These May Be The Best (And Worst) Bedtimes For Heart Health

Posted on 15/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Turns out that while some of us have different “chronotypes,” or natural predispositions towards being either night owls or early birds, some research suggests we should all try to nod off before a certain point anyway.

“To age healthily, individuals should start sleeping before 1am, despite chronobiological preferences,” the 2024 paper read.

And a 2021 study published in the European Heart Journal suggested there’s a “golden hour” bedtime for heart health too.

The cohort study, which looked at 88,000 UK Biobank participants who were aged between 43 and 74, monitored participants’ sleep for a week before monitoring their heart health status over an average of 5.7 years.

They found that those who fell asleep between 10-11pm seemed the least likely to develop heart issues in that time.

What may be the best and worst sleep times for heart health?

Those who fell asleep between 11pm and midnight were 12% more likely to develop heart health and circulatory issues during the study.

For those who fell asleep after midnight, that rose to 25%. Those who kipped before 10pm had a 24% increased likelihood of developing heart health issues, too, though the number of people who had this earlier bedtime was small in the study.

And as we shared, 10-11pm seemed to be the bedtime linked to the lowest risk.

Women seemed to be more affected by the discrepancies than men, too.

This, however, was only an observational study. That means that the scientists couldn’t prove that differences in bedtime definitely caused the changes in heart health outcomes – it only showed an association, or link, between the two.

But they did posit that those who fall asleep after midnight might be less likely to see morning light, which we know can help to regulate our body clock.

So, should I definitely go to bed around 10-11pm?

According to Harvard Health, “nontraditional sleep times may disrupt the body’s 24-hour internal clock, or circadian rhythm, which plays a key role in regulating physical functioning”.

And Regina Giblin, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said, “This large study suggests that going to sleep between 10 and 11pm could be the sweet spot for most people to keep their heart healthy long-term.

“Getting enough sleep is important for our general wellbeing as well as our heart and circulatory health, and most adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night.”

But, both warn, this study can’t prove that bedtime itself is definitely the cause of heart issues.

“More research is needed into sleep timing and duration as a risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases,” Giblin said.

Sleep is not the only factor that can impact heart health either, she added.

“It’s also important to look at your lifestyle… knowing your numbers such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly, cutting down on salt and alcohol intake, and eating a balanced diet can also help to keep your heart healthy.”

I Asked 2 Doctors How To ‘Boost’ Your Immune System, And They Both Said The Same Thing

Posted on 11/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Though the NHS recommends most adults consider taking vitamin D until around March as daylight hours shrink, the service also noted: “There’s little evidence that supplements such as vitamin C, echinacea or garlic prevent colds or help you get better more quickly.”

That’s not to say that eating a balanced diet, including getting enough vitamin C, isn’t key to supporting your immune system: it is.

It’s just unlikely to provide the short-term “boost” many people who begin taking the supplement in autumn hope it will.

So what does help to build a strong immune system? I asked two doctors whose answers had a surprising amount in common.

Ditch the idea of short-term immune “boosts”

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Crystal Wyllie at Asda Online Doctor said there’s no one-stop, quick-fix way to “supercharge” your immune system.

And Dr Hussain Ahmad, a hospital doctor, said: “I don’t really like the word boost when we talk about the immune system. It gives the idea that you can switch it on or make it stronger with tablets or drinks, but that’s not how it works… taking lots of vitamin C or other supplements doesn’t make it work any better for most people.”

Instead, Dr Wyllie said: “The easiest way to help boost your immune system is to choose a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet high in fruit and vegetables, and exercising regularly are all natural steps you can take to help your immune system function normally.”

However, though all doctors recommended doing what Dr Ahmad called “simple stuff” over a long period of time, Dr Wyllie said that some changes really can make a significant change.

“Quitting smoking is hugely beneficial for your overall health, but also helps the health of your immune system,” she revealed.

That’s partly because “your adaptive immune system, the part responsible for remembering and responding to threats, can be negatively impacted by smoking,” she said.

“It can take years for your immune system to recover after quitting smoking, so the sooner you decide to stop, the better.”

Additionally, you might be surprised by how much changing your pace of life helps. “Stress and tiredness can make you more likely to catch things, so slowing down when you can really helps,” Dr Ahmad advised.

Are there any genuine “immune boosts”?

