When the 31-year-old Scotland-based woman, and a BBC-journalist Hazel Martin went to the doctor's complaining about her tiredness, she was unaware of the underlying reason. After the blood test, she was suggested for a liver scan, and it turned out that she was at a high risk of developing a liver disease. The doctors warned her that if she drank any more, she could also die, reported BBC.

However, she never drank regularly. "I didn’t drink every day, I never drank alone, and I drank because I enjoyed it as a social activity, not because I felt alcohol-dependent,” she said. What the doctor described was as binge drinking. As per doctors and experts, binge drinking with a weekly consumption of less than 14 units in a week will increase one's risk of liver disease.

For women, it is around six units of alcohol in one sitting, which is equivalent to two large glasses of wine. In the UK, while the problem is bigger for men, women under the age of 45 are also dying due to alcohol-related liver diseases (ARLD) as per the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures from 2001-22. In the US, every 1 in 4 women has engaged in binge drinking.

How to Diagnose?

A fibroscan, a non-invasive ultrasound, is performed to measure liver stiffness. A reading of 7 kPa (a unit used to measure the level of oxygen in the blood) or below is considered normal. For Hazel, the reading came out at 10.2.

What Is Binge Drinking?

It is also known as social drinking or casual drinking. As per the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08%—or 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter—or more.

NIAAA prescribes that for men, 5 drinks within 2 hours, and for women it is 4 drinks in about the same time, described as the limit. For teens and youth, the number of drinks for girls is 3 and 5 for boys.

Is It Common?

As per the 2023 National Survey on Drug Abuse and Health, about 61.4 million people in the United States aged between 12 and older report binge drinking. The number, however in teens and preteens is decreasing. Similarly, the number of people in the young adults category between 18 to 25 is also decreasing, but it still remains high, at 28.7%. For older adults, people at the age of 65 and older report binge drinking.

Health Impact

Binge drinking can have many negative impacts on your health, including blackouts and overdoses. It is also associated with unsafe sexual behaviour and risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintentional pregnancy. Binge drinking is also one of the leading reasons for deaths by falls, burns, drownings, and car crashes.

Some studies say that even one episode of binge drinking can dysfunctional one's immune system and lead to acute pancreatitis- inflammation of the pancreas. Alcohol misuse can also lead to chronic liver diseases, and cancers, which may also spread to the head and neck. It is also a leading cause of oesophagal, colorectal or breast cancer.

As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 1,78,000 deaths in the US that resulted from excessive alcohol use between 2020 and 2021. Of these, 1/3 of deaths were caused by binge drinking.

Binge drinking can also influence adolescent years. Research suggests that repeated episodes of binge drinking during the teen years can hinder the development of the brain and lead to deficits in social, attention, memory and other cognitive functions.

Despite having access to better information and healthcare than ever before, many men still avoid seeing doctors, unless it is absolutely critical. The reasons being outdated cultural norms, and idea of masculinity that often push men to vulnerability and pain. It also includes being ignorant about their physical health issues.

On an average, men die five years earlier than women. They are also more likely to suffer from preventable conditions that could be caught through regular routine checkups. The narrative that men should "tough it out", not only endangers individual lives, but also contributes to a broader public health problem.

What Do The Numbers Say?

A Cleveland Clinic survey revealed that close to 60% of men do not regularly see a doctor. Nearly half stated that they do not talk about their health. Instead they are far more likely to talk about sports, current events, or work. Only 7% of men reported regularly discussing their health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), women are 33 percent more likely than men to visit the doctor, and women are 100 percent better at keeping up with preventive care such as routine screenings. This disparity holds even when adjusting for pregnancy-related visits.

Similarly, a UK study published in BMJ Open found that men’s consultation rates were 32 percent lower than women’s, especially in the 16 to 60 age group. Even when men had similar medical conditions, they were slightly less likely to consult a doctor than women — but the gap narrowed significantly when reproductive health visits were excluded.

Why Men Stay Away From Doctors?

The reasons are more psychological and emotional than practical. According to an online survey commissioned by Orlando Health, the most common excuses men give for avoiding annual doctor visits are:

• They’re too busy
• They fear being diagnosed with something serious
• They’re uncomfortable with intimate or invasive exams

Prostate checks, testicular exams, and colon screenings are often cited as particularly awkward experiences. These fears, combined with social conditioning to appear invincible, lead many men to delay care — sometimes until it’s too late.

In fact, nearly 1 in 5 men in the Cleveland Clinic survey admitted they only visit the doctor because a loved one nags them to go.

What Can Be Done?

Recognizing this gap, health organizations are developing creative strategies to connect with men. INTEGRIS, a health system in Oklahoma, launched Men’s Health University 15 years ago to directly address male health awareness. The initiative offers screenings at sporting events, cooking demonstrations, and wellness fairs — making the experience more social, accessible, and stigma-free.

Steve Petty, director of community health at INTEGRIS, emphasized the importance of such outreach. In 2018, their screenings found that 67 percent of participating men had abnormal blood pressure, and 40 percent had concerning blood sugar levels — both red flags for serious conditions like hypertension and diabetes.

