Health

[SteveH]

Health Secretary Eluned Morgan has today announced the rollout of a new vaccination programme to protect against a common but potentially dangerous respiratory infection. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a very contagious virus, which infects 9 out of 10 children before their second birthday.

More than a thousand babies in Wales are hospitalised every year with RSV. It can also lead to serious health complications for adults aged over 75, resulting in around 125 deaths every year in Wales.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-vaccine-wales-winter-virus-29555625

[SteveH]

Something to bear in mind...................

Urgent action needed as malaria resists key drug
Millions of lives are at risk unless urgent and radical action is taken to stop drug-resistant malaria spreading in Africa, scientists warn.

Malaria parasites that can shrug off the effects of the critical drug artemisinin are now well-established in East Africa.

Resistance levels have soared in some areas from fewer than 1% to more than 20% of cases in the space of three years.

The last time resistance to an antimalarial spread in Africa it led to a tripling in the number of children dying.

Twenty-eight leading malaria scientists from 10 countries have made the call to action in the journal Science.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxe25v5d8l9o

[SteveH]

They are the bête noire of many nutritionists - mass-produced yet moreish foods like chicken nuggets, packaged snacks, fizzy drinks, ice cream or even sliced brown bread.

So-called ultra-processed foods (UPF) account for 56% of calories consumed across the UK, external, and that figure is higher for children and people who live in poorer areas.

UPFs are defined by how many industrial processes they have been through and the number of ingredients - often unpronounceable - on their packaging. Most are high in fat, sugar or salt; many you’d call fast food.

What unites them is their synthetic look and taste, which has made them a target for some clean-living advocates.

There is a growing body of evidence that these foods aren’t good for us. But experts can’t agree how exactly they affect us or why, and it’s not clear that science is going to give us an answer any time soon.

While recent research shows many pervasive health problems, including cancers, heart disease, obesity and depression are linked to UPFs, there’s no proof, as yet, that they are caused by them.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpe3pppw1z7o

[SteveH]

People can reverse their type 2 diabetes by going on a strict 900-calorie-a-day liquid diet offered by the NHS.
Sticking to it may be challenging though, results suggest. Dieters must endure a few months of consuming only shakes, soups and meal-replacement bars, before healthy solid foods can be gradually reintroduced.

Of many thousands invited, hundreds completed the year-long programme, findings published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, external reveal.

A third shed lots of weight - nearly two-and-a-half stone (16kg) - and put their diabetes into remission.

The programme is being offered to people around England. It is separate from the weight loss jab Wegovy that will be provided by some specialist NHS weight-loss management services.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjyy7280lzo


Also
Pharmacists warn over fake weight-loss jabs
Pharmacists have warned people not to buy fake weight-loss jabs online as a shortage of Ozempic is expected to stretch into next year.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) suggested there could be a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online" as a result.

Weight-loss injections have been popularised with celebrity endorsements and before and after pictures online, but fake versions can be dangerous.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qeee33883o

[Hugo]

People can reverse their type 2 diabetes by going on a strict 900-calorie-a-day liquid diet offered by the NHS.
Sticking to it may be challenging though, results suggest. Dieters must endure a few months of consuming only shakes, soups and meal-replacement bars, before healthy solid foods can be gradually reintroduced.

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czjyy7280lzo

It sounds like a good idea and it is in some respects but if the Type 2 Diabetes has damaged the nerve endings to fingers, toes, eyes etc then the damage cannot be reversed.     That is what I have been told and Diabetes is a more serious condition than I thought and for that reason I now use a diabetes trained chiropodist and I'm not taking any chances with my feet.     

[SteveH]

Seven ultra-processed foods that could 'wreak havoc' in your gut and increase cancer risk

Diets packed with these foods are tied to reduced mortality, cancer and mental health problems

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/seven-ultra-processed-foods-that-could-wreak-havoc-in-your-gut-and-increase-cancer-risk?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589


PS
Breakfast warning to millions who keep cereal boxes in their kitchen cupboards
A bowl of sugary grains and outs may not be the best way to start a day - even with so-called healthy items like granola

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/breakfast-warning-millions-who-keep-29701247

[Ian]

Seven ultra-processed foods that could 'wreak havoc' in your gut and increase cancer risk

Diets packed with these foods are tied to reduced mortality, cancer and mental health problems

That should read "tied to increased mortality (but it's their error, Steve.)

[SteveH]

As the UK prepares for another heatwave, locals are being advised to keep their curtains and blinds closed from this Sunday to help manage the expected scorching conditions.

