Health

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects millions worldwide. According to the World Health Orgnization, 18 million people worldwide were living with the condition in 2019. February 2 is observed as Rheumatoid Arthritis Awareness Day every year to raise awareness about the condition, its causes, symptoms, treatment options and more. Despite advancements in medical science, several myths about RA persist, often leading to misinformation and delayed treatment. In a conversation with mid-day.com, Dr Vaibhav Bagaria, Director - Orthopaedics, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, busts five common misconceptions about the condition. Myth 1: RA only affects the elderly. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is primarily age-related, RA can affect individuals of a...

Lifestyle choices and workplace culture are critical for the mental well-being and thus, the productivity of the people in India, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday. Tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Survey noted that mental well-being encompasses all our mental-emotional, social, cognitive, and physical capabilities -- construed as the mind`s composite health. It noted that beyond being an economic issue, mental well-being is the ability to navigate life’s challenges and function productively. "Data suggests that mental well-being is not static; indeed, there is a myriad of factors, including workplace culture, hours spent working, and lifestyle, that influence mental well-being," the Survey said. It highlights how lifestyle, work culture...

After an electrifying opening night on January 30 that set the tone for the Jaipur Music Stage, the Jaipur Literature Festival continued its journey of soul-stirring melodies on its second day. Held at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, the three-day long Jaipur Music Stage comes to life each evening as the inspirational sessions of the day concludes. The first evening had two performances celebrating the timeless verses and songs of medieval mystics Amir Khusrau and Kabir Das. The Hazrat Amir Khusrau Project was brought to the stage by acclaimed performer Abhijit Pohankar while the baani of Kabir was musically rendered as a rock-opera by the renowned Dastaan LIVE.  The second evening featured a range of stellar performances, including one by Kamakshi Khanna, who is known for her heartfelt lyrics...

Soaking in a variety of colours and indulging in a lot of junk food and dessert during the festival, makes it important to take care of your skin post-Holi. Even if the colours are mild or harsh on your skin there are a few "Gharelu nuskhe" (home remedies) to keep your skin nourished and healthy. Here are 5 kitchen ingredients that would do wonders to your skin post-Holi by Rachika Singh, Senior Brand Manager, Clovia. Yoghurt: Yoghurt has been the best for the gut and also for the skin. It comes packed with lactic acid that is known to help dissolve dead skin cells and make way for new cells. It acts as a natural exfoliator that helps you get a natural glow by reducing acne and pimples along with blemishes. Apply yoghurt on your face and neck and massage in a circular motion. Let it stay...

People with pockets of fat hidden inside their muscles are at a higher risk of dying or being hospitalised from a heart attack or heart failure, regardless of their body mass index, according to research on Monday.  The new study, published in the European Heart Journal, adds evidence that existing measures, such as body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference, are not adequate to evaluate the risk of heart disease accurately for all people. The study showed that people with higher amounts of fat stored in their muscles were more likely to have damage to the tiny blood vessels that serve the heart (coronary microvascular dysfunction or CMD). They were also more likely to die or be hospitalised for heart disease. People who had high levels of intermuscular fat and evidence of CMD were at...

A count of white blood cells (leukocytes) may be a crucial indicator for determining debilitating outcomes of Covid-19 in postmenopausal women, according to a new international study on Wednesday.  Even months after the initial diagnosis of Covid -- caused by the SARs-CoV-2 virus -- millions of people worldwide suffer from its ongoing effects.  Cognitive impairment and fatigue are the most common lingering symptoms, with cognitive impairment affecting 70 per cent of patients.  Older adults -- especially women -- are the most at risk, said the researchers from the US, and Singapore. “Post-acute sequelae of Covid infection significantly affects quality of life, often leading to severe disability.  This effect is particularly pronounced in women, who already experience higher rates of cog...

Potassium salt may provide a good alternative to sodium, and must be promoted, said experts on Wednesday while welcoming a new recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO) on potassium-enriched salt to combat hypertension and related heart risks.  The WHO, in its recent guideline, suggests using K-salt or potassium chloride instead of regular table salt, rich in sodium. It may reduce noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and chronic kidney disease by lowering blood pressure. It also lowers the risks of other conditions associated with high sodium intake, such as gastric cancer. As per the WHO, every year 80 Lakh people die due to poor diet. Of these, 19 lakh deaths are attributable to high sodium intake. “High sodium concentration is associated ...

Tingling, weakness of hand-grip or foot drop could signal Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), said health experts on Monday, even as the reported cases spike to over a hundred in Pune, Maharashtra.  The Maharashtra health department on Sunday also reported what is suspected to be the first death linked to the GBS outbreak concentrated in Pune. The Union health ministry has sent a team to Pune’s Sinhgad area, where the outbreak is currently concentrated. What is GBS?GBS is a serious illness that often progresses rapidly, making the patient bedridden in a few days. It is associated with damage to nerves causing severe weakness of limbs, trunk, and face. It is often followed by a bacterial or viral infection (such as diarrhoea causing Campylobacter Jejuni bacteria or viral infections like deng...

When young adults begin their professional life, their amount of daily physical activity as well as sleep -- essential for healthy well-being -- falls steeply, according to a study on Tuesday. The study led by scientists at the University of Cambridge found that physical activity increases initially and later drops down significantly. Young adults who increased their physical activity were those doing semi-routine occupations such as bus driving or hairdressing, and routine occupations such as cleaning or waiting, or technical jobs. Conversely, people entering managerial or professional occupations did not engage in physical activity. The largest drop in levels of physical activity was seen among people who work from home --though their sleep levels did not change when they started wor...

A 53-year-old working professional battling dystonia has been successfully treated with advanced lesioning surgery in Mumbai. The surgery promises to offer renewed hope to him and other patients with tremors, dystonia, and Parkinson’s disease and is an alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS). Patients suffering from debilitating conditions like severe tremors, dystonia, and Parkinson`s disease/essential tremor often struggle to perform basic activities like eating, drinking, using a cup or spoon, buttoning clothes, shaving, writing, or using a mobile phone. Sachin Nadkarni, a 53-year-old banker, suffered from severe focal right-hand dystonia- abnormal involuntary movements of his right hand for the past seven years, which significantly impacted his daily activities such as writing, ea...