Live to 100 with Dr Amir Khan: Summer 2022

LI V E TO 100 W ITH DR A MIR K H A N

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Prevention and Care

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WELCOME

WELCOME! Dr Amir Khan introduces this issue of Live to 100, where we can all learn more about the issues surrounding our health, wellbeing and future lives

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elcome to the latest issue of Live to 100. I’m pleased to have the opportunity to present the magazine at a time when health issues are more important than ever; we’ve experienced a worldwide pandemic, we’re living longer, and there are serious health issues that are putting the NHS under pressure. It’s more important than ever that we know how to look after ourselves and each other.

Many of us will, sadly, have lost loved ones to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the issues raised for society by that event are by no means over. That’s why one of the main features in this issue looks at ‘long Covid’, and how it may continue to affect our health in the future.

As a working GP, I hear the worries many patients have over conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and conditions of later life. There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings surrounding these conditions, and in Live to 100 we will dispel some of this misinformation.

As always, though, there is a lot we can do to protect ourselves from illness and to maintain our health into older age. So there’s plenty to read here about diet, exercise, the importance of sleep and how to overcome stress.

We all want to enjoy a long, healthy and happy life, and the more knowledge and insight we have into health issues, the more likely we are to live to 100. So I hope you enjoy this issue, and remember - your GP is always there to listen and to help! •

IMAGES: Amigo Talent

Dr Amir Khan Guest Editor

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CONTENTS

Contents 10 Interview Live to 100’s new celebrity guest editor Dr Amir Khan talks to Chris Jenkins about the everyday work of a GP, how the NHS has to change, and what we can all do to manage our health and live longer and happier lives

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CONTENTS

YOUR WELLBEING 20 Keeping well, Feeling Good From your waistline to your exercise regime, and eating prunes to a healthy diet, all the news from the world of fitness and wellbeing 24 Voyage to Dreamland Sleep isn’t just relaxing, it’s essential for health. Why do we need it, and how can we improve it, from setting a bedtime routine to choosing the right mattress?

28 The Best Present is a Future What can you do to give your children or grandchildren a good financial start in life?

A Junior ISA is a good option. We explain how they work and why they’re a good savings option 31 At the Heart of Health Your heart health is vital, but you can help monitor it at home with a simple blood pressure test which is a good indicator in a number of serious conditions.

32 Getting A Grip on Diabetes Part of the difficulty in dealing with diabetes is the problem of diagnosis. Now a simple grip strength test may give an indicator of how likely we are to suffer from this debilitating condition 34 Taking Care of Your Skin The skin is the largest organ of the body, but prone to many health issues. What’s the latest thinking on how to deal with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis?

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42 Go With Your Gut Gut health is an issue we should all consider more - they don’t call it the ‘second brain’ for nothing. But what can we do to keep our intestinal flora in balance?

46 Food For Thought Food intolerances seem to be affecting more and more people - but what can we do if we don’t get on with gluten, or delight in dairy?

50 Keep an Eye Out for Ocular Health There are several major eye conditions that we should all look out for - but how many would you recognise and know how to treat?

52 Cataracts in Patients With Other Conditions Eye conditions such as glaucoma can complicate cataract treatment. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Moorfields Private consultants advise on the best courses of action

64 Taking the Strain Out of Stress Understanding the mind-body connection is key to reducing stress, but what practical techniques can we use?

68 The Joy of ‘Friluft sliv’ Post-pandemic, we all need to get back into the fresh air - and the Nordic lifestyle movement called friluftsliv sounds just the ticket

56 Not a Dry Eye in the House...

Dry eyes seem to aff lict more and more of us as we spend more time staring at monitors. But there are other causes, as well as some helpful solutions...

58 Is Old Age a Disease That Can Be Cured?

The World Health Organisation now classifies ageing as a disease - so what can be done to cure it? The answer may lie in nutrition

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YOUR HEALTH CARE 70 Healthier for Longer Medical research and advances in treatment mean that we should all be able to live longer and healthier lives.

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73 Clean Air Act Indoor air can be as polluted as outdoors - do you know the sources of air quality problems at home, from cleaning products to heaters, and the best solutions?

76 Water Lot We Got We should all know the importance of hydration, but what’s the best way to take in water? It can be less straightforward than you think to get the pure stuff...

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78 The Rise and Rise of Lyme Disease Why is Lyme Disease becoming more common, where does it come from, what are the symptoms and how can it be treated?

79 The Great Salt Shaker Did you know that adding salt to your food can take years off your life? Recent studies suggest it’s so, but come up with some dietary alternatives that may address the problem 80 It All Adds Up If your diet is lacking a certain something, nutritional supplements should help you make up the shortfall. But what might you need and where do you find it?

92 Ringing the Changes Tinnitus, the perception of noise when there isn’t any, can be a distressing and worrying hearing condition, but what causes it, and how can it be treated?

104 Science For Your Skin We all understand the benefits of cosmetics for our skin, but what about technology?

There are some amazing tools out there to care for your epidermis

86 Natural Ways to a Happy Tum If you have digestive problems such as reflux or bloating, are there natural, organic solutions?

94 The Legacy of Covid-19 As we learn to live with coronavirus, work begins to understand its long-term effects and how it might change society’s attitudes to disease

108 Health Myths - Busted!

From wrapping up warm to drinking lots of water, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s sound health sense and what’s an old wives’ tale. We sort the myths from the facts

98 A Common Cause - Prostate Cancer Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, but it’s not discussed as often as it should be. What can we do to bring it into the open? It’s time for a ManVersation...

112 Diabetes - A Growing Concern Diabetic conditions are on the rise, and threaten to become a burden to the overstretched NHS. What is the cause, and what can we do to protect ourselves?

102 Is Garlic Good For Your Heart?

Researchers looking at the Mediterranean diet considered the idea that garlic might promote heart health - but did they find anything in it?

114 Joint Ventures As we get older, our joints suffer wear and tear - but how do we judge when the situation calls for surgical joint replacement, and can we fend it off?

89 Is CBD For Me? CBD, or cannabidiol, is an ingredient in an increasing number of health products - but what exactly is it, how is it refined and what can it do for you?

90 Is There a Natural Alternative to HRT? With problems sourcing Hormone Replacement Therapy treatments currently in the news, is it time to look at natural alternatives?

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OVER 60 118 Older and Wiser The population is ageing, and health issues are at the forefront of plans to adapt to an older society. Here are some of the ways the health sector is responding 120 The Challenges of an Ageing Population Changing demographics affect the whole population - how are governments responding to the needs of the older generation?

PUBLISHER & CEO Kevin Harrington EDITOR Chris Jenkins CONTRIBUTORS Suzanne Cairns Thomas J Roberts Patricia Savage

124 The Future of Ageing A new exhibition at the London Design Museum showcases new ideas for adapting our living spaces to the needs of an older population

PRODUCTION Delicia Tasinda DESIGN Joanna Harrington

126 Shedding Your inhibitions Older men don’t like to talk about their health problems, but the Men’s Shed movement aims to get them out more and encourages them to open up

ADMINISTRATOR Emma Hulse

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PUBLISHED BY COPYRIGHT © 2022, CELEBRITY ANGELS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

128 An MOT For Your Body When you get older, it’s a good idea to have an overall health check, whether you have any symptoms or not - so what can the NHS offer and what are the benefits?

COVER IMAGE Amigo Talent

Live to 100 with Dr Amir Khan Celebrity Angels 143 Caledonian Road London N1 0SL Tel: 020 7871 1000

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For sales enquiries call: 020 7871 1000 All material in Live to 100 with Dr Amir Khan is wholly copyright and reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden.

130 Can the Brain be Rebooted?

Elderly mice have been reinvigorated in research which might point to a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

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IMAGES: Dreamstime; Design Museum London

Products and services included in this publication do not imply endorsement by Dr Amir Khan.

The views expressed in this publication are entirely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of Celebrity Angels. The information in this publication is carefully researched and produced in good faith, however, neither the Publisher nor the Editors accept responsibility for any errors. The Celebrity Angels Series is published in the UK under licence by Damson Media Limited. Damson Media Limited is registered in England and Wales under registration no. 07869300.

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INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

Living Your

Best Life

Chris Jenkins talks to Dr Amir Khan, Britain’s favourite TV doctor and the new face of Live to 100, about the post-coronavirus health world, how the NHS could be improved, and how we can all take charge of our own habits to improve our health

SINCE THE PANDEMIC THERE’S BEEN A PROBLEM WITH OLDER PATIENTS PARTICULARLY BEING RELUCTANT TO COME FORWARD TO REPORT SYMPTOMS. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS HERE, AND WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CONDITIONS THEY COULD BE PRONE TO? AK Unfortunately, the older we get the more at risk we are to a whole host of medical conditions. Our risk of certain cancers increases as we get older, which is why it is important to report any new and persistent changes to your health to a clinician, especially unexplained weight loss, unexplained pain, a new lump, unusual bleeding, unexplained tiredness. Most of the time it is nothing to worry about, but it is best to be safe and get it checked.

“ Older people are often stoic and don’t want to waste the doctor’s time with things they think are insignificant, but trust me, we would rather know about them!”

Older people are often stoic and don’t want to waste the doctor’s time with things they think are insignificant, but trust me, we would rather know about them! If we can put your mind at rest and reassure you, we will. If we need to order investigations or do a referral, we will do that also, but nothing will be done without your consent.

We are also at increased risk of cardiovascular disease as we age, so things like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and strokes become more common. It is a good idea to buy a blood pressure machine from the local chemist and check your blood pressure at home twice a week, if it is high then report it to your GP or practice nurse. »

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INTERVIEW

“Covid is an airborne virus so putting things in place like air filters in indoor spaces can help reduce the spread of all airborne illnesses.”

YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR YEARS AS A GP IN YOUR BOOK THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE NHS IS STILL STRUGGLING, THOUGH THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC SEEMS TO BE OVER. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR NHS EMPLOYEES AND PATIENTS? AK We need to invest in recruitment and retention of staff. Training more doctors and nurses so they can provide care in a timely manner, but also improving working conditions for existing employees so they do not leave. Happy staff provide the best care to patients. Simple things like free parking and hot meals available around the clock for hospital workers is a step in the right direction.

I train GPs and it is very challenging, each trainee comes with their own learning needs and requirements which takes up a lot of my time. Most of this is done in my own time, but not everybody can do this and this put doctors off being teachers and trainers. We can no longer ask NHS staff to do these things “in and amongst” - it needs recognition and time dedicating to it, and that is one thing that the NHS is short of. »

IMAGES: Dreamstime

HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM HAS ‘LONG COVID’ PROVED TO BE? WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE CHANCES OF ANOTHER PANDEMIC, AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO PREPARE FOR IT? AK Over two million people are suffering with long Covid in the UK, these are symptoms that persist for four weeks or more after the initial infection. The most common symptoms include tiredness, breathlessness, coughing and memory issues. So far, we do not have any definitive treatments and research is ongoing. The best thing to do to avoid long Covid, is to not get Covid!

We need to minimise the risk of another pandemic by looking at what is likely to happen next. A big issue is antibiotic resistance, if bacteria emerge that antibiotics cannot kill, we are in real danger. We must restrict the use of antibiotics in people and animals to only those who need them, this will reduce the risk of resistance.

We also need to think about reducing the risk of animal-human cross over events, this means treating wildlife and livestock with respect and not forcing them into unnatural environments and inhumane conditions.

Clean air is key – Covid is an airborne virus so putting things in place like air filters in indoor spaces can help reduce the spread of all airborne illnesses.

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INTERVIEW

approach to your health, focussing on what matters to you. They can also connect you to community groups for practical and emotional support.

I am an ambassador for The Good Grief Trust, a charity that aims to make bereavement services more accessible for everyone. If you are feeling the effects of the loss of a loved one, it is worth reaching out to them as they can really help. I direct all my patients to them who are recently bereft and the feedback is very positive.

DO WE HAVE TO ACCEPT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DISABILITY SUCH AS MEMORY LOSS, MOBILITY PROBLEMS AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION AS WE GET OLDER? AK Memory loss is not a normal part of getting older, and should not be seen as such. There are lots of different

causes of memory loss including vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, and diabetes that can be investigated and treated. We also need to rule out serious things like dementia, but the earlier this is picked up the better.

It is true as we get older our joints are more at risk of wear and tear which can make movement painful. The best way to avoid this is by doing gently exercise to help manage your weight and keep your joints supple.

Just because we get older doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be enjoying a good sex life! Erectile problems are not normal as you get older and should always be something to see your GP about. It could be a sign of type 2 diabetes or blood flow issues, and these can be treated.

We can also give you medication to help with erections and get your sex life back on track.

IMAGES: Dreamstime

IS MENTAL HEALTH GIVEN ENOUGH EMPHASIS, PARTICULARLY IN OLDER PATIENTS? WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH CHARITIES IN FIELDS SUCH AS BEREAVEMENT? AK Mental health is a buzz word right now and younger people are constantly being encouraged to talk about it, which is a good thing. But it wasn’t the same for older generations and talking about their mental health may not feel comfortable to them, but it is important they do as there is so much that can be done to help.

Whether it is low mood, loneliness or bereavement, there are always options available and it does not have to be medication if that is not your preference.

Talking therapy and befriending services are available and most parts of the country now offer “social prescribing” which involves being referred to a link worker who will take a more holistic

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INTERVIEW

“ I am seeing more and more people with Type 2 diabetes because as a population we are moving less and eating more.”

IMAGES: Dreamstime

WHY IS DIABETES BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY COMMON CONDITION, AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? AK Type 2 diabetes, in broad terms, occurs when a person is still producing insulin, the hormone that manages your blood sugars, but your body is not responding to it in the way that it used to. We call this insulin resistance. This means your blood sugars rise. High blood sugars are bad for almost everything, from your kidneys to your eyes.

I am seeing more and more people with Type 2 diabetes because as a population we are moving less and eating more. The good thing is we can reduce our risk of getting Type 2 diabetes by being more active and eating more vegetables, pulses and lean protein, like fish and chicken.

Also find a type of activity that involves movement that you enjoy It doesn’t have to be going to the gym, but things like dancing and hula-hooping are good fun options!

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE VALUE OF NON-MEDICAL HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS SUCH AS CBD? AK Although we do not prescribe CBD in primary care, studies have shown it has some potential benefits. It has been shown to have a beneficial effect on those suffering from anxiety. It has also been shown to help control seizures in people with very specific types of epilepsy. As

well as this, it has shown to be effective in some people for pain management and even help with arthritic symptoms.

Currently, only specialist doctors in the NHS can prescribe or recommend CBD, but this may change in time.

In terms of other alternative therapies, acupuncture has been proven to be beneficial for pain relief and can be given on the NHS. There is little proven evidence for any other alternative therapies, and I do not recommend them to my patients as they can often be expensive and ineffective.

Saying that, many patients are desperate especially when it comes to pain as we have so few effective pain medications available to us that we can use long term.

So, if my patients find an alternative therapy that works for them and does not cause any harm and they can afford it, then I am fully supportive of it.

the trillions of microorganisms that live in our gut and help with so many of our bodily functions.

Get some more movement into your day, but think about doing exercise outdoors. Getting outside in nature has been shown to help reduce stress and increase our happy and relaxing brain chemicals Sleep is a key! If I could prescribe more sleep to all my patients, I would. Sleep does not only help rest the body, but also lots of wonderful healing processes take place when we are asleep. You should aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep helps manage your blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart attacks and strokes, helps maintain a healthy weight and even reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes. It has even been shown to help reduce risk of certain cancers - so get more sleep! »

WHAT ARE THE BEST WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE OUR HEALTH IN AREAS SUCH AS DIET, EXERCISE, SLEEP AND OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES? AK Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference to your health and have you live longer.

It really isn’t rocket science, but incorporating more vegetables and pulses such as chickpeas and kidney beans into your diet will do wonders for reducing your risk of cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It is also really good for celebrityangels.co.uk

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“Gardening is my way of unwinding after a busy day in the surgery - being amongst the plants and getting my hands dirty takes me away from the stresses of the day.”

YOU’RE A PROUD BRADFORD RESIDENT HOW EXCITED ARE YOU ABOUT THE 2025 CITY OF CULTURE PLANS? AK Bradford often gets a bad press. True, it is a Northern town that is in desperately need of investment, but the people are second-to-none when it comes to being friendly. I was born there and went to school in Bradford and have a deep love for the city. My surgery is located there also.

Bradford has, on average the youngest population in the whole of the UK. Its residents are full of life and want more for themselves, and many are held back by social restrictions, that are no fault of their own. Winning the 2025 City of Culture will

show the rest of the country what potential Bradford has – it is a city full of the most wonderful restaurants, great museums, a world heritage site in the form of the village of Saltaire and some of the most wonderfully diverse population in the UK. It really does deserve its time to shine!

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOUR FORTHCOMING LIVE SHOW AN EVENING WITH DR AMIR KHAN? A. I am so excited about this! I am hoping to offer an evening like no other. There will plenty of jokes and my mother (Mama Khan) will feature heavily in them. I want to also talk about the state of the NHS and the dangers it is facing from privatisation as well as a staffing and morale crisis.

I will touch on important parts of my careers and stories from the surgery, as well as an audience participation section when we break down taboos and myths surrounding certain health conditions. All in all, the audience should go away having laughed and then really thought about the future of healthcare in this country.

The NHS is incredibly valuable, and yes, it is not perfect, but the alternative does not bear thinking about. Healthcare, free at the point of delivery is a cornerstone of the values of this country and we should all fight to keep it that way. ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

WE’RE TOLD YOU ARE A KEEN JOGGER, GARDENER AND BAKER - WHAT DO YOU GET FROM THESE HOBBIES AND HOW DO YOU THINK THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WELLNESS? AK Like so many people my age (I won’t say what that is exactly!), I am beginning to realise that I can’t stay young forever, but I can do things that will keep my body and mind healthy. I have always been a longdistance runner since school times. I don’t quite have the time to commit to marathon training like I used to, but I do get up at 5am each morning and run before work.

I just adore gardening. I grew up in a house that did not have a garden, so when I bought my first house, I really wanted a large garden. It has been trial-and-error, but I have now got the hang of it and have taught myself how to make hanging baskets, grow vegetables and grow from cuttings. Gardening is my way of unwinding after a busy day in the surgery - being amongst the plants and getting my hands dirty takes me away from the stresses of the day.

I am relatively new to baking, but I love it. I used to be scared to bake, thinking I would most likely burn down the kitchen!

But actually, it is much easier than I thought and a great way to spend time with the kids in our family.

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Keeping Well,

Feeling Good

Taking care of ourselves is the first step to better health - here’s some news from the world of fitness and wellbeing that should encourage positive attitudes CAN PRUNES BEAT OSTEOPOROSIS? Consuming a handful of prunes a day could lead to better protection against osteoporosis for older women, according to a recent study.

Prunes include some chemicals that act as prebiotics – plant foods that fuel good bacteria.

During experiments, partly funded by the California Dried Plum Board, bone loss was reversed after the compounds were isolated and fed to female mice.

Lead author Professor Brenda Smith, of Indiana University, explained: “Both the carbohydrate component and the polyphenols within the prunes altered the gut microbiota and were associated with positive effects on bone, namely restoring bone.

DOUBLE EXERCISE TO REDUCE DEATH RISK Working out twice as long as the recommended amount of exercise can slash your risk of premature death by almost a third, a recent study has shown.

Researchers examined around 100,000 participants over a 30year period and found that the lowest mortality rates were among those who exercised 150 to 600 minutes a week. The largest differences were most notable for those who completed two to four times the current advised amount - up to 23 and 31 percent for moderate and vigorous exercise.

Lead author Dr Dong Hoon Lee, of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in the U.S., said: “The potential impact of physical activity on health is great, yet it remains unclear whether engaging in high levels of prolonged, vigorous or moderate intensity physical activity above the recommended levels provides any additional benefits or harmful effects on cardiovascular health.

“Our study leveraged repeated measures of self-reported physical activity over decades to examine the association between long-term physical activity during middle and late adulthood and mortality.”

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“By definition, prebiotics are substrates that alter the composition or activity of the microbiota and confer benefits to the health of the individual.”

The results found are particularly significant for women. Levels of oestrogen lower after menopause.

Prunes could help to mimic it, as they are filled with antioxidants that diminish inflammation and extinguish harmful free radicals.

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YOUR WELLBEING

KEEP WAIST LESS THAN HALF YOUR HEIGHT SAYS NHS People should ensure their waist measurement is less than half their height to prevent the risk of developing health problems, an NHS watchdog has advised.

According to updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), adults with a body mass index (BMI) below 35 need to measure their waist-toheight ratio.

