Better bacterial knowledge is on the cards
CARE AWARE
Research by Which? Elderly Care has found that nearly a third (31 per cent) of unpaid carers in England, looking after an elderly relative aged 65 or over, struggle to find the information they need. With 3.8 million unpaid carers in England alone falling into this group, as many as 1 million people could be missing out.
Unpaid carers often have an emotional connection with the person they care for. This can make their role more rewarding but also increase the challenges they face.
Often they won’t see themselves as a “carer” — from their viewpoint, they are simply looking after someone they love. But, if you provide regular unpaid help to someone who suffers from an illness or disability, you could be eligible to assistance from your local authority.
Anyone who provides care and feels they might benefit from support is entitled to apply for a carer’s assessment. As is the case for an individual receiving care, the local authority will then determine whether the carer is eligible, based on their individual needs.
Unpaid carers can qualify for certain benefits from their local authority if their physical or mental health is at risk of deteriorating, or they are unable to maintain relationships or engage in recreational activities and there is a potential for significant impact on their wellbeing.
Following the assessment, the resources that are available will vary but can include respite care or additional training. They may also be eligible for gym membership to relieve stress, or for help around the home.
Which? Elderly Care has launched a free information hub for unpaid carers. As well as the advice on arranging a carer’s assessment, the hub gives unpaid carers information on the carer’s allowance, carer’s rights at work and the services available in their area. For more information, see
which.co.uk/elderly-care/for-carers
LIFE ON MARS
Are you relieved that winter is nearly over? Listening to music is the number one way in which the nation remains positive during winter months, according to a survey linked to the film The Martian. Like Matt Damon’s character in the film, who is marooned on Mars but mentally perseveres using simple techniques, it is the little things that keep Brits happy. Among other responses to the survey, a hug came in second place, followed closely by sunshine, watching a film on DVD and booking a holiday.
BATHROOM BREAKS
Men with urinary issues may benefit from a new treatment at Spire Bushey Hospital. Urolift is a minimally invasive procedure led by consultant urologist Tim Briggs. It is designed to treat urinary issues caused by an enlarged prostate (BPH).
BPH is a non-cancerous growth of the prostate which causes it to enlarge and can lead to urinary problems ( see
page HW12). Urolift is designed to offer fast relief to men who suffer from symptoms such as a frequent need to urinate during the day and night, difficulty or delay in starting urination and a weak or slow urinary stream.
Urolift works by opening the blocked urethra by lifting or holding prostate tissue out of the way. One of the many advantages of Urolift is that it can be performed as a day-case procedure. Most men leave hospital without the need for a catheter, as Urolift does not involve cutting, heating or removing any prostate tissue.
Urolift is said to have no side effects and preserves the patient’s sexual function.
REFLUX ACTION
Spire Bushey Hospital is also offering a new minimally invasive treatment for gastric reflux patients.
Called Stretta Therapy, the procedure is offered by consultant upper gastrointestinal surgeon Pratik Sufi. It provides an alternative to invasive surgery or implants and is used to treat gastro oesophageal reflux disease. Symptoms of acid reflux include indigestion, heartburn, chest pain, cough, sore throat, voice changes and asthma.
Stretta Therapy is a one-off treatment, applying low-energy radio frequency to the lower oesophageal sphincter in order to increase the muscle wall thickness and so reduce reflux. This is carried out endoscopically (through the mouth), which means no cuts are made to the skin.
SPRINGING BACK
Spring Health Hampstead, in Belsize Park, is now fully open, following a fire last August. Members can enjoy facilities including cardio, weights and stretch rooms, a swimming pool and whirlpool bath, as well as sauna and steam rooms in both the male and female changing rooms.
There are 60 classes a week which cover cardio, “mind and body”, shape and tone, dance and “fighting fit”. In the spa, there are four treatment rooms offering everything from massage to physiotherapy. Members can also arrange one-to-one sessions with personal trainers.
An on-site crèche is available for under-fives and there is a café serving a “healthy but delicious” menu and accommodating a wide range of dietary requirements.
THE LONG RUN
It’s not the monster training sessions that get you into shape but rather the consistent routine, according to runners’ website realbuzz.com. Banking week after week of solid training is
probably the single most important factor if you are looking to improve your running, so it is important to keep injuries at bay and to recover well between workouts.
Realbuzz recommends some kit to help with this — a foam roller to increase blood flow and release muscle tightness; a reusable ice pack to reduce inflammation in an injury; blister plasters; a tennis ball and golf ball for DIY physio (use like the roller) and kinesiology tape (said to create neuromuscular feedback that helps the muscles to fire effectively).
A bath in Epsom salts may seem comparatively basic but it is said to soothe muscle pain, reduce swelling and increase the body’s stores of magnesium. And who doesn’t like a soak in a warm bath?
HEAD START
Concussion is a major medical issue in the world of sport. Defined as a “mild” traumatic brain injury, the signs are often subtle, making diagnosis difficult. Though most athletes recover in a week or so, some have lingering symptoms for months, including memory problems.
Doctors may soon be able to pinpoint those most at risk of prolonged and serious symptoms of concussion using a simple blood test. Research carried out by The University of Glasgow’s Dr Willie Stewart with colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania has identified the source of a brain protein, SNTF, linked with serious concussion symptoms.
The new research found that SNTF was created in damaged nerve fibres deep in the brain (it had been “invisible” to standard brain scans and investigations until now), supporting the idea that an SNTF-based blood test could be developed.
THINK ABOUT DRINK
Three in 10 people are worried about the drinking habits of over-50s they know, according to a poll financed by the Big Lottery Fund. One in five respondents drank more than the government’ s previous recommended limit of 21 units per week for men and 14 for women, while three per cent were “high-risk” drinkers (more than 50 units a week for men; more than 35 for women).
Forty per cent of those who had increased their drinking blamed retirement, while more than 25 per cent cited bereavement. Other reasons included loss of sense of purpose in life (20 per cent), fewer opportunities to socialise (18 per cent) and a change in financial circumstances (18 per cent). The strongest predictor for being a higher-risk drinker was not coping with stress. Over-50s who feel downhearted, depressed or like failures are nearly four times as likely to be a higher risk drinker.
GERM GAME
A new game developed by a PhD student from the University of Glasgow is aiming to help kids understand more about the bacteria in their gut and how they are affected by antibiotics. Microbiology student Carla Louise Brown took the lead in developing Bacteria Combat, a Top Trumps
style game for players aged eight to 13. The cards represent a wide range of “friendly” and “harmful” bacteria. Players face off against the computerdriven Bacteria Bot by pitting their bacteria’s strength, regeneration, speed and resistance scores against each other, with the highest scores winning the round. Each card also provides a picture of the bacterium in question and a description of its characteristics. Joker antibiotic cards can help banish bad bacteria.
But behind the fun is a serious message. Misuse and overuse of antibiotic medications in human and animals over decades has led to antibiotic resistance and a dwindling supply of effective antimicrobial therapies.
Disruption of beneficial gut bacteria through increased antibiotic exposure in childhood has also been linked to the development of asthma, obesity, autism and inflammatory bowel disease.
GOING VIRAL
Medical diagrams of mutating HIV cells have inspired the decorative “floral” pattern of a fabric by African Design Studio Porcupine Rocks. The Positive Power fabric is in the style of “folk/hippy” floral textiles and
shweshwe (traditional African) prints; the starting motif is the HIV virus. The fabric is described as “a celebration of the courage, dedication and power of all people living with HIV who have grown to live, love and enjoy free positive lives”. In 100 per cent cotton, 145cm wide, it costs £58.80 per m from
porcupinerocks.com.