Something You Didn’t Know About Winter Sports

If you enjoy winter sports, or have been watching the 2010 Winter Games a surprise health fact has emerged. It is well documented that alpine athletes are particularly in danger of developing skin and lip cancers due to prolonged exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation while training and competing at high altitudes. If you enjoy two weeks skiing it is probably not a concern to you, but be aware that the damaging radiation largely occurs when the sun reflects off the surface of the ice and snow.

This year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) agreed to screen a record number of athletes for oral cancer. This type of preventive health care is virtually unknown in the sports world and with 70 dentists on hand to deal with normal dental problems they took the opportunity to actively promote an increased oral screening campaign that included education for athletes on the importance of applying sun-cream to help prevent mouth cancers

Mouth cancer can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat and kills one person every five hours in the UK, with the number of new cases rising faster than almost any other cancer.

Traditionally mouth cancer was considered to be an older man’s condition, but recent years have seen more and more women and young people affected. Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said that early detection is vital to a patient’s long–term survival, which means regular visits to the dentist. Don’t grit your teeth at the thought, apparently we are very dilatory in taking care of our mouth and teeth and tend to ignore a seemingly trivial symptom which can lead to the prospect of major surgery, and concern that cancer may return in the future.

What to look out for? Dr Carter suggests if you have a mouth ulcer which does not heal within three weeks, or notice any discomfort or other changes in your mouth, then get it checked. At least once a year visit your dentist to look for the signs of cancer and you are a heavy smoker, drinker or use chewing tobacco, make sure your dentist is aware of this.

For more information on mouth cancer call the National Dental Helpline on 0845 063 1188, or visit www.mouthcancer.org

The Real Differences Between Teenage Boys and Girls

One of most commonly quoted facts about the differences between boys and girls is that the girls do better academically. What’s not so well known is that boys have higher rates of suicide, conduct disorders, emotional disturbance, premature death and juvenile delinquency than girls of their age.

This startling conclusion came from a paper on the “The State of American Boyhood,” published in the Journal ‘Gender’ and based on work done at the University of Alaska. They acknowledged that depression, suicide attempts and eating disorders are common in teenage girls but that the boys problems are more serious.

Young people themselves have negative stereotypes as to why boys do less well, and centre on three themes: young men are lazy, they don’t plan ahead and they are prone to peer pressure. The result is that they get little respect and so have even less enthusiasm for continuing education and low self esteem is made even worse.

Another difference between the sexes in the teens is that overweight girls tend to enter puberty early but overweight boys may begin puberty later than thin boys. Being a bouncy chubby baby is one thing, but when it persists it is setting a pattern for health problems later in life. As rates of obesity among teenagers has nearly tripled since the 1960s, this late development of puberty in boys may well become a cause for concern as it can lead to loss of self esteem with peers and this can increase comfort eating, and obesity, still further.

Can Plasma Jets Replace the Dentist’s Drill?

Sounds like science fiction, but it could soon be a reality to avoid those painful sessions and target the dental bacteria that cause cavities. Scientists and dentists from Leipzig and Homburg in Germany collaborated to test the effectiveness of plasma against the bacteria that form a film on the surface of teeth and erode tooth enamel and the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating (dentin) and cause cavities. Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin was found to reduce the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-times.

These bacteria can cause you to have toothache, cavities, and sometimes severe gum infections. The researchers exposed infected teeth to plasma jets for 6, 12 or 18 seconds, and the longer the exposure then the greater the amount of bacteria that were eliminated.

Using plasma jets are a painless alternative to the drill and they could be used to remove infected tissue in tooth cavities. The low temperature of the plasma ray means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth and avoiding damage to the blood supply and nerves around it. and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs.”

If you want the scientific bit; plasmas are produced when high-energy processes strip atoms of one or more of their electrons which then forms high-temperature reactive oxygen species that are capable of destroying microbes. There are hot plasmas already in use to disinfect surgical instruments and the recent development of cold plasmas with temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius show great promise for use in dentistry.

Don’t rush to your dentist just yet though, as although this is groundbreaking work it is not likely to be widely available for at least three years.

Cold Weather Skin Saver

What with worrying about my roof – no it hasn’t been fixed yet – and the biting cold winds the skin on my face has taken on the texture of sandpaper – albeit the fine kind. Normal moisturisers are just not enough for this kind of skin irritation and so I turn to my favourite natural remedies which in this case is Kiwiherb Organic Calendula Ointment.

I always have organic Calendula in my natural first aid box as it helps heal cuts and sores, chapped lips, rough cracked hands or chilblains, and conditions such as eczema or dermatitis. Calendula flowers are naturally high in carotenoids, which means they are naturally anti-inflammatory and antiseptic so they effectively support your body’s ability to repair damaged skin by improving blood flow to the affected area, helping small blood vessels to seal, stem bleeding, and prevent bruising. What I like is that it calms the redness and irritation of the skin while it heals so that the skin looks much more moisturised and normal in appearance.

Calendula is safe enough to use on children and babies for conditions such as eczema, cradle cap, and nappy rash, which may flare-up over the winter months. If you have any trouble finding it locally, then call Kiwiherb’s UK distributor, Lifeplan Products Ltd, on 01455 556281, or visit their company website www.lifeplan.co.uk

Online Pilates for Virtual (and real) Exercise

Getting more exercise is usually one of the most popular New Year Resolutions, but what kind and can you get to weekly classes or a nearby gym on a regular basis? If finding time is a problem then you might be interested in a new concept which from Vitalflow which offers the first downloadable Pilates classes. If you have just got into exercise dvd’s, then this is the next step in the technological revolution as the online clips are downloadable to a laptop, MP3 player, or mobile phone.

It’s claimed to be the perfect way to practise Pilates from the convenience of your home or office at a time that suits you and most importantly, at your own pace. Not sure about the mobile phone, but certainly Pilates is a very popular and safe form of exercise that works on strengthening your core muscles in the abdomen to provide a strong natural ‘girdle’ to support your back. It is taken at a slow, concentrated pace and the small movements involved make it ideally suited to online tuition where the audio and visual instruction ensures you are doing everything properly and safely.

The clips are demonstrated by Josie McKenlay, a fully qualified fitness, Pilates and yoga instructor with 25 years experience in leading health clubs. A series of beginner and improver classes are being offered first, at a cost of US$24.99 (around £20) each, as well as a one off intermediate class for US$4.99 (less than £5).

The Vitalflow six minute work out video has achieved a five star rating on YouTube and attracted over 45,000 views. It’s not for beginners, but if you would like to have a look at it go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ-pDuwN4pU and for more information on the beginner’s pilates online go to www.vitalflow.tv.

Health Bite – Get Active For Autism Research

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is inviting people to join its 2010 active challenge team and raise vital funds to help and support people affected by autism. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people and how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. Asperger syndrome is a form of autism where people are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

Whatever your ability there really is something for everyone, from 5k fun runs to 500k cycles. Last year over 970 supporters raised an amazing £750k and you can walk, jog, run or cycle in any organised event and you’ll receive training and fundraising support every step of the way. All funds raised through active challenges will be used to support NAS services including Advocacy for Education service, Befriending scheme, Parent to Parent support service and help! programme.

For information on NAS active challenge events call the events team on 08450 509 001 or visit www.autism.org.uk/events and if you need help or support then the NAS Autism Services Directory is the UK’s most comprehensive directory of services and events for people with autism. Visit http://www.autism.org.uk/autismdirectory to find autism services and support networks in your area

Milk Thistle Can Help Protect Cancer Patients

I have often suggested to those undertaking chemotherapy that they talk to a homoeopath and get a remedy to protect them from the side effects of the chemotherapy and its effect on the immune system. There are several remedies available from places like the Ainsworths in London and the Galen Pharmacy in Dorset. They latter are happy to advise you by phone if you call them on 01305 263996 and they can then post a remedy out to you.

Now there is a new study out that offers hope for patients who suffer liver inflammation as a result of chemotherapy. A study recently published by the American Cancer Society indicates that the herb could be helpful in allowing patients to take potent doses of chemotherapy without damaging their liver.

Chemotherapy drugs frequently cause liver inflammation with the result that their dose of the drug must be reduced or stopped. Clinical studies have already established that the herb can be used to reduce damage from cirrhosis (from alcohol) or toxins (such as mushroom poisoning) but this is the first review to establish if it can be helpful in cancer patients.

Fifty children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and who all were suffering from liver inflammation, a common side effect of their chemotherapy, took part in a randomized, controlled, double blind study in New York. Half were given milk thistle and half a placebo and at the end of the trial period they performed liver function tests on all the children.

Those who were given milk thistle had improvements in their liver enzymes compared with children receiving a placebo. Taking milk thistle also seemed to help keep fewer patients from having to lower the dose of their medications: chemotherapy doses were reduced in 61 percent of the group receiving milk thistle, compared with 72 percent of the placebo group. In addition, milk thistle appeared to be safe for consumption. Also, the researchers found that milk thistle does not interfere with the cancer-fighting properties of chemotherapy.

For anyone dealing with liver toxicity, from whatever cause, it would seem to make sense to add this herb into any treatment regime.

Nintendo Wii Fit or Not?

Did you get a Nintendo Wii Fit for Christmas with the intention that it will be an easy way to get fit? Well sadly, University of Mississippi study seems to show that it may be great entertainment, but has little effect on family fitness.

The study was conducted by Scott Owens who is an associate professor of health and exercise science. Obesity is a nationwide problem, both in the US and UK, so he was curious as to whether the Nintendo Wii Fit console could help families get more physical activity, increase the amount of exercise they did, and ultimately improve family fitness.

It must be admitted this is a very small study of only eight families over a six month period who were loaned a Nintendo Wii Fit to use for three months. The study was broken into two parts so that each family’s physical activity was charted during three months without a Nintendo Wii Fit and three months with it in the home.

Before the study each family’s fitness was measured by using an accelerator that charted their movement and physical activity over a period of five days. During the time they had the Wii Fit, each family was evaluated for aerobic fitness, balance and body composition. Software on the game consoles used individual profiles to track how much each family member used the games and how much movement was involved in that use.

What the study found was that children benefited, but not their parents. The children showed a significant increase in aerobic fitness after three months with the Wii Fit but after three months of home use produced the study found no significant changes in daily physical activity, muscular fitness, flexibility, balance or body composition for families as a whole.

A familiar scenario occurred which is seen in the annual sign up for the gym that takes place in the first week of January, in that daily Wii Fit use per household declined by 82 percent over the three month period. It went from 22 minutes a day during the first six weeks right down to only four minutes a day during the second six weeks.

It seems that the psychology is the same whether it’s the gym or the latest gadget – it’s great at first, but what needs working on is staying power and discipline – which if you had then you wouldn’t need an expensive gym membership or high priced electronic trainer!

Safe Headwear for Toddlers

It is a truly magical moment when a child starts to crawl, but when they start to toddle it can bring up major anxiety and fear as they keep falling down as part of the learning process. Weird name, but the Oopsie is a functional and easy to wear head guard that is designed to protect toddlers from their occasional bumps as they try to maintain their balance.

It was designed by a doting Dad who was concerned when his son took regular falls while learning to walk and couldn’t find anything suitable to protect his head. He produced the Oopsie with a non-toxic EVA foam filling to absorb shock and cushion impact to the forehead, temples and skull soft spots.

It is easy to put on and simple to fasten the Velcro attached to the 2 pieces and is adjustable for different head sizes – obviously! Research has proved that toddlers are happy to wear it and the polyester and cotton cover comes in various covers and can be hand or gentle machine washed.

It would be an ideal present for an adventurous youngster, or rather their parents, and it costs £19.99. Stockists, and more information, from Baby Bumper www.theoopsie.co.uk or call 01373 301220.

Dry Eye Relief

Well who would have thought that dry eyes could be a sexist issue, but it turns out that more women than men suffer from it, though that may be because one of the prime causes is wearing contact lenses which is more common in women than men, particularly at menopause. One factor common to both sexes is that it gets more common as we age, with up to 33% per cent of people aged over 65 suffering from it.

Curiously dry eye can be a result of either not having enough tears, or losing too much of them through evaporation. It is the tear film that normally keeps the eyes moist and lubricated and having a moist, healthy eye surface is essential for normal vision.

Are You Affected?

There are several common symptoms, including:

• Irritation so the eyes may feel gritty or burning, but they don’t turn red unless another eye problem is also present

• Sensitivity to bright lights

• Slight blurring of vision from time to time.

Factors that can result in dry eye include medication, as some have this as a side effect like diuretics, some antidepressants, antihistamines, some anti-anxiety medicines, the contraceptive pill, and beta-blockers. Environmental factors play a part too and at this time of year having the central heating on too high creates a dry atmosphere and the old remedy of having bowls of water in the room is a good one. These days it is less common, but cigarette smoke is an aggravation as are driving or spending a long time in front of a television or computer. These last activities mean fixed vision, which gives you a low blink rate and that can lead to drying out of the tear film.

If you are suffering and have tried other eye drops, then there is a new solution that might help. Rohto® Dry Eye Relief combines Hyaluronic Acid and Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide in a unique clinically proven natural bi-polymer called HydraMed developed by the same Japanese company that brought us Deep Heat,that much loved English favourite remedy for aching muscles. Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring polymer found within the human eye that has incredible water attracting properties. It can draw 3,000 times its own weight in water which greatly reduces evaporationand hence fluid loss from the eye. The two ingredients provides effective symptom relief by both lubricating the eye and helping to stabilise the tear film. The combination of the two natural ingredients means more fluid is trapped on the surface of the eye so it improves symptoms of stinging and grittiness as well as reducing damage to the surface of the eye. In a small clinical trial patients found it improved their eye condition by over 56 per cent and as it comes in a daily dose vial it is convenient to carry in your pocket or bag.

You should find it in pharmacies, but if you want more information visit the company’s website at www.rohto.co.uk

Lost Your Keys? Sleep On it

It’s sad but true that as we get older our memory is not what it was, though personally I prefer the theory of my colleague Dame Dr Shirley Bond. At our hormone health seminars when asked if failing memory was a symptom of menopause she said it was more due to the fact that the older we get the more we have crammed in our memories and I agree with that. It’s like trying to pull a favourite sweater out of an overcrowded wardrobe, sometimes you can’t even see it – especially if your wardrobe is filled with black clothes like mine!

I was taught a trick by a French gypsy to help find things; you think of the object, blow into your left palm and then close your hand into a fist. Whatever first comes to your mind is where you will probably find the lost object, however unlikely it seems – no guarantees but it works for me more often than not.

Now science has got in on the act and offers a useful little tip if you are frequently losing your keys. What you have to do is record the sound of your keys jangling and then play it to yourself on an ipod, or mobile phone when you are sleeping. This discovery was reported by neuroscientists at Northwestern University, in the US who carried out a small study, with 12 volunteers.

They wanted to know if specific sounds played during sleep would boost the memory of learned information so they started by asking their volunteers to information learned while awake. (See the year in health 2009.)

Memorize the correct location of 50 images on a computer monitor. The images were shown one at a time, arranged in a random place on the screen — a cat appeared on the bottom left, a gong on the top right and so forth. Each object was shown with a related sound — so subjects heard a meow with the picture of a cat, and a crashing noise coupled with the image of a gong. After studying the 50 images and locations, the participants were asked to take a short nap.

While they were doing this their brain waves were mapped to see what kind of sleep they were having and when they were in the deepest sleep the researchers began playing (very softly) a series of 25 of the sounds that the individual had heard earlier in the memory game. When the participants woke up about an hour later, they said they hadn’t heard a thing, but on average, each person did slightly better at remembering the correct locations of the 25 objects whose related sounds had been cued during sleep than those of the other objects. The sounds appeared to have entered the sleeping brain and helped consolidate associated memories.

Over the last ten years neuroscientists have discovered the most convincing evidence that memory is indeed dependent on sleep and they believe it is because during deep sleep, the brain replays certain experiences from the day, which, in turn, strengthens the memory of what happened. It is thought that when it comes to factual memories, like names, faces, numbers or locations, memory consolidation happens only during deep sleep — a phase of non–rapid eye movement sleep. The other broad type of sleep, called rapid eye movement or REM sleep, which is when dreaming occurs, is believed to play a role in consolidating memories involving emotions and motor skills, such as dancing or playing an instrument.

So this might mean that subliminal CD’s for helping you lose weight or quit smoking might be on the right track, though no research has been done on this so far.

Also if you are studying for exams, despite what your mother told you, deep sleep can strengthen factual memories but only you sleep within 12 hours of learning. In other words, you are better off learning at night rather than getting up early to cram the following morning.

Whatever new skill you want to learn, it’s a very efficient idea to reinforce your learning while you sleep. The only thing that worries me is that those of us who live alone haven’t got anyone to switch the ipod on during the night – and your partner might not be too thrilled to have to stay awake and do it either! Wonder if I can train the cats?

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