUNSHINE”
It is a known fact that sunlight is a source of vitamin D, which helps in the regulation of calcium and phos-
phorus in the body. Upon exposure to sunlight, the cholesterol in our body converts to Vitamin D, which is
important for bone growth.
Assessments of Vitamin D deficiency prevalence rates are as high as 70-100% in the Indian population
(NCBI). According to the World Health Organisation, 5 -15 minutes of sunlight exposure on your arms,
hands, and face 2-3 times a week is enough for vitamin D-boost. (The early morning sun rays are more sooth-
ing and welcoming than the scorching noon rays!)
Healthline also suggests that exposure to sunlight could elevate mood due to the increase in the hormone
serotonin. When serotonin levels drop, there is a higher risk of major depression with a seasonal pattern, for-
merly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). So, possibly one reason we find ourselves being moody
could be because we seldom expose ourselves to the sun and stay cocooned in the darkness of our rooms.
ANTIBIOTICS VS YOU
Nearly a hundred years after Fleming discovered antibiotics, bacterial infections pose a serious threat again.
The antibiotic resistance crisis has worsened discernibly over the years and has put modern healthcare in peril.
The overuse of medications by the public, unregulated use by poultry and agricultural farms and lack of new
drug development by the pharmaceutical industry due to fewer economic incentives have been accelerators.
How many times have you simply taken an antibiotic without consulting your physician?
Whether it is the inaccessibility of affordable healthcare or the need for self-sufficiency, these over-the-
counter medications are one of the biggest reasons for the rising Antibiotic resistance in the public. Public
ignorance on taking antibiotics for infections like common cold, which are caused by Rhinoviruses, is not
only pointless but is seriously detrimental in the long run. In India, it is estimated that more than 58,000
infants died in the year 2013 as a result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections (NCBI).
Likewise, discontinuing the antibiotic course prescribed by the physician without taking his advice is also
counterproductive. Bacteria keep evolving. Many antibiotic sensitive species gain resistance through horizon-
tal or vertical transmission. Completing the antibiotic course ensures that all the targeted bacteria die. Any
resistant survivors repopulate and lead to that particular antibiotic becoming futile in the future. This leads
to the generation of Superbug species, which are becoming increasingly impossible to cure. According to a
report by the British Government, by 2050, more people will perish from antibiotic resistance than cancer.
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HEALTHY, WEALTHY AND WISE”
A botched sleeping schedule happens to be a quintessential part of university days. One may have stayed
up the night studying, binge-watching, completing assignments, gaming, talking over the phone or being
anxious about something. In between the last-minute revisions outside the examination hall, the (mildly)
competitive talk on how many hours we slept is unavoidable! This habit, however, can put you at a higher
risk of Type-2 Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, weight gain; and cause depression and anxiety. Night owls
also have been reported to have higher incidences of bipolar disorder.
This occurs due to the disruption of the Circadian rhythm, or the body’s ‘Internal Clock’ which is associated
with the sleep-wake cycle repeated roughly every 24 hours. Humans are diurnal animals, meaning we are
active during the day. Our internal clock is synchronised by environmental cues such as daylight and there-
fore any disturbance to our sleep cycle has a direct impact on our physiological processes.
A good 7-8 hours of sleep is recommended for most adults. Other than the apparent benefit of sleeping,
there are several others such as helping in learning and tissue repair. Neuronal connections that form mem-
ories are strengthened during sleep, helping to consolidate memories. Lack of sleep decreases cytokine
production, affecting your immunity adversely. Sleeping also encourages good emotional and social health.
It is advised to avoid looking at screens right before sleeping. The blue light they irradiate suppresses the
secretion of the hormone melatonin, which coordinates your circadian rhythm.
Although you may have known many of the above mentioned things, and perhaps even more,
the point did not lie there. Rather, reminding you to actively implement them in your daily rou-
tines and practising them habitually was the agenda. By doing so, all of us may be saving ourselves
from a feeling of regret in the future. It might not be a big deal now, but in the long run, the con-
sequences of our bad habits will be paid by our health and we may repent not being disciplined sooner.
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