Rectal Cancer Is Rising In Millennials. Doctors Have A Theory Why.

Posted on 02/05/2026 by Boris Clair

The untimely deaths of actors Chadwick Boseman and James Van Der Beek, who both died of colorectal cancer in their 40s, have brought more awareness to the disease, which is impacting younger people at higher rates each year.

Colorectal cancer, which is the group name for colon and rectal cancer, is the leading cause of cancer deaths in adults under 50, and new research has found that rectal cancer deaths specifically are rising in adults in this age group — namely, millennials. According to NBC’s reporting, rectal cancer will be the top cause of cancer deaths in people under 50 by 2035 if the trend continues.

While rectal cancer is similar to colon cancer, the difference lies in where the cancer is located. “The rectum is considered a part of the colon … it is the end of the colon before the anus,” explained Dr. Jatin Roper, a gastroenterologist with Duke Health and associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina. “Because the tissue is biologically fairly similar, rectal cancer is often categorised with colon cancer under the name of ‘colorectal cancer.’”

“Rectal cancers are tumours that start in the rectum. They’re similar to colon tumours in many ways,” said Dr. Michael Foote, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

HuffPost spoke with doctors who pointed out the biggest warning signs of rectal cancer, along with guidance on what you can do to reduce your risk.

The most common signs of rectal cancer include bleeding and abdominal pain.

The most common symptom of rectal cancer is rectal bleeding. This red flag is particularly “much more common” in younger people with rectal cancer, Foote said. This could be blood in the stool or even maroon-coloured stools, according to Roper.

The blood can range in colour from bright red to dark red and can happen when you poop, or at random times throughout the day. The blood may appear in the poop itself or on the toilet paper when you wipe. This can cause some folks to confuse the bleeding for hemorrhoids or even menstruation.

Abdominal pain is also commonly reported. Additional symptoms include changes in bowel habits, constipation, thinner stool, fatigue and weight loss, Roper said. Anemia is also a sign of rectal cancer, he said.

Since rectal cancer happens at the end of the colon, it’s more likely that patients will experience thinner stools or blood in the stool, according to Roper.

“I think the key message is that any change in your gastrointestinal tract should not be ignored, and so any change in your GI function should be investigated by a doctor, and the most concerning signs that should prompt an investigation include any sign of blood in the stool,” Roper said.

In some people, though, rectal cancer has no symptoms, Roper said, which makes regular colorectal screenings even more crucial.

Rates of rectal cancer deaths are rising in younger adults.

Rectal cancer rates are currently rising in younger adults in their 30s and 40s.

Recent research published by the American Cancer Society shows that while colorectal cancer rates are declining in people 65 and older, rates are increasing in younger adults.

“We know that young people getting cancer, most of it’s on either the left side of the colon or especially in the rectum,” Foote said.

“The rate of rectal cancer is rising more quickly than the rate of colon cancer. We don’t know why,” Roper said. Historically, colon and rectal cancer were considered diseases of older individuals, according to Roper, but “it is now recognised that rates of colon and rectal cancer are rising dramatically in younger people. Such that it is unfortunately becoming common to diagnose cancers in individuals under the age of 50.”

Foote stressed that colon and rectal cancer are still overall rare in younger adults. However, cases are increasing more steeply in younger generations, Roper explained. The rate of rectal cancer in people born in 2001 (Gen Z) is higher than for millennials born in 1991, which is, in turn, higher than for the oldest millennials, born in 1981.

“Even in a recent report at a conference that looked at rates of colorectal cancer in teenagers ― very young individuals ― while the absolute numbers are quite low, the rate of rise is just remarkable,” Roper said.

Research shows that the rates of colorectal cancer in adults under 50 has increased by 63% since 1988, according to Foote. Eight out of 100,000 adults under 50 had colorectal cancer in 1988, and now that number is 13 out of 100,000.

While the overall numbers seem low, the increase is concerning “because it raises the possibility that there’s something in our environment or in our diet that we haven’t pinpointed that is increasing this risk in people that are younger, and until we identify what that is, it’ll be very hard to address it,” Roper said.

While research is ongoing, there are a few things experts think could be behind the increase in rectal cancer rates.

Obesity is a risk factor for colorectal cancer in both younger adults and older adults, both experts told HuffPost. “But, most of the people that have young onset colorectal cancer are not obese,” Foote said. Diabetes is also a risk factor, Foote added, but most younger people with colorectal cancer are also not diabetic.

