The Online Clinic is able to offer IgG antibody testing by post for Covid-19. This test tells you if you have had the virus. The test requires a small blood sample to be taken using one of our specially designed kits for patients to use at home. The sample is returned in a reply-paid envelope to our contracted laboratory and analysed for the IgG antibodies associated with Covid-19 (coronavirus).

The test has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99.5%.

Results take 24 hours from the time the sample is received at the lab. You receive a copy of your lab report along with an interpretation from a doctor.

The IgG antibodies for the Covid-19 virus are evident in blood samples from 14 days after symptoms first appear or after being exposed to the virus. You can buy a test kit here.

Tips for Heartburn Sufferers

Many people suffer from the symptoms of heartburn, such as the taste of something bitter in the mouth, a sore throat, a chronic cough and fatigue, and are in desperate need of relief. Heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (also referred to simply as GERD), which is more serious, are a problem for millions. Four out of five sufferers will experience such symptoms at night, according to research, with the result being disturbed sleep and an impaired ability to function normally the following day. (1) The good news is that there are ways for heartburn sufferers to find relief from these symptoms, with the use of exercise and some simple diet and lifestyle tips.

Food 

There are a number of ways in which heartburn can be prevented by making changes to the food and drink you consume. Limiting the consumption of acidic foods like grapefruit, tomatoes, vinegar and oranges is a good idea, and spicy food such as chillies or pepper should also be avoided, if you have noticed a correlation between their consumption and bouts of heartburn. (2) You should try to avoid lying down for up to three hours after having eaten, as sitting up enables gravity to help food, as well as stomach acid, to drain naturally out of your stomach. Switch to non-fatty food and lean meat, as heartburn can be triggered by greasy foods such as cheeseburgers and chips. 

Those who suffer from GERD can help to avoid triggering symptoms of the condition by reducing the amount of chocolate, citrus, pepper, ketchup, mustard, mint, tomatoes and vinegar that they consume, as well by eating smaller meals in general. Eating too quickly can also cause heartburn, so pause between bites, and do not eat anything less than three hours before bedtime as this can trigger symptoms.

Drink

Beverages that should be avoided include alcohol, carbonated drinks and caffeine as they can trigger reflux. Many people love cola drinks, but they are also often connected to GERD symptoms and to reflux, so it might be time to start cutting back. GERD can also be worsened by alcohol as it relaxes the oesophageal sphincter, so you may want to consider going teetotal. (3)

Lifestyle

There are also a number of simple changes you can make to your overall lifestyle that could help to relieve the symptoms of heartburn. One good tip is to avoid wearing tight clothes as the likes of tight belts and waistbands can press on the stomach and trigger heartburn. Stress can cause an increase in stomach acids, resulting in the boosting of heartburn symptoms, so it is advisable to take a look at your lifestyle to identify causes of stress, and do your best to remove or minimise them. If you are overweight, then heartburn could be another reason to go on a diet and try to shed some pounds, as excess weight makes it much more likely that stomach acid will be backed up into the oesophagus. 

If you find yourself using antacids several times in any given week then you may be suffering from GERD rather than heartburn, in which case you may require a more aggressive form of treatment. The oesophageal sphincter can be relaxed by nicotine, adding yet another to the list of health reasons why you should stop smoking. (4)

Advice

Symptoms are not always triggered by the same foods in everyone, so it is vital to keep track of when you suffer symptoms, in order to identify the foods that are triggers for you. You may even want to keep a diary or log of your heartburn incidents, so that identifying the cause is easier. Some people find they experience heartburn following exercise. If this is the case for you, then you may well need to drink more water, which assists with digestion as well as hydration. You should also wait up to two hours after eating before you exercise. (5) 

One method of avoiding heartburn is to chew gum, which can result in an increase in the amount of saliva your body produces, which in turn acts an effective neutraliser for stomach acids. Reflux can be worsened by certain medications, so it is a good idea to consult your doctor regarding alternatives and have a general discussion as to how to manage reflux.

SOURCES:

(1) http://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(15)34708-5/fulltext

(2) https://www.healthline.com/health/gerd/diet-nutrition

(3) https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/features/top-10-heartburn-foods

(4) https://www.georgiarefluxsurgery.com/lifestyle/nicotine-and-heartburn

(5) http://www.gaviscon.co.uk/news-information/gaviscon-news/exercise-and-heartburn/

Pain, like many other human experiences, is largely subjective. Depending upon a certain person’s medical history and life story, they may experience a painful incident, such as stubbing their toe or having a migraine, in an entirely different manner to a friend or family member. Because of this, pain can often be difficult to treat.

The good news is that our understanding of how pain works is improving every day. In the past few years, more attention has been drawn to painful conditions that specifically affect women, such as endometriosis; in this article from The New Republic, the writer argues that "Too often, a woman’s pain is not merely met with doubt, but suspicion", and explains the various ways in which women are now fighting back against this prejudice.

In addition to shifts in how we think about pain, we’re also seeing improvements in the field of pain management. Just recently, researchers designed a new compound which successfully treated neuropathic pain in animals.

For pain sufferers, in other words, things look set to improve over the next few years. In the meantime, one of the best ways to stay on top of pain symptoms is to be well informed. If you’d like to know more about pain management, read on for a guide to the various types of pain, and how they can be treated.

Acute Pain vs Chronic Pain 

The most common pain categories are acute and chronic. Acute pain is pain that comes on suddenly and is limited in its duration; chronic pain, by contrast, is more permanent in nature. Acute pain is more likely to be caused by damage to the body, while chronic pain is more likely to be caused by a long-term condition – although it can also arise as a result of injury.

Chronic pain can be resistant to medical treatment, and pain medication is not always sufficient. It’s believed that episodes of "breakthrough pain" are experienced by 70% of people who suffer from chronic pain (1). This is where the sufferer has a flare-up of pain, despite being on regular medication. Because chronic pain can be resistant to medical treatment in this way, it can lead to depression and anxiety, which can in turn worsen the symptoms.

Nociceptive Pain vs Neuropathic Pain

After the categories of acute and chronic, pain is most often categorised by whether it is nociceptive, relating to tissue damage, or neuropathic, relating to nerve damage (2).

Pain from tissue damage is more common than pain from nerve damage. You may experience nociceptive pain from injury to your bones, soft tissue or organs, or as a result of a disease. Pain from tissue damage can be acute or chronic, and is often sharp, throbbing or dull.

