A Doctor Says ‘Stress Sweat’ Smells Different – Here’s How To Spot It

Posted on 07/08/2026 by Boris Clair

Did you know that our eyes make three types of tears – basal tears, which lubricate our peepers, reflex tears, which respond to stressors like onion fumes, and emotional tears?

Well, it turns out our sweat might take different forms depending on whether it comes from stress or a workout.

“When you’re exercising or sitting in a hot environment, your body mainly produces sweat to cool itself down. This comes from eccrine sweat glands, which produce a watery sweat that’s mostly made up of water and salt,” Dr Asiya Maula, a private GP at The Health Suite, told HuffPost UK.

“Stress is different. When you’re anxious, nervous or frightened, your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response kicks in.

“This activates a different type of sweat gland called the apocrine gland, which is found mainly in the armpits and groin.”

How can I tell eccrine vs apocrine sweat apart?

It can be hard to tell them apart, Dr Maula said. But stress, or apocrine, sweat has a different texture: this “contains more proteins and fatty compounds, making it thicker than the sweat produced during exercise”.

Additionally, “stress sweat” might have a more intense odour.

“Stress sweat itself is actually almost odourless when it’s first produced. The stronger smell develops when bacteria naturally living on the skin break down those proteins and fats,” the GP explained.

“That’s why many people notice stress sweat has a much more noticeable odour than the sweat they produce after a run or a gym session”.

Of course, context helps – “If you suddenly notice damp palms before a presentation, sweaty underarms during an important meeting or increased sweating while you’re feeling anxious despite not being physically active, stress is likely to be playing a role.”

But the speed of onset might matter too, Dr Maula said.

“People often describe stress sweat as appearing very suddenly and affecting areas like the palms, soles of the feet and underarms, even when the room isn’t particularly warm.”

What does stress sweat mean?

Well, aside from meaning that you’re – you guessed it – stressed, the doctor said occasional apocrine sweat is nothing to worry about.

But “if you’re finding yourself sweating excessively during everyday situations, or you notice it’s becoming more frequent alongside symptoms such as poor sleep, constant worrying, palpitations or feeling on edge most of the time, it may be a sign that your stress levels are becoming difficult to manage”.

That’s worth speaking to your GP about, she said.

How can I stop stress sweat?

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to stop stress sweat in the moment.

But if you want to try reducing your stress levels overall, Dr Maula said you can try “Regular physical activity, good quality sleep, limiting excessive caffeine, mindfulness techniques and breathing exercises can all help reduce activation of the body’s stress response”.

And, she ended, “For people whose sweating is particularly severe or affecting their quality of life, there are also medical treatments available, so it’s important not to suffer in silence”.

Scientists Found 4 Signs Of The Ideal Pillow For Your Back, Neck, And Sleep

Posted on 06/08/2026 by Boris Clair

Most adult Brits struggle to get a good night’s sleep; as many as 14% of us get by on “dangerously low” levels of shut-eye, regularly catching less than five hours of kip a night.

Meanwhile, about two-thirds of us will experience neck pain at one point or another, while almost 80% of us will get back aches.

Worse, back and neck pain can make your sleep worse, and insomnia may increase your perception of discomfort. Talk about a vicious cycle.

So, it’s a good thing a systematic review of studies has found four pillow qualities that might help with all three.

What should I look for in a pillow?

This research analysed 11 studies, with 309 participants in total. The study authors wanted to evaluate the quality of evidence for the benefits of different pillow materials, heights, shapes, and thermal (heat) properties.

They found “moderate evidence that some of the following pillow parameters could improve sleep quality/spinal alignment, and decrease sleep-related neck pain”.

These include:

Latex material,
A contoured design (a dip in the middle of the pillow with higher sides, especially useful for side sleepers),
A height of 7-11cm for the lower, middle part of the pillow,
A cooling surface.

Latex pillows seemed best at reducing neck pain, while a contoured pillow with a 7-11cm high centre helped to keep sleepers’ spines in alignment.

Meanwhile, cooling pillows have been associated with more deep sleep than their non-cooling counterparts.

