Coping with Stress during Men’s Health Week and beyond

Monday saw the start of the annual Men’s Health Week, which is running from 9^th – 15^th June, fittingly coming to a close on the day dedicated to those who need a gentle reminder about their health the most – Our father’s.

The week has been held for many years and is organised by the Men’s Health Forum, an independent charity this year and will primarily be focusing on health and work, including ways to avoid stress, overworking and coping with unemployment.

Men – including the majority of fathers – are rarely thought of as ‘victims’ and instead typically regarded as the main breadwinner of the household, and macho types who certainly need no molycoddling. As such, male health can be often overlooked as this apparent need to show a toughness can unfortunately mask their vulnerability and any psychological issues they may have. Remember that in this day and age, stereotypes don’t always apply and could actually be dangerous to men’s health.

There are around one in eight men living with a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, and phobia. Figures indicate men spend more of their lifetime at the workplace compared to women, and twice as more likely to be working full time. This can mean extra stress and is highly detrimental to a man’s general health and wellbeing.

Statistics show that in the previous 30 years three to four times more men than women have taken their lives and there has never been a time in those three decades that suicide rates in women have been greater than that for men.

In recent years, the poor financial climate in the UK has not helped matters. The fallout of a crippling recession has led to increased worry about job security, men feeling pressurised into working longer hours for fear of their jobs, a sustained fear of redundancy, and overall poorer job performance. To further highlight the growing problems, a 2011 Croner survey show that nearly half of workers (48%) stated they were more stressed than just a year previously.

With all this in mind, Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy run through some great ways at managing stress to ensure a more happy home and work life.

. Fresh air can make a big difference

Nobody likes being cooked up indoors all day long, especially if we have been blessed with some rare good weather! Being outdoors also boosts the production of the chemical serotonin, which is important to regulate moods and sleep. Bananas are an excellent source to increase the production, so weather permitting, consider getting out of the office for a stroll outdoors each day and also get one of your 5-a-day in the process!

. Be active

After all, human beings are created to move about, not sit on a chair all day. Exercise can reduce the risk of major illness such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke by up to 50%, but it is also great for your spirits! Endorphins, also known as the ‘happy hormones’ are feel good neurotransmitters that are released during any type of physical activity, and help to modulate diet, create a feeling of euphoria and enhance immune response. All this will help to fight the negative effects of stress. It is also vital for people to engage in sports or physical activities they enjoy and to start off slow to reduce the risk of injury and lack of motivation.

. Get more sleep

Stress and sleep often go hand-in-hand and form a vicious cycle, which can spiral unless managed correctly. Stress individuals tend to have more problems with sleeping, causing exhaustion, additional stress, and then even more problems for sleep levels. However, managing stress levels can alleviate sleep levels, and vice versa. For those not wanting to rely on sleep medication to drift off, think about maximising your relaxation prior to bedtime in order to help reach the 7-9 hours sleep that most adults require each night. Try to refrain from caffeine and alcohol in the evenings if this impacts sleep, and stop any mentally demanding work several hours before retiring to bed so that your brain can switch off and calm down. Going to bed at a similar time each night may also help and get your body used to a set routine of when to sleep and awake.

. Learn to manage your time

Those with a number of goals within a ‘to do list’ are best realising that these cannot be done all at once. By accepting doing everything simultaneously is impossible, tasks can be prioritised and even delegated onto others where possible. Write down what needs to be done and when it needs doing. For instance, what needs to be completed this week, this month, or by the end of the year? Make a list of everything in order of priority and tasks can then be broken down into smaller, more manageable tasks to be completed over a longer time-frame, resulting in less stress.

. Talk to someone

Connecting with others going through similar experiences can be a huge weight off the shoulders and it can be a stress reliever to just be aware there are many others in the same boat. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved. Building a good support network of friends and family can be hugely beneficial and provide a buffer from the negative impact of stress. There are also plenty of online forums dedicated to just about every issue there is and this provides further opportunity to talk to others dealing with stress and learn about how they deal with it.

Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy hope these stress-busting tips help. However, visit the Men’s Health Forum website for more information regarding Men’s Health Week, including how to get involved, and excellent FAQs about stress, depression and health at work.

2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil: Fans warned of dangerous health risks

The day is finally upon us! With only hours to go until the 2014 World Cup begins in Brazil, excitement has reached fever pitch and it is unlikely you will be able to walk down many streets in England without seeing red and white flags displayed to support the national team.

