We stretch our legs after a long flight, we roll our necks after a day at the desk, we even calm our minds with meditation and journaling. But when did you last actually give your eyes a break? In a world where we increasingly exist in a digital-first space, where most of us are glued to screens from sunrise to sunset, our eyes are working behind the scenes to take the strain. And yet, we scarcely ever consider looking after them.

How often do you ever really pay attention to your eyes—until they burn, blur, or just plain tire? If you're like most of us in today's screen world, I'd bet my paycheck that your eyes work overtime day and night. From the moment we wake up and reach for our phones to the all-night binge-a-thons and Zoom-a-thons, our eyes barely get a chance to rest at all.

So, what if you could take only 15 minutes a week to rest and refresh your eyes—and actually feel the difference? Let's take a look at three easy, expert-recommended ways to spoil your peepers.

The truth is, your eyes are working double time—and they're footing the bill. Eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision, and even headaches are part of our daily narrative. Based on a survey conducted by All About Vision, remote workers now spend nearly 13 hours a day in front of a screen. Given such exposure, it's no wonder that nearly half of the study participants reported a deterioration in their vision over the past two years.

So, what do you do to fight against this visual exhaustion? As leading ophthalmologist Dr. Neeraj Sandhuja says, "Our eyes are under more stress than ever before. With screen time at night, Zoom marathon meetings, and endless scroll, the visual system is constantly bombarded. Giving your eyes one dedicated day to reboot can be a huge payoff."

Here's a look at three expert-approved techniques that can help refresh your eyes, improve focus, and aid strong vision in the long run. All it requires is one committed session a week.

1. The Rule of 20-20-20

If your work today consists of hours and hours of typing on a computer, this easy but powerful strategy can become your greatest friend. It's known as the 20-20-20 rule: Check your vision at 20 feet away every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds.

This short break allows your eye muscles to unwind, interrupting the constant stream of near-work tension. Dr. Sandhuja explains, "Staring at screens all the time keeps your eyes in one position, taxing the ciliary muscles that do the focusing. The 20-20-20 rule gives your eyes some relief from time to time, avoiding chronic fatigue."

Think of it as a micro-break that recharges your visual batteries. Whatever you're gazing out the window, at a plant across the room, or just gazing off into space, you're giving your eyes a chance to breathe and recharge.

2. Practice Palming

This ancient yogic exercise is older than the hills and a simple way to relax and rejuvenate tired eyes. You don't even have to borrow your neighbor's hands – just your own two. Take a few minutes alone.

Start by rubbing your palms against each other strongly to heat them up. Once they are heated up, gently position them over your closed eyes—without pressure. Let the heat and darkness blanket your sight. Hold on like this for a minute or two, breathing deeply.

“Palming not only reduces eye strain but also relaxes your nervous system,” shares Dr. Sandhuja. “It’s a form of sensory withdrawal, helping your mind and eyes retreat from constant stimulation.”

The experience is meditative and grounding. And best of all, it requires no special equipment—just the intention to rest and rejuvenate.

3. Eye Circles and Blinking Exercises

Just as stretching loosens tight muscles, eye movement relaxes tension around the optic nerves and boosts circulation.

Practice this mini routine:

• Slowly rotate your eyes clockwise for one minute, then in reverse direction.
• Then rapid blinking—blink as fast as you can for 10 seconds.

These movements trigger natural lubrication and the tear glands, so they're especially beneficial if you have dry eyes. "Eye movement exercises promote flexibility and coordination between the eye muscles. They also promote tear flow, which is essential in combating dryness due to prolonged screen use," explains Dr. Sandhuja.

Use these as your weekly visual yoga— gentle but powerful.

Make It a Weekly Ritual

Consistency is the key. Select one evening of the week—Sunday evening or a mid-week wellness break—to take 10 to 15 minutes to do these eye-care rituals. Do it consciously. Have a candle lit, soothing music playing, and treat it as an non-negotiable aspect of your wellness routine.

Over time, this habit will pay off. You’ll notice reduced eye strain, improved focus, fewer headaches, and an overall sense of calm. Just like your body benefits from rest and recovery, your eyes thrive when given a chance to recharge.

Though these exercises won't fix refractive errors such as myopia or astigmatism, they can significantly enhance visual comfort and concentration, particularly in the age of hyper-connectivity. From palming and blinking to gazing at the distance, every method enhances your eyes' inherent capacity to relax and rejuvenate.

As Dr. Sandhuja so aptly puts it, "Don't wait for discomfort to remind you to care for your eyes. Make it a habit, and your future self will thank you." So do it—go ahead and arrange that weekly eye-care appointment. Your eyesight is worth the care.

Dr Neeraj Sandhuja is a Ophthalmologist, Founder and Director of Viaan Eye and Retina Centre

Wondering if abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain and leg swelling are signs of something fatal?

According to Dr Ninad Katdare, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, they may be symptoms of cervical cancer. While many may expect drastic signs such as severe pain, heavy bleeding or obvious illness, identifying certain symptoms can help with early diagnosis and treatment.

