Men\'s Health Singapore - June 2017

WHY YOU

SUCK AT

SLEEPING

While research has shown that older

people sleep less, it’s not because they

n e e d l e s s s l e e p. I n s t e a d , i t ’ s d u e t o a g e -

related brain changes that keep them

from getting the shut-eye they need,

a review published in Neuron argues.

And that can lead to some serious

health implications such as stroke,

obesity and heart disease.

DIET OR

EXERCISE?

Which is better for your

heart? Turns out, it doesn’t

matter – as long as you

lose weight doing either,

new research in The

American Journal of Clinical

Nutrition suggests. The

researchers discovered

that both are equally

effective in improving

measures of heart health

• like lowering blood
  pressure, decreasing bad
  cholesterol, and improving
  the resting heart rate.

CHEW, CHEW,

CHEW, THEN

SWALLOW

Chewing your food can help

protect against infection,

research in the journal

Immunity suggests. The

scientists hypothesised

that the mechanical act of

chewing creates abrasions

in the mouth. This may

spark the production of

T helper 17 cells (Th17),

which, as part of your

immune system, defend

your body against invading

germs, says Medical

News Today. During their

experiment, chewers were

found to have more Th

cells in their gums than

those who did less.

NIP NECK PAIN IN THE BUD

“Many of us stare at screens all day, which can lead to chronic neck pain. But a recent study found

that tai chi could help relieve that persistent ache. Try this routine: Sit up straight. Rotate your

shoulders back. Pull your arms backwards and pinch your shoulder blades together. Hold for a

few seconds. Next, turn your head to the right, hold, and return to center. Repeat on the left

side,” says Dr Paul J. Christo, an associate professor in pain medicine at the Johns Hopkins

University School of Medicine.

THE DIABETES

DOUBLE

WHAMMY
A diagnosis of diabetes can be
a sign of worse trouble ahead.
Researchers from Melbourne
University found that people with
type-2 diabetes double their risk
of developing pancreatic cancer
within the first year of diagnosis.
If your diabetes requires
aggressive drug therapy, your risk
goes up even more.

THE NUMBER OF

MINUTES YOU

SHOULD BE EARLY

FOR A DOCTOR’S

APPOINTMENT

IF YOU WANT

MORE FACE TIME.

SOURCE: BRITISH MEDICAL

JOURNAL

JUNE 2017 15