When we see these millionaire footballers such as Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard on our television screens, many probably see them as god-like figures, superstars with such vast wealth and fame that they are immune to everything else around them, whether it is criticism, scorching hot weather or disease.

However, underneath all the money and glamour, they are just human beings like the rest of us. Yesterday Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy reported how the entire England camp are having to take antimalarial Malarone to fend off malaria, showing they are still at risk of contracting any number diseases whilst in Brazil, as any other holidaymaker would be whilst visiting the particularly at-risk regions.

There are 12 host cities for the 2014 World Cup, including Manaus in the Amazon region where England begin their World Cup campaign on Saturday. Health risks for individuals in Brazil for the event will vary according to the stadia hosting the game, duration in the country, other places being visited around Brazil or other countries and leisure pursuits. In addition, age, pregnancy, pre-existing medical conditions and medications, are all issues to take into account.

Here Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy discuss some of the diseases that are common in Brazil.

Malaria

It is vital to disclose exactly which regions you are visiting in Brazil and the possibility of travelling to any neighbouring countries, as malaria risks can vary considerably. Arena Amazonai in Manaus is one stadium in a ‘high risk’ area for malaria, but the remaining 11 stadia are situated within ‘low to no’ malaria risk areas.

People are advised to increase their malaria awareness, take antimalarial tablets such as Malarone and learn mosquito bite avoidance measures. The latter is especially vital as there may be a risk of other mosquito-borne infections such as dengue fever.

Sexually transmitted infection

A staggering 3.7 million football fans are expected to descend onto Brazil this week, a country where prostitution is legal. As such, Brazil’s one million sex workers will be looking to cash in on the influx of extra potential customers.

However, it is worth remembering that Brazil is one of numerous countries in South America with high rates of sexually transmitted infection and HIV, although recent intervention from the Brazilian government has led to condom distribution increasing more than 45% between 2010 and 2011 (from 333 million to 493 million condoms). Holidays may be a time to have fun, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of your health. Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy advise all UK travellers to pack good quality UK-manufactured latex condoms and use one each and every time you have sex.

Dengue fever

Dengue fever is a huge problem in Brazil. In fact, last year there were a record 1.4 million suspected dengue fever cases reported in the country. UK travellers should be aware that there is a risk of dengue fever in certain stadia to be hosting games during the peak dengue season in their area. All are found in the north-east of the country: Fortaleza (Ceara state), Natal (Rio Grande Do Norte state), Recife (Pernambuco state) and Salvador (Bahia state).

Travellers should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites due to the fact there is no vaccine to protect against the dengue fever virus. Using insect repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net are two ways to help protect yourself.

Yellow fever

Similar to malaria and dengue fever, yellow fever is transmitted through mosquito bites. However, the disease is preventable by a vaccination, especially recommended to those who are visiting the highly popular tourist destination Igazu Falls. Even if going into a low-risk yellow fever area, travellers are still advised to apply a DEET-containing insect repellent to exposed skin and consider other mosquito-bite prevention methods, for both indoors and outdoors.

Just a single dose of the yellow fever vaccine offers protection against the disease for around 10 years, but must be administered at least ten days before a trip. Moreover, many countries require you to have a yellow fever vaccination certificate before entry, although exemption certificates can be provided for people unable to have the vaccination on medical grounds.

Rabies

Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, commonly through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin, and Brazil is deemed to be a ‘hisk risk’ country for rabies in animals by the World Health Organisation.

For those only in Brazil to attend World Cup, it may just suffice to increase awareness of the rabies risk, avoid contact with animals (including bats), as well as report any bites for assessment. However, those planning to stay in Brazil after the tournament has finished to travel to more remote and rural areas – i.e. for caving trips where immediate access to treatment is unavailable – may be advised to have a rabies vaccine.

England’s World Cup stars prescribed Malarone to avoid Malaria

With only three days to go until England’s opening Group D game kicks off against Italy, news has emerged that the whole 23-man playing squad are taking the antimalarial Malarone (Atovaquone Proguanil), in addition to 49 additional travelling back-room and administrative staff.

As the following Brazil Malaria Map shows (from the NHS Fit For Travel website) a large portion of the country is alarmingly within the red ‘high risk’ zone for the deadly disease malaria, including the city of Manaus.



Manaus is one of the host cities for the 2014 World Cup and incidentally is where England will begin their quest for World Cup glory on Saturday against the Azzurri, so it is therefore relieving news to know the entire England camp are taking Malarone – Easily one of Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy’s most requested medications from our Holiday and Travel range of treatments.

