Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Lungs of teenagers need protection, not pollution from vapes, medical experts have stressed while highlighting the dangers of vaping and the emergence of new-age gateway devices. A group of doctors supporting the movement of Mothers Against Vaping, a collective dedicated to raising awareness about the ill effects of vaping and working to eradicate it, said vaping has health implications, including issues like coughing, dry throat, shortness of breath, or headaches. More alarmingly, it can affect the heart, raising blood pressure, increasing heart rate, and even leading to a heart attack, they said. Dr K K Handa, chairman, ENT, head and neck surgery, Medanta Hospital, said the common myth that vaping is safer than smoking is totally incorrect. "Vaping can damage lungs after prolonged use since vapes contain nicotine, which has a serious addictive potential. Over time vape addiction can cause severe and serious mental issues like depression and anxiety. There is also a physical safety concern, as the devices used for vaping can sometimes catch fire. So, vaping is not safe at all," Dr Handa said. According to Mothers Against Vaping, multiple reputed studies have clearly indicated the health risks of vaping and e-cigarettes. A recent study in April 2025 by Johns Hopkins Medicine analysed medical data gathered from almost 250,000 people over a four-year period. The findings significantly linked the exclusive use of e-cigarettes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high blood pressure. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent action to protect children and prevent the uptake of e-cigarettes. These products are openly available and are aggressively marketed to young people. Children are being targeted and trapped into early nicotine addiction through the use of e-cigarettes. Dr Harish Bhatia, Director and Head of Respiratory Medicine, MGS Super Speciality Hospital, Punjabi Bagh, said vapes, e-cigarettes, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems(ENDS), Heat-Not-Burn (HNB) devices and other Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) directly damage the lungs. Lungs of teens need protection, not pollution from vapes. And any teen that is vaping needs immediate course correction. Only with good lungs will there be the beginning of Viksit Bharat, Dr Bhatia said. Mothers Against Vaping has been consistently highlighting how teenagers and even children are falling prey to vapes, posing a real danger of losing the next generation to these new-age gateway devices. Dr Rajesh Gupta, Director of Pulmonology at Fortis Hospital, said adolescents often start vaping socially at parties or under peer pressure, believing it is harmless or even better than smoking. But this is a myth, and even occasional vaping exposes the lungs to harmful chemicals, which irritate and inflame their delicate tissues, often leading to serious problems. In children whose lungs are still developing, this damage can be very long-lasting. And this damage does not stop at the lungs. Nicotine in the e-cigarettes is highly addictive and affects the brain, altering attention, memory, learning, and emotional regulation, Dr Gupta said. "Social vaping can quickly spiral into regular addictive use, resulting in lifelong health consequences. As adults, parents, and educators, we must speak openly with children about the risks and act early. We should not assume that it's just a phase because every casual use is a potential gateway to long-term harm," Dr Rajesh added. On the various ways and means of tackling vaping, Dr Bhavna Barmi, clinical psychologist and founder, Happiness Studio, said, "First of all, it is very important to build emotional literacy because vaping is not just peer pressure; it's also an emotional escape. "When we teach our kids to name their feelings through journaling, mood charts, and open reflections, they will not need to numb them. There is also a need for guidance and awareness among parents, as most of them miss warning signs or respond with shame. We should provide workshops and conversation guides that encourage calm, curious dialogue. Punishment shuts kids down; understanding opens them up," Dr Barmi stressed. "We also need to unpack the role of social media. Vaping looks glamorous online, but we should teach who profits and what the hidden agenda is. Teaching media literacy helps kids build critical thinking -- their best defence. Replace, don't just remove, should be our key. Let's give our children healthy alternatives - connection, creativity, and a sense of identity beyond grades or popularity. "When our children are going to feel valued, they will stop escaping. Also, addiction recovery is not about control; it is about care, building safe, slow, and non-judgmental therapy spaces," Dr Barmi added. Mothers Against Vaping is a united front of concerned mothers combating the escalating vaping crisis among our youth. The group has also been urgently appealing to the government to take decisive action against the growing and unchecked digital promotion of vapes and e-cigarettes. PTI PLB DV DV
