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Health News - July 2010

1. If You Use Painkillers
2. Sex And The Over 45's
3. Venetian Blinds Can Kill
4. Releaf From Heart Disease - Don't Be A Has Bean!
5. Lack Of Folic Acid Causes Hearing Loss

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If You Use Painkillers

The University of Derby needs your help with a National Survey To Assess Painkiller Habits.

People using over-the-counter or prescribed painkillers at least monthly for aches and pains, or for an injury or medical condition, are needed to take part in a University of Derby survey.

Psychologists have begun a study of the nation's habits, when it comes to consuming over-the-counter and prescription pain medication. The research is led by Professor James Elander and Joana Duarte. They want to get a better idea of the things that affect how people use painkillers, and the types of concerns or issues that people might have with their use of painkillers. For example, becoming dependent or addicted to painkillers, or suffering more pain than they need because they are fearful of taking pills.

If you want to take part in the survey, which will only take a short time, fill out the online questionnaire at website www.surveymonkey.com/s/C5XBR5L. The deadline is July 31 (2010).

Professor James Elander, an expert in chronic pain, said: "We have had the tragic high profile case of pop icon Michael Jackson and his alleged addiction to prescription painkillers, and other high profile celebrity cases involving prescription drugs.

"However, many people use painkillers that are either prescribed by their doctor or bought over-the-counter, and much less is known about painkiller use by people in the general population.

"We hope this study will generate a lot of interest and we would be very grateful if people could spend a short amount of time filling in this online questionnaire.

"It could provide findings to inform us how society can help boost the wellbeing of people, by helping them use painkillers more effectively."

Sex And The Over 45's

New research shows that the over 45s are less informed than teenagers when it comes to safe sex practices. And they suffer because of their ignorance. Over 70% of over 40's have never had a test for STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection). Those that do are 50% more likely to get a positive result than all other age groups.

So, its true, life does begin at 40 and gets even better after 45. With 45% of marriages expected to end in divorce there are an ever growing number of foot loose and fancy free men and women looking for fun and frolics. And by Jove they get it! Most of them report having sex up to 21 times a month, that's twice as much as married Brits.

But the scary news is that A quarter of over 45s do not use protection with new partners with a third believing it is unlikely that they will catch an STI, twice as many over 45s thought the risk was "next to nothing" compared to the teenagers who were asked.

I asked my old friend, colleague and sexual health consultant, Dr. Rob Hicks MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP what he thought of this new research.

'I'm not surprised by the results of this survey as they reflect the attitude of many of the over-45's I see in my hospital sexual health clinic.

There's a misconception amongst this age group that they are immune to sexually transmitted infections and that these infections only affect the young and promiscuous. The fact is anyone can contract a sexually transmitted infection regardless of their age. I'm seeing more and more middle-aged and older people who are diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

Many of these people have embarked on new relationships and feel awkward or embarrassed to ask about their partner's sexual history, or indeed to raise the important subject of safer sex which is vital in protecting people from sexually transmitted infections.

Many men and women with infections such as Chlamydia do not get symptoms, which is why it's always wise to get checked, particularly when in a new relationship. I encourage people to come along and have a check-up to make sure neither partner has an infection. If they should have an infection this can be treated so they don't put their partner at risk of becoming infected too.

There's no need to feel embarrassed. I see people of all ages in my clinic most of whom say coming and getting checked was easier and not as bad as they thought it would be!

Venetian Blinds Can Kill

Dr Mahesh Masand, consultant paediatrician at Dr Grays Hospital in Elgin, Scotland, is calling for Venetian blinds to be redesigned to safeguard babies and toddlers from accidentally being strangled to death by the looped cords.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, he tells of a 22-month-old girl rushed to A&E after her mother found the toddler hanging from the looped cord of a Venetian blind in her bedroom. The little girl was kept on a ventilator for three days and discharged a week later with no complications.

Dr Masand has subsequently found out about other cases that have tragically resulted in the death of children in the UK. He says at least 11 Australian children have been accidentally strangled by blind or curtain cords since 2000 the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents say one or two children die like this each year in the UK.

Heconcludes that "survival after hanging injury in childhood is uncommon due to lack of adult presence at the time of hanging … the focus hence needs to be placed on attempting to prevent the hanging from occurring in the first place."

Parents can look into other safety measures, such as shortening or removing loops, installing tie-down devices that keep loops taut against walls, keeping cords out of reach of children, using a cord tensioning device or cord pulley on walls. Eliminate risk by moving furniture, including cots, beds, and high chairs, away from windows with looped curtain or blind cords.

Releaf From Heart Disease - Don't Be A Has Bean!

The Tea leaf and the coffee bean may reduce the risks of dying from heart disease. Now, isn't that just the sort of health news to put a spring in your step? For once there is something you enjoy that actually does you good.

Holland is one of the few European countries where both tea and coffee are popular drinks and it is a new study from The Netherlands that shows a 45% reduction in the risk of death from heart disease. Scientists led by Professor Yvonne van der Schouw, determined the consumption of tea and coffee in 37,514 Dutch people.

During the 13 year study thre were 70 deaths from and 123 from heart disease and they calculated that between three and six cups of tea a day may reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 45 per cent. More than six cups was linked to only 36 per cent lower risk. Between two and four cups of coffee a day were associated with a 20 per cent lower risk, compared to those who drank less than two or more than four cups per day, said the researchers.

So, within sensible amounts you can really enjoy your brew knowing that it is good for your life expectancy – but a good old British Cuppa still comes out on top.

Lack Of Folic Acid Causes Hearing Loss

The importance of folic acid in pregnancy and the protection against birth defects that it gives, is well known. But a new Australian study published in the Journal of Nutrition, now shows that it is also vital for the prevention of some forms of deafness. Researchers found that low blood levels of folate are associated with a 35 per cent increase in the risk of hearing loss.

These results strengthen the findings of a number of earlier studies. Now, the Blue Mountains Hearing Study in Australia looked at 2,956 people aged 50 and over and their blood levels of folate, vitamin B12, and homocysteine.

High levels of homocysteine can cause heart disease, dementia and reduce blood flow in the inner ear, so encouraging age-related hearing loss. High levels of homocysteine are caused by too little folic acid in the diet and for this reason many countries fortify bread flour with folic acid to increase their population’s consumption. So far, the UK has refused all the requests of leading medics to follow suit.

Finding Your Folic Acid

All the green leafy vegetables, chick peas, lentils, wholemeal bread, wholegrain breakfast cereals, liver, kidney and nuts are the richest sources of this vital part of the vitamin B complex.