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Published29 JanuarycommentsCommentsShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThis video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.By Hugh Pym, health editor, Philippa Roxby & James GregoryBBC NewsDisposable vapes are set to be banned as part of plans to tackle the rising number of young people taking up vaping, the government says.Measures will also be introduced to prevent vapes being marketed at children and to target under-age sales. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested adult smokers trying to quit would still have access to alternatives like vapes under the proposals.The ban is expected to be introduced across the UK, the government said.It is already illegal to sell any vape to anyone under 18, but disposable vapes – often sold in smaller, more colourful packaging than refillable ones – are a “key driver behind the alarming rise in youth vaping”, according to the government.Figures from the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity suggest 7.6% of 11 to 17-year-olds now vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1% in 2020.Announcing the plans on Monday, Mr Sunak said it was right that “strong action” was taken to stamp out vaping in children. “Children shouldn’t be vaping, we don’t want them to get addicted, we still don’t understand the full long-term health impacts,” he said.The UK Vaping Industry Association said vapes had helped “millions of adults quit and stay off cigarettes”, and said the proposals would put children at risk by “turbocharging the black market”. Mr Sunak suggested the proposals struck the right balance between restricting access for children and maintaining access for adult smokers trying to quit smoking.Vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it has not been around for long enough for its long-term risks to be known, according to the NHS.More on vaping and disposable vapesHow dangerous is vaping and what is the disposable vape ban?Never start vaping, says girl with lung damageVapes ‘95% safer’ than cigarettes messaging backfiredHigh lead and nickel levels found in illegal vapesWarning a child could die due to drugs in vapesVapes 10 times legal size seized at portsThe vapour that is inhaled can still contain small amounts of chemicals that are found in cigarettes, including nicotine – which is addictive but not seen by the health service as one of the most problematic ingredients in cigarettes. The proposals follow last year’s announcement of a ban on the sale of cigarettes to anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 as part of an attempt to create a “smoke-free generation”.Former prime minister Liz Truss criticised the proposed ban, describing it as “profoundly unconservative”.This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told the BBC she was confident the new bill regarding vapes

Published2 days agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingBy Michelle RobertsDigital health editorCharities and doctors have welcomed the King going public about needing treatment for an enlarged prostate. It could encourage men with similar symptoms to get a check-up, they say.King leaves hospital as Kate recovers at homeWhat is an enlarged prostate? An enlarged prostate is not usually serious, but can cause troubling symptoms needing treatment. The prostate is a gland that should be about the size of a walnut.It sits at the base of the bladder – the organ that stores urine. When men urinate, the urine flows into a long tube called the urethra, which passes through the centre of the prostate. An enlarged prostate hugs that pipe tighter and can restrict the flow. All prostates grow as men age.How quickly varies from person to person – and it will not always cause an issue. But more than one in three men over 50 will have some symptoms of prostate enlargement. What are the symptoms of an enlarged prostate? Ones to look out for include:urinating more frequently, waking up at night to urinate or needing to urinate urgentlyfeeling the bladder is not emptying fullyweak flow when urinatinghaving to wait for urine to flowerection and ejaculation problemsNHS: Decision support tool on enlarged prostateCould it be prostate cancer?Doctors call the condition benign prostate enlargement. Benign means a growth that is not cancer. The risk of prostate cancer is no greater for men with an enlarged prostate.But the chances of developing prostate cancer also increase with age – and the symptoms can be similar.So those with prostate problems should ask their doctor for a check-up. What will a check-up involve?The doctor will ask about symptoms and probably offer a physical rectal exam. They put a gloved finger up through the anus to feel the prostate from inside the body.This can be uncomfortable, and might make the patient feel they want to urinate, but should not hurt. Doctors know some people can feel embarrassed – but it is a common procedure and takes just a few minutes. They may also test samples of:blood for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) – low levels can help rule out cancerurine to check if the symptoms might be due to an infection or something else What is the treatment for an enlarged prostate?Symptoms are unlikely to disappear untreated. However, according to the NHS, half of men diagnosed with an enlarged prostate manage them without drugs or surgery, by:drinking less alcohol and avoiding caffeineavoiding too much fluid before bedtimeeating more fibre – beans, bran and vegetables – to avoid constipationavoiding certain medicines – but only when recommended by their doctorexercising to strengthen pelvic-floor muscleswearing discreet pads inside underwear, to catch dribblesHerbal supplements such as saw palmetto are not currently recommended, although some men say they work for them.What drugs can treat it?These are available on the NHS:tamsulosin, alfuzosin and silodosin – alpha blockers that relax the muscles of the prostate and bladderdutasteride and finasteride – alpha-reductase inhibitors that stop the prostate from growing and can even shrink itDesmopressins slow night-time urine production and anti-cholinergic drugs can reduce urgency to urinate.Most patients’ symptoms are alleviated, according to the NHS, but there can be side effects.What does surgery involve?There are several types of surgery or procedures to shrink the prostate or widen the urethra that are available on the NHS. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is done with the patient asleep under general anaesthetic and involves inserting a a very thin wire into the urethra. The wire is then to shave off bits of the prostate. There is also a similar procedure that uses a laser instead.After both of these procedures, a catheter is fitted for a day or two, to collect urine while the patient recovers. Some NHS hospitals offer aquablation, which uses pressurised water instead of a laser. Others offer a steam treatment that takes about 20 minutes, under local anaesthetic, with the patient awake.All procedures carry some risks.Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Share your experiences 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 pictures or videoPlease 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 storyKing Charles to be treated for benign prostate conditionPublished17 JanuaryBig-prostate steam treatment NHS approvedPublished21 August 2018Related Internet LinksBenign prostate enlargement – NHSThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Substance use by adolescents may prove valuable in identifying the presence of underlying disorders, a new study suggests.The NewsTeenagers who use cannabis, alcohol and nicotine are more likely to have underlying psychiatric symptoms, and worse symptoms, than their peers who are not regularly using substances, new research has found.The research, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, found that such substances are linked to an array of symptoms and conditions, including anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that asking adolescents about substance use may provide a powerful screening tool when looking for underlying mental health issues, researchers said.“Universally screening for psychiatric symptoms in the context of all types of substance use is what we think might be most important,” said Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Minnesota and lead author of the paper.“All the symptoms of mental health we examined, be it depression, suicidal thoughts, ADHD, were elevated no matter what the substance was,” he added.The study’s authors found that some adolescents may be using substances to self-medicate while also experiencing worsening symptoms through such use.Jenna Schoenefeld for The New York TimesThe Findings: Drug Use as Self-MedicationThe paper found that the link between substance use and mental health existed even at low levels of drug and alcohol use. Dr. Tervo-Clemmens said that adolescents with low levels of substance use may be self-medicating and that their relatively modest substance use was not likely to be causing the underlying mental health challenges.But the research also found that the most frequent and intensive users of the substances experienced the most severe mental health symptoms. In these instances, Dr. Tervo-Clemmens said, the adolescents may be worsening their symptoms even as they use substances to self-medicate.Specifically, the study found that daily or near-daily use — but not weekly or monthly use — of substances was linked to a moderate increase in symptoms. Researchers described the connection as “dose dependent,” because the level of use was linked to the intensity of symptoms.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? 

Under a settlement with regulators, the company must revamp some operations before resuming sales of its CPAP and ventilator devices in the United States.Philips Respironics announced on Monday that it would halt sales of all of its breathing machines in the United States after reaching a settlement with the Food and Drug Administration over continuing problems with the devices.Millions of the company’s ventilators and CPAP machines, used to ease breathing at night, were recalled after reports that they blew bits of foam and potentially toxic gases into consumers’ airways.Under the settlement, Philips said it would have to meet a list of standards in a “multiyear” plan before it could resume business in the United States. The company said further details would be disclosed when the agreement was finalized in court. But it added that it would continue to repair existing devices and provide service for people using them.The company initially began the recall of millions of devices in June 2021 and paused sales of new sleep therapy machines to the United States, according to Steve Klink, a spokesman for Philips. At the time, the company and the F.D.A. cited the potential for serious injury or permanent impairment from the potentially cancer-causing chemicals emitted from the devices.The company has since released results of additional testing, saying the devices were “not expected to result in appreciable harm to health in patients,” and it said it was continuing to conduct tests. The F.D.A. has pushed back on some of the company’s updated claims, and at one point called them “unpersuasive.” Philips has also faced continuing scrutiny and undertaken more recalls in its attempts to upgrade the devices.Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of the F.D.A.’s device division, said the agency could not comment until the agreement was finalized and filed with the court.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? 

