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Hans India
3 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Tobacco poses fatal threat to human life: SVIMS Director
Tirupati: With the goal of raising awareness about the devastating impact of tobacco consumption, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), under the Department of General Medicine, organised a World No Tobacco Day programme on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, SVIMS Director-cum-Vice Chancellor Dr R V Kumar said that the event was aimed at educating the public about the harmful consequences of tobacco use. 'What often begins as a fashion statement evolves into a psychological addiction, causing irreparable damage to health,' he said. He warned that tobacco leads to serious conditions such as lung damage, heart disease, stroke, circulatory issues, and various cancers, ultimately posing a fatal threat to human life. Echoing these concerns, SVIMS Dean and Head of the Department of Medicine Dr Alladi Mohan noted that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), tobacco use results in nearly eight million deaths every year. Alarmingly, around 1.3 million of these deaths occur among non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke. Commenting on this year's theme, 'Bright Products, Dark Intentions: Unmasking the Appeal', he noted that the seemingly attractive image of tobacco hides its dangerous and deadly consequences. A panel discussion followed, featuring medical professionals from the Department of Medicine who shed light on various health consequences of tobacco use. Dr Harikrishna, Dr Manolaya, Dr Sameeraja, Dr Bhargav and Dr Chandrasekhar addressed various aspects on the effects of tobacco use. Registrar Dr Aparna R Bitla and several other faculty members also participated in the programme.
The Print
20-05-2025
- Health
- The Print
Obesity silent tsunami of India's disease burden, say experts
A study published in The Lancet projects that nearly one-third of Indians or approximately 449 million people could be obese by 2050. New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) Obesity has emerged as one of the most urgent and under-recognised health crises in India, with experts warning that it now functions as a silent tsunami sweeping through the population. The rising tide of obesity is closely linked to a surge in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, fatty liver, hormonal disorders, infertility, and even certain cancers, experts said. India already holds the global record for the highest number of people living with diabetes, estimated at over 101 million. Increasingly, these conditions are being diagnosed at younger ages, they said. An alarming rise in non-communicable diseases among individuals in their 20s and 30s, the most productive age group, a trend that is largely being driven by excess body weight, said Dr Neeraj Nischal, additional professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS. 'The obesity epidemic is quietly reshaping India's disease profile and, unless confronted with urgency, will place an unmanageable burden on the country's healthcare infrastructure and economic productivity,' he said. Dr Rajesh Upadhyay, director and head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, and past president and dean of Association of Physicians of India, said that obesity is no longer a matter of personal choice or appearance. It has become one of the most influential medical risk factors in the country today, he said. 'Obesity is not a cosmetic issue. It is a clinical, systemic concern that is driving a surge in diseases like fatty liver, diabetes, gastrointestinal complications, and heart disease. In my practice, I see its consequences every day. To address this, we must move beyond awareness campaigns and commit to deep-rooted preventive reforms across schools, offices, hospitals, and even the medical curriculum,' he said. Echoing this concern, Dr Mohsin Wali, senior consultant of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, noted that the crisis is growing quietly but with devastating consequences. 'This is India's silent tsunami. The burden of obesity is not always visible on the surface, but its impact is evident in hospital admissions, in the rise of chronic illnesses, and in the younger age of onset for lifestyle diseases. We must treat this as a National emergency. Prevention must begin at the institutional level - what we serve in school and hospital canteens, what we teach young doctors, and how we screen for risk - all must change,' he said. Health experts are urging immediate and coordinated action to treat obesity as a systemic public health challenge. They called for greater accountability in public institutions, widespread access to preventive screenings, nutritional reform in institutional food environments, and a fundamental shift in how India approaches medical education and policy. The rising prevalence of obesity is not confined to urban populations or high-income groups. It is increasingly visible in rural areas, among adolescents, and across various regions of the country. If no action is taken, experts cautioned that India could soon become the epicentre of a global obesity and non-communicable disease crisis. The long-term consequences could include a shorter lifespan for future generations, significant loss of workforce productivity, and unsustainable pressure on the nation's health system. PTI PLB ZMN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Obesity silent tsunami of India's disease burden, say experts
