How to Prevent Your Partner from Talking in Their Sleep

You may love your partner more than life itself, but when you wake up in the middle of the night because of their incessant sleep talking; loving your partner becomes a little bit harder. Sleep has a very close connection to your wellbeing, being related to your physical and mental health. Plus, if your partner is keeping you from your much-needed eight hours a night, the wellness of your relationship could also be at stake! So, how do you get your partner to keep sch-tum when you’re sleeping?

 

When your partner suffers from somniloquy, or sleep talking, they have no control over what they say and can say things they wouldn’t otherwise when conscious. When you tell you partner about it, or the things they’ve said, they can often be quite shocked as they don’t remember doing it, may have used different voices or language to that which they usually use. This sleep talking may have been spontaneous, or induced by something you’ve said. Though it does no harm to your partner, you may be at risk of sleep deprivation, as well as the emotional impact of having someone you love say unusual things, or even yell out during the night.

 

Sleep talking can be caused by a number of factors, including stress, depression, fever, sleep deprivation, daytime drowsiness, medications and alcohol. There may be a hereditary element involved, but often it’s external factors that seem to stimulate the behaviour. Underlying sleep conditions, such as sleep apnoea, make your partner more prone to talk in their sleep because they often fail to sleep soundly. Sleep talking rarely requires treatment, but your partner should seek medical attention if the episodes become very frequent, emotional, aggressive, abusive or dramatic. Your partner should keep a sleep diary, so that the doctor can see their sleep patterns over the course of two weeks. The diary should include bedtimes, the approximate time your partner fell asleep and woke up, any medicines your partner takes and when they’re taken, working hours, stress levels, exercise undertaken, and any drinks consumed.

 

Here are a few techniques that can keep your partner’s lips zipped after bedtime:

 

1. Get enough sleep. Your partner is more likely to sleep talk if they’re sleep-deprived.

 

2. Develop a relaxing pre-sleep habit. Your partner could try having a warm bath or a light bedtime snack before bed, drinking warm milk, listening to soft music or reading for 10 minutes.

 

3. Listen to your body. Your partner should only go to bed when they feel sleepy.

 

4. Avoid things that will interrupt your sleep. Your partner should avoid TV, smoking, heavy meals, caffeine and alcohol at bedtime.

 

5. Create the right environment. Your bedroom needs to be set up in a way that endorses sleep, so make sure it’s as quiet and cosy as possible.

 

6. Reduce stress. Practising simple exercises, stretches or yoga poses on a regular basis can help your partner to reduce daily stress levels, and sleep better as a result.

 

7. Stick to a routine. Your partner should maintain a regular schedule for meals, medications, chores, and other activities.

 

8. Eat the right foods. Tryptophan increases your body’s level of serotonin, which helps you to feel good and get to sleep more easily. Therefore, your partner should eat plenty of tryptophan-fuelled foods, such as wheat germ, cottage cheese, milk, eggs, and almonds.

 

9. Avoid taking sleeping pills. While sleeping pills may help with the odd episode of restless sleep, most doctors avoid prescribing them for periods longer than three weeks.

 

10. Block out the distractions. You can help your partner sleep better and talk less by getting them some earplugs, or something to create white noise, such as a fan. Just in case these tips don’t work, you might want to invest in some ear plugs for yourself too!

Categories: bedtime nbsp, Causes, nbsp, partner, prevention, sleep, sleep deprivation, Sleep Talking, sleeping pills, Stress Levels, talking

Doggie Dread: Can You Leave Your Pet Home Alone?

Separation anxiety can really influence a person’s wellbeing, but what about man’s best friend? A happy dog is an important part of family wellness, because a panicky pup can end up destroying your household belongings, as well as slowly damaging his own mental and physical wellness. It’s essential to note the difference between separation anxiety and misbehaviour, as your dog isn’t simply miffed about being left alone, and taking it out on your furniture. At best, he’s bored, but the worst case explanation is that your dog is in a state of serious panic.

 

There are many causes of separation anxiety, but it sometimes involves a traumatic experience. Your dog may have been caught in a traffic accident, lost in unfamiliar surroundings, or become saddened by the death of a person or pet in your home. In most cases, no single event causes separation anxiety; it’s just your dog’s genetic predisposition. It’s hard to tell whether or not your dog is affected, as you’re not there to witness his behaviour, but certain signs can give you a clue as to whether or not you should be concerned:

 

1. Destructive behaviours: Your dog may have been chewing pillows or furniture, mutilating plants, or relentlessly scratching at doors and windows while you’ve been out.

 

2. Nervous noises: When you leave the house, your dog constantly barks, whines or howls.

 

3. Unpleasant odours: You come home to find an unwanted present on your carpet, be it the smell of urine or something worse, when your dog is fully-trained to urinate or defecate outside.

 

4. Worried walking: Your dog may pace intensely and persistently when he’s kept in another room away from everyone.

 

5. Harmful Houdini: If you keep your dog in a separate room or crate, he may try to escape to the point that he injures himself.

 

6. Anxious body language: Your dog may show certain physiological responses, such as dilated pupils or excessive panting.

 

Remember, there’s a difference between the disorder and just nuisance behaviour. Your furry little friend may just enjoy chewing on your slippers from time to time – he’s not doing it as a cry for help. The way to tell the problem is serious is if the behaviour occurs every time you leave, the behaviour occurs only in your absence, and if the anxious behaviours begin even before you go. Your dog may start acting out as soon as you put your shoes on, as he knows this means you’ll soon be leaving.

 

Your vet may recommend medications if your dog’s separation anxiety is serious. A new drug, Reconcile, is based on Prozac and can help pets to relax. However, the most commonly used separation anxiety treatment is desensitisation, or gradually getting your dog used to your departure. If you think this is the best treatment option for your pet, it’s highly recommended that you seek assistance from a reputable behaviourist or your vet. The process can usually be successful within eight weeks, but rare cases have taken much longer.

 

If you’re starting with a puppy, it is possible to prevent separation anxiety as long as you teach him that leaving him alone actually means good things. Follow these tips to get your pet associating your departure with something positive:

 

• Leave Kongs filled with peanut butter or cottage cheese so he has something to dig up when you’re gone.


• Hide treats in his crate or around the house.


• Hide his toys in places he knows to search.


• Tire him out with plenty of exercise so he’ll be more content to sleep or just take it easy when you leave.

