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.

Indian scientists have developed tiny, light-responsive nanobots that could pave the way for more precise breast cancer treatment. The findings indicate that this approach could potentially reduce damage to healthy tissues during therapy.

Researchers from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, in collaboration with scientists from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, have developed multifunctional nanobots that can move towards a light source and destroy cancer cells using a combination of heat and reactive oxygen species. The findings were published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

How Do The Nanobots Work?

The experimental nanobots are made of upconversion nanoparticles, which can respond to near-infrared (NIR) light. Unlike conventional light-driven systems that may require ultraviolet, NIR light has greater potential to penetrate tissue.

When exposed to a 980-nanometre NIR laser, the nanobots generate heat and show directional movements towards the light source. This is called phototaxis.

The researchers reported that the nanobots reached speeds of around 27 ± 7 micrometres per second under the tested conditions.

The team also coated the nanobots with folic acid. This helps them recognise breast cancer cells that have higher levels of folate receptors, improving their ability to target tumour cells.

At the tumour site, the nanobots use two mechanisms to attack cancer cells. Photothermal therapy generates localised heat, while photodynamic therapy produces reactive oxygen species that can damage and kill cancer cells.

“The field of fuel-free light-powered nanobots and microbots with stimulus-responsive behaviour can have crucial implications for biomedical research,” the researchers said in the study.

Also read: The Office Actress Lucy Davis Reveals Incurable Stage 4 Breast Cancer: 'It’s Too Late For Chemo'

Why Is This Important For Breast Cancer?

Chemotherapy remains an important part of breast cancer treatment, but its effects go beyond targeting tumour cells. Drugs circulating through the body can also affect healthy tissues, leading to side effects. Tumours may also develop resistance to the treatment.

The researchers say conventional nanomedicines often depend on passive accumulation inside tumours, which can limit penetration and control over exactly where treatment acts. The new method attempts to work with a navigation system managed externally by light.

Also read: Breastfeeding Can Help Reduce Mothers' Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Breast Cancer and More

What Did The Study Find?

The technology has so far been tested in laboratory cancer-cell models and in mice carrying breast tumours. The researchers reported significant inhibition of tumour-growth when the nanobots with folic acid function were combined with 980 nm laser irradiation.

Researchers say that this is still preclinical research and may need further examination and clinical trials.

The nanobots have not been established as a treatment for breast cancer patients, and a lot more research will be needed to gauge their safety, effectiveness, dosing and ability to successfully work in humans.

Also read: Don't Fear The Biopsy, Fear The Delay

Global Breast Cancer Burden

Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with steady increases in incidence over the last few decades. It accounts for around one in four cases of cancer and 15 per cent of cancer deaths in women, and is one of the leading causes of death in women under 50.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 59,400 new cases diagnosed annually and roughly 11,200 deaths each year. About one in seven women in the UK develops the disease in their lifetime, though survival rates are high, with nearly 90% surviving for five years or more.

A Chhattisgarh police constable who died during hospital treatment received an automated Ayushman Bharat message 42 days later congratulating him on his recovery and saying he was returning home. The incident left his family shocked who raised questions over patient-record updates.

What Happened?

Devnarayan Ram, 39, a police constable from Jashpur district, was admitted to Government Medical College Hospital in Ambikapur on June 26. He died during treatment on June 30. His family subsequently received his death certificate and performed his last rites.

However, on August 6, his wife Seema Kujur received an automated message on her husband’s registered mobile number under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).

The message said, “We are happy that you have recovered and are returning home,” and thanked him for using the free healthcare services under Ayushman Bharat.

The portal showed June 26 as his admission date and August 6 as his discharge date, effectively keeping his hospital record active for 42 days after his death.

Also read: Healthcare's Biggest Challenge Is Not Clinical, It's Human

Family Seeks Probe

For Kujur, who is herself a nurse at a government hospital, the message was particularly distressing.

She said in a video message, “You can imagine what it means for a family to receive such a message for a person who has died. It causes immense pain.”

She also questioned how the system could remain unaware of her husband’s death for 42 days.

“I am a hospital employee, and even then, this happened to me. You can easily imagine what could happen to ordinary people, particularly poor and tribal families,” she said, demanding an inquiry.

