Sleep changes as we age. When we were kids, we needed 10 to 12 hours of sleep, for teens it is eight to 10 and it decreases to seven to nine as we reach adulthood. But there is always a lack of urgency when it comes to sleep and young adults, many of whom prefer staying up and doing different activities. According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, many national surveys show that about 37% of men, and 39% of people from the age of 45 to 64 reported not getting enough sleep.

Many people in America don't sleep the right amount. This means they either sleep too long or not long enough. But what happens to your body when you do not sleep enough? You just feel tired right? No, when you don't get this much sleep, your body can get stressed. This can make you more likely to get sick. A study published by the JAMA Network Open Sleep Trajectories and All-Cause Mortality Among Low-Income Adults showed that people who don't sleep the right amount have a higher chance of dying early. It's like your body needs that time to rest and fix itself. Without enough good sleep, things can start to go wrong. So, getting the right amount of sleep is super important for staying healthy.

How Was The Study Done?

Scientists wanted to see how sleep habits affect people's health over many years. They looked at almost 47,000 people who were between 40 and 79 years old. They asked them about their sleep habits when the study started, and then again, a few years later. The scientists wanted to see if people's sleep habits changed. They divided people into groups based on if they started with too much or too little sleep, and if their sleep changed over time. For example, some people started sleeping a lot but then started sleeping very little. This helped the scientists see how different sleep patterns affected people's health. They wanted to see the long-term effects of sleep.

The study found that people who had sleep habits that changed a lot had a higher risk of dying early. This means if you started sleeping too much and then switched to sleeping too little, or the other way around, you were more likely to die sooner. They also found that these people had a higher risk of heart problems. The risks were even higher for some groups of people, like white adults and people with higher incomes.

Sleep Deprivation And Its Effect On The Body

If you often doze off when you are sitting and reading, watching a movie, talking to someone, sitting quietly after lunch or even during a few minutes of traffic, you may be sleep deprived according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. They explain how sleep deprivation can cause issues with learning, focusing and reacting to certain things. The symptoms of sleep deprivation in kids differ a little as they might be overly active and have trouble paying attention to certain things. If you are experiencing sleep issues, make sure to speak to a healthcare professional who will help you identify the issues and direct you towards the treatment or changes you must make. Here are some ways sleep helps your body.

Repairs Your Heart

Good sleep allows your heart and blood vessels to heal. This keeps them strong and healthy, reducing the risk of heart problems.

Controls Hunger

Sleep helps balance your hunger hormones, so you don't feel too hungry. This helps prevent eating too much and keeps your weight healthy.

Manages Blood Sugar

Proper sleep helps your body use insulin correctly. This lowers the chance of high blood sugar, which can lead to diabetes.

Supports Growth

Deep sleep releases growth hormones, helping kids and teens grow. It also repairs body tissues, which is important for everyone.

Boosts Immunity

When you sleep well, your body's defense system gets stronger. This helps you fight off germs and stay healthy.

India is taking significant steps to enhance its vaccination strategy, with a special focus on adults, particularly those aged 55 and above, said Dr. N K Arora, Member of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI), as part of the World Immunization Week.

NTAGI is the highest advisory body on immunization in the country, which consists of independent experts who provide recommendations on vaccines after reviewing data on disease burden, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of vaccines.

In an exclusive interaction with HealthandMe, Dr. Arora shared that the country “is in the process of establishing priority pathogens and vaccines aimed at the adult population”.

This initiative will target those above the age of 55 or 60 to tackle infections that are particularly serious in older individuals, especially those living with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cancer.

“The process has started. This year, we will be moving in that direction,” said Dr. Arora.

HPV Vaccination: A Milestone in Preventing Cervical Cancer

The expert lauded the introduction of the HPV vaccine for young girls. Dr. Arora highlighted the critical importance of this initiative, given India’s status as the country with the highest number of cervical cancer cases globally.

