A 30-year-old man, let's call him Satvik, came to see a doctor with a very private and worrying problem. Dr Sudhir Kumar MD, a neurologist, shared this interesting case on the social media platform X. He explains how the problem had left Satvik feeling anxious and embarrassed, however, it wasn’t just his health, but this problem had left his marital life in disarray.

For the past two months, Satvik had started experiencing a mysterious symptom, which was causing him a lot of pain. He had been getting a severe headache every time he was about to have an orgasm. The pain would last for hours afterward and was so bad that he started avoiding intimacy with his wife. His wife, confused and hurt, began to worry about their marriage, wondering if he was no longer attracted to her or if he was seeing someone else.

“By the time Satvik came to see me, their relationship was under silent strain.” The mysterious headaches had driven a wedge in their relationship, so they sought the help of Dr. Sudhir But was it something that only happened to him or was it a condition that was causing him pain?

Can Sex/Orgasm Cause You Headaches?

Dr. Sudhir, who had seen this before, suspected a condition called Headache Associated with Sexual Activity (HSA). To be safe, he ordered a brain scan to rule out any serious issues like a bleed in the brain, fortunately the scan came back to normal.

The doctor explained that HSA is a recognized and treatable medical condition. Since Satvik's headaches weren't happening very often, he was advised to simply take a tablet about an hour before intimacy.

Six weeks later, Satvik returned to the clinic with his wife, and they were both beaming. "You not only cured my headaches," he said, "you saved our marriage."

What Can Causes Headaches After Sex?

According to Mayo Clinic, a headache can sometimes strike during or after sexual activity. This is a recognized medical condition, and it's more common than you might think. These headaches can appear in a couple of ways: as a dull ache in the head and neck that gets worse with excitement, or as a sudden, severe, throbbing headache that hits just before or at the moment of orgasm. Some people experience both types.

These headaches usually last for a few minutes but can sometimes go on for hours or even days. They often happen in "clusters" over a few months and then may disappear for a year or more. For some people, it's a one-time event.

Any type of sexual activity leading to an orgasm can trigger a sex headache. While most cases are not linked to a serious condition, those that come on suddenly are more likely to be caused by an underlying medical issue.

Men are more likely to experience these headaches than women, and people who have a history of migraines are also at a higher risk.

Important Lessons to Learn from Such Cases

This story offers some important lessons for everyone:

It's a Real Condition: Headaches related to sex might sound strange or even embarrassing, but they are a legitimate medical condition.

Don't Ignore It: If you experience a sudden and severe headache during intimacy, especially for the first time, you should always see a doctor. It's important to rule out more serious causes, even though they are rare.

Treatment Works: With the correct diagnosis and treatment, these headaches can be managed, and most people recover completely.

For medical professionals, this case highlights the importance of ruling out serious conditions first, making a proper diagnosis, and then providing effective treatment. A simple, empathetic explanation can also go a long way in calming a patient's anxiety, sometimes even more so than the medication itself.

For the very first time, there are now more kids around the world who are overweight or obese than there are who are underweight. A new report from UNICEF, an organization that works for children, shared this news. It says that 1 in 10 children aged 5 to 19—that's 188 million kids—are now living with obesity. This puts them at a higher risk of getting serious health problems later in life.

The report looked at information from over 190 countries and found that since the year 2000, the number of underweight children has gone down, but the number of kids with obesity has gone up by a lot. This is happening in almost every part of the world, except for a couple of regions in Africa and Asia.

What Is Causing The Rise In Obesity?

UNICEF's report highlights that this rise in obesity is not a matter of personal choice but is driven by unhealthy food environments. Ultra-processed and fast foods are now everywhere—in stores, schools, and online, thanks to powerful digital advertising that targets young people.

For example, a global poll found that 75% of young people recalled seeing ads for sugary drinks and fast food in just one week. This kind of marketing makes them want to eat these unhealthy foods more. These foods are high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and salt, and are replacing the nutritious foods children need to grow and develop.

Some countries are taking action. In Mexico, where processed foods make up 40% of children's daily calories, the government has banned the sale of these items in public schools, which will benefit over 34 million children.

How Can We Lower The Risk Of Global Obesity?

The economic and health costs of this trend are staggering. If we don't act, the global cost of being overweight and obese is expected to exceed $4 trillion annually by 2035. To fight this growing problem, UNICEF is urging governments and other organizations to take immediate action:

Better Food Policies

Governments should create mandatory policies to improve children's diets. This includes clear food labels so families know what's in their food, restricting how junk food is advertised to kids, and using taxes or financial support to make healthy food more affordable.

Encourage Healthier Choices

We need to launch initiatives that teach families and communities to demand and support healthier food options. By empowering people to make better choices, we can build a culture where nutritious eating is the standard, not the exception, in every neighborhood.

Ban Junk Food in Schools

Schools must become safe havens for healthy eating. This means completely stopping the sale of ultra-processed foods and junk food on school grounds. We also need to ban food companies from marketing their products or sponsoring any school events.

