Health

Children who spend more than 30 minutes on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are likely to experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate, according to a study of more than 8,000 children from around age 10 through age 14.  Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Oregon Health & Science University in the US investigated a possible link between screen habits and symptoms related to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They followed 8,324 children aged 9-14 in the US for four years, with the average time children spent on social media, watching TV/videos, and playing video games -- from approximately 30 minutes a day for 9-year-olds to 2.5 hours for 13-year-olds. Children who spent a significant amount of time on soci...

An immune and cancer cell-targeting antibody therapy has shown potential to eradicate residual traces of deadly blood cell cancer, multiple myeloma, according to interim results from a clinical trial.  The trial included 18 patients who underwent up to six cycles of treatment with the antibody linvoseltamab. On highly sensitive tests, none of the patients had detectable disease, revealed the study presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting in Orlando, US. The preliminary success suggests linvoseltamab -- a bispecific antibody -- could allow patients to avoid bone marrow transplants, which involve intense, high-potency chemotherapy. It also points to the long-term potential to improve patients’ odds against this disease. “These patients received modern and effe...

With a rise in the ageing population in India and failing artificial joints, the demand for skilled surgeons for revision knee and hip surgeries is rising in the country, said experts on Saturday.  Revision knee or hip replacement surgery, called Revision Arthroplasty, is done when any hip or knee replacement loosens, wears out, or fails. The artificial knee and hip joints are increasingly being subject to wear and tear, with their lifespan reduced to 20 to 25 years. “In India, a lot of elderly patients have undergone joint replacement, primarily due to a rise in degenerative arthritis, in the last 15-20 years. So, the burden of revision surgeries is going to increase, as the implants can wear off or any infection might occur, or some complication occurs,” Prof Vijay Kumar, Department o...

Chronic kidney diseases may accelerate cognitive decline but its manifestation differs in men and women, according to a new study. The decline is primarily due to damage to the "heart-brain link" triggered by chronic kidney illness, it said. Studying a rural population in the US, researchers from Marshall University found that men with chronic kidney disease experienced a higher cognitive impairment and a more pronounced reduction in heart function, compared to women. The findings, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, suggest a stronger relation between the heart-brain link and cognitive decline among men, the researchers said. The study also sheds light on why men with chronic kidney diseases often face more severe cognitive effects, and po...

The average out-of-pocket expenditure for IVF treatment is Rs 1,10,104 at public hospitals and Rs 2,37,851 at private hospitals, with 85 per cent of participants incurring catastrophic health expenditure, a new study has revealed. According to the report by the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (ICMR-NIRRCH), the median out-of-pocket expenditure for infertility treatment at the country`s public hospitals and private hospitals is Rs 7,340 and Rs 11,834, respectively, with 25 per cent incurring catastrophic health expenditure. The health system cost of providing one IVF cycle was estimated to be Rs 81,332. The cost for subsequent IVF cycles was Rs 35,087, the report said. The total budget estimates for providing IVF servi...

In fast-paced, densely populated metropolitans, the daily grind often involves navigating a complex web of environmental and digital stressors. While a fleeting moment of irritation in traffic is completely normal—"everyday frustration"—a more intense, chronic reaction is taking a significant toll on mental and physical health.  This pervasive issue, often manifesting as road rage or chronic urban stress, is more than just a bad mood; it`s a full-body stress reaction that, over time, can lead to serious health risks. This Anger Awareness Week, mental health experts delve into the clinical, physiological, environmental, and digital roots of urban rage, and offer actionable strategies to reclaim your calm. Understanding the clinical shift: From frustration to rageMehezabin Dordi, clinical ...

As Mumbai’s corporate culture becomes more demanding, there is a rise in stress-related skin problems. The fast pace of work, long commutes, poor sleep quality, and constant screen exposure are silently damaging skin health. Stress does not just affect the mind; it directly impacts the skin by triggering inflammation, oil imbalance, and reduced skin repair. 50 per cent of employees in the city feel their skin has become dull, uneven, and more prone to acne and eczema. With a growing number of professionals aged 25–45 seeking treatment for lifestyle-related skin concerns, experts are urging people to consider skincare as an essential part of their overall health. Dr Shareefa Chause, dermatologist in Mumbai said, "Currently, corporate stress is not only impacting the employee’s mind but eve...

The bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes the world’s most infectious disease Tuberculosis (TB), can survive antibiotic treatment and live longer by changing their outer fat coating, according to a new study led by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay on Wednesday.  Even with effective antibiotics and widespread vaccination campaigns, TB continues to take lives. Globally, 10.7 million people developed TB and 1.23 million died from the disease in 2024, while India carries one of the highest burdens -- over 2.71 million cases in 2024. In the study, published in the Chemical Science journal, the researchers showed that the key to the bacteria`s drug tolerance lies in their membranes -- complex barriers made mostly of fats, or lipids that protect the ...

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue could be the most rapidly escalating threats to humanity, followed by tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, with climate change emerging as a primary driver of disease escalation, according to a survey of over 3,700 health professionals and researchers from across 151 countries. Socioeconomic inequality, which can impact one`s access to healthcare, and antimicrobial resistance that can undermine treatments against wide-ranging infections may also contribute to disease escalation, said the participants, nearly 90 per cent of whom were based in low and middle-income countries. Climate change, poverty and drug resistance could be coming together to create an escalating health crisis that could become a "creeping catastrophe" if left unaddressed, findi...

A surprising link between constipation and kidney decline led researchers to test lubiprostone, revealing that it can protect kidney function. The results point toward gut-based, mitochondria-boosting therapies as a promising new avenue for CKD care. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects people across the globe and often progresses to the point where patients rely on routine dialysis to survive. Although the condition is widespread and serious, there are still no approved medications that can actively restore kidney function. A team led by Professor Takaaki Abe at the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine has uncovered an unexpected approach by repurposing a constipation medication. Their work marks the first time that this drug (lubiprostone) has been shown to slow the loss of k...