Health Wealth

Doesn’t it feel great when you can fit into a size 12 dress again and the weighing scale assures you that your Body Mass Index is now perfect? But body fat is not always what is visible. You can poke your stomach and feel very little of that flabby softness which we associate with a Santa-claus-belly, but that does not mean there is no fat there. Various studies estimate that roughly 10% of human fat lies beneath the firm abdominal wall. This fat is called visceral or intra-abdominal fat found in the spaces around your organs. So why should you care about this little bit of hidden fat? Research has shown that fat cells, especially visceral fat cells, are not just floating about inside of you but are biologically active. Some even equate a fat cell to an endocrine organ (the ones which secrete hormones to control various bodily functions). Visceral fat also makes more cytokines (remember all the hype around ‘cytokine storms’ from the Covid-19 years?). This fat already sounds bad for you. But it is all the more dangerous when it accumulates in your liver—the main organ responsible for digesting fat. But since fat can be reduced and a fatty liver reversed back to its normal state, all you need to do is hit the gym, and everything should be hunk-dory again, right? In this episode, Dr SK Sarin, director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences and president of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, takes us into the highly misunderstood world of the human liver. He explains the multi-faceted importance of this single organ in ensuring a good quality of life. Unlike most health conditions, a fatty liver is not detectable through a simple blood test, and Dr Sarin gives a simple guide for on-time diagnosis. And even though cases of fatty liver disease are increasing at a worrying pace in India, particularly amongst children, this is a conversation that doesn’t aim to make you afraid. Instead, Dr Sarin’s solutions for health will do the opposite—empower you to make informed choices about your well-being. Tune in to find out how many diseases a malfunctioning liver can cause, what can be done to keep visceral fat from building up, and how the country’s top liver specialist looks after his health! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Sometimes, it is difficult to resist the allure of comfort. Who doesn't want to sink their heads into a giant fluffy pillow after a long day? And how do you remember to sit up straight when there are seven hours of your favourite murder mystery soap left to watch? The mind has so much to focus on that the spine is easily forgotten. And as long as there is no muscle pain, it should be fine, right?In this episode, we discover the importance and significance of good posture. Starting from the spine and its natural curvature and then moving onto the impact of spinal issues on various parts of your body other than the back, Dr Vishal Peshattiwar, Head of the Spine Surgery Department at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, explains everything you need to know about spinal health. As we age, the spine naturally develops issues, and this episode is also a vital guide for emerging spinal treatments.Tune in to discover if poor posture is the reason why you are feeling excessively bloated, what is the real cause of a stiff shoulder and how cement and screws saved a 95-year-old's ability to walk this year.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Who doesn’t love a good bargain? There is a particular kind of thrill that only finding a 50% sale on that pair of shoes you wanted can give. But if I offered you an iPhone 16 Pro for Rs 20,000, would you take it without thinking, "What’s the catch?”We all have different price scales for different items. For some products, we readily accept that the price can only be so low before alarm bells start ringing. But for others, we need to check (perhaps even triple check) if it is indeed the ""best price"". It doesn’t matter if both items require the same measure of investment, we pay based on the perceived value of something. Nobody would bargain for a hospital bill. But we would for a tattoo. After all, poor quality healthcare can kill you. Tattoos are only for emotional expressions or external beautification, right?In this episode, we enter the $2 billion tattoo industry in India with tattoo artist Lokesh Verma and discover how a tattoo gone wrong can impact your well-being. This is more than doodles on the skin; it is a permanent mark that, if done wrong, can lead to severe infections and scar your confidence and professional ambitions. Having worked as an artist for over two decades and founded one of the country’s most ethical and skilled tattoo studios, Devilz Tattooz, Verma is legendary. (Note: He will insist on the contrary. But I stand by my research. I'd insert a smiley face here, but won't that look unprofessional?)For anyone who wishes to get a tattoo, this episode will answer it all—from safety concerns and preparation for your session to tattoo aftercare advice. For anyone who already has one and is worrying if they’ll get ripped apart in the MRI soon, this is a chance to discover how safe the ink put on you might have been. For all others, hear this discussion to go on an exploration of the inner self: how body art and other healing mediums like it can soothe the scars of grief, counter the damage done by bullies and help you make friends with your insecurities.Tune in to discover why our tattoo industry is in desperate need of hygiene regulations, how to find an artist who will bring your wildest dreams to life and if you should be excited or deeply suspicious if someone offers you a tattoo sleeve for the special price of Rs 5000 only (GST included).Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Nitin Rawat

