Little Evidence for Risks, or Benefits, of Habitual Barefootedness

Studies on the long-term effects of habitual barefoot walking or running are scarce, and there is only limited evidence for more foot problems and no evidence for higher injury rates among people who are often barefoot, according to a new review. “Having the huge ‘barefoot debate’ in mind, we expected more evidence on the long-term effects of barefoot locomotion,” said lead author Dr. Karsten Hollander of the Institute of Human Movement Science at the University of Hamburg in Germany. Some populations, for example South Africa, include many people who are…

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Smog Lifts, But Companies’ View of Polluted Delhi Skies is Dim

As New Delhi grappled with its worst smog in 17 years, the head of India’s largest mobile payment firm got on a plane and left, one of thousands of professionals escaping pollution that could cost the capital and the broader economy dear. Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of PayTM payment start-up, left last Sunday for a temporary stay in Mumbai, worried about the impact of hazardous clouds of dust, smoke and fumes that hang over Delhi during the winter months. “It became very visibly clear that it is going to be…

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Smoking of Hookahs to be Monitored as Part of Anti-Tobacco Move: WHO FCTC

Aiming to curb consumption of tobacco among the youth at an early stage, the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has urged its 180 member nations to monitor waterpipe (Indian hookah) tobacco use through a national surveillance system to cover all age groups. Strengthening the policies against tobacco consumption, the FCTC is also discussing banning the use of flavourings in waterpipe tobacco products. The FCTC — the world’s highest convention against anti-tobacco policies — is brainstorming and focusing on inclusion of awareness against waterpipe use in…

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Government Working to Make People Aware of Stress: Nadda

In a bid to tackle stress among people and improve productivity, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday said that the government is working on “Catch them Young” programme to make people aware of stress-related problems. “There is a heightened focus on preventive health along with curative health now. Awareness is very important to keep away non-communicable diseases (NCDs),” he said after launching the “No More Tension” mobile app and the release of the “Healthy India Initiative/Swastha Bharat-ek pehal” magazine here. “People suffer from stress related problems due to…

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Proteins Can Warn of Diabetes Risk in Children

Certain proteins in the blood of children have the potential to predict the development of Type 1 diabetes even before the first symptoms appear, a study has found. The researchers studied children who have a first-degree relative with Type 1 diabetes and who consequently have an increased risk of developing the disease due to the familial predisposition. Scientists, from Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen in Germany, analysed blood samples from 30 children with auto-antibodies who had developed Type 1 diabetes either very rapidly or with a very long delay. They then compared…

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Poor Maternal Nutrition Can Cause Early Ageing of Baby’s Heart

Children born to mothers who were undernourished during pregnancy are more likely to suffer early ageing of the heart, a research has showed. The animal study found that moderately reducing a mother’s food intake can make it more likely that the baby’s organs will show increased disease susceptibility and early ageing. These changes in the heart could contribute to decreased quality of life, decreased exercise capability, and increased vulnerability to other diseases such as diabetes and hypertension — major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the study said. Understanding…

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