A common nighttime habit that many men overlook could potentially be a warning sign of prostate cancer, a deadly disease affecting approximately 55,000 men in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK. Prostate cancer primarily impacts the prostate gland, a small, walnut-sized organ that sits below the bladder and surrounds the urethra. Symptoms typically only emerge once the tumour has grown enough to exert pressure on the urethra, making early detection crucial.

Dr. Jiri Kubes, a radiation oncologist at the Proton Therapy Centre, while getting up to urinate during the night, known as nocturia, is a common occurrence as men age, sudden changes in urinary habits should not be ignored. "If you notice changes to your toilet habits, such as a new need to empty your bladder more often, then it’s always worth getting checked out," he advises.

Nocturia Itself Isn't A Cause Of Concern

Nocturia itself is not always a cause for concern, as it can be linked to various benign conditions, including benign prostate enlargement, a non-cancerous increase in the size of the prostate gland. However, Dr. Kubes emphasises that other symptoms, such as difficulty starting to pee, a weak urine flow, straining during urination, or feeling as if the bladder has not fully emptied, could indicate a more serious issue.

"The same goes for any other changes in urinary habits that are unusual for you," he notes. "It's always a good idea to discuss these changes with your doctor so they can investigate the cause and rule out something sinister." Men over the age of 50 are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, particularly those with a family history of the disease or those from the Black community. Dr. Kubes urges men to be vigilant about any changes in their urinary patterns and to seek medical advice promptly.

While nocturia may simply be a part of ageing, persistent or worsening symptoms could be a signal that something more serious is at play. Early detection and intervention remain key to effective treatment and better outcomes for prostate cancer patients.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when malignant cells form in the prostate gland, which is a walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer treatment guidelines have shifted their path a bit in recent years, with many men opting for active surveillance rather than immediate treatment for slow-growing tumours. However, about 50% of men on "watchful waiting" will require further treatment within 5 years because of the tumour progression. This is what triggered many researchers to aim and identify whether dietary modifications, specifically increasing omega-3 fatty acids, could prolong this surveillance period and slow down the tumour progression.

Prostate cancer that's more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:

• Trouble urinating
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the semen
• Bone pain
• Losing weight without trying
• Erectile dysfunction

Prostate cancer treatment and management vary based on the stage and severity of the disease. Early-stage cancer may be monitored through active surveillance, involving regular check-ups without immediate intervention. More advanced cases may require surgery to remove the prostate gland, radiation therapy to target cancer cells, or hormone therapy to reduce testosterone levels that fuel cancer growth. Chemotherapy and targeted drug therapies may also be employed in metastatic cases. Lifestyle modifications, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management, can support overall health during treatment. Early detection and timely intervention significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV continues to remain a major global public health issue, and has claimed an estimated of 42.3 million lives to this date, notes the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite its prevalence, there are many myths associated with the condition. While it is a fact that HIV is spread from body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids, it is not spread through saliva.

Why Can't You Spread HIV With Saliva?

As per the 1999 study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, titled Why is HIV rarely transmitted by oral secretions? Saliva can disrupt orally shed, infected leukocytes, notes that oral transmission of HIV by the millions of HIV-infected individuals are a rare event.

Another 2006 review, published in journal Oral Diseases, titled Oral Transmission of HIV, reality or fiction? An update, notes that HIV and many other viruses can be isolated in blood and body fluids, including saliva, and can be transmitted by genital-genital and especially anal-genital sexual activity. The risk of transmission of HIV via oral sexual practices is very low. Unlike other mucosal areas of the body, the oral cavity appears to be an extremely uncommon transmission route for HIV.

Why Saliva Is Not An HIV Carrier?

Saliva contains several proteins and enzymes that serve various functions, including beginning the digestion process, assisting in mouth lubrication and fighting off germs.

Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an enzyme found in saliva, mucus, and seminal fluid. It helps protect the immune system by preventing HIV from infecting monocytes and T cells, two types of white blood cells.

Saliva thus also contain higher levels of SLPI than vaginal and rectal fluids. This could be the reason why HIV does not spread while kissing.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person cannot transmit HIV through saliva or closed-mouth kissing. However, CDC also notes that in extremely rare cases, a person can transmit HIV through “deep, open-mouth kissing if both partners have sores or bleeding gums and blood from the HIV-positive partner gets into the bloodstream of the HIV-negative partner.”

Other bodily fluids that do not transmit HIV include sweat and tears.

Examples of What Won't Spread HIV?

• Kissing
• Sharing food or drinks
• Using the same bathrooms
• Touching and shaking hands

So, How Does HIV Spread?

