It was a typical morning. My mother was getting ready; this was her usual routine: bustling around the house. When she suddenly stopped and shouted, blood was oozing from her nose. As kids, my siblings and I were terrified. We scrambled to help, but it wasn't until later that we learned the cause of that alarming moment: high blood pressure. That day was our first lesson in the silent yet powerful effects of hypertension. Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, are common, and nearly everyone experiences at least one in their lifetime.

While most are minor and often caused by dry air or irritation, some can signal underlying health concerns. One recurring question is whether high blood pressure causes nosebleeds or is merely coincidental.

Where Exactly Does a Nosebleed Occur?

The nose is covered by a rich plexus of small blood vessels, making it prone to bleeding. Most nosebleeds are anterior in origin, occurring at the front of the nose, and are relatively benign. They often occur because of irritants such as dry air, frequent nose-blowing, or trauma.

On the other hand, posterior nosebleeds are caused by a source that is located deeper within the nasal cavity. They are less common but more severe, as the blood tends to flow backward into the throat, making them more difficult to control. Common causes of posterior nosebleeds include trauma, medical conditions, or high blood pressure.

Connection Between Nosebleeds and High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is the condition whereby the pressure of blood against the arterial walls is consistently too high. Over time, this may damage the fine blood vessels in the nose, causing them to rupture more easily.

Significant studies have shown a strong relationship between hypertension and severe cases of nosebleeds necessitating urgent care. A certain study showed that patients diagnosed with high blood pressure had 2.7-fold increased chances of having nosebleeds that were not slight.

However, it should be noted that mild hypertension by itself does not cause nosebleeds. Nosebleeds are more likely to happen during a hypertensive crisis when the blood pressure suddenly rises to above 180/120. A hypertensive crisis can also have other symptoms such as a severe headache, shortness of breath, and anxiety. Therefore, it is considered a medical emergency.

Why Does Hypertension Increase the Risk?

Chronic hypertension makes the walls of blood vessels weaker and less elastic, which easily causes them to tear. In the nose, this is especially vulnerable because the blood vessels are close to the surface. Sudden surges in blood pressure, such as in a hypertensive crisis, can cause tears in these weakened vessels, resulting in nosebleeds.

While hypertension is a contributing cause, nosebleeds occur infrequently as the only manifestation of high blood pressure. This makes regular monitoring for blood pressure all the more crucial, as hypertension has the reputation of being the "silent killer" since people often do not present symptoms until the disease has run its course.

Other Causes of Nosebleeds

• Dry Air: Cold weather or house heating dries out membranes that line the nose, hence susceptible to cracking.
• Trauma: Blows in the nose, nose picking or excessive nose blowing can traumatize blood vessels.
• Intrinsic Disease: Liver disease and kidney disease and drug therapy that affect clotting such as blood thinners enhance the risk of nose bleeding.
• Foreign Bodies: Children especially tend to insert objects up their noses, which can be irritating and bleed.
• Allergies or Infections: Chronic nasal inflammation resulting from allergies or colds causes irritation to the nasal mucosa.

Managing Nosebleeds at Home

For most nosebleeds, you can manage them yourself at home:

1. Sit up and lean slightly forward to prevent swallowing blood.

2. Press your nostrils together for at least 10 minutes.

3. Use a cold compress on the bridge of your nose to constrict blood vessels.

4. If the bleeding continues, use a nasal decongestant spray.

Consult a doctor if the bleeding persists beyond 20 minutes, is heavy, or follows a head injury.

Preventing Nosebleeds

Preventive measures can decrease the incidence of nosebleeds:

• Use a humidifier to maintain moisture in the air.
• Apply saline sprays or gels to keep nasal passages hydrated.
• Avoid nasal trauma by being gentle when blowing your nose.

For patients with hypertension, managing blood pressure is the best way to minimize the risk of complications. A combination of lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and prescribed medications, can help keep blood pressure in check.

When to Worry About Nosebleeds

Most nosebleeds are harmless, but they can sometimes be signs of an underlying health condition. In adults with high blood pressure, frequent or severe nosebleeds should never be ignored. A health provider should be consulted in order to rule out any serious conditions and ensure appropriate treatment.

Regular check-ups, a healthy lifestyle, and awareness about the relationship between nosebleeds and high blood pressure would go a long way to protect your health. Indeed, prevention is always better than cure.

Epistaxis and hypertension. Post Graduate Medical Journal. 1977

From Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and now Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS) — confused about what the changing terminology means for women’s health and treatment?

What was once seen mainly as a reproductive or ovarian disorder is now being recognized as a complex hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect everything from periods and fertility to weight, insulin resistance, heart health, skin, and mental well-being.

To better understand the distinction between the three, let’s look at how the condition has evolved.

The condition, involving irregular periods, infertility, excess facial hair, and enlarged ovaries containing multiple cysts, was first identified as an ovarian or reproductive disorder in the 1930s by American gynecologists Dr. Irving Stein and Dr. Michael Leventhal. It became known as Stein-Leventhal Syndrome.

