Mosquitoes are a big part of the ecosystem, but often are a nuisance as they bite and feed off of us. Their bites cause itchy red bumps and spread infections and allergies in our bodies. But have you ever wondered why they bite certain people more than others? While some people are plagued by mosquito bites, others barely notice them. Here are some interesting facts about mosquitoes that you must know about!

1. Carbon Dioxide:

Mosquitoes are attracted to a certain smell that emits from the human body that is present in the human skin and sweat, mosquitoes can sense the carbon dioxide or CO2 we breathe out. The more active you are, the more CO2 you emit and the more mosquitoes will be attracted to you. Researchers are still investigating the cause of the variation of body odour that brings them to you, possibly genetics or certain bacteria. The unique combination of sweat and skin bacteria creates a scent that mosquitoes find irresistible. Some chemicals in sweat, like lactic acid and ammonia, are especially attractive to them.

2. Colours

While the reason isn't fully understood, mosquitoes seem to be drawn to dark colours like black more than lighter ones. So, ditch the dark outfit next time you're in mosquito territory. It has been noted that mosquitoes are more likely to leave lighter colours alone.

3. Heat and Vapour

Mosquitoes can detect your body's heat and water vapour, acting like a beacon guiding them right to you. So next time you're feeling sweaty, be aware you might be attracting a lot of mosquitoes. If you are working out or doing something that is making you sweat and your body heat rise, the mosquitoes nearby will be instantly attracted to you. Even mosquitoes are careful about who they pick as a host, some studies even suggest that they like a certain body temperature to feed off of.

An interesting fact about mosquitoes is that they can learn to like a host. They have their own preferences and if they meet a certain person who fits their criteria they might be the next host they move onto. In an older study, it showed that 20 per cent of people with mosquito-borne diseases accounted for 80 per cent of diseases transmitted in the population. They suggest that they only bite a certain set of people within the population.

4. Other factors:

Studies suggest mosquitoes might learn to prefer certain people based on things like what you've been drinking. In a 2002 study, there could be many reasons they like alcohol to making your body temperature high etc. Even pregnant women seem to be extra attractive to them due to higher body temperature and CO2 output.

You've heard of "clogged arteries," but do you truly understand what is going on in your body? It's not merely a matter of consuming too many cheeseburgers. Something known as atherosclerosis—a gradual, insidious accumulation of plaque composed of cholesterol, fats, calcium, and other materials—lies beneath the surface, often the true cause of heart attacks and strokes.

Cardiovascular disease is still among the biggest killers globally, and a lot of the risk comes from its invisibility. Atherosclerosis, which is sometimes referred to as the silent killer, slowly plugs up arteries and lays the groundwork for heart attacks and strokes well before they manifest. The best news? With the proper information and preventive actions, you can shield your arteries and heart.

This is the thing: this toxic buildup doesn't present symptoms until it has already done substantial harm. Cardiovascular disease, says the American Heart Association, is the number one cause of death worldwide, and atherosclerosis is at the center of the epidemic.

But the good news is: atherosclerosis can be prevented, even reversed in some instances—if you know how it comes about, how to detect its signs early on, and what changes in lifestyle can actually safeguard your heart.

What is Atherosclerosis?

Atherosclerosis is a disease where plaque accumulates on the arteries' walls. This plaque is composed of cholesterol, fat, calcium, and other substances moving through the blood. Eventually, these deposits harden and constrict the arteries, decreasing blood supply to organs.

"Atherosclerosis is a devious, even lethal illness wherein artery walls get clogged with plaque," describes Dr. Paneendra S, Orthopedic Surgeon. "Atherosclerosis develops over the course of many years and usually is without symptoms until it leads to a life-threatening event such as a heart attack or stroke."

The illness usually starts when the lining of the arteries inside, the endothelium, is damaged. A number of reasons are responsible for this damage, such as:

• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Chronic inflammation

"Once the endothelium has been hurt, LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol can filter through the arterial wall," says Dr. Paneendra. "White blood cells rush in to break down the cholesterol, but this reaction creates fatty nodules called atheromas."

These atheromas may develop and then rupture, producing clots that either occlude the artery in which they were formed or embolize to a different location within the body, obstructing an organ elsewhere.

Warning Signs and Where They Appear

Although dangerous, atherosclerosis typically develops silently. Its warning signs first become apparent only when blockage is complete. Depending on the arteries involved, the signs are variable:

Heart (Coronary Arteries): Chest pain or discomfort, also referred to as angina.

