Not showering every day is not a big deal. There are some days when even making it to the bathroom to relieve yourself feels like a task. Our parents used to make huge deals about showering regularly, saying that we would fall sick as the germs would catch up to us. However, there is no harm in skipping a few days here and there.

There are times when the availability of washrooms and hygienic spaces where you can clean yourself also stops you from having regular baths. However, one thing you must remember whether you are intentionally skipping showers or doing it out of necessity, that most people should shower twice or thrice every week, according to the Harvard Health Publishing. However, does skipping showering affect your skin health? It's important to think about what our skin needs and not let too much time pass without washing, even if we don't feel particularly dirty.

Sign Your Skin Needs Help

Our skin will start to tell us if we aren't showering enough. You might see dry, flaky patches that feel rough. Sometimes, your skin might change color in certain spots. It could even look like you have dirt on you because of darker areas. These are your body's ways of saying it needs a wash. Ignoring these signs for too long can lead to more serious skin problems that need attention from a doctor, as it could be a condition like Dermatitis Neglecta.

According to the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Dermatitis neglecta is more than just having a bit of dirt on your skin. It's a real skin problem that happens when you don't keep yourself clean for a long time. This lack of washing causes your skin to get very irritated and inflamed. It changes how your skin looks and feels, and it's a sign that your body's basic hygiene needs aren't being met. It's a condition that needs to be taken seriously.

How Does Dermatitis Neglecta Form?

Our skin is always getting rid of old, dead cells. When we shower, it helps wash these away. But if we don't shower regularly, these dead cells stay stuck on the top layer of our skin. Over time, they mix with all the sweat, oil, germs, and dirt our skin comes into contact with. This mix can build up into a tough layer that makes our skin look darker and even feel rough or crusty.

Dermatitis neglecta doesn't just appear overnight after missing one shower. It usually takes many weeks or even months of not washing properly for it to develop. Sometimes, the reason someone isn't showering regularly isn't just a personal choice. It can be a sign of a deeper issue, like a mental health problem that makes it hard for them to take care of themselves. If you notice signs of this condition, it's important to think about all the possible reasons why.

Finding A Healthy Balance For Showering

While not showering enough can cause problems like dermatitis neglecta, showering too much isn't good either. If you wash too often or scrub too hard, you can strip away the natural oils that keep your skin healthy and moist. This can lead to skin that's dry, cracked, and irritated. The best way is to find a middle ground – showering enough to stay clean but not so much that it harms your skin's natural protection. For most of us showering regularly is mostly a habit, however it could actually help your health to skip a shower here and then.

"Social support is regarded as a complex construct, which has long been suggested to have direct and buffering effects on patients' wellbeing and emotional adjustment to cancer." This is part of the abstract of a 2012 study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. True to this, a group of four, now make it a point to commemorate their win against cancer, every year.

Sandy Robertson, Terri Naab, Shari Hamlin, and Pricilla Bauer, all met each other at an oncology ward of the Methodist Hospital. They became each other's support system, fighting the same battle - breast cancer. They call their group the R-Gang. Why? If one takes a guess, the 'R' here stands for radiation, a therapy recommended to cancer patients. The R-Gang has all sorts of conversations, sometimes light and sometimes heavy.

The CBS reports that now, after successfully defeating cancer, the four meet on the 'shores of Lake Minnetonka at Maynard's, travelling across the country to commemorate each year they are still alive'.

"I Will Never Let Go Of These Girls'

Bauer told CBS News that she was told that she had 60% chances of dying. "They said, '60/40, 60 you are gonna die'." She continues, "We were all sitting next to each other in that radiation room. At first, we were just polite to each other and we all just started talking."

"After the whole breast cancer diagnosis, I said, 'What am I doing in sales? I need to write.' And so I quit sales job and started writing." Bauer told CBS News.

Earlier, a group of seven, out of whom, two - Judy and Shirley, died of other illnesses, and Sherry, the youngest died of cancer; now the group of four celebrate their lives, for as long as they can.

Their friendship is special. "Even though it was tragic and horrible, it was one of the best times in my life because I met these people," said Naab. Hamlin seconded and said, "I will never let go of these girls. No, there's just no way."

All four are now cancer free, and will reunite at Maynard's the next year.

Cancer And Social Interaction

A 2017 study published by the Cambridge University Press noted that social interaction could have positive effect on a person's chance of survival after being treated for cancer. The author of the study Jeff Leinert and colleagues accessed the medical records of 4,691 cancer patients who were undergoing chemotherapy treatment in medical facilities in Oxfordshire, UK. The researchers found that being in the company of, and interacting with patients who survived cancer for at least 5 years after completing the treatment led to an increase in survival rate.

The 2012 study from Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention also noted that cross-sectional and prospective studies show a positive association between perceived social support and psychological adjustment following cancer treatment. Research also suggested a strong evidence for relationship between social support and improvement in cancer patients. The importance of social groups and social support for cancer patients were also pointed out by Dr Mrinal Gounder, while he spoke on Sarcoma Awareness in an exclusive interview with Health and Me.

Most of us imagine a heart attack as someone clutching their chest and collapsing. In reality, the symptoms can be far stranger and more subtle, and many people don’t recognize them until it’s almost too late.

Heart Attacks Don’t Always Look the Same

Heart attacks occur when blood flow to the heart stops or slows, often because a plaque rupture causes a clot that blocks a coronary artery, cardiologists explain. While the classic symptom is a tight, squeezing or aching chest pain, the experience isn’t always that straightforward.

William Brady, professor of emergency and cardiovascular medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, tells the Washington Post that the “vast majority of people” with heart attacks will feel that familiar chest pain. But others feel symptoms that don’t fit the Hollywood version at all, which can be dangerous, because it causes people to delay treatment.

