Walking is more than just a way to move from point A to point B—it may be a simple yet powerful way to boost your mental health. While it is constantly known to impact your physical well-being, research has found that it can also help you tackle depression. According to the study, adults walking 5,000 or more steps daily experienced fewer depression symptoms compared to those who walked less. Mental Health benefits increased with more steps. For instance, research participants, who walked over for at least 7,500 steps every day saw a 42% reduction in depression symptoms.

Interestingly, even a modest boost in daily steps made a difference. Adding just 1,000 extra steps daily was linked to a lower risk of depression. Another analysis from the same study highlighted that people who hit 7,000 steps or more each day were less likely to develop depression than those who walked less. Experts have said that walking may reliably reduce depression by measurable amounts while also potentially lowering the risk of developing depression.

For their research, experts reviewed data from 33 studies involving over 96,000 adults to explore the link between walking and reduced depression symptoms. The studies used wearable devices like pedometers and smartphones to measure participants' step counts, typically over a week. The meta-analysis found that walking not only reduced depression symptoms but also served as a practical, low-pressure alternative to structured exercise, especially for those who might find more intensive workouts intimidating.

However, the researchers acknowledged some limitations. People who walked more might already feel better, and the study didn’t explore other factors, such as the potential benefits of walking in nature or with others, which could further improve mood.

How Many Steps Should You Walk Everyday?

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A severe influenza A virus, commonly known as seasonal flu, may not only leave you coughing and feeling feverish, but also silently damage your heart, increasing the risk of heart attacks, according to a study.

A team of researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, US, unraveled that the influenza A virus directly damages the heart by hijacking immune cells. This leads to long-lasting cardiac dysfunction even after the lung infection is cleared.

The study, published in February 2026 in the journal Immunity, focused on an immune cell, known as pro-dendritic cell 3.

The researchers revealed that the pro-dendritic cell 3 acts as the ‘Trojan horse’ of the immune system during flu infection and carries the virus to the heart from the lungs.

Once in the heart, it produces large amounts of type 1 interferon and triggers the death of cardiomyocytes, impairing cardiac output.

Importantly, the findings showed that an annual flu vaccine can prevent damage to the heart.

“We have known for years that the frequency of heart attacks increases during flu season, yet outside of clinical intuition, scant evidence exists of the underlying mechanisms of that phenomenon,” said senior author Filip Swirski, Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Icahn.

“These findings offer great promise for the development of new therapies, which are desperately needed since there are currently no viable clinical options to prevent cardiac damage,” Swirski added.

What The Study Found

The team studied autopsies of 35 hospitalized patients who died of influenza. Of these, more than 85 percent had at least one significant cardiovascular comorbidity, such as hypertension. A majority of them also had multiple comorbidities, including atherosclerosis and cardiac fibrosis, underscoring cardiovascular disease as a major driver of influenza mortality.

The study also provided evidence that a cutting-edge modified mRNA treatment that dampens an interferon signaling pathway in the heart can significantly mitigate cardiac damage following viral infection while preserving the protective antiviral response of the immune system.

“The hopeful news for patients is that by injecting a novel mod-RNA therapeutic that modulates the IFN-1 signaling pathway, we reduced levels of cardiac damage, as evidenced by lower troponin, and improved cardiac function, as measured by higher left ventricular ejection fraction,” explained Jeffrey Downey, a member of Dr. Swirski’s laboratory who served as lead author.

Influenza A Virus And The Heart

Global statistics show that influenza A viruses cause an estimated 1 billion infections each year. This ranges from seasonal flu outbreaks locally to pandemics globally.

While most infections are mild and self-resolving, in some cases, they can become severe or even fatal. When the virus travels to the heart, it triggers the death of cardiomyocytes -- specialized muscle cells that are responsible for the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Ramzan, the holiest month in Islam, marked by dawn-to-dusk fasting, poses health risks for people with diabetes. Health experts urge patients to consult their doctors before observing the fast.

Ramzan is a period of intense spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and devotion for Muslims worldwide. During the month-long fasting period, the believers refrain from eating and even drinking (including water), from dawn to sunset.

The faithful eat a modest meal (sehri) before the first light of dawn to provide energy for the day. The fast is broken at sunset, traditionally starting with dates and water, followed by a larger meal (iftar).

According to health experts, for individuals whose diabetes is well controlled, fasting may be possible with proper adjustments.

"Diabetes requires regular monitoring, balanced meals, and timely medication. When eating patterns change during Ramzan, blood glucose levels can fluctuate. That is why I strongly recommend consulting your doctor before you plan to fast,” Dr. Saptarshi Bhattacharya, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, told HealthandMe.

The expert advised people not to skip sehri, and to include complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, along with protein like eggs, dal, or curd, and plenty of fluids to help maintain stable glucose levels throughout the day.

At iftar, avoid overeating. Start with light, balanced food and limit fried items, sweets, and sugary drinks, as these can cause a sudden spike in blood glucose, Dr. Bhattacharya said.

Type 2 Diabetes patients with good glycemic control, lifestyle management, or stable oral medications can fast safely.

However, those on multiple insulin doses, with complications, or with poor control are considered moderate to high risk, Dr. Kartik Thakkar, Consultant Medicine, Ruby Hall Clinic, told HealthandMe.

The health expert also noted that most Type 1 diabetes patients are considered high risk, especially those with brittle diabetes, frequent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), or a history of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Many are medically advised not to fast, particularly if glucose control is unstable.

Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes are considered high risk and are usually advised against fasting due to the unpredictable nature of insulin requirements.

Who Should Avoid Fasting Altogether?

• People with a history of severe hypoglycemia in the last 3 months;
• Recurrent hypoglycemia;
• Advanced kidney disease;
• Elderly patients with frailty; and
• Pregnant women with diabetes

Dr. Thakkar said that such individuals fall into the very high-risk category and are medically exempt from fasting.

The expert also suggested clinical tests to determine whether a diabetic patient is fit to fast. These include:

• Glycemic control (HbA1c levels)
• Duration of diabetes (long-standing diabetes can increase complication risk)
• Presence of complications (neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiovascular disease)
• Kidney function and hydration status

What Warning Signs Should Prompt Breaking The Fast Immediately?

A diabetic patient must break the fast if:

• Blood glucose <70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L)
• Blood glucose >300 mg/dL (16.7 mmol/L)
• Severe dizziness or fainting
• Confusion or blurred vision
• Persistent vomiting
• Symptoms of dehydration (extreme thirst, very low urine output)
• Chest pain or breathlessness

A new study has shown that people who survived COVID-19 infections are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for years after the infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

OSA is a common and serious sleep disorder that causes the throat muscles to relax and block the airway, resulting in fragmented, nonrestorative sleep, low blood oxygen, and loud snoring.

The February 2026 study, published on the preprint server medRxiv, found that people with both severe and non-severe COVID infections are at higher risk of developing sleep apnea and other sleep issues for 4.5 years.

"SARS-CoV-2 infection is independently associated with increased risk of new-onset OSA. These findings support targeted screening in post-COVID populations,” said Sagar Changela, Department of Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in the paper.

What The Study Found

Although an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been associated with long-term respiratory and neurological conditions, its role in new-onset OSA remains unclear.

The retrospective study, which has not been peer-reviewed, involved 910,393 patients. The results showed that patients hospitalized due to COVID were 41 percent at risk of new onset of OSA.

One-third of people with mild COVID infection, who weren't hospitalized, also suffered from sleep issues.

The researchers also linked OSA to cardiovascular, metabolic, and cognitive morbidity. The team found that OSA increased the risk of heart failure and pulmonary hypertension among hospitalized COVID patients, compared to those with mild infections.

On the other hand, the non-hospitalized COVID patients were significantly more likely than controls to develop obesity.

Further analyses showed that the risk of new-onset OSA was higher in hospitalized COVID patients with asthma and those who were younger than 60 years. Notably, women were also found at greater risk than men, while vaccination status did not vary by risk.

According to the team of researchers, the major factors for OSA among COVID patients are low-grade systemic inflammation after a SARS-CoV-2 infection that reduces upper-airway neuromuscular control.

In addition, the higher levels of inflammatory cytokines often seen in long-COVID patients can also affect respiratory drive and upper-airway stability -- key factors for OSA.

What Is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder where a person's airway can collapse completely or partially. It causes breathing lapses during sleep, and the body stops breathing many times while an individual is asleep. It also weakens throat muscles, leading to airway collapse during sleep. The decrease in oxygen saturation can also lead to death.

While OSA is the most common type of the sleep disorder, other types include central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea.

Obesity is the major cause of this disorder, and loud snoring is the most common symptom. The person suffering from the condition feels tired, even after getting adequate sleep.

Treating sleep apnea is key to preventing long-term health complications such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and increased mortality.

CPAP machines, oral appliances, and lifestyle modifications are common and effective treatment measures.