Alopecia is a common skin disease. The word ‘alopecia’ means bald. It is an autoimmune disease that attacks your body’s hair follicles and causes hair loss. There are various kinds of alopecia which may affect hair loss in different ways.

Alopecia areata totalis means you have lost all your hair from your scalp. Whereas alopecia areata universalis means you have lost all your hair from your scalp and your body. Diffuse alopecia areata means hair thinning and ophiasis alopecia areata means that you lose a band of hair or from the bottom back side of your scalp.

How does it happen?

Dr Rinky Kapoor with 18 years of experience as a dermatologist says, “It can be triggered by factors like genetics, autoimmune issues, hormonal shifts, stress, nutritional deficiencies, physical damage to the follicles, or certain medications.”

Your immune system attacks your hair follicles because it thinks they are foreign elements such as bacteria, viruses, parasites on fungi, which can cause infection or illness. As a result, your hair starts to fall. Sometimes, it can be genetic too that can trigger your body’s autoimmune reaction.

The good news is, alopecia is not contagious and there are ways you can manage it.

How do we detect it?

You might notice hair thinning, patchy bald spots, or more hair than usual in your brush or shower. If you see these signs, it is an indication that you must visit a doctor. Consulting a healthcare professional is important if the hair loss is significant, sudden, or comes with scalp discomfort like itching or redness. “Early detection and treatment can help address the underlying causes and potentially reverse the hair loss,” says Kapoor.

Impact on Mental Health

Talking about its impact, Kapoor says, “hair loss can feel like a personal failure, a visible sign of ageing or illness that you cannot hide. It’s not uncommon to experience a significant blow to your self-worth, believing you are less attractive or desirable. This can lead to a vicious cycle of social anxiety, where the fear of being judged or pitied causes you to withdraw from social interactions, further isolating yourself and intensifying feelings of loneliness and depression.”

Why is it a taboo?

The psychological burden is heavy, with many people saying their hair loss is one of the most distressing experiences of their lives. The pressure to maintain a certain appearance makes hair loss a deeply stigmatising condition.

“Despite growing awareness, many people still find it difficult to talk about it due to the emotional and psychological impact it can have. Hair loss is often associated with aging, illness, or loss of attractiveness, making individuals reluctant to share their experiences. The stigma surrounding alopecia can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment, causing people to suffer in silence rather than seek support or treatment. This reluctance can prevent open conversations and perpetuate misconceptions about the condition,” says Kapoor.

Treatment is Available

Conventional treatments include medications like minoxidil and finasteride, hair nourishing supplements etc. which help stimulate hair growth and prevent further loss. For those requiring more targeted interventions, innovative treatments such as PRP therapy, microneedling, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) have shown good results.

“Hair science has now advanced and there are clinically-proven formulations like QR678 Neo containing biomimetic polypeptides that mimic natural hair growth factors, effectively reviving hair follicles and promoting growth, without the pain and inconvenience of the other modalities. PRP therapy involves injecting concentrated platelets into the scalp to stimulate hair growth, while microneedling induces growth factor release. LLLT uses light energy to enhance hair density,” remarks Kapoor.

She also suggests that lifestyle changes, treatment of underlying hormonal disturbances or nutrient deficiencies, and preventive measures are crucial.

“Maintaining a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, managing stress levels, and avoiding harsh chemical hair styling aids can help reduce the risk of hair loss. Regular scalp massages and the use of mild shampoos may also support overall hair health,” she says.

Doctors all agree about one thing; walking is fantastic for your health. It's often overlooked, but even a quick 10-minute fast walk can do wonders. Exercise often deters people as they can easily make the excuse that they do not have the time for it. However, walking is an assessable exercise that can easily fit into one’s daily routine through actions like walking to your place of work or walking during your break etc. It helps your heart and might even lower your chances of getting dementia. The NHS (National Health Service) in the UK constantly reminds us how beneficial walking is, proving it's a powerful way to stay healthy without needing fancy equipment or intense workouts.

Story Behind 10,000 Steps

Many people aim for 10,000 steps a day. This usually means walking about five to eight kilometers, taking one to two hours. But where did this number come from? Harvard Health explains that the 10,000-step goal actually became popular because of an old advertising trick. It was tied to the 1964 Olympics and a Japanese step counter called "Manpo-kei," which means "10,000-step meter." The company cleverly used the fact that the Japanese symbol for "ten thousand" looks a bit like a person walking.

How Many Steps Do You Really Need?

Scientists have been trying to find the perfect number of steps. A 2022 study published in the JAMA Network found that walking anywhere from 3,800 to 9,800 steps daily could lower your risk of dementia. This study suggested that just under 10,000 steps, especially taken at a fast pace (around 112 steps per minute), might be ideal for avoiding dementia.

But here's some good news: you don't have to hit 10,000 steps to benefit! A large review of many studies showed that as few as 2,337 steps a day could reduce your risk of dying from heart problems. And walking 3,867 steps could lower your risk of death from any cause. For every extra 1,000 steps you take, your risk of dying drops by 15%.

Best Steps for Different Ages

The ideal number of steps can change based on your age. If you're under 60, studies suggest aiming for 7,000 to 13,000 steps. For those 60 and older, the biggest health benefits were seen when walking between 6,000 to 10,000 steps. Other research showed that walking more than 2,200 steps (about one mile) was linked to living longer and having less heart disease. For women over 60, walking 6,000 to 7,500 steps lowered their risk of death. For younger people, the benefits didn't really increase much beyond 8,000 to 10,000 steps.

