Many parents are having to take unpaid leave from their jobs, or use some of their holiday entitlement, to look after their sick or injured children, a new study shows. According to the research from MetLife UK, 41% of parents have had to take time off work in the past 24 months to look after their kids who have either …
Sit-Stand Desks Boost Productivity, Engagement & Energy Levels, Research Suggests
It’s no secret that the sedentary lifestyles many people in the UK lead are having a negative impact on their health. For example, earlier this year, a study found that just two weeks of sedentary office working can put people on the path to diabetes. Now new research suggests that a simple change of desk could not only improve the …
Smokers Advised Not To Go Cold Turkey When Giving Up
In 2017, nearly 400,000 people in England successfully quit smoking. That equates to around 1,069 smokers every day and despite new people starting and some quitters relapsing, it’s thought there are now one million fewer smokers in England since 2014. Moreover, if current trends continue, smoking could actually be eradicated in England by 2030 (yes, that’s just over 10 years …
Which Body Shape Is Healthier – Pear Or Apple?
Whether we like it or not, we all accumulate fat. However, the way we accumulate it tends to vary depending on our gender. While women often put it on around their hips, resulting in the so-called pear-shaped look, men get it building up around their abdomens, creating an apple shape. But which is healthier? A pear shape or an apple …
Cycling Is The Best Way To Travel For Physical And Mental Health
The morning rush hour in any big city is something most people would rather avoid if they could. Thousands of commuters crammed into crowded trains and gridlocked roads make it a decidedly unpleasant experience. In 2017, motorists in London lost an average of 74 hours – more than three days – stuck in rush hour traffic. It’s no wonder that …
Why Omega-3 Supplements May Not Be So Heart Healthy After All
Many people take Omega-3 fish oil supplements on a regular in the belief they help lower their risk of cardiovascular disease. But a new study has found it actually has little or no benefit for heart health or strokes. Released by Cochrane, the meta-analysis (a study of studies) shows that one of the world’s most popular dietary supplements has “little …
Protecting Your Health While On Holiday
You’ve just booked your next holiday and are already counting down the days to your departure. Maybe you’ve opted for a staycation? After all, the glorious weather we’ve been having in the UK recently presents a strong argument for not travelling further afield. Regardless of where you’re going, travel insurance will hopefully feature in your plans. This vital consideration – …
People With Mental Health Issues More Likely To Be In Poverty, Debt
People with longstanding mental health problems are about twice as likely to be in relative poverty as those without such issues, a new study shows. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ (IFS) annual report, four in 10 people aged 25 to 54 with a mental health problem have an income which is less than 60% of the average, meaning …
Heart Attacks More Deadly During Colder Months
You are more likely to die from a heart attack in the winter than in the summer, a study of thousands of patients has found. For the study, cardiologists at Leeds General Infirmary compared information from 4,056 people who received treatment at the hospital for a heart attack over four years. Specifically, they looked at the 30-day mortality rate for …
Manual Labourers Are More Likely To Die Younger, Study Suggests
We frequently hear how sedentary lifestyles and job roles, which see people sitting for the majority of the day, are contributing to larger waistlines. But new research now suggests that people who work in physically demanding roles have a greater risk of dying early than their more sedentary counterparts. The finding, discovered by scientists in the Netherlands, reveals a so-called …