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Leptospirosis may prove to be fatal, warns expert

30Sep

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Leptospirosis may prove to be fatal, warns expert

As Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was hospitalised after he was diagnosed as suffering from leptospirosis, a disease not many are familiar with, a doctor explains how this bacterial infection occurs, its dangers, and the precautions that must be taken. Explaining how leptospirosis spreads, Dr M Wali, Senior Consultant from the Department of Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, said that this infectious disease is caused by the bacteria Leptospira, and often spreads to humans through rats. The infection can occur when food, water, or soil contaminated by animal urine comes into contact with the nose, mouth, eyes, or broken skin, he said. Regarding the symptoms of this disease, Dr Wali said that in the early stages of leptospirosis, patients may experience flu-like symptoms. H...

Why non-smokers are equally at risk for respiratory diseases

30Sep

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Why non-smokers are equally at risk for respiratory diseases

While the cause of lung diseases like lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has long been linked with smoking, an alarming increase in cases has been observed even amongst non-smokers, majorly due to passive smoking and air pollution, said experts on Wednesday. World Lung Day is observed every year on September 25 to raise awareness about lung health and promote better lung care around the world. Smoking is a major cause of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Quitting smoking can significantly improve lung health and reduce the risk of developing these diseases. However, a significant increase in respiratory cases has been observed even amongst non-smokers, said experts. “These are mostly traced to an increased exposure...

World Heart Federation urges countries to develop cardiovascular action plans

29Sep

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World Heart Federation urges countries to develop cardiovascular action plans

The World Heart Federation (WHF) has launching a global petition, urging all countries to have a ‘National Cardiovascular Action Plan’ to tackle heart disease, the world’s number one killer. Improving cardiovascular health requires strategies that are tailored to the national, regional, and local context, and must take the socioeconomic environment and healthcare system into account, they argue. Marking this year’s World Heart Day with the petition launch, the WHF hopes the call to action will inspire a more robust and coordinated response to cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is responsible for more than 20.5 million deaths every year. As many as 80 per cent of these deaths from heart attacks and strokes are preventable, but early findings by WHF show that as few as 7&#37 of countr...

Mumbai: 41-year-old man survives a fatal widowmaker heart attack

29Sep

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Mumbai: 41-year-old man survives a fatal widowmaker heart attack

In a medical accomplishment, Mumbai doctors performed a high-risk intervention and saved the life of a 41-year-old man with LMCA Cardiogenic Shock Syndrome, also called widowmaker heart attack, with 100 per cent stenosis of left main coronary artery, which is a serious condition with high mortality rates. The patient, Sanjeev Tripathi, who is a Mira Road resident, experienced severe chest pain three months ago in May 2024. He arrived at the Emergency Department of Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road with profuse sweating, pain radiating to the left arm and persistent vomiting for 30 minutes. A team headed by Dr Anand Ram, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at the hospital, looked after the patient, who needed life-saving treatment. Dr. Ram reveals, “This patient’s condition had worsened ...

Kids who receive only breast milk at birth hospital less prone to asthma: Study

28Sep

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Kids who receive only breast milk at birth hospital less prone to asthma: Study

A team of researchers on Friday said that infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalisation at birth were 22 per cent less likely to develop asthma in early childhood. Although the birth hospitalisation lasts only a few days, it sets a critical foundation for establishing breastfeeding, which can influence health outcomes like childhood asthma, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics ‘2024 National Conference and Exhibition’ in Orlando, Florida. According to Laura Placke Ward, co-director for the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the study underscores the importance of hospital practices in supporting exclusive breastfeeding, as these early experiences may impact long-term health. ...

Social media is putting children at risk of sexual abuse, finds research

28Sep

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Social media is putting children at risk of sexual abuse, finds research

Social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat offer benefits for teens but also can be used as a tool by predators online as about 7 per cent of more than 1,000 teens who disclosed sexual abuse reported that social media was used to facilitate the assault, a new study said on Friday. The research, presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition, found that, when accounting only for victims whose perpetrators were not related to them, an even higher percentage – 12 per cent -- reported that social media facilitated sexual assault. The team evaluated children 10 to 18 years of age who disclosed sexual abuse at Rady Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center for Children and Families between 2018 and 2023. They defined “social media facilitated s...

1-3 of 10 people being diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

27Sep

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1-3 of 10 people being diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

One to three of 10 people are being diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is rapidly emerging as a major public health concern closely linked with metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said on Friday. Chandra, who released the revised Operational Guidelines and Training Module of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), here said India has taken the lead in recognising it as a major non-communicable disease (NCD). "NAFLD is rapidly emerging as a major public health concern, closely linked with metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Out of 10, one to three people can have NAFLD which highlights the impact of the disease," Chandra stated. He highlighted that the release of revised ope...

27Sep

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Mumbai teen becomes first in the world to successfully undergo hand transplant

In a historic set of events, a 15-year-old girl from Goregaon in Mumbai, who lost her right hand due to electrocution in 2022, has received a new hand. This teenager has become the youngest recipient in Asia and the first globally to undergo a shoulder-level limb transplant successfully. The hand transplant represents the 12th successful hand transplant conducted at Gleneagles Hospital, a leading transplant facility in Mumbai and Western India. Notably, this is the first time in India that a hand transplant was performed using the organ of a 9-year-old brain-dead donor from Surat, providing this teenager with an incredible gift. The 12-hour surgery was skillfully carried out by Dr. Nilesh G. Satbhai, head of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Gleneagles Hospitals in Parel, ...

Why contraception is still essential after 40 until menopause is confirmed

26Sep

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Why contraception is still essential after 40 until menopause is confirmed

Contraception is often considered a priority during the early reproductive years, but many women overlook its importance after the age of 40. Fertility decreases with age, but pregnancy is still possible, and unplanned pregnancies can carry significant health risks for both mother and child. On World Contraception Day, Dr. Asha Dalal, Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, highlights why women should continue using contraception until they are certain they have reached menopause. Women can get pregnant even in their 40s While the increase in age is linked to decrease in fertility among women, the chances of pregnancy do not vanish entirely. “As women age, their fertility naturally declines due to the depletion of viable eggs and changes in ...

Obesity, smoking key triggers for Alzheimer`s Disease, say experts

26Sep

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Obesity, smoking key triggers for Alzheimer`s Disease, say experts

Obesity and smoking are key triggers for Alzheimer`s Disease, said health experts on Monday, stressing the need to control both, especially in young adults. Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is a serious public health concern. It leads to memory loss, cognitive decline, and inability to perform daily tasks. The experts explained that obesity and smoking are the major risk factors for vascular dementia and can trigger Alzheimer`s owing to the inflammation caused due to smoking. “Smoking damages blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which can harm brain cells. Obesity is linked to inflammation and insulin resistance, both detrimental to brain health,” Dr. Vikas Mittal, pulmonologist at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, said. Alia Bhatt: I avoid givin...