Neuropathic pain occurs when the nerves are damaged. People who suffer from neuropathic pain often experience a burning sensation and sensitivity in the affected areas. Other symptoms include pins and needles, difficulty sensing different temperatures, and numbness (3).

With both nociceptive and neuropathic pain, mental and emotional problems such as depression can worsen the pain symptoms. This is sometimes referred to as psychogenic pain.

Conditions that Cause Pain

There are a variety of conditions that can cause chronic pain or repeating episodes of acute pain. These include:

• Cluster headaches, sudden attacks of pain on one side of the head (usually around the eye)
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, which is usually triggered by an injury and causes severe, ongoing pain in the affected area
• Slipped disc, where the tissue between two vertebrae pushes out and causes back pain
• Arthritis, where the joints become inflamed and painful
• Sickle cell disease, which can cause a sudden episode of pain known as a "pain crisis"
• Endometriosis, a condition that affects women and causes chronic pain which is particularly acute when menstruating

These are just a few of the conditions that can cause ongoing pain symptoms. If you are suffering from pain and you aren’t sure of the cause, you should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.

Treating Pain

As we’ve discussed, pain isn’t always easy to treat. However, there are a huge number of different options available to try. To receive a free online assessment regarding your pain, visit our Pain Management Clinic. We can give advice on treatment options and prescribe a range of safe painkillers.

Sources:

(1) https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pain-types-and-classifications#1-2

(2) https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/pain-types-and-classifications#2-3

(3) https://www.brainandspine.org.uk/neuropathic-pain

Antibiotics: Mixed Messages for Patients

Scientific discoveries are happening all the time, and sometimes a new piece of research will come along to dispel everything we thought we knew.

The most recent debate to crop up regards antibiotic resistance. All approved guidance currently relating to antibiotic use tells us that finishing a course of antibiotics is vital, even if we begin to feel better within a couple of days. Now, experts have begun to argue something very different.

A team of UK researchers published a short opinion piece in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) in July, claiming that there is not enough evidence to suggest that cutting short a course of antibiotics contributes to antibiotic resistance.

One of the researchers, Professor Martin Llewelyn, suggested that long courses were "outdated" and that there is now plenty of evidence that short courses of three to five days work just as well. In his opinion, antibiotics should be prescribed on a case by case basis, tailored towards each patient and their specific infection, and not simply administered in the same way every single time.

While these researchers are not putting forward the idea that patients be allowed to judge themselves when they stop a course, there is concern amongst the medical community that this sort of guidance could end up causing confusion.

Not enough research has been done into the "stop when you feel better" model of antibiotic use, and for that reason Public Health England has recommended that patients continue to follow the advice of their prescribing doctor.

Correct Antibiotic Use

As well as taking the full course of antibiotics that you have been prescribed (whether or not you begin to feel better before the end of the course), there are a few things you can bear in mind if you wish to avoid contributing to antibiotic resistance.

The first thing to know is that antibiotics are only an appropriate treatment in the case of a bacterial infection. They have no effect upon viral infections. The common cold and flu are two types of viral infection, which cannot be treated with antibiotics. 

If you become unwell with a cold, you may be tempted to visit your doctor and ask for antibiotics, but it is always best to wait the infection out, resting at home and taking over-the-counter cold treatments. You should typically only visit your GP if your cold has not cleared after three weeks, or if the symptoms are getting noticeably worse.

The flu tends to be more serious, and you should visit your doctor if you fall into a certain at-risk group such as being over 65 or pregnant. Bear in mind, however, that antibiotics are not an appropriate treatment for the flu, and that the best way to avoid it if you are in an at-risk group is to get the annual flu jab.

Avoiding Infection

If you want to avoid taking antibiotics, one of the best things you can do is to protect yourself against bacterial infections. You can prevent germs from spreading by following the kinds of hygiene tips set out by the NHS here.

Another way to avoid infection is to always practise safe sex. Many STIs are bacterial, which means they should be treated with antibiotics. The problem is that STIs such as gonorrhoea have begun to develop antibiotic-resistant strains, which can be very difficult to treat.

To avoid STIs, you should always:

• Use condoms during penetrative sex when you aren’t sure your partner is free from infection
• Use dental dams and condoms during oral sex
• Avoid sharing sex toys unless they have been cleaned or covered in a new condom

You can read more about the risks associated with specific sexual activities here.

Remember that it’s important to get tested regularly if you’re engaging in any risky sexual behaviours. Getting diagnosed early makes treatment easier and reduces the risk of complications; it will also stop you from passing the infection on to others.

In 2017, vegetarianism and veganism are more popular than they have ever been. And yet, for those of us who still eat meat, there’s not much that a vegan campaigner could say to deter us from sinking our teeth into a juicy burger or our Sunday roast beef – until, that is, they start talking about the health risks.

We all know that eating too much red meat is not good for us, largely because it increases our risk of bowel cancer. Now, though, it seems that red meat could be worth avoiding for another health reason altogether: diverticulitis.

Diverticulitis is a condition affecting the colon, also known as the large intestine. It begins with diverticular disease, in which small bulges and pockets develop in the lining of the colon. Diverticulitis refers to a later stage of the condition, in which these pockets become inflamed or infected.

Diverticulitis Symptoms

The symptoms of diverticulitis include pain in the abdomen, particularly after eating; bloating; and a change in your bowel habits. It can also cause flu-like symptoms, such as a fever, feeling unwell, nausea, and vomiting. Diverticulitis can also lead to some unpleasant complications such as bleeding, urinary problems and the development of an abscess or fistula. In rarer cases, diverticulitis can lead to life-threatening conditions such as intestinal obstruction and peritonitis, both of which can require surgery.

According to research carried out recently, the unpleasant condition described above carries a clear association with the consumption of red meat. To get specific, data collected on 46,461 men between 1986 and 2012 indicated that those in the highest one-fifth for red meat consumption had a 58% increased risk for diverticulitis. Researchers suspect that red meat causes inflammation in the colon, which leads to the development of diverticulitis.

This is concerning because, while it’s common to be aware of the bowel cancer risk associated with eating red meat, many people will never have heard of diverticulitis. As a result they may they putting themselves at risk of developing the condition by eating too much red meat – this is a particular concern for people who fall into the following high-risk categories:

• People who smoke
• Being obese or overweight
• Frequent use of anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen
• Having a history of constipation
• Having a family member with diverticular disease

It’s also thought that diverticular disease and diverticulitis are associated with not eating enough fibre.

The good news is that there are some steps you can take to help protect yourself from developing diverticulitis – and they don’t just revolve around cutting out red meat.