“The rise in colorectal cancer in younger people started sometime between probably 1950 and 1990 … and [rates have] been increasing at a greater rate since,” Foote said.

It’s thought that something changed in our environment during that time; experts don’t believe the rate increase is simply because people are being screened more.

“It’s associated with a Western diet … high animal fat, high carbohydrates, relatively lower vegetables, red and processed meat, and … refined grains and processed sugars,” Foote said.

According to Foote, from 1950 to 1990, our food landscape changed. Fast food popped up across the country, preservatives became more plentiful and even plastic food containers ― which contain microplastics ― became commonplace.

“Other possible causes can include changes in the gut microbiome, or the bacteria that live in our intestinal tract,” Roper suggested. “That microbiome can be changing due to changes in our dietary habits in the last few decades or change in exercise habits. It’s a little bit unclear.”

There are steps you can take to lower your rectal cancer risk.

While there is no one way to totally erase your risk of developing rectal cancer, there are actions you can do to reduce your risk. First, it’s important to get your routine colonoscopy or a stool-based test, which both screen for colon cancer and rectal cancer.

For people at average risk, these start at age 45. “If the 45th birthday is coming up, plan one year in advance to get scheduled for one of these tests with the doctor,” Roper suggested.

For folks who can’t make time for a colonoscopy or don’t have someone to pick them up after the procedure, stool-based tests such as Cologuard and faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are good options.

“And a positive FIT test or a positive Cologuard test means that you should get a colonoscopy to follow up to investigate that positive test,” Roper explained.

Those with a first-degree family history of colon or rectal cancer (a parent or sibling who had it) may be eligible to get a screening test before 45.

Beyond screenings, Roper recommended following a Mediterranean diet, which is low in animal fats, especially red meat, and high in soluble fibres such as many types of beans, veggies, fruits, seeds and whole grains.

“Try to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages,” Foote suggested. It’s also a good idea to limit your alcohol consumption.

“People are trying to avoid plastic containers more — I think that’s not such a bad idea,” Foot said, who added the caveat that data linking microplastics to colorectal cancer is not as clear.

“If you do have obesity or diabetes, think about trying medications or trying a lifestyle change to reduce your risk there as well,” Foote said. “And then talk to your doctor, get established with a primary care doctor early. A lot of young people don’t have access to primary care. They don’t prioritise it.”

Having a doctor you regularly check in with and who knows your personal history is an important way to manage your health. Don’t ignore symptoms of rectal cancer symptoms, either.

“I think this is a change in how the medical community looks at these symptoms over the last …10 to 20 years, because the incidence of rectal and colon cancers [is] rising so dramatically in younger people,” Roper said, before adding that the symptoms mentioned above deserve investigation but aren’t always signs of rectal cancer.

“If you’re having symptoms, don’t just sit on them,” Foote said. And if your doctor doesn’t take your symptoms seriously, don’t be afraid to escalate the problem.

Conscious Growth Club Year 10 Is Open

Posted on 25/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Conscious Growth Club Year 10 is now open for enrollment.

CGC is our private, growth-oriented community for people who want more honesty, courage, support, connection, and meaningful forward movement in their lives – not as some kind of self-improvement grind, but as a richer way to live.

We’re beginning our 10th CGC year on May 1st, and you’re warmly invited to join us.

If you’ve been craving a more grounded and supportive space for your personal growth journey, this may be a very good year to come in.

CGC is especially for people who want to keep growing, but who don’t want to do it alone or only through passive learning. It’s a live, interactive, human space where members bring real life into the room – goals, transitions, stuck points, creative projects, relationship challenges, lifestyle shifts, health intentions, business questions, emotional patterns, and those strange “I know something needs to change, but I don’t know what yet” moments.

That kind of growth is much easier when you have a room of thoughtful, caring, self-aware people to explore with.

A lot of people try to navigate their growth with too much isolation. They read books, watch videos, journal, think, plan, and chat with AI now and then. Those can all be useful, but at some point the inner work often needs a real human relational space to deepen and advance.

It helps to be seen and acknowledged by like-hearted people.

It helps to hear how other people are navigating similar challenges.

It helps to share what’s really going on without having to polish it first.

It helps to be welcomed and received as a vibrant member of a rich social community.

It helps to be in a space where growth is normal – where people aren’t shocked that you’re rethinking your work, your relationships, your habits, your identity, your emotional patterns, your lifestyle, or your whole relationship with life.