Also read: Making IVF Affordable: Experts Push For Insurance Cover, Public Funding & Better Access To Fertility Care In India

Hospital's Response

Hospital authorities have denied that Ram’s Ayushman card was used to claim treatment benefits for 42 days after his death

According to the hospital, Ram was treated in the ICU from June 26 to June 30. Only ICU and blood-transfusion-related packages worth about ₹16,700 were blocked under Ayushman Bharat, and no additional package was blocked after his death.

Dr Shailendra Gupta of the Surguja district health department said allegations that the card had been used for 42 days were “completely incorrect.”

He said, “The amount was deducted only for the treatment provided during the patient's actual stay in the hospital. No additional amount was deducted."

Hospital officials said the problem occurred because the Ayushman claim was not closed promptly due to human error.

A data-entry operator allegedly delayed the process, and when the claim was finally closed on August 6, the system automatically generated the recovery and discharge message. The officials said that the operator has since been dismissed.

Also read: 'Let's Fix Our Food': India Launches New Policy To Fight Childhood Obesity, Boost Nutrition

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is Centre’s government-funded health assurance scheme, launched in 2018.

It provides health cover of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation for eligible poor and vulnerable families.

The scheme is designed to provide cashless and paperless treatment and protect families from major out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

After the incident raised questions about timely update of patient's records, the hospital has reportedly written to the state seeking safeguards so that automated messages relating to discharge, referral or death are sent only after the patient’s actual status is verified.

India’s food safety regulators have stepped up scrutiny on multiple fronts this week. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has tightening packaging rules for pan masala and Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) taking action against retail outlets over alleged hygiene violations.

From what goes into packaged products to how food is stored and handled before it reaches consumers, these developments come at a time when food safety in India is under tight scrutiny.

FSSAI Bans Plastic And Aluminium Foil In Pan Masala Packaging

Under the new Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified on August 10, pan masala packaging can no longer use plastic-based materials, plastic laminates, aluminium foil or metallised layers.

Pan masala can now be packaged in materials made of paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials, provided they are completely free from plastic and synthetic polymers. Tin and glass containers are also allowed.

The decision follows an earlier draft notification issued by FSSAI in April, which proposed adding specific packaging materials for pan masala to the food packaging regulations.

Also read: Why FSSAI Seized 18,000 Boxes Of Diageo Whisky, Vodka Bottles

Why FSSAI Is Targeting Pan Masala's Packaging?

Pan masala sachets have traditionally relied heavily on plastic and foil materials as they are lightweight, inexpensive and the contents are shielded from moisture.

However, such multilayer plastic packaging is difficult to recycle and contributes to persistent plastic waste. The new rules push manufacturers towards packaging made of paper and other naturally derived materials that won't harm the environment.

This does not mean that pan masala itself safer to consume. Pan masala, particularly those containing tobacco or areca nut, continues to be harmful. The regulation is primarily about packaging standards and waste.

Also read: From Liquor to Dabur to VKC Nuts, FSSAI Crackdown Puts Food Safety in Focus: Why It Matters

Maharashtra FDA Cracks Down On Retail Food Safety

On the other hand, Maharashtra FDA suspended the food license of a Blinkit facility in Malad West after it reportedly found cockroach infestation, improper storage and other hygiene violations that posed health safety dangers.

Officials also flagged expired and damaged products, inadequate pest control, poor waste management and improper food storage practices. The license was suspended under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The incident highlights why storage conditions matter even when food has already passed manufacturing and packaging checks.

Also read: Why Indian Doctors Are Seeking A Ban On Junk Food Ads And Mandatory Warning Labels On Packaging?

Reliance Retail Outlet Under Investigation Over Kaju Katli Complaint

In a separate case in Buldhana, Maharashtra FDA flagged a Reliance Retail outlet after a consumer complaint alleging fungal growth and live larvae in packaged kaju katli.

Officials inspected the outlet on August 8 and seized 54 kaju katli boxes reportedly. The specific batch mentioned in the complaint was no longer available, while another batch of the same product was found in stock.

These incidents underscore an important point: food safety does not end when a product leaves the factory. Packaging, transportation, storage, pest control, temperature management, expiry checks and hygiene at retail outlets all form part of the food-safety chain.

For consumers, checking the product's packaging, expiry dates, storage instructions and signs of contamination remains important. If a packaged food looks, smells or tastes abnormal, it is safer not to consume it and to report it to the food-safety authority.