Health

India accounts for 53 per cent of the global leprosy cases, said experts here urging the need for legal reforms to help individuals affected by the disease. Leprosy/Hansen’s disease is an infectious disease caused by mycobacterium lapre that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms, legs, and skin areas around the body. “India accounts for 53 per cent of the global leprosy cases. It is important to establish community-based rehabilitation to eliminate discrimination and support the affected individuals,” said Dr. S. Sivasubramaniam, Senior Scientist, at an event held in the national capital. While leprosy is not so contagious, repeated contact with nose and mouth droplets from someone with untreated leprosy can spread. However, due to a lack of awareness, there...

A 26-year-old woman with a hemoglobin level of just 2 (g/dL), battling catastrophic APLA syndrome during her eighth month of pregnancy, has successfully delivered a healthy preterm baby in Mira Road, after a life-saving multidisciplinary intervention. In a remarkable achievement, a team at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mira Road, led by Dr Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale, consultant obstetrics and gynaecologist and laparoscopic surgeon, consisting of nephrologist Dr Puneet Bhuwania, hematologist Dr. Muralidaran C. successfully treated the pregnant woman who arrived in critical condition with a hemoglobin level of 2 (g/dL) and a rare diagnosis of catastrophic antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLA). The woman delivered a healthy preterm baby weighing 1.2 kg following an emergency cesarean section and...

According to World Health Organization (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. Its effects can go beyond the diagnosis, impacting other aspects of health including fertility. Every year, January is observed as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month to facilitate conversations and raise awareness about causes, symptoms, effects and treatment of the condition. Link between cervical cancer and fertility Among patients of child-bearing age, the crucial topic of whether cervical cancer impacts fertility frequently comes up. Dr Shishir N. Shetty, Senior Consultant - Surgical Oncology, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, says, "Depending on the cancer`s stage, the kind of treatment needed and the patient`s general condition, the answer is complicated.”“Although ...

In a heartwarming and inspiring development, one donor in Mumbai has helped give a new lease of life and thus transform the lives of 13 recipients.  The entire process was done by Jupiter Hospital in Thane, which has successfully facilitated organ and tissue donations from the one donor to 13 others who were in need of it.  The initiative not only highlights but serves as reminder for increasing awareness and importance of organ donation as a life-saving mission. The donations included:Organs: Liver, kidneys, pancreas, and heart.Tissues: Corneas, skin, and bones. The hospital attributes this success to the self-motivation of donors and their families, emphasising the significance of expressing one’s wish to donate organs to loved ones.  Among the notable stories is that of a donor who...

Guillain-Barre Syndrome -- a rare nerve disorder -- that has affected 73 people in Pune is a life-threatening condition, said health experts on Saturday. GBS is often followed by a bacterial or viral infection that wreaks havoc on the nerves. In people afflicted with GBS, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, leading to weakness and, sometimes, paralysis, or even death. "The total number of GBS cases increased to 73, comprising 47 and 26 women. Of these, 14 are on ventilator support," a state health department official was quoted as saying to the media. A person A 64-year-old female patient, undergoing treatment at Pimpri`s Post Graduate Institute-Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH), has reportedly succumbed to an acute motor axon...

Former chief scientist of the World Health Organisation Soumya Swaminathan on Friday said that most emerging viral threats are zoonotic infections transmitted from animals to humans. Swaminathan, who is also the former Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research, emphasised the critical role of integrated research, including data from weather, climate, health, and environmental sources, to predict and prevent future outbreaks. She was speaking after the launch of various initiatives undertaken as part of a major research project on water quality assessment of Vembanad Lake and water-borne infectious diseases at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi. She said that most health threats today originate from environmental factors and suggested estab...

Struggling to stay afloat on your New Year’s resolution 2025 to follow healthy habits? It may take about two months to form, and almost a year to establish, according to a study on Friday.  The study, led by researchers from the University of South Australia, challenges previously assumptions that healthy habits can set in 21 days. Contrary to popular belief, healthy habits take far longer than three weeks to lock down, said researcher Dr Ben Singh, from the varsity. “Adopting healthy habits is essential for long-term well-being but forming these habits -- and breaking unhealthy ones -- can be challenging,” Dr Singh said. “At the beginning of the year, many of us are setting goals and making plans for the months ahead -- things like being more active, cutting back on sugar, or making h...

A novel diet that mimics traditional eating habits created by using non-industrialised style food can be key to reducing the risk of several chronic diseases, while also helping lose weight. Industrialised diets -- high in processed foods and low in fibre -- have contributed to a substantial rise in chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The new diet titled "NiMe" (Non-industrialised Microbiome Restore) diet is inspired by the eating habits of non-industrialised societies. It consists of plant-based focus, but is not vegetarian. It is primarily made up of vegetables, legumes, and other whole-plant foods. It also incudes one small serving of animal protein per day (salmon, chicken, or pork) with no dairy, beef, or wheat. The international study led by Irish research...

Adults living with ADHD could face a shortened life expectancy -- men with the condition could live about seven years fewer and women about nine years fewer than those in the general population, a study published in The British Journal of Psychiatry has shown. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has previously been linked to an increased risk of dementia, due to a reduced ability to compensate for age-related cognitive decline. Researchers, led by those at University College London, compared data from over 30,000 adults in the UK diagnosed with ADHD with that of 300,000 individuals without the neurodevelopmental condition. ADHD is marked by short attention spans and hyperactive or impulsive behavior. The results of the study showed that the "apparent reduction in life expect...

A senior official at the Tata Trusts has said efforts were being made to establish an advanced hospital in Maharashtra`s Latur for cancer patients and reduce their challenges for travelling to Mumbai for the treatment. Highlighting the need for district-level cancer hospitals affiliated with government medical colleges, Dr Kailash Sharma, medical director with Tata charitable trust, told PTI over the weekend that timely biopsy reports and affordable cancer treatment are critical for the common people. He noted that travelling to Mumbai for treatment is a significant challenge for many cancer patients. The official said that to address this, they have already established modern cancer hospitals in Varanasi, Punjab, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati. To provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment...