Delhi teen's 12-hour-a-day gaming addiction leads to partial paralysis, bent spine
Doctors at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC) noticed a severe deformity in his spine—a dangerous condition called kypho-scoliosis, which involves both forward and sideways bending.Scans revealed that tuberculosis had infected two of his spinal bones (D11 and D12), leading to pus formation and pressure on his spinal cord."This was a challenging case due to the double burden of advanced spinal TB and the impact of long-term gaming addiction," said Dr Vikas Tandon, Chief of Spine Services at ISIC.
Due to gaming addiction, the Delhi teen developed a bent spine and began losing control over his bladder, signs that the spinal cord was under pressure. ()
advertisementTo fix the issue, the medical team used spinal navigation technology, a modern technique that helps surgeons place screws and align the spine with high precision, similar to how GPS guides a car.The surgery involved decompressing the spinal cord, correcting the spine's shape, and stabilising it with implants.Within a few days of the surgery, the teen began to show signs of recovery. He regained control over his bladder and started walking again, showing clear signs that the pressure on his spinal cord had been relieved.Beyond the disease, the case was a stark reminder of how mental health, screen addiction, and physical problems can be deeply connected."We are seeing more adolescents with bone and joint problems due to prolonged screen use, poor posture, and lack of movement," he said.
More adolescents are suffering from bone and joint problems due to prolonged screen use, poor posture, and lack of movement. ()
The boy is now undergoing rehabilitation, which includes physiotherapy to strengthen his body and counselling to address his gaming addiction.advertisementHis recovery is being closely monitored to ensure he can return to a normal life—both physically and mentally."This case shows why early medical attention, parental awareness, and regular physical activity are so important. Gaming addiction can be more dangerous than it looks, especially when it hides symptoms of serious illnesses like spinal TB," Dr Tandon said.As the teen continues his journey of healing, doctors hope his story serves as a reminder to families to look beyond the screen, and pay attention to both the physical and emotional health of children.Must Watch
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Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Indian Express
Red or yellow banana: Which should you pick for good health?
The red banana, a rich source of nutrients, offers several health benefits for the body. The delicious fruit is known by many names, such as the Musa acuminata Dacca banana or the Cuban banana, the Colorado banana, or the lal kela. But is it better than its yellow cousins? Here's what experts told us. Red bananas are not genetically modified and are a natural grouping of bananas created over time through cultivation and biological selection, said Ektaa Tandon, nutritionist, CEO at Dailyy Diet. 'They are sweet in taste with a hint of raspberry sweetness,' said Tandon. Red banana trees are disease-resistant, grow fast, and produce a compact bunch of fruits, added Tandon. According to Dr Birali Swetha, chief dietician, Gleneagles Aware Hospital, LB Nagar, Hyderabad: Boosts energy – Like yellow bananas, red bananas provide natural sugars and carbohydrates, giving you a quick energy boost. A healthy heart – Apart from several benefits to the body, it keeps heart health in check by reducing cholesterol and controlling blood pressure, which helps improve cardiovascular health. The high potassium content helps control blood pressure and supports heart health. Aids digestion – They are high in fibre, which helps with smooth digestion and prevents constipation. Improves immunity – They contain vitamins C and B6, which support the immune system. Good for skin and eyes – The presence of antioxidants and beta-carotene helps maintain healthy skin and vision. Weight loss—Since they are rich in fibre and low in calories, they can keep you full for longer, which helps reduce cravings and keep your diet in check. 'Taking them regularly helps reduce bloating, increase the diversity of friendly bacteria, and reduce constipation, making them beneficial for digestive health and reducing the risk of IBD or inflammatory bowel disease,' said Tandon. Balances mood – The vitamin B6 content helps produce serotonin, which improves mood and reduces stress. 'Unless you have an allergy or eat them in excess (which might cause bloating or an upset stomach), red bananas are generally very beneficial for overall health. Therefore, one should make it a part of their everyday diet to accrue health advantages,' said Dr Birali. Compared to yellow bananas, red bananas are denser and smaller, said Tandon. 'They have more vitamin C and are also higher in antioxidants. They are sweeter yet are lower in glycemic index (GI), making them healthy for diabetics or weight watchers. (Lower GI indicated slower absorption, meaning more satiety), said Tandon. Though red bananas have similar nutrients to yellow, they are nutritionally richer in B6, magnesium, and beta carotenoids, making them a better choice. 'Having 1-2 red bananas/day is considered healthy. One should have it as an in-between snack and not with the meal to absorb its nutrients better,' said Tandon. According to Tandon, eating red bananas daily can boost digestion and regulate blood sugar levels more effectively. 'It helps provide more energy and a feeling of fullness. It reduces the risk of heart disease by regulating blood pressure and reducing cholesterol,' said Tandon.
India Today
09-07-2025
- India Today
That thing in the corner of your room isn't a ghost; it's sleep paralysis
Ever felt this happen to you? You wake up at night with your eyes wide open, but your mind is screaming out. A feeling when your body is a stone statue; you feel trapped, pinned to the bed by an invisible force. There's a crushing weight on your chest, and from the darkest corner of the room, a figure appears. At this point, you're absolutely certain that you're not millions, this isn't a scene from a thriller film. It's a real, recurring nightmare. And it's exactly what Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha had (in the past) bravely opened up 'Dabangg' actress confessed in an interview that she had felt an eerie presence around her room one day. Sharing this vivid experience, Sinha recalled her 4 am "encounter". 'I was at that stage where my eyes were shut, but my mind was completely alert. Suddenly, I felt this pressure, like someone was trying to wake me up..." Her experience, seeing "someone" while frozen in fear, shines a spotlight on a phenomenon that has long been misinterpreted as a paranormal event, or a demonic attack. Modern medical science, however, has a different name for it: Sleep Paralysis (SP). That "someone" or "shadow" in the room also isn't a ghost. It's an intricate, terrifying trick being played on you by your own WAKING NIGHTMAREAccording to sleep specialists, this paralysis is parasomnia, medically described as a disruptive sleep disorder that occurs in the space between wakefulness and sleep. Up to 40% of the population experiences it at least once, with many having recurring Tandon, a sleep specialist from Gurgaon, explains the phenomenon: During the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep, where your most vivid dreams occur, the brain releases chemicals that cause temporary muscle paralysis, a condition called REM atonia. This is a safety feature for the brain. "Simply put, SP is essentially a system glitch where your consciousness reboots and becomes aware before the atonia has worn off. "In this state, you are mentally awake, but your body is still in sleep mode — paralysed," Tandon SHADOW PERSON The sleep-awake state experience sometimes goes from being confusing to terrifying. Your mind, during this state, is fully awake, but your senses are still picking up dream-like signals. There's heightened fear and the brain's threat-detection system goes into scans the room for a cause and then projects a form onto the ambiguous shadows and shapes in your room. This is often perceived as a dark, human-like silhouette — the infamous "Shadow Person." Some people who have experienced this paralysis also believe they were woken up by an intruder, or an old is the explanation for the pressure felt on the chest? Tandon says suffocation is a hallmark of sleep paralysis."During REM sleep, your breathing is naturally more shallow and usually more rapid. When you suddenly become conscious and try to control your breathing, the lingering muscle paralysis makes it feel constricted and difficult, triggering panic," she explains. The amygdala (brain's fear centre) is active during this state. It floods your system with an intense feeling of dread and a "sensed presence," that unshakeable feeling of someone hostile being in the room with you, even if you can't see NEWWhat Sonakshi experienced is not centuries, different cultures around the world have created folklore to explain this exact medical event. While in Canadian Newfoundland, it's known as the "Old Hag" who sits on your chest at night. In Japanese culture, it's called "Kanashibari," meaning "to be bound by metal."advertisementIn medieval Europe, such hallucinations were often blamed on the Incubus and Succubus, malevolent demons who preyed on people who were aren't spirits; they are different cultural interpretations of the same neurological YOU FIGHT BACK?Sleep paralysis is not dangerous, and you can take steps to reduce its intensity. It's often triggered by disruptions to your sleep cycle, hence the solution lies in improving your sleep health. The first step is to master your sleep hygiene."Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Do it even on weekends. Create a sleeping sanctuary; a room that is dark, quiet, and cool. Second, manage your stress level. It is often seen that anxiety is a major trigger for all kinds of sleep disruptions. Incorporate stress-reducing activities into your day, like meditation, light exercise, journaling, or simply reading a book before bed," advises Tandon. 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Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
Polar bear biopsies to shed light on Arctic pollutants
