A new bill has been proposed in Britain and lawmakers are expected to vote Friday. This bill aims to legalize assisted dying, which was introduced on Wednesday. This is the first time in almost a decade that the House of Commons will debate. The debate will discuss if doctors should be allowed to help end people's lives.

History of the Bill

Labour politician Kim Leadbeater in the House of Commons read out the bill that grants terminally ill people in England and Wales a way to allow physicians to help them die.

The bill is called the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. This bill has not been debated since 2015.

Is it the same as Euthanasia?

Many countries allow euthanasia, which is referred to as mercy killing. However, the practice of the same varies legally.

Euthanasia is an act of ending a patient's life to limit the patient's suffering. Here, a patient would be a terminally ill person or someone who is experiencing great pain or suffering.

The word euthanasia comes from the Greek words "ey" good and "Thanatos" death. The idea behind euthanasia comes from the idea of a dignified death that condemns someone to a slow, painful, or undignified death.

What does the UK bill propose?

The bill proposes that only those who are 18 years old and older in England and Wales and those who are expected to die within six months can request assisted dying. The bill states that the person requesting for this must have the mental capacity to make a choice about the end of their life and will be required to make two separate declarations about their wish to die. This two-step declaration along with "robust safeguards" with "three layers of scrutiny", with two independent doctors and High Court Judge to allow the signed off decision is to protect anyone from being pressured or coerced into ending their life.

If anyone is found to dishonestly get someone to take their life through this decision, that person will face up to 14 years in prison.

Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and anyone who helps a person end their life can be prosecuted and face up to 14 years in prison.

ALSO READ: UK Presents Bill To Allow 'Assisted Dying': What It Means And How Is It Different From Euthanasia

For administrating medication, the bill provides that the patient must self-administer the life-ending medication. No doctor is allowed to give the medication. The bill also does not allow any health professional to provide assistance to the patient to ensure that the act is committed with patient's will.

However, one of the provisions of the bill does allow doctors to take part by ensuring that they are satisfied that the patient has made their own decision and has done so voluntarily.

How is Euthanasia different in practice?

There are many types of euthanasia, which differs in practice and legality and approval from the state. The types are:

Active Euthanasia: Where a patient is injected with a lethal dose of the drug, also known as "aggressive" euthanasia.

Passive Euthanasia: Where the patient's artificial life support such as a ventilator or feeding tube is withheld.

Voluntary Euthanasia: This happens when the patient consents to it.

Involuntary Euthanasia: This happens when the patient is not in the state to consent to euthanasia. In such cases, the patient's family makes the decision.

Dutch Guidelines of Active Euthanasia

Active Euthanasia is done by giving a fatal dose of a sleeping drug or a lethal drug is injected. After the patient is given a local anaesthetic, Lidocaine is administered, followed by intravenous injection or a coma-inducing drug. After the person falls into a coma, an injection of Rocuronium bromide is given that paralyses all muscles including the ones used to breathe. Shortly after this injection, the patient is declared dead. These steps are as per the Dutch guidelines for active Euthanasia.

The main difference from what the UK is proposing is the involvement of the medical professional in the Ditch guidelines, accepted by many countries. Here, the medical professional administers the lethal drug, whereas the bill proposed in the UK does not allow doctors or any healthcare professional to do so. The patient has to administer the medicine himself, after the two independent doctors and the High Court Judge verifies that it is done so voluntarily.

Countries Where Euthanasia Is Legal

• Australia
• Belgium
• Canada
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Portugal
• Spain

When 49-year-old Angela Cook from Banbury started feeling sharp, throbbing pain in her gums, menopause was the last thing on her mind. A psychologist by profession, Angela found herself suddenly unable to get through her daily meals without discomfort. Her dentist suggested age could be the cause, but the real answer came unexpectedly through a radio segment. As she listened to someone discuss how menopause affects oral health, it clicked. Her gum pain wasn’t random; it was hormonal.

This little-known link between menopause and dental health is quietly catching many women off guard. The pain was unbearable, especially around her molars.

While Angela had been grappling with hot flushes and mood swings since her mid-forties, she hadn’t connected the dots. But hormonal shifts, particularly a dip in oestrogen, can wreak havoc far beyond what’s discussed in mainstream menopause conversations. Oestrogen plays a critical role in maintaining gum tissue and bone density; when levels fall, gums may become inflamed, bleed easily, and turn hypersensitive.

