13/11/2017 Protect your skin from air pollution The skin has defensive mechanisms that help fight free radicals that exist in polluted air by secreting fats and oils called lipids that act as a barrier against these pollutants. To strengthen this mechanism there are certain tips that one should follow to ward off skin diseases, say experts.Mohit Narang who is AVON Skincare expert and also one of the leading Cosmetologist in India, doles out tips that one should follow
18/05/2016 Eating potatoes may increase high blood pressure risk Love to binge on potatoes and French fries? If yes, you may be at an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, warns a new study.Potatoes are one of the world's most commonly consumed foods -- and are a high source of potassium.The findings showed that participants who consumed four or more than four servings a week of boiled, baked or mashed potatoes,
28/01/2016 How vitamin A can reduce scarring in blood vessels A team of US researchers has developed a new biodegradable material with built-in vitamin A which has been shown to reduce scarring in blood vessels. While scarring is a natural part of any healing process, scar formation within our blood vessels can be deadly. "When injury occurs, cells proliferate and migrate into the blood vessel, creating scar-like tissue. It can create blockages that impair blood flow," said lead researcher Guillermo Ameer from the Northwestern University.
25/01/2016 New technique to tell if baby was born early American researchers have found a metabolic profile derived from routine newborn screenings that can determine how many weeks a mother has carried her baby. According to researchers from the University of Iowa in the US knowing if an infant was born on time or prematurely can make all the difference in deciding what medical care the baby needs. "It's important to know whether a baby is small because it is simply small in size but born on time or is small because it was born early," said Kelli Ryckman, assistant professor at the University of Iowa in the US.
23/01/2016 Mindfulness can tackle obesity in kids The balance in brain networks in children who are obese is different compared to healthy-weight children, making them more prone to over-eating, suggests a new study. Mindfulness has been shown to increase inhibition and decrease impulsivity. Since obesity and unhealthy eating behaviours may be associated with an imbalance between the connections in the brain that control inhibition and impulse, said the researchers from Vanderbilt University at Nashville in the US. "We know the brain plays a big role in obesity in adults, but what we understand about the neurological connections associated with obesity might not apply to children," said lead author BettyAnn Chodkowski.
21/01/2016 Indoor air pollution causing low birth weight: Doctors One of the major reasons for low weight among newborns in rural India was the continuous exposure of pregnant women to indoor air pollution, according to doctors. Doctors have said indoor air pollution caused by the 'chulhas' burning wood, coal and animal dung as fuel was the major factor behind the occurrence of a slew of diseases including respiratory diseases among women. They said that apart from low birth weight, the continuous exposure of pregnant women to air pollution can also lead to brain deformity, asthma and improper growth among newborns. "For a woman, the time between conception and birth is perhaps one of the most vital life stages.
14/01/2016 Brush your teeth twice a day and revitalise your heart What have brushing and cleaning your teeth to do with your heart? A lot, say health experts, suggesting that taking care of your teeth and gums will not only help keep oral hygiene or make you smile better but also save your heart from various heart diseases. Gum disease can be a reason for heart disease because bacteria from infected gums can dislodge, enter the bloodstream, attach to blood vessels and increase clot formation.
20/01/2016 Dal Mein Kuchh Kala? In an attempt to cut legume imports, the government has reportedly decided to lift a five-decade-old ban on a type of lentil that has been linked to nerve damage and paralysis. Hit by back-to-back droughts for the first time in over three decades, India's lentil output has fallen and prices have nearly doubled. Now the government has allegedly cleared three varieties of the khesari dal or lentil, which can grow in dry or wet conditions. The opposition Congress party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of risking the health of unsuspecting consumers. But the varieties that have been cleared for cultivation contain a smaller amount of a neurotoxin that can damage nerve tissues and weaken the legs of both humans and animals than previous varieties, said Narendra Pratap Singh, director of the state-run Indian Institute of Pulses Research (IIPR).
16/01/2016 Frequent sore throats? Tonsil removal can offer relief Adults suffering from frequent sore throats might find relief by having their tonsils surgically removed, new research has found. In the study, people undergoing tonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils) were found to have fewer cases of sore throat, fewer missed working days and an improved quality of life. Gotz Senska from Marienhospital in Gelsenkirchen, Germany and co-authors analysed the long term effects of tonsillectomy based on patient surveys. The study, published in the journal Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, involved 114 adults who underwent tonsillectomy in 2004. They filled in several questionnaires, first before surgery and then again at 14 months and then seven years after surgery, with questions about their sore throat incidences and their quality of life. Comparing their answers over time revealed that participants suffered a sore throat almost ten times a year prior to surgery but only about twice a year after it. Similarly, after tonsillectomy, the participants' doctor visits dropped from an average of about five times a year to less than once a year.
