Recent Health
Articles:
Mindfulness: Lost in Thought
In our lifetime, things have changed dramatically from a concept of “get on with it” to new trends in meditation and mindfulness.
Hot tubs: Britain is in for a soaking
While hot tubs are fun, are they actually good for your health?
Now is not the time to have dental problems
Emergency advice is available, but it also makes sense to revisit the basics.
Canned food is a safe and nutritious addition to any larder
Interestingly, along with frozen foods, supermarkets have seen a surge in sales of canned food.
We can be proud of the contribution Britain makes to global medicine
With so much bad news around, it is easy to forget what an amazing country we live in; and that is especially true with regard to fighting disease.
Keep young by eating less
A new study has added extra strength to recent reports that eating less can help protect us against age-related diseases and problems.
Is it flu or is it coronavirus?
Sadly, at this time of year many of us will get a cold, a cough or even flu, and it is easy to be really worried we may have caught coronavirus instead.
Reflecting on World Cancer Day
The overall objective is to prevent millions of cancer deaths, and Cancer Research UK has joined in World Cancer Day with some exciting new initiatives.
Dry January could help improve your relationship with alcohol
Whether you choose to take part or not, Dry January has become a familiar campaign at the start of every year, when various organisations encourage people to give up alcohol for the entire month. Dry January can be really useful for people who really don’t want to give up alcohol entirely.
The secrets of the Blue Zones for longer life
Adjusting our diet, reducing alcohol, taking more exercise, ensuring we socialise... there is a heap of advice out there to help us all live longer. But there are still countries in the world where the people live longer than average. Can you see well enough for modern night driving?
For some drivers, while they have never had problems before, suddenly they may find they are being blinded by the powerful lights of oncoming vehicles.
No holiday for our digestive systems at Christmas!
It is incredibly hard not to over indulge at this time of year. However, as we become older, we might increasingly find that after a lovely meal we begin to suffer from discomfort and even pain in the stomach and upper abdomen.
An easy way to get fit for travel!
More than ever before, there is a range of holidays and trips that are ideal for our age group. However, as we get older it becomes more important than ever to be aware of any health risks in the countries we are planning to visit.
Get your teeth into cleaning!
Gum disease in its early stages is often ignored, especially by people who don’t regularly visit their dentist for check ups, but it is a very common problem. As we get older this can get worse.
Free AAA screening for men
Men are notorious for not taking enough interest in their own health, so it is good that all men aged 65 or over are being invited to take advantage of a free NHS AAA (Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm) screening programme.
Let the sunshine in!
It is now known that Vitamin D is absolutely essential for our health. A lack of this vital vitamin can lead to all sorts of physical problems including heart disease and certain cancers; or even depression and schizophrenia.
It's never too late to start Yoga!
As we get a little older, you can’t fail to meet people who go to yoga. It is one of the most popular fitness activities now with classes readily available right across the country.
Check your risk of cancer with this new online slider
Cancer Research UK has now launched an easy to use health slider to give you an insight into your risk of developing cancer.
Raw foods can be dangerous
A fresh veggie smoothie sounds healthy, but sometimes cooked food can be better.
Nerve stimulation slows ageing
Scientists have found that “tickling” the ear with a small electrical current can slow down the effects of ageing.
Hope for Alzheimer’s as research goes on worldwide
One of the greatest fears of getting old can be concern about dementia. This awful condition affects over 850,000 people in the UK and over 44 million people worldwide.
White wine might also have health benefits
There have been some interesting reports in recent media about the health benefits of white wine and how white as well as red can provide good levels of antioxidants and other benefits.
Will a new 5G mobile be dangerous for your health
There seems no conclusive evidence on the safety of the new 5G
Wake up to modern hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has been around for thousands of years and has enjoyed a range of reputations, from brilliant technique to dark magic, and it's now used to treat many modern problems.
Gene therapy – The future of our health
Whether gene therapy will fulfil its promise and in future years produce terrific treatments for many health problems we don’t know but at the moment, although still in its early stages, the results are very encouraging.
