Among the many rare health conditions, aplastic anaemia is one of them. It is a rare, yet serious blood disorder where your bone marrow does not make enough blood cells and platelets.

People who have these conditions have an increased risk of health problems, infections, bleeding issues, heart issues and many such other health complications, The only cure for now is a stem cell transplantation.

Case Of Success

Recently, in Mumbai, a 10-year-old boy Abdullah Harnekar also faced this life-threatening condition underwent the bone marrow transplant. This happened at the Narayana Health SRCC Children's Hospital in Mumbai.

Abdullah's elder brother was identified as a haploidentical (half-match) donor. He underwent a T-replete stem transplant. The transplant was headed by Dr Priti Mehta, senior haematoma Oncology and BMT consultant at Narayana Health SRCC Children's Hospital in Mumbai.

Symptoms And Causes

The symptoms usually develop within few weeks or months, so it is quite possible to not notice any changes in your body at all. However, some severe symptoms include:

• Frequent viral infections
• Fatigue
• Bleeding or bruising more easily
• Shortness of breath
• Pale skin colour
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Fever

What causes this condition? It usually happens when your immune system attacks your bone marrow making it unable to produce any stem cells. Inherited conditions, medical treatments or exposure to certain carcinogens may increase the risk of developing aplastic anemia.

Medical conditions like autoimmune diseases like lupus, viral infections like epstein-barr virus, cytomegalovirus, parvovirus, etc. can increase your risk of this health conditions.

Inherited conditions may be Fanconi anemia, dyskeratosis congentia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, Diamond-Blacjfan anemia and Pearson syndrome, and treatments like chemotherapy or autoimmune disease treatment can increase the risk.

How Is It Diagnosed?

There are blood tests and genetic tests that help diagnose this health condition

• Complete Blood Count CBC with differential measures of your blood cells and the five types of white blood cells
• Peripheral blood smear is where medical pathologists examine your blood cells and platelets under a microscope
• Reticulocyte count is where the number of immature red blood cells are counted
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are procedures where bone marrow tissues are obtained for pathologists to examine under a microscope

Whooping cough or pertussis, has been making headlines for its comeback across the United States. As per the recent data, there have been 8,485 reported cases for far this year. This is double the number recorded at the same time last year. The resurgence had already led to the deaths of two infants in Louisiana and a 5-year old child in Washington state over the past six months.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. It is most dangerous for infants and young children, particularly before they are old enough to receive their first dose of vaccine at two months of age.

Why Are Cases Increasing?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, whooping cough cases dropped due to the increase in the use of masks, social distancing, and other preventive measures. However, it has made a comeback after 2 to 5 years as these preventive measures have decreased.

There is another factor in the increase of cases, it is the decline in vaccine rotes. As per an AP report, kindergarten vaccination coverage dropped last year, and vaccines exemptions reached an all-time high in the United States.

Public health officials worry that growing vaccine hesitancy could further fuel outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like whooping cough.

Pregnant women are also recommended to receive the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine to protect their newborns. Unfortunately, vaccination rates during pregnancy remain suboptimal, leaving many babies vulnerable in their first months of life.

Which States Reported The Highest Cases?

There are certain states that have reported more numbers than others. As of the recent data, Pennsylvania reported 207 cases so far, whereas Michigan has seen an even sharper rise in cases. In 2025, Michigan has reported 516 cases, mostly among children, between ages 5 to 17. Michigan, in the last year, reported 2,081 pertussis cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all infants, children, adolescents, and pregnant women get vaccinated against pertussis. Adults who missed vaccinations earlier in life should also receive a dose to ensure protection.

How Does It Affect Your Body?

According to the CDC, Bordetella pertussis bacteria attach to the cilia (small hair-like structures) lining parts of the upper respiratory tract. The bacteria release toxins that damage the cilia and cause swelling, leading to severe coughing fits.

Symptoms of whooping cough can vary depending on a person’s age and vaccination status. Initial symptoms often resemble a common cold: runny nose, mild cough, and low-grade fever. However, as the disease progresses, patients may experience uncontrollable, violent coughing fits that can make it hard to breathe. The characteristic "whoop" sound often occurs when the patient gasps for air after a coughing fit.

