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As you grow old, your health starts to deteriorate. Everything, whether it is your mental health or your physical health, starts to slow down. However, with age, your mental health gets overshadowed by your physical health.
If you note these signs in your ageing parents or grandparents, take note of it. Try to get involved with them. It is also important to ensure that they have a separate social circle apart from the family. This way, they can have friends who they can also relate to.
With age, suggests Sinha, you are more prone to be depressed, and anxious. “Mental health conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorders are not something that happens when you grow older. You may have been living with these for the last 40 years, but the management differs, she suggests.
As you grow old, your symptoms start to overlap with other mental health conditions. For the proper treatment professionals use differential diagnosis, suggests Sinha. “The lines become blurred and to differentiate the symptoms from one mental health condition to another becomes difficult,” she says.
There are also food habits like eating leafy vegetables, nuts, fish, virgin coconut and beans that help with brain functions.
Sinha suggests that keeping a social circle and continuing your hobbies can help your mind stay healthy. “Men especially face this issue, after they retire, they feel like they are at the loss of authority, and they start to lose control. It is thus important to keep doing things and learning a new skill to keep your brain active. While for women, since they continue taking care of the house, their brain stays active,” she says.
Cognitive stimulation is the key, especially to managing dementia, she notes.
“Just with weight training, you push your body and after a while, it becomes your muscle memory. Same with the brain. However, one should not get into solving too many puzzles, or trivia after being diagnosed with dementia. Because that would mean you are making your already injured brain exercise which might lead to agitation,” she recommends.
“The most important part is for the caregiver to understand what is happening and come to terms with the conditions. Because the elderly with cognitive conditions are not able to understand, they cannot be told or instructed to do anything. Thus, the responsibility is solely on the caregiver,” points out Sinha.
So, what can be done?
Reach out to therapists and counsellors to know the ways to create such a healthy environment.
She suggests adopting the same approach that you do with kids and with your pets. This is when you focus on gestures, body language and mood over language. Due to cognitive disorders, parents experience a loss of language and the only way to communicate and to understand what they are communicating is through these means.
Create a healthy environment by agreeing with them and listening to their stories. The responsibility of creating a safe environment is totally with you.
There might be times when your parents may do socially unacceptable or non-compliance behaviour. But it is important to understand the triggers and ensure that the triggers do not occur anymore.
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In the wake of a young doctor from Chandigarh accusing a well-known private hospital of unnecessarily admitting patients to Intensive Care Units (ICUs), it is imperative to understand who truly requires critical care.
In a widely shared video posted on the social media platform Instagram, Dr Prabhleen Kaur alleged that the hospital is making the patients remain admitted in the ICU for as long as possible to mint money.
The doctor did not mention the name of the hospital. And HealthandMe could not independently verify the details and the authenticity of the post.
However, the incident reignited concerns over accountability, patient safety, and standards of care in the country.
Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Sachna Shetty, Consultant Emergency Medicine at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, said that: "ICU admissions are for patients with life-threatening conditions needing intensive support".
"This includes shock, respiratory failure, neurological emergencies, cardiac issues, and multi-organ dysfunction," the doctor added.
The NHS UK explains that intensive care units (ICUs) are specialist hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for people who are very ill.
They're staffed with specially trained healthcare professionals and contain sophisticated monitoring equipment.
Also called critical care units (CCUs) or intensive therapy units (ITUs), it is required in cases where a person is seriously ill and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring.
Most people in an ICU have problems with one or more organs. For example, they may be unable to breathe on their own. Some common reasons include:
"ICU beds are limited, reserved for those who'll benefit most. Decisions are time-sensitive, based on triage and clinical scoring. It's about who needs advanced life support, not just who looks critical. Fair use of resources is key," the doctor added.
India’s ICU admission guidelines—issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in January 2024 — clearly defines who should and should not be admitted to an ICU. According to the guidelines:
The guidelines stress the importance of physiological parameters returning to near-normal or baseline status.
Furthermore, reasonable resolution and stability of the acute illness that led to ICU admission are essential factors.
Patient and family agreement for ICU discharge, particularly in cases where a treatment-limiting decision or palliative care is opted for, is also highlighted.
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Modern lifestyle changes are contributing towards the rising neurological problems among young adults, said health experts today on World Health Day 2026.
World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to mark the founding day of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 for public health worldwide. World Health Day 2026 will be observed under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.”
The health experts noted that conditions such as recurrent headaches, mild weakness, strokes, and spine disorders were traditionally more common among older adults. However, modern lifestyle changes—sedentary habits, unhealthy diets, chronic stress, and increased screen time—are now driving a surge of these neurological problems among younger populations.
