Page 13 - Health

Covid-19 still global health threat, new variant under scanner: WHO chief

Director-General of WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on Friday said though COVID-19 is no longer a health emergency for the world, it is still a global health threat' and a new variant of coronavirus is already under the scanner. The chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO) was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the G20 Health Ministers' Meeting at Mahatma Mandir Convention centre in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar. Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains a global health threat. WHO has recently classified a new variant with a large number of mutations. BA.2.86 variant is under monitoring at present, highlighting once again the need for all countries to maintain surveillance, he said. On the occasion, he urged all the countries to speed up the process of finalising the Pandemic Accord' so that it can be adopted in the World Health Assembly scheduled to be held next year. COVID-19 has taught us all an important lesson that when health is at risk everything

India's G20 Presidency revolved around philosophy of Kutumbakam: MoS Pawar

While addressing the G20 Deputies' Meeting here today, Pawar said, "India's G20 Presidency has revolved around the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-The world is one family

Particulate air pollution growing risk for premature death globally: Study

The total number of premature deaths and years of disability from cardiovascular diseases attributable to particle air pollution rose from 2.6 million in 1990 to 3.5 million in 2019, a 31 per cent worldwide increase, according to a study. The research, published on Wednesday in Journal of the American Heart Association, analysed particulate matter (PM) pollution as a risk factor for death and disability using freely available data from 204 countries collected between 1990 and 2019 and detailed in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. PM pollution consists of small particles of liquid and solids suspended in the air and inhaled into the lungs, such as vehicle emissions, smoke, dust, pollen and soot. Exposure to PM pollution was estimated using a tool from the 2019 update to the GBD study that incorporated information from satellite and ground-level monitoring, computer models of chemicals in the atmosphere and land-use data. The researchers from Tehran University of Medical ...

Centre working on digital registry for organ donation to streamline process

An official was quoted as saying by Mint that the donation registry is aimed at revamping NOTTO under the National Organ Transplant Progamme (NOTP) 2.0

World Hepatitis Day 2023: History, significance, symptoms and more

World Hepatitis Day aims to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and finding ways to prevent, test and treat the disease. Reports say someone dies every 30 seconds globally due to hepatitis

Floods spark eye flu outbreak in Delhi; Know about cause and symptoms

As Delhi NCR people overcome a record flood, a new viral outbreak is occuring. Delhi people are now struggling with conjunctivitis. Here are some symptoms and preventions of the diseases

Radhakishan Damani buys retail chain Health and Glow for Rs 750 crore

The transaction was done via Damani's flagship investment vehicle, Bright Star Investments, late last week

DCGI warns against use of pholcodine-containing cough syrups, cites risks

Regulator asks doctors to suggest an alternative to patients for treating their symptoms

Aspartame 'possibly' carcinogenic, yet safe at common use levels, says WHO

Citing the results of two new assessments of the health impact of the popular artificial sweetener, the WHO said that it has "limited evidence" that aspartame can cause cancer in humans

Peru declares 90-day health emergency over Guillain-Barre Syndrome outbreak

Peru has declared a 90-day health emergency over Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological disorder. The diseases could lead to paralysis of the whole body in extreme cases

Immune response against 'bystander' virus may cause long Covid: Research

Immune inflammatory reaction not against COVID-19, but against a common, harmless, dormant "bystander" virus present in the body, driving a cytokine storm, may be behind long Covid, a new research has found. Analysing Covid-patients' blood samples, researchers found that 3 months after being hospitalised for severe infection, there was no rapid increase in the immune cells targeting SARS-CoV-2, but an increase in those targeting the dormant Cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is usually harmless but can stay in your body for life once infected with it. The finding indicated that the prolonged inflammation at 3 months in severe patients may not be driven by SARS-CoV-2 but instead may be "bystander driven". "Long Covid occurs in one out of ten COVID-19 cases, but we still don't understand what causes it. "Several theories proposed include whether it might be triggered by an inflammatory immune response towards the virus that is still persisting in our body, sending our immune system into ...

Diabetic Term Plan for HbA1c < 8 by Bajaj Allianz Life

Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance has launched a term insurance product specifically designed for individuals with type II diabetes and pre-diabetes, says Chief Distribution Officer Dheeraj Sehgal.

International Health, Fitness Festival to kickstart from Friday in Delhi

The three-day International Health, Sports and Fitness Festival (IHFF) will be held at the Pragati Maidan here on Friday. The highlights of the festival are the 'Steadfast Nutrition Pro Show' and the 'Sheru Classic Pro Qualifiers' among India's biggest bodybuilding championships, powered by Steadfast Nutrition, a sports and wellness nutrition brand, the event organisers said. "The pro show, a milestone event for Indian bodybuilding and the second-ever in India, will give winners a direct entry into Mr Olympia USA, the world's most prestigious bodybuilding tournament," Aman Puri, founder, Steadfast Nutrition said. He said the championships will witness the participation of 600 athletes from India and abroad. By supporting these events, Steadfast Nutrition wants to move closer to its vision of making India the world's sports capital by 2050. Currently, only cricket, football and hockey dominate the discourse around sports. Bodybuilding is neglected even though it is becoming ...

Microplastics getting deposited in human respiratory tract: Research

Microplastics, containing toxic pollutants and chemicals, are increasingly getting deposited in our human respiratory tract, and can pose serious health risks, warned a study

IITR develops haemoglobin self test kit that gives result in 30 seconds

The CSIR-IITR has come up with an indigenous innovative rapid haemoglobin detection test kit called 'SenzHb', a paper-based kit that gives results in just 30 seconds

UK PM Sunak unveils anti-obesity drug pilot to support health service

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday unveiled a two-year pilot scheme to reduce pressures on the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) which will see general practitioners (GPs) prescribe game-changer anti-obesity drugs to patients with at least one weight-related health condition. The British Indian leader, whose father Yashvir is a retired GP, said obesity puts additional pressure on the NHS and helping people lose weight would help cut waiting lists for access to procedures in the health service. Under the GBP 40-million two-year pilot scheme, the NHS will explore how approved drugs can be made safely available to more people by expanding specialist weight management services outside of hospital settings. Obesity puts huge pressure on the NHS, said Sunak. Using the latest drugs to support people to lose weight will be a game-changer by helping to tackle dangerous obesity-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer -- reducing pressu

Threat of pandemics far from over, need to strengthen system: Minister

The threat of pandemics is far from over and the current need is to integrate surveillance systems of countries under the "One Health" framework and strengthen it, Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said on Sunday. "The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that partnerships are most fruitful only when developed during peacetime and not amidst an ongoing pandemic, and that we need to focus on creating resilient health systems, with primary health as its cornerstone," Pawar said in her address at the third G20 Health Working Group meeting here. G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Tourism, S P Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, and Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, were present on the occasion. Pawar further stated that the "partnership we share as G20 members is vital and facilitates in building trust, sharing knowledge, creating networks and working together to achieve meaningful impact and results." Pawar also highlighted the ne

G20 Health Working Group meeting to be held in Hyderabad from June 4 to 6

: The third meeting of the G20 Health Working Group (HWG) will be held in the city from June 4 to 6. The third HWG meeting will have a main event and also a side event, with a focus on collaboration on R&D in Medical Counter Measures (MCMs). Co-branded events with the Global Vaccine Research Collaborative and a Joint Finance Health Task Force meeting are also on the cards, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Additional Secretary Lav Agarwal told reporters here on Saturday. Apart from India, delegates from 19 G20 member states, 10 invited countries, and 22 international organisations will be participating in the third HWG meeting. The HWG has proposed deliverables, including mapping of ongoing initiatives in health emergencies, prevention, preparedness and response, and the launch of a climate change and health hub to work on the interface of climate change and its impact on health, he said. The creation of regional vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics (VTD), research ..

Managing asymptomatic high blood pressure linked to cardiac, kidney injury

Severe hypertension can cause a heart attack, stroke, or damage to blood arteries and organs. Most hospitalised people, on other hand, have transiently raised blood pressure without evidence of damage

Decoded: What is biological process behind air pollution's effect on lungs?

A new study reveals a biological process that may be behind that link - a discovery which could provide new insights on better ways to treat or prevent diseases related to pollution exposure