The five most common health complaints facing Brits in their lifetime
What you need to know, how can you prevent them and how can you get the best from your visit to your GP
Show date: 26th January 2012
Show time: 2:30pm
If you often suffer from backache, cough and colds, tummy upsets, migranes or stress-related illness then you’re not alone, with a new study showing these health complaints are among the five most common in Britain.
The report published by health insurer Health-on-Line.co.uk charts, for the first time ever, the average Briton’s “health life story”. It tracks in detail exactly what ailments, illnesses and injuries the average Brit can expect over the course of their life, ranging from scrapes to serious illnesses, and from coughs and colds to cancer. Our webTV show will help you recognise the symptoms, teach you how to protect yourself, give you simple tips for treatment and let you know when it’s time to visit your GP.
During the show, Dr Rob Hicks will also give you a simple check list to help you describe your symptoms accurately; from writing a diary of symptoms, noting your eating habits, to charting spikes in levels of pain, so that if you do need to book an appointment to see your GP, you can make sure that you get the most out your consultation.
Dr Rob Hicks joins us live online at www.studiotalk.tv on Thursday 26th January at 2:30pm to help arm you with hints and tips on how you can be sure to stay healthy in 2012.
British Lung Foundation is calling for your support to get politicians committed to reducing the number of children exposed to passive smoke in cars
Are you a passionate mother with something to say? Do you feel strongly about the fact that in Britain it’s still legal to light up and smoke a cigarette in a car in front of children?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above and want to help the British Lung Foundation to persuade the Government to protect children once and for all, then you can make a huge difference by writing to your MP with help from your child to show the politicians that enough is enough.
The BLF has secured support from all parties and with your help, they are determined to get a commitment by the Public Health Minister or Secretary of State for Health to commence a behaviour change campaign to reduce the health risk to children caused by passive smoking in cars, over the next two years children’s exposure will be monitored with a view that if it isn’t reduced, legislation will become a serious consideration by 2013.
Every year over 300,000 children in the UK go to their GPs with illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia as a result of being exposed to passive smoking.
Smoking around children in the car is particularly dangerous as it is such a confined space. Over half of children aged 8 – 15 say they have been exposed to cigarette smoke in the car. Research by the University of Aberdeen has shown that smoking in a car exposes children to the same levels of smoke in a busy smoke filled pub.
You and you children can help highlight these shocking statistics by writing to your local MP to encourage them to alert the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, Anne Milton with a view to ensure a proper evaluation of the behaviour change programme in England, and to commit to legislation if it is not successful.
Visit: www.lunguk.orgfor more information and to download a template letter.
It’s time to support our natural defences
The winter season is almost upon us and with it comes the dreaded flu season. Some people are more susceptible than others, so the new understanding that not only does the gut play a central role in your immune system but there are positive measures we can take to support it will be of great interest
Very few of us are aware that nearly 60% of our immune health is linked to our gut. The delicate balance of bacteria in our gut can be easily upset, leading to us being susceptible to a variety of infections. There are lots of reasons why this imbalance may occur:
•Feeling ‘run down’ or stressed
•Recovering from illness
•Taking a course of antibiotics
•About to take the flu vaccination (especially if you are elderly and might be hypo-responsive to vaccinations)
•Being 55+ of age
When it comes to supporting the immune system many people turn to traditional measures such a taking vitamin C and Echinacea at this time of the year, often with limited success.
In this video, Dr Hilary Jones talks about the important role the gut has in the immune system and the valuable role second generation prebiotics can play.
For more information and advice on digestive health go to www.bimuno.com.
Boost your good bacteria to help beat the symptoms of IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder characterised by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort and bloating. Although it does not lead to more serious conditions in most sufferers, it is a source of chronic pain, fatigue and contributes to work absenteeism. Researchers have reported that the high prevalence of IBS, in conjunction with increased costs, produces a disease with a high social cost.
The exact cause of IBS is unknown. The most common theory is that IBS is a disorder of the gastrointestinal tract, caused by abnormalities in the gut flora or the immune system. It is regarded as a chronic illness and can dramatically affect the quality of a sufferer's life.
Nearly one in five people in the UK (upto 20% of the general adult population) are thought to suffer from IBS.
This equates to 9 million UK sufferers of which around 2.5 million are diagnosed.
