Wednesday, Jun 21, 2023
Journalism of Courage
HEALTH WELLNESS NEWS - Page 2
What’s prediabetes? Reverse it with just 5 to 10 kg weight loss, diet and exercise
June 14, 2023 14:00 IST
The conversion of prediabetes to diabetes among Indians is faster than any population and about 15.3 per cent of Indians are already in the prediabetes stage. But its reversal needs simple intervention, says Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai
Can pumpkin seeds lower blood sugar and be the snack that diabetics have been looking for?
June 14, 2023 09:00 IST
With high fibre, low carbs, magnesium and zinc, pumpkin seeds improve insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar, says Dr Priyanka Rohatgi, Chief Nutritionist, Apollo Hospitals
‘Just use one blood test to identify many pathogens that cause overlapping signs and symptoms’
June 13, 2023 21:02 IST
ICMR is working on seven syndromic test kits. So if you have respiratory symptoms, the respiratory assay can be used to test, for example, five most common causes of these symptoms. The tests will be for both viral and bacterial pathogens and be cost-effective, says Director-General, Dr Rajiv Bahl
What kind of food should you have during your trekking holiday? Protein bars, nuts, fruits, vegetables and electrolytes
June 13, 2023 19:10 IST
Trekking of any kind, be it for a pilgrimage or as an adventure activity, is an endurance activity. Which means a nutrition and a body prep strategy is required at least two to three months before the intended activity, says Mihira Khopkar, Sports Nutritionist, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai
Can Metformin reduce risk of long Covid by 40 per cent? Experts still wary of new study
June 13, 2023 12:30 IST
The results of the trial will not be applicable to everyone with acute COVID-19 because the definition of long Covid has been evolving throughout the pandemic, and basing efficacy analysis of the drug for preventing it can be tricky. More trials are needed, say experts
Under-40 heart attacks: Understanding the hidden threat of plaque rupture
June 13, 2023 17:09 IST
Even 20 to 30 per cent plaque deposits are less stable. They rupture or dislodge easily and this disruption means the body initiates blood clotting measures and releases platelets. A blood clot can form on top of that torn plaque and their combined obstructive force can trigger a heart attack, says Dr VK Bahl, Principal Director of Cardiac Sciences at Max Hospitals
Testing to prevent heart attack in asymptomatic people: Required, wasteful or dangerous?
June 21, 2023 09:30 IST
These tests are not 100 per cent accurate and a positive result does not always mean the individual has the disease. And vice versa. Such tests in asymptomatic individuals are generally not recommended and might even be dangerous, says Tushar Gore
Why can’t victims like the murdered Mumbai woman leave their abusive partners?
June 12, 2023 16:03 IST
They stay in the abusive relationship due to fear of retaliation, financial dependence, concern for their children, lack of support from family and friends, stigma and unrealistic hopes that their partner might change, says Dr Satish Kumar CR, Consultant, Clinical Psychology, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bengaluru.
Can pineapples help you control blood sugar and build muscle: Proteins, fibre and vitamin C do the trick
June 13, 2023 11:49 IST
Its natural sugar content and abundance of potassium and magnesium make pineapple a suitable pre-workout snack that improves muscle function. It aids in the breakdown of protein, facilitating quick protein absorption, helping in tissue healing post-workout, says Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head, Nutrition And Dietetics, Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi
At AIIMS IVF clinic, you know what’s making women infertile: Late marriage, diabetes and TB
June 11, 2023 13:06 IST
'We have to create awareness among masses that age is the biggest deterrent for fertility and at an advanced age, even if you seek IVF, the chances of pregnancy are dismal,' says Dr Neeta Singh, senior professor in the Dept of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and IVF
Why brain strokes can happen early: 35-year-old tennis player now learning to walk and talk again
June 12, 2023 14:16 IST
'We could save Aakash because we treated him within the golden hour. Lipids are deposited along our blood vessels and with vigorous activity, the fat cluster may dislodge, travel to the brain and block the artery,' says Dr Mukesh Sharma, Director of Neuro-intervention and Head of the Stroke Programme at CIMS Hospital, Ahmedabad
Breaking Bad’s Mike Batayeh dies of heart attack at 52: Are we addressing stress as a trigger for sudden heart attack?
June 10, 2023 15:58 IST
‘Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released in response to stress. Studies show that high levels of cortisol in the body from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure. Worryingly stress can also cause changes in arterial plaque that can damage the heart and lead to body wear and tear,’ says Dr Pravin Kahale, Consultant, Cardiology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai
Can consistent morning exercises help you lose weight faster?
