All posts tagged: Public health

Want to ward off the winter blues? Start by counting your steps | Health News

Want to ward off the winter blues? Start by counting your steps | Health News

Published by Parlour News

Over 330 million people currently suffer from depression worldwide, though the complexity of diagnosis and the heterogeneity of this condition mean that such a figure can only ever be a conservative estimate. Depressive disorders are a major cause of disability, and affect multiple aspects of a person’s quality of life, including their emotional well-being, social relationships, functional ability and physical health. Fortunately, we have ways of preventing them from taking hold, and physical activity is one of them. The risk of developing depression is influenced by a range of interconnected genetic, biological, psychological, environmental, social and behavioural factors. Among these, unhealthy lifestyle elements, such as not getting enough regular physical activity, can play a key role in the deterioration of mental health. Identifying these risks and encouraging a preventative attitude is therefore crucial to reducing the prevalence of depression, and to improving people’s overall quality of life. We aren’t getting enough exercise Physical activity is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, but globally, 81% of adolescents and 31% of adults do not meet the …

Which infectious disease is likely to be biggest emerging problem in 2025? | Health News

Which infectious disease is likely to be biggest emerging problem in 2025? | Health News

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COVID emerged suddenly, spread rapidly and killed millions of people around the world. Since then, I think it’s fair to say that most people have been nervous about the emergence of the next big infectious disease – be that a virus, bacterium, fungus or parasite. With COVID in retreat (thanks to highly effective vaccines), the three infectious diseases causing public health officials the greatest concern are malaria (a parasite), HIV (a virus) and tuberculosis (a bacterium). Between them, they kill around 2 million people each year. And then there are the watchlists of priority pathogens – especially those that have become resistant to the drugs usually used to treat them, such as antibiotics and antivirals.Scientists must also constantly scan the horizon for the next potential problem. While this could come in any form of pathogen, certain groups are more likely than others to cause swift outbreaks, and that includes influenza viruses. One influenza virus is causing great concern right now and is teetering on the edge of being a serious problem in 2025. This is …

Trump nominees should ‘steer clear’ of undermining polio vaccine, McConnell says | News Today News

Trump nominees should ‘steer clear’ of undermining polio vaccine, McConnell says | News Today News

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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, said any of President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees seeking confirmation should “steer clear” of efforts to discredit the polio vaccine. “Efforts to undermine public confidence in proven cures are not just uninformed — they’re dangerous,” McConnell said in a Friday statement. “Anyone seeking the Senate’s consent to serve in the incoming Administration would do well to steer clear of even the appearance of association with such efforts.” The 82-year-old lawmaker’s statement appeared to be directed at Trump’s nominee for health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., after a report that one of his advisors filed a petition to revoke approval for the polio vaccine in 2022. It was a sign that Kennedy, who has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism, could face resistance in the soon-to-be GOP-controlled Senate. “Mr. Kennedy believes the Polio Vaccine should be available to the public and thoroughly and properly studied,” said Katie Miller, the transition spokeswoman for Kennedy, in response to questions. The New York Times reported Friday that a …

Health Talk: Deaths due to drowning a public health concern | Latest News India

Health Talk: Deaths due to drowning a public health concern | Latest News India

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New Delhi: Drowning remains a major public health concern globally with a recent report published by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) saying at least 7.2 million people, mainly children, could die by drowning by the year 2050, if current trends continue. 38,000 cases of drowning were reported in India in 2023, says government data (Representative file photo) This is when the UN health body’s report mentions there has been a reduction in the rate of deaths globally over the years. In fact, the report reveals a 38% drop in the global drowning death rate since 2000, terming it a major global health achievement. However, more needs to be done to prevent further deaths. WHO estimates say at least 30 people drown every hour and 300000 people drowned to death in 2021; almost half of all drowning deaths occur among people below the age of 29 years, and a quarter occur among children under five. Children without adult supervision are at an especially high risk of drowning. “The significant decline in drowning deaths since 2000 is …

Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘not right’ reply as PM Modi targets Delhi over Ayushman Bharat health cover scheme | Latest News India

Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘not right’ reply as PM Modi targets Delhi over Ayushman Bharat health cover scheme | Latest News India

Published by Parlour News

Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party has hit back at Prime Minister Narendra over the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme accusing him of doing politics over the issue of public health in Delhi. Former chief minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal. (Hindustan Times) Arvind Kejriwal‘s reaction on Tuesday comes after PM Narendra Modi criticised the Delhi and West Bengal governments for failing to implement the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme out of “political interests”. Modi also said he was disappointed with the state of free healthcare for the elderly in Delhi and West Bengal and called it a missed opportunity to serve the senior citizens. Addressing a public gathering at New Delhi’s All India Institute of Ayurveda, Modi said, “I apologise to all the elderly aged above 70 years in Delhi and West Bengal. I hear your pain, but due to the state governments’ decisions, I cannot help you.” Reacting to Modi’s allegations, Arvind Kejriwal said speaking wrongly about the issue of public health and indulging in politics on it is not right. In …

