Published25 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterChildren’s doctors are calling for a complete ban on disposable vapes because they are likely to damage young lungs and are bad for the environment.But an anti-smoking campaign group says a ban would make it harder for some adults to give up smoking and increase the trade in illegal vapes.UK governments are planning steps to reduce vaping among under-18s.These are likely to include tighter rules on how vaping products are marketed and promoted.Selling vapes or e-cigarettes to children is illegal, but that has not stopped a rise in 11 to 17-year-olds experimenting with vaping – from 7.7% in 2022 up to 11.6% in 2023, according to a YouGov survey for Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).About 15% of 16 to 17-year-olds and 18% of 18-year-olds are current vapers, it suggests.Brightly-coloured nicotine vapes in a variety of flavours, which are used once and then thrown away, are the most popular product among teenagers, who tend to get them from corner shops for about £5 each.Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently said it was “ridiculous” that vapes were designed and promoted to appeal to children when they were supposed to be used by adults giving up smoking.A BBC investigation found unsafe levels of lead, nickel and chromium in vapes confiscated from a secondary school, which could end up being inhaled into children’s lungs. Scientists analysing the vapes said they were the worst lab test results of their kind they had ever seen.The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) now says the UK government should “without a doubt” ban disposable e-cigarettes.How easy is it to buy an illegal vape?Vaping – is it a risk-free option?Vaping nearly killed me, says British teenager”Youth vaping is fast becoming an epidemic among children, and I fear that if action is not taken, we will find ourselves sleepwalking into a crisis,” said Dr Mike McKean, paediatric respiratory consultant and RCPCH vice-president. Health experts stress that smoking cigarettes, which contain tobacco, is still the single biggest cause of preventable illness and disease in the UK. However, Dr McKean said vaping products were “not risk-free” and research on them was “still very much in its infancy”, meaning it was not possible to predict the long-term impacts on young people’s lungs, hearts and brains.Last week, Mr Sunak announced he would close a loophole allowing vaping companies to give free samples to children in England, and look at increasing fines for shops selling vapes illegally. A call for evidence on how to curb youth vaping ends on Tuesday.In Scotland, the First Minister recently said a ban on disposable vapes was under consideration in a report being compiled by an environmental expert group.The RCPCH said governments should now decide whether to take further action “to prioritise our children and our planet”.But others say a ban on disposable vapes is not needed and would not have the desired effect.’Pocket money prices’Charity and campaign group Ash says a complete ban would end up boosting the market for illegal vapes and make it harder to recycle them.And it said disposable vapes were a useful tool for adult smokers, particularly older people and those with learning disabilities, to quit tobacco.”We need to be really careful about banning them – vapes and e-cigarettes have been invaluable in stopping people smoking,” said Prof Ruth Sharrock, respiratory consultant in Gateshead, who works with patients with respiratory failure.Although disposable vapes are just one kind of vaping product, Ash estimates that they are used by 20% of vapers who have quit smoking.Prof Nick Hopkinson, respiratory physician and chairman of Ash, said smoking remained “the biggest health problem for adults and children”, and urged more funding for stop smoking services as well as stricter rules on vaping. Ash says disposable vapes can be bought for “pocket money prices” and is calling on the government to put a tax of £5 on their price. This means they would cost a similar amount to rechargeable, reusable vaping products – but still much less than a pack of cigarettes.It also wants rules to be tightened around the way vapes are promoted in shops, to reduce their appeal to children.The vaping industry also says a ban on single-use vapes is not the answer.It wants to see on-the-spot fines of at least £10,000 for shops caught selling vapes to under-18s and a retail registration scheme that would ensure shops meet strict standards before they are allowed to sell them.John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) said “strong, targeted action directed at those illegally selling vape products to children is the way forward”.Green Alliance, an independent think tank, said disposable vapes wasted resources like lithium which are needed for batteries to power electric cars, and recycling them was costly.It called current government proposals to restrict marketing and end free giveaways to children “laughably inadequate”.A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care in England said: “We are taking bold action to crack down on youth vaping through the £3m illicit vapes enforcement squad to tackle underage sales to children.”Do you or does someone in your family use disposable vapes? What is your reaction to a possible ban? You can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSayUpload your pictures/video hereOr fill out the form belowPlease read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