Preventing Diverticulitis

The first piece of advice that many doctors will give to someone with diverticular disease is to increase fibre intake. You can increase your fibre intake by consuming more fruits and vegetables, and eating starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, and brown pasta and rice. Pulses and beans are a particularly good source of fibre, as are nuts.

Other preventative measures include quitting smoking, losing weight and exercising more. Going by the study mentioned above, it’s also a good idea to limit your consumption of red meat – the NHS recommends that you should eat no more than 70g of red meat and processed meat a day. As explained by The Telegraph here, that equates to just under 500g of red meat and processed meat a week, which means that, over the course of seven days, you could eat one steak, one pork chop, two pork sausages and a portion of Bolognese sauce.

Treating Diverticulitis

If you do develop diverticulitis, it may be that it can be treated safely at home with a course of antibiotics. During this time you may be advised to stick to a liquids-only and later a low-fibre diet, to avoid putting too much strain on your colon. Once the diverticulitis has been treated, you will likely be advised to adopt a high fibre diet. It can also be helpful to lose weight, quit smoking and start exercising more.

If the condition is more serious, you may require hospital treatment and even surgery. You can read more about these treatments via the NHS.

Find out more about diverticulitis at our diverticulitis page.

Surfers and swimmers may be at a heightened risk of developing gastroenteritis due to the amount of sewage, laden with bacteria, entering the sea, according to new research. 

Activities such as diving and kayaking that bring people into contact with the sea can also increase the chances of developing a number of other illnesses. These include infection of the ears, eyes, throat and nose, as well as stomach aches, scientists are claiming. The University of Exeter’s Dr Anne Leonard, who is carrying out additional research covering the risk to bathers in the United Kingdom, says current research indicates that recreational activities in coastal waters are causing an increasing number of illnesses. 

Marine activities may also be increasing the chance of being infected with strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, like E. coli, which have been detected off the UK coast for the first time in large quantities by scientists. However, more research is required in order to confirm these findings, as, up to now, studies have relied upon symptoms being reported by swimmers themselves, making it uncertain whether they really were infected by these types of bacteria.

The path of the bacteria

Dr William Gaze, also of the University of Exeter, led the antibiotic resistant bacteria study, which has highlighted the extent to which a multitude of different kinds of bacteria are entering the sea. The bacteria arrive in the ocean by being passed into the sewage system via the human digestive tract, eventually entering rivers, and finally the ocean, when heavy rain causes sewers to overflow. Dr Gaze discovered that antibiotic resistant E. coli was being swallowed by swimmers and surfers in enough quantities to cause a genuine exposure risk. This makes it a real possibility that that exposure could result in infection, although that has yet to be confirmed.

A real mouthful

In a typical surfing session, participants tend to swallow about 1/6th of a litre of seawater, and that polluted water could contain up to 750 E.coli bugs that are resistant to antibiotics, according to Dr Gaze. However, there is a much lower risk of infection or exposure in the great majority of bathing waters, which have already been judged as meeting with water quality standards. 

Additional research is being carried out by Gaze’s team in order to learn more about the potential health risks inherent in seawater sports. Gaze admits that very little is really known about the way in which antibiotic resistant bacteria can be spread to humans by the natural environment, or how health could be impacted by exposure to such microbes. Given that millions of people spend time on beaches every year, increasing the risk of resistant E. coli being ingested, there could be an even higher level of exposure to resistant bacteria for all water users. 

Gaze’s team discovered that although just 0.12 percent of all E. coli located in coastal waters (and in rivers connected to beaches) were resistant to the important antibiotics class known as 3GCs, or third generation cephalosporins, that amount of concentration was still high enough to pose a potential exposure risk to those making use of the waters.

The Beach Bum survey

A novel experiment known as the Beach Bum survey has been devised by researchers at Exeter University, in order to learn more about the dangers to human health of ocean bacteria. 

150 body-boarders and surfers, who use the ocean three times every month as a minimum, were recruited and provided with a cotton bud. The participants could then self-perform a rectal swab, and hand the results in for examination. Those results are now being analysed by Dr Anne Leonard, in a bid to see what the swabs reveal about the bacteria content in their guts. It's hoped that this analysis could yield vital information about the level of risk caused by bugs that are resistant to antibiotics in our oceans. 

The study’s recruitment process was led by Andy Cummins from Surfers Against Sewage, a campaign group. Cummins says the aim is to have a clearer idea of the risks of entering the water. The study has now been completed, and the findings are expected to be published before long.

Diabetes & Pain Management: New Findings

Many people are familiar with diabetes; they know that there are two different types, that type 2 is related to being overweight, and that the disease is often treated with injections of insulin.

What fewer people are familiar with is the fact that there are many health complications associated with diabetes. Pregnant women are faced with a greater risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, sexual dysfunction can become a problem, and the arteries can narrow, leading to heart disease.

One symptom that can be particularly difficult to live with is nerve damage, which can happen as a result of high blood glucose levels. This nerve damage can lead to peripheral neuropathy, a condition that causes burning or tingling sensations, stabbing pain and muscle weakness in the hands and feet.

New Treatment

For certain sufferers, the neuropathy can become so severe that the slightest pressure on the skin of the hands or feet causes agonising pain. Currently, there are a number of different treatments used to manage diabetic neuropathy. However, following a recent study in Germany, it looks as though a brand new treatment is on its way.

As reported here, researchers have discovered a chemical agent that seems to block the nerve signals that channel pain. Currently, nerve damage cannot be reversed, but the research team involved hopes that this new discovery lets the medical community take a step closer towards resolving neuropathy issues in diabetic patients.

The main advantage of this potential treatment (which has been tested on mice and is now set for human trials) is that it acts directly on nerve receptors in the skin, instead of affecting the body’s central nervous system. For this reason, the researchers hope to steer clear of some of the dangerous side effects associated with other medicines used to treat neuropathy.

It’s still early days for this new treatment; until such a medicine is approved for use, diabetic patients have a number of options available to them when it comes to pain management. Read on to learn more about these treatments.

Good Diabetes Management

The first step in managing neuropathy is keeping your diabetes under control. The worse the management of your diabetes, the more likely you are to develop nerve damage.

Lifestyle changes associated with diabetes management involve losing weight, taking more exercise and eating a healthy diet. However, it’s also important to make sure you are using any prescription medication correctly. If you feel that your diabetes might be out of control, you should speak to your doctor.

