Stomach cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the lining of the stomach. Also, known as Gastric cancer, it affects the elderly more than the adult. According to the American Cancer Society, about 6 of every 10 people diagnosed with stomach cancer each year are 65 or older. Also, the lifetime risk of developing stomach cancer is higher in men (about 1 in 101) than in women (about 1 in 155).

A health expert, speaking to a leading media house, emphasized five common symptoms of stomach cancer that should not be ignored:

1. Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying or experiencing an unexplained drop in appetite, which may signal cancer progression.

2. Pain in the upper part of the abdomen: Persistent or occasional pain in the stomach area, often after eating, can become more severe as the condition progresses.

3. Frequent vomiting after meals: Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, may occur especially after meals and is linked to cancer blocking or irritating the stomach.

4. Vomiting blood, which may appear coffee-colored: This can indicate bleeding in the stomach, often caused by ulcers or tumors, and requires immediate medical attention.

5. Black, tarry stools: This occurs when blood from the stomach is digested and passed through the intestines, signaling potential internal bleeding

There are also other concerning signs that should not be overlooked such as jaundice, unexplained weight loss, early onset of diabetes, dark stools, and loss of appetite. Health experts strongly advise seeking immediate medical attention if you notice any of these symptoms. If you or a loved one experience these signs, it's crucial to visit a physician for a thorough evaluation to rule out serious underlying health conditions.

How Does Stomach Cancer Spread?

Oncologist Dr Pankaj Kumar Pande, Director–Surgical Oncology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi explained that this form of cancer spreads through three main pathways: Direct spread, lymphatic spread, and bloodstream.

1. Direct Spread: In its early stages, stomach cancer can invade nearby tissues and grow into the deeper layers of the stomach or spread to surrounding organs such as the oesophagus, liver, pancreas, or intestines.

2. Lymphatic Spread: Cancer cells can travel through the lymphatic system. The most common areas affected are the regional lymph nodes near the stomach, particularly those around the liver and diaphragm.

3. Bloodstream: "Cancer cells can enter the bloodstream and travel to distant parts of the body," which is a common route for stomach cancer to metastasize to distant organs.

He further explained that cancerous cells spread from the original tumour to other parts of the body through a process called Metastasis. The most common sites for the spread are the liver, lymph nodes, peritoneum, lungs, bones, and ovaries.

Long day at work? Let's order in. Not feeling happy? How about a cheat meal! And so on - nowadays, the concept of cooking for oneself seems to have become outdated. But little do we realise that these ordering-in habits can cost you a great deal later - it turns out these can speed up ageing. And it does not end here; eating takeaway food regularly can take away months of your life, and even undo all the health benefits of regular exercise. Researchers at the Peking University Third Hospital in China studied 43,000 adults in the UK to come to this conclusion.

How does eating takeaway food affect health?

Researchers conducted blood tests on people who regularly eat takeaway food. They found that their biological age was about three months ahead compared to people who ate home-cooked food. This means that their kidney, liver and immune systems were getting worse at a faster rate than usual. Researchers said that treating yourself to junk food every day could undo the benefits of regular workouts, too. Over the years, these effects could knock off months from your life.

The study, which was published in the BMC Medicine journal, also noted that the three-month difference in biological ageing, driven by dietary habits, might appear insignificant, but it translates to about a 2.2 to 2.7 per cent increase in early death risk. Over time, this can account for 16 per cent of the severe ageing caused by smoking. Some of the effects, as per experts, were linked to obesity and weight gain. However, people's health was worse even if they were not fat. Some of the effects were because of the weight gain and obesity link, but in the case of some participants, the effects were worse, even when they were not fat.

Why is takeaway food discouraged?

The study shows that takeaway food is harmful because of its high fat, salt, sugar and calorie content. But more importantly, it is about the absence of nutrients like fibre and protein. These foods are more likely to be eaten quickly and alone, without paying much attention to the poor quality of ingredients used. To make matters worse, plastic packaging contains harmful chemicals like PFAS - upon heating, these can release cancer-causing components. Researchers said that these factors could be associated with inflammation in blood vessels, a dip in levels of healthy gut bacteria, and a heightened risk of heart disease or type-2 diabetes.

Experts noted that the effects in terms of accelerated ageing and regular consumption of junk food can cancel the benefits of even regular workouts.

In yet another milestone in India’s digital healthcare, the government has launched the Swasth Bharat Portal, which aims to bring together the fragmented health systems in the country.

