Amid all the health developments happening in the US and the different diseases and infections spreading across the country, Oregon has reported a rise in dysentery. The cases are at all time high in the Portland area. In January, the health officials reported 40 cases of highly contagious bacterial infection in Multnomah County. This is where Portland is located. The Multnomah County Health Department officials have linked the rise in dysentery cases to the number of people experiencing homelessness. From 2015, the cases of dysentery has been high among the unhoused people in Portland.

What Is Dysentery?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a bacteria as been spreading in the Portland area called the shigellosis. It is a highly contagious infection brought on by one of the four species of shigella bacteria. This is what leads to dysentery which is leads to severe diarrhea with blood in it. It is caused by similar types of amoeba or bacteria.

How Does The Virus Spread?

The shigella bacteria spreads through things which have been contaminated with infected fecal matter, it could be water, food, surfaces or objects. It can also spread from person to person, which includes sexual activity. For instance, anyone can get sick after swallowing contaminated water while swimming, or after changing the diaper of a sick child and then touching the food without washing hands.

How Can You Reduce The Chances Of Dysentery?

As per CDC, regular hand-washing before cooking, eating and participating in any sexual activity can reduce your chance of contracting dysentery. CDC also recommends to wash your hands properly after you use the bathroom, change the diaper or clean up after someone who used the bathroom. It is important to pay attention to the cleanliness, as each year, there are around 450,000 shigellosis cases, notes CDC.

As of now, there are 40 cases in the Multnomah County and cases have been on rice since 2012. More than 150 cases were reported in 2024, as compared with 19 in 2017.

As per the data, there are around 22,875 unhoused people in Oregon, and 11,153 in Multnomah County alone. The reason is that housing provides access to hygiene and sanitation, which unhoused people lack, thus the cases have gone up. The health department said, "housing is related to nearly all aspects of health, including infectious diseases. Lacking housing creates a context that can increase the risk of multiple kinds of infectious disease. When you do not have housing, it is harder to prevent infectious disease and harder to access care to treat disease compared to if you are housed."

Amanda Risser, a senior medical director for addiction medicine and primary care at Central City Concern, a Portland-based health-care and housing services provider told the Washington Post, "We do not have public bathrooms. We do not have access to hand-washing stations, and people aren't able to always find a place to poop where their feces is contained."

What Are The Symptoms Of Dysentery?

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Stomach Pain
• Diarrhea
• Blood in stool for more than three days

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that many regions across the country will experience above-normal temperatures and a rise in the number of heatwave days this May. According to IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, the number of heatwave days is expected to increase by one to four days across most parts of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal.

Heatwaves are extended periods of abnormally high temperatures, which can range from a few days to several weeks or even months. They pose significant health, social, environmental, and economic challenges. With the rising threat of heat waves, it is crucial to understand the various health issues triggered by extreme heat conditions.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body’s natural temperature regulation fails, pushing the core body temperature above 104°F (40°C). The condition can develop suddenly and become life-threatening if not treated promptly. Heat stroke requires emergency medical attention.

Heat Exhaustion

Though milder than heat stroke, heat exhaustion remains a serious concern. It results from the excessive loss of water and salt through sweating, especially during physical activity in high temperatures. People working outdoors or engaging in exercise during the peak heat hours are particularly vulnerable.

Dehydration

In extreme heat, the body loses fluids more rapidly through sweat. If these fluids are not replenished, dehydration can occur. Symptoms include fatigue, headache, dry mouth, decreased urine output, and dizziness. Severe dehydration may impair organ function and poses a significant risk to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with chronic medical conditions.

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps are painful, and involuntary muscle spasms are caused by electrolyte imbalances and fluid loss due to intense sweating. These cramps often affect the muscles of the abdomen, arms, or legs and are common among people performing strenuous physical activities in hot environments.

Sunburn

Prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to sunburn, which is an inflammatory reaction of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. While mild sunburn may cause redness and discomfort, severe cases can result in blistering, peeling, infections, and long-term damage, including an increased risk of skin cancer.

With much of India bracing for hotter-than-usual weather, health experts urge people to take precautions: stay hydrated, avoid peak sun hours, wear protective clothing, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of heat-related illnesses arise.

Late-night hustle culture may still be glorified in some corners of the tech world, but not everyone is buying into it—especially not billionaire entrepreneur and longevity advocate Bryan Johnson. The 46-year-old tech mogul, known for his extreme anti-ageing lifestyle, recently called out an Indian software engineer who boasted on social media about working until 4 a.m. "It's 4 AM, guys, but builders are building. What’s your excuse?” the programmer posted on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating his grind.