If you are reading this page and can’t see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. More on this storyFree vape samples for children to be bannedPublished6 days agoPromoting vapes to kids is ridiculous, says PMPublished25 MayHigh lead and nickel levels found in illegal vapesPublished23 MayRelated Internet LinksNo more free vapes for kids – GOV.UKTightening rules on advertising and promoting vaping products – Scottish Government – Citizen SpaceAction on Smoking and Health – ASHYouth vaping- call for evidence – GOV.UKThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published16 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterThe death of a 43-year-old man is the first in the UK to be linked to the “zombie” drug xylazine, which is prompting overdose warnings in the US.Normally used as a large-animal tranquiliser but now being found in heroin, it can cause a dangerously low heart rate and large open skin wounds.UK experts are calling it “a really concerning drug”.They say drug users should be warned it is now present in the UK but there is no safe dose in humans.’Bought heroin’Karl Warburton, form Solihull, West Midlands, died in May 2022 at home and had a history of illicit drug use, according to the coroner’s report. He had been referred to addiction services on a number of occasions.An examination of his body detected heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in his system, as well as xylazine.A report on his death in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine says he was “likely to have bought heroin and not known it was laced with xylazine and fentanyl”.”To the best of our knowledge, this is the first death associated with xylazine use reported in the UK, and even Europe, and indicates the entry of xylazine into the UK drug supply,” it adds.Skin ulcersXylazine is used by vets as a powerful sedative but it’s not approved for use in humans.Known as “tranq” or “tranq dope” when cut with heroin and fentanyl by drug dealers, xylazine has been causing huge problems in the US.If injected directly into someone’s bloodstream, it can cause large open skin ulcers to form. These can start to rot and lead to amputation.It also lowers breathing and heart rate to dangerously low levels, which has led to it being dubbed a “flesh-eating zombie drug”.Xylazine emerged on the illicit drug market in Puerto Rico in the early 2000s and has since been found in the US, mainly in the east, and in Canada.The US government has called it “an emerging threat” because of its growing role in fatal overdoses across the country – about 7% of the total.And in some states, the drug was found in more than a quarter of overdoses.But until now, there has been no sign of xylazine in the UK.The drug was detected only because the Birmingham lab that carried out tests after the man’s death noticed some strange results and identified xylaxine.Death certificate”The drug is not included in standard drug screens in the UK, so we don’t know how widespread the xylazine problem is,” said Dr Caroline Copeland, King’s College London lecturer and director of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths.”We need to find out how that person ended up with it in his system.” Xylazine was listed on the man’s death certificate as contributing to his death but there was no way of recording it in the UK drug-deaths database.The report highlights the need to monitor changes in illicit-drug markets and in emerging drugs.”There is no safe dose to use”, it concludes, because there is an overlap between fatal and non-fatal doses of xylazine reported in people.

Published4 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterAn MPs’ report is calling for faster progress to tackle “appalling” higher death rates for black women and those from poorer areas in childbirth.The Women and Equalities Committee report says racism has played a key role in creating health disparities.But the many complex causes are “still not fully understood” and more funding and maternity staff are also needed.The NHS in England said it was committed to making maternity care safer for all women. The government said it had invested £165m in the maternity workforce and was promoting careers in midwifery, with an extra 3,650 training places a year. ‘Frankly shameful’Black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to die within six weeks of giving birth, with Asian women 1.8 times more likely, according to UK figures for 2018-20.And women from the poorest areas of the country, where a higher proportion of babies belonging to ethnic minorities are born, the report says, are two and a half times more likely to die than those from the richest.Caroline Nokes, who chairs the committee, said