As daylight begins to transition into night with the sunset below the horizon, many of us can feel that change happening. While sunsets are beautiful, breathtaking moments that mark the end of a productive day for most, to some, it is an unsettling time of foreboding. I have experienced this myself: this creeping panic when the sun sets, and the house quiets down with my roommates doing their evening routines. I can face the stress of the day well enough, but when the sun would have dipped orange and purple, I feel this agitation inside me that I could only shake off as the sun would have set long gone and night would have fallen.

That is when, in those twilight moments, I will start to look for distractions, like closing those blinds or putting on or adjusting some lights or dials over or calling someone just to re-center myself a little bit.

It's an feeling I would call "sunset anxiety" and something I have learned is not a peculiar feeling or experience. While typically the epitome of serenity, for many, sunsets might be the trigger for uneasy emotions such as grief or fear in others and even trigger panic in some. Although it is not a recognized diagnosis, a look into the Reddit online community reveals that others share this experience — an unpleasant combination of loss, regret, and even anxiety, but which then peaks when the sun sets.

What is Sunset Anxiety?

Sunset anxiety does not exist in medical textbooks, such as the DSM-5, but is now becoming more familiar to people who experience it. We spoke to someone who experiences anxiety with the setting of the sun, who experience emotions like having panic or regret coupled with this nagging sense that time has been lost while the daylight fades away.

For some, the daytime represents possibility, the chance to be productive, and to make the most out of the hours available. But with the sun setting, that hope disappears along with an anxiety that she might lose whatever is being kept inside.

"I am feeling extremely anxious, dread, fear, uncomfortable, restless, and overwhelmed," Serena shared. "Once it is fully dark outside, it all starts to subside, but the buildup towards that time is always so hard.".

Often this creeping sense of fear and nervousness because time is passing could be allied to something called "anticipatory anxiety" or the apprehension about what is yet to come, such as tasks left undone or what's lurking tomorrow. At the coming of evening, people may feel a sense of "productivity guilt," seeing that they haven't accomplished enough in the day given. The guilt becomes an accelerator for anxiety, thus forming a vicious cycle of discomfort.

Is there a Direct Cause to Sunset Anxiety

There is little focused research on sunset anxiety, but general anxiety studies might be useful. In a 2022 study, those high in worry experience anxiety for most of the day, and those low in anxiety have spikes of stress in the morning which fade at day's end. To night owls - those who tend to be more active and feel more alive late at night - the sunset may mark a transition into their most productive or most socially active hours of the day. However, for those prone to anxiety, it's very likely that the levels of tension will peak with the onset of evening hours.

Other causes of sunset anxiety are post-work stress. Sometimes, at the tail end of the day when all the pending responsibilities and decisions have been attended to, the tension has already built up to a point that individuals are left feeling uneasy. The quietness of things as dusk sets in and life slows down can also heighten these feelings.

How to Cope with Sunset Anxiety

The anxiety of witnessing a sunset can be very agonizing, but there are ways to work through those feelings. Here are some things you can do to manage these feelings, as suggested by experts:

1. Stay Active and Busy: One way to push anxiety out the door is to keep yourself active with related activities, for instance, hanging out with buddies, exercising or hobbies can help ease a portion of those feelings of anxiety. Exercise is known to temporarily reduce anxiety, thus a post-workout is just what the doctor ordered.

2. Accept and Admit Your Anxiety: Fighting your anxiety most of the time worsens it. Just admit what you're feeling anxious about and learn to look at what really triggers those feelings.

3. Establish a bedtime routine It might be useful to have a routine that will always signal the end of the day so that you can find it easier and more natural when you transition from day to night. Taking a shower can be just as good as meditation or journal writing. Small rituals that fill the need for comfort and closure at the end of the day.

4. Create a Work Stop Time: Being able to have a clear "shutdown" time makes it possible to not worry about those unfinished things at the end; there are tools such as planners that assist in having a systematic process towards wind-down, mentally and emotionally.

5. Mindfulness Practices: Bring mindfulness into your daily practice to ensure that stress doesn't begin to amass, especially as the day winds down. Guided meditations, sound baths, or simple breathwork will keep you centered and focused when night descends.

Do You Need Professional Help?

If the sunsets begin causing you anxiety that becomes unbearable or interfers with your daily activity, seek professional help. Therapists can support you to examine the cause of sunset anxiety and provide techniques to better tackle such anxiety. They can offer you cognitive-behavioral therapy or other treatment approaches to guide you through dealing with your emotions.

