We are always told to never mix work and friendships in social settings. While it is normal to make friendships at work, you should always keep a professional distance to make sure things do not go sour and start affecting your work. This also means that you do not divulge private information or have private conversations with your colleagues as you may never know how this could be brought up and affect you. This is an unsaid rule in corporate culture that if you are sick or you are coming down with a serious issue, you should never bring it up and keep it to yourself. While this may seem unusual to new workers, it is a very common knowledge for people who have been in the industry for a long time. A new study showed that this is much more common than many people believe!

A new poll shows that a lot of U.S. workers with long-term health problems keep it a secret from their bosses. This affects their health and their jobs. It's a big problem that employers could help fix, which would be good for everyone. This isn't just about people having a sniffle. We're talking about serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and asthma that require ongoing management and can significantly impact a person's life, both inside and outside of work. The fact that so many people feel they need to hide these conditions shows a larger issue of stigma and lack of support in the workplace.

How Does Health Become A Hidden Burden?

Most U.S. workers which were over half of the people, have some kind of long-term health problem. But a lot of them, about 6 out of 10, don't tell their boss. They might be afraid their boss will treat them differently or think they can't do their job. Keeping secrets like this can make it hard to get the help you need at work. It can also make your health problems worse because you're stressed about hiding them. It's a tough situation, and it shows that many workplaces aren't as supportive as they could be.

The poll also found that more than a third of people with health problems have had to miss doctor's appointments because of work. This means they're putting their jobs ahead of their health, which isn't good. It's hard to balance work and health, especially when you have a long-term illness. People need understanding bosses who will let them take time off for important medical stuff. Missing appointments can make health problems worse, and it can also make people feel more stressed and anxious.

Does It Impact Their Career And Well-Being?

Almost half of the workers with health problems said they couldn't even take breaks during the day to take care of themselves. They also said they felt like they'd been passed over for promotions because of their health. And some people even got bad reviews at work because of their health problems. This can make people feel really bad about themselves and their jobs. It can also make their health problems worse because they're so stressed. It's not fair, and it's something that needs to change.

It's not just people with health problems who have a hard time. Lots of people are also taking care of someone at home who is sick. Almost half of these caregivers have to help their sick family member during work hours. And many of them have trouble taking time off to care for their loved ones. Some people even have to work fewer hours, which means less money. This shows how much pressure people are under, trying to juggle work and family and health.

Many people track their steps, sleep and heart rate with a precision that once seemed unusual. The feet behind those steps rarely get the same attention, hidden as they are inside shoes all day.

A crack, an ache or a patch of numbness is easily put down to the weather, age or an ill-fitting pair of sandals. Yet some complaints reach a clinic only after they begin to interfere with everyday life.

Symptoms That Are Easy to Explain

Cracked heels are a good example, because they are so common that most people treat them as a cosmetic matter and reach for a moisturiser. That is usually reasonable, although a deep fissure that bleeds or keeps reopening gives bacteria a way into the skin and is worth having examined.

Heel pain often has a musculoskeletal cause and tends to respond to rest and supportive footwear, but pain that lingers for weeks points to something more specific. Numbness gives the least warning of all, since it can arise from nerve compression, poor circulation, nutritional deficiencies or diabetes, and because it does not hurt, an injury can go unnoticed for days.

Also read: Toddler’s Swollen Knee Turned Out To Be Juvenile Arthritis Diagnosis: Signs Parents Should Not Ignore

Why Weekly Measurement Matters

When a wound does develop, understanding whether it is actually healing becomes just as important as recognising the early warning signs. Researchers who monitor wounds over time know that appearance alone does not always tell the full story.

What a Recent Case Report Showed

A 2025 case report in the Journal of the Foot & Ankle followed two adults with long-standing diabetes and neuropathic plantar ulcers for twelve weeks, with wound area quantified by digital planimetry. One wound, treated with a graft of decellularised human dermis, shrank by 80 percent by week four and had fully epithelialised by week eight.

The other, managed with gauze-based moist wound care, reduced by 7.8 percent at week two, grew by 21.6 percent between weeks three and five, and reached a 68.6 percent reduction by week twelve without closing. No adverse events were recorded in either patient during the twelve weeks.

