Health

After experiencing intense heat for weeks with temperatures regularly rising above 30 degrees Celsius, Mumbaikars got respite from the summer weather as gusty winds and unseasonal rains hit the city late on Tuesday, May 6, and continued on May 7 and May 8. The monsoon season in Mumbai usually begins in late June. While the surprising rainfall in May brought with it a slight dip in mercury levels, this sudden change in weather can cause many different health issues, if suitable precautions are not taken, Mumbai-based experts warn. Health risks due to unseasonal rain The unseasonal rains that graced Mumbai skies, followed by a sudden drop in temperature and increase in humidity levels, can create ideal conditions for spread of viral infections and other health issues. Dr Manjusha Agarwa...

Eating a diet rich in vegetables, legumes, and whole grains in childhood can delay the onset of menstruation in girls, according to a new study. The findings, published in the journal Human Reproduction remained unaltered by the girls’ body mass index (BMI) or height, both of which have been associated with the earlier onset of periods. The study has implications for health in later life as it is well known that women who started their periods at an early age may be at higher risk for diabetes, obesity, breast cancer, and diseases of the heart and blood vessels. “I think our findings highlight the need for all children and adolescents to have access to healthy meal options and the importance of school-based breakfasts and lunches being based on evidence-based guidelines,” said Holly Har...

Every time you get sick who do you to go to? Your mother! It is like mothers have a home remedy for every sickness that you can ever suffer from, and in the process, make your feel better. The world gets ready to observe Mother`s Day 2025 on May 11. While there are many different things to celebrate about your mother, nothing comes close to her home remedies when you are sick because they cure you almost instantly. While these may differ in every home, some of these are really common in Indian households:  “Drink this kadha, you will be fine” Got a bad stomach? Drink this kadha and you will be fine, your mother says. While kadhas may vary in every region, and you may not even know the ingredients, it still does the trick even though it’s not even tasty because it is quite bitter almost a...

On the eve of the World Thalassemia Day, doctors and healthcare advocates have urged that first-trimester Thalassemia screening should be made a mandatory part of antenatal care. They have come together to emphasise an urgent but simple message that Thalassemia major, one of India`s most widespread inherited blood disorders, is preventable. While treatment costs can go up to Rs 4 to 5 lakh per child annually, a screening test costing just Rs 150 can prevent the disorder altogether if done in time, experts said. India continues to face one of the highest Thalassemia burdens globally. With 863 births occurring daily in Delhi and a 95.6 per cent institutional delivery rate, the city is uniquely positioned to lead a prevention-first model, said Dr Anupam Sachdeva, Co-Director of the Instit...

Mumbai dieticians say dieting is neither good nor bad, but if done incorrectly, it can have serious consequences on the body physically and mentally. Every year, International No Diet Day 2025 is observed on May 6 around the world to promote body positivity. While some may reject dieting, there are still many others that follow it.  Leena Martin, who is the chief dietitian at Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, shares, “Dieting depends on its purpose and structure. Diets rooted in balance, portion control and nourishment help maintain health, while overly restrictive plans may harm metabolism, mood and long-term wellness. It’s best to focus on sustainable, science-backed habits over temporary fixes.” While dieting has received a bad reputation over time, mid-day spoke to Martin and Simmi Sha...

Physically punishing children can lead to negative outcomes such as poor health, lower academic performance, and impaired social-emotional development, according to a study on Monday. The analysis, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, showed that physical punishment was significantly associated with worse parent-child relationships, being a victim of violence, perpetrating violence (including intimate partner violence in adulthood), approving violence, physical health problems, mental health problems, substance use, poor academic outcomes, impaired language skills.  It also led to impaired executive function, social-emotional skills, overall behavioural problems, internalising behaviour problems (e.g., depression and withdrawal), externalising behaviours (e.g., aggression and...

Earlier this month, people around the world observed World Laughter Day on May 4. While laughing is a natural activity, many may often take it for granted. Finding those short moments of joy do a lot of good to our body not only physically but also mentally, say Mumbai health experts. Dr Ajit Dandekar, head – psychiatry & mental health, at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital in Vile Parle West, says, “Genuine laughter works like a whole body exercise, setting off a chain reaction in the body; causing drop in stress chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline, exercising the heart and blood vessels, helping them relax more efficiently, expanding the lung capacity and releasing endorphins which in many cases, act as mild, natural pain killers. Individuals who laugh frequently are more ...

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay have in a new study unravelled how disrupted brain activity impacts cognitive functions in Parkinson’s patients.  The study focussed on altered reward processing in Parkinson’s patients to decode why Parkinson’s patients lack motivation and have impaired decision-making. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly causing shaky limbs, muscle stiffness, and slow movements. However, some Parkinson’s patients also manifest symptoms such as a lack of motivation or disability in experiencing pleasure, attributed to a lack of dopamine hormone. Commonly known as the ‘feel-good’ hormone, dopamine is generally produced when performing a pleasurable task or receiving a reward. Lack of dopamine in individuals with Par...

A new study has found three brain abnormalities common to insomnia, anxiety and depression -- and one of them is a smaller thalamus in the brain, which is linked to attention and memory problems. The other two are -- a weaker connectivity which hampers communication between brain regions and a reduced area of the cerebral cortex, a form of brain damage also impacting memory and language. Insomnia, or having trouble falling or staying asleep, has been studied to increase the risk of mental disorders, including anxiety and depression. "In addition, some abnormalities are unique to each disorder. For example, the severity of insomnia appears to be more closely related to smaller volumes in the brain areas associated with reward," author Elleke Tissink, from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam...

On World Hand Hygiene Day, observed annually on May 5, Saima Wazed, the Regional Director for the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia, emphasised that hand hygiene is not a luxury but a vital element of safe healthcare. This important day, which started with WHO`s Global Patient Safety Challenge in 2005, aims to promote the practice of hand hygiene, particularly in healthcare settings, to reduce infections associated with medical care. “Hand hygiene plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of health workers, patients, and their families during every healthcare encounter,” Wazed said. According to Wazed, it contributes directly to achieving universal health coverage and supports the global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) agenda. “Additionally, it is a key measure in...