World of Health

Sustaining an injury, especially a head injury while playing sport is a regular hazard and scientists have long been concerned over people who are boxing, or playing cricket and hockey. However, researchers have recently raised concerns over another type of sport that can potentially be damaging to the brains of players. Scientists have recently been scanning the brains of football players who often use their head against the ball. Many of these players were shown to have subtle signs of damage to their brain.

Scientists from the Albert Einstein College of medicine which is located in New York studied around 40 football players who’ve been playing since they were children. The players were asked whether they regularly head the ball and it was found that those who did had brain injuries similar to those found in trauma patients.

The team of researchers was led by Dr Michael Lipton and he commented, “We were looking at the players for something called fractional anisotropy which measures how uniform water molecules are behaving in the brain. If they are behaving irregularly this suggests there is some form of brain damage.”

The study found that players who were regularly heading the ball had water molecules behaving in a more random fashion suggesting that their method of play was causing physical injury. The study found that the areas of the brain that were most affected included those responsible for executive functioning, memory and attention.

Dr Lipton continued, “These initial findings are quite worrying and this seems to be clear evidence showing that this type of play can cause the brain injury. From this we can make a clear recommendation to players that they should not be heading the ball. There does need to be further research conducted to see what the long-term effects of this type of brain injury might be. Hitting the ball with your head once off will not cause any serious damage but doing it repetitively might lead to the brain cells degenerating.”

ThinkFirst is a non-profit group that raised concerns that heading the ball might cause some form of brain injury. They’ve recently published guidelines on how to head the ball in a safe manner. Many people have become concerned that football is a sport that is particularly popular among children and the reports from ThinkFirst say that the technique should not be taught to children at a young age.”

The researchers behind the study are well aware that the technique is an important part of football and something they are unlikely to be able to ban. Therefore they have decided to try and find a safe limit for the number of times the head can hit a ball before damage becomes permanent. The study found that those who hit the ball with their head over 1000 times a year had the most significant brain injuries, this figure might seem very high but for someone who regularly plays football this means they will only be having to head the ball a few times a day.

A new advertising campaign aimed at cutting the number of unwanted pregnancies over the Christmas period was launched this week. The advert offers the morning after pill to women over the telephone and free of charge and it is hoped that women at risk of pregnancy will stock up for the festive period and use it in case of emergency.

The campaign has been developed by The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS)

and features a poster with the word ‘sex’ spelled out in fairy lights. The tagline for the advertising campaign is “Getting ‘turned on’ this Christmas?”. The advertising campaign is not without irony and its website address is titled rather humorously, santacomes.org.

Some critics have accused the campaign of being over the top and said it may send out the wrong message. ProLife Alliance campaigner Josephine Quintavalle, called it “incredibly vulgar”. She said: “We believe that this campaign may trivialise the issues at stake here and lead to women being less responsible than they should be. It may also lead to them exposing themselves to risks they wouldn’t normally do.”

The product at the centre of the campaign is the contraceptive, Levonelle One Step, and users will be required to register personal details on the website to attain it. Following this they will be entitled to a fifteen-minute consultation from a trained nurse which is aimed at weeding out young teenagers and others who are not suitable for the pill.

The charity has commented that it does expect that young teenagers will attempt to get hold of the pill by lying about their age, despite the consultation process which is there to prevent them doing so and that some will inevitably slip through the net. Children under 16 would normally require a prescription to get hold of the pill.

Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, said that it would be preferable if the pills could be handed over following a face-to-face consultation, but said that there were no plans for the government to intervene.

BPAS described the service as essential considering that surgeries and pharmacies will be closed in most places over the festive period and with pharmacies charging for pills there were significant risks for young girls getting pregnant unintentionally. Chemists charge around £20 for emergency contraceptives and it’s believed the price puts many young girls in vulnerable positions off using them in an emergency.

Tracey Forsyth, BPAS nurse and spokesperson, said: “There is a time frame of 72 hours following unprotected sex in which the morning after pill can be taken to protect against pregnancy. But the sooner the female takes the pill, the greater the chance of its success. It is not foolproof however, and it can fail.”

“Some people who do not have all the facts believe that obtaining the pill in advance will encourage women to act irresponsibly. This is incorrect. The women choosing the pill are taking a responsible line and getting it ready just in case.”

Some critics have slated the scheme saying that it was like calling for a pizza and argued that teenagers would take advantage by ordering pills without their parents consent.

Some argued that it could promote promiscuity and unprotected sex and may even lead to an increase in sexually transmitted disease.

BPAS said its nurses would be trained to discuss contraception then send the pills in the post with condoms and advice leaflets to approved women only.

The release of a new app in the UK which is the world’s first app for brain health has been announced jointly by the Alzheimer’s Association and the BUPA Health Foundation. This tool is said to be the latest digital tool in the ongoing fight against dementia.

