The Importance of Saliva

Saliva is needed for lubrication, you won’t be driving your car home tonight on water alone – it will need oil – the difference being lubrication.

 

So you have noticed some changes in your mouth.  Perhaps your lips are always dry, you have a constant thirst? Maybe you have noticed that it is difficult to chew and swallow food, possibly you are waking through the night with your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth and you are desperate for a sip of water?  Any of these symptoms, and there are many more, are signs that you could be suffering with  or Dry Mouth.

If you are taking medications, it is more than likely that one or more of your prescribed drugs will list dry mouth as a side effect.  In fact over 1000 regularly prescribed medications will cause this painful and detrimental condition.

Painful, because trying to swallow food, or even just talking can be agony in extreme cases.  The mouth can become sore with ulcers and simple pleasures in life, such as sharing a cup of tea and a biscuit with friends will seem impossible.  A fundamental part of our wellbeing as humans is to socialise with friends, colleagues and family.

Detrimental, because a lack of saliva will leave the mouth open to attack from bacteria.  The teeth will have lost their protective coating and will be exposed to plaque acids. A rapid increase in cavities will ensue, as the loss of saliva means there is no remineralisation of the tooth enamel. Without the lubricating properties of saliva, abrasive foods will cause cuts to the mouth’s soft tissues which may then ulcerate.  Chronic dry mouth will also lead to bad breath.

An already vulnerable patient taking xerostomic medications can undoubtedly become withdrawn, depressed and suffer low self esteem.  If they are already poorly and uncomfortable and then feel unable to eat sufficiently nutritious meals, they will lose weight and not recover as well or as quickly as they perhaps could have done if the dry mouth had been diagnosed and treated.  Disturbed sleep caused by regular waking for sips of water and then the inevitable toilet visits will inhibit coping strategies.  We all know that a lack of regular sleep is the equivalent to torture!

So which drugs should we be looking out for, and what can we do to help? Many of the medications for Stroke, Alzeihmer’s, Parkinsons and Cancer Treatments will cause dry mouth along with all the ‘anti’s’ such as Antidepressants, Antihistamines, Decongestants and Beta Blockers. The list is extensive and worth discussing with the Prescribing Clinician.
If the medication is the cause of your dry mouth, then one simple measure that can be taken is to change the time that the drug is taken. For example, if taken in the evening, switch to taking it in the morning although this may not always be possible.

If medication is NOT the cause then a visit to a doctor is essential because a lack of saliva could indicate a more serious underlying condition which needs to be looked into.

Other methods to improve the symptoms would be to keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids but avoiding alcohol and coffee as these lead to dryness as does smoking, mouth breathing, and anxiety.

Use a high fluoride toothpaste and mouth wash to protect the teeth and gums and keep regular appointments with the dentist so that any changes can be monitored.  Stimulate saliva flow by sucking on sugar free sweets and chewing gum.

For those with a low salivary flow, the use of artificial saliva is recommended.  Choose one that is pH neutral and sweetened naturally with xylitol.  Mucin based artificial salivas such as AS Saliva Orthana have been proven to be more effective than the chemically formulated products offering a more efficient and longer lasting coating to the teeth and gums.  Saliva Orthana is available from all chemists and is available on prescription.

 

Written by Niki Smith

Regional Account Manager
A.S Pharma part of CCMed Ltd

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

How to Choose Between FluMist or the Flu Shot for Your Child

While the flu is commonly regarded as little more than a severe cold, the truth of the matter is that influenza complications can be serious or even life-threatening, especially for children.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that severe flu complications are most common in children under two years of age, and that an average of 20,000 children under five years old are hospitalized each year as a result of those complications. And, unfortunately, each year influenza complications result in death for some children.

The gravity of the issue causes medical professionals to strongly recommend that children receive an annual influenza vaccination to provide them with immunity against the illness, with the CDC’s official stance being that everyone over the age of six months should receive a flu shot. There is an alternative to the flu shot on the market now, sold under the name FluMist. While FluMist is not an ideal choice for everyone, it can be an effective, needle-free means of vaccination against influenza.

There are, however, some key points to consider before making the decision to use FluMist in lieu of a traditional flu shot. For a discussion on this issue by BabysittingJobs Dotcom, please click here.




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

Citizens urged to have their say on health and social care services

All Nottingham city residents in the UK are invited to take part in building their new champion: Healthwatch Nottingham

 

 

A partnership of local voluntary organisations, HELP Nottingham, is inviting the citizens of Nottingham - adults and children -to get involved in creating their new independent champion for health and social care, Healthwatch Nottingham.  

Nottingham’s communities have an important role in deciding how Healthwatch will represent them and how the proposed model, designed from months of research into patient and service user views, could work.

Focus group consultations will be held across the city throughout October and residents are invited to come and share their views.

The HELP team has been gathering the views of hundreds of Nottingham citizens to arrive at the proposed Healthwatch model, which it is now consulting on.

Nottingham Healthwatch will be starting in April 2013. It will have a seat on the new health and wellbeing board, ensuring that the views and experiences of patients, carers and other service users are taken into account and have a role in promoting public health, health improvements and in tackling health inequalities.

Nottingham Healthwatch will enable people to share their views and concerns about local health and social care services and understand that their contribution will help build a picture of where services are doing well and where they can be improved.

It will be able to alert Healthwatch England to concerns about specific care providers.

Chief Executive of HLG, the lead partner in HELP, Claire Grainger, said: “It is a great opportunity for the citizens of Nottingham to have a say in shaping their Healthwatch and to get involved with their own health and social care services”.

HELP Nottingham will be holding the following focus group consultations:

Mary Potter Centre- Friday, October 19 at 10-11am and 12-1pm

Nottingham Central Library-  Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 2-3pm and 4-5pm.

Dunkirk and Old Lenton Community Centre- Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 3-4pm

Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre- Friday, October 12, 2012 at 11-12pm

Sherwood Community Centre- Friday, October 12 at 3:30- 4:30 and 5-6pm

Clifton Cornerstone Community Centre- Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 10-11am

Contact the HELP team on 01158599511 or by email on info@helpnottingham.com   to book a place at one of the focus groups.

Workforce Health and Wellbeing: Investing in employee health does deliver a return

Teasing out the business case from the warm and fuzzy factors related to employee wellness was never more important.

 

For decades organisations have associated productivity drivers primarily with plant efficiency, inventory control and human resource management. This has meant that considerations about the impact of workforce wellbeing on productivity have been seen as the poor relation. There are a number of reasons why this has occurred, and perhaps one of the principal reasons is that it has traditionally been very difficult to measure the positive impact of a healthy workforce.

More recently, factors such as increased social responsibility and an ageing workforce have influenced organisations investment in employee health and wellbeing programs, but the challenge of measuring ROI persists.

The area of workforce health encompasses a number of complex and compounding factors, which adds to the challenge of quantifying benefits and justifying related expenses. Feel good factors don’t cut the mustard in tight economic times, and organisations often see health and wellbeing programs as an area that can be cut back when the bottom line is under pressure.

The ‘Working toward Wellness’ report, published by the World Economic Forum in 2007, is one of several recent publications that are starting to support the case for investment in such programmes:

‘…..the benefits from improving the general wellbeing of a workforce indicate a likely return of three to one or more…’

Tracking the cost and risk of employee ill health provides a baseline measure from which to assess return on investment in wellness. Australian companies lose an estimated $17 billion per year in productivity to absenteeism (Price WaterHouse Coopers report, Workplace Wellness in Australia, 2007), and in the US this figure rises to a staggering $74 billion (The Hidden Cost of Absenteeism, C. Hall 2010), suggesting perhaps that that investment in employee health and wellbeing is a critical part of sound business strategy.

The reasons why workforce wellness is essential are often unseen, intangible and therefore difficult to quantify. Terms such as corporate image and job satisfaction are closely linked to employee wellness, and have important relevance in attracting staff in a competitive market. Recognising this, companies now frequently use mechanisms such as employee surveys in an effort to quantify and track satisfaction levels and progress towards the often identified aspiration of being “an employer of choice”.

Absenteeism and poor staff retention are both tangible measures related to lack of employee wellness, however these factors can be “lost in translation” as they may, and quite often do, have other root causes. These might include environmental factors, poor work design, incompatible rosters and low morale, to name a few.

In addition to the disruption and ensuing cost and difficulties of recruitment, the loss of highly skilled, competent and experienced employees – often with a wealth of institutional knowledge ‐ presents a substantial hidden cost to the employer. According to a survey conducted by Mercer Human Resources Consulting in Australia and New Zealand, about 25% of employees were planning on looking for a new job within the next 12 months and the associated cost could be equated to anything from 50% to 150% of an individual’s annual salary. What we also know is that the workplace has a significant and often long lasting impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and poor employee health management leads to work‐related ill health, high levels of absenteeism,  presenteeism and increased staff turnover. This impacts on an organisation’s profitability and makes it harder to compete with other similar organisations in a competitive marketplace.

From an individual’s perspective, work forms a very important part of our whole being and it is measurable not only in terms of physical and mental health, but in our social integration and community participation. We have considered the costs to companies of sickness and absenteeism. The social cost of complete disengagement from the workforce is a seasoned topic of debate in the political arena because of the financial and moral implications of unemployment.

In 2012, organisations that link investment in health and wellbeing to improved productivity and staff retention will most certainly be the ones to benefit from greater bottom line performance.

For the individual, it represents a point of difference in their job selection and who they regard as an employer of choice. It sends a very clear message around core values and culture ‐ that they will genuinely be better looked after and more likely to be retained in the longer term. In the current economic climate this is a key driver for choice of employer.

 

For the organisation, there are meaningful and now quantifiable benefits to investing in targeted health and wellbeing programmes. In addition to the benefits already discussed, organisations that are better able to target and understand the health profiles of their workforce, will in turn enjoy a measurable return on investment and a far happier and healthier workforce.

If you would like to find out more about how 2CRisk can help you tailor, manage and monitor your Health and Wellbeing Programme you can contact them on +61 1300 736 361 or e‐mail info@2crisk.com.au (services available in countries across the globe – please ask for details).

 

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

 

A Product With Magnetism

A Product With Magnetism

I recently attended the pharmacy exhibition that was held in the NEC in Birmingham.  I came across somebody there who had something on display that really caught my eye.  The product he had was something that I had first heard of years ago and thought at the time that it had the potential to add significantly to what we knew about negative ions and magnets in connection to our health.

Peter Fleming has developed a range of products to wear that will look stylish as well as being therapeutic. This is a very modern take on a science that has been known about for centuries and Peter explained it to me.  The body is an electrical field with a surplus of positive ions.  However, achieving equilibrium of both negative and positive ions give the blood vessels and the muscles of our body their best chance of working to optimum effect.   There are many ways in which this combination of magnets and negative ions can make an impact especially in the areas of physical activities where it will improve suppleness. The products that Peter produces a range of bracelets, necklaces and watches that contain magnets and negative ions and a range of belts, joint supports and tee shirts that contain only magnets, however all will improve the blood supply to the muscles.  They also relieve the pain of arthritis, tendinitis, muscular inflammation and back pain and can also make an impact on those with sleep disorders, vertigo and fatigue as well as offering relief from travel sickness.

As I said previously this had been a particular interest of mine some years ago and I was very interested to see a modern manifestation of its undoubted benefits.   I am in fact wearing a bracelet to see if I can get some help with my insomnia and last night I had the best night’s sleep I had had for a long time, I will keep you posted!

French marathon winner in 2008, 2010 and 2011 Hamid Belhaj has been a user of both the watch and the bracelet that Peter produces and says “They relax my muscles and cut down on fatigue and also improve recovery times.”  Belhaj had suffered from tendonitis for years before he wore the bracelet and watch designed by Peter Fleming and has had this condition completely relieved since he has been converted to the therapy.

To find something that offers such health benefits in such attractive designs and in such useful and practical objects is rare.  Plus a lifetime offer of money back if not completely satisfied is a very confident statement! I am convinced both from my previous study and from speaking to Peter Fleming that we have a lot to learn in this field and that the benefits of negative ions and magnets on our wellbeing cannot be underestimated.  If you would like to read more about this please visit Peter’s site at www.PETER-FLEMING.COM or contact Peter at PETERFLEMING@PETER-FLEMING.FR

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 and is not 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

Olive Leaf Extract fights colds and Flu like no other. Find Out How!

Rochway's Olive leaf Extract with MultiplyPLUS is a rich probiotic dietary supplement. It has a unique combination of probiotics, immune boosting phytonutrients, potent antioxidants and enzymes. A tablespoon a day equips your body to fight off infection as well as maintain general health.

 Anti-bacterial properties: The antimicrobial and antibacterial activity of olive leaves are due to the presence of plant chemicals oleuropein and caffeic acid which inhibits the microbial action [1]. A research study revealed that water extracts of olive leaves showed complete inhibition of bacterial activity and complete destruction of E.coli bacterial cells [2]. The seven phenolic compounds identified in olive leaf extracts namely caffeic acid, verbascosie, oleuropein, luteolin 7-O-glucosise, rutin, apigenin7-O-glucoside and luteolin 4'-O-glucoside showed an unusual combined antibacterial and anti-fungal action against gram positive and gram negative bacteria [3].

Potent antioxidant: The phenolic compounds in olive leaves neutralize the harmful free radicals and exhibited potent antioxidant capacity [3]. Another study revealed that Olive Leaf Extracts increased the total antioxidant capacity and decreased oxidative stress on cultured human cells [4].

 Boosts immune health: The phenolic compounds in Olive Leaf Extract aid in boosting the immune system by exhibiting anti-inflammatory [5], anti-bactericidal and anti-fungal properties.

 MultiplyPLUS: Rochway's MultiplyPLUS contains fermented papaya and pomegranate that act as a digestive stimulant and also provides beneficial probiotics. Rochway's MultiplyPLUS was researched extensively by the Centre for Phytochemistry and Pharmacology (CPP) at Southern Cross University Australia. The research center specializes in the study of natural products-plants, food and other naturally occurring substances. The CPP's preliminary testing results revealed that Multiply Plus caused significant stimulation in the activity of natural killer cell (NK cells) in the blood with an increase of up to 46%.

 Health Benefits:

Aids in digestive health: The presence of probiotics in the form of fermented papaya and pomegranate naturally produces enzymes that aid in digestion and eases the burden on the gut.

Supports immune system: The probiotic microflora and the polyphenolic compound, oleuropein in olive leaves support the immune system in an unique manner. Olive leaves are known for the presence of natural antibiotics which augments the olive leaf benefits and offers the best support to the immune system. The combination of nutrients in Rochway's Olive Leaf Extract with MultiplyPLUS stimulates the immune function, nourishes and protects the immune system.

Summary:

This is a rich probiotic dietary supplement that acts as your day-to-day immune booster. The combination of olive leaves with fermented papaya and pomegranate holds a cluster of health benefits that acts as a perfect support to the immune system and enables its optimal function.
Rochway's Olive Leaf Extract with MultiplyPLUS boosts the olive leaf benefits in an exclusive way to promote health and vitality.
The olive leaf benefits are well known for many centuries and have been traditionally used in folk medicine. The combination of ingredients in Rochway Olive Leaf Extracts with MultiplyPLUS offers protective health benefits and potent immune boosting effects. The L. acidophilus probiotics, antioxidants, enzymes and olive leaves act synergistically to improve overall health and bolster the immune system.

Olive Leaf Extract is available in 500ml liquid and 60 capsule bottles from www.1-stop-health-shop.com

UK Health Radio proudly shares tips, advice, and messages on Pinterest

UK Health Radio is a London-based national and international health communications radio station and website specialising in producing and distributing written and audio information on health, fitness and wellbeing.  The station touches on a variety of subjects such as general health, nutrition, elder care, and the avoidance of stress.

The information provided by UK Health Radio has always been available to listeners in a variety of ways.  Now, one more medium has been added to the options.  UK Health Radio has recently started a Pinterest Board.  The station welcomes any suggestions for the improvement of the board by the public.

John Hicks, Station Director of the health radio station for the UK, Europe and beyond, said: "UK Health Radio values its ability to communicate messages and information on an extensive range of health, wellness, dietary, nutrition, and fitness, medical, dental and related topics. Pinterest will enable us to share those messages and information more easily with the general public."

Every day, Pinterest has millions of visits from all around the world.  The director of UK Health Radio realized that creating a board for the station would allow listeners to access the valuable information provided in a new way.  In order to continue the best possible health related information to listeners and visitors, John Hicks is welcoming input and suggestions on the best way to improve the board.

Pinterest.com is growing everyday and UK Health Radio intends to grow with it.  The board will contain information on the same topics the website and radio show offer.  Since Pinterest has such a high mobile following, the station will be able to provide information to users regardless of where they are.

Anyone who would like to give the station direction suggestions to improve the board can email John Hicks at john@ukhealthradio.com