World of Health

A comprehensive report on Colorectal cancer has confirmed that the consumption of red and processed meats can increase the risks of contracting the disease, while eating plenty of fibre can help to protect against it. Colorectal cancer, better known as Bowel cancer, is diagnosed in over 2200 people every year in Ireland, the highest incidence being amongst those in the 55-74 age group.

This report was commissioned by the WCRF, World Cancer Research Fund and the AICR, American Institute for Cancer Research. The report is part of the groundbreaking CUP (Continuous Update Project), which examines the links between diet, weight, and physical activity with the risks of contracting Colorectal cancer. This is done over a series of years and this report is an update of the findings of the last report from CUP in 2007.

Dr Elisa Bandera, who served on the CUP committee that authorised the report, says that this clearly shows that Colorectal is one of the most preventable types of cancer. The AICR estimates that as many as 45% of new cases of Colorectal cancer could have been prevented by eating more foods rich is fibre, and a lot less meat. Drinking less alcohol, moving around more and watching your weight can also help to prevent it.

The report that was produced on 2007 analysed 749 papers on the subject of Colorectal cancer, while this latest one adds another 263 papers. From these papers, the experts conclude that there is overwhelming evidence that both processed and red meats increase the risks of developing Colorectal cancer.

The recommended amounts for people to eat safely is 18oz of cooked red meat per week, which roughly equates to 5 or 6 smallish portions of lamb, pork or beef. It also recommends that if possible avoid processed meats altogether. This is because that ounce for ounce, the consumption of processed meats doubled the risk of contracting Colorectal cancer than eating red meat.

The experts on the CUP panel also conclude that the evidence supporting the eating of fibre as reducing the risks has increased since the last report. It said that the evidence it now had has raised the conclusion from probably to convincingly regarding fibre as a protection from the cancer.

A master regulator gene has been identified that is linked to cholesterol and diabetes, causes obesity and controls the behaviour inside of fat cells of distant genes wrote researchers from the University of Oxford and King’s College London in Nature Genetics. This discovery the authors say may help in the development of treatments being more effective for illnesses related to obesity like heart disease and diabetes.

This was part of a collaboration that was multinational with the Wellcome Trust financing the MuTHER study and scientists from University of Oxford, Wellcome Trust, the University of Geneva and King’s College London collaborating with help from DeCode Genetics as well.

The role that KLF14 played up until now has been unknown, even though researchers knew previously that the gene was linked to diabetes type 2 and cholesterol levels. Subcutaneous fat (fat samples taken from below the skin) biopsies were taken by the team of 776 twins (female) in Great Britain and then over 20,000 genes were analyzed in the fat cells.

Their findings were that KLF14 acts as a controller and influences the behaviour, in the fat tissue, of distant cells. Another 600 fat samples were taken from a group in Iceland and confirmed their original findings. Fat is a key factor in our susceptibility to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

The mother passes along the KLF14 gene and as is always the case we receive genes from both parents, but the KLF14 gene received from the father is turned off making the mother’s the active gene with this being known as imprinting. If there were medications to directly target the KLF14, the treatment of many metabolic diseases could become much more effective.

Many people do not think of vaporizers as something that can be used for medicinal purposes instead thinking they are only something that can be used to clean the air.  However, within the medical setting these powerful devices are actually referred to as nebulizers and can be used to treat all types of respiratory diseases.

This is due to the fact that a prescription nebulizer contains medication that is transferred into vapor so that it can be inhaled into the lungs helping to provide direct treatment for a number of different respiratory diseases including quick asthma treatments, bronchitis, and more.

The nebulizer works by hosting compressed air through the liquid medication so it can be turned into vapor and then inhaled through the nose and mouth.  This will allow the medication to work instantly versus the time it takes for your body to absorb the medication in an oral form as a liquid.

If you are having a hard time breathing this is vital since the nebulizer will allow the medication to instantly relieve your symptoms so that you can breathe regularly and safely within minutes of use.  In a way, you can think of a vaporizer as an advanced form of an inhaler for those who need a higher level of aid.

To keep tabs on your specific aging process it will soon cost only 435 quid. There has been a blood test developed by scientists that can indicate the speed of your aging and give an estimate as to that person’s life expectancy. These test results could one day be vital to companies in the life insurance business that offer medical cover.

Later this year the blood test, that is still very controversial, will go on sale in Britain to the general public. The test measures vital structures located on the tips of the chromosomes called telomeres. Many believe these are the most accurate of all indicators as to the speed that a person is aging.

