(Credit-Canva)
Headaches are a common symptom of a stressful lifestyle, your body not feeling well and other issues. While headaches can be dealt with easily, migraines are not so easy to handle. Migraines are a type of headache that feels like severe throbbing and pulsing sensation, almost like you are hearing your own heartbeat in your brain, usually on one side of the brain. Many people believe that migraines are not that big of a deal because you just have to deal with the pain, but that is not all migraine is, some people find it very difficult to do their daily tasks as they experience dizzying spells, nausea and extreme sensitivity to light and sound! These attacks can last hours and make it difficult for people to go about their daily lives as well. While there are medications available for migraine patients, these medications need time to take effect, so you may be in a lot of pain, but there are not many quick reliefs you can have in place other than learning the symptoms of a migraine attack and taking medication before it happens. But a new approval by the FDA may change this!
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Symbravo, a new medicine to treat acute migraine attacks in adults. This means adults can now use Symbravo to get relief from their migraine symptoms. The FDA's decision was based on the results of three big studies, called Phase 3 trials. These trials involved over 21,000 migraine attacks, so the FDA has a lot of information about how well Symbravo works and how safe it is. The FDA only approves medicines that have been shown to be both safe and effective through a thorough testing process.
"Migraine attacks can happen suddenly and really mess up people's lives. It's estimated that over 39 million people in the U.S. alone get migraines," said Herriot Tabuteau, M.D., CEO of Axsome Therapeutics told US News. This shows how common migraines are and how important it is to have good treatments. "Symbravo gives patients and doctors a new option that can quickly stop a migraine attack, keep it away, and let people get back to their normal activities, all with just one dose." Having a medicine that can give fast and long-lasting relief from migraine pain is a big deal for millions of people. This new treatment is a real step forward in how we treat migraines.
The trials took place in 3 steps, the Momentum trial study focused on people whose migraines had moderate to severe pain. The results showed that a lot more people taking Symbravo felt pain-free two hours after taking the medicine compared to those who took a placebo which is a dummy pill. Even better, many people felt relief for up to 24 and even 48 hours after just one dose. This long-lasting relief is really important for people with migraines because it means they can get back to their normal lives without worrying about the pain coming back. The study also looked at how many people were free from their worst symptom, like sensitivity to light or sound, or nausea. Symbravo worked better than the placebo in this area too.
While the intercept trial looked at people who took Symbravo when their migraine pain was still mild. Even when the pain was just starting, Symbravo was effective. The results were similar to the MOMENTUM trial, with many people getting pain relief and relief from their worst symptoms. Treating migraines early is often better because it can stop the pain from getting really bad.
And lastly the Movement trial which was to see how safe the medication is when people take it regularly. This study followed 706 people who had at least two migraines a month. The most common side effects people experienced were sleepiness and dizziness. While these side effects are important to know about, the study showed that Symbravo is generally safe for people to use on a regular basis.
Credit: AI
The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Ebola outbreak has become the second-largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded, overtaking the country’s devastating 2018-2020 outbreak.
The current epidemic has also underscored the growing global concern over the rapid spread of the deadly disease.
According to the latest official figures released by the DRC health authorities and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the country has reported 3,442 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,521 deaths as of July 29, 2026.
However, more recent updates indicate the outbreak has continued to worsen rapidly, with 3,532 confirmed cases and 1,556 deaths reported by July 31, 2026.
The only Ebola outbreak larger than the current epidemic remains the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which infected more than 28,000 people and resulted in the deaths of over 11,300 lives.
Unlike many previous Ebola outbreaks caused by the Zaire ebolavirus, the ongoing epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rarer species of Ebola virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or licensed treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the outbreak remains active with heightened community transmission, particularly in eastern DRC, where insecurity, mistrust, population displacement and limited healthcare access continue to hamper outbreak containment efforts.
In its latest Disease Outbreak News update, WHO said, “The outbreak remains active, with sustained transmission.”
The UN health agency noted that inside conflict, population displacement, community mistrust and restricted access to affected areas continue to affect contact tracing, surveillance, and containment and treatment activities.
WHO has also stressed that although the global risk remains low, the regional risk is high because of frequent cross-border movement between the DRC and neighbouring countries.
A major challenge in controlling the epidemic is the absence of a licensed vaccine or targeted therapy against the Bundibugyo virus.
According to WHO, while the Ebola vaccine used against the Zaire strain has shown limited experimental cross-protection in animal studies, there is currently inadequate evidence to recommend its use against Bundibugyo virus disease.
Also read: Uganda Declared Ebola-Free As Congo Outbreak Grows To 3,262 Cases, 1,437 Deaths
Amid the worsening outbreak, researchers have reached an important milestone in Ebola vaccine development.
The first volunteer has received an experimental vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, marking the world's first Phase I clinical trial for this virus, according to the University of Oxford.
The vaccine, ChAdOx1 BDBV, developed in collaboration with Serum Institute of India (SII), is designed specifically to protect against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
It uses the same viral vector platform that powered the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine uses a genetically modified chimpanzee adenovirus (ChAdOx1)—a harmless virus that normally causes the common cold in chimpanzees—as a delivery vehicle.
"We welcome the start of the phase 1 clinical trial of an investigational vaccine against Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease—an important step to assess the safety and immune responses generated by the vaccine," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.
Health authorities, supported by WHO, Africa CDC and international partners, continue to strengthen surveillance, laboratory testing, infection prevention, community engagement and patient care.
Credit: AI
The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has brought another side effect into focus.
After the widely discussed 'Ozempic Face,' dermatologists are now warning about 'Ozempic Hair,' a term used to describe excessive hair shedding that can occur after rapid and weight loss.
