5 billion people globally exposed to toxic trans fat linked to heart disease: WHO

Trans fat has no known benefit but is associated with huge health risks that can burden health systems, says WHO director-general

Has the free market economy added to India’s increasing PCOD burden?

About 9.13% of menstruating women in south India and Maharashtra suffer from PCOS, while 22.5 per cent have PCOD, according to UNICEF

Non-communicable diseases rising in Pakistan, finds Lancet

Ischaemic heart disease, stroke, congenital defects, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease among the 10 leading causes of deaths in 2019

Yoga: Modern research shows a variety of benefits to both body and mind from the ancient practice

With its focus on controlling breath, holding postures and meditation, yoga increases how much a person pays attention to the sensations of their …

100 million Nigerians are at risk of neglected tropical diseases: What the country is doing about it

Nigeria began concerted efforts to combat human and animal trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness and nagana) in 1947

Neglected Tropical Diseases Day: Poorest countries continue to be most affected, says WHO

UN body highlighted the tremendous effects COVID-19 had on community-based initiatives, access to healthcare facilities and healthcare goods …

Budget 2023-24: Marginal rise in health budget not enough to keep up with inflation, experts say

Lesser allocation for health over the years also indicates that we need to go a long way to reach the target of spending 2.5 per cent of GDP for …

WHO publishes zero-draft of pandemic treaty: Equity, IPR take centre stage

Many believe draft unlikely to survive in current form due to Big Pharma, particularly in EU

Fine air particles linked with high blood pressure among teen Londoners: Study

The association was found to be stronger in girls

Being declared dead when you’re still alive — why these very rare events occur

Fainting might also deceive the certifying doctor; activation of the vagus nerve occurs during fainting, slowing the heart and reducing blood pressure

How do blood tests work? Medical laboratory scientists explain the process

There are a lot of steps in the pathway from blood draw to diagnosis and treatment 

Warming temperatures increasing pest attacks, reducing yield, claim Rajasthan farmers

New and wider infestations by pests causing mass destruction of harvest

Africa not on track to eliminate malaria by 2030 as envisioned: Report

Disruptions in access to health facilities, supply chain during COVID-19 pandemic impacted management of malaria cases

A 19-year-old is the youngest person to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease — the cause is a mystery

Nearly all cases of Alzheimer’s disease in people younger than 30 are due to inherited faulty genes

We should only worry about bird flu making us sick when we see human-to-human transmission

There is no evidence yet that any avian flu strain has spread from human to human

‘Insatiable demand from the East, greed & lack of political will is enabling poaching across Africa’

Wildlife veterinarian Dave Cooper talks about poaching, effect of climate change and his experience with conservation 

‘Africa’s health institutions must be strengthened at country-level’

During an outbreak, the same health worker is repurposed for emergency tasks, impacting routine healthcare services

Gene-editing in embryos is concerning. New study shows why

Extensive copying of genetic information from one parent to another due to CRISPR could give rise to mutant copies of disease-causing genes in …

Africa health security at risk; NCDs, climate change top causes

More coordination among African nations & inclusive leadership required to address upcoming health risks

COVID-19: Did SARS-CoV-2 originate in raccoon dogs from Wuhan wet market? New data gives links

Meanwhile, Israel reports new COVID-19 variant — a combination of BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants of Omicron

COVID-19 testing led to new techniques of disease diagnosis: Progress mustn’t stop now

In the past three years, focus of disease testing moved from simple detecting & understanding to incorporating speed, efficiency & …

As told to Parliament (March 24, 2023): India has eliminated leprosy, as per WHO criterion

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

Long COVID puts some people at higher risk of heart disease — they need better long-term monitoring

Several studies now show an elevated risk of cardiovascular outcomes following COVID and there may also be hidden pathology that will only emerge …

New wrist-worn device can quickly tell if you’re having a heart attack — it could save many lives

Testing for a protein in the heart cells called troponin can help show changes in heart rhythm

Climate’s clear connect: It is time for Africa to move beyond mitigation measures

Must build climate-resilient systems in response to Africa’s disease outbreak surge