Women Are More Likely to Dismiss the Signs

Experts say women are particularly at risk of ignoring symptoms or having them dismissed by others. Stacey Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association and executive director at Northwell’s Katz Institute for Women’s Health, told the Post that women often report symptoms differently. They may feel pain along with back aches, nausea or dizziness, and instead of calling it chest pain, they might describe it as “pressure,” “discomfort” or just “feeling off.”

“Delay can lead to irreversible heart damage,” Rosen warned. “So, really, listen to your body.”

The 5 Warning Signs Cardiologists Want You to Know

Cardiologists shared five surprising signs that could mean you are having a heart attack, even if you don’t have dramatic chest pain.

Also Read: The Bizarre Foot Test That Could Point Towards A Heart Failure

1. Jaw Pain

James de Lemos, chair of cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, told the Post, the aching pain from a heart attack can radiate to other parts of the body, sometimes just the forearm or jaw. The symptoms can be subtle and much less dramatic than TV shows portray.

Rosen shared that she once saw a patient who kept visiting dentists for persistent jaw pain — until one dentist suggested it could be heart-related. “And, in fact, it was,” Rosen said. Acting quickly probably prevented a full-blown heart attack.

2. Nausea and Vomiting

Indigestion, reflux, or even vomiting can sometimes signal a heart attack, particularly when the lower portion of the heart is involved, de Lemos said. If your “stomach issue” doesn’t improve with antacids, experts recommend seeking medical care, especially if you have risk factors for heart disease.

3. A Sense of Impending Doom

Several cardiologists said patients sometimes describe a sudden and overwhelming feeling that something is very wrong, even that they might die. “It can be just this awareness, just a sense that something doesn’t feel right,” said Clyde Yancy, chief of cardiology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, as reported in the Post. That feeling alone, especially if paired with physical symptoms, is enough reason to get evaluated.

4. Sweaty, Cold and Clammy Skin

A blockage in a coronary artery puts extreme stress on the body, activating the sympathetic nervous system, Rosen said. That can leave someone suddenly sweaty, clammy and pale, even if they aren’t doing anything strenuous. Brady added that if you feel chest tightness, shortness of breath, and sweating while doing something as routine as carrying groceries, it’s time to get help.

5. Fatigue

Seth Martin, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explained that heart attacks limit the oxygen supply to the heart and the body, leaving people feeling unusually tired, foggy or short of breath. Anna Bortnick, an interventional cardiologist at Montefiore Einstein Medical Center, noted that many people delay going to the hospital because they blame it on stress or aging.

Sometimes, these symptoms come in waves for days before a major event. “It’s really a dynamic process for many,” Rosen said.

You can’t replace heart muscle once it’s damaged, which is why early treatment is critical. Cardiologists recommend focusing on prevention: keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control, exercise at least 150 minutes a week, avoid smoking, limit alcohol, and eat a heart-healthy diet.

Sometimes when you have a hectic schedule, whether it is due to your work or your school assignments, all you need is that one energy booster to get through the day. For many young adults this boost happens to be energy drinks. According to UCLA health, 30% adolescents in US and 70% in Europe report drinking energy drinks. However, this simple habit could put your heart into failure, according to this doctor.

A cardiologist known as "Heart Transplant Doc" on social media, Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, is warning young, healthy people about the dangers of energy drinks. In a recent post, he highlighted a worrying trend he's seeing in his clinic: young adults in their 20s and 30s suddenly developing heart failure. The common link among these patients, who have no history of smoking or heart disease in their families, is that they consume three to four energy drinks a day. Dr. Yaranov calls this phenomenon "Energy Drink Heart."

What Are The Hidden Dangers of Energy Drinks

Dr. Yaranov explained that the high levels of caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks can push the heart into overdrive. He warned that this can trigger abnormal heart rhythms, raise a person's blood pressure, and, over time, weaken the heart muscle. The scary part, he says, is that many of these patients felt perfectly fine until they suddenly weren't. Another cardiologist, Dr. Sanjeeva Kumar Gupta, agrees, noting that while the mental boost from these drinks is temporary, the physical stress on the heart can be lasting.

Is Caffeine Safe for Teens?

According to UCLA Health, the recommended daily caffeine limit for teens between ages 12 and 18 is less than 100 mg per day. To put that in perspective, a single energy drink can contain anywhere from 100 to 200 mg of caffeine per serving. The combination of high caffeine and sugar in these drinks can create a powerful and risky "jolt" of energy. This can lead to a racing heart, higher blood pressure, jitters, and a quick energy crash.

Ways Energy Drinks Can Be a Problem

Over time, drinking too many energy drinks can cause a dependence on that energy boost. When a teen tries to stop, they might experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches or a bad mood. The effects can be even more severe for teens who already struggle with mental health issues. While a cup of coffee has about 75 mg of caffeine, a single energy drink can have as much as three to four cups' worth.

Both doctors emphasize that people need to be aware of the serious risks of drinking too many energy drinks. The heart is not designed to run at maximum speed every day. Instead of relying on these drinks, they suggest choosing healthier ways to stay hydrated and energized, such as drinking water or natural juices. They stress the importance of reading labels and staying informed to protect both your heart and mind.

What is a Healthier Ways to Get Energy

The quick energy from these drinks is not a long-term solution. A well-balanced diet is a much better and more sustainable way to get energy. If you or your teen need caffeine, healthier choices include natural sources like plain tea or coffee without any added sugar. While these can have health benefits for adults, experts say there isn't enough research yet to confirm their effects on younger people.