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.
Hyderabad: Teenagers in cities such as Hyderabad and Mumbai are increasingly taking to vaping due to peer pressure and flavoured devices, leading to a rise in dental problems among Gen Z, doctors said on the occasion of World Health Day. Dental experts said cases of dry mouth, cavities and gum infections linked to vaping are being reported at de-addiction centres run by Government Dental Colleges. "It often starts casually," said Dr Jaineel Parekh, noting that children as young as 13 to 15 are experimenting with flavoured vapes and sharing devices, often unaware of the risks. Nearly one in four students have tried vaping, many believing it to be safer than smoking, he said. Doctors said young users typically present early symptoms such as dry mouth, increased plaque despite good oral hygiene, gum irritation, mild swelling and sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Some also report rough tooth surfaces and slight discolouration. Experts said vaping reduces saliva flow, creating a dry environment that allows harmful bacteria to thrive. This increases the risk of cavities and gum infections over time, especially among those who vape frequently throughout the day. "Ninety-six per cent of Indian school students aged 14-17 are unaware that vaping is banned, and 89 per cent do not know its harmful effects," doctors said, adding that experimentation is more common in urban centres such as Delhi and Bengaluru. Dr Sarjeev Singh Yadav, principal and head of conservative dentistry and endodontics at Government Dental College, said nicotine reduces blood flow to the gums, which delays healing and masks warning signs. "The gums may recede or bleed easily, and by the time symptoms become noticeable, gum tissue may already be compromised," he said. Doctors also flagged disruption of the oral microbiome, with vape aerosols encouraging acid-producing bacteria. In long-term cases, this can lead to ulcers, gum recession and delayed healing after dental procedures. Though nationwide data is still being compiled, dental clinics report a growing number of Gen Z patients with oral health issues linked to vaping. Treatment includes professional cleaning and counselling, with doctors advising parental monitoring and behavioural intervention to curb the habit.
Gastroenterologist Dr. Joseph Salhab joins 'Fox & Friends' to examine a new study on the effects of pathogenic gut bacteria and tips for limiting exposure to harmful bacteria. Human infections from drug-resistant bacteria are spiking in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned. The CDC's laboratory tests have shown that occurrences of a bacteria called NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) have increased dramatically. NDM-CRE belongs to a broa ...Read More >
A monumental increase of more than 400% in infections from a dangerous drug-resistant bacteria known as New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) suggests a growing risk for life-threatening illnesses and deaths with limited treatment options, based on two recent reports. New data in the Annals of Internal Medicine and the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) show spikes in NDM-CRE, a type of gram-negative bacteria often treated with ...Read More >
India's Antibiotic Habit: A Growing Threat to Gut HealthSource : AI-generated, for illustrative purposes Did you know? As per the University of Washington study published in The Lancet in 2021, drug-resistant infections in India were directly responsible for 267,000 deaths and contributed to nearly one million more. India stands at the cusp of an antibiotic epidemic that threatens the lives of thousands and poses a global health threat. There is a looming quick-fix culture of grabbing antibiotics, even for the common cold and fever. This habit is creating a hidden health crisis that undermin ...Read More >
A Chandigarh research team has identified a new threat. A bacterium called Bordetella holmesii is now causing more whooping cough-like illnesses in North India. This bacterium has surpassed Bordetella pertussis in prevalence. The rise was most significant in 2023, affecting children aged five to ten. This shift signals an evolving pattern in respiratory illnesses in the region. A team at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has reported a significant ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) A genetic study has traced a 2023 outbreak of a neurological infection in Tamil Nadu to contaminated saline water used at a dental clinic, findings of which were published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal. Twenty-one probable cases of neuromelioidosis -- a neurological infection caused by bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei -- between July 2022 and April 2023 were identified across four districts in the northern part of the state. Seventeen of the 21 cases came from a single district, of which 10 reported undertaking treatment at a dental clinic. T ...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: Chest infections are seeing a significant rise in north India due to a lesser-known bacterium that mimics whooping cough, a latest study has said. The study, conducted by Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, said that pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Those suffering from pertussis get a serious hacking cough. Breathing in after coughing often causes a high-pitched noise that sounds like a "whoop." It has historically been a major cause of childhood mortality, with fatality rates reac ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 29: Dr. Bharat Agravat (https://www.drbharat.agravat.com), renowned dentist and implantologist along with being an award-winning medical entrepreneur, is set to launch its flagship OLI Therapy services for the treatment of Oral Submucous Fibrosis in Mumbai soon at OSMF Clinic. His son, Dr. Kartavya Agravat, CEO of Dr. Agravat Healthcare Ltd, will assist him in this service. With the original chamber being in Ahmedabad, residents will now be at great advantage in receiving advanced oral care right there in Mumbai from the very hands of one of India's best ...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 >
