Health

Lung cancer is significantly on the rise among non-smokers in India, and air pollution is a major contributing factor, said experts amid the continued poor air quality in the national capital.  After eight days of severe air pollution, Delhi on Thursday saw slightly improved air quality. At 7 am, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 379, placing the city in the “very poor” category. “While traditional risk factors for lung cancer include smoking cigarettes, pipes, or cigars, exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, air pollution, asbestos, and family history are the major reasons for lung cancer in non-smokers. Long-term exposure to particulate matter can trigger mutations in lung cells, leading to uncontrolled cell growth,” said Dr. Ashish Gupta, Chief of Medical Oncology, at Unique...

Patients with heart disease, specifically those with heart failure, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution and poor air quality and can take steps to protect themselves, a new study has said.  Results from the Intermountain Health study, presented at the American Heart Association’s 2024 Scientific Sessions international conference in Chicago, found that two inflammatory markers — CCL27 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 27) and IL-18 (interleukin 18) — were elevated in heart failure patients who were exposed to poor air quality, but did not change in those without heart disease. While previous research has shown that people with some chronic health conditions, like heart failure, coronary disease, asthma, and COPD, struggle during spikes in air pollution, the new study demon...

Even as the national capital continues to battle poor air quality, experts on Wednesday said that the toxic pollutants are raising dry eyes, irritations, and allergies in the eyes of children and adults. On Wednesday morning, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “severe” category with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 427 at 10 am, making it the most polluted city in India, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. “Pollution poses a serious threat to our eyes, particularly to the conjunctiva and the cornea, which is the first point of contact with harmful particles in the air. The fine particulate matter, allergens, and toxins in polluted environments can irritate the ocular surface and make it highly susceptible to infections,” Dr. Rohit Saxena, professor of ophthal...

A dedicated team at AIIMS Bhubaneswar has saved the life of a 24-year-old Army jawan through an advanced Extracorporeal Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (eCPR) procedure. The eCPR procedure revived the young soldier even after his heart had stopped beating for nearly 1.5 hours. The Executive Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr Ashutosh Biswas, praised the team`s exceptional efforts, stating, "AIIMS Bhubaneswar has always been at the forefront of integrating medical science with technology to deliver pioneering healthcare. This is a testament to our dedication to saving lives and advancing medical practices." The patient, in critical condition due to heart failure, was referred to AIIMS Bhubaneswar on October 1. Shortly after his arrival, he suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite 40 minutes of c...

Doctors at a Mumbai hospital gave a new lease of life to a Vasaikar recently after conducting a high-risk surgery. A team led by Dr Anup Taksande, consultant interventional cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mira Road, carried out the pioneering Cardiac Intervention (CHIP) PCI to address complex heart blockages, saving the life of a 69-year-old lady to ensure she gains a new lease of life. Tracilla Alphonso, a resident of Vasai with comorbidities like hypertension experienced pain and discomfort in the chest and around her neck in mid-September. The Mumbaikar got her ECG done from a local hospital, and her ECG revealed Ischemic changes and urgent angiography was performed. An angiography revealed critical calcific left main narrowing and near total occlusion of the Right Coronary Arte...

Amid record year for dengue infections globally, a new study has found that climate change is responsible for 19 per cent of rising dengue burden. Climate change has the potential to spark an additional 40-60 per cent spike by 2050 — and by as much as 150-200 per cent in some areas — according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) in the US. India has also seen a surge in dengue cases this year. The latest findings from researchers at Stanford and Harvard Universities offer the most definitive evidence to date that climate change is a big factor driving a global surge in the mosquito-borne disease. Countries in the Americas alone have recorded almost 12 million cases in 2024 compared to 4.6 million in 2023, and l...

Oral contraceptives do not increase the blood pressure response in women during large muscle exercise (like cycling or running), according to a study on Monday led by researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.  Oral contraceptives or birth control pills are taken by women to prevent pregnancy and reduce acne, menstrual cramps, and the risk of ovarian cysts. Although certain oral contraceptives are known to raise resting blood pressure, the exercise blood pressure response during intense exercises is not currently well understood. In addition, research has been ambiguous on whether hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle influence blood pressure. The researchers, including from the University of Minnesota, US, found that both oral contraceptive use and ge...

For people with diabetes, staying healthy requires more than just blood sugar control. Careful diet choices, especially reducing salt intake, are crucial because excess salt can worsen complications and increase health risks, say healthcare experts. Ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14, top healthcare experts here highlighted the dangers of excessive salt consumption for individuals with diabetes. According to Dr. Praveen Kumar Kulkarni, Senior Consultant Internal Medicine Specialist, KIMS Hospitals, one of the primary concerns with excessive salt consumption for people with diabetes is its impact on blood pressure. “Diabetes already places individuals at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition that exacerbates the long-term complications of...

Over time, several studies have established the correlation between screen time, unhealthy eating habits and the increasing prevalence of diabetes in children. This is a concerning trend, observe health experts. World Diabetes Day is marked on November 14 to raise awareness about the condition and its risk factors, prevention and treatment. While factors like genetics play a role in causing diabetes among children, environmental and situational factors like consuming junk food can also be responsible. When children are engrossed in television shows or video games, their attention is diverted from their eating habits. This distraction often leads to mindless consumption leading to obesity and diabetes in children aged 12-16. Explaining this correlation, Dr. Rohit Barnabas, Endocrinologis...

Diabetes, if not timely controlled and managed, can severely affect the health of your eyes and brain, said experts on Thursday. A new study published in The Lancet revealed that about 212 million people lived with diabetes in India in 2022 -- the highest in the world. Diabetes is a condition with high blood sugar due to a deficiency in the hormone insulin. Uncontrolled blood sugars in patients with diabetes are known to have a wide range of complications involving multiple organ systems. "Uncontrolled diabetes can have a devastating impact on eye health, leading to conditions like diabetic retinopathy," Dr. Ikeda Lal, Senior cornea, Cataract and refractory surgery specialist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Delhi Eye Centre, told IANS. The condition often shows no symptoms in its early ...