The eight numbers of health: how to have maximum physical results with minimum effort

The Italian Society of Neurology has released data on a number of scientific studies that would prove that resting in the afternoon has benefits for human health. Previously, a study by Northwestern University had highlighted how high temperatures encourage people to sleep more during the day. 

According to current knowledge, sleeping in the afternoon would provide greater protection against events such as heart attacks, strokes, but also heart failure. Provided that the 'siesta' lasts no longer than half an hour, however. 

If afternoon rest lasts longer than half an hour, on the other hand, the opposite effect could be achieved, favouring the deterioration of cognitive performance.

The liver is one of the organs essential for the proper functioning of our body.

It is responsible for the expulsion of toxins, produces bile, aids in the digestion of assimilated food, and is responsible for the synthesis of sugars, cholesterol and triglycerides.

However, a diet high in saturated fats and large meals, as well as tobacco and alcohol abuse, puts a strain on our liver.

Let's see what are 10 foods that are harmful to the liver.

Specific fears are irrational and related to objects, situations, activities, animals or people. Some are common, such as fear of spiders or fear of snakes, others are truly absurd.

Fear, stress and anxiety are common emotions in anyone's life. If they occur in everyday contexts, in the presence of harmless objects and situations, and with paralyzing intensity, however, the story changes.

If they are always triggered by the same circumstance, we are probably faced with a phobia.

Here is a list of the most common phobias in the world, from the fear of yellow to that of the beard!

In recent years, science has made great strides in understanding how pollution in our cities is linked to our health problems. The air we breathe often contains toxins or pollutants that cause illnesses, often serious ones.

The WHO estimates that at least 7 million premature deaths are caused primarily by air pollution, especially in urban agglomerations. Specifically, researchers point the finger mainly at PM 2.5 fine particles, microscopic particles present in the air and highly harmful.

So what are the most common pathologies caused directly by smog? Tumours and cancer are at the top, but they are not the only ones, unfortunately.

Running is supposed to be a sport that especially promotes circulation in the legs, yet it happens very often that, as soon as one has finished a more or less long run, one's legs feel swollen, tired and sore. 

How is this possible? This is something that mainly affects women (but men are also affected) and happens more in summer than in winter. 

It can happen that during or after a run one has a feeling of stiff and heavy legs, as if the muscles were 'tied up', even after a cold shower. It would be normal for this condition to be felt by those with circulation problems or sedentary people, but then why does it happen to runners?

Nutrition plays a fundamental role in the health and well-being of our body, but sometimes some foods we consume can cause unexpected problems, such as bad smell. In this photo gallery we will explore some common foods that can cause this problem.

There are some foods in particular that are known to cause foul odor problems, including garlic, onion, spicy foods, and alcohol.

We will discover how other lesser-known foods, such as tomato or tuna, can affect our body odor.

Vitiligo is considered an acquired skin pigmentation disorder, due to which hypopigmented or achromic patches that can vary in size appear on the skin.

It is estimated that vitiligo affects between 0.5 and 2% of the world's population and affects men and women indiscriminately. It mainly affects those over the age of 20, but in half of the cases it appears as early as childhood.

The causes of vitiligo, to date, are still not entirely clear. (Source: humanitas.it)

Abdominal diastasis is a problem that can affect some women in the postpartum phase. Often still considered just a cosmetic problem, abdominal diastasis actually involves a number of very uncomfortable symptoms.

When we speak of abdominal diastasis, we are referring to an enlargement and excessive separation of the central rectus abdominis muscles. The consequences of this vary depending on whether the two muscles are separated to a greater or lesser extent.

The reason why the problem occurs is mainly related to pregnancy, particularly if it is twins. However, it can also develop in men, both in cases of obesity and in cases of major weight loss. (Source: grupposandonato.it)

Parotitis is an infectious disease that is caused by a Paramyxovirus virus that is characterised by enlargement of the parotid glands located under the ears.

Like other diseases, parotitis can only be transmitted by contagion from person to person. The infection can affect individuals of any age, with complications affecting adults in particular.

Parotitis has specific symptoms, which allow it to be detected and is contagious in the first few days before symptoms appear. (Source: epicentre.iss.it)

It often happens during the summer that the hair naturally bleaches due to chlorine from swimming pools, salt water from the sea and, above all, the sun's rays, which cause melanin degradation. 

However, this natural 'discolouring' side effect could lead to dry, moisture-deprived hair that does not look good.

Fortunately, there are all-natural do-it-yourself treatments to lighten hair without damaging it. Let us discover them together.

When one speaks of dehydration, one is dealing with a state in which the body loses more fluid than it takes in.

In fact, the body continuously loses fluids through a series of physiological activities ranging from sweating to urination, from faeces to breathing. Not to mention other episodes (such as vomiting and diarrhoea) that can cause further fluid losses. Losses that must obviously be supplemented.

In addition to these physiological conditions, dehydration can also be caused by pathologies and generally manifests itself through specific symptoms. Let's see which ones. (Source: humanitas.it)

The use of smart working is becoming increasingly common and while this may be perfect for both workers and companies, for the former it often also means paying more attention to one's health.

Making greater use of smart working often means having a much more sedentary lifestyle, with all that this can entail for one's health, in terms of a greater propensity to develop certain ailments or diseases.

For this reason, doctors are increasingly willing to give advice on how to live smart working in a healthy way, with the aim of not adversely affecting health.

A phobia indicates an irrational and persistent fear and revulsion of certain situations, objects, activities, animals or people, which can sometimes be limiting and can have an impact on our everyday life.

Almost everyone has a more or less pronounced phobia, but while some are very rare and particular, others are widespread.

The 'World Mental Health Survey Initiative', a collaborative project of the WHO, Harvard University and the University of Michigan, has ranked the most widespread phobias.