Why do heat waves make us anxious? 4 ways to calm down when it’s hot

Heat disrupts the neurotransmitter system (serotonin), disrupts sleep, and increases stress hormones.

Your support helps us tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is where the stories unfold. Whether we’re investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing The A Word, a new documentary highlighting American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to … Read more

Why do heat waves make us anxious? 4 ways to calm down when it’s hot

Heat disrupts the neurotransmitter system (serotonin), disrupts sleep, and increases stress hormones.

Your support helps us tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to big tech, The Independent is where the stories unfold. Whether we’re investigating the finances of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing The A Word, a new documentary highlighting American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to … Read more

Exercise changes the heart in ways researchers didn’t expect

human heart anatomy

Exercise can do more than strengthen your heart and muscles. New research suggests that regular aerobic exercise physically restructures the nervous system that controls your heartbeat, potentially changing key nerve clusters differently on the left and right sides of your body. Credit: Stock Researchers have found that exercise alters heart-related neural structures in surprisingly heterogeneous … Read more