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Healthwise is a regular column written especially for
laterlife.com members and visitors.
This month it is written by Jane
Feinmann ,
award winning medical journalist and author.
Welcome to healthwise 93.
For previous articles in the healthwise series
visit
'more healthwise'
 
Botox for shoulder pain
Yet another use for the beauty industry’s favourite toxin.
As well as smoothing out frowns and wrinkles, Botox injections
are already used to treat migraine, sweating, diabetic nerve
pain and an overactive bladder. Now, researchers have found that
Botox relieves shoulder pain, an increasingly common problem,
especially for keyboard slaves. It is thought that the toxin
disperse the chemicals that cause painful joints according to a
study presented at the American College of Rheumatology’s
scientific meeting in Boston.
UK 50 plus among happiest in Europe
It’s too easy to envy the sun-kissed lifestyle of Southern
Europe. People in France, Italy and Span seem to know all about
the good life and how to enjoy it. But it’s an illusion
apparently, at least after you’ve passed the age of 50. Older
people who live in Europe’s Latin countries are twice as likely
to suffer depressive symptoms and syndrome: they have less get
up and go and are more likely to be pessimistic and lacking
curiosity and enjoyment compared to to the same age group living
in the UK as well as Denmark, Germany and Austria. The study of
22,000 over-50s in 10 European countries was funded by the
European Union and published in the British Journal of
Psychiatry.
Why the right red wine boosts the heart
Red wine drinkers have looked a trifle smug for the last four
or five years – ever since academics first claimed that
polyphenols, a cocktail of thousands of chemicals that give the
drink its taste and colour, are very good for the heart. The
theory, however, has lacked authority. The British Heart
Foundation doesn’t mention red wine in its guidelines on diet,
simply warning against excessive drinking. Now, however, the BHF
is reconsidering what it acknowledges as being a cautious
approach. Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate director of the
BHF, admits that there is convincing evidence of the virtues of
red wine. "Maybe it's time we revised our policy," he told a
national newspaper . "I think that perhaps we are being too
cautious. We've always been reluctant to promote alcohol because
of the obvious risks of over-drinking, but I think there's
enough evidence now for us to have a re-think". Apparently,
polyphenols bind to a surface protein on artery walls and help
smooth the flow of blood, a bit like creating a non-stick
surface – and thus preventing the build-up of atheroma. But not
all red wines are equally rich sources of polyphenols. A French
wine called Madiran, made from Tannat in southwest France, is
probably the richest source – a small glass contains more
polyphenols than two bottles of most Australian reds.
Argentinian Malbec is also a good source as are wines from – of
all places - Uruguay.
Viagra online worry
The most searched for pharmaceutical term on the internet
during September 2007 was Viagra, according to Hitwise, the
online intelligence service. And the finding is causing
concern to the Men’s Health Forum, worried that older men are
going online to get the impotence therapy rather than see their
GP about their problem. ‘It is well known that men attend their
GP half as often as women, and that they probably delay seeing
their doctor, particularly when they have an embarrassing
medical condition,” said Professor Ian Banks, President of the
European Mens Health Forum. ”Men in particular should be
reminded that buying medicines via the Internet without
considering consultation is no substitute for an accurate
diagnosis by a health care professional of what may be a
serious, underlying medical condition.”
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
Protect your knees
If you’re concerned about aching knees, the worst
response is to stop exercising them
Stress Awareness
The signs are that over-50s are just as much in need of
advice on stress-busting techniques as their children
are.
Getting round NICE
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
has caused consternation with its ruling that restricts
the medication that GPs can prescribe for osteoporosis
to a single drug.
Spotting symptoms
Wear a spotty blouse or tie on Friday November 23rd for
the good of your health.
About eyes - what does it mean?
Answers about some worrying eye problems...
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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