Health Archives | Page 15 of 50

J&K schools’ non-serious attitude towards physical education detrimental to youth growth

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 Editor

Non-serious attitude towards physical education in J&K schools detrimental to growth of youth

With a new academic session in full swing, most J&K schools have not prepared a sports calendar, relegating physical education to the back burner. Government, on the other hand says sports curriculum is being focused on at every level. Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary to J&K Government (Department of Education) while speaking to KIF said that sports was being accorded ‘adequate’ importance in the education system of J&K. The Department of Youth Services and Sports, he said, has been organizing tournaments, engaging youth and building sports grounds across the UT, he…

Understanding Covid XBB.1.16: Symptoms of Emerging Arcturus Variant in Adults, Children, and Elderly

April 15, 2023 Editor

Covid variant XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, has been dubbed as the ‘variant under monitoring’ by WHO (World Health Organisation) after it was found to be spreading fast in many parts of the world. According to recent WHO data, a total of 712 XBB.1.16 sequences were found in 21 countries. XBB 1.16 is a subvariant of the Omicron variant, which emerged in late 2021 and has since then replaced delta as the dominant variant around the world. Carrying additional spike mutations, Arcturus variant is considered more transmissible and immune-evasive than…

COVID19 Surge: Patient Numbers Rise in Kashmir Hospitals in Recent Weeks

April 8, 2023 Editor

The hospitals in Kashmir during the last few weeks have seen an increase in the number of hospitalisations of COVID-19 patients. Till Thursday, the active COVID-19 cases in J&K were 238. Talking to Head of the Department (HoD) at CD Hospital, Dr Naveed Nazir Shah said that they had intensified testing the samples of patients which shows more patients have been infected with the virus. He said that there had been a surge in COVID cases since few days compared to the previous month. “I think this is the high time to…

A silent mental health crisis is brewing among women in Jammu and Kashmir

March 29, 2023 Editor

Due to a prolonged conflict, women in Kashmir have silently suffered, and their mental health crisis has only worsened over the years. Seventy per cent of distress calls seeking mental health care in Jammu and Kashmir are women, according to TeleManas center, a digital platform for mental health. Patients evaluated by the centre, which was launched by the central government, reveals that women are more vulnerable to stress than men, and are facing a mental health crisis. Due to a prolonged conflict, women in Kashmir have silently suffered, and their…

Benefits of intermittent fasting during Ramadan

March 15, 2023 Editor

The holy month of Ramadan is upon us and this year it is expected to begin on March 22 and end on April 21. Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated either on April 22 or 23 depending on the sighting of the moon. Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is the time of spiritual reflection and self-improvement, and Muslims all over the world fast from dawn till sunset. The 12-14 hours of fasting during Ramadan is a form of intermittent fasting and is also an opportunity for people to…

Sedentary lifestyle, Junk food pushing more children towards obesity in Kashmir: DAK

March 5, 2023March 5, 2023 Editor

On world obesity day, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Saturday expressed pressing concern over rise in the number of obesity cases among children in Kashmir valley. “Junk food and sedentary lifestyle are pushing more children towards obesity,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan. According to a latest survey by National family Health Survey (NFHS-5), Kashmir has registered an increase in the percentage of obesity among children. The number of overweight children increased from 2.1 percent in NFHS-4 survey conducted in 2015-16 to 3.4 percent in NFHS -5 which was conducted in…

Obesity, Overweight can lead to diabetes: Study

January 12, 2023 Editor

Overweight and obese people have a higher chance of developing diabetes, but the exact mechanism is not well understood. A new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis may help explain how excess weight can contribute to diabetes and may provide researchers with a target to help prevent or delay diabetes in some of those at risk. The findings suggest that many people with elevated levels of insulin — an early marker of diabetes risk — also have defects in an enzyme important to the processing of…

Health experts have flagged concern over the life threatening risks of gas heaters across Kashmir Valley

January 7, 2023 Editor

The health experts have flagged concern over the life threatening risks posed by increased and incessant use of gas heaters by people in Kashmir Valley to beat the nail biting cold this winter. The medical experts in the valley maintained that the gas heaters are the “silent killers” with a number of patients turning up to the hospital for respiratory issues. They said that the carbon monoxide is invisible, odourless, colourless and tasteless gas, so is difficult to detect. “The unvented gas heaters are hazards and deprive the body of…

People should take precautions to reduce risk of high blood pressure in winter: Urges DAK

January 5, 2023 Editor

With the continuous dip in temperatures to sub-freezing levels in Kashmir valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday said chilly weather of winter puts people at greater risk of high blood pressure. “Falling temperatures in winter cause hike in blood pressure which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, the two leading causes of death and disability in the valley,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan. Dr Hassan said high blood pressure; also called hypertension is harder to control in winter. Even healthy people aren’t off the hook.…