"As a health writer, I had often heard and written about postpartum depression, but it wasn’t until I experienced it myself after delivery that I truly understood its intensity. I had never felt so low and hopeless before. I found myself crying at the smallest things, and no amount of support from family and friends could lift my spirits. I spent my days in a deep, unshakable sadness, unable to feel the 'motherly' emotions I had expected towards my baby," shares journalist Kalpana Sharma.

A woman’s body changes every week. With the four phases of the menstrual cycle, a woman’s feelings, her body and her emotions are always changing. However, when a woman becomes a mother, her body experiences tremendous changes. Furthermore, the responsibility of being a new mom too could be overwhelming, leading to postpartum depression.

"You are three different persons when you are a mother"

“I am a very positive person. I know I can handle anything. So, when my friends would tell me their stories of postpartum, I would tell myself that I could handle it. I could talk myself out of it. But to my surprise, it was very difficult. My body and my mind went through so much,” says Akanksha Thapliyal, 34 from Siliguri, a creative consultant, who became a mother at 33.

Thapliyal shares that there were days when she would just cry, without even knowing the reason. At times, everyone felt like her enemy, including her husband.

A mother from East Tennessee, Tiffany Toombs Clevinger, now 39, shares she was 37 when she had her baby and her first feeling was, “Oh no, what did we just do?” She was in disbelief and did not know what to do to take care of her child.

Why were these mothers confronted by such feelings? The answer is postpartum depression. Postpartum is a phase after childbirth, where mothers go through physical changes. These physical changes in their bodies affect them mentally, the added responsibility of being a mother further makes this phase stressful and anxiety-stricken.

Dr Sushma Pampanavar, gyneacologist and obstetrician at the Iswarya Fertility and ICF Centre and a member of DocTube says that there are many physical effects of postpartum on a woman’s body. “There are uterine changes, which means the uterus expands during the pregnancy and begins to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size after childbirth. This may cause cramping.” Other effects include postpartum bleeding and discharge, also known as lochia, which goes on for a few weeks.

“Hormonal shifts, especially estrogen and progesterone drop rapidly after delivery, this can affect the mood,” she points out.

The body too begins to change its shape, breasts get engorged, nipples get sensitive, changes in pelvic floor also occur which may lead to urinary incontinence and discomfort.

All of these, combined with the added responsibility of being a mother is what causes postpartum depression or what is commonly known as ‘baby blues.’

“Your body goes through so many changes all at once. You are a different person when you are pregnant, a different person when you deliver and a different person a year later. You are three different persons when you are a mother,” says Thapliyal.

Impact Of Postpartum Depression

Sarah Fletcher, 49 from Blackpool UK, a hypnobirthing practitioner had her child when she was 25. She had severe anxiety and struggled to enjoy being a new mom. It affected her relationship with her partner and her child's behaviour.

“One day I had tormented him [partner] so badly that he was crying in a corner, begging me to stop. I was fearful, depressed, lonely and felt useless. This is reflected in my baby’s behaviour through him being unsettled, agitated and not sleeping,” she shares.

Dr Himanshu Nirvan, a psychiatrist at the Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences and (NIIMS) Hospital says that persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and irritability in mothers can lead to difficult bonding with the baby and “thoughts of harming oneself or the baby.”

If unaddressed, suggests Dr Nirvan, postpartum can potentially strain the mother-child relationship, leading to feelings of detachment, neglect or irritability.

Mother’s Guilt

The added responsibility of being a mother, and not being able to perform well as a mother too causes stress. Both Thapliyal and Clevinger share that they were not able to breastfeed their child. This made them feel useless and caused them to feel the mother’s guilt. This term refers to the feeling of shame and guilt that a mother feels when she thinks she is unable to live up to the standards of being a ‘good mother.’

“I struggled with breastfeeding, my body wasn’t doing what I wanted it to do. I was frustrated and I felt like a failure. I felt like I was not good enough,” shares Clevinger. She spiralled into anxiety and depression and lost the motivation to drive to work. This lasted for 20 months.

For Thapliyal, the feeling was the same. She went to her mother to seek her advice; however, she did not get any help. “My breasts would hurt, and my nipples were sore from breastfeeding. When I asked my mother, she told me that it was normal. But it is not. It was so painful that I could not breastfeed my child for two days,” she says.

