All
that rich food…
Feel bloated, nauseous
and suffer from stomach discomfort after eating? You could be a victim of dysmotility, an
upmarket word for a form of indigestion. All
it means is that food tends to sit in your stomach instead of working its way through the
digestive system, and you get it from eating unfamiliar or rich foods.
About 57% of people
who suffer from stomach discomfort on a regular basis are experiencing dysmotility, but
the good news is that they can treat it themselves.
On the herbal front is the tried and tested slippery elm,
which eases pain from bloating and other temporary digestive problems. You can get this from health food stores and larger chemists.
And a product called Motilium 10, also available from chemists, is specifically
targeted at dysmotility, quickly restoring the stomach's natural digestive action.
There's a guide called 'Stomach Fit for Life'
available free if you ring the dysmotility information line on 0870 241 2406.
Sex and the older woman
A new study on how
older women feel about their sexual experiences reveals many gaps in knowledge and in help
available. The study was commissioned
by the Pennell Initiative for Women's Health and was carried out by the Tavistock Marital
Studies Institute.
Findings included
the fact that older women rate sensual and tactile experiences as highly important
factors, and that simply noting the numbers of sexual encounters reveals a false picture.
Little research into female attitudes means that there is
a bias towards what the report calls the masculinisation
of sex (see accounting by numbers as above). By
contrast, the idea of love becomes feminised.
Physical illness,
disability, drug treatments, surgery may affect sexual life adversely and distort body
image. Lowered sexual energy is associated with general lower levels of physical fitness.
The report makes several recommendations:
more research into the ways that women define and value
sexuality as they age
more research into the effect of illness and disability on
couples
more training for health professionals
the promotion of sexual health as part of the promotion of
general fitness
Socks for safer flying
Next time you take a
long-haul flight, look out for people flaunting their kneesocks. Long socks are the latest answer to concern about
deep vein thrombosis. Not any old socks of
course. These are made of lycra and have a
gentle massage effect which can counteract blood clotting in those who are vulnerable.
Originally
designed to treat varicose veins, compression socks, as they are called, also reduce
swollen and aching ankles. You can get them
made to measure on prescription, or buy them over the counter from chemists at around £12
a pair.
Don't forget the drill on flights, whether you go for
compression socks or not. Walk about every
hour. Wriggle feet and hands while you're
seated. Take an aspirin before the
flight. Drink lots of water. And reward yourself with an anti blood-clotting
glass of red wine too.
 365 ways to energize mind, body and soul
Before readers
reach for that next cup of coffee, they should reach for this fun and useful book by
natural health and beauty guru Stephanie Tourles
 Age-proof your body
Accurate,
understandable information on aging and nutrition
 Is it
me or is it hot in here? should be compulsory reading. Not just for women
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 The Complete Book of Men`s Health
This
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Coming soon(ish)
A round-up of promises
from medical science which are on the horizon, some more distant than others …
Slimming
treatment. An African cactus used for
centuries by local tribes as a hunger suppressant for hunting trips and rituals could
become the next big thing for slimmers. The vital ingredient of the cactus has been
isolated and is being developed by Phytopharm, a pharmaceutical company. Trials are scheduled for this summer.
Prostate cancer
vaccine. Scientists in California are
reported to be working on a protein that alerts the immune system when prostate cancer is
present.
The aim is for the vaccine to attack and destroy the
cells.
Hearing restorer. Cells from human embryos could restore hearing
to deaf people if work at Bristol University Medical School is successful. Replacement cells will, it is hoped, work with cochlear implants to improve their
efficiency. But the research should one day
open the way to helping many with no or very poor hearing.
New muscles, new
bones. Stem cells taken from body fat
will be reprogrammed to grow into cells that will produce muscle, cartilage and bone, if
researchers from America prove right in their theories.
Easiest transformation could be replacement of loss of cartilage in the knee, but
more miraculous-sounding regeneration could be in the liver or heart cells which one day
might be grown to replace damaged originals.
A tomato a day
The magical medicinal
properties of the tomato grow and grow. We
all know about vitamin C, but the big news is lycopene, the pigment that gives the tomato
its vivid red colour. Lycopene is a nutrient
in the carotenoids group, and that makes it an antioxidant, effective in fighting free
radicals and reducing the effects of ageing.
Evidence is
gathering that a diet rich in tomatoes may help reduce prostate, stomach and lung cancer
as well as heart disease. A study from the
National Cancer Institute showed that men
consuming high levels of tomatoes and tomato
products reduced risk of prostate cancer by
35%.
The best way to get lycopene is to take between 5 and 7
servings of tomato-based products a week, and that can include soups, canned tomatoes,
tomato juice as well as fresh tomatoes.
If in any doubt about any of the
information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.
In edition
14:-
HRT helps memory
When given
visual recall-memory tests, women on HRT performed significantly better than those not
receiving it
Post menopause fractures
Women who suffer from vertebral fractures through osteoporosis are
experiencing better quality of life through the drug Alendronate.
Ban on ageism in the NHS
Last month the Government made a commitment that the charity Age Concern
England called 'a tremendous leap forward' in the battle against ageism in the NHS.
Introducing the dental
facelift
Dental
Facelift, suitable for adults with eight or more teeth missing
Greens for good eyesight
Evidence is
mounting on the value of eating certain foods to avoid Age-Related Macular Degeneration -
that`s the term used to describe the progressive disease affecting part of the retina, one
form of which is cataracts.
Relatives and residents
It pays to know about a charity called the Relatives and Residents
Association.
Index to all previous
Healthwise editions
For books on Health visit the Amazon
Family and Health Section.
Don't forget if you buy books or videos from Amazon by linking from
laterlife, you generate money for Charity.
Jenergy
Jenni Rivett's guide to fitness, aimed solely at women, is a winner.
 A Woman`s
"Diagnose it Yourself" Guide to Health
Think there's more to life than hanging around in waiting rooms reading
old copies of Hello? Then try this book |
