Graphic anti-smoking campaign targets users of roll-up cigarettes

A new anti-smoking campaign has been launched by Public Health England (PHE), aiming to alert smokers to some of the lesser known damages to the body that smoking does.

Most of us are aware that smoking dramatically raises the risk of developing a whole range of types of cancer such as colon, mouth and throat, in addition to heart disease and strokes, but many people aren’t aware that smoking can also cause health problems such as osteoporosis and is detrimental to fertility levels.

The graphic online and billboard campaign – depicting a rolled-up cigarette filled with decaying bodily tissue – is primarily targeting users of roll-up cigarettes, warning them that these types of cigarettes are just as damaging to the human body as conventional manufactured cigarettes, focusing on the harm inflicted to the brain, bones and muscles, teeth and eyes.

The campaign also aims to once and for all extinguish the common myths that still exist with regards to hand-rolled tobacco, or roll-ups. PHE say that a considerable number of people that smoke these are under the incorrect belief that they are safer than conventional cigarettes, despite evidence showing that hand-rolled cigarettes are at the very least just as hazardous as other kinds of cigarettes.
However, the number of people turning to roll-ups seems to be on the increase – perhaps because they are under the misconception the roll-ups are safer for them. Back in 1990, 18% of male smokers and 2% of female smokers stated that they primarily used hand-rolled cigarettes, but by 2013 this had jumped to 40% for men and 23% for women.

Not many people may be aware but smokers are actually 59% more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and 53% more likely to have cognitive impairment, say PHE. It gets worse – smokers are also at a 79% higher risk of suffering with chronic back pain, a 25% higher chance of bone fracture and are at a 40% increased risk of breaking a hip. In addition, smokers are generally more likely to suffer with age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, the PHE chief medical officer, said: “Significant numbers of smokers are now using roll-ups without realising that gram for gram of tobacco they are just as unsafe as ordinary cigarettes. The research we have got suggests that people think it’s safer to smoke a roll-up up but they are wrong, it is not safe. No tobacco is safe and gram for gram it is as harmful as ordinary cigarettes.

This is our third hard-hitting campaign. The first was about cancer, the second was about heart attacks and strokes, and this one is about the general rot that tobacco does to your body. We have evaluated the other two campaigns and they have had real impact on the public and that has then fed through into orders for quit kits and people stopping smoking.”

Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director for Health and Wellbeing for PHE, added: “Much of the harm caused by smoking doesn’t become obvious until middle age but the invisible damage can start shockingly early – even by the late teens.

“The earlier a smoker quits the better, but quitting at any age can help reverse at least some of the damage. That’s why there is no time better than now to quit. Stop smoking and stop the rot.”

Lifting weights could be the key for avoiding obesity

By now most of you will be feeling the after-effects of the hectic Christmas period as all those turkey dinners, mince pies and alcoholic drinks begin to creep onto the waistline.

However, the findings of a new study show that weightlifting could be the key for winning the battle of the bulge and maintaining a flatter stomach, as opposed to aerobic exercise such as cycling or running.

Although the typical ‘macho’ gym-goer is often the source of ridicule from many people, it seems those lifting weights on a regular basis may actually have a much greater chance of avoiding a middle-aged spread around the belly, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Lead author Dr Rania Mekary, from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)’s Department of Nutrition, and colleagues looked at the levels of physical activity, waist circumference (in centimetres), and body weight of 10,500 healthy American men aged 40 who had been involved in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study during the years 1996 to 2008.

An analysis was conducted of variations in the participants’ activity levels over the 12 years to see which kind of exercise had the biggest impact on the men’s weight and waistlines.

It was discovered that the men who spent 20 minutes each day engaging in weight training actually had less of an increase in abdominal fat in comparison to those that had completed 20 minutes per day doing moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise.

Published online in the journal Obesity, the findings demonstrate the longstanding argument from many that both weight training and aerobic activities have the best results for keeping weight gain at bay. However, the two compared side-by-side indicated that weight training resulted in less gain to the men’s waistline.

Unsurprisingly, those who increased their sedentary behaviours, such as watching television, had bigger gains to their waistline.

“Because ageing is associated with sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass, relying on body weight alone is insufficient for the study of healthy ageing,” said Dr Mekary.

“Measuring waist circumference is a better indicator of healthy body composition among older adults. Engaging in resistance training or, ideally, combining it with aerobic exercise could help older adults lessen abdominal fat while increasing or preserving muscle mass.”

“This study underscores the importance of weight training in reducing abdominal obesity, especially among the elderly,” added Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at HSPH and senior author of the study.

“To maintain a healthy weight and waistline, it is critical to incorporate weight training with aerobic exercise,” said Frank.

Painkillers linked to reduced skin cancer risk

New research suggests that regularly taking common painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen could help to reduce the risk of developing a form of skin cancer.

An Australian analysis into nine past studies found that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were effective in decreasing the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 18%. This kind of cancer is the second most common type of skin cancer in the UK, with the major risk coming from sun exposure and excessive use of tanning beds.

NSAIDs include over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen, as well as prescription medication that Medical Specialists® Pharmacy provide for suitable patients – celecoxib, diclofenac and naproxen.

Previous studies into the drugs have uncovered evidence to show they can be useful in also decreasing the risk of developing other cancers, such as colon cancer.

Health experts have previously suggest that NSAIDs could be beneficial in helping to boost protection against skin cancer, but definitive evidence for the theory has been scarce.
Therefore, researchers involved in the new analysis of nine previous studies assessed usage of NSAIDs against the risk of squamous cell carcinoma.

Reporting their findings in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the researchers explained that taking any NSAID was associated with an 18% lesser risk of developing the cancer, and taking NSAIDs other than aspirin could lead to a 15% decreased risk.

These painkillers “have potential as part of a skin cancer-prevention strategy,” said review co-author Catherine Olsen, a senior research officer with QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

However, there is still an uncertainty regarding NSAIDs and skin cancer. For example, different people have varying degrees of sun exposure, will be taking different doses of their particular drug, resulting in accuracy of findings being debatable.

Some are of the belief that NSAIDs such as diclofenac could help to prevent skin cancer due to the fact they inhibit an enzyme named COX-2, linked to tumour development. A higher reduced risk was found with people taking NSAIDs that had either pre-cancerous growths or a history of skin cancer, which means the drugs could be considered as a preventative option for certain people in the future.
Olsen and others aren’t quite ready to advise people to start popping NSAIDs though just yet to avert the onset of skin cancer, citing that the drugs have been linked to some risks of their own.

“Don’t rely on aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to protect your skin,” commented Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, who wasn’t involved in the study.

“The best treatment is primary prevention,” he said, advising people to use sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and taking advantage of shade.

Smoking ban for cars due October 2015

From October 2015 it will be illegal to smoke in cars with children present under the biggest crackdown on smoking from the Government since the introduction of the 2007 ban on smoking in public places.

The Department of Health (DoH) said the tighter regulations laid before Parliament to make private vehicles carrying under-18s smoke-free were formulated with the aim to “protect young people from the serious health harms of smoked tobacco”.

The new plans will result in a fixed fine of £50 being given to people who smoke, or those who fail to prevent others from lighting up within private vehicles also carrying children.

Early in the New Year there will be a vote on the subject, involving both MPs and peers. Following this, there will be a period of three weeks for them to thoroughly assess the proposals put forth by the Department of Health.