Pain Relief Medication

Several different types of medication can be prescribed to treat neuropathy. The most common are:

• amitriptyline (also used for headaches and depression)

• duloxetine (also used for bladder issues and depression)

• pregabalin and gabapentin (also used for epilepsy, headaches and anxiety)

If you do not respond to these medications, your doctor may prescribe a strong painkiller like tramadol. Because this medicine can become addictive, it is normally only prescribed for a short period – usually it will be used to treat bouts of particularly bad neuropathic pain, and not on a regular basis.

Topical Treatments

Topical treatments are ones applied directly to the skin, and are a good option for people who experience pain in specific areas, or who do not want/cannot take the medications listed above. Two common topical treatments for neuropathy are:

• capsaicin cream (rubbed directly into the painful area)

• a lidocaine plaster (applied to the painful area)

Capsaicin cream contains the chemical that gives chilli peppers their spicy heat. When applied to the skin it is an effective form of pain relief; it's thought to work by blocking pain signals to the brain.

A lidocaine plaster contains local anaesthetic, and when stuck onto the painful area of skin, works to numb that pain.

Finding the Right Treatment for You

The main thing to bear in mind when treating diabetic neuropathy is that everyone is different. It may take you some time to find the right treatment for your pain. However, you shouldn’t lose hope – there are many options out there and, as evidenced by the latest research, new developments are cropping up all the time.

To read more about pain relief, click here and visit The Online Clinic’s Pain Management page.

Heartburn and Stroke Risk: Latest Research

Heartburn is something almost everybody can relate to, and more often than not it’s thought of as a minor annoyance, the kind of thing that might – at worst – sour a dinner party.

What many people don’t realise is that, for some sufferers, heartburn can make normal, everyday tasks a real challenge. Regular heartburn is often an indicator of a more serious condition called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which is often associated with other unpleasant symptoms such as acid reflux, bad breath, nausea and difficulty swallowing.

Sometimes heartburn and GORD can be managed through self-care and taking over-the-counter medication. In more extreme cases, prescription medicines are required. Currently the most popular of these is the proton pump inhibitor (PPI), a type of medicine that reduces the amount of acid produced by the stomach.

New Study

However, it now looks as though PPIs may not be as safe to use as previously thought. A recent study by the Danish Heart Foundation has found that PPIs seems to be associated with the risk of stroke. Drawing on fifteen years of records, researchers looked at the number of ischaemic strokes occurring in people who had undergone gastric endoscopy (a technique used to diagnose GORD).

The researchers found that 9,500 of these patients had suffered an ischaemic stroke. They also found that – even when adjusted for contributing factors such as age and medical history – this seemed to bear a relationship to their use of PPIs.

The conclusion drawn was that low daily doses (e.g. 10mg) of proton pump inhibitors are safe; however, the stroke risk seems to creep up at around the 60mg mark.

This may be very concerning for people currently taking proton pump inhibitors, but it’s important to recognise that – as stated – low doses seem to pose no threat, and that there are alternative medications available. If you’re very concerned, speak to your GP. Otherwise, read on to find out more about heartburn and GORD.

What is the difference between heartburn and GORD?

Heartburn normally happens after eating, when acid from the stomach leaks into the oesophagus and causes an unpleasant burning sensation in the chest. Heartburn is often caused by consuming spicy or fatty foods, or drinks containing alcohol or caffeine (it can also be triggered by chocolate, tomatoes and citrus fruit).

In some cases, however, heartburn is a symptom of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. GORD is different to heartburn because it is a chronic (i.e. long-term) condition, which causes regular symptoms. It's caused by stomach acid leaking into the oesophagus, usually because the muscle at the base of the oesophagus has been weakened.

What are the risk factors for heartburn and GORD?

There are several factors that can put you at risk for heartburn and GORD. These include:

• being overweight or obese
• being a smoker
• pregnancy
• stress
• medical conditions such as hiatus hernia or gastroparesis

There is also some evidence to suggest that GORD can be inherited genetically.

Treatments for Heartburn and GORD

If your heartburn isn’t too serious and you think you can manage it without medication, try the following:

• avoid eating three large meals a day; aim for smaller, more frequent portions over the course of the day

• work out what triggers your heartburn and avoid it

• don’t wear clothing that is tight on your stomach

• raise up the head of your bed so that you sleep at a slight angle; this will help to prevent stomach acid from leaking upwards

• if you’re stressed, start doing relaxation techniques

• maintain a healthy weight

• stop smoking

If you can’t manage your symptoms on your own, visit a pharmacy for over-the-counter medication such as antacids. If the condition is more serious, you can request prescription medication from your doctor.

The prescription treatments for heartburn and GORD are:

• Proton pump inhibitors

• H2-receptor antagonists

If you are prescribed either of these, you will be given the lowest dose to begin with; this means that for many patients, PPIs should still be safe to use. To read more, visit The Online Clinic’s Heartburn page.

In some situations, surgery may be appropriate. Click here to find out more about your surgical options for heartburn and GORD.

It’s a feeling nearly everyone can relate to; you’ve just eaten a delicious meal at a posh restaurant and when you get home to bed, you find yourself clutching your chest and gulping down water to try and alleviate that horrible burning sensation.

No, you’re not having a heart attack – but heartburn (which is caused by stomach acid leaking into the oesophagus) is certainly an unpleasant thing to experience. And you’d be in the minority if you haven’t been through it at least once in your life. Unfortunately, for some Brits, heartburn is a daily reality, just one symptom of a chronic condition known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (or GORD, for short).

In 2011, a Norwegian study found that cases of GORD were on the rise, and suggested a link between this and rising body weights. At the time, the Daily Mail reported on this study, interpreting the results as an indication that obesity caused by a fatty diet is a direct cause of heartburn and acid reflux. As shown here, the NHS dismissed the Daily Mail’s take on the results, as the study did not show a link between diet and symptoms.

In fact, while it is true that obesity puts you at greater risk of GORD the foods that most commonly cause heartburn are not those you might expect. According to the experts at WebMD, some of our favourite healthy foods can be a high risk for triggering an attack of heartburn.

If you find yourself regularly battling with heartburn, it’s worth visiting a doctor, as you may be suffering from GORD and may require medication. If you aren’t diagnosed with GORD, or if it’s only causing moderate symptoms, you should be able to manage the condition at home by making some adjustments to your diet and lifestyle.

