Pope Francis injured his right arm after suffering a fall earlier this week. According to the Vatican, while the 88-year-old pontiff did not break his arm, a sling was put on as a precaution. This incident comes just weeks after another fall on December 7, where he hit his chin on a nightstand, resulting in another, visible bruise. The pope's health has been a topic of ongoing speculation due to his age and medical history, which includes long bouts of bronchitis and mobility challenges. Often seen using a wheelchair or a cane, Francis also uses a walker within the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel, where he resides. Notably, his frailty has brought renewed attention to the risks of falls among elderly individuals and the steps one must follow to mitigate such falls.

Preventive Measures For Bone Health

A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neurosciences people get older, the bone density in the lower back and thigh bone decreases significantly. This raises the risk of osteoporosis (OP). Therefore it becomes pivotal to pay early attention to nutrition, exercise ability, vitamin D levels, and uric acid levels in older individuals to prevent Ostreopsis and mitigate fall risks. The risk of falls and bone injuries among elderly individuals underscores the importance of preventive measures for maintaining bone health and minimizing fall risks.

Elderly, particularly menopausal women, require a daily calcium intake of 1,200 mg, divided into two or more doses. This can be achieved through dietary sources such as dairy and non-dairy products or through supplements like calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. However, total daily calcium intake should not exceed 2,500 mg to avoid potential health risks.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. While sunlight exposure helps synthesize vitamin D, older individuals often require supplements due to reduced skin synthesis and the limited availability of foods. Fortified milk and supplements containing 200–600 IU of vitamin D daily are recommended, with higher doses required for those with deficiencies. Severe cases may necessitate high-dose treatments, such as 50,000 IU weekly for up to three months, along with regular monitoring of calcium and vitamin D levels.

Regular exercise is vital for preserving bone mass and reducing fall risk. Weight-bearing activities, strength training, and balance exercises like brisk walking or skipping can enhance bone density and improve coordination. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, supplemented by strength training twice weekly. For individuals unable to engage in standard exercise routines, alternatives like vibrating platforms may help maintain bone health.

Falls remain a leading cause of fractures among individuals over 60. Addressing contributing factors such as balance issues, vision problems, and environmental hazards can significantly reduce risks. Preventive measures include regular vision checks, minimizing medications causing dizziness, improving home safety (e.g., installing railings and removing loose rugs), and wearing rubber-soled footwear. Hip protectors may also help mitigate the impact of falls.

Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder may share the same genetic roots, a Nature study shows.

While experts have long classified each of these mental disorders as individual illnesses with their own causes, researchers from across China have discovered that these three diseases share about 70 percent common genetic and environmental risk factors.

Schizophrenia is a severe, chronic brain disorder that can lead psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and reduced emotional expression. It can affect how a person's thinks, feels and behaves, making it hard to distinguish reality.

While bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness which causes extreme mood swings, from emotional highs (mania/hypomania) to lows (depression), affecting the brain's energy, activity and focus levels.

On the other hand, major depressive disorder or clinical depression, is a serious mood disorder that causes persistent sadness and loss of interest in a person. It can affect feelings, thoughts and daily activities and can be identified by symptoms such as low energy, sleep/appetite changes, guilt, concentration issues and thoughts of death.

What Did The Study Find?

Using advanced techniques, they identified 238 genetic variants that raise risk across multiple disorders and showed that five major genetic patterns explain most of the differences between people with and without mental illness.

Read More: Study Shows Depression Can Accelerate The Onset Of Chronic Illnesses

Based on these genetic patterns, the disorders clustered into five broad groups: internalizing conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder; neurodevelopmental conditions including autism and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; substance use disorders; compulsive conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and anorexia and lastly, a fifth group that included bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

The findings explain why many individuals are diagnosed with more than one mental health condition as many genes affect multiple brain pathways. This indicates that the same genetic changes can lead to different disorders depending on other biological and environmental factors.

Can The Same Treatment Plan Be Used For These Illnesses?

Even though medications such as antidepressants are useful in treating multiple mental illnesses including depression, anxiety and PTSD, the researchers concluded that more research is needed to understand the biology behind the genetic factors to understand the links between the disease.

One of the study’s authors compared the current system to diagnosing a patient with separate illnesses for a cough, sore throat and runny nose instead of recognizing a single underlying infection.

Nearly one in eight people globally, around 970 million individuals, were living with a mental disorder in 2021, with anxiety and depression being the most common globally.

Amazon has confirmed that 10 employees at its Coventry, UK warehouse have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) as calls for site shutdown continue to grow.

Cases emerged at the hub, which has about 3,000 employees, in September 2025 and were found to be non-contagious. However, the retail giant acknowledged the breakout on January 16.

Officials from Amazon noted: "In line with best practice safety procedures, we immediately followed guidance from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and made all potentially affected employees aware of the situation. Out of an abundance of caution, we are currently running an expanded screening program with the NHS.