What do you imagine a psychiatric hospital looks like? Do images of the Joker locked up in Gotham City Asylum or people strapped to beds screaming in Hitchcockian horror pop into your head? Most people carry a less-than-pleasant idea of residential mental healthcare. These are places relegated purely for the treatment of ‘mad’ people. These are certainly not places to go to for insomnia, work stress, bad break-ups or that uncontrollable urge to snack on banana chips at midnight.Poor demand leads to inadequate supply. India has one of the lowest numbers of mental health professionals and dedicated mental health hospitals in the world. Despite several studies indicating a growing need for mental health support, few still reach formalised healthcare providers for it. Part of the problem is simply a lack of awareness of how mental healthcare has evolved. A residential mental health hospital today looks more like a five-star hotel than the place we see depicted in every subsequent Batman film. And there are psychiatrists available today to address a gamut of mental health conditions from the trivial to the traumatic (although, regrettably, banana chip binges are yet to qualify as a doctor-level problem).In this episode, Dr Navya Saluja, a psychiatrist with Sukoon Health, a pan-India chain of mental health hospitals, walks us through the reality of a modern psychiatric ward. From when to check in to what to check in for, what to expect as a patient or caregiver, and who decides whether you need to stay the night or simply visit the OPD, Dr Saluja lists out all that one needs to know before approaching mental health support.Tune in to hear a psychiatrist play true or false on popular mental health beliefs and find out if your state of mind needs a visit to the doctor or simply a warm hug and a kind ear.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Nitin Rawat

Do you remember what the world was like before the smallpox vaccine? This one miniscule creature was responsible for the deaths of around 500 million people in the last 100 years, wiping out entire societies as it spread around the world. Now, its cousin—Mpox—is doing the rounds. However, unlike a century ago, viral outbreaks are no longer geographically separate for long lengths of time. It will take Mpox just as long to get from Africa to India as you and I (unless, of course, it forgets its transit visa). Unsurprisingly, within a few months of the more infectious Mpox strain, Clade 1, breaking out in Congo, the virus has reached here.In this episode, infectious disease expert Dr Tanu Singhal from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai breaks down the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for Mpox into a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide. She also shares fascinating information about the creation of the smallpox vaccine and why some nations have millions of doses stockpiled for future use.This episode is super helpful if you are wondering whether it is time to stock up on rice and sanitisers again (or worse, learn to smile through masks again!). It is also a particularly insightful guide for anyone who simply wishes to know more about viruses and their sneaky ways of keeping pace with modern medicine.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Nitin Rawat

What do doctors think when they meet their 30th patient of the day? Can coffee and the Hippocratic Oath really be enough to fuel 36 hours of duty? And do they remember their first loss against death? In the aftermath of the rape and murder of a young doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, the streets are flooded with equally horrifying stories of violence from all categories of healthcare workers.On the one hand, we genuinely need people willing to learn about the 100 trillion cells, 206 bones, and 600 muscles that make up the human body. But on the other hand, we don’t seem to be providing them with the trust, safety, and patience required for successful treatment and their own well-being.This episode is a celebration and recognition of the people who willingly sacrifice their own health to guarantee ours. Dr Mohammad Khan, at Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road in Bengaluru takes us on a journey from when the dream to be a doctor originates to the first patient who disrespects the process of modern medicine.Tune in to discover what a day in the life of a healthcare worker looks like, how a coke addict is responsible for the gruelling work timings of residents, and why you must cooperate with your doctor for a faster recovery.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

