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Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a new pathway that contributes to cardiovascular disease associated with high levels of niacin, a common B vitamin previously recommended to lower cholesterol.
The team, led by Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., discovered a link between 4PY, a breakdown product from excess niacin, and heart disease. Higher circulating levels of 4PY were strongly associated with development of heart attack, stroke and other adverse cardiac events in large-scale clinical studies. The researchers also showed in preclinical studies that 4PY directly triggers vascular inflammation which damages blood vessels and can lead to atherosclerosis over time.
The study, published in Nature Medicine, also details genetic links between 4PY and vascular inflammation. The findings provide a foundation for potential new interventions and therapeutics to reduce or prevent that inflammation.
“What’s exciting about these results is that this pathway appears to be a previously unrecognized yet significant contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Hazen, Chair of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute and Co-Section Head of Preventive Cardiology in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. “What’s more, we can measure it, meaning there is potential for diagnostic testing. These insights set the stage for developing new approaches to counteract the effects of this pathway.”
Niacin (vitamin B-3) is very common in a Western diet. “For decades, the United States and more than 50 nations have mandated niacin fortification in staple foods such as flour, cereals and oats to prevent disease related to nutritional deficiency,” said Dr. Hazen. Yet one in four subjects in the researchers’ patient cohorts appear to be getting too much, and had high levels of 4PY, which appears to contribute to cardiovascular disease development.
Dr. Hazen compares our intake of niacin as multiple taps pouring water into a bucket. Once that bucket is filled, it begins to spill over. The human body then needs to process that spill-over and produce other metabolites, including 4PY.
“The main takeaway is not that we should cut out our entire intake of niacin — that’s not a realistic approach,” said Dr. Hazen. “Given these findings, a discussion over whether a continued mandate of flour and cereal fortification with niacin in the U.S. could be warranted.”
Dr. Hazen notes broader use of over-the-counter supplements made with different forms of niacin have also become popular because of presumed anti-aging purposes. He adds that patients should consult with their doctors before taking over-the-counter supplements and focus on a diet rich in fruit and vegetables while avoiding excess carbohydrates.

The new findings also might help explain why niacin is no longer a go-to treatment for lowering cholesterol. Niacin was one of the first treatments prescribed to lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol. However, eventually niacin showed to be less effective than other cholesterol-lowering drugs and was associated with other negative effects and higher mortality rates in previous research.
“Niacin’s effects have always been somewhat of a paradox,” Dr. Hazen said. “Despite niacin lowering of cholesterol, the clinical benefits have always been less than anticipated based on the degree of LDL reduction. This led to the idea that excess niacin caused unclear adverse effects that partially counteracted the benefits of LDL lowering. We believe our findings help explain this paradox. This illustrates why investigating residual cardiovascular risk is so critical; we learn so much more than what we set out to find.”
The study authors note that long-term investigations are needed to assess the effect of chronic elevation of 4PY levels on atherosclerosis and other phenotypes.
The research is part of Dr. Hazen’s ongoing investigation into factors that contribute to residual cardiovascular risk. His team follows patients over time and collects blood samples to find chemical signatures that can predict the development of heart disease. He has made pioneering discoveries in atherosclerosis and inflammatory disease research, including the seminal discovery linking gut microbial pathways to cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases.
Dr. Hazen also directs Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Microbiome and Human Health and holds the Jan Bleeksma Chair in Vascular Cell Biology and Atherosclerosis.
Marc Ferrell, a former M.D., Ph.D. student in Dr. Hazen’s laboratory and student in Case Western Reserve University’s Medical Scientist Training Program, is first author of the manuscript. Research reported in this publication was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health under award numbers R01HL103866, P01HL147823, R01HL133169, R01HL148110, R01HL168493, and U54HL170326.

Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Finn PurdyBBC News NIJunior doctors in Northern Ireland have voted to take strike action for the first time.The result of the six-week ballot could see junior doctors taking part in a 24-hour walkout from 6 to 7 March.The decision has been voted for as part of a long-running dispute over pay.Of those balloted, 97.6% voted in favour of going on strike, the British Medical Association (BMA) said, adding that it showed junior doctors felt they had no other choice.There was a 63.7% turnout for the ballot. A newly qualified doctor in Northern Ireland earns £26,000 per year; in England the starting rate is over £33,000, and in Scotland it is £32,000.The union said junior doctors’ salaries in Northern Ireland had fallen by 30% over the past 15 years. Junior doctors in England have already staged strike action in their dispute over pay.’Disappointed and disheartened’ Dr Fiona Griffin, chairwoman of the BMA’s Northern Ireland junior doctors committee, said the yes vote was “a clear indication of the strength of feeling among junior doctors about years of pay erosion”. The BMA said there had been “a renewed sense of hope” on progress on pay with the return of a functioning Stormont executive and £688m being allocated by the executive for public sector pay increases.But Dr Griffin added that a recent pay meeting between Department of Health officials and the BMA left junior doctors feeling “extremely disappointed and disheartened”. “We entered that meeting with the hope that good faith negotiations would commence on doctors’ pay asks,” she said.”Instead we were presented with a fait accompli of a below inflation 6% uplift, that will be awarded in the next financial year. “We were told any further discussions on pay had to be delayed until the ongoing Westminster pay negotiations with doctors in England had concluded, despite health and pay being devolved matters.”In a statement to BBC News NI on Friday – before the result of the ballot was known – the Department of Health said it would continue to move forward in its negotiations with unions and remained “hopeful that a satisfactory solution for all parties can be reached”.It said it was “acutely aware of the pressures faced by doctors and concerns raised in relation to pay” and Health Minister Robin Swann was clear “resolving ongoing pay disputes is an immediate priority”.Dr Tim Neill, who voted in favour of taking strike action, said students were deciding against medical careers while others were leaving the profession because they “don’t feel valued in the work that they do”.Dr Neill described an “era of quiet quitting” among doctors who feel “powerless” and “restricted” in their ability to do the job. “It takes a lot to take the wind out of your sails when you go into medicine to help people, but too often now we’re seeing doctors losing that,” he said. More on this storyDoctors’ union voices frustration after pay talksPublished2 days agoGive us credible offer and we’ll end strikes – BMAPublished3 January’Burnt out’ junior doctors vote in strike ballotPublished8 January

Published1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorAbout a million adults in England have type 2 diabetes but do not yet know it, putting their health at risk, experts warn. The data, from the Office for National Statistics, also suggests many more – perhaps five million – are on the cusp of developing it. The condition causes high blood sugar levels that can lead to serious complications if left untreated.Experts are particularly worried about the number of younger people at risk. Older adults were more likely to have type 2 diabetes, but younger adults were more likely to be undiagnosed if they did have it – 50% of those aged 16 to 44 years with the condition were undiagnosed, compared with 27% of those aged 75 years and over, according to the estimates.The ONS bases the calculations on data gathered from 26,751 adults taking part in an annual survey of the nation’s health called the Health Survey for England. That data included blood tests looking at blood sugar levels.Symptoms of type 2 diabetes can include:peeing more than usualfeeling thirsty all the timefeeling very tiredPeople from an Asian, Black African or Black Caribbean ethnic background have a higher risk of getting diabetes. Find out your risk of type 2 diabetesUntreated high glucose levels can lead to long-term damage to blood vessels, nerves and organs. It is important that type 2 diabetes is spotted as early as possible.Nikki Joule, from Diabetes UK, said: “Type 2 diabetes is a life-changing condition that often develops slowly, especially in the early stages when it can be very difficult to spot the symptoms. “The figures published today by [the] ONS reveal a shockingly high number of people living with type 2 diabetes without a diagnosis, while millions more are at high risk of developing it. “We’re particularly concerned about the prevalence of pre-diabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in people from black and Asian backgrounds, and the worrying proportion of younger people who are undiagnosed, as we know type 2 diabetes is more aggressive in younger people.”The findings are a reminder of just how important it is for type 2 diabetes to be detected and diagnosed as early as possible, so people can get treatment and support to reduce the risk of devastating complications and, importantly, be offered remission programmes where appropriate.” More on this storyMan with diabetes urges people to get testedPublished4 days agoRelated Internet LinksOffice for National StatisticsThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Poor sleep can make anxiety, depression and other mental health issues worse. Here’s what to do about it.It started with mild anxiety.Emily, who asked to be identified only by her first name because she was discussing her mental health, had just moved to New York City after graduate school, to start a marketing job at a big law firm.She knew it was normal to feel a little on edge. But she wasn’t prepared for what came next: chronic insomnia.Operating on only three or four hours of sleep, it didn’t take long for her anxiety to ramp up: At 25, she was “freaking nervous all the time. A wreck.”When a lawyer at her firm yelled at her one day, she experienced the first of many panic attacks. At a doctor’s suggestion, she tried taking a sleeping pill, in the hopes that it might “reset” her sleep cycle and improve her mood. It didn’t work.Americans are chronically sleep deprived: one-third of adults in the United States say they get less than 7 hours a night. Teenagers fare even worse: About 70 percent of high school students don’t get enough sleep on school nights.And it is having a profound effect on mental health.An analysis of 19 studies found that while sleep deprivation worsened a person’s ability to think clearly or perform certain tasks, it had a greater negative affect on mood. And when the National Sleep Foundation conducted a survey in 2022, half of those who said they slept less than 7 hours each weekday also reported having depressive symptoms. Some research even indicates that addressing insomnia may help prevent postpartum depression and anxiety.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Published3 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Becki Thomas / BBC By Becki ThomasBBC NewsA woman said she has been unable to get her ADHD medication for months.Hannah Huxford, 49, from Grimsby is one of thousands of patients unable to get hold of medicine to manage their symptoms due to a national shortage.Mrs Huxford, who was diagnosed with the condition two years ago, described the situation as a “huge worry”.The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it had taken action to improve the supply of medicines but added that “some challenges remain”. Mrs Huxford said the medicine made a “huge difference” and got her life back on track. Since being diagnosed, she has written and published her own book and sells clothes online.”It enables me to function and concentrate so I can be more proactive, I can be more productive,” she explained.She said she had been unable to get her usual supply since October 2023 and has to ration what she can get hold of.”Christmas time it was just getting beyond a joke. I was going back to the pharmacy, probably two or three times in a month, just to collect the little IOUs and it was getting to the point where that, in itself, was becoming a stress,” she said.”It is a worry because I’ve just got my life back. “Since my diagnosis and being medicated, I’ve turned my life around. “All of a sudden, if this medication is taken away from me, I’m frightened that I will go back to not being able to cope.”What is Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects people’s behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old but sometimes it is diagnosed later in childhood.However, on other occasions ADHD was not recognised at all when someone was a child and they are diagnosed later, as an adult.Source: NHS EnglandJames Davies, from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, said the supply shortage has been caused by manufacturing problems and an increase in demand.”There are more people who are being diagnosed with ADHD, more people seeking to access ADHD treatments. That’s not just related to the UK, this is a global problem,” he said.Mr Davies said some ADHD medication has come back into stock but added “it’s quite a fluid situation at the moment”. The government issued a Patient Safety Alert in September 2023, warning that stock issues could last until December 2023.ADHD UK said the main medicine provider told them it expects shortages to continue until April 2024. The charity said an estimated 150,000 people were being affected by the current shortage.Image source, Becki Thomas / BBC A DHSC spokesperson said: “We have taken swift action to improve the supply of ADHD medications but we know some challenges remain and understand that this may be distressing to patients and families.”We are working closely with the NHS, industry and others operating in the supply chain to help resolve any issues with ADHD medication as soon as possible. “We have also issued advice to healthcare professionals and any patient who is worried about their condition should speak to their clinician.”Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.ukMore on this storyADHD medicine shortage devastating families – MPPublished24 JanuaryADHD diagnosis ‘helps me to understand my brain’Published22 November 2023How is ADHD medication shortage affecting people?Published6 October 2023Seven-fold increase in adult ADHD prescriptionsPublished28 August 2023Related Internet LinksDepartment of Health and Social CareCommunity Pharmacy EnglandThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.By Katie Walderman & Monica RimmerBBC North West TonightFor the last 18 months Karen Cook has been living with an ever-worsening and rare health condition in which everyday sounds cause her crippling and debilitating pain.”Something as beautiful as my children’s laughter, hearing their voices – is like torture for me,” she told BBC North West.The 49-year-old has pain hyperacusis, a condition which means she is often forced to shut herself away from her husband and young sons.”Sound is everywhere – it’s like air, you can’t escape it,” said Karen, from Southport, Merseyside.Noises like the wind rustling leaves in trees, or traffic driving past her house can cause Karen immense pain.Warning: Some readers may find parts of this article distressingThe condition is so severe that, on Christmas Day, she had to sit in another room and watch while her boys, aged seven and 11, excitedly unwrapped their presents.Karen has not been able to find any cure or even treatment to ease the pain caused by hyperacusis, which is accompanied by the far more common and widely known tinnitus.She said the hyperacusis developed relatively suddenly in 2022 and had gradually become worse.While it can be brought on by sound trauma, research suggests some people may be predisposed to suffering from it.What is hyperacusis and how does it differ from tinnitus?There are different types of hyperacusis that vary in severity.The NHS website says “you may have hyperacusis if some everyday sounds seem much louder than they should. It can sometimes be painful.”You may be affected by sounds like jingling coins; a barking dog; a car engine; someone chewing; a vacuum cleaner.”Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that do not come from an outside source.Karen now wears ear plugs and ear defenders even when she’s at home alone, and her only way to communicate is through whispers or written notes.”My house is a prison,” she said. “Sound keeps me prisoner.”Describing the pain, Karen said: “It’s like somebody poured burning lava into my ears and my head burns, pain all over my head, especially behind my eyes.”It’s like a migraine kind of pain – it’s like you want to split your head open to relieve the pressure.”When asked what impact the condition has had on her life, fighting back tears, she said it had been “devastating”.”I miss being a mum, I miss the clatter of the noise when they come in from school.”I miss just life, I sat and watched them through the window opening their Christmas presents, because it was too loud for me to be in the room and they’d come up to the window and show me.”It’s completely erased me.”Image source, Karen CookKaren said she was missing out on so many parts of life that most people take for granted.”I miss listening to music, watching TV or a film with sound, chatting to my friends on the phone,” she explained.”I miss wearing nice clothes and make-up, going for a night out with my husband Nick.”Karen said she used to be “very active” and loved going on camping and skiing holidays.”I was always on the go,” she said. “My life literally stopped so abruptly.”Nick said he was losing his “best friend” of more than 20 years.”Life was an adventure,” he said. “We’d have no plans, we’d just go out for the day and wherever we ended up it was fantastic. Travelling of any description – we bought a caravan in Covid – as well as hiking, football matches, any excuse to get out and about.”He added “everything” they had known as a family had changed.Image source, Karen CookKaren used to work as an airline crew member for 25 years, a career which she said “wasn’t just a job it was part of my identity and independence”. It was also where she met Nick.So much of their life has changed beyond recognition.”It is literally Groundhog Day,” said Karen. “Every day is the same.”Honestly if I didn’t have children I’d have given up.”But we’re going to try and fight and find someone – anyone – who might be able to help.”Ken Devore has lived with the condition for 30 years and said some people can improve over time. Mr Devore, who is a board member of the US charity Hyperacusis Research., added: “There really is no treatment.”For me, time, quiet environments and just avoiding loud noise is the key to managing it and not making it worse.”For some patients, the NHS advises reintroducing sounds like white noise, which can help build up tolerance levels.That has not worked for Karen, however.She has also tried various medications and holistic therapies, but nothing has helped.Nonetheless Karen said she was “determined” to find treatment for the sake of her boys, who tell people about their mum’s “poorly ears”.”One day there might be a cure for this and I’ve promised myself I will try everything and anything.”If you’re affected by the issues in this piece, you can find support from BBC Action LineWhy not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.ukMore on this storyGamers risk irreversible hearing loss, says studyPublished17 JanuaryThe crunch of an apple makes me want to run awayPublished20 November 2018Musician wins ruling over hearing damagePublished28 March 2018Related Internet LinksHyperacusis ResearchNoise sensitivity (hyperacusis) – NHSTinnitus – NHSThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Published6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesBy Nick TriggleHealth correspondentPatients are facing delays stuck on hidden waiting lists that do not show up in the official figures in England, a BBC News investigation reveals.The published waiting list stands at 7.6 million – but the true scale of the backlog is thought to be much higher. This is because patients needing ongoing care are not automatically included in those figures – even if they face major delays.NHS England said hospitals should be monitoring and counting such cases.But BBC News found evidence suggesting this is not always the case.The problem affects patients receiving ongoing care, as well as those removed from waiting lists even before starting treatment.BBC News has spoken to patients waiting months and even years for vital treatment, such as cancer care, spinal treatment and others at risk of going blind because of deteriorating eyesight.’Really worrying’One of those is Andy Allen, 69, from Chelmsford, who has wet AMD, which causes vision to deteriorate.He needs regular eight-weekly injections to protect his sight, but says he often waits longer with the latest gap being more than twice as long as it should be.”It’s really worrying. My eyesight is getting worse – and I do wonder if it is because of the delays.”Image source, Getty ImagesMacular Society charity chief executive Cathy Yelf called the delays in the system a “tragedy”. “People are terrified at the prospect of losing their sight,” she added. The official waiting list tracks patients waiting to begin treatment.Around 1.4 million treatments are recorded as beginning each month on average – with one in three affected by delays, according to data for 2022-23.But there are more than 3 million other appointments and treatments carried out for patients who are receiving ongoing care.Many will be getting timely care, but how many of those are delayed is not known. Some say millions could be affected over the course of a year.’Commonly ignored’Hospitals are meant to return patients facing unnecessary delays to the waiting list to ensure they are counted in the backlog figures.But of 30 NHS trusts asked by BBC News how regularly this was happening, only three could provide figures.Karen Hyde, from Insource, a company that helps hospitals manage waiting lists, said the guidance was “commonly ignored”.”This is a huge issue. The NHS does not incentivise hospitals to keep a close eye on these patients. “We know there are long waits for those on the waiting list. For those not on the official waiting list, it is likely to be even worse – but the figures are not published.”One million on more than one NHS waiting listSunak admits he has failed to cut NHS waiting listsShe said another problem was that some patients face being taken off the waiting list before treatment starts – this can be done when the patient is not ready for treatment or if they have refused it.But she said many hospitals had no reliable systems for tracking these patients, who could be simply “lost and delayed”.This has happened to Margaret Weston, who has basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing form of skin cancer.The risk of it spreading is very low, so the 64-year-old, from Lincolnshire, has been under the care of doctors in the East Midlands for the past few years.But with three separate hospitals involved in her care, a mix-up saw her removed from the waiting list.Ms Weston has now been upgraded to an urgent case and is waiting for surgery.”It is so easy to fall through the gaps. Hospitals aren’t monitoring these waits and not recording it properly.”I’m terrified about what might happen now,” she said.’Irreversible damage’Another patient BBC News has spoken to is now exploring taking legal action, after being put on a “holding” waiting list despite struggling with severe abdominal problems.Hospital letters about their case, seen by BBC News, acknowledge these lists are not “manned routinely” and patients can be held up in the system.Macmillan Cancer Support policy head Minesh Patel said patients receiving regular chemotherapy and radiotherapy – and those under surveillance to check if their cancer had returned – also faced delays.”NHS staff are doing all that they can – but with limited resources, it’s impossible for them to keep up,” she added. The British Heart Foundation said heart failure patients were at particular risk as they needed regular check-ups to ensure treatment was working.A delay to changes in treatment could lead to “permanent and irreversible damage”, the BHF’s Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan said.Health Foundation data analytics director Charles Tallack said there was too little focus on these “hidden waits”. “It’s clearly a major problem – delays are putting patients at risk. We need better monitoring and oversight to see exactly what is happening.”An NHS England spokeswoman said: “National guidance is clear that if a regular follow-up review or treatment becomes overdue and a patient is waiting longer than the time agreed with their clinician, they should be added back on to the waiting list and therefore would be included in published figures.”Additional reporting Nat WrightAre you receiving ongoing care but finding your treatments are delayed? 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A society in which members of different generations do not interact “is a dangerous experiment,” said one researcher.On Fridays at 10 a.m., Richard Bement and Zach Ahmed sign on to their weekly video chat. The program that brought them together provides online discussion prompts and suggests arts-related activities, but the two largely ignore all that.“We just started talking about things that were important to us,” said Mr. Ahmed, 19, a pre-med student at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.Since the pair met more than a year ago, conversation topics have included: Pink Floyd, in a long exploration led by Mr. Bement, 76, a retired sales manager in Milford Township, Ohio; their religious faiths (the senior conversation partner is Episcopalian; the younger is Muslim); their families; changing gender norms; and poetry, including Mr. Ahmed’s own efforts.“There’s this fallacy that these two generations can’t communicate,” said Mr. Bement. “I don’t find that to be true.”“Zach tells me about his organic chemistry class, about being a student in 2024. I afford Zach an opportunity to share with me what it’s like to be him, and vice versa.”Miami University began Opening Minds Through Art, a program designed to foster intergenerational understanding, in 2007 and introduced an online version in 2022. This semester, about 70 pairs have enrolled in the video program. Another 73 students engage in O.M.A.-sponsored arts activities with people who have dementia at a nursing home, a senior center and an adult day program.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Thousands of people each year partake in the 75-day program meant to build “mental toughness,” according to its creator, but health experts caution the program may be too rigid and intense.Two 45-minute daily workouts. One gallon of water. 10 pages of a nonfiction book. A diet. No “cheat meals” or alcohol. For 75 days.And if you mess up, you have to start from the beginning.Sound like a lot? It’s supposed to be. The program, called 75 Hard, is meant to build mental toughness. Some say that rigidity is what makes it great, and others say that makes it problematic.Since it was created in 2019, 75 Hard has developed somewhat of a cult following, with practitioners posting daily progress pictures and videos that sometimes rack up millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. One of Reddit’s biggest subreddits, with over 44,000 members, is dedicated to the program.But is it beneficial, and are the changes sustainable? Psychologists say that while the program can have mental-health benefits, certain vulnerable groups may be pushing themselves too far without benefit. Exercise experts also say the regimen could be too taxing for those who aren’t young and active already, and could lead to physical injury.“It can sound really cool and exciting and helpful, but is this something that’s actually really ultimately helpful, sustainable, good for the person?” asked Dr. Thea Gallagher, a clinical psychologist and the director of wellness programs at New York University.“It would be great to have more continued rigorous research around these exciting programs-slash-challenges,” she said.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

Published12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, PA MediaBy Ruth ComerfordBBC NewsThe government is considering plans to allow dentists from abroad to work in England without taking an exam to check their education and skills.The proposal, which is subject to a three-month consultation, aims to address the severe shortage of NHS dentists.It is hoped a quicker process would attract more dentists.The British Dental Association has accused the government of avoiding the issues “forcing” dentists to quit.The proposal forms part of the government’s £200 million NHS Dental Recovery Plan for England, announced earlier this month.Under the plan, dentists could also be paid more for NHS work, while so-called “dental vans” would be rolled out to areas with low coverage, alongside an advice programme for new parents.There is also a proposal of £20,000 bonuses for dentists working in under-served communities, as part of an effort to increase appointment capacity by 2.5 million next year.Patients in pain amid struggle to find dental careFull extent of NHS dentistry shortage revealedDentist shortages to be tackled with cash incentiveAt present, overseas dentists are required to pass an exam before they can start work in the UK – the new idea would see the General Dental Council (GDC) granted powers to provisionally register them without a test.Stefan Czerniawski, executive director of strategy at the GDC said: “We need to move at pace, but we need to take the time to get this right – and we will work with stakeholders across the dental sector and four nations to do so.”But Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association (BDA), said the problems facing NHS dentists would not be solved by the proposals.”A broken contract is forcing dentists out of the NHS with every day it remains in force,” he said.”Overseas dentists are no more likely to stick with a failed system than their UK colleagues. Ministers need to stop trying to fill a leaky bucket, and actually fix it.”‘Highest standards’According to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), about 30% of all dentists on the GDC register qualified outside the UK. In 2022, some 46% per cent of new additions trained overseas.Primary Care Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “Our dental recovery plan will create millions more dental appointments, improve access for patients and ease pressure on the sector.”Our hardworking dentists deserve our gratitude and this is the start of our plan to put the sector on a sustainable footing.”Strengthening the workforce is key to our ambitions and our proposals would abolish red tape that currently prevents fully qualified overseas dentists from working in this country, while ensuring the highest standards of care and patient safety.”We have a long-term plan to make access to NHS dental care faster, simpler and fairer for all, and I want to make sure we hear views from across the sector as we drive this forward.”More on this storyDentist shortages to be tackled with cash incentivePublished7 FebruaryFull extent of NHS dentistry shortage revealedPublished8 August 2022Patients in pain amid struggle to find dental carePublished9 May 2022