Johnson, however, wasn't impressed. "It may feel heroic," he replied, “but you’re spending down your human capacity.” He went on to explain the physiological cost of burning the midnight oil: a 30% reduction in brain oxygen, suppression of melatonin due to blue light, disrupted deep sleep, and impaired insulin sensitivity the next day. “The missed sleep raises cortisol, increases visceral fat, and decays memory,” Johnson added. His critique struck a nerve, triggering a wave of agreement from other users on the platform.

"No good code is being written at 4 a.m. and ruining your morning focus—the best focus of the day,” one commenter noted. Another wrote, “Whatever they are building now by staying awake will be built by an AI agent in 10 minutes, five years from now. What’s the point?" A third user summed it up bluntly: “The excuse is to feel good, rest, be healthy, and make better decisions.”

Man Behind The Mission

Johnson is not your average tech mogul. Best known for founding Braintree (later acquired by PayPal) and Kernel, a company developing brain-machine interfaces, he has poured millions into an audacious personal experiment: to slow, and possibly reverse, ageing.

Through what he calls Project Blueprint, Johnson adheres to a meticulous regimen involving diet, exercise, and sleep optimisation. He follows strict health protocols, including unconventional methods like plasma transfusions from his teenage son—a procedure that has sparked both fascination and ethical debate.

In a recent post on X, Johnson shared his detailed morning routine, which begins at 4:30 a.m. and lasts until 10 a.m. His day starts with monitoring his inner ear temperature, applying a custom "BP hair serum," and donning a red light cap. He then exposes himself to 10,000 lux of light to reset his circadian rhythm.

Breakfast is a carefully curated "Longevity Mix" consisting of protein, collagen, extra virgin olive oil, and antioxidant-rich berries, followed by a personalised supplement stack. His morning workout includes strength training, flexibility drills, balance exercises, and either Zone 2 cardio or high-intensity intervals. Johnson’s message is clear: productivity shouldn’t come at the cost of long-term health. In his eyes, sacrificing sleep to meet deadlines is not a badge of honour—it’s a sign of unsustainable living. As more voices from the tech community question the glorification of burnout culture, Johnson’s warning serves as a timely reminder: no innovation is worth your health.

Cognitive decline is one of the most difficult things that people go through. It is believed to be a part of aging, however, there are many things that can affect this. While there has been extensive research and studies done on different cognitive diseases like dementia, there is not a lot of evidence regarding how to cure it or what causes it. However, to make sure people with these conditions get proper care, researchers have meticulously studied things that show what helps our brains stay sharp.

Not just our lifestyle habits, but things like what food we eat, how much we exercise as well as our social life, these are all things that affect our brain’s ability to retain memories, functions, and survival skills. While you may think of some habits as insignificant or not pay much mind to it, they could be crucial for your mind’s health and well-being.

A new study suggests that regular, gentle exercise like Tai Chi can play a significant role in slowing the development of dementia. This understanding challenges previous notions about brain plasticity, with new findings from Harvard Medical School highlighting the brain's lifelong capacity for growth and adaptation.

Brain's Remarkable Adaptability

The study found an interesting fact, although it was believed that the brain's ability to generate new cells was limited to early life, experts at Harvard now confirm the brain's incredible adaptability throughout an individual's lifespan. The brain possesses the potential to produce new cells, form novel connections, and even increase in size, leading to improved cognitive functions. Tai Chi, among various exercises, is particularly beneficial in fostering brain health.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, Tai Chi, also called meditation in motion, is an ancient Chinese mind-body practice, rooted in martial arts. This gentle, low-impact exercise involves a continuous series of fluid movements, often inspired by animal actions like "white crane spreads its wings" or martial arts maneuvers such as "box both ears." As you move, you'll focus on deep, natural breathing and bodily sensations, similar to some forms of meditation.

Tai Chi stands apart from many other exercises due to its unique characteristics, movements are typically circular and unforced, muscles remain relaxed rather than tensed, joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues aren't stretched.

Tai Chi's Impact on Cognitive Function

A review of 20 studies has revealed that Tai Chi significantly enhances "executive function" in individuals experiencing cognitive decline. Executive function encompasses crucial skills such as multitasking, time management, and decision-making.

For those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Tai Chi has proven more effective than other forms of exercise in decelerating the progression of dementia. Furthermore, it demonstrated comparable benefits to other exercises or cognitive training in boosting overall brain function.

How Does Tai Chi Affect Our Brain?

Harvard experts cite compelling research demonstrating Tai Chi's advantages:

Slowing Dementia Onset

In one study involving nearly 400 Chinese men and women with cognitive impairment, participants performed either Tai Chi or a stretching and toning program three times a week. After a year, the Tai Chi group showed greater improvements, with only 2% progressing to dementia, compared to 11% in the traditional exercise group.

Increased Brain Volume and Cognitive Performance

Another study compared Tai Chi to walking, social interaction, and no intervention over 40 weeks. MRI scans revealed that the Tai Chi group exhibited the most significant increase in brain volume. This group also demonstrated superior performance on cognitive tests.