Health News: Are You Getting Enough Shuteye?

Four

The number of times more likely you are to develop a cold if you sleep fewer than six hours per night compared to people who get seven or more hours of shuteye. —Sleep

“Sleep is essential for maintaining immunological homeostasis. Sleep deprivation leads to altered immune function. Sleep is thought to act as a host defense against infections and promote the healing process.” —John Villa, D.O., Medical Director, Institute for Sleep/ Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center

Hug Me!

Did you know that hugs trigger the release of feel-good hor-mones like oxytocin, while low-ering levels of stress hormones like cortisol? A recent study even showed that women who got more frequent hugs had lower blood pressure and healthier resting heart rates compared with women who weren’t hugged as often.—University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Break Soda Habit

Folks who gulp more than three sugary drinks per week have a 46 percent higher risk of developing prediabetes than those people who don’t drink the sweet stuff. —Journal of Nutrition

“People who drink sugary liquids of any kind tend to have issues with blood sugar. When people stop the sugary liquids, we often see great reversals in blood sugar. I try to get people to drink unsweetened liquids instead: lots of water, seltzers with a little lemon or lime, or unsweetened tea.” —Andrea Collins, R.D.N., The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood

Sneeze Relief

More than 1 in 4 people with allergies don’t get treatment. A survey showed that those folks who were untreated or undertreated were more likely to report that allergies diminished their quality of life. If you suffer from seasonal allergies talk to your doctor about options. —International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology

2.7 Million 

The number of people in the U.S. ages 40 and older affected by glaucoma. —American Academy of Ophthalmology

450

The estimated number of menstrual cycles the average woman has during her lifetime. —Association of Reproductive Health Professionals

A Shot Glass

That’s the amount of sunscreen a person needs to apply to protect exposed skin. For the best protection, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours—or sooner if you’ve been swimming or sweating. —American Academy of Dermatology

Three

The number of times more likely you are to have a stroke if a parent had one before age 65. This compares with someone without a family history of stroke. The best way to reduce that risk is to maintain healthy blood pressure. —American Stroke Association

Write Up, Weight Down

A study found that dieters who recorded all the food they ate daily shed twice as much weight as those dieters who didn’t journal. —American Journal of Preventive Medicine