Measuring your BMI is a useful tool, however, it does not take into consideration excess weight around the abdomen. NICE states that waistto-height ratio together with BMI can help establish whether people are carrying excess fat and risking 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Well Woman Natural soy isoflavones for women One-a-day Easy to swallow Supports wellbeing Calcium to maintain normal bone B vitamins to help reduce fatigue Contains no preservatives Suitable for diabetics, vegetarians and vegans One month’s supply www.estroplus.co.uk

Yummy Gummy Enjoy the many benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar in a chewy yummy vegan gummy! Each gummy contains apple cider vinegar with “The Mother” and is further enriched with Vitamin B12, Folic acid, Pomegranate & Beetroot Juice. https://new-leaf-products.com/collections/ all-products/products/apple-cider-vinegargummies-with-the-mother

Taste of the Sea Diet experts all agree that you should eat more fish, a great source of protein, vitamins, calcium and other minerals. Try Brunswick tinned sardines, available in the following flavours; Soya Oil, Hot Peppers, Louisiana Hot Sauce and Tomato. www.brunswick.ca

Delicious Drink DUG is a deliciously smooth and nutritious potato m!lk. Despite its creamy texture, DUG is naturally low in saturated fat, nutritionally fortified, and free from common allergens like soy, nuts and gluten. It’s also super-sustainable compared to other plant-based alternatives. https://dugdrinks.com

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A Big Boost Chuckling Goat offers the most comprehensive gut health programme in the UK. Includes microbiome testing, two private consultations with a Nutritional Therapist and all the award-winning products you need, shipped directly to your door. www.chucklinggoat.co.uk/product/12-weeks-to-gut-health/

Youth & Earth’s NMN, renowned for its bioavailability, is the ultimate NAD+ boosting anti-ageing supplement. Increased NAD+ levels stimulate energy supply in aging cells, reactivate faltering blood flow, suppress age-related weight gain, and boost energy metabolism. www.youthandearth.com

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Handmade in the UK For more information about our removal and recycling service, visit sleepeezee.com/mattress-recycling *Free delivery and installation only available in mainland England

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Hotel comfort for your home

LE AVE THE REST TO US

www.sleepeezee.com

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YOUR WELLBEING

Voyage to

Dreamland

Sleep isn’t just relaxing, it’s essential for health.

Why do we need it, and how can we improve it?

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hy is sleep important?

It’s known as the ‘great restorer’, but why is it so essential to our wellbeing?

We usually stay conscious and alert for around 16 hours a day, then asleep for around eight. Scientists think that without the control of this circadian rhythm, we would tend to catnap each time ‘sleep pressure’ builds up, like some animals do. But the truth is that people get by with varying amounts of sleep and have different sleep habits – some go to bed early and rise early, others are ‘nightowls’, going to bed late and rising late.

The only real answer to how much sleep we need is; – however much it takes for us to feel refreshed, alert and vibrant all day.

Though it’s not necessarily true that we need less sleep as we get older, young people seem particularly prone to developing bad sleeping habits such as ‘caning it’ all week then trying to catch up with sleep at the weekend. This can have many negative health consequences in later life.

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STUDIES A study in 2018 found that sleep disorders such as sleep apneoa are common in people at risk of stroke, and another found that compared to people who slept six to nine hours a night, people who slept fewer than six had a 20 percent higher risk of heart attack.

Other consequences of sleep deprivation can be:  Hallucinations, temporary psychosis or symptoms resembling paranoid schizophrenia  Lethargy and lack of motivation  Moodiness and depression  Impaired sex drive  Premature skin ageing

 A weakened immune system  High blood pressure  Certain types of cancer Sleep deprivation can also lead to a lack of cognitive ability during the day. One study in America suggested that 100,000 road traffic accidents a year are a result of driver fatigue, with over a third of drivers admitting having fallen asleep at the wheel.

BED TECHNOLOGY Since you’ll usually be spending your sleeping time in a bed, it’s obviously going to be an essential element of getting a good night’s sleep. Yet people don’t always appreciate the importance of a properly

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YOUR WELLBEING

CHAMPION SLEEPER Retired champion track and field athlete Dame Jessica EnnisHill is a brand ambassador for Sleepeezee mattresses - they’ve even named a mattress after her!

She says:“Quality of sleep is key to performing well in every part of our lives, fundamental to that all-important physical and mental rest that we need for our bodies to recover to go again... I know that sleep needs to be prioritised to ensure I am in the best shape possible to take on all of the many challenges of everyday life.”

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designed and maintained bedframe, bedclothes, and most importantly, the mattress. There are many types of mattresses using different support and comfort technologies such as smart gel, memory foam, innerspring and latex.

Mattress manufacturer Sleepeezee says: “Sleep is essential for improving both our physical and mental health. Above all sleep tips, we recommend investing in a mattress that is right for you and your sleep needs. From pressure-sensitive support and temperature regulation to anti-microbial technologies, our mattress technologies strive to give our customers a sumptuous sleep experience.

“We have been making and manufacturing our bespoke beds and mattresses at our factory in Kent since 1924 and are proud to have been a Royal Warrant holder for over 30 years. Using a combination of luxury materials, innovative designs and traditional techniques, we make sure our customers are satisfied that the bed they are investing in will provide them with the best night’s sleep possible.”  There’s no one mattress that is right for everyone – the essential factor is that it should provide good back support. A good mattress reinforces proper sleeping posture and is comfortable as well as being good for your sleeping patterns.

 A mattress should support your whole body and keep your spine properly aligned however you sleep.  When trying a mattress, look out for the pressure points which will be at the heaviest parts of your body.  If sharing the bed, make sure you are both comfortable on the mattress.

Other elements to consider if you want the perfect night’s sleep are of course your pillows and bed coverings.

The duvet or continental quilt is now easily the most popular type of bed covering, and there are all sorts of duvet fillings to choose from, including down, feather, silk, wool, microfibre and hollowfibre. Choose your duvet filling to

avoid any possible allergies, and if your allergy is to dust mites, buy an antiallergenic duvet. The ‘tog’ ratings tells you how warm the duvet will be; as light as 1 tog for summer, to 13.5 tog for winter.

Pillows play an essential role in supporting the head, neck, shoulder, hips and spine, and like duvets, come with a choice of fillings.

Choose a pillow which is comfortable but provides plenty of support, and if you have a particular sleeping problem, ensure you find a pillow to fill the gap between your head and the mattress (when on your side) to keep you in straight alignment. Memory foam is well-liked because it remains supportive, and modern Gel Technology can also help to prevent overheating. ■

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Save for your child’s future with Sheffield Mutual’s Investment Junior ISA

Saving for children is at the forefront of a lot of parents’ and grandparents’ minds, but it doesn’t need to be a scary concept. And now, particularly with all the economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make sure that you have enough money to support them through the various stages of their life’s journey.

Whether that’s helping them to purchase their first car, pay their university fees, contributing towards their wedding or even a house deposit – these things all come around more quickly than we’d like!

Why Sheffield Mutual?

What is a Junior ISA?

You may not have heard of a friendly society or mutual before, but they have existed for hundreds of years and were originally founded to provide benefits to people with limited resources in times of need with funeral and sickness benefit schemes.

The Junior ISA (JISA) was launched by the government in 2011 as an additional way to save tax-free* for children.

We’re run purely for the benefit of our customers (known as members), whilst providing a friendly alternative to banks and building societies. By us having no shareholders, any surplus profit is distributed to provide our members with the strongest returns possible, combined with the highest standards of personal service and ethical business practices. Our members are always our number one priority.

There are two types of Junior ISA available: a cash Junior ISA and a stocks & shares Junior ISA. We offer an Investment (stocks & shares) JISA. Our JISA is part of our ‘with-profits fund’ which helps to spread the risk, as only part of the ‘fund’ is invested in stocks & shares. The fund also invests in property, bonds and government gilts and is managed to provide a medium-low risk investment.

Our with-profits fund aims to offer a better return than a typical bank or building society account but is not as risky as investing all your money directly in the stock market as we ‘smooth’ out the returns. For that added peace of mind, it’s also good to know that there are guarantees on monies invested for five years or more. The JISA matures on the child’s 18th birthday, and they can choose whether to take the money, or move it into an adult ISA or another type of investment.

Sheffield Mutual offers a variety of regular premium and lump sum policies for adults and children; including the Tax Exempt Savings Plan which is only available through friendly societies, but here, we’ll focus on the Junior ISA.

Who can have a Junior ISA? The JISA is available for UK resident children under age 18. A child cannot have a JISA and a Child Trust Fund (CTF) at the same time but CTFs can be transferred into a JISA on request.

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How much can be saved in a JISA?

ADVERTORIAL

Once the policy is opened by a parent/ guardian, anyone can contribute including grandparents and other friends/family, which could be ideal for investing birthday or Christmas monies. Providing that you don’t exceed the maximum annual investment limit you can add to the JISA at any time during the tax year. The current allowance is £9,000 (or £750 per month). This amount can be split between a stocks & shares JISA and a cash JISA. The government reviews the investment limits each tax year so the amounts you can save may increase in future years.

Our Investment Junior ISA - in a nutshell

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The current interim bonus rate for our Investment JISA is 4.00%** (before a 1.50% management charge)

•

Available to all children under the age of 18

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Potential for tax-free* growth through bonuses** Top-ups can be made by anyone

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Capital guarantee† after five years for peace of mind

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Invest from just £10 per month or £100 lump sum

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Transfer an existing CTF or JISA to us

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No access until maturity at age 18

*Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future **Bonuses are not guaranteed †The JISA value could be reduced if transferred out during adverse market conditions, but money invested for five years or longer is guaranteed

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You can apply online anytime at www.sheffieldmutual.com. Alternatively, if you have any questions or wish to apply over the phone, our team would be more than happy to help. Our office is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and our number is 01226 741 000.

Quote the promotional code AKJISA22 when applying to receive a £25 Love2Shop gift card after your policy starts‡.

•

Risks you should be aware of:

How do I apply?

‡Terms and conditions apply.

Did you know we also have an adult Investment ISA? Head over to our website for more information.

sheffieldmutual.com enquiries@sheffieldmutual.com 01226 741 000 This advertorial provides generic information and opinions of the writer and should not be relied upon for making investment decisions. No advice has been provided by Sheffield Mutual. If you are in any doubt as to whether a savings or investment plan is suitable for you, you should consider contacting a financial adviser for advice. If you do not have a financial adviser, you can get details of local financial advisers by visiting www.unbiased.co.uk or www.vouchedfor.co.uk. Advisers may charge for providing such advice and should confirm any costs beforehand.

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YOUR WELLBEING

The Best Present is a Future What can you do to give your children or grandchildren a good financial start in life? A Junior ISA is a good option

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savings account may sound less exciting than a new Xbox or a pair of trainers to your children or grandchildren, but trust us, they’ll thank you for it in the future - particularly considering the present gloomy financial headlines, which suggest how difficult it may be to get a steady, well-paid job and save to get on the property ladder in the future.

An ISA is an Individual Savings Account, and a Junior ISA is one aimed at younger savers. It’s a simple tax-efficient savings plan, provided by banks and building societies for children under the age of 18.

You can open these accounts on behalf of a child, or be a child aged 16 or over, but under 18 to open one for yourself.

Anyone can contribute to a child’s Junior ISA, and any money put into these accounts is locked away until the child’s 18th birthday, when the funds become theirs alone.

Meanwhile the money earns competitive annual interest, so should amount to a tidy sum when they need it for a university education, travel or to set up a home of their own.

HOW IT WORKS There are two types of Junior ISA; a cash Junior ISA where you will not pay Capital Gains or Income Tax on interest on the cash you save; and a Stocks and Shares Junior ISA, where you will not pay tax on any capital growth or dividends you receive.

A child is permitted to have one or both types of these accounts, with the same or with different providers. They are allowed total control of the account when they are 16 years old if they choose. But the amount that can be deposited into a Junior ISA each year is limited, currently to £9,000 a year.

At the age of 18, the benefit of having a lump sum to put towards travel, an education or getting on the property ladder cannot be underestimated.

So how exactly does a Junior ISA work?

Sheffield Mutual says: “Sheffield Mutual is a friendly society that provides tax-free savings, investments, children’s savings

and life insurance for the whole family.

We are an independent financial mutual organisation, which means we are owned by our customers (known as members). Our members are the people we care about the most. Any surplus profit is distributed to provide the very

LOOPHOLE There’s also a tax loophole for 16- and 17 year-olds: children can open an adult cash ISA as well as a Junior ISA at age 16, taking advantage of two tax allowances.

Find out more at https://www. gov.uk/junior-individualsavings-accounts.

best possible returns for our members, combined with the highest standards of personal service and ethical business practices.

Most of our products are with-profits policies and when you invest with us, we pool your money together with our members in our with-profits fund. This is then invested in commercial property, shares, cash, bonds and government gilts.

Our with-profits fund is managed to provide a medium-low risk investment, appealing to individuals with a more cautious approach to investing. Withprofits aims to offer a better return than a typical bank or building society account but is not as risky as investing all your

money directly in the stock market as we also ‘smooth’ returns.

We offer a range of products for children, including the Investment Junior ISA, Tax Exempt Savings Plan (which are unique to friendly societies such as ourselves), Investment Bond and the Regular Savings Plan. Whether you want to save a regular premium from just £5 a month or invest a lump sum from £100 up to £150,000, there is something for everyone!

We strive to keep our products simple and easy to understand.

Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. In certain circumstances your capital may be at risk.”

FUTURE-PROOFING The process of opening a Junior ISA is simple. Research your options across the banks, building societies and financial institutions for the best rates of interest on offer, and once you have chosen you should have a simple form-filling process to complete. No more exhausting shopping sprees every Christmas or birthday time for the latest gadget or gimmick - you can financially futureproof your loved ones by making regular contributions to their Junior ISA. So, is the Junior ISA the right product to ensure the future of the younger generation of your family? With the current rampant inflation, threats of recession and runaway property prices, it’s certainly worth considering. ■

INTEREST You could earn around 2.5% annual interest on Junior ISAs for the under 18s; compare that to 1 to 2% for the typical adult savings account, 1.5% for an easy access savings account or a child savings account, or 1.75% for a fixed-rate, two-year adult ISA.

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At the Heart of Health Heart health is vital, but you can help monitor it with a simple athome blood pressure test

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ccording to Blood Pressure UK, high blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor for heart and circulatory disease in the UK. But you can do a lot to monitor your heart health at home with a simple blood pressure test which takes just a couple of minutes.

With a recent study revealing that people with high blood pressure who take paracetamol on prescription could increase their risk of heart attacks and strokes, it is more important than ever to check your blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as two numbers: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. A normal blood pressure reading is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. James Grover, Director at Kinetik Wellbeing, says: “In the UK, 65% of cases of hypertension (high blood pressure) are undiagnosed, often only being discovered when a patient visits their GP for an unrelated complaint. Early detection allows patients to make positive changes to improve blood pressure, allowing them to live a longer and healthier life.

With consultations more likely than ever to take place remotely, self-monitoring

blood pressure allows patients to seek medical attention promptly if required.

Furthermore, blood pressure monitoring is key to the successful management of many long-term conditions with remote self-monitoring providing an easier and more convenient solution for patients.

“At Kinetik Wellbeing we have a range of affordable, clinically validated blood pressure monitors approved by the British and Irish Hypertension Society (BIHS) and the European Society of Hypertension. The BIHS provides a list of approved monitors at bihsoc.org/bp-monitors/for-home-use.”

the monitor the upper part of your arm with the tubing leading down the centre, and start the monitor. This inflates then deflates the cuff while taking the systolic and diastolic readings. You can press the Stop button if you feel uncomfortable during the process. It’s a good idea to repeat the test again a few minutes later.

The instructions with your blood pressure monitor will give you average readings, but you should talk to your GP if you want to set up a schedule of regular blood pressure testing and reporting. ■

MEASUREMENT Checking your blood pressure with a home monitor is easy. You sit upright in a chair, your back against the back of the chair, and place your feet flat on the floor; relax your arm and don’t clench your fist. Place the inflatable cuff of

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YOUR WELLBEING

Getting a Grip on Diabetes

Diabetes is increasing, and part of the problem is diagnosis. Now research suggests a simple and ingenious solution to the matter

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simple test such as the strength of your handgrip could be used as a quick, low-cost screening tool to help healthcare professionals identify patients at risk of type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

Scientists at the universities of Bristol and Eastern Finland measured the muscular handgrip strength of 776 men and women without a history of diabetes over a 20-year period, and demonstrated that the risk of type 2 diabetes was reduced by around 50 per cent for every unit increase in handgrip strength value.

Though older age, obesity, family

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history and lifestyle factors such as physical inactivity, smoking, unhealthy diet and excessive alcohol contribute substantially to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, these factors alone do not explain all of the risk for type 2 diabetes, says the research published in the Annals of Medicine.

Reduced muscular strength, which can be measured by handgrip strength, has consistently been linked to early death, cardiovascular disease, and disability, but until recently, there was inconsistent evidence on the relationship between handgrip strength and type 2 diabetes.

DIABETES DEATHS Diabetes in all forms is the ninth major cause of death in the world. Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. In the UK alone, one in ten people over 40 are now living with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is expected that if nothing changes, more than five million people will have developed diabetes by 2025.

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YOUR WELLBEING

puts them at increased risk. They are also more likely to get type 2 diabetes if they are overweight. It starts gradually, usually later in life, and it can be years before they realise they have it.

Type 2 diabetes is treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity. In addition, tablets and/or insulin can be required.

STUDY In this latest study, the researchers from Bristol Medical School and Eastern Finland’s Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition followed 776 men and women aged 60-72 years without a history of diabetes over a 20-year period and measured the power of their hand grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer.

Patients were asked to squeeze the handles of the dynamometer with their dominant hand with maximum isometric effort and maintain this for five seconds.

An analysis of the results demonstrated that the risk of type 2 diabetes was reduced by about 50 per cent for every unit increase in handgrip strength value. This association persisted even after taking into account several established factors that can affect type 2 diabetes such as age, family history of diabetes, physical activity, smoking, hypertension, waist

DIABETES NUMBERS Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable sight loss in people of working age in the UK and is a major cause of lower limb amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

There are currently about 4.7 million people living with diabetes in the UK.

circumference and fasting plasma glucose.

When information on handgrip strength was added to these established factors which are already known to predict type 2 diabetes, the prediction of type 2 diabetes improved further.

According to lead author Dr Setor Kunutsor from Bristol’s Musculoskeletal Research Unit: “These findings may have implications for the development of type 2 diabetes prevention strategies.

Assessment of handgrip is simple, inexpensive and does not require very skilled expertise and resources and could potentially be used in the early identification of individuals at high risk of future type 2 diabetes.” ■

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REVIEW In a literature review of ten published studies on the topic, researchers demonstrated that people with higher values of handgrip strength had a 27 per cent reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, while findings from this review suggested handgrip strength could potentially be used to predict type 2 diabetes, researchers needed to test this formally using individual patient data.

People with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin. About 10 per cent of people with diabetes have type 1. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it’s not an inevitable result of being overweight and it isn’t currently preventable. It’s the most common type of diabetes in children and young adults, starting suddenly and getting worse quickly.

Type 1 diabetes is treated by daily insulin doses – taken either by injections or via an insulin pump. It is also recommended to follow a healthy diet and take regular physical activity.

People with type 2 diabetes don’t produce enough insulin or the insulin they produce doesn’t work properly (known as insulin resistance). Around 90 per cent of people with diabetes have type 2. They might get type 2 diabetes because of their family history, age and ethnic background

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YOUR WELLBEING

Taking Care of Your

SkinW

The skin is the largest organ of the body, but prone to many health issues. What’s the current thinking on the best way to cope with conditions such as psoriasis?

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hen you think about the body’s major organs, you may immediately think of the heart, brain, lungs or liver, but perhaps not of the skin. The skin is in fact the body’s largest organ, and of course a vital one, in that it keeps all the other ones together!

This miraculous waterproof, yet breathable, organ consists of around 300 million cells, making it by far the largest organ in the body, but like any other human organ, the skin is prone to a variety of conditions and diseases that can impede its health and bring pain and discomfort.

From nappy rash to acne at one end of the spectrum to carcinomas at the other, there are a myriad of problems that can blight our skin.

Our skin provides a strong, effective barrier that protects the body from infection or irritation. It is made up of a thin outer layer, a fairly elastic one in the middle, and a fatty layer at the deepest level. Each layer contains skin cells, water and fats, all of which help maintain and protect the condition of the skin.

Part of the problem in treating skin conditions is that it can be difficult to establish the underlying causes and hence the appropriate treatments. For instance, it is apparent that there is a clear

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YOUR WELLBEING

link between psoriasis and stress. If you count yourself as a psoriasis sufferer, this could well flag up the necessity to not only evaluate your current stress levels, but also to investigate ways in which to manage and reduce them.

There are many accessible solutions in this area, whether you consider mindfulness and meditation, fresh air and exercise or taking a closer look at the composition of your diet. There is no doubt that reducing the levels of adrenaline and cortisol in your system as a result of an elevated nervous system can play a part in reducing the impact any ailment, and psoriasis is no exception. The antiinflammatory effect of the body’s natural oxytocin induced by a state of calm has been shown to have a very positive impact on psoriasis.

Of course, there are many pharmaceutical interventions to treat skin conditions, ranging from steroidal to non-steroidal creams or tablets, but establishing the root cause, whether it is stress-related or perhaps an allergic reaction, is the first step in deciding on a course of treatment.

SKIN FACTS

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The average adult’s skin covers an area of approximately 21 square feet. Skin accounts for around 15% of an individual’s bodyweight, at an average of 9 lbs, and on average contains around 11 miles of blood vessels. Skin cells die and are shed every 28 days or so.

ECZEMA One of the most common skin conditions is eczema (also known as dermatitis), a dry skin condition. The name comes from the Greek “ekzein”, which means “to boil.” It can vary in presentation a good deal from person to person, with mild cases showing dry, red itchy skin, and more severe showing weeping, crusting and bleeding.

