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.

In the wake of a young doctor from Chandigarh accusing a well-known private hospital of unnecessarily admitting patients to Intensive Care Units (ICUs), it is imperative to understand who truly requires critical care.

In a widely shared video posted on the social media platform Instagram, Dr Prabhleen Kaur alleged that the hospital is making the patients remain admitted in the ICU for as long as possible to mint money.

The doctor did not mention the name of the hospital. And HealthandMe could not independently verify the details and the authenticity of the post.

However, the incident reignited concerns over accountability, patient safety, and standards of care in the country.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Sachna Shetty, Consultant Emergency Medicine at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, said that: "ICU admissions are for patients with life-threatening conditions needing intensive support".

"This includes shock, respiratory failure, neurological emergencies, cardiac issues, and multi-organ dysfunction," the doctor added.

What Is ICU? Who Needs Critical Care?

The NHS UK explains that intensive care units (ICUs) are specialist hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for people who are very ill.

They're staffed with specially trained healthcare professionals and contain sophisticated monitoring equipment.

Also called critical care units (CCUs) or intensive therapy units (ITUs), it is required in cases where a person is seriously ill and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring.

Most people in an ICU have problems with one or more organs. For example, they may be unable to breathe on their own. Some common reasons include:

• a serious accident
• a serious short-term condition
• a serious infection
• a major surgery.

"ICU beds are limited, reserved for those who'll benefit most. Decisions are time-sensitive, based on triage and clinical scoring. It's about who needs advanced life support, not just who looks critical. Fair use of resources is key," the doctor added.

ICU Admissions: What India’s Guidelines Say

India’s ICU admission guidelines—issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in January 2024 — clearly defines who should and should not be admitted to an ICU. According to the guidelines:

• ICU admissions must be based on the severity of organ failure and the necessity for organ support or in anticipation of a potential deterioration in the patient's medical condition.
• Hospitals cannot admit critically ill patients in ICU in case of refusal by them and their relatives.
• ICU is not recommended in cases where there is no treatment possible or available, and if the continuation of therapy is not going to make an impact on the outcome, especially survival.
• Anyone with a living will or advanced directive against ICU care should not be admitted to ICU.
• Low priority criteria in case of a pandemic or disaster situation, where there is resource limitation, should be taken into account for keeping a patient in the ICU.
• Blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, breathing pattern, heart rate, oxygen saturation, urine output and neurological status among other parameters should be monitored in a patient awaiting an ICU bed

1. patients with altered level of consciousness,
2. hemodynamic instability,
3. need for respiratory support,
4. patients with acute illness requiring intensive monitoring
5. organ support or any medical condition or disease with anticipation of deterioration.

Guidelines For ICU Discharge Criteria In India

The guidelines stress the importance of physiological parameters returning to near-normal or baseline status.

Furthermore, reasonable resolution and stability of the acute illness that led to ICU admission are essential factors.

Patient and family agreement for ICU discharge, particularly in cases where a treatment-limiting decision or palliative care is opted for, is also highlighted.

Modern lifestyle changes are contributing towards the rising neurological problems among young adults, said health experts today on World Health Day 2026.

World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to mark the founding day of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 for public health worldwide. World Health Day 2026 will be observed under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.”

The health experts noted that conditions such as recurrent headaches, mild weakness, strokes, and spine disorders were traditionally more common among older adults. However, modern lifestyle changes—sedentary habits, unhealthy diets, chronic stress, and increased screen time—are now driving a surge of these neurological problems among younger populations.

“The surge in neurological conditions today is not just a clinical challenge, but a reflection of how rapidly our lifestyles are evolving. We are seeing younger patients presenting with serious issues like stroke and spine disorders, conditions that were once more age-associated. This shift makes it imperative to recognize that neurological health is closely linked to everyday habits, stress, and timely medical attention,” Dr. Gaurav Sharma, Senior Consultant - Neurology, Paras Health Panchkula, told HealthandMe.

Neurological Disorders: Silent Onset

The health experts emphasized that the threat of neurological disorders is surging silently. The conditions, ranging from recurrent headaches and mild weakness to strokes and spine disorders, often show no noticeable symptoms in the early stage.

