Health and Wellbeing News

Most people experience sleep problems at some point in their lives. Possibly as many as a third of people in the UK suffer from insomnia – that is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep.

Insomnia appears to affect more women than men and it can occur at any age.

The most common symptoms of insomnia are:

• difficulty falling asleep
• waking up during the night
• waking up early in the morning
• feeling irritable and tired to function during the day

Anxiety and stress are a common cause of insomnia but it can be caused by other conditions.

If you would like more information about insomnia follow the link, where you will find advice and information about sleeping problems.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/sleep/Pages/sleep-home.aspx

Walking more could save lives. The ‘walking works’ report by the Ramblers Association and Macmillan cancer support showed walking was a free activity which could transform peoples lives.

Being physically active reduces the odds of suffering heart problems or stroke. It also makes a difference in condition type 2 diabetes, alzheimers and many cancers.

For tips and advice on how to get active and stay active visit: www.walkingforhealth.org.uk

Would you like to know how healthy you are? Patient.co.uk has a tool for you to work this out. Register on the website and complete the questionnaire with as accurate information as possible. The tool will then plot your place in a queue of 100 people; the nearer you are to 100, the healthier you are. You will get a feedback report and this will highlight any areas where you need to improve. It will give you advice on how to achieve your goals.

https://myhealth.patient.co.uk/

• Anxiety will affect 10% of the population
• Bipolar disorder will affect one in 100
• One in every 150 15-year-old girls will get anorexia, and one in every 1000 15-year-old boys
• 20% of people will become depressed at some point in their lives
• OCD will affect 2%
• Personality disorder will affect one in 10, though for some it won’t be severe
• Schizophrenia will affect one in 100

Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists

If you want to read some more follow this link to the BBC article: When does your Mental Health become a problem?

Did you know that walking between Keynes and Darwin colleges its approximately 1000 steps  (half a mile)?  

Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier.

It’s underrated as a form of exercise but walking is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active.

Go to the Campus Walks section in Leisure & Health on this website, follow the link and download your own map of 4 walks to do in your lunch hour. We have even counted the paces for you. You can do it solo or team up with a walking partner.

Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke and some cancers.

Read more

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/getting-started-guides/Pages/getting-started-walking.aspx