New research suggests that walking 7,000 steps a day can support overall health
Led by academics from the University of Sydney, the research examined data from dozens of global studies, including those in the UK, involving tens of thousands of adults.
Individuals consistently achieving 7,000 steps daily showed a 25% lower risk of heart disease, a 14% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, a 38% decrease in dementia, and a 22% reduction in depression.
The study also found that walking 7,000 steps a day was associated with a 47% lower likelihood of death during follow-up periods compared to 2,000 steps, and a 37% lower chance of cancer death.
While 10,000 steps per day still offer greater health advantages, experts noted that even modest step counts provide benefits, with 7,000 steps being a realistic and clinically meaningful target for many.
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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
The controversial energy alternative that teens are snapping up
Experts and educators are raising concerns over the growing use of caffeine pouches, especially among teenagers, driven by social media marketing and their high caffeine content. School resource officers have noted students using these pouches, which can contain up to 200 milligrams of caffeine, sometimes in conjunction with nicotine pouches. Richard Mumby, a marketing executive previously involved with the e-cigarette Juul, is now launching Wip, a caffeine pouch startup, promoting them as a portable alternative to caffeinated drinks. Despite Wip's claims of responsible marketing and not targeting under-18s, health experts warn that these pouches may deliver caffeine more rapidly, potentially increasing the risk of overdose. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises teenagers to limit caffeine intake to 100 milligrams daily or avoid it altogether, and views pouches as another concerning delivery method.
Telegraph
4 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Senior nurse warned of ‘nightmare' baby-killing bacteria in Lucy Letby unit
A senior nurse at Lucy Letby 's hospital warned she was facing her 'worst nightmare' after deadly bacteria was found on several taps in the 'over-capacity' baby unit, leaked emails show. Eirian Powell, the manager of the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, argued the department was 'taking too many risks' and 'compromising patient safety'. The email was sent to senior managers in December 2015, the middle of the period in which there was a spike of baby deaths at the unit, for which Letby was convicted of murder. Former Estates Management staff at the hospital also told The Telegraph that nappy pads were placed in the ceiling of the unit to prevent sewage leaking through. The Telegraph has previously reported that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa had colonised taps in the nurseries of the neonatal unit, including intensive care. But the extent of the outbreak has only now come to light through the leaked emails. Ms Powell wrote the email after discovering that a second sink in her unit had tested positive. Copying in Tony Chambers, the trust's chief executive, she wrote: 'We are currently over-capacity and this is my worst nightmare. 'I feel that we are taking too many risks and compromising patient safety. I want filters put on all taps until we have the ALL clear.' A risk register seen by The Telegraph shows that filters had to be kept on the taps for months indicating that the hospital struggled to eliminate the bug. The problem was labelled as 'high risk' on the register, which also warned there was a 'high risk' from ongoing doctor shortages in the unit. Records show that the taps in the baby unit were fitted with bacterial filters in an attempt to deal with the issue. But a former member of the Estates Management team told The Telegraph there were regular call-outs to the unit when the filters became detached from the taps, increasing the risk of infection. He said he was concerned about the safety of the vulnerable babies in the unit, believing the ward should have been shut down until the bacteria risk had been eliminated. Speaking anonymously, he said: 'I could not understand why the most vulnerable patients in the hospital were being cared for in that unit which was not fit for purpose. I thought it was dangerous. Everyone in Estates did.' He also described how there were regular call outs to deal with foul water from the pipes which carried macerator waste and sewage above the unit. When there were blockages the waste would seep out of the pipes and through the ceiling tiles in the unit. The team was forced to put multiple absorbent nappy pads in the ceiling area to stop any waste from dripping down The former worker also said the sinks were often blocked, adding that the release of the blockage 'could be explosive with big splashes of foul water and the cleaners would not be on hand immediately'. 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The Sun
34 minutes ago
- The Sun
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