Zoonotic diseases can spread from animals, including the ones we consume or keep as pets, including cats. Why are we talking about cats today? It is because of the increasing numbers of bird flu in the United States, cats of all shapes and sizes have come down with bird flu.

Bird flu was seen in poultry, where chickens have been affected, and even cows too. Why is it a concern for cats? This is because barn cats drink raw milk. In recent days, 20 wild cats at a Washington State animal sanctuary that ate infected birds and other reports of indoor cats dying from eating contaminated food have come out.

Why do cats get bird flu?

One of the leading causes is that unlike dogs, cats hunt for smaller prey, which includes birds and mice, carriers of bird flu. Dr Michael Bailey, the president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in a guidance released for cat owners noted that by their very nature, cats have more "opportunity" to ger infected with bird flu.

“We don't know if the cats are more susceptible than anybody else,” he said. “It's just the fact they're exposed to higher viral burdens because of where they go.”

Reports say that domestic cats have been bird flu virus carrier since 2004. Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health told a media outlet that before, about half of cats died, and now with the spreading of the bird flu even in cows, about 90% of them seem to be dying. Coleman has also been tracking the deaths. She has also shared 4 main tips to protect pets from bird flu which includes:

• Do not touch or allow pets to touch sick or dead animals or animal dropping
• Do not consume, or feed your pet, raw meat or milk
• Keep a close watch on free-roaming outdoor pets
• Immediately report rabies-like symptoms to a veterinarian

Are there symptoms of bird flu in cats one should look out for?

As per AVMA, pet owners must look out for signs like:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Fever

Bird flu infection can also progress with neurologic signs, which includes:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Not being coordinated
• Blindness

Cats may also suffer from:

• Severe depression
• Discharge from their eyes or nose
• Respiratory symptoms which includes rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and sneezing or coughing

Are humans at threat?

Sick animals may also be able to transmit influenza virus to humans through their saliva, excretion and other bodily fluids. People can also get infected by breathing in the virus or by touching something that has virus on it and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose.

If you think your cat might have bird flu—or any other infectious disease—try to limit their contact with other pets and people in your household, especially those with weakened immune systems, until you get advice from a veterinarian, as recommended by the AVMA. While the chances of cats transmitting H5N1 to humans are extremely low, they aren’t zero.

According to CDC guidance, keep an eye on yourself and your family for flu-like symptoms and reach out to a healthcare provider if needed. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your cat or cleaning their litter box and bedding.

Leaving Delhi for a city with cleaner air could be a health-smart decision as it can reduce your exposure to harmful pollutants. But just because you are away from the smog, it does not mean the health effects from years of inhaling polluted air will recover overnight.

That brings us to an important question. How long do lungs take to recover after living in an excessively polluted environment?

Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter known as PM2.5, triggers inflammation and oxidative stress throughout the body. This can directly impact the lungs, heart, blood vessels and even the brain.

The World Health Organization says long-term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of serious disorders like heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. That is why relocating could be beneficial without necessarily being a complete reset for the body.

Exposure Stops But Not Effects

Also read: Delhi Air Pollution Is Back: What Days Of Poor AQI Can Do to Your Lungs

The key difference to note here is between ongoing exposure and the damage that exposure may have contributed to. Once someone moves to a place with cleaner air, they are no longer receiving the same daily dose of pollutants. This can alleviate the ongoing inflammatory burden due to toxic air significantly.

But if years of exposure have contributed to changes in lung function, blood vessels or cardiovascular health, those effects may take much longer to recover, and some chronic disease may not even be completely reversible.

A recent study examining Delhi’s pollution between 2019 and 2023 found that PM2.5 levels exceeded India’s national daily standard on roughly 60% of measurements and the WHO daily guideline on almost all days.

Researchers also found that particles deposited deep in the lungs can be cleared much more slowly than larger particles, sometimes over weeks to years.

Lungs May Be Impacted For A Long Time After Moving

Also read: Children, Adults & Seniors: How Lung Health Risks Change Across Life Stages

PM2.5 particles are small enough to travel deep into the respiratory system. Some particles can reach the alveolar regions of the lungs, where clearance and recovery are slower. Constant exposure can also keep irritating the airways, worsening conditions like asthma and contributing to long-term respiratory disease.

WHO notes that short-term exposure can aggravate asthma and increase respiratory infections, while chronic exposure is associated with diseases such as COPD and lung cancer.

The consequences of air pollution on health are not just limited to breathing. PM2.5 can contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress, while some particles can enter into the bloodstream. This can affect blood vessels and the cardiovascular system.

Long-term exposure has also been associated with atherosclerosis, heart attacks and stroke, among other cardiovascular outcomes. The US Environmental Protection Agency says evidence links both short and long-term PM2.5 exposure with changes in heart and blood-vessel function and with cardiovascular disease.

Recovery After Moving Away

Reducing exposure could be an excellent health intervention to start the recovery process. Once a person is no longer repeatedly exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5 and other pollutants, the body is no longer subjected to its active effects.

But recovery also depends on what has happened during the years of exposure. Temporary inflammation or irritation may improve after exposure falls, while structural changes or chronic diseases may persist for quite a while even after moving away.

It is therefore more accurate to think of relocation as reducing future exposure rather than expecting to escape pollution health effects scot-free.

Delhi’s pollution crisis is not confined to a few extremely bad winter days. Research analysed five years of AQI data and found persistently high PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. It also found that pollution generally worsened during post-monsoon and winter months. Evening commuting periods also produced higher particulate deposition than morning periods.

