MediWeek

Tomatoes, one of the commonly consumed and easily available vegetables, contain large amount of lycopene. Lycopene lowers the blood pressure (BP) by blocking angiotensin converting enzyme and its gene expression, thereby blocking angiotensin II synthesis (a vasoconstrictor that increases BP). It also indirectly increases nitric oxide generation in the endothelium. The clinical evidence on impact […]

Dementia, a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking, and social abilities, is highly prevalent in older adults (late-onset dementia, LOD). However, dementia can also have an early onset with symptoms occurring before the age of 65 years (young-onset dementia, YOD). It may be possible to prevent the early onset of symptoms by understanding the role

Yoga nidra, an easy-to-do yogic technique involving withdrawal of senses, reduces stress and improves sleep in patients with insomnia. Subjective improvement in sleep, cognitive scores, and self-observation notes has been found with yoga nidra practice, but the effect of yoga nidra on objective parameters in beginners has not been adequately studied. A study by Datta

Poor dietary behaviors and patterns, a major risk factor of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are associated with 7.94 million CVD-related deaths annually. The fast-paced modern lifestyle is linked with untimely food habits, like skipping breakfast and eating late at night. The daily eating/fasting cycle, integral to circadian rhythms, significantly influences cardiometabolic functions and impacts blood pressure

Elevated cholesterol and dyslipidemia in childhood have been linked with subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiac damage in the mid-twenties and premature death in the mid-forties. Long-term data on the association of accelerometer-measured sedentary time, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) with lipid indices is limited among children. Moreover, there is a lack of clarity

Optimal maternal nutritional status before and during pregnancy is vital for healthy pregnancy and development of a healthy baby. Long-term data on the nutritional status during various stages of pregnancy and postpartum is lacking. In addition, the impact of micronutrient supplementation on vitamin status during pregnancy remains uncertain. A recent study by Godfrey et al.,

Prolonged sitting, one of the most prevalent forms of chronic sedentary behavior, is often associated with mild impairment of cognitive functions. Acute bouts of uninterrupted prolonged sitting decrease blood flow to cerebral tissues, thus impairing executive functions. A recent study by Horiuchi et al. investigated the effect of intermittent half-squat exercises on executive functions during

Insufficient sleep is linked to elevated risk for type 2 diabetes among general population. However, the impact of chronic insufficient sleep on glucose metabolism in women remains uncertain. A recent study by Zuraikat et al., published in the journal, Diabetes Care that even mild sleep restriction (90 minutes per night) over an extended period may

India has the highest number of antibiotic fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) in the market, including inappropriate combinations, which are a major concern for an increased risk of antimicrobial resistance. These FDCs have been licensed for manufacturing without the required prior approval of the central regulator and without proper evidence of rationale, efficacy, and safety. To address

Dementia poses a major global health challenge, with an estimated increase in the number of people living with dementia from 57.4 million in 2019 to 152.8 million by 2050. Proactive management of modifiable risk factors such as hypertension is pivotal in dementia prevention. While the correlation between elevated blood pressure (BP) and dementia is well-established,