The Football Association spoke to an expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and decided the prescribing of Malarone was absolutely vital for the travelling party to Brazil, and all were administered with their first pill during breakfast on Tuesday, 48 hours before leaving for Manaus.

Malarone contains the two active ingredients atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, and is used for the prevention and treatment of malaria, a potentially deadly disease that is usually caused by the bite from a female mosquito.

The medication is sought by a high number of people who travel to high-risk countries for malaria, but around one in 10 people who take the drug can experience side effects such as diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and headaches. One might argue such side effects could be an annoyance if a key England player is affected before the game on Saturday.

However, Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy counter that it is more important that lives are saved, even if there is a risk of one or two players being ruled out of a game, and it is for such reasons that 23 players are taken for games where only 11 can be on the field at once!

It seems manager Roy Hodgson agrees. Although Hodgson didn’t take any Malarone when he visited Manaus in February for the World Cup workshop, he acknowledges the importance of antimalarial treatments such as Malarone.

When asked about any side effects of the drug for his players, he said: “It’s a question for the doctors really: I went to Manaus and I didn’t take any for the two days I spent there. That might just be something to do with the fact that I’m not a football player. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve got to go with medical opinion. If the doctors are telling me that, when we go to Manaus, the players must take malaria tablets, whether it has side effects or not, what do I do? I can’t turn around and say: ‘We will not take malaria tablets’ because the bottom line is it’s better to have stomach cramps or whatever it is for one player in 10 than have someone contract malaria, because that would be unthinkable.”

A third of adults in England now ‘on cusp of diabetes’

Over one in three adults are on the brink of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the findings of new research.

The British Medical Journal have published alarming findings that show there has been an “extremely rapid” increase in the cases of pre-diabetes since 2003.

The authors of the study discovered that in 2011, there had been a triple increase in the number of people confirmed with having pre-diabetes, rising from 11.6% in 2003 to a staggering 35.3% by 2011. To come to this judgement, the authors looked at data comprised from the Health Survey for England for the years 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2011, which included information about the blood samples of thousands of people.

The authors said: “This rapid rise in such a short period of time is particularly disturbing because it suggests that large changes on a population level can occur in a relatively short period of time. If there is no coordinated response to the rise in pre-diabetes, an increase in numbers of people with diabetes will ensue, with consequent increase in health expenditure, morbidity and cardiovascular mortality.”

Researchers determined an individual to have pre-diabetes if they had not been previously diagnosed with the condition, and their glycated haemoglobin – a measure of blood glucose control – was found to be at a level between 5.7% and 6.4%.

If the findings were amplified for the rest of the UK, it could suggest there are now an estimated 15 million adults that are pre-diabetic, with a further 4 million actually suffering from diabetes.
Nine tenths of all cases of diabetes are type 2, often occurring in mid-life and heavily linked to weight gain, and worryingly, as a nation we are simply getting fatter.

During the last 20 years there has been almost a double rise in the number of obese adults, soaring from 13.2% amongst men in 1993 to 24.4% now. Women show a similar pattern, increasing from 16.4% to a whopping 25.1%.

Pre-diabetes previously went by the name of ‘borderline diabetes’, and is the term given when someone has glucose levels that are in the very high end of what is deemed ‘normal’, but not yet high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes – a condition that can lead to other complications such as heart disease or stroke, and is particularly common in men with suffering with erectile dysfunction.

Most people in this ‘grey area’ between normal blood sugar levels and diabetic levels, often do not display any symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, which usually include: urinating frequently (commonly at night), feeling very thirsty, loss of muscle bulk, weight loss and feeling very tired.

However, pre-diabetes is a very serious warning to take heed of and certainly an important stage in the development of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been strongly linked with both genetics and ethnicity, but an incredibly large percentage of cases of type 2 diabetes are caused by poor diet that leads to being overweight or due to obesity. With early enough lifestyle changes such as improving your diet, regular exercise and weight loss, it may just be enough to slow down or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, commented: “Unless we make people aware of their risk of type 2 diabetes and support them in changing their lifestyles, we could see an even greater increase in the number of people with the condition than we are already expecting. A tenth of the NHS budget is already being spent on diabetes and unless we get much better at preventing type 2 diabetes this spending will soon rise to unsustainable levels.”

Has plain packaging failed? Cigarette sales are on the rise

Australia’s plain packaging smoking legislation came into force back in December 2012, forcing all tobacco products to be sold in dull, drab boxes with no fancy design, branding, or manufacturer information. Instead, there was only permitted to be graphic and disturbing health warnings, aimed to deter smokers from continuing with the habit, and non-smokers from actually beginning to start smoking.

