Strengthening your bones is not something that can happen overnight, it takes years for your body to build strong bones and even then, it is natural for them to lose their dexterity. All you can do is keep your body healthy to make sure it is prepared for any unexpected situations. For years, many older adults have been told to take vitamin D and calcium supplements to keep their bones strong and prevent falls. However, a new report from U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) is changing that advice. This report suggests that for most older people, these supplements don't actually prevent falls or broken bones. This might be surprising news, we must understand why falls happen more often as we age, what vitamin D and calcium do in the body, and most importantly, what you can do to stay safe and prevent fractures.

What the Report Says

According to the report, vitamin D supplements don't seem to help prevent falls or broken bones for most people over 60. They also found that these supplements, especially with calcium, might increase the risk of kidney stones. This report doesn't mean people with weak bones (osteoporosis), low vitamin D, or who take vitamin D for other health reasons shouldn't take it. It just means that for most healthy older people, these supplements don't prevent falls and fractures.

Why Older People Fall and Break Bones More Easily

There are many reasons why older people are more prone to breaking their bones. Our bones are strongest when we're in our 20s and 30s, and they get weaker as we age so naturally, they can break easily. It can also be harder to move around as we get older, sometimes because of problems like arthritis this can affect how we walk and make us less steady.

There are also different issues like neuropathy, which is a nerve problem that can also make it harder to feel your feet and keep your balance. Eyesight is also a culprit as it can cause you to feel dizzy and fall. Some medicines can also make people feel unsteady, and older people often take more medicines than younger people. Low vitamin D itself can also increase the risk of falls, so keeping vitamin D levels up is still important.

Better Ways To Protect Your Bone Health

USPSTF recommends a few better ways to protect your bone health and prevent broken bones and falls.

Walk Regularly

Regular walks strengthen your muscles and bones, which helps you stay steady on your feet. It is as simple as practice makes perfect so the more you walk, the better it is. Walking also improves your balance, making you less likely to fall.

Do Strength Training

Strength training, like lifting weights or using resistance bands, makes your bones stronger and helps prevent fractures if you do fall. It is like a safety cushion, but you must be careful while doing so because it can lead to injuries if done too much.

Practice Balance

Activities like tai chi, Pilates, and yoga can improve your balance and coordination, making you more stable and less prone to falls. These can also help you improve your muscle flexibility and strength that in turn helps your body be stronger.

Check Your Medicines

If you have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about medications that can help strengthen your bones and lower your risk of fractures. Many medications can also have unsavory side effects like weakened joints, losing muscle strength, etc.

Eat Enough Protein

A proper diet goes a long way when it comes to your entire body health. So to keep up with your body’s nutrition and muscle health, eat more protein along with a balanced meal that includes loads of fiber, healthy fats and carbs.

Get Your Eyes Checked

Having poor eyesight can be difficult, not only does it make life difficult without glasses, but it also increases the possibilities of getting into minor accidents like bumping into people and missing objects placed in front of us.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is also important because when you are not sleeping, you get disoriented and can ignore even obvious things like the last stair in the staircase. Make sure you get enough sleep to keep you fresh and focused.

Make Your Home Safe

There are many things that can cause you to have accidents, even in your home. To avoid such falls, make sure there are no lose ends like crooked floor panels, rugs that are sticking out or protruding furniture that can hurt your knees

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an advisory mandating strict adherence to safe injection practices. The directive aims to curb preventable outbreaks of HIV, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV) caused by the unsafe reuse of syringes, needles, and other single-use medical devices.

Despite decades of evidence and repeated warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe injection practices continue in India, often under the guise of cost-saving. This has led to avoidable infections, lifelong treatment costs, and a loss of public trust in healthcare systems.

What the NMC Advisory Says

The advisory mandates:

• Single-use devices must never be reused:Reuse of syringes, dialyzers, or vials is a direct breach of patient safety.
• Progressive adoption of safety-engineered auto-disable syringes: These devices prevent reuse and help protect healthcare workers from needle-stick injuries.
• Strict enforcement of the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016: Proper segregation and disposal of sharps is mandatory.
• Mandatory training and audits: Healthcare workers must undergo regular competency assessments, and institutions must conduct strict monitoring.