"We will continue to follow guidance from the experts in the NHS, and would respectfully remind public organizations of the need for responsible communications where matters of public wellbeing are concerned."

A spokesperson also assured that no new cases have been recorded in the area and a "screening program" being carried out amid "an abundance of caution" in collaboration with NHS and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Are The Patients Receiving Treatment?

Since being diagnosed with TB, the unidentified patients have been receiving treatment from the UKHSA in West Midlands. Dr Roger Gajraj, consultant in health protection with UKHSA West Midlands also revealed that tests are being offered to those who may have had close contact with the patients and assured the overall risk remains low.

He told the BBC: "The small number of individuals affected by tuberculosis (TB) are responding well to treatment and are no longer infectious, so pose no onward risk.

"As a precaution, and in line with national guidance, we are offering testing to those who may have had closer contact with the affected individuals. The overall risk remains low. TB is fully treatable with antibiotics. We continue to work closely with Amazon to monitor the situation."

Read More: WHO’s Latest TB Guidelines Highlight Nutrition as Key to Treatment

Why Is TB Dangerous?

Common signs and symptoms of TB include unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, chills and fever, fatigue, getting night sweats, weakness or fatigue. Symptoms of TB disease in the lungs may include coughing up blood or sputum, a cough lasting for more than 3 weeks and chest pain.

TB is typically diagnosed through the Mantoux Tuberculin Skin Test(TST). Here, a small amount of tuberculin is injected into the skin of the forearm and is monitored for a reaction 48 to 72 hours after the injection. A positive skin test result indicates the presence of TB and there is a need for additional tests to determine to determine if it is active or latent.

If positive, blood tests are done to determine or rule out if the patient has active or latent TB. There are two blood tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration for TB- T-SPOT TB test(T-spot) and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube test(QFT-GIT). Doctors may also prescribe a chest X-ray or CT scan after a positive skin test.

Despite being preventable through vaccine and and curable through antibiotics, TB remains a leading infectious killer and causes over a million deaths annually worldwide, with millions falling ill each year.

In 2024, about 10.7 million people were diagnosed with TB out of which 1.23 million died from the disease.

The Tamil Nadu government has prohibited the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of the cough syrup Almond Kit after laboratory testing confirmed it contained the highly toxic chemical ethylene glycol, according to a press release issued by the state’s drug control authority. Officials said the syrup, which is produced in Bihar, was found to be contaminated with ethylene glycol, a substance known to trigger serious and, in some cases, fatal health problems. But what exactly is ethylene glycol poisoning, and what health conditions can it cause?

Cough Syrup Banned In Tamil Nadu Due To Ethylene Glycol Contamination

The Tamil Nadu government has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, and consumption of the cough syrup Almond Kit after laboratory tests detected the presence of ethylene glycol, a highly dangerous chemical, the state drug control department said in a press statement. Citing news agency IANS, officials confirmed that the syrup is manufactured in Bihar and was found to be contaminated with ethylene glycol, a compound associated with severe and sometimes life-threatening health complications.

What Is Ethylene Glycol Poisoning And What Are The Early Symptoms?

Ethylene glycol is a colourless, odourless liquid with a sweet taste, most commonly used in antifreeze. It may be consumed accidentally or intentionally, including in cases of self-harm. Once inside the body, ethylene glycol breaks down into glycolic acid and oxalic acid, which are responsible for most of its toxic effects.

According to Medline Plus, early symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning include a feeling of intoxication, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. As the poisoning progresses, symptoms can worsen and may include reduced consciousness, headaches, and seizures.

Ethylene Glycol: What Health Conditions Can It Lead To?

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to ethylene glycol can result in severe and potentially fatal health conditions, particularly when ingested through contaminated medicines.

One of the most serious effects is acute kidney failure, which can develop rapidly and may cause the kidneys to shut down within a few days if treatment is delayed. Ethylene glycol can also harm the brain and nervous system, leading to confusion, poor coordination, seizures, and even coma.

The toxin can cause severe metabolic acidosis, a condition in which the blood becomes dangerously acidic, interfering with normal heart function and breathing.

In certain cases, ethylene glycol exposure can also lead to lung-related complications, including fluid accumulation in the lungs that makes breathing difficult.

Without prompt medical intervention, ethylene glycol poisoning can be fatal, especially in children and individuals with existing kidney or liver disease. This is why its detection in any oral medication is treated as a serious public health concern.

Almond Kit Cough Syrup: Which Batch Is Affected?

According to IANS, consumers have been advised to check for batch number AL24002 and strictly avoid using the syrup. People who already have the product have been asked to contact authorities for instructions on safe disposal. The Directorate has also stepped up inspections and monitoring across pharmacies and hospitals in Tamil Nadu to ensure the contaminated cough syrup is fully removed from circulation.