Health

Leg, ankle and foot swelling is often considered common and dismissed as nothing serious, citing its causes to be sitting too long, standing too long, eating a salty dinner, etc. However, persistent or increasingly serious swelling, which doctors refer to as ‘edema’, may warn of a serious issue such as kidney disease. Dr Manas Ranjan Pradhan, Senior Consultant, Urologist, Manipal Hospital, Bhubaneshwar, explains, “The kidneys are essential to maintain the fluid balance in the body through filtration of waste and excess fluid from the blood. As kidney function falls, the body is unable to expel this excess fluid, and it accumulates in tissues—most commonly in the lower limbs. This causes evident swelling, which is most prominent around the ankles and feet.” Signs to look out for Not all ...

A plastic spoon’s worth of plastic is inside your brain, researchers warned on Tuesday, showing alarming new evidence about microplastic accumulation in human brain tissue. Published in the journal Brain Medicine, the research revealed that human brains contain approximately a spoon`s worth of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), with levels 3-5 times higher in individuals with documented dementia diagnoses. More concerning still, brain tissues showed 7-30 times higher concentrations of MNPs compared to other organs like the liver or kidney. "The dramatic increase in brain microplastic concentrations over just eight years, from 2016 to 2024, is particularly alarming," said Dr Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa`s Department of Psychiatry and lead author of the commentary. "...

Limiting exposure to screens and reducing gaming volume is essential to prevent hearing loss in children, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on World Hearing Day on Monday.  World Hearing Day is observed every year on March 3 to raise awareness about preventing deafness and hearing loss and to advocate for ear and hearing care worldwide. The theme this year is "Changing mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all”. The Ministry noted that kids are the most vulnerable for hearing loss due to increased exposure to screen time, and loud sounds from online games. “WorldHearingDay2025 | Children are more vulnerable to hearing damage caused by loud sounds, gaming, and excessive screen time,” the Ministry said, in a post on social media platform X. ...

Gaining popularity for its sustainability, and impressive health benefits, pea protein has emerged as a nutritional powerhouse. Pea protein is also known for its digestibility, and being a complete plant-based protein source that supports muscle growth, recovery, and overall well-being. To delve deeper into its nutritional profile, comparative benefits, and suggested daily intake, Edwina Raj, head of services, clinical nutrition and dietetics at Aster CMI hospital, Bangalore, and Samriddha Dasgupta Sarkar, clinical nutritionist consulting on Practo, answer the most frequently asked questions about pea protein. What makes pea protein a ‘complete’ protein?  Raj: Pea protein is often regarded as a complete protein due to its impressive profile of essential amino acids. It contains all nine ...

People with obstructive sleep apnoea have an increased risk of suffering from Parkinson`s disease, according to a study. Obstructive sleep apnoea is when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway, causing a person to wake up repeatedly to breathe. This disrupted sleep pattern can lower oxygen levels, affecting the brain. Researchers from the VA Portland Health Care System in Oregon, US looked at rates of Parkinson`s disease five years after a sleep apnoea diagnosis. They reviewed more than 20 years of medical records to identify nearly 1.6 million older adults who had obstructive sleep apnoea. After adjusting for age, sex, and health factors such as smoking, they found among people with sleep apnoea, there were 1.8 more cases of Parkinson`s disease per 1,000 people compared...

A team of researchers has identified small molecules in the blood that may impact early childhood development. The McMaster University team shows how dietary exposures, early life experiences, and gut health can influence a child`s growth and cognitive milestones. The team collaborated with Brazilian scientists to conduct an untargeted metabolomic analysis of blood samples taken from more than 5,000 children between the ages of six months and five years as part of the Brazilian National Survey of Child Nutrition study. They found several metabolites – small molecules that are by-products of human metabolism and microbial fermentation, known as uremic toxins – were inversely associated with developmental outcomes. Metabolites play important roles in human health especially at early stag...

A new study has offered intriguing new insights into the origins of type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as the brain`s function as a critical control centre. The hormone insulin plays a key role in the development of obesity. Up until recently, there have been numerous signs indicating insulin causes neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, especially in the brain. The latest study by the University Hospital of Tubingen, the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), and Helmholtz Munich now offers new insights. Unhealthy body fat distribution and chronic weight gain are linked to the brain`s sensitivity to insulin. What specific functions does insulin perform in the brain, and how does it affect individuals of normal weight? In their study, published in the journal Nature Metabolis...

India needs regulation and awareness on junk food to fight obesity in India, said Luke Coutinho, holistic health coach, while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to fight the condition in the country.  “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is absolutely right in his vision of combating this problem of obesity,” said Coutinho, during his visit to an Anganwadi Centre in New Delhi. “We need to have regulation and awareness about junk food for children and adults, which is contributing towards the obesity epidemic,” Coutinho said. He added that nutrition must begin right from an early age and education about nutrition must be imparted in languages across the country. He also emphasised the need to boost access to local superfoods like millet. “Modi has encouraged us to use local supe...

Mumbai doctors in Haji Ali successfully performed a complex surgical procedure to treat a rare case of Hereditary Elliptocytosis of a three-month-old patient. The case presented a diagnostic challenge that was meticulously navigated by Narayana Health SRCC Children’s Hospital’s team, led by Dr. Aditya Kulkarni, consultant- pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology. Born as the first living child of his parents’ third pregnancy, the patient had been suffering from jaundice since birth, which was first noticed by his parents on the third day of life.  When he was brought to the hospital at 45 days old, he exhibited persistent jaundice and slightly dark-coloured urine. Given his complex history, which included maternal pregnancy-associated diabetes mellitus, a thorough diagnostic approach ...

According to the World Health Organization, 2.5 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight in 2022, including over 890 million adults who were living with obesity.  Obesity gives rise to several health complications, but some people living with the condition also face another challenge – the stigma that is associated with being overweight. Stemming from oversimplified notions of health and personal responsibility, weight stigma is fuelled by the assumption that obesity is merely a consequence of poor lifestyle choices. However, that is far from true. Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon, MetaHeal Surgery Center, and Saifee, Apollo and Namaha Hospitals, Mumbai, explains, “Society often reduces obesity to a simplistic equation: eat less, move ...