Latest news with #VikasAgarwal
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Taking Testosterone Supplements To Be "Alpha" Can Actually Make You Infertile
In recent years, more men, including young, seemingly healthy adults, have turned to testosterone supplements and injections to bulk up, build stamina, or boost their libido. Experts suggest that these recommendations often come from their fitness trainers who suggest it for enhancing muscle gain. Add to that the constant bombing of online ads that promise an improved sex drive, energy, and mood, and you have a burgeoning market at hand. The market today is flooded with products that claim to boost testosterone: from herbal supplements like Shilajit, to protein powders, pills, and hormone injections. Data shows that the testosterone booster market is at USD 5,514.95 million in India and is growing rapidly. But behind the glossy promises lie risks that few users fully understand. As experts warn, testosterone is not a magic bullet, and certainly not one to be taken without knowing about its consequences. What Is Testosterone And What Does It Do To Your Body? Testosterone is a natural hormone primarily produced in the testicles. It plays a crucial role in developing male characteristics and maintaining overall health. According to Dr Vikas Agarwal, Director and HOD, Robotic Urology, Aakash Healthcare, "From puberty onward, it is responsible for building muscle mass, deepening the voice, growing facial and body hair, and supporting sexual desire and performance. It also contributes to bone health, mental well-being, and energy levels." As Dr Alka Jha from Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, explains, it regulates key functions such as: Muscle and bone strength Sperm production Red blood cell production Libido and mood stability Fat distribution The Decline In Testoterone Modern lifestyle factors are playing a big role for this drop in male hormones in men. As Dr Jha points out, "The surge in male testosterone consumption stems from declining natural levels due to obesity, stress, and lifestyle factors, coupled with heightened awareness of hypogonadism symptoms and an ageing population seeking anti-ageing benefits." This has resulted in more men seeking testosterone therapy, not just for medical reasons like hypogonadism (a condition where the body doesn't produce enough testosterone), but also recreationally, to enhance appearance or perceived 'masculinity'. Testosterone is being taken "for muscle building, athletic performance, and sexual enhancement via supplements and therapies. This trend is fuelled by fitness culture, social media influence, e-commerce accessibility, and off-label use among young adults, though it raises risks like stroke and heart issues," Dr Jha says. The Decline Of Testosterone Is Normal While Ageing It's normal for testosterone levels to decrease with age. Data shows testosterone levels in men naturally decline with age, typically starting around age 30, with a gradual decrease of about 1-2% per year. But other reasons - like stress or poor diet - can accelerate the drop. You can watch out for these signs if that's the case, as the drop in testosterone can cause: Fatigue or lower energy levels Mood changes, including irritability or depression Decreased libido Muscle loss Increase in body fat Difficulty in concentrating Reduced strength or endurance If you're experiencing these, the answer isn't necessarily supplements. Dr Vikas Agarwal recommends that "a simple blood test can determine whether your testosterone levels are low. If they are not, taking testosterone will not help and it may do more harm than good." Enter Testosterone Experts suggest that in such cases, where testosterone is significantly low, testosterone therapy and other practices come in. But still it is not for everyone. "Testosterone replacement is typically prescribed for men experiencing hypogonadism. This is often due to medical issues like chemotherapy, genetic conditions, or injury," explains Dr Alka Jha. It may help improve energy, libido, mood, and even bone density in those who truly need it. But for healthy men, experts say, especially those using it for muscle gain or performance, the benefits are unclear and potentially dangerous. Testosterone use without medical necessity can shut down your body's natural hormone system. "The body thinks it has enough testosterone when you take it externally and shuts down its natural production," explains Dr Vikas Agarwal. Can Cause Infertility: The Hidden Side Effect Taking testosterone, especially above the counter, can cause various side effects. These can include both common and more serious issues, such as changes in sexual function, physical and emotional changes, and potential impact on the cardiovascular and prostate health. But experts suggest that sometimes, hormonal suppression of the naturally producing testosterone can lead to testicular shrinkage, reduced sperm count, and long-term infertility. Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar, President of FOGSI and HOD at Ruby Hall Clinic Pune, warns that "many young people are taking testosterone with the advice of their trainer, and this testosterone stops the production of testosterone in the body naturally." She explains, "It can stop the formation of sperm, known as spermatogenesis. In 60% to 75% of men, infertility occurs significantly. And it can be impossible to reverse this effect for a long time." Dr Alka Jha further adds, "It suppresses natural testosterone production by down-regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, leading to smaller testicles, reduced sperm count, and infertility. This is often reversible but can persist for months after stopping therapy." The Alpha Male Syndrome From late-night gymbro science to online supplement sales, testosterone has been promoted as a shortcut to virility, power, and youth. But many of these promises are misleading. This need of becoming and feeling like 'men' and 'Alpha' has led to a surge in sales of testosterone supplements and other products. Experts also blame social media. As Dr Vikas Agarwal notes, "Social media and fitness culture play a big role as many men feel pressured to look a certain way, and testosterone promises quick muscle gain. For older men, it offers hope of increased sexual vitality, while some even believe it can reverse ageing. However, these expectations don't always match reality." A medical review published in the Cureus journal confirms that while testosterone therapy helps in diagnosed hypogonadism, "there is very limited evidence that it helps healthy men". In fact, all experts agree: testosterone therapy can be life-changing, but for the right person, under the right circumstances, and under medical supervision. So, if you're in your 20s or 30s and tempted to try testosterone as a shortcut for muscles according to a gym trainer or podcaster's advice, or an Instagram ad, think again.
Forbes
17-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The AI Revolution In Infrastructure And Database Management
Vikas Agarwal is the Director & Head of Database Services of Citizens Financial Group, a leading bank holding company. The world of technology is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. While AI has already reshaped various industries, its impact on infrastructure and database management is only beginning to unfold. From automating routine processes to enhancing security frameworks, AI is poised to redefine how organizations handle their most critical systems. The Shifting Landscape Of Infrastructure Management Throughout our journey, we have developed automation solutions that perform specific tasks within the infrastructure domain. These automations typically operate as standalone units. However, by integrating AI into these systems, we can unify and enhance their capabilities, enabling more intelligent and efficient infrastructure management. For example, many industries already use reactive automation for scaling storage or compute resources based on predefined triggers. While effective, this approach is limited to responding after an event occurs. By incorporating AI, we can analyze logs and usage patterns to proactively scale resources up or down based on trends. This not only reduces operational costs but also improves system stability and overall productivity. When infrastructure monitoring is combined with AI, the benefits extend beyond predictive detection. AI can also recommend or even execute solutions based on historical resolutions of similar issues. AI agents can significantly reduce manual effort by quickly identifying problems across complex environments. In large organizations with thousands of servers and infrastructure components, it's impractical to manually inspect each one. Often, unused or unnecessary systems continue to consume resources and incur costs. AI-driven log analysis and monitoring can easily identify such inefficiencies and recommend corrective actions. Moreover, AI can detect anomalies and deviations in logs or monitoring data well in advance, allowing teams to address potential issues before they escalate. This proactive approach enhances operational resilience and ensures optimal use of infrastructure resources. AI's Role In Database Management One key advancement of AI-driven database management is indexing and query optimization. Conventional database systems require manual tuning to optimize query execution and indexing strategies. AI-powered algorithms can analyze query patterns, detect inefficiencies and automatically adjust configurations to maximize performance. This not only reduces the workload on database administrators (DBAs) but also improves response times for data-intensive applications. Another breakthrough is the emergence of AI-based anomaly detection for database security. Cyber threats targeting databases are becoming more sophisticated, often bypassing traditional security measures. AI can detect abnormal access patterns and flag potential threats in real time, enabling organizations to implement preemptive security actions. By continuously learning from historical data, AI-driven security solutions can adapt to new attack vectors without relying on manual rule updates. Leaders should start thinking seriously about how AI can help reduce the overhead involved in database management. A significant portion of support teams' time is spent either answering routine questions about databases or troubleshooting performance issues caused by poorly written queries. One practical solution is to introduce an AI-powered layer between users and the database. This layer can help ensure that queries are optimized before they hit the system, while also guiding users to write better queries over time. It's not just about automation—it's about making the system smarter and more user-friendly. That