How Starbucks captured the coffee & the world…!!!

With nearly 30,000 cafes across the world , Starbucks has become over just a household name. From its iconic cups, often adorned with misspelled names, to the espresso inside them, Starbucks has catapulted from one coffee bean shop in Seattle to a sprawling $80 billion business over the last 47 years.

Starbucks has a 'void in innovation' and healthy beverages won't ...

Starbucks sales account for 57 percent of the total cafe market. Yes, 57 percent, nearly two-thirds of all coffee sold at cafes in the U.S. comes from a Starbucks. But this impressive expansion hasn’t come without growing pains. With more than 14,000 locations in the U.S. alone, Starbucks has spread itself too thin. Having too many stores has led to fewer transactions at individual stores. To compensate, the company has raised prices. But doing this too quickly or too often can drive customers away. So how did this happen? And what’s a coffee giant to do about it? The year is 1970.
Three college friends, Zev Siegl, Jerry Baldwin and Gordon Bowker decide to get into the coffee business. They found a mentor in Alfred Peet, founder of Peet’s Coffee and the man responsible for bringing custom coffee roasting to the U.S. He knew the coffee industry inside and out, especially the gourmet end. He was the most educated coffee guy in the country at that time. So with Peet’s help, the three friends open Starbucks, a coffee bean shop and roastery at Seattle’s famous Pike Place Market in 1971. Peet provided the young entrepreneurs with roasted coffee beans and connected them with coffee brokers until they could set up their own roastery and source their own beans. For the first decade, the founders opened five more locations in Seattle. At this point, contemporary coffee consumers might have noticed a glaring absence: actual coffee drinks. But that’s the thing about the 70s coffee culture: it didn’t really exist outside the home. There were no coffee bars nor was there much of a requirement for espresso-based drinks. You purchased coffee beans and you either took them home as beans or we ground them for you in the store. Nobody expected to urge a beverage at a Starbucks coffee store until after 1980.

Starbucks Story - CEO, Founder, History | Coffee Company | Success ...
Starbucks’ initial focus was bringing high quality beans to consumers who were more accustomed to instant or canned coffee, but that changed with the addition of one man. The company hired its first really professional Director of Marketing and Sales, and that man was Howard Schultz. And he couldn’t figure out why we weren’t selling beverages. In 1983, Schultz travels to Italy and returns with an idea: turn the coffee bean stores into cafes. Starbucks served its first latte the next year. The experiment was a success, and four years later, Schultz partnered with investors and bought Starbucks for $3.8 million. He was only 34 at the time. Schultz pursued a strategy of aggressive expansion. By the time the company went public in 1992, it had 165 stores, in 1996 it had opened more than a thousand locations, including its first international cafes in Japan and Singapore.
Growth was so rapid that, just three years later, Starbucks opened its 2,000th location. Schultz switched from CEO to Executive Chairman in 2000, at which era Starbucks operated 3,500 stores in additional than a dozen countries. Between 2000 and 2007, the number of Starbucks cafes more than quadrupled, from 3,500 to over 15,000. During this era , the corporate opened a mean of 1,500 stores per annum , including 2,500 in 2007 alone. Sales shot up from $2 billion to $9.4 billion. Consumers were increasingly ditching their kitchen mugs for these iconic paper to-go cups. But then, Starbucks hit a wall: the 2007 financial crash. That year, its rapid growth screeched to a halt and its stock price plummeted by 50 percent as cash-strapped consumers backed away from pricey coffee habits. So, Starbucks brought back Howard Schultz. This news alone caused Starbucks stock to increase by 9 percent.

Xed Knowledge
Schultz halted growth and focused on customer experience. He shuttered cafes – more than 600 in 2008 and another 300 in 2009 – and laid off around 6,700 baristas. A month after his return, Schultz ordered Starbucks to shut all of its U.S. locations for one afternoon so he could retrain more than 135,000 baristas about how to make its signature espresso. Schultz’s goal was to remind customers what they loved about the brand by making the stores an experience, not just a place to get a quick coffee. They stopped selling breakfast sandwiches and brought back in-house grinding, infusing the cafes once again with that fresh coffee aroma. Schultz even mandated the removal of automatic espresso machines. These made service faster, but removed much of the romance and theatre of watching baristas craft each cup of coffee. Schultz’s makeover worked.

Starbucks | Description, History, & Facts | Britannica
The company’s stock soared more than 143 percent in 2009 and same-store sales rebounded. Starbucks has posted positive same-store sales ever since. During Schultz’s makeover of the cafes, Starbucks barely opened any new stores. But the pace picked up again in 2012. By 2017, Starbucks opened nearly 3,000 more locations, ending the year with 28,000 cafes round the world. However, this brings us back to the first problem: profit cannibalization. Over-saturation, particularly in urban locations, has spread sales thin. Because Starbucks has numerous locations, customers do not have to be loyal to only one. So albeit Starbucks overall sales are growing, its individual same-store sales won’t reflect it. Compounding this problem are changing consumer preferences. People are shying away from sugar-laden calorie bombs. which happens to be one of Starbucks’ staples. These signature Frappuccinos contain an average of 57 grams of sugar. That’s more than double the recommended daily limit of sugar. So, to combat these problems, Starbucks is changing once more . The company announced the closure of 150 stores in 2019. That may seem like a drop in the bucket for a sprawling company like Starbucks.

Starbucks App Users Now Drive 17 Pct Of Sales | PYMNTS.com

The company’s biggest undertaking is its new line of upscale stores: Starbucks Reserve Roasteries. These massive, 20,000-square foot stores are designed to be a tourist destination. Here, Starbucks baristas and bartenders’ experiment with different brewing methods and craft new, innovative beverages. These have proven popular. In the first weeks, the Shanghai Roastery made an average of $64,000 every day, which is double what a regular cafe makes in a week.

The Best Ways to Become Motivated Again

Every day we are faced with opportunities. Opportunities to change old habits, old fears, old mindsets that are harmful. Within the span of day , we’ve the prospect to awaken refreshed and begin anew. And sometimes, this suggests breaking down your actions step-by-step so as to rework yourself into who you would like to be.

For me, this entailed the concept of fighting my lack of motivation. Although most of the people believe motivation is that the opposite of procrastination, the 2 are in slightly different categories; procrastination is that the action of adjourning something until the top of its deadline, while motivation is that the reason behind one’s actions.

Like many of us within the world, I personally struggle with lack of motivation. After taking a while to look within myself, I even have discovered the essential ways to kick my mind back to gear. I not only found the way to stop procrastinating, but to also have a positive outlook so that the reasons for my actions would be encouraging and progressive.