This is when she finally reached out to a lactation expert and a counsellor. “Her name is Divya Kapoor. She helped me a lot through this phase. A lot of lactation experts or birth counsellors come from an empathetic background. Mostly because they did not have a great birthing or post-birthing experience. Divya struggled so she wanted it to be better for other mothers. She is now a doula,” shares Thapliyal.

Thapliyal has also shared her journey of motherhood in an attempt to help other new mothers in her podcast 'Manomanjan.'

The same is the story of Fletcher, who discovered neurolinguistic programming that helped her in her healing journey. She now teaches this to others and helps them with their mental well-being. As a hypnobirthing practitioner, she also supports women during the birthing process and helps them to keep a positive outlook.

Is Postpartum Just Limited To Mothers?

Sejal Malhotra (name changed), 24, an advocate from Delhi shares that she underwent the postpartum phase when she experienced a surgical abortion, last year September. “I went through an unplanned pregnancy and for the first 10 weeks, I did not realise I was pregnant. Complications arose and it was determined that the pregnancy needed to be terminated,” she shares.

The surgical abortion caused her body to react in ways akin to labour. “I endured pain, particularly in my vaginal area. Even doing simple activities like stretching, and sitting down, became a task, causing excruciating pain. The physical discomfort lingered for months. There was a complete loss of sexual desire, and this deeply affected my relationship with my husband,” she shares.

“Postpartum recovery can significantly impact a woman’s relationship with her partner, as both partners adjust to new roles and responsibilities. The physical, emotional, and psychological changes that occur during this period can strain intimacy and communication, but with understanding and effort, couples can navigate these changes effectively,” points out Dr Pampanavar

Malhotra also underwent hormonal shifts and experienced postpartum depression, leaving her feeling emotionally numb, feeling isolated and guilty for not being enough as a partner and a woman. There were days when she could not get out of her bed.

Gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr Avir Sarkar, Assistant Professor at NIIMS says, “Experiencing a pregnancy loss, whether through surgical abortion or delivering a stillborn baby due to miscarriage, can indeed lead to a complex and emotional postpartum experience for women.”

Dr Sarkar says that women still experience bleeding, hormonal shifts and other postpartum symptoms, along with the profound emotional impact of pregnancy loss.

“Allow yourself to grieve, express your emotions and seek support from loved ones and healthcare providers,” suggests Dr Sarkar.

For Malhotra, her partner gave her the support she needed. At times, she noticed her partner mirroring the same emotional signs as hers. She is now in therapy and is doing much better.

“Physical intimacy may change during postpartum,” suggests Dr Sarkar. Partners too show the same emotional signs as they also experience the secondhand pain of their partners.

Ways To Deal With Postpartum

“Joining new parent groups, seeking online forums, attending support groups, and connecting with other mothers can combat feelings of isolation,” says Dr Nirvan. Partners too can assist with childcare and share household tasks.

Dr Pampanavar says that self-care, rest, counselling and therapy are some of the ways one can heal through postpartum. Experts also suggest that allowing mothers the time to bond with their child also helps reduce the feeling of sadness.

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.

Sometimes serious health issues fail to get recognized due to their simple symptoms. Many times, things as simple as a persistent cough, or a fever, can end up being a sign of a concerning health issue. Since we deal with these issues on a daily basis, people often do not get them checked out by a doctor; instead, they choose to stay home and recuperate.

However, having information about the same goes a long way. Experts explain these symptoms and issues to people on various platforms, like social media or governmental portals. One such warning was issued by the National Health Service, England (NHS) about a common warning sign, that many people experience after eating.

NHS says this feeling of ‘heartburn’ could actually be one of the "least-recognised" signs that someone might have cancer. What's concerning is that a large majority of people in Britain, around 79% according to their findings, would not even think that this particular symptom could be a signal of a deadly disease growing inside their body. This lack of awareness means that crucial early warning signs could be easily overlooked, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment, which can have serious consequences for the outcome of the illness.

Heartburn Could Be A Serious Concern

A new survey that was carried out by NHS England revealed a worrying trend: many of the initial warning signs that could point towards cancer are being easily missed by the general public. One of the key examples they highlighted is heartburn and indigestion. These are feelings that a lot of people experience from time to time, often as a result of eating too much, eating their food too quickly, or consuming certain types of foods that don't agree with them.

