Can Loneliness & Depression Harm Your Heart? Here's What Experts Say

Updated Feb 2, 2025 | 03:00 AM IST

SummarySubtle symptoms of heart disease, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the lower legs, dizziness, and jaw pain, are often overlooked. These signs play an important role in the early detection of heart diseases.
Depression and heart health

Depression and heart health (Credit: Canva)

Heart disease is often linked to high cholesterol, obesity, or lack of exercise. However, there is mounting evidence that suggests that mental health plays a crucial role in cardiovascular well-being. Stress, anxiety, and depression can silently strain the heart, increasing the risk of serious complications.

A recent study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, showed that loneliness has a significant impact on proteins present in a person's blood. For the study, researchers used data from more than 42,000 participants to explore whether the 9.3% who reported social isolation and 6.4% who reported loneliness had different levels of proteins in their blood compared with those who did not. The researchers then studied data that tracked the health of participants over an average 14-year period.

"We found around 90% of these proteins are linked to the risk of mortality," Dr Chun Shen, Fudan University in China, who is also the lead researcher said. "In addition, about 50% of the proteins were linked to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke," he added.

Dr Shrey Kumar Srivastav, senior consultant at Sharda Hospital, said that subtle symptoms of heart disease, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling in the lower legs, dizziness, and jaw pain, are often overlooked or attributed to stress and ageing. "Women, in particular, may experience atypical signs like extreme fatigue, indigestion, or upper abdominal pain instead of classic chest pain, leading to delayed diagnosis," he added.

Can Mental Health Issues Trigger Heart Diseases?

Chronic stress can trigger harmful cardiovascular effects, including elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and inflammation—key contributors to heart disease. Anxiety and depression further impact heart health by disrupting sleep patterns, raising stress hormone levels, and encouraging unhealthy habits like poor diet and inactivity.

Mental health issues like depression and anxiety have a profound impact on the heart. They don’t just affect emotions but can increase inflammation and put extra strain on the cardiovascular system, warns Dr Srivastav.

Certain risk factors, such as obesity and diabetes, disproportionately affect women, making them more vulnerable to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, due to gender-specific symptom variations, heart disease in women often goes undiagnosed for longer.

Obesity is more prevalent in women than men and is a major risk factor for heart failure. Diabetes, too, has a greater impact on women’s heart health, yet diagnosis and treatment delays are common. Addressing this gap requires increasing awareness, training healthcare providers, and promoting early diagnostic tools,” explains Dr Srivastav.

How Can You Protect Your Heart?

A simple yet effective way to support heart health is by committing to a brisk 30-minute walk daily. Walking not only helps regulate blood pressure and manage weight but also improves circulation and reduces stress.

"Regular physical activity, paired with a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, significantly lowers cardiovascular risks," advises Dr Srivastav.

Heart disease can often go undetected until a major event occurs, making routine screenings essential.

- For women: Begin screenings around age 30 and continue with regular checkups.

- For men: Start screenings at age 35.

Health screenings, including blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and electrocardiograms (ECGs), are critical for early detection of silent heart conditions.

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Six-year-old Child Dies Of Medical Negligence During MRI At Greater Noida Imaging Centre

Updated Feb 13, 2026 | 03:00 PM IST

SummaryA six-year-old boy died after his condition worsened during an MRI at a Greater Noida diagnostic centre, with family alleging excessive anesthesia. Protests followed as police began investigation, while guidelines outline recommended pediatric sedation doses for safety.
Six-year-old Child Dies Of Medical Negligence During MRI At Greater Noida Imaging Centre

Credits: Canva

A six-year-old boy died after his health worsened during an MRI scan at a private Greater Noida diagnostic centre. His family alleged medical negligence and claimed that he was administered a wrong or heavy dose injection.

As per the boy's father, Prashant Kasana, his son was taken to the centre for some test and was given an injection before the MRI procedure. The family said that during the MRI scan, the child was administered a heavy dose. Due to which his condition worsened and he also lost consciousness.

The family also said that when they asked for information about the child's condition and his medical report, they were not given any satisfactory answers. They also claimed that the doctors gave another dose to the child. The child's condition did not improve and the family had to rush the child to another nearby private hospitals. This is where the doctors declared him dead.

Six-year-old Child Dies of Medical Negligence: What Happened?

