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.

Ever since the Trump administration has come to power, sentiments against vaccines have gone up. Many vaccine critiques have been handpicked by the anti-vaxxer HHS Secretary RFK Jr. as health officials. So it is no surprise that now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is now recommending that mothers who test negative for hepatitis B should discuss the need for the vaccine with their doctors. If parents choose to delay the birth dose, the first shot should be given at no earlier than two months of age. This is dropping the longstanding hepatitis B vaccine guideline that stated that every newborn receive the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine shortly after birth. This recommendation, in place since 1991, was reversed on December 5 after a key CDC advisory committee voted to change the policy.

This committee was appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who dismissed all 17 previous members earlier this year. The shift in policy has triggered wide debate, especially in the medical community, because it overturns one of the longest standing infant vaccination guidelines in the United States.

Below are some of the claims made by the panel, both sides, who debated the vaccine's need or unimportance for all infants.

Hidden Hepatitis B Infections Make Risk Hard to Judge

Claim: Several ACIP members questioned whether babies considered “low risk” truly need a hepatitis B shot at birth. But hepatitis B is not always easy to detect or trace.

The virus spreads through bodily fluids such as blood, semen and vaginal fluids. It is also extremely resilient and can survive on surfaces for up to a week. Even tiny amounts of dried blood from everyday items like razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers can carry the virus.

Hepatitis B often has no symptoms for years. The CDC estimates that 640,000 adults in the United States live with chronic hepatitis B, and half do not know they are infected. This means that even if a mother tests negative during pregnancy, her newborn can still be exposed through family members or other caretakers. Before universal birth-dose vaccination began, only half of infected children under age ten had contracted the virus from their mothers at birth.

Because so many people are unaware of their infections, determining true risk is complicated.

The Vaccine Protects the Most Vulnerable: Newborns

Claim: Some committee members suggested that vaccinating all newborns mainly protects adults or others at higher risk.

That claim is misleading. The primary purpose of giving the shot at birth is to protect infants, who face the most severe long-term consequences of infection.

Hepatitis B attacks the liver. If an infant becomes infected, there is a very high chance the disease will progress into a chronic lifelong condition. About a quarter of those children eventually die prematurely from liver failure or liver cancer. While treatments exist to reduce complications, there is no cure.

Dr. James Campbell, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Maryland, reminded the committee that the vaccine strategy transformed public health outcomes. “We used to have 18,000 or 20,000 kids born with this every year, and a quarter of them would go on to develop liver cancer. We now have almost none,” he said.

Falling Infection Rates Show Vaccines Worked

Claim: Hepatitis B infections fell sharply after the birth-dose recommendation took effect. Before vaccination became routine, up to 300,000 Americans were infected annually. About 20,000 of those were children.

Today, total annual cases have dropped to around 14,000. Among people under 19, chronic infections have reached extremely low levels. In 2022, the CDC documented only 252 new cases in this age group.

ACIP member Dr. H. Cody Meissner, who voted against changing the policy, argued that declining numbers do not justify easing precautions. “It is a mistake to say that because we are not seeing much disease, we can change the schedule,” he said. “If we do, hepatitis B infections will come back.”

The United States Is Not an Outlier

Claim: Some committee members compared U.S. policy to countries such as Denmark, which does not vaccinate all newborns.

However, the United States is far from alone in recommending a universal birth-dose. According to CDC data from September 2025, 116 out of 194 World Health Organization member countries recommend hepatitis B vaccination at birth.

Denmark does not include hepatitis B in its standard childhood schedule, but it has a centralized national health system, higher prenatal screening rates and less fragmented medical records. The United States lacks these structural advantages, which makes relying solely on maternal testing more challenging.

A senior British cardiologist has shared a clear two-word tip that he says can make a real difference to your blood pressure. Dr Amir Khan recently explained this advice while outlining five simple habits that can naturally bring hypertension under control, particularly during the winter months when heart risks tend to rise.

India continues to struggle with a heavy hypertension burden. Roughly one in three adults is estimated to have high blood pressure, yet many remain unaware of their condition, and even fewer manage it well. Doctors often warn that this lack of awareness, combined with poor control and gaps in long-term care, leads to serious complications such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Since hypertension usually comes without symptoms, it has long been known as a silent killer.

Dr Khan highlights that a few lifestyle tweaks can go a long way, and his biggest message is built around a simple two-word mantra: “get moving”. He explained on Instagram that regular physical activity keeps blood vessels flexible and supports healthy blood flow. His advice is to pick any form of movement you genuinely enjoy and make it part of your routine.

