Health News - Page 26

Quicksplained: What you need to know about the mutant Ebola virus created by Chinese scientists

Scientists in China have created a virus using components of the deadly Ebola to investigate the disease and its symptoms. According to the study, researchers injected a group of hamsters with the lethal virus, resulting in their deaths within three days. The hamsters developed severe systemic diseases similar to those observed in human Ebola patients, including multi-organ failure

Quicksplained: What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend?

BORG has recently emerged as the latest trend on social media, especially in the US. It encourages risky drinking habits among college students and young adults seeking a supposedly safer method of consuming alcohol. But what exactly is a BORG? And why are young party-goers advocating for this activity when it is, in fact, not as safe as they believe?

'Super Size Me' filmmaker Morgan Spurlock passes away. How did his documentary expose the fast food industry?

Morgan Spurlock, the documentary filmmaker who documented his own psychological and physical symptoms from eating McDonald’s every day for a month in the Oscar-nominated 2004 film 'Super Size Me,' passed away on 24 May in upstate New York due to complications from cancer. He was 53

What is the 'pandemic accord' and will it help avoid the next Covid-like catastrophe?

On 27 May, global health leaders will convene in Geneva for the annual World Health Assembly. The primary focus of the meeting will be a new ‘pandemic accord’, which aims to facilitate international cooperation in preparing for, preventing, and responding to pandemics. What is it? Will it make nations ready to tackle future COVID-19-like diseases?

Extreme heat sends Shah Rukh Khan to hospital: Why you shouldn't take heat stroke lightly

Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan was admitted to a hospital in Ahmedabad after suffering a heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, as it is the most severe type of heat injury. It occurs when the external temperature rises to such a level that the body cannot produce enough sweat to control the core temperature, which can reach 40 degrees Celsius

What is the anti-diet trend of intuitive eating? Does it improve gut health?

Amid fad diets, people are now adopting intuitive eating – the practice of eating what you want, when and how much. This eating style promotes listening to one’s body and a healthy relationship with food

Mother Care: Why moms with HIV can now breastfeed their children in the US

People with HIV can breastfeed their babies, as long as they are taking medications that effectively suppress the virus that causes AIDS, a top US pediatricians’ group said in a sharp policy change

Syrian first lady, who had breast cancer, diagnosed with leukemia: What are second cancers?

Syrian first lady Asma al-Assad has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, according to the office of President Bashar al-Assad. She previously had breast cancer and was ‘completely’ free of the disease in 2019. So, how often do cancers return in a different form?

Microplastics in human testicles: How this could affect fertility

Scientists are concerned about the potential impacts of microplastics on reproductive health after finding ‘significant concentrations’ of them in human testicular tissue. This alarming finding heightens concerns about the possible effects of plastic pollution on male fertility

12-year-old has hole in stomach after eating ‘smoky’ paan: How dangerous is liquid nitrogen?

Liquid nitrogen is commonly making its way to the food industry for its dramatic visual effect. But is it safe to use? Doctors warn against its dangers

What is UK's infected blood scandal? What has inquiry revealed?

The inquiry found that over 30,000 people were infected from 1970 to 1991 via blood and blood products contaminated by HIV and hepatitis and that successive governments and medical professionals attempted to cover it up. Over 3,000 people have died as a result of the scandal with numbers set to rise. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to apologise and announce $12 billion in compensation

Cases double, masks back: Is Singapore bracing for a COVID-19 comeback?

Singapore’s weekly case count has nearly doubled with KP.1 and KP.2, the new ‘FLiRT’ variants, now accounting for over two-third of its COVID-19 cases. Authorities have asked the public to start masking up again and warned public hospitals to prepare for a spike in cases

What is cryptosporidiosis that has hit a UK town? How can you avoid getting infected?

UK health authorities are investigating an outbreak in Devon, where several individuals have tested positive for a microscopic parasite known to cause stomach upsets. Meanwhile, the local water company is examining a nearby reservoir as a potential origin, with 46 confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis reported

This new weight loss drug is better than Ozempic. All you need to know

Swiss pharma giant Roche announced some very promising results for its weight loss drug from a recent clinical trial. The anti-obesity medication, called CT-388, has even outperformed market leaders like Wegovy and Ozempic. Here's all you need to know about the medicine.

