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Laterlife Healthwise - 20
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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. For previous articles in the healthwise series visit 'more healthwise' Don't forget to take a look at Helen's separate talkback page too. |
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Visit our Product section too: Health and Beauty in laterlife where we have selected a small range of Health stores where you can buy products online. Between them they cover the spectrum of traditional and alternative health products and therapies that you might be interested in. |
Please note we retain back copies of Healthwise online. If you entered this page directly via a search engine please check the Healthwise Index for the latest edition of Healthwise. |
Over 60% of people who suffer from eczema find that symptoms get worse in the autumn. At this time, the condition becomes more inflamed, itchy and irritated than usual. In the UK more women are affected than men. Dermatologists recommend a regular routine of twice-a-day moisturising followed by an approved emollient to help improve the condition. But research shows that many sufferers don’t follow the advice. In fact, 25% of women choose non-specialist skincare products for ‘sensitive skin’ and find it makes things worse. Results of a new NOP survey by skincare specialist, Eucerin, revealed that one of the biggest triggers for eczema is stress – 45% of sufferers said that stress had caused their condition to flare-up or become worse. Many people are unsure of where to get help or information. The National Eczema Society in association with Eucerin, have produced a leaflet entitled ‘Eczema on Your Mind’, which provides information on the physical and psychological impact of the condition, available free to anyone whose life is affected by eczema. To obtain a copy of the leaflet, go to the National Eczema Society website: www.eczema.org or telephone the Eczema Information Line: 0870 241 3604. If you would like to receive a free sample
of Eucerin emollient, go to website: www.eucerin.co.uk
or telephone: 0870 732 2222.
Or write to: Freepost: Beiersdorf UK Ltd, Freepost
MID23201, Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, B8 3BR.
Pain is one of the most frequent reasons why people visit their doctors. The most common symptoms are back pain or joint pains due to arthritis. Around 22 million episodes of back pain occur every year in the UK, but it is estimated that only one in ten of sufferers seek medical help - mainly because they think there is little to be done. Yet modern pain management is effective and offers several choices. Drugs include a range of analgesics, low doses of antidepressants and anticonvulsants. A new non-steroid anti-inflammatory, rofecoxib, for instance, offers relief from acute pain for 24 hours on a single dose. Chronic pain can also be controlled by blocking nerve transmission. TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) and acupuncture are classed as alternative therapies. Pain Clinics provide combined approaches as well as advice on fitness training and relaxation. Unfortunately, not all hospitals run Pain Clinics, and the quality of care and advice varies greatly throughout the country, so if you suffer acute or chronic pain and can’t find a solution locally, contact the Pain Society at their website: www.britishpainsociety.org to find the best help available.
It happens, predictably, with the decrease in air temperature. As we get towards winter, the cases of colds, flu, and bacterial respiratory infections go up. No one knows why. But there are several ways in which we can protect ourselves. The flu vaccine is available free for anyone vulnerable to chest infections and to all people over age 65 in the UK. Usually it is offered in October, but there’s still time to get the protection. Don’t have the vaccine if you are suffering from an infection or fever, and tell your doctor if you have any allergies or are taking medicines such as steroids that can affect the immune system. Vitamin C has long been considered to offer some protection from colds, and the best way to take it is in those five pieces of fresh fruit you are having every day, though a multivitamin that includes vitamin C provides a useful back-up. Garlic is thought to be another preventative, and there’s some new evidence to confirm this. When 146 volunteers were given either a daily garlic capsule or a placebo (dummy pill) over a 12 week period last November to February, the garlic-takers suffered 24 colds and the placebo group clocked up 65 colds. Symptoms were less severe and of shorter duration in the 24 garlic-takers. Garlic is known to have antibacterial properties as well as providing a
defence against viral infections. The brand of capsules used in the trial was Allimax,
sold at all leading chemists and health stores, price £6.99 for 30 capsules. Allimax also
comes in the form of a cream, and there is evidence that it can be effective against
Herpes simplex, acne and other skin diseases. If you prefer garlic au naturel, you have to chew the stuff raw to activate the vital ingredient, known as allicin.
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
Accurate,
understandable information on aging and nutrition
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It’s not exactly new information. For many years skin specialists have noted that the skin of smokers is more likely to wrinkle early. One report in 1995 noted that the faces of 20-a-day smokers aged by 14 years for every ten years of smoking. New research is telling us why this happens. It’s all to do with a protein imbalance, with a higher concentration detectable in the skins of smokers. Sadly, the effect is thought to be irreversible. The skin deterioration starts from the
early thirties, with wrinkles beginning around mouth and eyes. The problem is loss if
collagen, and anti-ageing face creams, healthy diet and supplementary vitamins don’t
help.
The world’s first artificial intestine has been created by Dutch scientists. Every function of the human digestive system is replicated, through the stomach and intestine and the colon. This invention could be very good news for the millions of people who suffer from constipation, irritable bowel syndrome and general windy symptoms. Scientists are using it to investigate good and bad bacteria in the gut and this will help in diagnosis and treatment. If you want to get hold of leaflets and factsheets on gut problems, there are plenty to download from the website
Need for choice in managing menopause symptoms Delegates at a recent seminar held at the Royal Society of Medicine in London were enlightened about the need for choice when considering the options for easing the symptoms of the menopause. Professor John Studd, one of the UK’s leading gynaecologists and an expert on the menopause, set up the first menopause clinic in Birmingham in 1969 but it was shut down for 3 months by the BMA, their objection at the time being that ‘hormone therapy is unethical’. Professor Studd is a proponent, and indeed a pioneer of HRT but recognises the need to offer women a choice, and in his own clinics is being increasingly asked about the ‘alternative’ options. He first heard of phyto-oestrogens (naturally occurring oestrogen found in plants) and their potential role in managing the menopause 5 years ago when ‘a few eccentric people’ were carrying out studies. Much to his surprise the results were rather good and he has taken an interest in them ever since.
Latest scientific trials on phyto-oestrogens reported by Professor Johannes Huber, Chairman of the Dept for Gynaecology at the University of Vienna, were carried out on a new product, menoflavon, which is based on red clover, known to be one of the best sources of phyto-oestrogens. Professor Huber said: “The natural active substance of Red Clover exhibits the effects usually achieved by the conventional hormone replacement therapy. The advantage of the new dietary supplement is that the intake of Red Clover had no undesirable side effects.” Menoflavon is available in health stores and pharmacies.
If in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP. In edition 19:-
Collagen implants for tired feet New doubts arising about the frequency of eating oily fish Incontinence offer - the pelvic toner Just 10 minutes a day for twelve weeks will make your pelvic floor muscles noticeably firmer with this exerciser A rapid-dissolve tablet that doesn`t need water has just been introduced to help sufferers of migraine Most capsules containing nutritional supplements are made from animal- derived gelatin, which does not go down well with vegetarians and, increasingly, others wishing to control their source of meat products.
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.
Jenni Rivett's guide to fitness, aimed solely at women, is a winner.
This constructive guide provides information on health-related topics, exercise, diet, and personal grooming.
Think there's more to life than hanging around in waiting rooms reading old copies of Hello? Then try this book |
365 ways to energize mind, body and soul
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Visit our Product section too: Health and Beauty in laterlife where we have selected a small range of Health stores where you can buy products online. Between them they cover the spectrum of traditional and alternative health products and therapies that you might be interested in. For more information on Health and Health related matters visit our Health section
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