Stress and anxiety negatively impact sleep quality, especially when work, family, financial, and daily responsibilities leave no room to relax. For many women, the day doesn't end after leaving work or fulfilling duties; the mental to-do list can continue long after they go to bed, making it difficult to calm anxious thoughts and achieve the necessary restorative sleep for the body and mind.
When stress and anxiety begin to interfere with sleep, it can quickly turn into a frustrating cycle. Poor sleep leads to feeling more depressed and irritable the next day, while increased stress can further complicate falling asleep the following night. In observance of Women's Month, which highlights the importance of women's well-being, it is reminded that adequate sleep is not a luxury but an integral part of caring for physical and mental health.
Sleep serves not only to recharge batteries. It helps the body recover, strengthens the immune system, and maintains the sharpness of brain function. From an emotional perspective, quality sleep promotes mood regulation, better stress management, and a general sense of balance.
When sleep is disrupted, everything seems significantly harder. When a person is stressed, their body enters 'survival mode,' releasing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which maintain a state of wakefulness and readiness for action. This is the last thing needed when trying to fall asleep, so stress can cause worry and inability to fall asleep or early awakenings.
Anxiety exacerbates the situation. It is not just worry, but excessive rumination, constant 'what ifs,' and the inability to switch off the brain at night. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat or muscle tension, which further hinders relaxation. Over time, the fear of insomnia itself can become a source of anxiety, only worsening the situation.
Poor sleep triggers increased anxiety and stress, and higher levels of stress and anxiety, in turn, make sleep more difficult. This is a vicious cycle that seriously undermines mental health, causing irritability, feelings of depression, or even depression. The brain needs good sleep for adequate emotional processing, and the lack of it makes everything more complicated.
Fortunately, there are ways to break this vicious cycle. There are several simple tips that can provide significant help. It is recommended to use relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or light stretching before bed, to calm the mind. It is also important to maintain a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up around the same time every day, which helps regulate the body's internal clock.
It is important to create a sleep-conducive environment: the room should be cool, dark, and quiet, and phone or TV use should be avoided immediately before bed. Furthermore, caffeine intake should be limited in the afternoon, and one should try not to consume alcohol shortly before sleep, as both substances can disrupt sleep. If stress or anxiety seems too overwhelming, or if sleep does not come despite all efforts, professional help should be sought; therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, can be very beneficial.
Stress and anxiety are part of life, but they should not control a person's nights. By understanding how they affect sleep and taking steps to manage them, one can start sleeping better and feel like themselves again. Prioritizing sleep is not a sign of laziness or selfishness, but one of the best ways to take care of your mental health.
Despite insufficient funding, the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) presented a series of measures aimed at combating the pandemic. Dr. Thembisile Khulu, CEO of the SANAC Trust, expressed concern regarding the rate of adolescent pregnancy in South Africa.
During a briefing before the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday, SANAC highlighted three key issues for HIV/AIDS countermeasures. The Council also raised concerns about trends in HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), particularly among individuals aged 13 to 50. It was noted that provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Free State, and Eastern Cape register the highest number of people living with HIV in the country.
SANAC also identified the main factors contributing to dual infection with HIV and STIs, including adolescent pregnancy, as well as prevention methods for such infections, such as addressing adolescent pregnancy.
Dr. Thembisile Khulu, who leads the SANAC Trust, noted that South Africa has made significant strides in its response to HIV, but progress remains uneven. SANAC identified three priorities: establishing a unified national or provincial coordinating body mandated by the Cabinet; developing a National Strategic Plan (NSP), Provincial Implementation Plans (PIPs), and Municipal District Implementation Plans (MDIPs); and implementing a unified Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for standardized tracking and accountability of results.
Khulu also addressed the interconnected issue: HIV, tuberculosis, STIs, as well as childhood and adolescent pregnancy share common structural, behavioral, and interrelated causes. She called for a multi-sectoral response where prevention integrates biomedical, behavioral, and structural actions across government, the private sector, and civil society.
