Stress is an inevitable part of life, but its consequences are not just mood swings and mental fatigue. Continual stress makes people produce extra cortisol, a hormone that has a critical role in adapting to short-term challenges, but chronically in high quantities it tends to cause harm to the body causing lots of physical and mental disorders.

The adrenal glands produce cortisol, which helps the body control its "fight, flight, or freeze" response. Cortisol temporarily adjusts blood sugar levels, maintains blood pressure, and assists the immune system, among other functions, in short spurts. But when stress persists, cortisol remains high, and necessary functions of the body are interfered with and rendered more susceptible to disease.

According to one survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, stress negatively affects a third of Americans' physical health. Concerns are reinforced by research where studies have shown 80% of primary care visits are stress-related.

But why does stress have such a profound impact? Elevated cortisol limits the immune system's ability to fight infections, disrupts hormonal balance, and triggers inflammation. Over time, these changes can lead to serious health complications.

Signs That High Cortisol Is Stressing Your Body

Persistent Eye Twitches

Do you have involuntary eye spasms? These harmless but annoying twitches often indicate elevated cortisol. The tiny muscles around the eyes are extremely sensitive to stress, contracting or spasming because of cortisol's stimulant-like effects.

Skin Breakouts and Sensitivity

Your skin often reflects what is going on inside your body, and chronic stress can cause inflammatory skin conditions. Elevated cortisol levels stimulate oil production, which exacerbates acne. It also slows down the healing process, worsens conditions like eczema, and contributes to general irritation of the skin.

Frequent Bloating and Digestive Issues

It also interferes with the body's balance of salt and water, which causes fluid retention and bloating. Excess cortisol also slows down blood flow to the digestive system, which further weakens gut bacteria and causes poor digestion, excess gas, and abdominal discomfort.

Weight Fluctuations

High cortisol stimulates the production of insulin, which can cause blood sugar to drop, making people want to eat sugary, high-fat foods. For many, this becomes an excuse to stress-eat and gain weight. For others, the opposite is true: their appetite disappears under stress, causing them to lose weight.

Unexplained Bruising

If you’re noticing random bruises, elevated cortisol could be the culprit. This hormone weakens skin proteins and the walls of small blood vessels, making your skin more fragile and prone to damage.

Cold Symptoms That Won’t Go Away

Do you feel rundown or experience muscle aches, fatigue, or upset stomach regularly? Elevated cortisol mimics cold-like symptoms. Long-term stress also weakens the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.

Also Read: Stressed At Work? Your Sleep Might Be Paying The Price, New Study Shows

Vision Problems

Chronic stress can damage your eyesight. Elevated cortisol disrupts blood flow to the eyes, increases eye pressure, and raises the risk of glaucoma. Symptoms like dry eyes, blurred vision, and light sensitivity are also common.

Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Irregular Menstrual Cycles that disrupt the menstrual period. In females, this leads to hormonal distress causing irregular or missed periods. Over time, it may also disturb fertility.

Tinnitus or Persistent Ringing in the Ears

If you hear ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds without an apparent source, stress might be the culprit. Cortisol affects the auditory system by interfering with blood flow and nerve function and could be the trigger for tinnitus.

Increased Inflammation and Chronic Disease

Increased levels of cortisol contribute to inflammation that can exacerbate conditions such as arthritis and promote the development of heart disease. Chronic inflammation is also associated with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression.

Long-term Consequences of Increased Cortisol

Left unchecked, high cortisol levels can lead to more than just short-term discomfort. Chronic stress has been associated with serious conditions such as heart disease, psychiatric disorders, and metabolic syndromes. A 2013 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine underlined the link between stress and physical health, with recent research in Neurobiology of Stres supporting these findings.

Ways Managing Stress and Cortisol Levels

Managing stress and cortisol levels is essential for maintaining overall health. One effective approach is practicing mindfulness through meditation or yoga, which helps lower cortisol by calming the mind and promoting relaxation. Regular physical exercise, especially aerobic activities, helps reduce stress hormones and boosts endorphins. Prioritizing sleep is crucial, as lack of rest can increase cortisol levels; aim for 7-9 hours per night.

Another remedy is an overall balanced diet full of anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that could manage cortisol production. Finally, it would prevent burnout and chronic stress if proper boundaries were set at work and in personal life.

While American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) sudden divergence from Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations after 30 years for the first time may have raised some eyebrows, soon after, Robert F Kennedy junior, American Health Secretary officially accused the Pediatricians' community of being “paid to promote by drug companies”.

