We have all, by now, know that while 2024 was a year disease, but 2025 awaits even more. At the starting of the year only we saw a rise in the cases of bird flu, and saw the virus spread among people too. Then there was trichomoniasis in birds in the UK, and FMD in Germany, and many more. While the source of it all might be animal, not all of these are zoonotic diseases. Not all animal diseases are zoonotic diseases, some are zoonotic, some are non-zoonotic, and some are reverse zoonotic diseases. But, what are the difference?

What Are Zoonotic Diseases?

Zoonotic diseases or zoonoses are infectious diseases that can be spread between animals and humans. It originated with the domestication of animals, animal products or animal derivatives. The word also stems from the Greek word zoion, which means animal, and nosis, which means diseases.

The term was first used in 1885 by Rudolph Virchow in his Handbook of Communicable Diseases. It spreads between vertebrates and humans, which means animals with a backbone, and birds. The way their bodies work is similar enough to ours that pathogens can sometimes adjust to live in both.

While some zoonotic diseases spread only from animals to humans and do not spread from person to person. There are other diseases like Ebola, Mpox, COVID-19, and many more which come from animals, but continue to spread in humans, through humans, and cause outbreaks. Some of them also spread in humans and then mutate to infect only humans, like HIV

Many pathogens are limited to infecting a single type of host—humans, specific animals, plants, or even other microorganisms. However, zoonotic diseases are unique because they can infect both humans and other vertebrates. In some cases, these diseases originally affected only animals, but genetic mutations enabled them to "jump" to humans and cause infections.

Zoonotic illnesses are typically caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses. However, they can also stem from other sources, such as fungal infections like ringworm or prion diseases like variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD), often referred to as “mad cow disease.” Animals that carry zoonotic diseases:

• Bats
• Birds
• Cats
• Deer
• Dogs
• Livestock
• Non-human primates, monkeys, apes and chimpanzees
• Rodents

What Are Non-Zoonotic Diseases?

Not all animal diseases are zoonotic. Zoonoses are infectious diseases that can transfer between animals and humans such as rabies, anthrax, influenza, Nipah, COVID-19, brucellosis, and tuberculosis. However, not all animal diseases are zoonotic. Many diseases affect livestock without posing a risk to human health. These non-zoonotic diseases are species-specific and cannot infect humans. Examples include Foot & Mouth Disease (FDM), PPR, Lumpy Skin Disease, Classical Swine Fever, and trichomoniasis in birds and animals.

What Are Reverse Zoonotic Diseases?

It is the case where a disease transmits from humans to animals. This also poses threats to animals health as well as public health, due to the potential for animal disease reservoirs to form.

In 2020, several mink farms in the Netherlands experienced a severe respiratory disease outbreaks, upon investigation, it was revealed that minks had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the same virus responsible for COVID-19. The minks came in contact with infected farmworkers.

There have been cases when domesticated dogs, cats and ferrets have developed flu-like symptoms caused by influenza A virus, passed on by their owners. Human-derived pathogens also pose significant risks to endangered wildlife. For example, in Tanzania, an outbreak of human metapneumovirus resulted in fatalities among a population of wild chimpanzees. The virus was believed to have been transmitted by researchers and visitors to the national park where the chimpanzees lived, highlighting the potential consequences of human-wildlife interactions.

Most of us brush twice a day, some of us floss, and the enthusiastic few even use a mouthwash that burns like fire. But there’s one thing we’re all guilty of skipping, and that is tongue scraping. Skipping this tiny but mighty step could be the reason your oral hygiene isn’t quite hitting the mark. And it's not just about bad breath.

What is the white film on your tongue in the morning?

That whitish layer on your tongue when you wake up is not just sleep residue or leftover toothpaste. It's a delightful mix of bacteria, dead cells, food debris and other gunk. Tongue scraping removes this film before it gets a chance to cause trouble.

This Is What Happens If You Don’t Scrape

1. Bad Breath

No matter how minty your toothpaste or fancy your mouthwash, if your tongue is coated in bacteria, you’re going to have bad breath. Halitosis is often caused by anaerobic bacteria that sit on the tongue and release foul-smelling sulphur compounds. A few scrapes each morning can keep that stink in check.

2. Taste Suffers

Ever feel like food doesn’t taste quite as good as it used to? It might be because your taste buds are trapped under layers of gunk. Scraping the tongue helps clear the surface, making your sense of taste sharper and more responsive.

3. Overall Health Affected

The mouth is connected to the rest of your body, and poor oral hygiene has been linked to a range of health issues, from heart disease to diabetes. The bacteria on your tongue can enter your bloodstream through micro-abrasions in your mouth, causing inflammation in other parts of your body.

It’s an Ancient Practice

While influencers are only now discovering the joys of tongue scraping, this practice has been around for centuries, particularly in Ayurveda, where it’s considered an essential part of morning cleansing rituals. Traditional medicine has long acknowledged the tongue as a mirror to internal health, and scraping is believed to help remove toxins and stimulate digestive enzymes.

The Right Way to Do It

• Use a proper tongue scraper. Not your toothbrush. Toothbrushes don’t clean the tongue effectively and can actually push debris further in.
• Scrape gently from back to front. You’ll probably gag the first few times, but start slow and go as far back as you can comfortably manage.
• Rinse and repeat. Twice if needed. Then rinse your mouth. Done in under 30 seconds.

