Anger, a universal and powerful emotion, is deeply embedded in human psychology. While it serves as a natural response to perceived threats or injustices, chronic anger can have profound implications for our physical and mental health. A key player in this intricate relationship is cortisol, often called the stress hormone. Understanding how anger influences cortisol levels sheds light on the broader effects of unchecked emotional responses on our well-being.

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and is crucial for regulating various bodily functions, including metabolism, immune response, and stress management. Dr. Rahul Chandhok, a psychiatrist specializing in mental health and behavioral science, explains, “When we are angry, the hypothalamus in the brain activates the stress response, triggering the release of cortisol. While a temporary rise in cortisol is necessary to cope with acute stress, chronic anger keeps cortisol levels elevated, disrupting the body’s natural balance.”

This disruption has far-reaching consequences. Prolonged exposure to elevated cortisol can lead to hypertension, compromised immunity, and an increased risk of mental health disorders like anxiety and depression.

Physical Health Implications of Chronic Anger

Anger triggers the "fight-or-flight" response, which elevates both blood pressure and heart rate. Over time, this heightened physiological state can strain the cardiovascular system. Ms. Jasreen Birgi, a counseling psychologist, highlights the risks, “Chronic anger not only raises cortisol levels but also strains the heart, potentially contributing to conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and high blood pressure.”

Additionally, persistent anger can negatively affect digestion, linking stress-induced cortisol surges to disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The immune system also suffers, as excess cortisol weakens the body’s defenses, making it more susceptible to illnesses.

Mental Health Consequences

From a psychological perspective, chronic anger is a double-edged sword. While it can motivate action when managed constructively, unresolved anger can lead to severe emotional imbalances. Heightened cortisol levels amplify symptoms of anxiety and depression, disrupt sleep patterns, and foster feelings of cynicism or aggression.

According to Dr. Chandhok, these disruptions can create a vicious cycle, “Excess cortisol from anger weakens the immune system, disrupts sleep, and raises blood pressure, creating a perfect storm for both mental and physical health challenges.”

Sleep disturbances are particularly concerning, as poor sleep exacerbates emotional instability, leaving individuals more prone to irritability and further episodes of anger.

Anger’s Impact on Relationships

Anger does not only harm the individual; it also affects interpersonal relationships. Elevated cortisol levels during episodes of anger impair clear thinking, often leading to impulsive decisions or hurtful actions. Over time, such behavior can erode trust and connection in relationships, making it difficult to maintain meaningful bonds.

Ms. Birgi elaborates, “Anger can make individuals more aggressive or cynical, hindering their ability to form and sustain healthy relationships. This emotional imbalance further affects overall well-being.”

Resilience and Stress Management

While the effects of anger on cortisol levels are concerning, they are not irreversible. Stress-relief practices can help rebalance cortisol levels and mitigate the impact of anger on health. Techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and regular exercise can counteract cortisol surges and foster resilience.

According to the American Psychological Association, developing healthier ways to manage and release anger is crucial. Constructive strategies include:

• Mindfulness meditation: Helps calm the mind and reduce the intensity of emotional reactions.
• Physical activity: Promotes the release of endorphins, natural mood elevators that counteract stress.
• Therapeutic interventions: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals identify triggers and develop constructive ways to cope with anger.

Anger, when unchecked, has a cascading effect on both cortisol levels and overall health. From hypertension and digestive disorders to mental health challenges and strained relationships, the consequences of chronic anger are profound. However, by understanding the connection between anger and cortisol, individuals can take proactive steps to manage their emotions and build resilience.

As Dr. Chandhok aptly puts it, “Anger is a natural emotion, but its management is critical. With awareness and the right tools, we can transform anger from a destructive force into an opportunity for growth and emotional balance.”

Dr. Rahul Chandhok is Head Psychiatrist, Head Consultant, Mental Health and Behavioural Science at Artemis Hospitals and Ms. Jasreen Birgi is a Counselling Psychologist with a Mental Health Platform- LISSUN.

