The current measles outbreak has gripped US states like Texas and New Mexico leaving people worried whether it would become a new pandemic. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services as of February 21, 90 cases were diagnosed in the last month in the South Plains area, with at least 77 of them were reported in children and teens under 17.

Measles is highly contagious and can be deadly. The outbreak, which started spreading in late January, has resulted in multiple hospitalizations, with at least nine confirmed cases and three probable cases as of early February. Health officials caution that at least one in five infected individuals will have to be hospitalized, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Misinformation surrounding vaccines and with the new Trump administration anti-vaccine campaigs, has causing parents to hesitate or refuse vaccination.

Furthermore, the country down under Australia is also witnessing a surge in measles cases as health officials in Sydney have issued an urgent alert, urging residents to watch for measles symptoms after an infected individual visited several places in Sydney over the last seven days.

Authorities report that the traveller had returned from South East Asia where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles.

What Are The Symptoms Measles?

Key symptoms of measles include fever, a runny nose, sore eyes, and a cough. Typically, a red, blotchy rash appears three to four days later, spreading from the head down to the body. Symptoms can manifest between 7 and 18 days after exposure.

Anyone who experiences these symptoms after potential exposure should immediately contact their doctor or emergency department. It is crucial to call ahead before visiting to avoid potentially exposing others in the waiting room. Dr. Selvey also highlighted that ongoing measles outbreaks are occurring in various parts of the world, making awareness and prompt action essential.

Why It Is Important To Get Vaccinated?

According to CDC everyone should get the MMR vaccine. It protects you from measles, mumps, and rubella. Getting vaccinated helps stop these diseases from spreading. There are two safe MMR vaccines available. They work the same way, so it doesn't matter which one you get. Kids can also get a shot that protects against chickenpox too, but this is only for children.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Kids Need Two Shots

All children should get two MMR shots. The first shot should be given when they are between 12 and 15 months old. The second shot should be given when they are between 4 and 6 years old. If needed, the second shot can be given earlier, but it must be at least 28 days after the first shot.

College Students Need to Be Protected

Students going to college or other schools after high school, need two shots if they are not already immune. The shots must be at least 28 days apart.

Adults Need at Least One Shot

Most adults need at least one MMR shot. Some adults need two shots, especially those who work in healthcare, travel a lot, or go to college. These people should get two shots, with 28 days between them.

Travelers Need to Be Extra Careful

Anyone traveling to other countries should make sure they are protected. Babies 6 to 11 months old should get one shot before traveling. Kids 12 months and older, teens, and adults need two shots, with 28 days between them.

Healthcare Workers Must Be Immune

People who work in healthcare should have proof that they are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella. If they are not immune, they need two MMR shots, spaced 28 days apart.

Women Thinking About Having Babies

Women who might get pregnant should talk to their doctor about the MMR vaccine. It's safe to get the shot while breastfeeding.

Heart diseases cause the highest number of deaths globally every year, and over the past few years, cardiovascular complications have been noted among youngsters as well. Research has long shown that body fat accumulation can lead to harmful changes to heart structure. This can be potentially deadly later, and the risks were earlier thought to increase in middle age. However, as per Finnish and UK scientists, the most critical age for a spike in the risk of cardiac conditions is 17. Yes, this is when high levels of body fat become potentially harmful to heart health.

Why is 17 a critical age for heart health?

According to experts at the University of Eastern Finland, 17 is a critical age for young people, as adolescents often move towards a more independent life after that. From moving away from home to changes in diet and lifestyle habits, there is a likelihood that many may adopt unhealthy habits like drinking and smoking. This social shift can, over time, result in fat accumulation, thus posing heart disease risks in the future.

On the other hand, experts say that adolescence is the best time to adopt a healthy lifestyle and lower body fat in cases of childhood obesity. It is the best time to reduce the risk of heart disease, thereby increasing the chances of a healthy adulthood.

For this, scientists tracked 1,803 children aged 9–24 years. They used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to evaluate fat levels in the abdomen and body and to calculate muscle mass. The children had the scans completed at the age of nine, and then were tested again at ages 11, 15, 17, and 24 years. Echocardiography scans were also done at 17 and 24 years to examine heart function and structure, as well as insulin, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Researchers found that from the age of 17, excessive fat (abdominal fat specifically) was linked to structural changes in the heart. This can lead to excessive pressure to pump blood normally, thereby contributing to a heightened risk of heart disease later. The results were published in the European Journal of Endocrinology.

The role of fat in changing heart structure

Researchers found that the heart’s structure can be altered by fat, and this happens primarily through inflammation and high blood pressure. Experts concluded that BMI is a poor marker for calculating fat mass in adolescents and children because they have four times more lean mass than fat mass, and BMI does not distinguish between the two. The study helps us understand that accumulated total abdominal and body fat in late adolescence can adversely affect a growing heart. Therefore, any lifestyle changes that can help lower body fat in adolescence, as early as 17 years, can be beneficial.

Fatty liver, or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), refers to the accumulation of excess fat in liver cells in people who consume little or no alcohol. In its early stages, it may seem harmless. However, it is, in fact, the liver’s first warning that the body’s metabolic balance is burdened. What is concerning is who we are now diagnosing. Young adults in their 20s and early 30s, often with no visible signs of illness, are clear evidence of this condition. This is no longer an additional finding but has become routine. Dr Kandarp Saxena, Gastroenterologist, Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, recently spoke about how fatty liver, which is now becoming more common among younger people, may soon become a lifestyle crisis.