Adding this simple step to your routine could mean fewer dental visits, fresher breath, and even better digestion.

We know. We know. Willingly dipping yourself into freezing water is not everyone's idea of a good time. In fact, it’s the stuff most nightmares are made of. But people are queuing up to do it. Whether it’s a tub full of ice cubes or a freezing lake at 6am, cold plunges are a thing. While you will be surprised to know the benefits, first know what exactly happens when you put your body through this temporary torture.

From giving your mood a caffeine-free lift to helping muscles relax, here's what makes cold plunging the icy wellness trend for your body and brain.

1. Boosts Your Mood

A few minutes in icy water can deliver a euphoric high. That’s because cold exposure triggers a rush of endorphins, your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. It also reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. Some studies even suggest that cold water immersion can help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.

2. Recovers Muscles

Ever wonder why athletes dunk themselves in icy baths post-game? Cold plunges help reduce inflammation, speed up muscle recovery, and soothe soreness. When you expose your body to extreme cold, blood vessels constrict. Once you’re out and warming up, they dilate, increasing blood flow to tired muscles.

3. Improves Sleep

Taking a cold plunge can actually help you sleep better. Post-immersion, your body enters a state of deep relaxation once it warms back up. Your nervous system settles down, and your sleep hormones kick in more efficiently.

4. Boosts Immune System

Regular cold plunges may also give your immune system a little kick in the pants. The cold stimulates white blood cell production, which helps your body fight off illness. Some studies have found that people who practise cold water immersion regularly tend to get fewer colds and recover faster.

5. Makes Your Skin Glow

Cold water tightens your pores, reduces puffiness, and boosts circulation to your skin. It’s basically nature’s version of a toner. Plus, by reducing inflammation and flushing out toxins, your skin is left looking brighter, fresher, and decidedly more awake than you feel.

6. Teaches You to Breathe

Ever tried to breathe normally when your body is screaming from shock? Cold plunges force you to master your breath. That slow, deep breathing you’re encouraged to do during the first freezing minute? It’s not just to stop you from panicking. It actually helps train your nervous system to stay calm under pressure, build mental resilience, and reduce anxiety over time.

In a nutshell, cold plunging isn’t just a weird wellness trend. It’s a full-body and mind experience that comes with some genuinely impressive health benefits. Yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, you’ll want to scream. But after a while, you might just find yourself looking forward to it.

For a country that treats 23 degrees Celsius like it is the Sahara, the UK isn’t exactly built for this kind of heat. While most of us are busy Instagramming sunsets, our bodies might be quietly waving red flags. And that tiredness or weird headache is not just the heat; it could be your system slowly giving signs.

Here is what the heat could actually be doing to you and why you should not ignore it.

That Headache Is a Heat Alarm

You’ve drunk your water, you're not hungover, and yet your head’s pounding like you’ve been at a rock concert. Heat headaches are real, and they’re one of the first signs your body is overheating. So slam a glass of water, sit in front of a fan, and maybe ditch the hot coffee for something icy. It would help if you stuck your feet in a cold bucket like your gran used to do.

Sweat, Then No Sweat? That’s Trouble

At first, you’re drenched like you’ve run a marathon in your own kitchen. But then… nothing. You stop sweating. Your skin feels dry, hot and honestly a bit different. This switch can be dangerous. It’s a classic heatstroke sign. Do not ignore if you’ve been roasting all day and your skin is suddenly dry and flushed; that’s your cue to cool down fast. Think cold compress, wet towel, or even lying in a bath.

Muscles Twitching on Their Own?

Random leg twitches? Sudden tummy cramps while lying down doing absolutely nothing? That’s not just your body being weird; it’s heat cramps. They happen when you’re low on salt and hydration, and they can be surprisingly painful. DIY remedy: Bananas, electrolyte sachets, or if you’re fancy, coconut water.

Feeling Like You're About to Faint on the Road?

Heat dizziness is uncertain. One minute you’re grabbing grapes; the next you’re gripping the trolley like it’s your last hope. When it’s hot, your blood pressure can drop faster than your motivation on a Monday. If you suddenly feel woozy or like you’re in a bad dream, sit down before you fall down. Always carry a water bottle.

Can’t Think Straight? Not Just the Heat Making You Dull

If you’re suddenly mixing up names, forgetting simple words, or spacing out mid-text, that could be the heat messing with your brain. Mental fog, confusion, or even irritability are signs that your body is cooking from the inside. If someone is slurring, looking spaced out, or acting like they’ve had a few too many but haven’t, it could be heatstroke. Call for help.

Your Skin Feels Like a Radiator?

Hot, dry, and suspiciously flushed skin is not the summer glow you think it is. If your skin starts feeling like it belongs in an oven, it means your body’s not coping well with the heat. Especially if your pulse is racing and you feel weirdly calm. Get help. This is your body in SOS mode. Cool off immediately and don’t try to “push through it”.

Swollen Feet?

Heat can make your feet and ankles puff up like inflatable pool toys. It’s not you gaining sudden water weight; it’s literally your blood vessels acting up. So put your feet up, wear comfy shoes, and avoid salty snacks. That means no crisp binge while complaining about the weather.

Do Not Forget To:

• Hydrate well
• Draw the curtains always
• Sit in front of a fan for relief
• Avoid peak sun hours
• Don’t ignore what your body’s whispering