The researchers added that people should try to “consider as many of the above-mentioned parameters as possible when choosing a new pillow that fits their individual needs of promoting sleep comfort”.

Which pillows seemed to perform the worst?

Another review of studies found that, generally, feather pillows tend to perform worse than rubber or spring pillows.

And a separate 2011 paper also suggested “feather pillow users provided consistently low reports of pillow comfort and sleep quality”.

But your sleeping position matters here.

For instance, those who sleep on their side might have to put their neck at an uncomfortable angle if they’re using a softer pillow, while front or back sleepers could push their head further out of alignment if using a very stiff one.

That’s why, researchers note, it’s important to factor in your individual comfort level.

We Should All Be Taking ‘Poop Walks’ – Especially As We Age

Posted on 31/07/2026 by Boris Clair

Here’s a fact that never fails to make me feel more connected to my fellow man: at any given time, about one in seven UK adults is struggling with constipation.

It’s believed to affect twice as many women as men (ladies have a longer colon and more variable hormones), and tends to get worse and is more likely to be chronic as we age.

Experts think that change might be partly down to factors like decreased mobility, drinking less water, slower gut transit time, weaker muscles, certain medications, and a higher likelihood of medical conditions that make getting backed up more probable.

Regardless of its cause, though, there’s lots of research to suggest a relatively simple solution: maybe we should all be trying a poop walk.

Er… what?

We’ve written before about “fart walks,” which involve going for a short stroll after a meal. These have been linked to better blood sugar management and even a lower cancer risk.

And research has shown that walking gets our bowels moving a minute or so after we start, helping to relieve constipation, too.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, Julie Thompson, an Information Manager at digestive system charity Guts UK, said: “One of the roles of the large bowel is to absorb water from the gut contents, so the longer poo stays in the large bowel, the drier it becomes.

“Walking stimulates bowel movements because it increases intestinal motility (increases gut muscle contractions) in people with constipation, decreasing the time it takes for the gut contents to move through.”

She added, “Walking regularly can also improve the variety of the gut microbes, compared with those who are less active, which produces health-related benefits for the large bowel and for wider health.”

How can I take a poop walk?

Thompson told us that it can be hard to work out exactly how far or long we should walk to, er, unclog the pipes.

“Research studies use a wide variety of activity in their publications, so it is difficult to be precise about the combined recommendations, plus there is likely to be some individual variation,” she said.

Still, a little may go a long way. A 2025 paper, which included 21 healthy adults, saw great results after a 20-minute treadmill walk, noting that bowel activity increased pretty much as soon as participants got moving.

And other research from this year, which focused on older adults with Parkinson’s disease, found that increasing participants’ steps by 3,000 daily from their usual baseline “significantly improved constipation” after three months.

Thompson told us that you don’t need to be constipated to take advantage of a poop walk – “the best option is to follow the NHS general guidance on activity, which recommends adults should try to be active every day and aim to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity over a week, through a variety of activities including walking.

“If someone is able to walk, but is not active, it is best to increase the distance gradually,” she added.

Even if you’re not constipated, walking can keep you regular

The NHS says on its site that “A daily walk or run can help you poo more regularly”.

Professor Yohei Otaka, author of a study that found a 20-minute walk improved healthy adults’ gut motility, said, “Walking can serve as an effective, immediate tool for stimulating bowel function.

“The findings also point to potential underlying mechanisms, such as changes in autonomic nervous system activity or reflexes triggered by the body’s natural oscillations during movement.”

Aside from its bowel-based benefits, a stroll can “improve cardiovascular health by strengthening the heart, thereby helping circulation, lower[ing] blood pressure, [and] helping in the prevention of heart disease and stroke,” Matthew Nolan, a chief instructor at Barry’s in New York City, previously told HuffPost.

Psychologist Shares The ‘Biggest Misconception’ About Lonely People

Posted on 26/07/2026 by Boris Clair

You might have heard of the “loneliness epidemic”, which the World Health Organisation has dubbed a “global public health concern”.