That’s a big part of what CGC provides. What’s unusual in the outside world – conscious growth – is totally normal in our space.

CGC is not a therapy group. It’s not a social media group. It’s not a pile of static content. It’s a live community and growth environment with a strong emphasis on participation, connection, honesty, and practical support.

During Year 10, we’ll have several dozen live Zoom calls together, mostly around 90 minutes each. These calls are designed to help members reflect, connect, get unstuck, clarify intentions, share progress, explore meaningful questions, and keep translating insight into real-life movement.

We’ll also continue using our private member forums and CGC portal, so you can stay connected between calls, access courses and resources, and participate at your own pace.

What I especially love about CGC is the range of what members bring into the space. One person may be navigating a career transition. Another may be working on health or fitness. Someone else may be deepening their relationship life, exploring a creative project, or trying to bring more courage and truth into their daily decisions.

The common thread is not that everyone has the same goals.

The common thread is willingness.

Willingness to tell the truth.

Willingness to keep growing.

Willingness to participate.

Willingness to be seen.

Willingness to support others while also receiving support.

That makes a big difference.

CGC tends to work best for people who already have some self-development experience and who are ready for a more interactive, higher-trust environment. You don’t need to be perfect, polished, or constantly productive. You don’t need to have your whole life figured out. But you do need to be willing to show up honestly and engage with the room.

This year we’re making CGC feel even more practical, relational, and alive – with more emphasis on translating meaningful intentions into daily life. More real support. More personalized engagement. More warmth. More meaningful connection. More growth that actually impacts daily life and results.

If that sounds good to you, please take a look at the invitation page here:

Join Conscious Growth Club Year 10

Enrollment is open now and closes May 7th at 11:59 PM Pacific time.

CGC Year 10 officially begins May 1st and runs through April 30, 2027. When you join, you’ll get access right away, so you can begin exploring the member portal and community space before the new CGC year begins.

The price is $3333 for new members and for returning past members.

If you’re a renewing member, your renewal price is $1111.

If you feel a clear yes, I’d love to welcome you into the room for Year 10.

And if you read the invitation page and sense that it’s not your space, that’s perfectly okay too. CGC is intentionally not for everyone. It works best when people self-select honestly. That honest self-selection has worked really well for us, helping to create a community of members who want the full, rich, consciously engaged experience.

If some part of you has been wanting a more alive, honest, supportive growth environment – a place where you can keep evolving with thoughtful people who actually care – then I encourage you to listen to that signal.

This is a beautiful year to join us.

Wall Planks May Be The Best Exercise For Blood Pressure

Posted on 18/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Regular exercise can help to manage blood pressure, because it makes our hearts stronger.

But according to a huge 2023 study, which looked at 270 trials from 1990-2023, “isometric” exercises might be the most effective at the job, with “wall sits” the best performer among these.

Researchers found that isometric exercise was more likely, on average, to lower blood pressure than aerobic exercise training, dynamic resistance training, combined training, and high-intensity interval training, though all forms were still immensely helpful.

What is isometric exercise?

It involves keeping your body still while you tense specific muscles for a set period of time. You don’t move your joints during the movement.

“Isometric exercise” is sometimes called “static” exercise.

It is the opposite of “dynamic,” or “isotonic” exercise, which involves little load and consistent pressure on various muscles. For example, running and swimming.

Most forms of exercise involve a combination of isometric and isotonic exercise, though some are 100% one or the other.

What are some examples of isometric exercises?

These include:

Wall sits
Planks
Glute bridges
Side planks
V-holds
Calf raises
Hollow holds
Copenhagen planks.

In the 2023 study we mentioned earlier, published in the BMJ, wall sits (placing your back against a wall with your thighs parallel to the ground) were the most effective of the isometric exercises for lowering blood pressure.

Does that mean I should only do isometric exercises?

The best approach to exercise seems to be a mixture of weight training and aerobic training. This has been linked to increased longevity compared to sticking to one or the other.

Speaking to the British Heart Foundation, senior cardiac nurse, Joanne Whitmore, said: “Exercise is good for your heart health and health in general. It can reduce the risk of heart and circulatory diseases by up to a third.

“Aerobic exercise in particular can help the heart and circulatory system work better through lowering blood pressure. Current guidelines also encourage muscle-strengthening exercises, like yoga or Pilates.

