On Monday night, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Japan, leading to a tsunami warning. Fortunately, authorities reported minimal damage, and the warning was soon lifted. According to local media, there was only one minor injury involving a man who fell at his own home.

Japan, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences approximately 1,500 tremors annually. However, these quakes have a long-lasting impact on one's health—both physical and mental.

Health Impacts Of Earthquakes

1. Wound Infections

Earthquake-related injuries range from cuts and bruises to fractures and crush injuries. If not attended to on time, these wounds can lead to infections like sepsis, tetanus, or even amputations if untreated. Regions with scarce medical resources face higher risks of untreated injuries and antimicrobial resistance. Ensuring prompt medical care and deploying teams to assess building safety is critical to preventing further injuries and fatalities.

A recent study examined infections in 225 earthquake survivors with musculoskeletal injuries treated between February and April 2023. It found that gram-negative bacteria were common in the wounds of the victims. Acinetobacter baumannii (49.4%) and enterococci (28.6%) were the most prevalent. Many pathogens were multidrug-resistant, with 76% from wound cultures and 58% from deep tissue cultures showing resistance. Common infections included surgical site infections (32.8%), urinary tract infections (5.3%), bloodstream infections (5.7%), and pneumonia (0.4%). Intensive care was required for 35.6% of patients, with a mortality rate of 2.7%.

2. Infectious Diseases

Earthquakes disrupt water supplies, leading to unsanitary conditions that spread waterborne diseases such as cholera. Meanwhile, it also pushes people to take shelters in dingy places, which can outbreaks of measles, respiratory illnesses, and parasitic infections like leishmaniasis. Cold conditions and stress suppress immunity, increasing the risk of disease spread.

3. Chronic Conditions

Access to medication and medical care is often disrupted by earthquakes. Studies show increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes following earthquakes due to stress and disrupted routines. Destruction of health records and facilities exacerbates these issues, especially in disaster-prone regions.

4. Healthcare Disruption

Damaged medical facilities and transport links hinder healthcare delivery. Pregnant women and individuals with chronic diseases face heightened risks. Refugees and displaced populations encounter accessibility barriers to healthcare services.

5. Psychological Trauma

Survivors of these earthquakes often suffer from anxiety, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Tailored mental health programs are crucial for recovery, especially for those already living in conflict zones or displacement.

On April 14 2010, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Qinghai Province, China, devastating Yushu County. A psychological relief study, published in the Journal Of Affective Disorders in 2011, assessed the mental health of 505 survivors three to four months post-disaster. Using tools like the PTSD Checklist-Civilian version (PCL-C) and Hopkins Symptoms Checklist-25 (HSCL-25), the study found prevalence rates of 33.7% for probable PTSD, 43.8% for anxiety, and 38.6% for depression, with one-fifth of participants experiencing all three. Key risk factors included being female, experiencing intense fear during the quake, and having limited social support, as measured by the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS).

Adults aged 65 and older who completed five to six weeks of cognitive speed training, known as speed of processing training, are less likely to develop dementia over 20 years, according to a Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions study.

In this NIH-funded study, researchers examined 2,802 adults from 1998–99 and compared three types of cognitive training including memory, reasoning, and speed of processing.

Participants in the training groups completed up to 10 sessions lasting 60 to 75 minutes over five to six weeks. About half also received up to four additional booster sessions at 11 and 35 months after the initial training.

After 20 years, 40 percent of participants in the speed training group who received boosters were diagnosed with dementia, compared to 49 percent in the control group. This represents a 25 percent lower risk and was the only intervention that showed a statistically meaningful difference.

Marilyn Albert, Ph.D., the corresponding study author and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Seeing that boosted speed training was linked to lower dementia risk two decades later is remarkable because it suggests that a fairly modest nonpharmacological intervention can have long-term effects.

"Even small delays in the onset of dementia may have a large impact on public health and help reduce rising health care costs."

Albert explained that additional studies are needed to understand underlying mechanisms that may help explain these associations and to understand why the reasoning and memory interventions didn’t have the same 20-year associations

READ MORE: High Brain Age May Increase Dementia Risk, Study Shows

What Is Dementia?

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a significant decline in mental function that is serious enough to affect everyday life. It commonly impacts memory, thinking, and reasoning skills.

Dementia itself is not a single disease but a collection of symptoms caused by underlying conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or vascular dementia.

Common signs include memory problems, confusion, difficulty finding words, changes in mood or behaviour and trouble completing familiar tasks.

These symptoms usually worsen over time and are not considered a normal part of ageing. Although there is no cure, treatment options can help manage symptoms, and early diagnosis plays an important role in care planning.

Alzheimer’s Disease: The Leading Cause of Dementia

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia and mostly affects adults over the age of 65.

About 8.8 million Indians aged 60 and above are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's disease. Over seven million people in the US 65 and older live with the condition and over 100,00 die from it annually.

Alzheimer's disease is believed to be caused by the development of toxic amyloid and beta proteins in the brain, which can accumulate in the brain and damage cells responsible for memory.

Amyloid protein molecules stick together in brain cells, forming clumps called plaques. At the same time, tau proteins twist together in fiber-like strands called tangles. The plaques and tangles block the brain's neurons from sending electrical and chemical signals back and forth.

Over time, this disruption causes permanent damage in the brain that leads to Alzheimer's disease and dementia, causing patients to lose their ability to speak, care for themselves or even respond to the world around them.