  1. Morning Actions Are Key
    When I used to wake up in the morning, I went into autopilot mode. I quickly learned that my version of autopilot only included the actions I wanted to try to to , not what I needed to try to to . But the core of my issue was that I never really knew what I needed to do.

To make every day count as something productive, I make small choices that make an outsized impact.

Instead of hitting the snooze button first thing in the morning, I wake up at the initial chime of my alarm clock.

Instead of scrolling through social media on my phone or answering emails, I make my bed or cook breakfast.

When I have a way of accomplishment at the beginning of my day, even with small actions, I start momentum for accomplishing tasks for the remainder of the day.

  1. Do Anything to Keep Moving
    Sometimes, my mind turns simple daily tasks into large, insurmountable projects. It can feel crippling just to think about what I have to do next. I would often lay in bed within the morning, stare at the ceiling, and just ponder all that I had to try to to for the day. It became incredibly overwhelming, and more often than not, I would not complete most of my tasks.

To regain motivation during this way, I break down my day into smaller pieces. When I focus on one task at a time and set a reasonable time limit for myself to accomplish each task, I’m not worried about the future or regretting past actions. I allow myself to stay in the present.

Of course, I realize i’ll have some off days where everything looks like a struggle. If this is the case, I tell myself to just do something small. Just get out of bed and put your feet on the floor. Just check the first three emails in your inbox.
Once I became victorious with the actions that seemed insignificant, I felt much more empowered to take on important tasks.

  1. Believe in Yourself
    It’s easy to get in the cycle of self-doubt. I will be the primary to mention that i’m my worst critic. However, I will never have a reason to do something if I don’t truly believe that I can succeed. Confidence are often attained even through the foremost minor actions.

Look within the mirror and tell yourself, I can do it!
Stand or sit up straight.
Get dressed up for the occasion.
When I took these small steps to spice up my confidence, I renewed my inner strength. I knew i used to be perfectly capable of handling anything to return my way.

  1. Create a Positive Environment
    Achieving my goals came a lot easier to me when I surrounded myself with the right people. Sure, i’m capable of proving naysayers wrong, but the trend of regaining my motivation only came once I placed myself during a positive environment. I consistently had people lifting me up rather than tearing me down, which made me feel unstoppable.

Environment goes beyond a network of individuals , though. I also give myself a pleasing atmosphere to figure in. My desk is neat, my papers are organized, and that i have a routine I follow within my workspace in order that I don’t become mentally cluttered.

I also add comforts like my favorite color around my work area, pictures of friends and family on my desk, and posters or knick knacks that make me smile

  1. Remember Your Short and Long-Term Reasons
    Why are you starting this project? Are you contributing to your overall career? Are you working toward a selected degree or credential?

Whenever I’m feeling stuck about what i want to try to to , I remind myself of what I’m getting to gain from the experience. Most importantly, I don’t allow myself to settle for losses.

However, if I’m in the process of working toward a goal and I feel unsatisfied or I believe my goal needs to be adapted, I’ll grant myself the ability to change along the way. This takes discernment of when to be creative and flexible, but really, it’s all about knowing what you are and are not willing to compromise.

  1. Pause and Recharge
    There’s nothing wrong with taking breaks, especially if the action is overwhelming. If you’ve got been taking the means , remember to hamper every now then .
    As a person’s being, it’s essential for you to require time for yourself within the sort of self-care. Personally, I’ve noticed that once I take a minimum of an hour every day for myself, I become even more prepared to require on whatever tasks are before me. The goal here is to not be so burned out that you don’t even try again – it’s only that much harder to bounce back.

How to Sleep better at night..!

3 Ways to Improve Your Sleep

Most people aren’t getting enough sleep, plain and simple. But—and this is the important thing to realize—we don’t recognize that we are sleep deprived. In my article on the science of sleep and in my comprehensive sleep guide, I covered this problem, discussed how sleep works, and shared a variety of practical ways to improve the quality of your sleep. If you’re looking for a primer on how to sleep better, check out those two resources.

However, if you want to improve your sleep, there are actually some very simple and practical ways to go about it. I call these strategies the 3 Levers of Sleep.

Here’s how the 3 Levers of Sleep work…

The 3 Levers of Sleep

If you want to improve the quality of your sleep and boost your performance there are 3 levers you can “pull” to give yourself a boost.

  1. Intensity
  2. Timing
  3. Duration

Intensity refers to how well you sleep. As I described in detail , there are different phases of sleep. Two of these phases are particularly important: Slow-wave sleep (also known as deep sleep) and REM sleep. The percentage of sleeping time you spend in these two phases largely determines the quality of your sleep each night. 

Timing refers to when you go to sleep. What time do you go to bed? This factor is important for two reasons. First, if you get in bed around the same time each night, it is easier for your body to develop good sleep habits. Second, the time you go to sleep should be in accordance with your circadian rhythm.

Duration refers to how long you sleep. This one is simple: how much time do you spend sleeping each night? 6 hours? 8 hours? It can be easy to convince yourself that duration isn’t very important, but it is critical to your growth, performance, and recovery. Professional athletes often sleep over 10 hours per night. If you’re taxing your body and mind, then duration is crucial for you as well. 

How to Sleep Better

How can you use these 3 levers to improve your sleep?

When it comes to intensity, the truth is that there isn’t much you can do. Your body largely manages the intensity of your sleep cycle  for you. It adjusts automatically based on what you need and how much time you are spending asleep. Exercising consistently and getting proper nutrition will help, but these actions only indirectly improve sleep intensity. 

This is actually good news because it simplifies things for you. Because your body manages the quality of your sleep on its own, you only need to focus on two factors: timing (when you go to bed) and duration (how long you’re in bed).

If we make another assumption, then we can simplify the situation even further. That assumption is this: You wake up at approximately the same time each day.

If you wake up at about the same time each day, then your sleep duration is basically determined by when you go to bed. Generally speaking, if you get into bed earlier, then you’ll end up sleeping more. Improve the timing and you’ll improve the duration as well.

And that brings us to this practical punchline…

Master Your Power Down Routine

If you’re focused on how to sleep better, timing is perhaps the most important of the 3 levers of sleep. The intensity of your sleep is managed automatically by your body. The duration of your sleep is largely dependent on when you get into bed (assuming you wake up around the same time each morning). And that means getting to bed at an earlier, more consistent time is critical for improving the quality and duration of your sleep.

