As another week comes to a close, talkhealth have brought together some of the biggest news stories in the world of health. This week, we will be looking at a new fund to help combat the disability employment gap, how the latest generation is steering clear of unhealthy lifestyles and how to tell if your dehydrated in this summer heat. So, let’s get started.

New fund to tackle the disability employment gap

The government have put together a new £4.2 million challenge fund to help combat the disability employment gap.

The new fund has been designed to test new approaches to help people experiencing mental ill health or musculoskeletal issues remain in employment.

Minister for Mental Health and Inequalities Jackie Doyle-Price, said:

“For too long if you had a disability or serious mental health issue the world of work was off limits, potentially affecting the lives of millions of people across the country. This fund will help people overcome the barriers that so many still face when trying to get into and progress in the workplace.”

The fund itself is part of the government’s 10-year strategy which aims to see an additional 1 million disabled people in work by 2027.

The new generation shunning unhealthy lifestyles

The latest stats from the Office for National Statistics, the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice have found that the newest generation of young adults are much less likely to partake in drinking, smoking and drugs than their previous counterparts. The reports also found that the number of teenage pregnancies was also drastically reduced compared to previous generations.

The statistics show a new breed of teenager in this generation that are much more concerned with their health and lifestyle. You can view the full statistics and figures here.

If you are looking to improve your health and lifestyle, take a look at our talkmenshealth and talkwomenshealth sections of the website.

Are you dehydrated?

With the summer weather still here, it’s easy to get caught up in the beautiful sunshine and scorching heat. However, it brings with it the risk of dehydration. It is of extreme importance to keep on top of your hydration levels to avoid serious problems of issues, especially during prolonged heatwaves.

One way you can keep an eye on your hydration levels is by paying extra attention to the colour of your urine. This helpful chart can allow you to quickly see if you are at risk of dehydration. Some people are more at risk of dehydration, including those with diabetes, people who have been vomiting or suffering diarrhoea, and people who have been in the sun for a long time.

The NHS says people in the UK should drink at least 1.2 litres of water a day – 2.4 pints – and more when the weather is hot.

And that’s it for this week. Make sure to keep an eye on the talkhealth blog for all the latest news in the world of health. If you want to continue the conversation, head over to the talkhealth forums.

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Welcome to another rendition of talkhealth’s weekly round-up of the biggest news stories of the week. This week, we’ll be looking at topics including vitamin pills, diabetes and sexual health. So, let’s get started!

Diabetes Type 1

Experts believe they may have found the key to eliminating the chances of developing Type 1 Diabetes in high-risk babies.

The researchers, based at Oxford University, think that by training infants immune systems from a young age, they are able to prevent the risk of Type 1 Diabetes in later life. The training consists of providing these high-risk children with powered insulin from a young age in order to provide life-long protection from the condition. This in turn should help the baby’s own immune system tolerate their body’s own insulin and prevent the onset of the condition.

Pregnant women from a number of counties are being asked if they would like to participate in the proposed trial to see if this methodology is successful. It is thought that around 1 in every 100 babies has genes which could potentially signal developing the condition in later life and researchers are aiming to screen 30,000 new-borns with the method to judge its success rate.

If you have any concerns about Diabetes, take a look at our talkmenshealth and talkwomenshealth sections of the website which can provide further information.

Vitamin pills and heart attacks

New research has found that vitamin pills that promote healthy cardiovascular health do not prevent heart attacks and strokes.

The scientists behind the latest research, which combined the results of studies involving more than two million people, said that vitamin pills, including those that claimed to combat poor heart health, were at best a distraction for people looking to prevent cardiovascular disease. People should instead concentrate on interventions that are known to work, such as exercise, a healthy diet and giving up smoking, the researchers said.

The Health and Food Supplements Information Service, which is part-funded by supplement manufacturers, said the latest research missed the point of the products. Emma Derbyshire, a public health nutritionist with the service, said: “Vitamins and minerals are not intended for the prevention of chronic conditions like heart disease.”