Protect Public Health

It's crucial to set up strong rules to protect public health policies from being influenced by big food companies. These safeguards will ensure that government decisions about what kids eat are based on science and public well-being, not corporate profit.

Help Vulnerable Families

We must expand financial aid programs to help families with low incomes afford healthy and nutritious food. By addressing poverty and increasing access to good food, we can ensure every child has the foundation they need for a healthy life.

Global warming is changing how diseases spread, and dengue fever is a prime example. Once mostly found in tropical areas, this mosquito-borne illness could increase by as much as 76% in parts of Asia and the Americas by 2050.

This is according to a new, comprehensive study that found that even small increases in temperature are significantly boosting the disease's spread. The research provides the first direct evidence that a warming climate has already made dengue more widespread.

Dengue fever can cause flu-like symptoms, and without proper care, it can lead to severe bleeding and even organ failure.

What Does "Goldilocks Zone" for Dengue Mean?

Mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus do best in a certain temperature range. The number of dengue cases is highest when the temperature is around 82°F. This "Goldilocks Zone" means that a small rise in temperature can cause a big increase in the disease. For example, places that were once too cool for dengue are now becoming perfect for it, leading to a big increase in cases in countries like Mexico, Peru, and Brazil.

The study found that climate change was responsible for an extra 4.6 million dengue infections each year between 1995 and 2014. Depending on how much more the planet warms, cases could go up by another 49% to 76% by 2050.

How Can We Protect Our Health From Rising Dengue?

With warmer weather and the monsoon season, there's a sharp rise in diseases like dengue and malaria, as well as viral fevers and respiratory infections. According to Dr. Neha Sharma, Attending Consultant at Fortis Hospital, these illnesses can severely affect vital organs. For example, dengue can harm the liver and platelets, while untreated malaria may damage the kidneys and brain. Dr. Sharma advises people to be aware of the early symptoms, such as:

• Persistent high fever
• Severe body ache and rashes
• Sudden fatigue or unexplained vomiting
• Sudden breathlessness or a drop in urine output

If you experience these symptoms for more than 48 hours, she recommends getting blood tests like a CBC, dengue NS1, and malaria antigen test to get an early diagnosis. Other important diagnostic tools include a chest X-ray and an ultrasound of the abdomen. She also highlights crucial precautions that are often overlooked:

• Avoid walking in floodwaters to prevent infections like leptospirosis.
• Regularly clean AC filters and damp areas to stop bacterial and fungal growth.
• Stay well-hydrated, as dehydration can worsen these infections.
• Do not self-medicate with painkillers or antibiotics, as this can hide symptoms and lead to worse complications.

How Can Be Combat Illnesses Like Dengue On A Global Scale

The researchers say their estimates are likely on the conservative side, as they don't include data from large areas like India or Africa where detailed information is hard to get. The recent appearance of dengue cases in parts of the U.S. and Europe shows that the disease is already expanding its reach. To combat this growing threat, the study highlights two crucial approaches:

Climate Mitigation

By reducing greenhouse gases, we can lessen the future spread of dengue. By reducing greenhouse gases, we can lessen the future spread of dengue.

Adaptation

We need to improve ways to control mosquitoes, make our healthcare systems stronger, and get ready to use new vaccines.

The findings from this study could also be used to hold governments and companies accountable for the damages caused by climate change. As one of the study's authors noted, climate change is not just about the weather—it's having a direct and dangerous effect on human health.

Striving to do well is part of being human. But when “doing well” quietly shifts into “never enough,” the weight can become unbearable. For most perfectionists, that drive that initially felt like motivation can start tearing their mental well-being down, ensnaring them in loops of self-blame and hopelessness. New research indicates that this constant striving for perfection is not only emotionally depleting—it could potentially be deadly, increasing the likelihood of suicidal thinking and behavior.

Also Read: World Suicide Prevention Day 2025: Theme, History, And Significance

Perfectionism is even lauded as a badge of achievement. The student with impeccable grades, the colleague who always meets deadlines, the parent seeking the TV-perfect family—all are qualities society is wont to valorize. But a study at the University of Ontario in Canada introduces a cautionary note: perfectionism might have an unseen price tag. Beyond worry and burnout, it might heighten the risk of suicide ideation.

When researchers analyzed 45 studies with more than 11,700 participants, they found 13 out of 15 measures of perfectionism were linked to elevated suicidal thoughts. The strongest associations came from what psychologists call “socially prescribed perfectionism”—feeling pressured to meet the expectations of parents, teachers, bosses, or society at large. Unlike striving for personal excellence, this kind of perfectionism fuels a sense of never being enough.

As the study, published in the Journal of Personality, puts it: perfectionists “are their own worst critics; good enough is never enough.”

How Is Perfectionism Linked To Suicidal Ideation?

The findings go beyond isolated cases. A 2007 study interviewing friends and families of suicide victims found more than half described their loved ones as perfectionists. In 2013, researchers noted that over 70% of young men who had died by suicide had placed extraordinarily high demands on themselves.