Sleeping period not only determines how much you take rest but also the amount of energy and work you will be able to produce the next day. If you are taking proper recommended time sleep which is around 7-8 hours and maintain this cycle continuously for a extended period of time you will surely be able to notice a drastic change in your lifestyle and how much productive you have been since you are following the cycle.

To maintain the cycle I have mentioned the best ways as per my knowledge accounted from different researches and from my personal experience though I know not everyone’s body reacts the same but I would definitely recommend it as my routine has improved significantly. Talking about the other aspects of maintaining your sleep would be that it would be beneficial for you in a longer run , your metabolism and the way your body needs to cope up with the ageing factor requires you to start healthy as it is well said that “ Rome was not built in a day” . The earlier you start working on your body the longer it will pay you in many ways , you will notice that you stand out from others , for an instance you can see that from  defence personnel who have retired but still not tired as they are trained for maintaining their health in the least resources available as they know if they do not sleep at night it would not matter as they still have to wake at 4am the next morning .

To conclude I would like to say starting from things that require the minimum effort from side and gradually going towards the harder things is the process you should follow .

Himachal Pradesh Has Been Killing Monkeys for Four Years. Will It End in 2020?

For the fourth straight year, the Himachal Pradesh government has received approval from the Union environment ministry to declare rhesus macaque monkeys ‘vermin’, opening them up to be hunted and killed.

Rhesus macaques are classified as being of ‘least concern’ in the IUCN Red List.

Principal chief conservator of forests wildlife and chief wildlife warden Savita told The Wire Science, “In our latest monkey population estimation, [we recorded] 1.36 lakh monkeys – a decrease of 33.5% since the last count five years ago.”

This survey was conducted by researchers from the Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, on December 4 and 5 last year. The results were published in March 2020.

“Around 5,000 forest staff and officials were engaged in this survey. The monkey-infested areas were divided in line transit patterns. The monkeys in each transit were counted thrice,” Savita said.

Since 2007, around 1.62 lakh monkeys have been sterilised in Himachal Pradesh’s seven sterilisation centres, according to her, preventing the birth of around four lakh rhesus macaques.

“With further reduction of monkey population achieved this year, we may not [have to] declare them vermin next year.”

But even without culling, Savita said the state would continue with its plan to sterilise 20,000 monkeys next year.

Sumanth Madhav, a campaign manager at the Humane Society International, isn’t a fan of Himachal Pradesh’s approach, however. He doesn’t think monkeys turn to human localities because forests have run out of food. “The degradation and fragmentation of habitat in forests is factual. But there is no evidence to support the assertion that there is not enough food for monkeys in the forest.”

Instead, Madhav said, monkeys enter human-settled areas for the easy access to food.

However, Savita and Madhav agree that the more food the monkeys find, the more their population increases, and have called for municipal corporation officials, local bodies and gram panchayats to coordinate and ensure proper disposal of garbage.

Under Section 62 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, animals designated ‘vermin’ – because they damage crops – can be killed without inviting punishment. However, animals that move in groups, including rhesus macaques, often have a hierarchy among themselves. When this ordering is suddenly disrupted, there could be unforeseen consequences.

“If an alpha male in a troupe, who manages the entire group, is killed, the younger ones are left headless,” Madhav said. “These babies or sub-adults don’t know how to behave and they create a ruckus. So one troupe becomes fragmented into smaller chunks, with rowdy youngsters.”

So in the absence of a policy on the right way to cull rhesus macaques, many are doing it wrong and potentially making a bad problem worse.

Some farmers, for example, have taken to poisoning the monkeys. Last year, officials spotted the carcasses of a hundred monkeys around Shimla.

Kuldip Tanwar, president of Kisan Sabha Himachal, said, “The Himachal Pradesh government prohibited arms and ammunition use in 1983. Those guns have become obsolete, and their users have lost practice.”

Nine-tenths of the people of Himachal Pradesh live in rural areas. Only a few rich farmers among them can afford guns, pistols and cartridges; the rest use poison. “The farmers are accustomed to using pesticide for their crops, so using another form of poison for monkeys comes easy,” Tanwar said.

In the case of the hundred that had died last year, Tanwar said some people had mixed corn paste with the poison, smeared it on slices of bread and laid them out in places the monkeys visit often. Once a monkey consumed the slice, it would wander off in search of water. If there was a water body nearby, the poisoned monkeys’ carcasses would collect there.

Tanwar used to work with the Indian Forest Service until about a decade ago.

Savita said a carcass that hadn’t been properly disposed could subsequently threaten any animals or birds that may come in contact with it or the water.

And at least one sign points to farmers not disposing of the carcasses: Savita said the wildlife department has declared a cash prize of Rs 500 for every monkey killed – but a single farmer hasn’t come forward to claim it.

She thinks it could be because of the stigma attached to killing monkeys, given the importance of the monkey-god Hanuman in Hinduism. But this reverence is part of why farmers have such a tough time with monkeys in the first place: people often feed monkeys because they’re thought to be venerable in some way.

And this is why, Savita continued, no other state in India might have declared monkeys ‘vermin’.

“Though no method of culling has been prescribed by the wildlife department, the farmers have been directed to hand over the monkeys’ carcasses after they have been killed for a proper disposal,” Savita said. “However, we haven’t received any complaints about farmers resorting to poison.”

Need for a multifaceted strategy

In the past, farmers used to protect their crops with community-watch programmes. Tanwar suggested the government could deploy people through the MGNREGA scheme as ‘community watchers’.

In keeping with that, Madhav said culling must be more humane. “It is a debatable subject, though there is no evidence culling can help in a conflict. It is more politically motivated and psychologically comforting for the people.”

He also said the people as well as state officials could be confusing “population management as a tool for conflict management” when really they ought to be guided by different strategies.

“Population management may help but it is not the only solution.” Monkeys that are “sterilised may live for another ten or more years, so conflicts will continue.” As a result, “unscientific population control and sterilisation in isolation will never give optimum results.”

Instead, he stressed the need for a multi-pronged approach that works with other important factors to ease human-monkey conflicts, including an “awareness programme” to have farmers shift to “crop rotation or [to growing] unpalatable crops for monkeys”. He also said, “The government should introduce a crop insurance scheme and make timely ex gratia payments [for] crop loss to farmers.”

“These measures over a period of long time will help people live alongside animals.”

Decimation of primary herbivores

Such peaceful coexistence pertains not just to the rhesus macaques but also to wild boars, porcupines, rabbits and peacocks, all of which have been blamed for crop depredation in the state.

While Himachal Pradesh is alone in designating monkeys ‘vermin’, Uttarakhand has accorded the wild boar this status (as has Kerala) and Bihar, the nilgai.