“....It wasn't until she accidentally caught a radio conversation about menopause affecting gum health that she had an epiphany – she was experiencing it," Express UK reported.

The Mouth Isn’t Exempt from Menopause

Despite menopause affecting half the population, oral health is rarely part of the public discourse. According to the NHS, fluctuating hormone levels can alter blood supply to gum tissue, making them more susceptible to disease. Dry mouth, burning sensations, and altered taste are also common complaints. Yet few women or even dentists routinely connect the dots.

Gums can respond just like skin to hormonal fluctuations, becoming more reactive and prone to inflammation. And unlike wrinkles or weight gain, gum issues are easier to dismiss or misattribute to poor dental hygiene.

Angela’s experience is far from isolated. A 2024 survey by CanesMeno found that more than half of menopausal women felt unprepared for what was to come, while nearly 48 per cent believed the general public needed better education about menopause. Perhaps more tellingly, a fifth of women still consider the topic taboo, and many avoid discussing their symptoms entirely.

Chewing on Solutions

In Angela’s case, what worked wasn’t a fancy dental treatment or prescription meds. It was something she stumbled upon online: gum massage.

She started gently rubbing underneath each tooth after flossing, once a day. She saw a difference immediately. She still gets the odd ache, but nowhere near what it was. It’s manageable.

Gum massage increases blood flow to the tissues and may help reduce inflammation, especially when combined with good oral hygiene. While it may not be a silver bullet for everyone, it’s a simple, low-cost strategy that made a tangible difference for Angela.

That said, if gum pain or bleeding becomes persistent, it’s crucial to consult a dentist to rule out periodontal disease, which can worsen with menopause but may require more intensive treatment.

Why the Silence?

Why are so many women in the dark about this? Partly because menopause education remains patchy and inconsistent. The CanesMeno survey highlighted that 35 per cent of women wished they’d learnt about it during their school or college years. There’s also the issue of fragmented healthcare. A GP might address hormonal concerns, while a dentist looks at your mouth; rarely do the two cross over.

Angela's story is a compelling reminder that menopause doesn't just mess with moods and body temperature; it can mess with your mouth too.

Time to Widen the Menopause Conversation

There’s a growing push for more holistic menopause care, one that includes gum health, joint pain, insomnia, and mental health, not just the headline symptoms. From workplaces to schools to healthcare settings, education needs to go beyond clichés and start equipping women with the full picture.

In an age where menopause is finally starting to get its due airtime, perhaps it’s time we listen to what women’s gums have been trying to say all along.

When we think of human papillomavirus (HPV), the first association that comes to mind is cervical cancer. That link is well established. But what most people don’t realise is that HPV has now quietly become the leading cause of a completely different and rapidly rising cancer—oropharyngeal cancer—particularly in men. These cancers, which fall under the broader umbrella of head and neck cancers, often strike parts like the tonsils and the base of the tongue.

On World Head and Neck Cancer Day, experts are ringing the alarm bells: it’s time we start talking about HPV in men with the same urgency that we do for women.

More Men, More Risk

According to a 2023 study published in The Lancet Oncology, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers are now five times more common in men than women. “This isn’t just a medical statistic; it’s a warning signal,” says Dr. Akash Tiwari, Consultant, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology. “We’re seeing a sharp increase in these cases, particularly in high-income countries, and the common link is persistent high-risk HPV infection.”

What’s making men so vulnerable? For starters, transmission. Oral HPV is most commonly passed during intimate skin-to-skin contact, especially through oral sex. Although most HPV infections clear up on their own, some high-risk strains like HPV-16 can hang around silently in the tissues of the throat and, over time, turn cancerous.

Why Men Struggle to Fight It Off

“Biologically, men are more likely to contract oral HPV and less likely to clear the infection,” explains Dr. Aarzoo Saliya, Consultant ENT, Head and Neck Onco Surgeon. “It may come down to immune differences, sexual behaviour patterns, or even lack of awareness.”

Unlike many infections that cause noticeable symptoms, oral HPV is sneaky. It often produces no signs, which means people can be completely unaware they’re carrying it or, worse, passing it on. And when symptoms do show up, they’re usually vague, making early diagnosis tough.

