Can't leave your house without your earphones, airpods or headphones? Well, you aren't alone. There are millions of others who feel the same. However, do not be surprised if I tell you that it may lead to memory loss and dementia. According to the National Library of Medicine, the auditory nerve, which carries sound signals to the brain, when constantly bombarded with loud noises, starts transmitting weaker signals. This forces the brain to work harder to interpret the sound, leading to cognitive overload. Prolonged cognitive strain can eventually pave the way for dementia and memory loss.

Long-term headphone use also affects brain function directly. High decibel levels of noise can damage the insulation of nerve fibres that carry auditory signals to the brain, disrupting the flow of information. Moreover, the electromagnetic waves produced by headphones have been linked to problems like headaches, fatigue, and, in some cases, neurological discomfort.

Beyond The Brain, Headphones Can Make You Deaf

Empirical evidence shows that nearly one billion young people are at risk of hearing loss due to excessive exposure to loud music through headphones. For the uninitiated, sound intensity is measured in decibels. Prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels can be harmful to hearing. Music listened to at maximum volume using headphones often falls in the range of 85 to 120 decibels, a level capable of causing significant hearing damage over time.

Studies Show The Ill Effects

According to a recent survey in the UK, a staggering 65% of students admitted to listening to music at maximum volume through their headphones. A similar study revealed that adolescents exposed to high noise levels via headphones in noisy environments experienced a hearing loss prevalence of 22.6%. Those who used earphones for 80 minutes or more per day had a hearing loss prevalence of 22.3%. These figures are alarming, especially given how ingrained headphone use has become in daily life.

The ramifications of early-onset hearing loss go far beyond damaged ears. It can also jeopardize your mental health. Hearing loss in youth can set off a chain reaction, leading to social isolation and depression. Over time, it can also escalate and jeopardise your relationships. Ill-fitting headphones add to the woes, causing pain that extends from the inner ear to the jaws and top of the head. They can also lead to ear infections, which eventually hamper cognitive functions.

Protecting hearing and brain health requires a shift in listening habits. Experts recommend keeping the volume below 60 per cent and limiting usage to 60 minutes per day. Investing in noise-cancelling headphones can also help reduce the need to crank up the volume in noisy environments.

For decades, cardiologists have noticed a clear seasonal trend. Heart attacks tend to rise during the winter months. Patients who already have heart conditions often see their health decline in the cold season, requiring more frequent and longer hospital stays. As winter approaches, pollution levels spike dramatically, making breathing more difficult, and for good reason.

Multiple factors combine to create this seasonal risk. We spoke to Dr. Vikash Goyal, Senior Cardiologist at Paras Health, Gurugram, to understand why chest pain becomes more common in winters.

Why Does Winter Trigger More Heart Risks?

Traditionally, this increase in heart-related issues has been linked to the body’s response to cold temperatures. Winter causes blood vessels to constrict and can lead to higher blood pressure, while reduced sweating may cause salt to build up in the body.

Less physical activity, along with a tendency to eat heavier, richer foods, adds to weight gain and raises blood sugar and cholesterol. Together, these factors increase the workload on the cardiovascular system, contributing to the rise in cardiac events during the winter months.

How Does Winter Pollution Trigger Chest Pain?

One constant in North Indian winters is a sharp rise in air pollution that comes alongside dropping temperatures. As the air cools and circulation slows, a thick layer of smog lingers over many cities. This pollution is a mix of vehicle emissions, construction dust, industrial smoke, and seasonal crop stubble burning. The simultaneous rise of air pollution and winter cardiac hospitalizations is too pronounced to ignore.

Dr. Vikash Goyal explained that air pollution has a significant but often overlooked effect on heart health. The heart relies on clear blood flow to support all major organs. When polluted air enters the lungs, tiny particles enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation throughout the body. This narrows and stiffens blood vessels, forcing the heart to work harder while reducing oxygen supply to vital organs like the brain and kidneys.

He said, “This can lead to headaches, fatigue, dizziness, or worsening kidney function. During winter, the combination of cold temperatures and trapped smog thickens the blood and raises blood pressure, putting extra strain on the heart.” This explains why chest pain, breathlessness, and other cardiac issues increase during winter pollution season. Protecting yourself from polluted air isn’t just about lungs—it’s about safeguarding your whole cardiovascular system.

How Do PM2.5 Particles Harm The Cardiovascular System?

According to the World Health Organization, PM2.5 particles entering the bloodstream can cause multiple harmful effects on the heart. They trigger inflammation, destabilize cholesterol plaques, and increase the risk of plaque rupture, a common cause of heart attacks. They also create oxidative stress, producing free radicals that damage blood vessels and speed up atherosclerosis. Additionally, PM2.5 thickens the blood and makes platelets stickier, raising the chance of clots forming in blood vessels.

How To Protect Your Heart During Winter Pollution?

To reduce the impact of winter pollution on your heart, limit outdoor exposure on high-pollution days, wear N95 or N99 masks when going out, and use air purifiers and humidifiers indoors. Stay hydrated, eat foods rich in antioxidants, and keep an eye on your health.

If you notice persistent chest pain, tightness, or other concerning symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is scary, but what often causes greater harm is the delay in finding the disease and starting treatment. Many patients visit doctors only when symptoms become too obvious to ignore, by which time the illness has already advanced and is far harder to control. In most cases, cancer is caught late not because it hides well, but because people skip routine screenings.

In an Instagram video shared on November 6, Dr Jayesh Sharma, consultant surgical oncologist at ITSA Hospitals, spoke about four key tests that can help detect cancer early and reduce the number of late-stage cases.

