Metabolism plays a big role in our health, it’s not just about helping your digestive system work smoothly, but the way your body breaks down the food and helps nutrients get absorbed into the body that matters. But often due to one reason or the other, your metabolism can slow down, which then causes issues with people. Many people think that the reason they may be gaining weight could be because of their poor metabolism, so how does one go about fixing this issue and how do you even know that the fault lies with your metabolism.

To understand why your metabolism may be slowing down, we must understand what role it exactly plays. Metabolism is the process your body uses to turn food into energy. It's essential for everything from breathing and digestion to keeping you warm. Several things affect how fast your metabolism works, including your genes, health, and lifestyle. A slow metabolism means your body burns fewer calories, which can lead to tiredness, dry skin, weight gain, and cravings.

Why Does Your Metabolism Slow Down?

There can be many reasons why your metabolism may be slowing down. You inherit some of it, and it tends to slow down as you age, often due to changes in your body and less muscle. Men and women have different metabolisms because of body size, makeup, and hormones. What you eat matters too – not enough healthy food or a very low-calorie or high-fat diet can slow it down. A lazy lifestyle, lack of sleep, and stress can also make your metabolism sluggish. Certain health problems like diabetes or an underactive thyroid, and even environmental factors, may also play a role.

Signs You Need To Improve Your Metabolism

While these are some common signs, it is best to visit a healthcare professional and ask for their opinions before you try a solution. There are many underlying reasons as to why you are experiencing slow metabolism, it can also be a side-effect of some medicine. A healthy lifestyle goes a long way, especially for people who already have digestive issues, kidney or even mental health issues like stress and anxiety.

Constant Fatigue

Feeling tired all the time, even without a good reason, could mean your metabolism is slow. A slow metabolism means your body breaks down food into energy slowly, leaving you with low energy levels. You might feel sluggish or get tired easily throughout the day. Changes in what you eat or your body composition (how much fat and muscle you have) can also make you feel more tired.

Dry Skin

Dry skin is common in winter, but if you have it all the time, it could be a sign of a slow metabolism. Thyroid hormones help control your metabolism and also keep your skin hydrated. If your thyroid isn't working right and your metabolism is slow, your skin might get very dry.

Weight Gain

If you're eating healthy and exercising but still gaining weight, a slow metabolism could be the problem. A slow metabolism doesn't turn food into energy quickly, so you burn fewer calories. Extra calories are stored as fat, making it hard to lose weight.

Feeling Cold

Feeling cold even when it's not cold outside can be a sign of a slow metabolism. Your body generates heat through metabolism. If your metabolism is slow, your body temperature might be lower. Some studies show that people with an underactive thyroid or obesity may have lower body temperatures because of a slow metabolism. This can be because of problems with thyroid hormones, which help your body make heat.

Food Cravings

Craving sugary or fatty foods can be a sign of a slow metabolism. Studies show that cravings are related to metabolic health. This is especially true for people who don't eat enough healthy foods, have bad eating habits, or have low muscle mass and high fat mass. Cravings might also mean your body isn't getting enough energy from the food you eat, so it wants more energy.

Mood Swings

Everyone has mood swings sometimes. But if you have them often, it could be from a slow metabolism. Low energy and hormone problems that come with a slow metabolism can make you irritable and frustrated. Some older research also suggests a link between mental health issues and a slow metabolism.

Digestive Problems

Digestion and metabolism are connected. Digestion breaks down food, and metabolism turns it into energy. If your metabolism changes, like slowing down, it can affect your digestion. A slow metabolism can cause constipation, bloating, or diarrhea.

Your weight not only affects your heart health but also your brain health. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has revealed a powerful connection between your body weight, heart and brain.

After studying over 500,000 people, scientists discovered that having a high Body Mass Index (BMI) can nearly double your chances of developing brain-related illnesses later in life, which confirms that being overweight and having high blood pressure are not just general health concerns, they are direct causes of dementia.

How Does Your Weight Affect Brain Health?

The study focused heavily on vascular dementia, a specific type of memory loss that occurs when the brain is damaged because of a lack of blood flow.

Think of your blood vessels like a system of pipes. If those pipes are narrowed or blocked due to weight-related issues, the "engine" (your brain) doesn't get the fuel it needs. Over time, this lack of oxygen and nutrients leads to permanent brain damage and the loss of memory and thinking skills.

Researchers found that high blood pressure, often caused by carrying extra weight, is the main "middleman" in this process. Blood pressure is measured with two numbers, and both play a part in brain health:

Systolic

This is the pressure when your heart beats. It accounts for about 18 percent of the link between obesity and dementia.

Diastolic

This is the pressure when your heart rests between beats. It accounts for about 25 percent of the link. When these numbers stay high, they constantly "batter" the delicate vessels in the brain, causing them to weaken or clog.

How Weight Affects the Brain

Beyond just blood flow, a high BMI impacts the brain in several other ways:

Increased Inflammation

Obesity often causes the body to be in a constant state of "alarm" or inflammation. This can irritate the immune system and eventually damage brain cells.

Metabolism Issues

When the body struggles to process energy and food properly, it changes how the brain uses energy, which can lead to cognitive decline.

Heart Strain

A heart that has to work harder to pump blood through a larger body eventually becomes less efficient at sending blood all the way up to the brain. Your heart essentially has to do twice as much work as it would at a lower weight.

Can Preventing Obesity Help Dementia?

The most encouraging takeaway from this study is that dementia isn't always a matter of bad luck or "old age." Researchers call this an unexploited opportunity.