births on the NHS “are among the safest in the world” but black women’s raised risk was “shocking” and improvements in disparities between different groups were too slow.”It is frankly shameful that we have known about these disparities for at least 20 years – it cannot take another 20 to resolve,” she added.Sandra Igwe set up her own pressure group to campaigns for better care for black mothers, after the traumatic births of her two daughters.On both occasions, she says, she was not listened to.”I felt they had stereotyped me,” Sandra says. “They weren’t really kind or caring – they ignored my pain and they dismissed me when I cried and begged for pain relief.”They actually didn’t believe I was in pain.”Sandra complained about the way she had been treated, saying the system had been “working against me”.Tinuke Awe, who co-founded an organisation called Five X More after her own experience giving birth to her son, said her pain was “actively dismissed” which led to her needing a forceps delivery.”There is a stereotype of black women not feeling pain and being quite aggressive and loud, very strong, so we’re able to take more pain,” she told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme. “I was dismissed and not believed I was in labour – maybe I wasn’t shouting enough,” she said.Black and Asian women are dying from the same causes as other women but more frequently. The most common include heart problems, blood clots, sepsis and suicide.Out of more than two million women having babies in 2018-20, 229 died in childbirth. That equates to 10.47 in every 100,000 – up from 8.79 in 2017-19, although lower than rates 15 years ago.But death rates vary according to ethnicity:34 per 100,000 for black women16 per 100,000 for Asian womennine per 100,000 for white womeneight per 100,000 for Chinese womenThe committee’s report was compiled following two days of interviews with medical specialists, charities, experts and government ministers. It says a shortage of staff in maternity care is the biggest concern. But women belonging to ethnic minorities also feel they are not listened to or understood during pregnancy and childbirth. And the report stresses the government and NHS have underestimated racism’s key role in creating inequalities in care.Ms Awe from the Five X More organisation, which aims to change black women’s maternal health outcomes in the UK,

Published4 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterA virus carried by ticks, which is common in many parts of the world, is now present in the UK and health officials are reminding the public how to avoid bites from the tiny bugs.They say the risk of tick-borne encephalitis is very low – only one person is confirmed to have been infected in England so far, last year.But the tick species which carries the virus is widespread in the UK.Most people do not develop symptoms but swelling to the brain is possible.The UK Health Security Agency has recommended changes to testing in hospital so that any new cases can be picked up quickly.Enhanced surveillance for the virus is now being carried out in England and Scotland, where there is one probable case of tick-borne encephalitis.Health officials are also testing for the presence of the virus in blood samples of people with no symptoms in parts of Yorkshire, where the confirmed case was infected.Feed on bloodTicks are small, spider-like creatures that feed on the blood of animals and people. They tend to be found in dense woodland or moorland and feed on deer.While feeding, they can transmit viruses and infections that cause disease, with the most common being Lyme disease – a bacterial infection which can be treated with antibiotics.Getting tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) from a tick is much less likely. Dr Meera Chand, deputy director at the UK Health Security Agency, said it was “very uncommon in the UK” and the risk to the general population was “very low”. But she said the public should take steps to avoid being bitten by ticks when outdoors in moorlands and woodlands, and remember to check for ticks and remove them promptly.How to avoid ticks:walk on clearly marked paths to avoid brushing against vegetationcover your skin while walking outdoors and tuck trousers into sockswear light-coloured clothes so ticks can be spotted and brushed offuse insect repellents such as DEETcheck your clothes and body regularly for ticks, and your children and pets as welladults are usually bitten on the legs, while children are usually bitten on the head or neckHow to remove ticks safely:remove them as soon as possibleuse a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal toolgrasp the tick as close to the skin as possiblepull upwards slowly and firmly, as mouthparts left in the skin can cause infectionclean the bite area with antibacterial wash/soap and water, and monitor it for several weeks for any changescontact your GP promptly if you begin to feel unwell with flu-like symptoms or develop a spreading circular red rashImage source, Getty ImagesTicks infected with TBE virus have been found in a small number of areas in England, including Hampshire, Dorset