Health

world-thyroid-day-2024-causes-symptoms-treatment-for-hypothyroidism-hyperthyroidism

Sat May 25 12:12:07 IST 2024

With changing lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits, the number of health issues has been constantly rising and the thyroid disease is one such common health problem. Thus, to spread awareness about the disease and its prevention, May 25 is observed as World Thyroid Day. According to reports published by the American Thyroid Association, one out of every 10 individuals is affected by the thyroid disease. On the occasion of World Thyroid Day, health experts from all over organise seminars and awareness camps to educate people about Thyroid, its prevention, and treatment.

What is thyroid?

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck that is responsible for the secretion of hormones. It plays a vital role in the growth and metabolic activities of the human body. The vital function of the thyroid gland is to secrete hormones and regulate the functions of the human body. When the thyroid gland functions appropriately and secretes the adequate amount of each hormone, all body functions are carried out smoothly. The problem begins when there is an unwanted increase or decrease in the number of hormones secreted by the thyroid gland. There are two major diseases related to the thyroid gland – hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a state in which the thyroid gland is relatively inactive, and the level of hormones produced is less than the required amount. As a result, there arises a certain disorder in the human body.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a state of increased activity of the thyroid gland leading to excessive production of hormones in the body. Hyperthyroidism leads to weight loss and affects the body’s metabolism.

Symptoms and causes

The symptoms of thyroid disease can be divided into two groups: Hyperthyroidism, or having too much thyroid hormone, and Hypothyroidism, or having too little thyroid hormone. Frequently, the two illnesses' symptoms are "opposites." This is because hyperthyroidism speeds up your metabolism, while hypothyroidism slows it down. Hypothyroidism symptoms include feeling exhausted, having a slower heart rate than usual, gaining weight without apparent cause, having a bad mood, and so on. Hyperthyroidism symptoms might include irregular heartbeat, weight loss, trouble sleeping, and more.

What causes thyroid imbalance? It is mainly blamed on unhealthy eating habits. Food items with low nutritional value are one of the primary root causes of thyroid disorders since it is a nutrient-dependent gland. And the deficiency in these nutrients will negatively affect thyroid hormone production. Hence, a well-balanced diet is essential for lifelong thyroid health.

How is thyroid disorder treated?

Treatment for thyroid imbalance depends on the type of condition and the cause. The goal is to return your thyroid hormone levels to a healthy range. Following is the report given by MAYO CLINIC, a non-profit organisation committed to clinical practice, education, and research.

If you have hyperthyroidism, treatment options include:

• Anti-thyroid drugs: These medications stop your thyroid from making hormones.

• Radioiodine (radioactive iodine) therapy: This treatment damages the cells of your thyroid, preventing it from making high levels of thyroid hormone.

• Beta-blockers: These medications don’t affect your thyroid, but they help manage some symptoms, like rapid heart rate.

• Surgery: For a more permanent form of treatment, your healthcare provider may recommend surgically removing your thyroid. This will stop it from creating hormones. However, you’ll need to take synthetic (manufactured) thyroid replacement hormones (pills) for the rest of your life.

On the other hand, if you have hypothyroidism, the main treatment option is thyroid replacement medication. It’s a synthetic way to add thyroid hormones back into your body. But depending on how serious your disease is, your doctor will advise you on which of these therapies to pursue.

Generally, thyroid disorder is not preventable. This is because most cases of thyroid disease are linked to genetics and/or caused by autoimmune conditions (a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakes its own healthy tissues as foreign and attacks them), which you can’t prevent. Consequently, if you experience thyroid-related symptoms, it's crucial to see an endocrinologist, a thyroid specialist and follow their advice about medication, treatment and diet.

angry--just-write-down-your-feelings-and-throw-the-paper-away

Fri May 24 10:24:03 IST 2024

Here is a simple Japanese way to overcome your anger: write down your feelings on a piece of paper and throw it away.

"We expected that our method would suppress anger to some extent," the lead researcher said. "However, we were amazed that anger was eliminated almost entirely." For the study published in Scientific Reports, 50 student participants at Nagoya University, Japan, were asked to write brief opinions about important social issues, such as whether smoking in public should be outlawed.