Yes(ish). There is one exception to the “slow-burn, lifestyle change” rule: vaccines.

These “are the only proven ways to prepare your immune system for specific infections,” Dr Ahmad advised.

And Dr Wyllie shared “It is much safer and easier for your immune system to build its defences through vaccinations than by catching the disease”.

This is not to say that nobody should take supplements or that they’re useless – this is not the case, especially if you have nutrient deficiencies.

But, as Dr Ahmad put it, the best place for most of us to start is by trying our best to “eat proper meals with some fruit and veg in there, move your body every day, and make sure you’re getting enough rest”.

That, along with keeping up with any vaccines we’re eligible for, is as close to an “immune system boost” as we’re likely to get.

4 Symptoms A Cardiologist Would Never, Ever Ignore

Posted on 07/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Though you might think extreme fatigue, regular headaches, and even unintentional weight loss are nothing out of the ordinary, both a GP and a cancer doctor have previously told HuffPost UK they could signal deeper health issues.

They can reveal everything from anaemia to more serious conditions. The key is to get them checked out to be on the safe side, the experts advised.

And now, cardiologist and scientist Dr Ernst von Schwarz has shared the four signs he’d always see a doctor about, no matter how innocuous you might believe them to be.

These are:

1) Pressure in your chest

“Chest pressure or pain is always suspicious of a lack of oxygen in the heart,” the doctor told us.

Per the NHS, sudden pressure, “squeezing”, or even burning sensations in your chest are worth calling 999 over as they could be a sign of a heart attack.

Even if the pressure or pain comes and goes rather than arriving suddenly, you should still speak to your GP.

2) Shortness of breath when you’re not being active

It’s normal for your breathing to get a little heavy after a jog or in your spin class. But if your breath is laboured when you’re sitting down or doing minimal movement, Dr von Schwartz said that could be a red flag.

“Shortness of breath can have a multitude of causes, from heart failure to ischemia to pulmonary issues such as asthma, COPD or pneumonia, vascular issues such as pulmonary emboli, [or] intoxication, anxiety, and panic attacks, among others,” he shared.

3) Fainting

This is always worth getting checked out, the cardiologist told us.

Also known as “syncopes”, fainting can be caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure, especially in young women, he said.

It can also be “a result of orthostatic dysregulation [low blood pressure after going from sitting or lying down to standing], as in POTS, or [a] lack of oxygen in the brain caused by very low or very high heart rates”.

The NHS said that though it’s likely not serious, you should always see a GP if you’ve fainted.

4) Palpitations lasting longer than five seconds

Palpitations make your heartbeat feel more noticeable. They can present as a “racing,” “thumping,” “fluttering,” or an irregular heartbeat.

Per the NHS, these can last seconds or minutes. But Dr von Schwartz said he’d see a GP if they pass the five-second mark.

That’s because “palpitations can be caused by harmless extra beats or short atrial runs, but also by potential life-threatening ventricular tachycardia,” he said.

Definitely see your doctor if palpitations keep coming back, if they last longer than a few minutes, or if you have a heart condition or a family history of heart conditions.

This 1 Type of Walking Could Be The Key For Upping Your Step Count Without Wrecking Your Body

Posted on 04/10/2025 by Boris Clair

Want to add some extra challenge to your walk? Or want to tone down your too-tough run? “Jeffing” may be your answer.

Jeffing is a training method that comprises both running and walking intervals during a workout. It was founded by Jeff Galloway, an Olympic runner, who came up with the run-walk concept to help folks of all levels run further, protect themselves from injuries and enjoy running more, according to Galloway’s website.

The method is known by a few different names, such as the Galloway run-walk program and the run-walk method, but they all have the same goal: to help people build endurance, run faster and move more by employing both running and walking intervals during a workout.

Here’s what jeffing might look like: Going for a two-minute run followed by a three-minute walk and repeating that a few times for a full workout.

Whether you’re a runner or not, jeffing is a way to make running more accessible and for your step count to skyrocket in the process. Here’s what to know:

‘Jeffing’ is useful for runners of all levels, but is especially valuable for beginners.

Jeffing is good for anyone to try, whether you’re running a marathon or lacing up your shoes for the first time ever.

“I’ve always thought of Galloway’s run-walk as taking what he did when he was an Olympic runner … and … [bringing it] to people like my mom who never thought that they could be a runner,” said Randy Accetta, the director of coaching education at the Road Runners Club of America and founder of Run Tucson.

Runners training for races are known to employ this run-walk (or run-jog) method in their training, Accetta added.

While jeffing can help someone running a high-stakes race cross the finish line, it can also be a particularly good strategy for new runners, said Jeff Dengate, the runner-in-chief for Runner’s World magazine.

“We’ve seen this time and time again where somebody [takes] up running, they head out their driveway, and they think, ‘I have to be a runner. I have to be fast,’ so they get down the road and they’re just cooked, they’re just exhausted,” Dengate said.

For new runners, having a run-walk strategy can keep that exhaustion from happening. “It’s a really good introduction to running,” said Riley Buchholz, the men’s and women’s cross country coach at Temple University in Philadelphia. And it can be protective.

“A lot of people don’t realize that whenever you’re running, you’re applying three to four times your body weight [on your joints] — so, it’s a lot on the body to handle, especially if you just start pumping out miles at a harder effort that you aren’t used to. It takes time to adapt to that,” Buchholz explained.

A mix of running and walking when you head out to the trail or track can help protect your body from that impact.

Jeffing is a run-walk method that can help build up endurance and muscle strength.

It can help build up strength and endurance.

Don’t let the walking fool you. If your goal is to build up your running capability, this jeffing still has a place in your training.

Alternating between running and walking can help you build up your lung capacity, endurance, and muscles, noted Buchholz before adding, “Anytime you’re exercising, you’re getting better.”

“It helps a lot of people build, not only the stamina, the endurance, but also speed,” Dengate said. “Runners can get faster by using those little walk breaks as well.”

Jeffing is also a good way to learn your preferred pace and effort, Buchholz said.

It takes some of the pressure off running, too.

Anyone who has gone for a run knows the feeling of wanting to stop for a break but feeling guilty about the pause. While there is never a reason to feel guilty (movement is movement), jeffing helps take away those bad feelings during exercise.

“It gives us all the opportunity to exercise without having to feel bad about wanting to stop,” Accetta said. “In the Galloway run-walk, you [intentionally take] the walk breaks. So you know going in that you’re going to run for five minutes and walk for a minute.”

That way, when you’re done with your workout, you can proudly check it off your to-do list because you set out to run and walk from the beginning, Accetta added. “And that’s different than, ‘oh my god, I’m so tired, I need to take a nap. I need to stop walking’ and then stressing whether … you’re ‘quitting’ or not.”

Here’s how to try it:

While some people choose to follow a formula such as one-to-one efforts (meaning, for example, five minutes of running followed by five minutes of walking), there really isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, according to Accetta.

“I think the beauty of … jeffing, or run-walk, is that you can manipulate the effort and rest intervals to fit the physical and emotional needs of the athlete as well as the terrain,” Accetta explained. “For me, there is no perfect ratio.”

It’s all up to you how you start. New runners could try running for 30 seconds, followed by a three-minute walk, or even 15 seconds of running, followed by a three-minute walk. Experienced runners could run for 10 minutes and follow it up with a 30-second walk. There is no wrong formula.

Buchholz said he generally recommends a one-to-four ratio for beginner runners. “Normally, the running is the one and the four is your walking,” he said.

This means if you’re moving for 20 minutes, five minutes can be spent running and 15 can be spent walking, Buchholz said.

If you do want a specific formula, Dengate said there are run-walk calculators online that can help you determine your pace and timing based on your mile time.

When it comes to pace, there are a few things to keep in mind. An everyday jog pace shouldn’t totally deplete you, according to Dengate. “We usually say to use the talk test. If you can’t carry a conversation with the person next to you, you’re probably running too fast on most days.”

“But then, how fast do we do those walk intervals? It’s not a full recovery — you want to walk with purpose … I like to tell people, move like you’re a New Yorker going down the sidewalk. You’re getting somewhere,” Dengate explained.

If you slow down too much during your walk interval, it’s hard to start running again, Dengate added.

Movement should feel good and rewarding, so take the pressure away and keep that in mind when you head outside for your weekly jeffing.

“Far too often we thought of running as punishment for other sports, or it’s something I have to do,” Dengate said. “I like to remind people, running is something we get to do. We’re fortunate enough to be able to have that opportunity to go out and spend that time doing it, so go have fun with it.”