In a X post, RFK Jr. said “Americans may ask whether the AAP’s recommendations reflect public health interest, or are, perhaps, just a pay-to-play scheme to promote commercial ambitions of AAP’s Big Pharma benefactors.”

How Does AAP’s Recommendation On Vaccine Differ From CDC

This argument started when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped recommending COVID-19 shots for all children ages 6 months and older. Kennedy praised this move.

However, the AAP kept its recommendation for young children to get vaccinated. They said that children under 2 years old are especially at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

Even with this disagreement, both the CDC and the AAP still recommend the shots for children who have other health problems. For healthy children, both groups agree that parents should talk with their doctor to decide what's best.

Is RFK Anti-Vaccines?

On more than one occasion Kennedy has questioned the validity of vaccines and how effective they are. Kennedy has also made false claims about vaccine safety, saying they cause illnesses and even death. He has also promoted unproven treatments for measles and suggested that doctors and scientists who advise the CDC can’t be trusted because of conflicts of interest

Even as measles cases are increasing, Kennedy has downplayed the risks. He has wrongly claimed that a natural measles infection gives a person better protection than a vaccine, ignoring the fact that measles can be deadly and can even harm a person's immune system for years after they recover.

The National Institutes of Health stopped giving money to researchers who study why people are hesitant about vaccines.

It also cut programs meant to find new vaccines for future pandemics. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also cut billions of dollars from state programs that help get children immunized.

Are Vaccine Budget Cuts Affecting People’s Health?

Since being appointed, Kennedy has halted 500 million dollars in vaccine projects. According to John Hopkins, the decision to cut $500 million in mRNA vaccine funding is a serious setback for public health and national security. It hurts our ability to be ready for the next pandemic.

This technology has huge potential beyond just fighting new viruses. Researchers are excited about using mRNA to create vaccines for diseases like HIV and even treatments for cancer and autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes. Cutting this funding will slow down all of this important research, allowing other countries to get ahead while we fall behind.

mRNA vaccines, first used for COVID-19, are a powerful new tool in medicine. Despite their success, misinformation is now threatening their future development and public trust.

Global immunization efforts are facing major threats from misinformation, growing populations, humanitarian crises, and funding cuts. The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi are warning that this is putting millions of children and adults at risk.

Outbreaks of diseases like measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are on the rise worldwide. Even diseases like diphtheria, which had almost disappeared in many countries, are now at risk of returning.

Are Preventable Diseases Making a Comeback?

According to UNICEF statistics, measles cases have been on the rise since 2021, reaching an estimated 10.3 million cases in 2023. This is a 20% increase from the year before. The trend is expected to continue into 2024 and 2025. In the past year, many countries have had large outbreaks. Other diseases are also a growing concern:

• Meningitis cases in Africa have risen sharply.
• Yellow fever is also climbing in Africa and the Americas.

These outbreaks are happening because global health funding is being cut. A recent survey found that many countries are struggling with their vaccination programs and don't have enough supplies. As a result, an estimated 14.5 million children missed all their routine vaccines in 2023.

Despite these challenges, vaccines remain one of the best tools for saving lives. Every year, they prevent almost 4.2 million deaths from 14 different diseases. Major progress has been made, including:

• A new vaccine has helped get rid of meningitis A in Africa.
• Yellow fever cases have been reduced.
• HPV vaccine coverage has nearly doubled in Africa, a big step in fighting cervical cancer.
• The introduction of malaria vaccines in Africa could save half a million lives by 2035.

Call for Action

UNICEF is urging everyone—parents, the public, and world leaders—to support vaccination. Investing in vaccines is a smart move, with a return of $54 for every dollar spent. Vaccines not only protect against diseases but also connect families to other important healthcare services.

A major goal is to raise at least $9 billion to fund a plan to protect 500 million children over the next five years.

After a California resident tested positive for plague, likely due to being bitten by an inflected flea, as the health officials have said on Tuesday, August 19, the threat of plague is lingering again.

As per the reports, the person was camping in South Lake Tahoe area, and it was in this region when such an infection was previously reported in 2020.

READ: California Resident Tests Positive For Plague, Officials Trace Case Back To Lake Tahoe Flea

While the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do note that on an average, seven people are diagnoses with a confirm case of plague each year in the US, it is now treatable with antibiotics. The CDC also notes that over 80% of the US plague cases are in the bubonic form, or also known as the "black plague".

Are There More Than One Form Of Plague?

Before we get into the different kinds of plagues, it is important to understand what exactly is plague.

It is an illness that you can get from the bacterium Yersinia pestis or the Y pestis. It is a zoonotic disease, which means you can get it from animals and they also can get it from you. The disease usually spreads through bites from fleas that have been infected by biting an infected animal.

