Breast milk no better than bottled milk and may increase asthma risk, says new study

Almost from the moment they have given birth it seems new mothers are under heavy pressure to breastfeed their baby, with health experts long championing the health benefits of breastfeeding.

In fact, breast-fed babies have been said to be at a lower risk of suffering with sudden infant death syndrome, have less infections in their early years. Moreover, there are said to be health benefits in the long-term, with breast-fed babies growing up to be less likely to develop asthma, be obese, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

However, all this could be thrown onto its head with the findings of a new study published in the Social Science & Medicine, which may finally help to shed the stigma of bottle-feeding a new-born baby and raises questions about previous studies that have supported and pushed for mother mothers to breastfeed, sometimes putting unfair pressure on mums to do this.

Lead author of the study Dr Cynthia Colen, from Ohio State University, and fellow researchers analysed 665 families in which there were siblings fed differently during their early years.  In total, there was 8,237 children made up of 7,319 siblings and 1,773 ‘discordant’ sibling pairs; one was breastfed with the other was fed with bottled milk.

In all of the families looked at, breastfeeding showed better outcomes for BMI, hyperactivity, maths, reading recognition, vocabulary word identification, digit recollection, scholastic competence and obesity.

However, when the analysis was focused purely on siblings fed differently within the same families, researchers discovered that the scores demonstrating breast-feeding’s positive benefits on 10 of the indicators were close to zero and therefore not deemed statistically significant. This means any health variances in those families may have happened by chance.

The only health condition that was found to have a significant difference in regards to breast-fed and bottle-fed siblings was asthma. Dr Colen actually claims that breast-fed babies were actually at a higher risk for developing asthma later in their life.

She said: “Many previous studies suffer from selection bias. They either do not or cannot statistically control for factors such as race, age, family income, mother’s employment – things we know that can affect both breast-feeding and health outcomes. Mums with more resources – with higher levels of education and higher levels of income – and more flexibility in their daily schedules are more likely to breastfeed their children and do so for longer periods of time.”

NHS guidance recommends new mothers to breastfeed for the initial six months (26 weeks) of a new-born’s life. Following this, breast milk alongside other food will “help them continue to grow and develop”, according to the NHS.

Dr Colen added: “I’m not saying breastfeeding is not beneficial, especially for boosting nutrition and immunity in new-borns. But if we really want to improve maternal and child health, let’s also focus on things that can really do that in the long term – like subsidised day care, better maternity leave policies and more employment opportunities for low-income mothers that pay a living wage, for example.”

For all you dieters out there still trying to shift those last few lbs from the festive period, it might be worth considering the calorie intake of all the alcoholic drinks you are consuming as opposed to what is often deemed to be a dieter’s worst nightmare – chocolate.

Bridget Jones, the much loved heroine played by Renee Zellweger in the films, was known to binge on chocolate and ice cream during times of stress in her chaotic love life, but British researchers wanted to find out more information about any potential obstacles to people trying to slim down so that efforts can be made in the future to avoid dieting pitfalls.

The researchers from Birmingham University monitored eighty men and women, all of whom were either attempting to lose weight or keep off weight they had previously lost. Each person was provided with a mobile phone to record an electronic diary of a temptation or craving they encountered.

Their emotions were also assessed, for example how exactly they were feeling at the time of the craving and whether they actually succumbed and consumed that particular craving.

On average, each person was faced with 11 occasions where they had the temptation to abandon their healthy eating over the duration of one week, giving in over half the time. ‘Bad’ foods were unsurprisingly most appealing during times of stress or severe hunger.

Interestingly, those in the study were found more likely to give in to alcohol than binge on sugary treats or have giant servings of meals, indicating that it is booze which could be the main villain in regards to losing weight and keeping it off.

Birmingham University researcher Dr Heather McKee led the study, published in the Annals of Behavioural Medicine, and she suggests a reason for this; that dieters often grossly underestimate the number of calories in alcoholic drinks.

Not many people may be aware but just a single glass of wine is equivalent to the calories contained within 4 cookies and a pint of lager is about as calorie-laden as a slice of pizza. In addition, the NHS warn that merely 5 pints of lager per week totals an estimated 44,200kcal over the course of a year – similar to a person eating 221 doughnuts.

Also, did you know that only 2 large glasses of white wine will gobble up around of a fifth of the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman? If you didn’t, you might have to be careful before opening that second bottle of wine in the future.

Dr McKee discovered evening time is when people are more likely to give in to temptations because of willpower decreasing during the course of the day. This could be due to the relaxing environment of a pub or your own home.

Dr McKee believes it will make be easier for dieters to succeed in their goals if more work was conducted into what makes people give in to cravings and temptations and thus abandon their healthy lifestyle.

She said: “Just like a muscle, willpower can become fatigued.  But, with regular practice, it can grow stronger over time.”

Her tips include making sure treats are hidden out of view and not giving up every ‘luxury’ all at the same time, as this can prove difficult.

She says: “You can engineer your environment to make it less tempting. For instance, put the office biscuits out of sight so you don’t have a constant reminder of a temptation that you have to resist multiple times throughout the day which eventually wears down one’s self-control and makes you more likely to give in. Secondly, it’s best that when trying to avoid temptation to try not to give up everything at once. For example, often in January or at lent people give up sweets, chocolate, alcohol etc. all at once. This is too much strain on your self-control and makes you much more likely to lapse than if you focus on training one aspect, such as cutting down alcohol.  When feel confident at that, starting to work on other temptations.”

