When it comes to our health, we tend to rely on our own instincts to sense when something is wrong. There are, however, certain conditions develop in ways that make them difficult for an individual to notice, particularly when the symptoms occur while one is asleep or subtle behavioral changes. It is at such moments that your partner, who shares your space and knows one intimately, can be quite important in finding signs that may otherwise escape detection.

The caring partner is not only a buddy—they can become a valuable helpmate in having good health. By noticing a subtle warning and urging medical examination, partners have the ability to detect and manage potentially serious health issues before life-threatening situations set in.

If your partner mentions issues with your sleep habits, mood, or body changes, it's crucial to pay attention to what they are observing. Early detection can go a long way in treating conditions and avoiding complications later on.

One of the most neglected yet severe health problems that a partner is most likely to detect is sleep apnoea—a sleeping disorder that stops and starts breathing, tending to result in serious health dangers. But outside of sleep patterns, there are many other illnesses where a second set of ears and eyes can be life-saving.

What is Sleep Apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is an intermittent cessation of breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is the most prevalent type and results from an obstruction of the airway that limits airflow, causing temporary stoppages in breathing. Although the individual with sleep apnoea is not aware of these interruptions, a sleeping partner will observe characteristic signs such as:

• Repeated loud snoring
• Gasps, chokes, or snorts
• Excessive awakenings during the night
• Abnormal restlessness while asleep

Daytime symptoms, including severe tiredness, headaches, poor concentration, and mood changes, can also suggest the existence of the condition. Sleep apnoea can cause high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes if left untreated.

If your partner notices these symptoms, obtaining medical guidance and having a sleep study can result in a successful diagnosis and treatment plan, which may include lifestyle modifications, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy, or surgery in extreme cases.

Subtle Changes That May Signal Underlying Issues

Other than sleep disorders, a partner may also note gradual or sudden behavioral and appearance changes that may signal serious health issues. Examples of these are:

1. Sudden Mood Swings and Irritability

Mood changes, heightened irritability, or depression signs sometimes indicate underlying illnesses like thyroid diseases, diabetes, or even neurological disorders like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. If your partner points out extreme mood changes in you, it would be advisable to discuss the same with a healthcare professional.

2. Skin Color or Texture Changes

Your spouse might be the first to spot slight changes in your skin, e.g., yellowing (indicative of liver disease), dark spots (which can signal insulin resistance or prediabetes), or abnormal moles (which could be early signs of skin cancer). Skin color change, chronic rashes, or spontaneous bruising should never be taken lightly and should be checked by a doctor.

3. Frequent Night Sweats

Night sweats are sometimes explained by stress or overheating, but regular night sweats might signal infections, endocrine imbalances, or even certain cancers such as lymphoma. If your partner points out that you're always waking up in sweat, a trip to the doctor is advised.

4. Abnormal Breathing or Heart Rate While Sleeping

If your partner observes pauses in your breathing beyond sleep apnoea or notices an irregular heartbeat when you’re at rest, this could indicate underlying cardiovascular issues. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other heart-related conditions often present with subtle symptoms that a sleeping or resting individual may not recognize but could be evident to a close observer.

5. Significant Weight Loss or Gain Without Explanation

Unexplained fluctuations in weight accompanied by no diet or exercise plan change can signal thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, or even gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease. Your partner should get medical help investigated if they witness inexplicable fluctuations in weight.

If your partner notices any of these symptoms, it's not good to brush off their worries. Most serious medical conditions are easiest to treat when they are diagnosed early. The following are what to do if a partner is concerned about your health:

Maintain a Symptom Journal: Document any alterations in sleep, behavior, appetite, or body symptoms.

Make an Appointment for a Medical Check-Up: Even when you are feeling well, a medical professional can conduct tests to eliminate any underlying causes.

Undergo Diagnostic Testing: If symptoms are indicating problems such as sleep apnoea, diabetes, or heart disease, your physician may advise you to undergo a sleep study, blood work, or heart monitoring.

Make Lifestyle Changes: Many of these conditions, including sleep apnoea and heart disease, can be alleviated by weight reduction, a healthy diet, and proper exercise.

Diwali season is here, which brings with it the joy of celebrations, endless sweets, and festive food, all of which make this time of year so special. But to enjoy it fully without health worries, it is important to keep a check on your wellbeing with a few basic tests.

As the festivities begin, it is natural to get carried away with indulgent meals, late nights, and social gatherings. However, a few simple blood tests before Diwali can help you stay active, balanced, and ready to celebrate without any setbacks.

Why You Should Get Tested Before Diwali

Surrounded by all the happiness and excitement, many people tend to overlook their health during the festive season. This often leads to avoidable health issues that can interrupt the joy of celebrations and take away from the festive mood.

These problems usually stem from a few common habits that creep in during festivals, overeating, irregular sleep schedules, eating too many fried or sugary foods, skipping workouts, or changing usual meal times. They can also worsen any chronic health condition you already have.

You might now be wondering what these health problems are and whether they should be taken seriously. Mostly, they begin with stomach-related troubles that interfere with digestion, causing discomforts like acidity, gas, tiredness, constipation, diarrhoea, or irregular bowel movements. We got in touch with Dr Ranjeet Singh, Professor and HOD General Medicine- NIIMS Medical College And Hospital.

Do These Health Tests Before Diwali For A Festive Free Season

HbA1c and Blood Sugar Test

People living with diabetes should check their sugar levels before the festive season. An HbA1c test shows your average blood sugar over the last three months and helps your doctor adjust your diet or medicines accordingly. Even if you don’t have diabetes, a simple fasting or random blood sugar test can help you track early signs of imbalance, especially if you plan to indulge in sweets and rich foods.

Blood Pressure Check

Irregular blood pressure is common during festivals due to stress, erratic sleep, and heavy food intake. Both high and low BP can cause headaches, dizziness, or even heart complications. Checking your blood pressure and basic heart health markers before Diwali ensures you celebrate safely without fatigue or uneasiness.

Liver Function Test (LFT)

Festive feasts are often loaded with fried, oily, and sugary items that can strain your liver. The Liver Function Test helps assess how well your liver is processing toxins and nutrients. If you already have liver concerns or a history of fatty liver, this test becomes even more essential before you begin your festive indulgence.

Kidney Function Test (KFT)

The Kidney Function Test checks how efficiently your kidneys are filtering waste and maintaining fluid balance. Overeating, dehydration, or excess salt and sweets can put pressure on your kidneys. Getting this test done before the festivities helps detect any early signs of kidney stress or damage.

Thyroid Function Test

Thyroid hormones control your metabolism, mood, and energy levels but when they get imbalanced, they can lead to fatigue, mood swings, or sudden weight changes, issues that tend to worsen during the festive rush. A Thyroid Function Test ensures your hormone levels are stable, helping you feel active and positive throughout the season.

Lipid Profile (Cholesterol Test)

During Diwali, fried snacks and sweets can cause a spike in cholesterol levels. A Lipid Profile Test helps measure good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. If you get your Lipid profile done before Diwali, it can make you make better decisions when you are gorging on all the diwali sweets and make smarter food choices through the festive week.

To enjoy Diwali while reducing the risk of health problems, it’s a good idea to get these essential tests done in advance. Keeping your health in check will help you make the most of the celebrations without worry.

You can also encourage your family and friends to do the same. Remind them to take simple preventive steps and schedule their checkups so that everyone can enjoy a safe Diwali.

It was 1846, when a young man lay on an operating table as doctors were ready to perform a surgery to remove a tumor from his neck. Then came a strange-smelling vapor. It was mix of ether and oil, and it filled the room. The man lying on the operation table did not flinch or cry out, there was no pain. When he woke up, it was as if nothing had happened.

This was the day that marked the dawn of general anesthesia. It was on this day today in 1846, that surgical anesthetic WTG Morton conducted the first successful demonstration of ether. Thus, this day is observed as the World Anesthesia Day.

Nearly two centuries later, scientists are still trying to figure out what actually happens to the brain when we under go anesthesia?

The Mind Under Anesthesia

Anesthesia doesn’t simply make a person “fall asleep.” It creates a state where the brain disconnects from conscious awareness while vital body functions remain stable.

When the drug enters your bloodstream, it alters how the nerve cells in the brain communicate. Usually, a billion of neurons send and receive signals rapidly, and forms networks responsible for thinking, feeling, and awareness. However, when anesthesia enters the body, these signals slow down or stop and it disrupts the communication between key regions, such as the cortex, which is responsible for handling thought and sensory perception, and the thalamus, which is responsible for processing information from the body.