Cervical cancer develops in a women's cervix (uterus opening) due to abnormal cell growth, primarily caused by persistent HPV infection, a common infection that's passed through sexual contact.

When exposed to HPV, the body's immune system typically prevents the virus from causing damage however, in a small percentage of people, the virus can survive for years and pave the way for some cervical cells to become cancerous.

Treatment involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, with early detection significantly improving outcomes, though it remains a major cancer in low-income countries. Cervical cancer can also be prevented through vaccination and regular screening (Pap/HPV tests).

Dr Katdare told News18: "In its early stages, it is often more of a whisper than a shout. As a cancer surgeon who has treated hundreds of women with gynaecological cancers, I can say with confidence that recognising these subtle cues can lead to earlier diagnosis and significantly better outcomes."

He recommends looking out for these early signs:

1. Intermenstrual Bleeding

2. Changes In Vaginal Discharge

But Dr Katdare warns that any sudden or abnormal changes in discharge may be a symptom of the cancer. “Because discharge issues are commonly linked to infections, many women self-medicate or delay seeking care," he said. “While infections are far more common, chronic or unusual discharge especially in older women requires thorough evaluation."

Discharge may become persistent, watery, foul-smelling, or tinged with blood or pink, brown, or rust-colored if you're suffering from this kind of cancer.

3. Persistent Pelvic Pain

Consistent pelvic pain particularly that occurs outside the menstrual cycle or during sexual intercourse should be a point of concern. According to Dr Katdare, "Pain during intercourse, or dyspareunia, is especially important. It should not be dismissed as ‘just dryness’ or an age-related change. In cervical cancer, this pain may result from inflammation or tumour growth involving the cervix and surrounding tissues."

4. Leg Swelling

5. Urinary And Bowel Symptoms

“These symptoms are often evaluated in isolation because they don’t seem related to the cervix," said Dr Katdare, “which can delay the correct diagnosis."

Ultimately the expert advised: "“Cervical cancer does not always announce itself loudly,. Sometimes, it leaves silent clues. The sooner you listen to them, the better the outcome. If something feels ‘off,’ trust that instinct and seek medical advice. Early action can make the difference between a curable disease and a life-altering diagnosis."

Angina, a symptom of coronary artery disease, is a type of chest pain caused by the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen-rich blood, usually due to narrowed coronary arteries from plaque buildup.

Itis often described as squeezing, pressure, or heaviness in the chest, potentially radiating to arms, neck, jaw, or back and at times, can feel like indigestion. Experiencing an angina is warning sign of heart disease, not of a heart attack.

However, Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP), a Chinese traditional medicine that can help ease angina pain as it helps improve blood flow and protects heart microcirculation through its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic (promoting cell survival) characteristics, according to an EMJ study.

What Is Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill?

In this a randomized controlled study, 200 adults with angina and coronary slow flow phenomenon were assigned to receive either STDP or a placebo. The study measured coronary blood flow using corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC).

Patients who received STDP had improved blood flow in two major coronary arteries, while those given placebo showed no improvement. The improvement with STDP was significantly greater than with placebo.

The scientists concluded that using STDP to increase blood flow in the body was beneficial with no major safety concerns reported during the trial, allowing them to conclude that this Chinese medication can help the flow of blood through the heart’s smallest blood vessels, which supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle with no side-effects.

Researchers are yet to conclude how the medication works and helps the heart.

Coronary Artery Disease: The Silent Killer

Despite being as a common heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) develops over years and has no clear signs and symptoms apart from chest pain and a heart attack. The illness begins due to a buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances known as plaque in and on the artery walls.

Over time, this can cause narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries and block the supply of oxygen-rich blood to heart which can lead chest pain (angina), shortness of breath and ultimately, heart attacks.

Typically, those above the age of 45, having a biological family member with heart disease, lack of sleep, smoking, consuming saturated fats along with other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of developing CAD.

Treatment options may include medicines and surgery. Eating a nutritious diet, getting regular exercise and not smoking can help also prevent CAD and the conditions that can cause it.

Nearly one in 10 Indian adults suffer from CAD and about two million people die from the disease annually. Apart from this, about 18 to 20 million American adults aged 20 and older are also affected about the disease.

How Much You Should Exercise To Prevent CAD?

Moreover, regular exercise can also reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, dementia and Alzheimer’s, several types of cancer. It can also help improve sleep, cognition, including memory, attention and processing speed.

Dr Hayes recommends opting for a cardiac evaluation such as an electrocardiogram, or EKG; stress test; a cardiac MRI or CT scan to generate images of your heart if you notice changes in your ability to exercise or cannot perform consistent levels of exercise.

In early January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made one of the most significant changes to childhood vaccination policy in decades. Routine vaccination is no longer universally recommended for six diseases, including rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease and hepatitis A. The move follows a directive from President Donald Trump’s administration to reassess vaccine schedules and align them with what officials called “international consensus.”

Supporters of the change describe it as a step toward informed consent and transparency. Many public health experts see it very differently. They argue that the science behind the decision is selective, the process breaks with long-standing norms, and the consequences may only become clear years later.

