Health

[SteveH]

Diet and nutrition are particularly important during the dark days of winter. In addition to colds and flu, many people experience fatigue and depression at this time of year – but essential nutrients can help.

While it's quite common to top up your vitamins, certain minerals and botanicals can also ward off winter ills and make recovery swifter. Nutritionist Dr Pam Mason and Jane Wragg, from ADACT Medical, have shared eight less common items that should be on your shopping list..................

cont  https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/8-essential-nutrients-to-fight-fatigue-and-ward-off-colds-and-flu?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589&utm_campaign=Daily-2312025&utm_medium=email&utm_source=IYA-DailyDigest&utm_term=news-link&source=email&sourceUserIid=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Well worth reading the whole article,... in my opinion.........

Well, I've become enthralled by the idea of enhancing or boosting the immune system. My body has been the living embodiment of the "quademic" that the NHS spent all winter warning us about. It's been a relentless stream of colds and coughs and one explosive tummy.

Our immune systems already do a fantastic job fighting viruses and other nasties. If I collected all the air I breathed out over the course of a minute it would contain 100 to 10,000 bacteria, 25,000 viruses and a single fungi, according to Prof John Tregoning, immunologist at Imperial College London.

"You're breathing these things in all the time, there's just a swirling mass of pathogens [organisms that cause disease] in the air," he says.

But there's plenty of foods, supplements and activities that are touted for their "immune-boosting" properties. Can we dial up our protection?................
 
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2m8d44v4go

[SteveH]

Many don't know they have prediabetes - so what is it and what can be done?
Millions of people have the condition which can lead to type 2 diabetes

Many people are unaware they're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to higher than normal blood sugars, as prediabetes doesn’t have any symptoms. Diabetes UK's latest data suggests that 6.3 million Brits are living with the condition.

The figures also show that 4.6 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, up 200,000 from last year to reach the highest level on record. The charity estimates an additional 1.3 million people have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Their analysis suggests that one in five adults in the UK are living with either diabetes or prediabetes. “These latest figures highlight the hidden health crisis we’re facing in the UK, and underline why the Government must act now.......................

cont  https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/many-dont-know-they-have-prediabetes-so-what-is-it-and-what-can-be-done?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589&utm_campaign=Daily-1322025&utm_medium=email&utm_source=IYA-DailyDigest&utm_term=news-link&source=email&sourceUserIid=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

At-home tests for men worried about prostate cancer can give inconsistent and inaccurate results, BBC News has found.

The tests, which resemble a Covid lateral flow strip, turn positive if a high level of a protein called PSA is detected in a drop of blood.

Of five rapid tests analysed by the BBC, one did not work, three were negative or all-clear, but one returned a false positive result - all from the same blood sample.

Prostate Cancer UK said it had significant concerns about the sale of the tests given their "questionable accuracy" and the absence of a doctor to interpret the results............  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl00gn15y8o

[Hugo]

If anyone has concerns then I would suggest that they go to their GP and ask for a PSA test and not do a DIY test on yourself.      T      If anyone has done a DIY test the GP will only ask for another one to be done so that they can diagnose any problem