Your struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up rested? It’s not just on you. And it never really has been. For centuries, sleep has been a fragile and complicated process. Historically, it took place in overcrowded, uncomfortable homes, alongside families, fire smoke, bugs, animals, and the unpredictable dangers of the night. In those times, people prayed for safety more than they prayed for dreams.

Fast forward to today — temperature-controlled bedrooms, memory foam mattresses, sleep masks, blackout curtains — and yet, millions are still wide awake at 3 AM, staring at the ceiling, wondering what’s broken.

It’s not just about your mattress or screen time. Your body isn’t failing you. It’s that the world you live in is making rest harder than it should be.

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In 2020, over 14% of adults in the US reported struggling to fall asleep on most days, according to the National Health Interview Survey. About 12% have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia.

A third of American adults don’t get the recommended seven hours of sleep per night. And that lack of rest isn’t distributed equally: Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Black adults, along with those earning under $15,000 a year, are the most sleep-deprived.

What this really means is: sleep loss isn’t just a personal health issue. It’s a socioeconomic one.

You’re Not Lazy — The System Isn’t Built for Rest

We live in a society that glorifies hustle, devalues downtime, and equates sleep with laziness. We’re constantly connected, bombarded with notifications, and working longer hours — even when we're off the clock.

And then there's revenge bedtime procrastination — the habit of staying up late because it’s the only time you have for yourself. We scroll through emotionally charged or overstimulating content on our phones, even though we know it's sabotaging our sleep. We drink coffee too late. We binge-watch one more episode. We use alcohol to unwind, which only fragments sleep more.

Ironically, even the wellness-obsessed are losing sleep trying to perfect it — tracking every breath, wearing sleep rings, taping their mouths shut, and obsessing over micro-wakeups. Experts say this hyper-focus on sleep performance can actually heighten anxiety and worsen insomnia.

The truth is, many factors that destroy your sleep are beyond your control.

Shift workers — who make up 20% of the US labor force — have sleep cycles dictated by employers, not biology. Irregular schedules disrupt circadian rhythms and increase the risk of sleep disorders. Studies show that people of color are more likely to work alternating shifts, compounding their sleep challenges.

Lack of basic sleep-friendly infrastructure is another major barrier. People living in noisy, polluted, or unsafe neighborhoods — often low-income communities — face chronic sleep disruptions. Bright street lights, traffic noise, subpar housing, no access to air conditioning or heating — these all add up.

And then there’s the toll of racism and discrimination. Research shows that the stress from daily microaggressions and systemic injustice has a measurable impact on sleep quality and duration.

For many, sleep is not just elusive — it’s systematically denied.

Is Parenting and Caregiving Fuelling The Quiet Sleep Crisis?

Caregivers are among the most sleep-deprived populations. Babies, toddlers, aging parents — their needs don’t clock out at night. Sleep training might work for infants, but there's no such system for grown-up responsibilities.

If you're a new parent or a caregiver running on fumes, advice like “just wind down before bed” rings hollow. For people in this group, it’s not about willpower or habits — it's about survival.

Now add neurodivergence to the mix. A new study in BMJ Mental Health finds that adults with higher ADHD traits are significantly more likely to report insomnia, low sleep quality, and — unsurprisingly — a lower quality of life.

The research suggests that insomnia may be the link between ADHD symptoms and reduced life satisfaction. And while ADHD and insomnia both independently affect mood and functioning, their overlap is a major red flag.

The traditional treatment for one often ignores the other. Experts now advocate for targeted sleep therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) or Sleep Restriction Therapy to improve both sleep and daily functioning in adults with ADHD traits.

How Can You Sleep Better?

First, stop blaming yourself. Instead of focusing solely on sleep hygiene tips like cool rooms and no screens, try identifying what’s really keeping you up. Is it your work schedule? Your housing situation? Noise? Anxiety? All of the above?

If possible, consult a sleep medicine specialist to rule out disorders like insomnia, apnea, or circadian rhythm disruptions. If therapy is an option, CBT-I has proven effective for many.

For those dealing with unavoidable stressors — think shift work, noisy neighborhoods, caring for kids — small tools may help. White noise machines, blackout curtains, cooling fans, sleep earplugs. They’re not perfect, but they can create small windows of peace.

The goal isn’t eight perfect hours. It’s about carving out enough restorative rest — wherever and however possible — to function and feel human.

Sleep isn’t optional. It’s biological. Your body wants to rest. Your brain needs it. And even though society isn’t built to support that, the rhythm is still there — pulsing under the noise, waiting to be reclaimed.

So, maybe tonight, instead of battling the night like an enemy, trust your body. Dim the lights, breathe and let sleep come — if not easily, then at least without shame because the struggle to sleep isn’t yours alone.

Disclaimer: This article may include interpretations of research, and commentary that reflect individual or editorial perspectives. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice

Although as kids many of us enjoyed the perfect vision, it isn’t uncommon to find that you may need glasses as things start looking blurry. Weak eyesight can be caused due to a lot of reasons, whether it is strained usage of our eyesight like using improperly lit spaces to read, using electronics at night, or simply aging.