The 3-Minute Home Test A Surgeon Says Could Save Your Life

Posted on 03/10/2025 by Boris Clair

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. And on their page about the topic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the first pillar of the WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative is to “empower individuals and communities to recognise symptoms and seek care early”.

Still, research has shown that women checking their breasts has dropped from 49% in 2022 to just 45% in 2024.

That’s a shame, breast cancer surgeon Dr Cihan Uras from Acıbadem Hospitals said, explaing that: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide… when it’s detected early, survival rates are very high.

“The best thing you can do for yourself is to be familiar with your own body and notice changes quickly. A self-check takes only three minutes,” the surgeon added.

How should I check my breasts at home?

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dr Uras said the check, which should be done once a month, involves three steps.

These are:

1) Look in the mirror

To begin your test, the surgeon advised, stand topless in front of a mirror for one minute.

“Stand with your shoulders straight, with your hands on your hips, and look in the mirror for any noticeable differences. As you do this more often, these differences will be easier to spot,” he advised.

“Initial signs that you should be looking for include dimpling of the skin, any redness, rashes or changes to the nipple, particularly inversion or discharge.”

2) Raise your arms

This should take 30 seconds, Dr Uras told us.

“As you’re in the mirror, raise your arms above your head. Look for any changes in contour, any swelling that’s arisen, or any pulling of the skin,” the expert advised.

The move helps because it stretches the skin over your breasts.

“This makes subtle changes more visible, especially puckering or pulling of the skin that may not be very noticeable when your arms are by your side. It can also help reveal differences in movement between the two sides.”

3) Feel your breasts while standing and lying down

This should take about a minute and a half (90 seconds) all-in.

“While lying down, use the flat of your fingertips around your breasts to feel in circular motions,” the surgeon stated.

“Make sure that you cover the whole breast from the top to the bottom, as well as side to side. Don’t forget to go right up to your armpit area too. Apply different pressures; light, medium and firm, to ensure you’re feeling all layers of the breast tissue.

“You should be feeling around for any thickened areas, any tenderness that feels unusual to you, not to be confused with pushing down too hard, and of course any lumps.”

What should I do if I notice any changes?

If you do feel something a little different, don’t “panic straight away, as most are not cancer,” Dr Uras said.

But do get it checked as soon as possible, just in case.

“The chances are, you would’ve spotted it early, especially if you’re doing this every month, and your doctor can begin any treatment sooner rather than later,” the surgeon ended.

“The best time to do these checks is a few days after your period ends, when you’re less likely to experience tender breasts due to your cycle. For women who no longer get periods, picking the same time each month will just help you get into a better routine.”

The Key Nimbus And Stratus Symptom That’s Different To Covid-19

Posted on 02/10/2025 by Boris Clair

You might have heard that some newer strains of Covid – namely, the Stratus and Nimbus variants – are on the rise in the UK.

Indeed, the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) recently reported that XFG and NB.1.8.1 (Stratus and Nimbus) formed most of the Covid cases last month.

And because Covid cases are ramping up right now, especially among the very young and the elderly, that means more instances of both new strains.

So far as the UKHSA currently knows, these strains are not more dangerous or make you any sicker than “regular” Covid.

“The most important thing is for those eligible to get their vaccination when it is due,” they wrote, as this can help to prevent the most extreme versions of Covid taking hold.

But how can you tell Nimbus and Stratus variants from “normal” Covid, and what should you do if you spot it?

Nimbus and Stratus vs Covid-19 symptoms

Dr Zachary Hoy, an infectious disease specialist with Pediatrix Medical Group, previously told HuffPost that the Stratus variant “would have similar symptoms to other COVID variants that have recently been circulating.”

These include:

a high temperature or shivering
a new, continuous cough – coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
shortness of breath
feeling tired or exhausted
an aching body
a headache
a blocked or runny nose
loss of appetite
diarrhoea
feeling sick or being sick, per the NHS.

But Dr Naveed Asif, GP at The London General Practice, also said that the Nimbus variant’s most unique feature is a sore throat – one that can create a “razor blade sensation” while swallowing.

This still seems to be the case and has since been said to appear in cases of the Stratus variant, too.

And the Stratus variant may also be associated with a higher likelihood of developing a hoarse, raspy voice, a dry cough, exhaustion, and fever, though these can be a part of Covid-19 too.

What should I do if I have the Stratus or Nimbus variants?

