Author: BharatSpeaks
It was a quiet Thursday morning when news broke that a 19-year-old undergraduate student at a premier university in Mumbai had taken her own life. Her friends say she had been struggling with anxiety for months. There were no formal counselling sessions. No one saw it coming. Her story is not an isolated one. Across India, college students are grappling with rising levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and burnout—often with little to no mental health support. The scale of the problem is alarming, and yet institutional responses remain fragmented and, in many cases, absent. A 2023 nationwide survey conducted by…
Lung cancer, long known as a smoker’s disease, is fast becoming a more complex public health threat in India, driven by a potent mix of tobacco use, rising air pollution, and environmental exposures such as asbestos and radon. The country witnesses an estimated 58,000 new cases among men each year, according to leading oncologists, and many remain undiagnosed until the disease has reached an advanced stage. While cigarette smoking remains the most dominant risk factor—linked to approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases—experts warn that even non-smokers are increasingly at risk due to pervasive exposure to hazardous air and carcinogenic…
In 2020, Anjali Vishwakarma walked away from what many might consider a dream life—an elite engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, a stable, high-paying job in an oil company in the United Kingdom, and a future mapped in corporate comfort. But for Vishwakarma, that wasn’t enough. “I realized I wasn’t contributing to the change I wished to see. I wanted to be part of something larger than myself,” she would later say in interviews, reflecting on her decision to return home and begin preparing for one of India’s most grueling examinations. Today, Anjali Vishwakarma is an officer…
In a world wired on instant gratification, sugar often feels like a harmless indulgence—a moment of relief, a quick burst of energy. But mounting scientific evidence is prompting many to rethink that extra spoonful. A recent feature in The Times of India outlines five key benefits of quitting sugar, revealing just how dramatically the body and brain respond when the sweet stuff is off the menu. From improved cognitive function to steady weight loss, the message is clear: cutting added sugar may be one of the most transformative things you can do for your health. A Clearer Mind, A Sharper…
A new scientific understanding is emerging around a seemingly simple question: Why do women struggle more than men to say no to dessert? Researchers say the answer lies not in willpower, but in the complex interplay of hormones, stress, and brain chemistry—factors that tilt the biological scale toward craving sugar, particularly among women. Hormones Drive the Craving Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle play a crucial role in how women experience hunger and cravings. Estrogen and progesterone—two key reproductive hormones—undergo dynamic shifts throughout the month, which directly affect serotonin levels, the neurotransmitter linked to mood and satisfaction. “When serotonin dips,…
India’s private hospital sector is witnessing an unprecedented investment frenzy as global private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional investors aggressively court high-growth hospital chains across metros and smaller cities. In a move that could redefine the country’s healthcare landscape, Manipal Health Enterprises, backed by Singapore’s Temasek, has submitted a ₹6,838 crore bid for Sahyadri Hospitals, making it the lead contender in one of India’s largest regional hospital acquisitions. A Sector at the Crossroads of Growth and Consolidation The bid is part of a broader wave of consolidation sweeping the Indian healthcare sector, driven by increased demand for quality…