We are always told to never mix work and friendships in social settings. While it is normal to make friendships at work, you should always keep a professional distance to make sure things do not go sour and start affecting your work. This also means that you do not divulge private information or have private conversations with your colleagues as you may never know how this could be brought up and affect you. This is an unsaid rule in corporate culture that if you are sick or you are coming down with a serious issue, you should never bring it up and keep it to yourself. While this may seem unusual to new workers, it is a very common knowledge for people who have been in the industry for a long time. A new study showed that this is much more common than many people believe!

A new poll shows that a lot of U.S. workers with long-term health problems keep it a secret from their bosses. This affects their health and their jobs. It's a big problem that employers could help fix, which would be good for everyone. This isn't just about people having a sniffle. We're talking about serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and asthma that require ongoing management and can significantly impact a person's life, both inside and outside of work. The fact that so many people feel they need to hide these conditions shows a larger issue of stigma and lack of support in the workplace.

How Does Health Become A Hidden Burden?

Most U.S. workers which were over half of the people, have some kind of long-term health problem. But a lot of them, about 6 out of 10, don't tell their boss. They might be afraid their boss will treat them differently or think they can't do their job. Keeping secrets like this can make it hard to get the help you need at work. It can also make your health problems worse because you're stressed about hiding them. It's a tough situation, and it shows that many workplaces aren't as supportive as they could be.

The poll also found that more than a third of people with health problems have had to miss doctor's appointments because of work. This means they're putting their jobs ahead of their health, which isn't good. It's hard to balance work and health, especially when you have a long-term illness. People need understanding bosses who will let them take time off for important medical stuff. Missing appointments can make health problems worse, and it can also make people feel more stressed and anxious.

Does It Impact Their Career And Well-Being?

Almost half of the workers with health problems said they couldn't even take breaks during the day to take care of themselves. They also said they felt like they'd been passed over for promotions because of their health. And some people even got bad reviews at work because of their health problems. This can make people feel really bad about themselves and their jobs. It can also make their health problems worse because they're so stressed. It's not fair, and it's something that needs to change.

It's not just people with health problems who have a hard time. Lots of people are also taking care of someone at home who is sick. Almost half of these caregivers have to help their sick family member during work hours. And many of them have trouble taking time off to care for their loved ones. Some people even have to work fewer hours, which means less money. This shows how much pressure people are under, trying to juggle work and family and health.

A viral TikTok has been telling women to toss their underwear every six to nine months, warning that anything older could be unhealthy. The internet reacted exactly how you would expect. Some people were shocked. Others admitted they still own pairs from years ago. Many simply wondered if they had been doing hygiene wrong all along. In fact, a report by The Asian News Hub also echoes the same claim that underwear must be changed in every six to nine months.

Health and Me ran a fact check to see whether there is a mandate on when to change your underwear and here is what we found:

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Speaking to Today.com, Dr. Jen Gunter, OB-GYN and author of The Vagina Bible, pushed back strongly against the claim on social media. She explained that underwear does not suddenly become dangerous after a specific time period.

The idea, she said, reflects cultural anxiety around the vulva rather than science. Many people grow up hearing the vagina is fragile, dirty, or constantly at risk of infection, which fuels rigid hygiene rules that are not medically necessary.

Doctors agree there is no expiration date.

“There is no rule that says after six months you must replace your underwear,” Dr. Chavone Momon-Nelson, an OB-GYN at UPMC in Pennsylvania, told Today.com. She added that social media often turns suggestions into hard rules, even when evidence does not support them.

However, Dr Shirin Lakhani of Elite Aesthetics told Independent that underwear is in close contact with skin and intimate areas and could take in a lot of dead skin and bacteria, including naturally occurring ones and the harmful ones, which could lead to infection. She said that even regularly washing your underwear in a washing machine "won't always rid it completely of bacteria such as E.coli."

Another gynecologist Narendra Pisal at London Gynaecology suggests a 50-wash rule for discarding underwear.