Reading the Evidence Carefully

The report is descriptive, and two patients cannot settle questions about any treatment. The lesson that carries beyond the clinic is more modest, since progress is easier to judge when it is tracked against a timeline.

Asking How Long, Not How Bad

For readers, the message is to pay attention not just to how serious a symptom looks, but also to how long it has lasted and whether it is changing. Cracks that repeatedly reopen, persistent heel pain and spreading numbness deserve medical attention.

For people with diabetes, any new foot wound should be assessed promptly rather than waiting to see whether it improves on its own.

A stroke can be a life-changing event, not just for the patients but also for their family. As a complex neurological condition, it can affect a person’s physical abilities, communication and everyday independence, often bringing unforeseen challenges for both the patient and their loved ones.

While a stoke is often associated with paralysis, facial weakness or difficulty walking, its impact can extend far beyond body mobility. Depending on which part of the brain is affected, a stroke can change something as fundamental as the way a person eats, speaks, swallows or even breathes.

These changes can be frightening for both the patient and family. Someone who was eating normally may suddenly cough while drinking water. A person who spoke fluently may struggle to find words or produce clear speech. In more severe cases, problems with swallowing can allow food or liquid to enter the airway, creating the risk of serious respiratory complications.

Understanding these changes is an important part of stroke recovery because they are not simply inconveniences, but functions that can directly affect nutrition, communication, safety and independence.

When Eating Is No Longer Simple

Eating involves a surprisingly complex sequence of movements. The brain must coordinate the muscles of the face, tongue, throat and oesophagus to move food safely from the mouth into the stomach.

A stroke can disrupt this coordination, resulting in dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. A person may cough or choke while eating, take much longer to finish a meal, have a wet or gurgly voice after drinking, or feel that food is getting stuck.

This is common after stroke. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that post-stroke dysphagia affected approximately 46.6% of patients overall.

What may look like a simple difficulty with eating can have serious consequences. If food or liquid enters the airway instead of the oesophagus, it can lead to aspiration and potentially pneumonia. In an Indian meta-analysis, dysphagia was reported in approximately 47.7% of stroke patients, while pneumonia occurred in around 20.4%.

This is why swallowing should be assessed after a stroke rather than assuming that a patient can safely eat and drink as before.

When Speech Becomes Difficult

Speech and language are different functions, and a stroke can affect either or both.

Some people develop aphasia, where they may know what they want to say but struggle to find the right words, understand language, read or write. Others may develop dysarthria, where the language itself may be intact but weakness or poor coordination of the speech muscles comprised of larynx, tongue, and vocal tract, make their speech incoherent.

For families, this can sometimes be misunderstood as confusion or lack of understanding. A person may appear unable to respond when they may understand everything but be unable to express themselves.

Patience becomes essential. Giving the person time to respond, speaking clearly, avoiding finishing their sentences and using gestures or writing when needed can make communication less frustrating.

Speech and language rehabilitation can also play an important role in recovery.

When Breathing Can Also Be Affected

Breathing is something we rarely think about until it becomes difficult. Yet the brain plays an important role in regulating breathing, while the muscles of the throat and chest help maintain a clear and protected airway.

A stroke can interfere with this system, particularly when it affects areas involved in swallowing, airway protection or respiratory control. Difficulty managing saliva, weak coughing and aspiration can all increase the risk of respiratory complications.

Importantly, breathing problems after stroke do not always present as obvious breathlessness. Repeated coughing during meals, changes in voice after swallowing, excessive secretions or recurrent chest infections may sometimes indicate that material is entering the airway.

Recognising these signs early can help doctors and rehabilitation teams intervene before complications become more serious.

Recovery Is More Than Regaining Movement

Stroke rehabilitation is often associated with physiotherapy and learning to walk again. While mobility is extremely important, recovery needs to look at the person as a whole.

A patient may regain strength but still struggle to eat safely or communicate effectively. This is why stroke care can involve neurologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists and other rehabilitation professionals, depending on the patient's needs.

Swallowing assessments, speech therapy, dietary modifications and targeted rehabilitation can help patients gradually regain function and confidence.

What Families Should Not Ignore

Families are often the first to notice subtle changes after a stroke. Coughing during meals, prolonged eating times, a change in voice after drinking, unclear speech, difficulty finding words or repeated chest infections should not simply be dismissed as part of ageing or weakness after stroke.

