Health

A simple fall inside her home changed everything for a 69-year-old woman. While it initally appeared to be a routine household accident, it soon turned into a medical emergency when she found herself unable to stand or bear weight on her right leg. Doctors in Thane came to her rescue to help her walk again while dealing with their complex medical history. The pain was excruciating, and even the slightest movement became impossible. For the family, the concern extended far beyond the fracture itself. The woman was diabetic, hypertensive and had a long history of serious heart disease. Over the years, she had undergone three separate coronary angioplasty procedures and was living with nine stents in her heart. Any major surgery carried significant risk. Investigations revealed a comminute...

In a deeply emotional and challenging case, a Mumbai doctor has helped an 89-year-old woman regain movement and independence after she was left completely paralysed following a fall at home.  The surgery was performed by Dr Amit Sharma, spine surgeon at Neo Spine Clinic, at Jaslok Hospital.  It all started when a simple accident quickly turned into a life-threatening condition, leaving her unable to move her arms or legs and entirely dependent on others for basic needs. The elderly woman had always been the pillar of strength for her family. She suffered a fall at home, which led to a serious cervical spine (neck) injury. After the fall, her life changed overnight.  She was left completely paralysed, unable to sit, eat, or even breathe comfortably without support. Once fiercely indepen...

Up to 90-120 minutes of strength training per week could be related with a 13 per cent lower risk of death from any cause, with effects amplified if aerobic exercise is added, a 30-year study showed. The duration of 90-120 minutes of strength training also reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 19 per cent, and from neurological diseases by 27 per cent, according to the findings published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. However, no further benefits were observed beyond 120 minutes a week of strength or resistance training. Researchers, including those from Harvard University, said that benefits of aerobic physical activity on lowering one`s death risk are known, but the role of muscle strengthening exercises in reducing the risk is not clear. "Using repeate...

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...