Health

Veteran actor Pran hospitalised

Mumbai: Veteran Bollywood actor Pran has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital in suburban Bandra, hospital sources said on Monday. "He was admitted to Lilavati hospital last Friday. He had come for a check-up which turned out to be a respiratory problem. He is doing fine and still in hospital. Nothing to worry," Lilavati hospital spokesperson Dr Sudhir Dagaokar told PTI. The 92-year-old actor is one of the most popular villains...  

Encephalitis battle suffers from red tape in UP

Lucknow: Has the battle of the Uttar Pradesh government against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and AES (Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) in its eastern part been lost to red tape? The answer, shockingly, seems to be yes. Even as the death toll of kids falling to the deadly viral disease mounted to 555 last week, the health department has been busily engaging in 'processes,' admitting that "lots of things still need to be...  

Ramesh targets states for poor health infrastructure

New Delhi: Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh attacked the states for the crumbling health infrastructure in the country, saying even Kenya has lower infant mortality rate than India. Ramesh's statement on the state of health infrastructure assumes significance as public health and sanitation; hospitals and dispensaries come under the State List (Constitution Seventh Schedule, Article 246, List II). He also targeted the states for not decentralising power, even though some...  

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray critical, but stable

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray remains in critical condition. While the Shiv Sena has claimed that the 86-year-old leader is fine and has been taken off life-support, the doctors have said that he is still on life support. This even as parts of the Maharashtra capital wore a deserted look on Thursday while there was a stream of visitors at Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree'. Shiv Sena working president Uddhav Thackeray...  

Bal Thackeray still critical, say doctors; Mumbai roads remain deserted

Mumbai: Several parts of the Maharashtra capital continue to wear a deserted look as Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray remains in critical condition. While the Shiv Sena has claimed that the 86-year-old is responding well to the treatment, doctors have said that he is still on life support. This comes even as a large crowd of Thackeray supporters have gathered outside his house, 'Matoshree' in Bandra since Wednesday night. The...  

Bal Thackeray on oxygen, not eating anything

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, who is ailing for sometime, is on continuous oxygen and not eating anything. "Bal Thackeray is not on ventilator, but is on continuous oxygen," his close source said on Tuesday. He said the 86-year-old Sena patriarch, who has been suffering from breathing problems, continues to be under medical supervision. "His health is not so good. He is not eating anything," he said. A number...  

India to have 101.1 million diabetics by 2030

New Delhi: India has 61 million diabetics between 20-79 years according to the International Diabetes Federation. By 2030, this figure is estimated to go up to 101.1 million. President of the International Diabetes Federation Professor Jean Claude Mbanya said, 'Major number of diabetics are in the middle and low income countries." In fact by 2030, according to the estimates, 8.4 per cent of India's adult population will have diabetes. But...  

Pregnant women, beware! Mobile radiation harms the baby

London: Pregnant women, beware! Cellphone radiation exposure during pregnancy impacts fetal brain development and may cause hyperactivity, researchers say. Yale School of Medicine researcher, Dr Hugh Taylor co-authored the latest study to probe the impact of cellphone exposure on pregnancies. "We had pregnant mice in cages and we just simply put a cellphone on top of the cage. In half the mice, the cellphone was active and in half of...  

1/3rd of babies born in 2012 could live upto 100 years

London: Long life ahead! A third of new generation babies are expected to survive to celebrate their 100th birthday, thanks to improvement in living standards and medicine, a new study claims. Dubbed the "new centenarians" because they have a one in three chance of reaching the age of 100, today's babies will work until the age of 70, be saddled with student debt until 52 and get married eight years...  

Mehndi may cause serious side effects, say doctors

New Delhi: Applying chemical-laced 'mehndi' (henna) on the hands can cause serious side effects including skin infection, doctors said, cautioning girls and women against using it. Mehndi dermatitis cases are on the rise in the city, said Rohit Batra, dermatologist at Sir Gangaram Hospital here. "We are getting 8 to 10 patients every day with serious side effects after applying mehndi on their hands," he added. "With the arrival of...  

