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.

While alcohol consumption is known to be harmful to health, a new study has linked it to 62 disorders ranging from heart and digestive diseases to mental and neurological conditions and cancers.

The study, published in the journal Addiction, showed that the fully alcohol-attributable conditions are mainly grouped under non-communicable diseases and injuries. These include endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases, mental and behavioral disorders, diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the circulatory system, such as alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and digestive diseases, including alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis.

The latest data also adds psychotic disorders, gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis, fatty liver disease, pregnancy- and perinatal-related conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, as well as external causes and injuries, including alcohol poisoning.

“These conditions are 100 per cent alcohol attributable, meaning these diseases would not even exist in the world without alcohol use,” said Jürgen Rehm, senior scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research in Toronto and part of the study team, according to CNN.

“There are another 30 diseases in which alcohol plays a role, such as breast and other cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and dementia,” Rehm said. “These diseases would exist even without alcohol use, but alcohol use is responsible for a certain proportion of them.”

How The Study Identified Alcohol-Related Diseases

The diseases and injury categories fully attributable to alcohol were identified using the World Health Organization (WHO) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th (ICD-10) and 11th (ICD-11) revision databases.

The study defines heavy drinking as more than 40 g of pure alcohol a day for women and 60 g a day for men. This translates to about 1.4 ounces of liquor for women and 2.1 ounces for men.

The good news, researchers said, is that many of these health effects can be slowed, stopped, or even reversed.

“Fortunately, the immediate effects of alcohol on the immune system don’t last long. Depending on levels of consumption, the body bounces back within days to a week,” Rehm said.

Alcohol And Cancer Risk

Also read: Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy Not Linked To Autism, ADHD, Finds Lancet Study

In 2025, former US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General Advisory on alcohol and cancer risk, highlighting the direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

Similar to warning labels on cigarettes, the Surgeon General called for cancer risk warnings on alcohol products.

The report released by the US Surgeon General’s office identified at least seven types of cancer associated with alcohol consumption. It also recommended updating alcohol labels to include cancer warnings and reassessing guideline limits for alcohol consumption.

The cancers linked to alcohol consumption that Murthy recommended should be included on warning labels:

• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Throat cancer
• Liver cancer
• Voice box cancer
• Esophageal cancer
• Mouth cancer.

Amid India's growing burden of high blood pressure among the youth, Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, said hypertension is emerging as a major public health concern due to worsening lifestyle habits.

High blood pressure is a “silent killer” that is rapidly increasing among India’s youth because of unhealthy lifestyle changes, the minister said.

Hypertension Rising Rapidly Among Young Indians

Ahead of World Hypertension Day 2026, Jadhav noted that the condition often progresses without visible symptoms and can eventually lead to severe complications such as heart attacks and strokes.

“In today’s time, it is essential that we make our communities more sensitive and aware and strengthen awareness about hypertension. Due to changing lifestyles and reduced attention to physical and mental health, hypertension is rapidly increasing even among the youth,” Jadhav said in a video message during the ‘Illness to Wellness Conference on Transforming Hypertension Care: Prevention to Wellness’ organized in the national capital.

He highlighted that the Government of India, under the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NPCDCS), is actively promoting population-based screening, early detection, and management through Health and Wellness Centers across the country.

Modern Lifestyle Habits Increasing Hypertension Risk

Prof. Rakesh Yadav, Cardiologist and head of the Department of Emergency Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi, stated that once known to be the disease of the elderly, hypertension is now more common among the youth. The reason — lifestyle changes, the experts said.

“The biggest problem is that despite increasing awareness, people still do not monitor their blood pressure regularly or continue treatment consistently. Hypertension is no longer limited to the affluent or elderly; it is now affecting all sections of society, including children and young adults,” said Prof. Rakesh Yadav, Cardiologist and head of the Department of Emergency Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi.

“Obesity remains one of the major underlying causes, and regular monitoring of blood pressure and sugar levels, affordable lifelong medication, healthy dietary practices, and weight management are essential to reducing mortality associated with hypertension and related diseases,” he added.

In India, more than 1 in 4 people have hypertension, and cumulatively, more than 90% of adults with hypertension are either undiagnosed, untreated, or treated but live with uncontrolled hypertension.

