Mangaluru Doctors’ TB Research Prompts Major Change in WHO Guidelines

Groundbreaking research by a Mangaluru-based doctor couple has led the World Health Organisation (WHO) to revise its global tuberculosis (TB) treatment guidelines, placing new emphasis on food and nutritional support for both patients and their families.

Dr. Anurag Bhargava of Kasturba Medical College and Dr. Madhavi Bhargava of Yenepoya Medical College conducted an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-supported trial that demonstrated the critical role of nutrition in reducing TB transmission and improving survival rates.

 Their study, known as the RATIONS (Reducing Activation of Tuberculosis by Improvement of Nutritional Status) trial, showed that providing food support to household contacts of TB patients cut the risk of new TB infections by nearly half. Simultaneously, nutritional support for patients improved their chances of recovery and survival significantly.

Earlier this week, the WHO incorporated these findings into its consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis and undernutrition, recommending “provision of food assistance to prevent TB in household contacts of people with TB in food insecure settings.” The organisation cited five studies by the Bhargavas and their collaborators as key evidence supporting this policy change.

The RATIONS trial, involving around 2,800 TB patients and over 10,000 family members across four districts in Jharkhand, provided each adult participant with a monthly food basket containing 5 kg of rice, 1.5 kg of lentils, and multivitamin tablets. The intervention reduced new cases of infectious pulmonary TB among household members by 48%.

“The risk of TB in family members is much higher due to shared environments of poverty and food insecurity,” said Dr. Madhavi Bhargava. “A family-based approach not only improves treatment outcomes but also helps reduce the overall TB burden in the long term.”

Following the trial’s success, state governments in Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh have begun distributing food baskets to families of TB patients. The Union government has also increased monetary assistance to help patients access better nutrition.

India has the world’s highest TB burden, with over 28 lakh new cases and more than 3.2 lakh deaths in 2023 — translating to 37 deaths every hour. In Karnataka alone, TB claims nearly 5,000 lives annually.

“Malnutrition remains the leading risk factor for TB in India,” said Dr. Anurag Bhargava. “Improving nutrition across the population could be a game changer in ending TB.”

The Bhargavas’ study also found that improved food availability reduced TB mortality by 35%, while weight gain during the first two months of food supplementation cut the risk of death by 60%. Modeling studies suggest that extending such food support to half of India’s TB-affected families could prevent four lakh deaths and nine lakh TB episodes between 2023 and 2035.

“This was field-based evidence, not a hospital or laboratory study,” Dr. Anurag noted. “It is encouraging that the results, given their real-world relevance, have been incorporated into WHO guidelines and even medical textbooks within just two years.” 

 

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Improve Your Memory and Concentration with These 8 Pressure Points

We need good concentration and memory at every age and every stage of life. Regardless of whether we’re studying for an important exam or trying to remember how to get from one place to another, these abilities determine whether or not we’ll succeed in our mission. One of our strongest enemies in this struggle is stress, which negatively affects our concentration and memory.

However, you can turn this calm into a regular part of your life while focusing and refining your concentration and memory skills with 8 pressure points that will improve your mental abilities using only your hands. 

 

1.The Third Eye 

 

 

In Chinese culture, the third eye is believed to be a "mystical organ" responsible for clairvoyance. According to the Chinese, the third eye point helps improve concentration and, memory, and also helps to treat symptoms of influenza, such as fever, blocked nose, and nasal congestion headaches.

The point lies between the eyebrows, in the area between the bridge of the nose and the forehead. Press the spot gently for 3-4 minutes and repeat 2-3 times a day. 

 

2. The Bigger Rushing  

The use of this pressure point is especially recommended for students preparing for tests – massaging it helps to get rid of the feeling of exhaustion that comes with memorizing a large amount of material, improves concentration and encourages mental clarity. In addition, you should massage it when facing a big and significant decision, as it will help you focus on the possibilities that are facing you.

 

 

You’ll find this point at the top of the foot, where the big toe and second toe bones meet. Press gently on the point on both feet at the same time for two minutes, and repeat three times a day.

3. The Heavenly Pillar 

This pressure point is used to reduce the feeling of pressure and pain in the head, which results from too many thoughts "running around" inside. It’s also used to cure a sore throat, and its massage helps to loosen the neck and improve blood flow to the brain.

The point is about 1 cm below the base of the skull and 3 cm from the spine on both sides. Place the index and middle finger on the two points and massage them for 7-8 minutes. Repeat the process three times a day to get the best results. 

 

4. The Sun Point 

It's possible that your hands naturally massage your temples when you feel that your head is crammed with stressful thoughts or when it’s hard for you to think. Massaging these points helps improve memory and concentration, and prevents headaches, dizziness, and stress.

Gently press on your temples with two fingers, 1 cm from the outer edge of the eyebrows – for two minutes, three times a day. 

 

5. The Three-Mile point 

Massaging this point helps to strengthen concentration and memory and provides clarity of thought. It also helps reduce symptoms of ulcers, inflammation of the small intestine, nausea,gas and swelling, and nourishes the body with energy in case of exhaustion.

