Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious global health crisis, impacting millions of individuals every year. While a lot of focus is placed on the physical symptoms of the condition, its psychological impact is often overlooked. Not only do patients experience the direct consequences of the condition but they also suffer greatly from psychological issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Research has shown that TB patients often have higher levels of psychological distress caused by social stigma, long treatment durations, economic burdens, and separation.

Dr. Shweta Bansal, Sr. Consultant & Unit Head - Respiratory Disease & Sleep Medicine, points out that psychological distress can change patterns of gene expression, resulting in immune responses that exacerbate TB symptoms and interfere with treatment outcomes. Stress and anxiety affect TB susceptibility and progression, and therefore mental health interventions are a critical part of TB care. Without incorporating mental health support into TB treatment, patient adherence decreases, and the risk of complications, such as drug resistance, increases.

Neglected Symptoms of Drug-Resistant TB

A growing worry is the increased prevalence of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in young adults. Most in this age bracket view work and lifestyle needs above their health, and as such, early TB symptoms are ignored. "Young adults work long hours, ignoring symptoms of sickness in the name of hustle culture," opines Dr. Bansal. Symptoms of common DR-TB, including chronic cough, low-grade fever, tiredness, and loss of weight, are usually attributed to stress or fatigue. The fact that the symptoms are delayed allows the infection to advance, making treatment more difficult and elevating the risk of transmission.

Early diagnosis is important to avert DR-TB from gaining more ground among younger generations. Yet, the stigma of TB tends to prevent young adults from visiting doctors, further worsening the situation. Dr. Bansal opines, "Adolescents need to recognize unusual health changes and see doctors early. Health precedes continuous work in avoiding severe complications of TB."

Environmental and Lifestyle Factors Increasing DR-TB Risk

Although tobacco smoking—cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vaping—is a recognized risk factor for TB, there are other environmental and lifestyle factors that increase susceptibility substantially. According to Dr. Bansal, air pollution, excessive stress, and poor nutrition weaken immunity and make young adults susceptible to TB infection.

Also, the abuse of antibiotics contributes to DR-TB emergence. "Taking antibiotics repeatedly for everyday respiratory infection may lead to antibiotic resistance, and TB becomes harder to treat," she clarifies. Poor living conditions with high-density populations, like group apartments or hostels, also increase the risk of exposure to TB germs. These combined circumstances contribute to an environment where TB germs have a chance to survive, making prevention and early detection more pressing.

Danger of Misdiagnosed TB and the Role of Awareness

One major obstacle to the control of TB is misdiagnosis. TB cases often go undiagnosed as the symptoms are similar to usual respiratory infections, allergies, or flu during seasonal times. Chronic cough, low fever, and persistent fatigue are often brushed off as minor illness. Physical signs, like lumps in the neck or under the arm—TB's possible early warning signs—are often overlooked or attributed to other infections, warns Dr. Bansal.

Misdiagnosis leads to delayed treatment, with TB developing into drug-resistant strains. "Young adults do not usually consider TB as a risk, so they may not seek early testing. This delay allows for drug-resistant TB to progress, making it difficult to treat," reports Dr. Bansal. Awareness, early screening, and education regarding symptoms of night sweats and unexplained weight loss are all key to tackling this increasing epidemic.

Mental Health Cost of Drug-Resistant TB

In addition to the physical hardship, drug-resistant TB has a serious psychological cost. The long and frequently painful treatment process—months of aggressive antibiotic therapy—can be extremely emotionally taxing. Depression and anxiety are common among TB patients, compounded by social isolation and economic hardship.

Depression, a global mental health condition, is suffered by about 4.4% of the world's population. The South-East Asia region carries a heavy burden, and India alone has about 18% of the world's depression cases. Dr. Bansal points out that "depression can arise from interruptions in daily life, social isolation, disease stigma, and TB symptoms. In extreme cases, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and a poor quality of life."

Coping strategies are essential in addressing the psychological burden of DR-TB. Support systems, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes can assist patients in coping with the emotional burden of their condition. Dr. Bansal promotes the incorporation of mental health interventions into TB treatment, citing that "it is imperative that mental health treatments be integrated into TB care in conjunction with initiatives to lessen stigma and enhance social support."

The quiet outbreak of drug-resistant TB among young adults necessitates immediate intervention. Increased awareness, early diagnosis, and treatment strategy in full range—including mental care—are crucial for stemming this mounting health threat. While hustle culture keeps on motivating young people to ignore their wellbeing, solving the problem of TB in this population calls for an all-round plan that puts prime importance on education, preventive management, and sturdy healthcare system.

Finally, fighting DR-TB requires changing public attitudes. TB is not just an old disease—a disease of the past—it is still an ongoing and urgent international challenge. Only by taking early measures, raising awareness at the lifestyle level, and adopting comprehensive healthcare measures can we ensure that DR-TB does not become an even more dangerous public health challenge.

Dr. Shweta Bansal is a Sr. Consultant & Unit Head of Respiratory Disease & Sleep Medicine (Unit II) at Artemis Hospitals in India.

Your eyes could be giving you clues that your kidneys aren’t working the way they should. While most people associate kidney trouble with tiredness, swelling, or changes in urination, the effects can also show up in your vision. To understand this better, we spoke with Dr Manoj K. Singhal, Principal Director of Nephrology and Kidney Transplantation at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali.

5 Eye Symptoms Linked to Kidney Issues

The kidneys filter toxins and help maintain balance in the body. But when they start to weaken, some of the earliest signs may appear in unexpected places, like your eyes. Some of these symptoms, as per Dr Manoj are:

1. Persistent Puffiness

It’s normal to wake up with puffy eyes, but if the swelling doesn’t fade even after rest, it could point to protein leaking into your urine, a condition called proteinuria, which often signals kidney damage.

2. Blurred or Double Vision

Sudden blurriness may be tied to high blood pressure or diabetes—two major causes of kidney problems. These conditions damage small blood vessels in the eyes and can even lead to sudden vision loss.

3. Dry, Itchy Eyes

Many people with chronic kidney disease, especially those on dialysis, experience dryness or irritation in the eyes. This happens when mineral balance in the body is disrupted, leaving the eyes feeling gritty or uncomfortable.

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4. Red or Bloodshot Eyes

Frequent redness can be a warning sign of uncontrolled blood pressure or diabetes. In some rare cases, kidney-related conditions like lupus nephritis can also cause eye problems.

5. Difficulty Seeing Colours

Kidney disease can sometimes affect the optic nerve or retina, making it harder to distinguish certain colours, especially shades of blue and yellow.

When To Seek Help?

Not every eye problem points to kidney disease, but if these symptoms persist or worsen, it’s worth getting both your vision and kidney health checked. Routine eye exams can sometimes reveal early warning signs before bigger problems develop.

If you notice changes in your eyesight alongside other symptoms like fatigue, swelling, or urinary changes, don’t ignore them. Catching kidney issues early can make all the difference for both your eye health and your overall well-being.

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How To Protect Your Kidneys and Eyes

While some kidney issues are unavoidable, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk and protect both your kidney and eye health, as suggested by Dr Manoj:

• Maintain a Healthy Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar: High blood pressure and diabetes are major risk factors for kidney disease. Regular monitoring and a balanced diet can help keep these in check.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water supports kidney function and helps flush out toxins.
• Eat a Balanced Diet: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting salt, processed foods, and excess sugar.
• Exercise Regularly: Physical activity improves circulation and helps maintain healthy blood pressure, supporting both kidney and eye health.
• Avoid Smoking and Excess Alcohol: Both can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of kidney and eye problems.
• Schedule Regular Checkups: Routine blood tests, urine tests, and eye exams can help catch early signs of kidney issues before they worsen.

Taking care of your overall health is the best way to safeguard your kidneys. and your eyes from long-term damage.

Suicides are one of the leading causes of death around the world. While it is easy to say that the person who chose to take their lives did it of their own violation, Harvard psychologist Dr. Matthew Nock, explains the other side. “90% of people who try and kill themselves say, I didn't want to die per se. I wanted to escape from seemingly intolerable.” Speaking on the On Purpose podcast with Jay Shetty, Dr. Nock pointed out that the link between work pressure and suicidal thoughts varies by race and ethnicity.

The concerning rise in suicide cases tied to work pressure has fueled a social media conversation about toxic work culture. What was once considered a normal part of the professional grind is now being openly challenged, as people share personal stories of the anxiety, depression, and isolation caused by unhealthy work environments.

