Anti_Ageing Creams, do they work?

Taken from the Daily Mail:

Antioxidants - the 'vital' ingredients of face creams - have little effect, according to a study
Many anti-ageing creams and vitamin supplements are a waste of money, researchers say.
Antioxidants - the 'must-have' ingredients of face creams and pills that claim to hold back the hands of time - have little or no effect, a study found.
The British researchers said that rather than spending money on vitamin-loaded potions and pills, people who want to retain a youthful look should instead concentrate on eating healthy foods in sensible amounts and exercising.

Dr David Gems, of University College London, said: 'It is not the antioxidant content of your food that is critical, it is that you don't eat too much of it.
'And get plenty of exercise. Get a dog and take it for a walk.'
Dr Gems's work debunked the widely held belief that antioxidants are key in the fight against ageing.

The decades-old theory states that our tissues and cells are under attack by free radicals - dangerous oxygen molecules produced when food is turned into energy.
Antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, 'mop up' the attackers, limiting the amount of damage done.
The theory has led to millions taking daily vitamin supplements to hold back the hands of time and has spawned a plethora of expensive antioxidant-based anti-ageing creams.
Now, it seems, it may be wrong.

Dr Gems, an expert in the biology of ageing, looked at what happened when worms were engineered to make less of a 'mopping up' enzyme they produce naturally.
If the theory were right, the creatures would be subject to more attack than usual and so would die sooner.
But, although they were more frail than normal worms, their lifespan was not affected, the Wellcome Trust-funded study found.
Similar experiments carried out on mice in the US came to the same conclusion.
Dr Gems said: 'Our results spectacularly failed to support the view of the free radical theory.
'The fact is that we don't understand much about the fundamental mechanisms of ageing.
'The free radical theory of ageing has filled a knowledge vacuum for over 50 years now but it just doesn't stand up to the evidence.

'That means that if you are taking vitamin C or E in the hope of staving off ageing, it is unlikely to be right.'
He said that while antioxidants may have some role in protecting the body against ageing, many other compounds, including the sugars in our food, are also likely to be involved.
The researcher, whose work is published in the journal Genes & Development, added that skin creams that contain sun-block will protect the skin against ageing.
However, any vitamins added to prevent ageing are likely to have little effect, he said.
But it is not all bad news. Green tea, which is also much-feted for its antioxidant properties may be beneficial.
This is because it contains compounds that produce protection against a range of attackers, not just free radicals.
Previous research has cast doubt on the claims that antioxidants can cut the risk of ailments from heart disease to Alzheimer's and led to warnings that some supplements can be dangerous when taken in high doses.

Dr Alan Schafer, of the Wellcome Trust, said: 'With increasing lifespan comes greater exposure and vulnerability to the ageing process.
'Research such as this points to how much we have to learn about ageing and the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind this process.
'This new study will encourage researchers to explore new avenues in ageing research.'
Dr Aubrey de Grey, the controversial Cambridge-based anti-ageing guru, said it would be wrong to simply conclude that free radicals do not play a role in ageing.
He said it was possible they while they do harm in some parts of the body, they do good in others, and the two effects cancel each other out.
Alternatively, ageing may be driven by a variety of processes, of which free radical attack is only one.
He added: 'That said, the conclusion that today's antioxidant products are not life-extending for humans is very probably correct.'

High Heels

High heeled shoes have been a part of women’s fashion for many years and though they can make or break a good outfit, they can also hide some dangers if worn for too long.
It has been said that heels can make a women look sexier and have more shapely legs and although this may be true, there is nothing sexy about the long term damage that can arise.
How Heels Affect Posture & The SpineHigh heels can significantly affect your natural posture and your spine. The arch in the lower back becomes more arched when wearing heels and the bottom can often be stuck out more than normal. This can leave the spine subject to injury or damage. The muscles that support the lower back can become strained and cause aching or pain to arise.

