Higher levels of air pollution may not only harm your lungs but also worsen health for people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a multi-national study, that strengthened the connection between environmental health and sleep medicine.

While OSA is a common condition, many people do not realise they have it. People with OSA often snore loudly, their breathing starts and stops during the night, and they may wake up several times.

The study, presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, revealed that, overall, for every one unit increase in PM10 -- tiny particles, 10 micrometers or smaller, released into the air by vehicle exhausts and industrial processes -- there was a modest but measurable increase in the patients' apnoea hypopnea index (AHI).

The addition of over 10,000 new medical seats by the Union Cabinet recently is another step towards India achieving universal healthcare, according to an official statement on Saturday.

On September 24, 10,023 new medical seats across existing government colleges and hospitals were approved by the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with an investment of Rs 15,034 crore.

The move is part of a broader vision to create 75,000 additional medical seats within the next five years.

Although it may not be noticeable, the loss of smell may linger for years for some people after a Covid-19 infection, according to a study.

The study led by researchers at the US National Institutes of Health and New York University Langone Health used an objective, 40-odour test to explore a link between the coronavirus that causes Covid and hyposmia -- the reduced ability to smell.

The results revealed that 80 per cent of participants who reported a change in their smelling ability after having Covid earned low scores on a clinical scent-detection test taken about two years later.

Of this group, 23 per cent were severely impaired or had entirely lost their sense of smell.

Researchers at the National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) have developed a low-cost and indigenous force plate that enhances gait profiling and enables better development of footwear and treatment strategies to reduce heel pain.

Heel pain is one of the most widespread foot ailments in adults. It is often linked to overloading of the plantar fascia -- a band of tissue that supports the arch of the foot.

However, in many cases, changes in the heel pad -- a fatty tissue under the heel can also cause the problem. This issue acts as a shock absorber when we stand, run, or walk. With too much stress, the heel pad loses its cushioning ability to the foot, causing pain and discomfort. The condition can also be caused by aging, injury, obesity, diabetes, and ill-fitting shoes.

Cancer, heart disease and pneumonia were among the key causes of death for South Koreans in 2024, data showed on Thursday, with suicide remaining the top factor among those in their 40s and younger.

Last year, the total number of deaths reported in the country came to 358,569, up 1.7 per cent from a year earlier, according to Statistics Korea.

The agency said 702.6 deaths were reported per 100,000 South Koreans last year, also up 1.9 per cent from a year earlier.

The report showed that cancer accounted for 24.8 per cent of total deaths in 2024, followed by heart disease at 9.4 per cent and pneumonia at 8.4 per cent. The three factors were responsible for more than 42 per cent of total deaths.

A new malaria monoclonal antibody is safe, well-tolerated, and can elicit protection in people with no prior exposure to the malaria-causing parasite, according to a study.

The phase 1 randomised controlled trial of the experimental monoclonal antibody MAM01, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, showed that of the three malaria-naive adults given the highest study dose, none had parasites in their bloodstream up to 26 weeks later.

"Malaria-naive" refers to an individual who has never been exposed to the malaria parasite and therefore has no natural immunity to the disease.

Scientists have discovered that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) silently starts years earlier, long before symptoms appear, an advance that may pave the way for earlier treatment and prevention.

RA is a debilitating autoimmune disease that causes painful joint inflammation and damage.

The new research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, reveals that during the early phase of RA, the body fights an autoimmune battle invisibly.

This wasn't a localised joint inflammation, but rather a body-wide inflammatory state that resembles what's seen in people with active RA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday refuted claims made by US President Donald Trump on the link between autism and the use of paracetamol during pregnancy.

Speaking at a White House event on Monday, Trump called on mothers-to-be to “tough it out” rather than take acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) -- the main ingredient in Tylenol.

"There is currently no conclusive scientific evidence confirming a possible link between autism and use of acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) during pregnancy,” the UN health body said in a statement.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Jodhpur have leveraged the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to better identify childhood malnutrition.

The new method, published in the open-access journal MICCAI, addresses one of the most pressing global health challenges -- the accurate and scalable assessment of childhood malnutrition.

The study introduced DomainAdapt -- a novel multitasks learning framework that dynamically adjusts task weights using domain knowledge and mutual information.

