Health

Walking across a room is something most people do without thinking. For 33-year-old Sumit, it had long been a daily struggle requiring effort, support, and determination. A survivor of polio since the age of one, Sumit lived with weakness and deformity in his left lower limb for decades. Sumit was affected by polio in early childhood, which left his left leg weak and deformed. Despite undergoing multiple corrective surgeries over the years, daily life remained challenging. He had reduced ankle movement, foot drop, and his heel could not touch the ground. Walking short distances caused pain and fatigue, and he often had to support his leg with his hand to move forward. Over time, he developed post-polio syndrome, a condition in which muscle weakness worsens many years after the initial pol...

In a major step forward in advanced vascular care, Kolkata doctors have successfully helped give a new lease of life to an elderly man walk again. Dr. Ranjan Kr. Sharma, who is the senior consultant, Cardiology at Manipal Hospital, Salt Lake, performed advanced atherectomy-assisted procedure for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) in Kolkata. The minimally invasive treatment was carried out on a 75-year-old patient suffering from both heart and leg artery blockages, enabling him to recover quickly and return to his normal routine within just 24 hours. The patient had undergone angioplasty 11 years ago, during which two stents were placed in critical heart arteries - the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery and the Right Coronary Artery (RCA). Recently, he began experiencing shortness of bre...

Pooja’s journey to motherhood began with hope in early 2021, but soon turned into heartbreak after her first miscarriage. Despite emotional recovery, the couple faced a second miscarriage in mid-2022, followed by a third loss in late 2022, leaving them devastated and anxious about future pregnancies. Clinically, recurrent pregnancy loss is defined as two or more consecutive miscarriages. Experiencing three pregnancy losses between 2021 and 2022 placed Pooja in the RPL category, warranting specialised care. RPL affects nearly 1–2 per cent of couples, and in close to 50 per cent of cases, identifiable and treatable medical causes are found. After nearly a year of emotional and physical recovery, the couple sought specialised treatment in November 2023. A detailed evaluation revealed high b...

In a major step towards strengthening student well-being in higher education, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) on Sunday announced it has started drafting a comprehensive mental health policy for its campus community.   The initiative is being seen as a landmark move that could set a model for other IITs across the country. The first draft of the policy has been prepared by the institute’s Wellness Centre, which serves as a mental health care facility for students, faculty and staff. The draft was developed with inputs from the Dean of Student Welfare, Associate Dean of Student Wellness, clinical psychologists at IIT Roorkee, external advisors and faculty members, ensuring that the framework reflects both professional expertise and institutional experience. The init...

Doctors at a hospital in Delhi have successfully treated a five-day-old infant diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus, a rare neurological condition involving an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain. The condition was detected during the last trimester of the pregnancy. This allowed helped the medical team at Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, to initiate the treatment immediately after birth to prevent potential neurological damage. The hospital said in a statement that the mother was recommended to undergo a fetal MRI to assess the extent of the condition, followed by counselling for the parents. According to doctors, congenital hydrocephalus is a condition present at birth. It causes the head to enlarge due to excess fluid building up in the brain and increased pressure. The conditio...

Mumbai doctors have successfully treated a 66-year-old woman who was struggling with severe chest pain and breathlessness that made even short walks difficult. Despite her symptoms pointing toward a serious heart blockage, routine tests showed no major artery obstruction, leaving her condition unexplained. Using advanced diagnostic technology, doctors were able to uncover a hidden heart condition that often goes undetected, especially in women and diabetic patients. This timely diagnosis helped the medical team choose the right treatment and avoid unnecessary procedures. With targeted medical care, her symptoms gradually improved. Today, she has recovered well and is back to her daily routine, moving freely and living with renewed confidence and comfort. Using the newly introduced corona...

Recent changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework -- simplified tax structure, removal of tax on drugs and medical equipment and increased taxation on tobacco products -- mark an important policy shift towards making cancer care more affordable and accessible, AIIMS researchers have said. In a commentary published in Frontier, Oncologist Dr Abhishek Shankar and Scientist Dr Vaibhav Sahni from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, Delhi, noted that the reforms acknowledge the financial toxicity faced by cancer patients and attempt to address long-standing gaps in treatment affordability. The researchers mentioned that the GST council, in its 56th meeting, recommended the total exemption of 33 lifesaving drugs, including th...

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) on Friday said its researchers have found that too much mucus can weaken the lungs` defences, which can make people more prone to allergy attacks. The airways to the lungs have a naturally engineered defence mechanism that gets activated when any foreign material enters the airways by secreting a fluid called mucus to trap it. However, for millions of people living in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other metros, the rising levels of air pollution have been posing a persistent health hazard, with heavy smog-filled air causing severe respiratory issues. In a recent study, IIT Bombay researchers have found that as mucus volume increases in response to pollution (or a foreign material) in the airways, its defence does not impr...

More than 32,000 cancer cases have been reported across Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, with nearly 79 per cent of the total cases recorded in the valley alone, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said on Friday, February 13. Replying to an unstarred question by PDP legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para in the Assembly, the minister said 25,621 cases were registered in Kashmir division (2022â¿¿2024), while 6,804 cases were reported from Jammu division (2023-2025). She said the most commonly detected cancers include that of lung, breast, oral, cervical and prostate. Gastro-intestinal malignancies, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach and colorectal region, are also frequently reported, Itoo said. Sharing the details compiled by the Health and Medical Education Department, the minister sai...

In a heart rending yet profoundly inspiring act, a 10-month-old baby girl, who lost her life in a road accident, has become the youngest organ donor in Kerala, offering hope and healing to others even in death, officials said on Friday. Alin Sherin Abraham, hailing from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district, was declared brain dead following a tragic road accident. In the middle of unimaginable grief, her parents chose to donate her organs so that other lives could be saved. Their decision has touched the hearts of many across the state. The infant`s kidneys, liver and heart valves are being donated. Her two kidneys will be transplanted to a 10-year-old child undergoing treatment at the S.A.T. Hospital attached to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The organs are being transpor...