Latest news with #Khattar
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Think hovering over public toilets keeps you safe? Doctors say it can trigger UTIs, bladder issues & more you'd never expect
What seems like a clean habit could be doing more harm than good. Hovering over public toilets to avoid germs, a common practice, especially among women, may feel safer, but doctors are now warning it could seriously impact bladder health . Yes, say doctors. The half-squat position many adopt while avoiding direct contact with toilet seats may actually stop the bladder from emptying fully. Over time, this can cause urine retention, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and even long-term pelvic floor problems . Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Finance Data Analytics Design Thinking Public Policy Data Science Management PGDM MBA Healthcare Others Degree Operations Management MCA Data Science Product Management Technology CXO healthcare Artificial Intelligence Project Management Leadership Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details 'It causes increased bladder pressure and can raise the risk of UTIs, bladder irritation, and even long-term problems,' said Dr Nikhil Khattar, associate director, urology, PSRI Hospital, to TOI. He explained that regularly urinating in this posture can train your bladder into a habit of incomplete emptying. 'This eventually leads to symptoms like frequent urgency, leakage, or difficulty emptying the bladder,' he said. The Silent Damage You May Not Feel Yet Retained urine becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, increasing the risk of recurrent UTIs and, in some cases, even kidney infections. Live Events Avoiding unclean toilets by holding in urine isn't safe either. According to Dr Khattar, 'Whether you are holding your urine or not sitting properly while passing it, both habits harm the pelvic floor muscles and interfere with normal bladder emptying.' Dr Neelam Suri, senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said full squatting, like on traditional Indian toilets , is far healthier. 'In a full squat, the pelvic muscles relax fully, making it easier to empty both the bladder and bowel,' she told TOI. 'Half-squatting or hovering keeps the muscles tense and doesn't allow proper urination.' Women may hover out of fear of infection, but the posture itself can be more harmful than the toilet seat. 'Studies suggest that hovering increases the risk of incomplete urination and pelvic strain, which can lead to chronic issues,' Dr Suri told TOI. Dr Gaurav Garg, senior consultant in urology at Max Smart Hospital, Saket, echoed this, saying many women with stress incontinence , where urine leaks during coughing or physical activity, don't realise it's linked to posture during urination. Many still believe sitting on a public toilet seat directly causes UTIs. Doctors disagree. 'UTIs are primarily caused by bacteria like E. coli entering the urethra and multiplying in the urinary tract,' Dr Khattar told TOI. 'Poor hygiene, improper wiping, touching contaminated surfaces or not washing hands properly are bigger risks. The toilet seat itself is rarely the cause.' Dr Atul Goswami, director of urology and uro-oncology at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, said that rather than hovering, women should consider using seat covers or sanitisers for safety. 'Touching the seat is not as dangerous as incomplete urination, which can cause real and lasting harm,' he said to TOI. Doctors agree it's time to spread awareness and bust myths. What feels like the safer option may silently damage your bladder. 'We must spread the message that sitting properly and emptying the bladder fully is essential for good urinary health,' Dr Suri told TOI. Inputs from TOI Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Hovering over the toilet? You may be hurting your bladder
New Delhi: Hovering over public toilets to avoid germs may seem hygienic, but doctors warn it can harm your bladder. The half-squat position often adopted by women prevents full bladder emptying, increasing the risk of urine retention, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and long-term pelvic floor issues. "It causes increased bladder pressure and can raise the risk of UTIs, bladder irritation, and even long-term problems," said Dr Nikhil Khattar, associate director, urology, PSRI Hospital. He explained that when this posture is used regularly, it trains the body into a habit of incomplete urination. This affects how the bladder muscles function, and may eventually cause symptoms like frequent urgency, leakage or difficulty emptying the bladder fully. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "Retained urine also provides a good environment for bacteria to grow, which increases the chance of recurrent UTIs and, in some cases, even kidney infections," he said. The risks are similar when people delay urinating for too long, which many do in public places to avoid using unclean restrooms. "Whether you are holding your urine or not sitting properly while passing it, both habits harm the pelvic floor muscles and interfere with normal bladder emptying," Dr Khattar added. Dr Neelam Suri, senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said the full squat position — as used with traditional Indian toilets — is much healthier. "In a full squat, the pelvic muscles relax fully, making it easier to empty both the bladder and bowel," she said. "Half-squatting or hovering keeps the muscles tense and doesn't allow proper urination." According to her, many women hover over Western-style toilets out of fear of infection. But the posture itself can do more harm in the long run. "Studies suggest that hovering increases the risk of incomplete urination and pelvic strain, which can lead to chronic issues," she added. Dr Gaurav Garg, senior consultant, urology, Max Smart Hospital, Saket, also said long-term half-squatting can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction and stress incontinence — where urine leaks out during coughing, sneezing or physical activity. "Many women who come to us with these issues don't realise it's linked to their posture during urination," he said. Doctors also clarified a common myth: simply sitting on a public toilet seat doesn't directly cause UTIs. "UTIs are primarily caused by bacteria like E. coli entering the urethra and multiplying in the urinary tract," said Dr Khattar. "Poor hygiene, improper wiping, touching contaminated surfaces or not washing hands properly are bigger risks. The toilet seat itself is rarely the cause." D r Atul Goswami, director of urology and uro-oncology at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, said awareness is key and women should feel empowered to sit properly by using tools like disposable seat covers or toilet seat sanitisers when using public toilets. "Touching the seat is not as dangerous as incomplete urination, which can cause real and lasting harm," he said. Experts stressed the need to educate women about proper toilet habits and break the widespread fear around public toilet seats. "We must spread the message that sitting properly and emptying the bladder fully is essential for good urinary health," said Dr Suri. In a country where access to clean public toilets remains a challenge, doctors say small changes — like carrying hygiene products and choosing to sit instead of hover — can help protect long-term health. What feels like a quick fix may be doing silent damage, and the best choice might just be the one that feels most uncomfortable: sitting down.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Top-ranked cities to mentor low performers in cleanliness rankings: Khattar
Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday announced a new initiative where cities securing the top three positions in the national cleanliness rankings will mentor those at the bottom. The aim is to collectively raise sanitation standards and advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India by 2047. Union minister Manohar Lal Khattar during an event in Karnal on Saturday. (HT Photo) Khattar made the announcement during the Safai Mitra Samman ceremony at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College in Karnal. The event celebrated Karnal municipal corporation's receipt of the President's Award under Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. He explained that henceforth, the top and bottom-ranked cities will be paired. 'Cleanliness rankings will be assessed jointly for both. A top city can retain its position only if its paired city also shows improvement,' he said. Congratulating Karnal's sanitation workers, officials, and public representatives, Khattar announced a ₹5,000 reward for each of the 1,380 sanitation staff. He also felicitated several key workers and municipal staff for their contributions. Khattar emphasised the need to instill cleanliness values early, citing Japan's model where schoolchildren begin their day with cleaning. He added that cleanliness competitions will now also be held in villages across Karnal district. Haryana assembly speaker Harvinder Kalyan, Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand, and other dignitaries were present. Later, Khattar visited Panipat to inspect the under-construction BJP district office and interacted with families outside a CET exam centre. In a widely shared video, he cautioned them against falling prey to exam fraud, saying, 'Only your merit will get you a job.' Wrong to say crime has increased, instead it has reduced: Khattar Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said that it is being spread that the crime in Haryana has increased, but according to the comparative figures from the Congress government, it has instead reduced. 'I've also seen the figures which suggest that if compared with 10 years of Congress rule in the state, the crime in every region has reduced by 10-20%. Though, population has also risen in the 10 years (of BJP rule) and if population is taken into consideration, there is more of a decline,' he told the reporters in Karnal. He was responding to a question by a journalist. Khattar, who is also Karnal MP, said that in case of any occurrence of crime, the success of any government or the police is based on how quickly it is traced and those involved are arrested. Infact, Khattar said, in most of the criminal cases, the reasons are personal. 'You see what happened recently in Jind (murder of a doctor). There was a collision between two cars that led to an argument and later turned into a murder. So we can't say that miscreant elements persist but most of the cases are personal,' he said. When asked about a recent statement by former MLA Gopal Kanda on their support to INLD leader Abhay Chautala during the assembly elections, Khattar dismissed the claims. 'We vacated Sirsa's seat for Kanda, where he could not win. Other than this, we did not have any role to play,' he said. The minister also refused to respond on the appointment of Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala's son Vikas Barala as AAG, and said that the state government or AG have a say in this.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Our aim is to make every scheme successful: Khattar
Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday told the officers that their aim should be to make every scheme successful and ensure that they write to close the scheme in which there is no work. Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar during a meeting in Panipat on Friday. (HT Photo) Moreover, Khattar said that the eligible people should get the full benefit of the public welfare schemes of the government and the objective of the welfare state is also to provide the benefits of schemes to the poor and the needy. Khattar was in Panipat to chair a meeting of the district development coordination and monitoring committee (Disha) at the district secretariat. Khattar said that the state government has made a provision of giving ₹4,500 per acre for direct sowing of paddy so that the farmers do not suffer any kind of loss, with an intention to save water. He said that the farmers should be made aware about the scheme widely. The minister suggested that the unemployed youth can open Vita booths for self-employment, for this they will have to look for land for the booth at prime locations and also suggested to the members that they should motivate people near them for this and also provide financial support to start the work so that employment can be obtained. Haryana ministers Krishanlal Panwar, Mahipal Dhanda, MLAs Pramod Vij and Manmohan Bhadana, Mayor Komal Saini and others were present. Later in the evening, Khattar also chaired a similar meeting at Karnal in the presence of Vidhan Sabha speaker Harvinder Kalyan and others.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Climate
- NDTV
From Waterlogging To Traffic In Gurugram: What Minister ML Khattar Told NDTV
New Delhi: Union Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who served as the Chief Minister of Haryana for 10 years from 2014 to 2024, said connectivity has improved in Gurugram and traffic during normal days, when it doesn't rain, has improved compared to pre-2014. The minister, speaking at the NDTV Real Estate Conclave, said, "Delhi settled way before Gurugram did. Planning of the city in Haryana started around 2010, and by 2013, some work was done, but in 2014, when the BJP came to power, the situation was bad, with traffic jams at several places in Gurugram, like IFFCO Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk and Rajiv Chowk." He added that "whenever someone got stuck here, they couldn't get out of it for two hours, whether a car or a scooter, but when it came, we renovated made a bypass, underpasses." However, when Mr Khattar was asked, despite the development, the city comes to a halt during heavy rain, to which he said, "During a normal routine (when it doesn't rain), there is no traffic jam, because the connectivity has improved." #NDTVRealEstateConclave | Urban Affairs Minister ML Khattar explains the measures he took to fix Gurugram's traffic problem @mlkhattar — NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2025 This month, incessant rain caused waterlogging in several parts of the city, and on July 10, the authorities issued an advisory to companies to allow employees to work from home to avoid traffic congestion because of the traffic whenever it rains in the city. Someone of the most posh areas of Gurugram, Millennium City, was submerged after heavy rain. Urban planning and the poor drainage system of Gurugram are blamed for the waterlogging situation, which gets worse every year when it rains heavily. Mr Khattar said he is "worried" about the waterlogging situation in Gurugram. The former Chief Minister of Haryana said, We have to the planning in the beginning, how much water is there, and what is the command area of the water... Earlier, the rainwater would flow out and go to the fields, lakes, and there was no need to now, the whole area is covered with roads and houses, and there is no place for water to stop." "There should be more drains and sewage systems that should have been made now, we have made many," the minister said. While explaining the waterlogging in the underpasses during rain, Mr Khattar said, "Water fills up quickly in the underpass, but after 2 hours the water comes and whenever there is heavy rain, not just in India but also abroad, if waterlogging happens, after 1-1.5 hours it comes out, which means the system is fine." 'Can't Uproot An Entire System Overnight' NDTV asked, 10 years is enough for an authority to fix the drainage system, but why do we keep saying that the rain pattern has changed in the last decade? Mr Khatter responded by saying, "Work is being done continuously, and once a city is settled, then you can't uproot a system overnight and make a new one. When any work goes on for 2-3 years, we cannot do anything during that period. It takes time to redevelop all these systems." He added that even in Lutyens Delhi, the power centre of India, the rainwater flows to the Barapulla drain, which is on top, but the Lutyens drain is how will the water flow to Barapulla? Lower the Barapullaa the Yamuna is full of mud and its water backflows. During heavy rain in some areas of Lutyens, there is at least two feet of waterlogging."