Constant scratching causes the skin to split and bleed and also leaves it open to infection, but eczema is not contagious so you cannot catch it from someone else.

Eczema can affect people of any age but is common in children. Often, people grow out of it, and it does not recur in their later life. The National Eczema Society estimates that in the UK, one in five children and one in ten adults have eczema, while eczema and contact dermatitis account for 84-90% of occupational skin disease.

“Atopic” eczema is a genetic condition involving interaction between a number of genes and environmental factors. It’s often related to a family history of either eczema or one of the other ‘atopic’ conditions such as asthma or hay fever.

It’s thought that the cause of eczema is a reduced ability to retain water due to an inabillity of the skin to produce fats and oils and to create an effective barrier. Gaps open up between the skin cells because they are not sufficiently plumped up with water, moisture is lost from the deeper

layers of the skin, and bacteria and irritants pass through.

Eczema can often be irritated by household substances such as soap, bubble bath and washing-up liquid, which remove oil from the skin and contribute to irritation, cracking and inflammation.

Treatment of eczema takes a stepped approach, with the first line formed by emollients and topical steroids, with paste bandages and wet wraps a helpful addition, particularly where scratching is a major problem.

Sedating-type antihistamines may help with sleeping, though they do not help the itching in eczema. If there is an inadequate response to treatment with appropriate strengths of topical steroid, or if these are not tolerated, particularly on areas of delicate skin, the second line of eczema treatment is topical calcineurin inhibitors in the form of creams or ointments, or in severe cases phototherapy, oral steroids, immunosuppressant drugs, or a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. »

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ITCH LESS, LIVE MORE

Balneum dry skin and itch relief Cream and Balneum dry skin and itch relief Lotion are proven to relieve the discomfort of dry and itchy skin.

Available at The emollient-based products are formulated with ingredients such as urea to keep your skin hydrated for up to 24 hours, and Laureth 6.5 to relieve the itch.

Leaving your skin feeling soft, supple and smooth.

UK-BAC-2200001 June 2022

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Advertising Feature

Banish dry and itchy skin with a simple tweak to your skincare routine

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'Balneum restores your skins natural balance - so you can get on with the things you love'

Soothe and hydrate dry, itchy skin with Balneum

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And when it comes to doing what we love most, nothing should hold us back. Itchy, dry skin can take its toll on our physical and psychological wellbeing, but Balneum Cosmetics can lend a helping hand to alleviate the irritation.

Ideal for the whole family, Balneum Dry Skin and Itch Relief Cream is designed to help soothe and hydrate skin. Whether used alone or with the Lotion.

The Balneum Cosmetics range is dermatologically tested by our experts and works for all skin types to help leave skin feeling refreshed, recharged and ready to glow.

The active ingredients in Balneum products have proven moisturising power, while also boosting, balancing and restoring natural oils to help protect dry and damaged skin.

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The Balneum Cosmetics range has been proven to help relieve the discomfort of dry and itchy skin in less than five minutes*.

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YOUR WELLBEING

infection, stress, skin injury, or reaction to certain medications, and is treated with steroid creams, light-therapy or antibiotics.

FLEXURAL PSORASIS presents as red, shiny and smooth outbreaks in skin folds.

Steroid creams, oral medications and light-therapy are suggested treatments, and medications that can reduce yeast or bacterial growth on skin are also used.

A rare but severe form, PUSTULAR PSORIASIS is characterised by rapidly forming white pustules surrounded by red skin, in isolated areas like the hands and feet. It can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fever or chills, rapid pulse, loss of appetite and muscle weakness. It is treated with the same creams and medications as other types, but more investigations may be suggested

to unearth the triggering factors.

A final and very rare form is ERYTHRODERMIC PSORIASIS, presenting across the whole of the skin’s surface, as large, red scales. It can evolve from uncontrolled plaque or pustular psoriasis or from significant stress, severe sunburn, alcoholism or abrupt cessation of a psoriasis medication, and can become a medical emergency, if the temperature of the patient cannot be controlled.

You can find more information and support on psoriasis from the Psoriasis Association (www.psoriasis-association.org.uk) and information on psoriasis and other skin conditions from the British Skin Foundation (www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk) and the National Eczema Society (https://eczema.org). ■

MEDOVIE Medovie skincare products for the treatment of conditions such as psoriasis and eczema contain a unique combination of three of the most powerful botanicals used in Chinese traditional medicine. Its 3HX™ formula combines these botanicals (Lonicera japonica, Rheum tanguticum, Rehmannia glutinosa) in just the right way to calm and nourish problematic skin, inside and out. www.medovie.com

IMAGES: Dreamstime

PSORIASIS Psoriasis is a long-term recurring autoimmune condition which can affect young and old alike. It is not infectious and does not permanently scar the skin, though it can cause a temporary change in skin colour.

Psoriasis has a genetic element, seemingly running in families, though its genetic triggers are not simple and seem to be due to a combination of genes.

The most common symptoms of psoriasis include scaly or red patches of itchy skin, as well as swelling or stiffness.

There are five major types of psoriasis: PLAQUE PSORIASIS affects eighty percent of sufferers, and is characterised by 1-10cm wide red, itchy, patches of skin, with a silver scaly layer that appear on the elbows, knees, lower back or scalp.

Treatments range from over-the-counter moisturisers or cortisone creams to vitamin D applications or prescribed oral medications, or light-therapy using ultraviolet rays.

GUTTATE PSORIASIS is the second most common type, seen in about eight percent of cases, and presents as small drop-shaped red spots on the torso, limbs, face or scalp. It can be triggered by

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YOUR WELLBEING

Go With Your Gut Gut health is an issue we should all consider more - but what can we do to keep our intestinal flora in balance?

T

he digestive system is a complex series of organs which has its own internal ‘ecosphere’ or biome consisting of billions of microorganisms. Although this includes live bacteria, it’s important to realise that some of these are essential for our health so we need them to be properly balanced, not to be eliminated like a disease.

In the ranking of the intestinal biome, probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that assist and aid the body. They are live bacteria and yeasts which have multiple functions and are essential for absorbing food, maintaining the immune system and the digestive system. For those reasons they are regularly promoted as “good” or “friendly” bacteria, added to foods such as yoghurts or taken as food supplements.

Probiotics are the microorganisms themselves, but you may also see discussion of prebiotics, which are foods for the probiotics so that they can live and replicate.

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Almost all natural, unprocessed, unrefined foods contain probiotics in their natural state, but the way in which food safety regulations work mean that they are usually removed from the food we find on our supermarket shelves. The only place you could find them is directly from the farm, as our ancestors would have done.

BALANCE Nonetheless probiotics serve an important function, restoring the natural balance of bacteria in your gut biome, particularly when it’s been disrupted by an illness or treatment.

The two most common types of probiotics are:  Bifidobacteria, thought to support the immune system, limit the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine and help in breaking down lactose into nutrients the body can use;  and Lactobacillus, which produces

lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, or milk sugar, and lactic acid, which promotes the body’s absorption of minerals.

Antibiotics kill infection-causing bacteria, but can also obliterate some of the ‘good bacteria’ that keep the ‘bad bacteria’ in check. This leaves the door open for secondary infections such as yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and intestinal infections.

Without the correct balance of microorganisms, the body is unable to assimilate the nutrients, vitamins and other essential elements that maintain a good and healthy metabolism. This leads to upsets in the system such as stomach pains, bloating, diarrhoea, and heartburn.

VARIETIES There are many different types of probiotics that may have different effects on the body, and you may have to try a

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STORAGE

IMAGES: Dreamstime

It’s often asked whether, as probiotics are alive, they need to be stored in a special way. It depends. Probiotics are called “Mesophilic”, which means that they like living around our body temperature of 37 degrees centigrade. If the probiotic is truly alive, raw and stable, it will not need to be refrigerated. Many are refrigerated in order to slow down their growth and extend the shelf life, so that they can function better when introduced to the body.

few different types to find out which is most effective for you.

Most medical practitioners recommend and encourage the use of probiotics, even if you are on drugs such as antibiotics. It’s also generally safe to take probiotics when pregnant or nursing, but you should consult your GP here.

Probiotics are safe for children, who need probiotics to utilize the nutrients in their food during their growing years, and to develop a robust immune system that will set them up for a long, healthy life.

In general terms, because there are so many probiotic varieties available, it can be difficult to decide which type will be the most effective for you. The most effective will be a probiotic that is in the most natural state possible. Some probiotics are freeze-dried to make them into tablet form, and this can reduce effectiveness if the probiotics have passed through the system before they have unfrozen and ‘woken up.’

One popular source of probiotics is kefir, a fermented milk drink similar to a thin yogurt, made using kefir grains, a colony of cultured microorganisms held together by a matrix of sugar molecules. The grains contain lactic acid bacteria such as lactobacilli, lactococci, leuconostocs and yeasts, which act to ferment milk (cow, sheep or goat) and

to create the drink. You can buy a kefir colony and create your own kefir at home, but it’s widely available online and in health food shops.

One of the main claimed benefits of kefir is that it converts milk into a low-lactose beverage that still retains all of milk’s nutritional benefits. The dense concentration of certain bacteria and yeast in kefir is also believed to aid digestion in much the same way that yoghurt does. ■

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Food for Thou ght

Food intolerances seem to be affecting more and more people - but what can we do if we don’t get on with gluten, or delight in dairy?

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work out which foods you are intolerant to.

Once you have established this, you can reintroduce small amounts of the suspect food and work out whether you have a level of tolerance. A dietician will help you to make sure that your nutritional needs are being met.

While it’s not quite clear what causes food intolerances, they are not life-threatening.

Some, such as dairy intolerance, are based on sensitivity to ingredients such as lactose, so dietary alternatives can be found.

FOOD ALLERGIES A food allergy is a more serious and potentially life-threatening condition, which can be genetically based. This is a reaction by your immune system, which mistakenly treats proteins found in food as a threat and can quickly trigger symptoms such as a rash, wheezing and itching after eating just a small amount of the food.

Common food allergies in children

include milk, eggs, fish, peanuts and other nuts, while in adults they include fish, shellfish and nut allergies »

THE ALLERGY & FREE FROM SHOW The Allergy & Free From Show is the world’s largest “free-from” gathering, for people who have allergies, intolerances, coeliac disease, hayfever or eczema, and have to live ‘free from’ gluten, wheat, eggs, nuts or dairy, or need to avoid dust mites, latex or any other material. Regular shows in London, Birmingham and Glasgow are free to attend and feature learning experiences and fun activities for everyone. www.allergyshow.co.uk

IMAGES: Dreamstime

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hile some of us seem to have cast-iron stomachs and can eat anything, others have to be very careful of what they eat, as they suffer from food intolerances or allergies. These seem to have become more common in recent years, and no-one seems to know quite why, though the obvious suspicion is that it is something to do with the processed, pre-packaged nature of much of our food.

Food intolerances and food allergies are quite different things. A food intolerance is difficulty digesting certain foods, or having an unpleasant physical reaction to them, such as bloating, stomach pain and diarrhoea, which can happen hours after the food is eaten.

As these symptoms are also common in other conditions, it can be hard to diagnose a food intolerance. There are commercially available tests, but the best way is often to keep a food diary, vary your diet, and

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GLUTEN One of the most common intolerances is to gluten, a protein found most often in wheat, barley and rye. Many people cut out bread from their diet because they think they are gluten intolerant, but it’s sometimes hard to tell whether symptoms are a reaction to gluten, or to something else in wheat.

Very few people need to cut out gluten from their diet completely, though it’s important to do so if you have coeliac disease, which is neither an intolerance, nor an allergy, but an autoimmune condition.

Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten. This damages your gut (small intestine) so you are unable

to take in nutrients. Coeliac disease can cause a range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.

SYMPTOMS Coeliac disease can also cause more general symptoms, including fatigue, weight loss, an itchy rash (dermatitis herpetiformis), infertility, nerve damage, and disorders that affect co-ordination, balance and speech. Children with coeliac disease may not grow at the expected rate and may have delayed puberty.

If you have coeliac disease or need to avoid gluten for other medical reasons, it’s important to know which foods contain gluten and which foods you should check before eating. You also need to know what the safe level of gluten is.

The most obvious sources of gluten are bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, flour, pastry, pizza bases, cakes, biscuits, soups, sauces, ready meals and sausages.

Gluten can also be found in cosmetics such as lipsticks and lip balm, but it can’t be absorbed through the skin, and you are unlikely to swallow enough cosmetics for the gluten to have an effect. ■

GLUTEN-FREE SHOPPING So how do you shop to make sure your diet is glutenfree? The charity Coeliac UK (www.coeliac.org.uk) gives the following advice: ❖ Look out for food labelling which should give allergen advice ❖ Use Coeliac UK’s app which helps you to scan items to see if they are safe

❖ Some supermarkets produce lists of gluten-free foods on their websites or you can ask for them in store. Products may be kept in a specialist ‘free-from’ aisle.

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IMAGES: Dreamstime

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YOUR WELLBEING

Keep an Eye Out for Ocular Health There are several major eye conditions that we should all look out for - but how many of them would you recognise?

A

s the years are added to our biological clocks, many of us become familiar with the need for longer arms, as we struggle to read the small print in newspapers.

Perhaps driving in the dark becomes challenging, and watching our favourite TV programme frustrating. Usually a trip to the optician resolves our issues, as we come to terms with the fashion implications of our new spectacles (or the routine of wearing contact lenses).

However, some common eye ailments will not be resolved by a new pair of glasses. Looking after our eyes is paramount to a healthy and comfortable life, and as we grow older, it is especially important to understand the conditions that could be distorting our vision. Here’s a breakdown of the most common eye conditions.

ETHNICITY Ethnicity can be a factor in some optical conditions. A small study in Leicester in 1990 reported cataract prevalence of zero percent for the 40-59 year age group and 41 percent for the over 60 age group of Caucasian ethnicity; respective figures for the group of Asian ethnicity were 24 percent and 73 percent.

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CATARACTS Cataracts are a widely occurring eye problem and can affect the sight in one or both eyes, caused by buildup of proteins in the optical lens with age. Presenting as a dense cloudy area in the lens of the eye, the cataract prevents light from passing through to the retina and communicating with the brain. Someone who has a cataract in their eye will simply be unable to clearly see any objects in front of them.

In the UK, 95 percent of cataracts are age-related, usually emerging after the age of 40. In fact 10 percent of the population aged 65 or over have had cataract surgery.

The problem is simply diagnosed by a physician, and then ultrasound is used in a process called phacoemulsification to break up the cataractous lens, which is replaced with an artificial one. The procedure is done as an outpatient under local anaesthetic, is rarely uncomfortable and takes about four weeks to heal.

MACULAR DEGENERATION According to UK charity the Macular Society, nearly 1.5m people in the UK are affected by macular disease, the nation’s biggest cause of sight loss, which makes it more prevalent than cataracts and glaucoma combined.

Macular degeneration occurs when the central portion of the retina, known as the macula gets damaged over time. Common

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YOUR WELLBEING

symptoms include partial vision loss, blurry vision and things appearing smaller than they actually are.

There are two types of Macular Degeneration, referred to by optometrists as Wet or Dry AMD. A diagnosis for the latter requires immediate help from a retinal specialist at a hospital while no treatment can be offered for a Dry AMD diagnosis and registering as ‘sight impaired’, may be the next move.

DRY EYE SYNDROME As the name suggests, Dry Eye Syndrome is a lack of lubrication of the eye, which can lead to constant eye irritation, inflammation and potential scarring of the eye’s surface. Contact lenses may also be a culprit in this condition. Overthe-counter, or prescribed eye drops are the treatment of choice in these circumstances.

Our final condition, although the most rare among those we have examined, is Retinal Detachment. As the name suggests this is when the retina, the lightsensitive layer at the back of the inside

GLAUCOMA STATS Primary Open Angle Glaucoma affects about one percent of people aged 40, about three percent of people aged 60, and about eight percent of people aged 80 years [SIGN, 2015].

of the eye, becomes detached, either gradually or by a sudden event such as head trauma. Gradual detachment can be painless, but has warning signs like blurred vision, a sudden appearance of light flashes or a curtain-like shadow on your vision. Retinal detachment requires surgical intervention, but vision can usually be fully restored in 4-6 weeks. ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

GLAUCOMA Glaucoma occurs when the eye’s optic nerve is damaged, usually due to a build-up of fluid which exerts pressure and restricts the messages that the optic nerve is able to send to the brain.

The most obvious symptoms of glaucoma include tunnel vision, peripheral sight loss, blurry eyes, halos around the eyes and redness.

If this pressure remains without any intervention, the outcome could

be permanent sight loss. While it is impossible to reverse any loss of vision that occurred before diagnosis, treatments are available to stop progression of the disease.

While treatments vary, the options include eyedrops, laser treatment and surgery to improve the drainage of fluid.

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Cataracts In Patients With Other Conditions Eye conditions such as glaucoma can complicate cataract treatment. Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Moorfields Private consultants advise

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cataract is the clouding of the lens which causes blurred vision and glare. Cataract usually forms slowly, and most people experience a gradual blurring of vision.

The most common cataract treatment is a lens exchange operation to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial replacement. It is a very effective, straightforward, and quick treatment for the vast majority of patients, but can be complicated by other conditions.

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GLAUCOMA Mr Andrew Scott, Consultant Ophthalmologist

For patients with glaucoma, it is important that cataract surgery is performed by a surgeon who specialises in both glaucoma and cataract treatments. Extra attention may be required before, during and after the cataract operation to achieve the best outcome. The specialist would take into consideration inflammatory conditions that may have led to glaucoma, as it is crucial that these are treated in advance of

cataract surgery as well as identifying any allergies to eye drops. Steps would also be taken during and after the cataract surgery to ensure preservation of any previous glaucoma operations.

For patients with very challenging cataracts, recognising these in advance and making adjustments in technique may help reduce complications.

In glaucoma patients, lowering eye pressure is the mainstay of treatment. Any cataract operation may provide a modest

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YOUR WELLBEING

reduction in eye pressure, and in some patients whose high eye pressure is due to narrow drainage channels, cataract surgery may normalise eye pressure. In some cases the surgeon may combine the cataract operation with minimally invasive procedures to help lower eye pressure further.

Glaucoma patients are more prone to developing very high eye pressure spikes in the first few hours after cataract surgery, so they should have their eye pressure checked after cataract surgery and have additional eye pressure-lowering medications if necessary.

Most glaucoma patients find it more difficult to distinguish between objects and see at night, and some glaucoma drops can make eye surfaces dry and more susceptible to glare. So multifocal lenses intended to provide vision improvement across various distances but also reduce contrast sensitivity may not be the best option for glaucoma patients.

MEDICAL RETINA CONDITIONS Mr Luke Nicholson, Consultant

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Ophthalmic Surgeon

have standard monofocal lenses.

After cataract surgery, it’s usual to monitor medical retina patients to minimise risks of inflammation, macular swelling (oedema) or worsening of a preexisting condition, usually not a problem if it’s been well-managed prior to surgery.

VITREORETINAL CONDITIONS Professor James Bainbridge, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

Vitreoretinal conditions are eye problems involving the retina, macula, and vitreous fluid, and include retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane and complications related to diabetic retinopathy.

Vitrectomy surgery, used to treat problems of the eye’s retina and vitreous, could accelerate the development of cataract, so cataract surgery can be performed at the same time as vitrectomy surgery, or separately later.

Each approach has advantages and disadvantages which are assessed by the consultant and discussed with the patient.

Cataract, due to its clouding or opacity of the lens inside the eye, can obscure

detailed examination of the retina. In such cases, cataract surgery may be best to be performed first, to aid assessment and treatment of the condition of the retina.

Certain lens implants are more appropriate than others for patients with cataract and retinal conditions, because they provide a wide view of the retina and will not be damaged by gas or silicone oil used for surgery of the retina.

For people with conditions of the retina, there may be special precautions in place to optimise the outcome of their cataract surgery, though the recovery time is the same as for patients without the retinal conditions.

For over 200 years Moorfields has pioneered research, employed the brightest minds, and delivered visionary eye care, offering the full range of ophthalmic care including vision correction, cataract, glaucoma and complex eye conditions.

To find out more or to book a private consultation, visit the website at moorfields-private.co.uk/contact-us or call on 0800 328 3421 (Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm). ■

Medical retina conditions are diseases affecting the retina, such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion.

Medical retina patients can develop a cataract sooner than those without these conditions. They can benefit from cataract surgery, but their retinal condition needs to be well managed prior to the surgery and/or an adjunctive therapy may be considered during cataract surgery.

Patients with significant medical retina conditions such as ‘wet’ age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular oedema are ideally managed by a medical retina specialist pre- and postcataract surgery.

Patients with co-existing medical retina conditions and cataract are not generally limited in their choice of replacement lenses which could even include a multifocal option for vision improvement across various distances. However, patients with pathology affecting their macula (centre of the retina) may be advised to celebrityangels.co.uk

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“I have worn glasses ever since I was in high school, before switching to contact lenses due to my active lifestyle. But contact lenses gave me dry eyes and glasses weren’t practical for me I wanted to be able to see better when going about my daily life.

I spoke to a number of companies offering vision correction but, due to an issue with my cornea, I didn’t feel comfortable having the procedure with them.