Categories: anxiety, behaviour, behaviour occurs, Dogs, leave, nbsp, prevention, separation, Separation Anxiety

Not Just for Schools: How to Prevent Cyberbullying at Work

As someone who’s no longer in high school, you may think cyber bullying won’t affect your wellbeing. However, this dark side of technology poses a threat to corporate wellness, infiltrating workplaces at an alarming rate. According to Rachel Clements, BSc Hons, M Psych, MAPS, co-founder and Director of Psychological Services and Principal Organisational Psychologist at the Centre for Corporate Health, ‘Over the past year, here at the Centre for Corporate Health, we have noticed a distinct increase in workers’ compensation claims resulting in workers taking time away from work. One of the major causative factors to these workers’ compensation claims is repeated harassment via digital media platforms.’ So what is cyber bullying, and how can you prevent it?

 

The Safe Work Australia Preventing & Responding to Workplace Bullying Draft Code of Practice 2013 defines workplace bullying as ‘Repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a risk to health and safety.’ This means any behaviour that is victimising, humiliating, intimidating or threatening, be it from one person or a group. But where does cyber bullying come in? Clements explains, ‘This specific “brand” of bullying occurs using technology and platforms such as email, SMS, social media sites, blogs, discussion forums, websites and even computer screensavers. Individuals who feel disempowered in the “real world” may resort to bullying behaviour which they would not ordinarily feel comfortable doing without the pseudonym protection provided by social media avatars.’

 

The problem with social networking is that it provides a certain level of anonymity, meaning you can attack someone without them knowing who you are, and without really seeing them as a real human being. According to Clements, ‘Social networking can encourage antisocial behaviour and a lack of empathy…Perpetrators of cyberbullying have been labelled in the social media world as “trolls”. A victim’s response to bullying cannot be witnessed. The depersonalized medium social media can offer also give rises to a “group think” mentality, where any form of harassment can easily gain momentum and as a group, the bullying seems okay as “everyone is doing it”.’  However, cyberbullying is not okay; it can lead to a number of psychological problems. This includes:

 

• Depression and anxiety


• Psychosomatic symptoms,


• Suicide


• Interpersonal difficulties (both at home and at work)


• Decreased work performance and increased absenteeism


• Psychological injury claims


• Bystander impact (low morale, poor job satisfaction, team dysfunction)

 

Cyberbullying, then, needs to be stopped, but how do you go about it? Clements notes, ‘To effectively prevent and manage workplace bullying, it is important to ensure that your workplace has the correct policies and procedures in place to set the foundation for a holistic approach to be effective. This approach needs to encompass organisational, managerial, team and individual factors, with an emphasis on organisational culture and constructive leadership.’

 

1. Organisational Strategies: This means defining acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour with regards to the internet, training your employees in and communicating these policies effectively, and making sure your leaders are exemplifying these policies. ‘Revisit your recruitment and staff selection process,’ Clements advises. ‘Organisations that use psychological inventories and behavioural interviewing are more likely to select an employee that will interact with colleagues in a cohesive and like minded manner.’

 

2. Managerial Strategies: Clements details, ‘We, at The Centre for Corporate Health, believe prevention is better than reaction, so providing training for managers to assist them in developing constructive leadership styles, is a great place to plant the seed of a healthy and nurturing culture at work. It’s important to provide ongoing coaching for managers to ensure they are equipped to handle sensitive issues such as bullying.’

 

3. Team Strategies: ‘It’s imperative to provide employees with the opportunity to develop their interpersonal relationships by connecting with the team, scheduling regular meetings and networking opportunities to support each other,’ Clements asserts. ‘Providing training to staff via skills based learning is also a great technique to prevent workplace bullying, as it gives individuals the skill set to understand individual differences, know effective ways to problem solve, as well as knowledge on how to build respectful relationships.’

 

4. Individual Strategies: Clements argues, ‘Providing employees with Emotional Resilience Training (mindfulness/positive psychology based training) gives them the ability to be less affected and strengthens their psychological hardiness. This type of training reduces the risk factors which contribute to the decline in personal resilience often resulting in an employee suffering a workplace psychological injury.’

Categories: compensation claims, corporate health, cyber bullying, Cyberbullying, depression, prevention, psychological injury, Social Media, social networking, strategies clements

Is it Possible to Spread HPV to Yourself?

When you talk about protecting your sexual health, it generally involves another person. Not only could your wellness be at risk to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) but you’ve likely caught the disease from a sexual partner, meaning that their wellbeing has likewise been affected. However, is it possible to give yourself an STI, or to help it spread to other parts of your body? The answer is yes, especially when it comes to the human papillomavirus (HPV)

 

According to award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette, ‘Because of the risks involved with this sexually transmitted infection (STI), awareness initiatives and vaccine promotions have increased in recent years, but many individuals remain unaware there is a self-inoculation risk associated with HPV. Self-inoculation, or the transmission of a disease from one part of the body to another, is rarely thought of with HPV, which most individuals associate with the appearance of genital warts.The human papillomavirus is more diverse than this, however, and while it does commonly affect the surface of the vagina, anus, vulva, cervix, and penis head, it also can affect the mouth and the throat.’

 

Researchers at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions point out that, because HPV is capable of affecting your oral and sexual wellbeing, this makes it perfectly possible for you to spread the infection from your genital area to your mouth and throat without the aid of a sexual partner. Gillette notes, ‘Oral HPV is considered by the American Cancer Association to be one of the up-and-coming contributors to the rate of oral cancers seen annually in the United States; approximately 42,000 people are diagnosed with the condition annually.’ Maura L. Gillison, MD, PhD, of JohnsHopkinsUniversity in Baltimore, adds, ‘The number of oropharyngeal cancers caused by HPV is probably larger than the number caused by smoking and alcohol, at least in the US. This expands our idea of who might be at risk for head and neck cancers. There is a proven survival benefit to catching these cancers early, so recognizing that people without traditional risk factors may still be at risk is important.’

 

There are more than 100 strains of HPV, but not all of these strains lead to serious health risks. However, the Mouth Cancer Foundation states that if you do develop an oral HPV infection, you are a whopping 32 times more likely than other individuals to develop oral cancers. This increased risk is way beyond that which smokers or drinkers experience, even for people who both drink AND smoke. Gillette details, ‘Oropharyngeal cancer occurs in the area beyond the mouth from the base of the tongue to the back of the throat. Oral HPV infection is also more common among men than women, though researchers are unsure why this disparity exists.’ Men, you need to watch out as you are roughly three times more likely to develop an oral HPV infection than your female counterpart. In 2012, a study showed that approximately 10% of men ages 14 to 69 have an oral HPV infection, compared to just 3.6% of women.

 

So how can you prevent self-inoculation of HPV? Gillette advises, ‘While it is not always possible to prevent self-inoculation of HPV, examination of personal sexual habits is the first step toward keeping the virus at bay. Individuals who participate in activities which involve genital-to-mouth contact from their own bodies are at risk for oral infection. If these habits cannot be adjusted, research from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston suggests oral mouthwash, brushing and regular flossing can help reduce an individual’s risk of contracting oral HPV.’

