52 h. ago The truth about stress: from the benefits of the ‘good kind’ to the exercise that only makes it worse

The authors of a new book explain why understanding the science of stress can help us manage it betterTrue (up to a point)The way stress manifests is very much bodily, centred around hormones such as cortisol and their effect on us. But this process is triggered by the brain (notably the amygdala and the hypothalamus) and the way our brains react to stress is often set in early childhood, even in the womb. Pregnant women who experience extreme stress can give birth to infants who react more strongly to stress hormones – with increasing evidence suggesting that this causes modifications to the baby’s DNA. Self-actualising your way out of stress is difficult – not least because the causes might be serious and inescapable – but not always impossible. Some studies have shown that if you tell people they are the sort of person who doesn’t feel stress, they experience fewer symptoms. One US study found that teenagers growing up with worries about violent crime in a deprived part of Chicag...

Politics

4 d. ago Don’t want to exercise a lot? Here are small changes that can improve your health

Researchers say even vigorous gardening could make a difference

Politics

4 d. ago These health tweaks could help you live longer — without a ton of exercise

Researchers say even vigorous gardening could make a difference

Society

6 d. ago Good news at last: just a little exercise can reduce the risk of dementia | Devi Sridhar

A recent study shows the benefit of being a middle-aged ‘weekend warrior’ who only exercises once or twice a weekIn these bleak times, glimmers of hope often seem to come out of the pages of scientific research. Take what we know about exercise. Just in the past few months, we’ve learned that moderate exercise may almost halve the risk of postpartum depression for new mothers, and that even five minutes of exercise a day could help lower blood pressure.But what really caught my eye recently was a study from Latin America that included roughly 10,000 people who were assessed over two decades using the Mexico City prospective study. The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, examined cognitive function with the aim of understanding the impact of exercise on mental ability, including mild dementia. The researchers took account of confounding variables such as age, diet, smoking and alcohol intake, nightly sleep and educational attainment, which have all been sho...

Events

1 week ago DWP confirms ‘huge income boost’ for millions of pensioners, working age adults and disabled people

State Pension, working age, disability and devolved benefit payment rates have increased as part of the annual uprating exercise.

Economics

2 w. ago How to make only exercising on the weekends just as healthy as a daily routine

When people start their fitness journeys , they often come up with a plan that involves working out every weekday.

Politics

2 w. ago Just a couple days of physical activity a week may be key to better health

Researchers initially expected that spreading activity throughout the week would prove to be more beneficial

Politics

2 w. ago An exercise scientist recommends one easy trick to increase health benefits of walking 10,000 steps a day

Shorter bursts of more intense physical activity have a positive effect, says Harry Bullmore

Science