It has also been found that wearing high heels can put the spine out of its natural alignment and also the spinal nerves can become pinched and pain, tingling and numbness can occur. Many women who present to their doctor with back complaints may be surprised to learn that a lot of the problems can often be attributed to the constant wearing of high heeled shoes.
The Affect of Heels on FeetPutting your foot into a high heeled shoe can have serious consequences on the overall health of your feet. The entire weight of the body will be directed onto the ball of your foot, this can be especially dangerous for those who are over weight causing the ball of the foot to experience additional pressure.


The feet are at risk of developing pain and nerve problems in this area and the toes are at risk of becoming deformed by conditions such as bunions of hammer toes. The long term risks include a permanent shortening of the Achilles tendon that runs up the back of the lower leg as constant wearing of high heels encourages the tendon to assume this shortened position permanently.
The toenails are also at risk from wearing high heels as the incidence of in-growing toenails and nail infections is higher in heel wearers that those who don’t wear them that often. In-growing toenails can be very painful, unsightly and required surgery to correct which can be detrimental to work and home life.

Risk of Accident/InjuryWalking in high heels is not something that every woman can do confidently. In fact many cannot walk properly or even safely in them at all. The dangers of falling on to the side of your foot and twisting your ankle are fairly high but so to is the serious possibility of an ankle fracture.
If you have sprained your ankle, the muscles and tendons will have been stretched beyond their normal limits and will become inflamed. These injuries can be extremely painful and can take several weeks to heal.

If the ankle has been fractured it is common to need corrective surgery in order to fix the bones; this often uses a series of metal pins, plates and screws. This can be very painful, often requires a hospital stay and will prevent you from working for several weeks unless adequate provisions in your workplace can be made.

Other EffectsThere is some evidence to suggest that habitual wearing of high heels can have some impact on your mental health. It is thought that the wearing of very high heels can in fact constrict blood vessels and nerve supply connected to the brain and impair function in some way.

Laptops

Laptop health
Laptops may help us be more mobile but they're being blamed for a rise in back, neck and shoulder problems.

After a survey done in 2006/7, it has reveiled that heavy use or prolonged use of laptops, is one of the main causes of upper back and limb problems.

Bad posture is inevitable because of the way laptops are designed, says Levent Caglar, senior consultant ergonomist at the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA).
“The main problem is the keyboard being attached to the screen,” he says.
“You need the screen at arm's length but you need the keyboard near you, so you push the laptop further back, then your hands stretch out, then you hunch your shoulders.
"That creates bad posture. If I were designing a laptop, I’d do it with a detachable screen.
“The average human head weighs quite a lot. If it’s in the ideal position, balanced above the shoulders, it’s fine.

“But when you use a laptop, your ears are further forward than your shoulders. That’s like taking a weight and holding it out at arm's length.
“The load through your spine is much greater and, even worse, it’s a static load. You’re not moving. This causes neck, upper back and arm problems."
Tim says laptops are fine when used properly. "There are plenty of ways you can make your laptop safer and more comfortable,” he says.

Tim says laptops are fine when used properly. "There are plenty of ways you can make your laptop safer and more comfortable,” he says.

Tim Hutchful’s tips on laptop use

Use a separate keyboard and mouse so the laptop can be put on a stand and the screen opened at eye level. Alternatively use a docking station.
Use your laptop on a stable base where there is support for your arms, and not on your lap. Take regular breaks. If you’re moving, there’s a lot less stress on your muscles and joints. Adopt good sitting posture with lower back support and ensure other desk equipment is within reach. Get into good habits before the aching starts. Neck, shoulder and back problems build up over time.