This allows the system to more accurately predict key anthropometric measures such as height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), while simultaneously classifying malnutrition-related conditions such as stunting, wasting, and underweight.

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a special nanomaterial that can “talk” to neurons naturally.

The discovery could transform treatment for brain disorders, said the team.

The special nanomaterial called graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) can stimulate brain cells -- without the need for electrodes, lasers, or magnets.

The findings, published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, demonstrate that graphitic carbon nitride helps neurons grow, mature, and communicate more effectively by tapping into the brain’s own electrical activity.

Oral bacteria, once colonised in the gut, can affect neurons in the brain and potentially trigger Parkinson's disease, according to a study.

Researchers from the Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea identified the mechanism by which metabolites produced by oral bacteria in the gut may trigger the development of Parkinson's disease -- a major neurological disorder characterised by tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement.

"Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of how oral microbes in the gut can influence the brain and contribute to the development of Parkinson's disease," said Professor Ara Koh.

More than 76 lakh women and children have participated in the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, the government has said.

The “Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar” Abhiyaan, launched on September 17, continues to witness overwhelming participation across India with lakhs of women, children, and families benefitting from comprehensive health services.

Till September 20, “over 2.83 lakh health camps (screening and speciality camps) have been held under the Abhiyaan, registering a footfall of more than 76 lakh citizens nationwide,” the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

At the nationwide health camps, more than 37 lakh citizens have been screened for hypertension and 35 lakh for diabetes, over 9 lakh women have been screened for breast cancer, and more than 4.7 lakh for cervical cancer. Oral cancer screening has covered more than 16 lakh people.

There is no strong scientific evidence to prove that paracetamol is linked to autism, said health experts on Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump linked the painkiller to the neurodevelopmental condition.

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, is a condition characterised by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction.

Speaking at a White House event on Monday, Trump called on mothers-to-be to “tough it out” rather than take acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) -- the main ingredient in Tylenol.

“President Trump’s suggestion that acetaminophen (Tylenol) use during pregnancy may cause autism is not supported by strong scientific evidence,” Dr Manish Narang, Director-Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital, Delhi, told.

A total of 32 new dengue cases have been reported in Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities of Pakistan, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to the District Health Office (DHO) in Islamabad, 12 fresh cases were reported in the country's capital. Among these, 11 were reported in the rural areas and one from urban area. Rawat reported five cases, two were found in Tarlai and one each was reported from Koral, Sohan, Tarnol, Bhara Kahu and I-14, reported.

A DHO official said, "A total of 12 patients are admitted to hospitals and response to all cases has been carried out in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols."

The District Health Office Islamabad has asked people to follow preventive measures, especially regular cleaning of water containers, tanks and coolers to help prevent the spread of dengue. People have been asked to play an active role in protecting their own health and the health of others.

Vietnam's capital Hanoi has reported a sharp rise in dengue fever cases, with 258 new infections recorded from September 12 to 19, up from 190 cases in the previous week, local media reported.

According to the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control, the city has identified 19 new outbreak clusters, bringing the total number of active hotspots to 33.

Since the beginning of 2025, Hanoi has recorded 1,884 cases of dengue fever, down 42 per cent compared to the same period in 2024, reports.

While undernutrition is generally associated with a lack of proper nutrition, health experts on Monday contended it is also an increasing risk factor for obesity and diabetes.

According to UNICEF, in 2025, the global prevalence of obesity among school-age children and adolescents exceeded underweight for the first time.

This dramatic shift in the face of malnutrition jeopardises the health and future potential of children, communities, and nations.

The UN agency’s Child Nutrition Report revealed how unhealthy food environments are contributing to the worldwide surge in overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

Women with excessive nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum) during pregnancy may be at a 50 per cent high risk of mental health conditions such as post-partum psychosis, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a study.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) affects up to 3.6 per cent of all pregnancies. HG is the most common cause of hospitalisation in the first trimester of pregnancy, and the majority of HG cases (but not all) resolve in the second trimester.

Women with HG experience prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting, leading to dehydration and weight loss.

US researchers have found that the glucose-fructose mix found in sugary drinks directly fuels the spread in cases of advanced colorectal cancer.