Furthermore, the brainwave pattern, which usually looks fast and varied on an EEG, shift into slower and larger waves. The mind actually "tunes out" losing its ability to form memories, sense time, or even to process pain.

While anesthesia is designed to create total unconsciousness, it’s a delicate balance. Too little, and traces of awareness can slip through, a phenomenon known as accidental awareness, where patients recall sounds, sensations, or pressure during surgery. It’s rare but can be distressing.

However, too much can make the brain enter a state of extreme suppression. In such cases, EEG readings show almost flat patterns, indicating that neurons have gone quiet. This can also raise the risk of confusion or cognitive issues after surgery, especially among older adults.

In most people, the fog clears within hours, but some experience short-term problems with memory or focus, known as post-operative cognitive dysfunction. In older patients, this sometimes extends into delirium — temporary disorientation or hallucinations caused by lingering changes in brain activity.

How Does The Mind Wake Up?

You do not immediately wake up, but the mind reboots in layers. High-order functions like reasoning and self-awareness are the first to recover, then attention, coordination, and reaction time.

Studies show that as the anesthetic wears off, brain activity gradually reconnects across different regions. Certain rhythms that dominate during unconsciousness fade, replaced by faster, more complex patterns as the brain resumes its normal communication. It’s as though the mind is reassembling itself, piece by piece.

Anesthesia does not just turn the brain off, but reshapes consciousness, suspending awareness, while also preserving life.

The air quality in Delhi before Delhi has already reached beyond the 200 mark. The threshold is considered as 'poor'. The real-time Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) at 5.30am today was 233. Multiple areas in Delhi already recorded AQI above 300, categorizing it into 'very poor'.

How Is AQI Read?

• 0 to 50 - Good
• 51 to 100 - Satisfactory
• 101 to 200 - Moderately Polluted
• 201 to 300 - Poor
• 301 to 400 - Very Poor
• 401 to 500 - Severe

Anand Vihar recorded 399 at AQI, while Dwarka Sector 8 was at 338, and Mathura Road at 311.

Also Read: 6 Warning Signs In Your Mouth That May Point To Heart Problems

The air quality is already worsening even before Diwali, this poses a risk for anyone who steps out. So, is there any right time to step out?

Dr Vivek Nangia, a Gurugram-based pulmonologist and a member of DocTube says that pollution levels tend to be slightly lower in the afternoon.

PM2.5 air pollution is highest in the morning and lowest in the afternoon. As per a 2023 study by an air filter brand, Delhi's air pollution peaked at 9AM and gradually improved as the day progressed.

On an average, Delhi sees roughly as half as much PM2.5 by 5PM. Similarly, in Kolkata, the pollution peaks at 8am and is lowered by 4PM. In Mumbai, the peak comes at 9am and is improved by 4pm. In the case of Chennai and Hyderabad, the peak comes at 8am with Pm2.5 at the lowest at 3pm or by noon.

"However, it is vital to wear well-fitted masks," says the doctor.

Can You Step Out In The Evening?

Noon is when the sun is at its peak, it heats the ground and causes warm air to rise and mix with the atmosphere. This helps to disperse pollutants. However, at night, the ground cools down and leads to a temperature inversion. This means that air neat ground becomes colder than the air above it, trapping pollutants close to the surface.

Also Read: World Spine Day 2025: Theme, Significance, And Origin

How Can You Protect Yourself When You Step Out?

Choose the correct mask, experts suggest that we go with N99 and N100 masks, which provide higher filtration. They are more efficient than N95 masks. Dr Sandeep Nayar, Principal Director and HOD, Chest & Respiratory Diseases at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital explains that preferably N95 should be considered as normal surgical masks do not prevent you from getting exposed to smaller pollutants including PM2.5 particles which may directly enter your airways and may diffuse into the blood and affect all organs of body.

If you must step out, choose the afternoon time, as it is when the pollution is at its lowest.

To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses, use lubricating eye drops, stay indoors and keep the windows closed, practice eye hygiene and invest in an air purifier.

For your skin, cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting it with sunscreen. You must include antioxidants in your diet and may consider detoxifying treatments.

Continue to check AQI forecasts near your area and keep a note of it to know when to avoid going out. Unless it is absolutely necessary, only then step out.

You can naturally cleanse your nasal passage and lungs by taking a steam, practicing control coughing, drinking green tea, consuming anti-inflammatory food items, and by consuming honey. You can also try Yoga to improve your breathing and cleanse your lungs.