Walk Faster for More Benefits

It's not just about how many steps you take; how fast you walk is also important. A recent study found that walking at a brisk pace could lower your risk of heart rhythm problems. The researchers said a slow pace was under 3 mph, an average pace was 3-4 mph, and a fast pace was over 4 mph. Even when considering other factors, walking at an average or fast pace was linked to a 35% to 43% lower risk of irregular heartbeats compared to walking slowly. So, walking faster can make your heart even healthier.

A recent study presented at the American Society for Microbiology's annual meeting (ASM Microbe 2025) in Los Angeles has uncovered a surprising link between airborne fungal spores and short-term spikes in flu and COVID-19 cases. The research, conducted by scientists from Lynn University in Florida, suggests that monitoring outdoor levels of fungal spores could provide an early warning system for potential outbreaks.

Not Just Human Contact: A New Environmental Player

Traditionally, respiratory illnesses like flu and COVID-19 have been associated mainly with human-to-human transmission. But this new research introduces an environmental twist: airborne fungal spores — microscopic particles released by fungi into the air — may play a significant role in triggering infection surges.

Researchers found that when levels of fungal spores in the outdoor air increased, there was a corresponding rise in COVID-19 and flu infections in the days that followed. What’s more, the relationship was strong enough that statistical and machine learning models could predict these spikes with a high degree of accuracy.

Interestingly, the same predictive relationship did not hold true for pollen, another common airborne particle. This indicates that fungal spores may have a more specific and direct impact on respiratory health than previously assumed.

Data from the Tropics: What Puerto Rico Revealed

The research team focused their study on two major health regions in Puerto Rico — San Juan and Caguas — collecting data from 2022 to 2024. They tracked the daily incidence of flu and COVID-19 diagnoses alongside environmental measurements of fungal spores and pollen.

Using both traditional statistical analysis and machine learning models, they examined whether spikes in fungal spore concentrations could predict increases in infections within the same week or the following week — a concept known as a lag effect. The results were striking: in many instances, elevated levels of fungal spores were followed by noticeable jumps in flu and COVID-19 cases.

A Tool for Better Public Health Planning

“This research gives us a new lens through which to view respiratory virus outbreaks,” said Felix E. Rivera-Mariani, Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Lynn University and lead researcher on the study. “By monitoring environmental data like fungal spores, we can potentially issue earlier warnings and protect high-risk communities.”

Rivera-Mariani emphasized that this approach could be especially useful in the fall — a season that already sees increased viral transmission — when fungal spore levels are often high due to decaying plant matter and damp conditions.

He added that this discovery highlights a broader message: “Environmental triggers, not just interpersonal contact, may influence how and when people get sick. That insight could help shape future public health responses and inform protective guidelines, particularly in regions with high fungal activity.”

Who Stands to Benefit?

The findings may be especially valuable for protecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly, individuals with asthma, or people with allergic rhinitis. These groups are not only more prone to respiratory infections but may also be more sensitive to environmental irritants like fungal spores.

By incorporating airborne fungal spore monitoring into existing public health surveillance systems, authorities could issue timely alerts and recommendations — including when to wear masks, avoid outdoor exposure, or ramp up testing.

While more research is needed to fully understand the biological mechanism behind this connection, the evidence presented marks a promising step toward using environmental data to predict — and possibly prevent — future outbreaks.

Childhood trauma affects many kids and most adults as well. Kids may not understand the word 'trauma' and how it can affect them; however, the impact of difficult situations often surfaces in different ways. According to the National Children’s Alliance, in 2022 an estimated 558,899 children were victims of abuse and neglect. Even if they are too young to understand the consequences of these actions, childhood trauma can affect these children well into adulthood and sometimes throughout their lives.

A new study shows that tough childhood experiences like violence, addiction, and abuse can make it harder for kids to succeed in school. The study found that children who've been through even just one traumatic event are more than twice as likely to miss a lot of school due to health problems. The more bad experiences a child has, the more school they tend to miss.

What Are The Risk Factors of Poor Academic Performance for Kids?

During this study, researchers looked at information from over 10,000 children aged 6 to 17. They found that about 1 in 4 (24%) of these children had gone through at least one difficult event, including:

• Violence
• Having a parent in jail
• Living with someone in the household who is mentally ill, addicted to drugs, or an alcoholic
• Verbal or emotional abuse
• Not having basic needs like food or housing
• Discrimination because of their race or background

The study showed that kids who went through these traumas were 2.4 times more likely to be chronically absent from school. This means they missed at least 10% of school days because of health reasons. And for every extra traumatic event they experienced, their risk of missing school due to health increased by 25%.

Specific Traumas Mean Higher Risks of Missing School

The study pinpointed which traumatic events had the strongest connection to children missing more school. Being exposed to violence significantly increased the odds, making kids 2.6 times more likely to be chronically absent. Discrimination, such as unfair treatment because of their background, also boosted the risk of missing school by 2.5 times. Furthermore, living with a mentally ill person in the home increased a child's risk of chronic absenteeism by 2.2 times. These specific findings underline the direct impact of certain adversities on a child’s consistent presence in school.

The researchers strongly suggest that doctors and teachers should team up to identify children who have gone through trauma. They believe it's crucial to offer these kids support early on, especially if they start missing school often. Researchers emphasized the need for "new ways” so that schools and healthcare systems to work together and provide kids with the best support. The goal is to support these students before they miss too much school, preventing them from falling behind and experiencing even worse health and academic problems down the line. It's about building a safety net for our most vulnerable learners.