Medical News Update e-cigarettes - In the news again.

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

e-cigarettes - In the news again.

The BBC report today that the argument surrounding e cigarettes continues as a letter signed by more than 50 researchers and public health specialists urges the World Health Organisation (WHO) to "resist the urge to control and suppress e-cigarettes".

Far from discouraging smokers from using the cigarette replacements that deliver nicotine in a vapour – the letter says that they could be a "significant health innovation".

The UK's Faculty of Public Health, however, have reported that it is too early to know whether benefits outweigh any potential risks.

The WHO said it was still deciding what recommendations it will make to governments.

Supporters of e-cigarettes, argue that the products are a low-risk substitute for smoking, and that they fear they might become subject to advertising bans and reduction targets.

Although there has been a big growth in the market for e-cigarettes, the Department of Health says they are not risk-free.

Critics say not enough is known about their long-term health effects. A recent report commissioned by Public Health England said e-cigarettes needed to be appropriately and careful regulated and monitored with risk management, if their benefits were to be maximised.

Some of the 53 signatories work on research into tobacco science and smoking cessation and say that  e-cigarettes could be among the most significant health innovations of the 21st Century - perhaps saving hundreds of millions of lives.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that mimic the experience of smoking. Users inhale a vapour from a heated liquid that contains a concentration of nicotine.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has called for stronger regulation of the devices in the UK and its director

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, told the BBC that there was evidence that children who had never smoked were beginning to use e-cigarettes after being exposed to the marketing campaigns.

Prof John Ashton, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said he was also concerned about children using e-cigarettes.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Medical News Update

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update Breast Cancer Study

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

Breast Cancer Study

Encouraging news today that says that restricting calories with food intake lowered by a precise percentage could hinder one of the most aggressive forms of triple negative breast cancers – known as TNBC.   It was found that the calorie restricted diet worked as well as the least responsive to standard treatment – and prevented the cancer from spreading to other organs.  It did this by strengthening the tissue that surrounded the tumour.

The study, which was conducted in Philadelphia, was published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, and it involved feeding one group of mice a third less food than another group. The results showed that TNBC was less likely to spread when the mice were on a restricted diet.

According to the study, microbes that have been found to increase TNBC were seen to be decreased the most when mice were treated with both calorie restriction and radiation therapy combined.

This decrease in calorie intake, increased the production of proteins involved in strengthening the tissue surrounding the tumour.  One of the doctors involved in the study said that it was important to consider metabolism when women were being treated for cancer. 

Studies have shown that patients who gain weight will have a less effective response to standard treatments and that those who gained weight during treatment had worse outcomes.

This study is important as it will give researchers a molecular target for diagnosing cancers that are more likely to spread and could, potentially, help in the development of a new drug to treat these cancers.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Medical News Update

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UK Health Radio with your Medical News Update on the hour. Gracie on Mobile Phones

This is UK Health Radio with your Medical News Update on the hour.

Recently Amanda Thomas covered a story about mobile phones and a study that is underway to see how they might affect the children who use them. 

I think it’s good that studies are happening to see what mobile phones do to children. I was not allowed a phone until I went to secondary school last year. My brother is cross because he is too little for one, but he has a Nintendo DS.

All my friends and me have a mobile phone. We are not allowed to use them in the school day, but we do use them even when we are sitting next to each other on the bus - to send texts!

It’s fun to chat and post selfies of each other on instagram. We do other things like making silly movies. When I miss the bus I ring my mum to say that she needs to pick me up.

My Mum thinks I spend too long on my phone and ipod when I do not need to and she hides them away a lot! She says it is not good for my eyes and that using them distracts me.

If the studies say that using mobile phones is bad for children, I will be sad but will use my phone less because I don’t want to be ill.

Gracie Timms

UK Health Radio medical news update on the hour 

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update on the Hour Mobile Phones and the Health Risk to Children

UK Health Radio

Medical News Update on the Hour

Mobile Phones and the Health Risk to Children

 At last, many would say, a major investigation into whether mobile phones and other wireless technologies can affect children's mental development is getting under way in the UK.  The study will look at several areas of children’s function, like thinking ability and cognitive ability as well as attention and memory ability.  The worrying thing is that very little is known thus far about the long term effects of mobile phone use especially on the developing brains of children.  The World Health Organisation has given the research its highest priority and the tests done this year will be repeated after three years to track any differences there might be to the mental functions of the child study group.  

 Up until now most of the research that has been done has been done on adults and there have been the occasional story about brain tumours and migraines and all other kinds of nasties to scare us witless.   However it is true to say that there has been no definitive proof of any permanent harm to date. 

 We will also be hearing  from our junior reporter Gracie Timms who will be covering this important story from a child’s point of view.  

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

Medical News Update on the Hour

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update - Regulating What we Eat

UK Health Radio

Medical News Update - Regulating What we Eat

A news story today from the BBC that suggests that the food industry should, like the tobacco industry, be regulated. This comes as obesity poses an ever increasing global health risk, some International groups say even more of a risk than cigarette smoking.

The World Obesity Federation and Consumers International are now calling for the adoption of stricter rules.  These could include pictures appearing on food packaging showing the damage done by obesity, in a similar way to the graphic images of diseased lungs shown on cigarette packets now.  You would expect the food and drinks industry to be up in arms at this but the Food and Drink Federation have said that the food industry was keen to work towards more healthy outcomes for consumers. 

Luke Upchurch from the Consumers International organisation said “If we don't take action now we are going to have the same intransigence and foot-dragging in the food industry... as we saw in 1960s where the tobacco industry were saying there was nothing wrong with cigarettes, they are good for our health, and now 30 or 40 years later millions have died as a result of smoking.”

The World Obesity Federation and Consumers International have said that governments worldwide should now impose compulsory rules for the food and drink industry pointing out that worldwide deaths caused by obesity and being overweight had risen from 2.6 million in 2005 to 3.4 million in 2010.

The new rules could include reducing the levels of salt, saturated fat and sugar in food, improving food served in schools and hospitals and the imposition of stricter advertising controls, and better education to all sectors of the community about healthy eating.

The recommendations also stipulate that harmful artificial trans-fats should be removed from all food and drink products within five years. 

Advertising aimed at children, during television programmes such as the X-Factor, must also be restricted, said the organisations.   Other measures could include Governments reviewing food prices, introducing taxes, changing licensing controls and starting new research to make this happen, the report said.

Luke Upchurch at Consumers International said they were asking for the "a parallel global treaty to that imposed on the tobacco industry.”

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

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UK Health Radio – Medical News Update SunParkLiving

Monday the 19^th May

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update

SunParkLiving

According to a YouGov poll that was carried out in 2012 the re are an estimated 2.4 million so called sandwich carers in the UK.  Charity organisation Charity UK estimate that around a fifth of 45-60 year olds are actively caring for elderly parents while their own children are still at home.   This situation makes this group of adults the most vulnerable to stress and ill health as they find themselves sandwiched in between responsibility of the older and younger people in the family with precious little time for themselves.  

Today I am going to tell you about a place that I have discovered that is aiming to offer a sanctuary for those who are retired or semi retired.  It is not a time-share, or a dreary out of season hotel offering lacklustre entertainment.  SunParkLiving in Lanzarote is a year round home away from home with a new and refreshing take on welcoming careworn over 50’s to comfortable self catering and self serviced apartments.  The aim here is to make a community that is for the people and by the people. There is no regimentation here, as the SunParkLiving residents organise events and facilities themselves.  With rates that are eminently affordable, many stay for months at a time.  The emphasis here is less on holidaymaking and more on affordable longer stays and community involvement. There is even a left luggage store so that SunParkLiving guests nicknamed ‘SunRockers’ can leave their summer togs and beach gear until the next time they visit.

I will be travelling out to Lanzarote to visit SunParkLiving at the beginning of June and will be doing a full report on what I find when I get back. 

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update On the Hour

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update Staying Safe In the Sun

Friday the 16^th May 2014

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

Staying Safe In the Sun

Doctors have become increasingly aware and we have are constantly being warned of the increase in skin cancer in the UK. There has been a lot of information on how to protect ourselves from harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV). The harm that is caused by ultraviolet radiation includes premature aging with the development of wrinkles and age spots), skin cancer, and permanent, sometimes blinding, eye damage. Other medical conditions, such as lupus, can be made much worse by UV exposure. In addition, many people take drugs, such as antibiotics, antidepressants, diuretics and retinoids, that make them extremely sun sensitive. Doctors all over the world agree that education is critical to stopping the epidemic of sun related diseases - especially skin cancer.