As a result, these go unnoticed until advanced stages, which makes the role of early detection and preventive care more crucial.

“Neurological disorders often progress silently, and by the time symptoms become severe, the condition may already be advanced. One of the biggest challenges we face today is the lack of awareness around subtle early signs, whether it is recurrent headaches, mild weakness, or persistent back issues, which are frequently overlooked or ignored,” Dr. Ritu Jha, Director & HOD - Neurology, Sarvodaya Hospital Sector -8, Faridabad, told HealthandMe.

Health specialists stressed the need to boost early detection, preventive care, and lifestyle modifications to protect brain and nerve health.

They called for changing the mindset from reactive to proactive care. Early identification of symptoms and prompt intervention can dramatically alter outcomes. They recommended:

• timely check-ups,
• awareness of warning signs,
• regular exercise,
• balanced nutrition,
• stress management.

Advancement In Neurological Care

With the progress in precision-driven and minimally invasive neurosurgery, we are now better equipped than ever to treat complex conditions effectively, provided patients seek care at the right time.

“Today’s advanced surgical techniques allow us to operate with greater accuracy while minimizing trauma to the patient, leading to faster recovery and improved long-term outcomes. Bridging the gap between symptom onset and specialist consultation will be key to reducing the overall burden of these conditions,” Dr. Jha said.

Over 7% Indians Engaging In Healthy Aging

A nationwide survey conducted by Local Circles, a Delhi-based community platform and citizen pulse aggregator, for World Health Day 2026, found that more than 7.3 percent of Indians are actively working on slowing aging.

The report showed that preventive healthcare has gained importance, and people are increasingly indulging in healthy practices such as lifestyle, diet, exercise, supplements, and therapy to ensure healthier, more active years.

It noted that fitness trends such as yoga, strength training, and regular physical activity, along with balanced diets rich in antioxidants, are widely promoted to maintain physical health and vitality.

Mental well-being practices, including meditation and stress management, are also being recognized as essential components of healthy aging.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, on the occasion of World Health Day 2026, reaffirmed his commitment to building a healthier society and nation.

The Prime Minister also extended gratitude to all healthcare workers for their tireless service to the public health.

He also urged citizens to work together to strengthen healthcare systems and prioritize the well-being of every individual.

“On World Health Day, we express our gratitude to all those who dedicate themselves tirelessly to the service of others and work towards a healthier planet,” PM Modi said in a post on the social media platform X.

“We also reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier society. Let us all keep working together to strengthen healthcare systems and prioritise the well-being of every individual,” he added.

The Ministry of Health also advised people not to ignore signs given by the body, such as

• Fatigue.
• Stress.
• Poor sleep.
• Dehydration.

Health Is Wealth

Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted India’s approach to healthcare, which combines “age-old wisdom with modern science, helping improve lives not just at home but across the world”.

Citing government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, Nadda stated that the “strengthened healthcare system (is) making quality treatment more accessible, affordable, and inclusive for every citizen”.

The Health Minister also expressed "heartfelt gratitude to all doctors, nurses, and frontline workers whose dedication keeps our healthcare system strong. Let us all work together towards building a healthier and stronger nation”.

Meanwhile, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urged citizens to make investments for their health.

Calling health "the ultimate wealth”, he said: “This #WorldHealthDay, I urge everyone to take a little more time for themselves”.

The Minister also urged people to “move more, eat better, and prioritize well-being. Let’s also encourage every member of our family to stay fit by making healthier choices together as a family. A healthy Bharat begins at home”.

World Health Day 2026

World Health Day is observed annually on April 7 to mark the founding day of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 for public health worldwide.

World Health Day 2026 will be observed under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.” It highlights the role of the WHO in promoting public health, which has led to improvements in the global maternal mortality rate, falling by more than 40 percent since 2000, and a reduction of over 50 percent in deaths among children under five.

The WHO stated that science was behind every health progress, which led to improvements in global health and lives. This includes the development of

• anesthesia
• safer medicines and affordable vaccination
• screening technologies, such as electronic blood pressure monitors and mammography tools.

“Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

“People in every country live longer and healthier lives on average today than their ancestors did, thanks to the power of science. Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines, and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people,” he added.

The WHO emphasized that science must continue to guide health decision-making at all levels.