Health

In groundbreaking research, a team of Australian researchers has identified the placenta`s unexpected influence on maternal mental health. The finding may potentially revolutionise the understanding of pregnancy-related anxiety and depression and help develop a treatment for the conditions. Scientists at the Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland identified 13 distinct glucocorticoid receptor isoforms in the placenta, with one particular variant showing a surprising response to maternal stress. "We have discovered that the placenta has 13 different isoforms of the glucocorticoid receptor, with one isoform expressed in the presence of maternal stress, anxiety, and depression that activates an inflammatory response in the placenta in the presence of high cortisol concentrations,...

Hormonal changes caused due to pregnancy, or the use of oral contraceptives, and the longer life expectancy are some of the reasons that explain the higher incidences of strokes among women than men, said experts on World Stroke Day on Tuesday. Stroke is a major cause of disability and death for all people worldwide. But, it is the third leading cause of death in women and kills more females than males, according to the American Stroke Association. Dr. Atul Prasad, Principal Director & HOD, Neurology, BLK - MAX Super Speciality Hospital, told IANS that longer life expectancy, hormonal factors that are influenced by pregnancy and childbirth, oral contraceptives, and menopause. Hypertension and heart diseases like atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm, together with pollution...

Exercising to lose weight? High-intensity physical workouts may be more beneficial, especially for women, according to a study. The study, published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society, showed that more than moderate exercise, and engaging in vigorous physical activity like jumping rope, swimming, and cycling can suppress hunger levels in healthy adults. The small study noted that females may be more susceptible to this response. Researchers from the University of Virginia in the US showed that the effect is due to ghrelin -- a hormone that stimulates appetite. They noted that hunger levels are significantly reduced after high-intensity exercise, as compared to moderate-intensity exercise or control (no exercise). Lead author Kara Anderson, from the varsity, noted that people felt ...

People whose occupations require them to stand for long hours, like retail workers, hairdressers, or factory employees, are more susceptible to suffering strokes, according to experts on Monday, ahead of World Stroke Day.  World Stroke Day is celebrated annually on October 29 to raise awareness about the condition to prevent and treat it fast. The number of people worldwide having a new stroke rose to 11.9 million in 2021 -- up by 70 per cent since 1990. Stroke-related deaths rose to 7.3 million -- up by 44 per cent since 1990. While stroke is now the third leading cause of death worldwide (after ischaemic heart disease and Covid-19), the condition is highly preventable and treatable). “Standing for extended periods can increase the risk of blood pooling in the legs, which slows circul...

Menopause is a condition experienced by women from the age 40 to 55 where their menstrual cycles stop for at least 12 months. In certain cases, if a menstrual cycle stops before the age of 45 then it can be classified as premature menopause.  Almost 5 to 10 per cent of women in the world are prone to experience premature menopause. This can be caused due to various reasons such as genetics, certain lifestyle factors, and especially due to the correlation between cigarette smoking.  According to the studies, women who smoke cigarettes are at higher risk of developing premature menopause than others and the lifespan of these women decreases over time with premature menopause. Dr Kiran Coelho, head of the obstetric and gynaecologist department, Lilavati Hospital shares key insights.  Besi...

Amid the growing use of weight loss medications, a new study has raised concerns about declining skeletal muscle health caused by the popular drugs. In a recent commentary published in The Lancet journal, researchers from the US and Canada highlighted the critical importance of skeletal muscle mass in the context of medically induced weight loss, particularly with the widespread use of GLP-1 receptor agonists. While the drugs have shown extreme potential in treating obesity -- a precursor for many diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer -- they can also lead to substantial muscle loss as part of the weight loss process, argued researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the US, Universities of Alberta and McMaster in Canada. They noted that muscle loss -- measured...

In a medical achievement, a 33-year-old Mumbai woman suffering from a rare esophageal disorder was successfully treated using an innovative endoscopic suturing technique. Surbhi Galaiya, a resident of Jamnagar, had been battling life-threatening lung complications and the inability to swallow due to a rare condition that caused an abnormal connection between her oesophagus and lungs. As a result, everything she consumed would end up in her lungs, posing a severe risk to her health. After several failed treatments, including an unsuccessful attempt to close the connection with a metallic clip, she was reliant on a nasogastric tube for survival. Dr. Amit Maydeo, Chairman, Institute of Gastrosciences, HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, and his team performed a pioneering endoscopic procedure,...

Amidst India`s escalating tobacco epidemic, where four out of 10 households grapple with smoking addiction, a new report on Friday revealed that 65 per cent of healthcare professionals in the country call for safer novel tobacco alternatives to save lives.  The report from the Doctors Against Addiction (DAAD) survey, in collaboration with Saizen Global Insights and Consulting, revealed a pivotal shift in the perspectives of healthcare professionals with 65 per cent of doctors supporting integrating safer cessation alternatives, such as nicotine replacement therapies and heat-not-burn products, into smoking cessation efforts. They emphasised the need for further efficacy research of these alternatives. The finding marks a significant moment in India’s ongoing battle against tobacco addict...

Even as India celebrates a decade of being polio-free, it is important to identify areas with low polio vaccination coverage to protect children from the devastating disease, and pave the way for a healthy future, said experts on World Polio Day on October 24.  World Polio Day is celebrated on October 24 every year to raise awareness about polio -- a viral disease that mainly affects children below the age of five. India has achieved a significant milestone in eradicating polio with the country declared free of polio by the World Health Organization in 2014. However, polio remains a threat, and the pace of the polio vaccine has also slowed down in India, with the coverage levels being poorest in the north-east, as seen in recent data from the National Family Health Survey. This is also...

Corneal blindness is on the rise in India, with the country seeing an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 new cases every year, claimed Dr. Smit Bavaria, Cataract Surgeon, Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, Mumbai, on Thursday. October is observed as Blindness Awareness Month every year to highlight the issues faced by blind and visually challenged people, and raise awareness about preventable factors leading to the condition. Addressing a press conference on this important issue, Dr. Bavaria stated, “The causes of corneal blindness have shifted in recent years from infectious diseases like keratitis to eye trauma and other eye complications, but the burden remains substantial, especially in rural areas where access to eye care is limited.” What is corneal blindness? Corneal blindness refers to the da...