Published1 minute agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesA UK-wide ban on disposable vapes has been announced, as part of plans to cut the number of children vaping.Other measures including plainer packaging for vapes will also help target sales to children, the government says.Is vaping dangerous?Vaping is nowhere near as harmful as smoking cigarettes.But health experts agree that anyone who doesn’t smoke should not start vaping, particularly children.Children’s doctors say vaping may cause long-term damage to young people’s lungs, hearts and brains.The vapour inhaled contains a small amount of chemicals, including the addictive substance nicotine. More research is needed to pin down exactly what the health effects are.Another issue is that illegal vapes are widely available. These have been found to be much more likely to contain harmful chemicals or drugs, such as cannabis.Campaigners also say disposable vapes are wasteful and that the materials and chemicals used to make them, including their lithium batteries, make them difficult to dispose of safely.They can be recycled but only 17% of vapers do so. Five million disposable vapes are thrown away each week in the UK.Disposable vapes to be banned for child healthWhen will disposable vapes be banned?Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told the BBC she was confident the new bill would pass Parliament by the time of the general election, which is expected this year.The ban would then come into force in early 2025.Once the timing is confirmed, retailers will be given six months to make the changes.The government also plans to clampdown on the marketing of all other vapes to children by:Reducing the use of flavours designed to appeal to children Introducing plain packagingMoving where vapes are displayed in shops – from on the counter to behind itIt is already illegal to sell vapes to under-18s, but the government also plans to increase fines for retailers which do so.How many children vape?Nearly 8% of 11-17 year olds vape, according to figures from an online survey of 2,000 children by health charity ASH (Action on Smoking and Health). That’s up from 4% in 2020.It said 20% have tried vaping, with cheap, brightly-coloured disposable vapes driving up the increase from 14% three years ago.Older teenagers are more likely to have tried vaping or be current vapers.Vaping is now twice as common as smoking among children.What are the vaping rules in other countries?Many countries have experienced a rise in vaping among children and young people.In response, the US has banned some vape flavours like mint and fruit in particular e-cigarettes.It also said it would ban products from Juul, one of the country’s most popular vaping companies.Australia has announced e-cigarettes will be available only on prescription, for smokers who want to give up tobacco.In New Zealand, new rules were brought in last year to ban most disposable vapes and target flavours which appeal to children.Many other countries, including South Korea, India and Brazil have announced very strict vape rules. Others, like China, have announced restrictions. However, 88 countries have no minimum age for buying vapes and 74 have no laws in place for e-cigarettes, according to the World Health Organization.Why is vaping used to help smokers?Cigarettes contain tobacco, tar and a host of cancer-causing toxic chemicals and are the largest preventable cause of illness and death in the UK.About half of all life-long smokers will die early, losing on average about 10 years of life. That’s why people who smoke are urged to stop, withnicotine vapes the most effective quit tool – better than nicotine patches and gums.But vaping is not completely harmless, so it’s only recommended for adult smokers.Smoking age should rise until it is banned – SunakThey are offered free vape kits on the NHS to help them quit as part of it’s “swap to stop” programme.More than two million smokers and ex-smokers who use disposable vapes would be affected by a ban, according to research by UCL.Thousands of people have given up smoking using vaping as an alternative.Fewer people in the UK are smoking than ever before – around 13%.More on this storyDisposable vapes to be banned for child healthPublished3 hours agoFive million vapes thrown away every week – researchPublished8 September 2023Ban disposable vapes to protect children – doctorsPublished6 June 2023

The British government said it would act after surveys showed that the number of young people trying vapes had risen sharply.The brightly colored packaging is a slick mix of ombré pink and lime green. The nicotine inside comes wreathed in a “strawberry kiwi” flavor.Increasingly, plastic disposable vapes like this one are making their way into the hands of children, with one in five young people in Britain between the ages of 11 and 17 trying vaping last year, according to Action on Smoking and Health, an independent public health charity.Soon, they will be banned in Britain, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday, as he unveiled a package of measures to ban single-use vapes, restrict flavors, and regulate packaging and displays.Britain is following several other nations, and a number of American states, that have already taken steps to curb underage vaping, as the colorful and trendy packaging and fruit or candy flavoring has proved appealing to teenagers and children.Mr. Sunak said that the ban, which is part of legislation that still has to be approved by Parliament, was intended to halt “one of the most worrying trends at the moment,” before it becomes “endemic.”“The long-term impacts of vaping are unknown and the nicotine within them can be highly addictive, so while vaping can be a useful tool to help smokers quit, marketing vapes to children is not acceptable,” he said in a statement.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? 

Powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament will be used to implement a ban on disposable vapes.The BBC spoke to a group of young people in Fife who have been making a documentary on the impact of vapes – they say more needs to be done to tackle the issue.Read more: Disposable vapes to be banned using devolved powers

Powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament will be used to implement a ban on disposable vapes.The BBC spoke to a group of young people in Fife who have been making a documentary on the impact of vapes – they say more needs to be done to tackle the issue.Read more: Disposable vapes to be banned using devolved powers

The PM has said he tries to fast at the start of the week so he can indulge in his “weakness for sugary things” on other days.Rishi Sunak told the BBC’s health editor Hugh Pym it was an “important discipline” for him, as he also spoke about the government’s clampdown on disposable vapes.Rishi Sunak: Weekly fast is important discipline for me

The PM has said he tries to fast at the start of the week so he can indulge in his “weakness for sugary things” on other days.Rishi Sunak told the BBC’s health editor Hugh Pym it was an “important discipline” for him, as he also spoke about the government’s clampdown on disposable vapes.Rishi Sunak: Weekly fast is important discipline for me