Stress is an inevitable part of life, but its consequences are not just mood swings and mental fatigue. Continual stress makes people produce extra cortisol, a hormone that has a critical role in adapting to short-term challenges, but chronically in high quantities it tends to cause harm to the body causing lots of physical and mental disorders.

The adrenal glands produce cortisol, which helps the body control its "fight, flight, or freeze" response. Cortisol temporarily adjusts blood sugar levels, maintains blood pressure, and assists the immune system, among other functions, in short spurts. But when stress persists, cortisol remains high, and necessary functions of the body are interfered with and rendered more susceptible to disease.

According to one survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, stress negatively affects a third of Americans' physical health. Concerns are reinforced by research where studies have shown 80% of primary care visits are stress-related.

But why does stress have such a profound impact? Elevated cortisol limits the immune system's ability to fight infections, disrupts hormonal balance, and triggers inflammation. Over time, these changes can lead to serious health complications.

Signs That High Cortisol Is Stressing Your Body

Persistent Eye Twitches

Do you have involuntary eye spasms? These harmless but annoying twitches often indicate elevated cortisol. The tiny muscles around the eyes are extremely sensitive to stress, contracting or spasming because of cortisol's stimulant-like effects.

Skin Breakouts and Sensitivity

Your skin often reflects what is going on inside your body, and chronic stress can cause inflammatory skin conditions. Elevated cortisol levels stimulate oil production, which exacerbates acne. It also slows down the healing process, worsens conditions like eczema, and contributes to general irritation of the skin.

Frequent Bloating and Digestive Issues

It also interferes with the body's balance of salt and water, which causes fluid retention and bloating. Excess cortisol also slows down blood flow to the digestive system, which further weakens gut bacteria and causes poor digestion, excess gas, and abdominal discomfort.

Weight Fluctuations

High cortisol stimulates the production of insulin, which can cause blood sugar to drop, making people want to eat sugary, high-fat foods. For many, this becomes an excuse to stress-eat and gain weight. For others, the opposite is true: their appetite disappears under stress, causing them to lose weight.

Unexplained Bruising

If you’re noticing random bruises, elevated cortisol could be the culprit. This hormone weakens skin proteins and the walls of small blood vessels, making your skin more fragile and prone to damage.

Cold Symptoms That Won’t Go Away

Do you feel rundown or experience muscle aches, fatigue, or upset stomach regularly? Elevated cortisol mimics cold-like symptoms. Long-term stress also weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.

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Vision Problems

Chronic stress can damage your eyesight. Elevated cortisol disrupts blood flow to the eyes, increases eye pressure, and raises the risk of glaucoma. Symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, and light sensitivity are also common.

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Irregular Menstrual Cycles that disrupt the menstrual period. In females, this leads to hormonal distress causing irregular or missed periods. Over time, it may also disturb fertility.

Tinnitus or Persistent Ringing in the Ears

If you hear ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds without an apparent source, stress might be the culprit. Cortisol affects the auditory system by interfering with blood flow and nerve function and could be the trigger for tinnitus.

Increased Inflammation and Chronic Disease

Increased levels of cortisol contribute to inflammation that can exacerbate conditions such as arthritis and promote the development of heart disease. Chronic inflammation is also associated with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

Long-term Consequences of Increased Cortisol

Left unchecked, high cortisol levels can lead to more than just short-term discomfort. Chronic stress has been associated with serious conditions such as heart disease, psychiatric disorders, and metabolic syndromes. A 2013 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine underlined the link between stress and physical health, with recent research in Neurobiology of Stres supporting these findings.

Ways Managing Stress and Cortisol Levels

Managing stress and cortisol levels is essential for maintaining overall health. One effective approach is practicing mindfulness through meditation or yoga, which helps lower cortisol by calming the mind and promoting relaxation. Regular physical exercise, especially aerobic activities, helps reduce stress hormones and boosts endorphins. Prioritizing sleep is crucial, as lack of rest can increase cortisol levels; aim for 7-9 hours per night.

Another remedy is an overall balanced diet full of anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that could manage cortisol production. Finally, it would prevent burnout and chronic stress if proper boundaries were set at work and in personal life.

Nearly one in seven couples struggles with infertility, meaning they haven’t been able to conceive despite having regular, unprotected sex for a year or more. In roughly half of these couples, male infertility is at least partially responsible. Causes can range from low sperm production and abnormal sperm function to blockages that prevent sperm delivery.

Illnesses, injuries, chronic conditions, lifestyle factors, and other influences may contribute. Not being able to conceive can be stressful and emotionally challenging, but a variety of treatments exist for male infertility. But are there natural ways to improve male fertility? We spoke with Dr. Ruchi Jain, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Kolkata, to get her insights.

What Is Male Infertility?

Male infertility refers to a man’s inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female partner, often due to problems with sperm production, function, or delivery. After a year of trying (or six months if the woman is over 35) without success, doctors usually examine both partners. About 50% of infertility cases involve male factors, with the most common issues being low sperm count (oligospermia), poor motility, abnormal morphology, or the complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia), Dr Jain explained. Some causes are temporary, some treatable, and some may be permanent.

