<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
                        <id>http://www.presstoday.news/feed/health</id>
                                <link href="http://www.presstoday.news/feed/health"></link>
                                <title><![CDATA[The Press Today health Feed]]></title>
                                <description>The Press Today Latest health News Feeds</description>
                                <language>bn-BD</language>
                                <updated>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:37:40 +0000</updated>
                        <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[The uncompromising leader&#039;s treatment will be in the country]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/205" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/205</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[The medical board treating BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is hopeful that she may recover in Bangladesh with proper treatment, even without being taken abroad. A doctor from the board, wishing anonymity, said on Sunday night that her condition has slightly improved, reports UNB.

&quot;Madam is better than before. We are trying our best to treat her here. We believe she can recover with treatment in the country. She has been in more critical condition before and still recovered. It may not be necessary to take her to London,&quot; he said.

The physician also said several of Khaleda&#39;s health parameters are improving. &quot;CT scans, ECG and a few other tests were done on Sunday, and the results came back better.&quot;

Asked how long she will remain in the CCU, he said it depends on her physical improvement. &quot;Local and foreign doctors are ensuring the best treatment. &quot;Her daughter-in-law Dr Zubaida Rahman is coordinating treatment at her bedside. She will stay in Bangladesh for several more days.&quot;

The doctor also said Khaleda tries to speak at times with her family members. &quot;Her younger brother, his wife and her two daughters-in-law have been constantly by her side.&quot;

Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson&#39;s Adviser Dr Enamul Haque Chowdhury said on Sunday night that Khaleda will be taken to London as soon as the medical board makes the final decision.

&quot;The Qatar government will arrange an air ambulance whenever needed. This is not a problem. We are waiting for the board&#39;s decision. With everyone&#39;s prayers, we hope she will overcome this. If the board decides, she will be taken to London for advanced treatment. The hospital in London will be chosen later,&quot; he said.

Last Thursday, the medical board advised that she should be taken to the UK for advanced treatment.

It was announced that, like in January, she would be flown to London on a special air ambulance provided by the Emir of Qatar. The air ambulance was expected to take her on Friday morning.

However, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday that the air ambulance could not arrive due to technical issues.

As per his announcement, the air ambulance was expected to reach Dhaka on Saturday, but it did not arrive on Sunday either. When it will come remains uncertain.

As usual, Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, visited Evercare Hospital on Sunday afternoon to see Khaleda Zia.

Dr Zubaida is also a member of Khaleda Zia&#39;s medical board.She arrived in Dhaka on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight on Friday morning. She has since been closely monitoring Khaleda&#39;s condition. Even when staying at her Dhanmondi residence, she receives updates on her mother-in-law over the phone, said Atiqur Rahman Rumon of the BNP Media Cell.

The BNP chief has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital since November 23 and was moved to the Critical Care Unit on November 27 with multiple health complications.

Her treatment is being supervised by a medical board led by cardiologist Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, which includes doctors from Evercare Hospital as well as specialists from the UK, USA and China.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:37:40 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[&#039;&#039;Khaleda Zia is responding to her treatment: Dr Zahid]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/198" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/198</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia can &#39;maintain&#39; treatment, said her personal physician Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, a member of the BNP National Standing Committee. He urged people not to spread misleading information. While speaking to reporters in front of Evercare Hospital around 12:30pm on Tuesday, Dr Zahid said, &#39;&#39;Khaleda Zia is responding to treatment or we can say, she can maintain treatment.&#39;&#39; He sought blessings from all and urged people not to spread rumours.

&#39;&#39;A medical board consisting of doctors from the UK, USA and Bangladesh is overseeing her treatment. Tarique Rahman is constantly monitoring the situation and the interim government continues to extend its support,&#39;&#39; Zahid added.

He also informed that a specialist medical team from the UK will arrive today (Tuesday) to assist in her treatment. Decisions regarding whether she will be taken abroad for treatment depend entirely on the medical board. Meanwhile, the main team of Chinese specialist physicians is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today to oversee the treatment of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Khaleda Zia, 80, was admitted to Evercare Hospital at night of November 23 on the advice of the medical board after being diagnosed with infections in her heart and lungs. She has also been suffering from pneumonia and is currently under intensive observation in the Critical Care Unit (CCU), under the care of specialist doctors from both home and abroad.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:59:10 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Paracetamol and autism has no link]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/173" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/173</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[There is no clear link between pregnant women taking the common painkiller paracetamol and autism in their children, despite repeated claims otherwise by Donald Trump, according to the most comprehensive review of the existing evidence published Monday.

