Health

Early exposure to pet dogs may lower the risk of developing atopic eczema -- a condition characterised by dry, itchy, and inflamed skin -- among children who are genetically prone to the condition. Eczema is an itchy skin disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental effects, but little is known about how the two interact. The findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk, experts say. The study did not look at the effect of dog exposure in the treatment of existing eczema, and experts caution that introducing a dog may make symptoms worse in some children. “We know that genetic make-up affects a child’s risk of developing eczema and previous studies have shown that owning a pet dog may be...

Vaccination may play a significant role in preventing hearing loss in children and adolescents, according to a study that identified 26 infectious pathogens that can potentially cause hearing loss. Over 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by some degree of hearing loss. While it is often linked to ageing, a lesser known but significant cause is infections contracted during childhood and adolescence, many of which are preventable. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 60 per cent of childhood hearing loss could be prevented through public health measures such as vaccination against rubella and certain forms of meningitis. To probe further, a team of researchers, including from Université de Montréal in Canada conducted an in-depth review of the scientific literature. ...

Cycling has gained recognition both as a sport and a leisure activity. Over the years, it is gradually extending beyond these boundaries and becoming a way of life for many. It is not only the activity’s environment-friendly nature but also its health and fitness benefits that are prompting many to adopt it in their everyday life. The Fit India Sundays on Cycle initiative launched in December 2024 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is a recent example of the growing awareness about health benefits of cycling in the country. Under the campaign, sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged citizens to incorporate cycling in their daily routines, like for commuting to work, for better health and environment. Every year, World Bicycle Day is observed annually on June 3 to draw attention ...

If you are suffering from chronic back pain, a walk in the woods can help you better manage the condition, according to a study on Tuesday. The study, published in The Journal of Pain, showed that time in or around nature can provide people suffering from chronic lower back pain with a degree of escapism that helps them better manage their physical discomfort. In a first-of-its-kind experiment, researchers from the University of Plymouth, UK, asked 10 people experiencing chronic lower back pain, in some cases for almost 40 years, about the role nature plays in any coping strategies they employ to help manage their condition. They found that people who were able to get out in nature said it enabled them to connect with others on a social level, whereas they might otherwise spend the majo...

Amid a fresh wave of Covid-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2, a new study by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras showed that viruses follow seasonal and yearly cycles. The international study, undertaken along with a team of scientists from the universities of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas at Austin, focused on viruses in freshwater lakes. The researchers used cutting-edge Machine Learning (ML) tools to study 465 freshwater lake samples from Madison, Wisconsin, collected over more than 20 years. By sequencing all the DNA from the lakes using a method called metagenomics, the researchers reconstructed 1.3 million virus genomes. The study enabled the researchers to learn how viruses change with the seasons, over decades, and in response to environmental shifts. “Virus...

The effects of smoking on the body are known to all but unfortunately, the habit is hard for many people to end. While the toll it takes on men is known, experts highlight that even women are at the receiving end. It is because smoking not only impacts one’s lungs and heart but also their reproductive health. Smoking can raise one’s risk of pregnancy complications, infertility, and even certain cancers. It is why doctors say it is the need of the hour for women to quit smoking and improve their reproductive health. Quitting smoking can restore hormonal balance, improve ovulation, and increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy. With timely support and awareness, women can take control of their health and safeguard their future. Tobacco use among women is a form of smoking; smokeless tobac...

A team of US researchers has found that the Mediterranean diet may provide symptom relief for people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Irritable bowel syndrome affects an estimated 4-11 per cent of all people, and a majority of patients prefer dietary interventions to medication. The low FODMAP diet leads to symptom improvement in more than half of patients, but is restrictive and hard to follow. Previous investigations from Michigan Medicine researchers in the US into more accessible alternative diets led to a proposed “FODMAP simple,” which attempted to only restrict the food groups in the FODMAP acronym that are most likely to cause symptoms. In the new study published in the journal Neurogastroenterology & Motility, participants were randomised into two groups, one following...

A night owl — or an evening person with a late sleep-wake cycle — could be at a higher risk of cognitive decline with age compared to an early bird or a morning person, a study has found. Chronotype refers to one`s sleep-wake type or times during the day when one naturally tends to be awake and asleep. A `night owl` chronotype is said to have a later sleep-wake cycle, compared to an `early bird` or a `lark`. "Are you an early bird or a night owl? It`s hard to adjust what your biological clock — your so-called chronotype — is, but you can adjust your life to it as best you can," study author Ana Wenzler, from the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, said. Analysing the performance of about 23,800 participants on a cognitive test over a period of 10 years, the study found...

Even though smoking`s detrimental effects on general health are well known, many of us continue to underestimate how much of an impact it has on our oral health, which is often subtle.  Apart from the known risks to your heart and lungs, smoking tobacco can silently and rapidly accelerate a number of crippling dental issues. The repercussions go far beyond appearances, ranging from disfigured teeth and persistent foul breath to severe gum disease, substantial tooth loss, and even increased risks of oral cancer. On World No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31, Dr Shivangi Sharma, consultant- dentistry at Nanavati Max Hospital, Mumbai, and Dr Shobhit Raizada, consultant - maxillofacial prosthodontist and oral implantologist at Manipal Hospital, Goa highlight the frequently overlooked oral heal...

Urgent action is needed to ban flavoured tobacco, nicotine products that are increasingly being disguised as safer alternatives and deliberately targeted at children and adolescents, said the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 30, ahead of World No Tobacco Day.  World No Tobacco Day is observed every year on May 31. The theme this year "Bright products. Dark intentions. Unmasking the Appeal" sheds light on the concealed risks of tobacco products that are made to look attractive through enticing flavours, eye-catching packaging, influencer endorsements on social media, and misleading health claims. The WHO called on governments to urgently ban all flavours in tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, pouches, hookahs, and e-cigarettes, to protect youth from addiction and di...