How many nights have you spent lying in the dark, your mind churning over problems on the job, squabbles with coworkers, or critical career decisions? If the answer is more than a handful, you're part of a growing number of Americans who are having work-related stress steal their sleep, with potentially severe consequences for their health and productivity.

A new American Journal of Industrial Medicine report finally reveals that job-related stress is significantly responsible for sleep disturbances. According to senior researcher and UCLA professor of work and health Dr. Jian Li, this is an illustration of how desperate the situation is and how there is an imperative need for workplace interventions to support sleep health.

More than 1,700 US midlife workers were followed for up to nine years on average in this study. For sleep disturbances, researchers assessed symptoms of insomnia that included difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, waking too early, and feeling unrested during the day.

The findings are striking: every method used to measure job strain showed a clear and significant link to higher rates of sleep disturbances. Dr. Li emphasizes that redesigning workloads and promoting worker autonomy are key strategies that could improve sleep health and overall well-being among employees.

About 1 in 7 adults in the U.S. report difficulty falling asleep, and 1 in 6 experience difficulty staying asleep," the scientists pointed out. These numbers characterize the more extensive public health challenge of insufficient sleep.

Why Does Stress Disrupt Sleep?

Stress interferes with sleep by extending the time required to fall asleep and causing constant awakenings throughout the night. According to the experts, most of this has to do with the overactive mind.

When people are stressed, their minds are usually running on responsibilities such as work, family, or money. For students and young adults, the source of stress usually revolves around exams or deadlines. These racing thoughts continue even when the body is trying to sleep, which creates a problem in sleep patterns.

Stress also activates the body's stress response system, leading to increased cortisol. This hormone heightens alertness but also causes further fragmentation of sleep, which creates a vicious cycle.

How Chronic Sleep Deprivation Affects the Human Body

Sleep deprivation is not just a nuisance; it has serious health consequences. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can lead to the following:

- Impaired learning and memory

- Reduced metabolism

- Endocrine dysfunction

- Increased risk of accidents due to impairment during the day, especially when driving or operating machinery.

This would further point to the importance of dealing with root causes, of which workplace stress is one.

Also Read: Waking At 3 AM Every Night? It's Not A Ghost—It’s Your Body’s Warning Signal

Simple and Effective Tips for Better Sleep

Poor sleep is physically demanding. In fact, evidence indicates that small habits and environment modifications can be impactful if workplace stress impacts sleep. These are the suggestions of experts and researchers as part of evidence-based strategies:

1. Improve sleep hygiene

Good sleep hygiene is foundational to restful sleep. This includes:

- Avoiding caffeine in the evening.

- Reducing screen time before bed. Blue light from electronic devices disrupts melatonin production, making it harder to fall asleep. Use blue-light filter apps or settings if screen use is unavoidable.

- Creating a dark, quiet, and cool sleep environment.

2. Adopt Relaxation Techniques

Wind down after a busy day with calming activities such as yoga, warm baths, or guided meditation. Apps offering breathing exercises can also help quiet a racing mind. 3. Keep a Consistent Schedule

Consistency is key to regulating your internal clock. Aim to sleep and wake at the same time every day, including weekends.

4. Use Stimulus Control Therapy

If you wake up and find yourself lying awake, then try writing down your thoughts before bed. This will help declutter your mind and make it easier to relax.

5. Manage Responsibilities Strategically

Consider offloading some daytime tasks by using delivery services or delegating responsibilities. Carving out sufficient time for rest is essential for maintaining balance.

Should You Seek Professional Help for This?

While lifestyle adjustments can be effective, chronic sleep issues may require professional intervention. Insomnia can sometimes be a symptom of underlying conditions such as sleep apnea, mood disorders, or chronic pain. If your sleep problems lead to significant daytime impairment, consult a healthcare provider.

Experts advise against the use of over-the-counter products such as melatonin, as they may not treat the underlying cause of sleep disorders. A sleep specialist can offer a comprehensive assessment and treatment plan.

The study's authors point out that employers have a place in alleviating work-induced sleep disruptions. Other policies and programs devoted to reducing the job strain, like flexible schedules, workload management, and employee wellness initiatives, can also bring in huge benefits to both employees and the organization.

