Positive Health Online

Feeling Tired in the Heat? Nutritionist Shares Hydration Habits that could be Draining your Energy

by Rob Hobson

With record-breaking temperatures sweeping across the UK and another week of extreme heat forecast, many Brits could already be experiencing the effects of dehydration without realizing it. While headaches and thirst are common warning signs, experts say even mild dehydration can quietly affect concentration, mood, energy levels and mental sharpness, leaving people feeling sluggish and foggy during the heatwave.

According to research from Pro Plus, staying hydrated is already a challenge for many people, with 61% admitting drinking enough water is one of the first healthy habits to slip when life gets hectic. Performance nutritionist and bestselling author Rob Hobson says the current heatwave is likely amplifying the issue:

“Hydration plays an important role in supporting concentration, mood and perceived energy levels. Even mild dehydration can leave people feeling tired, foggy or struggling to focus.”

Rather than focusing on strict hydration targets, Hobson says the key is building small, consistent habits that support fluid intake throughout the day, especially during periods of hot weather and increased sweating.

Rob Shares Hydration Habits to help Keep Energy Levels Steadier during the Heatwave.

1 .Start your day with fluids;

Almost half of UK adults (49%) say they often start the day without drinking water, which can make it harder to stay hydrated later on.

“Start early and keep it steady rather than playing catch up later on.”

“If your first drink of the day is a coffee at your desk, you’re not alone. But after a night without anything to drink, many people start the day a little under-hydrated, which can make it easy to fall behind on fluids as the day gets busy. A glass of water while the kettle boils or a few sips with breakfast can make a real difference. Anything that gets fluid in before you’re already deep into your busy workday."

2. Don’t wait until symptoms appear;

More than half of people (56%) say they only realize they’re dehydrated once symptoms such as tiredness or headaches begin to appear.

“If you feel flat, foggy or headachy during the day, hydration is one of the simplest things to check first. Keeping a bottle or glass of water nearby can make drinking regularly feel much easier during busy days. Some people find it helpful to drink a few sips whenever they change tasks, finish a meeting or stand up from their desk.

“My rule of thumb is urine colour, pale straw is generally a good sign, while constantly crystal-clear urine with frequent trips to the loo can be a sign you’re overdoing it.”

3. Reduce ultra-processed foods;

Research suggests that people who eat more ultra-processed foods often drink less water overall.

“Researchers have found that diets higher in ultra-processed foods such as crisps, sugary cereals and snack bars tend to be linked with lower water intake, particularly when sugary drinks are also part of the picture. Ultra-processed foods themselves usually contain very little water compared with foods like fruit and vegetables, which means diets built around them provide less hydration from food. It’s not about demonising these foods, but when they make up a bigger part of your diet it’s worth being more mindful about drinking water alongside them.”

Avoid the Afternoon ‘catch-up’

A common pattern is drinking very little during the morning and then trying to make up for it later in the day.

“Barely drinking anything all morning and then suddenly guzzling water mid-afternoon is something I see a lot. Drinking large volumes quickly can mean the body simply excretes more of it rather than using it effectively. Drinking little and often throughout the day tends to work much better.”

4. Be mindful of how you use caffeine;

Many people rely on caffeine to get through busy days, but hydration should come first.
“When people start to feel groggy or hit that afternoon energy slump, their first instinct is to combat it with another coffee or a sugary energy drink. Caffeine can be really helpful for alertness, but it works best when hydration is already at an optimum level. Try pairing caffeine with fluids and food earlier in the day rather than constantly topping it up – that way you’re supporting hydration while still getting the benefits of caffeine.”

5. Supplement with electrolytes;

For most everyday situations, drinking water alongside meals is usually enough to stay hydrated. However, during long workouts, hot weather, travel or other situations where you may sweat more than usual, the body can lose both fluids and minerals through sweat. “Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, chloride and magnesium help regulate how fluid moves in and out of cells and play a role in maintaining fluid balance in the body. When you’re losing more fluids through sweating, replacing fluids alongside these minerals can help restore that balance. Products like Pro Plus Fizz Hydration offer a simple drop-in-water option that also provides a controlled dose of caffeine to support alertness and focus. Because it’s just one tablet a day, it can be a convenient option on busier days without relying on multiple coffees or energy drinks.”

Ultimately, Rob says hydration doesn’t need to be complicated.
“The most effective strategy is also the simplest. Start earlier, drink little and often, and treat hydration as something you support consistently rather than trying to fix it later.”

About the Research:

Pro Plus commissioned a survey of 500 adults aged 18+ in the UK, via independent research agency Censuswide. March 2026. For more information: jamie.wilkes@beyondpr.com

Further Information

NEW Pro Plus Fizz Hydration is available via Amazon at £5.99 per pack of 20 one-a-day tropical-flavoured effervescent tablets - which works out at 30p per tablet. For more detailed information, visit  https://www.proplus.co.uk/ .

About Rob Hobson

Rob is a registered nutritionist with a degree in nutrition and master’s degrees in public health and sports nutrition. He is a Sunday Times bestselling author of five books, including Unprocess Your Life and The Low Appetite Cookbook. With over 20 years’ experience across public health, private practice and brand consultancy, Rob writes extensively across national media and regularly appears on TV, including This Morning, as a trusted health expert. He also works as a sports nutritionist with elite performers, including Team GB athletes, bringing evidence-based advice to both every day and high-performance settings.

Further Information and Media Contact

Jamie Wilkes <jamie.wilkes@beyondpr.com>

Multiple Sclerosis Impacts Daily Life Far Beyond Its Physical Symptoms, New Study Finds

Multiple sclerosis impacts daily life far beyond its physical symptoms, new study finds

(Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, 28 June 2026) Multiple sclerosis (MS) can have a substantial impact on many aspects of life beyond physical health, with 51% of people reporting that the disease affects their social life and 48% reporting that it affects their work, according to new research presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2026.[1]

Although the physical effects of MS are well recognized, less is known about how the disease affects broader social determinants of health. Previous studies have often focused on individual areas, such as employment or financial wellbeing, in isolation. However, little research has explored how multiple social determinants are affected simultaneously and how they interact.

To explore these wider impacts, researchers from Italy conducted the SocialMS study, a nationwide questionnaire-based study involving 1,039 adults with MS receiving care at 68 MS centres across the country. Participants were asked about the impact of MS on four key social determinants of health: education, work, financial resources and social life.

Social life emerged as the most commonly affected domain, with 51% of participants reporting an impact, followed by work (48%), financial resources (34%) and education (19%).

The study also found that the four domains were closely interconnected. Additional analyses conducted by the researchers identified the strongest associations between work and social life and between work and financial resources.

People experiencing financial difficulties, being out of work or retired early, additional health conditions or greater levels of disability were more likely to report impacts across multiple domains. Economic strain and disability were associated with all secondary outcomes examined in the study.

Lead author Dr Marta Ponzano of Link Campus University, Rome, Italy, said: "Our data show that multiple domains of life are substantially affected by MS beyond physical health, particularly social life and work. Importantly, the greatest burden falls on individuals who are socioeconomically and medically more vulnerable, with disability emerging as a key driver of disadvantage.”

"Taken together, these findings highlight the need for a more comprehensive, person-centred approach to MS care. We do not treat only MS, but the person living with MS. That means recognising and addressing the impact of the disease on daily functioning, employment, social participation and overall wellbeing, not just its physical symptoms," she explained.

Almost 90% of participants reported receiving some form of social support. Family members were the major source of both practical and emotional support, with 61% receiving practical support from family and 76% receiving emotional support. Friends were also an important source of emotional support, cited by 43% of participants.

Support also came from less traditional sources. More than 16% of participants reported receiving emotional support and companionship from pets, while almost 12% reported receiving emotional support from colleagues.

Despite the importance of these support networks, the study also found that MS can place strain on relationships. Among participants whose social life was affected by the disease, 54% reported impacts on relationships with partners and 46% reported impacts on friendships.

Dr Ponzano explained: "These two findings, which may appear contradictory, actually highlight the dual nature of this domain. Family and friends are often an important source of support for people living with MS, yet the disease can also place strain on those same relationships." Participants reporting a greater MS-related burden – and therefore greater need – were also more likely to receive support.

"While this could represent an encouraging finding, future studies should investigate whether support is activated in response to higher levels of need or provided proactively," said Dr Ponzano. "A preventive model rather than a reactive one may be more beneficial for individuals with MS."

Looking ahead, Dr Ponzano emphasised the need for broader support for people living with MS: "Our findings highlight that the impact of MS extends beyond physical health, affecting social life, employment, financial resources and education. For healthcare systems and policymakers, these results underscore the value of multidisciplinary support services and policies aimed at reducing the broader social and economic burden of the disease.”
“Routine assessment of these wider impacts, together with closer coordination between healthcare and social support services, may help identify unmet needs early and reduce inequalities among people living with MS," she concluded.

Note

A reference to the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress must be included when communicating the information within this press release. For further information or to speak to an expert, please contact the press team at press@ean.org.