and Norfolk, and, on rare occasions, people nearby may have been infected – but until now, no cases were confirmed.In research being presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases next week, scientists report that TBE cases are on the rise in Europe with some 3,800 reported in 2020.They speculate that infected ticks may have been brought into the UK by migratory birds because of climate change.Health officials say anyone who becomes unwell after a tick bite should see a GP. More serious symptoms to look out for include severe headache, stiff neck, unexplained seizure, sudden confusion and weakness in arms and legs.Related Internet LinksTick-borne encephalitis- epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention – GOV.UKLyme disease – NHSThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published32 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterYou don’t have to be a runner or play sport to feel the benefits of exercise – fitting a brisk walk into your day is good enough, UK analysis suggests. It found if everyone did as little as 11 minutes of daily activity, one in 10 premature deaths could be prevented.Most people don’t manage to do the minimum recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week, however.But doing some exercise is better than doing nothing, the researchers from the University of Cambridge say. The NHS recommends everyone does 150-300 minutes of physical activity that raises the heart rate every week or 75-150 minutes of vigorous activity per week, which makes you breathe hard.The research team looked at hundreds of previous studies on the benefits of physical activity and concluded that even doing half the recommended amount could prevent one in 20 cases of cardiovascular disease and nearly one in 30 cases of cancer.That equates to 75 minutes per week – or 11 minutes per day – riding a bike, walking fast, hiking, dancing or playing tennis.”You should feel yourself moving, your heart will beat faster but you won’t necessarily feel out of breath,” says Dr Soren Brage, who led the research.Doing that amount is enough to reduce the risk of developing heart disease and stroke by 17% and cancer by 7%, the findings suggest.Regular exercise reduces body fat and blood pressure while also improving fitness, sleep and heart health in the long run.Pumping weights could help you live longerFriends could be key to finding fitness motivationBest time to exercise may differ for men and womenThe benefits of exercise were even greater for some specific cancers, such as head and neck, gastric, leukaemia and blood cancers, but lower for lung, liver, endometrial, colon and breast cancers.Not everyone finds it easy to do the exercise recommended by the NHS – two out of three people say they do less than 150 mins (2.5 hours) of moderate exercise and fewer than one in 10 manage more than 300 mins (five hours) per week. “If you are someone who finds the idea of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week a bit daunting, then our findings should be good news,” says Dr Brage.”If you find that 75 minutes a week is manageable, then you could try stepping it up gradually to the full recommended amount.”Image source, Getty ImagesThe analysis, in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, looked at previous published research on the benefits of exercise in nearly 100 large studies and nearly 200 peer-reviewed articles to get an overview of the evidence.They calculated that if everyone in the studies had done at least 150 minutes of exercise a week – the full amount – then around one in six early deaths would be prevented.The researchers say replacing some habits is all that is needed.For example, they advise trying to walk or cycle to work or to the shops instead of using a car, or being active when playing with your children or grandchildren.Getting enjoyable activities into your weekly routine is the best way to increase the amount of physical activity you do, they say.The NHS recommends adults also do activities that strengthen muscles twice a week.Yoga, pilates, lifting weights, heavy gardening and carrying heavy shopping bags all count.More on this storyPumping weights could help you live longer28 September 2022Best time to exercise may differ for men and women31 May 2022Weekend burst of exercise can be enough to stay fit5 July 2022Doctors warned about ‘dry scooping’ fitness fad8 October 2021Related Internet LinksPhysical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64 – NHSBenefits of exercise – NHSThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published11 hours agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterLeading scientists say adding higher levels of folic acid to all flour and rice would stop hundreds more UK babies being born with lifelong disabilities.They say current levels being proposed are too low and will not help some groups of women, while any concerns over potential harms are unjustified.The government says mandatory fortification of one type of white flour allows an element of choice.The Food Standards Agency says it will still offer big public health benefits.Last