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Business Standard
21 hours ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Early menopause raises depression risk, calls for mental health screening
For some women, the symptoms of menopause arrive far earlier than expected - not in their late 40s or 50s, but sometimes as early as their 30s or even 20s. This condition, known as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), occurs when the ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40. It leads to reduced fertility and a sharp drop in reproductive hormones, triggering a cascade of physical and emotional changes. While the physical effects of POI — such as irregular periods, hot flashes, and infertility — are well known, a growing body of research is shedding light on its psychological impact. A new study has found that women with POI face a significantly higher risk of depression and anxiety, prompting experts to call for better mental health support and integrated care. According to the Cleveland Clinic, POI differs from natural menopause in both timing and cause. It may strike much earlier than expected, especially in women over 30, though it can sometimes begin in the teens or twenties. A 2024 study published in Nature found that five per cent of Indian women in rural areas and three per cent in urban areas experience premature menopause — with rates varying across states. Some common symptoms for POI include: Irregular or missed periods Decreased sex drive Difficulty concentrating Irritability Dry eyes Hot flashes and night sweats Infertility Painful sex due to vaginal dryness But what's less commonly discussed is its impact on mental health. How POI increases the risk of depression and anxiety A new study published in The Menopause Society journal has found that women with POI report significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms. The study found that nearly one-third (29.9 per cent) of the women with POI, participating in the study, suffered from depressive symptoms. They were also about three times more likely to have depression and about five times more likely to have anxiety. These results highlight the importance of comprehensive care, addressing both physical and psychological aspects of menopause at an early age. According to researchers, several factors may contribute to this: Hormonal disruption: The sharp decline in oestrogen can affect brain function and mood regulation. Early loss of fertility: For many, this comes as a shock, leading to feelings of grief, loss, and lowered self-worth. Lack of awareness and late diagnosis: Many women are misdiagnosed or left untreated, compounding distress. The researchers additionally found that a younger age at POI diagnosis, severe menopause symptoms, fertility-related grief, and lack of emotional support were some of the risk factors. Why experts are calling for mental health screening in POI care Dr Monica Christmas, associate medical director at The Menopause Society, highlighted the importance of routine mental health screening in women with POI, noting that the high rates of depressive symptoms make this a vulnerable group. She added, 'Although hormone therapy is recognised as the standard of care for those with POI for management of some menopause-related symptoms and preventive care, it is not first-line treatment for mood disorders. This was evident in this study in which there was no difference in depressive symptoms between those using hormones and those not using hormone therapy. Addressing behavioural-health concerns with evidence-based interventions should be part of any comprehensive POI care plan.' For more health updates, follow #HealthWithBS
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Right-to-Die Activist Ends Life by Starving Herself to ‘Protect My Children From Seeing Me Choke and Struggle to Breathe'
Two years ago, Emma Bray, 42, was diagnosed with a terminal neurological condition called motor neuron disease She decided to end her life by starving herself, hoping to spare her children from witnessing her decline any further The mom of two announced her own death on Instagram on July 14 alongside a final photo of herself lying in a hospice bedA British mother made the tough decision to starve herself to death to spare her children from witnessing the devastating effects of her terminal neurological condition. Two years ago, Emma Bray from Barnstaple, England, was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND). MND is a group of neurological disorders that gradually destroy the motor neurons, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These nerve cells are found in the brain and spinal cord, and they control muscle movement for activities like breathing, speaking, swallowing and walking. ALS — also known as Lou Gehrig's disease — is the most common MND. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'I've had four different health professionals tell me I've got the worst disease possible,' she told The Mirror in May, using an eye-gazing machine to speak. 'I now feel I am at the stage where my quality of life is very affected, I can no longer use any of my limbs. My talking is severely affected, and I struggle to eat, and it's getting harder to breathe. I am only really comfortable in bed, and social visits are exhausting.' 'I have carers multiple times a day, can't be left alone overnight and can no longer do any basic tasks,' the 42-year-old continued. 'I can't scratch an itch, push up my glasses, or move a bed sheet if I am too hot or cold. I feel like I am losing the essence of me. I am still so loved, but I can't be myself, and I see that grief on everyone's faces." is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Bray — who actively campaigned for Dignity in Dying — was an advocate for the Assisted Dying Bill, which would allow adults in the UK who are terminally ill to have the choice of medical aid in dying. She said, if it were passed, it would've prevented her loved ones suffering for two years with anticipatory grief. 'Imagine seeing your children crying and upset and not be able to hug them or curl up in bed and wipe their tears away,' she told the outlet, referring to her children, age 15 and 14. 'This is hands down the thing I hate the most about motor neurone disease. It's taken my children's mum from them little by little.' So, Bray decided to end her life using the 'voluntarily stopping eating or drinking' practice, also known as VSED. According to nonprofit Compassion & Choices — which provides resources, training and support for those navigating end-of-life health care — VSED is 'when a mentally capable individual decides to control their own dying by making a conscious decision to refuse foods and fluids of any kind.' 'VSED is not an easy death, but with the current law in England, this is the only way I can have control over my death,' Bray explained. 'I want to protect my children from seeing me choke and struggle to breathe. I don't want to die, but I am going to and have come to terms with my impending death, and I know I want to die surrounded by loved ones, music and laughter, not in an emergency way after further decline.' 'My last bit of parenting I can do is to limit the suffering and trauma they have to witness,' she added. 'I made a promise to myself that I wanted to wait to see my daughter finish high school and my son grow up a little so I can picture the man he will become.' ! In her final months, she told the outlet that she's urging members of parliament to help others 'die with peace.' On Monday, July 14, Bray — from her @stupid_mnd account — posted on Instagram, announcing her own death alongside a final photo of herself lying in a hospice bed overlooking the trees. 'If you are reading this then I've finished my final spin round the sun,' she wrote. 'I've lived a very good life, surrounded by love, music and laughter and I want this to continue in my memory. Rather than shed a tear (or whilst you do) please plant a tree or call a friend, do a random act of kindness or take time to watch a sunset. For moments of doubt please ask 'what would Emma do?' and run with that probably inappropriate answer.' 'Hug everyone a little tighter and love openly,' she ended. 'Please surround those who were closest to me with love, time and patience. And to quote Frank Turner - Remember you get to dance another day but now you have to dance for one more of us. Love you , bye.' Read the original article on People
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Suki Waterhouse reveals she was hospitalized for hernia from wearing tight pants
Fashion can be deadly. Suki Waterhouse told fans on Monday that she landed in the hospital after suffering a hernia from wearing pants that were too tight. ''suki you never tweet anymore' have you ever considered I wore pants so tight 6 months ago it caused a hernia & I've been too scared to tell you,' the 33-year-old actress and singer wrote on X. 6 Suki Waterhouse in the hospital. sukiwaterhouse/X Waterhouse's tweet included two photos, the first of which showed her lying in a hospital bed. She was wearing a gown and a wristband, had earphones in and a vape was on her chest, while a cannula appeared to be in her arm. The second image was seemingly of Waterhouse during her Sparklemuffin Tour that ran last year from Sept. to Dec. She stood underneath green foliage and a disco ball while dressed in a white top and tight green pants in the picture. 6 Suki Waterhouse opens for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in London in Aug. 2024. Getty Images Waterhouse responded to a fan's tweet about her hospital post. One of her followers wrote, 'vape in the hospital is diabolical,' to which she replied, 'so true.' A hernia, according to Cleveland Clinic, 'happens in your abdomen or groin, when one of your organs pushes through the muscle or tissue that contains it.' Waterhouse is expected to return to the stage on Aug. 8 for her performance at the Up In The Sky Music Festival in Aspen, Co. 6 Suki Waterhouse performing at the 2023 Ohana Festival in Dana Point, Calif. Billboard via Getty Images The 'Daisy Jones & The Six' actress released her second studio album, 'Memoir of a Sparklemuffin,' in September then embarked on her three-month tour. 'Now that the album's coming out, I want loud accessories,' she told Harper's Bazaar last summer. 'Things with sparkles, things with bright colors. That was part of naming the album. I want to be able to point to a cute thing and be like, 'I must have it, it's sparklemuffin.'' 6 Suki Waterhouse in an Instagram photo from July 9. sukiwaterhouse/Instagram 6 Suki Waterhouse performs onstage at the 2023 Ohana Festival. Billboard via Getty Images Along with her acting and singing career, Waterhouse is also busy being a mom to her 1-year-old daughter, who she shares with fiancé Robert Pattinson. While appearing on Emma Chamberlain's podcast in the fall, Waterhouse explained that she wants try her best 'to shield' her daughter from fans and paparazzi. 6 Suki Waterhouse, Robert Pattinson attend a dinner during Paris Fashion Week 2020. Getty Images 'But I also wanna take her for a walk and sit at a cafe and take her out,' she added. 'And someone might, like, they probably are going to take a picture and they probably are gonna show her face. And you don't actually get, like, there are laws but they go around them.' Waterhouse and Pattinson, who have not confirmed their daughter's name, first got together in 2018 after meeting at a star-studded house party.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
I have ‘Harlequin sign' — only half of my face sweats and gets red from exercise
Feeling flush? Harlequin sign might sound like a fun card game or Halloween outfit — but it's actually a rare nervous system condition characterized by asymmetrical sweating. Sydney Patrice, 26, a physical therapist from Baltimore, shared a video on TikTok in which she explained that only half her face turns red and sweaty during exercise — while the other side stays ghostly pale and completely dry. Harlequin sign might sound like a fun card game or Halloween outfit — but it's actually a rare nervous system condition characterized by asymmetrical sweating. SalmArina – 'One of the nerves got messed up in one of my neck surgeries last year,' she said. 'And so now, whenever I go running, only half my face gets red.' Neurosurgeon Dr. Betsy Grunch chimed in online to share how something like this can happen. 'There are two syndromes that could potentially happen after damage to your autonomic nervous system,' she said. 'If you're stressed out, your eyes get really big, your face gets flushed, you sweat, you get dry mouth — that's all part of our body's fight or flight mechanism and it travels through the sympathetic chain, which lies in front of the spine.' When that chain gets damaged, it can cause two conditions: Horner syndrome and Harlequin syndrome. 'Whenever I go running, only half my face gets red,' Sydney Patrice said on TikTok. TikTok/@sydneypatrice9 Horner syndrome is characterized by drooping eyelids, constricted pupils and a lack of sweating on one side of the face. Meanwhile, Harlequin syndrome causes only one side of the face to get flushed and sweaty, while the other remains completely dry. Why only one side? 'Because you have a sympathetic chain on either side and each supplies one side of your face,' Grunch noted. 'So if it's damaged on one side, it will affect that one side.' While it is a known risk with anterior cervical surgery — where doctors operate on the part of your spine that's in your neck by accessing it through the front — it's extremely rare. Though exact numbers are difficult to pin down, Harlequin syndrome is estimated to affect fewer than 1,000 people in the US, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It was first described in medical literature in 1988. Harlequin syndrome is generally a temporary and benign condition, but symptoms can become permanent in some situations, according to Grunch. While extraordinary, it is possible to have Horner syndrome and Harlequin syndrome — as Sydney appears to — since both involve injury to the sympathetic chain.
UPI
3 days ago
- Health
- UPI
Sugar, sweeteners might trigger early puberty In some kids, study says
Sugar, aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda) and glycyrrhizin (licorice root) are all significantly associated with a higher risk of early puberty, particularly in genetically predisposed children, researchers reported Sunday. Photo by Mustafa Akin/ Pexels July 14 (UPI) -- Sugar and artificial sweeteners might increase the risk of early puberty in children, a new study says. Sugar, aspartame (Equal), sucralose (Splenda) and glycyrrhizin (licorice root) are all significantly associated with a higher risk of early puberty, particularly in genetically predisposed children, researchers reported Sunday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco. Further, the more of these sweeteners that children consumed, the greater their risk of early puberty, researchers found. "This study is one of the first to connect modern dietary habits - specifically sweetener intake - with both genetic factors and early puberty development in a large, real-world cohort," researcher Dr. Yang-Ching Chen, a professor of family medicine at Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital and Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, said in a news release. In previous research, Chen had found that certain sweeteners can directly influence hormones and gut bacteria linked to early puberty. For example, the artificial sweetener acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) triggers the release of puberty-related hormones, and glycyrrhizin changes the balance of gut bacteria and influences genes involved in puberty, Chen's earlier work showed. "This suggests that what children eat and drink, especially products with sweeteners, may have a surprising and powerful impact on their development," Chen said. For the new study, researchers analyzed data on more than 1,400 teens in Taiwan, of whom 481 experienced a form of early puberty called central precocious puberty. Puberty usually starts between 8 and 13 for girls and 9 to 14 in boys, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Central precocious puberty occurs when a child's brain releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone too early, causing the testes or ovaries to start generating sex hormones, the Cleveland Clinic says. Children with precocious puberty may grow quickly at first, but stop earlier than usual, causing them to be shorter-than-average adults. Long-term they may be at higher risk of heart disease, certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. Researchers used questionnaires and urine samples to assess teens' sweetener intake, and tested their genetic predisposition using a panel of 19 genes related to central precocious puberty. Not only were certain sweeteners linked to early puberty, but boys and girls responded to different types of sweeteners, researchers found. Sucralose increase early puberty risk in boys, while glycyrrhizin, sucralose and added sugars increased risk in girls, results show. The results highlight "gender differences in how sweeteners affect boys and girls, adding an important layer to our understanding of individualized health risks," Chen said. "The findings are directly relevant to families, pediatricians and public health authorities," Chen said. "They suggest that screening for genetic risk and moderating sweetener intake could help prevent early puberty and its long-term health consequences. This could lead to new dietary guidelines or risk assessment tools for children, supporting healthier development." Because this was an observational study, it could not draw a direct cause-and-effect link between sweeteners and early puberty. Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The Cleveland Clinic has more on early puberty. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