Bare Foot in The Park

Britain has it’s very own bare foot park, the first of its kind in this country. It's a playground for feet, an unorthodox nature trail covered with a variety of surfaces; and, it's meant to boost our health and vitality. The trail, one kilometre long, is in a partly wooded area in the Italian gardens of the Trentham Estate, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

The textures on the trail, fall into two broad categories: those that feel good, and those that are high on the “yuck” and “ouch” factor. Into the former fall logs that massage the arches, a sloshy trough of water, timber slices laid out like Smarties, soft sand, hay, and a warm burbling stream

. Officially the trail is called a Barfuss Park. “Barfuss” is German for “barefoot”, and the parks are popular in Germany and Austria. Sebastian Kneipp, a Bavarian monk, developed the concept in the 19th century. He is the founder of a natural health system called Kneippen (pronounced knipen), a kind of waterborne reflexology. Kneipp believed that wading barefoot on wet grass or in shallow water stimulated the internal organs, strengthened the immune system and helped the body to heal itself.

For more details about the park and its benefits visit www.trenthamleisure.co.uk

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

What is restless legs syndrome (RLS)?This is a condition characterised by unpleasant burning, prickling, tickling or aching sensations in the muscles of the legs. It is sometimes referred to as 'Ekbom's syndrome' after the doctor who first recognised it.

Conservative estimates suggest it affects up to 5 per cent of the population but some authorities believe the true number of people affected may be two or three times as many.The classic symptoms include 'fidgety', 'crawling' or 'jittery' feelings in the lower limbs usually occurring in bed at night, but occasionally developing after periods of prolonged sitting when the person affected is physically and mentally tired.The sensations are experienced mostly in the calves and although usually present in both legs, one side can be affected more severely than the other. Some times the symptoms can be so bad, that wanting to cut your legs off seems like the only form of relief NOT RECOMMENDED, but that is how this condition can make you feel.

Walking In some cases can ease RLS and the sufferer may spend much of the night pacing up and down to achieve any lasting improvement. Spasmodic jerking movement of the legs during sleep is a very common symptom of RLS and can also result in partners having a disturbed sleep too.

RLS tends to run in families and is most common in:
middle-aged women
the elderly
pregnancy
people who drink large quantities of caffeine-containing drinks
people who smoke heavily.

The underlying cause is unknown. No detectable abnormality of the nervous system, circulation or muscles has reliably been demonstrated. However, RLS has been associated with certain other conditions, such as Fibromyalgia which if treated, brings about an improvement in the symptoms of RLS. Deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid, for example, when corrected can ease the symptoms. Nerve damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure or diabetes may also play a part.
Certain medications including lithium, anticonvulsants, antidepressants and beta-blockers have also been incriminated as potential triggers.

The diagnosis of RLS is reached through a combination of the characteristic symptoms and through investigations and examinations that rule out other possibilities. Sometimes the patient may be referred to a neurologist and if sleep disturbance is severe, special sleep studies can be arranged in a hospital setting.

Treatment involves general advice that encourages sound sleep and a regular sleep routine is always valuable. Correction of any iron or vitamin deficiency certainly helps as up to one third of elderly patients with RLS can benefit in this way. If medication for other conditions is potentially responsible, then stopping the treatment or changing over to an alternative is appropriate.Some medicines, such as levodopa (Madopar, Sinemet), bromocriptine (eg Parlodel), oxycodone (OxyContin, OxyNorm) and clonazepam (Rivotril), may help to control RLS.

However, as individual patients often respond better to one treatment than another, your doctor will be able to decide the most appropriate treatment for you.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia

What are the symptoms?

Widespread muscle pain and fatigue plague those with fibromyalgia. People affected describe the pain as throbbing, aching, stabbing or shooting in nature. They will often say they 'ache all over'. It's often associated with stiffness, which, like the pain, may be worse first thing in the morning.
Those with the condition may become hypersensitive to pain, finding that even the slightest touch is painful, and that pain lasts longer than would be expected.
Triggers can aggravate the pain and there are many. Common ones include stress, fatigue, changes in the weather and even physical activity.

The tender points that are characteristic of fibromyalgia affect specific parts of the body - the elbows, around the neck, the front of the knees and the hip joints, for example. These are painful in response to the slightest pressure.
In addition to these characteristic symptoms, some people also experience other symptoms including such as difficulty sleeping, headaches, numbness, tingling and depression.
Another problem that those with fibromyalgia may experience is ‘fibro-fog’ which can cause difficulty making decisions, understanding things, and problems with memory and concentration.
Fibromyalgia differs from arthritis because it doesn't cause inflammation or result in damage to the joints or muscles. Most people with fibromyalgia find their symptoms tend to come and go over time, although for some the symptoms are constant.

