In a world often filled with glamour and success, mental health struggles can be hidden behind the glitz and shine. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, a name synonymous with blockbuster movies and cinematic brilliance, recently shared a deeply personal story about his daughter, Isha's, battle with bipolar disorder.

This revelation, coming from a man known for his stoic demeanor, highlights the importance of addressing mental health openly and with compassion.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s recent discussions about his daughter's struggle with bipolar disorder have shed light on a topic that is often stigmatized and misunderstood. His openness not only brings awareness but also emphasizes the crucial role families play in supporting loved ones through mental health battles.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's daughter, Isha, has been battling bipolar disorder. Despite the difficulties, she penned down her experiences into a powerful narrative with her book, Finding Order In Disorder.

Vidhu on Daughter Isha's Battle with Bipolar Disorder

He credited their family doctor, who played an important role during this trying time. He told TOI, “Thanks to his guidance, I understood that it’s a condition like any other, and we needed to fight it together as a family,”

Chopra's revelation comes as his daughter, Isha, has been navigating her journey with bipolar disorder, a condition characterized by extreme mood swings that can affect a person’s ability to function in daily life. In interviews, Chopra expressed how the diagnosis initially shook the family, but it also became a rallying point for them to unite and face the challenge head-on.

He shared that Isha’s journey has been one of immense courage and determination, as she has learned to manage her condition and live a fulfilling life. Isha, who is also an aspiring writer, found solace in her craft, channeling her experiences into words that not only serve as her personal outlet but also as a beacon of hope for others dealing with similar struggles.

In one interview, Chopra mentioned how he initially struggled to understand the severity of Isha’s condition. However, it soon became clear that the family needed to educate themselves about bipolar disorder and approach the situation with empathy and patience.

The renowned filmmaker emphasized that mental health is not something that can be "fixed" overnight but requires ongoing support and understanding. His candidness about the emotional toll it took on the family is a powerful reminder that mental health issues do not discriminate; they can affect anyone, regardless of their social or economic status.

Isha’s decision to pen her thoughts and experiences into a book marks a significant milestone in her journey. Chopra, who has always believed in the power of storytelling, recognized that his daughter's writing could potentially help others who are grappling with similar issues. He mentioned how proud he was of Isha’s strength and resilience in turning her struggles into something positive.

Her book, which delves into her personal experiences with bipolar disorder, aims to provide insights and hope to those who might be feeling isolated or misunderstood due to their mental health conditions. It is a testament to her courage and a reminder that sharing one’s story can be a powerful tool in breaking down the barriers of stigma surrounding mental health.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a long-term condition that requires continuous care, but it is manageable. Effective treatment, which includes medical care, medication, talk therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and the support of loved ones, can significantly improve one's quality of life. While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, many people successfully manage the condition, leading fulfilling lives with families, careers, and normal daily activities.

Chopra's openness about Isha's journey also highlights the importance of having conversations about mental health within families. He stressed the need for parents to be vigilant and supportive, to recognize the signs of mental health issues early, and to seek professional help without delay. His words resonate with a broader audience, reminding us that mental health should be treated with the same seriousness as physical health.

The stigma associated with mental health disorders often prevents individuals from seeking help, leading to further deterioration of their condition. By speaking out, Chopra is helping to normalize these discussions and encouraging others to seek help and support.

The relevance of discussing mental health openly cannot be overstated, especially in a country like India, where mental health issues are still often considered taboo.

Chopra's narrative serves as an important reminder that mental health struggles can touch any family, regardless of their background. His emphasis on the need for family unity and understanding in facing these challenges is particularly poignant. In a society where mental health is often neglected, Chopra’s story encourages families to come together, support each other, and create an environment where individuals feel safe to express their struggles without fear of judgment.

While doctors across the world recommend ensuring that fluoride and other protective minerals make up your toothpaste, your body produces its very own amino acid that protect your entire dental cavity.

Arginine, an amino acid that is already present in saliva, can turn bacteria from damaging to protective in your mouth, a study has found.

When sugars from food are broken down by the many bacteria living in the mouth, acids are produced that gradually damage tooth enamel and lead to cavities. This is known as dental caries. Over time, this acid dissolves tooth enamel and causes cavities.

However, researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark have discovered that regular arginine treatment can significantly reduced the overall acidity levels in the mouth and prevent tooth decay.

Yumi Del Rey, microbiologist at Aarhus, said: ""Our results revealed differences in acidity of the biofilms, with the ones treated with arginine being significantly more protected against acidification caused by sugar metabolism."

How Did The Study Take Place?

Volunteers were then asked to instructed to dip the dentures in a sugar solution for 5 minutes, immediately followed by distilled water (as placebo) or arginine for 30 minutes, one on each side. This was to be repeated three times a day, with arginine treatment done on the same side each time.

Sebastian Schlafer, professor at the Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, explained: "The aim was to investigate the impact of arginine treatment on the acidity, type of bacteria, and the carbohydrate matrix of biofilms from patients with active caries."

After 4 days of this process, the biofilms were developed and the dentures were removed for detailed analysis. The researchers compared dental plaques grown on customized dentures on both sides of each participant's mouth using a special pH-sensitive dye called C-SNARF-4.

How Does Arginine Work?

Additionally, the team also began to look into how arginine might be reducing acidity, by taking stock of which bacteria and sugars were present in each sample.

Biofilms treated with arginine showed lower levels of a sugar called fucose, while another sugar, galactose, was concentrated towards the outer surface of the biofilm, meaning both sugars were away from the tooth enamel.

