Health

A new study by researchers at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Monday showed a ‘hidden’ form of leprosy can silently affect the brain and spinal cord.  While leprosy is an ancient disease that often leads to disfiguring skin sores, a lesser-known form of leprosy -- pure neuritic leprosy (PNL) -- can inflict significant damage without any visible skin changes. This "hidden" form of leprosy primarily affects peripheral nerves, and is often undiagnosed. Not being diagnosed on time can lead to delayed treatment and potential disabilities. The study, published in the medical journal Acta Neurologica Belgica, challenges the conventional understanding of PNL as solely a peripheral nerve disease. It highlights the importance of assessing central nervous system involvement for early detection and treatmen...

Poor air quality may not only spike respiratory, cardiac, and mental health issues but can also lead to weight gain and obesity -- a precursor to several diseases, said doctors on Monday, even as the national capital saw worse pollution levels. On Monday, Delhi`s air quality further plummeted with the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassing 400 in multiple parts of the national capital, placing it in the `severe` category. Areas including Anand Vihar (433), Ashok Vihar (410), Rohini (411), and Vivek Vihar (426) registered AQI levels above 400, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Other regions like Dwarka, Patparganj, Jahangirpuri, and Punjabi Bagh also recorded `severe` AQI levels. Different studies have proven that an increase in PM10 & PM2.5 leads to an increase i...

Amid concerns that sitting is the new smoking, a new study showed that being sedentary for over 8.5 hours daily or 60 hours a week while commuting, in office, or at home can make you age faster and raise significant health risks. Importantly, the study showed that a young age or 20 minutes of moderate activity like walking cannot buffer the effects. Instead, vigorous activity like running or cycling for 30 minutes daily can help, but not completely. Chandra Reynolds, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder in the US, said that "sitting less throughout the day, getting more vigorous exercise, or a combination of both may be necessary to reduce the risk of premature ageing in early adulthood". The team analysed more than 1,000 peopl...

Hormonal changes caused during pregnancy can trigger the risk of psoriasis in about 10-20 per cent of women, said health experts on Saturday. Psoriasis is a commonly seen chronic autoimmune condition that causes skin inflammation, with thick, itchy, scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk, and even the scalp. The common symptoms are red patches, rashes, scaling of the skin, dry and cracked skin, itching, and soreness. It is caused due to an overactive immune system that causes inflammation. “Pregnancy is an exciting and life-changing phase for women. Though, it can often bring about various challenges for expectant mothers and one concerning problem is psoriasis. The hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy often lead to variations in immune response, which can trigger fl...

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...