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Salt – more than
a pinch too much
There has been
plenty of press coverage recently on the subject of
salt. Too much of it can increase the risk of raised
blood pressure (hypertension). Healthwise would like to
add a special point for the fifty-plus: it’s this age
group that is most at risk, and the consequences could
be serious: raised blood pressure leads to greater risk
of heart attack and stroke. The condition rarely shows
any symptoms until a heart attack strikes.
We all know the problem about salt: many processed
and pre-prepared foods in supermarkets contain too much
of it. We add more than is good for us to our own home
cooking. And then we add more to the plates of food in
front of us.
The recommended daily intake of salt is 6g. That’s
about two teaspoons. The average daily intake is around
9.5g. Take a look at the salt content on the label of
almost any processed food, and you will see how easy it
is to get too much.
Trouble is, not all processed foods show the salt
content on the label, and the Consumers’ Association is
urging the government to make salt-content labelling
compulsory. Some foods that might be overlooked for the
salt factor are bacon, pate, salami, soups, bread. Even
some breakfast cereals contain salt, though this is
usually stated on the pack.
How to reduce your daily salt dose? Be more sparing
when cooking. Use more spices and herbs to add flavour.
Gradually reduce salt as a condiment. Aim never to add
salt at the table. And get used to looking at packet
labels and try to buy foods with lower salt content.
Flu jab time
again
They are free to
people over 65, and anyone else considered
vulnerable.
Flu can be serious, particularly for people with any
underlying respiratory illness, like asthma, plus those
with heart or kidney disease and diabetes.
You don’t get flu from a flu jab, but you might get
soreness where the vaccine was injected, and even a
slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of
days.
To get a flu jab, make an appointment at your local surgery. For
more information see what the NHS
have to say.
Beer and
curry
A report in the
British Medical Journal from Sweden says that heavy
drinking (not just beer) in people aged forties and
fifties is linked with mental impairment when they
reach old age. The report also confirms earlier
research that people who don’t drink at all are at
similar risk.
It all boils down to the old adage: everything in
moderation. Except perhaps curry. A chemical compound
found in turmeric, called curcumin oil, appears to
protect against diseases like Alzheimer’s. At least, it
does so in rats.
Reports from the University of Catania, in Sicily, and
the New York Medical College, suggest that rats suffer
less brain cell damage when given high concentrations
of curcumin.
So what happens in India, land of the curry par
excellence? The rates of Alzheimer’s are lower among
the elderly than in western countries.
Index to all
previous Healthwise editions
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Latest on prostate
Most older men who
have the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test for
prostate cancer will get a positive reading. That’s
because most older men have prostate cancer. The
numbers steadily rise in adult men, so that when they
reach eighty, around 80% are estimated to have it. They
can, in most cases, live with it. The majority will die
of something else.
The PSA test is the only way to detect the presence
of cancer, and positive readings often lead to
confirmation by biopsy followed by surgical removal of
the prostate. Unfortunately, this can cause impotence
and incontinence.
Now researchers are saying leave well alone. And that
applies to the PSA test itself, as well as further
medical intervention. Too many men with small cancers
are having the test and then facing unnecessary
surgery.
What the test does show is raised levels of antigen,
which is present when there is an increase in size of
the prostate – a condition known as benign prostatic
hyperplasia. This causes bladder discomfort and a need
to pass urine frequently, but is otherwise
harmless.
Large tumours in the prostate may be identified by the
PSA test, but the argument for regular screening among
men who have no symptoms is no longer recommended.
Asthmatics
and aspirin
They’re not a good
combination, says a study from King’s College Hospital
in London. Though it’s long been known that a small
number of adults suffering from asthma are sensitive to
aspirin, new evidence suggests that as many as one in
five could react with an attack.
Fortunately, paracetamol is well tolerated by the
majority of asthmatics. Since some cold remedies
contain aspirin as well as other ingredients, it’s as
well to examine the contents list of the pack before
you buy.
If in any
doubt about any of the information covered in
healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult
your GP.
In edition 54:-
What to
do about ear wax Useful solutions for this
problem
More good
news about fish
Grilling or baking is the best way to eat fish
Quick
fix for migraine
A new nasal form of a drug works fast to combat
migraine
Drugs
that fool the brain
The placebo effect really does work.
Know what
you`re taking
Some useful advice on taking medicines
New
online service from Help the Aged
Ensuring older people have access to information that
can help improve their lives
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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