Stress is an unavoidable part of life, and while it often carries a negative connotation, it is actually a fundamental survival mechanism. When faced with a perceived threat, whether physical or emotional, the body instinctively reacts to protect itself. This automatic response is commonly known as the "fight, flight, or freeze" response. While it serves an essential function in dangerous situations, chronic activation of this response due to daily stressors can have significant consequences for mental and physical health.

The body’s response to stress is rooted in human evolution. When our ancestors encountered a predator, their nervous systems immediately prepared them to either confront the threat (fight), escape to safety (flight), or become still and unnoticed (freeze). While modern-day stressors may not include wild animals, our nervous system reacts similarly to job pressures, financial worries, or social conflicts.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, stress is the body's response to change, activating a physiological reaction that helps us adapt and protect ourselves. While short-term stress can be beneficial, prolonged exposure can lead to an overactive stress response, negatively impacting overall well-being.

The Three Stress Responses: Fight, Flight, and Freeze

1. Fight

The fight response prepares the body for direct action. When triggered, the nervous system releases adrenaline, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension. While this reaction once helped early humans fend off predators, today it manifests as irritability, frustration, or aggression.

For instance, the employee who has experienced too much workload may work extremely long hours just to succeed. In short term, the action may produce good results but mostly ends in burnout, anxiety, and physical illness, for example, tension headache or digestion problems.

2. Fight

The flight response triggers an intense need to remove oneself from a stressful situation. Just as our ancestors would flee from danger, modern individuals may avoid conflict, quit jobs impulsively, or detach from relationships when overwhelmed.

Flight mode is linked with restlessness and anxiety. Individuals may have a sense of needing to get up and go-pacing, changing environments constantly, or avoiding tasks that seem too overwhelming. Someone with a flight response might have the desire to change jobs constantly, relocate constantly, or become reclusive in order to avoid perceived dangers.

3. Freeze

The freeze response occurs when the nervous system perceives a threat as too overwhelming to fight or flee. Rather than taking action, individuals shut down, feeling numb, disconnected, or paralyzed by fear.

Unlike fight or flight, which involve heightened activation, freeze mode slows down physiological functions. A person experiencing freeze mode may feel physically unable to move, struggle to make decisions, or find themselves dissociating from their emotions. This can manifest in situations such as public speaking anxiety, where someone might "blank out" or feel stuck in the moment.

What Happens in the Body During A Stressful Event?

When faced with a stressor, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activates, triggering physiological changes, including:

• Increased heart rate and breathing: The body pumps more oxygen to muscles and the brain in case action is needed.
• Muscle tension: The body prepares for movement, sometimes causing trembling or stiffness.
• Dilated pupils: Vision sharpens to detect potential threats.
• Dry mouth: Saliva production decreases as the body redirects energy to essential functions.
• Changes in skin tone: Blood flow is directed to vital organs, sometimes making the skin appear pale or flushed.

For those experiencing the freeze response, the body undergoes a different reaction, often reducing heart rate and causing physical immobility rather than heightened activation.

Strategies for Coping and Managing the Stress Response

While the stress response is necessary for survival, frequent activation due to daily stressors can take a toll on health. Recognizing your default response—whether fight, flight, or freeze—can help in developing effective coping mechanisms.

1. Moving to a Safe Space

If possible, changing your environment can help signal to your brain that the threat has passed. Stepping outside for fresh air, finding a quiet place, or distancing yourself from overwhelming stimuli can help regulate emotions.

2. Practicing Controlled Breathing

Deep, slow breathing can be used to counteract the stress response by engaging the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation. Techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing or the 4-7-8 method (inhale for four seconds, hold for seven, exhale for eight) can be particularly effective in calming the body.

3. Engaging in Physical Activity

This helps release pent-up energy and aids in the endorphin cascade, natural boosters for our mood.

4. Seeking Social Support

Relieving oneself from stress can come in many ways, but sharing it with trusted friends, a family member, or a good therapist will sure give that psychological boost of hope. Social support is an especially effective way of cushioning people against the stressors that they are subjected to in chronic forms.