Why Action Is Important

“India has the manufacturing capacity to supply safety-engineered syringes at scale. The barrier is not technology, it is willpower. Procurement administrators must prioritize patient safety over short-term cost-cutting,” said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator of the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry.

“Single-use devices like syringes, dialyzers, and AV (Arteriovenous) fistula needles must not be reused. Unsafe injection practices are entirely preventable, and continuing them is indefensible,” he added.

The expert urged policymakers to act now because it is affecting

• Public Health : Treating HIV, HBV, and HCV infections acquired through unsafe injections costs far more than investing in safe injection devices.

• Global Credibility: As one of the world’s largest users of injectable medicines and vaccines, India’s leadership in safe injection, drug delivery, and blood management practices is critical to global health security.

• Patient Trust: Every reused syringe erodes confidence in healthcare institutions and undermines national health programs.

Read More: Ebola Alert In India: Rajasthan, Hyderabad Report Suspected Cases of Deadly Virus

Call to Action

The AiMeD stated that the NMC's advisory must be treated as a binding mandate, not a suggestion. Procurement administrators, hospital authorities, and policymakers should:

• Enforce zero tolerance for device reuse across all healthcare facilities.
• Allocate budgets for safety-engineered syringes, including auto-disable syringes and sharps injury-prevention devices, as a public health investment rather than a discretionary expense.
• Establish accountability mechanisms through accreditation schemes, including audits, reporting of needle-stick injuries, and penalties for non-compliance.
• Launch patient awareness campaigns to empower communities to demand safe injection practices.

"Unsafe injection practices are not a matter of affordability but of accountability. India has the capacity, technology, and cost-effectiveness evidence through Health Technology Assessment (HTA). What is needed now is decisive action to protect patients and healthcare workers alike," the AiMeD said.

Survival rates among patients with high-grade gliomas — one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer — have improved by up to 50 per cent in India, according to leading oncologists ahead of World Brain Tumour Day 2026.

Doctors say a growing number of patients are now living significantly longer after diagnosis, with some surviving for more than a decade.

Advances Boost Survival Outcomes

Dr. Tejinder Kataria, Chairperson of Radiation Oncology at Medanta, said median survival for many high-grade glioma patients has increased from around 9–12 months to 14–18 months.

She noted that some centers are "reporting nearly 40 per cent two-year survival rates among patients with Grade III and Grade IV gliomas. In addition, about 5 per cent of patients in certain high-grade glioma groups are now surviving for more than 10 years".

Experts attribute these improvements to advances in molecular diagnostics, comprehensive genomic profiling, neuronavigation-assisted surgery, precision radiation therapy, and targeted treatments.

“Radiation oncology has evolved from open beams in the cobalt era to highly precise beam configurations using modern technologies. We are now able to deliver tumoricidal doses more accurately while also preserving quality of life,” Dr. Kataria said.

Personalized Treatment Changing Care

Also read: Ebola Alert In India: Rajasthan, Hyderabad Report Suspected Cases of Deadly Virus

Dr. R. Ranga Rao, Chairman of Medical Oncology at Paras Health, said brain tumor treatment is no longer limited to surgery and radiation.

A deeper understanding of tumor biology is enabling doctors to tailor treatment according to the molecular profile of each patient’s cancer.

“Although high-grade gliomas remain challenging to treat, the combination of precision diagnostics, modern therapies, and multidisciplinary specialist care is helping more patients live longer and maintain a better quality of life than was possible even a few years ago,” Dr. Rao said.

He also highlighted the growing role of whole genomic sequencing, which helps clinicians understand a tumor’s genetic makeup and select more personalized treatment strategies that may improve survival.

Patients Should Not Lose Hope

Dr. Shyam Agarwal, Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said many patients fear the worst when diagnosed with a brain tumor.

“People often feel that nothing can be done once they hear the word tumor in the brain. But brain tumors are of many different types — benign and malignant — and even malignant tumors vary widely in behavior,” he said.

