Mental health and educating people about the benefits of doing good by it has come a long way. People have started learning the different aspects of it and how it can greatly affect the well-being, physical and mental, of a person. But the lack of it in the field of sports had not been a big topic up until a few years ago, when big players like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka spoke up about their mental health and the steps they are taking to better it. This caused quite a stir among viewers and players themselves, while a majority of them were supportive, many believed that as sports people, they should ‘suck it up’ and keep playing. But for players to do well on the field, they need to keep their head in the game! And doing so has shown to be fruitful by none other than our Australian Open champion Madison Keys. The 29-year-old tennis player speaks to Associated Press about the role therapy played in her recent win and even credited her win to her therapist.

After winning her first big tennis tournament in Australia, Madison Keys showed how important her support system is. She immediately contacted her family and her therapist, showing how much, she values these relationships, especially when dealing with the pressures of professional sports. This win shows not just her skill as an athlete, but also how much she cares about her mental and emotional health.

What Role Does Mental Health Play In Sports?

Mass General Brigham tells us that playing sports can be good for your mental health. Being on a team and exercising regularly can boost your well-being. However, some things about sports can also make it harder to stay mentally healthy. While sports offer benefits like exercise and social connections, athletes still face the same mental health risks as anyone else. Things like a family history of mental illness, feeling lonely, or stressful life events can make athletes more likely to struggle.

Also, some things specific to sports can cause problems, such as the demanding time commitment of training and travel, the pressure to win and the fear of failure, balancing sports with other responsibilities like school, and pressure from themselves or others to perform well. After beating Aryna Sabalenka, Keys talked about how therapy helped her overcome negative thoughts that had held her back before. One of those thoughts was the fear of not meeting other people’s expectations if she didn’t win a big tournament. Therapy taught her how to fight those negative thoughts and think in a more positive way. This self-discovery and personal growth were key to her winning in Australia.

Why Mental Healthcare In Sports Should Be taken More Seriously

Keys stressed how important it is to “just be really honest and actually get help and actually talk to someone and not just about tennis, but about how I felt about myself.” She knew it would be uncomfortable to be so open and honest, but she believes it was necessary for her success. It can still be hard for athletes to talk about mental health because some people have wrong ideas about it. Some might think that saying you have anxiety, or another mental health problem means you're weak. But it's actually the opposite, admitting you're struggling and getting help is a sign of strength.

Some Key Points To Keep In Mind

Mental health and sports must go hand in hand not just for the well-being of players but also so that their performance does not suffer. Keys expresses to Associate Press that “the stigma around therapy, not just in sports, is slowly going away.” She really believes everyone should try therapy, saying, “I think everyone should be in therapy, no matter what. I think it helps.” Talking openly about therapy helps make it more normal and encourages people to get help when they need it. Here are some key points to keep in mind regarding this.

Regularly check in with athletes and give them a chance to talk

Let them know they can come to you about anything, not just sports. Make it clear that mental health is important for playing well. Emphasize that taking care of your mental health is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Have a sports psychologist available

This is for athletes to talk to when they need it. If that’s not possible, find helpful resources online. Help teammates connect and build trust by having team events. This builds a strong team spirit.

Provide information and training

Things like managing stress and eating healthy. You could do this through workshops or videos. Talk openly about tough emotions that come up in sports as this makes it normal to talk about mental health.

Since the Trump administration took over the United States, a lot has changed, especially in the health sector. So, it comes as no surprise that this week, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced plans to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending the addition of fluoride in community water systems across the country. He also noted that the formation of a task force will be dedicated to examining the risk of water fluoridation.

The same day when these plans were announced, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that it had been reviewing new scientific findings related to potential health risks from fluoride exposure. Although the EPA does not mandate the use of fluoride, it does set the maximum allowable level of fluoride in public drinking water. At this moment, it is at 4 milligrams per liter.

Kennedy, who spoke in Salt Lake City alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin also praised Utah for taking a bold step. Utah in the previous month, became the first US state to ban fluoride in all public water systems. This new law will come into effect on May 7. Republican Governor Spencer Cox also signed the legislation that not only prohibits fluoridation, but also bars local communities from making their own decisions about it.

Kennedy called Utah a “leader in making America healthy again,” though the move has faced fierce criticism from dentists, scientists, and public health advocates nationwide.

What Is Fluoride And Why Is It Added To Water?

As per the CDC, it is a naturally occurring mineral that, when added in small amounts to water, has been proven to prevent tooth decay. CDC also notes that it helps strengthen tooth enamel by replenishing minerals that are worn away by acids in the mouth.

The origin could be traced back to 1950, when the US had endorsed water fluoridation as a major public health achievement. As per the CDC, 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water can be added to reduce dental cavities in children and adults alike.

However, over time, there have been concerns have emerged, including excessive fluoride exposure. There have been studies too that looks at the areas with higher-than-recommended fluoride levels. These findings have linked it to the issues such as thyroid disease, arthritis, and lower IQ in children.

A 2024 review published in Science Direct titled Does fluoride exposure affect thyroid function? A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis notes that exposure to high-fluoride drinking water appears to non-linearly affect thyroid function and increase TSH release in children, starting above a threshold of exposure, and to increase the risk of some thyroid diseases.