In many sufferers, it is a chronic disorder and patients experience significant impairment in health-related quality of life.
Contribution of IBS to annual health care cost is high and patients can also lose significant amounts of time off work.
The diagnosis of IBS has importance, therefore, in both human and economic terms.
There is no doubt that finding an effective solution can be very difficult. Many sufferers of IBS will have tried numerous different treatments and measures without success.
In this short video, Dr Hilary Jones, GP discusses the role your gut bacteria play in IBS and the new measures you can take to help manage its symptoms.
For more information and advice on digestive health visit www.bimuno.com.
Watch Dr Hilary Jones Highlight The Importance of Asthma
A new survey of GPs indicated that asthma education for healthcare professionals is low priority.
Over half of GPs agree that the number of deaths from asthma could be reduced with better care.
To mark World Asthma Day 2011, Asthma UK is urging commissioners of education and training to
prioritise asthma and is asking people with asthma to speak out about the impact of asthma on their
lives.
The release of a new survey has revealed that asthma training for healthcare professionals is a low priority
despite over half of GPs agreeing that the number of deaths from asthma could be reduced with better
care. The survey revealed that two thirds of GPs feel GPs’ asthma knowledge could be improved and nearly
half also believe that asthma care could be improved cost effectively, which could potentially save the
NHS £45 million from avoidable hospital admissions.
The charity’s Get it Off Your Chest campaign aims to get asthma taken more seriously and ultimately
save lives. People are urged to speak out about the impact of asthma on their lives by sharing stories
online at asthma.or.uk/getitoffyourchest.
Click on the video below to watch Dr Hilary Jones highlighting the importance of considering asthma as a serious condition:
Brits spend more on their homes than on personal wellbeing
Top tips on how to get your mind and body in tip top shape for the coming summer, without spending a fortune.
Britain is spending a massive £1.5 billion on improving their personal wellbeing like gym memberships, cosmetics and spa treatments every month.
However, while this might seem like a huge amount in these current times of austerity, it seems we are still more likely to treat our home as a castle than our body as a temple.
The research by Lifehouse released today shows we shell out a whopping £1.76 billion on maintaining our bricks and mortar every month.
Furthermore the research shows that over the next couple of months most people will be more concerned with the appearance of their house than themselves.
Around 40% of us plan to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in to a good old fashioned Spring Clean over the next few weeks.
However, less than 5% of the UK say they plan to do the same with their bodies and treat themselves to a detox or pampering session this Spring.
With Summer fast approaching now’s the time to get your mind and body in shape - Emma Jane North, from Lifehouse Spa, gives her top tips on how we can prepare ourselves for the coming Summer, without spending a fortune:
1.Put yourself and your health first and take 5 mins out every day to just STOP and be still. Even better, if you can physically go to a great place and sink your toes into the grass or sand but if not visualize yourself in a beautiful space and metaphorically smell the roses.
2.Make a plan and start with how you feel today, think about your energy levels, sleep patterns and fitness levels and grade your general mood between 1 and 10 1 being very grumpy and 10 ecstatically happy. Then decide how you would like to feel and imagine what it would be like to be that person.
3.Now take some action small changes can create a big difference… set realistic goals and involve experts and friends to boost your morale and confidence.
4.Posture, 80% of people have poor posture this effects the way the body works and feels and how much oxygen you get into your lungs … so start today stand up tall head up and back …Pilates or postural workshops are a great investment or a trip to a fitness or Physio can put you back in the groove
5.What goes into your body truly reflects how your body will function and feel and does effect the mood… so when it comes to food and drink…Think… it is not a I can’t have that but 80% of the time eat and drink to energise the body and 20% of the time be as decadent as you like.
Steam cooking the capsule way
Watch this video for some easy recipes that are quick and nutritious from Chef Silvana Franco
Parents are increasingly recognising the importance of offering their child a balanced, nutritious diet in order to promote healthy growth and development. This is particularly important in the early stages, where studies show 40% of children with predisposing clinical conditions (neurodisability, cystic fibrosis) have some degree of under-nutrition1.Thankfully there is a simple way to make sure your whole family gets the nutrition they need, without the hassle of having to prepare different meals.
