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.

In a major policy shift, schools and colleges across India are set to introduce comprehensive sex education after the Centre informed the Supreme Court that a nationwide programme on health, safety, relationships and reproductive awareness will soon be rolled out.

The move comes nearly two years after the apex court directed the government to create a structured national framework to improve awareness about sexuality, reproductive health, consent, personal safety and child sexual abuse prevention.

Appearing before a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the Centre has accepted the recommendations of a 26-member national expert committee. The government plans to implement the curriculum nationwide after the Supreme Court grants its formal approval.

The bench also observed that "sex education is not a Western concept incompatible with Indian societal values," noting that misconceptions have led some states to oppose or ban such programmes despite their public health importance.

What Will Be Taught?

The expert panel has recommended making comprehensive sex education a mandatory part of the school curriculum under NEP 2020. Specially trained teachers would conduct brief 15–20 minute sessions twice a week, with lessons tailored to each age group.

Primary school: Personal hygiene, body awareness, and safe and unsafe touch.

Middle and higher classes: Puberty, hormonal changes, consent, personal boundaries, recognising unsafe situations, seeking help, and reproductive and sexual health.

Experts Call It A Long-Overdue Reform

Health experts lauded the move and reiterated that comprehensive sex education is not about encouraging sexual activity. Instead, it equips children with the knowledge and life skills needed to stay safe, make informed decisions and build healthy relationships.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Ishwar Gilada, the President Emeritus of the AIDS Society of India (ASI) and a Governing Council member of the International AIDS Society (IAS), called the apex Court's directions a landmark moment after decades of advocating for scientific sex education.

He noted that "early sex education can help prevent child sexual abuse among both girls and boys", and also prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV.

A key myth about sex education is that it will encourage sexual activity. Busting the myth, Dr. Arti Anand, Senior Consultant, Clinical Psychology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said that "comprehensive sex education is about providing children with the right information at the right age, not encouraging sexual activity".

The experts noted that in the absence of accurate information, children often rely on friends or the internet, where myths and misinformation are common.

Instead, Dr Arti said that a good sex education can:

• Protect children from abuse
• Reduce bullying
• Prevent unhealthy relationships
• Build confidence
• Encourage respect and responsible decision-making
• Help children grow into emotionally healthy, safe and well-informed adults

Studies have proven that comprehensive sexuality education can:

• Reduce risky behaviors
• Lower unintended pregnancies
• Reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Help prevent sexual abuse by enabling children to recognise inappropriate behaviour and seek help
• Promote gender equality and mutual respect.

Dr. Amit Prakash Singh, Consultant – Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, described comprehensive sex education as an essential life-skills programme that goes beyond reproductive health.

Dr. Singh told HealthandMe that the curriculum will help children understand:

• Puberty
• Consent
• Healthy relationships
• Personal safety
• Gender respect
• Digital safety.

A new study has challenged long-held beliefs about dementia, suggesting that your location may have a significant impact on whether you may or may not develop neurodegenerative disease.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Researchers from the University of Southern California studied health data from more than 214,000 adults across 21 countries.

They found that while many well-known dementia risk factors are universal, their impact can vary significantly depending on a person's country.

The findings suggest that prevention strategies should be customised to local populations rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

Also read: Healthy Lifestyle Changes Improve Memory, Thinking In Older Adults At Dementia Risk: The Lancet

What Did The Researchers Find?

The researchers discovered that factors like education, obesity, hearing loss, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and physical inactivity do not contribute equally to dementia risk across the globe.

In some countries, less education emerged proved to be a strong factor, while in others, cardiovascular health or mental health played a larger role.

"Our findings show that dementia prevention isn't one-size-fits-all," the researchers said, emphasizing that risk profiles differ substantially between countries and should inform future public health policies.

Despite these regional differences, the study also identified encouraging similarities. Several modifiable risk factors consistently influenced dementia risk across multiple countries, reinforcing the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyles while allowing governments to prioritize interventions based on local needs.

