Star Health

Star Health

Dengue: Dhaka hospitals / Still grappling with patients from outside

Though the Directorate General of Health Services recently requested health officials outside the capital not to refer patients to Dhaka, the number of patients from outside still remains high.

9h ago

Dengue death toll crosses 900

This month witnessed more than 300 dengue deaths as the toll crossed 600-mark on Sept 2; 700 on Sept 8; and 800 on Sept 16

13h ago

Dengue prevention: What people and the government should do

Bangladesh’s dengue situation is critical, with one of the highest mortality rates in the world and the worst outbreak in history. This outbreak stems from the abundance of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the presence of the virus in human populations.

1d ago

World-class nuclear medicine facility can help Bangladeshi patients reduce travel to abroad for cancer diagnosis

Cancer is a major health problem in Bangladesh, with an estimated 156,775 new cases and 108,990 cancer deaths in 2020. The most common cancers in Bangladesh are lung cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.

1d ago

Have a nice Day / Stoicism embracing kindness & compassion in a philosophy of virtue - Part II

Stoicism used to be practiced by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and is still followed by today’s social emperor Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and many others. It is a way of life planned to make people more resilient, happier, virtuous, and eventually better individuals and authorities.

1d ago

Tackling hypertension: AI-powered personalised treatments offer hope

High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects a staggering 1.28 billion people globally and is linked to serious health issues like heart disease and stroke. What is troubling is that it often goes unnoticed since symptoms are not always apparent. Regular check-ups are crucial for detection.

1d ago

Cervical cancer prevention awareness programme held

Surjer Hashi Network recently organised counselling sessions to raise awareness about cervical cancer in its 134 clinics across the country, says a press release. About 2,500 women participated in the counselling session. Such sessions will help in both prevention and early detection of this deadly disease.

1d ago

AI-SAROSH workshop in sparks innovative AI projects for reproductive health in South Asia

AI-SAROSH, an AI-powered platform aiming to revolutionise access to Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health (SRMH) resources and services in South Asia, hosted the 2023 Grant Cycle Co-Design Workshop on “Artificial Intelligence for Sexual and Reproductive Health for South Asia” from September 13 to 17, 2023, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

1d ago

Is back pain linked to mental health?

In the past, understanding that the mind could suffer like the body posed a challenge for society’s common man. However, times have changed, and people are now giving due importance to mental health, ushering in a new era of effective mental illness treatment.

1w ago

Prevention and control of NCDs mark the kick-off of the Global Week for Action

On September 13, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the forthcoming launch of a significant report titled “Global mapping report on multisectoral action to strengthen the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions.” This report, showcasing experiences from various regions across the globe, will be officially unveiled during an online event co-organised by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) and the NCD Alliance (NCDA).

1w ago

Have a nice Day Stoicism

Stoicism teaches one to be altruistic, helping others without desire for personal gain or recognition. Since we were, in fact, created for it by nature, it is about doing it naturally. It is our function to benefit the species into which we were born.

1w ago

Prolonged use of acid reflux medication linked to higher dementia risk

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are commonly prescribed to manage conditions like acid reflux and stomach ulcers, have been a subject of concern regarding their potential link to an increased risk of dementia. However, research on this topic has produced mixed results.

1w ago

Promoting patient engagement for safer healthcare

Patient and family engagement stands as a cornerstone strategy in the ongoing efforts to advance safety in healthcare. With their unique perspectives stemming from firsthand experiences throughout the entire patient journey, patients, families, and carers offer invaluable insights to enhance patient safety.

1w ago

Sugar substitute scrutiny: aspartame’s carcinogenic concerns

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have jointly released assessments on the health impacts of the artificial sweetener aspartame. These assessments come amid concerns about the potential carcinogenicity of aspartame and its widespread use in various food and beverage products since the 1980s.

2w ago

Prevention and management of osteoarthritis

September 8 is observed as the World Physiotherapy Day. The day marks the worldwide physiotherapy community’s unity and solidarity. It is an opportunity to appreciate the work physiotherapists do for their patients and society. The focus of this year’s World Physiotherapy Day was the prevention and management of osteoarthritis.

2w ago

How much is too much? - Part III

Many factors affect how much money you need to live comfortably, such as location, lifestyle, age, and health. It also varies from culture to culture and between Western and Eastern philosophies. That is why the definition of happiness varies from culture to culture.

2w ago

Anaemia rates among adolescent women on the rise: urgent action needed

A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health sheds light on the alarming increase in anaemia among adolescent women in India from 2015 to 2021. Anaemia, a condition characterised by a lack of healthy red blood cells, can have severe health consequences, and it disproportionately affects women in India.  Almost 6 in 10 female adolescents in India are anaemic, with 21 of 28 states reporting increased prevalence since 2015, per national surveys.

2w ago

Raising awareness and taking action: International Overdose Awareness Day 2023

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. In 2019, around 600,000 deaths were attributed to drug use, with 25% related to opioids. Opioids have analgesic and sedative effects and are commonly used for the management of pain.

2w ago