Most Indians Dependent on Private Healthcare: Study

Households across India still overwhelmingly depend on private providers for healthcare services over public healthcare, a recent study has found. Senior Fellow at Brookings India, Shamika Ravi, found in her study “Health and Morbidity in India: 2004-2014” that as much as 75 per cent of outpatient (OPD) care in India was exclusively private in 2014. Around 55 per cent of inpatient (IPD) care is from private hospitals, it added. Ravi, however, noted that dependence on private healthcare is declining. “Indian households’ dependence on public care has risen by 6 per…

Fruit may be good for you, but don’t ditch the statins

“Daily fresh fruit lowers heart death risk as much as statins,” The Daily Telegraph reports. A study of over a half a million Chinese people found that a diet rich in fresh fruit was linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. But don’t ditch the statins in favour of an “apple a day”, if they have been recommended for you. The study looked at people without cardiovascular disease, and did not compare fruit to statins. Statins are prescribed for people with cardiovascular disease, or a raised chance of getting it,…

Have a healthy diet in pregnancy

A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but is especially vital if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy. Eating healthily during pregnancy will help your baby to develop and grow. You can read through this article, or go directly to the sections you want by clicking these links: Fruit and vegetables Starchy foods (carbohydrates) Protein Dairy Foods that are high in sugar or fat Healthy snacks Preparing food safely Healthy Start vouchers You don’t need to go on a special diet, but it’s important to eat…

Smoking: Sooner you quit the longer you’ll live

Planning to quit smoking? Then do it before you turn 70. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that people aged 70 or older currently smoking were more than three times more likely to die than never-smokers, while former smokers were less likely to die the sooner they quit. In the U.S., the number of individuals aged 70 years and older is expected to increase from 29.2 million (9.3 percent of the population) in 2012, to 63.6 million individuals (15.9percent) in 2050. “U.S. adults aged…

Want to Delay Death? Then Swim, Dance or Get on The Court: Study

Swimming, racquet sports and aerobics are associated with the best odds of staving off death, and in particular of reducing the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, scientists said on Tuesday. In a study of various types of exercise and their risk levels, the researchers found that participation in specific sports showed significant benefits for public health, and urged doctors and policymakers to encourage people to take them up. While the research, published in the British Journal and Sports Medicine, showed no added advantage for people who favour…

Minister Launches Anti-Obesity Campaign in Maharashtra

Maharashtra’s Minister of Water Resources and Medical Education Girish Mahajan on Tuesday launched an awareness campaign against obesity in the state. The campaign ‘Fight Obesity’ — which will end on December 29 — will entail Body Mass Index (BMI) tests for students, teaching and non-teaching staff and patients at Out Patient Departments at 16 medical colleges in various districts of Maharashtra. The initiative has been launched in collaboration with JT Foundation. The people suffering from obesity in India total around 30 million. “This is a unique initiative to curb a…