What causes it?

There's no known precise reason for why fibromyalgia occurs, but a number of theories exist. The most popular is that it may result from a problem with the transmission of pain messages to and from the brain such that the brain becomes more sensitive to pain. Most researchers believe those who develop fibromyalgia react to pain differently from those without the condition. This may be because of genetic predisposition to fibromyalgia, or it may be a result of environment.
There is evidence that those with fibromyalgia have lower levels of the chemicals serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine so this may be responsible. Some scientists believe that disturbed sleep may result in the development of fibromyalgia.
Many people relate the onset of their problem to a significant life event, such as a bereavement or illness. Some experts have suggested that a virus, as yet unidentified, may be the trigger in susceptible individuals.

Who's affected?

Around one in 50 people develops fibromyalgia at some point in their lives, most often during middle age. The majority of those affected are women, although men and children can be affected.
Those with other chronic medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, are more likely to develop fibromyalgia.

How is it diagnosed?

Making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia isn't easy, because tiredness, fatigue, poor sleep and muscle pain are symptoms common to many conditions. These need to be ruled out before a positive diagnosis can be made.
But there are criteria that need to be fulfilled if a diagnosis of fibromyalgia is to be confirmed. Widespread pain, meaning that it must be felt above and below the waist and on the right and left side of the body, should have been present for more than three months, and tenderness or pain should be felt in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points when pressure is applied.

What's the treatment?

Although there's no cure and no specific treatment for fibromyalgia, there are plenty of things that can help. It's important to remember that it doesn't damage the muscles or other parts of the body and in time many people improve.
A number of different drugs may be recommended including painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication, and antidepressants to treat pain and any associated emotional and cognitive problems.
Physiotherapy can help and physiotherapists can provide a programme of gentle exercise and stretching to help maintain muscle tone, reduce pain and stiffness, lift mood, and boost energy levels. Low-impact aerobic exercises are felt to be best.
Emotional support is important, as the long-term nature of this condition tends to drag people down. Depression is common in sufferers and counselling and anti-depressant therapies can be used to overcome this.

It's important to think positively and make necessary lifestyle changes. These may include changes in the way things are done at home or at work. Occupational therapists can provide advice about what changes may be needed and how they can be made.
Some people find they benefit from complementary therapies such as relaxation therapy, massage, acupuncture and osteopathic manipulation. Stress management is essential to lessen the chances of symptoms being exacerbated. It's also important to get enough sleep and to eat a healthy diet.

Fibroids

Fibroids

An extremely common condition in women, fibroids are benign growths in the uterus. While generally referred to as uterine fibroids, there are actually three different types of uterine fibroid: intramural fibroids; suberosal fibroids, and submucosal fibroids. The different names refer to the various locations these fibroids may be found within the uterus. However, fibroid tumors are not only fund in the uterus. It is also possible to have ovarian fibroids and breast fibroids.

Uterine fibroids can lead to a number of symptoms, including pressure in the abdomen and heavy menstrual periods. In some cases, fibroids can even contribute to infertility issues. Although it is entirely possible to achieve pregnancy, about a quarter of women with fibroids will experience difficulties getting pregnant.
Diagnosing fibroids is not extremely difficult. Some can be felt during a routine pelvic exam while others may require the use of ultrasound, laparoscopy or even a hysteroscopy to determine the fibroids exact location.

Treatment is available for the fibroids, although it may be recommended to just do nothing if the fibroids are not causing any problems. If your fibroids are interfering with your life in some way, medications can be prescribed to combat fibroid symptoms while surgery can be performed to remove the fibroids. However, the only way to permanently eradicate uterine fibroids is through a hysterectomy.

