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

PMOS is often discussed mainly in connection with periods, hormonal changes and pregnancy. However, women’s health is much broader than fertility. Changes linked to hormonal health can also influence weight, energy levels, skin, hair, metabolism and emotional well-being.

This is why women should not focus only on whether their periods are regular or whether they are planning a pregnancy. Looking at overall health can help identify concerns early and support better long-term well-being.

PMOS can affect more than periods

Changes in the menstrual cycle may be one of the first signs that something needs attention, but they are not the only concern. Women may also notice changes in weight, acne, hair growth or hair thinning, tiredness and mood.

Persistent or unusual changes should not be ignored, even if a woman is not planning to have children. Speaking to a healthcare professional can help identify the possible cause and decide whether further evaluation is needed.

Also read: Ozempic, Wegovy & PMOS: How GLP-1 Drugs Are Changing PMOS Treatment?

Think beyond fertility

Fertility is an important part of women’s health, but it should not be the only focus. Women should also pay attention to their overall metabolic health, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight when appropriate.

A balanced diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and maintaining a healthy weight can support better health. Medical care should also take into account age, lifestyle, family history and existing health conditions.

Mental health matters too

Hormonal and reproductive health concerns can affect emotional well-being. Worries about periods, weight, appearance or future fertility may contribute to stress, anxiety or low mood. Women should feel comfortable discussing these concerns with their doctor. Mental health is an important part of overall health and should be addressed along with physical symptoms.

How can women take better care of their health?

Women can start by tracking changes in their menstrual cycle and paying attention to other symptoms. Regular physical activity, nutritious food, adequate sleep and stress management can support overall well-being.

Those planning pregnancy should discuss their plans with a doctor in advance. However, even women who are not planning pregnancy should continue regular health monitoring.

Also read: From Insulin Resistance to Fertility: Understanding the Metabolic Side of PCOS

Tips for long-term health

• Keep track of menstrual changes and other symptoms.

• Maintain a balanced and nutritious diet.

• Stay physically active.

• Prioritise good sleep and stress management.

• Monitor blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol when advised.

• Do not ignore persistent hormonal or menstrual changes.

• Discuss fertility plans early with a healthcare professional.

• Pay attention to mental and emotional health.

PMOS should not be viewed only through the lens of periods or pregnancy. Women’s health also includes metabolic, hormonal, physical and emotional well-being. By looking beyond fertility, monitoring health regularly and making healthy lifestyle choices, women can take better care of themselves at every stage of life.

When people think of Alzheimer's specifically, memory loss is usually the first thing that comes to mind — forgetting recent conversations, repeating questions, struggling to recall familiar names. But Alzheimer's rarely announces itself through memory alone. It can also show up in how a person communicates, makes decisions, behaves, and manages the everyday tasks that once came naturally. People often mistake dementia and Alzheimer's for the same thing; however, dementia is not a single disease but a broad term for a decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning severe enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for a majority of cases.

Signs Families Often Misread

These early changes are easy to misattribute. A person who withdraws from social life may seem to be "losing interest." Someone who grows irritable may be written off as difficult or set in their ways. A family member who lets bills slide may appear distracted rather than unwell. Only when such shifts persist and clearly depart from a person's usual character do they warrant closer attention.

Communication And Language

Difficulty finding a familiar word now and then is normal. But losing the thread of a conversation, or struggling to express thoughts that once came easily, is different — and when this worsens over time, it's often family and friends who notice first.

Judgement And Everyday Decision-Making

Independence can erode quietly. Someone who has handled the household finances for decades may start making uncharacteristic decisions or find bills confusing. Following a familiar recipe, managing medication schedules, or planning a routine outing may become surprisingly hard. Family members frequently pick up on these lapses in judgement before they notice any memory trouble at all.

Behaviour And Personality

A once-sociable person may pull back from hobbies and company. Others may become anxious, suspicious, or emotionally distant in ways that feel out of character. These shifts can be hard for loved ones to make sense of — especially when they seem intentional — but they often reflect real changes in how the brain is processing and responding to the world, not a change in who someone chooses to be.

Daily Functioning

There's a meaningful difference between misplacing your keys occasionally and repeatedly leaving objects in strange places with no memory of how they got there. Likewise, forgetting one appointment is ordinary; missing commitments again and again despite reminders is not. Trouble navigating familiar streets, preparing a simple meal, or keeping up with personal care can point to a broader change in cognitive function.

Not A Diagnosis In Itself

None of these changes automatically means Alzheimer's. Many have other causes — some of them treatable — which is exactly why a medical assessment matters: it helps identify what's actually going on and whether further evaluation is needed.

What helps: Patterns, Not Incidents

For families, tracking patterns is far more useful than reacting to isolated moments. When did the changes start? How often do they happen? Are they starting to affect independence? This kind of observation gives doctors much more to work with than a single anecdote.

How families respond matters too. Correcting or criticising someone for changes they can't control tends to breed frustration on both sides. A patient, supportive approach protects their dignity while making it easier to get them the care they need.

Alzheimer's, in short, is not only a disease of memory. Its earliest clues can surface in conversation, judgement, behaviour, or the small routines of daily life. Recognising these signs isn't about assuming the worst — it's about noticing when something is genuinely different, and knowing when that difference is worth a doctor's opinion.

By Dr. Tanushree Chawla, Neurologist, PB Health

For decades, childhood vaccination was one of the clearest public health success stories in Europe. But a new study published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe, suggests that progress has started to slip, and in some countries, it has slipped quite noticeably.

The research led by a team from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome looked at vaccination coverage across seven different vaccines in European Union countries, tracking data all the way from 1980 to 2024. What it found was not a sudden collapse, but something arguably more concerning: a slow, steady stall that has crept in over the last few years without much attention.

Which Childhood Vaccine Rates Dropped?

According to the research, recent declines were most widespread for vaccines against

• Hemophilus influenzae type b
• polio,
• hepatitis B
• diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis.

Where the Decline Is Happening

Since 2019, sixteen countries have seen vaccination rates drop for four or more of the vaccines studied. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, and Sweden stood out in particular, with all seven vaccines showing a downward trend in recent years.

The pattern wasn't uniform everywhere, though. Germany and Spain saw declines in five of the seven vaccines, while France and Italy told a more mixed story, with four vaccines improving even as three others slipped.

At the higher end, Luxembourg and Portugal managed to maintain at least 95 percent coverage across all seven vaccines, a benchmark most countries are still trying to reach. Romania, on the other hand, fell below 80 percent, making it the lowest performer in the study.

Why This Is Happening Now

According to the researchers, the timing of this decline is not a coincidence. Most of it began somewhere between 2019 and 2022, a period that overlaps almost exactly with the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath. Routine vaccination services were widely disrupted during that time, and the study suggests that many countries simply haven't fully recovered since.

There's also a broader factor at play: vaccine hesitancy, which researchers describe as a growing contributor to the decline, separate from any pandemic-related disruption. In other words, this isn't only about missed appointments during lockdowns. It also reflects a shift in how some parents and communities are approaching vaccination altogether.

What This Means Going Forward

Vaccination remains one of the most effective tools available for preventing serious childhood diseases, and researchers are clear about what's at stake if this trend continues. A sustained drop in coverage doesn't just affect individual children; it also weakens herd immunity, making entire communities more vulnerable to diseases that had largely been kept under control for years.

The study was direct about what needs to happen next, stating that international, national, and community-level action will be necessary to reverse these trends. Without it, the progress that took decades to build could continue to erode, quietly, one missed vaccination at a time.