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.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce a crackdown on children's access to social media within days. A speech from the prime minister, which is expected to include a new policy on social media, is planned for next week.

The UK is the latest country considering restrictions on social media use among those under the age of 16 amid growing concerns about mental health, online abuse, and child protection.

Several countries have introduced or proposed regulations on children's access to social media as concerns mount over the impact of these platforms on young people's health and safety.

A look at the countries planning to implement social media ban:

Australia: Banned social media for children under 16, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

China: Uses a "minor mode" system that limits screen time and access based on a child's age.

Denmark: Plans to ban social media for children under 15, with limited parental exceptions for those aged 13–14.

France: Approved a bill to ban social media for children under 15, pending final legislative approval.

Germany: Children aged 13–16 can use social media only with parental consent.

Greece: Preparing to introduce a social media ban for children under 15.

India: Karnataka has banned social media for children under 16. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Bihar are considering age restrictions.

Italy: Children under 14 need parental consent to create social media accounts.

Malaysia: Barred users under 16 from registering new social media accounts.

Norway: Proposed raising the minimum age for social media consent from 13 to 15 and introducing a 15-year minimum age limit.

Poland: Drafted legislation to ban social media for children under 15 and require age verification.

Slovenia: Preparing a law that would prohibit social media access for children under 15.

Spain: Plans to ban social media access for minors under 16 and require age verification.

Sweden: A government commission has recommended a minimum social media age of 15.

Turkey: Passed legislation banning social media use by children under 15.

United States: Several states require parental consent for minors, while federal legislation seeks stronger protections for young users.

European Union: Considering stricter child safety rules, including parental consent for under-16s and a ban for children under 13.

Will A Blanket Ban on Social Media Work?

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

Blocking children from social media is no substitute for making platforms safe in the first place, the UN human rights office warned last month.

"Online harms to children's safety, privacy, and wellbeing result from design choices and business practices that undermine safety, including addictive features such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and persistent notifications," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Türk cautioned that such bans can be easily circumvented and risk pushing children towards riskier, less-monitored spaces.

"Simply limiting access to platforms that remain unsafe cannot stand as the endpoint," he said.

The UN Office also issued a 10-point framework urging governments and technology companies to go further and faster in protecting children online. The guidelines, titled Getting Children's Safety Online Right, come as age-based social media restrictions proliferate worldwide. It includes:

• Embedding child safety measures directly into platform design from the outset.

• Not leaving parents and children solely responsible for managing online risks.

• Conducting mandatory child-rights impact assessments for digital platforms.

• Implementing tightly regulated age-verification systems to protect privacy.

• Consulting children meaningfully when developing online safety regulations and policies.

Read More: Mayim Bialik Says Just One GLP-1 Shot Triggered ‘Nightmare’ Side Effects

"The intent to protect young minds from addiction, misinformation, and harmful content is welcome. However, effectiveness will depend less on restricting children and more on regulating platforms," Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Chairman of Health Parliament, creator of SHE App, and former adviser to the Union Health Minister, told HealthandMe.

"Stronger platform accountability, age-appropriate design, and algorithmic responsibility are crucial. Combined with digital literacy and parental awareness, oversight and control, such measures can create a healthier digital ecosystem. Without platform control, regulations risk remaining largely symbolic," Dr. Gupta said.

With inputs from Reuters

West Bengal today became the 36th state to implement the Indian government's flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The scheme aims to achieve universal health coverage and ensure seamless access to quality healthcare for every eligible citizen across the country.

The National Health Authority (NHA), under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal, for the implementation of AB PM-JAY in the state.

Over 12 Crore Treatments Availed Under PM-JAY

“Beneficiaries under the AB PM-JAY scheme have availed over 12 crore treatments worth more than Rs 1.82 lakh crore, providing substantial financial protection to poor and vulnerable families,” said JP Nadda, Union Health Minister.

He noted that one of the most significant outcomes of the government's efforts has been the reduction in out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, which has declined from 64.6 per cent before 2018 to 43.4 per cent today.