Savita said all of these animals – and bird – have been forced to wander towards human settlements because human settlements have encroached on their habitats.

Suresh Bhai, an environmentalist, said however that wild boars and nilgai are primary herbivores. So manipulating their population could in turn affect the survival of tigers, leopards and other carnivores in the same ecosystem.

Seema Sharma is a Chandigarh-based independent journalist. She previously worked at The Tribune and The Times of India. She writes on forest, wildlife, environment, social and rural issues.

 

Alpha Femme Keto Genix

“The greatest wealth is health”. Being healthy means an overall sense of wellbeing; it includes feeling fit physically, mentally and emotionally. Obesity and overweight are two such issues which affect a person in all three areas. Excessive weight not only makes you less confident, it also is a threat to your healthy well being. A whole lot of medical problems are associated with excessive pounds. Its like obesity has a variety of hidden opportunistic diseases stuck with it. Being obese affects your life at the personal front too. You feel less confident about yourself, your body and in adverse cases begin to question your existence. Many people experience severe bullying due to being overweight which affects their mental peace and disturbs their life.
Obesity and overweight isn’t an untreatable problem. A good amount of exercise and follow up with a balanced diet can help you get rid of it. However, in today’s time people are more busy making money to fulfil their expenses. Its natural and obvious for them to not find time to devote to working out or preparing healthy diets. Fast foods are an easy choice for such work oriented people. Such people are the most vulnerable ones.
Don’t worry! Here we are introducing a revolutionary product that resolves your issue of excess weight and gives you the desired body. It’s named as Alpha Femme Keto Genix. It helps you lose fat within a limited time period. Unlike other regular supplements, it is free of any negative impact on your health.

Introduction to Alpha Femme Keto Genix Canada
Alpha Femme Keto Genix is a new product in the market which is a highly effective weight loss supplement. Unlike other regular supplements, it is a combination of only herbal ingredients which poses no threat to the health of an individual. It has proven to give the desired results in a limited timeframe. This product has gained certification from the Food and Drug Administration as the safest supplement to lose weight.
It works by inducing ketosis in the body which accelerates the cutting of fat and suppresses your high appetite. This supplement increases your overall metabolic rate which adds to your well being. Its standards are definitely higher than the existing other supplements in the market and its certain that whoever uses it, is going to love it.

Working
Let us know about how Alpha Femme Keto Genix work-
The working of this supplement is easy to comprehend. It works just similar to the keto diets. The only difference is that keto diets take a longer time to get you the desired results; however this product brings about a difference in just 30 days. It works by inducing ketosis in the body. Ketosis is simply a metabolic state in the body which makes use of fat, instead of carbs to generate energy for use by the body. Ketosis is very hard to achieve on your own naturally and takes several months to do that. This supplement helps you achieve ketosis a lot faster and burns fat for energy instead of carbs. When you are under ketosis, you feel energy and mental clarity like never before.
Alpha Femme Keto Genix consists of ingredients that play a major role in suppressing appetite. An elevated appetite forces a person to consume more fat rich foods and fast foods. This product solves this issue by suppressing appetite, so you feel full all the time. In addition to this, this formulation boosts the metabolism of the body, which leads to fat burning naturally. The production of citrate lyase is cut by the pills. Citrate lyase is responsible for conversion of carbs into fat. With all these benefits, you become full of vitality and stamina.

“Site of Unlimited Possibilities-If Humans Could Breathe Under Water?”

Adventures and new experiences have always fascinated humans, thus have been a part of our cultures as soon as we came to live on this planet. The moment from one place to another in search of water, food, climbing mountains and diving deep inside the sea and many more activities have been performed by humans since ages. We have been visiting under the sea quite frequently in search of seafood and new discoveries about aqua life. But we humans can’t breath under water, we can but not for quite a while. Thus we have developed such an artificial system for us to stay under water  and enjoy the peace and silence under it. 

But what could be the scenario if humans could easily breath inside water and require no artificial equipment for the same?  This could surely help us solve many if the problem which surely include:

  1. The availability of land to serve for the upcoming generation as per the rate of population growth.We could shift building of much needed infrastructure in and under water without difficulty to  breathe initially.
  2. It would allow our knowledge about the sea and creatures living in it to increase and wider the area and time to spend underwater. 
  3. It could help us remain fit and obesity would not be an issue in humans.
  4. Also provide the experience of swimming with other creatures like fish and dolphins.
  5.  it would help us make our underground construction possible.
  6.  This would lead us to generate much of the natural resources hidden under the sea and also bring up the possibilities of discoveries if some new elements.
  7.  This would surely help these resources to be safe from the waste we humans throw in it as we would be able to  notice it more closely and no one would like to be surrounded with waste and unhygienic components.
  8.  New adventures of under water sea through  water subway would be possible and we could travel to vast distances which are hidden from us. 

It seems much of a great adventure and easy but on a serious note it is not that easy. If we were able to breathe underwater, still our body is not meant for that. Sea and ocean water could be  much colder and also as we go down and down, this would surely lead us to Hypothermia which is a condition when our body loses much of heat than it can produce, thus slowly our body organs would fail to work and thus could even cause death . Also our eyes are not much adapted to see cleaner under water. If we do buy glasses, it does not provide much if clearity. Also as we go down, the brightness goes on decreasing, which is not a great sign, since our eyes are not so much adaptive to create visible prints of objects under water, thus we wouldn’t be able to see much. We would not be able to talk, for obvious reasons which would definitely have an effect on our vocals thus frequent visits to sea would make them weak. 

It all seems a dream until it turns into reality. Maybe in the future we will be able to develop systems that would enable us to breathe underwater and thus construct much of our needs under them with water not entering the building and harming humans. Maybe we could genetically evolve, which thus brings us the opportunity to behave like reptiles and be able to control our breath for much period of time. Future is full of new possibilities and these possibilities for humans to stay and perform activities under water would definitely be a change maker and would help us to understand our earth closely by looking at its resources hidden deep under the sea, pure and untouched. 

Hyderabad’s high COVID-19 positivity rate worries experts

Telangana State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department workers sanitise the area surrounding Charminar in Hyderabad, to prevent the spreading of COVID-19

Report points to abysmally low testing rates in the State of Telangana Amidst apprehension that COVID-19 community transmission may be under way in large urban cities, Hyderabad’s high COVID-19 positivity rate (32.1% on June 23), the highest among major infected cities in India, coupled with low tests per 10 lakh population compared to other cities has been repeatedly red-flagged by worried Central government experts.

