Health

Living at high altitude appears to protect against diabetes, and scientists have finally discovered the reason. When oxygen levels drop, red blood cells switch into a new metabolic mode and absorb large amounts of glucose from the blood. This helps the body cope with thin air while also reducing blood sugar levels. A drug that recreates this effect reversed diabetes in mice, hinting at a powerful new treatment strategy. For years, researchers have observed that people who live at high elevations, where oxygen is scarce, tend to develop diabetes less often than those at sea level. Although the trend was well documented, the biological explanation behind it was unclear. Scientists at Gladstone Institutes now say they have identified the reason. Their research shows that in low oxygen envi...

The number of transplants in the country has seen a fourfold increase from less than 5,000 in 2013 to nearly 20,000 in 2025, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted the importance of organ donation in his `Mann Ki Baat` address, and the ministry said it has given sustained impetus to the organ donation movement in the country. India has achieved a significant milestone in the field of organ donation and transplantation, with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) recording unprecedented progress in organ donation, allocation, and transplantation across the country, the ministry said in a statement. "The number of transplants in the country has increased from less than 5,000 in the year 2013 to nearly 20,000 in the yea...

Scientists at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have developed a new class of photocatalysts capable of purifying water using visible sunlight, marking a major step forward in sustainable water treatment technologies, according to the institute`s official website. The research was conducted by experts from MIPT`s Centre for Photonics and Two-Dimensional Materials in collaboration with international partners. The team identified the most efficient material structure for photocatalytic activity within the visible light spectrum, as reported by TV BRICS. According to TV BRICS, Photocatalysis is considered a promising method for removing organic pollutants such as dyes, pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and oil traces from water. However, most existing photocatalysts fu...

The outer area of the retina, or the peripheral retina, could offer a window into an early detection of Alzheimer`s disease long before irreversible brain damage occurs, and a routine eye exam may thus potentially help with an early diagnosis of the neurodegenerative condition, according to a new study. "The eyes are indeed a window into the brain, but our study reveals that we have been looking at the wrong part of the window. While most clinical eye exams focus on the central retina, the most critical early indicators of Alzheimer`s disease (AD) appear to be hidden at the periphery of the eye," author Stephen Wong, from Houston Methodist Hospital in the US, said. "By identifying these retinal changes that occur before the brain`s `plumbing` system fails, doctors may eventually be able ...

In an age of rising heart disease, diabetes, and stress-related illnesses, a simple habit like walking is gaining renewed attention. The idea of walking 10,000 steps a day has become a popular fitness goal but can it truly protect your heart? Experts say regular walking can significantly improve both physical and mental health. Dr. Nilesh Gautam, Consultant-Interventional Cardiology at P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Khar, Mumbai, highlights the wide-ranging benefits of daily walking. “Walking 10,000 steps a day can improve blood pressure control, reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and enhance cardiovascular fitness. It also helps with weight reduction, strengthens muscles and bones, and improves general well-being.” Lower blood pressure improves circulation an...

Grey’s Anatomy fans across India and the world woke up to bad news on February 20, as Eric Dane, popularly known as ‘McSteamy’ playing Dr Eric Sloan on the hit television show, passed away at 53 due to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS. Dane, who was an advocate of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig`s disease, succumbed to it less than a year after he announced his diagnosis in April 2025. Shedding light on the disorder, Dr Sheetal Goyal, who is the consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central, explains, "ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements. Over time, these motor neurons degenerate, leading to muscle weakness and loss of function." In most ...

Stopping the consumption of tobacco dramatically reduces the risk of oral cavity cancer by more than 60 per cent, a study conducted by a Mumbai-based organisation has found. The study, conducted by the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), demonstrated that quitting smoking and chewing habits reduces the risk of oral cancer or buccal mucosa cancer compared with continuous consumption. For this hospital-based case control study, enrolment was carried out in five TMC cancer centres located in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Barshi, Varanasi and Guwahati in India, during 2010-2022. The research was conducted on both men and women, aged 19-75 years. For the first time, the study shows a 61 per cent reduction in the risk of oral cavity cancer for smokers and a 42 per cent re...

Mumbai doctors have restored vision to a 44-year-old gynaecologist from Mumbai who had become completely blind in both eyes after ten years of progressive vision loss caused by severe glaucoma and multiple refractory intraocular pathologies, none of which had responded to the several surgeries she had previously undergone. In a complex, first-of-its-kind surgical intervention in the world, the surgical team at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, performed the advanced 5F-ISHF IOL implantation technique on the patient, to remove a malpositioned artificial intraocular lens (IOL) in her left eye, along with optical penetrating keratoplasty (OPK), the novel 5F scleral fixation technique, and pupilloplasty in a single sitting to address her complex ocular complications. The patient regained 6/24 vision...

Walking across a room is something most people do without thinking. For 33-year-old Sumit, it had long been a daily struggle requiring effort, support, and determination. A survivor of polio since the age of one, Sumit lived with weakness and deformity in his left lower limb for decades. Sumit was affected by polio in early childhood, which left his left leg weak and deformed. Despite undergoing multiple corrective surgeries over the years, daily life remained challenging. He had reduced ankle movement, foot drop, and his heel could not touch the ground. Walking short distances caused pain and fatigue, and he often had to support his leg with his hand to move forward. Over time, he developed post-polio syndrome, a condition in which muscle weakness worsens many years after the initial pol...

In a major step forward in advanced vascular care, Kolkata doctors have successfully helped give a new lease of life to an elderly man walk again. Dr. Ranjan Kr. Sharma, who is the senior consultant, Cardiology at Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake, performed advanced atherectomy-assisted procedure for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in Kolkata. The minimally invasive treatment was carried out on a 75-year-old patient suffering from both heart and leg artery blockages, enabling him to recover quickly and return to his normal routine within just 24 hours. The patient had undergone angioplasty 11 years ago, during which two stents were placed in critical heart arteries - the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery and the Right Coronary Artery (RCA). Recently, he began experiencing shortness of bre...