Then I went to see Moorfields Private.

They were able to assess my eyes and find a solution I feel I would not have found anywhere else.

My surgery has improved my quality of life incredibly. I enjoy my daily activities more and I no longer feel like I am missing out on life. I feel a lot safer, especially when driving, as it’s improved my peripheral vision. I don’t remember ever being able to see as well in my life.

I wish I’d done it sooner.”

For over 200 years Moorfields has pioneered research, employed the brightest minds, and delivered visionary eye care. We offer the full range of ophthalmic care including cataract, vision correction, glaucoma and complex eye conditions.

To find out more or book your consultation: Visit moorfields-private.co.uk/contact-us Or call us 0800 328 3421 (Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm)

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Not A Dry Eye In the House...

Dry eyes seem to afflict more and more of us as we spend more time staring at monitors. But there are other causes, as well as some helpful solutions...

I

f your eyes are sore, red and scratchy, join the club - almost everyone who spends a lot of time sitting in front of a computer monitor, or is affected by atmospheric pollution, knows the feeling.

Dry eyes occur when the quantity or quality of one’s tears fail to keep the eye adequately lubricated. It can also be triggered if one’s tears evaporate too quickly.

Tears are made up of water, fatty oils, mucus and over 1,500 types of protein that smooth the eye’s surface. With each blink, basal tears bathe the cornea - the outer surface of the eye - acting as a liquid protection against infection.

wraparound sunglasses can be helpful and over-the-counter drops and ocular lubricants are effective for less severe cases.

IRRITATION The two main complications of dry eyes are irritation of the white of the eye, or of the cornea, the covering of the lens. While dry eye may be uncomfortable, it doesn’t usually lead to any serious problems.

Performing regular eye baths and warm lid compressions can be very beneficial—try to weave these into your weekly routine.

Taking Omega 3 supplements may also help reduce dryness in the eye area. Get plenty of sleep and stay hydrated with water throughout the day. Finally, be sure to remove contact lenses and excess makeup at the end of each day for optimum eye health. ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

CAUSES There are a number of known triggers for dry eyes; the most common ones being

air conditioning or heating, prolonged exposure to computer screens, seasonal allergies, extreme weather and certain medications like antihistamines.

Dry eyes can also be a symptom of a wider problem such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, the problem may be physical; for example, an inability to blink or a restriction of the tear ducts. The risk of developing dry eyes significantly increases with age - it is especially common during the female menopause.

People experiencing persistent dry eyes should consult an eye care professional to determine the cause, which will guide the treatment strategy, whether it is a change of medication or a lifestyle change.

Cutting down on smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke are recommended,

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Soothing, long lasting relief for Dry Eye Disease Around one in ten people in the UK suffer from dry eye disease (DED)1. A number of different elements contribute to the risk of developing dry eye disease, including older age and occupational factors.2 Common DED symptoms include: 2, 3 • Visual disturbance and discomfort • Foreign body sensation (the feeling that something is in the eye) • Irritation

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Blurred vision Excessive tearing Light sensitivity Burning sensation

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Clinitas Hydrate

• 0.4% Sodium Hyaluronate offers soothing long lasting relief • Resealable daily dose vials remain sterile for up to 12 hours – making them perfect for on the move relief • Contact lens friendly • Preservative free

• 0.4% Sodium Hyaluronate offers soothing long lasting relief • Innovative delivery system: The Novelia® bottle provides actuated dosing, with a soft silicone tip to help avoid injury • Sterile for 3 months • Contact lens friendly • Preservative free

• Clinitas® Hydrate gel contains carbomer 980 to provide a higher viscosity and residency time than eye drops • Ideal for additional cooling and soothing relief at night

To purchase Clinitas visit www.altacorproducts.shop or for further information on DED or Clinitas please visit Altacor-Pharma.com References: 1. Vehof J, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2014;98(12):1712-7.

2. BMJ Best Practice. Dry eye disease. Last updated: October 2019.

3. Hossain P, et al. BMJ Open. 2021;11(3):e039209.

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YOUR WELLBEING

Is Old Age A Disease That Can Be Cured?

The World Health Organisation now classifies ageing as a disease - so what can be done to cure it? The answer may lie in nutrition

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YOUR WELLBEING

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or the first time in June 2018, the World Health Organisation added ageing to its International Classification of Diseases, paving the way for funded research into agerelated illnesses. By citing age as a disease, rather than an inevitable part of living a human life, the floodgates were open to scientists, doctors and of course, pharmacists, to gain kudos and finance for a new area of work.

Neuro-degeneration, cardiovascular, metabolic disease and cancer all came under this heading of age-related illness, spurring a new focus to find affordable and achievable solutions to a problem that would affect every single human being on the planet.

Among the spectrum of possibilities that have been explored in this realm, the role of an enzyme called NAD + (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which is present in all living cells became a particular point of interest, and research in this field has gained momentum in recent years.

NAD+ is essential in transforming nutrients into energy and regulates a myriad of cellular processes. In essence NAD+ was found to be at the heart of every healthy cell and therefore could be the key to living a long and healthy life. Had the elixir of life been found?

seems has an anti-inflammatory effect on the whole system, which was key in reducing the life-threatening upper respiratory symptoms that has made Covid-19 so dangerous to those over the age of 50, and particularly in those in the 70+ age group.

NMN supplementation has clearly had a great opportunity to prove itself during the global pandemic, but these findings can also be broken down into key areas across the spectrum of medical issues in more normal cases.

WORLD STATS Globally, life expectancy has increased by more than six years between 2000 and 2019 – from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019. While healthy life expectancy (HALE) has also increased by eight percent from 58.3 in 2000 to 63.7, in 2019, this was due to declining mortality, rather than reduced years lived with disability.

Source: World Health Organisation

BOOSTING ENERGY One of the key and most profound impacts of the use of NMN is its ability to increase energy metabolism and physical activity.

While research studies in this field have only, as yet, been conducted on mice, the results were impressive. Studies from the University of New South Wales in Australia and Harvard Medical School in the United States were two of several global investigations that concluded that mice given NMN showed a 56 to 80 percent improvement in their endurance capabilities, which suggests that their metabolism and general health, even at 32 months old, (equivalent to 80 in humans), was robust and healthy.

It seems NMN could help those in later life engage in more robust physical activity, which has been understood to be a key factor in living a longer life for many years, across the spectrum of scientific research.

Of course, while being able to continue to engage in physical exercise into our dotage is on everyone’s wish-list, it is a reduction in our cognitive function that is a universal fear. It is therefore interesting to note that NMN is also involved in improving brain function too. »

RESEARCH Stimulating the production of NAD+ was therefore seen to be a key aim in scientific research in the war against ageing, which led to the breakthrough discovery that a similarly unpronounceable element, NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), was able to stimulate the production of NAD+, and even more significantly, could be manufactured as a nutritional supplement.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed in boosting the profile of NAD+ and its NMN generator, where 50+ patients hospitalised by Covid-19 were treated with an NMN cocktail and appeared to experience substantial relief from their symptoms.

By boosting the immune system through the stimulation of NAD+, NMN it celebrityangels.co.uk

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ADVERTORIAL

Have you hit that 40 mark and you're staring at a text saying, “Congrats, life starts at 40!” You've hit a good halfway mark. It’s not too late and not too early to accomplish your dreams.

Stan Lee, Vera Wang, Henry Ford, J.R.R Tolkien, Julia Child, Giorgio Armani, Samuel L. Jackson, Ray Kroc, Bernie Marcus, Harland David Sanders, Taikichiro Mori, Toni Morrison, Martha Stewart, Lynda Weinman, Herbert Boyer and many more all share a common denominator of being over 40 and achieving stupendous success in their lives.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING OLD, YOU'RE JUST GETTING STARTED! There is plenty of truth to the fact that being older can make you more successful. With over 39 years to practice life, you have gained substantial experience and learned from your past mistakes.

The question is, can our ageing bodies keep up the pace so that we can have that chance to utilise our life experiences?

ARE WE FILING UP OUR AGEING FUEL TANKS?

This co-enzyme in the mitochondria provides energy for our cells and makes us feel active and alive. It’s involved in ATP processes that can help retain that activity for longer and it’s crucial for DNA repair, identifying damage and fixing the molecules and signalling.

Between the ages of 40 and 60, our NAD+ levels drop by up to 50%, making it harder for us to maintain excellent health and energy.

As we age the mitochondria in our cells start slowing down and this results in DNA damage increasing, thus the body uses more and more NAD+, which is why our energy levels decrease over time.

By supplementing NMN you boost NAD+ levels in cells all over the body.

NAD+ is found in a diet of fresh vegetables and fish, while NMN is present in small amounts in green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, spinach, edamame and avocado.

However, the most effective and quickest way to raise your levels of NMN and NAD+ is through supplementation. NMN can be easily absorbed by the body and used for a variety of bodily functions.

CAN WE BOOST THE LEVEL OF NAD+ IN OUR BODIES?

Did you know there’s a coenzyme found in all living cells? Well, it’s called NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide was discovered in 1906). It’s our body’s natural fuel which keeps our cells running like clockwork.

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We can’t absorb NAD+ directly. It’s too large a molecule for the body to handle.

However, we can take supplements in the form of precursors, which is like using different modes of transport or routes to get to the final destination. One such precursor is NMN or Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, which is an ingredient your body can convert.

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NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR BETTER AGEING

PRESERVAGE Boosting your immune system LIPOSOMAL GLUTATHIONE The body & brain’s master antioxidant & detoxifier INJUV & LIPOSOMAL HYALURONIC ACID Keeping your skin & complexion youthful LIPOSOMAL ASHWAGANDHA Combating chronic stress to delay ageing SPERMIDINE AUTOPHAGY Boosting the body’s cellular renewal process

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YOUR WELLBEING

LONG LIFE At the time of writing the oldest currently living person was Lucile Randon, a 118-year-old French nun, who is also the oldest known survivor of COVID-19.

CONDITIONS One of the well-established roles of NAD+ is in healthy vision. A depletion in NAD+ levels directly correlates to vision loss, and so being able to replenish NAD+ with NMN could also restore vision to its previous state.

Of course, NMN is not a wonder drug, and could not for example, dissolve cataracts or repair physical damage or 62

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injury. However, because it stimulates the production of NAD+ in every cell in the body, (which depletes with age), it seems that it could give cells the boost they need throughout the body to offer more resistance to the ageing process.

Another proposed benefit of NAD+ is its role in preventing heart failure. By protecting cell structure on every layer in the human body, the cardiac function of an individual may also be boosted in the elderly by NMN - and while the ageing process can increase weight through a slowing of the body’s metabolism, NAD+ is again a central pivot in this function.

In the research study we mentioned earlier, elderly mice administered NMN to boost their production of NAD+ saw a reduction in age-associated obesity, unrelated to a suppression of their appetite or an increase in their physical activity.

There are, it appears, a whole range of age-related illnesses that are directly impacted by the level of NAD+ in the body. Diabetes, for example is another

condition that is more likely to appear as the body ages, but once again, NAD+ is highly sensitive to insulin production and can react accordingly when called on to produce more insulin.

STRUCTURE In pursuing a long and healthy life, it is clear that we have to dive a lot deeper for answers than just looking in the mirror.

It is the structure of our bodies on a cellular level where the solutions are to be found. Whether that is observing the effect that simple hydration has on all our systems, or learning from science how the production of NAD+ can boost our immune system and organ function, the solutions it seems are tied up in the microscopic details of our lives.

While most of the research done on NMN has thus far been conducted on mice, the COVID-19 data would certainly suggest that by focusing on the longevity of every cell in our body, we may find a way of truly lengthening our stride into the future. ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Though the brain counts for only two percent of a human being’s body mass, it requires 20 percent of the body’s total resting oxygen. Ensuring that enough blood flows to the brain, with enough nutrients to oxygenate it, is vital to maintain a mind that is clear and alert.

NMN is shown to work on a cellular level throughout the body enabling blood vessel dilation and hence blood flow to the brain. When seeking to maintain a healthy cognitive ability, it may be that doing the daily crossword may not be enough, and the support of NMN could stave off that ‘brain-fog’.

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YOUR WELLBEING

Taking the Strain out of Stress Understanding the mind-body connection is key to reducing stress, but what practical techniques can we use?

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YOUR WELLBEING

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t’s a common complaint that the pace of life is so fast that we are in a constant state of stress - at the moment, with economic, health and social woes besetting us all, it would be a wonder if the negative influences we are subjected to did not result in mental and physical stress.

Our autonomic nervous system (ANS) was originally designed to protect us when a tiger jumped out at us and threatened our lives, but nowadays those Stone Age concerns have been replaced by raft s of other perceived dangers that trigger our ANS in exactly the same way.

In order to allow our nervous system to spend as much time as possible in rest and repair, and not in fight-or-flight mode, which can have long-term health effects, it is vital to learn and implement tools that can keep our adrenaline and cortisol levels on an even keel.

FIGHT OR FLIGHT For cave people, the dangers to life were clear. An attack by a bear would trigger the autonomic nervous system, giving a quick boost of adrenaline to allow them to run faster and breathe more efficiently, taking blood supply away from the gut

and the cerebral cortex (thinking mind) and energising the muscular system. The adrenaline boost enabled primitive man to fight, flee or freeze to ensure survival.

When the danger had passed, the system would move from sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous response, and Ugg could calm down and relax as the danger passed, and healing oxytocin flooded the system.

The problem with modern life is that while immediate dangers like attacking bears are less likely, we are now bombarded by less tangible worries thousands of times a day, and these can trigger the same autonomic responses.

“Will I meet that deadline?”, “Will I have enough money to buy my daughter a birthday present?”, “Why won’t my friend talk to me?”, are all questions that trigger the same bodily response as the caveperson’s tiger. Our bodies stay switched on to a stress response, and we become acclimatised to it. We are constantly stressed, and the buildup of adrenaline and cortisol can lead to long-term physical health problems such as heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke, sleep

problems, weight gain, and memory and concentration impairment.

PARASYMPATHETIC The parasympathetic nervous system is the branch of the ANS that allows us to relax and gives the body time to repair on a cellular level from the threats it has endured. As these threats are now no longer only physical, but mental and emotional too, the triggering of the parasympathetic system is enabled in a variety of physical, mental and emotional ways too.

Physical activity, like the caveman running to escape, is still a valid way to relieve our stress. Scientists have shown that levels of cortisone and adrenaline can certainly be reduced by exercise. Any form of physical activity can be of benefit, from walking or running to gym exercise, dance or yoga class or even gardening. Movement is key, which is why many record the number of steps they take a day with the use of a smartphone app.

While stress relief can be helped by movement, our minds can still be racing with unwanted worrisome thoughts, so we need to attend to our minds as much as to our bodies. »

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DEEP THOUGHTS A 2020 study by the Human Connectome Project published in Nature Communications showed participants to have on average more than 6,000 thoughts a day. In the study, which involved 184 participants with an average age of 29.4, researchers used brain imaging scans to track when new thoughts began, while participants were either resting or watching a movie.

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YOUR WELLBEING

MEDITATION Learning how to quieten the mind and stop those relentless ‘What if ...?’ questions that ramp up our anxiety has thrown a real spotlight on ancient practices of meditation and relaxation.

It is no coincidence that the voluntary bridge between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system is breathing. If we can control our breathing and thereby slow our heartbeat, we can reduce the cortisol and adrenaline levels that can be so damaging.

There are numerous breathing techniques to achieve this, but in essence the message is that the out-breath should always be longer than the in-breath. Both should be slow and rise from the belly not from the chest.

Meditation is a practice which uses the breath as its focus. It can be a challenge to sit quietly with yourself and allow intrusive thoughts to pass through you and not get attached to them, but there is a wisdom in the practice which has benefited humans for centuries. Yoga, Tai-Chi and Qi-Gong all include meditative practice at their core, and if you find it hard to practice meditation alone, there are many online and local hall groups where you can join in with others to learn.

STRESS RESPONSE Stress itself is not recognised as a mental health condition, but if unaddressed it can lead to depression and anxiety, and can harm physical health. One in six UK adults experiences these issues at one time. Anxiety UK provides support for those who have been diagnosed with anxiety, plus anyone who is affected by stress and anxietybased depression. www.anxietyuk.org.uk

MINDFULNESS A current buzzword in the meditation space is Mindfulness. In essence, in order to stay healthy in mind and body, it is advocated that each human being should stay ‘in the present’. This means that although you may be engaged in work, a

domestic chore or a leisure activity, you do not allow your mind to bombard you with worrisome thoughts.

The practice of mindfulness asks that you use your senses to stay focused on where you are. Look at the things in front of you, listen to the sounds, notice the smells, feel the temperature, concentrate on exactly where you are, not in a distant past or on an unforeseeable future. In essence, concentrate on the part of the road you are driving on, not in the rear-view mirror or the final destination.

Cavemen certainly had their stresses, but they were brutally obvious. In the 21st century, stresses are not only around every corner, but can also be generated by each of the millions of thoughts that we have a day. Recognising that our ANS is permanently switched on is the first and often most difficult step to help us calm down. The next move is to find an emotional toolkit, class, video or practitioner to guide us to take better care of ourselves.

Kindness to ourselves looks like the way to create a more harmonious life for us and this around us. ■

YOGA The term “yoga” in the Western world usually denotes a modern form of Hatha yoga techniques which originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Traditional yoga focuses on meditation and release from worldly attachments. Find out more from the British Wheel of Yoga.

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www.bwy.org.uk

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YOUR WELLBEING

The Joy of Friluftsliv Post-pandemic, we all need to get back into the fresh air - and the Nordic lifestyle movement called Friluftsliv sounds just the ticket

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garden, patio or balcony space feel small and uninspiring.

WHAT IS FRILUFTSLIV? Friluftsliv is having its moment, and there’s no better time for it than right now.

Friluftsliv, pronounced “free-looft-sliv” literally means “open air living” and can be defined as embracing the outdoors, no matter the season, no matter the weather.

Nordic cultures describe it as a longing to be out in nature.

The Friluftsliv philosophy is all about embracing nature and the outdoors, no matter the weather. Don’t worry about how big or how small your space is or

even how pretty it looks right now - the important thing is being outside and enjoying the fresh air. Even if you don’t have your own outside space, finding somewhere by a window that you can open and let the air in, just for five minutes or so during the day, can make a huge difference and allow you to experience that feeling of friluftsliv until you can get out for a walk.

The first step is to take half an hour to weed an overgrown corner of your garden or clear away the bits and pieces you’ve stashed on your balcony for far too long.

Clearing the space will allow you to enjoy the friluftsliv with a clear mind.

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ou have probably heard of the Nordic concept of hygge, pronounced hoo-ge, the Danish concept of ‘cosy contentment’.

It’s been applied to food, furnishings and even literature. But if you’re fed up of having been locked indoors for weeks, however comfortably, perhaps it’s time to experience a little friluftsliv instead.

Post-lockdown, key to enjoyment of what remains of the summer for our physical and mental wellbeing will be getting outdoors and enjoying the fresh air and outside space as often as we can in whatever way we can. It’s not always easy to do this when your outside space, be it a

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YOUR WELLBEING

In the UK, we tend to shy away from spending time outside for fear of drizzly grey weather. Patios and terraces can feel particularly cold and uninviting, particularly if they’ve been neglected over the winter months. Once your space is cleared out, it’s time to cosy them up to make them more appealing for friluftsliv.

All you need to get started is a handful of cushions, some snuggly blankets, and a fluffy rug to make your garden feel as comfy as your living room. During the day, this makes the perfect space to bask in the sun with a book and sunglasses, and as the

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IBSEN IDEOLOGY Friluftsliv was popularised in the 1850s by the Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen, who used the term to describe the value of spending time in remote locations for spiritual and physical wellbeing.

night begins to draw in, you can pull out the barbecue and sip on a glass of wine as you watch the sun set.

PREPARATION One thing that’s key is to prepare for the weather. Find something that can create shade and provide some cover from the elements, be that a parasol, a specially designed sunshade or even just a large umbrella. Failing that, or when the weather gets particularly dramatic, make sure the items you have outside can easily be dismantled and taken back inside quickly, or that they’re waterproof and you’re ready to embrace the outdoors!

If you’ve got the space and opportunity, an outdoor cooking space will mean you can fully embrace the friluftsliv lifestyle, whether that’s a simple barbecue tray or firepit, or even a fully kitted outdoor kitchen. The feeling and experience of cooking outside over the flames is invigorating and exciting. This way you can extend your living and dining space out into your garden.

So many of us are now struggling to separate our home and work lives as we’ve brought our desks and computers

GET THE LIGHT RIGHT Cosy cushions and rugs will make your friluftsliv space comfortable, but you can really create an ambience with the right lighting – solar powered lights, battery operated fairy lights and candles can make a whole world of difference to your new outside space.

into our homes. Embracing friluftsliv and your outdoor space will give you the opportunity to break an endless work cycle. It’s so important to give yourself the time to enjoy the outdoors – thinking about the work you have to get back to, the washing you need to do, or that programme you wanted to watch on TV will spoil all the hard work you’ve put into creating a relaxing space outside.

So maybe keep your hygge for the colder months and if you’re fed up of having been locked indoors for weeks, however comfortably, perhaps it’s time to experience a little friluftsliv. ■

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Healthier for Longer Medical research and advances in treatment mean that we should all be able to live longer and healthier lives. So what are some of the most exciting developments in healthcare?

