Health News - Page 22
From lifestyle to genetics: What’s driving thyroid cancer in younger women
Thyroid cancer is among the fastest-growing cancers worldwide, yet in many cases, it manifests silently without obvious symptoms. Doctors warn that the disease often progresses quietly, making awareness and early detection critical to better outcomes.
Dr explains: Why smoking after a sleepless night is more dangerous than you think
Smoking and lack of sleep together accelerate DNA damage, weaken immunity, and raise cancer risk. Firstpost brings in experts' view on early throat damage signs, vaping risks, genetic mutations and why even light smoking is unsafe. Read here
What are intra-articular loose bodies and why they threaten knee health
Doctors at Fortis Hospital removed 32 loose bodies and performed TKR on a 65-year-old woman with rare synovial chondromatosis. Expert explains synovial chondromatosis, signs and modern surgical techniques restoring mobility and quality of life.
Genes or junk food? How metabolic obesity silently threatens health in India
Globally, obesity is now linked to rising rates of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even cancer with conditions appearing earlier due to childhood weight gain.
Brain-eating amoeba: Why Kerala’s survival rate trumps globally
Kerala has recorded more than 70 cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which has claimed 19 lives in the state this year. The rare disease, caused by Naegleria fowleri, has a survival rate of around three per cent globally. However, while infections have surged in the southern state, so has the survival rate – standing at over 24 per cent
Dealing with imposter syndrome at work? Here's how you can manage it
Feeling like an impostor, doubting one’s own abilities despite a track record of success, is common. But changing the way you interrupt the downward spiral is the key. People have found cognitive behavioural therapy, a form of talk therapy that challenges their negative thoughts, to be the most useful
Heart diseases, diabetes are killing more and more Indians. Here’s why
India is among the countries where chances of dying from chronic diseases like heart-related ailments, cancers, and diabetes is on the rise. A study by The Lancet pointed to 50 per cent increase in deaths over the last 30 years. From obesity to sedentary lifestyle, there is a lot that Indians need to pay attention to
Nafisa Ali Sodhi begins new chemo after ovarian cancer relapse; doctor explains why detection is so hard
Actor Nafisa Ali Sodhi starts chemo for ovarian cancer relapse. Oncologist explains why pap smears can’t detect the disease early. Read here
‘Brain-eating amoeba’ kills 19 in Kerala: What is this rare infection?
Kerala has reported over 60 cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare brain infection. The disease has caused 19 deaths this year. Caused by Naegleria fowleri or ‘brain-eating amoeba’, the infection causes inflammation of the brain. But why is it so deadly?
Is being slightly overweight safer than being too thin?
A Danish study tracking over 85,000 adults suggests that being very thin may be more dangerous than being slightly overweight. People with a BMI below 18.5 were nearly three times more likely to die early than those in the middle to upper 'healthy' range
Explained: Can weight-loss injections change how food tastes?
A recent study has found that weight loss injections, like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro, may change how people perceive the taste of food. Researchers looked at 411 people using these jabs and discovered that one in five reported becoming more sensitive to sweet and salty flavours
Is giving up on rice and roti a quick way to lose weight?
‘Cut the carbs!’ It’s an instruction you may have heard too often when talking about weight loss. But is giving up on staples like rice and roti the answer?
Why India revoked patent of Novartis’ cardiac drug and why it matters
The Indian Patent Office (IPO) has revoked the patent on Novartis' cardiac drug Entresto, sold as Vymada in India, which is used for hypertension and heart failure. It said in its order last week that the Swiss drug company’s drug lacks novelty. There is a possibility that the prices of such medicines could come down. Here’s how
H3N2 virus on the rise in Delhi-NCR: What are the symptoms to look out for?
