Feeling sleepy after eating a big meal or after an early morning is normal. While excessive sleepiness does raise alarm, the key to avoid it to understand what is triggering it.

Our bodies have an internal clock, called the circadian rhythm, that controls when we feel sleepy or awake. According to National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), these rhythms include physical and mental changes an organism experiences over 24-hour cycle.

According to John Hopkins Medicine this clock makes us naturally feel a bit sleepy in the early afternoon, usually around 1:00 or 3:00 PM. It's like a built-in dip in our energy levels. Scientists have studied this, and they've found that we're usually most alert in the morning and early evening, with a little dip in between. In some countries, people used to take a short nap in the afternoon to deal with this. It's just a normal part of how our bodies work, but we can learn how to manage it.

Ways You Can Avoid The Afternoon Crash

Everyone gets sleepy in the afternoon sometimes. It's a normal part of life. But you don't have to let it ruin your day. Sometimes, feeling really sleepy during the day can be a sign of a medical problem. If you have a condition like sleep apnea or narcolepsy, or if you take medicine that makes you sleepy, you might feel extra tired in the afternoon. The natural dip in alertness makes it even worse for you. If you're feeling excessively sleepy during the day, it's important to talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out what's going on and find ways to feel more awake and alert. By taking care of your sleep habits, you can make it easier to get through the day without feeling tired all the time. Here are some ways you can avoid the afternoon crash.

Prioritize Sleep

Quality sleep is crucial. Aim for consistent bedtime routines and sufficient hours of rest. Sleep deprivation amplifies afternoon fatigue. A well-rested body manages energy dips more effectively, reducing the severity of the midday slump.

Increase Physical Activity

Even brief movement combats sleepiness. Stand up, stretch, or take a short walk. Physical activity boosts blood flow and oxygen to the brain, enhancing alertness. Regular, light activity throughout the day helps maintain energy levels.

Lighter Lunch Choices

Heavy, carb-loaded lunches divert energy to digestion, inducing sleepiness. Opt for balanced meals with lean protein and vegetables. Lighter meals prevent excessive energy shifts, helping you stay alert and focused in the afternoon.

Caffeine or Hydration

Moderate caffeine intake can temporarily increase alertness. However, avoid excessive amounts, especially later in the day. Hydration is vital; water improves circulation and cognitive function. Choose refreshing drinks to stay hydrated and energized.

Vitamin C Supplementation

Vitamin C's antioxidant properties may reduce fatigue. It combats oxidative stress, a contributor to tiredness. Consider a supplement or vitamin C-rich foods. Remember, individual responses vary, and it's best to consult a healthcare professional.

Shift Mental Focus

When feeling sleepy, change your mental environment. Focus on completed tasks or engage in enjoyable activities. Distraction can redirect your mind, temporarily alleviating the feeling of sleepiness. A brief mental break can provide a needed reset.

Power Naps

Short naps (20-30 minutes) can rejuvenate, but avoid longer naps. They can lead to grogginess. Napping too close to bedtime disrupts nighttime sleep. A brief nap during the early afternoon can restore alertness and improve productivity.

Once widely known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the common and dangerous fatty liver condition was rephrased as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) due to its strong link to metabolic health issues like obesity and diabetes.

MASLD now includes patients with fatty liver disease linked to metabolic risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

MASLD: So What Prompted The Change?

Globally, it was observed that all patients who have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease also have some associated form of metabolic dysfunction. The patients reported having either obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, or cholesterol problems.

And all these problems eventually lead to significant comorbidities later, like some people developed heart disease, while others developed complications of diabetes.

In view of these, a global consensus process in 2023 involving hundreds of experts from different countries adopted MASLD as it better reflected these underlying causes of the condition.

What Does MASLD Mean?

Also read: Lancet Study Shows Metabolic Liver Disease To Rise Over 38% By 2050: What’s Behind The Surge

MASLD is an umbrella term for liver conditions that develop in the presence of 1 or more cardiometabolic risk factors—including high blood sugar, elevated body mass index (BMI), and hypertension—but in the absence of other causes of liver fat accumulation.

The condition can be defined by excess liver fat accumulation (more than 5 per cent of liver weight) in the presence of metabolic dysfunction, independent of alcohol intake.

It encompasses a spectrum from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

“Initially, it was thought that having fatty liver disease without alcohol was a benign condition, but now it is recognized that, since it is associated with lots of metabolic comorbidities, it's no longer benign,” Dr. Ashish Kumar, Professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, told HealthandMe.

He stated that whenever a diagnosis of fatty liver is present, "we should actually include other comorbidities, like obesity, dyslipidemia, which means cholesterol problem, diabetes, sugar problem, pre-diabetes, and hypertension. At least 50–70–80 percent of these patients will have one or more of these comorbidities".

Why Alcohol Is Not The Only Culprit For Fatty Liver

Although alcohol has remained the number one risk for liver disease, MASLD seems to be rising globally, including among people who do not drink. Why?

The reasons include:

a sedentary lifestyle,

increased consumption of fast and processed food,

lack of exercise,

lack of sleep,

stressful life.

Also read: Why Regular Scans Are Crucial for Liver Cancer Patients: Doctors Explain

The experts noted that food, especially the increasingly accessible junk food or processed food, is a major culprit.

“So even if the person is not drinking alcohol, people are developing addiction to processed food, and this is causing an epidemic level of obesity and diabetes. Consequently, MASLD is also increasing, and now it is becoming the number one cause of liver disease,” Dr Kumar said.

How To Prevent MASLD?

According to Dr. Sanjay Goja, Director, Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram, prevention must focus on following a healthy lifestyle like maintaining a healthy BMI, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a balanced diet.

Controlling diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure is also important to prevent the risk of MASLD.