"Cervical cancer is preventable by the HPV vaccine, and we are now in the fortunate position of having a domestically manufactured vaccine," he explained.

The first round of vaccinations has already commenced, and Dr. Arora urged the media and public to dispel any misinformation surrounding the vaccine to ensure its success.

An Indigenous Dengue Vaccine

Further, the vaccine expert highlighted the potential introduction of an indigenous dengue vaccine, currently undergoing trials.

“The trials will take at least two and a half years, which means by the end of 28, we will have the results,” Dr. Arora said.

He emphasized the severity of dengue when it turns from a mild illness into a severe one, particularly among young adults.

The dengue vaccine, being developed indigenously, is expected to play a crucial role in protecting the 10-20 age group, who are most susceptible to severe dengue cases.

“We are waiting for the results of the trials, and once the vaccine is recommended by the NTAGI, the system will be ready to adopt it,” said Dr. Arora.

Also read: World Immunization Week: Vaccines Are Like Insurance, They’re Safe—Take Them, Says Dr NK Arora | Exclusive

India In The Forefront of Vaccine R&D

Dr. Arora stated that India, known as the pharmacy of the world, is playing a significant role in the global vaccine landscape.

“One feels very proud to be an Indian as every vaccine administered in India is made in India,” he said, noting that India also "provides two-thirds of the global vaccine supply".

This achievement positions India as a global leader in vaccine research and development, contributing substantially to global health initiatives.

"These initiatives are vital for the future of public health in India," Dr. Arora said.

Amid rising cases of measles in neighboring countries, India is concerned, and steps are being taken to ward off any potential outbreaks in the nation, said Dr NK Arora, Chair of the National Verification Committee (NVC) for Measles-Rubella Elimination in India.

In an exclusive conversation with HealthandMe, the expert emphasized the growing concerns over the spread of measles, particularly following outbreaks in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

He noted that in the case of polio, India is free, and fortunately, neighbors like Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and even Myanmar are all polio-free.

“But measles is something which we are worried about,” Dr Arora said.

"We are aware of outbreaks in Myanmar, particularly among the Rohingya population, and the subsequent spread to Bangladesh, where there has been a large-scale outbreak with numerous fatalities," he added.

Measles: Strengthening India's Porous Border

As per official data, Bangladesh has recorded 227 child deaths since March in one of its worst outbreaks of measles in decades, with the number of suspected cases reaching nearly 35,000, AFP reported.

Dr Arora pointed out that the porous borders India shares with Bangladesh make the risk of cross-border transmission higher, particularly given the large movement of people between the two countries.

To counter this, the expert mentioned that India has strengthened surveillance in states bordering Bangladesh, like Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya, but also admitted that more efforts are needed.

Meghalaya’s state health department have called for stepping up surveillance in East Khasi Hills District. Similarly, Health officials in Tripura are also assessing the prevailing measles and rubella situation, with a focus on vaccination coverage and containment measures. The health officials have stressed to strengthen surveillance, early detection, reporting, and response mechanisms.

Also read: Measles Again On The Rise Globally: Is India At Risk?

Notably, Nepal has also reported at least four outbreaks of the deadly viral disease —one in Sarlahi and three in Baglung—since the start of 2026.

"If even one case of measles comes in, it can spread quickly due to the virus's high reproductive or transmission dynamics. A single infected child can spread the virus to up to 12 to 18 others very quickly, which is extremely worrisome," he explained.

Dr. Arora stressed the importance of identifying suspected measles cases early, which he defined as any child with fever and rash.

"While these symptoms could indicate other diseases too, it's crucial to have a sensitive definition to quickly detect measles cases.

Once a suspect with fever and rash is identified, samples are promptly sent to the lab for confirmation, and immediate alerts are issued," he told HealthandMe.

Measles: Sporadic Outbreaks In India

Dr. Arora also addressed the ongoing efforts to eliminate measles and rubella in India, which have been bolstered by targeted interventions and public awareness campaigns.

