Knowing about several conditions and diseases may not seem like a feasible thing to do for many people, but knowledge does come with power. Knowing signs and symptoms of certain diseases can help you tackle them early on. While many people know what insomnia, vertigo etc. are, only a quarter of them are aware of these particular diseases which is responsible for two of the most common issues, malnutrition and pneumonia.

Dysphagia, which is a condition that makes it difficult to swallow, is much more common than you may think. Published in the Dysphagia journal, this study wanted to see how much people really know about dysphagia compared to other health issues. They found that even though lots of folks struggle with swallowing problems, they don’t know the name of the problem or what it causes. The study showed that 99% of the participants knew about insomnia, 87% knew about Vertigo, but only 25% knew about dysphagia

This lack of knowledge is a big deal because it means people might not get the help they need.

What Is Dysphagia?

Dysphagia is a scientific term used for trouble swallowing. The Cleveland Clinic explains that it happens when something goes wrong with the muscles or nerves you use to move food and drinks from your mouth to your stomach. Sometimes, it's a problem with the shape of your throat or esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. When you can't swallow properly, food can go down the wrong way, into your lungs. This can cause a serious lung infection called pneumonia. Cleveland clinic explains that it increases the risk of pneumonia because it can lead to aspiration, where food, liquid, or saliva enters the lungs instead of the digestive tract, causing infection and inflammation.

The Frontiers in Neurology 2022 study found that people who had dysphagia after a stroke were 10 times more likely to get pneumonia. Dysphagia also causes malnutrition as it makes it harder to consume enough food and fluids, potentially leading to reduced appetite, fear of eating, and a decreased enjoyment of meals, ultimately impacting nutritional intake.

Is This A New Issue?

To double-check what people said in the survey, the researchers looked at the records of millions of patients in hospitals. They found that dysphagia was written down in many more records than vertigo. Insomnia was the most common problem, but dysphagia was still a big issue. This means that a lot of people go to the doctor because they’re having trouble swallowing. The records back up the survey: lots of people have dysphagia. It's important to know about this problem because it affects many lives.

Is Dysphagia A Symptom or A Condition

The Cleveland Clinic explains that dysphagia a symptom of various health issues. These problems might involve your brain and nerves, your muscles, or something physically blocking your throat. To help with swallowing difficulties, doctors may prescribe medicine, suggest changes to how you eat, or perform certain procedures.

Why Should More People Know About This?

The researchers who did this study hope that more people will learn about dysphagia. They want doctors and nurses to know more about it, too. They think that if we talk about it more, people who have trouble swallowing will get help sooner. They want more money to be spent on research to find better ways to treat it. Furthermore, they want everyone to have access to good healthcare, so no one has to suffer because they can’t swallow properly. It’s important to spread the word so people get the help they need

Known as the last stage of the reproductive years for a woman, menopause is a normal part of aging for women. While some women have no symptoms or mild symptoms of menopause, others can face issues like hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, joint and muscle discomfort, moodiness and irritability, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, or a combination of these.

One other factor of this issue is isolation, as people are not aware of most of these issues. According to the Society for Women’s Health Research, 34% women are not diagnosed with the symptoms of menopause and do not know when they are going through it. 20% of them go through 12 months before their transition through menopause is formally identified by their healthcare providers as well.

As such, many of them are unaware of certain things like what issues that could be facing, and what can make their symptoms better. A new survey commissioned by the Vitabiotics Menopace vitamins showed that women are tackling menopause with are not letting menopause hamper their health or hobbies.

How Do Hobbies Help Women With Menopause?

The research highlighted that a significant portion of these women – one in four – were motivated to take up a new activity primarily to focus on their health and overall wellbeing during menopause. Furthermore, one in five sought these new pursuits as a way to cope with stress or anxiety, demonstrating a proactive approach to managing the emotional aspects of this life stage.

Beyond health benefits, starting new activities has had a positive impact on women's self-esteem. Eleven percent of respondents reported an increase in their confidence, with some even feeling empowered to make career changes. The study also identified additional benefits, such as a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of continued independence, and the joy of having something exciting to anticipate.

What Does Dealing With Menopause Look Like?

According to the Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal feeling strong and in control during menopause can help women see this time in a better way and take good care of themselves. It's important to help women understand menopause better and learn how to deal with it, maybe through special programs.

Most of the things that have been done to help women with menopause are about teaching them things, getting them to move more, eating healthy food, managing stress, being healthy in general, and trying to stop certain diseases and weak bones. Teaching women about their health is one way to help them feel better about menopause and learn how to deal with the changes. This is part of helping women stay healthy overall.

Helping women feel strong and in control during menopause is important for their health as they get older. It can also help them enjoy this later part of their lives. What we found in this study can help people do more research on how to keep women healthy and feeling empowered during menopause.

Exercises That Can Alleviate Menopausal Symptoms

Cardio

Do things like fast walking, running a little, riding a bike, or swimming. These get your heart going and can help you feel less stressed during menopause. Start easy and do it for longer as you get stronger.

Strength Training

After menopause, your bones can get weaker, so it's good to lift weights or use stretchy bands. This helps your bones and muscles get stronger and can also help you burn fat.

Yoga

Yoga and just relaxing can help with menopause feelings. Slow, gentle yoga moves can make you feel less tense and more peaceful in your mind.