What Actually Matters For Vaginal Health

Instead of the age of underwear, doctors say cleanliness and dryness are what really affect health.

Dr. Christine Greves, who practices at the Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Orlando, explained that clean underwear made from breathable fabric is usually sufficient. Cotton is commonly recommended because it allows airflow and reduces moisture buildup.

Damp or sweaty underwear can irritate skin and increase the chance of infection, but that problem has nothing to do with how long you have owned the garment. It has to do with whether it is clean and dry.

Momon-Nelson, DO, who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology and is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology by the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology, added that normal washing removes bacteria effectively, especially in warm or hot water. Regular laundry habits are enough for hygiene in most cases.

The Yeast Infection Fear

One persistent fear behind the viral claim is yeast infections. Some believe old underwear stores fungus even after washing.

Greves pointed to an older study examining whether candida could survive laundering. The research found that routine washing removed the organism and did not transmit infections when the underwear was reused.

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In other words, properly washed underwear does not act as a hidden infection source. However, constant washing, body oils, residual detergent, and dried sweat could make the underwear stiff, which could ruin its soft texture and cause chaffing. Pisal says, "If your underwear is causing chaffing, skin irritation or is torn", you may need to replace your underwear sooner.

Why The Myth Keeps Spreading

Experts say the rule survives because of long-standing stigma around female anatomy. Many products and trends market special cleansers, wipes, sprays and frequent replacement routines as necessary maintenance.

But medically, the vulva is simply skin. Gentle washing with soap and water externally is usually enough.

That does not mean buying new underwear is bad. Comfort, fit, and personal preference matter. Replacing worn-out elastic or damaged fabric makes sense. What doctors reject is the idea of a strict timeline.

As Momon-Nelson told Today.com, there is nothing wrong with enjoying new underwear. The problem begins when people feel forced by fear rather than choice.

Dementia impacts many people worldwide, as per the World Health Organization (WHO) data, 57 million people in 2021 were living with dementia. It is expected that dementia will impact 152 million by 2050, with nearly 10 million new cases added annually. Subtle personality shifts are often brushed off as stress, burnout, or simply aging; however, experts speaking to The Telegraph UK said that, in many families, behavior changes appeared years before dementia was diagnosed and memory problems ever showed up. Long before forgetting names or misplacing keys, the brain sometimes reveals distress through temperament.

Here are the personality patterns specialists consider early warning signs of dementia.

Early Signs of Dementia: Loss Of Confidence

One of the earliest changes families notice is a sudden drop in self belief. A person who once handled responsibilities with ease may start doubting routine decisions. Tasks they previously mastered begin to feel overwhelming.

This does not look like ordinary ageing. It feels abrupt and out of character. People may avoid activities they enjoyed, stop fixing things around the house, or repeatedly seek reassurance.

The reason lies in declining brain flexibility. When brain networks struggle to process information efficiently, the individual senses something is wrong even before memory fails. Many withdraw socially, which further increases cognitive decline risk because isolation deprives the brain of stimulation.

Early Signs of Dementia: Becoming Less Curious Or Open

Everyone becomes slightly set in their ways with age. But a marked shift toward rigid thinking can be significant.

Someone once eager to try new foods, travel, hobbies, or conversations may now resist anything unfamiliar. They prefer repetitive routines and become uncomfortable with change.

This matters because curiosity acts like exercise for the brain. Reduced openness means fewer new neural connections being formed. Over years, that lack of stimulation weakens resilience against degeneration.

Families often interpret this as stubbornness. In reality, the brain may be losing its ability to adapt.

Early Signs of Dementia: Difficulty Handling Problems

A striking early sign is emotional collapse over manageable situations. People who previously handled pressure calmly may suddenly panic over bills, schedules, or minor setbacks.

They might abandon responsibilities, become overwhelmed quickly, or react with distress disproportionate to the problem.

This happens because the brain’s coping reserve shrinks slowly over time. The person is not overreacting intentionally. They genuinely cannot process the situation the way they once could.

Often, this stage appears many years before diagnosis.

Early Signs of Dementia: Rising Impulsivity

Uncharacteristic impulsive behavior can be a strong warning sign. This may include reckless spending, gambling, inappropriate jokes, blunt comments, or risky decisions.

The change is especially noticeable when the person was previously cautious.

This reflects weakening control centres in the brain that regulate inhibition. The desire may always have existed, but the filter disappears. Families sometimes mistake this for a personality crisis or rebellion rather than a neurological change.

Early Signs of Dementia: Reduced Conscientiousness

Another overlooked sign is declining organization. Bills go unpaid, appointments are missed, and routines fall apart.

The person may appear lazy, careless, or uninterested in hygiene or planning. In truth, the brain’s planning circuits are struggling.

Interestingly, people who maintain structured habits tend to have lower dementia risk. When those habits suddenly erode, it may indicate underlying biological changes rather than attitude.

Early Signs of Dementia: Increased Anxiety And Emotional Fragility

Heightened nervousness often emerges early. Individuals become unusually worried, tense, or easily rattled. Minor uncertainties feel threatening.

Chronic stress affects inflammation levels in the body and brain, which accelerates damage to nerve cells. The emotional change can therefore be both a symptom and a driver of decline.

Families frequently interpret this as midlife stress, but persistence and personality mismatch are key clues.

Early Signs of Dementia: Loss Of Warmth And Empathy

Perhaps the most distressing shift is emotional distancing. Someone affectionate may grow indifferent, withdrawn, or blunt. They may stop comforting loved ones or show little reaction to emotional events.

This does not mean they care less. The brain regions responsible for social understanding and emotional recognition are weakening.

Such changes are often mistaken for depression or relationship problems, delaying evaluation.

Early Signs of Dementia: When Should You Be Concerned

A single change alone rarely means dementia. What matters is a consistent shift from lifelong behavior. If reactions feel unfamiliar compared to how the person handled situations for decades, it deserves attention.

In many cases, personality changes appear years before memory loss. Recognizing them early allows families to seek assessment, improve lifestyle factors, and prepare support systems while independence remains intact.

The brain often whispers before it forgets. Listening to behavior can be the first step toward protecting it.

Heart attack is the world's number one killer, yet its symptoms differ for both men and women, leading to varied outcomes.

A heart attack typically occurs when cholesterol plaque builds inside the walls of arteries and causes damage to the major blood vessels.

While men typically develop plaque in the largest arteries that supply blood to the heart, in women, it accumulates in the heart’s smallest blood vessels, known as the microvasculature.

A study published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, an American Heart Association journal, showed that women report less artery-clogging plaque. Yet, it did not protect them from heart disease compared to men.

The study showed that women faced increased heart risk at lower levels of plaque compared to men. For total plaque burden, women’s risk began to rise at 20 percent plaque burden, while men’s risk started at 28 percent.

The increasing plaque levels led to a sharper risk for women than for men.

How Heart Attack Symptoms Differ Between Men And Women

According to global studies, women are more likely than men to die from a heart attack. The major reason is the late onset of symptoms of a heart attack in women.

During a heart attack, men are likely to experience sweating, pain in the chest, arms, and legs, and shortness of breath.

While the experiences are common among women, they also tend to suffer a combination of less-recognized symptoms such as nausea, indigestion, fatigue, dizziness, and pain in the neck, jaw, throat, abdomen, or back.

The obvious chest discomfort is also sometimes absent during heart attacks in women.

Other common reasons for heart attacks in women include:

• High testosterone levels before menopause
• Hypertension during menopause
• Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
• Stress and depression

Can Heart Attacks Be Prevented?

Cardiovascular diseases are mostly preventable by targeting traditional risk factors common to both women and men, which include obesity, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, family history and metabolic syndrome -- the co-existence of high blood pressure, obesity, and high glucose and triglyceride levels.

The American Heart Association also advises at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (such as brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous activity (such as jogging), or a combination of both.

Include fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, nuts, and seeds in your diet.

Limit processed foods, added sugars, sodium, and alcohol.