This appears to be a formality though following a majority approval by MPs earlier in the year. Back in February MPs voted 376 to 107 – a majority of 269 – in favour of the ban, first suggested by Labour as an amendment to the children and families bill. The majority vote even eclipsed that which resulted in the smoking ban from July 2007, forbidding smoking in areas such as pubs, restaurants and nightclubs.

Most of the country could be behind the ban according to a YouGov poll for the anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), which discovered that 77% of adults – including 64% of those who actually smoke – were behind the plans to make it illegal to light up in cars carrying anyone under the age of 18.

The legislation would criminalise smoking from parents, carers or other adults in a car where there is anyone present under 18. According to the British Lung Foundation, there are about 430,000 children that are exposed to second-hand smoke each week in a family car.

Dr Penny Woods, the charity’s chief executive, raved about the Government’s plans, saying she was “delighted” by the proposals.

She said: “We are now closer than ever to helping protect the hundreds of thousands of children exposed to dangerous concentrations of second-hand smoke in cars every week.”

ASH were also happy with the plans to ban smoking in cars with children, but said the legislation should go one step further and stretch to a blanket ban which would also comprise of adults in vehicles too.

ASH chief executive Deborah Arnott said: “We are delighted that the Government is to press ahead with regulations to prohibit smoking in cars containing children.

“As with the smoke-free public places law, this is a popular measure that will largely be self-enforcing. However, second-hand smoke is just as harmful to adults as children and it makes it more difficult to enforce if it only applies to some cars, not all. Seatbelt laws don’t just apply to children, why should smoke-free car laws?”

Scientists develop obesity pill to ‘replace treadmill’

With Christmas Day now just a fortnight away, it would not be a surprise if much of the population found their pants becoming ever so tighter in the coming weeks, as the high calorie content of festive treats like mince pies, Christmas pudding and novelty chocolate foods start to creep onto the waistline.

To further show this point, a 2011 survey conducted by MSN found that the average Brit will consume two or three Christmas dinner servings on the day itself, taking in 2,300 calories in the process. This equates to a staggering 115% of the recommended daily intake for women and 92% for men.

It seems a lot of people are worried about the extra calories and are preparing for the possibility of weight gain this year as Medical Specialists® Pharmacy have seen a massive surge in the number of people coming to them seeking help with losing weight and enquiring about the obesity treatments available such as Xenical and Orlistat. Medical Specialists® have also witnessed a huge increase in requests for treatment for conditions usually worsened by the cold weather such as influenza and asthma.

However, it is still weight gain that remains as the primary worry for much of the nation over the festive period, but there has been good news this week for those trying to lose weight. It has emerged that scientists in America are developing a pill that could help the body to burn off excess fat and its creators even claim that “it could one day replace the treadmill”.

Researchers based at Harvard University have found a way to trigger a molecule that can convert ‘bad’ white fat cells into ‘good’ brown cells that help to burn energy.

When a person consumes too many calories and doesn’t burn off a sufficient amount, adult stem cells in the body start to generate a higher amount of white fat cells, leading to a flabbier physique, especially evident around the stomach and hips.

Brown fat cells on the other hand, are used by the body to burn energy and produce heat. The colder the body becomes, the higher amount of brown fat cells begin to get used up, and hence they are generally easier to get rid of compared to the white cells. Not only this, but the brown cells also work to reduce both the size and numbers of their white counterparts.

Researchers say they have managed to pinpoint which molecule is responsible for turning stem cells white or brown, and state that by increasing the molecule, this will help the body to generate more brown cells, instead of white.

Associate professor Chad Cowan, at Harvard, said: “What we were really impressed by is that there are some compounds that have this same kind of effect when they are administered to animals, but when you remove them, the effect goes away.

“But what we saw here was a stable conversion of the white fat cells to brown cells. You’re constantly replenishing your fat tissue so if you were on a medication to convert the cells, each new fat cell would be more metabolically active and would convert to brown fat over time.”

The scientists involved with the research go on to claim that this decreases the risk of a person developing health conditions associated with a fat build-up, such as type 2 diabetes.

A drug called tofacitinib, which helps to trigger the molecule for cell conversion is actually already approved, but for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, it remains to be seen exactly when a pill for obesity that contains the molecule will be approved, with fears it could damage the immune system.

Professor Cowan warned the compounds “target the same molecule, and that molecule plays a role in the inflammatory response”.

He stressed: “So if you administered them for a long time, the person taking them could become immune compromised”, and his team added that despite the fact any future obesity pill may help people to remain trim, it would still not be a sufficient substitute for the other health benefits to be gained from engaging in regular exercise.

ED drug Cialis to be used in Dementia trials

British pensioners will be given erectile dysfunction drug Cialis for the world’s first clinical trial of its kind to see if the drug can be used in the fight against dementia.

Tadalafil – Cialis’ active ingredient – belongs to the same class of medications (PDE5 inhibitors) as Pfizer’s Viagra, and works by dilating blood vessels in the penis so blood can flow there more easily.
Because of its benefits to blood flow, scientists were curious if tadalafil could help to avert the development of a common form of dementia (vascular dementia) by again increasing blood flow, but this time to the brain.

The Alzheimer’s Society and the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) in New York are jointly funding the £328,000 cross-Atlantic research partnership.

Scientists led by Dr Atticus Hainsworth at St George’s, University of London, will assess 50 people aged over 65 in the UK that have experienced mild symptoms of dementia – such as memory loss – or have shown signs of blood vessel damage, following a stroke.

Dr Hainsworth commented: “My colleagues and I are very enthusiastic about this trans-Atlantic initiative as there are too few drugs in the medicine cupboard for dementia. We want to know whether a well-known, well-tolerated drug can be used to combat dementia, which has been called the twenty first century plague. The drug Tadalafil is widely used to increase blood flow in penile tissue. Now we’re asking whether it can do the same for another vital organ – the brain.”

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia and an estimated 110,000 cases of dementia in the UK are this form of the disease. It is usually caused due to damage of the small blood vessels of the brain, leading to less blood being transported to the brain tissue as the artery walls are too thick and stiff.

This type of damage is also referred to as ‘small vessel disease’ and is evident in around 50-70% of older people because the damage usually develops and worsens over many years.

However, the researchers involved in the new clinical trials are optimistic that tadalafil’s blood-flow boosting properties will hopefully be able to stop the damage that causes vascular dementia.

The researchers will monitor the participants’ blood flow to the brain prior to and following a dose of tadalafil, using a special type of MRI called arterial spin labelling.

This involves the use of radiowaves to magnetise water within the blood and then monitor it as it travels to the brain, which will help the researchers to see the amount of blood that is getting to different areas of brain tissue.

The low dose of tadalafil will occasionally be switched for a placebo so the scientists can contrast the blood flow with and without tadalafil.

Patients already with dementia will be unable to be involved in the trials as those pioneering the research say they want to see if tadalafil may be able to actually prevent the onset of the disease.

Dr Doug Brown, Director of Research and Development at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Drug development can take decades and sadly, the path towards developing dementia treatments over the past decade is littered with drugs that have failed in clinical trials. As we learn more about the causes of dementia and its links to other conditions, there is hope that treatments we routinely use for other diseases may also work for people with dementia.

“These incredibly exciting studies could see existing treatments turned into drugs for the most common forms of dementia in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of developing new drugs from scratch. By next year 850,000 people in the UK will have dementia and we owe it to them to do everything we can to develop better treatments and ultimately find a cure. Research like this is a huge part of that goal.”

Prescription drugs now taken by nearly half of adults

According to the latest report published by the Health Survey for England by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), around half of women and 43% of men are now taking prescription medications.