After this incident, family members accused the staff of the KB Healthcare Centre, where the child was first taken for an MRI scan. Villagers and workers of the Bharatiya Kisan Union also reached the spot and staged a protest.

The state spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Pawan Khatana, stated that the child was brought to the centre at 10.30am, and was in normal condition. As per the spokesperson, doctors did not disclose the quantity of the dose administered to the child.

As per Khatana, even after half an hour, the child did not gain consciousness and when the doctors checked him again, he was unresponsive and cold. The family took to another private hospital where he was declared dead. Khatana also alleged that there are many such unauthorized screening and imaging centres operating in Greater Noida and demanded a thorough probe.

Six-year-old Child Dies Of Medical Negligence: What Are The Authorities Saying?

Police on reaching the spot received the information, while protesters demanded for a fair investigation and strict action against those responsible. The Station House Officer of Neta 2 police station said the child was a resident of Reelkha in Dankaur. He was brought to a private pathology lab in Sector P3 for an MRI scan. As per the officer, the doctor administered the child with anesthesia for an MRI. After this, the child's health started to deteriorate.

Police has sent the body for post-mortem after completing the necessary legal formalities.

Six-year-old Child Dies of Medical Negligence: How Much Anesthesia Is Safe For A Child During MRI?

As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US and a study by the Yeungnam University Journal of Medicine (YUJM), drugs for deep sedation or general anesthesia for pediatric MRI are:

(I) Chloral hydrate: a sedative hyptonic agent with no analgesic properties

The study notes that the recommended dose of chloral hydrate is 50 to 100 mg/kg, or up to a maximum of 2g. The success rate of chloral hydrate sedation for pediatric MRI varies from 78% to 100%.

The United Kingdom (UK) National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) also recommends the use of oral chloral hydrate with a wide margin of safety in children under 15 kg.

The study also notes that children "may be encouraged to take at least clear fluids 2 hours before the procedure for successful sedation without breaking institutional fasting protocols for chloral hydrate sedation".

(II) Pentobarbital: a medium duration barbiturate that provides potent sedation with no analgesic property.

As per the study, this can be administered via an oral or intravenous or IV route. The oral dose is administered between 4 to 8mg per kg and IV dose of 2 to 3 mg per kg.

(III) Midazolam: it is a short-acting water soluble benzodiazepine that has anxiolytic, sedative, amanestiec, and muscle relaxant properties.

It is administered through various routes, but IV is preferred. When administered through IV, it is given at the dose of 0.1mg per kg.

Anesthetic agents include propofol and sevoflurane.

Note: This article is not a substitute for medical consultation or prescription. The information is based on reports and research articles available online for public.

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Trump's Slurred Speech At Champion of Coal Event Sparks Health Concerns

Updated Feb 13, 2026 | 02:41 PM IST

SummaryUS President Donald Trump’s health is in news again, following a speech where he slurred the word ‘undisputed’. A viral clip from the event show him fumbling the word and this has sparked another conversation about the president’s health. Is slurred speech a sign of dementia, or is it stress?

(Credit - The White House/X)

President Donald Trump’s slurred speech at a recent event has sparked renewed concerns for his health. During a White House ceremony, where President Trump was being crowned the “Undisputed Champion of Coal”, his speech briefly slurred and he mispronounced the word, “undisputed.”

A video clip of him saying “And I'm proud to officially name the undithpuut... When did this come out, Mr speaker.” has been making rounds on social media platforms like X. Speculations about President Trump’s dementia and memory loss have been taking over the internet. People are also drawing between the supposed email mentioned in the Epstein files that also mentioned Trump’s supposed memory loss and the continued rumors about his dementia.

Also read: Epstein Files Raise Questions About Trump’s Memory Decline

Is Slurred Speech A Sign of Dementia?

According to Harvard Health, yes, slurred speech can be a sign of dementia, more specifically vascular dementia. While many people associate dementia primarily with memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia has a different cause and set of symptoms.

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of the condition. It is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to cholesterol-clogged vessels or a series of "silent" mini-strokes.

Health Conditions That Can Cause Slurred Speech?

Harvard health also explains that slurred speech typically appears in two scenarios

Following a Major Stroke

A significant blockage can cause an abrupt mental shift, often paired with physical symptoms like paralysis or slurred speech.

