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.

Even as India is working to roll out a free Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign to curb cervical cancer risk, a new global study today revealed that the shot offers sustained protection for up to 18 years.

HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, and many countries offer vaccination to protect girls against cervical cancer and other related cancers in later life.

The study from Sweden, published by The BMJ, based on 926,362 girls and women between 2006 and 2023, showed that girls vaccinated before age 17 had a substantially (79 percent) lower risk of cervical cancer.

"This study provides evidence of sustained protection against invasive cervical cancer throughout 18 years of follow-up, with no indication of waning protection," said corresponding author Shiqiang Wu, doctoral student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet.

"These findings further support global strategies for eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by achieving high coverage of routine HPV vaccination," Wu added.

Early HPV Vaccination Boosts Protection

In the study, 40 percent of participants had received at least one dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine.

Of 930 cases identified of invasive cervical cancer, 97 were in vaccinated individuals, while 833 were among the unvaccinated.

Vaccination before age 17 offered higher protection -- 79 percent -- against cervical cancer compared with the unvaccinated group. The protection was sustained with 77 percent lower risk for over 15 years after vaccination, the researchers said.

On the other hand, women vaccinated at age 17 or older had a 37 percent lower risk of invasive cervical cancer compared with the unvaccinated group. Vaccination at an older age led to a 46 percent lower risk of cervical cancer -- about 10–12 years.

The results also show a population-level decline in cervical cancer cases over time.

India's Nationwide Free HPV Vaccine Campaign

Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.

The new nationwide HPV vaccination program will strengthen women's health and eliminate the risks of preventable cervical cancers in the country.

Vaccination under the national program will be voluntary and free of cost.

HPV Vaccine In India: Who Should Take, Where To Get It From

The nationwide program, based on expert recommendations of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), will target girls aged 14 years.

At 14, the HPV vaccine offers maximum preventive benefit, well before potential exposure to the virus.

• Girls aged 9 to 14 should get two doses of the vaccine 6 to 12 months apart
• Women aged 15 to 26 years can get three doses in 0, 2, and 6 months apart
• Adults aged 27 to 45 must get it after consultation with their healthcare provider

The HPV vaccination will be conducted exclusively at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centers), Community Health Centers, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges.

Pregnancy is a period of immense physiological change. While most people focus on visible transformations, the heart and blood vessels undergo some of the most significant adjustments.

The body of a woman increases blood volume by around 30-50 percent to support the growth of the baby. The heart works harder, pumping more blood every minute.

For most of the women, these changes are normal and well-tolerated. In some cases, fluctuations in blood pressure and underlying cardiac risks can pose some serious complications if not identified at an early stage.

Why Blood Pressure Changes During Pregnancy

Blood pressure does not remain the same throughout the pregnancy. In early pregnancy, it often drops slightly due to changes in hormones that relax the blood vessels. By the second and third trimesters, it may gradually rise again as the volume of blood increases. While mild variation is normal, high blood pressure requires careful monitoring.

After 20 weeks of pregnancy, gestational hypertension develops, which can also progress to preeclampsia -- a potentially dangerous condition characterized by high blood pressure, particularly impacting the liver and kidneys. If left untreated, it can also impact both maternal and fetal health.

Understanding Cardiac Risks In Pregnancy

During pregnancy, certain women are at higher risk of heart-related complications. These mainly include diabetes, obesity, thyroid disorders, kidney disease, or a history of heart problems. Even those women who are not suffering from any prior cardiac illness can also develop pregnancy-related heart conditions, such as peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Symptoms that should never be untreated mainly include severe headaches, sudden swelling of hands or face, chest pain, breathlessness at rest, palpitations, or persistent fatigue beyond the expected pregnancy-related tiredness. Certain complications can also be prevented through early medical evaluation.

Some of the symptoms that should never be ignored mainly include severe headaches, sudden swelling of hands or face, chest pain, breathlessness at rest, palpitations, or persistent fatigue beyond expected pregnancy-related tiredness. Early medical evaluation can prevent certain complications.