When to Seek Professional Help

While occasional stress is normal, chronic activation of the fight, flight, or freeze response can indicate underlying mental health concerns, such as anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If stress is affecting daily life—leading to sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, or persistent feelings of fear—it may be time to consult a mental health professional.

India’s cell and gene therapy ecosystem is beginning to attract a different kind of attention that is driven not just by healthcare demand, but by proprietary science and platform-led innovation.

For investors, however, the larger story may not be the funding round itself. It may be the problem the company is trying to solve.

CAR-T therapies have transformed outcomes for several difficult-to-treat blood cancers globally. But despite strong initial responses, relapse remains one of the field’s biggest limitations. One reason is antigen escape, which means cancer cells can change the markers that therapies use to identify them, making them harder to detect over time.

In an analysis of 4,129 CAR-T treated patients, relapse remained a substantial issue after single-target therapy, with 42.1% of relapses associated with loss of the CD19 target itself. The finding points to a larger issue: precision may not be enough if therapies lose visibility over time.

The response increasingly appears to be a move toward multi-target and more durable platforms. A bispecific CAR-T platform designed to recognize more than one tumor marker, to reduce relapse is crucial.

The science itself is becoming increasingly platform-oriented. Beyond broader targeting, recent work explored why immune cells themselves lose effectiveness over time and identified pathways associated with stronger persistence and memory. While still early, the broader implication is that future therapies may need to be designed not only to attack disease, but also to remain active longer.

For India, that creates a larger opportunity. Historically, advanced therapies such as CAR-T have remained expensive and heavily dependent on technologies developed elsewhere. The aim is to significantly reduce treatment costs while building indigenous capabilities across design and manufacturing.

The shift matters because biotech investing is increasingly moving beyond services and generics toward intellectual property and platform science. The transition from bedside observations to translational platforms may be where the next phase of healthcare innovation and investment gets built.

Colon cancer, medically known as colorectal cancer, was historically typical for people aged 50 or older. However, in recent years, the cancer that forms in the tissues of the large intestine has been increasing in prevalence in young adults. As many as one in five colorectal cancer patients today falls into this younger age group.

Now, a study published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology shows that marathons, which are one of the most celebrated physical activities, may be increasing the risk of the disease.

What Did The Study Find?

The team at Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Virginia, US, initiated the study after observing multiple “ultramarathoners” present to their cancer center with advanced colorectal cancer.

To probe the link, they recruited 100 runners to undergo colonoscopies — the gold standard for screening and preventing colorectal cancer. The team then looked at runners ages 35 to 50, who had either completed at least five marathons or two ultramarathons (any runs of 50 kilometers or more).

Presenting the findings at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, Dr. Timothy Cannon, an oncologist at the Institute, stated that

• Nearly 50 per cent of the participants in the study had polyps, which can become cancerous,
• 15 per cent had advanced adenomas (noncancerous tumor) which are likely to become cancerous.

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Almost always, colon cancers start as small growths called polyps or precancerous lesions on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.

Moreover, the study found that the rate of advanced adenomas nearly tripled among the marathon runners, compared to the general population, at 4.5 -6 per cent.

How Does Ultra-running Spike Chance Of Developing Colon Cancer?

In general, running and other forms of exercise are known to reduce the risk of developing colon and other cancers. At the same time, exercise-induced gastrointestinal injury is also believed to be associated with reduced blood flow to the intestines during long-distance running.

Notably, to date there is no evidence that definitively shows running causes polyps.

The new study presents a correlation — an increasing relationship between long-distance running and advanced adenomas. It does not prove that running directly causes the adenomas.

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The new results suggest that “intensive long-distance running is a risk factor for advanced adenomas of the colon", said Dr. Timothy, in the paper. The team also called for "refining screening strategies" for marathon runners.