Legs (Peripheral Arteries): Pain that occurs during walking (claudication), numbness, or non-healing sores.

Brain (Carotid Arteries): Slurred speech, numbness, or weakness—often stroke warning signs.

Feet and Toes: Burning, color changes, or chronic ulcers caused by inadequate circulation.

These symptoms indicate that one of the primary arteries has already experienced extensive narrowing or blockage. Early treatment and control are important to avert permanent damage.

Role of Inflammation and Lifestyle For Heart Damage

Chronic inflammation is a key contributor to the formation of atherosclerosis. Obesity, lack of exercise, and dietary factors cause chronic inflammation, which further accelerates arterial damage.

The diet rich in saturated and trans fats raises the level of LDL cholesterol, while fruits, vegetables, and fiber intake ensures your body has natural ant-inflammatory power.

How You Can Prevent This Life-Threatening Heart Condition?

Because atherosclerosis progresses silently, prevention is more important. Here's how you can regain control of your heart health:

1. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

Emphasize whole grains, leafy greens, berries, nuts, and healthy fats such as olive oil. Reduce your intake of processed foods, red meat, and sweetened drinks.

2. Exercise Regularly

Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week, including brisk walking, cycling, or swimming.

3. Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors. Quitting dramatically reduces the risk of arterial plaque buildup.

4. Manage Stress

Chronic stress can raise blood pressure and trigger inflammation. Practice mindfulness, yoga, or deep breathing techniques.

5. Monitor Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Routine health checkups can help detect high cholesterol or hypertension early, allowing for timely intervention.

6. Control Blood Sugar

For individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, blood sugar control is essential to minimize inflammation and artery damage.

When to Seek Medical Help?

Even if you don't have symptoms, if you have several risk factors—like a history of heart disease in your family, smoking, or high cholesterol levels—it's crucial to see a healthcare professional. Tests for screening purposes such as cholesterol panels, blood pressure checks, and even coronary calcium scans can evaluate your risk.

"Overall, atherosclerosis is frequently unsuspect, progressive disease that can be severely damaging to cardiovascular health," cautions Dr. Paneendra. "Because symptoms only typically appear after widespread damage, early detection and prevention are critical."

Dr. Paneendra S is an Orthopedic Surgeon at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Bangalore in India

If it feels like the news cycle has become an emotional treadmill you can’t get off, you’re not alone. The sheer volume of distressing headlines—from war zones to natural disasters, political unrest to climate collapse—can make staying informed feel like an endurance test. And yet, turning away often feels impossible. For many, following the news is more than a habit; it’s a moral choice. So how do you stay connected to what matters without spiraling into anxiety or hopelessness?

Human brains are hardwired to prioritize threats. This survival mechanism means we’re naturally drawn to negative news—but it also makes us vulnerable to the mental and physical consequences of repeated exposure. Doomscrolling, the habit of endlessly consuming grim headlines, can lead to anxiety, fatigue, irritability, trouble sleeping, and even symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress.

Graphic images and videos shared on social media often carry more emotional weight than traditional reporting. While TV and print journalism tend to follow editorial standards, your social feed delivers raw, sometimes disturbing content with little filter. And research shows the psychological impact can be significant.

Even knowing the risks, many people feel compelled to stay plugged in. If your loved ones are in a conflict zone, if your identity is linked to ongoing social issues, or if you simply feel that tuning out would be irresponsible—these are all valid reasons to follow the news. But here's the thing: the line between responsible consumption and emotional overload can be thin.

What Mindful News Consumption Actually Looks Like?

Instead of attempting to detox entirely from the news (which isn’t always realistic), experts recommend learning to engage with it mindfully. That means paying close attention to your motivations, your emotional responses, and your mental bandwidth before, during, and after consuming news. Here’s how to start:

Pause first. Take a few deep breaths and check in with yourself. Are you already anxious or overstimulated? Are you opening the news app to learn something specific or just out of habit?

Notice your reactions. While reading or watching, ask: How is this making me feel physically and emotionally? Are my shoulders tense? Is my heart racing? Are my thoughts spiraling?

Process, don’t just scroll. After a news session, take time to reflect. Did you learn something useful? Did it change your perspective? Do you feel informed, or just drained?

Even small moments of self-awareness can help you regain a sense of control over what and how you consume.