Kochi (Kerala) [India], June 26 (ANI): As part of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Commissionerate of Customs (Preventive), Kochi, has conducted an awareness campaign for school children under 'Mission Drug Free India'. Shaikh Khader Rahaman, Chief Commissioner, Central Tax, Central Excise and Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone, inaugurated the function, and T Tiju, Commissioner, CCP,Kochi, conducted an Awareness Session for the students at the Govt. Higher Secondary School for Girls, Ernakulam. Also Read | Will You Lose Your EPFO Pension From August If You ...Read More >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
PRNewswire New Delhi [India], March 30: Sensodyne, Haleon's leading oral care brand, is strengthening its commitment to better oral health in India with the launch of its 'Know Your Dental Age' initiative, placing the concept of Dental Age at the forefront of proactive care. India continues to face a significant oral health gap, with 9 in 10 people experiencing dental issues and most seeking treatment only when symptoms become severe. To drive early awareness and encourage preventive habits, Sen ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) Over 15 million people in the world born between 2008 and 2017 might develop gastric cancer at some point in life, with India contributing the second highest number among these cases, after China, a study has projected. Two-thirds of the more than 15 million projected cases could be concentrated in Asia, followed by the Americas and Africa. Researchers, including those from the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- the World Health Organisation's cancer agency -- analysed data on the incidence of gastric cancer across 185 countries using the GLOBOCAN 2022 data ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Following the delay in the announcement of seat matrices for courses such as medical and dental, Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) is considering holding a preliminary round before the actual first round for courses whose matrices are available. The seat matrices for engineering, veterinary, agriculture, bachelor of physiotherapy, and allied health science courses have been released. Option entry has been initiated, and candidates can enter their choices through the official link.Meanwhile, the seat matrices for medical, dental, Ayurveda, homeopathy, Unani, BSc nursing, archite ...Read More >
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NDM-CRE infections have been historically uncommon in the United States, the CDC said. The NDM gene - which was first identified in 2008 from a Swedish patient who had been hospitalized in New Delhi - creates an enzyme that destroys most antibiotics, including so-called carbapenems, which are usually used in last-ditch efforts to save patients with infections that fail to respond to standard antibiotics, The Washington Post ...Read More >
With over 8.6 million smokers in South Africa according to the Global Action to End Smoking, the number of smoke related deaths remains elevated at about 32 000 per year based on statistics from Tobacco Control Data. Efforts to make smoke-free products more widely available could help South Africa reduce smoking-related deaths, industry players have said, as the government finalises new legislation for the tobacco sector. However, the affordability of these alternatives has become a key concern. ...Read More >
At least 12 people, including five children, have died in 15 days at Chayansa in Haryana's Palwal, prompting a health department probe amid growing concerns about contaminated drinking water and infectious disease spread. Health officials said the deaths between late January and mid-February were linked to severe liver-related complications. Preliminary findings pointed to viral hepatitis and possible water contamination. On January 31, jaundice-related deaths were first reported in Chayansa, a ...Read More >
A Sydney-based study of 69 young people seeking mental health care found almost a quarter showed disrupted body clocks that showed signs that looked like jet lag, despite not having traveled across time zones. The University of Sydney researchers suggest the finding could lead to new ways to treat and study mental health conditions such as depression and bipolar disorder. The study, led by Dr. Joanne Carpenter and Professor Ian Hickie from the University of Sydney, is the first to look simultane ...Read More >
New Delhi: A year-long autopsy-based study conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi on Sunday found no scientific evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths among young adults -- reaffirming that the vaccines are safe and effective. The study, titled 'Burden of Sudden Death in Young Adults: A One-Year Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in India', has been published in the 'Indian Journal of Medical Research', the flagship journal of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Researchers closely examined sudden death cases of people aged between 18 and 45 years using verbal autopsy, ...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, Jul 3 (PTI) 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 cardiac arrests 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. Also Rea ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 5: Being an Indian immigrant arriving in the UK at the age of four and speaking only Gujarati, Dr. Khalid Master's journey is one of resilience, excellence, and purpose. With the encouragement of his parents, he pursued academic distinction, ultimately graduating from Liverpool University Dental School in July 2000 with distinction. He began his career serving the socially deprived area of Accrington, Lancashire, first as a Vocational Trainee and then as a full-time associate. Over nearly a decade of NHS service and more than 1,500 hours of postgraduate study, Dr. Maste ...Read More >
Dimapur, Jul 18 (PTI) Two persons have died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Nagaland, a health department official said on Friday. Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur, Dr Yartenla Jamir, said that of the seven JE cases detected in Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts, two persons have died so far. She expressed concern over the rise in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in the three districts, especially during the monsoon season, which increases the risk of transmission. The Health department has urged district administrations to issue a public advisory on JE prevention measures and to i ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 14: A year-long autopsy-based study conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi, on Sunday, found no scientific evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths among young adults, reaffirming that the vaccines are safe and effective. The study, titled "Burden of Sudden Death in Young Adults: A One-Year Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in India", has been published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the flagship journal of the Indian Council of Medical Research. Researchers closely examined sudden death cases of people aged between 18 and 45 years using verbal aut ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The capital city turned into a canvas of colour and devotion on Friday as thousands of devotees thronged the streets to witness Rath Yatra celebrations. Over 50 large and small chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were pulled through different parts of the city, accompanied by chants of 'Jai Jagannath'.The air reverberated with sounds of devotional music as people from all walks of life joined hands to pull the intricately decorated wooden chariots. Dressed in traditional attire, devotees danced to the rhythms of Odisha's folk instrument ...Read More >
A Karnataka expert panel finds no link between heart issues and Covid-19 or vaccines. The committee investigated heart attack deaths in Hassan district. Their report suggests common risk factors like hypertension are to blame. Covid-19 vaccination may protect against cardiac events. The panel recommends public health strategies and cardiovascular screening.There is no association between premature cardiovascular disease in a patient and a prior history of Covid-19 infection or Covid vaccination, ...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 >
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Patoda village in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district for becoming a model carbon-neutral gram panchayat through sustainable practices and community effort. PM Modi's Statement "A village in Maharashtra has set a remarkable example," said the Prime Minister in the 123rd episode of his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat. "Patoda is a gram panchayat that is carbon neutral. No one here throws garbage outside their home. There is a complete system for collecting waste from every household." PM Modi elaborated on the village's holi ...Read More >
Maharashtra Assembly Monsoon Session: Nana Patole and other MVA legislators protested against alleged derogatory remarks by Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar about farmers. Congress MLA Nana Patole was suspended for a day from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Tuesday after he climbed Speaker Rahul Narwekar's podium amid aggressive protests by the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi MLAs. On the second day of the Monsoon Session, MVA legislators staged a protest against alleged derogatory remarks made by Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and BJP MLA and former ...Read More >
Chennai: Researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have developed an innovative and affordable microfluidic device that can rapidly determine whether bacteria are resistant or susceptible to antibiotics. Unlike many modern techniques that rely on costly metals, complex fabrication processes, or those that require highly skilled technicians, the lab-on-chip device, known as 'ε-µD' is based on screen-printed carbon electrodes embedded in a simple microfluidic chip. The approach makes the device not only economical but also suitable for deployment in smaller clinics a ...Read More >