In September, the US president sparked outrage among the medical community by claiming that paracetamol -- also known as acetaminophen -- was associated with higher rates of autism.

Trump urged pregnant women to &quot;tough it out&quot; rather than take paracetamol, comments which health researchers warned could scare women off their safest option to treat pain -- and risked further stigmatising autistic people.

The World Health Organization has emphasised that there is no robust evidence showing that paracetamol -- which is the main ingredient in massively popular painkillers such as Tylenol and Panadol -- causes autism.

On Monday, an &quot;umbrella&quot; review of all the scientific research yet conducted on the subject was published in the British medical journal BMJ.

&quot;Existing evidence does not show a clear link between in utero exposure to paracetamol and autism and ADHD in offspring,&quot; the UK-lead team of researchers wrote in the review.

There have been several previous studies which suggested a possible link between paracetamol and autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

However the quality of those studies was &quot;low to critically low&quot;, the review said, partly because they did not take adequate steps to rule out potentially misleading factors such as whether autism runs in the family.

These controversial previous studies also could not establish exactly how paracetamol might cause autism.

The umbrella review called for better research, pointing out that there has been a &quot;historical and ongoing underinvestment in women&#39;s health research&quot;.

- Confirmation &ndash;

Several researchers praised the new study.

Dimitrios Siassakos, professor in obstetrics and gynaecology at University College London, said the review &quot;confirms what experts around the globe have been saying&quot;.

&quot;Autistic and neurodivergent people are more likely to experience chronic pain, and they are also much more likely to have neurodivergent children -- but paracetamol doesn&#39;t cause neurodivergence,&quot; said Steven Kapp of the University of Portsmouth.

&quot;As a researcher and autistic person with ADHD, I think we should not be trying to prevent neurodivergence anyway, but make life better for neurodivergent people,&quot; he added.

Beyond paracetamol, Trump and his vaccine-sceptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr have repeatedly made unfounded claims about autism, including that there is an &quot;epidemic&quot; of cases.

However experts maintain that the recent increase in autism rates is due to improved, broadened diagnosis methods along with growing awareness.

Courtsy: BSS

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 10 Nov 2025 13:31:32 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Lifestyle is the key to prevent cancer]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/112" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/112</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum has said on Monday that healthy lifestyle is crucial to prevent cancer and other chronic diseases, &quot;The number of cancer patients in our country is increasing every day including cases of breast cancer. We must change our food habits and become more health-conscious,&quot; she said while speaking at an event marking Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital.

Highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment, the adviser stressed the need to train and deploy more specialist doctors across the country. &quot;We must produce enough specialist doctors so that cancer awareness and treatment can reach people in every district.&quot;

Nurjahan also said that the government has already ensured cancer, kidney, and dialysis treatment facilities in all divisional hospitals. She said the Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine is crucial for effective cancer therapy. &quot;The government has undertaken a Tk 363 crore initiative to procure six more LINAC machines which are expected to arrive in the coming months,&quot; she added.

She praised the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery for its timely initiatives in breast cancer treatment and assured continued government support to strengthen such efforts.

Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Professor Dr Md Abu Jafar said breast cancer is completely curable if detected early. He urged women not to delay or feel embarrassed about getting screened, pointing out that while awareness has traditionally focused on women over 40, cases are increasingly being detected in women under 30. &quot;So, regardless of age, anyone noticing symptoms should consult a doctor immediately,&quot; he added.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 07:12:37 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[374 new dengue cases reported, 1 more dies]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/98" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/98</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Bangladesh recorded one more death from dengue in the 24 hours till Friday morning (October 4), bringing the total number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease this year to 203, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The latest fatality was reported in Mymensingh Division outside the city corporation area. During the same period, 374 new patients were hospitalised with dengue, raising the total number of cases in 2024 to 48,865.

Of the fresh cases, 63 were reported in Barishal Division, 102 in Chattogram, 67 in Dhaka Division (outside city corporation), 46 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 48 in Dhaka South City Corporation, 37 in Mymensingh, 101 in Khulna, and 11 in Rajshahi Division.

Currently, 787 patients are receiving treatment in Dhaka hospitals, while 2,304 patients are admitted across the country. The DGHS report noted that men accounted for 65.2 percent of the newly infected patients, while women made up 34.8 percent.

