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Whether if it is the influence of social media, fashion, or societal expectations, most people fight to accept their natural body shape. For years, society imposed unattainable beauty standards, idealizing slender physiques and too often dismissing curvier physiques. What if the science were otherwise? What if having a large butt wasn't merely a matter of looks but had some unexpected health perks—ones that would make you stronger, healthier, and even smarter? Studies indicate that a more voluptuous backside isn't merely a style; it's a biological plus. From brain-enhancing advantages to improved heart health, your curves are doing you some good in ways you never thought possible. It's time to leave the insecurities behind and own the science-supported strength of your big booty!
Scientific studies indicate that where fat is deposited on your body has varying effects on your health. Contrary to visceral fat that is stored around the waist and contributes to severe health complications, fat deposited in hips, thighs, and butt is deemed favorable. This fat is referred to as subcutaneous fat, and research has indicated that it has a protective function in metabolic well-being. Additionally, scientists have discovered that people with greater lower-body fat stores have improved cardiovascular health, lower inflammation, and even greater cognitive function. Let's discuss the different science-supported advantages of having a large butt.
A more curvy lower body could be a protective factor against deadly diseases. A September 2020 meta-analysis in The BMJ concluded that people with a bigger hip and thigh circumference were less likely to die early in life compared to those who had fat around their waist. Fat in the buttocks releases healthy hormones, including adiponectin, which protects against heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Furthermore, individuals who have a positive waist-to-hip ratio possess well-balanced cholesterol profiles, higher levels of good HDL cholesterol, and lower amounts of detrimental LDL cholesterol. Having such a balance decreases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and helps a person live a longer life.
Believe it or not, your big booty may be smarter than you think. A study in the International Journal of Obesity in 2010 discovered that women with bigger butts have greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are required for brain function. Omega-3s contribute to the construction of cell membranes of the brain and possess anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant effects that facilitate mental health. For new mothers, stored fat becomes even more vital, as it delivers essential fatty acids to their infants through breast milk, adding to better brain development in kids.
A strong posterior isn't all about appearance—it's the key to athletic performance. Your gluteus maximus is your body's biggest muscle, and it's what drives movements like running, stair climbing, and weightlifting. Powerful glutes give you stability, enhance balance, and create power for intense exercise. In fact, people with stronger glutes can lift more, run quicker, and excel at sports and endurance exercises. Because bigger muscles burn more calories, a strong butt also helps you keep your metabolism healthy and avoid weight gain.
If you have back pain, your glutes may be your best protection. Weakened or underdeveloped glutes require smaller, weaker muscles—such as those in the lower back—to overcompensate. This can result in strain, poor posture, and chronic pain. A 2015 Journal of Physical Therapy Science study discovered that people who have well-developed glutes have reduced lower back pain as a result of enhanced lumbar muscle strength and balance. Strengthening the glutes keeps the posture upright and avoids excessive stress on the spine, which makes daily functioning simpler and more pleasant.
Your posterior chain of muscles, consisting of your glutes, lower back, and hamstrings, is what maintains good posture. Spending many hours sitting or living a sedentary life weakens these muscles, creating a slouching posture. But a well-conditioned butt does so naturally, supporting spinal alignment and keeping you upright and reducing lower back strain. Strong glutes can also help prevent such common postural problems as anterior pelvic tilt, where the pelvis tilts forward because of weak muscles.
Your lower body strength is directly connected to injury prevention. Weak glutes cause other muscles, including hamstrings and quadriceps, to overwork and become strained, leading to risk of tears and strains. Harvard Health Publishing underlines that the stronger your butt is, it can stabilize knees, making injury to the knees, ligament, and even overuse illnesses like IT band syndrome less possible. Whether one is an athlete or simply one who loves exercising every day, well-developed glutes supply the necessary strength for your knee and legs.
Apart from the physiological health advantages, a large booty can lead to a good self-image and mind state. Researchers indicate that self-assuredness in one's body makes an individual more susceptible to practicing healthier habits, for example, proper exercise and meeting people. Having confidence in the body can ensure better self-image, more intense relationships, and an active way of life. Rather than concentrating on unrealistic beauty standards, accepting your natural shape can allow you to choose health over pressures from society.
If you are having a difficult time with your curves and you want to change, the following are simple tips to practice body acceptance:
Practice Positive Body Language: Discredit negative messages regarding your body and replace them with positive affirmations.
Be around Positive Influences: Interact with others who promote and celebrate body acceptance.
Keep An Eye On Social Media: Stop following accounts that show unrealistic body ideals and subscribe to body-positive influencers.
Dress In What Flatters Your Body: Fashioning for your body type will make you more confident and comfortable in your skin.
The next time you pass by the mirror, keep in mind that your curves are more than just an appearance—they contribute to your physical health, brawn, and even brain function. From warding off chronic disease to enhancing athletic performance and mental health, your big butt is a force to be reckoned with. Science proves that loving your natural shape is not only liberating but also key to living a long and healthy life. So, own your curves, love their benefits, and celebrate the body that carries you through each day.
Sometimes signs of chronic and serious diseases can show up in the most unexpected ways and places. One such condition is Bronchiectasis. It is a chronic lung condition that damages your airways, leading to excessive phlegm production. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute explains that this damage to your airways can hurt your lungs, as it will cause them to expand, become loose and scarred.
It has a big range of symptoms, some of which may seem unrelated to lungs. While there's typically no cure, the treatments available can help you manage the condition and also help you improve the quality of your life.
Bronchiectasis affects approximately one in 200 adults in the UK. The damage to your lungs and airways results in an overproduction of phlegm. This excess mucus can lead to various complications and presents a variety of symptoms.
However, an issue with conditions like this is that many times early warnings can go ignored or misidentified by people. Hence learning these crucial signs can help you get the treatment you need. Bronchiectasis may be a lung disease; however, its signs can be seen at your fingertips!
According to Asthma + Lung UK, one surprising early indicator of bronchiectasis is "clubbing" of the fingertips. This refers to the swelling and rounding of the fingertips around the nails. It often occurs due to chronically low blood oxygen levels, which can be a consequence of lung diseases like bronchiectasis.
Lung conditions like bronchiectasis can put extra strain on your muscles, including those in your bladder, bottom, and pelvic floor. As a result, individuals with bronchiectasis may experience incontinence, such as slight urination or defecation, especially during exertion like coughing or laughing.
Beyond the more unusual signs, common symptoms of bronchiectasis include:
The American Lung Association explains that diagnosing bronchiectasis can be tricky because its symptoms often look like other lung problems. But getting an early diagnosis is really important to stop more damage to your lungs.
If your doctor thinks you might have bronchiectasis, they'll usually start by asking about your family's health history and ordering blood tests. These tests can help them figure out if you have an underlying condition that might be causing the bronchiectasis or if your body's infection-fighting cells are low.
Other tests include chest X-ray, lung function test which would measure how much can you breathe in and out, sputum culture, which will sample your phlegm to catch any infection. Sometimes, doctors order sweat test to see if you have cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that can lead to bronchiectasis.
In some severe cases, if bronchiectasis isn't getting better with treatment, doctors might suggest a bronchoscopy. This procedure involves putting a thin, flexible tube into your airways. It helps them find any blockages or sources of infection that are hard to see otherwise.
While bronchiectasis is generally incurable, treatment aims to control symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. Management strategies include:
Lifestyle Changes
Quitting smoking is strongly advised to help manage the condition more effectively.
Respiratory Physiotherapy
A respiratory physiotherapist can teach you techniques to effectively clear excess phlegm from your airways.
Medication
These are often prescribed to fight chest infections and flare-ups. If you experience frequent flare-ups, long-term antibiotic use may be necessary.
Surgery
In rare cases, surgery might be needed to repair lung damage or if a ruptured blood vessel in the lung leads to coughing up blood.
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We all love a bit of touch up, whether on a regular day or for an event. For millions of women across the globe, threading is a regular part of their beauty routine. From shaping eyebrows to removing unwanted facial hair, this grooming technique is practiced weekly or monthly and is widely considered quick, safe, and inexpensive.
But a recent video from a doctor turned influencer has caused a stir online by claiming that threading — like tattooing and body piercing — can potentially spread Hepatitis B, a serious liver infection.
In a video that has garnered over 400,000 views within two days, Dr Vishal Gabale, an internal medicine doctor from Navi Mumbai, narrates a case where three young women, all of whom had visited the same threading salon, tested positive for Hepatitis B with identical virus strains.
Dr Gabale says he investigated the case like a “medical mystery,” and found the common link between the patients was their visit to the same salon. Citing a 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) bulletin, he claims that Hepatitis B has been known to spread through tattooing, razor-sharing, and “even cosmetic procedures like threading.”
According to him, threading can cause micro-abrasions, and if contaminated tools or threads are used, the virus could survive for days — even without visible blood.
However, not all doctors are convinced. A dermatologist based in Hyderabad acknowledges that if threading causes skin abrasions, transmission is “theoretically possible,” but stresses that no confirmed case has ever been recorded.
“Tattoos are a different story — they break the skin and do carry a risk. But threading is far more superficial,” he said. “If threading was truly risky, we’d have seen documented evidence by now, considering how common the practice is.”