Can Male Infertility Be Treated Naturally?

Many men experience noticeable improvement by focusing on lifestyle changes and addressing reversible medical conditions. Research shows that a nutritious diet (like a Mediterranean-style or “prudent” diet), regular moderate exercise, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol, losing excess weight, and avoiding heat or tight underwear can improve sperm quality.

Dr. Jain noted, “These adjustments don’t guarantee conception, but they often enhance sperm count, motility, and DNA quality enough to support natural conception or assisted reproductive techniques.”

Medical Fixes That Can Restore Fertility

Certain medical conditions that cause infertility can often be reversed. For example, varicoceles, which are enlarged veins in the scrotum—are a common cause; repairing a significant varicocele frequently improves semen parameters and can lead to pregnancy.

Hormonal issues, such as low testosterone or pituitary disorders, may also be treated with medication. Dr. Jain said, “Temporary causes like infections, medications, or recent fevers can lower sperm counts, which often normalize within a few months once the underlying issue is resolved. Professional guidelines highlight that many male-factor infertility cases can respond well to medical or surgical treatment.”

Is Male Infertility Permanent?

Dr Jain told us that some conditions are extremely difficult or impossible to “cure.” Genetic disorders (like Klinefelter syndrome), congenital absence of the vas deferens, severe testicular failure, or damage from chemotherapy or radiation usually prevent normal sperm production.

In these cases, treatment focuses on alternatives: retrieving sperm directly from the testicles, using IVF with ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), donor sperm, or adoption. Recent studies show that sperm retrieval after certain procedures can improve success rates, but outcomes depend heavily on the underlying condition of the testicles.

What About Supplements, Herbs, and “Natural” Cures?

Interest in antioxidants (vitamins C and E, zinc, L-carnitine), herbal remedies (maca, ginseng), and bioactive compounds (resveratrol, curcumin) is rising. Some research reports modest improvements in sperm quality, while other studies show mixed or minimal effects.

However, experts caution that supplements aren’t a miracle solution, quality varies, and evidence remains limited. Always consult a specialist before trying supplements, as some may interact with medications or cause harm at high doses.

Big-Picture Threats and Prevention

Even with personal lifestyle changes, environmental factors play a major role. Global air pollution, pesticides, plastics, and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals are linked to long-term declines in sperm counts. While an individual cannot control these entirely, reducing exposure (avoiding unnecessary plastics, limiting contact with heat or chemicals, choosing organic or well-washed produce) and advocating for public health measures are practical steps. Recent global reviews have highlighted these environmental threats to male fertility.

How To Reverse Male Infertility?

Male infertility is not always permanent. Many causes, such as obstructions, varicoceles, hormonal imbalances, or infections—can be treated or reversed. Lifestyle changes and certain medical or surgical interventions can improve outcomes for many men.

Conversely, genetic factors, severe testicular damage, and gonadotoxic injuries are usually irreversible, requiring assisted reproductive techniques or other family-building options. A structured diagnostic assessment and an individualized treatment plan—including genetic counseling when needed are essential.

What happens when antibiotics stop working? We are so used to consuming antibiotics for everything that slowly our bodies are rejecting this. The sole reason is that bacteria have become smart. And experts believe that if this continues, it could slip the world back into an era where even a minor infection would be dangerous.

Antibiotics are used to treat almost all infections. However, with the sudden outbreaks, the misuse and overuse of it is slowly leading to antibiotic resistance or antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As per the World Health Organization (WHO), AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.

What could Happen When Antibiotics Stop Working?

As experts warn, infections we currently consider minor could soon turn life-threatening. A routine urine infection, a scraped knee, or a mild chest infection, problems that usually resolve within days, may refuse to heal in the future. Bacteria evolve rapidly, and when exposed to unnecessary or incomplete antibiotic courses, they adapt and learn to survive. That’s when even our strongest medicines begin to fail.

Antibiotics do far more than treat common illnesses; they quietly support some of the most advanced medical procedures.

“Joint replacements, heart surgeries, organ transplants all rely on antibiotics to prevent dangerous infections. Chemotherapy patients, whose immunity is low, survive because antibiotics protect them from everyday microbes. Remove this safety net, and suddenly these sophisticated treatments become far riskier, even impossible,” explained Dr. Sunil Havannavar Senior Consultant - Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital Sarjapur to IndiaTV.

How Does Antimicrobial Resistance Spread?

Antibiotic resistance doesn’t arrive with a bang. It builds slowly, every time antibiotics are misused—taken for viral infections, stopped halfway through, used without prescription, or demanded unnecessarily for fevers. Each misuse gives bacteria an opportunity to evolve. Doctors are already seeing cases where high-power, last-resort antibiotics are needed for infections that should have been easily treatable.

In fact, a new global study in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine has drawn serious concern about the sharp rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India, placing the country at the centre of what many specialists now consider a fast-moving superbug crisis. The research, titled Preprocedural screening for multidrug-resistant organisms in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: an international, multicentre, cross-sectional observational study, shows that Indian patients had the highest worldwide rates of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) among those undergoing a common endoscopic procedure.

