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Kids who receive only breast milk at birth hospital less prone to asthma: Study

28Sep

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Kids who receive only breast milk at birth hospital less prone to asthma: Study

A team of researchers on Friday said that infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalisation at birth were 22 per cent less likely to develop asthma in early childhood. Although the birth hospitalisation lasts only a few days, it sets a critical foundation for establishing breastfeeding, which can influence health outcomes like childhood asthma, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics ‘2024 National Conference and Exhibition’ in Orlando, Florida. According to Laura Placke Ward, co-director for the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the study underscores the importance of hospital practices in supporting exclusive breastfeeding, as these early experiences may impact long-term health. ...

Social media is putting children at risk of sexual abuse, finds research

28Sep

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Social media is putting children at risk of sexual abuse, finds research

Social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat offer benefits for teens but also can be used as a tool by predators online as about 7 per cent of more than 1,000 teens who disclosed sexual abuse reported that social media was used to facilitate the assault, a new study said on Friday. The research, presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition, found that, when accounting only for victims whose perpetrators were not related to them, an even higher percentage – 12 per cent -- reported that social media facilitated sexual assault. The team evaluated children 10 to 18 years of age who disclosed sexual abuse at Rady Children’s Hospital Chadwick Center for Children and Families between 2018 and 2023. They defined “social media facilitated s...

1-3 of 10 people being diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

27Sep

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1-3 of 10 people being diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

One to three of 10 people are being diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is rapidly emerging as a major public health concern closely linked with metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said on Friday. Chandra, who released the revised Operational Guidelines and Training Module of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), here said India has taken the lead in recognising it as a major non-communicable disease (NCD). "NAFLD is rapidly emerging as a major public health concern, closely linked with metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Out of 10, one to three people can have NAFLD which highlights the impact of the disease," Chandra stated. He highlighted that the release of revised ope...

27Sep

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Mumbai teen becomes first in the world to successfully undergo hand transplant

In a historic set of events, a 15-year-old girl from Goregaon in Mumbai, who lost her right hand due to electrocution in 2022, has received a new hand. This teenager has become the youngest recipient in Asia and the first globally to undergo a shoulder-level limb transplant successfully. The hand transplant represents the 12th successful hand transplant conducted at Gleneagles Hospital, a leading transplant facility in Mumbai and Western India. Notably, this is the first time in India that a hand transplant was performed using the organ of a 9-year-old brain-dead donor from Surat, providing this teenager with an incredible gift. The 12-hour surgery was skillfully carried out by Dr. Nilesh G. Satbhai, head of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Gleneagles Hospitals in Parel, ...

Why contraception is still essential after 40 until menopause is confirmed

26Sep

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Why contraception is still essential after 40 until menopause is confirmed

Contraception is often considered a priority during the early reproductive years, but many women overlook its importance after the age of 40. Fertility decreases with age, but pregnancy is still possible, and unplanned pregnancies can carry significant health risks for both mother and child. On World Contraception Day, Dr. Asha Dalal, Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, highlights why women should continue using contraception until they are certain they have reached menopause. Women can get pregnant even in their 40s While the increase in age is linked to decrease in fertility among women, the chances of pregnancy do not vanish entirely. “As women age, their fertility naturally declines due to the depletion of viable eggs and changes in ...

Obesity, smoking key triggers for Alzheimer`s Disease, say experts

26Sep

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Obesity, smoking key triggers for Alzheimer`s Disease, say experts

Obesity and smoking are key triggers for Alzheimer`s Disease, said health experts on Monday, stressing the need to control both, especially in young adults. Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is a serious public health concern. It leads to memory loss, cognitive decline, and inability to perform daily tasks. The experts explained that obesity and smoking are the major risk factors for vascular dementia and can trigger Alzheimer`s owing to the inflammation caused due to smoking. “Smoking damages blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the brain, which can harm brain cells. Obesity is linked to inflammation and insulin resistance, both detrimental to brain health,” Dr. Vikas Mittal, pulmonologist at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, said. Alia Bhatt: I avoid givin...

New studies show positive outcomes for breast cancer patients

25Sep

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New studies show positive outcomes for breast cancer patients

Three new studies on Sunday showed how post-treatment lifestyle choices shape long-term outcomes after diagnosis of breast cancer. The studies, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers in the US, have encouraging implications for patients with breast cancer. Two studies focused on breastfeeding after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. These found it was safe and feasible for young patients carrying specific genetic variations to breastfeed without raising their risk of a cancer recurrence or a cancer in the other breast, and that it was safe and feasible to breastfeed for patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer who conceived after a temporary interruption of endocrine therapy. The third study showed that a telephone-based coaching programme can significan...

Arsenic exposure can result in diabetes, warns study

25Sep

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Arsenic exposure can result in diabetes, warns study

A team of researchers on Monday said that exposure to arsenic and other toxic metals may accelerate the progression toward diabetes. In a study of over 500 Mexican Americans living in southern Texas in the US, researchers from University of Illinois Chicago found that high levels of toxic metals in urine predicted faster increases in blood sugar over subsequent years. The study, published in Diabetes Care, highlights an underappreciated risk factor for diabetes. Environmental exposures have largely been neglected as drivers of the diabetes epidemic. “These data support using environmental policy as a new tool to mitigate the devastating burden of diabetes on individuals and society at large,” said Margaret Weiss, first author of the study. Based on these results, individuals with the...

Study finds 200 chemicals linked to breast cancer in food packaging materials

25Sep

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Study finds 200 chemicals linked to breast cancer in food packaging materials

A team of researchers has identified nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens in food packaging materials, including plastics, paper, and cardboard highlighting widespread exposure despite existing regulation. The findings, published in `Frontiers in Toxicology` on Tuesday, underscore an urgent need for stronger preventative measures to reduce these chemicals in everyday products. "This study is important because it shows that there is a huge opportunity for prevention of human exposure to breast cancer-causing chemicals," said Jane Muncke, Managing Director of the Food Packaging Forum and co-author of the study. "The potential for cancer prevention by reducing hazardous chemicals in your daily life is underexplored and deserves much more attention," she added. Breast cancer is the sec...

Feeding pigeons is harming your respiratory health; doctor explains how

24Sep

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Feeding pigeons is harming your respiratory health; doctor explains how

People heading to parks and other public places to feed pigeons has become a common sight in cities. However, the unintended consequences of this activity on lung health are often overlooked. A recent case study by a Delhi hospital discovered the harms of close contact with pigeon feathers, droppings, etc. Research reveals a startling link between urban wildlife, specifically pigeons, and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Bird Breeder’s Lung or Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is one of the most common forms of ILDs that can affect humans feeding pigeons regularly. In a conversation with mid-day.com, Dr. Lokesh Gutta, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Manipal Hospital, Vijayawada, explains the impact of feeding pigeons on lung health. “Pigeons can carry various germs that are h...