Furthermore, SANAC proposed an implementation imperative whereby strong and adequately resourced national and provincial AIDS councils, including local structures, must translate the national strategy into coordinated local action. Khulu focused on concentrating the burden, the adequacy of integrating prevention measures, and ways to strengthen SANAC's financial capacity to enhance its effectiveness.
At the NCOP meeting, it was reported that SANAC's annual budget requirement is 84 million rand, funded by the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development (DSD). However, for the 2026/2027 financial year, SANAC only received 50 million rand, which is 60% of the required amount. Khulu stated that they had to seek funds from donors.
According to statistics, South Africa accounts for approximately 20.5% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally. Approximately 8 million people live with HIV in the country, of whom 83% receive antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the country bears 31.2% of the total HIV burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. Khulu noted that the decline in incidence indicates a reduction in new HIV cases over time, suggesting a positive impact from preventive interventions, antiretroviral treatment, and behavior change programs.
According to SANAC data, 6,600 children were newly infected with HIV in 2024. The organization expressed concern over new HIV cases, which are highest in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, and Limpopo. The increase in births among women aged 10 to 19 was also emphasized—in 2024/2025, 117,195 girls aged 10–19 gave birth. The Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and North West provinces remain above the national average. Conversely, the Free State, Western Cape, and Gauteng provinces recorded fewer births among women aged 10 to 19 compared to the national average.
Khulu stated: 'Pregnancy among very young adolescents requires a legislative response approach. The extensive network of the SANAC civil forum needs dedicated, predictable funding to sustain democratic structures and public oversight.' She added that South Africa employs a comprehensive prevention approach that integrates biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions to prevent HIV, tuberculosis, STIs, and unintended adolescent pregnancy.
Glasses are an important part of many people's lives, but dust, fingerprints, and sweat that settle on them often impair vision. In a hurry, people often wipe their glasses with a shirt sleeve or another piece of fabric, which can lead to small scratches on the lenses. The appearance of such damage not only hinders vision but also puts extra strain on the eyes. Safe and correct cleaning methods are presented that will allow the lenses to look like new without causing scratches.
There are several effective ways to care for glasses. Firstly, it is recommended to use warm water combined with a mild detergent. You need to pour warm water into a bowl and add one drop of liquid mild soap or shampoo. Then, briefly immerse the glasses in this water and gently clean the lenses and frame with your fingers. After that, the glasses must be rinsed with clean water.
Secondly, it is crucial to always use a special microfiber cloth that comes with the glasses for wiping. Using paper towels, napkins, handkerchiefs, or clothing fibers is undesirable because they have a rough texture and can cause micro-scratches on the lenses.
Thirdly, after washing, the glasses should be dried naturally or gently patted dry with a microfiber cloth, without rubbing. It is strictly forbidden to use hot air, such as from a hairdryer, as this can damage the anti-glare coating of the lenses.
Furthermore, you should stop using sleeves or parts of clothing to clean glasses. This is one of the most common mistakes, as dust particles contained in clothing can cause permanent scratches when rubbed against the lens.
Finally, you should avoid using chemical agents and glass cleaners. Household cleaners, such as phenol or surfactants, contain chemicals capable of irreversibly damaging special lens coatings, including UV protection or anti-glare coating. Only cleaners intended for optical stores should be used.
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, including Christopher Hamad, conducted a simulation of target clinical trials. They found that the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists significantly reduces the likelihood of low-trauma fractures in individuals suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Data extracted from the TriNetX medical database was used for the analysis. The study included over 133,6 thousand patients with type 2 diabetes, aged between 50 and 90 years.
Patients were divided into two groups. Half of them, with an average age of 63.2 years and consisting mainly of men (52.7%), started taking GLP-1 agonists. The other group, selected using a pseudo-randomization method, comprised half of the sample (average age 63.8 years; 54% men) and took dipeptidyl peptidase-1 inhibitors (gliptins).
The participants' condition was monitored for three years. The results obtained were officially published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