Stanford University halts tobacco sales on campus – will UK Universities follow?

One of the world’s leading Universities is leading by example and clamping down on smoking by banning sale of cigarettes in addition to smoking on campus.

Stanford University in California’s Bay Area will force its campus shops to cease the sale of all tobacco products from 1 March, arguing that the sale of tobacco does not sit well with its work on the promotion of healthy living.

The high-profile university boasts almost 700 buildings and spans more than 8,000 acres. It often makes an appearance in the top 5 global university league tables and now joins other universities in the US to come down heavy on smoking.

Stanford’s smoking rules were given an overhaul three years ago forbidding smoking inside any building and not within a 9m distance of a building, in addition to being banned at outdoor athletic events.

Currently there is already a complete ban on outdoor smoking at the university’s school of medicine but the new rules mean next week that students cannot obtain any kind of tobacco product from vendors at convenience stores at the Valero gas station and Tresidder Union on campus.

Susan Weinstein, assistant vice president for business development and responsible for overseeing the vendors, says the new tougher rules have been in the pipeline for many months.

”The university is an advocate for the health and well-being of its entire community, and tobacco sales are inconsistent with our many programs that support healthy habits and behaviours,” Ms. Weinstein commented to the school’s daily email newsletter, the Stanford Report.

According to recent report made available by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, there are an estimated 1,182 college campuses in the US that now operate with a 100% smoke-free policy. This is almost double the number in 2011 and it is believe that of the 1,182 smoke-free campuses, 811 are even completely tobacco-free.

In recent times electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have surged in popularity across the US and here in the UK, creating a concern as to whether e-cigarettes are merely used as a smoking cessation method, or are being used as a gateway into smoking much more dangerous tobacco cigarettes.

However, Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest, criticised Stanford for “taking the war on tobacco to such extreme lengths”.

He said: “It sends the message that American colleges are increasingly illiberal, preferring prohibition to education, which is bizarre. If they won’t defend people’s right to buy a legal product it also calls into question their commitment to defend other rights like freedom of speech or assembly. Banning the sale of tobacco won’t stop students smoking. It could make it cooler because the university is effectively driving it underground.”

Sources claim Bradley Cooper is taking Propecia to fight hair loss

Movie goers saw his hair altered into a comical perm style for the critically acclaimed film American Hustle, but in real life Bradley Cooper’s hair is no laughing matter, with reports that the handsome actor has been taking hair loss medication Propecia (Finasteride) in a bid to avert his familial trait of baldness.

The 39-year-old actor came to prominence in TV show Alias before featuring in a supporting role in the 2005 Wedding Crashers. However, in the subsequent 9 years his career has skyrocketed and Cooper has had leading roles in numerous successful films such as The Hangover series, Limitless (2011) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Cooper, dating 21-year-old model Suki Waterhouse, clearly wants to retain his leading man status and is worried about a receding hairline. According to a source who spoke to US website RadarOnline, the actor “is so anxious about his receding hairline that he’s turned to [balding remedy] Propecia. He has a lot of bald guys in his family, so he’s been on Propecia for a couple of years. And to his delight, it seems to be working.”

During filming of last years The Hangover 3, Cooper and the other two male leads, Zack Galifianakis and Ed Helms apparently “had their own dedicated hairstylists, a first for the franchise and something that was demanded by Bradley” due to his hair loss concerns. The source added: “Bradley is determined not to go bald and lose his leading man looks.”

Hair loss medication Propecia has made news in recent years on a few occasions after Manchester  United striker Wayne Rooney was rumoured to be taking it to prevent further hair loss and Canadian popstar Justin Bieber even commenting on Prince William’s diminishing mane, saying the Prince should be taking Propecia.

Rooney and other celebrities such as Calum Best and James Nesbitt have since opted for incredibly expensive hair transplants, but there has inexplicably been a mass silence in regards to any admittance to celebrities taking Propecia.

Spencer Stevenson, the hair loss expert who fronts the specialist talk show The Bald Truth, advises balding men to consider taking Propecia prior to any costly hair transplant procedure.

He says: “Before you even consider a hair transplant, look into going on Propecia or applying Minoxidil (a topical hair-loss treatment contained in Regaine Foam) for at least six months first, to strengthen existing hair and prevent further hair loss.”

Penile cancer is on the rise – but what are the symptoms?

Cases of penile cancer have risen by 20% in the last three decades and there are huge concerns that men’s symptoms are being misdiagnosed as a sexually transmitted infection.

The fears come as 58-year-old Nigel Smith, from Wolverhampton, almost lost his life from a misdiagnosis. Mr Smith was told he merely had a genital wart that would eventually go away. He managed to hide the symptoms from his wife for a whole year by sleeping in another room and blaming his snoring.

In 2011 Mr Smith was eventually told he had penile cancer and last year underwent a partial penectomy (a removal of part of the penis), now left with the daunting possibility of having to go through reconstructive surgery.

He said: “If my GP had sent me to a urologist rather than a sex clinic, the cancer could have been diagnosed at stage 1 and treated. By the time I saw a urologist, the cancer was stage 3 – one stage away from terminal. I’m now in temporary remission but there’s a 50/50 chance that the disease will return as a secondary cancer – maybe in my lungs or liver.”

