Health

Amid rising fuel costs, pollution and traffic woes, a cycle enthusiast, social activist and a doctor here has advocated the use of cycle for commuting to the workplace as a sustainable and cost-friendly option. Dr Pawan Chandak, who has been regularly commuting to his clinic by bicycle since October 2017, told PTI that cycling simultaneously addresses several concerns, including fuel consumption, public health, pollution, traffic jams and parking shortages. Advocating the `Cycle to Work` movement as a practical, economical and sustainable solution, he said government efforts alone cannot solve the country`s challenges unless citizens also adopt lifestyle changes. "Most workplaces, hospitals, banks and government offices in urban areas are located within a radius of five to ten kilometre...

The insurance market in India expected to grow by 10.7 per cent annually over the next decade, ahead of nominal GDP growth of 10.1 per cent, helped by rising life expectancy and gaps in social protection, according to a report released on Wednesday. Demographic change, rising life expectancy and gaps in social protection remain key growth drivers, Allianz Research, the economic research unit of Allianz, said in the report. Regulatory initiatives such as IRDAI`s "Insurance for All by 2047" vision and recent market reforms are expected to further support the growth, efficiency, and long-term stability of the sector, it said. Despite ranking among the world`s ten largest insurance markets, India remains significantly underinsured, with insurance penetration of 3.8 per cent of GDP, it said,...

When temperatures soar and heat waves become more intense, drinking water alone may not be sufficient to keep the body properly hydrated, particularly as excessive sweating leads to the loss of essential electrolytes, caution health experts. Loss of water and important minerals from the body due to heat may lead to complications like dizziness, headache, muscle cramps, fatigue, they said. In the summer season, the body loses not only water but also electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium due to excessive sweating and electrolytes play an important role in ensuring proper functioning of muscles and nerves as well as regulation of fluid levels in the body, Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital Additional Director of Internal Medicine Dr Divya Gopal told PTI. "However...

In a high-stakes race against time, a specialist medical team led by Dr Prof. N.N. Khanna, Senior Consultant Cardiologist and North India Lead Consultant for Endovascular Services for the Apollo Group of Hospitals, has successfully performed a life-saving procedure on a patient with a leaking "hidden killer" spanning his chest and abdomen.  Aortic aneurysms, abnormal bulges in the wall of the body`s main artery, are often silent and can go unnoticed until they become life-threatening. This was the case of a 66-year-old patient suffering from chronic kidney disease. He initially sought help for a persistent cough and fever, symptoms that appeared routine but masked a terrifying reality. Advanced imaging revealed a thoraco-abdominal aneurysm, a massive localised ballooning of the artery e...

Herbal cigarettes, widely sold in India and abroad as natural, tobacco-free, and therapeutic alternatives to conventional cigarettes, are not safer than regular tobacco cigarettes -- they produce emissions that can be comparably or even more damaging than tobacco smoke, according to a study. Findings published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials present a comprehensive comparison of the physical, chemical, and oxidative properties of mainstream (firsthand) smoke from commercially available herbal and tobacco cigarettes in the Indian market, researchers said. "Our findings challenge the widely held belief that tobacco-free means risk-free," author Sameer Patel, an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar`s department of civil engineering and chemical enginee...

A 32-year-old man, who was struggling to breathe after a fish head got stuck in his throat, was saved by doctors in Jharkhand`s West Singhbhum district on Monday following a timely surgical intervention, officials said. Champai Gagrai, a resident of the Sonua area, was brought to the Sadar Hospital in a critical condition after a fish head got stuck in his throat while he was eating, they said. Gagrai was unable to swallow the fish piece and was experiencing severe breathing difficulties. He travelled nearly 50 km to reach the district hospital for treatment, they added. Upon his arrival at the emergency ward, ENT surgeon Dr Pradeep Kumar and his team immediately attended to him. The fish head was successfully removed through surgery, providing immediate relief to the patient and preve...

Multiple Sclerosis remains poorly understood in India and many patients spend years with unexplained neurological symptoms before they get a diagnosis. The condition can impact movement, vision, balance and even control over bladder function, often disrupting the most productive years of patient’s life. While India is considered a low prevalence region for MS, studies estimate that approximately 5-20 people per 100,000 population may be living with the condition. However, experts believe the true burden is most likely underreported due to limited nationwide epidemiological data.  Every year, World Multiple Sclerosis Day is observed on May 30 around the globe to raise awareness about the disease. Multiple Sclerosis, popularly called MS, is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune...

A hospital in Delhi has treated a 35-year-old woman suffering from recurrent upper abdominal pain caused by gallstones with a mini-laparoscopic technique that uses very small surgical ports, helping patients recover faster, experience less pain and have minimal scarring, officials said. According to a statement issued by the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, it is currently the only hospital in Delhi-NCR to offer mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder removal using the 5-5-2-2 technique. The procedure uses two 5 mm ports and two 2 mm ports, compared to the conventional 10-5-5-5 laparoscopic approach used in standard gallbladder surgeries. Doctors said the woman was concerned not only about the surgery but also about the visible scars and a long recovery period. After evaluation, she w...

A newborn girl born with a rare and life-threatening congenital defect was successfully treated at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital after doctors performed a complex surgery to restore her breathing, Gujarat health officials said on Friday.  The infant was born through normal delivery on May 1 in Naliya town of Kutch district to the family of labourer Anmol Nod. The baby weighed 2 kg at birth and developed severe breathing difficulties immediately after delivery. She was initially treated at local hospitals before being referred to Bhuj, where she underwent six days of intensive treatment. As her condition did not improve, she was later shifted to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital on May 8 and admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), under the supervision of Dr. Charul Mehta, Head of Unit of...

As part of the World No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31 every year, Central Railway undertook awareness activities at various stations in Mumbai to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption. The initiative saw messages appealing to passengers to refrain from consuming tobacco products prominently displayed on boards across the railway station premises. Passengers are being counselled to give up the habit of tobacco consumption and many of them in a symbolic gesture gave up/surrendered the tobacco packets they were carrying in trash bins kept for the purpose.   The initiative was taken a step further with a signature campaign was organised at Reay Road station on May 30 and 31, under the guidance of the station manager and his team where passengers were encouraged t...