Could You Go Without Gluten For A Week?
Friday, 11 May 2012
Coeliac UK, the national charity for coeliac disease is challenging the nation to go gluten-free from 14-20 May to raise awareness of the daily food frustrations encountered by the 1 in 100 people in the UK who have coeliac disease.
The idea of the Gluten-free Challenge is for people to sh......
Breast Cancer Should Be 10 Different Diseases
Monday, 23 April 2012
Breast Cancer Should Be 10 Different Diseases
According to an international study which analysed breast cancers in 2000 women, breast cancer should be thought of as 10 separate diseases By treating different categories and tailoring treatment and drugs for the specific type of cancer patie......
Vitamin D Clinic Wins Place in Final of U.K C&D Innovation Awards...(0)
posted on 9th May 2012
It was standing room only on Tuesday night when Elizabeth Roddick, pharmacist and owner of New Life Pharmacy was introducing her vitamin D clinic to the people of Netherlee South Glasgow.
“Vitamin D deficiency is a known problem in Scotland and I wanted to raise awareness of this and offer solutions to tackling the issue,” said Elizabeth yesterday.
Elizabeth is working with Dr Eva Kocovska a researcher at Glasgow University who has recently had her research published ‘Vitamin D and autism:Clinical Review’(Research in Developmental Disabilities 33 (2012) 1541-1550 where an argument was made about the possible link between the role ofvitamin D and autism. Dr Kocovska explains “This pharmacy service is indeed an innovative project. Elizabeth is working in collaboration with myself to scrutinise for any possible link or association between specific vitamin D levels and various health conditions or changes”.
Dr Helga Rhein a G.P. working in Lothian NHS is another proponent of vitamin D supplementation. She wrote “Elizabeth Roddick has taken up the vitamin D challenge and opened a vitamin D advice and testing clinic. I regard this step as a laudable unique innovation which will fulfil a so far unmet need and is urgently necessary. Publicising the opening and its running in due course will spread the word about vitamin D. I hope her project will become well known soon, thrive and will inspire and encourage others to do similar”.
Deficiency in Vitamin D in the U.K. and particularly in Scotland is widespread. Vitamin D is produced in the body by the sun hitting the skin. The particular wavelength required to produce vitamin D from the sun is only available for three or four months in the summer barring rain and cloud. Also, the skin needs to be exposed at the hottest time of the day for about 15 minutes. It is of course very important that the skin does not burn since that can lead to skin cancer. A small amount of vitamin D is obtained from our diet. Foods such as oily fish, eggs and fortified cereals contain the vitamin.
The Chief Medical Officers of the U.K. countries recently reiterated the statement that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should supplement with vitamin D. Rickets, a disease where softening of the bones occurs has reappeared across the U.K. This condition is as a direct result of vitamin D deficiency and is easily prevented by making sure blood levels are adequate.
Many studies linking diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), cancer, depression and respiratory tract infections with vitamin D deficiency are now emerging.
“I believe that supplementation is required for most people. Also, because there are certain people who shouldn’t take vitamin D and a wide range of doses are available it can be confusing. Advice needs to be available when purchasing the products” added Elizabeth
Elizabeth Roddick is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. She owns and manages New Life Pharmacy in Glasgow.
Is there a vaccine available for shingles?...(0)
posted on 20th April 2012
Yes, there is a new shingles vaccine available called Zostavax
Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox (the varicella zoster virus) and it is seen on the skin as a painful blistering rash.
After you have had chickenpox, the virus that caused it is still present, dormant in the nerve cells. If the virus becomes active again then it moves along the nerve fibres to the skin and the tell tale rash appears in the area. About 1 in 5 people who have had chickenpox will have an attack of shingles later in life.
Most attacks are for no particular reason but you are more susceptible if you are
- Elderly
- Experiencing physical or emotional stress
- Someone with a weakened immune system e.g. leukaemia
- Taking medicines that suppress the immune system such as in cancer chemotherapy and transplants
A shingles attack starts with pain and burning in the skin and a day or two later a rash appears which can spread rapidly. You may also feel ill, have a fever and or headache. Treatment involves taking an anti-viral tablet usually 5 times a day but it must be started early to be effective. If you get a shingles in the face it is imperative that you get medical help quickly since it could spread to the eye and cause decreased vision and even permanent blindness.
In New Life Pharmacy we are offering the shingles vaccination. The cost will be £150 and bookings can be made by phoning 0141 637 6000
Elizabeth Roddick was interviewed on Insight Radio on this subject on Wednesday 18th. You can listen to an I-Pod version.
Can eating white rice really increase your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes?...(0)
posted on 10th April 2012
This was contained in recent press reports that eating white rice could increase your chance of getting Type 2 diabetes. Remember Type 2 diabetes is generally associated with increase in age and unhealthy lifestyle.
The report about the study was published in the BMJ (the British Medical Journal) and they had found that the highest levels of white rice intake were associated with a 27% increase in risk of developing diabetes compared with the lowest levels.
Although the review found an association between the increase in rice intake and diabetes it can't actually prove that it directly causess it.
So does that mean you can still enjoy a Chinese or Indian meal from time to time? Yes of course you can. As usual the message is -eat a healthy balanced diet and exercise regularly. that is the best way to decrease your chances of increasing your risk of developing diabetes. Moderation is the key!
A BBC report suggested that drugs require better labelling...(0)
posted on 9th March 2012
This was about a survey of 500 patients that showed that 40% were
unknowingly prescribed medicines containing gelatin despite being vegetarian
or having other cultural and religious beliefs. There has been a call for
clearer labelling of medicines including an ingredient list so that patients
can make an informed choice.
The APBI -the body that represents the pharmaceutical industry in the UK
siad that European legislation actually required disclosure of all
ingredients in the leaflet which comes with the drugs.
If you are unsure about your medicine or require more information then
please contact the pharmacy.
Can chocolate be good for you?...(0)
posted on 27th February 2012
A study funded by Diabetes UK involving taking flavonoid rich chocolate resulted in a beneficial clinical effect.
93 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes aged between 51 and 74 took part in the trial. Half were given two small bars of flavonoid-enriched chocolate each day and half were given placebo chocolate bars. Those receiving the extra flavonoids reduced their risk of suffering a heart attack in the next decade by 3.4% and also reduced their cholesterol levels.
This showed that diet has a beneficial clinical effect over and above the normal drug treatment.
The researchers were at pains to point out that the chocolate used was not like the commercially produced bars which put on weight and can adversely effect diabetes.
There are various foods that contain flavonoids such as tea, red wine, fruits and vegetables and dark chocolate.
Further studies are now needed to see if other foods have the same effect and whether men would benefit also.
So the message is a little dark chocolate may be a good thing after all.
Many people have very low levels of Vitamin D3 in their blood and there is increasing concern that this may be a factor in explaining some of the significant health issues that we are facing today. To learn more about this click here or to buy click hereKeep a record of your health Assess your risk of diseases
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