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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.
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.
From unsafe medicines and rare infections to heatwaves and failing antibiotics, 2025 exposed why preparedness can no longer wait
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's immunisation advisory group says counterfeit batches of rabies vaccine Abhayrab have circulated in India since November 2023, potentially leaving bite victims unprotected
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
Many adults dismiss jaw pain, swelling or breathlessness as lifestyle issues. A cardiologist explains why these seemingly
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
What if a single vaccine platform could train the immune system to prevent multiple cancers? A new nanoparti
As temperatures soared and weather turned erratic, India saw longer dengue seasons, heat emergencies and rising mental stress
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
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
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 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 and longevity clinics to GLP-1 drugs, AI hospitals and workplace mental health, 2025 reshaped how India talks about prevention, ageing and wellbeing
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
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
From stress and salt to medicines, age and alcohol, an internal medicine specialist explains why blood pressure myths can quietly harm your health
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
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
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
Electric brushes can cut plaque 10-20 per cent in trials, but timers, pressure sensors and technique matter more than price