Category: LIFESTYLE

New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Increasing taxes on fruit juices, sugary drinks, and alcohol is essential to curb the rising non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and injuries, especially in children and young adults, said the World Health Organization (WHO).

In two new global reports, the WHO flagged concerns that sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages are getting cheaper, due to consistently low tax rates in most countries.

While more than 100 countries tax sugary drinks like sodas, other high-sugar products, such as 100 per cent fruit juices, sweetened milk drinks, and ready-to-drink coffees and teas, escape taxation. The median tax for these accounts for only about 2 per cent of the price of a common sugary soda.

Besides, only a few countries are adjusting taxes for inflation, allowing the health-harming products to become steadily more affordable.

Being cheap for consumption, the harmful products are generating billions of dollars in profit. On the other hand, health systems across the globe are facing mounting financial pressure from preventable noncommunicable diseases and injuries, the WHO said, while calling on governments to significantly strengthen taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages.

“Health taxes are one of the strongest tools we have for promoting health and preventing disease,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“By increasing taxes on products like tobacco, sugary drinks, and alcohol, governments can reduce harmful consumption and unlock funds for vital health services,” he added.

In a separate report, the WHO stated that alcohol has become more affordable or remained unchanged in price in most countries since 2022, despite clear health risks. At least 167 countries levy taxes on alcoholic beverages, while 12 ban alcohol entirely.

WHO found that across regions, tax shares on alcohol remain low, with global excise share medians of 14 per cent for beer and 22.5 per cent for spirits.

“More affordable alcohol drives violence, injuries and disease,” said Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention.

“While industry profits, the public often carries the health consequences and society the economic costs,” Krug said.

The WHO called on countries to raise and redesign taxes and increase the real prices of tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks by 2035, making them less affordable over time to help protect people’s health.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) Just five more minutes of sleep, and two minutes of moderate exercise like brisk walking or climbing stairs can add a year to your life, according to a study on Wednesday.

Adding half a serving of vegetables per day more could also lead to an extra year of life for people with the worst existing sleep, physical activity, and dietary habits, revealed the study that followed 60,000 people for eight long years.

The study, published in The Lancet journal eClinicalMedicine, suggested that seven to eight hours of sleep per day, more than 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day, and a healthy diet were associated with over nine years of additional lifespan and years spent in good health.

“The combined relationship of sleep, physical activity, and diet is larger than the sum of the individual behaviours. For example, for people with the unhealthiest sleep, physical activity and dietary habits to achieve one additional year of lifespan through sleep alone would require five times the amount of additional sleep per day (25 minutes) than if physical activity and diet also improved a small amount,” said the international group of researchers from the UK, Australia, Chile, and Brazil.

In a separate study, published in the journal The Lancet, researchers from Norway, Spain, and Australia showed that adding just 5 minutes of extra walking to the daily routine can cut down the risk of death in the majority of adults by 10 per cent.

It will also help the least active adults to reduce their risk of death by around 6 per cent.

Further, the study based on data from more than 135,000 adults found that reducing sedentary time by 30 minutes per day was associated with an estimated 7 per cent reduction in all deaths if adopted by the majority of adults (who spend 10 hours being sedentary per day).

Around 3 per cent of all deaths can be reduced if adopted by the most sedentary adults (who spend 12 hours being sedentary per day on average).

“These estimates provide important evidence on the wide range of public health impacts associated with even small positive changes in physical activity and inactivity,” said corresponding author Prof Ulf Ekelund, from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo.

The researchers cautioned that the findings should not be used as personalised advice; rather, they highlighted the potential benefits for the population as a whole.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Cold waves with dipping temperatures, along with severe air pollution, are driving a sharp rise in heart and respiratory illnesses in the national capital, said health experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

The experts highlighted the precautions that should be taken in various comorbidities and extremes of age, and the precautions one can take when there is any health issue.

Prof. Rajiv Narang, HOD, Department of Cardiology, AIIMS, shared how to deal with conditions like coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease in these extreme cold conditions, which occur mainly due to reduced blood supply to the heart muscles.

“It is very cold these days, and there is much discussion about how to take care of your health. When it comes to heart disease, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Especially during winter, there is a tendency for blood pressure to rise,” Narang told IANS.

“Many patients who previously had their blood pressure well under control now report an increase. To manage this, it is recommended to have a blood pressure monitor at home and check your BP at least twice a week. Blood pressure monitors are now affordable and easy to use. If your BP exceeds 140/90 mmHg, you should consult your doctor,” he added, while also advising proper diet and hydration.

He also recommended against morning walks due to extreme cold conditions, as well as increasing pollution levels in the city.

“It is very important to maintain body temperature during winter. Avoid going out in the early morning or late evening. Perform daily activities, especially for the elderly, during the daytime, preferably after 11 a.m. when the sun is up. Stay active, but do so safely,” Dr. Abhijith R. Rao, Department of Geriatric Medicine, AIIMS, told IANS.

Dr. Sanjeev Sinha, a Professor of Medicine at AIIMS, highlighted the risk of respiratory diseases due to the cold wave and pollution.

“During a cold wave, exposure to cold air can trigger bronchospasm. When a patient inhales cold air through the nostrils, the airways can constrict, leading to narrowing or closure of the respiratory passages and difficulty in breathing,” he said.

The expert noted an increase in patients in the AIIMS Delhi OPD and emergency departments due to COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) — a condition commonly associated with a history of smoking, indoor pollution, or outdoor pollution.

“Patients with COPD often present with coughing, wheezing, and breathlessness. Many of them come with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, especially during cold weather. Due to increased exposure and lowered immunity, some patients also develop pneumonia,” Sinha said.

He urged elderly individuals and patients suffering from chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, or bronchial asthma to take extra precautions during cold waves to protect their respiratory health.

Paediatrician Prof. Rakesh Lodha highlighted the need to also care about children’s health and physical well-being this winter.

“Young children are particularly vulnerable to problems caused by cold exposure. To protect them, they should wear warm clothing and be properly covered, including using a cap for their head. Handkerchiefs or scarves can also help reduce exposure,” he told IANS.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) South-East Asia Region, home to a quarter of the world’s population, has marked 15 years since recording its last case of wild poliovirus, said the World Health Organization (IANS) on Tuesday.

The region continues to sustain its polio-free status while harnessing innovations and lessons from the polio programme to accelerate broader public health progress, the global health body said.

“This extraordinary achievement followed unparalleled efforts and demonstrates what can be accomplished and sustained through unwavering government leadership, a dedicated health workforce, and strong partnerships, including with communities,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, WHO South-East Asia Region.

“The journey from polio endemicity to sustained polio-free status demonstrates that ambitious public health goals are achievable,” Boehme added.

An 18-month-old girl, paralysed by wild poliovirus in West Bengal’s Howrah on January 13, 2011, was the last case of wild poliovirus reported in the Southeast Asia Region.

The case was followed by an extensive and intensive response that led to the WHO declaring the region polio-free on March 27, 2014.

The UN health body noted that the Region continues to maintain strict vigil against poliovirus importation and protect children through vaccination against a disease that once caused widespread paralysis and death.

In 2025, more than 50,000 stool samples were collected across the Region and tested through a network of 13 WHO-accredited polio laboratories, including national, regional, and global reference laboratories. Surveillance across the Region continues to exceed the standards required to maintain polio-free certification.

Environmental surveillance is also being conducted at 93 sites among the high-risk population in five countries.

Coverage with bivalent oral polio vaccine and at least one dose of inactivated polio vaccine has remained above 90 per cent for many years.

“As long as polio exists anywhere in the world, the risk of importation remains. Countries must sustain high immunisation coverage, sensitive surveillance, and rapid response capacities for polio as well as other vaccine-preventable diseases,” Boehme said

“WHO remains committed to supporting countries to protect every child through strong routine immunisation systems and to advance disease elimination across the Region,” she added.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Jan 13 (IANS) Myntra, one of India’s leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle platforms, on Tuesday announced the launch of four initiatives under its CSR and Sustainability arm, Myntra Cares, covering two core focus areas, including mobility-enabled livelihoods and education under MynVidya.

One of the initiatives, Livelihoods on Wheels, focuses on enabling employment and independence for persons with disabilities through mobility support; other programmes under the MynVidya umbrella are aimed at contributing to Myntra Cares’ commitment towards strengthening education pathways at different stages.

