Saturday, April 04, 2026 | 09:06 PM ISTहिंदी में पढें
Business Standard
Notification Icon
userprofile IconSearch
Barkha Mathur

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.

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.

Email
Twitter
LinkedIn

Page 7 - Barkha Mathur/undefined

Why staying single for long in your late 20s may affect mental wellbeing

Singlehood is increasingly normalised, yet new research tracking young adults in Germany and the UK finds prolonged singlehood may affect happiness and mental well-being

Why staying single for long in your late 20s may affect mental wellbeing
Updated On : 27 Jan 2026 | 12:57 PM IST

Urological health across ages: What to watch for in your 30s, 40s, and beyond

From frequent urination to kidney stones and prostate issues, urological problems change as we age as experts explain age-wise warning signs, lifestyle risks and why early attention matters

Urological health across ages: What to watch for in your 30s, 40s, and beyond
Updated On : 27 Jan 2026 | 11:34 AM IST

Global health risks from plastics may double by 2040, warns Lancet study

From climate change to cancer risk, plastics may be silently harming human health across their entire lifecycle as a Lancet study warns the damage could double by 2040 without urgent action

Global health risks from plastics may double by 2040, warns Lancet study
Updated On : 27 Jan 2026 | 10:45 AM IST

After 65, do routine health screenings still truly make medical sense?

Experts explain which health screenings still matter after 65, which are overused, and how personalised decisions can be more useful

After 65, do routine health screenings still truly make medical sense?
Updated On : 27 Jan 2026 | 9:38 AM IST

Gene therapy for weight loss: Can one shot replace lifelong GLP-1 drugs?

US biotech firm Fractyl Health is developing Rejuva, an experimental gene therapy that aims to trigger long-term weight loss by programming the pancreas to produce more GLP-1 hormone

Gene therapy for weight loss: Can one shot replace lifelong GLP-1 drugs?
Updated On : 26 Jan 2026 | 1:18 PM IST

Falls after 65 can be deadlier than heart attacks, doctors warn: Here's why

Doctors warn that falls after 65 can trigger fractures, immobility, and fear, accelerating long-term disability and dependence, and leaving older adults struggling to regain confidence and function

Falls after 65 can be deadlier than heart attacks, doctors warn: Here's why
Updated On : 26 Jan 2026 | 12:40 PM IST

Ageing and insomnia: Why older adults sleep worse and what actually helps

From early awakenings to lighter sleep, ageing changes how we rest. A neurologist explains when disturbed sleep is normal, when it points to disease, and what to do to rest better

Ageing and insomnia: Why older adults sleep worse and what actually helps
Updated On : 22 Jan 2026 | 2:47 PM IST

Why gallstones, hernias and appendicitis are filling operation theatres today

Gallstones, hernias and appendicitis are turning up earlier than before. Doctors explain how sedentary lives, processed diets and weight gain are driving more surgical cases

Why gallstones, hernias and appendicitis are filling operation theatres today
Updated On : 22 Jan 2026 | 2:45 PM IST

Budget 2026: Doctors, hospitals lay out India's healthcare spending wishlist

As Union Budget 2026 approaches, healthcare leaders spell out priorities to curb preventable disease, cut out-of-pocket costs, and strengthen India's health system at scale

Budget 2026: Doctors, hospitals lay out India's healthcare spending wishlist
Updated On : 22 Jan 2026 | 10:31 AM IST

Confused about weight loss? Endocrinologist explains where to start right

Endocrinologist explains how to build a realistic weight-loss plan that can help you lose fat without regaining it

Confused about weight loss? Endocrinologist explains where to start right
Updated On : 21 Jan 2026 | 4:33 PM IST

How many eggs a day is safe? Expert answers cholesterol, belly fat questions

Eggs are praised as a protein powerhouse but blamed for cholesterol. A gastroenterologist answers common questions people still ask about weight loss, liver health, and daily egg intake

How many eggs a day is safe? Expert answers cholesterol, belly fat questions
Updated On : 21 Jan 2026 | 2:12 PM IST

Do we really have microplastics in our organs, as some studies suggest?

From brains to blood, microplastics have been reported across the human body; now researchers warn that weak methods and contamination may be distorting the evidence and fuelling unnecessary fear

Do we really have microplastics in our organs, as some studies suggest?
Updated On : 20 Jan 2026 | 12:21 PM IST

How altered bile acids may influence chronic kidney disease progression

Scientists find how changes in bile acids linked to gut bacteria may signal advancing chronic kidney disease, pointing to a possible link between gut metabolism and kidney decline

How altered bile acids may influence chronic kidney disease progression
Updated On : 20 Jan 2026 | 12:13 PM IST

How stress changes your face: What's 'cortisol face' and how to reverse it

When stress lingers, cortisol nudges the body to hold on to salt and water, redistributes fat, and stirs up inflammation

How stress changes your face: What's 'cortisol face' and how to reverse it
Updated On : 20 Jan 2026 | 8:54 AM IST

Why your takeaway coffee cup could be hidden source of microplastics intake

A new study warns that hot takeaway coffees served in plastic cups may release thousands of microplastic fragments, raising fresh questions about everyday plastic exposure

Why your takeaway coffee cup could be hidden source of microplastics intake
Updated On : 20 Jan 2026 | 8:49 AM IST

Your shoes may be damaging your knees and back more than you realise daily

From barefoot trends to cushioned trainers, doctor explains how footwear affects your knees, hips and spine, and what kind of shoes actually reduce joint wear over time

Your shoes may be damaging your knees and back more than you realise daily
Updated On : 19 Jan 2026 | 1:13 PM IST

Budget 2026: With under 2% of GDP, India's health spending lags global norms

India's public health spending remains below 2% of GDP, far lower than global standards and middle-income peers. As disease burdens rise, experts ask if underfunding health is now an economic risk

Budget 2026: With under 2% of GDP, India's health spending lags global norms
Updated On : 19 Jan 2026 | 12:57 PM IST

India's diabetes burden hits 90 million as lifestyle shifts reshape health

India now has 90 million adults living with diabetes, second only to China. The IDF Diabetes Atlas warns the burden will rise sharply with ageing, urbanisation and lifestyle change

India's diabetes burden hits 90 million as lifestyle shifts reshape health
Updated On : 19 Jan 2026 | 12:36 PM IST

Want to catch up on sleep over the weekend? Science says it may not work

Extra weekend sleep can ease fatigue and briefly sharpen alertness, but it cannot reverse deeper health effects of chronic sleep deprivation or fix long-term sleep debt, says a doctor

Want to catch up on sleep over the weekend? Science says it may not work
Updated On : 16 Jan 2026 | 10:33 AM IST

Teens who sleep more on weekends show lower depression symptoms: Study

A US study suggests teens and young adults who sleep longer on weekends to make up for weekday sleep loss may have

Teens who sleep more on weekends show lower depression symptoms: Study
Updated On : 16 Jan 2026 | 11:10 AM IST