​Airfares can fluctuate significantly depending on when and how you book. While there is no single formula to guarantee the cheapest ticket every time, certain strategies can increase your chances of finding better deals.. According to aviation expert Amit Mittal, travellers should approach ticket bookings differently depending on the purpose of their trip—whether they are visiting family, travelling for leisure or flying for business.. “It helps to categorise travellers into three types: VFR (visiting friends and relatives), tourists, and business travellers. Each group can use slightly different strategies to save money or optimise travel,” Mittal said.. 1. Choose mid-week or mid-day flights. Flight prices often vary depending on demand. Travelling during less popular hours or days can sometimes reduce ticket costs. “For people visiting friends and relatives, mid-day flights or mid-week flights are often cheaper because demand tends to be lower compared to weekends or peak hours,” Mittal explained. Being flexible with travel timing can therefore open up more affordable options.. 2. Book in advance when possible. Planning ahead is particularly useful during busy travel seasons. “Tourists travelling during peak seasons should ideally book well in advance because prices usually rise closer to the travel date,” Mittal said.. He also recommends avoiding peak seasons where possible. “If travellers have flexibility, choosing off-season travel can significantly reduce flight costs,” he added.. Story continues below this ad. 5 hacks to get cheaper flight tickets (Photo: AI). 3. Compare multiple booking platforms. Checking just one booking site may not always give you the best deal. “Travellers should compare fares across different websites before booking because ticket prices can vary slightly across platforms,” Mittal noted.. Keeping an eye on card offers or promotional discounts can also help lower costs. “Sometimes credit card offers, airline promotions or festive discounts can make a noticeable difference in the final ticket price,” he said.. 4. Consider flights with layovers for long journeys. Direct flights are convenient, but they are not always the cheapest option. “For longer routes, travellers can check if adding a stop or choosing flights with reasonable layover times reduces the overall fare,” Mittal suggested. However, passengers should balance price savings with travel time and convenience.. Story continues below this ad. ALSO READ | Doctor reveals essential item you must wear when travelling on flights. 5. Use frequent flyer programmes and travel rewards. Frequent travellers can benefit from airline loyalty programmes. “Enrolling in airline frequent flyer programmes helps travellers accumulate points that can later be redeemed for flights or upgrades,” Mittal explained. For business travellers in particular, loyalty programmes can offer long-term savings.. “Business travellers should also look at airline  

 ​Badminton star PV Sindhu doesn’t need an introduction. The two-time Olympic champion and Padma Shri awardee’s story is a testament to grit, discipline, and what a strong sense of purpose with the right support can achieve.. “Athletes are fortunate to have a platform that reaches millions of people. With that visibility comes a certain responsibility. When young players or fans look up to you, your actions and choices carry influence. If we can use that platform to inspire someone, support a meaningful cause, or create opportunities for others, then we absolutely should. Even small initiatives can make a difference in someone’s life. For me personally, giving back to sport and society has always been something I want to do more of as my career progresses,” said the 30-year-old.. In this candid conversation with indianexpress.com, the Telangana-bred Sindhu opens up about the people who helped shape her journey, the lessons she has learnt, and why now giving back feels extremely personal for her.. From early-morning training sessions with her parents and spending quality time with her entrepreneur-husband, Venkata Sai Datta, she reflects on her life. Excerpts:. Q: What’s keeping you busy at the moment?. PV Sindhu: Right now, my life is very much centred around training and preparing for the next phase of my career. My long-term goal is very clear. I want to perform at the Los Angeles Olympics over the next three years and give it my absolute best. I want to return to the top ten in the world rankings and stay there. In the shorter term, we have some very important events coming up. We have a home World Championships and the Asian Games, both tournaments where I would love to perform strongly. Representing India on home soil always brings a special kind of motivation.. But beyond my own career, I also feel a strong responsibility to give back to the sport that has given