The new study – the first of its kind – probed into our nation’s pill-popping habits, discovering that the most commonly prescribed medicines are cholesterol-lowering statins such as atorvastatin and pravastatin (taken by 16% of men and 12% of women), and drugs for high blood pressure (hypertension) come in at a close second in the most often prescribed drugs list (taken by 14% of men and 15% of women).

The HSCIC report represents the very first nationwide representative assessment of medicines taken by people in the community, as opposed to within the healthcare system. It includes both those on long-term drugs and those taking a short course of antibiotics.

The report states that there were an average of 18.7 prescriptions administered per person in England during 2013, which reportedly sets back the NHS more than £15 billion each year.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, the new figures show that there are generally more prescription drugs taken by people as age increases, with over half of those aged 65 or over taking three or more medicines and over a third aged 75 or over take at least six.

Dr Jennifer Mindell, reader in public health at University College London and one of the authors in the report, argued the statistics should be taken in context due to the fact people are in better health than previous times and generally live longer in the modern day, primarily because of drugs for prevention and treatment of disease.

Dr Mindell commented: “That half of men over 65 are taking cholesterol-lowering medicines reflects the high risk of cardiovascular disease in this group. Stopping smoking, being a healthy weight, eating more vegetables and fruit, and being physically active reduce people’s risk of these diseases, for people who want to avoid taking medicines.”

The figures show that almost a third of prescriptions were for cardiovascular disease, with in excess of 65 million prescriptions given to combat either high blood pressure, heart failure or high cholesterol, but excludes the number of people using contraceptives and smoking cessation products, such as Champix.

The most single prescribed drug was Simvastatin – a cholesterol lowering treatment – with a staggering 40 million prescriptions given, followed by aspirin (31 million).

Antidepressant drugs were found to be taken by over one in 10 women – this is double the figure for men. These types of drugs were often taken by middle-aged women and those from the poorest regions of the country. It was found 17% of the poorest women were on antidepressants compared to 7% of the richest women.

Dr Sarah Jackson, at University College London, said: “It’s well known that rates of depression are much higher among women than men, so I am not surprised to see that antidepressant use follows the same pattern in this study. People with depression are less likely to be in regular employment, and people who are unemployed or in low paid jobs are more likely to have depression.”

In addition, the reported highlighted the fact that overweight and obese people were more probably going to be taking prescription medication, with over half of severely obese people across England taking at least one prescription drug and a third taking at least three.

Sue Faulding, a pharmacist and programme manager of prescribing and primary care services at the HSCIC, commented: “Obesity is often associated with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, joint pain and depression. Lifestyle changes are always recommended in the first instance, but medicines can help to address the symptoms and this study shows that medicine use increases steadily with body mass index.”

Mediterranean Diet can help improve the heart and erections

Men suffering with erectile dysfunction are often linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems like heart attack and stroke, but adhering to a healthy Mediterranean diet can decrease this risk, according to a new study.

The Mediterranean diet has repeatedly been linked to huge health gains such as ideal for weight loss, reducing the risk of cancer, high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as being beneficial for the skin with various anti-aging boosts.

The diet is usually comprises of a daily consumption of plenty of fruit, vegetables, beans (legumes), grains, pasta, olive oil and nuts. It also contains moderate amounts of chicken and fish, with a small amount of red wine allowed as this has been shown to boost the health benefits of the diet, helping to thin the blood safely while providing its benefit through the antioxidant resveratrol.

Erectile dysfunction patients that have poor diets often have substantially more vascular and cardiac damage. Therefore, Grecian researchers wanted to conduct research to determine if the Mediterranean diet – touted as having cardiovascular benefits – could reduce the outcome of that risk, and explained their findings at the annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging in Austria.

The study included 75 men with erectile dysfunction with an average age of 56. All had attended Hippokration Hospital in Athens, Greece – thereby having a bigger access to Mediterranean food than most – and had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.

Grecian doctor Dr. Athanasios Angelis, involved in the study, commented in a press release: “Erectile dysfunction is not a symptom of aging. It is a bad sign from the body that something is wrong with the vasculature. In 80 percent of cases erectile dysfunction is caused by vascular problems, and is a warning that patients are at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.”

It was discovered that those patients that were not sticking to a Mediterranean diet had hearts and vascular systems in a poorer condition in comparison to those that often consumed foods from the diet on a regular basis.

Dr Angelis added: “Patients with erectile dysfunction who had unhealthy diets had more vascular and cardiac damage than those who followed the Mediterranean diet. Previous studies have shown that patients with erectile dysfunction have vascular damage but we found that the heart is also damaged. This may help to further explain why these patients are more prone to cardiovascular events. The formation of atheroma, the stiffening of the arteries, and the poor functioning of the heart can eventually lead to a cardiac event.”

“Our findings suggest that adopting the Mediterranean diet can improve the cardiovascular risk profile of patients with erectile dysfunction and may reduce their chances of having a heart attack or stroke. This needs to be tested in a larger study.”

Dr Angelis also offered advice for those on a lower budget, saying: “Really simple changes in our diet may help a lot, for example using olive oil which contains monounsaturated fat. If someone doesn’t have the money to buy some of the foods they can substitute them with others, for example nuts are a good source of monounsaturated fat. Sometimes it’s difficult to adopt something if you consider that it’s part of a prescription, but the Mediterranean diet is not a prescription, it’s a lifestyle. It’s about having an awareness of what foods are healthy or unhealthy.”

He concluded: “Patients who have erectile dysfunction and don’t adhere to the Mediterranean diet have vascular and cardiac damage and are at increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Our findings suggest that adopting a healthy diet can reduce that risk. We also advise patients to stop smoking, exercise and ensure that they have healthy levels of blood pressure and lipids.”

Baby All I Want for Christmas…is More of You!

Mel Gibson inadvertently developed the powers to understand ‘What women want’ in the 2000 film following an electric shock in the bath. However, for the rest of the male population, getting inside the complex thoughts of women to get a grasp on what they are thinking and indeed what they want, can be an impossible task that even Einstein himself wouldn’t be able to figure out.

With this in mind, and the fact that there is now only a month to go until Christmas day, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy thought we would try to find out some of the things women actually want, whether this be from their partner in the bedroom, or simply an aesthetic improvement to make them feel more desirable.

. 72% say they want longer foreplay

Men are sometimes described as being like ‘dogs on heat’ and it seems his red-bloodedness transpires into the bedroom, with nearly three-quarters of women complaining that the whole process of sex is over far too quickly and there isn’t enough foreplay. Women don’t’ want a ‘wham bam thank you maam’ type of quickie, so men if you want to make sex enjoyable for her then you better make it worthwhile for her. After all, the more enjoyable and pleasurable it is on the whole, the more likely she is to orgasm!

. 59% say they want their man to last longer in bed

It seems foreplay alone isn’t the only way men are coming up short in the bedroom. The actual sex itself seems to be over far too soon for more than half of the women Medical Specialists® questioned. Exactly what constitutes a ‘normal’ duration for sex can vary between couples, but the average time between penetration and ejaculation is generally believed to be around five-and-a-half minutes. Men that are ejaculating less than two minutes after penetration on a regular basis would probably be classed as suffering with premature ejaculation, and would be wise to consider premature ejaculation treatments such as Priligy and Stud 100 spray. Women, why not slip some Durex Performa condoms into his Christmas stocking this year, they have a special Benzocaine cream inside the teat end of the condom to help control climax and prolong sexual excitement for longer lasting lovemaking…so you will both benefit!

