At first glance, the elephant in this image seems to have an impossible number of legs. This is due to a clever optical illusion where lines are drawn to mimic extra legs. However, the actual legs are those with feet attached. The illusion tricks your eyes into seeing more legs by using the negative space between the real legs.

To find the correct four legs, focus only on the parts of the legs that end with feet, ignoring the rest. Here's how to identify the correct legs:

- Focus on the parts of the legs that have feet attached.

- Ignore the lines that do not end in a foot—these are just part of the optical illusion.

- The correct legs are the first, third, fourth, and fifth columns from the left (if you count the spaces with feet attached as columns).

The image of the elephant presents an optical illusion where the legs seem to be misplaced. It appears as though the elephant has more than four legs, but this is due to the way the lines are drawn. The actual legs are the ones with the feet attached. The illusion occurs because the spaces between the legs are drawn to resemble additional legs, but they do not have feet. So, the four legs of the elephant are the ones with complete feet.

In many parts of rural India, women are facing a grim choice: keep their uterus and lose wages every month due to painful, heavy periods—or undergo a hysterectomy, a permanent surgery to remove the uterus, sometimes even in their early 30s. This quiet but serious epidemic has been unfolding for years.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21), nearly 10% of Indian women aged 40–49 years had already undergone a hysterectomy. In states like Andhra Pradesh (22.5%), Telangana (21.2%), Bihar (17.2%) and Gujarat (11.7%), the numbers were far higher. More worrying is the median age, just 34 in rural India, more than a decade before natural menopause.

The Link Between Periods, Wages, and Surgery

For many rural women, particularly agricultural workers, menstruation is not just a health event but an economic setback. Migrant sugarcane workers in Maharashtra’s Beed district provide a stark example: here, hysterectomy prevalence was found to be as high as 56% in 2024, with women opting for the surgery at an average age of 35.

The reason is brutally pragmatic. Agricultural contractors often penalize women who take time off for menstruation. Period pain, excessive bleeding, and taboos around hygiene in the fields make working conditions even harder. In such an environment, hysterectomy is sold as a “permanent solution”, a way to eliminate menstrual problems and keep working without interruption.

A recent study published in Social Science & Medicine also notes that this pattern is echoed in Telangana and Bihar, where women agricultural workers also show higher hysterectomy prevalence. Studies reveal that many women are advised surgery by private doctors even for common issues like abdominal pain or white discharge, often without being informed of alternatives.

The Price of Early Hysterectomy

While hysterectomy can be medically necessary in certain cases, such as large fibroids, severe prolapse, or cancer, it is far from harmless when performed at a young age. The removal of the uterus, especially when combined with ovary removal, induces early menopause, triggering a cascade of health risks.

Research has linked early hysterectomy to:

• Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders
• Bone density loss, raising fracture risk
• Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary tract issues
• Thyroid and urinary tract cancers
• Mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety

In essence, what appears to be a short-term fix to save wages ends up cutting into a woman’s long-term working life and overall quality of life.

A System That Encourages Surgery

Part of the problem lies in India’s healthcare structure. As per NFHS-5, about 70% of hysterectomies were carried out in private clinics. Research in Andhra Pradesh found that women as young as 20 were recommended hysterectomy for routine gynecological complaints, reflecting both a profit motive and lack of awareness.

Insurance schemes also play a role. Data shows that women with health insurance were more likely to undergo hysterectomy. Reports suggest that some private hospitals encourage the surgery because insurance covers it, making it financially attractive for providers.

The National Health Authority has flagged suspiciously high hysterectomy claims under Ayushman Bharat, which at one point accounted for nearly 2% of all female claims. In response, stricter pre-authorization rules were introduced, including mandatory second opinions for women under 40.

Why Women Agree: Pragmatic Agency, Not Just Victimhood

While it is easy to frame rural women as victims of predatory healthcare, research tells a more nuanced story. A 2015 study in Social Science & Medicine highlighted how women often exercised “pragmatic agency.” They weighed their options, continued monthly suffering, missed wages, social stigma of menstrual restrictions, against the perceived relief of hysterectomy. With limited non-surgical options offered by doctors and little awareness of long-term side effects, many saw it as their best way forward.

In interviews, women described themselves not just as patients but as workers and caretakers. Their health decisions were shaped less by medical advice and more by economic necessity, gendered expectations, and the absence of supportive healthcare alternatives.

Many of us have been there. Sneaking in a burp during a meeting, unbuttoning our jeans after dinner, or blaming others for suspicious sounds and smells. Bloating, belching, and gas may be embarrassing, but according to the expert, these everyday digestive hiccups are often your body’s way of sending you important signals.

What is Bloating?

