YOUR HEALTH
This site is regularly updated with the latest news and views on Health & Fitness related issues.
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Olive oil cuts risk of stroke by 41%
Latest research from the National Institute of Health and Medical research in Bordeaux has found that people who cook with olive oil, adds it to salads or dip their bread into it are 41% less likely to suffer a stroke than those who never eat it.
Countries such as France, Greece, Spain and Italy rely heavily on olive oil as part of a Mediterranean diet; Britain’s however eat higher levels of saturated or animal fats. Every year in the UK about 120,000 people suffer a stroke. Olive oil contains omega 6 fats which block the body’s response to inflammation in chronic conditions such as heart disease and arthritis and also reduces blood pressure.
Exercise in Older People: A UK Study
A recent study of 10,500 older people by Saga an over 50’s group have identified differences in fitness levels across the country;
• 38% of Londoners say they do no exercise or less than 1 hour each week, compared to 34% in northern Ireland and 31% in Scotland
• 44% of over 50’s in Scotland, Yorkshire and Humberside complete between 2 & 5 hours of exercise each week (the amount experts believe to be life enhancing) compared to the national average of 38%.
• 49% (nearly half) of over 50’s in the west midlands & north east say they do too little exercise.
• 80% of people say they are more conscious now than they were in their 30’s about the need to exercise and live a healthy lifestyle and a quarter of women said they exercised more now than they did in their 30’s.
• 99% of over 50’s believe maintaining their mental health is ‘important’ or ‘very important’. The most popular forms of activity being crossword puzzles (60%) Sudoku (40%).
The research found the main reasons cited for exercise were for health improvement and maintaining an active life for longer.
The WiiFit has now overtaken bowls as a way of staying in shape (1 in 25 over 50’s and 1 in 50 aged over 75 now use a WiiFit).
Dr Ros Altmann, Director-General of Saga said ‘there’s a lot of newly converted exercise enthusiasts coming through who are realising they’ve a great deal more to give and get once they hit their 60’s – the bonus years – and are putting in the effort to exploit it’
Regional league table;
| Less than 1 hour of exercise per week | |
| London | 38% |
| North East | 37% |
| East Midlands | 36% |
| West Midlands | 35% |
| Northern Ireland | 34% |
| South East | 33% |
| South West | 33% |
| North West | 33% |
| East Anglia | 33% |
| Wales | 32% |
| Yorkshire & Humberside | 31% |
| Scotland | 31% |
Men more prone to diabetes
Researchers say they have discovered why men may be more likely than women to develop type 2 diabetes - they are biologically more susceptible.
Men need to gain far less weight than women to develop the condition, study findings suggest.
The Glasgow University team found men developed the disease at a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) than women.
They believe distribution of the body fat is important - men tend to store it in their liver and around the waist.
Women, meanwhile, have greater amounts of 'safe' subcutaneous fat stored on the thighs and hips, for example.
This means women need to accumulate more fat overall than men to develop the harmful fat deposits linked with diabetes, the researchers explain in the journal Diabetologia.
Type 2 diabetes is caused by too much sugar in the blood which occurs when the body's ability to regulate sugar levels in several different organs becomes disturbed. The condition is linked to excess fat in some of these organs such as the liver and muscles.
“It is worrying that men develop type 2 diabetes at a higher rate than their female counterparts”
Professor Naveed Sattar, of the Institute of Cardiovascular & Medical Sciences, who led the research, said: "Previous research has indicated that middle-aged men are at a higher risk of developing diabetes than women and one possible explanation is that men have to gain less weight than women to develop the condition.
"In other words, men appear to be at higher risk for diabetes."
For the study, the researchers analysed data from 51,920 men and 43,137 women in Scotland with diabetes, taking into consideration body weight and obesity using the BMI measurement based on height and weight.
The results showed women developed diabetes at a heavier BMI than men - the mean BMI at diabetes diagnosis in men was 31.83 but 33.69 in women.
The researchers say this helps explain why men have higher rates of diabetes in many parts of the world.
Dr Victoria King, Head of Research at Diabetes UK, said: "It is worrying that men develop type 2 diabetes at a higher rate than their female counterparts. Research like this will help us understand reasons why and provide greater insight into what we can do to improve prevention of type 2 diabetes.
