by editor | Dec 4, 2011 | Health
Drugs – Who’s Doing What?
NHS Choices:
Illegal drugs are responsible for up to 1,600 deaths a year in the UK, and destroy thousands of relationships, families and careers. Find out about the most commonly used illegal drugs in England and Wales and the effects they can have on your health.
Did you know?
- Almost three million adults in England and Wales, or 8.6% of 16 to 59 year olds, have used illegal drugs in the last year according to the 2009-10 British Crime Survey (BCS).
- Among 16 to 24 year olds, the proportion of people who used drugs in the last year is considerably higher. The BCS estimates that about one in five young people, used one or more illegal drugs in the last year. However, use of illegal drugs in this age group has fallen since 2008-09 (22.6%).
- As in previous years, cannabis was the drug that was most likely to be used. Around one in fifteen 16 to 59 year olds said they had used cannabis in the last year. Health risks associated with cannibis use range from paranoia and loss of motivation to psychosis and lung disease.
- Powder cocaine and ecstasy were the second and third most commonly used drugs respectively. An estimated 2.4% of 16-59 year olds reported taking powder cocaine in the last year. Cocaine is highly addictive and is known to cause fits or heart attacks even in users who are young and healthy.
- Ecstasy was the third most used drug. The survey found that 1.6% of 16 to 59 year olds had taken ecstasy in the last year. Ecstasy can cause panic attacks or psychotic states and has been linked to has been linked to liver, kidney and heart problems.
- According to the survey, the most common age for first use of drugs was 16 for cannabis and 18 for powder cocaine. This has fallen since 2003-04, the last year for which figures are available, from 18 for cannabis and 20 for powder cocaine. The most common age for first use of ecstasy is 18 and remains unchanged since 2003-04.
For more information about drug use and the effects of drugs on your mind and body visit NHS Choices. http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/drugs/
Getting help
There are several sources of support if you or someone you know has a problem with drugs. Check out Drugs: where to get help on NHS Choices for an overview of the different services available.
by editor | Dec 4, 2011 | Health
Pregnancy Care
NHS Choices:
Having a baby is one of the most exciting things that can happen, but parents-to-be might be feeling nervous as well. If it’s a first baby, it’s hard to know what to expect and you’ll want to know what’s normal for pregnancy and what’s not.
You might be unsure about any number of things like what women should and shouldn’t eat during pregnancy, dealing with common health problems and how your relationships might change.
Below is a brief list of things you need to know. For detailed information on everything you need to know about pregnancy and birth see the NHS Choices pregnancy care planner, with up-to-date advice on these topics and many more.
Folic acid
Women should take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day while trying to get pregnant and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. This can help prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
Healthy eating
During pregnancy women need a healthy, balanced diet but not to eat for two. If you get hungry between meals, don’t have high fat and/or sugar snacks, such as biscuits, crisps or chocolate. Try salad vegetables, such as carrot or celery, or low-fat yoghurt, fresh fruit or baked potatoes.
Don’t eat mould-ripened cheese such as brie, or blue-veined cheese such as Danish blue, due to the risk of listeria infection. Don’t eat liver because it contains a lot of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A could harm the baby.
Alcohol and smoking
Avoid drinking alcohol if pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as too much exposure to alcohol can seriously affect the baby’s development. If you drink during pregnancy, don’t have more than one or two units once or twice a week. Smoking can harm the unborn baby, so if you smoke you should stop.
Antenatal care
As soon as you know you’re pregnant, get in touch with a midwife or GP to organise antenatal (pregnancy) care. You can also find out about local antenatal classes, which will put you in touch with other mums-to-be and prepare you for parenthood. These may be run by your maternity service, midwife, GP or health centre.
by editor | Dec 4, 2011 | Health
Stay Safe With Chlamydia Prevention Advice
From NHS Choices
With fun times ahead as the festival and holiday season approaches, NHS Choices has compiled the following advice to help avoid catching Chlamydia this summer.
Chlamydia is the most commonly diagnosed sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the UK, affecting both men and women. Most people who have it will have no symptoms and without a test you will probably not know anything is wrong. If you or your sexual partner are left untreated it can cause infertility (not being able to have children) and long term pelvic pain. If you are sexually active and under 25 you should be tested for chlamydia annually. Around 65% (80,258) of all new chlamydia diagnoses made in recent years were in people aged between 16 and 24 years old.
The chlamydia infection can be easily diagnosed through a simple swab or urine test. Once diagnosed, it can be treated with antibiotics. Undiagnosed chlamydia can lead to more serious long-term health problems and infertility.
Chlamydia Prevention Tips
- use condoms every time you have sex. This can reduce your risk of getting or passing on chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.
