World Sexual Health Day is observed on September 4, every year since 2010. The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) organises this event every year to promote and raise awareness around sexual and reproductive health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) too recognises every person's right to sexual well-being and encourages people to have complete and accurate information so they can "make informed choices when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health."

This Year's Theme

This year, the theme of World Sexual Health Day is 'Consent'. This recognises the importance of consent and mutual respect when it comes to sexual encounters.

According to WHO, there has been poor attention to the prevalence and management of sexual health and gynaecological health issues during and after pregnancy. This day, therefore tries to emphasise on a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships.

What is WHO Doing To Promote Sexual Well-Being?

WHO attempts to enable people to achieve sexual health and well-being by tailoring normative guidance and national programming to meet their specific needs and lived experiences. It is done by welcoming and being inclusive to people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual characteristics, and people living with HIV and with disability.

WHO also tries to educate, counsel and extend care related to sexuality, sexual identity and sexual relationship. It also advocates for sexual health and rights, along with reproductive rights.

What Is India's Status?

Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director at the Population Foundation India, an NGO promoting sexual and reproductive health says, "India has made steady progress in promoting awareness on sexual and reproductive health issues, driven by efforts from both governmental and non-governmental organisations."

According to The Borgen Project, about 6% of India's adult population is diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or reproductive tract infections (RTIs) every year.

Coming to menstrual health, as per the UNICEF, only 13% of Indian girls are aware of menstruation before menarche, or their first period. However, 60% of them remain absent during their periods or drop out permanently from school due to a lack of infrastructure and other challenges.

Though, on the brighter side, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), contraceptive use among married women increased from 53.5% in 2015-16 to 66.7% in 2019-21. "It highlights a shift towards women making informed reproductive choices. However, we must acknowledge that deeply ingrained cultural taboos still exist, particularly in rural areas, limiting open dialogue," says Muttreja.

Stigma Around Sexual Health In India

Stigma around issues like abortion, contraception and menstruation prevents women to seek care when they need. What can be done? Muttreja suggests that only be embedding SRH discussions into mainstream education and media can we break the silence. "Women must have the knowledge and autonomy to make informed choices about their bodies without coercion."

What Is The Government Doing?

The Government of India in 2016 launched the Mission Parivar Vikas to improve access to family planning in targeted districts. This is to expand sexual health and reproductive rights and education to marginalised communities and to inform women on right to safe childbirth, menstrual hygiene, safe abortion and freedom from violence.

"World Sexual Health Day is a reminder to the global community that sexual health and rights are fundamental human rights," says Muttreja.

When it comes to keeping your home clean, people do not leave any stone unturned. Our parents would often nag us to clean our rooms and keep the house clean. While it would annoy us to no end, growing up we understood why they encouraged us to keep the place we live in clean. It's not just about making it look good, but also about protecting it from harmful bacteria and germs.

While your home may be your personal space, it can quickly become a breeding ground for germs. You are also more likely to fall sick due to an unhygienic space as you spend a lot of time at home, including resting and sleeping.

However, while you may clean your floors, your closet and the washroom frequently, there are many unsuspecting items that are not cleaned as often, sometimes not at all. These items are mostly used daily, and do not need to be cleaned daily. As insignificant these may seem, periodically cleaning them is necessary to stop them from becoming breeding grounds for health issues.

Unlikely Things That Get Neglected Being Cleaned

Sponges and Dish Cloths

Before tackling dishes or counters, remember your sponge and cloth can be very unclean. They collect food scraps and messes, creating a damp home for harmful bacteria that soap alone won't eliminate. A study published in the American Society of Microbiology revealed that 49% of kitchen towels have bad bacteria. Boiling your kitchen towels may be a good practice to keep hygiene otherwise you replace them periodically.

Carpets and Rugs

Consider everything tracked onto your floors – dirt, mud, and even tiny waste particles. According to research done by Philip Tierno Jr., Ph.D., a microbiologist and immunologist, carpets are 4000 times dirtier than your toilet seats. Shed skin feeds these germs, and rugs trap allergens and pet dander. Regular vacuuming isn't sufficient; the aim for professional deep cleaning annually to remove hidden contaminants.

Cutting Boards

Your cutting board, used for various foods like veggies and raw meat, can easily spread harmful bacteria if not properly cleaned. According to the North Carolina State University, plastic boards can develop germ-trapping grooves, while wood is harder to sanitize. Using separate boards for different food types and thorough washing after each use are crucial for preventing foodborne illness.

Toothbrush Holders

You diligently brush your teeth, but the storage of your toothbrush matters. Damp toothbrush holders, especially in steamy bathrooms, become ideal breeding grounds for various germs. These accumulate, and touching the holder can transfer thousands of microorganisms. Weekly washing with soap or dishwasher cleaning can help maintain a cleaner storage environment.

Coffee Makers

While you likely wash your mug daily, neglecting your coffee maker can lead to more than just a caffeine boost. Single-serve machines have water tanks where bacteria, mold, and yeast can thrive. Experts advise emptying and drying the tank after each use and descaling the machine regularly to prevent unwanted microbial growth.