Categories: hpv infection, human papillomavirus, oral, oral cancers, oral hpv, papillomavirus hpv, prevention, public health, risk, self innoculation, sexual partner, sexually transmitted

Know Your Enemy: How to Prevent Prostate Cancer

In order to protect your sexual health – and overall wellbeing – against prostate cancer, you need to be well-informed. By knowing your enemy, so to speak, you can get proactive with your treatment in the best way for you as an individual, or even guard your wellness against prostate cancer in the first place. So what exactly is prostate cancer, and what can you do to prevent it?

 

Prostate cancer is a tumour that grows in your prostate gland, which is the part of your reproductive system that stores seminal fluid (the substance that mixes with sperm to form semen). Sometimes, prostate cancer can grow slowly over a period of many years, while at others it may grow rapidly and spread swiftly to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer has been known to spread its cells throughout your lymph system or bloodstream and along nerve pathways. In some cases, men with prostate cancer experience no symptoms, which is why it is so important to have your prostate checked by a doctor on a regular basis.

 

Sometimes, however, prostate cancer does exhibit certain signs and symptoms. These include:

• Blood in your urine or semen


• Dribbling when urinating


• Erectile dysfunction


• Frequent urination, especially at night


• Painful urination and/or ejaculation


• A smaller stream of urine


• An urgent need to urinate


• Painful bony sites (if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body)


• Occasional nerve paralysis or loss of bladder function

 

Unfortunately, the cause of prostate cancer remains unknown, although it is thought that your hormones – such as testosterone – may contribute to the disease as they control the growth of your prostate gland. Viruses or chronic infections may contribute to prostate cancer, and there’s also a link between the disease and common cancer-causing substances in the environment. Plus, researchers have recently identified a gene that is linked to some cases of prostate cancer. While the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, scientists have identified five key risk factors:

 

1. Advanced age: Prostate cancer is seen mostly in men over the age of 55.

 

2. Diet: While a high-fat diet may increase your risk of prostate cancer, fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish may lower your risk.

 

3. Ethnicity: Prostate cancer is less common in American Indian and Asian men, occurring most often in African and northern European ethnic groups.

 

4. Family history: If your father or brother has had prostate cancer, your risk for the disease is heightened.

 

5. Other risk factors: Men who have had a vasectomy, who smoke, or who have been exposed to a metal called cadmium may also be at an increased risk of prostate cancer.

 

So that’s prostate cancer, but what can be done to prevent the disease? While prostate cancer cannot be completely prevented, prostate screening with exams and blood tests helps with early diagnosis. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a digital rectal exam should also be offered every year to men 50 years of age or older who have a life expectancy of at least 10 years. The ACS also recommends that a prostate-specific antigen test (a PSA blood test) be offered every year to these men. However, if you have one of the above noted risk factors for prostate cancer – such as a high-risk ethnic origin or family history of the disease – you should start getting screened for prostate cancer at the age of 45. Finally, make sure you make good dietary choices, as this lowers your risk for the disease. Your diet should be low in fat, while packed with fruits, vegetables, and fatty fish.

Categories: cancer, cancer remains, family history, fatty fish, fruits vegetables, prevention, prostate, prostate cancer, prostate gland, risk factors, Symptoms

How to Spot The Warning Signs of Yeast Infection

Yeast infections are kind of – to use a technical term – an icky part of sexual health, but one that’s easily taken care of. However, it’s far better to protect your wellbeing against yeast infections through a few simple steps. Let’s take a look at how you can stop yeast infections and, if that doesn’t work, spot the signs that your wellness has been affected.

 

Also known as candidiasis, a yeast infection is caused by a fungus called candida albicans. It usually occurs in warm, moist parts of your body, like your mouth and moist areas of your skin. When you have a vaginal yeast infection, it is known as vulvovaginal candidiasis. There are several reasons as to why candida can overgrow; stress, pregnancy, and illnesses that affect the immune system may allow yeast to multiply, as can certain medicines including birth control pills and steroids. If you take antibiotics for other conditions, the medicine might kill the good bacteria responsible for keeping the growth of candida in the vagina in check. You may also be at a greater risk of yeast infection if your blood sugar level is high, as occurs in people with poorly-controlled diabetes.

 

If you do have a yeast infection, it will probably be the most obvious right before your period, as the menstrual cycle causes hormonal changes. Tight clothing and underwear, or clothes made of materials like nylon that trap heat and moisture, might make it more likely for you to have a yeast infection, as this is the kind of environment that yeast thrives in. This is also the case for scented sanitary products and douching, so avoid these if you think they’re giving you a yeast infection. Although yeast infections may spread from one sexual partner to the other, it’s a rarity and, as such, is not considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). However, if your partner does show symptoms, he or she may have to be treated.

 

The common signs and symptoms of yeast infections include:

• Itching and irritation in your vagina


• Redness, swelling, or itching in your vulva (which are the folds of skin outside your vagina)


• A thick, white discharge. This is usually odourless, but may smell like bread or yeast.


• Pain or burning when urinating or during sex

 

If any of these symptoms are affecting you, you should speak to your doctor. Some of these symptoms are similar to those you might find with an STI, but your doctor can give you the right diagnosis so that you can be treated appropriately. The test may involve your doctor taking a urine sample — to rule out a urinary tract infection — and swab some discharge from your vagina to examine under a microscope. Treatment for vaginal yeast infections usually involve a pill to swallow, or a cream, tablet or suppository to put in your vagina. Make sure that you abstain from sex until the infection has cleared up, as the medications for vaginal yeast infections can weaken condoms and diaphragms.

 

However, why let it get to that stage when you can prevent a yeast infection?

 

1. Dress right: What you wear can enable yeast infections to grow, so avoid wet bathing suits, tight jeans, and stretchy exercise gear. Nylon underwear, pantyhose, and other synthetic materials that trap moisture also make yeast infections more likely.

 

2. Watch out for beauty products: There are some dyes and perfumes in soaps, bath gels, lotions, sanitary products, and laundry detergents that some women react to, and this irritation can cause yeast infections to grow. Steer clear of perfumed products and to use mild and fragrance-free products when possible

Categories: infection, Infections, nbsp, prevention, sanitary products, Symptoms, vagina, vaginal yeast, yeast, yeast infection, Yeast Infections

What a Kick in the Balls: Preventing Testicular Injuries

Even if it doesn’t impact your sexual health, when something hits you in the testicles, it really, really hurts. You’re more likely to experience testicular injuries if you play sports, like to lift weights and exercise a lot, or lead an all-around active life, but that doesn’t mean you should stop doing those things – you just need to understand the dangers of testicular injuries, and how to prevent them.

