Work stress is something most adults have to deal with. It is something you learn to deal with, find ways to avoid it as well as learn how to not let it steep into your personal life. However, more often than not, people get overwhelmed with work and end up causing harm to their personal lives. Not only does it cause harm to your own health, but also to your loved ones. Although people believe that their pets are not affected by

Work stress doesn't always stay at the office. It can follow you home and impact more than just your mood – your dog might be feeling it too. A new study, reported by Psychology Today, suggests that if you have trouble letting go of work worries at the end of the day, your furry friend could be picking up on your stress.

Link Between Your Work Stress and Your Dog's Well-being

Researchers at Washington State University, published in Scientific Reports, studied 85 working adults with dogs. They found that dogs showed more signs of stress when their owners were highly stressed at work and couldn't fully unwind afterwards.

Participants answered surveys about their work stress, how often they thought about work in their free time, and their dog's behavior. The results showed that dogs whose owners frequently dwelled on work were more likely to act stressed themselves. The dogs would be showing behaviors like pacing, whining, or being less playful. Interestingly, many owners didn't even realize their pets were exhibiting these stress signals.

The study emphasized that it wasn't just high job stress affecting the dogs; rumination made the biggest difference. When you carry work problems into your personal time, you tend to be more tense and distracted. Your body language, tone of voice, and overall behavior can signal this stress, and dogs are incredibly good at picking up on these emotional cues.

Simple Steps to Protect Yourself And Your Pet from Stress

If you're a dog owner who struggles to "turn off" work mode at home, researchers offer practical steps to prevent your pet from "catching" your stress

Practice Mindfulness

Engage in deep breathing exercises, daily meditation, or simply focus on being present in the current moment. This practice can effectively help you leave those persistent work worries and anxieties behind at the end of your day.

Create End-of-Day Rituals

Establish simple yet effective routines, such as taking a brief walk after work or changing into comfortable clothes. These small, consistent actions can help signal to your mind and body that the workday is officially concluded.

Spend Quality Time with Your Dog

Make a conscious effort to put away your phone and fully engage with your furry companion. Dedicate time to play, cuddle, or even embark on a new training session, ensuring you are completely present for them.

Watch Your Body Language

Remember that dogs are incredibly perceptive and can easily read your tone of voice and physical posture. Maintaining a calm and relaxed demeanor yourself can significantly contribute to helping your dog feel more at ease.

Keep Your Home Peaceful

Strive to create a calm, consistent, and predictable home environment. A stable atmosphere helps your dog feel secure and reduces their anxiety, providing a much-needed sense of stability and peace for them.

Seek Help if Needed

If your stress levels feel overwhelming, debilitating, and beyond your control, it's crucial to consider reaching out for professional support. Talk to a therapist or even discuss potential solutions with your employer to find relief.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability in the United States, with substantial health and economic burdens. While traditional risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and smoking are well established, emerging research increasingly highlights the critical role of psychological factors, particularly chronic psychological distress, in stroke risk. A recent study published in journal Cureus, titled Chronic Stress and Stroke Among the Adult Population in the United States, sheds new light on this association by analyzing data from a large, representative sample of U.S. adults over more than a decade.

Why Was The Study Conducted?

The study aimed to examine the relationship between chronic psychological distress and stroke incidence among adults in the United States. Utilizing data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), researchers analyzed responses from 284,497 individuals.

Psychological distress was measured using the K6 scale—a brief, standardized, and validated instrument known for its high specificity and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.89)—making it ideal for large population screenings.

What Did The Study Find?

The analysis revealed that individuals experiencing psychological distress had more than twice the odds of having a stroke compared to those without distress, even after adjusting for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. This 117% increased risk emphasizes psychological distress as a significant, potentially modifiable stroke risk factor.

These findings align closely with prior international studies. Research from Australia and the United Kingdom has similarly demonstrated that elevated psychological distress predicts higher stroke risk. For example, a large UK prospective cohort found significant links between distress and stroke incidence, while Australian studies identified distress as a predictor of fatal ischemic stroke, particularly in men. Another Australian population study confirmed associations between psychological distress and cardiovascular diseases, including stroke and diabetes, measured by similar validated tools.

Further supporting evidence comes from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a U.S.-based longitudinal cohort, which showed that chronic stress, depression, hostility, and anger were linked to increased stroke or transient ischemic attack risk in adults free of clinical cardiovascular disease at baseline. Although MESA used different stress measures and focused on clinical stroke outcomes, its results complement the current study, underscoring the broader impact of chronic psychological distress on cerebrovascular health.

Role Of Obesity

An intriguing aspect of this study is its exploration of obesity’s interaction with psychological distress and stroke risk. Initially, obesity appeared to increase stroke risk in models unadjusted for cardiovascular factors. However, after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, cholesterol levels, and smoking, obesity was associated with a 14% decreased stroke risk. This phenomenon echoes the “obesity paradox,” where obesity may confer protective effects in certain diseases, including heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

Previous work by the researchers has shown similar paradoxical trends in cardiovascular interventions and bone health, with notable differences across races and sexes. These findings challenge the simplistic view of obesity as universally harmful and support new obesity classifications that differentiate clinical risks. The World Obesity Federation and other scientific bodies have endorsed this nuanced understanding, emphasizing that not all obesity translates into worse health outcomes.

Public Health Implications and Future Directions

The study’s strengths include its large, nationally representative sample and use of the practical, validated K6 scale. The clear link between psychological distress and stroke risk suggests that addressing mental health could be a crucial strategy in stroke prevention efforts.

Given that stroke ranks fourth among causes of death in the U.S., and that stroke morbidity and healthcare costs are rising despite improved therapies, psychological distress stands out as an actionable target. The K6 tool’s ease of implementation in various clinical settings means healthcare providers can efficiently identify at-risk individuals and intervene.

The study highlights the importance of integrating mental health screening and management into cardiovascular risk reduction strategies. Addressing psychological distress offers a promising path to lower stroke incidence and improve overall public health outcomes.

While there's been uncertainty around the constantly shifting COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and guidelines in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided clarification, something that forcefully contradicts recently expressed views by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In a development that emphasizes increasing frictions between political figures and federal health agencies, the CDC has begun recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children between six months and 17 years old, but only in consultation with a health care provider. This nuanced stance is part of a larger shift toward collaborative clinical decision-making for pediatric vaccinations, as much as it is impeded by misinformation and policy ambivalence on public awareness.

Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his controversial views on vaccines, announced through a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the federal government was no longer advising COVID-19 shots for healthy children or pregnant women. Yet, the CDC's new vaccination schedule, published online shortly later, flatly contradicts Kennedy's assertion.

The CDC then indicates that otherwise healthy children can still get the COVID vaccine, but the healthcare provider's clinical judgment and personal circumstances and preference should inform this decision. For many, this is a big reversal from previous recommendations that highly encouraged COVID vaccinations in children and pregnant women without condition.

The CDC's advice comes as Kennedy, temporarily on leave from the anti-vaccination group Children's Health Defense, remains to spread uncertainty regarding vaccine effectiveness and safety. While stating he only opposes vaccine mandates in favor of vaccine choice, not across-the-board opposition, Kennedy has repeatedly made false public claims that vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, are associated with autism, claims refuted by decades of science.

Public health professionals have said the CDC's shift toward shared clinical decision-making provides more room for flexibility, enabling families and providers to partner together based on individual health histories and risks.

This type of recommendation is good in theory but difficult to make in practice. Health insurance does not always cover vaccines under shared decision-making provisions. Look for inconsistency in coverage, prior authorization, and out-of-pocket expenses, all of which will discourage vaccination.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was cautiously optimistic about the CDC's updated guidelines, commending the maintenance of access but criticizing the "deeply flawed process" that resulted in the change in policy. AAP President Susan Kressly noted continued concerns regarding the manner in which changes are communicated by federal agencies, cautioning that inconsistent messaging would compromise the nation's immunization infrastructure.

The new CDC vaccination schedule significantly does not include any special recommendation for healthy pregnant women, a fact Kennedy utilized in his video. Nonetheless, leading medical associations and professionals have quickly refuted any implication that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe or unnecessary for pregnant women.

Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), highlighted, "Even after the recommendation shift from HHS, the science remains unchanged. COVID infection during pregnancy can cause severe disability, stillbirth, and maternal death. The vaccine is safe and effective during pregnancy."

Medical research repeatedly demonstrates pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID illness. Not only does vaccination lower hospitalization and death rates, it provides newborns with passive immunity through maternal antibodies. The lack of explicit guidance on the new CDC website has created concerns among advocates for maternal health, as they worry access and coverage will decrease without robust federal leadership.

Public Health vs. Personal Choice

Kennedy's framing of the issue is in terms of personal choice and informed decision. He has advocated for complete openness and more individual control over vaccine choices, saying, "People ought to have choice and ought to be informed by the best information."

But public health professionals caution that such rhetoric overlooks the collective aspect of immunization. Vaccines are only highly effective when they are given to large numbers of people, inducing "herd immunity" that shields those with weakened immune systems who cannot safely take vaccines themselves. Declining uptake jeopardizes this protection and can cause increased risks of subsequent outbreaks.