Blueberries

Scientists have discovered many health benefits from eating blueberries. They are one of the richest sources of antioxidants of the fruits and vegetables that have been studied. Antioxidants are responsible in part for keeping us healthily and young.

They help fight cell damaging "free radicals". Free radicals are unstable substances that our bodies produce as we get older. They damage human cells and our DNA. US scientists have shown that the antioxidants contained in Blueberries help to slow th ageing process and reduce the risk of cancer.

The antioxidants are contained in "Anthocyanins" (Greek word meaning "plant" and "blue") these are the reason why Blueberries are Blue ! They are responsible for the Blue colour of the fruit. Strawberries and Spinach also contain high levels of antioxidants.
Chemical studies in the US by the Agricultural Research Service have very recently revealed that Blueberries (as well as strawberries and raspberries) contain chemicals that decreased the growth of cervical and breast cancer cells by a considerable percentage.

Blueberries have also found to contain resveratrol, another potential anti-cancer agent.
Blueberries have also shown to not only halt the ageing process but actually reverse it ! Experiments have also indicated that eating Blueberries improves short term memory loss and improves balance and co-ordination.

Avoiding pre-eclampsia

Increasing the amount of fibre in your diet may reduce the risk of the pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia, scientists have found.

Pre-eclampsia affects both mother and baby and is characterised by high blood pressure, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision.Around one in ten pregnancies are affected to some extent by pre-eclampsia, but a new study by researchers at the Swedish Medical Centre in Seattle suggests that this risk may be reduced by eating more fibre-rich foods.According to a study of 15,38 women's diets, eating as little as two slices of bread a day during the first three months of pregnancy can greatly reduce the risk.

The study is published in the American Journal of Hypertension and researcher Dr Chunfang Qiu told the Daily Mail that the findings 'suggest the important benefits of increased fibre consumption before and during early pregnancy'.Pregnant women should seek out wholegrain foods, including bread, pitta, pasta, brown rice and breakfast cereals, as these contain more fibre than white or refined starchy foods.

HRT(hormone replacement therapy)

So you've gone through the menopause or just coming out of it and survived ...just !!, now a lot is said against HRT but apparently studies have been done that have involved women fron the UK and New Zealand and it has been found that these women have been given a better quality of life. It has been the largest study yet into HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

HRT is designed to increase levels of the hormone oestrogen, which naturally falls as women go through the menopause.Research published in the British Medical Journal found that women who took HRT experienced fewer hot flushes, night sweats, sleepless nights and joint pains.

A quote from Professor Alastair MacLennan, leader of the Australian arm of the 'WISDOM' study and head of obstetrics & gynaecology at the University of Adelaide, said that overall quality of life measures improved.

'Even when women did not have hot flushes and were well past menopause, there was a small but measurable improvement in quality of life and a noted improvement in sleep, sexuality and joint pains,' he revealed.'For most women with significant menopause symptoms the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks,' the professor concluded.

Periods and PMT

Many premenopausal women suffer from symptoms of PMS at different points in their menstrual cycle. Symptoms include cramping, bloating, mood changes, and breast tenderness tied to the menstrual cycle. Sound familiar, yes most of us women will suffer this, with some of us it will be fairly mild and others it can be quite severe. Below are a few herbal or alternative therapies that may help relieve some of the symptoms, but please note, seek medical advice at all times before trying any remedies out, especially if you are already on medication.

Angus Castus: helps to relieve, bloating and fluid retention, mood swings, food cravings and any skins problems contected with PMT.

Black Cohosh: helps with mentrual pain and period problems it also helps to regulate and balance hormone levels in the body.

Gingko Biloba: helps with circulation, period pain and cramps. Breast pain and can also help concentration.

Feverfew: helps with pre-menstrual and menstrual migraines.

Vitamins: Calcium, menstrual cramps, high blood pressure, Pms and insomnia, vitamins B & e can help to relieve hot sweats and flushes conected with pmt and can also help to calm the nervous system.