The world that we live in is filled with sounds, some are comforting and some could be jarring too. But what if the constant noise surrounding us is doing us more harm than we realize? There has been immense research that shows that noise is not just a nuisance, but a silent killer and affects our health in ways we do not even know. There are associations of sound causing heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, and dementia.

How Does Your Body Respond To Noise?

Noise is seen as an annoyance, but it effects can go beyond what we imagine. When we hear a sound, it travels through the ear to the brain. This is where it gets processed by the amygdala. It is a region that is responsible for emotional responses. This also triggers a stress response- our heart rate increases, our blood pressure rises, and stress hormones like cortisol flood our system.

This response is also designed to help us react to immediate threats. Especially, if we hear the sound of a predator approaching. However, when we are exposed to constant noise, this response is triggered repeatedly and could compel us to live in a long-term anxious state.

Hidden Health Risks

Many studies including Harvard Health and theAmerican College of Cardiology have found associations of noise with health problems including putting a person at a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart strokes, attacks, and high blood pressure. The constant activation of the stress response can take a toll on the body, increasing inflammation and making it harder for the heart and circulatory system to function properly. Over time, this can lead to serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

Even more troubling, research suggests that noise pollution may contribute to mental health issues. Studies have found a strong connection between exposure to noise and disturbed sleep, which in turn can cause anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. The World Health Organization estimates that noise contributes to around 12,000 premature deaths annually across Europe alone. This invisible threat, however, is often overlooked because the effects are gradual and cumulative.

Noise and Sleep: A Silent Disturbance

One of the most insidious aspects of noise pollution is its impact on sleep. Even when we are asleep, our bodies are not fully immune to the effects of sound. Our ears never fully “turn off,” meaning that even faint noises can disrupt our sleep cycle. Research has shown that people who live in noisy environments—whether near busy roads, airports, or urban centers—often experience fragmented sleep, leading to fatigue and a weakened immune system. Over time, this chronic lack of restful sleep can lead to significant health problems, including an increased risk of developing cognitive disorders such as dementia.

The Urbanization Problem

As cities continue to grow, noise pollution is becoming more widespread. Traffic noise, in particular, is one of the most common and harmful sources. The rise of urbanization means more cars, buses, and trains, all of which contribute to an ever-increasing din. This urban soundscape is often relentless, with little respite for those living within it. In densely populated cities, people are exposed to high decibel levels, which can exceed safe thresholds for heart health. In many cases, the sheer volume of sound is not just unpleasant; it’s dangerous.

What Can We Do About It?

The solution is not as simple as reducing noise in our immediate surroundings, though efforts to reduce traffic noise and limit industrial sounds are essential. Some cities have taken steps to create quieter spaces by converting busy roads into pedestrian zones or installing noise barriers. These measures have shown to have a positive impact on public health, with research suggesting that even small reductions in noise can prevent premature deaths and improve overall well-being.

Metformin is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes in adults and children aged 10 years and above. The drug has also found applications in managing Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). But a recent study says that it may have some potential use in a non-metabolic health condition: Long COVID.

Researchers found that people who were prescribed metformin shortly after testing positive for COVID-19 had a significantly lower risk of developing Long COVID than those prescribed other medications.

How Was The Study Conducted?

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The study, titled Metformin at the Time of COVID-19 Infection and Risk of Long COVID: A Target Trial Emulation Study, was published in the Journal of Medical Virology recently.

Researchers have been exploring metformin's antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, especially during the early stages of COVID-19 infection. They are specifically investigating if metformin could reduce the risk of Long COVID if taken soon after contracting the infection.

The researchers examined health records of more than 21 million people from the US National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C). They identified adults who had tested positive for COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2023. They compared two groups:

Metformin group: People who received a new prescription for metformin within six days of their documented COVID-19 infection.

Comparison group: People who received prescriptions for other medications, including fluvoxamine, fluticasone, ivermectin or montelukast, during the same period.

The researchers excluded people who were already taking metformin or had conditions like diabetes, PCOS or gestational diabetes that could explain why they were prescribed the drug.

After statistical adjustments to make the groups more comparable, the researchers compared 248 people in each group. They then tracked the development of Long COVID or death over the following 180 days (six months).

Also read: Can Low-Dose Naltrexone Ease Long COVID Symptoms? New Study Examines The Evidence

Can Metformin Help Reduce The Risk Of Long COVID?

People who were prescribed metformin within six days of a COVID-19 infection had a 53% lower relative risk of Long COVID or death compared to those on other medications.

“Metformin prescription within the week following documented SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a 53% reduction in LC/D [long COVID or death] over 6 months in this primarily Omicron-infected sample,” wrote the authors, led by researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School.

The study found that the risk of Long COVID or death within six months was 4.0% in the metformin group as 10 out of 248 people developed symptoms.

In the comparison group, the number was 8.5% as 21 out of 248 people presented symptoms of Long COVID. Overall, the weighted chance of Long COVID or death in patients on metformin or control treatment within six days of diagnosis was 6.3%. The absolute difference between the two groups was 4.5 percentage points.