Nadda further stated that AB PM-JAY has enabled timely access to quality healthcare through a cashless, paperless, and fully digital platform.

Referring to findings published in The Lancet, he noted that nearly 90 per cent of eligible cancer patients under the scheme were able to access treatment within 30 days, demonstrating the program's role in improving timely healthcare access.

Who Will Benefit From AB PM-JAY in West Bengal?

Also read: India working on grand preventive and holistic health vision: PM Modi

Chief Minister of West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari noted that under the National Health Mission has recently released Rs 527 crore to the state, which will further support healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.

The scheme will cover:

• 1.43 crore families in total
• 1.24 crore eligible beneficiary families
• Around 3.06 lakh families of ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and helpers
• Nearly 15.95 lakh families of senior citizens aged 70 years and above

Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said that AB PM-JAY is not merely a health scheme but a transformative initiative that has brought financial protection and healthcare security to millions of vulnerable families across India.

She noted that AB PM-JAY, "now covers more than 62 crore people, including poor and vulnerable families, senior citizens aged 70 years and above, and gig and platform workers" in India.

Achievements include:

• More than 44 crore Ayushman Cards have been created.
• Over 12 crore hospital admissions have been authorised under the scheme.
• Women are accounting for nearly half of all beneficiaries.

What Is Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY?

Read More: India AI Summit: Union Health Minister Nadda Launches SAHI And BODH Initiatives To Boost AI In Healthcare

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY was launched in September 2018 and has since emerged as the world's largest government-funded health assurance programme.

The scheme provides health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. It covers around 12 crore families, representing the bottom 40 per cent of India's population.

The program was later expanded to include 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of their socio-economic status.

In a major crackdown on social media use among those under the age of 16, the UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is preparing to curb children's access to harmful content online.

In recent weeks, the government has examined a variety of options for restrictions, including a blanket ban on under-16s accessing social media, similar to measures introduced in Australia and Karnataka in India.

Why Is the UK Considering a Social Media Ban?

The proposed plan comes amid growing concerns about mental health, online abuse, and child protection.

Several studies have linked excessive social media use to increased social isolation, sleep loss, higher stress levels, reduced physical activity, and less time spent outdoors, all of which can have significant health consequences.

In addition, concerns about children's online exploitation, cyberbullying, and exposure to inappropriate content have fueled calls for stricter regulations. Another key concern is the rise of online grooming, sextortion, and harmful content that can be accessed by children through social media and other digital services.

The government has been since months reviewing evidence on how social media affects young users and whether certain platform features encourage addictive behavior. Policymakers are also examining the role of algorithms that promote endless scrolling and prolonged engagement, The Sunday Guardian reported.

Which Social Media Apps Could Be Affected?

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

The UK government is yet to make the final decision and publish an official list of social media platforms that would be restricted if the proposed rules move forward. However, reports suggest that platforms considered to pose higher risks to children could face tighter age restrictions. This include:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• Snapchat
• X
• Facebook
• Discord
• Reddit

UK May Block Children From Sharing Explicit Images

Also read: Should Parents Limit Social Media For Teens? New Study Shows It Is Lowering Their Memory Score

Beyond social media restrictions, the government is also looking at measures aimed at preventing children from creating, sharing, or viewing explicit images on smartphones and other devices.

Prime Minister Starmer has given major technology companies, including Apple and Google, a three-month deadline to introduce stronger safeguards designed to protect children from online exploitation and sextortion.

“When it comes to the safety of our children, standing by is not an option,” he said, while speaking at London Tech Week

The proposed system would require adults to undergo verification before sending, receiving, or accessing explicit content, while technology companies could face penalties if they fail to implement the required protections.

The move is designed to address the growing problem of children being pressured into sharing intimate images that are later used for blackmail or abuse.

Social Media Ban in Australia And India

Anyone under the age of 16 in Australia is now banned from using social media services. These platforms include TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Threads. Under the law, people under 16 cannot create new social media accounts, and their existing accounts will be deactivated.

In India, Karnataka became the first state to announce plans for a broad restriction on social media use among teenagers. Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have also been considering similar measures aimed at restricting social media use among children.