Logically, one would naturally expect sales of tobacco to maybe drop a year on after the world’s first law for such a requirement. However, remarkably the complete opposite has happened, and industry figures show that sales of tobacco products have actually increased since the plain packaging legislation kicked in.

The Australian Labor health minister Nicola Roxon pushed through the law almost 18 months ago as an attempt to discourage people from smoking, a habit which claims around 15,000 lives each year in the country, with social and economic costs estimated at $31.5 billion annually.

Unfortunately, the plan has clearly backfired tremendously with sales skyrocketing by an incredible 59 million cigarettes in 2013, up by 0.3% on the previous year. This rise comprises of both packaged cigarettes and the roll-your-own equivalents, according to ‘The Australian’ newspaper.

This increase marks a stark turnaround in broader trend of tobacco sales in Australia, which had previously declined by 15.6% in the four years prior.

However, the introduction of plain packaged tobacco appears to have boosted the demand for cheaper cigarettes, with reports of a more than 50 per cent rise in the market for lower cost cigarettes.

The findings stem from research conducted by industry monitor InfoView, demonstrating an increase in the market share of cheaper cigarettes, rising from 32% to 37% last year. This appears to be corroborated by retailers, consumer markets and the industry. For instance, cigarette maker Philip Morris claims its ­information has indicated absolutely no decline in demand.

Australasian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Jeff Rogut said that sales by his members had risen by $120 million, or 5.4% last year. He commented: “Talking to members, one of the most common refrains they get from people coming into stores is, ‘What are your cheapest smokes?’.”

In addition, there has been more worrying statistics to emerge in recent weeks by the NSW and South Australian governments that show smoking appears to be increasing at a rapid rate.

The 2013 population health survey for NSW was published last month and stated that 16.4% of all adults residing in the state smoked, up from 14.7% in 2011. Moreover, for South Australia, a similar pattern was evident. The rate of adults smoking has increased from 16.7% in 2011 to 19.4% last year.

However, the opposition health spokesperson Catherine King spoke to The Australian and said she would ignore industry data and instead rely on information obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed that rates of smoking were still dropping.

Are You Clear on Cancer? A Simple visit to the GP Could Save Your Life…

Cancer is one of the biggest killers in the world, afflicting more than one in three people during their lifetime. Each year a staggering 14.1 million cancer cases are diagnosed around the world, and this is predicted to rise to 24 million by 2035.

However, plenty of evidence exists to show that a patient’s treatment options and chance of recovery is far greater if the cancer is spotted at an early stage. For instance, a person’s chance of surviving from bowel cancer for an additional five years is 90% higher if the cancer is diagnosed early enough, but this rate drops to just 6% at the most advanced stage, and death is likely. A similar pattern holds true for numerous other types of cancer too.

This is where the Department of Health’s Be Clear on Cancer campaign is vital as the initiative looks to increase the UK public’s awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer, in addition to urging people with symptoms to see their doctor at the earliest possible chance to boost the chance of catching cancer early to make a full recovery.

Be Clear on Cancer has been formulated to primarily target the over-50s from lower socio-economic groups, as it is believed this demographic typically delay in seeing the doctor about persistent symptoms. The campaign has focused on a number of things so far, including:  bowel cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, blood in the urine (a key symptom of bladder and kidney cancer), oesophago-gastric and ovarian cancers. There is also a breast cancer campaign aimed specifically at women over the age of 70 and a cancer symptoms campaign called ‘Know 4 sure’.

As highlighted previously, it is imperative to get yourself checked out for diagnosis at the earliest chance, to boost your survival chance. Therefore, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any inexplicable changes to your body. Cancer symptoms can vary depending on where the body they appear, and symptoms that may be similar to cancer usually turn out to be something less serious.  However, if you notice anything unusual, it is still vital to make an appointment to see your doctor.

Most doctors and other health experts generally agree on a number of crucial symptoms to be aware of with regards to cancer. These include:

. A change in your regular bowel habits (i.e. diarrhoea or constipation for no obvious reason, or blood in your stools).
. A cough lasting more than three weeks.
. A mouth or tongue ulcer lasting more than three weeks.
. Blood in your urine.
. Breathlessness.
. Changes in the shape, size or colour of a mole.
. Coughing up blood.
. Inexplicable weight loss or heavy night sweats.
. Regular problems with swallowing and indigestion.
. The appearance of a lump or swelling on your body.


