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.

When we think of perimenopause, irregular periods, hot flashes and mood changes usually come to mind. But the transition to menopause is not limited to the menstrual cycle. Behind the scenes, changing ovarian hormones—particularly fluctuating and eventually declining estrogen—can influence body composition, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels, bone health and cardiovascular risk.

For many women, these metabolic changes begin years before their final menstrual period.

Why does weight suddenly behave differently?

A common concern during perimenopause is: “I haven’t changed my diet, so why am I gaining weight around my abdomen?”

Ageing itself contributes to gradual loss of muscle mass and changes in energy expenditure. At the same time, the menopausal transition is associated with a shift in fat distribution, with a greater tendency to accumulate visceral or abdominal fat.

This matters because visceral fat is metabolically active. An increase in abdominal fat can be associated with insulin resistance, abnormal cholesterol levels and a higher risk of metabolic disease. So, the change in waist circumference may sometimes tell us more about metabolic health than the number on the weighing scale alone.

Also read: After Menopause, These Breast Changes Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Blood sugars may raise up too

Estrogen interacts with several pathways involved in glucose and fat metabolism. During midlife, changes in body composition, reduced physical activity, sleep disturbance and hormonal changes can collectively make insulin sensitivity less favourable.

This does not mean every woman going through perimenopause will develop diabetes. However, women who already have risk factors—such as overweight or obesity, prediabetes, a history of gestational diabetes or a strong family history of type 2 diabetes—should be particularly mindful.

Cholesterol and heart health deserve attention

The menopausal transition can also be accompanied by unfavourable changes in the lipid profile, including changes in LDL cholesterol. Cardiovascular risk increases with age, and menopause is an important time to reassess risk factors such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, smoking, physical activity and body composition.

Women often spend years focusing on reproductive health while overlooking these equally important metabolic markers.

Also read: World Menopause Day: Is It Empty Nest Syndrome Or Menopause Symptoms? Expert Explains

Muscles and bones need attention as well

Midlife is also an important period for protecting muscle and bone. Declining estrogen after menopause accelerates bone loss, while ageing contributes to loss of muscle mass.

Resistance training therefore becomes especially valuable. Adequate protein intake, regular weight-bearing exercise, sufficient calcium and vitamin D, good sleep and avoiding smoking can support healthier ageing.

What should women do?

Perimenopause should not be viewed as a disease, nor should every symptom or kilogram gained in midlife automatically be blamed on hormones. Instead, it is an opportunity for a metabolic health check.

Women should discuss appropriate screening for blood pressure, blood glucose or HbA1c, lipid profile, weight and waist circumference monitoring , DEXA scan for bone health, depending on their individual risk factors.

Most importantly, don’t wait for menopause to start thinking about metabolic health. The perimenopausal years can be an important window to build muscle, improve fitness, optimise nutrition and identify metabolic risk early.

Perimenopause is more than a change in periods—it is a transition in whole-body health. Understanding these changes early can help women enter the next phase of life stronger, healthier and better prepared.

(By Dr. Seema Daksh, MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Endocrinology), Consultant Endocrinologist,Kailash Hospital, Greater Noida)

From haunted houses and sudden scares to sweet treats and costumes, Halloween fun can come with hidden health risks, particularly for people with existing heart and lung conditions.

Experts explain how sudden fright, excessive sugar and common activities on Halloween, observed on October 31, can affect heart and lung health.

How Sudden Scares Can Affect Your Heart

A sudden scare activates the body's sympathetic nervous system, raising heart rate and blood pressure while constricting blood vessels.

This response is usually harmless in healthy people, but may pose risks for those with arrhythmias, coronary artery disease or a history of stents or heart surgery.

A racing heartbeat should settle after the scare. Persistent palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, nausea, sweating or fainting warrant medical attention, says Dr Mohamed Gabr, cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Baylor College of Medicine.

In addition, excessive consumption of sugar candies during Halloween can contribute to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Cholesterol and plaque buildup in the coronary arteries can begin at a young age.

Also read: You Feel Healthy. But Plaque May Already Be Building In Your Arteries In Your 20s

Halloween Activities That Can Trigger Asthma

Halloween activities can expose people with asthma to several triggers. Ragweed pollen, mould on damp fallen leaves and cold, dry air can worsen symptoms during autumn, according to the American Lung Association.

Fog machines and dry ice effects in haunted houses can release water droplets and chemicals, including glycol-based solvents, that may irritate airways. Glitter machines, bonfire smoke, dust from stored costumes and decorations, and strong fragrances can also trigger symptoms.

