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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Hovering over the toilet? You may be hurting your bladder
New Delhi: Hovering over public toilets to avoid germs may seem hygienic, but doctors warn it can harm your bladder. The half-squat position often adopted by women prevents full bladder emptying, increasing the risk of urine retention, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and long-term pelvic floor issues. "It causes increased bladder pressure and can raise the risk of UTIs, bladder irritation, and even long-term problems," said Dr Nikhil Khattar, associate director, urology, PSRI Hospital. He explained that when this posture is used regularly, it trains the body into a habit of incomplete urination. This affects how the bladder muscles function, and may eventually cause symptoms like frequent urgency, leakage or difficulty emptying the bladder fully. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi "Retained urine also provides a good environment for bacteria to grow, which increases the chance of recurrent UTIs and, in some cases, even kidney infections," he said. The risks are similar when people delay urinating for too long, which many do in public places to avoid using unclean restrooms. "Whether you are holding your urine or not sitting properly while passing it, both habits harm the pelvic floor muscles and interfere with normal bladder emptying," Dr Khattar added. Dr Neelam Suri, senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said the full squat position — as used with traditional Indian toilets — is much healthier. "In a full squat, the pelvic muscles relax fully, making it easier to empty both the bladder and bowel," she said. "Half-squatting or hovering keeps the muscles tense and doesn't allow proper urination." According to her, many women hover over Western-style toilets out of fear of infection. But the posture itself can do more harm in the long run. "Studies suggest that hovering increases the risk of incomplete urination and pelvic strain, which can lead to chronic issues," she added. Dr Gaurav Garg, senior consultant, urology, Max Smart Hospital, Saket, also said long-term half-squatting can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction and stress incontinence — where urine leaks out during coughing, sneezing or physical activity. "Many women who come to us with these issues don't realise it's linked to their posture during urination," he said. Doctors also clarified a common myth: simply sitting on a public toilet seat doesn't directly cause UTIs. "UTIs are primarily caused by bacteria like E. coli entering the urethra and multiplying in the urinary tract," said Dr Khattar. "Poor hygiene, improper wiping, touching contaminated surfaces or not washing hands properly are bigger risks. The toilet seat itself is rarely the cause." D r Atul Goswami, director of urology and uro-oncology at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, said awareness is key and women should feel empowered to sit properly by using tools like disposable seat covers or toilet seat sanitisers when using public toilets. "Touching the seat is not as dangerous as incomplete urination, which can cause real and lasting harm," he said. Experts stressed the need to educate women about proper toilet habits and break the widespread fear around public toilet seats. "We must spread the message that sitting properly and emptying the bladder fully is essential for good urinary health," said Dr Suri. In a country where access to clean public toilets remains a challenge, doctors say small changes — like carrying hygiene products and choosing to sit instead of hover — can help protect long-term health. What feels like a quick fix may be doing silent damage, and the best choice might just be the one that feels most uncomfortable: sitting down.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
53% of Indian Youths Are ‘Personality Malnourished': Study
1 2 Nagpur: India is often called a young country, with nearly 26 crore people between the ages of 18 and 29. This is seen as our greatest strength. However, a new study brings serious concern — 53% of Indian youth are 'personality malnourished'. This means their overall growth as individuals is not happening well — they are missing important life skills, emotional strength, and social values, the study found. This study was conducted by Amrut Bang, project director of NIRMAN, who presented three research papers at the Emerging Adulthood Conference held in Charleston, USA, recently. NIRMAN is a youth educational initiative started under Gadchiroli-based NGO SEARCH (Society for Education, Action, Research in Community Health). Bang's key paper is based on research involving 4,283 young people between 2021 and 2024. The conference focused on the life phase of Emerging Adulthood (18 to 29 years) — a time when young people explore their identity and build their future. The term was introduced by psychologist Jeffrey Arnett, who also attended the conference with over 300 researchers from across the world. "The National Education Policy 2020 calls for the complete, all-round development of youth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Where Your Search Ends Hotel Deals | Search Ads Browse Now Undo NIRMAN has developed a way to measure this overall growth," said Bang. "Our research clearly shows that more than half of Indian youth are malnourished in their personality. This is a big concern that needs attention." He added, "While 35% of Indian children are physically malnourished, 53% of youth are personality malnourished. This is an even bigger problem." There were 50 questions in total. If a youth scored poorly in two-thirds (2/3) of the questions in any one area, they were considered personality malnourished in that domain. The study found that 53% of youth were personality malnourished in four or more areas. Only 9% showed good growth in all seven important areas of life. "We have tools to check if a child is growing well physically. In the same way, we need tools to check if our youth are growing well as people. That's why we created this method," said Bang. # How is Personality Malnourishment Measured? NIRMAN developed a simple method to check the overall growth of youth in seven important life areas: - Physical health - Mental health - Character and values - Relationships - Professional growth - Life skills - Social contribution More Insights Amrut Bang also presented two more studies: - The Emotional World of Indian Youth: A study on the most common emotions experienced by Indian youth - The Questions Indian Youth Are Asking: Based on 6,100 real questions from young people. The most frequently asked question: 'Who am I, and what is the purpose of my life?'
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
ICT Mumbai biocluster receives catalytic funding to boost translational biopharma research
Mumbai: In a significant boost to India's translational research ecosystem, ICT Mumbai's Biocluster secured Rs 30 crore in catalytic funding from the Indian Translational Research Institute (ITRI). The translational biopharmaceutical facility aims to bridge the gap between lab-stage research and clinical application. The eight-storey cluster will focus on rare diseases, synthetic biology, and AI-driven drug development. It will house a GMP-ready biologics pilot plant, shared R&D infrastructure, and advanced training zones for workforce development. Dr Ratnesh Jain, Principal Investigator of the project, said the Biocluster aims to make Indian biopharma globally competitive. ITRI CEO Dr Abdur Rub emphasised the need to de-risk innovation and scale healthcare solutions. Positioned as a national translational platform, the Mumbai Biocluster seeks to empower startups, academia, and industry alike—enabling faster, capital-efficient transitions from research to real-world impact. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai
