When something is going wrong in your body, there will be signs. They may be subtle, but they are visible in close observation. If you are a smoker, you may be worried about the smell of smoke emanating from your mouth or clothes. However, there are other signs that tell whether you smoke or not and these signs are difficult to get rid of!

Smoking is the harmful act of inhaling tobacco infused smoke and is a common activity all over the world. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 480,000 deaths happen each year due to smoking or smoke inhalation. The organization explained that smoking causes harm to nearly all organs and quitting lowers the risk of early death and other smoking related diseases.

Like many other substances, there are clear tell-tale signs when someone is smoking. This is especially important for finding lung problems like Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe, sooner so people can get help.

Why Does Smoking Affect Your Physical Appearance?

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) explains that tobacco smoke has more than 7,000 harmful chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide, and various metals like arsenic, cadmium, and lead, quickly reach your lungs and then travel through your blood to all your organs, including your skin. Smoking damages your skin's ability to heal because it increases an enzyme metalloproteinase (MMPs) that breaks down collagen. Collagen is what keeps your skin smooth and elastic. As you lose collagen, your skin sags. Squinting from the smoke and puckering your mouth when smoking also cause wrinkles around your eyes and mouth.

Smoking also reduces blood flow to your skin, which means it gets less oxygen and nutrients. All these things together lead to what doctors call a "smoker's face." Quitting smoking can help prevent or slow down these skin problems."

Visible Signs Of Smoking

Here are some visible signs of smoking in people, according to 2013, Lung India

Fingers and Nails

When people smoke, the tar and other chemicals in the smoke stick to their fingers and nails. This repeated contact causes a yellow stain that's hard to wash off. It's a very common sign that someone regularly handles cigarettes or biris.

Moustaches

Especially in older people with white moustaches, smoking causes a yellowing effect. This is most noticeable in the center of the moustache, where the smoke from the nose directly hits the hair. The consistent exposure to smoke colors the hair over time.

Lips

Heavy smokers often have a bluish-black tint to their lips. This discoloration happens because the chemicals in tobacco smoke affect the blood flow and the color of the skin on the lips. The constant exposure changes the lip's natural color.

Teeth

Smoking causes teeth to stain both inside and out. The outside of the teeth turns yellow from the tar, while the inside develops a brownish-black stain. This happens because the smoke seeps into the enamel and discolors the teeth over time.

Premature Wrinkling

Smoking makes the skin age faster. This leads to wrinkles like "crow's feet" around the eyes and "cobblestone wrinkles" on the neck. This happens because smoking reduces blood flow, limiting oxygen to the skin, and damages collagen, which keeps skin elastic.

Nodular Elastosis

This condition, also known as "Favre–Racouchot syndrome," causes blackheads and wrinkles, especially around the eyes and temples. It is made worse by both sun exposure and heavy smoking. The skin becomes discolored with visible nodules and wrinkles.

Facial Wrinkling and COPD

A study published in Thorax 2006 found a connection between wrinkles on the face and COPD, a lung disease. It's thought that smoking affects both the skin and lungs through similar processes. If doctors notice signs like "crow's feet" on a smoker's face, they might recommend tests for COPD. This early detection can help people get treatment sooner and improve their lung health.

Amid the ongoing monsoon season, Delhi-NCR is seeing a rise in H1N1 influenza cases, with Delhi reporting 1,344 cases so far this season.

The figure is nearly six times higher than the 229 H1N1 cases recorded during the same period last year, The Times of India reported.

According to health officials, Delhi recorded around 4,000 influenza cases last year, most of them caused by H3N2. This year, H1N1 is the dominant strain. Both H1N1 and H3N2 are subtypes of Influenza A and spread mainly through respiratory droplets.

What Is H1N1 and Why Is Testing Important?

H1N1 is a subtype of Influenza A and can cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. These symptoms can overlap with those of other seasonal influenza strains, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), making it difficult to identify the infection based on symptoms alone.