Last year, Bangladesh reported 575 dengue-related deaths and 101,214 cases, with 100,040 recoveries during the same period.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 07:18:40 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Children&#039;s low vegis threats to nutrition]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/96" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/96</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Vegetable consumption among children in Bangladesh is alarmingly low, posing serious threats to child nutrition and long-term health, nutritionists and public health experts have warned. Recent estimates suggest that more than 1.5 crore children across the country are at nutritional risk due to the lack of vegetables, fruits, and milk in their daily food intake. Experts say this deficiency is causing a shortfall of at least five key nutrients essential for healthy growth and development.

Nutritionists recommend that children aged 2 to 5 years should consume at least 40% of their daily food intake in the form of vegetables to lay a strong foundation for lifelong health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children consume at least 400g, or five portions, of fruits and vegetables per day. Adequate vegetable intake is linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers later in life, it also said.

On the other hand, poor dietary habits, including low vegetable intake, can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes later in life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ICDDR,B).

A recent analysis of dietary patterns reveals that a significant number of Bangladeshi children under the age of five consume little to no vegetables on a daily basis. According to data from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), more than 60% of children aged 6 to 23 months had not consumed any fruits or vegetables on the day before the survey. &ldquo;This trend is deeply concerning,&rdquo; said Dr. Nusrat Jahan, a pediatric nutritionist at the National Institute of Public Health. &ldquo;Vegetables are essential for a child&rsquo;s physical and cognitive development. When children miss out on this group of foods early in life, it can lead to vitamin deficiencies, weakened immunity, and poor eating habits in the future.&rdquo;

Experts say the avoidance of vegetables stems from multiple factors&mdash;ranging from taste preferences and lack of awareness to the increasing influence of ultra-processed food marketing. Many children show a natural aversion to bitter flavors, especially those found in green leafy vegetables, and without repeated exposure or encouragement, these foods are often rejected both at home and in schools. In lower-income households, affordability and accessibility pose additional challenges. &ldquo;There is a clear link between food insecurity and poor dietary diversity,&rdquo; said Shamsul Alam, a food policy researcher. &ldquo;When families struggle to make ends meet, vegetables are often replaced with calorie-dense staples like rice and lentils.&rdquo;

However, the issue cuts across class lines. Dr. Kamrul Hasan, senior pediatrician at Mugda Medical College and Hospital, told UNB that vegetable intake is commonly neglected in both poor and affluent families. &ldquo;Our meals are made up of several essential components. Yet vegetables&mdash;critical for boosting the immune system&mdash;are often overlooked by parents, rich and poor alike,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients such as Vitamin A, C, K, iron, potassium, folic acid, calcium, and even protein.&rdquo; He emphasized the need for integrating vegetables and fruits into children&rsquo;s daily meal plans to address widespread micronutrient deficiencies. &ldquo;My son doesn&rsquo;t like vegetables, so I just give him rice with eggs,&rdquo; said Rina Akhter, a mother from Mirpur. &ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t realize skipping vegetables every day could be harmful.&rdquo;

Many families avoid vegetables fearing they might be harmful due to the practise of selling outdated produce as fresh by applying a chemical called formalin by vendors. When its widespread use was exposed in the media, the public grew even more apprehensive about consuming vegetables. Encouragingly, some initiatives have begun showing promise. In a pilot project in Khulna and Rangpur districts, primary school students were introduced to school gardens, vegetable-based meals, and basic nutrition education. Teachers reported noticeable improvements in children&#39;s willingness to eat vegetables like spinach and amaranth. Nutritionists recommend involving children in food preparation, offering vegetables in fun and creative forms, and modeling positive eating behaviors. &ldquo;Children are more likely to eat vegetables when they see parents or peers enjoying them,&rdquo; said Dr. Nusrat.

Public health advocates are calling for stronger policy-level interventions, including mandatory school meals with vegetables, subsidized vegetable markets, and restrictions on junk food marketing targeted at children. As Bangladesh continues its fight against malnutrition, experts agree that ensuring vegetables are a regular part of children&rsquo;s diets must become a national priority. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about full bellies,&rdquo; said Dr. Nusrat. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s about nourishing our next generation&mdash;both body and mind.&rdquo; Despite progress in reducing poverty and improving health indicators, malnutrition remains a major public health concern for children in Bangladesh. According to recent national and international data, approximately 28% of children under the age of five are stunted, indicating chronic undernutrition that hampers physical and cognitive development.


