As you grow old, your health starts to deteriorate. Everything, whether it is your mental health or your physical health, starts to slow down. However, with age, your mental health gets overshadowed by your physical health.

Signs You Should Note

If you note these signs in your ageing parents or grandparents, take note of it. Try to get involved with them. It is also important to ensure that they have a separate social circle apart from the family. This way, they can have friends who they can also relate to.

With age, suggests Sinha, you are more prone to be depressed, and anxious. “Mental health conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorders are not something that happens when you grow older. You may have been living with these for the last 40 years, but the management differs, she suggests.

As you grow old, your symptoms start to overlap with other mental health conditions. For the proper treatment professionals use differential diagnosis, suggests Sinha. “The lines become blurred and to differentiate the symptoms from one mental health condition to another becomes difficult,” she says.

Preventive Measures

There are also food habits like eating leafy vegetables, nuts, fish, virgin coconut and beans that help with brain functions.

Sinha suggests that keeping a social circle and continuing your hobbies can help your mind stay healthy. “Men especially face this issue, after they retire, they feel like they are at the loss of authority, and they start to lose control. It is thus important to keep doing things and learning a new skill to keep your brain active. While for women, since they continue taking care of the house, their brain stays active,” she says.

Cognitive stimulation is the key, especially to managing dementia, she notes.

“Just with weight training, you push your body and after a while, it becomes your muscle memory. Same with the brain. However, one should not get into solving too many puzzles, or trivia after being diagnosed with dementia. Because that would mean you are making your already injured brain exercise which might lead to agitation,” she recommends.

How to support?

“The most important part is for the caregiver to understand what is happening and come to terms with the conditions. Because the elderly with cognitive conditions are not able to understand, they cannot be told or instructed to do anything. Thus, the responsibility is solely on the caregiver,” points out Sinha.

So, what can be done?

Awareness

Reach out to therapists and counsellors to know the ways to create such a healthy environment.

Be Patient

She suggests adopting the same approach that you do with kids and with your pets. This is when you focus on gestures, body language and mood over language. Due to cognitive disorders, parents experience a loss of language and the only way to communicate and to understand what they are communicating is through these means.

Be Empathetic

Create a healthy environment by agreeing with them and listening to their stories. The responsibility of creating a safe environment is totally with you.

There might be times when your parents may do socially unacceptable or non-compliance behaviour. But it is important to understand the triggers and ensure that the triggers do not occur anymore.

Help Them Stay Fit

The recently released National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6) indicates a growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and high blood sugar levels in the country.

According to the NFHS-6, conducted during 2023–24, there has been a significant rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and lifestyle risks in India, marking a shift from infectious diseases to chronic conditions.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Parmeet Kaur, former Chief Dietitian, Department of Dietetics, AIIMS, New Delhi, said rapid urbanisation, changing food habits and declining physical activity levels are contributing to the growing burden of NCDs.

She noted that factors such as the globalization of food habits, unhealthy snacking, increased consumption of processed foods, excess salt and sugar intake, stress, poor sleep and an ageing population are all playing a role in the rise of these conditions.

"The rise in non-communicable diseases is driven not just by excess calories, but by changing food systems and lifestyles," Dr. Kaur said.

She stressed the importance of promoting traditional balanced diets, healthy snacks, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, adequate sleep and greater reliance on home-cooked meals.

NCD Burden Rising In Younger Age Groups

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Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi, said the latest NFHS-6 findings point to a growing burden of metabolic risk factors across the country, including among younger age groups.

"In many cases, these conditions develop silently and remain undiagnosed for years," Dr. Gupta said.

He emphasized that tackling the problem requires shifting the focus beyond weight management alone to overall metabolic health.

How To Prevent

To prevent these conditions and identify risks at an early stage, Dr. Gupta told HealthandMe that the following measures are important:

• Regular physical activity

• Healthy eating habits

• Adequate sleep

• Stress management

• Routine health screenings

Dr. Kaur also called for strengthening nutrition education, increasing awareness about food labels and encouraging early screening for diabetes and hypertension.

"Re-emphasizing traditional and regional healthy eating patterns alongside active living will be crucial for India's future health," she added.

What Did NFHS-6 Say On NCDs?

The NFHS-6, conducted during 2023–24, covered more than 7.1 lakh women and over one lakh men across the country.

Obesity

• Obesity among women increased from 24 per cent (2019–21) to 30.7 per cent (2023–24). Urban women recorded a higher prevalence (42.8 per cent) than rural women (25.5 per cent).
• Obesity among men rose from 22.9per cent to 27.3per cent during the same period. Urban men (36.3per cent) were more affected than rural men (23 per cent).

• High blood sugar prevalence among men aged 15 years and above increased from 15.6 per cent to 20.9 per cent.
• Urban women (21.9per cent) reported higher prevalence than rural women (16.2per cent); with total prevalence among women increasing from 13.5 per cent to 17.8 per cent.

High Blood Pressure

• Among women, high blood pressure prevalence stood at 23.5 per cent in urban areas and 17.8 per cent in rural areas.
• Among men, the prevalence was 26.2 per cent in urban areas and 20.4 per cent in rural areas.

"The emerging challenges such as rising non-communicable diseases, lifestyle-related risks and the dual burden of undernutrition and rising overweight/obesity among adults highlight the need for continued focus on preventive healthcare, behavioral change and balanced nutrition strategies," the Health Ministry said.

