The first time I got a rash creeping across my back, I was swamped with work deadlines. Then, initially, I thought of it as an allergic reaction to something I ate. But as the patches spread to my arm and other parts of the body, I had to go see a doctor where I understood that it wasn't just my skin, but it was my body signaling me that the level of stress I was enduring was not good for it.

Stress is not only psychological, but it also impacts your skin. For most, it can lead to physical manifestations, such as hives or rashes, for extended periods or acutely. These reactions are known as "stress rashes," resulting from your body's exaggerated response to emotional stress.

What Is a Stress Rash?

Stress rashes often look like hives, which are also referred to as urticaria. They can be in a variety of sizes and be anywhere on the body. These itchy, swollen welts may resemble mosquito bites or larger splotches. Appearance of hives can greatly differ depending on your skin color. On black or brown skin, it manifests in raised patches, often almost similar in color or slightly darker than natural color and hence not easily recognized initially.

On lighter skin, however, hives characteristically present as red or pink patches, which appear to be more obvious than their black counterparts. These variations reveal that knowledge about how the conditions appear in different skin types will enable one to receive correct diagnoses and proper care.

Hives tend to feel warm to the touch, sometimes even itching or tingling. At worst, multiple patches can fuse to cover large portions of the body.

How Stress Causes Rashes on Skin

The body activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis when it is stressed. This process releases stress hormones like cortisol and increases mast cells that produce histamine-a chemical causing itching and irritation symptomatic of hives.

This has been studied in a 2021 Dermatology Practical and Conceptual paper where it was shown how the release of histamine due to stress results in inflammation that could flare up or even start skin conditions. Not only can stress cause hives, but it can also exacerbate eczema-like other skin conditions.

Do Your Rash Symptoms Stem From Stress?

If you have been experiencing mysterious rashes during periods of extreme tension, you are not alone. A 2018 publication in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology found significant evidence of a relationship between chronic itchiness and stress. The research showed that under stress, your threshold for scratching may decrease, so even the mildest provocations become unbearable. Among the signs that your rash is caused by stress are its sudden appearance during emotionally taxing times.

- Temporary nature (lasting less than 6 weeks)

- Correlation with other stress symptoms like headaches or fatigue

Should You See a Doctor For Treating A Stress Rash

In most cases, stress rashes are not cause for alarm and can be managed at home. However, if your symptoms persist for longer than six weeks, it may signal chronic hives, which often require medical intervention. A dermatologist can evaluate your condition and recommend treatments like antihistamines or corticosteroids.

Seek medical attention right away if your rash is accompanied by swelling, difficulty breathing, or other signs of an allergic reaction.

Natural Remedies for Stress Rashes at Home

Most stress rashes heal with proper care. Some natural remedies to soothe the skin and alleviate symptoms are as follows:

Cool Compress: Apply a cold compress to the affected areas to reduce swelling and irritation.

Lukewarm Bath: Soak in oatmeal or a milk bath for soothing of the skin.

Fragrance-free lotions: The lotions should be fragrance free, colorless, and free from other allergens to avoid irritation.

Staying Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps keep the entire body healthy, including your skin.

Avoid Triggers: Limit alcohol, caffeine, and high humidity/heat exposure as these might trigger hives.

Wear Loose Clothes: Avoid tight or coarse fabrics that might irritate your rash.

Manage Stress for Long-Term Remedy

While managing the physical manifestations of a stress rash is important, it is the root cause—stress—that needs to be addressed for long-term relief. Introducing some stress management techniques into one's daily life can decrease flare-ups and improve the general well-being:

• Talking to a therapist or joining a support group can provide tools to better manage stress.
• Meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises are proven ways to lower your stress levels.
• Exercise releases endorphins which act as natural stress releasers. Choose exercise options that won't exacerbate your hives, such as swimming or gentle yoga. Do things you love. It might be baking, dancing, painting, or kickboxing.
• Eating nutritious meals and getting enough sleep are fundamental to maintaining your body’s resilience against stress.

One must be very careful about what they consume. One of the easiest ways to get sick is by eating food or having beverages from unsafe and unsanitary places. That is why people are discouraged from eating at roadside stalls or food from street hawkers who do not follow the food safety protocol.

Many people do not know how unsafe tap water can be. While the tap water available at home goes through treatment, it is best to only drink it after boiling or opting for water from the filter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that these health issues can range from mild to serious, depending on what germs are being transmitted.

In a TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia who goes by Dr. Sooj, a practicing NHS GP and emergency doctor, issued a critical warning. urgent warning that if you use regular tap water to rinse your nose, you could be exposed to a very rare but dangerous "brain-eating amoeba." Even though tap water in the UK is perfectly safe to drink, it's a different story when it comes to cleaning out your nose.

Why Tap Water Is Risky for Your Nose

Rinsing your nose is a common thing people do when they have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection. You usually flush water or salt water into your nose to wash away snot, dust, pollen, and anything else that might be irritating your nasal passages. But in a video, a doctor known online as Dr. Sooj, explained why tap water is risky for this. He said that "tap water has bacteria. It has amoeba, it has protozoa. There are tiny living things in the water." When you drink these, your stomach acid usually kills them, but when they go up your nose, it's a different story.

