How often do you hear people calling each other "psychopath"? Or how often do you witness people labelling themselves as "bipolar" or "depressed"? Quite frequently. Right? These are names of some serious, often life-threatening mental disorders which have been included in common vocabulary. Ayushi Jolly, a PhD scholar opined that "mental health disorders are not adjective to be thrown around."

Real Disorders With Real Affect On Life

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Today, many people who are organized and prioritize santitation and hygeine, label themselves as suffering from OCD. However, in psychology, OCD is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviours (compulsions), or both. This condition can significantly impair daily functioning, leading to severe anxiety and distress. Without proper treatment, it can escalate, affecting relationships, work, and overall quality of life.

Depression

"I am so depressed, I act like it's my birthday everyday," these are lyrics from a chart-topping Taylor Swift song. However, the singer-songwriter has never been diagnosed for the same. Similarly, people throw away the term even at the slightest discomfort. But, this mental health disorder is life-thretening, serious mood disorder. It causes severe symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. Note, to be diagnosed with depression, the symptoms must be present for at least 2 weeks.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Any person who is high on energy and gets distracted easily could be heard saying "I'm suffering from ADD." In reality, ADD is a type of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that's characterized by problems with concentration and focus. ADHD is a developmental disorder that can affect a person's daily life, including their ability to perform at school or work and their social relationships.

Bipolar Personality Disorder

Broke up with your partner? Chances are you'll end up calling them bipolar. The terms has also been used in various films and songs, sans the knowledge of it's seriousness. Formerly known as manic-depressive illness or manic depression, this condition is a lifelong mood disorder that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, thinking patterns and behavior. A person suffering from this disorder witnesses intense shifts in mood, energy levels, thinking patterns and behavior, for long periods of time.

Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)

Being "paranoid" has become more like a negative adjective among teens and young adults. However, a person who suffers from this condition is incapable of maintaining succesful relationahips. Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) is a group of personality disorders categorised under "Cluster A". A person with PPD thinks in odd or eccentric ways, and suffers from unrelenting mistrust or suspicion of others, even when there is no reason to be suspicious. This disorder usually begins in early adulthood and appears more common in men than women. People with PPD are always on guard, believing that others are constantly trying to demean, harm, or threaten them. People with this disorder also doubt the commitment, loyalty, or trustworthiness of others. PPD patients also might have difficulty relaxing.

Lifespan across the globe is increasing. More people are living to old age and spending more years in later life. This is a big societal achievement.

India, too, is witnessing this demographic shift. Life expectancy in India is expected to rise from about 72 years in 2023 to nearly 77 years by 2045, and it may reach 83 years by 2080. But the question here is whether this increased lifespan also translates into good health?

Even though people are living longer, the number of years they live in good health has not increased by the same amount.

People are now spending more years coping with health challenges that affect their independence, mobility, and quality of life. One of the key reasons behind this gap between lifespan and healthy years is the rising burden of chronic diseases in an ageing population.

How Ageing Increases Health Risks

Ageing is associated with a gradual deterioration of the immune system, a process called immunosenescence. As people enter their 50s, the body’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to bacteria and viruses decreases.

Its ability to produce antibodies reduces. It makes the body stay in a constantly inflamed condition, even in the absence of an infection.

This process is strongly linked to a higher risk of chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, or kidney disease.

These chronic conditions further weaken the already weakening immune system of the ageing adults. This, in turn, makes older adults vulnerable to various vaccine-preventable infections such as flu, shingles, and their complications.

In this phase of life, even a routine illness like the flu may lead to hospitalization or serious complications such as pneumonia.

Shingles, which is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus and is far more likely to strike in older adults, can result in debilitating nerve pain that lasts for months.

The impact of these infections goes far beyond an individual’s physical suffering. When adults fall ill, the consequences extend to families and the broader healthcare system. There are medical bills, lost wages, caregiver responsibilities, and often a long road to recovery.

For older adults, infections can mean loss of independence or worsening of underlying health conditions.

At the system level, preventable hospitalizations lead to overcrowded facilities and diverted resources, putting additional strain on India’s already overburdened healthcare system.

Ageing society And Preventive Healthcare

India is shifting from being one of the world’s youngest societies to the world’s oldest.

It already has around 150 million older adults, making it the second-largest ageing population in the world. By 2047, this number is expected to double to nearly 300 million, and by 2067, India may have the largest population of older adults globally.

As this shift continues, protecting the health of ageing adults will become increasingly important for families, communities, and the healthcare system.

As life expectancy continues to rise, it is important to ensure that these added years are lived in good health.

Preventive healthcare measures such as balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and adequate sleep, along with timely vaccination, can help achieve healthy ageing.

Vaccination works by stimulating the immune system to recognize and fight infections more effectively.

As immunity naturally weakens with age, adult vaccination can help strengthen the body’s defences and maintain protection against certain preventable diseases.

