IBS Awareness Month is here: Do You Have the Stomach for the Fight?

IBS Awareness Month occurs each April and this provides an ideal opportunity for attention to be focused on important health messages about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosis, treatment options, and quality of life issues when managing the condition.

For those suffering with IBS, rest assure that there are millions of others in the same boat. IBS is a very common disorder, with worldwide a prevalence estimated at around 9% to 23%. Despite this, there are undoubtedly millions of people around the world who are suffering in silence, without a proper diagnosis, and maybe even unaware that their symptoms indicate a medically recognised disorder.

IBS is a long-term gut disorder in which abdominal pain or discomfort is experienced, usually sporadically, together with erratic bowel habits. This comes in the form of diarrhoea, constipation, or alternating bouts of both. The condition may also be referred to by one of many more outdated terms, such as irritable colon, mucous colitis, nervous stomach, spastic colitis or spastic colon.

Other symptoms may also be present, including: backache, belching, bladder problems, headache, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, and quickly feeling full after eating.

Over 10% of the population suffer with IBS and this percentage could increase in the future if the nation’s stress levels rise – stress is a primary cause of IBS.

Other factors that can lead to IBS can include a combination of a number of issues such as: inflammation of your bowel (i.e. after an infection like gastroenteritis), dietary factors (foods high in carbohydrates, foods high in fat, spicy foods, alcohol, fizzy drinks and caffeinated drinks are culprits), genetics (family members may have also had IBS), or mental issues such as depression.

Unfortunately, there is no definitive treatment or cure for IBS and no ‘one size fits all’ remedy to rectify the problem, but there are certain IBS treatments that can ease symptoms for some sufferers, hopefully helping them to lead a more normal day-to-day life. These include prescription medications such as Constella, Mebeverine, Xifaxanta, and over-the-counter products such as Buscopan IBS Relief and Colpermin. The prescription medications may only be obtained by completing an online consultation with one of the Medical Specialists® Pharmacy GMC-registered doctors, or by sending a private prescription to Medical Specialists®.

There are also numerous other dietary and lifestyle choices that those with IBS may find beneficial in helping symptoms subside. These include:

. Drink around eight cups of fluid each day – preferably water. Limit caffeinated and alcoholic drinks.

. For those finding it impossible to give up tea and coffee, restrict the intake to three cups per day at the most.

. Have regular meals, evenly spaced out, and pacing yourself whilst eating. Also, do not go long periods without eating anything.

. Those with IBS that often flares-up during times of stress, depression, or anxiety, are advised to try relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises or meditation, in addition to more physically-involved activities such as pilates or yoga.

. Consume no more than three portions of fruit per day.

. Those suffering with diarrhoea should avoid artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol. This is contained in some sugar-free sweets, chewing gum, and certain diabetic and slimming products.

. Vigorous exercise, for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. This should be done at least three times each week. It is important for patients with IBS to discuss with their GP which exercise is most suited for them.

Gut problems are one of the most common types of disorders seen by doctors and are certainly nothing to be ashamed about. If anyone is experiencing any kind of stomach complaint, they should consult a GP immediately. The GP will ask detailed questions about lifestyle, diet, etc. before making a formal diagnosis and discussing how to go forward with the condition, or make a referral for further detailed scans if necessary, to see if there is an underlying problem.

Unisex contraceptive pill on the horizon?

Contraceptive pills for women include popular choices such as cerazette, marvelon, yasmin and zoely, all of which slightly differ in their active ingredients and mechanism of action, but all are ultimately designed to prevent the woman from becoming pregnant.

For the male, there is the barrier method of wearing a condom, which some men still find uncomfortable doing, and not much else choice wise. However, could things change in the future?
Remarkably, there may be contraceptive pill on the horizon that could be taken by both men and women, following advancements in the knowledge of sperm biology in the United States.

The new study, funded by the governmental National Institutes of Health, could also lead to the reversal of infertility in thousands of British men after the findings demonstrated how sperm are given a “power boost” to get to the egg.

The scientists involved in the study managed to identify a protein contained in sperm that provides it with sufficient energy it requires to power towards an egg and break into it.

Researchers in the study commented that this ABHD2 protein allows the tail to ‘crack like a whip’ and ‘power kick’ its way into the egg.

With this in mind, by blocking this protein, this could stop the sperm from fertilising the egg.
Dr Stuart Moss, of the National Institutes of Health, said: “Developing new compounds that block ABHD2 ultimately may yield new contraceptive methods that prevent sperm from research the egg.”

University of California, Berkeley researcher Melissa Miller also commented: “What is really cool is that we have an actual target for unisex contraceptive development.”

Therefore theoretically, a contraception pill could be taken by either the male or female, which could let men have a bigger share of the contraceptive responsibility in a relationship.