These signs deserve medical attention.

Recovery from stroke is not always a straight line. Some functions may improve quickly, while others require months of rehabilitation and continued support. What matters is recognising the problem early and addressing it appropriately.

Looking Beyond Paralysis

A stroke does not only affect how a person moves. It can change how they communicate, eat, swallow and protect their airway functions that are central to independence and quality of life.

For families, understanding these changes can replace fear with awareness. For patients, timely assessment and rehabilitation can help turn seemingly overwhelming challenges into manageable steps towards recovery.

The goal after a stroke is not simply to help a person walk again. It is to help them eat safely, communicate confidently, breathe comfortably and regain as much independence as possible.

(By Dr. Vaibhav Seth, Consultant - Neurology, Manipal Hospital, Kolkata)

The Times Network India Health Summit 2026 brought together policymakers, clinicians, researchers and healthcare industry leaders to discuss the future of India's healthcare system, with conversations spanning medical innovation, access to treatment, mental health, women's health and preventive care.

The third edition of the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards was held in New Delhi on October 28 under the theme, The Blueprint for a Future-Ready Healthcare Ecosystem: Innovation. Access. Self-Reliance.

From the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics to advances in fertility treatment and the need to strengthen public health infrastructure, various sessions explored several aspects of how healthcare delivery could evolve. Here are the key discussions and takeaways from the summit.

Anupriya Patel Highlights India's Healthcare Priorities Including Ayushman Bharat Coverage

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel addressed the summit on building a future-ready healthcare ecosystem. With around 500 Ayushman Bharat cards issued, Patel also said that 132.5 million people had received free treatment under the scheme.

She said, "Anupriya Patel said that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, eligible beneficiaries are entitled to free treatment worth up to Rs 5 lakh. Around 500 million Ayushman cards have been issued under the scheme, and 132.5 million people have benefited from it to receive free treatment."

She also addressed India's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, stating that Union health budget increased from around Rs 37,000 crore in 2014 to more than Rs 1.06 lakh crore.

She said, "India is moving forward with a very big goal. Viksit Bharat in 2047. So, when we want to stand in the category of developed countries of the world, it is necessary that our citizens can contribute to this resolution with their full strength."

Also read: Infertility Affects 1 In 6 Couples: Experts Highlight Age, IVF Costs & Male Fertility At Times Health Summit 2026

Delhi Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Singh Addressed Air Pollution Crisis

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh answered key questions about the city’s looming air pollution crisis. He said that the government's various pollution-control measures, including electric vehicle (EV) policy can help fight it. He also spoke about the need for long-term solutions. “Hamari sarkar short term par nahi chalti,” Singh said

"Our focus is on long-term solutions. Our policy on EV can help tackle pollution crisis. As more and more people start using electric vehicles, transport-related pollution will come under control."

Turning to healthcare infrastructure, Singh announced that the Delhi government plans to open four new hospitals in the capital by January.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) AYUSH Prataprao Jadhav, Madhya Pradesh Minister of State Narendra Shivaji Patel and Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Subodh Uniyal, were also scheduled to address different aspects of healthcare policy and delivery.

Padma Bhushan Dr S K Sarin On Liver Health

Padma Bhushan Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, leading hepatologist, gastroenterologist, and medical educator who also serves as the Senior Professor, Chancellor, and Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), recently spoke about the dos and don’ts to maintain a healthy liver at the Times Health Summit 2026.

From ideal breakfast time to late night eating, the expert spoke about common lifestyle mistakes people make that could worsen their liver health.

Dr Sarin said, "Obesity during youth increases the risk of heart disease later in life. After the age of 40, eating one meal a day may have health implications. The total daily calorie intake should not exceed 300–400. Avoid eating late at night."

Also read: Unspoken Side Of Breast Cancer: Experts Discuss Recurrence Risk, Emotional Toll & Societal Impact At Times Health Summit 2026

Need For Investment In Ayurveda & AYUSH Sector

The session From Tradition to Therapeutics: The New Science of AYUSH was based on the role of traditional medicine in India's healthcare landscape.

Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, Founder of BRC Clinics Health, and Dr Tanmay Goswami, Founder of GOSVAL, discussed Ayurveda, its potential applications and questions surrounding its integration with modern medicine.

