MUMBAI: A sessions court on Saturday convicted and sentenced Shree Jogdhankar to life imprisonment in the 2021 murder case of 19-year-old Jhanvi Kukreja, more than five years after the incident occurred on New Year’s Eve. Co-accused Diya Padalkar was acquitted. Jogdhankar and Padalkar, both in their 20s, had faced murder charges. Jhanvi and Padalkar were childhood friends and neighbours. “The mother of the deceased does not seek vengeance, but as the victim she seeks dignity, closure, and the assurance that her child’s life mattered in the eyes of the law and in the hope to ensure that justice is done. The murder of Jhanvi Kukreja was perpetrated in a brutal, heinous and barbaric manner inflicting ruthless violence upon her to take her life,” the victim’s mother Niddhi Kukreja’s advocate Trivankumar Karnani submitted in court. Special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat submitted that the incident took place during a year-ending party held on the terrace of Bhagwati Heights in Khar.

Dragged down from stairs

According to the prosecution’s submissions, Jhanvi was found dead in a pool of blood near the building’s staircase around 2.30am on Jan 1, 2021. Jhanvi, a psychology student, lived in Santacruz. Padalkar (23) and Jogdhankar (26) were arrested for allegedly assaulting Jhanvi on the staircase and murdering her after attending the party at the Khar building. It was alleged that Jhanvi was dragged down the stairs from the fifth floor after a fight allegedly broke out among them over Jogdhankar’s intimacy with Padalkar. Jhanvi’s final post-mortem examination report stated that she had suffered 48 injuries. Padalkar, who was Jhanvi’s neighbour and had known her since childhood, is out on bail, while Jogdhankar remains in jail. They have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The prosecution examined 49 witnesses to establish a chain of circumstantial evidence, including CCTV footage and forensic reports. Gharat argued that Jogdhankar was seen leaving the building in a dazed condition with blood on his torn shirt, while Padalkar allegedly sought medical treatment for a lip injury sustained during the commission of the crime. “The fact that both the accused had come to the party between 00.05 to 00.15 hrs together on a scooter sitting triple seat, however, they did not leave the party together, nor both the accused left together leaving Janhavi back in the party, nor did they show any concern for Janhavi while leaving the party in an attempt to escape from the place. The said facts are all the unchallenged facts,” Gharat submitted. The intervener in the case, Niddhi Kukreja, submitted that her daughter’s murder was perpetrated in a brutal and barbaric manner, with the post-mortem report revealing 48 injuries. The intervener’s submissions pointed to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reports confirming the presence of Kukreja’s blood on Jogdhankar’s shirt and on articles used by Padalkar. The prosecution submitted that DNA profiling conclusively established Jogdhankar’s biological presence at the crime scene and Padalkar’s contact with blood-stained articles in the flat where she rested after the incident. In his written submissions, Jogdhankar challenged the prosecution’s case, stating it is based entirely on circumstantial evidence without any eyewitnesses. The defence argued that the prosecution failed to prove a complete chain of evidence as required by law. Jogdhankar’s lawyer Wahab Khan submitted that the injuries he sustained were from a sudden fight that occurred in the heat of the moment.

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code (Amendment) Ordinance, after receiving the assent of governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd), has introduced a raft of stringent penal provisions, including imprisonment of up to seven years, for offences related to marriage and live-in relationships.Under the amended law, any person found guilty of using force, coercion or fraud to enter into a marriage or live-in relationship can now be punished with imprisonment of up to seven years. The ordinance also makes it a criminal offence for a married person to enter into a second marriage or live-in relationship without obtaining a legal divorce, prescribing a similar maximum punishment.

