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.
Navi Mumbai - India records approximately 1.5 to 1.8 million Stroke cases annually, equating to about 130-170 strokes per 100,000 people, with a Stroke occurring every 40 seconds and a stroke-related death every four minutes. Considering such alarming situation, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital Vashi organized a World Stroke Day event focused on raising awareness among senior citizens in Navi Mumbai about the importance of Stroke prevention and the critical need for timely intervention. The event commenced with a 15-minute educational skit performed by the hospital's dedicated nursing team. This engaging performance illustrated the early signs of Stroke, such as facial drooping, blurred vision, and loss of balance -- symptoms often overlooked in daily life. Participants were provided with information emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including adherence to anti-hypertensive medications, and avoiding smoking & excessive alcohol consumption. It also highlighted the significance of early Stroke recognition and emergency response, focusing on the 'Be Fast' protocol. Following the skit, Dr Reshik Kanan, Consultant - Neurology, Dr Samir Kale, Consultant - Neuro and Spine Surgery, and Dr Jayendra Yadav, Consultant - Neurology from Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi conducted a health session on Stroke identification and the importance of early intervention. They discussed how to choose a Stroke-ready hospital and the steps to take in a critical situation when a patient suffers a Stroke. The session also focused on the preventability of Stroke and the role of surgical management in Stroke care. Special emphasis was placed on the 4.5-hour window for administering IV thrombolysis, highlighting the time-sensitive nature of Stroke treatment. Additionally, neuro-surgical interventions and their importance in post-Stroke care were covered. To engage the senior citizens and enhance cognitive health, Dr Reshik Kanan, Consultant - Neurology also introduced interactive brain health activities. These exercises, designed to improve reflexes and coordination, offered a fun, hands-on way for participants to assess and enhance their brain function. The activities underscored the importance of maintaining mental acuity to reduce the risk of neuro-degenerative conditions. "At Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, we are deeply committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to prevent and identify strokes. Today's World Stroke Day event was an important initiative to educate our senior citizens about the life-saving importance of recognizing Stroke symptoms and seeking immediate medical intervention. We are committed to continue our efforts towards building awareness, and similar events will be organized in multiple locations in the coming weeks. These include corporate workspaces across Airoli, as well as residential colonies across Nerul, with an estimated reach of over 4000 attendees," said Mr. Nitin Kamaria, Facility Director, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi. Fortis Hiranandani Hospital remains steadfast in its mission to educate the public and promote stroke awareness, with a strong focus on early detection, prevention, and timely treatment.
Bengaluru, Jul 10 (PTI) An investigation into recent cases of sudden deaths and heart attacks among young individuals in Karnataka's Hassan district has found no abnormal increase, according to a report submitted to the state government on Thursday. The data analysis of cardiac cases at the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and its peripheral centres in Mysuru and Kalaburagi over the past six months also did not reveal any rising trend in cardiac-related fatalities. The inquiry was ordered following widespread public concern and media reports about "a perceived spike in sudde ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Thousands of residents of Madhapur face a serious health hazard as illegal water traders supply highly contaminated water from unauthorised borewells drilled near the heavily polluted Sunnam Cheruvu. This water, laced with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, is being delivered to hostels, educational institutions, hotels and eateries in the area. Many residents are consuming this water daily, unaware of the long-term harm to their health. Locals say the situation is dire. The stench from Sunnam Cheruvu is so strong that even standing near the lake has become unbearable. Yet, w ...Read More >
PNN New Delhi [India], July 11: Aayush Wellness Limited, an Integrated Healthcare Company, proudly announces the launch of its - Brain Fuel Capsules, formulated to support cognitive function, memory retention and mental clarity using time-tested herbal ingredients. With this launch, the company continues to expand its nutraceutical product portfolio, addressing one of the most overlooked health challenges in modern society like poor memory, lack of focus, and a decline in clear thinking." With the increasing demands of modern life, millions of individuals -- including students, working profe ...Read More >
Project led by Professor Sivaprakasam with international team The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by releasing the most detailed high-resolution 3D images of the human fetal brain. Developed by researchers at the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, this pioneering project is the first of its kind globally, showcasing over 5,132 digitally captured brain sections at a cellular level using advanced brain mapping technology. The dataset, apt ...Read More >
Chennai: In a landmark feat, IT-Madras has released the world's first high-resolution detailed 3D images of the human foetal brain, pushing the frontiers of brain mapping technology and placing India in the global league in this segment of science. This data set, termed 'DHARANI', is open source, meaning it is freely available for all researchers world-wide. For the first time globally, 5,132 brain sections have been captured digitally using cutting-edge brain mapping technology developed by Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre at the IIT. This work will advance the field of neuroscience and pot ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) The Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent in the current financial year, despite geo-political tensions and trade policy uncertainties, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) Chairman S Mahendra Dev said on Tuesday. In an interview with PTI, Dev further said that domestic growth will be driven by low inflation, resulting from good monsoon and benign interest rate regime, triggered by three back-to-back rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India. "There are significant global headwinds like the twin shocks of geo-political tensions and trade ...Read More >
