World of Health

Millions of people have been able to watch their cholesterol fall with help from statin drugs, but some researchers are advising doctors to be aware of potential side effects, even though the drugs are great for preventing strokes and heart attacks.

Every year doctors write about 40m NHS prescriptions for statins, but although they are seen as relatively safe drugs, for some people they can cause aching or weak muscles and in some cases muscle tissue will begin to break down.

Due to the fact that statins are a drug that needs to be taken for the long term researchers indicated that it is very important that doctors use them in a way that allows for maximum benefits but minimal side effects.  In order to define what this manner is, researchers studied two million people out of which 200,000 were on statins.

The study showed without a doubt that the drugs are effective at preventing cardiovascular disease, but also that there are side effects with about one out of 10,000 people prescribed the drug exhibiting symptoms of the side effects.

Additionally, the numbers could increase to 110 out of 10,000 men and 39 out of 10,000 women may experience muscle weakness after being on statins for five or more years.

In addition, statins were linked to a higher risk of cataracts as well as kidney and liver problems the latter of which was linked to higher doses of a statin.

Unintentionally, the study also showed that those who used statins had a lowered risk of developing cancer of the throat although this may be because those on a statin tend to reduce the amount of alcohol they intake.

Statins are found in large amounts in some mushrooms.

In a new ad campaign to encourage Welsh people to donate organs, the Kidney Wales Foundation has filmed real-life patients who are awaiting organ transplants. The advert was filmed in an actual jail cell to emphasize the anxiety of those on ‘Death Row’ (the waiting list), many of whom will die soon if they can’t get the new kidney or other organ they need.

Roy J. Thomas, chairman of Donate Wales and Kidney Wales, said that hopefully the impact on the U.K. will be strong enough to convince the rest of the country to follow Wales’ lead in an ‘opt out’ programme, where instead of having to sign up on an organ donor registry, every citizen will be automatically included in the registry unless they state otherwise.

At present, Britain has one of the lowest numbers of organ donors and related transplant operations amongst the larger European countries including Spain, France, Portugal and Belgium.

A number of studies and surveys throughout the British Isles indicate that at least 90% of the population would be willing to donate their organs, but only about 28% have actually joined the organ donor registry.

Mr. Thomas believes that the change to an opt out approach will save many more lives, and that the public in general will endorse it. The current campaign is meant to urge Westminster to pass legislation similar to that in other countries where the percentage of organ donors is much higher.

There are valid arguments both for and against the proposition, with the opposing parties stressing the lack of public awareness, i.e. that many people won’t get the message that they have to state their preference if they do not want be donors, and that the individual’s wishes may not be known.

However, the opt out system has the backing of the British Medical Association and numerous other organizations including the British Heart Association and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB).

Spectacle wearers are being given a helping hand to see things more clearly thanks to the launch of new optical lens care brand, Dr Optic.

With consumer spending still relatively low, it’s now more important than ever to ensure that expensive items such as glasses, sunglasses and gadgets with lenses or screens are properly cared for and maintained to avoid the cost of replacement.

The range contains two specialist products, each with a laboratory-tested formula that specifically cares for and cleans even the most sensitive and expensive coated lenses, unlike many standard formula wipes and sprays.

Each product offers quick-dry, smear-free cleaning with anti-scratch technology for spotlessly clean lens surfaces, and can be used to clean a multitude of everyday items.

These include removing smears and smudges from prescription glasses and the inevitable sun-cream marks from sunglasses. They can also be used to keep the lenses and screens of cameras, camcorders, televisions, computers, laptops, mobile phones, binoculars, telescopes, motorcycle helmet visors and mirrors in top condition.

Optical Lens Wipes are available in packs of 24 (RRP £1.99) and 12 ( RRP £1.29) and are perfect for carrying in bags, glasses cases and pockets, as they are packaged in individually wrapped and sealed sachets.

Optical Cleaner & Microfibre Cloth (RRP £3.99) offers a Dr Optic special formula alongside microfibre technology, to gently lift dirt and smears from the glass surface, offering the very best care possible and resulting in a perfect finish.

The Dr Optic range has been two years in the making, with the products undergoing vigorous testing processes on all known glass coatings to ensure that lenses are cared for and kept looking their best for as long as possible.

A report published in The Lancet medical journal this month indicates that triglycerides may be a contributing factor in the incidence of heart disease.  While this is not a new concept, the study confirmed that an increased risk factor is related to the apolipoprotein A5 gene, which determines the level of triglycerides in the blood.

People with extra copies of this gene had as much as a 40% higher risk of developing heart disease, according to researchers’ calculations.  The findings were based on data from more than 300,000 participants in 101 different tests.

Cholesterol and triglycerides are two separate forms of fat.  The body uses cholesterol to build cells and it uses triglycerides to provide energy.  In recent years the medical profession has concentrated on reducing levels of ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol and increasing those of ‘good’ (HDL) cholesterol, but it seems that we need to be concerned about levels of triglycerides also.