year, governments across the UK decided to introduce new laws making it compulsory for the food industry to add a vitamin called folic acid, also known as B9, to non-wholemeal wheat flour. That means everyone who eats white bread would get more folic acid in their diets.The vitamin is particularly important in the early stages of pregnancy, helping a baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord develop properly. Women are advised to take a daily folic supplement before becoming pregnant but many do not – mostly the least well-off – and about half of pregnancies are also unplanned.This means they run the risk of giving birth to babies with severe abnormalities called neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. These conditions affect about one in 1,000 pregnancies in the UK.’Lifelong complications’But a group of scientists says the new proposals will not help women who eat gluten-free foods, wholemeal flour or any kind of rice in preference to bread.They also say the proposed level of folic acid added is too low and will only prevent 20% of birth defects, instead of about 80% (equivalent to 800 babies with neural tube defects) which could be achieved with higher doses.One of those scientists, Neena Modi, professor of neonatal medicine at Imperial College London, said: “In the UK we have a neural tube defect rate that is one of the highest in Europe.”This is not a trivial condition,” she said. “It leads to major lifelong complications for baby and family.””Each neural tube defect is a tragedy – I see no reason not to move to a higher level of fortification.”Image source, Getty ImagesThe UK government proposes to add 0.25mg of folic acid per 100g of non-wholemeal wheat flour, but Prof Modi and others are calling for four times that amount to be added – 1mg per 100g of all flour and rice.Prof Dame Lesley Regan, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington in London, said there were medical, ethical and economic reasons for much higher doses.”I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces,” she said, when families choose to have late terminations of affected babies after a diagnosis is discovered.The cost of caring for babies born with the defects for the rest of their lives often runs into the tens of millions of pounds, Prof Regan said, adding that 800 families “have to deal with those problems.”‘Benefit all mothers’Ingesting folic acid direct from fortified foods is thought to be twice as effective at raising levels of the crucial vitamin as taking the same dose via a supplement.Some experts have previously voiced concern that adding too much folic acid to everyone’s diets could mask other health issues, such as anaemia. However, University of Oxford neurologist Prof Peter M Rothwell rejects that notion, saying: “There isn’t an issue. The idea just doesn’t fit with evidence or with modern practice.”It was important to be aware of unintended consequences but “they seem to very small indeed”, he added.A study in the Lancet in 1991 showed that taking a daily 4mg folic acid supplement reduced neural tube defects in babies by about 80% in a UK trial.University College London professor of preventive medicine Sir Nicholas Wald, who led that study, said higher levels of fortification “would be safe and prevent many more birth defects” and “benefit all mothers – rich and poor alike”.The Department of Health and Social Care in England said the proposed level of folic acid in flour was the result of modelling by Food Standards Scotland.It looked at the safety of different options, ensuring no increase in people at risk of consuming too much folic acid, as well as no decrease in current average intakes.”Choosing to fortify non-wholemeal wheat flour only… allows an element of consumer choice as wholemeal flour and other milled grains and flours including those that are ‘gluten free’ are not currently subject to other fortification,” it said.A consultation on the issue closed in November and responses are currently being analysed. A spokesperson for the Department said an agreed level of folic acid would be confirmed “in due course”,What is folic acid?the synthetic version of the vitamin folate, or vitamin B9it is essential in the formation of spine and nerve cells during the first few weeks of pregnancyanyone trying to get pregnant is advised to take 400 micrograms, once a dayyou should take it for the first 12 weeks of pregnancyfor families where there is a history of spina bifida, a higher dose – 5mg – is neededfolate is the natural form of it, and is found in food such as spinach, cabbage, oranges, wholegrain foodsif you are not pregnant, you should be able to get enough in your diet from these sources.The charity Shine, which supports those living with spina bifida, say it is keen to see mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid implemented as soon as possible.”We would hope that whatever the decision on the amount of folic acid to be added, the levels of mandatory fortification are kept under review, its impact monitored, and adjustments made as evidence of the impact becomes apparent,” said its chief executive Kate