Health Wealth

There is no stopping fake news. And given recent advances in artificial intelligence software, spotting fake news is also becoming increasingly difficult. Last month, a deep fake video of noted cardiologist Dr Naresh Trehan advised viewers to take a particular medicine and was viewed by thousands. The consequences of believing fake news on health are far greater than falling for morphed images of actors and sportspersons. It can lead to serious illness, injury, and even death. In this episode, we explore the world of digital medical misinformation with Sudipta Sengupta, founder & CEO of The Healthy Indian Project. As part of WHO's vaccine safety net and working with fact checkers daily, Sengupta is not only aware of why fake content is generated but also has simple solutions for how we can avoid becoming victims of a fast-growing health infodemic. Corrigendum: Sudipta Sengupta is erroneously introduced as a doctor. He is Mr. Sudipta Sengupta, founder and CEO, the Healthy Indian Project. Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Does it ever feel like everything--from sunlight to bacon--is out to increase your chances of getting cancer? In light of the recent allegations that even the most popular brand of sambar masala contains a carcinogenic ingredient, this episode is a guide on how to realistically adopt a cancer-free life.As a senior medical oncologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi, Dr Manish Singhal is no stranger to young people getting a cancer diagnosis out of the blue. India has one of the highest global burdens of cancer, and 1 in 9 are expected to get this dreaded disease in their lifetime. But does this mean we must be vigilant about every environmental carcinogen? Or is there a more balanced solution out there? Tune in to hear a leading oncologist explain cancer risk, causes, treatment and essentials for good health (and find out if it is safe to head to your favourite south Indian joint again!).Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Is a natural birth better than a C-section? Does ghee help pregnant mothers? And what happens if someone doesn't breastfeed? Maternal health is a complex and wide-ranging network of physical, emotional and social parameters, many of which are overlooked or misunderstood.In this episode, we hear straight from the gynaecologist's office about the actual health issues that Indian mothers face. Dr Priya Patil, a laparoscopic gynaecologist at Altius Hospitals in Bengaluru, has many years of experience counselling mothers before and after delivery. Her insights and experiences help us understand the kind of support mothers need for their well-being from family and the healthcare system.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Emotional illness is not limited to the female gender. Indeed, the latest NCRB data points out that nearly thrice the number of men commit suicides as compared to women.In this episode, Dr Srikanth Srinivasan, psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Director of Niyama Digital Healthcare, helps us navigate the complex and much-misunderstood world of male mental health. Discover the physiological reality of crying, what happens when you mask emotions and how to support the men in your life in their moments of mental pain.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Strokes are the third most common cause of death and the sixth common cause of disability in India. What is even more alarming is an increase in young, healthy individuals getting sudden strokes. Even though strokes are preventable and, to some extent, treatable, experts say a deadly combination of misinformation and apathy keeps patients from taking symptoms seriously.In this episode, Dr Arun Garg, chairman of neurology and neurosciences at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, reveals the scientific truth about preventing, identifying, and treating stroke. Tune in to discover how you can give your brain the nourishment and care it needs to be healthy and safe.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

This is the age of confused feelings and perceptions over how are bodies look and are meant to look. This is also the age when Rs 40,000 can fetch you a new nose. Affordable plastic surgery has become a surgeon's worst nightmare today. How do they pick between perfection and reality; profit and morality? What do they say to a teen who fantasises about lips just like Suhana Khan?For Dr Amit Gupta, founder and director of Divine Aesthetics, being a plastic surgeon is to have the skills of a sculptor--to be able to look at a human and forsee what the final result will be like. This allows him to mindfully pick the right patient for the right surgery. Plastic surgery is not just a journey of physical procedure anymore, it is an emotional one. In this episode, Dr Gupta lays bare every single one these emotions and shares some heart-warming stories of how a simple surgery has saved lives, improved confidence, and even helped erase some horrific invisible scars from the past.Given the mushrooming of plastic surgery clinics across India, this episode is also an important guide on the medical skills that must be demanded for safe and healthy procedures.Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Snacking should be a comfort, as smooth as silken tofu. Unfortunately, to be a conscious-snack-shopper today you have to look at a packet label, decipher terms like E992 or high fructose corn syrup, and then pray to the diet gods you haven't still somehow missed out on hidden sugars, fats and unhealthy starches.This episode is the ultimate guide to simple, practical healthy snacking. Priyasha Saluja, founder of The Cinnamon Kitchen, shares her knowledge on hormonal health, plant-based diets, and commercial snacks. Peppered with anecdotes from her own personal health journey, this episode will ensure that the next time you crave something crunchy or something sweet, you will have easy solutions on hand (And it doesn't involve knowing the 56 different terms for sugar that are allowed on a commercial food label).Produced by Anna PriyadarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

When did sleep become a luxury? Studies show that Indians, particularly Indian children, get some of the least and poorest quality sleep in the world. The reasons for this include increased screen time, erratic sleep timings, stress, disturbed gut health and poor awareness on how to fall asleep.In this episode, pediatric sleep expert and author Himani Dalmia, explains how sleep impacts growth and wellbeing. She offers insights for improved sleep based on her own experiences with children and parents. Tune in to learn the truth about a good night's rest.Produced by Anna PriydarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

The Tuberculosis bacteria doesn't care if you are rich or poor. Living in ignorance or in denial of the fact that TB is no longer  a poor person's disease can only delay diagnosis and life-saving timely treatment.Even though India has committed to eliminating tuberculosis by next year, we still have one of the highest burdens of the disease in the world.In this episode, public health specialist and convenor of Survivors Against TB Chapal Mehra shreds apart common myths and misinformation surrounding tuberculosis. Having worked with TB survivors, doctors and policymakers for decades, Mehra brings out the stark truth about this curable disease.Tune in to find out how TB is more than just a cough--but also a social stigma, a financial burden, an emotional scar and a mismanaged urban reality.Produced by Anna PriydarshiniSound mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Some children draw pictures of mountains with gushing streams and colourful rainbows. Some, draw their families and friends. Some will outline activities which bring them joy in crayon—cricket, cooking, candy crush. And then some, will pick up a blank sheet and pencil to create an image of an armed soldier. What determines how a young child internalises the world around them? And in a world increasingly torn apart by active conflict as well as a generational memory of conflict, how do we protect the next generation from permanent mental scars? In this episode, Parvathy Nair, a consultant in mental health and psycho-social support for UNICEF in Chhattisgarh sheds light on what happens to a child when they grow up in an area where the memories of conflict remain, how we can measure the impact of trauma and what determines the efficacy of child protection services.