Health

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) In the run-up to the completion of eight years of GST, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), in coordination with the ‘Fit India Movement’, on Sunday organised a nationwide cyclothon titled “Sundays on Cycle”.Shashank Priya, Member (GST), CBIC, highlighted the transformational impact of GST on the Indian taxation system and emphasised how GST has unified around 30 different indirect taxes into a single, transparent tax structure, thereby simplifying tax administration and compliance for both businesses and citizens.Priya also apprised participants of the significant benefits extended to small taxpayers through initiatives such as the GST Composition Scheme and the Quarterly Return Monthly Payment (QRMP) Scheme, which reduce compliance burden and f...

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Only around three out of five heart failure patients see a cardiologist at least once a year, according to new research released on Sunday.The study, published in the European Heart Journal, shows that patients who do see a cardiologist once a year are around 24 per cent less likely to die in the following year.It also shows which patients could benefit from seeing a cardiologist once a year and which patients should be seen more often. The research suggests that if cardiologists did see heart failure patients at least once a year, one life could be saved for every 11–16 patients seen.“In patients with heart failure, the heart is unable to normalise blood flow and pressure. Heart failure can’t usually be cured, but with the right treatment, symptoms can often be co...

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Mindfulness can combat anxiety by improving a mental process called cognitive control, according to a new research.Paying close attention to the present moment without judgment — the basic idea behind all mindfulness techniques — can help calm anxiety and improve focus, said Resh Gupta, a postdoctoral research associate with the Mindfulness Science and Practice research cluster at Washington University in St. Louis in the US.“A lot of research has shown that mindfulness can reduce anxiety symptoms,” she added.“We all experience anxiety, but it can manifest in many different ways. It’s a tough problem to pin down,” she added in a paper published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews.Gupta and co-authors laid out a new approach to understanding the relationship b...

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) As medical expenses continue to climb in the US, a growing number of patients are looking overseas for more cost-effective treatment options and suggested tariffs may impact the medical tourism industry, according to a new report.US trade policy has seen notable changes recently, particularly with regard to import tariffs on countries such as China.Though these policies are usually justified by economic and geopolitical considerations, they also impact other areas, including the medical device industry and, more specifically, medical tourism.One growing outcome is how these tariffs are affecting medical tourism — the practice of traveling to another country to receive healthcare services, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.The US has impo...

Patna, May 17 (IANS) In a significant boost to healthcare infrastructure in Bihar, state Health Minister Mangal Pandey, on Saturday, inaugurated a 100-bed fully air-conditioned ward at the Nalanda Medical College Hospital (NMCH) in Patna. Built at a cost of Rs 750 crore, the state-of-the-art ward is part of an ongoing expansion of one of Bihar's major public health institutions.During the inaugural ceremony, Minister Pandey opened his speech with a heartfelt tribute to the Indian Army, saying, "As long as our soldiers are deployed on the borders, we are safe. Their bravery enables us to build a stronger Bihar and a stronger India."Praising the Armed Forces' role in national security, especially during recent conflicts, the Minister said, "The way the Indian Army confronted Pakistan in the ...

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) People suffering from gum disease may be at an increased risk of developing heart rhythm disorder also known as atrial fibrillation, according to a study.Researchers from Hiroshima University in Japan found that gum disease-causing bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) can slip into the bloodstream and infiltrate the heart.Once in the heart, it quietly drives scar tissue buildup -- distorting the heart’s architecture, disrupting electrical signals, and raising the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) -- a potentially serious heart rhythm disorder that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other life-threatening complications.Globally, AFib cases nearly doubled in under a decade, rising from 33.5 million in 2010 to roughly 60 million by 2019. Growing evi...

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) High midlife stress may increase the chances of Alzheimer's disease in women after their menopause, according to a study.Scientists at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, in the US, discovered that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol in midlife can increase amyloid deposition -- a hallmark of Alzheimer's -- in postmenopausal women later."The results highlight the importance of identifying early risk factors when biomarkers are detectable but cognitive impairment is absent," said Arash Salardini, Associate Professor at the varsity.In the study, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, the team analysed data from 305 cognitively unimpaired participants in Massachusetts, US.By comparing midlife cortisol levels at the beginn...

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) If you are finding it hard to control hypertension or high blood pressure then eating dark chocolate, grapes, or drinking tea may help you, according to a study.Researchers from the University of Surrey, UK, found that naturally occurring compounds called flavan-3-ols -- found in cocoa, tea, apples, and grapes -- may improve blood pressure and the health of our blood vessels.The research, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, analysed data from 145 randomised controlled studies, and found that regular consumption of flavan-3-ols can lead to a reduction in blood pressure readings, particularly in people with elevated or high blood pressure.In some cases, the average blood pressure-lowering effects were comparable to those seen with some medicat...

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) The combination of air pollution, dense urban development and limited green spaces increases the risk of asthma in both children and adults, according to a new study.Improving these can help prevent one in 10 cases of asthma -- a chronic respiratory condition characterised by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making breathing difficult.Previous studies have typically calculated the risk of one environmental factor at a time. The new study combined several environmental factors and described how they together affect the risk of developing asthma.This provided a better picture of environmental risks, as life in a city usually involves exposure to several environmental risk factors at the same timeResearchers from Karolinska Institutet, in Sweden, found that ...

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Embracing a healthy lifestyle, eating balanced diet, and monitoring timely can help control high blood pressure, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda on World Hypertension Day on Saturday.World Hypertension Day is observed every year on May 17 to raise awareness of hypertension and its serious medical complications.“On World Hypertension Day, we unite to raise awareness about the prevention and management of high blood pressure,” Nadda said in a post on social media platform X.“By embracing a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and timely monitoring, we can control hypertension effectively,” he added.This year's theme is "Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, Live Longer".It “reminds us that timely monitoring and proper management...