The heat waves are rising all over the world and causing a lot of damage. While there are issues of dehydration and heat strokes, studies are suggesting that it might also be responsible for declining mental health, the heat among other things is not only affecting the physicality of human beings but is also having adverse mental health.

Emotional distress: The heat can trigger mood swings, making you feel irritable, anxious, depressed, or even aggressive. You may not be able to predict your reaction, you may be good one moment and then any minor inconvenience will make you angry or sad. Heat often triggers that helplessness in people.

Scattered Focus: Concentrating on tasks becomes a struggle when it's hot. Simple things feel overwhelming, and staying focused is a challenge. While you may be in the zone working on completing something, the heat and sweating will disrupt your flow and then you will not be able to focus on anything other than the heat.

Sleepless Nights: High temperatures, especially at night, disrupt your sleep. This lack of rest can leave you feeling tired, and grumpy, and worsen existing mental health issues. All humans require a comfortable temperature to sleep in, if your body is too wound up or heated up, it will not be able to relax and sleep.

Feeling the Pressure: The heat can pile on stress and make you feel overwhelmed. Concerns about the heat itself or its impact on other aspects of your life can contribute to this feeling. You will feel overwhelmed and unable to work on anything else. The heat makes you feel a certain helplessness, as you cannot stop the sun or turn down the heat.

Body Blues: The heat can cause physical symptoms that affect your mental well-being. Headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea can all contribute to anxiety and low mood. When your body is already fatigued, the urge to do anything else disappears. Your body is drained of energy to function at all and will seek rest and sleep.

Behavioural Shifts: The heat can influence your behaviour. You might act impulsively or have difficulty managing anger. It's like the heat turns up your emotional thermostat. When your body and brain are overheating, it is difficult to think straight and you will grasp at straws to release this energy and pressure off of you.

Some other side effects of the heat are.

• Mental Health Flare-Ups: If you already have a mental health condition, hot weather can worsen your symptoms. Existing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia might feel more intense.
• Heat and Suicide Risk: Studies show a disturbing link between hot weather and increased suicide rates, particularly among men and older adults. Hot weather can be a tipping point for those already struggling.
• Heatwave Hospitalizations: When temperatures soar, people with existing mental health issues may require increased hospitalization. This highlights the need for healthcare systems to be prepared for heat waves.
• Climate Change and Mental Health: Climate change is leading to more frequent heatwaves. Research suggests this could lead to a rise in mental health problems and suicides. Taking action against climate change is crucial for protecting mental well-being.

Lone Star Tick disease: Scientists have verified the first known death tied to a serious meat allergy brought on by a tick bite. The man, who passed away in 2024 after eating a burger, had alpha-gal syndrome. This condition begins after certain tick bites and leads to dangerous allergic reactions to red meat and other foods made from animals. Two weeks before his death, he had already reacted badly after eating a steak.

“The sad part is that no one recognised that earlier incident as anaphylaxis, so it was never linked to the beef,” said study co-author Thomas Platts-Mills, an allergist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine who helped identify alpha-gal syndrome and diagnosed the New Jersey case, during an interview with NBC News. But how did he develop this condition in the first place?

Lone Star Tick: What Are Lone Star Ticks?

A tick marked with a small white dot is known as the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Many people already know that certain tick species can threaten human health. Lone star ticks are mainly found in Texas and Oklahoma, stretching across the Southern states and moving up the Atlantic coastline to parts of Maine. They live in wooded regions and are most common from April to September.

Falling ill after a lone star tick bite can take several days or even a few weeks. A bite can trigger various problems, including a serious meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome.

Lone Star Tick: What Is Alpha Gal Syndrome?

Bites from lone star ticks can lead to another major effect. The bite can cause the body to develop an allergy to meat. Substances from the tick, including alpha-gal, enter the bloodstream when it bites, which alerts the immune system and prompts the body to create antibodies to the alpha-gal molecule. Humans do not naturally produce this sugar, so the body treats it as foreign.

This reaction can make a person allergic to the sugar. Alpha-gal is present in many common foods, including beef, pork, lamb, dairy products, and gelatin. Once the allergy develops, a person can fall sick after eating these foods.

Experts believe that many people with alpha-gal syndrome have no idea they carry it. In the New Jersey case, it took scientists months to confirm that the man had the syndrome and had died as a result of it. Warmer winters have also allowed ticks to remain active for longer periods, raising the chances of bites throughout the year.

Anyone who thinks they may have this allergy can undergo testing to check. Although there is no cure for alpha-gal syndrome, doctors advise people with the condition to avoid all forms of meat, as well as dairy, gelatin, and some medicines that include these ingredients.

Lone Star Tick: How To Know if You Have the Alpha-Gal Allergy

Many people never realise they were bitten, unless a rash becomes visible. The symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome vary widely and may take weeks to appear, which makes it difficult to diagnose.

Signs of an alpha-gal allergy can include gastrointestinal discomfort after eating foods such as:

• Dairy products, which trouble about 10 to 20 percent of individuals with the allergy
• Red meats like beef, pork, lamb, or venison
• Foods and items that contain gelatin

Other signs may involve hives or, in severe situations, anaphylaxis. The allergy can take four to six weeks to form after the tick bite. Reactions may also be delayed for several hours after a person eats the food that triggers it.