Based on the very latest research that has linked a healthy brain and a reduced risk of developing dementia with a healthy cardiovascular system and heart, the ‘BrainyApp’ is the first iPhone app designed to reduce the risk of dementia by helping people to monitor and thus improve the health of both their heart and their brain.

This new app was designed in by the BUPA Health Foundation is conjunction with Alzheimer’s Australia and has already claimed the number 1 spot in Australia and New  Zealand from Facebook in the list of top free apps. It has also clocked up over 130,000 downloads in these two countries alone.

Now available to people in the UK, ‘BrainyApp’ helps users monitor and improve the physical, mental, dietary and social aspects of their lifestyle.

There are currently 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this is predicted to rise to over a million by 2021. Delaying the onset of dementia by just five years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by 30,000 a year.

Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive, Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Most people know how to reduce their risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke but they don’t realise that the same healthy lifestyle choices may also lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia.  The idea is that what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.”

‘BrainyApp’ allows users to take a brain-heart health survey about their diet, exercise patterns and lifestyle. It then provides suggestions and ideas about how to make improvements to each. It also includes all-new brain games, and encourages users to build brain-heart points by staying physically and mentally active, socialising with friends and family, and sharing their progress on Facebook.

One of the brain games – ‘Word Tennis’ – requires players to unscramble anagrams in order to move a paddle and hit a ball back to their opponent.

Director of dementia care for Bupa Care Services, Dr Graham Stokes, said: “There is evidence to show that keeping the mind exercised can stave off the onset of dementia but ‘BrainyApp’ highlights that good physical health also has a part to play. Best of all it’s good fun.”

‘BrainyApp’ is available as a free download for users of iPhone, iPod and iPad devices from the App Store. There are plans to develop an Android version in early 2012.

More information about BrainyApp is available at www.bupa.co.uk/brainy-app.

The problem of childhood obesity looms (literally) over Britain’s youth and appears to have a direct correlation with obesity in the adult population.  Studies have proven that children who are overweight have a greater risk of growing into overweight and/or obese adults, with the accompanying higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

NHS Lincolnshire is trying a new approach to combat the tendency; and each child in reception class in schools all across Lincolnshire will be given a free ‘me size plate’ intended to help insure that they receive and eat child-size portions of the proper foods.  The plates are designed to get kids interested in what and how much they eat.  They also serve to remind parents that young children are not meant to eat adult portions, and to emphasize the importance of different food groups.

The Lincolnshire Research Observatory recently published figures indicating that well over 11% of Boston pupils in reception classes last year, and at least 18.5% of year 6 students, were classified as overweight.  In the county the average figures were even higher, at more than 14% for Reception pupils and 19% in year 6.

Lynne McNiven, consultant in public health for NHS Lincolnshire, said that the ‘me plates’ are just one step in raising awareness in both parents and children about the benefits of a healthy diet.  Exercise is also crucial for healthy growth, and children should get at least an hour of it every day, whether playing outdoors, just walking to and from school, or any physical activity more strenuous than sitting in a classroom or on a couch at home.

Recent reports of another new strain of flu that people can contract from pigs has The World Health Organisation in a bit of a dilemma.  According to Dr. Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general for health, security and environment at the WHO, so far the only confirmed cases are in the United States, specifically Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa and Maine, but they are watching very closely for indications that it may be spreading.

At the last reports, only ten cases had been confirmed, the first in July of this year.  All except one were in children under ten, with the exception being a 58-year-old.  The virus has been identified as distantly related to the H3N2 viruses that were circulating among humans in the 1990′s, and the feeling at present is that most adults will already have some immunity to the new strain.

The WHO came under severe criticism from European officials in 2009 for labeling the H1N1 virus a ‘pandemic’ when outbreaks first occurred, rousing great alarm and much stockpiling of vaccines, only to find that the danger was considerably overrated.  The organisation is treading carefully in this flu season.  Researchers are hard at work, trying to figure out how much immunity the general population may have to the as yet unnamed virus.

If most people have antibodies already in their systems, there won’t be much danger from this swine-originating virus, and it will probably be confined to small groups of young children who have little immunity to anything, according to a flu expert at the University of Michigan, Dr. Arnold Monto.

However, Dr. Fukuda warns that if the virus continues to spread, even if only in children, there’s no reason it can’t cross U.S. borders.

Tis the season to be jolly! The season of overindulgence is here so it’s worthwhile knowing that there are herbal medicines out there to help you in moments of discomfort. For example did you know that milk thistle can provide a natural way to help cure an upset stomach. Based on traditional use only, it’s been proven to relieve the symptoms associated with the occasional overindulgence of food and drink. Simply take one tablet up to twice daily with water and you could soon be feeling as good as new!

This infographic looks a few of the herbal medicines you can buy and how they can help with overindulgence but also with cold and flu illnesses flying around in the winter months.