Red Flags That It’s Time to Step Back

Sometimes, the signs that news consumption is affecting your mental health can sneak up on you. Watch out for:

• Obsessively checking news updates
• Difficulty sleeping
• Fatigue or mental fog
• Feeling hopeless or overly irritable
• Digestive issues or physical tension
• Emotional swings, panic shopping, or impulsive behavior

What To Do When the News Is Too Much?

If you’re feeling saturated by the weight of current events, take a break. That might mean muting notifications for an hour, deleting social media apps for a weekend, or creating clear boundaries (no news after 7 p.m., for example).

Then reconnect with your body and environment. Activities that require your hands or physical movement can be grounding: gardening, baking, walking outside, even tidying up a messy drawer.

Connecting with others can help too. Whether it's through conversation, humor, or shared silence, human connection can buffer the effects of emotional overwhelm.

And if your distress is interfering with your work, relationships, or daily functioning, it’s time to talk to a mental health professional.

Stay Informed Without Losing Yourself

You don’t have to choose between ignorance and overwhelm. It’s possible—and necessary—to find a middle path.

Set intentional limits: Check the news once or twice a day, from a trusted source. Avoid doomscrolling before bed. Be selective with your exposure, especially to graphic content.

And remember, staying informed is important, but staying regulated is essential. You are more capable of helping others and engaging in meaningful change when you’re not running on emotional fumes. News doesn’t have to wreck your day. With a bit of awareness, you can learn to read the world without losing yourself in the headlines.

There are many conditions that barely show any symptoms, however, they can have devastating effects on our health. Conditions like high cholesterol often do not have symptoms, however, overtime it can increase our risk of developing heart conditions.

New research suggests that people with diabetes who don't manage their blood sugar are three times more likely to develop serious eye problems later in life. Experts followed the health of over 5,600 people in England, averaging 66 years old, for 14 years to reach this conclusion.

Link Between Blood Sugar and Eye Health

The study published in the BMJ found that individuals with uncontrolled diabetes (meaning their blood sugar levels were too high at the study's start) had a 31% risk of developing diabetic eye disease. This is a stark contrast to the 9% risk seen in participants whose diabetes was well-controlled, with glucose levels in the normal range.

Diabetic eye disease often includes diabetic retinopathy, a condition where high blood sugar damages the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye called the retina. The research also linked high blood sugar levels—above 6.5% on an HbA1c test (which measures average blood sugar over two months)—to an increased risk of other eye conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Why This Matters

Researchers highlighted the importance of these findings, especially as the number of people being diagnosed with diabetes continues to grow rapidly. They noted that the proportion of working-age individuals with a diabetes diagnosis more than doubled in the 2000s.

According to the World Health Organization, 830 million people worldwide have diabetes, many of whom live in low to middle-income countries. Most people living in these conditions often do not have proper treatment available to them, and the number of people living with untreated diabetes has also increased steadily over the past decade.

The research emphasizes how crucial it is for people with diabetes to be diagnosed and to receive support in managing their condition. This support can significantly reduce their chances of developing potentially serious eye disease. The study also underscored the importance of getting a diabetes diagnosis. People with diabetes who hadn't been diagnosed faced a higher risk of eye problems compared to those whose condition was known and managed.

Eye Care and Diabetes Testing

Researchers highlighted the importance of eye examinations for older individuals, particularly those with a diabetes diagnosis. They also noted that the findings support more widespread testing for diabetes in the general public. This wider testing could help find people who don't realize they have diabetes, potentially lowering their risk of eye disease that could otherwise go unnoticed.

Experts stressed the vital importance of supporting people with diabetes to manage their condition, which helps them live well and prevent serious complications. They added that a key part of this involves having an annual review, including diabetic eye screening to catch any early signs of damage. If left untreated, this damage could lead to significant problems, including loss of sight.

Ways to Manage Your Blood Sugar

Keeping your blood sugar in check is key for good health, and there are several simple ways to do it. Eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity are all very helpful. Other good tips include tracking your blood sugar to understand what affects it, and eating meals at regular times without skipping any.

Choose foods that are lower in calories, unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt. Make sure to track what you eat, drink, and how active you are. It's also best to drink water instead of juice or soda, and limit alcoholic drinks (no more than two per day for men, and one for women). When you want something sweet, grab some fruit, and always control your food portions, perhaps by using the plate method to guide you.