It was another long, grueling day at work. As Sandhya sat in traffic, she could feel the frustration bubbling up — not because of the cars lined up in front of her but because every small inconvenience suddenly felt like a monumental task. Her patience was wearing thin, and Sandhya couldn’t shake the feeling of exhaustion, even though I hadn’t physically exerted myself.

If you’ve ever felt emotionally depleted after a day filled with tough decisions, you’re not alone. Mental exhaustion is real, and recent studies are shedding light on how it affects us, especially our interactions with others.

Mental fatigue, or “ego depletion,” is a concept in psychology that suggests our willpower and mental resources are limited. When we spend a lot of time making decisions or exercising self-restraint, these resources get depleted. According to a study by the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca in Italy, exercising self-control can exhaust parts of our brain associated with decision-making and impulse control, causing us to act more impulsively or aggressively when mentally drained.

This phenomenon was tested by researchers who asked participants to engage in mentally demanding tasks. In one setup, some participants watched emotional video clips while trying not to react, while others watched the same clips without any self-control requirements.

Those who held back their emotions showed increased activity in the prefrontal cortex, the brain region responsible for decision-making and self-control. This change in brain activity, marked by “delta waves,” is usually observed during sleep, suggesting that parts of their brains were “switching off” due to mental fatigue.

How Mental Fatigue Affects Behavior

After undergoing these tasks, participants were asked to play a game that measured their tendency towards cooperative or aggressive behavior. Remarkably, those who had exerted self-control during the initial tasks were more likely to behave aggressively compared to those who hadn’t. This suggests that mental exhaustion can dampen our ability to engage cooperatively and makes us more susceptible to impulsive or hostile reactions.

As Erica Ordali, the study’s lead author, points out, this has real-world implications. “If you feel mentally exhausted, it might be best to avoid difficult discussions or decision-making until you’re more rested,” she advises. This advice isn’t just for work-related stress — it applies to our personal relationships and everyday interactions, where mental fatigue can lead to misunderstandings or unnecessary conflicts.

Why is Ego Depletion Controversial?

Not everyone in the scientific community agrees with the concept of ego depletion. A 2020 large-scale study with over 3,500 participants found no strong evidence that mental exertion consistently leads to behavioral depletion. Despite this, Ordali’s research offers compelling insights into how mental exhaustion may affect specific brain functions, potentially influencing our behavior in measurable ways.

Coping with Mental Exhaustion

Given the potential impact of mental fatigue on behavior, taking breaks and allowing your brain to recharge becomes essential. Here are a few practical ways to manage mental exhaustion:

1. Breaks help replenish mental energy, especially after challenging tasks. Short walks, stretching, or even a few minutes of deep breathing can make a significant difference.

2. Avoid decision overload by delegating less important choices. Reserve your mental resources for what truly matters.

3. Techniques like meditation and mindfulness help restore focus, enabling better impulse control even when tired.

4. Juggling multiple tasks depletes mental resources faster. Try focusing on one task at a time, and you'll preserve more mental energy.

5. Be mindful of your mental state before making important decisions or having critical conversations. Sometimes, waiting until you’re rested can lead to better outcomes.

Too often, cancer diagnoses come out of the blue, or due to symptoms worsening with late diagnoses. However, researchers may have developed a new way to detect cancer early, about 10 years before the actual diagnosis. All of this can be achieved through a simple blood test.

The cancer the test will predict is neck and head cancer. Accounting for nearly 4% of all cancers in US, an estimated 68,000 men and women were diagnosed with it. However, this is not just a singular cancer, neck and head cancer is a group of diseases that start in the soft, moist lining of the nose, mouth, and throat.

To tackle this, researchers at Mass Eye and Ear, a member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system have developed a blood-based test that can diagnose this cancer with great accuracy.

Can Blood-Tests Predict Cancer?

Researchers have created a new and extremely precise blood test called HPV-DeepSeek. This test is specifically designed to find the smallest bits of cancer DNA from the HPV virus that have broken away from a tumor and entered the bloodstream.