New Delhi: Obesity has emerged as one of the most urgent and under-recognised health crises in India, with experts warning that it now functions as a silent tsunami sweeping through the population. A study published in The Lancet projects that nearly one-third of Indians or approximately 449 million people could be obese by 2050. This includes an estimated 218 million men and 231 million women. The rising tide of obesity is closely linked to a surge in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, fatty liver, hormonal disorders, infertility, and even certain cancers, experts said. India already holds the global record for the highest number of people living with diabetes, estimated at over 101 million. Increasingly, these conditions are being diagnosed at younger ages, they said. An alarming rise in non-communicable diseases among individuals in their 20s and 30s, the most productive age group, a trend that is largely being driven by excess body weight, said Dr Neeraj Nischal, additional professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS. "The obesity epidemic is quietly reshaping India's disease profile and, unless confronted with urgency, will place an unmanageable burden on the country's healthcare infrastructure and economic productivity," he said. Dr Rajesh Upadhyay, director and head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, and past president and dean of Association of Physicians of India, said that obesity is no longer a matter of personal choice or appearance. It has become one of the most influential medical risk factors in the country today, he said. "Obesity is not a cosmetic issue. It is a clinical, systemic concern that is driving a surge in diseases like fatty liver, diabetes, gastrointestinal complications, and heart disease. In my practice, I see its consequences every day. To address this, we must move beyond awareness campaigns and commit to deep-rooted preventive reforms across schools, offices, hospitals, and even the medical curriculum," he said. Echoing this concern, Dr Mohsin Wali, senior consultant of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, noted that the crisis is growing quietly but with devastating consequences. "This is India's silent tsunami. The burden of obesity is not always visible on the surface, but its impact is evident in hospital admissions, in the rise of chronic illnesses, and in the younger age of onset for lifestyle diseases. We must treat this as a National emergency. Prevention must begin at the institutional level - what we serve in school and hospital canteens, what we teach young doctors, and how we screen for risk - all must change," he said. Health experts are urging immediate and coordinated action to treat obesity as a systemic public health challenge. They called for greater accountability in public institutions, widespread access to preventive screenings, nutritional reform in institutional food environments, and a fundamental shift in how India approaches medical education and policy. The rising prevalence of obesity is not confined to urban populations or high-income groups. It is increasingly visible in rural areas, among adolescents, and across various regions of the country. If no action is taken, experts cautioned that India could soon become the epicentre of a global obesity and non-communicable disease crisis. The long-term consequences could include a shorter lifespan for future generations, significant loss of workforce productivity, and unsustainable pressure on the nation's health system.
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Study finds long Covid biomarkers in blood linked to respiratory problems
A team of Swedish researchers has identified biomarkers in the blood associated with symptoms of long Covid, particularly severe respiratory disorders. Long Covid is a condition characterised by persistent symptoms including acute breathlessness and fatigue, after an infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The team from Karolinska Institutet discovered a set of proteins in the blood of people with long Covid. The findings may pave the way for future diagnosis and treatment. "The proteins were mainly found in patients with long Covid and severe respiratory problems," said Marcus Buggert, docent at the Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. "This is a biomarker pattern that we know to be linked to inflammatory signal pathways involved in cell death and lung damage and that has also been observed in other patient groups with severe pulmonary disorders," he added. For the study, the team analysed blood samples from 265 patients in Sweden and the UK, who contracted Covid when no vaccine was yet available. Using advanced techniques, the researchers measured thousands of proteins in the blood plasma, which they related to the patient's symptoms. The results, published in the journal Nature Immunology, exposed the underlying biological processes that can cause certain patients to experience severe symptoms long after previous Covid-19. "By identifying the proteins that are elevated in affected patients, we're creating a platform from which to develop diagnostic tools and new targeted therapies," Dr. Buggert said. "This is especially important since there are no specific biomarkers and treatments for long Covid." The team next aims to study lung and gastrointestinal tissue to understand what underpins this pattern. This will likely enable them to locate the source of the identified proteins and find if there is any remaining inflammation or tissue damage in specific organs of patients with long Covid, they said.
