Yesterday marked World Haemophilia Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of the condition and its largely hidden footprint in India. For India’s many haemophiliacs, suffering is often in silence. Haemophilia is a genetic condition which means sufferers do not have enough clotting factor. This refers to a group of proteins in the blood which works […]
blood
Screening for blood disorders proposed in bill
The Union Health Ministry has created a draft policy that could help to identify hemoglobinopathies, thalassemia and sickle cell disease. With sickle cell anaemia reaching prevalences of up to 35 percent in some communities, such a programme could identify many unaware of their status and who go without treatment as a result. Titled ‘Prevention and […]
Could a malaria treatment be found in human blood?
Could a new defence against malaria be found in human blood? Research suggests that human platelets — a component of the blood — form a first-line defence against the malaria parasite. Such a discovery could lead to an entirely new approach to treating the disease and could aid India in curbing the number of malaria […]
Mind your salt intake, it’s bad for blood pressure
Salt intake is too high in India, the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) has warned. Is this leading to a crisis of high blood pressure? A PHFI study has found consumption of the foodstuff in three Indian states exceeds the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which says you should eat less than […]
Rare blood group discovered in Mangaluru: First of its kind in India
This article was originally published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission. By Nimeshika Jayachandran Doctors at Kasturba Medical College and Hospital in Mangaluru recently discovered a rare blood group, the first of its kind noted in India. The patient’s blood samples had been sent to the blood bank at the hospital […]
Blood spilled, a waste of donations
India has wasted 2.8 million (28 lakh) units of blood over the last five years. This is despite an annual shortfall of three million (30 lakh) units and the grim reality that India lacks the necessary amount of blood to provide for the quotas required by hospitals. With this in mind, wastage of what amounts […]