MATTERS
APRIL 25 - MAY 1, 2013
HEALTH Writer: Hazelann Williams - Design: Thierry Lagrin The Voice supplement i page 21/22/27/28
SPRING HAS SPRUNG Natural treatments to help you fight seasonal allergies INSIDE i DON’T TAKE: A Vacation From Vaccinations p23 i BREAST CANCER: Alternative Options Explored p28
22 | THE VOICE APRIL 25 - MAY1, 2013
HEALTHMATTERS
Spring has sprung By Hazelann Williams
T
HE dark cold days of winter are behind us and Spring is finally in full bloom. But while many of us look forward to hotter temperatures, there is a large portion of the community who dread the imminent threat of Spring and Summer allergies. There are many pollutants and allergens in our ecosystem that can cause adverse reactions, it is estimated that one in three of the UK population will suffer from an allergy at some point in their lifetime and with the number of sufferers rising each year, April 22-27 has been designated Allergy Awareness week. While some allergies are perennial and last all year round, there is one notable culprit that affects many people during the summer months and that is hay fever. BLOODSTREAM Hay fever is caused when an immune system has an abnormal reaction to pollen which is around one in five people in the UK, according to the NHS. The immune system interprets the allergen as an invader and responds by releasing a chemical called histamine into the bloodstream. Histamine causes inflammation of the sinuses and eyes as a way to block the allergen from entering the body and also triggers sneezing as it tries to expel the invader. Antihistamines are generally effective against mild cases of hay fever, but if you are weary of treating your symptoms with prescription drugs there are some natural remedies that can help you keep the reactions to a minimum. REACTIONS Natalie Hall founder of Salute Skincare has dedicated her career to producing natural, clean, chemical free products for all skin types. A hay fever sufferer herself, she has offered a few tips on combating your allergies. If you are prone to allergic reactions during the summer and know what causes them, it’s best if you avoid the irritant altogether. However, if you are unsure seek medical advice and ask your doctor for an allergy test, to determine the exact cause of your discomfort. s Never scratch or rub the irritated or inflamed area. s Chamomile lotion is a great cure for rashes; the oil also helps prevent sneezing. sGreen tea blocks the production of histamines and help builds the immune system.
We look at a range of natural treatments to help you fight seasonal allergies.
ALLERGY FACTS Allergic rhinitis The medical term for hay fever is seasonal allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis means inflammation of the inside of the nose. Some people can also experience hay-fever-like symptoms when they are exposed to other allergy-triggering substances, such as dust mites and animal fur. Pollen count The pollen count is a measurement of the amount of pollen in the air. The higher the count the more severe symptoms of hay fever can become (depending on the specific type of pollen you are allergic to). The Met Office provides a pollen forecast. If the count is high you can take preventative steps such as taking an antihistamine before leaving the house. You can have an allergy to: s 4REE POLLEN RELEASED DURING spring. s 'RASS POLLEN RELEASED DURING the end of spring and beginning of summer. s 7EED POLLEN RELEASED ANY time from early spring to late autumn. Self-help tips It is sometimes possible to prevent the symptoms of hay fever by taking some basic precautions, such as: s 7EARING WRAPAROUND SUNglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes when you are outdoors. s #HANGE YOUR CLOTHES AND take a shower after being outdoors to remove the pollen on your body. s 4RY TO STAY INDOORS WHEN THE pollen count is high (over 50). Facts and tips provided by NHS Choices. http://www.nhs. uk/conditions/hay-fever/pages/ introduction.aspx
HEALTHMATTERS
APRIL 25 - MAY1, 2013 THE VOICE | 27
Don’t take a vacation from vaccinations By Hazelann Williams
Y
OU’VE booked the time off work, paid the travel agent and brought a whole new wardrobe but have you done the most important thing for your holiday and checked to see if you need an inoculation? Probably not, according to the NHS almost one in four UK holidaymakers travel without necessary vaccinations, despite going to countries with lifethreatening infectious diseases. In fact, a massive 60 percent of tourists catch typhoid, also known as traveller’s diarrhoea, when abroad. Typhoid causes diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and can last up to three days. About 10 per-
Before going on holiday make sure you are protected from infectious diseases. cent of all cases are serious and lead to hospitalisation, but all cases are preventable with inoculation. As a precaution against the spread of diseases, some countries require you to have an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) before you enter. For example, countries in Africa and South America will not accept travellers from an area where there is yellow fever, unless they can prove that they have been vaccinated against it. It was only last Thursday
(April 18) that the UK government, in conjunction with the Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program reported an outbreak of yellow fever in the Jirapa district, which has caused the death of three people. In the UK there are 15 different inoculations available on the NHS, including cholera, yellow fever and typhoid. Polio, typhoid and cholera are all free-toreceive vaccinations. So, before jetting off on your well-deserved break visit your doctor for advice
on inoculations, to make sure your dream holiday doesn’t turn into a nightmare. VACCINATION FACTS The following travel vaccinations are free on the NHS: s 0OLIO GIVEN AS A TETAnus, diphtheria and polio booster). s 4YPHOID s 4HE lRST DOSE OF HEPATItis A. s #HOLERA
However, you’re likely to have to pay for travel vaccinations against meningococcal meningitis, hepatitis B, yellow fever, rabies, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis, regardless of whether you have the vaccinations at your GP surgery or at a private travel clinic (though GPs can opt not to charge you). There are several things to consider when planning your travel vaccinations, including: s 4HE COUNTRY OR COUN-
tries you are visiting – in some cases, the region of a country you are visiting will also be important. s 7HEN YOU ARE TRAVELling – some diseases are more common at certain times of the year, for example during the rainy season. s 7HERE YOU ARE STAYing – in general, you will be more at risk of getting diseases in rural areas than in urban areas. s )F YOU ARE BACKPACKING and staying in hostels or camping, you may be more at risk than if you were on a package holiday and staying in a hotel. s (OW LONG YOU WILL BE staying – the longer your stay, the greater your risk of being exposed to diseases. Continues on Page 28ii
28 | THE VOICE APRIL 25 - MAY1, 2013
HEALTHMATTERS
Breast Cancer: Conventional Medicine – Or is there anything else out there? SPONSORED FEATURE
Article Written By: Marion Makonnen Bsc (Hons) Medical Herbalist, NLP practitioner and Researcher Director - Instrumental Health.
