HEALTH NOTES: Random smiles ‘boost mood’ researcher claim
Walking past a smiling stranger makes you more confident, new research suggests. More than two thirds of Britons report a boost to their self esteem after coming into contact with a smiling stranger, according to a YouGov poll.
Past US research has shown that even forcing a smile can trigger the cascade of chemicals released when we’re happy – such as dopamine and serotonin.
Psychologist Dr Carlos Crivelli who was involved with the poll commissioned by Specsavers, said Covid restrictions – such as lockdowns and social distancing – are limiting this important mood-boosting tool.
Researchers claim that walking past a smiling stranger can make you more confident, picture posed by a model. Scientists in the United States believe lockdowns and social distancing are having an impact on this mind-boosting tool
Yogurt bacteria boosts repair of broken bones
Healthy bacteria found in natural yogurt could help fractured bones heal faster.
Scientists from Hubei University in China found that coating a metal implant – used to realign broken bones – in the bacterium Lactobacillus casei nearly doubled the speed at which the bone tissue regrew.
The research was carried out on rats with broken tibias – the bone between the leg and the ankle – treated with titanium implants.
Those given bacteria-coated implants saw bone tissue increase by roughly 30 per cent, compared with 16 per cent in a group treated with non-coated metal implants.
It is thought that the bacteria’s immune- boosting power helps to promote faster tissue generation.
Scientists from Hubei University in China found that coating a metal implant – used to realign broken bones – in the bacterium Lactobacillus casei nearly doubled the speed at which the bone tissue regrew
Fear of catching Covid at the GP surgery is stopping half of Britons from seeking help for deadly liver cancer – slashing their chances of survival.
Experts say acting quickly after noticing the tell-tale signs – swollen stomach, loss of appetite and nausea – is crucial, as the disease often sets in years before symptoms develop. The condition, which kills 15 British each day, is too often diagnosed at late stages when the cancer has spread.
A YouGov poll, commissioned by the British Liver Trust, also found half of Britons weren’t aware that being overweight and having the hepatitis virus increased the risk of liver cancer.
A quarter of British households are at loggerheads over Covid-etiquette, according to a nationwide poll.
A tenth of respondents said they no longer talked to friends or family members due to their inappropriate behaviour during the pandemic.
On a more positive note, despite the tensions with immediate family, a third of Britons felt closer to their community since the start of the pandemic, according to the poll by King’s College London.
Source: Read Full Article