These tests scientists say can tell whether, measured by their telomeres, an individual’s biological age is older or younger than their chronological age. They know that people that are born with shorter telomeres than what is normal will have a shorter life. But what they do not know is if the ones with longer than normal are going to give that individual a longer lifespan.

They hope that the test will prove to be breakthrough in filling the curiosity of people with regards to their mortality thus allowing them to plan their lives accordingly, however they do not think predictions can be calculated to months or years someone still has left to live.

Some people manage to do it quickly and painlessly, but it would seem these are in the minority. Giving up smoking is often a real struggle – and can take several attempts. Even so, if you’re looking to give up, the end results should be more than worth it.

Research conducted by Lancaster University said that quitters typically took at least seven attempts – and five years – to stop smoking. Professor Cary Cooper said giving up cigarettes was “a very difficult and stressful time” and that the first week was often the hardest. He recommended having a “stop smoking buddy” to provide support and encouragement.

While some may simply go cold turkey and stop, there are many different techniques which smokers can try. These range from hypnotherapy to joining a local stop smoking group, in addition to a wide range of nicotine replacements.

The NHS provides support to help give up, and there are also going to be fewer temptations on display, as the latest government move is a plan to remove cigarettes from point of sale locations (i.e. behind the till) in shops. This might be a good time to kick the habit – fewer people smoke now and some smokers may feel marginalised, as they are likely to have to smoke outside at work and possibly at home as well.

We all know that becoming a non-smoker can have its benefits – including possible improved health and a boost to your finances – but a less well known benefit is that you might also be able to reduce your life insurance policy premiums.

Research from Sainsbury’s Finance has shown that around 3.3 million ex-smokers in the UK are collectively paying £316 million more a year for life insurance premiums than they need to. This is because they have failed to tell their insurer. However, simply having given up last week is not enough – an insurer will generally expect you to have been smoke-free for a full 12 months in order to qualify for a discount.

You will also need to have dropped any props you used to help give up – such as nicotine gum or patches – for at least a year. The research showed that the average smoker’s yearly life insurance premium is £209.75, compared to around £95 less for a non-smoker’s. Therefore, it is possible you could make a pretty impressive saving by making your new status known to your insurer.

To qualify, it is important to check out the life insurer’s terms specifically – and if you don’t meet these, then be honest when you apply – if not, your life insurance cover could be invalidated.

Of course, stopping smoking is not the only way to obtain a better deal – life insurers are also likely to offer more attractive terms if you are a healthy weight and avoid excessive alcohol consumption. No one is pretending that giving up smoking is easy or can be achieved overnight – but with the benefits that it could bring, it’s certainly giving more people a reason to try.

Article Courtesy of Sainsbury’s Finance

Telling the raw truth behind the condition, a powerful new autobiography has been published by Just Imagine Books.

'An Engineered Mind' - National Epilepsy Week

You may not know too much about epilepsy but you can be sure that most people have heard of it. However for those 500,000 or about one in 130 nationwide who suffer from it in the UK, it can be a debilitating, life-altering and life-sapping condition that is lived with every hour of every day.

What is the condition known as epilepsy and what is it like to suffer with the condition that can cause seizures and other dangerous side effects making a normal life seem difficult, challenging and sometimes simply impossible.

Be thankful that a new book is being published that has been a long time in coming and desperately needed, one that shares with the public what epilepsy is really all about. A book that tells the truth about the condition but not from an analytical, clinical or observational view but from the perspective of the sufferer, the one that has epilepsy and suffers daily with it.

The book is authored by Alan R. Wright, a lifetime epileptic who struggled for 36 years with the condition, and is titled An Engineered Mind.  It profiles the absorbing, distressing  and often times heart-rending story of how his family and personal life was threatened to be torn apart by epilepsy until once and for all he took dramatic steps to defeat epilepsy.
“This is a story that urgently needed to be told,” says Roark McMaster of the book’s publishers, Just Imagine (UK) Ltd. “Alan’s autobiography is essential reading for anyone who suffers from or who is affected by epilepsy – in fact we think it should be read by all those who want a clearer understanding of how people can face up to – and conquer – their greatest demons.” Alan Wright’s story in ‘An Engineered Mind’ grippingly shares with the reader his growing distress as epilepsy takes an ever stronger and more debilitating hold over him. Fighting the condition every step of the way, every hour of each day, he falls in love, gets married, has a family and attempts to live the rich and fulfilling life that he deserves in the face of a condition that threatens to overwhelm him.

