Latest news with #Cushing
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Five ways to help ‘fight or flight' stress hormone and bring down blood pressure
Triggering the body's natural stress hormone is perfectly normal when it's needed – but if it stays high it can lead to weight gain, or too low, it might cause fatigue and low mood The internet is awash with tips, tricks and hacks to fix minor medical problems. But how much of it is accurate and can be trusted? In an age of misinformation and social media 'experts', it is always better to ask someone who is in the know about your health woes. Each week, Superintendent Pharmacist Claire Nevinson will answer our readers' questions on everything from insomnia and indigestion to trapped wind and toilet troubles. This week, Claire tackles the stress hormone, cortisol… Q. Everyone is talking about high cortisol on social media – is it actually a problem that a lot of people have, or has it been blown out or proportion? What are the actual symptoms and what should we be doing about it? Cortisol is the body's natural steroid, also known as the body's stress hormone. It plays a key role in managing many bodily functions including regulating blood sugar levels, helping the body cope with and respond to stress, controlling blood pressure, regulating metabolism and immune function and reducing inflammation. What leads to high cortisol levels? During times of stress, the adrenal glands of the body will release both adrenaline and cortisol. This can lead to increased energy levels, which is the body's way of preparing for what it perceives as a potentially harmful or dangerous situation. Spikes in these hormones should naturally return to normal levels when the situation that triggered them is over, but during extended periods of everyday stress this doesn't always happen and cortisol levels may remain high. This can increase the risk of many health conditions including weight gain, anxiety, heart problems and high blood sugar. In rare cases, higher than normal cortisol levels may also be a result of Cushing's syndrome. This is an uncommon condition with the main symptoms being weight gain, typically on the chest, stomach, shoulders and back of the neck, as well as a red, puffy and rounded face. If you are concerned about any symptoms, you may be experiencing, you should speak to your GP. What leads to low cortisol levels? While the issue of high cortisol levels has seen a lot of attention, particularly on social media, the body can also experience low cortisol levels. This occurs when the adrenal glands don't produce enough cortisol. This is known as Addison's disease – a rare condition, which usually occurs because of a problem with the immune system. It can cause lack of energy, fatigue, muscle weakness, low mood, loss of appetite, dizziness, losing weight without trying and increased thirst. How can we manage cortisol levels? Reduce everyday stress If the changes in cortisol levels are caused by prolonged everyday stress, it's important to try and identify the triggers if you can. This is a good first step towards finding coping mechanisms and ways to avoid stress. Eat a balanced diet A healthy and balanced diet can help support your physical health and emotional wellness. Try to eat a nutrient-rich diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats as well as drinking plenty of water. Try to limit your caffeine intake and the number of foods you consume that are high in added sugar and saturated fats. Undertake regular exercise The NHS recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week, which can help reduce feelings of stress and therefore can help manage cortisol levels. Make sure to speak to your GP before starting any new forms of exercise if you have an existing medical condition or have not exercised in a while. Get plenty of sleep Aim for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep a night to reduce everyday stress and manage cortisol levels. It can help to establish a sleep routine and going to bed and getting up at consistent times. You should also try to reduce screen time or eliminate it altogether before bedtime and replacing for anything that helps your body and mind to relax instead. This could include a warm bath, face mask or reading a book. If you're experiencing symptoms that make you think your cortisol levels may be imbalanced, make an appointment to speak to your GP.
Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
US crude stocks, gasoline and distillate inventories fall
DENVER, May 29 (Reuters) - U.S. crude, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week, the Energy Information Administration said on Thursday. Crude inventories fell by 2.8 million barrels to 440.4 million barrels in the week ending May 23, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 118,000-barrel rise. Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub (USOICC=ECI), opens new tab rose by 75,000 barrels, the EIA said. Oil prices rose slightly after the EIA reported a surprise draw in stockpiles, but were still trading in negative territory. Global Brent crude futures were off 56 cents to $64.34 a barrel at 12:11 p.m. EDT (1611 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures were down 65 cents to $61.2 a barrel . Refinery crude runs (USOICR=ECI), opens new tab fell by 162,000 barrels per day in the week, while utilization rates (USOIRU=ECI), opens new tab fell by 0.5 percentage points in the week to 90.2%, the EIA said. U.S. gasoline stocks (USOILG=ECI), opens new tab fell by 2.4 million barrels in the week to 223.1 million barrels, the EIA said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 527,000-barrel draw. Distillate stockpiles (USOILD=ECI), opens new tab, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 724,000 barrels in the week to 103.4 million barrels, versus expectations for a 481,000-barrel rise, the EIA data showed. Net U.S. crude imports (USOICI=ECI), opens new tab fell last week by 532,000 barrels per day, EIA said.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lions keep Stafford but dump Pettigrew in PFF's 2009 first-round re-draft
Lions keep Stafford but dump Pettigrew in PFF's 2009 first-round re-draft A popular exercise across NFL media is doing re-drafts. Usually, those re-drafts come the following year up to roughly a handful of years. How about one from 16 years ago for your enjoyment? That's what Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick and Trevor Sikkema recently did, running through a re-draft of the 2009 NFL Draft, the one that brought Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Motor City. Even before seeing the re-draft, you'd imagine it was a foregone conclusion the Lions would get Stafford again in a re-draft. What about their second pick? Let's dive into PFF's re-draft. At No. 1, the Lions still take Stafford, as expected. Despite not having much playoff success in Detroit, Stafford is still regarded by Chadwick and Sikkema as the greatest quarterback in Lions' history. It makes all the sense in the world to stick with the original pick here. "For the first time in this redraft series, we're sticking with the original top pick. "Although Stafford won a Super Bowl with the Rams and is still their starting quarterback, he is easily the greatest quarterback in the Lions' history. He has earned a 90.3 career PFF overall grade and brought Detroit to the playoffs thrice in his career, its first three trips in the 21st century." In 2009, the Lions took Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew with the 20th pick. This time around, the Lions add to the defense with USC linebacker Brian Cushing, who originally went 15th overall to the Houston Texans. "Cushing wasn't always consistent, but he earned PFF tackling grades above 81.0 in four of his first five seasons. He also garnered 77.0-plus PFF pass-rush grades in each of his first three NFL campaigns. The Lions needed a better presence at linebacker heading into the 2009 NFL Draft, and they get one here." Cushing also became the heart and soul of the Texans' defense. An argument can easily be made that Cushing would have done the same thing in Detroit. For the record, Pettigrew did not go in the first round in this re-draft. The tight end class, overall, wasn't too strong, though it did produce Jared Cook, who played 13 seasons and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Rising Crude Stocks, Higher OPEC Output May Keep A Lid On Oil Prices
A crude oil storage facility in Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S. (Photo: Johannes Eisele) Global oil prices are being kept firmly in check by rising crude inventories and OPEC's decision to raise oil production. At 12:37pm EDT on Monday, global proxy benchmark Brent closed at $64.17 per barrel, down $0.1o or 0.14% in Asia. The said level was lower than Friday's close in the U.K. and U.S., with both markets closed for public holidays on Monday. The West Texas Intermediate was also down $0.05 or 0.08% to $61.47 in Asia, and largely flat on Friday's close in a market well short on bullish sentiment of any sort. Furthermore, both benchmarks continue to lurk near four-year lows as forecasters scramble to lower their price predictions for both this year and the next. Steeper declines were only prevented intraday after U.S. President Donald Trump decided to postpone tariffs on the European Union to leave room for further trade negotiations. Its the latest development in a saga that began in April and has raised fears of a global trade war. However, expectations for lower oil prices have been furthered by U.S.-Iran nuclear talks and crude producers' group OPEC+'s decision to hike its output. The latter in particular is having an outsized impact. The market is currently factoring in a potential third consecutive output hike in July by OPEC+ in region of 411,000 barrels per day. While the producers' group has declined comment ahead of an impending decision, earlier this month it agreed to up oil production for a second consecutive month, raising output for June by a similar 411,000 bpd level. The already announced June hike by OPEC+ will take the total combined hikes for April, May and June to 960,000 bpd, or 44% of the 2.2 million bpd of previously agreed cuts since 2022. It is a clear bid for a greater market share at the expense of non-OPEC producers, especially U.S. light sweet crude suppliers. However, it is not just higher OPEC+ output and the potential of lower U.S.