Tech Gadgets

Think of the many hands touching your remote, the crumbs in your keyboard, and the constant handling of your phone. These shared devices can be surprisingly unclean, with keyboards harboring significant bacteria. Regular wiping with disinfectant and frequent handwashing are essential to minimize germ transfer from these commonly used items.

Pillows

Prepare yourself; your pillows can be a haven for dust mites, dead skin cells, and bodily fluids over time. Experts liken them to damp sponges that absorb various substances, creating a thriving environment for these unwanted guests. Regular washing every six months, annual replacement, and dust mite covers are recommended for cleaner sleep.

As temperatures rise and warm weather becomes unbearable, it is very important for people to take precautions to protect their own health. Things like applying sunscreen and covering up properly before they leave the house are a must. It also helps to know the symptoms of heatstroke as you will be able to identify it as soon as it happens.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 2025 is likely to be one of the three warmest years for global average temperature. This unusual warmth means our bodies might not be fully used to such heat, making it even more important to be mindful of how we're feeling and any potential signs of heat-related illness. Several warnings have been issued globally for people to take proper precautions so that they do not fall victim to the harsh consequences of this heat.

Currently, the temperature in the UK is rising and the National Health Service has issued a warning for people to look out for this unexpected sign if heatstroke. While you may not expect it, signs of heatstroke can appear throughout your body, whether it is in the form of stress and lightheadedness in your arms and legs.

Unexpected Sign of Heatstroke

One lesser-known symptom of heatstroke happens to be cramps in your arms and legs. you might also experience them in your tummy area. So, if you're out in the heat and start to get these kinds of muscle spasms, it could be an early warning sign that your body is struggling with the high temperatures, and you need to take action to cool down and rehydrate. Don't ignore these cramps, especially if they are accompanied by other symptoms of heat exhaustion.

Can Symptoms Related To Heatstroke Be Life Threatening?

The National Health Service (NHS) is highlighting that a condition called heat exhaustion can develop into something much more serious, known as heatstroke, if it's not treated quickly. Heat exhaustion is when your body gets too hot, but it's usually something you can recover from if you take steps to cool down within about half an hour. However, if heat exhaustion progresses into heatstroke, it becomes a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment from healthcare professionals because it can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly. Recognizing the signs of heat exhaustion early is key to preventing it from turning into heatstroke.

Other Symptoms To Be Aware Of

Besides muscle cramps, there are several other important signs of heat exhaustion that you should watch out for when it's very hot. These include feeling unusually tired, experiencing dizziness, having a headache, feeling sick to your stomach or actually vomiting, sweating a lot, and your skin becoming pale and feeling clammy, or even developing a heat rash (though changes in skin color might be harder to notice on brown and black skin). You might also notice that your breathing or heartbeat becomes faster than normal, you have a high temperature, you feel extremely thirsty, and you experience general weakness. It's also noted that children with heat exhaustion might become more irritable than usual.

Undergarments play a very important role in protecting our health. They not only promote hygiene, but they also reduce the chances of chaffing, infections and keep the sensitive areas dry and prevent any unwanted odor. Most women own several pairs of bras, an undergarment used to support breasts, for different occasions. Sports bras are one such variety that women wear when they are doing active work. These bras are different than a daily wear bra as they are more durable and meant to restrict movement to ensure there are no injuries due to sudden movements.

However, a new study suggests that this restrictive movement may be causing women back pain. The research published in the European Journal of Sport Science suggested that these bras, designed to really hold everything in place, might unintentionally put extra pressure on your spine while you're active.

How Does Movement In Sports Bras Affect Women?

To understand how a bra affected breast movement, researchers observed a woman doing activities like running, to see how it affected her breasts, back and spine movement. To understand the difference of movement in each bra, they ran the same test with no bra, a regular day wear bra and a sports bra. By tracking these movements, the researchers were able to see how each type of bra affected her body's mechanics during the activity. This detailed monitoring helped them understand the potential impact of different levels of breast support on other parts of the body, like the spine.

Understanding the Sports Bra Mechanism

Sports bras are specifically designed to limit how much your breasts move around when you're exercising. This is important because excessive bouncing can be uncomfortable and even cause pain, especially if you have larger breasts. Over time, repeated bouncing without proper support can also strain the skin and ligaments in the chest area. Because of these issues, the focus of many sports' bra designs, especially the newer ones, has been on achieving the highest possible level of breast motion control to maximize comfort and support during physical activity.

The researchers pointed out that when your breasts naturally bounce while you're doing activities like running or spinning, the soft tissues around your chest actually help to absorb some of the force that would otherwise go to your joints and spine. However, a sports bra that's too tight and completely stops this natural bounce might prevent this force absorption. As a result, that pressure could then be transferred back to your spine, potentially causing your back muscles to work harder to compensate, which could eventually lead to pain or discomfort in the back

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Too Much Movement Restriction Can Cause Issues

It is natural for breasts to have movement when one is working out, while too much movement may hurt, allowing some movement can actually be good. This movement allows the surrounding tissues to play a role in shock absorption, protecting the spine and other joints from some of the impact. When a sports bra is so restrictive that it eliminates all bounce, it might disrupt this natural mechanism. This could mean that the forces generated during exercise, which would normally be partially absorbed by the breasts and their supporting tissues, are instead directly transmitted to the back, potentially increasing the load and stress on the spinal structures and muscles.