Breathing is as natural and unconscious as the pounding of a heartbeat. The majority of us don't consciously process each inhalation or exhalation. However, an intriguing recent study finds that the way you breathe may be as distinctly identifiable as your fingerprint. Scientists have found that each human has a personalized "respiratory fingerprint"—a breathing cycle so unique it can recognize an individual with almost 97% accuracy.

This new discovery has implications far beyond interest. From assessing mental illness to safeguarding biometric privacy, your breath could tell us more about you than you ever knew.

Carried out by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, the research was headed by doctoral candidate Timna Soroka and published on June 12 in Current Biology. Researchers recruited 97 volunteers, who wore a device called the "Nasal Holter" for 24 straight hours. The wearable device, which weighed only 22 grams, took measurements of their natural breathing rhythms—while sleeping, working, resting, and going about their daily activities.

The payoff: By examining the subtle temporal rhythms of nasal breathing, scientists were able to determine that each subject's breath could identify him with 96.8% accuracy. The sensor tracked everything from inhale-exhale patterns to pauses before and after breathing, revealing a distinct rhythmic signature for every person.

What Is a "Respiratory Fingerprint"?

The "respiratory fingerprint" is the complex breathing pattern—how much, how frequently, and with what rhythm a person breathes. It may sound too ordinary to be special, but breathing is controlled by the brain's intricate respiratory control network. And because every brain is different, so is the breath it controls.

Lead researcher Noam Sobel said the team broke each 24-hour dataset into five-minute chunks and considered dozens of features with machine learning. They included esoteric but revealing traits like the time between inhalation and exhalation and the normal flip in airflow between nostrils.

Surprisingly, the research didn't rest there. Researchers cross-referenced the breathing information for each participant with a question about mental and physical health. What they discovered was nothing short of intriguing: higher self-reported anxiety individuals had more variability in their pauses between breaths. Other aspects of breathing pattern also matched up with BMI and other bodily states.

This linking of breathing and mind supports the increasingly robust literature suggesting that breath is a compelling diagnostic device—one that indicates not only lung function but also psychological and neurological well-being.

Renato Zenobi, an analytical chemistry professor at ETH Zurich, who was not part of the research, described the findings as "novel." According to him, the research would improve the significance of breath analysis as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. When applied along with breath metabolite testing, it would reinforce the accuracy of diagnosing metabolic disorders to anxiety and depression.

Envision a future in which a wristwatch-size device silently tracks your breath and warns your doctor of incipient signs of Parkinson's disease, sleep apnea, or even a panic attack. This would provide unprecedented preventive treatment with no needles, no scans, and no self-reporting bias.

What About Privacy?

As exciting as these breakthroughs are, they introduce a raft of ethical considerations. If our breath is a biometric signature, can it be used for monitoring? Currently, the Nasal Holter needs to be in direct contact and requires hours of usage. But with developing sensor technology, it's possible that distant breath monitoring could be achieved.

Soroka and Sobel recognize these issues and call for balancing scientific advancement with protecting privacy. Biological information such as breathing rates is involuntarily generated—i.e., we exhibit it all the time, whether we mean to or not. If it becomes readable from a distance, it might redefine the terms of biological privacy.

Real-World Limitations and Challenges

Notwithstanding the enthusiasm, the research is not without limitations. The population used was primarily healthy, young adults, and one can raise issues regarding the universality of the findings for children, the elderly, or people with respiratory illness. Also, wearing the device for 24 hours was daunting for some participants—especially while sleeping, when the nasal tubes fell out of position from time to time.

And although there was a high degree of association between breathing patterns and subjects' self-rated state of anxiety, these tests were not clinically certified. Additional research is required to determine if respiratory prints can accurately identify diagnosed medical or psychological illnesses.

We are headed toward an age when breath diagnostics could become a part of routine healthcare but as is the case with all great technologies, this development will need to be taken cautiously, respecting peoples' privacy and having ethical standards clear. As your lungs rhythmically fill and empty with air, they could be speaking your story in ways unimaginable to you.

Senior Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi, has been admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi, after her health conditions worsened on Sunday, June 15. She was admitted to the hospital due to stomach-related issues, which had been confirmed by the hospital in a statement. She is now kept under observation under the gastroenterology department.