"Diabetes UK is calling on both men and women to reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes by losing any excess weight, eating a healthy, balanced diet and by taking regular physical activity."
Reducing Stress
To reduce stress and even full-blown anxiety, steer clear of foods made with white flour, and enjoy 100 percent whole grain breads and other healthy carbs, instead,” suggests Harold Bloomfield, M.D., author of Healing Anxiety Naturally. “This healthy eating plan calms up to 75 percent of stressed people studied, often in as little as two weeks!” The reason: White flour is so rapidly absorbed by the gut that it triggers wild ups and downs in blood sugar and that stimulates the adrenal glands to pump out an excess amount of stress hormones, explains Dr. Bloomfield. “But whole grains are absorbed a lot more slowly, so they keep blood sugar on an even keel and prevent nerve-jangling stress hormone surges.”
And take off your socks, too! Walking barefoot on soft carpeting, grass or any other plush surface stimulates pressure points on the soles that signal your brain to release the calming hormone dopamine, explains Elaine Wilkes, Ph.D., author of Nature’s Secret Messages. And research at Britain’s School of Complementary Health suggests that this sort of gentle foot massage can reduce feelings of stress as much as 33 percent. The study-proven strategy: Spend 10 minutes walking barefoot on lush grass, or a soft carpet or wiggle your toes along a fluffy pillow, instead.
A pack of small circle shaped stickers could be the key to calming your nerves. How? According to Belgian research, spending a few minutes each day breathing slowly and deeply (moving your belly instead of your shoulders) can trigger a 63 percent reduction in stress. “Deep breathing slows your physiological responses, calming the brain and nervous system the same way meditation does,” explains Herbert Benson, M.D., associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. “The problem is that in times of stress, most of us forget to do this.” But posting dot stickers wherever you’re sure to see them regularly, like on your computer, your mirror and doors can help you quickly decompress. “Each time you see a dot, that’s a solid, visual reminder to take a deep, calming breath,” explains Dr. Benson. The result: You’ll shed stress in seconds!
Just 30 seconds of intense exercise can tame tension for a full hour, say researchers at California’s Stanford University. That’s because, quick bursts of exercise boost production of serotonin and norepinephrine, mood-elevating hormones that help your brain stay 20 percent clearer and calmer during high stress times, explains Dr. Bloomfield. “Even a quick peddle on a stationary bike, a turbo fast sweep of the kitchen floor or a quick sprint to the bus stop can give you this great mood boost.”
Personality and Obesity
A 50 year study of 2,000 adults in the USA has shown a clear correlation between obesity and personality.
Researchers from America’s National Institute on Ageing found that a person’s impulsivity is the strongest predictor of who would be overweight.
Dr. Sutin who led the research says :”Impulsive people are more likely to overeat and binge drink while someone more conscientious will compensate for a binge day by having less the following day. Someone more conscientious will be able to have one biscuit or slice of cake while an impulsive person, more often than not, cannot do this.
“We also found that greater weight gain occurred in people who enjoyed taking risks in all areas of their lives and those who are cynical had the worst results in terms of weight gain. Competitive people too tend to fall into the fatter category. High neuroticism, when someone is constantly worried and feels persecuted, also seems to make them eat more and make bad judgements calls on what they eat”
The study, which began in 1958 found that people who are conscientious tend to eat better and exercise more and generally maintained a leaner physique. They are likely to be at least 22 pounds lighter than more impulsive individuals.
Obesity warning for young women
Despite the numerous health warnings associated with being obese latest research suggests that women between the ages of 21 and 40 unlike men in the same age group are still piling on the pounds and potentially eating themselves into an early grave.
Research completed by Professor McPherson of Oxford university found that in 2000 16% of women aged 21-40 were obese compared to 21% in 2008. In the same period men’s rates reduced slightly from 20% in 2000 to 19% in 2008. Professor McPherson say’s obese people can expect to see their life expectancy shortened by four or five years. He warned junk-food marketing and urban designs more suited to cars than pedestrians could also contribute to weight gain.
