When your head hits the pillow at night, do you easily drift into peaceful slumber, or do you find yourself tossing and turning, consumed by worries? How you experience your nights can offer valuable insights into your overall health.

The time it takes for your body to transition into a restful state is known as "sleep latency." While this time frame varies between individuals, sleep experts have established general guidelines for optimal rest.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, it should ideally take around 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep for a healthy individual. Falling asleep too quickly or too slowly, however, can signal underlying issues.

Kristen Casey, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in insomnia, suggests that while falling asleep within 15-20 minutes is optimal, numerous factors can influence sleep latency. From stress to health issues, many uncontrollable factors may interfere with one's ability to fall asleep.

Why Sleep Hygiene Matters

Maintaining proper sleep hygiene is one of the best ways to ensure a regular, restorative sleep cycle. According to Jeff Kahn, CEO and co-founder of Rise Science, implementing a consistent routine is critical for good sleep. Simple habits such as sticking to a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine 12 hours before bedtime, limiting late-night meals and alcohol consumption, and keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet can all enhance sleep quality.

Engaging in some physical activity before bed has also been found to improve sleep, though it’s important to balance the intensity and timing of your workouts to avoid overstimulation.

Falling Asleep Too Quickly: Causes and Risks

If you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, this might seem ideal, but it could indicate other problems such as exhaustion or "junk sleep."

Dr. Dave Rabin, a neuroscientist, warns that falling asleep too quickly may be a sign of burnout or exhaustion, which could stem from overwork, stress, or an excessive sleep drive (the body's intense need for sleep). While sleep is essential, too much "junk sleep" — sleep that lacks depth or quality — can lead to health issues like obesity, heart disease, and depression. If you find yourself regularly falling asleep too fast, it may be beneficial to consult a healthcare professional to rule out underlying causes.

Struggling to Fall Asleep: Causes and Solutions

On the other hand, if you lie awake for hours, this could be a sign of insomnia, chronic pain, or other psychological or medical conditions. Anxiety, depression, and even irregular schedules can contribute to poor sleep latency.

Catherine “Katie” Yu, a psychiatric mental health nurse, emphasizes the importance of consistency in your sleep routine. If you are dealing with frequent insomnia, experts recommend creating a stable bedtime routine, limiting caffeine and alcohol, and seeking morning sunlight to regulate your circadian rhythms.

Both falling asleep too fast and too slow can disrupt your overall mental health. Difficulty falling asleep has been linked to depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. In these cases, sleep experts suggest seeking therapy to help identify and address the root cause of sleep issues.

7-Step Nighttime Routine to Induce Relaxing Sleep

A calming pre-sleep routine can work wonders for achieving quality rest. Here are seven steps you can try before bed:

1. Turn off screens 30-60 minutes before bed to help your brain wind down.

2. Lower lighting in your home to signal to your body that it's time to sleep.

3. Engage in calming movements to relax your muscles and mind.

4. Try breathing exercises to reduce stress and calm the nervous system.

5. Write down any lingering thoughts or worries to clear your mind for sleep.

6. A warm cup of caffeine-free tea can soothe your body and mind.

7. Play calming sounds to help your body ease into sleep.

Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o has revealed that her fibroids have returned after undergoing surgery in 2014 -- now doubling up to 50, raising awareness about the often-overlooked health condition in women.

Speaking at the Today show, the Oscar-winning star Nyong’o said that she was first diagnosed with fibroids, a noncancerous tumor -- about 30 in number -- in 2014.

The growths made of muscle and tissue were removed with myomectomy, the fibroid-removal surgery.

However, the fibroids came back after over a decade, with the largest being the size of an orange, Nyong’o said.

She noted that the doubled-up fibroids are causing her more pain, while her treatment options remain largely the same.

“The first time I got the fibroids taken out, they took out 23,” she said on the show. “And this time, I’ve been informed two years ago that I have over 50.”

“And I’m being faced with the same options,” she added. “Surgery or live with the pain.”

Even as she is contemplating her treatment options, the A Quiet Place: Day One star opened up about feeling left alone and scared for her reproductive health during the initial phase.

She is now speaking out and connecting with other women suffering like her. Nyong’o is also advocating and raising money for scientists to research less invasive and non-invasive treatment methods for fibroids.

I was told that fibroids were something women live with. In refuse to accept that. Millions of women are suffering in silence, and we deserve better answers, better care and better options," Nyong’o wrote in a post on Instagram.

What Are Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form inside or on the uterus. They are very common, affecting an estimated 40 to 80 percent of people with a uterus between the ages of 30 and 50.

In some cases, fibroids do not cause any noticeable symptoms, which means many people may not realize they have them. However, when symptoms are present, they often include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods
• Longer or more frequent periods
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• Frequent urination or trouble urinating
• Growing stomach area
• Constipation
• Pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex

Obesity and a higher body mass index (BMI) are the most common risk factors that can increase the chances of developing fibroids. Others include family history, not having children, early onset of menstruation (getting your period at a young age), and late age of menopause.

How To Treat Fibroids? Can They Recur?

There are several tests that can be done to confirm fibroids and determine their size and location.

These tests can include ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy.

Myomectomy is a commonly used surgical procedure to remove fibroids. There are several types of myomectomy, and they are used depending on the location of the fibroids, their size, and number.

The types of myomectomy procedures include hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, laparotomy, hysterectomy, uterine fibroid embolization, and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Even after a successful myomectomy, new fibroids can still develop. The recurrence risk is more common among young adults (under age 40) with many fibroids. The risk is less among people near menopause or with few fibroids.

Visit your doctor if you have:

• Pelvic pain that doesn't go away
• Heavy or painful periods that limit what you can do
• Spotting or bleeding between periods
• Trouble emptying your bladder
• Ongoing tiredness and weakness, which can be symptoms of anemia, meaning a low level of red blood cells.

Sepsis that happened by a lick from a pet dog led to a woman losing all four of her limbs. Health and Me had previously reported that a Birmingham based woman, 56-year-old pharmacy worker Manjit Sangha caught sepsis from the lick of her pet dog. She spent her night in coma in the hospital and had to lose all her limbs. This happened because bacteria from dog's lick entered her body through a cut or a scratch. This led to sepsis, where the immune system's reaction to infection damaged the body's own tissues and organs.

This has brought a lot of attention on what sepsis is and what are the symptoms one must be aware of. As per the Sepsis Alliance, one must know about TIME to be aware of sepsis.

Unique Symptoms of Sepsis

TIME stands for temperature, infection, mental decline and extremely ill. If you notice these symptoms, rush to the hospital.

• T for Temperature: If you notice your body temperature rising or falling
• I for Infection: If you see signs or symptoms of any infection
• M for Mental Decline: If you feel confused, sleepy and difficult in rising
• E for Extremely Ill: If you feel severe pain, discomfort, shortness of breath

Unique Symptoms Of Sepsis: What To Know About Temperature

Your body temperature normally stays steady at about 98.6°F (37°C), with small changes based on activity, surroundings, and time of day. A reading of 100°F (37.7°C) or higher is considered a fever. During infection, the body often heats up to help fight germs. However, some people experience an unusual drop in temperature instead. Because of this, both a spike and a fall in temperature can be warning signs of sepsis.

Unique Symptoms of Sepsis: How To Know If You Have An Infection?

When an infection stays in one area, its symptoms usually match the site involved. A urinary tract infection may cause burning while urinating or frequent urges, pneumonia can bring cough and chest pain, and an infected cut may show redness or pus.

Read: Where You Get Your Rabies Shot Matters: Doctor Explains Why Rabies Vaccines Should Not Be Given In Buttocks

If the infection spreads through the body, broader symptoms like fever, tiredness, and body aches can appear. In some cases, an infection may not cause obvious symptoms at all. This is especially important to remember after surgery, medical procedures, skin injuries, or close contact with someone who is sick.

