Retrogradation sounds like a nostalgic move from a retro fashion show, but in the quiet chemistry of our everyday foods, it is a small rebellion of starch molecules.

Clin Asst Prof Sewa Duu Wen, Head and Senior Consultant of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Singapore General Hospital (SGH), recently visited Dhaka. In an interview with The Daily Star, he discussed the growing burden of respiratory diseases, the realities of critical care, the impact of air pollution, lessons from COVID-19, and practical steps the public can take to protect their lungs.

A monthly injection for managing severe asthma could help patients safely reduce or even discontinue daily steroid medications, according to a new phase 3b clinical trial published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal disorders affecting women of reproductive age worldwide. In Bangladesh, small studies suggest that its prevalence ranges from about 6% among general gynaecology patients to over 90% in women with hirsutism.

Toenail infections might seem like minor inconveniences, but medical experts warn they can spiral into severe complications if ignored. Known in medical terms as onychomycosis or paronychia, these infections occur when fungi, bacteria, or sometimes even viruses invade the nail structure, particularly the nail bed, nail fold, or nail plate.

Imagine you are in a queue at an office. A staff member suddenly tells everyone to shift to a different line because ‘this one is closed.’ No explanation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) called on countries to make fertility care safer, fairer and more affordable as it released its first-ever global guideline for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

Healthy skin does not require expensive products or complicated routines—just smart, consistent habits that support your skin’s natural barrier.

On 1 December, recognised globally as World AIDS Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called on governments and global partners to urgently expand access to new WHO-approved tools—most notably lenacapavir (LEN)—to drive down new infections and counter the severe disruption caused by recent foreign aid cuts.

During his recent visit to Bangladesh, Assoc Prof Shamira Perera, Head of the Glaucoma Department at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC), spoke to The Daily Star about the silent nature of glaucoma, advances in cataract treatment, and how countries like Bangladesh can strengthen their eye-care services.

Diabetes continues to rise at an alarming rate. Globally, 7 out of 10 (412 million) adults living with diabetes are of working age. Three out of four people with diabetes report feeling anxious, depressed, or having other mental health issues due to their condition. Managing diabetes at work negatively affects the mental well-being of 4 in 10 employees with the condition.

Every year, World Prematurity Day (15 November) highlights the urgent need to care for babies born too soon. This year’s theme echoes WHO’s Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures campaign, reminding us that every child deserves a fair chance at life, starting from their very first moments.

More than 4.4 billion people lived in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. In cities, health, inequality, environment and economy intersected in powerful ways, creating complex risks and opportunities.

Musculoskeletal health has become a growing concern in today’s modern workplace, where most professionals spend long hours sitting at computers or doing the same thing over and over. Work-related health issues like back pain, neck stiffness, shoulder tension, and issues with the wrist or knee are now common.

Chocolate, once dismissed as a guilty pleasure, is now reclaiming its identity as a functional food. No longer merely a sugary indulgence, functional chocolate is emerging as a smart fusion of taste and nutrition, blending traditional cocoa goodness with scientifically backed bioactive compounds.

November 14 marks World Diabetes Day 2025. According to the latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report, 1 out of 9 adults is living with diabetes as of 2025, and 40% of them are unaware that they even have diabetes. The majority of these adults reside in low- and middle-income countries, such as Bangladesh.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) released new guidance for countries on ways to counter the immediate and long-term effects of sudden and severe cuts to external funding, which are disrupting the delivery of essential health services in many countries.

A pioneering brain–computer interface (BCI) implant has restored functional central vision to patients suffering from geographic atrophy (GA), a severe form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) — a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The results of this landmark clinical trial have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), marking what scientists call a “paradigm shift” in vision restoration.

The convenience of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is undeniable. Yet, it raises questions about our cognitive habits. Concerns are emerging that over-reliance on AI may affect critical thinking, problem-solving, and intellectual development. What actually happens to the human brain when it no longer needs to think as hard?

In a factory outside Gazipur, a 19-year-old operator once told a counsellor from SAJIDA Foundation, “Apa, my hands don’t shake because of the machines. They shake because of what I am carrying inside my chest.” She was not alone. Across Bangladesh, countless people carry their struggles silently