Healthwise 81      December 2006

Healthwise is a regular column written especially for laterlife.com members and visitors by Helen Franks, journalist and author. Welcome to healthwise 81.  

For previous articles in the healthwise series visit 'more healthwise' 

 

A real headache…

Most of us at some time or other have experienced a headache. We might take painkillers or ignore the problem and carry on regardless.

On the other hand, it could be migraine, which can come in a mild form or be severely disabling, preventing some people from carrying on their normal lives. Migraine affects around 6 million people in the UK.

How do you know if the symptoms are migraine?

• You may see flashing lights, zigzag patterns

• You may crave certain foods

• You may feel tired

• You may be depressed, find it hard to concentrate

•  You may have difficulty in speaking

• Your coordination may be affected

• You may get stiffness and tingling in the neck and shoulders

• You may go very pale and have dark circles under the eyes

If you experience any of these symptoms, do consult your GP.
 

Exercise and bowel cancer

Regular exercise can significantly reduce one of the early signs of bowel cancer in men, new research has claimed says the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

In men who met the study's exercise prescription of an hour of aerobic activity per day, six days a week for a year, the researchers saw a substantial decrease in the amount of cellular proliferation in the areas of the colon that are most vulnerable to colon cancer.

The study looked at the rate of new tissue growth in the tiny pockets, or 'crypts', of cells in the gut. A certain amount of cellular proliferation is normal. But when the cells start dividing too quickly, they can migrate up the sides of the crypt to the surface and eventually form a polyp.

While most polyps are benign, over time some types can become malignant. The researchers found that rate of growth slowed in relation to the amount and intensity of exercise men performed.

Before you say that six days a week of aerobic activity is too much, even four hours or more of exercise weekly was enough to produce a significant benefit.

 

NICE recommends drug for Non Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

A five-year study has shown that MabThera is the first therapy in over twenty years to increase the overall survival in patients with aggressive NHL.

Treatment with the drug, in combination with a standard regimen of chemotherapy, has shown that after five years, 26% more patients were alive as against those treated with chemotherapy alone. Disease-free survival was also improved by 50% - 66% in the combined MabThera/chemo group compared to 45% in the chemotherapy group alone.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that all patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma, the most common form of aggressive NHL, should be offered MabThera in combination with chemotherapy as first line therapy to tackle the disease. See www.lymphoma.org.uk .

Eat lots of vegetables every day to stay mentally alert

Over-65s who eat up to three servings of vegetables a day reduce the decline in their cognitive abilities by up to 40 % compared with those who eat almost no vegetables.

The protective effect didn’t seem to get much better than that, even among those who ate more than four servings of vegetables a day.

The discovery has been made by the Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP), which has tracked the health of a group of 3,718 people over a 10-year period.

Fruit didn’t seem to have the same beneficial effects, even when eaten in high quantities, researchers found.

 

Osteoporosis risk formula devised

Osteoporosis sufferers are likely to break bones. Wrists, hips and the spine are the most common sites for fractures in people with osteoporosis. A range of treatments exist, including hormone replacement therapy, vitamin D and calcium supplements, and non-hormonal medicines.

A formula has been devised that can predict the risk of bone fractures in women suffering osteoporosis. Using the mathematical equation, Australian scientists could calculate a woman's risk with 75% accuracy.

The researchers, writing in the journal Radiology, said the formula could help inform treatment for women with the bone disease.
 

Useful websites

www.mentalhealthproject.com : nutritional help for mental health problems
www.diabetes.org.uk : all you want to know about diabetes
www.yorktest.com   : testing for various diseases
www.lighterlife.com : slimming info plus how to calculate your Body Mass Index

If in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.

IN THE PREVIOUS EDITION

In edition 80:-

Is green tea good for lowering heart disease?

A study suggests that green tea can lower risk of heart disease or stroke.

New vits and herbs.

A new selection of vitamins and herbs is available from Solgar..

Premixed, prefilled syringes for arthritis

New syringe is designed for easier use

Homeopathic podiatry

This may be an alternative to traditional treatments

Relax your eyes

"Palming" is one of the most relaxing things you can do for your eyes.

Link between hot flushes and insomnia

Researchers are not sure if hot flushes cause insomnia or insomnia causes hot flushes

Had your flu jab yet?

Ring your GP to make an appointment

New interactive healthcare website

Dr Chris Steele, the resident doctor from ITVs This Morning has launched his own health website

The complete family health guide

Essential medical reference that's a must for every home. Published in association with the BMA, it includes comprehensive coverage of every important aspect of health and medicine, as well as user-friendly charts for at-a-glance information and easy reference. Also lists the best medical websites...

Maximise your memory

This work provides detailed instructions, illustrations and sample exercises that show the reader how to build a system of personalized frameworks for storing and recalling information on demand.