Regardless of the merit of their writing, their papers were deliberately scored low on intelligence, interest, friendliness, logic and rationality. The evaluators also wrote insulting comments such as: “I cannot believe an educated person would think like this. I hope this person learns something while at the university.”

The participants were then asked to write down their thoughts on the negative feedback on a piece of paper. One group was asked to either throw the paper in a trash can or keep it in a file on their desk. A second group was told to shred the paper or put it in a plastic box. The students were then asked to rate their anger after reading the insulting feedback and after either disposing of or keeping the paper.

All participants reported a higher level of anger after receiving offensive comments. However, anger levels of those who discarded their paper in the trash can or shredded it returned to their initial state after getting rid of the paper. But those who kept the paper experienced only a small decrease in their overall anger.

The technique would be very useful because “controlling anger at home and in the workplace can reduce negative consequences in our jobs and personal lives.”

infusion-therapy-better-than-pills-at-reducing-parkinson-s-sympt

Wed May 22 15:00:05 IST 2024

Parkinson's disease affects more than 8.5 million people worldwide and its prevalence has doubled in the past 25 years. Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremors, slowness and stiffness are caused by low levels of dopamine in the body. Oral levodopa, the most effective drug used to treat these motor symptoms, is converted into dopamine in the brain. But over time, its benefits tend to last less than a few hours, necessitating increases in doses or its frequency.

An international, multisite phase 3 trial published in the Lancet Neurology has found that continuous, 24-hour levodopa delivery through a subcutaneous infusion pump is safe and effective at reducing symptoms for longer periods of time. For the trial, 381 patients with Parkinson's disease in 16 countries were randomised to receive continuous subcutaneous infusion of levodopa, or oral levodopa.

Delivering levodopa through the infusion pump was safe and associated with almost two hours a day of additional “on” time when the medication is working and symptoms are controlled, compared with oral levodopa. The patients also performed better on four of nine other disease rating scales that looked at disability from Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The most common adverse events were reactions at the infusion site.

“Once approved, this will become an important treatment strategy to consider for patients with Parkinson’s disease experiencing motor fluctuations not adequately controlled with medication,” the study said.

extreme-heat-doubles-risk-of-hospitalisation-for-metabolic-disor

Wed May 22 14:44:58 IST 2024

On the hottest days, risk of hospitalisation for people with metabolic disorders such as those of sugar and blood pressure, and obesity, almost doubled as compared to days recording comfortable temperatures, a new study has found.

The research analysing hospital admissions related to high temperatures during summer over more than a decade in Spain found that extreme heat impacted people with these conditions the most.

"There are a number of reasons to explain this. For example, in people with obesity, heat loss responses work less efficiently, as body fat acts as an insulator, making them more susceptible to heat disorders," said Hicham Achebak, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.

Higher levels of air pollution further appeared to worsen the risk of hospital admission for people with these conditions, including diabetes, the researchers said.

The study also found that on hotter days, men showed a higher risk of hospital admission due to injuries, while women showed a higher risk of hospitalisation from infectious, hormonal and metabolic, respiratory or urinary diseases.

"Under conditions of heat stress, the body activates cutaneous vasodilation (more blood flows to skin) and sweat production in order to lose heat. The subsequent reactions can affect people differently depending on a series of factors, such as age, sex or pre-existing health conditions," explained Achebak, corresponding author of the study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

"We know, for example, that women have a higher temperature threshold above which sweating mechanisms are activated and are more susceptible to the effects of heat," he said.

The researchers analysed data of more than 11.2 million emergency hospital admissions between 2006 and 2019 from 48 provinces in mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, an archipelago off eastern Spain in the Mediterranean.

Using statistical methods of analysis, the team estimated how temperatures affected the different causes of hospitalisation for summer (June to September) and by province. They also considered daily average temperatures and relative humidity, along with air pollutant levels, including those of PM2.5.

High temperatures were found to have "a generalised impact on cause-specific hospitalisations."

Children under a year and adults older than 85 years were the most vulnerable, even as heat heightened the risk of hospitalisation across all age groups, the researchers said.

"The underlying mechanisms by which heat triggers adverse health outcomes remain unclear, but they seem to be related to how our body regulates its own temperature," said Achebak.

Other conditions that increased an individual's risk of hospitalisation because of extreme heat were those of kidney, including failure and stones, and urinary tract infection, the researchers found.

Heat was also found to raise the risk of hospitalisation in people with sepsis, in which chemicals released in the blood to fight infections trigger inflammation throughout the body.

-unusual--form-of-cell-death-underlies-lung-damage-in-covid-pati

Tue May 21 15:50:35 IST 2024

An unusual form of cell death could lead to a Covid patient's lungs suffering extreme damage, potentially resulting in life-threatening conditions such as inflammation and acute respiratory disorders, according to new research.

The ability to inhibit this unusual form of cell death -- ferroptosis -- can offer doctors new ways of to treat Covid-19 lung disease, the study suggested.

Cell death, where a cell stops functioning, can be natural or could result from causes such as a disease or an injury.

The most common form of cell death involves cells "chopping up" the molecules inside, researchers explained, adding that this occurs in humans, both when they are ill or are ageing.

However, in ferroptosis, the relatively uncommon form of cell death, cells die because their outer fat layers collapse, the researchers at Columbia University, US, said.

In this study, they analysed human tissues and collected autopsies of patients who died of respiratory failure caused by Covid-19 infection. Samples from hamsters were also analysed.

The team found that most cells were dying through the ferroptosis mechanism, forming the underlying basis for lung disease in Covid patients.

Therefore, drugs that target and prevent the ferroptosis form of cell death could help improve the treatment course for Covid-19, the researchers said.

"This finding adds crucial insight to our understanding of how Covid-19 affects the body that will significantly improve our ability to fight life-threatening cases of the disease," said Brent Stockwell, chair of the department of biological sciences at Columbia, and co-lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications.

Previous studies have shown that ferroptosis, while instrumental to certain normal bodily processes, can also attack and kill healthy cells in patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

The authors said that the ability to inhibit ferroptosis could offer doctors new ways of combating cell death that should not be occurring, as in the case of Covid-19 lung disease.

"We're hopeful that these important new findings could improve our ability to confront this pernicious disease, which, in too many cases, still diminishes health outcomes and results in death," said Stockwell.

the-growing-promise-of-cancer-vaccines

Mon May 20 16:13:07 IST 2024

No magic bullet is in sight yet, but three vaccines for particular skin and lung cancer types have advanced to the last phase of clinical trials.

A cure for cancer which is second only to cardiovascular diseases in its contribution to the global burden of disease has long been a dream.

While no magic bullet is yet in sight, three vaccines for particular skin and lung cancer types have advanced to the last stage of clinical trials in recent months.

If successful, these vaccines should be available to patients in the next three to 11 years. Unlike vaccines which prevent diseases, these aim to cure them or prevent relapses.

Cancer in every person is different because the cells in every cancerous tumour have different sets of genetic mutations. Recognising this, two of the vaccines are personalised and tailor-made for each patient. Oncologists working with pharmaceutical companies have developed these individualised neoantigen therapies.

A vaccine typically works by training the immune cells of our body to recognise antigens proteins from pathogens, such as viruses against future attacks by the pathogen.

In cancer, however, there is no external pathogen. The cells of a cancerous tumour undergo continuous mutations, some of which help them to grow much faster than normal cells while some others help them evade the body's natural immune system. The mutated proteins in cancerous cells are called neoantigens'.

In individualised neoantigen therapy, the gene sequence of the tumour and normal blood cells are compared to identify neoantigens from each patient, and then a subset of neoantigens are chosen that are most likely to induce an immune response.

The vaccine for an individual patient targets this chosen subset of neoantigens.

These vaccines, jointly developed by pharma giants Moderna and Merck, have been shown in trials conducted so far to be significantly more effective in combination with immunotherapy than immunotherapy alone in preventing both the relapse of melanoma a type of skin cancer and non-small cell lung cancer after the tumours had been surgically removed.

Following these promising results in phase II clinical trials, the vaccines are now being tested on a larger group of patients in phase III trials. The studies are expected to be complete by 2030 for melanoma and 2035 for lung cancer.