“These results are also consistent with a recent sequential target trial analysis in the United Kingdom that assessed metformin started within 90 days of infection, HR [hazard ratio] 0.36,” the authors wrote. “The replication of results in clinical trials is important for informing treatment guidelines.”

More About Long COVID

Long COVID refers to symptoms that occur after a SARS-CoV-2 infection and cannot be explained by another diagnosis.

Symptoms may include brain fog, fatigue, cognitive difficulties, breathlessness, sleep disturbances and problems with everyday activities. These symptoms may last for months or even years.

Research has also suggested that brain inflammation may persist even after the virus is no longer detectable.

Some people improve over time, while others experience prolonged illness that affects their ability to lead routine lives.

When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the conversation tends to centre on surgery, chemotherapy and targeted drugs. At She Takes Charge, a unique forum held in Delhi, eminent women oncologists turned to what comes with it: the fear, the diet confusion, the follow-ups, the return to work, and beyond just treating the cancer.

She Takes Charge brings leading women oncologists from across India onto one platform to improve breast cancer survivorship care. It extends the Take Charge campaign, launched by Novartis with Times Network in October 2025, which aims to help patients and their families advocate for themselves, hold informed discussions with their doctors and make the choices that are right for them. The campaign shifts the focus from survival alone to empowered living, with an emphasis on lowering the risk of recurrence while protecting quality of life. It reached around 90,000 people through its website last year.

The Delhi chapter, the first of the forum, was organised by Times Network and Novartis with the Hansa MedCell team, and was attended by oncologists in person and online. It is a pilot, meant to shape counselling toolkits for patients and paramedical staff around three themes: support, heal and empower.

In attendance were Dr Meenu Walia, Dr Pankaj Goyal, Dr Seema Singh, Dr Jyoti Wadhwa, Dr Priya Tiwari, Dr Saphalta Baghmar and Dr Kripa Bajaj. While, many joined virtually and included Dr Shalaka Joshi, Dr Shona Nag, Dr Jovita Martin and Dr Sailakshmi Dayana. Dr Priya Parmar, chief operating officer of the Indian Cancer Society in Delhi, who helped shape the Take Charge initiative, offered the patient perspective.

Information in her own language

“We need women to be armed with information,” Dr Parmar said, adding that it must come in a language the patient understands. She noted that a simple question such as “what should I eat” can hide something larger: a woman now living on dal, bhaat and aloo, and feeling guilty about what her illness has cost her family.

One size does not fit

Doctors suggested tailoring material by age, education and employment, and urged organisers to add economic status. Dr Dayana, a gynae-oncologist at Apollo Hyderabad, said women with a strong family history or a BRCA mutation need more intensive counselling, since they worry about what they may have passed on to their children. Others asked for separate content for women under 30, and for material that follows the treatment a patient is receiving.

Anticipate, then share the load

Moderating the support segment, Dr Walia said the aim is “treating the woman in totality.” She argued that side effects should be anticipated and managed early, with the whole treating team, including nurses and paramedical staff, ready to answer simple questions on food and nausea. One oncologist said the antiemetic section of the toolkit should reflect that a 2.5 mg dose of olanzapine, tested in a Tata Memorial randomised trial, had led to a change in NCCN guidelines.

Doctors also spoke of the burden on the treating oncologist. Patients in India often expect one doctor to explain the diagnosis, the treatment, the diet and the exercise, and some consultations run to an hour. Participants called for trained support staff and counsellors to share the work.

Video, volunteers and time alone

Doctors agreed that patients forget much of what they hear in the consulting room. Many now ask patients to record counselling sessions, and Dr Dayana said she wished for “a better and animated, a better edited video” to offer instead. Video was also seen as the way to reach women outside the metros, who may not see a specialist often. Dr Joshi described pre- and post-operative classes at her hospital, led by patient volunteers for almost a decade and now being converted into a QR code. Dr Baghmar urged oncologists to give each patient five to ten minutes alone, away from family members who often speak for her.

Myths on the plate

Diet drew the liveliest debate, with sugar, keto diets and boiled fruit coming up repeatedly. Dr Joshi’s advice was simple: “roti, sabzi, dal, rice is a kind of a square Indian meal that cannot go wrong.” Another oncologist said she sets no restrictions beyond avoiding food that is too spicy, too oily or cooked by someone whose hygiene is unknown. One doctor raised weight gain after treatment, noting that some patients on endocrine therapy ask about weight-loss injections. The advice was to check thyroid function and see an endocrinologist, not to give blanket advice.

On exercise, doctors favoured mild activity such as walking and yoga during treatment and strength work afterwards, always cleared by the treating oncologist. The group agreed to build evidence-based consensus documents on diet and sexual well-being.

Beyond the breast

Participants asked for content on contraception, pregnancy after treatment, genetic testing, screening for other cancers, breast prostheses, health insurance and caregivers, described by one doctor as a neglected pillar of cancer care. Doctors also flagged two issues that are often missed. Young women need counselling on preserving their eggs before chemotherapy, and some patients develop shoulder and spine problems after mastectomy that are mistaken for other pain. Follow-up testing was another gap: doctors said some clinicians still order routine chest X-rays, and the group wants a consensus on which scans are needed.

Novartis demonstrated two tools: an offline HTML tool for HR-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer that walks patients through a treatment plan, and a patient microsite that adds follow-ups and medication reminders to a phone calendar. Feedback from She Takes Charge will feed into a white paper.

Ahead of Diwali festivities, Delhi is once again battling its annual air pollution crisis. The city's air quality index (AQI) - which measures PM2.5, fine particulate matter, has crossed 500 in some regions, entering the "hazardous" category, raising health concerns for millions in the capital.

The effects of air pollution are not just limited to physical health. Apart from your lungs and heart, long-term exposure to toxic air can render you feeling anxious, stressed, demotivated and mentally fatigued.

The reason behind this is not one-fold. The worsening of mental health due to air pollution is a culmination of many factors.

From particulate matter triggering inflammation and negatively affecting the body’s stress response to restrictions on outdoor activities, disturbance in sleep and lack of physical activity, air pollution contributes to mental health burden in many ways.

Dr Varsha Viswanathan, psychiatrist at Athulya Senior Care and Athulya Geriatric Care Hospital, Chennai, told HealthandMe that particulate matter in polluted air can enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammatory responses.

She explained, “This may lead to oxidative stress and affect brain functions involved in mood regulation, attention, memory and emotional processing. Over time, these changes may contribute to increased irritability, mood disturbances and difficulty managing emotional responses.”

Air Pollution & Stress

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PM2.5, consists of tiny airborne particles that can penetrate into the lungs. Some can even enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation and oxidative stress. These effects may also affect the brain and its functions.

Cortisol is a hormone related to the body’s response to stress. Changes in stress regulation due to pollution may make it harder for some individuals to manage everyday challenges. Dr Viswanathan explains that air pollution may also affect the body’s stress-response system.

“Repeated exposure to environmental pollutants can affect the regulation of stress hormones such as cortisol. This may increase physiological stress and contribute to symptoms such as restlessness, heightened alertness, difficulty relaxing and persistent feelings of tension,” she says.

Air Pollution & Anxiety

Also read: Air Pollution In Delhi: Experts Warn Of Red Eyes, Itching, Watering In Children

Apart from stress, living in highly polluted cities can also cause one to feel constantly uncomfortable, uncertain and anxious. Kakul Faruqi, Senior Consultant Psychologist at LH Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, told HealthandMe that pollution can become a source of fear and withdrawal.

She said that someone who is prone to anxiety, breathing difficulty may be interpreted as a sign of immediate danger, which could trigger further fear and distress.

“Psychologically speaking, pollution can be a source of discomfort, fear and withdrawal. A coughing fit, trouble breathing and insomnia can exhaust an individual, making it more difficult for him or her to cope with daily stresses. An individual who is susceptible to panic attacks can experience fear and negative interpretations of physical symptoms due to trouble breathing,” Faruqi explains.

She also said that repeated exposure can also make the threat feel inescapable. Faruqi says that when individuals perceive pollution as a problem beyond their control, the resulting uncertainty can become extremely overwhelming.

Lack Of Outdoor Time May Contribute To Depression

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Faruqi explains that pollution can make it harder to engage in behaviours that support psychological health.

When pollution levels are high, people normally avoid spending time outside socialising, exercising, walking, and spending time in green spaces. These activities often provide opportunities for physical movement, social connection and relaxation. Missing out on these activities can affect one emotional and mental well-being.

“The reduction in outlets for relaxation, in addition to experiencing feelings of loneliness and frustration, can lead to depression,” she says.

Dr Viswanathan also highlights how poor air quality can disrupt sleep, physical activity and normal social routines, which could further worsen mental well-being.

“Inadequate sleep and reduced physical activity can, in turn, affect emotional regulation, concentration and the ability to cope with everyday stress,” she says.

How To Protect Your Mental Health When AQI Is High?

When AQI is high, it is important to reduce exposure but at the same time, maintaining routines that help psychological well-being is also important. Faruqi recommends checking air quality in one’s locality, adjusting exercise habits accordingly and making an effort to preserve sleep and social interaction.

Some practical measures include:

• Adjust outdoor activities: Check local air quality levels and move exercise indoors when pollution is high. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during severe pollution.

• Maintain physical activity: Indoor exercise can help preserve movement and routine when outdoor conditions are unsuitable.

• Protect sleep: Maintain regular sleep and wake times, and reduce indoor pollution where possible.

• Stay socially connected: Continue interacting with friends and family, even when outdoor meetings are difficult.

• Limit repeated pollution checking: Stay informed through reliable sources, but avoid continuously monitoring pollution levels without taking practical steps to reduce exposure.

• Seek professional support: Constant anxiety, depressive symptoms or difficulty carrying out everyday activities should not be ignored.

Faruqi advises that “if one experiences persisting anxiety, depression, or impairment in functioning, a visit to a mental health professional would be advisable.”