A healthcare professional can test for the alpha-gal IgE antibody through a blood sample. Food challenge tests may also be carried out under medical supervision, in case a severe reaction occurs.

Doctors usually recommend taking daily medications in the morning, making it part of a morning routine. However, recent research suggests that taking blood pressure (BP) medications at night may provide additional cardiovascular protection. Still, consistency like taking your BP medicine at the same time every day—is more important than whether it’s morning or evening.

Numerous studies have examined the timing of BP medications, but none have produced conclusive evidence favoring morning or evening doses. To gain more insight, we spoke with Dr. Kiran Aithal, Vice Principal, Professor, and HOD of General Medicine at SDMCMS&H, SDM University, Dharwad who shared his perspective on the topic.

When Is The Best Time To Take Blood Pressure Medicine?

One of the largest trials, including over 21,000 participants, did not find clear evidence that taking BP medication in the morning is superior to taking it at night. Dr. Kiran suggests linking the timing to a daily activity that’s hard to forget, like breakfast or dinner, so doses aren’t missed. Skipping a dose is a common reason for hypertensive emergencies.

Dr Kiran said, “Sometimes, patients on multiple BP medications may need to split doses between morning and night, following the doctor’s instructions. Certain drugs, such as diuretics, are advised in the morning as they can increase urination. In some patients whose blood pressure doesn’t naturally dip at night (detectable through Ambulatory BP monitoring), physicians may recommend taking medication at night to achieve better control. Following your doctor’s advice is key.”

In general, most BP medications can be taken either in the morning or evening. The critical factor is taking them consistently at the same time every day to prevent complications. It’s important to remember that hypertension cannot be cured but can be effectively controlled. Lifestyle changes combined with regular, timely medication are crucial for managing high blood pressure successfully.

What Should You Avoid While Taking Blood Pressure Medicine?

Certain foods, drinks, and medications can interfere with blood pressure medicines. These include grapefruit juice, high-potassium foods, and salt substitutes, as well as alcohol and caffeine. Over-the-counter drugs like decongestants and NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) should also be avoided.

Some herbal supplements, including St. John’s Wort and licorice, can affect your blood pressure, and recreational drugs should be completely avoided. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medication, supplement, or making significant changes to your diet, says the Heart Organisation.

Understanding Blood Pressure Categories

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number). Based on these readings, blood pressure is classified as normal, elevated, or high. A normal reading is below 120/80 mmHg. Elevated blood pressure falls between 120–129 systolic with a diastolic under 80. Stage 1 hypertension is defined as 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic, while Stage 2 hypertension is 140 or higher systolic or 90 or higher diastolic.

Readings of 180/120 or above are considered a hypertensive crisis and require immediate medical attention, according to the Heart Organisation.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication, diet, or lifestyle.

Flu season has arrived earlier than expected in the U.K., with cases starting to rise in October, over a month before epidemiologists typically anticipate the season to begin. Fueling this surge is a new flu variant, which, while flu viruses constantly evolve, has accumulated an unusually high number of mutations in a short span.

“This strain has changed faster than usual, showing more mutations than we typically observe,” explains Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

What Is Subclade K?

These mutations make the virus slightly different from the components included in this year’s updated flu vaccines. At the end of October, Canadian scientists highlighted that the changes needed close monitoring, including regular sequencing of the virus and evaluation of whether current vaccines remain effective.

On November 12, Lopez Bernal and the UKHSA team shared early findings suggesting that, so far, vaccination continues to offer significant protection against hospitalization and severe illness.

Still, the level of protection resembles what is usually seen late in the flu season, when the vaccine’s effectiveness naturally decreases and the mismatch between the virus and the vaccine rises.

Subclade K Symptoms

The subclade K (H3N2) flu variant causes the same classic flu symptoms, though some doctors have observed that it may lead to more severe illness in some cases. There are no symptoms unique to subclade K; the main concern is its rapid spread and ability to bypass some immunity, according to the NHS.

Typical flu symptoms associated with subclade K include:

• Sudden high fever and chills
• Fatigue and overall weakness
• Headache
• Muscle aches and pains
• Dry, chesty cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or blocked nose
• Loss of appetite
• Trouble sleeping
• Diarrhea or vomiting (more common in children)

Is Subclade K In The U.S.?

During the U.S. government shutdown, the flu-tracking site run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not been updated. As of Nov. 13, the most recent data is from late September, when flu activity was low.

However, the New York State Department of Health reported that for the week ending Nov. 1, laboratory-confirmed flu cases had risen by 49% from the previous week, and hospitalizations were up 71%, matching roughly the levels from the same time last year. These figures don’t include subtyping, so it’s unclear whether the subclade K variant has reached the U.S. yet.

Subclade K Flu: How To Stay Safe

Vaccination remains the best defense against the flu. Influenza claims thousands of lives annually and poses a particular threat to children and older adults.

“Children are at higher risk of serious illness from flu, so it’s crucial they get vaccinated. This also protects their relatives, especially vulnerable or elderly family members who may be exposed,” advises Lopez Bernal of the UK Health Security Agency. Even with the mutations seen in this new variant, the vaccine remains a key tool in protecting against severe disease.