Brain-Eating Amoeba

The main worry is a "brain-eating amoeba" called Naegleria fowleri. This tiny creature loves to live in warm fresh water, like lakes, rivers, and hot springs. The Cleveland Clinic explains water that contains this amoeba goes up your nose, it can travel to your brain. Once there, it causes a very serious and almost always deadly infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). While this infection is rare, it's not worth the risk.

If the amoeba gets into the brain through the nose, it can cause a severe infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Early signs of PAM can be a headache, fever, feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), and throwing up (vomiting). This infection moves incredibly fast. Most people who get PAM unfortunately die within just 1 to 18 days after they start showing symptoms, often falling into a coma before death. Other symptoms can include a stiff neck, feeling confused, not paying attention to people around you, losing your balance, and seeing things that aren't real (hallucinations).

When to Seek Medical Help

Health experts like the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree with this advice. They also warn about another amoeba called Acanthamoeba. If you or someone you know starts to have a headache, fever, confusion, or vomiting soon after rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages, it's crucial to get medical help right away.

A new study has revealed a sharp rise in cases of a rare cancer—appendiceal adenocarcinoma—particularly among younger generations. Generation X and millennials are seeing significantly higher rates of this cancer than previous generations, prompting concern among experts.

What Is Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma?

Appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA) is a rare form of cancer that originates in the appendix, a small pouch attached to the large intestine. While appendix cancers are not commonly diagnosed—about 3,000 new cases per year in the U.S.—they appear to be rising at an alarming rate among younger adults.

Generational Surge in Cases

According to a new paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the rate of AA has tripled among Generation X and quadrupled among millennials compared to those born in the mid-20th century. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center used data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, which tracked cancer cases from 1975 to 2019.

The numbers are telling: the study found that for people born in 1985, the incidence of appendix cancer is four times higher than for those born in 1945. For individuals born in 1980, it is about three times higher.

A Broader Gastrointestinal Trend

Experts say this rise mirrors trends in other gastrointestinal cancers—such as colorectal and stomach cancer—which are also being diagnosed more frequently in adults under 50. Between 1975 and 2019, the researchers recorded 4,858 cases of appendix cancer, with a noticeable uptick in recent decades.

Possible Causes: Lifestyle and Diet

Although the exact reasons for this generational increase remain unclear, researchers suggest that lifestyle and environmental factors may be playing a major role. The consumption of ultra-processed foods, sugary beverages, and processed meats has increased sharply in recent decades. Additionally, obesity and metabolic syndrome—both risk factors for various cancers—are more prevalent among younger people today than in past generations.

Lead researcher Dr. Andreana Holowatyji highlighted that the increase in cases is not due to more appendectomies being performed. Surgical removal rates of the appendix have remained largely stable over time, suggesting that other factors, possibly related to diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure, are contributing to the spike in cases.

The Challenge of Early Detection

One of the major hurdles in combating appendiceal adenocarcinoma is the lack of clear early symptoms. Many of the signs—such as bloating, appetite loss, and changes in bowel habits—are vague and can easily be mistaken for more common digestive issues. This often leads to delayed diagnoses and limited treatment options.

Urgent Need for Research

With no definitive causes identified, scientists are calling for more research into environmental exposures, genetic factors, and molecular changes that might contribute to the development of appendix cancer. Understanding these elements could help in early detection and potentially lower the rising risk among younger populations.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, over 1.2 billion people ages 30 to 79 have hypertension. The number has increased from 650 million in 1990 to 1.2 billion in 2021. This increase is attributed to many factors, including lifestyle factors, which include salty indulgence, stress, and screen time which has been increased. These three impact your blood pressure levels, know how.

What Are The Three S Worsening Your Blood Pressure?

Salt

As per the Harvard Heart Publishing, an average American consumes the equivalent of about 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day, which is 50% more than the recommended amount.

About a third of healthy people and about 60% of people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive.

How does salt affects blood pressure?

When you consume too much sodium, your body holds on to extra water to balance the sodium levels. This added fluid increases the volume of blood in your vessels, which in turn raises your blood pressure and forces your heart to work harder. High sodium intake can also reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications. For example, diuretics help eliminate excess sodium and water, while vasodilators work by relaxing the blood vessels. However, a high-sodium diet makes your body retain fluid again, refilling those relaxed vessels and undoing the medication's effects.

Stress

As per the official publication of State Medical Society of Wisconsin, stress can cause hypertension through repeated blood pressure elevations as well as by stimulation of the nervous system to produce large amounts of vasoconstricting hormones that increase blood pressure. Factors affecting blood pressure through stress include white coat hypertension, job strain, race, social environment, and emotional distress.

As per National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, around 50 million American adults live with hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure over 139 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 89 mm Hg. In about 95% of these cases, the condition is classified as "essential" hypertension, meaning there’s no single identifiable cause. However, experts agree that multiple factors—including stress—can contribute to rising blood pressure in these individuals.

Screentime

As per a 2024 study published in Cureus, hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. The study links the increased accessibility of smartphones with the increasing hypertension.

This study explored the relationship between screen time and blood pressure (BP) among young adults.

The study also noted that higher screen time was more common among individuals using multiple devices. The prevalence of elevated BP in the sample was 35.8%, aligning with national data and raising concerns about the cardiovascular health of young adults.

Previous studies support these concerns. For instance, Nang et al. and Martinez-Gomez et al. linked prolonged TV viewing to higher BP and an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in adolescents. However, these relied on self-reported data. Other risk factors, such as age, gender, obesity, inactivity, and substance use, have also been linked to hypertension.