Steam cooking is recognised as a highly effective and convenient way for busy parents to prepare their children’s food. The versatility of steam cooking means that you can prepare every type of food –vegetables, fruit, cereals, milk, meat and fish – to offer a more varied and balanced diet. For extra convenience, Miele recommends making large batches of baby food which can be frozen into portions, for easy defrosting and reheating at a later date.
Chef Silvana Franco is a food writer and mother of two small children and in the following video she shows you how to create easy capsule style cooking for your whole family
Cut down on the work you do BEFORE the office with a meal that’s high in fibre, low in sugar
British mums do the equivalent ofthree hours work every day before they’ve even left home for the office, new research by Hovis shows. From getting the kids dressed to making the beds there’s a lot of time and energy lost to basic household duties which means something usually have to give way.
Although breakfast is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, many mums are forced to skip it if they want to get everything done and still get to work on time. Fortunately there’s an easy way to get a healthy, nutritious and filling breakfast into your stomach which helps you feel fuller for longer.
Fronted by World Olympic Champion Victoria Pendleton, Hovis Wholemeal Breakfast Week (April 12th-19th) encourages you to try wholemeal bread for breakfast. An equally healthy alternative to cereal, wholemeal bread is high in fibre which helps keep you feel fuller for longer. Would you prefer your breakfast to feature fresh-cooked eggs and mushrooms on toast? Or does the sound of cream cheese, walnuts and honey take your fancy?
Victoria has a clear message to parents, “A substantial breakfast is a vital part of my training so I make sure I never skip it. I can't perform at my best either physically or mentally without a good start to the day and I would certainly not be able to achieve my long term training goals. It is easy to forget that rushing around after the family can be a workout in itself. The temptation when working to a busy schedule is to neglect yourself, but my advice would be to make the time for a healthy and filling breakfast…”
Watch this video to get nutritionist Lindsey Ormond’s take on wholemeal bread and get five great recipes to help keep you powered through to lunch with less temptation to snack unhealthily!
Reduce portion sizes to help improve the nation’s diet, says BHF
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has recommended that food manufacturers make single, smaller size portions of their products available to help reduce the amount of fat, salt and sugar people eat.
The FSA’s calls apply to products such as cakes, biscuits and sugary drinks. Betty McBride, Policy & Communications Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:
“It’s easy to tuck into treats such as biscuits, cakes and sugary drinks without realising just how packed full of calories, fats, salts and sugars they are.
“Reducing portion sizes and the amount of saturated fat in foods will help to improve the nation’s diet and help tackle obesity and heart disease.
“If this is to be successful, it needs to be accompanied by a single front of pack food labelling scheme that combines traffic light colours, GDAs and the words high, medium and low to help busy shoppers understand at a glance what’s in the food they’re buying.”
Healthy Eating Advice
The best advice for healthy eating is to keep your diet varied. During pregnancy and while breast feeding is not a time to start dieting. Make sure to eat regular wholesome meals. Eat plenty of fruit and veg while also remembering to add protein to your diet with either pulses and beans, meat or fish, (oily fish is great and is full of Omega 3 fatty acids which are good for our hearts. mackerel, sardines and salmon for example.) Pasta, potatoes and rice are a good way of adding some energy giving starch and carbs. Whole-wheat bread or whole-meal pasta or brown rice are good options as are oats. Try to avoid foods with a high fat or sugar content. Snacking: If you find yourself hungry in-between meals try eating fresh fruits or raisins, the best idea is to prepare foods in advance. wash your fruit or veg well, chop into little pieces and store in tupper ware containers for snacking on later. Try having cereals handy, they are full of vitamins and minerals and folic acid. Serve with some chopped fruit or dried fruit and lashings of milk. Make a pack of healthy wholesome cheese salad sandwiches to eat later. Always remember to drink plenty of water. Try to cut down on your coffee intake and caffeine in general, try decaffeinate drinks or give herbal tea a chance, YOU MIGHT JUST BE SURPRISED. It is also advisable to steer away from alcohol, or at least cut down as much as possible. If you are pregnant it is best to not drink alcohol at all. Now is a good time to start giving up any smoking habits as this can have detrimental effects on your baby's health. If you are pregnant, you should have already given up, but if you require some help take a look at our Quit smoking help. Foods to avoid during pregnancy are: Liver, unpasteurized products such as some soft cheeses, Paté, Raw or partially cooked eggs, Avoid eating any shark, swordfish and marlin. Limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two tuna steaks a week (weighing about 140g cooked or 170g raw) or four medium-size cans of tuna a week (with a drained weight of about 140g per can). This is because of the levels of mercury in these fish. At high levels, mercury can harm a baby's developing nervous system. Also avoid Raw or undercooked meats. Wash hands very well after handling raw meats. It is advisable if you are trying for a baby to start avoiding these food types now, as you may be in the early stages of pregnancy and not know for the first few weeks. For more advice go to Eat Well.gov.uk
If you are a new mother you may have craved the soft unpastuerised cheeses which you are now allowed to eat. Why not treat yourself with a New Mother Gift Box of luxury cheeses!