HIV is transmitted through certain body fluids, particularly when they come into contact with mucous membranes, broken skin, or are directly injected into the bloodstream. Here’s how it can spread:

• Unprotected sex – HIV can be passed through vaginal, anal, or oral sex without the use of protection.
• Blood transfusions – Though rare today due to rigorous screening, it remains a possible route.
• Sharing needles – People who use injectable drugs face a high risk if they share needles or syringes.
• Mother-to-child transmission – The virus can be transmitted during childbirth or through breastfeeding.

Certain behaviors and situations can raise the risk of HIV transmission. Being aware of them can help you take effective preventive steps:

• Unprotected sex – Not using condoms during sexual activity increases the risk.
• Sharing needles – Using or sharing contaminated needles can transmit the virus.
• Multiple sexual partners – Having several partners can heighten exposure to HIV.
• Being born to an HIV-positive mother – The virus can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.

Weight loss has expanded beyond the traditional diet and exercise. While many continue with the traditional methods, others have switched to GLP-1 medications. Yet, there is a third group of people who are opting for this third option—weight loss patches. These transdermal patches claim to help you shed pounds by delivering fat-burning ingredients directly to your skin. However, experts caution that they may not be as effective—or safe—as advertised.

Dr Jorge Moreno, an internal medicine physician at Yale Medicine, warns that weight loss patches are not FDA-regulated, making it impossible to know exactly what's inside them. While some patches use transdermal absorption to bypass the digestive system, delivering ingredients like green tea extract or Japanese mint, the effectiveness of these products is still minimal.

What Is The Composition Of Weight Loss Patches?

These patches often contain ingredients like green tea extract, which may boost metabolism slightly, and green coffee bean extract, which can help reduce weight when consumed orally in larger doses over extended periods. However, there is little evidence that these ingredients work effectively through patches. Other common ingredients, such as Hokuto mint and bitter orange extract, have limited or no proven impact on weight loss.

Moreover, studies on weight loss patches are still in the early stages, with limited evidence supporting their efficacy in humans. A 2024 study published in the journal ACS Nano developed a biodegradable hyaluronic acid microneedle patch loaded with polydopamine nanoparticles and mirabegron. In obese mice, the patch promoted browning of white adipose tissue through mild photothermal therapy, resulting in approximately 22% weight loss after treatment. However, clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of weight loss patches in humans are lacking, and most claims are based on ingredients like garcinia cambogia and green coffee bean extract, which have shown minimal effects in oral form. Regulatory agencies, such as the FTC, have taken action against companies making unsubstantiated claims about these patches.

Weight Loss Patches Can Lead To Side Effects

The real concern, however, lies in the potential side effects. Dr Dina Peralta-Reich, an obesity medicine specialist, points out that these patches can cause nausea, headaches, and skin irritation. Worse, without regulation, there's no way to guarantee the safety or dosage of the ingredients, potentially leading to dangerous side effects.

Despite the hype around weight loss patches, health experts warn that these products won't lead to significant weight loss. A combination of consistent exercise and healthy eating is still the most reliable approach. Ultimately, while weight loss patches may seem tempting, experts recommend sticking to proven methods like balanced diets, exercise, and professional guidance from your doctor.

Ever wondered why we feel exhausted after work? Does your post-work schedule also encompass hours of endless scrolling? Do you also feel like lying on your couch and doing nothing? If yes, then you aren't alone. Thousands of people across the world feel the same. Many of them want to play with their pets, solve a puzzle or paint a portrait; however, as soon as they return from office, they feel a drain of energy.

As per experts, this end-of-day exhaustion is a specific kind of tiredness tied to the mental and emotional strain of work, not necessarily the tasks themselves, but the constant switching between demands, decisions and yes, meetings. Health experts describe it as something called cognitive fatigue.

Let's Understand What Exactly Is Cognitive Fatigue

Cognitive fatigue is the deterioration in the ability to effectively and focus effectively. It is primarily caused by prolonged mental work. Many workers might spend their days completing a lot of tasks that aren't urgent or necessary, but do create lots of vacuums of time and mental energy to respond to. Cognitive fatigue occurs when we make many more micro decisions in the day than we need to, and there are so many different touch points that grab our attention in an office. These could be noise, colleagues, phones, Slack or meetings.

Also, not moving our bodies can be more draining than moving them throughout the day, as our bodies are meant to move naturally. Therefore, people with sedentary jobs or back-to-back meetings with little time in between will be the ones most affected by this.

According to psychologists, cognitive fatigue may have multiple symptoms. Some indicators include the following:

• Difficulty concentrating and staying focused when performing tasks, making decisions, and following conversations
• A longer time is necessary to complete mental tasks that someone typically performs quickly
• Manifestation of forgetfulness and difficulty recalling information or events
• Reduced ability to solve complex problems or think critically
• Limited creativity
• More frequent mistakes