Symptoms You Should Watch For

HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer doesn’t always scream for attention. But if you’ve had any of these signs persistently, it might be time to get checked:

• A constant sore throat that just won’t quit
• Difficulty swallowing
• A lump or swelling in the neck
• Changes in your voice
• Unexplained ear pain

“These aren’t symptoms people usually rush to a doctor for,” says Dr. Tiwari. “But in the context of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer, they’re red flags.” Unlike traditional tobacco- or alcohol-related oral cancers, HPV-related cases often don’t present with obvious visible lesions, which adds to the challenge.

Prevention Starts Early

The good news is that we can prevent it. The same HPV vaccine that’s widely recommended for cervical cancer prevention in girls works just as well to prevent the strains of HPV that cause oropharyngeal cancer.

“The most effective way to reduce risk is through timely vaccination,” says Dr. Saliya. “Ideally, the vaccine should be given before someone becomes sexually active; that’s why it’s recommended at ages 11 or 12 but can still be taken up to age 26 if missed earlier.”

Yet, in many places, the uptake of the HPV vaccine among boys remains painfully low, mostly because the risk in men hasn’t received the same attention.

Changing the Conversation Around HPV

There’s also a major need to shift public perception. “HPV isn’t just a ‘women’s issue’, and it certainly isn’t just about cervical cancer,” Dr. Tiwari stresses. “It’s a sexually transmitted virus that can affect everyone, and the consequences for men are becoming increasingly clear.”

That means raising awareness around safe sexual practices, routine screenings for those at risk, and greater openness about male HPV-related health risks. Men, particularly young adults, need to be part of the vaccination narrative.

Know the Risks, Take Action

On a day that spotlights head and neck cancers globally, the message is simple but urgent: HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in men is real, rising, and largely preventable. Ignoring it isn’t just unwise; it’s dangerous. Whether you’re a parent considering the HPV vaccine for your son, a man experiencing persistent symptoms, or someone simply unaware of how far-reaching HPV’s impact can be, now’s the time to pay attention. Early action, education and vaccination can quite literally save lives.

Weight loss drugs have become wildly popular in the recent years. However, even though they are popularly known as weight loss drugs they are actually used for a separate purpose, weight loss is just a side effect of the medication.

Medications like Ozempic and Zepbound, which are primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes and help with weight loss, are showing exciting new potential. They might also be helpful for a wider range of health conditions, from sleep apnea to chronic kidney disease.

Diabetes and Weight Loss Medicines

A recent study published in the JAMA Network Open suggests that these kinds of medications, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, could offer important protection beyond their usual uses. For people who have both obesity and type 2 diabetes, these drugs might lower their risk of death and reduce the chances of developing two serious brain problems: dementia and a common type of stroke.

The findings suggest that GLP-1 drugs could do more than just control blood sugar, help with weight loss, and support heart health; they might also directly protect the brain and its blood vessels.

What the Research Discovered

Scientists had already hinted that GLP-1 drugs might help protect against dementia and stroke. However, there hadn't been many big studies specifically looking at how these drugs affect brain health, especially in people with a high risk, like those who have both type 2 diabetes and obesity.

To help answer these questions, researchers looked at seven years of health information from over 60,000 people. All of these individuals had both type 2 diabetes and obesity. Some of them were taking older diabetes medications, while others were prescribed GLP-1 drugs, like those found in popular medications.

After carefully checking the connections between the medicines and various brain conditions, the scientists found some significant things. People taking a GLP-1 drug had:

• A 37% lower chance of developing dementia.
• A 19% lower chance of having an ischemic stroke, which is the most common kind of stroke, caused by a blocked blood vessel in the brain.
• A 30% lower chance of dying from any cause.

The protection against dementia seemed even stronger for women over 60 and for those with a specific body mass index (BMI) range. An expert noted that people in this group have a particularly good chance to improve their brain health. It's important to know that these GLP-1 drugs did not seem to lower the risk of Parkinson's disease or another type of stroke called hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when there's bleeding in the brain.

Important Things to Consider

This study adds to the growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists are very helpful tools, not just for losing weight and managing diabetes, but possibly for brain health and thinking abilities too.

However, it's really important to understand that this kind of study only shows a link, not that the drug directly causes the protection. It's possible that other things, like people's daily habits, could have played a role in the results, not just the medication itself.

Also, the researchers didn't collect detailed information like blood markers, genetic data, or brain scans. Having this kind of information could give much deeper insights into what's actually happening inside the body. The main researcher emphasized that these findings should be looked at carefully and need to be confirmed by more strict studies before doctors start making official recommendations based on them.