Many people are still unsure why they have developed cancer, and the answer is there are a multitude of factors that can increase your risk. Age is the main risk and unfortunately something we cannot control. Age is a risk factor as cell’s that become cancerous usually take many years to develop.

Moreover, there has to be a number of genetic mutations within a cell for it to become cancerous. Some people are born with one mutation already and although it is not a certainty the person will get cancer, they are statistically more likely to at some point during their lifetime.

Other cancer risks we can control however. For example, smoking is the single biggest cause of lung cancer, responsible for over 8 out of 10 cases (86%) as well as being linked to some cases of lung cancer in non-smokers, due to second-hand smoking (passive smoking). A long-term heavy alcohol intake and prolonged exposure to sunlight are also risks for cancer.

Though evidence is open to debate, it is thought that a diet high in processed meats and red meat can, with insufficient fruit and vegetables, heighten your risk of cancers such as bowel, breast and prostate cancer.

Obesity is yet another high risk, being linked to cancers of the breast, colon and rectum, endometrium (the lining of the uterus), gallbladder, kidney, oesophagus, pancreas, thyroid and maybe even other types of cancer.

Therefore, Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy urge you to be aware of the common symptoms of cancer and do not hesitate to see a GP if you spot any signs of cancer. You are not wasting anyone’s time and you will be able to stop worrying if it is nothing serious. If your doctor believes you might have cancer you will be referred to a specialist, usually within two weeks. Further tests will then be carried out – such as an X-ray or biopsy – and suitable treatment options will be discussed with you.

Teenager with HIV blasts school sex education

A HIV-positive teenager has hit out at sex education in schools, claiming he learned nothing about the disease whilst at high school and if he had, he might have been more equipped to understand the main risks involved with contracting it.

Luke Alexander, 19, appeared on ITV’s This Morning programme, speaking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, called for more awareness about HIV – one year on after being given the devastating diagnosis.

Mr Alexander feels so strongly about the subject he has written an open letter to health secretary Michael Gove, arguing that it should be made compulsory in schools for lessons to be conducted on the virus. The letter was posted online as a petition on the Change.org website, where he claimed that the ‘vast majority of young people today have little or no common knowledge’, of the virus.

He says: “When they diagnosed me last year, my first reaction was “Oh my God, I’m going to die”. I knew it existed but I didn’t know a lot about treatment.”

Mr Alexander added he came out as gay at the tender age of 13 and then was sexually active from the age of 15. After losing his job at 18, his life spiralled out of control as he became dependant on alcohol and drugs, admitting he ‘went off the rails’ during this point.

He became more careless in his sex life yet says he can ‘count on one hand’ the times he has had sex without using a condom – showing it only takes just one occasion of unsafe sex for any sexually transmitted infection to pass from one person to the next.

However, Mr Alexander has criticised the lack of focus on HIV at school and explained the sex education lessons he received mainly focused on the risk of becoming pregnant and contracting chlamydia. He added there should have been more explanation about the importance of wearing condoms to safeguard against the disease as well as other STIs such as genital herpes and gonorrhoea.
“We did talk about condoms,” he said. “But it was more in the context of getting pregnant and bacterial infections. We never really went into anything else. I have always known it was necessary (to use a condom) but it wasn’t stressed (in the context of HIV).”

During a trip to Manchester in April 2013, Mr Alexander began to show the symptoms of the disease. He says: “All of a sudden I came down with a horrific fever, it was very instant, I had sweats and could not sleep. The next thing I knew I was off my food and very, very fatigued. It was awful.”

Then a month later whilst attending a Birmingham Gay Pride event, he was offered a free sexual test, which he duly accepted and thought nothing of it. However, he started to worry when a phone call informed him there was ‘cause for concern’, leading to an agonising five day wait, when the diagnosis was given – he was HIV positive.

Mr Alexander said he did not ‘get the information I felt I needed at the time’ during his high school years.

“Being gay, HIV is up there on the list of things affecting men across the world. We heard a lot about chlamydia and pregnancy but nothing in much depth, the teachers were embarrassed to talk about it. I felt they were speaking about it because they had to, because the government were telling them to. But it left no impression.”

Dr Ranj Singh, who accompanied Mr Alexander on This Morning, commented that stats released by the National Aids Trust last month showed a ‘shockingly low’ level of knowledge about HIV in young gay men – and even worse in older men. Dr Sing added that around 100,000 people in the UK have the virus, but as many as 20,000 are unaware they have it.

A Department of Education spokesman commented: “Pupils must learn about sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS as part of sex and relationship education.”