There’s a common belief that men avoid the doctor at all costs—particularly the dreaded annual exam. Seeing a health care provider (HCP) regularly is key to staying healthy and catching any serious issues early. But you also need to make sure you’re getting the most out of your exams, which means asking the right questions and bringing any concerning symptoms to your doctor’s attention.

What can I do to prevent future health problems?

This question can break the ice between you and your doctor and can prompt them to start a conversation about healthy lifestyle behaviors. Remember, the purpose of an annual exam isn’t just to discuss what’s going wrong, because in many cases, especially if you’re still relatively young, you may not have any acute concerns.

What should I do for my heart health?

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death across the world. By bringing up this question, you are inviting your doctor to talk about your risk and assess your current cardiovascular health status.

Can we talk about my family history?

They also have a big impact on your health (not to mention your hairline). “Before your appointment, ask your parents what they know about illnesses that run in your family or what older relatives died from,” says Dr. Kiss. “For example, did your grandfather pass away from a heart attack at 49 even though he was the picture of health? That’s a risk factor for you to also have coronary heart disease.”

Can I tell you about change I've noticed recently during sex?

Let's face it. Sex is an awkward topic to talk about. However, your sexual function is an indicator of your overall health. "A decline in sexual function is associated with other problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, or medication side effects, so be open and talk to your doctor if you feel it’s harder to get an erection or maintain one," says Ernst von Schwarz, MD, a Los Angeles-based cardiologist.

Do I need this medication, or is there anything that I can try?

Sure, a prescription might be able to help a given issue, but always ask if there’s a non-medication approach you can take first. “Don’t be afraid to ask about alternatives,” says Dr. von Schwarz.

One of the most common viruses in the world, Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV is a member of the herpes virus family, also known as herpesvirus 4. Herpes viruses have been with humans for a very, very long time and have gotten good at living in our bodies. Once you get a herpes virus, it stays in your body forever. This means pretty much every adult has at least one type of these nine herpes viruses.

When you first get a herpes virus, you often don't even know it because you don't feel sick. After this first infection, the virus goes into a quiet stage where it's still there but not causing problems.

There are eight main types of herpes viruses that we know about. They are everywhere and are very good at living in us without causing too much trouble most of the time.

• Herpes simplex type I (HSV-1).
• Herpes simplex type II (HSV-2).
• Varicella-zoster virus (VZV/HHV-3).
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV/HHV-4).
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV/HHV-5).
• Herpesvirus type 6 (HBLV/HHV-6).
• Herpesvirus type 7 (HHV-7).
• Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV-8)

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention many people get infected with EBV in their lifetime especially in their childhood, however its symptoms are not distinguishable from other mild brief childhood illnesses.

While most cases of EBV do not cause any serious health issues, some strains of it like the Chronic Epstein-Bar Virus can cause serious health issues in people. A new study published in the BMC Virology Journal explained that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is now being seen as a germ that can cause a serious brain problem called encephalitis.

What Is Epstein Bar Virus (EBV)?

EBV is a highly contagious virus that can pass through bodily fluid contact. It is the cause of one of the most common infections, mononucleosis or mono. Once you get this virus, it stays in your body, inactive and in a dormant state until it becomes reactivated.

According to the Frontiers in Immunology, Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV) disease is a very uncommon problem where people's bodies can't fight off the EBV virus. It keeps getting worse, with a lot of the virus's DNA in their blood and the virus attacking their organs with infected blood cells.

People with this disease often have fevers, swollen glands, a big spleen, liver problems caused by EBV, or low blood counts. Over time, their body's ability to fight off infections gets weaker. If they don't get treatment, they can die from other infections, a problem where the body attacks its own blood cells, organ failure, or cancers linked to EBV.

The only treatment that has been proven to work for this disease is a stem cell transplant (a procedure to replace damaged blood cells with healthy ones). Right now, scientists are trying to figure out why this disease happens. They are looking at problems with the body's defense system (immune defects) and changes in people's genes that might be linked to the disease. A new study as also revealed that EBV may also cause us brain damage due to a disease called encephalitis.

