Stress

A new survey has found owning a pet is associated with better mental health during COVID-19 lockdowns. The survey also linked pet ownership to lower levels of loneliness, and both positive associations were detected regardless of species.

The idea alone of a massage might do wonders for some people’s stress levels, but a new study has delved into the physiological details of how these short and sweet treatments can kick the body’s relaxation systems into gear.

We could probably all use a little bit of stress reduction in our lives at the moment, and the new Cove wearable neckband from Feelmore Labs is designed to offer exactly that – through gentle vibrations applied just behind your ears.

A new study has solved a long-standing mystery of how acute stress seems to amplify inflammatory disease, despite the fact many stress hormones actually suppress the immune system. It found a specific immune cell is released by fat cells when stressed.

New research is offering insights into how our brains generate acute subjective feelings of stress. The imaging study illustrates exactly which neural network seems to activate sensations of stress, and which neural network suppresses those feelings.

A team of Harvard scientists has finally solved the mystery of how acute stress causes hair to turn gray. The researchers discovered when stress triggers the "fight or flight" response, it depletes pigment-producing stem cells in hair follicles.

New research is elucidating the effects of maternal stress during pregnancy on fetal development. The research is finding links between a mother's stress levels during pregnancy and several birth outcomes including brain development and a baby’s sex.

​Stress has some mysterious effects on the human body, with more and more research linking its presence to all kinds of negative health outcomes. Now scientists have developed a new kind of sensor that can be used to keep tabs on stress levels, requiring just single drop of bodily fluid.

A striking study has discovered that eating while stressed may lead to greater weight gain than if the same caloric load was consumed in a stress-free environment. The study reveals a molecular pathway activated by stress can alter the body’s metabolic processes and lead to increased weight gain.

A new study has found a strong association between increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol and impaired memory in middle-aged adults. The research suggests that extended periods of stress while a person is in their 40s and 50s can result in reduced cognitive skills, and even brain shrinkage.

​It would be an understatement to say that a lot of people suffer from too much stress. Unfortunately, though, it can sometimes be difficult to determine just what the causes of that stress are. VivaLNK's new Vital Scout is designed to help you find out.

A team has developed the first wearable skin sensor that can measure a person’s cortisol levels from their sweat. Cortisol, a hormone that spikes in response to stress, is an important biomarker for scientists that can help measure everything from emotional stress to metabolism and immune function.