Over nine million people in the UK say they feel lonely all or most of the time, the Red Cross reports.

But stigma around loneliness, and in turn lonely people, remains.

Speaking to HuffPost UK, psychologist and CEO of Male Allies UK, Lee Chambers, said: “Loneliness isn’t always understood well. People tend to fall into lazy stereotypes based on what we expect a lonely person to be”.

Here, he shared what we get wrong about lonely people:

There’s no one “type” of person that becomes lonely

“The biggest misconception when it comes to loneliness is that it happens to a certain type of person,” Chambers told us.

“Loneliness doesn’t have a type, and it can affect anyone. You can feel lonely even when you are surrounded by people.”

Sometimes, he added, life transitions like divorce, parenthood, retirement, or changing jobs can bring it about. It can reach all demographics and personality types.

“Like with many associated challenges, men are less likely to speak about it or seek help and support. And research shows that both younger and older adults report the highest levels of loneliness, but there are differences in why they feel it,” Chambers explained.

“The societal expectation that personality traits dictate loneliness are a distraction, it’s about meaningful connection, not whether your extroverted or introverted. And we need to be mindful of those care for others and those who lead, as they are often seen as the supporter rather than needing support.”

Additionally, he continued, loneliness is not always the same as being alone.

“The quality of your relationships matter a lot more than the quantity, and in the modern world we live in, social contact is becoming less, spaces to build relationship depth are more scarce and many people are searching for meaningful connection and somewhere to belong.

“Loneliness is much more to do with peoples life circumstances and the social structures around them, and much less to do with individual personalities.”

What can we do to tackle loneliness?

Chambers said that he thinks tackling the issue will prove “tough”, adding that he thinks we need more physical spaces to connect in person.

This, he thinks, may make our interactions with one another feel less transactional.

The psychologist, who runs a gender bias consultancy, added: “82% of the boys we surveyed said there were not enough spaces for them to play and connect in. We need these spaces in communities and in workplaces, and space at work to build deeper relationships…

“Normalising conversations around the topic also makes it easier for people to share what they are feeling. Something I’m passionate about is small moments of connection, rather than just waiting for big occasions, and moving from [focusing on the] number of friends to meaningful friendships.

“And finally, a powerful antidote to loneliness is belonging, and we can all be a part of inviting people in, and creating spaces where people feel welcome.”

The Knee Pain A Surgeon Says Over-40s Should Never Ignore

Posted on 25/07/2026 by Boris Clair

Knee pain affects about a fifth of over-16s, and is more common the older we get.

Per the NHS, it can be caused by everything from strains and twists during exercise to conditions like osteoarthritis (knee osteoarthritis seems to be the most common form of the disease).

According to Dr Syed Nadeem Abbas, a surgeon and regenerative medicine expert from the Knee Pain Clinic, “most knee pain [among over-40s] comes down to wear and tear, and that’s still the most likely explanation.”

However, he says one type of knee pain should always be investigated.

Speak to your doctor about night knee pain

“What tends to get missed is pain that doesn’t follow the usual rules, pain that’s worse at rest than at activity, or wakes someone up at night rather than settling,” the expert said.

“That’s the pattern I’d always want checked properly rather than put down to getting older, because catching anything unusual early makes a real difference to the outcome.”

Knee pain caused by osteoarthritis or overuse tends to ease off at rest, he added.

But issues that get worse at night might very rarely be caused by a bone tumour, he added – indeed the NHS said a possible symptom of bone cancer is if “pain or tenderness in a bone, particularly if it’s worse at night”.

Chondrosarcoma, the most common type of primary bone cancer, is known to affect adults over 40, the surgeon added.

Of course, these symptoms aren’t limited to your knee: common sites include the pelvis (hip), rib cage, arms, shoulder blades, and other parts of your leg.

Why else might I have knee pain at night?

It’s important to remember that primary bone cancer is very uncommon – about 550 people in the UK face it yearly.

Other conditions which can cause nighttime knee pain include:

Rheumatoid arthritis,
Gout,
Tendonitis,
Prepatellar bursitis,
Osgood-Schlatter disease,
Injury, per The Cleveland Clinic.

