The story of how one woman refused to be irritated by IBS…

You know the feeling…you are sat in a crowded room and your stomach groans with peculiar sounds, accompanied by excruciating cramps. You don’t know whether to sit it out or make a dash to the closest toilet and hope nobody is already occupying the adjacent cubicle.

This might sound like a humorous situation for a sitcom, but it is a fairly common experience for millions of people who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and it is certainly far from a laughing matter. In particularly, IBS at work can be a deeply distressing thing to try and fight, but can be managed with a proper understanding of the condition and what can be done to ease/avoid an occurrence of symptoms.

The gut disorder can result in a variety of symptoms, but common symptoms generally include: bloating, wind, stomach cramps, and most people with IBS have bouts of diarrhoea and/or constipation.

Evidence suggests that the majority of people with IBS first begin to develop their symptoms between the ages of 20 and 30. Symptoms often appear and disappear in bouts, commonly after eating certain foods and during times of stress.

For one sufferer however, the problems began at a much earlier age. Medical librarian Vicky Grant, 43, has been trying to cope with IBS symptoms since the age of 13.

Vicky, then in her 30s, was in a work meeting when she was struck down with the all too familiar feelings of the condition.

She recalls: “I didn’t know whether to make a dash to the bathroom or just sit it out and hope it would pass. I was coping with up to seven bouts of diarrhoea a day and it was really taking its toll on me. I decided to risk it and stay put, but I was concentrating so hard on staying in control that everything being said in the meeting passed over my head.”

Vicky’s life was severely restricted by her IBS. She adds: “I felt bloated, tired and fatigued. My weight was below 7st (I’m 5ft 3in). I’d lost so much weight and looked terrible – I’m sure people thought I had anorexia. It was also making me depressed. I’d tried every drug, complementary therapy and diet under the sun, some things helped a little but nothing made my symptoms manageable. I was just so fed up with being ill all the time.”

Vicky is not alone though and a tenth of all doctors’ appointments are for symptoms related to IBS, which many doctors find difficult to treat. After all, the exact causes are still unknown and even though patients suffer with uncomfortable and sometimes distressing symptoms, unlike other bowel diseases IBS does not leave the gut with any noticeable damage.

Treatments are often a case of trial and error; changes in diet are often advised and IBS patients are usually instructed to keep a food diary. This can pinpoint the main triggers, i.e. are dairy or wheat products causing a flare-up of symptoms? Psychological therapy is another option for patients, and a lot of people find relief with antispasmodic medicines such as Buscopan IBS Relief and Colpermin 100 Capsules.

It took years for Vicky to find the courage to see her GP, finally going to see him in her early 20s. “He told me I did have IBS and that in my case it was due to stress and advised me to tackle the stress,” she says.

“I didn’t think I was any more stressed than any of my friends and thought the stress I was under was at least partly due to coping with my IBS. I tried meditation, but it made no difference. Over the years my IBS left me feeling totally drained.”

Nothing seem to have much effect for Vicky’s symptoms so three years ago she took to the internet to search around for stories of other people’s experiences and what worked for them.

One thing that kept being mentioned was vitamin D. Vicky recalls: “One thing that kept cropping up online was how high-dose vitamin D supplements could help. I read one blog then reports from patients on forums talking about this – it was generating a lot of interest.”

From things she had read on the internet, Vicky decided to try taking vitamin D2 – a dose of the nutrient (1,000 international units), but she had little success.

“Then a work colleague who has multiple sclerosis mentioned that vitamin D3 from fish oils is closer to the type the body makes naturally and was more effective and should be taken at a higher dose,” says Vicky.

“So I switched to 4,000 international units a day of D3, which is a safe dose. Within days, my symptoms eased and progressively improved over the months. After years of symptoms, my diarrhoea, cramps, pain and bloating disappeared. I started to feel well, put on weight and my depression lifted. It was amazing. My symptoms would flare up again though, if I forgot to take it.”

It is believed vitamin D might work by boosting the immune system as well as the gut’s barrier. Dr Nick Read, chairman of the IBS Network’s medical advisory group, says there is evidence some types of IBS involve a low level of inflammation in nerve endings in the gut.

He comments: “Inflammation around the gut’s nerve cells may make the intestine more sensitive to food and stress. We can’t say vitamin D works as a treatment for IBS yet. Only a properly designed trial will establish whether it works or not.”

Julian Walters, professor of gastroenterology at Imperial College, London, says it could be ‘plausible’ that vitamin D has a role to play in IBS treatments, although warns: “We shouldn’t assume it will work. It could just be the power of placebo.”

Today is National Psoriasis Day – Don’t let the condition ruin your life!

A quarter of people in the UK suffering with the inflammatory skin condition psoriasis claim their relationship has ended because of the symptoms they were afflicted with.

New research shows that four in 10 people with psoriasis say they have been dumped after their partner found them unattractive. Furthermore, 16% of those with the skin problem have cancelled a date because of it and 15% refuse to go on holiday due to worries about having to show off skin.

The findings were part of a report published ahead of today’s National Psoriasis Day – a global event that aims to give an international voice to the 125 million people around the world who suffer with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. The day will also hopefully raise awareness of the psychological impact that living with the condition can have and letting those affected discuss the day-to-day impact of managing the chronic inflammatory condition.

The new research shows to some extent how some of the 1.8 million sufferers in the UK try and deal with a condition that has been nicknamed eczema’s ‘cousin’.

One in six sufferers say that their psoriasis has hindered their progress at work, whilst four in 10 psoriasis patients claimed others have had a repulsed look at them and over of half of sufferers have co-workers who behave differently around them.

Of the 125 million around the world effected by psoriasis, there are some celebrities in this total. Reality show star Kim Kardashian and supermodel Cara Delivingne, who have both previously spoken of their battles against the condition, explaining how it has impacted their careers.

Delevingne has even deliberated walking away from the catwalk if her psoriasis becomes too problematic.

When interviewed by W Magazine, she commented: “It only happened during the Fashion Weeks, which are, of course, the worst time of year for me to be covered in scabs. Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease, and I’m sensitive.”

Kardashian has also stress her fears for her career, saying: “My career is doing ad campaigns and swimsuit photo shoots. People don’t understand the pressure on me to look perfect.”

It can be underestimated the psychical and mental impact that the skin condition can have for those who have it, and Medical Specialists Pharmacy is fully supportive of awareness campaigns that will promote more knowledge, understanding, and empathy towards ‘lesser known’ ailments.

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurring skin disease that unfortunately is often a life-long problem, and an estimated 2% of the population in the UK. It causes red, flaky, patchy and scaly skin that is usually on the scalp, lower back, elbows and knees, but can appear  anywhere on the  body.

After developing psoriasis, those who have it find that it tends to come and go throughout their life and flare-ups can occur quite randomly. Most people are usually only affected in small patches, but these patches may be itchy and sore.

Psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced faster than at a normal speed. As yet, health experts have not yet fully established why this can happen to some people. However, it is generally believed there are probably a mixture of reasons that cause it, such as genetic predisposition and environmental factors.

For instance, approximately one in three people with psoriasis also has a close relative who has the condition. A lot of people with psoriasis will see their symptoms begin or become worse due to ‘triggers’, including: smoking, alcohol, stress, a skin-related injury such as a cut, scrape, insect bite or sunburn (known as the Koebner response) and certain medications.

T/Gel is recommended by dermatologists for chronic scalp psoriasis treatment, seborrhoeic dermatitis and even common dandruff. Clinical tests have shown the active ingredients in T/Gel carry on working for hours after the shampoo has been rinsed off, and also works to leave hair looking healthy and manageable.

