Latest news with #GarethNye
Economic Times
22-05-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
Want to live to 100? Skip the gym, this daily habit matters more; longevity expert reveals
The Surprising Power of Everyday Movement A Sitting Threat You Can't Outrun You Might Also Like: What is a 'sedentary lifestyle'? Cardiologist warns that too much sitting may be as harmful as smoking Rethink What's on Your Plate You Might Also Like: Why you keep waking up at 3 a.m.? The hidden sleep crisis millions are Googling right now Sleep: Your Nighttime Lifeline Know Thyself—And Your Family Why It Matters Now? What if the secret to a longer, healthier life wasn't tucked away in a gym, but instead hiding in plain sight—right in your daily routine? According to leading longevity researcher Dr. Gareth Nye, a long life isn't just about clean genes or killer workouts. It's about what you do between the workouts that Nye, a biomedical expert, challenges the age-old belief that intense exercise is the golden ticket to longevity. Instead, he champions what he calls 'whole activity levels'—a fancy way of saying keep moving throughout the day. Sitting for hours at a desk, even if balanced with a daily gym session, may still be putting your health at risk.'People who live longer tend to have a higher activity level in their day-to-day lives, rather than relying on structured exercise programs,' Dr. Nye explained while talking to The Mirror. 'It's about avoiding prolonged periods of sitting and making your entire day more dynamic.'This could mean taking walking breaks between tasks, using a standing desk, or even tweaking your commute to sneak in more steps. The goal? Make movement second studies back this idea, showing that extended periods of inactivity—regardless of how much you work out—can increase the risk of serious health conditions, including Alzheimer's. In essence, your body doesn't forgive long stretches of stillness, even if you're clocking an hour on the treadmill problem with high-intensity workouts, Dr. Nye points out, is sustainability. Many people struggle to stick to them long term, while simply staying active throughout the day is a more realistic, beneficial movement is only part of the story. Dr. Nye emphasizes a return to natural, minimally processed foods . He warns against a diet high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar, and flags processed meats like bacon and ham as significant threats due to their link to bowel cancer.'The less processing, the better,' he says. 'Free-range or organic meat and vegetables are ideal. The more processing involved, the more detrimental it is to the body.'Even for those on a tight schedule or budget, he recommends frozen fruits and vegetables as a practical alternative to fresh produce. 'They're just as beneficial and often easier to add into meals,' he there's one thing you can't afford to skimp on, it's sleep. According to Dr. Nye, getting less than seven hours a night increases your risk of death by 12 percent. But don't oversleep either—those regularly clocking more than eight hours face an even higher 30 percent risk.'Regular sleep patterns are key,' he stresses. 'They help regulate the body's internal systems, which in turn can impact how long you live.'Lack of quality sleep has been linked to obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes, all of which can chip away at life Dr. Nye underscores the role of genetics in lifespan. While only 20 to 30 percent of longevity is influenced by DNA, knowing your family history can offer crucial insight into potential health check-ups and, in some cases, genetic testing can help identify predispositions to certain conditions early on. 'Roughly 40 percent of life expectancy can be traced through generations,' Dr. Nye says. 'If your grandparents and parents lived long, healthy lives, you've got a better shot.'However, he cautions that genetic testing can also uncover unexpected information about family members, so it's essential to weigh the emotional and social Nye's advice lands at a time when life expectancy gains in many countries have started to plateau—or even decline. Obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and processed diets are contributing to this shift, despite years of progress in healthcare and the latest data may be disheartening, Dr. Nye's message is clear and empowering: longevity isn't just about luck. It's about small, sustained choices—choosing stairs over the elevator, frozen veggies over fast food, and bedtime over binge-watching. So next time you're stuck at your desk, remember—living to 100 might just start with standing up.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Want to live to 100? Skip the gym, this daily habit matters more; longevity expert reveals
What if the secret to a longer, healthier life wasn't tucked away in a gym, but instead hiding in plain sight—right in your daily routine? According to leading longevity researcher Dr. Gareth Nye, a long life isn't just about clean genes or killer workouts. It's about what you do between the workouts that counts. The Surprising Power of Everyday Movement Dr. Nye, a biomedical expert, challenges the age-old belief that intense exercise is the golden ticket to longevity. Instead, he champions what he calls 'whole activity levels'—a fancy way of saying keep moving throughout the day . Sitting for hours at a desk, even if balanced with a daily gym session, may still be putting your health at risk. 'People who live longer tend to have a higher activity level in their day-to-day lives, rather than relying on structured exercise programs,' Dr. Nye explained while talking to The Mirror . 'It's about avoiding prolonged periods of sitting and making your entire day more dynamic.' This could mean taking walking breaks between tasks, using a standing desk, or even tweaking your commute to sneak in more steps. The goal? Make movement second nature. A Sitting Threat You Can't Outrun Recent studies back this idea, showing that extended periods of inactivity—regardless of how much you work out—can increase the risk of serious health conditions, including Alzheimer's. In essence, your body doesn't forgive long stretches of stillness, even if you're clocking an hour on the treadmill later. You Might Also Like: What is a 'sedentary lifestyle'? Cardiologist warns that too much sitting may be as harmful as smoking The problem with high-intensity workouts, Dr. Nye points out, is sustainability. Many people struggle to stick to them long term, while simply staying active throughout the day is a more realistic, beneficial approach. Rethink What's on Your Plate Physical movement is only part of the story. Dr. Nye emphasizes a return to natural, minimally processed foods . He warns against a diet high in saturated fats, salt, and sugar, and flags processed meats like bacon and ham as significant threats due to their link to bowel cancer. 'The less processing, the better,' he says. 'Free-range or organic meat and vegetables are ideal. The more processing involved, the more detrimental it is to the body.' Even for those on a tight schedule or budget, he recommends frozen fruits and vegetables as a practical alternative to fresh produce. 