Your immune system is the first line of defence from countless contagions, protecting the body at the first sign of trouble. In general, the immune system destroys foreign agents through two mechanisms, innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is a rapid, but non-specific first response to invading pathogen. On the other hand, adaptive immunity performs through antigen recognition and secretes specific chemicals such as antibodies and cytokines to regulate the immune response. It has the capacity for memory and able to stimulate a more efficient immune respontse upon subsequent exposure to the antigen thereby providing long-lasting protection.

 

In fact, the immune system works hard behind the scene to keep up with your busy schedule. However, many aspects of a hectic lifestyle will bring negative impacts on the immune system, such as stress, unhealthy diet, smoking, alcohol and lack of sleep.

 

A person with a weak immune system has a higher risk of being infected by viruses and bacteria, and therefore is more prone to infections such as common cold and flu.

 

Your eyes are one of the most vital organs, enabling you to see, interpret, and interact with the world around you. They work tirelessly every day, processing countless visual signals to keep you connected and productive. However, in today’s digital era, our eyes face a growing challenge: blue light exposure from screens. Blue light is a high-energy visible light emitted by digital devices such as smartphones, computers, tablets, and LED lighting. Unlike other wavelengths, blue light penetrates deep into the eye, reaching the retina. Prolonged exposure can lead to digital eye strain, characterised by symptoms such as dryness, blurred vision, headaches, and visual fatigue. Over time, excessive blue light may also disrupt your natural sleep cycle by interfering with melatonin production, leaving you feeling tired and less focused. Your eyes have natural defense mechanisms, such as blinking and tear production, to maintain comfort and clarity. However, these defenses are often overwhelmed by modern habits like extended screen time, poor lighting conditions, lack of breaks, and inadequate hydration. When these factors combine, the risk of oxidative stress and retinal damage increases, potentially contributing to long-term issues such as macular degeneration.

‘Tired all the time’ is a popular complaint. According to international studies in general practice, 25–30% of the complaints were concerning fatigue. Fatigue is a feeling of constant tiredness or weakness in the form of physical, mental, or a combination of both. On a whole, fatigue may be caused by general well-being issues such as lifestyle, social interaction, and emotion. In fact, fatigue has distinct mental and physical components. Physical fatigue is the somatic sensation of fatigue while mental fatigue is a condition triggered by prolonged cognitive activity. It sends your brain into overdrive, leaving you exhausted, hampering your productivity and overall cognitive function.

 

Our organs, muscles, and cell metabolism all need various nutrients to support daily function. Nutrients may be directly converted to provide energy, or as coenzymes, that involved in energy production. Nutrient deficiency will negatively impact tissue repair and decrease energy levels which lead to chronic fatigue or diseases. Severe fatigue accompanied by numerous common symptoms such as headache, muscle pain and loss of concentration which last for 6 months or more can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome, a fatigue-specific medical disorder.

 

The vagina naturally hosts a diverse microbiome, primarily dominated by lactobacilli species. An imbalance in the vaginal microflora, also known as vaginal dysbiosis can make it vulnerable to harmful bacteria, potentially leading to discomforts and increased risk of urogenital infections. Several lifestyle factors such as hygiene practices, sexual activities, clothing, smoking, alcohol consumption, use of birth control and medication, hormonal fluctuations and stress can all influence the vaginal microbiome. Additionally, the vaginal and urinary tract microbiomes are interconnected, with one affecting the health of the other. Study has shown that vaginal dysbiosis may result in E.coli colonisation and prompt recurrent UTIs. Therefore, maintaining a healthy vaginal microflora is essential to prevent overgrowth of pathogen and reduce the risk of both vaginal and urinary tract infections.