World Psoriasis Day

World Psoriasis Day

On 29 October 2013 it's World Psoriasis Day. I have a close relative who sufferers from this problem and it can be very depressing and very difficult. 

It is thought around 3% of the world's population suffer from this condition, and there is no cure.  In fact it is a life-long disorder that often leaves red marks on the skin that can become cracked and bleed. On World Psoriasis Day, the aim is to make everyone more aware of the condition and to address some of the misconceptions that surround the condition.   People think they can catch it from a sufferer whereas in fact psoriasis is not contagious.  The day also aims to spread information to people who may have been suffering in silence embarrassed by their condition and feeling very isolated as a result.

There will be events held across the globe to mark the day and to raise money for World Psoriasis Day.  In the past some of the events have included roller-skating exhibitions in Paris, concerts in Spain and even street walks in Kenya!

If you suffer from the condition or if you know someone that does maybe you would like to lend your support.  Perhaps you want to organise an event of your own or maybe you would like to make a donation.  You can find out everything you need to know at the World Psoriasis Day official website.  You will be able to help raise awareness and dispel myths and misconceptions that often accompany this common and unpleasant condition.  

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 Psoriasis Day

Dyslexia Awareness Week

Dyslexia Awareness Week

14^th to 20^th October

It is a condition that is often misunderstood.  This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week and you might be wondering what exactly is dyslexia? Well the symptoms will differ depending on whether the sufferer is a child or younger adult - or an undiagnosed adult.

It's especially important to spot dyslexia early ideally when a child is in school.  The British Dyslexia Association explains that children with dyslexia tend to mix up words - which might mean saying something like 'beddy tear' instead of teddy bear.  They may have trouble saying long words and learning the alphabet could also prove to be a problem.

Other signs involve issues with learning letters, names and with the sounds of words and letters. This means the phonological awareness is poor and they might not be able to answer a question like: 'What word would you get if you changed the 'p' sound in 'pat' to an 'h' sound?

The signs in young adults and adults are less easy to spot. They might write more slowly and have problems expressing their knowledge on a subject. If someone is experiencing real difficulty with spelling or finds themself trying to hide their work from others this is quite an obvious flag that something is going on.

The theme for Dyslexia Awareness week will be on the website to give you some scope for what you personally want to focus on during this week.

You can also get involved by fundraising for the organisation. Need some suggestions for getting started?  The British Dyslexia Association will give some good ideas for fund raising. A car boot sale is a great one!   There is a good chance that all of us know someone who sufferers from this condition that can be very difficult and cause a sufferer a lot of embarrassment and difficulty.   It is nice that there is a week for shining the light on this condition.

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

Dyslexia Awareness Week

The British Dyslexia Association

Why Are Men Still Not Getting The Health Message?

Why Are Men Still Not Getting The Health Message?

One of the country’s most loved comedians Bob Monkhouse died ten years ago from prostate cancer.   Following his death a ground breaking TV commercial was aired featuring the deceased comic attempting to give older men the message of what they needed to look out for as the early warning signs of prostate cancer. 

A new study however has shown that there are still millions of men over 50 who do not know the signs to look out for with the prevalent and insidious disease of prostate cancer.  But according to the study, this area of health is just the tip of the iceberg.   It is very likely that men in the over 50 age group will know far less than their female counterparts about many diseases like bowel cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer and many other diseases and conditions.  As well as this ignorance of medical matters men who are over fifty are likely to be less than eager to eat their fruit and vegetables five a day quota.  They are also more likely to put off going to the doctor but are more likely than a woman to cave into pressure from their partner and make that visit to the surgery. 

The study that was conducted amongst twelve thousand men over fifty, found that most had to be bullied by their wives or partners to get them to take care of themselves or to seek medical advice when it was needed.   They knew far less about health in general and disease symptoms in particular and were more likely than younger men and their female partners to give exercise a miss. 

The fact that a lot of men are ignorant of what is the best way of life for them and the best way to look after themselves is a worry.  However, more of a worry is that they do not seem to know what symptoms to look out for that should set alarm bells ringing and have them beating a path to their doctors door.   It is difficult to know what else could be done to raise awareness given that there has been a concerted public campaign to educate men on the dangers of undiagnosed prostate cancer.

In the year of the tenth anniversary of Bob Monkhouse’s death perhaps the message might now at last get through.

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

18th October Anti Slavery Day

18^th October Anti Slavery Day

What do you think when you hear Anti Slavery Day?  That slavery is something of the past?  That it is surprising that we even need an anti-slavery day? All that should be true and yet slavery is still rife in many parts of the world.

Slavery has existed almost as long as human beings themselves, having been recorded as far back as the fifth century BC.  Many people were treated as dogs - locked up with chains around their hands, feet and even their necks.  Beatings with whips was common practice and body parts were often cut off over trivial things or nothing at all.

They were not seen as human but as objects - a commodity that could be bought and sold for money to better the capitalist market and the wealthy individual!

So when did we 'stop' slavery?   The Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was finally passed in 1807 and all slaves were freed over the next twenty years.

How disappointing then that in the 21st century we need a day like this!

Did you know that millions of people in the modern world are treated as slaves?  It's happening in places like Africa, South Asia, Latin America and even Europe.

It's not true to say we've regressed completely.  Slavery is illegal, the problem is much of it, including child slavery, goes on behind closed doors and in some places the laws aren't enforced enough.

Someone once wrote a play on human trafficking - because at the time they had been reading a lot about young women who were being exploited in the UK and thought it was important that these women were given a voice!

Your money could help a slave escape his master and find a job that would not involve the exploitation of his person.   A sum as little as £10 could provide briefings for campaigners to send leaflets to government that protests against the problem and demands the freedom of slaves.  If you're interested in getting involved and taking action visit the anti slavery day website for more information. 

Let's all show we support anti slavery - beginning right now.  One small impact from you could make such a huge difference in the long-run ... so show your support for Anti Slavery Day!

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

 Anti Slavery Day website