Health

Smoking and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk have a dose-dependent association, with light ex-smokers having a CVD risk similar to that of never-smokers relatively soon after smoking cessation, a new study has revealed. For heavy ex-smokers, greater than 25 years might be required for the residual CVD risk to align with that of never-smokers, said the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open. The study sought to find an answer to the question: How long does a person need to quit smoking to lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk? In the cohort study of extracted data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database with more than 53 lakh participants, ex-smokers who had accumulated less than 8 pack-years (PY) did not exhibit a significantly increased risk of CVD compa...

While poor sleep during pregnancy and after that is common, Canadian researchers suggested cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi), which can not only improve sleep patterns but also address postpartum depression.  The team from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Vancouver campus University of Calgary showed that CBTi, which can detect thoughts, behaviours, and sleep patterns that lead to insomnia, during pregnancy can significantly prevent the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms after a baby arrives. The therapeutic intervention includes challenging or reframing misconceptions and restructuring habits to improve sleep quality. Dr. Elizabeth Keys, an Assistant Professor in UBCO’s School of Nursing noted that early intervention with CBTi may be crucial both for ...

Long-term exposure to air pollution particles like PM2.5 can prove to be detrimental to memory and cognition in people of all ages, finds a study, even as the air quality in the national capital continues to remain in the poor category.  On Saturday morning, a layer of smog covered Delhi-NCR with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national Capital registering a `poor` rating. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi`s average AQI was 294 at 7:30 A.M. on Saturday, with 18 areas reporting AQI levels above 300, indicating a `very poor` category. The peer-reviewed study based on 8,500 children found that air pollution caused by ammonium nitrate -- which is usually a result of agricultural and farming operations -- can lead to poor learning and memory performance in chi...

India has one of the highest levels of treatment coverage for tuberculosis, among the 30 high TB burden countries, revealed a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO).  The report showed that India is among seven of 30 high TB-burden countries -- Brazil, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia -- with more than 80 per cent of treatment coverage in 2023. The country also achieved a significant increase in the number of people receiving preventative therapy for household contacts of TB patients and people living with HIV, the report showed. According to the report, 12.2 lakh people in India were put on preventive therapy in 2023, up from 10.2 lakh in 2022, and 4.2 lakh in 2021. While TB medicines are expensive and the therapy may continue for as long as...

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...