Livelihoods on Wheels, in partnership with Alamba Charitable Trust, aims to enable sustainable livelihoods for 20 mobility-impaired individuals. Under the programme, each beneficiary will be provided with NeoMotion mobility equipment valued at Rs 1,10,000, enabling independent mobility. Beneficiaries identified and onboarded by the Trust will be recruited, as delivery agents, creating access to stable income opportunities. Through this support, participants are expected to earn Rs 25,000–30,000 per month.

Speaking about the initiative, Rita Antony, Founder-President, Alamba Charitable Trust, said, “Mobility should never be a barrier to opportunity. With Myntra Cares, we are providing tools, training, and sustainable livelihood options to differently-abled individuals, enabling them to earn independently while regaining confidence and dignity. This is a step toward truly inclusive empowerment.”

Myntra Cares continues to drive education-focused programmes that support learners at different stages of their academic journey.

Myntra has partnered with Links Educational and Charitable Trust to provide primary education to 90 children from migrant worker families who have been historically excluded from formal schooling. The programme operates from a dedicated learning centre near Myntra’s Bengaluru headquarters and supports students through the National Open School System, covering Levels 1, 2, and 3 (equivalent to Grades 3, 5, and 7).

Myntra Cares is undertaking a school infrastructure transformation initiative at BKMS School, a government-aided institution near Commercial Street, Bangalore, in partnership with CommuniTree. The phased renovation, scheduled between October 2025 and March 2026, includes classroom upgrades, sanitation facilities, lighting, wiring, and digital learning infrastructure.

To support access to higher education, Myntra Cares has partnered with Buddy4Study to provide scholarships to 175 students, including 75 from traditional artisan families and 100 from low-income garment worker families. Eligible students will receive Rs 20,000 on a reimbursement basis and will be supported for three years of graduation in STEAM disciplines.

Speaking on the initiatives, Govindraj MK, Chief Human Resources Officer, Myntra, said, “Through Myntra Cares, we are addressing the distinct needs of the community. We are enabling livelihoods through mobility while continuing to invest in education under MynVidya. Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to structured, long-term community engagement.”

Speaking about the school transformation initiative, Hafiz Khan, Founder, CommuniTree, said, “The BKMS school transformation project is about more than infrastructure; it’s about creating a nurturing environment where children from underserved backgrounds can learn, grow, and aspire. We are excited to work with Myntra to give this heritage building a new life and a brighter future for its students.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Urvi Jariwala, Founder-Trustee, Links Educational and Charitable Trust, mentioned, “At Links Trust, we believe every child, regardless of where they come from, deserves a fair chance at a brighter future. Children of migrant labourers often bear the weight of displacement and economic hardship, but with this collaboration with Myntra Cares, we are turning hope into opportunity. Together, we’re enabling 90 children to access quality education, giving them not just books and classrooms, but a pathway to dream, learn, and grow with dignity.”

Speaking on the scholarship initiative, Ashutosh Burnwal, Founder, Buddy4Study Foundation, said, “Through our collaboration with Myntra, we’re able to reach deserving students from families of artisans and garment workers who often lack access to financial support for higher education. By combining our operational platform with Myntra’s strong community networks, we aim to empower the next generation with the education and skills they need to thrive”.

These initiatives mark the expansion of Myntra’s voluntary CSR efforts, reflecting a holistic approach to community development. By bringing together dedicated partners and focusing on measurable impact, Myntra aims to foster long-term change that creates pathways to education, skills, and sustainable livelihoods.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and orthopaedics contributed over 50 per cent of revenue in FY25 in private hospitals in the National Capital region (NCR), according to a report.

The report by BNP Paribas Research focuses extensively on private hospitals in the NCR (Gurgaon, Delhi, and Noida) to understand the positioning of private hospital chains across micro-markets, patient mobility to the NCR, and other factors that determine a hospital’s success.

It showed that the specialties spiked revenue at 8-33 per cent CAGR between FY22 and FY25.

“We believe the success of private hospitals in NCR is determined by revenue contribution from CONGO mix (cardiology, oncology, neurology, gastroenterology, and orthopaedics), which contributed over 50 per cent of revenue in FY25 for listed hospitals,” the report said.

“We believe the contribution from NCR from these specialties would be higher than in other regions. Over FY22-25, revenue from these specialties grew at 8-33 per cent CAGR (vs 15-20 per cent overall revenue CAGR over the same period), which highlights companies’ focus on scaling these segments,” it added.