-Iran tensions that appear to be keeping the market bulls at bay. An uncertain macroeconomic climate and a supply glut exceeding global demand growth, currently in the region of 1 million bpd, are taking their toll too. This now being duly reflected in the inventory data. Two sets of figures are of particular significance here. First off, according to the International Energy Agency, global oil inventories continue to remain elevated. In its market assessment published on May 15, the IEA said inventories rose for a second consecutive month to 7.7 billion barrels in March. The figure may be below the five-year average, but the change in market sentiment appears pretty clear. Overall, the IEA currently expects oil inventories to rise by an average of 720,000 bpd this year and by 930,000 bpd in 2026. Secondly, the rise of floating oil storage is once again on an upward trajectory, a trend that industry data analytics firm Kpler has been keen to point out since January. Its data suggests the volume of crude oil and products, including refined fuels, in floating storage on tankers for seven days or longer has risen over the past month by 14% to more than 160 million barrels. Kpler suggests the said level is the highest in two years, with 74 million barrels or 46.25% of the said figure thought to be crude oil. A sizeable chunk of that volume is crude from Iran (40% or 29 million barrels) and Russia (15% or 11 million barrels). Such a development is concerning to say the least. That's because storing oil at sea is more expensive than on land and a measure of last resort in extreme cases when onshore storage appears to run out. It typically indicates that oil producers are finding it harder to offload their cargoes because of rising supplies or slowing demand or possibly both. Read what you will into it, but these developments point to impending lower oil prices over the near-term, especially as OPEC+ ups the stakes further in a fight for market share.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Early warning signs of strokes in dogs to look for as vet says it's 'pretty common'
Early warning signs of strokes in dogs to look for as vet says it's 'pretty common' A vet has detailed the 'early warning signs and symptoms to look out for' which signal your pet dog or cat could be having a stroke, as the condition becomes more 'common' among animals There's several symptoms dogs may present which are indicative of a stroke (stock image) (Image: undefined via Getty Images ) Many households around the world cherish the companionship of a pet dog, with their seemingly endless affection and steadfast loyalty making them an integral part of the family. Opting to have a dog is not a decision to be taken lightly; it calls for a profound shift in lifestyle as these animals demand regular love, care, and attention. This includes frequent veterinary visits for health checks and ensuring they get their daily dose of exercise. In the UK alone, there's a staggering estimated number of 10.6 million pet dogs, with owners keen to ensure their canine companions maintain good health. The proliferation of social media has become a boon to those looking to optimise their dogs' wellbeing, as a myriad of videos from passionate pet owners and professionals alike offer advice and knowledge. Being vigilant about recognising early signs of serious health issues can have a significant impact on your dog's wellbeing. A particularly impactful video that's garnered attention on social media features specialists detailing "early warning signs and symptoms to look out for" that might suggest a dog or cat is suffering a stroke. Board-certified veterinary neurologist Dr Sheena Sanil from SEVN commented: "It turns out that strokes are pretty common in our small animal friends, so it's important to recognise the signs. Article continues below "Strokes occur suddenly without any warning signs and they should not be painful but can cause an abrupt and severe onset of symptoms." Dr Sanil elaborated on the symptoms linked to a stroke within the forebrain of pets, including behaviours such as circling, as well as seizures, dramatic changes in behaviour, head pressing, and even blindness. The vet outlined that symptoms of a stroke in the brain stem or cerebellum can include "poor balance, vomiting, nystagmus - or abnormal eye movements - weakness on one side of the body, high stepping, head tremors, severe mentation changes or changes in consciousness, acute circling or spinning." Dr Sanil said: "Just like in people, strokes in pets occur either when the blood flow to part of the brain is obstructed, which is known as an ischemic stroke, or when a blood vessel bursts and deprives nerve cells of oxygen, which is a hemorrhagic stroke. "Strokes generally occur in older pets and are often secondary to a chronic metabolic disorder. Cases of an ischemic stroke are often secondary to hypothyroidism, renal disease, Cushing's disease, neoplasia or cardiac disease. "While cases of hemorrhagic strokes are often secondary to clotting disorders, metastatic cancer and toxins. However, about 50% of strokes in dogs have no identifiable underlying cause." The vet further noted: "It is also worth noting that some dog breeds are much more prone to strokes, such as the greyhounds and mini schnauzers." In the caption accompanying the video, the expert advised: "If you suspect your dog or cat may be affected, early diagnosis and treatment are essential. Contact a veterinary neurologist to discuss the best path forward for your pet." It's crucial to remember that both novices and professionals who share their personal experiences or expert advice on social media can only provide a generalised perspective. They don't know you or your pet personally. If you have any worries about your pet, it's advisable to take them to your vet promptly for a personalised consultation and bespoke treatment plan. If you're contemplating getting a dog, it's vital to do your homework first. Training is fundamental with puppies and dogs, and not all dogs are suitable for first-time owners. Article continues below If you're planning to bring a pet into your home, consider the advantages of adopting a puppy or older dog from a charity or local shelter instead of purchasing from a breeder.