'They're just as beneficial and often easier to add into meals,' he adds. You Might Also Like: Why you keep waking up at 3 a.m.? The hidden sleep crisis millions are Googling right now Sleep: Your Nighttime Lifeline If there's one thing you can't afford to skimp on, it's sleep. According to Dr. Nye, getting less than seven hours a night increases your risk of death by 12 percent. But don't oversleep either—those regularly clocking more than eight hours face an even higher 30 percent risk. 'Regular sleep patterns are key,' he stresses. 'They help regulate the body's internal systems, which in turn can impact how long you live.' Lack of quality sleep has been linked to obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes, all of which can chip away at life expectancy. Know Thyself—And Your Family Finally, Dr. Nye underscores the role of genetics in lifespan. While only 20 to 30 percent of longevity is influenced by DNA, knowing your family history can offer crucial insight into potential health risks. Routine check-ups and, in some cases, genetic testing can help identify predispositions to certain conditions early on. 'Roughly 40 percent of life expectancy can be traced through generations,' Dr. Nye says. 'If your grandparents and parents lived long, healthy lives, you've got a better shot.' However, he cautions that genetic testing can also uncover unexpected information about family members, so it's essential to weigh the emotional and social implications. Why It Matters Now? Dr. Nye's advice lands at a time when life expectancy gains in many countries have started to plateau—or even decline. Obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and processed diets are contributing to this shift, despite years of progress in healthcare and medicine. While the latest data may be disheartening, Dr. Nye's message is clear and empowering: longevity isn't just about luck. It's about small, sustained choices—choosing stairs over the elevator, frozen veggies over fast food, and bedtime over binge-watching. So next time you're stuck at your desk, remember—living to 100 might just start with standing up.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Top longevity expert flags exercise detail that will help you live to 100 - and it doesn't involve a gym
Getting up from your desk and walking about the office, rather than intense stints at the gym, could be the key to living longer, a top longevity expert says. Dr Gareth Nye, a biomedical expert at the University of Salford, said that living to 100 isn't all down to luck and genetics. 'People who live longer tend to have a higher activity level in their day-to-day lives rather than focus on structured exercised programmes,' he told The Mirror. 'The message here is that trying to incorporate more activity throughout the day is key and avoiding prolonged periods of sitting down. 'Those in offices could switch to standing desks, for example, or look at their commute to make changes,' he suggested. The longevity expert shared this as one of four key tips to help increase your chances of living for a century. According to Dr Nye, boosting longevity is less about strenuous workouts, and more about consistently being active throughout the day, which he called 'whole activity levels'. He said those who get up and move more tend to live longer than those who lead a more sedentary lifestyle. Several studies support avoiding sedentary time to protect your health. One recent piece of research suggests that sitting or lying down for long periods of time could increase your risk of Alzheimer's, regardless of how much exercise you do. Dr Nye added: 'The issue with exercising at a high level is that consistency is often a problem…it is much better overall to work on whole activity levels'. Another one of his tips was to watch what you're putting in your body, including cutting back on alcohol, quitting smoking and avoiding foods that are high in saturated fats. 'The less processing, the better,' the longevity expert explained. 'Meat and vegetables, as free range or organic as possible, will have the least chance of impacting the body negatively. The more processing involved, the more detrimental it is to the body.' Dr Nye highlighted processed meats—such as ham and bacon that have been altered to enhance flavour or extend shelf life—as one food that could limit lifespans due to an increased risk of bowel cancer. He also advised reducing the levels of sugar and salt from your diet, due to links to cardiovascular diseases. For those struggling to get more healthy foods into their diet Dr Nye recommended opting for frozen options that can be easily added to a variety of meals. 'Frozen fruit and vegetables can be just as beneficial and often easier to add to meals to get that content in', he added. Another tip for a longer life offered by Dr Nye was to ensure you get the recommend seven to eight hours of sleep per night. 'Shorter than seven hours of sleep daily is linked to a 12 per cent increased risk of death, with those who sleep over eight hours being linked to a 30 per cent increased chance,' he said. 'It seems that having regular sleep patterns may be the key to getting the most benefit and potentially living longer', the expert added. Studies show that prolonged sleep deficiency can put people at a higher risk for conditions like obesity, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Dr Nye's final tip, knowing your family history for any conditions you should keep track of as well as attending routine health checks. According to the doctor, genetic factors, including disease risk, hormone balance and cell replacement rates, are believed to influence between 20 and 30 per cent of your lifespan. 'About 40 per cent of life expectancy is inherited among generations, meaning you are more likely to live longer if your parents and grandparents did,' he added. Genetic testing, sometimes called genomic testing—which highlights changes in genes that can cause health problems—is mainly used to diagnose rare and inherited health conditions and some cancers. It can also help couples understand the risk of passing on a health condition to their children. However, the NHS advises considering how the results could affect you and others in your family, as there is a chance that the test will provide information about your relatives that was not previously known. Dr Nye's advice comes as data suggests England' bulging waistlines have caused a significant drop in average life expectancy. After decades of progress, attempts to keep people living longer are beginning to fail, with people in England now living roughly nine months less than they did in 2011. Separate data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) earlier this year suggested that a baby boy born in the UK in 2023 could expect to live on average to 86.7 years. Girls still have a longer anticipated lifespan of 90 years, although the gap has been narrowing. As of the latest ONS data, for 2023, there are just over 16,000 centenarians—people who have lived over 100 years—living in the UK.
