Sugary drinks linked to 200,000 deaths each year around the world

It has been claimed that the consumption of sugary soft drinks could be causing almost 200,000 deaths each year around the world.

The claims emanate from Harvard researchers who used data extracted from a huge investigation into causes of global disease – the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases study, and have now been able to link 180,000 deaths a year worldwide to high-sugar fizzy drinks.

Gitanjali Singh, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and lead author of the study presented the findings this week at the American Heart Association’s annual meeting in New Orleans.

After a painstaking five years spent putting the pieces together of a complex analysis into global fatalities, Singh and his colleagues were able to attribute sugary drinks to approximately 133,000 deaths from diabetes, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 6,000 deaths from cancer during 2010.

There appeared to be a demographic division in the findings with a high proportion (78%) of the deaths occurring in the lower-to-middle income countries in comparison to wealthier nations. Being able to afford private healthcare could be a factor that contributed to this statistic.

The analysis found that Latin American and Caribbean countries had seen the most diabetes-related deaths linked to sugary drinks (38,000). In addition, East and Central Europe had the most heart-related deaths associated to sugary drinks (11,000).

From the 15 highest populated countries within the analysis, it was determined that Mexico had the highest sugary drink-associated death rate – 318 deaths per million adults. Japan was the country with the lowest sugary drink-associated death rate, at just 10 deaths for every million adults.

Sugar-sweetened drinks have been widely known to contribute weight gain and obesity. This then raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

The U.S. study is more evidence that high-sugar, high-calorie fizzy drinks that offer no nutritional value are a danger to public health and playing a major part in the UK’s growing number of diabetes cases – described as a ‘public health emergency’ only a fortnight ago.

Gitanjali Singh released a statement about the findings of the study, commenting: “We know that sugar-sweetened beverages are linked to obesity, and that a large number of deaths are caused by obesity-related diseases. But until now, nobody had really put these pieces together. I think our findings should really impel policymakers to make effective policies to reduce sugary beverage consumption since it causes a significant number of deaths.”

However, the American Beverage Association has disputed the study, describing it as ‘more about sensationalism than science’. Releasing a statement, the group said: “It does not show that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages causes chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer – the real causes of death among the studied subjects. The researchers make a huge leap when they take beverage intake calculations from around the globe and allege that those beverages are the cause of deaths which the authors themselves acknowledge are due to chronic disease.”

UK’s soaring diabetes cases are a ‘public health emergency’

Many of us may already be aware of the obesity epidemic that is rife not only in the United Kingdom but over in the U.S. too. However, closely linked to this issue is an increasing problem of diabetes which in itself seems to be an epidemic of its own.

According to new research, a staggering three million people have been diagnosed with diabetes in Britain – equating to 4.6% of the population.

Researchers for Diabetes UK and Tesco have discovered that around 132,000 people were diagnosed with the disease over the previous year and an estimated 850,000 people are believed to have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes.

There are roughly 24,000 premature deaths each year in England and Wales because of diabetes and without rapid intervention, this death toll will continue to rise. Therefore, supermarket giant Tesco and the charity Diabetes UK have begun a partnership to try and improve the situation. Tesco hope to raise £10 million for the charity to tackle the disease and provide help to those who suffer with it.

In the UK alone, approximately 90% of all adults with diabetes have the Type 2 variation and the partnership will provide funds to launch the biggest ever public awareness campaign focusing on the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, aimed at the seven million people deemed ‘high risk’ of developing the disease.

In addition to the massive public awareness campaign, the money raised will also be used to develop a new vaccine for Type 1 diabetes as well as helping to identify those 850,000 people who are living with undiagnosed diabetes.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, warns the situation is a ‘grim staging post towards a public health emergency’.