 

The good news is that because the testicles are loosely attached to the body and are made of a spongy material, they’re able to absorb most collisions without permanent damage. Even though it hurts like hell when they’re hit, your testicles can bounce back pretty quickly and minor injuries rarely have long-term effects. And, in case you were wondering, it’s likely that your sexual function or sperm production will not be affected if you have a testicular injury. If you do get hit in the balls, take pain-relieving medications, lie down, wear supportive underwear to give your testicles gentle support, and apply ice packs to the area.

 

If your testicular pain doesn’t subside, or the extreme pain last longer than an hour, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. Other symptoms of a more serious injury include swelling or bruising on your scrotum, a puncture on your scrotum or testicle, nausea, vomiting and a fever. These could be signs of testicular torsion and testicular rupture, which need to be addressed by a doctor immediately to prevent further complications, such as reduced sperm production or the loss of the testicle. The problem may be fixed by a doctor manually untwisting the testicle but, if that doesn’t work, surgery will be necessary. However, prevention is better than treatment so, if you play sports, exercise a lot or just have an active life, you need to guard your wellbeing against testicular injuries:

 

1. Use protection: When participating in strenuous activities, such as sports, it’s a good idea to wear an athletic cup. You wear these hard, plastic cups over your groin to provide a good degree of shielding and safety for your testicles. This is particularly advisable if you often do sports in which your testicles might get hit or kicked, like football, hockey, soccer, or karate. When exercising, cycling or doing any heavy lifting, it’s recommended that you wear an athletic supporter. Also known as a jock strap, an athletic supporter is a cloth pouch that keeps your testicles close to your body. If you do use an athletic cup and/or jock strap, check the fit to make sure it is the right size. If the safety equipment is too small or too big, it won’t protect you as effectively. Remember to make your protective equipment part of your routine, so you don’t forget to wear it!

 

2. Talk to your doctor: You probably already have regular physical exams by your doctor if you play sports, but if not, it’s a good idea to do so. Even if you only experience testicular pain on occasion, you should talk to your doctor about it.

 

3. Understand the risks: Being aware of the risks of your sport or activity can go a long way in protecting your wellness against testicular injuries – and reading articles like this one is a great place to start! However, if you play a sport or participate in an activity with a high risk of injury, get as much information as you can by looking online, and talking to your coach or doctor about any additional protective gear you should use.

Categories: active life, athletic cup, athletic supporter, experience testicular, jock strap, play sports, prevention, sperm production, testicular injuries, testicular pain, treatment

Chinese Cupping Method Found to Treat Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

A few years ago, Gwyneth Paltrow attracted attention at an awards show when she showed up with strange red welts on her back. Before you fear for her wellbeing, it turned out that she’d just undergone a complementary wellness therapy known as cupping. This traditional Chinese treatment places glass jars on your skin and, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pain, this can be beneficial to your wellness if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.

 

For the study, 52 people who had been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome – which is categorised by finger and wrist pain occurring when pressure is placed on a nerve protected by the carpal tunnel, a narrow passageway in your wrist – were divided into two groups. The first group underwent cupping therapy, which involved having glass jars placed over a section of punctured skin and air pumps placed at the opposite ends of the jars to remove air to form a vacuum. Through this suction process, your blood is drawn to the surface of your skin, and this is thought to enhance your circulation and alleviate your pain.

 

In the case of the study, the glasses were placed for five to 10 minutes over the shoulder muscle to affect the nerve that gets aggravated in carpal tunnel syndrome. In the second group, the researchers placed heating pads of over the same shoulder muscle for 15 minutes at a time. After seven days, the results of the study revealed that the cupping therapy group did significantly better, experiencing a 60% decrease in their symptom scores, compared to just 23% for the other group. This backs up previous pain-relief studies, which have found that cupping helps with lower back pain.

 

That said, the best way to treat carpal tunnel syndrome is to prevent ever getting it in the first place. You’re more at risk of the condition if you have a job or hobby that involves performing repetitive tasks with your hands, such as typing, needlework, or playing a musical instrument. If this applies to you – and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t do an excessive amount of typing these days? – it’s a good idea to take breaks every hour, and perform the six hand-stretching exercises below:

 

1. Stop right now: Hold your left hand up with your palm facing outward, much like you would if attempting to halt traffic. Then, use your right hand to pull each finger back towards the wrist, and hold the stretch for five seconds. Repeat the stretch on your right hand.

 

2. Namaste: At chest height, press the palms of your hands together, as if you’re about to say “Namaste” or pray with very dignified posture. Lower your hands towards your lap until you feel your wrists start to stretch, and hold this for five seconds.

 

3. Spirit fingers: This one’s pretty simple; just spread your fingers wide for five seconds.

 

4. Partially double-jointed: Have you ever had one of those conversations where you all talk about weird, double-jointed things you can do? Chances are, someone you know can touch their wrist with their thumb (on the same arm, of course, otherwise it’s less impressive!) Even if you can’t reach your wrist, try gently pulling your left thumb back towards your left wrist until you feel the stretch. Hold it for five seconds, and then repeat the move on your right hand.

 

5. The slow fist: Starting with your little finger, slowly curl each digit into the centre of your palm until you make a fist. After this, curl your wrists inward until you feel the stretch, and hold it for five seconds – just don’t do this while making eye contact with anyone or you’ll come across as a bit threatening!

 

6. Massage and shake: Finally, as the name of this movement suggests, massage the inside and outside of each hand, and then gently shake them out.

Categories: carpal tunnel, carpal tunnel syndrome, cupping, cupping therapy, double jointed, glass jars, hand nbsp, pain nbsp, prevention, seconds nbsp, shoulder muscle, tunnel syndrome

How to Prevent Loud Noises from Damaging Your Hearing

Overexposure to loud sounds can temporarily or even permanently damage your hearing, and in today’s world it’s all too possible to overwhelm your ears with noise. If you experience trouble following a conversation when there is background noise, tinnitus or a feeling that other people seem to mumble a lot, you may have developed hearing problems and should consult a doctor. Fortunately, before it gets to this point, there are steps you can take to guard your wellbeing against noise-induced hearing problems:

 

1. Use your time wisely: Sometimes, it’s just not possible to avoid activities that are really noisy, although often there is a way around it, or to lessen the volume. However, if you are in a situation where you do have to be around extreme noise, try to limit the amount of time you spend on those activities.

 

2. Do healthy head-banging: When you’re on your own in the house and feel like rocking out or skidding across the floor in your shirt and boxers a lá Jerry Maguire, you may be tempted to whack the speakers up to a Spinal Tap 11 (after all, it’s one louder than 10). Or maybe you’re driving along in your car by yourself or road-tripping it with friends, and feel the sudden urge to scream the lyrics of Living on a Prayer. All of these are very noble pursuits – or at least really fun ones – but you can still do all the crazy silly things you love to do to the sound of your radio without having the volume so high it bursts your eardrums. When listening to your music, keep the sound at an enjoyable but safe level.