- if you have oral sex, cover the penis with a condom or the female genitals with a latex or polyurethane (plastic) square (dam).
- if you are not sure how to use condoms correctly, there are normally instructions in the packet.
- each time you have a new sexual partner, both of you should get a chlamydia test.
- have a chlamydia test every year while you are under 25.
- avoid sharing sex toys. If you do share sex toys, wash them or cover them with a new condom before anyone else uses them.
- If you do have chlamydia remember to also:
- take all the tablets you are given.
- tell your partner(s) and advise them to be tested and treated. You can get a free, confidential chlamydia test at your local GP or contact a local GUM (genitourinary medicine) or sexual health clinic to arrange a test.
For more information on Chlamydia symptoms, please visit the Chlamydia section of the NHS Choices website.
by editor | Dec 4, 2011 | Health
Five Things You Need to Know
about Skin Health
Your skin protects you, heals itself and lasts a lifetime.
Find how to give it some skin care in return, to help keep it looking and feeling its best.
Acne doesn’t just happen to teenagers
There are lots of myths around acne, including the idea that it only happens to teenage skin. This is not true – acne can develop in adults too. Find out about the treatments available if it happens to you, and whether your eating or skin care habits could be to blame.
Smoking makes your skin look older
Along with growing older and sun damage, smoking plays a part in creating wrinkles. It’s thought this may be because smoking reduces the amount of skin-plumping collagen (a protein that supports skin’s strength), leading to fine lines and wrinkles forming. You can help to delay the appearance of wrinkles by not smoking.
Find out other tips on keeping skin as healthy as possible.
Changes to a mole can be dangerous
If a mole changes, for example it grows, bleeds or changes colour, a doctor needs to check it for cancer warning signs. In addition, you can use the mole checker tool to see whether any of your moles could be risky and need a medical opinion. Sun damage increases your risk of skin cancer, so make sure you know the latest skin care tips to protect your skin from the sun and prevent sunburn.
Skin lightening creams can harm your skin
Non-prescription creams that claim to lighten your skin colour could contain banned ingredients that damage your skin. Over-the-counter creams like these have been found to contain steroids and hydroquinone, a substance banned from use in cosmetics. Prescription creams containing steroids can be used to treat some conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, but this must be supervised by a skin specialist.
You don’t need to risk sunburn to get vitamin D
Sunlight on skin is our main source of vitamin D, essential for healthy bones. The amount of time you need in the sun to make enough vitamin D is different for everyone, and depends on things like skin type and the time of day. But you don’t need to sunbathe – the amount of sun you need to make enough vitamin D is less than the amount that causes tanning or burning. Find out more about sun protection.
by editor | Dec 4, 2011 | Health
Five Drinking Myths
There are so many stories around alcohol and drinking that it’s hard to know what to believe.
Knowing the facts about how drinking affects your body is the best way to make sure you drink safely.
Below are some common myths around drinking. Read on to find out the real facts about alcohol.
MYTH: Drinking makes sex better
TRUTH: Alcohol can help you avoid feeling awkward or can help you feel more confident. But it can keep men from getting or keeping an erection, and it can reduce sex drive. More importantly, you might put yourself in a risky situation or you might not use a condom, putting you at greater risk of a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy [http://www.nhs.uk/planners/pregnancycareplanner].
MYTH: Beer gets you less drunk.
TRUTH: An average pint of beer (ABV 5%), large glass of wine (250ml, ABV 11%) or a ‘large’ double vodka (70ml, ABV 38 to 40%) all have around 2.8 units of alcohol [http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Alcoholcalculator.aspx]. This is what makes you drunk chemically, and the faster you drink the full 2.8 units, the higher your peak blood level.
MYTH: Switching between beer, wine, and spirits will make you more drunk.
TRUTH: Your blood alcohol [http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/alcohol] content is what determines how drunk you are. Mixing drinks may make you sicker by upsetting your stomach, but not more intoxicated.
MYTH: A big meal before you drink will keep you sober.
TRUTH: Drinking on a full stomach will delay alcohol getting into your system, not prevent it. However, it is best to eat a proper meal before a night out, especially foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins.
MYTH: Your body develops a tolerance to alcohol, so you can safely drink more
TRUTH: The more you drink the more damage your body will sustain and the greater the risks become. Tolerance to alcohol can actually be seen as a warning sign that your body has started to be affected by too much drinking.
Alcohol’s hidden harms usually only emerge after a number of years. And by then, serious health problems [http://www.nhs.uk/conditions] can have developed.
Keeping to NHS recommended limits will reduce the risk of alcohol harming your health:
- Men should not exceed 3-4 units a day on a regular basis;
- Women should not exceed 2-3 units a day on a regular basis.
Find out more about drinking and health at NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/alcohol/
