Health

A team of researchers on Monday said that exposure to arsenic and other toxic metals may accelerate the progression toward diabetes.  In a study of over 500 Mexican Americans living in southern Texas in the US, researchers from University of Illinois Chicago found that high levels of toxic metals in urine predicted faster increases in blood sugar over subsequent years. The study, published in Diabetes Care, highlights an underappreciated risk factor for diabetes. Environmental exposures have largely been neglected as drivers of the diabetes epidemic. “These data support using environmental policy as a new tool to mitigate the devastating burden of diabetes on individuals and society at large,” said Margaret Weiss, first author of the study. Based on these results, individuals with the...

A team of researchers has identified nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens in food packaging materials, including plastics, paper, and cardboard highlighting widespread exposure despite existing regulation.  The findings, published in `Frontiers in Toxicology` on Tuesday, underscore an urgent need for stronger preventative measures to reduce these chemicals in everyday products. "This study is important because it shows that there is a huge opportunity for prevention of human exposure to breast cancer-causing chemicals," said Jane Muncke, Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum and co-author of the study. "The potential for cancer prevention by reducing hazardous chemicals in your daily life is underexplored and deserves much more attention," she added. Breast cancer is the sec...

People heading to parks and other public places to feed pigeons has become a common sight in cities. However, the unintended consequences of this activity on lung health are often overlooked. A recent case study by a Delhi hospital discovered the harms of close contact with pigeon feathers, droppings, etc. Research reveals a startling link between urban wildlife, specifically pigeons, and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Bird Breeder’s Lung or Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is one of the most common forms of ILDs that can affect humans feeding pigeons regularly. In a conversation with mid-day.com, Dr. Lokesh Gutta, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, explains the impact of feeding pigeons on lung health. “Pigeons can carry various germs that are h...

Covid seems to be rising again with a new and more contagious variant -- XEC -- spreading rapidly across 15 countries.  First detected in Germany in June, XEC is a combination of the KS.1.1 and KP.3.3 variants. According to reports, it has already overtaken the previously dominant FliRT strain of the deadly virus.   The strain, belonging to the Omicron variant, is currently spreading "quite rapidly" across Europe, North America and Asia. About 550 samples have now been reported, from 27 countries, including Poland, Norway, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Portugal, the US and China have now reported samples. "At this juncture, the XEC variant appears to be the most likely one to get legs next," Eric Topol, Director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, US, said in a recent...

Scientists have linked symptoms of depression during pregnancy to a specific brain activity, and hope to develop test for “baby blues” risk. Around 80 per cent of women suffer from “baby blues” after the birth of their child. Normally, this is a brief period of feeling down which disappears in a few days. But around one woman in seven develops postpartum depression, a more serious depression which can affect how mothers bond with their baby and can have long-term consequences. These women seem unable to regulate the negative emotions which can follow giving birth. A group of European researchers have found that in healthy pregnant women, activity in a specific area deep in the brain is linked to regulation of negative emotions and the tendency towards symptoms of depression. The resea...

Even as injectable weight loss drugs have become a popular option for people struggling with obesity, 1 in 4 or 25 per cent consider using them without consulting their doctor, exposing themselves to several health risks, finds a study on Tuesday.  Cost and lack of insurance coverage are some reasons for seeking prescription alternatives, said the team from The Ohio State University, US, who surveyed 1,006 adults in America. “Some people are skipping the doctor’s office and reaching out to potentially unreliable sources such as unlicensed online pharmacies or telehealth sites, which could expose patients to risks,” the team said. Cost (18 per cent) is the major reason identified in the survey, followed by not being covered by insurance (15 per cent), inability to get a prescription from...

Blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity are preventable risk factors that can help reduce the chances or reverse the odds of dementia by 60 per cent, said experts on World Alzheimer`s Day on Saturday. World Alzheimer`s Day is commemorated every year on September 21 to raise awareness about the stigma associated with dementia and Alzheimer`s disease and to increase public understanding of these disorders. The theme this year is "Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer`s". Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating, cognitive, and neurological disorder, gradually erodes a person’s memory, language skills, thinking skills, and ability to perform even the simplest tasks. It primarily affects individuals over the age of 65 and is the leading cause of dementia in older adults. It is one of...

In people with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and chronic kidney disease, bariatric or weight loss surgery can significantly protect kidney function and reduce the risk of kidney failure, finds a study. The study, published in the journal Annals of Surgery, showed that bariatric surgery was associated with a 60 per cent lower risk of progression of kidney disease and a 44 per cent lower risk of developing kidney failure or death in comparison to the nonsurgical group. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can lead to renal failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes and obesity. About 40 per cent of people with diabetes develop CKD in their lifetime. Lead author Ali Aminian, director of Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, said that bariatric ...

Increased stress, anxiety, fear of failure, and high expectations, particularly at the workplace -- commonly called hustle culture -- coupled with no exercise and poor diet can act as a perfect mix to lead to Alzheimer’s disease, said experts on Saturday. World Alzheimer`s Day is observed every year on September 21 to increase public understanding of the neurological disorder. The theme this year is "Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer`s". “Continuous stress, anxiety, fear of failing the targets and expectations has compelled people to detrimentally increase the number of working hours, cutting down on sleep and take up a lifestyle with minimal physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. All these factors contribute to increased deposition of abnormal proteins and degrad...

Dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? A novel study has shown that playing video games can help lower symptoms of the condition, which can lead to terrifying nightmares and severe anxiety. The study, published in BMC Medicine, provides “scientifically controlled evidence that a single guided digital treatment session can reduce the number of intrusive memories”. It can also be used safely by patients, said the researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden. Unpleasant and intrusive memories of a traumatic event in the form of mental images or flashbacks are the hallmark symptoms of PTSD. Avoidance, excessive tension, and problems such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating are others. The team monitored the intrusive memories of trauma in 164 participants for a week. Whi...