Cleaning is an important task but we put it off ore times than we realise. Many people have an affinity for cleaner spaces and find it comforting as well. They explain how cleaning their rooms or home make their mind feel clearer, and calmer. While cleaning does ensure that your home remains germ-free and spotless, it could also help you stay healthy in many other ways.

While it may be a tedious activity, it has the potential to enhance our mental clarity as well as our physical health. As it is a necessary chore, putting it off can also cause stress, so many people choose to get it out of the way as quickly as possible.

Link Between A Tidy Home And Human Mind

Research indicates a strong connection between a tidy home and a positive mindset. Individuals residing in less cluttered environments often report higher levels of psychological well-being and a greater sense of peace and belonging within their personal space. In the study published by the Journal of Enviromental Psychology 2021 researchers wanted to see if how we feel about our home is linked to how happy and well we are.

The study asked over 1000 adults (mostly women) about their homes and their well-being. They found that how cluttered people felt their home was and how much they felt their home was "theirs" were strongly connected to their happiness.

The study talks about how clutter isn't just about how much stuff you have, but also how you feel about it. It suggests that feeling less cluttered and more at home is important for our well-being. So, the study concludes that how we relate to our home, especially how cluttered it feels, really does affect how happy we are.

How Does A Clean Home Keep You Healthy?

Boost Your Mood by Tidying Up

The feeling of a clean and organized space lifting your spirits. Studies like the ones mentioned above demonstrate that a clutter-free home correlates with improved mental wellness and lower stress levels. Eliminating unnecessary items can foster a greater sense of control, peace, and order in your life and environment.

Reduce Asthma Symptoms with a Clean Home

Cleaning can help remove indoor allergens like pet dander and dust mites, which can worsen asthma symptoms. Removing indoor allergens like pet dander and dust mites can significantly improve respiratory symptoms for sensitive individuals. Wearing a mask during cleaning can further protect against inhaling these irritants.

A Cleaner Space Can Boost Productivity

A less cluttered home, particularly a home office, can lead to increased productivity. Research published in the International Journal of Psychological Research and Reviews suggests that individuals working in tidy spaces experience better decision-making, less emotional exhaustion, and reduced job-related stress, ultimately contributing to improved work performance.

Tidy Space, Healthier Food Choices

Interestingly, the state of your environment might even influence your dietary choices. A study published in the Psychology Science indicates that individuals in orderly spaces are more inclined to choose healthier snacks, suggesting a link between a clean environment and a greater propensity for making positive health decisions.

Minimize Indoor Allergies Through Cleaning

While cleaning won't eliminate outdoor pollen, it's crucial for managing indoor allergies. Removing allergens like dust mites and pet dander can significantly alleviate symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes for allergy sufferers within the home.

Cleaning Can Burn Calories

Cleaning can contribute to your daily physical activity. Tasks like scrubbing floors and washing windows can burn a noticeable amount of calories. More vigorous cleaning activities, such as yard work, can provide an even more significant calorie expenditure.

The light exercise involved in cleaning can be good for your heart health. The American Heart Association recommends it as a way to get active. Furthermore, research suggests that regular housework is linked to a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, potentially contributing to longevity.

Dementia is a condition that devastates many people across the globe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021, 57 million people had dementia worldwide and 60% of them were living in low and middle-income countries. Dementia is the result of various injuries to the brain, and it is the seventh leading cause of death globally.

While the symptoms of dementia are well-known and understood, a way to cure it has not been made yet. The risk factors include family history, lifestyle choices etc. So, there can be a touch and go reason as to why someone developed dementia. However, a new study has revealed a way to cut the risk of this condition.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, dementia can be influenced by several other issues like inflammation, thyroid problems etc. So, if one can control these issues, does that slash the risk of dementia?

A study published in the Nature Medicine April 2025 has discovered that if people take steps to get their high blood pressure under better control, they might be able to lower their chances of developing dementia quite a bit – by as much as 15%. What's interesting is that this study also found that making two specific changes to what people eat can play a big part in achieving this lower risk. This suggests that managing blood pressure isn't just about taking medicine; what we eat every day can also have a significant impact on protecting our brains from dementia later in life.

How Did The Study Find This?

Researchers conducted a study over four years with a large group of people living in rural parts of China. They included almost 34,000 adults who were 40 years old or older. The researchers divided these people into two groups. One group, with about 17,400 people, received special help to manage their high blood pressure.

This help included getting blood pressure medication, learning how to check their blood pressure at home, and getting advice on how to live a healthier lifestyle, like losing weight, eating less salty food, and drinking less alcohol. The other group just received the usual medical care for their blood pressure.

The people who received the more intense help to manage their blood pressure not only had a 15% lower chance of being diagnosed with dementia during the four years of the study, but they also had a 16% lower chance of experiencing cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment means having difficulties with important brain functions like thinking clearly, remembering things, and solving everyday problems. This shows that really focusing on getting high blood pressure under control can have a big impact on protecting people's brain health and reducing their risk of these serious conditions.

Why Do Researchers Want People To Make This Change Worldwide?

In their report, they strongly suggested that the methods they used in the study – which included medication and lifestyle advice – should be used more widely across the world. They believe that if more people with high blood pressure received this kind of comprehensive care, it could significantly reduce the number of people who develop dementia globally, which is a huge concern for public health.