According to a survey, 69 per cent of households in the Delhi-NCR region have reported that at least one member of their family has flu symptoms. And doctors suggest that H3N2 infections are detected in most cases
How toxic fumes aboard planes are giving pilots and passengers brain, nerve injuries
A Wall Street Journal investigation has found that dozens of pilots, flight attendants and passengers have developed brain and nerve injuries strikingly similar to those seen in battered football players, after being exposed to toxic fumes leaking into aircraft cockpits and cabins. While regulators and manufacturers continue to downplay the threat, the growing number of medical cases tells a different story
What 14 days of no sugar does to your body
Sugar addiction is real. But going without desserts or candy for two weeks has a big impact on your body
From infections to lifestyle damage, experts call for integrated surgery and physiotherapy in India
India’s orthopedic crisis is twofold: infection and inactivity. Surgeons repair bones; physiotherapists restore movement. Missing either half compromises recovery and accelerates long-term disability. Read here
Dr explains: How modern lifestyles are fuelling the 'tech neck' epidemic and orthopaedic ailments
India is witnessing a sharp surge in orthopedic complications across age groups, driven by sedentary lifestyles and an ageing population. Firstpost brings out experts’ views to understand the evolving complications and various aspects and preventive strategies, risk factors and treatment options to help mitigate the growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders.
India’s silent demographic shift: Falling fertility and looming socio-economic impact
India is quietly undergoing a profound demographic and health transition: fertility rates are falling and the challenge of achieving healthy pregnancies, especially in younger women- is becoming more complex than ever.
The new human organ scientists discovered in 2020 can help fight cancer of head and neck: Research
Dutch scientists have discovered hidden salivary glands that could ease cancer treatment side effects in the head and neck
How the masks you disposed of during Covid are now becoming an environmental disaster
Masks were critical in fighting Covid-19, but billions of them are now causing an environmental crisis. Studies show discarded masks are releasing microplastics and toxic chemicals like bisphenol B into land and water, threatening ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Experts warn that urgent policies and sustainable alternatives are needed to prevent lasting damage
How Russian troops are struggling with 'mouse fever' that causes bleeding from the eyes
A Chechen special forces unit fighting for Russia has reported cases of 'mouse fever', a dangerous hantavirus infection spread by rodents. Stationed near Zaporizhzhia, three soldiers have fallen ill amid severe rodent infestations. With no cure and limited vaccines, the outbreak poses health and operational challenges for Russian forces on the frontline
Why physiotherapists in India will no longer be allowed to use ‘Dr’ before their names
The director general of health services (DGHS) has issued a directive, stating physiotherapists are not entitled to use the prefix ‘Dr’. The primary regulatory body attached to Ministry of Health said using the title could confuse or even mislead patients into believing that they are trained medical doctors
What's the deadly kissing bug disease spreading across the US?
Chagas disease, a potentially fatal illness spread by the blood-sucking kissing bug, is now found across 32 US states, with local infections confirmed in eight. The CDC warns that over 280,000 Americans may be infected without knowing, as the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi silently damages the heart and digestive system
For the first time, world has more obese school kids than underweight
For the first time ever, global childhood obesity now outstrips underweight, affecting 1 in 10 school-aged children. UNICEF warns ultra-processed food and poor policy have created a new, urgent form of malnutrition.
Drink more, worry less: How water could be your new stress buster
A new study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, found that people who drank less than one-and-a-half litres daily showed dramatically higher levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, when faced with stressful situations. The findings further add hydration to the growing list of lifestyle factors that influence stress resilience
RFK Jr autism report: Could a common painkiller taken during pregnancy be a factor?
The US Department of Health and Human Services is set to release a report on autism this month. Led by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the probe may link Tylenol use during pregnancy and low folate levels to autism. But what does science say?
Doctor Explains | Why Pap smears can’t detect ovarian cancer and which tests women should rely on instead
Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer. In this report, Firstpost brings out expert insights on why it remains difficult to detect, the symptoms women should not ignore and how new treatments such as PARP inhibitors are reshaping outcomes.
Infant born with 2 babies in abdomen: What is this rare medical condition?
In a remarkably rare case, doctors in Gurugram recently removed two 'parasitic' foetuses growing inside the abdomen of a one-month-old baby girl. The condition, known as foetus in fetu, is extremely rare, seen in only about 1 in 5,00,000 live births worldwide. Here's how doctors managed to save the infant
Experts warn vitamin D deficiency during monsoon raises fracture risk
In India, an ICMR study estimates that nearly 22–39% of adults over 40 show signs of osteoarthritis, and doctors warn that weather changes like high humidity and reduced sunlight can worsen symptoms.