Tag

Stress

All articles tagged with #stress

health1 day ago•15 min saved

Late-night snacking under stress linked to gut health changes

An abstract from Digestive Disease Week ties eating more than 25% of daily calories after 9 p.m. with abnormal bowel habits in stressed individuals (up to 2.5× higher risk), though the work is observational and not yet peer‑reviewed. Data came from 11,149 NHANES participants (2005–2010) and 4,100 from the Microsetta Initiative; causality isn’t proven and nighttime foods may matter. Experts suggest limiting nighttime eating, opting for lighter options, and keeping regular meal timing to support gut health, with more research needed to confirm the link.

via KSL.com|

#gut-health #health #late-night-eating

health1 day ago•185 min saved

Stress and late-night meals may disrupt gut health, new study finds

A new, not-yet-peer-reviewed abstract presented at Digestive Disease Week suggests that stressed individuals who eat more than 25% of their daily calories after 9 p.m. are up to 2.5 times more likely to experience abnormal bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea). The study analyzed data from the US NHANES (2005–2010) and the Microsetta Initiative (2013–2017) and is observational, so it cannot establish causation. Experts note reduced gut microbiome diversity with the late-night eating/stress combo and highlight several unknowns, including dietary factors. Practical takeaways include avoiding meals 3–4 hours before bed and opting for lighter, easier-to-digest foods if eating at night.

via CNN|

#constipation-diarrhea #gut-health #gut-microbiome

health-news4 days ago•13 min saved

The hidden side of pet ownership: when companionship comes with stress

Pet ownership brings companionship and improved well-being, but it also carries notable stressors—separation anxiety when away from pets, financial and caregiving burdens, vet visits, and disenfranchised grief after a pet’s death. Experts underscore validating owners’ feelings and suggest practical support like flexible work options, social backing, and self-compassion to help balance the joys of pet companionship with its challenges.

via The Independent|

#anxiety #dog #health-news

health6 days ago•90 min saved

Stress-Linked Hematohidrosis: Rare Bleeding Case in an Indian Boy

An 11-year-old Indian boy experienced episodes of bleeding from the eyes, nose, and ears during periods of academic stress. After comprehensive testing showed no bleeding disorder, psychiatrists attributed the symptoms to stress-related hematohidrosis, a very rare condition with fewer than 50 reported cases. The patient was treated with propranolol and cognitive behavioral therapy to manage stress; within months his episodes diminished and he became symptom-free, underscoring a potential link between psychological stress and this unusual bleeding phenomenon (though causation remains unproven).

via Live Science|

#case-report #health #hematohidrosis

neuroscience10 days ago•7 min saved

Dopamine Sets the Pace of Stress-Driven Courtship Suppression in Flies

In fruit flies, researchers show that dopamine does not trigger the initial shutdown of mating drive under stress but acts as a molecular timer that sustains suppression after stress; longer confinement leads to longer-lasting courtship inhibition via dopamine signaling in the mushroom body, offering insights into stress-related sexual dysfunction that may extend to humans.

via Neuroscience News|

#dopamine #drosophila #mushroom-body

health12 days ago•15 min saved

Medical experts debunk online cortisol hype, urging calm, evidence-based stress care

Doctors say the online cortisol scare is largely hype: cortisol is a normal, useful hormone with small, natural spikes; extreme claims and ads promising quick fixes lack solid evidence. Rare conditions like Cushing’s or Addison’s exist, but most people don’t have dangerous imbalances. Focus on stress management and consult a clinician rather than chasing supplements or TikTok guidance.

via Business Insider|

#cortisol #endocrinology #health

science18 days ago•5 min saved

Acute stress disrupts memory linking, dulling insight

Acute stress impairs the brain’s ability to link memories from separate days, reducing inference skills; brain imaging points to disruption in hippocampal memory integration after a mock job interview.

via Nature|

#hippocampus #inference #memory

health24 days ago•7 min saved

The Silent Alarm: What Chronic Stress Does to Your Body—and How to Stop It

Chronic stress triggers the body’s fight‑or‑flight response with adrenaline and cortisol, boosting energy in the moment but diverting resources from digestion, repair and immunity when it’s constant. This can raise infection risk, obesity, depression and may influence neurodegenerative processes; individual tolerance varies with life experience and resilience. For acute stress, slow, regulated breathing and regular exercise can dampen the response, while chronic stress may require therapies like CBT or mindfulness plus lifestyle changes and social support. If stress is persistent, seek help and reduce unnecessary stressors (e.g., social media, unsolvable conflicts).

via The Guardian|

#breathing #cbt #cortisol

health-and-fitness27 days ago•14 min saved

Cortisol, stress, and weight gain: could a shorter work week help your waistline?

