Tag Archives: Health News

The Crucial Norovirus Symptoms You Should Look Out For This Winter

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According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), cases of norovirus have continued to rise as the chillier months have set in.

In a statement shared with HuffPost UK, the UKHSA says: “Since the start of the 2024/2025 season, the number of norovirus outbreaks reported in hospital settings was 10% higher than the five-season average.”

While the agency assures that there is no indication that this leads to more severe illness, it’s essential that you take the steps to prevent and treat norovirus, should you come into contact with it.

Amy Douglas, epidemiologist at UKHSA says: “The half-term school break is likely to have interrupted the upward trend we’ve been seeing recently in norovirus levels, but cases are likely to rise again as we head towards Christmas.

“To help reduce the spread of norovirus you can take steps to avoid passing the infection on. If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either. If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings.”

Douglas adds that washing your hands with soap and warm water, as well as using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also stop infections from spreading.

She also says: “Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone.”

Many people have associated norovirus with Kawasaki Disease, Douglas urges: “It isn’t accurate to refer to [this norovirus strain] as ‘Kawasaki’ and this term is causing confusion with Kawasaki Disease, which is an unrelated disease.”

Symptoms of norovirus

Symptoms often include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

However, some patients also report a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs.

Norovirus infections can cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older or immunocompromised people, so if you do get ill it is important to drink plenty of fluids during that time.

The NHS advises that you should call 999 or go to A&E if you experience any of the following:

  • vomiting blood or vomit that looks like ground coffee
  • green vomit (adults)
  • yellow-green or green vomit (children)
  • thinking you may have swallowed something poisonous
  • a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
  • a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
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Millions Of Women In The UK Haven’t Been Tested For This Crucial Breast Cancer Risk Factor

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According to Cancer Research UK, there are over 56,000 new cases of breast cancer each year in the UK.

While research is constantly evolving and the survival rate is 76%, knowing the symptoms is essential for early diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

That’s why it’s so concerning that despite women getting their first invites for breast screening between the ages of 50 and 53, followed by screenings every three years until they’re 71, there is a key risk factor that’s not being tested in the UK.

According to research from Micrima, a Bristol-based health tech company on a mission to save millions of lives lost to the late detection of breast cancer, there’s a stark lack of awareness around breast density among UK women, despite it being a key breast cancer risk factor.

Micrima’s research, conducted in partnership with Opinium, found that 86% of women in the UK do not know their breast density, and are in fact six times more likely to know their childhood phone number.

This comes in spite of the fact that dense breasts increase the risk of developing breast cancer and pose a barrier to breast cancer detection.

Dense breasts are a breast cancer risk factor

Dense breasts are breasts with more fibrous or glandular tissue, and less fat. Global evidence suggests that as many as 40% of women over 40 have dense breasts.

The standard screening method for breast cancer — mammography — is not as effective at detecting breast cancer, and, according to Micrima’s data, most women don’t know this, with 67% admitting they didn’t know, and 5% of women thinking that dense breasts make screenings easier.

Based on the data, Micrima estimates that four million women over the age of 40 in the UK have dense breasts and don’t realise that they are at greater risk. Worryingly, as many as 41% of women said they have good knowledge of the risks associated with developing breast cancer, which highlights the lack of awareness and understanding of breast density consequences in the UK.

Adrian Waller, CEO Micrima commented “It is deeply concerning that awareness of breast density, and how it contributes to the risk of developing breast cancer, is so low among women in the UK. While mammography is the standard screening method for breast cancer worldwide, it is not as effective at detecting cancer in dense breasts. As a result, cancer is being undetected and left to spread.

“If we want more positive outcomes for breast cancer, we need to increase awareness of this problem and help build the infrastructure needed to tackle this issue. By equipping medical practitioners with the right technology, they can select the right diagnostic test for cancer, potentially saving the lives of millions of women who die having experienced late detection of breast cancer.”

“I was told by the sonographer that I had ‘the densest breasts’ they had ever seen”

Cancer survivor, Clare Cowhig, was 51 when she was first concerned about a strange area on her breast.

She explained: “Although it was nine months after my last clear mammogram, I booked a private ultrasound.

“I was told by the sonographer that I had ‘the densest breasts’ they had ever seen and was questioned about why I hadn’t been having MRIs due to the reduced sensitivity of mammography to find tumours in dense breasts.”

Until this point, Cowhig had been very careful to ensure she was getting regular testing, as there is a significant history of breast cancer in her family.

“I had no idea I had dense breasts, or why that was significant. Unfortunately, after further investigation, it was confirmed I had an invasive ductal cancer in each breast.

“I had highly dense breasts and these tumours never showed up on my mammograms. One tumour was stage-three and over five centimetres, the other was stage two and two centimetres. I had further areas of ‘in-situ’ disease in both.”

Following this revelation, Cowhig wanted to learn more about her breasts, and if their density had been noted in medical records. She explained: “I discovered that my dense breast tissue had been noted after each of my annual mammograms, yet this information was never shared with me.

“If I had been told about my dense breasts, I would have sought additional screening. I believe my tumours could have been found at a smaller and less advanced stage and I wouldn’t have had to endure such extensive treatment, including a double mastectomy.”

Learn more about breast density and how to discover yours at My Density Matters.

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People Living In Cities Are At A Higher Risk Of Dementia Thanks To This

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According to the journal Frontiers In Neuroscience, around 80% of the world’s population is exposed to excessive or inappropriate use of artificial light outdoors, dubbed “light pollution”.

While the health risks of excessive light pollution can include sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress and anxiety, new research published in the journal has revealed that it could actually lead to Alzheimer’s Disease.

In the study, researchers used satellite-acquired data to determine nighttime light intensity in states, and compared that data with Alzheimer’s Disease prevalence in the same places, finding that a positive correlation was found in areas with the most light pollution in every year studied.

The study also indicated that nighttime light pollution had a stronger correlation to Alzheimer’s Disease risk than alcohol abuse, chronic kidney disease, depression, heart failure and obesity, but less of a link to the conditions of atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and stroke.

This was especially true for those under the age of 65.

Robin Voigt-Zuwala, PhD, lead investigator for the study said: “Certain genes can influence early-onset Alzheimer’s, and these same genes may cause increased vulnerability to the effects of nighttime light exposure.

“Additionally, younger people are more likely to live in urban areas and have lifestyles that may increase exposure to light at night.”

How to protect your health against light pollution

The experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommend the following for individuals and communities to protect against light pollution:

  • Need: Use light only where needed. Consider how the use of light will impact the area, including wildlife interactions and habitats. Rather than permanent lights, use reflective paint or self-luminous markers for signs, curbs, and steps. Outdoor lighting should not be used for aesthetic purposes.
  • Brightness: Use the least amount of light needed for the activity taking place. Be aware of surface conditions as some surfaces reflect a lot of light into the sky.
  • Colour: Minimise blue and violet spectral components, i.e. use warm-white, yellow, or amber light. This aids night vision by all animals, including people.
  • Shielding: Use shielding so that light does not spill beyond where it is needed. To reduce skyglow, do not use luminaires that project any light above the horizontal. Reduce glare by restricting beams to downward cones. This improves the ability of drivers and pedestrians to see into shadows.
  • Timing: Use light only when needed. Turn lights off after use, or use active controls such as timers and motion detectors so that lights are on only when needed.
  • Encourage neighbours to reduce their light pollution by observing these principles, especially to reduce glare and light trespass into your domain.
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NHS 111 Is Now Providing A New Mental Health Service, Here’s Everything You Need To Know

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People facing a mental health crisis in England can now access support through NHS 111.

The service, which is available now, offers another vital lifeline to those experiencing mental health difficulties. A similar service is available in Scotland and Wales.

According to the BBC: “The number connects to a local team of call handlers with mental health training, alongside nurses and clinicians who are available around the clock.