Who Is More At Risk?

Babies under 1 year old are most at risk for severe complications, including pneumonia, seizures, and even death. Individuals with underlying health conditions like asthma or those who are immunocompromised also face a higher risk of serious illness.

How It Spreads And How Can It Be Prevented?

Whooping cough spreads easily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. People can remain contagious for at least two weeks after symptoms begin. Some individuals may only have mild symptoms yet can still unknowingly transmit the bacteria to vulnerable groups like infants.

The best way to prevent whooping cough is vaccination. Practicing good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes, can also help limit the spread. In some cases, preventive antibiotics (post-exposure prophylaxis) may be recommended for those who have been in close contact with an infected person.

When it comes to medicine, it has been time and again proven that women bodies have been studied way less. This is why, even after science being this advance, has often lacked on how women's bodies react to different illness and their cures. It is the same in the case of Tourette syndrome. As per a study published in Neurology, there is an existing gender gap in diagnosing Tourette syndrome (TS).

Researchers have also found that women are not only less likely to be diagnosed with TS, but also experience longer delays in receiving a diagnosis. These findings, led by Dr. Marisela Elizabeth Dy-Hollins of Massachusetts General Hospital, highlight the urgent need for increased awareness and early screening of TS in females.

What Is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and sounds, known as tics. These can include simple actions like blinking or throat clearing, as well as more complex behaviors such as jumping or repeating words. Tics must persist for at least a year for a diagnosis of TS or persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, where only movement or vocal tics are present.

Although TS is diagnosed about three times more often in males than females, the study suggests that this gap may not purely reflect biological differences. Instead, it may indicate that females are being underdiagnosed or diagnosed later due to differences in symptom presentation or societal biases.

Key Findings of the Study

Analyzing data from 2,109 people with TS and 294 with persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, the study revealed several important gender differences:

Diagnosis Rates: Only 61% of female participants had received a TS diagnosis before participating in the study, compared to 77% of males.

Delayed Diagnosis: On average, it took three years from symptom onset for females to be diagnosed, compared to two years for males.

Age at Diagnosis: Girls were typically diagnosed at an average age of 13, while boys were diagnosed around age 11.

Symptom Onset: Female participants showed slightly later onset of TS symptoms, around 6.5 years old compared to 6 years for males. However, for persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, symptoms actually appeared earlier in females (7.9 years) than males (8.9 years).

A limitation noted by researchers is that most participants were white, which may affect how broadly the findings can be applied across other racial and ethnic groups.

Why Early Diagnosis Matters

"These results suggest that healthcare professionals and parents should actively screen female individuals with tics to give them a better chance of managing symptoms over time," Dr. Dy-Hollins emphasized. Treatment strategies can vary and include:

Education: Teaching families, teachers, and patients about TS to reduce stigma and encourage early help-seeking.

Behavioral Therapies: Approaches like Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) can significantly help in managing symptoms.

Medications: In severe cases, medicines such as antipsychotics or muscle relaxants may be prescribed.

Watchful Waiting: Mild tics sometimes lessen over time without the need for intensive intervention.

Emotional Support: Addressing the psychological impact of TS is crucial for better overall well-being.

Closing the Gender Gap

Researchers believe differences in how tics present in girls and societal expectations may contribute to the delayed or missed diagnoses. Dr. Dy-Hollins stressed the importance of further research, particularly studies involving more diverse populations. Raising awareness and ensuring equitable healthcare practices are vital to better support all individuals living with Tourette syndrome.

We know it’s a bit personal — but if you're sitting on the toilet right now, reading this, it’s time to rethink your bathroom strategy. Surprisingly, grunting your way through a bowel movement may be doing you more harm than good. Medical experts are now warning that the all-too-common habit of straining with sounds may actually make it harder for you to "go."