However, the NHS experts are emphasizing that heartburn that persists for a period of three weeks or even longer could be an early indication of oesophageal cancer. This is a particularly dangerous form of cancer that sadly leads to the deaths of around 8,000 people in the United Kingdom every single year, making early detection absolutely vital for improving survival rates.

Recognizing Changed Signs

To get a better understanding of what the public knows about cancer symptoms, NHS England conducted a survey that involved a significant number of people, around 2,000 individuals in total. The results of this survey were quite revealing. They found that heartburn, specifically heartburn that lasts for three weeks or more, was the cancer symptom that people were least likely to recognize as a potential warning sign.

Eight out of every ten people who were surveyed, which translates to 79% of the participants, did not identify this persistent heartburn as something that could possibly indicate cancer. However, heartburn wasn't the only symptom that wasn't widely recognized. The survey also showed that more than half of the people didn't recognize blood in their urine (even if it happened just once), nearly half didn't recognize unexplained weight loss, and over four in ten people didn't recognize an unexplained lump anywhere on their body as a potential sign of cancer.

Signs You Should Not Ignore

NHS England advises contacting your doctor if you notice any of the following: lumps, changes in moles, blood in poo or pee, unusual bleeding, a cough lasting three weeks or more, mouth sores that don't heal, tummy trouble, unexplained tiredness, ongoing heartburn, unusual poo, unexplained pain, or bloating.

Other less common signs of oesophageal cancer include trouble swallowing, feeling sick, a persistent cough, a hoarse voice, loss of appetite or weight loss without trying, tiredness, throat or chest pain when swallowing, and black poo or coughing up blood.

When Todd Engel, based in Maryland, first noticed a change in his vision, he did not think it would change the rest of his life. However, within months, the 62-year-old went from working a full-time job and driving to becoming legally blind in both eyes. Now, Engel is suing Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic - the drug he believes took away his vision.

An Irreversible Loss

Engel was prescribed Ozempic in 2023 to help manage his type 2 diabetes. After four months later, he was diagnosed with nonarthritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). It is a rare condition where blood flow to the optic nerve is blocked and causes sudden and irreversible vision loss.

"He made a comment to me about how it’s painful to know he’s never going to see his wife smile again," said Engel’s attorney Jonathan Orent, who spoke to NBC News. "But he knows her voice so well, he can tell when she is smiling."

As per the American Academy of Ophthalmology, NAION affects about 10 in every 100,000 people over the age of 50. For Engel, the diagnosis meant that he no longer would work his job as a motor equipment operator. He also lost his ability to drive and the way he connects with his family.

What Does His Lawsuit Allege?

Filed in New Jersey’s Middlesex County Superior Court, the lawsuit accuses Novo Nordisk of negligence, alleging the pharmaceutical giant failed to properly warn users about the potential risk of NAION. Engel's legal team argues that the company was aware of the condition during early clinical trials but still chose not to include it in the warning label.

“Nothing was or is stopping Defendant from adding a warning regarding the risk of NAION,” the lawsuit states.

Had Engel known about a potential link between Ozempic and blindness, Orent said, he would have chosen a different medication. “There are a wide number of medications that can be used to treat diabetes — and treat it effectively,” Orent said to NBC News.

What Do Research Say About Ozempic And Blindness?

Ozempic, and its active ingredient semaglutide, is part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, initially designed to treat Type 2 diabetes but now widely used for weight loss. Recent studies have hinted at a possible link between semaglutide and NAION — though causation hasn’t been confirmed.

A 2024 study which analyzed six years of medical records from Boston patients found that people with diabetes who took semglutide were four times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION.

Even more striking, overweight or obese people without diabetes who took the drug were over seven times more likely to be diagnosed with NAION.

However, researchers noted this study wasn’t a randomized clinical trial and said more investigation is needed before drawing conclusions.

In February 2024, a separate paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology reported a more modest increase in the risk of NAION for people with diabetes on Ozempic. Like the earlier study, it also stressed the need for further research.

What Do The Manufacturers Say?

Novo Nordisk's spokeperson told the NBC News that current evaluations, including internal safety reviews and a study from the University of Southern Denmark found no causal relationship between NAION and Ozempic.

The company said that NAION is not listed as an adverse drug reaction. “This also relates to eye conditions, which are well-known comorbidities for people living with diabetes,” the spokesperson said.