Health News

How Stress Affects Blood Sugar Levels When stressed, the body enters a fight-or-flight mode, triggering hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones raise blood sugar levels to provide quick energy. For individuals with diabetes, this natural response can be problematic. Stress increases insulin resistance, making it harder for cells to absorb glucose. Blood sugar can rise unexpectedly even without food, affecting both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and complicating diabetes management. Impact of Emotional and Physical Stress Emotional Stress: Prolonged cortisol secretion due to anxiety, work pressure, or financial concerns can elevate blood sugar levels and trigger food cravings. Physical Stress: Factors like illness, injury, or lack of sleep release stress hormones that spike blood sugar and reduce insulin sensitivity. Ways to Lower Stress and Improve Blood Sugar – Engage in regular physical activity such as walking, jogging, or light exercises.– Practice deep breathing, yoga, or mindfulness meditation to calm the mind.– Ensure a minimum of 6 hours of sleep daily.– Consume a balanced diet rich in high-fiber foods, lean proteins, and whole grains to stabilize blood sugar levels. Note: If stress consistently affects blood sugar levels despite lifestyle changes, consult a doctor or mental health professional. They may recommend therapy or specialized stress management programs to help manage both stress and diabetes effectively.   

If you have been sitting for a long time in front of your computer without any movement then you have more chances of getting affected with blood clots or thrombosis!! It has been brought to light by some doctors that too much sitting whether at work or sitting during travel or even at home etc could cause VTE or venous thromboembolism. This is an issue that combines both deep vein thrombosis or DVT or pulmonary embolism or PE. What exactly is thrombosis? When the normal flow of blood is restricted due to the formation of a blood clot inside the vein then thrombosis would occur in us. Information is that DVT would occur in our legs. Sometimes, clot would travel to the lungs too and this could lead to pulmonary embolism or PE. It was pointed out by a Dr. Sunil Rana from Asian Hospital that Reason why sitting increases the risk: The circulation of blood would lower in our legs if we just sit for a long duration of time. This can lead to venous stasis and it would make it simpler for clots to develop. Especially those who are dehydrated or overweight must be very careful. There would be inflammation in our blood vessels due to stagnation and this would then lead to clot formation in us. It has been brought out by some research studies that sitting for more than 8 hours without any movement could result in thrombosis. There are certain warning signs of thrombosis in us and these are Various early signs of thrombosis are swelling in a single leg, redness or skin becoming darkened, sudden shortness of breath or chest pain, rapid heartbeat or dizziness etc. Who could get affected by thrombosis easily? Thrombosis could occur in those persons who sit for an extended period of time, had surgery recently, those who use birth control pills, those who smoke, those who are obese and those who have family history of clots etc. Ways to avoid thrombosis: Firstly, by shifting every 30 to 45 minutes by standing up, doing stretches and walking for short distances etc. Secondly, it is necessary to stay hydrated or drink water because dehydration would thicken the blood and this would increase clots. Blood clots can be avoided by us by sitting up straight with feet flat on the floor and finally by doing a minimum of 150 hours of physical activity every week.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. With so many treatment options available, it’s natural to feel uncertain. This is why getting a second opinion from another cancer specialist is so important – it helps confirm your diagnosis, review your options, and give you peace of mind before starting treatment. Why a Second Opinion Matters Confirms the Diagnosis:Cancer is complex, and test results can sometimes be interpreted differently. A second opinion ensures that the type and stage of cancer are correctly identified. Explores More Treatment Options:Another oncologist may suggest new or less aggressive treatments, including targeted therapy or clinical trials. Avoids Unnecessary Risks:A second opinion can help you avoid treatments that might not be necessary or suited to your condition. Builds Confidence:When two specialists agree, it strengthens your trust in the treatment plan. If they differ, you gain more knowledge to make an informed choice. When to Get a Second Opinion – When first diagnosed with cancer.– Before major surgery or chemotherapy.– When cancer returns or spreads.– When you feel unsure about the first treatment plan. Final Word A second opinion in cancer care is not about doubting your doctor – it’s about protecting your health and making the best decision. Taking this extra step can ensure the right treatment, reduce stress, and bring hope for a better recovery.

