COLOMBO: The spread of dengue has been contained in Western and Central Provinces of Sri Lanka, and attention should be directed toward districts such as Jaffna, Trincomalee and Batticaloa in Northern and Eastern provinces, the President’s Media Division (PMD) said in a statement on Wednesday. The PMD said President Ranil Wickremesinghe chaired a progress review meeting to assess the effectiveness …

A subtype H3N2 Influenza-A virus, causing severe respiratory illness in people across Pakistan, according to the National Institute of Health report. The National Institute of Health (NIH) in its recent report stated that thousands of severe respiratory illness cases are being reported every week across Pakistan. The health experts revealed that the Influenza virus can be dangerous for the elderly …

Ah, the humble poop. Often a topic for hushed whispers and nervous giggles, it’s nonetheless a crucial indicator of our gut health. Regular bowel movements (around three times a day to three times a week) are a sign of a happy digestive system, while constipation can cause discomfort, bloating, and even health problems. There can be many reasons for constipation, …

Iron is a vital mineral that you require to produce haemoglobin, which helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Iron also supports healthy pregnancy, maintains energy levels, improves athletic performance and ensures better hair growth. Not consuming enough iron can contribute to anaemia and disrupt several functions of the human body. Therefore, it is essential to add enough …

Afghan women are still living a miserable life under the interim Taliban regime in their country. According to UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric, one woman dies during childbirth every two hours in Afghanistan. The country has one of the world’s highest mother-and-child mortality rates, with 638 women dying per 100,000 births, as per a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. The United …

Room heaters are electrical devices that are used to heat up a small enclosed space, such as a room or an office. They come in various types, including electric heaters, oil heaters, gas heaters, and infrared heaters. These devices are commonly used during the winter season to provide localised warmth. Read on as we discuss the negative affects of using …

LOS ANGELES: A new coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is spreading fast in the United States, and is now accounting for nearly half of the latest COVID-19 cases in the country, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). JN.1 is currently the fastest growing variant and the dominant one in the country. It is responsible for over 44 …

BEIJING: When you open some of the most popular Chinese lifestyle-sharing apps such as Xiaohongshu or Weibo, it is not uncommon to see many influencers proudly parading their lifestyles and sharing their daily recipes, most of which are diet-oriented, sugar-free or non-fat. Along with the trendy healthy lifestyle, the scale of the Chinese light food market exceeded 100 billion yuan …

LOS ANGELES: A new coronavirus subvariant JN.1 is spreading fast in the United States, becoming a significant contributor to new COVID-19 cases in the country. JN.1 is responsible for 21.4 percent of new infections across the country and has become the fastest-growing strain of the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the Northeastern …

LONDON: Junior doctors in England started a three-day strike on Wednesday in their long-standing dispute with the government over pay and conditions. Junior doctors — around half of all doctors in the National Health Service (NHS) — took strike action from 7:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday until Saturday morning. Further strikes, starting from Jan. 3 next year and lasting …

I wish that being a doctor meant that my family and I would never get sick. Unfortunately, viruses, bacteria and other sources of illness do not discriminate based on profession. Here’s what’s in my toolkit to keep us going in sickness and in health. Natural remedies for cough and sore throat Tea – teas with ingredients like licorice and slippery …

Issues in this modern and fast-paced life are a common sight; thanks to the sedentary lifestyle, stress and anxiety that surrounds us. One of the most common conditions that humans tend to suffer from is deficiency of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that is present in the red blood cells, and is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. …

A new generation of obesity drugs often delivers dramatic weight loss, but many patients wonder what happens when they stop treatment. One study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association provides an answer: much of the weight comes back, signaling patients may be locked into long term dependence on the drugs. The research was based on weekly …

BEIJING: Chinese researchers have developed a single-dose dry-powder inhalable vaccine platform featuring the nano-micro composite multilevel structure, significantly contributing to the prevention and treatment of respiratory infectious diseases in the future, according to a study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature. Researchers have made significant progress in developing vaccines for respiratory infectious diseases in recent years. Most of these …

Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when a person’s body lacks an adequate amount of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. It is necessary for the formation of red blood cells, proper neurological function, and DNA synthesis. In this article, we discuss some ways B12 deficiency affects …

No matter what you’ve heard or how badly you want relief, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before trying any home remedy. This is even more important if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications because some can affect how drugs work. And keep in mind that many don’t have any research to back them up. Mint has been used for …

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian medical practitioner Yon Sarat was all ears and took good notes when traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts on Monday presented treatment techniques during a training seminar here. The 36-year-old nurse at private-owned Polyclinic Hong En in Phnom Penh said the training seminar would give him a better insight into the use of TCM in disease diagnosis and …

Similar to doing an MOT on a car, scientists believe they can run a blood test to check how fast a person’s internal organs are aging, and even predict which ones might soon fail. The Stanford University team says they can monitor 11 major body parts, including the heart, brain and lungs. They tried it on thousands of adults, mostly …

Lahore and Faisalabad are facing a severe shortage of over 150 essential medicines, including life-saving drugs. This is causing great worry and stress for patients and citizens. People are forced to look for other ways to get the medicines they need, including buying them on the black market for very high prices at various spots in the cities. The shortage …

OTTAWA: A total of 3.5 million Canadians, or 11.7 percent of the total adult population, reported experiencing long-term symptoms from a COVID-19 infection by June 2023, Statistics Canada said Friday. Revealing the results of a study in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the national statistical agency said that of those who continue to experience long-term symptoms, 79.3 …

NANJING: An international team of scientists said a fossil dating back to about 130 million years ago suggests male mosquitoes likely sucked blood in ancient times. Among modern-day mosquitoes, only females are hematophagous, meaning that they use piercing mouth parts to feed on the blood of humans and other animals. Scientists believe that insect hematophagy evolved from piercing-sucking mouthparts used …