The type of plague depends on where in your body Y pestis ends up.

Bubonic Plague

It is the most common form of plague and is the most survivable too. It has a quick antibiotic treatment, with a 95% chance of recovering, notes the Cleveland Clinic.

It makes one or more lymph nodes painful and swollen and the affected lymph nodes are usually near where an infected flea bit.

READ: Has The Black Death Returned? List Of Dreadful Symptoms Of The Bubonic Plague

Septicemic Plague

This is when Y pestis gets into your blood. It can destroy your tissues, lead to gangrene and even organ failure.

How can you get a septicemic plague?

• From a flea bite
• Body fluids of an infected animal getting into a break in your skin
• Y pestis is moving to your blood from another part of your body, also known as secondary infection

Pneumonic Plague

This happens when Y pestis gets into your lungs. It is the least common and the most dangerous type of plague.

This can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing like a common cold. You can also get it from close contact with an infected animal or from a bacteria which may have moved to your lungs from another part of your body, through secondary infection.

READ: Pneumonic Plague Death Raises Alarm, Can Prairie Dogs Be The Cause Of It?

This can also cause severe pneumonia and respiratory failure.

How Does Plague Spread?

the CDC notes that the bacteria is most often transmitted by the bite of an infected flea. During plague epizootics, many rodents die, causing hungry fleas to seek other sources of blood. This is when people and animal that visit places where rodents have recently died become most at risk of plague.

Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into home.

Another way is also when humans become infected when handling a tissue or body fluids of a plague-infected animal. For instance, a butcher skinning of an infected animal without using precautions.

Furthermore, if an infected person coughs, then someone close to them can also catch it. This requires a direct and close contact with the person. However, the CDC also notes that person-to-person spread has not been documented in the United States since 1924, but there continue to be rare cases of pneumonic plague among people exposed to sick cats.

What Lessons Has The Bubonic Plague Taught Us?

The UNESCO notes that the bubonic plague, often remembered as the Black Death of the 14th century, devastated societies across Eurasia, killing tens of millions. Yet, its history holds important lessons for how we think about epidemics today, especially in an age of rapid globalization and frequent outbreaks like COVID-19.

One of the clearest reminders from the plague is that disease does not require modern technology to spread. Long before airplanes, trains, and cruise ships, the plague travelled swiftly along the Silk Roads, carried by infected rodents, fleas, and merchants.

This shows that restricting human movement and exchange is not a guaranteed solution to epidemics. People have always migrated, traded, and shared ideas across vast distances—and this interconnectedness, while it facilitated disease, also enriched societies in countless ways.

In fact, the Silk Roads highlight a second major lesson: human progress has always depended on exchange and collaboration.

Along these routes, not only did goods travel, but also science, medicine, literature, and technologies. During the medieval era, the translation and circulation of medical knowledge across cultures, drawing from Greek, Roman, Chinese, and Indian traditions, laid foundations that shaped later advances in health and medicine. Even while diseases spread, knowledge spread too, and in many ways became our strongest defense.

The Black Death also spurred the evolution of public health measures. In the 14th century, societies lacked accurate understanding of Yersinia pestis, the bacterium behind plague, and treatments were ineffective. Fleeing infected areas was often the only option.

However, the devastation prompted new strategies, most famously, the Venetian practice of keeping ships and travelers isolated for 40 days before entering the city. This became known as quarantine, a concept still central to disease control today.

What Is Different Today?

Modern society has one crucial advantage that medieval Europe did not: science. Today, we can identify new viruses, sequence genomes, and develop diagnostic tests within weeks. But history cautions us against complacency. Epidemics are not new, and global movement will always carry risks. What matters most is how societies respond, through collaboration, sharing knowledge, and strengthening public health systems.

Ultimately, the history of plague teaches us that epidemics, though devastating, also drive innovation, cooperation, and resilience. The same interconnectedness that spreads disease can also unite humanity in finding solutions.

For over three decades, Judge Frank Caprio was hailed as "the world's kindest judge." From the bench of Providence Municipal Court, he warmed the hearts of millions with his compassion, impartiality, and uniquely human style of justice. With the Emmy-nominated series Caught in Providence, his moments of mercy went viral, transforming ordinary court appearances into acts of kindness that struck a chord that went far beyond the borders of Rhode Island.

Now, at age 88, the man famous for providing others with a second chance is grappling with his own greatest challenge: pancreatic cancer. And consistent with Caprio's style, he's confronting it with courage, humility, and a sincere plea for prayers.

