While the monsoon rains breathe life into the earth, they also bring along seasonal infections like Dengue, Hepatitis A, and Typhoid amongst others. It is during this time that protecting oneself against these viruses becomes pivotal. A balanced diet, with an adequate amount of green vegetables and fruits, can prove to be your best defence against pathogens and infections. By incorporating nutrient-dense vegetables into your diet, you can strengthen your immune system, support digestion, and reduce the risk of monsoon-related health issues, ensuring you stay healthy and resilient during the season.

Here are must-have greens in your monsoon diet

Nature offers us an array of vegetables that are not just seasonal favorites but also powerful allies in maintaining our well-being. Bitter gourd, with its distinctive taste, stands out for its remarkable detoxifying properties. Often overlooked due to its bitterness, this vegetable works wonders in cleansing the liver and purifying the blood, which is especially important during the monsoon when infections are more common. Including bitter gourd in your diet can give your immune system the boost it needs to keep you feeling vibrant and protected.

Bottle gourd is another monsoon staple that deserves a place on your plate. Light on the stomach and incredibly easy to digest, this vegetable is a gentle companion for your digestive system, which can be more sensitive during the rainy season. Its high water content also helps keep your body hydrated, ensuring that you feel refreshed and energized even on the dampest of days.

Spinach, with its rich iron content, is a powerful support for your immune system and a natural remedy against anaemia. The antioxidants in spinach not only bolster your immunity but also protect your skin from the infections and damage caused by the humid monsoon climate. As you incorporate spinach into your meals, you’re also nurturing your body’s resilience from the inside out.

Carrots, often associated with good vision, offer much more than just that. Their abundance of beta-carotene, vitamin A, and antioxidants make them a true superfood during the monsoon. Carrots help enhance your immunity, improve your skin health, and protect against infections that thrive in the moist, rainy weather. With every crunchy bite, you’re not only enjoying a tasty treat but also fortifying your body’s defences.

Lastly, there’s okra, or bhindi, a versatile vegetable rich in vitamins A and C, folate, and fibre. The fiber in okra is key to promoting healthy digestion and preventing constipation that can occur during this season. Meanwhile, its vitamins and antioxidants work in tandem to enhance your immune function, providing an extra layer of protection against the seasonal ailments that can dampen your spirits.

Dengue has been identified as one of the world's most severe and dangerous mosquito-borne viral disease but here is something that tends to go undetected- the transmission is not only mosquito-to-human, it can also spread the other way, human-to-mosquito. This two-way motion makes dengue particularly difficult to manage, particularly in areas where the disease is already endemic.

The burden of dengue in the world has increased at a rapid rate. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) had reported slightly more than half a million cases. The number had ballooned to 5.2 million in 2019. This worsened in 2023, when the number of dengue cases hit an all-time high of more than 6.5 million in 80 nations, resulting in over 7,300 fatalities.

Much of this growth is caused by climate change, urbanization, and the expansion of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito populations into new areas. Rising temperatures and heavy precipitation have increased the areas where mosquitoes breed, and vulnerable health systems—overstretched by the COVID-19 pandemic—have found it difficult to control outbreaks.

Currently, dengue is endemic in over 100 nations, predominantly in South-East Asia, the Americas, and the Western Pacific. It is estimated that Asia alone harbors approximately 70 percent of the global burden of the disease.

How Does Mosquito to Human Transmission Take Place?

Historically, dengue has been conceived as a vector-borne infection, wherein the virus gets transmitted to humans by a bite from infected female Aedes mosquitoes. The virus multiplies in the midgut of the mosquito after feeding on a viremic host before getting transported to the salivary glands of the mosquito. This is called the extrinsic incubation period (EIP), and this usually lasts for 8–12 days under conditions of 25–28°C temperature. The mosquito remains infectious for the rest of its life after it becomes infectious.

This process describes how outbreaks can so rapidly spread: once a local population of mosquitoes becomes infected, the disease can persist for months even in the absence of new imports from elsewhere.

How Human-to-Mosquito Transmission Occur?