Obesity is classified as a BMI (Body Mass Index) of over 30 and can lead to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
(daily mail)
Bone disease threat to overweight children
Experts have warned that overweight children run a greater risk of brittle bone disease in old age. A study of almost 500 British six year olds showed the bigger bones of overweight children lack the minerals needed to make them strong and dense; which will lead to an increase in osteoporosis rates.
Osteoporosis affects three million Britons and is blamed for more than 230,000 broken bones a year. It is more common in old age, in women than men and most commonly leads to breaks in the wrists, spine and hip.
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Lose Weight Just by Rearranging Your Kitchen
to start. This eye-level area is prime refrigerator real estate. Stock it with healthy and low-cal beverages: skim milk, 100% fruit and veggie juices (no sugar added) and calorie-free soft drinks. Why? "Opting for low-cal beverages is a simple way to shave calories out of your diet," says Dr Gillespie. "Plus, staying well hydrated naturally helps curb appetite."Use these slimming thirst-quenchers to cut just two sugary sodas out of you daily diet and University of Minnesota researchers say you can shed up tp 33 pounds this year.
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(such as yoghurt & cheese).
meal eat 31% fewer calories daily. Protein stimulates a hormone`cholecystokinin' that travels to the brain & shuts down hungerpangs. (Yale University).
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vinegars, marinades, flavored oils & zesty dressings.
pounds per year. (Chicago`s Smell Taste Treatment Foundation)
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Pear shaped? Then you could be prone to memory problems
Many women have pear-shaped figures. Now scientists think fat deposited around the hips could increase a woman's risk of suffering memory loss
What shape you are could affect what shape your memory is in.
Women with excess fat on their hips are apparently more likely to have trouble remembering things than those with fat on their waists.
The difference between pear-shaped women and their apple-shaped peers emerges from a study of the link between obesity and mental dexterity.
Overall, researchers found that the heavier someone is, the worse their memory becomes in middle and old age.
However, the reason why pear-shaped women experienced more memory problems than apple-shaped women is related to the type of fat usually deposited on the hips, researchers said.
'Obesity is bad, but its effects are worse depending on where the fat is located,' said Dr Diana Kerwin, who led the study.
Fat releases hormones called cytokines that can cause inflammation and may interfere with memory and mental skills.
Different kinds of fats release different cytokines – and have different effects on blood pressure, cholesterol levels and insulin resistance.
'We need to find out if one kind of fat is more detrimental than the other, and how it affects brain function,' she said.
'The fat may contribute to the formation of plaques (protein deposits) associated with Alzheimer's disease or a restricted blood flow to the brain.'
She said the study showed that women with excess fat on their hips may need a more aggressive intervention to lose weight.
The study of nearly 9,000 women aged from 65 to 79 was carried out by researchers at Northwestern University, Chicago. It is the first to show a connection between obesity and mental skills among healthy older women.
'The message is obesity and a higher Body Mass Index are not good for your cognition and your memory,' said Dr Kerwin. While the women's scores were still in the normal range, the added weight definitely had a detrimental effect. For every one point increase in a woman's BMI – the measure of obesity that takes into account height as well as weight – her score on the researcher's memory test dropped by one point.
The women were scored on a 100-point memory test called the Modified Mini-Mental Status Examination, the researchers report in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
The link between obesity and memory was clear, even after the scientists took into account whether the women were suffering from diabetes, heart disease or stroke – all of which can lead to a decline in memory and thinking speed.
Reproduced from Mail on Sunday
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ONE IN FOUR BRITONS ARE TOO FAT
BRITAIN is in the grip of a chronic health crisis with one in four people officially obese, shocking figures revealed yesterday.
Soaring levels of obesity combined with sharp increases in alcohol and drug abuse have left millions of Britons facing a bleak future of ill health.
The rising number of dangerously overweight people is putting a huge strain on the NHS, with one million Britons now diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
And experts predict the figure will hit 5.5 million by 2030.
The poor state of the nation’s health was revealed in the latest edition of the Office of National Statistics’ Social Trends report. Researchers found that while life expectancy is predicted to rise, much of the population faces major health issues.
In the past 10 years the rate of obesity-related hospital admissions has soared by 737 per cent, to 7,988 cases last year.
The cost of weight-loss drugs in 2008/09 was £45 million. On top of this there has been a 2,000 per cent rise in the number of operations on morbidly obese patients – those who are double their ideal weight.
More than 4,200 operations, at a cost of up to £10,000 each, were carried out last year – up from less than 200 a decade ago. It is estimated that by 2014 up to 2.5 million children in the UK will be overweight – more than 38 per cent.
This is no surprise when the annual spending on sweets in the UK was £372 per child, equivalent to 850 Mars bars and double the US figure.
As well as a quarter of the nation being obese, one-in-five men and one-in-seven women over 16 drink more than double the recommended daily allowance of alcohol once a week, the ONS statistics show.
Anastasia de Waal, director of family and education at think-tank Civitas, said: “It’s no surprise we have obesity issues when fresh, healthy foods are so expensive. And so much money is having to go on basics. This country is really expensive and we’re seeing the repercussions.”
The figures showed that families now spend more on heating and electricity than they do on food and drink, clothing, education and health combined.
A fifth of household expenditure goes on water, fuel and housing compared with 1971, when grocery shopping was the average family’s biggest outlay.
Extracts from an article in the Daily Express 3rd. July 2010 by Donna Bowater
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HALF AN HOUR EXTRA IN BED MAKES TEENAGERS HAPPIER & MORE ALERT!
According to a report in the July edition of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine a study has found that just an extra half hour of sleep can have a ‘stunning’ effect on Teenagers.
Patricia Moss, Head of the Boarding School where the research took place said that the results were so impressive that the school has made the change to a later start permanent.
Youngsters who had an extra half hour of sleep in the mornings were more alert and in a better mood. Overall, 200 students took part in the survey in a nine week experiment with class times put back by 30 minutes.
Students reported a drop in daytime sleepiness from 49% to 20%, feeling less depressed or irritated during the day and making less visits to the school’s health centre. Students were less likely to be late for lessons and even ate healthier breakfasts!
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Preventing cardiovascular disease 
Brought to you by the NHS Knowledge Service
Tuesday June 22 2010
Many newspapers today reported on recommendations from a UK health watchdog on measures to reduce the population’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The guidance, issued by NICE, makes a series of recommendations, including a ban on trans fats in foods and the mandatory use of the Food Standard Agency's traffic light system on all food and drink products sold in England.
The recommendations may not all be implemented. A Department of Health spokesperson said:
“The best way to prevent cardiovascular disease is for people to eat better and be more active.
“Today's recommendations are extensive and wide ranging but it is not practical to implement certain proposals in this guidance, for example on the mandatory use of traffic lights.”
These recommendations are aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease in the general population.
NICE has made two sets of recommendations. The first is aimed at people who make policies, and the second at people responsible for regional cardiovascular prevention programmes and other groups.
These are some of the suggested key policy goals, and some of recommended actions to achieve them:
Reduce the population’s consumption of salt
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Accelerate the reduction in salt intake among the population. Aim for a maximum intake of 6g a day per adult by 2015 and 3g a day by 2025.
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Promote the benefits of a reduction in the population’s salt intake to the European Union (EU). Introduce national legislation if necessary.
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Ensure low-salt products are sold more cheaply than their higher-salt equivalents.
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Clearly label products that are naturally high in salt and cannot meaningfully be reformulated. Use the Food Standards Agency-approved traffic light system. The labels should also state that these products should only be consumed occasionally.
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Encourage manufacturers, caterers and producers to substantially reduce the amount of saturated fat in all food products. If necessary, consider supportive legislation. Ensure no manufacturer, caterer or producer has an unfair advantage as a result.
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Create the conditions whereby products containing lower levels of saturated fat are sold more cheaply than products with high saturated fat, considering legislation if necessary.
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Eliminate the use of industrially produced trans fatty acids (IPTFAs) for human consumption.
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Protect children and young people under 16 from all forms of marketing, advertising and promotions (including product placements) that encourage an unhealthy diet.
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Develop a comprehensive, agreed set of principles for food and beverage marketing aimed at children and young people. They should be based on a child’s right to a healthy diet.
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Extend TV advertising scheduling restrictions on food and drink high in fat, salt or sugar (as determined by the Food Standards Agency’s nutrient profile) up to 9pm.
