Can mobile radiation cause brain tumors?

  Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news

Can my mobile phone cause a tumor?​

The potential link between mobile phone radiation and brain tumors has been a subject of ongoing scientific research and public concern for several decades.

While the majority of studies conducted to date have not definitively established a causal relationship between mobile phone radiation and brain tumors, it is essential to examine the existing evidence and understand the complexities of this issue.

​Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation​

Mobile phones emit non-ionizing radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs), which are much less energetic than ionizing radiation, such as X-rays or gamma rays. Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms and molecules, leading to DNA damage and an increased risk of cancer.

Non-ionizing radiation, like that emitted by mobile phones, lacks the energy required for such direct DNA damage. However, concerns have arisen due to the potential for RF-EMFs to heat tissues and the possibility of indirect biological effects.

What studies have found​

Several epidemiological studies have investigated the relationship between mobile phone use and the risk of brain tumors. The Interphone study, one of the largest and most comprehensive of these studies, involved 13 countries and found no overall increased risk of glioma or meningioma, the two most common types of brain tumors, associated with mobile phone use.

What does WHO say?​

Similarly, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RF-EMFs as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B) in 2011 based on limited evidence suggesting a potential link between mobile phone use and glioma. This classification did not conclude that mobile phone radiation definitively causes brain tumors but rather indicated that there were some concerns warranting further investigation

Findings from animal studies​

It's worth noting that animal studies have not provided conclusive evidence of a causal link between mobile phone radiation and brain tumors, although some studies have reported biological effects, such as DNA damage and increased tumor incidence in rodents exposed to high levels of RF-EMFs.

What’s the takeaway?​

While there is ongoing research and debate, the current scientific consensus does not definitively support a causal relationship between mobile phone radiation and brain tumors.

Given the potential for long latency periods in cancer development, continued research is necessary to monitor the effects of long-term and evolving mobile phone use patterns. It is also prudent for individuals to follow recommended guidelines for safe mobile phone use, such as using hands-free devices and limiting exposure, especially among children and adolescents.

Common mistakes after meals that cause poor gut health and weight gain

 Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news

Things to avoid after having a meal for better health

After enjoying a sumptuous meal, it's natural to unwind and relax. You might feel like hitting the bed right away or sipping that cuppa for better digestion. However, some common post-meal habits can negatively impact digestion, overall health, and well-being. We all make these common mistakes after meals from time to time, but becoming aware of them is the first step towards healthier post-meal habits. By avoiding these pitfalls and making mindful choices, you can support better digestion, overall health, and well-being and can also eventually promote weight loss. Remember that listening to your body and practicing moderation are keys to feeling your best after a satisfying meal.

Immediately indulging in vigorous activity

Engaging in vigorous physical activity immediately after eating can disrupt the digestive process. This is because your body directs blood flow to the muscles you're using during those physical activities, diverting it away from the digestive organs. This diversion of blood flow can potentially lead to stomach discomfort, cramping, and sluggish digestion.
To promote optimal digestion and avoid these issues, it's advisable to wait at least an hour after eating before engaging in intense physical activity. During this time, your body can focus on digesting the food you've consumed, breaking it down efficiently, and absorbing essential nutrients. This not only helps prevent discomfort but also supports your overall health and energy levels during exercise. So, remember to be patient and give your body the time it needs to process your meal before hitting the gym or engaging in vigorous activities.

Drinking too much water

Staying adequately hydrated is undoubtedly essential for overall health, but it's crucial to strike a balance when it comes to water consumption immediately after a meal. Drinking excessive amounts of water right after eating can potentially have adverse effects on your digestion process by diluting stomach acid, which plays a crucial role in breaking down food.
Instead of gulping down large quantities of water immediately after a meal, consider adopting a more mindful approach to hydration. Sipping water during your meal can help you stay hydrated without overwhelming your digestive system. This allows your body to maintain an appropriate level of stomach acid concentration for effective digestion. Furthermore, it's recommended to wait approximately 30 minutes after your meal before resuming your regular hydration routine. This short delay gives your stomach ample time to begin the digestion process without the interference of excess water

Lying Down

Lying down immediately after consuming a meal is a habit that can potentially lead to discomfort, heartburn, and acid reflux, which can disrupt the digestive process. To mitigate these risks and promote optimal digestion, it's advisable to maintain an upright position for an extended period after eating, ideally for at least two to three hours. By staying upright, you allow gravity to assist in moving food through your digestive tract more effectively. This helps prevent stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus, reducing the likelihood of heartburn and acid reflux. Instead, sitting in a reclined or partially upright position can provide comfort while still minimizing the risk of digestive discomfort.

