Laterlife Healthwise - 52

Healthwise is a regular column written especially for laterlife.com members and visitors by Helen Franks, journalist and author. Welcome to healthwise 52.

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

Don't forget to take a look at Helen's separate talkback page too.

New drug for asthma

A new, once-daily asthma inhaler is good news for those who have to take a daily preventative against asthma attacks. Inhaled corticosteroids, considered to be the foundation of asthma treatment, work by reducing inflammation – the underlying disease process – in the lungs and airways.  

But corticosteroids are known to have an adverse effect on the immune system, involving the interactions of the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands. The new treatment,  Alvesco (ciclesonide), is a corticosteroid, but studies show that it has no detectable effect on normal adrenal function in asthma patients who have mild to moderate symptoms.  

Researchers came to this conclusion, having measured the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, believed to be a focus of the body's reactions to stress and associated with reaction to extra cortisol production.

Edward M. Kerwin, MD, medical director, Clinical Research Institute of Southern Oregon and lead investigator of the study, says, with appropriate guardedness,  “As a result (the drug) may be safer in this respect than other inhaled steroids currently marketed.”

Alvesco is an inhaled corticosteroid with special lung-targeted anti-inflammatory effect. Alvesco was approved in Australia and the United Kingdom this year, and has been submitted for approval in other countries around the world. 

Goodness in the rind

Citrus peel can cut cholesterol and heart disease, say US scientists. In tests on hamsters, flavonoid compounds in citrus peel were found to significantly lower Low Density Lipid cholesterol (LDL) – identified as a major risk factor for heart disease. 

While we await confirming tests in humans, we might ponder on how much citrus peel anyone can absorb in an average day. 

The Nutri Centre - the UK’s supplements and complementary medicines supplier – offers an alternative.  Their product ProFibe is a dietary supplement formulated from the fibre of grapefruit rind.

A serving of ProFibe contains the citrus pectin equivalent to two whole grapefruit, including the rind.  It’s not just the antioxidant compounds, however, that are beneficial. Water soluble fibre contained in ProFibe is thought to be able to reduce cholesterol levels too.

ProFibe is in powder form, made from non-GM soy protein, guar gum and citrus pectin, which can be mixed with prepared food or drink. Price £19.95 for 380g.  You can order through the Nutri Centre website.

Taking care of travelling legs

Firstly, a few myths about DVT (deep-vein thrombosis). Economy class flights offer no more risk than first class seats – all have sufficient room for passengers to flex their calf muscles, says a BMA report. And taking aspirin before a flight is now thought to cause more harm than good, increasing the risk of stomach bleeding and allergy responses in some people.

Although only very few incidents of DVT present life-threatening complications, though most will cause damage to the deep veins. DVT is only life threatening when the blood clot breaks away from the leg and enters the lungs or heart, causing a blockage.

Many people may not know when they have suffered a DVT, although they may experience swelling and discomfort in the leg. This damage leaves the legs at a higher risk of long term venous problems such as varicose veins and leg ulcers, and makes the person more susceptible to another DVT.

Any form of travel over two hours, whether by coach, train or ‘plane, can pose a risk of DVT. Most pharmacists sell compression hosiery, as it is called in the trade, and some will measure your feet for a perfect fit – for maximum protection.  The best-designed socks work by creating a graduated massaging effect on ankle and calf. This assists in returning blood back to the heart and improves circulation, so reducing the risk of DVT.

Compression hosiery should be worn on journeys, and for as long as possible afterwards as there is still a risk of DVT after a journey has ended. 

The makers of Activa DVT Air Socks, in conjunction with the National Pharmaceutical Society (NPA), train pharmacists in the fitting of their compression hosiery. The socks cost £9.56,  available only from pharmacists, who will measure you for the correct size.

Activa Healthcare has published a leaflet on DVT, and also has a leaflet written in conjunction with the Association of Tissue Viability Nurse Specialists on general leg health entitled 'Taking Care Of Your Legs'. Both leaflets are available free from the Activa Customer Care Line by telephoning 08450 606707, or by visiting  www.activa
healthcare.co.uk.

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Bad chair days

If you spend hours hunched over the computer, slumped in front of the television or tensed up in a traffic jam, you could be suffering from a whole range of minor aches and pains – in the back, hamstrings, hips, neck, head.  That’s what bad posture does for you.

The answer?  Try to remember to sit up straight, loosen those shoulders and feel the difference.  Suddenly breathing is easier because the lungs are no longer constricted, and you feel more alert and fitter.  And more relaxed.

Sadly, if you suffer from chronically bad back pain, a spot of posture correction may not be enough. In which case, you might be interested to know about the Bambach Saddle Seat, a special chair designed to relieve back problems

As the name suggests, it is shaped like a horse's saddle, which when sat on, makes you take the correct sitting position, supporting the pelvis, and therefore naturally positioning the spine. This, the makers say, relieves and prevents back pain.

The chair can be used at the office, at home in front of the computer or television, and is suitable for anyone who sits for prolonged periods of time.  It’s not cheap, at just under £400, but could be the answer for back sufferers. For enquiries call 020 8532 5100 or visit www.bambach.co.uk

Whiter than white

Tooth whitening is the fastest growing cosmetic treatment. A thousand people a week now have the treatment in the UK.

"Discolouration is a tell-tale sign of ageing," says Dr Payman Langroudi, dental surgeon and director of Enlighten, a tooth whitening procedure. And you have to admit that he has a point. 

The Enlighten method takes just 40 minutes in the dentist’s chair teeth, and for £450 you can watch a movie of your choice on DVD glasses. The process lasts from 2-5 years depending on age and any eating or drinking habits which may cause tooth staining, such as smoking, red wine and tea.

Enlighten tooth whitening treatment is available from dentists. To find out more ring 0800 019 0325.

Is obesity in the genes?

Obesity makes headlines nowadays.   People are getting fatter, and the reason is mainly that they are eating too many sweet, processed, unhealthy foods and not taking enough exercise.

But sometimes the reason for obesity is a genetic defect, which was the cause of the death of a child of eight that recently got into the news.  The defect meant that her brain was always telling her that she was hungry, so she ate and ate, with tragic results.  The condition is extremely rare, and the gene fault usually shows up in childhood. 

Could there be other reasons beside over-eating and lack of exercise for the obesity ‘epidemic’?  One theory is that processed foods might contain chemicals that trigger weight gain.  Another is that the foods become addictive.  Neither of these is proven.

A change of eating habits and some regular exercise definitely help weight loss, though the change has to be permanent.   A very low calorie diet might kick-start  the process. 

People who need strong supervision might want to try the Cambridge Diet, a complete formula food that can be used as sole source or as part of a balanced weight management programme.

The Cambridge Diet programme includes a counsellor who provides advice, guidance and support to clients during all phases of weight care from initial weight loss to long-term weight maintenance.  If you want to know more, see the website www.cambridge
-health-plan.co.uk.