Associated Press
01-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
NYC, Baltimore research scientists receive grants to study cardiovascular/diabetes connection
( NewMediaWire) - April 01, 2025 - DALLAS — A New York City-based physician scientist who explores ways to improve health by looking at the ways in which cells and molecules impact disease and an epidemiologist from Baltimore who has devoted her career to identifying ways to improve screening, diagnosis and patient care for people with diabetes are the most recent American Heart Association Merit Award recipients. Over the next five years, each researcher will receive a total of $1 million in funding from the Association, a global force changing the future of health for all. The American Heart Association's Merit Award is one of the most prestigious competitive research awards given by the Association, the largest non-government funder of cardiovascular research in the United States. The Merit Award supports scientists who have consistently performed highly promising, novel research with the potential to move cardiovascular science forward quickly, with high impact. The recipients of the 2025 award are: Ann Marie Schmidt, M.D., the Dr. Iven Young Professor of Endocrinology in the Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and the Department of Pathology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City; and Elizabeth (Liz) Selvin, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA, Director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research and a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. She holds a joint appointment in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 'Each year, the American Heart Association recognizes recipients of the Merit Awards as investigators with established track records of success in major research challenges in the areas of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. Their scientific exploration has the potential to produce unusually high impact toward the Association's mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives,' said Keith Churchwell, M.D., FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer president, an associate clinical Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut and adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. 'Diabetes is one of the major controllable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and as prevalence of both conditions rise, it's become imperative that we learn all we can about the ways they're connected. This year's recipients are already renowned for their work in identifying the important connections between cardiovascular disease and diabetes and I'm excited to see where their future exploration will take us in learning how to better manage these chronic conditions that take the lives of too many people each year.' Schmidt's research will focus on the large white blood cells that are part of the body's immune system and are known to contribute to diabetic complications. Her research team will expand on their discovery of a protein molecule called the 'receptor for advanced glycation end products' (RAGE) that may be one of the ways that diabetic white blood cells damage the body. Studying diabetic and non-diabetic mouse and human white blood cells, the team will look for ways to disrupt this damaging molecular process and, in turn, potentially develop new treatment therapies. 'Diabetes damages the body head-to-toe and this happens slowly over many years. We know people with diabetes have more strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, blindness and kidney problems, yet the reasons for this connection are not fully known,' Schmidt said. 'We surmise that learning how large white blood cells in diabetes cause damage will show us new ways to stop their bad actions and decrease harm to the body. As diabetes robs people of good health and years of life, our work may help to fulfill the American Heart Association mission to improve health, especially for people with diabetes.' Selvin's research will focus on improving cardiovascular health in people with diabetes. Her seminal studies on the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and diabetes complications helped establish the scientific foundation and clinical criteria for using HbA1c to diagnose diabetes. This Merit Award will support new research focusing on wearable continuous glucose monitors and their association with cardiometabolic risk in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. 'An important part of our work will be providing opportunities for trainees to engage in research with direct implications for policy and clinical practice,' Selvin said. 'Helping to grow the next generation of scientists is critical to our ongoing work to save lives through improvements in the screening, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.' Funding scientific research and discovery through initiatives like the annual merit awards is a cornerstone of the century-old American Heart Association's lifesaving mission. The Association has now funded more than $5.9 billion of scientific research since 1949 , making it the single largest non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S. New knowledge resulting from this funding continues to save lives and directly impact millions of people in every corner of the U.S. and around the world. About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