The portal, unveiled during the recent 10th National Summit on Innovation and Inclusivity by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda, signifies a decisive shift towards a more integrated, efficient, and scalable digital public health architecture.

The portal aims to enable seamless integration with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and support the exchange of patient records through the ABHA health account system.

What Is The Swasth Bharat Portal?

The Swasth Bharat Portal has been conceptualized as an aggregator platform that integrates existing program systems through an API-based federated architecture.

It enables interoperability and convergence, creating a unified digital layer across programs.

It is a one-stop integrated platform that brings multiple national health programs onto a single interface.

It eliminates the need for multiple logins and repetitive data entry, and significantly reduces the administrative burden on healthcare providers while enhancing efficiency at all levels.

The portal also provides a single platform for easy access, along with data visualisation tools and the use of data at the local level for monitoring and evidence-based planning.

It is ABDM-compliant and supports integration with ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account), enabling seamless and secure exchange of patient health records.

It is designed to evolve into a comprehensive and interoperable digital health ecosystem, further integrating with national registries such as the Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) and Health Facility Registry (HFR).

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How Swasth Bharat Portal Will Boost Healthcare

The new portal will help:

• Reduce infrastructure duplication by 20–30 per cent: Independent hosting, storage, and compute resources are maintained across programs, which will be reduced when they are aggregated through Swasth Bharat

• Reduce Repetitive Data Entry: Similar beneficiary data that was entered across multiple systems will be entered on a single platform, thus reducing repetitive tasks by ~20–40 per cent.

• Unify HR Deployment: Separate development and maintenance teams are required in all programs; a unified system will reduce the HR burden and reduce duplication by ~20–40 per cent.

• Increase Interoperability: As the system is designed on a federated architecture via APIs, the interoperability will be higher.

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The Swasth Bharat portal will also lead to substantial government savings both in terms of human resources, time, and IT infrastructure as compared to the current individual portals being managed by different program divisions, the Health Ministry said.

Further, the portal enables a shift towards an integrated, efficient, and scalable digital public infrastructure with significant efficiency gains.

The Swasth Bharat Portal thus represents a transformative step towards convergence, efficiency, and data-driven governance in India’s public health system.

Eggs are literally one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They offer proteins, healthy fats, vitamin D, choline, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it is a no-brainer that eating eggs is associated with several health benefits—from weight management to a healthier heart to even diabetes management. And now, according to researchers at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health, eating eggs is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease as well. Alzheimer's is often diagnosed in people aged 65 years and above. Researchers have found that eating one egg a day for at least five days can reduce Alzheimer's risk by 27 per cent.

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How does eating eggs reduce Alzheimer's risk?

Experts at the Loma Linda University School of Public Health found that, as compared to people who never eat eggs, eating at least five servings of the high-protein food option can significantly reduce Alzheimer's risk. Furthermore, the study also noted that less frequent consumption of eggs can work wonders in helping to dodge memory loss and other cognitive health-related symptoms. Researchers in the study found that eating eggs one to three times a month can reduce the risk by 17 per cent, and eating two to four times a week reduced the risk by 20 per cent. The study was published in the Journal of Nutrition.

What makes eggs one of the healthiest foods?

Eggs are a whole food, and that is because of the nutrients they offer and their subsequent benefits for overall health. They are also sources of essential nutrients that improve brain health—they offer choline, phosphatidylcholine, and acetylcholine—all of which are critical for synaptic function and memory. They are also sources of zeaxanthin and lutein, carotenoids that accumulate in brain tissues and are linked to lower oxidative stress and better cognitive performance. Eggs are sources of omega-3 fatty acids and phospholipids that constitute 30 per cent of the total egg lipids essential for neurotransmitter receptor function.

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What are the modifiable factors linked to Alzheimer's disease risk?

Researchers in the study said that their aim was to understand the relationship between modifiable dietary factors linked to Alzheimer's disease risk. Experts stated that they studied egg consumption in visible ways, for instance, eating them fried, scrambled, or boiled, or in hidden ways such as packaged or baked goods. Scientists emphasised that moderate intake of eggs is an important part of a balanced diet. Whether for breakfast, as a post-workout meal, or simply as a snack satisfying cravings, this versatile food option must find its way into your diet. And after years of research and studies (with more to come), it can be said that eggs are key to a healthy life now and even years later.