Can poor AQI impact your stress levels and worsen mental health? | Health News

Can poor AQI impact your stress levels and worsen mental health? | Health News

Published by Parlour News

Winter months bring with them the characteristic chill in the air, perfect for morning walks and outdoor picnics. But, smog and smoke in the air drive a hard bargain when it comes to lung health. As metropolitan cities in India threaten to reach abysmally high levels on the air quality index, find out how it can stand to affect your mental health and stress levels. Air pollution: A silent threat to both body and mind Dr Shaunak Ajinkya, consultant psychiatrist, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, said poor AQI can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory problems that can indirectly affect mental health and lead to anxiety and depression. In fact, he shared that it’s an inversely proportional loop, indicating that anxiety and depression may also be a contributing factor in heart and lung problems. Air pollution can also trigger inflammation within the body, impacting brain chemistry. Neuroinflammation—a subtle form of brain inflammation — disrupts the production of serotonin and other mood-regulating neurotransmitters. Studies also show long-term exposure to pollution raises the risk of neurodegenerative disorders, with …

Swachh Bharat Mission: Creating jobs, transforming lives

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In 2014, India took a collective pledge to ensure cleanliness, health, and hygiene for all its citizens through the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). This nationwide campaign, driven by the vision of a clean India, has transformed sanitation across both urban and rural landscapes, making cleanliness a priority for millions. By promoting sustainable waste management practices, the mission has empowered communities, improved public health, and sparked a cultural shift towards hygiene. A study in Nature estimated that the SBM programme has been instrumental in averting 60,000–70,000 infant deaths annually since its launch. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, by 2025, an additional 677.3 million people in India are expected to benefit from improved health and well-being compared to 2018. Swachh Bharat Mission While the impact of SBM on public health has been widely documented, its contribution extends far beyond. When governments and communities invest in public health and hygiene, they build infrastructure and institutions that have a ripple effect on multiple aspects of development. By focusing on long-term behavioural change and sustainable impact rather than …

Govt asks states to identify facilities, trained human resources to handle mpox cases

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The Centre on Thursday asked all states to identify facilities and trained human resources for taking care of both suspected and confirmed mpox cases after India reported its first case of the strain that had last month prompted WHO to declare a public health emergency. In a letter to states and Union territories, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra said samples from skin lesions of any patient with suspected mpox symptoms should be immediately sent to designated labs. Samples testing positive will be sent to the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) for genome sequencing to determine the clade. Chandra said the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14 announced that the current outbreak of mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) disease was a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is the second time such mpox disease-associated PHEIC has been declared by WHO under the International Health Regulations, 2005, to which India is a signatory. The previous outbreak in 2022 was caused by the Clade 2 strain of the virus, the letter …

Jaishankar Meets WHO Chief Tedros, Discusses India’s Role In Global Health Initiatives

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Last Updated: September 13, 2024, 08:35 IST Jaishankar arrived here from Germany on the final leg of his three-nation tour that also took him to Saudi Arabia. Jaishankar arrived here from Germany on the final leg of his three-nation tour that also took him to Saudi Arabia External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday and discussed India’s cooperation with the global health body, including in the areas of traditional medicine and public health initiatives. Jaishankar arrived here from Germany on the final leg of his three-nation tour that also took him to Saudi Arabia. “Delighted to see @DrTedros, DG of World Health Organisation this afternoon. Discussed our cooperation in WHO including on traditional medicine and public health,” he posted on X, sharing some photographs of the meeting. In another X post, Jaishankar said he met with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and shared India’s perspectives on the global human rights situation and how challenges are best addressed. In another post, the minister said he …

Undernutrition and anaemia remain pressing public health issues

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ICMR-NIN recommends the dietary allowances and nutrient requirements for Indians and revises them from time to time based on emerging scientific evidence and the changing food landscape. Image for representation purposes only. File Undernutrition and anaemia continue to persist as public health issues with an estimated 56.4% of total disease burden in India being attributed to unhealthy diets, according to the latest Dietary Guidelines for Indians (DGIs) developed by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN), Hyderabad. It said a significant proportion of children continue to suffer impaired nutritional status while concurrently battling rising prevalence of overweight, obese, pre-diabetic symptoms, heightened risk to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in several States, creating a dual burden of malnutrition where both undernutrition and overweight/obesity coexist within the same communities and even within households. The DGIs are evidence-based food and lifestyle related recommendations designed as easily understandable and practicable approaches for ensuring a diverse diet to meet the requirements of essential nutrients and prevent NCDs among people of all age groups across India. ICMR-NIN recommends the dietary …