respiratory illnesses

Punjab's government hospitals are witnessing a surge in seasonal illnesses like fever and respiratory issues due to rising temperatures. The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana has seen a significant rise in cashless claims for acute febrile illness, with thousands of cases reported. Doctors attribute this trend to extreme heat, impacting vulnerable populations, especially children.

It protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, one of the leading causes of serious lung infections. Doctors say the bacterium is responsible for a significant proportion of severe pneumonia cases that result in hospitalisation among older adults

EVs, Metro Ridership, Road Sweeping Help Cut PM2.5 By 17.5%

Health experts emphasize that in the event of a fire, the real enemy is often the smoke, not the flames. Inhalation of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide can become fatal in moments, as they cause a lack of oxygen and serious lung injury due to extreme heat.

Social smoking, often dismissed as harmless, poses significant health risks. Even occasional cigarette use damages the heart and blood vessels immediately, increasing the likelihood of serious conditions. Nicotine's addictive nature means social smoking can quickly escalate into a habit, impacting lungs and overall well-being. Experts emphasize there's no safe level of smoking.

Haryana is emerging as an ozone hotspot, with 12 out of 30 monitoring stations exceeding national standards in May. Nathu Colony in Ballabhgarh recorded the seventh-highest ground-level ozone concentration in India. This secondary pollutant, formed by sunlight-driven reactions, poses a growing summer air quality challenge.

As hotter days, warmer nights and humidity push the body harder, a new study estimates that a five-day heatwave could cause nearly 30,000 excess deaths across India — far beyond what official heatstroke counts are built to capture

Kicking off on May 26 and running until June 26, Jharkhand's health department is spearheading a proactive campaign to tackle tobacco and nicotine dependence. In line with World No Tobacco Day, this initiative—'Unmasking the Appeal: Counteracting Nicotine Addiction'—aims to enlighten the public, with a strong focus on youth, about the dangers associated with tobacco use and promote cessation.

Prabakaran Kishan, one of the drivers, said drains in many areas carry sewage. “As a result, many workers involved in drain cleaning have developed various infections, including skin and respiratory issues,” he said.

Public anxiety over hantavirus is amplified by COVID-19's lingering trauma, leading to comparisons of potential pandemics. However, experts clarify that hantavirus, primarily spread through rodent contact, lacks the efficient human-to-human transmission that fueled COVID-19's global spread, making widespread outbreaks unlikely.

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