The speakers spoke about Ayurveda’s scientific research, evidence, AYUSH funding, clinical applications and integration with western medicine. The experts said that Ayurveda sector is valued at approximately $17–18 billion, while China's traditional medicine sector is estimated at around $30 billion, calling for greater investment in the sector.

Dr Chowdhury said, "Ayurveda is fastest, safest and works faster even in medical emergencies and trauma".

Mental Health: Suicide Risk, Screen Addiction & More

Mental healthcare was another focus, with Dr Deepak Kumar, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), discussing The Next Frontier in Indian Psychiatry: Specialization, Geriatric Mental Health, and De-addiction Strategies.

The doctor discussed immediate threat of suicidal thoughts, warning behavioural signs, screen addiction and need for parents to supervise and limit screen use in children.

He said, "If we look at the numbers in our country, the total proportion is alarming. For example, the national mental health survey shows a lifetime prevalence of 13.7%. One in every 5 people has some psychological issue. Suicide statistics show 12 per lakh. Top 3 causes of death in young adults - one of them is suicide."

Also read: Leading Gastroenterologist Padma Bhushan Dr S K Sarin Shares Dos & Don’ts For Healthy Liver At Times Health Summit 2026

Aftermath Of Breast Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment

Women's health was featured prominently at the summit, with the knowledge session Take Charge Together: Shaping a Future of Greater Breast Cancer Awareness and Better Outcomes.

The session featured Dr Meenu Walia, Chairman of Medical Oncology at Max Healthcare; Vaishali Iyer, Country Head of Communications, Patient Advocacy and CSR at Novartis in India; and Dr Pankaj Goyal, Senior Consultant and Unit Head of Medical Oncology at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute.

Dr Meenu Walia said, "Your first attempt at treatment is your best attempt."

The experts focused on the risk of recurrence, the emotional toll of breast cancer treatment, financial and societal hardships, body image issues, intimacy problems and other challenges patients face after leaving the hospital.

Dr Priya Parmar said, "Some unsaid things she faces are relationship issues, intense fatigues, post-menopausal symptoms, loss of a body part, loss of body image and your sense of self. Breasts are associated with femininity. And when you lose that, your attitude changes, intimacy issues come up, you don't know who to talk to."

"With latest advancements, the chance of recurrence has come down." He emphasised that patient-doctor relationship is also very important. "I contradict the patient in most cases so that they are in the same platform," Dr Pankaj said.

Fertility Treatment And Parenthood

The panel The Fertility Revolution: Reimagining Parenthood in Modern India spoke about the evolving field of reproductive medicine and the challenges faced by people seeking fertility treatment.

The speakers included Dr Ranjana Sharma, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital; Dr Vimal Grover, Senior Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Fortis LaFemme; Dr Hrishikesh Pai, Founder and Managing Director of Bloom IVF India; and Dr Abha Majumdar, Emeritus Consultant in IVF and Human Reproduction at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The session brought attention to fertility preservation, IVF costs, male infertility, stigma women face, and the judgments that come with seeking IVF for starting a family.

Dr. Majumdar highlighted four major observations on the revolutionary trajectory of IVF. She said, "There is reproductive autonomy. Girls now can choose when they want to have a child or whether they want to have a child - but freezing your eggs is not a guarantee its only insurance."

Dr. Vimal Grover weighed in, highlighting growing infertility crisis in the country. Dr. Grover said, "One in six couples is infertile."

Dr. Ranjana Sharma said that women single-handedly carry the onus of fertility. She said, "There's not much doubt about it. Whatever we say, the woman is considered to be at fault. More and more men are getting aware about this so we make it a point to see them together so that they take ownership of the problem. With education things are changing, there's a long way to go. But we need to impress upon them that she is not the only partner in the game and they have a role to play. Once we explain to them, they understand."

Also read: Experts Discuss Ayurveda For Treating Lifestyle Disorders, Medical Emergencies & Trauma At Times Health Summit 2026

Why Menopause Is A Long-Overlooked Health Issue

The session From Silence to Care: Why India Can No Longer Ignore Menopause focused on menopause and the need to bring greater attention to women's health during midlife.

The session was led by Sanjith Shetty, Founder and CEO of Miror. He spoke about the suicide rates among menopausal women, along with other life challenges like divorces, retirements, and social isolation.

