Page 31 - Latest Updates on Health with BS

Healthy Diwali gifts: From dry fruits to air purifiers, what's worth it

From organic hampers and sugar-free sweets to wearable health tech, wellness is the new gifting buzzword as experts explain what truly helps and what's just clever marketing

Diwali firecracker safety 101: How to keep kids safe this festive season

As Diwali lights up homes across India, doctors share crucial tips to protect children from firecracker burns, eye injuries, and smoke exposure while keeping the festive sparkle alive

Worried about turning 60? Science says that's when many of us actually peak

A large body of research shows that people's raw intellectual abilities - that is, their capacity to reason, remember and process information quickly, typically starts to decline from the mid-twenties

Coffee-stain effect: Indian scientists detect toxins at trillionth levels

A Bengaluru-based team has discovered a coffee-inspired, affordable way to detect banned dyes and contaminants in food at trillionth levels, offering a breakthrough in low-cost food safety testing

New light-based therapy kills cancer without harming healthy cells

Scientists have developed a new light-based therapy using tin nanoflakes and LED light to kill up to 92% of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, offering hope for safer, home-based treatment

Green crackers: Are they really a cleaner, healthier and safer choice?

Despite claims of lower emissions and noise, green crackers continue to release harmful ultrafine particles and stress the heart and lungs, experts caution.

WHO lauds Maldives for ending mother-to-child transmission of 3 diseases

Maldives becomes the first nation to achieve 'triple elimination' of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B

Study shows Covid-19 in fathers may affect offspring's brain, cause anxiety

Changes in sperm caused by COVID-19 in a mouse could affect the offspring's brain development and cause anxious behaviours, a study has found, suggesting that the viral disease may have long-lasting effects on future generations, even as the results would need to be verified in humans, researchers said. The team from Australia's Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health found that an offspring mouse conceived after a father has been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and developed COVID-19 symptoms have higher levels of anxiety-like behaviours. "We let male mice recover from SARS-CoV-2 infection for a few weeks before they mated with healthy females. We found that the resulting offspring showed more anxious behaviours compared to offspring from uninfected fathers," Elizabeth Kleeman, research officer and first author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications, said. All offsprings from COVID-19-affected fathers were seen to display increased anxiety-like ..

Protein overload: Why eating more isn't always better for your body

Protein powers your body, but experts warn that going beyond your daily needs can strain your kidneys, upset your metabolism, and impact long-term health

'Why did I catch the flu even after taking the vaccine?' Doctor explains

You got the flu shot but still caught the flu? A doctor explains why vaccines don't always offer full protection, yet remain your best defence against severe illness and hospitalisation

Meet BCECNN: The AI that detects breast cancer and explains its logic

Researchers have developed an AI model that not only detects breast cancer with near-perfect accuracy but also visually explains its diagnosis to doctors, improving trust and transparency in screening

WHO flags a silent crisis: Are we running out of antibiotics that work?

The WHO's latest data show bacteria are evolving rapidly, outsmarting modern drugs, with South Asia and West Asia among the worst-hit regions as antibiotic resistance soars

The silent threat of irregular heartbeats: Doctors explain arrhythmia

Stress, caffeine, and long work hours can make your heart race, but doctors explain when it crosses the line into arrhythmia and how it may trigger sudden cardiac arrest

WHO's new TB guidelines calls for food assistance to tackle disease

The World Health Organisation has released new guidelines to tackle tuberculosis and undernutrition, recommending that food assistance be provided to households with TB patients while the undernourished or food insecure be screened for the disease. The shift in the global TB policy is inspired by the pathbreaking Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status (RATIONS) trial by Indian researchers. The RATIONS trial, conducted in Jharkhand and published in The Lancet and The Lancet Global, highlighted the vital role nutrition plays in reducing mortality among people living with active TB, as well as in reducing incidence among household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The ICMR-supported RATIONS trials were led by a research team headed by Dr Anurag Bhargava and Dr Madhavi Bhargava from Kasturba Medical College and Yenepoya Medical College, respectively. The studies showed that weight gain in the first two months was associated with a 60 per cen

WHO redefines TB care with new focus on food and nutritional support

The new guidelines from WHO call for integrating nutrition into TB programmes worldwide, emphasising assessment, and targeted food support for those in need

Global study sounds alarm over rising deaths among young adults worldwide

While global life expectancy is improving, deaths among young people are also rising because of accidents, mental health issues, and preventable causes

What causes hair to go grey, and how stem cells could restore colour

A new study finds that hair turns grey when pigment stem cells get trapped inside follicles instead of moving to the colour-making zone, revealing a potential path to reversal

Psychiatrist vs psychologist: Who does what and whom to approach for help

Confused between a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist, or counselor? Here's a simple guide to understanding their roles and knowing whom to approach for your mental health needs

Don't fear therapy: Experts reveal what really happens in the first session

Therapy isn't as intimidating as it seems; experts say it's one of the smartest tools to cope with modern stress, offering self-discovery, growth, and emotional strength

Kerala declares snakebite envenomation disease of public health importance

The Kerala government has designated snakebite envenomation a disease of "utmost public health importance", a move aimed at enhancing data collection and documentation in response to concerns over fatalities from related incidents. The significant decision was made under Section 28 of the Kerala Public Health Act, 2023, as per the gazette notification issued on Friday. Snakebite envenomation is a life-threatening disease caused by the migration of venomous snakes, it said. "Snakebite envenomation is hereby declared a disease of public health importance throughout the state," said the notification signed by Dr Rajan Khobragade, Additional Chief Secretary (Health). Any disease, whether communicable or non-communicable, can be declared as a disease of public health importance if the government needs to collect more information about it or if any treatment standards are to be followed in its connection, it said. If appropriate treatment is not provided in a timely manner, the bite of