June 10, 2023 14:36 IST
Morning exercises are most likely to be performed in a fasted state that accelerates fat oxidation. Besides sunlight releases the maximum amount of your happy hormone serotonin, which releases your energy, overhauls your gut health and regulates the sleep hormone melatonin, say experts
Try these yoga asanas to manage your frozen shoulder
June 10, 2023 12:05 IST
A frozen shoulder is generally caused by the lack of movement in the shoulder area for long swathes of time. Stretching the muscles in the upper back and shoulder blades improves blood circulation at the site which helps relieve pain, says yoga guru Kamini Bobde
‘Belly fat is the biggest problem for Indians, pushing us towards diabetes and heart disease’
June 9, 2023 19:57 IST
Those in the early stages of prediabetes may lose a few kilos and come back to normal. But if they don’t do anything, they might put on weight and progress to diabetes. Indians have an increased tendency to develop diabetes from prediabetes as compared to Caucasians who take five to ten years more, says Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai and initiator of India’s largest lifestyle marker study with ICMR
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro embrace fatherhood at 80: Can ageing fathers affect their child’s health and future?
June 9, 2023 13:30 IST
Sperm quality is a factor in ageing men and can have a significant impact on the risk of miscarriage, the child’s health and development. But then one can freeze sperm in younger years. Also, risk factors do not mean ageing men cannot have healthy children at all, says Dr Astha Dayal, Lead Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram
What do heart palpitations during menopause mean?
June 9, 2023 08:34 IST
During menopausal transition, the ovaries begin to work less effectively with the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone declining over time. These changes cause palpitations, says Dr Sonamm Tiwari, Consultant Gynaecologist, Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
More Indians are getting diabetes, belly fat, cholesterol and high BP, says ICMR-backed studyPremium Story
June 9, 2023 08:01 IST
The study, which was spearheaded by Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre and based on 113,000 people from 31 states, maps how we are getting sicker
Cardiologist Gaurav Gandhi’s death: What tests can indicate silent heart attacks risks?
June 9, 2023 08:23 IST
Just ECG is not enough during a cardiac episode. There has to be a Trop T test. Echocardiography, TMT and calcium scores are good for predictive risk assessment, says Dr Sanjeev Gera, Director and Head, Cardiology, Fortis Noida
Can overusing healthy fats like olive oil raise your bad cholesterol?
June 8, 2023 18:15 IST
Overconsumption of any type of fat can lead to weight gain, increased risk of chronic diseases and unfavourable changes in our cholesterol profile. Remember that all fats contain nine calories per gram. This is more than twice the amount found in carbohydrates and proteins. So practise moderation and focus on a balanced meal, says Dr Tarun Sahani, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi
One in five healthy people can have prediabetes, says study but simple tests can detect condition early
June 8, 2023 16:58 IST
While continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can do the job, they are costly. ‘A simple oral glucose tolerance test is effective. We have been pushing for one-hour values just to identify those who can progress to prediabetes or diabetes,’ says Dr V Mohan, Chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai
World Brain Tumour Day: Two women survivors are proof that you shouldn’t ignore persistent mild headache or vision problems
June 8, 2023 09:00 IST
Almost 40,000 new cases of brain tumours are diagnosed each year. Prevention is challenging as most cases are not associated with identifiable risk factors. Yet early detection is key to better prognosis and accelerated treatment, say neurologists
Cardiologist dies of heart attack at 41 despite normal ECG: What does death of Dr Gaurav Gandhi tell us?
June 8, 2023 07:37 IST
His ECG reading was normal. In about 20-30 per cent of cases, the first ECG may show up as normal even if one is having a heart attack. That’s why we need to conduct serial ECGs and test cardiac enzymes (which are biomarkers, such as troponin and creatinine, and indicate heart damage) over 12 to 24 hours, says Dr Saugata Chatterjee, assistant medical superintendent of Guru Gobind Singh (GG) General Hospital, Jamnagar
Can ginger oil melt belly fat? No. Trending solutions don’t work always
June 7, 2023 17:22 IST
By reducing bloating and improving digestive function, ginger may contribute to a flatter belly appearance but it won’t specifically target fat in that area. For that you need a holistic plan of balanced diet, exercise and lifestyle modification, says Dr Harsh Kapoor, Chairman (Pan Metro)-Institute of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, GI Surgery & Liver Transplant, Metro Hospital, Noida
102-year-old beats colon cancer, survives triple surgery, goes to vote and inspires doctors
June 7, 2023 15:49 IST
Dr Shabber Zaveri, Chairman, HOD, Surgical Oncology, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru and surgical oncologist Dr Mohammad Bashiruddin Inamdar admit that the patient’s will power, motivation and most importantly a disciplined lifestyle of exercise, diet and mental well-being saw him through