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Doctor warns of 'inconsistent symptoms' related to widely underdiagnosed health issue
Many people put the symptoms down to diet issues but they could have a far more serious reason It's easy to overlook stomach pain and toilet troubles as something related to diet. But one doctor warns these very symptoms could be indicators of an often-missed condition in women, which poses a significant diagnostic challenge. Dr Gareth Nye, a Biomedical Science lecturer at the University of Salford, told the Mirror that roughly one in every 10 women between 15 and 49 has endometriosis. This condition arises when tissue like that which lines the womb starts developing in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms typically include lower abdominal or back pain that worsens during menstruation, pain during intercourse and diarrhoea, on top of painful cramps, excessive menstrual bleeding and difficulty conceiving. While this can drastically impact quality of life, diagnosis times have risen to eight years and 10 months in England since 2020, according to recent figures. Dr Nye, therefore, encourages women to remain vocal about their unique symptoms in order to receive appropriate treatment. "Endometriosis develops when cells that resemble the part of the womb which sheds during menstruation (endometrium) is found in locations outside of the womb," Dr Nye explained in an exclusive interview. "This can occur in a number of places, but in 60% of cases it's found in the ovaries, leading to fertility issues. Other uncommon sites include the bowel, kidneys and lungs, leading to irregular symptoms and a very difficult diagnosis. "This tissue is found by the immune system, which thinks it's harmful to the body and acts to remove it, leading to inflammation and pain. To make matters worse, this tissue is still acting like the endometrial lining, and so, as the monthly hormonal cycles occur, you can see growth of the tissues and even bleeding, which therefore makes symptoms inconsistent and variable from month to month, even week to week." The World Health Organisation estimates that around 190 million people in the world are affected by endometriosis. Still, Dr Nye suspects the real number is far higher due to underdiagnosis and a lack of awareness. Get health warnings straight to your WhatsApp! As the world grapples with the threats of Covid-19, mpox and more, the Mirror has launched its very own Health & Wellbeing WhatsApp community where you'll get health warnings and news straight to your phone. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Discussions around menstrual issues remain largely taboo, too. A focus group study from Endometriosis UK found that 47% of the female population (aged 16-54) 'would be concerned to tell their employer they needed to take time off sick due to endometriosis'. It's also thought that many women dismiss their symptoms as unworthy of further investigation, having been told that their discomfort is merely period pain and nothing to be overly concerned about. Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK previously commented: "Myths such as 'chronic period pain is normal' or 'you must have a low pain threshold' manifesting in society, workplaces, schools, and even healthcare settings contribute to those experiencing symptoms being put off from seeking medical advice and contribute to diagnosis taking on average a shocking eight years. "The impact of delayed diagnosis on people's physical and mental health can't be overstated. If undiagnosed, the disease may progress, and negatively impact people's careers, education, relationships and all aspects of their life." Amidst such trends, Dr Nye has urged that significant 'changes in medical opinion' must occur for women to receive the correct diagnosis and treatments for endometriosis. The disease is currently incurable, but painkillers and surgeries, such as hysterectomies, are frequently recommended to help manage symptoms. "There is a big push to educate healthcare workers with regards to women's reproductive issues, which will hopefully make diagnosis more accessible and streamlined," Dr Nye said. "Women need to remain vocal about their journey to diagnosis and their unique symptoms to ensure the NHS gains a full insight into the issues at hand. "Getting in contact with charities such as Endometriosis UK can provide backing and support, but ultimately, wholescale changes in medical opinion on women's health issues need to change before we can begin to help, in addition to more funding and research into the conditions." NHS list of potential endometriosis symptoms Heavy periods where you need to change your pads or tampons every one to two hours, or you may bleed through to your clothes Severe period pain that stops you from doing everyday activities Pain when urinating or going to the toilet Pain in your lower tummy or back Pain after or during sex Extreme fatigue Low moods and anxiety Difficulty getting pregnant
