Health & Fitness

Dr Shubham Vatsya, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at Fortis Hospital, called sabudana a "scam", saying its high glycemic index causes an immediate blood sugar spike. "We’re essentially consuming refined sugar," he said, noting it’s nearly 90% carbohydrates with almost no protein, fibre or vitamins. Pairing it with yoghurt, peanuts and vegetables can help balance its glycemic load, he added.

A Washington resident has died after contracting a bird flu strain never before seen in humans. Health officials confirmed it as the first known human infection of this new variant. Investigators are tracing the source and monitoring for any signs of spread. Experts say the overall risk to the public remains low but stress on early reporting of symptoms.

Cold weather during winter can cause the muscles and tissues around the joints to tighten, reducing flexibility and making movement more difficult, according to physiotherapist Dr Dharam Pandey. Air pressure decreases in winter, causing joints to expand and leading to discomfort. “Reduced physical activity during the colder months weakens the muscles that support the joints,” Dr Pandey added.

Kerala boasts the most accessible palliative care network in India, rivalled only by Chandigarh and Delhi and outperforming even several wealthier Western countries such as Germany, a new analysis has found. Patients in the state reach a centre in a median of 14 minutes, compared with the national average of 118 minutes.

Kerala is reporting a sharp rise in congenital disorders among newborns even as the state expands newborn screening, develops a rare-disease registry and prepares new child-care and paediatric palliative care programmes. A legislative committee has flagged serious data gaps and unusual spikes in conditions such as G6PD deficiency and galactosaemia, and has urged scientific investigations.

Black cumin seeds, commonly used in curries, have anti-obesity benefits as their extract inhibits the formation and maturation of fat cells, a study published in journal Food Science & Nutrition has found. Participants who consumed 5g of black cumin seed powder daily for eight weeks showed improvements in blood lipid profiles, which lowers risk of heart conditions, researchers stated.

Sanjay Kumar, Senior Director Cardiology, Fortis Faridabad said heart attacks and strokes are common in early morning. He stated surge of cortisol and catecholamines in morning raises blood pressure and heart rate. Kumar added body's ability to break down clots is less in morning. He further said overnight dehydration results in thicker blood and increases blood clot formation.

Child, adolescent and forensic psychiatrist Dr Astik Joshi said parents shouldn't take it lightly if their child says "I don't want to live" or "It's better if I disappear". Behaviour like banging head against walls shouldn't be dismissed as attention-seeking but should be seen as emotional overload, he said. Further, detachment from school or sports signifies an internal emotional shutdown.

Early kidney disease may present with symptoms like swelling/puffiness around eyes, according to Dr Kavita Parihar, Director of Renal Transplant at Apollo Hospitals. Other symptoms include feeling of heaviness in eyelids, visual disturbances, including blurred vision or even partial vision loss. These symptoms can be sign of deeper trouble, especially in those with diabetes or high blood pressure.

Researchers used BharatSim to model an H5N1 outbreak in Tamil Nadu. The study found that timing is critical. Early culling of birds prevents the virus from jumping to humans. However, immediate quarantine of infected households was the most effective method to stop human transmission and prevent a pandemic.