Last month only, Gandhi underwent an MRI scan at the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla. She had been admitted to Shimla unit from her private residence in Chharabara with restlessness. The IGMC doctors noted that her blood pressure was "marginally higher than normal", however, she was "normal and stable" during her routine checkup and had "some minor ailments."

Sonia Gandhi's Health History

Last year, in an emotional letter that Gandhi penned down right before the Lok Sabha polls, she noted that she will not be contesting for the polls due to her health and age issues.

The now 78-year-old, wrote, "I am proud to say that whatever I am today, I am because of you and I have always done my best to honour your trust. Now on account of health and age issues, I will not contest the next Lok Sabha election."

Before this too, in 2020, when the world was struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi had missed the first part of the Parliament session, as they had gone abroad for Mrs Gandhi's annual check-up.

In 2011, she had gone to the US, for a surgery, the medical condition remains undisclosed. However, the Press Trust of India reported, "It was learnt tonight that the Congress leader had undergone a successful surgery in a US Hospital." In the US, she was admitted to New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

While the medical condition remains unknown, the then Party General Secretary, Janardhan Dwivedi said, that she was "recently diagnosed with a medical condition that required surgery."

While it the cause for the recent medical condition is also unknown, here are some of the common "stomach-related issues" that are related to old age:

As per a 2011 study, titled Gastrointestinal issues in the older female patient, some gastrointestinal issues may be more common in the elderly population and possibly in older women. These issues range from motility disorders, such as fecal incontinence and constipation, to changes in neuropeptide function and its effect on the anorexia of aging.

Another 2019 study published in the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, titled Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Disorder in Older Age notes that GI changes in the elderly are common. "While some changes associated with aging GI system are physiologic, others are pathological and particularly more prevalent among those above age 65 years." notes the study.

An article written by Michael Bartel, MD, PhD, Fairfax, Virginia, aging is a factor in several digestive system disorders.

In particular, older adults are more likely to develop diverticulosis and to have digestive tract disorders (for example, constipation—see Large intestine and rectum) as a side effect of taking certain medications. Also, changes in the gut microbiome (all the bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that live in the digestive tract) with age may be connected to overall healthy aging and may affect obesity, metabolic disorders, inflammation, cancer, depression, or other health issues.

Esophagus

As people age, the strength of esophageal contractions and the tension in the upper sphincter decline (a condition called presbyesophagus), but food movement usually remains unaffected. However, some older adults may develop disorders that disrupt these contractions.

Stomach

Aging reduces the stomach lining’s ability to resist damage, increasing the risk of ulcers, especially with NSAID use. The stomach also becomes less elastic and empties more slowly, though these changes rarely cause symptoms. Acid and enzyme secretion generally stay stable, but conditions like atrophic gastritis, which lower acid production, become more common and may lead to issues like vitamin B12 deficiency or bacterial overgrowth.

Small Intestine

Aging causes little structural change in the small intestine, so nutrient absorption mostly remains intact. However, reduced lactase levels can cause lactose intolerance, and bacterial overgrowth becomes more common, leading to bloating, pain, weight loss, and poor absorption of nutrients like B12, iron, and calcium.

Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder

The pancreas shrinks slightly and may develop some scarring, but its enzyme production remains adequate. The liver and gallbladder undergo structural changes, but these generally don’t impair their digestive functions.

Large Intestine and Rectum

The large intestine changes little with age, though the rectum may enlarge. Constipation becomes more frequent due to slower movement, weaker rectal contractions, reduced activity, medication use, and, in women, pelvic floor weakness—which can also cause fecal incontinence.

Chronic diseases impact six in 10 American adults—amounting to nearly 130 million individuals—public health funding is more than a policy debate. It is a matter of life, longevity, and dignity. From autoimmune disorders to blood conditions like sickle cell disease, chronic illnesses don’t discriminate, but the effects of budget cuts just might. And women, particularly women of color, are poised to bear the brunt.

Chronic disease management relies on continued research, innovation, and the ability to translate scientific breakthroughs into accessible treatments. Yet, that progress hinges on adequate funding. According to a Minority Staff Report released on May 13, the Trump administration had already terminated $13.5 billion in health-related funding and dismissed thousands of workers responsible for America’s scientific infrastructure. Now, proposed fiscal budget reductions for 2026 may deepen the damage.