Pointing to the abysmally low testing rates in Telangana, the report ‘Testing Status: Hyderabad and Telangana’ accessed by The Hindu notes, “Only 1 out of 19 private labs in Telangana is conducting more than 500 tests per week and testing in Telangana is heavily focussed on Hyderabad. Tests per 10 lakh population in other highly infected districts (Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy, Warangal Urban and Jagaon) is extremely low.”

The document adds that Telangana has the highest positivity rate (June 10-23) in India (27.7%) and consistently ranges from 20 – 40% daily with the lowest tests per 10 lakh population (June 10-23) in India.

“All COVID-red States are being closely monitored and have been instructed to hike testing. Testing is vital to map out the growth and concentration of the virus in the general population. Several States have been instructed on this multiple times,” said a senior government official with ICMR who added that letters were issued to all States recently asking them to ramp-up COVID-19 testing.

The ICMR also has noted that COVID-19 escalation is sharpest in urban cities with Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Chennai, also witnessing significant rise in the spread of the virus and added that Telangana has been repeated told to improve its testing scope and reach.

Bringing in the contrast, a senior health official added that neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is testing over 12,000 persons/day and also ramping-up testing to maintain a low mortality rate. “Andhra Pradesh has 336 TruNat machines and 42 labs for COVID-19 testing while Telangana has 21 machines and one lab,” the official added.

According to the Health Ministry, a Central team led by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, in the Ministry is now in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana to interact with the State officials and coordinate with them to strengthen ongoing efforts for management of COVID-19 there.

The Ministry added that they are expanding the COVID-19 testing labs network across the country, ICMR has inducted 11 new labs in the last 24 hours and the country now has 1,016 diagnostic labs dedicated to COVID-19 which includes — 737 in the government sector and 279 private labs.

“At present, India has Real-Time RT PCR based testing labs — 560 (Govt: 359 + Private: 201), TrueNat based testing labs : 369 (Govt: 346 + Private: 23) and CBNAAT based testing labs : 87 (Govt: 32 + Private: 55),” said ICMR.

‘Bring all helathcare facilities under one umbrella’

Meanwhile, in a statement issued by 26 national and Karnataka-based civil society organisations including Naavu Bharathiyaru Karnataka, All India Drug Action Network, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU), Karnataka and Campaign for Dignified and Affordable Healthcare (CDAH), the group has noted that in order to successfully curtail the pandemic, a whole health systems approach is sorely required. This is missing in the current approach where provision of healthcare is seen in a segmented manner. There is a dire need to bring public, private, charitable, medical colleges, corporation facilities under a single umbrella with transparent and well-functioning referral and reporting mechanisms, said the group.

It added that the government could use the COVID-19 situation as a good opportunity to improve the reporting and assisted referral mechanisms from the various public as well private facilities so that the patients are not distressed going from one hospital to another and the treatment given to COVID-19 patients must be in strict adherence to Standard Treatment Guidelines, which should be issued by an appropriate government agency.

 

Jaipur Hospital Served Notice Over Trials in Patanjali COVID Drug

The Rajasthan Health Department has served a notice to the National Institute of Medical Sciences in Jaipur seeking an explanation on the trials of the Patanjali drug that claims it can cure COVID-19. Reports suggest that trials for the controversial ‘Coronil’ drug by Patanjali were conducted at NIMS, Jaipur before it was launched.

Chief Medical and Health Officer, Jaipur, Dr Narottam Sharma told PTI, “We served notice to the hospital on Wednesday evening seeking explanation in three days. The hospital did not inform the state government nor sought permission.”

NIMS has now however, reportedly distanced itself from the drug stating that no clinical trials for the drug were conducted at the hospital. NIMS Chairman, Dr. B.S. Tomar told The New Indian Express that there was no serious case in the patients admitted at the hospital.

“Only 100 asymptomatic patients were given few Ayurvedic medicines under the sponsorship of Patanjali. But we did not prepare any medicine nor did we know its name,” he reportedly said.

Dr. B.S Tomar reportedly claims that he had the ICMR’s trial wing, the Clinical Trials Registry – India’s permission for five ayurvedic medicines to be tested on coronavirus patients.

Earlier, the AYUSH ministry had sought information on the trial of the drug and banned Patanjali from advertising it as a medicine to cure COVID-19.

While the Uttarakhand government has served a notice to Patanjali for its claims about the drug, the states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra have reportedly refused to allow the Patanjali product to be used in their respective states till it received clearance from the AYUSH ministry.

We’ll get through this!

Vitamin D tips for home, COVID Lockdown

At present Corona, the virus is continuing its spread across the world with more than four million confirmed cases in 188 countries. Many people have lost their lives so far because of this pandemic. This is moving like a jet- one that may yet crash on those least able to cope. The best way to boost our immunity is healthy eating practices which may play a main role in determining our overall health during this pandemic period. All vitamins play a huge part in helping us maintain homeostasis and better health. In the age of “the virus” and many other bugs that seek to injure us, our immune system is called upon to soldier up and defends its home.  Many of are unaware of what does vitamin D dowhat are the benefits of vitamin D and so on. So here is an article on Vitamin D tips for home and everywhere.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin, and the reason behind that nickname is that the primary source of vitamin D is the sun. Calcium and vitamin D should be combined to work correctly. Its primary functions are to protect and repair every bone structure which in return helps to grow immunity.

Vitamin D tips for home

Vitamin D is important. It acts differently than other vitamins. It acts like a hormone and every cell in your body has a receptor for Vitamin D. As it is an important component needed by our body we should start maintaining levels of vitamin D.

Bioavailability

Vitamin D can be activated by respiratory epithelial cells. Metabolism is directly involved in the immunity response to respiratory viruses.

Food enriched with Vitamin D

  • Salmon, Tuna, or fatty fish.
  • Orange juice
  • Egg yolks
  • Mushrooms
  • A supplement of cod liver oil
  • Yoghurt
  • Shrimp
  • Sardines

Fortified Food Sources of Vitamin D

Though there are very few foods which naturally contain Vitamin D, fortified products like milk, cereals, yoghurt and orange juice are readily available to boost your daily dosage. Vitamin D tips for the home include all these enriched foods which are easily available at home.

Supplements

There’s a big question in our heads that what are the supplements of vitamin D.

There’s no risk of your body making too much vitamin D from sun exposure, but always remember to cover up or protect your skin from sunburns. We are often told that if we don’t go a day call at the sun without sunscreen, we’ll eventually develop vitamin D deficiency, but that’s not gonna happen. Our bodies store vitamin D to such an extent, that you simply can go months without sun exposure in the least, and still not develop the deficiency. We surely get vitamin D through the exposure of our skin to short UV wavelengths (260-290), so blocking all UV seems to stop us from taking our daily vitamin D dosage right?

