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.

As of 8am, in Delhi, the city's average AQI stands at 513 according to aqi.in. Major pollutant in the Delhi's air include PM2.5, PM10, Carbon Monoxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Ozone. The AQI is equivalent to smoking 11.8 cigarettes per day, 82.6 cigarettes per week, and 354 cigarettes in a month. Amid this, doctors have called this major public health hazard, and warned people about the damage it can cause to our organs.

"The smaller the particle the more dangerous it is because it really goes into the depth of our lungs and causes damage there," says Dr. Vivek Nangia, Vice Chairman and Head of Pulmonology at Max Healthcare Saket, as told to news agency PTI.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Dr. Naresh Trehan, MD, Medanta, called the current situation “a major, major health-wise hazard,” stressing that the impact is unfolding across all age groups.

“A disaster for humanity,” says Dr Trehan

According to Dr. Trehan, pollution is now causing illness “many fold,” with outpatient departments packed with people suffering from cough, cold, chest congestion, asthma attacks, and severe breathing difficulties. But his biggest concern goes beyond the lungs.

He explained that the particulate matter present in polluted air moves far deeper into the body than most people realise. “These particulates go everywhere,” he told ANI. “They get absorbed into the blood, they go to your brain, they go to your kidneys, they go to your liver.”

Dr. Trehan added that the chronic effects of such constant exposure are making the public “sicker than they would be if they were living in a cleaner area.” Children, he warned, face an even greater threat as trapped toxic gases and particulate matter during winter behave “like a gas chamber,” potentially harming neurological development.

Dr Nangia breaks down the danger of PM2.5

Giving the scientific context behind this damage, Dr Nangia told PTI that the toxicity varies by particle size.

Particles larger than 5–10 microns usually stay in the upper respiratory tract, causing symptoms like throat irritation, watery eyes, and a runny nose. However, “a particle size less than 2.5 microns goes into the lungs,” he explained. Even more dangerous are particles smaller than 0.5 microns, which “go directly into the bloodstream from the lungs and trigger an inflammatory cascade.”

This cascade, Dr. Nangia said, spreads through the body and can inflame various organs—contributing to asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Reading Delhi's AQI

As per the aqi.in there are six categories under which air pollution levels are measured, which are as followed:

• Good 0 to 50
• Moderate 50 to 100
• Poor 100 to 150
• Unhealthy 150 to 200
• Severe 200 to 300
• Hazardous 301+

Fact: AQI in Delhi is 1.9 times above than in India

Public Health Emergency

There are many short-term and long-term impact on public health from the constant exposure of air pollution. As per IQAir, in the short-term, people experience irritation in eyes, throat, and nose, along with irregular heartbeats, asthma attacks, coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.

Prolonged exposure also intensifies these risks and leads to long-term effects such as chronic respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. Pollutants can also damage lung tissue, increasing the likelihood of lung cancer. Air pollution also leads to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes and could also be linked to premature death.

Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis and has called for a targeted screening. In an interview with Times, he said, "You always hope for the best. You have a high PSA score - that is probably nothing. You have an MRI scan with a few black marks on it. You think, ‘Ah, that’s probably OK.’ But when the biopsy comes back, and it says you have got prostate cancer. You always dread hearing those words. And then literally as they’re coming out of the doctor’s mouth you’re thinking, ‘Oh, no, he’s going to say it. He’s going to say it. Oh God, he said it.’"

The former PM, 59, said that he had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for the screening that looks for proteins associated with the form of the disease. His result was high, and a biopsy after that revealed his cancer.

It was his wife, Samantha, who urged him to get tested, after the couple heard the founder of Soho House, Nick Jones, talking about his diagnosis on radio. Cameron had received focal therapy for treatment, where electrical pulses target and destroy the cancer cells.

Cameron Calls for National Prostate Cancer Screening

He has urged the government to introduce a national screening programme to detect prostate cancer earlier, when treatment is far more effective.

Cameron said, “I want to, as it were, come out. I want to add my name to the long list of people calling for a targeted screening programme.

“I don’t particularly like discussing my personal intimate health issues, but I feel I ought to. Let’s be honest. Men are not very good at talking about their health. We tend to put things off.”

Prostate Cancer: The UK’s Most Common Male Cancer

Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in the UK, with around 55,000 cases diagnosed every year. Despite this, there is currently no national screening programme because of concerns over the accuracy of PSA tests.