While there is no clear cause of Alzheimer's disease, experts believe it can develop due to genetic mutations and lifestyle choices, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet and social isolation.

Early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease include forgetting recent events or conversations. Over time, Alzheimer's disease leads to serious memory loss and affects a person's ability to do everyday tasks.

There is no cure for this progressive brain disorder and in advanced stages, loss of brain function can cause dehydration, poor nutrition or infection. These complications can result in death.

Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan recently opened up about the diagnosis of his 2-year-old daughter with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip.

Varun, who welcomed his daughter Lara in 2024 along with his wife, Natasha Dalal, shared that the condition affected her ability to walk and run normally.

In a recent episode of Be A Man, Yaar!, Varun noted that the toddler’s condition was diagnosed when she was around one-and-a-half years old.

"My daughter was diagnosed with DDH, in which the hip slips out of the hip socket. Ek pair lamba chota hojaata hai jiski wajah se walk tedi hojaati hai (One leg becomes shorter than the other, which causes an uneven limp while walking). You can't walk or run properly," he said.

The Badrinath Ki Dulhania actor noted that Lara did not need surgery, but underwent a procedure that put her hip back.

“But she had to be in a spica cast. That means she had to be in a cast for 2.5 months. Which is extremely difficult. To put her under anesthesia, and then she woke up in a cast. Now the cast is out,” he said, adding that the baby is now in recovery.

The Border 2 actor said he chose to speak about Lara’s diagnosis to raise awareness among parents. He urged them to closely observe their children’s movements and consult a paediatrician if they notice anything unusual.

Also read: US FDA Approves Drug To Treat Rare Childhood Syndrome

What Is DDH? How Can It Be Diagnosed?

The UK NHS explains that Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition where the "ball and socket" joint of the hip does not properly form in babies and young children.

The congenital multifactoral disease has about a 30 per cent increased risk if a family member is affected.

The hip joint typically connects the thigh bone (femur) to the pelvis. Its upper end, called the femoral head, is shaped like a ball and fits into a cup-like socket in the hip.

However, in children born with DDH, this socket is not deep enough to securely hold the femoral head, resulting in an unstable joint.

Also read: Child Deaths Fall In India Since 2000 But Progress Slows, Says UN Report

In more severe cases, the ball can slip out of the socket completely, leading to dislocation.

DDH may affect 1 or both hips, and is more common in:

• girls
• firstborn children
• families where there have been childhood hip problems
• babies born in the breech position

While some babies born with a dislocated hip will show no outward signs, common signs to look includes:

• Legs of different lengths
• Uneven skin folds on the thigh
• Less mobility or flexibility on one side
• Limping, toe walking, or a waddling gait

DDH: Is The Condition Treatable

Early detection is helpful and boosts treatment. When detected at birth, DDH can usually be corrected with the use of a harness or brace.

In cases where the hip is not dislocated at birth, the condition may not be noticed until the child begins walking. In such cases, treatment may be more complicated, with less predictable results.

Many women silently accept certain health issues as a normal part of life. However, many of these symptoms, such as painful menses and fatigue, can indicate underlying medical conditions that need attention. So, women shouldn’t neglect their health and seek timely help. Dr Payal Narang, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Pune, in an interview with Health and Me, spoke about the health problems that women often normalise, but that can become catastrophic in the long run.

Read more: Three Health Checks Every Woman Should Do Each Month, According To Experts

Women often juggle multiple responsibilities that include work, family, and household duties and neglect their own health. They are busy due to professional and personal life commitments and often fail to go for regular health check-ups. Moreover, they also experience menstrual problems and ignore symptoms such as painful periods, constant fatigue, heavy menstrual bleeding, and urinary leakage after childbirth. Women should consult a doctor instead of normalising these symptoms, which can delay diagnosis and treatment of important health issues. Paying attention to these signs and seeking medical advice can help women maintain better health and quality of life.

Concerning symptoms that women shouldn’t ignore at all

1. Painful menses that can interfere with the daily routine: Many women believe that severe menstrual pain is a natural part of having periods. Period pain is unavoidable. While mild cramps can be common, intense pain that interferes with daily activities may indicate conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, or hormonal imbalance that need prompt treatment. Persistent pain should be evaluated by a doctor.
2. Fatigue: Feeling tired sometimes is normal, especially due to hectic schedules or traveling. However, constant fatigue that does not improve with rest may raise the chances of anemia, thyroid problems, nutritional deficiencies, or even stress. So, beware and pay attention to the symptoms.
3. Heavy menstrual bleeding: So, if bleeding lasts more than 7-8 days, requires frequent pad changes, or causes weakness and dizziness, it can be due to hormonal imbalance or fibroids. Heavy bleeding can also increase the risk of anemia if left untreated. So, address this problem with the help of an expert.
4. Urinary leakage after childbirth: Urinary leakage after childbirth is a concerning problem quietly accepted by women due to fear of being ridiculed, embarrassment, judgment, or shame. This can take a toll on the woman’s emotional well-being. She will avoid socializing due to the fear of leakage. It is commonly seen in a large number of women because of weakened pelvic floor muscles after childbirth. Various options, such as pelvic floor exercises, physiotherapy, and medical guidance, can help women to manage this condition and improve their quality of life.

Women, listening to the body, don’t just Google and try any remedies on your own. It is necessary to follow expert-recommended guidelines for tackling these problems.