Well, actually no. which is because most folks don’t cover every inch of our exposed body with sunscreen. Maybe, we are really careful with our face, but are we that careful with the remaining of our body? Our ears, the rear of our neck, the rear of our knees? albeit we are at the start of the day, I don’t think most folks reapply on these areas throughout the day, so there’s no harm done, as far as vitamin D cares.

Deficiency Symptoms

  • Hair loss
  • Muscle and bone pain, Back pain
  • Getting sick often
  • Women, especially young, pregnant and breastfeeding.
  • Little exposure to sunlight
  • Darker skin tones
  • Depression and/or anxiety, mood swings
  • Hip, leg or pelvic stress fractures
  • Muscle pain or weakness
  • Bone pain and/or osteoporosis
  • Fatigue, general malaise

Benefits

  • Creates strong bones and teeth
  • Prevents depression
  • Helps with anxiety
  • Reduces the risk of cancer (different forms) and heart disease
  • Boosts immune function prevents colds and influenza
  • Boosts weight loss goals by suppressing appetite

Conclusion

Our immune system performs the task of protecting us from both foreign and domestic invaders.

Vitamin D promotes immunity by increasing the absorption of calcium from our diet via small intestines. It stimulates osteoclast activity (osteoclasts are cells within the bones responsible for bone restoration).

The Centers for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM), states that low vitamin D serum levels are the results of acute respiratory infection rates.

We need our lungs to be healthy and able to work properly. I think now you are clear with all the reasons and importance of conscientiously take your vitamins, get enough sunlight, nutritious diet, rest and exercise and be as healthy as you can.

Disclosure:

Consult a doctor for your health and supplements you take.

With the Covid-19 pandemic and everyone being indoors, we need to very carefully, get outside, and get some vitamin D from the sun. Vitamin D wards off depression and makes us happy. It also helps out immune systems, and various studies state that it can prevent flu.

However, we just can’t go out to a crowded park, or beach, and contribute to the pandemic. What we can do is go for walks in secluded places, go for walks early in the morning or at times when not many people are out. We can read in our back yards or front yard. We can do some gardening. Use a little sunscreen. Sunscreen can prevent skin cancer, and ageing your skin. Get outdoors anywhere, where there is not a bunch of people.

Acquire enough amount and start maintaining levels of vitamin D, with the help of our Vitamin D tips for home.

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY!

The Power of ATTITUDE💪 – Lion & Eagle

There are only two animals on the planet that the creator identified himself with the first one is the eagle and the second animal is the lion and when we study these two animals because if he is the leader of the universe and we want to be a leader on earth we need to better find out the nature of these animals and also the up attitude of those animals.

If we discover that both of them are the kings of their domain the Eagle is the king of the bird Kingdom and the lion is the king of the animal kingdom but let’s talk a little bit about the lion, the lion has the spirit of leadership and this word spirit here is referring to attitude everybody’s attitude a leader has attitude that makes him or her different from followers now the lion is the king of the jungle but the lion to is a great source of encouragement to all of us. I want you to write down this down remember this as long as you reside favorite the lion isn’t the tallest animal within the jungle number two the lion is not the largest animal in the jungle number three the lion is not the heaviest animal in the jungle number four the alliant is not the smartest animal or the foremost intelligent animal within the jungle and yet when he shows up all of them run away.

Your attitude matters in your life – Journey of life Continues
It really brings home the purpose a military of sheep led by a lion will always defeat a military of lions led by a sheep and therefore the answers thereto dilemma is that this because leadership can transform cowards into violent warriors the proper quite leadership can transform a timid into bold people that are fellows leadership is that powerful leadership can walk into a camp of depressed people on in 20 minutes. They are turned on into unbelievable powerful armies because leadership determines everything the lion is that the king of the jungle due to one-word attitude.

Attitude is Everything (@attitudetweets) | Twitter
Lion features a different attitude that creates every animal scared of him now we do not want to steer by fear but it does take respect for you to become a leader once I use the word fear within the jungle we’re talking about respect the elephant respects the lion the hyenas respect the lion they the giraffes they respect the life what makes these massive animals respect such a small cap the attitude is the difference for example, a lion will see an elephant and the thing that counts with mine one word lunch I could eat this thing and he acts the way he thinks now here’s another amazing mystery the elephant is larger, bigger, stronger, more powerful, heavier and more intelligent and yet when the elephant sees the lion one word involves mind eater attitude may be a product of belief you can’t have an attitude beyond your belief so your attitude comes from your belief system the lion is that the king due to what he believes about himself.

4 Ways to Stay Motivated While Achieving Your Goals

Well, who doesn’t want to achieve what he or she wants in life? So, if you have started setting up your goals, then congratulations, you have begun your journey!! But, if you are experiencing some unexpected zigzags amid of the expected alluring summit and your current progress in life, then it is quite natural. It’s nothing unusual actually!

Almost everyone experiences a downward spiral like this, where the dreams seem to be something impossible and it feels like that you are not able to reach them even. But, there’s always a rescue to every obstacle!

Here are four astounding practices, which are based on scientific research. They will assist you to stay yourself determined, muster the energy, and make the journey to success as enjoyable as you expect the destination to be.

Take a glance over!

  1. Mingle with Others

It has been seen over the years that the strength of our social support system is something, which is one of the significant ways to success, resilience, and happiness.

When we have some trusted ‘others’ around us, to remind us of our desired goals, then it gives us immense strength to get back into the game.

If you go for even a mere shopping day or a chit-chat evening with a beloved friend or family of yours, then it could do wonders for you!

  1. Believe in Self-Assurance

Your dream can appear to be no but a mirage to you, if you get into all quite social comparisons. It can thus sabotage your motivation, while letting the fear of failure to loom large in your mind. However, being an inherent attribute of human being, society’s pursuit of perfection is something from which you and I cannot remain away.

Therefore, in such a scenario, you ought to be kind to yourself, which can give strength to you for facing all the fears which will be both the important and imagined ones. So, whenever you are feeling low again about your goals in life, then just place your hand on your chest and provides a reassurance to yourself with a couple of motivating words.

  1. Give a second thought to your roadblocks

It is a human tendency to spot the negatives in their lives prior to the positive facts. When the going gets somewhat tough, then we often start doubting our own abilities and allow the roadblocks to take the toll. But, this can be escaped, while rethinking about the roadblocks – your explanatory style.

