Health

Living with medical conditions is often difficult and may often go unnoticed in many cases as people believe it is not so serious, as is the case of a 31-year-old woman, married with children. She had been battling severe headaches for over three years pain so intense and constant that she relied on daily painkillers just to function.  While she was repeatedly diagnosed with migraine in the past, there was no real relief. As she felt her life was shrinking around her, she opted to meet Mumbai-based health expert Dr Sheetal Goyal, who is a consultant neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central. After all the necessary tests, Dr Goyal found that it was a regrowth of a hormone-secreting pituitary tumour. Initially referred as a routine case of migraine, Dr Goyal noticed key red fla...

A four-day workweek might help with an employee`s well-being, according to a study that trialled the intervention in organisations across the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Researchers from Boston College in the US and University College Dublin in Ireland found that workers reported an improved well-being with lower levels of burnout, a better job satisfaction and physical and mental health -- this was not seen among employees of 12 organisations where a reduced workweek was not trialled. For the study, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, nearly 2,900 employees across 141 organisations in the six high-income countries worked four days a week for six months without a pay reduction. To maintain productivity, workplaces were re-organised with efficiency an...

In a rare and surprising case, a 51-year-old woman, who is a homemaker and mother of two children, has been successfully treated by doctors in Pune, after they found that she had a large tumour (fibroid) growing in her uterus almost the size of a football, and she was completely unaware of it, considering it as an asymptomatic fibroid.  The fibroid, weighing around 3 kilograms, was safely removed by the doctors at Motherhood Hospital in Kharadi giving her a new lease of life. It all started just two months ago when the woman noticed a small bulge in her stomach. Since she didn’t have any pain or discomfort, she ignored it. But during a regular check-up, a general physician felt a lump and advised her to get a sonography done. That’s when the big shock came, the scan showed a massive 20 cm...

US President Donald Trump was recently diagnosed with ‘chronic venous insufficiency’ following a medical check-up after noticing “mild swelling” in his lower legs. During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the US President was diagnosed with a vein condition which is "common in individuals over the age of 70”. Reading a letter from Trump’s doctor, she further revealed that there was no evidence of more serious conditions such as deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease, and stressed that the President remains in “excellent health”. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a condition in which the veins in the legs have trouble sending blood back to the heart because of damaged valves. “Over time, this causes blood to pool in the legs. It’s more commo...

Dogs may have `personalities` which guide their television viewing habits -- an anxious dog might respond more to cars or a doorbell sound, while an excitable one is more likely to follow on-screen objects, a study has found. Researchers from Auburn University, US, also found that pet dogs may perceive two-dimensional objects on the TV screen in a manner similar to those in the three-dimensional environment. The results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, help understand a pet dog`s internal, perceptual experience and may inform interventions taken towards their welfare. "In practice, engagement with television could provide dogs with an enriching, meaningful experience," the authors wrote. About 650 dog owners responded to surveys after observing their dog`s TV viewing habit...

Scientists have identified a key gene essential for vitamin D absorption, which may also boost treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases.  The gene, called SDR42E1, is crucial for taking up vitamin D from the gut and further metabolising it -- a discovery with many possible applications in precision medicine, including cancer therapy. "Here we show that blocking or inhibiting SDR42E1 may selectively stop the growth of cancer cells,” said Dr Georges Nemer, Professor at the University of College of Health and Life Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. Previous research showed that a specific mutation in the SDR42E1 gene on chromosome 16 is associated with vitamin D deficiency. The mutation caused the protein to be cut short, rendering it inactive. In the study, publishe...

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are rising at alarming rates worldwide in adults younger than 50 years, according to two studies.  The first study, published in JAMA, showed that the surging cancer cases go beyond colorectal, and include gastric, oesophageal, and pancreatic. "Colorectal cancer is the most common early-onset GI cancer worldwide, accounting for more than half of the cases, but it is not the only GI cancer that is rising in younger adults. Unfortunately, pancreatic, gastric, and oesophageal cancers are also increasing in young people," said Dr. Kimmie Ng, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US. "The rising incidence of early-onset GI cancers is alarming and underscores the need for enhanced prevention strategies and early detection methods," Ng added. The second study,...

US President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) -- a condition where leg veins do not allow blood to flow back to the heart -- explaining the swollen ankles and bruises on his hands.  The 79-year-old US President was recently photographed at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final in New Jersey, where visible swelling around his ankles sparked public speculation about his health. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed that the ultrasound exams performed on Trump`s legs confirmed CVI -- seen frequently among people over the age of 70. However, additional exams showed "no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic illness" in Trump, Leavitt said, adding that the US President is not experiencing any discomfort due to the diagnosis. ...

As monsoon showers cool the air and bring relief from the summer heat, experts raise concerns about a sharp rise in dehydration cases. Prolonged outdoor working hours, coupled with less intake of water and other fluids can lead to dehydration, even during monsoons.  Dehydration-related complaints, especially among adults aged 25-55 years, working professionals, children, and the elderly, need timely attention. Hence, it is the need of the hour to seek medical attention if required. Not only diarrhoea and constipation, but even dehydration is a common occurrence in monsoon. "Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. This affects the normal functioning of your organs and can lead to serious complications like kidney strain, fatigue, dizziness, heat exhaustion, a...

A study analysing brain scans of crew members who spent a year at an Antarctic research station has revealed changes due to exposure to isolated and extreme environments with potential impacts on physiology and cognition. The findings, published in the journal `npj Microgravity`, have implications as extended space missions are planned from around the world, researchers said. The team from the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand found an overall reduction in white matter and a reduced grey matter in brain regions known to help with memory, language and spatial awareness. Astronauts experience considerable stress in space, and understanding its effects on the brain can aid in assessing risks and building resilience, the researchers explained. They pointed out that analogue environments...