 

3. Equip your ears: There are times when you have no control over your environmental wellness. Maybe the kids next door decide to rave it up when their parents go away, or perhaps the construction workers across the road insist on starting at 6am, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Whatever is putting you at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, you can at least guard your wellness against it by wearing hearing protection, like earplugs or earmuffs (in winter, I’d go for the muffs to save on the heating bill). As the protection device should be as well fitted as possible, you might want to seek the expertise of an audiologist.

 

4. Give yourself time to heal: If you just can’t avoid noise at work or during other activities, and you do experience temporary hearing loss or tinnitus, you need to take care of your ears. This means giving your ears a chance to recover fully by scheduling in some quiet time. If that’s not possible in your home or workplace, try to get out in your free time and find a nice beach spot or park – well away from traffic! If all else fails, there’s your local library, and you might find you enjoy the peace and want to make a habit of it.

 

5. Don’t give your kids any more ammunition: Protect your hearing, and your kids’, by making sure you don’t buy them toys that create crazy levels of sound. They may kick up a fuss over the noisiest playthings, but trust me, they can make plenty of noise on their own, and you’ll only regret it later. The ideal situation is to find a toy that has an on-off switch or a volume control feature, as this allows for noisy play and quiet time. Your children may hold toys closer to their ears than you would, so make sure you educate them about the importance of looking after their hearing.

Categories: Damaged Hearing, ears, Hearing, hearing loss, hearing problems, induced hearing, Loud Noise, nbsp, noise, noise induced, prevention, time

Life-Saving Education: How to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is threatening to become a major health concern around the world, as the disease is often transmitted through sexual contact. Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection causes your healthy cervical cells to develop abnormal precancerous changes over a period of time, which can potentially develop into cancer. So is your wellbeing at risk to cervical cancer?

 

The major risk factor for this kind of cancer is exposure to HPV, although only a few of the 100 varieties have been associated with cervical cancer. Only a small percentage of women exposed to the virus actually go on to develop the disease, but exposure to other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia and HIV, can increase your risk of cervical cancer. Other associated risk factors include:

 

• Having sexual intercourse at an early age


• Having multiple sexual partners


• Giving birth multiple times


• Having a lower socio-economic status


• Smoking


• Taking oral contraceptives

 

If you cancer is limited to the lining of the uterus, it is known as carcinoma in situ and has a 100% cure rate. However, your wellness is more at risk if the cancer is not treated in this early stage, as it can go on to invade your cervical tissue. This is known as invasive cervical cancer, and can infiltrate your adjacent pelvic tissues and distant organs in later stages. On average, it takes eight to 10 years for precancerous lesions to progress to carcinoma in situ, and another eight to 10 years to develop into invasive cervical cancer. However, as the five-year survival rates dwindle as invasive cancer progresses, early detection and treatment is all-important.

 

Half of cervical cancer patients are diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 55, as cancer of the cervix tends to occur during midlife. It’s very unlikely that cervical cancer will affect you before the age of 20, but as women with pre-cancer or early cervical cancer usually have no signs or symptoms, it’s important to get pap smears every three years once you turn 25. When the cancer becomes invasive and spreads, symptoms are more likely to appear. If you’re worried that your wellness has been affected by cervical cancer, ask yourself the following questions:

 

1. Do you bleed after sex?

2. Have you had irregular bleeding in between your periods?

3. Have you experienced bleeding even after menopause?

4. Do you have foul-smelling vaginal discharge?

5. Does your cervix feel hard to touch?

6. Is there an ulcer or cauliflower-like growth on your cervix? (This occurs with certain types of cancer).

 

While answering yes to any of these questions could indicate that you have cervical cancer, it is important to note that these symptoms may be caused by other conditions. Still, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should immediately contact you doctor. It is likely that you will need a pap smear, so you should avoid sexual intercourse, vaginal douching, medications, tampons, birth control jellies and foams for 48 hours before the test, as this affects the accuracy of the results.

 

Before it gets to that stage, there are things you can do to prevent HPV infection and, as a result, cervical cancer. Start by limiting the number of sexual partners you have, as well as having sex with any men who have had multiple partners. You should also use condoms every time you have sex, and get yourself vaccinated against the HPV virus. This protects you against four strains of HPV: HPV-16 and HPV-18 – which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases – and HPV-6 and HPV-11, which cause 90% of genital warts.

Categories: cancer, cancer nbsp, cervical, cervical cancer, Cevical Cancer, hpv infection, hpv virus, invasive cervical, nbsp, prevention, sexual intercourse, sexual partners

Prevention, Not Control: HIV Drugs Finally Do Their Job

Although the ultimate goal of AIDs therapy is to prevent the HIV affecting anyone’s sexual health in the first place, so far nothing — from vaccines to gels — has proven up to the task. Still, that’s not to say that drugs haven’t controlled the spread of HIV, but now a new exciting study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, has found a way for antiretroviral drugs to do the job for which they were always intended: guarding the wellbeing of healthy, uninfected individuals against HIV.

 

For the study, the researchers investigated almost 2,500 HIV-negative gay men, across six countries, who were at high risk of contracting HIV. Of those participants, some were given the currently prescribed treatment dose of a combination anti-HIV medication known as Truvada, while others took a placebo. After the study’s longest follow up of nearly three years, the researchers found that those taking the medication had a 44% lower rate of HIV infection than those taking a placebo. The benefit was even greater amongst those participants who took their medications more faithfully on a daily basis, as their risk of acquiring HIV dropped to a 73% lower rate than the placebo group.

 

In a statement, Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) National Centre for HIV-AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, commented, ‘These results represent a major advance in HIV prevention research. For the first time, we have evidence that a daily pill used to treat HIV is partially effective for preventing HIV among gay and bisexual men at high risk for infection.’ Other wellness experts echoed this excitement, as those in the HIV community have long been pushing for a stronger preventative strategy, especially in the developing world. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, noted, ‘The study is really quite impressive, and the data are very robust, really strong.’

 

The data was particularly encouraging to Fauci, as it represents a closer look at the difference in HIV infection rates among those taking medications, suggesting that varying degrees of exposure to anti-HIV medications can help to thwart infection. Even the volunteers who weren’t on-the-ball with taking their medications had a 13-fold lower rate of HIV infection than those who showed no measurable level of drug in their system. Fauci explained, ‘This is really huge; this is a very impressive result. As with any new treatment strategy, it’s all about whether you adhere to the regimen.’ Fauci added that he suspects many doctors already prescribe antiretroviral medications for this reason; heading off in uninfected but high-risk individuals. Even though government health officials are yet decide whether the results are robust enough to justify recommending anti-HIV drugs as a prevention strategy, Fauci believes these findings should bolster that practice.

