Category: Health

We recently published a news item on the detrimental effects of daily commuting on well-being (International Therapist, Issue 108). New research has revealed people who walk or cycle to work benefit from improved mental well-being, compared to those who travel by car. Data on around 18,000 commuters across the UK from long-running studies (over 18…

Research* commissioned by Cats Protection shows that sharing a home with a cat can help people of all ages cope with the demands of everyday life, with findings such as: • During the months of January and February, cat owners suffer 60% less headaches than non-cat owners, are 21% less likely to catch a cold…

A poll of more than 2,000 Britons by sunshine.co.uk about their ‘Top holiday fears’ found that 33% were worried about getting sunburn. Professional therapists are well placed to talk to clients about sun protection, particularly if going on holiday comes up in conversation. The following article, published in International Therapist (July 2013, Issue 105) points…

Professor of Dementia Studies at Leeds Beckett University, Claire Surr, writes about how dementia is worrying the British public. As an academic working in the field of applied dementia research, the fact that dementia is a topic on everyone’s lips brings with it mixed feelings. On the one hand its position of prominence on the international…

gulp (give up loving pop) is a campaign by Food Active to raise awareness of health issues related to the consumption of sugary drinks, including: obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay. Firstly control your love for sugary drinks! There are hundreds of different sugary drinks available, but here are some that you…

A combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training may be the most effective way to reduce obesity in teenagers. A study divided 304 teenagers (aged 14 to 18) into four groups: aerobic-only exercise regime; resistance only; aerobic and resistance combined; and diet advice in a four-week counselling scheme (with no exercise). Exercise regimes were supervised…

(click to enlarge) The vast majority of patients are happy with the care they receive from their doctors, according to analysis by one of the UK’s largest providers of medical revalidation, Equiniti 360 Clinical, with over 98% saying they are satisfied with the overall experience provided. Every five years, all doctors are required by law…

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) urges employers to help workers kick-start a healthier lifestyle during Heart Month. Workers in Wales feel they’re putting their heart health at risk due to the pressures of their job, according to a new survey by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) during the charity’s Heart Month (February). (1) The survey…

…urgent need for research based on strong anecdotal evidence People with arthritis used to be told to eat less foods from the deadly nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, goji berries) as a way of reducing symptoms. In recent years this thinking has been widely dispelled as a myth. There is no scientific evidence that…

(click to view at full size) Kate Granger, a doctor and terminally ill cancer patient, launched the ‘Hello, my name is…’ campaign, when she observed that many of the staff looking after her during a hospital visit last summer did not introduce themselves before delivering care. A news item published by the British Medical Journal…

The International Agency for Research on Cancer’s new code recommends 12 lifestyle measures to boost cancer prevention: Do not smoke. Make your home smoke free. Maintain a healthy body weight. Be physically active. Limit the time you spend sitting. Have a healthy diet, containing plenty of whole grains, pulses, vegetables and fruits. Limit high-calorie foods…