Welcome to another week of talkhealth’s news round-up. This week, we will be looking at news around a new drug that could help cure male baldness, how delays in cancer treatment are having a huge impact on patients, and new movements in the world of diet and exercise. Take a look at each of these topics in more detail below.

Male baldness

Going bald can have a huge emotional and mental impact on an individual. For many men across the country baldness is a concern and worry, so recent research around a potential new cure is very promising.

Researchers have found that a drug originally intended to treat osteoporosis could unlock the cure to baldness. The drug contains a compound which targets a key protein responsible for slowing down hair growth and plays a role in baldness.

While more research needs to be done, this is a step in the right direction for the very real issue of male baldness. In addition to this, there is also a recent article which delves into why there is a stigma around male baldness in the first place, citing societal pressures as one of the main causes.

If you are affected by hair loss we want to hear your experiences. Take part in our latest survey and you could be in with the chance of winning a bundle of hair goodies.

Delays in cancer treatment

New official figures have found that many cancer patients are being put at risk due to delays in starting cancer treatment. Any patient suspected of having cancer should begin treatment within 62 days, however the report shows that nowhere has achieved this target for more than two years.

As a result of this 1 in 6 patients is now waiting much longer than they should to begin treatment. Identifying and beginning cancer procedures as early as possible has been proven to increase chances of successful treatment.

Alongside this, new research has found that rather than growing aggressively, cancer can slow down and speed up its growth. This often means that cancer can lay dormant before accelerating its development. It’s clear that more work needs to be done to help identify and treat cancer at the earliest possible stage to avoid a dormant stage before it grows aggressively.

If you want to find out more about cancer, take a look at our blog section around the subject.

Diet and exercise

Amongst the diet news this week, Sadiq Khan, the Major of London, has outlined proposals to ban all junk food adverts present on the London underground. Khan has stated that this is in an effort to tackle “ticking time bomb” of childhood obesity in the city. With childhood obesity in the city, and the UK in general, on the rise this forms part of a massive reform on junk food. Only last month, new sugar taxation on fizzy drinks was introduced in an effort to curb the problem of obesity in the country.

Another scheme which is well underway is the Daily Mile project. This school-based initiative aims to get younger children active during their school day. Adopted by over 3,600 schools worldwide, researchers have found that the scheme has been extremely beneficial to students taking part – highlighting the key role exercise plays in a healthy lifestyle.

If you want to find out more about diet and exercise, take a look at our talkweight section of the website, which includes further advice and articles.

There we have it for this week’s news round-up. If you want to continue the conversation on any of the topics covered here, head to our forums.

The post This week in health – 11/05/2018 appeared first on talkhealth Blog.

talkhealth Blog

Hello and welcome to this week’s round-up on the biggest news stories in the world of health. From medical breakthroughs to scorching weather conditions, this week’s round-up certainly has a wide breadth of topics to take on. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

New breakthroughs in research

This week has been great for research breakthroughs. Just today, researchers from Cambridge and Toronto have announced that there has been new progress in understanding the causes motor neuron disease and a rare form of dementia. They have found a protein that cause brain cells to die in both conditions and are cautiously optimistic about how this breakthrough can help further research and improve treatments.

In addition to this, scientists have begun work on a skin implant which could help aid the detection of cancer. The implant reacts when elevated levels of calcium are present in the body, which is linked to some cancers. The research is still in its infancy, however scientists are hopeful that the technology will be successful and help in the fight against cancer.

Finally, a new drug, named Erenumab, has been developed which has been seen to help combat migraines. It has managed to work where other drugs have failed and takes the form of a monthly injection. Early signs of the drugs success are promising and, if the costs a justified, could be offered as a treatment plan for patients on the NHS.

Dealing with the weather

Now, April really is turning the heat up. You’d be forgiven for forgetting that it was snowing only about a month ago. With the new weather comes new problems; for starters, how is anyone expected to get any sleep in this heatwave? Well, if you’re struggling to get some z’s, take a look at these helpful tips and get that well needed sleep!

We all know exercise is good for the mind and body, but in this weather the thought of exercise can definitely be daunting. If you need some tips and tricks for getting the most out of your exercise in this heat, then this guide is exactly what you’re looking for. Let’s not forget that the London Marathon is also taking place this weekend, with many runners taking part to raise money for all manner of charities. With runners and spectators from across the world attending the event, staying safe keeping hydrated should be at the top of your list. If you’re running the marathon, we wish you all the best of luck!

