Emotional control is something everyone learns over time. Everyone deals with things differently, some people have a difficult time controlling their emotions, while others find it easier to compartmentalize and figure out a solution. However, having an emotional breakdown/meltdown is completely different then feeling stressed or panicked. An emotional meltdown is when you feel so overwhelmed that you can't control your feelings. It's like hitting a breaking point.

You might cry a lot, get really angry, or feel panicky. WebMD explains that it's not a medical problem, but it's a sign you're under a lot of stress. Everyone has meltdowns sometimes, especially when life gets tough. It doesn't mean you're weak or broken. It just means you're human. Meltdowns happen when your needs aren't being met, like needing more rest or help. It's your body's way of saying something's wrong. You can learn to handle stress better and have fewer meltdowns.

What Prompts An Emotional Breakdown?

Many things can cause a meltdown. Not sleeping enough makes you grumpy and stressed. Skipping meals makes you feel shaky and unable to focus. Doing too much at once makes you feel overwhelmed. Big changes in your life, like a new job or a breakup, can make you feel wobbly. Not talking about problems with people you care about can also make things worse. If you have meltdowns often, think about what makes them happen. Maybe you need to eat more regularly or learn to talk about your feelings. Some things are easy to fix, and some take more time.

Can You Stop A Meltdown When It’s Happening?

When you feel a meltdown coming, stop and take a breath. Your face might get hot, your hands cold, and your breathing fast. Pay attention to how you feel. Don't try to fix the problem right away. First, calm down. Your brain can't think clearly when you're upset. Try grounding techniques, like feeling your feet on the floor or touching your fingertips together. Deep breathing helps too. Breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, breathe out for four, and pause for four. Do this until you feel calmer. You can't change the problem right away, but you can change how you react to it.

After a meltdown, you might feel embarrassed, ashamed, or relieved. Don't just ignore it. Think about why it happened. Did you try to do too much? Learn from it. If you're embarrassed, ask yourself why. It's okay to have feelings. If you felt relieved, it means you needed to let your feelings out. But try to express them in a healthy way before you have a meltdown. You don't have to apologize for how you feel, but you might need to apologize for how you acted. If you yelled or threw things, say sorry and make a plan to do better next time. If you have meltdowns often, talk to a therapist. Be kind to yourself; everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes.

Can You Prevent It?

You can learn to stop meltdowns before they start. Make time to relax every day. Do things you enjoy, like exercising or reading. Listen to your body. If you feel tense, tired, or have headaches, you're probably stressed. Do something to relax. Don't ignore bad feelings. Talk about them. Naming your feelings helps you control them. Ask for help from friends and family. They can help you with tasks or just listen. Spend time in nature; it's calming. Do things that make you laugh and have fun. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, talk to a therapist. They can teach you ways to cope with stress.

Winter brings a significant rise in respiratory problems, particularly among people living with asthma. Increased air pollution, falling temperatures and exposure to dust and other airborne irritants can trigger inflammation in the airways, leading to symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness.

While these factors can make asthma more difficult to manage, many patients also make treatment-related mistakes that can worsen their symptoms and increase the risk of an asthma attack.

One of the most common mistakes is discontinuing inhalers when symptoms improve. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition, and the absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean that the underlying inflammation has resolved. Controller inhalers, particularly those containing inhaled corticosteroids, help reduce airway inflammation and prevent flare-ups.

Stopping these medications without medical advice can leave patients vulnerable to sudden exacerbations, especially during periods of high pollution.

Another concern is the excessive reliance on rescue inhalers. These inhalers provide quick relief by relaxing the muscles around the airways, but they do not necessarily address the underlying inflammation. Frequent use may indicate that asthma is not adequately controlled and that the patient's treatment plan needs to be reviewed by a doctor. Patients should not increase their medication dosage or frequency without appropriate medical guidance.

Incorrect inhaler technique is another frequently overlooked problem. Patients may use their inhalers too quickly, fail to coordinate inhalation with medication release or neglect to hold their breath briefly after inhaling. These mistakes can prevent the medicine from reaching the lungs effectively. Regularly reviewing inhaler technique with a healthcare professional and using a spacer, where recommended, can significantly improve drug delivery.

Many patients also underestimate the importance of continuing their prescribed treatment during symptom-free periods. Some turn to steam inhalation, home remedies or over-the-counter cough medications instead of following their asthma management plan. Although certain supportive measures may provide comfort, they cannot replace prescribed asthma medication. Hot steam can also cause burns and should not be used as a treatment for asthma.

During winter, patients should monitor local air quality, reduce prolonged outdoor exposure when pollution levels are high, avoid tobacco smoke and other respiratory irritants, and keep their prescribed medication accessible. Wearing a well-fitting mask outdoors may help reduce exposure to particulate pollution, although it does not eliminate the risk.

Most importantly, people with asthma should have an individualised asthma action plan and attend regular follow-ups. Worsening breathlessness, difficulty speaking in full sentences or symptoms that do not respond to the prescribed reliever require urgent medical attention. With correct inhaler use, consistent treatment and timely medical review, most patients can manage their asthma more effectively even during highly polluted winter months.

(By Dr. Arunachalam M, Sr. Consultant and HOD-Pulmonology, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Noida)

Changes in stride like a slower walking pace, fewer steps or a change in the way your arms move may be considered as signs of ageing. However, an emerging study suggests that minor differences in walking patterns could be subtle, early indicators of Parkinson’s disease. According to the study, these signs can can emerge years before Parkinson's diagnosis.

