Page 6 - Barkha Mathur

Why New Year's resolutions fail, and how to make them actually stick

Most New Year resolutions fail not because of weak willpower, but because they ignore how the brain builds habits. Mental health experts explain what actually works

How daily microplastics exposure may be hardening arteries, mostly in men

From food packaging to drinking water, microplastics are almost impossible to avoid. A new study suggests these particles can lodge in blood vessels and accelerate artery damage linked to heart diseas

Rabies fear in UP: Can milk from infected animal transmit the deadly virus?

A suspected rabies case in a buffalo sent panic through a UP village, with hundreds rushing for vaccines after learning funeral raita was made from its milk. But was the fear justified?

Andhra allows surgeries by Ayurvedic doctors: Why the IMA is pushing back

A new Andhra policy allowing PG Ayurvedic doctors to perform select surgeries has drawn sharp criticism from the IMA, which says surgery requires training standards followed only in modern medicine

Terminal lucidity: Why brain gains a burst of awareness just before death

Sometimes, people with terminal illness suddenly become more alert, aware and communicative shortly before death. Neurologists explain what is known about this phenomenon, called terminal lucidity

Health shocks of the year: What 2025 taught India about being unprepared

From unsafe medicines and rare infections to heatwaves and failing antibiotics, 2025 exposed why preparedness can no longer wait

Why your air fryer may be working against your health goals, doctor warns

Air fryers promise healthier cooking, but a Mumbai-based surgeon says they can undermine health goals if they create a false 'health halo' around junk food instead of balanced meals

Australia warns of fake rabies vaccine, Abhayrab, in India; makers respond

Australia's immunisation advisory group says counterfeit batches of rabies vaccine Abhayrab have circulated in India since November 2023, potentially leaving bite victims unprotected

What we get wrong about menopause: Gynaecologist busts 13 persistent myths

From hot flashes and brain fog to HRT fears, sex life, weight gain and mood changes, a senior gynaecologist explains what menopause really looks like, and what science actually says

From jaw pain to ED: Five overlooked symptoms your heart may be failing

Many adults dismiss jaw pain, swelling or breathlessness as lifestyle issues. A cardiologist explains why these seemingly

Alcohol use behind six in ten mouth cancer cases in India, study finds

A large Indian study finds no safe level of alcohol for mouth cancer risk, especially when combined with smokeless tobacco, with locally brewed drinks posing the highest danger

Scientists edge closer to a universal cancer vaccine using nanoparticles

What if a single vaccine platform could train the immune system to prevent multiple cancers? A new nanoparti

Heat, smog, dengue: How climate change became a health threat in 2025

As temperatures soared and weather turned erratic, India saw longer dengue seasons, heat emergencies and rising mental stress

How 2025 marked a turning point for health science and innovation

From GLP-1 drugs and personalised cancer vaccines to longevity experiments and regenerative therapies, 2025 marked a year when scientific breakthroughs reshaped healthcare and medicine

What really works for ADHD: Pills, therapy and what global evidence shows

The largest-ever review of ADHD treatments finds medicines work best in the short term, CBT helps adults, and long-term answers remain missing, forcing families and doctors to weigh benefits against h

Is stress driving compulsive porn use in India? What a Nimhans study found

A Nimhans study links anxiety, stress to problematic pornography use in Indian adults, highlighting early exposure, compulsive patterns and need to address coping and mental health, not just behaviour

Why does belly fat rise after 30 even when diet and workouts stay same?

Why does belly fat creep up after 30 even if nothing has changed? A California-based gastroenterologist trained at Aiims explains the science behind it and what can help reverse it

From fibremaxxing to GLP-1s: What were India's top health trends in 2025?

From fibremaxxing and longevity clinics to GLP-1 drugs, AI hospitals and workplace mental health, 2025 reshaped how India talks about prevention, ageing and wellbeing

Why men in Delhi breathe more toxic air than women, a five-year study finds

A five-year Delhi study finds men absorb up to 1.4 times more particulate pollution than women, mainly due to outdoor time and larger lung volumes, with walking and commutes sharply raising doses

Mounjaro and the brain: Why cravings fade at first, then return later

A rare brain-recording study found tirzepatide briefly muted activity linked to 'food noise'; months later the signals and intrusive thoughts returned, hinting at limits to its effect