Dr Chris Steele MBE announced today, 18th January 2010, on ITV’s This Morning where he is the show’s resident doctor, that he has been diagnosed coeliac disease.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by intolerance to gluten. Damage is caused to the gut lining when gluten is eaten. There is no cure or medication for the condition and the only treatment is life-long adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. Without a gluten-free diet, the disease can lead to other conditions, such as malnutrition, osteoporosis, infertility, multiple miscarriages and can cause bowel cancer.
Ironically, Dr Chris has been an ambassador of Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with coeliac disease for the past three years. However, over the past few months he has been suffering with abdominal symptoms and his own GP referred him to a gastroenterologist.
Following blood tests and then a biopsy the results came back to confirm he does have coeliac disease – at the age of 64.
“I was very honoured to be asked a few years back to be Ambassador of Coeliac UK as I wanted to give as much support as I could to help raise the awareness of the condition in the media and to the general public,” Dr Chris explained.
“However, I never dreamt that I myself would then be diagnosed! I think I have been having symptoms of diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fatigue on and off for many years but it wasn’t until they got so bad recently that I did anything about it and I will be encouraging everyone with similar symptoms to see their GP and be tested rather than suffering in silence,” he said.
At least 1 in 100 people in the UK has coeliac disease. However only 12.5% of those have currently been diagnosed and Coeliac UK estimates that there are over half a million people undiagnosed in the UK.
The symptoms of coeliac disease range from being mild to severe and can vary between individuals. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, wind, tiredness, anaemia, headaches, mouth ulcers, weight loss – but not in all cases, skin problems, depression, joint or bone pain and nerve problems.
For more information about coeliac disease go to www.coeliac.org.uk or call the Coeliac UK Helpline on 0845 305 2060.
Patient information and support websites for people living with eczema, asthma, allergies, psoriasis, acne and menopausal symptoms.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Is Stress Making You Fat?
A study reported in the Mail Online suggests that stress can actually make you fat!
Various studies have concluded that stress is linked to a range of health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease, and only last week new research linked it to cancer.
Experts now believe that it might also be at the root of many other health problems, such as chronic pain, weight gain, allergies, diabetes and conditions affecting the immune system, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1244282/Is-stress-making-fat-Based-individual-personality-reveal-protect-strain.html
Various studies have concluded that stress is linked to a range of health conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease, and only last week new research linked it to cancer.
Experts now believe that it might also be at the root of many other health problems, such as chronic pain, weight gain, allergies, diabetes and conditions affecting the immune system, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1244282/Is-stress-making-fat-Based-individual-personality-reveal-protect-strain.html
Monday, 18 January 2010
Balm Balm Competition on TalkEczema
We have a fantastic new competition to kick off the New Year. Balm Balm have very kindly provided us with a fab prize where one lucky person will win a selection of Balm Balm fragrance-free skin care products and a superb Union Jack bag.
To enter the competition, just visit http://www.talkeczema.com/ where you'll find all the information you need on the home page.
To enter the competition, just visit http://www.talkeczema.com/ where you'll find all the information you need on the home page.
Free TalkEczema Welcome Pack full of Samples and Information Leaflets
We are pleased to announe that during January and February we will be sending out free Welcome Packs containing product samples and information leaflets suitable for people living with eczema.
In order to receive your free Welcome Pack, simply visit http://www.talkeczema.com/ and register to become a TalkEczema Member. Your pack will then be sent out to you within the next 28 days.
In order to receive your free Welcome Pack, simply visit http://www.talkeczema.com/ and register to become a TalkEczema Member. Your pack will then be sent out to you within the next 28 days.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
It Seems Healthy Lunches are a Rarity!
According to a recent study reported in the BBC News Health web site, only 1% of primary school children's packed lunches meet the nutritional standards set for school meals in England.
For more about this study follow this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8451828.stm
For more about this study follow this link http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8451828.stm
Scientists Crack Peanut Code in Children
Clinicians and scientists at UHSM (University Hospital South Manchester), the University of Manchester, and Phadia AB in Uppsala, Sweden have developed a new and significantly more accurate blood test for peanut allergy, which predicts whether an allergic reaction to peanuts will develop with more than 95 per cent certainty.
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, with recent reports suggesting that it is on the increase. It can be severe - and in extreme cases fatal. Unlike other food allergies, which appear early in life and are usually outgrown by school age (e.g. cow's milk or egg), peanut allergy tends to be lifelong.
Professor Adnan Custovic led the research team which examined the prevalence of peanut allergy in almost 1,000 eight year olds who belong to the Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study. This group of children were recruited before they were born and have been followed up at regular intervals since birth. In this study, children with suspected peanut allergy were challenged with peanuts in a safe, controlled environment. Research has shown a huge false positive rate for current standard blood or skin tests for sensitivity to peanuts. Although approximately 1 in 10 children had positive skin or blood test results to peanut, on the basis of the oral peanut challenge, only 1 in 50 had peanut allergy.
The findings, just published, confirm that the majority of children with positive skin or blood tests to peanut do not have clinical peanut allergy, and describe a new blood test which accurately identifies those children at real risk.
Professor Adnan Custovic, said: "Avoiding peanuts is the best way of managing allergic / anaphylactic reactions to peanuts. Complete avoidance is difficult to achieve due to the widespread use of peanuts in prepared foods, and accidental exposures are common and may be life-threatening. The fear of possible reaction markedly reduces the quality of life amongst peanut-allergic patients and their families. However, avoiding peanuts only makes sense if a child is really allergic.
Parents are often anxious to find out whether their child diagnosed with another food allergy will react to peanut, or whether siblings of their peanut allergic child have peanut allergy. The lack of specificity of current tests when used in isolation indicates many patients will inappropriately be given the diagnosis. The new diagnostic test which accurately discriminates peanut allergy from tolerance will mean we can target avoidance to those patients really at risk, and remove the considerable stress that comes from the many false positive sensitivity tests.
