Health

Bureaucracy vs Biology: The Two Speeds of European Healthcare Finland is demonstrating a different approach to modern healthcare—one that prioritizes accessibility, respect, and efficiency. In contrast to the often complex and delayed systems in many parts of Europe, Finnish providers are enabling patients to access treatment for sensitive issues like erectile dysfunction and obesity through secure, digital means. This approach reduces the need for in-person visits, long queues, and administrative barriers. In particular, the clinic Medilux has established a fully remote model for treating erectile dysfunction. Using secure identity verification via BankID, patients can consult licensed physicians online and receive prescriptions directly within Finland’s national digital system, Kanta. ...

With the monsoon season underway, experts have said there is a surge in viral fevers and other seasonal infections during this time of the year. Prolonged fever, often neglected and labeled as a mild infection, could be an early sign of a serious condition. Timely investigation and proper diagnosis are important, especially in children, where fever may be the only visible symptom of an underlying issue. Dr Nimitt Nagda, internal medicine expert, Zynova Shalby Hospital in Ghatkopar said, "With the start of the monsoon, we are seeing a big rise in cases of viral fever and PUO (pyrexia of unknown origin). In fact, about 30–40 per cent of patients visiting the OPD during this time come with fever-related complaints. The humid weather, waterlogging, and mosquito breeding create ideal condition...

Lungs of teenagers need protection, not pollution from vapes, medical experts have stressed while highlighting the dangers of vaping and the emergence of new-age gateway devices. A group of doctors supporting the movement of Mothers Against Vaping, a collective dedicated to raising awareness about the ill effects of vaping and working to eradicate it, said vaping has health implications, including issues like coughing, dry throat, shortness of breath, or headaches. More alarmingly, it can affect the heart, raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and even leading to a heart attack, they said. Dr K K Handa, chairman, ENT, head and neck surgery, Medanta Hospital, said the common myth that vaping is safer than smoking is totally incorrect. "Vaping can damage lungs after prolonged us...

People relishing tea, pakoras and other seasonal delicacies while enjoying the weather outside is common during the monsoon season, but so is the risk of contracting infections due to unhygienic or unsafe food and water. The risk of certain diseases like dengue, malaria and leptospirosis increases during the monsoon. Another illness that sees a surge during the rainy days is typhoid, or typhoid fever, which is caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi. It usually spreads through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. If not diagnosed and treated on time, the condition can also prove to be life-threatening. Hence, it becomes essential to watch out for warning signs of the disease. Symptoms of typhoid According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some common symptoms of typhoid ...

Hospitalisations due to severe Covid-19 infection, a family history of sudden deaths, as well as lifestyle behaviours are some of the reasons behind the unexplained sudden death, according to a study led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The peer-reviewed study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research explored factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India. It showed that Covid vaccination was not responsible for sudden and unexplained deaths seen among young and healthy individuals. The study was conducted in 2023, following anecdotal reports of sudden, unexplained deaths in India`s apparently healthy young adults, which were linked to Covid-19 infection or vaccination. "Covid-19 vaccination did not increase the risk...

Women`s mental and physical health took a severe toll than men during the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, finds a study. The study, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, showed that psychological distress increased for both women and men during the pandemic, with women experiencing a greater rise. The link between health behaviours and mental health weakened for women during the pandemic, with a healthy lifestyle no longer showing a significant connection to mental health. In contrast, these relationships remained consistent for men. Before the pandemic, health behaviours offered greater protective benefits for women`s mental health, but during the pandemic, this protective effect became stronger for men, revealed researchers from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. "We f...

One in every four school-going adolescents is at risk of developing mental health illness, according to a recent study, that stressed the need for early interventions. The study, led by researchers at the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute in Puducherry, called for significant intervention at school and home. “Adolescence is a crucial period during which biological and psychosocial changes occur in an individual. One-fourth of the adolescents were found to be at risk of mental health illness, so periodic screening could be done at schools, for early identification and proper treatment of mental disorders,” said researchers including Kavita Vasudevan, Head of Community Medicine at the institute. The study aimed to determine and compare the prevalence and risk factors as...

Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, have developed a new low-cost sensor that can help detect toxic sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas responsible for respiratory irritation, asthma attacks, and long-term lung damage, at extremely low concentrations, said the Ministry of Science and Technology on Friday.  CeNS, Bengaluru is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), under the Ministry. SO2 is a toxic air pollutant commonly released from vehicles and industrial emissions, and even minute exposure can cause serious health issues and long-term lung damage. It is hard to detect before it has an adverse effect on health. While real-time monitoring of SO2 levels is essential for human health and environment existing technologi...

US researchers have developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) model that significantly outperforms current clinical guidelines in identifying patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death.  The AI system, known as Multimodal AI for Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk Stratification (MAARS), integrates cardiac MRI images with a wide range of patient health records to detect hidden warning signs, offering a new level of precision in cardiovascular risk prediction, Xinhua News Agency reported. The study, published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research, focused on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- one of the most common inherited heart conditions and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people. "Currently we have patients dying in the prime of their life because they aren`t prot...

Women with poor cardiovascular health may be at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in midlife, according to a study. CAC refers to the buildup of calcium deposits in the walls of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. It is a significant indicator of heart disease risk. The findings, published in JAMA Cardiology, suggest that gestational diabetes is a marker of pre-pregnancy cardiovascular health. It also underscores the importance of healthcare providers in helping patients improve their cardiovascular health both prior and after pregnancy. "We need to optimise cardiovascular health early in the life course," said lead author Natalie Cameron, instructor in the Department of Medicine`s Division of General Internal Medicine...