
(Credit-Canva)
With the extra busy schedules people have these days, fitness tracking apps have helped many people time and track their exercise time, calories burnt and the time taken to do so. These apps also remind us to drink water, not exceed our calorie limits for the day, as well as keep exercising. However, sometimes these devices can have an adverse impact on our health. Instead of making us feel better, they can make us feel anxious or stressed. This generally happens when we become too focused on the numbers and start to worry if they aren't perfect. It's important to understand that while these trackers can be helpful, they shouldn't control our mood or make us feel bad about ourselves.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association also found that people with heart problems who used trackers were more worried about their symptoms. With so many people using these devices, it's becoming a common problem. 20% of wearable users felt anxious and always contacted their doctors when they received an irregular rhythm notification. They also found that these devices meant increased monitoring and worrying, higher usage of AFib (atrial fibrillation) specific health care etc. These findings suggest that while wearables can help patients monitor their AFib, they may also lead to increased anxiety and health care use. More research is needed to fully understand the effects of these devices on patients, doctors, and the health care system.
We can become too focused on achieving certain goals, like a certain number of steps or a perfect sleep score. This can lead to stress and anxiety when we don't meet those goals, instead of simply using the information to support a healthy lifestyle.
If your happiness or sadness depends on the numbers your fitness tracker shows, it's a sign you might need a break. Getting a low score can make you feel like you've failed, even if you've been making healthy choices. It's normal to feel a little disappointed when you don't reach a goal, but your overall mood shouldn't be affected. If you notice that your mood changes a lot based on your tracker's data, it might be time to step away from it for a while.
If you find yourself constantly searching online to understand what your tracker's data means, it's a warning sign. Trying to interpret every number can lead to more worry and confusion. You might start to believe you have health problems that don't exist. It's important to remember that these trackers are tools, not medical professionals. Spending too much time trying to decode the data can increase your anxiety instead of helping you.
If you feel nervous or anxious when you forget your tracker or it's not working, you might be too dependent on it. You should be able to feel comfortable and relaxed without constant data. If you feel panicky when you can't see your numbers, it's a sign you need to learn to be okay without them. You should be able to trust your body's signals instead of relying only on the tracker.
If you rely only on your tracker and ignore what your body is telling you, it's a problem. Your body's signals are important. For example, you might feel well-rested, but if your tracker says your sleep quality is low, you might start to doubt yourself. It's important to listen to your body and not just the numbers. Your body knows when it's tired, hungry, or needs rest. The tracker is a tool to support your health, not replace your body’s signals.
Credit: The Howard Stern Show/ Youtube
American radio personality Robin Quivers has announced being free of cancer after a 14-year journey battling the deadly disease.
Quivers, 73 — who has co-hosted The Howard Stern Show for over 40 years — first announced in 2012 that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 endometrial cancer.
She immediately underwent surgery, numerous rounds of chemotherapy, and radiation to treat the disease. After four years of remission, it returned in 2016.
Now, nearly 10 years later, Quivers is once again “cancer-free.” The radio personality shared the good news during the radio show, The Independent reported.
“Robin kicked cancer’s ass. They said it couldn’t be done,” Stern, 72, declared, calling it “a miracle.”
He recalled the moment Quivers called him with the news, saying, “I couldn’t believe it. And really, I’ve said this to Robin privately, but I would like to say it on the air. Like this is really a miracle.
“I’m gonna say this because this is really true. I’ve watched the whole thing. She took charge of her health. She started to do all the right things. She never deviated, and she really took it seriously.”
Stern and Quivers, who began their radio careers as newscasters at WIOO in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, have been together since 1981.
Also read: Ozempic-Like Weight-Loss Drugs May Cut Breast Cancer Risk By A Third, Finds Research
Endometrial cancer begins in the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus. Most uterine cancers are endometrial cancer. If untreated, it can spread to nearby organs such as the bladder, rectum, or more distant organs through the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
The endometrium is highly sensitive to hormonal changes, particularly the balance between estrogen and progesterone. When the body is exposed to excess estrogen without adequate progesterone, the endometrial lining grows excessively. Over time, this prolonged stimulation leads to abnormal cell changes and increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer or uterine cancer.
Dr Fahad Afzal, Consultant Oncologist at Saifee Hospital, told HealthandMe that obesity, PCOS, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome can contribute to hormonal imbalance and lead to endometrial cancer.
"Obesity is one of the most significant risk factors because excess body fat increases estrogen production. Women who are obese therefore have higher levels of estrogen, which stimulates the uterine lining,” the expert said.
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According to World Health Organization data, its incidence is steadily rising, particularly in urban populations where lifestyle changes are more pronounced.”
Dr Smit Sheth, cancer physician at MOC Cancer Care & Research Centre, Mulund, said, “Hormones play a crucial role in a woman’s reproductive health, but when they fall out of balance, they can also increase the risk of certain cancers, including endometrial cancer".
The good news is that endometrial cancer typically grows slowly and is often detected early through regular gynecological exams.
Warning signs that should never be overlooked include
Simple lifestyle changes, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, a balanced diet, managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, and timely medical check-ups can significantly reduce risk.