The amendment further states that living in a live-in relationship with another person while already being in a live-in relationship will also attract a jail term of up to seven years. Any major found living in a live-in relationship with a minor will be punishable with simple imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both. In case of default in payment of fine, further imprisonment of up to one month has been provided.Submitting false information or concealing facts for the purpose of marriage or a live-in relationship will now invite punishment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Those found guilty of compelling, abetting or inducing a person to observe prohibited conditions before remarriage will face imprisonment of up to three years along with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, and in default, further imprisonment of up to six months.The ordinance also stipulates that divorce obtained through illegal means will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine. Cases of child marriage, however, will continue to be governed by the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.Being a civil law, the original UCC had limited penal provisions as several offences earlier fell under criminal law. However, following the implementation of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in place of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replacing the IPC, stricter punishment clauses have now been incorporated.Among key administrative changes, the post of “additional secretary” has been designated as the competent authority under Section 12 in place of “secretary”. The amendment also provides for automatic forwarding of cases to the registrar and registrar general if a sub-registrar fails to act within the prescribed timeframe. A right to appeal has been introduced against penalties imposed on sub-registrars, along with a provision for recovery of penalties as land revenue.Misrepresentation of identity at the time of marriage has now been made a valid ground for annulment of the union. The registrar has also been empowered to issue a termination certificate upon the end of a live-in relationship. Additionally, the word “spouse” has been substituted with “widow” in Schedule-2, and the registrar general has been vested with the power to cancel registrations related to marriage, divorce, live-in relationships and succession.Official sources said the amendments were introduced after reviewing the functioning of the UCC over the past year. “The main objective is to make the provisions clearer, more effective and practical, strengthen administrative efficiency and ensure better protection of citizens’ rights,” an official said, adding that “several issues were observed during implementation and changes were made accordingly.”

Australias preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have suffered a significant setback, with skipper and premier fast bowler Pat Cummins ruled out of the marquee event due to injury. Cricket Australia confirmed that Cummins has failed to recover fully from a persistent back issue and will miss the tournament, which begins on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.

The absence of Cummins deprives Australia of a proven match-winner and leader, especially in high-pressure global events, forcing selectors to rethink their balance ahead of the multi-team competition.

Steve Smith and Matthew Show fail to make a cut in Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad 

Another major talking point from Australia’s final 15-member squad announcement was the omission of Steve Smith. Calls for Smith’s inclusion had grown louder following an exceptional Big Bash League campaign, where the former captain amassed 299 runs in just six innings. He averaged 59.80 and struck at an impressive 167.97, underlining his continued value in the shortest format.

Despite that rich vein of form, selectors opted to look beyond Smith, signalling a clear preference for players offering flexibility across roles and conditions rather than recent domestic dominance alone.

Top-order batter Matthew Short was another notable exclusion as Australia finalised their World Cup combination. Short’s absence, coupled with Smith’s omission, highlighted the selectors’ focus on squad balance rather than individual statistics.

Selectors name Pat Cummins’ replacement for T20 World Cup 2026

In response to these changes, left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis and versatile batter Matthew Renshaw were named as replacements, adding depth to both bowling and batting departments.

Selector Tony Dodemaide explained that Dwarshuis was a natural replacement for Cummins, given the team’s needs and the expected conditions during the tournament.

“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting,” Dodemaide said in his official statement.

“We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace along with clever variations will be well suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.”

Dwarshuis’ skill set provides Australia with variety in their pace attack, particularly useful on slower surfaces anticipated in parts of the tournament.

Dodemaide also outlined the rationale behind Renshaw’s selection, pointing to his adaptability across formats and roles.

Also READ: Not England! Phil Salt names the strongest team in the T20 World Cup 2026

“Matt has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white-ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat,” he said.

“With the top order settled and spin-heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle-order support, with Tim David completing his return-to-play program in the early phase of the tournament. As a left-hander, he also offers a point of difference to the middle-order batting.”

Placed in Group B of the tournament, Australia will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo.

