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It might seem that a single disease would affect everyone the same way across the globe—we're all human after all. Yet, some cultures are linked to very specific disorders, with symptoms and effects largely confined to their particular region or ethnicity.
10. Retired Husband Syndrome
Japan is renowned for its strong work culture, where many individuals devote long hours to their jobs, often prioritizing work over relationships. In this environment, marriages can be neglected, and once a man retires, various issues tend to arise in his personal life.
When couples no longer have careers to occupy their time, they find themselves spending more of it together, only to discover they don’t really know each other. Tensions build, especially after retirement celebration trips. In the past decade, Japan’s divorce rate has increased by 27%, and it's expected to continue rising as more individuals near retirement age.
Many men, struggling to adjust from work life to home life, often treat their wives as colleagues or even servants. Since most husbands’ social circles are tied to their jobs, these relationships vanish upon retirement. This sudden shift, with the husband at home all day, causes stress for many women, who face health issues such as ulcers, rashes, sleep difficulties, and even slurred speech patterns.
Compounding the issue, the traditional family structure is changing. Previously, retired couples would live with their children, but now many younger people delay marriage, making it harder for them to support their parents through this transition. This has become such a widespread issue that therapists and psychologists now specialize in treating affected women, and numerous support groups are available to assist men with relationship challenges after retirement.
9. New World Syndrome
The industrialized world, especially the United States, enjoys sedentary activities such as watching TV and playing video games, with food choices high in fats and calories. While there’s more to the American lifestyle, it’s these aspects that get exported, become popular, and contribute to a peculiar, culture-specific disorder known as New World Syndrome.
Islands like Micronesia and other areas of the South Pacific were once unaware of American staples like Spam and Oreos. The indigenous diet was once rich in fruits, vegetables, and freshly caught fish. When pirates arrived in the early 20th century, they brought alcohol and infectious diseases. Later, as mining industries flourished, the islands began importing fatty foods and were exposed to Western lifestyles.
The result was a sharp increase in diabetes and heart disease. Some islanders experience their first heart attack in their twenties, and by their late fifties, most consider themselves elderly. Approximately 85 percent of the population is now classified as obese.
Interestingly, New World Syndrome has also highlighted that it is both possible and common for individuals to be both obese and malnourished. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.1 billion people suffer from both conditions.
8. Latah
Latah is an uncommon disorder originating from Malaysia. The word “latah” means “nervous,” and it involves an exaggerated reaction to unexpected noises or startling stimuli. Case studies reveal individuals who experience uncontrollable movements, including gestures, swearing, singing, and dancing.
Those affected by latah also find it difficult to resist commands. One case study tells of a woman who, when told to do so, would hit others, eat inedible objects, and react to dangers that weren’t actually present. Another patient tried to breastfeed a hat after being told it was her hungry baby. After the episode ends, individuals return to their normal personalities and cannot explain their bizarre actions.
The cause of latah is still unclear. It may be genetic, but this is difficult to determine due to the lack of family records for many sufferers. Some superstitions suggest that latah results from witchcraft or excessive tickling during childhood. The disorder primarily affects post-menopausal women, although younger women and men can also develop it. There is no outward manifestation of the condition, and those who have it appear physically normal.
7. Fire Sickness
Hwabyung, or “fire sickness,” is a condition unique to Korea, characterized by a burning sensation and a heavy feeling in the chest. Additional symptoms include insomnia, muscle pain, heart palpitations, weight loss, and blurred vision. In severe cases, it can develop into profound depression.
This illness is most commonly found in middle-aged women, particularly when they experience frequent anger but are unable to express it. Rather than addressing their anger outwardly, they internalize it. Over time, this unresolved anger manifests itself in both physical and mental symptoms.
Psychologists point to a mix of cultural and historical factors as the cause. Korea has endured significant political unrest and upheaval, leading many to internalize their frustrations. Even Korean emigrants often develop hwabyung when they encounter new stresses in their lives abroad, finding that the pressures they left behind are replaced with new, similar challenges.
According to traditional Korean beliefs, anger is fire. Suppressing this fire within causes it to accumulate in the body, disrupting the natural balance and leading to an endless cycle of helplessness and depression.
6. Dhat Syndrome
Dhat syndrome affects young men in the Indian subcontinent, especially in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. It is a psychological condition where individuals fear they are losing semen, either through urination or other unusual discharges. Common symptoms include fatigue, difficulty concentrating, exhaustion, loss of appetite, and sexual dysfunction.
Sufferers of Dhat syndrome believe they are losing something vital to their well-being. This fear stems from the Ayurvedic philosophy, which identifies key substances in the body necessary for health. These include blood, fat, flesh, bone marrow, chyle, and semen, with semen considered the most important. Other body fluids are believed to undergo transformation stages before becoming semen, which is viewed as essential for a long, healthy life. Therefore, losing semen signals a serious imbalance.