Recent research points to yet another crucial piece of the puzzle: humans too can pass the dengue virus back to mosquitoes. When a mosquito bites an individual with viremia, the virus in the bloodstream it can itself become infected and keep the cycle going.

Human-to-mosquito transmission can take place before an individual even knows they are ill. Scientists say that the virus is detectable in mosquitoes up to two days prior to the onset of symptoms and up to two days when the fever disappears. This indicates asymptomatic carriers, or those with mild symptoms of illness, can contribute heavily to maintaining outbreaks.

The risk of infection in mosquitoes increases with fever and high viremia in the patient, although intense dengue-specific antibodies seem to lower the risk. The majority of individuals are viremic for 4–5 days but can remain so for as long as 12 days in some instances.

This latent stage of transmission makes dengue controlling particularly challenging. It's not merely about preventing mosquito bites—it's also about comprehending how human beings, even subconsciously, become a link in the chain of transmission.

Identifying Early Warning Symptoms of Dengue among Patients

As per Dr. Anirban Chattopadhyay, Critical Care Specialist with CMRI Kolkata, "Dengue and viral fevers also track the monsoons in Kolkata and other regions of India and extensive and well-reported cases in patients are a routine occurrence. The majority of the viral fevers are mild and self-limited, whereas with dengue the infection could be very swift and severely debilitating if not diagnosed early enough."

The initial signs of dengue can be mistaken for other viral infections—high-grade fever, very severe body pain, headache, nausea, and lethargy. However, dengue tends to add some warning signals like pain in the eyes, rashes on the skin, and reduced platelet levels (thrombocytopenia). Patients might also present with gum bleeding, nosebleeds, or petechiae (small red spots on the skin). These are warning signs that need urgent medical intervention.

Why Early Consultation is Critical?

Prompt diagnosis is best to avoid complications. "Early recognition, and timely treatment remains the best option available currently for lessening the potential morbidity from these illnesses," stresses Dr. Chattopadhyay.

Physicians can diagnose dengue with a routine blood test. Most cases are treated with hydration and supportive care, although delayed treatment heightens the risk of developing severe dengue, such as Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever or Dengue Shock Syndrome—both of which may be fatal.

Additionally, patients are advised not to self-medicate with medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin, since they can aggravate risk of bleeding. Paracetamol is still the best option for the control of fever.

Monitoring and Home Care

Home management is achievable in mild cases with strict monitoring. Patients should monitor temperature, fluids, urine output, and energy status once daily. Rest, hydration, and prompt review by the doctor are necessary. Yet, acute abdominal pain, protracted vomiting, severe exhaustion, lethargy, or shortness of breath indicate the need for emergency hospitalization.

This surveillance method not only enhances personal outcomes but also decreases the chance of unwittingly infecting the virus back to mosquitoes during the viremic phase.

How To Prevent Dengue Transmission?

Prevention of dengue can be ensured through a two-pronged mechanism: prevention of mosquito bites and reduction of opportunities for spreading the virus. On the control of mosquitoes, practices are done such as removal of stagnant water, application of insect repellents, fitting window screens, and community-level vector control programs.

On the human side, education about human-to-mosquito transmission is crucial. Individuals with dengue infection must safeguard themselves from new mosquito bites when in the viremic phase through the use of bed nets, repellents, and protective apparel. In this manner, they minimize the probability of infecting new mosquitoes, which in turn cuts short community transmission.

Dr. Chattopadhyay also reminds us that prevention on a wider level involves healthy overall well-being. Good hand hygiene, wearing masks in crowded public places, and having good immunity through nutrition all lower one's susceptibility to viral infections in general.

With the finding of human-to-mosquito transmission, we are changed in our understanding of dengue control. It's not merely about destroying breeding sites or covering ourselves up from bites—it's also about recognizing that humans are part of the chain of infection.

As Dr. Chattopadhyay indicates, prompt detection and timely treatment are still our best weapons against dengue. Combining that with preventive measures both at the household and community levels—gives us the best hope of lessening the impact of this quick-spreading disease.