Guwahati, July 6: The outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam has taken a worrying turn, with the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 13 deaths linked to the disease in the past three months. According to hospital authorities, a total of 57 encephalitis patients have been admitted to GMCH during this period. As of Friday, 47 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. In the past 24 hours alone, GMCH admitted 10 new JE cases, indicating a sharp surge in infections. However, there is some relief as 10 patients have successfully recovered and been dis ...Read More >
Delhi Air Pollution: As the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the 'very poor' category, increasing the risks of health problems, especially respiratory issues, the former director of AIIMS Delhi, Dr Randeep Guleria, on Wednesday said that those who have underlying respiratory conditions, need to be extra careful. Guleria, who is also the Chairman of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Medanta The Medicity, noted that to some extent, the rising air pollution can be termed a public health emergency because it is going to lead to increased symptoms, with more people coming to t ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 31: Rusan Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., the marketing and distribution arm of Rusan Pharma Limited, an integrated global pharmaceutical company, has announced the launch of the multi-dose delivery pen device - APOSAN® 3ml Pen (Apomorphine Hydrochloride solution for injection in cartridge)(10mg/ml)(3ml pre-filled cartridges) for treatment of motor fluctuations commonly known as 'ON-OFF' episodes in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease (PD). Also Read | Ashok Kharat Case: 150 Women Exploited via Spiked Drinks and Hypnosis; Congress Makes Wife-Swapping Allegati ...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 >
Nagpur: Eminent neurologists from the city joined experts from across the globe on World Brain Tumour Day to raise awareness about the disease.At an event held at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) headquarters in Nagpur, specialists emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, discussed symptoms and treatment options, and highlighted the multifaceted challenges faced by patients and their families.Renowned neurologist and Padma Shri Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram stressed the need for timely detection and comprehensive care. He said awareness about the type of brain tumour and its symptoms is c ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh administration has strengthened security arrangements across several districts including Lucknow, Sambhal, and Moradabad to ensure peace and avoid any disruption, as Muharram processions and the Kanwar Yatra are being held at the same time.Large crowds gathered for Muharram processions across different regions, while preparations for the Kanwar Yatra are also underway. Police personnel have been deployed in all sensitive areas, and surveillance is being carried out using drones and CCTV cameras.In SambhalDistrict Magistrate Dr Rajender Pensiya while speaking to ANI ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 29: As India observes World Heart Day, the conversation around cardiovascular health has once again turned to prevention, timely treatment, and most importantly, access to affordable medicines for everyone. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in India at 28.1%, with more than half a billion people affected by a heart ailment. While treatment protocols have advanced, the cost of long-term medication continues to be a burden for many families. More so if one takes into account the fact that almost half of them cannot afford the medication. Als ...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 >
NewsVoir Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 29: As India observes World Heart Day, the conversation around cardiovascular health has once again turned to prevention, timely treatment, and most importantly, access to affordable medicines for everyone. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in India at 28.1%, with more than half a billion people affected by a heart ailment. While treatment protocols have advanced, the cost of long-term medication continues to be a burden for many families. More so if one takes into account the fact that almost half of them cannot afford the medica ...Read More >
VARANASI: A team of IIT (BHU) scientists, led by Project Investigator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sudip Mukherjee, is spearheading a ground-breaking initiative to develop a cell-based therapeutic platform aimed at the long-term cure of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a fatal and debilitating neurological disorder. ALS has long posed a significant challenge to medical science. The disease, primarily of genetic origin, impacts movement, cognition, behaviour, and the overall health of individuals. In severe cases, ALS leads to respiratory failure and ...Read More >
Panaji: As many as 5,168 symptomatic and vulnerable persons were tested for tuberculosis last month, the highest number of tests in a single month to date, chief medical officer in charge of the national TB elimination programme, Dr Manish Gaunekar, told TOI. Goa has been ramping up TB testing, with the country aiming to eliminate the disease by this year.In 2020, Goa was the first state to provide a rapid molecular test (NAAT) for the early diagnosis of TB. The aim is to interrupt the chain of transmission through early detection, timely treatment, and community-wide awareness, Gaunekar said. ...Read More >
Kapurthala, Apr 6 (PTI) An elderly couple from Sultanpur Lodhi here has claimed that they have lost four sons to drugs while the fifth and last surviving son is also bed-ridden due to a severe liver infection. However, ruling Aam Aadmi Party's general secretary Baltej Pannu rebutted the claims of four deaths in a single household caused by drugs, asserting that the facts present a very different and more nuanced picture. In a statement, Pannu claimed a thorough field verification revealed that these deaths occurred over a span of more than eight years and were due to entirely different cause ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Do you or someone close to you experience frequent headaches, numbness or weakness in limbs, seizures, vision or speech changes, imbalance, or sudden memory issues? These could be early symptoms of a brain tumour, a serious and potentially life-threatening neurological condition. The brain is an important part of our body. If these symptoms become more frequent or severe, it could indicate the growth of a brain tumor. Brain tumors are also a type of health emergency -- they often grow slowly but can strike suddenly. Highlighting the unparallel role brain plays and the damage tumors ...Read More >
New Delhi: Long-term use of artificial sweeteners or low- and no-calorie sweeteners, used mainly by people with diabetes, can lead to cognitive decline, claimed a study. Researchers from the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, analysed 12,000 patients who use common artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, tagatose, and acesulfame K. The results, published in the Neurology journal, found that people who consumed the highest amounts had the greatest declines - 62 per cent -- in thinking and memory, as compared to those who consumed less. Also Read: Vi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Reality TV star Kim Kardashian has revealed a shocking health discovery; doctors found what she described as a "little aneurysm" in her brain during a routine MRI scan. The revelation surfaced in the preview of Season 7 of her reality series, The Kardashians. Kardashian shared that medical experts believe the aneurysm may be linked to extreme stress. The mother of four got emotional while discussing the diagnosis, acknowledging that the combination of her legal studies, parenting duties, and her ongoing battle with stress might have contributed to the health issue. In the trailer ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Next time you wake up with crushing fatigue, a high fever, a raw throat and swollen glands, take note. The trigger behind it could be something as simple as a kiss.Infectious mononucleosis, or the 'kissing disease', is caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) - one of the most common human infections worldwide. It spreads through saliva, not just kissing, but every day close contact.A US study using records from the Mayo Clinic-led Rochester Epidemiology Project, tracking nearly 19,000 people, has found those who develop mono are over three times more likely to develop multiple sclero ...Read More >
Bengaluru : KIMS Hospitals (Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences), Mahadevapura, announced the launch of the Institute of Neurosciences and Centre of Excellence in Neuromodulation, marking a significant step in advancing specialized neurological care in the region. The state-of-the-art facility aims to provide comprehensive diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation for a wide range of neurological disorders under one roof. This newly launched center is designed to address the needs of patients with various neurological conditions. These include Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and chronic pain. ...Read More >
A 32-year-old drug addict, who was hospitalised after his mother emotive appeal to save her critically ill son went viral on social media, succumbed during treatment on Tuesday. The youth was referred to Amritsar's Guru Nanak Medical College and Hospital from the Sultanpur Lodhi civil hospital on Monday. He was reportedly suffering from multiple health issues due to his drug addiction. As per his family, he was placed on ventilator in the Amritsar hospital after being diagnosed with acute liver ...Read More >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta issued orders on Friday to all departments, including the railways and Delhi Development Authority, that no slum will be demolished in the city unless its residents are provided with pucca houses.Gupta said Delhi govt would amend the existing policy on JJ clusters, if required, and even move court to protect the housing rights of slum-dwellers. She added that nearly 50,000 flats built years ago for the economically weaker section (EWS) in outer areas of the c ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], September 12 (ANI): Kerala's health authorities are on high alert due to multiple cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and often fatal brain infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba, commonly known as the "brain-eating amoeba." Also Read | Uddhav Thackeray-Led Shiv Sena Urges Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah To Rename Bengaluru Metro Station After Chhatrapati Shivaji Amid Naming Row. Official sources confirmed that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Kerala Health Department are closely tracking the situation afte ...Read More >
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday backed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for calling out the Delhi police for allegedly referring to Bengali as a Bangladeshi language, labelling it a "direct insult to the very language in which the National Anthem is composed." Stalin said such remarks were not "inadvertent errors" but a reflection of a regime that undermines India's linguistic diversity. "The Delhi Police, under the Union Home Ministry, has described Bengali as a 'Bangladeshi language.' This is a direct insult to the very language in which our National Anthem ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Insomnia, or sleep disturbances, arising out of ADHD's impulsivity could be the reason why adults with ADHD symptoms experience a reduced quality of life, according to a new study. Usually diagnosed during childhood and teenage, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked with restlessness, hyperactivity, and short attention spans. It is the neuro-developmental disorder linked with a delayed maturing of prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is crucial for attention and focus. Researchers, led by those from the University of Southampton, UK, and the Nethe ...Read More >
Piyush Mishra talks about his struggle with alcoholism, revealing personal regrets, loss of control, and how he managed to regain balance. Actor-writer Piyush Mishra has candidly spoken about his long and turbulent battle with alcoholism, shedding light on a phase that deeply impacted both his personal and professional life. In a recent conversation, he described addiction as a "deadly disease" that often goes unnoticed, even by those struggling with it. 'You Start Feeling Alcohol Is Necessary' ...Read More >
Gurgaon: The city, which is growing at a rapid pace, stands at a crossroads where it can learn from several innovative urban management practices of other Indian cities to tackle its own challenges. At the national conference of urban local bodies in Manesar on Thursday, mayors and municipal corporations from across the country shared their strategies, offering valuable insights for Gurgaon to consider.Surat generates Rs 140 crore from selling sewage-treated water to industries and has introduced artificial intelligence to detect waste dumping; Indore segregates waste into six streams at sourc ...Read More >