Health

At a time when Covid is on the rise again, almost five years after it first shook the world, it is important to find hope in daily medical miracles that are occurring around us. While they are happening around India, there are some that are happening within Mumbai, and definitely offer a ray of hope to all those suffering from illnesses, and even their families, as they navigate lives around them. A 20-year-old boy regains ability to eat, breathe, and swallow after two yearsA team of expert doctors in Mumbai, including Dr Roy Patankar, city-based gastroenterologist, GI, and robotic surgeon at Zen Multi Specialty Hospital, along with Dr Tanveer Majid, onco surgeon, Dr Pramod Kale, chief anaesthetist, and Dr Vikas Nair, anaesthetist, successfully restored a 20-year-old boy’s ability to eat...

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine disorder in women, may have an effect on focused and divided attention, according to a study by researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. The study, published in the open-access journal BioPsychoSocial Medicine, focuses on the impact of PCOS on attention, which forms the precursor for cognitive processing. While focused attention is essential for focusing on relevant information and filtering out irrelevant stimuli, divided attention helps handle and respond to multiple tasks simultaneously. PCOS presents symptoms like irregular or absent period, polycystic ovaries, and increased levels of male hormone (androgen). While the physical impact of the condition is known, its mental effects are comparatively less explored. Thro...

With mounting cases of Covid-19 bringing fresh fears of the pandemic, which claimed millions of lives globally, experts at the Indian Medical Association and Delhi Medical Association on Saturday said that the cases are being constantly monitored and that there is no need to panic. According to the data from the Ministry of Health, India has reported 257 active Covid-19 cases as of May 19. Kerala (69), Maharashtra (44), and Tamil Nadu (34) are recording the highest daily case counts. Delhi recorded 23 new cases. As per the latest reports, two have tested positive for Covid in Gurugram, one each in Faridabad and Noida. "With Covid-19 cases being reported in different parts of India, there is no need to panic. What we recommend is enhanced surveillance and continued public awareness," Dr...

There has been a sharp uptick in the burden of skin cancer, especially in older adults, in the last three decades, according to a study. Besides ageing, researchers at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China attributed the surge to the increase in population growth. The study also cited a disproportionately higher burden of skin cancers in countries with higher sociodemographic index (SDI) levels. “The older population (particularly male individuals and those living in high-SDI countries) is facing a substantial growing burden of skin cancer,” said the team in the paper published in JAMA Dermatology. “The results highlight the urgency for more effective prevention and management strategies targeting high-risk groups,” they added. In the study, researcher...

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have designed a novel semiconductor device-based biosensor that can identify breast cancer cells without the need for complicated or expensive laboratory procedures.  The device ‘TFET’ (Tunnel Field Effect Transistor) is based on TCAD (Technology Computer-Aided Design) simulation results, that can effectively detect breast cancer cells. FETs are commonly used in electronics, but here they have been adapted to function as a sensitive detector of biological materials. Unlike many traditional tests, this biosensor does not need any added chemicals or labels to work. It uses the physical properties of cancer cells to detect them. Cancerous breast tissues, which hold more water and are denser than healthy tissues, interact d...

When we think of thyroid disorders, Dr Piyush Lodha, we often associate them with women. However, there is more to the issues than meet the eye. While the Pune-based endocrinologist says it’s true that women are more likely to be diagnosed, men are not immune. He shares, “Thyroid issues in men are less commonly recognised. They are often misdiagnosed or completely overlooked—sometimes until serious complications arise.” The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism, energy, mood, and overall well-being. Every year, World Thyroid Day is observed on May 25 to particularly raise awareness about thyroid disorders and encourage individuals to take care of their health. The theme for 2025 is “Thyroid Disease and Artificial Intelligen...

Taking birth control pills or combined oral contraceptives containing both oestrogen and progestin may triple the risk of cryptogenic stroke in young women, according to a study. Strokes without a known cause are called cryptogenic. It accounts for up to 40 per cent of all ischaemic strokes in young adults. Despite its prevalence, the contribution of sex-specific risk factors, such as contraceptive use, has remained underexplored. The findings add to a growing body of evidence linking hormonal contraception to vascular risk in women of reproductive age. “Our findings confirm earlier evidence linking oral contraceptives to stroke risk,” said lead author Dr. Mine Sezgin, Department of Neurology, Istanbul University. “What’s particularly notable is that the association remains strong even...

Do you follow the social media trend of taping mouth while sleeping to help breathe from the nose instead of mouth? Beware, it could pose serious asphyxiation risks. Asphyxiation is a condition where oxygen is deficient in the body, often leading to impaired breathing or suffocation. When the nasal passages are blocked, breathing switches from the nose to the mouth. Mouth breathing has been linked to sleep-disordered breathing, which includes conditions ranging from snoring to obstructive sleep apnoea, where breathing stops and starts frequently during sleep. However, a recent trend amplified by social media has some people taping their mouths shut at night to treat sleep-disordered breathing by preventing mouth breathing. Mouth taping has been recommended by many social media influenc...

Acute stress can disrupt the brain`s ability to manage emotions, particularly in people with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder, according to a study. Researchers from the Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia found that stress can temporarily impair executive functions, which are mental processes like working memory, impulse control, and flexibility, crucial for regulating emotions and making decisions under pressure, Xinhua news agency reported. "These executive functions are vital for controlling emotional responses, especially in challenging situations," said Tee-Jay Scott, from the varsity. "Our findings suggest that people with distress-related disorders may be more vulnerable to having these executive functions disrupted ...

At a time when the focus on health is more than ever in a post-Covid world, a new research has revealed a significant drop in anaemia among urban working women—driven by better preventive care, timely screenings, and improved nutrition awareness. The study conducted by Indian digital healthcare company Medibuddy, which analysed health records from 4,397 urban corporate employees, found that 32.67 per cent of women surveyed were anaemic — a significant reduction compared to the national urban average of 56.5 per cent reported by National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019–21) for women aged 15–49. Among male employees, our research shows anaemia prevalence was just 5.63 per cent, and NFHS-5 data also shows the urban average is lower of 25 per cent for men in the same age group. This imp...