The simple science behind wear eyesight is when the muscles that aid our vision get weak. So, if there was just a way to rejuvenate those muscles, we would be able to see properly, right? But it is not that simple. Doing so would require surgical options, many of which are not available easily. However, a new study may have made headway into creating an eyedrop that will do the job.

A study presented on Sunday at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) suggests that eye drops could be a safe and effective treatment for presbyopia, a common age-related condition that causes long-sightedness and makes it difficult to focus on close-up objects. The study, conducted by experts in Argentina, explored a new type of eye drop that could offer a convenient alternative to wearing reading glasses.

Can Eyedrops Fix Weak Eyesight?

The eye drops contain two main ingredients that work together to improve near vision. The first is pilocarpine, a drug that makes the pupil smaller and tightens the muscle that controls the shape of the eye's lens. This action helps the eye focus on nearby objects more easily.

The second ingredient is diclofenac, which is a type of anti-inflammatory drug. It helps reduce any inflammation in the eye.

In the study, 766 people used these drops twice a day, typically once in the morning and again about six hours later. They were split into three groups, each receiving a different strength of the pilocarpine component (1%, 2%, or 3%) while the amount of diclofenac stayed the same for everyone.

How Effective Are Eyedrops For Weak Eyesight?

The study's findings were very encouraging, showing significant improvements in near vision for all participants, with the effects lasting for up to two years.

For the group using the lowest concentration of pilocarpine (1%), almost all 148 people were able to read at least two additional lines on a standard eye chart. In the group with the 2% concentration, 69% of the 248 people could read three or more extra lines. The best results were seen in the 3% group, where a remarkable 84% of the 370 people could read three or more extra lines.

On average, patients saw an improvement of more than three lines on the eye chart just one hour after using the drops. According to Dr. Giovanna Benozzi, a leading researcher, these drops offer a promising solution that is more convenient and has fewer risks than traditional options like reading glasses or surgery.

Are There Side-Effects of Eyedrops For Weak Eyesight?

While the results are positive, some experts have expressed caution about potential side effects. The most common ones reported were temporary blurred vision, eye irritation, and headaches.

However, experts warned that long-term use of pilocarpine could sometimes lead to side effects like reduced night vision. He also noted that using anti-inflammatory drops for a long time could pose risks to the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. He emphasized that more extensive and longer-term studies are needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the drops for widespread use.

As kids we were often encouraged to think positively and not let negative thoughts derail our mind. Letting negative thoughts remain too long in your head can make you feel fatigued and unable to do necessary tasks as well. However, how much of this is actually psychological?

Can you imagine having pain in your body, but there is no ailment that can fix it? Is it completely psychological? What many people do not know about mental health is that it can severely impact your bodily health as well. To put this to test, researchers in China looked into how this could affect the elderly population of China.

In a study published in June 2025, researchers noted that the population is getting older, and with that comes a big increase in cognitive problems in older adults. These issues range from simple age-related memory loss to more serious conditions like dementia. This isn't just a personal health issue; it affects families and society as a whole.

Is Cognitive Health Declining Faster?

According to the study, globally, about 55 million people have dementia, and that number is expected to jump to 139 million by 2050. In China, 6% of people over 60 have dementia, and 15.5% have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The total cost of caring for people with dementia in China could reach $1.89 trillion by 2050. Since there's no cure for dementia, it’s vital to find ways to prevent or delay its progress.

As people get older, their physical health declines, and so can their mental health. Anxiety and depression are very common, with over 20% of older Chinese adults experiencing symptoms. These mental health issues are a known risk factor for cognitive decline, but researchers are still trying to figure out exactly how they are connected.

Can Poor Mental Health Cause Decline In Memories?

To understand this, researchers looked into RNT. Repetitive Negative Thinking (RNT) is a pattern of stuck, negative thoughts that are hard to control. It includes two common habits: rumination, which is constantly replaying bad things from the past, and worry, which is focusing on future problems. Since RNT is a key symptom of many mental health issues like anxiety and depression, researchers think it might be a major reason why these issues are linked to a higher risk of dementia. This makes RNT a promising target for preventing cognitive decline.

Do Elderly People Have Negative Thoughts?

A study was conducted with 424 older adults in Wuhan, China, to see if there was a connection between RNT and their cognitive function, which includes skills like memory and attention.

Researchers used a survey called the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ) to measure RNT. A higher score meant a person engaged in more negative thinking. To check cognitive function, they used the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Test. A higher MoCA score meant better mental skills. The study also considered other factors like age, education, and health to ensure the results were accurate.

The results showed a clear negative link: people who had more RNT had lower cognitive scores. This connection was strong even after accounting for other factors like a person's age or how much education they had.

RNT appeared to affect most mental skills, like the ability to think and remember, but it didn't seem to affect language skills. The link was strongest in adults aged 60-79 and those who had at least a junior high school education. For people over 80 or those with very little education, the connection wasn't as noticeable.

How Can We Tackle Negative Thoughts In Elderly?

This study suggests that constantly dwelling on negative thoughts can wear out the brain, leading to a decline in memory and other mental abilities. The stress from RNT might actually change the brain's structure and function.

These findings suggest that checking older adults for RNT should become a part of health screenings. By identifying and helping people manage their negative thoughts early on, it may be possible to lower their risk of cognitive decline.

"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'.

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"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.