Ozempic, once known mainly for helping people manage type 2 diabetes, is now practically a household name for another reason: weight loss. The drug—and its semaglutide siblings like Wegovy, Mounjaro, Rybelsus, and Zepbound—has become a go-to for those looking to shed pounds fast but the rise of Ozempic has come with side effects that users didn’t quite see coming.

It started with the Ozempic face—that sunken, aged look from rapid weight loss. Then came the Ozempic butt, Ozempic hands, and even reports of changes to genital appearance like the so-called Ozempic penis. As more people turn to semaglutide drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss, a surprising list of aesthetic side effects is emerging. Social media is full of before-and-after images not just of trimmed waists, but of gaunt cheeks, drooping skin, sagging arms, and visible bones in places people never expected. These aren't just cosmetic concerns—they raise important questions about how these drugs reshape the body in unintended ways. Curious where the science stands? Let’s break it all down.

Across social media and Reddit threads, people are asking- Why is my hair thinning since I started this medication? Is it the drug? Or is it the weight loss?

What Is Ozempic Hair?

Telogen effluvium is the most likely explanation. This is a condition where large numbers of hair follicles enter a “resting” phase at the same time and shed together, leading to noticeable thinning. It typically starts about three months after a stressful event—and yes, that includes rapid weight loss.

Why Rapid Weight Loss Triggers Hair Loss?

Hair growth follows a cycle. It includes a growth phase, a rest phase, and a shedding phase. Normally, these cycles are staggered so you’re not losing all your hair at once. But major physiological stress—like surgery, trauma, or drastic weight loss—can throw this rhythm off. When too many follicles hit the rest phase at once, hair falls out in clumps.

This doesn’t mean it’s permanent. In most cases, hair does grow back over several months. But the emotional and psychological toll during the shedding period can be significant.

What Else Might Be Reason for Hair Thinning And Hair Loss?

1. Nutrient Deficiencies

Ozempic suppresses appetite. That’s one of the reasons it works so well for weight loss. But eating less food also means fewer nutrients—especially if your diet wasn’t balanced to begin with. Deficiencies in iron, biotin, zinc, and protein can impair hair growth. Women, in particular, are at higher risk of iron deficiency, which is tightly linked to hair thinning.

2. Hormonal Shifts

Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, a hormone that helps regulate insulin and blood sugar levels. Hormonal changes, especially those involving insulin or cortisol, can affect hair cycles. We see similar shifts during menopause, thyroid imbalances, or postpartum—each of which is linked to hair loss.

3. Stress—Physical and Emotional

Whether it’s the underlying condition (like diabetes), the rapid change in body weight, or the stress of seeing more hair in the drain each morning, stress itself is a well-documented hair loss trigger. And once stress hits, it can form a vicious cycle—more shedding, more stress, more shedding.

How Common Is Ozempic-Linked Hair Loss?

Right now, we don’t have exact numbers. In Wegovy’s clinical trials, about 3% of participants reported increased shedding—compared to 1% in the placebo group. That 2% margin might sound small, but given the millions now using semaglutide-based drugs, it adds up. In 2023 alone, nearly 2% of the U.S. population was prescribed Ozempic or similar GLP-1 agonists.

That’s a huge number of people and even a small side effect becomes a big deal when the user base is massive.

On Reddit, one longtime type 2 diabetic described their three-year experience on Ozempic. They didn’t notice sudden hair fallout, but gradually saw thinning over time—alongside other gastrointestinal side effects like sulfur gas and diarrhea. When they stopped taking the medication, their gut issues resolved and their hair began growing back. Interestingly, their weight stayed off even without the drug.

While anecdotal, stories like this point to the need for deeper research and more personalized monitoring.

What To Do If You're Experiencing Hair Loss on Ozempic

If your hair is thinning after starting Ozempic, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. Here's what to do:

First, rule out other medical causes. Thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, autoimmune conditions, or nutrient deficiencies may be the real culprits. Don’t self-diagnose.

Sometimes, the combination of medications can amplify hair loss risks. A review with your provider can identify if alternatives might work better for you—without compromising your health goals.