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) No COVID-19 case was reported in Mumbai on Friday, the feat achieved for the first time in about two months, the metropolis' civic body said. In a release, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also said no new or concerning variant of the virus has been detected in the city as per the Whole Genome Sequencing Report. Mumbai recorded six COVID-19 cases between January and April this year, before a surge in May saw the detection of 435 cases, while the figure for June stood at 539, the release informed. As on Friday, there are 62 active COVID-19 cases in the city, though ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 1 (PTI) In the wake of recent cases of deaths due to heart attacks in Hassan, Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said that "hasty approval and distribution" of the Covid vaccine to the public could also be a reason for these deaths. He urged everyone to visit the nearest health center immediately for a check-up if they have symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing, and not to ignore these signs. The chief minister said that more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks in the past month alone in just one district of Hassan. "The government i ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 3 (ANI): Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, the Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited, refuted the allegation of the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in which he attributed more than twenty deaths due to heart attacks in the past one month in district of Hassan to COVID vaccines. She said that it was factually incorrect to suggest that COVID vaccines were hastily approved. Also Read | Heart Attacks Being Linked to COVID-19 Vaccines After 4 Years of Being Vaccinated Does Not Stack Up, Says Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. In a post on X, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw sai ...Read More >
GURGAON: The investigation into the murder of a 25-year-old former international tennis player, allegedly by her father, has revealed a sudden deterioration in their relationship. The apparent reason was a disagreement over the academy she ran near their house, but the roots clearly run deeper. The father, who claims to have spent Rs 2 crore on his daughter's tennis career, told interrogators he was troubled by questions about her "character" that some of his associates had raised.Deepak Yadav, who shot Radhika at their house Thursday morning, had allegedly been insisting for two weeks on her ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar/Balasore: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, has constituted a high-level expert committee to oversee and monitor the treatment of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College student who attempted self-immolation. The woman student was admitted to the institute following her self-immolation bid before the principal's chamber Saturday over alleged harassment by the Head of Department (HOD). As per the office order issued by the Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the expert committee includes Prof. Jayant Mitra - Department of Anaesthesia, Prof. Ma ...Read More >
MALAPPURAM: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said that there are 383 people in the contact lists of the two persons infected with the Nipah virus in the state. Of those on the contact list, 12 people are under treatment in Malappuram district with five in the ICU and four are being treated in isolation in Palakkad district, the minister said in a statement after chairing a high-level meeting. The recent death of an 18-year-old girl in Malappuram district was confirmed as Nipah infection, while a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara in Palakkad district also tested positive for ...Read More >
Kalpetta: DMO Dr T Mohandas advised caution in Wayanad after Nipah has been confirmed in Malappuram district. In the sample tests conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research in the previous years, it was found that the fruit bats in the district had developed antibodies against Nipah virus. However, caution has been advised as the risk of Nipah is more during the reproductive season of the fruit bats. The medical officer stated that all the health centres have been urged to observe the symptoms and report them promptly. Nipah symptoms Severe headache along with fever, throat pain, mu ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jul 13 (PTI) The health condition of a 20-year-old college student, who immolated herself over an alleged sexual harassment incident in Odisha's Balasore district, remained critical, with doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar starting her dialysis as part of the initiation of renal replacement therapy, a treating medical practitioner said. The second-year student of the integrated B Ed programme at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore had on Saturday set herself on fire, demanding action against a teacher who had allegedly sexually assaulted and mentally harassed her. Dialysis co ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 15 (PTI) No increase in deaths among cardiac patients or a rise in the number of admissions for cardiac ailments, Karnataka Minister Sharanprakash Patil, said on Tuesday, stating that the findings from Karnataka correspond with those of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. "So, people need not panic. There is no correlation between the COVID vaccine and these deaths," Patil told PTI Videos. Also Read | 'Welcome Back': Yogi Adityanath, Mayawati Hail Shubhanshu Shukla's Return to Earth After Completing Historic Axiom-4 Space Mission. Medical Education ...Read More >
Listening to the sounds of nature such as birdsong reduces stress levels - but the sound of traffic increases them, new research shows. The research lends support for anyone who is a firm believer in the curative powers of a walk in the countryside or through a forest. In a study, 68 volunteers listened to three three-minute soundscapes: a nature soundscape recorded at sunrise in West Sussex, the same soundscape combined with 20 mile per hour road traffic sounds, and the same soundscape with 40 mile per hour traffic sounds. General mood and anxiety were assessed before and after the soundsc ...Read More >