Australia’s 15-man squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Also READ: Fans left unimpressed as Anirudh Ravichander’s T20 World Cup 2026 ‘Feel the Thrill’ anthem draws trolls

There’s something quietly unfair about Alzheimer’s and women. Studies consistently show that women are more likely to develop the disease, and often earlier than men. Yet, despite this, conversations about women’s mental health rarely get the attention they deserve. It’s almost as if it’s easier to focus on the statistics than the lived reality, the subtle memory lapses, the early anxiety, the creeping confusion that friends and family might dismiss as stress or aging.“Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with a high prevalence among the aging population. It is a dreadful disease which can affect anyone beyond the age of 65 years. The disease does not develop in a few days or months, the symptoms are noted over 6 months to a year. Generally, patients start with forgetfulness of recent memory like – recent conversations, events, what they have eaten. This slowly increases to judgement problems, difficulty in multi-tasking, recognition issues. They may also have behavioral changes and language issues,” Dr. Arun Shah, Director, Neurosciences, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital told TOI Health. “Women are more likely to be affected with Alzheimer’s as they are likely to live longer than their male counter-parts, have hormonal changes during menopause which reduces neuroprotection, sociocultural factors like lower educational opportunities for women, they are more likely to be carriers of the APOE4 gene, which is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.”“As Alzheimer’s disease emerges as a major cause of disability globally, demand for low-cost and pragmatic interventions becomes imperative, in the case of women in low-income areas where older-age mental health tends to go neglected,” Dr. Sachin Adukia, Senior Consultant Neurologist and International Award winning Researcher; Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai told TOI Health.

Can omega 3 protect the brain?

“Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA, are important for brain health and function, supporting neurotransmitter release, and brain membrane health. These fatty acids give structural support to the brain cell membranes which helps improve its functioning. The deficiency of these fats are linked with increased risks of neurological conditions like autism, ADHD, dementia, depression. Approximately 50-60% of brain weight is made of lipids, of which 35% consists of omega-3 PUFAs. DHA accounts for more than 40% of total omega-3 PUFAs in brain tissue, especially in the gray matter of the brain. Omega-3 promotes cognition, neuronal preservation, and protection against neurodegeneration. Neurotransmission is influenced by changing brain membrane fluidity and increasing neurotransmitter release,” explains Dr. Arun Shah.Adding to this, Dr. Sachin Adukia says, “Omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA, which are found in oily fish and also come in supplement form, are believed to promote brain function. Studies consistently link greater consumption or blood concentration of omega-3s with reduced cognitive deterioration. Their benefit seems most important in prevention or in the mild cognitive impairment phase, not in definite disease. As vascular disease exacerbates dementia, the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3s contribute to their utility. Even the clinical trials have described significant decreases in cardiovascular complications in high-risk patients already on statins.”

Why developing country women are worth attention

Dr. Sachin Adukia says, “older women in low-resource countries have several obstacles to receive care, financial reliance, cultural prejudices, and fragmented access to specialists all inhibit early diagnosis and treatment. Nutrition-directed approaches, such as counselling, community diets with a high content of omega-3s, and low-cost supplements provided through primary care, may be viable weapons. But these measures need to be backed by screening interventions, caregiver support, and public funding. There is also emerging evidence that women with Alzheimer’s can have lower circulating levels of omega fatty acids, further emphasizing the importance of sex-specific research.”“Omega-3 fatty acids have some justification as part of a “food-first” prevention strategy, with further potential for reducing postprandial vascular risk when incorporated in the appropriate form and under medical guidance. For women in developing countries, such dietary interventions could provide affordable, effective assistance — but need to be placed within more comprehensive strategies: enhanced screening, gender-targeted health care, caregiver support, and locally applicable research to turn promise into quantifiable public good,” he adds.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Arun Shah, Director, Neurosciences, Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation HospitalDr. Sachin Adukia, Senior Consultant Neurologist and International Award winning Researcher; Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai Inputs were used to explain the gender role in Alzheimer’s disease, why women are more vulnerable, and how omega 3 can help.

Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Live Score, U19 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh U19 have won the toss and have opted to bat against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.

