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Healthwise is a regular column written especially for
laterlife.com members and visitors by Helen Franks,
journalist and author. Welcome to healthwise 91.
For previous articles in the healthwise series
visit
'more healthwise'
Helen Franks
Helen has specialised in writing about health and
ageing and is a member of the Guild of Health Writers. She has
written for a variety of newspapers and magazines including the
Guardian, Times, Observer, Woman, Family Circle, Vogue and
Choice.
Helen has also written several books including
Getting Older Slowly Your Guide to Successful Ageing and
Bone Boosters
co-authored with Diana Moran of TV Green Goddess fame.
Don't forget to take a look at Helen's separate
talkback
page too.
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MRSA infections continue to fall
Health Minister, Ann Keen, praised the hard work of NHS staff
as the number of MRSA bloodstream infections showed a 6.4 % fall
on the previous quarter – the third time the figure has fallen.
Ann Keen also pledged to continue measures to drive down
numbers of infection, warning Trusts that patients must be
treated in a safe, clean environment.
The assurance came as the Health Protection Agency (HPA)
published statistics showing an increase of 22 % in C.difficile
reports, an increase on the previous quarter, but in line with
seasonal rises in infection and results for the same period last
year.
The NPS evaluation of the cleanyourhands campaign can be
found at
www.npsa.nhs.uk/cleanyourhands
The Healthcare Commission Report ‘What else can the boards
and senior managers of acute NHS trusts do to improve the
prevention and control of infection?’ can be found at
www.healthcarecommission.org.uk
Failing Eyesight? Eat more fish
If your eyesight is failing, eat more oily fish, and take
omega-3 supplements every day. This combined strategy can help
re-grow blood vessels in the eyes and combat retinopathy, the
eye disease that can lead to blindness according to Researchers
from Harvard Medical School.
It’s also vital to reduce – or eliminate – the amount of
omega-6 fatty acids, which are derived from corn oil and which
form the backbone of the standard American diet. The omega-6
acids aid the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the retina.
By comparison, the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, mainly
derived from fatty fish and vegetables, encourage the growth of
healthy blood vessels in the eyes. They also protect against the
growth of abnormal blood vessels, a characteristic of
retinopathy.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School found that even a
slight increase in omega-3 had a profound effect on eye
problems, halving the severity of retinopathy. and combat
retinopathy, the eye disease that can lead to blindness
Optometrists to get independent prescribing powers
Health Minister Dawn Primarolo announces that optometrists
will
be able to train to prescribe medicines . Patients will soon be
examined, diagnosed, and get a prescription during one trip to
the
opticians.
Optometrists, also known as ophthalmic opticians, are
health specialists trained in all aspects of eye health.
As well as testing sight and prescribing glasses or contact
lenses, they are
also trained to recognise potentially blinding eye conditions
such as
macular degeneration and glaucoma and refer them on for medical
care.
Optometrists can also spot signs of conditions such as
diabetes.
Independent prescribing will mean that specially trained
optometrists
will be able to write a prescription if they diagnose a problem
needing treatment, saving the patient from having to make a
separate
appointment with their GP.
Those under 16 and those over 60 are entitled
to a free eye test in England and Wales and in Northern
Ireland. The test takes an average of 30 minutes.
If you are making a complaint visit
www.opticalcomplaints.co.uk
Dawn Primarolo said, a simple eye test is crucial to keep
eyes healthy and in the most serious cases, can save your sight.
Optometrists are trained eye health professionals. Enabling
independent prescribing will not only allow them to make better
use of their skills, but will also mean greater convenience for
patients.
Seven million suffer from noises in the head, new research
reveals
One in seven people have experienced the symptoms of tinnitus
- noises inside the ears or head - but 70 % of GPs surveyed have
never had any training on the condition, new research from
national charity RNID reveals today.
The charity found that 15 % of those surveyed - which
equates to more than seven million people across the UK - had
experienced tinnitus, often described as ringing, whistling,
humming or buzzing in the ears or head, for more than a day.
Yet although RNID research has found that tinnitus can cause
severe distress and suffering - disrupting people's work,
relationships and sex lives - less than a third of doctors
surveyed say they have had any training on the condition.
RNID is revealing the shocking extent of this hidden
health problem on the same day it launches a new web service -
www.tuneouttinnitus.org.uk with information to help those
with tinnitus understand the condition and advice on simple
techniques and equipment to manage it.
RNID is calling for GPs to take a more understanding and
holistic approach to patients with tinnitus, directing those
with mild tinnitus to RNID for help and referring those whose
condition has a severe impact on their lives to an ear, nose and
throat specialist:
The RNID found that:
- Of 890 people with tinnitus who were surveyed, 41% said
the condition had a negative effect on their personal
relationships, with 27 blaming the damage to their
relationship on a reduced sex drive, and 36% on a lack of
understanding from their partner. 42 per cent of respondents
said their tinnitus had a negative effect on their work
life.
- Research on tinnitus conducted by
www.doctors.net.uk,
February 2007, amongst 506 GPs.
- RNID funds £50,000 of research each year to find a cure
for tinnitus. At the moment, there are no drugs available to
specifically treat tinnitus alone.
- RNID is the national charity working to change the world
for the UK's 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people. We
do this with the help of our members, by campaigning and
lobbying, raising awareness of deafness, hearing loss and
tinnitus, providing services and through social, medical and
technical research.
For further information about RNID or to become a member,
visit www.rnid.org.uk,
contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or
0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email
informationline@rnid.org.uk .
For tinnitus enquiries, visit
www.tuneouttinnitus.org.uk , contact RNID's Tinnitus
Helpline on 0808 808 6666 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone)
or email
tinnitushelpline@rnid.org.uk .
Top tips for tuning out tinnitus include:
- Sound therapy - A wide range of 'relaxer' products,
which play soothin g sounds to distract people from the
noise of tinnitus, are available from RNID's products range.
Visit
www.rnid.org.uk/shop to find out more.
- Relaxation - Meditation, yoga or just time out for a
warm bath and soothing music can all help - many people
notice their tinnitus more if they are worried or tired.
Relaxation CDs are available from RNID's products range at
www.rnid.org.uk/shop
- Hearing aids - If someone with tinnitus also has a
hearing loss, hearing aids can help by stopping the ears
straining to hear, and picking up other sounds that may
distract from the tinnitus. To take RNID's telephone hearing
check, call 0845 600 5555.
- Get advice - visit RNID's dedicated website at
www.tuneouttinnitus.org.uk or call the charity's
Tinnitus Helpline on (telephone) 0808 808 6666 or (textphone)
0808 808 0007.
Visit the RNID website
www.singingforsnorers.com
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
Age-related Macular Disorder
There are simple, preventative steps the public can take
Urine and blood samples reveal cancer-related link
Researchers looking into the links between diet and cancer have
developed a new way of objectively measuring sugar consumption
Latest survival rates for heart surgery
Performance of Heart units in England and Wales, in
terms of survival rates, is within the range expected.
Older drinkers
The Government is targeting older drinkers at home, who may not
know what’s good for them.
Of mice and men and women too
Mice may bring hope to Alzheimer sufferers and promote
new nerves, enhancing memory, says the City University
in New York.
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.
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