Polar bear biopsies to shed light on Arctic pollutants (Photo: AFP) With one foot braced on the helicopter's landing skid, a veterinarian lifted his air rifle, took aim and fired a tranquiliser dart at a polar bear. The predator bolted but soon slumped into the snowdrifts, its broad frame motionless beneath the Arctic sky. The dramatic pursuit formed part of a pioneering research mission in Norway's Svalbard archipelago , where scientists, for the first time, took fat tissue biopsies from polar bears to study the impact of pollutants on their health. The expedition came at a time when the Arctic region was warming at four times the global average, putting mounting pressure on the iconic predators as their sea-ice habitat shrank. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Trend Lets Indians Access Benefits Up to ₹2,00,00,000 India News Learn More Undo "The idea is to show as accurately as possible how the bears live in the wild, but in a lab," Laura Pirard, a Belgian toxicologist, told AFP. "To do this, we take their (fatty) tissue, cut it in very thin slices and expose it to the stresses they face, in other words pollutants and stress hormones," said Pirard, who developed the method. Moments after the bear collapsed, the chopper circled back and landed. Researchers spilled out, boots crunching on the snow. One knelt by the bear's flank, cutting thin strips of fatty tissue. Another drew blood. Each sample was sealed and labelled before the bear was fitted with a satellite collar. Scientists said that while the study monitors all the bears, only females were tracked with GPS collars as their necks are smaller than their heads, unlike males, who cannot keep a collar on for more than a few minutes. Arctic lab For the scientists aboard the Norwegian Polar Institute's research vessel Kronprins Haakon, these fleeting encounters were the culmination of months of planning and decades of Arctic fieldwork. In a makeshift lab on the icebreaker, samples remained usable for several days, subjected to controlled doses of pollutants and hormones before being frozen for further analysis back on land. Each tissue fragment gave Pirard and her colleagues insight into the health of an animal that spent much of its life on sea ice. Analysis of the fat samples showed that the main pollutants present were per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) synthetic chemicals used in industry and consumer goods that linger in the environment for decades. Despite years of exposure, Svalbard's polar bears showed no signs of emaciation or ill health, according to the team. The local population has remained stable or even increased slightly, unlike parts of Canada, where the Western Hudson Bay group declined by 27 percent between 2016 and 2021, from 842 to 618 bears, according to a government aerial survey. Other populations in the Canadian Arctic, including the Southern Beaufort Sea, have also shown long-term declines linked to reduced prey access and longer ice-free seasons. Scientists estimate there are around 300 polar bears in the Svalbard archipelago and roughly 2,000 in the broader region stretching from the North Pole to the Barents Sea. The team found no direct link between sea ice loss and higher concentrations of pollutants in Svalbard's bears. Instead, differences in pollutant levels came down to the bears' diet. Two types of bears, sedentary and pelagic feed on different prey, leading to different chemicals building up in their bodies. Changing diet With reduced sea ice, the bears' diets have already started shifting, researchers said. These behavioural adaptations appeared to help maintain the population's health. "They still hunt seals but they also take reindeer (and) eggs. They even eat grass (seaweed), even though that has no energy for them," Jon Aars, the head of the Svalbard polar bear programme, told AFP. "If they have very little sea ice, they necessarily need to be on land," he said, adding that they spend "much more time on land than they used to... 20 or 30 years ago". This season alone, Aars and his team of marine toxicologists and spatial behaviour experts captured 53 bears, fitted 17 satellite collars, and tracked 10 mothers with cubs or yearlings. "We had a good season," Aars said. The team's innovations go beyond biopsies. Last year, they attached small "health log" cylinders to five females, recording their pulse and temperature. Combined with GPS data, the devices offer a detailed record of how the bears roam, how they rest and what they endure. Polar bears were once hunted freely across Svalbard but since an international protection agreement in 1976, the population here has slowly recovered. The team's findings may help explain how the bears' world is changing, and at an alarming rate. As the light faded and the icebreaker's engines hummed against the vast silence, the team packed away their tools, leaving the Arctic wilderness to its inhabitants.