It is because runners put their bodies through a lot, which can raise the risk of chronic inflammation, enabling cancerous cells to grow.

Their high-caloric foods for immediate energy can slow down digestion and impact your overall colon health.

What is Colorectal Cancer

The American Cancer Society notes that colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. Colorectal cancer impacts around 1.9 million people every year, noted the World Health Organization (WHO) as per its 2022 data.

It is a disease of the large bowel and a type of cancer that originates from the rectum or colon. A person's colon, cecum, rectum, and anus make up the large intestine.

According to experts, if you are above 45 years of age or have high-risk factors, you need to take the initiative to be screened, as the symptoms appear late, impacting treatment outcomes.

The common red flags for colorectal cancer include:

• rectal bleeding,
• persistent abdominal discomfort,
• pain,
• a noticeable change in bowel habits.

From being a macho dude, Bruce Willis’ personality has changed to becoming more ‘tender’ even as the 71-year-old action hero continues to battle dementia, according to his daughter Rumer.

“I’m so grateful I get to go see him,” Rumer, 37, said during a podcast interview. “Even though it’s different now, I’m so grateful.”

“There’s a sweetness. He’s always been this kind of macho dude, and there’s like a — fragile is not the right word, but — just a tenderness that maybe being Bruce Willis might not have allowed him in a certain way,” she added.

Bruce Willis is continuing into his third year living with the condition.

In March 2022, Bruce Willis, the media legend who dominated Hollywood in his prime, was diagnosed with dementia, and since then, his family has been sharing their struggle with his diagnosis and how slowly it has been taking a toll on his health.

The following year, his diagnosis was confirmed as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which is a degenerative disease that slowly chips away at your motor skills, communication skills, etc. His wife, Emma Heming Willis, noted early signs were subtle changes in his speech, initially mistaken for a resurgence of his childhood stutter.

Rumer is the eldest daughter of Bruce and The Substance star Demi Moore, who were married from 1987 to 2000. The former couple also had Scout Willis, 34, and Tallulah, 32, together.

Although FTD is considered to be one of the rarest forms of dementia, Rumer said the disease is more “prevalent” than she realized.

“It’s wild to me. So many people come up to me now, and they say, ‘My uncle had FTD. My dad had this,” she said.

Bruce Willis Is Alive

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Earlier this year, in March, a hoax news of Bruce Willis’ death circulated. However, his representatives confirmed that the news is fabricated and that the actor is alive.

"He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. He's still alive and well. Stop believing what you see on the Internet," his official representative stated.

What Is Frontotemporal Dementia?

Frontotemporal dementia is a less prevalent type of dementia that mainly occurs in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It tends to affect behavior, personality, language, and movement more than memory, particularly in its initial stages.

In contrast to Alzheimer's, which generally strikes older individuals, FTD can hit at an earlier age—sometimes as young as 40. The symptoms can range from changes in personality, emotional flatness, or the inability to show empathy to impulsiveness, so it is especially hard for spouses and children to cope.

Frontotemporal Dementia: Symptoms

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The Mayo Clinic states that the symptoms of FTD vary depending on the most affected part of the brain. The progression is gradual but relentless.

Behavioral symptoms:

• Socially inappropriate behavior.
• Loss of empathy and sensitivity to others.
• Poor judgment and impulsivity.
• Apathy that can be mistaken for depression.
• Compulsive habits such as tapping, clapping, or repetitive lip-smacking.
• Decline in hygiene.
• Odd eating habits – from sudden sugar cravings to chewing on non-food items.

• Trouble understanding and producing speech.
• Difficulty finding the right words.
• Using vague terms like “it” instead of specific words.
• Simplified, telegraphic speech.
• Errors in building sentences.

• Tremors, stiffness, or muscle spasms.
• Difficulty swallowing or weakness.
• Poor balance leading to falls.
• Inappropriate emotional outbursts, such as laughing or crying.
• The “wide-based gait” noted by Dr. Gartner falls into this movement-related cluster, aligning with the suspicion of FTD.