Latest Updates on Health with BS

Beyond heartbreak: How anger, fear and shock can temporarily stun the heart

Intense grief is not the only emotion that can affect the heart -- extreme anger, fear or shock can temporarily weaken the heart's pumping ability, triggering a rare condition known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or "broken heart syndrome", experts said. Usually associated with a sudden surge of stress hormones following an intense emotional or physical event, the condition can be triggered by bereavement, relationship breakdown or extreme anger, highlighting the complex link between emotional stress and cardiovascular health. "A sudden and intense emotional episode, including extreme anger, can trigger a powerful adrenaline response and temporarily affect the heart muscle's ability to contract normally. The trigger need not always be sadness or grief," said Dr Rajiv Narang, Head of the Department of Cardiology at AIIMS, Delhi. The condition can mimic an acute heart attack, with patients experiencing sudden chest pain, breathlessness, sweating or palpitations. An electrocardiogram may

Health Ministry proposes tighter rules for ads promoting prescription drugs

Under the current rules, pharmaceutical manufacturers cannot advertise drugs covered under Schedules H, H1 and X without prior approval from the Central Government

Russia plague scare: Nearly 200 face quarantine after lab worker dies

A suspected plague case in Siberia has prompted quarantine measures after a 28-year-old worker at an anti-plague research institute died. Here's all you need to know

'Endometriosis takes a toll on women's work lives, but harm is preventable'

One in seven women worldwide suffers from endometriosis, a painful condition more common than diabetes that robs years from women's working lives, though much of the damage is avoidable, a medical expert said. Prolonged disease can lead to infertility, as it damages the ovaries and fallopian tubes, while the resulting inflammatory environment hampers implantation, endometriosis surgeon and Indian Centre for Endometriosis (ICE) director Dr Abhishek Mangeshikar told PTI. Endometriosis is now recognised as more than a gynaecological condition, which can affect almost any part of the body and occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, sometimes in unexpected locations and organs, he said. Some of the more complex and frequently misdiagnosed cases involve lesions affecting the intestines, ureters, bladder, chest, diaphragm, nerves and even the abdominal wall, often requiring specialist care and a multidisciplinary team for accurate diagnosis and ...

Helping smokers quit needs clinical support, policy support: Experts

Telling smokers to quit is not enough and greater emphasis needs to be placed on clinical support for tobacco dependence, while public health policies should evolve with emerging scientific evidence, experts said. The experts spoke at the 9th Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction, held virtually from September 28 to 30, where clinicians, researchers and policy experts discussed tobacco dependence, smoking cessation, nicotine use among young people and the role of scientific evidence in shaping tobacco-control policies. Dr Mohsin Wali, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Pacific OneHealth, Delhi, and founding member of Doctors Against Addiction (DaAD), said there was a significant difference between advising a smoker to quit and helping them actually overcome tobacco dependence. "Every smoker should be encouraged and supported to quit, but after more than four decades in clinical practice, I have seen that telling a smoker to quit and helping that person actually quit are two very ...

What your eyes could reveal about your heart health and disease risk

The retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, contains several specialised layers of cells

Heart risk before 35? Nearly 6 in 10 young workers show warning markers

World Heart Day 2026: A report by digital health benefits platform ekincare found that 58.5% of employees under 35 had at least one flagged cardiovascular risk marker in 2026 year-to-date data

India steps up efforts to eliminate hepatitis as public health risk by 2030

India reiterated its commitment to eliminating hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030, with a focus on prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care

WHO calls for stronger ethics oversight of AI-related health research

AI can accelerate health research, but the WHO warns that existing oversight may not fully address emerging risks involving data, bias and accountability

Fake cancer drugs, ICU injections supplied to over 90 Bengaluru hospitals

Authorities are tracing an alleged interstate fake medicine network after a raid in Bidadi uncovered suspected counterfeit and expired drugs worth ₹5 crore

Period pain isn't always normal, your genes may raise endometriosis risk

Period pain is often dismissed as a normal part of menstruation, but severe or persistent pain could be a sign of endometriosis, a chronic condition that can affect fertility and significantly impact a woman's quality of life, according to doctors. Experts said growing evidence suggests that genetic and epigenetic factors may influence a woman's susceptibility to the condition, highlighting the need for greater awareness and earlier diagnosis. "Symptoms of period pain are often dismissed as 'normal' because many of us lack awareness of a condition called endometriosis. It is a painful condition where tissue like the womb lining grows outside the uterus. It affects 1 in 10 women and girls, often causing severe period pain, pelvic pain, and infertility," said Dr Priti Arora Dhamija, senior consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Fertility expert at Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research. In India, most women wait 7-10 years for a diagnosis because often doctors lack simpl

Mounjaro sales soar 502% as India's GLP-1 drug market expands rapidly

Mounjaro has overtaken other GLP-1 medicines to become India's top-selling brand, as demand for newer diabetes and weight-loss treatments rises

Misbranded rabies vaccines seized in Delhi: What was found, why it matters

Delhi authorities seized suspect Abhayrab vials from an unlicensed flat; samples failed potency tests and differed from genuine stock, prompting a regulatory alert

H1N1 flu alert in Delhi: Should you wear masks? What the guidelines say

As H1N1 cases rise in Delhi, the health department has advised masks in crowded places, frequent handwashing and avoiding close contact with sick people

Seasonal flu shot can also protect against H1N1, the virus behind swine flu

An annual flu vaccine includes an H1N1 component and can help lower the risk of illness, hospitalisation and severe complications linked to seasonal influenza

Yoghurt instead of diabetes shots? China's 'smart' probiotic shows promise

The engineered probiotic, named Gift, detects high blood sugar and releases the glucose-lowering hormone GLP-1, with animal tests showing effects comparable to Ozempic