Also Read: Azithromycin Warning: Popular Medicine Linked To A Surge in Antibiotic Resistance, Warns Ortho Surgeon

4 Tests That Help Catch Cancer Early

Dr Sharma explained that there are four screenings everyone should consider. He noted that these tests can help identify cancer at the very first stage, when abnormal cells have formed but have not yet begun to spread. Detecting it at this point allows doctors to remove the cells completely, giving patients an excellent chance of recovery.

Mammography

Dr Sharma advised getting a mammogram once around the age of 40. He mentioned that while yearly tests are often suggested, most people do well with a screening every two years.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer remains one of the most common cancers in women. According to Dr Sharma, the Pap smear is a reliable way to catch early changes in cervical cells, even before symptoms appear.

Stool Test

He also recommended a stool test as a simple way to look for signs of stomach cancer. The earliest sign of trouble in the stomach is often hidden bleeding, which can be picked up through this test.

Chest CT Scan

For people who have been heavy smokers over many years, Dr Sharma suggested a chest CT scan. This group faces a higher chance of lung cancer, and a scan can help identify changes in the lungs at an early stage.

Symptoms Of Cancer

Warning signs of cancer can appear in many ways, and the symptoms usually depend on which part of the body is involved.

Some broad symptoms that may point to cancer, though they can occur in many other conditions as well, as per Mayo Clinic include:

• Fatigue that does not improve
• A lump or thickened area you can feel beneath the skin
• Unexpected weight loss or gain
• Changes in the skin, such as darkening, redness, yellowing, slow-healing sores, or new changes in moles
• Altered bowel or bladder habits
• A cough that lingers or ongoing breathing trouble
• Difficulty swallowing food
• A rough or hoarse voice
• Regular indigestion or discomfort after meals
• Ongoing, unexplained joint or muscle pain
• Recurring fevers or night sweats without a clear cause
• Bleeding or bruising without explanation

When To Seek Medical Advice

You should contact your doctor if any symptom continues for a long time or gives you reason to worry.

If you feel fine but are anxious about your cancer risk, speak with your doctor about it. They can guide you on the screening tests or checks that may be suitable for you

Recent data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority show a sharp rise in the number of women opting for egg-freezing. Yet the subject remains clouded by many misunderstandings. The decision itself is not simple. It involves emotional questions, significant costs and the physical demands of treatment. One common misunderstanding is the belief that egg freezing can harm egg quality, when the procedure does not lower the inherent quality of the eggs you already have.

We got in touch with Dr Shaweez Faizi, Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Mangalore, who told us more about the same.

What Is Egg Freezing?

Egg freezing, also called oocyte cryopreservation, is a fertility option in which a woman’s eggs are collected, frozen, and kept for future use. The steps include taking hormones to help the ovaries produce multiple mature eggs, retrieving those eggs through a short clinical procedure, and freezing them through a rapid cooling method known as vitrification.

As per Healthline, the frozen eggs are then stored in liquid nitrogen. When pregnancy is planned later, the eggs are thawed, fertilized in a laboratory, and the embryo is transferred to the uterus.

How Egg-Freezing Works?

The journey begins with roughly 8 to 12 days of hormonal tablets and injections that help several follicles grow at once. Dr Shaweez Faizi told us that doctors then use an ultrasound-guided needle to retrieve the mature eggs under light anaesthesia. The eggs are preserved through vitrification. The medication does not pull eggs from future years. It acts only on that month’s cohort, which is why medical bodies consider the procedure safe and ethically sound.

Can Egg Freezing Lower Your Egg Quantity?

Dr Shaweez Faizi told us that egg-freezing does not drain your ovarian reserve for life. The process collects only the group of eggs that your body was already preparing to release in that month. Some women notice a short-term dip in AMH after the procedure, but this usually settles with time. The stored supply inside the ovaries remains unchanged.

For those unversed, AMH, or Anti-Müllerian Hormone, is commonly used to assess ovarian reserve, meaning the approximate number of eggs still present in a woman’s ovaries.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Reserve

AMH is often treated as a marker of ovarian reserve, though it naturally varies. Studies show that a small number of women experience a temporary fall in AMH after stimulation, followed by a return to baseline. Specialists usually advise repeating the AMH test a few months after retrieval to get an accurate picture.

Egg Freezing Success Rates

Age at the time of freezing and the number of eggs stored have the strongest influence on outcomes. Global data suggest that women under 38 who freeze about 20 eggs tend to have higher chances of a future live birth. Older women usually retrieve fewer eggs per cycle, and success rates decline. Indian clinics report a wide range of live-birth outcomes, depending on age and the number of usable eggs.

People with low AMH or diminished reserve will have fewer eggs from the start. The issue lies in the baseline biology, not in the freezing itself. Those who have had ovarian surgery, such as endometrioma removal, may have reduced reserve due to the operation and should plan their timing carefully.

Women facing chemotherapy or serious medical treatment should consult both oncologists and fertility specialists. The Indian Fertility Society recently issued guidance on handling low ovarian response and preservation choices.

Practical Steps For Those Considering Egg Freezing

Dr Shaweez Faizi shared a few practical steps for women considering egg freezing:

• Start with basic tests such as AMH, AFC and a hormonal panel.

• Ask detailed questions about expected egg yield for your age, the number of cycles you may need, and the clinic’s real success figures. Advertising often paints a brighter picture than the data.

• Plan financially for medication, scans, retrieval, freezing and long-term storage.

• Keep age in mind, as younger eggs are more likely to develop into healthy embryos.

• Choose established centres that follow national and international practice standards.

Egg-freezing is a recognised and safe method to preserve fertility options, but it is not a guaranteed path to pregnancy.

Costs, success rates and the number of cycles needed vary widely. As the service becomes more accessible in India’s metropolitan centres, careful counselling and realistic planning remain essential before you decide.