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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

Can HIV be cured? New research shows long-term remission may be closer

Early trial results show that combining antibodies and T-cells helped some people living with HIV maintain viral control for months without daily ART, raising cautious hope for long-term remission

How soon HIV symptoms appear, and why most people don't notice them

Health agencies warn that HIV begins replicating within hours of exposure and is most infectious in the first weeks, even when there are no symptoms or only mild, flu-like signs

World AIDS Day 2025: Theme, history, significance, facts you need to know

As the world marks World AIDS Day 2025, the focus is on transforming the HIV response through stronger funding, inclusive care and renewed commitment to ending AIDS by 2030

Birth control in HIV: What women can safely use and what doctors warn about

HIV-positive women have several safe birth-control options, but viral load, ART interactions, treatment stability still guide what doctors recommend for reliable contraception and partner protection

World AIDS Day 2025: India halves new HIV cases, AIDS deaths drop over 80%

India's latest HIV report shows sharp declines in new infections, AIDS-related deaths and mother-to-child transmission, reflecting expanding testing, treatment and stronger public health systems

Sonali Bendre says autophagy helped her cancer recovery. Doctors disagree

Sonali Bendre credited autophagy for aiding her recovery from metastatic cancer, but doctors warn the cell-recycling process triggered by fasting is not a treatment and cannot kill cancer cells

What alcohol does to your body in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond

As metabolism slows and disease risks rise with age, doctors explain how the same drink affects your brain, hormones, liver and long-term health very differently across decades

ChatGPT may soon show ads as OpenAI tests monetisation model: Reports

A recent leak from ChatGPT's Android beta app, along with public signals from OpenAI's Sam Altman, points to the company preparing for an advertising-supported version of its AI assistant

Screens, carrots and cataracts: Experts bust common myths about eye health

From screen distance and spectacle numbers to cataracts, eye drops, and make-up, specialists bust the misconceptions that harm vision and delay treatment

Spicy food may burn your mouth, but your brain still craves it. Here's why

Spicy food sets your mouth on fire and speeds up your heartbeat, yet people worldwide love it. A gastroenterologist explains why discomfort turns into pleasure, reward and craving

Insulin without needles: Can a simple skin cream replace injections?

A breakthrough Nature study shows that a specially engineered polymer can carry insulin through the skin, lowering blood sugar in animals and raising hopes of a painless, needle-free diabetes treatmen

Good old kalonji may help control fat and cholesterol, says new study

A new clinical trial shows that kalonji, long used in Indian kitchens, may help lower cholesterol and slow fat formation, offering a natural metabolic boost alongside regular diet and lifestyle habits

Is excessive chewing hurting your spine and posture? Orthopaedists explain

From jaw fatigue to neck stiffness, orthopaedists explain how continuous chewing places stress on the jaw-neck chain and may affect long-term spinal comfort and alignment

Are you the eldest child? Here's what it does to your mental health

Why do so many first-borns feel both pride and pressure? Psychologists explain how family dynamics, gender expectations and cultural norms shape what people now call the "eldest child syndrome"

How starting exercise in your 40s can reduce dementia risk by nearly half

A major long-term study tracking adults for 37 yrs finds that regular physical activity in your 40s, 50s and beyond can cut dementia risk by up to 45 per cent, even in those with genetic vulnerability

Watching a lot of reels, short videos? It hurts your brain, says study

Heavy use of Reels, Shorts and TikTok may impair attention, increase stress and anxiety, and disrupt sleep, according to a new review of 98,299 people examining the cognitive toll of short-form videos

Five skincare red flags dermatologists say shoppers routinely overlook

From viral hype to '100% results' claims, dermatologists outline five subtle yet crucial red flags that often mislead shoppers into buying products that overpromise and underdeliver

Even two cigarettes a day raise heart failure risk by 50%, study finds

Even smoking two cigarettes a day can stiffen blood vessels, raise clotting, sharply increase the risk of heart failure and early death, new global research warns about the dangers of 'light' smoking

Why your itch gets worse when you scratch it, and what actually helps

Dermatologists explain why scratching offers instant relief but triggers a deeper itch-scratch cycle that damages your skin, and the safer science-backed ways to calm an itch without making it worse