Health

The Union government on Tuesday designated September 23 as Ayurveda Day, marking a significant shift from the earlier practice of observing Ayurveda Day on Dhanteras. The change was notified through a Gazette Notification dated March 23, the Ministry of Ayush said. Calling the decision to change the date as "landmark", the ministry said it will enhance "the global visibility and consistency" of Ayurveda which is India’s 5,000-year-old system of healing rooted in ancient wisdom and sustainable living. Notably, Dhanteras is a festival observed in the Hindu month of Kartik (usually October or November). Its date fluctuates each year, posing logistical challenges for organising national and international observances of Ayurveda day, the Ministry said. In addition, in the coming decade, the...

Increased sedentary behaviour, time spent sitting or lying down was associated with worse cognition and brain shrinkage in areas related to risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study on Tuesday. The study by researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and the University of Pittsburgh aims to discover how lifestyle habits can impact the likelihood of developing the disease.  According to a new research study published in Alzheimer`s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer`s Association. “Reducing your risk for Alzheimer’s disease is not just about working out once a day,” said Marissa Gogniat, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Pitt.  “Minimising the time spent sitting, even if you do exercise daily, reduces the likelihood of developing Alzheime...

Scorching heatwaves fuelled by global warming are increasing the risk of dangerous complications during pregnancies across the world, a report warned on Wednesday. Being exposed to extreme heat while pregnant has previously been linked to a range of problems, including a higher risk of premature birth, stillbirth, birth defects and gestational diabetes. The new report from the US-based research group Climate Central sought to measure how much more pregnant women have been exposed to excessive heat since 2020 -- and to what extent climate change is to blame. In 222 out of the 247 countries and territories studied, "climate change at least doubled the average annual number of pregnancy heat-risk days experienced during the past five years", the report said. The biggest increases were in ...

People who develop type 1 diabetes in adulthood have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death, according to a new research. However, those diagnosed later in life do not have a better prognosis than those diagnosed earlier, according to the study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, which pointed to smoking, poor glucose control and obesity as the main risk factors. Research on adult-onset type 1 diabetes is limited, so the team wanted to investigate the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in this group, particularly for those diagnosed after the age of 40. The study, published in European Heart Journal, identified 10,184 people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in adulthood between 2001 and 2020 and compared them to 509,172 matched people in the c...

Babies who sleep less or have a poor quality of sleep could be at a higher risk of developing and being diagnosed with autism, according to researchers who looked at over 1000 mother-infant pairs in Australia. An increase in night-time sleep by an hour by six months of age was related with fewer autism characteristics at age two and four. Findings, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, suggest that sleep issues in infants could be a potential indicator of autism -- a neurodevelopmental disorder, in which one displays repetitive behaviour and has impaired social skills. Researchers, including those at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, surveyed parents about their baby`s sleep patterns at age six and 12 months. The parents then reported if they ...

Group of orthopaedic experts have raised a serious public health concern, stating the misuse of steroids and unregulated protein powders is severely damaging the hips of young gym-going individuals in their 20s. This warning came during the `Delhi Hip 360` conference held in the national capital, where orthopaedic specialists highlighted the alarming rise in cases of Avascular Necrosis (AVN) and early hip degeneration in youth, conditions traditionally seen in older adults. Dr L Tomar, the organising chairman of the conference, said, "We are observing a significant surge in hip-related complaints among young patients in recent years. Every week in my OPD, I see two to three patients under the age of 30, many in their early 20s, complaining of persistent hip pain." "Investigations often ...

Well-being of nurses is necessary to strengthen health systems, and help in the growth of the nation, said Union Health Minister J P Nadda on International Nurses Day on Monday. International Nurses Day is observed every year on May 12 to offer gratitude for their service and to promote their health and well-being. Lauding nurse`s efforts, Nadda stressed the need to increase investment in nurses and to protect and empower them. “Today, on International Nurses Day, we pay tribute to the compassion, strength, and commitment of our nurses. We recognise that the well-being of nurses is directly linked to the strength of our health systems and national growth,” Nadda said, in a post on social media platform X. “Investing in nurses means investing in healthier societies, productive communitie...

Arthritis occurs in close to 40 to 60 per cent of women across the globe and is also one of the primary causes of disability.  While the effects of arthritis not only on men but also on women are known, it affects mothers differently. Arthritis is not only a physical disease, says Dr Vaibhav Bagaria, director, Orthopaedics at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital in Girgaon but it`s one that tests the core essence of motherhood—a caretaker. Globally and in the country, Dr Ashraf Khan, consultant orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon, Ruby Hall Clinic Wanowrie says statistics show that approximately 1 in every 4 women gets diagnosed with arthritis at some point in their lives, with close to 40&#37 of such people being women under the age of 65—most of whom are mothers and primary ...

The Ministry of Ayush on Sunday announced the launch of its Weekly Yoga Podcast, a new digital initiative produced by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY). The weekly podcast has been launched by Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush on his social media platforms. This podcast aims to bring the timeless wisdom of yoga to every household, blending ancient practices with modern lifestyles. According to the ministry, the inaugural episode of the podcast, sets the tone for a transformative journey into the world of yoga. The podcast series is designed to engage listeners with insightful discussions, guided practices, and expert interviews, making yoga accessible and relatable to people of all ages and backgrounds. The launch comes...

Girls given antibiotics during their first year of life, especially in the first three months, are more likely to enter puberty at an earlier age, according to new research. The research, presented at the first Joint Congress between the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), found that the likelihood of early puberty was also higher among those exposed to a greater variety of antibiotic classes. The findings highlight the importance of using these medicines in infants appropriately and how early-life drug exposure could shape future health outcomes. Early puberty, also known as central precocious puberty (CPP), is a condition characterised by the early onset of secondary sexual development in children. In girls this means be...