People Living In Cities Are At A Higher Risk Of Dementia Thanks To This

Posted on 12/09/2024 by Boris Clair

According to the journal Frontiers In Neuroscience, around 80% of the world’s population is exposed to excessive or inappropriate use of artificial light outdoors, dubbed “light pollution”.

While the health risks of excessive light pollution can include sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress and anxiety, new research published in the journal has revealed that it could actually lead to Alzheimer’s Disease.

In the study, researchers used satellite-acquired data to determine nighttime light intensity in states, and compared that data with Alzheimer’s Disease prevalence in the same places, finding that a positive correlation was found in areas with the most light pollution in every year studied.

The study also indicated that nighttime light pollution had a stronger correlation to Alzheimer’s Disease risk than alcohol abuse, chronic kidney disease, depression, heart failure and obesity, but less of a link to the conditions of atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and stroke.

This was especially true for those under the age of 65.

Robin Voigt-Zuwala, PhD, lead investigator for the study said: “Certain genes can influence early-onset Alzheimer’s, and these same genes may cause increased vulnerability to the effects of nighttime light exposure.

“Additionally, younger people are more likely to live in urban areas and have lifestyles that may increase exposure to light at night.”

How to protect your health against light pollution

The experts at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommend the following for individuals and communities to protect against light pollution:

Need: Use light only where needed. Consider how the use of light will impact the area, including wildlife interactions and habitats. Rather than permanent lights, use reflective paint or self-luminous markers for signs, curbs, and steps. Outdoor lighting should not be used for aesthetic purposes.
Brightness: Use the least amount of light needed for the activity taking place. Be aware of surface conditions as some surfaces reflect a lot of light into the sky.
Colour: Minimise blue and violet spectral components, i.e. use warm-white, yellow, or amber light. This aids night vision by all animals, including people.
Shielding: Use shielding so that light does not spill beyond where it is needed. To reduce skyglow, do not use luminaires that project any light above the horizontal. Reduce glare by restricting beams to downward cones. This improves the ability of drivers and pedestrians to see into shadows.
Timing: Use light only when needed. Turn lights off after use, or use active controls such as timers and motion detectors so that lights are on only when needed.
Encourage neighbours to reduce their light pollution by observing these principles, especially to reduce glare and light trespass into your domain.

I Just Learned What The White Bits On Used Pimple Patches Really Are, And No, It’s Not Pus

Posted on 31/08/2024 by Boris Clair

My first experience with a hydrocolloid patch ― the generic name for the various pimple patches people apply to their faces ― actually had nothing to do with a spot.

That’s because the same technology, and a lot of the same ingredients, are used on those blister patches you place on your ailing heel (fellow Docs lovers will know the pain).

But if I’m being totally honest, I had no idea why they shrunk my spots or healed my post-run bubble ― until I saw a TikTok from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Witney Bowe.

And yes, she did clarify what that white gunk is.

How do they work?

Speaking to the American Chemical Society (ACS), Hadley King, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, said that the patches work by drawing moisture out of your skin.

That way, they shrink the spot while covering it so it has room to heal. The barrier means you can’t touch your spots, either.

“As the hydrocolloid gel adheres to the skin, it absorbs excess oil and dirt away from pimples,” Dr. King told ACS.

So it makes sense that, as Dr. Bowe explained in her Tiktok, the white spots you see after wearing patches overnight are not pus.

“They’re actually the hydrocolloid material absorbing fluid, extra moisture, extra water, which thickens the hydrocolloid material and just makes it look a little bit whiter in those spots,” the doctor said.

Should I use pimple patches for serious acne?

It’s not that you can’t use them in addition to an existing routine ― but they’re better for one-off “spot treatments,” Dr. Bowe shared.

That’s because, aside from being a bit wasteful if you’re using them on the daily, they don’t tackle the real root of the issue ― they just help to speed up the recovery of a certain type of existing zits.

ACS writes that patches are best for spots that are raised and have visible pus (basically, those you’d be tempted to squeeze otherwise).

Longer-term treatments may include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, tea tree oil, or, in more serious cases, retinoids.

If you’re just looking to cover the odd spot, though, at least you can be rest assured your patch won’t be stuffed with its unspeakable contents…

Here’s How Many Seconds Science Says It Takes To Poop, And Wow, Am I Doing It Wrong

Posted on 30/08/2024 by Boris Clair

We’ve already shared at HuffPost that you’re not actually meant to sit on the loo for more than five minutes at a time.

