Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) impact over one billion people worldwide and affect poor and marginalized communities the most. Infectious diseases, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and toxins, lead to extreme health complications like blindness, developmental problems, and chronic disabilities. Because of this heavy burden, NTDs get less attention and resources, thus worsening the already challenging economic and healthcare scenarios in these regions.

The World Health Organization has classified 21 different conditions as NTDs. These diseases mainly thrive in tropical and subtropical climates and are linked to poor sanitation, lack of clean water, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Unlike other infectious diseases, NTDs have been largely ignored by the pharmaceutical industry due to their concentration in low-income populations, making treatment and prevention efforts even more challenging.

Although progress has been achieved in controlling some NTDs through global health initiatives, for instance dengue, much more is needed to eradicate them completely. This requires collaboration among governments, healthcare organizations, and the pharmaceutical industry to develop low-cost treatments, expand vaccination programs, and improve sanitation in high-risk areas.

Common Types of Neglected Tropical Diseases

NTDs range from mild to severe, and permanent disability or even death can occur, according to the NIH. The most common of these are the following:

Ascariasis

This NTD is caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. This infection is found mainly in places where sanitation is very poor. Though most people have no symptoms at all, more serious cases cause extreme pain in the abdominal region, vomiting, and sometimes even death.

Buruli Ulcer

Caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, Buruli ulcer results in painful ulcers on the skin, which if not treated can extend into the bones, leading to permanent disability.

Chagas' Disease (American Trypanosomiasis)

Distributed through blood-feeding "assassin bugs," this parasitic disease may lead to swollen lymph nodes and even fatal damage to the organs if not treated.

Dengue Fever

A mosquito-borne viral infection, dengue fever causes high fever, joint pain, and in severe cases, hemorrhagic fever leading to shock and death.

Leprosy (Hansen's Disease)

Caused by Mycobacteria, Leprosy results in nerve damage with severe disfiguring effects of the condition that leaves individuals greatly stigmatized.

Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis)

Spread by mosquitoes, this parasitic disease results in painful swelling of the limbs and genitals with increasingly severe disabilities, leading to gross disfigurement.

Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)

This parasitic disease, which is transmitted by black flies, causes severe itching, skin lesions, and permanent blindness.

How Do NTDs Affect Health?

According to Dr. Vivek MS, MBBS MD Microbiology, "NTDs disproportionately affect the world's poorest communities, leading to chronic illness, disability, and social stigma. Despite their devastating impact, these diseases do not receive adequate attention compared to other global health issues."

NTDs contribute to a cycle of poverty by impairing children's development, reducing adult productivity, and burdening healthcare systems. Conditions such as malnutrition, poor education, and limited access to medical care further exacerbate their impact, making it difficult for affected populations to escape poverty.

Preventive Measures To Adopt

Hygiene and Sanitation

Dr. Vivek MS says, "Improving hygiene and sanitation is one of the most effective ways to prevent NTDs. Access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities can significantly reduce the transmission of diseases like cholera, trachoma, and soil-transmitted helminths."

Vaccination

Vaccination is a critical tool in preventing diseases such as dengue and yellow fever. Large-scale immunization programs help protect vulnerable populations and reduce the spread of infection.

Awareness

Community education plays an important role in controlling NTDs. "Information on causative agents, symptoms and prevention of NTDs promotes behavioral changes in improved health practice, and early intervention," said Dr. Vivek MS.

Healthcare Systems Strengthening

Access to healthcare should be scaled up and expanded to the regions affected. Investments in local healthcare infrastructure, staff capacity building, and reasonably priced medicines can greatly reduce the burden of NTDs.

Dr Vivek MS is a MBBS MD with specialisation in Microbiology at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Bangalore in India

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm, also called an arrhythmia and can create blood clots in the heart, which can increase your risk of having a stroke by five times.

When a person has AFib, the normal beating in the upper chambers of the heart (the two atria) is irregular and blood doesn't flow as well as it should from the atria to the lower chambers of the heart (the two ventricles).

In this case, the risk of developing blood clots in your heart increases, which can not only cause a heart attack but also damage vital organs such as your brain. An AFib may happen in brief episodes, or it may be a permanent condition.

Common symptoms include palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing, pounding, fluttering or like you have missed heartbeats), chest pain, finding it harder to exercise, tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness or feeling faint.

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The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.

Over 454,000 people with AFib are hospitalized in the US each year, out of which 158,000 die of the cause. It is estimated that 12.1 million people in the US will have AFib in the US will have AFib by 2050.

Who Is At Risk Of Having AFib?

• Advancing age.
• High blood pressure.
• Obesity.
• European ancestry.
• Diabetes.
• Heart failure.
• Ischemic heart disease.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Moderate to heavy alcohol use.
• Smoking.
• Enlargement of the chambers on the left side of the heart.

Treatment for AFib includes medications to control the heart's rhythm and rate, therapy to shock the heart back to a regular rhythm and procedures to block faulty heart signals.

A person with atrial fibrillation also may have a related heart rhythm disorder called atrial flutter. The treatments for AFib and atrial flutter are similar.

How To Improve Your Heart Health

Experts recommend following the below to reduce yor risk of stroke or developing AFib and maintaining heart health:

• Don't smoke or use tobacco.
• Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (or an equal combination of both) each week. Eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Stay at a healthy weight.
• Get quality sleep.
• Manage stress levels
• Get regular health screening tests.
• Eat a fiber, nuts and fish-rich diet
• Limit salt intake
• Reduce saturated fat intake

Changes in your voice, whether in tone, volume, speed or overall quality, can act as early warning signs for a wide range of medical conditions, experts say.

Your voice is produced by the coordinated effort of your respiratory system, vocal cords (also called vocal folds), and the resonating chambers of your throat, mouth, and nose. Even subtle shifts in hormone levels, hydration status or tissue health can noticeably affect how you sound.

Recent research shows that subtle changes in speech, for example, slurring or vocal cord tremors, may be signs of disease or illness like Parkinson’s disease, depression, cardiac and mental health problems, as speech requires coordination with the brain, muscles and respiratory system.

Which Conditions Can You Identify By A Change In Voice?

• Diabetes: High-pitched, raspy voices or vocal strain can be linked to diabetes, with AI studies showing up to 75% accuracy in prediction.
• Cardiovascular Disease: Voice analysis can detect high, fluttering voices associated with coronary artery disease, caused by stress or fluid changes in the vocal cords.
• Hypothyroidism: A deeper, softer, or huskier voice can indicate thyroid dysfunction.
• Respiratory Illnesses: Conditions like COVID-19 or COPD are often associated with a breathy voice, coughing, and short, interrupted sentences.
• Throat Cancer: Persistent hoarseness and raspy voice, especially lasting more than 2-3 weeks, can indicate laryngeal cancer.
• Parkinson’s Disease: Identified by a monotone voice, reduced volume, increased breathiness, and vocal cord tremors.
• Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia: Characterized by slower speech rates, hesitation, frequent pauses, and simplified vocabulary/sentence structure.
• Stroke or Brain Injury: Indicated by slurred speech or difficulty finding words (global aphasia).
• Cerebellar Disorders (caused by damage to the nerves in the brain's cerebellum): Manifest as loud, staccato speech (bursts of broken sounds).
• Depression: Linked to a flatter, softer, and more monotone voice with a reduced pitch range.
• Anxiety/Stress: Often presents as a higher-pitched, faster, and more tremulous voice.
• Schizophrenia: Indicated by monotone, disorganized speech.

What Else Can Affect Your Voice?

Apart from serious medical conditions, voice changes may also be linked to aging and lifestyle factors. Fluctuations in testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and thyroid hormone levels may also influence the structure and function of the vocal cords.

Dehydration is one of the most common causes of voice problems, as cords need adequate moisture to vibrate efficiently. Aim for at least 64 ounces of water daily, and more if you use your voice professionally or live in a dry climate.

Smoking irritates and inflames the vocal cords, causing chronic hoarseness and increasing the risk of vocal cord cancer. Even secondhand smoke and vaping can affect voice quality.

Diet also plays a role in vocal health. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics that can dehydrate your vocal cords. Spicy foods and acidic beverages may trigger reflux, irritating the throat.

Dairy products can increase mucus production in some people, affecting voice clarity. Voice overuse or misuse, common in teachers, singers, and public speakers, can lead to vocal fatigue and damage. The following table compares how different lifestyle factors impact your voice.

How Can You Take Care Of Your Voice?

Whether the cause is hormonal changes, medical conditions, aging, or lifestyle factors, most voice problems can be improved with proper diagnosis and treatment. Here are some things you can do to take care:

• Stay hydrated by drinking water throughout the day and using a humidifier in dry environments
• Warm up your voice before extended speaking or singing with gentle humming or lip trills
• Avoid shouting or whispering, both of which strain the vocal cords
• Take voice breaks during prolonged speaking to prevent fatigue
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques, as tension affects voice quality
• Treat allergies and sinus problems promptly to reduce postnasal drip
• Maintain good posture to support optimal breathing and voice production

Living under constant psychosocial stress can significantly raise the risk of developing dementia and a stroke, a JAMA Network study suggests.

Psychosocial stress is a type of stress related to our relationships with others, usually arising from feeling judged, excluded, or not enough in others' eyes. It can also put a person in fight-or-flight mode, causing both mental and physical symptoms.

According to Chinese researchers, people who experience this form of stress in childhood as well as adulthood face more than a threefold higher risk of developing dementia compared with those in other groups.

Similarly, young people experiencing stressful situations in their adulthood had a significantly higher risk of stroke incidence that their counterparts.

Based on these results, the study highlights that early identification of psychosocial stressors, combined with effective mental health support and depression prevention, may reduce the long-term burden of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disease.

What Did The Study Find?

The scientists defined adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as traumatic exposures occurring during childhood, typically grouped into 3 categories: household dysfunction, social dysfunction and family death or disability.

On the other hand, traumatic exposures occurring during adulthood were defined as adverse adult experiences (AAEs), which include events such as the death of a child, lifetime discrimination, ever being confined to bed, ever being hospitalized for a month or longer and ever leaving a job due to health conditions.

While analyzing the data they collected from the participants, the researchers also found that depression partly explained the links in all major relationships as it accounted for more than one-third of the connection between childhood adversity and dementia, and about one-fifth of the link between adulthood adversity and both dementia and stroke.

READ MORE: Avoid Doing These 3 Things Prevent Dementia, According To Neurologist

These findings suggest that long-term psychological stress may lead to brain and blood vessel diseases by causing ongoing emotional distress, unhealthy behaviours, and biological changes like inflammation and abnormal stress responses.

Psychosocial Stress: An Unseen Form Of Stress

Psychosocial stress can trigger physiological responses like increased heart rate, cortisol secretion, and inflammation, significantly increasing risks for hypertension, cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders.

This kind of stress can affect men, women, and people of all genders differently, but many of the symptoms are still the same. Common symptoms include:

• Sweating
• An increase in blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Nausea and digestive problems
• Strong emotional reactions such as sadness or irritability
• Drug or alcohol abuse

These symptoms can be acute or chronic, meaning for some people they go away, and for others, they persist over a long period of time. Meeting with a therapist is often recommended for those living with chronic stress.

Experts typically suggest developing coping mechanisms include building support networks, utilizing relaxation techniques, and, in cases of severe mental impact, seeking professional support to help deal with psychosocial stress.