About the Expert:

Dr Marta Ponzano is an Assistant Professor of Medical Statistics at the Department of Life Sciences, Health and Health Professions at Link Campus University, Rome, Italy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematical Statistics and Data Management from the University of Genoa and a master’s degree in Biostatistics from the University of Milano-Bicocca, with a research period in Boston at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed an International PhD in Health Sciences at the University of Genoa, conducting part of her research at Harvard University. Her research activity focuses primarily on multiple sclerosis, addressing multidisciplinary topics, with main focus on health inequalities, and is carried out through extensive international collaborations.

About the EAN

The EAN is a non-profit, independent organisation representing more than 45,000 members, as well as 48 European national societies. As a medical society we promote excellence in the practice of general neurology throughout Europe, leading to improved patient care. We also aim to keep Europe at the forefront of neurological research and maintain its position as one of the world’s leading scientific hotspots in neurology.

Learn more: ean.org

References:

1. Ponzano, M., Signori, A., Landi, D., et al. (2026). Exploring the impact of multiple sclerosis on social determinants of health: results from the SocialMS study. Abstract A-26-16674. Presented at the 12th EAN Congress (Geneva, Switzerland)

Media Contact and Further Information

Please contact "Press" < press@ean.org  >

Where You Live May Influence Sperm Quality

 A new nationwide study has found substantial regional differences in sperm quality, with men in the highest-performing region recording almost double the total motile sperm count of those in the lowest-performing region.[1]

Presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), the study found that lifestyle habits were broadly similar across regions and did not explain the differences observed, raising important questions about the role of environmental exposures in male reproductive health.

The prospective multicentre study analysed semen quality and lifestyle data from 386 men undergoing fertility assessment across seven assisted reproduction centres in Spain between June 2024 and December 2025.

Participants completed a standardized questionnaire covering factors including residence, body mass index (BMI), medical history, physical activity, chemical exposure, medication use, smoking, alcohol, drug and coffee consumption.  

Researchers then compared semen parameters across four regions of Spain – north, south, southeast and central – to determine whether geographical differences in sperm quality could be explained by lifestyle or socio-demographic factors.

The results revealed significant regional differences in semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology and total motile sperm count, as well as the prevalence of asthenozoospermia (reduced sperm motility) and teratozoospermia (abnormal sperm morphology).

Men living in northern Spain recorded the strongest semen quality overall, with an average total motile sperm count of 94.35 million, compared with 50.11 million in central Spain. The northern region also had the highest average sperm concentration (80.96 million/ml) and sperm motility (44.79%). Reduced sperm motility affected 23.9% of men in the north, compared with 55.4% in southern Spain and 53.4% in central Spain.

Despite these differences in semen quality, lifestyle habits and overall lifestyle patterns were broadly similar across the four regions studied. After adjustment for all measured lifestyle and socio-demographic factors, only geographical location and abstinence duration remained independently associated with semen parameters.

Total motile sperm count was independently associated with both geographical location and abstinence duration, while geographical location alone remained significantly associated with the prevalence of reduced sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology.

Lead author Professor Rocío Núñez-Calonge said: “What was most remarkable for us was that the strongest semen quality parameters were consistently found in northern Spain. At the same time, we were surprised to find that lifestyle habits were very similar across all the geographical areas studied.”

“If, based on the results of this study, we rule out male lifestyle habits as the explanation for the geographical differences observed in semen quality, it seems likely that these variations may instead be related to differences in environmental exposure, such as levels of pollution or other environmental contaminants present in those areas,” Professor Núñez-Calonge explained.  Professor Núñez-Calonge noted that the findings may have implications beyond Spain, with studies from several countries reporting significant regional variations in semen quality, particularly in areas with marked environmental heterogeneity.[2-8]

Looking ahead, Professor Núñez-Calonge said: “Given the widespread presence of air pollution in many urban environments, its potential effects on male fertility deserve further investigation.”

“Larger and well-designed studies are needed to better clarify the relationship between environmental exposure and semen quality. At the same time, stronger public health policies aimed at reducing exposure to pollutants, industrial chemicals and plastic-derived compounds should be considered as a priority for protecting reproductive health in future generations,” Professor Núñez-Calonge concluded.

Commenting on the wider implications of the study, Professor Dr Karen Sermon, Immediate Past Chair of ESHRE, said: “While it is well established that a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on sperm quality, the effect of environmental factors that are beyond the control of the individual are clear and need to be tackled at societal and political level. There is a clear responsibility for national and EU regulators in this matter.”

The study abstract will be published in Human Reproduction, one of the world’s leading reproductive medicine journals.

Notes

A reference to the ESHRE Annual Meeting must be included in all coverage and/or articles associated with this study. For more information or to arrange an expert interview, please contact the ESHRE Press Office at: press@eshre.eu

About the Author:

Professor Rocío Núñez-Calonge holds a PhD in biology and is a specialist in human reproduction, with postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also a senior embryologist certified by ESHRE and a holder of a master’s degree in bioethics. She has extensive experience in research, teaching and scientific leadership, serving on the boards of professional societies, editorial committees and as a speaker at international conferences. Currently, she is a scientific advisor to the UR Group (International Reproduction Unit) and coordinator of the Ethics Group of the Spanish Fertility Society. Her research focuses on male infertility, low ovarian reserve and reproductive ethics.

About the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology:  ESHRE

The main aim of ESHRE is to promote interest in infertility care and to aim for a holistic understanding of reproductive biology and medicine. ESHRE collaborates world-wide and advocates universal improvements in scientific research, encourages and evaluates new developments in the field, and fosters harmonisation in clinical practice. It also provides guidance to enhance effectiveness, safety and quality assurance in clinical and laboratory procedures, psychosocial care, and promotes ethical practice. ESHRE also fosters prevention of infertility and related educational programmes and promotes reproductive rights regardless of the individual’s background. ESHRE’s activities include teaching, training, professional accreditations, mentoring and career planning for junior professionals, as well as developing and maintaining data registries. It also facilitates and disseminates research in human reproduction and embryology to the general public, scientists, clinicians, allied personnel and patient associations. Website: https://www.eshre.eu/ 

About Human Reproduction:

Human Reproduction is a monthly journal of ESHRE and is one of the top three journals in the world in the field of reproductive biology, obstetrics and gynaecology. It is published by Oxford Journals, a division of Oxford University Press.

References:

[1] Núñez-Calonge, R., et al. (2026). Does male lifestyle influence geographical differences in sperm parameters? Human Reproduction.  2026.

[2] Auger, J., Eustache, F., Chevrier, C., & Jégou, B. (2022). Spatiotemporal trends in human semen quality. Nature Reviews Urology, 19(10), 597–626. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-022-00626-w. 2022.

[3] Rahban, R., & Nef, S. (2020). Regional difference in semen quality of young men: A review on the implication of environmental and lifestyle factors during fetal life and adulthood. Basic and Clinical Andrology, 30, 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12610-020-00114-4. 2020.

[4] Jørgensen, N., Andersen, A.G., Eustache, F., Irvine, D.S., Suominen, J., Petersen, J.H., Andersen, A.N., Auger, J., Cawood, E.H., Horte, A., Jensen, T.K., Jouannet, P., Keiding, N., Vierula, M., Toppari, J., & Skakkebaek, N.E. (2001). Regional differences in semen quality in Europe. Human Reproduction, 16(5), 1012–1019.  https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/16.5.1012. 2001.

[5] López-Teijón, M., Elbaile, M., & Alvarez, J.G. (2008). Geographical differences in semen quality in a population of young healthy volunteers from the different regions of Spain. Andrologia, 40(5), 318–328. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0272.2008.00862.x  2008.

[6] Núñez, R., Guijarro, A., Alberola, P., Santamaría, N., Poveda, M., Mora, A., Masip, M., Sánchez, S., Alonso, S., Rubio, T., Barros, I., González, P., Gili, S., & Álvarez, I.S. (2024). Study of Seminal Quality Variations in Men Across 12 Geographical Locations in Spain. Archives of Medical Research. 55(8):103140. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.103140  2024.

[7] Rahban, R., Santa-Ramírez, H.-A., Senn, A., Stettler, E., Guessous, I., Joost, S., & Nef, S. (2025). Exploring geographical differences in semen quality of young men using spatial dependence analysis. Human Reproduction, 40(12), 2409–2418. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deaf182  2025.

[8] Liu, J., Dai, Y., Li, Y., Yuan, E., Wang, Q., Wang, X., & Guan, Y. (2020). A longitudinal study of semen quality among Chinese sperm donor candidates during the past 11 years. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 10771. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67707-x  2020.

Media Contact and Further Information

Luke Paskins < luke.paskins@beyondpr.com  >

Hearing Aid Use Linked to 23% Lower Dementia Risk in People with Both Epilepsy and Hearing Loss

Adults with both epilepsy and hearing loss who use hearing aids may have a 23% lower risk of developing dementia than those who do not, according to new research presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2026.[1]

Hearing loss is widely recognized as the largest modifiable risk factor for dementia. Yet whether hearing aids can reduce dementia risk remains debated. In particular, it is unclear whether any benefit may be greater in people with neurological, metabolic or cardiovascular conditions that place them at increased risk of developing dementia.[2]

To explore this, researchers from University Hospital Zurich and the University of Liverpool analysed electronic health records from more than 250 million patients in the TriNetX network.

They compared adults with hearing loss who used hearing aids with closely matched adults who did not. The analysis included the overall hearing-loss population as well as people living with epilepsy, stroke, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, migraine and osteoarthritis.

No significant association was found between hearing aid use and dementia risk in the overall population with hearing loss, nor among people with stroke, migraine, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, heart failure or osteoarthritis.

However, among adults with both epilepsy and hearing loss, hearing aid use was associated with a 23% lower risk of dementia. This corresponded to an absolute risk reduction of 2.7 percentage points over five years, equivalent to one fewer case of dementia for every 37 people using hearing aids. The association remained directionally consistent across all analyses.

Commenting on the findings, lead author Dr Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta said: "What surprised us most was how specific the finding was to epilepsy. We expected to see a small benefit across several of the higher-risk groups we studied. Instead, most showed no significant association, while the association in epilepsy was observed consistently across all of our analyses. That consistency gives us greater confidence that this is a meaningful finding.”

The researchers believe the findings may be explained by differences in cognitive reserve – the brain’s ability to continue functioning effectively despite age-related changes or damage caused by disease.[3]

Dr Ferreira-Atuesta explained: "Most people with hearing loss have enough cognitive reserve to absorb the extra effort caused by hearing impairment, so correcting it may not have a large effect on dementia risk. Epilepsy is different because cognitive reserve is often already reduced, meaning that removing one additional source of strain may have a greater impact."

"There are several biologically plausible reasons why we might see this effect in epilepsy. The condition is associated with accelerated cognitive decline, temporal lobe epilepsy affects areas of the brain involved in hearing and some anti-seizure medications may worsen hearing,” added Dr Ferreira-Atuesta.

The findings have important implications for clinical practice, according to the researchers. Since people with epilepsy are already in regular contact with healthcare services, hearing assessments could be readily incorporated into routine care.

"Hearing loss is one of the few dementia risk factors we can actually do something about,” said Dr Ferreira-Atuesta. “It's easy to detect, and hearing aids are established, reversible and low-risk. This is a real call for increased awareness and screening. We have a vulnerable population, a problem that's straightforward to identify and a correction that's simple to deliver."

For people living with epilepsy and hearing loss, the researchers emphasise that the benefits of addressing hearing loss extend beyond any potential effect on dementia risk. "If you have hearing loss, treat it," Dr Ferreira-Atuesta urged. "The benefits for communication, mood and staying connected are real and well established, so there's every reason to act now."

The researchers caution that the study was observational and cannot yet prove that hearing aids directly reduce dementia risk. However, the findings are encouraging and biologically plausible. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether hearing aids can help protect long-term brain health in people with epilepsy and hearing loss.

Notes

A reference to the EAN Congress must be included when communicating the information within this press release. For further information or to speak to an expert, please contact the press team at press@ean.org.

About the Expert

Dr Carolina Ferreira-Atuesta is a physician-neuroscientist currently pursuing her PhD at University Hospital Zurich. She earned her medical degree at Universidad de los Andes and a Master's in Clinical Neuroscience at UCL. She previously worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. She is now working with Dr Marian Galovic PhD, leading and contributing to various multicentre studies investigating the link between epilepsy and dementia.

 About the EAN

The EAN is a non-profit, independent organisation representing more than 45,000 members, as well as 48 European national societies. As a medical society we promote excellence in the practice of general neurology throughout Europe, leading to improved patient care.

We also aim to keep Europe at the forefront of neurological research and maintain its position as one of the world’s leading scientific hotspots in neurology. Learn more:    https://www.ean.org/

References

1. Ferreira-Atuesta, C., Schubert, KM Jung, H. et al. (2026). Hearing Aid Use and Risk of Dementia in Adults with Hearing Loss and Comorbid Neurological, Metabolic, or Cardiovascular Conditions. Abstract A-26-18825. Presented at the 12th EAN Congress (Geneva, Switzerland). 2026.
2. Biomedical Research Centre. (2025). Certain chronic health conditions associated with increased risk of dementia – new study.https://oxfordhealthbrc.nihr.ac.uk/certain-chronic-health-conditions-associated-with-increased-risk-of-dementia-new-study/    
3. Alzheimer’s Research UK. (2024). Cognitive reserve and dementia risk.https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/dementia-risk/cognitive-reserve-and-dementia-risk/. 2024.

Media Contact and Further Information

"Press" <press@ean.org>