15/01/2016 Eat fibre-rich diet for better sleep If you are suffering from sleep problems, a little change in diet can make a big difference. Researchers have found that a diet rich in fibre but low in saturated fat and sugar can help you get a good night's sleep. Eating less fibre, more saturated fat and more sugar is associated with lighter, less restorative, and more disrupted sleep, the findings showed. "Our main finding was that diet quality influenced sleep quality," said principal investigator Marie-Pierre St-Onge, assistant professor at "It was most surprising that a single day of greater fat intake and lower fibre could influence sleep parameters," St-Onge said. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, involved 26 adults - 13 men and 13 women - who had normal weight and an average age of 35 years. Results showed that greater fibre intake led to more time spent in the stage of deep, slow wave sleep. In contrast, a higher percentage of energy from saturated fat led to less slow wave sleep. Greater sugar intake was also associated with more arousals from sleep. The researchers also found that participants fell asleep faster after eating fixed meals provided by a nutritionist, which were lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than self-selected meals.
15/01/2016 E-cigarettes not helping people quit smoking: Study Electronic cigarettes that are widely promoted and used to help smokers quit traditional cigarettes are not assisting much in this task, says a new study. A new analysis by the University of California-San Francisco has found that 'vapers' -- dedicated enthusiasts of electronic cigarettes -- are 28 percent less likely to stop smoking. "As currently being used, e-cigarettes are associated with significantly less quitting among smokers," said lead author Sara Kalkhoran from the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. E-cigarette regulation has the potential to influence marketing and reasons for use, the findings showed. "The inclusion of e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws and voluntary smoke-free policies could help decrease use of e-cigarettes as a cigarette substitute, and, perhaps, increase their effectiveness for smoking cessation,” the researchers explained.
14/01/2016 Most people who hit the gym have sex on their minds Are you the one who joined the neighbourhood gym in the hope of a “hook up” and some real action between the sheets? You are not alone. According to a new survey, most of the people who hit the gym have sex on their minds. The findings revealed that while half of the participants used the gym as a hook-up venue, a quarter of them admitted to having sex at the health facility, fusion.net reported, quoting the online poll from high street sex shop Ann Summers involving 2,000 adults.
14/01/2016 A cup of coffee can help stick to fitness regime Struggling to stick to fitness regime? Have a cup of coffee! According to an interesting study, the use of caffeine could help people stick to their fitness plans. Researchers said that reducing perception of effort during exercise using caffeine (or other psychoactive drugs like methylphenidate and modafinil) could help people to stick to their fitness plans. “Perception of effort is one of the main reasons why people find it difficult to stick to their fitness plans,” said professor Samuele Marcora, director of Research at University of Kent in the United Kingdom. Marcora pointed out that perceived exertion is one of the main reasons why most people choose sedentary activities for their leisure time.
14/01/2016 Liver recovers faster on low-sugar diets Liver damage caused by diet high in fat, sugar and cholesterol may be difficult to reverse even if the diet is generally improved, a new study shows. The damage can also lead to more serious health problems, such as cirrhosis or even cancer, the study says. "For more significant liver recovery, the intake of sugar has to come down, probably along with other improvements in diet and exercise," said Donald Jump, a professor at Oregon State University in US. Researchers found that diets low in fat and cholesterol could, in fact, help with weight loss, improved metabolism and health. But, if the diet was still high in sugar, there was much less liver recovery, the findings showed. "This research suggests that diets lower in fat and cholesterol, even if they help you lose weight, are not enough," said Jump.
14/01/2016 Asthma, sleep apnea may weaken cornea People with asthma, sleep apnea or down syndrome are at higher risk of developing an eye condition that causes serious progressive nearsightedness at an young age, a new study has found. The findings, made through a study of the condition called keratoconus, could help more people protect their vision if treated on time. Keratoconus makes the cornea weak, which leads it to become cone-shaped over time. The study found that females, AsianAmericans and people with diabetes appear to have a lower risk of keratoconus.
13/01/2016 Asthma may increase odds for nearsightedness at young age People with asthma, sleep apnea or Down syndrome, have much higher odds of developing an eye condition that causes serious progressive nearsightedness at a relatively young age, new research has revealed. 4=u74he last decade has brought new treatment options, but many people do not receive a diagnosis early enough to take full advantage of them, the researchers pointed out. The researchers also confirmed that men are at greater risk of contracting the condition called keratoconus than women. Keratoconus makes the rounded, clear covering of the eye, called the cornea, weak, which leads it to become cone-shaped over time.
12/01/2016 Heartburn pills may raise kidney disease risk Popping common over-the-counter pills for controlling stomach acid, gas and heartburn daily may put you at chronic kidney disease risk in the long run, a team from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and others have cautioned.
12/01/2016 Smoking 'beedis' also causes gastric cancer: Study Smoking 'beedis' is a causative factor for gastric cancer apart from that of lungs and the oral cavity, a study carried out in a Kerala district town said. The study, done in Karunagappally in the Kollam coastal district on 65,553 men aged 30-84 in the 1990-2009 period found that gastric cancer risk increased with the number of 'beedis' smoked.
12/01/2016 Common painkiller with anti-cancer properties identified Diclofenac - a well-known cost-effective painkiller - has the potential to cut down the risk of post-surgical spread of cancer, which may prove to be a huge win in the fight against cancer, explained the authors.
