Exercising is one of the most important parts of self-care when it comes to health. Many healthcare professionals urge people to exercise even if it is 10 minutes a day. You do not always need to spend hours in the gym for perfect health. It has to be a balance of healthy food and light exercise and you will see great results! This might be especially important to elders as that’s when our bodily functions start deteriorating. A study done by BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine suggested great long-term benefits of heavy resistance training for older adults. Here are the findings of the study.

Exercise is essential at every age

Regular physical activity is crucial for overall health and well-being, but its importance becomes even more pronounced as we age. Muscle function naturally declines with age, increasing the risk of falls, reduced mobility, and decreased independence.

The benefits of heavy resistance training

A growing body of evidence suggests that resistance training, particularly heavy resistance training, can be a powerful tool for preserving muscle function in older adults. The study found that individuals who engaged in a year of heavy resistance training maintained better isometric leg strength for up to four years compared to those who underwent moderate-intensity exercise or no exercise at all.

These findings underscore the potential long-term benefits of this type of training. However, experts emphasize the importance of seeking guidance from professionals to safely progress to higher resistance levels.

How heavy resistance training works

To understand the impact of heavy resistance training, researchers compared three groups of older adults: one group performed heavy resistance exercises, another engaged in moderate-intensity training, and the third served as a control group.

The heavy resistance training group focused on exercises like leg presses, chest presses, and low rowing using weight machines. In contrast, the moderate-intensity group primarily relied on bodyweight exercises and resistance bands. Over a four-year follow-up period, the heavy resistance training group demonstrated superior results in maintaining isometric leg strength. While both training groups experienced similar declines in handgrip strength, lean leg mass, and leg extensor power, the heavy resistance group successfully preserved muscle function.

The importance of expert guidance

While the study highlights the effectiveness of heavy resistance training, it's crucial to approach it with caution. Experts recommend consulting with a healthcare professional or qualified trainer before starting any new exercise regimen, especially for older adults.

Gradually increasing resistance levels and proper form are essential to prevent injuries. Additionally, individual fitness levels and health conditions should be considered when designing a training plan.

Beyond heavy resistance training

While heavy resistance training shows promise, it's essential to remember that other forms of strength training can also benefit older adults. The key is to find an exercise routine that is enjoyable, safe, and sustainable. Ultimately, the goal is to build and maintain muscle strength, which contributes to overall function, independence, and quality of life.

‘Prevention is the best cure’ and that holds true for many diseases and conditions. Although you may be unable to cure some conditions, catching them early can help you get the condition in control and helps you maintain your quality of life. That’s why people are urged to get screening for conditions regularly like cancer. People undergo cancer screenings to check for cancer or abnormal cells that may become cancerous in the future. These screenings can help early diagnosis, even if you are a seemingly healthy person.

This has been endorsed by many health experts and professionals; however, a new survey shows that people are still behind on their cancer screening schedules by almost a year and a half.

A recent survey done by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) looked at how often adults are getting their recommended cancer screenings. The results showed that a large number – almost one out of every three adults (that's 31%) – have not had these important checkups for more than a year.

What Is Preventing People From Getting Screened?

The survey also asked people why they hadn't gotten their cancer screenings. The biggest reason, given by more than half of the people (53%), was the cost they would have to pay out of their own pockets. This means that for many, the price of the screening itself was a major barrier. Another big worry for almost half of the people (47%) was dealing with their insurance company. They were concerned about whether their insurance would actually approve and pay for the screenings, even if they were supposed to be covered under their plan. This hassle and uncertainty about insurance coverage also stopped people from getting the potentially life-saving tests they needed.

Money Problems Lead to Late Diagnosis

Lisa Lacasse, the president of ACS CAN, explained that when people have to pay a lot of money out of their own pockets, it can stop them from getting important cancer screenings. This can mean that cancers are found later, which can lead to worse health.

She added, "To make sure everyone has a fair chance at good health care, it's really important for the people who make laws to make it easier for people to get cancer screenings without paying much or anything at all. This can be done by making sure insurance covers more, reaching out to communities, and having public health programs."

How Can We Cross These Health Roadblocks?

Policy experts discussed this survey information at a meeting held by ACS CAN in Washington, D.C. They talked about how important it is to find out what payment and cost issues are stopping people from getting screened. They also talked about getting rid of these problems so more people can get checked and to encourage more money to be spent on new ways to screen for cancer early.