Remember when in the Ep 8 of Season 1, Friends, Ross's 'nana' or grandmother dies and then wakes up again? Well, only to die a few moments later. However, she did rise from death. What if we tell you there is a science behind it? It is called the Lazarus Phenomenon or the Lazarus Syndrome, which we will come back later.

Few fears in history have been as chilling as the thought of waking up six feet under. Long before modern medical technology, the line between life and death was frighteningly blurry.

Without stethoscopes, electrocardiograms, or ventilators, doctors relied on mirrors held under the nose, or fingers pressed against a wrist, to declare someone dead. Mistakes were inevitable.

Accounts from as early as the 14th century suggest this nightmare was not unfounded. When the tomb of philosopher John Duns Scotus was reportedly opened, his body was discovered outside his coffin, his hands torn in a way that suggested he had tried to claw his way free. Coming back to another popular culture reference in the movie The Autopsy of Jane Doe, there is a mention of how dead bodies have bells tied to their ankle to ensure they are truly dead. This is a practice rooted deeply in history to avoid accidental burial.

READ: Medical Memoir: The Accidental Development Of The Small Pox Vaccine

Taphophobia: Accidental Deaths

Centuries ago, in 17th-century England, Alice Blunden of Basingstoke collapsed after drinking poppy tea, which acted as a sedative. Declared dead, she was buried swiftly. Days later, children heard noises near her grave. By the time she was exhumed, she was still clinging to life, but ultimately perished after a second premature burial.

Such tragedies gave rise to a cultural obsession known as taphophobia, the fear of being buried alive. The anxiety was so widespread that it inspired not only literature, such as Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting 1844 story The Premature Burial, but also a wave of bizarre inventions designed to save the mistakenly entombed.

Coffin Bells and Safety Devices

The 19th century saw one of the strangest solutions: the grave bell. In cemeteries like Cooper Cemetery in Ohio, a pipe was installed leading from the coffin to the surface, with a string tied to the corpse’s hand. At the surface, the string connected to a bell fixed to a post. If the “deceased” stirred, they could tug the string and ring for rescue.

Local historians believe this system may have inspired the phrase “saved by the bell.” Graveyards often stationed watchmen nearby, waiting to see if a bell would ring in the night. While the eerie sound must have sent shivers down spines, it was, for some, a last hope of survival.

Inventors soon took the concept further. Patents from the 1800s detail elaborate “safety coffins” equipped with air pipes, escape ladders, and signaling devices. Franz Vester’s 1868 “Improved Burial Case” included a bell and ladder for the unfortunate soul who awoke underground.

John Krichbaum’s 1882 design featured a T-shaped pipe that moved with hand motion, signaling life above ground. Others included clockwork fans for fresh air, or even battery-powered alarms to alert caretakers.

Though many of these designs were never widely adopted, they reflected the pervasive fear of premature burial in an era when medical certainty was elusive.

Accidentally Declared Dead Even In Modern Times

Even in modern times, stories of mistaken burials continue to surface. In 2011, Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov of Russia woke up during her own funeral. She opened her eyes in her casket, surrounded by grieving relatives. She screamed, was rushed to the hospital, and lived for another 12 minutes before dying of heart failure.

In 2014, Walter Williams of Mississippi was declared dead, his body zipped into a bag and delivered to a funeral home. To the embalmer’s shock, Williams’ legs began moving. He was breathing lightly and had, in fact, survived his first “death.” Two weeks later, however, he passed away for good.

These unsettling stories remind us that the fine line between life and death is sometimes blurrier than we’d like to admit.

The Lazarus Phenomenon: “Returns” from Death

If premature burial was the horror of the past, the Lazarus phenomenon, named after the Biblical figure who rose from the tomb, represents today’s medical equivalent.

Also Read: 71-Year-Old Declared Dead, But Came Back Alive: How Science Explains This Shocking Revival

Lazarus syndrome is the spontaneous return of circulation after failed attempts at resuscitation. In other words, a person’s heart restarts after doctors have already stopped CPR and pronounced them dead.