In October 2024, six-time Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy revealed he had been diagnosed with terminal stage 4 cancer. His prostate cancer had spread to his shoulder, pelvis, hips, ribs and spine.

Read: Olympic Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy Shares His Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer From A Common Shoulder Pain

Cameron, who stepped down as prime minister and MP in 2016, returned to government as foreign secretary under Rishi Sunak in 2023 and was appointed a life peer in the House of Lords.

New Screening Trial Begins Across the UK

Cameron’s announcement comes just days after eligible men began receiving invitations to join a major trial testing the most promising prostate cancer screening technologies.

The Transform project will evaluate new screening methods against current NHS diagnostic pathways, which typically include blood tests and biopsies. The trial is being run in partnership with the NHS through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which has committed £16 million, with additional funding from Prostate Cancer UK.

Its launch coincides with the UK National Screening Committee’s upcoming decision on whether current evidence supports introducing national screening.

‘Men’s Lives Should Not Be Left to Chance’

Chiara De Biase, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, welcomed Cameron’s openness about his diagnosis.

Also Read: Joe Biden Is Diagnosed With Aggressive Prostate Cancer: All That You Need To Know

“We’re glad to hear that David Cameron found his prostate cancer at an early stage and had successful treatment,” she said. “We thank him for sharing his story and raising vital awareness of this disease, which is completely curable if found early. But men’s lives should not be left to chance.

“We lose 12,000 dads, brothers, sons and friends every year. We’ve reached a tipping point in the UK, with too many men dying from a curable disease and worse outcomes for higher-risk groups like black men and men from working-class communities.

“Prostate cancer is the last major cancer without a screening programme, and we need change now.”

What Happens In Prostate Cancer?

As per Urology Care Foundation, prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells form and grow in the prostate gland. Not all abnormal growths, also called tumors, are cancerous. Some are benign growth and are not life threatening. They also do not spread to nearby tissue or other parts of the body.

Whereas cancerous growths can spread to nearby organs and tissues, as in the case of Biden.

Donald Glover, who formerly performed under the stage name of Childish Gambino revealed that he had a stroke last year due to which he had to cancel his world tour date. Now, 42, he said he is dealing with an "ailment", after the New Orleans performance. He revealed that after that performance, he had gone to hospital in Houston, where he discovered that his condition required surgery.

As a result, he postponed his tour, which eventually was cancelled. This tour was remainder of his US tour and his UK, European, and Australian tour dates. He wrote: "Unfortunately, my path to recovery is taking longer than expected."

While performing at Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles on Saturday, Glover shared the real reason behind his sudden tour halt.

“I was doing this world tour … really loving seeing you guys,” he said, as reported in Guardian. “I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana and did the show anyway. I couldn’t really see well, so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.’”

He joked that his first thought was, “Here I am still copying Jamie Foxx,” referencing Foxx’s 2023 stroke, before admitting his immediate fear was that he was letting fans down—though he knows that isn’t true.

Glover added that doctors also found he had a broken foot and a hole in his heart, which required two surgeries.

“They say everybody has two lives, and the second starts when you realize you only have one,” he told the crowd. “You’ve got one life, guys, and the life I’ve lived with you has been such a blessing.”

Glover, a five-time Grammy winner, has since retired the Childish Gambino moniker after releasing his final album, Bando Stone & the New World. The cancelled tour had been planned as his farewell to the stage name.

What Happens In A Stroke?

When you have a stroke, the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted. This cause brain cells to die from a lack of oxygen and nutrients. This could also lead to lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

What Does It Mean To Have A Hole In Heart?

As per Cleveland Clinic, hole in heart means to have an atrial septal defect or ASD, which is an opening in the wall that separates the heart's chambers. While some small holes may close on their own and have no symptoms, larger holes can cause blood to mix between oxygenated and deoxygenated sides, forcing the heart to work harder and potentially leading to health issues like shortness of breath. Treatment options range from monitoring to surgery or minimally invasive procedures, depending on the size and severity of the defect.

Types of holes in the heart

• Atrial Septal Defect (ASD): A hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
• Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): A hole in the wall between the two lower chambers (ventricles).
• Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO): A common type of ASD, where the opening between the atria doesn't close after birth.

What Happens When Someone Has A Hole In Their Heart?

• Normally, the left side of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body, and the right side pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs.
• A hole in the heart allows oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix.
• This can cause oxygen-rich blood to recirculate to the lungs instead of the body, or cause the heart to pump extra blood to the lungs.