Barkha Mathur

How stress changes your face: What's 'cortisol face' and how to reverse it

When stress lingers, cortisol nudges the body to hold on to salt and water, redistributes fat, and stirs up inflammation

Your shoes may be damaging your knees and back more than you realise daily

From barefoot trends to cushioned trainers, doctor explains how footwear affects your knees, hips and spine, and what kind of shoes actually reduce joint wear over time

Budget 2026: With under 2% of GDP, India's health spending lags global norms

India's public health spending remains below 2% of GDP, far lower than global standards and middle-income peers. As disease burdens rise, experts ask if underfunding health is now an economic risk

India's diabetes burden hits 90 million as lifestyle shifts reshape health

India now has 90 million adults living with diabetes, second only to China. The IDF Diabetes Atlas warns the burden will rise sharply with ageing, urbanisation and lifestyle change

Want to catch up on sleep over the weekend? Science says it may not work

Extra weekend sleep can ease fatigue and briefly sharpen alertness, but it cannot reverse deeper health effects of chronic sleep deprivation or fix long-term sleep debt, says a doctor

Teens who sleep more on weekends show lower depression symptoms: Study

A US study suggests teens and young adults who sleep longer on weekends to make up for weekday sleep loss may have

Mosquitoes are biting humans more as wildlife fades, study from Brazil finds

A Brazilian study finds mosquitoes in fragmented Atlantic Forest habitats are feeding more on humans as wildlife declines, raising concerns that mosquito-borne diseases may become harder to control

Is your pet your therapy? Doctors explain how dogs and cats change stress

Pet ownership can bring comfort and calm through routine and companionship, though experts stress that emotional benefits differ widely and can sometimes come with added strain

What happens when you drink tea with your daily meals? Doctor explains

Tea is a daily ritual for many Indians, but doctors say having it with meals may interfere with nutrient absorption and digestion. Here's what to do without giving up your tea

Lost your voice after concert or match or cold? Here's how to recover

Lost your voice after cheering, singing or a bad cold? The instinctive whispering may worsen the damage. An ENT expert explains what helps your vocal cords heal faster

Is addiction a choice or a disease? Doctor explains the brain shift

Substance use may begin as a personal choice, but repeated exposure alters brain circuits that control reward and impulse, turning use into a disease for some people

Can your body expose a smoking habit before you admit it yourself?

You may hide a cigarette, but the body keeps score. A doctor explains how smoking leaves subtle signs across organs long before stains, smell or a confession appear

How much cannabis is too much? Scientists put a number on addiction risk

For the first time, scientists have proposed a weekly THC limit linked to cannabis addiction risk, suggesting adults staying under about 40 mg THC a week face lower odds of dependence

Small daily habits, big anatomical consequences: What your body is becoming

From phones to chairs to shoes, according to doctors, your small daily habits and choices are reshaping your body, with effects that often surface years later as stiffness and joint pain

Why weight returns fast after stopping obesity drugs? Homeostasis explained

Here's how homeostasis, hormones and obesity drugs affect why lost weight often returns faster than expected

₹3.5 cr on cow dung cancer research: Science or waste of taxpayer money?

A state-funded cancer research project centred on cow-based remedies has triggered debate. Surgical oncologist explains what science says, what evidence is missing, and why accountability matters

Google removes some AI health summaries after wrong advice sparks alarm

Can AI search answer put your health at risk? Google has removed 'AI Overviews' from some medical searches after a report by The Guardian flagged misinformation with potentially dangerous consequences

Why do leg cramps happen at night? An orthopaedic doctor explains

From nerve misfiring to sleeping position, night-time leg cramps have many triggers. A doctor explains what causes them and when they need medical attention

If you think you look older than your age, doctor recommends these changes

National Youth Day: Seeing more patients who look older than their years, a doctor says modern work-life habits are quietly affecting sleep, hormones, metabolism and long-term heart health

Is your bedroom too warm for your ageing heart? New study raises alarm

Hot nights may be stressing ageing hearts. A new Australian study finds that bedroom temperatures above 24 degrees Celsius during sleep can disrupt heart recovery in older adults