 

Still, that is not to say that the findings give you an excuse to abandon safe sex with condoms. The drugs don’t alter your immune system or prime your body in the same way that a vaccine would against HIV; they act only when the infection is present, and block its ability to infect and replicate in your body’s healthy cells. Therefore, this prevention strategy only ensures that the drugs are on the front lines, ready to act at the first encounter with the virus. As Fenton concluded, ‘[The] results are exciting, but it is not time for anyone to stop using condoms or stop following proven prevention methods. [The study] cannot be seen as the first line of defence against HIV.’

Categories: anti hiv, Antiretroviral Drugs, drugs, fauci, high risk, hiv drugs, hiv infection, HIV prevention, infection, prevention, prevention strategy, Research

Going the Distance: Preventing Endurance Training Injuries

While exercise is absolutely paramount to your wellness, if you don’t take the steps to prevent injury you could be putting your wellbeing at risk. This is especially important to you endurance event trainers out there, so we’ve outlined six ways to improve your endurance without doing yourself a mischief.

 

1. Give yourself time off: When you’re creating your fitness plan, make sure you include rest days in which you both physically and mentally take a break from training. Vic Brown, associate strength and conditioning coach at Boston University and assistant coach for Boston Performance Coaching, a triathlon and endurance athlete coaching service, says, ‘I recommend training no more than two weeks consecutively without resting. Novice and/or masters athletes may require “off” days more frequently.’ He adds that you should include recovery weeks – which typically include fewer hours spent exercising or less miles trained – every third to fifth week.

 

2. Employ recovery techniques: ‘There are a number of ways to incorporate recovery into your routine,’ Brown asserts. ‘Biofoam rollers and massage sticks help sore, achy or stiff muscles recover from exercise. Watching movies, spending time with family, reading, listening to music or socializing with friends can all be effective relaxation strategies that allow you to disassociate from physical exercise and reduce tension while developing positive mood states of happiness and calmness.’

 

3. Get enough sleep: Sleep is vital for your body to grow and repair, especially if you’re physically active on a routine basis. Without the recommended eight to nine and a half hours of sleep each night, you may compromise your cardiovascular performance by up to 20%, which has a further impact on your reaction time, ability to process information and emotional stability. Brown adds, ‘Naps are always icing on the cake.’

 

4. Fuel up after exercise: It’s important to restore your muscle and liver glycogen stores with good post-workout nutrition, as well as improving your hydration and repairing your muscle tissues. Brown advises, ‘You should eat 15 to 30 minutes after exercise, preferably as soon as possible, when the muscles are most receptive to fuel. Muscle replenishment and tissue repair can be accelerated if you combine carbohydrates and protein together in a ratio of 4 to 1.’ You can work out how much water you’ve lost if you weigh yourself before and after exhaustive exercise. Then, in order to stay hydrated, you need to consume at least 24 ounces per pound of body weight lost within six hours after exercise. If you’re engaging in activity for more than four hours, make sure you include electrolytes to eliminate your risk of hyponatremia.

 

5. Warm Up…: Brown notes, ‘A proper warm up is a key component to preparing the body for the demands of any training session or competition. Developing a pre-race warm up is unique to each individual. Performing a warm up will elevate heart rate and VO2, and increase blood flow to the connective tissue and local muscles to be trained. This in turn will raise muscle temperature and help decrease joint and muscle stiffness, therefore improving range of motion.’ It is recommended that you warm up for five to 15 minutes, and then re-warm up after 45 minutes of inactivity.

 

6…And cool down: On the other side of the coin, a proper cool down is the beginning of your recovery process and preparation for the next day’s training. To clear lactic acid and reduce the severity of your muscle soreness, try effective cool down activities such as low-intensity aerobic exercises. This includes aquatic-based training, light jogging or cycling.

Categories: endurance training, exercise, Injury, Muscle, nbsp, prevention, training, warm

How to Prevent Environmental and Health Damage of Wood Smoke

As with any by-product of burning, wood smoke contains a number of pollutants that can be harmful to your wellbeing. The four main ones that threaten your health are particulate matter, carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Let’s take a look at the potential dangers of each pollutant.

 

Particulate matter is one of the primary components of smog, and can travel into your lungs where it will cause respiratory and heart problems. At high levels, colourless, odourless CO gas is poisonous, and can mess up your blood’s delivery of oxygen to the rest of your body. VOC is a term that covers a wide range of compounds that often don’t have a colour, taste or smell, but they can directly impact your health as well as contributing to smog. Finally, as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are thought to cause cancer, these compounds are of particular concern. Therefore, if you use a wood stove, fireplace or fire pit in your home or garden, you need to take steps to minimise your risk of health damage.

 

1. Make sure you use the right wood: The wood should be dry, clean and properly seasoned. This means you need to cut it, split it and stack it in a covered area for about six months before you burn it.

 

2. Make sure you use the right technique: With the right technique, you can produce more heat and, as a result, use less wood. When you’re starting the fire, allow for as much ventilation and possible. Then, when the wood is well-charred, close the dampers.

 

3. Make sure you use the right size: As smaller pieces of wood burn more efficiently, they are a better source of heat so opt for smaller sizes.

 

4. Make sure you don’t burn household waste: It can be tempting to get rid of your household rubbish by just chucking it on the fire, but it can really do some damage to your fireplace or fire pit. More to the point, wrappers, plastics, foam, the coloured ink on magazines, and boxes produce harmful chemicals when burned, so you’re not doing any good to your environmental wellness.

 

5. Make sure the wood has not been chemically treated: Pressure treated or any other chemically treated wood is often used for structures in outdoor settings such as fences, decks and play structures, but it’s not safe to burn. These kinds of woods produce smoke that may produce chemical residues that could threaten your health. Instead, consult the local authorities in your area for the best way to dispose of chemically treated wood.

 

6. Make sure the wood you use won’t emit toxins into the environment: Driftwood, plywood, particle board, or any wood with glue on or in it will release toxic chemicals when burned, so steer clear.

 

7. Make sure the wood doesn’t threaten family wellness: Burning wood that’s wet, rotted, diseased or mouldy may expose your family to health-harming moulds and spores. If your child has a respiratory condition, they will be at a particular risk as these conditions are believed to be especially sensitive to mould. Plus, you can protect yourself and your family from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning by installing at least one CO detector in your home.

 

8. Make sure the air is right: You should not burn wood on days when the air pollution levels are high.

 

9. Make sure you keep up with the maintenance and care guidelines: There’s a reason that the manufacturers recommend certain procedures, so follow these carefully when cleaning and maintaining your chimney.