Steele. Shine said all women who might become pregnant should take a daily supplement of folic acid, whether or not they are trying for a baby. Folic acid is added to flour in more than 80 countries – and when it was added to bread in Australia, neural tube defects fell by 14%.More on this storyFlour to have folic acid to prevent birth defects20 September 2021New plan to add folic acid to UK flour13 June 2019Related Internet LinksAbout folic acid – NHSShine – Spina Bifida & HydrocephalusFolic Acid Food Fact Sheet – British Dietetic Association (BDA)The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published1 day agocommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterPeople of all ages are being encouraged to do more to look after their brains to try to reduce their dementia risk.A new brain check-up tool from Alzheimer’s Research UK offers tips on staying sharp, keeping active and connecting with others.Getting regular hearing checks in your 40s and 50s is one way to prevent social isolation, it says.But most cases of dementia cannot be prevented, so early detection and better treatments are still vital.Research suggests there are 12 risk factors for dementia which, if modified, could stop four in 10 people developing memory loss, confusion and communication problems.Advice based on these risk factors is to stop smoking, do regular exercise, cut back on alcohol and challenge your brain – and it is never to early or too late to start doing it, experts say.Anyone can take the brain check, which has been based on the latest research, to find out how to lower their individual chances of dementia.But it is particularly aimed at adults aged 40-50 because this is seen to be an important window for taking action to look after brain health.Prof Jonathan Schott, chief medical officer at the charity, said it would “provide a practical and easy means to allow people to take action to reduce their risk of dementia”.But he said only a third of people realised that was possible, which needed changing.Image source, Alzheimer’s Research UKAlzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, which affects nearly one million people in the UK and 55 million worldwide.Numbers are forecast to rise sharply over the coming decades as more people live longer and their risk of dementia goes up with age.Dr Sarah Bauermeister, senior scientist at Dementia Platforms UK, said several studies had found a link between hearing loss and dementia risk.”Why is not clear,” she said, “but a probable factor is they are working harder to hear conversations rather than focusing on cognitive tasks – and their world shrinks.”She said it was a good idea to get your hearing checked and corrected with a hearing aid if needed.No blameOur individual risk of developing dementia is linked to a combination of our age, the genes we inherit and the lifestyle we lead. Many of those things cannot be changed, which is why there is no foolproof way of preventing dementia in 60% of cases.”It’s important not to blame people for getting dementia,” said Dr Charles Marshall, clinical senior lecturer in dementia at Queen Mary University of London.Some groups, such as those from poorer background and those with less education, are at higher risk.But he said the NHS Health Check, a service for those aged 40-74, could be used to test brain health and give people advice on how to improve it, while also identifying those with early signs of dementia.At present it takes an average of three years to get a diagnosis of dementia and there are very few treatments for symptoms.”We need the same diagnostic process for dementia as for cancer, and that means redesigning services,” Dr Marshall said.”We need to prepare now for delivering new treatments when they come.”A drug called lecanemab has recently shown promise at slowing the decline of the brain in people with Alzheimer’s. Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “With 40% of dementia cases potentially being preventable, there’s an enormous opportunity to reduce the personal and societal impact of this heart-breaking condition.”It’s time for the nation to wake up to the idea of brain health and how looking after our brains can reduce the risk of dementia.” More on this storyHRT might cut Alzheimer’s risk in some women – study4 days agoAlzheimer’s drug hailed as momentous breakthrough30 November 2022’Just like that – the woman I love changed’16 October 2022Lifestyle changes that could lower your dementia risk14 July 2019Related Internet LinksThink Brain Health Check-in – Think Brain Health – Alzheimer’s Research UKThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published16 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterWomen’s experiences of care when giving birth have worsened in the last five years, says a report by England’s health and care regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).A survey of 20,000 women found “a concerning decline” in getting help when most needed during labour and after childbirth.Overall satisfaction is high and mental health support in pregnancy is rising.The safety of maternity services has come under scrutiny in