Latest news with #medicalprofessional
Khaleej Times
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Look: 53-year-old Dubai doctor defies injury to scale Europe's highest peak
A 53-year-old Indian expat and full-time medical professional in Dubai has become one of the oldest Indian women from the UAE to summit Mount Elbrus, Europe's highest peak at 5,642 metres. Dr Kiran Vemuri reached the summit on July 10, days after sustaining a leg injury that nearly forced her to pull out of the expedition. 'What makes this summit especially meaningful is that I undertook it 10 days after a leg injury,' she said. 'At this stage of life, women often fight not just physical but societal limitations. My climb was about proving to myself and others that resilience, grit, and belief can defy age and setbacks." A long-time Dubai resident, Dr Vemuri lives in Executive Towers, Business Bay. Her training ground? The stairs of her own building. 'My tower has 41 floors and I used to climb 100 floors in 40 minutes, about 2.5 rounds up,' she said. 'It helped build stamina, and since it was right outside my door, there were no excuses.' Her successful Elbrus ascent is the latest milestone in a two-decade-long passion for high-altitude trekking. Her list of past adventures spans continents: Everest Base Camp (5,364m), Roopkund (5,029m), Rupin Pass (4,650m), Kilimanjaro (5,895m), and Stok Kangri (6,153m). 'Kilimanjaro happened way back in 2012. Elbrus was a natural next step, but mentally, it was harder,' she said. She likened her journey to the Bollywood film Vijay 69, in which a 69-year-old man trains for a triathlon. 'He doesn't do it for medals. He does it to feel alive again,' she said. 'This climb was my version of Vijay 69.' The knee injury nearly derailed her plans. 'I was honestly quite shaken and worried. I had pain even walking, forget climbing a mountain. I could barely take the parking stairs,' she said. Under medical supervision, she followed a strict recovery plan. Two days before departure, she got the go-ahead. "Armed with painkillers, knee support and prayers, I went ahead.' She described the summit as euphoric. 'That moment is not about milestones. It's pure gratitude. I prayed to the morning sun and thanked the universe. It felt powerful, like real, money-can't-buy happiness.' The climb had its share of challenges. While the ascent was steady, the descent tested her mental limits. "While descending, I hit a psychological wall," she said. "I told the trek guide, 'It's not my job to get back to base; that's your problem.' He laughed and said, 'That's not my job either. You can stay here forever.' It was both scary and funny. But when the goalpost is clear, willpower gets you through." Since her return, she's been flooded with messages from women. 'Many women I know, including some of my classmates, are grandmothers now, which is nice. There are people telling women in their 50s: to slow down.' 'I wanted to send a different message: You can pause. You can rest. But don't slow down. There's still so much to explore, to feel, to experience. Whether it's a mountain, a new passion, or charity, 50s is the new 40s.' Her family was worried, especially after her injury, but never wavered in support. 'My husband, my sons Shrikar and Krish, and the extended family were behind me all the way,' she said. Next up for Dr Vemuri is Mount Mont Blanc, planned for next year. "There's always a next,' she said.
CTV News
22-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Canada to spend more than $78M to improve access to health services in French
A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room on Friday, July 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elevance Health (ELV) Drops 18.66% After Dismal Q2 Earnings
We recently published Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) is one of this week's top performers. Elevance Health fell by 18.66 percent week-on-week to close at $277.09 on Friday versus $340.67 a week earlier following dismal earnings performance in the second quarter of the year. In its earnings release, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) said net income during the period dropped by 24.2 percent to $1.744 billion from $2.301 billion in the same period last year, pushing its six-month net earnings lower by 13.7 percent to $3.928 billion from $4.55 billion year-on-year. Revenues for the second quarter, however, increased by 13.4 percent to $49.776 billion from $43.886 billion year-on-year, while revenues for the first half of the year grew by 14.1 percent to $98.667 billion from $86.463 billion year-on-year. A medical professional working at a computer, utilizing the company's digital solutions to improve care quality for consumers. Looking ahead, Elevance Health, Inc. (NYSE:ELV) also lowered its guidance amid elevated medical cost trends in Obamacare and slower rate alignment in Medicaid. Given the industry-wide impact of elevated cost trends, the company said it now expects 2025 GAAP net income per diluted share to be approximately $24.10 and adjusted net income per diluted share to be approximately $30. While we acknowledge the potential of ELV as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . Sign in to access your portfolio
Health Line
18-07-2025
- Health
- Health Line
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