Workplace stress and sleep disturbances are closely linked, but they do not have to rule your nights-or your life. Healthier habits, support, and changes in the workplace can break the cycle of stress and sleeplessness. Your sleep is not just a personal matter; it is a cornerstone of your overall health and productivity. Taking steps to protect it is an investment in your future well-being.

Alternative Formulations of Job Strain and Sleep Disturbances: A Longitudinal Study in the United States. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. 2025

Over 140,000 bottles of a prescription statin have been pulled from the market due to “failed dissolution specifications,” according to a report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ascend Laboratories, based in New Jersey, recalled Atorvastatin Calcium, a generic version of Lipitor, manufactured by Alkem Laboratories of India and distributed across the country. The recall covers tablets in 90-count, 500-count, and 1,000-count bottles with expiration dates extending to February 2027.

Atorvastatin Recall: Why Is The Popular Cholesterol Medicine Being Recalled?

On October 10, 2025, the FDA classified the recalled drug as a Class II recall. This classification means the medication could cause “temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects,” though the likelihood of serious harm is considered “remote.”

Statins are widely prescribed to manage high cholesterol and to prevent or reduce heart disease, according to a 2023 study from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

Dr. Tamanna Singh of the Cleveland Clinic noted on a September podcast that roughly “39 million adult Americans” take statins, with the largest group being over 40. She added that Lipitor, Crestor, and their generics, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, are the most commonly prescribed medications in this class.

Atorvastatin Recall: Why This Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Recall Matters

Most drug recalls are initiated by the manufacturers themselves, and this appears to be the case here. The recalled product is made by New Jersey-based Biocon Pharma, Inc. “Recalls are typically initiated voluntarily by companies before they notify the FDA,” explained Dr. Ileana Elder, Branch Chief in the Incidents, Recalls, and Shortages Branch at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a 2024 Q&A.

Atorvastatin Recall: What Should People Do With the Recalled Medication?

Neither the FDA nor the companies have issued detailed instructions on handling the recalled tablets. GoodRx advises anyone affected by a recall to check their medication’s lot number, contact their pharmacy, reach out to their prescriber, and properly dispose of the recalled medication.

Statins like atorvastatin are among the most commonly prescribed drugs for lowering “bad” cholesterol and reducing heart disease risk, meaning many adults could be affected. A failure in dissolution means the medication may not deliver the correct dose, which can compromise treatment effectiveness, particularly for those relying on consistent cholesterol control.

The recall being classified as Class II (risk of temporary or reversible harm) highlights that the risk is serious but not immediately life-threatening. Because generic medications are widely used and often more affordable, many patients may not realise their specific bottle is impacted and may continue taking it, assuming it is safe.

Atorvastatin Recall: How to Check if Your Bottle Is Affected

Check your prescription bottles for the manufacturer, lot number, and bottle size listed in the FDA notice.

If your medication is part of the recall, do not stop taking it suddenly—contact your healthcare provider for guidance and request a replacement or alternate formulation. Keep any affected bottles separate, and avoid sharing your medication, as only specific batches have been flagged. Always store your medications correctly, and check with your pharmacy at each refill to ensure the lot and manufacturer are free of recalls.

Iceland, one of the last regions in the world without mosquitoes, has recorded its first sightings of the insects following an unusually warm spring. The discovery was confirmed by the country’s National Science Institute on Monday, October 20, 2025. The sightings come after a record-breaking summer that accelerated glacial melting across Iceland.

Insect enthusiast Bjorn Hjaltason noticed the mosquitoes over several nights last week while observing moths using wine-soaked ropes, local media reported.

When Were Mosquitoes Detected in Iceland?

On October 16, Hjaltason shared on a Facebook group that he had spotted mosquitoes at dusk in Kidafell, Kjos. He captured some using a red wine ribbon, a trap that attracts insects with sweetened wine.

Kjos is a glacial valley about 52 km (32 miles) northeast of Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital. Hjaltason sent his specimens to the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, where entomologist Matthias Alfredsson confirmed they were indeed mosquitoes.

Climate Change Leading To Mosquito Discovery In Iceland

“The recent mosquito sightings in Iceland are likely linked to climate change,” said Carla Vieira, a scientist studying mosquito-borne viruses at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, according to The Washington Post. “Rising global temperatures and milder winters create conditions where mosquitoes can survive and reproduce in areas that were previously too cold.”