“The team can organise a mental health assessment, send out a crisis team and flag up help available in the local area. A talking-therapy service is also available – people can refer themselves to it online via nhs.uk”

How to access the NHS mental health helpline

The mental health charity Mind estimates that around two million people on waiting lists for NHS mental health care and the latest NHS figures show that mental health services have treated an extra one million people a year compared with six years ago.

The new integrated service can give patients of all ages, including children, the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place, says NHS director for mental health Claire Murdoch.

“So, if you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, please call 111, and select the mental health option.”

The mental health option is option 2, so those looking for support can simply call 111 and choose option 2 to be directed to the support that they need.

Rethink Mental Illness chief executive Mark Winstanley said: “A mental health crisis is traumatic and disorientating, and getting help as quickly as possible is vital. The last thing people need when they or a loved-one is in crisis, is uncertainty about where to turn.

“The NHS have made it easier to access urgent support via 111, building on provision already in place through crisis lines. We welcome this important step.”

Help and support:

  • Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
  • Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
  • CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
  • The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
  • Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.
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There Is Now More Proof That Alzheimer’s Is Linked To This Key Area Of The Body

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The past couple of years have been incredible for Alzheimer’s research with experts seemingly getting closer to the truth of how Alzheimer’s is developed, and, crucially, how it can be prevented.

Now, researchers have revealed that the gut health link to Alzheimer’s is becoming more apparent with gut inflammation being tied to an increased risk of developing the neurodegenerative disease.

69 humans with Alzheimer’s disease and 64 healthy humans donated blood for research with some also providing gut microbiota via stool samples.

The gut microbiota from Alzheimer’s patients was then transplanted into 16 young adult rats whose microbiomes had been depleted by antibiotics for a week. A matching group of 16 rats received gut microbiota from humans in the healthy control group.

The researchers found that Alzheimer’s could be given to young rats through a transfer of gut microbes, confirming a link between the digestive system and the health of the brain.

This news could mean earlier diagnosis is possible

Lead researcher Yvonne Nolan said: “People with Alzheimer’s are typically diagnosed at or after the onset of cognitive symptoms, which may be too late, at least for current therapeutic approaches.

“Understanding the role of gut microbes during prodromal – or early stage- dementia, before the potential onset of symptoms may open avenues for new therapy development, or even individualised intervention.”

Professor Sandrine Thuret, Professor of Neuroscience at King’s College London and one of the study’s senior authors said: “Alzheimer’s is an insidious condition that there is yet no effective treatment for. This study represents an important step forward in our understanding of the disease, confirming that the make-up of our gut microbiota has a causal role in the development of the disease.

“This collaborative research has laid the groundwork for future research into this area, and my hope is that it will lead to potential advances in therapeutic interventions.”

Here’s hoping there are more developments soon.

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Your Social Media Habit Could Be Causing This Common Health Complaint

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If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us know that we spend too much time on our phones and on social media. The allure of endless information, memes, TikToks is incredibly hard to ignore, especially when everyone you love seems to be on there, too.

Yes, we should cut down and honestly, yes, we would be happier for it but the habit is a tough one to break.

According to a new study, though, we might be doing more than just creating endless cycles of dopamine. We may actually be causing and increasing inflammation in our bodies.

How social media causes inflammation

Almost a fifth of Brits (18%) already experience inflammation and, according to a new study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, our social media habits can contribute to it.

“The results showed that the amount of social media use—assessed objectively by a screen-time app—was not only associated with higher inflammation at a single time point, but also increased levels of inflammation five weeks later,” says David Lee, an assistant professor of communication at the University at Buffalo and the paper’s lead author.

Studies have long shown the detrimental impacts that social media can have on our mental health with researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology finding that college-wide access to Facebook led to an increase in severe depression by 7% and anxiety disorder by 20% and this new research highlights just how harmful it can be to the entire body.

While this is an interesting advancement, Lee says there’s still more that needs to be assessed: “Given the prevalence of social media use in our daily lives, more research is needed to investigate these potential health effects using diverse methodologies.

“The next crucial step is to move beyond measures of screen time to really understand how and why social media use can have these effects.”

