Health

Renowned gynaecologist Dr. Kotha Ushalakshmi, who was the inspiration behind Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases passed away in Hyderabad on October 15. She was 91 years old.  Born in 1933 in Guntur, she has been one of the most renowned gynaecologists from the Telugu states. Her only son and eminent breast surgeon Dr Raghu Ram said she passed away due to heart failure. Ushalakshmi graduated and later obtained her Postgraduate qualifications (DGO & MD) from Guntur Medical College. She worked as Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology in Hyderabad, with the longest innings at Niloufer Hospital. “Although breast cancer was an unwelcome visitor in her life at the age of 69, she fought the disease with extraordinary courage and fierce d...

Childhood immunisations and low-cost prevention and treatments combined with new health technologies may help reduce premature deaths by 50 per cent, according to a new study published by The Lancet Commission on Tuesday.  The report laid out a roadmap for every nation that chooses to do so to cut the chance of premature death for its citizens in half by 2050. “The goal of “50 by 50,” is achievable”, argues the report. If every country achieves the goal, then, a person born in 2050 would have only a 15 percent chance of dying before age 70, down from 31 per cent for someone born in 2019. It suggested measures such as “expanding childhood immunisations and low-cost prevention and treatments for common causes of preventable death, combined with scaling up financing to develop new health t...

Cancer and dementia are the major risk factors that increase the risk of mortality among patients with sepsis admitted to the emergency medical department, according to a study on Tuesday. Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency caused by a dysregulated host immune response to an infection that claims millions of lives globally each year. The study led by a team of Danish researchers found that age and heart disease were the other reasons that can raise the risk of death in sepsis patients within two years. “We found that certain factors increased the risk of death after sepsis, including, not surprisingly, advanced age,” said Dr. Finn E. Nielsen, a senior scientist in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. “Additionally, conditions such as demen...

While the most common presentation in breast cancer is a lump in the breast, it can occur even without any noticeable symptoms, said doctors on Tuesday while urging for self-examination and screening. October is celebrated as breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India. With a high mortality rate, it is a major public health concern in the country. As per a recent ICMR study, breast cancer cases and deaths are expected to rise in India by 2045. However, the key is to detect the cancer in its early stages to help boost treatment outcomes as well as survival rates, said the experts. “Although most common presentation in breast cancer is lump in the breast, it can also present as swelling or lumps under the arm or near the collarbone, nippl...

Strong public health and community support has helped India to be free from trachoma -- a highly contagious bacterial infection that has been a major cause of preventable blindness worldwide, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.  From being the leading cause of blindness during the 1950s and 1960s, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared India “officially free from trachoma”. “This milestone comes after years of dedicated efforts by the government to protect the vision of millions, emphasising the importance of healthy eyesight for every individual,” the ministry said. According to the WHO, an estimated 150 million people worldwide are affected by trachoma and 6 million of them are blind or at risk of visually disabling complications. What is Trachom...

The spotlight turns to the essential yet often overlooked aspect of the therapeutic journey: finding the right therapist. While therapy is a cornerstone of mental well-being, a successful therapeutic relationship is paramount for progress. “While all kinds of therapists are ultimately looking to help, therapeutic relationship can be hampered if you just don’t feel comfortable with their approach. For example, a lot of therapists use silence as a tool, but if they’re not using it in a way that feels okay for you, it may not be a good fit,” shares Divya Tiwari, clinical psychologist and head of therapy at MindPeers. Recognising the signs of a mismatched therapeutic connection and making the decision to change therapists can be daunting, but it`s a crucial step towards optimal mental health,...

Cases of cardiac arrest have seen a spurt in recent times, but the bigger question is the ability to diagnose and prevent such cases. The surge in rising cases of cardiac and non-communicable ailments has perplexed corporate India as well as the larger medical fraternity.  When Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor criticised the hustle culture advocating for a healthier approach to life, many youngsters followed him on social media. But, when it comes to practice, Gen-Z and millennials are more likely to follow odd-health practices than follow preventive measures. New and rising medical epidemicRising non-communicable diseases could be one explanation for these deaths. The World Health Organization states that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chro...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered search engines and chatbots may not always provide accurate and safe information on drugs, and patients shouldn’t rely on these, warned a study on Friday.  Researchers from Belgium and Germany conducted the study after finding many answers were wrong or potentially harmful. In the paper, published in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety, they said that the complexity of the answers provided by the AI chatbot may be difficult to understand and might require degree-level education. With the introduction of AI-powered chatbots search engines in 2023 underwent a significant shift thanks. The renewed versions offered enhanced search results, comprehensive answers, and a new type of interactive experience. While the chatbots -- trained on extensive datasets...

Deep fried, baked, grilled ultra-processed foods -- found in every nook and corner of India -- that have become the staple in a majority of homes in recent years, are a direct reason for the ever-surging cases of diabetes in the country, said experts on Sunday. India is home to a staggering 101 million individuals afflicted by diabetes. The recent ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians reveals that more than 10 per cent of 5-19- year-olds are pre-diabetic. A new study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, shows that the deep fried, baked, and grilled ultra-processed foods are rich in advanced glycation end products (AGE) which lead to inflammation and contribute to several diseases including diabetes. “When we fry or grill foods it leads to oxidative s...

Vaccines are key to preventing infection and thus reducing the use of antibiotics, supporting worldwide efforts to tackle rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).  The report showed that vaccines against 24 pathogens could help reduce the number of antibiotics needed by 22 per cent or 2.5 billion defined daily doses globally every year. If vaccines could be rolled out against all these pathogens, it could save a third of the hospital costs associated with AMR. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials cause AMR, making people sicker and increasing the risk of illness, death, and the spread of infections that are difficult to treat. Every year, AMR claims nearly 5 million lives worldwide. “Addressing antimicrobial resistance star...