. 67% want their man to have stronger erections

Guys it might be time to consider the effects that alcohol, cigarettes and a poor diet are doing to your body, as two thirds of women are not satisfied with their partner’s erections, according to our survey. There are certain foods that may help with better erections, but a persistent trouble achieving and sustain an erection satisfactory for intercourse may be a sign of erectile dysfunction, treatable through medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Spedra and finally Vitaros cream for those who do not want to, or are unable to take tablets.

. 88% highlight sense of humour as being important

Ask any woman what they look for in a man and “a good sense of humour” will be one of the first things to come out of their mouth, and indeed laughter is the key a successful relationship for nearly 9 in 10 women in our survey. Men that doesn’t mean you have to necessarily be the life of the party or have to be drunk, sarcastic or insulting. Remember that a little self-deprecating humour can actually seem endearing to a woman, as it can show the man has a vulnerable/sensitive side – but don’t overdo it, this can come across as a lack of confidence!

. 78% of women would like to lose weight

This may not be a surprising statistic considering that research earlier this year published in published in The Lancet medical journal found that young women in the UK can have the unwanted claim to be fatter than anywhere else in western Europe; 1 in 12 are clinically obese. By the year 2050, the prevalence of obesity is expected to spread to 60% of adult men and 50% of adult women. Christmas is a time many of us will really pile on the pounds so perhaps guys this is the time to treat her to a gym membership or inform her about Medical Specialists’® range of fantastic weight loss treatments – without being overly insulting of course!

. 84% of women would like to receive more compliments

As we have mentioned previously, humour is important in gaining her affections, however paying her compliments can be just as crucial in any relationship. If she looks beautiful fellas, then let her know! “You look gorgeous” or “that dress really suits you” might seem like nothing to you, but to woman it could be a huge confidence boost. If her earrings happen to look good with the top she is wearing, tell her! After all, many women put a great deal of effort into choosing outfits and they will appreciate the fact their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Compliments can extend beyond physical features however, if her culinary skills or professionalism at work are impressive, tell her so!

And finally…The survey found that 81% of the unmarried women in relationships want their man to put a ring on their finger! Unfortunately, Medical Specialists® can’t help with this one – the only rings we provide are Durex Play vibration rings…Guaranteed to give you both 20 minutes of quivering pleasure, but not that all important walk down the aisle!

HIV cases soar to all-time high in the UK

HIV figures have reached an all-time high in the UK, with more than 100,000 people now living with the virus – though a quarter are still unaware they have it. This means there is a massive risk these people will be spreading the condition on to others unknowingly via unprotected sex and not using condoms.

The latest statistics on HIV have been published by Public Health England (PHE) ahead of National HIV Testing Week, running from 22 – 30^th November.

However, the figures do show that in general, there are a higher number of people being given an earlier diagnosis. This is good news as the majority of people that die from HIV are those that are diagnosed too late.

The proportion of those given a diagnosis at a late stage of the HIV infection dropped from 57% in 2004 to 42% by 2013.

In addition, an estimated 6% of gay and bisexual men across the UK are now living with HIV, but this jumps to 13% in the capital, meaning one on eight sexually active men in London has HIV.

There were 3,250 men given a new diagnosis of HIV last year, representing an all-time annual high, meanwhile it is believed there are around 7,000 gay men living with the HIV infection and are undiagnosed, with an estimated 2,800 men contracting the virus in 2013 alone.

Health experts say the findings show there is a need to boost both the number of HIV tests carried out, and the frequency of them, crucial action to hopefully fight the continuous high levels of HIV transmission.

In a statement, Public Health England (PHE) said: “While the large majority of black Africans do not have the HIV infection, the report also draws attention to the fact that one-third of the 40,000 black African heterosexual men and women living with HIV in the UK do not know they have HIV.”

Dr Valerie Delpech, head of PHE’s national HIV surveillance, added: “We can’t overstate the importance of testing for HIV to ensure an early diagnosis. People diagnosed promptly with HIV infection can expect to live long and healthy lives. However in 2013, people diagnosed with HIV late were 10 times more likely to die in the first year of diagnosis compared to those diagnosed promptly. People who remain unaware of their infection are also at risk of transmitting HIV to others. Knowing HIV status is the key to both effective treatment, and to preventing onward transmission.”

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the immune system; our body’s natural defence mechanism against infections and disease. Health Protection Agency statistics from 2010 showed 95% of cases in the UK came about as a result of sexual contact, usually not bothering to wear a condom. However, sharing infected needles, syringes or other drug paraphernalia are also risk factors for HIV.

Signs of HIV

After infection, the signs of HIV will normally take between two to six weeks to show up and they include common flu symptoms such as fever, sore throat, tiredness, muscular pain and a bodily rash may also arise. If you believe you might be at risk then you should go for a test immediately and do not delay.

For those concerned that they could have HIV, remember it is absolutely vital to go and get tested now and not delay it. Delaying vital critical treatment can be fatal and somebody diagnosed at a late stage is actually nine times more likely to die within twelve months of receiving their diagnosis compared to somebody who gets tested and diagnosed at an early stage.

If HIV is left untreated or insufficiently managed, HIV then develops into AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and at this point the body is now unable to fend-off life-threatening infections because of the severe damage to the immune system.

Tenth of British men admit paying for sex

A new study published in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections has given further insight into the sexual habits of British men, finding over one in ten men has previously paid for sex.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the majority of the 11% of men in the study that had admitted paying for sex had done so at notorious sex tourism hotspots for such activity – 60% of those that had paid for the services had done this outside of the UK, particularly in Amsterdam and Bangkok.

“It could be down to opportunistic reasons such as a lads’ weekend away, paid-for sex is available, it’s something they wouldn’t necessarily do at home, but in that situation it happens, but there are other reasons as well,” said Dr Cath Mercer, lead researcher of the study.

“What we do in the UK won’t stop men paying for sex, we may push them abroad even more.”
Dr Mercer added that she believed sexual health clinics should begin to view paying for sex as a red flag for other risky behaviour for spreading infections, such as having multiple sexual partners.
The report described how the act of parting with money for sex can be closely tied to other such “hedonistic and risky behaviours” like binge drinking and drug use.

Those who admitted to heavily drinking on at least one day per week or had took hard drugs within the last year were more probably going to pay for sex, with 6 and 14% (respectively) doing so in the previous five years.

Overall, 3.6% of the 6,108 men surveyed said they had frequented prostitutes at some point within the previous five years and 1.1% in the previous 12 months. Those quizzed varied in age from 17 all the way to 74, and answered questions on the computer in a self-interview.

The self-interviews were part of the “National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles” study that was carried out between 2010 and 2012 by researchers based at UCL, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and NatCen Social Research.

The men most likely to pay for sex appeared to be 25 to 34-year-old single males in managerial or professional positions, or those that have had a high number of partners; 16% with five or more in the past five years said they had paid for sex.

More findings to come from the study include the fact that men who paid for sex had an average total of 31.6 sexual partners during their lifetime (18% of these were paid for), compared to the male average of just 13.6.

Despite adjusting for their high tally, those men that had paid for sex during the previous five years were found to be more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia, HIV, gonorrhoea, or syphilis.

Sexual health charity FPA’s director of health and wellbeing Natika Halil said: “This study shows that men who have paid for sex are disproportionately affected by STIs, and it’s vital we reinforce ‘prevention over cure’ sexual health messages.

“We heard from many men over the years that had paid for sex abroad and returned to Britain in a panic because they didn’t know if they had an STI.

“The best way to avoid this is to keep a supply of condoms with you, and if you do have sex make sure you use them. If you know you have taken a risk, it’s important to get tested as soon as possible.”

Weight loss tips before the work Christmas party!

From today there are exactly six weeks until Christmas Day. The well-prepared amongst us may have already bought presents for loved ones to save on stress in the fortnight or so before the big day. However, many of us will suffering with some degree of stress about the work office party and trying to slim down to fit into that expensive dress or suit.

Let’s be realistic, as soon as December starts is when the majority of work Christmas parties will be taking place, not to mention being inundated to invites to other festive parties, leaving at the very most just four weeks until you need to shift those extra pounds, and five until you might be feeling your pants have become a little tighter!

For those looking to lose the last 8-10lbs in the next month, it might sound daunting and an impossible task, but it can be done. Although building lean muscle from workouts at the gym will help to a certain degree because muscle speeds up metabolism and burns fat, the majority of the weight loss will inevitably come from dietary improvements and a closer monitor of what is going onto your plate and the calories you are taking in.

Research conducted by XLS-Medical (creators of the popular weight loss aid XLS-Medical Fat Binder) in 2012 suggested that over half (51%) of the population would like to lose weight in the run-up to Christmas.

With this in mind, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are providing some helpful weight loss tips that should enable people to shed those last few excess pounds before the dreaded Christmas party at work!

. Don’t skip breakfast

Make sure to fill yourself up at the start of the day with a well-balanced breakfast that consists mainly of carbohydrates and protein. This will help to keep hunger pangs at bay so you don’t gorge on junk food by dinner time. Your metabolic rate is slowed down as a result of not taking in any food during sleep and by eating breakfast, your metabolism will be awoken and revved for the rest of the day.

. Reduce sugar intake

A high sugar intake actually messes around with your blood-sugar levels, meaning the more you have, the more you crave it. Instead try substituting it where possible for natural sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, xylitol, coconut sugar or agave nectar.

. Drink plenty of water

Many times when we think we are hungry, we are actually thirsty, so it is important to stay hydrated. Numerous studies have been conducted that provide evidence to show that drinking water prior to or during a meal could help with weight loss – in conjunction with a calorie-controlled diet.

. Cut the caffeine

Try and reduce or cut out your caffeine intake. Caffeine can impact your insulin levels, increasing the craving sugar after the initial stimulation has vanished. For those unaware, insulin is the main fat storage hormone in our body.

. Boost protein intake

As most people are aware, protein is an absolute essential component of muscle building, and with more muscle comes more burning of fat. The healthier choices of protein include fish and seafood, lean meats (chicken breast or turkey) and eggs.

. Don’t forget liquid calories

The fact drinks can be quickly and easily taken in means that many people simply forget to consider the sometimes high number of calories in some drinks. For example, there are 139 calories in a 330ml can of coca-cola, which will quickly accumulate after a few cans each day. Consider ditching the sugary fizzy drink for a sparkling water with a slice of lemon and of course always remember about alcohol calories.

. Be more active

It shouldn’t be too difficult to manage to squeeze in one extra walk into your day. Fast walking is especially effective at burning calories. Use the stairs at work instead of the lift, if the weather is nice then go outside for a brisk walk on your lunch break, or even get off the bus one stop earlier than usual and walk the rest of the journey home. You should try to aim for walking at least 10,000 steps per day – not as difficult as it may seem!

. Consider high intensity exercise

Want to get fit and quick? It might be worth engaging in some high intensity interval training (or HIIT for short) exercises. HIIT exercises result in a big calorie burn within a short time period. Don’t be fooled though, HIIT workouts are far from easy and require you to give three or four times more effort in the 20 to 30 second bursts that such exercises are comprised of. The hard work here means your body is unable to bring in sufficient oxygen and a ‘debt’ is built up that must be accommodated for after exercising has finished so normality is resumed. This means your metabolism is boosted for hours after you leave the gym!

It was 20 Years Ago Today – Pharmacy goes Beatle mania!

It was 20 years ago today that Medical Specialists® came to be. Not quite the phrase from the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album that was released in 1967, but one that shows that like the Beatles, Medical Specialists® are here to stay. Medical Specialists Company Limited is the owner of the well known Medical Specialists® Pharmacy, based in Bury, Greater Manchester, which is the first ‘One Stop Online Pharmacy and Doctors’ that deals with mainly sexual health medication.

Medical Specialists® have come a long way since the first early days of the internet, from being originally clinics, to becoming one of the leading online pharmacies in Europe. “Being a massive Beatles fan, as soon as I realised that we were 20 years old, that famous phrase (It was 20 years ago today!) took hold of me and made me realise how some of the fab four’s songs could be related to many of the treatments we offer. For instance, we offer treatments for erectile dysfunction and immediately I thought of ‘A Hard Days Night’ and ‘Any Time At All’ and even ‘8 days A Week’.
 We also offer a range of treatments for premature ejaculation, and so the songs ‘I’ll Keep You Satisfied’ and ‘Come Together’ sprung to mind”, said Managing Director David Bailey.

Since the early internet days, they have steadily increased their range of medication available via online consultation or private prescription, and now include a range of treatments for Acne (‘It’s Getting Better All The Time’ said David), to treatments for STI’s (‘I Feel Fine’ said David).

“Treatments for obesity are now very popular, as people don’t want to ‘Carry the Weight’ and usually respond better with ‘A Little Help from My Friends’. I could go on and on with many of the Beatles songs relating to treatments we offer such as asthma and allergies, stomach and  bowel, alcohol dependence (new medication), migraine, and holiday and travel medications (malaria), and many other conditions that are embarrassing” said David.

Recent additions to their ever-increasing repertoire of treatments include Selincro for alcohol dependency and Vitaros cream for erectile dysfunction. Selincro works to reduce the urge to drink so that hopefully people will never again have to wake up following the night-before and think ‘I’m a Loser’ or ‘I Should Have Known Better’! “This new medication is in large demand especially from women who obviously realise they are now drinking too much on a regular basis” said David.
Vitaros cream is a topical treatment for erectile dysfunction, ideal for those who just cannot, or struggle, to take oral tablets for whatever reason. However, these people do not need to live in ‘Misery’ anymore with the introduction of this fantastic cream that can help men with male impotence that cannot take other treatments or find them ineffective.

In fact, Medical Specialists® are always at the forefront of providing the latest medication to ‘Help!’ satisfy the thousands of requests they receive from new and existing patients. With The Department of Health recently issuing an information leaflet called “Guidance on the use of emergency salbutamol inhalers in schools”, this led to Medical Specialists® being inundated with requests from schools wanting asthma inhalers and spacer masks for their first aid kits. The schools may have previously been confused as to what to do (‘If I Needed Someone’), but many certainly know where to go now – the number one pharmacy choice for thousands across the country.

Like the Beatles, Medical Specialists® have constantly evolved and improved, and now offer their service to NHS patients via ‘Electronic Prescription’ or ‘EPS2’ which is the new way that Doctors send their prescriptions electronically to the required pharmacy (a ‘Revolution’ said David). You can nominate Medical Specialists® Pharmacy as your pharmacy by going to their web site
(www.medical-specialists.co.uk) and clicking on the ‘NHS Prescriptions’ tab to find out more.

And finally, when asked when he would retire, David said with a smile…‘When I’m 64!’

Malaria fight backed by England’s football stars

They came face-to-face with the risks themselves during the 2014 World Cup when doctors prescribed them malaria prevention and treatment malarone, but now he England football team have thrown their backing behind the worldwide fight against the deadly disease malaria – a disease that astonishingly claims the life of a child every thirty seconds.

Back in 2007 the England Footballer’s Foundation (EFF) was established on behalf of the England football team, after their generous decision to donate all match fees and time to chosen charities.
Since the foundation began, the EFF has helped to raise more than £3.5million, been responsible for over 150 player appearances, generated three national advertising campaigns and created exclusive EFF events.

And now England stars such as Wayne Rooney and Joe Hart have partnered with Unicef – the world’s leading children’s organisation – in an effort to raise awareness and funds about the danger that malaria poses and the absolute importance of sleeping under mosquito nets for those at risk.

Those most vulnerable are the poorest children in Africa. According to the World Health Organization, in 2012, malaria caused an estimated 627 000 deaths (with an uncertainty range of 473 000 to 789 000), the majority of these being among African children.

To help launch the four-year partnership with Unicef to battle malaria, Rooney and Hart are featured in a poster, together with teammates Gary Cahill and Jack Wilshere, walking hand in hand with schoolchildren.

Globally, malaria is still the third single biggest killer of children, but sleeping under a mosquito net can help to save lives, and this is one important point that the campaign hopes to make at-risk people aware of.

A fundraising evening is taking place later today in London, which is expected to feature a number of England players, such as Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere, who will be in charge of teams facing each other for the coveted EFF Charity Cup.

The Three Lions’ skipper Rooney commented on the campaign, saying: “It’s unbelievable that every 90 minutes – the time it takes to play a football match – 180 children will lose their lives to malaria. As captain of the England football team I am hugely proud that we are able to help Unicef in its goal of protecting every child in danger from this disease.”

Backing up Rooney’s comments, England goalkeeper Hart said: “I am used to defending my goal net against some of the best players in the world, but for some children, being able to sleep under a life-saving mosquito net can mean the last line of defence from this deadly disease. I have always been a huge fan of Unicef’s work so it’s really amazing that through our Foundation we can help make a difference to the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.”

Unicef UK Executive Director David Bull said: “The simplest way to keep children safe from malaria is to ensure that they sleep under a mosquito net, but many are still living without this basic life-saving need. The faces of the England football team are some of the most recognisable in the country so it is great to have them on board to help us raise awareness to tackle malaria and protect all those children in danger.”

Could cystitis symptoms be eased by anti-impotence drug Viagra?

Cystitis treatment usually comes in the form of antibiotics such as Trimethoprim, but the urinary infection could soon have an unlikely type of treatment – male erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.
Also going by the name of lower urinary tract infection, cystitis happens as a result of the lining of the bladder becoming inflamed, causing a stinging/painful sensation upon urination, or an urgent need to urinate often.

Women have a short urethra compared to men, meaning cystitis is more common in females and nearly all women will suffer from cystitis at on at least one occasion in their lifetime. The high-risk groups are: pregnant women, sexually active women and post-menopausal women.
However, the findings of new research suggests that Pfizer’s popular anti-impotence drug Viagra may help to ease the symptoms for those women that have interstitial cystitis, a more severe type of the bladder infection.

In the new study – published in the journal Urology – those women administered with just 25mg of the drug (50mg is a common dose for impotence) on a daily basis for three months had a significant clear-up of their symptoms, whereas the placebo group did not.

Antibiotics can usually help to clear the condition up, but women that get interstitial cystitis are not as fortunate as the drugs do not respond to it, and the condition may even evolve into painful long-term problem that is not easily treatable. There are thought to be 400,000 people in the UK with interstitial cystitis and around 90% of these people are women.

It is not fully clear the specific causes for the onset of interstitial cystitis, but many health experts believe it could be linked be due to a defect of the bladder lining or an autoimmune disorder, be caused because of other inflammation problems, or an inherited increase in the risk of developing it.
Studies conducted previously and involving animals, seemed to show that Viagra was helping ease symptoms.

Therefore, doctors at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in Zhejiang, China, wanted to see if the same held true for humans, managing to recruit 48 women for the study, with interstitial cystitis, segregating them into two groups.

Each day for 12 weeks one group were told to take a 25mg Viagra tablet, whilst the other group were given a placebo. Doctors analysed symptoms according to an index, which documented the frequency the women needed to urinate and how painful it was.

Almost two-thirds of the women given Viagra reported improvements in their symptoms, having to get up on less occasions during the night to urinate and less pain, compared to those taking the placebo.

Those involved in the study are not completely certain how Viagra is benefiting the women, but think it could be working to relax the muscles in the bladder by boosting blood flow to the area, thereby relieving pressure  from the bladder and lessening the need to urinate so often.

Dr Robyn Webber, consultant urologist at the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, Scotland, commented on the study, saying: “Interstitial cystitis is a very distressing condition and the results of this trial do suggest that for some patients the drug may be a possible new treatment. But the number of patients involved was small and the findings need to be reproduced with bigger numbers. If the results do hold up, it could potentially offer hope to some patients.”

Pounds gained for lbs lost: Overweight people could be paid to lose weight

The UK obesity crisis has reached such epic proportions – one in 4 Brits are now classified as obese – that the NHS are now throwing their weight behind a plan to reward people who successfully lose weight.

Under proposed new plans, employers will be encouraged to offer incentives to employees who manage to shed the pounds, such as cash or shopping vouchers. The scheme will be aimed at relieving the huge financial strain on the NHS through the care for overweight or obese patients, and related health complications.

New ways to try and tackle the growing problem of obesity comprise of just a few methods proposed in a “radical” overhaul of the country’s healthcare system proposed by the NHS for the next parliament. Tax cuts for volunteers and “breaking down the boundaries” between GPs and hospitals have also been discussed in the report by NHS England.

However, it is not just work employees that are being encouraged to watch their waistlines, with NHS staff being urged to “set a national example” by adhering to healthier lifestyles. There are plans to prevent access to unhealthy food on NHS sites and monitor the health and wellbeing of NHS staff.
The report also states that local authorities should be stricter on fast-food and alcohol outlets to improve the overall health of their community.

“Put bluntly, as the nation’s waistline keeps piling on the pounds, we’re piling on billions of pounds in future taxes just to pay for preventable illnesses,” the report says.

 There could be a “severe consequences” for patients if the healthcare system is not revamped and improved according to officials, who are also pleading with an increase in funding from the next government.

However, top doctor Clive Peedell said: “This policy will do nothing to help the millions of unemployed and the growing numbers of self-employed people who may need help but won’t qualify.”

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens commented: “We have no choice but to do this. If we do it a better NHS is possible, if we don’t the consequences for patients will be severe.”

Sir Bruce Keogh, national medical director of NHS England, said the NHS remains “one of the best healthcare systems in the world”, but stressed: “We’ve squeezed the orange really hard over the last four years. People working in the NHS are really beginning to feel the pressure.”

Mr Stevens added that he believed a tax-payer funded health system has resulted in a “blind spot” with regards to the healthcare of employees, and that despite success in other countries abroad, workplace schemes to encourage workers to lose weight have been relatively ignored in this country.
He said: “The principal point is that employers in many countries have developed voluntary schemes for their employees whereby for example you actually get cash back based on participation in Weight Watchers or other type schemes.”

When quizzed as to what kind of rewards may be on offer, he said: “It could be shopping vouchers, it could be cash, it could be prizes”, adding that the rewards could be higher or lower for the person depending on how much weight had been shed.

The NHS are considering “challenging” companies to introduce the schemes instead of offering them money.

According to Mr Stevens obesity is “getting worse in some respects” highlighted childhood obesity as “a significant future health threat”.

He said: “When your son or daughter starts primary school one in 10 children are obese. By the time they reach Year 6 that’s doubled to one in five so something is going wrong with the way in which we are keeping our children healthy and setting them up for a good start in life.”

England’s drinking problem causing more liver disease deaths

The country’s increasingly problematic drinking culture has been attributed to a shocking rise in the number of deaths from liver disease, health experts have warned.

The first regional study into liver disease showed a staggering 40% increase in the number of deaths from the preventable disease – and men are twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with it.

Professor Julia Verne, who led the new research for Public Health England (PHE) blames 24-hour drinking and more alcohol consumption for the “rapid and shocking” rise in death rates from liver disease.

The study demonstrated a huge north-south divide, with more than four times as many male adults dying from liver disease in Blackpool (58.4 per 100,000) than in central Bedfordshire (just 13 per 100,000).

The north generally seems to have more of a drinking issue compared to their southern counterparts. In Northumberland, Lancashire and Leeds, liver disease from alcohol consumption is responsible for 11 deaths in every 100,000 people under the age of 75, whilst in Hampshire and Surrey, the figure stands at just six in every 100,000.

Death from liver disease is now understandably being described as a growing epidemic, being the fifth “big killer” across England and Wales, after heart disease, cancer, strokes and respiratory disease.

During 2001 to 2012, the number of people dying from liver disease in England has risen from 7,841 to 10,948 – an increase of 40%.

The majority of liver disease cases are directly related to three main risk factors: alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis, whilst 5% of cases are due to autoimmune disorders – i.e. where there is abnormal functioning of the immune system.

“Liver disease is a public health priority because young lives are being needlessly lost,” commented Prof Verne. “All the preventable causes are on the rise, but alcohol accounts for 37% of liver disease deaths. We must do more to raise awareness, nationally and locally, and this is why it is so important for the public and health professionals to understand their local picture.”

Emily Robinson, deputy chief executive of Alcohol Concern said: “It’s a tragedy that we’re actually seeing cases of young people in their 20s dying of alcoholic liver disease, when this can be prevented. The so called ‘alcopops generation’ have grown up in a society where alcohol is available at almost anytime, anywhere, at incredibly cheap prices and promoted non-stop.

“The government needs to make tackling the rise in liver disease an urgent priority and action must include introducing a minimum unit pricing for alcohol, a policy that promises to save hundreds of lives and reduce thousands of hospital admissions each year.”

If you believe you have an alcohol dependency problem and are drinking too much, Medical Specialists® Pharmacy can help before it is too late.

Medical Specialists® can provide alcohol dependency treatment Selincro for suitable patients – those who are heavy drinkers, but don’t require immediate detoxification, and whom have a high level of alcohol consumption 2 weeks after the first consultation with their doctor. This is defined as more than 60g of alcohol per day for men or more than 40g of alcohol per day for women. The great news for those who are prescribed it is that there is no risk of becoming dependent on Selincro.

Viagra found to offer boost for heart disease patients

More commonly known for its prowess in the bedroom, male impotence drug Viagra should also be routinely prescribed as a safe treatment for heart disease according to the researchers involved in a new study.

A team of scientists from Sapienza University in Rome, Italy, analysed 24 studies comprising of 1,622 men, and published the findings in the journal BMC Medicine.

The found that sildenafil – the active ingredient in Viagra – boosted the performance of the heart in patients with various heart conditions, whilst having no detrimental impact on blood pressure.

Sildenafil is known as a Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i), which works to block the enzyme PDE5, was found to prevent the heart enlarging and changing shape in those patients with ventricular hypertrophy. This condition causes thickening of muscles in the left ventricle and can lead to heart failure.
Lead researcher of the study, Andrea Isidori, now wants the drug to be used in clinical trials consisting of women that have heart disease, arguing that Viagra should be prescribed for heart conditions if more trials correlate with his findings.

He said: “We found that the main ingredient in Viagra can be used as an effective, safe treatment for several patients with heart disease. Large clinical trials are now urgently needed to build on these encouraging findings.”

Maureen Talbot, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Often in medicine, drugs which are used to treat one ailment can have side effects that make it an effective treatment for other conditions.

“Viagra is already a prime example of this. But this study suggests it has the potential to be put to another use – treating early stage heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy.

“But we shouldn’t get too excited too quickly. Large randomised controlled trials are needed on both men and women to support this study’s findings before it could be recommended to heart patients.”
Sildenafil is already marketed under the name Revatio for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension, and the benefits of Viagra for heart disease patients should perhaps not come as a huge surprise.

Sildenafil was originally developed as an option for the treatment hypertension and angina pectoris, and the ability to induce erections was noted later. Because of the latter finding, Viagra’s manufacturer Pfizer subsequently decided to market Viagra for treating erectile dysfunction instead of angina. The rest as they say, is history!

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy now provide alcohol dependency treatment Selincro

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are now able to actually help those with alcohol addiction through the treatment Selincro (nalmefene). This medication is suited for people who are heavy drinkers, but don’t require immediate detoxification, and whom have a high level of alcohol consumption 2 weeks after the first consultation with their doctor. This is defined as more than 60g of alcohol per day for men or more than 40g of alcohol per day for women. The great news for those who are prescribed it is that there is no risk of becoming dependent on Selincro.

Selincro’s active ingredient nalmefene works by latching onto certain opioid receptors in the brain that are responsible for addictive behaviour, altering their activity, thereby decreasing the urge to continue drinking.

According to a 2007 ‘state of the nation’ survey carried out by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, there are an estimated 1.6 million people in England alone that are dependent on alcohol, and it is a casual factor in over 60 medical conditions, such as cancers of the mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast, high blood pressure, depression and cirrhosis of the liver.

The abuse of alcohol is said to cost the country a shocking £21 billion annually through the treatment of alcohol-related disease, the resulting crime that follows a bingeing episode of drinking, and loss of work productivity (about 8 to 14 million working days are lost each year in the UK because of alcohol).

The first two impacts of alcohol abuse are probably quite obvious to some, but the impact on alcohol to the workplace can often be dramatically underestimated – and it is a serious problem that many employers are having to tackle as alcohol dependency does not discriminate according to occupation.
Firstly, let’s look at the repercussions of alcohol in the workplace. Through either sustained alcohol dependency, or from isolated occurrences of heavy drinking, the main issues relating to the workplace are: Loss of production, absenteeism and extra sick leave, injuries and accident rates, and the risk of premature death or fatal accidents.

Alcohol can and will impair an employee’s decision making at work, slowing down reaction times, potentially inducing sleepiness and drowsiness, increase the risk of errors occurring and lead to the employee delivering goods or services to a substandard quality. It may even cause friction and anger amongst those employees that have to carry the burden of compensating for those whose work output is declining due to drinking.

It is usually primarily the after-effects of drinking – being hungover – that impacts the ability to perform a job correctly, or even turning up to work at all. In fact, a 2006 survey conducted by YouGov for PruHealth discovered that there are an estimated 200,000 workers in Britain coming into work hungover from the previous night’s drinking.

Some alarming finds were made in the survey: 22% admit they have made errors at work as a consequence of their hangover, 83% admit their hangovers change the way they perform their role, a third even admit to ‘drifting off’, whilst 28% say they have to work with headaches because of their hangover.

It is generally believed that the common working factors linked to increased alcohol consumption include feeling stressed at work, periods of inactivity or feeling bored, low job satisfaction, shift or night work, working remotely, having to travel long distances, and frequenting business meals where there is a likelihood to be alcohol available. A recent article published on the Daily Mail also describes that the increase of women into working lives could be linked to a rise in drinking levels.
Employers should be able to spot if an employee has a drinking problem through a number of common traits.

Signs for employers to be aware of

. The employee’s job performance declines.
. Frequent absenteeism due to sickness.
. Frequent lateness to work or late to arrive at meetings.
. Frequent toilet visits.
. Attempts to mask the smell of alcohol with chewing gum, mints, breath sprays, or applying lots of aftershave/perfume and deodorant.
. The employee is absent from their desk for large periods of time.
. Suspect stories emanating from colleagues trying to cover for each other.

What can employers do?

First and foremost, employers should remember they have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees whilst at work. Employers can be prosecuted for knowingly allowing an employee to work that is under the influence of excess alcohol.

A clear substance use (i.e. alcohol and drug) policy should be in place for all employees and employers should quiz their staff on what they know about the impact that alcohol has on health and safety, and their thoughts about drinking during working hours. All supervisors and managers should be trained to spot the signs of both alcohol and drug use and be aware of what actions to take if an employee confides about a problem or they suspect an employee might have a problem.

If the employee was a vital and valued member of the team before their alcohol dependency issues began, the employer might be wise to consider offering help and support where possible. After all, that employee will be incredibly grateful for this and probably show a greater sense of loyalty and commitment to the organisation, a huge benefit to the employer of course.

What can employees do?

Employees with alcohol dependency problems should have easy access to occupational health services, but under no circumstances should employees go into work whilst still under the influence of alcohol (or drugs for that matter).

Any employee with alcohol dependency issues should be open and honest with their employer to discuss what can be done to help the situation, and feel comfortable in speaking about it to their GP, or even any local pharmacy if that is preferred.

Unfortunately, alcohol dependency is a disease that affects all aspects of life, not just in workplace. It has a major impact on life at home too, being incredibly stressful for friends and family of the person drinking. It is a disease than can be beat however, with help and support usually available from employers to their employees – if there is complete honesty from the employee of course, and obviously support coming from loved ones of that person.

Exploding e-cigarettes putting lives at risk

The safety of electronic cigarettes has been plunged into further doubt after an electronic cigarette user almost had his legs blown off due to one of the devices ‘exploding like a grenade’.

Medics that initially treated 48-year-old David Aspinall from Wigan, thought he had been the unfortunate victim of a gun attack when they first saw his gruesome, serve injuries.

Mr Aspinall’s life was almost destroyed by the exploding e-cigarette as his home quickly set ablaze and he then had to spend 9 days in hospital recovering from the traumatic ordeal.

He was in the middle of using the device when it overheated and exploded, resulting in shards of metal ripping into his limbs and his home being set on fire.

Speaking to The Sun, Mr Aspinall, who now faces up to three years of skin grafts to recover, said: “It glowed and burned in my hand. I dropped it and it exploded. There was lots of blood, a huge hole in one leg and a gash in the other. It could have blown my head off. The surgeon said it was like someone had used a gun.”

Even though ex-decorator Mr Aspinall had suffering shocking injuries and lost a litre of blood in the process, he managed to reach his neighbour, who likened the scene to that in a horror film.

Mr Aspinall has now reverted to conventional cigarettes, arguing – maybe questionably – that they are the safer option: He added: “I’m back on ciggies. It’s safest”, and is now proceeding to sue the maker of the Mutant Clone e-cigarette for compensation. The shop who sold him the device has blamed faulty batteries for the disaster.

This is not the first time an electronic cigarette has exploded however, and questions will now be raised about the safety of them.

. In August of this year, David Thomson, 62, died at home in Wallasey, Merseyside, after an e-cigarette he had left to charge then exploded and ignited oxygen equipment in the same room.

. In April of this year, pensioner Jen Booth was on a ward at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, when an e-cigarette ignited her oxygen supply and engulfed her in flames. The 65-year-old suffered serious burns.

. In the same month Jen Booth suffered burns, a woman in Barking, East London required hospital treatment due to smoke inhalation and shock after her flat was set alight – all because of an e-cigarette being used with an incompatible charger.

. Also in April, CCTV managed to capture the moment an e-cigarette exploded into flames at the Buck Inn Hotel in Richmond, South-West London. Pub worker Laura Baty, 18, was fortunate to escape severe injury.

It is perhaps for these reasons for many are calling for much tighter regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes. With Stoptober still having almost a fortnight to run, it could be wise for smokers to try and quit smoking for good with smoking cessation treatment, such as Pfizer’s Champix. This can mimic the effect of nicotine on the body, reduce the urge to smoke, and even lessen the enjoyment of cigarettes if you do give-in to willpower and smoke whilst on the treatment. It is available today from Medical Specialists® Pharmacy from the drastically lowered price of as little as £27.48* per pack
(*based on a private prescription price).

Healthier younger adults linked to drop in smoking levels

As we reach the tenth day of the annual Stoptober Challenge, smokers across Britain should be encouraged to learn that the proportion of adults that are smoking in the UK has dropped to its smallest percentage since records began in the 1940s.

Figures published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that amongst the over-18s, smoking prevalence stood at 18.7% in 2013 – down from the rate of 19.8% in 2012.
The decline was revealed by the Integrated Household Survey run by ONS, a survey that quizzed almost 270,000 people over the age of 18 about their smoking habits.

The other large-scale survey to monitor smoking – the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey – demonstrated a smoking prevalence of 20% in 2012, and is widely expected to confirm the drop below one in five when its latest set of figures are released in November.

The 18.7% smoking rate shows ministers could be on course for hitting their target of bringing down the percentage of smokers to 18.5% by 2015 – if more people continue to quit.

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: “It is very welcome that the number of smokers is at its lowest level as this means many more people will not die prematurely. However we want to help more people to quit as smoking is still a huge killer, taking nearly 80,000 lives a year. We know the idea of giving up smoking can be daunting but by using a local stop smoking service smokers are four times more likely to succeed.”

Much of the drop has been pinpointed to an ever-increasing number of younger adults that are quickly wising up to the massive damage that smoking can do, and turning against tobacco. The younger generation are generally more clean-living than their ancestors, something many believed could be linked the rise of social media, meaning there is a better chance youngsters are in their bedrooms on Facebook instead of hanging around street corners or in bars.

The ONS survey did find however that around 21.1% of men are smoking, compared to just 16.5% of women. A third of the population have successfully quit smoking, whilst half say they have never smoked.

The proportion of the population lighting up has drastically decreased though since the 1940s, then tobacco industry statistics showed almost two thirds of men were smokers. When the ONS began records of their own in 1974, 45% of Brits were smokers – 52% of men and 41% of women.
By 2006, the numbers had slashed in half, but stayed at around the 20% level through the years of the recent recession, despite the introduction of the 2007 smoking ban.

The new figures released this week were obviously met with delight by ministers and the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), who said the findings should allay fears that increasing use of electronic cigarettes would result in more people turning to regular smoking.

Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Ash, said: “This statistically significant decline in adult smokers shows that the government’s tobacco control plan is working. However, over 80,000 people still die from smoking every year in England and every week hundreds of children take up smoking.

“Tough new measures to regulate tobacco, like plain standardised packaging, are needed if we are to drive down smoking still further. We urge the government to waste no time in allowing parliament to vote on the regulations which will finally get rid of glitzy, glamorous cigarette packs forever,” Arnott said.

“The drop in smoking also shows that concerns that the use of electronic cigarettes would lead to a renormalisation of tobacco use appear unfounded. The rapid increase in use of these products has coincided with a consistent steady decline in smoking.”