We have all seen movies where right before the hero starts fighting, he cracks his knuckles and makes it look like the coolest thing in the world! But then our parents told us that you should not crack your knuckles because that weakens your grip and hand strength. But is that true? While many people do say that they experience a small loss in strength immediately after they crack their knuckles, but are their long-term effects to it? And what is the sound actually coming from?

The reason why people crack their fingers is because the evident and sharp crack noise causes a sense of relief. Many people also do it when they have done an activity that required them to work with their hands a lot like typing or sewing, giving themselves a sense of satisfaction, similar to stretching after doing hard work. That "crack" sound can make some people cringe, while others find it strangely satisfying. Cracking your knuckles is a pretty common habit, but there are a lot of misunderstandings about it. Some people do it without even thinking, others can't stand the noise, and some can't crack their knuckles at all. You might have been told as a kid that it causes arthritis or makes your fingers swell up. But those are just old wives' tales. There's a real science behind this habit, and it's more interesting than you may think.

Why Do Knuckles Make That Popping Sound?

The "crack" isn't actually bones breaking or anything bad happening to your joints. It's a normal thing called "crepitus." This just means harmless popping, snapping, or grinding sounds that come from your joints. The main reason you hear this sound is because of gas bubbles in the fluid that cushions your joints. This fluid is called synovial fluid. When you move or stretch, these tiny bubbles form and then pop, making the sound. It's totally normal and doesn't hurt you. Sometimes, especially in bigger joints like your knees, shoulders, or ankles, the sound can also happen when the stretchy tissues that connect your bones (ligaments and tendons) move slightly and then snap back into place.

After you crack your knuckles, you can't usually do it again right away. You have to wait a bit. That's because the gas bubbles in your joint fluid have already popped, and it takes a little while for them to build up again. While cracking your knuckles doesn't give you arthritis, doing it too much might cause some problems. Doctors say that cracking them too often could make your joints a little wobbly and might even make your grip weaker. Also, if the stretchy tissues in your joints keep snapping over your bones, they can get irritated and sore.

When Joint Popping Might Mean Something More

Sometimes, a pop in your joint is just like cracking your knuckles, nothing to worry about. But other times, it can be a sign of something else. As we get older, the cushiony stuff in our joints, called cartilage, can start to wear down. This cartilage helps your bones move smoothly. When it gets thin or uneven, the bones can rub together, and that can make a grinding or popping sound. This is different from the pop you get from gas bubbles. If this grinding sound happens along with pain, it could be a sign of osteoarthritis. This is a type of joint problem that's more common in older people, but younger people can get it too, especially after a joint injury. If your joints hurt, especially in the morning or after you've been sitting still for a while, feel wobbly, or are hard to move, it's a good idea to see a doctor.

Heart attacks are often associated with severe chest pain, but health experts warned that many cases present with unusual symptoms such as jaw pain and nausea that are frequently ignored or mistaken for less serious conditions.

Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) or heart attacks is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for roughly 9 million deaths annually

Speaking to HealthandMe, the experts highlighted unusual symptoms that may indicate a heart attack — particularly in women, elderly people, and individuals with diabetes. These include:

• Jaw pain
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Unusual fatigue
• Breathlessness
• Discomfort in the neck, back, or arms

Ignoring Symptoms Can Worsen Outcomes

Dr. Prasanthi Ganji, HOD - Emergency Medicine at Manipal Hospital, Gurugram, called these “referred symptoms”, where pain from the heart travels through shared nerve pathways and is felt in other parts of the body, including the jaw, neck, shoulders, or back.

The expert explained that nausea may occur because reduced blood flow and stress on the heart can affect the nervous system and digestive response.

Also read: Can Extreme Heat Trigger Heart Palpitations? Expert Explains Risks

According to her, many patients mistake these symptoms for acidity, fatigue, or muscle strain, leading to dangerous delays in treatment.

“Recognizing these warning signs during the critical golden hour can significantly improve survival and reduce long-term heart damage,” Dr. Prasanthi told HealthandMe, adding that symptoms lasting more than a few minutes should never be ignored.

Heart Attack: Silent Symptoms Often Overlooked

Dr. Saifa M. Latheef, Associate Professor and Clinical Head – Emergency Medicine at ShardaCare-Healthcity, said public awareness about silent or unusual heart attack symptoms remains low.

“Many people believe that a heart attack always causes severe chest pain. However, this is not true in every case,” she said.

Dr. Saifa noted that some patients may experience heaviness in the jaw, vomiting sensation, breathlessness, or extreme weakness without chest pain, causing them to delay emergency care.

“A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart suddenly gets blocked, making immediate medical attention crucial to save heart muscle and prevent complications,” the doctor told HealthandMe.

Doctors Warn Against Delaying Treatment

The health experts also flagged the delaying attitude of patients, which increases the risk of poorer outcomes.

Dr. Nitin Jagasia, Regional Director Emergency, Western Region, Apollo Hospitals, said the biggest mistake patients make is waiting too long before seeking help.