Air pollution is a major threat to human health, children are especially vulnerable to its adverse effects. Children’s developing bodies, along with their immature immune systems, make them more vulnerable to the harmful effects of polluted air. Children breathe more rapidly than adults, taking in more air relative to their body weight. This increased breathing rate exposes them to higher …

As winter approaches, it’s crucial to extend our health focus beyond just bundling up. The colder months present unique challenges for maintaining a radiant smile, with dry air, festive treats, and temperature extremes affecting your teeth and gums. In this season of joy, don’t overlook the importance of a healthy and vibrant smile. Embrace the season with confidence, knowing your …

NAIROBI: Realizing the HIV/AIDS elimination goal in Africa by 2030 will be dependent on greater support for community-led prevention and treatment interventions, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Thursday ahead of World AIDS Day, which falls on Friday. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said that optimal involvement of local communities is key to promoting early diagnosis, …

Do you know international orange juice prices have increased by more than 300 percent since 2020, clocking to an all-time high? Some even joke that it may beat certain hedge funds out there but why? Given extreme weather events and disease outbreaks hurting both near and long-term prospects of a thinly traded market, a constrained production outlook from the United …

A five-day anti-polio campaign will begin across the country from Monday. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than 7.4 million children up to five years of age will be administered polio drops by 31,000 teams during the campaign. In Balochistan, more than 11,000 teams have been constituted for the drive to inoculate 2.5 million children. According to the Polio Emergency Operation Center, …

Chilli contains up to seven times the vitamin C level of an orange and has a range of health benefits, including fighting sinus congestion, aiding digestion and helping to relieve migraines and muscle, joint and nerve pain. It’s also a good source of vitamins A and E, beta-carotene, folic acid and potassium. Read on to know more about its benefits. …

Daily workouts are important for maintaining good physical and mental health. They help strengthen muscles, improve cardiovascular fitness, and release endorphins that contribute to overall well-being. During Diwali season or any festive period, it can indeed be challenging to stay consistently on track with workouts, as social engagements and celebrations often take priority. However, it’s important to remember that occasional …

Men and women have different life expectancies. The gap’s growing in the US and shrinking in Europe. But it exists in non-human animals, too. Why is that? Take a look around your average retirement home or advanced-age friend group and you’ll see a significant sex imbalance. Men are rare among the 85-and-overs. Common wisdom is that they die earlier than …

Pomegranate juice may help improve insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar levels. Pomegranates are a type of fruit that grow on deciduous shrubs or small trees. They have a round shape and a thick, leathery skin that is typically red or orange. Inside the fruit, there are numerous small, edible seeds called arils, which are surrounded by a juicy, sweet-tart …

BANGKOK: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is gaining popularity worldwide with joint efforts required to promote TCM globally, experts and scholars said in an international symposium in the Thai capital Bangkok. Over 100 scholars from 20 countries and regions participated in the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS) 2023 International Symposium on Acupuncture-Moxibustion scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. At the symposium, …

Maintaining high oxygen levels in the body is important because oxygen is essential for the proper functioning of every cell, tissue, and organ. Oxygen plays a crucial role in producing energy, supporting brain function, promoting healthy circulation, and maintaining overall physical and mental well-being. Specific breathing practices called pranayama can indeed help improve oxygenation. Various pranayamas focus on deep inhalations …

A new report by the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change paints a grim picture of the future as it warns that heat-related deaths could increase by nearly five-fold by 2050 if current trends continue. The report also projects that heatwaves could lead to an additional 524.9 million people experiencing moderate-to-severe food insecurity by 2041-60. The report’s findings are …

The caretaker Minister for Health Doctor Nadeem Jan has taken notice of the sale of non-registered and banned disposable syringes across the country. The minister has directed relevant officials to initiate action against the manufacturing, import, and sale of banned conventional disposable syringes. Furthermore, the minister has ordered that the stock of such syringes should be seized and legal action …

The dengue cases tally has reached 11,587 during the current year so far, with the arrival of 232 more patients during the last 24 hours. Secretary of Punjab Health Department, Ali Jan Khan said that 232 fresh cases of dengue were detected in the last 24 hours in Punjab, taking the tally to 11,587. The secretary further said out of …

Worldwide Heart disease continues to be the number 1 killer in adult women. Though coronary artery disease affects both men and women, broken heart syndrome and coronary microvascular disease are seen primarily in women. They say behind every successful person there is a women. As we celebrated motherhood on “Mother’s day”, it now time to take a minute to talk …

Too much use of smart phones can have a negative effect on your mental and physical health. Read here to know from expert why should reduce overall screen time. The use of digital devices has increased significantly during the past year. This increased dependency has lead to several side effects on one’s health. Eye strain, back pain and increase in …

The Federal Government’s Tobacco Control cell has failed to force cigarette manufacturing companies to abide by the laws. Sources from the Ministry of National Health indicated that three months ago, the Tobacco Control Cell (TCC) issued notices to the 10 cigarette manufacturing companies that have been found involved in violating tobacco advertising laws. Sources stated that the TCC also sought …

CHICAGO: A new class of weight loss drugs is transforming the U.S. healthcare system in ways that could extend to equally hard-to-treat areas like substance abuse, according to speakers at an event. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday said Eli Lilly (LLY.N) could begin selling its drug tirzepatide for weight loss, making it the second obesity drug in …

Hormones serve as the body’s messengers, regulating a wide range of physiological processes. Whether it’s metabolism, reproduction, mood or immune function, hormones play a pivotal role. Imbalances in hormone levels can lead to a variety of health issues, including weight fluctuations, mood disorders, reproductive problems, and even chronic diseases like osteoporosis and heart conditions. To promote healthy hormones, one should …