We’ve also written about the fact that, although women tend to have more complications with their BMs, men spend a lot more time on the porcelain throne.

While writing the second article, though, I learned something that turned my world inside out.

According to some scientists, most mammals (and yep, we’re a part of that) should take no longer than 12 of Gillian McKeith’s own seconds to pass a poop.

What? Why?

Well, okay, it’s not as exact as that.

But according to a paper published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in their journal Soft Matter (I know), most mammals take between five and 19 seconds; 12 seconds on average.

The study, called Hydrodynamics of Defecation, looked at a range of mammals of different sizes at Zoo Atlanta. They didn’t study humans.

It found that, from a cat to an elephant, a majority (roughly 66%) of mammals took the same, sub-20 amount of seconds to pass a stool.

Patricia Yang, a mechanical engineer at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, said that that may be because “The smell of body waste attracts predators, which is dangerous for animals.”

“If they stay longer doing their thing, they’re exposing themselves and risking being discovered,” the study’s main author told New Scientist.

How come it all takes the same time?

Pooping doesn’t work the way most of us think, the study revealed.

We’re not pushing the BMs out like removing toothpaste from a tube; “It’s more like a plug that just goes through a chute,” the study’s lead author said.

That’s partly because of the mucus that lines our gut and makes it slippery.

Add to that the fact that poop seems to take up a similar amount of space in the gut before it’s excreted across most species (five times the diameter of the mammals’ rectum), and it’s no wonder they exert a similar amount of pressure and take around the same time.

Though, again, the study didn’t look at humans, its lead author said “If it’s taking far longer than 12 seconds, I’d say you should go see someone about it.”

“But you can’t count the newspaper time,” she added.

NHS 111 Is Now Providing A New Mental Health Service, Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Posted on 27/08/2024 by Boris Clair

People facing a mental health crisis in England can now access support through NHS 111.

The service, which is available now, offers another vital lifeline to those experiencing mental health difficulties. A similar service is available in Scotland and Wales.

According to the BBC: “The number connects to a local team of call handlers with mental health training, alongside nurses and clinicians who are available around the clock.

“The team can organise a mental health assessment, send out a crisis team and flag up help available in the local area. A talking-therapy service is also available – people can refer themselves to it online via nhs.uk”

How to access the NHS mental health helpline

The mental health charity Mind estimates that around two million people on waiting lists for NHS mental health care and the latest NHS figures show that mental health services have treated an extra one million people a year compared with six years ago.

The new integrated service can give patients of all ages, including children, the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can help direct them to the right place, says NHS director for mental health Claire Murdoch.

“So, if you or someone you know needs urgent mental health support, please call 111, and select the mental health option.”

The mental health option is option 2, so those looking for support can simply call 111 and choose option 2 to be directed to the support that they need.

Rethink Mental Illness chief executive Mark Winstanley said: “A mental health crisis is traumatic and disorientating, and getting help as quickly as possible is vital. The last thing people need when they or a loved-one is in crisis, is uncertainty about where to turn.

“The NHS have made it easier to access urgent support via 111, building on provision already in place through crisis lines. We welcome this important step.”

Help and support:

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

Noticing This Pattern On Your Skin Could Reveal Heart Issues

Posted on 19/08/2024 by Boris Clair

To a trained medical eye, something like a spot or a bruise can reveal a lot more about a person’s health than they might realise.

So too can a “net-like pattern” on your skin, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) writes.

A lot of the time, the web on the surface of your skin reveals nothing more than the fact that you’re cold, their site reads. It mostly shows up on the legs.

The NHS says that the “net” they’re talking about shows up as “red or blue coloured blotches on white skin, and dark or brownish coloured blotches on black and brown skin”

It may go away when you warm up or can be caused by your medication (another trigger for the condition that the AADA says you don’t usually need to worry about).

But “this netlike pattern can also be a sign of a disease” ― specifically cardiovascular disease, they add.

What disease?

If you’ve ruled out being cold and/or your medicine’s side effects, the “net-like pattern” may also belie something called cholesterol embolization syndrome.

The NHS describes cholesterol emboli as follows: “In people with severe atherosclerosis (narrowed arteries caused by a build-up of cholesterol), small pieces of cholesterol can sometimes break away from the side of a blood vessel, resulting in an embolism.”