Bloating happens when gas or air gets trapped in your stomach or intestines, leaving you feeling stretched like a balloon. Dr Surakshith TK, Senior Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, explains that certain foods are prime reasons. Beans, broccoli, milk, and fizzy drinks are notorious gas producers, while simple habits such as eating too quickly, chatting through a meal, or chewing gum can also cause you to swallow excess air.

Though occasional bloating is harmless, if your stomach feels bloated on the regular, it might be worth paying closer attention to your diet and habits.

What is Belching?

A well-timed burp can be a relief, but when it turns into a constant soundtrack, it is not just poor table manners. Belching is your body’s way of expelling excess air swallowed during eating or drinking. According to Dr Surakshith, while occasional burping is perfectly normal, frequent or habitual belching could be a red flag. Conditions such as acid reflux, gastritis, or certain food intolerances may be to blame.

It is better to listen early than ignore the signs.

What is Gas?

Dr Surakshith says it is simply a side effect of your gut bacteria breaking down food. Fibre-rich foods like whole grains, beans, and veggies are particularly gassy, but that is usually a sign your gut microbes are hard at work.

However, if you are passing more gas than usual, or it comes with an odour strong enough to clear a room, your gut may be hinting at trouble. Imbalances in gut bacteria, food intolerances, or conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could be the hidden reasons.

When to Stop Ignoring the Signals

Most bloating, belching, and gas episodes are just temporary inconveniences. But Dr Surakshith warns that if they persist or are accompanied by pain, nausea, or changes in your bowel movements, it is time to check in with a healthcare professional. These symptoms could point to lactose intolerance, coeliac disease, IBS, or other digestive disorders that need medical attention.

Ignoring these red flags will make the problem worse and not make it vanish.

How to Take Care of Your Gut

You can often outsmart your digestive problems with small tweaks. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and avoid gulping down food like it is a race. Cutting back on carbonated drinks and keeping an eye on how your body reacts to dairy, beans, or high-fibre meals can also help. Most importantly, Dr Surakshith encourages paying attention to your body’s feedback. Simple lifestyle shifts can ease discomfort and, in the process, give your gut the happy balance it craves.

They’re small, sleek, and practically glued to our ears these days. Wireless earbuds have become as essential as wallets and keys. But here’s the question no one really asks: what happens to your brain when you park two radiation-emitting devices right next to it for hours? It’s not as harmless as we’d like to think.

The Invisible Cloud Around Your Head

Wireless earbuds rely on Bluetooth technology. And Bluetooth runs on non-ionising electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation. Unlike X-rays, this type of radiation doesn’t fry your DNA on contact. But constant, close-range exposure is where eyebrows start to raise.

Several studies have associated long-term EMF exposure with side effects ranging from the everyday, like headaches, fatigue, and brain fog, to the more worrying, such as hormonal imbalances, fertility challenges, and possible neurological changes. It may not explode, but it can mess with your system over time.

Kids and Teens: Double the Risk

Children and teenagers have thinner skulls and developing brains. That means EMF radiation can penetrate more deeply and potentially interfere with growth and neurological wiring. Researchers warn that early, prolonged exposure might set the stage for health concerns later in life. So while those mini earbuds may look cute in your teenager’s ears, their brains could be taking on more than just music.

The “But Everyone Uses Them” Trap

When something becomes part of mainstream culture, it automatically feels safe. Everyone’s wearing them at the gym, during work calls, while commuting, and even while falling asleep. But popularity doesn’t equal harmlessness. For years, cigarettes were marketed as chic accessories too. Not saying wireless earbuds are the next tobacco, but it’s worth pausing to question whether convenience is coming at a cost.

And just because you don’t feel anything in the moment doesn’t mean your body isn’t registering it. Those subtle headaches, the unexplained tiredness, and the dip in focus, they could all be due to this.

How To Outsmart The Buzz

It’s about balance and smart habits. Here’s how you can protect your brain while still enjoying your playlists and podcasts:

• Swap in wired headphones: Use corded ones for long calls or extended listening sessions. Old-school doesn’t mean outdated.
• Go hands-free differently: For quick calls, switch to speaker mode and keep the phone away from your head.
• Never sleep with earbuds in: Your brain needs downtime. Overnight exposure means hours of uninterrupted radiation, which is the opposite of rest.
• Airplane mode is a saviour: If your phone is near your head and you’re not using it, flip it on aeroplane mode.

Should You Get Rid of Them Completely?

Not necessarily. Wireless earbuds are here to stay, and honestly, they do make life easier. The key is moderation. Science is still studying the long-term effects, and while there isn’t yet a definitive say that Bluetooth radiation will fry your brain cells, the “better safe than sorry” principle applies. Especially when small tweaks in your habits can significantly cut down your exposure.

Your brain is the control room of your entire existence. Treating it kindly isn’t paranoia; it’s common sense. Wearing wireless earbuds for hours every day might be trendy, but questioning the invisible risks is the smarter move.