Adults, especially those entering their 50s and beyond, should speak with their doctors about recommended vaccinations and take timely steps to stay protected. Proactive preventive care can play an important role in supporting healthier, more active years later in life.

Self-medication simply refers to the use of medicines without a prescription from a doctor. There are many reasons why individuals prefer to self-medicate, as it appears convenient.

For example, a person may choose to self-medicate for a headache using painkillers, take antibiotics for a fever, or anxiety pills due to high levels of stress.

Why More People Are Self-Medicating

Initially, self-medication will appear to be effective since pain is temporarily reduced. Nevertheless, the real problem lies in the dangers of self-medicating.

Though self-medication may provide relief to the patient temporarily, continuous usage of these medicines without the advice of a doctor will result in such health complications as chronic kidney disease, liver failure, stomach ulcers, as well as increase cardiovascular risks.

Ease of availability of medicines is the main reason why more people have started self-medication. Many individuals fail to visit doctors because of being too busy, believing that they can cure themselves of the illness, or fearing costs.

Nonetheless, constant usage of painkillers can negatively affect kidney function over time. Pain killers, which are not steroid-based anti-inflammatory medicines, limit the flow of blood in the body's kidneys and, therefore, prevent them from performing properly. According to recent research, excessive and long-term use of NSAID painkillers can significantly increase the risk of developing chronic kidney disease over time.

The Hidden Dangers Of Daily Painkiller Use

In the early stages, most people do not experience major symptoms. With time, people see noticeable signs such as swelling, fatigue, nausea, reduced urination, or high blood pressure appear; the kidney may already be affected.

People with diabetes, hypertension, or existing kidney problems are at an even greater risk. Another growing concern is that many people do not follow the right dosage while taking painkillers. Fast-paced lifestyles, work pressure, lack of sleep, and easy access to online medical information have encouraged more people to self-diagnose and self-medicate.

Dangers Of Social Media And Online Health Trends

Health experts also warn that social media and online health trends are making self-medication more common than before. Many people are increasingly relying on self-medication for quick relief. People use YouTube videos, websites, advice from bloggers, and home remedies proposed by famous personalities without verifying their validity and reliability regarding health concerns.

However, although the advice provided might seem innocent and insignificant, following this advice could make patients' conditions worse rather than better. Moreover, a remedy that helps an individual might not help someone else due to certain factors like age, existing illness, etc.

Doctors advise that medicines should never become a substitute for proper medical care. A few lifestyle modifications, like sleeping at the right time, eating properly, exercising, and managing stress, can go a long way in dealing with small health problems. Seeking professional advice before taking medicines regularly is important, especially for people with existing health conditions.

While self-medication may seem like an easy solution at the moment, its hidden consequences can become serious over time. What feels like a readily available solution right now could gradually turn out to be a serious medical concern in the future.

Many people carry the thalassemia gene without knowing it because they may not have any symptoms. A simple carrier screening test before pregnancy can help couples understand risks and make informed decisions while planning parenthood.

Importance of Genetic Screening

Parenthood planning today is not only about financial preparation or healthy lifestyle changes, but also about understanding genetic health risks that can impact the child’s future. And one such condition that tends to go unnoticed is thalassemia carrier status.

Did you know? Many individuals discover they are carriers only after facing difficulties during pregnancy or after the birth of a child with thalassemia major.

What Is Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that affects the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body. People who are carriers usually live normal and healthy lives and may not experience major symptoms. Because of this, many remain unaware of their carrier status for years.

However, it becomes a matter of concern when both partners are carriers of the thalassemia gene. In such cases, there is a huge risk that the child may inherit thalassemia major, a severe condition that may require lifelong blood transfusions, regular hospital visits, medications, and continuous medical care.

Why Thalassemia Often Goes Undetected

These are some of the challenges faced by families: So, challenges are that the thalassemia carrier status is often detected very late. Mild tiredness or anemia may be ignored or mistaken for iron deficiency, and many will not seek help.

So, couples do not consider genetic testing before marriage or pregnancy because they feel healthy and have no family history of the disease. When a child is born with thalassemia major, families may face stress, anxiety, repeated hospital visits, financial burden, and long-term treatment responsibilities. The condition can also affect the child’s growth, immunity, and overall quality of life.

The Need For Awareness And Early Action

This is why screening is important for couples: Carrier screening is a simple blood test that helps identify whether a person carries the thalassemia gene. If one partner tests positive, the other partner is advised to get tested as well.

Early screening before pregnancy helps couples understand their risks and explore available options with proper guidance. Thalassemia carrier screening is a small step that can make a major difference in parenthood planning.

Increasing awareness and encouraging timely testing can help families make informed decisions and reduce the burden of severe thalassemia in future generations. So, it is imperative to go for timely screening as advised by the expert and improve the quality of life.