Credit: iStock
For years, moderate alcohol consumption, particularly a daily glass of wine, has been associated with potential health benefits, especially for heart health. However, in recent years, a growing body of research, including warnings from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies, has highlighted that alcohol poses significant health risks from the very first drink.
A recent expert review published in the Journal of Hepatology reiterated this concern, concluding that there is no universally safe level of alcohol consumption.
After examining recent evidence on alcohol use and health outcomes, researchers from the University of Wisconsin concluded that excessive alcohol consumption is unquestionably harmful and that defining a universally "safe" level of drinking remains unsupported by current scientific evidence.
According to the authors, the health risks associated with alcohol vary considerably from person to person. Factors such as age, sex, genetics, underlying medical conditions, medications, and pregnancy status can all influence how alcohol affects an individual's health.
Also read: 844 Million Adults Worldwide Living With Chronic Kidney Disease: Lancet Study
The researchers also questioned the long-standing belief that moderate drinking provides significant cardiovascular benefits.
They found that recent evidence does not support recommending regular alcohol consumption for health purposes. Instead, the review suggests that any potential benefits must be weighed against known risks, including cancer, liver disease, and other alcohol-related harms.
The review adds to a growing body of evidence linking alcohol consumption to an increased risk of several cancers.
A May 2026 study linked alcohol to 62 disorders, ranging from heart and digestive diseases to mental and neurological conditions and cancers.
The study, published in the journal Addiction, showed that the fully alcohol-attributable conditions are mainly grouped under non-communicable diseases and injuries.
These include:
The data also included psychotic disorders, gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis, fatty liver disease, pregnancy- and perinatal-related conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, as well as external causes and injuries, including alcohol poisoning.
"These conditions are 100 per cent alcohol attributable, meaning these diseases would not even exist in the world without alcohol use," said Jürgen Rehm, senior scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research in Toronto and part of the study team, according to CNN.
"There are another 30 diseases in which alcohol plays a role, such as breast and other cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia," Rehm said. "These diseases would exist even without alcohol use, but alcohol use is responsible for a certain proportion of them."
The global burden of alcohol-related health issues is immense. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimated that alcohol-related conditions could cost the United States nearly $1.87 trillion between 2011 and 2050, equivalent to about 1.45 per cent of the country's GDP. The NIH also criticized the lack of clear public messaging, which has allowed myths about alcohol's safety to persist for decades.
In 2023, the World Health Organization reinforced this warning. In a statement published in The Lancet Public Health, it declared that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption that does not affect health.
Credit: AI generated image
While GLP-1 drugs have shown their effectiveness in reducing weight and managing diabetes, new research suggests they may also help reduce the risk of cancer, particularly breast cancer.
According to a new study by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, US, women between the ages of 45 and 80 who took a GLP-1 medication were 30 per cent less likely to develop breast cancer. The analysis was based on data from more than 110,000 women.
"While the study does not definitively confirm an association between GLP-1 medications and reduced breast cancer incidence, it does add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that it's worth investigating these weight-loss drugs as potential cancer prevention tools," the researchers said.
"GLP-1 medications are intriguing from a cancer research perspective because they weren't designed for cancer therapy, but they do affect many different targets and pathways associated with cancer development, so we're eager to study them in this context," said Elizabeth McDonald, Professor of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.
The findings were presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago and were also published in JCO Oncology Practice.
Also read: I’m Cancer-Free After 14 Years, Says Robin Quivers
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality among women worldwide and the most common cancer diagnosed overall, accounting for approximately 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Every year, breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases in US women.
Beyond breast cancer screening through mammography or MRI, medical or surgical interventions to reduce breast cancer risk remain limited and can be life-altering.
Prophylactic mastectomy is recommended for some individuals with genetic mutations that significantly increase their lifetime risk of breast cancer. Tamoxifen is also highly effective in reducing breast cancer incidence among high-risk patients, but its uptake remains limited because of known side effects. In contrast, GLP-1 medications are already widely used by millions of Americans.
"Ultimately, we want to find better options to prevent breast cancer," McDonald said. "It's been encouraging to see the survival rates for breast cancer improve over recent decades, and we'd love to see the same gains in prevention."
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Another study by researchers at the Cleveland Clinic suggested that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications may help slow the spread of several obesity-related cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal and liver cancers.
The researchers found that across six of the seven malignancies studied, GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure was associated with reduced metastatic progression, with significant reductions observed in non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma.
The study included 12,112 patients with obesity-related cancers ranging from stage 1 to stage 3. Half of the participants began taking a GLP-1 medication after their cancer diagnosis, while the remaining participants were treated with DPP-4 inhibitors, commonly known as "gliptins", a different class of diabetes medications.
The comparison showed that patients who took GLP-1 medications had a substantially lower progression to stage 4 disease across four cancer types.
"Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs, compared to DPP-4 inhibitors and other antidiabetic drugs, was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across four solid tumor types," said study author Mark David Orland from the Taussig Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic.
Read: Can Wegovy Improve Survival In Breast Cancer Patients? This Study Suggests It Could
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer can help ensure a prompt diagnosis. Breast cancer can cause a wide array of symptoms, including:
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