Mr Smith is clearly distressed he was not diagnosed early enough, and speaks of the impact it has had on his marriage, adding: “Every time I go to the toilet I have a painful reminder of what’s happened, so it’s hard to put things behind me. The sexual side of my marriage has ended. I’m 60 but I’m a young 60! It shouldn’t be the end yet. The psychological impact of it all is massive. It’s more traumatic than anyone who hasn’t been through this can know. I didn’t talk about my symptoms for so long and hid them from my wife. It’s a man thing; we ignore things and hope they’ll go away. If you find something, you need to get it looked at.”

Despite the number of cases going up in the last 30 years, penile cancer is usually incredibly rare, with only around 550 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK – most commonly in men over the age of 50.

The new research, supported by the male cancer charity Orchid, has been published in the journal Cancer Causes Control and provides an interesting insight into a rare disease that is still not well known amongst men.

Orchid chief executive, Rebecca Porta says: “The research shows that the incidence of this devastating cancer, which currently receives little recognition, is on the increase. Unlike other more common cancers, penile cancer is rare and many men feel embarrassed and unable to talk openly about it. This can lead to feelings of isolation at a time when support is vital. It is very important that men are aware of the warning signs and symptoms of the disease and that those with worrying symptoms seek medical advice as soon as possible.”

Symptoms of the cancer include:

.  A painless lump or ulcer on the penis that doesn’t heal.

. A red rash underneath the foreskin.

. Bleeding.

. Change in colour of the skin.

. Difficulty in drawing back the foreskin (phimosis).

. Discharge from under the foreskin with an odour.

. Flat growths that are brown in colour.

. Swollen lymph nodes in your groin area.

The causes of penile cancer have not yet been fully established, but certain factors are believed to increase your risk of developing the disease. For instance, men who smoke are at a heightened risk of cancer of the penis, whilst men with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection could be as much as a six-fold risk of penile cancer. In addition, conditions like phimosis, where the foreskin sometimes cannot retract, can mean there is a chance of infections developing such as balanitis.

For more information about the often misunderstood penile cancer, visit http://www.orchid-cancer.org.uk/Penile-Cancer

How losing weight helped one woman’s asthma symptoms

Sally, 45, a hairdresser from Aldington in Kent, was horrified when the nurse at her asthma clinic requested that she step onto the scales.

Like many other women, Sally had decided to avoid all scales out of fear, but stepping onto them gave her a startling shock – she could be officially classed as ‘obese’ weighing 11st at only 5 ft 2in tall.

“They saw on my notes that I suffered from asthma, but this was the first time anyone in the medical profession had weighed me”, she says.

“The problem was that I didn’t feel fat because the weight had crept on so gradually during and after my pregnancies. Then when the children left things on their plates, I’d pick at the leftovers.”

As her weight increased, Sally was finding it more difficult to control her asthma symptoms, meaning even doing basic things such as walking  up the stairs and looking after  her children, Maizie, now 12, and Merrin, nine, left her breathless.

What Sally didn’t realise is that weight loss is the key for an overall improvement in health for those overweight or obese, but especially so for asthmatics. Studies have shown that people with asthma who are also overweight or obese could see an improvement in their symptoms if they lose weight and this should be included in any asthma management program.

The asthma clinic nurse that Sally spoke to then recommended she should lose weight and would no doubt see an improvement to her asthma symptoms.

Sally says: “It was a real wake-up call. I knew that I had to do something about it or my asthma would just get worse because I would become more immobile and reluctant to exercise.”

Deborah Waddell, clinical lead nurse at the charity Asthma UK, explains: “Obese people find their asthma much harder to control.”

Asthma began for Sally following a severe episode of flu at the age of 19 – Upper respiratory infections are typically caused by cold and flu viruses and are a one of a number of triggers for asthma.

Her asthma gradually got worse. “Getting up the stairs was very scary because the wheezing was so loud.  And it stayed at the same level in my 30s and into my 40s. I couldn’t run after the children at the park.”

Sally now uses a brown preventer inhaler every morning for protection and a quick-acting blue reliever Ventolin inhaler when symptoms start to arise. Sally’s symptoms worsen during the winter, when feeling stressed, or when coming into contact with pet hair.

Despite the fact many people with asthma tend to avoid all exercise on fear of it triggering an attack, Sally began an exercise regime, which has actually been a huge benefit as asthma can boost the lung capacity in asthmatics.

She now goes running three times a week for four miles, attends a weekly spinning class and cycles for journeys where the car is not a necessity.

“I lost a stone-and-a-half in eight months and it made a huge difference,” says Sally. “It really brought the asthma under control and made the attacks less frequent and less severe – I have just one a month instead of three a week. When I was 11st, my body was struggling to  cope with the weight, especially climbing stairs, but the fitter you are, the stronger your  lungs become.”

New fathers also lose their sex drive

Sleepless nights, regular feeds, endless crying…Taking care of a new-born baby can be a stressfully challenging time for any new mother.

Therefore, any woman could be forgiven for losing her sex drive in the short-term whilst trying to battle a constant feeling tiredness on top of feeling worried about still being appealing in the eyes of their partner following post-pregnancy weight gain.

However and perhaps surprisingly, it is not just mothers who have their libido impacted during the initial stages of parenthood, with a new study suggesting that fathers are also quite prone to losing their sex drive.

Researchers at Notre Dame University conducted the largest study of its kind, analysing how the biology of 400 new fathers in the Philippines altered following the arrival of their children.

Lead researcher Dr Lee Gettler, found that the men participating in the study experienced a decrease of testosterone by about a third within the first year after the birth of their child. In addition, hands-on dads who spend at least three hours each day with their child typically see a further decline of an estimated 20%.

Those behind the study claim “the sensitising effect” is created by both the psychological and cultural impulse to protect a new-born baby and would have a similar result on adoptive fathers; making them more caring and less of an aggressive nature.

Past studies have demonstrated evidence that suggests men with high levels of testosterone tend to have less sympathy in general and less urgency to react when a baby is crying.

What the findings mean for new mums is perhaps a lesser risk of their partner straying after the birth of their child, and women should have less concern about upsetting him if she does not want to have sex often in the initial first year. Women are simply programmed to prioritise taking care of their children, with sex drive put on the backburner so to speak.

“If you think about fathers in other mammalian species, they don’t really help taking care of the children,” commented Dr Gettler.

“So it seems that natural selection has stepped up men’s hormone system to respond to the needs of their offspring.”

Look after your sexual health on Valentine’s Day

The day of romance is upon us, known as Valentine’s Day. A day that has its roots in a variety of legends that has found its way through the ages to the present day where people now show their love to their ‘valentine’ by giving cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love.

If you are expecting your Valentine’s Day celebrations and the following weekend to lead to passion, especially with an underlying theme of love and desire, it could be worth considering your sexual health not just during this time, but beyond too.

If you are not careful, presents and tokens of love may not be the only thing you receive this Valentine’s Day – failing to practice safe sex with condoms and other contraceptive methods could lead to an unwanted pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

You may not be aware but some people who test positive for certain STIs such as Chlamydia, gonorrhoea and genital herpes may not even show any symptoms at all. Symptoms may not arise for weeks and months, or can temporarily disappear, but you will still be able to transmit the infection to another person.

Unfortunately, some STIs such as HIV, genital warts and genital herpes, will forever be in the body once there, but there are some treatments available that can reduce the symptoms and slow the growth of the virus. The widely used Valtrex for genital herpes is just one example. If you have HIV, there are some drugs that can help to slow or prevent the complications that could occur.

If STIs are left untreated, they can become extremely painful or uncomfortable, and even lead to long-term problems such as infertility.

If you show signs of any of the following symptoms, then you should seek help:

. Unusual vaginal discharge.

. Discharge from the penis.

. Pain and/or bleeding during sexual intercourse.

. Bleeding following sex.

. Bleeding between periods.

. Blisters, itches, lumps or rashes around the genitals or anus.

. Pain in the testicles.

Chlamydia self-testing

Sexually active people should test every year and when they have a new partner. If you think you might have Chlamydia, it’s important to get tested quickly, regardless if you are showing symptoms or not. The Clamelle Chlamydia Test Kit can be used in the comfort of your own home and sent off for a quick result. It is also advisable for each partner to be tested.

Antibiotic Chlamydia treatment

Over 95% of people with chlamydia can be cured providing they take antibiotics correctly. There are two antibiotics commonly prescribed for chlamydia treatment, these being a single dose of the azithromycin or doxycycline taken for one week.

Dirty floodwater could cause surge in norovirus cases

Health experts are predicting a rise in stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea caused by dirty floodwater as sewage spills out of drains.

Floodwater may comprise of E.coli, salmonella and campylobacter bacteria as animal waste mixes with storm waters and human waste could result in a surge in cases of the the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

Dr Ben Neuman, microbiologist from the University of Reading, analysed a sample of water taken from next to a house that had been flooded in Somerset. Dr Neuman noted higher levels of bacteria, comparing it to the result of dissolving a couple of teaspoons of horse manure in an office water cooler.

Speaking to The Independent, Dr Neuman said: “I think there will be a big spike in diarrhoea, but people may not up end up reporting it to the public health authorities. It will be unpleasant, but not deadly. The water is dirty rather than dangerous.”

Public Health England (PHE) says it is monitoring hospitals and family doctors for the first sign of a spread of infectious disease.

Virginia Murray, head of extreme events and health protection, commented: “Floodwater can be coming from all over the place. You wouldn’t ever drink or swim in contaminated water. There are likely to be all sorts of bacteria and pathogens in floodwater and the best advice is not to come into contact with it, if at all possible. We are carrying out surveillance at GPs and A&E departments and we’re targeting that, as much as we can, to the local areas where people have seen flooding.”

So what exactly is norovirus you may wonder? Norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK and the NHS say that between 600,000 and a million people catch it each year in the UK.

The bad news is that you can be affected by it numerous time during your lifetime as the virus is continually changing and there is no specific cure for it. The good news is that with the right self-care you should be able to make a good recovery within a few days without the need to see your doctor.

Symptoms of the highly contagious norovirus usually rear their ugly head within a day or two after you have become infected and include: abdominal pain, aching limbs, diarrhoea, high temperature and vomiting.

Once your symptoms arise it is essential to stay at home to prevent passing the infection on to others and do not prepare food for anyone else until a minimum of 48 hours after the symptoms have passed.

The bug is typically transferred from contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces and objects, for instance touching the same doors or stair rails as somebody who has the virus.

Although you can get the norovirus at any time of the year, as its name ‘the winter vomiting bug’ would suggest, it is particularly prominent through the winter season.

Medical Specialists Pharmacy advise those affected to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, take paracetamol for aches and pains, try eating food easy to digest, like bread, pasta, rice, or soup and as mentioned earlier, stay at home until your symptoms subside.

Millions more to be prescribed statins to lower cholesterol

New NHS draft guidelines could mean millions more Brits are prescribed cholesterol-lowering statins to stave off heart attacks and strokes.

Current recommendations – implemented back in 2005 – mean that anybody with a 20% or greater chance of developing cardiovascular disease in the following decade are offered statins such as atorvastatin or pravastatin. The risk is calculated using factors such as age, weight, whether the person smokes and if there is a family history of the disease.

However, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) say the treatment should be broadened to include more people in order to save thousands more lives.  Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the UK, claiming around 180,000 lives annually.

NICE now says that anyone with a risk at one in 10 or 10% should be offered statin medication, resulting in an estimated five million more Brits now taking the drugs, saving 2,000 lives and preventing 10,000 heart attacks or strokes every year.

This is according to Professor Colin Baigent, from the Oxford University team who conducted research published in The Lancet into the potential benefits of statins to more patients, finding the benefits of statins far exceed any side effects.

The new guidelines state doctors will be required to “make a judgment” about their patients with less than a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease and advise them accordingly.

NiCE says the draft guidance will make clear doctors need to work with at-risk patients to encourage them to improve lifestyle factors first that could put at risk, such as drinking less, stopping smoking and adhering to a healthy diet.

After these issues have been tended to, the patients should then be offered high intensity statin therapy.

Presently, around seven million people in the UK are currently statins; incredibly this is over a tenth of the UK’s population.

Professor Mark Baker, director of the centre for clinical practice at NICE, said: “People should be encouraged to address any lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking too much or eating unhealthily. We also recommend that statins are now offered to many more people – the effectiveness of these medicines is now well proven and their cost has fallen.”

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Reducing your cholesterol level, whether that’s through medication or lifestyle changes, will reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. The current guidance weighed the benefits of taking a statin against what was then the considerable cost to the health service. This pragmatic decision made sure that those of highest risk benefited. However, as most people who have a heart attack or stroke have average cholesterol levels and since statins are now much cheaper it makes sense to reconsider the threshold.”

Unfortunately, actually getting people to take their statins appears to be another issue. A 2012 study conducted by the British Heart Foundation discovered that an alarming 36% were not taking them.

Smoking in cars with children present to be banned

Smoking in cars in which children are present will be made a criminal offence in England after MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of introducing the ban by 269 votes, meaning Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been given the power to draft up the new law.

Even though some cabinet members were sceptical about how the law would be efficiently enforced, the government will attempt to introduce the anti-smoking legislation prior to the next election after the House of Commons gave their backing to a plan first suggested by Labour.

Coalition MPs were given a free vote on the issue but the subject raised disagreements, with Secretary Theresa May siding with the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in arguing against the law.

Prime Minister David Cameron was absent from Monday night’s vote visiting areas affected by the flooding in the South West, but had already given his backing to the law against smoking when children are present in the car.

Mr Cameron’s spokesman said: “While he understands the concerns that some have expressed, his view is that the time for this kind of approach has come.”

After all was said and done, the law was backed by a whopping 376 votes to 107 – leaving majority of 269.

Also offering their backing was the Shadow Public Health Minister, Luciana Berger, a staunch supporter of the issue, who joyously commented it was a “great victory for child health which will benefit hundreds of thousands of young people”.

She added: “It is a matter of child protection, not adult choice. The will of parliament has been clearly expressed today and this must be respected. Ministers now have a duty to bring forward regulations so that we can make this measure a reality and put protections for children in place as soon as possible.”

Penny Woods, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “Having campaigned on this issue for many years, we’re absolutely delighted that MPs have backed the ban on smoking in cars carrying children. This could prove a great leap forward for the health of our nation’s children.”

However, arguing against the law was Simon Clark, director of smokers’ lobby group Forest, who admitted smoking in cars with children present was “inconsiderate”, there is “a line the state shouldn’t cross when it comes to dictating how people behave in private places”.

The law is the latest move in a bid to crackdown on smoking and more specifically the catastrophic harm that cigarettes do, and even electronic cigarettes have come under fire recently after MPs also voted to ban the sale of them to under-18s and to enable the introduction of plain packaging on tobacco products.

Top tips for a healthy heart during National Heart Month

February is the time of year when we get to show our other half how much they mean to us, using all the love in our heart to go all out to impress and show we care.

However, in case you weren’t already aware, February is National Heart Month. It is a month-long campaign pioneered by the British Heart Foundation as a way to increase awareness about heart and circulatory diseases.

Although deaths from the two are falling, heart and circulatory disease is still one of the biggest killers in the UK and there are an estimated 2.6 million people living with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in the UK alone. We all have a heart, so we are all potentially at risk.

You can adhere to some basic lifestyle improvements though to improve your heart health and limit the risk of developing heart disease.

. Stop smoking

Smoking damages the lining of your arteries, meaning space for blood to pass through is decreased, and the carbon monoxide in cigarettes hinders the amount of oxygen that can travel to your heart and other areas of the body. Smokers are double the risk of suffering from a heart attack than non-smokers and smoking is the main cause of a multitude of cancers and lung disease.
. Stay active

Keeping fit and active is great for your waistline and general appearance, but exercise is great for the heart too. Unfortunately, statistics show that 7 out of 10 of us are not engaging in physical activity and thus are increasing their risk of heart disease. This doesn’t mean you need to rush to the local gym to sign up, but small changes can make a big difference. Keeping active helps to lower blood pressure; a risk factor for heart disease, boosts good HDL cholesterol responsible for moving fat away from arteries and back to the liver for processing and will help to improve circulation by stopping blood clots from forming which can cause a heart attack or stroke. A brisk walk for 30 to 40 minutes done three times per week should suffice to reduce your cardiovascular risk.

. Limit alcohol intake

Drinking more than the recommended units of alcohol per day (3-4 for men, 2-3 for women) can have a detrimental impact to your heart health. Excessive alcohol can raise the quantity of a type of fat in the blood called triglycerides and also lead to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, heart failure, stroke and obesity/diabetes from the additional calories you are taking in.

. Reduce your salt intake

If you, like so many others, have a diet that is high in sodium, this can lead to serious health problems. Sodium increases blood pressure as it causes the body to keep hold of excess fluid and blood volume increases, creating an added burden on the heart with increased pressure in the arteries. It is generally recommended that an adult should not consume more than 6g/1 teaspoon of salt each day. Certain foods are high in hidden salts and you should try to limit how much of them you eat. These include: baked beans, canned vegetables, cheese, crisps, pizzas and ready meals.

. Consider statins

Statins such as atorvastatin and pravastatin are tremendous for heart health because they target the metabolism of cholesterol in the body. Working in the liver, statins lower the bad LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream by between 20 and 60 per cent. High levels of bad cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to clog up your arteries and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Statins have been shown to lower the death rate from cardiovascular diseases without increasing the death rate from other causes. You may be prescribed statins even if you appear to be in good health, for example if you have a prominent family history of cardiovascular disease.

Smoking gives Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy lung disease COPD

Leonard Nimoy has revealed he is suffering with lung disease. The 82-year-old shot to fame as Mr Spock in the original Star Trek series (1966-1969), before reprising the character in multiple television series and films and even turned his hand to directing for the films Search for Spock and Voyage Home.

The actor revealed to his 808,000 Twitter followers that even though he quit smoking 30 years ago, he has been left to fight the potentially fatal lung disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nimoy warned his thousands of followers to “quit now” before it is too late.

He warned: “I quit smoking 30 years ago. Not soon enough. I have COPD. Grandpa says, quit now!! LLAP [Long Live and Prosper].”

Viewers last saw Nimoy on screen as Mr Spock in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness, playing the elder Spock and is the only member of the original cast to feature in the latest films from director JJ Abrams.

He sparked fears for his health after being pictured last month looking frail whilst pushed out of a New York hospital in a wheelchair, attached to a breathing apparatus.

Nimoy retired from attending Star Trek conventions back in 2011 but still engages with his fans on a regular basis, recently urging them to watch a scheduled marathon of Star Trek shows being shown on US television. Leonard said: “Trek Fest coming to EPIX on 2/16. I’ll be there. Join me.”

You may be wondering what exactly the condition is that Nimoy has. COPD is an umbrella term that spans a number of lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive airways disease and emphysema. People who have COPD have difficulties with their breathing due to their airways becoming narrower from damage to air sacs and passages to the lungs.

The primary cause for COPD is smoking, with the risk greatly increasing the more cigarettes you smoke and how long you have been smoking for.

It is believed there are more than 3 million who have the disease in the UK alone, but many dismiss their symptoms as merely a ‘smoker’s cough’ and as such, do not get medical help they need; only around 900,000 people have been formally diagnosed.

For those already diagnosed with COPD, stopping smoking is absolutely imperative and will ease their symptoms considerably. Although damage to the airways is irreversible, quitting smoking can slow down the speed at which the condition worsens.

In addition, many with COPD are prescribed a short-acting bronchodilator inhaler such as a beta-2 agonist like salbutamol, to be used when you start to feel breathless and easing the symptoms. If this type of inhaler is not sufficient, you may be instead prescribed a long-acting bronchodilator inhaler, whereby each dose lasts for 12 hours.

New bird flu strain H10N8 claims first life in China

A new strain of bird flu has claimed one victim in China, prompting fears that it could spread and leave more victims in its deadly path.

A previously unknown sub-strain of the H10N8 virus was responsible for the death of a 73-year-old woman in December last year, initially admitted to hospital in China suffering with fever and pneumonia.

The woman, from Nanchang City in Jiangxi province, was known to have been at a poultry market in the days leading up to her falling ill. Health experts therefore estimate an incubation time of around four days, around the same as other strains of bird flu.

The victim became ill at the end of November and then succumbed to her condition just nine days later on 6 December, in spite of receiving antibiotic and antiviral treatment.

Scientists speaking to The Lancet say this strain of influenza A virus has not previously been seen and the possibility of it escalating to pandemic levels “should not be underestimated”.

Tests on the H10N8 virus show it is alarmingly developed genetic characteristics which could enable it to replicate more efficiently in humans.

Although there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission, there is still a worry this could yet occur and claim more victims, especially with the emergence of a second person to have been tested positive for the virus in January.

Dr Yuelong Shu, from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, said: “A genetic analysis of the H10N8 virus shows a virus that is distinct from previously reported H10N8 viruses, having evolved some genetic characteristics that may allow it to replicate efficiently in humans.”

Dr Mingbin Liu from Nanchang City Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said: “A second case of H10N8 was identified in Jiangxi province, China, on 26 January 2014. This is of great concern because it reveals that the H10N8 virus has continued to circulate and may cause more human infections in future.”

The H10N8 virus is the latest in a number of bird flu strains to hit a country still trying to manage an outbreak of a similar influenza virus named H7N9, which has killed approximately a quarter of those who contracted the infection.

‘Tidal wave’ of cancer cases to hit by 2035

A ‘tidal wave’ of cancer cases is expected in the next two decades unless restrictions are implemented, in particularly on alcohol and sugar.

This is the claim from World Health Organization (WHO) scientists who estimate that the worldwide number of new cancer cases in a single year will skyrocket by 70%; from 14.1 million in 2012 to 19 million by 2025, 22 million by 2030, and then further rise to around 24 million by 2035.

The warnings were laid bare in the latest World Cancer Report released by WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), who stress the “real need” to boost cancer prevention methods by tackling three lifestyle choices that often cause cancer – smoking, obesity and drinking.

Chris Wild, the director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, told the BBC: “The global cancer burden is increasing and quite markedly, due predominately to the ageing of the populations and population growth. If we look at the cost of treatment of cancers, it is spiralling out of control, even for the high-income countries. Prevention is absolutely critical and it’s been somewhat neglected.”

Less developed countries will bear the brunt of the cancer cases, with incidence rates expected to go up by 44% in the next decade, whereas more developed countries are likely to see a rise of only 20%.
Differences in rates are primarily because of the variance in quality of healthcare and preventative measures, i.e. screening programmes and vaccines for cancers developed from infections such as the human papilloma virus (HPV). The gap is expected to grow however as those in less developed countries adhere to more ‘industrialised lifestyles’; eating more processed food, drinking more alcohol and smoking more.

According to the 2014 WHO World Cancer Report, the main factors involved with preventable cancers include:

. Air pollution and other environmental factors.
. Alcohol.
. Delayed parenthood, having fewer children and not breastfeeding.
. Infections.
. Obesity and inactivity.
. Radiation, both from the sun and medical scans.
. Smoking.

Dr Bernard Stewart from the University of New South Wales in Australia, was one of the editors in the report and he says prevention has a “crucial role in combating the tidal wave of cancer which we see coming across the world”.

Dr Stewart argues it is our human behaviour which is causing a lot of cancer cases such as the sunbathe “until you’re cooked evenly on both side” attitude in his homeland.

He added it was not the IARC’s job to govern what is to be done, but he commented: “In relation to alcohol, for example, we’re all aware of the acute effects, whether its car accidents or assaults, but there’s a burden of disease that’s not talked about because it’s simply not recognised, specifically involving cancer. The extent to which we modify the availability of alcohol, the labelling of alcohol, the promotion of alcohol and the price of alcohol – those things should be on the agenda.”

Dr Stewart also says sugar is one issue that also needs tackling as high sugar intake is merely adding to the obesity crisis, which is then increasing a person’s risk of cancer once obese.

Health benefits of sex – everything from less stress to better memory!

Great news! Having sex not only makes us feel great and boosts our confidence, it could also provide a number of health benefits.

Unfortunately, according to data from the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, we are generally engaging in less of it! Despite regular sex being linked to less stress, better emotional wellbeing, less migraine pain and even a lower risk of prostate cancer, on average we are having sex fewer than five times per month. 20 years ago the average stood at six and a half times.

A Canadian study was published last month which looked at the sexual activity of 21 couples aged between 18 and 35.  The couples had to wear an armband which worked out intensity of the sex and roughly how many calories the wearer had expended.

Amazingly, it was discovered that 30 minutes of sexual activity burned away more calories than walking on a treadmill; the researchers arguing sex therefore could be considered a ‘significant’ exercise.

For sexual activity lasting around 25 minutes, an average of 100 calories were burned off by the men and 69 calories for women. Intensity was monitored in METs (the Metabolic Equivalent of a Task); for men, the average reading was 6 METs, for women it was 6.6.

This is the equivalent of 19 minutes of light rowing, walking uphill or engaging in a game of doubles tennis for 20 minutes, or 40 minutes of yoga.

The British Heart Foundation have previously said that half an hour of sex each day is as beneficial for you as walking the dog. There is evidence that sex actually provides a whole range of benefits by giving your lungs and heart a workout, and then helping to emit hormones that not only decrease stress but generate new brain cells.

Scientists at the University of Maryland in the U.S. discovered the latter benefit after their study showed middle-aged rats made more brain cells after mating.

This is known as neurogenesis, thought to be responsible for lost brain function as a result of aging. Following extended periods of sexual activity, brain function was boosted, in particularly in the hippocampus area – the region of the brain where new memories are made.

“A huge amount of brain stimulus occurs during intercourse,” comments Dr Ghosh, a private GP who studies the health benefits of sex. “It’s why we feel so overtaken when we orgasm. When researchers do MRI scans on people in orgasm, they observe both sides of the brain being stimulated, including parts of the brain we wouldn’t normally use.”

Older men may be delighted to learn that regular sexual activity may remarkably lower their prostate cancer risk.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham quizzed 840 men about their sexual activity levels past and present. Those in their 50s with an active sex life (ejaculating over 10 times each month) were at a lower risk from what is still the most common type of cancer for UK men. Experts believe this could be the case as if men don’t clear sperm, it can be re-absorbed by the prostate gland.

“Sperm needs to be regularly flushed out to allow new cells to develop. It’s a bit like cleaning out a pipe, it may help stop the build-up of old cells that might be more likely to turn cancerous,” says Dr Ghosh.

So what are the obstacles to ‘great sex’? Two of the common health problems which might hinder this are erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED), also known as male impotence, is a very common condition afflicting around 4 in 10 men over 40. Such problems can be catastrophic for a man’s self-esteem, causing stress that can affect the man’s health and relationship with his partner.

Premature ejaculation is one of the most common and frustrating sexual problems that a man can suffer from, and is something they find difficult to discuss with their own doctor. Men with this problem climax (come) before penetration or in less than two minutes after penetration. Ejaculating too soon is embarrassing and unsatisfying for both partners. It is particularly common in younger men however many middle-aged men also have this problem.

Suitable male patients can buy Viagra for erectile dysfunction, or buy Priligy for premature ejaculation, both following an online consultation with one of Medical Specialists Pharmacy’s GMC-registered doctors.

Feeling under the weather? Seek help or advice as early as possible

‘The earlier, the better’. That is the message behind a new NHS England campaign which began on Monday 20 January 2014, running for eight weeks and coming to an end in March.

The aims behind the campaign are to encourage people not to let health problems linger, and in particularly to urge those caring for or visiting an elderly relative to seek help or advice from their local pharmacist, or alternatively visit www.nhs.uk/asap should the person being cared for begin to feel under the weather. Basically, the earlier on something is spotted and treated, the less likelihood of it developing into a more serious health concern.

It is hoped that with more knowledge and awareness of services outside of Accident & Emergency (A&E), public behaviour can be improved, health problems can be treated at the earliest chance and an unnecessary hospital visit can be averted.

This follows the publication of Sir Bruce Keogh’s report in November 2013 into NHS England review into urgent and emergency care which highlighted the need for a more responsive and personal care for patients outside of hospital, as well as the delivery of even better clinical outcomes and enhanced safety, and how important it is to raise public understand of alternatives to A&E. For instance, minor ailments could be treated with a simple visit to the local community pharmacy service.

The main worry, which is partly the reason behind the campaign, is an alarming increase in the number of older and frail people who require hospital treatment due to a respiratory or other chronic condition. These are made worse through the winter months especially with the cold, immobility and viral illnesses.

To help support the initiative, there will be posters on display in bus stops, shopping centres and supermarkets, including sites near pharmacies. On top of this, adverts will be running in national newspapers, on radio, and in a number of magazines and websites, with pharmacies receiving posters to have on display. You can also get involved via social media through @NHS Choices (www.twitter.com/NHSChoices) with the hashtag #earlierbetter.

Clare Howard, Deputy Chief Pharmaceutical Officer at NHS England, said: “Pharmacists and their teams are well trained and well placed to be able to offer advice to people seeking help. They can provide medicines’ advice and support for minor ailments, advise you about how to manage a long
term condition and tell you if something needs more urgent medical attention from your GP, or even your local hospital. Many members of the public already use their Pharmacist in these ways. More people could seek help from their Pharmacist when they first have a problem rather than waiting until it becomes more serious, or having to go to hospital when the problem could have been managed earlier.”

Patients within the local area of Medical Specialists Pharmacy; Bury, Greater Manchester, can refer to the list compiled by the NHS England Greater Manchester Area Team for help with the most appropriate source or service.

This is as follows:

	Contact No.	Locality	Address
NHS 111 24 hours a day _____ Patients who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can use a text phone to access this service or phone NHS Direct service.	111 ____ 18001 111 0845 606 46 47	National
Patient Complaints & Queries NHS England	0300 311 22 33	Leeds
NHS Choices; The online 'front door' to the NHS. It is the country's biggest health website and gives all the information you need to make choices about your health.			http://www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx
A & E Departments
Fairfield General Hospital	0161 764 6081		Rochdale Old Road Bury Lancashire BL9 7TD
GP Urgent Care/Walk-in Centres
Bardoc Open: 18:00 – 8:00am When GP surgeries are closed	0161 763 4242	Bury	Moorgate Primary Care Centre 22 Derby Way Bury BL9 0NJ
Bury Urgent Treatment Centre No appointment necessary - call in. An alternative choice for anyone who is suffering from an ailment, illness or injury that needs assessing quickly. If you can’t get a same day appointment at your own GP practice, but your condition isn’t serious enough to require a visit to A&E Open: 18:00 – 8:00am			Moorgate Primary Care Centre 1st Floor 22 Derby Way Bury BL9 0NJ
Dental Helpline
In Hours Urgent Care           (08:00 – 18:00)	0161 447 9898	Bury
Out of Hours Urgent Care           (18:30 – 8:00am)	0161 763 8941	Bury
Bury CCG
	0161 762 3100		21 Silver Street Bury BL9 0EN
Bury Local Authority
Health &Wellbeing Board	0161 253 5000		Bury Town Hall Knowsley St Bury Lancashire