Pets are one of the best additions to families. While their form of communication may be different, they grow to share a special bond with us. Pets are recommended by many specialists, healthcare professionals, people who work with children development etc. While you may have come across many ‘why you should become a pet parent’ or ‘how your pets help children develop’ articles, one must make sure they check all potential points before making the leap.

Becoming a pet parent is a big deal, not just as a financial commitment, but it will also affect different aspects of your life like your social life, your professional life etc. Another aspect one should be aware of is the role it could play in affecting your child’s health. If you are wondering about pet hair and dander allergies, they are the least of your worries. There are other things that you should take precautions against and ensure proper steps, which will not only keep your kid safe, but also the pet, happy and healthy.

Pets Can Help Us Tackle Loneliness

According to the Journal of Advanced Pediatrics and Child Health traditional pets can lessen loneliness and quickly improve mental wellness in humans. While much focus has been on adults, newer research highlights the potential positive effects of pet ownership on children's emotional, cognitive, behavioral, educational, and social growth. However, this growth also comes with risks.

Even though pets are great, they can also bring germs into the house. Kids are more likely to get sick from these germs than adults. This is because kids might not have all their shots yet and their bodies aren't as good at fighting off sickness. Also, kids might get bitten by a pet they know because they have lots of energy and do things that can make the animal feel like it needs to protect itself.

Common Pet and Common Germs

Most people in America have "regular" pets like dogs and cats. We love them like furry friends, but they can carry germs that can make kids sick. Dogs, especially, can spread different kinds of bacteria that parents should know about, like Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium difficile, and Pasteurella.

If you have a puppy, there's a higher chance of getting a germ called Campylobacter jejuni. It's not always the dog's fault, though. Dogs often get this germ from eating leftover food from the kitchen. Then, the dog can pass it on to the child. Kids who get this might have diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain. Sometimes, the germ can get into the blood after the stomach problems start. Usually, the body fights it off quickly. But if a child has a weak immune system, the sickness might come back.

When dogs lick or "kiss" kids, they can easily pass on Clostridium difficile. This germ can also cause diarrhea and stomach cramps because it makes a big part of the gut swollen.

Dogs and cats have Pasteurella germs in their noses and throats. If a dog or cat scratches a child, these germs can get in. The most common problem is a skin infection called cellulitis. Sometimes, it can also cause infections in the brain, bones, or lungs.

Germs More Common with Cats

While both dogs and cats can give kids Pasteurella, some germs are more likely to come from cats. One common one is Toxoplasma gondii. Kids usually get it by eating or swallowing something that has cat poop in it. This can happen easily because kids are curious and might touch the cat's litter box. The sickness feels like the flu, with fever, swollen glands, body aches, and feeling tired.

Cats also often carry Bartonella germs, which they get from fleas or from other sick cats. Many healthy cats, especially kittens, have this in their blood. If a child gets Bartonella, they might have swollen and sore glands a week or two after being around a cat, a scab where the germ got in, and sometimes heart problems. Kids under 15 get sick most often, but it's also important to watch out if a child has a weak immune system.

Animals can naturally have germs that can pass to kids, especially those with weak immune systems. It's important for parents to know the signs of these illnesses and the germs that their pets might carry, especially if they have young children at home.

The idea of becoming a parent at 50 may no longer be just a distant dream. With in vitro fertilization (IVF) advancing the field of fertility care, more and more people and couples are looking into having children later in life but is IVF at or near 50 actually safe? What are the realistic prospects of success? And what does it portend for maternal health?

IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is a multi-step medical process consisting of stimulating the ovaries to release eggs, extracting those eggs, fertilizing them with sperm in the laboratory, and then placing the resultant embryo into the uterus.

We interviewed Prime IVF Head of Fertility Dr. Nishi Singh exclusively to shed light on this complex and intimate process.

"IVF is one of the most potent weapons in our fertility toolkit," says Dr. Singh. "But its potency relies a lot on the patient's age and health, particularly egg quality."

Although IVF has given millions worldwide hope, age is still the key to its success. A woman aged 20 or 30 will be successful, on average, in about 50% of IVF cycles, but this will reduce dramatically with age—to less than 10% in women aged over 40 using their own eggs.

Is IVF After 50 Possible?

"Yes, IVF at age 50 and beyond is medically feasible," affirms Dr. Singh. "But it demands subtle insight, careful planning, and medical protection to secure the safety of mother and baby."

For the woman in her late 40s or early 50s, the reduction both in quantity and quality of eggs renders natural pregnancy a rarity. Donor eggs now come to her rescue. According to Dr. Singh, "using donor eggs from younger women greatly raises the chances of conception even after menopause."

