Health - The Purbottar

05 Nov

Heavy Foods, Sluggish Gut: The Science Behind Your Festive Digestive Blues

sunny EditorHealth

Festive celebrations invariably shift the composition of our daily meals toward fried snacks, rich gravies, sweets, and refined flour preparations that occupy center stage while everyday sources of dietary fiber like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and pulses are pushed aside. Over a few days, this sudden surplus of dietary fat and shortage of fiber forces the digestive system to adapt to a vastly different nutrient pattern, slowing down stomach emptying, prolonging the sensation of fullness, and triggering symptoms like bloating, belching, acidity, and acid reflux—especially when large meals are followed by late-night snacking or immediate reclining. Beyond immediate discomfort, this…

22 Oct

Asthma, Flu, and Winter Health: How Preventive Care Makes All the Difference

sunny EditorHealth

For individuals managing asthma, the flu frequently transcends a few days of routine fatigue and fever by triggering intensified breathlessness, chronic coughing, and severe attacks that can demand hospitalization or emergency intervention, highlighting why preventing respiratory infections remains central to keeping asthma stable throughout the year. Despite affecting millions throughout India, asthma remains largely under-diagnosed, with the Indian Global Asthma Network study indicating that nearly 82% of people with current wheeze and roughly 70% of those displaying severe symptoms had never received an official diagnosis, causing many to live unaware of their underlying condition or protective measures for years. Individuals…

12 Oct

Medanta hosts women’s health talk in Guwahati to promote preventive care

Business BureauBusiness, Health

Medanta, in association with women’s empowerment organisation Aparupa, organised a Women’s Health Talk in Guwahati on Saturday to encourage women to prioritise preventive healthcare, recognise early warning signs and participate actively in medical decisions. Dr Amita Jain, Associate Director, Urogynaecology at Medanta Gurugram, highlighted how women often overlook their health while caring for their families. She stressed the importance of routine screenings, recognising persistent symptoms and shifting from reactive to preventive care. The session, launched by renowned writer, filmmaker and social activist Runa Laila, founder of Aparupa, also emphasised self-advocacy, preparation for medical consultations and the role of balanced nutrition,…

30 Sep

Why Sleep Deprivation Might Be Worse for Your Blood Sugar Than Sugar Itself

sunny EditorHealth

The growing connection between sleep and metabolic health highlights how vital rest is for proper glucose regulation, often rivaling the impact of diet and physical activity. Although a sugary dessert produces a temporary increase in blood glucose whose magnitude depends on portion size, ingredients, and accompanying nutrients, chronic poor sleep creates ongoing disruptions in insulin sensitivity, cortisol regulation, appetite control, and nervous system function. Even a brief period of restricted sleep can blunt the body's response to insulin, leaving blood glucose elevated even when insulin production is normal, which forces the pancreatic beta cells to work harder and progressively contributes…

28 Sep

Stray or Pet Bite? Here is How to Treat Wounds and the Necessary Shots You Must Get

sunny EditorHealth

Immediate action is vital following a dog bite or scratch because while the injury may look small, rabies is a severe viral infection of the central nervous system that is virtually fatal once symptoms develop yet completely preventable if managed promptly with proper wound care and post-exposure prophylaxis, which is especially critical in India where the World Health Organization estimates 9.1 million animal bites occur annually—three-quarters from dogs—resulting in thousands of deaths and highlighting why World Rabies Day on September 28 serves as a crucial reminder to act instantly rather than waiting for symptoms, starting with washing and flushing the…

21 Sep

Study Finds HIV Injections Offer Superior Viral Suppression Compared to Daily Pills

sunny EditorHealth

Adolescents living with HIV in low- and middle-income African countries experienced better viral suppression and a lower rate of rebound when treated with eight-weekly long-acting injections rather than standard daily pills, a major new clinical trial published in The Lancet has revealed. Conducted across five clinics in Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, the LATA trial evaluated 476 participants aged 12 to 19 who had been stable on oral therapy for over a year, finding that only two adolescents (1 per cent) in the injectable arm suffered viral rebound at 96 weeks compared to 15 adolescents (6 per cent) in…

14 Sep

Bengal Sees Sharp Rise in Dengue Cases; Murshidabad, Kolkata and North 24 Parganas Lead

sunny EditorHealth

Dengue cases are rising sharply across West Bengal, with the state recording 5,002 affected people till September 11, according to the latest health department bulletin. In response, authorities have identified 29 municipalities, 85 community development blocks and 278 village panchayats as dengue hotspots. A State Health Department official said teams are carrying out intensive and random blood sample testing in these areas, where a large number of dengue-positive cases have been reported in the past month. The department is also conducting awareness campaigns to encourage people with prolonged fever to get tested. The state has a defined system for identifying…

12 Sep

Pregnancy at 40 with IVF: What your fertility expert wants you to know

Business BureauBusiness, Health

Pregnancy at 40 is increasingly common, and more women are considering IVF in their forties. While fertility treatment has expanded the options available, it cannot reverse the biological changes that come with age. Understanding how age influences egg reserve, egg quality and treatment response is therefore an important part of planning IVF at 40, explains Dr. Sonali Mandal Bandyopadhyaya, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Howrah. By this age, ovarian reserve is generally lower than it was in the earlier reproductive years, and a greater proportion of eggs may carry chromosomal abnormalities. These changes can affect the likelihood of conception…

12 Sep

World First Aid Day 2026: Doctor Lists Basic First Aid Tips, Essential Items for Your Kit

sunny EditorHealth

World First Aid Day is observed annually on the second Saturday of September, and in 2026, it will be marked on September 12. The theme for this year is “First Aid in Migration Contexts,” highlighting the importance of first-aid skills in different circumstances and environments. First aid can be especially important during the period between an injury or medical emergency and the arrival of professional help. Common situations such as bleeding from a cut, burns, falls, choking, fainting or sudden allergic reactions can occur without warning at home, at work, while travelling or in public. A quick and appropriate response…

19 Aug

300 Residents Avail Free Health Checkup At Boragaon Medical Camp

Preeti SinghAssam, Guwahati, Health, Latest

A free medical camp was organized jointly by the Assam Institute of Management authorities, local residents, and Life Care at West Boragaon in Guwahati. Around 300 people, including children, women, and men, participated in the camp. The camp, held under the supervision of renowned doctor Dr. Tanisha Baruah, provided attendees with advice on disease treatment, body care, symptoms of illnesses, and ways to stay healthy. At the camp, various physical ailments were examined. People were also made aware of disease prevention and the importance of seeking timely medical treatment.