It's much better than older tests because it checks for many more pieces of the viral DNA, the entire HPV code, which makes it highly sensitive and accurate. In fact, it correctly identified the cancer 99% of the time, even in its very first stages, easily beating current testing methods.

How Can We Detect Cancer Early?

Head and neck cancers caused by HPV are increasing, and right now, there’s no way to find them early. Doctors typically only discover them after a patient feels sick and the cancer is already advanced, often leading to severe treatments. The breakthrough here is that HPV-DeepSeek could be used to screen for cancer before a person ever has symptoms.

In one study, the test successfully spotted cancer in people who wouldn't be diagnosed until years later—up to nearly eight years early. Finding the cancer this soon could completely change how it's treated, allowing doctors to use gentler methods and save patients from harsh side effects. This potential for early detection is truly a game-changer.

Where Does Head and Neck Cancers Start

The vast majority of head and neck cancers are called squamous cell carcinomas. These start in the squamous cells, which are the flat cells that make up the mucosal lining (the wet, protective layer) of these areas:

• Mouth (Oral Cavity), this includes the lips, tongue, gums, the roof and floor of the mouth, and the lining of the cheeks.
• Throat (Pharynx), the throat is a tube with three parts:
• Upper part (Nasopharynx), which is behind the nose.
• Middle part (Oropharynx), which includes the back of the mouth, the tonsils, and the base of the tongue.
• Lower part (Hypopharynx), the lowest part of the throat, just above the voice box.
• Voice Box (Larynx). Which is a structure in the neck that holds the vocal cords. It also has a flap of tissue called the epiglottis, which keeps food out of the windpipe.
• Other less common one's head and neck cancers can also start in salivary glands and nasal cavity and sinuses.

Is HPV responsible For All Head & Neck Cancer Diagnosis?

In a separate, but related, development, the research team also tested a different, very sensitive blood test called MAESTRO for head and neck cancers not caused by HPV. The study published in Clinical Cancer Research, found that MAESTRO's job is to accurately find any tiny specks of cancer that might have been left behind after a patient has surgery.

Finding this remaining cancer is an important tool for doctors because it helps them predict which patients might have the cancer return, letting them decide if extra treatment, like radiation, is necessary. Ultimately, both HPV-DeepSeek and MAESTRO show that these new, advanced blood tests are a powerful way to make diagnoses more accurate and move toward truly personalized care for cancer patients.

At the Times Network Health Summit 2025, panelists were invited to discuss on the pressing issue of breast cancer and to focus on advancing breast cancer care. The session couldn't have been held at a more important time than now, as October is also the month of breast cancer awareness.

For the same experts from various fields were invited, including Anchal Sharma, a cancer survivor and social entrepreneur, founder of Canheal, a support group offering various services and resources to cancer patients; Dr Shyam Aggarwal, Chairperson Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital; Dr Geeta Kadayaprath, Oncoplastic breast surgeon, and senior consultant and lead of Surgical Oncology at Apollo Athenaa Women's Cancer Centre; and Vishali Iyer, country head, communications, patient advocacy, CSR and business excellence & execution at Novartis. The session was moderated by Kalpana Sharma, Lifestyle and Health Editor, Times Now.

From A Survivor's POV

Sharma shared that she was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, during the time of her brother's wedding. This is why she continued hiding the news for 22 days, until all the functions were over. Learning from her own journey and struggles she founded Canheal, where people attend workshop from all over the places. "We do not just focus on building a community outside hospital, but also to decrease financial burden," she said.

She also shares the importance of such community, as it helps people who come from not so well-to-do backgrounds. Sharma speaks of a 27-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time. Such people benefit from such communities.

Are People Aware Enough?

Dr Aggarwal said that when it comes to awareness, early diagnosis is utmost. "Not going for screenings makes one more vulnerable to breast cancer," he said. Dr Aggarwal also pointed out that while the guidelines recommend women above the age of 40 to be screened once in two years, less than 2% of women are actually getting screened. While, in contrast to this, in the US, the number is 80% and in the UK it is 70%.

"Awareness is there, but the implementation is not. This is why many women come to doctors at a much later stage in their cancer," he said.