Key takeaways Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive worry that disrupts daily life and can manifest as agitation, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Social anxiety, panic disorders, and phobias are specific types of anxiety disorders that can lead to avoidance of social situations, intense panic attacks, and irrational fears. Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, exercise, meditation, and limiting caffeine and alcohol can help reduce anxiety, but professional help is recommended if symptoms are severe or interfere with daily life. Many people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. In fact, anxiety is a very natural response to stressful life events like moving, changing jobs, or having financial troubles. However, when anxiety symptoms become larger than the events that triggered them and begin to interfere with your life, they could be signs of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can be debilitating, but people can manage them with proper help from a medical professional. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step. In this article, we discuss common symptoms of an anxiety disorder, as well as how to reduce anxiety naturally and when to seek professional help. Excessive worrying One of the most common symptoms of an anxiety disorder is excessive worrying. People with anxiety disorders will worry disproportionately about events or everyday situations. A doctor will diagnose someone with a generalized anxiety disorder if this worrying occurs on most days for at least 6 months and is difficult to control. The worrying must also be severe and intrusive, making it difficult to concentrate and accomplish daily tasks. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, generalized anxiety disorder affects around 6.8 million Americans, roughly 3.1 percent of the United States population. However, less than 45 percent of people with the disorder are receiving treatment. Women are also twice as likely to have generalized anxiety disorder as men, and the disorder commonly occurs alongside major depression. Feeling agitated When someone feels anxious, part of their sympathetic nervous system goes into overdrive. This kicks off effects throughout the body, such as: racing pulse sweaty palms shaky hands dry mouth These symptoms occur because your brain believes you've sensed danger, and it's preparing your body to react to the threat. Your body carries blood away from your digestive system and toward your muscles in case you need to run or fight. It also increases your heart rate and heightens your senses. While these effects would be helpful in the case of an actual threat, they can be debilitating when they're out of proportion to what is actually happening. Some research from 2014 even suggests that people with anxiety disorders are not able to reduce their arousal as quickly as people without anxiety disorders. This means they may feel the effects of anxiety for a longer period of time. Restlessness Restlessness is another common symptom of anxiety, especially in children and teens. When someone is experiencing restlessness, they often describe it as feeling 'on edge' or having an 'uncomfortable urge to move.' While restlessness does not occur in all people with anxiety, it's one of the si g ns doctors frequently look for when making a diagnosis. Fatigue Becoming easily fatigued is another potential symptom of generalized anxiety disorder. This symptom can be surprising to some, as anxiety is commonly associated with hyperactivity or arousal. For some, fatigue can follow an anxiety attack, while others may feel fatigue almost all the time. It's unclear whether this fatigue is due to other common anxiety symptoms, such as insomnia or muscle tension, or whether it may be related to the hormonal effects of chronic anxiety. It is important to note that fatigue can also be a sign of depression or other medical conditions, so fatigue alone is not enough to diagnose an anxiety disorder. Difficulty Concentrating Many people with anxiety report having difficulty concentrating. A study of 175 adults with generalized anxiety disorder found that almost 90 percent reported having difficulty concentrating. It also found that more intense anxiety was linked to more trouble concentrating. Some studies show that anxiety can interrupt working memory, which is responsible for holding short-term information. This may help explain the dramatic decrease in performance people often experience during periods of high anxiety. However, difficulty concentrating can also be a symptom of other medical conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression. Hence, difficulty concentrating is not enough evidence to diagnose an anxiety disorder. Irritability Most people with anxiety disorders also experience excessive irritability. According to a 2015 study of adolescents in the United States, there is a direct link between anxiety disorders and irritability. Compared with self-reported worriers, young and middle-aged adults with generalized anxiety disorder reported more than twice as much irritability in their day-to-day lives. Tense muscles Having tense muscles on most days of the week is another frequent symptom of anxiety. While tense muscles may be common, the association with anxiety is unclear. It's possible that muscle tenseness itself increases feelings of anxiety, but it's also possible that anxiety leads to increased muscle tenseness, or a third factor could cause both. Trouble falling or staying asleep Sleep disturbances have a strong association with anxiety disorders. People with an anxiety disorder may find themselves waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble falling asleep. Some studies suggest that people with insomnia are 10 to 17 times more likely to develop further mental health conditions, such as anxiety. While insomnia and anxiety are strongly linked, it's unclear whether insomnia leads to anxiety, anxiety leads to insomnia, or both. What is known is that if a person treats their underlying anxiety disorder, insomnia often improves as well. Panic attacks Panic disorder is another type of anxiety disorder in which a person may experience recurring panic attacks. Panic attacks produce an intense, overwhelming sensation of fear that can be debilitating. During a panic attack, a person may also experience: rapid heartbeat sweating shaking shortness of breath chest tightness nausea Panic attacks can happen as isolated occurrences, but they may be a sign of panic disorder if they occur frequently and unexpectedly. Avoiding social situations You may be showing signs of social anxiety disorder if you find yourself: feeling anxious or fearful about upcoming social situations worried you may be judged or scrutinized by others fearful of being embarrassed or humiliated in front of others avoiding certain social events because of these fears Social anxiety disorder is very common, affecting 5 to 10 percent of people worldwide. Social anxiety tends to develop early in life. In fact, the average age of people with a social anxiety disorder is 13, while around 90 percent of people diagnosed with social anxiety disorder receive their diagnosis by age 23. People with social anxiety may appear extremely shy and quiet in groups or when meeting new people. While they may not appear distressed on the outside, they may feel extreme fear and anxiety. Irrational fears Extreme fears about specific things — such as spiders, enclosed spaces, or heights — could be a sign of a phobia. A phobia is an extreme anxiety or fear about a specific object or situation. The feeling is severe enough that it interferes with your ability to function normally. Some common phobias include: Animal phobias. These include fear of specific animals or insects. Natural environment phobias. People with these phobias will feel anxious about natural events like hurricanes or floods. Blood-injection-injury phobias. This includes fears of blood, injections, needles, or injuries. Situational phobias. These phobias include fears of certain situations, like an airplane or elevator ride. Agoraphobia is another phobia that involves fears of at least two of the following: using public transportation being in open spaces being in enclosed spaces standing in line or being in a crowd being outside of the home alone Around 12.5 percent of Americans will experience a specific phobia during their lifetime. These phobias tend to develop in childhood or the teenage years. Natural ways to reduce anxiety There are many natural ways to reduce anxiety and help you feel better, including: Eating a healthy diet. Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, high quality meats, fish, nuts, and whole grains can lower the risk of developing anxiety disorders, but diet alone is probably not enough to treat them. Consuming probiotics and fermented foods. Taking probiotics and eating fermented foods may be linked to improved mental health. Limiting caffeine. Excessive caffeine intake may worsen feelings of anxiety in some people, especially those with anxiety disorders. Abstaining from alcohol. Drinking alcohol can affect your anxiety, so it may help to stay away from alcoholic beverages. Quitting smoking. Smoking may increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. Exercising often. Regular exercise may lower the risk of developing an anxiety disorder, but it's not clear whether it helps those who already have an anxiety disorder. Trying meditation. Meditation-based therapy may significantly reduce symptoms in people with anxiety disorders. Practicing yoga. Regular yoga practice may reduce symptoms in people with anxiety disorders, but more high quality research is needed. When to seek professional help Anxiety can be debilitating, so it's important to seek professional help if your symptoms are severe. If you feel anxious on most days and experience one or more of the symptoms listed above for at least 6 months, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Regardless of how long you've been experiencing symptoms, if you ever feel like your emotions are interfering with your life, you should seek professional help. Licensed psychologists and psychiatrists can treat anxiety disorders through a variety of methods. Treatment often includes cognitive behavioral therapy, anti-anxiety medications, or some of the natural therapies listed above. Working with a professional can help you manage your anxiety and reduce your symptoms as quickly and safely as possible. The bottom line Anxiety disorders may involve a variety of symptoms. One of the most common symptoms is excessive and intrusive worrying that disrupts daily functioning. Other signs include: agitation restlessness fatigue difficulty concentrating irritability tense muscles trouble sleeping Recurring panic attacks may indicate panic disorder, fearing and avoiding social situations could point to social anxiety disorder, and extreme phobias could be a sign of specific phobia disorders. Regardless of which type of anxiety you may have, you can use many natural solutions to help relieve it while working with a licensed healthcare professional.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Biographer who revealed Freddie Mercury had a secret daughter reassures fans bombshell is genuine