Dr Rubabin Tooba, a pulmonologist with Northwestern Medicine, says these exposures may cause coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness, particularly in people with asthma, severe allergies or COPD. Tight-fitting masks can also make breathing difficult.

Fear, excitement and laughter may trigger asthma symptoms in some people. Trick-or-treating can bring additional exposure to pet dander, scented candles, cigarette smoke and fireplace fumes.

Pumpkin Carving And Halloween Injuries

Read More: Why Are Asthma Cases Rising Among Young Kids? Early Symptoms Parents Must Not Ignore

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in US emergency departments over a recent three-year period.

Pumpkin carving accounted for 55% of these injuries, while 25% were related to falls while putting up decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating. The remaining 20% involved lacerations, ingestions, allergic reactions and other costume- or decoration-related injuries.

Children younger than 18 years accounted for 46% of injuries, with approximately 10% occurring in children aged 6 years or younger.

The Plastic Hand Trauma Unit at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has also treated patients with deep cuts, severed tendons and nerve damage from pumpkin carving, BBC reported.

How Can You Stay Safe This Halloween

• Protect your heart: Be mindful of sudden scares if you have an existing heart condition. Seek medical attention for persistent palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness or fainting.

• Moderate candy: Limit sugary treats and consider fruit alternatives.

• Avoid asthma triggers: Ask about fog effects at haunted attractions and leave if you experience breathing discomfort.

• Check costumes and decorations: Clean stored items before use and discard anything with mould or a musty smell. Choose breathable, open-face masks.

• Use makeup carefully: Choose fragrance-free or hypoallergenic products and apply them in well-ventilated spaces.

• Carry asthma medication: Keep your prescribed quick-relief inhaler and spacer handy. Watch for coughing, wheezing or chest tightness, and take breaks when needed.

• Reduce infection risks: Practise good hand hygiene, stay home when sick and keep vaccinations up to date.

• Carve pumpkins safely: Avoid kitchen knives. Use pumpkin-carving kits with serrated tools and make small, controlled cuts.

When women suffer from interrupted sleep, continuous discomfort or mood swings during mid-life, saying “it’s just the aging” must not conclude the conversation. It is true that menopause is a physiological condition, but when there are concerns that disrupt day-to-day activities, these have to be sorted out. This is key to improving the healthcare experience for women.

Midlife healthcare issues must have a place within India’s healthcare debate right along with menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth. Women need knowledge, support, and care around menopause.

The Impact Extends Beyond Hot Flushes

Menopause is usually diagnosed once a woman goes for an entire year without a period, with no other causes involved. However, symptoms of menopause can become evident much earlier during the stage of perimenopause, long before the end of the periods.

These include insomnia, anxiety, difficulties with concentration, vaginal dryness, bladder problems, and pain in the joints that can affect one’s social life, work, and self-esteem. The experiences of women during their menopausal period can be very different since some women experience mild symptoms while others need medical help.

Also read: Times Network India Health Summit 2026 Key Takeaways: AI, Fertility, AYUSH, Cancer Care And More

Making Consultations More Useful

There is a need for creating an environment that will facilitate such questions, especially regarding painful intercourse, incontinence of urine and psychological status. During a good consultation, a history of menstruation, symptoms, medication being taken and other medical conditions must be discussed. There is also need to define what changes need evaluation.

Postmenopausal bleeding is always an indication for seeking medical care. The access to health services can be facilitated through dissemination of information in local languages and referral process.

Personalised Treatment, Not a Standard Prescription

There is no such thing as a single treatment for menopause that will be applicable to all women. Treatment includes lifestyle modification, counselling, administration of medications except hormones, and the use of vaginal or menopausal hormones.

While hormone therapy assists in easing certain symptoms, it is necessary to consider this treatment on an individual basis, taking into consideration advantages and disadvantages, as well as the health history of each person. It is vital that women are informed about different kinds of treatment methods and are able to decide on issues related to their health care.

Also read: Unspoken Side Of Breast Cancer: Experts Discuss Recurrence Risk, Emotional Toll & Societal Impact At Times Health Summit 2026

A Chance to Strengthen Preventive Healthcare

The other use of midlife appointments can be discussing bones, exercise, nutrition, high blood pressure, risk of getting diabetes, and associated tests. This should be a supplementary measure rather than a replacement for addressing symptoms.

The home and work environment can assist through being sympathetic to women receiving treatment without embarrassment. Involving menopause in the field of healthcare translates to valuing the quality of life as a significant health concern. It should never come to a point whereby a natural occurrence becomes a barrier for the accessibility of information.

By Dr. Priya Gupta, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Cocoon Hospital Jaipur