Patriarchy Is An Obstacle In Breast Cancer Awareness

Dr Kadayaprath also pointed out that it is not just the stigma or the lack of awareness, but also denial of the disease and patriarchy that play a big role. "Women often do not get a chance to express themselves, they are the sole pillar around which the entire household works. So when there is a lump, if it is painless, she continues to do whatever she does," she points out.

Dr Kadayaprath also says that of all the top 10 priorities a woman has, her health comes at 11th, which also prevents her from talking about it.

She also warns people of the misinformation on social media, which usually makes it to the audience based on their relatability. "You only listen to things you want to accept. So, if someone is saying that biopsy spreads cancer, you will not get it done."

A New Language Of Awareness

Iyer brings an interesting point by stating that cancer journey is not just about telling people what to do, but also in the way you approach their journeys. She agrees with Sharma that no two cancer patients have the same journey, thus she says, "we must be careful of the language we use. We must know when to use medical terminology and when to listen to the patients fear" to ensure that the support is extended in right manner.

"Every time I wear tight jeans or belt, I get these UTI-like infections on the next day. First time when I observe this thing, the symptoms were mild, but third time, the symptoms got worse..." wrote a 26-year-old on a Tele-medicine/consulting app, almost three years ago. Now, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health is highlighting something very similar that even clothing choices could create conditions favorable for UTI.

According to clinical experts, wearing tight jeans or other restrictive clothing can significantly elevate the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs). These infections are among the most common bacterial illnesses, particularly in women, and are characterized by symptoms such as burning sensation during urination, urinary urgency, and pain in the lower abdomen.

Does Tight Clothing Lead To UTI?

The urinary tract is protected by multiple defense mechanism, which also includes flushing action of urine, antimicrobial properties of mucosal surfaces, and the balance of resident microflora. However, due to prolonged use of tight jeans or any such non-breathable garments, the balance could be disrupted.

Tight clothing reduces airflow in the genital area and traps heat and sweat. The resulting warm, moist environment facilitates bacterial growth, particularly of Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is the leading cause of UTIs. Friction caused by tight garments further irritates the skin and mucosa, allowing bacteria to multiply and migrate towards the urethra and bladder.

Read: Can A UTI Cost You Your Limbs? Explains Doctor

What Does The Study Say?

The recent study also highlights that synthetic, restrictive clothing could in fact, increase bacterial colonization. Non-breathable fabrics like polyester or spandex can trap perspiration and prevent evaporation. It can thus create an ideal habitat for microbes. The risk is even heightened in hot and humid climates, where sweating is more pronounced.

Does It Mean That Suits Can Cause UTIs?

Not necessarily, it is not the spandex itself that causes UTI, it is the unhygienic condition of its usage. The tight clothing or swimwear do not cause UTI, it happens when you do not change or clean your intimate area after wearing such clothing for a long time. The recommendation is to remove such clothing, especially after sweating or strenuous activity.

Read: Urine Color Chart- What Is Normal Vs What's Not?

Who Are At More Risk Of UTI?

While UTI affects both the genders, women are at more risk of it, due to their anatomical and physiological factors. The female urethra is shorter than the male urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to ascend from the perineal area into the bladder. Statistically, almost half of all women will experience at least one UTI during their lifetime, compared to significantly lower prevalence in men.

There are also additional risk factors in women, which include hormonal fluctuations. During menopause, the decline in estrogen levels alters the vaginal flora, reducing protective lactobacilli and making the urinary tract more susceptible to infections. Furthermore, certain contraceptive methods, including diaphragms and spermicides, can disrupt the normal microbial balance and increase UTI risk.

Men and children may also develop UTIs. In pediatric cases, the prevalence is estimated at 1–2%, and in men, infections are often associated with underlying urological abnormalities or prostatic enlargement. Globally, healthcare systems treat approximately 8–10 million UTI cases annually.

What Are the Common Symptoms Of UTI?

• Dysuria (burning pain during urination)
• Increased urinary frequency and urgency
• Suprapubic or pelvic discomfort
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Hematuria (blood in urine)
• Urinary incontinence or urge incontinence
• Fatigue or malaise
• Flank pain or lower back pain (suggestive of kidney involvement)
• Systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting in severe cases