More 15–49-year-olds at risk of developing diabetes, years lost to poor health up 50%: Study

This age group is also vulnerable to high blood pressure and high LDL or 'bad' cholesterol

Faulty gene from mother can be behind son's infertility, says new study

Scientists at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology "identified, for the first time, that the gene TEX13B is essential for sperm" in a recent multi-institutional study

How climate change can worsen dementia and depression

Researchers have discovered that climate change can have detrimental effects on brain health and exacerbate several neurological conditions. After reviewing hundreds of studies spanning over half a century, a report analysed the impact of extreme weather on 19 nervous system conditions, including stroke, Alzheimer's, meningitis, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis

Kerala records spike in Hepatitis A cases: Who is at risk? What are its symptoms?

Kerala is seeing one of its worst Hepatitis A outbreaks, with over 1,900 confirmed cases and 12 deaths recorded in the first four-and-a-half months of this year. The virus is associated with poor hygiene and rising contamination of food and water resources in the state

After AstraZeneca side effect, adverse events in some who took Covaxin. Is it a reason to worry?

There has been intense speculation over Covishield’s safety after AstraZeneca admitted its COVID-19 vaccine caused a rare side effect. Now an observational study on India-made Covaxin pointed out that nearly a third of participants reported adverse events of special interest (AESI) like viral upper respiratory tract infections and skin disorders. Who is at risk?

Your love for excess chai, milk tea, coffee is damaging your health; know how

The latest dietary guideline by ICMR recommended people to refrain from having tea at least an hour before and after meals

Do you constantly google diseases and health trends? You are likely to have IDIOT syndrome

IDIOT is an acronym for ‘Internet Derived Information Obstruction Treatment’. Also known as cyberchondria in medical terms, it is a condition where accessible online data prevents patients from seeking proper medical care

Why India’s top health body has warned against using non-stick vessels

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has warned that cases of overheating in chipped and scratched teflon-coated non-stick pans can give off irritating or poisonous fumes and lead to a health hazard. It has recommended the use of mud pots

Dust storm in Mumbai: How it could pose a health risk

Mumbai was caught off guard by strong winds, unseasonal rain, and a massive dust storm on Monday. However, besides the destruction, dust storms may also have negative effects on people’s health, triggering allergic reactions, breathing issues, cardiovascular complications, skin problems, and itchy and burning eyes

Internet use is good for health. What a new study reveals about being online

Contrary to the common notion, a study has shown that greater internet usage improves the well-being of an individual. The study cautions against ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions amid the heated debate over the possible negative effects of internet

Explained: How extreme diets affect your bone health

Bone density is important for many reasons, primarily because it acts as a reservoir for many of the important minerals our bones need to function well. Diet is one component that has a significant effect on bone health

How an organ transplant can alter someone's personality

A recent study suggests that heart transplant recipients may not be unique in experiencing personality changes. These changes can occur following the transplantation of any organ. Some evidence suggests that these personality changes aren’t all psychological. Biology may play a role too

Palm oil in Lay's chips may be replaced. Will they now become healthy?

Lay’s could soon become a little less harmful. PepsiCo India says it began testing a blend of sunflower oil and palmolein to replace the mixture of palm oil and palmolein in the popular potato chips. How do the two oils compare and which is better?

One big reason not to have junk. It will kill you faster. Here's proof

A comprehensive study gives a compelling argument to moderate your consumption of ultra-processed foods: the risk of early death. Research involving 115,000 people revealed a correlation between high consumption of ultra-processed foods, particularly processed meats, sugary breakfast items, and beverages containing sugar or artificial sweeteners, and an increased likelihood of early mortality

World’s first gene therapy trial: How a UK toddler born deaf can now hear

After undergoing groundbreaking gene therapy at UK's Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge at the age of eleven months, a baby girl born deaf can now hear unaided for the first time. Here's what we know about the trial

America’s Robert F Kennedy Jr says he had a worm in his brain. How rare is this?

US presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr has revealed that he suffered from memory loss and brain fog owing to a worm ‘entering his brain, eating a portion of it and then dying’. Experts note that these instances are most common in rural areas worldwide with less rigorous sanitation and hygiene measures. But can such a worm be fatal?