Symptoms Of Epstein-Bar Virus

EBV infections do not cause symptoms especially for children, teens and adults are more likely to experience symptoms like fever, feeling tired or fatigued headache, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes in your neck and arm, enlarged spleen or swollen liver, body aches and skin rash. The symptoms of this usually last for two to four weeks. Things are a bit different with Chronic EBV. In rare cases of EBV, it can lead to a chronic condition called active EBV (CAEVB) some symptoms include, swollen and tender lymph nodes, fever, enlarged liver, fatigue, sore throat, headache, muscle pain joint stiffness, anemia and liver failure.

Can EBV Cause Brain Damage?

The study looked at all the people who were diagnosed with encephalitis at one hospital from June 2020 to April 2021. The researchers took information from the hospital's computer records. Then they used different math tests to compare the information from people who had EBV-related encephalitis with those who had encephalitis caused by other germs.

The study included 364 people with encephalitis. In 86 of these people (about 24%), EBV was found in the fluid around their brain and spinal cord (CSF). Out of those 86, 39 people were diagnosed with encephalitis that was definitely caused by EBV. The study found that EBV-related encephalitis is different from encephalitis caused by other herpes viruses.

People with EBV encephalitis had more protein in their CSF, less sugar in their CSF, and were more likely to have swelling around the brain (meningitis) show up on brain scans (MRI). The study also found that older age, having HIV, having a weakened immune system for reasons other than cancer, and having EBV in their blood made it more likely for EBV to infect their brain and spinal cord.

EBV encephalitis seems to be different from encephalitis caused by other herpes viruses. It often involves more swelling around the brain, more protein and less sugar in the brain fluid, and fewer of a certain type of immune cell (T-lymphocytes) in the blood. These differences suggest that EBV might cause brain swelling in a unique way compared to other herpes viruses.

Young people who have multiple symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are more likely to use nicotine through vaping, smoking, or other tobacco products. This has been revealed in a recent study which was published in JAMA Network Open. The research has also highlighted a worrying link between mental health and substance use among adolescents.

What Did The Study Find?

The study is led by Sean Esteban McCabe, an epidemiologist at the University of Michigan and analyzed the data from the Population Assessment of tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. This long-term research tracked 13,572 American adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 over a period of nine years. The study used annual surveys to gather information on tobacco use and ADHD symptoms.

The results showed that teens who exhibited three or more symptoms of ADHD had significantly higher adjusted odds of using nicotine-based products, compared to those with no symptoms. Interestingly, individuals with "asymptomatic" ADHD—meaning they had very mild or no noticeable symptoms—did not show higher odds of tobacco use compared to those in the control group.

Understanding ADHD and Nicotine Use

ADHD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental conditions in childhood. It is commonly characterized by difficulty in paying attention, controlling impulses, and, in some cases, excessive activity. While the symptoms vary in intensity, even a few persistent signs can have notable effects on a young person’s behavior and choices.

In this study, symptoms were assessed through questions like: “When was the last time that you did the following things two or more times… Felt restless or the need to run around or climb on things?” The more such symptoms a teenager reported, the higher their risk of using tobacco.

For example, the research found that teens with three to four ADHD symptoms were 60% more likely to vape than those with no ADHD symptoms.

Nicotine as a Form of Self-Medication?

One of the main reasons behind this pattern may be nicotine’s short-term effects on the brain. It can temporarily improve focus and alertness, which might appeal to individuals struggling with ADHD. “So people with ADHD might use tobacco to self-medicate,” McCabe explained to ScienceNews.

While this might offer a brief sense of relief, nicotine remains highly addictive and poses numerous health risks, especially to young, developing bodies and brains.

Implications for Parents and Public Health

These findings contribute to growing evidence that links psychological or mental health issues with substance use, including nicotine addiction. Past studies have also connected tobacco use with anxiety and depression.

McCabe emphasizes the importance of not overlooking ADHD symptoms in children. “This study suggests that if their symptoms of ADHD are controlled through therapy… or if the symptoms naturally dissipate, [kids] remain at lower risk for tobacco and nicotine and associated adverse outcomes,” he noted.

Although cigarette smoking has declined among teenagers in recent years, the popularity of vaping continues to rise. Marketed initially as a safer alternative, vaping has now been linked to several health concerns. Experts warn that it is far from harmless.

“Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death,” McCabe said. “Preventing tobacco use would be a powerful game changer for anyone — including those with ADHD.”

A wave of social media posts has sparked curiosity around a simple bedtime habit: switching off your Wi-Fi router at night. Some claim it boosts sleep quality, reduces headaches, and even improves mental clarity. But is there any science to back this? Here's what experts say happens when you turn off your Wi-Fi for seven nights in a row.

Does Wi-Fi Radiation Affect Your Body?

Wi-Fi routers emit non-ionising radiation — a low-level form of electromagnetic radiation (EMF) — that is widely considered safe under normal household exposure. Dr Hiran S. Reddy, consultant physician, diabetologist, and critical care specialist at Gleneagles Hospital, Hyderabad, who spoke to Indian Express said that for most people, turning off the router is unlikely to cause any physiological changes.

“WiFi devices emit low-level, non-ionising radiation, which current scientific consensus deems safe at everyday exposure levels,” he explained.

However, Dr Reddy noted that people who report heightened sensitivity to electromagnetic fields — a condition known as electromagnetic hypersensitivity — may experience perceived relief from symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. But clinical evidence for this condition remains inconclusive.

Is Sleep Impacted by Wi-Fi Signals?

Dr Sudhir Kumar, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, speaking to Indian Express told that most studies on Wi-Fi radiation have been conducted on animals. “There’s no conclusive evidence that Wi-Fi disrupts melatonin production from the pineal gland or interferes with human sleep,” he says.

He explains that Wi-Fi routers typically operate at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequencies, which emit far less energy than a mobile phone held close to the head. At common indoor distances (1–2 metres), the signal strength drops significantly, making it unlikely to influence melatonin or sleep in any measurable way.

The Real Sleep Disruptor: Screen Time

Interestingly, both doctors agree that if anything is affecting sleep, it’s likely the screen time, not the router itself. Blue light emitted from phones, tablets, and laptops interferes with the pineal gland and suppresses melatonin — the hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

“Disabling Wi-Fi might reduce digital engagement, particularly screen exposure late at night. That can indirectly improve melatonin production and sleep quality,” says Dr Reddy.

Better Sleep Hygiene, Not Less Radiation

While switching off your Wi-Fi router for seven nights won’t likely cause direct changes in your brain or body, it may lead to better bedtime routines. Less internet access could mean fewer late-night scrolls, reduced digital distractions, and an earlier wind-down — all of which support better sleep hygiene.

“Quality sleep enhances everything from mood and cognitive function to immune health,” Dr Reddy noted.

What Does The Study Say?

As per the 2020 study published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, titled: Spending the night next to a router – Results from the first human experimental study investigating the impact of Wi-Fi exposure on sleep, a night of Wi-Fi exposure doesn’t seem to cause sleep problems for healthy young men — but it might make very subtle changes in brain activity that scientists are still trying to understand.

How Was The Study Conducted?

Researchers studied how Wi-Fi exposure might affect sleep. They invited 34 healthy young men (average age around 24) to stay in a sleep lab for five nights. The first night helped them get used to the lab. Then, they had two test nights — each one following a “normal” night to compare results.

During the test nights, some participants were exposed to Wi-Fi signals (at 2.45 GHz, like your home router), while others got fake (sham) signals. The researchers didn’t tell the participants which one they were getting. Sleep was measured in two ways:

Subjective sleep: How well participants felt they slept (through a questionnaire).

Objective sleep: What actually happened in their brains and bodies during sleep (measured using special equipment called polysomnography).

What They Found

The Wi-Fi signals did not cause any major or noticeable effects on:

• How well participants thought they slept
• The general structure and stages of their sleep (called sleep macrostructure)

However, a detailed look at brain activity showed a small change:

There was a slight decrease in brain wave activity in the alpha frequency range (8–11.75 Hz) during deep (non-REM) sleep when Wi-Fi was on. This change is called a reduction in EEG alpha power.

What It Means

Wi-Fi signals didn’t seem to change how people felt they slept or the main parts of their sleep.

There was a small, measurable brain activity change, but it’s unclear if this has any real impact on health or sleep quality.