Articles

Dwindling testosterone levels in men reduce sleep At 30 years, male testosterone levels drop by one to two per cent annually. By age 40, a man’s quality of sleep begins to diminish. Could there be a link between decreased testosterone and reduced sleep? Absolutely, according to Zoran Sekerovic, graduate student at the University of Montreal (UM) Department of Psychology. Sekerovic discovered a link between testosterone levels in men over 50 and their quality of sleep — specifically less deep sleep, that is, phases III and IV of the slumber cycle. “Deep sleep is when the recuperation of body and mind is optimal,” said Sekerovic. In young men, deep sleep represents 10 to 20 per cent of total sleep. By age 50, it decreases to five to seven per cent. For men over 60, it can disappear altogether. The study however, didn’t find any correlation with other parts of the sleep cycle: Falling asleep, phases I and II, or paradoxical sleep, when most of dreaming occurs. The UM researcher expla...

So many people have forgotten how good it feels to sit back and just laugh. Laughing heartily is known to have several benefits and you’ll be glad to know just how much it can improve your life. Plus, it’s free!   Laughing reduces the level of stress hormones in your body and increases the level of health-enhancing hormones like endorphins as well as the amount of antibody-producing cells. This builds up the immune system, making you more resistant to infections.  Laughed till your stomach hurt? It’s a good thing. Laughing is a great release — both physical and emotional. A good, hearty laugh exercises your diaphragm, contracts your abs and works out the shoulders, which leaves your muscles relaxed.     Nothing proves to be as good a distraction as some simple laughter. It helps you divert your mind from whatever negative emotion you might be feeling at that time. Humor can give you a more light-hearted outlook and help you view stressful events as cha...