“It’s encouraging to see other forms of exercise explored in this research as we know that those who take on exercise they enjoy, tend to carry on for longer, which is key in maintaining lower blood pressure.

“However, there are other lifestyle choices that can benefit your blood pressure. These include keeping to a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, cutting down on salt, not drinking too much alcohol and taking any prescribed medication”.

Speak to your doctor if you have a heart condition and want to take up new exercise, she added.

Wearing Headphones Every Day Isn’t Bad For Your Ears — But This Common Habit Might Be

Posted on 15/04/2026 by Boris Clair

If you peek outside, it’s pretty likely you’ll see several people running errands with a pair of headphones on. In our digital-first world, many of us use headphones all day long at work, on our commute and even at home when we’re cleaning or exercising.

Headphones are a convenient (and polite) way to listen to music, videos or calls in public. But does the direct sound exposure impact your ears and hearing any differently than other sound sources? Are headphones more damaging to your ear health?

Below, experts share what you should know about safe headphone use.

Listening to music or calls through headphones is no different than listening via a speaker.

Our ears don’t know where sound is coming from, said Catherine V. Palmer, an audiologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Sound can be damaging whether it’s coming from car speakers, living room speakers or headphones, she added.

“One is not more dangerous than another,” Palmer said.

There’s noise around you all the time, said Dr. Kenny Lin, an otolaryngologist at Houston Methodist, and headphones don’t pose a specific danger.

“It’s just the volume at which and the duration over which you are listening to music or phone calls or whatever the case might be,” Lin said. “As long as you’re using your headphones at a reasonable volume, it is no different than listening to music from the speaker or listening to the TV.”

Headphones can be more dangerous to your ears in specific situations, though.

“The one area where a headphone can be potentially riskier is that you place the sound source right up to the ear,” Lin noted.

If you mistakenly left the volume up very high on Spotify, for example, and then plug in your headphones, “the impact of that on your ear could be potentially higher just because of where it’s placed, closer to the ear in its first place,” Lin said.

According to Anna Bixler, an audiologist and the amplification and tinnitus program manager at Jefferson Balance and Hearing Center in Philadelphia, people can also run into problems if there is a lot of sound going on around them.

“That’s really where I see people get themselves into hot water with their streaming level, because when we’re in quiet, we tend to keep it to a pretty minimal volume … when we get on a train or when we’re running outside, and there’s a lot of noise around … that’s when we have a tendency to kick up the volume to compete with external signal,” Bixler said.

There is one simple way to combat this, though: Bixler recommends that folks turn on noise cancellation if it’s available on their headphones.

“That really, really helps a lot of people to keep their streaming volume to a much more minimal level,” Bixler added.

If you aren’t competing with external noise, you won’t be tempted to increase your volume, she said.

Listening to music or calls through headphones is no more damaging than listening through a computer speaker, according to experts.

That said, sound-induced hearing loss is the most common type of hearing loss.

“The most common cause of hearing loss in adults is [sound-induced] hearing loss,” Palmer said.

But not all sounds are created equal. “‘Dose’ predicts whether sound will damage an individual’s hearing,” Palmer said. “Dose is the combination of how loud a sound is and how long you are exposed to it.”

“The louder the sound is and the longer the exposure, the more likely that there will be damage,” Palmer continued, noting that this hearing loss is permanent.

Prolonged loud sound exposure can also cause tinnitus or ringing in the ears, in addition to hearing loss, according to Lin.

So, what noise level is best?

According to the National Institutes of Health, you’re likely safe from hearing damage if you’re around sounds that are 70 decibels or less; 70 decibels is roughly equivalent to a conversation or the sound of a washing machine.

In workplaces, people exposed to noise at 85 decibels or above are advised to wear hearing protection.

How can you tell what decibel level your music and calls come in at? Many phones and smartwatches tell you when your volume is at an unsafe level. There are also apps and websites that help measure noise levels.

But the most reliable way to understand the volume of your music is by visiting an audiologist, Bixler noted.

“We can’t always just trust our ear to know what’s a safe level [of sound],” Bixler said.

An audiologist can help measure the level of sound that’s being played out of your headphones.

“We can measure the level of the sound in the ear canal,” Bixler said. “I’ve had a number of patients in more recent years actually come in to see me and have this procedure done so we know where to set safe [limits].”

Most devices you’re streaming sound from have parental locks you can set for yourself so your sound doesn’t go above a certain level, Bixler added. “I think the best thing that most people can do is take a look at any streaming device they’re using and set a nice limit for themselves.”