Since the beginning of the year, India is seeing sporadic outbreaks of measles. Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior reported three outbreaks, and Morena six.

Over January and February 2026, 41 children were diagnosed with measles in Tikari village in Madhya Pradesh.

However, swift action by health authorities with proactive frontline engagement and data-driven rapid response prevented an escalation into large measles outbreaks.

"Our goal is to prevent any deaths from measles, which in today's time, should be entirely avoidable," said the Chair of the NVC.

Referring to increasing child deaths due to the highly infectious disease in Bangladesh, he said: "If a child dies from measles, it indicates a significant gap in the quality of care provided."

Further, Dr. Arora explained that measles complications such as severe pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis are of particular concern, as these can be exacerbated by weakened immunity following other illnesses, such as malaria. Therefore, he emphasized the need to improve the quality of care and ensure timely and effective treatment for affected children.

Read more: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Denies Link To Measles Outbreak At Senate Hearing

What is Measles?

Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and is spread through coughs and sneezes.

The vaccine-preventable disease can affect people of any age but is most common among children, and can cause complications that include brain swelling and severe respiratory problems.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and may include:

• high fever,
• cough,
• runny nose,
• red eyes,
• rashes across the body.

Ever tried logging off social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram? For many, checking notifications, scrolling through feeds, and engaging with content has become second nature, often leading to an unnoticed addiction.

While digital dependence can significantly impact mental health, relationships, and overall well-being, most people don’t realize how much time they’re actually spending online.

To understand its effects, researchers at Stanford University in the US asked the 36,000 study participants to log off on weekends from their Facebook and Instagram accounts. The results showed that the people who stayed off felt measurably better.

Disconnecting from social media was seen as a powerful way to regain balance and focus in the increasingly connected world.

The study split participants into groups: about 275 were paid to deactivate their accounts for six weeks, while others logged off for just one week. Both groups showed improved emotional well-being compared to those who kept scrolling, but the effect was more pronounced for Facebook users who went longer without it.

Facebook users over 35 showed the biggest mood improvements, while among Instagram users, the 18-to-24 group benefited most.

Also read: Is India Set To Implement A Social Media Ban For Children?

Social Media And Mental Health

An increasing number of studies and the community at large are convinced that social media are detrimental to our mental health and general well-being.

According to a recent YouGov poll taken in the UK in January 2026, 37 percent of adults gave a general negative review of social media's impact on their mental health, more than twice the number of people who say otherwise.

Merely 14 percent of them admitted to receiving a positive effect from social media on their mental health.

The Pew Research Center survey, conducted in 2024, discloses that 45 percent of US teenagers think social media is damaging their sleep, and 40 percent believe it is hurting their productivity, which are both key factors of mental health.

In 2023, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy named social media as a major threat to the mental health of teens. He also released a social media advisory about social media and mental health.

The advisory indicates that frequent social media use could be associated with changes in parts of the brain related to emotions and learning. Additionally, it can affect impulse control, social behavior, emotional regulation, and sensitivity to social punishments and rewards.

Read More: The Cost Of Social Media Addiction: Study Says It Can Give Kids Eating Disorders

In serious cases, social media can also contribute to self-harm or suicidal thoughts, especially among teens and children facing cyberbullying or trolling. Young people are particularly vulnerable to online pressures, negative comparisons, and feelings of rejection.

“Excessive social media exposure has been linked to anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and, most importantly, difficulty with regulating attention and emotions. Algorithms intensify comparison, validation-seeking, and exposure to harmful content, which children lack the maturity to process,” Dr. Sachin Pradeep Baliga, Associate Consultant Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, told HealthandMe.

Is Quitting The Only Option?

According to mental health experts, moderation and mindfully controlled usage could be the key.

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It is far more effective to come up with a plan that helps your interaction with social media platforms be healthier, such as limiting your time on social media platforms, avoiding harmful content, and pursuing real-world connections, rather than completely demonizing social media.