A Lifestyle That Directly Impacts the Liver

Irregular eating habits, such as late-night meals or long gaps followed by overeating, can further throw off the body’s natural metabolic balance. Poor sleep adds another layer, affecting insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism. These are not abstract risks but measurable contributors to how and why fatty liver is developing.

Why Most Young Patients Do Not Realise It

Unlike many other conditions, fatty liver does not produce symptoms that prompt early medical attention. In the early stages, the liver continues to function normally, so daily life goes on as usual. There are no obvious signs to suggest that anything is changing beneath the surface.

Most diagnoses in this age group are incidental, detected during routine blood tests showing mildly elevated liver enzymes or through ultrasound imaging done for unrelated reasons. The absence of these symptoms is not a favourable feature. It delays recognition at a stage when the condition is most easily reversible.

The Indian Risk Profile Is Different

The early onset of fatty liver in India cannot be viewed in the same way as in Western populations. South Asians are known to develop metabolic complications at lower body mass indices. This means that even people who appear healthy or not overweight may still carry harmful fat deep inside the body, along with underlying insulin resistance.

When this is combined with rapid urbanisation, less movement in daily life, and a growing dependence on calorie-dense foods, it slowly adds up to a higher overall risk. As a result, fatty liver is appearing earlier and progressing faster in this population.

From Fat Accumulation to Liver Damage

It is important to understand that fatty liver is not a static condition. In some individuals, simple fat accumulation remains stable. In others, it moves beyond fat build-up and starts irritating the liver, leading to a stage called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This is important because the liver is no longer just holding fat; it is getting damaged.

As the damage continues, the liver tries to heal, but this repair leaves behind scar tissue, known as fibrosis. Over time, this scarring can build up and start to affect how well the liver works. If it continues, it can lead to cirrhosis, where the liver becomes heavily scarred and begins to struggle, increasing the risk of liver failure and cancer. This progression does not happen abruptly; it occurs over years, often without clear clinical warning, making early identification critical.

Why Early Intervention Is Being Missed

Despite being detectable and reversible in its early stages, fatty liver is often not addressed with the urgency it requires. Mild elevations in liver enzymes are sometimes overlooked. Imaging findings are not always followed up with structured intervention. More importantly, younger patients are less likely to be counselled about long-term risk. There is also a tendency to delay action because the condition does not immediately affect quality of life. This delay allows progression that could otherwise have been prevented.

Treatment Exists—but Depends on Behaviour

There is no single drug that reverses fatty liver in the way lifestyle modification does. Clinical evidence consistently shows that sustained weight reduction, regular physical activity, and dietary changes can significantly reduce liver fat and, in some cases, reverse early damage. However, these interventions require consistency. Short-term efforts do not produce lasting benefit. Without sustained change, the underlying process continues.

A Shift That Needs Recognition

The increasing prevalence of fatty liver in young Indians is not an isolated clinical observation; it reflects a shift in how disease is presented. When a condition that was once seen later in life starts appearing a decade or two earlier, it changes the health trajectory of an entire population. It raises the chances of long-term complications and means people end up living with the disease for much longer. Fatty liver is now emerging as one of the earliest indicators of this shift.

Fatty liver does not begin with symptoms. It begins with accumulation of excess calories, reduced activity, and sustained metabolic imbalance. By the time it is detected, the process is already in motion. The challenge, therefore, is not just in treating the condition but in recognising it early enough to change its course.

The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, is making headlines again—and not for the best reasons. In a recent picture that is now going viral on X (formerly Twitter), Trump is seen standing with his feet spread wider than shoulder-width apart. In the image, he appears to form an “upside-down V-shape," while his arms are stiffly positioned at his sides. The photograph has sparked a storm on social media, with users questioning why the 79-year-old is standing this way—is it due to a loss of coordination or a consequence of ageing? Some netizens have also speculated that Trump could be relying on a hidden support device, such as leg or hip braces.

Can ageing have an impact on posture?

Remember when teachers at school used to ask you to sit up straight and correct your posture? It turns out that a seemingly innocent slouch can, over the years, lead to a hunched back that is difficult to reverse. However, poor posture can also be a consequence of ageing. Ideally, one should be able to stand upright comfortably. But over time, the spine can develop a permanent curve, resembling a question mark. This condition is known as kyphosis, or, in simpler terms, a hunched back. Minor changes in posture are normal with ageing; however, it is still advisable to consult a doctor if noticeable posture changes occur.

Complications linked to a hunched back

With kyphosis, most people experience mild discomfort. However, other symptoms may include:

1. Balance issues
2. Breathing difficulties
3. Inability to perform daily tasks

How poor posture can cause pain

Poor posture can trigger pain anywhere in the body—from the neck to the ankles. When joint mechanics are affected, it can lead to dysfunction across the body, much like a kinetic chain reaction. Age-related posture problems can impact the discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae, as well as the muscles supporting the spine.

Ageing can, over time, lead to a loss of bone mass due to calcium deficiency. Bones may become less dense and shrink slightly, increasing the risk of falls and fractures. The discs in the spine may also shrink, causing the vertebrae to move closer together, which can affect movement and flexibility.

Is kyphosis inevitable?

Kyphosis is not necessarily an unavoidable consequence of ageing. Keeping the chest, back, and core muscles strong can help prevent posture-related issues later in life. Therefore, it is advisable to incorporate strength training into your routine and focus equally on the core and shoulders.