Another study published in JAMA Pediatrics in 2025, also available on the National Toxicology Program by the US Department of Health and Human Services, finds that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, are associated with lower IQ in children.

However, experts caution that many of these studies are inconclusive or based on levels not commonly found in U.S. water systems.

A British grandmother's journey to improve her health and to lose weight led to a devastating, almost life-threatening turn. This happened after she underwent weight-loss surgery in Turkey. The 41-year-old Danielle Peebles's experience drew widespread attention and also sparked renewed concern over the dangers of medical tourism. This also brought attention to those who seed budget bariatric procedures.

What Happened To Her?

Danielle Peebles, who is a mother and also a grandmother from the UK was very clear with what she wanted to do with her body. She wanted to live a healthier life, where she could be more active and so she could spend more active time with her newborn grandson. She had been struggling with obesity for a long time and weighed around 28 stone, which is approximately 177 kilograms. She hoped that once she underwent the bariatric surgery under the National Health Service (NHS), her goal will be achieved. However, the waiting list was as long as seven years.

Being desperate for change and unwilling to wait, she made a decision that ended up changing her life forever. In June 2023, she flew to Turkey for a gastric sleeve procedure, this is a form of weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of stomach. It also helps patients consume less food and lose food more rapidly.

What Went Wrong?

Initially, her surgery seemed to be a success. She reported feeling fine in the days that followed the surgery. She was also hopeful for a transformation ahead. In fact, she lost around 15 stone, which is around 95 kilogram. However, her physical improvement was overshadowed by unexpected and severe medical complications.

Once she returned to the UK, she experienced weakness and discomfort. Her symptoms also deteriorated and she eventually collapsed. She was rushed to Salford Royal Hospital in Greater Manchester. This is when the doctors diagnosed her with nutritional neuropathy. This is a rare but serious neurological condition that is caused by deficiencies, especially essential vitamins, particularly B vitamins.

Paralysis And Pain

This diagnosis shocked her and her family. She had been paralysed form the neck down with intense nerve pain in her feet even at the slightest touch. “I was paralysed from the neck down, apart from the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my feet,” she recalled, as a UK media outlet reported . The ordeal marked a terrifying new chapter in her life, with doctors warning she might never walk again.

Danielle’s condition was the result of severe malnutrition, a known risk following gastric sleeve surgery if proper dietary management and supplements are not maintained. The rapid weight loss, coupled with a lack of medical follow-up, led to critical vitamin deficiencies that damaged her nerves.

Recovery And Rehabilitation

She spent around five months in the hospital and underwent intensive rehabilitation to restore her nerve function. She received the help of a dedicated medical team and also gradually regained monility. She is now able to leave the hospitals using crutches

“It was devastating when I was told I might not walk again. But now, being able to be a mum, a wife, and a nanna — it’s the best thing. I owe a lot to Salford Royal Hospital," she said.

Running a marathon is not just a test of physical endurance—it’s a mental marathon too. But new research suggests that the brain might be doing more than just helping runners push through the final grueling miles. It may actually tap into its own reserves, breaking down part of itself for emergency energy.

A recent study from Spain has revealed that during extreme endurance efforts like a 26.2-mile race, the brain may temporarily degrade myelin—a fatty, protective layer that insulates nerve fibers—to use as a backup fuel source. In simple terms, under intense physical stress, the brain may begin to “consume” itself.

Myelin is essential for fast and efficient communication between nerve cells. It is critical for motor control, sensory input, and emotional regulation. The study found that when conventional energy sources like glucose run low during a marathon, the body switches to fat for fuel—and this may include myelin.

To explore this phenomenon, researchers scanned the brains of 10 marathon runners—eight men and two women—before and after completing a full marathon. MRI results showed that all participants experienced a reduction in myelin levels, particularly in brain regions responsible for movement, sensation, and emotions.

The good news? This change appears to be temporary. Follow-up scans revealed that the runners’ myelin levels returned to normal within two months after the race.

“Myelin seems to act as an energy reservoir when other brain nutrients are depleted during prolonged physical activity,” said Dr. Pedro Ramos-Cabrer, Ikerbasque research professor at CIC biomaGUNE, a Spanish nonprofit research center. “However, more extensive studies are needed to understand how widespread this effect is and how it may impact brain health in the long term.”

While the study did not assess whether the temporary loss of myelin affected the runners’ cognition or physical performance, researchers caution that extreme endurance training could carry potential risks—especially for individuals genetically predisposed to neurological conditions.

This discovery opens new avenues in brain research. Understanding how myelin regenerates quickly in healthy individuals could eventually help in developing treatments for conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where myelin breakdown leads to lasting damage.

Dr. Carlos Matute, professor of anatomy and human embryology at the University of the Basque Country, highlighted the broader implications: “Studying how the brain recovers from this temporary myelin loss could offer insight into managing demyelinating diseases.”

Although moderate physical activity is well-known to support brain health, researchers suggest that extremely strenuous exercise may need to be approached with caution in certain populations. For now, runners shouldn’t panic. The findings underscore the brain’s remarkable adaptability—but they also highlight the importance of understanding what happens when we push our bodies and minds, to their limits.