A superbug is a strain of bacteria that no longer responds to one or more groups of antibiotics that previously worked well. This can happen through enzyme production such as carbapenemases, changes in drug targets, increased pumping out of drugs or shifts in the cell wall that block antibiotics from entering, as per National Institute of Health. When bacteria gain resistance to several antibiotic classes, the list of possible treatments becomes very small. Such resistance makes infections tougher to manage because routine medicines no longer work, leading to more severe illness.

What We Can Still Do to Stop This Future

The situation is serious, but not irreversible. We can slow the rise of resistance if everyone plays their part.

• Doctors can prescribe antibiotics only when necessary.
• Patients can avoid demanding them for every fever or throat ache.
• Everyone must finish the full antibiotic course when prescribed.
• Hospitals can strengthen hygiene and infection control.
• Farmers can limit antibiotic use in livestock.
• Scientists can continue developing new medicines and vaccines.

Magnesium and melatonin are both popular supplements, especially among people looking to get more shuteye, but can combining them improve your sleep? Some research indicates that taking magnesium and melatonin together could improve sleep quality, though stronger, larger studies are needed to confirm the effect.

Can We Combine Magnesium and Melatonin To Support Sleep?

Studies on using magnesium and melatonin together are limited, but some evidence suggests it could benefit sleep in certain individuals.

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As per Health, one study focusing on women with polycystic ovary syndrome found that taking both magnesium and melatonin improved sleep quality. Another study reported that people with sleep difficulties who used a combined magnesium-melatonin supplement for four weeks noticed modest improvements in how well they slept.

The exact reason why the two work together is not completely understood, but magnesium and melatonin may influence each other in a way that supports sleep.

“Magnesium does have an effect on melatonin levels,” said Marie van der Merwe, PhD, coordinator of the applied physiology and nutrition doctoral program at the University of Memphis, speaking to Health. “The amount of magnesium you have can influence how well your body produces melatonin.”

You don’t necessarily need to take the two supplements at the same time to benefit, van der Merwe noted. It’s fine to take magnesium in the morning and melatonin before bed.

The takeaway: There could be a link between magnesium and better sleep, but more research is needed to be sure.

Magnesium And Sleep

Magnesium is a vital mineral that supports nerve and muscle function, regulates blood pressure and blood sugar, and contributes to the formation of bone, protein, and DNA. As per Mayo Clinic, it is also commonly taken to help with sleep, but it is not without risks.

Benefits of Magnesium for Sleep

Some studies suggest magnesium may help sleep by:

Improving sleep quality: Ensuring adequate magnesium through diet or supplements may help people with deficiencies sleep better and ease anxiety.

Reducing muscle tension: Magnesium can help relax muscles and relieve tension, which can make it easier to fall asleep.

Risks of Magnesium for Sleep

Research on magnesium for sleep is limited. Supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA for safety or effectiveness and carry potential risks:

Delayed effect: It may take several weeks before magnesium supplements noticeably improve sleep.5

Side effects: High doses can cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps.7

Drug interactions: Magnesium can interfere with some medications, reducing their effect or increasing side effects. Talk to a doctor before starting any new supplement.7

Melatonin And Sleep

Melatonin is a well-known sleep aid, though it’s actually a hormone your body naturally produces to regulate sleep-wake cycles.⁸ “Melatonin is in charge of running the [internal] clock, and it really is important for regulating your circadian rhythms,” van der Merwe said.

Benefits of Melatonin for Sleep

Works quickly when needed: Unlike magnesium, melatonin can act soon after taking it, making it useful for occasional sleepless nights.

May help you fall asleep faster: Studies show that a 2-milligram dose of melatonin helped some people fall asleep about nine minutes sooner than placebo.

Supports sleep timing: Melatonin can help shift workers, travelers with jet lag, or those with irregular sleep schedules align their sleep patterns.

Risks Of Melatonin For Sleep

Melatonin can help with some sleep difficulties but won’t fix all sleep disorders, van der Merwe said. Like magnesium, melatonin isn’t FDA-regulated:

Long-term effects unclear: There’s limited data on the safety of long-term melatonin use.

Medication interactions: Melatonin may interact with antibiotics, antidepressants, and birth control.

Caution for certain groups: It’s generally not recommended for children or people with dementia, and should be used carefully by those with seizures or on blood thinners.

What to Consider Before Taking Magnesium and Melatonin Together?

It’s wise to speak with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements, alone or in combination.

Van der Merwe emphasized that sleep problems can stem from issues that supplements alone won’t fix. Conditions like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression can affect sleep.

If you want to try one or both supplements, a doctor can help determine the best timing for magnesium, melatonin, or a combined product.

“Melatonin [should] increase at night,” van der Merwe explained, so it is crucial to take it at the right time. Taking it in the morning can disrupt your internal clock.

Even though sleep-support supplements like magnesium and melatonin have grown in popularity, it’s important to consult a professional to see if they will help in your situation.