High cholesterol often develops silently, without symptoms, and increases your risk of heart disease and stroke over time. That is why it is often called the “silent” threat. It can quietly clog your arteries for years without so much as a headache. But in some cases, the body shows early warning signs, not through chest pain or breathlessness, but in places you might not expect: your eyes and ankles.

In your eyes, specifically, your iris. According to the British Heart Foundation, one early red flag is a pale grey or white ring forming around the coloured part of your eye, a sign known as corneal arcus. In people over 60, it is usually nothing to worry about. But in younger adults, it could point to dangerously high cholesterol levels.

It is caused by fat deposits building up in the outer edges of your cornea. The ring would not hurt and would not affect your vision, which makes it all the more tough. But it is visible, and that makes it one of the few outward signs of a hidden problem.

Now, down to your ankles. Another unexpected place cholesterol might show up is under the skin in the form of xanthomas, soft, yellowish lumps that often appear around tendons or joints, especially near the ankles. These are not just cosmetic oddities. They are fatty growths, and they usually mean your body's cholesterol levels are sky-high, often dangerously so.

These lumps are caused by cholesterol leaking out of your blood and getting trapped in the skin. According to the British Heart Foundation, their presence is a major red flag, particularly if they appear in people with a family history of heart disease or a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia, where cholesterol levels are high from birth.

The trouble is, most people ignore these signs. A ring in your eye? Probably ageing. Lumps near your ankle? Maybe a strain or skin issue. But shrugging them off could delay diagnosis and treatment.

That is why awareness matters. If you are under 45 and notice a ring around your iris or strange, painless bumps around your joints, you might want to book a cholesterol test. It is a simple blood draw that could tell you a lot about what is going on inside.

If left unchecked, high cholesterol raises your risk of heart attacks and strokes. But caught early, it is manageable. Diet tweaks, regular exercise, and, if needed, medication can help bring your levels back to where they should be.

For something that’s supposed to be a monthly saviour, your sanitary pad could actually be a trouble in disguise. If you’ve ever spent your period feeling itchy, sore, or just...off, you’re not imagining it. According to gynaecologist Dr Vaidehi Marathe, many conventional pads and tampons contain elements that don’t quite agree with your body.

Itchiness is a common complaint during menstruation, but most people blame sweat, heat, or hormones. The real problem, says Dr Marathe, might be your pad itself. Many commercial pads are loaded with synthetic materials, added fragrances, and chemical adhesives that can irritate the delicate skin in your intimate area. That persistent itch could be your body’s way of saying, please get this thing off me.

Rashes, roughness, and friction

It doesn’t end with itching. If you’ve ever developed a rash down there during your period, Dr Marathe says your pad’s texture or material could be behind it. "Poor-quality materials or excessive friction can cause chafing, redness, and irritation," she says in an Instagram video.

Even tampons, which many prefer for comfort and convenience, aren’t totally innocent. High-absorbency varieties are known to dry out the vaginal lining, leading to discomfort and even micro-tears. Dr Marathe warns that such dryness disturbs the natural balance of the vaginal mucosa, and that’s when things can start to get really unpleasant.

That smell isn’t just your period

While menstruation has a natural odour, a strange or strong scent often comes from bacterial buildup, not your body. Pads, especially the non-breathable kind, can trap moisture and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Dr Marathe points out that the odour is often caused by bacteria thriving in that warm, moist environment.

Healthier swaps

You don’t have to suffer for the sake of convenience. Look beyond the supermarket aisle. Cloth pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear are all gentler options that are free of harmful chemicals and better for your skin and the environment. They allow the area to breathe and are less likely to cause irritation or dryness.

Menstrual cups in particular have gained popularity for being economical, eco-friendly, and surprisingly comfortable once you get the hang of them.

Your period deserves better

Periods are already uncomfortable enough without adding allergic reactions, rashes, or infections to the mix. If you’re constantly battling irritation or feeling ‘off’ during your cycle, it’s worth examining what’s coming into contact with your skin for hours at a stretch.

Many people start their day with a glass of lemon water, hoping for a range of health benefits—from better skin to improved digestion. But what actually happens when you stick to this habit every day for a month? According to gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi, lemon water can offer some real advantages, as long as you are aware of a few important points.

Lemons Pack a Big Punch

Lemons are packed with more than 30 beneficial plant compounds, says Dr Sethi. These include antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that support your body's daily housekeeping on a cellular level.

But freshly squeezed is important. “Pasteurised lemon juice often loses a significant portion of its nutritional value,” Dr Sethi explains.

Absorption Gets a Boost

While you are sipping away, thinking you are just hydrating enough, something pretty important is happening in the background. The natural acidity of lemons can help your body absorb minerals more effectively, particularly iron, according to Dr Sethi. That means your morning lemon ritual might be giving your iron supplements or spinach salads a bit of extra firepower.

And lemon water does not magically "alkalise" your body. But what it does do is help your digestive system set the stage for better nutrient uptake.

Skin Goals and Collagen Dreams

If you are secretly hoping for that elusive “glow-up” by day 30, you might be in luck. Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, a key player in the production of collagen, the protein responsible for keeping your skin firm, your joints cushioned, and your connective tissues in top shape.

Dr Sethi says that daily lemon water may support healthier skin from the inside out. Think of it as your internal skincare serum.

The Bitter Truth

As Dr Sethi points out, lemon water might not be ideal for everyone, especially those with acid reflux or sensitive stomachs. The very same acidity that helps with mineral absorption can irritate the oesophagus lining or worsen heartburn in susceptible folks. If you have ever felt that familiar burn after a glass of lemony water, your body is throwing a sign.

Our parents always ensure that we learned the importance of dental hygiene. Being taught from a young age, most of us are aware of how a lack of oral hygiene not only makes us sick but can make a bad impression of us on others. However, there may be a lot more to oral hygiene than we know.

A new study suggests that poor dental health might be an early sign of serious long-term health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Researchers recently reported in the Journal of Oral Rehabilitation that people with signs of unhealthy mouths—such as missing teeth or a coated tongue—were also more likely to have high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and reduced kidney function.

What the Study Examined

For the study, researchers followed 118 men and women aged 50 or older. They compared dental exam results from 2021 with physical exam results from both 2021 and 2023. The dental exams checked several aspects of oral health, including:

• Tongue coating: How much buildup was on the tongue.
• Mouth dryness: The level of moisture in the mouth.
• Number of functional teeth: How many healthy teeth remained.
• Tongue pressure: The strength of the tongue.
• Chewing and swallowing ability: How well a person could perform these actions.
• Oral Diadochokinesis (OD): A test measuring how quickly and accurately someone can repeat syllables (like "pa-ta-ka").

Oral-Systemic Connection

The study discovered clear links between a person's mouth health and their overall body health. People with high blood sugar often had fewer teeth left and struggled more with the speech clarity test. This suggests a link between diabetes risk and losing teeth or having weaker mouth muscles

Those with high cholesterol frequently had a coated tongue and also performed poorly on the speech clarity test. This points to a surprising connection between fat levels in the blood and certain mouth signs. Individuals with reduced kidney function showed signs like a coated tongue, fewer healthy teeth, and poorer scores on the speech clarity test. This indicates that kidney problems might show up in mouth health. These results suggest that a decline in how well your mouth works might increase your risk for lifestyle-related diseases and make you more likely to become frail as you age.

Why the Link? Possible Explanations

Scientists believe this connection could be due to unhealthy bacteria that grow when the mouth isn't well cared for, or because of inflammation (swelling and irritation) found in diseased gums and teeth. These problems in the mouth might then affect other parts of the body, leading to broader health issues.

It’s important to remember that this study only observed a link; it doesn't directly prove that poor dental health causes these other illnesses. It's also possible that having chronic diseases might make it harder to maintain good oral health.

What You Can Do Now

More research with a larger number of people is needed to fully understand how mouth health and long-term diseases are connected.

In the meantime, experts suggest it wouldn't hurt to include simple checks like counting teeth and doing speech clarity tests during regular doctor visits. These simple checks could potentially give early clues about hidden health problems. Keeping your mouth healthy is always a smart step for your overall well-being.