Over the years, the term PCOD became widely used, especially in countries like India. The name focused mainly on the presence of multiple ovarian cysts seen on ultrasound scans. It was considered a “disease” affecting ovulation and fertility.

Further, in the 1980s and 1990s, experts discovered that the condition involved hormonal imbalances, insulin resistance, weight gain, diabetes risk, and heart health concerns, among others.

Because it affected multiple body systems, PCOS became the medically preferred global term. The word “syndrome” was used to describe a group of related symptoms rather than a single disease.

However, many experts argued that the name still overemphasized ovarian cysts and fertility, and in 2012, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) officially recommended changing the name, saying it was misleading because:

• Not all women with the condition have cysts
• Ovarian cysts alone are not enough for diagnosis
• The name ignores the metabolic and hormonal aspects

In 2026, global experts publishing in The Lancet proposed the new name -- PMOS – for the condition affecting more than 170 million women worldwide.

The new term PMOS acknowledges that the condition involves:

• Endocrine health
• Metabolic health
• Reproductive health
• Dermatological health
• Psychological health.

What Does PMOS Mean?

Also read: PCOS Is Now PMOS: What The Name Change Means For Millions Of Women

The new name aims to explain the condition more accurately and comprehensively.

Polyendocrine means it affects multiple hormones in the body.

Metabolic refers to issues linked to weight, insulin, blood sugar, and heart health.

Ovarian highlights its impact on ovulation and reproductive health.

Syndrome refers to a group of symptoms occurring together.

In simple terms, PMOS is a hormonal and metabolic condition that can affect periods, fertility, skin, mood, weight, and long-term health.

What The Name Change Means For Women

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr Monika Bhatia Director — Obstetrics & Gynaecology Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, said that the earlier name was misleading because the "cysts" in PCOS are not real cysts — they are simply small, arrested follicles.

While the name has changed, the message remains the same.

“Behind every diagnosis is a woman trying to understand her body, hormones, emotions, and health. While this condition may affect periods, fertility, metabolism, skin, weight, or mental well-being differently, one thing remains common — it is manageable with the right guidance,” she said.

The core treatment stays the same as the guidelines for treatment have not changed, but the approach becomes wider.

“So instead of just treating the periods, PMOS is now managed as a whole-body condition involving a multidisciplinary team”.

Will there be any change to evaluation?

Dr Muskaan Chhabra, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Lajpat Nagar, told HealthandMe that the new name –PMOS- correctly acknowledges that this is a multisystem condition involving complex interactions between insulin, androgens, and neuroendocrine hormones.

In PMOS, the ovaries are one of several systems involved rather than the primary site of the problem.

This “opens the door to more comprehensive clinical evaluation, earlier and more accurate diagnosis, and treatment approaches that address the full hormonal and metabolic picture rather than a narrow reproductive one,” Dr Muskaan said. It will also “drive more integrated and personalized care”.

Hantavirus has the potential to linger indoors and spread through contaminated dust, especially in rodent-infested, poorly ventilated spaces, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Vasant C. Nagvekar.

So far, 11 people linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship have been affected. While all passengers have been repatriated and quarantined, the World Health Organization (WHO) anticipates that additional cases may emerge based on observed symptoms.

Also Read: Hantavirus Cases Climb To 11; WHO Warns Countries Of Further Spread

In an exclusive interview with HealthandMe, Dr. Vasant, a Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine at Lilavati Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai, explained how the virus can spread even within indoor environments. He noted that contaminated dust and surfaces are potential sources of transmission, making proper hygiene and preventive measures crucial.

The expert also stated that the Andes strain rarely transmits person-to-person and emphasized the need for global prevention through enhanced surveillance, early detection, vector control, environmental sanitation, and public awareness, particularly amid urbanization, climate change, and ecosystem disruption.

Here are the excerpts from the interview

Q. How Long Does Hantavirus Survive?

Dr. Vasant: Hantavirus does not survive for long outside a host body and is rapidly inactivated by exposure to sunlight, detergents, and drying.

However, in enclosed indoor environments that are cool with temperatures at 4 degrees Celsius or less, poorly ventilated, and contaminated with rodent urine or feces, the virus may remain infectious for several hours or even longer.

Q. Is Hantavirus Airborne?

Dr. Vasant: Yes, the virus can be transmitted indirectly through the air. However, hantavirus does not circulate freely in the air in the same way as influenza or coronavirus during normal social interactions.

It becomes airborne when contaminated rodent urine, droppings, or nesting materials are disturbed during activities such as sweeping or cleaning. At that point, the virus can be aerosolized and inhaled by people.

Q. How Can Hantavirus Spread Indoors?

Dr. Vasant: Indoor exposure usually takes place in environments where the presence of goes unnoticed – for example, in cabins, storage rooms, warehouses, inside false ceilings, or vacant rooms.

One could be exposed to hantavirus through inhalation of contaminated dust when a room that has not been used for a while is opened or is cleaned without any protective measures.

Also read: Fact Check: Can Ivermectin Help Treat Hantavirus?