Foods to Avoid

There are a number of different foods and drinks that can trigger heartburn and acid reflux:

• Acidic foods such as citrus fruits or juices, and tomatoes
• Garlic and onion
• Spicy food containing lots of pepper and/or chilli
• Peppermint
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Carbonated drinks

Though the Daily Mail’s condemnation of a fatty diet was a little slapdash, they weren’t totally wrong – as you’ll read here, foods that are high in fat (avocado, cheese, nuts and steak) can also cause heartburn. This is because high-fat foods cause the stomach to empty more slowly, meaning it is more likely to swell, putting pressure on the muscles that keep it closed and allowing for acid to leak out.

Having said that, it may not be necessary to completely cut out the foods and drinks listed above – particularly the healthier ones. However, eating them in moderation, and not in combination with one another, is advised.

Lifestyle Changes

As well as looking out for foods that can trigger your heartburn, you should avoid eating very large meals – instead, eat several small, light meals over the course of the day, and leave several hours between dining or drinking alcohol and going to bed.

Raising the head of your bed by around 20cm can also help to alleviate symptoms. This is because, for stomach acid to leak into the oesophagus, you have to be lying flat or bending over. Lying at an angle should help prevent this from happening. To raise your bed you should insert blocks underneath the bed – simply propping yourself up with pillows will not work.

Losing weight and quitting smoking are also advised.

Medical Treatment for Heartburn

If you are suffering from persistent heartburn, it may be appropriate to start using medication. There are various types available, ranging from over-the-counter antacids to prescription-only proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs). Antacids neutralise the effects of stomach acid, while PPIs and H2RAs actively reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach.

In rare cases, surgery may be the most suitable course of action. Most commonly, GORD is resolved through keyhole surgery in which the ring of muscle between the oesophagus and the stomach is tightened. This prevents the leakage of stomach acid.

To find out more about medical treatments for heartburn, consult our dedicated heartburn page.

For many people, there’s something irresistible about the idea of a midnight snack or a movie night packed with popcorn and sweet treats. But though we all know indulging in biscuits, brownies and crisps is bad for our health at any time of day, how many of us are aware of the toll these foods can take when they’re eaten after 7pm?

If recent findings are to be believed, then we all need to start making our evening binges a thing of the past. As reported here, the European Society of Cardiology has found that people who eat large meals after 7pm experience dramatic increases of blood pressure overnight.

This is worrying because high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) is associated with all kinds of health issues, including heart disease and stroke. It’s also concerning because most of us consider 7pm an ideal time to eat dinner!

If the research is accurate, and eating late really can cause problems with our blood pressure, then what is the best way to stay healthy? Well, it isn’t as simple as eating dinner at 6.30pm.

Current Guidance for Healthy Eating

According to the NHS, there are several factors that go into a healthy diet. The first recommendation is that men consume 2,500 calories and women 2,000 calories a day. This will differ slightly depending upon your age, fitness, health and weight. However, if you get into the habit of eating significantly more or less than this, you could be putting your health at risk.

The calories you consume should also be nutritious, and not simply made up of sweets and junk food. Your daily diet should include:

• 5 portions of fruits and vegetables
• Starchy carbohydrates, preferably wholegrain or high fibre
• Protein in the form of lean meat, fish, eggs, pulses and/or beans
• Low fat dairy
• 6 to 8 glasses of water

Red meat should not be eaten too regularly; however, in small portions it does have health benefits, as it is packed with protein, iron and zinc. If you are eating more than 90g a day you are advised to cut down.

Sugary drinks, chocolate, sweets and snack foods that are oily, fatty or salty are not strictly off-limits. However, they should be restricted; eat this kind of junk food in small portions, and not on a regular basis.

The newest research also suggests that eating at the same time every day is also important. Heart expert Dr Ebru Özpelit advises that we should eat a good breakfast, avoid skipping lunch, and keep our evening meal small, light, and ideally before 7pm.

Avoiding High Blood Pressure

It’s not always easy to avoid developing high blood pressure. This is because it is related to age, genetics and family history, and even sleep deprivation.

If you think you may be at risk of high blood pressure, you should visit your doctor for a blood pressure test. A normal blood pressure measurement is anything between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. High blood pressure is considered anything over 140/90mmHg. However blood pressure between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg is considered prehypertension – this means your blood pressure could continue to rise and pose a risk to your health. If your blood pressure is in this range, you may wish to start making some changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Things you can do to limit your risk of (or lower existing) high blood pressure include:

• Eating less than 6g of salt a day (roughly one teaspoon)
• Cutting down your alcohol intake, and avoiding alcohol "binges"
• Losing weight
• Exercising (the NHS recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity every week)
• Cutting down on caffeine
• Quitting smoking
• Getting a good night’s sleep

In some cases, this won’t be sufficient, and medication will be required.

Medical Treatments for High Blood Pressure

There are several different treatments for high blood pressure. The five most common are:

• ACE inhibitors such as Ramipril
• Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARB)
• Calcium channel blockers such as Amlodipine
• Diuretics such as Bendroflumethiazide
• Beta-blockers

These medications are prescribed depending upon your age, health and family history. Find out more about pursuing a healthy lifestyle and avoiding high blood pressure by visiting The Online Clinic’s hypertension information page.

Who handles pain better, women or men? This simple question is hotly debated in the medical community and, indeed, many social circles. There’s the argument that women naturally handle pain better, because they have to experience menstrual cramps and childbirth. This is fairly convincing until you consider the fact that in a recent study of 11,000 patients, women were consistently found to have elevated clinical pain scores in comparison to men.

Pain is, of course, a totally subjective thing, and there are many different factors that must be called into account when examining the way one person handles it. A man may understate the severity of his pain in an attempt to seem more masculine. Two women may experience the same injury, but experience it differently due to one of them living with a pre-existing condition that causes chronic pain.

What is undeniable is that, for doctors, fairly evaluating a patient’s pain level is no easy task. And if recent reports are anything to go by, this is leading to unfair treatment of female patients. According to research carried out over the past few years, women’s pain is – by and large – taken less seriously than men’s. Abdominal pain is just one instance where men and women are treated very differently, with men waiting an average of 49 minutes in A&E and women an average of 65 minutes.

Some may argue that doctors are more likely to downplay abdominal pain in women, because they make the assumption it is related to menstrual cramps (which are agonising but otherwise harmless). But in this worrying story penned by journalist Joe Fassler, we see an example of a potentially life-threatening condition ignored by hospital doctors and nurses for many hours. Recently, coverage of endometriosis – a condition in which cells similar to those in the womb lining grow outside of the uterus – has also revealed how women suffering with this debilitating condition are often dismissed by doctors.

Regardless of what pain may indicate, it’s important as a patient to feel as though your suffering is acknowledged and understood. The question is: how should women go about seeking medical help for pain when doctors are more likely to dismiss it?