recent years.A BBC analysis recently showed that more than half of maternity units in England fail consistently to meet safety standards, with 48% requiring improvement and 7% posing a high risk of avoidable harm.A report from March 2022 into one hospital trust found that more than 200 babies might have survived if better maternity care had been given.The CQC asked thousands of women about their experience of giving birth in February 2022, and compared the results with previous years.From the responses, it found:78% definitely had confidence in staff involved during their labour and baby’s birth57% were always able to get a member of staff to help after childbirth – down from 62% in 201963% were able to get help when they needed it during labour and birth – down from 72% in 201923% said they were not taken seriously if they raised concerns during labour or birth – up from 19% in 201719% said they were not offered any choice about where to have their baby71% were always treated with kindness and understanding after the birth of their baby in hospital – down from 74% in 2017″These results show that far too many women feel their care could have been better,” said director of secondary and specialist care at the CQC, Victoria Vallance.She said it was vital for staff at individual trusts to understand what makes a good experience, and what needs to improve.But there was also recognition that the survey results reflected “increasing pressures on front-line staff” as they try to provide high-quality care with available resources.The CQC said a new programme of maternity inspections had recently begun in NHS hospitals across England which will have “a strong focus on capturing the experience of women and families”.’Unacceptable’Fewer than half of those who responded to the survey said their partners, or someone close to them, were able to stay with them when they were giving birth – compared with 74% before the pandemic.The National Childbirth Trust said this was “unacceptable”.”Trusts must immediately enable partners’ presence at in-hospital postnatal care so that mothers are never left without food and water, emotional support, access to a bathroom and help to lift and feed their baby,” chief executive Angela McConville said.The CQC report says mental health support during pregnancy and after childbirth is improving, with 96% of respondents saying a midwife or health visitor asked them about their state of mind after their baby was born.Areas for improvement include pregnant women’s concerns being taken more seriously during labour, more women being given advice and support at the start of their labour, and explanations of the care they need in hospital.”Maternity services in England are categorically falling short of women’s expectations,” Ms McConville said. “This is not all the impact of the Covid pandemic, but is directly associated with long-term underinvestment in the staffing of maternity services.”More on this storySafety failures too common in maternity units21 September 2022My role uncovering a shocking NHS maternity scandal2 April 2022Mothers who helped uncover the biggest NHS maternity scandal23 February 2022Nottingham maternity crisis: What do families want?31 August 2022Related Internet LinksNational survey of maternity experiences – Care Quality CommissionThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterMore than 100,000 people in England and Wales with type 1 diabetes could soon be offered new technology to manage their condition on the NHS.The system uses a glucose sensor under the skin to automatically calculate how much insulin is delivered via a pump.Health assessors said it was the best way of controlling diabetes, barring a cure.A charity said it would transform lives and was the “closest thing to a working pancreas”.The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the health body recommending the technology, said a more cost-effective price still had to be agreed with manufacturers.In trials, it improved quality of life and reduced the risk of long-term health complications.Approximately 400,000 people are currently living with type 1 diabetes in the UK, including around 29,000 children.Their pancreas produces no, or very little, insulin – an important hormone which helps turn food into energy.So they have to closely monitor levels of sugar, or glucose, in the blood and top up levels of insulin every day of their lives using injections or an insulin pump. Type 1 diabetes: ‘People don’t know how hard it is’Artificial pancreas to revolutionise diabetes careType 1 diabetes trial to identify at-risk children This new technology does that automatically, virtually mimicking the function of a pancreas – although it still requires information on food intake to work accurately. “This technology has been proven to give the best control for managing type 1 diabetes and should make things like amputations, blindness, and kidney problems possibly a thing of the past,” said Prof Partha Kar, national specialty adviser for diabetes at NHS England.”The quality of life this technology gives to those using it is huge,” he added. It allows someone with type 1 