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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Also Read: Stressed At Work? Your Sleep Might Be Paying The Price, New Study Shows
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 that disrupt the menstrual period. In females, this leads to hormonal distress causing irregular or missed periods. Over time, it may also disturb fertility.
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 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.
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.
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.
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Rebecca King Crews, wife of actor Terry Crews, has opened up about her diagnosis with Parkinson's disease, which was previously dismissed as mere anxiety.
Speaking on the TODAY show, she also revealed a newly-approved procedure that has helped manage her symptoms. After three years, she’s able to write.
"I feel good," King Crews said during the segment. "I’m able to write my name and my dates, and I’m able to write with my right hand for the first time in probably three years."
The symptoms came suddenly and progressed quickly. Rebecca revealed that her first set of symptoms appeared around 2012, which began with numbness in her left foot while working out. It then progressed to a limp.
Then her left arm wasn't swinging as much as her right during certain exercises. Another was experiencing tremors while applying lip gloss, putting on makeup, or brushing her teeth. However, her doctor just thought she was having anxiety, the Today report said.
After three years of confusing symptoms, a Parkinson's specialist in 2015 recognized that she had the condition.
Also read: Japan Approves First-Ever Stem Cell Therapies For Parkinson’s And Heart Failure
In the hope of a miracle, Rebecca was praying on her knees beside her bed when her husband, Terry Crews, informed her of a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) non-invasive surgical procedure for her symptoms.
Last month, she underwent the new procedure called a bilateral focused ultrasound. The 2025 approved procedure uses sound waves directed into the brain to eradicate the debilitating symptoms.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative movement disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, primarily affecting people over 60. Apart from motor loss, the disease also causes cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and swallowing problems.
The first symptom may be a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand or sometimes a foot or the jaw. Over time, swinging your arms may become difficult, and your speech may become soft or slurred. The disorder also causes stiffness, slowing of movement, and trouble with balance that raises the risk of falls.
Also read: Is Parkinson's Disease Infectious?
Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with symptoms secondary to Parkinson’s disease.
This novel technology focuses on beams of ultrasonic energy to targets deep in the brain without damaging surrounding normal tissue.
During the procedure, doctors use a device called Exablate Neuro, developed by a company called Insightec, to deliver ultrasound waves to specific areas on both sides of the brain.
They're guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to target the areas thought to be involved in the movement symptoms in Parkinson's.
The procedure typically produces immediate results and can be a good option for people who can't or don't want to pursue deep-brain stimulation, according to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
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A fall at home might look small, but for women older than 65, a broken hip can be a big and serious health problem. In real medical terms, this condition has a 20 to 30 percent chance of being deadly within the first year.
As people get older, their bones get weaker because of osteoporosis, which makes them more likely to break even from small falls. However, the bigger problem starts once the injury happens.
According to World Health organization (WHO), around 60 per cent of people living with osteoarthritis are women, yet awareness remains limited until symptoms begin to interfere with mobility and daily function.
Reports show that 70 per cent of women will get arthritis and osteoporosis. Most of them had no idea it was coming. HealthandMe spoke to experts to understand the reasons behind the trend.
Dr Gurdeep Avinash Ratra, Consultant - Orthopedics and Joint Replacement, Manipal Hospitals, Gurugram said that the development of these disorders is gradual and closely tied to physiological changes.
“After the age of 30, there is a steady decline in muscle mass, accompanied by a more rapid reduction in strength and power. With menopause, the significant fall in estrogen levels removes natural protection for bone density and joint health. Over time, this leads to increased bone fragility, reduced muscular support, and stress on joints, thereby elevating the risk of fractures and chronic joint conditions,” Ratra told HealthandMe.
Health Coach Prashant Desai in a post on social media platform X, noted that after the age of 30:
Experts said a hip fracture needs to be treated right away as a serious medical problem that requires care from many different medical specialists, not just a doctor who focuses on bones.
Dr Rajesh Kumar Verma, Director – Orthopedics & Joint Replacement, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali explained that limited movement can cause blood clots, chest infections, pressure sores, and loss of muscle quickly. Many patients also face a quick drop in their ability to take care of themselves, which can impact both their body and mind.
Also read: Suffering From Mid-back Pain? Doctors Say It May Be Spinal TB
“Delayed treatment further increases risk. Early surgery and prompt recovery treatment help increase the chances of surviving and recovering better,” Verma told HealthandMe.

What to avoid
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World Health Day serves as a reminder that regular preventive health check-ups stand as mandatory health assessments that all women need to undergo for their long-term health.
Many serious conditions, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, thyroid disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, often remain silent in their early stages, making regular screening the most effective way to detect them early, when treatment is simpler, less invasive, and more successful.
Preventive healthcare enables women to take a proactive role in managing their health rather than responding to illness at an advanced stage. Early detection not only improves clinical outcomes but also effectively decreases treatment difficulties, emotional distress and financial costs while providing superior long-term life quality.
This also helps in identifying risk factors early, allowing timely lifestyle modifications that can prevent disease onset altogether.
Despite this, women often deprioritize their own health due to the multiple roles they juggle, balancing careers, caregiving responsibilities, and family needs. There is also a continued hesitation around discussing reproductive and intimate health concerns, along with a lack of awareness, fear of diagnosis, and social stigma, all of which contribute to delays in seeking timely care.
In many cases, women assume that the absence of symptoms indicates good health, which is a common but risky misconception.
Routine screenings such as Pap smears for cervical health, regular breast examinations, mammography where indicated, thyroid function tests, and basic metabolic screenings like blood sugar and cholesterol levels are critical tools in preventive care.
Periodic health check-ups also provide an opportunity for counselling on nutrition, mental well-being, hormonal health, and lifestyle management, areas that are often overlooked but equally important.
World Health Day serves as a reminder to shift from a reactive to a preventive approach. Prioritizing regular health check-ups, normalizing conversations around women’s health, and encouraging a culture of self-care can significantly improve outcomes. Investing in preventive healthcare is one of the most powerful steps women can take towards leading healthier, longer, and more empowered lives.
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