She says: “We are hugely concerned that the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has reached three million for the first time and there is no reason to think this will mark the end of what has been a rapid rise in the condition. Instead, all the projections suggest that the three million figure will be a grim staging post on the road towards a public health emergency and this unfolding tragedy is already putting huge pressure on the NHS and will have potentially devastating consequences for those people who develop the condition. But this is not inevitable. By identifying those at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, we can ensure they start getting support to make the kind of lifestyle changes that can help prevent it. And by making sure people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes are already getting the care and support they need, we can help them avoid the devastating complications diabetes can cause.”

Rebecca Shelley, group corporate affairs director at Tesco, added: “Diabetes affects millions of families and communities across the UK and as today’s news confirms, the number of people with this condition is increasing. Thanks to this important partnership, we have the opportunity to inspire our colleagues and customers to come together, raise awareness and much needed funds to help the millions of people with diabetes in the UK.”

Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not produce insulin and as such is often referred to as ‘insulin-dependent diabetes’. Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease not attributed to any lifestyle factor. With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas (a small gland behind the stomach) will not produce any insulin (a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels) and anyone who has this kind of diabetes will be required to have injections for life in addition to strictly controlled diet. Diabetes UK state that 10% of all diabetes cases in the UK are Type 1 – usually beginning in childhood or young adulthood.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than Type 1 and it occurs when the body is not generating enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not properly respond to it (or both). This is referred to as insulin resistance. It mainly affects adults over 40 years of age but in recent years it has become prominent in younger, overweight people. Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by obesity, consuming too much sugar and leading a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, around 85% of cases of Type 2 diabetes occur in people who are obese and in the UK, about 90% of all adults who suffer with diabetes have Type 2.

Although each can have its own particular symptoms, there are some symptoms that are common for both types of diabetes. These include:

. Feeling very tired.
. Feeling very thirsty.
. Having to urinate often, particularly at night.
. Unexplained weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.

The symptoms of the most common kind of diabetes – Type 2 – can be mild and thus people can go for years without realising they have the disease or receiving a formal diagnosis. If you suspect you have diabetes you must see your doctor as soon as possible as an early diagnosis can decrease the chances of developing more serious problems at a later stage.

Can new weight loss drugs rival Xenical

Recently, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), approved two new weight loss medications (Belviq and Qysmia), and America breathed a sigh of relief. While weight loss drugs have always been a topic of controversy, over the years it has become clear that their addition to the dieting efforts of many individuals, who struggle with obesity, is extremely beneficial. And with more than one third of Americans (35.7%) falling under the obese category, it is no surprise that medical alternatives to diet and exercise, are needed to counteract the issue.

New obesity treatments are needed to bridge the gap between diet and exercise and the more radical option of bariatric surgery. This is a view backed up by Dr Sue DeCotiis, New York City based Medical Internist and Weight Loss Management Specialist, who said, “While there are potential side effects with every medication, long term studies show that overweight patients do much better losing and keeping off weight, when they are prescribed a weight loss drug.”

“Weight loss medications work in conjunction with healthy eating and exercise, and offer individuals a chance at a real lifestyle change. Those who suffer from obesity often have a host of other health problems that come with the condition. These drugs can alleviate those symptoms, and the result is that many of these patients will live longer and avoid the consequences of medical problems, such as hypertension, stroke, and heart attack.”

Listed below is a description of current weight loss drugs and how they work. Previously the only option was Xenical, but now for the first time in 13 years, Doctors will have a choice of which weight loss drugs to prescribe to overweight or obese patients.

Belviq (Locaserin)

Approved by the FDA in late June of this year, this medication works by activating a receptor in the brain that helps a person to eat less and still feel full. By regulating the appetite, it lowers the likelihood of individuals overeating. It works best in patients who suffer from weight related conditions, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. At least 47.5% of patients lost at least 5% of their body weight from the medication, as opposed to 20.3% who took a placebo during a trial study period.

Qsymia (Phentermine & Topirmate)

This combination of the drugs Phentermine (an appetite suppressant and stimulant) and Topirmate (an anticonvulsant with weight loss side effects) is the most recent of the crop of weight loss medications, that have been approved by the FDA. Drugs in this category are primarily considered appetite suppressants. With the medication producing dramatic weight loss in patients, this is one of the clearest signs of hope for those suffering from obesity related diseases. About half of the patients lost 10% of their body weight and four-fifths lost 5%.

