Health News

Time to face our fears

“People need to know how to process their emotions better to prevent harm to their mental and physical health.” Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, Over three-quarters of the UK population believe the world is more frightening now compared to 10 years ago, according to a report published by the Mental Health Foundation. The report, entitled 'In the face of fear', also found that over a third of people get frightened and anxious more often than they used to. More than one in 10 people have visited their GP for help dealing with fear or anxiety. Some of the most common reasons for people becoming more frightened or anxious include fear of terrorism, the loss of a sense of community and the poor economic situation. However, Professor Frank Furedi from the School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research at the University of Kent, UK, suggests in the report that the media and politics influence people, increasing their fearfulness. He says that focusing on matters that worry people, such as terrorism and the environment, only serves to exaggerate how serious people perceive them to be. The report says that instead of trying to control things we can't influence, we should try to face our fears. This would make people feel more powerful as they learn that risks can be managed and fears overcome. Dr Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said: "This report shows that fear is having a serious negative impact on the mental and physical health of the nation.” He added: "The modern world will test our resilience again and again, and people need to know how to process their emotions better to prevent harm to their mental and physical health.” The results come from a survey of over 2,000 UK adults and their publication coincides with Mental Health Action Week 2009.The Mental Health Foundation's campaign this year focuses on increasing the public's knowledge and understanding of how fear and anxiety can affect their lives. The Foundation aims to show people that there are ways they can manage their fears and that help is available. Lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and stopping smoking can help to reduce anxiety. Breathing and relaxation techniques can also be useful.   

Key points

v     Fear is a factor in most mental health problems.

v     Women are more likely than men to have symptoms of anxiety, including sleep problems and  phobias.

v     The survey found that more young people (aged 18 to 34) feel anxious at least some of the time, compared to people over 55.

v     Londoners who were questioned in the survey are nearly twice as likely to feel anxious a lot of the time compared to the average for the rest of the country.

Vitamin B12 may be linked to risk of Alzheimer's 

Vitamin B12 may protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to research published this week. Results from the study published in the journal Neurology suggest that people who have high levels of vitamin B12 in their blood have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This research adds to growing evidence that vitamin B12 may be linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers analyzed data from more than 250 Finnish men and women aged between 65 and 79, who didn't have dementia at the start of the study. The data were taken from the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) study, which followed adults for up to seven years to find out who developed Alzheimer's disease. At the start of the study, the researchers took blood samples to measure particular markers that indicate the level of vitamin B12. They asked the participants about their medical history and measured their height, weight and blood pressure. At the end of the seven-year follow-up period, the researchers identified 17 people who had developed Alzheimer's disease. These people were found to have lower levels of vitamin B12 at the start of the study. The results showed that people with high levels of vitamin B12 in their blood were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease. The results remained the same after the researchers took into account other factors that may affect the risk of Alzheimer's disease, such as weight and blood pressure. The researchers highlighted a number of limitations to their study, including the small number of people studied and the fact that they only took the blood samples at the beginning of the study. They suggest that larger and better planned studies are needed to identify whether vitamin B12 supplements can be used to help prevent Alzheimer's disease. “Doing plenty of exercise, keeping your mind active, eating a healthy balanced diet and regularly monitoring your blood and cholesterol levels may help to reduce your risk of developing the disease.” Dr Graham Stokes, Director of Dementia Care for Bupa 

Key facts

v     Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia and affects more than 450,000 people in the UK.

v     Alzheimer's is a progressive disease, which means that gradually over time, more parts of your brain become damaged and your symptoms get worse.

v     Common symptoms of early-stage Alzheimer's disease include mild memory loss or problems finding the right words.

v     As Alzheimer's disease progresses, your memory loss will get worse and you may have increased trouble with speech. You may also have mood swings and become more withdrawn.

v     The main risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease is age. Other factors that make you more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease include other people in your family having the condition, having had a head injury, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

Mammograms for women under 50?

