During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw countless times how some people remained completely unaffected by the virus while others were suffering a great deal. Similarly, millions of people live with ‘Inactive Tuberculosis’ and do not know about it until it becomes active.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a serious sickness caused by tiny germs called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. UCLA Health explains that these germs can attack your lungs, making it hard to breathe. But they can also travel through your blood to other parts of your body.

Inactive, or latent TB is a bit different- the variables of the virus may be in your system, but you will not get sick. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there is no cough, no fever, or no fatigue. Although Tuberculosis is a communicable disease, inactive TB cannot be spread through contact. While diagnosing, a simple blood draw or a skin test, will show that the disease is present, but your chest X-ray might be completely fine. Even though its not serious it's important to treat latent TB.

Why Should You Get Inactive TB Treated?

TB is a serious illness that can make you very sick, causing bad cough, tiredness, fever, and weight loss. Treating latent TB is like stopping the virus, while it's still small and easy to treat. It's much easier to kill the dormant germs than to fighting the active disease. By simply taking medicine for latent TB, you can protect yourself from a serious condition.

The virus can also travel through your blood to other parts of your body meaning it can affect your spine, the little glands that fight infection (lymph nodes), your kidneys, and even your brain. It's important to know that TB can make anyone sick, no matter how old they are.

Can You Diagnose And Treat An Inactive TB?

The CDC explains there are two main ways to test for TB- a blood test and a skin test. The blood test is like checking a sample of your blood to see if it reacts to TB germs. The skin test involves putting a tiny bit of test material under your skin and seeing if you have a reaction after a few days.

If you have latent TB, you'll need to take medicine for several months. This medicine is like a special cleaner that kills sleeping germs. If you stop taking the medicine too early, the germs might not be completely gone. And they can become resistant to the medication. Because there are fewer ‘germs’ to kill with latent TB, the treatment is much shorter and easier than treatment for active TB. Following a medication schedule is the best way to make sure you stay healthy and don't develop active TB.

How Can One Carry A Disease And Not Know?

A 2017 study published in the Viruses Journal explained that we all have slightly different versions of our genes (polymorphisms) and these differences can affect how our bodies react to any virus. Some gene variations might make your immune system stronger against a specific virus, while others might make you more vulnerable.

For years, cancer has largely been seen as a disease of aging. But that narrative is shifting, and not in a good way. More young adults—some as young as 29 or 30—are walking into oncology clinics with advanced-stage cancers that could have been caught earlier if only they had paid attention to what seemed like everyday fatigue, body aches, or stress.

According to recent data, early-onset cancers—those diagnosed between ages 18 and 49—are on the rise in the United States. A new analysis points to increasing rates of 14 different cancers in this age group, most notably breast, colorectal, kidney, and uterine cancers.

Dr. Ang Peng Tiam, Medical Director and Senior Consultant Medical Oncology at Parkway Cancer Centre, Singapore, sees this trend up close. “Younger patients often delay medical attention because they simply don’t believe cancer could happen to them,” he says. “By the time they come in, many are already at stage 4.”

When Everyday Symptoms Mask Something Serious

The symptoms are easy to dismiss. Body aches, shoulder pain, stomach discomfort, fatigue—all easily chalked up to stress, overwork, or a sedentary lifestyle.

Dr. Ang recalls a recent patient, a 35-year-old man, who first experienced shoulder pain, then some discomfort in his abdomen. Painkillers seemed to help initially, so he didn’t investigate further. When he finally did, scans revealed his liver was full of tumors. The primary cancer was in the colon and it had already spread.

“This disbelief that someone so young could have cancer is what causes delays in diagnosis,” Dr. Ang explains.

Why Are More Young Adults Getting Cancer?

The short answer, it’s complicated. Experts agree the rise in early-onset cancer isn’t due to a single cause. It's a mix of genetics, lifestyle, environment, and healthcare gaps. Some cancers have known hereditary components, like BRCA mutations in breast and ovarian cancer. Others, like colorectal cancer, are increasingly being linked to lifestyle factors like diet, alcohol, and sedentary behavior.

Screenings aren’t routinely offered to younger adults. Mammograms typically start at 40; colonoscopies at 45. If you’re under that age and asymptomatic, you're likely not getting checked. Busy schedules, lack of insurance and the assumption that "I'm too young" to have cancer create a dangerous combination. Delays in seeking care mean many are only diagnosed when the disease has progressed.

To be clear, early-onset cancers are still relatively rare in the grand scheme of things but the pattern is significant enough to raise alarm bells. Dr. Ang clarifies, “It’s not an epidemic yet, but yes, we are seeing more young patients being diagnosed. Thankfully, they are often fit and can handle intensive treatments.”

The good news is that treatment protocols don’t differ drastically for younger patients, and their overall fitness may allow them to recover better and tolerate stronger therapies.

How Age Affects Cancer Risk?