In my 13 years of working with clients as a trauma-informed consulting psychologist, I have often noticed that people recognise nervous-system overload only after their body forces them to slow down.

Until then, they may describe themselves as “too sensitive”, “lazy” or “unable to cope”. In reality, these reactions are often the nervous system’s attempt to protect us.

Fight, Flight, Freeze Or Shutdown

Our nervous system continually assesses whether we are safe. When stress feels persistent or overwhelming, the body may move into fight or flight.

We might become irritable, restless, anxious or unusually controlling. The heart may race, muscles tighten and sleep become disturbed. At other times, the system may shift towards freeze or shutdown, showing up as exhaustion, emotional numbness, procrastination, forgetfulness or a strong desire to withdraw.

Also read: LSD-Based Treatment Clears Second Phase 3 Trial: Could It Be The First New GAD Drug In 2 Decades?

When Everyday Reactions May Signal Overload

For example, someone who becomes disproportionately angry over a minor delay may not simply have an “anger problem”; their system may already be carrying days or months of accumulated stress. Another person may sit before a simple email for hours, unable to respond.

What looks like avoidance may actually be a freeze response. Some people remain highly productive while feeling disconnected from their bodies, until headaches, digestive difficulties or fatigue begin demanding attention.

These signs do not automatically indicate trauma or a mental health condition. They are invitations to become curious: What has my system been carrying? When did I last feel rested, supported or genuinely safe?

Small Ways To Help The Body Feel Safer

If you notice these patterns, begin gently. Reduce unnecessary stimulation, eat regularly, protect your sleep and spend time with people around whom you do not have to perform. Slow breathing—particularly allowing the exhale to be longer—may help signal safety. You can also look around the room, notice your feet on the floor and name what you can see and hear. Small, repeated experiences of safety are often more helpful than forcing yourself to “calm down”.

If symptoms persist, interfere with daily life or feel difficult to manage alone, speaking with a trauma-informed therapist can help you understand the patterns beneath them. Therapy is not only for moments of crisis; it can offer a safe space to listen to what the nervous system has been communicating all along.

The body is rarely working against us. Often, it is asking for care in the only language it knows.

By Ms Arouba Kabir, Psychologist & Therapist, Founder - Enso Wellness

Someone who is dying may start to their loved ones who passed away years ago. This could be unsettling and confusing for families and relatives who may assume that the person is just hallucinating or undergoing a deeper neurological issue.

But hospice physician Dr Christopher Kerr says such experiences are a known phenomenon called end-of-life dreams and visions (ELDVs). Kerr, chief medical officer of Hospice Buffalo, has spent decades studying these experiences in dying patients extensively.

Appearing on The Oprah Podcast, he told Oprah Winfrey that many patients near death describe seeing deceased relatives or people who cared for them during their lives. The experiences can feel completely real to them.

Why Do People Near Death See Deceased Loved Ones?

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One of the possibilities is that the brain experiences significant changes as the body starts to shut down.

Alterations in sleep, consciousness, metabolism, oxygen levels, medications, and brain chemistry can all affect perception during the final stages of life.

Dr. Rakesh Lalla, Additional Director - Neurology, Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, told HealthandMe, " These visions could be explained by the alterations that occur within the brain as the body starts to close down. Due to oxygen deprivation and altered brain activity, the brain would process memories, feelings, and stimuli differently. The areas responsible for memory processing and vision could become stimulated or disrupted, which could result in some vivid visions or experiences."

The expert also said that these visions do not mean that the person has a neurological or psychiatric issue.

Dr. Lalla said, "They do not necessarily mean that the person is confused or suffering from a psychiatric condition. In many cases, they are brief, peaceful, and emotionally meaningful to the individual. We still do not fully understand why particular people or memories appear."

The neurologist also advised families to stay supportive and calm during such situations.

He added, "The brain’s complex relationship between memory, emotion and perception is likely to play an important role. For families, the key is to remain calm, listen without dismissing the experience, and provide reassurance and comfort."

Also read: Global Life Expectancy Returns To Pre-Pandemic Levels, But NCDs Resulted In 8 Out 10 Deaths: WHO

Hallucinations Or Part Of The Dying Process?

Experts who have been studying ELDVs have also found that these experiences have some distinctive patterns that do not resemble random hallucinations.

In a 2014 longitudinal study led by Kerr, most of the 59 hospice patients who completed the study reported at least one dream or vision. Almost half occurred during sleep, and nearly all patients said the experiences felt real. The most common involved deceased friends or relatives or other loved ones. In fact, comforting visions of deceased people became more common as patients moved closer to death.

A 2026 systematic review of 13 studies similarly found that ELDVs occurred in at least one in five dying adults.

The National Institute on Aging also states that dying people may appear to see or talk to someone who is not present and may report dreams involving deceased relatives or friends. Such experiences are often comforting, and caregivers are generally advised not to immediately correct or challenge the person.

Seeing Loved Ones Could Be A Comforting End

Kerr said that patients seeing deceased loved ones in their visions appeared calmer afterward. His research suggests that these experiences may carry deep emotional meaning for patients.

“Very little is said between the person in the dream and the dreamer, but everything seems to be understood,” Kerr told Oprah.

Scientists still cannot say exactly what produces these experiences or whether they represent anything beyond changes occurring in the dying brain.