'Capitalism is bad for men's health'

Communism may be oppressive, but it seems as though capitalism is bad for men’s health, according to a recent study which found significant increases in mortality rates after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The life expectancy for men freed from the Iron Curtain dropped by six years between 1991 and 1994 amid social disruption, physical hardships and economic instability. The degree to which men were affected depended upon how rough the transition to capitalism was and how much income inequality increased, the new study from the University of Michigan found. And they were significantly more likely to be impacted by the transition than women, the study found. “The inequalities in status and resources that can come with capitalism does lead males to behave in ways that are detrimental to men’s health,” lead author Daniel Kruger said. Bamboo socks for smelly feet: Now there is a cure for smelly and pongy feet — special socks made of bamboo fibre. The item is the first eco-friendly sock to go on general sale, and experts have forecasted that it is the sign of one of the biggest revolutions to take place in the world of clothing. The socks are made of the silky material, which is softer, more durable and absorbent than cotton, and contains a natural substance that destroys smell-making bacteria. Supermarket chain Asda plans to sell the socks for less than £2 , and is planning to use it in knickers, T-shirts, sheets and towels. The fabric is made from cellulose produced by boiling or steaming bamboo poles and the smell-destroying agent bamboo-kin is still effective after 50 washes. Hoarding habit a brain disorder: A new study has revealed that hoarders have a brain disorder resulting in an all-consuming compulsion to collect that often cuts them off from society and damages their relationships. A sub-type of obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding is the compulsion to collect and store items considered by most people to be worthless or useless. Little is known about what causes hoarding, but like many mental disorders, it is believed in part to have a genetic cause. In some cases, a significant life event can trigger the behaviour. It may also be present in persons with dementia. In severe cases, it can get so out of control it can endanger lives — as in the case of a Houston woman who died in a 2006 fire as her clutter-filled home hindered rescue efforts.