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.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today notified the inclusion of the drug “Pregabalin” under Schedule H1 of the Drugs Rules, 1945, to strictly regulate the painkiller amid rising concerns over its misuse and abuse, particularly among youth.

Pregabalin, sold under the brand names Axalid and Lyrica, is a prescription medication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic (nerve) pain, fibromyalgia, and generalized anxiety disorder. It was earlier regulated under Schedule H.

The ministry noted that the drug has reportedly been misused for its sedative, euphoric, and dissociative effects. Authorities have reported seizures of illegally stocked and unauthorized sale of Pregabalin from parts of the country.

Thus, the move to add it to Schedule H1 aims to:

• Curb easy access
• Enhance prescription monitoring
• Strengthen supply chain accountability
• Safeguard public health

In a gazette notification, the ministry said Pregabalin can now be sold only after a registered medical practitioner’s prescription.

The revised classification mandates that:

• Retailers must maintain a separate register recording details of prescriptions and sales
• Manufacturers shall prominently display the prescribed “Schedule H1 Drug Warning” label on product packaging
• Violations and non-compliance will attract penal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules thereunder

All stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and pharmacists, are advised to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the notification.

Also read: India Cracks Down On Injectable Cosmetic Procedures In Beauty Clinics

Can Pregabalin Cause Heart Failure?

A 2025 study led by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center linked Pregabalin with a surprisingly large increase in the risk of heart failure among older patients with known heart disease.

The study found that Pregabalin was associated with a 48 per cent higher risk of developing heart failure.

For patients with an existing history of heart disease, the risk jumped to 85 per cent. In absolute terms, the researchers estimated around six additional cases of heart failure per 1,000 people taking Pregabalin each year, compared to those not on the drug.

What Should Patients Do?

Like all medicines, Pregabalin carries side effects. Common ones include headaches, nausea, diarrhoea, blurred vision, and memory issues. Rarely, it can trigger a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

If you take Pregabalin, do not stop it suddenly. Stopping abruptly can cause withdrawal-like symptoms. Instead, book an appointment with your GP or specialist to discuss the risks and benefits in your specific case.

If you have a history of heart disease, a heart condition, or new symptoms such as increased breathlessness, persistent swelling, or faintness, mention them promptly.

Pregabalin helps many people with otherwise disabling nerve pain, but like any tool, it must be used with care and attention to context. For older adults and those with heart disease, a conversation with a clinician could be the difference between control and complication.

Earlier this week, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation tightened rules around cosmetic use, amid growing concerns that injectable aesthetic procedures are gaining popularity as “cosmetic” treatments in beauty clinics and wellness centers across the country.

In a new public notice issued this week, the CDSCO stated that cosmetic products that come in injectable form do not fall under the definition of cosmetics under the law. It said that such products are not permitted for use by consumers, professionals, or aesthetic clinics.

Microplastics and nanoplastics are now being spotted in water, packaged food, seafood, plastic containers, and even in the air we breathe. Over time, these tiny particles may slip into the digestive tract and interfere with gut health. While the research here is still unfolding, there is rising concern that long-term exposure could promote inflammation, disturb gut flora, and possibly lead to metabolic or digestive troubles.

Dr Vinod Gowda K H, Consultant, Medical Gastroenterology, Fortis Hospital, Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru, said, “The recent study claiming that probiotic bacteria might help bind with nanoplastics is pretty interesting because it points to how protective the gut microbiome could be. Probiotics are the helpful bacteria that support digestion, immunity, and an overall steady state in the gut. Some fermented foods naturally carry these good microbes, and researchers are now looking at whether they can also reduce the uptake or build-up of harmful particles inside the body.”

Also Read: Eli Lilly's Retatrutide Shows Record Weight Loss In Third Phase Of Trials

Fermented food in Indian cuisine

In India, fermented foods have been part of everyday traditional eating for ages. Things like curd, buttermilk, idli, dosa batter, kanji, and homemade pickles can support gut well-being, especially when they are made hygienically and eaten in moderation. When the gut microbiome is healthy, it may strengthen the body’s natural defenses and help lower inflammation.