Caffeine and cortisol don`t get along!! If you think that drinking coffee after waking up in the morning would give you energy without any issue you might be surprised by this!! It has been brought out by some experts that drinking coffee in the morning could also spike the cortisol or stress hormone levels in us. High levels of cortisol would be secreted by our body automatically after we wake up in the morning and this would increase our alertness and energy etc. Truth is that this increase in cortisol hormone usually takes place between 6qam to 10am in the morning and by drinking coffee at this period caffeine would reinforce the effect making cortisol levels higher. We could feel weird, irritable and would have a racing heart etc. It was mentioned by a senior consultant from Noida based Sharda Hospitals that chronic high cortisol over time can result in issues like fatigue, hormonal disruption and sleep issues etc. When to drink coffee after waking up? Now, this leads to an important question – When to drink coffee after waking up in the morning? It is worthy to note that we mustn`t drink coffee right after waking up in the morning. After waking, we must wait for 80 to 90 minutes and then drink coffee. This was as per the consultant from Sharda Hospitals. There are few signs that would reveal that the coffee is spiking our cortisol levels. The signs are feeling jittery after drinking coffee, racing heart plus other signs like slump in the energy midday despite drinking coffee and difficulties in sleeping during night etc. Stress response: Drinking coffee would trigger adrenal glands to secrete more cortisol and adrenaline and this would be similar to how hormones would be released when the body faces stress. It must be noted that if  a person is already under pressure due to work, lack of sleep etc then this extra boost would push stress levels even more. Simple tests to know if cortisol in the body gets spiked by coffee intake Step one, we must not drink coffee as soon as we get up and instead wait for 60 to 90 minutes. Step two, by eating a minor snack or breakfast that would buffer the effect of caffeine on the stress system. It is necessary to consume matcha or green tea instead of coffee if the body is very sensitive. By watching the energy curve for about a week and monitor how mood and alertness shifts. Finally, by monitoring cortisol with saliva or blood tests etc. Important note: It is worth noting that by coordinating or synchronising coffee routing with the natural cortisol cycle we would be able to drink coffee without any jitter or energy slump etc.

Not only sleepless nights, fatigue etc, but many new mothers suffer from after pregnancy headaches or postpartum migraine headaches also!! It is true that becoming a mother is filled with superb happiness and challenges. It is worthy to note that factors like hormonal changes, stress, disrupted sleep and changes in the routine are responsible for postpartum migraines in new mothers. It is necessary that new mothers must take measures to manage their migraines. In the first 6 weeks after giving birth to a baby, 30% to 40% new mothers would get affected with postpartum headaches. The frequency of migraines would become more after giving birth as their oestrogen levels would reduce. Irregular sleep schedules, dehydration plus skipped meals and stress etc could lead to severe migraine headaches in the new mothers. New mothers could manage their postpartum migraine headaches in these ways. Track your symptoms: It is worthy to note that by tracking the symptoms of postpartum headaches new mothers would be able to manage their pain well. Truth is that new mothers must maintain a headache diary that would help them to identify certain triggers like food, lack of sleep etc. By maintaining gentle routine: The newborne would require round the clock care and new mothers must maintain their regular meal times and hydration etc. By this, new mothers could avoid sudden drops in their blood sugar levels. By prioritising sleep: One of the most important causes for migraine in the new mothers is lack of quality sleep. It is true that newborn care would not allow the new mothers to take rest or sleep well but making small adjustments could make a difference. By sleeping when baby sleeps: Fatigue in the new mothers would reduce even if she takes naps for 20 to 30 minutes during the time when her baby sleeps. By sharing night duties: The new mothers must ask their partners or other family members etc to help with night feeds so that she could take rest at that time. By creating a calm bedtime routine: Before bedtime, it is important to dim lights, avoid screens and d do deep breathing exercises etc to create calmness before bedtime. Effective home remedies for postpartum migraines are By applying cold or warm compress: It would be good to apply cold compress on the forehead and warm pack to the neck to ease tension. By massaging: Pressure in the new mothers could ease by gently massaging temples or the skull`s base etc. By relaxation techniques: By doing deep breathing, mindfulness meditation etc stress could be reduced in the new mothers and migraines could be prevented. Please, take care. Seeking emergency care: Though migraine headaches are common in the new mothers, sometimes they might reveal serious conditions like preeclampsia or postpartum hypertension etc. New mothers must seek immediate help if they have sudden severe headaches, blurred vision and high BP, swelling etc. 

