Health & Wellness
The body, decoded
From sleep arithmetic to the difference between a cold and the flu, the questions people quietly type at 2 a.m.
- 01
How much sleep do I actually need?
Adults generally need 7 to 9 hours per night. Less than 6 on a regular basis is linked to higher risk of heart disease, weight gain, and impaired memory. Quality (uninterrupted, dark, cool room) matters as much as qua…
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- 02
How do I fall asleep fast?
Dim lights an hour before bed, keep the room under 19 °C, and give your brain a single boring task — slow breathing (4 in, 6 out) or a body scan. If you're still awake after 20 minutes, get up; lying frustrated trains…
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- 03
What is sleep apnea?
A condition where your airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, briefly cutting off breathing — sometimes dozens of times an hour without you knowing. Hallmarks: loud snoring, daytime exhaustion despite full nights,…
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- 04
What's the difference between a cold and the flu?
Colds creep in over days with a runny nose and sore throat. Flu arrives in hours with fever, chills, and aching muscles. If you can still go to work, it's probably a cold.
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- 05
How much water should I drink per day?
Roughly 2–3 liters total fluid for most adults, including what's in food and coffee. The old '8 glasses' rule is a guideline, not a prescription — thirst and pale-yellow urine are better signals.
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- 06
What's the healthiest way to lose weight?
A modest calorie deficit (300–500/day), protein around 1.6 g per kg of bodyweight, strength training twice a week, and a sleep schedule you can stick to. Speed is the enemy of permanence.
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- 07
How does Ozempic work for weight loss?
It mimics GLP-1, a gut hormone that slows digestion and tells your brain you're full. Appetite drops, portions shrink, and most users lose 10–15% of bodyweight over a year. It's not a cosmetic shortcut — side effects…
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- 08
How do I improve my mental health?
The unglamorous trio does most of the work: sleep on a schedule, move your body daily (even a walk), and stay socially connected. For anything persistent — low mood for weeks, anxiety that disrupts life — therapy work…
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- 09
How do I start a fitness routine?
Pick three days a week you can defend forever. Two should include resistance training (any: bodyweight, machines, free weights), one can be cardio you actually enjoy. Start with weights you could lift 12 times comfort…
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- 10
Why do I keep getting headaches?
The big four: dehydration, poor sleep, screen-induced eye strain, and tension in the neck and shoulders. Hormonal cycles, skipped meals, caffeine withdrawal, and untreated vision problems are next. Sudden 'worst heada…
symptomsRead full answer →
- 11
What's a normal blood pressure?
Healthy adults: under 120/80 mmHg. 120–129/under 80 is 'elevated', 130–139/80–89 is stage-1 hypertension, 140/90 or higher is stage 2. Measure sitting, both feet on floor, after 5 minutes of rest, no caffeine in the l…
heartmeasurementsRead full answer →
- 12
Do I need a vitamin D supplement?
Probably — most people in northern climates run low, especially in winter. A blood test (25-hydroxy vitamin D) settles it. If you're below 30 ng/mL, 1,000–2,000 IU daily is the usual starting dose. With sunshine, oily…
nutritionsupplementsbasicsRead full answer →
- 13
How do I get rid of lower back pain?
Most acute lower back pain resolves in 4–6 weeks with movement, not rest. Walk daily, avoid bed rest beyond a day or two, use heat for muscle tightness, ice for swelling. Strengthen core and glutes — weak hips are the…
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- 14
How much water should I drink a day?
The old '8 glasses' rule is a rough target, not a mandate. Most adults do fine drinking to thirst plus a glass with each meal — roughly 2–3 litres including food and other drinks. Dark urine and headaches are better s…
nutritioneverydayRead full answer →
- 15
How much caffeine is safe?
Up to 400 mg per day for most adults — about four 8oz coffees. Pregnancy limits are 200 mg. Sensitivity is genetic; some people get anxious or sleepless from a single espresso.
nutritioneverydayRead full answer →
- 16
When should I worry about a fever?
In adults, 38 °C (100.4 °F) is a fever; over 39.5 °C or lasting more than 3 days deserves a call to a doctor. For infants under 3 months, any fever is urgent.
symptomsRead full answer →
- 17
Does stretching before exercise help?
Static stretching before lifting or sprinting slightly reduces power. Dynamic warm-ups (leg swings, lunges) are better. Save long static stretches for after your workout or a dedicated mobility session.
fitnessRead full answer →
- 18
What causes high cholesterol?
Genetics account for a big share; the rest is saturated fat intake, low fiber, excess weight, and inactivity. LDL under 100 mg/dL is the usual target for healthy adults.
heartnutritionRead full answer →
- 19
Does intermittent fasting work?
It works for weight loss because it usually cuts total calories, not because of magic metabolic effects. 16:8 is the most popular and sustainable schedule. Not appropriate for people with a history of disordered eating.
dietRead full answer →
- 20
Why is my period late?
Stress, weight change, hard training, travel, birth-control changes, and — of course — pregnancy are the usual causes. If cycles are irregular for 3+ months, check with a doctor about thyroid or PCOS.
hormonesRead full answer →
- 21
How do I stop feeling anxious?
Short-term: slow exhales longer than inhales, cold water on the face, or a hard 60-second exercise burst — all activate the vagus nerve. Long-term: therapy (CBT is best-studied), regular exercise, sleep, and less caff…
mental-healthRead full answer →
- 22
Am I anemic?
Anemia symptoms include fatigue, cold hands, pale skin, cracked lip corners, and cravings for ice. A simple blood test (hemoglobin + ferritin) confirms it. Women in reproductive years are the most common group.
nutritionRead full answer →
- 23
When should I worry about a mole?
Use the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over 6mm, Evolving. Any change in an existing mole — or a new one after age 40 — gets checked.
skinRead full answer →
- 24
How do I improve my gut health?
Eat 25–30 different plants a week, add fermented foods (yogurt, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut), sleep 7+ hours, and move daily. Fiber diversity feeds a diverse microbiome — a probiotic pill can't substitute for that.
nutritioneverydayRead full answer →
- 25
How much protein do I need per day?
About 0.8 g per kg of bodyweight is the minimum. If you exercise, aim for 1.4–2.0 g/kg. Spread it across 3–4 meals of 25–40 g each — muscle protein synthesis maxes out per meal.
nutritionfitnessRead full answer →
- 26
How do I manage stress?
Attack the cause where possible, then buffer with sleep, exercise, sunlight, and social contact. Short daily practices — 5 minutes of breathing, a 20-minute walk, journaling — beat occasional heroic efforts.
mental-healthRead full answer →
- 27
How much caffeine is safe per day?
Up to 400 mg for most healthy adults — roughly four 8 oz coffees. Sensitivity is genetic, so some people feel jittery at 100 mg. Pregnant women should cap at 200 mg.
nutritioneverydayRead full answer →
- 28
Do I really need 10,000 steps a day?
No — the number came from a 1960s Japanese pedometer marketing campaign. Health benefits plateau around 7,000–8,000 steps for most adults, and even 4,000 lowers all-cause mortality meaningfully versus sedentary.
fitnesseverydayRead full answer →
- 29
How can I lower my blood pressure naturally?
The changes with the strongest evidence are cutting sodium to under 2,300 mg a day, losing excess weight, moving for about 30 minutes most days, limiting alcohol, and sleeping seven-plus hours. Together they can drop…
heartpreventionnutritionRead full answer →
- 30
How do I calm anxiety quickly?
Slow your exhale: breathe in for four seconds and out for six to eight, for two minutes. A longer out-breath activates the parasympathetic nervous system and lowers heart rate faster than any thought-based technique.
mental-healthstressbasicsRead full answer →
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