Saturday, May 16, 2026

Burnout is not just fatigue’: Mumbai doctor warns about rising lifestyle exhaustion in young adults

Constant pressure to stay productive is leading to burnout in young people. Dr Gaurav Gupta warns how it can seriously affect mental and physical health.

 Burnout symptoms often misunderstood as normal stress in today's fast-paced life. (Image by Pixabay)Burnout symptoms often misunderstood as normal stress in today's fast-paced life.

Chronic stress, irregular routines, lack of sleep, and growing emotional isolation are quietly pushing many young adults towards burnout, often mistaken as just “normal tiredness” in today’s always-on lifestyle. Constant pressure to stay productive can take a serious toll on both physical and mental health. 

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Gaurav Gupta, Consultant Internal Medicine, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, highlights how modern lifestyles are driving this rising wave of exhaustion and burnout among youth and working professionals.  

Pressure to stay productive is worsening stress levels

He explains that in today’s fast-paced world, constant pressure to stay productive often leads people to ignore basic physical and emotional needs. “In our modern era, people are encouraged to be always busy and productive and tend to ignore physical and emotional symptoms of suffering, deprive themselves of sleep and meals,” says Dr Gupta. “With time, these imbalances cause chronic stress and inhibit recovery.”

According to him, irregular eating patterns and lack of sleep significantly affect the body’s ability to recover and maintain energy balance. “An irregular eating schedule lowers the body’s energy stability and insufficient sleep hinders both physical and mental rehabilitation,” he adds. 

Dr. Gupta warns that burnout affects not only professionals but also young adults facing lifestyle fatigue due to academic stress. (Picture credit: Freepik) Dr. Gupta warns that burnout affects not only professionals but also young adults facing lifestyle fatigue due to academic stress.

Dr Gupta points out that burnout is no longer limited to working professionals. Young adults and students are increasingly experiencing what he calls “lifestyle fatigue.”

“Today, burnout is not restricted to working people. Youth and young adults are also facing lifestyle fatigue,” he says. He attributes this rise to academic pressure, job insecurity, emotional stress, and increasing social isolation.

“Mental and physical fatigue among young people has increased due to academic stress, work competition, fear of losing jobs, emotional pressure, and pressure to perform.”

He also highlights how reduced face-to-face interaction and over-dependence on digital communication have weakened emotional support systems. “Excessive reliance on digital communication has decreased meaningful social interaction and emotional support,” Dr. Gupta explains.

Symptoms people often ignored

Many people, he says, mistake burnout symptoms for normal stress and continue pushing through exhaustion. “These symptoms are often disregarded as ‘normal stress’ and people keep going without help because they are exhausted,” he notes.

Common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, irritability, poor concentration, body aches, sleep disturbances, and brain fog. Importantly, he stresses that burnout is not simply solved by sleep. “Burnout is not just fatigue and will improve with sleep; it can be a consequence of lifestyle and persist despite good sleep.” 

If left unaddressed, chronic burnout can affect productivity, relationships, and mental health, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, and emotional isolation.

Dr Gupta emphasises early recognition and lifestyle correction as key to recovery. “Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a well-rounded diet, managing stress, exercising, getting emotional support, and taking breaks from excessive work pressure can help recharge the body and improve wellbeing,” he advises.

He concludes with a reminder, “It is not normal to be tired all the time, particularly if it is affecting your health and wellbeing.”

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

 

Labels: , , , , ,

posted by G S Iyer at 10:07 AM 0 comments

4 Best Foods for Psoriasis, According to Nutrition Experts

 Key Points

  • A Mediterranean-style diet may help reduce psoriasis-related inflammation and improve symptoms.
  • Foods rich in fiber, antioxidants and omega-3s, like fruits, whole grains and fatty fish, are beneficial.
  • Limiting processed foods, alcohol and stress can help manage psoriasis flare-ups and inflammation.
    •  

    Psoriasis is a  chronic autoimmune condition that affects around 3% of adults in the United States. It causes red, scaly and inflamed patches on the elbows, knees, scalp and other parts of the skin. These develop because the immune system overreacts to common triggers and produces too many skin cells.

    It’s unclear exactly what causes the overactive immune response in psoriasis, but researchers know a combination of genetics and environmental factors are involved. Often, people have a family history of the disease, but factors like infections, medication reactions and stress also play a role. While your eating choices can’t cure psoriasis and there’s no specific diet to follow when you have the condition, some foods like fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fish, whole grains and beans may help with  managing inflammation, research shows. In turn, psoriasis symptoms may be less severe.

    Curious which specific foods can help with psoriasis and how? Here’s what nutrition experts recommend.

    Fruits & Vegetables

    Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients including polyphenols, carotenoids and vitamin C that act as antioxidants and may help reduce psoriasis-related inflammation.

    “They’re also an excellent source of fiber, which is associated with lower inflammation levels,” says a Dr. She recommends pairing berries—which provide antioxidants and fiber—with walnuts for an easy snack.

    Some other great antioxidant and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables include dark leafy greens, purple sweet potatoes, carrots and tropical fruits like passion fruit and kumquats, says a Dr.

     

    Olive Oil

    Across a number of studies, researchers have found that following a Mediterranean-style diet—which includes olive oil and other foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and beans—can be helpful for people with psoriasis.

    Containing healthy monounsaturated fats and polyphenols, “diet patterns rich in olive oil, like the Mediterranean diet, are associated with lower inflammation overall and may help improve psoriasis symptoms by targeting underlying inflammatory pathways,” says a Dr.

    Curious how to incorporate more olive oil into your diet? Davis recommends using olive oil as your primary cooking oil and as the base of your salad dressings. She also suggests making a kale salad with purple sweet potatoes, hazelnuts and an olive oil vinaigrette.

    In the warmer months, “a watermelon salad with feta, olive oil and fresh herbs can be a refreshing, anti-inflammatory side,” Schachter says. 

    Whole Grains

    Whole grains are a good source of dietary fiber, which has been associated with lower levels of inflammation in the body. Whole grains like oats and barley contain fermentable fibers that gut bacteria break down in the colon to produce short-chain fatty acids. These compounds help reduce inflammation and modulate immune responses, Schachter explains.

    While no single food is a standalone treatment for psoriasis, replacing refined grains with whole grains is a dietary pattern that’s consistently associated with lower markers of systemic inflammation.

    “Swap white refined grains with whole grains like rolled oats, quinoa, brown rice and whole-grain bread,” Davis says. Other ideas include overnight oats, a bulgur pilaf side dish or quinoa stuffed peppers. For an anti-inflammatory meal that includes whole grains and many other psoriasis-friendly foods, Miremadi recommends combining leafy greens, roasted salmon, farro or quinoa, and then tossing it with lots of extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

    Fatty Fish

    Fatty fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which research suggests can help reduce systemic inflammation. The body can’t produce omega-3s naturally, so it’s important to get them from the food you eat.

    “In a disease like psoriasis, which is characterized by chronic inflammation and immune activation, fatty fish may be supportive for managing inflammation and symptoms,” Miremadi says.

    Looking for ways to eat more fatty fish? Consider sardines on whole-grain crackers, a high-protein canned salmon salad or even grilled mackerel. Additionally, “options like salmon burgers or Moroccan-style fish provide omega-3s while still feeling satisfying and flavorful,” Schachter says.

    Other Tips for Managing Psoriasis

    • Minimize your intake of processed foods. Consuming ultra-processed foods, like packaged sweet or savory snacks, processed meats and soft drinks, is linked with a higher risk for psoriasis. A diet high in ultra-processed foods has also been linked with increased inflammation and may worsen or trigger psoriasis flare-ups.
    • Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol is known to trigger or worsen psoriasis flare-ups.
    • Steer clear of smoking. Smoking has been linked with more severe psoriasis and can also increase the risk of developing psoriasis.
    • Find ways to minimize stress. Stress can trigger psoriasis flare-ups. Habits like journaling, meditation and gentle movement can all help with managing stress.                                                  

       

      This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

    Labels: , , , , , , , ,

    posted by G S Iyer at 9:58 AM 0 comments