me so much. I already enjoy mentoring younger players whenever I get the chance, and I hope to do much more of that in the future. Watching young athletes grow in confidence and belief is incredibly rewarding.. So, most of my days right now are filled with training sessions, recovery routines and preparation for those goals.. Story continues below this ad. Q: Your Dubai airport hold up, and the evacuation were widely discussed recently.. Sindhu: It was certainly a very unusual and unsettling experience. You are not used to seeing missiles flying overhead in your daily life, so naturally, it was a bit shocking for all of us. But I must say the Dubai authorities handled the situation incredibly well. Their professionalism and care for people during that time were remarkable. Our team stayed together throughout the situation, which helped a lot. My coach and several members of our team were understandably shaken, but we supported each other and stayed calm.. We tried to keep ourselves distracted as well. We were talking, playing card games, and just trying to keep the atmosph  

 ​A liver transplant is considered in advanced cirrhosis when the liver fails (Image: Freepik). Receiving a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis can feel overwhelming. This chronic condition is often the result of long-term factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, chronic hepatitis B or C, fatty liver disease, or autoimmune disorders. Recently, a newly diagnosed patient took to Quora, asking: ‘I am newly diagnosed with cirrhosis. Can it be reversed?’ Since the sentiment may resonate with several patients, we decided to dig deeper and seek answers.. While the diagnosis can feel overwhelming, experts say the answer depends largely on the stage of the disease. According to Dr Ameet Mandot, Director – Hepatology, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, cirrhosis is typically not fully reversible once significant damage has occurred, ” especially in advanced stages, as the liver develops permanent scarring.”. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. Can it be reversed at all?. There is some hope if the condition is caught early. “If cirrhosis is detected at an early stage, some liver damage can be partially reversed with proper treatment and lifestyle changes.” However, he adds, “If major scarring has occurred, it is mostly permanent, and the focus shifts to preventing further progression.”. Can treatment improve liver function?. Yes, especially in the early stages. “In the early stages of cirrhosis, treatment and lifestyle changes can improve liver function.” Addressing the root cause—such as alcohol use, infections, or poor diet—can make a significant difference. “Managing the cause, like stopping alcohol, controlling infections, or improving diet, can slow progression and even allow partial healing.”. A liver cirrhosis patient is strictly advised to avoid alcohol (Image: Unsplash). Also Read | ‘Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach can make you drunk within minutes but…’: Liver transplant surgeon explains the risks. What lifestyle changes are essential?. Daily habits play a critical role in managing cirrhosis. “Quit alcohol, follow a balanced low-salt diet, and maintain an optimum weight with regular medical follow-ups.” He also stresses the importance of managing underlying conditions and avoiding self-medication to protect liver health.. What treatments can help?. Treatment is focused on slowing or halting progression. “Treatments focus on managing the underlying cause, such as antiviral therapy for hepatitis, medications for complications, and strict alcohol avoidance.” Regular monitoring and proper nutrition are equally important.. Story continues below this ad. When is a liver transplant needed?. In advanced cases, a transplant may be the only option. “A liver transplant is considered in advanced cirrhosis when the liver fails.” The good news is that outcomes can be positive: “Lon  

 ​Actor Shoaib Ibrahim recently shared an update on his wife Dipika Kakar‘s health, saying that her latest blood test results are normal. “I have got some good news. Dipika’s blood test reports are normal. It is almost the same as it was 2 months ago. Hope that it remains the same. She has improved her lifestyle quite a bit,” said Shoaib on his YouTube vlog.. Sharing that there is not much restriction on eating out, yet it has been next to negligible, Shoaib said, “The doctor didn’t say anything about dietary restrictions. The doctor has always said that she should avoid eating out. She has to eat fresh food. She can dine out only on fresh food, cooked and not kept for long. So we have it in our mind. She has also started her diet. Outside food is almost nil. It is, in fact, nil. We have not even stepped outside much. Even if she steps out, she takes food. She is allowed to eat dal, rice from outside, if at all there is a need.”