LOCKDOWN DRINKING DEATHS PREDICTED TO RISE Heavy drinkers during the lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may have cemented habits which will lead to a rise in alcohol-related deaths of up to 25,000 more people, researchers have warned.

Findings accumulated in two separate studies, one by the University of Sheffield and another by the Institute of Alcohol Studies and commissioned for the NHS, have suggested that the best-case scenario would still lead to up to 1,830 more deaths in the space of 20 years. As a result, health experts have urged the government to take action to lower alcohol-related harm by confronting its price, availability and promotion.

COVID BOOSTERS FOR THE OVER 50S

Colin Angus, who led the University of Sheffield study, said: “These figures highlight that the pandemic’s impact on our drinking behaviour is likely to cast a long shadow on our health, and paint a worrying picture at a time when NHS services are already under huge pressure due to treatment backlogs.”

Everyone in the UK aged 50 and over is set to be offered a COVID booster vaccine this autumn to replenish their immunity and reduce their risk of becoming severely ill.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises governments in all four nations within the UK, has updated the advice published in May. The recommendations now include everyone aged 50 and over, frontline health and social care staff, people over the age of five whose health puts them at greater risk, and people over the age of five who share a house with somebody with a weakened immune system.

Though delivery details have yet to be confirmed, the autumn booster program is expected to begin in September and commence with the oldest and most vulnerable.

Deputy chairman of the JCVI, Prof Anthony Harnden, said: “The Covid-19 boosters are highly effective at increasing immunity and, by offering a further dose to those at higher risk of severe illness this autumn, we hope to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisations and deaths over the winter.”

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

MONKEYPOX DECLARED A GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Monkeypox as a global health emergency, its highest alert level. Cases across the world, including the UK, have continued to rise resulting in the WHO applying the label PHEIC (Public Health Emergency of International Concern). WHO director-general Tedros Adhanon Ghebreyesus said: “In short, we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little.”

This is the seventh time a PHEIC has been declared since 2009 with the most recent being for the COVID-19 outbreak.

Though the risk of monkeypox is descrbed as “moderate” globally, the organisation has deemed the risk in Europe as “high” and noted that there is “a clear risk of further international spread”. Dr Tedros hopes that this declaration will help accelerate the development of vaccines.

Goodbye Hair Kwai Blood Pressure is a blend of nutrients specifically selected to help maintain normal blood pressure and heart muscle function.

Live life to the full, at the heart of a healthy life is a healthy heart https://kwaiheartcare.co.uk

Ear Health Tinnaway is formulated based on scientific evidence to promote peripheral circulation, especially useful for maintaining ear health.

Tinnaway is a multivitamin and mineral food supplement with Ginkgo biloba extract. Ginkgo biloba promotes the peripheral circulation, which is especially useful for the ears and therefore contributes to good hearing. www.tinnaway.co.uk

The NEW Patented PRO SOFT TOUCH is the perfect hair remover and inhibitor for the face and body, with three customised treatment levels for long lasting results. You need to use for 6-8 weeks for visible differences. The LCD Screen shows the battery level, power level and the Thermicon tip replacement indicator. The standard pack includes one large and one small Thermicon tip for face and body, cleaning brush plus a body polishing buffer pad for after use. The device can be used on any skin or hair type. www.officialnono.co.uk

Skin Improver

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Healthier for Longer Longevity Box is transforming what it means to age and the way people live healthier, for longer. They bring the science of aging well to the UK with their cutting-edge longevity supplements, each designed to help you reverse aging and feel amazing. https://longevitybox.co.uk

DermaWand uses radio frequency technology to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while tightening loose skin. It works to diminish the appearance of puffy eyes and minimises the presence of enlarged pores and uneven texture, and improves circulation by bringing fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the skin’s surface. www.dermawand.co.uk

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Let’s Clear the Air

Your home could be harming your health. We’re here to change that. hen it comes to air pollution, we tend to imagine congested roads, plumes of smoke and smog-filled cities. While chemicals, gases and particulate matter pose a threat to us outdoors – what about the risks we face in our own homes?

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We might not always realise it, but we in fact share our homes with a number of unwelcome guests in the form of allergens and pollutants. Pollen, dust mites, mould and pet dander are often the culprits behind poor indoor air quality, which can in turn cause respiratory issues, skin problems, sleep disruption, poor mental health and even behavioural changes. Everyday activities like cleaning and cooking can cause the number of harmful particles in your home to rise dramatically, and in turn, put the health of you and your family members at risk. If you’re wondering how to tackle these invisible invaders, don’t worry – this is where we come in.

Designed with your home and health at its core, the Homedics range of purifiers, coolers and humidifiers is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air. With HEPA filtration, odour filters and variable speed settings, Homedics air purifiers trap pesky particles so you can breathe easy again.

Here’s a little more about one of our customer favourites.

5 Reasons we Love the Homedics TotalClean PetPlus 5-in-1 Air Purifier 1. It has a pre-filter designed to trap larger particles (think pet hair, for example) as well as a HEPA filter and a carbon odour filter.

2. The UV-C technology kills viruses while the ioniser enhances the air purification process.

3. You can choose from three air flow speeds, and three Whisper Quiet modes come bedtime.

4. Love essential oils? There’s a built-in aroma tray to fill your space with your favourite scents.

5. Its 360-degree filtration system removes up to 99.97% of airborne allergens such as dust, mould, dander, pollen and household pollutants.

Oh, and one more thing – it’s not an eyesore. In fact, it looks great in every space.

Remember, there are small changes you can make around your home to ensure your air purifier has the best possible impact.

• Do you own pets? Why not designate certain areas or rooms for them to use to prevent allergens from settling across your home? Remember, pollen can attach itself to your cat or dog when they’re outside which means they can easily bring problematic particles inside with them.

• Check the local air quality regularly. A warm, breezy day might seem like the perfect time to hang your washing out to dry, but if the pollen count or pollution levels are high, harmful particles can land on your clothes.

• Wash your bedding once a week on a high temperature to remove allergens that might have accumulated and triggered symptoms such and coughing and sneezing at night.

To get you started on your mission for a healthier home, we’re offering 20% off our entire Air range. Simply use the code ‘AIR100’ at the checkout to redeem.

Visit www.homedics.co.uk to browse and find out more.

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

Clean Air Act Indoor air can be as polluted as outdoors - do you know the sources of air quality problems at home and the best solutions?

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hile outdoor air pollution is mainly caused by petrol fumes and industrial pollutants, sources of air pollution inside your home can be equally detrimental to your health - sometimes moreso, as the effects are concentrated.

Breathing polluted indoor air can lead to respiratory infections, and in the long term to increased risk of pneumonia, COPD, lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The main causes of indoor air pollution are:  Chemicals used in cleaning and decorating  Historic building materials such as asbestos  Tobacco smoke  Mould spores resulting from damp and poor ventilation  Pet hair and dust mites which can trigger allergies  Fuel-burning heating systems  Outdoor pollution getting indoors

Particularly worrying are bleach and ammonia used in cleaning compounds, and VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, such as acetone, xylene and formaldehyde, commonly used in household cleaning and decorating materials.

As most UK homes aren’t built with

ACTIONS There are many preventative actions you can take to avoid bringing pollutants into your home, including getting a pollution monitor which will give you a readout of air temperature, humidity, levels of particulates and other pollutants; using allergy-free cleaning compounds, and liquids rather than sprays; and making sure that cookers and heaters are well ventilated, and that flues and extractor fans are cleaned and serviced regularly.

air conditioning, you might consider a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration system of a type recommended by authorities SAGE in the United Kingdom and the HSE in Ireland as part of the solution for improving indoor air quality.

A go-to for those looking to enhance their wellbeing, HoMedics is renowned for its mission to make homes healthier.

Everyday activities such as cooking, cleaning and heating can cause the number of pollutants in our homes to soar, but their miniscule size means it’s impossible to see them. The impact they can have, however, is more obvious.

Respiratory issues, skin irritation and sleep disruption are all problems associated with poor indoor air and can have a serious effect on our health and wellbeing. With a number of air purifiers designed to clean up your home environment, the HoMedics air quality range features HEPA filtration, odour filters and variable speed settings to trap problematic particles - so you and your loved ones can breathe easy again. ■

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

Water Lot We Got We should all know the importance of hydration, but what’s the best way to take in water? It can be less straightforward than you think to get the pure stuff...

W

e all need water to live, and it’s much better for us to take in the pure stuff than to take it in tea, coffee, fruit drinks, or, God forbid, fizzy drinks.

Water makes up the majority of your body weight and is critical for healthy functioning. You lose water through sweating, waste and exhalation. Though needs will vary according to factors such as environment, gender, weight, age and exercise, the recommended daily fluid intake is about 4.5 pints a day for adult women and 6.25 pints for adult men.

Sports drinks used by athletic types to rehydrate quickly after exercise will contain sodium and potassium, which are essential for many body functions, but can also contain about 6-8 percent carbohydrates, such as glucose, sucrose and dextrose. So, if you are not doing the exercise required to burn off the carbohydrates, you don’t want to load up on sports drinks.

THE PURE THING But to get pure water, do you have to splash out (see what we did there...?) on bottled mineral water? Generally this is safe, and full of helpful chemicals such as magnesium and calcium. But if there are any problems with bottled mineral water,

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HARD WATER REGIONS Hard water is a geographical problem, and your water supplier will be able to tell you how your supply rates in terms of mineral content - a soft water area would have under 60 parts per million, while a very hard water area would register more than 180ppm.

it is that it is sometimes carbonated (which makes it mildly acidic and bad for the teeth), and that it usually comes in plastic bottles which are bad for the environment.

Tap water is cheap and safe, but we might not always like the taste, particularly if we live in a ‘hard water’ area. Hard water is defined as water with a high additional mineral content, usually calcium, magnesium and iron compounds picked up when water filters through geological layers of limestone, chalk or gypsum.

These are mainly beneficial or harmless, but hard water can be contaminated with elements like manganese or aluminium, and can also encourage the development of bacteria.

HARD WATER It’s easy to spot the symptoms of hard water, which include limescale deposits in kettles, taps and appliances, shampoo not lathering, soap residue left in the bath and shower, and skin dryness or irritation due to soap deposits. A home test kit will help you measure the hardness of your water.

There are several technologies available to soften your tap water; you can fit a filtration system to your mains supply, replacing the filter every so often; or you can use a standalone appliance topped up from the tap. Often these will dispense hot or cold filtered water in any desired amount, so they save you from boiling a whole kettle just for one cup. Finally there’s the option of using a basic water filter jug, which has replaceable filters which can be recycled after use.

Aqua Optima’s Aurora Instant Hot & Cold Filtered Water Dispenser serves hot, boiled, or chilled water on demand – always filtered, and always to the exact volume required. Its 3.8 litre capacity, seven temperature settings, and seven

volume options deliver a flawless drink every time – from perfectly-heated herbal teas to refreshing chilled water and more.

Fast and convenient, this 3-in-1 kettle, chiller, and filter jug can help save space in the kitchen whilst saving energy by only boiling and dispensing the water you need: simply plug in and go.

Some of the advantages of filtered water are:  It tastes better By filtering out contaminants improves the taste of pure water, or the hot and cold drinks you use it in. It will also improve the taste and look of steamed or boiled vegetables.  Reduces water hardness Extends the life of appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, kettles and steam mops, and reduces furring on pipes and taps by filtering out limescale.  Reduces your environmental impact If you filter your tap water rather than buying bottled water, you reduce the amount of plastic and packaging waste.  It’s healthier By removing contaminants such as microplastics, filtered water reduces your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.

Some water filters are smart enough to filter out unwanted chemicals while leaving in these good ones like potassium and fluoride. Typically, these smart filters have several layers, first filtering out large particles such as rust flakes, then chlorine and pesticides using an activated carbon layer, then removing limescale (calcium) using an ion exchange system.

Finally a fine mesh will remove remaining small particles, leaving you with fresh, pure water which you can drink to your heart’s content. ■

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

The Rise and Rise of Lyme Disease

S

inger Shania Twain revealed in a recent documentary that her career had almost been brought to an end by Lyme disease, which she contracted in 2003. She found herself on a 113-date world tour, suffering frightening symptoms on stage: “My symptoms were quite scary because before I was diagnosed, I was on stage very dizzy. I was losing my balance, I was afraid I was gonna fall off the stage,” the 56-year-old ‘Queen of Country Pop’ confesses in her rock-doc Not Just a Girl. “I was having these very, very, very millisecond blackouts, but regularly, every minute or every 30 seconds.”

While the rest of us might not have to worry about losing a Grammy Awardwinning singing career, Lyme disease has become a very real threat. Shania Twain contracted it while horse-riding, and it is very much associated with an outdoor lifestyle.

TICKS Lyme disease derives its name from the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut, where it was first identified in the 1970s. Children

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suffering from swollen joints, fatigue, rashes, and brain inflammation were found to have been infected by a corkscrew-like bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is carried by the black-legged tick, or deer tick.

Like Covid-19, Lyme disease is zoonotic, which means it spreads from animals to people; and like other zoonotic diseases, Lyme has emerged from ecosystems that have been disturbed by intensive human development. Disrupting the ecosystems of forests has allowed ticks to thrive where before they were controlled.

A study by the British Medical Journal of Global Health found that there were 1,156 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease in the UK in 2021, and that figure is set to rise each year.

If you are bitten by a tick, you may not notice at the time, as the bite has an anaesthetising effect. Weeks or months later you may develop a spreading rash with a darker or lighter area in the centre. The rash may be flat or slightly raised, and may look pink, red, or purple. Other symptoms may include tiredness, high temperature,

headaches, and muscle and joint pain.

Treatment simply involves a course of antibiotics, but this may need to be taken for up to 28 days, and does not always guarantee there will be no long-term symptoms.

The best way to avoid ticks is to stay on paths, cover your skin, tuck trousers into socks, and use insect repellent and a special tick removal tool.

Find out more from the charity Lyme Disease Action at www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk. ■

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Why is Lyme disease becoming more common, what are the symptoms and how can it be treated?

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

The Great Salt Shaker Did you know that adding salt to your food can take years off your life?

Recent studies suggests it’s so, but come up with some alternatives

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seasoning meals. This does not include the addition of salt during the process of cooking.

“To my knowledge, our study is the first to assess the relation between adding salt to foods and premature death,” said Prof Lu Qi of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, who administered the study. “Even a modest reduction in sodium intake, by adding less or no salt to food at the table, is likely to result in substantial health benefits, especially when it is achieved in the general population.”

In America, adding salt to food isn’t the main way that sodium is consumed, accounting for only about 6 to 20 percent of daily intake. The majority (around 70 percent) of dietary sodium comes from packaged and prepared foods such as meats, pizza, tacos, and crisps, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

BANANAS But another study by the Amsterdam University Medical Centres suggests that eating salmon and banana can help reduce the negative effect of salt in women’s diets. Diets rich in potassium were linked with lower blood pressure, particularly in women with high salt intake.

The study revealed that the relationship between potassium and damage to the heart was the same irrespective of salt intake, signifying that potassium has other ways of shielding the heart on top of increasing sodium excretion in the urine.

Professor Liffert Vogt of Amsterdam University Medical Centres, who authored the study, said: “It is well known that high salt consumption is associated with elevated blood pressure and a raised risk of heart attacks and strokes. Health advice has focused on limiting salt intake but this is difficult to achieve when our diets include processed foods.

“Potassium helps the body excrete more sodium in the urine. In our study, dietary potassium was linked with the greatest health gains in women.” ■

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t the age of 50, always adding salt to your meals could reduce life expectancy by 2.28 years for men and 1.5 years for women, compared with those who don’t add extra salt, according to a study in the European Heart Journal.

Researchers co-ordinating a study of 500,000 middle-aged Britons did not dismiss any other possible factors, including salt consumption being a proxy for a generally less healthy lifestyle; however, researchers have suggested that people should still reduce their habit of

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It All Adds Up

W

e should all pretty well know by now that a healthy, balanced diet consisting of fresh vegetables, white meat, grains and low-sugar drinks is best for our health, in conjunction with plenty of sleep, exercise, and staying away from alcohol and tobacco. But what if for some reason your diet just isn’t giving you the

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nutritional elements you need for good health and development?

There can be many reasons why people need nutritional supplements, ranging from medical conditions to dietary choices. But it’s not always easy to know from the thousands of choices on the shelves what is actually necessary to maintain health and prevent

dietary deficiency.

A food supplement is defined as ‘any food the purpose of which is to supplement the normal diet and which is a concentrated source of a vitamin or mineral or other substance with a nutritional or physiological effect, alone or in combination and is sold in dose form’.

A wide range of nutrients and »

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If your diet is lacking a certain something, nutritional supplements should help you make up the shortfall. But what might you need and where do you find it?

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JOINT COMPLEX

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EUFIC lists the following population groups as requiring specific advice about dietary supplements: Population group

Nutrients

People over age 50

Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, folate. Frail elderly may benefit from a low-dose multivitamin supplement.

Women of childbearing age

Folic acid and vitamin D, possibly iron

Children under age 5

Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, although children with a good appetite who eat a wide variety of food may not need them.

Breastfeeding women

Vitamin D

People with insufficient sun exposure or darker skin

Vitamin D

Vegans

Vitamin B12, vitamin D2

other ingredients might be present in food supplements. These can include: h Vitamins h Minerals h Amino acids h Essential fatty acids h Fibre h Plant and herbal extracts Food supplements are intended to correct nutritional deficiencies, maintain an adequate intake of certain nutrients, or to support specific physiological functions.

They are not medicinal products, and as such cannot exert or claim to exert a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action. Therefore, their use is not intended to treat or prevent diseases in humans or to modify physiological functions.

REGULATION In the UK, food supplements are required to be regulated as foods, and are subject to the provisions of general food law. In Northern Ireland, EU food law relating to food supplements will continue to apply, as listed in the Northern Ireland Protocol.

EUFIC, the European Food Information Council, says that only a certain amount of each nutrient is needed for our bodies to function, and higher amounts are not necessarily better. At high doses, some substances may have adverse effects, and may become harmful. For the reason of safeguarding consumers’ health, supplements can therefore only be legally sold with an appropriate daily dose recommendation, and a warning statement not to exceed that dose.

There are certain population groups or individuals who may need advice about supplements, even when they eat a healthy balanced diet, for instance women of childbearing age, and individuals on specific medications.

Partly due to our modern lifestyle, not everyone manages to eat a healthy diet.

In Europe, dietary surveys have suggested that there are suboptimal intakes for several micronutrients, including vitamin C, vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, selenium and iodine.

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CONSUMPTION Government data show that just 27 percent of adults aged 19 to 64 years meet the Five-ADay recommendations for fruit and vegetables, and despite UK recommendations to eat at least one portion (140g) of oily fish per week, mean consumption is just 54 to 87g per week for adults. Both men and women in their middle years have intakes below the LRNI (Lower Reference Nutrient Intake) for vitamin A, calcium, folate, iodine, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, riboflavin and zinc.

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Source: HSIS

SURVEYS A recent comparison of national surveys showed widespread concern about vitamin D intakes, while certain age groups are more likely to have low intakes of minerals - for example, there is concern about adequate intakes of iron amongst teenage girls in Denmark, France, Poland, Germany and the UK. Poor iron status in young women increases the risk of infants being born with low birth-weight, iron deficiency and delayed brain development, and folate status is also critical for women who may become pregnant, so they are advised to take folic acid before conception, and continue for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. An adequate folate status can decrease the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Research also suggests that 50–70 percent of Europeans have poor vitamin D status. Since this is dependent not only on dietary intake but also on exposure to UV light, there may be a stronger case for advising supplements for vitamin D in Northern European countries. In some countries (including UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden) there are already recommendations for certain groups in the population to take a vitamin D supplement.

The message is to follow a healthy, balanced diet, carefully read labels of supplements and fortified foods, and avoid taking multiple doses that exceed the Recommended Daily Amounts (RDAs). In case of doubt, seek advice from a dietician or doctor before choosing a dietary supplement.

THE MIDDLE YEARS If you are approaching middle age, your nutritional requirements and the usefulness of supplements may shift.

Nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire shared her views on the importance of nutrition in the middle years in a report for the HSIS (Health and Food Supplements Information Service), which provides accurate and balanced information on vitamins, minerals and other food supplements to the media and to health professionals working in the field of diet and nutrition.

Dr Derbyshire says: “Given the demographic shift in the UK towards an ageing population and the future cost impact of complex medical needs, it is important to adopt a preventative approach in the middle years to help alleviate the twin burdens in later life of infirmity and chronic disease.

“Nutrition plays a crucial role in healthy

ageing, yet while dietary sources for most important nutrients are available and recommended as part of a healthy, balanced diet, National Diet and Nutrition Survey data clearly shows UK population intakes in a number of micronutrients are insufficient.

TOPPING UP “Supplementation therefore has a key role to play to help plug evident dietary gaps and topping up the diet with a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement and omega-3 fish oil provides an easy and effective way to do this.”

Research from the Health and Food Supplements Information Service has found that 20 percent of respondents didn’t realise a healthy diet could help support health in later life, and 17 percent also believed they could wait until age 40 or over before they must make changes to avoid their diet impacting later life.