You won’t notice hearing loss right away, but ringing in the ears and a feeling of fullness in the ears are signs that you should see a doctor.

It’s not like listening to too-loud music will cause you immediate and noticeable hearing loss. Instead, “sound-induced hearing loss is gradual,” Palmer said.

There are signs of hearing loss you should know about, including a feeling of fullness in the ears, ringing in the ears, and, of course, diminished hearing. “These are all signs of noise-induced hearing loss, and you should manage your exposure as well as seek a baseline hearing test from an audiologist,” Palmer said.

An audiologist can help you reduce your noise exposure and also take steps to protect your hearing throughout your life.

“You want to be preemptive in thinking about your dose of sound over time,” Palmer said.

While listening to music or taking calls on headphones isn’t any more damaging than doing so through a computer or kitchen speaker, any sound exposure that’s too loud or too long can be harmful.

Scientists Think They’ve Found A Way To Stop Ageing ‘Zombie Cells’

Posted on 02/04/2026 by Boris Clair

As we age, our bodies lose some resilience, which can lead to less movement throughout the day and an increased risk of facing multiple chronic diseases at once (multimorbidity).

This happens partly because senescent cells, sometimes called “zombie” cells, stop dividing and build up. They secrete “proinflammatory molecules that contribute to chronic inflammation and ageing-related diseases”.

A process called senolysis usually clears these away, but as we get older, that cleaning system becomes less efficient.

But scientists from the University of Kyoto think they’ve found a way to slow or stop the production of these “zombie cells”.

How did the researchers stop “zombie cells” from building up?

Though we knew that “zombie cells” seemed to create inflammation that affected nearby cells, scientists weren’t sure about how this went on to affect someone’s body.

These researchers looked closer at the senescent cells themselves and found they heavily relied on glycolysis (using sugar for energy), a process which is also involved in the spreading of cancer cells.

Using bioluminescence to help see what was going on in the cell better, scientists found that two enzymes were crucial to glycolysis in “zombie cells”. Their binding was increased in sensecent cells.

So, when they were able to interrupt that key interaction, researchers could selectively “delete” zombie cells.

In mice, the change was linked to reduced lung fibrosis.

They also found that when this activity was diminished, a protein that triggers cell death was suppressed too.

What might this mean?

The study authors hope this might help to maintain resilience in older age.

That way, it’s hoped, the risk of multimorbidity might go down.

This study’s corresponding author, Hiroshi Kondoh, said: “Our findings in glycolytic regulation suggest that impaired metabolic resilience in ageing is one of the targets for senotherapy, to aid in preservation of resilience in ageing.”

All The Health Benefits Linked To A Cup Of Rooibos Tea

Posted on 01/04/2026 by Boris Clair

Mint tea may have benefits for our digestive system, while passionflower tea can help us sleep.

And there’s some evidence to suggest that rooibos tea, a South African variety made from the fermented leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub, can help with everything from reducing inflammation to controlling blood sugar and boosting our gut health.

Green rooibos is made from the same leaves, but they’re unfermented.

Here are some of the potential health benefits of the caffeine-free tea:

1) It’s brimming with antioxidants

Green rooibos tea is the only source of aspalathin (which helps to maintain cell health), and it’s high in other antioxidants, like quercetin (potentially anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine, and immune-boosting), too.

Antioxidants help to protect our DNA from harmful free radicals. They may also assist in protecting against chronic illness, heart disease, and cancer.

A 2023 review found that drinking rooibos tea seemed to be linked to higher antioxidant levels in our bodies.

2) It could be good for our gut health

According to a 2024 paper, green rooibos tea appears to help to keep our guts moving.

It could also help the integrity of a single-cell gut layer, which helps us to absorb nutrients and keeps toxins and disease out.

3) It could help to manage inflammation

Inflammation isn’t always a bad thing. We need it to build muscle and recover from some illnesses.

But when inflammation becomes chronic and happens when the body doesn’t need it, it can lead to “inflammaging”. That can “contribute to conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and frailty,” GP Dr Suzanne Wylie previously told HuffPost UK.

A 2021 paper said that rooibos tea might help to limit the growth of angiotensin converting enzymes (ACEs), linked to inflammation and high blood pressure.

4) It may help to manage blood sugar

Remember the rooibos tea-specific aspalathin we mentioned earlier? A 2023 paper suggested that it could help to explain why rooibos tea seemed to help control blood sugar levels in both healthy and at-risk individuals.