Impact On The Baby

Flow of blood to the placenta can be reduced through uncontrolled high blood pressure, leading to restricted growth of the fetus, preterm birth, or low birth weight.

Timely medical diagnosis and management significantly reduce these kinds of risks and improve the outcomes as well.

Prevention, Monitoring And Safe Management

Regular antenatal checkups are considered the cornerstone of prevention. Problems can also be detected through monitoring of blood pressure at each and every visit, and appropriate blood tests and ultrasound assessments as well.

Some other factors, such as a balanced diet, controlled salt intake, adequate hydration, moderate physical activity (as advised), and stress management, also play a significant role. With proper supervision and early medical intervention, most women with fluctuations in blood pressure can also have a safe pregnancy and healthy delivery.

Pregnancy is not only about nurturing a new life, but it is also about safeguarding the maternal heart health for the future.

Cervical cancer is still one of the most common cancers for women in India. It's mostly caused by a persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV for short.

This virus spreads through sexual contact and often doesn't show any symptoms early on. A lot of women don't even realize they have the virus until abnormal cell changes start to show up.

The World Health Organization says that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers if people get vaccinated and screened on time.

Also Read: Woman Lost Weight On Mounjaro But Her Breasts Didn't Stop Growing, This Is Why...

In India, thousands of women still die every year because they're diagnosed late and don't have enough access to regular screening. That's where the new nationwide HPV vaccination drive is starting to make a difference.

Let’s Talk About The HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine basically protects against the types of the virus that are most often linked to cervical cancer. You get it as a shot, and it works best if you get it before you're exposed to the virus, usually when you're a young teenager. But it can still help even if you get it later.

India's really pushing to get this vaccine out there, which is a big change in how they're handling public health. The idea is pretty straightforward and impactful: protect young girls before the virus can do any damage. By focusing on school-aged kids and making sure parents know about it, they're trying to fix a problem that's been around for ages.

Why Is This Drive So Important?

Cervical cancer doesn't just pop up overnight. It usually takes years for an HPV infection to turn into cancer. This long window gives us a chance to prevent it. Vaccination stops the infection at the start, and screening catches early cell changes before they get serious.

Public health experts think that if enough people get vaccinated, we could prevent up to 80,000 cancer deaths in India every year over time. That number isn't just a statistic. It's about saving the lives of mothers, daughters, and sisters with a simple preventive measure.

The vaccine has been studied a lot worldwide and has strong safety and effectiveness data. Countries with high vaccination rates are already seeing big drops in HPV infections and precancerous lesions.

Also Read: 15 States Sue Trump Administration Over Revised Vaccine Schedule

Busting Myths And Building Trust

Even though there's solid science behind vaccines, there's still a lot of wrong info out there. Some parents are concerned about safety or what might happen down the road. Others think getting vaccinated makes kids sexually active sooner, but studies don't back that up.

Getting the facts straight is super important for dealing with these worries. The HPV vaccine doesn't mess with fertility or hormones. It just teaches your body to fight off certain types of the virus.

Getting communities involved, having healthcare pros on board, and running educational campaigns are all crucial for building trust. When families learn that this vaccine can prevent cancer, more people are on board.

Beyond Shots: Screening Matters

Vaccination isn't the only answer. Women who are already sexually active still need regular cervical screening. Pap smears and HPV testing are still super important for catching things early. India's bigger plan includes making screening programs at primary healthcare centers stronger. When vaccination and screening work together, the impact gets way bigger.

Getting Closer To Wiping Out Cancer

The World Health Organization wants to get rid of cervical cancer as a public health issue this century, and India's vaccination plan fits right in with that big goal.

This isn't just about medicine; it's about really caring for women's health and stopping problems before they start. In a country where getting cancer treatment can be tough, prevention is our best bet.

Cervical cancer is mostly preventable. If we keep vaccinating, have good screening, and make sure everyone knows the facts, we could save thousands of lives every year. This campaign is a huge step towards a future where cervical cancer is rare, not something we just expect.