Latest news with #VedPrakash
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Tobacco consumption doubles infertility risk: Experts
Lucknow: Though often associated with cancer only, tobacco consumption also doubles infertility risk and even causes mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. This was stated by health experts at KGMU on the eve of World No Tobacco Day raising concerns about the rising threat of tobacco and nicotine products. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Tobacco doesn't just damage the lungs—it harms almost every organ. It damages sperm, lowers hormone levels, and reduces overall reproductive health. This means its use can double the risk of infertility in men, reduce women's reproductive capacity by 30%, and cause birth complications including low birth weight and stillbirths," said Prof Ved Prakash, head of the department of pulmonary and critical care medicine. He added people often associate tobacco only with cancer, but it is a slow poison that also causes heart attacks, strokes, asthma and even anxiety and depression. Former HOD of the pulmonary department Prof Rajendra Prasad said: "The illusion that new-age tobacco products like e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches are safer is extremely dangerous. These products contain high levels of addictive nicotine and act as a gateway to traditional tobacco use, especially among teenagers." Smoking tobacco increases the risk of lung and other cancers up to 30 times, heart attack risk up to 6 times and asthma up to 3 times. In another programme, Dr Abhimanyu Kadapathri, consultant - head and neck surgical oncology, Apollo Hospitals Lucknow, said the most commonly used forms of tobacco include smokeless ones like khaini, gutkha and pan masala while smoking forms include bidi, cigarette and hookah. Experts also highlighted the massive economic burden. Tobacco use cost India nearly Rs 1.78 lakh crore in healthcare expenses in 2017-18 alone. This accounts for about 1% of the country's GDP. Prof Ved Prakash warned, "Every puff of smoke takes you a step closer to death. There is no safe form or amount of tobacco. We urge people to stop now and choose a healthier life."
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Correct use of inhaler is a must to control asthma: Docs
Lucknow: Improper inhaler use , irregular medication and lack of expert consultation are major reasons why many asthma patients fail to control their condition effectively, warned doctors from the department of pulmonary and critical care medicine at KGMU on the eve of World Asthma Day . Speaking at a media interaction, experts emphasised the urgent need to correct common mistakes and raise public awareness to improve the quality of life for asthma patients. "Many patients inhale too quickly or fail to coordinate their breath with the inhaler spray. Some do not use spacers, which are crucial for delivering medicine to the lungs," said HOD Prof Ved Prakash. He added that proper technique—such as lifting the chin and sealing the lips tightly around the device—can make treatment more effective. Prof Rajendra Prasad, former department head, warned against stopping medication during pregnancy without medical advice. " Asthma medication should be continued under supervision to ensure the safety of both mother and child," he said. They highlighted other common mistakes, such as not shaking metered-dose inhalers before use, failing to rinse the mouth after using steroid inhalers, or accidentally blocking the device with the tongue or teeth. They urged patients to follow a regular medication schedule, take annual flu vaccines and seek care from specialists like chest physicians or allergists. Experts said only about 5% of asthma patients are properly diagnosed and treated. Poor air quality, underdiagnosis, and lack of awareness continue to add to the disease burden. They also noted a rise in allergies globally, which are major triggers for asthma. "Allergens, air pollution, cold air, infections, physical activity and emotional stress can worsen asthma. While it cannot be cured, with the right treatment and lifestyle changes, patients can lead normal, active lives," said Prof Prasad. The team also stressed the importance of accurate diagnosis through pulmonary function tests and allergy assessments like skin prick testing. Looking ahead, they called for wider access to affordable medications, cost-effective inhalers, stronger pollution control laws, public education campaigns, and the use of digital tools to monitor asthma.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
County Club drub Geetanjali Club in KDMA league match
