New Life Health Care

Vitamin D Clinic in final of UK C&D Awards

Elizabeth — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:15:26 +0000

See our news about the vitamin D clinic award

Haemorrhoids (Piles)

Elizabeth — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:36:32 +0000

Haemorrhoids (piles)
Haemorrhoids occur when veins found in the lower end of the bowel (the anus) become dilated (swollen) and inflamed. They are similar to varicose veins but are found in the region of the anus.

There are 3 types of haemorrhoids:
* External haemorrhoids-small hard lumps that are found under the skin around
the anus.

Internal haemorrhoids-found inside the back passage and are usually painless

but may bleed.

      *   Prolapsed haemorrhoids-push through the anus and hang outside the body.
           They are usually a more severe and painful form of internal haemorrhoids.

Activities that can weaken the tissue that supports the blood vessels in the anus and the back passage and can lead to haemorrhoids are:

Increasing age
Constipation
Pregnancy
Prolonged straining e.g. long periods on the toilet and heavy manual labour.

Symptoms include:

Bleeding (Usually bright red blood on toilet paper).
Lumps
Pain or discomfort
Soiling of underwear
Itching
Burning sensation
Internal haemorrhoids may give a feeling that a bowel movement was incomplete.

Advice
Avoid constipation
If pain is severe take painkillers such as paracetamol. Avoid those containing codeine which can cause constipation.
Use mild soap and water after each bowel movement then pat dry.

Mucoid plaque

Elizabeth — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:28:45 +0000

There has been a lot of information recently in the press about ‘mucoid plaque’. This, according to reports is a hardened mucous-like material that adheres to the wall of the intestine and thus, in theory stops the absorption of nutrients. The scientific and medical literature fails to support this concept. What is clear is that eating a healthy diet with sufficient fibre (25g per day) can greatly reduce the risk of colon cancer since the transit time of waste material in the intestine is increased. In other words, emptying the bowel more regularly reduces the time the waste material is in the bowel.

Do you find it difficult to talk about irritable bowel syndrome?

Elizabeth — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 21:56:52 +0000

There still seems to be a lot of stigma attached to bowel symptoms. People would rather talk e.g. about a problem in their sex lives than the fact that they have painful constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome or (IBS) causes a wide variety of symptoms. You may experience constipation, diarrhoea and wind. Other parts of the body can be affected as well e.g. pain in muscles and joints, headache, dizziness and tiredness. More worringly, it can trigger feelings of depression, anxiety and hopelesness. No wonder you may have difficulty talking about it!

IBS occurs in about one in five people in the UK and women are about three times more likely than men to experience the syndrome. Because, when you undergo tests such as an X-ray, scan or blood tests your bowel looks normal and the cause remains unknown, it almost seems that health professionals do not understand. But we do actually understand and e. g. we know that emotional stress can play an important factor and it may be that interaction with the body, the mind-body interaction that manifests in an uncomfortable bowel. Patients with more emotional upset in their lives experience more severe symptoms than health patients.

Maybe you seem to be worse when a particular food is eaten. Research by Professor Whorewell published in the journal Gut in October 2004 looked at excluding certain foods from the diet. The main foods that on exclusion produced a 26% improvement in symptoms were: yeast, milk, whole egg, wheat, cashews, peas, chicken, shellfish and cabbage.

Eating moderate portions at regular intervals can balance out the sensitvity of your bowel.

If you have constipation them try to eat both insoluble and soluble fibre. Examples of insoluble fibre are wholemeal bread, brown rice and pasta. Examples of soluble fibre are oats, beans, peas, lentils, fruit and vegetables. If you suffer from diarrhoea then avoid foods with strings, seeds or pips.

Hypnothrapy has been studied as a treatment for IBS. Peter Whorwell, professor of medicine and gastroenterology at South Manchester University Hospital found during clinical trials that it was extremely effective in improving symptoms and quality of life.

Speaking to a trained counsellor or just a kind friend can be helpful in working out emotional upsets which could be contributing to the symptoms.

Restoring the bowel’s bacterial population can sometimes help. A product such as Lactobacillus can be helpful for IBS sufferers.

Why are these additives in our childrens’ medicines?

Elizabeth — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 20:25:28 +0000

A recent report by the The Food Magazine examined medicines aimed at babies and children under three. They found that some of these medicines intended for young children frequently contained additives banned from food and drink.

These substances needed to be added to medicines because most medicines could not be manufactured, stored or administered without some sort of additional ingredients for their preservation. For example, suspensions can be quite unstable, such that preservatives and other additives become necessary to maintain product quality for a suitable shelf-life. Sweeteners and other flavours are often added as many medicines have an unpleasant taste, this is especially pertinent to children. The manufacturers of the medicines concerned have insisted that their medicines are safe. If you want to know which additive or sweetener is in your child’s medicine then e-mail me at info@newlifehealthcare.co.uk