Still, more research is needed to work out how, why, and to what extent that’s true.

If You Need Running Motivation, Here Are Eight Of Its Greatest Benefits

Posted on 30/03/2026 by Boris Clair

About six and a half million adults in the UK were regular runners from 2023-24, or just over 9% of the population.

Still, not everyone sticks to it. In one paper, 11% of people who said they wanted to run a marathon quit the sport entirely before they got close to the start line.

But you don’t need to break records to see the health benefits of running. Here, we thought we’d share some of the (many) advantages of the sport – just in case you needed a little extra motivation.

1) It may be beneficial for your joints

You might have grown up hearing that running wrecks your knees (I did). But a systematic review of 17 studies found that “In the short term, running is not associated with worsening [patient-reported outcomes] or radiological signs of knee [osteoarthritis] and may be protective against generalised knee pain.”

2) It can boost your mood

A review of over 100 studies concluded that running appeared to have “important positive implications for mental health, particularly depression and anxiety disorders”.

And another paper found that a single 10-minute run can help to boost participants’ mood and even executive function.

3) It could help you live longer

More proof that small efforts are far better than nothing in a 2015 paper, researchers noted that five to 10 minutes of running a day and/or running slower than 9.6km/hour was linked to a lower risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

4) It’s really, really good for your heart

Running is a cardio workout, so perhaps it’s no wonder it’s so good for our hearts. It’s linked to lower cholesterol, better blood pressure, and a decreased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, like heart attacks or strokes.

5) It can strengthen your bones

Scientists found that marathon runners’ bones may be denser than those of their non-running counterparts.

6) It’s a great way to get a good night’s sleep

Exercise, especially exercise with outdoor light exposure (e.g. running in your local park) is linked to better sleep quality and improved sleep habits.

7) It can make your legs stronger

Like walking, running can help to build your leg strength. But it can plateau after a while, which is why it’s important to mix in some strength training.

8) Your endurance will improve

Running trains the heart and lungs, meaning you’ll be able to exercise harder, for longer, once you get into the habit.

What about the downsides?

While running is good for us, there are some downsides.

A 2020 paper found that injury rates were about 20% among runners, especially those with weaker hips. The risk is higher for new runners.

Strength training, including that which targets the hamstrings, knee-stabilising methods, hips, and glutes, can reduce your likelihood of getting injured.

Like HIIT, overdoing running can lead to insomnia. About a third of all runners are believed to suffer some form of overtraining syndrome.

If you notice mood changes, fatigue, poor sleep, and getting sick more often, get more rest and let your running shoes breathe for a while.

Remember that running three days a week is enough to lower your risk of early death by 40%, and that five to 10 minutes of running does a lot of good.

The Reason(s) You Always Fall Asleep When You’re Watching TV Or A Movie

Posted on 28/03/2026 by Boris Clair

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably drifted off to sleep as soon as you put on a movie or show at night.

It’s a common occurrence – you sit down with your partner to finally watch the season finale of the show everyone is talking about, only to fall asleep, jolt awake, pretend you didn’t fall asleep and keep on watching until you fall asleep again.

Sleep experts told HuffPost there are many reasons this happens, and some are more concerning than others. Here’s what to know:

When you’re watching TV or movies at night, you’re often in a good sleep environment.

“There’s a couple of environmental factors to the fact of watching TV, watching a movie that promotes sleepiness,” said Dr. Neal Walia, a sleep specialist at UCLA Health in California. “When you wake up in the morning, you develop something called a sleep drive, which is how much your body wants to sleep.”

As you go about your day, your sleep drive goes up before peaking at bedtime, he explained. “And that drive is what gets you into sleep and carries you to sleep,” Walia noted.

“Usually, people are watching movies and TV in the evening after a long workday. This is when their sleep drive is at the highest,” he said. So your body naturally wants to sleep at this time.

“And then sometimes it’s just a lack of stimulation,” said Dr. Molly Atwood, the director of clinical training in the behavioural sleep medicine program at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore.

If you find yourself feeling tired throughout the day, you may notice that your fatigue disappears when you interact with something, whether that’s scrolling on your phone or getting up to make dinner.

Why? “Your body has a system of overcoming whatever sleepiness you have with stimuli,” according to Walia. And watching TV and or a movie is, generally, a low-stimuli activity, he noted. TikTok or even a task like folding laundry are more high-stimuli.