He also criticized the influencer’s decision to disable comments on the video, making it harder for experts to counter misleading claims.
Hyderabad-based neurologist Dr Sudhir Kumar also raised concerns. He pointed out a small disclaimer in the video saying it’s “only for educational purposes” and presents a theoretical risk — suggesting the doctor hadn’t treated any actual Hepatitis B cases linked to threading.
“The issue is that viewers may miss that disclaimer and assume the risk is real. But to date, not a single case report has linked Hepatitis B transmission to threading — that’s significant,” Dr Kumar explained.
About the WHO bulletin cited in the video, the doctor reportedly shared a screenshot of an unrelated 2010 article, which did not reference threading and wasn’t published by WHO.
Dr Kumar added that while there are documented links between Hepatitis B and procedures like tattooing, body piercing, manicures, or even shaving with unsterile equipment, threading has never been associated with such risk, reported The South First.
He warns against fear-mongering and called the video an example of “clickbait,” made worse by its origin — a doctor, not just an influencer.
“Threading doesn’t typically break the skin. Unlike tattooing or piercings, it doesn’t create the conditions necessary for virus transmission. We must focus on real risks — unprotected sex, reused medical needles, and poor hygiene in clinical settings — not unproven, hypothetical scenarios,” he said.
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Our eyes can reveal a lot about us, you can say that they are not just the window to our soul but also to our health. Not only can you see signs of conditions like high cholesterol and diabetes, but doctors can also identify signs of a few other diseases.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, doctors can spot signs of heart disease during a regular eye exam. They also explain how studies have found that people with heart disease often have tiny "eye strokes" in their retinas.
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Harvard Health Publishing adds that sudden changes in your vision, like blurriness, dark spots, or shadows, could mean there's a blockage in an eye blood vessel. This can be a warning sign of a more serious stroke in your brain. Also, there's growing evidence that tiny, early damage to blood vessels in your eyes might predict heart problems. Other unusual eye changes can also hint at heart issues, like small yellow bumps around your eyes, or pupils that get bigger and smaller with your heartbeat.
Tiny blood vessels, as thin as a single strand of hair, supply blood to your retina. Harvard Health Publishing also explains that these tiny vessels, like arteries throughout your body, can be damaged by long-term problems like diabetes and high blood pressure.
Over time, high blood sugar, which is diabetes, makes the walls of these eye vessels weak and leaky. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy and can harm your vision. Poorly controlled high blood pressure can also make eye arteries narrow or break and bleed into the retina.
Both diabetes and high blood pressure are known to contribute to heart disease. But sometimes people don't even know they have these conditions if they haven't seen a doctor in years.
Harvard Health Publishing also specifies that some adults, usually middle-aged or older, develop soft, yellowish bumps filled with cholesterol on or around their eyelids, often near the nose. These are called xanthelasmas. They don't hurt and rarely affect vision. But they can be a sign of high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. They're a bit more common in women. If you have them, you should definitely get a cholesterol test. Xanthelasmas are more common in people with genetic conditions that cause very high cholesterol.
About half of people with xanthelasmas have normal cholesterol levels, and for them, the bumps are just a cosmetic issue. But if heart disease runs in your family, make sure your doctor knows about these bumps, as they could be a sign of a higher risk of heart problems.
Eye strokes happen when the eye doesn't get enough blood and oxygen, causing some cells to die. This leaves a small mark called a "retinal ischemic perivascular lesion." Eye doctors can see these marks using a special camera called an OCT (optical coherence tomography) to look closely at the back of your eye.
American Academy of Ophthalmology says these eye scans are great for finding problems all over the body, not just in the eyes. They can even show signs of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Harvard Health also brings up a rare yet obvious sign of heart issues that affect your eyes. In serious cases, a rare eye sign can appear: your pupils might get bigger and smaller with each heartbeat. This is called Landolfi's sign, first described in 1909. People with this heart condition have a big difference between the two numbers in their blood pressure (the top and bottom numbers). The pupil movements show these big changes in pressure.
A 2017 issue of the American Journal of Medicine detailed a case study of a 60-year-old woman who was admitted with shortness of breath, lightheadedness as well as palpitations, which when checked, doctors heard a murmur. Another careful examination of the eyes revealed constriction and dilation of the pupils which synchronized with the patients' heartbeat. The study detailed how this was a sign of the “Landolfi's sign”.
For people with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide, finding it early and getting treatment can help prevent a heart attack or a bigger stroke.
In the future, if an eye doctor sees these eye strokes on a scan, they might send the patient to a heart doctor, especially if the patient hasn't had a full health checkup or doesn't know if heart disease runs in their family.
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