Categories: aromatic hydrocarbons, burning wood, carbon monoxide, chemically treated, health impact, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic, prevention, treated wood, wood, wood smoke

How is Integrative Medicine Different from Western Medicine?

While you can’t deny that Western medicine has its benefits, do you ever get the feeling it takes a too compartmentalised approach to your wellbeing? It’s not hard to see that everything in wellness is connected; stress, for example, is an emotional response, but it can have an impact on your physical health in terms of inflammation, weight gain and more. But as complementary wellness therapies can seem a little airy-fairy, to whom do you turn? Fortunately, a movement has arisen which encapsulates the best of both worlds.

 

Integrative medicine shifts the focus of healthcare from solely treating your physical problems to taking a holistic approach. The key difference between integrative medicine and what you’re used to is that it integrates – hence the name – your mind, body, spirit and lifestyle issues. However, there are several other reasons why integrative medicine stands out from the crowd:

 

1. Relationship. While you usually go to your GP and passively receive his or her wealth of expert knowledge, in integrative medicine, you forge a partnership with your practitioner in which you work together on the process of healing. You don’t put your entire wellbeing in the hands of someone else; you play a central and active role in your own treatment.

 

2. Treatments. The focus of traditional Western medicine is almost exclusively on pharmaceutical and surgical interventions. While integrative medicine does use these treatments, it also emphasises the use of complimentary methods. This is because these treatments work to facilitate your body’s own healing response and are natural and often less invasive. However, though integrative medicine is open to non-traditional forms of therapy, it will only embrace methods whose effectiveness is supported by good science

 

3. Prevention. You only go to your GP once you have a health problem. In integrative medicine, on the other hand, practitioners highlight the importance of promoting good health and preventing illnesses before they arise, as well as treating your health problems as and when they occur.

 

4. Inspiration. Even though you respect your doctor’s opinion, you might feel like he or she is a little disconnected. This is a common complaint in Western medicine, but integrative medicine casts physicians as role models for health and wellness. Not only will your doctor be focused and connected to your process of personal development, he or she will also be dedicated to self-exploration.

Categories: integrative medicine, prevention, Treatments

Suicide: Who’s at Risk and How Can You Help?

In England, suicide claims the life of one person every two hours. This equates to 4,400 people committing suicide each year, and at least 10 times that number attempt to take their own lives. There are certain genetic factors at play which may make you or a loved one more likely to consider suicide, such as gender and age, but there are also behavioural patterns to watch out for in case you think a loved one’s mental wellbeing is at risk.

 

In almost all cultures, the suicide rate rises with age and roughly 75% of suicides are men. In the UK, the group with the highest number of suicides is men aged 35 – 49. However, there are also behavioural and environmental risk factors which may serve as a warning about your loved one’s mental wellness. These include drug and alcohol misuse, unemployment, social isolation, poverty, poor social conditions, imprisonment, violence and family breakdown. Mental health conditions are also a major factor, as roughly 90% of suicide victims suffer from a psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

 

If a loved one has already attempted suicide, they are at an increased risk of pulling it off. Nearly 20% of suicide attempt survivors try again within a year, and this group of people is 100 times more likely to go on to complete suicide than those who have never attempted it. However, suicidal thoughts or tendencies are often temporary, and you can reduce your loved one’s risk of trying to take their own life if you find them appropriate and timely help and emotional support.

 

A focused campaign has, in recent years, lowered the numbers of suicides among younger men aged 25 – 34, as this was previously the highest category. Warning signs of suicides – such as evidence of self-harm or suicidal thoughts – can provide potential opportunities to intervene and save lives. However, prevention of suicide is not the exclusive responsibility of any one individual or sector of society. While schools can create a culture in which young people feel safe and comfortable talking through their difficulties, GPs can restrict the number of tablets prescribed to those at risk of overdose. A&E staff can ensure that anyone who attempts suicide will receive a specialist mental health assessment, and you can play your part by paying close attention to the overall mental health of your loved ones.

Categories: prevention, risk factors, suicide

Sun, Food and Exercise: Natural Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

Though anyone can develop osteoporosis, if you’re a woman, your wellbeing is more at risk to the brittle bone disease. Osteoporosis especially affects older women, as the lessening of oestrogen that comes from menopause, and even perimenopause, weakens bone strength. Experts often discuss how to spot the signs of osteoporosis, or how to treat it, but before you let your wellness get to that stage, why don’t you take natural steps to prevent osteoporosis?

The most obvious cause of osteoporosis is a lack of calcium, as you need this mineral to build healthy, strong bones. Women tend to lose calcium easily from the body, and so eating higher proportions of calcium rich foods, such as milk, dairy products, spinach, broccoli, and seafood, can help you guard against this. When you stop menstruating, or even before this, this is a sign that the oestrogen hormone that protects your bones is in decline. Therefore, you might like to consider adding calcium supplements to your daily regime from as early as the age of 35.

However, having calcium is not the only way to prevent osteoporosis. Your bone health may be badly affected by your weight or lack of exercise. Managing your weight is a great way to make sure that your bones and joints aren’t under too much pressure, and doing this via exercise helps to keep your bones flexible, instead of letting them go rusty. However, don’t crash diet to lose weight because this is one of the worst things you can do for bone health, as well as your overall wellbeing. Crash diets leave out essential nutrients, such as calcium, which means that you’ll actually be doing more harm than good.

Another important thing to watch out for is body pain of any kind. Don’t ignore persistent body pain, especially joint pain, as this can be a precursor to osteoporosis. If you do experience this, consult your doctor as soon as possible and make sure you are tested for any signs of osteoporosis. Finally, sunbathing can be a relaxing way to reduce your risk of the disease, as your body needs the vitamin D produced by sunlight on your skin to process calcium. Every day, get a little bit of morning sun and you’ll have stronger, healthier bones in no time.

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Sun, Food and Exercise: Natural Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

Categories: calcium, osteoporosis, prevention

Could Single Jab End a Lifetime of Arthritic Wear and Tear?

Thanks to a potent new gene therapy technique, scientists are claiming that you can end your misery of arthritis pain and protect your joints from life-long wear and tear, using only a single injection. According to wellness experts, this is a ground-breaking treatment which could improve the wellbeing of millions of Britons, who are crippled by the debilitating disease.

The therapy is a major breakthrough because it not only stops the destruction of your joint, but it also appears to protect it against damage. Current treatments can only relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, but this new wonder-jab can be given to people at risk of developing the disease years in advance of it striking. Expensive joint replacement operations, which cost the NHS £1billion a year, are the only cure for arthritis at present.

Arthritis affects 10 million people in Britain, with osteoarthritis accounting for at least 8.5million cases. This subset of the disease causes your bones to rub against each other as your cartilage breaks down, which triggers pain in your hands, spine, knees and hips. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, occurs when your immune system attacks the joints, and is more severe but less common, affecting almost 700,000 people.