Experts say the condition is not caused by the medication directly damaging hair follicles. Instead, it is largely linked to rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and the body's metabolic response to sudden calorie restriction.
According to Dr. Gaurav Garg, Senior Dermatologist, Hair Transplant Surgeon, Dermato-Surgeon and Medical Director at Dermalife Skin and Hair Clinic, New Delhi, cases have become increasingly common in dermatology clinics.
"We are seeing a significant rise in patients complaining of excessive hair shedding after taking GLP-1 weight loss medications. Around 40% of the weight loss drug users visiting our clinics are experiencing mild to significant hair loss, with many noticing hair falling out in large clumps while washing or combing. In most cases, the medication itself is not directly damaging the hair. The problem is rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies and the metabolic shock experienced by the body," Dr. Garg said.
He added that the increasing use of these medications without proper medical supervision is further contributing to the problem.
"Ozempic isn't the enemy of your hair; malnutrition and metabolic shock are. By ensuring gradual weight loss and proper nutritional support under expert guidance, many of these problems can be prevented," he said.
Also read: UK Woman Spends £4,000 On Wegovy, Mounjaro, But Loses Less Than 14 Pounds In 15 Months
'Ozempic Hair' is not a medical diagnosis but a popular term for telogen effluvium, a temporary phase of hair loss due to stress. Rapid weight loss acts as a physical stressor, causing a larger number of hair follicles to enter the resting phase prematurely.
Hair shedding usually becomes noticeable three to four months after a user starts taking GLP-1 drugs. Reduced appetite during treatment may also result in deficiencies of all the nutrients that are important for hair growth. For example, protein, iron, zinc and biotin.
Dr. Garg cautioned that weight loss injections are increasingly being used for cosmetic purposes rather than for legitimate medical conditions.
"One of the biggest concerns today is that these weight loss injections are increasingly being viewed as quick-fix cosmetic solutions rather than prescription medicines meant for specific medical conditions. Many people begin taking them after watching social media content or on the advice of friends, without understanding the nutritional consequences. Hair shedding in most cases is temporary, but prevention is always better than treatment. These medications should never be used casually or without expert supervision," he said.
He stressed that people undergoing medical weight loss should receive appropriate dietary counselling, consume adequate protein, and undergo regular monitoring to reduce nutritional complications.
Echoing these concerns, Dr. Ramanjeet Singh, Director, Department of Dermatology, Medanta Hospital, said the trend reflects the risks of unsupervised use of GLP-1 medications.
"The emerging trend of 'Ozempic Hair' highlights the risks associated not only with rapid weight loss but also with the indiscriminate use of these medications without proper medical evaluation. We are increasingly seeing individuals obtaining weight loss drugs without specialist consultation or using them beyond recommended doses in pursuit of faster results. Hair shedding in such cases usually represents telogen effluvium triggered by rapid metabolic changes and nutritional deficiencies rather than permanent damage to the hair follicles," Dr. Singh said.
He added that the condition is generally reversible with timely intervention, balanced nutrition and medically supervised weight management.
Dermatologists advise people considering prescription weight loss medications to undergo a medical evaluation before starting treatment.
Maintaining adequate protein intake, avoiding crash diets, correcting iron and vitamin deficiencies where necessary, and seeking early dermatological care if excessive hair shedding develops may help reduce the severity and duration of hair loss.
Credit: AI
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan'.
It is a nationwide 100-week campaign aimed at discouraging young people from substance abuse through community participation, awareness activities and various other initiatives.
Launched via video conferencing, the campaign seeks to transform young Indians into ambassadors of a drug-free society. The campaign has weekly events scheduled every Sunday across the country.
More than 10,000 locations joined the launch virtually, bringing together MY Bharat volunteers, National Service Scheme (NSS) members, schools, colleges, universities, NGOs, industry associations and over 125 spiritual organisations.
Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi said that a healthy and drug-free youth population is essential for building a developed India (Viksit Bharat).
The Prime Minister said, "A drug-free youth is the greatest strength of Viksit Bharat. This campaign should reach every village, every town and every city through Jan Bhagidari."
He also said that substance abuse not only destroys individual lives and families but can also become a tool used by hostile enemy forces to weaken the country's future.
He also said, "Drugs destroy families, careers and the future of young people. Parents, teachers and society must come together to protect our youth from this menace." A healthy youth is the greatest strength of a Viksit Bharat. If our young generation stays fit physically and mentally, no force can stop India's progress."
Also read: Healthcare In India No Longer A Privilege, Becoming A Right: PM Modi
Unlike one-day awareness campaigns, the initiative is designed as a long-term public movement. Every Sunday, communities across India will organise activities such as:
The government hopes the sustained weekly engagement will encourage behavioural change, especially among adolescents and young adults, while strengthening grassroots participation.
Also read: PM Modi Pledges 7.5 million For Cancer Moonshot Initiative: What Is It
The campaign builds on a series of youth-focused initiatives launched this year under the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat' umbrella, including the National Nasha Mukti Quiz, awareness programmes in educational institutions, the Nasha Mukti Anthem initiative and youth conclaves across the country.
These efforts are part of the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, which has been expanded nationwide to curb drug problem through prevention, awareness and community engagement.
Officials say the latest campaign aims to create a society-level movement by bringing together educational institutions, youth organisations, society groups, corporate bodies and spiritual organisations on a common platform.
With one crore youth also taking the Nasha Mukti pledge during the launch, the government hopes the campaign will evolve into one of India's largest community-led efforts to prevent substance abuse.
© 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited