Friendship Day 4th August 2013

Friendship Day 4^th August 2013

Friendship Day was first established in 1935 when the United States Congress dedicated the first Sunday of August every year as Friendship Day, and this year it takes place on 4 August.

Following the popularity of this annual event in the US, a large number of other countries, including India have also adopted Friendship Day to celebrate the importance of friends, making this a truly international friendship day.

On this day people spend time together, exchange gifts, cards and wristbands to proclaim their friendship to each other.  In 1997, the United Nations named Winnie the Pooh as the world's Ambassador of Friendship.

There is no doubt that we are all better off for friends.  Friends are the ones who help us through the bad times and celebrate the good times with us, who pick us up when we stumble and even in some cases donate their kidneys to us!  I remember the story of two young girls who had grown up together and been best friends since they could remember.  When one of them fell ill and went into kidney failure, her friend did no hesitate and put herself forward as a donor.  Doctors were amazed to find that the pair were a perfect match despite not being related at all. 

And there are other stories of how great a bond friendship can be - the surrogate who carried a child for her friend, the man who worked 20 hours a day to keep his friends business going while he was ill or the couples who took their friends in when their house was brunt down and let them stay for year until they could move back into their own home.   There are hundreds of wonderful examples of what true friendship can bring to the lives of those who are lucky enough to find it. 

Friendship is as important to us as good health too; in fact studies have proved that having good friends and family can make a world of difference if we get ill.  And as we get older those friends come into their own as they offer us support when a life long partner dies.   There are hundreds of reasons to celebrate friendship and the richness it brings to our lives.  So ... what will you be doing this year ... how will you celebrate?

Lots of ideas about how you can get involved can be found at the Friendship Day website.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge.  It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

World Hepatitis Day – 28th July

World Hepatitis Day – 28th July

This year will be the sixth annual World Hepatitis Day and is on 28 July, the same date as the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Blumberg who discovered Hepatitis B.

The whole point of the day is to encourage people to find out the facts about Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C - and by doing this help decrease the stigmas attached to the viruses.  I thought today we would have a look at Hepatitis C in particular.

So what is Hepatitis C?   Well the infection is transferred through the blood and damages the liver and its ability to carry out essential functions for your body.

It can also affect other parts of the body including the immune system, digestive system and the brain.   Around 130-170 million people on the planet have it.

Hepatitis C has been referred to as the 'silent epidemic'.   That's because where some people will have symptoms straight away others could go up to ten years without knowing anything is wrong.

Thankfully drug treatments have been successful: 50% success for type 1 and an even better 80% for type 2.

But there is still no vaccine and it's important people are more in the know about exactly how dangerous hepatitis is and what it does.

If you have the virus, find out more about how you can care for yourself by visiting the Hepatitis C Trust website.

NHS site also has useful information and explains that Hepatitis is a term used to describe inflammation (swelling) of the liver. It can occur as a result of a viral infection or because the liver is exposed to harmful substances such as alcohol.

Some types of hepatitis will pass without causing permanent damage to the liver.

Other types can persist for many years and cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) and, in the most serious cases, loss of liver function (liver failure), which can be fatal. These types of long-lasting hepatitis are known as chronic hepatitis.

Initial symptoms of hepatitis caused by infection are similar to the flu and include:

• muscle and joint pain
• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• feeling sick
• being sick
• headache
• occasionally yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)

Symptoms of chronic hepatitis can include:

• feeling unusually tired all the time
• depression
• jaundice
• a general sense of feeling unwell

In many cases, hepatitis causes no noticeable symptoms, so when hepatitis is caused by a virus, many people are unaware they are infected.

Similarly, many people with hepatitis caused by alcohol are unaware that their drinking is harming their liver.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is the most common type of viral hepatitis in England. It is estimated that around 255,000 people in England have the condition.

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus. This can be found in the blood and, to a much lesser extent, the saliva and semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person. It is particularly concentrated in the blood, so it is usually transmitted through blood-to-blood contact.

In England, it’s most commonly spread through sharing needles to inject drugs, which account for 9 out of 10 cases.

Hepatitis C often causes no noticeable symptoms or symptoms that are mistaken for the flu, so many people are unaware they are infected.

Around one in four people will fight off the infection and will be free of the virus. In the remaining three out of four people, the virus will stay in their body for many years and will go on to suffer chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic hepatitis C can be treated by taking antiviral medications, although there can be unpleasant side effects.

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Feeling the Heat – The Summer Heat Wave

Feeling the Heat – The Summer Heat Wave

Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it’s too hot for too long there are health risks. Now that this summer has produced a real heat wave, I thought we should look at ways to make sure that e the hot weather does not cause us serious problems.

As with cold weather, the very young, the elderly and the seriously ill are the groups who are particularly at risk of health problems when the weather is very hot. In particular, very hot weather can make heart and breathing problems worse.   The NHS have very good advice for us all to follow at this time when many of us, even if we do love the sun, are feeling the heat, especially at night.

In August 2003, temperatures hit 38C (101F) during a nine-day heat wave, the highest recorded in the UK and there were 2,000 to 3,000 more deaths than usual in England. Across Europe as a whole, there were round 30,000 excess deaths.”

When heat becomes a problem

An average temperature of 30°C by day and 15°C overnight would usually trigger a health alert. These temperatures can have a significant effect on people's health if they last for at least two days and the night in between.

Why is a heat wave a problem?

The main risks posed by a heat wave are: 

·       dehydration (not having enough water)

·       overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing

·       heat exhaustion

·       heatstroke

Who is most at risk?

A heat wave can affect anyone, the NHS informs us but the most vulnerable people in extreme heat are:

·       older people, especially those over 75

·       babies and young children

·       people with a serious chronic condition, especially heart or breathing problems

·       people with mobility problems, for example people with Parkinson’s disease or who have had a stroke

·       people with serious mental health problems

·       people on certain medications, including those that affect sweating and temperature control

·       people who misuse alcohol or drugs

·       people who are physically active, for example labourers or those doing sports

Tips for coping in hot weather

The following advice applies to everybody when it comes to keeping cool and comfortable and reducing health risks:

·       Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.

·       Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.

·       Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn't possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).

·       Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.

·       Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.

·       Stay tuned to the weather forecast on the radio or TV, or at the Met Office website.

·       Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.

·       Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.

·       Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors.

·       Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

So whether you love the heat or can’t wait for some cooler weather, make sure that you stay safe and well while the hot weather lasts and for more information go to the NHS website. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Summerhealth/Pages/Heatwave.aspx 

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and are only intended as additional information to your general knowledge and not as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. So please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Alcohol - more harmful to society than drugs.

Alcohol - more harmful to society than drugs.

As we all enjoy these lazy days in the sun with a lovely cool beer or glass or two of wine I was reminded recently of an interesting piece appeared some time ago in the Daily Mail.  In it Katherine Faulkner reported that scientists have found that alcohol is the most harmful drug overall and three times as harmful as cocaine and tobacco - according to a new scale of drug harm that rates the damage to both users and to wider society. The study says that if drugs were classified on the basis of the harm they do, alcohol would be class A, alongside heroin and crack cocaine.  Overall, alcohol scored 72 out of a maximum ‘harm’ score of 100, compared to 55 for heroin and 54 for crack.

And while the most dangerous drugs to individual users were judged to be heroin, crack and then crystal meth, alcohol was deemed most harmful to society, followed by heroin and then crack.

And we have all known someone whose life has been wrecked by alcohol. Not to mention the dink-fuelled problems on the street and the death toll on our roads caused by drink drivers. 

If you wanted to take crack cocaine you certainly could not stroll down the street and enjoy it in public with friends, as you could a drink in a bar.  So what is wrong with alcohol?  What does overuse of alcohol do to our bodies? 

Well there are chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells); pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx, and oesophagus; high blood pressure; and psychological disorders. Then there is the incidence of unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.  Alcohol can lead to violence, such as child abuse, homicide, and suicide.  Alcohol is well known to harm to a developing foetus if a woman drinks while pregnant, with well-recorded foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. 

Alcohol abuse or dependence leads people to live lives that are dominated by drink and they will invariably end up lying even to the people who are closest to them.  They lose their jobs and they lose their perspective on life and due to the effect of alcohol on the skin and on many aspects of their health, they age very rapidly.

The effects on the family and on the lives of alcoholics cannot be understated.  It can and does cause broken marriages, lost jobs and ruined lives. 

With alcohol all around all of us every day, what makes some of us drink too much and others manage to keep their drinking within normal limits?   There is a lot of debate around whether we can have a natural disposition to do things to excess, (an addictive personality) or whether the environment we are brought up in or find ourselves living in is to blame. It is the old nature versus nurture debate.

Whatever the reason that a person starts to drink, if he or she cannot stop, or finds that drinking has taken over their life, then one thing we are aware of is that it is going to be a life long struggle.   I heard one alcoholic speaking recently on the radio about his addiction.  When he was asked if, since he had stopped drinking some 2 years before, he was now not an alcoholic, he replied that he would always be an alcoholic.  He said that he was aware that relapse could happen at any time and he was ready to meet that head on if it happened.  This is undoubtedly the best way to go.  As with so many addictions thinking that because you have stopped for a while means the battle is over and the war is won may be unwise.  Keeping your guard up, being vigilant and getting support gives by far the best chance of success in beating any addiction. 

Moderate use of anything is not a problem but where alcohol is concerned, if you are in that small group who cannot keep drinking to a moderate or sensible limit, then it is probably best not to drink at all.

The days of treating alcohol as a sort of grown up treat are over, I am afraid, like heroin and cocaine, alcohol is a drug and as such it needs to be treated with respect. 

Please note that all information and content on UK Health Radio and this blog are provided by the authors, producers and companies themselves and is only intended as additional information to your general knowledge.  It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Please do not delay or disregard any medical advice received due to information gathered on UK Health Radio.

UK Health Radio – the health radio station for the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond at www.ukhealthradio.com – is kindly sponsored by www.1-stop-health-shop.com

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio