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.

There are many myths linked to heart health that can mislead people and prevent them from seeking timely help. This article helps to debunk the myths and keep the heart healthy. It is time to prioritize heart health. Dr Rahul Gupta, Director of Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Program, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, spoke about the common myths about heart disease and listed the facts as well.

Heart problems are commonly seen in people of all age groups. However, heart health is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions that can lead to confusion and poor lifestyle choices in people. So, heart health depends on multiple factors, including diet, activity, stress, and overall lifestyle, and not just one or two habits. Here, the expert helps to debunk the myths associated with heart health and improve the quality of life.

Dispelling myths surrounding heart health

Myth 1: Only older people are at risk of heart problems

Fact: People commonly believe that heart problems can only happen in old age. However, currently, a large number of youngsters aged 25-35 are also struggling with heart issues such as heart attacks and heart failure because of stress, unhealthy diets, and lack of exercise. So, heart problems are not limited only to older people. Anyone, irrespective of their age, can suffer from them. Hence, there is a need of the hour to go for regular heart check-ups and to initiate timely treatment for heart problems.

Myth 2: If you are fit, your heart is SAFE

Fact: So, being physically active is important, but it does not reduce the chances of heart problems. Be attentive to the family history, genetics, and other factors such as high cholesterol or even stress. So, go for cardiac screening on a yearly basis to know the status of your heart health. Discomfort in the arms, jaw, or back and light-headedness can also mean that your heart is in danger.

Myth 3: Heart disease is only seen in men

Fact: Shockingly, heart disease also causes higher morbidity and mortality rates in women. The symptoms seen in women linked to heart disease are dizziness, palpitations, and even giddiness. Hence, women should also focus on their heart health. Stay alert, stay safe!

Your heart health matters. By understanding the facts and making informed choices, it is possible for everyone to protect their heart and overall well-being.

Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects people with Parkinson's ability to move and do things on their own. People with Parkinson's disease will find that it gets worse over time. At first, medicines can help people with Parkinson's disease.

After a while, these medicines might not work as well as they used to for people with Parkinson's disease. Some people with Parkinson's disease might even feel bad because of the medicines they are taking for Parkinson's disease.

That is when doctors might suggest something called Deep Brain Stimulation, or DBS for short, to people with Parkinson's disease. Deep Brain Stimulation is a kind of help for people with Parkinson's disease.

What Is DBS?

DBS is a kind of surgery where doctors put wires into the brain. These wires are connected to a device that is put under the skin in the chest. This device sends messages to the brain to help it work better. The brain can get mixed up. Cause people to shake or move slowly. The messages from the device help fix that.

One of the things about DBS is that it can help people move better when medicines are not working well. People might shake less. Feel less stiff. They might even be able to take medicine, which can be good because it can reduce the side effects.

It is very important to remember that DBS is not a cure for Parkinson's disease. It does not make the disease go away. It can help people do things on their own again. Many people who have DBS say they can eat, walk, and dress themselves better. These are things that can be very hard for people with Parkinson's disease.

DBS Promising For Parkinson's Patients

Doctors have to be very careful about whom they recommend DBS to. It is usually for people who take medicines for Parkinson's disease. The medicines do not always work well. The doctors, surgeons, and therapists all have to work to make sure everything goes well.

Exciting things are happening with DBS. Soon, there might be devices that can adjust on their own to help people more. This means that people with Parkinson's disease might have more hope for feeling better.

DBS is a step forward from just taking medicines. It helps people take control of their bodies again. It helps them feel more independent and dignified. That can make a difference in their daily lives. Parkinson's disease is a hard condition to deal with, but with DBS, people might feel like they can do things again. They might feel like they have their life back. DBS is a promising treatment for people with Parkinson's disease.

Work, school, competition—stress appears to be inevitable these days. Across age groups, many are dealing with it in some form or the other, but unfortunately stress never stops at just headaches or fatigue. It has direct effects on an individual's health through causing disease (such as cardiovascular problems); it also has indirect effects on health by negatively influencing other health behaviors such as physical activity and sleep. It is also vital to note that stress is one of the leading health risks for people in the work environment. Healthcare professionals are advised to consider both major stressors and those that occur regularly. Further discussion about stress reduction strategies is provided.

Dr Anshuman Kaushal, Director of Robotic GI, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, in an interview with Health and Me, spoke about the long-term effects of chronic stress and why it can be termed a lifestyle disorder.

Mechanisms of Chronic Stress

Exposure to certain stressors activates the HPA axis, and as a result, adrenaline and cortisol are released. While these hormones play a crucial role in survival during emergencies, they can result in serious health problems when continuously present in the body. Some of the most common consequences of stress are low immunity, insulin resistance, or inflammation. It can over time result in hypertension or heart disease.

Lifestyle as the Main Cause

With growing rates of urbanisation, competitive workplaces, financial issues, and the development of technology leading to a permanently accessible Internet, the boundaries between working time and time for rest have been blurred entirely. Moreover, an insufficient amount of sleep, poor sleeping habits, and a sedentary lifestyle cause stress as well. The young generation in India has become victims of stress-related disorders the most.

Identification of the Symptoms

One of the major challenges when identifying chronic stress cases lies in the subtlety of the condition. The list of symptoms includes constant fatigue, irritability, concentration issues, headaches, tight muscles, and insomnia. Other symptoms of the condition include gastrointestinal disorders such as acid reflux, bloating, and loss of appetite that are hardly ever associated with stress.

Long-term effects of stress

Chronic stress may appear harmless, but the truth is quite contrary. When an individual is stressed for too long without controlling it, it may result in anxiety disorders like depression. Physiological side effects of stress are:

1. Poor immunity
2. Inflammation
3. Obesity
4. Diabetes
5. Weakened memory
6. Mood swings

What makes chronic stress a lifestyle disease?

While most lifestyle disorders are caused by environmental factors and behavioural alterations, it can be termed a lifestyle disease. These disorders are progressive and require constant intervention in the form of medication or meditation.

Managing chronic stress

Doctors say that it takes a comprehensive strategy to reduce cortisol levels in the body and uplift mood. For instance, workouts like weight training or yoga are known to increase levels of happy hormones, thereby reducing stress. Breathing exercises and meditation, too, have a positive impact on mental health. Experts recommend combining them with nutrition, proper sleep, and socialising.

Early diagnosis matters

Chronic stress is not just a symptom of modern life but also a key health problem. Recognising it as a health issue and addressing it helps combat the long-term consequences well in time. And with continued changes in lifestyle habits and patterns, a lifestyle disease like chronic stress can also be brought under control for the better.