How will you feel if you come to know that your youthful complexion is just a glass of lauki juice away? Truth is that not many of us would love to drink lauki juice. Many of us would find lauki juice boring and bland. Lauki or bottle gourd belongs to the family cucurbitaceae and genus lagenaria. The sensational piece of information is that drinking lauki juice would boost our skin health to a huge extent. Truth is that drinking this vegetable juice would do wonders on our skin. There are many nutrients like dietary fibres, vitamin B and C plus minerals like potassium, magnesium, phosphorus etc present in lauki or bottle gourd juice. Health benefits we can get by drinking lauki or bottle gourd juice. These are Has high water content: The most important reason why lauki juice will be superb for our skin health is that it contains high amounts of water in it. It is known that hydrating vegetables would nourish our skin and would prevent dryness. Fact is that lauki has got 92 to 96percent of water in it and would be superb for our skin. Rich in vitamin C: For our skin health to be good, it is essential that we must consume vitamin C rich foods. What better than lauki juice having vitamin C. It must be taken into account that vitamin C would fight free radicals and would help in collagen formation. Our skin would look radiant, rejuvenated and refreshed by intake of lauki juice. Has anti inflammatory properties: The anti-inflammatory properties of lauki juice would soothe irritated skin and reduce redness etc. it was brought to light by a research study published in the journal Ethnopharmacology that lauki`s bioactive compounds would help in skin healing. So for a clearer and even tone complexion, it is a must to consume this juice. Boosts production of collagen: For maintaining skin youthfulness, lauki juice would be superb. When we grow older or age, collagen production would reduce. Truth is that lauki`s vitamin C and antioxidants would counteract this effect. Promotes skin elasticity: It is known that vitamins and minerals would help in skin elasticity and lauki juice has vitamins and minerals in it. This would help in skin elasticity and the ski would be flexixible and supple. Our skin texture would get better plus our wrinkles and fine lines would get reduced etc.

These days a rare but serious form of cancer has been affecting many people. This is anal cancer and this article is all about anal cancer and various important symptoms related to anal cancer. It is known that the final part of our digestive tract is anus and the cancer that develops in the tissues of anus is anal cancer. It is necessary to detect anal cancer as its symptoms are often mistaken for common issues like fissures and haemorrhoids etc.  Beginning from the cell linings of anal canal, anal cancer could spread to surrounding tissues very fast if not detected early. Truth is that any delay in detecting anal cancer could impact the treatment negatively. Various important symptoms of anal cancer are Anal bleeding: Bleeding from the anus can be due to anal cancer. It must be taken into note that this is one of the most common and earliest symptoms of anal cancer. This bleeding would be visible on stools or in the toilet bowl etc. Mostly this bleeding is considered as bleeding due to haemorrhoids. It is important to check the bleeding that occurs frequently without a cause. Abnormal growths in the anal canal would be shown by means of persistent bleeding. Pain around anus region: It is necessary to consider the ongoing soreness, itching etc seriously as they could be due to anal cancer also. The discomfort may vary from burning sensation to pain. Point is that pain due to anal cancer would become worse over time unlike temporary irritation caused by skin conditions. Presence of lump or mass: In some persons, there would be a small lump or mass near their anus. This is due to anal cancer. During wiping, these lumps could be felt. The lump might not cause any pain in some cases and this would make us ignore the lump. Point is that the persistent lump that does not go away or continues to enlarge might reveal cancerous changes. Changes in bowel habits: If a person gets unexplained constipation, sudden diarrhoea and thin/narrow stools etc, then the person might have anal cancer. These changes in the bowel habits are associated with anal cancer. It is worthy to note that some people might have the urge to pass stools even if the bowel is empty. These changes in the bowel habits must be consulted with a doctor without fail. Swelling in the lymph nodes etc: Progression of anal cancer would lead to swelling of the nearby lymph nodes (due to firm enlarged lumps under the skin). The difference between swollen lymph nodes due to infection and swollen lymph nodes due to anal cancer is that in the former the swelling would improve within weeks but in the latter the swelling would persist and worsen gradually. It must be noted that detecting the swollen lymph nodes in the early stage itself would help the doctors to assess whether the anal cancer has spread beyond anus.