Contrave (Bupropion & Naltrexone)

This drug that is still to be approved by the FDA, works by combining two active ingredients that have been used for over twenty years. With Bupropion initiating the weight loss, Naltrexone sustains it by preventing the body’s natural tendency to counteract efforts, to lose weight. The result of this combination is to reduce appetite and increase the body’s metabolism, giving those who are suffering from obesity related illnesses the ability to sustain continued weight loss, by addressing the portion of the brain that controls food cravings.

Xenical (Orlistat)

Xenical, which is the most established and proven of the weight loss drugs, is a lipase inhibitor. Xenical does not enter the patient’s blood stream, but works in the digestive system in the small intestine as a fat absorber. It blocks out a third of the fat in food eaten in a patient’s diet, leading to steady weight loss. Research involving 11,131 woman and 4,418 men, who had been over weight for an average of 14 years, showed that 87% lost at least 5% of total body weight, half lost at least 10%, around 20% lost more than 15% body weight and some patients lost more than 25%.

Only time will tell which of these weight loss drugs is the most successful. Unfortunately here in the UK Belviq is not expected to be released until 2013 and there has been no UK release date as yet for Qsymia and Contrave. However all is not lost as here in the UK we still have Xenical available, which has a proven track record for assisting weight loss. Here at Medical Specialists Pharmacy we can dispense Xenical after an online consultation with one of our doctors and as soon as these other weight loss drugs become available, we will be offering them. Check our news section for further updates.

Enzyme research could help burn fat three times faster

Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have discovered that enzymes involved in breaking down fat, can now be manipulated to work three times harder by turning on a molecular switch. Being able to control this chemical on/off button could have massive implications for curing diseases related to obesity including diabetes, cardio vascular disease, stroke and even skin problems like acne. But the implications may be wider.

The results suggest that the switch may be a common characteristic of many more enzymes. Since enzymes are miniscule worker molecules, that control a vast variety of functions in cells, if the switches are standard, it may well be one of the most important discoveries in enzymology.

According to Professor Dimitrios Stamou, who heads a multidisciplinary team of scientists at the Nano Science Center, and Department of Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen: “If many enzymes turn out to be switched on in the same way as the ones we’ve studied, this opens a door to understanding and maybe curing, a wide range of diseases.”

The discovery of these enzyme switches contradicts previous ideas of how cells control the function of enzymes, such as the fat eating lipase used in the current study. Researchers used to think that these enzymes work continuously at varying levels of efficiency, but in fact they are quite lazy. They work at a fixed efficiency for a given amount of time (working hours), and then they rest. And that’s good news for enzyme designers. Using these new found enzyme switches resulted in tripling the working hours of fat eating lipase enzymes, from 15 percent of the time to 45 percent of the time.

Assistant Professor Nikos Hatzakis, who was deeply involved in the scrutiny of the enzymes explained: “In enzymes, function is decided by the shape of the molecule. So making them more efficient would have required a major reconstruction. In some cases so difficult that it is on the order of transforming a handsaw into a chainsaw. Changing the fundamental shape of a tool is always difficult, whether it’s a saw or an enzyme. But working longer hours with the same tool is infinitely easier. What we’ve achieved, is to make enzymes work longer hours.”

Observing that enzymes even have an on off switch may sound easy, but first the Bio Nano team had to devise a way to study individual enzyme molecules. These are so small, that there are trillions in just a drop of water. To perform their studies the researchers chose a fat degrading lipase enzyme. They used fat that would emit light each time the enzyme took a bite. This way they could monitor each and every single action of the enzyme.

Proffesor Dimitrios Stamou concluded by saying: “Now that we have understood how to switch enzymes on and off, we could use this knowledge in the future, for curing a wide range of diseases and conditions.”

