How being obese can cause a car crash

Being overweight to the point of obesity is obviously very bad for your health, but there is now an added complication for all road users, not just sufferers. The UK National Obesity Forum’s seventh annual conference took place last Monday and one of the highlights was the problem of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), as the obesity epidemic increases.

Sleep Apnoea is sometimes regarded as a minor condition with irritating snoring; characterised by disruptive breathing during the night. It occurs when soft tissue in the back of the airway collapses and blocks it, causing interruption in breathing that lasts 10 seconds or more. In its moderate to severe forms, victims can suffer 20 to 30 such episodes per hour all night without realising their sleep is being disturbed. However, new research has now identified it as a fatal disease as at its worst the sufferer can ‘forget’ to breathe during the night with the resulting serious consequences.

We know being overweight is linked to sleep apnoea, but Dr Bertrand de Silva, Medical Director of American Sleep Medicine in California spoke about why it is a problem for road users. Dr de Silva is a world expert in sleep disorders he predicts that only 15% of sufferers have been diagnosed, so despite the dangers, the majority are oblivious that they even have the condition. Because of the disrupted sleep pattern, OSA causes daytime sleepiness and doubles the risk of road accidents

Dr da Silva believes that 25% of UK drivers should wake up to the dangers of being overweight and behind the wheel and his theory is backed up by organisations such as the AA whose Head of Road Safety agrees that the risk of death or serious injury from falling asleep at the wheel is great. Their own research tells them that one in 10 motorists admit to nodding off at the wheel and are in danger of becoming a statistic – one of the up to 3,000 killed or seriously injured each year as a result of falling asleep.

The Risks

Predictive forecasting indicates that by 2050 around 60% of adult men and 50% of adult women could be obese. They will therefore be at risk of OSA and putting themselves, and other road users at risk of an accident.

Being seriously overweight definitely puts you at greater risk of OSA, and that in turn is known to increase the risk of heart conditions by 30%, dramatically increases hypertension, affects 58% of diabetic patient (90% if obese), impacts glucose intolerance and insulin resistance and is the second leading cause of erectile dysfunction.”

If you still need another incentive to lose weight, it could also increase your insurance premiums as the research and scientific evidence grows about the effects of obesity.

Breast cancer awareness month

October is Breast cancer awareness month and as this is the most common cancer, and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women, it is timely to pay attention.

There are 45,500 women diagnosed with it every year and one woman in nine will be affected in her lifetime. You can get involved in various events or contribute by buying yourself – or someone else – a fit that contributes to breast cancer research. Among my ‘wish list’ are Debenhams ‘bling piggy bank’, a special edition ipod cover and earphone set or – assuming we are ever going to get some more rain – Asda’s tickled pink wellies and slippers.

If you want to do something more active, then undertake a Friendship Walk to raise funds, or try ‘STEP ON IT’, which is one of Breast Cancer Campaign’s new individual walking challenge. You are asked to walk a step for each of the 46,000people who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK this year.

More details from the website at www.breastcancercampaign.org/how/fwalk_resources/

Babies crawl away from danger

An interesting hypothesis has just come from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Do infants only start to crawl once they are physically able to see danger coming or because they are more mobile, they develop the ability to sense looming danger?

This study suggests that an infants’ ability to see whether an object is approaching on a direct collision course, and when it is likely to collide, develops around the time they become more mobile. So they are not heading for the cookie jar, or mother’s milk, but are establishing the important neural networks that enable them to see objects and how dangerous they might be.

Those neural networks are in the process of being established from birth and by the age of eight to nine months are fully able to register an impending collision. Coincidentally, this is also the average age at which infants start crawling.

Scientists just can’t take anything on trust and go ‘aah’ like the rest of us can they?

Brushing away mouth cancer

Is it just me or is there anyone out there who likes going to the dentist? If you do, congratulations, and if you are also a regular brusher and flosser you may have a regime that will help you avoid mouth cancer.

This disease is diagnosed in over 5,000 people each year and that is a 40 per cent rise in cases in just 10 years and 1,800 die from the disease each year. On average one death every 5 hours and there are now more deaths from it than cervical or testicular cancer. So it pays to do what you can to avoid it and according to a report in The American Association for Cancer Research’s latest journal those aforementioned good habits could prove vital in combating mouth cancer.

Poor mouth hygiene and less than zealous dental habits can lead to chronic gum disease (periodontitis) and that is a high risk factor for mouth cancer. You get chronic gum disease from a build-up of plaque in the mouth which can result in long-standing inflammation of the gums and eventual loss of your teeth.

Previously mouth cancer has been linked to smoking, but this new study of 463 patients found that gum disease was an equal risk factor leading to cancer whether the subjects smoked or not.

Want to avoid it?

There is some advice so simple I am almost embarrassed to pass it on – but not quite. All you have to do (assuming you don’t already) is to brush twice a day with toothpaste and clean between the teeth with an interdental brush or floss. They recommend using a fluoride toothpaste, but I prefer a natural alternative that does the same job and that is Vicco, an Ayurvedic Toothpaste containing extracts of 20 herbs, roots and barks all valued for their theraputic effects on teeth and gums. Made in Mumbai, you may find it in your local health store or online at http://www.worldsend.co.uk/vicco-toothpaste-249-p.asp

Next, screw up that courage, oh that’s me again, and have regular dental check ups to look for potential problems and have your teeth professionally cleaned to help control gum disease.

Finally, know the risk factors which include alcohol and HPV (human papillomavirus) which is transmitted via oral sex with an infected person. Poor diet is also linked to mouth cancer and evidence shows an increase in fruit and vegetables lowers the risk, as can fish and eggs.

Look for these signs

There are some simple warning signs that you need to be aware of. Every week have a good peer inside your mouth with a mirror and look for any ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches and any unusual changes in the mouth.

See any of these and take action, as the sooner you spot mouth cancer, the better your chances. Early detection improves survival chances from around half of cases to more than 90% and I will remind you again in November as that is Mouth Cancer Action Month.

Action on Eczema

Well in case you missed it, September held  National Eczema Week and I have a number of suggestions for anyone suffering from this distressing condition.

First you are definitely not alone as currently one in five children and one in twelve adults in the UK are affected. The National Eczema Society is offering a free booklet to help patients and carers cope with one of the most distressing symptoms of eczema – the itch. Normally there is a charge for this, unless you are a member, but until 31 October you can get your free copy by emailing [email protected] or call the very useful National Eczema Society helpline on 0800 089 1122.

Why me?

Bottom line is that skin affected by eczema releases chemicals which stimulate the nerves and the nerves pass the itch sensation to the brain, and so you scratch and make everything worse. But the itching drives you so mad you are prepared to put up with it for the temporary relief.

Much eczema is stress and environment related and for children in particular, tiredness can make it worse. Soaps and detergents, fragrances, temperature changes, sweating, some clothing , such as wool, and irritant substances such as paint and dyes can all add to the mix so finding out what triggers your eczema would be the first step.

Keeping the skin well moisturised is the next step and your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream as these are anti-inflammatory and work well in the short term for some people. However, nothing works for everyone, and steroids do have unpleasant side effects associated with them, particularly with long term use.

Whether your eczema is persistent, or intermittent, you might want to try one of these natural remedies that have proven to be effective.

Natural help

There are several ways you can help yourself with an outbreak of eczema. Essential oils have shown they have the potential to be very effective at clearing up or relieving the symptoms of eczema.

Peppermint is especially effective at relieving the itching that accompanies this skin disorder. To get the most relief simply rub a drop of diluted peppermint oil over the affected area.

Tea Tree Oil is very popular due to its ability to clear up eczema patches, relieve the accompanying itch, and reduce the redness and swelling that results from an outbreak. This oil can be applied topically to the skin, or it can be used as a cleanser, lotion, or cream when purchased as the active ingredient in these items.

Oatmeal can help relieve the constant itching, reduce some of the redness, and help soften the dry skin of eczema. Using it in a bath is quite effective; just tie a handful of natural oatmeal into a piece of cheesecloth and let it circulate in the warm bath water. Soak awhile and DO NOT add anything else, no soap or bath oils.

Aloe vera was used on the skin of burn victims at Hiroshima and has a great reputation as a healing balm for damaged skin. You can either break off a leaf from the plant and squeeze out the gel to put on your skin, and it is a good to use on the affected areas directly after an oatmeal bath.

Ayudara Natural Skin Balm is a new product that I have been trying out on a patch of eczema that has been quite persistent on the side of my nose. It is a non-steroid all natural treatment for dry skin and contains a combination of Chlorophyll-C and marine extract of golden sea cucumber These actively helps the skin’s cell rejuvenation process and can be an effective treatment for ailments like eczema, dermatitis or dry skin.

In Malaysia people have used golden sea cucumber in natural skin remedies for centuries and it certainly cleared up my small patch of irritated skin very fast.

For specialized information on eczema, do have a look at this website at www.eczema.org for helpful advice and the newest research.