As we grow older, our body as well as our brain will age!! It must be noted that the way our body would age would be different from the way our brain would age. Signs like grey hairs, wrinkles are spotted easily when our body grows old but the signs of an aging brain won`t be spotted until years later when ageing brain symptoms would be revealed.  Acceleration of brain ageing can be serious as it could lead to more than memory lapse. It can increase cognitive decline much faster plus slows down reaction times, dementia etc. Our overall quality of life would get affected. Not many of us would be aware of the fact that lack of nutrition could lead to brain ageing. These nutrient deficiencies would make our brain age faster. Please take care. Lack of vitamin B12: It has been brought to light by some research studies that vitamin B12 deficiency is responsible for Alzheimer`s disease, Parkinson`s disease and cognitive impairment. For DNA synthesis and for keeping homocysteine levels low, vitamin B12 is essential.  Formation of myelin sheath would depend on vitamin B12. Intake of eggs and fish etc would help a person to meet his or her vitamin B12 requirement. Vegetarian food eaters can consume vitamin B12 supplements and dairy etc. Lack of Omega 3s: For improving memory and for maintaining cognitive function in a person, omega- 3s is important. Truth is that lack of omega-3s would accelerate brain ageing. Intake of fatty fishes could help a person to meet the requirement of omega-3s. Various plant based alternatives are dry fruits and seeds like chia seeds, flax seeds etc. Lack of magnesium: By regulating nerve signals and supporting memory formation, magnesium plays a huge role in us. Our nervous system would get calmed down by magnesium. It was brought to light by a study that low serum magnesium is associated with dementia risk and impaired cognitive performance. For magnesium, intake of leafy greens, seeds and whole grains etc would be superb. Lack of vitamin D: Neuron growth would get supported and inflammation would be reduced by means of sunshine nutrient vitamin D. The risks of getting dementia are high due to low levels of this important vitamin as its deficiency can lead to amyloid beta accumulation. By spending 10 to 15 minutes under the sun daily, we would be able to get vitamin D. It would be good to eaeat vitamin D foods like fortified milk, mushrooms, fatty fishes, eggs etc. Lack of vitamin E: It must be noted that vitamin E would work as a brain`s antioxidant. By protecting the neurons from oxidative damage and by reducing cognitive decline, vitamin E would play a huge role. Bitter fact is that when we have low levels of vitamin E then our brain would age faster and we could be more prone to Alzheimer`s disease. Lack of anthocyanins: Our cognitive functions would get boosted by anthocyanins. Point is that these nutrients would act as an antioxidant and would lower oxidative stress. Berries and purple vegetables have anthocyanins in them. There would be enhanced blood flow to the brain by consuming anthocyanins.  It is good to eat blueberries, blackberries, cherries and purple cabbage etc for getting anthocyanin. Important note: There would be accelerated brain aging (in a silent manner) in us due to nutritional deficiencies. We could protect our memory by correcting these deficiencies through diet, by making healthy lifestyle choices etc. By this, we can lower the risk of getting neurodegenerative diseases. 

Many of us would dismiss bloating as just indigestion or overeating etc, don`t we? It is normal to get bloated after eating heavy meals. In some persons, bloating might be present always or persistent, get frequent and this can be a serious issue. This might be due to some underlying health issues also. So, please be careful. Persistent bloating can be a sign of these underlying conditions in us. They are IBS and digestive irregularities: If a person experiences bloating often, then he or she might be affected with IBS or irritable bowel syndrome. It must be noted that those with IBS would have abdominal cramps with diarrhoea and constipation. Normal gut functions would be disturbed and the persons would have increased sensitivity and abnormal bowel movements. The symptoms of IBS could be eased by following a certain diet plus by managing stress, by regular exercises etc. Food intolerances and celiac disease: Not many would associate food intolerances with bloating. Point is that lactose intolerance (or inability to digest lactose in dairy products etc) can result in gas, bloating etc.  People can get persistent bloating if they have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. It is noteworthy that persons with celiac disease would find it difficult to consume gluten based foods. Truth is that it would trigger an immune response that would damage their small intestines, impair nutrients absorption etc. Bloating could get worse due to fructose intolerances also. Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD and chronic inflammation: If a person gets bloating issues frequently then he or she could have chronic inflammatory conditions of the digestive tract. Examples are ulcerative colitis and Crohn`s disease etc. Point is that both these issues mentioned fall under IBD and the persons would have symptoms like diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fatigue etc. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO: Excessive bacteria would get accumulated in the small intestine and this can lead to SIBO. The undigested foods would get fermented by these bacteria and this would produce gas leading to bloating, discomfort etc. It is highly essential to get treated for SIBO or else it would interfere with nutrients absorption causing malnutrition also. Ovarian and abdominal tumours: It is shocking to note that persistent and frequent bloating g can also be due to ovarian and abdominal tumours. It is worth noting that women who get chronic bloating with pelvic pain plus unexplained weight loss etc must consult a doctor immediately. Bloating can be one of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer. Liver & pancreatic disease: Fact is that persistent bloating might be due to underlying liver and pancreas issues. There would be fluid accumulation in the abdomen due to issues like liver cirrhosis, pancreatic insufficiency etc. This could be confused with bloating. Persons with liver and pancreatic diseases or issues must consult a specialist without fail and get their issues identified for proper treatment. Important note: We must never ignore frequent, severe and unexplained bloating. Point to be noted is that if the symptoms persist or are accompanied by warning signs like abdominal pain, blood in stools, changes in bowel movements etc then consulting a doctor is a must. Discomfort would get eased by early diagnosis and complications can be avoided. By maintaining awareness regarding digestive health and visiting a specialist doctor when required, we could manage bloating effectively.

Sleeping in a room with an air-conditioner on can be both boon as well as bane for a person. On one hand, the soft hum of the air-conditioner plus the crisp air could give heaven kind of feeling especially on a hot and humid day. On the other hand, sleeping with the air-conditioner on can lead to several health issues in us.  Our body`s balance, immunity and mental wellbeing can get affected due to the air-conditioner. Various side effects we can get due to prolonged exposure to air-conditioners are Cause dryness in us: When we sleep in a room with the air-conditioner on for a long duration of time, we can get dry skin, lips and hairs etc. Point is that our eyes might feel itchy and dandruff might also increase. Truth is that in a low humidity environment our body would lose its hydration naturally. This can affect our comfort and skin health etc. Respiratory issues: If filters are not cleaned properly, then a/c air that re-circulates indoor air could trap dust, mould, bacteria etc. Bitter fact is that continuous use of a/c could irritate our respiratory tract leading to coughing, sneezing etc. Hidden immune fatigue: When we live constantly in a temperature controlled bubble then our body would find it difficult to get adjusted to the heat or cold. It is worthy to note that our immune system would thrive on small challenges like adjusting to seasonal changes. Our body would become less resilient if it gets insulated from natural temperature variations. By this, we could become more vulnerable to cold, cough, flu etc. Joint and muscle stiffness: At deep sleep, our muscles would be at rest and cool air would reduce the blood flow to the extremities. Truth is that those persons who sleep in a/c would feel stiffness in joints and muscles after waking up in the morning. Repeatedly sleeping with a/c on would lead to mild tension in the neck, shoulders etc. Disrupted sleep cycles: In the beginning, a/c might help us to fall asleep faster. Our natural sleep cycle would get disrupted by an overly cold environment. During deep sleep, our body`s internal temperature would drop naturally and extreme cooling could trick the system to wake up intermittently.  By this, our overall quality of sleep would get affected. We could get a slight decline in cognitive alertness the next morning. Imbalance in microbiome: Our skin and nasal microbiome would get affected when we spend more time in the artificially cooled environment. Microbial balance on the skin and respiratory tract could get affected due to dryness, filtered air and due to lack of natural humidity etc. So, please take care.