While many people may find a sunset exhilarating, for some, it packs a weight of uneasiness. Truly, understanding that these feelings can be real and taking steps to abate them do bring needed relief. Whether mindfulness, exercise, or developing routines, coping with sunset anxiety is possible, and you don't have to face it alone.

Scrolling through social media, many women encounter stories of celebrities describing years of unexplained symptoms before receiving a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Model and actress Lori Harvey recently shared her experience with weight fluctuations, acne, facial hair growth, and painful irregular periods, highlighting a common struggle among women of reproductive age. Stories like hers resonate with women like Alexis King, who found validation in hearing someone else’s journey, as reported in Washington Post.

PCOS is a hormone disorder affecting roughly one in ten women worldwide, including about six million Americans. It is linked to both reproductive and metabolic dysfunction, increasing the risk of fertility problems as well as chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Despite its prevalence, PCOS remains underfunded and under-recognized, leaving many women to navigate the condition largely on their own.

A “Silent” Diagnosis

For many, PCOS is identified only after years of unexplained symptoms. Patients often encounter healthcare providers who focus on cosmetic solutions rather than addressing the underlying hormonal imbalance. Researchers note that PCOS is considered an “orphan disorder” in women’s health, receiving significantly less funding than conditions with comparable prevalence and severity. From 2016 to 2022, average annual funding for PCOS was around $32 million, compared with $262 million for rheumatoid arthritis and $66 million for tuberculosis, according to recent studies reported in Washington Post.

Experts stress the need for comprehensive management rather than relying on individual supplements, though some, such as inositol, have shown promise in improving metabolic and reproductive outcomes. There is no cure or FDA-approved treatment specifically for PCOS, though existing interventions can alleviate symptoms and reduce long-term health risks, according to Richard Legro, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, as reported in Washington Post.

Challenges in Diagnosis

A full PCOS diagnosis requires meeting at least two of three criteria: irregular periods, elevated male hormones, or ovaries with fluid-filled sacs visible on ultrasound. Yet many patients never undergo complete hormone testing or imaging, leaving the disorder undiagnosed for years. Clinicians often lack training to treat PCOS effectively, as it spans multiple specialties, from reproductive endocrinology to general gynecology. Multidisciplinary clinics exist but are limited in number, forcing patients to seek care from providers unfamiliar with the full scope of the disorder, as reported in Washington Post.

Delayed diagnosis can have serious consequences. Women with PCOS face increased risks of infertility, pregnancy complications, and chronic conditions. Endometrial cancer risk is higher due to irregular shedding of the uterine lining, and Black women experience disproportionately higher rates of adverse outcomes due to later diagnosis and barriers to care.

Research and Emerging Treatments

In the absence of robust funding, clinicians have relied on medications such as metformin, which improves insulin sensitivity, to manage PCOS symptoms. Research is also exploring the use of weight-loss drugs, such as semaglutide, to regulate hormone levels, restore periods, and reduce metabolic risks. Early trials show promise, with participants reporting restored menstrual cycles, improved hormone balance, and weight loss, as reported in Washington Post.

Despite these advances, insurance coverage remains a challenge. Patients often must pay out of pocket for medications that are not yet FDA-approved specifically for PCOS. Researchers like Melanie Cree, a pediatric endocrinologist, are pushing for standardized testing and more clinical trials, but funding delays and reduced philanthropic support continue to slow progress.

As awareness grows, advocates and researchers aim to prioritize PCOS as a significant public health concern, emphasizing early detection, comprehensive treatment, and equitable access to care. For millions of women, improved understanding and treatment of PCOS could transform lives, reducing both immediate discomfort and long-term health risks, as reported in Washington Post.

For the first time, patients in England and Wales will be able to access a long-acting injection to prevent HIV through the NHS, bringing the policy in line with Scotland. The new jab, administered every two months, provides an alternative to daily oral pills, offering convenience and discretion for those who find tablets challenging to take.

Experts hope the introduction of cabotegravir (CAB-LA) injections will help the UK meet its goal of eliminating new HIV cases by 2030. Meanwhile, early results from another injection, lenacapavir, suggest that annual HIV prevention injections could become a possibility in the future.

A “Game-Changing” Option

Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, described the new injection as “game-changing” and told the BBC: “For vulnerable people who are unable to take other methods of HIV prevention, this represents hope”.

HIV prevention therapy, known as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), is used by HIV-negative individuals to reduce the risk of infection. While daily oral PrEP has been effective for years, some people find it difficult to adhere to. Challenges include lack of privacy, homelessness, domestic violence, or the fear of others discovering their medication.

A long-acting injection that lasts for months addresses these issues, offering both practicality and discretion. Cabotegravir, produced by ViiV Healthcare, is intended to be used alongside safer sex practices, such as condom use. NHS England has secured a confidential discount from the manufacturer, whose list price is around £7,000 per patient per year, as reported by the BBC.

Who Will Be Eligible?

The injection will be offered to adults and adolescents at high risk of sexually acquired HIV who are eligible for PrEP but may struggle with daily tablets. Around 1,000 people are expected to be offered the injection initially, with others continuing or starting oral PrEP. Patients can access it through NHS-operated sexual health clinics “in the coming months,” according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Dom Baldwin, who currently takes PrEP pills, told the BBC he is “over the moon” about the injections: “When you look at where we are now compared to the epidemic in the 80s… HIV is no longer a death sentence”.

Calls for Rapid and Equitable Rollout

Charities have emphasized the need for a fast rollout, as some patients face long waits for appointments. Richard Angell, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said to the BBC that the therapy should be offered in more settings, not just sexual health clinics: “It’s highly effective and acceptable for patients, and a vital tool for tackling inequalities, with the potential to reach those who are not currently accessing other HIV prevention”.

Official figures show that PrEP access in England is increasing, but gaps remain. In 2024, 146,098 HIV-negative people attending sexual health services were at substantial risk of HIV, with about 76% starting or continuing PrEP, a 7.7% rise from 2023. However, uptake varies by group, with lower rates among black African heterosexual men and women compared to men who have sex with men.

Dr Michael Brady, NHS England’s National Advisor for LGBT+ Health, said to the BBC: “This long-acting injection is a significant addition to our HIV prevention strategies, giving us a powerful new option for people at risk of HIV who cannot have oral PrEP tablets”.

In a recent study published in The Lancet, by the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2023 reveals that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes now account for nearly two-thirds of global deaths, surpassing infectious diseases, according to an analysis of over 33 years.

The study covered 375 diseases and injuries, including 88 risk factors and healthy life expectancy across 204 countries and territories. It included 660 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2023.

The report also highlighted the sharp rise in mental health disorders with anxiety disorders, which were increased by 63%. The report also noted an increase in depressive disorders by 26%.

Environmental Factors That Impact Health

Furthermore, it added that environmental risks such as extreme heats and air pollution also bears an impact on health. There have been deaths due to climate-sensitive exposures rising by 6% annually between 2013 and 2023.

In fact, recently, a health conference of the Indian Rheumatology Association revealed that pollution also triggers rheumatoid arthritis. Heat waves also pose serious health risks, from heat cramps and exhaustion to the life-threatening heatstroke, by overwhelming the body's ability to cool itself.

An Increase In Life Expectancy Rate

As per the study, the global life expectancy rates have rebounded post COVID-19 pandemic. It has now reached 76.3 for women and 71.5 years for men in 2023. Earlier, in the pandemic, the age for women went down to 74.7 years, while for men, it was at 69.3 years, in 2021. Since 1950, the global life expectancy has increased by roughly 20 years.

In 2023, the total deaths globally reached 60.1 million, which included 4.67 million deaths of children under five. The population growth and aging however has driven a 35.2 per cent increase in global deaths since 1950, under-five mortality has steadily declined in this period.

The report also highlighted the difference in the health outcomes. The global life expectancy has improved, however, the geographic inequities still persisted. The mean age at death rose from 46.4 years in 1990 to 62.9 years in 2023.

Who Lived Longer, Where?

High-income countries reported the longest lifespans, women lived up to 80.5 years on average, while men reached 74.4 years. In stark contrast, sub-Saharan Africa recorded the lowest life expectancy, with women living an average of 37.1 years and men 34.8 years.

The report highlights that nearly half of all global deaths and disabilities could be prevented by tackling key risk factors such as high blood sugar, obesity, and social determinants like sexual abuse and intimate partner violence.

India recorded 9.85 million deaths in 2023, ranking second after China’s 10.7 million. The average life expectancy in India stood at 73 years for women and 70.2 years for men.

Encouragingly, India has made notable strides in reducing child mortality. The under-five mortality rate has dropped to 32.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, due to the country’s large population, the total number of deaths among children under five remained high, at around 6,92,000.