Vaccination choices don't impact people individually, they impact public safety. When more people don't vaccinate, everyone is more at risk, particularly young children and those who are immunocompromised.

As a result of these policy changes, access to care continues to be a priority. Insurers might, in response to the CDC's more permissive suggestion, opt to cut or curtail pediatric COVID vaccine coverage. In the absence of a specific directive, families might incur surprise costs or logistics issues, another barrier in an already complicated health system.

In addition, the FDA's proposed fall guidance means that new COVID boosters will only be licensed to high-risk individuals, including those over 65 or with serious comorbidities. The FDA has also asked vaccine manufacturers to conduct new, large-scale studies to affirm on-going safety and need—potentially postponing access for others.

This regulatory roadblock also adds to the vaccination picture for families attempting to make the most informed decisions with incomplete data and shifting guidelines.

As the world has learned to live with COVID-19, public health leaders stress that the key to retaining public trust is clear, consistent messaging. The CDC's confusing and incomplete website postings at last look on Friday, some pages still had outdated advice suggesting COVID vaccination for pregnant women have only fueled public doubts.

"Families have the right to transparency, but also to clarity," added Kressly of the AAP. "At the moment, too much confusion is present when firm guidance is needed."

An August report from CDC highlighted the life-saving power of childhood vaccination programs, estimating that between 1994 and 2023 they had prevented over 500 million illness cases, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1.1 million deaths. As vaccine hesitancy intensifies and policy shifts send mixed messages, experts worry these hard-won gains could be threatened.

Colon cancer ranks among the most common cancers globally, yet it often slips under the radar due to its subtle symptoms. “It’s a cancer that can creep in quietly, and by the time it's diagnosed, it may already be at an advanced stage,” says Dr Sajjan Rajpurohit, Medical Oncology at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital. Early detection, he stresses, is the most powerful tool in improving survival rates.

Early Symptoms People Ignore

Colon cancer rarely announces its presence with dramatic symptoms. More often, it whispers — through changes in bowel habits, subtle abdominal discomfort, or unexplained weight loss.

Some of the most commonly missed early signs include:

• Persistent changes in bowel movements: Chronic constipation or diarrhea often dismissed as dietary effects.
• Blood in stool: Bright red or dark blood should not be ignored.
• Unexplained weight loss: Especially when unintentional.
• Abdominal cramps or bloating: Misinterpreted as common digestive issues.

“These symptoms are frequently brushed aside or self-diagnosed,” notes Dr Rajpurohit. “There’s a tendency to blame food, stress, or lifestyle rather than consider a deeper issue.”

Don’t Ignore Blood in Stool

According to Dr Rajpurohit, “Blood in the stool is one of the most common and concerning signs. While it might be due to hemorrhoids or fissures, it’s important not to assume. A proper evaluation is critical.”

Ignoring such a red flag delays diagnosis and drastically reduces treatment success rates. A timely visit to a healthcare provider can change outcomes.

The Bowel-Brain Connection

Persistent changes in bowel habits, especially if they last more than a few days, must be taken seriously. Narrow or ribbon-shaped stools may indicate a tumor partially blocking the colon. “Changes in stool shape, frequency, or associated pain should raise suspicion,” Dr Rajpurohit explains.

Social stigma and discomfort around discussing bowel habits further contribute to delay. “It’s high time we normalise conversations about gut health,” he adds.

Exercise as Medicine: Post-Treatment Insights

A recent international study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) highlighted a groundbreaking revelation — regular exercise post-treatment for colon cancer patients significantly reduces recurrence and boosts survival.

Dr Rajpurohit agrees: “This changes how we approach post-treatment care. Exercise isn’t just about fitness; it’s about survival. Oncologists must now prescribe movement as a form of medicine.”

Lifestyle and Prevention Go Hand in Hand

Colon cancer isn’t just a disease to treat — it’s one we can often prevent. The focus, says Dr Rajpurohit, should be on public education around:

• Diet: More fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; less processed food and red meat.
• Physical activity: “Even 30 minutes of daily walking helps.”
• Screenings: Especially vital for those over 45 or with a family history.

“We must push for more awareness campaigns. Prevention is within reach, but people need the right information,” he stresses.

The Way Forward

Colon cancer is beatable — but only if people are aware of the risks and act early. As Dr Rajpurohit puts it, “Our job is not just to treat cancer but to educate, prevent, and empower. A healthy lifestyle, awareness, and regular screenings can save lives. The earlier we talk about it, the better we fight it.”