Still, it is important to note that fermented foods are not really a direct fix or a sure-shot answer to microplastic exposure. More studies in humans are needed before any confident medical advice can be given. The smarter route is prevention—cutting down on plastic containers for hot food, reducing heavily processed packaged items, and maintaining a balanced diet that is high in fibre and mostly natural foods. This line of research feels hopeful because it brings fresh conversations about preventive healthcare, gut health, and how environmental pollution can actually affect the human body.

How do microplastics enter your body?

Dr Adarsh C K, HOD & Sr. Consultant—Medical Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Advanced Endoscopy, Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Kengeri, Bengaluru, said in an interview with Health and Me, “Plastic exposure has quietly become part of modern life. Tiny plastic particles are now being found in drinking water, packaged food, seafood, and even the air around us, which is why researchers are increasingly studying how the body responds to them over time. One area creating interest is the possible role of gut bacteria in limiting how much of these particles actually stay inside the body.”

A natural shield

Some early studies suggest that beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods may act like a kind of natural ‘shield’ inside the gut. Instead of breaking plastics down, these microbes appear to latch onto certain microplastics and nanoplastics, making it easier for the body to remove them through waste. Researchers in South Korea recently studied a bacterial strain taken from kimchi and found that it showed a surprisingly strong ability to interact with nanoplastics in laboratory conditions designed to mimic the human digestive system. Animal studies linked to the research also showed increased elimination of these particles after probiotic intake.

“From a medical standpoint, the findings are interesting because scientists are concerned about the long-term effects of nanoplastics on inflammation, gut health, hormones, and cellular stress. The digestive system is one of the first places where environmental toxins interact with the body, so maintaining a healthier gut environment could potentially play a protective role,” Dr Adarsh added.

Are fermented foods the cure?

At the same time, this should not be misunderstood as fermented foods being a cure for plastic exposure. The science is still developing, and human trials are limited. For now, the more practical takeaway is that supporting gut health through balanced eating, fibre-rich foods, and naturally fermented foods may strengthen the body’s resilience while we continue trying to reduce everyday exposure to plastics overall.

The child death rate in the United States has increased significantly over the years. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the child and adolescent death rate in the US rose to 6.6 percent between 2020 and 2023.

Caroline Raymond-King, an emergency medicine resident at Yale School of Medicine, and her colleagues analyzed data from three full years, from 2018 to 2023. The team found out the rates, trends, and massive issues behind this spike in deaths in the age bracket between 1 and 19 years old.

What Are The Causes Behind These Rising Death Rates?

• firearms,
• car accidents,
• poisoning.

Even the lead researcher, Raymond-King herself, was inspired to work on this project because she witnessed the massive surge of injured children and adolescents in the emergency department.

The study has seen that the leading cause of death in the discussed age bracket is firearm incidents. Since 2020, it has remained the major reason for death among youth. In 2020 itself, the gun-related incidents surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for children in the United States. Not only that, but the firearm-related incidents have also increased their share of the mortality rate of children. Between 2020 and 2023, child deaths due to firearms increased by 3.9 percent.

Along with the gun-related deaths, the other major issues, like motor vehicle crashes and drug poisoning deaths, have also seen an alarming upward trend. Between 2020 and 2023, the deaths related to road accidents rose by 8.6 percent. On the other hand, the mortality rate due to drug poisoning has gone up to 12.7 percent.

Other than those three major causes, there are other reasons behind these rising death rates, as follows: cancer, suffocation, congenital anomalies, drowning, heart disease, and fire.

How To Deal With This Hike In Child Death Rate?

Raymond-King's study has worked intensively on the ways to prevent these untimely deaths in children and adolescents. They have shared their views on the possible precautions to reduce risks.

• First and foremost, if there are guns in your house, then you must store them in a locked and secure place. The ammunition should not be alongside the guns. The medication should also be kept far away from children's reach.

• Secondly, in the time period of the research, the deaths related to influenza, pneumonia, and COVID-19 prove the importance of vaccination. Thus, the necessary vaccination is a must for the safety of your children.

• The study also gives great emphasis on mental health. Thus, connecting young people with psychiatric care can be an impactful decision.