Dr Abbas added that even vitamin D deficiency might cause unexpected knee pain.

But as orthopaedic surgeon Dr Kim Stearns also told the clinic, “People with healthy knees usually don’t get pain at night. There’s typically a reason, and it can be caused by several conditions.”

Speak to your GP if you have concerns.

Researchers Are ‘Excited’ About A Gel That May Regrow Tooth Enamel

Posted on 22/07/2026 by Boris Clair

Gross as it sounds, some research suggests that toothpaste made from keratin-rich sources like hair might be even better than fluoride at slowing enamel erosion.

That’s important because once you lose enough enamel – the hard outer layer of your teeth – you can’t get it back. This is why dentists use crowns and fillings to treat decayed teeth.

But a gel might change that.

Researchers have created a “bioinspired material” that seems to repair and, to some extent, regrow enamel.

The study authors hope it can “provide a one-pot solution for the regeneration of dental enamel independently of the level of tooth erosion”.

How does it work?

The fluoride-free gel mimics the proteins our bodies naturally use to grow teeth as infants.

When it’s first applied – a bit like specialised fluoride treatments are used now – it fills in existing gaps and cracks in the surface of the tooth.

It also acts as a kind of scaffold that attracts the calcium and phosphate ions from our saliva, which in turn build a protective layer.

They also encourage the existing enamel to get stronger through a process called epitaxial mineralisation.

That means the stronger outer part becomes strongly bonded to the tooth underneath, and makes what original enamel is left tougher.

Even better: after rigorous testing, the protection created by the gel was able to stand up to chewing, brushing, and acidic foods, like enamel.

Researchers are excited by its potential

The study’s lead author, Dr Abshar Hasan, said: “Dental enamel has a unique structure, which gives enamel its remarkable properties that protect our teeth throughout life against physical, chemical, and thermal insults.

“When our material is applied to demineralised or eroded enamel, or exposed dentine, the material promotes the growth of crystals in an integrated and organised manner, recovering the architecture of our natural healthy enamel.”

And study lead Professor Alvaro Mata added: “We are very excited because the technology has been designed with the clinician and patient in mind. It is safe, can be easily and rapidly applied, and it is scalable.

“Also, the technology is versatile, which opens the opportunity to be translated into multiple types of products to help patients of all ages suffering from a variety of dental problems associated with loss of enamel and exposed dentine.”

The scientists hope to get the product on the shelves soon via Mintech-Bio.

A Common Tea Could Make Your Workouts More Effective

Posted on 20/07/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how good green tea can be for our brain and how its powerful antioxidants could even help to lower dementia risk.

As it turns out, it could prove an excellent way to boost your performance at the gym, as well as aiding in your recovery.

Research suggests that either the drink itself, or a green tea extract, could improve everything from your antioxidant balance during exercise to how well your muscles hold up afterwards.

How can green tea help my workouts?

1) Green tea extract could help your muscles to recover

A 2018 paper found that green tea extract could help to “reduce the marker of muscle damage after exercise”, though it didn’t make participants’ muscles less sore after a gruelling workout.

This “suggests the green tea extract supplementation has positive effects on muscle recovery after strenuous exercise”.

2) Green tea might diminish oxidative stress

Meanwhile, 2021 research suggested that the antioxidants present in green tea (the kind you drink, not a supplement or extract) could help to diminish “oxidative stress” on our bodies while we’re pushing ourselves in the gym.

Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals, which can harm cells, and antioxidants, which neutralise them. This imbalance can sometimes lead to cell damage and can happen during excessive or very heavy exercise.

This research found that “the consumption of green tea during and following exercise can lower oxidative stress,” though the authors added more research is needed. A separate study noted that most people will need to consume green tea regularly for at least a week to see “significant differences” here.

3) Green tea extract could help you last longer during exercise – and may help you burn more fat while doing so

Lastly, green tea extract might help you to burn more fat and push yourself further during workouts, too.

At least, that’s according to a 2025 paper, which focused on the effects of ginger and green tea extracts on active men in different temperatures.

Only green tea extract seemed to consistently improve their cycling endurance and energy efficiency while working out – meaning it relied more on the burning of fat than carbohydrates to power the men’s workouts.

The Rarest Personality Type Is ‘Misunderstood’, Psychologist Says

Posted on 18/07/2026 by Boris Clair

If you’ve ever done a personality quiz, you’ve probably heard of the Myers-Briggs personality types.

These are assigned based on tests that measure people’s levels of extroversion (E), introversion (I), sensing (S), intuition (N), thinking (T), feeling (F), judging (J) and perceiving (P). Our balance of these factors is meant to reflect how we receive and give energy (E or I), take in information (S and N), reach conclusions (T and F) and relate to the outside world (J and P).

In total, there 16 Myers-Briggs personality types, made up of different combinations of these four traits.

And the rarest kind seems to be INFJ, which describes around just 1.5% of the population.

We spoke to psychologist and CEO of Male Allies UK, Lee Chambers, about what INFJ personality types usually experience, and how they’re often “misunderstood”…

What does an INFJ personality type mean?

INFJs score highly on introversion, intuition, feeling and judging.

They may “seek meaning and connection in ideas, relationships, and material possessions”, Myers-Briggs’ site reads.

Chambers explained that INFJs will often “look calm on the outside while processing a lot on the inside”.

“They tend to be intense, while also being quiet, enjoying time with a small, close-knit group, going deep in conversation, [and] actively listening, before stepping away to recharge alone,” he continued. “They are likely to enjoy routine, space to reflect, and doing things that have meaning.”

He added: “They tend to be well attuned to the energy of rooms of people, often care deeply about the feelings of others, and prefer harmony, while having low tolerance for bravado, small talk, and things they perceive as shallow.”

How do INFJs connect with others?

The psychologist said this personality type tends to enjoy meaningful activities with people who share a passion for what matters to them.

“But they also find joy in space to reflect, expression through creativity and feeling in alignment,” he noted.

“A slower, deeper type of connection, with just a few people, tends to create the trust that this personality type values. And many have a personal mission they are on, that they get happiness from bringing to the world.”

How are INFJs perceived?

Chambers added that INFJs are “easily misunderstood, their quietness mistaken for being cold and secretive”.

Their empathy can make them seem like a “soft touch” to some, while others might think their deep caring tendencies mean they’re constantly emotionally available.

In reality, though, the expert said INFJs need “solitude to recharge”.

Meanwhile, their capacity for deep thought might sometimes make them appear overly serious.

“While every INFJ is an individual, they are likely to listen more than they speak, always look like they have it together (even when they don’t), are good at picking up emotional undercurrents, and remember the thing others miss,” he ended.

Here’s Why Cats Really Lick Each Other, And It’s Less Cute Than I Thought

Posted on 17/07/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about the heartwarming reason cats might lick their owners, as well as the pretty cute meaning behind a feline headbutt.

So perhaps it’s overdue for us to look at some of the furry friends’ less pure intentions.

According to a new study published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, it turns out that cats’ “allogrooming” – including licking one another – isn’t always as wholesome as it looks.

Instead, the research, led by Morgane Van Belle, a cat behavioural scientist at Ghent University in Belgium, found the action has “multiple social functions”.

Allogrooming should therefore “not be used on its own to infer that the cats are socially bonded,” the study – which involved analysing 106 videos of feline pairs from 53 households – reads.

What does it mean when cats lick one another?

1) To show escalating tension

Sometimes, cats seem to lick each other as a kind of pre-conflict warning sign – like when one cat is annoyed by another pet stealing their favourite sunbathing spot.

This type of licking has been described as “passive-aggressive”.

In this case, the recipient of the lick might flatten their ears to show they’re not exactly loving the interaction.

Allogrooming in this case might be a “subtle agonistic signal to covertly solve conflict,” the paper reads. This type of licking might come alongside head shaking and even striking and biting.

