Health

Goa has declared cancer a notifiable disease across the state, making it mandatory for healthcare providers or laboratories to report it to government authorities when they diagnose it, officials said on Saturday. The notification, issued by the state Public Health Department on August 20, will pave the way for systematic surveillance of cancer cases and data-driven planning of prevention, screening and treatment programmes, they said. Welcoming the decision, National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (India) president Dr Shekhar Salkar called the move a "landmark and much-needed public health decision" that could strengthen cancer control in the state. Under the notification, cancer cases are required to be reported preferably within seven days and, in any event, not later than one ...

With viral infections increasing in the monsoon, Chairman of the Institute of Internal Medicine and Respiratory & Sleep Medicine at Medanta, pulmonologist Dr Randeep Guleria, has advised high-risk individuals to get vaccinated. In an interview with ANI, Dr Guleria, who is the Former Director of AIIMS Delhi, also reassured the public that most cases remain mild and can be managed with standard home care. "This is something which happens on an annual basis. There is a spurt in cases, but the majority of cases have mild to moderate disease. Some patients who come under comorbidities are getting admitted in ICU's," he said. "So, like every year, we see that there is a spurt of viral infections around the monsoon months, and it usually occurs due to influenza. And most patients have uppe...

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that its nationwide study to detect cancer-causing chemicals in cars is expected to be completed by May 2027. The green body was hearing the matter in which it had taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a media report titled 'People are breathing in cancer-causing chemicals in their cars, study finds'. According to the report, researchers analysed the cabin air of 101 electric, gas and hybrid cars with a model year between 2015 and 2022, and found that 99 per cent of cars contained a flame retardant called TCIPP, which is under investigation by the US National Toxicology Program as a potential carcinogen. Besides, most cars also had two more flame retardants, TDCIPP and TCEP, which are consid...

Fungal infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat, with ringworm cases now reported even among urban people who maintain high standards of hygiene, a mycology expert said on Thursday as young doctors were trained on infectious disease management ahead of the 16th annual conference of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society (CIDSCON-2026) in Gandhinagar. Dr M. R. Shivaprakash, a mycology expert and faculty member at the workshops, said the growing incidence of fungal infections and resistance to antifungal medicines required greater awareness among doctors. He said that while antibiotic resistance is widely recognised, antifungal resistance also needs attention, particularly because treating serious fungal infections can be complex. “A basic understanding of which antifunga...

US drugmakers Merck and Moderna said Wednesday a personalised cancer treatment had shown success in reducing the recurrence of melanoma tumours in a late-stage trial hailed by experts as a "breakthrough". The news sent shares in Moderna soaring 145 percent to USD 154 while Merck's stock was up more than 12 percent to USD 152. The drug, called "intismeran autogene," is based on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology behind Covid-19 vaccines. Researchers have for years been trying to apply mRNA treatments against cancer, but this was the first time such a drug showed positive results in a large, late-stage clinical trial. "Today marks an extraordinary milestone for Moderna, for mRNA science and, most importantly, for patients with cancer," Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statemen...

Corporate men and women make hundreds of invisible decisions each day, creating a hidden cognitive load. This story explores the rise of “Low-Friction Days” and simple routines that reduce mental clutter and preserve energy. You slept for a solid eight hours, drank your morning coffee, and did not lift a single heavy object—yet by 2 pm, you feel completely wiped out. You stare at your screen, frozen. When a coworker asks a simple question like, "Where should we order lunch from?" or your partner texts, "What should we do for dinner?", a sudden flash of irritation hits you. “You decide,” you reply, throwing your hands up in frustration. If this scenario sounds familiar, you are not experiencing standard physical tiredness. You are experiencing decision fatigue. To unpack why this happens...

A severe headache quickly spiralled into a life-threatening neurological emergency for a 31-year-old woman from Gujarat but Mumbai doctors have come to her rescue, and helped her walk again after timely surgery.  After developing weakness on the right side of her body and slurred speech, she was admitted to a hospital where a brain scan showed swelling. She was started on conservative treatment, but her condition took an alarming turn when she began experiencing recurrent seizures. As her neurological symptoms worsened despite treatment, she was referred to Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central, where Dr Prashant Makhija, consultant neurologist, took over her care. By the time she arrived at the city-based hospital, the priority was to understand why a young woman with no obvious explana...

When a heavy monsoon shower begins outside or the low, resonant vibration of a singing bowl fills a room, the immediate reaction for many people is a deep sigh of relief. The mind slows down, the shoulders drop, and a sense of calm takes over. But when you are sitting at your desk with a deadline looming, a crucial question arises: does this relaxed state actually help you lock in and accomplish complex tasks, or is it simply setting the stage for an afternoon nap? To unpack what actually happens inside our nervous system when we listen to acoustic sounds, mid-day.com spoke to two expert neurologists Dr. Aniruddha More, consultant neurologist at Jupiter Hospital, Thane, and Dr. Prashant Makhija, consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. By looking past the wellness t...

Knee replacement was previously linked to older age. However, currently, various factors such as obesity, previous injuries, demanding lifestyles, and untreated joint problems are now raising the chances of knee problems in young adults in their 40s. Currently, there is a surge in the number of people requiring knee replacements. Previously, knee replacement was only linked to older people. But now, many people in their 40s are suffering from unbearable knee pain that is interfering with their daily routine. They also having joint damage that can require knee replacement surgeries. However, when the cartilage is severely damaged and pain begins to affect walking, sleep, work, and everyday activities, surgery may be considered after other treatments have been explored. Mumbai doctors high...

Bust­ing common weight-loss myths around the elimination of rice, bananas, and ghee, nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar said these traditional foods do not need to be automatically removed from one's diet while trying to lose weight. In a social media video, Diwekar addresses the widespread belief that avoiding certain everyday foods is essential for weight loss. She specifically discusses rice, bananas, and ghee, challenging the tendency to label them as foods that must be completely eliminated during a weight-loss journey. 'Rice need not be eliminated during weight loss' Diwekar discusses the perception that rice should be avoided by people trying to lose weight. She points towards the traditional Indian way of eating rice, where it is generally consumed alongside foods such as dal, vegeta...