Dr Derbyshire concludes: “Immune health, eye health, cognitive function, cardiovascular disease, bone health and sarcopenia (age-related loss of skeletal mass and strength) are key areas of concern for those in their middle years and including a range of vitamins and minerals in the diet may help to support them.” ■

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to a Happy Tum

D

igestive problems such as reflux, when acid from the stomach flows back into the oesophagus, bloating, and trapped wind, can be the result of bacteria in food, infection, stress, certain medications, or chronic medical conditions such as colitis, Crohn’s disease, and IBS. But no matter the cause, anyone who has frequent digestive problems faces daily challenges and potential embarrassments.

So what are the solutions?

There are a lot of lifestyle changes you can make which could help, such as : h Cut down fatty foods h Eat more fibre h Avoid fizzy drinks h Eat and drink slowly h Stop smoking h Don’t chew gum h Get more exercise h Avoid sweeteners such as fructose and sorbitol But there are also digestive supplements which can help settle your stomach. So,

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what are their active ingredients and how do they work?

Betaine Hydrochloride Inadequate levels of stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes and/or bile acid secretion can create problems with digestion. Betaine hydrochloride is commonly recommended to improve digestion and absorption by improving inadequate stomach acid production (hypochlorhydria).

Ginger Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine. It’s been used to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few of its applications.

Pepsin Pepsin, the first enzyme to be discovered, helps break down the protein in your food for digestion. It’s often taken as a supplement to help with digestion, killing

bacteria in the stomach, and separating vitamin B12 from protein so that the vitamin can be properly utilized.

Apple Cider Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy which has been used it for centuries in cooking and medicine, said to have benefits for a wide range of health complaints due to its antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.

Made by fermenting crushed apples using yeast, its main active compound is acetic acid, and it’s claimed to be able to help weight loss, reduce cholesterol, lower blood sugar levels and improve symptoms of diabetes.

These natural solutions could ease discomfort and embarrassment, but if you have more serious symptoms of digestive disorders such as bleeding, constipation, diarrhoea, heartburn, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, you should consult a GP for a thorough examination. ■

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Natural Ways

If you have digestive problems, are there natural, organic solutions? We look at some of the popular suggestions

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*3.5 times more effective than bottled CBD oils

*Visit www.satipharm.com/pages/bioavailability for clinical trial

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Is CBD For Me? CBD, or cannabidiol, is an ingredient in an increasing number of health products - but what exactly is it, and what can it do for you?

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R

ecently, CBD (cannabidiol) products have increased massively in popularity, claiming many health benefits and safe, natural ways to strengthen our wellbeing.

CBD is a natural compound found in hemp and cannabis plants. Unlike THC (tetrahyrocannabinol), which is extracted from the same plants but is a controlled psychoactive substance, CBD is classified as a natural dietary supplement and has no psychoactive effect - it won’t get you ‘high’. While THC is regulated as a medicine known as ‘medical cannabis’ and can only be obtained by prescription from an authorised physician, CBD products are widely available in health shops and online retailers throughout the UK. But what is behind the claims that CBD can improve your wellbeing? Our bodies have an internal network of receptors called the Endocannabinoid System (ECS). The ECS is the largest receptor system in the body. This system helps support a stable, balanced body state called homeostasis across internal functions including appetite

GROWING BUSINESS According to the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) and Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC), sales of CBD products in the UK in 2021 were valued at £690m.

and metabolism, pain, inflammation, the immune system, mood, stress, sleep, and the way our organs work. It’s claimed that CBD and other cannabinoids fit into the body’s ECS, helping to support our body’s processes and overall wellness.

BUYING CBD CBD is available in a number of forms including oils and capsules, variously taken as part of the diet or applied topically, to treat conditions as diverse as anxiety and depression, skin complaints such as acne

and eczema, anorexia, insomnia, chronic pain, drug withdrawal, epilepsy, arthritis, joint pain and glaucoma.

This is the advice from Satipharm, a health and wellbeing company which specialises in their development and manufacture, when when buying CBD:  Buy from a reputable source such as a High Street pharmacy chain, independent pharmacy, or leading health store. These retailers have done all the hard work for you and have strict guidelines regarding the health and safety profile of CBD products.  Always look for CBD products which are marked GMP. This means that they comply with internationally recognised Good Manufacturing Practice standards.  Research your product. Leading CBD companies will provide details of any clinical trials they’ve conducted on their websites.

Find out more at satipharm.com.

CBD was discovered in the 1940s, and first isolated in the 1960s, but maybe its time has come in the 2020s...? ■

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

Natural Alternative to HRT?

With problems sourcing HRT treatment currently in the news, is it time to look at natural alternatives?

H

ormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is a common method of reducing the symptoms of menopause, when a woman’s periods stop. The hormonal changes at this stage of life, usually starting in the 40s or 50s, can cause uncomfortable symptoms

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such as hot flushes, mood swings, loss of concentration, poor sleep, palpitations, headaches, muscle pain, loss of sex drive and vaginal dryness. These can go on for five or seven and sometimes up to 14 years.

HRT works, as its name suggests, by replacing the hormones which the body no

SUPPLEMENTS Apart from taking regular exercise, adopting a healthy diet, practicing relaxation and cutting out alcohol and tobacco, it’s suggested that diet supplements with natural ingredients, available as one-a-day caplets or patches, can help to relieve the symptoms of menopause.

Ingredients often include B-vitamins to reduce fatigue and regulate hormonal activity, calcium to maintain bone health, and selenium to support the healthy functioning of the immune system, iodine for the production of thyroid hormones and maintenance of cognitive functioning, and folic acid to contribute to the normal functioning of the immune system and the reduction of fatigue.

Some supplements also contain soy isoflavones. Studies suggest that soy protein has a protective effect on breast tissue, as evidenced by the lower rates of breast cancer in East Asian countries where soy is a predominant part of the diet. Studies show that a total daily intake of 25g of soy protein paired with a low-fat diet results in significant reductions of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Soy consumption has been shown to significantly decrease total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, functioning comparably to organic oestrogen. ■

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Is There a

longer produces after menopause. These include oestrogen and progesterone.

Normally, a course of HRT treatment involves application of these hormones as patches, sprays, tablets, or implants, alleviating the symptoms and protecting against hormone-related diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

Most women can use HRT safely for as long as they need it, but HRT may not be suitable if you have a history of breast, ovarian or womb cancer, blood clots, untreated high blood pressure, or liver disease, or are pregnant - and currently there’s news of difficulty obtaining some HRT treatments due to supply chain problems. So, are there ‘natural’ alternatives?

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Ringing

the Changes Tinnitus can be a distressing and worrying hearing condition, but what causes it, and how can it be treated?

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Tinnitus is very common in all age groups, and about 30 percent of people will experience it at some point. Around 13 percent of people live with persistent tinnitus. Tinnitus is more common in people who have hearing loss or other ear problems, but it is also found in people with normal hearing.

SIGNALS In most cases the effect is not noticeable during the day, but in some cases it can be extremely disruptive, and particularly disturbing at night.

The causes of tinnitus are elusive, but it can be caused by prolonged exposure to loud noises such as music or industrial machinery. Equally, it can often begin with an infection such an influenza, which somehow seems to disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system sending signals from the ear to the brain. The brain normally filters out a lot of extraneous

noise, but with tinnitus, some unwanted signals seem to be getting through.

Changes in life circumstances or instances of stress can lead to tinnitus, suggesting that it can have a psychological component.

Self-therapy and treatment can come in many forms:  A radio or white noise generator on a low volume can help at bedtime  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can train you to pay less attention to the noise  Tinnitus Retraining Therapy can block the unwanted noise using audio generators  Food supplements can be designed to promote circulation and ear health If you experience tinnitus, a GP can examine you to rule out any medical factors, and can refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist or a tinnitus clinic for further help. ■

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T

innitus, usually experienced as a persistent ringing sound in the ears, is a complex and challenging condition which can be distressing. It has many causes and no definitive solution, but what causes it and how can we try to treat it?

The British Tinnitus Association (www.tinnitus.org.uk) explains that tinnitus is the term for the sensation of hearing a sound in the absence of any external sound. You may think you are hearing sounds like ringing, whooshing, humming or buzzing in one or both ears, or in the centre of the head. Sounds can be continuous or can come and go.

Sometimes the illusion of a noise is so real that people look for an outside source.

Sometimes the tinnitus can have a musical quality. This occurs particularly in older people who have hearing loss and a strong musical interest, and is known as musical tinnitus.

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02/08/2022 09:54

Tinnaway Peace of mind

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The Legacy of Covid-19 As we learn to live with coronavirus, work begins to understand its longterm effects and how it might change society’s attitudes to disease

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s we write at the end of July, the latest figures from the Off ice for National Statistics (ONS) show that Covid infections are continuing to rise across the UK. An estimated 2.7 million people, or one in 25, has the virus, up from about one in 30 the previous week.

The rise is being driven by two fastspreading sub-variants of Omicron, called BA.4 and BA.5. People can still catch these infections even if they have had Covid before, and in fact even if they have been vaccinated, though the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) analysis has shown that the vaccination programme is helping to protect against serious illness in most cases.

Sarah Croft s, who works on the ONS’s Covid-19 infection survey, said there was a continued rise across all UK countries, English regions and age groups, adding “Scotland continues to have the highest infection rate, although it has recently increased at a slower rate compared to

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other UK countries. We will continue to monitor the data to see if this recent rise is starting to slow in Scotland.”

Unsurprisingly, data shows that the number of people in hospital with Covid has also risen to around 11,000, with the largest increases in people aged 75 and older. About 16 percent of people in the over-75 age group, the ones most at risk, had not yet had Spring booster vaccines to help protect against severe disease.

The UKHSA warned there was likely to be a “substantial amount of waning immunity” in older people who have not taken up the booster vaccine on schedule.

HOSPITALISATION At the time of writing the number of Covid patients in hospital is still way below the record high of more than 34,000 in January 2021, as is the number in intensive care, at 217 compared to 3,700 in January.

But as all national restrictions on activity have been dropped, and major

events such as the Queen’s Jubilee, summer music festivals and major sporting events have taken place, the number of people being admitted to hospital with Covid is expected to rise further.

Dame Jenny Harries, chief of the UKHSA, said people should continue to follow “sensible precautionary advice”, highlighting handwashing, keeping a distance from others where possible and wearing a face covering in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas. People with Covid symptoms should stay at home, she said, adding “For this particular wave we have some evidence there may be some slight reduction of the effectiveness of vaccines on variants, but they are still maintaining the majority of people, keeping them safe from severe disease and out of hospital.”

But another twist in the tale is that excess deaths, the number of mortalities above the ordinary national average, are on the rise – but not directly because of Covid. ONS data shows that there were

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

1,540 excess deaths in the week ending June 24th, but only around 10 per cent were due to coronavirus.

Experts aren’t entirely sure why this is, but believe that responses to the pandemic, such as people not reporting other symptoms because they didn’t want to go into hospital; lack of access to healthcare; and even the strain of the

cost of living crisis may be contributing to excess deaths.

LONG COVID Prof Paul Hunter, Professor of Medicine at the University of East Anglia, thinks that some of the excess could be people whose health was weakened by Covid, which is known to increase the risk of stroke

and heart attacks. But he says that other factors may be at play, such as delayed referrals for treatment, and factors related to coronavirus restrictions such as reduced activity and loss of jobs. “There is despair from your livelihood disappearing up the swannee” he said. “It doesn’t have to lead to suicide, chronic stress can lead to all sorts of problems.” »

IMAGES: Dreamstime

DR AMIR KHAN ON LONG COVID Dr Amir Khan, speaking on Good Morning in June, said that as many as two million people in the UK are suffering from long Covid. Part of the problem treating the condition, he explained, is that it can be difficult to diagnose, with many tests being needed, and waiting times being several months or as long as a year. Dr Khan pointed out that women are more likely to suffer from long Covid, adding: “It’s really worrying. It just goes to show that this disease, as much as we pretend that it no longer exists, does exist and we are still seeing it very high numbers. It’s really difficult to diagnose. People are waiting months and a year before they are being seen. Every day in my clinic I see two or three patients who present with symptoms of long Covid... It’s really, really tough for these people.”

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For many, the symptoms of long Covid can include fatigue, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, joint pain, ‘brain fog’, loss of sense of smell, and even damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.

DIAGNOSIS Part of the problem in diagnosis and treatment is that there seems to be little consistency in who is likely to suffer from long Covid. One study in Italy found that 87 percent of patients hospitalized for acute Covid-19 were still suffering health problems two months later. In the UK, data from the Covid Symptom Study, which uses a self-reporting app, suggests that 10 to 15 percent of people don’t quickly recover. But it seems to be impossible to predict how far into the future long covid symptoms will endure, and whether Covid-19 will prompt the onset of chronic disease.

It’s been clear from early research that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, can disrupt a wide range of bodily tissues, using a spike protein on its

surface to latch onto cells’ receptors in the lungs, heart, gut, kidneys, blood vessels, and nervous system, among others. The inflammatory reaction to this infection could be the reason for the wide range of long-term symptoms. Until research gets to grips with this as it did with the infection itself, Covid-19 could continue to have long-term health effects long after the initial pandemic is over. ■

THE ONS ON LONG COVID According to ONS estimates, around 3.1 percent of the British population are suffering symptoms persisting for more than four weeks after catching Covid-19. Some 376,000 people who first caught Covid-19 around the start of the pandemic have reported symptoms lasting at least two years.

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Adding to the complicated picture is the situation with ‘long Covid’, where long-term symptoms remain even when the infection itself has gone.

Neuroscientist Athena Akrami of University College London reported on Science.Org that she now struggles to think clearly and battles joint and muscle pain. “I used to go to the gym three times a week,” Akrami says. Now, “My physical activity is bed to couch, maybe couch to kitchen.”

Her early symptoms were typical for Covid-19: a fever and cough, followed by shortness of breath, chest pain, and extreme fatigue. For weeks, she struggled to heal at home, but rather than decreasing with time, her symptoms waxed and waned without ever going away. She’s had just three weeks since March when her body temperature was normal.

“Everybody talks about a binary situation, you either get it mild and recover quickly, or you get really sick and wind up in intensive care,” says Akrami. But like thousands of others, she falls into neither group.

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

A Common Cause

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, but it’s not discussed as often as it should be.

What can we do to bring it into the open?

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

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espite campaigns by celebrities such as Stephen Fry, prostate cancer is still not as much discussed or understood as it

should be.

In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with more than 47,500 diagnoses every year. One man dies of prostate cancer every 45 minutes in the UK, that’s more than 11,500 men per year, and it could affect up to one in every eight men. Around 400,000 live with and after prostate cancer.

Age, ethnicity and family history are factors, but public awareness of the disease, its symptoms, consequences and treatment remains low.

In Stephen Fry’s case, he says that he was luckily diagnosed at a fairly early stage during investigations of another condition, and was successfully treated. But there is no national screening programme as there is for other conditions such as breast cancer, so there is a risk of late diagnosis and subsequently more difficulty in treatment.

The prostate is a gland in men, the size and shape of a walnut (though it can grow larger with age), which sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body. The main function of the prostate gland is to make semen, the fluid that carries sperm.

But the prostate gland is subject to several conditions, including enlargement or inflammation (prostatitis), and prostate

cancer, when cells in the gland begin to grow in an uncontrolled way.

Some prostate cancer grows too slowly to cause any problems or affect how long you live (it’s often said that many men die ‘with’, though not ‘of’ prostate cancer.)

For this reason, many men with prostate cancer never need any treatment. However, some prostate cancers grow quickly, and are more likely to spread to other organs, in in these cases treatment is needed to stop it spreading.

SYMPTOMS A prostate cancer which is contained inside the gland (known as localised or early prostate cancer) is often benign and causes no problems, so it’s often diagnosed only as part of tests for other conditions. If there are symptoms, they can involve difficulty in urinating, and can come on very slowly, over several years. Effects are usually noted in men over 50, and are more common in black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer.

One reason why most men with early prostate cancer don’t have any signs or symptoms is because of the way the cancer grows. Early symptoms usually show only if the cancer grows near the urethra and presses against it, affecting urination. But because prostate cancer usually starts to grow in a different part (usually the outer part) of the prostate, early prostate cancer doesn’t often press on the urethra and cause symptoms. »

MANVERSATION ManVersation, the campaign for prostate cancer conversation, works with the UK Men’s Sheds Association to empower men to be proactive about their prostate health; to have that important conversation with their GP and loved ones about prostate cancer.

The campaign, developed in consultation with prostate cancer charities, Orchid – Fighting Male Cancer, and Tackle Prostate Cancer, is organised and funded

by Bayer. The campaign says: “If you’re a man over 50, you may have ignored niggling back pain or bladder issues you experienced. It could be nothing, but these could also indicate that your prostate isn’t functioning as it should. We encourage all men over 50 to make their prostate pledge: a promise to be proactive and open about their prostate health with a doctor.” www.manversation.co.uk

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

THE PSA TEST So, changes in the way you urinate are more likely to be a sign of a very common non-cancerous problem known as an enlarged prostate, or other health problems. Nonetheless any such symptoms are a sign that you need to get checked out by your GP. Symptoms can include: h Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder h A weak flow of urine h A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly h Urine dribbling after you finish h Feeling the need to urinate more often than usual, particularly at night h Sudden urges to urinate and leakage If prostate cancer spreads from the prostate into other parts of the body, it can cause symptoms of advanced prostate cancer, including: h Pain in the back, hips or pelvis h Problems getting or keeping an erection h Blood in the urine or semen h Weight loss While all of these symptoms can also be 100

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caused by other health conditions, they should all be reported to your GP for investigation. There is no definite way of diagnosing prostate cancer without a visit to the doctor.

A GP or a specialist nurse can carry out a range of tests, including a urine test to rule out a urine infection, a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, or a digital rectal examination (DRE). Depending on the results you may then need an appointment with a specialist at a local hospital.

RESEARCH Some research suggests that high PSA level in your 40s could predict the likelihood of you getting prostate cancer, or fast-growing (aggressive) prostate cancer, in the future, so if the test suggests you’re at higher risk, you and your doctor may decide to do regular PSA tests. But the PSA test alone is not a definite sign of prostate cancer, one reason why there is no national screening programme as there is with breast, cervical and bowel cancer.

It’s been argued that screening may do more harm than good, as it could encourage more men to have invasive

The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and also by prostate cancer cells. It’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood, and the amount rises slightly as you get older and your prostate gets bigger. A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.

You can have a PSA test at your GP surgery. You will need to discuss it with your GP first. At some GP surgeries you can discuss the test with a practice nurse, and they can do a test if you decide you want one.

Unfortunately, the PSA test is indicative but not definitive, as PSA levels can be affected by many other factors, so you will need other tests for a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

biopsies, which can cause their own health problems, and could cause unnecessary worry in cases of slow-growing cancers.

If a PSA test together with other tests including a biopsy, MRI, CT or PET scan diagnose prostate cancer, there are many options for treatment, including: Active surveillance A programme of monitoring slow-growing localised prostate cancer, rather than treating it straight away, to avoid or delay unnecessary treatment and its side effects External X-ray beam radiotherapy Radiation (brachytherapy), cryotherapy (cold treatment) or HIFU (High-intensity focused ultrasound) to destroy the cancer cells Hormone therapy Control of testosterone production, which controls cancer development

trials suggest that HIFU could provide effective cancer control while minimising risks of erectile dysfunction and urinary continence.

HIFU is done under precise image guidance, making it highly targeted. This means it avoids damaging areas that control urinary and erectile functions.

HIFU is performed under general anaesthetic in a single treatment session.

Usually lasting between 90 and 140 minutes, it is a largely well-tolerated procedure that allows men to leave the hospital within 90 minutes of completion.

The majority of men resume normal activity within two to four days, though strenuous exercise is not recommended in the first week after treatment.

For more help and advice about symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for prostate cancer, talk to a GP or visit the Prostate Cancer UK website at https://prostatecanceruk.org. ■

PROSTATITIS Prostatitis is not a form of prostate cancer, but is the name given to a set of conditions caused by an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland. It is not the same condition as having an enlarged prostate.

Prostatitis is a common condition which can affect men of any age, but is most common in younger and middle aged men, typically between the ages of 30 and 50.

Symptoms can include problems passing urine and abdominal pain. Causes and treatment can be problematical, but stress and bacterial infection are two common root causes.

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Surgical prostatectomy Removal of the prostate gland in cases of localised prostate cancer All these treatments can have side effects such as urinary problems, erection problems and chronic fatigue, and a good deal of research is going into new techniques to reduce these. There are for instance surgical gels which can be injected before the start of radiotherapy to reduce radiation exposure to the rectum during treatment, meaning fewer side effects and better post-operative quality of life.

Another relatively recent development is focal therapy, a general term for a minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer, targeting only the area of the prostate gland with the aggressive tumour while leaving the rest of the prostate and its surrounding structures alone.

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is the most popular and wellevidenced type of Focal Therapy treatment for prostate cancer. HIFU is a soundwavebased treatment for prostate cancer that uses a pair of high-energy ultrasound beams that heat targeted areas of the prostate, destroying cancer cells. Clinical celebrityangels.co.uk

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Is Garlic Good For Your Heart?