Dr Siddharth Badola, Manipal Hospital, Ghaziabad, suggested sustainable lifestyle changes such as:

Maintaining an adequate body weight: Even slight weight loss (5–10 percent) has been shown to significantly reduce liver fat and inflammation.

Follow a balanced and nutrient-rich diet: People should focus on consuming whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while limiting refined carbohydrates and processed foods.

Avoid foods with added sugar: Excess consumption of fructose, commonly found in packaged foods and sugary beverages, is a key contributor to fat accumulation in the liver.

Engage in regular physical activity: At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week is recommended to improve insulin sensitivity and liver health.

Manage associated metabolic conditions: Effective control of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia is essential in reducing the risk of MASLD progression.

Ensure adequate sleep and stress management: Poor sleep quality and chronic stress can negatively impact metabolic balance and liver function.

Keep your body hydrated with ample water intake and follow structured meal timings.

Women can play a major role in preventing as well as eliminating Chagas Disease, a potentially life-threatening neglected tropical disease that affects 8 million people globally and causes 10,000 deaths every year, according to UN agencies.

World Chagas Disease Day is observed every year on April 14 to raise awareness around the disease, and the impact it has on lives.

In a statement, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Global Chagas Coalition urged health authorities to make women central to the fight against the disease and to empower them to make early detection, prevention, and care.

“Eliminating Chagas disease as a public health problem requires placing women at the center of diagnosis, treatment, and care strategies,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director.

“Ensuring timely access to quality health services, particularly for women of reproductive age, is essential to prevent new infections and advance toward the elimination of congenital Chagas disease in the Region of the Americas,” he added.

What Is Chagas Disease?

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a illness caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is primarily transmitted by triatomine insect vectors.

It gets spread through

• oral transmission,
• blood transfusion,
• mother-to-child.
• through transplants of some organs (such as heart or kidney)
• through laboratory accidents.

If left untreated, one third of infected people—including women and the children they carry—will develop life-altering heart, digestive, and even neurological conditions, and may even become fatal.

Once endemic to 21 countries in Latin America, the disease has now spread globally due to migration. It is now a global health concern with cases found in 44 countries including the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan.

World Chagas Disease Day 2026: Theme

World Chagas Disease Day was celebrated for the first time in 2020.

The theme this year is “Women at the heart of care, protecting the next generation” and underscores the key role women play in family and community caregiving, as well as their greater interaction with health services, particularly during pregnancy.

Chagas Disease: Role Of Women

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 2 million women aged 15-44 years are living with Trypanosoma cruzi infection worldwide.

Congenital transmission or mother-to-child transmission remains a major challenge, occurring in about 3–5 percent of pregnancies. However, it also provides a key opportunity for effective intervention.

The transmission cycle of the disease can be effectively broken by

• Treating infected girls and women before pregnancy
• Strengthening screening in maternal and child health services
• Eaccess to diagnosis and treatment.
• Newborn screening can help diagnose and treat, with a cure rate exceeding 90 percent.
• Increase awareness at community and family levels.
• Avoid foodborne transmission

“On the contrary, it represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen more equitable, accessible, and responsive health systems that recognize and respect women’s needs.”

The BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty has opened up about her experience of suffering from a painful womb condition, known as the "evil twin sister of endometriosis".

The 51-year-old Naga Munchetty explained her condition as adenomyosis, which can cause extreme pain at any time. Munchetty added that she has faced the condition even while presenting her show, The Independent reported.

Naga Munchetty said that adenomyosis has caused her severe pain since she was in her teens, and she has “become conditioned to accept” it.

“If you’re curled up on the floor screaming, sweating, flooding, passing out, vomiting, that is debilitating. But you end up normalizing that pain.”

What Is Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is an extremely painful condition, which affects the womb and causes the uterus to enlarge. Although it affects an estimated one in 10 women, it remains undiagnosed in most women.

It is a lesser-known but significantly debilitating gynecological disorder that is commonly mistaken for endometriosis.

Adenomyosis leads to debilitating symptoms such as

• intense pain
• heavy menstrual bleeding,
• cramps,
• abdominal bloating
• fertility issues.

Differences Between Endometriosis And Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis occurs when endometrial cells—typically restricted to the lining of the uterus—break through the myometrium, the muscular wall of the uterus.

Endometriosis, on the other hand, happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. These tissues commonly develop on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the pelvic lining.

In contrast, adenomyosis is inside the uterus but produces serious complications. These out-of-place endometrial cells continue to act as they would in a regular menstrual cycle, becoming thick and shedding, which leads to internal bleeding, inflammation, and intense pain.

Adenomyosis: The Condition Without Treatment

Despite going to the doctors several times, Naga Munchetty was not diagnosed until recently, as she was led to believe the pain she was experiencing was “normal”.

No absolute cure for adenomyosis exists except for a hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus. Nevertheless, several treatment options can alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life. These include:

1. Pain Relief

Ibuprofen and naproxen, over-the-counter pain medications, are usually prescribed to relieve menstrual cramps and pain.

2. Hormonal treatment such as

• Birth control pills
• Hormonal IUD (Intrauterine Device)
• Progesterone therapy

GnRH agonists, such as Lupron, induce temporary menopause by suppressing estrogen production, thereby reducing adenomyosis symptoms. However, these injections can cause severe side effects, including mood swings, hot flashes, and bone density loss, making them unsuitable for long-term use.

4. Surgical Intervention

• Endometrial Ablation: This involves the removal of the uterine lining to manage heavy bleeding, but it is not a permanent solution and is not suitable for women who want to become pregnant.
• Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE): A non-surgical procedure that cuts off the blood supply to the affected areas, reducing the size of the adenomyotic tissue.
• Hysterectomy: The only permanent solution for adenomyosis, a hysterectomy is usually considered as a last option for women who have finished their childbearing years.