On the flip side, a pill which boosts the protein could even help infertile couples to finally have children, the journal Science reports.

At the moment, around 80% of male infertility cases cannot be pinpointed to a definitive reason, mainly because doctors are not fully aware how the interactions between sperm and eggs result in infertility. Moreover, the sperm could be the problem in half of all cases of infertile couples.

It was previously challenging to analyse the functions of sperm with conventional laboratory methods due to the fact it is the body’s smallest cell.

However, advancements in technology over the last 5 years led to the new discovery at the University of California, whereby scientists have been able to attach electrodes to the sperm’s tail and record how it reacts to hormones.

This meant that they were able to discover how a large receptor on the sperm tails – a calcium channel referred to as CatSper – is activated by progesterone from the egg.

The scientists however believed that the progesterone wasn’t directly impacting on the calcium channel, but on another receptor, which then activated the calcium channel.

This was found to be true; tests showing that progesterone binds to an enzyme named ABHD2, found in abundance within sperm.

After it connects to the enzyme – on the surface of the sperm – it get rids of a lipid that has been inhibiting the calcium channel. This then allows CatSper to open the gate to calcium ions and thus, sperm activation.

Ms Miller commented that this inhibitor, CatSper, is probably there to stop the sperm from prematurely travelling to the egg and using up their limited supply of energy.

Should more people be taking cholesterol-boosting statins?

Statins are the most commonly prescribed type of medicine within the UK, taken by millions of people to help lower their ‘bad’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in the blood.

A large proportion of people may only be prescribed statins on the basis of their future risk though, for instance if there is a chance of the person developing cardiovascular disease, if there is a strong family history of cardiovascular disease, or determined by the person’s age.

However, experts have warned that this is simply excluding a great number of people who may benefit from taking statins, which include atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin and more. The warnings came as part of a study published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation.

Scientists based at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal, Canada, argue that actually younger people with high cholesterol levels should be prescribed too. They estimated that there at least 9.5 million lower-risk, young people who would benefit from statins that aren’t taking them at the moment.

Dr George Thanassoulis, director of preventative and genomic cardiology at MUHC, said: “Targeting statin treatment to this group would prevent an additional 266,000 heart attacks and strokes over 10 years.”

In determining who they thought would receive health benefits from statin therapy, the scientists studied data from 2,134 participants of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally-representative US cohort that spanned from 2005 to 2010.

The survey comprised of around 71.8 million Americans who were deemed eligible for statins. Those involved in the study then used a 10-year risk based approach, in addition to an individualised benefit approach, comparing the two different ways of looking at eligibility for statins.

Dr Thanassoulis commented: “Using a benefit-based approach, we identified 9.5 million lower-risk Americans not currently eligible for statin treatment, who had the same or greater expected benefit from statins as higher-risk individuals.

“These individuals were lower-risk because they were younger but they also had higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol which we have known to be an important cause of heart disease.”
The study’s findings may lead to health professionals reconsidering who should be prescribed the cholesterol-boosting drugs, and possibly recommending that people previously thought of as too young to be at risk of a heart attack, should be eligible for them.

Dr Thanassoulis said: “Our analysis shows that they would benefit from treatment, even in the short term, and therefore should be eligible for statin treatment.”

The scientists involved in the study argue that this could help to prevent a large number of people suffering with cardiovascular disease in the future.

“For too many, the present approach starts too late; an earlier start will multiply the lives save,” Dr Thanassoulis added.

The next step for the team that undertook the study will be the creation of a web interface to enable other physicians to take advantage of the new calculation model, and hope their method will result in new guidelines being set on identifying people who could benefit from statins.

Air pollution linked to thousands of deaths

Thousands of lives are being put at grave danger from exposure to pollution emitted from everyday household objects and appliances, according to the findings of a new report.

Health problems could be linked to linked to frequently used items such as air fresheners, candles, cleaning products, fly sprays, personal care products, mould or mildew, fires or wood-burning stoves and poorly maintained gas heaters and boilers, claims the report conducted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), titled Every Breath We Take: the lifelong impact of air pollution.

A person’s house itself and the materials it has been constructed could also be a source of concern regarding chemical pollutants. The authors say: “These include the construction materials, as well as paints, glues, furniture, wallpaper and drapery. Cleaning and DIY products, air fresheners and other consumer products such as insecticide sprays that we use in the home are also important.”

It has long been common knowledge that smoking causes indoor air pollution, but now health experts have warned of several other items that are risking the onset of conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory problems, cancer and heart problems.

The report even claims indoor air pollution may have caused or contributed to at least 40,000 deaths a year in the UK, and 99,000 deaths in total in just one year across Europe.

