Although stress is a normal component of life, prolonged stress can have negative health repercussions. The infographic shows how extended stress impacts the body's systems, including the mental and physical health systems.

Let's examine the main ways that stress appears in each area of the body:

Mental and Brain Health

The brain is significantly impacted by stress. Cognitive function is among the first areas impacted, resulting in problems focussing and mental fog. High amounts of stress can also lead to mood fluctuations, anger, sadness, and anxiety. These symptoms have the potential to worsen over time and impact general mental health and wellbeing. This is a result of the brain's ongoing effort to adjust to stimuli, which strains its capacity for efficient operation.

Heart and Circulatory System

Stress has a particularly strong effect on the cardiovascular system. Extended periods of stress have been linked to elevated blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. Stress causes the body to release adrenaline and cortisol, two hormones that narrow blood vessels and increase heart rate. This can put stress on the heart over time and raise the possibility of major cardiovascular problems.

Skin-Related

Stress can also be shown in your skin. Physical symptoms include dull or dry skin, brittle nails, and hair loss. The body's capacity to recover itself can be slowed down by stress, which prolongs the healing process. Furthermore, because stress causes the body to generate more oil in reaction to hormonal fluctuations, disorders like acne can exacerbate under stress.

Stomach

Stress has a profound effect on the digestive system. It is the root cause of many digestive problems, including indigestion, constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. Malnutrition and other health issues may arise from a decline in the gut's capacity to absorb nutrients. Stress can worsen illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and cause more pain and discomfort in addition to these symptoms.

Muscles and Joints

One of the most obvious bodily indicators of stress is tense muscles. Inflammation and pain are frequently the results of this strain, especially in the back, shoulders, and neck. Stress-related muscle tension can eventually lead to decreased flexibility, an increased risk of injury, and chronic pain issues.

Immune System

Because stress impairs immunity, the body is more vulnerable to diseases and infections. It shortens the duration of healing and lessens the potency of immunological responses. This is because long-term stress inhibits the immune system's ability to produce cells that aid the body in warding off infections. Furthermore, the body's capacity for self-healing is hampered, which delays the healing process following an illness or injury.

Reproductive System

Stress can have a direct effect on reproductive health in both men and women. Stress can worsen premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms in women and lead to irregular menstrual cycles. It also has an impact on hormone production, which may cause libido to decline. Stress can impact sperm production, testosterone levels, and sexual function in males.

‘Hearing voices’ or ‘Auditory hallucinations’ is always seen as a sign of someone without a ‘healthy’ or ‘sound’ mind. Yet, many misunderstand what these experiences truly represent. Auditory hallucinations are basically hearing a sound that isn’t there. According to the Schizophrenia Research journal, about 60-80% of people who are on the schizophrenia spectrum experience these. However, do you know where these ‘voices’ come from?

A major new study published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin gives the strongest proof yet that when people with schizophrenia hear voices, they are actually mistaking their own silent thoughts for sounds coming from outside. Their brains respond more strongly when their inner voice aligns with an outside sound. Individuals with schizophrenia who recently experienced auditory hallucinations had a much bigger brain reaction when their inner voice matched an outside sound.

What Causes Verbal Hallucinations?

The study, which was done by psychologists at UNSW Sydney, suggests that the problem of hearing voices, called auditory verbal hallucinations, happens because the brain has trouble figuring out that the silent voice inside their head belongs to them.

What is Inner Speech?

Inner speech is just the silent voice that goes on in your head, like a narrator for your thoughts, plans, and everything you notice. Most people have this running all the time.

The Normal Brain Filter

When a person speaks, even if they only speak silently in their mind, the part of the brain that deals with outside noises calms down. This happens because the brain expects the sound of your own voice and basically tunes it out so you aren't distracted by yourself.

But in people who hear voices, this "filtering" process seems broken. The brain doesn't manage to predict the sound of its own inner voice, which causes it to react as if the voice is coming from someone else entirely.

How Did Researchers Measure Inner Voice?

For a long time, doctors have had a theory that hearing voices came from mixing up inner speech with external speech, but it was incredibly hard to test because you can't actually hear someone else's inner speech. It's totally private. Researchers used an EEG machine (which records the brain's tiny electrical signals) to secretly test this idea. They divided the people into three groups:

• People with schizophrenia who had very recently heard voices.
• People with schizophrenia who had not heard voices recently.
• Healthy people who did not have schizophrenia.

In the experiment, everyone wore headphones and was told to imagine saying a simple sound (like 'bah' or 'bih') at the exact moment they heard one of those sounds played through the headphones.

People with No Hallucinations

In healthy people, when the sound they imagined in their head matched the sound that came through the headphones, the EEG showed less activity in the part of the brain that processes sound. This is the expected filtering effect—the brain recognized its own inner speech and calmed its response.

Hallucination Result (The Reversal)

In the group that had recently heard voices, the results were the complete opposite. When the imagined inner speech matched the external sound, their brains showed a much stronger, enhanced reaction.