Could a ‘Virtual Doctor’ improve patient care and save money?

For many elderly patients particularly ones suffering from diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease or diabetes, getting to the doctors can be an ordeal.

Such patients need to have their vital signs and other parameters regularly monitored in order to effectively control and treat their conditions. However such patients may only see their doctor or nurse for such checks every few months, and if there is a problem in between then often they will have to be admitted to hospital.

However there is now a programme called Telehealth that has been in development since 2007, and is now being trialed by the North Yorkshireand York Primary Care Trust, using 500 patients suffering from diseases such as COPD, heart disease and diabetes.

The equipment called a Telestation is placed in a patient’s home and can monitor key readings from a patient within just five minutes every morning. The equipment has an integral scale to weigh the patient, a blood pressure cuff to take blood pressure readings, a pulse oximeter to measure pulse and blood oxygen levels, a glucose meter to measure blood sugar levels and even has a video camera built in so the doctor/nurse can physically see the patient if the need arises.

The really clever part of the Telehealth system is that the Telestation wirelessly transmits the readings once taken, to the patient’s phone line where they are transmitted directly to the Telehealth central control, where their own dedicated Telehealth nurse will daily review the readings.

The machine verbally takes the patient step by step throughout the five minute checkup and will also ask pre-set questions as well as taking various readings. If any of the readings fall outside of the pre-set parameters, an alarm will be triggered and the patient will immediately be contacted by their own dedicated Telehealth nurse.

Vera who is 71 and is suffering from COPD was initially skeptical about the scheme, but after taking part in the year long trial Vera claimed that the Telehealth system is “the best thing since sliced bread and that they should be in everybody’s home.” Normally patients suffering from COPD can easily be susceptible to infections that though may be easy to treat, often escalate into much larger problems necessitating hospital admission. The reason for this is that often patients leave it too late to get help, however with the Telehealth system the infection can be nipped in the bud by early diagnosis and treatment. Patients such as Vera suffering from COPD are given medication rescue packs containing antibiotics and steroids that can be taken as soon as needed after a consultation with their Telehealth nurse.

Telehealth nurse Dawn Watson who looks after Vera, tells how by working remotely she can look after more than 200 patients instead of the normal caseload of closer to 30 patients. As well as improved patient care the Telehealth system could obviously cut costs for the NHS especially when you consider that seven out of ten hospital beds are occupied by patients with long term conditions like Vera’s.

Paul Burstow, the minister for care services, claimed at a conference in March that “Telehealth could save the NHS up to £1.2 billion by 2014.” That claim seems to be well backed up as the trial which claims to be a success was launched in 2007, cost £30million, lasted three and a half years and was one of the most complex trials ever carried out by the NHS.

However the jury is still out on whether the Telehealth system is capable of saving the amount of money claimed, and also whether it can provide the improved patient care it claims. The reason the jury is still out on this is that the data analysis is being carried out by five academic institutions, and that for the findings to be both credible and useful, the academic analysis needs to be peer reviewed (a vital process of evaluation by independent experts.)

Northwest Online Pharmacy joins forces with American Drugwatch.com

Medical Specialists Pharmacy, the leading online pharmacy with doctors based in the North West, has teamed up with several UK Media Houses and America’s well known Drugwatch.com to produce and bring valuable information about drugs to the online population via its in-house medical news team.

In 1994, Medical Specialists came about because entrepreneur and Managing Director David Bailey had a vision of online medication. The company has progressed since and become the first online clinic in 2001. In 2010, Medical Specialists became the first online Pharmacy with Doctors, meaning you could have an online consultation with one of their in-house Doctors who could then produce a digital prescription, which would be dispensed by one of their in-house Pharmacist, and the medication with you within 24 hours, either at your home, place of work or other nominated delivery point.

This year saw Medical Specialists Pharmacy as one of the first online NHS Pharmacies offering the new EPS2 system, which means your own GP can send paperless digital prescriptions direct to them. Medical Specialists Pharmacy can then dispense your NHS medication via Royal Mail Special Delivery to the patient the very next day, and once again either at your home, place of work or other nominated delivery point. See www.medical-specialists.co.uk for further information.

A News Team was set up to report on new drugs, problem with drugs and medication, or other interesting medical news. The team has grown over the years, and is now producing a number of stories each day for publication on the internet. This has become a great source of interest by the online public and the media, and they have been approached by a number of UK Media Houses and America’s well known Drugwatch.com. The two latest stories, ‘Bladder Cancer Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Drug’ and ‘Brits Risk Eyesight as Survey Reveals Majority in the Dark’ being some of them.

Managing Director David Bailey said, “We are constantly being approached to produce stories regarding certain subjects, and have also been approached by Drugwatch.com to publish certain stories of theirs appertaining to side effects of specific drugs. Also, several UK Media Houses have approached us with a view to publishing stories for their clients. If we feel the stories are suitable, then we are willing to consider publishing them.”

He went on to say, “We have also been approached by a number of small television production companies regarding very specific medical problems such as Erectile Dysfunction and Hair Loss with a view to making programmes, but at this moment are unable to give further information, so…watch this space!”

Brits risk eyesight as survey reveals majority in the dark

· Loss of vision costs the UK more than £20 billion per year [1]
· Every day around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight [2]
· By the age of 65, 1 in 6 will become blind or partially sighted[3]
Taking regular eye tests will help address these problems – improving the nation’s health and significantly reducing costs of a cash strapped NHS.

Despite two thirds of people in the UK claiming they know how to look after their sight, the majority of Brits are still in the dark about eye care, according to a new global health survey released today.

One of the key issues to emerge from the results is that most people don’t realise eye tests can pick up serious medical conditions such as diabetes years before symptoms emerge in other parts of the body.
Over half of those asked (63%) think that because they don’t have health symptoms there is no need to get their eyes tested, while one in three believe that if they can see, their eyesight is fine. According to the World Health Organisation approximately 80% of visual impairment is preventable[4] yet almost 20% of UK respondents said their last eye examination was over three years ago or that they had never had an eye test.

Doctor Rob Hicks, commented: “The results show that people clearly value vision but don’t do much to protect their eye sight. The key reason people don’t get their eyes tested is because they don’t believe they have any symptoms – they can see so their eyes are fine. We need to correct this misconception. Getting regular eye examinations not only helps improve one’s vision, but can also provide early detection of other serious diseases years before a patient displays other symptoms. The majority of visual impairments are preventable when caught and treated early.”

Paul Hurrell, Vice President Vision Care, Northern Europe, Bausch + Lomb added: “Currently people are not taking the necessary steps to protect their eyesight. We hope the results of this survey will draw attention to what is a significant public health issue. We are committed to helping eye care professionals further educate patients about the importance of regular eye tests.”

Key findings:

- Over a quarter (28%) of Brits are gambling with the sight and general health by not going for regular eye tests every 2 years (in line with NHS recommendations).
- Getting hitched is good for the eyes, with over half of married couples in the UK going for an eye test within the last 12 months, while 74% are more knowledgeable about eye care than singles at just 64%
- Women come out top in the battle of the sexes by taking far better care of their eyes, such as eating a healthy diet and wearing sunglasses, which is not surprisingly confirmed by 94% of UK opticians
- If forced to choose, Brits would rather lose almost anything else, such as their sense of taste, hearing or salary, with 76% preferring to lose a limb than their eyesight
- Younger Brits (aged 18 to 24) are most likely to believe all common eye myths compared to the older population (aged 55+).

Regional variations:

- Those living in Tyne Tees are most likely to have regular eyes tests, with 77% attending every two years (in line with NHS recommendations).
- Londoners are the worst in the UK for getting their eyes tested, only 63% have had an eye appointment within the past 2 years.
- Scots are least likely to be put off by the cost of eye care, with only 28% citing this as a reason not to go, compared with 57% in Tyne Tees.
- Those in the Midlands are least aware of the dangers that smoking (52%) and obesity (70%) pose to their sight.
- Those in Yorkshire are most likely to sacrifice a limb (79%) or their sense of taste (93%) for their sight!

