Barkha Mathur

Barkha Mathur

Barkha Mathur leads health coverage for the Business Standard website. She reports on the intersection of medicine, policy, and health science, with a focus on stories that impact readers’ physical and mental well-being. When not tracking the latest developments in health, she’s often reading medical research or listening to hip-hop.

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Barkha Mathur

What we get wrong about blood pressure: Doctors bust 13 persistent myths

From stress and salt to medicines, age and alcohol, an internal medicine specialist explains why blood pressure myths can quietly harm your health

Updated On: 19 Dec 2025 | 11:46 AM IST

Do you feel time speeding up after 35? Five habits to slow ageing down

After 35, your sleep, heart, muscles and metabolism start shifting subtly. An NHS doctor shares five simple daily habits, from morning light to strength work, that can help you age better

Updated On: 18 Dec 2025 | 1:20 PM IST

Sudden deaths under 45: Why 'healthy-looking' can be dangerously misleading

Sudden heart deaths in 'fit-looking' adults under 45 are often linked to silent coronary artery disease. An Apollo doctor explains why it hides, what raises risk, and what checks help

Updated On: 18 Dec 2025 | 1:18 PM IST

What is an 'alcoholic personality'? Why Trump backed Susie Wiles' remark

Trump endorsed Susie Wiles' "alcoholic personality" label despite being a non-drinker. Psychiatrists explain why it is not a diagnosis, and what traits the phrase points to

Updated On: 17 Dec 2025 | 3:55 PM IST

Do electric toothbrushes really beat manual ones for plaque and gum health?

Electric brushes can cut plaque 10-20 per cent in trials, but timers, pressure sensors and technique matter more than price

Updated On: 17 Dec 2025 | 3:42 PM IST

Why do some people feel an urge to eat chalk, ice, or excessive spices?

From chalk and clay to compulsive ice chewing, pica is a recognised condition often linked to iron deficiency and other health issues. A doctor explains why these cravings happen and when to seek help

Updated On: 17 Dec 2025 | 2:09 PM IST

Can sleep and social support make your brain look eight years younger?

A University of Florida study using MRI and machine learning suggests sleep, optimism, stress control and social support are linked to younger-looking brains, by up to eight years in some participants

Updated On: 16 Dec 2025 | 3:21 PM IST

Can you recognise a face but forget the name? A neurologist explains why

Ever recognised a face instantly but blanked on the name? A neurologist explains why names slip first, how stress and sleep affect recall, and when forgetting may signal trouble

Updated On: 16 Dec 2025 | 3:15 PM IST

Why do ex-smokers return to cigarettes even years after quitting?

Doctors explain why relapse can happen even years after quitting, as stress, sensory triggers and long-stored brain "reward" memories can reactivate cravings and old habit loops

Updated On: 09 Dec 2025 | 10:04 AM IST

Can two kiwis a day thicken skin and speed renewal, as this study shows?

A new study finds daily vitamin C-rich kiwifruit raised skin vitamin C levels, increased collagen-linked skin thickness, and sped up epidermal cell renewal over eight weeks

Updated On: 09 Dec 2025 | 9:51 AM IST

Hair-loss breakthrough: A trial drug delivered a 539% boost in hair-growth

Cosmo Pharmaceuticals says two Phase 3 trials of topical clascoterone showed statistically significant hair regrowth with side effects similar to placebo; detailed results are still awaited

Updated On: 08 Dec 2025 | 2:21 PM IST

Crossed 40? Doctor says stop these 5 habits now to slow ageing from within

After 40, small habits start showing up in your labs, sleep and waistline; a longevity doctor explains five common mistakes to quit now to protect muscle, metabolism and long-term health

Updated On: 08 Dec 2025 | 11:27 AM IST

PET bottle nanoplastics may harm gut bacteria and human cells: New study

Lab-made PET bottle nanoplastics were found to weaken probiotic bacteria and trigger stress and inflammation markers in human and blood cells, raising fresh safety questions

Updated On: 05 Dec 2025 | 12:10 PM IST

From hugs to food to tattoos: Debunking 16 dangerous myths about HIV

From casual contact and mosquito bites to tattoos, pregnancy, PrEP, and treatment, specialists debunk the misconceptions that fuel stigma and delay diagnosis

Updated On: 05 Dec 2025 | 12:06 PM IST

Can Ozempic trigger depression or suicidal thoughts? Australia weighs in

Australia has issued a safety alert on GLP-1 drugs after reviewing reports of depression and suicidal thoughts; while there is no proven causal link, regulators want users to stay alert

Updated On: 05 Dec 2025 | 11:16 AM IST

Delhi air pollution toll: Over 200,000 emergency visits in past 3 years

Parliament data and an ICMR multi-city study show pollution spikes tracking a surge in Delhi breathing emergencies, with over 200,000 ER visits since 2022 and admissions rising

Updated On: 04 Dec 2025 | 3:42 PM IST

Are you the eldest daughter? A psychologist explains why it feels heavy

As 'eldest daughter syndrome' trends online, psychologists unpack the real dynamics behind it, from early caregiving and perfectionism to burnout, guilt and people-pleasing

Updated On: 04 Dec 2025 | 2:06 PM IST

Why we keep smoking despite knowing the damage it does to our health

Smoking is not just a bad habit, doctors say; it is nicotine, stress relief, routine and brain conditioning working together, which is why quitting can feel far harder than it looks

Updated On: 04 Dec 2025 | 11:49 AM IST

Your brain resets at ages 9, 32, 66 and 83: Study maps life's neural shifts

A new Nature Communications study finds brain ageing isn't linear, with key network 'turning points' at 9, 32, 66 and 83 that mark distinct phases from childhood to late life

Updated On: 03 Dec 2025 | 3:21 PM IST

How heavy metals in polluted air trigger fatigue, headaches and brain fog

Beyond PM2.5 and PM10, polluted air carries neurotoxic metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium that inflame the brain, disrupt energy pathways and trigger fatigue and fogginess on high-AQI days

Updated On: 02 Dec 2025 | 4:10 PM IST