Pune based OptraLABS announced that it has received approval from ICMR towards its COVID-19 test kits named ‘Optra-Shield’. Based on studies conducted at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, Optra-Shield test kits showed 99 percent specificity and 95 percent sensitivity to detect immunity post-infection.

As per a release, these kits detect IgG antibodies which are developed a post-COVID-19 infection as a fighting mechanism of the body immune system. Once these antibodies are developed, the person becomes non-contagious and considered safe to intermingle with others.

Optra-Shield comes with a mobile-based self-assessment app and an at-home rapid test kit (like a glucose testing or pregnancy testing device). the kit includes a lancet (a finger pricker) to obtain a drop of blood on the strip which in few minutes shows immunity levels against COVID-19.

“Pandemic has paralyzed the entire world. Lockdown was imposed in many parts of the world that resulted in controlling the spread of the virus but also impacted our economy. The only option is to allow people to work again to bring back economical developments. But how would one ensure that people are safe to return to work? Not all businesses can afford to work from home,” said Abhi Gholap, Founder and CEO, Optra Group of companies.

He further added, “OptraLABS kits for Recovery Testing is the solution. These kits can be used at home or work. These kits are also particularly useful to test the effect of the COVID-19 antibodies test vaccine. We are not only manufacturing these in India but also made sure that our kits cost-effective. We are making Optra-Shield available at Rs. 350 in India.”

Dr. Achal Pashine, a well-known scientist and ex-Director at Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, and Roche said, “There are additional ways where this test kit could be very helpful, especially after the anticipated mass-vaccination programs against SARS-CoV2. This kit can be utilized by governmental health agencies to monitor the administration and efficacy of their immunization program. This could be monitored by user-submitted data after the vaccine recipient uses the Shield test at home post-vaccination after a prescribed time. Recalling patients after vaccination to conduct diagnostic serological tests for antibody development may be a difficult task, especially in countries like India and other South Asian countries where the compliance for return visits could be low. Thus, a self-administrable kit by OptraLABS could fulfill that need in an affordable, accessible, and traceable way.”

Understanding Headaches
Headaches can manifest in various ways, from a dull ache to a sharp, throbbing pain. They can affect not only the head, but also the neck and upper back. Often, headaches are the result of tension in the muscles of the neck, scalp, and jaw. While rest and sleep can help, they’re not always feasible solutions, especially during a busy day.

The Power of Self-Massage
Self-massage is a simple and effective method for pain management. It can be performed anywhere and requires no special equipment. When done correctly, self-massage can provide immediate relief from headache pain.

Four Techniques to Alleviate Headaches
1. Eye Exercise
Close your eyes and place your middle fingers above your cheekbones. Gently but firmly massage this area in circular movements for one minute.

2. Eye to Nose Run
Using your thumb, trace along the underside of your eyebrows. Pay special attention to the points where the bone meets the edge of your nose and eyes. You’ll find a small indentation here. Apply gentle pressure with your thumbs, holding for 10 seconds. Repeat this four times.

3. Neck Exercise
Move your fingers to the back of your head and the base of your skull. Apply gentle pressure for a minute with your fingertips in circular movements, focusing on the top of your neck.

4. Scalp Massage
Use your palms to gently massage your scalp for one minute. After completing these massages, take a deep breath and lift your shoulders towards your ears for five to ten seconds to relieve any remaining tension, then let them fall back into their natural position.

By incorporating these techniques into your routine, you can effectively manage your headaches and enjoy a lighter, more relaxed state of mind. Remember, consistency is key – the more frequently you perform these exercises, the more relief you’ll experience.

Many people struggle with headaches. There are certainly various types of headaches. One person may have migraine headaches, another may have tension headaches, and someone else may have sinus headaches. What do they all have in common? The majority of headaches are coming from the spine. This article will discuss headaches, important research concerning this condition, and headache pain relief. Moreover, it is caused due to neurology problems. Proper diagnosis with the best neurologist will be a remedy. As I noted earlier, there are varying types of headaches. Let’s briefly discuss these.

Migraine headaches

Migraine headaches are classically located on one side of the head. They are usually preceded by a “prodrome.” A prodrome occurs before the actual head pain. For some it might be a loss of peripheral vision, others may get a ringing in the ears and another might get a feeling of numbness in the facial area. Migraine sufferers usually experience severe pain that can cause them disability to the point they may have to lie down in a dark quiet room.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches, which also may be called muscular stress headaches, can be located anywhere in the skull. Some people get them in the back of the head, others might get them in the temples and others might find them to be all over the entire skull. Stress and tiredness tend to trigger tension headaches. Usually, they are mild to moderate in nature and those suffering from them are accustomed to continuing on with their day, albeit under duress.

Sinus headaches are usually located in front of the head and are located around the eyes, forehead, and upper cheeks. They may occur with changes in weather, temperature or seasonal changes. They are confounding to those having them due to their unpredictability.

Should I go to the hospital for Headache?

Fortunately, there is a single type of conservative care that is a blessing for headache pain alleviation. Research has found that the cause of headaches is frequently found by correcting spinal misalignments in the upper neck. In fact, the Journal of Occupational Trauma published a research article that said: “Headaches are more frequently caused by spinal stress than any other condition.”

A doctor of chiropractic is trained to evaluate the upper spinal bones of the neck for misalignments and improper motion. If there is abnormal alignment or motion of these bones, called vertebrae, it can irritate nerves that cause migraine, tension, and sinus headaches.

Chiropractors are also trained to restore proper alignment and motion to the upper spinal vertebrae by way of a chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment is a very safe, gentle conservative. Many headache sufferers are used to taking medications for headaches. These drugs may have unhealthy side effects. Chiropractic care is known to be a non-pharmaceutical alternative for headache pain relief.

A number of centuries ago when Europeans first start to take long voyages by sea, many of the sailors would come down with a strange disease, scurvy that seemed to affect the larger joints of the body. It was a peculiar form of arthritis, frequently connected with bleeding into the joints. The gums would also be affecting, and the teeth would loosen and fall out. Patients would feel weak, tired and irritable, and would complain of pain and aching in the muscles. But this strange disease forever cleared up soon after the sailors reach land and start to consume fresh fruits and vegetables.

What was this secret substance in fruits and vegetables that prevented scurvy? No one knew for sure. But a few wise doctors in the British navy prescribed a plentiful supply of limes and lemons for the sailors. The limes and lemons provided a sufficient supply of vitamin C. Thus scurvy, which we now know is due to a short of vitamin C, was the first deficiency disease to be recognized and treated effectively.

During the nineteenth century another strange disease was familiar. Someone called the disease beriberi, a name still used by doctors nowadays. It was this strange disease that led to the real discovery of vitamins. A Dutch scientist, Eijkman, while working in Indonesia noted that this disease was more prevalent where people were crowded jointly. He assumed a deficiency in the diet of the poorer people.

Doctors all over the world were intensely interested as soon as these extraordinary findings were discovered. This opened a whole new idea in the treatment of disease. Someone coined the word “vitamin”, and doctors soon stat to discover other vitamins and their functions in the body.

Vitamin is not a food although it is typically present in the foods we eat. Nor it is a food supplement. Vitamins do not give energy, nor do they build up worn out tissues. Still a man cannot survive without vitamins. Many of the vitamins are required in very small amounts, yet vitamins play a very important role in most chemical reactions within the body. A lot of of these cell reactions are carried on through enzymes, each different kind of enzyme being responsible for carrying on some particular chemical reaction within the body. Enzymes are made up of a mixture of vitamins and minerals, all joined together in a highly complex fashion. If only one vitamin happens to be missing, that enzyme cannot be formed and some significant function of the body cannot be carried out.

Where do vitamins come from? They are built up in plants and they are establishing in all fresh foods. However, some vitamins particularly vitamin C, can be destroyed by excessive cooking. Drying or contact to sun and wind may also destroy them. Other vitamins are not so easily damaged. They will stand cooking and boiling without being changed. But many of these vitamins are water-soluble and are thrown away while the cooking water is drained off.

Vitamins work in different-different ways, and are frequently closely related to each other in their reactions within the body. Most vitamins do not take place alone. They are frequently found in pairs or groups.

The general characteristics of the vitamins are given below:

1. The vitamins are extensively distributed in nature both in animal and vegetable kingdoms. All vitamins are manufactured in plants. Approximately all common articles of food include more than one vitamin.

2. Vitamins can execute their work in very small quantities. Hence, the entire every day requirement is usually very small. The every day require of any vitamin for any individual is not a fixed quantity. It varies according to the speed of metabolism. In people undergoing heavy muscular work, in pregnancy, lactation, growing children, the vitamin requirement is high. Normally, a man doing normal work can get enough vitamins from his balanced mixed diet.

3. Vitamins can be stored in the body to some level, for instance the fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and subcutaneous tissue, vitamin C in adrenal cortex etc.

4. Vitamins are partly damaged and are partly excreted.

5. A number of vitamins are synthesized in the body. Some family members of vitamin B complex are synthesized by microorganisms in the intestinal area.

6. Vitamins are not damaged in the digestive process and are, therefore, absorbed as such. Hence all vitamins are successful when administered orally.

7. Although they are necessary for life, until now all vitamins are not essential for all the species of animals. The physiological necessity is net with the synthesis of an exacting vitamin in the organism.

8. A number of of vitamins are soluble in water and others are fat-soluble.

9. Most of the vitamins have been unnaturally synthesized.

10. Their mode of action is not obviously known. Some of them have been proved to behave as coenzyme of other metabolic enzymes. Since the enzyme system of a tissue is specific in nature, it is fairly reasonable that, an exacting vitamin acts selectively upon one tissue. This helps us to give details why the deficiency of a particular vitamin specifically affects some tissues and systems and leaves others more or less undamaged.

Vitamins are divided into two groups:

- Fat-soluble vitamins, which includes vitamins A, D, E and K.

- Water soluble vitamins which includes vitamins of the B-group and vitamin C

Now if we were all completely healthy, and continued to consume the correct food, we would almost certainly remain strong and vigorous all the days. But most of us are not this opportune. We have all present at birth certain weaknesses, and none have ideal health. We must therefore be assured our diet contains all elements essential for good health, and these contain minerals and vitamins. Vitamins can be evaluated from simple blood test like Vitamin B12 test , Vitamin B Complex etc.