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Establish the Food Standards Agency’s single, integrated, front-of-pack traffic light colour-coded system as the national standard for food and drink products sold in England. This includes the simple, traffic light, colour-coded visual icon and text that indicate whether a food or drink contains a high, medium or low level of salt, fat or sugar.
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Ensure guidance for local transport plans supports physically active travel. This can be achieved by allocating a percentage of funds to schemes that support walking and cycling as modes of transport.
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Create an environment and incentives that promote physical activity, including physically active travel to and at work.
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Consider and address factors that discourage physical activity, including physically active travel to and at work. An example of the latter is subsidised parking.
This guidance is aimed at improving the health of the population as a whole. It makes recommendations to people who can make changes to improve population health.
However, the principles underlying the recommendations also apply to individuals. For example, most people should reduce their salt, saturated fat and trans fat intake, as well as increasing their levels of physical activity.
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WORLD CUP SLIMMING TIPS
Sarah Richardson – Daily Mirror
The England team won't touch a drop of alcohol in the lead up to the World Cup, and if you want a WAG-like body you should cut down too.
"Alcohol is so fattening," says celebrity trainer James Duigan. "It's literally like fat bomb that explodes all over your tummy, thighs and hips. When my clients give up alcohol they lose weight and tone up so much quicker."
Former fitness trainer Carly Zucker, 26, - married to footballer Joe Cole - puts her amazing body down to avoiding the pub: "People don't work out because they've been at work for eight hours and they couldn't imagine anything worse [than going to the gym].
"But if they ignored their head telling them to go down the pub, and did a 30-minute workout, their energy levels would rise."
James adds: "Not only does alcohol lower your energy levels and contain high amounts of fattening sugar, it also increases your appetite and decreases your good intentions. Give it up for two weeks and see the difference it makes to your fitness, energy levels, skin tone and waistline."
Hit the shops
A wag isn't a WAG without a serious shopping addiction - and it turns out that these girls aren't just giving their credit cards a workout with their weekly visits to Bond Street and Liverpool's finest boutiques.
Studies show that shopping can be a great calorie burner - up to 150 an hour! And if you're carrying heavy bags you can probably add another 50 onto that. Carrying bags also helps to tone up your arms, and if you keep your shoulders back (so they're positioned just under your ears) and your stomach pulled in you'll work your shoulder, back and abdominal muscles too, for a great, all over toned look.
The only foot the WAGS put wrong when shopping is their shoe choice - walking for any length of time in sky-high high heels is bad for your back and posture, so leave yours at home when you hit the shops and wear flatter shoes instead (though not ballet pumps - studies show walking for too long in them can strain your calves).
Spice it up
Abbey Clancy - engaged to footballer Peter Crouch - recently revealed that she lost 5lbs by tucking into curry... three times a day! The 24-year-old model was filming a TV show in India earlier this year and says: "We'd have curry for breakfast, lunch and dinner!" Then she admitted she came back from the trip 5lb lighter because of it.
Now, we're not suggesting you tuck into curry for breakfast, but by adding a few herbs and spices to your diet you'll give your weight loss efforts (not to mention meals) a bit of a kick. Studies show that spices like chilli can raise your metabolism by up to 50%.
But forget greasy chicken kormas which are full of cream and calories. Instead, just sprinkle a few dried chillis (you can buy pots in most supermarkets alongside other herbs and spices) into your stir-fries or pasta sauces.
Another reason to add herbs and spices to your meal is because they lower your blood sugar levels.
According to scientists from the University of Georgia in America, spices can reduce high blood sugar levels (caused by either diabetes or a sugary diet). It's good for your waistline because high blood sugar levels can cause hunger and energy slumps.
Your 14-day Wag diet
Pick one breakfast, lunch and dinner a day, plus two snacks, and drink at least two litres of still water.
Breakfasts
Porridge made with skimmed milk, topped with chopped strawberries.
A bacon sandwich made with two slices of lean, grilled bacon and wholemeal bread.
Two scrambled eggs (made with skimmed milk), on a slice of toasted wholemeal bread.
A fresh fruit salad (chopped apples, bananas, oranges, pineapple, strawberries and blueberries) topped with lowfat yoghurt and a small handful of nuts.
Lunches
An omelette made with ham and mushrooms, served with a huge side salad.