Easing the flow

It’s a sad, but true, fact of life that as we age our bladder control weakens so we have to urinate more frequently, and this can affect your sleep patterns.

An overactive bladder affects around 16-17 per cent of the worldwide population, with incontinence occurring in about one third of cases.

After the age of 40, urination for men can become increasingly difficult with more frequent visits to the bathroom, and often have difficulty in fully emptying the bladder.

The condition increases with age, affecting 70-80 per cent of people by the time they are 80. It is the most frequent reason for men seeking advice for prostate-related problems.

Women are not exempt of course as 40 per cent of us will also experience some form of distressing incontinence in our lifetime. Stress incontinence, or bladder weakness, can occur at any age in women, particularly when the pelvic floor weakens due to childbirth, pregnancy and menopause, and leakage occurs on sneezing, coughing or laughing.

Happily there is now a natural supplement to relieve this problem. FlowEase comes from The Really Healthy Company and is made from a specialized form of flower pollen. Research into flower pollen has been going on for 40 years and has been found to contain over a hundred different nutritional components including: minerals, trace elements, amino acids, nucleic acids, enzymes and anti-bacterial substances.

FlowEase provides an array of nutrients from flower pollen shown to maintain bladder health and stability, based on the work of Professor Gösta Jönsson, of Lund University, Sweden, who proved it had a beneficial effect on prostate diseases. As well as helping with urinary problems, clinical studies show that pollen extract alleviates the discomfort and symptoms resulting from an enlarged or inflamed prostate.

FlowEase helps maintain bladder health and stability in both men and women by activating the receptors in the bladder muscle, strengthening its function while also allowing the muscles in the urethra to relax to enable complete urination. This leads to longer gaps between toilet visits, making life more bearable.

If you can’t find FlowEase in your local health store, visit the website at www.healthy.co.uk

Older people least aware of cancer risk

A World Cancer Research Fund survey of people aged 55 and over has found that this group are the least aware in Britain about how they can reduce their risk of cancer.

Nearly 2000 people responded and well over 50 percent of them had very low awareness that eating a poor diet, being overweight, not being active and drinking alcohol are cancer risk factors. This is despite convincing scientific evidence that these all increase risk of cancer.

Scientists estimate about a third of the most common cancers could be prevented through eating healthily, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight and it is therefore a real concern that so many older people are not aware of these factors.

Perhaps people in this age group think it is too late to start thinking about cancer prevention, but that is far from the truth. No matter how old you are, you can make lifestyle changes that can reduce your cancer risk.

But while awareness is lowest among older people, the survey also showed there have been big increases in awareness across the board since a similar survey was carried out in August 2007.

Two statistics that the older age group do seem to have taken on board are first that alcohol is a risk factor. Their awareness of this has increased from 35 to 53 per cent, which is certainly a major jump. Interestingly, the biggest difference in awareness between men and women was for alcohol with just 49 per cent of men aware it increases risk of cancer, compared to 56 per cent of women.

Second interesting statistic is that a massive 90 per cent of people are aware of the smoking link, whether they choose to act on it though seems to be another matter.

For more information on the report visit www.dietandcancerreport.org

Meningitis in babies

The autumn and winter are the high season for meningitis so let’s have a look at the most vulnerable group, babies under 12 months of age.

You may not know it, but this group run 38 times the risk of meningitis than children over one and adults. Every year over 1000 babies contract meningitis and one in four are left with after-effects sometimes as severe as deafness, brain damage and amputations and sadly one in ten will die. At present there is no vaccine against meningococcal B – the strain of meningitis responsible for the majority of cases of meningitis in the UK. .

I am not generally a fan of antibiotics, but meningitis can be prevented in newborn babies by giving antibiotics to at-risk mothers during labour. This recommendation has been in place several years, but many ‘at-risk’ mothers are never offered this option and it is believed that half of the current cases of Group B Strep in newborns could be prevented if guidelines were followed.

It can be very difficult to spot meningitis in babies because the symptoms are much less obvious than in older children and adults but the following list is a guide. Remember that babies can deteriorate very fast so if in any go to hospital immediately:

• Tense or bulging soft spot

• High Temperature

• Very sleepy/staring expression/too sleepy to wake up

• Vomiting/refusing to feed

• Irritable when picked up, with a high pitch or moaning cry

• Breathing fast / difficulty breathing

• Blotchy skin, getting paler or turning blue

• Extreme shivering

• A stiff body with jerky movements, or else floppy / lifeless

• ‘Pin prick’ rash / marks or purple bruises on the body

• Cold hands and feet

• Sometimes diarrhoea

• Pain/ irritability from muscle aches or severe limb/joint pain

The Meningitis Research Foundation provide very good information free on their website at www.meningitis.org or Freephone helpline 080 8800 3344

Ten tips to live to be 100

12 Surprising Signs You’ll Live to 100

Tip 1 – Get out there and socialise because outgoing people are 50 percent less likely to develop dementia. Sociability means resilence and that means lower levels of cortisol – a stress hormone – which is good because too much of it can inhibit brain cells’ communication.

Tip 2 – Haul on your trainers and walk fast or run for 5 hours a week (40 mins a day or find some enjoyable exercise that you will maintain life long. Doing this means you get less heart disease, cancer, neurological diseases, and infections than your non-exercising friends. .

Tip 3 – Have a fibre rich diet as it helps reduce cholesterol, improve insulin sensitivity, and boost weight loss. Plus the usual sound advice to eat naturally and avoid processed foods and additives!

Tip 4 – Whatever your age, see yourself as least ten years younger than you actually are. This gives you greater optimism and motivation to overcome challenges – both of which are immune system boosters.

Tip 5 –Don’t be afraid to Twitter because keeping up with new technology helps keep brain cells stay young and healthy. Stay connected to friends, family, and current events through email, Facebook and so on as that helps you feel vital and relevant.

Tip 6 – Keep counting the calories as research showed that people who limit their daily calories to 1,400 to 2,000 were literally young at heart because their hearts functioned like those of people 15 years younger.

Tip 7 – Keep an eye on your heart rate and aim for a healthy 15 times in 15 seconds, or 60 beats a minute if you prefer at rest. Average resting rate is between 60-100 bpm, and the closer to the low end the better it is. A slower pulse means your heart doesn’t have to work as hard and socould last longer.

Tip 8 – Don’t snore! This could be a hard one to manage but snoring is a major sign of obstructive sleep apnoea, a disorder that causes you to stop breathing briefly because throat tissue collapses and blocks your airway. Sleep apnoea can cause high blood pressure, memory problems, weight gain, and depression. (oh, and sometimes divorce as well)

Tip 9 – Manage your stress in whatever way works for you because you can then avoid many of the major life threatening conditions. Yoga and Tai Chi or Salsa Dancing and Cake Decoration – whatever helps you relax.

Tip 10 – Breathe, and then repeat! . One 30-year long study found that the most significant factor in your health and longevity is how well you breathe and it is the cheapest health aid ever. Breathing properly means you are oxygenating your body which has a direct effect on your nervous system. Try Dr Andrew Weil’s tip breathing in for a count of 4, hold for 7 and breathe out for 8. Just practice until it feels natural – very useful when stuck in a queue and nobody knows you are doing it!

Ayurvedic health tips for autumn

Our ancestors knew that autumn and winter were the seasons of hibernation and restoration, something that many animals do instinctively, and yet we keep up the same pace year round. This does not allow us time to slow down and recharge. In the Ayurvedic system from India, autumn is the time to deal with ‘Kapha’ accumulation, which is all the negative influences on our vitality, by supporting our immune system through this transition.

Recommendations
During the autumn and winter months it is best to avoid eating late, as the body will naturally slow down its digestion – something that is ‘scientifically’ proved in my next item. It is also advisable to stay clear of deep fried foods and cold food and drinks and if you want to aid your digestion and feel less lethargic then you also need to eat less dairy, cheese, red meat, shell fish and mushrooms.

So what should you be eating? Your body will benefit from eating warm cooked food during the cold winter months, and it is more important than ever not to skip meals and stay away from canned or processed foods that contain additives and chemical preservatives. Eat pure, fresh foods and cook with spices, so go for soups made with mung bean, adzuki beans, pumpkin, carrot, ginger and chicken. To keep your skin lovely and untouched by those sharp winds, add soaked and blanched almonds and walnuts to your morning muesli or porridge.

Good energising and digestive herbs and spices to use in autumn are ginger, mustard, cumin seeds, cardamom, black pepper, basil, turmeric and sesame seeds. Sweeten your tea (herbal for preference) with honey and make sure you are getting enough Vitamin C, and a good source of antioxidants as they all boost your immune system.

Autumn treats
Your body will thank you if you put it in the hands of a good massage therapist to help relieve your muscles and joints from tension caused by colder weather. If you are feeling really indulgent then go for a hot stone massage which brings heat in to the muscle tissue and so improves your circulation. In the interests of economy – your own and the global pinch – you can also massage your body with sesame or almond oil before taking a bath and that will keep your body warm and energised.

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