New sex disease likened to next “superbug”

A relatively unknown sexually transmitted disease could become the next “superbug” according to researchers.

The disease, called Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), in many cases exhibits no symptoms but can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which could leave some women infected by the condition infertile. Mycoplasma genitalium is a bacterium that can cause inflammation of the urethra in men, causing discharge from the penis and making it painful to urinate.

In women, it can cause inflammation of the reproductive organs (womb and fallopian tubes) too, causing pain and possibly a fever and some bleeding.

As with most sexually transmitted diseases, the use of a condom can greatly help prevent the spread of the disease. If you are concerned that you may have contracted the condition, Public Health England says testing is available to diagnose MG and any signs of drug resistance, if necessary.

Alongside this, there is also a useful guide to help prevent urinary tract infections to help promote a healthy pelvic lifestyle. talkhealth will have our own report of pelvic health published on our website in the upcoming weeks, so make sure you keep your eyes out for that.

And that’s it for the week. If you would like to continue to conversation, head over to our forums.

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With so much going on in the world of health it can be difficult to keep up to date with all the latest news and breakthroughs. Luckily, talkhealth’s weekly round-up should help you keep on top of all the latest developments in health. This week, we’re looking at exercise and obesity, mental health in the youth and the benefits of seeing the same doctor. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Exercise and Obesity

A new study has found that one in four British people will avoid exercise at all costs. The study, which was run by the British Lung Foundation, has revealed that of the 2,000 people questioned 23% admitted that they do their best to avoid physical exercise. It also found that only 16% of people work out more than once a week. Physical exercise is integral to a healthy body and mind, so these new findings are cause for concern. If you are struggling to get active, why not take a look at talkmenshealth and talkwomenshealth where you can find some ideas to help get you active.

Alongside this, a new report has found that deprived areas in the UK could have up to five times more fast food outlets than more affluent areas. The abundance of these cheap and unhealthy meals in lower socio-economic areas is likely to be contributing to the nation’s growing struggle with obesity. The government aims to tackle this problem with it’s recently updated Childhood Obesity Plan, which aims to cut childhood obesity in half by 2030. Part of the strategy put forward in this plan includes a restriction on how and where supermarkets can display offers, such as “two for the price of one”, on foods that are high in salt, sugar or fat. With the UK being the most overweight nation in Western Europe, it is hoped that these plans and initiatives can help combat the problem of obesity.

If you are worried about your weight, or the weight of someone close to you, take a look at talkweight for support and information on the subject.

Mental health in youth and students

Looking after your mental health is just as important as your physical health. With this in mind, universities are being challenged to dramatically improve their mental health support for students by the government. Recently, the Office for National Statistics published data which suggested that over the last year 95 university students took their own lives in England and Wales. Universities are being told to work tighter and closer with the NHS to identify potential mental health problems in students earlier to avoid these kinds of situations.

Mental health problems aren’t just present in university students though. The boss of the NHS, Simon Stevens, has called for a “major ramp-up” in mental health services for children and all young people. Stevens has claimed that factors such as social media may be having a negative impact on the youth in the UK and could be contributing to mental health problems. Plans are being put in place to help combat this problem and, if you are struggling with your mental health, take a look at our talkmenshealth and talkwomenshealth sections of the website for further support.

The benefits of seeing the same doctor

Finally, a new study from the University of Exeter has found that seeing the same doctor again and again resulted in lower death rates among patients.

The benefits applied to visits to GPs and specialists and were seen across different cultures and health systems. The study highlighted that continuity of care is known to be particularly beneficial for patients with chronic conditions, long-term mental health issues and complex needs. By seeing the same doctor, patients were able to build better relationships, communication and understanding between themselves and their doctor, allowing for better treatment for the patient.

That rounds up the top news stories in the world of health this week. If you want to continue the conversation, head over to the talkhealth forums!

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