Page 5 - Latest Updates on Health with BS

GST changes signal shift toward affordable cancer care: Aiims researchers

Recent changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework -- simplified tax structure, removal of tax on drugs and medical equipment and increased taxation on tobacco products -- mark an important policy shift towards making cancer care more affordable and accessible, AIIMS researchers have said. In a commentary published in Frontier, Oncologist Dr Abhishek Shankar and Scientist Dr Vaibhav Sahni from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, Delhi, noted that the reforms acknowledge the financial toxicity faced by cancer patients and attempt to address long-standing gaps in treatment affordability. The researchers mentioned that the GST council, in its 56th meeting, recommended the total exemption of 33 lifesaving drugs, including those used in cancer care, from GST altogether (erstwhile 12 per cent to now zero and three critical drugs for rare diseases and cancer from 5 per cent earlier to zero). The council has also recommende

Expert-backed exercises to improve balance and help prevent falls

Physiotherapists share simple, effective exercises that build strength, improve stability and lower the risk of falls across age groups

When back pain turns serious: Doctors explain ankylosing spondylitis

Affecting mostly young adults, ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune condition that requires lifelong management and early medical intervention

Regular strength training may help slow brain ageing, says study

Strength training may offer more than physical gains, as researchers report measurable reductions in biological brain age

Anti-vaccine sentiment threatens pandemic preparedness: Health official

Richard Hatchett, who leads the Cepi, a partnership of governments and philanthropies that was among the first to fund Covid-19 vaccines, said epidemics and pandemics remained a key global threat

Weight loss, detox, autophagy: Doctor busts 15 common fasting myths

From weight loss and detox claims to blood sugar control and autophagy hype, an internal medicine expert explains when fasting helps, and when it quietly harms

Brain changes during menopause may affect mental health, finds new study

Cambridge researchers report reduced grey matter and increased anxiety in post-menopausal women, highlighting the need for better mental health support

Thailand halves default sugar in cafes under a nationwide health push

Thailand has redefined 'normal sweetness' in cafe drinks, cutting default sugar by 50% in a nationwide health push aimed at reducing obesity, diabetes and excess sugar intake

Immune cells 'betray' body to aid breast cancer spread, finds new study

The review highlights how changes in immune cells inside tumours may speed up breast cancer spread and could shape future treatment strategies

Doctors flag risks of relying on HbA1c for diabetes diagnosis in India

Doctors warn that heavy reliance on HbA1c for diabetes diagnosis in India may lead to under- or over-diagnosis due to high anaemia and kidney disease burden, urging multiparametric testing

ICMR mandates clinical trials to focus on Indian demography, lifestyle

The new ICMR directive pushes for Indian-centric medical research, recognising genetic, dietary and environmental differences in disease patterns

Valentine's Day after heartbreak: Why grief resurfaces unexpectedly

Single after a breakup? Valentine's Day can magnify grief, longing, and self-doubt, and a psychotherapist explains why that ache is normal and how to move through it

Fear of ageing may actually make women age biologically faster: Study

How women feel about growing older may be connected to how their bodies age at a molecular level, suggests a new NYU study

Can exercise replace antidepressants, therapy? New study suggests yes

From running to yoga, exercise is found to significantly reduce depression and anxiety across all ages, according to a major review of over 1,000 trials

Why Valentine's Day brings anxiety, not romance, for many couples

Behind the roses and candlelight, Valentine's Day can quietly magnify unspoken expectations, comparison and emotional pressure within relationships

From sleep loss to screens: Daily habits hurting health more than we realise

Modern life has made unhealthy routines feel ordinary, but doctors warn it is these everyday choices that quietly shape long-term health outcomes

Ozempic may slow arthritis progression beyond weight loss, study finds

A new study finds semaglutide drugs like Ozempic may slow osteoarthritis by directly improving cartilage health, with benefits seen even when weight loss is not the driver

Improved immunisation key to fight variant poliovirus strains: Expert

Oral polio vaccines (OPVs) are safe, effective and central to global eradication efforts, but there is a need for improved immunisation to combat the emergence of vaccine-derived poliovirus strains, a US-based public health expert said. Referring to India's current status, Gates Foundation Deputy Director Dr Ananda Sankar Bandyopadhyay said paralytic outbreaks from circulating strains of variant polioviruses have not been detected in recent years, an indication that the country has been able to "maintain high routine immunisation coverage". Notably, India was certified polio-free in March 2014. "Oral polio vaccines (OPVs) are safe, effective, affordable, and easy to deliver. Use of OPV through routine immunisation and mass vaccination campaigns has eliminated poliovirus transmission and prevented paralysis in children across the world, with 99.9 per cent of the world polio-free," Bandyopadhyay told PTI from Seattle, USA. He said variant strains primarily emerge in areas with weak .

People with obesity more likely to be hospitalised or die from infections

A major Lancet study finds adults with obesity are far more likely to be hospitalised or die from infections, linking nearly one in 10 infection deaths worldwide to excess weight

Why regular deworming is vital even for children who seem healthy

National Deworming Day: Many children with intestinal worms look perfectly healthy. Doctors explain why these silent infections still harm growth, immunity, and why preventive deworming is important