Tag Archives: Health

Exercise – the only way to go!

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Exercise - The Only Way to Go

Exercise - The Only Way to Go

 

Exercise – the only way to go! Described recently as a “wonder drug”, I think it is something we all know at the back of our heads!

 

UK Cancer Support Group Macmillan, are supporting the idea that those who are recovering from cancer should be prescribed an exercise regime as soon as they feel ready,as opposed to being told to rest. New studies have now shown that exercise have a dramatic effect on the disease returning, which supports the notion that Exercise really is the only way to go!

 

Following a review on over sixty studies, exercise can only benefit your health and mood. Patients undergoing treatment, who were physically active at the same time, had great effects on their  physical wellbeing and their mood, the study has said. “Long term, it is an effective way to help recover physical function, manage fatigue, improve quality of life and mental health, and control body weight,” said the ‘Move More’ report.

Research has also shown that there can be a significant reduction in recurrence of the cancer disease. For example:

·         Where women on the study who have suffered with Breast Cancer with 150 minutes p/w exercise have a 40% less recurrence rate

·          Bowel Cancer suffers recurrence rate have been slashed by 50% with 6 hours per week.

And the list goes on.

The benefits of exercise are limitless, and studies have now shown another level for those suffering with cancer.

Cancer is a heart breaking and physically gruelling disease, but if something like going for a walk, a cycle or a light swim a few times a week can only benefit you then why not? Exercise is the only way to go.

So get out there and enjoy the fresh air – a novel idea is to bring the kids and make a family day out of it! You may not even realise how much you are doing even by simply bringing the kids to the pool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Late nights are a ticking time bomb for Health

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Late nights bad for our healthAccording to Irishhealth.com,  people who are often deprived of sleep or have disrupted sleep patterns may be at an increased risk of suffering serious health problems, including heart attacks and stroke, new evidence suggests.

Today’s economy has significant stress, loss of jobs, financial difficulty and this will have an effect on our sleep.

In a new job or in current times, people want to prove themselves and this can lead to working long hours.

Stress and worry for our job searchers can also reduce sleep drastically and leave our job seekers feeling exhausted which can be reflected at interview.

UK researchers looked at studies involving 470,000 people in eight countries, including the UK, Sweden and the US. They found that poor sleep can have serious, long-term health implications.

“If you sleep less than six hours per night and have disturbed sleep, you stand a 48% greater chance of developing or dying from heart disease and a 15% greater chance of developing or dying of a stroke,” explained lead researcher, Prof Francesco Cappuccio, of the University of Warwick.

He said that the current trend for late nights and early mornings ‘is actually a ticking time bomb for our health’ and advised people to ‘act now to reduce the risk of developing these life-threatening conditions’.

“There is an expectation in today’s society to fit more into our lives. The whole work/life balance struggle is causing too many of us to trade in precious sleeping time to ensure we complete all the jobs we believe are expected of us.

“But in doing so, we are significantly increasing the risk of suffering a stroke or developing cardiovascular disease resulting in, for example, heart attacks.”

The study pointed out that chronic short sleep produces hormones and chemicals in the body, which increase the risk of developing heart disease and strokes, as well as other conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.

However, Prof Cappuccio did warn of the implications of going too far the other way, as sleeping overly long – more than nine hours at a stretch – may also be an indicator of illness, including cardiovascular disease.

“By ensuring you have about seven hours sleep a night, you are protecting your future health and reducing the risk of developing chronic illnesses. The link is clear from our research – get the sleep you need to stay healthy and live longer,” he said.

Details of these findings are published in the European Heart Journal

Putting our Clocks back this weekend not good for our Health

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Clocks back not good for our Health

Clocks back not good for our Health

A UK Expert, Dr Mayer Hillman of the Policies Studies Institute in London has said not putting our clocks back this weekend and still putting them forward next Spring would be a simple way to vastly improve our wellbeing and health.

As this would increase our outdoor accessibility in terms of daylight, it would encourage more outdoor activity and sports.

Dr Hillman pointed out that lack of exercise is a major contributing factor for chronic illnesses.

Adults are advised to partake in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day, while children are encouraged to do one hours activity per day – many people are falling short on this advice.

Although most people are aware of the benefits of this exercise – lower blood pressure, less risk of obesity, Diabetes and heart disease, this routine does not feature in a high percentage of people’s daily lives.

During the Summer and ‘brighter’ months, there is a lower sickness rate, people feel happier and more energetic, but moods tend to lower in the darker Winter months.

Dr Hillman states – Taking account of the typical daily patterns of adults and children, the clock change ‘would considerably increase opportunities for outdoor leisure activities – about 300 additional hours of daylight for adults each year and 200 more for children’, he said.

“Adopting the clock change proposal is an effective, practical and remarkably easily managed way of achieving a better alignment of our waking hours with the available daylight during the year. It must be rare to find a means of vastly improving the health and wellbeing of nearly everyone in the population – and at no cost. Here we have it,” he concluded.