. Talking about the future course of treatment, Shoaib mentioned, “Now, we need to go to the doctor tomorrow to understand the next course of treatment. It is a long battle. Even if the reports are normal, they must be maintained. The treatment is ongoing.”. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. Dipika too highlighted the need for mental preparation. “It is good to know that one step is done. Now, I have to prepare the next course of treatment and see how it reacts on the body …what happens…side effects, precautions…so now I have to prepare for that.”. Dr Meghal Sanghavi, oncosurgeon at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, said that normal reports are a positive sign in cancer care. “However, they do not mean that the disease has been completely eliminated or that treatment can stop. Cancer treatment is usually planned in multiple phases, including active therapy, consolidation, and maintenance. This approach ensures that any remaining microscopic disease is addressed and the risk of recurrence is reduced,” said Dr Sanghavi.. Dal chawal is allowed (Photo: Freepik). So, even if scans or blood reports appear stable, doctors may continue or adjust treatment as part of a long-term plan. This phase focuses on maintaining the response achieved so far and improving outcomes over time.. Story continues below this ad. “Patients should see this as an important milestone rather than the end of treatment. Regular monitoring, sticking to therapy, and timely follow-ups are essential to keep the disease under control,” said Dr Sanghavi.. Lifestyle plays a supportive but crucial role during treatment. Dr Sanghavi emphasised that freshly cooked, hygienic food reduces the risk of infection, which is important when the body is under stress from ongoing therapy. “Avoiding stale, processed, or outside food helps keep gut health and overall immunity strong,” said Dr Sanghav  

 ​Learn why your digestion suffers during the rains. (AI generated image). Rains bring much-needed respite from the sweltering, scorching heat, but off-season showers can take a toll on one’s digestive system. Acidity, indigestion, vomiting and gastritis are common problems that rear their ugly head during this period. To learn why it happens, and keep such gut issues in check, indianexpress.com reached out to health experts and got some clarity.. Dr Rakesh Kochhar, former head of the department of gastroenterology at PGIMER, Chandigarh, explained that many gastrointestinal diseases in the monsoon are primarily due to contaminated water and food. “The humidity, along with high heat, creates perfect conditions for bacteria, viruses and fungi to grow and multiply in both food and water. Sometimes, flooding and overflowing drains mean that the dirty water leaches into fresh water supplies, contaminating them,” he told indianexpress.com.. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.. Contaminated food and water can lead to food poisoning, an infection or irritation of your digestive tract caused by bacteria. It acts after 12-48 hours, causing vomiting and diarrhoea within hours of ingestion. “If a person has a high fever or the fever lasts beyond 48 hours, there could be a need for antibiotics to be taken under a doctor’s supervision. Diseases like cholera or typhoid need to be confirmed by tests,” said Dr Kochhar.. Dr Tribhuvan Gulati, an expert on diabetes, thyroid, and metabolic disorders, added that consuming heavy foods slows digestion and can lead to acidity and indigestion during this time. “If you are prone to having chaat or juice from the streets, beware of stomach infection as the water used to prepare these things may be infected with bacteria,” he said.. How rain impacts gut health. (Freepik). How can you keep stomach issues at bay?. Dr Gulati shared some tips and tricks to avoid falling ill during this period:. Include probiotics in the diet: Opt for yoghurt, buttermilk, cheese, kefir, kombucha, and soybeans. Probiotics are packed with beneficial bacteria that support the digestive system and boost immunity.. Story continues below this ad. Hydration is key: Water can eliminate toxins from the body and keep the digestive system healthy.. Avoid raw vegetables: Have steamed or boiled veggies instead, as they are loaded with bacteria and viruses that can make you susceptible to stomach problems.. Drink boiled water: Avoid drinking tap water. Try to carry a water bottle with you whenever you venture out for work during the monsoon.. ALSO READ | Doctors warn against gut problems during monsoon; here’s what to keep in mind. Stay away from seafood: During the rainy season, there are high chances of water being contaminated, and the fish you may eat can give you diarrhoea.. Story continues below this ad.