As a Core Symptom

Because symptoms depend on which specific area of the brain is damaged, some individuals may experience slurred speech and confusion even if their memory remains relatively intact.

Also Read: Donald Trump Alzheimer’s Speculation Rises After Niece Notices Worrying Sign

Trump’s Dementia Speculations

With the influx in conversation surrounding the health of President Donald Trump, it is important to remember that these are not proven claims. On social media, people often point to these "fumbles" as evidence of the president’s cognitive decline or dementia. However, we must understand that the situation is much more complex than that

The White House maintains that the President is in "excellent overall health" and has even released MRI results to back that up. Trump himself often pushes back aggressively against the media for questioning his fitness.

While the public is quick to speculate, experts like neurologists and specialists in aging, say we should be careful. They argue it is impossible, and unprofessional, to diagnose someone just by watching them on TV.

Other Reasons Why Trump’s Health Made News

In 2025, public debate frequently centered on President Trump’s physical health, sparked by visible signs like hand bruising and swollen ankles.

Hand Bruising

Health doubts had been sparked when a bruise on Trump’s hand was highlighted. However, the White House clarified that the bruising on his right hand was a common side effect of daily Aspirin use for heart health, potentially worsened by frequent handshaking.

Swollen Ankles

Similarly, his swollen ankles during the ASEAN summit were attributed to Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), a condition where leg veins struggle to pump blood back to the heart, in an official report from the White House.

MRI Scan

Official MRI results of President Trump also described his cardiovascular and abdominal health as "excellent,". This was shared by Dr. Sean Barbabella, the White House physician, who said that the scans were routine checkups for a 79-year-old and were exceptional for his age.

Cognitive Screening

Trump claimed he "aced" an IQ test, but experts identified it as the MoCA dementia screening. This basic 10-minute exam checks for cognitive impairment rather than measuring a person's general intelligence.

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Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: Nurse Who Recovered Dies Of Cardiac Arrest

Updated Feb 13, 2026 | 10:51 AM IST

SummaryAmid Kolkata’s Nipah outbreak, a 25-year-old nurse who recovered from infection died of cardiac arrest due to complications. Nipah, a zoonotic virus, can cause severe respiratory illness and encephalitis. Experts urge close global monitoring and preparedness.
Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: Nurse Who Recovered Dies Of Cardiac Arrest

Credits: Canva

Nipah virus Outbreak In India: After two cases of Nipah virus were confirmed in Kolkata, one of the nurses who has recovered from Nipah virus died of a cardiac arrest. Health and Me previously reported on the male nurse being discharged.

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: What Happened With The Nurse?

The 25-year-old nurse who recovered from Nipah virus infection died of cardiac arrest on Thursday. As per the official statement given to news agency PTI, "She died of cardiac arrest this afternoon. Though she had recovered from Nipah infection, she was suffering from multiple complications."

The reports show that she also developed a lung infection and contracted a hospital-acquired infection during treatment. The official said, "She was trying to regain consciousness, move her limbs, and speak before her condition suddenly deteriorated. She died at around 4.20pm."

The nurse fell ill in early January after returning home on December 31 for the New Year holidays and was initially admitted to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital before being shifted to the private hospital in Barasat.

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: What Is Nipah Virus?

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah virus infection is a zoonotic illness that is transmitted to people from animals, and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly from person to person.

In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.

Although Nipah virus has caused only a few known outbreaks in Asia, it infects a wide range of animals and causes severe disease and death in people.

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: What Are The Common Symptoms?

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Cough and sore throat
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Muscle pain and severe weakness

Nipah Virus Outbreak In India: What Are Experts Saying?

Dr Krutika Kupalli, a Texas-based expert who formerly also worked with the World Health Organization (WHO), told The Daily Mail that the possibility of Nipah virus outbreak is 'absolutely' something the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should be 'closely monitoring'.

Read: Experts Reveal Risks Of Nipah Virus Outbreak In The US, CDC On Alert

“Nipah virus is a high-consequence pathogen, and even small, apparently contained outbreaks warrant careful surveillance, information sharing, and preparedness. Outbreaks like this also underscore the importance of strong relationships with global partners, particularly the WHO, [which] plays a central role in coordinating outbreak response and sharing timely, on-the-ground information," she said.

A CDC spokesperson told The Daily Mail that the agency is in 'close contact' with authorities in India. "CDC is monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist as needed."

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