Among the most contentious measures is a 15% cap on indirect costs for federally funded research at universities. Institutions like those governed by the NIH, DOE, DOD, and NSF could lose billions in essential operational funding. These cuts would not only affect research in cancer and infectious diseases but also severely limit progress in chronic illness management, including diseases with heavy gender and racial disparities such as sickle cell disease.

"The 15% cap will drastically change grant-making for the healthcare community," warns Steven Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. "We’re going to be going backwards in the research of many diseases."

While legal battles rage over cost caps, the broader budget outlook appears equally grim. The proposed FY2026 budget includes a 37% cut to the NIH, the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research. Coupled with a proposed $880 billion cut to Medicaid and related programs, the implications for patients with chronic diseases are dire. Health disparities are expected to widen, particularly for Black women already navigating compounded risks.

Why Women With Chronic Conditions Are at Greater Risk?

In April, the CDC disbanded a crucial eight-person team that maintained contraception safety guidelines for patients with chronic illnesses. Known informally as the nation’s "contraception bible," this set of guidelines helped clinicians assess birth control safety for individuals with conditions like lupus, kidney disease, and notably, sickle cell disease.

The disbandment means doctors are left without updated, evidence-backed tools to make informed decisions about contraception for medically vulnerable populations. A woman in Michigan living with sickle cell disease expressed concern that her life is now endangered without these vital guidelines. And her fear is not unfounded.

According to the most recent CDC guidance, combined hormonal contraceptives pose an "unacceptable health risk" for people with sickle cell disease due to elevated blood clot risks. This marks a shift from earlier versions that viewed the benefits as outweighing the risks. The latest update also reclassified the Depo-Provera shot with higher risk and highlighted progestin-only pills and IUDs as safer alternatives.

Sickle Cell and the Disproportionate Burden on Black Women

At least 90% of Americans living with sickle cell disease are Black, and the maternal mortality rate for Black patients with the disease is a staggering 26 times higher than for their non-Black counterparts. When federal funding cuts target research and public health programs that cater to this community, the results can be devastating.

The intersectionality of race, gender, and chronic illness in this context highlights the urgency of protecting these programs. Reducing CDC and NIH resources not only curtails research but also removes critical guardrails meant to protect women from life-threatening reproductive complications.

Implications for Chronic Disease Communities

The implications extend beyond sickle cell. The CDC team was also responsible for reviewing contraception safety for those with a wide range of conditions, including HIV, epilepsy, and autoimmune diseases. Without their expertise, clinicians across the country will operate with outdated or incomplete information, increasing the risk of complications and undermining patient trust.

Medical experts worry that continued cuts will halt the momentum achieved in areas like gene-editing therapies, personalized medicine, and immunotherapy. For patients, this could mean fewer treatment options, reduced quality of care, and ultimately, shortened lifespans.

There is still hope that not all is lost. Both NIH and HHS have appealed the cost-cap ruling, and advocacy groups are mobilizing to pressure legislators to reconsider the draconian cuts. Public awareness and civic engagement will be crucial in ensuring that health funding is restored or, at the very least, preserved.

Advocacy groups like the Arthritis Foundation and the American Hospital Association are encouraging constituents to contact their representatives and demand that health funding remain a national priority. Grassroots campaigns, coalition-building, and direct appeals to Congress will likely determine the final outcome of this debate.

As debates around federal spending continue, it’s vital not to lose sight of what’s at stake. Budget lines may be written in ink, but their effects are etched in the lives of real people—particularly women battling chronic illnesses. Stripping research and public health funding not only undermines scientific progress but also endangers the most vulnerable. Now more than ever, robust investment in chronic disease research must remain a cornerstone of public health policy.

In recent months, a wave of concern has rippled through the U.S. public health community over a so-called “cognitive supplement” that’s been quietly—and dangerously slipping into the hands of consumers. Marketed with appealing names and colorful packaging, often sold at gas stations, smoke shops, and corner stores, these energy-boosting elixirs and mood enhancers are anything but benign. They contain tianeptine, an unapproved drug in the United States that’s quickly earning notoriety under the alarming nickname “gas station heroin.”

With a growing number of emergency calls, FDA warnings, and unregulated formulations circulating under the radar, tianeptine has become a chemical wildcard posing significant risks to public health while masquerading as an over-the-counter supplement.