The Natural Science Institute said it’s unclear how these mosquitoes arrived in Iceland. “It’s possible they were transported via freight,” the institute stated. “Whether they’ve permanently settled here is uncertain, but conditions suggest they could survive.”

A report by Al Jazeera notes that Iceland is warming faster than almost anywhere else. In May 2025, Iceland and neighboring Greenland experienced extreme heat caused by a persistent weather pattern bringing unusually warm air from the south. Temperatures were about 13°C (23.4°F) above the 1990–2020 average, ten times higher than the global average increase of 1.3°C (2.3°F).

Glaciers have been melting rapidly and are projected to lose nearly half their volume by 2100, according to Iceland’s Vatnajokull National Park website.

However, some experts caution against quickly attributing the mosquito discovery to climate change. Alfredsson and epidemiologist Colin J. Carlson from Yale University points out that while climate change may have made the sightings more likely, the full picture of mosquito range shifts remains unclear.

Which Type Of Mosquitoes Have Been Found In Iceland?

Alfredsson identified the species as “Culiseta annulata,” a cold-resistant mosquito native to the Palearctic region, which includes Europe, North Africa, and much of Asia north of the Himalayas. These mosquitoes are not known to carry disease, though they can be bothersome.

“They survive cold climates by hibernating as adults in sheltered spaces like basements or outbuildings,” the Natural Science Institute said. “They bite but are not considered dangerous to humans in these regions, as they carry no known infections. Mosquito species adapted to cooler climates generally don’t transmit diseases.”

Can Mosquitoes Survive In Iceland?

It is not known yet whether these mosquitoes will establish permanent populations in Iceland. Philip Weinstein, an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Adelaide, believes Iceland’s harsh winters may be too challenging, even for a cold-adapted species. On the other hand, Gisli Gislason, professor emeritus of limnology at the University of Iceland, thinks the mosquitoes may settle in.

Further monitoring will be needed to determine the outcome. If these mosquitoes do establish themselves, only Antarctica would remain free of the pesky insects.

Polio is a contagious viral illness that can lead to paralysis, making its complete eradication important to protect every child from lifelong disability, a mission recognised each year on World Polio Day. This global observance aims to spread awareness about the dangers of polio and the continued worldwide push to end the disease.

The day also serves as a platform for governments, health organisations, and communities to reflect on the progress achieved so far, identify ongoing challenges, and strengthen collective efforts toward a polio-free world. Let’s take a look at when World Polio Day is observed and what this year’s theme focuses on.

Why Is World Polio Day Celebrated?

World Polio Day, observed every year on October 24, aims to raise global awareness about the importance of eradicating polio and maintaining immunization efforts. Recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization, Rotary International, and UNICEF, the day celebrates the progress made against polio while highlighting the work still needed to protect children from this potentially life-threatening disease.

It brings together governments, communities, educators, and health workers in a shared effort to support a polio-free world, underscoring the power of vaccination and the importance of collective action in public health.

World Polio Day: History and Origin

World Polio Day was created to honor Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first effective poliomyelitis vaccine. The observance was officially initiated by Rotary International and is now supported by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which includes key partners like WHO and UNICEF. The day not only commemorates vaccine breakthroughs but also continues the global fight to end polio, a disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children annually. Thanks to worldwide vaccination campaigns, most of the world is now polio-free, though efforts continue in regions where the virus still exists.

World Polio Day 2025 Theme

This year’s theme, End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere, emphasizes the urgent need to vaccinate every child and ensure equal access to protection against polio. It is a call to action for global eradication, highlighting both the responsibility and commitment required to make a polio-free world a reality.

How Does Polio Spread?

Polio is mainly transmitted through the faecal-oral route, meaning it spreads when a person consumes food or water contaminated with the virus. It can also spread through close contact with an infected individual. The poliovirus lives in the throat and intestines of those infected, and poor sanitation, unsafe water, and inadequate hygiene greatly increase the risk of transmission, especially in communities with limited access to clean facilities.

In severe cases, polio can lead to acute flaccid paralysis, which may affect the diaphragm and throat muscles, making it difficult to breathe or swallow. Since there is no cure for polio, prevention remains the only line of defence. Raising awareness about polio vaccination is therefore essential to protect individuals, especially children, from this potentially life-threatening disease.