The report found that NCR is considered the home market for most listed hospitals in India. It is due to the significant number of beds in the region and high revenue exposure.

Based on the announced expansion, c43 per cent of the upcoming bed capacity for the largest 13 listed hospitals is in North India, mostly NCR.

Government institutional setup, availability of critical treatment, and patients’ mobility also determined the market dynamics in Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida.

“Each market has a different market leader. We expect some disruption in Gurgaon as new players are expected to enter. Noida holds great long-term potential for a substantial patient pool from Uttar Pradesh,” the report said.

Yet, Delhi emerged as the most important healthcare market as it’s a preferred destination for patients in North India.

It is because Delhi caters to a large volume of patients from nearby states of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and other parts of India.

Within Delhi City, South Delhi emerged as the most developed micro-market, with the presence of several institutions, the report said.

North Delhi, although a larger micro-market compared to South Delhi due to large patient inflow from northern districts of Haryana, has been relatively under-penetrated.

Notably, the boundaries of the NCR healthcare market have been expanding with new hospitals in Faridabad (a district in Haryana and part of the NCR) and Manesar (a town in Gurgaon and part of the NCR), the report said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 13 (IANS) Women and the elderly are more likely to be vaccine-hesitant, according to a study on Tuesday, which analysed data from more than 1.1 million people.

The study, published in The Lancet, analysed hesitancy based on Covid-19 vaccine uptake and found that hesitancy against vaccines was rooted in concerns about their efficacy. While it reduced over time, it persists in some people.

The researchers from Imperial College London, UK, found that the likelihood of remaining unvaccinated was higher for older people, women, people who were unemployed or living in deprived areas, those with a history of Covid, and people with a lower level of education.

They identified eight categories of vaccine hesitancy, including concerns about effectiveness and side effects, perception of low risk from Covid, and mistrust of vaccine developers, and fear of vaccines and reactions.

Men were more likely than women to report not feeling Covid was a personal risk (18 per cent vs 10 per cent). Women were also more likely to be worried about fertility-related consequences (21 per cent vs 8 per cent), while those aged 74 years or older were more likely to be against vaccines in general compared with 18–24-year-olds (12 per cent vs 2.5 per cent).

More than 40 per cent also reported concerns around long-term health effects, 39 per cent that they wanted to wait to see whether the vaccine worked, and 37 per cent that they had concerns about side effects.

“We show that certain types of vaccine hesitancy are more readily addressed than others, for example, concerns relating to pregnancy or breastfeeding,” said co-author Professor Helen Ward from Imperial College.

“Our study suggests that as the vaccine was rolled out, public confidence increased and the original vaccine scepticism was largely overcome,” Ward added.

The study followed more than 1.1 million people in England between January 2021 and March 2022 during the Covid pandemic,

Overall, 3.3 per cent of participants reported some degree of Covid vaccine hesitancy. Hesitancy rates declined over time from an initial high of 8 per cent of those surveyed in January 2021, to a low of 1.1 per cent at the start of 2022.

There was a small uptick in hesitancy to over 2.2 per cent in February and March 2022 during the Omicron wave.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing quality and safety in Ayurveda through robust standardisation.

The BIS successfully organised a national-level workshop in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) through its Division of Ayurveda, Centre for Integrative Medicine and Research.

The event, exclusively designed for faculty members, researchers, startups, and industry representatives engaged in the Ayurveda sector, witnessed the participation of nearly 180 delegates from across the country. It marked a significant milestone in the collective journey towards strengthening quality, safety, and global acceptance of Ayurveda.

“BIS is committed to strengthening quality and safety in Ayurveda through robust and inclusive standardisation mechanisms,” said Shrishti Dixit, Head of the AYUSH Department, BIS. She highlighted that standards form the foundation of trust, which is essential for the international recognition and wider adoption of Ayurveda.

The workshop theme, inspired by BIS’s guiding motto “Manakah Patha Pradarshaka” highlighted the critical role of standards in harmonising classical Ayurvedic wisdom with modern scientific and regulatory frameworks.

“The workshop represents an important step toward bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary requirements through structured and meaningful standardisation,” said Jayant Deopujari, Chairperson of the Ayurveda Sectional Committee, BIS.

He underscored the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to position Ayurveda as a globally trusted healthcare system.