Stress can raise cortisol and boost appetite for high-fat, high-sugar foods, which may contribute to weight gain mainly through behavior rather than cortisol itself; chronic high cortisol is linked to belly fat only in rare conditions like Cushing’s. Weight management still hinges on calories in versus calories out, plus sleep, diet quality and regular exercise. The piece also notes that longer working hours may raise obesity risk by reducing time for healthy habits, and it suggests a four-day work week could help some people make healthier choices, though policy changes are needed and there are no quick fixes.

via The Independent|

#four-day-working-week #health-and-fitness #obesity

health28 days ago•2 min saved

Longer Work Hours Linked to Obesity, Renewing UK Four-Day Week Debate

A 1990–2022 OECD study finds countries with higher annual working hours have greater obesity prevalence; reducing hours by 1% is linked to a 0.16% drop in obesity, possibly due to less stress and more time for exercise and healthy eating. While not proving causation and with income as another factor, the findings revive calls for a UK four-day week, with pilots ongoing and government opposition to mandating a shorter workweek.

via The Guardian|

#four-day-week #health #obesity

health1 month ago•17 min saved

Tiny heartbeat shifts reveal big health clues

Micro-fluctuations in the time between heartbeats, known as heart rate variability (HRV), are emerging as a barometer of health, reflecting cardiovascular fitness, stress, recovery in athletes, mental health, and possibly aging. Generally, higher HRV indicates better autonomic flexibility, while very low HRV can signal ongoing stress. Wearables can track HRV, but accuracy varies and a single reading is less informative than watching trends over time. Breathwork and healthier lifestyle can modestly raise HRV, but researchers emphasize HRV is just one metric among many to gauge health, with traditional measures like heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol remaining important.

via BBC|

#aging #health #heart-rate-variability

science1 month ago•8 min saved

Low-frequency hum heightens irritability and stress hormones, study shows

Canadian researchers report that exposure to infrasound around 18 Hz (about 75–78 dB) can increase irritability and make audio seem sadder, even when the sound is not consciously detectable; the exposure also raises salivary cortisol, a stress marker, with effects persisting after mood was accounted for. The study, using 36 undergraduates in a 2×2 design (calming vs horror audio with infrasound on/off), strengthens prior mixed results by tightly controlling sound exposure and measuring both psychological and physiological responses.

via Boing Boing|

#cortisol #infrasound #mood

health1 month ago•16 min saved

Midnight Munchies Tied to Worse Gut Health, Especially Under Stress

New analyses of NHANES and the American Gut Project suggest adults who eat a substantial portion of daily calories after 9 p.m. and report high chronic stress are more likely to have constipation or diarrhea and show a less diverse gut microbiome; the study is not peer‑reviewed and shows correlation, not causation, but researchers say late‑night eating may worsen existing GI issues and recommend steadier meal patterns.

via Gizmodo|

#digestive-health #gut-health #health

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Chronic stress can quietly erode a man's fertility

Chronic stress can disrupt hormones and increase oxidative stress, which may lower sperm count, motility and morphology. Because sperm development takes 2–3 months, prolonged stress can affect future semen samples. It often coexists with poor sleep, weight gain and higher substance use, so fertility is usually multi-factorial. A semen analysis is a common first step; improving sleep (7–9 hours), regular activity, weight management, and reducing nicotine/alcohol can help, alongside medical evaluation for underlying issues.

via CNN|

#fertility #health #lifestyle

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Chronic stress and everyday habits that accelerate ageing

A study highlighted in PNAS links chronic stress from a difficult social contact (a “hassler” in your circle) to about nine months of extra biological ageing, with faster cellular ageing. Additional common habits associated with ageing include irregular sleep schedules, poor gut health, doom-scrolling short videos, overly routine daily life, prolonged sitting, and negative self-talk—each impacting sleep, inflammation, and brain function. Experts suggest fostering supportive relationships, maintaining a regular sleep pattern, improving gut diversity through fiber and fermented foods, challenging the brain with new tasks, breaking up long sitting periods, and reframing negative thoughts to protect against age-related decline.

via The i Paper|

#ageing #gut-health #health