"Patients must be able to receive expert help to determine real allergy to peanuts. New diagnostic tests combined with expert advise on treatment will be a major step forward in management of patients with peanut allergy".
Professor Ashley Woodcock, Head of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Translational Research Facility in Respiratory Medicine at UHSM commented: "This is just one example of the sort of translational research for patient benefit that NIHR funding is now driving".
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology January 2010 edition.
For more information about allergies of all types visit http://www.talkallergy.com/
Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children, with recent reports suggesting that it is on the increase. It can be severe - and in extreme cases fatal. Unlike other food allergies, which appear early in life and are usually outgrown by school age (e.g. cow's milk or egg), peanut allergy tends to be lifelong.
Professor Adnan Custovic led the research team which examined the prevalence of peanut allergy in almost 1,000 eight year olds who belong to the Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study. This group of children were recruited before they were born and have been followed up at regular intervals since birth. In this study, children with suspected peanut allergy were challenged with peanuts in a safe, controlled environment. Research has shown a huge false positive rate for current standard blood or skin tests for sensitivity to peanuts. Although approximately 1 in 10 children had positive skin or blood test results to peanut, on the basis of the oral peanut challenge, only 1 in 50 had peanut allergy.
The findings, just published, confirm that the majority of children with positive skin or blood tests to peanut do not have clinical peanut allergy, and describe a new blood test which accurately identifies those children at real risk.
Professor Adnan Custovic, said: "Avoiding peanuts is the best way of managing allergic / anaphylactic reactions to peanuts. Complete avoidance is difficult to achieve due to the widespread use of peanuts in prepared foods, and accidental exposures are common and may be life-threatening. The fear of possible reaction markedly reduces the quality of life amongst peanut-allergic patients and their families. However, avoiding peanuts only makes sense if a child is really allergic.
Parents are often anxious to find out whether their child diagnosed with another food allergy will react to peanut, or whether siblings of their peanut allergic child have peanut allergy. The lack of specificity of current tests when used in isolation indicates many patients will inappropriately be given the diagnosis. The new diagnostic test which accurately discriminates peanut allergy from tolerance will mean we can target avoidance to those patients really at risk, and remove the considerable stress that comes from the many false positive sensitivity tests.
"Patients must be able to receive expert help to determine real allergy to peanuts. New diagnostic tests combined with expert advise on treatment will be a major step forward in management of patients with peanut allergy".
Professor Ashley Woodcock, Head of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Translational Research Facility in Respiratory Medicine at UHSM commented: "This is just one example of the sort of translational research for patient benefit that NIHR funding is now driving".
Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology January 2010 edition.
For more information about allergies of all types visit http://www.talkallergy.com/
Friday, 8 January 2010
MPs Call for a Clamp Down on Alcohol Consumption
According to BBC Health, a report by MPs has called for an overhaul of government policy to curb excessive drinking. The report says that a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol could save over 3,000 lives a year.
Alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills approx 40,000 people and costs the UK around £55bn every year.
Read more via this link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8446799.stm
Alcohol abuse in England and Wales kills approx 40,000 people and costs the UK around £55bn every year.
Read more via this link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8446799.stm
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Pears Traditional Soap Abandons New Formula after Facebook Campaign
Pears Traditional Soap has been forced to abandon its new formula as a result of a Facebook campaign by users over the chemicals added to the formula.
Pears Soap is the world's oldest brand, having been established for over 200 years, yet it recently changed its formula and in the process trebled the number of ingredients!
A Facebook group campaigning for the return of the old soap was set up after customers realised that stocks were running out in chemists and shops across the UK and they could only buy the new soap. The group, called itself 'Bring Back The Original Pears Soap', and says that the new soap - made in a factory in India - is 'radically different' to the old one.
Changes in forumlations of soaps and other toiletry products can have an adverse effect on people with dry skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. It's testiment to the Facebook group that they have managed to have such an impact on the formulation for Pears. For more more information about this story follow this link - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/6940289/Pears-Traditional-Soap-abandons-new-recipe-after-Facebook-campaign.html
Pears Soap is the world's oldest brand, having been established for over 200 years, yet it recently changed its formula and in the process trebled the number of ingredients!
A Facebook group campaigning for the return of the old soap was set up after customers realised that stocks were running out in chemists and shops across the UK and they could only buy the new soap. The group, called itself 'Bring Back The Original Pears Soap', and says that the new soap - made in a factory in India - is 'radically different' to the old one.
Changes in forumlations of soaps and other toiletry products can have an adverse effect on people with dry skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. It's testiment to the Facebook group that they have managed to have such an impact on the formulation for Pears. For more more information about this story follow this link - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/facebook/6940289/Pears-Traditional-Soap-abandons-new-recipe-after-Facebook-campaign.html
Monday, 4 January 2010
9 out of 10 People Ignorant of Waist-Fat Risk
According to BBC Health a staggering 9 out of 10 people are not aware of the risks of carrying extra fat around their waistline.
A survey of 12,000 Europeans found that most had absolutely no idea that a thick waist was a sign of a build-up of a dangerous type of fat around the internal organs.
For more about this story follow this link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8436409.stm
A survey of 12,000 Europeans found that most had absolutely no idea that a thick waist was a sign of a build-up of a dangerous type of fat around the internal organs.
For more about this story follow this link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8436409.stm
Exercise Can Fight Ageing
According to a new article on the BBC Health Web Site, long-term physical activity has an anti-ageing effect, a German study suggests.
Read more about the story here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8385700.stm
Read more about the story here - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8385700.stm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)