“As an emergency doctor, I meet patients every day who say, ‘Doctor, I thought it would go away,’” he told HealthandMe.

Dr. Jagasia warned that heart attacks do not always begin with crushing chest pain and that unusual symptoms like nausea, sweating, stomach discomfort, or unexplained fatigue are often mistaken for acidity or stress.

“A simple rule to remember is this: if a symptom is sudden, severe, or frightening, do not wait for it to pass,” he said.

Read More: Early Exposure To Lead And Lithium Can Cause A Lifetime Of Mental Exhaustion

How To Prevent

The experts emphasized that timely treatment, CPR awareness, and rapid emergency response remain the strongest defences against sudden cardiac emergencies.

They also highlighted the importance of preventive measures such as regular exercise, healthy eating, stress management, quitting smoking, and controlling diabetes and blood pressure.

Obesity is a very significant modifiable risk factor for brain stroke, which is an extremely dangerous illness caused by an insufficient or lack of blood supply to the brain. Stroke leads to disability, memory impairment, paralysis, and sometimes death. As obesity is related to many illnesses, regulation of weight can considerably decrease the probability of suffering a brain stroke.

Dr Bhupesh Kumar Mansukhani, Director of Neurology at Neuromet Wellness Care & Diagnostics, in an interview with Health and Me, said, "Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat in the body, which causes damage to health. Obesity is determined using the BMI index. Those who suffer from obesity are more prone to illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels, all of which put people at a higher risk of suffering a brain stroke. Excessive fat, particularly abdominal fat, affects the arteries, leading to their constriction."

Can hypertension trigger a stroke?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is yet another major connection between obesity and stroke. Obesity causes stress on the cardiovascular system and elevates blood pressure levels. Such a state poses a risk of injury to the blood vessels in the brain, causing their rupture or blockage. Obesity usually results in diabetes, and both conditions harm the walls of the blood vessels and increase the risk of blood clot formation. Besides, the increased concentration of cholesterol contributes to plaque accumulation in the arteries.

The presence of obesity in the body stimulates inflammatory reactions and reduces the rate of circulation, which may cause the formation of blood clots. As a result, these clots are delivered to the brain and prevent blood from delivering oxygen to it, and ischaemia becomes the trigger for an ischaemic stroke, which is the leading type of stroke.

Is obesity a modifiable risk factor?

The advantage here is that obesity is a modifiable risk factor, which can actually be avoided or managed. Proper nutrition, physical exercise, adequate sleep, and the absence of negative behaviours will enable an individual to maintain a healthy body weight. It is also important to take part in preventive measures, such as having regular medical examinations and testing one’s blood pressure, glucose levels, and cholesterol.

To conclude, it can be noted that obesity contributes significantly to increased risks of developing a brain stroke due to many reasons, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and vascular diseases. Being a modifiable risk factor, it can be easily avoided.

Cancer is, without a doubt, one of the most feared diseases known to man. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP), India gets 1.5 million new cases of the disease every year, with one in nine people likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. On the other hand, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) expect about 2,114,850 new cases in the United States this year alone.

A new study claims that the weight loss drug, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), may help slow the spread of some cancers. The research was done by the Cleveland Clinic and claimed that the medications may slow down the spread of several obesity-related cancers, including lung, breast, colorectal, and liver cancers.

The official press release by the Cleveland Clinic mentions their research being included 12,112 patients with the following types of obesity-related cancers, ranging from stage 1 to stage 3, and half of these participants started a GLP-1 medication after their cancer diagnosis. The others were taking a DPP-4 inhibitor comparator, "gliptins," a different class of diabetes medications.

The comparison between the two groups clearly shows that the patients who took GLP-1 have a much lower progression to stage 4 disease for four types of cancers.

The study author, Mark David Orland, MD, of the Taussig Cancer Institute at Cleveland Clinic, said, "Our study found that use of GLP-1 drugs, compared to DPP-4 inhibitors and other antidiabetic drugs, was associated with a meaningful reduction in cancer progression across four solid tumor types."

How To Reduce The Risk Of Cancer?

• Consuming a healthy and balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can reduce cancer risk.
• Regular physical activity keeps the body fit and reduces the risk of breast, colon, and endometrial cancers.
• Smoking and alcohol consumption should be avoided.
• Skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer. Applying sunscreen with high SPF, finding shade, and avoiding tanning beds would save you from harmful ultraviolet rays.
• Long-term stress can weaken the immune system and may contribute to an increased risk of cancer. Incorporating stress-relief techniques such as mindfulness, practising deep-breathing exercises, and engaging in enjoyable hobbies can enhance overall well-being.
• Exposure to environmental elements like pesticides, pollutants, and workplace chemicals can increase the risk of cancer. To avoid this risk, wearing protective gear, opting for organic produce, and ensuring adequate ventilation in living or working areas can greatly assist.
• By vaccinating against Hepatitis B and HPV, individuals can protect themselves against infections closely linked to liver and cervical cancers; apart from vaccination, adopting proper hygiene practices and steering clear of high-risk activities can help prevent the risk of cancer-causing infections.