Healthy eating during pregnancy is one of the key elements to a comfortable and enjoyable pregnancy, not only are you providing the very best nutrients for your growing baby, you also help yourself keep free from common complaints such as constipation during pregnancy.
Healthy Living Links
Yoga Baby a free weekly webshow for new mums, available through the web site or via itunes. We have been featured on a sky news report on the changing face of tv and have been in Norways leading parenting magazine. This is an English show presented for free to New Mothers and their children which gives advice and support on practicing yoga, a very worthwhile and healthy activity for Mum and Child. NewMother.co.uk recommends Yoga Baby. Yoga is great for the mind and spirit, Mother and Child. It is not only healthy to help keep toned but also helps to relax.
Go Smoke Free Smokefree Website gives you a free four step plan, packed with advice, support and practical tools to help you stop smoking cigarettes or tobacco for good.
Healthy eating is on most peoples minds and is an important factor in staying fit and well. Most people know that we should be cutting down on fat. But did you know it's even more important to try to replace the saturated fat we eat with unsaturated fat? Read on to find out how.
Salt Awareness. This site has been created by the Food Standards Agency to support its salt campaign. The aim of the campaign is to reduce the amount of salt eaten by people in the UK.
Tesco/ Health.You'll find lots of ideas in our new diet and health sections for eating more healthily and getting active. It's not about turning your life upside down, but about making a few changes that we hope will do you good. You can also find out how we can help you solve the problems of food allergy and intolerance, and choose healthy ways to control your weight.
A low salt diet and healthy eating - low sodium foods The amount of salt - sodium chloride - that we eat has a direct effect on our health and blood pressure. The more salt we eat the higher our blood pressure. This is true, not only in people with high blood pressure, but also in people with normal blood pressure. A high sodium salt intake also causes other health damage, such as greater retention of water in your body, which leads to swelling of the ankles and weight gain. Too much salt also worsens thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), asthma and kidney disease and is closely related to cancer of the stomach. Therefore, everyone should cut the amount of salt they eat to improve their health.
The Food Standards Agency is an independent Government department set up by an Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.
Make A Fresh Start
click on the image to go to the web site New Mother Yoga.
Online Bach Flower Therapy Consultation : Purge Negative emotions We offer online consultation for correcting emotional imbalance based on the principles of Bach Flower Therapy and recommend a customized essence program for eliminating Unwanted Thoughts and Negative emotions from the Personality.
Mental Health Awareness
Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. The organisation provides counselling and support. It offers information, advice, education and training services.
The Mental Health Foundation exists to help people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems. This part of our website tells you a bit more about who we are and why we are here.
Depression Alliance.We work to relieve and to prevent this treatable condition by providing information and support services. We also campaign to raise awareness amongst the general public about the realities of depression.
This new report draws attention to the extent of problems experienced by mothers before and after the birth of children, highlights shortfalls in service provision for women with perinatal mental health problems, and presents recommendations for better working practices.
The Samaritans Samaritans provides confidential emotional support 24/7 to those experiencing despair, distress or suicidal feelings. Contact by phone, email, face to face and other. Volunteers and donations online are also welcomed by this volunteer based charity.
h and blood pressure. The more salt we eat the higher our blood pressure. This is true, not only in people with high blood pressure, but also in people with normal blood pressure. A high sodium salt intake also causes other health damage, such as greater retention of water in your body, which leads to swelling of the ankles and weight gain. Too much salt also worsens thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), asthma and kidney disease and is closely related to cancer of the stomach. Therefore, everyone should cut the amount of salt they eat to improve their health. 