Veteran actor and former Rajya Sabha member Manchu Mohan Babu was admitted to the emergency department of Continental Hospitals, Gachibowli in Hyderabad on Monday (December 10, 2024) night. He was brought in with complaints of diffuse body pain, anxiety, and a history of loss of consciousness. Hours earlier, Mr. Mohan Babu was caught in a fracas when journalists tried to speak to him and one of the journalists suffered injuries. The actor was summoned by the Rachakonda commissioner for posing th ...Read More >
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], December 12 (ANI): Singer Diljit Dosanjh has been issued an advisory by the Chairperson of Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights ahead of his December 14 concert in the city as part of his 'Dil-Luminati' India tour. The Chandigarh Commission for Protection says that children should not be exposed to sound levels above 120 decibels, as recommended by the World Health Organisation. The commission recommends avoiding songs that promote alcohol, drugs, and violence, such as "Le Patiala Pig", "5 Tara", and "Case", even if the lyrics are modified. Additi ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said authorities cannot go against demolition orders issued by courts and stressed that displaced residents have been provided accommodation.Her words came in the wake of the recent Madrasi Camp demolition for which the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised her. AAP has targeted Gupta, and alleged that the displaced Madrasi Camp residents were provided homes in faraway Narela, and those lack basic amenities.Attending an event to mark the construction of a Jan Sewa camp at a slum cluster in the Haiderpur area, Gupta told reporters: "In t ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: More than half of the total Covid-positive cases in Gujarat -- over 700 identified so far -- were recorded in the 25 to 50 years age group, or the 'working age group', state health department officials have said. About 10% of the cases were among infants under one year of age, according to govt data. Officials also said that the number of senior citizens in recent cases is relatively very low. Health experts pointed out that three patients who died of Covid -- all from Ahmedabad -- were women aged 18, 20 and 47 years. "No definite pattern is emerging yet, as cases are under control ...Read More >
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Commissioner's Task Force, Central Zone Team, along with Saifabad Police apprehended a 28-year-old man involved in the illegal sale of banned electronic cigarettes and seized 670 e-cigarettes worth Rs 21 lakh from his possession. The police raided a flat located in Prinstancode Apartments, Adarsh Nagar, under the jurisdiction of Saifabad Police Station. During the operation, Akash Sinde was arrested and e-cigarettes of various brands such as Elfbar, Elux, Raya D1, Nasty, and Shisha were seized. According to police, Akash, originally a resident of Mangalhat, was emplo ...Read More >
NEW DELHI - Amid growing concerns on social media over possible connection between Covid vaccines and recent surge in sudden heart attack deaths, officials issued firm clarification, cleaning air on the matter. In a public statement, Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said extensive studies conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) found no causal relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and sudden cardiac deaths among adults. Extensive research by ICMR and AIIMS has conclusively found no link between COVID vaccinat ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): The Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), has launched a Community-led Salt Reduction initiative after studies revealed that average daily salt intake in both urban and rural India exceeds the World Health Organisation's recommended limit of 5 grams. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends consuming less than 5 grams of salt per person per day. Studies show that the average intake in India remains high, around 9.2 grams per day in urban areas and 5.6 grams in rural areas, both exceeding the recommended limit ...Read More >
Diljit Dosanjh is set to perform in Chandigarh on December 14 as part of his "Dil-Luminati" India Tour. Diljit Dosanjh will perform in Chandigarh on December 14 (File photo) The Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights has advised singer Diljit Dosanjh to refrain from singing some of his hit songs, including 'Patiala Peg', at his upcoming concert in the city as they "promote" alcohol, drugs and violence and "affect" children. The 40-year-old is set to perform in Chandigarh on Decemb ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jan 31: Online gambling has become a growing menace in Kashmir, driving several families into severe financial distress and emotional turmoil. The easy accessibility of online betting platforms has lured many, particularly youth, with the illusion of quick financial gains. However, this often results in heavy monetary losses, debt and psychological suffering. According to details obtained by the news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a youth from south Kashmir initially won Rs 10,000 in online betting within a few days. Encouraged by this, he borrowed lakhs of rupees from neigh ...Read More >