How movement actually helps

Exercise reduces blood pressure by strengthening the heart, improving circulation, and reducing the strain on arteries. A stronger heart pumps blood more efficiently, which lowers the force exerted on blood vessel walls. Physical activity also opens up small blood vessels, helps manage weight, and reduces inflammation and stress hormones. All of these support healthier vascular function and better overall pressure control.

Doctors recommend a mix of aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, along with strength training to support long-term heart and metabolic health.

Other helpful changes, according to Dr Khan

While movement is his main message, Dr Khan also lists four additional habits that support healthier blood pressure levels.

Reduce salt intake

He explains that those with high blood pressure need to be especially mindful of hidden salt. Adults should ideally stay around six grams a day, which is about a teaspoon. Much of this is already present in packaged or restaurant foods. Using herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients can help bring the total down.

Add more potassium-rich foods

Dr Khan encourages increasing potassium intake because it helps the kidneys flush out excess sodium. Foods rich in potassium include bananas, tomatoes, spinach, carrots, and kiwi. Adding these regularly can make a noticeable difference.

Avoid smoking and alcohol

He stresses that avoiding cigarettes and limiting alcohol is key for heart health. Smoking damages blood vessels and raises blood pressure, while alcohol can worsen both pressure and weight control.

Maintain a healthy weight

Keeping weight in a healthy range reduces strain on the heart and helps blood vessels function more efficiently. It also improves circulation and reduces the substances that cause vessels to tighten.

Dr Khan’s message is simple. Small and consistent lifestyle choices can noticeably lower blood pressure, and starting early makes a significant difference.

A new study in the European Heart Journal has shed light on a worrying trend. People living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes face a much higher risk of sudden cardiac death, and this risk contributes to a significant loss of life expectancy. The findings also suggest that the true burden of sudden cardiac death in the diabetes population has been underestimated until now.

A Higher and Earlier Risk Than the General Population

Sudden cardiac death refers to an unexpected loss of heart function, often triggered by a sudden electrical disturbance in the heart. While many people assume this happens mainly to those with known heart problems, earlier research has shown that a large number of cases occur in individuals without diagnosed cardiac disease. This means vulnerable groups like people with diabetes may slip through the cracks of current prevention strategies.

Also Read: Is There A Link Between Your Kidney Health And Other Chronic Diseases? Lancet Study Says Yes

People with diabetes already face a shorter lifespan compared to the general population. On average, a 30-year-old with Type 1 diabetes loses about 14.2 years of life, while someone with Type 2 diabetes loses around 7.9 years. A major share of this reduction is linked to cardiovascular disease, and the latest study estimates that sudden cardiac death alone accounts for 3.4 years lost in Type 1 diabetes and 2.7 years in Type 2 diabetes.

What the Danish Study Revealed

To better understand the scale of the problem, researchers examined a nationwide cohort that included every person living in Denmark throughout 2010. For those who died during that year, detailed information was collected from medical records, autopsy findings when available, and death certificates. Two physicians independently reviewed every potential sudden death to ensure accuracy.

The dataset included more than 5.5 million people. During the year, 54,028 deaths occurred, and more than 14 percent were sudden deaths. People with diabetes made up a significant portion of these cases. There were 25,020 individuals with Type 1 diabetes and 172,669 with Type 2 diabetes, with 97 and 1,149 sudden cardiac deaths recorded in each group.

People with diabetes who experienced sudden cardiac death tended to be younger and more often male compared with people without diabetes. They also carried a heavier burden of other medical conditions, including ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, kidney disease, and even mental health issues. A notable proportion of these patients had also been hospitalized for diabetes-related complications such as hypoglycemia, which researchers believe could play a role in triggering sudden cardiac events.

Numbers That Highlight the Gap

The incidence of sudden cardiac death in the general population was 105 per 100,000 person years. In contrast, it climbed to 394 for people with Type 1 diabetes and 681 for those with Type 2 diabetes. The relative risk was especially striking among younger adults. For example, people between 30 and 40 with Type 1 diabetes had more than twenty times the risk compared to those without diabetes.

A Clear Need for Better Prevention

The research team used multiple statistical models to adjust for factors like age and existing disease, and diabetes consistently emerged as an independent risk factor. The findings confirm that sudden cardiac death is responsible for a meaningful portion of life years lost in people with diabetes. They also point to a need for better screening, earlier management of cardiovascular risks, and more focused research into why this group is so vulnerable.