Consuming caffeine

Caffeine, often found in popular beverages like coffee and tea, can exert an influence on the absorption of essential minerals and nutrients, particularly iron and calcium. This interference with nutrient absorption is a noteworthy concern for those who regularly enjoy these caffeinated drinks. To address this issue and maximize nutrient uptake, it's advisable to consider a prudent approach to your caffeine consumption. helpful strategy is to introduce a buffer period of approximately one hour following a meal before partaking in these beverages. This delay allows your body sufficient time to digest and absorb the nutrients from your meal without the potential interference caused by caffeine.

Skipping dental hygiene

Neglecting proper oral hygiene practices after eating poses a substantial risk to your dental health, potentially leading to detrimental consequences for your teeth and gums. When food particles are left lingering on your teeth and in the spaces between, they create an environment ripe for the development of cavities and gum disease. To safeguard your oral health it is advisable to adopt steps like brushing and flossing. Brushing helps remove food residue and prevent the formation of plaque while flossing ensures that no debris remains trapped between your teeth and along the gumline.

 

What to do when cancer runs in the family?

 Source: TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on -Sep 3, 2023, 11:00 IST

Family history can suggest if you have a cancer risk​

There is a very close bond between health risks and the diseases that run in your family. One of the most important diseases that has a very strong presence within families is cancer. "There are many genetic syndromes or hereditary family syndromes which predisposes every individual of that family, every family member is at more cancer risk than an average person who does not have a family history of cancer," says Dr. Pooja Babbar, Consultant - Medical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.

Family history increases the risk by 5 to 10 times​

"So, if there is a member in the family who has cancer, the other members are at least 5 to 10 times at a higher risk of contracting a cancer," explains Dr. Babbar. "Each gene in our body has 2 functional copies, and for a cellular pathway to be defective, it needs both these copies to be corrupted, called as Knudson two-hit hypothesis. When one inherits a defective copy from the parents, only one further copy needs to get corrupted for the cellular pathway to go haywire, contrary to two ‘hits’ required for normal person," explains Dr. Bhuvan Chugh, Senior Consultant - Medical Oncology, Max Hospital Gurugram.

First relatives are more at risk​

As per Dr. Sunny Jain, Oncologist, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad, "if cancer runs in the family, then the concerned first relative means daughter of the mother right, mother's mother, or son or brother. These are the 1st relatives and obviously the siblings around. They should be more vigilant. They should meet the genetic counselor who will actually do the chemo typing and gene analysis and will get to know whether the kids, let me call over here, do have the affected or the defected copy of a gene or not."

These three things should be considered​

Dr. Babbar explains that if cancer runs in the family, we have to take three things into consideration, the age of the person who gets the cancer, the number of members in the family who get the cancer, and the type of cancer.

Genetic testing​

It is important to have genetic testing for the cancer. "The best genetic test should be done in a person who is suffering from cancer because the chance of getting a gene mutation in that particular person is the highest. So, for example, there are four members in the family, and one female has breast cancer. So, the ideal person to first test for a genetic syndrome is the female herself. If she comes positive then we have to test the other members of the family for the same gene and then we have to advise if they come positive what they need to do.

Are all cancers inherited?​

"Not all of these mutations are inherited or passed down the family lines. The mutations which are passed down the family lines are called hereditary mutations. Certain hereditary mutations predispose an individual to a much greater risk of developing cancer as compared to the general population," says Dr. Chugh. "The most common of hereditary gene defects is BRCA (Breast Cancer Related Gene) part of the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome. The presence of a defective BRCA gene predisposes women to a higher risk of ovarian and breast Cancers. It also increases the risk of pancreatic cancers in both males and females and prostate cancers in males. The BRCA gene is an important gene in the DNA repair pathway. DNA defects occur frequently during replication and these errors are repaired by genes such as BRCA, and defects in these genes cause DNA errors to accumulate and cellular pathways to be affected leading to the onset of cancer," he adds.

Heart health: Try these simple tests at home to determine how healthy your heart is

 Source:TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on -Aug 29, 2023, 14:08

How healthy is your heart?​

With the increasing number of heart diseases or heart attacks, especially among people in the younger age group, it is important to be aware of your heart health and keep a check on it. But how to do a heart check-up at home? Here are a few safe and simple tests that you can try at home. However, it is important to consult your doctor first, especially if you have any pre-existing health condition.