What to Do If You’re Experiencing Pain

The hard and fast rule for any health-related issue is to trust your instincts. If you begin to experience pain that you have never felt before and that doesn’t go away on its own, it is always worth seeking medical help.

There are also certain symptoms that, according to medical advice, should never be ignored. These include:

• A sudden, severe headache, especially if it is accompanied by visual aura. This could indicate a number of acute conditions that require immediate medical attention.
• Bad toothache where the tooth throbs or twinges. If left untreated, a damaged nerve can become infected, and this infection can spread through the body causing serious complications.
• Severe, stabbing abdominal pain that travels to your lower right-hand side and becomes worse as time goes on. This could indicate appendicitis, but it could also be a sign of an ovarian cyst. In either case, do not ignore the pain.
• Constant back pain and numb feet. This is an indication of a problem in the spine, caused by a spinal disc slipping or rupturing and pressing on the spinal nerves.
• Chest pain, shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest. This can indicate a heart attack.

Living with Chronic Pain

In some cases, pain is not something that requires urgent medical treatment. For people who suffer from conditions that cause chronic pain, it’s simply a part of everyday life.

There are many different ways of managing chronic pain, but some things that are known to help include exercise, physical therapy and painkillers. The psychological aspect of chronic pain can also be very damaging; for that reason, it’s advised that you try and live as normal a lifestyle as possible. Staying in work, continuing to see friends, and making sure you leave the house every day are all key to maintaining a positive outlook.

The NHS has further resources dedicated to living with pain, which you can explore here. Otherwise, speak to your GP or visit The Online Clinic’s Pain Management centre, where you can learn more about managing pain and request safe prescription painkillers.

$register(PM)

Listen Up: Tips for Ear Health!

Our ears are incredibly important to our everyday lives yet caring for their health often seems to be little more than an afterthought for many people. The good news is that it is not difficult to take a little extra time to make sure you are caring for your ears in the correct manner.

Cleaning ears

It is important that you take extra special care when you are cleaning your ears. You should use a tissue or a gentle washcloth to wipe the outside of the ear, and nothing smaller than an elbow should be placed inside your ear! Cotton buds or any kind of pointed, sharp object should not be used to clean out your ears as they can injure the eardrum or ear canal.

The ear has its own mechanism for cleaning itself in the form of ear wax but if your hearing is being blocked by a wax build-up then you should see your doctor in order to have it professionally removed. If your ears begin hurting or itching go to your doctor to find the best treatment method; you may need to be referred to a specialist in some situations. People with pierced ears should regularly use rubbing alcohol to clean both the earrings and their earlobes.

Illnesses and medicines

Ears can suffer illnesses and infections just like any other part of the human anatomy, and need to be treated by a health professional. Treating infections of the upper respiratory system in a prompt manner, however, can help with cutting down on the risk of developing an ear infection.

There are a number of medical conditions and illnesses that can have an impact on your hearing, so see your doctor immediately if you suddenly experience a loss of hearing or endure a constant noise in your head or ears. Ear drainage is abnormal and often indicative of some kind of infection, so consult a healthcare professional as soon as you can.

Hearing can also be affected by some medicines, so be sure to take them only as directed and visit your GP if you are experiencing ringing in the ears, balance problems or any kind of unusual hearing.

Noise issues

If you are going to be exposed to loud noise levels at work or at home, such as when using power tools, a lawn mower or leaf blower, then you need to wear protection. Noisy work environments require hearing protection by law. Hearing is not protected by the use of ear buds and it can actually be dangerous to your hearing to listen to music while using power tools. High volume levels should also be avoided with home theatre systems, stereos and any kind of personal sound system. If you are going out to a motor sport event, nightclub or rock concert, you should wear earplugs.

Safety

If you engage in activities that put your head and ears at risk of injury, such as biking, skiing or rollerblading, you should always make sure to wear a helmet. If you're taking a flight, then you should yawn and swallow continually when the plane is in ascent or descent in order to equalise the pressure in your ears. If you have a sinus infection or cold, then you can consume a decongestant a couple of hours prior to descent or make use of a decongestant spray before descent and landing.

General ear care tips

Your doctor should give your ears a check-up on a regular basis. A sunscreen needs to be used on your ears in sunny weather as it does with any other exposed area of your body. Consult a doctor if you find any scaly areas or strange bumps on the exterior of your ear.

Finally, it is also a good idea to be aware of some things that can be warning signs for hearing loss; these include:

• Difficulty in hearing conversations, particularly when there is background noise
• Misunderstanding other people and making inappropriate responses
• Needing the television to be louder than is preferred by others in the room
• Noise within the ear not the result of external sources

Heartburn: Should I be Worried?

Heartburn is a very common complaint, which results in an uncomfortable burning sensation in both the chest and throat. In the great majority of instances, heartburn is not a cause for serious concern, as it is normally temporary and will just disappear on its own without the need for medical treatment - other than perhaps popping an antacid pill to relieve the symptoms.

However, heartburn can on rare occasions be a sign of a much more serious problem or illness. This makes it vital to be aware of the difference between normal heartburn that can be simply treated and otherwise ignored, and the kind of heartburn that would suggest it is a good idea to visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Take note of your symptoms

A burning sensation in the chest and/or throat is the classic symptom of heartburn, but other symptoms can also manifest themselves such as nausea, increased belching and possibly even vomiting. Take note of these symptoms and keep a record over them over several weeks, in order to be able to recognise patterns in your episodes.

You should also compare the extent of the severity of your current instance of heartburn to previous occasions when you have suffered from the condition. Severe pain could indicate something much more serious than standard heartburn, including a heart attack. Identify whether the pain is sharp or dull in nature. Dull pain is a strong indication that you are indeed suffering from heartburn, while a sharper pain should result in you immediately seeking medical attention.

Likewise it is important to note whether the pain is continuous or intermittent. The latter is again a strong indication that the discomfort is the result of heartburn, while the former is a sign you may need immediate medical aid. The position of the pain can also be an important factor. If the pain does not stay in one place but appears to radiate out to other parts of the body such as your shoulders, back, jaw, arms and neck, you need to call for assistance or reach an emergency room straight away, as you may be experiencing a heart attack.

Possible causes

Sometimes heartburn and acid reflux can be caused by medications. The types of medication that can cause this reaction include:

• Antidepressants

• Antibiotics

• Nitroglycerin

• Pain relievers

• Anti-anxiety medicine

• High blood pressure medication

• Osteoporosis medicine

If you suffer from ongoing and frequent instances of heartburn and believe they may be being caused by your medications, discuss the possibility of changing them for something different with your doctor. You should however never just stop taking prescription medicine without having consulted with your doctor.

When to see a doctor

If your heartburn is beginning to have an adverse impact on your everyday life, then it is time to call your GP or use an online service such as ours.

You should also seek medical help if your heartburn comes with a persistent cough, as this indicates you may be suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux. If the cough lasts more than a couple of weeks you should see a doctor, but you may want to go even earlier if the cough also comes with wheezing and breathlessness. Likewise if you have been taking antacids for your heartburn for several weeks, and your situation does not seem to have changed or improved, you should see your doctor.

For women, heartburn can sometimes be caused by pregnancy. A combination of pressure on the stomach and hormones tends to be responsible, and commonly takes place in the third trimester. Talk to a doctor if you are pregnant and suffering persistent heartburn. If you only suffer from the occasional bout there are some simple things you can do to avoid the condition, such as:

• Avoiding fatty, greasy and spicy foods

• Waiting to lie down at least an hour after having consumed food

• Eating five or six smaller meals during the day rather than three large ones

If you are having trouble swallowing, your oesophagus could have been damaged by gastric acid. This puts you in serious danger of choking, so contact a doctor immediately. Any unexplained major weight loss should be medically investigated, particularly if you also have heartburn.

$register(HB)

As a result of a change to Italian local laws, we are no longer able to send items to Italy. Italian residents must consult with Italian doctors and use Italian pharmacists. So much for the Single European Market! We are sorry to be losing our Italian-based patients but we need to comply with all laws (even anticompetitive ones).

Our helpline will be open as normal over the entire holiday period but please be aware that our pharmacy will be closed on all public holidays and will close early on 24 December and 31 December to fit in with final postal collections by Royal Mail. You can place an order on our system at any time over the holiday period but please be aware that it cannot be dispatched until the next business day if you place the order on a public holiday in the UK. All orders received on 24 December and 31 December before 12 noon will be dispatched that day.

If you need to speak to a member of staff over the holiday period then the 24 hour helpline will continue to operate as normal. E-mails will be responded to throughout the entire holiday period.

Please note that our pharmacy will be closing at 14:00 on Friday 25 October for a system upgrade. If you are looking to have any order dispatched on Friday then we recommend that you have it on our system by 12 noon on Friday. The clinic will remain open for any queries until 6.30 pm and over the weekend as normal but dispensing will not resume until Monday at 9.00 am.

We often talk about the importance of being able to make an informed decision, whether it is regarding medical treatments or the food we buy. That is why we were disappointed to read about a recent US study that found that labels on protein powders did not adequately inform the consumer about the contents in the powders.

ConsumerLab conducted a test on 17 protein powders and drinks sold in the US. The key findings indicated that 30% of the protein powders were wrongly labelled and contained less of the advertised ingredients. In addition to that, the team found that four of the tested protein powders had more cholesterol than advertised, and that one brand in particular was contaminated with lead. These findings were verified with an independent laboratory.

On the one hand it is wearisome to read this type of information, as it means that individuals who are trying hard to get all the nutrition they need are spending money on products that are clearly misleading and may even be harmful. On the other hand, it is encouraging that this area is being researched so that mislabelling is addressed. The full information of the study can be found here: http://www.consumerlab.com

The Online Clinic is pleased to announce that we now have Dymista available to prescribe for hay fever sufferers. Dymista is a novel hay fever treatment as it contains both a steroid and an antihistamine. The combination of these two types of medications ensures that the treatment starts working to relieve symptoms very quickly. The active ingredients in this product are fluticasone and azelastine. This medication is designed for hay fever sufferers who experience rhinitis.

One of the problems with current hay fever medications is the time that they take to work, so we run into patient adherence issues: Patients think that the medication is not working so they stop their treatments and the lack of success becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. Dymista appears to provide clear benefits within a few days, so it may be substantially better than anything else that we have available to us for prescription.

Dymista contains a steroid so we need to be very careful that this product does not exacerbate any existing condition or infection. Please complete our online questionnaire to check if Dymista is going to be suitable for you. This treatment is available for next day delivery. You can read more about Dymista here.

After a 3 month trial, some very exciting results have been reported by the creators of the ‘polypill’, a drug which decreases cholesterol, blood pressure (BP) and risk of stroke and heart attack by a colossal two thirds. The crew from Queen Mary, UL, suggest that if everyone over the age of 50 years took the inexpensive pill daily then the numbers currently dying of cardiovascular disease would be cut in half. The researchers are saying that for over one in four of those over the age of 50 who take the pill as a preventative measure will essentially gain 11 years of life. Can the answer to all our problems really be contained in one pill?

The polypill is a combined pill consisting of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide and losartan, which are drugs used for the lowering of blood pressure. In addition to these drugs, simvastatin, the cholesterol lowering drug, is also present meaning those who are deemed at high risk of stroke or heart attack can avoid taking both a statin and a drug for lowering their BP and take this all-in-one, for want of a better word, miracle, drug.

Cholesterol levels were cut by 39% according to the trial reports and BP decreased by 12% at the end of the three month period. The team subsequently predicted that by taking the polypill, the risk of suffering an event caused by heart disease would decrease by 72% and the risk of stroke would decrease by 64%.

Fears over side effects and a lack of knowledge regarding death rates mean that larger independent trials will be called for before this drug is approved for market. It is also feared that by introducing a pill like this onto the market that the focus will shift from key issues such as obesity and the promotion of healthy lifestyle and that instead we’ll be queuing for our quick fix wonder drug and unfazed by the consequences of existing on little exercise and poor diet.

Over the Olympic period from 23rd July to 17th September, due to transport restrictions, there will be slight changes to Royal Mail’s services.

Post may arrive later than usual in the London area since it will take longer to collect and deliver mail as a result of expected interruptions to the transport system.

Royal Mail’s next day delivery items sent to London will not be guaranteed to arrive before 1pm.  For this period, next day delivery items will arrive the next day but not before a guaranteed time.

Items going to other parts of the UK via special next day delivery will still arrive before 1pm the following working day.

For the avoidance of doubt, orders received by 4.00 pm Monday to Friday will still be delivered the next day regardless of which part of the country you live in; only London will not have a time guaranteed service.

Inactivity (lack of exercise) is supposedly causing around the same number of deaths as smoking does according to a recent Lancet study but this seems an outrageous declaration!