Dr Aijaz Ilmi, Senior Consultant – Metabolic Diseases, Pacific OneHealth Hospital, told HealthandMe that testing is particularly important when fever or respiratory symptoms persist or worsen, especially among older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with diabetes, obesity, heart or lung disease, or compromised immunity.

“With the current rise in H1N1 cases in Delhi, we are also seeing other seasonal respiratory infections, including Influenza A and B, COVID-19, RSV and other respiratory viruses. At the same time, the monsoon season brings an increased risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue.

“The key message is, don’t panic, but don’t dismiss a persistent fever as ‘just a viral’. Early recognition is particularly important in vulnerable individuals.”

H1N1 vs Other Respiratory Infections: How Are They Different?

H1N1 can be difficult to distinguish from other respiratory infections because many of them cause similar symptoms.

• H1N1 and other seasonal influenza strains: Both can cause sudden fever, cough, sore throat, headache, body aches and fatigue. Symptoms alone generally cannot determine whether the infection is H1N1 or another influenza strain.

• COVID-19: COVID-19 can cause fever, cough, sore throat, congestion and fatigue. Some people may also experience changes in or loss of taste or smell, while gastrointestinal symptoms can occur.
• RSV: RSV commonly causes a runny nose, cough and wheezing. It can be more severe in infants, older adults and people with certain underlying conditions. In young children, it can cause bronchiolitis and breathing difficulties.
• Dengue: During the monsoon, dengue can also cause fever, headache, body aches and fatigue, which may initially resemble a viral respiratory infection. However, dengue is spread by mosquitoes rather than respiratory droplets and does not typically cause cough or sore throat.

How Can H1N1 and Other Infections Be Prevented?

Dr Sharwari Sudhir Dabhade, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Diabetology & Endocrinology, Madhukar Rainbow Children's Hospital, told HealthandMe that prevention should focus on reducing exposure and maintaining good hygiene. Other measures to reduce transmission include:

• Washing hands frequently.
• Covering mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing.
• Maintaining good indoor ventilation.
• Avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated places when respiratory infections are circulating.
• If you have respiratory symptoms, limit close contact with others and wear a mask.
• Getting vaccinated against influenza, particularly if you are an older adult, young child or have an underlying health condition.
• Prevent mosquito breeding and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites to reduce risk of dengue.

When Should You Seek Medical Help?

Most viral respiratory infections recover with supportive care. However, should seek prompt immediate medical assessment in cases of

• breathlessness
• persistent high fever,
• chest pain,
• confusion,
• dehydration,
• falling oxygen saturation
• significant worsening of weakness.

People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may face a higher risk of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders years before they are diagnosed with the gut condition, a new study has discovered.

The study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that the risk of psychiatric disorders began rising two to three years before an IBD diagnosis, peaked shortly after diagnosis and remained elevated for as long as a decade.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet and other Swedish institutions analysed data from 43,862 people with IBD, comparing them with nearly 179,000 individuals from the general population and more than 26,000 IBD-free full siblings.

The sibling comparison was key as it helped researchers examine whether shared genetic or early-life environmental factors could explain any association.

Risk Of Mental Health Issues Increase Before IBD Diagnosis

Also read: Monsoon Gut Health: Addressing The Rise In Rotavirus And Viral Gastroenteritis Cases

The study found that the risk of developing any mental health disorder was already 15% higher two years before IBD diagnosis. It increased further around the time of diagnosis, reaching a roughly 50% higher risk within the first six months.

Although the risk reduced afterwards, it remained about 19% higher even 10 years after diagnosis. Major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders and substance misuse accounted for much of the increase.

Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication use also began rising around a year before the IBD diagnosis.

Researchers called for mental health screening to begin early, including during the initial gastroenterology evaluation.

“It is time to actively manage psychiatric conditions in patients with IBD,” said Jiangwei Sun, PhD, the study’s lead author.