Smoked salmon sandwich, made with wholemeal bread and rocket salad.
A bowl of vegetable soup (any variety, except "Cream of"), with a slice of wholemeal bread.
A large salad made with tomatoes, leaves, cucumber, topped with half a can of tuna in spring water and a small slice of goats' cheese.
A jacket potato topped with three tablespoons of baked beans, and served with a huge side salad.
Dinners
A cereal bowl of wholewheat pasta, mixed with tuna and a teaspoon of pesto. Served with a large handful of rocket.
Baked salmon with baked asparagus and two heaped tablespoons of packet couscous.
A large sweet potato baked and topped with prawns, in teaspoon of homemade sauce of low-fat mayo with a sprinkle of paprika, served with a side salad.
Chicken stir-fry with chopped courgettes, red peppers and onions, in black bean sauce with wholewheat noodles.
A baked cod fillet, served with green beans and grilled tomatoes.
Snacks
A piece of medium-sized fruit (ie, an apple, orange, small banana).
Chopped raw carrots. A handful of almonds or walnuts.
A pot of yoghurt.
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Friday 4 June 2010
- Medical News Today -
Research links physical activity, functional Fitness & mood in seniors
Scientists have found strong correlations between physical activity and perceived health,
functional fitness and mood. Lack of activity tended to correlate with poor balance,
depression and perceptions of poor health.
In a study with a sample of 350, those who reported being more physically active had
better perceived health. They also had greater functional fitness, giving them an
improved ability to perform tasks of everyday living.
"Helping people live longer is one of humanity's greatest triumphs," they said. "It is also
one of our greatest challenges because it will increase economic and social demands.
The expected burden of disease and disability has become a critical concern. To increase
the autonomy of the elderly thus becomes crucial to the survival of the system and
poses a challenge to policymakers."
"These results suggest a relationship between low levels of daily-living activities and
depression. We propose that older people follow an exercise program to elevate mood
and improve symptoms of depression."
Non-intense physical activity to reduce depression and boost recovery for stroke victims
"The power of physical activity to raise the spirits of recovering stroke patients is
stronger than anyone suspected," according to Heart and Stroke Foundation
researcher Dr. Jocelyn Harris
She says that many stroke survivors experience feelings of depression in the weeks and
months following stroke, which can interfere with the recovery process. This may be due
in part to the fact that depression can cause a lack of motivation, increased fatigue, and
trouble concentrating.
Intense physical activity has a positive effect on reducing depression for most stroke
patients. But some stroke patients undergoing medical treatments have special
challenges and can't reach high activity levels. Many stroke patients could never reach
aerobic levels high enough to alleviate depressive symptoms," says Dr. Harris.
Behind the Headlines
The NHS Knowledge Service :Tuesday June 1 2010
ARE OBESITY ILLS A MYTH?
“Accepted medical wisdom that overweight people are more susceptible to diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure is a myth,” reported the Sunday Express.
This story is based on a study of the relationship between body mass index (BMI), current health, age and gender. Survey data were available for about 18,000 adults whose health was assessed by looking at how many prescription medications they took at the time.
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between BMI, age, gender and current health. The results appear to suggest that, in younger people, a higher BMI may not be associated with significantly worse current health, as indicated by prescription medication use. However, this does not mean that a higher BMI does not affect future health and that “obesity ills are a ‘myth’”. The authors themselves note that “it is likely that an increased BMI requires time before it results in an increased medication load”.
Contrary to what the news headline may suggest, these results are not sufficient to challenge our current understanding of how being overweight or obese affects our health. A person’s self-reported use of medication may not fully reflect their state of health, and this method does not assess type or severity of illness.
Other limitations include the fact that the study assessed weight and health at only one point in time, and, therefore, cannot estimate what the longer-term effects of being overweight or obese might be. The authors themselves note, “it is likely that an increased BMI requires time before it results in an increased medication load”.
For now, most individuals should aim to maintain a BMI within the normal range
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Avoid Inactivity to boost quality of life, during and after Cancer treatment:
Cancer patients and survivors should strive to get the same 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise that is recommended for the general public, Studies show, for instance, that exercise for weight control and reduction in body mass may actually reduce the risk of recurrence for breast cancer patients, and ultimately decrease breast cancer mortality. For patients suffering from cancer-related weight loss, physical activity helps to maintain lean body mass, which can contribute to increased strength and well being.
There is consistent evidence that exercise training can lead to improvements in aerobic fitness, muscular strength, quality of life and fatigue in breast, prostate and hematologic cancer patients and survivors.
Source:
Kim Guenther
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
There is now a compelling body of high quality evidence that exercise during and after Cancer treatment is safe and beneficial even for those undergoing complex procedures such as transplants.
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One in four people 'risking their health by working through the day without a break'
Kate Devlin, Medical Correspondent for the Daily Mail reports on a survey by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) who found that heavy workloads mean that one in four people are risking their health. A third of those surveyed also say that they take no lunch,
The organisation warns that other bad habits, such as working in the same position for too long and going to work when ill or stressed can damage health. Long-term back pain, obesity, depression, heart disease, and stroke could be the result, it warns.
It called on staff and employers to adopt healthier working practices.
Phil Gray, chief executive of the CSP said: “Physiotherapists are concerned that overworking and not taking breaks is actually costing employers and their staff. Work is good for us and can contribute to physical and mental wellbeing – but not when overworking means people don’t have the time or energy to look after their own health or when staff are at work but are not fit for work.”
Ben Willmott, from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, agreed. “A certain level of pressure at work is of course desirable. However when the pressure people face exceeds their ability to cope, in other words stress, it is likely to lead to time off work and is linked to conditions such as depression, anxiety and heart disease.”
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Cash Incentive Weight-loss Scheme criticised
A new NHS scheme offering cash incentives to obese people who lose weight has helped over 100 people shed almost two stone each over a twelve-month period.
Launched by a primary care trust in Kent, the pilot scheme, which offered reward payments of up to £425, saw 402 volunteers sign up for a year-long 'Pounds for pounds' trial in January last year.
Two-thirds failed to reach weight-loss target
Only 100 of the 402 volunteers, however, completed the course and the average weight loss was 25lbs. Two-thirds of the volunteers failed to reach their weight-loss target.
The scheme's poor results have disappointed experts who hope such initiatives will curb the ballooning incidence of diseases and conditions associated with smoking, alcohol and obesity.
Gavin Terry, Policy Manager at Diabetes UK, echoed concerns about the future success of such plans: "Whilst the research carried out on this particular scheme indicated that it worked for some people, the actual number was very small, and this was further compounded by the high dropout rate, making any final conclusions about its effectiveness difficult to ascertain.
"Financial incentives may appeal to some people. However, it would be more effective, and reach a potentially greater number of people, if there was better investment in education and awareness about the dangers of unhealthy eating, inactivity and obesity. We need to incentivise a healthy, happy and active lifestyle as a sustainable end result rather than a cash payout."
Source
Diabetes UK
Poor diet and obesity blamed as womb cancer cases hit record level
Womb cancer in the UK is at its highest level for more than 30 years.
More than 7,530 women develop the disease every year in the UK, up from 4,813 in 1993.
Cancer Research UK, believe reasons behind the rise include more women being overweight or obese. Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer among British women, killing 1,741 in 2008.
Women can reduce their risk of developing the disease by keeping a healthy weight, taking regular exercise and reducing the amount of alcohol they drink.
Symptoms of womb cancer include abnormal vaginal bleeding - especially for post-menopausal women - abdominal pain and pain during sex.
Although these symptoms don't usually mean cancer as they could be signs of other diseases such as fibroids or endometriosis, it's still vital to get them checked by a doctor as the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the more likely treatment will be successful.
Womb cancer tends to develop later in life, with women aged 60 to 79 most at risk.
Rates in this age group have nearly doubled since 1975 - from about 40 women in every 100,000 to more than 75 in every 100,000 in 2007.
Ciaran Devane, chief executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "There are currently two million people living with a cancer diagnosis, and this will double by 2030, so we need to be planning for the future.
"Cancer is no longer necessarily a death sentence, and NHS and social care services need to adapt to ensure appropriate that long- term care is in place for cancer survivors."
Lifestyle factors, like obesity, poor diet and not enough physical activity are seen as the main cause of the increase in this and other cancers.
Report taken from the Scotsman.
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