All articles tagged with #stress
A study of 39 frequent cannabis users and 43 controls found that regular users have higher cortisol upon waking, while their cortisol awakening response (CAR) rise over 30 minutes is similar to non-users; this may signal a neurobiological marker of problematic cannabis use, but the snapshot design cannot establish causation and further longitudinal research is needed amid rising cannabis availability.
Researchers in mice identified two distinct subtypes of neurons in the heart’s intrinsic nervous system. Npy+ neurons slow the heart and are required to prevent heart failure, while Ddah1+ neurons buffer the heart during acute stress; loss of Ddah1+ neurons makes stressed mice die, and stimulating them improves survival, revealing a local cardiac circuit that protects heart function under stress with implications for heart disease.
Some high-achieving people report getting sick at the start of vacation as chronic stress gives way to rest, a phenomenon linked to the let-down/leisure-sickness concept and cortisol rebound. Evidence is limited, but experts say the body’s shift from high-output stress to relaxation can trigger headaches, fatigue, and cold-like symptoms. Practical tips include easing into time off, protecting sleep, staying hydrated, moderating caffeine and alcohol, light movement, and building a decompression day rather than an all-out sprint to vacation completion.
A Behavioral Sciences review argues that humans evolved to thrive in small, connected groups, but today’s hyperconnected cities, constant social comparison, and nonstop news create an evolutionary mismatch that fuels stress, anxiety, and loneliness; the authors urge redesigning cities and communities to better match our psychology rather than blaming individuals.
A conceptual review by researchers from the Singapore University of Technology and Design and James Cook University Singapore argues that modern life—dense cities, digital platforms, and constant social comparison—activates evolved human instincts in ways that increase stress and loneliness. The paper suggests that addressing these psychosocial issues requires designing environments (cities, workplaces, online spaces) that align with our biology rather than solely boosting individual resilience, while noting the ideas need real-world testing.
A personal essay and expert commentary explain why shingles is rising among adults under 50—especially millennial women—often linked to stress and immune strain; while vaccines are typically recommended for those 50+, doctors note younger people should discuss risk and vaccination with their physicians, emphasize early antiviral treatment, and highlight how the condition can be long-lasting and painful.
The Washington Post piece explains the idea of a 'stress mindset'—that beliefs about whether stress helps or harms us influence anxiety and performance—and outlines six practical strategies to reframe stress as a resource to reduce daily anxiety and boost resilience.
Eight healthy young men underwent a randomized crossover test. After an acute stress task, free-radical levels rose and blood clots became larger, denser, and more fibrin-rich, driven by activation of the intrinsic coagulation pathway, while blood viscosity did not change. The study links brief psychological stress to rapid biochemical and structural blood changes that may elevate clotting potential, though larger and more diverse studies are needed to understand cardiovascular implications.
Researchers in mice show that estrogen produced in the hippocampus alters memory after acute stress in a sex- and cycle-dependent way: high hippocampal estrogen in males and proestrus females worsened memory, while estrus females with lower estrogen were more resilient. The findings suggest estrogen receptors regulate chromatin and memory-related genes, with potential implications for PTSD risk and aging in humans—especially during perimenopause—though further study is needed.
Weight gain isn’t only about overeating. Stress raises cortisol, increasing appetite and fat storage; insufficient sleep disrupts ghrelin and leptin, boosting hunger and reducing activity; hormonal disorders such as hypothyroidism, PCOS, insulin resistance, and menopause can lower metabolic rate and complicate weight management. The piece emphasizes biology alongside lifestyle in obesity and notes options like GLP-1 agonists and metabolic/bariatric surgery, advising medical evaluation for unexplained weight gain.
New research shows male Drosophila confined in tiny spaces exhibit a lasting drop in courtship after stress, and dopamine release is required to maintain this suppression. Blocking dopamine synthesis or signaling—via drugs, RNA interference, or removing receptors in the mushroom body—and silencing key dopamine neuron clusters (PAM and PPL1) prevents the prolonged reduction, though the immediate decline occurs without dopamine. Longer confinement (7–24 hours) yields suppression lasting days, highlighting a dopamine-dependent mechanism linking stress to reduced mating drive in fruit flies.
Brain fog—difficulties with focus, memory, and mental speed—appears to be rising across age groups and is linked to chronic stress, sleep deprivation, excessive screen time, sedentary lifestyles, dehydration, and post-infection effects such as COVID-19; it is not a disease, but addressing sleep, stress management, physical activity, hydration, and deliberate breaks from screens can help, while persistent symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
The Washington Post Wellbeing piece outlines six expert-backed strategies to boost patience: practice deep breathing, zoom out to see the bigger picture, cultivate gratitude, minimize distractions, use humor, and lean on social interactions to stay present and calm in everyday frustrations.
A woman with persistent ringing in her ears initially blames stress, but medical evaluation soon reveals a more serious underlying condition, highlighting the importance of seeking professional medical assessment rather than attributing new ear symptoms to stress.
Analysis of nearly 12,000 children reveals socioeconomic status accounts for about 16% of variability in brain structure and function—outpacing IQ and parenting. SES-linked brain patterns cluster in sensory-motor networks and appear driven by daily tiredness and stress linked to sleep, and when SES is accounted for, many brain–IQ associations vanish. The differences are modifiable: improving sleep and reducing chronic family stress could reshape neurodevelopment, underscoring the potential of community and policy interventions.