Shetty said, "The highest rate of suicide in women is during the menopause period. During this time, their is a surge in the number of divorces, women feel isolated in their own houses, they are forced to quit work because they have no energy. This should not be overlooked."

Digging Deeper Into Longevity Science

The fireside chat From LifeSpan to HealthSpan: Can Science Help Us Live Longer and Better? explored the science of longevity and the difference between living longer and maintaining good health for more years.

The conversation featured Dr Chirantan Bose and Dr Preetesh Bhandari, founders of Vytalyou. They spoke about the importance of maintaining muscle health, monitoring neurological health, and warding off lifestyle diseases like obesity and diabetes.

"Ageing is basically the soil on which diseases happen. So, if we master the art of treating the soil, we know we have come a long way."

Other Sessions

The role of technology in modern medicine was explored in Precision Diagnostics: AI, Genomics & The New Era Of Personalized Care. The panel featured Dr Arjun Dang, CEO and Partner at Dr Dangs Lab; Dr Manish Vaish, Director and Head of the Institute of Neurosciences at Medanta, Noida; and Dr Belal Bin Asaf, Director of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco-Surgery and Lung Transplant at Medanta, Noida.

The discussion focused on the evolving role of artificial intelligence and genomics in diagnostics, personalised treatment and improving diagnostic accuracy.

Dr, Vaish explained, "When I am doing a surgery in the OT, I actually perform the surgery before doing it. That is a generative AI. When I use the help of a robot, that is assistive AI."

The future of specialised medical services was examined in The Next Frontier of Advanced Care: Scaling Capacity, Innovation & Clinical Excellence. The session brought together Dr V.S. Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director of Prakash Hospitals and Institutions, and Prof. Dr Sanjeev Bagai, Chairman of Nephron Clinic.

The discussion centred on expanding advanced healthcare capacity, strengthening clinical excellence and leveraging innovation and technology to improve patient outcomes while making specialised treatment more accessible.

"AI can be a two edge sword that we need to use judiciously." Both the experts emphasised that AI is helping a lot but needs to be wisely used. Dr Bagai also spoke about how AI is "dominating" the social media world and causing cognitive disfunction in children. "So, we need to be careful."

Addressing the challenges of equitable healthcare delivery, Reengineering Public Health Infrastructure: Last-Mile Delivery, Digital Health Equity, and Rural Access brought together Dr Anoop Saraya of the Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences; Dr Charu Dutt Arora of AmeriHealth Home Healthcare, Asian Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr Gyanendra Kumar of Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences; Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO of Tata Medical & Diagnostics; and Dr Jyoti Wadhwa of Apollo Athenaa Women's Cancer Centres.

The session focused on strengthening public health infrastructure, improving rural and last-mile access, and exploring the role of digital health and healthcare delivery models in bridging gaps in access to medical services.

Dr Dutt said, "When it comes to empowering any nursing staff, AI is very powerful. The risk is avoided at quality is given."

List Of Awardees At The Times Network India Health Summit 2026

NISHA HEALTH CARE27Excellence in Holistic Sexual Wellness & CareDr. Anita Shyam28Service Excellence in Ayurveda Infertility CareVedaNova29Excellence in Clinical Psychology & Mental HealthcareDr Moumita Nandy30Excellence in Bone Cancer Implants and Joints Replacement SolutionsShagun Cares India Pvt. Ltd31Strategic Association & Valued ContributionOnextel Communication Media32Distinguished Contribution to Medicine and HealthcareDr Mohsin Ali, Padma Shri33Lifetime Achievement in Medical Science and Public Health LeadershipDr N. K. Ganguly, Padma Bhushan34Outstanding Contribution to Maternal and Child NutritionDr Arun Gupta35Lifetime Achievement in Liver Care and TransplantationDr. Arvinder Singh Soin

Rankings

As India’s healthcare landscape rapidly transforms through medical innovation, cutting-edge infrastructure, and patient-centric care, the Times Network India Health Summit & Awards 2026 celebrated the premier institutions, group healthcare networks, and single-specialty chains defining the benchmark of medical excellence nationwide.

The national survey evaluated institutions across a multi-stage methodology factoring in clinical parameters, infrastructural quality, patient outcomes, and peer recommendations across national, zonal, and city tiers. Below are the key award highlights and survey rankings unveiled during the ceremony.

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