By Healthspan – UK’s largest direct supplier of Vitamins and Supplements

Many people across the globe lose weight every year for one reason or another. We hear on an almost daily basis about the escalating obesity levels in the United Kingdom, and how this can lead to people suffering from heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and an array of other issues.

Once someone decides that it is time to lose weight then they need to consider whether doing it naturally is more effective than using cosmetic procedures. The truth of the matter is that losing weight naturally through a healthier diet and exercise routine is something that can have long-term benefits for a person.

That said, if you have lost a considerable amount of weight then the end result can lead to a lot of excess skin – and, from here, it might be time to consider cosmetic surgery. The reason it happens is because of the elasticity and condition of your skin. This changes during weight loss, and your skin is known to be in a better condition through a healthier diet and increased exercise.

If you are considering natural weight loss, don’t worry because not everyone has a problem with excess skin after. In fact, by just losing a pound or two each week usually results in no problems at all. That said, it does happen to some – and when it does, what do you do?

If this has happened then you need to decide whether you are happy to keep the excess skin or would like it removing for the sake of your appearance. On occasions, it can lead to chafing which might be something that needs medical attention anyway.
What’s the procedure?

The procedure that tightens and lifts skin around the body is known as the body lift. Relating to just the stomach area is surgery known as abdominoplasty. The Hospital Group offers both operations, although it is always recommended that you allow your skin to recover following weight loss.

Losing weight is something that can help most people across the world, benefiting them in small and big ways alike. Excess skin isn’t always a result of weight loss, but when it is then surgery can be a great way of increasing the appearance of your body.
Are there ways of stopping excess skin?

As with many things in life, success in weight loss can be based on many factors. It’s always advised to lose weight naturally if possible, and then use cosmetic surgery afterwards to tighten up any areas of excess skin. Unfortunately, for many, excess skin can’t be avoided – but, it needn’t be a reason to worry as there are many things that can be done to keep it under wraps.

There are some things that people can do to help this, including: remembering that skin is elastic and will be more forgiving the younger someone loses weight, the years that someone has carried extra weight tends to correlate with how good/bad skin is following weight loss, the quicker you lose weight then the more you are likely to have an excess, there are some creams that are on offer – not usually noticeable, give your skin time to sort itself out.

This article has been brought to you by The Hospital Group, The UK’s only ‘full’ service provider of Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

In 1989 the fitness VHS reined supreme with health enthusiasts – commonly featuring Madonna or Cher tracks and a big haired instructor wearing luminous spandex.  Still, one gym in Santa Monica was trying something new, something fun and something guaranteed to shed over 500 calories in just one hour – Spinning.

The now acclaimed ‘fitness phenomenon’ was birthed in the late 80s and fathered by Johnny Goldberg – a personal trainer specialising in endurance racing.  His idea for indoor gym cycling was inspired by a near accident he had while training outside.  Little did he know the idea would grow into one of the most popular exercises ever invented.

Once the ‘motionless’ bike was created and perfected to represent actual road conditions, Goldberg began hosting classes for locals.  The profits soon carried him to LA and by 1994 he formed the official Spinning brand.

Since then, adaptations of the classes have formed all over the world, some focused on enjoyment, some focused on intensity but the majority focused on a combination of the two.  It is a group exercise and the camaraderie involved can act as extra motivation while excessively burning calories.

What does Spinning involve exactly?

Each member of the group has their own stationary bike.  By adjusting components like seats, handlebars and pedals for optimum comfort, everyone prepares for when the music starts.  Using music to maintain pedalling rhythm is a well-practiced technique and is why you will sometimes see professional cyclists racing with headphones.

The classes are much more exciting than pedalling at a monotonous tempo.  Instructors will begin to incorporate a variety of exercises such as handlebar press-ups, single calf isolation, seat hovering and many more challenging work outs – all while pedalling at various speeds designated by instructions or the beat of the music.

Each bike is fitted with an intensity dial which can be adjusted accordingly to the pattern of the class.  For example, some instructors will vocally describe an imaginary outdoor race and encourage participants to tighten the dial when ‘climbing a hill’ and loosen it again once over the envisaged apex.

What fitness level is required for Spinning?

Anybody can join a Spinning class and enjoy exercising at their own pace.  More advanced athletes can simply tighten their individual intensity dial, to a level which challenges their muscles.  Equally, newcomers can take it easy and gradually build their fitness over a series of sessions.

What does the future hold for Spinning?

Johnny Goldberg himself has recently developed the Krankcycle, which takes main element of Spinning and incorporates the arms too.  Appraised by specialist publications like Shape and Men’s Health, Kranking is set to become an equally popular cousin of Spinning, offering a workout of higher intensity.

Spinning itself still has plenty of life to grow into and with extreme classes sprouting up in gyms all over the world, such as Korean Jackie Spinning, the notion of blending cardio with strength training is guaranteed to be forever popular amongst the body conscious.

Jackie Spinning is not for the feint-hearted.  The Korean show team Apollo, have imposed elements of dancing and gymnastics into their Spinning routine.  Jackie Spinning classes are unlikely to become as popular with the average gym goer but they are extremely impressive to watch.

Looking back with hindsight and analysing how celebs now thrive on effective exercise with the public following suit, it is easy to understand how Spinning was destined for such popularity.  Johnny G could never have anticipated that when he spun that first stationary bike in 1989, the cog would still be ferociously turning come 22 years later.

Article published on behalf of Fitness First.

Guest Post

In Britain, obesity has become a growing health problem for many people. With so many people suffering from with obesity problems, many opt for different kinds of weight loss procedures. Many obese people will be advised by medical professionals to consider a gastric band procedure to reduce their body weight.

Nevertheless, a gastric band procedure is just the beginning on a path to a healthy and happy life. The weight loss results will have to be maintained and in order to do this an individual will have to eat a healthy balanced diet and make sure they participate an active lifestyle with plenty of exercise.

As the stomach is reduced dramatically, the individual will no longer be able to eat the same sized portions they did before the operation. Every meal counts and should contain nutrients and vitamins the body needs to fight disease, repair muscle and grow.

Five Healthy Tips You Should Consider After A Gastric Band Operation…

Move those feet

Walking is a perfect exercise for someone recovering from a weight loss operation. It is not too strenuous and you can walk for a long period of time without really noticing the distance you have covered. This is great for burning calories and can be done when going to the local shops or walking the dog.

Food

The types of foods you eat are so important for you to maintain the weight loss results after surgery. Liquids with a high nutritional value are recommended during the primary stages after surgery. Try eating foods that have a low calories count and are packed with a healthy abundant of vitamins and nutrients.

Chew more

This may sound a little odd, but research has found that the longer you chew your food, the brain thinks that you are eating more than you actually are and feel full up quicker. This trick is an old one and will stop those unwanted cravings from returning.

Drink Plenty of Water

Make sure you hydrate your body with liquid. A recommended amount would be around 2.5 pints a day. This is advised throughout the day and alongside meals.

Part of Your 5 a Day

Make sure you eat a balanced diet that includes fruit and vegetables. Did you know that all fruit and vegetables can be included in your five a day portion? During the early stages after surgery you could liquidise your fruit in the form of smoothies to make sure you get your daily recommended amount.

Emotional Eating

Many people eat for many different reasons. Some people eat because they feel sad or find that it provides a comfort to fill out the void in their life.

Recognising why we eat is half the battle and by getting to the emotional side of eating we can then defeat the physical side of eating.

If you know you will overeat during certain periods of time, like in the evenings or after work when you are too tired to prepare a meal, make a note and make sure you have healthier alternatives close at hand. Remember, you should start these healthy recovery steps after 2 weeks.

Closing Words….

A gastric band provides an individual with quick weight loss results. But this is only a small part of your weight loss journey. Diet, exercise and aftercare are just as important as the surgery and many people need to realise this if they are to maintain their new figure. If you feel that you are interested in having cosmetic surgery then you must realise that surgery is only the beginning.

For those going for cervical screening 80% of units doing it across the UK have been sending out the test results within two weeks. This is a great increase in the speed at which the results came out in previous years. Only last year, only 40% of units were doing it in time.

Primary care organisations are responsible for sending out the results and the speed at which they have been sent out has been increasing significantly over the past few years. The improvement in speed of the results being released is because a new requirement has come into force stating that they must be released with this time.

Today’s NHS Information Centre report; Cervical Screening Programme, England, 2010-11, is used to inform policy and to monitor the quality, effectiveness and safety of screening services. It also shows that among women aged 25 to 64:

• 4.3 million women were invited for a screening test in 2010-11, compared to 4.1 million in the previous year.
• 3.4 million women were tested in 2010-11, compared to 3.3 million in the previous year.
• At 31 March 2011; coverage – the percentage of eligible women screened at least once in the last five years fell to 78.6 per cent from 78.9 per cent in the previous year and from 79.5 per cent five years ago (in 2006).
• Coverage varied between England’s 10 Strategic Health Authorities, with four achieving 80 per cent or higher, compared to six in the previous year. The highest reported coverage was in the East Midlands at 81.4 per cent, while the lowest was London at 74.0 per cent.

NHS Information Centre Chief Executive Tim Straughan said: “The statistics in our report, which shows 3.4 million women aged 25 to 64 were tested in 2010-11, are important to monitor the quality and effectiveness of cervical screening services in this country.

“It shows women in England are being sent their cervical screening results faster than before; with the percentage of results sent out within two weeks rising sharply in a year.”

The report can be accessed at: www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/cervscreen1011