A biographer who made a bombshell revelation of Freddie Mercury 's secret daughter has reassured fans she is telling the truth. Bestselling author Lesley-Ann Jones has faced questions from some aficionados of the late singer and his band Queen after revealing the child's existence in a new book. The Mail told on Saturday how her new book called Love, Freddie, reveals the daughter was conceived accidentally during a fling with the wife of a close friend in 1976, a year after the group's most famous song Bohemian Rhapsody was first a hit. Her existence was known only to Mercury's closest circle, including his parents and sister, the rest of the band members and the love of his life Mary Austin. The girl, who is now 48 and lives in Europe, where she is a medical professional and also a mother – making Freddie a posthumous grandfather, according to the book. Jones shared the Mail story outlining the details by posting on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday evening: 'WORLD EXCLUSIVE: now it can be told.' But there has been an online backlash from some dubious over the new claims about Mercury, whose homosexuality was publicly confirmed following his death from bronchial pneumonia caused by Aids in 1991. Now the author has responded to sceptics with follow-up messages on the social media site, with one today addressed to 'those "demanding" to see proof of a DNA test, otherwise they won't believe it". She wrote: 'Please rest assured that the requisite verification was obtained, legal teams have been involved, but that such measures are private & not shared publicly. Thank you.' Mercury's secret daughter, who has not been named, is said to have been raised in a loving family but always knew that the Queen frontman, a frequent visitor, was her real father And the singer reportedly gave her before he died 17 volumes of detailed personal journals which she kept a secret and has now handed over to Jones, who had previously written three books about Mercury. They form the basis for the new book which is due to be published this September. Flamboyant showman Mercury is known to have had several relationships with women including Mary Austin, whom he met when she was 19 and he 24. The couple lived together and were engaged for a while, before Freddie came out as gay. Though they did not have children together, Mary went on to have two sons with another partner, while remaining close to Mercury for the rest of his life. He also had a relationship in the early 1980s with Austrian actress Barbara Valentin. Music writer Lesley-Ann Jones has responded on X, formerly Twitter, in response to Queen fans questioning her bombshell revelation about Freddie Mercury's secret daughter This third liaison with a woman – the mother of his love child – was, however, something Freddie kept a closely guarded secret, it has now been revealed. She is understood to have died years ago. The new book's opening chapter includes a handwritten letter from Freddie's daughter – identified only as 'B' – in which she says: 'Freddie Mercury was and is my father. 'We had a very close and loving relationship from the moment I was born and throughout the final 15 years of his life. 'He adored me and was devoted to me. The circumstances of my birth may seem, by most people's standards, unusual and even outrageous. 'That should come as no surprise. It never detracted from his commitment to love and look after me. He cherished me like a treasured possession.' Jones, who has also written books on David Bowie, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones, has told of first being approached by 'B' three years ago - and initially having concerns about her authenticity. The author said: 'My instinct was to doubt everything, but I am absolutely sure she is not a fantasist. 'No one could have faked all this. Why would she have worked with me for three-and-a half years, never demanding anything? 'In my experience of fantasists, and I've met a few, they seek instant gratification, publicity and reward. She has never asked for money. She does not want recognition. 'Both Freddie and her stepfather left her extremely wealthy. She was not provided for through Freddie's will, but by a private, legal arrangement, so no one will find her mentioned there.' The author is convinced that 'B' is true to her word, adding: 'Freddie Mercury was not who you think he was. He took his greatest secret to the grave. 'He was a hands-on, devoted dad. He described fatherhood as the fulfilment of his most cherished ambition and as the greatest blessing of his life.' Jones went on to say: 'His only child was conceived accidentally with the wife of one of his closest friends, while his friend was away on an extended business trip. For the Roman Catholic mother, abortion was out of the question. 'It was decided between the three adults that the child would live with her mother and her husband – the child's stepfather. Freddie would have his own rooms at each of their homes. 'The three close friends would raise the child together. Freddie visited and stayed with them frequently. He spoke to his daughter every day when he was away on tour or in the recording studio. 'She knew from toddlerhood which of the two men was her real father. Outside the unusual family, privacy and discretion were maintained to a degree that not even some members of Freddie's personal household had any idea that he had a child.' Mercury, who started writing the diaries in 1976 when first learning, filled each 192-page book with entries handwritten in ballpoint or rollerball pen. He describes his life story, beginning with his birth in Zanzibar in 1946, named Farrokh Bulsara, to Parsi-Indian parents. They also chronicle him attending a British-style boarding school in India from the age of eight to 16 and how the family was forced to flee Zanzibar in the 1964 revolution, before settling in Middlesex. Freddie's first entry in the original journal was made on Sunday, June 20, 1976, two days after Queen released their single – written by bassist John Deacon – You're My Best Friend from their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. He wrote his final entry in the last notebook on July 31 1991, as his health failed. Jones told the Mail: 'At a conservative estimate, Freddie wrote around 555,000 words in total in just under 15 years.' Shortly before his death aged 45 in Kensington, west London, on November 24 1991, he entrusted the collection of 17 volumes to his then 15-year-old daughter. Only her nanny, mother, stepfather and Mary Austin knew that he had gifted them to her. Jones said: 'He instructed her not to read the more graphic journals, eye-wateringly frank about his reckless lifestyle, until she reached her 25th birthday. 'She has stated that if anyone else tries to claim ownership of the diaries, she will burn them.' Jones and 'B' first met in 2022 in Montreux, Switzerland, a city in which Mercury had lived and recorded albums and where a bronze statue of him stands on a lakeside promenade. The writer recalled: 'She did not sell herself to me as Freddie's daughter. She did not even identify herself when she first contacted me. 'Having read my book, Love Of My Life [the Mercury biography Jones wrote in 2021], she emailed to thank me for it, but told me there were still many things I should know. 'She had assumed I could simply add new material to the existing book, and publish an updated edition. I explained that publishing doesn't work like that. 'She was not at all keen to begin with on me writing a new book – her concern all along has been privacy, which is of utmost importance to her. 'I spent weeks trying to guess her identity, and eventually worked it out. She admitted to it only when I put it to her. We agreed to work together, and I went to Montreux to meet her.' '"B" brought the diaries along to the meeting, and also other effects, such as photos, cards, notes and bank statements – to act as proof that she was who she claimed to be.' In another letter included in the book, 'B' explains her reasons for sharing Freddie's journals after 30 years, saying: 'Those who have been aware of my existence kept his greatest secret out of loyalty to Freddie. 'That I choose to reveal myself in my own midlife is my decision and mine alone. I have not, at any point, been coerced into doing this. 'He entrusted his collection of private notebooks to me, his only child and his next of kin, the written record of his private thoughts, memories and feelings about everything he had experienced. 'His gift to me was our secret. Although those who lived with him and shared his life knew of the existence of the notebooks, none of them knew, after his death, what had become of them. 'His family, fellow band members, closest friends, associates and management have had no idea until now that he gave them to me as a present.' 'Mary Austin – the wonderful woman who was to all intents and purposes his wife until death parted them – knew absolutely everything about him, including all his undisclosed secrets. 'Everyone else . . . they knew only what Freddie wanted them to know. Which wasn't much. Freddie was an intensely private man. He gave so few interviews that he was famous for it. 'I had read everything that Lesley-Ann Jones had ever written about my father when I wrote to her towards the end of 2021, with the intention of offering her the responsibility of sharing his true story. 'I had been meaning to contact her for years, having read so much of her work: not only about Freddie, but also about other artists. 'I was struck by her obvious pursuit of the truth, and by how closely she came to capturing 'the real Freddie'. 'Her book portrayed him more accurately than anything I had ever read. So much of what has been written and committed to film about him by so-called friends, lovers, employees and colleagues has been at best a gross distortion of the truth, at worst an exercise in exploitation. 'I revealed to her who my father was. I told her the truth about his childhood, his life, and everything that built the infant, the boy, the teenager, the young man, the grown man, the dad he was to me, the stage persona and the Mercury mask that he created. 'I explained to her how he compartmentalised his life, and of course talked at length about our precious time together. 'The life I live with my husband and our family in another country is intensely private. We want things to stay that way. 'We cherish our peaceful and anonymous life, and we want nothing to disturb it. Nobody needs to know who I am. 'I will have nothing more to say beyond what I have revealed in this book. There will be no further interviews other than those that I have given to Lesley-Ann. 'I owe it to my father to cherish privacy as one of the most precious privileges in life. 'As he himself said, it was the thing he regretted giving away so readily. The one thing he wished that he could get back.' Love, Freddie by Lesley-Ann Jones is available to pre-order here.