But if grunting doesn’t work, what does? Recent research is shining a light on an “interesting” — and more effective — position that could finally make bathroom time easier and healthier. Here’s everything you need to know.

While it might feel natural to push and grunt when you're struggling, studies show it’s not actually helping. In fact, releasing air and sound while straining reduces internal pressure, which is crucial for moving stool along.

When you grunt, you’re essentially letting out the very force that should be helping you pass stool. It's like trying to blow up a balloon with a leaky hole — the energy escapes instead of building pressure where it's needed most. This subtle loss of abdominal pressure means the effort you're making is, ironically, working against you.

A UK report even found that about a third of people are habitual loo-grunters. While it’s not going to cause immediate damage, it certainly won’t make things any easier.

How Your Pooping Position Changes Everything?

The conversation around healthy pooping habits took off globally with the introduction of devices like the Squatty Potty — a footstool designed to help you squat rather than sit during bowel movements. The buzz wasn’t just marketing hype; there’s real science behind it.

Humans, after all, were not designed to defecate while sitting. Evolutionary biology suggests that squatting is the body's natural position for elimination. When we sit, the puborectalis muscle — which wraps around the rectum like a sling — stays partially tense, creating a bend (like a kink in a garden hose) between the rectum and anus to prevent unwanted accidents. Squatting relaxes this muscle fully, straightening out the digestive tract and allowing for smoother, more complete bowel movements.

In other words, sitting keeps your "hose" bent; squatting straightens it out and lets everything flow.

A study published in Digestive Diseases and Sciences by researcher Dov Sikirov measured the time and effort needed for bowel movements in different positions. The findings were clear:

• Subjects who squatted completed their business in about one-third the time compared to those who sat.
• Squatters reported a much easier, more satisfying experience with significantly less effort.
• X-rays also show that the rectum straightens more when squatting, and pressure inside the abdomen is lower — meaning you're straining less and emptying more fully.

The benefits aren’t just about convenience either. Straining during bowel movements is a known contributor to constipation, hemorrhoids, and even pelvic floor issues. Cultures where squatting toilets are the norm, such as in parts of Asia and Africa, report lower rates of these problems, although diet may also play a role.

What Is Squatty Potty?

The Squatty Potty and similar products are simple footstools designed to elevate your knees above your hips while you're seated. This change mimics a squat position, relaxing the puborectalis muscle and straightening out the colon.

While you could technically squat without buying anything — simply by bending deeply at the knees and hips — the stool makes the position much easier to achieve, especially for older adults or those with mobility issues.

And yes, evidence shows it works. People using posture-changing devices report less straining, faster bathroom visits, and a greater sense of “full evacuation.” If you’ve ever left the toilet feeling like you weren’t quite done, a squat stool might be your solution.

Sit vs. Squat: Why the Right Position Matters for Your Health

Western toilets prioritize comfort and decorum over functional anatomy. But if you find yourself frequently constipated, straining, or dealing with hemorrhoids, your toilet posture might be part of the problem.

Squatting isn't just about easier elimination — it’s about long-term digestive health. By relieving pressure during bowel movements, you can potentially lower your risk for common and painful conditions like:

• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Anal fissures
• Pelvic floor dysfunction

When waste moves out of the body more easily, it also means less trapped stool, less bloating, and potentially better gut health overall.

4 Reasons You Should Squat, Not Grunt

If you're still not convinced, here’s why adopting a squatting posture could change your bathroom experience for good:

Reduces Straining: Prevents excessive pushing and lowers the risk of hemorrhoids.

Unkinks Your Colon: Straightens the rectal canal for a smoother passage.

Increases Full Evacuation: Helps you feel more empty after using the bathroom.

Relaxes Your Body Naturally: Aligns with the body's natural anatomy for easier elimination.

Next time nature calls, skip the grunt-fest and rethink your position. Whether you invest in a Squatty Potty or simply use a low footstool to prop up your legs, small changes can lead to big relief.

Modern toilets may have revolutionized hygiene, but when it comes to the natural way to poop, a little squatting can go a long way toward improving your gut health and making every bathroom trip a whole lot easier.