So are these vaccines actually necessary, and is removing them from compulsory recommendation a reasonable move? Health and Me ran a fact check to see whether the four vaccines removed from the CDC universal guidelines would actually be a "better thing", as the Health Secretary and long time vaccine critic Robert F Kennedy Jr says.

Read: Children Getting Fewer Vaccine May Be A 'Better Thing', Says RFK Jr, As US Struggles With Rise In Flu Activity

What Exactly Changed With The CDC Vaccination

Until recently, the CDC recommended routine childhood vaccination against 17 diseases. That number has now dropped to 11. Vaccines for rotavirus, influenza, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and COVID-19 are no longer universally recommended for all children. Instead, they fall under shared clinical decision-making, meaning parents can still opt for them after discussion with a healthcare provider.

Importantly, this does not mean the vaccines are banned or unavailable. Insurance coverage remains largely unchanged for now, and vaccines remain recommended for children at higher risk.

The larger concern raised by experts is not access, but messaging. Universal recommendations have historically been one of the strongest drivers of vaccine uptake.

Read More: CDC Vaccine Schedule: Coverage Falls From 17 to 11 Diseases For Children

A Break From the Usual Scientific Process

Traditionally, changes to the U.S. vaccine schedule go through the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a panel of independent experts who review evidence publicly over months. This time, that process was bypassed.

Instead, the decision relied on a 33-page internal assessment prepared by two political appointees. Several experts criticized both the lack of transparency and the narrow interpretation of evidence.

Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician and vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, described the process as federal officials making sweeping decisions behind closed doors, without public input or broad expert review.

Rotavirus: Rare Deaths, Heavy Hospital Burden

Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea and vomiting in infants and young children, often leading to dehydration. Before routine vaccination began in 2006, an estimated 55,000 to 70,000 U.S. children were hospitalized each year due to rotavirus.

The administration justified dropping the universal recommendation by emphasizing low mortality rates. However, CDC researchers previously estimated 20 to 60 deaths annually in the pre-vaccine era. Experts say focusing narrowly on death counts ignores the very real suffering and healthcare burden the virus caused.

Offit, who helped develop one of the vaccines, noted that most pediatric residents today have never seen a child hospitalized with severe rotavirus dehydration. That absence, he argues, is proof of success, not irrelevance.

Meningococcal Disease: Rare but Devastating

Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but when it strikes, it can be deadly within hours. Even with treatment, about 15 percent of patients die, and up to 20 percent suffer permanent complications such as amputations or hearing loss.

The administration cited low incidence and World Health Organization thresholds to justify removing the universal recommendation. But experts counter that low incidence is precisely what vaccination programs aim to achieve.

Dr. David Stephens of Emory University pointed out that most high-income countries still recommend meningococcal vaccines, even with similarly low disease rates. He also warned that recent U.S. data show a resurgence, with 2024 recording the highest number of cases in over a decade.

Modeling studies suggest that U.S. vaccination programs have already prevented hundreds of cases and dozens of deaths. Removing universal recommendations, experts warn, risks reversing those gains.

Influenza: The Limits of Clinical Trials

Annual flu vaccination for children has been recommended since 2008, based on evidence that children both suffer from influenza and play a major role in spreading it.

The administration argued that randomized controlled trials have not proven flu vaccines reduce hospitalizations or deaths in children. What it did not emphasize is that such trials are not designed to detect rare outcomes like death.

Dr. Mark Loeb of McMaster University explained that proving mortality benefits would require trials involving millions of children, which is not feasible. Instead, real-world observational studies are used.

Those studies consistently show that flu vaccination reduces hospitalizations in children. A 2024 review in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated a 67 percent reduction in pediatric hospital admissions. Experts say dismissing this evidence reflects a misunderstanding of how vaccine effectiveness is measured.

Also Read: RSV Vaccine Has Benefits, Reveals Study Amid CDC's Changed Guidelines On Childhood Vaccines

Hepatitis A: Protecting Others by Vaccinating Children

Hepatitis A rarely causes severe illness in young children, which is precisely why childhood vaccination works. Children often spread the virus silently to adults, who face much higher risks of liver failure and death.

Dr. Noele Nelson, a former CDC epidemiologist, explained that vaccinating children interrupts this transmission chain and provides lifelong immunity. She warned that reducing childhood vaccination could recreate the conditions that once fueled adult outbreaks.

Claims that hepatitis A vaccines lack adequate safety data were also disputed. Clinical trials and decades of post-licensure monitoring have found no unexpected safety concerns, according to Nelson and other experts.

Are These Changes Scientifically Justified?

Public health experts broadly agree that these vaccines are not perfect and that honest discussions about risks and benefits matter. Where they strongly disagree is the idea that low disease rates or ethical limits on trial design justify weakening universal recommendations.

Low incidence, experts emphasize, is not a reason to stop vaccinating. It is evidence that vaccination works.

Whether the consequences of this policy shift emerge in five years or ten, many experts fear the costs will be paid quietly, through preventable hospitalizations, outbreaks and deaths that no longer make headlines but never needed to happen in the first place.