Documented only around 63 times in medical literature, it remains vanishingly rare. Most cases occur within ten minutes of resuscitation efforts ending.

Theories include:

Air trapping: Too much air pumped into the lungs during CPR builds pressure in the chest, preventing blood flow. When CPR stops, the pressure drops, and the heart spontaneously restarts.

Delayed medication delivery: Drugs given during resuscitation sometimes take effect only after circulation resumes.

Defibrillation delays: A shock to the heart may take longer than expected to trigger a rhythm.

Real-life examples are just as dramatic as tales of grave bells. In Detroit, a 20-year-old woman was declared dead after 30 minutes of CPR, only for funeral home staff to notice her breathing. In Britain, a 23-year-old man began breathing again after last rites. In Ohio, a man’s family watched in shock as his heart rhythm returned minutes after he had been declared dead.

Though survival rates are low, most patients die again soon after, just like it happened with 'Nana' from Friends.

Death: A Process, Not an Instant

What connects premature burial and Lazarus syndrome is a simple truth: death is not always an immediate event. Instead, it is a process in which organs gradually fail. Historically, without medical monitors, it was almost impossible to distinguish deep coma or catalepsy from actual death. Today, despite advanced machines, the Lazarus phenomenon shows that even modern medicine occasionally falters.

Medical guidelines now recommend waiting at least ten minutes after CPR stops before officially declaring death, ensuring that spontaneous circulation will not return. It is a safeguard rooted in the same caution that once drove inventors to attach bells to coffins.

You know Joey from the series sleeps without clothes on. Have you ever thought about it? Maybe you have, but you have been too shy to give it a try. Maybe Joey was not joking, maybe sleeping without clothes on do have some benefits.

While sleeping naked at night may not be the first thing that comes to your mind, however, it has benefits, which can surprise you.

Sleeping Naked Means Sleeping Faster

Behavioral sleep disorders specialist Michelle Drerup, PsyD, DBSM, tells Cleveland Clinic that your body naturally works to lowers its temperature or thermostat to doze off at night. This happens through circadian rhythm that regulates your body's wake and sleep cycles. So, the faster you cool off, the faster you will sleep.

Sleeping without clothes might as well help you in that.

Your bedroom temperature should be between 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 67 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5 degrees Celsius to 19.44 degrees Celsius) for optimal snoozing, not some experts.

ALSO READ: Oxford University Scientists Have Found The Reason Behind The Need To Sleep

Sleeping Naked Improves Sleep Quality

As per a 2012 study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, when your body is cooled down, it also helps you sleep better. The quality of sleep significantly improves. Thus, sleeping naked is one of the many ways to achieve the desired temperature.

Good For Skin And Hygiene

A 2017 study published in journal Women's Health, titled Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage, cited the Royal College of General Practitioners guide on care of vulvar skin, and noted that sleeping without underwear allows better airflow, reduces moistures and prevents any potential yeast or bacterial infections.

ALSO READ: Do Feminine Hygiene Products Actually Cause Vaginal Infection?

Intimate skin is prone to have moisture trapped, and removing clothes can help your skin breathe. Since studies have proven that a lower body temperature allows you to have a better sleep quality, further studies, including a 2018 published in Journal of Applied Physiology notes that "adequate sleep" can also help you skin heal from small wound.

Improves Relationship

As per a 2015 study published in the Frontiers in Psychology, skin-to-skin contact between adults stimulates the release of oxytocin, which can play an important role in building attachments, and enhance the feeling of safety. It also thus help you sleep better as you feel less stressed and more in connect with your partner.

Great For Your Self Esteem

A 2021 study published in Journal of Sex Research found that times spent naked helps build body appreciation. This also helps one embrace themselves and self-love. Thus going to sleep naked extends the time you spend naked, and helps you boost your self esteem.

Helpful For Male Fertility

A 2018 study published in the journal of Human Reproduction also noted that sleeping naked is a good way to keep testicles cool and maintain an optimal temperature for sperm health.

The study of 656 men suggested a link between men who wore tight underwear with a low sperm count. The breezier the underwear was, the higher sperm concentration and total sperm count was in the men.