Health

Metals, particularly nickel and vanadium, and sulphate particles -- components of fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) -- can worsen asthma and lead to hospitalisation, according to a new study. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, showed that for each decile increase in the pollutant mixture, asthma hospitalisations increased 10.6 per cent among children and 8 per cent among adults ages 19 to 64. Nickel, vanadium, sulfate, nitrate, bromine, and ammonium contributed the most weight to this association. "If we want to reduce asthma hospitalisations, these are the sources that need to be better controlled -- which we know how to do," said corresponding author Joel Schwartz, professor of environmental epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan Sc...

The global cholera situation is worsening, with outbreaks across 31 countries and a surging fatality rate, the World Health Organization said Friday. "Given the scale, severity, and interconnected nature of these outbreaks, the risk of further spread within and between countries is considered very high," it said. The UN health agency said the deteriorating outlook was "driven by conflict and poverty", with rural and flood-affected areas especially vulnerable to the disease -- an acute intestinal infection that spreads through food and water contaminated with bacteria, often from faeces. Between January 1 and August 17, the WHO tracked 409,222 cases and 4,738 deaths reported globally. While cases were down 20 percent on the same period last year, deaths were up 46 percent. Cholera is g...

Even a small amount of ultra-processed foods can lead to increased weight, hormone disruption, and poor sperm quality in men, finds a study. An international team of scientists has now discovered that people gain more weight on an ultra-processed diet compared to a minimally processed diet, even when they eat the same number of calories. The study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, in humans also revealed that a diet high in ultra-processed foods introduces higher levels of pollutants that are known to affect sperm quality. “Our results prove that ultra-processed foods harm our reproductive and metabolic health, even if they’re not eaten in excess. This indicates that it is the processed nature of these foods that makes them harmful,” said lead author Jessica Preston, at the Uni...

There is no strong evidence to support the use of complementary and alternative treatments such as acupuncture and music therapy for autism, finds a study on Thursday. Researchers from the Paris Nanterre University, Paris Cité University in France and the University of Southampton in the UK showed that the safety of these treatments was rarely assessed. "Many parents of autistic children, as well as autistic adults, turn to complementary and alternative medicines hoping they may help without unwanted side effects," said Professor Richard Delorme, Head of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at Robert Debré Hospital in Paris. "However, it is necessary to carefully consider evidence from rigorous randomised trials before concluding that these treatments should be tried," Delorme added...

Certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression, can raise the risk of developing heart disease and mortality by nearly 100 per cent, according to a report on Friday. The report, published in the journal The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, summarises cardiovascular health disparities among those diagnosed with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Researchers from Emory University showed that schizophrenia raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by nearly 100 per cent. This was followed by major depression ( 72 per cent), PTSD (57 per cent), bipolar disorder (61 per cent), panic disorder (50 per cent), and phobic anxiety (70 per cent). The research also showed that these conditions are associated wi...

Myocardial infarction, commonly known as heart attacks, may also be triggered by infectious diseases, finds a study, which showed that dormant bacteria can cause the deadly condition. The pioneering study by researchers from Finland and the UK demonstrated that the discovery challenges the conventional understanding of the pathogenesis of heart attacks and opens new avenues for treatment, diagnostics, and even vaccine development. Professor Pekka Karhunen, from Tampere University in Finland, who led the study, notes that until now, it was assumed that events leading to coronary artery disease were only initiated by oxidised low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which the body recognises as a foreign structure. "Bacterial involvement in coronary artery disease has long been suspected, but direc...

All of India`s 1.4 billion people live in areas where annual average particulate pollution levels exceed the WHO guideline and even those in the cleanest regions of the country could live 9.4 months longer if the air quality met global standards, according to a new report. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago`s (EPIC) 2025 report said PM2.5 concentrations in India in 2023 were higher than in 2022. These levels are more than eight times higher than the WHO guideline and reducing them to permanently meet the global standard would add 3.5 years to the average life expectancy of Indians. According to the WHO`s 2021 air quality guideline, the annual average limit for PM2.5 is 5 micrograms per cubic metre, while for PM10 it is 15 micrograms per cubic metre. These limits a...

Adults with cardiovascular disease must be immunised against conditions such as Covid-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumonia, herpes zoster (shingles), and other diseases, according to new recommendations released by the American College of Cardiology (ACC). The guidance also provides detailed evidence for each vaccine recommendation and answers to frequently asked questions to guide conversations between clinicians and patients. “Vaccination against communicable respiratory diseases and other serious diseases is critical for people with heart disease, but barriers exist to ensuring people are educated on which vaccines to get, how often to get them, and why they are important,” said Paul Heidenreich, chair of the CCG writing committee. “With this document, we want ...

A 27-year-old man in Kolkata had a miraculous escape after suffering a sudden heart attack while playing football at a local turf ground.  With the help of a swift response from his friends, the doctors at Manipal Hospital, Saltlake, were able to save his life within a critical window of time. The man, a young sports enthusiast with an active lifestyle, collapsed with severe chest and arm pain during a late-night football match. His friends acted immediately and rushed him to the hospital, where the emergency team admitted him without delay despite heavy rains and challenging conditions.  By 2 am, he was in the Cath Lab, where Dr. Raja Nag, senior interventional cardiologist at the hospital successfully performed a life-saving procedure with his team. Further investigation revealed tha...

Amoebic meningoencephalitis is a rare infection caused by certain brain-eating amoebae that naturally live in our environment, and climate, temperature, and urban water stagnation are major reasons for its rise in Kerala, said health experts on Tuesday. Amoebic encephalitis is a rare but fatal central nervous system infection caused by free-living amoebae, Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba, found in freshwater lakes and rivers. There are two types of amoebic encephalitis, namely primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Kerala has reported 41 cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis this year, and 18 active cases are currently under treatment in the state. “Unlike common infections such as typhoid and hepatitis A, which o...