Published in the Journal of Neural Transmission, the study analysed movement data from more than 73,000 participants in the UK Biobank. Researchers found that certain changes in walking behaviour could indicate a future Parkinson’s diagnosis, surfacing up to 6.8 years beforehand.

The findings indicate that Parkinson’s disease may begin developing long before its more familiar symptoms like tremors and stiffness, become noticeable.

Findings From The Study

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Researchers examined data from 73,413 people who wore wearables that track movement for seven days. Their health records were then followed for up to 10 years. Of the participants without Parkinson’s at the time of the movement assessment, 314 were diagnosed with the disease during follow-up.

Using a digital analysis tool called Watch Walk, researchers examined 17 characteristics related to gait. They identified five walking characteristics that were consistently linked with a subsequent Parkinson’s diagnosis:

• Fewer steps each day: Participants who later developed Parkinson’s recorded lower daily step counts than those who did not.
• Slower walking speed: People who were diagnosed later tended to walk more slowly, including at their maximum walking speed.
• Shorter walking periods: They also spent a lesser amount of their time walking in longer, continuous stretches.
• Changes in step regularity: Their steps showed less consistent rhythm, indicating alterations in the regularity of their walking pattern.
• Reduced natural arm swing: They spent more time walking with their arms in a static position instead of swinging naturally.

Effects Of Parkinson’s Disease On Walking

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Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs due to the loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine in a brain region called the substantia nigra. Dopamine helps regulate movement, coordination and other functions.

As dopamine levels decline, the brain's ability to coordinate movement is affected. This can lead to bradykinesia, or slowness of movement, rigidity of muscle, tremors and balance issues.

These changes can also affect gait. A person may take smaller steps, walk more slowly, experience difficulty moving or reduced swinging arms.

The study's findings suggest that some of these motor changes may be detectable in everyday movement well before the condition is formally diagnosed.

Changes in walking speed, balance, step length or arm movement can occur for several reasons, including ageing, joint problems, injuries, medication effects and other neurological conditions.

Parkinson’s disease is, however, diagnosed through a clinical assessment, which considers a person's symptoms, medical history and neurological examination. Other symptoms that may warrant medical evaluation include:

• A tremor especially when the affected hand or limb is at rest.
• Slowness in everyday movements like dressing or getting up from a chair.
• Muscle stiffness or rigidity.
• Problems with balance.
• Smaller handwriting or changes in speech volume.

Early Detection Of Parkinson’s Disease

Although there is currently no established treatment that stops or reverses the underlying progression of Parkinson’s disease, an earlier diagnosis can help people manage symptoms, access rehabilitation and support sooner.

Exercise, physiotherapy and medical care can help maintain mobility, balance and quality of life. Early assessment can also help doctors distinguish Parkinson’s from other conditions that may cause similar movement difficulties.

After the social media trend of ‘ferritin face’ had everyone scrutinising their face for pale skin, dark circles and sluggish features due to low iron levels, attention is now shifting to hair. Described as ‘ferritin hair’, social media users have been attributing symptoms like unusual hair shedding, thinning and brittle strands to the body’s low iron stores.

The trend is not just a fluke. There is a medical basis for recognising iron deficiency in people facing hair loss. However, ‘ferritin hair’ is not a formal medical diagnosis. Hair loss can be due to several reasons, including hormonal changes, stress, thyroid disorders, nutritional deficiencies and genetic hair-loss conditions.

So is there a connection between ferritin and hair health and which signs should prompt someone to seek medical advice?

What Is Ferritin And How Is It Connected To Your Hair?

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Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body and releases it when needed. A blood ferritin test helps assess the body's iron reserves. Iron is essential for several functions, including the production of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.

When iron stores are exhausted, the body prioritises essential functions over those that are not absolutely necessary for survival. Hair growth may be affected in some people, contributing to increased shedding.

A 2023 clinical review published in Cutis noted that measuring serum ferritin can be useful while evaluating people with diffuse hair loss, especially to identify underlying iron deficiency.

A 2026 study published in Cureus reported that low serum ferritin and telogen effluvium in women may be connected.

A separate systematic review published in 2026 also found lower ferritin levels among people with telogen effluvium.

The European Food Safety Authority has also observed a cause-and-effect relationship between iron intake and the maintenance of normal hair growth.

Possible Signs Of 'Ferritin Hair'

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Hair shedding: One possible sign is diffuse hair shedding, in which more hair than usual falls from across the scalp rather than from one specific area. This can occur due to a condition called telogen effluvium, in which more hair follicles than usual enter the resting phase of the hair-growth cycle.

Hair thinning: Constant shedding can make the hair appear less dense over time. Some people may notice a wider-looking parting or thinner volume.

Dry or brittle hair: Iron deficiency may cause dry, brittle hair. However, hair texture can also be affected by heat styling, chemical treatments and other nutritional factors.

Other symptoms: Hair shedding may occur with other signs of iron deficiency like fatigue, weakness, poor concentration, breathlessness, palpitations or pale skin.

Causes Of Iron Deficiency Or Low Ferritin Levels

Iron deficiency can develop when the body loses more iron than it absorbs and does not receive enough through diet. Heavy menstrual bleeding and pregnancy are common reasons for iron deficiency. Other possible causes include:

• Inadequate dietary iron: People who do not consume enough iron-rich foods are at risk if their diets are restrictive.
• Poor absorption: Conditions such as coeliac disease can interfere with the absorption of iron.
• Blood loss: Gastrointestinal conditions like gastritis and intestinal polyps can sometimes lead to iron loss.
• Increased requirements: Pregnancy can demand increased iron needs.