Kanpur: County Club drubbed the challenge of Geetanjali Club by a big margin of 314 runs in the KDMA league match held at the Sapru ground on Wednesday. National Youth, Superior Spirit, Rolland and PAC Clubs defeated their rival teams in the KDMA league matches conducted at various grounds. County Club, deciding to bat first in the morning, posted a total of 9 for 334 runs in 40 overs. Ved Prakash and Vanshul were the main scorers, hitting 86 and 70 not out respectively. Subsequently, they wrapped up the innings of Geetanjali Club for just 20 runs in 6.4 overs. Raj Soni caused maximum damage, claiming 5 wickets for 11 runs. Brief scores County Club-9 for 334 (Ved Prakash 86, Rishabh Uttam 46, Ashish Manjhi 36, Raj Soni 30, Vanshul 70 not out, Shivansh Trivedi 4 for 65, Saurabh Singh 3 for 66) Geetanjali Club-20 (Raj Soni 5 for 11, Yash Dwivedi 2 for 8). Rashtriya ground-National Youth beat BCA by 136 runs. National Youth-9 for 242 (Radhey Shyam Gupta 50, Vansh Nigam 39, Devraj Pandey 36, Tushar Pal 33, Rohit Rajput 3 for 29, Abhay Verma 2 for 41, Shivansh Sharma 2 for 48). BCA-106 (Brajesh Kumar Rai 63, Abhishek Rai 3 for 23, Sahil Maurya 2 for 5). Kanpur South ground-Superior Spirit defeated South Gymkhana by 86 runs. Superior Spirit- 8 for 228 (Aditya Chaurasia 56, Kumar Abhinav 34, Nishkarsh Srivastava 24, Vikas Tiwari 25 not out, Akhilesh Yadav 3 for 26, Vikas Sharma 3 for 48). South Gymkhana-9 for 142 (Randheer Singh 31, Ashish Bajpai 25, Abhinav Yadav 25, Jai Prakash 3 for 0, Amit Gupta 2 for 29). HAL ground- Rolland Club outplayed YMCC by 9 wickets. YMCC-72 (Adarsh Kumar Pal 22, Satvik Sharma 4 for 5, Chirag Bharatia 3 for 17, Aryan Diwakar 2 for 9). Rolland Club-1 for 75 (Manish Verma 39 not out, Saurabh Mishra 27 not out, Gaurav 1 for 13). PAC ground- PAC beat Winners Club by 40 runs. PAC- 254 (Mayank Singh 50, Sandeep Mittal 50, Anuj Mishra 44, Shivam Kumar Sharma 33, Adarsh Srivastava 23, Deepak Yadav 23 not out, Ranjeet Kumar 3 for 39, Suraj Yadav 3 for 42). Winners Club-9 for 214 (Yash Arora 35, Neelesh Kaul 34, Abhay Yadav 21, Suraj Yadav 2, Adnan Khan 20, Ankit Kumar 22 not out, Adarsh 4 for 43, Vivek Rind 2 for 32, Surendra Srivastava 2 for 33). Shooters of Vision and Reflection High Performance Shooting Academy won 13 gold and 7 silver medals and stood as runners-up in open shooting championship held at St Joseph International School Lucknow recently. The medal winning shooters were Ankit Yadav, Aush Nagar, Mohan Murray, Nirali Harshit Singh, Ananya Singh, Nishi Shukla, Poorvi Sethi, and Pratiksha Pal.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
National conclave on NEP concludes at NITC
The National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) successfully hosted a two-day national conclave titled 'Implementation of NEP 2020: Moving Towards Academic Excellence' on April 25 and 26. The event served as a national platform for academic leaders, policymakers, nodal officers, and representatives from Centrally Funded Institutions (CFIs) to engage in in-depth and collaborative dialogue on strategies for effectively implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Chairman of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) Anil D. Sahasrabudhe in his inaugural address, called for a paradigm shift in higher education that emphasises flexibility, innovation, and holistic student development. Former Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Ved Prakash in his keynote address, reflected on the foundational principles of NEP 2020 and highlighted the urgent need for systemic reforms encouraging multidisciplinary learning, student-centric approaches, and greater internationalisation in Indian higher education. Throughout the two days, the conclave featured a series of expert-led sessions. Former Officer on Special Duty (NEP) at the Ministry of Education Shakila Shamsu addressed the need for holistic and multidisciplinary education, advocating experiential and learner-driven models that support flexible academic structures and lifelong learning. In a virtual session, former Director of IIT Delhi and current Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani V. Ramgopal Rao spoke on the long-term impact of NEP 2020 on global university rankings. He emphasised that strategic implementation of the policy could enable Indian institutions to enhance research output, foster innovation ecosystems, and build meaningful international partnerships. Adding to the discourse on global engagement, P. Arumugam of IIT Roorkee shared insights on the internationalisation of higher education. He discussed actionable policies promoting student and faculty mobility, global collaboration, and institutional visibility on the world stage. The significance of integrating India's intellectual heritage was conveyed by R. Sridharan, former chairperson of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems at NIT Calicut. He advocated for the inclusion of indigenous knowledge, philosophy, and scientific traditions into contemporary curricula, promoting a deeper connection to India's cultural roots. Sameer S.M. from NIT Calicut presented a compelling vision for flexible curriculum design in line with NEP 2020. He emphasised the role of modular course structures, interdisciplinary pathways, and technological tools in delivering a more personalised and adaptive learning experience. A key highlight of the conclave was the interactive session featuring nodal officers from six nominated State universities in Kerala, along with participants from various CFIs. The session fostered an exchange of experiences, challenges, and best practices, offering practical perspectives on the diverse approaches institutions are adopting to implement NEP 2020 effectively.
