Health

Personal bias and blind belief are time and again reigniting the claim that childhood vaccines are increasing the risk of autism -- a neurological condition, said health experts on Wednesday.  Recently, a self-published report by the US-based McCullough Foundation claimed that vaccination is “the most significant preventable driver” of autism. The report, not being peer-reviewed, has garnered significant attention from many anti-vaccine campaigners, including Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu. “There are many people who take an anti-vaccine stand. We saw the damaging effects of their propaganda during the early part of the pandemic -- when tens of thousands of people died of severe Covid-19 simply because they were afraid to vaccinate,” Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan of the Indian Medical Association, K...

A stroke can occur suddenly, often without warning, and its impact can be life-altering within minutes. Despite advances in medicine, awareness about its early signs and timely intervention remains limited — making education and prevention crucial in reducing its toll.  On World Stroke Day, mid-day spoke to Dr. Prashant Makhija, Consultant Neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, and Dr. Dipesh Pimpale, Consultant Neurologist at KIMS Hospitals, Thane. The experts shed light on common warning signs, risk factors and awareness details everyone should be aware of. What is a stroke, and why is it considered a medical emergency?Makhija: A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is suddenly blocked or when a blood vessel bursts. The brain can’t store oxygen, so every mi...

Attention lapses due to sleep-deprivation could be because the brain is trying to catch up with waste cleansing -- which typically happens while sleeping -- during the day, a new study has suggested. The cerebrospinal fluid, which flows into and around the brain and spinal cord cushions the central nervous system from shocks, helps remove waste from the brain that was built during the day through `flushing`. It is considered important for maintaining brain health and function. "If you don`t sleep, the cerebrospinal fluid waves start to intrude into wakefulness where normally you wouldn`t see them. However, they come with an attentional tradeoff, where attention fails during the moments that you have this wave of fluid flow," said Laura Lewis, associate professor of electrical engineering...

Every minute counts during a stroke, said Nithin Kamath, co-founder and CEO of Zerodha on Wednesday, while stressing the need to seek immediate medical help within the golden 4.5 hours after suffering the brain condition.  World Stroke Day is observed every year on October 29 to raise awareness about strokes, which occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. During the attack, brain cells die every second; thus, early medications are key to boosting survival. Taking to social media platform X, Kamath, who survived a stroke last year, shared how strokes can be better managed if medical help is sought within 4.5 hours -- known as the Golden Hour. If strokes are not treated immediately within the window, it can lead to permanent brain damage and disability. He shared that many peopl...

Dyslexia is a different way of expressing knowledge, said Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, noting that with early identification and proper support, kids with the condition can achieve success.  Kumar was speaking at the ‘Walk for Dyslexia 2025’, held in the national capital, where the Rashtrapati Bhawan and Secretariat were lit up in red. The walk was organised across the nation by the Changeinkk Foundation, UNESCO MGEIP, Orkids Foundation, and Soch Foundation to spread awareness on Dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects reading, writing, and spelling, resulting from differences in how the brain processes language. October is observed as Dyslexia Awareness Month. Kumar stressed the need to create awareness and acceptance around Spe...

More than 1 in 3 or 36 per cent young adults, particularly Generation Z, within the legal drinking age have never consumed alcohol, according to a global report.  The report by data analytics company Euromonitor International noted that the growing trend of sobriety among younger consumers is largely driven by a desire to feel healthier and avoid long-term health risks (87 per cent of respondents). Some (30 per cent) are also avoiding due to practical considerations such as saving money and improving sleep quality (25 per cent). The report noted the rise in the ‘Zebra striping’ trend as consumers seek to moderate their alcohol consumption. ‘Zebra striping’ refers to a trend where individuals alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during a single social occasion, creati...

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...