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.

Many couples who consult a fertility specialist are advised to undergo Assisted Reproductive Techniques, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF). However, there are many myths linked to IVF regarding pain and injections. According to the experts, the procedure is more manageable and less painful than commonly believed. This article helps debunk myths surrounding IVF injections.

Dr. Sneha Sathe, Clinical Director & Fertility Specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Chembur, Mumbai and Dr. Anuranjita Pallavi, Consultant- Fertility & IVF Specialist, Motherhood Fertility & IVF , Kharghar, Navi Mumbai collectively listed some of the most common myths associated with the stigma surrounding IVF – whether it is painful, complicated, or even worth the financial investment.

Currently, many are opting for IVF, a process where eggs are collected from a woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then transferred into the uterus for conception. Couples may consider IVF for several reasons, such as blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, hormonal issues, age-related fertility decline, or unexplained infertility. For many, IVF becomes a go-to option, offering hope and a chance to start a family. However, despite its growing success, IVF is still surrounded by fear, especially when it comes to injections and pain. Social media, hearsay, and lack of awareness often make the process seem more difficult and can prevent couples from exploring it.

The IVF journey is different for each woman. IVF does involve medical procedures, but it is not as painful or overwhelming as people believe. One of the biggest concerns around IVF is the use of injections. These injections are given to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. While the idea of daily injections can be intimidating, most are administered using very fine needles and are relatively painless. Patients may feel slight discomfort, similar to a small prick, but it is usually manageable and short-lived.

Common IVF Myths Debunked

1. Myth: IVF injections cause extreme pain—IVF injections cause minimal discomfort, and women should not worry. Most patients experience mild and easy-to-manage pain, especially with guidance from an expert.
2. Myth: IVF is a very complicated and stressful process. While IVF consists of multiple steps, doctors guide patients throughout the journey. With proper counselling and support, the process becomes much smoother and less stressful for women.
3. Myth: IVF guarantees pregnancy in one cycle - IVF increases the chances of pregnancy but may not be successful on the first attempt. Success depends on factors such as age, health, and underlying fertility conditions. So, do not get disheartened if the first cycle fails. The first cycle provides a lot of information, and certain steps can be taken, along with changes made to the next attempt, in order to improve the chances of success.

Understanding the facts and debunking common myths can help reduce anxiety and build confidence in couples.

Couples often hesitate to opt for IVF due to the fear of injections and the assumption that the process will be extremely painful or emotionally exhausting. However, with advancements in fertility care today, IVF has become far more patient-friendly, safe, and comfortable than most people imagine. One of the biggest myths is that IVF injections are administered painfully multiple times throughout the day. In reality, most injections are scheduled and simple to administer, and many couples are even taught how to take them comfortably at home.

Another important aspect people often overlook is that IVF treatment today is highly personalised.

While some women may experience temporary bloating, mild cramps, mood changes, or fatigue due to hormonal medications, these symptoms are usually manageable and closely monitored by the facility team. Most women can continue their daily routine during treatment without any major challenges. Equally important are support, counselling, and clear communication with the fertility team, which help reduce anxiety and build confidence. It is necessary to understand that IVF is a step-by-step guided process designed to give couples hope and a better chance at parenthood. Hence, make sure to consult an expert, clear all doubts, and initiate IVF treatment as soon as possible to achieve the dream of pregnancy.

Everyone knows that when cancer is detected early, cure rates are far superior, side effects are much less, and treatment expenses are also less.

Diagnosis of cancer depends upon carrying out various tests and then their analysis to reach a conclusion.

How AI Supports Cancer Diagnosis

These tests are radiological, like Chest X-ray, CT scans, MRI, Mammography, etc., and in histopathology, analysis of tissue, be it a small biopsy, large specimen handling, or Frozen Section. AI is empowered with large data to suggest and analyze minute patterns that are difficult for a human mind to comprehend, supported by machine learning.