2) To de-escalate a possible fight

Other times, the researchers said, licking can be “used as a form of appeasement to avoid escalation”.

Before a fight gets too serious, one cat might lick another as a way of re-establishing the peace.

“For me, [this] shows that they are quite elegant in the way they resolve conflict,” Van Belle told The New York Times.

“They could walk over and swat another cat in the face to get the blanket it is lying on. Instead, they lick it a little and fuss around. They have these very subtle ways of resolving conflict… that shows they are intelligent and flexible in their behavior, rather than simply being jerks.”

3) To intimidate each other

Some cases involved one cat “leaning over the other one” while licking them, which might be an intimidation or even bullying tactic.

Whatever the reason, the cat being licked in these cases typically shows signs of displeasure.

4) To clean one another

87% of the time, cats licked one another in the head and neck area.

That’s a hard spot for cats to reach by themselves, though it just so happens to be a very enjoyable place for most cats to be groomed, too.

5) To bond

Some licking is used for the adorable reason we assume it is: strengthening social bonds.

This is likely to be true if the cats are also playing together and have synchronised body posture.

Seeking physical contact with another cat, including snuggling, was followed by allogrooming in 41% of cases, for instance.

Licking was also sometimes used to initiate play.

6) To help one another relax

Lastly, licking may help the recipient relax.

Previous research showed that in various animals, “The behaviour has an immediate relaxing effect for the groomee, as it leads to a reduction in heart rate… and a release of beta-endorphins [natural pain and stress relievers].

“More research is needed to further explore and confirm the suggested functions for allogrooming in cats,” the paper ended.

“Ultimately, this knowledge can contribute to the recognition, resolution and prevention of social stress between cats in multi-cat households.”

So THAT’s Why Your Fingers Suddenly Have Tiny Itchy Bumps

Posted on 13/07/2026 by Boris Clair

A few summers ago, I noticed tiny, tapioca-like clusters of bumps on my fingers. They were flesh-coloured and incredibly, hand-bitingly itchy.

This turned out to be a condition called pompholyx or dishydrotic eczema. The issue is sometimes nicknamed “summer finger bumps”, due to how much worse it tends to get in the hotter months.

In fact, warm weather and excessive sweating are listed as factors that may cause pompholyx to form or flare up.

What are the symptoms of dishydrotic eczema?

These include:

extreme itchiness
the sudden appearance of tiny blisters on your hands (especially the sides of your fingers) or feet
a prickling sensation
dry or cracking skin after the blisters burst
feelings of heat in your soles or hands.

Symptoms typically last two to three weeks.

It’s more common among women, people under 40, individuals with another type of eczema, those with asthma and heavy sweaters.

It’s a chronic condition, meaning that though there are ways to manage the symptoms, we don’t have an outright cure yet.

Flare-ups may be more likely during times of stress, hot weather or contact with soaps, cleansers and detergents.

The first eruptions of dishydrotic eczema blisters

What should I do if I suspect I have dishydrotic eczema?

Don’t try to diagnose yourself, the NHS says. If you have new skin issues you suspect are due to dishydrotic eczema, see a GP.

The same goes if you have pompholyx that’s already been diagnosed but “the blisters are very painful, leak yellow or green pus or are covered in a yellow-brown crust – these are signs of an infection”, they added.

Soaking your hands in potassium permanganate may help if they’re weeping or oozing. Using an emmolient moisturiser on the affected area is one of the main ways to manage flare-ups.

Sometimes, your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream to help you manage the itching or send you to see a specialist for UV or other treatments.

Other steps include:

washing your hands with warm water and using a moisturising soap,
wearing protective gloves (ideally with a cotton lining) when using chemicals like shampoos, cleansers and detergents
wearing socks, tights or stockings made from cotton or silk, rather than nylon, if the condition affects your feet,
wearing shoes made from leather, rather than plastic or rubber (again if the condition affects your feet),
avoiding anything you think causes your symptoms, such as cleansers, some metals, or detergents.

Don’t burst your blisters, as this can lead to further damage and leave your skin open to infection.