Health

Singapore, Oct 13 (IANS) Singapore's northern region faces higher rates of chronic illnesses compared with the rest of the country, prompting the government to strengthen local health services, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung has said.Currently, the three northern towns have 34 Community Health Posts, namely neighborhood touchpoints providing health services, but the number will rise to 39, Ong announced at an event on the region's health situation on Sunday.These posts will also operate more regularly over time, he said. "Today it is uneven -- some open once a week, some every fortnight, some every month. Over time, we hope and are working towards all of them operating once a week."The Health Promotion Board will also introduce more physical activities in the north. For instance, men, who...

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) Women, especially young, account for seven out of 10 patients with autoimmune diseases, said health experts, emphaising the need for increasing awareness and early screening among females.Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues. Common conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroiditis, psoriasis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. These diseases can affect joints, skin, blood vessels, and even internal organs like the heart or lungs.The condition is far more common among women, especially between the ages of 20 and 50, when hormonal and lifestyle factors are most active. Many times, with a lack of awareness and other burdens, women tend to ignore their symptoms, leading to worsening outco...

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are the leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, according to a new study published in the journal The Lancet on Monday.The study, based on the latest analysis of Global Burden of Disease (GBD), and also presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin, showed that the causes of death are shifting from infectious to NCDs -- which now account for nearly two-thirds of the world's total mortality and morbidity.Ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes were identified as the leading causes of mortality and morbidity across the globe, including in India. This was followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal disorders.While diarrhoeal ...

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) In a breakthrough, Canadian researchers have enhanced the existing menstrual cup into a safer, easier, and more environmentally sustainable tool, using seaweed, to track women’s health.The new menstrual cup can be leveraged to detect infections, monitor reproductive health, and improve diagnostics for conditions, such as endometriosis and urinary tract infections, said researchers at McMaster University in Ontario.The new component, described in a paper published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, is a flushable tablet made from highly absorbent seaweed-based material.It's designed to hold menstrual blood and minimise spills during removal -- a common barrier to wider adoption of menstrual cups."This project opened my eyes to how urgently innovati...

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) Affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare both for body and mind is crucial for a self-reliant India, said Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.Singh said this while virtually inaugurating the 10th Annual "Cell and Gene Therapy" Symposium at the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, organised by the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), supported by the Department of Biotechnology.“Affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare, whether physical or mental, is essential for building a self-reliant India,” he said.Singh lauded the landmark achievement of CSCR, which recently completed India’s first-in-human gene therapy trial for Hemophilia A.The inherited bleeding disorder, caused by the deficiency of clotting Factor VIII, has l...

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) Treating patients with steroids may offer a universal complementary treatment to fight tuberculosis (TB) -- affecting more than 10 million people annually worldwide, according to a study.The study published in the journal Scientific Reports showed that targeted use of steroids enhances the function of the immune cells called macrophages to kill the mycobacteria, while diminishing pathways of inflammatory damage.While steroids like dexamethasone are used in certain TB cases (e.g., TB meningitis), their impact on immune cells is not well understood.Dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, reduces glycolysis in human lung and blood-derived macrophages. This reduces the amount of energy available in the cell.The study showed that dexamethasone also reduced the produc...

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) Gut microbiome may hold the key to improving depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions -- one of the world’s most pressing health challenges affecting nearly one in seven people globally, according to a study.Researchers from the University of South Australia explored the connections between the gut and the brain to decipher their role in mental health and wellbeing.They examined the growing evidence that the gut and the brain are deeply connected. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, found the strongest proof yet that changes in a person’s gut microbiome can directly affect their brain chemistry.“The gut–brain connection is one of the most exciting frontiers in mental health research,” said lead author Srinivas Kamath, a doct...

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) is working to enhance the integration of insurance, as well as research in the Ayush sector, the Ministry of Ayush said on Friday.AIIA has been making continued efforts to foster partnerships, promote policy innovations, and advance holistic health and wellness through the integration of traditional medicine and modern research approaches.Towards this, Prof. (Dr.) Pradeep Kumar Prajapati, Director of AIIA, held a meeting with Prof. Bejon Kumar Misra, Chairman of the Core Group of Experts for Insurance, Ministry of Ayush.“The meeting focused on advancing insurance coverage and policy initiatives in the Ayush sector to ensure wider accessibility and integration of traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare,” the Ministr...

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a high-level probe into the deaths of children allegedly caused by the consumption of contaminated cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran questioned advocate Vishal Tiwari, the petitioner in person, about how many PILs he has filed so far. After Tiwari responded “8-10 PILs”, the CJI Gavai-led Bench dismissed the petition.During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the second-highest law officer of the Centre, who was present in the courtroom but not representing any respondent authority, stated that state governments, including Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, were taking necessary steps.“Tami...

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Indian professionals continue to be hesitant to make mental health conversations at work, over fear of being perceived as incapable and judged, according to a report on World Mental Health Day on Friday.World Mental Health Day is observed every year on October 10 to raise awareness about the importance of mental well-being and fight against the stigma surrounding it.The report by job portal Naukri, based on a survey covering 19,650 job seekers, showed that 31 per cent of employees feared voicing out mental health issues for the fear of being viewed as incapable.Nearly 30 per cent worried about being judged by colleagues, while 21 per cent reported fear of being dismissed as someone who makes excuses. Another 21 per cent believe it could impact their career growth.N...