Health

Holi, more popularly called the festival of colours is a celebration of spirit, a vibrant explosion of joy that marks the arrival of spring. However, for your skin, the revelry can quickly devolve into a battlefield.  While many powders are marketed under the organic or herbal, the reality on the ground is often far more abrasive. Industrial dyes, heavy metals, and even powdered glass are frequently disguised as innocent gulaal, leading to a post-festive surge in chemical burns, severe dermatitis, and systemic allergic reactions. To help you navigate these hidden hazards, mid-day spoke to Indian dermatologists to provide a definitive guide on identifying, treating, and reversing Holi-related skin damage. Spotting the emergency The first step to treating an allergy is identifying it. Yo...

Mizoram has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in India, with Aizawl district reporting an age-adjusted incidence rate of 269.4 per one lakh men, health officials said on Sunday.   A senior Health and Family Welfare Department official said stomach and lung cancers are the leading causes of cancer in the state, largely driven by high tobacco and betel nut consumption, dietary habits, and genetic factors. The official said the Mizoram government signed an Externally Aided Project loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank on January 23, for a project titled “Supporting Public Health Care System Strengthening to Achieve Universal Healthcare for Mizoram”, popularly known as the Mizoram Universal Healthcare Scheme (MUHCS). He added that the World Bank-funded Mizoram Health...

A 71-year-old woman who could not walk more than five steps due to severe lumbar canal stenosis regained pain-free mobility within days after undergoing minimally invasive spine surgery by Mumbai doctors at a hospital in the city. The elderly patient, who had previously undergone open spinal surgery at a different level of the lumbar spine, was treated using an advanced micro-endoscopic decompression technique that relieved pressure on her spinal nerves and enabled rapid recovery after treatment by Dr Keval Shukla, who is the consultant neurosurgeon, at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central.  A gradual loss of independence Over several months, the patient experienced steadily worsening pain and numbness in both legs whenever she stood or attempted to walk. While her back pain remained re...

For the average Indian woman crossing 45 years of age, the subtle changes in her body are often dismissed as the inevitable ageing. But what is frequently labelled as a slowing metabolism is actually a high-stakes biological disappearing act. As estrogen levels retreat during perimenopause, the very muscle that anchors a woman’s strength and metabolic health begins to vanish, fundamentally altering the body’s internal architecture. This National Protein Day, which is observed on February 27, mid-day debunks myths of the traditional Indian diet and revealing why the standard dal-chawal routine is failing women when they need strength the most. We aren`t just talking about nutrition; we are talking about a medical necessity.  Sandipa Sen, senior clinical nutritionist at Manipal Hospital, a...

In a coordinated effort on Friday involving the Chennai Metro Ltd, airport authorities, Tamil Nadu Network for Organ Sharing, and the Tamil Nadu police, three life-saving organ transplants were successfully facilitated at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. While Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on Friday deployed an exclusive dedicated train to transport a heart and lungs for emergency transplantation, lungs were also transported from Trichy to Chennai through a specially coordinated green corridor. Lungs and a heart that reached the hospital in record time were retrieved from a 17-year-old donor in Madurai. The organs were flown from Madurai to Chennai International Airport, where a special metro train was waiting to ferry the medical team and the life-saving cargo, stated a press release is...

Mumbaikars love their South Indian food and don’t think twice about enjoying delicacies such as dosa, idli and medu vada among other dishes because it is not only quick to eat, but also filling and ideal for life on the move. While the city has boasted of Matunga which houses some of the most popular South Indian restaurants, there’s a change simmering in Bandra, which has made people fall in love with dosa all over again, and even reignite the flame for the delicacy for many, at a time when Rameshwaram Café is opening in Churchgate, any day now.  Coincidentally, World Dosa Day is observed on March 3 every year, to celebrate the dish. While you don’t need to give dosa lovers a reason to enjoy the simple yet delicious dish, it reminds us about the variety that Indian food provides from th...

In the modern wellness landscape, fermentation has become the new ‘cool’. From trendy cafes in Mumbai to high-end grocery stores in Bangalore, Kombucha — a fizzy, fermented tea—has taken centre stage as the ultimate gut-health elixir. However, as we celebrate World Kombucha Day on February 21, it is essential to remember that India has been fermenting long before it was a global trend. From the cooling Neer Mor of south India to the pungent Gajar ki Kanji of north India, traditional Indian drinks have supported the Indian gut for generations. But in a head-to-head battle for probiotic supremacy, which one truly wins? We consulted two leading experts — Dr. Pravalika Londe, senior clinical nutritionist at Aster CMI Hospital, and Aayrin Memon, clinical nutritionist at Bhailal Amin General Ho...

The domestic healthcare sector is expected to see stronger growth over the next three years, supported by new drug launches, while earnings from the US generics business are likely to remain flat for most companies, according to a report by Systematix Research. The report stated that growth in India`s domestic medicines market is expected to strengthen on the back of GLP-1 drug launches, with growth projected in the high single-digit range over the next three years. This is expected to support the overall expansion of Indian pharmaceutical companies, especially those with a strong presence in the domestic market. It stated. "Over the next 3 years, we expect India branded formulation growth to strengthen on back of GLP-1 launches (high single digit)." However, the outlook for the US gen...

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...