The Moderna-Merck cancer vaccine may not be the first to reach the market. The French company OSE Immunotherapeutics published positive results last September from phase III clinical trials of a vaccine using a different approach for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Its vaccine, Tedopi, is scheduled to start confirmatory trials which are the last step before regulatory approval later this year and may be available by 2027.

Vaccines for pancreatic cancer being developed by BioNTech and Genentech, and for colon cancer by Gritstone, are also showing promising results in the early phases of clinical trials. Like the vaccines being developed by Moderna and Merck, these too are individualised neoantigen therapies based on messenger RNA (mRNA).

There is another kind of RNA therapy also under development that uses small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA). Since 2018, six siRNA-based therapies have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of neural, skin, heart and renal diseases.

Several more siRNA drugs are at various clinical trial stages for different types of cancer and a diverse range of other diseases.

Within cells, there are two kinds of nucleic acid molecules that contain coded information vital to life: DNA and RNA. While DNA contains genetic information, mRNA one among the different types of RNA carries the codes for the proteins.

In addition, there are also non-coding RNA, some of which are functionally important. siRNA and miRNA are examples of such non-coding RNA.

The RNA vaccine for an individualised neoantigen therapy is a cocktail of mRNA carrying the codes for neoantigens the mutated fingerprint proteins in cancerous cells. For the Moderna-Merck study, scientists identified 34 neoantigens per patient.

They delivered the corresponding mRNA vaccine cocktail packed in lipid nanoparticles, just like the mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.

When the vaccine is delivered after removing the tumour, it trains the immune system to recognise neoantigens and fight back against the cancer returning. Usually, the body's natural immune system corrects mutations and prevents us from having cancers. However, in some cases this natural immune response is insufficient, leading to tumour growth.

In individualised neoantigen therapy, these mutations in the tumour cells are used for vaccine development and for training the immune system to fight back against relapse after removal of the tumour.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence are helping identify potential neoantigens and manage personalised therapies. Firstly, gene sequencing of tumours and normal blood cells of a patient and their comparison produces a huge amount of data.

AI is used to find the genetic mutations of the patient's cancer in such big data'.

Moreover, individualised therapy requires timely production and delivery of vaccines that are different for each patient. AI is also useful in the management of such data.

The individualised nature of the treatment is probably why it has been more effective in trials than previous, unsuccessful RNA vaccine candidates. However, this personalisation is also likely to raise challenges for the timely and cost-effective delivery of treatment to populations around the world.

The siRNA and miRNA treatments work in a way opposite to mRNA. While each mRNA in a vaccine carries the code for producing a protein from a pathogen (antigen) or tumour (neoantigen) to train our immune systems against future attacks by the pathogen or tumour, siRNA directly targets the mRNA of the antigen or neoantigen and terminates the production of the protein it codes.

Thus, the effect of a siRNA is more direct and immediate (like a drug), rather than a protection against future attacks (like a vaccine).

Discovered at the turn of this millennium, siRNA-based therapeutics attracted immediate attention, but their initial success was limited due to their inherent low stability, difficulties in delivering them to desired locations, and rapid clearance from the bloodstream.

However, in recent years, siRNA therapies have been boosted through chemical modifications that have increased their stability and ability to be delivered to specific locations such as tumours, and improved delivery systems such as lipid nanoparticle encasings.

These improvements led to recent successes in FDA approvals of siRNA-based therapies and further promising reports of advances in the treatment of diseases including a type of liver cancer.

(360info.org: By Bidyut Sarkar, Shiv Nadar University in Greater Noida)

global-life-expectancy-to-increase-by-nearly-5-years-by-2050

Mon May 20 15:04:25 IST 2024

The latest findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 forecast that global life expectancy will increase by 4.9 years in males and 4.2 years in females between 2022 and 2050. This increase is expected to be largest in countries where life expectancy is lower, contributing to a convergence of increased life expectancy across geographies. The trend is largely driven by public health measures that have prevented and improved survival rates from cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19, and a range of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (CMNNs).

The study, published in The Lancet, also indicates that the ongoing shift in disease burden to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and exposure to NCD-associated risk factors will have the greatest impact on disease burden of the next generation. As the disease burden continues to shift from CMNNs to NCDs and from years of life lost (YLLs) to years lived with disability (YLDs), more people are expected to live longer, but with more years spent in poor health. Global life expectancy is forecasted to increase from 73.6 years of age in 2022 to 78.1 years of age in 2050, with global healthy life expectancy (HALE) also expected to increase from 64.8 years in 2022 to 67.4 years in 2050.