​Stair test​

Do you get breathless while walking up the stairs? The stair test can help determine how optimal your heart health is. A person with a healthy heart should not take more than one and a half minutes to climb four flights of stairs, according to Medanta. Failing to do so may indicate that your heart health is suboptimal. Consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

​Check your heart rate​

“To examine your pulse rate at home, you need to place your middle finger and index finger of your right hand on the inner wrist of your left hand to feel the tapping sound of your heartbeat. Next, you need to take a second watch and count the number of taps or pulses for 10 seconds. The number of taps should be further multiplied by six to deduce the heartbeat rate for one minute. A normal pulse measures between 60 and 100 beats a minute, and if your heart beat rate is above or below the regular count, it's time that you seek medical consultation,” Medanta explains.

Aerobic exercises​

If you feel breathlessness while performing light aerobic exercises, there is a high chance that you might have some underlying heart condition. You may also experience fatigue after performing such exercises because an adequate amount of oxygen does not reach down your muscles. It is important to consult your doctor before performing any such test, especially if you have any health problems.

​Signs and symptoms of an unhealthy heart​

Apart from the above mentioned tests, here are some signs that indicate your heart might be unhealthy:

Swollen feet, ankles and lower legs

Lack of stamina

Light-headedness

Discomfort in the chest

Left shoulder and left arm pain

Heartburn or back pain

Sexual health issues

Sleep apnoea

Blue or pale gray skin color

Pain in toes

Tips to keep your heart healthy​

A healthy heart calls for a healthy lifestyle. This includes working out on a daily basis, staying hydrated, managing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes; and quitting smoking and restricting alcohol intake.

Walking just 4,000 steps daily can prevent heart attack and increase lifespan

 Source: TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on -Aug 24, 2023, 18:00  

While the debate over 10,000 steps is on, this study is a breather!​

A new study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has shed light on the number of steps one needs to walk in order to stay fit. The study says walking for 3,967 steps a day can also give you immense health benefits. It can reduce the risk of all-cause mortality and heart disease-related deaths. For the meta-analysis, the researchers analyzed 17 studies with almost 227,000 participants. 4,000 steps equal to almost 3 km.

What did the researchers find?​

The researchers found that for every 1000-step increment in walking steps a significant reduction in all-cause mortality was found. "...we showed that a 1000-step increment correlated with a significant reduction of all-cause mortality of 15%, and similarly, a 500-step increment correlated with a reduced risk of CV mortality of 7%," the researchers have said.

There is no fixed rule for this!​

“With regards to the number of steps needed for walking, there is no one size fits all,” says Dr. V Mohan - Chairman and Chief Diabetologist of Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre. “Any number of steps is better than no steps obviously. A minimum should be at least 4000 to 7000 steps per day. On average, a person with a sedentary lifestyle will get 2,000 steps a day. So 4,000 steps a day will be a good start,” the expert adds.

​It is always better to increase the number of steps​

“However, it is better to try increasing the number of steps per day to 10,000 steps for younger people,” advises Dr. Mohan. “A brisk morning walk can give between 4,000 to 5,000 steps and thereafter if one takes effort one can easily complete the remaining 4,000 to 5,000 steps,” he briefly estimates the number of walking steps. Walking helps to not only keep you fit but also reduce weight for those who are overweight, control Diabetes and BP, and reduce heart problems apart from helping in digestion, says Dr. Mohan.

There is no upper limit!​

Dr. Mohan recommends that there is no upper limit for the number of steps as some people do 15,000 to 20,000 steps per day and claim that they don't feel tired and feel fit. On the other hand, in older people and people with comorbidities like heart problems, even getting 10000 steps will be difficult. The expert recommends to choose one’s own fitness routine as per the body’s ability to do it.

What is the ideal time to walk?​

“There are no fixed timing for walking. There are morning people who prefer walking as air is fresh and less polluted and then there are people who prefer to do a relaxed evening walk or walk after dinner and they claim that it helps in their digestion and brings down the sugar levels, particularly to the next day's fasting blood sugar,” Dr. Mohan gives examples. “The time for walking depends on various factors like job, lifestyle habits and many other factors. If within 24 hrs, one is able to get enough time for exercise, that is all that is needed,” he advises.

​Are there any precautions to be taken?​

Dr. Mohan recommends that older people with hearing problems may not be able to hear the traffic sounds and have weak eyesight, so it is better for them to walk when there is sufficient light and they should walk with care. People who may not be steady while walking may need a walking stick or support to prevent falls. Walking after a heavy meal and that too walking uphill may produce angina (chest pain) in those who have heart problems and such people need to be careful about this. Always good to have a 5 to 8-minute warm-up and cool-down time before and after walking. People who have diabetes, and are at risk of hypoglycemia may consider having a light snack before going for a walk in order to prevent low-sugar reactions. Follow these basic rules to improve your life.