We wish for many things in life—the safety of our loved ones, headphone wires that can stay untangled forever, financial stability, a prescription that does not say ‘chemotherapy,’ and more.Several doctors and researchers have found that the side effects of chemotherapy, a popular treatment for cancerous growth, give patients anxiety and stress. But is chemotherapy still that treatment which leaves you bald, broken and ready to barf? There are better drugs, more targeted therapies with fewer side effects and a better understanding of managing side effects, so the impact is less.Dr Ankit Jain, a senior Apollo Cancer Centre oncologist, has spent over two decades practising medicine abroad. He’s seen not just the physical impact of cancer but also the trauma of untreated tumours and the socio-psychological burden of the disease. In this episode, he provides a comprehensive list of how to prepare for a chemotherapy session, what to expect and why it would be needed in the first place.Whether it is for yourself or someone you know—tune in to learn why two oncologists can give different treatments and random chemotherapy facts (like how it can turn you into a vegan!) and find the inner strength to conquer an extraordinarily complicated disease.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Some bits of medical science can be endlessly frustrating (read: medicine bottles with seals that refuse to open). Some bits are plain boring (does anyone really follow advice from ten-ways-to-great-health listicles?). And then there are some bits which are utterly fascinating, perhaps even borderline eccentric—like AI-powered enemas with automatic pressure control, growing human cells in petri dishes and eye masks that play your favourite song.Every month, research throws new light and opens up fresh possibilities for medical advancement. So, it is no surprise that we have reached human trial stage for a pill that can regrow adult human teeth. A biotech startup in Japan, Toregem Biopharma, has successfully regrown the teeth of lab mice and is hoping to replicate the same in humans. But how does the science for it work and what will it mean for the future of dental health?In this episode, noted dentist Dr Gunita Singh guides us through the biological wonder of human teeth. After having set up the dental department at Max Healthcare over 20 years ago, she now consults with Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi and runs her own chain of seven dental clinics in the city. From teeth loss worries to advancements in dental implants, and from painless tooth surgery (yes, it is real) to the USAG-1 protein that can help regrow teeth—this episode is the ultimate guide to increase your likelihood of still eating cake rusks at 80.Tune in to find out if a dentist brushes after every meal, whether peanut butter is eroding your enamel and why you never find grannies with fake teeth floating about in a glass anymore!Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Are you googling ‘side effects’ of your medicine even before you’ve left the doctor’s office? But did you know that every chemical (laboratory-made or naturally occurring) taken into our bodies can have a series of effects? We hope some of these effects will cure diseases or disorders of the body and mind. So when you pop a Paracetamol into your mouth, you know it will reduce your fever. It might also give you acid reflux (a common secondary effect of the chemical), and to prevent that, you might also take an antacid. But it is worth the risk because you would rather brave acidity than spend all night burning up with fever (particularly with that early morning meeting marked on your calendar). For some regularly used medicine, health workers have a fairly comprehensive understanding of the various effects it can have. Although every now and then, new ones do crop up. Only eight months ago, there were safety warnings issued for the painkiller Meftal, which was found to cause a syndrome called Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (listen to the episode to find out what this is!). How did we find this out? There is an entire branch of medical assessment called Pharmacovigilance that aims to improve medicine safety and research on adverse drug reactions. The more we understand the effects of various medicines, the safer our administration can become. In this episode, Dr Kausik Maiti, executive director of Safety Medical Sciences at Parexel (one of the largest clinical research organisations in the world), explains the importance and scope of pharmacovigilance. He also discusses why the reporting of adverse drug reactions in India is one of the lowest in the world and what you, as a patient, can do to improve the situation. Tune in to find out how researchers are working to improve the safety profiles of medicine and whether an antiemetic (nausea medicine) can really give you the urge to gamble! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Have you ever had a headache, nosebleed or suddenly become anxious doing something you’ve done a million times before? Or has recovery from illness begun to feel more tiring, more prolonged than you remember? Sure, we have the usual suspect to blame for it—lifestyle. But is it possible that climate change is a hidden accomplice? There is growing evidence to point out that hotter summers, colder winters and a monsoon that makes you wonder if it is time to build an ark do worsen existing health conditions.In this episode, we are joined by Dr Dorairaj Prabhakaran, who is a cardiologist and the executive director at the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, as we focus on the impact of anomalistic weather on India’s leading non-communicable disease—hypertension or high blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization ‘Global Report on Hypertension’ 2023, an estimated 188.3 million Indians are living with hypertension—that’s more than the population of the UK and France combined. The same report found that less than 40% of people get diagnosed with this condition.Tune in to hear Dr Prabhakaran explain the value of optimal blood pressure, key symptoms, common diagnostic mistakes, and how temperature can influence your heart, circulation, and well-being.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh