Pain is the body’s way of signaling that something is wrong. In most cases, pain fades once the underlying issue heals. However, for millions of people, pain becomes a constant companion, lasting for months or even years. This condition, known as chronic pain, not only affects physical health but also has a profound impact on emotional well-being.

Current studies emphasize the strong link between chronic pain and mental illness such as anxiety and depression. Individuals suffering from long-term pain tend to be stuck in a vicious cycle of fear, stress, and emotional distress. But how does chronic pain actually lead to deteriorating mental health, and how can the cycle be stopped?

For over 45 million Americans, chronic pain is a way of life. Although physical pain is the most visible symptom, its impact reaches far beyond the physical body. Chronic pain is frequently accompanied by psychological distress, as many victims experience anxiety and depression caused by their illness.

As per Dr. Ravi Kesari, a general medicine specialist, "Chronic pain and mental illness tend to exacerbate each other. Patients have disturbed sleep patterns, increased mental tension, and depression-like symptoms. This forms a vicious circle in which pain causes emotional distress, which further increases the perception of pain."

This cycle is especially seen in conditions like:

Fibromyalgia – A syndrome of widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive difficulty.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – A bowel condition frequently associated with stress and tension.

Lower Back Pain – Prolonged pain in the lower back, often accompanied by decreased mobility and depression.

Migraine and Nerve Pain – Prolonged headaches and nerve pain that interfere with daily functioning.

Research indicates that two-thirds of IBS sufferers experience anxiety symptoms, and 65% of patients with depression exhibit chronic pain symptoms. This commonality indicates that mental illness not only heightens sensitivity to pain but also complicates recovery.

How Stress of Chronic Pain Can Rewires Your Brain?

When a person hurts, the body releases stress chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline to assist in the regulation of pain. Such hormones are helpful during short-term occurrences, but once pain persists over time, continued exposure to stress hormones alters brain chemistry.

"Chronic pain leads to chronic stress, and that changes the neurochemicals in the brain that control mood, thought processes, and behavior," explains Dr. Kesari. "That's why people with chronic pain tend to be irritable, angry, or drained of emotions."

Chronic exposure to stress hormones can cause:

Heightened anxiety and fear reactions, making people excessively careful about everyday activities.

Depression, as serotonin and dopamine levels decrease—two neurotransmitters that produce happiness and motivation.

Cognitive impairment, including problems concentrating, remembering, or deciding.

Pain, Anxiety, and the Fear of Movement

Another very frequent mental impact of chronic pain is kinesiophobia, or fear of movement. Individuals with chronic pain tend to avoid movement for fear of making their pain worse. This avoidance behavior can cause stiffness in the muscles, loss of mobility, and increased pain over time.

For example, a person with chronic back pain might try to avoid exercising, which would further weaken muscles and worsen their condition. This pattern of avoidance and worsened pain begets a spiraling sense of helplessness that further fuels anxiety and mood shifts.

"Anxiety is an understandable reaction to chronic pain," says Dr. Kesari. "People become concerned about what pain will mean for their lives, so tasks that are minor—such as shopping for groceries or socializing—become overwhelming."

Daily Struggles and Self-Esteem Loss

Chronic pain does not only impact mood; it is able to significantly modify the way an individual perceives himself. Most of those who have chronic pain struggle with simple activities such as exiting bed, dressing up, or personal hygiene. Failing to do so by oneself may cause the individual to feel inadequate, frustrated, and socially withdrawn.

As Dr. Kesari describes, "Patients tend to feel ill at ease in social situations because they view their condition as a restriction. This adds to low self-esteem and exacerbates mental illness such as depression."

Considering the complex connection between chronic pain and mental well-being, both physical and emotional welfare must be treated.

Dr. Kesari stresses, "Healthcare providers need to take a whole-body approach to treating chronic pain. That involves coupling conventional pain management with mental health care to break the cycle between pain and emotional distress."

Some strategies that have been found to be effective are:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – A type of psychotherapy that enables people to deal with negative thought processes and respond to pain.

Physical Therapy & Movement-Based Practices – Gentle exercise, like tai chi or yoga, decreases pain and alleviates fear of movement.

Medication Management – Painkillers can be beneficial, but only as part of a combination of holistic therapies to prevent dependency.

Stress-Reduction Techniques – Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and mindfulness assist in balancing stress hormones.

Social Support & Therapy Groups – Sharing experiences with others who live with chronic pain has been shown to combat the sense of isolation and offer emotional support.

Chronic pain is not merely a physical condition—it has a powerful impact on mental health, causing anxiety, depression, and extreme lifestyle constraints. But knowledge of the interlinkage of pain and emotional health can encourage proactive measures toward improved general well-being.

Dr Ravi Kesari is MBBS, MD- General Medicine at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Bangalore in India

One must be very careful about what they consume. One of the easiest ways to get sick is by eating food or having beverages from unsafe and unsanitary places. That is why people are discouraged from eating at roadside stalls or food from street hawkers who do not follow the food safety protocol.

Many people do not know how unsafe tap water can be. While the tap water available at home goes through treatment, it is best to only drink it after boiling or opting for water from the filter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that these health issues can range from mild to serious, depending on what germs are being transmitted.

In a TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia who goes by Dr. Sooj, a practicing NHS GP and emergency doctor, issued a critical warning. urgent warning that if you use regular tap water to rinse your nose, you could be exposed to a very rare but dangerous "brain-eating amoeba." Even though tap water in the UK is perfectly safe to drink, it's a different story when it comes to cleaning out your nose.

Why Tap Water Is Risky for Your Nose

Rinsing your nose is a common thing people do when they have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection. You usually flush water or salt water into your nose to wash away snot, dust, pollen, and anything else that might be irritating your nasal passages. But in a video, a doctor known online as Dr. Sooj, explained why tap water is risky for this. He said that "tap water has bacteria. It has amoeba, it has protozoa. There are tiny living things in the water." When you drink these, your stomach acid usually kills them, but when they go up your nose, it's a different story.

Brain-Eating Amoeba

The main worry is a "brain-eating amoeba" called Naegleria fowleri. This tiny creature loves to live in warm fresh water, like lakes, rivers, and hot springs. The Cleveland Clinic explains water that contains this amoeba goes up your nose, it can travel to your brain. Once there, it causes a very serious and almost always deadly infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). While this infection is rare, it's not worth the risk.

If the amoeba gets into the brain through the nose, it can cause a severe infection called Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Early signs of PAM can be a headache, fever, feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), and throwing up (vomiting). This infection moves incredibly fast. Most people who get PAM unfortunately die within just 1 to 18 days after they start showing symptoms, often falling into a coma before death. Other symptoms can include a stiff neck, feeling confused, not paying attention to people around you, losing your balance, and seeing things that aren't real (hallucinations).

When to Seek Medical Help

Health experts like the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree with this advice. They also warn about another amoeba called Acanthamoeba. If you or someone you know starts to have a headache, fever, confusion, or vomiting soon after rinsing your sinuses or nasal passages, it's crucial to get medical help right away.

A new study has revealed a sharp rise in cases of a rare cancer—appendiceal adenocarcinoma—particularly among younger generations. Generation X and millennials are seeing significantly higher rates of this cancer than previous generations, prompting concern among experts.

What Is Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma?

Appendiceal adenocarcinoma (AA) is a rare form of cancer that originates in the appendix, a small pouch attached to the large intestine. While appendix cancers are not commonly diagnosed—about 3,000 new cases per year in the U.S.—they appear to be rising at an alarming rate among younger adults.

Generational Surge in Cases

According to a new paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the rate of AA has tripled among Generation X and quadrupled among millennials compared to those born in the mid-20th century. Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center used data from the U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, which tracked cancer cases from 1975 to 2019.

The numbers are telling: the study found that for people born in 1985, the incidence of appendix cancer is four times higher than for those born in 1945. For individuals born in 1980, it is about three times higher.

A Broader Gastrointestinal Trend

Experts say this rise mirrors trends in other gastrointestinal cancers—such as colorectal and stomach cancer—which are also being diagnosed more frequently in adults under 50. Between 1975 and 2019, the researchers recorded 4,858 cases of appendix cancer, with a noticeable uptick in recent decades.

Possible Causes: Lifestyle and Diet

Although the exact reasons for this generational increase remain unclear, researchers suggest that lifestyle and environmental factors may be playing a major role. The consumption of ultra-processed foods, sugary beverages, and processed meats has increased sharply in recent decades. Additionally, obesity and metabolic syndrome—both risk factors for various cancers—are more prevalent among younger people today than in past generations.

Lead researcher Dr. Andreana Holowatyji highlighted that the increase in cases is not due to more appendectomies being performed. Surgical removal rates of the appendix have remained largely stable over time, suggesting that other factors, possibly related to diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposure, are contributing to the spike in cases.

The Challenge of Early Detection

One of the major hurdles in combating appendiceal adenocarcinoma is the lack of clear early symptoms. Many of the signs—such as bloating, appetite loss, and changes in bowel habits—are vague and can easily be mistaken for more common digestive issues. This often leads to delayed diagnoses and limited treatment options.

Urgent Need for Research

With no definitive causes identified, scientists are calling for more research into environmental exposures, genetic factors, and molecular changes that might contribute to the development of appendix cancer. Understanding these elements could help in early detection and potentially lower the rising risk among younger populations.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, over 1.2 billion people ages 30 to 79 have hypertension. The number has increased from 650 million in 1990 to 1.2 billion in 2021. This increase is attributed to many factors, including lifestyle factors, which include salty indulgence, stress, and screen time which has been increased. These three impact your blood pressure levels, know how.

What Are The Three S Worsening Your Blood Pressure?

Salt

As per the Harvard Heart Publishing, an average American consumes the equivalent of about 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt per day, which is 50% more than the recommended amount.

About a third of healthy people and about 60% of people with high blood pressure are salt sensitive.

How does salt affects blood pressure?

When you consume too much sodium, your body holds on to extra water to balance the sodium levels. This added fluid increases the volume of blood in your vessels, which in turn raises your blood pressure and forces your heart to work harder. High sodium intake can also reduce the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications. For example, diuretics help eliminate excess sodium and water, while vasodilators work by relaxing the blood vessels. However, a high-sodium diet makes your body retain fluid again, refilling those relaxed vessels and undoing the medication's effects.

Stress

As per the official publication of State Medical Society of Wisconsin, stress can cause hypertension through repeated blood pressure elevations as well as by stimulation of the nervous system to produce large amounts of vasoconstricting hormones that increase blood pressure. Factors affecting blood pressure through stress include white coat hypertension, job strain, race, social environment, and emotional distress.

As per National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, around 50 million American adults live with hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure over 139 mm Hg or diastolic pressure over 89 mm Hg. In about 95% of these cases, the condition is classified as "essential" hypertension, meaning there’s no single identifiable cause. However, experts agree that multiple factors—including stress—can contribute to rising blood pressure in these individuals.

Screentime

As per a 2024 study published in Cureus, hypertension is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease. The study links the increased accessibility of smartphones with the increasing hypertension.

This study explored the relationship between screen time and blood pressure (BP) among young adults.

The study also noted that higher screen time was more common among individuals using multiple devices. The prevalence of elevated BP in the sample was 35.8%, aligning with national data and raising concerns about the cardiovascular health of young adults.

Previous studies support these concerns. For instance, Nang et al. and Martinez-Gomez et al. linked prolonged TV viewing to higher BP and an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in adolescents. However, these relied on self-reported data. Other risk factors, such as age, gender, obesity, inactivity, and substance use, have also been linked to hypertension.