Oral cancer cases are on the rise because of tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene, and delayed medical attention. Many people ignore small red or white patches, which are early warning signs of cancer and should never be overlooked. There is an average delay of six months in cancer diagnosis, which is the reason patients are diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 cancers.

Dr Prathamesh Pai, Senior Consultant Head and Neck Surgical Oncologist, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, explained the difference between red and white patches in the mouth and what they may indicate about your health.

Red vs White Patches in the Mouth

White patches inside the mouth are called leukoplakia, while red patches are known as erythroplakia. Both can occur on the tongue, gums, inner cheeks, or floor of the mouth. Though both need equal attention, red patches are more dangerous, with a higher risk of being cancerous in comparison to white patches. Red patches in the mouth indicate severe abnormal cellular changes, which can develop into precancerous conditions or cancer. Around 60% to 80% of erythroplakias are diagnosed as early-stage cancer on biopsy.

What is erythroplakia?

Erythroplakia is a fiery red, well-defined patch in the mouth. These lesions are velvety in appearance. They often appear on the floor of the mouth or the retromolar trigone (the area behind the wisdom teeth). Red patches often go unreported, as they are mistaken for traumatic mouth ulcers caused by hard foods or dental irritation.

If a red patch does not heal within two to three weeks, it should raise concerns about cancer. Besides the duration, patches that bleed on touch, are painful while eating, are associated with a burning sensation, difficulty swallowing, loosening of teeth, or voice changes should be investigated. Tobacco users should be even more mindful. Ignoring persistent red or white patches can allow the disease to progress silently.

So, make sure to seek immediate help and consult a doctor. For anyone presenting with red or white patches, the doctor will carry out a physical oral examination and a biopsy, in which a small tissue sample is taken from the patch for evaluation. A CT scan and MRI may also be advised, depending on the location of the patch and other clinical features.

Why early detection of cancer matters

Remember, early detection of cancer is curable. Treatment is also less extensive, often involving minor intraoral surgery and preservation of speech and swallowing functions. As the cancer stage advances, surgery may require the removal of parts of the cheek, jaw, or tongue, as well as postoperative radiotherapy. This affects the face and neck and hampers important functions such as eating, speaking, and swallowing. This has major implications for quality of life. Treatment can also be a financial burden, especially for younger patients.

Take charge of your life. Lead a happy, healthy life. Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and other addictions. Visit your dentist regularly and maintain good oral hygiene. Prevention is better than cure. In the case of any non-healing ulcers in the mouth, swelling in the neck, altered speech or swallowing, or altered bowel habits for more than two weeks despite treatment, do visit a doctor. Remember, early detection of cancer is curable.

Supplements like calcium and vitamin D are very popular among the masses due to the perception that they can help prevent fractures. A major study has shattered this common belief, which in turn claims that these supplements have no role whatsoever in falls and bone fractures. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) has published this landmark research.

The trial of this study studied data from 2014 to February 2025, where their database consisted of three sources, namely Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL.

The independent researchers in pairs monitored the trial, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the second version of Cochrane’s risk of bias tool. The results of the study were synthesized and appraised.

This study consisted of 69 trials, which were participated in by 153,902 participants. Most of the participants, 73% to be exact, were at no high risk of falling and fracturing. The results were that Calcium, Vitamin D, or Combined Supplements have little to no effect on fractures. This primary finding was ensured due to the high certainty of evidence.

The extensive exploration made the study robust and was based on heterogeneity across multiple subgroup analyses. The evidence from high-risk patients was limited due to residential care, calcium monotherapy, and combined supplementation.

Read Also: Calcium, Vitamin D Do Not Guarantee Protection From Fractures And Falls, These 8 Things Do!

Better Ways To Protect Your Bone Health

USPSTF recommends a few better ways to protect your bone health and prevent broken bones and falls.

Walk Regularly

Regular walks strengthen your muscles and bones, which helps you stay steady on your feet. It is as simple as practice makes perfect, so the more you walk, the better it is. Walking also improves your balance, making you less likely to fall.

Do Strength Training

Strength training, like lifting weights or using resistance bands, makes your bones stronger and helps prevent fractures if you do fall. It is like a safety cushion, but you must be careful while doing so because it can lead to injuries if done too much.

Practice Balance

Activities like tai chi, Pilates, and yoga can improve your balance and coordination, making you more stable and less prone to falls. These can also help you improve your muscle flexibility and strength, which in turn helps your body be stronger.

Read Also: Tomato-Soy Juice May Reduce Chronic Inflammation, New Study Says

Check Your Medicines

If you have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about medications that can help strengthen your bones and lower your risk of fractures. Many medications can also have unsavory side effects like weakened joints, loss of muscle strength, etc.

Eat Enough Protein

A proper diet goes a long way when it comes to your entire body's health. So to keep up with your body’s nutrition and muscle health, eat more protein along with a balanced meal that includes loads of fiber, healthy fats, and carbs.

Get Your Eyes Checked

Having poor eyesight can be difficult; not only does it make life difficult without glasses, but it also increases the possibility of getting into minor accidents like bumping into people and missing objects placed in front of us.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is also important because when you are not sleeping, you get disoriented and can ignore even obvious things like the last step in the staircase. Make sure you get enough sleep to keep you fresh and focused.

Make Your Home Safe

Many things can cause you to have accidents, even in your home. To avoid such falls, make sure there are no loose ends like crooked floor panels, rugs that are sticking out, or protruding furniture that can hurt your knees.