It should be noted that the uterus does not age as quickly as the ovaries. With good hormone therapy to condition the lining of the uterus, most postmenopausal women can support a pregnancy properly.

Success Rates with IVF Over 50

Dr. Singh says, "Success rates in over 50 women using donor eggs can be from 40% to 55% per cycle, depending on the clinic, embryo quality, and patient health.

This is encouraging, particularly compared to sub-10% success rates for women above 45 with the use of their own eggs. Yet while statistics hold promise, they also emphasize the need for selecting a skilled fertility clinic and personalized treatment.

Health Risks and Medical Considerations of IVF after 50

While IVF at 50 is possible, it is not without risk. "We carefully screen patients prior to moving forward," explains Dr. Singh. Regular complications include hypertension, gestational diabetes, preterm labor, and an increased risk of cesarean section.

"Patients need to be emotionally, physically, and financially ready," she warns. "Emotional readiness is just as important as biological readiness, and full counseling is an absolute component of the process."

In addition to physical well-being, parents above 50 years should be made aware of parenting responsibilities in old age, such as long-term care and energy.

What are the Ethical and Emotional Aspects Of IVF after 50?

IVF at a late age has also brought arguments over ethics and long-term consequences. While it provides biological parenthood to those women who missed the chance early in life because of careers, late marriages, or personal choices, it also raises questions about parenting at an old age.

Dr. Singh acknowledges the emotional complexities but emphasizes choice. “Everyone deserves the chance to build a family—what matters most is that they are fully informed and supported medically and emotionally.”

Expert-Recommended Tips to Improve IVF Success at Any Age

Whether you’re in your 30s or 50s, several factors can enhance your chances with IVF:

Adopt a Fertility-Boosting Lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet, exercise daily, and enjoy a healthy BMI. Reduce alcohol intake, do not smoke, and avoid recreational drugs.

Take Key Supplements: "Folic acid, CoQ10, and vitamin D can improve egg quality and overall fertility," says Dr. Singh.

Stress Management Is Key: Elevated cortisol levels can affect reproductive hormones. Practice mindfulness, yoga, or acupuncture.

Sleep Well: Aim for at least 7–8 hours of restful sleep to support hormonal balance.

Address Underlying Health Conditions: Conditions such as PCOS, thyroid issues, and endometriosis can interfere with fertility outcomes if left unmanaged.

Start Early, If Possible: The earlier IVF is initiated—especially for women over 35—the better the chances.

Work With Specialists: Choose a clinic that tailors protocols based on your individual profile.

IVF at 50 Is an Individual but a Viable Option

Thanks to advances in reproductive medicine and growing familiarity with late-age parenthood, IVF over 50 isn't merely viable—it's increasingly common. Yet it's not something to be taken lightly.

As Dr. Singh points out, "Motherhood at this age demands medical preparedness, mental toughness, and a robust support system. But with the right attitude, we've seen numerous women in their 50s achieve their dream of parenthood."

So, if you are 50 and curious whether IVF is the solution for you, just hold your horses—science is with you, but wise decision-making and professional advice are your best friends.

We have all heard the phrase ‘I have a gut feeling’ or ‘gut-wrenching’ experience and other variations of gut and our feelings. However, are they just phrases or do they hold some truth to them. There have been many studies that show how your mental health affects your gut and vice versa.

People have expressed how when they are scared or angry or anxious they often experience an upset stomach with other people also experiencing some sort of sudden reaction with heightened feelings whether it is a lurch or a sudden ‘drop’.

So, if these things affect your gut, then can helping your gut make you feel better? A new study shows that a happy gut could mean a happy you.

A recent study published in the npj Mental Health Research found that people who took probiotic supplements, which contain live microorganisms, reported feeling better emotionally over a month. Interestingly, these probiotics didn't seem to change people's overall mood as measured by standard psychological questionnaires.

The study explained that "negative feelings" can mean different things to different people. She believes this finding is significant because it suggests probiotics might help with whatever an individual interprets as a negative emotion, whether it's anxiety, sadness, or tiredness.

What Are Probiotics?

The types of microbes that thrive in our gut are largely determined by the food we eat and what those microbes do because of this, companies and researchers have developed probiotic supplements containing specific strains of live microorganisms. The goal is to see if these supplements can improve health. Probiotics, usually sold in capsules or pills, are defined as live microorganisms that provide a health benefit when consumed in adequate amounts. These beneficial microbes are also naturally present in some fermented foods like yogurt.

How Do Probiotics Directly Affect Your Mood?

The study involved 88 healthy individuals. For one month, half of the participants took a daily probiotic supplement, while the other half took a placebo (a dummy pill with no active ingredients). The probiotic used was a mix of nine different bacteria strains found in the Ecologic Barrier mixture from a Dutch company. Participants mixed a sachet of these bacteria with lukewarm water each day.

At the beginning and end of the study, everyone completed ten different questionnaires about their emotions and how they processed them, as well as one about any bowel issues. Participants also rated how positive or negative they felt each day on a scale and provided stool samples.

The results showed that both the placebo group and the probiotic group:

• Scored similarly on the mood questionnaires.
• Reported similar levels of good mood each day.

However, the group that took probiotics said their negative mood went down after just two weeks. This difference between daily feelings and the questionnaires suggests we might need better ways to measure mood changes.

How the Gut And Brain is Connected?

Harvard Health Publishing explains that our gut and our brain are closely linked, so much so that how we feel emotionally can directly affect our stomach and intestines, and problems in our gut can also send signals to our brain, influencing our mood. Think about how stress can give you "butterflies" or how worry can make you feel sick to your stomach – these common feelings show this strong connection because of this, when our gut is upset for no clear physical reason, it's important to consider how our stress and emotions might be playing a role, as our mental state can actually change how our digestive system works and how sensitive we are to pain in our gut.

Hypertension affects nearly 1.28 billion adults globally, it is a condition that can have different effects on your body. These effects range from elevated heart rate to severe damage to our body’s organs.

According to the World Health Organization, blood pressure is considered dangerous and high when the pressure levels in your blood range from 140/90 mmHg or higher. Interestingly, people with hypertension may often show symptoms and the only way to know is by checking your blood pressure. However, the effect of elevated blood pressure becomes apparent when different organs start getting affected by it.

You might know high blood pressure affects your heart, but it can also silently harm your eyes. The delicate blood vessels in your eyes are vulnerable to high pressure, and if left uncontrolled, this can lead to several conditions that cause vision loss. From damaging the retina's blood supply to harming the optic nerve, high blood pressure poses a significant risk to your sight. We spoke to Dr. Charu Dutt Arora, Geriatrics & Palliative Care physician, based in Delhi, as well as a member of Doctube, about hypertension and its unexpected effect on our vision.

Unexpected Side Effects of High Blood Pressure

Most people know high blood pressure is bad for the heart and can cause stroke. " Over time, it can quietly damage your kidneys, eyes, and even your brain without you realizing it" explained Dr. Dutt. Some people might feel tired all the time, have trouble sleeping, or have issues with intimacy, but they might not think it's related to their blood pressure. Older people might also get dizzy or fall more easily because of it.

How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Your Vision?

If your blood pressure stays high consistently, it can damage the tiny blood vessels in your eyes. This can lead to blurry vision, seeing spots (floaters), or even losing your vision permanently. People who've had high blood pressure for a long time or whose blood pressure isn't well-controlled are more likely to have these eye problems, according to Dr. Dutt, “People with long-standing or poorly controlled blood pressure are more likely to have these changes, especially if they don’t get regular eye check-ups. It’s something we often catch late—but it can be prevented with good control and timely screening.”

How Does Long-Term High Blood Pressure Impact Daily Life?

Dr. Dutt shares that high blood pressure doesn't just affect your health; it can change how you live every day. Many of my patients feel stressed or worried, especially when their blood pressure goes up and down or when they must take many different medicines. Some say they don't go out as much or travel because they feel too tired or must be careful about what they eat. “I've also seen older patients have problems with hearing, dizziness, or even memory. It's all connected. Dealing with a long-term illness like high blood pressure can also be hard emotionally and financially.”

Temporary vs. Permanent Vision Changes Due to High Blood Pressure

"Yes, it can cause temporary vision changes like blurriness or tunnel vision, especially during sudden spikes in blood pressure. These may settle once the blood pressure is under control. " Dr Dutt further explained how these changes might go away once your blood pressure is back to normal but if these spikes keep happening or if you ignore the symptoms, the damage to your eyes, especially the retina or the nerve that connects your eye to your brain, can become permanent. That's why it's so important to get your eyes checked regularly if you have high blood pressure.

How Are Screen Time and Vision Problems Linked To High BP

Looking at screens for too long isn't a direct cause of eye damage from high blood pressure, but it can make things worse. It can make your eyes tired, dry, and blurry, which can hide early signs of damage caused by high blood pressure. " Plus, if screen time affects your sleep (thanks to all that blue light), that can adversely affect your blood pressure control too. So yes, it’s something we should be mindful of, especially in patients who are already dealing with hypertension" So, it's something to be careful about, especially if you already have high blood pressure.

Dr. Dutt concluded that high blood pressure isn’t just limited to affecting your heart but affects many areas of one’s life. “With regular monitoring, the right treatment, and a healthy lifestyle, we can protect our visions as well as bodily health”