Half of Indians with erectile dysfunction are diabetic

New Delhi: Diabetes is emerging as a leading cause of erectile dysfunction among Indian men. A recent study says that nearly half of Indian men above the age of 40 years suffering from the condition are diabetic. The study conducted by Alpha One Andrology Group - an association of doctors dealing in sex-related problems in men - took into account nearly 2,500 Indian men suffering from erectile dysfunction. "The analysis...  

Bal Thackeray is fine and stable: Raj Thackeray

Mumbai: Amid rumours of deteriorating health of Bal Thackeray, his nephew and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray said on Saturday night that the condition of Shiv Sena supremo was "stable". "He just had a soup. Doctors are monitoring his health," Raj told media persons outside 'Matoshree', residence of Bal Thackeray in suburban Mumbai. "I appeal to people to not believe in any rumours that are being spread about Bal...  

Gargling lemonade can help smokers quit the habit

London: For smokers willing to kick the butt, scientists have an unusual solution - gargling with a glass of lemonade. In a new study, scientists have found that the interaction of sugar (known as glucose) with the tongue boosts attention as well as energy and can improve self control. This could help keep smokers away from the cigarettes at least in the short-term, the Daily Mail reported. The study was...  

Poor more prone to smoking in India: WHO study

Thiruvananthapuram: Socio-economic milieu also has a bearing on the smoking habit as poor men in India smoke more than the rich, says a recent study. The World Health Survey (WHS) conducted by the WHO has found that 46.7 per cent of the poor men smoke in India as against 21.8 per cent of the rich men. The study, released here by as part of the anti-tobacco campaign, found that 35.3...  

This Diwali, stay away from heavy food for glowing skin

New Delhi: While you spruce up your home and shop till you drop in these hectic days before Diwali, do spend some time on yourself too. Remember to drink water to keep your skin hydrated and stay away from heavy food for that flawless and glowing skin, say experts. Sachin Dhawan, director and consultant dermatologist of Skin n Smiles, emphasises on adequate water intake and controlled consumption of fried food....  

Smog situation worsens; Delhi govt blames UP, Haryana

Delhi: A thick layer of smog continues to envelope the national capital on Thursday. The Supreme Court has expressed concern, but the Delhi government, unsure as to what has caused the smog, says it's because of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Delhi Chief Minsiter Sheila Dikshit says, "We are not responsible, neighboring states polluting." But activists say that Delhi's pollution level is at an all time high. According to a CSE...  

Pregnant diabetic women can use insulin pump now

New Delhi: Women who suffer from gestational diabetes during pregnancy may no longer need to prick themselves with shots of insulin. They can now use an insulin pump. "The insulin pump, which has been in use in India since the last 10 years, has not yet been used by pregnant women. There is a reason for this. Gestational diabetes, which occurs in pregnant women, usually subsides after delivery. Hence, most...  

Delhi: Smog situation worsens, to continue

New Delhi: Smog has choked the capital ahead of Diwali with visibility in the city dipping to 700 meters, that is half the normal range at this time of the year, due to high pollution levels. The Met department said that the visibility has reduced by more than half to 700 metres. The met department also said that if visibility drops to 500 metres, then there will be cause for...  

Bihar: 20 million students pledge not to use tobacco

Patna: About 20 million school students in Bihar on Wednesday took a pledge that they would never consume tobacco or related products, and would encourage their family and friends to do the same, an official said. "Over 20 million students of around 2.2 lakh government and private schools vowed that they would never consume tobacco or related products in their lives," A.A. Hai, an official of the Cancer Awareness Society...  

Religious leaders join hands for diabetes awareness

New Delhi: Leaders of different faiths have come forward to spread awareness on diabetes in the national capital ahead of the World Diabetes Day on Nov 14. Prominent religious structures, such as Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, Jama Masjid, Sacred Heart Church and Bangla Sahib Gurdwara will be lit in blue to spread the message on diabetes. "Screening of diabetes is important, or one goes on consuming sweets without knowing," Delhi Sikh...