Martin Seligman, father of positive psychology, split this explanatory style into 3 Ps. If you explain your difficulty, while considering yourself as the problem (Personal), nothing will work out constructively (Pervasive), and your demoralizing mind-set will remain the same (Permanent). Therefore, he suggested that it should be the time for you to rethink and take the next stride towards your goal afresh!

  1. Go for “LOL”!!

There are definitely some more significant infatuations of ‘LOLs’ than how much it is credited for! Laughing out loud releases the stress hormones in your body and balances your psychological and physiological states. It will help you feel the insignificance of many things, and thus you will be distanced from the fear of failure, which makes you become immobilized.

If you’ve got a dream, then take every stride to satisfy an equivalent , how long it’d take you to try to to so! Never lose hope, and follow the aforementioned tips to stay yourself inspired always to realize the most important goals in your life.

HACCP

“Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points”.
It is basically a preventive approach to food safety which is used to find and then eliminate the biological, chemical and physical hazards which may or may not be there in production processes and can cause the final products to be unsafe and unhealthy for human consumption. These are certain principles which have been designed by the government to ensure the food quality and safety. It is a various step process that is followed in any food industry.
The HACCP system is followed at each and every level of food chain i.e. in food production and preparation processes which also includes packaging, distribution and even consumption by the consumer. It is therefore known as FARM-TO-TABLE process.
This technique was originated by NASA in the 1960s and US food and drug administration gave a particular definition to this. The main objectives of the HACCP system are –
• Prevention of food-borne diseases so that no one is affected after the consumption of food.
• This system mainly focuses on quality assurance unit i.e. maintains the quality of the food.
• HACCP system tends to reduce the cost of analysis of food.
• It also reduces the losses which occur due to product recall.
• And finally it helps in protecting the reputation of government.

HOW TO CONDUCT A HACCP PLAN??????
Conducting a HACCP plan is a 5 step process as mentioned below –

  1. Collection of HACCP resources and assembling of HACCP team which will look into the all steps.
  2. Description of the product by the team and deciding its method of distribution.
  3. Developing a complete list of ingredients and raw materials which are to be used in the production of the final product.
  4. Developing a flow diagram of the process i.e. how the product will be manufactured, its complete process.
  5. Meeting the requirements for the product to be manufactured safely.

PRINCIPLES OF HACCP
There are 7 main principles of conducting successfully a HACCP plan.

  1. To conduct a hazard analysis is the first step in which all the potential physical, chemical as well as biological hazards in the production of the product are identified.
  2. To determine all the critical control points (CCPs). At this step, all the control measures are thought to be applied. Basically at this step, those points are identified where control measures can be applied for the safety. This step is very essential to eliminate hazards completely from the product.
  3. To establish critical limits is the next step i.e. in this step the control measures are actually applied and also the maximum and minimum limits are set for the preventive measures. To each point found in the last step, a critical limit is applied. These limits assure the food safety.
  4. To establish monitoring procedures is the next step in which all the planning which was done yet is monitored and it should be done on a regular basis. This step assures that there is no mishandling of any procedure of the complete plan.
  5. To establish corrective actions is the next step in which appropriate correct actions are taken if after monitoring it is observed that the critical limits are not met. The corrective actions for each point and limit are already pre-decided.
  6. To establish verification procedures is the next and most important step in which the complete HACCP plan is validated. The complete verification of the plan is required to assure that the precautions and preventions are taken carefully.
  7. To maintain record keeping and documentation procedures is the final step in which the record is maintained and established which must be done regularly. It is necessary for validation procedures.

Is Wearing a Face Mask All Summer Bad for Your Skin?

Look, no one wants to wear a face mask. But even as states open back up and the urge to forget COVID-19 ever happened becomes almost irresistible, it’s good to remember that wearing a mask in public places is not about you, it’s about keeping other people safe from a disease that has killed more than 115,000 people in the U.S. alone.

That said, if wearing a face mask has proved problematic in late winter and spring, it’s going to get much worse when the sweat, sunscreen and sweltering temperatures of summer come into play. You may have already dealt with an unfortunate bout of maskne (that’s mask acne, for people who aren’t keeping up on the new COVID lingo), but when you’re essentially creating a hot box around half your face, strange skin issues will follow.

To help you save face this summer, literally, we got in touch with Dr. Jaime Davis, Board Certified Dermatologist and Medical Director and CEO of Minnesota’s Uptown Dermatology and SkinSpa, who has already been dealing with these conditions among patients.

What sunscreen pairs best with a face mask? What materials should you avoid when buying one? And what issues should men, a generally dermatologically naive bunch, be aware of? Dr. Davis answered all these questions and more.

What kind of face mask should I wear in summer?

Before even talking about the type of mask, Dr. Davis pointed out that many issues are cropping up due to overuse. “Wear the mask when necessary, but remove it as soon as it is not necessary,” she said. “Try to avoid prolonged stretches of mask wearing.” This falls in line with current CDC guidelines that recommend “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” Also, if you have severe breathing issues, it’s important to note that the CDC exempts you from that recommendation.

In terms of materials, Dr. Davis recommends masks with moisture-venting features, which it should be said does not mean cutting a hole in it. While she says that medical-grade options are the most protective, they’re also the most occlusive (in other words, they provide the tightest seal, which is good for stopping virus transmission but potentially bad for your skin); instead, she recommends homemade alternatives “made from tightly woven soft cotton fabric that has been washed in unscented soap, rinsed well of any residual detergent, and dried without fabric softener.”

I’ve developed a rash from my mask. What is it?

While you shouldn’t self-diagnose a rash or other skin irritation, one issue Dr. Davis has dealt with at her practice that people should be aware of is allergic reactions to face-mask materials. She points specifically to “the metal nose bridge (if nickel is in the alloy) or elastic (rubber allergy) or any textile-specific coatings on the fabric.” The nickel issue will be familiar to people who wear earrings or other jewelry, and may be more of a concern for people wearing medical or medical-style coverings.

If you think you’re experiencing an allergic skin reaction, be sure to seek out professional help from a dermatologist. Even if you’re nervous about venturing out to a doctor’s office, Dr. Davis notes that her Minneapolis practice has been offering e-visits which have been, in her words, “freaking fantastic!” She notes that insurance is covering the online sessions, care can be delivered quickly and there’s always the potential for an in-person follow-up, so check with your local dermatologist.

How do I avoid and treat maskne?