said, it's important to build in a validation loop. AI should assist and recommend, but not make decisions in isolation. Keeping a human-in-the-loop approach ensures accuracy, accountability and trust in the system. The Future Of AI-Driven Security Security remains one of the biggest concerns for organizations handling critical infrastructure and databases. AI is stepping in as a formidable ally in the fight against cyber threats by introducing intelligent threat detection, automated incident response and zero-trust architectures. One promising development is AI-driven identity and access management (IAM). Traditional IAM solutions rely on static credential-based authentication, which is vulnerable to breaches. AI-powered IAM systems leverage behavioral analytics and biometrics to continuously verify user identities, making it significantly harder for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access. While AI can simplify many tasks, especially in infrastructure, it also introduces new security challenges that organizations need to take seriously. When AI is given the ability to take actions within infrastructure, every step it takes should go through a feedback or approval loop. This ensures that changes are being reviewed and validated by the right people before they're applied. Another important consideration is how AI models are trained. Large language models (LLMs) should be trained using in-house data, not just general public datasets. Every organization's infrastructure is unique—how it's set up, how it's used and the challenges it faces. Relying on generic training data can lead to inaccurate or irrelevant suggestions. To get meaningful, context-aware insights, the AI needs to learn from the organization's own environment. Conclusion The integration of AI into infrastructure and database management is not just a technological evolution—it is a fundamental shift that will redefine operational efficiency, security and productivity. By automating routine tasks, optimizing performance and enhancing security frameworks, AI enables IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than mundane troubleshooting. However, leaders must be vigilant in knowing when to implement it—and how. While AI will undoubtedly disrupt traditional job roles, it also presents an opportunity for professionals to upskill and embrace AI-driven methodologies. The future of infrastructure and database management lies in the synergy between human expertise and intelligent automation, ensuring organizations remain agile, secure and competitive in an increasingly data-driven world. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Airport logs into social media to address plaints
Kolkata: The city airport authorities have put in place a social media monitoring team that tracks complaints lodged by passengers on social media and tries to address the issues at the earliest. On Monday, a passenger flying out of the airport posted photographs of four littered and dirty corners of the facility. Within a few hours, the airport authorities responded by posting photos of the same areas in the comment section of the post after cleaning the spots. "Absolutely filthy experience at Kolkata airport. Food littered all over. Stinking, unhygienic toilets. Dirty corners and zero upkeep. This is supposed to be an international airport? Shocking standards," wrote an X user with @WalkingReDfLA while posting four images of the airport showing littered and dirty portions of the security hold area. Within a few hours, Kolkata airport authorities cleaned those spots and responded to the complaint by uploading new photographs of the same locations in the comment section of the original post. "Hi. Immediate action was taken based on your feedback and necessary cleaning was carried out. Thank you for bringing this to our attention," the airport authorities wrote. A similar issue was flagged by another flyer, Vikas Agarwal, on Thursday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AudioNova leder efter testpersoner i Noerre Aaby til at teste det usynlige høreapparat Audionova Lær mere Undo He posted a photograph of a littered section of the seating area in the SHA. Within two hours, airport authorities posted an image of cleaners at work in the area and another photograph of the same area after it was cleaned. Officials confirmed that the team actively monitors social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and Instagram, for complaints, feedback, and suggestions from passengers. The team is tasked with escalating urgent matters to operational units for immediate resolution. "This is part of our ongoing effort to make the airport cleaner, safer, and more passenger-friendly. We are committed to improving not just the physical infrastructure but also how we engage with passengers. Real-time social media monitoring allows us to intervene quickly when problems arise," ," said airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria. Passengers and advocacy groups have lauded the airport's action. "It shows the growing power of social media in pushing institutions towards greater transparency and efficiency. Finally, the authorities have realised social media is not just for updates and announcements, but also an active customer service and feedback tool. We are glad they are taking note of our complaints and are also giving proof of the action taken," said Sutirtha Basu, a frequent flyer.
Fashion Network
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
KorinMi raises Rs 3 crore, enters direct to customer retail market in India
Gurugram-based Korean skincare business KorinMi has raised Rs 3 crore in a pre-seed funding round and plans to launch 25 offline outlets in Indian metros including Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai over the coming three years. "We're formalising a new category in professional Korean skincare tailored for Indian consumers with a high-trust clinical approach," KorinMi's co-founder Reshbha Munjal told ET Retail in an interview. KorinMi's funding round was led by Vikas Agarwal, the former CEO of Kaya Skin Clinic, and also saw participation from angel investors including Vivek Kumar of Venture Garage. The business plans to use its new capital to widen its clinic network to reach more metro shoppers. In addition, KorinMi will harness the investment to launch its own direct to customer skincare range. The product line will use Korean beauty principles and cater to the growing demand for K-Beauty in India. Indian national Reshbha Munjal and South Korean national Jenovia Daun Jung launched KorinMi last year. The business aims to tailor Korean skincare expertise to Indian beauty needs, according to its Facebook page. The brand currently counts two brick-and-mortar locations, one in New Delhi's Defence Colony and one in Gurugram's Worldmark.
Entrepreneur
06-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
KorinMi Raises INR 3 Cr to Expand Korean Skincare Clinics in India
The fresh capital will be strategically deployed to enhance technology, bolster marketing, expand clinic operations, and roll out a new line of skincare products customised for Indian skin using advanced Korean skincare science. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. KorinMi, a pioneering Korean skin clinic, has raised INR 3 crore (approx. USD 360,000) in a pre-seed funding round led by prominent angel investors including Vikas Agarwal, former CEO of Kaya Skin Clinic (UAE), and Vivek Kumar, CEO of Venture Garage, along with a network of CXOs and industry leaders. The fresh capital will be strategically deployed to enhance technology, bolster marketing, expand clinic operations, and roll out a new line of skincare products customised for Indian skin using advanced Korean skincare science. Founded in 2024 by Reshbha Munjal and Jenovia Daun Jung, KorinMi blends the clinical expertise of Korean dermatology with solutions tailored specifically for Indian skin. The brand's name—"Korin" (Korea + India) and "Mi" (meaning beauty in Korean)—embodies its mission to merge global beauty excellence with localised innovation. KorinMi's cutting-edge clinics offer both non-invasive and invasive treatments backed by Korean dermatological science. A key differentiator is its 3D Korean skin analysis technology that evaluates over 15 skin parameters to deliver highly personalised care. "While K-beauty enjoys immense popularity in India, professional clinics offering dermatologist-approved Korean treatments were missing," said Reshbha Munjal, Co-founder and CEO. "With KorinMi, we bridge this gap by offering authentic Korean solutions tailored to Indian skin needs." Jenovia Daun Jung, Co-founder and COO, added, "We're offering a whole new category—professional K-beauty rooted in precision and results." Investor Vikas Agarwal remarked, "What stood out was not just the strength of the concept, but the founders' vision and execution. KorinMi has already achieved profitability within six months—testament to the founders' operational excellence." Having launched its flagship clinic in Gurugram just six months ago, KorinMi claims that it is already operationally profitable and has expanded to two locations in Delhi-NCR. The brand plans to scale rapidly with 25 clinics across major metros like Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad over the next three years. KorinMi is also entering the D2C space with a curated range of professional-grade Korean homecare products formulated for Indian skin. With five hero products launched, it aims to build a trusted skincare ecosystem across India.