The University of Ontario analysis helps clarify the picture. While traits like being tidy, organized, or holding others to high standards did not predict suicidality, internalized pressure—especially when tied to others’ expectations—was consistently associated with higher risk. Importantly, longitudinal studies confirmed that perfectionism can precede suicidal thinking, not just co-occur with it.

This matters because suicide remains the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 44,000 lives annually. Millions more engage in self-harm or struggle with intrusive suicidal thoughts. If perfectionism truly contributes to that risk, it warrants serious attention.

When Achievement Culture Turns Toxic

Perfectionism does not exist in a vacuum. Cultural, educational, and economic forces shape the pressure individuals feel to succeed. Journalist Jennifer Wallace explored this in her 2023 bestseller Never Enough, which captured the voice of parents in high-achieving communities. In surveys with over 6,500 respondents, 73% said selective college admissions were seen as essential to future success, while 83% admitted they viewed their children’s achievements as reflections of their own parenting. Yet nearly nine out of ten wished childhood could be less stressful.

That tension mirrors what psychologists like Thomas Curran at the London School of Economics call “toxic achievement culture.” Young people are growing up in environments where their worth seems tethered to test scores, trophies, and résumés. For perfectionists, this can be suffocating. Instead of striving for growth, they spiral into fear of failure.

The concept of “mattering” has emerged as a counterweight. Defined as the feeling that one is valued and adds value beyond accomplishments, mattering provides a buffer against perfectionism’s corrosive effects. It shifts the focus from being impressive to being important—to one’s family, peers, and community.

Role of Sleep As A Hidden Risk Factors

Perfectionism isn’t the only trait linked to suicide ideation. New research highlights another, often overlooked factor: sleep disturbance. A Stanford Medicine-led study tracking nearly 9,000 children found that kids with frequent nightmares or chronic sleep problems at age 9 or 10 were significantly more likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviors by age 12.

The reasons may lie in the role of REM sleep in processing emotions. Nightmares that are repetitive and distressing disrupt this process, leaving children vulnerable to emotional dysregulation. Encouragingly, treatments like imagery rehearsal therapy—a method of rewriting recurring nightmares—have proven effective and medication-free.

These findings underscore a larger truth: suicide risk is rarely explained by a single factor. Perfectionism, sleep problems, family conflict, depression—all can interact in ways that push vulnerable individuals toward crisis. The challenge for clinicians and families is to identify these patterns early.

Why Perfectionism Can Be So Dangerous For Your Life?

What makes perfectionism distinct from healthy ambition is its rigidity. Excellence allows for mistakes as part of learning. Perfectionism views mistakes as proof of inadequacy. A perfectionist may think, “If I don’t succeed flawlessly, I’ve failed entirely.” This all-or-nothing mindset breeds chronic dissatisfaction, shame, and hopelessness.

Complicating matters, perfectionists tend to be conscientious. This can make them more likely not just to contemplate suicide but to plan and follow through with it. The same discipline that earns them academic medals or career promotions can tragically increase the lethality of their actions.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Experts agree that more research is needed. The bulk of current studies focus on White, Western populations, leaving open questions about cultural differences. Longitudinal studies remain limited, and it is unclear how much perfectionism contributes to suicide risk compared to depression, anxiety, or trauma.

Still, the evidence is strong enough to demand action. For parents, educators, and health professionals, the message is not to eliminate high standards but to reshape them. Children and adults alike need to know that they matter even when they stumble. For communities, it means fostering environments where effort and growth are valued over flawless outcomes. For clinicians, it calls for assessing perfectionism as part of suicide risk screenings.

Shifting the conversation

Perhaps the hardest step is cultural. In a world that constantly rewards “the best,” redefining success as resilience, creativity, and connection is not simple. But it may be lifesaving.

As the University of Ontario researchers warned, perfectionists live “in an endless loop of self-defeating over-striving.” Breaking that loop requires both personal support and societal change.

Suicide prevention is never about a single fix. It’s about noticing when someone’s pursuit of perfection is masking pain, addressing the risk factors we can, and reminding people that being human—not perfect—is enough.

High achievers, caring parents, ambitious students, or dedicated professionals—all can fall into the trap of believing they must constantly prove their worth. What this really means is that even the strongest, most capable people may quietly wrestle with feelings of failure or not being “good enough.”

It’s far more common than we often admit. Many of us have felt the sting of comparing ourselves to others or the exhaustion of holding ourselves to impossible standards. That doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.

What can make a difference is not carrying the weight alone. Opening up to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor can be the first step toward relief. Sometimes, all it takes is hearing someone say, “I’ve felt that way too,” to break the silence. Sharing your struggles doesn’t burden others, it gives them a chance to be there for you. And often, they may have wisdom or simply empathy that lightens the load in ways you didn’t expect.

It’s okay to seek help. It’s okay to not be perfect. And it’s more than okay to let others walk alongside you when life feels heavy.

Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In the United Kingdom, you can dial 111 for urgent support. In India, you can seek support at iCALL Helpline on 9152987821. If you are elsewhere, please check local resources or call your nearest emergency number immediately. You are not alone, and support is available.