HEALTH NOTES
GET RID OF ALLERGENS IN YOUR CAR
POLLEN, pet hair and dust can all build up in your car over time, which spells bad news for allergy sufferers. Eradicate some of the worst offenders with our top tips:
■ Make sure the carpet is clean and dry, then cover it with plastic, washable, grooved floor mats.
■ Mould spores thrive in damp conditions, causing your car to smell. Change the air filter, and if the smell continues, take the car into the garage to have the ducts thoroughly examined.
■ Vacuum upholstered seats whenever you wash the car, as they harbour dust mites just like your sofa. Leather seats are best for allergy sufferers, but they’re not always affordable or practical. ■ During pollen season, keep windows closed and use the air conditioning, but only on the recirculating cycle.
■ Avoid air fresheners. Some contain chemicals that irritate the nasal membranes.
■ Damp-dust the dashboard and wipe off window film frequently.
■ Consider using a crate to transport animals. It’s not only safer for the animal, but it will reduce the amount of fur and dander flying around inside.
CANCER TEST COULD SAVE HUNDREDS
GENETIC screening of every breast cancer patient would save hundreds of lives a year, a study claims.
At present, only those with risk factors such as a close family history of the disease are offered the check, right. But researchers say screening would let women make informed treatment choices and allow family members to take preventative action, saving the NHS money.
WITH AGE COMES... WEIGHT GAIN
STRUGGLING to keep the weight down as you get older? It’s not your fault. Scientists in Sweden say the rate that cells lose and replace fat slows as we age, making weight gain more likely even without extra eating.
The study of 54 men and women at Karolinska Institutet found those who did not compensate by eating less or exercising more gained an average of 20% more weight.