Additionally, around 9.8% of children suffer from wasting - a result of acute malnutrition&mdash;while 22&ndash;23% are underweight. Experts warn that over 40% of children face some form of anthropometric failure when combined indicators are considered. Alarmingly, a small but rising percentage (3.3%) are overweight, pointing to an emerging double burden of malnutrition.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 06:52:12 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Dhaka WASA HQ completely smoke-free]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/95" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/95</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has officially declared its headquarters completely smoke-free zone.

The announcement was made by Md Amirul Islam, Deputy Managing Director of Dhaka WASA, recently in a meeting to strengthening tobacco control efforts.

The declaration was made to protect both WASA employees and the thousands of daily visitors from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Md. Amirul Islam, the Chief Guest, stressed that the harm from smoking extends beyond smokers to non-smokers who are exposed to passive smoking.

The event was jointly organised by Dhaka WASA and the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP). The meeting was presided over by Dhaka WASA&#39;s Chief Engineer, Md Abdus Salam Bepari, who emphasised the severe health risks of tobacco use and urged the government to pass the proposed amendments swiftly in the interest of public health.

Following the meeting, anti-smoking message boards and stickers were installed at strategic locations throughout the Dhaka WASA building to reinforce the new policy.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 06:38:42 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Dengue cases increasing]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/88" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/88</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Bangladesh reported 263 new dengue cases in the 24 hours leading up to Friday morning, bringing the total number of cases this year to 48,491, according to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The new cases were recorded across various regions, including 56 in Barishal Division outside the City Corporation, 64 in Chattogram Division outside the City Corporation, 34 in Dhaka Division outside the City Corporation, 56 in Dhaka North City Corporation, 35 in Dhaka South City Corporation and 18 in Mymensingh Division outside the City Corporation.

No new deaths were reported during this period, leaving the total fatalities at 202 for the year so far.

Currently, 2,301 dengue patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals across the country.

Last year, dengue caused 575 deaths in Bangladesh, with a total of 101,214 reported cases and 100,040 recoveries, according to DGHS.

PT/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 04 Oct 2025 05:49:48 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Saima Wazed on indefinite leave]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/30" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/30</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Saima Wazed Putul, the World Health Organization&rsquo;s (WHO) Regional Director for South-East Asia, has been placed on indefinite leave, four months after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh filed two cases against her on charges of fraud, forgery and misuse of power, according to the Health Policy Watch.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision in a brief internal email, stating that Wazed would be on leave starting Friday (July 11).

He also said WHO Assistant Director-General Dr Catharina Boehme would assume responsibility as Officer-in-Charge of the SEARO office in Wazed&rsquo;s absence. Boehme is expected to arrive at the SEARO headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 15).

Saima Wazed, daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who fled the country last August after protests, took office as Regional Director in January 2024.

The charges against Saima Wazed stem from her bid to be appointed regional director.

Her campaign was shadowed by claim that her influential mother used her influence to ensure her daughter&rsquo;s election.

According to the formal charges, she is alleged to have provided false information about her academic record during her campaign for regional director, violating Section 468 of the Bangladesh Penal Code (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and Section 471 (forging a document).

The ACC also alleged she misrepresented her qualifications by claiming an honorary role at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, which the university disputes, to secure her WHO position.

Saima Wazed is also accused of having misused her power and influence to collect about $2.8 million from various banks for the Shuchona Foundation which she used to head.

The ACC case did not provide complete details on how the money was then used. Those charges include: allegations of fraud and misuse of power under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property); , as well as Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947.

Since the charges were laid, Saima has been unable to travel properly in the SEARO region as she faces arrest in Bangladesh.]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:59:17 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
            <entry>
            <title><![CDATA[Dengue spreading all over the country!]]></title>
            <link rel="alternate" href="http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/11" />
            <id>http://www.presstoday.news/news/article/health/11</id>
            <author>
                <name> <![CDATA[The Press Today Admin]]></name>
            </author>
            <summary type="html">
                <![CDATA[Health Desk: 21 more dengue patients were hospitalized across the country in the 24 hours till Friday morning. With the new cases, the total number of the patients rose to 4,323. As no death was reported during the period, the number of total fatalities remained at 23.

&quot;During the period, 10 patients were hospitalised in Barishal division, three in Chattogram, three in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and five patients were admitted in the different hospitals in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC),&quot; said a press release issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. According to the DGHS, there were 101,214 dengue cases and 100,040 recoveries in 2024.

pt/ra]]>
            </summary>
            
            
            <updated>Sat, 31 May 2025 04:05:42 +0000</updated>
        </entry>
    </feed>