Press contact:
Stephanie Robertson / Stacey Blevins
Weber Shandwick on Behalf of Bausch + Lomb
Tel 07809 665773 / 07909 891498
srobertson@webershandwick.com / sblevins@webershandwick.com
About the Barometer of Global Eye Health:

The Global Eye Health Barometer surveyed more than 11,000 people in 11 representative countries (U.S., Germany, France, Italy, Spain Brazil, U.K., China, Japan, Russia and India), benchmarking people’s habits, and perceptions around eye health. Bausch + Lomb collaborated with more than 140 eye health professionals from 26 countries to construct the global eye health barometer to ensure the results provided information to better understand people’s knowledge and behaviors regarding eye health. The findings will be used to inform and augment existing educational programming and shared with eye health advocates from around the globe – helping people distinguish between fact and myth and encourage better eye health. With these survey results Bausch + Lomb is uniquely positioned to call attention to the significant public health issue on a global level and to empower eye health professionals, third party organizations and critical influencers to develop sustainable solutions for patients.

About Bausch + Lomb
Headquartered in Rochester, Bausch + Lomb was founded in 1853 and employs approximately 11,000 people worldwide. Bausch + Lomb is solely dedicated to eye health – manufacturing contact lenses, lens solutions, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the counter medicines, surgical equipment, inter-ocular lenses (IOLs) and other eye surgery products. Bausch + Lomb products are sold in more than 100 countries

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[1] RNIB study, 2008 http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/Research/reports/prevention/Pages/fsluk1.aspx
[2] Action for Blind People, 2003 data on new registrations, http://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/facts-and-figures-about-issues-around-sight-loss/
[3] Fight for Sight, 2010, http://www.pruprotect.co.uk/conditions/ (then click on ‘Eye’)
[4] WHO Elimination of Avoidable Blindness. Report by the Secretariat. Geneva 2003

Diabetes and erectile dysfunction link

he long term devastating effects that diabetes can have for it’s sufferer are now widely known. The condition can lead to a stroke, heart disease, damage to the retina and possible blindness, kidney failure, and diabetes accelerates atherosclerosis (the formation of fatty plaques inside the arteries which can result in blockages/clots and then a heart attack).

Such problems are the result of usually when diabetes is left uncontrolled and blood sugar levels are not properly maintained, most commonly in adults with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when insufficient insulin is produced by the body for it to function properly, or when the body’s cells do not react to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. The disease is far more common than type 1, and around 90% of adults with diabetes, have the type 2 strain of the disease which has roughly 2.8million sufferers in the UK alone.

Dr. Madeleine Castellanos is a certified psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and the improvement of sex life for couples or individuals. She has written a detailed article on her website in which she explains the connection between erectile dysfunction and diabetes. “Good sexual functioning depends on good blood flow and the ability to not only perceive sensations, but to have the organs and tissues respond to these sensations.  When a person’s blood sugar is high, cells cannot function properly and nerve endings become damaged.  This can cause numbness, or worse – uncomfortable tingling.  Having uncontrolled levels of blood sugar also causes damage to the blood vessels in the form of decreased ability to relax and contract when needed as well as increased atherosclerosis decreasing blood flow.”

She further comments “Ways that nerve damage manifests for someone with diabetes could be a decreased sensation in their genitals.  When this happens, it becomes more difficult to become aroused when touched or stroked.  Impaired blood flow commonly causes erectile dysfunction in men and lack of lubrication or difficulty reaching orgasm in women.  To make matters worse, patients with diabetes have a poorer response to medications for erectile dysfunction.” Dr. Castellanos also says in her article that she believes diabetics should keep their blood sugar level between 80 and 125 instead of trying to maintain the level of under 150 or 180 if they have had the disease for a while.