Experts at the conference also pointed out that modern lifestyles marked by long working hours, constant connectivity, poor sleep, sedentary habits, and rising stress levels are significantly contributing to the growing burden of hypertension and other lifestyle disorders.

Another major concern, they said, is that many people tend to ignore early symptoms until complications arise, negatively affecting treatment outcomes.

“Hypertension is one of the biggest public health challenges today because most people do not take it seriously until complications arise. Nearly one in four adults is affected by hypertension, yet awareness and blood pressure control remain very low,” said Dr. Ripen Gupta, Vice Chairman & Unit Head - Cardiology, Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.

Rajesh Bhushan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, said high blood pressure is not limited to urban populations and is increasingly affecting youth in rural India as well.

“The problem of hypertension is as prevalent in rural India as it is in urban India, but because we live in metro cities, we often believe it is only an urban problem. Early detection is extremely important because without early detection, early treatment becomes difficult,” Bhushan said.

Experts Stress Early Detection And Preventive Care

Bushan stated that non-communicable diseases impact GDP significantly across countries, and therefore, prevention and timely intervention are critical.

Hypertension should never be taken lightly, said Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Chairperson, FICCI Medical Education Task Force and Medical Director, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre. He urged people to follow medical advice seriously to avoid long-term complications.

The doctors called for critical lifestyle interventions for prevention and management. This included:

• annual BP screening,
• aerobic exercise,
• resistance training,
• reduced desk time,
• proper sleep,
• yoga,
• meditation,
• monitoring BMI and waist circumference.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called a “silent killer” because it may cause no symptoms, but serious damage to multiple organs can occur. Most people associate hypertension only with heart attacks, but its ill effects extend far beyond the heart. Persistent high blood pressure can gradually damage the brain, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels, reducing both quality and length of life.

The heart pumps blood through blood vessels, which carry blood to every organ. When hypertension is not properly treated, blood pressure remains high for years, and these blood vessels become stiff, narrow, and damaged. This affects blood flow to vital organs that these blood vessels supply and triggers multiple health problems.

Hypertension: Stroke And Dementia Risk

One of the most serious consequences is damage to the brain. Hypertension is the leading cause of stroke. A blood vessel in the brain may either get blocked or burst due to excessive pressure, resulting in paralysis, speech difficulty, or even death.

Repeated uncontrolled hypertension can also impair memory and thinking ability over time, increasing the risk of vascular dementia in older age. Many patients are surprised to learn that controlling blood pressure today may help preserve brain function years later.

Hypertension: The Silent Effect On Kidneys

The kidneys are another major target. High blood pressure damages the delicate blood vessels inside the kidneys, gradually reducing their ability to function.

In fact, hypertension is one of the important causes of renal failure leading to dialysis. Unfortunately, kidney damage develops silently and may remain unnoticed until advanced stages. Regular monitoring of blood pressure and kidney function is therefore essential.

Hypertension And Eyesight

The eyes, too, can suffer from uncontrolled hypertension. The tiny blood vessels of the retina may narrow, leak, or bleed, leading to blurred vision or even permanent visual loss.

Eye specialists can often detect signs of long-standing hypertension during routine retinal examination. Sometimes, the eyes provide the first warning that blood pressure has been poorly controlled for years.

Hypertension Weakens Blood Vessels

High blood pressure also weakens arteries throughout the body. It accelerates hardening of blood vessels, increases the risk of peripheral artery disease, and can contribute to aneurysms — dangerous ballooning of arteries that may rupture unexpectedly. In some patients, hypertension is linked to sexual dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and reduced exercise capacity.

Hypertension: How To Curb

The good news is that hypertension is both detectable and treatable. Lifestyle measures remain the foundation of prevention and control.

Maintaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, and managing stress can significantly lower blood pressure.

Adequate sleep is equally important. However, many patients also require medicines, and these should be taken regularly even when one feels perfectly well.

Adults should check their blood pressure periodically, especially after the age of 30 or earlier if there is obesity, diabetes, or a family history of hypertension. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent devastating complications later.

Hypertension is not merely a “heart problem.” It is a whole-body disease that silently injures multiple organs. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward prevention, timely treatment, and healthier living.