“The surge in neurological conditions today is not just a clinical challenge, but a reflection of how rapidly our lifestyles are evolving. We are seeing younger patients presenting with serious issues like stroke and spine disorders, conditions that were once more age-associated. This shift makes it imperative to recognize that neurological health is closely linked to everyday habits, stress, and timely medical attention,” Dr. Gaurav Sharma, Senior Consultant - Neurology, Paras Health Panchkula, told HealthandMe.
The health experts emphasized that the threat of neurological disorders is surging silently. The conditions, ranging from recurrent headaches and mild weakness to strokes and spine disorders, often show no noticeable symptoms in the early stage.
As a result, these go unnoticed until advanced stages, which makes the role of early detection and preventive care more crucial.
“Neurological disorders often progress silently, and by the time symptoms become severe, the condition may already be advanced. One of the biggest challenges we face today is the lack of awareness around subtle early signs, whether it is recurrent headaches, mild weakness, or persistent back issues, which are frequently overlooked or ignored,” Dr. Ritu Jha, Director & HOD - Neurology, Sarvodaya Hospital Sector -8, Faridabad, told HealthandMe.

Health specialists stressed the need to boost early detection, preventive care, and lifestyle modifications to protect brain and nerve health.
They called for changing the mindset from reactive to proactive care. Early identification of symptoms and prompt intervention can dramatically alter outcomes. They recommended:
With the progress in precision-driven and minimally invasive neurosurgery, we are now better equipped than ever to treat complex conditions effectively, provided patients seek care at the right time.
“Today’s advanced surgical techniques allow us to operate with greater accuracy while minimizing trauma to the patient, leading to faster recovery and improved long-term outcomes. Bridging the gap between symptom onset and specialist consultation will be key to reducing the overall burden of these conditions,” Dr. Jha said.
A nationwide survey conducted by Local Circles, a Delhi-based community platform and citizen pulse aggregator, for World Health Day 2026, found that more than 7.3 percent of Indians are actively working on slowing aging.
The report showed that preventive healthcare has gained importance, and people are increasingly indulging in healthy practices such as lifestyle, diet, exercise, supplements, and therapy to ensure healthier, more active years.
It noted that fitness trends such as yoga, strength training, and regular physical activity, along with balanced diets rich in antioxidants, are widely promoted to maintain physical health and vitality.
Mental well-being practices, including meditation and stress management, are also being recognized as essential components of healthy aging.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, on the occasion of World Health Day 2026, reaffirmed his commitment to building a healthier society and nation.
The Prime Minister also extended gratitude to all healthcare workers for their tireless service to the public health.
He also urged citizens to work together to strengthen healthcare systems and prioritize the well-being of every individual.
“On World Health Day, we express our gratitude to all those who dedicate themselves tirelessly to the service of others and work towards a healthier planet,” PM Modi said in a post on the social media platform X.
“We also reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier society. Let us all keep working together to strengthen healthcare systems and prioritise the well-being of every individual,” he added.
The Ministry of Health also advised people not to ignore signs given by the body, such as
Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted India’s approach to healthcare, which combines “age-old wisdom with modern science, helping improve lives not just at home but across the world”.
Citing government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, Nadda stated that the “strengthened healthcare system (is) making quality treatment more accessible, affordable, and inclusive for every citizen”.
The Health Minister also expressed "heartfelt gratitude to all doctors, nurses, and frontline workers whose dedication keeps our healthcare system strong. Let us all work together towards building a healthier and stronger nation”.
Meanwhile, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged citizens to make investments for their health.
Calling health "the ultimate wealth”, he said: “This #WorldHealthDay, I urge everyone to take a little more time for themselves”.
The Minister also urged people to “move more, eat better, and prioritize well-being. Let’s also encourage every member of our family to stay fit by making healthier choices together as a family. A healthy Bharat begins at home”.
World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to mark the founding day of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 for public health worldwide.
World Health Day 2026 will be observed under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.” It highlights the role of the WHO in promoting public health, which has led to improvements in the global maternal mortality rate, falling by more than 40 percent since 2000, and a reduction of over 50 percent in deaths among children under five.
The WHO stated that science was behind every health progress, which led to improvements in global health and lives. This includes the development of
“Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
“People in every country live longer and healthier lives on average today than their ancestors did, thanks to the power of science. Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines, and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people,” he added.
The WHO emphasized that science must continue to guide health decision-making at all levels.
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