In the early 20th century, labor movements and demands for better working conditions, voting rights, and equal opportunities rose, highlighting the progress in women's empowerment. Women were now raising their voices against gender disparities, it was all to make a better, a more inclusive society! Thus the day of March 8 came to be known as International Women's Day, wherein each year we celebrate women's achievements. But, has the society really become inclusive? Something as basic as medical needs are still driven by men, based on men, and women are high underrepresented. Their bodies are considered atypical, while men's bodies are the norm, since 1946, notes the Pew Research Center. This is why most of the modern medicine do not take how the medicine reacts on women's body in account.

As per the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), despite the policy and social changes in 1990s which helped turn the tide, women are still underrepresented in research. In fact, a 2019 study published in Author Manuscript, titled Inclusion of female does not increase variability in rodent research studies highlight that even to this date, many medical researcher avoid conducting studies on female mice. The reason being greater costs associated with purchasing and housing both sexes and concerns that the fluctuating hormones and reproductive systems of female mice may confound the study results. However, isn't what they are supposed to find? Don't women's cycles, their hormone and how the body and its hormones react to a medicine deserve to be studied for better administration of medicines.

AAMC also highlights the historical biases, which have been designed to shield unborn children from exposure of drugs and treatments and ongoing challenges to recruiting and retaining women in clinical trials and medical research limit the understanding of women, their experiences, conditions, and more. There is already so many biases surrounding women, more, if you are a woman of color.

A 2022 study published in Nature, Let's Talk About (Biological) Sex, also highlights that women's hormones play a role in physiological, metabolic, hormonal and even cellular differences. All such factors can influence how disease present and effectiveness of the medicine. The biases run deep, despite the proven fact that heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women, the medical field only recognized that women experience a different symptom of the disease than men when the American Heart Association published its Guide to Preventative Cardiology for Woman in 1999.

Martha Gulati, MD, and a cardiologist at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and director of prevention and associate director of Barbara Streisand Women's Heart Center and president of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology says, "Women shouldn’t be [put] in a ‘special populations’ category. It’s important to study women to find out how to care for [51%] of the population. We are the majority of the population. So, although women are special, we are not a ‘special population'."

Case Studies From When Women Were Ignored From Science

Before the 1970s, women were already underrepresented in medical research. Progress suffered another setback in 1977 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented a policy barring women of reproductive potential from Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials—unless they had a life-threatening condition—according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health. This decision stemmed from the thalidomide tragedy of the previous decade, in which thousands of pregnant women in Europe and Australia took the drug for morning sickness, only to later discover it caused severe birth defects and even infant deaths. Although thalidomide was never approved in the U.S., the FDA’s policy response was sweeping, broadly interpreted to exclude nearly all premenopausal women from clinical trials, even those on birth control, with sterile partners, or abstaining from sex.

The 2016 study published in Pharmacy Practice mentions some of the trials where women have been highly underrepresented. Furthermore, there are many studies that one can look at and read for themselves. Some of these case studies are mentioned below:

1962: In response to the thalidomide tragedy—which caused over 10,000 infant deaths and birth defects in Europe and Australia—the U.S. strengthens the FDA’s authority.

1977: The FDA issues guidelines barring women of reproductive potential from early-phase clinical trials, except in cases of life-threatening conditions. This policy is broadly applied, effectively excluding most women of childbearing age from medical research.

1986: An NIH advisory committee recommends including women in medical research studies.

1990: The NIH establishes the Office of Research on Women’s Health to advance women’s health research and increase female representation in clinical trials—as both participants and investigators.

1991: Bernadine Healy, MD, becomes the first female director of the NIH.

1993: The FDA reverses its 1977 policy, now requiring the inclusion of women in clinical research unless exclusion is justified (e.g., for diseases affecting only men). That same year, Congress passes a law mandating the inclusion of women in NIH-funded clinical trials.

1994: The FDA establishes the Office of Women’s Health to promote women’s participation in clinical trials and improve women’s healthcare.

2001: The Institute of Medicine publishes a report highlighting the biological impact of sex differences and the need to study them in clinical research.

2022: A Harvard Medical School study finds that, as of 2019, women remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials for major diseases.

Aging is a natural process. It happens when the rate at which our cells die begins to outpace the rate at which they regenerate. Every cell in the body has its own lifespan, for example, red blood cells live for around 100 to 120 days, while liver cells (hepatocytes) last about 200 to 300 days. Over time, as regeneration slows, the signs of aging begin to appear.

However, in some people, this process speeds up. Factors like long-term exposure to toxins, severe physical trauma, metabolic disorders such as cancer, or the failure of vital organs can push the body into premature aging. We got in touch with Dr Saurish Hegde, MD community medicine, Public health specialist who told us more about the same.

Warning Signs You May Be Aging Faster

• Constant fatigue and loss of energy: Everyday tasks feel harder, and the body tires more quickly than before.
• Skin and hair changes: Reduced collagen and keratin production leads to sagging, wrinkles, and thinning or loss of hair.
• Cognitive decline: Memory lapses, difficulty in planning, and problems with calculations may point to aging-related changes in the brain as grey matter begins to shrink.
• Chronic conditions: Lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension are often tied to aging, linked to reduced insulin production and thicker, slower blood flow.

Can Premature Aging Be Prevented?

While no one can stop the clock, adopting healthy habits can slow it down. Regular physical activity, a diet rich in antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, quality sleep, and timely health screenings can all help delay the impact of aging and keep the body functioning better for longer.

What Causes Premature Aging?

In most cases, premature aging happens because of everyday habits or environmental factors that we can control. Doctors call this extrinsic aging. The first signs usually show up on the skin. While skin changes are a normal part of getting older, if they appear too early, lifestyle and surroundings are often to blame.

Light exposure is the biggest culprit

• Sunlight (UV rays): Too much sun speeds up skin aging, a process known as photoaging. This alone causes about 90% of the visible changes we see in skin, such as wrinkles, age spots, and rough texture. UV rays also damage cells, which raises the risk of skin cancer.
• Blue light and infrared light: The remaining 10% of skin damage comes from high-energy visible (blue) light and infrared light. Blue light comes from the sun and also from screens, while infrared is the heat we feel. These don’t raise cancer risk but they do weaken collagen and elasticity, making skin sag sooner.

• Smoking: Nicotine toxins break down collagen and elastin, causing sagging skin, wrinkles, and a hollow look.
• Poor diet: Diets high in sugar and refined carbs may speed up aging, while diets rich in fruits and vegetables help protect the skin.
• Alcohol: Heavy drinking dehydrates and damages skin over time.
• Lack of sleep: Poor or insufficient sleep has been linked to faster cellular aging.
• Chronic stress: High cortisol levels from stress reduce substances like collagen and hyaluronic acid that keep skin smooth and firm.

In rare cases, certain medical conditions can also cause early aging, such as progeria, Werner syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, Bloom syndrome, and a few other genetic disorders.

India’s healthcare leaders are set to gather at the eagerly awaited TIMES NETWORK INDIA HEALTH SUMMIT 2025. With the country positioning itself as a global healthcare hub, the Modi government is pushing reforms aimed at creating a strong healthcare system. The sector has seen remarkable changes, driven by advancements in technology, improved infrastructure, and wider accessibility. Recognizing healthcare as a strategic pillar, the government views it as essential for national growth, public welfare, and economic stability.

In 2025, healthcare will remain an essential part of India’s economy, contributing significantly to GDP growth, job opportunities, and technological progress. The industry, valued at over $500 billion, sustains millions of jobs across hospitals, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and health-tech. Rising demand for quality care, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, is pushing more investments and large-scale infrastructure development.

Efforts to strengthen public health are closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing sustainable healthcare through optimal technology use. This year, the summit will focus on key themes such as “Making Healthcare Sustainable with Optimal Use of Technology” and “Adoption of Technology for Improved Accessibility and Affordability.”

The summit will host over 30 expert speakers, 300 delegates, and eight focused knowledge sessions. Attendees will discuss shaping global healthcare standards, achieving health equity, enhancing accessibility, advancing medical education, research, and driving innovation through technology.

Notable panels include “From Policy to Practice: Making Health Equity a Reality in India”, featuring Dr Sumit Kumar Dubey, Chief Medical Officer, NDMC; Dr Randeep Guleria, Director of Medanta Medical School; and Dr Narinder Mehra, Hon. Emeritus Scientist, ICMR. Another key session, “Battling Dengue in India: Crisis, Control and the Promise of Vaccination,” will include insights from Dr Sanjeev Bagai, Chairman, Nephron Clinic, and Dr Tanu Jain, Director, NCVBDC. TV actress Chhavi Mittal, a breast cancer survivor, will also share her personal journey.

Other highlights feature Dr Ananya Awasthi, Founder & Director of Anuvaad Solutions, and Dr Meenakshi Singh, Chief Scientist, CSIR, discussing nutraceuticals; Dr Shyam Aggarwal, Chairperson Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, on cancer care; and Arvind Pachhapur of Strands Life Sciences, exploring AI-driven healthcare solutions. Additional sessions on youth mental health and healthcare infrastructure promise to offer actionable insights for stakeholders.

For more details, visit TIMES NETWORK INDIA HEALTH SUMMIT 2025.

NHS omeprazole warning: People who take the common heartburn and indigestion drug omeprazole have been cautioned by the NHS about its potential long-term risks. For those unversed, omeprazole belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These drugs work by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach and are often prescribed for acid reflux, heartburn, and related issues.

They target the stomach’s proton pumps, the enzymes responsible for producing acid. While omeprazole can be very effective, it isn’t the only solution. If you are avoiding the medicine duen to the NHS warning, or just simply struggling with side effects or prefer a more natural route, there are other options worth considering.

NHS Warning on Omeprazole’s Long-Term Use

According to new figures, nearly 73 million NHS prescriptions for PPIs like omeprazole were issued in England in 2022 to 23. Reports also show that around 15% of the UK population relies on PPIs, making them among the most commonly used medications in the country. Alongside heartburn, PPIs are used to manage conditions like indigestion, stomach ulcers, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), and even to treat Helicobacter pylori infection when paired with antibiotics. With NHS experts now raising concerns, we spoke to a health professional who explained which safe alternatives people can turn to instead.

Alternatives to Omeprazole

Omeprazole is one of several PPIs available. This class of medication is used for GERD, stomach and duodenal ulcers, and certain bacterial stomach infections. Each drug in the group works by blocking acid pumps in the stomach, but individuals may respond differently. We got in touch with Dr Vishal Khurana, Director Gastroenterology, Metro Hospital, Faridabad who told, us, “If omeprazole causes side effects or drug interactions, switching to another PPI such as pantoprazole (Protonix) or rabeprazole (Aciphex) may be a safer option.”

Other alternatives include H2 blockers like famotidine (Pepcid AC), which reduce acid in a different way, or traditional antacids like Tums and Rolaids that provide quick but temporary relief. There are also newer prescription treatments such as vonoprazan (Voquezna) that could be considered.

Natural Remedies for Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Medication isn’t always the only answer. Many people find relief from acid reflux by making small but consistent dietary and lifestyle changes. Avoiding fatty or spicy foods, cutting back on alcohol, and eating smaller portions can all help reduce symptoms. Simple remedies like ginger tea, milk, or a small amount of apple cider vinegar may also soothe heartburn for some people.

In terms of supplements, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) has been linked to easing acid reflux, though quality can vary between brands, so it’s best to check with a pharmacist before trying.

Lifestyle habits matter too. Quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight have been shown to lower the risk of reflux significantly. While these changes are not always easy, their benefits go far beyond heartburn relief.

The NHS advice doesn’t mean everyone should stop using omeprazole right away, but it’s a reminder that safe alternatives exist, and making simple adjustments could help you avoid long-term risks while still keeping heartburn under control.