As the body experiences prolonged stress, the "calming neurotransmitter GABA can dip" When your body experiences prolonged stress, the supply of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) can be diminished. Nutritionist Anjali Mukerjee has said that GABA is an important neurotransmitter that helps to inhibit neural activity and calm the brain, acting as a natural tranquiliser. But, if its supply lessens, then a person starts experiencing weakness, unsteady legs, muscle tension, headache, loose motions and excessive thirst, according to the nutritionist. In a video on Instagram, Anjali Mukerjee has discu ...Read More >
Gurgaon: It took just 19 days this year for air pollution levels in Gurgaon to overshoot the limit considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).A study of air quality data by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that Jan 19, 2025, was Gurgaon's 'overshoot day'. By then, particulate matter 2.5 concentration was already so high that, even if levels were to drastically reduce to zero for the rest of the year, the city would still fail to meet WHO's annual limit.The analysis also ranked the city as the fifth most polluted Indian city in the first half of 2025, wit ...Read More >
Kolkata, Jul 15 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hailed the safe return of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from space, calling it a matter of national pride. Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, on Tuesday returned to the Earth after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station. Also Read | Will Samosa and Jalebi Display Cigarette-Style Health Warnings? PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake News, Says Health Ministry's Advisory Doesn't Mention Warning Labels on Indian Food Products. "Welcome home, Shubhanshu Shukla! We are r ...Read More >
Entrepreneur and managing director of Homestays and villas and Mangalya destination weddings, Siddharth Bakaria, was the latest victim of the horror show that the city has turned into. Delhi's air and its declining quality have unfortunately become the hallmark of the general discourse of the country towards the end of the year and almost all throughout Winter. Lungs are Burning To no one's surprise, the Winter of 2024 is no different, with the landlocked capital city breaking the most undesirable records, very early on in the season. According to reports, Delhi and its neighbouring region ...Read More >
Bengaluru, July 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, responding to objections raised by Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw over his statement on Covid vaccines causing heart attacks in the state, on Friday, remarked that seeking clarity does not amount to spreading misinformation. Taking to social media site X, Siddaramaiah, defending his statement on linking sudden heart attack deaths in Hassan to a "hasty" Covid vaccine rollout, said: "As Chief Minister, I have a duty to respond to the genuine concerns of people who have lost loved ones unexpectedly. When parents lose the ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 7 (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday decided to treat sudden deaths as "notifiable disease" and conduct postmortem in such cases. State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said there will be more screening of people above the age of 15 years in the state. The minister's remarks came in the wake of a spate of heart attacks in the state, especially in Hassan district. He also sought to clarify that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement linking Covid vaccine with the spate of heart attacks was not with any malafide intention. "We have decided to announce sudden deaths as ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) A recent large-scale Danish study has revealed that ultrafine particles in air pollution can cross the blood-brain barrier and may increase the risk of developing tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly meningiomas --the most common type of primary brain tumor. The findings published in journal Neurology add to growing evidence that air pollution's harmful effects extend beyond respiratory and cardiovascular health, potentially affecting the brain as well. Given the high pollution burden in Indian metropolitan areas such as in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolk ...Read More >
New Delhi: A study conducted by the AIIMS-Delhi in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has claimed that there was no link between COVID-19 vaccination and sudden heart attacks among young individuals. A panel of doctors at a press conference in AIIMS said that the ongoing study has so far examined 300 cases of sudden death, particularly among people under the age of 40. Though all of them had received COVID-19 vaccine doses, preliminary findings suggest other health and lifestyle-related causes were more prominent reasons behind the attack. Dr S Narang, a cardiol ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, July 11: Byrnihat continues to lead the charts as the most polluted city in India in the first half of 2025 while Delhi stood a distant second, according to a new analysis. According to the analysis by independent research organisation Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Byrnihat recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 133 micrograms per cubic metre, while Delhi's PM2.5 levels reached twice the national ambient air quality standard at 87 micrograms per cubic metre. Hajipur (Bihar), Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Sasaram (Bihar), Patna, Talcher (Odisha), Rourkela (Odisha) ...Read More >