Dr. Chris Murray, Chair of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington and Director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), highlighted that the disparity in life expectancy across geographies is expected to lessen, indicating that while health inequalities between the highest- and lowest-income regions will remain, the gaps are shrinking, with the biggest increases anticipated in sub-Saharan Africa.

The study also puts forth various alternative scenarios to compare the potential health outcomes if different public health interventions could eliminate exposure to several key risk factor groups by 2050. The forecasted effects are strongest for the 'Improved Behavioral and Metabolic Risks' scenario, with a 13.3% reduction in disease burden (number of DALYs) in 2050 compared with the 'Reference' (most likely) scenario. Additionally, reductions in disease burden are also forecasted from the 'Safer Environment' and 'Improved Childhood Nutrition and Vaccination' scenarios beyond the reference forecast, demonstrating the need for continued progress and resources in these areas and the potential to accelerate progress through 2050.

world-hypertension-day-2024-theme-significance-and-history-everything-to-know-about-may-17

Thu May 16 20:45:18 IST 2024

Every year, May 17th is observed as World Hypertension Day with the main agenda to spread awareness about hypertension and its effects on the human body. It is said that prolonged hypertension puts a person at a higher risk of various medical conditions, including chronic kidney disease, stroke, heart failure, etc.Some of the major causes of hypertension in young people are high stress levels, obesity, poor dietary habits, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Do you know what causes hypertension?

It occurs when there is an abnormally high blood pressure exerted on the arterial walls. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report states that high blood pressure often occurs gradually. Unhealthy lifestyle decisions, including not engaging in enough regular physical activity, can lead to it. Obesity and diabetes are two more medical problems that might raise the risk of high blood pressure.

As you may know, one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease is hypertension, or high blood pressure. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified it as "the number one killer" in the World Health Report in 2002. Also, it is said that the risk of stroke is four times greater and the risk of myocardial infarction (a heart attack) is two times greater if the blood pressure is high as compared to the normal blood pressure.

ALSO READ | Hypertension Day: Symptoms, risk factors, prevention and treatment

Additionally, The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that the rise of the processed food sector has affected the global intake of salt, which is a key contributor to hypertension. Consequently, it's critical to limit salt intake to lower the risk of hypertension because consuming more salt may raise blood pressure.

World Hypertension Day 2024: Theme

To raise public awareness of hypertension, its causes, prevention, and effective blood pressure management strategies, the World Hypertension League (WHL), an umbrella organization of 85 national hypertension societies and leagues designates particular topics for World Hypertension Day each year. Their report states that more than 50% of the hypertensive population worldwide are unaware of their condition. In order to have a bigger influence on health outcomes, WHL invites its partners and members to take part in World Hypertension Day through blood pressure checks, rallies, local gatherings, news releases, and awareness initiatives conducted all around the globe.

This year World Hypertension Day is celebrated under the theme “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, and Live Longer”, with an emphasis on:

• Fighting the poor global awareness of hypertension, particularly in low- and middle-income countries

• Encouraging precise techniques for measuring blood pressure

• Sharing with the public the significance of hypertension and the major medical consequences it can cause

• Providing guidance on managing, detecting, and preventing hypertension

Origin and significance

The first World Hypertension Day was launched on May 14, 2005, by the WHL. May 17 has been observed globally as World Hypertension Day since 2006. Many people are ignorant of the symptoms of hypertension and the steps that can be taken to prevent it.

According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, more national societies have taken part in World Hypertension Day over the past three years and have employed innovative strategies to raise public awareness.