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ritten in 2005 and revisited in 2016, a study at Linus Pauling Institute in Oregon State University looked at the question of whether garlic in the diet could improve heart health and other conditions. It started from an observation in The Lancet in 1980 that people living near the Mediterranean basin had lower mortality from cardiovascular disease. Garlic is a common ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine, but a number of characteristics of the “Mediterranean diet” have been proposed to explain its cardioprotective effects. Though few observational studies had linked garlic consumption and improved cardiovascular health, there had been trials or garlic supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a particularly rich source of organosulphur compounds, which are currently under investigation for their potential to prevent and treat disease.

Crushing or chopping garlic releases an

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enzyme called alliinase that catalyses the formation of allicin, which rapidly breaks down to form a variety of organosulfur compounds. But deriving allicin from garlic is not done very efficiently in the body, which is why many people take health supplements containing pure allicin.

SUPPLEMENTS Many studies have reported that organosulphur compounds from garlic could exert antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and cardioprotective activities in various experimental settings, and studies continue into whether garlic derivatives could have any health benefit in heart disease or cancer. There is also some evidence that garlic supplementation can improve blood pressure levels and serum lipid profiles, which is a measure of cardiovascular risk.

Taken in a health supplement, allicin breaks down quickly to form compounds including diallyl trisulphide (DATS), diallyl

disulphide (DADS), and diallyl sulphide (DAS). According to a study published on PubMed, these compounds exhibit various pharmacological properties such as antibacteria, antiangiogenesis (blood vessel formation which can be part of cancer), and anticoagulation. They can also kill or suppress cancer cells.

Garlic-derived organosulphur compounds have been found to inhibit causes of inflammatory response, including cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and enzymes like cyclooxygenase, so the potential benefits of garlic consumption/supplementation on cardiovascular health may be attributed to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

The research sounds promising, and studies with pregnant women show no contra-indications. So, should we all be going for a Mediterranean diet, or stocking up on garlic-derived supplements? If you like the taste, the health benefits may be an added bonus! ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Researchers looking at the Mediterranean diet considered the idea that garlic might promote heart health - but did they find anything in it?

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At the heart of life

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

Science For Your Skin

We all understand the benefits of cosmetics for our skin, but what about technology? There are some amazing tools out there to care for your epidermis

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FACIAL TONERS Some facial toners use electrical microcurrents which are supposed to activate the facial muscles and improve tone, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, lifting skin and reducing scarring.

Graceanne Svendsen, LE, CME, licensed aesthetician at Shafer Plastic Surgery and Laser Center, New York, says: “Microcurrent machines in facial aesthetic applications are used to ‘work out’ the muscles of the face, stimulate collagen, and tighten skin appearance. Microcurrent uses low-voltage electricity to stimulate muscle, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) cell growth, and collagen development in the dermis on the face.”

Another approach is the DermaWand (https://dermawand.com), which uses radio frequency technology to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while tightening loose skin. It

works to diminish the appearance of puffy eyes and minimizes the presence of enlarged pores and uneven texture, improving circulation by bringing fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the skin’s surface. DermaWand’s radio frequency technology is similar to that used in large clinical machines by medical and skin care specialists, but with a lower frequency and amplitude, safe for daily home use. »

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osmetologists have spent decades and billions of pounds investigating ways to care for your skin - to heal dryness and soreness, to protect from sun damage, and to improve fullness and hydration.

Whether you believe in old-fashioned cosmetics or the new generation of natural, organic, hypo-allergenic products, there are thousands of creams, ointments, pastes and pills to choose from if you aim to keep your skin fresh and healthy.

But what about technological alternatives? A range of ingenious machines based on deeply researched scientific principles are now available, some inexpensive and probably worth a go, others enormously costly and based on some fairly far-out ideas.

So how is it all supposed to work, and what should you look for in the way of skin-care tech?

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Take Years Off Your Appearance and Rediscover Your Youthful Beauty - in Just 3 Minutes a Day Wake up your look today for a younger looking you! The incredible DermaWand® helps soften wrinkles and fine lines and improves your skin tone and texture using radio frequency (RF) to help manage the visible signs of ageing. Similar to RF machines used by medical specialists – but using lower frequency radio waves – DermaWand® rejuvenates your face naturally by oxygenating under the skin to purify and reduce pore size, leaving you with smooth younger looking skin. By delivering high frequency radio waves at a level that is ideal for home use, DermaWand® imitates hundreds of tiny fingers patting the surface of the skin at 100,000 cycles per second!

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SCULPTING TOOLS Vibrating rollers, or ‘sculpting tools’, are usually marketed as a way to help face creams penetrate deeper, stimulate facial muscles to help tone them, and improve lymphatic drainage. You should use them on the ‘tech lines’ - the horizontal lines on your neck that form from looking down at your phone all the time. The gold or platinum-rhodium alloy finishes aren’t a blingy gimmick - the metals are known to be hypoallergenic. Other vibrating roller tools are made of minerals such as jade or rose quartz. Typically vibrating at around 9,000 times per minute, these devices are usually battery powered and can be used over a sheet mask to improve absorption and circulation.

HAIR REMOVERS Removing hair has always been a problem - shave it, pluck it or wax it, nothing works perfectly. A new approach comes in the form of no!no!, (www.officialnono.co.uk), a pain-free, gentle heat device using thermal transference to target hair below the skin’s surface with heat and slow its regrowth. Unlike costly laser treatments, the no!no! is safe to use on all skin tones

because it does not target pigment. It can even be used over tattoos. Clinical studies have shown no lasting side effects associated with the proper use of the no!no! technology, and it can safely be used on the face, underarms and other sensitive areas.

FACIAL STEAMERS A facial steamer produces a warm mist that can help target skin issues like clogged pores. During the coronavirus pandemic, mask-wearers started searching for solutions for ‘maskne’ (acne from wearing a mask). As the name implies, steamers heat a tank of water until steamy, then emits this warm mist through a face- or cone-shaped steamer opening so it can pass over the face. The goal is to soften and moisten the oil and debris in the pores, allowing for easier removal as you cleanse. The warm vapour increases blood flow to the skin and results in a temporary dewy, flushed look. It can also boost the skin’s ability to soak up serums and topical treatments and may aid in the skin’s collagen and elastin replenishment process, reducing signs of ageing. ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

MICRONEEDLERS It sounds a bit scary, but as the name implies, microneedlers use very thin, sharp needle tips to make punctures on the skin. Once the body senses these pricks, it works to heal the cuts, resulting in a refreshed look; the punctures are only surface-level, so the pain is minimal.

The process works to rejuvenate your

skin by boosting collagen production, which in turn reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and elevates the overall texture of your skin. It’s said to be particularly effective on acne scars, and is often used in conjunction with a red or blue LED light treatment to prevent bacterial growth, and a roller to smooth the skin.

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GENTLE, PAIN FREE HAIR REMOVAL Patented Thermicon® Technology is only found in no!no!® products. This technology uses the scientific principles of thermal transference. Gentle heat glides over the skin removing stubble from the surface while simultaneously treating the hair for long-lasting results†. Patented Thermicon® Technology has built in safety mechanisms that enables no!no!® to adapt professional hair removal technology for safe and effective home use.

Since this technology is colour-blind, no!no!® is safe to use on all skin tones and effectively treats and removes all hair colours on the face or body.

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YOUR WELLBEING

Health Myths Busted!

From wrapping up warm to drinking lots of water, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s sound health sense and what’s an old wives’ tale. We sort the myths from the facts

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YOUR WELLBEING

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hat are the facts behind some of the health myths we learn from our grannies?

Let’s look at some of the most common ‘old wives’ tales’.

TINY DOSES There’s a widespread belief in the idea of homeopathy. The principle is that you mix a tiny amount of a drug or herb into water, you can treat the condition caused by the drug or herb. The practice has

been around since the 1790’s and is based on ideas developed by German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing in it researchers have studied homeopathy hundreds of times, and all have failed to provide strong evidence in favour of it.

A 2010 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report said that homeopathic remedies perform no better than placebos (dummy treatments), and in 2017, NHS England said it would no longer fund homeopathy, as the lack of evidence for its effectiveness did not justify its cost.

Possibly the best that can be said for homeopathy is that it does no harm, and may have a placebo effect. Compared to other medical practices in the 1700s, which often killed the patient, this may be why homeopathy developed so many devotees. »

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YOU’LL CATCH YOUR DEATH Does cold air cause colds? It seems an obvious conclusion, but there’s not as much evidence for it as you might think. True, colds and influenza tend to spread more in the winter, when outdoor temperatures are low; but researchers think it’s not the temperature causing it, but the fact that cold weather forces people to spend more time indoors, where cold and flu viruses spread more easily in a closed space where people cluster together.

From 1946 until 1990, most research into respiratory viruses in the UK was

undertaken at the Common Cold Unit near Salisbury. Some 20,000 volunteers passed through the doors of the CCU, many to be willingly infected with cold virus in the name of scientific progress.

An early experiment involved a group of volunteers being made to take a bath and then to stand dripping wet and shivering in a corridor for 30 minutes. After dressing they had to wear wet socks for several hours. Despite a drop in body temperature, the group did not get any more colds than a control group of volunteers who had been kept cosy.

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CHICKEN SOUP Sometimes jokingly referred to as a ‘miracle cure’, chicken soup does in fact have some surprising benefits, particularly in soothing respiratory conditions.

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WATER FOR LIFE We all need water to live, but it’s a myth that we should all drink ‘eight glasses of water a day’. It makes sense to up your water intake in periods of intense heat, but normally, everyone has different fluid needs, depending not just on temperature and humidity, but also on your size, gender, and level of activity.

The ‘eight glasses’ myth has been pushed by Internet memes claiming that it promotes weight loss. A 2014 study in Boston Children’s Hospital disagreed. It found in a six-month study of 38 overweight and obese youths that there was no link between drinking eight glasses of water a day and weight loss.

Claims that drinking extra water helps hydrate or smooth skin, reduce headaches, or flush toxins from kidneys have also been found untrue: “There is no clear evidence of benefit from drinking increased amounts of water,” wrote Stanley Goldfarb, MD, in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. His study concluded that drinking when thirsty is good enough for most people.

“Studies show that a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup may help clear nasal congestion and ease cold symptoms,” says Sandy Allonen, a clinical dietitian in Boston. “It’s all about the ingredients.

Clear broth is warm and soothing, making it a great source of hydration while you’re sick, especially if you have a sore throat.”

“Chicken is also high in tryptophan, which helps your body produce serotonin that can enhance your mood and give you the feeling of ‘comfort’ that helps make chicken noodle soup a true comfort food,” Allonen said.

Chicken is also rich in the compound carnosine, which can reduce congestion, minimising inflammation in the upper respiratory tract by stopping the migration of white blood cells.

Even the steam from chicken soup is beneficial, opening up airways, making it easier to breathe, and having a mild antiinflammatory effect.

And a 1998 report from Coping with Allergies and Asthma found it may be worth giving yourself a dose of chicken soup as a preventative measure before a cold appears - the broth may improve the function of cilia (the tiny hairs in our noses) that prevent contagions getting into the body in the first place. ■

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

Diabetes a Growing Concern Diabetic conditions are on the rise, and threaten to become a burden to the over-stretched NHS. What is the cause, and what can we do to protect ourselves?

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iabetes is on the rise - numbers in the UK have more than doubled since 1996 - and this could become an overwhelming burden on the over-stretched NHS. But what are the causes of diabetes and why is it becoming more prevalent? The issues aren’t always clearly understood, but it’s important that we all do what we can to protect ourselves against diabetes, as it can seriously impact our health and the quality of our lives.

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes blood sugar levels to become too high. This can be detrimental to many different organs and systems. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

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Type 1 diabetes - This is caused when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin, which breaks down sugars. Often, this type of diabetes is present from birth or an early age, though it’s less common than type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes - This is a result of the body not producing enough insulin, or the body’s cells failing to respond to insulin, meaning glucose stays in the blood and is not used for energy.

Type 2 diabetes is usually associated with obesity, and tends to be diagnosed in older people. Around 90 percent of the 4.7 million people with diabetes in the UK suffer from

More people than ever have diabetes, and more people than ever are at risk of type 2 diabetes.

At current rates, more than five million people will have diabetes in the UK by 2025.

Source: Diabetes UK

Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes.org.uk can give you tips on healthy diets and cutting down on starchy foods to reduce the risk of diabetes and to help manage the condition.

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

SYMPTOMS People do not often realise they have type 2 diabetes because the symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell.

The symptoms of types one and two are similar;  Feeling very thirsty  Peeing more than usual, particularly at night  Feeling very tired  Losing weight without trying  Recurring infections such as thrush  Blurred vision  Cuts and grazes that are not healing

anyone else, there is a small risk of people with diabetes being severely affected by coronavirus, though this is unlikely to happen with children.

TREATMENTS People with type one diabetes take insulin, a hormone manufactured in the pancreas which helps your body use glucose (sugar) for energy. In type 1 diabetes the pancreas no longer makes insulin, so you have to inject it to control your blood glucose levels. There are different types of injectable insulin, taken at different times.

There are many types of medicine for type 2 diabetes, and it can take time to find a medicine and dose that’s right for you.

You’ll usually be offered Metformin first.

Insulin is not often used for type 2 diabetes in the early years, though it may be needed if other medicines fail to work.

It appears that diabetics are no more vulnerable to coronavirus than anyone else, and if they do contract it, regardless of what type of diabetes you have, the majority of people will have mild symptoms and won’t need to go into hospital. However, as with

ENERGY The problem seems to be that any severe illness can disrupt blood sugar levels, and this is of course crucial for diabetics. The body can try to fight the illness by releasing stored glucose (sugar) into the blood stream to supply energy, and if your body can’t produce enough or any insulin to cope with this, blood sugar levels will rise.

For advice on coping with diabetes and up-to-date advice on coronavirus, visit www.diabetes.org.uk. ■

The Diabetic Association was set up in 1934 by novelist HG Wells and Dr RD Lawrence – both of whom had diabetes. It became the British Diabetic Association (BDA) in 1954 and Diabetes UK at the turn of the millennium.

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Taken separately these symptoms can appear minor, but they are the signs of longterm organ damage which can become progressively worse.

Diabetes is the most common cause of vision loss and blindness in people of working age, so everyone aged 12 or over should be invited to have their eyes screened once a year for diabetic retinopathy, damage to the back of the eye.

Diabetes is also responsible for most cases of kidney failure and lower limb amputation (other than accidents).

People with diabetes are up to five times more likely to have cardiovascular disease, such as a stroke or a heart attack, than those without diabetes.

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YOUR HEALTHCARE

Joint Ventures As we get older, our joints suffer wear and tear - but when does the situation call for surgical joint replacement?

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times some patients are having to endure waiting for what was a routine procedure, perhaps you shouldn’t jump into joint replacement without considering all the implications.

“Knee-replacement surgery is not like getting a tyre change at a pit stop,” says orthopaedic surgeon David Lewallan. “It’s a major procedure and isn’t something that has to be done unless your symptoms can’t be controlled with simpler measures.”

While patients shouldn’t wait until their knees are entirely broken down before considering replacement surgery, many of the symptoms of deteriorating joints can be treated by making lifestyle changes to reduce strain on your hips and knees in the short term.

CAUSES OF KNEE DAMAGE ❖ Rheumatoid arthritis ❖ Haemophilia ❖ Gout ❖ Disorders that cause unusual bone growth ❖ Death of bone in the knee joint following blood supply problems ❖ Knee injury ❖ Knee deformity with pain and loss of cartilage

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oint pain and possibly loss of function seems to be an inevitable part of growing older, though of course good diet, exercise and a healthy lifestyle can stave it off, though people who work in manual roles might find it harder to escape getting to the stage where they suffer pain or lack of function, most commonly in the knees and hips.

For anyone whose joints are painful, any loss of mobility can be a severe impediment to life. The prospect of replacing the faulty joint with a new, metal-and-plastic substitute can be enticing, and the surgery is often promoted as easy and without drawbacks, and able almost to restore lost youth.

But particularly considering the waiting

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JOINT ACCOUNT The lower end of the thigh bone (femur) and the upper end of the shin bone (tibia) connect to form the knee joint. In a fully functioning, healthy knee joint, a smooth cartilage covers the ends of each bone where they meet, allowing the bones to glide over each other, producing a smooth, easy, pain-free movement of the knee.

If the cartilage experiences injury or wears away with time, movements of the knee can become stiff and painful.

Without the cartilage there to smooth their movement, the two bones of the knee joint rub together, causing painful swelling of the joint.

But one reason why surgeons calculate the need for knee replacement surgery, or arthroplasty, with great care is that replacement knee joints don’t last forever. If you have the operation done, say, at the age of 45, it may need to be done again later in life. While the number of surgeries performed has more than doubled in the past 20 years, there’s a move towards knee replacement being judged appropriate only for those whose arthritis or other conditions are at an advanced stage, causing severe pain, and impaired physical function like an inability to climb stairs, get out of a chair or walk without aids.

Make sure to monitor your pain and regularly consult with your GP about what’s right for you. Before you hop on the operating table, there are a number of non-surgical options and lifestyle changes that may help manage the pain that comes from natural wear and tear on joints over time, or from more serious conditions such as arthritis.

association, the pain that comes with it.

Alcohol also plays a role in inflammation, so moderating your intake is important for those experiencing joint pain.

Before resorting to surgery, doctors will also suggest trying anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, to see if that will help manage the pain. Another option is hydrocortisone or steroid injections, which are used to treat swollen and painful joints after an injury or in arthritis. The hydrocortisone is injected directly into the painful joint and will help relieve pain and swelling. The benefits can last for several months. »

THE BOA The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) is the leading society for orthopaedic surgeons in the UK, with member surgeons amongst the most highlyskilled and qualified surgeons in the country. Choosing to get your hip replacement done by a highly-experienced BOA member surgeon will reduce the risk of post-surgery complications occurring.

HEALTHY OPTIONS Exercise, eating healthily and limiting alcohol intake are all important when it comes to managing stress on your joints.

Regular exercise and managing your weight can build muscle mass that help your joints move more easily and reduce the amount they carry around. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and vitamins will manage inflammation, and by celebrityangels.co.uk

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CHOOSING SURGERY While adults of any age can experience knee-pain symptoms requiring surgical intervention, many people start to experience wear and tear on their joints at around age 50 and beyond, and research suggests surgical replacements for patients older than 65.

So, when will patients see the most benefit from surgery? You may be a good candidate for a knee-replacement if you experience any of the following: Pain, swelling and stiffness.

It might be time for surgery if it hurts so much when you walk or go up and down the stairs that it’s hard to get through your day. Another sign is that your knee is painful at night or when you’re resting.

Other treatments haven’t worked.

Doctors always try to start with simpler solutions before moving on to surgery, so if you’ve tried anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone shots for pain and swelling, physical therapy and perhaps even weight loss—you may be a good candidate for surgery.

Knee deformity.

If you notice you’re becoming bowlegged or knock-kneed, it might be time to consider surgical intervention.

Quality of life.

If pain seriously limits what you can do

every day, you may want to talk to a surgeon. Many people turn to surgery when their symptoms are bad enough that they’re unable to function, but in some cases, intervening before that can drastically improve quality of life.

If you’ve consulted with your doctor and decided that the only way forward is surgery, prepare yourself by staying as active as you can in advance of the date of your procedure. Strengthening the muscles around your knee will aid your recovery.

If you can, continue to do gentle exercise, such as walking and swimming, in the weeks and months before your operation.

You can be referred to a physiotherapist, who will give you a list of helpful exercises.

After your surgery, be prepared for a gradual recovery and don’t expect to be running and jumping any time soon. You’ll usually be in the hospital for three to five days after the operation. Once you’re able to be discharged, your hospital will give you advice about looking after your knee at home. You’ll need to use a frame or crutches at first and a physiotherapist will teach you exercises to help strengthen your knee.

Most people can start walking without aids around six weeks after surgery and start driving around the same time. Full recovery from knee-replacement surgery can take up to two years, as scar tissue heals, and your muscles are restored by exercise. ■

There are two major form of knee surgery. In total knee replacement, both sides of your knee joint are replaced. In partial (half) knee replacement, only one side of your joint is replaced in a less complex operation

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HALF AND HALF

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For more Health, Fitness and Wellbeing advice, visit us online at

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Older and Wiser

The population is ageing, and health issues are at the forefront of plans to adapt to an older society. Here are some of the ways the health sector is responding OVER 60S WARNED OVER CARE COSTS Campaigners have warned that over-60s face an ‘unpleasant surprise’ with care home bills, as despite warnings from experts, one in three people over 60 does not expect to pay for care in old age - and 41 percent do not think they will be paying for their partner.

With average care home bills of between £600800 a week, more than one in four does not know how he or she will fund being looked after, according to a survey by The King’s Fund.

Currently, anyone with assets above £23,000 has to pay their care costs. A new £86,000 cap on nursing home fees will be introduced in 2023, but people will still have to fund their everyday living expenses. A place in a home costs between £31,000 and £41,600 a year, said health think-tank The King’s Fund.

WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME FRAIL IN THEIR 70S? Scientists may have explained why people becoming more fragile as soon as they reach their 70s.

Researchers in Cambridge discovered how genetic mutations accumulated slowly over a lifetime lead to ‘catastrophic’ changes in blood formation after 70, increasing the risk of blood cancers and anaemia as well as affecting the efficacy of white blood cells in their job of fighting infection.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Most of us are going to have to pay for our own social care and it doesn’t come cheap. So this survey confirms that many are in for a big shock.

Even if people understood they may need to pay a substantial sum on social care, most have no viable means of getting the money together.”

Scientists believe these changes also occur in other parts of the body from the brain to the skin, potentially explaining why people age healthily prior to reaching their 70s, when they experience a more rapid deterioration.

Senior author on the study and head of the cancer, ageing, and somatic mutation programme at the Sanger Institute in Cambridge, Dr Peter Campbell, said: “What’s exciting about this work is there may be a common set of processes at work. Ultimately the goal would be slowing or intervening in the ageing process, but at the very least we see an option to use this to measure biological age.”

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OUTDOOR SWIMMING AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIDEPRESSANTS A study has recently launched where the benefits of prescribing outdoor swimming for people with mental health difficulties as an alternative to medication is being assessed.

Researchers at the University of Portsmouth alongside Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are examining the effects the activity has on people with depression and if can be prescribed and used as an alternative to antidepressants.

Volunteers over the age of 18 with a mental health condition are being sounded out to take part in the randomized control trial, investigating the impacts of immersion in cold water, something which has been suggested to reduce levels of stress.

Co-author Dr Heather Massey, from the University’s department of sport, health and exercise science, said: “By undertaking this trial, we hope to be able to offer a streamlined study in more locations that more closely analyses the impact of the outdoor swimming course, the cost-benefit of the activity, and importantly if it helps people to recover, whom it works for and why.”

NAPPING INCREASES STROKE RISK SAYS STUDY

CALL FOR OVER-60S TO PAY FOR PRESCRIPTIONS

IMAGES: Dreamstime

Professor Stephen Smith, the former chairman of the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, has called on over-60s to “pay for their prescriptions” to help cover the cost of medical equipment. He claimed that the public “would be prepared to pay some additional charges” and also suggested that patients should be charged a fee of up to £8 for every day they are in hospital, pointing to similar systems in Germany and France.

Taking a daytime nap increases the risk of a stroke, according to new research. It can be an early warning sign of high blood pressure which reduces oxygen to the brain.

The findings add to evidence that nodding off in the chair has potentially serious implications. They are based on 360,000 Britons who were tracked for an average of around eleven years.

Corresponding author Professor E Wang, of Xiangya Hospital Central South University, said: “These results are especially interesting since millions of people might enjoy a regular, or even daily nap.”

The Chinese team analysed genetic, lifestyle and health information on 40- to 69-year-olds in the ongoing UK Biobank study.

Those who said they usually nap were 12 and 24 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure or have a stroke.

Under 60s who did so were a fifth (20%) more prone to high blood pressure than peers of the same age, with risk halving for over 60s.

Prof Wang and colleagues combined observational information with Mendelian randomisation - a technique that studies genes linked to health risks.

Writing in Paying for the NHS, a paper published by thinktank Radix, Professor Smith suggested that means-tested payments were the only way to protect the cash-strapped NHS. But Dr John Puntis, co-chairman of campaign group Keep Our NHS Public, said: “Charging people to cover part of the cost of a hospital stay would be a fundamental departure from the founding principles of the NHS and show that the long-standing consensus on a tax-funded public service model of healthcare has been truly abandoned.” celebrityangels.co.uk

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The Challenges of an Ageing Population Changing demographics affect the whole population - how are governments responding to the needs of the older generation?

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here is no avoiding the fact that the UK population is ageing.

There are currently almost 12 million people aged over 65, and by 2036, that will rise to an amazing one in four of the population. Inevitably, statistics like this will affect the economic and social demands of society, and the policies that governments of any political leaning will have to implement.

Already the age of retirement has risen

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for both sexes, to improve the chancellor’s budgetary situation - but whether working or not, an ageing population brings other demands regarding healthcare, housing and connectivity that will require innovation to sustain a different type of population.

The Office for Budget Responsibility projects total public spending to increase by £79 billion by 2064/65, due mainly to the ageing population. A country with

more old people than young people will affect not only the elderly themselves, but also their families and society as a whole. There will have to be an interconnectedness between all government policies, because the issue of ageing will become a universal driving concern. A lack of younger workers, partly due to Brexit, means that more elderly people will be relying on fewer young people for the services they need.

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HEALTH An increase in life expectancy or longevity is understandably on every human’s wish list, but old age does not guarantee good health. In fact, medical research is constantly having to find solutions to the scourge of an immune system becoming depleted, and catering for increasing disability as the human body ages.

There will need to be significant improvements in the NHS and its myriad of health service providers to meet these demands, not to mention a new approach to the funding of social care.

Families will face increasing demands and pressures to look after elderly relatives, while balancing this with their own need to work. More people will need physical and financial support at a time when the workforce has shrunk and public services are less funded. The healthcare system will have to be restructured to meet demands, for instance in providing support for carers.

Physical inactivity has been proven to be a major risk factor in developing disabling conditions in later life, so encouraging physical activity in the 50-70 age group is seen as a vital part of futureproofing both the NHS and the economy.

If this inactivity results from unemployment, which statistically disproportionately affects certain ethnic groups, government must be aware that policies must address this particular demographic, both locally and nationally.

IMAGES: Dreamstime

DEMOGRAPHICS In mid-2014, the average age in the UK exceeded 40 for the first time. By 2040, nearly one in seven people in the UK is projected to be aged over 75. Partly for this reason, the Office for Budget Responsibility projects total public spending, excluding interest payments, to increase from 33.6 percent to 37.8 percent of GDP between 2019/20 and 2064/65.

A CHANGING WORKFORCE Currently one third of the UK workforce, that’s 10 million people, is aged 50 or over. Inevitably society will need the elderly to work longer, and the concept of retirement will be changed. Barriers to remaining in work will have to be removed,

and providing appropriate learning and technology support will be integral to the process. Of course, it’s easier to continue working into old age as an office worker than as, say, a builder, so what provision will be made for the difficulties of continuing manual work into old age? »

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HOUSING To protect the needs of an ageing population and especially an ageing workforce, the housing stock must also be addressed. The amount of suitable, accessible housing, to maintain physical and mental ability will have to be increased.

It may be that homes will need to be more adaptable than ever before to the ageing process. Homes will be increasingly used as places of work as well as care, something that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus.

As 80 percent of the current housing stock will still exist in 2050, money has to be found to make these properties more accessible for someone who is not as sprightly as they once were, but still works for a living. Attention to fall or injury hazards, provision of adequate heating and insulation, damp-proofing and physical aids like grab rails and accessible showers are features that will have to become the norm in new builds, and will have to be retro-fitted to older buildings.

Appropriately designed housing for an ageing population will be key to retaining people in the workforce, and taking extra burdens off the NHS and private healthcare, which are currently struggling to provide adequate levels of in-home care.

CONNECTIVITY Health is the foundation stone of any discussion about ageing, and at the heart of issues such as housing. However, while the physical manifestations of ageing are of great importance, mental or emotional wellness is equally significant.

We witnessed during the coronavirus pandemic that isolation could be a killer, leading to anxiety, depression and general decline in health. It also became clear that those with digital expertise and access tended to be less isolated than others. Jumping on a Zoom call and meeting others on the internet could be a lifesaver, but ironically, it’s those in the older population who are more likely to be without these means of communication.

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AGE UK Age UK formed with the joining in 2009 of Age Concern England and Help the Aged to form the UK’s largest charity for older people. The charity provides help and support for the elderly and carers, with advice on benefits, health and legal matters, and in some areas provision of social events, training courses and handyman services. www.ageuk.org.uk

connection and the benefits of technology since 2020, but to an ageing, physically challenged demographic, this should become a permanent provision, not just a temporary arrangement when there is a pandemic.

Building relationships and a sense of belonging is important to every human being, whether that is through a library or social centre on the High Street, or online. Connection is crucial, and while

public awareness of loneliness and social isolation has increased in recent years, much of the narrative tends to focus on people in later life. Solutions need to be found that work for young and old alike.

‘Policies need to shift from focusing on just older people to a better understanding of how loneliness affects us all across society’, reflects a parliamentary select committee on the issue.

Age-friendly communities are the answer in many respects, where NGOs and charities promote people staying in their own homes in old age, with local groups, councils and residents working together with a harmonious vision, as promoted by the UK Network of Age-Friendly Communities (see https://ageing-better.org.uk) No human being escapes this planet alive, but it seems that most of us can expect a longer stay than our ancestors.

However, to promote the most pleasurable time during this extended longevity, work, learning, housing, healthcare and connectivity issues must all be addressed by the policy-makers. ■

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OVER 60

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The Future of Ageing A new exhibition at the London Design Museum showcases ideas for adapting our living spaces for an older population

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he Future of Ageing exhibition, curated by Design Age Institute, based at the Royal College of Art, in collaboration with the Design Museum, explores how design can support significant demographic changes that point to a future in which there will be more older people than young.

The display will be showcased in the atrium of London’s Design Museum until 25th September 2022, and aims to remind us that we are all ageing, and to consider how design and innovation can meet the needs, interests, and desires of the older consumer with greater agency and even joy.

Life expectancy is increasing – according to the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing: a person born today is expected to live to around 104. By 2040, over a quarter of the UK’s population will be over the age of 60, but over 70% of us will be fit and healthy with no need for social care or support. Almost all of us will be active online, and we are expected to spend over 20 percent less on healthcare and considerably more on recreation, culture, and travel.

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SHOWCASE The Future of Ageing exhibition showcases prototypes, sketches, and research from six design projects that are being developed

by Design Age Institute and its partners.

The Centaur – a self-balancing, twowheeled personal electric vehicle (PEV) for people with difficulties getting around, developed by Centaur Robotics Ltd. The Centaur aims to make supported mobility more accessible, more flexible, and more desirable and to spotlight the significant opportunity to expand the mobility market “I want to end the social isolation resulting from reduced mobility. And I believe good design can do that,” said Paul Campbell, Design Director at Centaur Robotics.

Gita – a hands-free cargo-carrying robot made by Piaggio Fast Forward, creators of the iconic Vespa scooter. The UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing is now exploring Gita’s potential impact on the lives of older adults with user groups. “I didn’t expect to fall in love with a robot,” said one user this year.

Home Off ice to Age in Place – a project to develop integrated flexible working space in the home to allow independent working in later life. Home Office to Age in Place brings together experts in architecture, design for ageing and computing from Northumbria University, along with furniture designers from Pentagram, the world’s largest independent design consultancy. Co-created with users, LightBlock is a design concept by Pentagram for a mobile lighting, power and storage solution that allows any table to be converted into a proper workstation.

Designing for Joy and We are all Ageing – two new specially commissioned twominute films created with production company Chocolate Films will be displayed on large screens at the beginning and end of the visitor journey.

Hearing Birdsong – an immersive digital audioscape created by Kennedy Woods that uses the sound of British birdsong to engage visitors with their hearing health.

The Hearing Birdsong app aims to reduce

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the stigma associated with hearing loss and to support early diagnosis by creating an enjoyable experience that allows people to check their hearing in the privacy of their own homes.

Growing Together – a model exploring opportunities for a multigenerational garden at the Design Museum, a long-term participatory project which brings together local communities based in and around The Design Museum, to work alongside Public Works, a not-for-profit critical design practice that operates across architecture, art and design. “Gardens are places where you can make friends. It is important to have raised beds and places where old and young can learn and grow together” said one local resident.

IMAGES: Design Museum/Luke O’Donovan

Immersive and participatory experiences have been designed into the display to invite visitors to question and challenge stereotypes and assumptions about later life. Visitors are invited to connect with the diverse stories of older communities and are prompted to consider their own ageing and future selves.

INNOVATION The display has been designed to engage new audiences from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives including design enthusiasts, students, academics, policymakers, and those interested in technology and innovation. The exhibition is free to the public.

Colum Lowe, Director, Design Age Institute said: “The Future of Ageing display allows us to demonstrate how design and innovation can transform our homes, workplaces, cities, and neighbourhoods to support us as we age. Getting older is not a singular story of decline, loneliness, and hardship – it also includes wisdom, maturity, confidence, abundance, and adventure.

The venue, scheduling, content, and display design will open up this dialogue to new audiences who possibly haven’t considered the challenges and joys of later life.” https://designmuseum.org ■ celebrityangels.co.uk

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Shedding Your Inhibitions

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Older men don’t like to talk about their health problems, but the Men’s Shed movement aims to get them out more and encourages them to open up

ne in five men will die before the age of 65, and men die on average six years earlier than women. Suicide is the leading cause of death among men under 45. These are stark statistics, yet men apparently still find it more difficult than women to seek help when they have health worries.

Dr Mark Street, a GP who has worked in the NHS and private sector and has a private practice in Solihull, says. “I have noticed the unwillingness of men to go to their GP and talk about health matters. I often see male patients who have reached a stage when their partner is asking them to seek help.

“Many are suffering symptoms, such

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as lack of sleep, mood swings, lower performance at work or relationship issues. Yet despite being concerned they allow the situation to worsen.”

A European report, The State of Men’s Health in Europe, looked at the reasons why men are less likely than women to visit their doctor or pharmacist, and found that it could be down to the influence of culture on the shaping of masculine identity.

From an early age, the report states, “Boys learn not to show physical or emotional vulnerability, and they are encouraged to strive for achievement and success.”

OUT AND ABOUT So what can be done to get men, particularly those who are older and

perhaps socially isolated, to open up about health issues? One movement is using a ‘health by stealth’ technique, luring men with the promise of playing in sheds, then exposing them to health information.

The first ‘Men’s Shed’ by that name was opened in Tongala, Australia, in 1998.

Providing somewhere for men to meet and talk while doing hands-on tasks such as restoring furniture or fixing lawnmowers, the men’s sheds became a centre for what has been called ‘shedagogy’ - a venue for mentoring and meeting social and health needs.

In the UK, the Men’s Sheds Association was founded in 2013 in response to a need for a central body to represent and raise awareness of a small, but growing number

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IMAGES: UKMSA

of Men’s Sheds. Then, there were just 30 Men’s Sheds in the UK - today, there are over 600, and a further 150 being planned at any one time, serving up to 13,000 ‘Shedders’, as they’re called, benefiting from regular social interactions, new and improved skills, and regular, active participation in activities they enjoy.

Men’s sheds are funded through a number of specialist charities, private investment and government sources, and the UK Men’s Sheds Association works to inspire and support the development of as many Men’s Sheds as possible, for the benefit of men’s health and wellbeing, raising awareness of the Men’s Sheds movement and the many benefits of Shedding.

Diabetes Ireland, health care providers and professionals to address male diabetes, and the growing links between men’s health and sheds is identified in literature for practitioners.

And research supports the value of men’s sheds to the shedders themselves.

Shedders polled in 2007 said: 99.5%, ‘I feel better about myself’, 97%, ‘I have a place where I belong’ 97%, ‘I can give back to the community’ 97%, ‘I am doing what I really enjoy’ 90%, ‘ I feel more accepted in the community’ 79%, ‘ I get access to men’s health information’ 77%, ‘I feel happier at home’.

You can find out more about the UKMSA and how it support men’s health at https://menssheds.org.uk. ■

HELPING HANDS Approximately 30% of shedders are disabled. Men’s sheds are also directly involved in supporting men with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the early stages. Alzheimer’s Australia NSW helped develop initiatives through their “Every Bloke Needs a Shed” pilot project.

Charities such as Cruse Bereavement Support help tens of thousands of men across the UK very year, providing counselling and advice, and working closely with the UKMSA to explore the many different ways in which Sheds are supporting people.

EMPOWERING The Association raises awareness of the social and health benefits of Men’s Sheds in reducing isolation, loneliness and in empowering local communities, and supports the growth of Men’s Sheds by promoting individual Men’s Sheds, providing advice and guidance on starting up and running a shed, training volunteer Ambassadors and holding networking events to connect men from different Men’s Sheds across the UK. One health area where men’s sheds are seen to be making a difference is in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes. Men are at higher risk of un-diagnosed and untreated diabetes as well as having higher rates of diabetes. In Ireland, the National Men’s Sheds Association is working with celebrityangels.co.uk

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An MOT for Your Body

When you get older, it’s a good idea to have an overall health check, whether you have any symptoms or not - so what can the NHS offer and what are the benefits?

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hen you get older (you don’t have to be as old as 60, many people get it done at 50), it’s a good idea to have an overall health check, whether or not you have any symptoms to report. Some conditions, such as thyroid problems and pre-diabetes, may not have any symptoms in the early stages; so a health check can pick up problems while the condition is more treatable.

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While it has been difficult to get a free NHS Health Check during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important that older people continue to come forward for checking, as the NHS is acutely aware that untreated conditions will store up health problems in later life.

An NHS Health Check is a free checkup of your overall health. It can tell you whether you’re at higher risk of getting certain health problems, such as:

h Heart disease h Diabetes h Kidney disease h Stroke During the check-up you’ll also discuss how to reduce your risk of these conditions and dementia. If you’re over 65, you will also be told the signs and symptoms of dementia to look out for.

You will also have your individual

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cardiovascular risk (risk of getting conditions related to the heart or circulation) calculated and explained to you.

While the cardiovascular risk levels vary from person to person, everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease and some types of dementia. At your NHS Health Check you will be given advice on how to prevent them before they do real damage.

You’ll usually have your NHS Health Check at a GP surgery or local pharmacy, but it could happen at your local library or leisure centre. In some areas, NHS Health Checks are offered from mobile units to passers-by and in workplaces.

You might not be invited for an NHS Health Check at the moment because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Contact your local medical practice to find out if the programme is available in your area.

You’ll be invited for a free NHS Health Check every five years if you’re between 40 and 74 years old and do not already have a pre-existing condition. If you’re registered with a GP surgery that offers the NHS Health Check, you should automatically get an invitation. Do not worry if you have not been invited yet – you will be over the next five years.

Alternatively, your local authority will send you an appointment letter explaining where you have to go for your NHS Health Check.

If you’re not sure if you’re eligible for an NHS Health Check and would like one, or

if you are eligible but have not had an NHS Health Check in the last five years, ask at a GP surgery for an appointment.

IS IT WORTH IT? The health conditions picked up by the NHS Health Check are, when added together, the biggest cause of preventable deaths in the UK, with around 7 million people affected by them.

In its first five years, the NHS Health Check is estimated to have prevented 2,500 heart attacks or strokes. This is the result of people receiving treatment after their Health Check.

The latest research suggests that: h For every 30 to 40 people having an NHS Health Check, one person is diagnosed with high blood pressure h For every 80 to 200 people having a Health Check, one person is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes h For every 6 to 10 people having an NHS Health Check, one person is identified as being at high risk of cardiovascular disease You don’t have to wait for your NHS Health Check to make improvement to your diet and lifestyle, but having one will help you to concentrate on the most important aspects - and it may save your life! ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

THE ROUTINE An NHS Health Check should take only around 20 to 30 minutes. The health professional – often a nurse or healthcare assistant rather than a doctor – will ask you some questions about your lifestyle and family history, measure your height and weight, and take your blood pressure and do a blood test. The blood test will be done either before the check with a blood sample from your arm, or at the check.

Your blood test results can show your chances of getting heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes.

If you’re over 65, you will also be told the signs and symptoms of dementia to look out for.

You will then receive personalised advice to improve your risk. This could include talking about:

h How to improve your diet and the amount of physical activity you do h Taking medicines to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol h How to lose weight or stop smoking

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OVER 60

Can the Brain be Rebooted?

Elderly mice have been reinvigorated in research which might point to a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

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CSF decreases and deteriorates with age, impacting brain function. The recent studies have acknowledged this, and were keen to see if an infusion of CSF could play a part in restoring the brain’s functional ability.

REJUVENATION In laboratory experiments, old mice received CSF from younger animals, and this did appear to rejuvenate the brain of the older animal. Memory recall was restored by the production of myelin, which insulates the brain’s neurons and facilitates our learning and our memory capabilities.

RNA sequencing was used to detect how the CSF treatment had affected the hippocampus or memory centre of the brain, and it appeared that new neurones were indeed being generated.

Worldwide, it is estimated that about 55 million people have dementia conditions, including but not limited to Alzheimer’s disease. With demographics pointing to an increasingly aged population,

BUILD-UP

Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells. Alzheimer’s Research UK predicts that one million people in the country will have dementia by 2025, doubling to two million by 2050.

these numbers are only going to grow exponentially, and could well contribute to the equivalent of a global pandemic, with an inevitable impact on the world’s health systems.

Many will be hoping that the same finance, expertise, research and collaboration brought to bear on the coronavirus pandemic will be brought to solving the Alzheimer’s crisis, and CSF research is one of the most promising lines of enquiry. ■

IMAGES: Dreamstime

T

he term dementia refers to a category of medical conditions that includes vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia and frontotemporal dementia. However, the most common diagnosis for marked behavioural and cognitive decline in the elderly is Alzheimer’s disease.

It is a triumph for medicine that life expectancy has been lengthened enormously, with advances in healthcare, improved sanitation and education. But with increased age comes the increased probability of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, for which there is no current cure. A recent research paper by Miriam Zawadski and Maria Lehtinen, from Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts, indicates that recent research on mice may finally be unearthing some solutions.

It is already understood that the brain tissue and spines of all vertebrates are bathed in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), but what has become clearer of late is that

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