Health

As Diwali celebrations light up homes and streets across India, eye care professionals are urging the public to take extra precautions to prevent eye injuries and allergies caused by firecrackers and smoke exposure. Firecracker-related accidents, especially during Diwali, result in numerous eye injuries each year, with many leading to permanent vision impairment if not treated promptly. Recent statistics reveal that Diwali sees a significant rise in eye trauma cases, particularly among children and young adults. Careful handling and protective measures are essential to protect eyesight during this festive season. Dr Supriya Sriganesh, phaco and refractive surgeon, executive director, Nethradhama Super Speciality Eye Hospital, stated, “Most eye injuries during Diwali are caused by firecrac...

In a bid to curb the rising superbug outbreaks in hospitals, a new study on Thursday suggested broader screening of all patients, irrespective of their risk.   A team of researchers at the Mount Sinai Brooklyn Hospital in the US conducted a study to compare screen results and patient outcomes before and after adopting a broader screening method that includes all patients, and not just high-risk ones. The study focussed on screening protocols for Candida auris -- a dangerous and often drug-resistant fungal pathogen that spreads easily in hospital environments. It was first identified in 2009 and is now found around the world. The results, published in the American Journal of Infection Control, showed that expanding screening helped in the early detection of cases, enabling infection prev...

H5N1 bird flu has been confirmed in a pig in the United States for the first time, said the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The farm has been quarantined to prevent further spread of the virus. Other animals on the farm, including sheep and goats, remain under surveillance, the USDA said on Wednesday. The Oregon Department of Agriculture said last Friday that the first H5N1 case was detected in a pig at a farm in the state, reports Xinhua news agency. USDA`s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed Tuesday that one of the farm`s five pigs was infected with H5N1, the first detection of H5N1 in swine in the United States. The farm is a non-commercial operation, and the animals were not intended for the commercial food supply. "There is no concern about the safety of the ...

While earlier age menopause is known to be detrimental to a woman’s health, a new study on Tuesday showed that a later age at natural menopause can pose a greater risk for asthma. Asthma is a common, chronic disease affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. Multiple studies have suggested a possible link between asthma and sex hormones. Most notable is the fact that adult-onset asthma is more common in women than men. While in childhood, asthma is more prevalent in boys, after puberty, asthma occurs more often in girls. Women also tend to have more severe asthma and are less likely to have remission of the disease. The study, published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society, suggested the role of natural oestrogen and synthetic oestrogen, such as those ...

Even as pancreatic cancer rates are rising among people under age 50, a new study on Wednesday showed that most people are unaware that obesity can increase the lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer by 20 per cent.  The study, led by researchers from the Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, showed that most people continue to believe that pancreatic disease affects only the elderly – and that there is nothing they can do to reduce their risk. “Pancreatic cancer rates, however, have been rising by about 1 per cent annually, and we are seeing this disease in people who are in their 40s much more regularly. This is a concerning trend, and one for which research is needed to learn why,” said Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, from the varsity. For the study, the team surveyed from October 4 – ...

Even as India aims to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years ahead of the global target, a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday showed that the country accounts for 26 per cent -- the highest -- global TB burden. The Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 showed that India is the highest among the 30 high-burden countries -- Indonesia (10 per cent), China (6.8 per cent), the Philippines (6.8 per cent) and Pakistan (6.3 per cent) -- which together accounted for 56 per cent of the global TB burden. Globally, TB again emerged as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing Covid-19. It showed that about 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 -- the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This also represe...

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...