With the use of AI in the analysis of radiological data, it points out suspicious changes (data is fed into its memory), but they are not very clearly visible to the human eye. Hence, it alerts the radiologist to have a close look at that and enhances accuracy and reduces the chances. It is the radiologist who takes the final call because it has to be correlated with the patient’s clinical findings and other information from other investigations of the patient.

Early detection of breast cancer has received a big boost from the integration of AI in the analysis of mammography data. Similar applications are also used by pathologists when they are examining the tissues because the final diagnosis of cancer can be obtained on histopathology only.

Challenges In The Use Of AI

Use of AI is not without challenges: knowledge of proper tools and applications is critical. Results can not be relied upon blindly, and an expert is very critical of their analysis. Sometimes there may be an improper result that needs to be filtered out.

It's time to accept that AI is present and not the future, and we need to learn, adapt, and use it to the benefit of mankind. India is making great strides in AI, and many startups have also come up that are doing a great job.

The real strength of AI in the care of cancer mainly lies in its ability to support the doctors in making faster, sharper, and more well-informed decisions. It can also reduce delay in diagnostics, improve efficiency of screening, and help in detecting cancers at a stage where outcomes of treatment are much better.

Amid rising summer temperatures, along with pollution, eye specialists today warned that the heat and dust can add stress on the eyes, leading to dryness, allergies, infections, and irritation.

Delhi witnessed its first official heatwave day of the month on Tuesday, as scorching sunshine and dry winds pushed temperatures beyond 45°C across several parts of the city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that conditions are likely to worsen over the coming days, with temperatures expected to rise to nearly 46°C on May 20.

The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Delhi until May 25, cautioning residents about prolonged heatwaves and excessive heat conditions expected over six consecutive days.

Allergies, Dryness, and Infections Common In Summer

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Bhavatharini M, Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital, said that summer conditions can significantly impact eye health.

“Summer places added stress on the eyes, particularly in cities like New Delhi where heat, dust, and pollution are significant factors,” she said.

Dr. Bhavatharini explained that common concerns during the season include dryness caused by increased tear evaporation while

• watching screens,
• allergies triggered by environmental irritants,
• UV-related damage,
• infections linked to swimming in poorly maintained pools.

Dr. Kalpana R, Senior Consultant, Ophthalmology at SIMS Hospital, also warned of problems that affect the eyes during this season, such as

• allergies,
• dryness,
• seasonal infections,
• viral and bacterial infections,
• swimming pool infections,
• migraine headaches.

She stressed the importance of maintaining proper hydration and following a balanced, nutritious diet to support eye health during the hotter months.

How To Prevent Eye Health In Scorching Summers

Dr. Bhavatharini advised people to take simple preventive measures, such as wearing UV-protective sunglasses, staying well-hydrated, avoiding rubbing their eyes, and using protective goggles while swimming.

“Persistent redness, irritation, or blurred vision should not be ignored and warrants timely evaluation by your eye specialist,” she added.

Dr. Kalpana further recommended wearing protective eyewear outdoors to shield the eyes from harmful UV rays and glare.

People travelling on bikes should wear helmets with visors to reduce exposure to dust and pollution, while swimmers should use swimming goggles to prevent infections and injuries associated with pool water.

For allergies, she advised people not to rub their eyes even if they experience itching.

“Just as a home remedy, you can use an ice pack over the closed eyelids or splash cold water over the closed eyelids to get some immediate relief,” she told HealthandMe.

Avoid Self-Medication

The experts also warned against self-medication in case of eye infections.

“And for viral infections and bacterial infections, if you feel that you get a sticky discharge and redness, you must immediately go to an ophthalmologist and get it treated. Never use over-the-counter medicines for any of your infections,” Dr. Kalpana said.

She added that people with common cold symptoms should wear masks and avoid touching commonly used surfaces if they have signs of an eye infection, as infections can spread through secretions.