"Reducing dementia risk requires not only individual action but also supportive systems and policies that shape people's everyday lives," the WHO says.

Also read: Radio Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini Reveals Alzheimer's Disease Diagnosis

The new research strengthens that message by suggesting that a country's healthcare system, education policies, environmental conditions, and socioeconomic circumstances may all influence how dementia develops within its population.

Experts say that these findings could help in designing effective prevention strategies.

For example, countries where hearing loss has a stronger association with dementia may benefit from expanding hearing screening and access to hearing aids, while others might achieve greater impact by improving cardiovascular care, promoting physical activity, or expanding mental health services.

Previous research has estimated that nearly 45% of dementia cases could potentially be delayed or prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors, including controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, staying physically active, treating hearing loss, avoiding smoking, and maintaining social life.

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a significant decline in mental function that is serious enough to affect everyday life.

It commonly impacts memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. Dementia itself is not a single disease, but a collection of symptoms caused by underlying conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.

Common signs include:

• Memory problems
• Confusion
• Difficulty finding words
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Trouble completing familiar tasks

The findings come as dementia continues to pose a growing global health challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed each year.

WHO also notes that factors like poverty, limited access to education, healthcare inequality, and employment opportunities can significantly shape an individual's dementia risk.

South Korea is experiencing a sharp rise in sleep disorders across all age groups, but the fastest increase is among its youngest population.

New government data suggests that the number of children under the age of 10 who are undergoing treatment for sleep disorders spiked by 67.5% over the past four years, compared to teenagers and adults.

Alarming Rate Of Sleep Disorder Cases In South Korea’s Children

The surprising trend has raised concerns among pediatricians and sleep experts, who warn that poor sleep habits in early childhood can have permanent effects on physical growth, learning, intelligence, emotional well-being, and mental health.

According to figures released by South Korea's Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), more than 1.34 million people sought treatment for sleep disorders last year, which showed an increase of about 24% compared to 2021

While adults in their 50s, 60s, and 70s still account for the largest share of patients, the fastest growth has been recorded among children less than 10 years of age. Teenagers also experienced a notable increase of more than 32% during the same period.

Also read: Obesity-Driven CKM Syndrome A Growing Public Health Threat, Warns American Heart Association

Why Are Children In South Korea Facing Sleep Disorders?

Excessive Screentime

Health experts say that there are factors that are likely driving the surge. One of the biggest contributors is the widespread and rampant use of smartphones, tablets, and other digital devices before bedtime.

Research states that exposure to blue light suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle, making it harder for children to fall asleep.

Increased screen time is also replacing physical activity and playtime outdoors, both of which are essential for healthy nighttime sleep.

Academic Pressure

Academic pressure could also affect children’s sleep. Many children under 10 attend after-school academies called hagwons, spend long hours studying, and have increasingly structured schedules that leave little to no time for adequate rest.

Combined with irregular bedtime and stress, these factors can disrupt normal sleep patterns.

Also read: Chronic Fatigue: More Than Just Lack of Rest

Growing Stress And Anxiety

Experts also point to growing levels of stress and anxiety among children. Family pressures, highly competitive educational environments, and lifestyle changes following the COVID-19 pandemic have all been linked to increasingly poor sleep quality in children.

Mental health problems like anxiety can both contribute to and result from chronic sleep disturbances, creating a cycle that becomes difficult to break.

Insomnia

Insomnia remains the most common sleep disorder diagnosed in South Korea. Previous research has shown that the prevalence of diagnosed sleep disorders in the country nearly doubled between 2011 and 2020, highlighting that the current increase among children is part of a broader national trend.

Poor sleep during childhood could lead to poor attention, memory, learning, emotional regulation, and immune function. Children who consistently sleep too little may also face a higher risk of obesity, depression, and behavioral problems later in life.

Sleep specialists stress that parents should establish consistent bedtime routines, reduce evening screen exposure, encourage regular physical activity, and seek medical evaluation if symptoms like prolonged insomnia, loud snoring, or excessive daytime sleepiness continue.