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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.
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.
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.
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.
Stroke is a medical emergency which can lead to death if not addressed immediately. (Photo credit: iStock)
A heatwave is getting worse with each passing day, and with it come dehydration, stomach flu, and sometimes even mood swings. But little do people realise that the risks associated with a heatwave could be much worse - it turns out that exposure to extreme heat could also give you a stroke. Dr Deep Das, Consultant - Neurology, CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI, in an interview with Health and Me, decoded the link between heatwaves and the risk of stroke.
Dr Das said that in very high temperatures, the body does not always cope in predictable ways. The brain is particularly sensitive to these shifts. One of the concerns is stroke. In the heat, people tend to lose fluids without realising how much. Blood volume drops, and circulation is affected. In some cases, the blood becomes more prone to clotting. At the same time, blood pressure can fluctuate. This combination increases the chances of a disruption in blood flow to the brain.
Seizures are another risk, especially in those who already have epilepsy. Even when the condition has been stable, heat can unsettle things. Dehydration and changes in electrolyte balance make the brain more reactive than usual. A person who has been well-controlled for months may still have an episode during a prolonged heatwave. What makes this difficult is that these changes are not always gradual. Symptoms can appear suddenly.
A stroke refers to a potentially fatal medical emergency. It can be sudden or gradual, and it is characterised by a blockage in blood circulation to the brain. It can result in rapidly dying brain cells and requires immediate medical attention. The symptoms of stroke can be identified as FAST:
Apart from this, other symptoms of a stroke are:
In this weather, small precautions matter more than they seem. Some of the best ways to dodge a stroke amid a heatwave are:
It also helps to keep an eye on people who may not notice these changes early—older adults, those living alone, or anyone with an existing medical condition.
Some people are more prone to stroke risk than others. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the risk factors, especially during a heatwave. If you are dealing with any of the following comorbidities, think twice before stepping out amid a worsening heatwave:
Furthermore, people who are 65 years and above must avoid stepping out from 12 noon to 4pm. Even people who have a family history of stroke must not step out during these hours.
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Breast cancer remains one of the most common and fatal cancers among women worldwide, and early detection is proven to play a crucial role in improving outcomes. While mammography remains the most effective screening tool, knowing when to start and how often to get screened can be confusing.
The changing medical guidelines, as with the new screening guidelines from the American College of Physicians (ACP), can also leave women confused about when to start mammograms and how often to repeat them. HealthandMe spoke to experts to understand the correct timing.
So, What Do The ACP Guidelines Say?
The new guidance statement developed by ACP's Clinical Guidelines Committee urged mammography screening once every two years in asymptomatic, average-risk adult females, instead of the annual recommendation.
The ACP guidelines further state that all average-risk females ages 50 to 74 must undergo biennial mammography. It added that women aged 75 years or older with asymptomatic and average-risk can also discuss stopping routine screening with their doctor.
In sharp contrast, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) urges starting annual screening at age 40 to save lives.
“Some cancer societies like the American Cancer Society say biennial, while NCCN says annually. We prefer annually starting at age 40 till the woman is in good health, as biennial screening may delay early diagnosis in some cases,” Dr. Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Vice Chairman - Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Onco Robotic Surgeries, Manipal Hospitals, Gurugram, told HealthandMe.
NCCN, or the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, is an alliance of 34 cancer centers in the US.
Dr. Sharma added that a practical and balanced approach would be to do biennial mammography from 40 to 50 years of age and annual mammography after 50 years of age for maximum benefit.
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray that captures detailed images of breast tissue, capable of identifying cancers before any physical symptoms appear.
In women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation who are referred to as "high risk" or with a history of radiation to the chest between ages 10 and 30, screening may start as early as age 30 and include annual breast MRIs alongside mammograms.
Breast cancer in India is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage due to poor health awareness. But of late, there has been an increase in awareness, and more and more women are reporting in their earlier stages with a breast lump.
“Sometimes even this is too late. Breast cancer screening would help us diagnose this disease at an even earlier stage to help increase the chances of a cure from this deadly but treatable disease with the help of simple tests,” Dr Abhijit Kotabagi, Senior Consultant, Department of Surgical Oncology, Yatharth Hospital, Noida, told HealthandMe.
“I would endorse screening and women’s health awareness in our Indian population for women above 40 years after discussion of the pros and cons of screening with a clinician,” he added.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other health organizations recommend the following guidelines:
1. Women Aged 30-40 Years
2. Women Aged 40-50 Years
3. Women Above 50 Years
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India is in the peak of summer, with heatwave conditions affecting several parts of the country. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that these extreme heat conditions will continue over the next few days, especially across North and Central India.
According to IMD's latest bulletin, heat wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of Bihar, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
The IMD has also forecast a yellow alert for heatwave conditions at isolated places in Delhi from today, with maximum temperatures expected to climb between 41 °C and 44 °C through April 24. The state government has issued guidelines for all schools, focusing on hydration and safety measures.
As temperatures rise, health experts highlighted the disproportionate burden of heat on women and the related physical, social, and financial effects. Studies show women often have higher heat-related mortality rates and suffer from increased fatigue, dehydration, and reproductive health issues.
Women typically face higher risks during heatwaves than men due to
Heat stress is known to interfere with the endocrine system, which disrupts hormonal balance. This means that severe heat can cause delay or interrupt menstrual cycles, causing heavier or more painful periods, and, in severe cases, absence of menstruation. Women with conditions like PCOS or endometriosis face compounded stress.
"Many women report feeling unusually tired, irritable, or drained during heat waves, and hormones can play a role," Dr. Tripti Raheja, Director - Obstetrics & Gynecology at the CK Birla Hospital (R), Delhi, told HealthandMe.
Women are more likely to feel this during certain hormonal phases, such as menstruation, PMS, pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause.
“Women’s core temperatures rise after ovulation. That, combined with a higher surface area-to-mass ratio, means they absorb heat more quickly,” Mike Tipton, professor and leading expert in applied physiology at the University of Portsmouth, was quoted as saying to Thisdaylive.com.
Women in perimenopause or menopause may experience hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances, making heat waves exhausting.
Also read:Heatwave Hassles: What Body Odour Could Say About Your Health
Iron deficiency or heavy bleeding can also lower energy levels, and extreme heat may worsen weakness.
Pregnant women naturally have higher metabolic demands, so dehydration and fatigue can set in faster.
Without sufficient hydration, blood flow to the placenta might be reduced, potentially harming the baby. Heat exhaustion in pregnancy can cause early labor or stillbirth. Thyroid disorders and PCOS can also contribute to fatigue and reduced overall energy levels, Dr. Raheja said.
"Long exposure to high temperatures can disrupt the balance between hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid hormones, which regulate energy, mood, and metabolism," Dr. Sakshi Goel, Senior Consultant Obstetrics & Gynecology at Rainbow Children's Hospital, Delhi, told HealthandMe.
Dehydration further worsens this by affecting circulation and temperature control, leading to exhaustion, headaches, and dizziness.
Moreover, sleep disturbances from hot nights can impair melatonin production and disrupt overall hormonal rhythms. This leads to poor recovery and low energy the next day.
Read: Excessive Energy Drinks Damaging Young Adults’ Livers, Experts Warn
Understanding how heat affects hormonal health lets women take steps to manage fatigue and maintain overall well-being during extreme weather.
To cope better, the experts suggested prioritizing hydration and including ORS when needed.
Dr. Goel noted that even mild fluid loss can hurt circulation and lower the body’s ability to regulate temperature. This can lead to exhaustion, headaches, and dizziness. Other preventive measures include:
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