Health News

[Bada-Bing!]

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Hospitals in England with worst A&E waits revealed

More than half of patients have waited more than four hours in some trusts in England this winter.

www.bbc.co.uk

My local trust - ambulance waiting outside A & E almost double the national average.

 

[Which Tyler]

Girl with deadly inherited condition is cured with gene therapy on NHS

Teddi Shaw, from Northumberland, first recipient on health service of Libmeldy, world’s most expensive drug

www.theguardian.com

 

[Old Hooker]

Hopefully a couple of helpful tips from my own experience.

If you'd have said 'screening' or 'blood pressure' to me in my 20s or 30s I'd probably have laughed, said I'm fine and isn't that just for old people anyway? My mind has changed.

In my mid 40s I was having investigations for an episode - which they eventually put down to a muscular event. But they did a thorough job (NHS initially then private) and found that I had a genetic heart condition that I had no idea about and hadn't had any symptoms for. It effects about 1 in 500 people and one of the variants unfortunately kills otherwise fit and healthy young people including Gabby Logan's brother. Thankfully I don't have that strain, although there was still a low sudden death risk which reduces as you get older. Worrying, especially given both my parents have had heart issues. Ultimately, no intervention needed except having to manage blood pressure - mine wasn't extreme, but was raised and very high BP does run in the family.

Why writing now? We're a few years on and last night I saw the cardiologist for an MOT - he's going to run some further tests for precise data, but he's happy its being managed well and has actually removed some restrictions he originally put in about the intensity of exercise I could do. Bully for me!

The point is that I had no idea about this condition or how long I'd had it. It was only found by accident and if left unmanaged it may only have revealed itself at the problem stage. A simple ECG was all that was needed to identify that there was a problem needing investigation. So if you do get the chance through private providers or otherwise please do take up any screening options available. You may feel fine, but you never quite know what's going on below the surface.

As for blood pressure they call it the Silent Killer for good reasons and the more you learn about it the more you realise just how important it is. Do get yours checked by a doctor from time to time and you can get a home monitor for about £30 too.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Gambling: Government expected to tighten regulation on sector

A forthcoming government white paper on gambling is expected to tighten regulation in the sector.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

This could be huge for the world in terms of reducing population and for couples who don't want a kid but dislike the alternatives (anything I read about 'the pill' is pretty unpleasant and although I've no real interest in being a father I'm not getting the snip). If it becomes affordable a guy would have to be a complete idiot to cause an unwanted pregnancy.

Male contraceptive pill prototype stops sperm swimming

Early tests in mice look promising for a non-hormonal, on-demand pill that immobilises sperm.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[BrokenWing]

If it becomes affordable a guy would have to be a complete idiot to cause an unwanted pregnancy.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Youngs on 'loneliness' without wife Tiffany

Former England and Leicester hooker Tom Youngs says his "the days are getting easier" following the death of his wife Tiffany.

www.bbc.co.uk