Finally, with the hot weather comes hay fever. As the sunnier weather brings with it the risk of higher pollen counts, hay fever is a real concern for many people across the UK. If you suffer with hay fever, there are things you can do to help minimise the problems you face in this heat and enjoy the sun just like the rest.

Being prepared or pregnancy

Before, during and after pregnancy, how you look after your body is extremely important. The latest research that has found many UK women are not “nutritionally prepared for pregnancy” should be alarming news.

The research found the health of both parents before conception plays a key role in healthy pregnancies as well as the child’s long-term health. However, the research found that many women were not in a healthy place because of their diet. And the problem didn’t just sit with women; it was also found in a related review that linked male obesity with adverse effects to a child’s development.

If you are worried about your diet or have any health tips you would like to share, head to talkweight.

The truth behind being a patient

Being a patient can be tough, but it appears that it’s becoming more difficult. This is down to the fact that there are unprecedented numbers of patients living with multiple conditions at once, leading many to label being a patient as a full-time job, due to the amount of appointments and screenings they have to go through.

The researchers behind the study have stated that the NHS and other health systems are not prepared to take on these new developments – with many doctors and nurses all too often focussed on a single condition. This is turn leads patients to a prolonged time in the system, with multiple appointments with different specialists, adding additional strain not only to the patients but the NHS system as well.

And that’s it for this week’s round-up. If you want to continue to conversation, head over to the talkhealth forums!

The post This week in health – 20/04/2018 appeared first on talkhealth Blog.

talkhealth Blog

Every week, talkhealth round up the top news stories on the world of health from across the web and condense them into one bitesize read. This week, we’re looking at some new advancements in the understanding of cancer, diet and alcohol research and we take a look at whether “Night Owls” really are at risk of an early death.

New research about cancer

A recent report from male cancer charity, Orchid, has found that 4 out of 10 prostate cancers in the UK are diagnosed late.

The research found that a worrying 37% of all prostate cancers were identified at stages 3 and 4. As with all cancers, the earlier a diagnosis is made the more treatable it is. These statistics shine an alarming light on the current state of prostate cancer awareness in the UK. In comparison, in the US where prostate cancer has a higher profile, only 8% of diagnoses are made at these later stages. On the day this report was released, the government announced a £75-million five-year funding pack for research into prostate cancer, to help combat the condition. As prostate cancer has now overtaken breast cancer, in terms of death figures, more research into the condition is extremely important.

In further cancer news, there has been ground-breaking news around cancer severity and why some cancers are deadlier than others. The study centred around kidney cancer and tracked the development and mutation of cancers through sophisticated genetic work. As more work is done, it is hoped that eventually it will be possible to predict the development of a cancer and treat it quickly and more effectively by providing personalised treatment.

Health news on alcohol and processed food

In the world of food and drink, a new study has found that excessive drinking is not only harmful to your overall health, it can also take years off your life. The study of over 600,000 drinkers concluded that those who regularly drunk between 10 to 15 alcoholic drinks a week could see their lives cut short by as much as two years.

Alongside this, there was some insight into some of the UK’s most popular processed foods, with some rather shocking findings. Eating well and drinking in moderation are extremely important to an individual’s health, so ensuring that you know what you are putting into your body should always be of the upmost importance.

If you have any hints or tips of healthy eating, and drinking in moderation, head to our forums on men’s health, women’s health or weight.

Are night owls at risk?

Finally, there were worrying reports about the link between being a “night owl” and an earlier death, when compared to “early birds”. However, when the research was examined from Behind the Headlines (NHS Choices), it was found that the study doesn’t show a causation factor between the two. “Night Owls” had a tendency to have a less healthy diet and take more risks, which obviously would have an impact on life expectancy.

As the explanation from Behind the Headlines notes, if you’re a “Night owl” there’s no need to worry. As long as you maintain a healthy diet and get sufficient sleep, you should be fine. And, if you do struggle to get a good night’s sleep, here’s some tips to improve your sleep.

That’s it for this week. If you want to continue the conversation about any of these subjects, head over to our forums and get involved!

The post This Week in Health – 13/04/2018 appeared first on talkhealth Blog.

talkhealth Blog