“Indians take Dolo 650 like it’s Cadbury Gems.”

That’s how a US-based gastroenterologist recently described India’s peculiar obsession with a single medicine called Dolo 650. Dolo became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic and became the default medicine to fever, pain, or just general discomfort.

But here's the thing, Dolo is just paracetamol. And while it may be one of the most widely used over-the-counter drugs in the world, excessive and irresponsible use can cause serious harm.

What is Dolo 650?

Dolo 650 is a brand of paracetamol commonly used (and also prescribed) to treat fever and mild to moderate pain. It is manufactured by Micro Labs, a Bengaluru-based pharmaceutical company. While Dolo became synonymous with paracetamol in India—especially post-COVID—there are several other brands offering the same formulation. The drug is available in various forms: tablets, syrups, capsules, and even powder.

Why this dependence on Dolo?

There’s a strong belief among many Indians that "fever won’t go down unless I take Dolo." This perception grew during the pandemic when people hoarded the medicine and even now, Dolo continues to be the first line of defense for common ailments. But this blind faith comes with risks.

Overuse of Dolo (Paracetamol) and Its Dangers

Dr. Achintya Sharma, Max Hospital, warns against treating Dolo like a magic pill. “Dolo is just paracetamol. It’s a widely used, go-to drug, even during pregnancy. But overuse is a problem—it can affect the liver and kidneys. It should be used with caution.” He explains that taking Dolo too frequently, especially without medical consultation can lead to liver failure (especially if daily intake exceeds 4 grams), kidney issues, gastrointestinal side effects, like ulcers or GI bleeding (though rare). Paracetamol, similar to aspirin, can impact the digestive tract with prolonged or high-dose usage.

Who Should Be Extra Careful?

According to Dr. Sharma, certain groups should be extra cautious. Like children under 12 (especially with tablet form), people with pre-existing liver or kidney conditions, those with bleeding disorders or GI issues. In such cases, paracetamol should only be used after appropriate medical evaluation.

It's not just Dolo, it's a pattern. Dr. Suchismitha Rajamanya, Lead Consultant & HOD – Internal Medicine at Aster Whitefield Hospital, Bengaluru, highlights a broader concern. “Dolo has become synonymous with paracetamol. But it’s just one brand. Misuse and over-the-counter abuse of medications, even antibiotics like azithromycin are widespread.”

She adds that patients often self-medicate without understanding the root cause of their symptoms. “You can’t just pop a pill for every headache or fever. It may mask symptoms, but not treat the underlying issue.”

What About Alternatives?

Some people switch to Combiflam, a mix of paracetamol and ibuprofen, but that brings its own risks—more GI side effects, ulcers, and kidney concerns if taken over the long term. The main message is that no medicine is completely risk-free. Even commonly available drugs must be used judiciously and under proper guidance. The next time you feel under the weather, pause before popping a pill. Consult a doctor, understand what your body is telling you, and use medicines responsibly. Do not treat medicine like candy!

Your eyes could be giving you clues that your kidneys aren’t working the way they should. While most people associate kidney trouble with tiredness, swelling, or changes in urination, the effects can also show up in your vision. To understand this better, we spoke with Dr Manoj K. Singhal, Principal Director of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali.

5 Eye Symptoms Linked to Kidney Issues

The kidneys filter toxins and help maintain balance in the body. But when they start to weaken, some of the earliest signs may appear in unexpected places, like your eyes. Some of these symptoms, as per Dr Manoj are:

1. Persistent Puffiness

It’s normal to wake up with puffy eyes, but if the swelling doesn’t fade even after rest, it could point to protein leaking into your urine, a condition called proteinuria, which often signals kidney damage.

2. Blurred or Double Vision

Sudden blurriness may be tied to high blood pressure or diabetes—two major causes of kidney problems. These conditions damage small blood vessels in the eyes and can even lead to sudden vision loss.

3. Dry, Itchy Eyes

Many people with chronic kidney disease, especially those on dialysis, experience dryness or irritation in the eyes. This happens when mineral balance in the body is disrupted, leaving the eyes feeling gritty or uncomfortable.

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4. Red or Bloodshot Eyes

Frequent redness can be a warning sign of uncontrolled blood pressure or diabetes. In some rare cases, kidney-related conditions like lupus nephritis can also cause eye problems.

5. Difficulty Seeing Colours

Kidney disease can sometimes affect the optic nerve or retina, making it harder to distinguish certain colours, especially shades of blue and yellow.

When To Seek Help?

Not every eye problem points to kidney disease, but if these symptoms persist or worsen, it’s worth getting both your vision and kidney health checked. Routine eye exams can sometimes reveal early warning signs before bigger problems develop.

If you notice changes in your eyesight alongside other symptoms like fatigue, swelling, or urinary changes, don’t ignore them. Catching kidney issues early can make all the difference for both your eye health and your overall well-being.

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How To Protect Your Kidneys and Eyes

While some kidney issues are unavoidable, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and protect both your kidney and eye health, as suggested by Dr Manoj:

• Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar: High blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for kidney disease. Regular monitoring and a balanced diet can help keep these in check.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water supports kidney function and helps flush out toxins.
• Eat a Balanced Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting salt, processed foods, and excess sugar.
• Exercise Regularly: Physical activity improves circulation and helps maintain healthy blood pressure, supporting both kidney and eye health.
• Avoid Smoking and Excess Alcohol: Both can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of kidney and eye problems.
• Schedule Regular Checkups: Routine blood tests, urine tests, and eye exams can help catch early signs of kidney issues before they worsen.

Taking care of your overall health is the best way to safeguard your kidneys. and your eyes from long-term damage.

Suicides are one of the leading causes of death around the world. While it is easy to say that the person who chose to take their lives did it of their own violation, Harvard psychologist Dr. Matthew Nock, explains the other side. “90% of people who try and kill themselves say, I didn't want to die per se. I wanted to escape from seemingly intolerable.” Speaking on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, Dr. Nock pointed out that the link between work pressure and suicidal thoughts varies by race and ethnicity.

The concerning rise in suicide cases tied to work pressure has fueled a social media conversation about toxic work culture. What was once considered a normal part of the professional grind is now being openly challenged, as people share personal stories of the anxiety, depression, and isolation caused by unhealthy work environments.

What Professions Are At High Risk Of Suicide?

According to Dr. Matthew Nock, certain careers are linked to a higher risk of suicide.

Police Officers

He noted that physicians and police officers are among those at high risk. He mentioned a spike in suicides among New York City police officers, who are predominantly white men, and shared that female police officers, in particular, face a higher risk, even when accounting for factors like age, race, and ethnicity.

According to a 2025 study published in the Police Practice and Research, on average, 21.4 out of every 100,000 officers died by suicide each year.

The study showed that the suicide rate was much higher for male officers (22.7 per 100,000) than for female officers (12.7 per 100,000).

Physicians

Dr. Nock explained that access to means is a significant factor in these high-risk professions, which helps explain why physicians, police officers, and military members have a much higher risk of suicide compared to others.

Another study published in 2024 The BMJ, showed that the number of suicides among doctors has been going down, female doctors are still at a much higher risk than other people.

When looking at all the data, male doctors were found to have a 5% higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

In a more recent analysis of the last few years, the overall suicide rate for doctors has decreased, which is good news. But even with this improvement, female doctors still have a 24% higher risk than the general public.

Why We Need To Talk More About Suicide

Dr. Nock stresses the importance of openly discussing suicide, particularly in schools. He compared it to fire drills or earthquake preparedness, saying that since 15% of people will experience suicidal thoughts, it's crucial to equip everyone with a safety plan..Dr. Matthew Nock said, "We know that asking about suicide, talking about suicide, does not make people suicidal."

He noted that the people who act on suicidal thoughts often show different signs than those who just have the thoughts. While depression is a strong predictor of having suicidal thoughts, other factors like anxiety, aggressiveness, poor behavioral control, and drug or alcohol use are more closely linked to a person actually attempting suicide.

He believes that a small educational module on suicide in health class could help save lives by teaching people what to do if they or someone they know is struggling.

While we all know air pollution affects our health, did you know that it was actually driving cancer cases higher? This has led to a big rise in health problems worldwide. Past studies show that air pollution is linked to about seven million premature deaths each year and contributes to over 3% of all years of healthy life lost globally. This revelation was a big concern for public health, and to fix it, many measures were taken.

While some countries like the US showed promising results in bettering public health, a recent study in the International Journal of Public Health showed that this positive trend is not yet showed up in China.

How Is PM2 Pollution Affecting Our Health?

One of the most dangerous types of air pollution is called fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. These tiny particles come from car exhaust, factory smoke, and even from the smoke created by burning solid fuels inside homes. Because they are so incredibly small, they can stay suspended in the air for a long time and, when we breathe them in, they go deep into our lungs.

Once inside the body, PM2.5 can cause inflammation and even change our genes, which increases our risk for many illnesses, especially tracheal, bronchial, and lung (TBL) cancers. A new study looked at how much PM2.5 pollution has affected TBL cancer rates in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States from 1990 to 2021.

Has Pollution-Related Health Risk Decreased Everywhere?

The study, which used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project, found some important trends:

Overall Cancer Rates Are Declining

The good news is that globally, the number of deaths and years of healthy life lost due to TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 pollution are going down. This positive trend was consistent in all the countries studied: China, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.

China's Unique Challenge

Despite this global trend, China faced a much higher death rate from TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 compared to the other three countries. While their rates are decreasing, they still remain significantly higher than the worldwide average.

Household Pollution Hits Women Harder

The research also looked at pollution from burning solid fuels inside homes. The global death rate from TBL cancer linked to this type of pollution has remained stable, but it's actually increasing for women while it's decreasing for men. This highlights a specific danger for women in homes that rely on these fuels.

Will This Pollution Cancer Trend Keep Rising?

Looking ahead, researchers predict that the global death rate for TBL cancer caused by PM2.5 will actually increase over the next 29 years. However, the study notes that countries like China, South Korea, and the U.S. are expected to see a significant drop in their rates, while Japan's numbers are expected to stay about the same.

Overall, this study shows that while air pollution is a serious global health risk, the efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure in many countries are making a real, positive difference.