Boosting immunity during Diwali can help maintain balance amid the festive indulgences as everyone becomes carefree and relaxed during the holiday time.

This may give rise to unwanted weight gain, erratic food timings, indulging in more sweets, and junk than usual, and a disturbed circadian rhythm. Such imbalance may ruin our holidays hence being a little mindful is necessary if you want to enjoy the festive season most.

There are no easy and quick fixes to improve and boost immunity hence it is a process of how regularly you eat healthy, sleep well, meditate or exercise well, and manage your stress levels. If you have been regular with all the basics of wellness we will not require quick fixes to bolster our immunity.

Hence some of the ways which will help in improving our immunity not just during the festive season but in the longer run are mentioned below.

1. Creative and Curative Nutrition

By consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Always try and include a family of citrus fruits like oranges, berries, mosambi, peaches, guava, fiber and alkaline-rich fruits like apples, bananas, pomegranate, honeydew melons, pears rich fruits which are the natural healers for our body, including leafy greens, and root vegetables like carrots, beetroots, sweet potatoes are great for health.

This will help to improve Longevity, Immunity, and Vitality.

Traditional Diwali snacks made with nuts, seeds, and jaggery can also provide essential nutrients that strengthen immunity if consumed in moderation.

2. The Herbs and Spices which are great regulators & Fortifiers

Incorporating herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, tulsi (holy basil), ashwagandha, and amla (Indian gooseberry)can naturally boost immunity. These herbs possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which strengthen the immune system. Herbal teas, kadhas, or tonics made from these ingredients can be beneficial as they help to regulate our hormones and improve our biochemistry.

3. Optimal Movement therapy which is a combination of yoga, calisthenics, breathwork, and more

Regular yoga practice enhances circulation, improves lymphatic function, and supports detoxification, all of which boost immunity and will give an added benefit if practiced in the open under the sun, the natural cosmic element. Pranayama (breathing exercises) like Kapalbhati and Anulom Vilom can increase lung capacity and oxygen intake. Practicing for only 5-10 minutes a day will give a burst of energy and freshness. Daily meditation helps reduce stress, which directly influences immune function. Walking on the grass bare feet for 10 minutes, or if you have water near your house, spending just 10-15 minutes will refresh you.

4. Emotional Wellbeing

Festivals can be hectic, but ensuring 7-8 hours of sound sleep each night is crucial for the body's natural repair processes. Following a natural bioclock will work wonders for your health in the long run. Sleep helps rejuvenate the immune system, and poor sleep can weaken it. A calming routine with essential oils like lavender or chamomile before bed can improve sleep quality and you will wake up like a daisy every morning.

5. The Water element

Staying hydrated is vital for immune function. Drinking warm water infused with lemon or cumin seeds throughout the day aids digestion and detoxification. A gentle detox post-celebration, like fasting, avoiding grains during dinner, eating raw foods till noon, or having light meals, helps the body recover from indulgences, restoring immune strength. By following these practices, you can get energized, immunized, and optimized.

In today's corporate world, desk jobs have become the order of the day and so are the health problems associated with them. Endless typing, long hours of sitting, and poor posture are silently taking their toll on young professionals who spend most of their day glued to screens. Many don't realize that their daily work habits could trigger unexpected medical conditions.

Such a growing concern was once highlighted by Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar, who recently shared a case on X. He wrote about one such case of Riya (name changed), a 25-year-old software engineer who developed a sharp, burning pain in her elbow-a pain which began as a minor ache while typing and gradually became so severe that even lifting a teacup felt unbearable.

What was the cause of the sharp elbow pain that Riya experienced?

Riya tried everything she could think of: Rest, pain relief balms, painkillers, even switching hands while using her computer, but the pain refused to fade. When she finally decided to visit the doctor, her symptoms immediately pointed to something unexpected: Tennis elbow. The diagnosis came as a surprise, considering she had never even held a tennis racket. On examination, Dr Sudhir Kumar found the tell-tale signs of the condition, medically known as lateral epicondylitis — tenderness along the outer elbow and pain when she tried to extend her wrist. He explained that the culprit wasn’t a sport, but repetitive strain from long hours at the computer — a problem increasingly common among desk workers.

What is Tennis Elbow?

The Mayo Clinic describes tennis elbow, medically termed lateral epicondylitis, as a painful condition resulting from the overuse of muscles and tendons in the forearm. It develops where these tissues are repeatedly strained by similar wrist and arm movements, leading to tiny tears and inflammation near the elbow.

The name is misleading, and you don't have to be an athlete to get tennis elbow. As a matter of fact, most people who develop it never have used a racket. It's common for the condition to strike people in jobs that require repetitive motions: plumbers, carpenters, painters, butchers, and yes, office workers who spend hours typing or using a mouse.

The pain generally arises on the outside of the elbow, precisely at that bony prominence to which the muscles of the forearm attach. For some, the discomfort may extend into the forearm or even the wrist, making most activities quite arduous.

How Can Tennis Elbow Be Treated?

Once the diagnosis was confirmed, Dr Sudhir Kumar focused on addressing the underlying cause — repetitive stress and poor workstation ergonomics. The holistic treatment for Riya included the following:

• Avoided repetitive activities that triggered her pain.
• Adjusting the computer setup and improving posture.
• Establish a physiotherapy regimen to stretch, strengthen, and gradually build muscle endurance.
• A short course of anti-inflammatory medication

Employing a counterforce brace-a tennis elbow strap-to reduce strain in daily activities. By her six-week follow-up, Riya’s pain had completely resolved. Her grip strength was back, and she could type, lift, and exercise without discomfort. Three months later, she was symptom-free — and far more aware of how small ergonomic changes can make a big difference.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, however, a recent survey showed that most people don’t know this vital fact about prostate cancer symptoms.

Prostate cancer is a serious illness in the US, affecting over 300,000 men each year and causing more than 35,000 deaths, according American Cancer Society. This makes it the second-most deadly cancer for men. If doctors detect the disease early, it is treatable. However, patients usually don't notice any signs of the disease in its beginning stages. Due to this lack of symptoms, checking for the disease is extremely important.

A recent survey of 1,004 U.S. adults, commissioned by the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, aimed to gauge public knowledge of the disease. The findings highlight a critical need for better education.

What Do Americans Know About Early-Stage Prostate Cancer?

The results showed that most people, 80% of those surveyed, are unaware that early prostate cancer usually has no physical symptoms. One health specialist noted that it's crucial for everyone to understand that this cancer causes no symptoms until it has become advanced. The survey also revealed other gaps in knowledge:

• More than half of the people surveyed (59%) did not know that changes in sexual function could be a sign of prostate cancer.
• The survey noticed some differences across groups. For example, one minority group was better at identifying less common signs like tiredness and weight loss.
• However, that same minority group was less likely than others to correctly identify that the cancer usually has no symptoms in its early stage.

What Is The Best Way To Diagnose Prostate Cancer?

The fact that prostate cancer often begins without symptoms is the main reason doctors worry.

Lack of Symptoms

In its early phase, the cancer is small and contained within the prostate gland. It doesn't push on or block any other body parts, so it doesn't cause pain or discomfort. Because the cancer is deep inside the body, it's hard to tell if someone has it without special tests.

Provider Worry

Because men feel fine, they may wrongly believe they aren't at risk. This feeling of being safe often makes men hesitant to get screened. Since there are no symptoms to look for, screening tests, usually a simple blood test or a physical exam, are the best way to find the cancer early.

What Are Some Signs of Prostate Cancer?

Even though most men with early prostate cancer feel completely normal, there are certain signs that might appear if the disease is more advanced. These symptoms include:

• Having trouble starting to urinate.
• Having a urine flow that is weak or stops and starts.
• Needing to urinate often, especially during the night.
• Difficulty completely emptying the bladder.
• Feeling pain or a burning sensation while urinating.
• Noticing blood in the urine or semen.
• Feeling pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away.
• Experiencing pain during ejaculation.

When Should You Get Screened For Prostate Cancer?

According to American Cancer Society, health organizations advise men to talk with their doctors about getting checked for prostate cancer starting at certain ages, depending on their personal risk.

Average Risk: Age 50

Men who have no special risk factors.

High Risk: Age 45

Men who are African American or who have a father or brother who was diagnosed before age 65.

Highest Risk: Age 40

Men who have more than one close relative (father or brother) diagnosed at an early age. There is no one-size-fits-all advice for screening. Men should always speak to their doctor about their own risk and discuss the pros and cons of testing. Since there are no early warning signs, talking to a doctor about screening is described as "critical" and a simple process that could potentially save a man's life.

A recent study has found a probable link between autism and COVID-19, claiming the infection could affect children’s brain development. Autism, a condition that affects social interactions and communication, has recently become a major point of conversation. Whether it is vaccines or medicine like Tylenol, many have been linked to increased risk of autism in children. One such link was made with COVID, however, this claim was refuted by many medical journals like the 2024 study done by the Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

However, the new study, published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, has shown that there may be some evidence supporting the COVID-19 and autism link. New research from Mass General Brigham suggests that children born to mothers who had COVID-19 while pregnant face a slightly higher chance of having developmental delays by the age of three.

These problems can include issues like speech delays, autism, motor disorders, and other neurodevelopmental delays.

Does COVID-19 Affect Brain Development?

According to the researchers, these results show that COVID-19, much like many other infections a woman can get during pregnancy, might cause problems for the baby’s developing brain in addition to affecting the mother. They pointed out that it is crucial for pregnant women to focus on staying healthy and avoiding infections, especially as trust in vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, is decreasing.

This idea isn't entirely new. Earlier research has already connected other types of infections in pregnant women to a greater risk of various developmental problems in their children. Studies on animals have also shown that when a mother’s immune system is strongly activated by an infection, it can interfere with the normal growth of the baby's brain and affect how the baby behaves later on.

How Does COVID-19 Affect Baby’s Development?

The researchers examined medical records from 18,124 births that happened at Mass General Brigham hospitals between March 2020 and May 2021, the time when COVID-19 was at its height. They wanted to see if there was a connection between the mothers who had the virus and their children's development.

Higher Diagnosis Rate

Out of the 861 children whose mothers tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy, 16.3%, which is about 1 in 6, were diagnosed with a developmental problem by age three.

Comparison Group

In contrast, among the larger group of 17,263 children whose mothers did not have COVID-19, a smaller number, 9.7%, which is about 1 in 10, were diagnosed with these conditions.

Elevated Risk

After adjusting the numbers for other possible factors, the study found that a mother having COVID-19 during pregnancy was linked to a 29% increased likelihood of a child developing a neurodevelopmental condition.

What Are Some Risk Factors Of Autism?

The research team found that two factors seemed to make the elevated risk stand out even more:

Gender

Male children appeared to have a greater chance of developing these neurodevelopmental disorders compared to girls.

Timing

The risk was highest when the mother got the COVID-19 infection during the third trimester, which is the final three months of pregnancy. This suggests that exposure to the virus later in pregnancy might have a bigger negative impact on the baby's brain.

Despite finding that the infection increases the odds, the researchers noted that it's important to remember that the overall chance of an exposed child having a serious developmental problem is still low. The study shows a higher relative risk compared to unexposed children, but the total number of children affected is not huge.