In 2012, a doctor advised Ramesh, 37, a Chennai marketing executive, to take a blood test during his annual check-up. Ramesh expected to have elevated cholesterol levels, like many in his family. His doctor, however, took him by surprise when 

Today’s parents are grappling with an issue no previous generation has faced: social media’s place in our lives and in our children’s lives. Each day this week, at least one post will tackle the topic from a different angle. Read 

In 2004, life became a series of doctors’ visits for Mohan*, who suffered from intense shoulder, hip and back pain. The entrepreneur, then 25 and based in Bangalore, could barely stand or walk. He consulted several doctors; no one had 

Technology is changing the face of health care in India for both patients and doctors. Today, no matter where you’re located, it’s possible to upload or assess your digital medical records, track the medication you need online, book an appointment, 

“Did you say you were a health writer?” The lady’s tone is amazed, accusatory, as she stares at me in utter disbelief. I can’t help but cringe. As with most things in life, this inquiry couldn’t have come at a 

Shobhana, 38, a Chennai-based chartered accountant, vowed to make exercise a part of her lifestyle this year. She started by lifting weights under the supervision of a trainer and gradually worked her way into high-intensity interval training: exercises performed in 

When Renu*, 36, an architect in Bangalore, had to leave her son, Arun*, in daycare, the morning after he threw up several times and was unable to eat, it almost broke her heart. Arun’s allergies made him vulnerable to severe 

As new or soon-to-be parents, one of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to bank your child’s umbilical cord blood. Cord blood is one of the richest and easiest sources of stem cells, a promising basis of treatments for 

Stem cell science has been long heralded as the most promising new frontier of modern medicine. Stem cells have the potential to save lives and revolutionize the way we treat many diseases. Yet, most people don’t truly understand the science 

We’ve written a lot about air pollution on this site – about the link between asthma and pollution, about how to pollution-proof your home – but that’s because air pollution does more than just add to the stress of modern 

Ten days before Christmas in 2012, Sheetal*, 29, a Mumbai housewife pregnant with her second child, received a rather upsetting call from her gynecologist’s office. She was told her gynecologist – the one she’d consulted for all nine months of 

Have you ever wondered how those diet sodas taste as sweet as the original, but don’t contain any calories?  Artificial sweeteners are laboratory-manufactured chemicals that are intensely sweet. They mimic the taste of sugar, without the calories, and since the 

These days, a leisurely stroll through the streets of your city can actually shorten your life. The WHO recently declared Delhi to be the city with the worst air quality in the world. In late January, before American President Barack Obama’s 

Welcome back to our effort to help you learn how to read a nutrition label. If you missed the first installment – The Ingredient List – take a look and catch up. Today, we talk about how to use a food label’s calorie 

After school snack time occupies a warm, fuzzy place in our childhood memories, alongside Masala Maggi and Uncle Chips. But our understanding of nutrition has come a long way since we were kids, and what we ate isn’t necessarily what 

Not all the food we buy is farm fresh. In modern day nutrition, processed or packaged foods play a starring role. Whether it’s that bottle of ketchup or jam you use each day, the tetra pack of juice you sip 

As one of the body’s primary weight-bearing joints, our knees are responsible for our freedom of movement. In addition to this gift of mobility, they also help us keep our balance. However, we rarely think about the wellbeing of these 

Indian summers are oppressively hot. While the Western world greets the onset of Spring with open arms and immense relief, we, on the other hand tend to be wary of the first hint of heat. Most Indians welcome warm weather