Experts warn humid weather is catastrophic for hayfever sufferers

If you’re waking up to tears flowing this morning, there’s a chance it might not necessarily be because of England’s inevitable and embarrassing exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland – it could be your hayfever symptoms flaring up.

The recent random mix of sunshine, rain and increasing temperatures might be great for those trying to grow their garden plants or crops, but unfortunately its bad news for hayfever sufferers, with health experts warning that the pollen season will be getting longer.

Unpredictable weather has resulted in pollen levels lingering in the ‘very high’ status and the MET office is estimating this will be the case for the rest of the summer.

With the number of people  developing hayfever and other types of allergies, experts now warn that the amount of people with hayfever could double and reach a staggering 31.8 million people.
Moreover, in recent times there have been scientists that have warned of an ‘allergy epidemic’ within the developed world.

New figures from Prevalin Allergy have demonstrated not only a rise in the total number of people stating they are having hayfever symptoms, but the symptoms themselves seem to be getting worse.
According to a survey conducted by Prevalin, the average person realises that their sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat could be caused by an allergy to pollen, after 2 years.

Prevalin’s survey also found that nearly half (45%) of those suffering with hayfever have made the error of trying to use a decongestant or cold medicine to alleviate their symptoms, when in fact this only irritates the lining of their nose further.

Dr Ellie Canon commented: “The changing global environment can have an impact on how we respond to our surroundings, and people may see their symptoms get worse over time.”

She added: “The pollen season is extending and more and more people could see themselves suffering with sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny nose throughout the summer. We need to look at new ways of treatment so everyone can control these symptoms.”

Health experts are warning that as the planet gets warmer, more plants will begin to emit pollen into the air and flowers will bloom for a longer period of time.

“Something I see frequently is patients mistaking their hay fever symptoms for a common cold, and treating them as such. The trouble is that, when you use a decongestant or other over-the-counter cold remedy to treat hay fever, if it’s not indicated for hay fever then you can irritate the lining of the nose further,” said Dr Ellie.

“As symptoms get worse and last for longer, its important people know how to treat them correctly.
“While it can be tricky to tell the difference, the dead giveaway for hay fever is itchiness. If you find yourself experiencing itchy eyes, ears, mouth or throat, it’s probably hay fever you’re dealing with.”
Omega pharma, the company that manufactures the Prevalin Allergy range, have just released Prevalin Allergy Plus, a nasal spray with a unique double action formula that provides fast relief at the onset of symptoms, getting to work in a mere 3 minutes – 5 times faster than hayfever tablets.

Like all products in the Prevalin Allergy range, the new treatment is drug and steroid free, meaning it’s suitable for athletes, pregnant and breast feeding women.

Bea Warner, Brand Manager at Omega Pharma, says: “Hayfever is becoming increasingly common and, for many people, increasingly debilitating.

“Thankfully, drug and steroid free Prevalin Plus contains an extra layer of defence to help protect you, with an anti-allergic therapeutic oil that helps reduce sensitivity to pollen.

“It’s something completely different, and offers those who have given up on summer because of hayfever the chance to enjoy it like they used to!”

Obesity crisis means 40 million Brits could be overweight by the year 2035

Future generations could be faced with severe health problems and shorter lifespans if action is not taken now to tackle an obesity crisis that is threatening to spiral out of control, according to a new report.

The Obesity Health Alliance has estimated that about 40 million adults in the UK could be classed as overweight or obese within 2 decades, with over 7.6 million new cases of disease by 2035. Being overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of between 25 and 29.9, whilst obese is defined as having a BMI of 30 or more.

Widespread weight gain in Brits may result in 4.62 million cases of type 2 diabetes, 1.63 million cases of coronary heart disease, and 670,000 new cases of cancer, warned the new study.

This isn’t even taking into account other major health issues that can arise from piling on the pounds, not including conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), liver disease, osteoarthritis, or chronic kidney disease, which can all plain a huge burden on already stretched NHS resources.
Furthermore, becoming obese may then ignite other issues like poor and unhealthy eating, low self-esteem and mental health problems.

However, with swift action, a small change now could make a big difference in the future. Even just a 1% change in the number of people gaining weight every year up until 2035 may avoid around 77,000 cases of disease including 45,000 cases of type 2 diabetes in the year 2035 alone.

Therefore, the Obesity Health Alliance is urging the Government to create a substantial childhood obesity strategy immediately to combat the obesity epidemic. Measures the group want introducing include a restriction on junk food TV advertising prior to the 9pm watershed, tightening online marketing to align with broadcast regulations, as well as setting targets for industry to reduce the amount of sugar and fat in food.

Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK’s director of prevention and member the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “These numbers are shocking. And it’s difficult to think of the impact this will have on public health and an already strained NHS. Without bold action, the next generation will face more disease and live shorter lives.

“Kids are bombarded with advertisements for unhealthy food and if we are to give our children the chance for better and healthier lives, it’s vital the Government’s childhood obesity strategy restricts this kind of marketing.”

Modi Mwatsama, Director of Policy and Global Health at the UK Health Forum and member of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: “This study is a wakeup call for the Government and shows a daunting future if no strong action is taken against the obesity epidemic.
“We can’t expect industry to make changes on their own and people need help making healthier choices. Companies will have to be held accountable by Government. The Government must lead the way by creating a level playing field with independent, regulated targets for reducing the amount of sugar, fat and salt in food. Without Government action, our children face a life of disease and early death.”
According to the European Association for the Study of Obesity, here are some key facts to remember about it:

• Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980.
• In 2008, more than 1.4 billion adults, 20 and older, were overweight. Of these over 200 million men and nearly 300 million women were obese.
• 35% of adults aged 20 and over were overweight in 2008, and 11% were obese.
• 65% of the world’s population live in countries where overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight.
• Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading risk for global deaths. At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese.
• 44% of the diabetes burden, 23% of the ischaemic heart disease burden and between 7% and 41% of certain cancer burdens are attributable to overweight and obesity.
• More than 40 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2011.
• Obesity is preventable.

Obesity will not just happen to somebody overnight. It is something that develops gradually over time, mainly due to poor diet and lifestyle choices.

NHS choices have listed the main dietary pitfalls that cause people to gain weight, which include:

• Eating large amounts of processed or fast food – that’s high in fat and sugar.
• Drinking too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories, and people who drink heavily are often overweight.
• Dating out a lot – you may be tempted to also have a starter or dessert in a restaurant, and the food can be higher in fat and sugar.
• Eating larger portions than you need – you may be encouraged to eat too much if your friends or relatives are also eating large portions.
• Drinking too many sugary drinks – including soft drinks and fruit juice.
• Comfort eating – if you have low self-esteem or feel depressed, you may eat to make yourself feel better.

Lack of physical activity is a key factor behind obesity, with many using their cars to get around and doing less walking or cycling. Moreover, we are becoming a nation of TV and computer game addicts, instead of getting out and doing regular exercise.


The Department of Health recommends that each week adults should be engaging in at least 150 minutes (2 and a half hours) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as cycling or fast walking. However, this doesn’t need to be done all in one go. For example, you could exercise for 30 minutes a day for 5 days in the week.

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy are able to provide help for those trying to lose weight, with our fantastic range of obesity treatments such as Xenical and Orlistat. Used in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise, these treatments are very effective in enabling people to lose weight and regain confidence again.

Selling unlicensed and counterfeit drugs lands Tooting man with 3 year prison sentence

Medical Specialists® Pharmacy cannot stress this enough; crime does not pay. Maybe it will pay initially, in the form of illegal gains made from unsuspecting customers, but criminals will inevitably always get caught and stopped dead in their tracks.

This has been proved truer than ever this week with reports that a man from Tooting has been heavily sentenced after being found guilty of importing and selling unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines, hair loss medicines, and money laundering.

The 47-year-old man was handed a sentence of 3 years in prison for money laundering offences, in addition to 12 months for selling unlicensed medicines, with the 2 sentences to be served concurrently.

The man had previously admitted his guilt relating to offences under medicines, trade mark and money laundering legislation at Southwark Crown Court on 13th May.

After Investigators from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) conducted an investigation into the man  – known as ‘Paul K’ – they found clear evidence that ‘K’ had laundered more than £114,000.

‘K’ was found to be the main culprit in a massive conspiracy to receive and supply unlicensed medicines and spread the illegal funds from this endeavour around the UK.

MHRA officials had successfully seized dangerous unlicensed and counterfeit drugs in 2011 and 2012, which resulted in a painstaking operation to trace ‘K’ and the group he was leading.
MHRA’s Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffery said:

“This case shows how organised criminal networks use sophisticated methods to import and supply counterfeit medicines from overseas.

The group conducted an international operation to make money from unregulated products, and laundered over a hundred thousand pounds in the process.

We have tirelessly tracked and monitored the group, demonstrating our determination to prevent them from recklessly endangering the safety of others.

Unlicensed products are a serious safety risk to the public, and you should not let criminal enterprises play the lottery with your health. Visit your GP if you need treatment, and obtain prescription and pharmacy medicines from a legitimate high street store or online pharmacy.”