12/01/2016 Here comes 'green' coffee for super health benefits You love green tea for its health benefits but what about having a cup of "green coffee"? Well, US scientists have come up with a new invention - parbaked coffee bean where coffee beans are baked at less temperature for super health benefits. According to biophysicist Dan Perlman from Massachusetts-based Brandeis University, this method of roasting green coffee beans enhances the health benefits of coffee.
12/01/2016 Common food preservative can kill cancer cells A common naturally occurring food preservative may be used to beat cancer and deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, says a new study. The researchers focused on the cancer-killing properties of nisin, a colorless, tasteless powder widely used as a food preservative.
09/01/2016 Good bacteria may help prevent pneumonia The presence of a harmless bacterium found in the nose and on the skin may negatively impact the growth of a pathogen that commonly causes middle ear infections in children and pneumonia in children and older adults, says a new study.
09/01/2016 New drug shows promise to treat colorectal cancer A small molecule drug combined with chemotherapy may effectively treat colorectal cancer patients, says a new study. The researchers demonstrated the efficiency of the drug called “PRIMA-1met” in inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells. Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the large intestine (colon and rectum) and it is known for its poor long term survival rates among adults.
29/12/2015 Asthma May Increase Risk Of Painful Skin Rash: Study People with asthma may be at increased risk of shingles, a common form of painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, says a new study. "The effect of asthma on the risk of infection or immune dysfunction might very well go beyond the airways," said lead author Young Juhn, general academic pediatrician and asthma epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic Children's Research Centre in Rochester, US.
27/12/2015 Bioactive glass fillings to prolong tooth life Bioactive glass can be used in tooth fillings to reduce the ability of bacteria to attack composite tooth fillings, and perhaps even provide some of the minerals needed to replace those lost to tooth decay, engineers from Oregon State University said.
26/12/2015 Govt caps prices of another 106 drugs For bringing down prices of medicines for critical diseases like cancer, HIV and diabetes, the government has revised the national list of essential medicines (NLEM) to add 106 more drugs while 70 other drugs, which are not prescribed frequently or where better alternatives are now available in the market, have been taken off the list
24/12/2015 Biocon launches hepatitis-C drug in India Biocon Ltd, India’s largest biotechnology company, on Thursday said it has launched the generic version of US-based Gilead Sciences Inc.’s hepatitis-C drug Harvoni in the Indian MARKET Harvoni, the fixed-dose combination of ledipasvir-sofosbuvir of 90mg and 400mg, respectively, is an improved version of Gilead’s hepatitis-C drug Sovaldi or sofosbuvir. Biocon will sell generic Harvoni under brand name CIMIVIR-L. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) recently approved the sale of the sofosbuvir-ledipasvir combination, which is being manufactured in India under a license from Gilead
22/12/2015 14 gram almonds daily can boost your health Eating a moderate amount of almonds daily can enrich the diets of adults and young children, says a new study. "Almonds are a good source of plant protein -- essential fatty acids, vitamin E and magnesium," said one of the researchers Alyssa Burns from University of Florida in the US. For the 14-week study, the scientists gave almonds daily to 29 pairs of parents and children. Most of the adults were mothers with an average age of 35, while their children were between three and six years of age.
02/09/2015 Improve your diet from now on to enjoy the festivities while we are busy celebrating festivals, our bodies work overtime to digest the heavy festive food. They might be delicious, but they put pressure on our liver and digestive system. Control your diet from now on to enjoy the festivities. Dolly Kumar, director, GAIA, suggests how to strengthen our liver and digestive system before the upcoming festive season:-
19/08/2015 E-Cigarettes can trigger smoking in teens While electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are generally assumed to be less harmful, new research has found that teenagers who use these cigarettes are more likely to smoke conventional cigarettes, cigars and hookahs over the next year compared with nonusers. Electronic cigarettes, devices that deliver inhaled aerosol usually containing nicotine, are becoming increasingly popular, particularly among adolescents. "Some teens may be more likely to use e-cigarettes prior to combustible tobacco because of beliefs that e-cigarettes are not harmful or addictive,” the study authors noted. Adam Leventhal from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and colleagues examined whether adolescents who reported ever using e-cigarettes were more likely to initiate the use of combustible tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, and hookah) during the subsequent year. The study included 2,530 students from ten public high schools in Los Angeles who reported never using combustible tobacco at the beginning of the study in 2013, and completed follow-up assessments at six months in the spring 2014 or 12 months in the autumn of 2014. At each time point, students completed self-report surveys on any use of combustible tobacco products. The researchers found that e-cigarette users (222 students) were more likely to report use of any combustible tobacco product at the six-month follow-up (31 percent vs 8 percent) and at the 12-month follow-up (25 percent vs nine percent). "These data provide new evidence that e-cigarette use is prospectively associated with increased risk of combustible tobacco use initiation during early adolescence," the study noted. The findings appeared in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association.