Dancing

If you don't like running, try dancing! It's good for your muscles, keeps you flexible, and gives you energy. There are lots of different kinds of dancing to try.

Elliptical and StairMaster

These machines can give you a good workout without being too hard on your body. The elliptical is easier on your knees than running.

Zumba

Zumba is a fun dance workout with Latin music that lots of people like. It helps you burn energy and move your muscles.

Active Chores at Home and in the Yard

Doing harder chores like gardening can also be exercise! It gets your heart rate up and uses big muscles in your legs and middle. Start easy and do more as it gets easier.

Vitamin D—also known as the sunshine vitamin—is one of the most important nutrients we need. While it is widely available in the form of sunlight, some people who get less exposure to it opt for foods rich in this nutrient (like seaweeds) or resort to supplements.

However, for those taking it directly from the sun, it does not mean directly standing in the sun. To get Vitamin D, it requires a proper time and exposure to certain parts of the body to sunlight. For the uninitiated, Vitamin D is synthesised from cholesterol on your skin when it is exposed to the sun.

What Is The Best Time?

Expose your skin to the sun in the middle of the day, particularly in summer. At noon, the sun is at its highest point, and its UVB rays (UV rays with shorter wavelengths) are most intense. That means you need less time in the sun to make sufficient vitamin D.

There is empirical evidence that supports it. A study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, investigated the best times for sun exposure to boost vitamin D levels. Researchers exposed ampoules containing a vitamin D precursor to sunlight hourly from sunrise to sunset in July and December. They found that in summer, the optimal time for vitamin D production was from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with peak hours between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. In winter, the window narrowed to 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM, with peak production also between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. The study concluded that the best time for sun exposure in Riyadh during summer is from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM and after 2:00 PM, while in winter, it’s from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This approach is a cost-effective and enjoyable way to prevent vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D Is Synthesised By Cholesterol In Your Skin

Vitamin D is made from cholesterol in the skin. That means you need to expose lots of skin to the sunlight to make enough. Some scientists recommend exposing around a third of the area of your skin to the sun. The British Skin Foundation recommends daily sunlight exposure of 10-15 minutes for lighter skin and 25-40 minutes for darker skin.

Why Are So Many Indians Vitamin D Deficient?

• Low sun exposure due to urban living, pollution, and indoor lifestyles.
• Dietary gaps, with many people unable to afford Vitamin D-rich foods like fish, eggs, and fortified dairy.
• Dark skin tones which need more sun exposure to produce Vitamin D naturally.
• Cultural clothing and sunscreen use, which reduce the skin’s ability to absorb UVB rays.
• High testing and supplement costs, further worsened by 18% GST on supplements.
• Rising obesity and chronic diseases which interfere with Vitamin D metabolism.

Thousands of people struggle to sleep across the world. A survey of 45,202 young adults in Norway has discovered that screen-scrolling in bed drives up your risk of insomnia by 59 per cent and cuts your sleep time by 24 minutes. Scientists have found another reason to put the phone down: a survey of 45,202 young adults in Norway has discovered that using a screen in bed drives up your risk of insomnia by 59% and cuts your sleep time by 24 minutes. However, social media was not found to be more disruptive than other screen activities.

"The type of screen activity does not appear to matter as much as the overall time spent using screens in bed,” said Dr Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, lead author of the article in Frontiers in Psychiatry. “We found no significant differences between social media and other screen activities, suggesting that screen use itself is the key factor in sleep disruption — likely due to time displacement, where screen use delays sleep by taking up time that would otherwise be spent resting.”

Sleep is critical to our mental and physical health, but many of us don’t get enough. At the same time, an increasing number of people are accustomed to using screens in bed, which may be associated with poor sleep. Screen use is thought to impact sleep in four ways: notifications disturb sleep, screen time replaces sleeping time, screen activities keep you wakeful so you take longer to fall asleep, or light exposure delays circadian rhythms.

"Sleep problems are highly prevalent among students and have significant implications for mental health, academic performance, and overall well-being, but previous studies have primarily focused on adolescents,” said Hjetland. “Given the widespread use of screens in bed we aimed to explore the relationship between different screen activities and sleep patterns. We expected that social media use might be more strongly associated with poorer sleep, given its interactive nature and potential for emotional stimulation.”

The findings of this study suggest that it’s not just the content that keeps people awake but the overall duration of screen exposure before bedtime. When people spend prolonged hours scrolling through screens, they might not only be reducing their sleep window but also disrupting their sleep cycles. This can have a cascading effect on overall health, affecting mood, concentration, and even immunity.

Reducing screen time before bed could be a simple yet effective strategy to enhance sleep quality. Setting a digital curfew, using blue light filters, and engaging in relaxing bedtime routines like reading a book or practicing mindfulness can help counteract the negative impact of screens. Sleep experts also recommend creating a sleep-conducive environment by dimming the lights and avoiding stimulating activities at least an hour before bedtime.

With screen usage becoming a significant part of modern life, it’s essential to be mindful of how digital habits influence sleep patterns. The consequences of chronic sleep deprivation extend beyond feeling tired the next day — they can increase the risk of mental health issues, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders. By taking small steps to reduce screen time in bed, individuals can make significant improvements to their sleep health and overall well-being.