Triglycerides are produced by the liver and also derived from certain foods.  The same foods that contribute to LDL cholesterol also raise the level of triglycerides.

Nadeem Sarwar, lead researcher in this study, emphasized the need for more extensive and specific research.  Other medical professionals agree that further testing is required before any definitive correlation can be made.

However, there is general agreement that the information presented by Sarwar and his team, though far from definitive, will certainly lead to more research to determine whether lowering triglycerides can help prevent heart disease, and to what degree.  In the meantime, exercise and a healthy diet are still the best means of preventing or at least mitigating the problem.

Those who sleep less than six hours every night have an increased risk of premature death according to researchers who claim they have found indisputable evidence that premature death and sleep deprivation are linked.

According to researchers, those who get fewer than six hours of sleep every night are 12% more likely to die early, which is defined as under the age of 65 compared to those who get six to eight hours of sleep a night.

The research team looked at 16 studies that included around 1.3m people to draw their conclusions, the team was made up of researchers from the Federico II University Medical School in Naples and the University of Warwick.

They stated that earlier studies of sleep deprivation have proved associations with high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol.

On the other hand, other researchers from Sleep magazine believe that sleeping too much is a higher risk to your health and can result in premature death, although another research study published directly afterwards contradicted the statement, stating that those who sleep more than ten hours every day may live to the age of 100.

The authors of the most current study however believe that sleeping too long is a sign of low physical activity and depression, both of which are harmful to the body and a person’s overall state of health.

Professor Francesco Capuccio from the University of Warwick and the Warwickshire NHS Trust stated that although a small amount of sleep can be a sign of poor health, long lengthy sleeping periods are better indicators of poor health.

He went on to state that six to eight hours of sleep are optimal.

A new lip balm containing liquorice could help reduce the frequency and intensity of cold sore outbreaks. The problem is that once you contract the cold sore (herpes simplex) virus you have it for life.

The herpes cold sore virus can be picked up from one simple kiss with an infected person, which is why over 30 million people in the UK carry the virus.

For many, once they get the virus, they experience regular outbreaks of cold sores, sometimes as often as once a month and especially during the summer as the sun itself is a major trigger. Some people feel so self-conscious about their cold sores that during an outbreak they feel unable to socialise or be intimate with partners.

Liquorice Balm helps reduce such regular outbreaks. Unlike conventional treatments, due to its naturally derived ingredients, suffers can wear the lip balm at all times, meaning that the intensity of the cold sore outbreaks could be diminished before they really have a chance to take hold.

The key cold sore fighting ingredient in liquorice is glycyrrhizic acid (GA). GA specifically targets the genes that are required to maintain the virus in its latent state by interfering with the production of special proteins that feed the infected cells. Recent research published in the US Journal of Clinical Investigation has shown that liquorice actually has the ability, in some cases, to eradicate the cold sore virus which lies dormant in between outbreaks.

Liquorice Balm can be rubbed into lips as often as necessary and not only does it help reduce cold sore outbreaks and their intentsity, it is also a nourishing balm that helps keep lips well-conditioned and smelling candy-shop sweet.

Liquorice Balm costs £10.99 for 30g call: 0844 7009975 or visit www.skinshop.co.uk

The ideal time to take out life insurance is when you are young and the earlier you start, the cheaper your life insurance quotes will be. Many people however, do not consider the importance of life insurance until they reach their fifties.  Being over fifty doesn’t mean insurance has to be expensive.  Many people today are finding it easier to be accepted for a policy and they are finding it is a lot less expensive than they thought it would be.  If you are over fifty and don’t have life insurance but do have dependants and/or personal debts then the old saying still rings true…..better late than never.

Life insurance is there to provide financial protection for your dependants in the event of your death.  Although no one wants to think about dying, it is a fact of life and some satisfaction can be gained in the thought that you won’t be leaving your loved ones out of pocket once you’re gone.

If you are in your fifties or older and you’re thinking of buying life insurance there’s a good chance that some health scare or medical problem has sparked your curiosity.  Whatever event has led you here, it’s good that you are considering the future security of your family’s finance.

There are some benefits of being in your older years when taking out your insurance.  For starters most companies will not require you to take part in any medical screening.  Acceptance is therefore guaranteed if you’re a UK resident typically for customers age 50 to 75 and some will accept up to age 80.  The reason your insurance premium may be higher than that of a younger person is that the Insurance companies will calculate the amount of premiums you will likely pay into a policy and the amount they are likely to pay out in the event of your death.

Policies vary in the amount they will pay out in the event of death in the first two years of your policy so be absolutely clear on the terms and conditions of your policy.  Some insurance for example, will pay out a cash sum upon your death after the policy has been in force for two years.  If however, you were to die as a result of an accident before the two years has passed you may still be covered.

As with any insurance product it is worth making sure you have a good deal for your money but you’d be well advised to put a good amount consideration into your policy choices and not just simply opt for the cheapest deal. It is important to take time to consider your needs and what life insurance policies might be best suited to your own unique circumstances, rather than simply looking for the lowest premium.

Because people are living longer and having more full and active lives they often forget about life insurance. You don’t have to be over 50 to consider life insurance but it can act as a reminder to start evaluating your options.

An IVF clinic in Wales is in serious hot water after a couple who have been trying for a baby for over seven years were the victim of a cruel irony when the clinic inadvertently ‘lost’ lost the couple’s embryos.

The couple who can only be identified as Gareth and Clare have now taken out legal action against the clinic which is located within the Cardiff-based University Hospital of Wales following an admission by the health provider that they had misplaced the embryos just before they were due to be implanted in Clare.

Just last year the same clinic was at the centre of another controversy after a mistake led them to implant the last embryo available to a couple into the wrong woman. The hospital claims that this event is a recognised complication of embryo vitrification.

The procedure sees makes use of liquid nitrogen in order to store the frozen embryos which are then thawed in order to be implanted. This case is not good news for IVF clinics as it comes hot on the heels of the report on the BBC5 Live show that stated that official figures show that clinics in England and Wales had seen mistakes double in just one year.

Well respected broadcaster Donal Macintyre interviewed Clare who stated that she was minutes away from the transfer when she was informed by staff that she had only one of three embryos remaining as two of them had ‘gone missing’, and went on to say that they were certain that the acts of not been implanted into another woman.

Cosmos is the largest and most ambitious study ever initiated on the potential health risks of mobile telephone use.  The study is intended to produce definitive answers to the question of whether or not prolonged and extensive use could cause brain cancer or other health problems.

The programme is endorsed by the World Health Organization as well as many others including the U.K. Health Protection Agency (HPA).  It is funded in part by the MTHR, and research in the U.K will be carried out by Imperial College London.

Cosmos, or the cohort study on mobile communications, will involve about 200,000 participants from the U.K., Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands.  The study will last for 20 to 30 years, with initial reports submitted expected to be submitted in 2020.  Researchers will monitor the use of WiFi, cordless phones and baby monitors as well, in order to get the most comprehensive results.

Health professionals and organizations concerned with the safely of mobile phones over the long term say that studies undertaken to date leave too many uncertainties.  Many forms of cancer cannot be detected in the first ten years of their existence, and other problems such as headaches, depression and sleep disorders may not be correctly diagnosed as to cause.

The other concern is that previous studies have been based on the participant’s memory of how much time they spent on the (mobile) phone.  Cosmos will monitor the length of every single call, though not the numbers dialled or those of incoming calls – no invasion of privacy, just a passive background presence.

“I get bitten loads of times at night. I get sick five times a year, I think. I do not have a mosquito net. My brother does, but I don’t.”

Many families like Nanawewje’s do not have enough mosquito nets. Their extreme poverty forces them to prioritise who will get to sleep under the net or even who gets malaria treatment if they become sick.

As World Malaria Day (26^th April) approaches, it is shocking to think that a preventable and curable disease like malaria still kills nearly 850,000 people each year – mostly children even younger than Nanawewje and mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Yet this year marks a significant milestone in the meeting of malaria control targets among the development community and  there has been some excellent progress in the fight against the disease. It is as a result of these interventions that the number of child deaths from malaria is estimated to have dropped from 3,000 a day to 2,000, according to the latest Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) report.

“If it takes us almost 15 years to reduce child deaths from malaria from a child every 30 seconds to a child every 45 seconds, we will never beat malaria,” said Sunil Mehra, Executive Director of Malaria Consortium at a recent reception to mark World Malaria Day at the United Nations in New York.

“We’re at a critical crossroads in the fight against malaria,” he added. “There has been significant support from donors in recent years, but what really needed is sustained, long-term resources for a wide range of activities to beat this disease.”

In RBM’s report it is estimated that $6 billion will be needed in 2010 for the widespread malaria control activities. At the moment, funding amounts to one third of that requirement. This annual amount will gradually lessen, however, once control measures become embedded and sustainable.

“It is crucial that donors don’t stop their support for malaria control activities, but what is really needed is over the long term is for the national governments of those countries affected by the disease to commit resources from within their health budgets.”

Mr Mehra was co-hosting a reception with RBM at the public gallery of the UN Headquarters in New York, with guests of honour Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium. Some 250 guests attended the reception, which included a special viewing of the highly successful photographic exhibition Malaria: blood, sweat, and tears by award-winning photographer Adam Nadel, which was commissioned by Malaria Consortium, the world’s leading non-profit organisation dedicated to comprehensive control of malaria.  The story of Nanawewje is just one of the featured portraits of people living with malaria on a daily basis. To view the exhibition online, please visit www.malaria-bloodsweatandtears.com.