Even if your appetite is low, aim for nutrient-dense meals. Include lean protein, leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, and supplements if necessary. Consider bloodwork to check iron, B12, and zinc levels.

Avoid tight hairstyles, heat tools, and harsh chemical treatments. Your follicles need time to recover. Switch to gentle hair products and wide-tooth combs.

Chronic stress prolongs telogen effluvium. Explore stress-management tools like mindfulness, therapy, walking outdoors, or journaling.

Some dermatologists recommend treatments like PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, which uses your own blood’s growth factors to promote regrowth. While not FDA-approved for all types of hair loss, it's increasingly popular and worth exploring with a specialist.

Hair loss tied to Ozempic isn’t inevitable, and it doesn’t happen to everyone. For many, the benefits of GLP-1 medications—weight loss, improved blood sugar control, reduced risk of heart disease—far outweigh the risks but side effects like hair thinning remind us that no drug is free from trade-offs.

In a breakthrough that has the potential to reshape how we understand some forms of skin cancer, doctors at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a strain of human papillomavirus (HPV), commonly found on the skin, as the direct cause of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a woman with a rare immune disorder.

The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week, challenge long-held assumptions about the role of HPV in skin cancer and spotlight the risks faced by immunocompromised individuals.

A Case That Changed Everything

The discovery came during treatment of a 34-year-old woman, who was suffering from a rare genetic condition that severely weakened her immune system.

Over time, she developed more than 40 skin cancer lesions across her face, hands, and legs, all diagnosed as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer after melanoma.

Despite undergoing multiple surgeries and immunotherapy, her cancer kept returning.

That’s when a team of doctors, led by Dr. Andrea Lisco from NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, decided to dig deeper. What they found was shocking: her tumors were being driven by beta HPVs, a group of viruses typically seen as harmless.

“The virus replicated in a somewhat uncontrolled manner and ended up integrating into the skin cells,” said Dr. Lisco. “Once they did that, they became cancerous.”

HPV’s Role in Skin Cancer

Until now, HPV’s link to skin cancer was considered indirect at best. Scientists believed the virus might weaken skin cells or make them more vulnerable to UV damage, but not directly cause cancer.

This case flips that understanding on its head.

Unlike alpha HPVs, which are known to cause cervical, anal, and throat cancers and are targeted by the Gardasil vaccine, beta HPVs live on the skin and usually stay dormant. In healthy people, they don’t integrate into DNA or cause illness.

But in this woman’s case, a weakened immune system, specifically impaired T-cells, allowed the virus to behave aggressively and hijack her skin cells’ DNA, turning them malignant.

A Life-Saving Treatment and New Insights

With her immune system unable to fight the virus, doctors decided a stem cell transplant to replace her malfunctioning immune cells. Three years after the procedure, she remains cancer-free.

“This case gives us valuable insight into how the immune system interacts with HPV,” said Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who was not involved in the study. “What’s novel is that it’s the first time beta HPV has been directly linked to human skin cancer.”

Dr. Lisco noted that while the finding is important, it doesn’t suggest that everyone with beta HPV is at risk. “We shake hands and we pick up those viruses,” he said. “But if our immune systems are intact, we’re fine.”

A Warning for the Immunocompromised

Doctors emphasize that this case highlights a very specific risk, one that primarily applies to people with compromised immune systems, including those with HIV, organ transplants, long-term immunosuppressive medications, or rare genetic conditions.

“Immunocompromised people are up to 100 times more likely to develop this type of skin cancer,” said Dr. Rossi. “HPV can integrate and disrupt the cell cycle more easily in these individuals.”

Dr. Anthony Oro, professor of dermatology at Stanford Medicine, added, “It suggests that beta HPVs could contribute to cancers in patients where the immune defense, especially T-cells, is impaired.”

Does the HPV Vaccine Help?

While Gardasil protects against nine strains of alpha HPV, it’s unclear whether it offers any protection against beta strains.

“There is some theory that cross-protection may exist,” said Dr. Rossi, “but we need more research to know for sure.”

