Health

In a medical achievement, a 42-year-old homemaker from Mumbai, underwent a successful weight loss surgery at a city hospital, subsequently leading to the resolution of other health issues including asthma, obstructive sleep apnea and diabetes. Nafisa Khan (name changed) lost over 40 kg in six months, bringing her weight down from 130 kg to 90 kg. She had struggled with her weight for years, especially after her pregnancies. Despite numerous attempts at various diets, she consistently regained any weight she lost. The patient developed high blood pressure in her twenties, and five years ago, she was diagnosed with diabetes. By the age of 38, her worsening health had led to heart disease. By the time she crossed 125 kg weight, lying down flat became impossible; she had to sit up all night ...

Spending more time standing rather than sitting does not improve cardiovascular health and is linked to a higher risk of circulatory issues, Australian researchers have found.  In a study published on Thursday, researchers from the University of Sydney analysed data from research-grade wrist devices that were worn by 83,013 adults in Britain and found that there were no health benefits to standing more compared to sitting. They found that, over the long term, standing more did not reduce a person`s chances of suffering a cardiovascular health incidence -- such as heart failure, coronary heart disease and stroke -- and could increase the risk of circulatory issues related to standing such as varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis. However, the research found that sitting for over 10 hou...

Renowned gynaecologist Dr. Kotha Ushalakshmi, who was the inspiration behind Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation and KIMS-Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases passed away in Hyderabad on October 15. She was 91 years old.  Born in 1933 in Guntur, she has been one of the most renowned gynaecologists from the Telugu states. Her only son and eminent breast surgeon Dr Raghu Ram said she passed away due to heart failure. Ushalakshmi graduated and later obtained her Postgraduate qualifications (DGO & MD) from Guntur Medical College. She worked as Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology in Hyderabad, with the longest innings at Niloufer Hospital. “Although breast cancer was an unwelcome visitor in her life at the age of 69, she fought the disease with extraordinary courage and fierce d...

Childhood immunisations and low-cost prevention and treatments combined with new health technologies may help reduce premature deaths by 50 per cent, according to a new study published by The Lancet Commission on Tuesday.  The report laid out a roadmap for every nation that chooses to do so to cut the chance of premature death for its citizens in half by 2050. “The goal of “50 by 50,” is achievable”, argues the report. If every country achieves the goal, then, a person born in 2050 would have only a 15 percent chance of dying before age 70, down from 31 per cent for someone born in 2019. It suggested measures such as “expanding childhood immunisations and low-cost prevention and treatments for common causes of preventable death, combined with scaling up financing to develop new health t...

Cancer and dementia are the major risk factors that increase the risk of mortality among patients with sepsis admitted to the emergency medical department, according to a study on Tuesday. Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency caused by a dysregulated host immune response to an infection that claims millions of lives globally each year. The study led by a team of Danish researchers found that age and heart disease were the other reasons that can raise the risk of death in sepsis patients within two years. “We found that certain factors increased the risk of death after sepsis, including, not surprisingly, advanced age,” said Dr. Finn E. Nielsen, a senior scientist in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. “Additionally, conditions such as demen...

While the most common presentation in breast cancer is a lump in the breast, it can occur even without any noticeable symptoms, said doctors on Tuesday while urging for self-examination and screening. October is celebrated as breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in India. With a high mortality rate, it is a major public health concern in the country. As per a recent ICMR study, breast cancer cases and deaths are expected to rise in India by 2045. However, the key is to detect the cancer in its early stages to help boost treatment outcomes as well as survival rates, said the experts. “Although most common presentation in breast cancer is lump in the breast, it can also present as swelling or lumps under the arm or near the collarbone, nippl...

Strong public health and community support has helped India to be free from trachoma -- a highly contagious bacterial infection that has been a major cause of preventable blindness worldwide, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.  From being the leading cause of blindness during the 1950s and 1960s, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week declared India “officially free from trachoma”. “This milestone comes after years of dedicated efforts by the government to protect the vision of millions, emphasising the importance of healthy eyesight for every individual,” the ministry said. According to the WHO, an estimated 150 million people worldwide are affected by trachoma and 6 million of them are blind or at risk of visually disabling complications. What is Trachom...

The spotlight turns to the essential yet often overlooked aspect of the therapeutic journey: finding the right therapist. While therapy is a cornerstone of mental well-being, a successful therapeutic relationship is paramount for progress. “While all kinds of therapists are ultimately looking to help, therapeutic relationship can be hampered if you just don’t feel comfortable with their approach. For example, a lot of therapists use silence as a tool, but if they’re not using it in a way that feels okay for you, it may not be a good fit,” shares Divya Tiwari, clinical psychologist and head of therapy at MindPeers. Recognising the signs of a mismatched therapeutic connection and making the decision to change therapists can be daunting, but it`s a crucial step towards optimal mental health,...

Cases of cardiac arrest have seen a spurt in recent times, but the bigger question is the ability to diagnose and prevent such cases. The surge in rising cases of cardiac and non-communicable ailments has perplexed corporate India as well as the larger medical fraternity.  When Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor criticised the hustle culture advocating for a healthier approach to life, many youngsters followed him on social media. But, when it comes to practice, Gen-Z and millennials are more likely to follow odd-health practices than follow preventive measures. New and rising medical epidemicRising non-communicable diseases could be one explanation for these deaths. The World Health Organization states that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chro...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered search engines and chatbots may not always provide accurate and safe information on drugs, and patients shouldn’t rely on these, warned a study on Friday.  Researchers from Belgium and Germany conducted the study after finding many answers were wrong or potentially harmful. In the paper, published in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety, they said that the complexity of the answers provided by the AI chatbot may be difficult to understand and might require degree-level education. With the introduction of AI-powered chatbots search engines in 2023 underwent a significant shift thanks. The renewed versions offered enhanced search results, comprehensive answers, and a new type of interactive experience. While the chatbots -- trained on extensive datasets...