By managing your weight and blood pressure early in life, through a healthy diet, consistent exercise, and good sleep, you are essentially "dementia-proofing" your brain. The researchers suggested that intervening early, possibly even with weight-loss medications before symptoms start, could be a key strategy for protecting brain health in the future.

How Much Does Obesity Affect Worldwide?

According to the World Health Organization, one in eight people in the world are living with obesity. In 2022, about 2.5 billion adults were overweight. Causes of it vary, from things like diseases or chronic conditions, to the kind of food that is available to consume.

Heart attacks need immediate intervention and Dr. Balbir revealed one medicine that can save a life when this happens: Aspirin. In an interview with HealthandMe, Dr. Singh revealed that one does not need fancy equipment to help a person having a heart attack.

“If the history of the family history or cholesterol or diabetic. This patient is at risk, so what is the medicine if you get such a symptom? Aspirin.”

What Medicine Can Help a Heart Attack?

Dr. Singh points out that if you or someone near you begins to experience symptoms of a heart attack, such as heavy chest pain, pressure, or unexplained sweating, taking a dissolvable aspirin immediately can be a lifesaver.

By dissolving a tablet (like Dispirin) in a glass of water and drinking it, the medicine dissolves into the bloodstream much more quickly than simply ingesting it.

Aspirin works by thinning the blood and preventing further clotting in the arteries, which can stop a heart attack from getting worse before medical professionals arrive.

Other Preventative Measures To Take For Heart Attack

Before medical professionals arrive, performing CPR can also help save a person's life; however, one must know the right way to do CPR.

While speaking to HealthandMe, Dr Singh mentioned a viral video where a person collapses and someone attempts to give them CPR while they are still sitting in a chair, notng that this was 'a dangerous mistake' and people should steer clear away from such false videos.

He explained that you cannot perform CPR on someone who is sitting up as the body must be positioned correctly for the heart and lungs to receive the benefit of the chest compressions.

Without the proper technique, blood will not reach the brain and your efforts will not help the patient. Understanding the proper sequence of events is the difference between a failed attempt and a saved life.

Step 1: The Importance of Positioning

If someone collapses, immediately place them flat on their back on a hard floor. You need the ground's resistance to pump the heart manually. In this position, the heart is "sandwiched" between the rib cage and spine. On a soft bed, your presses will fail to squeeze the heart effectively.

Step 2: Focus on the Heart First

Dr. Singh emphasizes that restarting the heart is the absolute priority. Place both hands in the center of the chest and use your body weight to press firmly. By pushing the rib cage toward the spine, you force the heart to pump. Often, once circulation starts, the patient begins breathing again spontaneously.

Step 3: The Proper CPR Sequence

If the person doesn't wake up, begin a rhythm of three chest presses followed by one mouth-to-mouth breath. Lock your elbows and press hard to ensure the heart is being squeezed between the bones. This specific cycle keeps oxygenated blood moving to the brain, preventing permanent damage during a cardiac emergency.

How Common Are Heart Attacks?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart attacks claim a life every 34 seconds. In 2023, it caused nearly 920,000 deaths, one in every three recorded. Hence it is important to know not just the ways to help when someone has a heart attack but also how to prevent them.

Heart attacks need immediate intervention, and Dr. Balbir revealed one medicine that can save a life when this is happening: Aspirin. In an interview with HealthandMe, Dr. Balbir Singh revealed that one does not need fancy equipment to help a person having a heart attack.

“If the history of the family history or cholesterol or diabetic. This patient is at risk, so what is the medicine if you get such a symptom? Aspirin.”

What Medicine Can Help a Heart Attack?

Dr. Singh points out that if you or someone near you begins to experience symptoms of a heart attack, such as heavy chest pain, pressure, or unexplained sweating, taking a dissolvable aspirin immediately can be a lifesaver.

By dissolving a tablet (like Dispirin) in a glass of water and drinking it, the medicine enters the bloodstream quickly.

Aspirin works by thinning the blood and preventing further clotting in the arteries, which can stop a heart attack from getting worse before medical professionals arrive.

Other Preventative Measures To Take For Heart Attack

Before medical professionals arrive, doing CPR also helps; however, one must know the right way to do CPR.

There is a lot of misinformation online. Dr. Singh mentions a viral video where a person collapses and someone attempts to give them CPR while they are still sitting in a chair. This is a dangerous mistake.

He explained that you cannot perform CPR on someone who is sitting up. The body must be positioned correctly for the heart and lungs to receive the benefit of the chest compressions. If the technique is wrong, the blood will not reach the brain, and your efforts will not help the patient. Understanding the proper sequence of events is the difference between a failed attempt and a saved life.

Step 1: The Importance of Positioning

If someone collapses, immediately place them flat on their back on a hard floor. You need the ground's resistance to pump the heart manually. In this position, the heart is "sandwiched" between the rib cage and spine. On a soft bed, your presses will fail to squeeze the heart effectively.

Step 2: Focus on the Heart First

Dr. Singh emphasizes that restarting the heart is the absolute priority. Place both hands in the center of the chest and use your body weight to press firmly. By pushing the rib cage toward the spine, you force the heart to pump. Often, once circulation starts, the patient begins breathing again spontaneously.

Step 3: The Proper CPR Sequence

If the person doesn't wake up, begin a rhythm of three chest presses followed by one mouth-to-mouth breath. Lock your elbows and press hard to ensure the heart is being squeezed between the bones. This specific cycle keeps oxygenated blood moving to the brain, preventing permanent damage during a cardiac emergency.

How Common Are Heart Attacks?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart attacks claim a life every 34 seconds. In 2023, it caused nearly 920,000 deaths, one in every three recorded. Hence it is important to know not just the ways to help when someone has a heart attack but also how to prevent them.