Health

Amid record year for dengue infections globally, a new study has found that climate change is responsible for 19 per cent of rising dengue burden. Climate change has the potential to spark an additional 40-60 per cent spike by 2050 — and by as much as 150-200 per cent in some areas — according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) in the US. India has also seen a surge in dengue cases this year. The latest findings from researchers at Stanford and Harvard Universities offer the most definitive evidence to date that climate change is a big factor driving a global surge in the mosquito-borne disease. Countries in the Americas alone have recorded almost 12 million cases in 2024 compared to 4.6 million in 2023, and l...

Oral contraceptives do not increase the blood pressure response in women during large muscle exercise (like cycling or running), according to a study on Monday led by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.  Oral contraceptives or birth control pills are taken by women to prevent pregnancy and reduce acne, menstrual cramps, and the risk of ovarian cysts. Although certain oral contraceptives are known to raise resting blood pressure, the exercise blood pressure response during intense exercises is not currently well understood. In addition, research has been ambiguous on whether hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle influence blood pressure. The researchers, including from the University of Minnesota, US, found that both oral contraceptive use and ge...

For people with diabetes, staying healthy requires more than just blood sugar control. Careful diet choices, especially reducing salt intake, are crucial because excess salt can worsen complications and increase health risks, say healthcare experts. Ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14, top healthcare experts here highlighted the dangers of excessive salt consumption for individuals with diabetes. According to Dr. Praveen Kumar Kulkarni, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine Specialist, KIMS Hospitals, one of the primary concerns with excessive salt consumption for people with diabetes is its impact on blood pressure. “Diabetes already places individuals at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition that exacerbates the long-term complications of...

Over time, several studies have established the correlation between screen time, unhealthy eating habits and the increasing prevalence of diabetes in children. This is a concerning trend, observe health experts. World Diabetes Day is marked on November 14 to raise awareness about the condition and its risk factors, prevention and treatment. While factors like genetics play a role in causing diabetes among children, environmental and situational factors like consuming junk food can also be responsible. When children are engrossed in television shows or video games, their attention is diverted from their eating habits. This distraction often leads to mindless consumption leading to obesity and diabetes in children aged 12-16. Explaining this correlation, Dr. Rohit Barnabas, Endocrinologis...

Diabetes, if not timely controlled and managed, can severely affect the health of your eyes and brain, said experts on Thursday. A new study published in The Lancet revealed that about 212 million people lived with diabetes in India in 2022 -- the highest in the world. Diabetes is a condition with high blood sugar due to a deficiency in the hormone insulin. Uncontrolled blood sugars in patients with diabetes are known to have a wide range of complications involving multiple organ systems. "Uncontrolled diabetes can have a devastating impact on eye health, leading to conditions like diabetic retinopathy," Dr. Ikeda Lal, Senior cornea, Cataract and refractory surgery specialist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Delhi Eye Centre, told IANS. The condition often shows no symptoms in its early ...

If not managed on time, diabetes can prove to be silent killer for many. As World Diabetes Day was observed on November 14, a study found that the Covid-19 pandemic has not only reshaped daily routines but also accelerated trends in diabetes and metabolic health causing alarming changes in disease onset age, weight gain and associated complications such as liver and kidney issues. Dr. Rajiv Kovil`s clinics in Mumbai conducted a comparative analysis of patient profiles pre-pandemic (March 24, 2016 - March 23, 2020) and post-pandemic (March 24, 2020 - March 23, 2024) revealing alarming changes in disease patterns.  Dr. Rajiv Kovil, Head of Diabetology, Zandra Healthcare and Co-founder of Rang De Neela Initiative, said, “One of the most significant shifts has been in the age of type 2 diabe...

Long-term exposure to air pollution may cause severe harm to the lung health of children and significantly raise the risk of lung cancer and respiratory diseases like asthma and bronchitis, warned experts on Friday, even as Delhi-NCR`s air quality remained severely poor for the third consecutive day. On Friday morning, the National Capital`s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached a severe level of 409, while the readings in neighbouring cities in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh were also above the 300 mark. To safeguard children, all primary schools in Delhi have been moved online, Chief Minister Atishi announced in a post on X. She said the online classes for primary school children will continue "until further directions". Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution,...

According to the World Health Organization estimates, about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. Even though diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications, the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades. To bring awareness to this growing global concern, World Diabetes Day is observed around the globe on November 14 every year. Clinical research has shown that a significant number of diabetic patients suffered from sleep disorders. “Sleep apnoea is characterised by frequent episodes of involuntary pause in breathing during sleep. Studies found...

Cannabis consumption can cause damage to our body`s cells and increase the risk of highly cancerous tumours, according to a new study on Thursday. In the study, published in the scientific journal Addiction Biology, cannabis is described as a “genotoxic” substance because it damages a cell`s genetic information. This can lead to DNA mutations, accelerated ageing, and cancer.  Alarmingly, this genotoxicity can be passed on to the next generation via a damaged egg and sperm -- making the risk of cannabis use trans-generational, said the researchers from the University of Western Australia. In the study, the team also linked established knowledge that cannabis use damages cellular energy production by inhibiting mitochondria with recent cancer research showing that mitochondrial dysfunctio...

Not just genes, a new study has found that socio-economic factors such as education, occupation and wealth can also impact the likelihood of developing cognitive impairment or dementia in later life and whether a person is likely to recover.  By estimating the time spent in each cognitive state and the likelihood of transitions to neuro-cognitive disorders such as cognitive impairment and dementia, the researchers from University College London (UCL) were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of how socioeconomic factors impact the progression of a person’s disorder, as well as the duration spent within each cognitive state over time. Lead author Aswathikutty Gireesh from UCL Epidemiology and Health Care said that it is possible that education and intellectually demanding jobs provi...