Seemingly, smoking causes the death of 100,000 British every year and a lack of exercise is not far behind as a major cause of death with 90,000 dying as a result. The authors classify death from breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer as the main fatal illnesses resulting from inactivity although surely there are other factors responsible including the social and genetic?

It is important too to reiterate what was said by a spokesperson for Cancer Research UK in response to the study. They remind us that although smoking and inactivity are said to kill approximately the same number of people, smoking rates are much lower than the number of people who live inactive lives and therefore people are still taking a greater risk smoking than they are being inactive so the study’s results are somewhat sensational.

The UK Faculty of Public Health stress that rather than rave on about the benefits of exercise and healthy lifestyles to inspire the masses, we should really be making clear the message that inactivity is dangerous and could be fatal. This is at least highlighted by the study and with the Olympics only days away there is no better time to embark on newer, healthier behaviour patterns.

Commuting more than 10 miles each day can put us at an increased risk of developing diabetes, cancer and heart disease according to a recent American study and a 15 mile commute was associated with obesity because of a lack of exercise. Those who commute such distances have less time to exercise and therefore are of a higher weight and have higher blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for cardiovascular illness, certain cancers and diabetes. The recent findings are published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine where the distances of the various commutes were recorded and along with this was recorded the participants BMI (Body Mass Index), triglycerides, glucose levels, cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels.

Cardiovascular health was impaired among those with the longer commutes along with BMI and blood pressure but levels of cholesterol and glucose in the blood were not affected by the daily distance travelled by car.

The study’s authors suggest that taking walks at break times and being as active as possible during the day will help to combat the effects of our sedentary lifestyles. Between work and the car, there is little time for exercise these days but doing five minutes here and there might make all the difference.

Many people suffer from verrucas on their feet and find it difficult to get rid of them. Most over-the-counter remedies seem to be pretty ineffectual as far as a lot of patients are concerned. Sometimes patients actually have electrosurgery to remove the verruca but this seems like an extreme that may not be necessary.

A verruca is basically a wart that grows inward because of the pressure placed on the foot. The verruca is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus) and the body’s immune system is not recognising the virus. The Online Clinic is prepared to prescribe Aldara (imiquimod) to help eliminate verrucas. Aldara works by stimulating an immune response at the site of application. It may take several weeks to work but it is an effective treatment and it negates the necessity for invasive surgery.

You can request Aldara for the removal of verrucas by navigating to our verruca treatment page.

The Online Clinic is now prepared to prescribe antibiotics on an emergency basis to patients with a tooth or gum infection, prior to them seeing their dentist. Many people find it difficult to get an emergency appointment with either their dentist or GP to get the necessary antibiotics to deal with an infection. We will prescribe either Metronidazole or Amoxicillin to patients for next day delivery. If the patient has an allergy to both of these medications, then we will consider an alternative.

It is essential that patients make an appointment with their dentist to ascertain the cause of the infection, as surgery may be required. Patients can access our emergency treatment by clicking here.

Researchers from Harvard are saying that seeing the glass half full may well decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke by decreasing blood pressure levels and levels of cholesterol within the body and this is the case, according to their review, despite the age, social status or lifestyle choices such as whether or not they are a smoker or if they are overweight. The risk of cardiovascular ill health was said to decrease by 50 per cent amongst those who were deemed to be of an optimistic disposition.

Although the figures seem staggering, the Harvard medical researchers emphasise that they have merely established an association between optimism and heart risk and have not proved that such an outlook would fight against heart disease.

Of course, those who were thought to be optimistic types were engaging in exercise and had a healthy attitude towards their diet but even taking these factors into account, the link remained. The study looked at the data from 200 studies for their review but still more research is required. Still, it’s not a bad excuse to start looking on the brighter side of life. At least until we see the proof.

This may be the end for the oompa loompa troop globally! Seemingly, an association between products such as fake tan and conditions like obesity and diabetes has been observed. Despite the radioactive appearance of your average fakely baked individual, we are thrilled that people would rather walk around these days, blissfully unaware of their nuclear hue, than to hop from tanning salon to video shop shower curtain in order to find the ultimate in sun-kissed glow. We are therefore keen to see just how true this theory is and look at how it is all supposedly down to key properties in the fake tan known as phthalates.

Phthalates have been used for approximately 50 years in beauty products, household products and bottles made of plastic and were first used to soften PVC. Although they are presently being removed from the manufacturing process, many companies are not listing phthalates as an ingredient on their labels. Now it is thought that this common ingredient causes hormone imbalances which can lead to very serious physical conditions and a resistance to insulin. With both the packaging and the product inside containing phthalates in many cosmetic and household products, everyone is potentially at risk.

A recent study showed that taking into consideration other factors which are known to cause diabetes (Type-2), it was discovered that even those who have small amounts of this environmental chemical in their bloodstream had a higher risk of developing diabetes. Furthermore, its effect on hormonal changes was shown to contribute to weight gain in men and women.

The study included the data of 1,000 patients but had its short comings in that all of the participants were over the age of 70, all of whom were white. This age and ethnicity range limits the study in terms of generality. Additionally, although an association between phthalates was evidenced, there was no proof that the presence of these pollutants was the direct cause of Type-2 diabetes or obesity.

For now maybe it’s best to keep lashing on the fake bake instead of laying out, oiled up beneath the temperamental British sky but keep an eye on future studies involving this chemical and the ingredients on the label of your cosmetic products.

It has long been known that viruses can weaken cancer cells but previous attempts to apply this knowledge to help cancer patients left them with only a short term recovery and in many cases, these cancer sufferers actually died as a result of the potency of the virus that was administered into their system rather than the cancer itself.

Scientists have since been trying to make weaker viruses that do not cause damage to healthy cells but that are strong enough to fight cancer cells and a few of such viruses are presently in trial. The herpes 1 virus is one example and is currently in advanced trials for patients with a melanoma. One earlier trial has so far revealed a 26% rate of recovery and survival among patients. Another virus has doubled survival rates from 7 moths to 14 months.

Although these viruses come with symptoms, they are far less intrusive than side effects associated with chemotherapy. Flu-like symptoms will often accompany the herpes virus but these tend to be very manageable.

So far it has been difficult to convince a majority working within the medical field this idea is not preposterous however slowly but surely the research is winning people over and we could be looking at a potential treatment for cancer that has fewer side effects than chemotherapy. This is early days but it is always interesting to learn of innovative medical techniques that deal with diseases that affect a large proportion of the population at some point in their lives. Further details can be read here.