Salt intake, snoring, stress relief… Here are the latest updates on life, health and wellbeing

Salt intake, snoring, stress relief… Here are the latest updates on life, health and wellbeing.

Watch your tongue!

Bizarre as it sounds, a ‘fat tongue’ could be the key reason you snore, and losing fat in your tongue may improve symptoms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). A team at the University of Pennsylvania used MRI scans to look at how weight loss affected the upper airway. Although obesity is a vital factor, the study noted that obese people with OSA had larger tongues, with higher percentages of fat, than those without the condition, and that reducing excess fat in general can reduce tongue size. Thefindingsmayopennew avenues for the treatment of OSA, says Dr Richard Schwab, co-director of the Penn Sleep Centers at Penn Medicine.

Dear diary…

Journalling is one of the most relaxing and therapeutic things you can do for yourself. Experts suggest the best way to get every thought out of your head is to start a ‘worry journal’. It’s a mindful practice that’s been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Research from New Zealand suggests it may even help wounds heal faster. And James W Pennebaker, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, says labelling emotions and acknowledging traumatic events have a known positive effect. If you’re looking for an emotional outlet, set aside 30 minutes every day to jot down what worries you. There are no rules – it’s a feelgood session!