The reason why hantavirus exposure is alarming is that it usually takes place during normal activities, which we do without even suspecting anything dangerous.

Q. How Does the Andes Strain of Hantavirus Spread?

Dr. Vasant: The Andes hantavirus stands out because, unlike most other hantaviruses, it exhibits evidence of rare person-to-person transmission, mostly through direct and extended contact between people. As a result, this particular strain is highly interesting for scientists studying infectious diseases around the world and is extensively researched as such. It should be noted, however, that person-to-person transmission is very rare in comparison to respiratory pathogens, such as the influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2.

Read More: Why The Norovirus Outbreak On A Caribbean Cruise Ship Is Not A Cause for Panic

Q. What global strategies are needed to prevent the emergence of new viruses?

Dr. Vasant: What is required from our world in terms of the prevention of new viruses is a globally integrated strategy within the public health sector.

Surveillance systems should become more advanced on community levels, especially when there are high risks of increased contact between humans and animals because of urbanization, climate change, and ecosystem destruction.

Early detection, information exchange at the international level, vector control, environmental sanitation, and public awareness are just as significant. New infection strains cannot remain limited to just being a problem of individual countries.

The National Testing Agency (NTA), which today cancelled the NEET-UG 2026 examination held on May 3 amid allegations of a paper leak, has left thousands of students across the country anxious, frustrated, and emotionally overwhelmed, triggering protests and outrage among students and parents.

According to mental health experts, such uncertainty can deeply affect students who have spent months preparing for the examination, often sacrificing sleep, proper meals, and their social lives. The sudden cancellation of the exam can therefore leave them feeling helpless, uncertain, and emotionally exhausted.

Experts stressed that this setback should not be seen as a personal failure and urged students to remain calm.

Speaking to HealthandMe, Dr. Aarti Anand, Senior Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Department of Psychiatry, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said feelings of anger, helplessness, disappointment, and anxiety are natural during such situations, especially when the future appears uncertain.

“It is very natural to feel anxious and helpless at this point, but remember that you are not alone in this situation. Thousands of students are going to be affected,” she said.

She also emphasized that students should not assume that their hard work has gone to waste.

NEET-UG 2026: What Is The Controversy All About?

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is India’s primary national-level entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in government and private institutions.

The single, standardized offline test for this year was conducted on May 3 for over 22.79 lakh candidates across India and abroad.

“The examination on 3 May 2026 was conducted as scheduled and under a full security protocol,” the NTA said.

However, according to information shared by Rajasthan Police officials, alleged malpractice came to light after certain question sets circulated before the examination reportedly showed similarities with the actual NEET-UG paper.

Also read: Fact Check: Can Ivermectin Help Treat Hantavirus?

Officials probing the matter stated that they recovered a document containing more than 400 questions that had allegedly been circulated days before the exam. Out of these, more than 100 questions from Biology and Chemistry were said to bear “striking similarities” to those that eventually appeared in the examination.

Authorities have described the material as resembling a “guess paper” or coaching-style test series, though investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a larger organized network.

The government has now ordered a comprehensive Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities surrounding the examination.

The NTA has also announced that the medical entrance test will be conducted again on fresh dates to be notified separately, a development that many students feel undermines the time and effort they invested in preparation.

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: What Effect Can This Have On Students?

Dr. Manisha Arora, Director - Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, told HealthandMe that students can experience palpitations, migraines, insomnia, and constant worry about their rank and future.

“Postponement can feel like an identity suspension. Students start thinking, ‘What if I do not get the same marks next time? What if I have forgotten everything? What if the exam is harder? What if questions come from outside the syllabus?”

“These thoughts are very common. Students can also develop headaches, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, racing heartbeat, panic attacks, binge eating, or even loss of appetite,” Dr. Manisha said, warning parents and guardians to pay close attention to students’ mental well-being.

NEET-UG 2026 Cancelled: How Can Students Cope With The Stress?

Read More: Why The Norovirus Outbreak On A Caribbean Cruise Ship Is Not A Cause for Panic

“One important thing for students to understand is that the knowledge they have gained will not go to waste. They will be able to appear for the exam on the next date,” Dr. Aarti said.

She added that students must acknowledge their emotions instead of suppressing them.

“Students should acknowledge their feelings instead of suppressing them. They should use this pause as a way of structuring their life and moving ahead. They should focus on self-care, sleep, food, and hygiene instead of watching media discussions,” she said.

Mental health professionals also advised students to avoid excessive speculation and negative thinking about future examinations. Instead, they recommended maintaining routines, staying connected with family and friends, and continuing preparation steadily.

“I urge all students not to think negatively, overthink, or fuss about what will happen in the next exam. It is very important for students to keep calm and continue their preparation,” she said.

Dr. Aarti further noted that such moments can become a test of emotional strength and resilience for students navigating academic pressure.

“Students should not feel that the cancellation is a failure. It is not a failure,” she added.

Dr. Manisha urged students to build on the preparation they have already done, gradually remove exam fear from their minds, restart calmly, and prepare themselves to appear for the exam again.