Now, a new study has found a protein which acts as a lubricant between the bones in your joint, protecting against osteoarthritis and blocking the loss of cartilage. One injection of the gene that makes this protein has been shown to prevent knees from developing age- and injury-related osteoarthritis, and could relieve pain and other symptoms of arthritis. Whilst it’s not currently possible for gene therapy to regenerate cartilage that you have already lost, the researchers claim that one day it could prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine by researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. They found that, in mice, a naturally-occurring protein called lubricin – or Proteoglycans 4 – protected against osteoarthritis. Dr Brendan Lee, professor of molecular and human genetics, commented, ‘The lubricin protein was expressed for the life of the mouse after a single injection into the joint.’

According to Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, ‘There are some indications that gene therapies could lead to new treatments for the millions of people living with the pain caused by osteoarthritis. Further research is now needed to see if these findings in mice could be translated into an effective treatment for humans.’

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Could Single Jab End a Lifetime of Arthritic Wear and Tear?

Categories: Arthritis, gene therapy, prevention

Could One Jab Mean all the Difference to Asthmatic Wellness?

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has given the green light for Xolair – a wellbeing-saving jab that can halve your risk of an asthma attack. This has given new hope to those in the UK whose wellness is affected by the respiratory condition, but this hope was very nearly snatched away.

Last year, Nice threatened to completely withdraw the asthma treatment, even though it was readily available to eligible patients in Scotland, as they claimed it was not as cost effective as first thought. However, wellness experts accused the health watchdog of starting “health apartheid” between Scotland and England and Wales. However, as rather than withdrawing Xolair from use, Nice has actually made it even more available. Six to 11 year-olds, with severe persistent allergic asthma, will now be able to use the jab as well.

The treatment has been approved for use in adults and people over the age of 12 since 2007, and is proven to improve asthmatics’ wellbeing, and halve the number of sufferers taken to hospital with potentially life-threatening asthma attacks. According to Samantha Walker, director of research and policy at Asthma UK, ‘This is a real victory for all the people with asthma who shared their incredible stories with NICE and marks the end of a long-fought campaign by Asthma UK to see the drug approved for NHS use.’

She continued, ‘While it’s not suitable for everyone, those who benefit from taking Xolair can see a massive improvement in their quality of life and many are able to reduce their dependence on other treatments which have harmful side effects. We now look forward to seeing this medicine available on the NHS for both adults and children.’ Asthma affects the lives of over five million Britons, and it costs the UK at lease £1billion a year to treat it.

Most asthma treatments, such as inhalers and oral steroids, work by suppressing the symptoms of asthma, like breathlessness. However, Xolair, also known as omalizumab, works by blocking the allergic triggers that spark an attack, and prevents one from happening at all. Walker praised Xolair as ‘the only treatment that works for some people with severe allergic asthma who would otherwise be virtually housebound because of breathlessness and living in constant fear of the next asthma attack.’

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Could One Jab Mean all the Difference to Asthmatic Wellness?

Categories: Asthma Triggers, prevention, Xolair

Could Interventions Improve Teenage Sexual Wellness?

Participating in a youth development intervention could make all the difference to a teenager’s sexual wellbeing. This is according to the results of a randomised controlled trial, which found that teenage girls at increased risk of pregnancy reported more regular use of condoms, oral contraception, or both after attending in such an intervention.

For the study, which was published online by JAMA Paediatrics, over 250 sexually active teenage girls participated the Prime Time youth development intervention. The Prime Time intervention is designed for American primary care medical centres, to improve the sexual health of girls who are at increased risk of getting pregnant. Research presented last year at the American Public Health Association’s 140th Annual Meeting, showed that low literacy rates in pre-teen girls significantly predict child-bearing among adolescents in the US.

Six months after the intervention was completed, Renee E Sieving, RN, PhD, FSAHM, of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and colleagues observed sexual risk behaviours and outcomes with a two-year follow-up questionnaire. By teaming up with case managers and intervention components, including youth leadership, the main aim of the study was to encourage change in certain psychosocial attributes associated with sexual risk behaviours and other behavioural wellness outcomes. 93.3% of the 253 sexually active girls between 13 and 17 years of age who met the specified risk criteria completed the 24-month survey.

The researchers reported, ‘Findings suggest that health services grounded in a youth development framework can lead to long-term reductions in sexual risk among vulnerable youth.’ At the 24-month follow-up, compared to the control group, the girls in the intervention group reported ‘significantly more consistent’ use of condoms, hormonal contraception, dual-method contraception (using both hormonal contraception and condoms). These girls also demonstrated improvements in family connectedness and self-confidence to say no to unwanted sex, as well as reductions in the perceived significance of having sex.

‘Together with previous findings demonstrating reductions in sexual risk behaviours, relational aggression and violence victimisation among Prime Time participants, results from this study suggest that involvement in a youth development intervention that combines individualised case management and youth leadership components holds great promise for preventing multiple risk behaviours among youth most vulnerable to poor health outcomes, including early pregnancy,’ the researchers concluded.

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Could Interventions Improve Teenage Sexual Wellness?

Categories: pregnancy, prevention, Teen Sex

Osteoporosis Prevention: Why It's Key to Treatment Plans

Disorders that occur in our bodies over time sometimes only come to light when we experience issues with our wellness, making it tricky to then treat the original problem. Preserving our wellbeing can often depend on prevention by keeping our environment safe and health protected – which definitely applies to osteoporosis.

Benefit of youth

If you’re in your 20s and 30s and think you may be at risk of developing this condition when you’re older, you can adapt your lifestyle to preserve your bone health. Bone density is still increasing in your 20s so this is the ideal time to eat all the nutrients you need to keep levels high, including Vitamin D and calcium. If you’re taking medications like corticosteroids regularly or have had drugs to treat some cancers you may also be at more risk of getting the bone condition, so speak to your GP. Weight resistance exercise encourages bone cells to make stronger fibres, giving you the opportunity via lots of different activities to boost density.

After a fall

If you’ve already had a fall and then been diagnosed with the condition, you can still change your diet to include all the important nutrients to enhance bone cell production. You may also be offered a range of medical treatments, which also aim to encourage the growth of new cells. GPs also concentrate on reducing your risk of falling. You may be assessed to see if your home and health puts you at a greater risk of fractures from falling. Doctors might examine your eyesight and hearing to check that you can see hazards and your home could also be visited to try and locate possible hazards. Falls happen at a greater rate as we age because our balance declines and muscles weaken, but this can be rectified by exercise, showing that we’re never too old to start focussing on our wellness.

Osteoporosis Prevention: Why It"s Key to Treatment Plans

Categories: osteoporosis, prevention, treatment