Studies in mice had long hinted at a potential link between beta HPV and cancer, but this is the first human case to show such a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

What This Means for You

Experts say the general population is not at risk from beta HPV-related skin cancer, at least not based on current evidence. Most skin cancers are still caused by sun exposure, and the best prevention is still protecting your skin.

Here’s what you can do:

Use sunscreen daily, even on cloudy days.

Wear protective clothing when outdoors, especially during peak sun hours.

Get regular skin checks, particularly if you’re immunocompromised or have a history of skin cancer.

Consult your doctor about HPV vaccines and whether they may benefit you.

“This case serves as a reminder,” said Dr. Oro, “that even viruses we thought were harmless can become dangerous in the wrong context. And that context is often an immune system not doing its job.”

When we think of public heroes, people we look for when things go wrong, we find military, police and firefighters in our corners. Firefighters have one of the at-risk jobs and face many dangers to save other people. They are not just trained to bring people to safety, but also how to control a dangerous situation, immediate medical care which goes beyond just first aid as well as investigating possible threats.

We are all aware of how they put their lives on the line to save others from dangerous situations whether it is jumping in to save people from burning buildings or, helping people escape from potentially dangerous situations. However, this is not the only way they are risking their own lives for us.

A recent study by the American Cancer Society (ACS) highlights a serious health concern for firefighters: their job significantly increases their chances of developing various cancers, including skin and kidney cancer. This discovery sheds light on the long-term health challenges these essential workers face, which extend far beyond the immediate dangers of battling fires. It's a stark reminder that the bravery of firefighters comes with a hidden cost to their health over time.

Why Firefighters Need Protection and Screening

This study's findings are a crucial wake-up call, even if they're not pleasant to hear. The research emphasizes that the health risks firefighters encounter go beyond the immediate dangers of their profession. It's incredibly important to step up efforts to protect firefighters' health. This means making sure they have better access to cancer screenings, ensuring early detection, and implementing stronger prevention strategies. By doing so, we can help safeguard the well-being of those who put their lives on the line for us.

For this study, researchers looked at a vast amount of health data collected over 36 years. They focused on individuals who were cancer-free at the beginning of the study in 1982. Specifically, they examined information from over 470,000 firefighters and compared their rates of cancer-related deaths to those of men in other professions. The overall conclusion strongly supports what other research has suggested: being a firefighter is linked to an increased risk of developing cancer.

Specific Cancer Risks Identified

The study identified the highest increased risks for specific types of cancer:

Firefighters had a significantly higher chance (72% more) of developing skin cancer. This might be because they often work outdoors without enough sun protection. Taking better precautions against sun exposure could help reduce this risk. There was also a 39% higher risk of kidney cancer among firefighters. The study also found smaller, but still notable, increases in risk for other cancers:

• Firefighters who had been on the job for 30 years or more showed an 8% higher risk of Lung cancer
• There was a 14% higher risk of prostate cancer
• Firefighters had a 15% higher risk of colon cancer.

Why Are Firefighters More At-Risk For Cancer?

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society explains that beyond the immediate dangers of putting out fires, they face a hidden threat: an increased risk of various cancers. This is due to the smoke and harmful chemicals they encounter while on duty.

Modern homes and buildings are full of synthetic and plastic materials. When these burn, they create a lot more smoke than natural materials. This smoke contains carcinogens, which are substances that can cause cancer. One common type is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of over 100 different chemicals. Being exposed to some PAHs can lead to cancer. Firefighters might also come across other known cancer-causing agents like asbestos and diesel exhaust. These harmful substances can be breathed in or soaked up through the skin.

Filling Gaps in Cancer Research

Earlier studies from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) hinted that firefighting could increase the risk of cancers like mesothelioma and bladder cancer. However, these studies weren't clear about other types of cancer. This new research helps fill in those missing pieces.

It's especially important because it provides fresh evidence linking firefighting to skin, kidney, prostate, and colorectal cancers. These were types of cancer where the connection to firefighting wasn't strong or clear before. This new study gives us a much better understanding of the cancer risks firefighters face because of what they're exposed to on the job.