To meet nutritional needs, many patients with cancer are encouraged to have nutritional supplement drinks and concentrated juices that contain high glucose and fructose content.

A team from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center studied how sugary drinks may affect late-stage colorectal cancer.

"Our findings highlight that daily diet matters not only for cancer risk but also for how the disease progresses once it has developed," said Jihye Yun, Assistant Professor of Genetics, at the varsity.

The rise in global temperatures is likely to cause severe health risks and result in the loss of more than $1.5 trillion in productivity, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum on Thursday.

The loss will be borne mainly by sectors such as food and agriculture, the built environment, health, and healthcare.

The report, published ahead of the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2025, arrived as preparations intensify for COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

The findings highlight that adapting to extreme heat, infectious diseases, and other health risks accelerating due to climate change is now a strategic business imperative.

Nearly half of jobseekers (45 per cent) believe that India’s gender pay gap exceeds 20 per cent, with maternity-related career breaks and workplace bias cited as the top drivers, a survey report said on Thursday.

According to a Naukri survey across 80 industries, 51 per cent of professionals identified maternity breaks as the primary cause of pay disparity between genders.

Around 27 per cent pointed to workplace bias -- the way women are perceived at work.

The views of respondents were strongest in IT (56 per cent), pharma (55 per cent), and automobiles (53 per cent) sectors.

Indian pharma major Lupin announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved its abbreviated new drug application for Lenalidomide capsules in strengths of 2.5 mg to 25 mg for cancer patients.

Lenalidomide has been approved for treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma -- a deadly blood cancer -- when used with dexamethasone as maintenance therapy after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the company said in an exchange filing.

It is also indicated for transfusion-dependent anaemia in low- or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes linked to a deletion 5q abnormality.

Israeli researchers have discovered that the protein oxytocin plays a key role in how young brains respond to parental separation, helping shape emotional development from a very early age.

Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science developed a noninvasive method to silence specific brain cells in mouse pups without disturbing their natural behaviour, news agency reported.

Using this technology, the team uncovered how oxytocin activity in the brain influences the way pups cope with being separated from their mothers.

Oxytocin is often called the "love hormone" because it helps promote social bonding. While most studies have focused on adults, the new research shows that oxytocin also affects the emotional behaviour of young animals.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a dairy cattle herd in the state of Nebraska.

In a statement, the USDA said on Monday that the confirmed strain is H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13. The case was detected through state-led tracing and investigation following an initial finding from pre-movement surveillance milk samples, which are required under a federal order issued by the USDA in April 2024.

This marks the first known case of HPAI in cattle in Nebraska. Since the outbreak began in March 2024, dairy cattle infections have been reported in 17 states, though the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) noted that cases have remained confined to a small number of states this year.

Ever wondered why some people with obesity remain relatively healthy while others develop serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease? Genetic differences may be the reason, according to a study.

An international team of researchers led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark analysed genetic data from 452,768 people and discovered variants in 205 regions of the genome linked to higher body fat but better metabolic health.

Using these discoveries, they developed a genetic risk score that adds up the impact of these variants. Individuals with higher scores were more likely to develop obesity -- but were less likely to suffer from complications such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or heart disease. This is due, in part, to the way fat cells behave in different people.

Israel's Health Ministry reported 481 new measles cases, bringing the total to 1,251 since the outbreak started in early April.

The ministry estimates that between 2,250 and 3,950 people may have been infected, based on high hospitalisation rates and reports from the community. Currently, 29 patients are still hospitalised, most of them under the age of six. Five are in intensive care, including one receiving ECMO support.

The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of two unvaccinated boys, aged 18 months and two years, respectively.

In May, roughly a month after the outbreak began, the ministry launched a nationwide vaccination campaign, during which more than 142,000 doses were administered.

Both resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) produced sufficient levels of myokines to help in the fight against cancer, according to a study.

While RT uses external force like weights to build muscle and strength, HIIT uses short, intense bursts of exercise followed by brief recovery periods to improve cardiovascular fitness and endurance.

Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) found that cancer survivors who followed either resistance training or HIIT had reduced the growth of these breast cancer cells in vitro by 22 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively.

“This suggests both types of exercise may help slow cancer cell growth,” said Francesco Bettariga from the varsity.

People using cannabis may be four times more at risk of developing diabetes, according to a large study of over four million adults on Monday.

Cannabis use is increasing globally, with an estimated 219 million users (4.3 per cent of the global adult population) in 2021, but its long-term metabolic effects remain unknown.

While some studies have suggested potential anti-inflammatory or weight management properties, others have raised concerns regarding glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, and the magnitude of the risk of developing diabetes hasn't been clear.

The research showed that new cases of diabetes were significantly higher in the cannabis group (2.2 per cent) compared to the healthy group (0.6 per cent), with statistical analysis showing cannabis users at nearly four times the risk of developing diabetes compared to non-users.

A higher weekly dose of semaglutide (7.2 mg) is safe and can significantly improve weight loss in adults living with obesity, including those with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to an international study, published on Monday.

The findings, based on results of two large-scale, international phase 3 clinical trials and published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, suggest that a higher dose of semaglutide offers a promising new option for people who have not achieved sufficient weight loss with existing treatments.

“The currently approved dose of semaglutide is 2.4 mg, and the study showed 7.2 mg is safe and leads to additional weight reduction,” said the researchers, including those from Canada, the US, Denmark, Norway, and Portugal.

Social media may be driving negative opinion on contraceptive pills, leading to women discontinuing birth control drugs within two years of starting them, according to a study.

Researchers at the University of Sheffield identified a “nocebo effect” in relation to the contraceptive pill, where psychological factors such as negative expectations or anxiety about using a medicine drives a physical response in the body when the medicine is taken.

Nocebo responses to the oral contraceptive pill are real and can include feelings of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The nocebo effect is the “evil twin” to the placebo effect, where people get a positive boost from taking a dummy tablet or pill.

Shares of US pharma giants fell over 3 per cent following reports indicating that the US health administration officials intend to associate coronavirus vaccines with the deaths of 25 children.

Pfizer's stock declined by over 3 per cent, Moderna's fell by more than 7 per cent, and Novavax decreased by more than 4 per cent overnight.

The selloff occurred after reports indicated that the claim will be presented next week to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) vaccine advisory panel, which determines US immunisation policy.

Having a state Palliative Care Policy is crucial to strengthen healthcare and also reduce costs for patients in Delhi, according to a health experts on Friday.

Palliative care is a branch of medicine that aims to prevent and relieve the physical, social, and spiritual suffering of patients suffering from chronic life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers.

“A palliative care policy in Delhi can streamline resources, integrate fragmented health systems, and ensure systematic funding,” Parth Sharma, Department of Community Medicine, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, told.

Love to binge on cheeseburgers and fries? Beware, just four days of these fatty foods can rewire the brain's memory hub -- leading to risk of cognitive dysfunction, according to a study.

The research led by the University of North Carolina (UNC) in the US suggests that fatty junk foods can affect the brain almost immediately, well before the onset of weight gain or diabetes.

More than 1 million Australians are projected to have dementia by 2065, a government report said on Friday.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's updated Dementia in Australia report, the number is expected to more than double from about 425,000 people in 2024 to 1.1 million by 2065.

Women currently outnumber men with dementia, with 266,000 women and 159,000 men affected in 2024, rising to an estimated 662,000 women and 390,000 men by 2065, it said.

Exposure to micro- and nano plastics may be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study in mice.

Micro- and nano plastics prevalent in the environment routinely enter the human body through the water we drink, foods we eat, and even the air we breathe.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, showed that those plastic particles infiltrate all systems of the body, including the brain, where they can accumulate and lead to cognitive decline and even Alzheimer’s disease, especially in those who carry genetic risk factors.

After reviewing the current situation of dengue and malaria in the country, the government has issued an advisory to states to intensify preventive measures for the mosquito-borne diseases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Thursday.

The review meeting led by the Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday took stock of the current status and key challenges in the prevention and control of dengue and malaria.

“States, local bodies and communities must intensify preventive and control measures, particularly during this high-risk period, to safeguard public health and sustain the gains made in reducing the burden of vector-borne diseases,” said Nadda.