Why Depression And Anxiety Appear Before IBD Is Diagnosed?

Also read: Following A Western Diet? Changes In Your Gut Bacteria Could Increase Colon Cancer Risk

IBD includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, autoimmune conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract.

One possible explanation is the gut-brain axis, the two-way communication system connecting the digestive system and brain.

Inflammation, changes in gut bacteria and abnormal immune activity may affect brain function and overall mood. At the same time, stress and psychological distress can affect the gastrointestinal symptoms.

But researchers caution that the study merely shows an association, not proof that IBD directly causes depression or anxiety.

Some people may experience subtle or unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms before receiving an official diagnosis, while the uncertainty and disruption caused by chronic symptoms could also affect mental health.

Mounting Evidence

The findings follow previous research that shows psychiatric symptoms can surface before the patient is diagnosed with IBD.

A 2023 study examining longitudinal health records found that anxiety and depression occurred more frequently among people who were later diagnosed with IBD.

In a 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis, it was observed that patients with a history of depression may have a small-to-moderate increased risk of subsequently developing IBD, suggesting that the relationship between the gut and mental health could work in both directions.

The new findings therefore signal that mental health symptoms may sometimes arrive years before IBD itself is formally diagnosed in patients.

For doctors, researchers say this highlights the need to treat IBD as more than a digestive disease, with psychological support and screening considered part of long-term care.

Many people may dismiss swelling in an arm or leg, particularly if it's not painful. But if the swelling continues or keeps coming back, it could be a sign of lymphedema, a condition that affects the body's lymphatic system.

The lymphatic system is responsible for draining excess fluid from body tissues. If this system is damaged or is not functioning correctly, fluid will accumulate, and lead to swelling. There are different causes of lymphedema such as some infections, injuries, congenital disorders and cancer therapies. Women who have had breast or gynaecological cancers may be at special risk if they had their lymph nodes removed or if radiation had been used.

What are the WARNING SIGNS?

Sometimes, lymphedema develops gradually. Signs and symptoms include swelling of one arm or leg, heaviness or tightness in the arm or leg, trouble putting on rings or a watch, and decreased movement in the arm or leg.

At times, the skin can also be tight and turn into a hard consistency over time. In certain patients, a second infection of the skin may occur.

These symptoms should not just be attributed to "normal swelling. An early evaluation may help determine the root cause and make the condition less complicated to deal with.

Also read: Full-Fat Dairy May Actually Be Healthy, Not Harm Weight or Cholesterol, Study Finds

What Is The Treatment For Lymphedema?

Treatment will depend on the severity of the disease and its etiology. Treatment usually involves compression garments, special physiotherapy, gentle lymphatic massage, exercises and skin care. The techniques may be used to help decrease swelling and movement.

Surgery may be necessary in some cases of more severe or chronic lymphedema. New pathways can be created to allow the excess fluid to pass, such as in a lymphovenous bypass. For some patients, a transfer of lymph nodes or liposuction may be an option.

Additionally, for patients who have an increased risk of developing lymphedema, doctors may also recommend preventive measures for individuals who must have some type of cancer surgery. This implies that measures should be taken to ensure protection of the lymphatic drainage before any appreciable swelling occurs.

Also read: NIH Chief Urges Parents To Vaccinate Children As Measles Outbreak Breaks 35 Year Record

When To Go To The Doctor?

If swelling isn't severe, don't wait to get help. If there is any continued or unexplained swelling, there will be a specialist available to give information about the cause of the swelling and what treatment is appropriate.

Patients are provided with a holistic treatment pathway for lymphedema with multiple specialists treating their patients who came together for the diagnosis, rehabilitation and surgical treatment of lymphedema.

Treatment of lymphedema is not all about reducing swelling. The overall aim is to maintain a person's function, ease and independence in their daily activities.

If diagnosed early, and appropriately treated and followed-up, lymphedema can be managed successfully and patients can lead their life with a growing sense of confidence and comfort.