Help at hand for when you suddenly need to go!
If you have ever been on a day out, and searched desperately for a public toilet, you are not alone.
Doctors are beginning to get on top of Parkinson’s
With no cure, Parkinson’s is one of the feared problems associated with ageing; but treatment is improving all the time.
Morphine, heroine and opioids
It is totally amazing what ancient civilisations discovered so many years ago. Who was the very first person to discover that if you scrape off an unripe poppy seed pod, put little cuts in it, then collect the white gum that oozes out and dry it, you can obtain opium which can be used as a medicine and also for pleasure.
Greater understanding of cognitive decline
A new study, just published in Nature Medicine, indicates that the human brain can produce new cells even as we get a lot older. This is in contrast to many beliefs that humans are given a finite number of brain cells which decline as we age.
Shingles vaccinations are now being offered to older people
Shingles is a bit like gout, a disease we have heard of but something that often isn’t taken very seriously...until one has it oneself. We may be carrying the shingles virus without knowing it.
Bribing doctors to give a specific diagnosis
The idea of paying doctors additional money to make a specific diagnosis is back in the news again.
Get in the flow with Tai Chi
This gentle Chinese martial art is now being practised by millions across the world.
Was an alcohol free January worth it?
Dry January is over, but no doubt there will be other ideas for giving up alcohol before the next big event, MacMillan’s Cancer’s “Go Sober for October”, kicks in. But how worthwhile is all this abstinence?
Medicinal cannabis is set for a new high
Trials are currently underway to test cannabis-based drugs for other conditions including cancer pain, glaucoma and epilepsy in children.
That first conversation about dementia
Having a conversation with a loved one about dementia can be difficult but the CEO of Shift8, a social enterprise organisation that is introducing a Dutch dementia care innovation into the UK, provided Laterlife with some advice.
Increased risk of heart attacks at Christmas
This is not what we want to hear in the fun and busy lead up to Christmas...but evidently for anyone at risk of heart problems, this is the most dangerous time of year.
Can shopping be addictive?
For some of us, Christmas is an especially dangerous time. When we come home laden with parcels, someone might well joke we are shopaholics...but actually this is a medical condition that should not be treated lightly.
Visiting the doctor may not be the best idea this winter
Sometimes, when we feel we have a problem and take ourselves off to see our doctor or even the local A&E department, would we in fact have been better in treating the problem ourselves?
Food allergies need to be taken seriously
It is estimated that over 2 million people in the UK have been officially diagnosed with a food allergy and there may well be many more taking their own precautions against problems they have identified with eating certain foods.
Keeping track of your health
Today there is a range of excellent online tools to assist you choose the best treatment.
Are you fit to drive?
We need to consider our own driving as we get older, but also that of any elderly relatives. Ensuring medically fitness to drive is a responsibility everyone should take seriously whatever their age.
Cellulitis is an infection that needs immediate treatment
Many people believe cellulitis is something to do with weight and obesity but in fact cellulitis is a potentially dangerous infection.
As we age, how much protein do we really need?
Ensuring adequate levels of protein is easier for meat eaters than vegans and vegetarians
Enough to make you smile
It seems the act of smiling can make us happier and healthier too.
One in 20 may be suffering from fibromyalgia
A new report shows acupuncture may help alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia.
Don’t let insect bites spoil your summer
The UK is home to a large range of biting insects including a growing number of mosquitoes
Compression socks need to fit properly to do any good
Compression socks are a great idea for long flights, but a general fit is not good enough.
Keep an eye on your wee
Most of us will remember to water our favourite plants in hot summer weather...but how many of us remember to water ourselves as well?
Medication delivered to your front door
Prescriptions are going electronic: Now you can get your medication delivered directly to your front door.
Plants’ reproductive systems cause summer havoc
Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen and it is incredibly common, probably affecting about one in five people in the UK. Men and women are equally affected.
Your blood group can affect your health
Blood types and how they affect our general health are a big new area of study, and recent research at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital indicates that blood type O can be a potential risk factor for haemorrhage.
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