Laterlife Healthwise - 64
July 2005

Living with diabetes

Diabetes affects many people as they get older. That’s why laterlife has introduced its promotion of the ‘Dummies’ series of books with Diabetes for Dummies. Click on laterlife-dummies-books.htm to find out more about symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

If you are over 60 or are experiencing any of the symptoms described, then go to your GP and ask for a test.

To help those who have already been diagnosed, Lloydspharmacy has produced a magazine called Life's Still Sweet - to make living with diabetes easier. The magazine is packed full of advice and information from experts to help those diagnosed understand their condition.

It also provides case-study examples of people who successfully manage their condition, together with clear explanations of the different types of diabetes, lifestyle tips, recipes and frequently asked questions.

Lloydspharmacy has 200 copies of Life’s Still Sweet (issue 2) to give away. If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes and you would like to obtain a copy, call 0800 3892578 or visit www.lloydspharmacy.com  to get details of their screening service.

Ageing population and cancer rates

The proportion of the world's population aged 60 or over currently stands at 10 per cent, but is expected to more than double to 22 per cent by 2050. Most forms of cancer are linked to age: the older you are, the higher your risk, so older populations generally have more cases of cancer.

Despite this, UK cancer mortality rates are falling, thanks to earlier diagnosis and better treatment. Though more cases of breast cancer are now diagnosed each year, in the UK the survival rate is increasing. And cervical screening programmes in developed countries have significantly reduced cases of cervical cancer.

Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, most of these are thought to be smoking-related. Smoking in the UK has declined among men and has peaked among women, so here we are seeing big falls in the numbers of people being diagnosed with lung cancer.

But in regions of the world where the prevalence of smoking has increased – eastern Africa, central America and southeast Asia in particular – there will be big increases in the numbers of people diagnosed with lung cancer over the next twenty years.



Are you taking five?

Three quarters of people in the UK are not eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day that can help reduce the risk of cancer, says Cancer Research UK. Their new survey found that two-thirds of people are unaware of the link between low fruit and vegetable intake and cancer.

Women are better than men at eating their 'five a day' and the likelihood of people eating five or more portions per day increases with age. Less than 20 per cent of people aged 15–24 eat the recommended daily allowance of fruit and vegetables, compared with more than 33 per cent of people aged over 55.

What to do about prostrate cancer

It was no surprise to researchers from the University of Connecticut when they concluded that no surgery is usually the best policy for prostrate cancer in older men. They reviewed the progress of 767 men who were aged between 55 and 74 when diagnosed with prostate cancer, and discovered that men with low-grade prostate cancer had only a slight risk of dying from the disease, even 20 years after diagnosis.

Prostate cancer is known to be very slow-acting, and you're as likely to die with it as from it if it begins late enough in life. But for men aged 55 and younger, there is a dilemma. Surgery may be a life-saver, but the after-effects can include impotence and incontinence.

There is some good news that could eliminate these after-effects. A new treatment, based on chlorophyll, the stuff that reacts to sunlight to make plants green, promises to offer a cure for prostate cancer without surgery.

The treatment was devised by Avigdor Scherz of the Weizman Institute in Israel and is being developed with a Dutch firm, Steba Beheer NV. Trials at University College London and in Canada suggest that this treatment could be the way forward.

 

Travel bug precautions

Later lifers can get their holiday fix any old time, but summer is still mainly when we plan those trips abroad and get tummy bugs. Here’s a reminder of the hazards and necessary precautions:

• Bacteria and viruses are usually transmitted through eating contaminated foods transferred by flies and often in restaurants with poor hygiene

• Touching a contaminated surface and then putting a hand to your mouth can be enough to get infected

• Water can be a carrier, so drink only from sealed bottles, don’t use ice and clean teeth with bottled water if there is any doubt about the water supply (check with a travel clinic or your travel agent on this)

• If the water is known to be a hazard, eat fruits and vegetables that require peeling, avoid salads, go for freshly-cooked foods and avoid shellfish

• Wash your hands, especially after going to the toilet and before preparing food

• If you see flies in a restaurant or food that is displayed without covers, don’t eat there

What to do if you get a bug? If symptoms are extreme (fever, vomiting) or go on for more than 24 hours, seek medical help. Drink plenty of clean water. Use an oral rehydration sachet (from pharmacies) to avoid dehydration and maintain fluid balance. Reintroduce food gently, starting with clear soups, then bread and potatoes. A probiotic such as Yakult, could help restore balance too.
 

If in any doubt about any of the information covered in healthwise articles and it's relevance for you, consult your GP.

In edition 63:-     

In edition 63 of  healthwise Helen covers 8 new topics:   

Acupuncture proof

Brain scanning techniques were used to demonstrate acupuncture’s impact is more than just a placebo.

Sleeping sickness

Around 16 per cent of Britons say that they regularly wake up feeling as bad as they did when they went to bed

Simple check for breast cancer

An innovation to help women detect changes to their breasts, called the Liv Kit, has been launched.

Coeliac sufferers eat out

For the UK's estimated 750,000 individuals with coeliac disease, it can prove incredibly frustrating trying to find a places where they can eat safely.

Snore danger

It’s not exactly a new discovery, but a feature in The Lancet reminds that snoring can be a health hazard.

Colon cancer in the family

Screening for polyps in the colon of people who have colon cancer in their family is of great importance.

Life with a bag

For some people after a colostomy or after an operation for Crohn’s disease, there’s no choice but to live with a stoma.

Don`t take these before surgery

Various natural remedies can interact with anaesthetics, so it’s a good idea to stop taking them before you have surgery.

Index to all previous Healthwise editions

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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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