As with any other strain of Covid and/or flu, you should try your hardest to avoid spreading the illness to others.

UKHSA says: “If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people and stay at home if possible”.

If you can’t do this, take precautions like wearing a well-fitting mask, avoiding crowded places, taking your exercise outdoors, away from others, covering your mouth or nose when you sneeze, washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your face.

In terms of keeping yourself well while you have Covid, the NHS advises lots of rest, plenty of water, painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen if needed, sitting upright in a chair to help with breathlessness, and taking a spoonful of honey (don’t feed this to babies under a year old) to relieve sore throats and cough.

Call a doctor if your symptoms do not improve or get worse. Call 999 or go to the A&E if your breathlessness comes on suddenly or is so bad that you struggle to say short sentences when resting.

This Nail Change Could Be A Sign Of Lung Issues

Posted on 25/09/2025 by Boris Clair

Darker streaks in your nails, horizontal ridges, and half-white, half-pink or brown nails with a clear line between the colours can all signify health issues.

And it turns out you can spot psoriasis on your nails, too.

So perhaps it shouldn’t be shocking that your nails can also show issues with your lungs and heart through another change to the area.

Cleveland Clinic writes that “nail clubbing” is most often linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, “like lung cancer, lung infections, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis or cardiovascular disease”.

However, it can have other causes, like Crohn’s disease and liver conditions. It can sometimes simply be a genetic variant that isn’t anything to worry about.

What is “nail clubbing”?

Nail clubbing can start gradually, but it ends with your fingernails curving over rounded fingertips.

The nail looks wider and more bulging ― a bit like an inverted spoon ― and feels softer and “spongier”.

Your nails might feel warm and look red. Before the “clubbing” fully takes place, you might notice your nails widening at the top and beginning to wrap around your fingertips.

It often begins in your thumb and forefinger before spreading to other nails, but it can affect any nail or a few nails at once.

In the early stages, you might want to look out for the “Lovibond angle” sign.

The Lovibond angle is the small dent at the bottom of your nail that you can see from the side. But per the Cleveland Clinic, “In the early stages of nail clubbing, your nail and nail bed look flat from the side”.

And Mount Sinai adds that nails in the early stages of clubbing “may seem to ‘float’ instead of being firmly attached” to your nail bed.

Normal Lovibond's angle vs clubbed fingernail — Normal Lovibond’s angle vs clubbed fingernail

When should I see a doctor about suspected clubbed nails?

The change “can be a sign of many serious, long-term conditions,” the NHS says.

It is linked to “heart and lung diseases that reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood,” Mount Sinai added. Sometimes, this includes lung cancer.

So if you notice changes that suggest clubbing, speak to a doctor as soon as you can.

The condition may be harmless, but it’s improtant to get it checked out anyway.

3 Foods An Expert Thinks Are Ruining Your Sleep

Posted on 24/09/2025 by Boris Clair

You might already know that sleep experts have preferred dinner times, because eating less than two to four hours before your bedtime can mess up your kip.

But speaking to HuffPost UK, sleep psychologist Dr Katherine Hall (who has paired with Comfybedss) shared that the type of food you eat matters, too.

“If you can’t fall asleep or struggle to stay asleep,” she advised, your diet might be at least partly to blame.

Here are three foods she skips before bedtime:

1) Salty food

“Sodium-rich meals result in fluid retention and increased blood pressure, making it hard for the body to switch off completely after eating snacks like crisps or salted nuts,” Dr Hall told us.

A 2006 paper found that salt can lead to delayed bedtimes, increased awakenings in the middle of the night, and less satisfying sleep.

That’s because, the sleep expert said, a salt overload leads to “superficial sleep, where the sleep isn’t very deep and can often involve disturbances like going to the toilet more”.

She recommends avoiding foods like gammon and bacon, as well as other salty snacks, before bed.

2) Acidic food

Though many associate these with heartburn, Dr Hall says not all acidic foods are created equal.

“If we take a deep dive into certain acidic foods, those struggling to sleep will want to avoid some more than others. Tyramine is an amino acid that is normally a great addition to anyone’s diet as it stimulates natural brain activity,” she said.

This acid encourages the release of norepinephrine, which can stimulate the brain too much and keep you awake.

“Foods that are high in tyramine include tomatoes, aubergines, soy sauce, red wine and cheeses,” the psychiatrist shared.