According to Dr. Agarwal, modern treatment options, including surgery, radiation, targeted therapies, and newer drugs, can control many brain cancers for extended periods and may even offer a cure in selected cases.

He also stressed the importance of molecular testing and comprehensive genomic profiling to identify patients who may benefit from precision medicines.

Late Diagnosis Remains a Major Challenge

Despite advances in treatment, experts say delayed diagnosis remains a significant problem in India.

“The biggest blind spot in our country is that many patients reach specialists at a late stage. Symptoms may masquerade as routine headaches, hearing deficits, or visual disturbances. We need greater awareness,” Dr. Kataria said.

Dr. Agarwal added that delayed diagnosis is due to symptoms such as persistent headaches, hearing problems, or vision disturbances which are often mistaken for stress, migraine, or other common conditions, leading to late referrals.

What Is Glioma?

As per the Johns Hopkins Medicine, glioma is a common type of tumor originating in the brain. About 33 per cent of all brain tumors are gliomas, which originate n the glial cells that surround and support neurons in the brains, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and ependymal cells.

Gliomas are called intra-axial brain tumors because they grow within the substance of the brain and often mix with normal brain tissue. Symptoms include

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Personality changes
• Weakness in the arms, face or legs
• Numbness
• Problems with speech
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vision loss
• Dizziness.

With advancements in medical technology, hip replacement surgery has evolved significantly over the years. One of the most promising innovations in this field is the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) Total Hip Replacement, a modern technique that offers patients a safer procedure, reduced pain, and faster recovery.

Unlike traditional hip replacement surgeries, the DAA technique allows surgeons to access the hip joint from the front through a small incision. The biggest advantage of this approach is that muscles are not cut during the surgery. Instead, they are gently separated, which helps minimize tissue damage and reduces post-operative pain considerably.

This muscle-sparing approach has transformed patient recovery experiences. Most patients are able to stand and walk on the same day of surgery, and hospital stays are generally shorter. Recovery is smoother, allowing individuals to return to their normal routine within three to four weeks in most cases.

The DAA technique is especially beneficial for patients suffering from chronic hip pain, restricted movement, or severe joint damage. Common conditions that may require hip replacement include osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis (AVN), rheumatoid arthritis, old hip fractures, and long-standing degenerative joint conditions. When medications, physiotherapy, and injections fail to provide lasting relief, hip replacement surgery can significantly improve mobility and quality of life.

Compared to conventional hip replacement procedures, DAA offers several advantages. The surgery involves a smaller incision, less blood loss, minimal muscle damage, and lower post-surgical discomfort. Patients are able to regain movement faster and often experience greater confidence during rehabilitation.

One of the most common concerns among patients is the fear of severe pain after surgery. However, with modern pain management techniques and advanced surgical methods, discomfort after DAA hip replacement is usually minimal and manageable. Patients today recover much more comfortably than they did in the past.

Another important factor is the durability of modern implants. Advances in implant technology have significantly improved their lifespan, with many implants lasting more than 25 years. Maintaining a healthy body weight, staying physically active, and following medical advice can further improve the longevity and effectiveness of the implant.

After successful recovery, patients are generally able to resume a normal and active lifestyle. They can return to work, perform household activities independently, and participate in light exercises such as yoga, swimming, and stationary cycling. The primary goal of hip replacement surgery is not just pain relief, but restoring confidence, mobility, and independence.

Preparation before surgery also plays an important role in achieving better outcomes. Patients are advised to maintain controlled blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and overall heart health. Informing doctors about ongoing medications, performing basic physiotherapy exercises before surgery, and preparing a comfortable recovery environment at home can contribute to a smoother rehabilitation process.

Hip pain should never be ignored, especially when it begins affecting daily life and mobility. Timely treatment and the right surgical approach can make a remarkable difference. The Direct Anterior Approach has made hip replacement surgery simpler, safer, and more patient-friendly, helping individuals return to an active and pain-free life much faster than before.

Dr. Ishwar Bohra is Senior Director and Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi.