Health

With particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentrations averaging 488 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) in the national capital post Diwali, city doctors on Tuesday, October 21, reported a rise in cases of respiratory issues, eye irritation, flu as well as joint pain among others.  According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR remained in the `very poor` category, reaching 400 a day after Diwali festivities. While the overall AQI stood at 347, several areas recorded levels in the `severe` category. “High pollution levels can worsen joint disease. Pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone trigger inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, which can aggravate pain, stiffness, and fatigue in people ...

Mumbai doctors have successfully treated an elderly man who inhaled a dental cap during a routine procedure but did not realise until it turned critical. It all started when the patient, a 78-year-old resident of Mumbai, had gone for a simple cap fitting, a routine procedure that unexpectedly turned into a life-threatening emergency. During the process, the dental cap suddenly slipped and was accidentally inhaled, finding its way into his windpipe. With his throat numb from local anesthesia (Lignocaine spray), he felt no immediate discomfort, unaware that the tiny metallic cap had traveled deep into his airway. All that followed was a frightening turn of events. As he began feeling uneasy, a CT scan revealed the shocking truth: the dental cap was lodged inside his right main bronchus, da...

Women experiencing earlier menopause can affect heart health, and can together affect brain and cognitive performance, according to a study on Tuesday, October 21.  While previous studies have established that earlier menopause is associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s dementia later in life, little is known about the combined impact of earlier age at menopause and reduced cardiac function on brain and cognitive outcomes, the team said. Reduced cardiac function can affect brain health by limiting the essential supply of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. This reduced blood flow can damage brain tissue, contribute to silent strokes, and increase the risk of dementia, underscoring the critical connection between heart and brain health. The new study suggests th...

Researchers have developed microscopic metal particles that can kill cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, offering a potential new direction for more targeted and less toxic cancer treatments.  The study by the team from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia remains at the cell-culture stage and has not been tested in animals or humans, Xinhua news agency reported. However, it suggests a new strategy for designing cancer treatments that exploits cancer`s own weaknesses. The international team led by RMIT researchers created tiny particles, known as nanodots, from molybdenum oxide -- a compound based on a rare metal called molybdenum. It is often used in electronics and alloys. By tweaking their chemical composition, the scientists enabled the particles t...

Doctors in Kolkata have successfully given a 69-year-old woman from Tollygunge a new lease of life after recently undergoing a successful leadless pacemaker implantation  The woman had been experiencing recurrent episodes of syncope (fainting), which significantly affected her daily life. The procedure was performed successfully under the expertise of Dr Soumya Patra, consultant and in-charge - Cardiology at Manipal Hospital in Mukundapur. It also marks a significant advancement over conventional pacemakers by eliminating the need for leads and surgical pockets. This minimally invasive approach ensured quicker recovery, reduced risk of infection, and provided the patient with a safer and more comfortable solution for long-term cardiac rhythm management. The lady`s situation was especial...

Canadian researchers have found that scanning the tiny blood vessels in the eyes may help predict a person`s risk of developing heart disease and how fast they`re biologically ageing.  The study, published in the journal Science Advances, suggests that retinal scans could one day serve as a noninvasive window into the body`s overall vascular health and biological ageing status, offering new opportunities for early detection and intervention. "By connecting retinal scans, genetics, and blood biomarkers, we have uncovered molecular pathways that help explain how aging affects the vascular system," said Marie Pigeyre, Associate Professor at McMaster University’s Department of Medicine in Canada. "The eye provides a unique, noninvasive view into the body`s circulatory system. Changes in the...

The United States of America has registered 1,618 measles cases with three deaths so far this year, the highest number since 1992, according to official data released.   Among them, 1,595 cases were reported by 42 domestic jurisdictions and 23 cases were among international visitors to the United States, said the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The total represents the most US infections since 1992, when the CDC recorded 2,126 measles cases. Of the confirmed cases this year, 198 cases, or 12 per cent of the total, have required hospitalisation, including 95 children under the age of five. Three people have died from measles, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the CDC, 92 per cent of measles cases in the United States occurred among people who were unvaccinate...

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Friday, October 24, approved a new programme to improve the life expectancy and quality of life for 11 million elderly and vulnerable people in Kerala with wider access to health coverage.  The USD 280 million Kerala Health System Improvement Programme will build a more comprehensive health system resistant to climate shocks. It will also strengthen Kerala’s digital health systems through expanded eHealth services, integrated data platforms, and enhanced cybersecurity. The programme aims to treat and support over 90 per cent of patients registered for hypertension and diabetes in the state through individual electronic tracking mechanisms. It will also establish a home-based care model for bedbound, homebound, and vulnerable elderly, to p...

People eating more junk food can counteract its ill effects on mental health by cardio exercises such as running, according to an animal study on Tuesday, October 21, amid the growing concern of its long-term changes on the body. Researchers at University College Cork in Ireland identified specific metabolic pathways through which exercise counteracts the negative behavioural effects of consuming a Western-style diet. The research demonstrated that voluntary running exercise can mitigate depression-like behaviours induced by high-fat, high-sugar diets associated with both circulating hormones and gut-derived metabolites. “The findings provide crucial insights into how lifestyle interventions might be optimised to support mental health in an era of widespread ultra-processed food consump...

Hospitals across Kolkata have reported a significant rise in respiratory illnesses among people and complications among pregnant women and IVF patients after Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations, with doctors attributing the surge to heightened air and noise pollution caused by bursting of firecrackers. Pulmonologists and gynaecologists observed an uptick in both outpatient and inpatient visits between October 20 and 22, with pollution levels soaring well beyond safe limits. Several medical professionals warned of serious health risks for vulnerable groups, including those with pre-existing respiratory conditions and expecting mothers. Dr Mrinmoy Mitra, senior consultant pulmonologist at ILS Hospital, Dumdum, reported a 10-15 per cent increase in hospital admissions for respiratory illness...