Dublin Dental Hospital getting tough!

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Dublin Dental Hospital

Dublin Dental Hospital

The Dublin Dental Hospital are clamping down on patients who do not turn up for their appointments.

Thousands of patients failed to attend last year without notifying the Hospital.

Over 23,000 failed to attend in the last 3 years.

This leaves a Dental Nurse and Dental Student with nothing to do and instruments which have been cleaned and prepared need to be re-sterilized.

 

From September 1st 2010, they are introducing a charge of €30 per appointment if a patient fails to show without prior notification.

So, be careful, if you have an appointment with the Dublin Dental Hospital – keep it – if you can’t – let them know or expect a €30 invoice

Primary Care Centre for Greystones

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Working Together in our Commuinity

Working Together in our Commuinity

Following an agreement between GPs in the Greystones Medical Centre, the HSE and Meret Healthcare, Greystones has been approved for a new Primary Care Centre.

Meret Healthcare are to develop this state of the art centre. The aim of this Primary Care Centre is to provide healthcare and social care for the good people of Greystones and surrounding areas.

Opening date is due for late 2011!

The building will accommodate all Greystones Medical Centre GPs, as well as community based HSE services and mental health services.

The new harbour based Primary Care Centre will provide:

  • PH Nursing
  • Welfare Services
  • Dentist Services
  • Physio Services
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Psychology
  • Speech and Language Therapy

New Diagnostic Imaging facilities and Clinical Pharmacy will also take it’s place within the doors of the new Primary Care Centre for Greystones.
The relocation of the Care Centre is a welcomed addition to Greystones and we look forward to the development and opening in the course of 2011.

The body’s “energy factories”……

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the-human-bodyHere’s something I thought you health gurus would like to read about….

Your body is made of billions of cells. Each cell contains a certain amount of mirochondria, which are bean-shaped structures that produce energy by converting fat, carbohydrate and protein into ATP (adenosine triphosphate)- energy in its stored form. This conversion can only take place with the presence of co-enzyme Q10.

The energy released from the breakdown of ATP is used to power all body functions (heart beat, muscle power, immune system etc.) Without adequate ATP stores, we could not run, walk, breathe or even have blood flow through our bodies. ATP is considered the “energy currency” of the cell. It is the molecule that gives us life.

Science has discovered a way to put new energy into ageing cells. It is an energy compound called Q10 and it comes in capsules.

Co-enzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance which cells need in order to generate energy. Your liver is able to synthesise the substance and you get limited quantities of Q10 with your food. However as a person ages, the body’s Q10 levels become reduced, leading to detectable drops in the energy levels. This is when we feel the limitations of growing old and losing our physical prowess.

Now with the discovery of co-enzyme Q10, these youthful energy levels can be restored. It does not give you a sudden ‘kick’ like you get from taking caffeine pills or ginseng. It is a permanent energy increase that can be felt from the time you get up in the morning until you go to bed at night.

By taking a Q10 supplement from your local pharmacy, you turn back the clock and bring your cellular Q10 levels to where they were, when you were much younger.

What is important here is that you are not tampering with your body, as Q10 is a substance your cells need to generate energy in the first place. What you are doing is simply repleneshing what has disappeared.

Boosting your energy metabolism with Q10 makes you feel more alert, more awake and more on top of things. You will have more of a physical surplus, allowing you to enjoy an active life. This is essential for your quaslity of life.

As there are so many pressures on people today, a Q10 supplement could just be the thing needed to bring our energy levels back up and increase our coping mechanisms.

The curative properties of the Sunflower

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The goodness of the Sunflower

The goodness of the Sunflower

My favourite flower of all is the Sunflower. I love its brightness, its gracefulness and most of all its health properties. I thought I would share this beautiful flower with anyone who is interested in reading on.

The Sunflower is believed to have originated in Mexico and was introduced to Europe in the 16th century and was established as an oilseed in Eastern Europe. The crop grew steadily in importance and is today one of the most important oilseeds in the world.

Sunflower seed kernels are an excellent protein food and can be considered as complete food. Eaten with milk, the seeds contribute to the needs of protein, the substance of which every cell in the body is made.

The kernels contain 50 per cent fat which makes them a highly satisfying food that prevents the ‘let down’ feeling of fatigue and weariness which is due to eating too much carbohydrate and sugar.

Being rich in potassium, the seeds help balance the sodium in our diets. Magnesium being plentiful in sunflower helps the heart and other muscles as well as the nervous tissue in the maintenance of proper balance between magnesium and calcium.

Foe anyone suffering from cardiac conditions,, the seeds contain a substantial quantity of linoleic acid which is the fat helpful in reducing cholesterol deposit on the walls of the arteries.

For a beautiful flower on the outside, it certainly is beautiful on the inside and is worth having in the house both in the food cupboard as well as in the vase!