“How Alan resolves the greatest challenge of his life will make this book compulsive and compelling reading for everyone,” comments Roark McMaster. “What’s more, we’re confident that publication of ‘An Engineered Mind’ is going to do a huge amount to promote understanding of epilepsy – as well as tell the story of a truly exceptional and courageous man.” ‘An Engineered Mind’ is published on May 15 to coincide with National Epilepsy Week http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/campaigns/nationalepilepsyweek, which seeks to shed light on the condition through a major UK media-wide awareness campaign.

For more information about ‘An Engineered Mind’ contact Roark McMaster at Just Imagine (UK) Limited, Unit 6C The Wren Centre, Emsworth Hants. PO10 7SU. Tel: 01273 782664; Mob: 07771162180. Or email: info@justimagineltd.com

‘Just amazing and inspirational’ Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 presenter

Defying medical wisdom by recovering from Lock-in Syndrome a young mother of three wrote a book about her experience in less than a year and has been named the 2011 Extraordinary Woman of the Year.

Caused by a severe blood clot in her brainstem, Kate Allatt, 39, businesswoman and fell-runner suffered a massive stroke on February 7, 2010. She was only able to blink her eyes in order to communicate after being completely paralysed by the stroke. Her family was warned by doctors that her chance of survival was only 50/50 and if she survived she would never talk, walk, swallow or lead a normal life.

Kate walked onto the stage, on Tuesday May 10, and gave a speech thanking organizers for the award at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham while accepting the award at the Extraordinary Women conference and award ceremony. She learned to talk and walk after eight difficult and hard months of work and determination.

She was discharged last September from the hospital and returned home to her husband Mark and three children. With regular therapy sessions since then, she has continually improved her speech and her movements. She ran her first 20m at a charity fun run on the first anniversary of her stroke as 200 people looked on.

On May 19 she launches her autobiography Running Free: Breaking Out from Locked-on Syndrome after signing a publishing deal with Accent Press Ltd.

Her defiant recovery impressed judges who named her the Extraordinary Woman of the Year 2011 and winner of the Extraordinary Personal Endeavour category.

Kate said: ‘It’s been an interesting year. This time last year when I was lying in a hospital bed willing my fingers to move, my family and friends would never have imagined I would be standing on a stage accepting awards. Yet the thought that I would never be a mum again always inspired me to walk and talk again and my family and friends have helped me to get where I am today. My motto has always been “life is without limits, push them”.

‘By winning this award I hope to help other survivors of locked-in syndrome and their families, by showing that you don’t have to accept limits on your recovery.’

Hazel Cushion, MD, of Accent Press Ltd, said: ‘I am delighted that Kate has won this award. She is such an inspiration. I first met Kate via Facebook when she was still in hospital and using just one hand to communicate her story to the world. She has made an amazing recovery and really lives up to the title of Extraordinary Woman of the Year.‘

Exercise balls are one of the most underrated fitness tools on the current market. Not only are they cheap to buy, they are also extremely easy to store in your home and let’s face it, these are important factors when you are buying exercise equipment for use within your home.

Not only can exercise balls help you to develop great muscle tone across your whole body. There are so many other benefits that can be achieved using this simple piece of fitness equipment. By using a low impact workout you can also help to improve your cardiovascular system and overall body flexibility.

Many people also use an exercise ball as a health aid to assist with back problems as the ball supports your lower back as you do your exercises. Some people with back problem find that they are prescribed an exercise ball to carry out their recovery program. Physiotherapists have been using exercise balls as a treatment aid for years.

You may have heard of a birth ball? They are used by many pregnant women in the lead up to their due date. The birth ball is exactly the same as an exercise ball other than the material is slightly thicker (to support the extra weight presumably). Many pregnant women find it very uncomfortable to sit in the later stages of their pregnancy and the ball allows their weight to be distributed evenly and it also supports their lower back. Many women find that the only time they are comfortable is when they are sat on their ball. This is mainly because the exercise ball helps to promote good posture and this goes for everyone, not only pregnant ladies. Birth balls are basically an expensive exercise ball and you will find that many pregnant women simply use exercise balls instead.

Before you begin using your exercise ball there are a few very important things that you check first:

• Ensure the exercise ball is inflated to the correct size for your height and weight (your instruction booklet will provide you with the details)
• Check that your hips are level with or just slightly higher than your knees when you sit on the exercise ball
• If you are over the prescribed weight for the exercise ball do not put yourself at risk by using it. There are stronger balls available (similar to birth balls) and these can help with any of the exercises you wish to carry out.
Exercise balls can be used for a wide variety of fitness programs including the following:
• Weight Training – the exercise ball can be used as an equivalent to a weight bench and it will add difficulty to the movements and will make your leg, bum and abs muscles work extra hard.
• Abdominal Training – many people choose to do twists, crunches and other popular exercises on their exercise ball. These types of exercises put more pressure on your muscles so this can help with developing a six pack or when working on your abs.
• Yoga and Pilates – the majority of Pilates and yoga guides out today are heavily reliant on you having an exercise ball. They will show you relaxation techniques to use with the ball as well as workouts.

If you have children you will find that they absolutely love your exercise ball. They will want to be out playing with it all the time. They may have 10 balls of their own but the exercise ball will seem giant to them and will prove a great exercise incentive.

If you want to improve your overall muscle tone, and your abs and / or develop a 6 pack then an exercise ball is for you and the best bit is that there are a multitude of videos freely available on internet sites that you can use to provide you with detailed workouts to ensure you get your desired results.

Although an exercise ball cannot build up your fitness in the way a treadmilll could, it can help you tone up for summer quickly.

Even if your parents are not yet in need of the specialized care that nursing homes are able to provide you may want to research the nursing homes in your area so that if the worst arises you will be prepared.  Many people do not realize that all it takes is one health problem to cause a serious decline in one’s health as an elderly person.  Therefore, even if your loved ones seem healthy you want to be prepared if they will suddenly need short term or long term care in a nursing home unexpectedly.

The easiest way to get started is to head online to compile a list of the nursing homes that are located in your area so that you have an idea of what your actual choices are.  Given the fact that you most likely will want to be able to spend time with your loved one, choosing a nursing home that is close to your home is recommended, even if it means moving your loved one into your city or area.  Having the ability to visit on a regular basis will make the transition easier for you and your parent.

Second, you will want to head to government website to check on the quality of care that is given at the nursing home to weed out any poor homes from the list.  All nursing homes are regularly checked by government agencies and assigned scores that represent how well they meet state qualifications.  With this thought in mind it will be easier to ascertain which nursing homes should make your final shortlist since you can immediately toss out any that fail to measure up to state qualifications.  At this point you can move onto the final step of visiting and seeing for yourself what the best choice for your parent would be.

During your visit you will want to meet with the nursing staff and ask to sit around the floor that you are thinking about having your parent kept at so that you can observe the activity.  This way you can see how the other residents get along and observe the different types activities that are provided and the level of medical care.  By taking the time to see for yourself you will be able feel confident in the decision that you have made the right decision when it comes time to place a parent in the care of others.

The results of research carried out at the Wolfson institute indicates that those over the age of 55 who are receiving treatment for heart disease in the form of statins and pills are getting no more benefits than those who are screened. The institute, part of Barts, has conducted the research with the LSMD, London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Well known GP Dr. Hilary Jones has spoken about the findings, saying that although the age for predicting heart disease has been set by the survey at 55,other factors must be taken into consideration. These include Diabetes, smoking, obesity and blood pressure. There is also a real concern about the common but under estimated side effects such as muscle pain, indigestion and flatulence.

It is estimated that to save 2 lives you would have to treat 100 patients with statins. Undoubtedly there will be some that see significant benefits but many will see no palpable difference as well as suffering unpleasant and adverse reactions. High risk patients under the age of 55 should also still be screened and not abandoned.

“My recommendation is to consider lifestyle changes including lowering stress, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and adopting a healthy eating regime. Simple steps, such as including garlic in your daily routine has to be a better option than having half the population taking unnecessary pharmaceuticals,” comments Dr Hilary Jones. Other experts also acknowledge the circulatory benefits of garlic supplements.

Which Garlic Supplement to use?

Almost every clinical trial has shown that garlic extracts support heart health. That’s because the proven key compound, allicin, is only found in fresh and dried garlic.

Kwai is the original dried garlic supplement . Over 30 independent clinical studies and 190 published scientific papers show that it supports cardiovascular health.It provides the powerful benefits of garlic—without the smell.

Kwai’s suggested daily dose provides 1800mg of allicin — garlic’s most beneficial compound.

The Kwai garlic tablet features an inner core consisting of exclusive LI 111 pure garlic clove powder which undergoes analytical testing to assure the release of allicin, garlic’s most beneficial compound.

Kwai’s special coating ensures the freshness and intensity of the garlic and protects against odour.