Unique Symptoms of Sepsis: What To Look Out For Mental Decline?

Sepsis can also alter how the brain functions. Some people, particularly older adults, may not develop the usual infection symptoms. Instead, they might suddenly become confused or show a sharp worsening of existing dementia. Marked drowsiness or unusual sleepiness is another common sign.

Unique Symptoms of Sepsis: Signs That You Are Extremely Ill

Many sepsis survivors recall feeling sicker than ever before. They describe overwhelming symptoms such as the most severe sore throat or abdominal pain they had experienced, along with a frightening sense that they might not survive.

Unique Symptoms Of Sepsis In Children

Unique Symptoms Of Sepsis In Adults

• High blood cell count
• Immature white blood cells in circulation
• Elevated plasma C-reactive protein
• Elevated procalctonin (PCT)
• Low blood pressue
• Low central venous or mixed venous oxygen saturation
• High cardiac index
• Low oxygen level
• Low urine output
• High creatinine in the blood
• Coagulation or clotting abnormalities
• Absent bowel sounds
• Low platelets in blood
• High bilirubin levels
• High lactate in blood
• Decreased capillary filling or mottling

Mounjaro, a popular weight loss drug that helped many lose weight, however, in this one case, a woman, who was on the same drug noticed something different. While she lost weight, she noticed that her breasts continued to grow. The 30-year-old Tianna Moon of East Anglia, a region in eastern England first realized something was not normal with her chest in 2024. This was when she started to use Mounjaro.

She was losing weight, but her breasts continued to grow. This is when Moon's doctor diagnosed her with a rare disease call gigantomastia, which causes breast tissue to grow rapidly and in excess.

Also Read: 15 States Sue Trump Administration Over Revised Vaccine Schedule

Woman Lost Weight On Mounjaro But Her Breasts Didn't Stop Growing: What Happened To Her?

Moon said that the doctors had thought that she had macromastia, a less severe, however, a similar condition. "But when I broke down medical history, the weight loss on Mounjaro and the increased growth and side effects, he was point-blank like, 'This is gigantomastia'," she said.

Moon also told that her breasts currently weight 39 lbs, which is approximately 20 per cent of her overall body weight.

Moon also said that while her large breasts are "normal" at this point in her life, she said the rare condition still comes with challenges.

"The side effects are having numb arms quite a lot and having quite severe indentations on my shoulders. I have some light scarring under my breasts where bras have rubbed and ripped the skin open."

She also said that laying on her back is something she cannot do for a long time, as it restricts the amount of airflow she can get in. She also said that when she goes out she tries to make her breasts look smaller than they are and strap them up. "I [still] get stares and double takes."

Also Read: Wegovy And Ozempic Will Cost Less In 2027, Novo Nordisk Slashes Weight Loss Drugs Prices By Half

Woman Lost Weight On Mounjaro But Her Breasts Didn't Stop Growing: What Is Gigantomastia?

As per Cleveland Clinic, it is a rare condition where your breasts become excessively large. It can also cause pain, infection, discomfort and issues with body image. It is also known as breast hypertrophy where one experiences rapid and disproportionate breast growth. The speed with which the breasts grow could vary depending on the person. It could take a few weeks to over several years. The tissue is almost never benign.

Gigantomastia is characterized by:

• Breasts that have an excess of at least 5 pounds of breast tissue.
• Extra breast tissue that equals more than 3% of your total body weight.

There are different types of gigastomastia:

• Juvenile gigantomastia: This type happens during puberty.
• Gestational gigantomastia: This is when gigantomastia occurs during pregnancy.
• Drug-induced gigantomastia (or medication-induced): This happens after taking certain drugs.
• Idiopathic gigantomastia: This is when the cause of gigantomastia is unknown or can't be determined. Idiopathic gigantomastia is the most common type.

Moon is now considering a breast reduction surgery. She has for now set up an account on OnlyFans. “I might as well try and reap the benefits of my medical condition rather than the negatives," she said.