Drinking plenty of water is known to ease headaches, boost concentration and aid digestion. Medics from the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have now revealed staying hydrated may improve our heart health. The team analysed more than 15,000 adults over 25 years, from midlife to old age. Those with the highest amounts of sodium in their blood, a measure of hydration, were more likely to develop heart failure – when the organ is unable to pump blood around the body s

England saw a rise in young adults taking up smoking during the first lockdown, according to a study. The number of 18 to 34-year-olds who classed themselves as smokers increased by a quarter, from 21.5% to 26.8%, says Cancer Research UK. The data does not explain why the changes occurred but experts believe many turned to cigarettes in response to stress. At the same time, heavy drinking increased across adults of all ages. The findings, published in the journal Addiction, c

Everyone over the age of 40 in England will be able to have their blood pressure checked for free in High Street chemists from October. Officials say the NHS scheme could save around 2,000 lives in the next five years by detecting and then treating high blood pressure before it causes strokes and heart attacks. An estimated 4.8m people in the UK are living with undiagnosed hypertension. It rarely has noticeable symptoms which is why it is important to run checks. Silent kille

Snacking on a handful of walnuts just five times a week could add an extra 1.3 years to your life, research suggests. Walnuts are high in healthy fats, as well as being a rich source of magnesium, fibre and protein. To better understand the snack's benefits, a team of Harvard scientists analysed more than 93,000 adults – average age 63 – for around 20 years. Every four years, the participants provided information on their diet, including their nut consumption. Results, publis

Cuddling up to a dog really does boost our mood, research suggests. "Man's best friend" is known to be good for our health, with dogs providing companionship and encouraging us to take a daily walk. Scientists from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have now revealed physical contact with a therapy dog – gentle animals that help people cope with mental health challenges – significantly enhances our wellbeing. Writing in the journal Anthrozoös, the team further explains

A problem shared is a problem halved, or so the saying goes. The emotional benefits of confiding in a trusted loved one have long been known, with new research revealing that just feeling listened to boosts our brain health. Scientists from NYU Langone Health analysed the social support networks of more than 2,000 people, average age 63. Results – published in the journal JAMA Network Open – reveal "listener availability" was linked to greater cognitive resilience, defined as

Aspirin may help fight aggressive breast cancer by making hard-to-treat tumours more responsive to anti-cancer drugs, doctors say. A team at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, in Manchester, are beginning a trial with triple-negative breast-cancer patients. They suspect it is aspirin's anti-inflammatory properties rather than its analgesic effect that gives the boost. Younger women There is some evidence aspirin might help prevent certain other cancers and lower the risk of i

There are few daily delights as lovely as the feeling of stepping out onto the bathroom tiles and wrapping yourself in a fluffy towel after a refreshing shower. But it seems many people in the UK don't share our opinion – with half of those polled revealing in a survey that they don't wash every day. What's more, they have surprising starry company, with celebrities including Jake Gyllenhaal, Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell also admitting to not bathing regularly. Apparently taki

People in England and Northern Ireland who have had two Covid vaccine doses will no longer have to isolate if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. Instead of having to quarantine for 10 days, they are now advised to take a PCR test - but this is not compulsory. They are also advised to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces and to limit contact with others, especially the clinically vulnerable. The guidance applies to under-18s too. The

Defenders are more likely to have dementia in later life compared with other playing positions in football, says new research. In 2019, a study by Professor Willie Stewart found that former footballers were about three and a half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative brain disease than the general population. But his new research says the risk is highest among defenders, who are five times more likely to have dementia than non-footballers. That compared with three tim