Sufferers of this condition view it as a physical issue, but healthcare providers often refer them to psychiatrists. Without proper intervention, depression can develop.
5. Pa-Leng And Pa-Feng
Pa-leng and pa-feng affect individuals of Chinese descent, including immigrants who follow the principles of yin and yang. Both are considered anxiety disorders, with pa-leng being an intense fear of cold, while pa-feng is a strong fear of the wind.
These disorders stem from the belief that the body’s balance relies on maintaining the right temperature. Wind and cold are thought to drain essential heat from the body, disturbing this equilibrium. Wind is also believed to carry diseases; for instance, if someone feels well in the morning and falls ill later, it is often attributed to exposure to wind.
Cold and wind are both linked to the yin, and those afflicted by this disorder take extreme measures to preserve their body’s heat, or yang. They may bundle themselves in thick layers of clothing, avoid drafts, or even consume only hot foods. As a result, they begin to experience symptoms of an imbalance in their yin and yang, such as headaches, dizziness, stomach aches, and coughing.
4. Scrupulosity
Scrupulosity affects the most pious individuals and is often associated with Catholicism, though it can occur in adherents of any religion. Those with scrupulosity feel they are perpetually in a state of sin, regardless of their actions, and constantly fear they are angering God.
Typically, those suffering focus obsessively on a specific issue, such as adhering strictly to a biblical verse, avoiding sinful thoughts, or maintaining purity, while neglecting broader moral principles like the Commandments. The condition goes beyond seeing themselves as sinners—it’s the crippling belief that they are inherently unworthy, unable to find peace with anything they do.
Scrupulosity is considered a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, often leading to self-punishment or self-denial in an attempt to purify oneself from sin. Those affected can strain their social connections by frequently seeking reassurance from family and friends. Treatment for this disorder typically involves behavioral therapy, medication, and sometimes support from religious leaders.
3. Zar Possession
In Ethiopian Jewish tradition, Adam and Eve are believed to have had 30 children. Fearing that the most beautiful would draw God’s envy, Eve hid 15 of them in the Garden of Eden. However, God saw through this and punished her by making those 15 invisible. The remaining 15 children became the ancestors of humans, while the invisible ones transformed into zar, spirits that haunt their living siblings.
People who are thought to be possessed by the zar (though they might actually be dealing with other conditions) often experience symptoms like headaches and fatigue. This possession is frequently triggered by major life changes, such as shifts in relationship status, struggles with infertility, or disruptions in one’s social circle.
If attempts to expel the zar fail, the individual may turn to a cult healer. The healer induces a trance-like state in the patient, during which they communicate with the spirit. Instead of battling it, the spirit and host reach a mutual understanding. In exchange for freedom from the negative effects of possession, the individual pledges a promise to the spirit. This could involve performing rituals like eating specific foods, socializing with certain people, or dressing in a particular way.
2. Tabanka
Tabanka refers to a severe form of heartbreak experienced by men in Trinidad. Originally, it was associated with losing a lover to a rival, but today it is more broadly used to describe the pain of unrequited love. Those suffering from tabanka typically withdraw from life, lose their appetite, and endure symptoms like stomach pain and insomnia.
Although tabanka may resemble typical heartbreak, the condition often spirals into a darker place. Many sufferers resort to heavy drinking in an attempt to dull the pain, which can lead to deeper depression and, tragically, even suicide.
One of the challenges with tabanka is that those affected often keep their struggles hidden, fearing ridicule from others. The widespread belief is that people should simply move on from it. Both men and women are critical of tabanka, but it is much less common among women, partly because they tend to accept the likelihood of losing a partner to another woman from the outset.
1. Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome
Sudden Unexpected Death Syndrome is common in Southeast Asia and is exactly as terrifying as its name implies. Healthy men, many of whom are not yet middle-aged, go to sleep one night and never wake up. Most are discovered after having cried out in their sleep.
In folklore, these strange deaths are believed to be caused by a spirit that visits men in their sleep. In Thailand, it is said to be the vengeful spirit of a widow, taking the souls of living men. In Japan, this spirit is known as pok-kuri. In Vietnam and Laos, it is referred to as tsob tsuang. In the Philippines, it is called bangungot or batibat.
References to these mysterious deaths can be traced back to the early 20th century, but it’s only in recent years that scientists have linked the phenomenon to spikes in electrocardiograms. The irregularity in the ECG resembles a shark’s fin and is called the “Brugada Sign,” named after the cardiologists Pedro and Josep Brugada. Those who succumb to SUDS are otherwise healthy except for this peculiar heartbeat spike.
A study of unexplained deaths in Manila between 1948 and 1982 found that most victims were around 33 years old, with the majority passing away at around 3:00 AM in December and January. These recurring patterns make these deaths stand out from others in the same region.