diabetes to go about their daily life without stressing over whether their blood sugar is too high or too low, and therefore dangerous.Yasmin Hopkins, 27, from London, had struggled to maintain her blood sugar levels since she was diagnosed at the age of 12.She took part in trials of the new technology and told the BBC she found it liberating.”I wake up now and I can do a normal day’s work, or go on a dog walk without being concerned,” she said.The kit has been described as a step towards an artificial pancreas.Cost too highUnder draft recommendations, NICE said the system should first be offered to patients in England and Wales unable to control their diabetes, including pregnant women, which could be around 100,000 people in England alone. Anyone can have their say on the guidance until Tuesday 31 January on the NICE website.Negotiations on a cost-effective price for the technology – called a closed hybrid loop system – are still to take place, however.The technology currently costs nearly £6,000 a year but NICE says it wants to agree a price for the NHS that “is fair to taxpayers”.Hilary Nathan, policy director at JDRF, the type 1 diabetes charity which has funded research into the system for many years, said it was “a game-changing treatment at the forefront of health technology and artificial intelligence”. If approved, she said, it would transform the lives of people living with type 1 in England and Wales, reduce deaths from glucose high and lows, and cut the risk of long-term health issues from the condition.”It’s the closest thing you can get to a working pancreas,” she added.The technology is already being rolled out in Scotland, and has been licensed for use by the UK regulator, the MHRA.Type 1 diabetes is a different condition to type 2 diabetes, which is much more common. While both cause blood glucose levels to be higher than normal, type 1 is an auto-immune condition where the body attacks cells in the pancreas.In people with type 2, the cells in the body become resistant to insulin and so more is needed to keep blood glucose levels within a normal range. It can usually be controlled through diet, exercise and close monitoring.More on this storyArtificial pancreas to revolutionise diabetes care1 April 2022Type 1 diabetes: ‘People don’t know how hard it is’9 May 2022Game-changing type 1 diabetes drug approved in US18 November 2022Type 1 diabetes trial to identify at-risk children14 November 2022Related Internet LinksType 1 diabetes – NHSJDRF UK – Type 1 diabetes researchDiabetes UKDiabetes Community, Support, EducationThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published1 hour agoSharecloseShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Philippa RoxbyHealth reporterMonkeypox will now be known as mpox, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced, after complaints over racist and stigmatising language linked to the virus’s name.The old term will be used alongside the new one for a year, before being phased out.Mpox was decided on after lengthy discussions between experts, countries and the general public.It can easily be used in English as well as other languages, the WHO said.Human monkeypox was first identified in 1970 and named after the disease caused by the virus was discovered in captive monkeys more than a decade before.Since then, the WHO has introduced advice on naming diseases.It stresses the need to minimise unnecessary negative impact on trade, travel, tourism or animal welfare, and to avoid causing offence to any cultural, social, national or ethnic groups.During the Covid pandemic, it recommended that variants were referred to using letters of the Greek alphabet because they were “non-stigmatising” and easy to pronounce.This year, there has been unusual spread of mpox virus – a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox – in many countries outside central and west Africa, where it is often found.Cases of mpox have been reported in 29 countries in Europe, as well as Canada, Australia and the US, prompting huge demand for a vaccine to protect those most at risk.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.In July, the WHO declared a global health emergency because of the worldwide surge in people developing symptoms, including a high fever and skin lesions or rash.However, cases of the disease have been declining for several months now around the world.The UK has reported more than 3,500 cases since May, but a rollout of vaccines helped drive down cases following a peak in July.Most people affected were men who have sex with men.More on this storyUK looks to be winning the fight against monkeypox2 OctoberGet tested more, urges sexual health charity5 October’My experience of having monkeypox’ Video, 00:01:25’My experience of having monkeypox’30 June1:25’I’m a different person after having monkeypox’11 AugustWhat is monkeypox and how do you catch it?5 AugustMonkeypox: Handing out health advice without stigma28 MayRelated Internet LinksMonkeypox outbreak 2022 – GlobalWorld Health Organization best practices for the naming of new human infectious diseasesThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.