It’s a bit like the deep vein thrombosis people who take long flights are at risk for, except instead of introducing a blood clot into the bloodstream, cholesterol embolization syndrome puts chunks of cholesterol plaque into your veins instead.

The skin condition the AADA described, livedo reticularis, can happen when small arteries get blocked.

If plaque enters your bloodstream, it can affect your blood’s ability to circulate ― cholesterol emboli most often affect blood flow to your kidneys.

What happens if I notice it?

Again, especially if you’ve ruled out cold or medications, “it’s important to see a doctor to find out whether you have an undiagnosed disease,” the AADA says.

That’s because “The blockage can lead to damaged tissues and organs” if left untreated.

The Mayo Clinic says that you should see a doctor if:

The discoloured, mottled skin doesn’t go away with warming
You have discoloured, mottled skin along with other symptoms that concern you
Painful lumps develop in the affected skin
Sores develop in the affected skin
You also have a condition that affects the blood flow in your limbs
Your skin symptoms are new and you have a connective tissue disease

“Usually, cholesterol emboli occur as complications of angiograms or other procedures involving your blood vessels,” Cleveland Clinic writes.

“The condition mostly affects adults over age 60 with atherosclerosis and other forms of cardiovascular disease,” they add, stating that men, smokers, and those with high blood pressure and/or cholesterol are especially at risk.

Though “researchers estimate a 63% mortality rate,” your odds change according to the patient, and the condition is thankfully rare (it may affect up to 3% of adults).

The 1 Health Advantage Dogs May Give Their Owners

Posted on 16/08/2024 by Boris Clair

Ah, dogs. We love them so much at HuffPost UK that we can’t stop writing about ’em ― we’ve already shared, for instance, the annoying behaviour all dog owners should encourage when taking their furry friend for a walk.

We’ve revealed the non-tail-wagging signs your dog is really happy, too.

But what about what your canine does for your health?

On a recent episode of gut health company ZOE’s podcast, co-founder Jonathan Wolf interviewed Dr. Gideon Lack, a professor of paediatric allergy at King’s College London.

He said that though they’re absolutely not definitive, “there are two studies now showing that babies who are born into a home with a dog have about a 50% reduced chance of developing food allergies.”

Does having a dog definitely halve my kid’s chances of getting food allergies?

No, and Dr. Lack doesn’t claim it will.

Jonathan Wolf had the same question, to which the professor responded, “No, that is an observational association. It’s not evidence.”

To get true evidence, you’d have to randomly give half of a group of pregnant women dogs and not give the other half one.

That would be a “randomised intervention,” meaning scientists would add dogs into participants’ lives at random rather than simply looking at those who already have one.

Those who own a dog already could do so for external reasons that might affect the results (like having a bigger house and maybe being richer, or being more rural, etc.).

Dr. Lack says a true scientific trial on the topic is hard to do, though he hopes to run a randomised “Bow Wow study” one day.

However given the data we do have, Dr. Lack says, “At the moment, we just have observation, but they’re pretty compelling observations.”

One such study found “that exposure to dogs and farm animals during the first year of life reduces the risk of asthma in children at age 6 years.”

“This all goes back to the hygiene hypothesis, getting in contact with a whole host of bacterial flora,” the professor added.

Is there any other way to reduce the risk of allergies?

Seemingly, yes (good news for those of us in small apartments or with dog allergies).

We’ve written before about an extensive study that found that giving children who are at risk of developing a peanut butter allergy the offending food regularly, especially when very young, seems to reduce allergy rates by 71%.

In the ZOE podcast, Dr. Lack talked about the same idea.

“I would say in babies with eczema as early as three to four months of life, start introducing them to peanut, egg, milk, the common food allergens,” he said.

“Regularly, frequently, not large amounts of time, small amounts of time, but so that they get enough over a week and continue that every week,” he added.

So, more dogs and more peanut butter sandwiches… sounds good to me.

The WHO Just Declared Mpox A Global Health Emergency — Here’s All We Know

Posted on 15/08/2024 by Boris Clair

Yesterday, the director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the growing rates of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries “constitutes a public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC).

This is the WHO’s highest level of alert and can speed up research, funding, and global cooperation. A PHEIC is not a pandemic; it’s more of an international call to arms to prevent one.

The announcement comes as a new strain of the disease has started to spread which seems to be more easily transmissible than the previous mutation.