Annual breast screening for women with a family history of breast cancer may lead to fewer deaths, researchers have suggested. The study, published in the Lancet Oncology, looked at the effects of offering a yearly screening mammogram to over 6,000 women under the age of 50, for an average of four years. None of the women had previously had breast cancer. Their family history of breast cancer was judged to be of medium risk according to criteria set by the researchers, such as having one close relative who had had breast cancer before the age of 40. The researchers looked at the number of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer during the study, whether the cancer had spread and how fast-growing it was. They also estimated the women's chance of survival. In total, 136 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Of these, 105 were found at screening, 28 were found after the women developed symptoms of breast cancer between annual mammograms and three were found after the women didn't go for their latest mammogram and developed symptoms. The researchers compared these results with two groups of women from the general population who didn't receive breast screening. The researchers say that their findings suggest that annual mammograms for women aged 40 to 50 who have a medium familial risk of breast cancer are likely to be effective in preventing deaths from the disease. The researchers calculated that out of 10,000 mammograms, two lives would be saved within 10 years of the women being diagnosed with breast cancer. However, the researchers admit that there are a number of limitations to the study. The women who didn't receive the annual mammograms were not part of the same study because it would not be ethical to withhold annual screening just to make an accurate comparison. Some of the women who didn't receive mammograms had no family history of breast cancer and may have had other important differences. Also, the study didn't follow the women for long enough to accurately record their survival. “It's not surprising that by targeting breast cancer screening to a higher-risk group of 40 to 49-year-olds it might work better than blanket screening… I'd like to see further research for optimum breast cancer screening strategies for groups of women who have different levels of risk for breast cancer.” Dr Annabel Bentley, Medical Director, Bupa Health and Wellbeing UK, Bupa Health and Wellbeing UK Medical Director, Dr Annabel Bentley, said: This study looked at women aged 40 to 49 who had a close relative with breast cancer. We know that these women have a higher risk of breast cancer than women the same age who don't have a close relative with breast cancer. We also know that screening tests work better in higher-risk populations. So it's not surprising that by targeting breast cancer screening to a higher-risk group of 40 to 49-year-olds it might work better than blanket screening every woman in this age group. "However, this single study doesn't prove that, and there are several limitations to the research, such as the number of women they managed to recruit into the study. I'd like to see further research for optimum breast cancer screening strategies for groups of women who have different levels of risk for breast cancer. At Bupa Centers we offer women over 40 years old a choice of breast mammography once they have had a chance to discuss the pros and cons of the test with their Bupa doctor.
Key facts
v     Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK.
v     The NHS currently offers free mammograms to screen for breast cancer every three years to all women aged 50 to 70.
v     By 2012, this will have been extended to all women aged between 47 and 73.
v     A mammogram is an X-ray of your breasts. It's used to check for changes that may indicate a breast disease.
v     It's important to be aware that mammograms won't always pick up every occurrence of breast cancer.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to various diseases

New research recently published in the journal Genome Research, adds weight to the theory that vitamin D deficiency plays a key role in causing autoimmune diseases, after scientists found over 200 genes that it directly influences. The researchers created a map of the specific locations on the human genome where vitamin D binds to DNA through proteins called vitamin D receptors. Vitamin D activates these receptors and influences the behavior of genes that are associated with particular characteristics. The study showed that the vitamin D receptor was found in over 2,700 binding sites. Many of these sites were near genes that are associated with common autoimmune diseases and certain types of cancer. In particular, the researchers found that vitamin D had a significant effect on genes associated with multiple sclerosis, Cohn’s disease and type 1 diabetes. Vitamin D receptor binding was also found in regions on the genome that are linked with cancers such as leukaemia and colorectal cancer. Vitamin D is produced naturally by your body when your skin is exposed to sunlight and can also be obtained from some foods, such as oily fish. However, many people don’t get enough from these sources. This is especially true if you live in a region that is nearer to the North or South Pole than to the equator (for example the UK, Canada or southern Argentina), where the sunlight needed to make vitamin D is only strong enough during the summer. “Optimal levels of vitamin D can be achieved with supplements and/or spending time in summer sun without sunscreen but being careful not to let the skin get red or burn.” Dr Virginia Warren, Assistant Medical Director at Bupa, It’s already well known that vitamin D deficiency affects bone development, leading to conditions such as rickets, but this study supports previous research showing that vitamin D plays a role in the development of other diseases. Bupa recommends taking vitamin D supplements to reduce the chance of developing cancer by 26 percent. Taking at least 1,500 to 2,000 international units (IU) a day, which equates to three to four high-strength capsules (12.5 micrograms/capsule),will reduce your risk of developing a number of cancers as well as various bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis and osteomalacia. Dr Virginia Warren, Assistant Medical Director at Bupa, commented on the research: It is exciting that these researchers have shown that vitamin D is involved in determining the extent to which more than 200 genes are turned on. Vitamin D insufficiency is common in the UK and deficiency happens too. Optimal levels of vitamin D can be achieved with supplements and/or spending time in summer sun without sunscreen but being careful not to let the skin get red or burn.

Key facts

v     One billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency.

v     Around one in six middle-aged white people in Britain have vitamin D deficiency at the end of winter, and one in 30 still do at the end of summer. Levels of insufficiency - when vitamin D levels are below normal - are higher, at nearly one in two people at the end of winter and one in six at the end of summer.

v     Vitamin D can be found in oily fish, such as salmon, sardines or mackerel, and in fortified breakfast cereals. It is also produced naturally by your skin when it is exposed to sunlight.

v     In the UK, some groups of people (such as those of Asian origin or those who are housebound) are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency because of low vitamin D intake from food and/or inadequate exposure of skin to sunshine.

v     Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, which are needed to help keep bones and teeth healthy.