Teams:

Bangladesh U19 (Playing XI): Zawad Abrar, MD Rifat Beg, Md Azizul Hakim Tamim(c), Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Md Rizan Hossan, Md Abdullah, Md Farid Hasan Faysal(w), Md Samiun Basir Ratul, Shahriar Ahmed, Al Fahad, Iqbal Hossain Emon

Zimbabwe U19 (Playing XI): Nathaniel Hlabangana, Kupakwashe Muradzi(w), Kian Blignaut, Brandon Ndiweni, Leeroy Chiwaula, Michael Blignaut, Simbarashe Mudzengerere(c), Tatenda Chimugoro, Panashe Mazai, Shelton Mazvitorera, Webster Madhidhi

Squads:

Bangladesh U19 Squad: Zawad Abrar, MD Rifat Beg, Md Azizul Hakim Tamim(c), Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Md Rizan Hossan, Md Abdullah(w), Md Samiun Basir Ratul, Shahriar Ahmed, Shadhin Islam, Al Fahad, Iqbal Hossain Emon, Md Farid Hasan Faysal, Sheikh Paevez Jibon, Saad Islam Razin, Shahria Al-Amin

Zimbabwe U19 Squad: Nathaniel Hlabangana(w), Dhruv Patel, Kian Blignaut, Brandon Senzere, Leeroy Chiwaula, Tatenda Chimugoro, Michael Blignaut, Simbarashe Mudzengerere(c), Takudzwa Makoni, Panashe Mazai, Webster Madhidhi, Shelton Mazvitorera, Brandon Ndiweni, Benny Zuze, Kupakwashe Muradzi

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday alleged that the deadly Anandapur blaze near Kolkata was “not an accident” but the “result of the Trinamool Congress government’s corruption,” sharpening his attack on chief minister Mamata Banerjee ahead of upcoming elections. “The fire in Anandpur is not an accident. 25 people have lost their lives, and 27 are missing. Why did this incident happen? Whose money is invested in this Momo factory? Who are the owners of the Momo factory? With whom have the owners of the Momo factory travelled abroad on flights? And why hasn’t the owner of the Momo factory been arrested yet?” Shah asked during a rally.“Would Mamata Banerjee’s reaction have been the same if these were infiltrators? Bengali citizens have been killed; what are you doing with vote bank politics in this matter? Mamata Banerjee should be ashamed,” Shah said.

Addressing BJP workers in Barrackpore, Shah also accused the ruling party of “vote-bank politics” and claimed the state government gives shelter to “infiltrators,” linking the fire tragedy to what he described as administrative failure.The fire, which tore through a warehouse facility in Anandapur in the early hours of Monday, left at least 27 people dead, with several others reported missing. Large-scale rescue and relief operations were launched, with firefighting teams battling the blaze and police sealing the area. Investigators said 21 samples have been sent for profiling, while missing persons reports continue to be registered, as per news agency ANI. Three people have been arrested so far. A Baruipur court has granted six days’ police custody of outlet manager Raja Chakraborty and deputy manager Manoranjan Sheet in connection with the case.Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, calling it “very tragic and saddening.” He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.Wow! Momo, whose warehouse was affected, said in a statement that a fire from a neighbouring facility spread into its premises around 3am on January 26, leading to a complete burn-down of one warehouse unit. The company confirmed the loss of two employees and a contracted security guard, describing the tragedy as a “catastrophe.” It promised Rs 10 lakh compensation per family, lifetime monthly salary support, and education for the children of the deceased, adding it is cooperating with authorities.

South Africa and West Indies are set to clash in the third and last T20I this Saturday, January 31, at the iconic “Bullring” in Johannesburg. While the Proteas have already sealed the series, don’t expect a sleepy dead rubber. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 looming on the horizon, every over is now a high-stakes audition.

SA vs WI, 3rd T20I: Preview

Even though the pitches in South Africa offer far more zip and bounce than the spin-friendly tracks awaiting them in India and Sri Lanka, this match is about building a winning rhythm.

South Africa: They look incredibly clinical right now. Their batting unit is firing on all cylinders, showcasing the kind of raw power that can intimidate any bowling attack. For them, this match is about cementing their preferred combinations.