Stroke rates among younger people should act as ‘a wake-up call’

An increasing number of young to middle aged people are suffering from strokes around the world because of their unhealthy lifestyle, according to findings from a new study.

Spiralling rates of obesity and diabetes, together with lack of exercise, has caused a rise to the number of strokes effecting people aged between 20 and 64. In fact, the number has increased by a quarter in merely 20 years, calling health experts to label the worrying situation a ‘stroke epidemic’.

Strokes afflicting this age group now comprise of 31% of the global total, whereas in 1990 it was only 25%. Stroke rates among children and young people aged 20 and under have also been studied and even among this age group researchers discovered that there are over than 83,000 cases each year; 0.5% of the total number.

The findings, published in the latest issue of The Lancet, stem from a systematic analysis of data extracted from 50 countries on the causes of illness and major diseases.

Although the analysis demonstrated a decrease in deaths from stroke in the UK, Brits are still more likely to die after suffering a stroke compared to those living in France, Germany and even the U.S.
Those living in less well-off countries are also much more at risk of succumbing from a stroke, with 42% more deaths across poorer countries during 1990 to 2010 in comparison to well-off nations. Over those two decades, stroke rates dropped by 12% in the richer countries.

Numerous lifestyle risk factors are thought to be the result of increasing stroke rates in the low to middle-income countries. For example, smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension), lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet have all been pin-pointed as risk factors.

Stroke Association chief executive Jon Barrick said that the findings of the research were a “wake-up call to governments across the globe”.

Mr Barrick said: “The report reveals a shocking disparity between rich and poor, where death rates from stroke are up to 10 times higher in lower income countries,” Mr Barrick said. Closer to home, within the UK, the number of people dying from stroke is around three times higher in the most economically deprived areas, compared to the least deprived. To help close this health inequality gap, we need more investment in stroke prevention and research.”

He added: “Rising obesity and diabetes rates, coupled with sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles, could wipe out the improvements we’ve seen in reducing stroke mortality in the UK, putting even more pressure on our limited NHS resources. This is a stark warning. We urgently need to address this global stroke crisis by prioritising stroke prevention and investment into stroke research.”

Lead scientist Professor Valery Feigin, director of the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences at AUT University in New Zealand, commented: “The worldwide stroke burden is growing very fast and there is now an urgent need for culturally acceptable and affordable stroke prevention, management and rehabilitation strategies to be developed and implemented worldwide.”
Every year there are an estimated 152,000 strokes that occur in the UK, costing the NHS around £3.7 billion.

Broadcaster Andrew Marr suffered a stroke in January 2013 at the age of 53, and recently returned to work. In September he spoke about his experiences, saying: “I thought I’d bounce back in a couple of months. I was lying in bed completely delusional about how ill I was, and [my wife] Jackie was very good, she didn’t tell me. She kept saying, ‘Yes, dear, you’ll get to go to St Petersburg in March, I’m sure it’s going to be fine,’ knowing perfectly well that it wouldn’t. So it took quite a long time for it to sink in just how long it would be. I’ve got another two years before I’ve made a recovery.”

The political journalist has drew strength and positives from what he has gone through, and said: “You definitely see the world differently, actually, that is true. You move more slowly. You suck up experiences more intensely and you live the day more.”

He added: “And you’re much more aware of all the people all around us who have got really, really difficult disabilities who are looking after their parents, perhaps, and who frankly most of the time, like most people, I simply didn’t see. I wasn’t thinking about them. That has changed. I do see them now, I do think about it.”

Celebrity hair loss stories: The bald truth uncovered!

Hair loss is one of the most common conditions in the world – Male pattern baldness being the most common form of hair loss, affecting an estimated 6.5 million men in the UK alone.

However, there are many types and causes of hair loss, and whether it is affecting a man or woman, can create a large degree of anxiety and loss of self-esteem.

With today’s media becoming increasingly fixated on celebrity’s fluctuations in weight, fashion choices, love life developments, and other scrutinising of their life, any slight amount of hair loss will be reported – and fast.

In this regard, it should offer some comfort for the millions of men and women around the world with hair loss to know that celebrities are just human like the rest of us. They are not superhuman and are still susceptible to problems and conditions like everybody else. You cut them, they bleed.

In recent years celebrity hair loss stories, gossip, etc. are becoming more common and in the last 12 months alone we have heard questions asked about Wimbledon champion Andy Murray losing hair and even pop superstar Justin Bieber saying Prince William should use the hair loss treatment Propecia.

We have also heard from some celebrities themselves who are experiencing a varying scale of hair loss, for a variety of reasons. Here we recall some of the other celebrities with hair loss and what they had to say about their experience.

. Wayne Rooney (footballer)

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney announced himself to the world stage in 2002, when the then 16-year-old scored a last-minute wonder goal for Everton against Arsenal. In subsequent years, the pressure of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world and allegations about his private life appear to have affected his hair and Rooney has been battling hair loss for a number of years.

In June 2011, Rooney confirmed he had undergone a hair transplant, tweeting: “Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant…I was going bald at 25, why not? I’m delighted with the result.”

Since that expensive £30,000 transplant, Rooney’s hair has thinned yet again and earlier this year he had a second ‘top-up’ transplant at the same London Harley Street clinic. However, some have speculated that Rooney could have saved himself a lot of money if he had acted sooner and perhaps used a combination of medically proven treatments to prevent further hair loss and promote hair growth, such as Propecia and Regaine (respectively). Just because something costs an absolute fortune, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is guaranteed to do the business…there are plenty of overpaid footballers as evidence for this!

. David Beckham (retired footballer)

Retired footballer and global superstar David Beckham has tried countless weird and wonderful hairstyles over the last 15 years and has been known to reach for the blonde hair dye on occasions too. The ill-fated cornrows is just one memorable change to his hair which will have added to the strain he has undoubtedly placed on his follicles through the years. Although there has been noticeable recession at the temples, Beckham still retains a decent head of hair for a man pushing 40 years of age. He has never publically admitted to using any particular product or medication to hold on to his hair, but there have been whispers of a hair transplant.

Beckham has admitted his fears of losing his hair, and in 2012 when asked if he had undergone a hair transplant, or would consider one in future years, he said: “Someone said I’d had a hair transplant. There’s definitely nothing wrong with doing that, but I don’t think personally I would. If I do start showing signs of going bald, then I will shave it off. I’ve still got hair. I’m still fighting it.”

. Will Young (singer)

Will Young was just 23 years of age when he beat Gareth Gates to win the UK Pop Idol in 2002. Back then it was clear he was having slight recession in his hair, which slowly progressed over the subsequent years. Unusual for a celebrity, Young has been open and honest about his battle to beat hair loss. He quashed rumours of a hair transplant after his hairline and hair thickness started to improve, instead crediting the medication Propecia for the turnaround.

He spoke of his hair loss in 2009, saying: “I love my hair – my barber, Paul, has given me a 50s style with a bit of a quiff. I take Propecia pills for my hair, because I started losing it four years ago. It’s a horrible thing – it’s emasculating and you just feel you aren’t sexy any more. The pills worked and my hair grew back.”

 . January Jones (actress)

Back in January of this year the Mad Men actress revealed that consistently dying her hair had triggered hair loss. The star, who plays Betty Draper on the hit TV series, has been a brunette, redhead and blonde during her career thus far.
She commented earlier this year: “I have been every colour and now my hair is falling out in clumps. I’m going to have to shave it off and wear a wig. I like it all colours, it makes you feel different according to what colour it is, but I prefer to be blonde.”

. Selma Blair (actress)

Another American actress to suffer with female hair loss is Selma Blair, and no…not from the stress of trying to get along with Charlie Sheen during the filming of ‘Anger Management’. After giving birth to son Arthur in 2011, Selma was photographed less than six months later with her scalp quite visible around her hair parting. Many new mothers suffer with hormonal hair loss due to decreased estrogen levels, but the problem usually subsides after six months.

Speaking about the problem at the time, Selma said: She said: ‘”This is so not glamorous, but it’s true: I need to take longer showers so that I can collect the hair that falls out and throw it away so I don’t clog the drain. Why do actresses never talk about that? It just started falling out at the three-month mark. And I’m not a girl who likes extensions, so Selma’s going to be bald!”

Forged Viagra prescription lands conman with fine and suspended prison sentence

A clumsy man learned the hard way that forging prescriptions does not pay, although his careless actions landed him with £85 costs, a £80 victim surcharge and he was also sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for a year.

Mahfooz Ulhaq, 45, of Aspley Park Drive, Aspley, attempted to add the popular erectile dysfunction medication Viagra to his two prescriptions for other drugs. The somewhat ludicrous mistakes made it immediately obvious though that something was suspicious to the sceptical pharmacists.

Not only had Ulhaq tried to scribble something resembling his doctor’s handwriting – and failing miserably – but he had comically misspelt Viagra and had actually scribbled “100ml” instead of the correct dosage of 100mg. As most people know, Viagra is manufactured in a tablet form, shaped like a diamond, and is often referred to as ‘the little blue pill’.

Falsifying prescriptions for prescription-only medication is no laughing matter however, and Ulhaq’s suspended prison sentence reflects this.

Ulhaq stood up in the dock at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court and admitted the two charges of making false prescriptions with the intention of gaining pharmaceutical drugs.

Neil Hollett, prosecuting, described how Ulhaq had first attempted to obtain the drugs from the City Hospital’s outpatients’ pharmacy and failing that, then from a nearby Boots pharmacy.

“On the first occasion a member of staff brought to the attention of the pharmacist that the defendant was back to collect some medication he already had,” he said.

“They could see the doctor’s handwriting had been overwritten and other medication added on the prescription. It also contained spelling errors. It was shown to the doctor who had prescribed it and found to be fraudulently altered.”

Mr Hollett also commented how another member of staff had said Ulhaq asked for disguised bottles to be used in the dispending of his medication as ‘he didn’t want his family knowing what he was diagnosed with’.

The second attempted acquisition of Viagra saw Ulhaq drop off a prescription and say he would be back the next day to collect his medication.

However, upon closer inspection of the prescription given by Ulhaq, the member of staff noticed a glaring error – it stated 100ml instead of 100mg (an actual Viagra dosage). “They believed it had been altered”, said Mr Hollett.

The next day when Ulhaq returned to collect his medication he was met with a firm refusal after the prescribing doctor had confirmed suspicions that the inclusion of Viagra had indeed been falsified.
Unsurprisingly, Ulhaq was arrested, admitting to police he had written on both prescriptions but bizarrely claimed he had no intention of getting the Viagra.

His excuse was flimsy at best, claiming he had lost another prescription and had written on those ones to remind himself what had been on there.

Chris Brewin, in mitigation, said: “Mr Ulhaq is extremely unwell. He has spinal problems which affect his mobility. Daily life for Mr Ulhaq is extremely difficult. He was prescribed Viagra but what happened was the separate prescription became soiled, and the solution was to add Viagra to another prescription. He knows this was wrong. He is very disappointed to find himself back before the court.”

Magistrate Patricia Boyce-Forgenie concluded: “It is very serious. You are on a lot of medication and do not know how Viagra would have interacted with the other medication. It was very risky thing to do.”

Scientific breakthrough made for hair loss treatments

A new breakthrough by British scientists has raised hope for those suffering with hair loss, and the therapy may even provide help to victims of burns.

The results of the tests could pave the way for more hair loss treatments for both men and women, after results demonstrated it was possible to grow new hair follicles from human skin cells – basically the cells that contain the ‘instruction book’ for growing new hair.

Tests are still at an early stage, but the scientists from Durham University in the UK and Columbia University in the U.S. claim that their findings represent a huge breakthrough in treating hair loss that effects millions of men and women around the world, often causing a great deal of distress.

Not only this, but it seems a 40-year wait could be over in the futile efforts to successfully regenerate the crucial structures in the skin that enable hair to grow.

Human hair follicles are incredibly difficult to replicate in a laboratory environment, but the new technique has shown evidence they can be stimulated to grow in skin tissue and also to generate hair shafts.

Currently, expensive hair transplants notoriously used by footballer Wayne Rooney involve the surgeon transplanting hair follicles from the back of the head (where there is plentiful hair) to where it is needed at the front. Therefore, they are simply redistributing already present hair compared to the new technique which could significantly boost the amount of hairs on the head.

Columbia University researcher Dr Angela Christiano, herself a sufferer of alopecia and experiences clumps of hair falling out, said the research “has the potential to transform the medical treatment of hair loss”.

“Our method…has the potential to actually grow new follicles using a patient’s own cells. This could greatly expand the utility of hair-restoration surgery to women and to younger patients – now it is largely restricted to the treatment of male-pattern baldness in patients with stable disease. It could make hair transplantation available to individuals with a limited number of follicles, including those with female-pattern hair loss, scarring alopecia and hair loss due to burns,” she said.

The team of scientists started extracting tiny cells called dermal papillae from strips of human hair cells. These cells are located at the base of a hair and contain the ‘instruction book’ for the successful growth of new hair.

Next, they cloned the cells in a dish, making sure they had several copies of each cell. Similar procedures have been done previously but without any results in getting the cells grow hair after they have been put back into skin.

The Anglo-American team decided to turn the dish of cells upside down, to help them to form into the clumps found in nature. These clumps were transplanted into human skin grafted onto the backs of mice.

It was found that the cells from each of the seven human donors grew hairs and in some cases, the tufts broke through the skin.

Although the hairs were white in colour, Durham researcher Professor Colin Jahoda is optimistic it should be possible to create coloured hair and by using a sample of a person’s own cells, any new hair should be very similar in texture and curliness.

“It’s a key step because it is saying that you can multiply the process. It’s not just about one-for-one replacement. But you need to get hair that is the right colour and texture and this will need further work before human clinical trials can begin,” he said.

The cost to patients is still yet to be determined as clinical trials need to be carried out first. However, it is likely to be cheaper than hair transplants which can range anywhere in price from £6,000 all the way up to £30,000 per patient.

Website showing ghastly effects of smoking is launched as Stoptober enters final week

As we enter the final seven days of the Stoptober challenge, Medical Specialists Pharmacy would like to say a huge well done to the thousands of you who have made it this far and good luck in your quest to hopefully remain smoke-free for the rest of 2013 and beyond!

Stoptober is basically just October…without the cigarettes! Health experts say that if you stop smoking for 28 days you are in fact five times more likely to actually remain smoke-free for good!

Almost 21,000 followers have been amassed on the Stoptober Twitter page, as fellow smokers encourage each other on through the month.  In addition to helping each other with words of encouragement, smokers can still receive their free support pack as well as regular text messages that help to keep you focused, daily emails packed full of useful tips and advice, and there is even an interactive mobile app for iPhone and Android smartphones.

If you still need reasons or motivation to quit, this month has seen the interactive website ‘Tobacco Body’ launched by Finnish doctors in conjunction with the Cancer Society of Finland.

Users can first select the female or male body, and then browse through different areas such as ‘acne’, ‘face’, ‘hair’, etc. to see quite disturbing effects of smoking. It is plainly obvious to see the damage when the healthier non-smoker’s portion of the body is juxtaposed against the post-smoking side.
If it’s not bad enough that looks are severely impacted, smokers are at double the risk of a blood clot and usually have a worsened sex life. Male smokers have decreased blood flow to the penis, and are twice as likely as non-smokers to suffer with erectile dysfunction.

Smokers’ sperm density is also negatively affected, with the toxins in cigarettes diminishing both concentration and mobility of sperm cells in semen, harming the cell’s structure, according to the website.

With regards to skin, the website explains “smokers are more likely to get spots as smoking weakens the circulation which increases the risk of infection. It also make acne more difficult to deal with.”
Women smokers may not be aware of this fact, but the site also describes that smoking can actually cause hair growth on the face and arms as smoking increases levels of the male hormone, testosterone. However, there is good news in that acne and excessive hair growth in women can be treated through medications such as Dianette or Yasmin.

One person who is well on the way to permanently stubbing out cigarettes is Mike Wellings, finance director at Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

Mike, a bit fitness fanatic, was finding his stamina being limited because of smoking, saying: “I play lots of sport but I’ve found that smoking really impacts my performance. There’s also the combination of family pressure and health reasons. And, of course, I work in a hospital and it’s important to set an example.”

Like so many who wish to quit smoking, Mike decided to turn to the smoking cessation medication Champix to get him through Stoptober and beyond.

He explained: He said: “I actually started the course on the Sunday before Stoptober started. I used to smoke about 20 a day and now it’s gone down to about three. Champix makes it taste disgusting. And I’ve been drinking lots of fluids to combat the cravings too. I’ve been smoking for nearly 30 years. I tried quitting before, about four years ago when I was in Doncaster, and I managed to stop for three months. Then one day work got the better of me and I had a cigarette.  Everyone has been really supportive this time. I’m taking it just one day at a time.”

If you are a smoker who is aged 18 or above and wants to quit, you can quit today with the help of Medical Specialists Pharmacy. You can obtain the smoking cessation medication Champix following an online consultation with one of Medical Specialists’ GMC registered doctors. Champix works out from as little as just £75.00 per pack and mimics the effect of nicotine on the body, and as Mike Wellings discovered, decreases the enjoyment of smoking if you decide to have a cigarette whilst on the treatment.

A quarter of university students get an STI in their first year

University life is not always a time for studying, as many former students will be aware of. However the phrase “work hard, play harder” may be taken to extreme lengths by many of today’s University students, to the extent that they are putting their health at risk.

Research suggests that almost of quarter of university students (23%) will contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI) even before completing their first year, and over half (54%) are unable to remember who could have given them the infection, according to the survey conducted by shagatuni.com.

From the respondents, nearly a third (32%) were only made aware of their STI after a sexual partner who had been diagnosed had then contacted them. An additional 27% found out after using a testing kit, such as the popular Clamelle chlamydia test kit.

In fact, it is chlamydia which is the STI most likely to be contracted, with 59% of those who had caught an STI having chlamydia – curable through antibiotic chlamydia treatment. Interestingly, three quarters of all chlamydia diagnoses in the UK are people aged between 15 and 24. After chlamydia, herpes (18%) and genital warts (14%) were the next common STIs to have been caught.

Herpes treatment includes antiviral drugs and creams such as Valtrex and Zovirax, whilst genitals warts treatment options include Aldara cream. All can be obtained today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy.

The results from poll of 2,177 young graduates alarming reckless attitude and a huge lack of regard for the practice of safe sex; 89% confessing that had not bothered to use a condom for most of their sexual encounters whilst at university.

Only those who had stayed single throughout university were quizzed, with other findings showing that 73% were under the influence of alcohol for the majority of the times they had sex.

Perhaps the most worrying stat was that 67% of the graduates claimed they would rather risk contracting an STI than wear a condom. It is an absurd finding especially when you do not need to walk into a shop, chemist, etc. anymore to buy condoms and online pharmacies such as Medical Specialists offer 72 individually wrapped Durex Performa condoms for just £60.

The survey also showed which university courses have the most ‘sexually free’ students within them. Those studying drama and dance seem to be the most promiscuous, averaging a respective 28 and 25 partners each while at university. The full top ten was:

1. Drama/Theatre Studies – 28
2. Dance – 25
3. Media Studies/PR – 22
4. Biology students – 19
5. Philosophy and ethics – 17
6. English – 15
7. Sports science – 13
8. History of Art s – 13
9. Law – 11
10. Geography – 10

The creator of the website which conducted the poll, Tom Thurlow, said he didn’t want to put students off sex, but hopes that young people will take safe sex a lot more seriously and start to use condoms.

He said: “I decided to carry out this study as the site always notices a huge increase in new members to the website during fresher’s weeks, as this is obviously when many of the members will be meeting up with individuals they have met on the site for casual sex. I do not believe that being promiscuous and having casual sex are bad traits, however I am passionate about promoting safe sex, as well as the use of condoms amongst the student population of the UK.”

People begin to worry about their lifestyle habits at the age of 39

You are never too old to make positive lifestyle changes. Stopping smoking, exercising more, losing weight, eating better, etc. are often things we think about doing, but never quite get around to them.
However, the results of new research indicate that Brits will typically wait until just before they reach the big ’4-0′ before experiencing a ‘health wake-up call’ and making these lifestyle improvements.

It seems at the age of 39 is when we start to fret about all the bad dietary and lifestyle habits we have had over the previous few decades, and what implications these may have for our long-term health.
The worry is so severe amongst people around this age that three quarters actually go to drastic lengths to try and turn things around and make big lifestyle alterations such as giving up cigarettes, starting to exercise more, eat more fruit and vegetables, or even quit their job.

The new study quizzed 2,000 adults aged 25 and over about their lifestyle habits and discovered that a whopping 85% are starting to be concerned about the impact to their health that their current lifestyle will have.

Over half of the participants commented that they are starting to eat more fruit and vegetables, with 45% adopting a more balanced diet than they have in the past, whilst 49% have begun to do more exercise.

Other popular lifestyle changes were reducing alcohol intake, starting to take health or vitamin supplements, and cutting back on the amount of fried food or takeaways eaten.

The biggest motivation for kick-starting positive lifestyle changes seemed to be ‘starting to feel old’, and 16% had suffered a minor health scare which had prompted them to change for the better.
A milestone birthday had encouraged an additional 15% of respondents to worry about their health, whilst one in ten decided to make changes following a friend or family member suffering an illness as a result of a lifestyle choice.

Professor Alf Lindberg, Science Director and brains behind the ‘tomato pill’ Ateronon, commented: “I have spent a lifetime dedicated to preventing and curing diseases. But it never ceases to amaze me how easily people are prepared to throw away their good health by abusing their bodies with poor diet, booze and lack of exercise. This survey is yet more evidence of that – it seems that people leave it until they reach the age of 39 before they start to take their health seriously. Research shows us that the more you look after yourself in your early years, the more likely you are to live a longer and healthier life.”

Top ten lifestyle changes

1.     Eat more fruit and vegetables.
2.     Do more exercise.
3.     Have a more balanced diet.
4.     Eat less fried food/takeaways.
5.     Cut back on alcohol.
6.     Take vitamin/health supplements.
7.     Learn to relax/take time out.
8.     Give up smoking.
9.     Cut down on the number of cigarettes.
10.    Stop drinking alcohol.

Top ten wake-up calls

1.     Starting to feel old.
2.     A minor health scare.
3.     Reaching a milestone birthday.
4.     A serious health scare.
5.     A friend falling ill due to their lifestyle.
6.     The death of a friend or relative.
7.     Being told off by a doctor.
8.     Watching something on TV.
9.     Reading an article in a newspaper.
10.    Research on the internet.

Health watchdog warn doctors not to blame obese patients for being fat

Doctors have been warned to refrain from blaming and pointing the finger at patients for being overweight or obese.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have created new draft guidance for tackling obesity, and in particularly the correct manner in dealing with obese patients. In the past NICE have asked doctors to actually stop saying the word “obese” as it may be deemed “derogatory”.

All doctors, GPs and other health professionals should now strive for a more sensitive tone which is “respectful” and “non-blaming” as this will “minimise harm”, according to the health watchdog.
Rather than looking at short-term and temporary weight loss, the guidance on lifestyle weight management programmes will aim to help overweight and obese people to both lose weight and then maintain the healthier weight, focusing on achievable goals, with positive long-term lifestyle changes.

NICE advise that more patients should be referred “lifestyle weight management” programmes such as Weight Watchers as programmes which thoroughly assess their diet, levels of activity and behaviour may save money in the long-term. Specifically, adults with a BMI in excess of 30 kg/m² and those identified as overweight or obese through the NHS Health Check or other services should be referred to these programmes.

Obesity is linked to a huge range of serious health problems such as type-2 diabetes, certain cancers (e.g. breast and prostate cancer), arthritis, heart disease (from smoking and high cholesterol), infertility, asthma, back pain, depression and kidney disease.

NICE say that such conditions, and the many more that have been linked to obesity, place a massive strain on the already stretched NHS, costing an estimated £5.1 billion each and every year and “placing a huge strain on the health service”.

Professor Mike Kelly, director of the centre for public health at Nice, said: “Being overweight or obese can have serious consequences for an individual’s health, not only physically with increased risk of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, but it can also affect their mental health as a result of stigma and bullying or discrimination. Levels of obesity in England are rising, with a little over a quarter of adults classified as obese and a further 41% of men and 33% of women overweight.
Professor Kelly continued: “This is a huge proportion of our population. This new draft guidance focuses on the provision of effective lifestyle weight management services and makes a number of recommendations to ensure that the providers of programmes whether from the private, public, or voluntary sector follow good, evidence-based practice.This draft guidance isn’t about quick fixes, it is about ensuring lifestyle weight management services support people in the long-term. Programmes that address diet, activity and behaviour change can help people who are obese lose weight but they are only cost-effective if the weight is kept off.”

Complaints made against doctors are increasing

New figures indicate that the number of complaints being made against doctors by patients, and even by their fellow colleagues, is on the increase.

Data from the General Medical Council (GMC) show that complaints against doctors has actually more than doubled in the space of five years.

Back in 2007 there were just under 4,000 complaints recorded. However, by 2012 this had soared to 8,109.

The figure of 8,109 had increased by 24% on the previous year (2011) and represents a staggering 104% rise from 2007’s data.

It was found that the majority of complaints were made by the doctors’ patients, or friends and family the patient, and between 2007 and 2012 the overall number of complaints emanating from members of the public increased by 87% to 5,014.

Alarmingly though, a significant amount of complaints are being made by doctors’ colleagues and employers, with their fitness to practice being brought to question.

The GMC attempted to defend the figures and put the rise down to patients having a much higher expectation of doctors compared to previous times, and more doctors now willing to voice their concerns about colleagues if they disagree with something.

The report stated: “These patterns should be seen in the context of increasing patient expectations and demand for healthcare – one calculation suggests that there has been a 28 per cent increase since 2001.”

Overall, over half of the total complaints related to poor clinical care, or both poor clinical care and how the doctor communicated with their patient.

Typically it was found that when one doctor would complain about another, their unhappiness was due to a colleague’s criminal conviction or because of a conflict of interest.

In terms of which group were the most frequent complainers from the public, those between the ages 46 and 60 were most likely to complain, and GPs more than other doctors were more commonly the subject of their ire.

Male doctors received twice as many complaints than their female counterparts, with over a fifth of male GPs receiving at least one complaint between 2007 and 2013.

Professor Sir Peter Rubin, chair of the GMC, commented: “Overall the standard of care that patients receive in the UK is good and doctors continue to deserve the trust and respect of the public. The GMC has an important role to play in protecting patients and ensuring that doctors practice to the highest possible standard. Complaints from members of the public, doctors and other professionals are invaluable in helping us to do this. Complaints also give the health service a chance to reflect and improve the care that patients receive. However what our report shows is that some patients don’t know where to go to raise a concern about their treatment and more needs to be done to help them raise issues. Making a complaint about a doctor can be stressful and it is important that concerns are raised with the right organisation so patients are not passed from pillar to post.”

Be Clear on Cancer initiative hopes to fight spiralling kidney cancer cases

Today will see a new public health campaign launched across the UK in an effort to raise awareness about kidney cancer after health officials have found the number of diagnoses in England to have soared by almost a third in the last 10 years.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu and referee Dave Nixon took part in a photoshoot at the Hawthorns to promote Be Clear on Cancer initiative, and were later joined by fans and even mascot Baggie the Bird to show the new heat-sensitive urinals at the stadium.

When used, they will display the words: “If you notice blood in your pee, even if it’s just once, tell your doctor.” The posters will hopefully be effective at alerting fans who could be at risk of bladder and kidney cancers.

Following away fixtures at Stoke City and Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion will play at home against struggling Crystal Palace on November 2 – the first game where the heat-reactive posters will be utilised.

The Be Clear on Cancer campaign primarily looks to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and urging anyone with symptoms to visit their doctor immediately, before it is too late.
The campaign will be advertised on TV, radio, and in print and until November 20, in the hope that thousands of lives can be saved each year.

In fact, according to Cancer Research UK, an estimated 16,600 people in England are diagnosed with bladder and kidney cancers each year, resulting in 7,500 deaths. The number of deaths from kidney cancer alone has risen by 7% in the last 10 years.

Sean Duffy, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: “Over the last ten years we have seen the incidence rate of kidney cancer increase by 31%, which is a substantial climb and largely down to unhealthy lifestyles. Although survival rates have been improving, this rise in cases has led to an increase in the number of deaths from the disease. As an increasing number of people are affected by kidney cancer, it’s important that the public are aware of the early signs to look out for, such as blood in pee. Only then will we see an increase in early diagnosis rates and a further positive impact on England’s survival rate.”

Singer Peter Andre, tragically lost his brother Andrew, 54, to kidney cancer last year, and is throwing his full support behind the drive to increase cancer awareness. He said: “I can’t urge you enough, if you spot blood in your pee, even if it’s just the once, visit your GP as soon as possible.”

Unfortunately, in the majority of cases, there are no symptoms in the early stages of kidney cancer. Mid-to advanced-stage kidney cancer is when symptoms are usually evident such as the aforementioned blood in your urine, and you may also suffer with a constant pain underneath your ribs and have a lump in your abdomen (stomach).

Visit your GP if you notice blood in your urine. It may not be kidney cancer you have – usually determined via an ultrasound scan – but the blood in your urine may be the result of a less serious condition such as kidney stone or bladder stone and these still require treatment.

The exact cause(s) of kidney cancer are still unknown, but the main risk factors for developing the disease are through smoking, obesity and a family history.

South London stroke rates drop by 40% since 1995, statins credited

A new study has found that the incidence of strokes in a large area of South London has declined by more than a third during the 15 years between 1995 and 2010.

Researchers from King’s College in London say that the number of people suffering from strokes has fell by 39.5% in that time period in the area. Incidence of strokes was calculated at 247 per 100,000 people in 1995, however it was only 149.5 per 100,000 in 2010.

Approximately 152,000 people each year in the United Kingdom suffer from a stroke. There are two main types of stroke – ischaemic and haemorrhagic. The former accounts for a staggering 80% of all cases of stroke. An ischaemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is prevented by either a blood clot or clump of fat. There is a high risk of a blood clot if your arteries have narrowed and clogged with fatty deposits; known as atherosclerosis. Major risk factors for atherosclerosis include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and a family history of heart disease or stroke.

A haemorrhagic type of stroke is brought on due a weakened blood vessel supplying the brain rupturing and resulting in bleeding into the surrounding brain and brain damage. Two types of weakened blood vessels will typically cause a haemorrhagic stroke: aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs).

The researchers involved in the new study say the decline may be attributed to more people adopting a healthier lifestyle and the positive effects of cholesterol-lowering medications (statins), such as Lipitor (Atorvastatin) and Crestor (Rosuvastatin). Both drugs work to lower LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, and raise patients’ good HDL levels. It is estimated that statins are currently prescribed to an incredible 7 million in the United Kingdom – around a tenth of the population.

The team from King’s College looked at data extracted from the South London Stroke register, a database that covers an area with over 350,000 people in.

They found that rates of stroke incidence generally had fallen in men, women, white patients and those over the age of 45. However, similar declines in rates were not evident in those aged 15 to 44, or black patients, according to the researchers.

“We observed a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in black patients compared with white patients in each of the four time periods in all age groups,” they commented.

“Other possible explanations for ethnic disparities include cultural differences in perceptions of health and the health care system, environmental exposures, genetic factors, socioeconomic status, and educational attainment.”

Professsor Graham MacGregor, chairman of charity Blood Pressure UK, said advances in medical knowledge had resulted in much more effective treatments being available for patients.

“We’ve got better blood pressure drugs and they are used more effectively. In the past GPs would prescribe one drug. We now know they work more effectively in combination, and they are often more acceptable to patients, with fewer side effects, so they take them and don’t leave them in the medicines cupboard. Statins cut the risk of stroke by 30 to 40 per cent so they have also played a part, but we need to do more.”

Dr Madina Kara, researcher at the Stroke Association, was clearly delighted with the findings from the study. She said: “It’s encouraging to see such a striking reduction in the number of people having a stroke in the past 16 years. Public health campaigns around the risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure and smoking are helping people to take control of their health and reduce their risk of stroke. This reduction, however, is not being mirrored in those under 45 years old, and the black population, where the incidence of stroke remains high.”

She also explained why certain sectors of the population could be more at risk compared to others. “We know that the African-Caribbean community are at greater risk of sickle cell disease, diabetes and high blood pressure – conditions that can lead to stroke. This means they are twice as likely to have a stroke compared to the white population. In addition, haemorrhagic stroke, caused by bleeding within or around the brain, is more common in younger adults,” she said.

Dr Kara added: “Stroke changes lives in an instant and can have a devastating physical and emotional impact on not only the stroke survivor, but their family and carers as well. To help reduce stroke across the whole population, we all need to take steps to reduce our risk.”

Ladies: Kissing is the key to finding your Mr Darcy!

A word of advice/warning for any man who fancies himself as the next Fitzwilliam Darcy – or more commonly known as ‘Mr Darcy’, scientists believe that the suitability of a potential mate is helped to be determined through kissing.

A theory is that kissing apparently lets a person know a lot about the other person through taste, smell and fitness, and is particularly important in helping women to pick her future husband because of this. Whereas others say that kissing can help to boost the strength of relationships, and leads to sex by heightening arousal. Whichever way you look at it, it seems kissing is important!

It has created intrigue for anthropologists over the years as to just why kissing is so important however, especially when it is something universally done among potential lovers and can even be taken for granted, but they think they have an answer at last.

The research, published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour journal, was also trying to find why humans above all other animals, kiss quite frequently.

It could be in fact that those with a large number of potential suitors could be picky about who they decide to settle down with and kissing could be a method of finding their ‘one’.

Professor Robin Dunbar of Liverpool University, one of the authors behind the study, confirmed that their study on 900 men and women showed that kissing is crucial for the Ms Bennets of the world who are still trying to find their own Mr Darcy.

The 900 volunteers were asked how important they believed kissing to be in the beginning stages of a relationship, with a long-term partner, and immediately before, during or after sex.

Maybe unsurprisingly, the online study discovered that women regarded kissing as to be of more importance than their male counterparts, but that men and women who rate themselves as being good-looking and usually have short-term relationships – i.e. people usually more likely to be selective –  are more likely to rate kissing higher than other men and women. It could be that kissing works as a type of compatibility/suitability test for this group.

“Mate choice and courtship in humans is complex. It involves a series of periods of assessments where people ask themselves ‘shall I carry on deeper into this relationship?’ Initial attraction may include facial, body and social cues. The assessments become more and more intimate as we go deeper into the courtship sage, and this is where kissing comes in,” Professor Dunbar said.

He added: “In choosing partners, we have to deal with the Jane Austen problem: how long do you wait for Mr Darcy to come along when you can’t wait forever and there may be lots of women waiting just for him? At what point do you have to compromise for the curate?”

Professor Dunbar says the study demonstrates the importance of kissing in helping people assess the genetic fitness or desirability of a potential mate.

“What Jane Austen realised is that people are extremely good at assessing where they are in the mating market and pitch their demands accordingly,” Professor Dunbar said. “It depends what kind of poker hand you’ve been dealt. If you have a strong bidding hand, you can afford to be much more demanding and choosy when it comes to prospective mates. We see some of that coming out in the results of our survey, suggesting that kissing plays a role in assessing a potential partner.”

GSK’s malaria vaccine could be in use by 2015

The world’s very first malaria vaccine could finally be available in 2015 and in widespread use after “significant” results were shown during an ongoing clinical trial. This would offer a significant boost alongside current options for malaria treatment and prevention.

British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) are behind the development of the new vaccine and say they will be submitting an application for a licence from the European Medicines Agency in the new year.

The vaccine, currently being referred to as RTS, S, has been developed by both GSK together with the non-profit Path Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI), supported by funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Trial data has so far been promising in the quest to fight a deadly disease which kills an estimated 660,000 people every year.

RTS, S is one of 20 such vaccines in development, but looks on course to be the first to receive European Medicines Agency approval following hugely encouraging results from Africa’s largest ever clinical trial, involving almost 15,500 babies and children across seven African countries.

Testing showed that after 18 of receiving their vaccination, infants aged between five to 17 months were an incredible 46% less at risk of malaria in comparison to those unvaccinated.  However, infants aged six to 12 weeks when vaccinated were only 27% less at risk.

If the vaccine is fully proved to be safe and effective for use, the World Health Organisation has suggested they are willing to support its widespread use from 2015 onwards. GSK have said they will help to provide fund research into tropical diseases by selling the vaccine at cost price plus 5%, and scientists will next investigate whether a ‘booster dose’ can lengthen protection against malaria in the long-term.

Halidou Tinto, one of the study’s principal investigators, is greatly excited by the vaccines possibilities, saying it had “the potential to have a significant public health impact.”

Tinto commented: “Many millions of malaria cases fill the wards of our hospitals. Progress is being made with bed nets and other measures, but we need more tools to battle this terrible disease.”

GSK chief executive Sir Andrew Witty said: “While we have seen some decline in vaccine efficacy over time, the sheer number of children affected by malaria means that the number of cases of the disease the vaccine can help prevent is impressive. These data support our decision to submit a regulatory application for the vaccine candidate which, if successful, would bring us a step closer to having an additional tool to fight this deadly disease.”

David Lalloo, professor of tropical medicine at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: “We’ve known about this vaccine for a number of years now and all the studies have shown that it affects around 50 per cent and in younger age groups who don’t have such a good immune response that is down to around 30 per cent. The other concern is that there have been several studies that show it wanes over time…there are still uncertainties about duration and effects. Having said that, given the huge number of malaria deaths and malaria cases, even a relatively small reduction has the potential to make a big difference.”

High-tech iGrow Hair Growth System uses lasers to re-grow lost hair

The battle against hair loss has a new futuristic-looking device in its arsenal, in the form of a new high-tech helmet that will apparently help to regrow hairs through the use of lasers.

Setting users back a whopping £665, the iGrow Hair Growth System utilises low-level laser therapy (LLLT) – 51 low-level red laser and LED lights. The creators Apira Science claim the device will strengthen cells within the hair follicles, and benefit those experiencing thinning hair, hereditary baldness, or have other hair loss conditions.

The iGrow helmet should be worn for 25 minutes, and to prevent the person feeling bored, it comes equipped with an iPod and MP3 interface, in addition to some headphones built-in for good measure.
Just a few months ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the iGrow specifically for the promotion of hair growth in males who have androgenetic alopecia and is attainable by prescription only.

However, Apira CEO Nicholas Brox commented in a news release that Apira are attempting to receive authorisation for iGrow to be an over-the-counter product, in addition to be available to women too.

Apira have made bold claims about the iGrow and say it is ‘zero’ side-effects, is safe and effective, and provides a minimum of 35-40% increase in hair growth – with results apparently evident within just six weeks. However, there will be a nine month wait for the iGrow to properly take effect. This is more of a wait than the popular hair loss treatment Finasteride (Propecia), which has been shown to prevent further hair loss and promote the re-growth of scalp hair in roughly 80% of patients within three to six months.

Giving his opinion about the iGrow device, which bears a resemblance to an old salon hairdryer, Dr Thomy Kouremada-Zioga, hair transplant surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street, commented: “Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is a safe form of light treatment which has long been explored as a potential resolution to genetic forms of hair loss common in men and women, like androgenetic alopecia or pattern balding. It is intended for men and women with thinning hair or pattern baldness caused by a hereditary condition, and not by any other form of hair loss.”

He added: “This technology is not particularly new; it is something that has been around for many years in different forms. For example, for many years now I have recommended certain patients (both men and women) use a laser comb, which is a very similar device to the iGrow Hair Growth System. A laser comb like this also works with LLLT technology, but is a much smaller device. From the patients I have seen who have gone on to use the system, I can see that it can offer some positive effects when used in conjunction with a product which stimulates hair growth like Regaine. However, it is very unlikely that a patient who is losing their hair will see any form of major restoration by using the device. It may cause some of the thin hair on the patient’s head to look slightly thicker and healthier, but the patient is unlikely to see any form of actual re-growth. Before investing in a system like this, it is important that the man or woman understands exactly what is causing their hair loss; something which a hair loss specialist will be able to determine. Investing in a device like this may offer no long-term solution at all to the patient and it should not be viewed as a viable long-term hair restoration method.”

Hair-raising facts

. After you are born, no new hair follicles are formed.
. Approximately 100,000 hair follicles cover the average scalp.
. Half of all men have thinning hair by the time they reach the age of 50.
. Male pattern baldness accounts for 95% of hair loss cases in men.
. Male pattern baldness can actually be inherited from the mother’s or father’s side.
. Male pattern baldness can start in your teens, or as late as your 30s.

L’Oreal anti-ageing products leave woman with blistered face for six months

A 66-year-old woman was left suffering with horrifying blisters and swelling to the face within days after starting to use products from the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew anti-ageing range.

Marlene Corrall, like so many patients who come to Medical Specialists, was looking for effective anti-wrinkle treatments that would leave her skin appearing refresher, replenished and rejuvenated.
Unfortunately, Ms Corrall, from Leicestershire, was left feeling anything but all that after suffering an extremely severe allergic reaction following the application of three L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Renew anti-ageing products on her face.

Describing her horrific experience, Ms Corrall says: “When I went into my local chemist I spotted the L’Oreal Revitalift range and decided to give it a try, but it was the biggest mistake I ever made, after the reaction I had. Within two days of using the creams, my face started to swell and break out in painful red blisters which spread all over my face. I was really frightened, especially as I have always taken great pride in my skin.”

She says she has been trying various anti-wrinkle creams since her mid-30s and has never previously encountered any such problems like this in those thirty years and puts effort into trying to keep her skin looking as healthy as possible.

Ms Corrall says she had to take two weeks off work from her role as a senior carer due to the pain she was in and also go through a gruelling six months of recovery, which involved being prescribed steroids as well as penicillin by her GP to try and control the severe reaction her skin was having to the L’Oreal products.

She continued: She said: “I have been left with acute dermatitis and there is still a bit of puffiness under my cheekbones. I try to look after myself so this has really knocked my confidence. I never had any problems with my skin. I am very healthy and look after myself but now I have been left with skin problems as a result when all I wanted to do was look my best.”

Following an expensive £130 visit to a private doctor, the problem was found to be due to a chemical contained in the L’Oreal anti-wrinkle creams; methylisothiazolinone. Known as ‘MI’, it is used to extend the shelf life of household goods and cosmetics. It can be found in shower gels, deodorants, cleansers and moist tissue wipes.

Ms Corrall added: “I cannot believe companies still use this chemical after what it did to my skin. It was terrifying to have my skin react so severely and it knocked my confidence. It took so long to clear up that I have decided that life is too short, and after that happened I had enough – you never know what’s around the corner so life is for enjoying. I am now very careful with products that I use to make sure the ingredients are only natural minerals.”

MI has been blamed by health experts for a surge in dangerous allergic reactions. Only last month cosmetic giant Johnson & Johnson spoke of their concerns, and are now taking the chemical out of many products, including its best-selling Piz Buin sun cream.

“I’d like to see methylisothiazolinone banned or for the industry to go back to levels it was using a few years ago,” says Graham Johnston, a consultant dermatologist at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, who treated Corrall. “People are needing nastier drugs to cure the reaction. One patient had to have an anti-cancer drug and another an anti-rejection drug.”

This story highlights the questionable effectiveness and safety of off-the-shelf anti-wrinkle products. Proven and popular treatments for wrinkles include Akenmycin Plus, Differin Gel, Differin Cream and Epiduo Gel. They are all available today from Medical Specialists Pharmacy following an online consultation with one of our doctors, who will assess the information and medical details you provide to decide your suitability for that treatment. Once authorised by the doctor, your order will be dispense by our in-house pharmacy and dispatched the same day by Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Promescent spray for premature ejaculation set to become a huge hit

A new over-the-counter spray for men suffering with premature ejaculation (PE) could be set to take the world by storm after becoming available in the North American market.

Promescent is the name for the spray which is being referred to as an ‘anti-Viagra’ and as a miracle cure for PE; a condition that can cause deep emotional distress for the male, yet is often ignored in comparison to erectile dysfunction whereby there are a vast array of treatment options such as Viagra, Cialis, Cialis Daily, Levitra, and more.

Absorption Pharmaceuticals are the brains behind the revolutionary topical PE spray, applied to the under-shaft of the penis just 10 minutes prior to sex and will also not transfer to the sexual partner’s vagina if it is washed off, according to Absorption, who give detail on their website what makes Promescent stand out from the crowd.

They say: “Promescent’s absorption technology, in conjunction with the metered-dose spray bottle, enables men to deliver a specific and reproducible amount of lidocaine through the stratum corneum of the penile skin to the dermis and control ejaculation latency. Promescent allows men to easily manage penile sensitivity in order to maintain optimum sexual satisfaction…”

As mentioned above, Promescent contains lidocaine; a topical anaesthesia and this is the same active ingredient as another hugely popular PE spray that is already available in the UK – Stud 100.

Depending on the dose and penis sensitivity, Promescent can last from anywhere ranging from 30 minutes to 1 hour. This should undoubtedly leave both man and woman very satisfied indeed.

The International Society for Sexual Medicine state that PE happens when a man reaches his peak and releases semen soon after penetration. This could be within a minute, but for some men it could be as soon as 15 seconds. For those with a skewed idea of what constitutes ‘premature’ due to a misleading concept of sex from the pornographic industry, it is worth bearing in mind that the average ejaculation time is between an estimated 4 to 8 minutes.

Dr. Ron Gilbert, leader of the research team that developed the spray, commented in an interview that the amount of spray used is quite variable. “One of the nice things about the medication is the dosage can be changed easily,” he said.

“With Promescent the FDA has approved 3 to 10 sprays so you’re able to very, very subtly change the effect, because if four sprays isn’t perfect you can go up to five or six. We hear from patients where this product has brought them from a situation where the bedroom is a place where there’s all this anxiety and disappointment – to where they feel really empowered.”

Jeff Abraham, CEO of Absorption Pharmaceuticals, speaking to CNBC, said: “How can these billion dollar companies in the ED space not come up with a product?”

Mr Abraham recently rejected a $30 million offer for his company on the belief that the market for premature ejaculation treatments could eclipse that of the one for erectile dysfunction treatments – meaning Absorption will be worth a whole lot more than $30 million!

If you are one of the many millions of men around the world who are having premature ejaculation problems, Medical Specialists Pharmacy are able to prescribe Priligy to suitable patients following an online consultation with one of our doctors. Priligy is an oral tablet taken prior to the sexual activity and acts quickly within 60 minutes, only taken when you need it. In addition, we offer Stud 100 spray, obtainable from our chemist shop. Stud 100 delays ejaculation by reducing the sensitivity of the penis, significantly prolonging intercourse and providing greater satisfaction for both partners.

Children aged just five are suffering with depression

Thousands of children in Britain are showing signs of suffering with depression and some are aged as young as five, according to new NHS guidelines.

The National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) say that as many as 80,000 children and young people suffer from severe depression. This figures comprises of more than 8,000 children under 10 years old and NICE say that care and support for these vulnerable people must urgently be revamped and improved.

To help this happen, a quality standard has been released by NICE which discusses improving diagnosis of depression and better management of those aged between 5 to 18 who have the condition.

Many factors are being highlighted as being reasons behind an increase in mental health problems amongst children in the last decade.

For example, cyber bullying connected to more social media use is one major issue which seems to rear its ugly head on a weekly basis and it is a worrying common occurrence that some children even feel depressed enough to take their own lives.

On top of this, a breakdown in family units is being blamed and an increasing number of parents splitting up – often before the child has reached secondary school. In fact school is believed to be another factor behind more cases of depression with tests, exams, coursework, etc. all amounting to extra pressure.

Dr Gemma Trainor, Nurse Consultant, Greater Manchester West Foundation Mental Health Trust, and member of the specialist committee which developed the guidance said: “I have over 30 years of direct clinical experience of children and young people presenting with symptoms of depression. In that time, there have been many changes and trends; over the past ten years, the increase of primary school-age children presenting with depression is a particularly worrying phenomena.”

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns for charity Young Minds, said: “Modern childhood has become really stressful: there are family breakdowns, increasing pressure from school with testing from a very early age, and then the really significant factor in recent years is social media.”

She added: “It used to be the case that while some children might have a hard time at school, they could go home and switch off. Now there isn’t that escape, children are on devices all the time. As well as the problems with cyberbullying, we have developed this culture where even young children are trying to create a brand, based on how they look – which can make girls especially feel very anxious – and about how many Facebook friends they have.”

Those who had assessed children showing signs of depression commented they did not typically fit in with others, had difficulty making friends and were more withdrawn.

Physical symptoms included a diminished appetite, feeling tired often, poor sleeping habits and complaining of having aches and pains.

Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb commented: “Young people’s mental health is a priority for this Government and we have committed £54 million over four years into talking therapies specifically for children and young people through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.”

Obese mum loses 10 stone by using her house as an assault course

A mother of three lost a staggering 10 stone after using aspects of her home as an assault course to do exercises each day.

Gemma Howden, 28, was desperate to slim down after seeing her weight spiral to 19 stone, with a dress size of 26.

However, Gemma couldn’t afford an expensive gym membership so decided to be creative in her quest to shed the pounds and used the only means she had – her house, and the objects inside it!

She used an old baby gate placed at the foot of her stairs as a hurdle and jumped back and forth over the gate hundreds of times each day. Gemma also used her stairs as a stepping course and even did star jumps in front of the TV in her living room.

Not owning any weights or dumbbells, Gemma simply utilised tins of baked beans and spaghetti hoops as weights and lifted them during her tough daily exercise regime.

This would be have effective as it is important to incorporate strength exercises into cardio to more efficiently lose weight and tone up as well, and Gemma looks incredible after her impressive efforts.
Reminiscing to her heavier days, Gemma says: “I was absolutely enormous, I couldn’t bare to look in the mirror or have my photos taken. I hated the sight of myself so much I wouldn’t pose for pictures with my kids. To curb my unhappiness I’d stuff myself with a Chinese takeaway for four and then tuck into a giant slab of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk.”

Gemma got the motivation to kick-start a weight loss plan and turn her life around after looking through old photo albums and realising she wasn’t actually in many of the pictures with her children.
She says: “I felt so sad and I realised I was too ashamed to be in pictures because I was such a fat blob. I am 28 and I felt 65. I was puffing and panting everywhere.”

Gemma did her punishing exercise regime literally hundreds and hundreds of times to lose weight, beginning by running up and down the stairs. Whilst her children were watching TV in the living she would be jogging on the spot and after putting them to bed she would do hundreds of reps with large tins of beans and spaghetti.

Gemma’s weight loss story should be an inspiration to anyone looking to lose weight and is a shining example that results can be attained with the willpower and motivation to succeed. Weighing at a healthy 9 stone, she has binned her baggy t-shirts and now wears tight fitting dresses.

She added: “I’d pull the curtains to stop the neighbours seeing me in action – it would have been so embarrassing. But the results have paid off and now I’m ten stone lighter. Now I’m no longer the fat mother at the school gates and my kids’ friends don’t make fun of me. I feel absolutely amazing. When I tell people I lost 10 stone after turning my house into a boot camp they don’t believe it. But it’s absolutely true. I’m living proof that you don’t need a gym to shed the weight. A few cans of baked beans and a baby gate will do just the same job.”

If you are motivated by Gemma’s incredible story and want to lose weight, this can be achieved through weight loss aids in addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle. The prescription medication Xenical is suitable for those with a BMI over 27, whereas there are other medications that do not require a prescription such as Alli and XLS-Medical Fat Binder. To be suitable for Alli or XLS-Medical Fat Binder you must have a BMI of over 25. To find out more information on how to obtain them, visit the ‘Obesity’ area of the Medical Specialists Pharmacy website.