 

As 18-month-old baby dies after ‘drinking tea’, expert answers if regular milk tea safe for kids?

 Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/as-18-month-old-baby-dies-after-drinking-tea-expert-answers-if-regular-milk-tea-safe-for-kids/articleshow/102537923.cms

The news of a 1.5-year-old baby dying after consuming teawas difficult to fathom. Kids often loiter around us and pick the habits we do in front of them. Sipping on tea is one of them. Most probably many kids play with kitchen sets having small tea sets and we introduce them to tea without giving any thought. In many families, kids are given small amounts of tea when they ask for it.In the unfortunate case, which happened in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas, a 1.5-year-old boy died after consuming tea. As per the report, the child was with his maternal grandparents, and soon after he drank tea he stopped breathing.

“The boy was brought dead to the hospital, so we can’t comment on the cause of death,” hospital superintendent Dr. Preeti Malpani told TOI.
We spoke to Prachi Jain, HOD, Nutrition & Dietetics, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram on this common practice in households– is tea safe for kids?

“Tea leaves are a naturally occurring compound found in many plants and contain caffeine, a compound which stimulates brain & nervous system,” the expert says.
“There are no recommendations for the intake of tea ( caffeine) for kids at least below 12 years. Caffeine has both pros & cons but is not considered safe for kids aged 12 years & below because of the following reasons,” she says.

• Intake of caffeine directly stimulates brain activity & nervous system which can affect the sleep routine of a kid & result in morning tiredness.
• Daily intake of caffeine makes one addicted to it.
• Caffeine also acts as a diuretic which means an increase in urine output.

“Generally, kids don’t like the taste of plain milk. Instead of adding tea, mothers can add flavors like Tulsi, elaichi, cinnamon, ginger, powdered nuts, dates & raisins which can make milk more palatable & nutritious,” she adds.
Referring to the incident that happened in Madhya Pradesh, the expert says, “It is not evident or conclusive that the heartbreaking incident happened because of consuming tea. However, in toddlers, choking is one of the prime reasons for suffocation which can happen while improper swallowing of anything, liquid, semi-solid food etc.”

Asked to choose between MBBS & sports, Sift Kaur Samra from Punjab refused to lay down arms, wins World Cup medal

 Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

 

First-year MBBS student Sift Kaur Samra won her first individual World Cup medal on Sunday as her family watched with pride from the gallery at the ISSF tournament in Bhopal. For the 22-year-old, the podium finish came on the back of a very tough decision – choosing between two targets, her education and her passion.

The tournament dates clashed with her first-year MBBS exams. She says she requested her college to hold the exams separately for her so that she could represent the nation but it was turned down. Asked to choose between the scalpel and her rifle, she chose the sport. “And I’ll stick to my guns till the 2024 Olympics,” she told TOI.

Samra shot her way to a bronze in the women’s 50m rifle 3-position, taking India’s medal tally to seven and ensuring second place for the country.

Her happiness is tinged with concern for her MBBS, though. That she cracked NEET while keeping her sights on the bullseye is exemplary, but juggling the two proved tough.

“I am not able to manage shooting with MBBS. Before coming here, I requested my college to hold separate exams for me, but they refused. They went on suggesting that I should repeat the first year,” said Samra, a student of Government GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab.
“I met a couple of ministers and other influential people to help me but to no avail,” said Samra, who is the first shooter in her family.

She said she was about to quit the sport last year. “After being selected for MBBS, I had made up my mind to give up shooting. However, a national championship was being held in Bhopal, so I told myself I’ll call it quits after the tournament. I set a national record and life changed. I realised that I should not leave shooting,” said Samra.

So what of her medical course? “I haven't thought about it. I have no idea whether my college will consider me for a separate exam. I do not know what will happen about my academics,” she said, adding in the same breath: “I have set my sights on the next Olympics. I’ll give MBBS a thought only after that.”

The Punjab girl does not like pistols. It’s rifles for her.
On Sunday, as the reigning national champion, Samra began on a strong note in the qualification of the women’s 3P with 588 points, securing the second spot after China’s Zhang Qiongyue (594). Samra displayed excellent consistency in the finals to secure a bronze after she shot 403.9 in the top-eight ranking round. Zhang defeated Aneta Brabcova of the Czech Republic 16-8 for the gold.

Samra said that it was a big day for her. “I have played world cups and have been a regular part of the Indian team but there was no individual medal to my name. Today, I have made it and I am happy.”