“The emergence of a new clade of mpox, its rapid spread in eastern DRC, and the reporting of cases in several neighbouring countries are very worrying,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said.

“On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives.”

The WHO had previously announced a PHEIC warning for mpox in 2022 which has since ended.

That was for strain IIb; this is strain Ib, from clade 1, which is typically more deadly (up to one in ten can die from it).

Where has it spread so far?

The new variant, clade Ib, has spread from the DRC to Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda for the first time.

Over 100 cases have been confirmed in countries outside of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Its detection in countries neighbouring the DRC is especially concerning, and one of the main reasons for the declaration of the PHEIC,” the WHO says.

This year’s total reported cases is already higher than the total of last year’s, with 15,600 cases and 537 deaths so far.

There are currently two WHO-approved vaccines to treat mpox.

The WHO’s director-general has released an Emergency Use Listing “which will accelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries which have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval.”

Should I be worried?

The new variant (Ib) hasn’t been spotted in Europe, the UK, or anywhere outside of Africa yet.

The PHEIC is designed to keep it that way.

WHO Committee Chair Professor Dimie Ogoina said: “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the mpox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa, but for the entire globe.”

“Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”

The NHS says mpox is transmitted through touching blisters and scabs, having sexual contact, touching the bedding, clothes, or towels, of an infected person. Someone with mpox can also spread it through coughing and sneezing.

The strain of mpox that triggered the PHEIC is more transmissible than the previous one, however.

What are the symptoms?

If you’re infected with mpox, symptoms usually appear within five to 21 days and typically improve on their own in two to four weeks.

Common symptoms include a blistering rash, which often starts one to five days after other symptoms, and can spread from the face or genital area to other parts of the body.

Other symptoms may include proctitis (inflammation of the rectum), fever, headache, flu-like symptoms, and swollen glands.

The mpox rash progresses through four stages: flat spots, raised spots, blisters, and healing by scabbing or crusting over.

Because the rash can resemble other conditions like chickenpox, it’s crucial to seek medical assessment and testing for an accurate diagnosis.

If you notice symptoms, consult a healthcare professional for appropriate testing and care to confirm if you have mpox.

This NHS Doctor’s Sleeping Hack Can Make You Fall Asleep Within Minutes

Posted on 14/08/2024 by Boris Clair

If you suffer from insomnia or even just have occassional bouts of being unable to sleep, you’ve likely tried every trick in the book.

From sleepy girl mocktails to magnesium supplements, sometimes the sleep just isn’t coming and you’re left wide awake in bed counting down how many hours of sleep you’d get if you fell asleep riiight… now.

It’s unbearable and knowing the health impacts of losing sleep such as mental health problems and even diabetes doesn’t do much to make you feel more rested.

However, according to one NHS surgeon, there is something we don’t do enough and it actually works as a ‘biological power off button’.

How to fall asleep faster, according to a health expert

Dr Karan Rajan, an NHS surgeon, social media creator and all-round health expert revealed that there is a sort of ‘Spotify shuffle’ we can do to help ourselves doze off faster.

In a recent Instagram reel he said: “If you’re struggling to fall asleep, this is the biological equivalent of holding down the power button.

“When you’re in bed, it’s easy to get into repetitive, disrupting thought patterns. This can trigger a stress response which keeps you awake, the more you’re awake, the more unwanted thought patterns you get, meaning less sleep.”

However, he revealed that a sleep hack named ‘cognitive shuffling’ can break this cycle by taking away your active cognitive effort (overthinking.)

Dr Rajan said: It’s the human brain version of pressing shuffle on your mind Spotify playlist.”

How to do cognitive shuffling

First, choose a word. The word that Dr Rajan chose was aptly “bedtime”.

From there, for each letter of that word, think of another word starting with that letter and visualise it.

So, for example, for the letter ‘B’, you could choose words like bear, brace, bones, bench.

Keep doing that until you’re out of words or bored and then move on to the next letter.

Dr Rajan urges that you visualise these words too as it simulates micro-dreams.

He said: “This trick helps to calm racing thoughts, so if your sleep software is malfunctioning, it’s worth giving it a go.”

I’m A Doctor ― This Common Gut Health Buy May Be A Waste Of Money

Posted on 12/08/2024 by Boris Clair

It’s well-known that if you’re going on antibiotics, you’ll need to supplement the tablets with probiotics to protect your gut’s microbiome, right?