“If you’re lying down, it is dark – so your body’s kind of getting that signal that it’s nighttime and if the movie is not very stimulating or boring, it might be a lot easier, too, for any sleepiness that is there to take over,” Atwood added.

“Another big thing is that, especially patients with insomnia, a lot of times what they’ll say to me is ‘I just can’t turn my brain off.’ And most of our day, our attention is preoccupied by something – probably a screen, most likely – but something is taking our attention away,” Walia said.

We don’t often just sit with our thoughts. That is, until we drift off to sleep at the end of the day. And if you’re stressed about work or anxious about money, sitting with your thoughts can make it difficult to fall asleep.

“But if you’re watching something like a show, you’re not really in your own head for the most part,” Walia said. Your attention is drawn to the show or movie you’re watching, not the taxes you still need to do. This encourages your body to drift off to sleep.

Morning people are more likely to fall asleep while watching TV at night.

Your body’s natural circadian rhythm can play a role in whether you’re prone to falling asleep on the couch or not.

“In some circumstances, if you’re more of a morning person, your body naturally makes you alert early in the morning and it shuts down alertness early at night,” Atwood said.

Folks in this group are just naturally more tired at night. For morning people, their body is giving them signals that it’s time for bed, which makes it more likely that they’ll drift off while watching TV.

It’s also more common if you re-watch shows.

Many people turn on their comfort shows after a long day. And according to Atwood, it’s more likely that you’ll fall asleep during a show you’ve seen several times.

“Our nervous systems are super calm and comforted, versus like an action movie or a horror movie,” Atwood said.

You also don’t have to pay much attention to the show to know what’s going on, which allows your body to drift off easily, too.

If you regularly fall asleep during a movie or TV show and are getting enough sleep at night, it's worth talking to a doctor. — If you regularly fall asleep during a movie or TV show and are getting enough sleep at night, it’s worth talking to a doctor.

Most people are also sleep-deprived, which makes it easy to fall asleep while watching TV.

“A lot of our population is sleep deprived,” said Walia, who explained that most people aren’t getting the seven to nine hours of sleep they need each night.

Everyone has different individual sleep needs. But no matter how much sleep your body requires, most folks aren’t getting it.

Because of busy days, family demands and high-stress jobs, you may not even notice you’re sleepy until you’re interacting with something that’s low-stimuli, like a movie. This is when your sleep deprivation can catch up with you and cause you to fall asleep.

Even people who sleep the recommended seven to nine hours a night may not be getting good quality sleep, which can also result in sleepiness on the couch.

“There’s many people out there with untreated or under-treated sleep disorders that disrupt the quality of sleep,” Walia said, adding that sleep apnea is one example of this.

If you fall asleep during a movie once in a while, there isn’t much cause for concern ― but if this is a regular habit, it’s worth evaluating your sleep.

It’s understandable if you fall asleep on the couch after a busy day of travel or after a late night out, but if you’re falling asleep in front of the TV frequently, you should take notice.

“If you’re sitting upright, the lights are on, it’s an engaging movie … and you still can’t keep yourself awake, that might be more of like, ‘OK, I should reevaluate how much sleep I’m getting overall,’” Atwood said.

If you think you’re getting enough sleep but still falling asleep during engaging shows and movies, it’s worth talking to a sleep specialist, she added. A professional can help test you for underlying conditions that could disrupt your sleep.

Being able to stay awake during movies and TV shows at night could be a sign of good sleep health.

If you can usually stay awake while watching TV or movies at night, it’s “probably a good indication that [you’re] not sleep deprived or they’re not having disruptions in their sleep,” Walia said.

This nighttime energy reflects relatively good sleep health, he added.

Some sleep disorders can keep people from napping or falling asleep during shows and movies, but, overall, if you are getting enough high-quality sleep, you likely have good sleep health, he said.

Five Gut-Healthy Foods The BHF Warns May Be Bad For Your Heart

Posted on 27/03/2026 by Boris Clair

Probiotic and fibre-rich foods are great for our guts (which, it turns out, influence a lot of our overall health).

But the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have warned that not all of these are as kind to our hearts, even though happier guts usually mean better cardiovascular health.

BHF nutrition lead Tracy Parker said that though, “We encourage everyone to choose foods that can keep their gut microbiome healthy… A lot of these products can contain high levels of salt or sugar.”

