Health

Researchers have analysed reports of medical procedures in which the brains of awake people were electrically stimulated and found that distinct brain regions may be responsible for spontaneous and voluntary laughter. Two types of laughter have been identified in humans. "Think about the last time you were laughing and you could not stop," author Sophie Scott of University College London, London, UK, said. "Something set of you off and you are helpless with mirth," she said. That is the spontaneous, involuntary laughter and can be uncontrollable, which can be sometimes associated with certain types of seizure disorders, mood disorders, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia, she said. The second is the volitional kind, forming most of the laughter one encounters and timed "incredibly ...

A shorter stride between front legs of a senior dog could be an early warning sign of dementia, similar to how a reduced step length is a sign of cognitive decline among humans, according to a study. Changes to stride are thought to be driven by a deterioration in the function of the brain's frontal cortex and the cerebellum, responsible for planning and monitoring movement, researchers said. Results published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science indicate that a 10-point increase in dementia score of a dog may translate into a 1.2 per cent reduction in the relative stride length of the front legs. They also suggest that a change in stride length of one's pet should prompt owners to seek veterinary help earlier. "Here we show that the length of front leg stride taken by dogs d...

A 27-year-old woman, Shahad Siraini from Oman, whose health rapidly deteriorated due to a rare hormonal disorder, found a new lease on life after Mumbai doctors came to her rescue to conduct an advanced minimally invasive surgery. It also started when unexplained weight gain initially soon escalated into a complex medical condition. Within three months, she gained nearly 16 kilograms and developed diabetes, hypertension, swelling across her body, purple stretch marks, acne, hair loss, excessive facial hair growth, irregular menstrual cycles, persistent fatigue, and muscle weakness. The turning point came when she suffered severe back pain, with investigations revealing a D12 vertebral compression fracture - an unusual finding in an otherwise healthy young adult. Although each condition w...

Persistent headaches soon became a life-altering diagnosis for a 22-year-old woman when her sudden seizure led to the diagnosis of a concerning, large brain tumour. Navi Mumbai doctors have now successfully removed the brain tumour using a neuronavigation technology, allowing the young woman to improve her quality of life. Headaches are a common occurrence in many people, but they turned fatal for this patient. The woman, a 22-year-old resident of New Panvel in Navi Mumbai, who is also an MBA student, had right-sided headaches for the past two months. On May 3, the patient suddenly suffered a seizure and was admitted to NewEra Hospital for timely treatment by a team headed by Dr. Sunil Kutty, consultant neurosurgeon.  Treatment and diagnosis Dr Kutty said, “The patient was admitted to t...

As health information is just a click away, a large number of people tend to Google their symptoms online before consulting a doctor. Doing so can lead to panic, anxiety, and worry. Even if online resources can help create awareness, doctors in Maharashtra including Mumbai say an increasing number of patients are delaying proper medical treatment because they believe they can diagnose and just self-treat the symptoms. However, understand that every person's health condition is different, and relying only on internet information can lead to missed diagnoses, disease progression, and complications that can further complicate the treatment. Hence, timely treatment is key to improving the quality of life of the person. Many people have a habit of using Google to search for each and every thin...

Kolkata doctors have successfully diagnosed and treated a rare neurological condition called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), which is a rare neurological disorder in which the pressure inside the skull (intracranial pressure) increases without an obvious cause, such as a brain tumour, bleeding, or infection; the term "idiopathic" means the exact cause is unknown).  The 50-year-old woman had been suffering from repeated fainting episodes, severe headaches, and progressive vision impairment for several months. Despite undergoing multiple cardiac evaluations, including angiography, the underlying cause of her symptoms remained undetected.  A multidisciplinary team led by Dr Koushik Dutta, consultant – Neurology; Dr Soumya Kanti Dutta, consultant – Interventional Cardiologist; an...

Doctors in Navi Mumbai have given a new lease of life to a woman, who was diagnosed with a thyroid tumour in the neck. The surgery was completed successfully without leaving any visible scar on her neck, offering both medical and cosmetic benefits to the patient. The woman, a 40-year-old homemaker from Pen in Maharashtra, noticed a lump in her neck two years ago, which gradually became a major source of stress and anxiety for her. Being conscious about her appearance, she constantly worried about the possibility of a visible scar on her neck and began avoiding social gatherings and stepping out confidently. The emotional burden affected not only her self-esteem but also her daily life. For nearly two years, she struggled with the condition, moving from place to place in search of relief a...

Obesity is no longer viewed simply as a matter of willpower, overeating or lack of exercise. It is now widely understood as a chronic metabolic disease, often linked with diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, heart disease risk and reduced quality of life. For many people, especially in urban India, weight gain creeps in slowly over years as a result of longer working hours, irregular meals, high-calorie processed food, poor sleep, stress and reduced physical activity, all of which play their own part. A common example seen in clinical practice is the 38-year-old professional who has tried multiple diets, lost 4–5 kg, regained it, and then stopped trying altogether. Or the middle-aged person with diabetes and fatty liver who is told repeatedly to “lose weight,” but fin...

Hip fractures and degenerative hip disorders such as osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis (AVN), and inflammatory arthritis are becoming increasingly common among older adults, often leaving them with severe pain, difficulty walking, and dependence on family members for even basic daily activities. While medications and physiotherapy may provide temporary relief in some cases, advanced joint damage often requires hip replacement surgery to restore mobility and quality of life. A team led by Dr Srisanat Rao, robotic knee & hip replacement surgeon, Zynova Shalby Multispeciality Hospital, Ghatkopar, Mumbai, successfully treated an elderly woman with a hip fracture using the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA), a modern muscle-sparing hip replacement technique. The advanced procedure enabled her...

Across India, rising humidity, damp clothes, wet footwear, crowded commutes, and prolonged sweating create the perfect environment for fungi to thrive. What often begins as mild itching, a few bumps, or a patch of irritated skin can quickly become persistent discomfort if ignored, or worse, aggravated by self-treatment and viral skincare advice. Dermatologists say monsoon-related fungal infections are among the most common skin concerns they see during monsoon season, yet they are also among the most misunderstood. People frequently confuse fungal conditions with acne, heat rash, dandruff, allergies, or friction-related irritation and often reach for strong skincare products or over-the-counter creams that end up making matters worse. The good news is that most fungal infections are manag...