Lacasse also raised concerns about a recent budget plan that would cut funding for the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that focuses on preventing and finding cancer early. This program has helped millions of people get important screening tests.

The information in the survey comes from online responses of 1,000 adults aged 45 and older across the country. The survey was done between April 25th and 28th, 2025. The people who answered the survey represented the general population in terms of age and where they live. The differences mentioned in the findings are statistically significant, meaning they are likely to be real and not just due to chance.

Lacasse said, "That's why it's so important for Congress to use its power to protect the money that goes towards preventing and finding cancer early."

A surprising, but encouraging turn takes place in the United States as drug overdose deaths show a dramatic decline. This is based on the new provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that showed that these cases have plummeted by nearly 30% in 2024 as compared to in 2023.

The National Center for Health Statistics also estimated a 27% drop from 110,037 deaths in 2023 to 80,391 in 2024. This has marked the lowest total since 2019.

This significant drop, while still based on the provisional data that could differ from the final count does offer a hopeful sign in the long battle against an epidemic that has claimed as many as more than 1 million lives since 1999. This also remains to be the leading cause of deaths for Americans aged 18 to 44.

Efforts And Strategies

Health experts and CDC officials have attributed this decline to years of targeted federal investment and enhanced data systems. In fact, President Donald Trump also declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in 2017. Furthermore, the Congress also funded expanded CDC programs that now help states to collect real-time overdose data.

In fact, recently, the US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr also opened up about his own battle with drug addiction and his journey to recovery.

“These investments have empowered us to rapidly collect, analyze, and share actionable data,” the CDC said in a statement. “Since late 2023, overdose deaths have steadily declined each month — a strong sign that public health interventions are making a difference.”

Where Does The Most Decline Account For?

Much of the overall decrease is driven by fewer deaths from fentanyl and other opioids.

As per the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic (pain relief) and anesthetic, based on prescription. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic. It is also known as China Girl, China Town, Murder 8, Poison and Tango & Cash as its street name.

It is consumed by snorting, sniffing, smoking, orally by a pill or tablet, or spiked onto blotter paper and patches.

The DEA notes that overdose can cause stupor, changes in pupil size, clammy skin, cyanosis, coma, and respiratory failure leading to death.

Fentanyl-related deaths fell by nearly 37%, from 76,282 in 2023 to 48,422 in 2024. Deaths involving any type of opioid also dropped significantly — down from 83,140 to 54,743.

Other drugs showed similar trends. Cocaine overdose deaths decreased from an estimated 30,833 to 22,174. Psychostimulant-related deaths, including those from methamphetamine, declined by 20%, from 37,096 to 29,456.

Data From States

Nearly all states showed progress. States such as Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia posted the most dramatic single-year declines each over 35%.

Only two states bucked the trend. Nevada saw a 3.5% rise in overdose deaths, while South Dakota reported a 2.3% increase.

Experts point to a variety of factors. Dr. Stephen Taylor, president of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, credits greater access to addiction treatment services and wider availability of naloxone, a drug that reverses overdoses.

“I think the most important issue has been the expanded access to care,” Taylor said. However, he warns that proposed cuts — such as Trump’s suggested $1 billion reduction in funding to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — could threaten the progress made.

Dr. Daniel Ciccarone, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, believes fewer new people becoming addicted may also play a key role. “Epidemics come to an end because the number of new people entering the drug scene drops below the number exiting — whether through recovery, treatment, or sadly, death,” he said to US News.

The second wave of Covid-19 in India was not just a crisis, it was a tragedy experienced in all corners of India. When oxygen supplies in hospitals ran out and funeral pyres were lit throughout the day and night, it was clear for everyone to see and feel how vast the devastation was. Family members lost dear ones within days, even hours. Yet, as dire as the situation appeared, recently published government statistics from India verify what many suspected- the actual death count was much worse. The official count of Covid deaths in 2021 was 3.3 lakh but the true excess deaths that year exceeded 20 lakh. That's almost six times greater than reported. The shocking gap indicates a trend of underreporting, bureaucratic obscurity, and political evasion, evoking international concern regarding transparency and accountability in pandemic governance.