Dr. Sharath K Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor – Health Sciences, MAHE, Manipal, stressed the urgent need for standardisation in traditional systems such as Ayurveda. He assured full institutional support from MAHE and its various divisions in advancing this national initiative of the government.

The discussions focused on multi-disciplinary collaboration, the role of standards in nurturing Ayurveda startups, and the responsibility of the industry in driving quality and compliance. Participants actively engaged in open discussions, sharing innovative ideas and practical insights on advancing standardization in Ayurveda.

Raghavendra Naik, Scientist-C, BIS, emphasised the importance of interdisciplinary research, strong academia-industry partnerships. He also called for targeted capacity-building initiatives to create a sustainable and collaborative ecosystem involving academia, industry, and policymakers for Ayurveda standardisation.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) Artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies are crucial to monitor, verify, and document the quality and journey of medicinal plants right from the farm (the farm-gate) through the entire supply chain, said experts from the Ministry of Ayush.

The experts, including those from the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) and the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), were speaking at a two-day national seminar on “Design and Development of Tools for Quality Assessment of Medicinal Plants at Farm Gates” at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

The event brought national focus to India’s medicinal plant sector, assured quality, traceability, and standardisation of raw materials at the point of origin.

Prof. Dr. Mahesh Kumar Dadhich, Chief Executive Officer, NMPB, and Prof. Dr. Tanuja Nesari, Director, ITRA, emphasised the need to integrate innovation, regulation, and traditional knowledge to build global confidence in Indian medicinal plant raw materials.

The seminar convened policymakers, scientists, technologists, industry leaders, and researchers to deliberate on strengthening farm-gate quality systems as a foundation for the sustainable growth and global competitiveness of India’s Ayush and medicinal plant ecosystem.

Technical sessions examined the entire medicinal plant value chain — from sustainable cultivation and regenerative agriculture to AI-enabled quality assessment, digital traceability, and supply-chain integration.

Experts from ICAR-Directorate of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research (DMAPR), IIT Delhi, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Ayush, and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) shared evidence-based insights and field experiences.

The discussions highlighted that India is both technically and institutionally prepared to adopt AI-based diagnostics, digital phenotyping, and integrated quality frameworks, reinforcing the credibility of Indian medicinal plant raw materials in domestic as well as international markets.

The seminar also highlighted the integration of traditional knowledge systems such as Vriksha Ayurveda with modern quality-control frameworks. It demonstrated how India’s heritage can be scientifically validated and digitised to strengthen global acceptance. Strong emphasis was placed on capacity building, with participants gaining exposure to advanced tools, standards, and evolving policy directions.

–IANS

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Raipur, Jan 12 (IANS) AIIMS Raipur has completed 100 robotic-assisted surgeries within four months of launching its robotic programme, marking an important milestone for advanced surgical care in Central India, the institute said on Monday.

The centre has performed a range of procedures, including nephrectomy, cystectomy, hemicolectomy, prostatectomy, pyeloplasty, hernia repairs, gastrectomy, hysterectomy, reflecting both rapid adoption and growing clinical capability.

“Completing 100 robotic surgeries in a short time reflects the team’s disciplined approach to training and our focus on delivering consistent, high-quality care. Our priority is to ensure patients benefit meaningfully from this technology, and we are seeing that in practice: smaller incisions, less pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery,” said Dr. Ashok Jindal, Executive Director, AIIMS Raipur, in a statement.

“These improvements make the overall care experience smoother for patients and reaffirm the importance of building a strong, well-supported ecosystem for safe and effective adoption of the technology,” he added.

AIIMS Raipur launched a robotic-assisted surgery programme in August 2025, becoming the first government hospital in Central India to offer this technology.

The programme aims to make minimally invasive care more accessible for patients in Chhattisgarh and neighboring states, while also creating a structured pathway for surgeon training and academic development.

“This achievement reflects AIIMS Raipur’s growing strength in robotic-assisted surgery. Improved operating efficiency is enabling us to manage more cases each day, reduce patient waiting times — especially for general surgeries — and expand access to advanced robotic care across Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states,” said Dr. Debajyoti Mohanty, Professor and Head of General Surgery at AIIMS Raipur.

This combination has enabled surgeons like Dr. Amit Sharma, Additional Professor of Urology & Renal Transplant at AIIMS Raipur, to achieve operating times of 154 to 170 minutes for prostate surgeries, well below the global average of about 200 minutes, the Institute said.

–IANS

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