Though being indoors may help to protect people from harmful outdoor pollution, this means that there is more time spent being exposed to pollution from inside their own homes, with the authors arguing that the drive to bringing energy costs by creating homes with tighter ventilation may be worsening the situation.

“Being indoors can offer some protection against outdoor air pollution, but it can also expose us to other air pollution sources,” the authors wrote.

“There is now good awareness of the risks from badly maintained gas appliances, radioactive radon gas and second-hand tobacco smoke, but indoors we can also be exposed to NO2 from gas cooking and solvents that slowly seep from plastics, paints and furnishings.

“The lemon and pine scents that we use to make our homes smell fresh can react chemically to generate air pollutants, and ozone-based air fresheners can also cause indoor air pollution.”

In particularly, the report highlighted the danger of potentially fatal carbon monoxide released from faulty boilers and heaters, in addition to the particulates and nitrogen oxides coming from heating and cooking appliances which can damage the lungs and heart.

Perhaps the most worrying alarming aspects of air pollution mentioned in the report is the threat posed by the common household items used daily by millions of people, like fresheners and personal hygiene, DIY and cleaning products.

Finally, the report concluded how there could be many more thousands of deaths from both inside and outside the home than has been previously thought.

Back in 2008, 29,000 deaths across the UK each year was the figure estimated as a result of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution, but the latest estimates now put the figure at about 40,000.

Air pollution has been attributed to health problems such as asthma, cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and stroke.

Wanting to buy Viagra? Better ask the wife first…

Imagine the prospect of having to gain the wife’s approval before being able to buy Viagra for erectile dysfunction.

Well, that is the scenario possibly facing men in the U.S. state of Kentucky, who may soon need to get a note of approval from their wives before being able to obtain male impotence treatments on prescription.

Outraged by the introduction of a new law forcing women to undergo medical counselling at least 24 hours prior to an abortion, Democrat Kentucky lawmaker Mary Lou Marzian wanted to “strike a nerve” with political opponents – specifically men.

Therefore, State Rep. Ms Marzian, introduced a bill that would result in any male looking to obtain a prescription for any of the erectile dysfunction medications – i.e. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra – to “have two office visits on two different calendar days” as well as get a note from their wives before receiving their impotence treatment.

Only last week Kentucky governor Matt Bevin gave his signature to a bill that forces women to consult with a doctor at least 24 hours before going through with an abortion – a law that Ms Marzian voted against.

Explaining her reasoning behind in introduction of the latest bill, she said: “I want to protect these men from themselves. This is about family values.”

She added that any man needing impotence treatments would be required to “make a sworn statement with his hand on a Bible that he will only use a prescription for a drug for erectile dysfunction when having sexual relations with his current spouse.

“I started thinking: ‘how would this body men feel if the government was injecting itself into their private medical decision?’”

Ms Marzian, a 61-year-old retired nurse and abortion rights supporter, says that the U.S. government should not be allowed to meddle with people’s medical decisions.

She said: “We are very ‘family values’ in the Kentucky General Assembly – they are all awash in Christian family values, so that’s why I put that part in there that erectile pills can only be used in a marital relationship.”

However, Ms Marzian did concede that the ‘symbolic’ new bill may not get too much backing behind it. Moreover, further controversial plans have been put forth.

One such idea would be a bill that forces people purchasing firearms to receive counselling from victims of gun violence 24 hours before their purchase.

“I’m just making sure the government is taking care of your safety,” she added.

Speaking to Reuters by telephone, she said: “My point is to illustrate how intrusive and ridiculous it is for elected officials to be inserting themselves into private and personal medical decisions.”

Are walnuts the key to weight loss and improving cholesterol?

Forget salad, there could be another food that is great for shedding those excess pounds, and it might just help to protect your heart in the long run!

The key to losing weight could surprisingly be walnuts, according to the findings of a new study, whereby scientists found that a diet rich in both olive oil and walnuts – one of the most popular and versatile of all the nuts – could help boost weight loss as well as increasing the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels in overweight people.

The weight loss results were comparable to that of being on a lower fat, higher carbohydrate diet and with regards to the findings, the study has recommended people eating even just a handful of them each day.

Researchers involved with the study say it is even more beneficial to eat walnuts which are high in polyunsaturated fats, as they will provide extra boost to heart health as well as lower cholesterol.
Study author Dr Cheryl Rock, of the San Diego School of Medicine at the University of California, said she was surprised by the results demonstrated in the study.

“One of the surprising findings of this study was even though walnuts are higher in fat and calories, the walnut-rich diet was associated with the same degree of weight loss as a lower fat diet.

“Considering the results of this study, as well as previous walnut research on heart health and weight, there’s something to be said for eating a handful of walnuts a day.”

