Health tips during exams period.
Now that we enter the exams period, preparation mode is on with sleepless nights and stressful minds. And with that also comes a bunch of health conditions which we are usually unaware of, or just simply ignore.
Dr Aukhojee Yasheel, doctor and director of Médecin à domicile elaborates on the common health hazards to be aware of during exams period.
Tests and exams can be a challenging part of school life for children and young people and their parents. The doctor lists the following symptoms that can be manifested among children and young people.
Anxiety
Feeling tense
headaches and stomach aches
not able to sleep properly
irritability
loss of interest in food or sometimes eat more than normal
not enjoying activities that one usually enjoys
low or negative mood
one feels hopeless about his/her future
Side effects of studying till late on the eve of exams
The doctor recalls that we only pull all-nighters when we have fallen behind and are trying to rapidly catch up on information or a project. ‘Teens who stay up late at night cramming are more likely to have academic problems the following day: doing poorly on the test that they studied for, finds a new study by University of California.
Sleep deprivation’s effect on working memory is staggering. Not enough sleep will make your brain become weary, rendering a sharp decrease of performance in specific learning and memory tasks.
Dealing with Nausea
Nausea is a common anxiety symptom which may occur with or without the urge to vomit.
‘Nausea comes from the release of epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline. This disrupts the acids, enzymes and functions of your stomach and intestine, which leads to nausea-related symptoms. In the case of nausea from anxiety, the nausea itself is not dangerous and unlikely to be indicative of a health problem. Instead to control your nausea, you need to control your anxiety’.
He advises the following to the children:
DEEP BREATHING
It is one of several anxiety reduction techniques that are effective for controlling current stress. Deep breathing involves taking slow controlled breaths in order to get your heart and mind under control. One method is to sit on a chair and breathe in slowly through your nose for five seconds, hold for four seconds and then breathing out through pursed lips slowly. Repeat 10 times.
DRINK WATER
Like healthy eating, water can help your body stay nourished without ingredients that exacerbate your upset stomach. In addition, it’s not uncommon for dehydration to lead to more anxiety, so drinking water can actually be its own anxiety treatment.
EAT TO PREPARE FOR NAUSEA
If you are going for an exam in which you may become nauseous, prepare your stomach ahead of time. Eat a bland diet, like banana, rice, toast. Avoid certain foods like fried, spicy or foods with strong aromas.
Tips before going to exams
Get adequate sleep (8 hours minimum)
Eat a balanced meal breakfast
Avoid junk food
Parents should be supportive: Encourage children to think through what they do know and the time they already put into studying to help them feel more confident.