For close to 40 years, Frank Caprio presided over hearings in Providence, Rhode Island, hearing everyday individuals frequently saddled by parking tickets, small infractions, and personal dilemmas. But in a departure from the most typical courtroom hearings, his remained chances for mercy.

He would waive fines for low-income families, tell jokes to calm worried defendants, and say that justice can be more than just punishment - it can also be compassion. His motto was straightforward, there is a human behind every case file.

That spirit made headlines around the world when Caught in Providence was broadcast. By 2017, videos of Caprio's moments in the courtroom went viral, garnering more than 15 million views on the internet. To many, he was a symbol of compassion within an otherwise brutal system.

Frank Caprio's Health Setback That Shook His Fans

In 2023, Caprio announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the most aggressive type of the disease. In spite of the bleak prognosis attached to this diagnosis, he finished undergoing radiation treatments in 2024 and posted optimistic reports, even publishing a new book.

But in the earlier part of the year, Caprio returned to social media with some more sobering news. From his hospital bed, he gazed straight into the camera and once again requested prayers.

"Last year I asked you to pray for me, and it's very obvious that you did, because I came through a very difficult period," he stated. "Unfortunately I've had a setback and I'm back at the hospital."

Caprio's message was both honest and stoic. "I believe the almighty above is watching over us. So please remember me," he added.

For his millions of fans, the request was poignant—but it also captured the same humility and genuineness that had made him so popular on the bench.

What Is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic cancer arises in the pancreas, a small organ located behind the stomach that is an essential part of digestion and blood sugar management. Though comparatively uncommon, it has one of the lowest five-year survival rates of all major cancers. The American Cancer Society states the five-year survival rate at a mere 13%.

A recent poll conducted by The Ohio State University learned that misapprehensions concerning the disease continue to abound. Over half of Americans younger than 50 claimed that they would not realize early symptoms of pancreatic cancer. One third felt that only older people were susceptible, and 37% believed nothing could be done to reduce their risk.

The reality is more nuanced. While pancreatic cancer is disproportionately found among older adults—average age at diagnosis is 70—incidence among younger people is on the rise. Obesity, diabetes, and excessive alcohol consumption have been suggested as driving factors. Pancreatic cancer ranks among the biggest challenges faced due to the relative impossibility of finding it early. Symptoms tend to present themselves vague and easily dismissed. They can be:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal or back pain
• Digestive problems

As the tumors increase, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin) can occur, with dark urine, pale-colored stool, or pruritus (itchy skin) in some cases.

Since these symptoms are not overt, most individuals fail to seek medical attention until the illness is advanced. For anyone suffering from these symptoms, professionals advise immediate consultation with a healthcare provider.

Common Misconceptions And Real Risks About Pancreatic Cancer

The October survey highlights the disconnect between perception and fact:

Myth 1: Only elderly people develop pancreatic cancer. Although elderly people are still the most impacted, lifestyle is contributing to the development of cases among younger individuals.

Myth 2: There is nothing you can do to reduce your risk. Actually, lifestyle options like quitting smoking, avoiding too much alcohol, being at a healthy weight, and managing diabetes help decrease risk significantly.

Myth 3: Early symptoms are apparent. Pancreatic cancer symptoms are not like those for skin or breast cancer and are frequently nonspecific and may be confused with other illnesses.

Although no one can completely preclude developing pancreatic cancer, some measures can be taken:

Stop smoking: Pancreatic cancer risk is twofold in smokers but falls dramatically after quitting.

Be at a healthy weight: Obesity is associated with increased risk, and diet and exercise are key preventive strategies.

Control diabetes: Type 2 diabetes over the long term is a recognized risk factor; maintaining blood sugar under control could reduce risk.

Drink in moderation: Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with both pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Learn your family history: Approximately 10% of cases are associated with inherited mutations like BRCA1, BRCA2, or Lynch syndrome. Genetic counseling is advised for those who are at high risk.

While Frank Caprio fights cancer, the support that's poured out is a testament to how deeply he has impacted lives beyond his courtroom. Posts and messages from across the globe continue to pour into his social media sites, saying thank you, stay strong, and praying for him.

Caprio’s story also serves as a broader reminder: health challenges, even for those who seem larger than life, are a human equalizer. His openness about his condition helps shine a light on pancreatic cancer—an often overlooked but deadly disease.

At 88, Judge Caprio continues to teach. Just as he asked for compassion in his courtroom, he now asks for awareness, empathy, and proactive health vigilance. And as he battles this fight, he reminds us that strength is not the absence of vulnerability it's the courage to seek help.