The Met Office has forecasted a rise in temperatures, predicting highs of 28C on Sunday, which could reach up to 31C by Monday. This indicates a return of the intense sunshine following a brief period of cooler weather, reports WalesOnline.

UK homes, which are usually built to retain heat during the harsh winter months, can become uncomfortably hot during the summer, leaving residents struggling to cool down their overheated properties. Official advice warns that extremely high indoor temperatures can lead to serious health issues, including the risk of heat stroke.

READ MORE... https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/households-warned-close-your-blinds-29735042

[Ian]

I suspect this is referring to the heatwave that's just passed:

"According to the Met Office, the upcoming heatwave is set to commence on Sunday, August 11, reaching its zenith on Monday, August 12, before temperatures begin to dip once more on Tuesday, "

[SteveH]

UK health chiefs say they are making plans in case a new type of mpox virus is detected in the country - but they emphasise the risk is low.

It comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Wednesday that outbreaks in west and central Africa constitute a global health emergency.

Mpox, previously known as monkey pox, is a contagious virus that can cause painful skin lesions.

Plans are under way to ensure UK healthcare workers are aware of the key signs to look out for and have rapid tests available.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8xqxpjqxdo

[SteveH]

A family's dream holiday turned into a nightmare when severe sunburn left a 10-year-old boy requiring hospital treatment.

Hector had been enjoying a sunshine break with his loved ones in Cape Verde, when he decided he wanted to enjoy a final few hours of fun by the hotel pool before they left for the airport.

His mother Natalie said their suncream had run out so they purchased an extra bottle of high factor cream at the resort and applied that.

However shortly after leaving the pool, his back and shoulders turned bright red and huge blisters started to appear.

Natalie has decided to speak about Hector's experience to warn other families going abroad about only using suncreams they know and trust.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1l57vqqnjeo

[SteveH]

A new vaccine will be given for the first time in Wales on Monday with the hope it will save hundreds of lives each year. The vaccine is aimed at protecting babies and older adults from the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which kills between 400 and 600 adults each year, and leads to more than 1,000 babies needing hospital treatment.

RSV is a common infection which circulates through autumn and winter, infecting most children within the first two years of their life and frequently reinfects older children and adults. While for many children it presents as the common cold, babies under the age of one are at a greater risk of severe infection if they get the virus.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74jdj2x0w4o

[SteveH]

If you're feeling under the weather and not in the mood for food, this veggie soup recipe may be just the thing to get you back on your feet. It's a great alternative to the usual pick-me-up chicken broth and has been dubbed 'amazing' for anyone 'feeling run down' by people who have tried it.

Appetite can be one of the first things to go when when your unwell, but one doctor and nutritionist has shared her secret soup that's a staple when she's not at her best. Known as the @thefoodmedic on Instagram, Dr Hazel Wallace regularly shares her healthy recipes with 838,000 followers, and one of her latest posts demonstrates how to create her tomato-based soup that could help you feel better.

cont https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/docs-soup-recipe-is-perfect-pick-me-up-if-youre-under-the-weather?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

The NHS is urging parents and carers of two and three-year-olds to schedule a flu vaccine for their children ahead of an expected surge in respiratory illnesses this winter.

School-age children, kids in clinical risk groups and pregnant women are among the groups also eligible to get vaccinated.

The flu vaccine is given to most children as a quick, painless spray up the nose, with no injection. Children who cannot have pork gelatine in medical products will be offered an injection.

The health service expects a wave of Covid-19 infections alongside a rise in flu and other illnesses this winter.

From 3 October, the campaign will also target over-65s, adults in clinical risk groups and carers.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g5dlndd5do

[SteveH]

High blood pressure can be a silent killer and figures suggest that one in three adults in the UK is living with the condition. Also know as hypertension it can be a symptomless condition if left untreated can cause a stroke or heart attack.

What we eat influences our health and that rule is true for high blood pressure. A diet heavy in salt for example can push up your blood pressure. However, by making simple lifestyle changes and cutting down on certain foods blood pressure can be managed.

In a recent article for Heart Matters, British Heart Foundation (BHF) senior dietitian Victoria Taylor, explained the benefits of an improved diet: “If you have high blood pressure, one of the tools you can use to help keep it under control is your diet.”

And the best diets begin at breakfast................ https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/dietician-says-making-two-food-swaps-at-breakfast-can-lower-blood-pressure?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589