West Indies: The visitors showed flashes of brilliance in the last outing and will be desperate to translate that “close but no cigar” energy into a victory. They are still searching for the right balance in their batting order, and a win here would be a massive confidence booster before the world stage.

The Wanderers Stadium Pitch Report

The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg offers a unique challenge, shaped largely by its high altitude and traditionally hard, grassy surface. These conditions combine to produce steep bounce and plenty of carry, especially early in the match, making it a dream venue for genuine fast bowlers. With the new ball, seamers can hit the deck hard and be rewarded with lift and pace, often keeping batters on the defensive during the opening overs.

As the game progresses and the initial shine on the ball fades, the nature of the pitch tends to change. The surface usually flattens out and becomes far more batter-friendly, often turning into what players describe as a belter. At this point, timing the ball becomes easier, and the high-altitude conditions come into play. The thin air in Johannesburg allows shots to travel further, meaning even mistimed hits can clear the ropes, setting the stage for high-scoring contests.

The consistency of the pitch throughout the match also plays a key role in decision-making at the toss. With little deterioration and a lightning-quick outfield, defending totals at the Wanderers can be a tough task. As a result, teams often prefer to chase, confident that conditions will remain largely unchanged and that they can pace their innings accordingly.

Also READ: Record-breaking century in 100th T20I – Quinton de Kock stars in South Africa’s series victory over West Indies

The Wanderers Stadium T20 Stats and Records

• Total Matches: 27
• Matches won batting first: 14
• Matches won bowling first: 13
• Average 1st innings score: 176
• Average 2nd innings score: 146
• Highest total recorded: 283/1 (20 Overs) by India vs South Africa
• Lowest total recorded: 83/10 (15.5 Overs) by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
• Highest score chased: 208/2 (17.4 Overs) by South Africa vs West Indies
• Lowest score defended: 118/7 (14 Overs) by South Africa vs Bangladesh

Also READ: Aakash Chopra outlines South Africa’s probable XI for T20 World Cup 2026

Most of us don’t notice how much time we spend staring at screens because it feels normal now. Phones, laptops, TVs. Work, messages, news, reels, reminders. The day blurs into one long glow. And the stress that comes with it feels unavoidable, like background noise you learn to live with. Constant screen stress changes how life is lived. Meals are eaten while checking phones. Family time happens with one eye on notifications. Sleep gets pushed later because there’s always one more thing to read or watch. What’s unsettling is that this stress doesn’t stay mental. It moves into the body. Increased blood pressure. Irregular heartbeats. Anxiety attacks that feel like something worse. Chronic fatigue. Headaches. Sleep disorders. There have been cases where prolonged digital stress has been linked to heart problems, severe burnout, even sudden medical emergencies.But these cases don’t always make noise. They’re often labeled as isolated incidents. Bad luck. Pre-existing conditions. Stressful jobs. The screen connection gets brushed aside because it feels too ordinary to blame. After all, everyone is glued to a screen. So how dangerous could it really be?“Spending long hours sitting and focusing on screens often displaces physical movement. Prolonged sitting slows blood circulation and is linked with higher risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and poor cholesterol levels, all major contributors to heart disease. Screens emit blue light that can interfere with melatonin production and disturb sleep patterns. Poor sleep is a known risk factor for hypertension and other heart conditions,” Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman – Interventional Cardiology – Cardiology & Structural Heart Disease, BLK – Max Super Specialty Hospital told TOI Health.

“Continuous notifications and social media use can raise stress levels and cortisol (a stress hormone), which over time may contribute to elevated blood pressure and strain on the cardiovascular system. Some longitudinal studies suggest that higher amounts of screen time (especially TV viewing in early adulthood) are associated with greater risk of coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes later in life,” the doctor added.

