Health

An international team of researchers, led by one of Indian origin, has demonstrated that a drug used to treat kidney diseases can be safely administered to patients who are hospitalised for acute myocardial infarction -- heart attack.  The team led by Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital demonstrated that the drug empagliflozin can reliably lower heart failure episodes in individuals who have had a heart attack, regardless of the patient`s pre-existing renal function. Acute heart attack patients are particularly vulnerable to acute renal injury because of prolonged exposure to kidney stressors, such as diuretics or contrast agents used during cardiac catheterisation. Because of this danger, doctors are hesitant to start empagliflozin soon after a heart attack because there is little data r...

As the World Health Organisation (WHO) asks countries to step up vigil against Monkeypox (Mpox), the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has also sounded an alert, saying that in the fight against the outbreak, prioritising the needs of children is not only necessary but urgent. A new variant of the mpox virus (clade Ib) is causing concern due to its potential for wider transmission across age groups, including young children. Mpox is affecting thousands of children across Africa. According to the global humanitarian body, children who are malnourished or affected by other illnesses are also vulnerable to complications from mpox. The virus can spread through contact with lesions on the skin or infectious bodily fluids; contact with contaminated materials such as clothing, linen or s...

Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart diseases, and obesity, coupled with lifestyle factors such as low exercise and unhealthy diet can raise your body’s inflammation levels, and contribute to the risk of cognitive decline, said health experts on Sunday. Inflammation is the body`s natural response to infections, injury, pathogens, irritants, or oxidative stress. It can play a significant role in cognitive decline or a decrease in mental functioning. During inflammation, the body`s cells fight and contain the infection. As a result, certain mediators or chemicals are released, which trigger reactions in the surrounding areas causing localised inflammation, often accompanied by pain or swelling. “Inflammation of the brain tissue caused by an overactive immune response or a long-standing i...

Doctors in Gurugram have successfully treated a 60-year-old woman who was suffering from paralysis in both legs due to a significant spinal tumour.  The patient had initially sought treatment at a local hospital and then shifted focus to CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram because the primary investigations failed to pinpoint what her condition was. The doctors found that the woman had a sizable tumour in her spine. The tumour had severely impacted her ability to perform daily activities, leaving her dependent on her children for even the simplest tasks. The doctors informed her about the microscopic tumour removal surgery that could restore her to a mobile state. “Utilising the latest advancements in microscopic spine surgery and neuromonitoring techniques, the tumour excision surgery was p...

Finding it hard to spare 30 minutes for a walk outside? A bout of squats every 45 minutes may help counter the effects of prolonged sitting, according to an expert on Friday.  Taking to social media platform X.com, Dr. Sudhir Kumar from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad said “Interrupting prolonged sitting with squats (every 45 minutes) is more effective than (30-minute) walking in glycemic control”. Prolonged sitting is known to be a major risk factor for overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Short bouts of squats may help counter these ill effects of prolonged sitting, which in some professions may extend up to 8-12 hours daily, or even more, Kumar said. “Interrupting prolonged sitting with short, intermittent exercises (“exercise s...

Women with endometriosis -- a chronic gynaecological disease -- are at a 35 per cent higher risk of severe heart attack, according to a study on Thursday. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, such as in the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It is more common among women between the ages of 30 and 40 and can cause severe pelvic pain, and abnormal or heavy menstrual flow. To date, there is no cure or way to prevent endometriosis. Its symptoms can be treated with medicines. While men are long known to be at higher risk of heart disease, the study by Danish researchers showed women with endometriosis have a 35 per cent increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). They also had 20 per cent more chances of ischaemic stro...

Managing abortion at home using pills is safe and may ease hospital burden, claimed a study published in The Lancet journal on Friday.  The randomised controlled trial of 435 women by Swedish researchers analysed women who took the first dose of misoprostol (a pill given as part of the procedure for medical abortions) at home or in the hospital. Those who took the pill at home had a 71 per cent chance of completing their care in hospital within 9 hours with no overnight stay, compared to 46 per cent of women who took the first dose of misoprostol at the hospital. Women in hospital settings are more likely to find abortion "stressful and isolating", compared to those at home. In a medical abortion (also known as abortion with pills) women are typically prescribed two types of pills. Mi...

A whopping 75 per cent of corneal blindness cases in India are untreated due to lack of eye donors, said an expert on Thursday.  Corneal blindness is the second leading cause of visual impairment in India with a current burden of 1.1 million people. However, only 25,000 out of these requirements are met each year. “This makes it feasible for only one out of every four individuals with corneal blindness to avail of the required surgery, while 75 per cent of the cases are left untreated,” said the ophthalmologist at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad. A growing ageing population, higher incidence of corneal infections and injuries are some of the reasons why corneal blindness is rising in India. “Vitamin-A deficiency in children, degenerative conditions like keratoconus and corneal dystrophies,...

It is worth noting that men are twice as likely as women to develop psoriasis, experts said on Wednesday. Each year, August is celebrated as Psoriasis Awareness Month. Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disorder causing thick, red, scaly patches on the elbows, knees, lower back, and scalp.  It is influenced by environmental and genetic factors, with men more affected due to hormonal variations, genetic predispositions, and lifestyle choices. Symptoms include itchy or burning feelings, swollen nails, dry, cracked skin, and red areas covered in silvery scales. While there is no cure, medications and lifestyle changes can help manage the condition and prevent problems. "Psoriasis is a long-term skin disorder marked by thick, red, scaly skin patches caused by a fast buildup of skin cells. The ...

The new and deadlier Mpox strain -- Clade 1b -- poses a notable risk to children, said experts on Thursday, amid an outbreak of the infectious disease in Africa. The ongoing outbreak of Mpox which has been declared as a global health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 15, is different from what the world experienced earlier in the 2022 outbreak. The 2022 outbreak was driven by Clade II, which is less virulent, and the infections were primarily seen in men who had sex with other men. Since then, the WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to Mpox from 116 countries. India detected a total of 30 cases, with the last case in March 2024. The number of cases and deaths has increased significantly this year, with over 15,600 cases and 537 deaths reported so f...