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Are you that kind of person who celebrates milestones of your life with getting a tattoo? These milestones could be anything, including the things you achieved, or the things you could not achieve but taught you a lesson. If you are this person, then you must have wondered if you can donate blood with all the tattoos on your body? There are lots of rumors on how can one donate blood, or if at all they are allowed to donate blood. So let's get into its nitty gritty!
As per American Red Cross, in most states, a tattoo is acceptable if the tattoo was applied by a state-regulated entity. Which means the tattoo artist must be licensed and must practice following all the guidelines, using sterile needles and ink that is not reused. The same is the guideline for cosmetic tattoos, which includes microblading of eyebrows. If it is done by a licensed artist in a regulated state, then it is acceptable.
However, if you got your tattoo in a state that does not regulate tattoo facilities, you must wait three months after it was applied.
Similar is the case with body piercings. It has to be done following the regulation, here the key is that the instrument used has to be a single-use equipment and disposable. Which means if you are getting it by a gun, or an earring cassette, they have to be disposable. In case you got your piercing with a reusable gun or a reusable instrument, you will be required to wait for three months.
The reason behind the wait time is associated with the concerns of hepatitis, which could be easily transmitted from donors to patients through transfusion. All blood donations are thus tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, with several tests. However, not always are these tests are perfect, thus the three-month period is given.
Donating blood after getting a tattoo can be dangerous as unclean tattoo needle could carry bloodborne viruses, which are hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its guideline, making the wait time shorter from one year to three months. This is because if you contract a bloodborne illness, it could be detectable within the period of 3 months.
There are other reasons why you may not be allowed to donate blood. As per the American Red Cross, you are not allowed to donate blood if you have
As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Blood Bank, these conditions make you permanently ineligible from donating blood.
While there are certain conditions that makes your permanently ineligible, there are other conditions that makes you temporarily ineligible from donating blood. These include:
Chronic stress can take a toll on sperm count. (Photo credit: iStock)
Many men believe that as long as they feel healthy, active, and free from major illness, their fertility remains intact. While men do not have a sudden fertility cut-off like women, age still plays an important role when it comes to male fertility. Currently, a large number of men wish to start families later in life, often thinking their good health guarantees easy conception and fatherhood. They often neglect the age factor, even though it is linked to hormonal imbalance, stress, and genetic issues. A large number of men are unaware of their fertility health and continue to suffer. However, even in the absence of visible health problems, older men may face unexpected fertility challenges. Dr Madhukar J Shinde, Fertility Specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, PCMC, Pune, answered this for Health and Me.
Read more: The Overlooked Role of Men in IVF: Why Their Silent Strength Is Key to Fertility Success
Decline in sperm quality: Various studies have confirmed that as men age, sperm count, movement, and shape can slowly decline. Even if the numbers appear normal, DNA damage in sperm increases with age, which can reduce the chances of successful fertilisation.
Men must stay in touch with a fertility consultant who can design an appropriate treatment plan. The expert will evaluate them thoroughly and suggest lifestyle modifications such as a well-balanced diet, exercise, stress management through meditation, and medication for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol. Awareness helps men take informed steps towards parenthood, even later in life. Certain pre-medications, including antioxidants advised by a fertility consultant, may significantly help in reducing DNA fragmentation, which contributes to poor sperm function. Therefore, men should prioritise their reproductive health, stay informed, and not suffer in silence.
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High blood pressure (BP) has become a public health problem that is driving cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes globally. While medications are important to keep hypertension under control, lifestyle changes and healthy practices are also crucial.
Several global health guidelines recommend regular physical activity, but adhering to exercise programs daily becomes a challenge for many people. But in the overtly busy schedules, sparing 10 minutes for an exercise regimen can be easier than travelling to the gym.
A large randomized clinical trial, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), has proved that a traditional Chinese mind-body practice — baduanjin — may help lower blood pressure, that too, without any equipment.
Baduanjin is a slow, structured movement, focused on deep breathing and meditation.
Importantly, the clinical trial proved that the ancient Chinese technique could lower BP as effectively as brisk walking.
In people practicing baduanjin, BP reductions were seen after three months and were sustained for one year.
"Given its simplicity, safety, and ease with which one can maintain long-term adherence, baduanjin can be implemented as an effective, accessible, and scalable lifestyle intervention for individuals trying to reduce their blood pressure," said Jing Li, Director, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases in Beijing, China.
Baduanjin is a standardized eight-movement sequence that integrates aerobic, isometric, flexibility, and mind-body components.
It has been in practice for centuries and commonly performed in community settings across China. The routine typically takes 10–15 minutes and requires no equipment and only minimal initial instruction.
Because it is low- to moderate-intensity, it is considered safe and accessible for many adults.
Also read: Cardiovascular Diseases Lead As India’s Top Killer: US Cardiologist Points Out Risk Factors
A team of Chinese researchers led the first large, multicenter randomized trial to look at the impact of baduanjin on blood pressure.
They followed 216 participants, aged 40 years or older, across seven communities to determine changes in 24-hour systolic BP from baseline to 12 and 52 weeks.
Compared to people indulging in self-directed exercise, practicing baduanjin five days a week reduced
Notably, the benefits were sustained even without ongoing monitoring, a key challenge for many lifestyle interventions that struggle to maintain long-term adherence outside structured programs.
"Baduanjin has been practiced in China for over 800 years, and this study demonstrates how ancient, accessible, low-cost
approaches can be validated through high-quality randomized research," said Harlan M. Krumholz, Editor-in-Chief of JACC and the Harold H. Hines, Jr Professor at the Yale School of Medicine.
"The blood pressure effect size is similar to that seen in landmark drug trials, but achieved without medication, cost, or side effects. This makes it highly scalable for community-based prevention, including in resource-limited settings," they added.
Also read: AHA Cholesterol Guidelines 2026: How Indians Can Improve Heart Health
How To Practice Baduanjin
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Back pain is a common problem seen among middle-aged men and women, especially those sitting for prolonged hours. The pain experienced is mainly due to poor posture, lack of physical activity, obesity, and stress.
However, for some, the pain occurs in the mid-back, indicating a far more serious problem. While it may appear like chronic back pain, it may actually signal the risk of spinal tuberculosis, which can creep in silently, according to doctors.
If left untreated, the dangerous infectious disease can lead to paralysis and spinal deformity.
“If your back pain persists for months, it is localized, or if it worsens with cough/breathing, don’t ignore it; seek expert evaluation,” said Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist from Apollo Hospitals Hyderabad, in a post on social media platform X.
Dr. Kumar also shared the case of a 55-year-old man suffering from back pain for four months.
The man’s blood tests, nerve conduction studies, and MRI (neck and lower back) appeared normal. Yet his pain did not go away. He found no relief with painkillers, muscle relaxants, and rest.
Notably, his pain increased while coughing and taking deep breaths.
“That is not a random symptom. Pain that increases with coughing is suggestive of spinal nerve root irritation or compression. This immediately shifts thinking from “muscle pain” to spine pathology,” said Dr. Kumar. The expert advised an MRI of the dorsal (thoracic) spine, which suggested spinal TB.
The “MRI dorsal spine showed involvement of D8–D9 vertebrae, disc edema and paravertebral collection. These findings were suggestive of Spinal Tuberculosis,” said the neurologist, popularly known as the Hyderabad doctor.
Unlike lung TB, where prolonged fever or coughs are a key risk factor, Dr. Kumar just had persistent back pain and no fever, weight loss, or any such “typical TB symptoms”.
“This is why Spinal Tuberculosis is dangerous. It can be silent and slow, and the diagnosis can be easily missed, until it causes paralysis and spinal deformity,” Dr. Kumar said.
Tuberculosis of the spine is also known as Pott’s disease, and is named after Sir Percival Pott, who described it in 1779.
Also called tuberculous spondylitis, it is a severe form of skeletal tuberculosis where the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria infect the vertebrae — typically spreading from the lungs to the spine via the blood.
Unlike routine back pain, pain due to spinal TB is persistent, progressive, and does not respond to usual rest or medication.
Early identification is crucial to prevent complications such as spinal deformity or neurological damage, Dr. Manisha Mendiratta, Director & Head – Pulmonology, at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, told HealthandMe.
The common symptoms to watch out for include:
Early evaluation is key. If symptoms persist, a detailed clinical assessment should be done. Doctors may recommend:
Dr. Mendiratta urged the need for ensuring early diagnosis and complete treatment of any TB infection. Further, maintaining good immunity through balanced nutrition and rest, as well as avoiding ignoring persistent or unusual back pain, is crucial to preventing spinal TB.
The doctor also stressed the need for regular follow-ups in people with a history of TB exposure, and to never stop TB treatment midway.
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