The point is at a distance of 3 fingers below the knee, on the outside of the leg. Bend your knee and you’ll be able feel it when the muscle moves under your fingers. Press it for 5 minutes, once a day. 

 

6. The Middle of a Person 

You can often witness children pressing this point when they feel stressed or worried, and that's because massaging it makes us focus on our thoughts better. In addition to improving concentration and memory, massaging this point also helps reduce menstrual pain and dizziness, and it is recommended to do it especially when you feel your head is not working at its best.

Place your finger under your nose and above the upper lip, in the center of your face. Gently press the point for two minutes every day, and if you do this regularly for four weeks, you will feel its effect noticeably.

7. The Gates of Consciousness

If you suffer from memory problems, massaging these points is highly recommended for you. In addition to the beneficial effect of improving memory, it also helps to soothe headaches, so it is recommended to perform every time you experience pain that interferes with your daily functioning.

The points are right at the base of the skull, on either side of the spine. Place your fingers on them and feel the hollow in the skull – you’ll find them there. Rub the area gently for 2-3 minutes and repeat three times a day. 

 

8. Under side of the toe 

This point comes not from Chinese medicine, but from reflexology, and you don’t even have to use your fingers to massage it and get the benefits it provides. The left toe will affect the right side of the brain and the right toe will affect the left side, but it is recommended to massage both at the same time to obtain clarity of mind.

Move your thumb on the underside side of the big toe and massage all of it for 1-2 minutes. Repeat the process every day, and if you want to improve your concentration while working or learning, just rub your toe into your shoe and use the floor to resist it. 

 

If you really want to improve your memory and concentration, you may want to massage these points every day for several weeks regularly. You can feel their effect significantly after four weeks, and you’ll see how easy it is to help our body and mind be at their best.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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10 Sure Ways to Improve Your Mental Health

According to figures from the American Society for Suicide Prevention, each year, about 45,000 Americans commit suicide. In fact, it's considered to be the 10th most common cause of death in the United States. While there are no official reasons behind suicide attempts, medical experts concur that undue stress, severe anxiety and chronic, debilitating depression are leading factors. And while it may come as a surprise, among the most afflicted demographics, are middle-aged, high earning, successful individuals.

Possible reasons may include long hours and excessive stress, which makes such individuals more vulnerable to anxiety, sleep disorders, weight change, substance abuse and depression. High earning individuals generally have more responsibility and more to lose. They may also believe that they are immune and may be too busy or frightened to seek help. Nevertheless, anyone who is feeling the weight of the world, or may be experiencing suicidal ideation to any degree, it is possible to correct course. Here are some factors that may help you or anyone you may know dealing with mental health issues:

1. Use the buddy system 

Select a trusted person, be it a colleague or a good friend, and instruct them to pull you aside whenever they notice you raising your voice. This person can help make you aware of certain behaviors that you are trying to minimize. Let them know that you demand honesty, no matter how harsh the truth may be to hear. 

 

2. Know how to say “no”

Anyone who may feel like they have too much on their plate needs to be able to say no to more tasks without feeling regret. Planning and delegating can help. You should also schedule regular appointments into your week, like a tennis lesson, so that you are not always reacting to the needs of others. 

 

3. Develop a healthy arrogance 

 A great employee believes unequivocally that they can ace a job. One of the best ways to nurture this belief is by reviewing past success and identifying times when you faced similar obstacles and overcame them. 

 

4. Prioritize you

Getting enough sleep and exercising should be a top priority. It all comes down to discipline and planning. Be sure to stop working at a reasonable hour and schedule exercise as if it were a meeting with a client. 

 

5. Delegate ruthlessly 

Any good manager will relinquish tasks that others can do so that they can focus on the things they only can do.  

 

6. Generate a solution that you can implement immediately

Recognize your workload. Notice if you are trying to do two-and-a-half days of work in three hours. The immediate solution: Delay doing one item on your list and deal with it at another time. 

 

7. Be comfortable with discomfort 

Try renaming anxiety, calling it opportunity instead. Most of us think of as anxiety as something to avoid, but it's actually fuel for positive change. Anxiety is a natural emotion that exists in the gap between where we are and where we want to be. A good leader sees anxiety as a productive energy for themselves and their organizations.  

 

8. Create a three-legged life

Create a buffer against stress by securing balance in the three areas of your life: your home, your work, and your self. This works as when one goes down, you have two others to hold you up. 

 

 9. Pick the low-hanging fruit  

Faced with seemingly impossible challenges? Immediately pinpoint at least one piece of the problem that you can control, then attack it. Shift into the take-charge mode, meeting the challenge from a position of strength, as opposed to feeling its mercy. This will buck up your confidence and set you on a path of action.  

 

10. Relive the past to face the future

While things may look bleak, chances are you've faced bleak offs before. Be mindful of your feelings and remember how you triumphed over past setbacks, giving you the confidence to face whatever may be lurking around the corner.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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