Health

The last 10 years have seen a marked rise in incidence of mental health concerns in India such as anxiety disorders, depression, sleep disturbances, and burnout-related complaints. Younger adults, especially students and working professionals are particularly effected.  According to WHO estimates, nearly 1 in 5 Indians may experience some form of mental health concern in their lifetime, but actual figures are likely higher due to underreporting and stigma, believes Dr. (Prof.) Kunal Bahrani, who is the clinical director, Neurology, Marengo Asia Hospitals in Faridabad, ahead of World Mental Health Day. Every year, World Mental Health Day 2025 is observed on October 10 to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of one`s mental health.  Explaining the spike, Dr Bahrani adds, “A...

As Diwali approaches, the season brings indulgence and togetherness, along with the need to stay mindful about our health during the celebrations. While it is important to enjoy every bit of the festive season, it is also important to remember that we need to take care of our health.In Mitihara, celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar draws from India’s timeless food wisdom to remind us that eating well is not about deprivation, but about rhythm, eating in tune with the seasons and the body’s natural needs. The audiobook, available on Audible, provides simple and actionable tips to stay healthy during the festive season. From sipping tulsi tea on chilly mornings to enjoying food the way nature intended, Rujuta brings awareness back to our kitchens, ensuring that Diwali is not just about gra...

Strengthening the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act has led to an improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), with 917 females per 1,000 males recorded in 2021-23, said Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, on Monday, October 6.  Speaking at a National Sensitisation Meeting on Strengthening the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, she highlighted the progress made in the SRB over the last decade. “The country has recorded a positive improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB). As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2023, the SRB has increased by 18 points -- from 819 females per 1,000 males during 20...

With growing importance on the need to take care of one`s health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines to help pregnant women worldwide. The new rules aim to help prevent, diagnose, and treat postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), which causes excessive bleeding after childbirth, to millions of women across the globe. Women go through a lot during their journey in pregnancy, and with them facing so many different kinds of challenges, the need to help ease their pain is important. These maternal health guidelines, were co-published with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the International Confederation of Midwives, and further highlight the urgent need for earlier detection and faster intervention to prevent death among new mothers. PPH is ...

India has seen a remarkable success in control of leprosy, with a 99 per cent drop in prevalence rate per 10,000 population and 98 per cent reduction in cases under treatment over a span of 44 years, according to the government.   As per an official statement, India in 2025 had a prevalence rate of 0.57 per 10,000 population and 0.82 lakh patients on treatment. In stark contrast, the country in 1981 had a prevalence rate of 57.2 per 10,000 population and 39.19 lakh patients on treatment. Since March 2006, when the annual report confirmed a prevalence rate of less than 1 per 10,000 (0.84), there has also been a decline of 37 per cent in new case detection. Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. Symptoms include discoloured s...

Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi won the Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance. Peripheral immune tolerance is one way the body helps keep the immune system from getting out of whack and attacking your own tissues instead of foreign invaders. The award is the first of the 2025 Nobel Prize announcements and was announced by a panel at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Last year`s prize was shared by Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA, tiny bits of genetic material that serve as on and off switches inside cells that help control what the cells do and when they do it. Nobel announcements continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Th...

The size and severity of chikungunya outbreaks -- a mosquito-borne disease is unpredictable, according to a study.  The virus, common in tropical and subtropical regions, including Asia, Africa, and South America, leads to symptoms such as acute fever, followed by debilitating joint pain that can last for months. Though rarely fatal, the chikungunya virus can be particularly severe for high-risk individuals, including newborns and older adults. In a new study, published in Science Advances, researchers at the University of Notre Dame, US, analysed more than 80 outbreaks of chikungunya virus to improve the prediction of future outbreaks and inform vaccine trial development. "Chikungunya outbreaks are unpredictable in both size and severity," said Alex Perkins, Professor of infectious di...

An unusual heart rhythm disorder, also known as Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), is more common in people with long Covid, according to a study.  The study found that the condition, where the heart beats abnormally fast when changing position from lying down to standing up, is more common in middle-aged women than men. For people affected with POTS, standing up is a challenge. Their hearts beat faster than normal at rest and during exertion. Patients also experience fatigue and difficulties concentrating -- symptoms that are common in long Covid. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that POTS occurs in almost a third of patients with severe long Covid. "Previous, smaller studies have shown that there is a connection, but now we can say with certainty th...

US researchers have detected the Sudan Ebola virus strain in semen and breast milk among survivors, about eight months after infection, raising concerns about the potential for sexual and mother-to-child transmission.  Nearly 60 per cent of the survivors of an outbreak in Uganda from 2022-23 reported ongoing and debilitating health issues, even two years post-infection, that interfered with their daily lives, noted researchers at Washington State University. "This is the first time anyone has been able to closely follow Sudan Ebola survivors over the long term, and the results show the virus continues to affect people`s lives well after an outbreak ends," said lead researcher Kariuki Njenga, Professor in the WSU`s College of Veterinary Medicine. "Just as concerning is the fact we detect...

Mental Health has become an essential aspect of mainstream conversation, among Gen Z especially in recent times. From social media to boardrooms, the subject is spoken about more openly than ever before. Yet, there remains a gap between awareness and action. The conversations are happening, but translating them into everyday lifestyle changes and practical support is still a challenge. Despite openness, there is a lack of access to professional support. Mental health has merely ended up as  a ‘more talk, less action,’ activity. This World Mental Health Day, observed on Friday, October 10, it’s time to change the narrative and make it more about taking action. World Mental Health Day is celebrated annually on October 10. It is celebrated to raise awareness of mental health issues around t...