In 2007, there was record participation from 47 member countries of the WHL. All of these nations worked with their local governments, professional societies, non- governmental organizations, and commercial enterprises to raise public awareness of hypertension during the week of World Hypertension Day (WHD) through a variety of media outlets and open demonstrations. The message was seen by over 250 million people because of mainstream media like television and the internet.With each passing year, the WHL hopes to reach almost all of the estimated

1.5 billion individuals who suffer from high blood pressure. World Hypertension Day’s success is a result of the passion and selfless efforts of numerous participants from each of the member nations.

breaking-news-now-astra-zeneca-s-covid-vaccine-linked-to-vitt-blood-clotting-disorder-report

Thu May 16 20:17:00 IST 2024

AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, which was sold in India as Covishield, is linked to a rare blood clotting disorder called Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT), researchers have found.

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca earlier this month had announced the worldwide withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccines. Although "surplus of available updated vaccines" that target new variants of the virus was cited as the reason for the withdrawal, the decision came days after the company acknowledged in court papers that the vaccine carried serious side effects, known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, or TTS, in some people. This also follows the AstraZeneca's decision to withdraw its European Union marketing authorisation. On May 6, Monday, the European Medicines Agency issued a notice that the vaccine is no longer authorised for use.

It was scientists of South Australia's Flinders University that revealed in a study VITT emerged in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly after the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The jab was based on adenovirus vectors, India Today said in a report.

ALSO READ | Why AstraZeneca decided to withdraw Covid-19 vaccine globally

According to the researchers, VITT is caused by a harmful blood autoantibody targeting a protein called platelet factor 4 (PF4), the report said. Another research last year had revealed a similar fatal disorder linked to natural adenovirus infections involving the same PF4 antibody.

PF4 antibodies in vaccine-related VITT and natural adenovirus infections reportedly share identical molecular signatures.

Understanding "autoantibody"

US-based National Cancer Institute describes "autoantibody" as an antibody produced by the immune system that attacks the body's own proteins. Autoantibodies can directly destroy cells that have substances on them or can make it easier for other white blood cells to destroy them.

This can cause to autoimmune diseases, where the immune system harms healthy cells and tissues. Affected people are likely to develop blood clots in unusual places including the brain, India Today said. The patients may also have high levels of a substance called D-dimer in their blood, the report said.

The new study reportedly found that a common factor in viruses and vaccines triggers these harmful antibodies.

However, VITT is likely to occur four to forty-two days after taking the vaccine. As people are no longer taking the vaccine, the study offers vaccinated people no reason to bother, the report added.

global-study-predicts-significant-increase-in-life-expectancy-by

Mon May 20 15:08:32 IST 2024

Life expectancy around the world is projected to improve by almost five years in men and by over four years in women between 2022 and 2050, according to a global study published in The Lancet journal.

Researchers said that the improvements are expected to be the highest in countries where life expectancy is lower, thereby contributing to an overall enhancement of life expectancy across geographies.

Public health measures preventing and improving survival rates from cardiovascular diseases, COVID-19, and a range of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases, are largely driving the trend of increasing life expectancy globally, the authors said.

"In addition to an increase in life expectancy overall, we have found that the disparity in life expectancy across geographies will lessen," said Chris Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, US.

"This is an indicator that while health inequalities between the highest and lowest income regions will remain, the gaps are shrinking, with the biggest increases anticipated in Sub-Saharan Africa," said Murray. The IHME coordinates the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, the "largest and most comprehensive effort to quantify health loss across places and over time."

However, the researchers from the GBD 2021 Forecasting Collaborators said that the ongoing shift in disease burden to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular ones, cancer and diabetes, and exposure to associated risk factors including obesity and high blood pressure, will have the most impact on the next generation.

This shift was analysed to increase an individual's years lived with disability or YLDs. Disease burden is the impact of a health problem on a given population, measured through varied indicators such as deaths, disability, or financial costs.

Therefore, as the disease burden shifts from that of communicable ones to non-communicable health problems, people are expected to live longer, but with more years spent in poor health, the researchers said.

They said that healthy life expectancy around the world, referring to the number of years one could expect to live in good health, will increase by 2.6 years in the coming years - from 64.8 years in 2022 to 67.4 years in 2050.

For India, the study has projected that by 2050, on average, men could have a life expectancy of over 75 years, while that for women could be almost 80 years.

Healthy life expectancy, however, was projected to be over 65 years for both men and women in India.

Drawing on the work of more than 11,000 collaborators, the GBD 2021 includes more than 607 billion estimates of 371 diseases and injuries and 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, according to the IHME.