Age is still the top risk factor for most cancers, the average age for a cancer diagnosis is 66 but some cancers skew younger. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Cancer Institute:

• Half of testicular cancer diagnoses occur in men aged 20-34.
• More than half of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) cases occur in those under 20.
• Hodgkin lymphoma most often strikes people under 39.
• One in four bone cancer diagnoses happen in children and teens.

These statistics show that while cancer is still more common with age, several types disproportionately affect younger people. So what should young adults take away from this growing trend?

Don’t ignore persistent symptoms like chronic fatigue, unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel habits, or lingering pain should never be brushed off. These seemingly minor issues can sometimes signal something more serious.

Knowing your family history is also crucial. If cancer runs in your family, speak with your doctor about whether early screening is right for you. Don’t be afraid to push for answers. If something feels off, trust your instincts and don’t settle for vague explanations, seek second or even third opinions if necessary.

Your lifestyle plays a big role too. Maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol are simple yet powerful ways to reduce your cancer risk. Lastly, make regular check-ups a priority. Even if you feel fine, annual physicals can help flag early warning signs before they become something bigger. Your primary care doctor is your first line of defense in staying ahead of serious illness.

Cancer in your 30s or 40s still feels unthinkable to many, and that mindset is part of the problem. As Dr. Ang warns, “You cannot imagine symptoms like a little fatigue or shoulder pain could mean cancer. But sometimes, they do.”

You don’t need to panic at every minor ache. But staying informed, being body-aware, and not dismissing unusual changes can make all the difference. Because when it comes to cancer, catching it early still offers the best shot at a cure.

Chest pains are more common than we think. Many people experience these out of nowhere, no fore warning or previous occurrences etc. Usually having chest pains is associated with heart attacks, which can be fatal. However, did you know, these chest pains could also be due to anxiety?

Panic disorder is a common mental health condition, affecting between 1 and 4 out of every 100 people. If someone experiences repeated anxiety attacks along with ongoing worry or changes in their behavior, they might also have symptoms like chest pain.

In fact, according to the chest pain occurs in 20% to 70% of panic attacks. Interestingly, about 18% to 25% of patients who visit emergency rooms with chest pain actually have panic disorder. This often leads to unnecessary heart tests, and unfortunately, the real cause of their pain goes undiagnosed in many cases.

Why Does Anxiety Cause Chest Pain?

There are several reasons why panic attacks can lead to chest pain, which can be categorized as either heart-related (cardiac) or non-heart-related (non-cardiac). Heart-related chest pain means there's a reduced blood supply to the heart, often due to spasms or a lack of oxygen (ischemia). However, non-heart-related chest pain can come from your muscles, bones, the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach (esophagus), or other organs not connected to your heart.

Non-Cardiac Reasons

Non-cardiac chest pain from anxiety can stem from your muscles and bones, or from your esophagus. Rapid breathing during anxiety, known as hyperventilation, can cause the muscles between your ribs to tense up and spasm, leading to pain. Additionally, anxiety can disrupt how your esophagus moves, causing painful esophageal spasms.

Cardiac Reasons

Anxiety can directly affect your heart, causing pain through various mechanisms. This can include the "fight or flight" response combined with rapid breathing, which may make the blood vessels supplying your heart muscle (coronary arteries) tighten, reducing blood flow. If you already have heart disease, anxiety can also worsen chest pain by making your heart work harder and increasing its oxygen demand. Sometimes, anxiety can even cause the tiny blood vessels in your heart to constrict.

How to Tell the Difference: Anxiety Chest Pain vs. Heart Attack

It can be very challenging to tell the difference between chest pain caused by anxiety and chest pain from a heart attack. However, some symptoms might help you distinguish between the two:

Heart attack chest pain is usually triggered by physical effort, whereas anxiety chest pain can happen even when you're resting.

Heart attack chest pain typically reaches its worst within a few minutes or stays constant; pain due to anxiety might be triggered or made worse by pressing on the painful area.

Anxiety chest pain is often described as sharp and stabbing, felt in a small, specific area. Heart attack pain is usually felt as pressure, fullness, an ache, or a squeezing sensation.

What Can Be Done To Reduce Chest Pains Caused By Anxiety?

If you experience chest pain, it's vital to seek professional medical help immediately. A doctor will accurately diagnose the cause through your medical history and physical exams, ensuring you get the right treatment. Some other ways it can be helped is,

Therapy

Talking therapies, especially Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), have shown great success in treating anxiety-related chest pain. These approaches help you manage thoughts and behaviors contributing to your anxiety.

Deep Breathing

Once diagnosed, deep breathing can calm your body and mind, helping normalize your heart rate. Inhale for 10 seconds, hold for one, then exhale for 10 to ease the pain.

Calming Techniques

Mind-calming techniques, like focusing on pleasant things, can gradually relieve anxiety symptoms. Remember that anxiety-related chest pain isn't life-threatening; staying optimistic and relaxed can also help.

Keeping Yourself Healthy

Maintaining general health is key. Regular exercise, stress management, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet can prevent future panic attacks. Cutting out caffeine, smoking, and alcohol is also important, as they can worsen anxiety.

For Jade-Marie Clark, what began as minor annoyances, an eye twitch here, a nagging headache there turned out to be a sign of something far more serious than stress or pregnancy hormones. The 32-year-old mother of two from Scotland would eventually be diagnosed with a rare, noncancerous tumor that paralyzed part of her face, robbing her of her ability to smile and forever changing her understanding of her health.

Clark first began experiencing symptoms in March 2020, during her first pregnancy. She had persistent ear pain, which doctors initially attributed to a common ear infection. After she gave birth, the symptoms faded. When they resurfaced three years later, this time during her second pregnancy, they took a slightly different form—headaches, twitching in one eye, and occasional facial discomfort.

At the time, she was studying to become a nursery teacher, balancing pregnancy, coursework, and family life. Like many women juggling multiple responsibilities, Clark wrote off her symptoms as the result of stress and hormonal changes. It wasn’t until she lost sensation in the corner of her lips that she became concerned enough to see a doctor.

“I brushed everything off,” Clark recalls. “When you're busy, especially pregnant and in college, you chalk a lot of things up to stress.”

Her general practitioner quickly referred her to a hospital, where an MRI scan revealed the unthinkable: acoustic neuroma, also known as vestibular schwannoma. While technically noncancerous, this rare tumor can have devastating effects if left untreated. It grows on the vestibulocochlear nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain and is responsible for hearing and balance.

Clark said she “burst into tears” when doctors said the word tumor. “You always think this kind of thing happens to someone else. I thought I was going to die,” she said.

Although acoustic neuromas typically grow slowly, they can exert pressure on nearby structures—especially as they increase in size—leading to hearing loss, ringing in the ear, balance issues, facial numbness, and in severe cases, brainstem compression. In rare situations, they become life-threatening.

Clark’s diagnosis came three months into her pregnancy, and her doctors advised against undergoing surgery until after she gave birth. That left her in limbo—worried about the tumor’s growth while also trying to stay calm for the sake of her unborn baby.

“This sounds terrible, but I remember thinking, I hope the tumor grows just enough so I can get the surgery sooner and get back to my life,” she confessed.

In April 2024, shortly after giving birth to her second son, Clark underwent surgery to remove the tumor. The operation was successful in removing the growth—but not without cost.

During surgery, nerves controlling facial muscles were damaged. Clark was left with facial palsy, a condition that paralyzed the right side of her face. She could no longer smile or fully close her right eye.

“I didn’t want to leave the house. I didn’t want anyone to see me. I was depressed, anxious, and grieving the way I used to look,” she said.

Facial palsy is more than cosmetic. It affects daily functions blinking, speaking, eating, even emotional expression. The psychological toll can be as severe as the physical. Clark now awaits nerve transfer surgery, a procedure that could potentially restore up to 80% of facial sensation.

What Is Acoustic Neuroma?

Acoustic neuroma, or vestibular schwannoma, is a benign tumor originating from the Schwann cells surrounding the vestibular nerve. Although it doesn't spread like cancer, its slow growth can lead to significant health issues. Common symptoms include:

• Progressive hearing loss (typically in one ear)
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Unsteadiness or dizziness
• Facial numbness or weakness
• Headaches and pressure behind the ear

If untreated, large tumors can press against the brainstem or cerebellum, leading to severe neurological complications.

Diagnosis is usually confirmed through MRI scans, and treatment options range from monitoring small tumors, to surgical removal, or radiation therapy like Gamma Knife radiosurgery.

How Stress Masks Deadly Diseases?

Clark’s story also highlights how chronic stress can muddy the waters of diagnosis. Eye twitching and headaches are common signs of stress, but they can also be red flags for underlying neurological issues.

Stress activates the body’s fight-or-flight response, increasing cortisol and adrenaline levels. When prolonged, this state can lead to immune suppression, digestive problems, cardiovascular issues, and neurological symptoms. Many people especially women, are prone to dismiss early symptoms as burnout or anxiety, often delaying essential care.

We’re conditioned to normalize stress, especially in high-demand life stages like pregnancy or career transitions. But as Clark’s experience shows, not every twitch or headache is harmless. Listening to your body, and seeking care when something feels “off,” can make all the difference. Clark’s experience offers several takeaways:

Listen to Your Body – Recurrent or escalating symptoms need attention, no matter how minor they seem.

Don’t Dismiss Neurological Signs – Numbness, twitching, and hearing changes should always be evaluated.

Mental Health Matters – Conditions like facial palsy affect self-image and emotional well-being just as much as physical function.

Stress Isn’t Always the Culprit – Sometimes it's a signal, not a cause.

As Clark awaits reconstructive surgery, she hopes to regain her smile—but more importantly, she wants others to learn from her journey.

“This could have been caught sooner,” she said. “I just want people to trust themselves more, and push for answers when something doesn’t feel right.”