Liver cancer cases to double by 2050: Mega study reveals how to lower the burden
The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which makes up about 80% of all liver cancer cases.To tackle this growing health crisis, a group of doctors, public health experts, and researchers came together to find ways to reduce the number of new cases.This expert group looked at past data, conducted detailed studies, and even created models to understand how the disease might spread in the future.One of the most important findings from their work is that to stop liver cancer cases from rising, the world needs to reduce new cases by at least 2% every year.In areas where progress has already started, the researchers say we should aim even higher — at a 5% yearly drop.If this 2–5% annual drop is achieved and maintained over the next 25 years, the benefits could be massive.The study estimates that between 88 lakh to 1.73 crore (8.8 to 17.3 million) new cases of liver cancer could be avoided. More importantly, between 77 lakh to 1.51 crore (7.7 to 15.1 million) lives could be saved.According to the researchers, the study helps nations understand that major risk factors such as viral hepatitis, alcohol consumption and obesity need to be dealt with if they want to see lower cases of liver cancer.The authors said that an increased public, medical and political awareness on the rising risk of fatty liver conditions, with a focus on people having diabetes and obesity, especially in the US, Europe and Asia, is needed.They hope that there are intensified efforts to increase vaccination drives against hepatitis B and C along with policies to restrict the consumption of alcohol."We estimated that at least 60% of liver cancers are preventable via control of modifiable risk factors, including (hepatitis B virus), (hepatitis C virus), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and alcohol," the report stated.The expert group hopes this new information will push countries to take liver cancer more seriously and act quickly to prevent it from becoming an even bigger global health problem.- EndsMust Watch
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India Today
a day ago
- India Today
Soft drinks, hard consequences: Diet sodas may triple risk of stroke and dementia!
What happens inside your body within one hour of drinking a can of soft drink? It starts with a flood of sugar — about 10 teaspoons in just one can. Within 20 minutes, blood sugar spikes, and your body responds with an insulin burst. At around 40 minutes, the caffeine is fully absorbed, increasing your blood pressure and triggering your liver to release more sugar into your bloodstream. Dopamine surges stimulate the brain's pleasure centres. After 60 minutes, phosphoric acid binds calcium and other essential minerals in your gut, while the caffeine's diuretic effect begins to flush them out through urine. advertisementBut if you think that these effects are only for normal sugary sodas, and your diet soda won't do this, you would be wrong. A recent study published in the American Heart Association's monthly journal, Stroke, found that people who drank one or more diet sodas daily had nearly three times the risk of ischemic stroke and Alzheimer' study examined over 2,800 adults aged 45 and older for 10 years. The hazard ratios were 2.96 for ischemic stroke and 2.89 for Alzheimer's dementia. A hazard ratio (HR) of 1.2 means there is a 20 per cent higher risk of the event happening in the exposed group compared to the reference (or control) group over time. The study also noted that people who drank soft drinks daily had nearly three times higher stroke and Alzheimer's risk compared to those who rarely consumed them. However, it's only an association, not a direct cause. The study concluded that 'Artificially sweetened soft drink consumption was associated with a higher risk of stroke and dementia'. Soft drinks are also linked to: Obesity: 1.6x increased risk per additional sodaHeart disease: 20 per cent higher risk from one can/dayType 2 Diabetes: 26 per cent higher risk for those consuming 1or 2 cans dailyTooth decay and bone loss: due to sugar and acid erosionKidney Damage: Sodium and phosphoric acid, that can damage kidneys and bones over timeOne can of soda a day might not just damage your teeth, it could shrink your brain, and increase obesity. The risks surge fast. The label says 'zero calories'. But the cost might be way higher.- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Hepatitis A surges with monsoon: What tests to do, what vaccines to take and how to keep the virus at bay
When a 30-year-old woman walked into Dr Rommel Tickoo's clinic, one look at her yellowish eyes told him that she had a liver problem. Sure enough, when the internal medicine expert at Max Healthcare, Delhi, checked her liver enzymes, they were through the roof. Her enzyme levels stood at around 3,000 IU/L — the normal ranges are between 7 and 55 IU/L. She tested positive for hepatitis A, a viral infection usually transmitted through contaminated food and water. With several gastrointestinal infections and vector-borne diseases being common during the monsoon, getting the correct diagnosis may be a challenge. 'The typical symptoms, such as yellowing of skin and eyes that people associate with hepatitis, are not the first ones to appear. The yellowing happens at later stages of the disease, where there are high levels of accumulated bilirubin (a yellow pigment produced when the red blood cells break down, usually cleared out by the liver). A person should ideally go to a doctor before this happens,' says Dr Tickoo. Why a test matters The overlapping symptoms, which can be caused by other gastrointestinal infections, are the reason that doctors go in for tests to be sure. As Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant of internal medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, says, 'During this season, you would either see food and water-borne infections, vector-borne infections and some respiratory infections. Usually, patients coming in with symptoms such as loose motions, vomiting, loss of appetite have gastrointestinal diseases such as hepatitis A, E, gastroenteritis or typhoid. High fever, headache and body ache would usually be the symptoms in patients with vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria or chikungunya.' Dr Tickoo usually gets such patients tested for complete blood count, liver enzyme and C-reactive protein, the last indicative of the inflammation in the body. 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'Other medicines such as Combiflam should be avoided. Pain medications such as diclofenac or mefenamic acid should also be avoided, especially when diseases like dengue are likely. These medicines are known to increase the risk of bleeding in patients with dengue. Antibiotics are a strict no-no. They are of no use in cases of viral infections such as hepatitis, can lead to growing antimicrobial resistance and, importantly, may also affect the results of certain tests we need to confirm our diagnosis,' says Dr Tickoo. While most people with hepatitis A get better within four to 16 weeks, some go on to develop serious complications such as liver failure and coma. 'It is, however, impossible to tell who will get the complications. So it is essential that everyone who has the hepatitis A infection takes rest and helps the body recover,' says Dr Ashwini Setya, senior consultant of gastroenterology at Medanta, Gurugram. What to eat during recovery While at home, patients should ensure that they drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy meals as per their appetite. 'It is a myth that people need to eat bland, boiled food. They should only eat as much as they feel like. Usually, people's appetite reduces significantly when they have a hepatitis infection. Force-feeding can lead to more nausea,' says Dr Setya. It is better to boil water and follow hand hygiene, according to Ritika Samaddar, regional head, dietetics and nutrition, Max Healthcare. 'During the recovery phase, liver cells are regenerating. So they need protein in the form of eggs, milk and paneer. They need good fat, so normal refined, olive and nut oils work, but in moderation. A teaspoon of ghee can be had too to whet the appetite. Carbs are equally important for regenerating liver cells. Have small, frequent meals,' she says. However, she warns that the diet discipline must be adhered to strictly for at least six months. 'Hepatitis A is a self-limiting infection. But sometimes there can be a relapse if you do not take care. Besides, you could be at risk of other strains of the hepatitis virus. A diet discipline is a must,' says Samaddar. She even suggests a strict preventive regime: 'Please drink only filtered and boiled water, even cook with it. Wash all your fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Do not eat raw or undercooked foods. Avoid street food, cut fruits and even ice drinks from the roadside or restaurants.' Take the preventive shot There are five hepatitis viruses that cause liver disease in humans. Hepatitis A and E are transmitted through contaminated food and water and usually do not lead to lasting liver damage. Hepatitis B, C and D, on the other hand, are usually transmitted by blood and can lead to chronic infections. At present, vaccines are available against hepatitis A and B. This may also reduce the risk of hepatitis D, which can only occur in people who have hepatitis B infection. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, there is an effective antiviral treatment. 'When it comes to water-borne hepatitis, any person who has had hepatitis A is immune for life, but hepatitis E can happen multiple times,' says Dr Setya. Hepatitis E infection in a pregnant woman can lead to abortion of a foetus and increase the risk of maternal mortality, he adds. So, who should take the hepatitis A vaccine? Doctors recommend it for children, students living in hostels, people who eat out often or those who are immunocompromised. Others may also take it to reduce the risk of an infection, but it is not necessary for everyone. (With inputs by Rinku Ghosh) Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
India Today
4 days ago
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India's lung cancer burden in numbers
Lung cancer, mostly caused by smoking tobacco, has become the top reason for cancer-related deaths around the world, and even in India. What makes it more dangerous is that it often goes unnoticed until it reaches a serious like a long-lasting cough or chest pain usually appear late, which means treatment options become limited. In India, one in nine people is expected to get cancer during their lifetime, and lung cancer is becoming more common every number of lung cancer cases in India is rising, from about 63,700 cases in 2015 to a projected 81,200 cases in 2025. Around 100 million adults in the country smoke, which puts a huge population at risk. Every year, nearly 60,000 people in India die because of lung cancer. Globally, in 2020, lung cancer was the second most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths. These numbers highlight the urgent need for awareness, early detection, and strong efforts to reduce tobacco use. According to the Population Based Cancer Registries Report 2016, lung cancer cases are highest in India's northeastern from the National Cancer Registry Programme shows that lung cancer rates among men range from 4.6 per 100,000 in Wardha to 38.8 in Aizawl. Among women, the rates range from 1 in Barshi to 37.9 in comparison, the western and central parts of India have fewer lung cancer cases. This difference may be due to the varying smoking habits in different regions. Overall, about 18.9% of India's population smokes, but the numbers differ widely — from 16.2% in Kerala to as high as 72% in Mizoram. Lung-cancer patterns in India look a lot like those in other Asian countries such as people here get the disease than in Western nations, yet they tend to be diagnosed about ten years earlier. Sadly, more of them die from it: many discover the cancer only after it has spread, arrive at clinics or hospitals in poorer health, and often cannot access the newest is a main driver. The latest Global Adult Tobacco Survey shows that 28.6% of Indians aged 15-24 smoke regularly, and the country has about 253 million tobacco users overall - one of the highest totals in the world. In India, lung cancer is more common in males than in females. In 2020, an estimated 71,788 men and 26,490 women were diagnosed with the disease. By 2025, the number of cases is expected to rise, with projections showing 81,219 cases in men and 30,109 in growing trend highlights the need for stronger prevention, early detection, and awareness efforts, especially among high-risk groups. With lung cancer cases steadily rising, with nearly one in four patients in India being non-smokers, there is an urgent need for early intervention, greater public awareness, and stronger policies that promote cleaner air and healthier lifestyles.- EndsMust Watch