What Professions Are At High Risk Of Suicide?

According to Dr. Matthew Nock, certain careers are linked to a higher risk of suicide.

Police Officers

He noted that physicians and police officers are among those at high risk. He mentioned a spike in suicides among New York City police officers, who are predominantly white men, and shared that female police officers, in particular, face a higher risk, even when accounting for factors like age, race, and ethnicity.

According to a 2025 study published in the Police Practice and Research, on average, 21.4 out of every 100,000 officers died by suicide each year.

The study showed that the suicide rate was much higher for male officers (22.7 per 100,000) than for female officers (12.7 per 100,000).

Physicians

Dr. Nock explained that access to means is a significant factor in these high-risk professions, which helps explain why physicians, police officers, and military members have a much higher risk of suicide compared to others.

Another study published in 2024 The BMJ, showed that the number of suicides among doctors has been going down, female doctors are still at a much higher risk than other people.

When looking at all the data, male doctors were found to have a 5% higher risk of suicide compared to the general population.

In a more recent analysis of the last few years, the overall suicide rate for doctors has decreased, which is good news. But even with this improvement, female doctors still have a 24% higher risk than the general public.

Why We Need To Talk More About Suicide

Dr. Nock stresses the importance of openly discussing suicide, particularly in schools. He compared it to fire drills or earthquake preparedness, saying that since 15% of people will experience suicidal thoughts, it's crucial to equip everyone with a safety plan..Dr. Matthew Nock said, "We know that asking about suicide, talking about suicide, does not make people suicidal."

He noted that the people who act on suicidal thoughts often show different signs than those who just have the thoughts. While depression is a strong predictor of having suicidal thoughts, other factors like anxiety, aggressiveness, poor behavioral control, and drug or alcohol use are more closely linked to a person actually attempting suicide.

He believes that a small educational module on suicide in health class could help save lives by teaching people what to do if they or someone they know is struggling.

While we all know air pollution affects our health, did you know that it was actually driving cancer cases higher? This has led to a big rise in health problems worldwide. Past studies show that air pollution is linked to about seven million premature deaths each year and contributes to over 3% of all years of healthy life lost globally. This revelation was a big concern for public health, and to fix it, many measures were taken.

While some countries like the US showed promising results in bettering public health, a recent study in the International Journal of Public Health showed that this positive trend is not yet showed up in China.

How Is PM2 Pollution Affecting Our Health?

One of the most dangerous types of air pollution is called fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. These tiny particles come from car exhaust, factory smoke, and even from the smoke created by burning solid fuels inside homes. Because they are so incredibly small, they can stay suspended in the air for a long time and, when we breathe them in, they go deep into our lungs.

Once inside the body, PM2.5 can cause inflammation and even change our genes, which increases our risk for many illnesses, especially tracheal, bronchial, and lung (TBL) cancers. A new study looked at how much PM2.5 pollution has affected TBL cancer rates in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States from 1990 to 2021.

Has Pollution-Related Health Risk Decreased Everywhere?

The study, which used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project, found some important trends:

Overall Cancer Rates Are Declining

The good news is that globally, the number of deaths and years of healthy life lost due to TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 pollution are going down. This positive trend was consistent in all the countries studied: China, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S.

China's Unique Challenge

Despite this global trend, China faced a much higher death rate from TBL cancer linked to PM2.5 compared to the other three countries. While their rates are decreasing, they still remain significantly higher than the worldwide average.

Household Pollution Hits Women Harder

The research also looked at pollution from burning solid fuels inside homes. The global death rate from TBL cancer linked to this type of pollution has remained stable, but it's actually increasing for women while it's decreasing for men. This highlights a specific danger for women in homes that rely on these fuels.

Will This Pollution Cancer Trend Keep Rising?

Looking ahead, researchers predict that the global death rate for TBL cancer caused by PM2.5 will actually increase over the next 29 years. However, the study notes that countries like China, South Korea, and the U.S. are expected to see a significant drop in their rates, while Japan's numbers are expected to stay about the same.

Overall, this study shows that while air pollution is a serious global health risk, the efforts to reduce PM2.5 exposure in many countries are making a real, positive difference.