This backward filtering effect strongly suggests that the brain's ability to predict and filter its own thoughts is broken in people who hear voices. This failure causes the brain to see that inner voice as a loud, real sound coming from the outside.

How Does Learning About Auditory Hallucinations Help Us?

This discovery is very important because it offers the strongest proof yet for the idea that people's own inner speech is being mistakenly heard as an outside voice.

Right now, there are no simple blood tests, X-rays, or brain scans that can definitively find or diagnose schizophrenia. These new findings give doctors hope for developing biological markers (signs in the body) that could help find or predict who is at risk of developing psychosis before it actually starts.

Our bodies may hit their peak strength, skin firmness, and ability to have children when we are young adults, but new studies have found that our brains actually perform their best much later in life.

As people get old, the perception that they are no longer capable of making decisions or that they stop remembering things becomes rampant. These assumptions can lead to age-based discrimination, such as favoring younger employees over older, experienced ones. However, how true is this assumption? Do we actually start experiencing cognitive decline as soon as we come close to midlife?

A study published in the journal Intelligence looked at data measuring abilities like reasoning, memory, processing speed, general knowledge, and emotional intelligence across different ages.

What Age Are We Best Mentally?

The findings challenge the idea that we’re mentally sharpest in our 20s. Instead, the research found that our overall psychological functioning peaks much later, typically between ages 55 and 60.

According to the lead study author, our mental ability doesn't really start to drop until around age 65, and the decline only gets noticeably faster after age 75.

The research also looked closely at five main personality traits: being outgoing, handling stress well, being careful and organized, being open to new things, and being agreeable.

How Does Our Personality Affect Our Brain Health?

The researchers discovered that many of these traits also reach their best levels later in life. For example, conscientiousness (being thorough and disciplined) peaks around age 65, and emotional stability (staying calm and balanced) is highest around age 75.

The study further found that our ability to make good moral judgments improves with age, and our skill at making rational decisions (resisting poor cognitive biases) may continue to improve even into our 70s and 80s. This helps explain why many top jobs in business and government are often held by people in their 50s and early 60s.

What Role Does Age Play In Real World?

This latest research focused on real, measurable psychological strengths that directly lead to better performance in the real world. Many of these strengths, like better judgment and decision-making, are vital for people in leadership positions.

However, despite these clear signs that older people are at their psychological peak, they still often face major challenges when looking for a new job or trying to stay in their current one.

Even though there is a law (the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967) that protects people aged 40 and over from unfair treatment in hiring and firing, discrimination still happens in reality. An Ageism in the Workplace Survey found that a huge 90% of workers over age 40 have experienced ageism at work. Many employers wrongly believe that someone in their mid-50s is a poor long-term investment.

The hope is that these new findings will make it clear that companies need to adopt fair hiring and retention practices that include older workers. As the author noted, history is full of people who achieved their biggest successes well past the age society usually labels as the "peak."

Respiratory virus season is upon the United States as colder months arrive, bringing an expected rise in cases of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. In its annual outlook, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that peak hospitalizations from these viruses during the 2025–26 season will be similar to last year. Public health experts speaking to ABC News have emphasised that vaccination remains the most effective way to protect against severe illness. Below, we answer common questions about the RSV vaccine for anyone seeking guidance.

What Is The RSV Vaccine?

Who Can Get An RSV Immunization?

According to the CDC, RSV vaccines are recommended for adults aged 75 and older, as well as those between 50 and 74 who have a higher risk of severe illness. Studies suggest that a single dose provides protection for at least two years in older adults. For infants, protection can be achieved either by vaccinating mothers during pregnancy or by giving babies an antibody shot after birth to help prevent severe RSV infection.

When Is The RSV Vaccine Available?

Eligible adults can receive the RSV vaccine at any time, though late summer and early fall are generally considered the best period, according to the CDC. For expectant mothers, the vaccine is usually available between September and January, while the antibody shot for infants is typically recommended from October through March.

How Much Does The RSV Vaccine Cost?

For those with insurance, the RSV vaccine may be fully covered. Without insurance, the shot can cost around $350, according to Dupont. “Patient assistance programs are available that can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs,” Dupont added.

Does RSV Vaccine Have Any Side Effect?

Like all vaccines, the RSV shot can have side effects. Common ones include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, as well as fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle or joint aches. Serious side effects are rare but can occur. Fainting may also happen after the shot, and observation may be advised to prevent injury.

Common side effects

• Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Swelling or tenderness under the arm
• Rare but serious risks
• Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis): Symptoms may include hives, facial or throat swelling, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness. This is a medical emergency; call emergency services immediately.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS): A very rare condition where the immune system attacks the nerves. Seek medical attention if you experience sudden weakness, tingling in the hands or feet, or pain.
• Fainting: This can occur after vaccination, and you may be asked to stay for a short observation period to prevent injury.