To come to their conclusion, the team of researchers analysed 245 overweight or obese women aged between 22 and 72, all of whom were part of a one-year weight loss programme.

The women were randomly assigned to one of three different diets. The first was a lower fat and higher carbohydrate diet, the second was a lower carbohydrate and higher fat diet, whilst the third was a walnut-rich, higher fat and lower carbohydrate diet.

Those assigned to the walnut-rich diet would consume around 43g (1.5 ounces) of the nuts a day – which works out at around one and a half handfuls.

After a six month follow-up, it was discovered that women across all of the groups had lost an average of nearly 8% of their initial weight.

Women given the walnut-rich diet were found to have similar amounts of weight to the two other groups, however also had the added benefit of noticeable improvements in their cholesterol levels compared to the women in the other groups.

Specifically, there was a significant decrease noted in the LDL cholesterol (the ‘bad’ cholesterol) and an increase in HDL cholesterol (the ‘good’ cholesterol). This was not evident within the other diet groups.

This happened to be particularly noticeable in the women who were insulin-resistant – a precursor of diabetes.

The researchers believe this was the case as the low-carb high-fat diet group were urged to eat more foods rich in monounsaturated fats, found in a variety of foods and oils.

Foods high in monounsaturated fatty acids are believed to improve blood cholesterol levels, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease.

The walnut-rich diet was found to offer a large amount of polyunsaturated fats though, and in fact walnuts are the only nut where the fat is mainly polyunsaturated, which comprises of a high quantity of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

ALA is a plant-derived form of omega-3 fatty acid, an important part of a healthy working body. Omega 3 must be obtained from a person’s diet due to the body being unable to generate it itself. This ultimately means many have insufficient levels of the fatty acid.

Dr Rock admitted as the study only included women, the results may not be the same for men, and did not measure whether the women actually fully stuck to the diets assigned to them, although the women probably adhered to them considering the weight loss experienced.

“In addition to these findings, we hope to explore the effect of walnuts on satiety, as we believe satiety is a critical factor for maintaining weight loss,” Dr Rock concluded.

Teens who use E-Cigs more likely to start smoking, says study

Teenagers are more likely to begin smoking after trying e-cigarettes, according to new research published in the journal Tobacco Control.
 
The research shows that school pupils who had previously used an e-cigarette device were then approximately 3 times more likely to start smoking cigarettes around year later, compared with those who had never used e-cigarettes.

The use of e-cigarettes in teens is rising; increasing from 5% in 2013 to 8% in 2014. Some studies have concluded that e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than smoking widespread concerns that they are simply acting as a ‘gateway’ to smoking regular tobacco-based cigarettes. This is in spite of the fact it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to under-18s in the UK.

A team of experts based at the University of Hawaii monitored 2,338 high school students, a year apart, quizzing them regarding their experiences of either smoking tobacco or ‘vaping’ with electronic devices; if they used them, and if so, how frequently.

Just under a third (31%) of the students had admitted to using e-cigarettes when they were first surveyed in 2013 at the age of 14 or 15, the study found.

After the researchers had questioned the children a year later, this percentage had risen to 38. Overall, 15% of the students had smoked at least 1 cigarette in 2013, increasing to 21% by the following year.

However, it was discovered that whoever had used e-cigarettes in 2013 were actually thrice as likely to times more likely to have smoked tobacco the following year. This finding was still true, even after researchers accounted for factors such as students’ home environment and parental education, according to the authors.

The researchers also found that those that had reported to having the larger frequency of vaping in the first year were likely to regularly smoke later on, which could mean that many students who tried smoking in the study were just experimenting.

The authors of the study wrote: “We followed a sample of high school students over a one-year interval and found that among initial non-smokers, those who used e-cigarettes were more likely to initiate cigarette smoking.

“This suggests that e-cigarette use in adolescence has behavioural costs.

“These findings should be considered for policy discussions about the availability of e-cigarettes to adolescents.”

Those involved in creating the analysis state the study is merely statistical, and no definitive reasons can be pinpointed as to why some of the children had begun to smoke.

The study had also not taken into account other factors, such as parents’ smoking habits or attitudes to smoking.

E-cigarettes are used by around 1.3 million people in the UK, intended to resemble a traditional cigarette. Liquid nicotine is converted into a mist, or vapour, that the user inhales – simulating the process of smoking. As the devices emit a smoke-like water vapour, this has led to the term ‘vaping’ being commonly referred to for their use.

Smoking rates have dropped, but there are huge concerns that the e-cigarettes could be helping to encourage youngsters to begin smoking who previously never had, critics arguing they are a gateway to nicotine addiction and there needs to be further research into the impact on our health.