The medication wipes out the “good” bacteria along with the bad, and you need something like a specially-designed probiotic drink to restore it, the common argument goes.

But Dr. Karan Rajan, who’s known for spreading his medical know-how on TikTok, recently shared a video explaining that the relationship isn’t as straightforward as that.

Why not?

“Whilst there are some strains of bacteria known to have a protective effect at reducing the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, there’s no guarantee your average supermarket probiotic [drinks] contain these strains, even if they claim to,” he says.

“And even if they do contain it, are they even alive or present in sufficient concentrations to have any effect?” he asked.

He’s not alone in doubting the supermarket supplement.

Women’s Health writes that “the benefits [of supermarket probiotic drinks] are negligible,” with or without antibiotic use; dietitian Sophie Medlin told Which?, ”[the effect of probiotic supplements] depends on what bacteria is already present in your gut. This is why it’s hard to prove probiotics offer the same benefit to everyone.”

Medlin and Women’s Health both agree that research into the effectiveness of probiotic drinks is thin on the ground.

It’s not that nobody thinks any probiotic drink can help; it’s just that proving they do can be harder than you’d think.

“The jury is still out about which strains and which dosages are the most effective,” Dr. Karan Rajan says.

“So instead of spending your money on [probiotic drinks], there is something more evidence-based and effective that you can do during and after taking antibiotics.”

Which is?

I hate to be this person, but; plain ol’ fruits and veggies, apparently.

“Add more prebiotic fibres to your meals,” the doctor advised. “These plant fibres feed and encourage the growth of the existing good bugs.”

He added that “you can get these prebiotics in the form of supplements like psyllium husks or fibre-rich plants ― fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses.”

The doctor went on to say that brightly-coloured plants “tend to have a higher concentration of polyphenols, which our good gut bugs love.”

“Instead of these store-bought probiotics, go for the stuff naturally found in food ― they’re more likely to contain live bacteria in the form of lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which happen to be two of the most researched strains of probiotics,” Dr. Rajan ended his video.

Of course, listen to your doctor first, and if you’ve noticed benefits from drinking probiotic drinks then continue enjoying them.

Though some argue there’s not much proof for their effectiveness, there’s no definitive proof they don’t work, either.

But as dietician Kaitlin Colucci told Which?, while they “can be beneficial” for people who are unwell, “For healthy people without symptoms there’s no need to take probiotic supplements.”

The 1 Thing That Will Make Your Bathroom More Dementia-Friendly

Posted on 10/08/2024 by Boris Clair

According to the NHS, research shows there are more than 944,000 people in the UK who have dementia, and this is only increasing as people are lving longer.

The NHS also state that in the early stages of dementia, sufferers may be able to live at home, continuing to enjoy doing the things they have always done and having an active social life.

However, there are steps you or a carer can take at home to make the condition easier to manage and offset the more difficult days of dementia.

Now, Dementia UK have shared tips for making bathrooms more dementia-friendly

On their TikTok channel, a specialist dementia nursing charity have shared their tips for making bathrooms more dementia-friendly, and they’re really simple.

Most notably, the charity recommend using brightly-coloured towels which, as well as just making your bathroom a little more colourful, will stand out more on the towel rail and make spotting them easier.

Additionally, the experts recommend that if you have a fabric bathmat, this should be rolled up when not in use to prevent trips and falls.

While this is probably just good practice in general, NHS Inform urge that dementia sufferers are at a higher risk, saying: “There are different personal risk factors that cause people to fall, however, people with dementia are at greater risk because they: are more likely to experience problems with mobility, balance and muscle weakness.”

Dementia UK offer more tips for making bathrooms accessible

On their website, Dementia UK recommend the following steps for making bathrooms a safer place for dementia sufferers:

Stick a written sign or a picture of a toilet to the door to help the person identify the bathroom
Leave the bathroom light on at night to help the person find their way
Fit a toilet lid and seat in a different colour from the toilet itself to make it more visible
Use a free-standing toilet roll holder. These are easier to see than wall-mounted holders, and putting it right next to the toilet means the person does not have to stretch and potentially lose their balance – but if the person is prone to falls, be aware that they may be a trip hazard
Install rails or handles at useful points such as in the bath/shower and next to the toilet
Provide a bath or shower seat if the person has mobility or balance problems
Use flood and scald prevention plugs in the basin and bath

WellnessMaster

Get The Latest News on Holistic Wellness

Category Archives: Health