Health

High-income countries are on track to eliminate cervical cancer -- preventable through vaccination and screening -- by 2048, while low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will see only slight reductions over the next century, according to a study published in The Lancet journal. As a result, the gap between regions will widen dramatically, with women in LMICs facing much higher rates of this preventable disease, researchers, including those from CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval Research Center in Canada, said. Almost all cervical cancer cases (99 per cent) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vac...

With temperatures rising sharply this summer, doctors in Pune are witnessing a noticeable increase in kidney-related problems, particularly kidney stones and urinary tract infections (UTIs). Experts attribute this surge primarily to dehydration, excessive sweating, and inadequate fluid intake, which are common during the hot months. During summer, the body loses more fluids through sweating. When this loss is not adequately compensated for by increased water intake, urine becomes more concentrated. This creates an ideal environment for minerals and salts to crystallise, leading to the formation of kidney stones. At the same time, reduced hydration and poor hygiene can also increase the risk of urinary infections, especially in women and elderly individuals. “Cases of kidney stones tend to ...

The mid-afternoon sun at an IPL thriller or the relentless heat of a six-hour music festival is more than a test of endurance, it is a physiological siege. For most attendees, the ritual is the same: arrive, feel the parched heat, and frantically chug a litre of lukewarm bottled water. According to internal medicine experts, you have already lost the battle. This ‘reactive drinking’ may soothe a dry throat, but it fails to penetrate the cellular level where hydration is actually needed to regulate core temperature. To survive—and enjoy—extreme exposure, one must adopt the strategy of Volumetric Loading: a disciplined, 24-hour physiological prep that builds the body’s water reserves before the first drop of sweat even forms. Internal medicine health experts break down the science of the s...

Doctors in Thane have successfully treated an elderly woman with a complex case of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) using advanced excimer laser atherectomy technology, marking a significant step in minimally invasive vascular care. The 88-year-old female patient, a known case of diabetes, hypertension, and prior stroke, presented with severe pain and gangrene in her toe at KIMS Hospitals Thane. Imaging revealed a blockage in a major artery of the leg. She underwent a minimally invasive endovascular procedure using the Philips Excimer 300 laser system along with a specialised laser atherectomy catheter, which helped clear the arterial blockage and restore blood flow. The patient experienced significant relief and was discharged the next day, walking comfortably. This advanced system uses ...

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that temperatures are likely to rise further across several districts in the coming days, even as the state witnesses a relative cooling of its political climate after weeks of intense activity.  With the mercury climbing steadily, health experts have cautioned that the risk of heat-related illnesses is increasing and stressed the need for preventive measures. Doctors say that staying safe during peak summer requires two essential steps -- constant vigilance and regular intake of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). The average human body temperature is around 36.9 degrees Celsius. When the external temperature rises significantly above this level, the body begins absorbing heat from the surroundings. To counter this, it activates cooling ...

Mumbai doctors have successfully performed a complex, high-risk, four-hour brain tumour surgery on a three-month-old infant weighing just 5.6 kg, giving the child a second chance at life. The infant had been diagnosed with a giant posterior fossa brain tumour, a rare and life-threatening condition at such a young age. With timely intervention, the baby has recovered well and was discharged in stable condition, bringing immense relief and joy to the family. The surgery was led by Dr Abhishek Nadkarni, consultant neurosurgeon, along with DrSheena Ali, consultant neurosurgeon, and the paediatric neurosurgery team at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children. The parents, residents of Mumbai, became concerned when their previously active baby, suddenly became unusually quiet and lethargic on Ma...

In a remarkable case highlighting the power of advanced surgical care, Mumbai doctors have successfully treated a 30-year-old woman from Kenya suffering from a rare condition known as paraganglioma. This was an even rarer secreting tumour which was secreting hormones leading to wide and dangerous fluctuations of blood pressure. The young lady’s blood pressure remained critically high, unmanageable despite multiple medications, significantly affecting her health and quality of life. Further, the tumour was located deep in the abdomen in proximity to the kidney and major blood vessels - a complex and delicate situation. With the help of precise robotic-assisted surgery, it was successfully removed, leading to excellent blood pressure control without any medications. Karkeh Rophina, a 30-y...

Vice-President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, on Saturday emphasised that mental resilience is key in the fight against cancer and urged citizens, especially the youth, to stay away from intoxicants, tobacco, and similar substances to reduce cancer risk. He called for large-scale, sustained public awareness campaigns focussed on cancer prevention and also sated that tablet-based cancer treatments are emerging as a promising alternative to chemotherapy.  Addressing a programme organised by the Cancer Society of India on Saturday, the Vice President noted that recent advances in medical research are encouraging, particularly initiatives exploring tablet-based therapies as alternatives to intensive treatments such as chemotherapy. He underlined the importance of access to clean drinking water and exp...

Bangladesh`s health sector, shaped over decades, risks being undone within years unless corrective steps are taken, a report has highlighted. According to Bangladesh`s leading newspaper `The Daily Star`, the current measles vaccine crisis in the South Asian nation is not merely an isolated disruption but reflects institutional weakening, with national vaccination coverage dropping to around 60 per cent in 2025 – the lowest in nearly a decade – from 85-92 per cent between 2010 and 2022. "Bangladesh`s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has long been one of the country`s most celebrated public health successes. Built on sustained government commitment, strong development partnerships, and a vast network of frontline health workers, it delivered consistently high coverage and sharply r...

There is clear evidence that exposure to micro and nanoplastics can trigger oxidative stress, fibrogenesis and inflammation in animals, features that resemble those of advanced liver disease in humans, researchers said on Thursday.  With the liver acting as the body’s first major firewall, processing and detoxifying everything humans consume, there is a clear potential for these particles to enable the transporting of microbial pathogens, antimicrobial resistance determinants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and carcinogenic additives into the human system, they emphasised in the Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal. The article’s lead author, Shilpa Chokshi, Professor of Experimental Hepatology and Director of Centre of Environmental Hepatology, said that liver disea...