Tag

Stress

All articles tagged with #stress

mental-health19 days ago•4 min saved

Therapists Share Practical, Science-Backed Ways to Ease Everyday Stress

Stress is the body’s natural fight-or-flight response and can become damaging when chronic; common triggers include work, finances, sleep, and technology. Evidence-based relief includes regular exercise, solid sleep, balanced nutrition, mindfulness practices (yoga, journaling, meditation), focused breathing, time outdoors, boundaries around devices, social support, and professional help like CBT or medications when stress disrupts health or relationships.

via USA Today|

#coping-skills #mental-health #mindfulness

science22 days ago•5 min saved

Brain-skin stress circuit drives eczema flare-ups

New research identifies a brain-to-skin neural circuit that, under stress, activates eosinophils and fuels inflammation in atopic dermatitis, explaining how psychological stress worsens eczema in both mice and humans (51 participants showed higher stress and more inflammation).

via Nature|

#eczema #eosinophils #immune-system

science22 days ago•4 min saved

Brain-Skin Nerve Circuit Ties Stress to Eczema Flares

A Science study shows a brain-to-skin neural circuit where stress activates sympathetic nerves that drive eosinophils, worsening eczema. In mice, reducing eosinophils diminished the stress-related flare, while in humans higher stress correlated with more inflammation and eosinophils, suggesting potential therapies that target this neuroimmune pathway to alleviate eczema symptoms.

via ScienceAlert|

#eczema #eosinophils #neuroimmune-axis

science24 days ago•11 min saved

Nature's Neural Reset: How the Brain Responds to Outdoors

A synthesis of 108 neuroimaging studies shows that exposure to natural environments—real settings or views of nature—reduces stress, lowers perceived cognitive effort, and improves emotional regulation; EEG often shows increased alpha/theta and decreased beta activity in nature, while fMRI links include reduced amygdala activity and shifts in attention and self-referential networks toward a calmer state. Effects can appear within minutes and deepen with longer exposure, and some studies suggest greener living may relate to modest brain structural differences, though most findings are correlational. Overall, nature appears to nudge the brain into a calmer, more efficient state with potential mental-health benefits.

via The Conversation|

#brain #nature #neuroscience

health26 days ago•6 min saved

Negative Relationships May Accelerate Biological Aging

A study in PNAS links stressful social ties—termed “hasslers”—to accelerated biological aging measured via saliva-based aging markers. About 30% of participants reported at least one hassler, and each additional hassler was associated with roughly nine extra months of biological age and a 1.5% faster aging pace, especially when hasslers were family members. Spousal stress did not show the same link, suggesting complexity in close relationships. Negative ties also correlated with poorer health indicators, implying chronic social stress may contribute to aging, though causality can’t be confirmed.

via ScienceAlert|

#aging #biological-aging #hasslers

wellbeing28 days ago•18 min saved

Cognitive Shuffling: A Mental Deck to Fall Asleep Faster

Washington Post Well+Being reports cognitive shuffling, a sleep technique devised by Luc Beaudoin that mimics the brain’s natural drift into sleep by mentally shuffling a deck of images or thoughts. Beaudoin developed the method after trouble falling asleep in college, arguing that generating random, non-stressful images can distract worry and help you nod off more quickly.

via The Washington Post|

#health #insomnia #mental-health

health28 days ago•6 min saved

Seven Everyday Habits That Age You Faster—and Simple Fixes to Slow Time

A health expert identifies seven common daily habits that accelerate biological aging—smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, insufficient sleep, chronic stress, excess alcohol, and social isolation—and offers low-effort fixes: quit smoking (with a quit date and nicotine support), add one plant-based item and remove one processed item at meals, start with short “movement snacks” and work up to 150 minutes of moderate exercise plus two resistance sessions weekly, keep a consistent sleep schedule with 30–60 minutes of screen-free wind-down, practice about five minutes of daily relaxation, limit alcohol or substitute with non-alcoholic drinks on weekdays, and increase social activity, preferably with movement. Focusing on the high-impact changes—quit smoking, regular sleep, and daily outdoor walks—can slow aging and boost healthspan.

via New York Post|

#aging #health #longevity

health28 days ago•6 min saved

Toxic Relationships Linked to Faster Biological Aging, Study Finds

A study of more than 2,000 Indiana adults found that having negative social ties, or 'hasslers', is associated with accelerated biological aging (about 1.5% faster per hassler and roughly nine months older biological age per hassler), higher inflammation, and worse mental and physical health. Blood relatives and non-kin hasslers were more harmful than spouse hasslers. Reducing exposure or diversifying social networks may help, but the study is observational and limited to a Midwestern sample.

via Fox News|

#aging #health #inflammation

health1 month ago•7 min saved

Chronic Social Hasslers May Speed Up Your Biological Aging

A study summarized by SELF links persistent stress from people in your inner circle to faster biological aging: each “hassler” can accelerate aging markers by about 1.5% and make cells look roughly nine months older. Family and close friends have a stronger impact than spouses, and coping tips include setting boundaries, reframing reactions, expanding social networks, practicing stress-reduction techniques, and considering limiting contact with toxic relationships to protect overall health.

via SELF Magazine|

#aging #biology #health

health1 month ago•1 min saved

Trouble in Your Circle Could Age You Faster, Study Finds

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ties having more hasslers—people who create problems in your life—to faster biological aging (about 1.5% per additional hassler and roughly nine months biologically older at the same chronological age). Family and friends’ hasslers were most detrimental, while spouse hasslers showed no same effect. Hasslers also correlated with depression, anxiety and higher BMI, though the researchers emphasize associations rather than causation and note there’s no single agreed measure of biological age.

via USA Today|

#biological-aging #health #mental-health

health1 month ago•4 min saved

Quiet Dehydration May Amplify Cortisol During Stress, Study Finds

A Liverpool John Moores University study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology shows that healthy adults who drink less than 1.5 liters a day have about a 50% higher cortisol rise during a standardized stress test, likely due to vasopressin; thirst signals are unreliable in busy moments, so monitoring urine color and maintaining consistent hydration—around 1.5–2.5 liters daily, adjusted by sex and health—may blunt cortisol spikes and support stress resilience, though hydration doesn’t replace mental health treatment.

via Iowa Park Leader|

#cortisol #dehydration #health

wellbeing-life1 month ago•18 min saved

Challenging relationships may accelerate aging, study suggests

New Washington Post Wellbeing reporting ties hasslers—difficult people in your social circle—to chronic stress and epigenetic aging markers, suggesting that tough relationships could speed up aging; nearly 30% of people report at least one hassler in their network.

via The Washington Post|

#aging #health #relationships

science1 month ago•5 min saved

Nature as a Neural Reset: Brief Outdoor Time Calms the Brain

A synthesis of 100+ brain-imaging studies shows that short time in nature triggers a neural reset—reducing amygdala activity, easing sensory processing via fractal patterns, restoring attention, and quieting repetitive self-talk—effects that deepen with longer, real-world immersion and support nature-based health strategies like green design and social prescribing.

via Neuroscience News|

#attention #brain #nature

health1 month ago•6 min saved

Worrying About Aging Could Speed Up Your Biological Clock

A study of 726 women found that higher anxiety about aging—especially fears of declining health—was linked to faster epigenetic aging (via DunedinPACE and GrimAge clocks), suggesting health worries may biologically accelerate aging, though causation isn’t proven. Experts note that chronic worry can trigger stress responses, inflammation, and sleep disruption, and advise focusing on present health, differentiating one’s health from others, and seeking mental-health support if anxiety disrupts daily life.

via SELF Magazine|

#aging #epigenetics #health

health2 months ago•3 min saved

Persistent Belly Fat: The Sure Sign Your Cortisol Is Elevated

Doctors note that the number-one sign of chronically elevated cortisol is unexplained belly fat from visceral fat, which can occur even without changes to diet or exercise; cortisol levels can rise due to stress, illness, sleep deprivation, pregnancy, inflammation, and certain foods or medications, so consult a physician if you notice persistent abdominal weight gain accompanied by other health changes.

via Prevention|

#cortisol #health #hormones