Not all acne is the same and it should not be treated the same; the same goes for maskne. Dr. Davis says she’s dealt with both acne rosacea (“inflammatory acne exacerbated by heat and humidity of occlusive masks”) and acne vulgaris (“pimples and plugs from excess oil”) in the current mask-wearing age, but notes people should seek a professional opinion if their acne doesn’t go away. If face wash isn’t part of your regular grooming arsenal, she says to use a mild cleanser like Cetaphil twice a day, which may solve your problem.

What sunscreens go well with masks?

The biggest conversation around sunscreen in recent years has been mineral versus chemical. Basically, chemical sunscreens are the most popular products you’ll find on shelves, available from companies like Banana Boat and Coppertone, but some of them are being banned because they’re unsafe for marine life. Mineral sunscreens are generally considered to be friendlier to oceans and the environment, but in terms of protecting you from skin cancer while wearing a mask, Dr. Davis says you’ll be better off with chemical versions.

“Mineral-based sunscreens sit on top of the skin and could be rubbed off by the mask. Chemical-based sunscreens absorb into the skin and generally provide longer-lasting protection,” she says. “Brands that are generally well tolerated by sensitive skin include Vanicream and Cetaphil.” If you have a favorite brand already, she suggests using SPF 30 or higher for normal daily use. And yes, you should be applying sunscreen on your face every day. However, Dr. Davis also notes that if you’re wearing a snug-fitting or tightly sealed mask, you could develop a sensitivity to the sunscreen.

If you do end up with an unfortunate mask-shaped sunburn, the dermatologist-recommended salve is a cool, moist compress on the burn over a thin layer of 1% Hydrocortisone cream, which is available over the counter at local drugstores.

What other skin issues should I be aware of?

If you’ve got facial hair, you may be having problems with beard folliculitis, which is basically inflammation or infection in the hair follicles, similar to razor bumps. Dr. Davis says men have been experiencing this issue when short whiskers get caught in masks as their facial hair grows out. To avoid it, she advocates for beard commitment: either let it grow out or keep a close shave. “It’s that five o’clock shadow or weekend of not shaving that is the stuff which gets caught and causes folliculitis,” she says.

In a similar vein, the last issue she’s noticed is seborrheic dermatitis, which is a condition that generally leads to dandruff on the scalp but can also manifest in dandruff of the face (yes, 2020 is only getting worse). Thankfully, the solution is generally simple. “People are skipping showers during the pandemic and we’re seeing a lot more dandruff,” Dr. Davis says. So to keep face dandruff at bay just do what she already recommended and wash your face at least once a day.

Copyright © 2020 InsideHook. All rights reserved.

How Important Is Your Sleep?

Our lives are fast. Time does not wait for us and we do not wait for the time. Neither can catch up to each other. There are days when you have so much work and tasks to do that sleep feels like an impossible reality. You have to submit the report to your boss in the office, you have to pick up groceries from the market on your way home, you have to read a bedtime story to your kid and see that they complete their homework. There isn’t enough time left and you end up going to bed late and getting up early. And then there are days when you are determined to get your eight hours of sleep at any cost. You don’t mess around with unnecessary work and end up getting a good night’s sleep.

alarm

Sometimes sleep seems like a perfectly fine waste of time. Why should you spend close to one-third of your life sleeping when instead you could gear up and do something more useful? You could, after all, achieve great success in those lost hours. Not sleeping should be the thing responsible for your body, right?

This is the part where your brain tricks you. Sleep is essential for forming memories. It is responsible for your brain’s physiological maintenance. When your body is asleep, your brain is still awake acting like a mental janitor by clearing out all of the junk that has accumulated as a result of your daily thinking.

Here are a few reasons why should you make sleep a priority

  1. Fatigue: Sleep deprivation results in fatigue, low energy throughout the day, and poor concentration. You have an irritable mood and are inattentive.
  2. Immunity: Your immune system is more likely to break down when you have burned the candle at both ends. It can cause abnormal thyroid function and growth hormone secretion.
  3. Prediabetes: Sleep deprivation causes impaired glucose tolerance, or higher than normal blood sugar levels.
  4. Stress: Not having enough sleep causes elevated levels of cortisol (stress hormone). You are likely to have neurological disturbances including visual illusions, hallucinations, blurred vision, memory lapses, and droopy eyes.

sleepSo the next question automatically becomes how to make sleep a priority? Here are a few suggestions you could practice:

  1. Enticing bed routine: Our brain loves patterns. Save appropriate activities until the minutes leading up to bedtime. This signals your brain that sleep is on the horizons and your brain treats it as a reward.
  2. Streamlined and peaceful bedroom: By re-purposing your sleeping space you are tricking your brain, making it difficult to go to bed. Leave your gadgets, snacks, and work stuff out of the room for a blissful sleep.
  3. Consistent bedtime: Although easier said than done but try to maintain a consistent routine. Research shows that the most beneficial hormone secretions and bodily recovery occur between the hours of 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
  4. Sleep is an investment: The busier you are during the day, the less time you have to sleep. Re-prioritize your schedule and invest some hours in your sleep. A little extra sleep is instrumental in health and work benefits too.

Image Courtesy: GOOGLE

Maharashtra, Delhi, amongst five states to receive the first batch of COVID-19 drug

Hetero Drug Limited, which is one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies, has the approval to manufacture and market the generic version of the experimental COVID-19 drug Remdesivir. The company has sent 20,000 vials to five states which include Maharashtra and Delhi.

Both Maharashtra and Delhi happen to be the worst affected states when it comes to the coronavirus. Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are the other two states that will receive the first batch of the drug. The drug Remdesivir is being marketed under the brand name COVIFOR in India.

The capital of Hyderabad, Telangana, where the company is based, will also receive the first batch of the drug. The next batch of the drug is to be shipped to Kolkata, Indore, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Kochi, Trivandrum and Goa.

According to the pharmaceutical company, a 100-milligram vial of the drug will cost ₹5,400. The recommended dose for both adults and the paediatric patients are said to be 200 mg on day one followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg for five days.

At the moment, the drug is being manufactured at the company’s formulation facility in Hyderabad. The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is being made in the firm’s Visakhapatnam facility, as per reports by a news agency.

The DCGI had earlier approved the generic versions made by Cipla and Hetero for emergency use in severe cases of coronavirus. The treatment was the first to show results in trials conducted on patients suffering from the disease. It has won approval for emergency use in patients from the US, South Korea and has further received full approval in Japan.

Maharashtra, which is the worst affected state in the country because of the pandemic can, therefore, use this drug to treat critically ill patients. The state currently has 1,47,738 cases of coronavirus with 70,878 cases in Mumbai only.