Health

Blood pressure and kidney disease are among the 17 risk factors that people can address to reduce risk of three health conditions together -- stroke, dementia and late-life depression, according to a new study. The other risk factors identified include fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, diet and physical activity, sleep, purpose in life and stress, among others. Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital, US, said that of these, high blood pressure and severe kidney disease had the biggest impact on the incidence and burden of stroke, dementia, and late-life depression. They added that while these ageing-related conditions can be a debilitating part of growing older, people can lower their risk through behavioural and lifestyle changes. The findings have been published...

A team of researchers on Sunday showed that young females are more likely to experience higher social anxiety due to excessive smartphone use than other genders. The study, presented at the ‘European Psychiatric Association Congress 2025’ in Madrid, Spain, revealed that gender plays a significant role in excessive and problematic (psychological or behavioural dependence) smartphone use, with young females more likely to experience higher social anxiety than other genders. In the study, it was also found that gender was significantly linked to the amount of time spent using smartphones and the fear of being judged negatively by others online. "These results point to serious differences between genders in that females are much more likely to suffer mental ill health at the hands of a smar...

Whether in the middle of an important meeting or stuck in traffic with no washroom in sight, people often hold in their pee longer than they should — without realising the impact it can have on their health. While an occasional delay is harmless, this practice can lead to bladder and kidney complications if followed frequently. “When you resist the urge to urinate, the bladder stretches beyond its natural capacity, weakening the muscles over time. This can result in incomplete emptying, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and even bladder dysfunction,” informs Dr Mangesh Patil, Head Minimal Invasive Urology and Endourology - Renal Sciences, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. “In severe cases, prolonged holding can contribute to urinary incontinence or painful bladde...

Obesity cases are rising at an alarming rate across the country among men and women but there is more to it as can take a toll on the female reproductive system.Every year, World Health Day is observed on April 7 to commemorate the founding of World Health Organization in 1948, and highlight the need to raise awareness about taking care of our health. Now, while it is a known fact that obesity increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and kidney issues, its impact on female reproductive health is often overlooked. Obesity tends to cause hormonal balance, menstrual irregularities, infertility, and pregnancy complications in women which need to be managed without any delay. Experts say women must take preventive measures to maintain an optimum weight and reproductive health. Dr Upasana...

Triglycerides -- the most common type of fat in blood -- could be a potential modifiable risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis in women, according to a study.  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease with a higher prevalence in women. It is characterised by joint inflammation, pain, and swelling, which can lead to joint deformities and functional disabilities in severe cases. Triglycerides, key indicators of lipid metabolism, are linked to inflammation and metabolic disorders, both contributing to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the association between triglyceride levels and the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis in women remains unclear. To probe, a team of researchers from Suining Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China’s Sichuan, a...

Younger people are being increasingly prescribed antibiotics without proper assessment of complication risk, finds a study, warning that this may potentially lead to resistance.  The study, led by epidemiologists at the University of Manchester, UK, showed that doctors are prescribing antibiotics for tens of thousands of patients with infections, with little or no consideration of prognosis and the risk of the infection worsening. The study based on an analysis of 15.7 million patient records, revealed that the most elderly patients in the sample were 31 per cent less likely than the youngest patients to receive an antibiotic for upper respiratory infections. This means “many younger people are being prescribed antibiotics, even though they are often fit enough to recover without them, ...

Jayanta `Jay` Bhattacharya on Tuesday took over as the 18th Director of the US National Institutes of Health, which is the country’s premier medical research agency.  Dr Bhattacharya is one of the senior-most Indian-Americans in the Donald Trump administration. He was nominated to the position in November and was confirmed by the US Senate on March 25. The top Indian-American in this administration is Second Lady Usha Vance. He will "play an instrumental role in shaping the agency’s activities and outlook and ensuring they align with the President’s Make America Healthy Again agenda", the NIH said. "Under Dr Bhattacharya’s leadership, NIH will restore its commitment to gold-standard science," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, said. "I`m excited to work with Dr. ...

People with heart failure are likely to experience a significant decrease in cognitive abilities like attention and problem-solving, according to a study on Thursday. Researchers from the University of Michigan, US examined the cognitive abilities of nearly 30,000 adults over time, comparing those who did and did not develop heart failure. The researchers found heart failure is associated with a significant decrease in cognition at the time of diagnosis. Global cognition and executive functioning also declined more rapidly over the years after heart failure diagnosis. The team found that people with the condition mentally aged the equivalent of 10 years within just seven years of a heart failure diagnosis. “Heart failure is a disease that never goes away and treating it relies heavily...

Children exposed to higher levels of air pollution in early and mid-childhood may have weaker connections between key brain regions that can highly impact their thinking and controlling capacity, according to a study. The findings, published in Environment International, highlight the potential impact of early exposure to air pollution on brain development. The research led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) in Spain showed reduced functional connectivity within and between certain cortical and subcortical brain networks in kids with increased exposure to air pollution. These networks are systems of interconnected brain structures that work together to perform different cognitive functions, such as thinking, perceiving, and controlling movement, said the team. "The...

People with autistic disorders need to be provided with skill training to get gainful employment besides being treated with empathy, feel many domain experts. Globally, the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders is rising, with autism affecting one in 100 children according to WHO, psychotherapist Minu Budhia said. "The focus should be on skill building in a sensory-friendly environment with social communication training. Organisations need to create an inclusive autism-friendly workspace," Budhia said. Conditions such as ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder), intellectual disabilities and learning disorders also impact millions, making neurodiversity far more common than we realise, Budhia said. Individuals on the autism spectrum do not need pity, she said, adding, "...