India reported more than 1.02 crore deaths in 2021 — a whopping rise of almost 21 lakh from the last year — as per latest figures made public by India's Office of the Registrar General. In 2020, 81.2 lakh deaths were registered, and in 2019, the figure was 76.4 lakh. The surge in death, at the height of the second wave of the pandemic, sends red lights flashing immediately. Though not every one of these deaths can be attributed to Covid-19, the timing and the circumstances imply the virus contributed heavily, underreported.

Three official data sets — Sample Registration System (SRS), Civil Registration System (CRS), and Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) — were employed to assess trends in mortality. Of the three, CRS continues to be the most complete source, and it irrefutably indicates a record spike in deaths in 2021. All this is not only crucial for the realization of the pandemic's actual burden but also provides a prism into India's death registration and certification system failures.

Why the Official Covid Death Figures Don’t Add Up

The Union Ministry of Health had pegged the total number of Covid-19 deaths in 2021 at 3.3 lakh. However, the MCCD report, based on medically certified deaths, listed 4.13 lakh Covid-related fatalities. That alone suggests a significant gap. But here’s the critical twist: the MCCD data only covers 24 lakh deaths — just 23% of all deaths registered that year.

This difference suggests that there may not have been medical certification of numerous Covid-19 deaths, either because the healthcare infrastructure was burdened or because of systemic failure in certifying causes of death. Even among that smaller dataset, Covid-19 deaths exceeded the Health Ministry's figure, directly indicating official undercounting.

Maybe the most stark evidence of underreporting is from Gujarat. The BJP-ruled state had reported just 5,812 Covid deaths in 2021. But the actual number of deaths registered through CRS was 1.95 lakh — more than 33 times greater. Independent calculations by Kerala-based volunteer Krishna Prasad's dashboard reported that Gujarat had more than 2 lakh excess deaths that year.

Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal also had the same trends, with huge discrepancies between Covid-19 death claims and the actual amount of excess mortality. Madhya Pradesh had reported 6,927 official Covid deaths but had an excess of almost 2 lakh deaths over 2020. Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India, had an excess of 4.78 lakh deaths in 2021 when just 22,918 were officially claimed due to Covid-19. Kerala was an exception to the trend, having relatively more accurate death statistics.

What's Behind India's Spike in Crude Death Rate

Statisticians also reference the crude death rate, deaths per 1,000, as another insightful metric. From a consistent rate of 6 in both 2019 and 2020, it surged to 7.5 in 2021. This increase is not random; it reflects an abnormal spike in mortality concurrent with the pandemic peak.

If India's crude death rate of 6 in the historical years continued to 2021, the estimated deaths would have been approximately 82 lakh, consistent with previous years. The increased crude death rate in 2021 aligns with the 1.02 crore reported deaths very closely, implying over 20 lakh excess deaths, which cannot be accounted for by better registration.

In April 2022, the World Health Organization put India's estimated Covid-19 toll in 2020 and 2021 at 47 lakh deaths, either directly or indirectly due to the pandemic — eight-and-a-half times the number reported officially. India's government had dismissed the WHO report for being inappropriate in methodology for a country of the size of India. But interestingly enough, the very Registrar General of India whose figures have been quoted by the government is now lending strength to the suspicion of large-scale undercounting.

The contrast is stark: India dismissed international models as speculative, but its own official statistics now confirm excess deaths in line with WHO estimates. This is a matter of profound concern regarding data suppression, political motive, and the right of citizens and the international health community to the truth.

Why Accurate Data Matters?

Mortality data accurately gathered matters more than numbers. It affects how nations prepare for pandemics, how resources are allocated to healthcare, and how people have faith in public institutions. For India, the world health leader and manufacturer of vaccines, poor data transparency erodes credibility and undermines global cooperation in public health.

Additionally, for the uncounted families many of whom were denied medical care, social acceptance, and economic ruin, the government silence is another injustice. Without official acknowledgment, they're typically not given government compensation, aid, or even recognition.

The information is now out presenting how India saw a mortality spike in 2021 that is more than six times bigger than its official Covid-19 death toll. It matters little whether the cause is deliberate cover-up or systemic failure- the result is the same- the lives lost in secrecy amount to millions.

Going forward, India has to build stronger health data infrastructure, conduct independent audits, and uphold transparency. The world witnessed the funeral pyres burn and now, the figures finally tell us the unthinkable truth many had suspected all along.