Here are five foods they warn to “watch out for”:

1) Kimchi

The fermented cabbage dish is great for our gut microbiomes. It’s packed with probiotics, and it may make your digestive tract an unwelcome space for “bad” gut bacteria.

But, the BHF said, “traditional kimchi is often made with a lot of salt, so it can raise blood pressure if eaten frequently or in large quantities. High blood pressure is known to increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke”.

They advise trying smaller portions or lower-salt versions.

2) Kombucha

The jury’s still out on whether kombucha, a fermented tea, definitely benefits your gut health, though the BHF says it “can be a healthier alternative to sugary or fizzy drinks and has become a popular choice for people looking to introduce fermented products into their daily routine”.

But, they add, “many commercial kombucha products contain added sugars. Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which in turn can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke or other cardiovascular disease.”

Stick to kinds with “no added sugar” written on the label if you can.

3) Fruit yoghurt

Plain yoghurt contains live bacteria that could benefit the gut, and it’s also high in calcium, which is linked to a lower risk of bowel cancer.

But flavoured, sweetened, and “fruit” yoghurts often “contain added sugars and may have fewer live cultures than plain versions,” the BHF cautioned.

They reccomend choosing plain yoghurt with “live and active cultures” on the label to “ensure you are buying a low sugar option that is good for your gut”.

If you like, you can add fresh fruit at home.

4) Smoothies

“Smoothies made with whole fruits provide prebiotic fibre that feeds the beneficial gut bacteria and supports digestive health,” the BHF said.

But a mere 150ml counts as one of your five a day, and many of us are drinking more than that.

Additionally, “blending breaks down the structure of fruit, releasing ‘free sugars’ that behave like added sugars in the body and cause faster rises in blood sugar levels,” they shared.

“Regularly consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney disease.”

Stick to recommended portion sizes and consider adding nuts, which provide protein and fibre that may help to control the impact of the sugars.

5) Sauerkraut

Like kimchi, this fermented cabbage dish can also be high in probiotics.

But it also often runs a little salty, the BHF said, “which may be a concern for anyone watching their blood pressure. Some shop-bought versions are also pasteurised, which removes most of the live bacteria”.

Try “checking the label and eating small portions,” as well as looking for “raw” sauerkraut or those described as containing “live cutlures”.

Five Habits A GP Says Separates People Who Age Well From Those Who Don’t

Posted on 25/03/2026 by Boris Clair

It turns out that tiny changes – minutes more exercise, a few grams more veggies – can make a surprisingly large difference to your longevity and heart attack risk.

And Dr Dominic Greenyer, a private GP at The Health Suite, said that those lifestyle changes become medically obvious in time.

“If you followed two twins over time, you would often see clear differences in their skin, body composition, energy levels and overall health depending on how they live,” Dr Greenyer said.

“Ageing is not just about time passing. It’s about how well the body is maintained.”

Here, he shared the five factors he feels make all the difference:

1) Building and maintaining muscle

As we age, our muscles begin to wane – a process called sarcopenia. If we do nothing to maintain or build it, some research says we’re expected to lose half our muscle mass by 80.

“One of the biggest predictors of healthy ageing is muscle mass,” Dr Greenyer said.

2) Prioritising sleep and recovery

“Chronic poor sleep can accelerate ageing at a cellular level,” Dr Greenyer said.

“It affects hormones, recovery, inflammation and even visible signs like skin quality.”

Experts think that following a “7-1” sleeping rule (getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, with no more than an hour’s variance between bedtimes and wake-up times) could add years to your life.

3) Reducing inflammation through lifestyle choices

In and of itself, inflammation isn’t a problem – it can help our bodies to heal and may be an important part of muscle growth.

But “inflammaging” can occur when inflammation is chronic, and might contribute to conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and frailty.

It “is influenced by diet, stress, alcohol intake and overall lifestyle,” Dr Greenyer said.

Those who eat whole foods, stay active, and manage stress well may have less unwanted inflammation, he added.

4) Enjoy life, in moderation

There’s lots of research to support the idea that enjoying ourselves – be it through socialising or even eating some candy – might help us to live longer.

“There is good evidence that polyphenol-rich foods such as dark chocolate can support cardiovascular health when consumed in moderation,” Dr Greenyer added. “Just as important is maintaining strong social connections, which are consistently associated with longer lifespan and better mental wellbeing.”

He ended, “The difference comes from small choices repeated over years – but they should still allow you to enjoy life.”