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All The January 2023 Strikes Set To Hit As Industrial Action Continues

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With Christmas done and dusted, many of us are now looking forward to New Year and the fresh start it brings.

However, strike action has only just begun, with more dates planned across different industries into January.

Bus drivers, ambulance drivers, rail staff and more are all set to take action in the coming week, with disruption expected as a result.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the strikes in January 2023.

Rail strikes

Strikes by the RMT and ASLEF trade unions will bring rail services to a halt across the UK from Tuesday January 3 to Saturday January 7.

RMT union members at Network Rail are striking once more over pay and conditions.

The train strikes will affect the following train operators:

  • LNER
  • Northern trains
  • Avanti West Coast
  • Southeastern
  • Cross Country
  • Chiltern Railways
  • Greater Anglia
  • Govia Thameslink (plus Gatwick Express)
  • London Underground
  • West Midlands Trains (plus London Northwestern Railway)
  • Great Western Railway
  • Transpennine Express

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, explained the reasoning for the strike action: “We don’t want to go on strike but the companies have pushed us into this place. They have not offered our members at these companies a penny – and these are people who have not had an increase since April 2019.”

People are being advised to avoid travelling between January 3 – 7 if possible.

Highway workers strikes

If your plan to get around the railway strikes was to take to the roads, we’ve got some bad news.

National Highways traffic officers in the PCS union across the UK will strike on January 3 and 4.

The strike action will see control centre staff walk out and officers will normally deal with the aftermath of road accidents will also stop work on the two dates.

The PCS union says the walkout could cause delays to reopening carriageways and motorways affected by any accidents on the strike action dates.

Nurses

The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) has announced strike action on January 18 and 19 in England following previous action on December 15 and 20.

The RCN wants members to see a pay rise of 19%.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “The government had the opportunity to end this dispute before Christmas but instead they have chosen to push nursing staff out into the cold again in January.

“I do not wish to prolong this dispute, but the Prime Minister has left us with no choice.”

Ambulance drivers

Some ambulance staff in England will take part in two strikes next month, on January 11 and 23.

Services in London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West will be affected as union members campaign for pay rises that are above inflation rates.

The strikes will affect non-life threatening calls only but is likely to put even more pressure on emergency care.

Bus drivers

Meanwhile in London, Abellio bus drivers in south and west London will take action over eight days throughout January.

The strikes will take place on January 4, 5, 10, 12, 16, 19, 25 and 26.

Transport for London has urged Unite and the Abellio bus company to work together to avoid disruption, with some of the proposed strike dates clashing with RMT train strikes.

Teachers in Scotland

Two teachers’ strike days will take place in Scotland in January 2023.

Teachers will walkout on both January 10 and 11 after a 6.85% increase for the lowest paid was rejected.

Although the action is currently exclusive to Scotland, teaching unions in both England and Wales are balloting members over pay, which could mean strikes further south in the coming weeks.

RCN general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “The government had the opportunity to end this dispute before Christmas but instead they have chosen to push nursing staff out into the cold again in January.

“I do not wish to prolong this dispute, but the Prime Minister has left us with no choice.”

Ambulance drivers

Some ambulance staff in England will take part in two strikes next month, on January 11 and 23.

Services in London, Yorkshire, the North West, North East and South West will be affected as union members campaign for pay rises that are above inflation rates.

The strikes will affect non-life threatening calls only but is likely to put even more pressure on emergency care.

Bus drivers

Meanwhile in London, Abellio bus drivers in south and west London will take action over eight days throughout January.

The strikes will take place on January 4, 5, 10, 12, 16, 19, 25 and 26.

Transport for London has urged Unite and the Abellio bus company to work together to avoid disruption, with some of the proposed strike dates clashing with RMT train strikes.

Teachers in Scotland

Two teachers’ strike days will take place in Scotland in January 2023.

Teachers will walkout on both January 10 and 11 after a 6.85% increase for the lowest paid was rejected.

Although the action is currently exclusive to Scotland, teaching unions in both England and Wales are balloting members over pay, which could mean strikes further south in the coming weeks.

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Jamie Oliver Reveals ‘Deeply Scary’ Long Covid Battle Of Wife Jools

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Jamie Oliver has opened up about his wife Jools’ “deeply scary” two-year long Covid battle.

The TV chef hailed the mum-of-five as “an absolute superstar”, revealing the 47-year-old has been “really affected” by the virus.

He told the Daily Mail Weekend magazine: “She’s had bad Covid and long Covid so she’s been really affected by it, sadly.

“She’s okay but still not what she wants to be. It’s been two years, she finds it deeply scary.”

Jools and Jamie Oliver
Jools and Jamie Oliver

Samir Hussein via Getty Images

Jamie explained they had seen specialist medical professionals but have been unable to solve her symptoms as the condition is still being learnt about.

“We’re all over Harley Street like a rash but no one really knows anything. The data on long Covid is still piling in. She’s been an absolute superstar,” he said.

There are 1.8million Britons estimated to have long Covid, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

This month, experts from King’s College London said there appears to be three “subtypes” of the condition, each with their own set of symptoms including, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, muscle ache and heart palpitations.

David M. Benett via Getty Images

Jamie and Jools have been married for 22 years and have five children together.

Speaking about his relationship, the TV chef said: “Me and Jools have been together since we were 18.

“We went to London with nothing but dreams and aspirations. Luckily, we were able to solidify our relationship before it all kicked off. Then we did it together. It was exciting.

“When I first started going out with Jools, she was like, ‘I’ll never be able to have kids.’ She had polycystic ovaries. But here we are with five.”

The couple are parents to Poppy, Daisy, Petal, Buddy and River.

Jamie Oliver, Jools Oliver and their family pictured in 2016.
Jamie Oliver, Jools Oliver and their family pictured in 2016.

Ian Lawrence via Getty Images

Oliver added: “I haven’t done teenage boys yet but I found teenage girls very hard. I tried to be an on-point dad, I’d give myself nine out of 10 for effort.

“The the minute they get to 13, you’re dumped. You’re outside looking in. All you want is a few hugs a day and to be appreciated but there’s a lot of chemistry going on.

“You never get the kid back after 13, they completely change. Just when you start to get them back, they’re off to university. So it’s like a bereavement.”

In 2020, Jools revealed she had had a miscarriage during lockdown and the couple have spoken openly in the past about losing “five little stars in the sky”.

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Why You Might Be Asked To Travel Across The Country For Surgery

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People who remain on the waiting list for health treatments are being asked whether they are prepared to travel to receive treatment.

NHS England is set to “virtually eliminate” the list of those who have waited more than two years for treatment, the chief executive has said, as patients are given the option to be treated more quickly at hospitals in different parts of the country.

Of course, this plan will do little to help those without access to transport, those who need to juggle healthcare alongside care responsibilities, and those on zero hours contracts or self-employed, who need to take limited time off work to avoid pay losses.

The number who have waited for two years or more to receive treatment has fallen from a peak of 22,500 in January to 6,700, after the Covid-19 pandemic caused waiting lists to mount.

People who remain on the waiting list are being asked whether they are prepared to travel to receive treatment. More than 400 have agreed, with 140 booked in for surgery at a different hospital.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “As part of the biggest and most ambitious catch-up programme in NHS history, staff are now on track to virtually eliminate two-year waiters by the end of July.

“But the NHS will not stop here, from delivering one million tests and checks through our newly rolled-out community diagnostic centres to new state-of-the-art same-day hip replacements, staff are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to treat patients quicker, especially those who have been waiting a long time.”

The NHS has said it will cover travel and accommodation costs to patients “where appropriate”.

Three patients who had been waiting to receive treatment at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust went on to receive treatment at Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust more than 100 miles away, with a further two booked in.

Meanwhile, South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre has treated 17 patients from the South West of England, and a further 11 are expected to receive treatment in the coming weeks.

Patients who opt to wait longer, or patients in highly-specialised areas that may require a tailored plan, however, will not necessarily have been treated by the end of July, the NHS warns.

The fall in waiting list numbers comes after the busiest ever May for emergency care, with 2.2 million A&E visits and almost 78,000 of the most urgent ambulance call-outs.

Pritchard added: “One of the benefits of the NHS is that hospitals can work together to bring Covid backlogs down together and so if people can and want to be treated quicker elsewhere in the country, NHS staff are ensuring that it can happen.

“Once again, NHS staff are demonstrating the agility, resilience and compassion that shows when they are given the tools and resources they need, they deliver for our patients.”

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Innovations like this are helping to tackle waiting lists and speed up access to treatment, backed by record investment, and there are over 90 community diagnostic centres delivering over one million checks and scans in the last year.”

Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive of the NHS Providers organisation, said the health service is “nearing the target” of clearing the backlog of all people who have been waiting for more than two years for hospital care.

She told BBC Breakfast: “The NHS is doing incredibly well and we are seeing those figures coming down significantly week by week. I never like to say ‘Yes, it will definitely happen’, but I think it’s testament to the hard work of trust leaders up and down the country that that we are nearing that point.”

Asked abut the call for more nurses, she said: “We’ve known for a very long time that workforce is a significant challenge.

“I think one of the things we have to remember is that the challenges we are facing now, post-pandemic, were there before the pandemic and the pandemic has simply exacerbated them.

“So we’ve got funding challenges that have come from a decade’s worth of a funding squeeze; demand was already going up before the pandemic; we had challenges in terms of social care which we’ve got now and they are increasing significantly.

“But we’ve also got this workforce shortage, which is incredibly serious.

“We’ve called on the Government to establish a fully funded and costed long-term workforce plan so we can sort this out once and for all but we know there are big challenges there across the nursing workforce, across the doctor workforce and other parts of the NHS staffing structure.”

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I Tried TikTok’s ‘Pressure Points’ Sleep Hack To Nod Off In Seconds

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Sleep, O sweet sleep, where art thou? Some nights it’s impossible to doze off, all the world’s thoughts heavy on your eyelids.

So whenever I see a trick or vital TikTok that promises a hack to make you fall asleep instantly, I’m hooked.

This week, I came across a content creator who goes by @YoungerYouDoc, teaching people “how to become the youngest version of themselves”.

In one video, he demonstrates how rubbing your wrists for two to three minutes can help you nod off. This is because a spot on your wrist provides one of several pressure points for sleep, according to reflexologists.

“There are four acupressure points starting at the pinky side of the wrist crease and moving up the inner forearm,” Dr Shari Auth, chief healing officer and co-founder of WTHN, told Bustle.

“They are good for insomnia and are excellent to rub at bedtime. These points are commonly used by acupuncturists to treat sleep, palpitations, and mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.”

So, for the last two nights I’ve tried the trick to see how it affects me. And unfortunately, it didn’t help at all.

Perhaps I had the wrong point (I watched a video about pressure points and it seems I did rub the suggested area). But what stopped me from falling into a slumber was being conscious that I was rubbing my wrist.

Before I fall asleep I like to be as still as possible, so I think for me it felt unnatural to keep rubbing for a few minutes.

I also switched hands in case one wrist was more effective than the other. But after doing it for a while, my wrist started getting warm and I decided to give up.

I also didn’t sleep very well and it took me longer to fall asleep than it would usually (though that might be unrelated).

As far as sleep hacks go, I prefer content creator Justin Agustin’s method.

In another viral video, he explained how his two-minute method was adopted by military personnel who often sleep in rough conditions.

It consists of incrementally relaxing your body, then imagining a warm light travelling through your body, while focussing on your breathing. Then you clear your mind of all stresses.

To do this, Agustin advises imagining one of two scenarios; the first is lying in a canoe in a calm clear lake, with a blue sky above you. The other is lying in a velvet black hammock under a pitch black sky.

Any time your thoughts try to distract you, repeat the words ‘don’t think’ 10 times.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, Agustin explains, you’d need to do this every day for six weeks to see it work effectively enough to fall asleep within two minutes.

It might sound tedious, but it might be worth it in the long run.

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