What Is Tianeptine?

Tianeptine is a tricyclic antidepressant originally developed and approved for use in several European, Asian, and Latin American countries to treat conditions like major depressive disorder, anxiety, and even irritable bowel syndrome. Despite these approved medical uses abroad, tianeptine has never received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for any therapeutic purpose.

What’s particularly alarming is the way this compound is being sold in the U.S.—not as a regulated pharmaceutical, but as an unregulated cognitive enhancer or energy booster, available under brand names such as Zaza, Tianna, Pegasus, TD Red, and Neptune’s Fix. These products are packaged to resemble energy drinks or wellness shots, creating a false sense of safety for unsuspecting buyers.

How Tianeptine Is Slipping Through the Regulatory Cracks

Tianeptine’s entry into the U.S. market exploits a regulatory loophole. The FDA doesn’t preapprove ingredients used in supplements before they hit store shelves. As a result, many companies are selling tianeptine-based products under the guise of dietary supplements, despite explicit warnings from the FDA stating that tianeptine cannot legally be added to food, beverages, or supplements.

“It’s kind of this grey area of consumer products,” explains Dr. Diane Calello, medical director of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. “These products are not tested or regulated in the same way that medications are.”

This grey area is not without consequences. A recent study led by Calello documented a cluster of emergency cases in New Jersey, where individuals experienced symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, seizures, and low blood pressure after consuming a tianeptine-laced beverage called Neptune’s Fix. Of the 20 patients, more than half were admitted to intensive care units.

Why Are People Using Gas Station Heroin?

Tianeptine’s appeal lies in its opioid-like effects, even though it is not classified as an opioid. The drug interacts with mu-opioid receptors in the brain, producing short-term euphoria, pain relief, and mood elevation. These effects are similar to those of controlled narcotics like oxycodone—but without the same legal restrictions.

Some products claim, without clinical backing, that tianeptine can treat addiction, anxiety, depression, and even sexual dysfunction. In 2018, the FDA issued a warning letter to the makers of Tianna, a supplement that claimed to offer a solution to opioid cravings—another red flag in a market already marred by misinformation.

But the pursuit of relief comes at a price. Many users increase their dosage over time, either to self-treat withdrawal symptoms or to chase a high. High doses can cause severe respiratory depression, the same life-threatening condition caused by opioid overdoses. And unlike regulated medications, there’s no standardization in these products, making them even more dangerous.

What are The Risks And Side Effects of Using Tianeptine?

Even in small doses, tianeptine is not without risk. Reported side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness and drowsiness
• Constipation
• Abdominal discomfort
• Bad dreams
• Headaches
• Dry mouth

However, when misused or taken in large amounts—especially in combination with substances like alcohol, opioids, or stimulants—tianeptine can lead to cardiac arrest, seizures, or even death.

Moreover, regular users may find themselves battling withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced during opioid withdrawal. These can include:

• Agitation and anxiety
• Muscle pain and sweating
• Depression
• Chills and trembling

Withdrawal begins quickly and can be intense, reinforcing the cycle of dependence.

The FDA and U.S. poison control centers have issued repeated alerts, cautioning the public and health professionals about the growing number of adverse events linked to tianeptine.

Last month, the FDA took a firmer stance, warning healthcare providers about “the magnitude of the underlying danger of these products.” Poison control centers across the country have seen a steady uptick in calls involving tianeptine-related overdoses, particularly among individuals with a history of substance use or mental health issues.

Despite these warnings, tianeptine remains accessible in many gas stations and smoke shops, often labeled misleadingly as a natural mood enhancer or energy booster. This underscores the need for stronger regulations and consumer awareness campaigns.

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression, anxiety, addiction, or chronic pain, consult a licensed medical professional for FDA-approved treatments. There are safe and effective therapies available—including medications and cognitive behavioral therapy—that have been rigorously tested and regulated.

Avoid purchasing any so-called “cognitive supplements” or energy drinks from gas stations or smoke shops, especially those that are vaguely labeled or make unverified medical claims.

If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose or withdrawal from tianeptine, contact emergency medical services immediately.

What’s marketed as a quick fix in a flashy bottle may actually be a dangerous and addictive drug. As the story of gas station heroin unfolds, it’s clear that consumers need to be vigilant, and regulators must act faster to protect public health.