The NHS has issued a caution on its website for anyone taking a commonly prescribed medication for high blood pressure. Also known as hypertension, this condition affects roughly one in three adults in the UK, many of whom may not even be aware they have it. Since uncontrolled high blood pressure can raise the risk of stroke, heart disease, and kidney problems, early treatment is essential.

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This is where blood pressure–lowering medications come in. As of 2025, amlodipine (a calcium channel blocker) and ramipril (an ACE inhibitor) rank among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the UK. Recently, the NHS has highlighted some warnings regarding these medications. Let’s look at why and what precautions patients taking them should follow.

What Is Amlodipine?

Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker that helps manage high blood pressure. A single dose works for over 24 hours, so it only needs to be taken once daily. It is also prescribed for people experiencing chest pain. According to the Cleveland Clinic, amlodipine relaxes blood vessels and eases the workload on the heart. Each year, more than 30 million prescriptions are written for this medication. Many patients take amlodipine for long periods or even for life. It is usually recommended when lifestyle changes alone are insufficient to control blood pressure or when genetic factors make medication necessary.

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How Amlodipine Works?

Why Is the NHS Warning Against Amlodipine?Patients taking amlodipine should avoid one particular drink. The NHS website states: "Do not take amlodipine with grapefruit juice. Consuming large amounts of grapefruit or grapefruit juice can raise amlodipine levels in your body and worsen side effects. If affected, you may need to avoid grapefruit or grapefruit juice while on this medication."

It adds: "Tell your doctor if you experience increased side effects, such as dizziness, flushing, or headaches, after consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice. Otherwise, you can continue to eat and drink normally while taking amlodipine."

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Amlodipine Side Effects

These side effects occur in more than one in 100 people. They are usually mild and temporary, and there are ways to manage them:

• Headaches: Rest and stay hydrated. Limit alcohol intake. Your pharmacist can suggest a suitable painkiller. Headaches usually ease within the first week of starting amlodipine. Contact your doctor if they persist or are severe.
• Feeling dizzy: Sit or lie down until the dizziness passes. Avoid driving, cycling, or operating machinery until you feel better.
• Flushing: Reduce coffee, tea, and alcohol consumption. Keep your environment cool, use a fan, spray your face with cool water, or sip cold drinks. This usually resolves in a few days; consult your doctor if it persists.
• Pounding heartbeat: Take amlodipine when you can rest or sit down if symptoms occur. Reducing alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and heavy meals may help.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, has reached 952 confirmed cases and 247 deaths, according to the latest update from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

As of June 18, the DRC accounts for 933 confirmed cases and 245 deaths, while Uganda has reported 19 confirmed cases and two deaths. Uganda has not shown the same level of sustained transmission seen in

the DRC.

The overall case fatality rate currently stands at 25.9 per cent.

The outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus currently has no approved treatment or vaccine, complicating efforts to contain the disease.

Ituri Province Remains The Epicenter

Ituri Province continues to be the hardest-hit region, accounting for approximately 91 per cent of all confirmed cases. The main hotspots include Bunia, Rwampara and Mongbwalu.

Health officials are also concerned about North Kivu, where the case fatality rate has reached 58.4 per cent, with high mortality reported across several affected health zones.

The outbreak has now spread to 34 health zones in the DRC and one district in Uganda. In the DRC, the most affected provinces are Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. In Uganda, cases have been reported mainly in Kampala, including both imported and locally transmitted infections, the CDC said.

Treatment Centers Under Severe Pressure

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The CDC said response teams continue to expand surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control measures, laboratory testing, border screening, risk communication and community engagement activities.

A new laboratory in Aru, Ituri Province, has become operational, increasing the total number of Ebola testing sites to six.

Despite ongoing efforts, the response remains under significant strain. Treatment centres are operating beyond capacity, with bed occupancy reaching 102% and 349 patients currently admitted across affected health zones.

The CDC also reported several operational challenges, including delays in patient referrals, shortages of ambulances and vehicles, gaps in personal protective equipment (PPE), and limited access to some affected areas.

Contact Tracing Challenges Persist

Surveillance and contact tracing teams continue to face obstacles, including incomplete addresses, delayed investigations and difficulties accessing certain communities.

More than 7,200 contacts have been identified across the two countries and are being monitored, the CDC said.

Africa CDC also estimates that $21.5 million is urgently needed to address critical gaps in the outbreak response.

Outbreak Outpacing Response Efforts

The outbreak's impact has been particularly severe among vulnerable populations. Last week, another six-month-old girl died from Ebola. She was the third child to die at an orphanage in eastern Congo during the current outbreak.

"It has been a month after the Ebola outbreak and it is still outpacing our response efforts. There are big gaps in surveillance, diagnosis, contact tracing and community engagement," said Dr. Kerry Dierberg of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which is helping lead medical response efforts in Congo, the Indian Express reported.

Public health experts warned that the outbreak is spreading faster than health authorities can detect and contain it.

Many infected individuals are not reaching hospitals or health centers and may be dying without being identified as Ebola cases. As a result, health workers are struggling to determine the true scale of transmission, increasing the risk of further spread within the region, NPR reported.

Yoga helps people live a balanced life and is an expression of the human spirit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday while leading the 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Kolkata.

"From physical wellness to inner peace, yoga enriches every aspect of life. Delighted to join this year’s celebrations in Kolkata," PM Modi said, in a post on social media platform X.

Addressing a large gathering, PM Modi said yoga has evolved into the world's largest community celebration, bringing together people across countries, cultures, and generations.

"June 21, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, is now recognized worldwide as a day of yoga," he said.

"Yoga brings people together. I congratulate people across the world on this occasion. Yoga is not just physical exercise, nor is it restricted to any age group. It is an expression of the human spirit," the Prime Minister added.

Yoga Day Theme: Healthy Ageing

The theme for International Day of Yoga 2026 is "Yoga for Healthy Ageing," highlighting yoga's role in promoting physical health, mental well-being, emotional resilience, and active ageing, thereby improving overall quality of life.

PM Modi emphasized that yoga is a powerful tool for fostering both personal well-being and social harmony.

Thousands Join Yoga Session at Kolkata's Maidan

Participating in the Common Yoga Protocol session, the Prime Minister performed yoga alongside thousands of practitioners at Kolkata's iconic Maidan, with the Indian Army's Eastern Command headquarters forming part of the backdrop.

"Yoga helps us live in a balanced manner and teaches us what to do and what to avoid," PM Modi said.

"Our goal should be to be more energetic at 50 than we were at 30," he added.

Yoga Connects Mental and Physical Well-Being

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Highlighting the connection between mental and physical health, the Prime Minister said, "Yoga helps us find the path to physical fitness through mental well-being."

He urged people to make yoga an integral part of their daily lives rather than limiting it to special occasions.

"We should not restrict yoga to particular occasions; it must become a part of our lifestyle," he said.

UN Chief Highlights Yoga's Global Appeal

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also extended greetings on the occasion of International Day of Yoga.

In a post on X, Guterres highlighted yoga's global appeal and its contribution to physical and mental well-being.

"From its deep roots in ancient India, yoga has become truly universal, helping millions of people of all faiths and cultures find calm, build strength, and live with purpose," he said.

A Global Movement Rooted in Ancient India

Over the years, International Day of Yoga has grown into a global movement, serving as a cultural bridge that connects people across continents. The word "yoga" is derived from the Sanskrit term yuj, meaning "to join" or "to unite," reflecting its essence of harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.

The experts stressed the urgent need to tackle India's growing obesity crisis—particularly among children.

Speaking during a panel discussion on the future of women's and child healthcare, Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, often referred to as the "ORS Lady of India," praised India's public health achievements, including the successful Pulse Polio Program, malaria control efforts, and improvements in child nutrition.

However, she cautioned that new challenges now threaten the country's health gains.

"There were many things we are lagging a bit also," Dr. Santosh said, stressing the need for fair food labelling, responsible marketing, and stricter regulation of irrational drug combinations.

She issued a stark warning about unhealthy eating habits, saying, "This junk food pandemic, this is where India needs to really, really focus on. Childhood obesity is a pandemic now. And it's like do or die right now for us."

Her comments highlighted growing concerns that poor nutrition and processed foods are driving obesity among children, increasing their risk of chronic illnesses later in life.

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Echoing the concerns, Dr. T. Rajeshwari Reddy, Senior Consultant Obstetrician, Gynecologist, and Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeon at Continental Hospital, explained that unhealthy lifestyles beginning in childhood are now contributing to a rise in hormonal disorders, infertility, and high-risk pregnancies.

"We are seeing a lot of people with hormonal imbalances and a lot of issues from teens, and that is what gets translated into infertility and high-risk pregnancy," she said.

Dr. Rajeshwari stressed that prevention must begin early. "The beginning has to be from birth only," she said, urging families to prioritize home-cooked meals, healthy routines, adequate sleep, and reduced screen time. She added that preventive healthcare should become the foundation of India's health strategy over the next decade.

Experts agreed that the future of Indian healthcare will depend on preventive medicine, technology, artificial intelligence, and stronger public-private partnerships to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas.

They urged that India's fight against childhood obesity and lifestyle-related diseases must begin at home, with healthier food choices, greater awareness, and prevention from an early age.

Meanwhile, the AI in healthcare panel featured Prof. Renu John, IIT Hyderabad; Nishan Ali, Founder & CEO, Neurologic AI; Dr. Rahul Sawakhande, CEO, Aakaar Medical Technologies; and Dr. Rajah V. Koppala, Vascular & Interventional Radiologist and Founder, AVIS Vascular Center. The experts discussed how AI is driving predictive, data-led healthcare by improving diagnostics, telemedicine, and early disease detection while complementing doctors. They also stressed the need for better regulations, India-specific datasets, stronger data privacy, and greater collaboration between clinicians and engineers to expand quality healthcare across India.

The Times Now India Health Summit 2026 – South Edition commenced in Hyderabad, bringing together leading voices from government, medicine, research, and the healthcare industry to discuss the future of India's healthcare system. The summit featured renowned doctors, policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers, and healthcare innovators, with discussions spanning preventive healthcare, artificial intelligence, women's health, public health policy, and medical innovation.