Health

Every year, World Parkinson’s Disease Day is observed on April 11 around the world to raise awareness about the progressive neurological disorder, that currently has no cure. While a lot more people know about the disease now than before, there is still a lot more research needed to be done to find a cure, apart from medical assistance.  Over the years, there are many people who have been diagnosed with the condition, and among them have been several celebrities including actors, musicians, sportspersons and even a religious head. While there may be many more, they have chosen to keep it private, however, some of these celebrities have chosen to raise awareness, and even advocate for it through their initiatives. Here are five notable figures who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease: Michael...

A team of US researchers has found a new drug delivery system that showed more efficacy and improved the treatment of a rare eye cancer that spreads to liver.  The multi-institutional study led by Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, US, found that percutaneous hepatic perfusion using a melphalan hepatic delivery system may help patients with metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) -- a traditionally hard-to-treat cancer and with usually poor outcomes. Melphalan/Hepatic Delivery System is a drug or medical device combination used for liver-directed treatment of unresectable mUM patients. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of the melphalan hepatic delivery system versus the best alternative care. The results, published in the Annals of Surgical Oncology, showed that the treatment with the...

A team of UK researchers has found evidence on how "immunity debt," caused by extended periods of restrictions during Covid-19 pandemic, is causing changes in global transmission patterns of flu. "Immunity debt" is a phenomenon where populations become more susceptible to infections after extended periods of reduced exposure. While the hypothesis was widely accepted, until now there has been little evidence to back up the theory. The Covid pandemic led many countries around the world to implement strict public health measures like lockdowns, social distancing, mask-wearing, and travel restrictions. While these steps were crucial and effective in controlling the spread of Covid, they led to a dramatic drop in cases of other illnesses like influenza (flu) and respiratory viruses. However...

Suffering from migraine headaches and body pain? Blame your poor oral health, according to a study on Wednesday. The study, which focussed on women, identified specific oral microbes correlated with certain pain conditions. It also suggested a potential relationship between the oral microbiome and the nervous system. The research examined associations between self-reported oral health, the oral microbiome, and various pain presentations in a group of 67 women from New Zealand with and without fibromyalgia -- a chronic condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research, showed that lower oral health was a statistically significant predictor of frequent and chronic migraine. “This i...

Every year, World Parkinson’s Disease Day is observed on April 11 around the globe to raise awareness about the progressive neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide.  Parkinson’s Disease (PD) impacts movement, and while it mostly affects individuals over 60, early-onset cases can occur too but what are the causes, symptoms and the importance of timely detection? CausesParkinson’s Disease is caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called the Substantia Nigra. So, dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps control movement and coordination. When dopamine levels drop, it leads to symptoms that affect the body’s ability to move smoothly and efficiently. Symptoms Dr Upasana Garg, regional technical chief, Apollo Diagnostics Mum...

A baby girl has become the first in the UK to be born from a womb transplant, after her aunt donated her uterus to her mother, a London hospital said Tuesday. Amy was born on February 27 at the Queen Charlotte`s and Chelsea Hospital in London, two years after her mum, Grace Davidson, received a womb transplant from her older sister. "We have been given the greatest gift we could ever have asked for," the new mum said. She added that she hoped "going forward this could become a wonderful reality, and provide an additional option, for women who would otherwise be unable to carry their own child". "The room was full of people who have helped us on the journey to actually having Amy," her father Angus Davidson told the Press Association news agency. "We had been kind of suppressing emotio...

While shift work is a known risk factor for cardiovascular events, a new study on Tuesday showed that eating only during the daytime may prevent the risks. Sleep timing has been a major area of focus, but researchers from Mass General Brigham, US, and the University of Southampton, UK, stated that food timing could be a bigger risk factor when it comes to cardiovascular health. Previous studies have shown that working the night shift is associated with serious health risks, including to the heart, due to circadian misalignment -- the mistiming of our behavioural cycle relative to our internal body clock. The researchers found that cardiovascular risk factors including autonomic nervous system markers, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (which increases the risk of blood clots), and blood...

A large study of 56·1 million pregnancies, published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology on Tuesday, has reinforced the link between maternal diabetes and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers from the Central South University in China conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 studies, involving 56,082,462 mother-child pairs. The results showed that maternal diabetes was associated with increased risks of all types of neurodevelopmental disorders as well as lower intelligence and psychomotor scores. Children exposed to maternal diabetes had an increased risk of any neurodevelopmental disorder including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, specific developmental disorders...

Good food, sleep, and exercise are crucial for better health, said the government on Monday on World Health Day. World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 every year. The theme this year is Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures. “This #WorldHealthDay, let’s commit to small healthy habits for a brighter, stronger future,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shared in a post on social media platform X. In a video posted along the post, the ministry advised people to eat good food, with more fruits and vegetables; to move more, and sit less. “Walk, run, dance, or stretch for 30 minutes a day to stay fit,” the ministry said “Take a good night`s sleep to recharge your body and mind,” it added. The Ministry also suggested people increase their intake of water, to “keep body cool and en...

Women often tend to face various health challenges during pregnancy, ranging from nutritional deficiencies to complications such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. These issues can be prevented or managed with proper planning before pregnancy. While there are many ways that can be done, preconception counselling is one of the methods, and the need of the hour, according to experts, to prepare women for pregnancy by addressing health risks, ensuring optimal nutrition, and detecting any conditions that may affect both the mother and baby. They say not only women but even couples should begin preconception counselling several months, or even a year, prior to actively trying to conceive, to optimise both partners` health and help prepare their bodies for pregnancy. This proactive approa...