Health

The way one breathes could possibly serve as their "nasal fingerprints", researchers said after their study could identify individuals based solely on their breathing patterns with a nearly 97 per cent accuracy. "You would think that breathing has been measured and analysed in every way. Yet we stumbled upon a completely new way to look at respiration. We consider this as a brain readout," said author Noam Sobel of Israel`s Weizmann Institute of Science. The findings of the study, published in the journal Current Biology, also showed that one`s "respiratory fingerprints" correlated with their body mass index, sleep-wake cycle, levels of depression and anxiety, and even behavioral traits. Therefore, breathing patterns could offer a window into their physical and mental health, the author...

Blood transfusion is the cornerstone of effective healthcare and emergency responses, said Saima Wazed, Regional Director for WHO South-East Asia on Friday, ahead of the World Blood Donor Day. World Blood Donor Day is marked annually on June 14. This year the theme is “Give blood, give hope: together we save lives.” The day honours the silent heroes among us -- voluntary, unpaid blood donors -- whose simple yet powerful act of donating their blood saves countless lives each day. Wazed noted that to build resilient national health systems it is essential to have the critical and continuous need for safe blood and blood products. Yet many people, especially in low- and middle-income countries, do not have access to safe and timely transfusion services. “Blood transfusion is a cornerston...

A team of US scientists has discovered a specific group of brain cells that could explain why people with memory problems often overeat. The team showed that people who also keep forgetting about recent meals can trigger excessive hunger and can lead to disordered eating. Researchers from the University of Southern California showed that the group of brain cells can create memories of meals, encoding not just what food was eaten but when it was eaten. During eating, neurons in the ventral hippocampus region of the brain become active and form what the team of researchers call “meal engrams” -- specialised memory traces that store information about the experience of food consumption. While scientists have long studied engrams for their role in storing memories and other experiences in t...

Most of us have grown up disliking bitter gourd, popular known as karela, but come monsoon season, Mumbai health experts say it is important to consume the vegetable we dislike so much for more than one reason. Jinal Patel, dietician, Zynova Shalby Hospital, explains, "During the monsoon, it`s essential to eat light, easily digestible vegetables. Try bitter gourd (karela) and bottle gourd (lauki) as they aid in digestion and immunity. Tinda (apple gourd), turai (ridge gourd), and parwal (pointed gourd) are water-rich and easy on the stomach. Always wash vegetables thoroughly and cook them well to avoid infections common during those rainy days." While it is difficult to include them in your every day meals, the health experts say there is more than one way to include it in common dishes....

With Covid-19 taking over our lives in the last five years, it has changed our perspective on life. While some have promised to live life to the fullest, others have become a little cautious about htheir health.  While it is difficult for sick people and their families to find hope, there are others out there battling the odds to live life with the help of doctors in the city. As many people visit Mumbai to get treated for their diseases, these inspiring stories of resilience are not only inspiring but also about the commendable medical expertise in India. 42-year-old man gets second chance at life after rare interstate intestine transplantEarlier this week, doctors at Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital gave a new lease of life to a 42-year-old man from rural Maharashtra by successfu...

Suffering from metabolic syndrome? A handful of almonds daily may help improve your health, according to a study. People with metabolic syndrome have at least three of the conditions like abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of "good" cholesterol, and high levels of triglycerides. Scientists at Oregon State University (OSU), US, showed that eating 2 ounces of almonds -- about 45 nuts -- daily led to signs of better cardiometabolic and gut health. The research, published in the journal Nutrition Research, is important because almost 40 per cent of the US adult population is estimated to have metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that significantly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Metabolic syndrome has also...

India`s population is estimated to reach 1.46 billion in 2025, continuing to be the highest in the world, according to a new UN demographic report, which also revealed the country`s total fertility rate has fallen below the replacement rate. UNFPA`s 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) Report, The Real Fertility Crisis, calls for a shift from panic over falling fertility to addressing unmet reproductive goals. Millions of people are not able to realise their real fertility goals, it asserts. This is the real crisis, not underpopulation or overpopulation, and the answer lies in greater reproductive agency - a person`s ability to make free and informed 150 per cent choices about sex, contraception and starting a family, it says. The report also reveals key shifts in population compositi...

Bacteria in the mouth and gut may play a significant role in the progression of cognitive decline in Parkinson`s disease, according to a study. Specific changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with the shift from mild memory issues to dementia, a common and distressing symptom of the disease. While Parkinson`s is currently very difficult to diagnose in its early stages, these changes in the microbiome could potentially act as early warning signs of Parkinson`s, said the researchers from King`s College London. It may help doctors detect and treat the disease before symptoms become severe. "The human gut and oral bacterial communities are increasingly linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Disruptions in the gut-brain axis could trigger inflammation and immune responses that co...

Mood disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, or mania after the age of 40 may not be just mental health conditions but can precede motor or cognitive symptoms in various neurodegenerative diseases, according to a study on Monday. Growing evidence suggests these late-life mood disorders (LLMDs) could be early warning signs of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, even when they appear years before memory loss or other cognitive symptoms become apparent, said researchers from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), Japan. The study, published in Alzheimer`s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer`s Association explored the presence of abnormal tau protein -- a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases -- in the brains of 52 participants with LLM...

As Mumbai`s schools begin classes, children and parents are going to get busy with their academics. While it won`t take long for that to pick up pace in the coming months, the monsoon season looms large and so does the many sicknesses that come with it. With monsoon and sickness going hand-in-hand, people often get sick. While adults can manage by themselves, children more often than not get affected because of lower immunity. Couple that with them enduring a busy schedule that not only involves going to school and studying, but also indulging in physical activities like playing sports, nutrition plays an important role in their lives. At such times, Mumbai`s health experts say the need for parents to take care of their child`s health is of the utmost importance. The easiest way to do th...