3) Spicy food

“For anyone struggling to sleep, avoid spicy foods altogether,” Dr Hall said.

That’s because “Digesting the various spices and chillies you have in your curries or other hot dishes can severely disrupt our body’s ability to thermoregulate, which essentially means managing our temperature”.

And anyone who’s suffered through a sleepless hot night will know how important temperature is to our sleep.

“Capsaicin is the chemical in spicy food that causes our temperature to skyrocket, so combine this with the energy your body needs to digest the remainder of the meal, and you can really struggle getting some solid sleep,” the expert ended.

This Much Reading May Reduce Dementia Risk

Posted on 23/09/2025 by Boris Clair

In his book How To Prevent Dementia, neurologist Dr Richard Restak extolled the virtues of reading fiction.

“Cognitive reserve theory refers to the representation stored within the brain of the knowledge, experience, and life events that accumulate during the course of a person’s lifetime,” he wrote.

This “reserve,” he argues, acts as a sort of ballast against dementia – and in his words, “Reading for pleasure is perhaps the single most effective activity you can engage in for increasing cognitive reserve.”

No wonder, then, that a 14-year longitudinal study found “a reduced risk of cognitive decline” among people who read more frequently.

How much reading does it take to lower dementia risk?

In this paper, more seemed to be better.

Though reading was generally “protective” of cognitive function in older age, among these participants, “a reduced risk of cognitive decline was observed among older people with higher reading frequencies versus lower ones”.

In this case, a higher reading frequency was classed as reading “twice or more a week”.

And though this was not proven in the study, the scientists added, “We speculate that those with reading habits may read more than an hour a day” – ie every reading session they engaged in lasted more than an hour.

The reduced dementia risk was observed at six, 10, and 14-year follow-up intervals, and applied to participants regardless of education level.

“In conclusion, the current study presents the evidence that more engagement in reading independently predicted a reduced risk of cognitive decline in later life,” the author wrote.

Reading may counterbalance the cognitive risks linked to a lower education level

A lower level of education has been linked to an increased dementia risk.

Not only did this paper find that reading lowered dementia risk regardless of educational background, though, but a 2022 review found that reading more can help to “compensate” for the cognitive health disadvantages of less education.

“Reading activities help to maintain and improve cognitive function in people with low levels of education,” it found.

Well, looks like it’s time to update my library card…

4 Hair Changes A Dermatologist Would Never, Ever Ignore

Posted on 22/09/2025 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the signs lymphoma doctors and GPs would never ignore.

These include rapid weight loss, constant exhaustion, and recurring headaches – stuff many of us might disregard as “normal”.

But what about hair changes, which can be literally and figuratively brushed off as not a big deal?

Well, Dr Jonathan Richie, a dermatologist at Dermatology Specialists of McKinney shared four things he’d never ignore when it comes to his hair on YouTube Shorts.

These are:

1) An itchy scalp

“Don’t ignore” an itchy scalp, the dermatologist said.

This could be a sign of dandruff, ringworm, hives, lice, scalp psoriasis or dermatitis, an allergic reaction to your hair products, and (rarely) issues with your nerves.

And even itchiness caused by not washing your hair could point to scalp inflammation and irritation, which may, in turn, eventually contribute to hair loss.

2) Losing more than 200 hairs a day

Per the dermatologist, losing up to 200 hairs a day is completely normal.

But “if it’s more than that, you’ve got to get it checked – there may be something more serious going on”.

The 200-a-day figure is standard for thicker hair, the Cleveland Clinic writes, but for thinner strands, 50-150 hairs is more expected.

Either way, dermatologist Dr Wilma Bergfield said: “If you continue to shed long after you’ve shampooed or you suddenly find it all over your clothes, that could signal a problem”.

Issues like stress, hormonal changes, or thyroid or nutritional disorders may cause this.

3) Starting to get patches of complete baldness

New patches of complete baldness are worth solving as soon as you can, Dr Richie said, because “if it’s there too long, sometimes it can become permanent”.

These are sometimes caused by an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata, the second most common cause of hair loss.

This can often be treated with medication.

4) Changes to your hair texture

The doctor “wouldn’t ignore” changes in the texture, including the “waviness,” of hair.

This can change due to natural ageing, but it can also be down to androgenic alopecia, which leads to thinner hair with less volume.

It may also sometimes be linked to thyroid issues.

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