I
Based at the TLC Health Products and Services Ltd 349 Green Lanes N4 1DZ. Tel: 079 3299 3389 Web: www.instrumentalhealth.co.uk Email: instrumentalhealth@yahoo.com Web: www.tlchealthservice.co.uk Tel: 0208 809 1719 Other therapies carried out at the TLC Centre include: Private GP services, Pregnancy and Ante-Natal, Colonics, Osteopathy (back pain), Footcare, Lymphatic Drainage, Massage, Arthritis and Ageing, Sports Massage and a range of Health Products.
n 2010, 49,564 UK women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Black women were one third less likely to develop breast cancer than white women. Yet, a higher percentage of black women died from breast cancer than their white counterparts due to them contracting a more aggressive form. The standard conventional approach to cancer is surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The aim is to target and kill as much of the tumour as possible but unfortunately normal cells are also killed off in the process and the immune system becomes lowered. The immune system is vital to our health as cancer cells which are continually developing in our bodies are usually destroyed by white blood cells before they can develop into dangerous tumours.
Cancers appear when the immune system becomes suppressed and can no longer cope with the cancerous cells. Suppressors of the immune system are: carcinogens ie smoking; pathogens ie viruses; lifestyle factors ie stress or diet; environmental toxins like pesticides; age and genetics. What are the other approaches? Research shows many people are turning to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for an integrative or alternative approach to their healthcare. Practitioners of CAM understand that the body and the mind are irrevocably linked offering treatments which help to improve physical, emotional and mental well-being. Examples of CAM therapies are: acupuncture which can be used to help cope with side effects such as nausea, pain, and fatigue after
Continues from page 27 s 9OUR AGE AND HEALTH n SOME PEOPLE may be more vulnerable to infection than others, while some vaccinations cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions. s 7HAT YOU WILL BE DOING DURING YOUR stay –for example, whether you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, such as trekking or working in rural areas. s )F YOU ARE WORKING AS AN AID WORKER
you may come into contact with more diseases if you are working in a refugee camp or helping after a natural disaster. s )F YOU ARE WORKING IN A MEDICAL SETting – for example, a doctor or nurse may require additional vaccinations. s )F YOU ARE IN CONTACT WITH ANIMALS
you may be more at risk of getting diseases that are spread by animals, such as rabies.
cancer treatments; massage which can be used to ease related stress; meditation, hypnosis or yoga for mind and body relaxation; imagery/visualisation which uses the mind to help heal the body; creative outlets ie art, music, or dance and energy medicine using energy fields for healing eg Tai Chi or Reiki. There are those people who choose to work alongside conventional medicine and those who choose to opt out but both may use treatments like detoxification, nutrition, supplements and herbal medicine. Whichever route you take make sure you seek professional advice as this is a time when informed advice is essential. However there are some basic things which should never be left out of your daily healthcare regime these include: rest, exercise, a healthy diet including water (studies show 10% of cancers may be linked to
diet.), forgiveness (many people carry around hurt and pain from the past), stress reduction techniques, a support network of family, friends and professionals but most of all love yourself! For further information on CAM or Breast Cancer visit: www.yestolife.org.uk www.cnhc.org.uk www.betterdays.uk.com
Health & Nutritional drinks Levive- Nutritional Anti- Oxidant Drink In order to maintain health, it is necessary to produce antioxidants equal to the amount of free radicals found in the body. Antioxidants are health boosting compounds also known as phytonutrients. These are found in all fruits but in greater quantities in superfruits. A diet high in phyto-nutrients has been shown to help fight the diseases responsible for 75% of all deaths each year, including heart disease and cancer. How effectively an antioxidantrich fruit neutralises free radicals is measured in terms of its ORAC score. Just for comparison, an orange has ORAC score of 750. The body needs approximately 5,000 antioxidants per
day to fight free radicals. Free radicals are rogue molecules that proliferate (grow, multiply, thrive) in our bodies as a result of exposure to environmental chemicals, convenience foods and stress. Even the ageing process and exercising produces more of them. A balanced diet usually provide us with between 1,700 and 2,000 antioxidants leaving us with a deficit of 3,000 a day that must be provided through supplements. “The amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to the amount of the time you are to live” Dr. Richard Cuttler, former Director of the National Institute of Aging.
THE 5 SUPERFRUITS IN THE LEVIVE HEALTH DRINK ARE: 1. Acai Berry – around 20,000 ORAC*
2. Goji Berry – around 30,000 ORAC*
3. Mangosteen fruit – around 20,000 ORAC*
4. Noni Berry – around 30,000 ORAC*
5. Pomegranate – around 10,500 ORAC*
Information facts provided by NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/ Travel-immunisation/Pages/Introduction.aspx
For more information or to order the Levive healthy option drink please contact below: Nigel, Emma, Joanne, Adelaide or Jasmine
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