After analyzing the DNA of bacteria present, the researchers found that arginine treatment significantly reduced a specific population of Streptococcus bacteria known to produce acid, while slightly increasing other bacterial strains that can metabolize arginine.

The scientists noted that while more research is needed into the arginine's effectiveness, the amino acid could be a promising new addition to oral hygiene products such as toothpaste or mouthwash.

For decades, a cancer diagnosis often came with fear and uncertainty. Today, that narrative is slowly changing. New national data shows that more people diagnosed with cancer in the United States are living longer than ever before, reflecting steady progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment.

For the first time, the five-year survival rate across all cancers has reached 70 percent. That means seven out of ten people diagnosed with cancer now live at least five years after diagnosis, a significant improvement from the mid-1970s, when survival hovered around 50 percent. This shift marks one of the most encouraging milestones in modern cancer care.

Why Survival Rates Are Rising

Several factors are driving this improvement. Reduced tobacco use has played a major role, particularly in lowering deaths from lung and other smoking-related cancers. At the same time, better screening tools are catching cancers earlier, when treatment is more likely to work. Advances in therapies, including targeted drugs, immunotherapy, and improved chemotherapy regimens, have also transformed outcomes for many patients.

What stands out is that survival gains are not limited to less aggressive cancers. Even cancers once considered highly fatal, such as lung cancer, liver cancer, and certain blood cancers, are seeing meaningful improvements. In some advanced-stage cancers where survival was previously measured in months, people are now living years longer than expected.

Living Longer, Even With Advanced Cancer

One of the most striking trends is improved survival among people with metastatic cancer, where the disease has spread to other parts of the body. While these cancers remain difficult to treat, progress is undeniable. Survival rates for metastatic lung cancer, for example, have increased severalfold since the 1990s. Similar gains have been seen in metastatic colorectal cancers.

These improvements suggest that cancer is increasingly being managed as a long-term condition rather than an immediate terminal illness for many patients. Continued research has played a critical role in making this possible.

The Role of Research and Funding

The steady rise in survival has not happened by chance. It reflects decades of scientific investment, clinical trials, and innovation. However, experts warn that recent cuts to health research funding could slow future progress. Breakthroughs in cancer care rely heavily on sustained support for research, and disruptions to that pipeline could affect outcomes years down the line.

While the current numbers are encouraging, they also serve as a reminder that progress must be protected and expanded.

Persistent Gaps and Disparities

Despite overall gains, cancer outcomes are not improving equally for everyone. The report highlights ongoing racial and ethnic disparities in both cancer incidence and survival. Certain populations continue to experience higher death rates and lower survival, often due to limited access to early screening, timely diagnosis, and high-quality treatment.

Lung cancer is expected to remain the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the coming years. While smoking remains the biggest risk factor, an increasing number of people who have never smoked are also being diagnosed, raising new questions about environmental and genetic risks. Some experts argue that screening guidelines need to evolve to reflect these changes.

A Growing Community of Survivors

As survival improves, the number of people living with a history of cancer is rapidly growing. There are already over 18 million cancer survivors in the US, and that number is expected to cross 22 million within the next decade. This brings new challenges.

Survivors often face long-term physical, emotional, and financial effects, and the healthcare system is still catching up when it comes to consistent survivorship care. Many primary care providers are not trained to monitor cancer recurrence or manage late treatment effects, leaving gaps in follow-up care.

Covid is returning, as the National Health Service, NHS UK warned that there has been a "bounce back" in respiratory viruses this winter, along with COVID too on the rise. While UK was already struggling with flu and norovirus on the rise, cases of COVID have also risen. The latest data from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) show that the number of patients in hospital beds with COVID per day has risen from 0.87 per 100,000, as compared with 0.77 per 100,000 the previous week.

NHS national medical director Professor Meghana Pandit said: “It’s clear that the worst is far from over for the NHS this winter, with hospitals again experiencing a rise in patients admitted with flu and other respiratory virus cases last week.”

What New COVID Variants Are We Dealing With In 2026?

Since the pandemic, there have been many variants of COVID. The virus has continued to evolve. Two new variants that caused the spike in cases in autumn were XFG, known as Stratus, and NB.1.1, known as Nimbus.

Stratus: It is a subvariant of Omicron variant and made of previous variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2. It was first detected in a sample on January 27, 2025. Whereas, Nimbus was first detected on January 22, 2025. It also originated from the same omicron variant, which was the reason for spike in 2023.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes stratus as a "variant under monitoring" after several countries in South East Asia reported a rise in new cases and hospitalizations with this variant being detected.

COVID Symptoms 2026: Fatigue Emerges As The Most Common Symptom

Among studies that focused on how symptoms appear together, fatigue stood out as the most consistently reported issue. It often occurred alone or alongside problems such as muscle and joint pain, brain fog, or breathlessness. Other symptom pairings that appeared frequently included loss of smell and taste, anxiety with depression, and various forms of musculoskeletal pain.

When researchers classified patients based on affected organ systems, respiratory problems were the most widespread, seen in about 47% of long COVID patients. Neurological symptoms followed at 31%, while gastrointestinal issues were reported by 28%. The authors stressed that these percentages reflect how often these clusters appeared within long COVID cases studied, not how common they are in the general population.

A smaller number of studies sorted patients by how severe their symptoms were, dividing them into mild, moderate, or severe categories using symptom scores, symptom counts, or quality-of-life measures. Three studies used clinical indicators for classification, including abnormal triglyceride levels and signs of restricted lung function on imaging.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), here are the common COVID symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• New loss of taste or smell
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

How To Know If You Have COVID?

CDC says, look out for these signs:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Lips and nail beds may appear pale, grey or blue