Why awareness is still so low

One reason is normalization. When something affects almost everyone, it stops looking harmful. We expect stress to come with modern life. We joke about being tired and overwhelmed. We wear burnout like a badge. And when symptoms show up, we tell ourselves we’re just not managing well enough.Another reason is that screen stress doesn’t look dramatic. There’s no single moment of collapse. No obvious injury. It builds slowly, quietly, over years. And by the time it becomes serious, it’s hard to trace back to something as ordinary as checking your phone too much.There’s also discomfort in the idea that tools we depend on might be hurting us. Phones are tied to work, income, connection, safety. Questioning their impact feels inconvenient. So it’s easier to ignore the warnings than to rethink habits.“If prolonged screen time is affecting your overall health, you might notice persistent fatigue or poor sleep, higher resting blood pressure, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, feelings of stress or anxiety related to phone/ computer use and reduced interest in physical activity,” Dr. Subhash Chandra warns.

“Digital stress doesn’t feel dangerous because it looks so ordinary. You’re just checking your phone, replying to emails, scrolling a bit. But your body reads all of that as pressure. Constant alerts keep the fight-or-flight system switched on. Cortisol and adrenaline stay high. Heart rate and blood pressure creep up. And the body loses its ability to shift back into calm mode. When this becomes daily life, things start changing under the surface. Blood pressure doesn’t fully come down. Blood sugar control gets worse. Blood vessels stay tense instead of relaxed. Inflammation builds slowly. None of this hurts right away, which is why it’s easy to ignore. Digital stress also messes with sleep, cuts down movement, and pushes people toward quick fixes like late caffeine or stress snacking. Over time, the heart is working harder with fewer chances to recover. It’s not one big moment. It’s years of small strain adding up,” the doctor warns.

When life-threatening cases don’t change the conversation

As per a study based on data from over 1,000 study participants in Denmark, increased time on electronic devices or watching TV among children and young adults was associated with higher cardiometabolic disease risk, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance. “Limiting discretionary screen time in childhood and adolescence may protect long-term heart and metabolic health,” said study lead author David Horner, M.D., PhD., a researcher at the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.Even when such extreme cases are reported, they rarely change behavior. People assume it won’t happen to them. Or that those cases were unusual. Or that they’ll slow down later, when life is less busy.But “later” keeps moving.And the scary part is how little awareness people have of the early signs. Chest tightness gets blamed on anxiety. Poor sleep gets normalized. Constant exhaustion gets brushed off as age. The body sends signals, but they don’t fit our idea of danger, so we don’t listen.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about attention

The goal isn’t to scare people or demonize screens. They’re not going away. But pretending they’re harmless just because they’re common is costing us more than we admit. Life isn’t meant to be lived in a constant state of reaction.And maybe awareness starts with noticing how often we’re tense for no clear reason. How rare it feels to be unreachable. How strange quiet has become. Because when something slowly drains joy, energy, and health, it deserves to be taken seriously.Even if it fits in your pocket.Dr Subhas Chandra shares a few remedies or tweaks that can protect the heart.

Do wearable devices and health apps help?

“For some users, constant tracking can increase worry, especially when devices send alerts about high/ low heart rates or irregular rhythms that might not be clinically significant. Some people become excessively focused on small fluctuations, leading to stress and unnecessary doctor visits. Consumer wearables are not always perfectly precise. Heart rate and rhythm measurements can be misleading, particularly during exercise or irregular heart rhythms. Relying on these readings without professional interpretation can cause false reassurance or undue concern,” says Dr. Subhas Chandra.

“Wearables collect lots of sensitive health data (heart metrics, location, sleep, etc.). These data might be vulnerable to breaches or misuse if not properly protected by the manufacturer or app developer. Users may sometimes delay seeking medical help because a device says everything is “normal,” even when symptoms are present,” he explains.“Wearables should complement, not replace, professional medical care,” he warns.Medical experts consulted This article includes expert inputs shared with TOI Health by: Dr. Subhash Chandra, Chairman – Interventional Cardiology – Cardiology & Structural Heart Disease, BLK – Max Super Specialty HospitalInputs were used to explain how screen time affects overall health and why caution needs to be exercised.