There is a lot of information everywhere you look on being safe in the sun and taking care of your skin and as we are promised a hot weekend and an even hotter summer to come we should all refresh ourselves on what we need to do to be safe.   Everyone loves to get out and enjoy themselves and the danger is that because, by and large the damage caused may not be apparent for many years we tend not to be aware of it.   So the advise is that to be safe in the sun you need to get yourself the right protection, try to stay out of the sun at the hottest time of the day and always drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.  And also very important – enjoy yourself!

Amanda Thomas 

UK Health Radio w

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update – Mers Virus.

Thursday 15^th May 14

UK Health Radio Medical News Update – Mers Virus.

The BBC have news of a new virus that is causing some world wide concern. Mers is a type of coronavirus. A large family of viruses, Coronaviruses include the common cold and Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome). This is a new virus, however, not to be confused with Sars and The World Health Organisation are currently considering issuing a public health alert.

In Saudi Arabia reports say that more than 100 people who have been infected with the Mers virus have died since an outbreak of the virus in 2012.   Elsewhere in the Middle East cases have been confirmed in in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and in Europe in France, Germany, Italy, in Africa in Tunisia and Egypt, and in the UK and, most recently cases have been reported in the USA.

In answer to the question of how dangerous it is, experts say that the virus is not very contagious because if it were very virulent there would have been more cases. But around a third of those infected have died.  In fact, outside of the body the virus can only survive for a day and is easily destroyed by cleaning agents and detergents.  In the UK public health experts have classified the risk to the public as very low.  

The greatest concern, however, is the potential for this new virus to spread far and wide. So far, person-to-person transmission has remained limited to some small clusters. There is no evidence yet that the virus has the capacity to become a pandemic.  The fact that camels may spread the virus might explain the high incidence in the Middle East.  However air travel always gives the possibility for a virus to be transported inter continentally.  The virus spreads from person to person and a severe attack will require intensive care as airways and breathing are affected.  Symptoms are similar to flu or a bad respiratory infection.  At the moment the best advice for travellers is to observe normal hygiene and avoid close contact with anyone who is ill and to keep some form of antiseptic wipe with them to clean hands and other surfaces. 

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update Asthma- The child’s perspective

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

Asthma- The child’s perspective

Last week I reported on the first national study of asthma deaths in the UK that concluded that people who suffer from asthma, are often dying unnecessarily because of complacency among both medical staff and patients.

This week I want to introduce you to Gracie Timms.  Gracie is our newest recruit and is going to work with me and cover relevant health stories from a younger persons point of view.  Gracie has put together her first piece that deals with asthma and how it affects her friend and other children.

Asthma in Children

 

Asthma is a illness that can affect children as well as adults. My friend suffers from asthma (we will call her Tanya for the sake of this article and to protect her identity). She often has asthma attacks and takes a blue inhaler. The inhaler is filled with Ventolin. Tanya always shakes it before she inhales it. She breathes out then inhales the medicine.

When Tanya has an asthma attack the passages of her airways narrow, making it more difficult for the air to pass through and making it more difficult for Tanya to breathe. This can cause wheezy noises, although not everyone with asthma will wheeze. Tanya wheezes a lot.

An asthma attack can happen at any time. When we were visiting London we went on the London eye. Tanya had an asthma attack when we were on it. Her mum was waiting for us at the bottom, with the inhaler. I had to ring her. They had to stop the London eye so Tanya could get off. Fortunately, Tanya was all right in the end. There are usually warning signs for a couple of days before. These include symptoms getting worse, especially during the night, and needing to use the reliever inhaler more and more. Tanya does yoga and swimming as she finds it helps her breathing. She is lucky that she has never had an asthma attack whilst swimming. Touch wood she never will.  Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma yet, but some things can help and it is very important that mums and dads do not smoke when their children are near by.

Gracie Timms for UK Health Radio, Medical News Update

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UK Health Radio Arguing Can Lead to Premature Death.

Medical News Update 

UK Health Radio

 Arguing Can Lead to Premature Death.

Cautionary news from the BBC that having frequent arguments with partners, friends or relatives can increase the risk of death in middle-age, according to research carried out in Denmark.  According to the findings of the study that was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, men and those not in work were most vulnerable.  Also on the danger list were those dealing with worries and demands from close family. It was also noted that an individual's personality and ability to deal with stress was likely to play a role in the findings.

The study suggests that intervening in conflicts, particularly for those out of work, may help to curb premature deaths associated with social relationship stressors. Although the research team, from the University of Copenhagen, calculated that constant arguing increased a man or woman's mortality risk by two or three times the normal rate, they admitted that they could not fully explain the factors behind this.

Previous research suggests that people with high levels of anxiety and demands from partners and children, and those who often argue with close family members, could be at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Previous studies have also suggested that a good social support network and a wide network of friends have a positive impact on health, while personality determines, to a large extent, how we perceive and react to social situations and relations.

In this study, the researchers said physiological reactions to stress, such as high blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, were most likely to explain the increased mortality risk. And concluded that men respond to stressors with increased levels of cortisol, which may increase their risk of adverse health outcomes.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update Mental Health Bed Crisis

Fri 9^th May 2014

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

Mental Health Bed Crisis

A report was published recently that highlighted the lack of beds that is forcing mental health patients in England to seek treatment in other NHS facilities some times hundreds of miles away.

The number of patients travelling to seek emergency treatment has more than doubled in two years - from one thousand three hundred people in 2011-12 to just over three thousand in the period 2013-14.

Earlier this year one patient was even admitted to a deaf unit, as no beds were available for admission anywhere in the country.

Health minister Norman Lamb said out-of-area treatment was always a "last resort".

The care and support minister added that it was "unacceptable" for patients to have to travel "hundreds of miles" for treatment and said he was determined to drive up standards of care within the NHS.

Leading charities have called the situation scandalous and a disgrace. One mental health trust spent almost three hundred and fifty thousand pounds last year paying for patients to be put up in bed-and-breakfast accommodation in order to free much-needed beds in medical facilities.

Mental health trusts have suffered cuts of more than one thousand seven hundred beds in the past two years.  The desperate situation was discovered after a joint investigation of BBC News and the online journal Community Care looked into the effect the cuts were having on mental health services across the UK. 

Data from 30 of England's 58 mental health trusts has shown that overall the number of patients sent out of area has more than doubled between 2011-12 and 2013-14.

The increase comes despite the number of patients being admitted to hospital for mental health problems falling slightly in the period between 2012-13.

 Amanda Thomas 

UK Health Radio Medical News On the Hour 

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UK Health Radio Medical News Update Asthma Deaths up in the UK

Thursday 8th May 2014

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

Asthma Deaths up in the UK 

The first national study of asthma deaths in the UK has concluded that people who suffer from asthma are dying unnecessarily because of complacency among both medical staff and patients.

Researchers found that in nearly half of the cases studied, asthma sufferers did not receive any medical help during their final asthma attack. The national study involved a detailed examination of the circumstances of 195 deaths from fatal asthma attacks. 

The UK has 5.5 million asthmatics and the National Review of Asthma Deaths has said that sufferers and medics must become better at recognising the danger signs.

While it is true that deaths linked to the condition have fallen, the UK still has some of the highest asthma death rates in Europe. Holly Sparshott, from Gosport, died of asthma at the age of 12. The BBC reports that her mother, Sarah, is campaigning to raise awareness about how dangerous the disease can be. 

Researchers found that clinicians and patients alike were in danger of becoming complacent about this illness since asthma symptoms can come and go.  It is often the case that while patients feel well, they may forget or feel that there is no need to keep taking their prescribed medication. Over half of those who died were being treated for mild or moderate asthma at the time and experts concluded that this was mostly because neither doctors nor patients themselves recognised how serious their asthma really was. Of those who died, 19% were smokers and others, including many of the children who died, had been exposed to second-hand smoke in the home. Some patients had not picked up prescriptions for preventative treatment and others had not being attending check-ups for their asthma.

Amanda Thomas 

UK Health Radio

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