The clothes you wear when you work out may do you more harm than helping you to stay healthy as you hit the gym. This is because research has revealed alarming levels of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound linked to significant health risks in several sports wear, including sports bra, leggings, and athletic wear. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH), which is a nonprofit consumer advocacy group has brought these concerns to light, and have raised awareness about the potential danger and damage these sports wear can cause because of the common chemicals used.

What is BPA? Is it concerning?

Bisphenol A, or BPA is a chemical that is used to make plastics and resins. It is also used in certain fabrics and is known for its endocrine-disrupting properties, which can also interfere with one's hormonal balance. There have been studies, including a 2019 study titled The adverse health effects of bisphenol A and related toxicity mechanisms that have linked BPA exposure to various health problems, including asthma, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer.

Many of research which have been conducted focus on the ingestion, which can happen when you store food in BPA-lined containers. Among them, some of the more recent studies show that skin absorption is also a pathway. This means when you are handling receipts which are printed on thermal paper, or wear BPA-containing fabrics, the chemical can seep through your skin and enter your bloodstream.

Though it is also true that BPA is exposed from the body within days, however, continuous exposure from multiple sources can be concerning.

Sports Wear and the harm it may cause you

CEH also tested popular athletic wear in October 2023 and found BPA levels were exceeding California's safety standards by as much as 22 times.

Testing also showed that top brands contained up to 40 times the permissible limit of BPA.

What do the laws say?

As far as laws are concerned, under California's Proposition 65, the maximum allowable dose for BPA exposure via skin is 3 micrograms per day. While this law is among the strictest in the United States, it highlights a broader issue of chemical safety in consumer products nationwide.

Ana Soto, an immunologist with decades of research on BPA, even low doses of dermal and oral exposure can combine to create a significant health risk. She also warned that prolonged exposure through fabric, especially when you are exercising, as your pores are open and sweat is present, can in fact, amplify these effects.

How does BPA affect your health?

BPA can disrupt your body's endocrine system, which is a network of glands and organs that produce hormones that control many bodily functions. These include growth and development, metabolism, and reproduction, to name a few. BPA can mimic natural hormones like estrogen and interfere in those bodily functions.

Studies also link it with obesity and diabetes, respiratory issues, especially asthma risk in school-aged children, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer risks.

How can you be safe?

There are certain steps you can follow to protect yourself:

• Avoid wearing BPA-lined sports-wear
• Change immediately after your workout
• Do not wear sports-wear for an elongated period

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sparked debate after revealing that she gets very little sleep since taking office.

In a post on X, Takaichi wrote that she had managed to get "five full hours of sleep for the first time in ages"—an improvement from her usual "zero to three hours" a night since becoming prime minister.'

"On weekdays, by the time I get back to the residence, I'm maxed out on private time just handling bath cleaning, bathing, dinner, washing up afterward, laundry, and some light tidying," she wrote.

"So the late-night hours after that get consumed until dawn with reading materials brought back from the Prime Minister's Office or prepping for … question time."

Takaichi added that whatever free time remained was spent ironing handkerchiefs, catching up on laundry, and repairing clothes.

While the disclosure offered a rare glimpse into the pressures of Japan's highest office, it also sparked a nationwide debate about the health risks of chronic sleep deprivation.

"I think she should rest more," Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki said at a news conference.

"Why doesn't her entourage provide more support to create an environment in which she can make important decisions with a fresh mind?"

However, some of Takaichi's colleagues defended her.

"Each person has their own various circumstances and behind-the-scenes stories, and on the premise of fulfilling responsibilities in public duties, I would be grateful if you could understand," Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ayano Kunimitsu wrote on X.

Also read: Could Poor Sleep Be One of the Earliest Signs of Alzheimer's Disease? Study Says Yes

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need?

Dr. Nitin Dange, Comprehensive Stroke and Endovascular Neurosurgeon at Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, told HealthandMe that regularly missing sleep can increase the risk of neurological problems over time.

"Currently, due to hectic schedules, people are now sacrificing sleep to meet work deadlines, study longer, or spend more time on screens. Missing a few hours of sleep once in 2-3 months is harmless.

However, chronic sleep deprivation can not only cause irritation and weight gain but also neurological issues. During sleep, the brain processes memories, repairs nerve cells, regulates emotions, and clears waste products that accumulate throughout the day," Dr. Dange said.

A recent research, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, suggests that disruptions in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, during which we dream, consolidate memory, and process emotions, could be among the earliest biological signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Priyam Bordoloi, an Internal Medicine Resident from Assam, also highlighted the dangers of sleeping less than six hours a night.

"When you hit deep sleep, your brain's glymphatic system activates. Think of it as a plumbing system that actively flushes out metabolic waste and neurotoxic proteins (like beta-amyloid) accumulated during the day. When you consistently sleep less than 6 hours, you cut this vital cleaning cycle short. The toxins build up. If you do not fix this, you are actively fast-tracking your risk for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke etc. It's a bad habit we all need to fix," he wrote on X.

Tips To Sleep Better

Experts recommend getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night for optimal brain health.

• Maintain a consistent sleep and wake-up schedule.
• Avoid screens, caffeine, and heavy meals before bedtime.
• Exercise regularly, but avoid intense workouts late at night.
• Keep your bedroom quiet, cool, and dark.
• Consult a doctor if you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, or feel excessively sleepy during the day.

The ovaries are a pair of pelvic organs in biological females associated with reproduction. Cancer of the ovaries is unfortunately increasing in incidence and usually presents late in the course of the disease. Ovarian cancer is often called the ‘silent killer’ because of the symptoms, which can be vague and easily mistaken for minor digestive issues. To date, we do not have a reliable tool to screen and detect ovarian cancer early.

Certain risk factors for ovarian cancer increase your chance of getting it in the future. An important point to keep in mind is that having a risk factor alone does not mean one will develop ovarian cancer in the future.

Conversely, some people who get ovarian cancer may not have any known risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be changed.

Others, like genetic mutations or family history, can’t be changed. Scientists have discovered several risk factors that increase a person’s chance of developing epithelial ovarian cancer.

These include:

Older age: Most ovarian cancers begin after menopause. If one experiences pelvic bleeding after menopause, it is important to see a doctor.

Genetics: Ovarian cancer does run in families. The most common inherited gene mutations are BRCA1 and BRCA2. We now have very reliable tests to detect these genetic mutations and tailor-made specific treatments which are effective.

Hormones: Hormones play a complex role in the development of ovarian cancer. In general, the total number of times a woman ovulates during her lifetime is related to her risk of ovarian cancer. More ovulations can mean a higher risk. Thus, early menses (before 12 years of age) or late menopause (after 52 years of age), and use of hormone replacement after menopause do increase your risk. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are considered protective.

Lifestyle: Certain factors such as lifestyle choices are within our control. While we cannot change our DNA or our reproductive history, certain lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking, and lack of exercise may influence our biological environment.

Weight Management: Research suggests a link between obesity and an increased risk of several cancers, including ovarian cancer. Adipose (fat) tissue produces estrogens, which can fuel certain cellular changes. Maintain a healthy weight to reduce your risk.

Sedentary Habits: Many studies suggest that regular exercise such as walking, yoga, and weight training can reduce your risk of ovarian cancer.

Smoking: While primarily linked to lung cancer, smoking is strongly associated with mucinous ovarian cancer, a specific subtype of the disease.

Dietary Patterns: While there is no singular “superfood” that can help prevent cancer, consuming a diet rich in vegetables, lots of lean proteins like fish, chicken, eggs, tofu, etc, and whole grains can help support a healthy immune system.

Every year, World Ovarian Cancer Day is observed on May 8. This is an initiative to raise awareness globally for educating the public about symptoms, risk factors, and the need for early detection of ovarian cancer. This year’s theme was No Woman Left Behind, which aims to ensure that all women have access to means of early detection, quality care, support, and to spread awareness so that no symptoms are ignored.

We should all do our bit but not spread fear or stigma. Since there is no universal screening tool for ovarian cancer, awareness of symptoms and associated risk factors is key. By recognizing the interplay between our genes, our hormonal history, and our daily habits, we can hope to move toward a future where ovarian cancer is detected earlier and treated more effectively.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro, are best known for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. However, a new study published in The BMJ suggests that people with diabetes using these blockbuster drugs may have an increased risk of hair loss (alopecia).

While the absolute risk is low, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Southern California identified alopecia as a possible side effect of GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly semaglutide and tirzepatide.

“GLP-1 receptor agonist use was associated with a higher risk of clinically recorded alopecia, particularly non-scarring alopecia, in patients with type 2 diabetes, compared with SGLT-2 and DPP-4 inhibitors,” the researchers wrote.

Non-scarring alopecia is a type of hair loss in which the hair follicles remain intact, making hair regrowth possible.

The researchers said the findings could help inform shared decision-making when considering GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy and highlight the need for further research into dermatological outcomes.

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers analyzed health data from 12,004 patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists and compared them with 15,221 patients using SGLT-2 inhibitors between January 2019 and September 2024. They also compared another 11,964 GLP-1 receptor agonist users with 11,233 DPP-4 inhibitor users.

The study found that adults using GLP-1 receptor agonists had:

• A 37% higher risk of alopecia than SGLT-2 inhibitor users (6.91 vs. 5.04 per 1,000 person-years).
• A 68% higher risk of alopecia than DPP-4 inhibitor users (6.53 vs. 3.89 per 1,000 person-years).

Further analyses showed the association was specific to non-scarring alopecia, with a 53% higher risk compared with SGLT-2 inhibitors and a 72% higher risk compared with DPP-4 inhibitors.

Why GLP-1 Drugs Are Linked to Hair Loss?

The researchers noted that rapid weight loss is a well-established trigger of hair shedding and may also lead to iron or zinc deficiencies, disrupting the hair growth cycle.

They added that hormonal changes may also play a role, although further studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.

What Are the Study's Limitations?

The researchers acknowledged that they could not assess the severity, extent, duration, or reversibility of alopecia after treatment was stopped because of limited clinical information. They also could not rule out the influence of other unmeasured factors.

However, they said the study was based on high-quality data from a large, representative cohort, and the findings remained consistent across additional analyses.

“Our findings extend previous anecdotal safety signals and provide more systematic evidence to inform clinical awareness of this potential adverse effect,” the researchers concluded.

What To Do If You're Losing Hair on Ozempic, Mounjaro?

If you're experiencing excessive hair shedding while taking semaglutide, you may consider:

• Discussing with your physician whether your dosage should be adjusted or whether nutritional supplements may help.
• Increasing your protein intake to at least 100 grams per day.
• Taking hair-supporting nutrients such as biotin, vitamin D, iron, and zinc.
• Using topical treatments such as minoxidil to support hair regrowth.
• Avoiding severe calorie restriction and maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet.