50+ & life
Blogs about being over 50 and living life over the age of 50.
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Silicawater may help reduce bowel inflammation

Silicawater may help reduce bowel inflammation
Continue ReadingAluminium and fluoride in tap water raises risk of dementia – scientific research from Scotland

New scientific research has revealed a greater risk of dementia in people drinking tap water in Scotland loaded with aluminium and fluoride. The research concluded that higher levels of aluminium and fluoride were related to dementia risk in a …
Continue ReadingAn apple a day may keep the hot flushes at bay

We all know that we should be eating a diet rich in fruit and veg, but did you know that filling up on plants can actually help keep menopausal symptoms under control? A new study published by The North American …
Continue ReadingMHRA seeking views on accessing medicines for women

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is looking to speak to women to discuss the reclassification of medicines used for hormone replacement and oral contraception from prescription-only to medicines that can instead be purchased under the supervision of …
Continue ReadingKey findings of the Health Profile for England report

The Health Profile for England report was published in September 2018 and is a comprehensive report covering life expectancy, major causes of death, mortality trends, child health, inequality in health, wider determinants of health and current health protection issues. The data and …
Continue Reading5 effective ways to prevent loneliness this winter

According to a recent study, lonely people who suffer with heart problems are up to three times more likely to die one year after being hospitalised and discharged. However, it’s not just those with heart problems that are affected. Loneliness …
Continue ReadingFlu – the new vaccine that’s good news for older people

Boots starts offering their vaccinations this week. This year there is an improved flu vaccine (which also boosts the immune system for older people) and this is the one we are being offered in the UK this coming winter. This …
Continue ReadingWorld Stroke Day

Today is World Stroke Day, strokes are the third most common cause of death and the commonest cause of disability in the UK but you can help prevent them. Strokes can happen to anyone but you have the power to …
Continue ReadingWays to raise your Serotonin and feel good hormones for powerful healing and sustained happiness

? Raising and supporting our happiness is one of the most important parts of sustainable wellbeing. Feeling good enables us to break through poor learned habits more easily and to reach higher levels of healing that are sustainable beyond. ? …
Continue ReadingWorld Menopause Day Twitter Chat Highlights

To mark World Menopause Day, Friday 18 October 2019, we hosted a Menopause Twitter Chat on our @talkhealth Twitter Page. The chat started at 1pm GMT and lasted one hour with a series of five questions. This encouraged lots of …
Continue ReadingHow Anxiety Arrived With the Menopause

Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms of the menopause, yet it’s not one that is immediately associated with this period of change during a woman’s midlife. When you think of the menopause, you probably think of hot flushes. …
Continue Reading7 reasons you have brain fog & what to do

Brain fog is a term you may have used before to describe a moment where you forget what you were saying or doing but it could be a symptom of a more serious medical condition. Brain fog can be associated …
Continue ReadingAntidepressants, students & mental health care, sugar tax & tea-drinking benefits

Missed out on all the latest health news this week? Catch up now… Most common antidepressant does little to relieve depression symptoms New research suggests that the most common antidepressant actually does little to relieve symptoms of depression. The largest …
Continue ReadingSummary – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019
I hope you have found the last five blog posts informative. The infographic is a great way to get out a lot of information in an easily read format but sometimes it’s nice to have a little more detail, and …
Continue ReadingSummary – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019
I hope you have found the last five blog posts informative. The infographic is a great way to get out a lot of information in an easily read format but sometimes it’s nice to have a little more detail, and …
Continue ReadingSit Less (Minimise Sedentary time) – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

“Older adults should break up prolonged periods of being sedentary with light activity when physically possible, or at least with standing ” The message is to sit less as prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with many poor health and functional …
Continue ReadingSit Less (Minimise Sedentary time) – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

“Older adults should break up prolonged periods of being sedentary with light activity when physically possible, or at least with standing ” The message is to sit less as prolonged sedentary behaviour is associated with many poor health and functional …
Continue ReadingImprove Balance – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

In Chichester feeling unsteady will ring true with many people with it’s uneven pavements. Unfortunately not a lot can be done about the pavements but we can improve our balance. Along with building our strength the Improve Balance section has …
Continue ReadingImprove Balance – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

In Chichester feeling unsteady will ring true with many people with it’s uneven pavements. Unfortunately not a lot can be done about the pavements but we can improve our balance. Along with building our strength the Improve Balance section has …
Continue ReadingBuild Strength – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

What is getting a lot of press at the moment is the Build Strength part of the guidelines. It’s always been there but it is now given greater emphasis as the evidence it helps maintain physical function, reduce the risk …
Continue ReadingBuild Strength – Physical Activity Guidelines 2019

What is getting a lot of press at the moment is the Build Strength part of the guidelines. It’s always been there but it is now given greater emphasis as the evidence it helps maintain physical function, reduce the risk …
Continue ReadingBe Active – Physical activity Guidelines

Be Active – Guidance for the Physical activity Guidelines for Older Adults 2019 “Each week older adults should aim to accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity, building up gradually from current levels. Those who are already …
Continue ReadingPhysical Activity Guidelines – Part 1

The new Physical Activity Guidelines were released yesterday and I thought I would take a short break from the falls prevention topic I was on to discuss them. Especially as I found out the other day my Mum doesn’t even …
Continue ReadingFalls prevention tips in the home

Whilst exercise is important to help improve your balance and strengthen your muscles here are some falls prevention tips in the home. Make sure that your lighting is good enough you can see. If you need to go to the …
Continue ReadingHRT & breast cancer risks, women & confidence, UK healthcare spending & more

Welcome to this week’s healthcare roundup for 26 – 30th September. Menopause HRT increases risk of breast cancer Researches from Oxford University have found that Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) could increase the risk of cancer, even after a decade …
Continue ReadingWorried about exercising and falling?

It is common for people to worry so much about falling that they restrict their movement, unfortunately this is a vicious circle as you are more likely to fall if you spend long periods of time seated and don’t do …
Continue ReadingExercise and Falling
Worried about exercise and falling? It is common for people to worry so much about falling that they restrict their movement, unfortunately this is a vicious circle as you are more likely to fall if you spend long periods of …
Continue ReadingHeatwave warning, hospital food, multiple medicine risks & more

Have you missed out on the health news this week? Get up to date now with our weekly health news roundup. Met Office issues heatwave health warning for Bank Holiday weekend The Met Office has issued a level three heat …
Continue ReadingZebrafish & Parkinson’s, Poor Diets, Stroke Risks & More

Have you missed the latest news this week (5th April?) Don’t worry, we’ve summarised the key stories for you below. The diets cutting 1 in 5 lives short A recent, influential study shows how the food we eat is putting …
Continue ReadingBard stops selling vaginal mesh products for stress urinary incontinence
It has been announced today that C.R. Bard have chosen to stop production and distribution of all urogynaecological mesh products for SUI and POP and that they are removing all urogynaecological mesh products from hospital and distribution centres. This is …
Continue ReadingAsk our gynaecology experts your questions

Every year we run an Online Clinic on Gynaecology. And this year our clinic is sponsored by Babystart, Sylk Intimate and Promensil. We are also delighted our clinic is being supported by The Eve Appeal and Womb Cancer Support UK charities. Meet …
Continue ReadingCan you exercise if you have osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis can be seen as a reason to avoid exercise. However a great infographic from the Institute of Bone and Joint Research shows that even if walking and doing some exercise may hurt the answer is not to avoid …
Continue ReadingHealth round up – exercise & weight loss, asthma & young people, PTSD

This week in the news about health (22 February 2019) we look at exercise and weight loss, young deaths in the UK from asthma and PTSD in young people. Short bursts of exercise is good for weight loss According to …
Continue ReadingNarcissistic Personality Disorder
Never Enough: The Narcissist’s Insatiable Curse If you have gotten to know a person with narcissism, you are bound to recall how you felt during and after your interactions with them. Not all narcissists are alike. But the term does …
Continue ReadingGenes & depression, mobile phones & children, meat consumption and talkhealth’s FREE well-being programme’s launched!

This week in health (8 February 2019) some of the key stories are summarised below. And to help with your overall health and well-being, we’ve launched mywellbeing this week – a FREE support programme for anyone wanting to improve their physical …
Continue ReadingWhat Every Woman Should Know About the Menopause

Menopause is still a taboo subject, leaving women feeling ill-informed and unsupported. I have worked in Women’s Health for several years and yet 3 years ago as I started experiencing my first symptoms, I realised I knew very little about …
Continue ReadingCorrect portion size, diet, sandwich carers, cancer & more

This week in health – 18 January 2019. This week we look at diet, portion size, research into concussion with premiership footballers, and teenage cancer and more. A snapshot of some of the key stories in health can be found …
Continue ReadingImproving Self Esteem
When self-esteem is lower than it should be, self-advocacy almost always suffers too. After All, when we are not feeling worthy of our own admiration and love, we likely do not expect others to recognize our worth, either. It’s hard …
Continue ReadingManaging Stress

Deadlines. Bills. Money problems. Chores. Family responsibilities. Relationship challenges. Work issues. Politics. Drama. STRESS. TOO MUCH STRESS. Does this sound familiar? Of course it does. Statistics from the APA even show how stressed we are. Forty four percent of …
Continue ReadingWork”Out” or Work”In” ?
I talk rather alot about working “In”as well as” Out” in my sessions but how do you know when to work “in” and not work “out”? It’s really simple protocol but as ever you need to be accurate and …
Continue ReadingPilates where did it come from? Should you be Practicing Pilates?

Where Did Pilates Come From? Should you be practicing Pilates? Joseph Pilates was initially a frail young German who took it upon himself to become a very strong, educated, healthy man. Joseph took part in wide range of sports including fencing, …
Continue ReadingTinnitus Awareness Week 2018

Tinnitus Awareness Week is running from 5-11 February this year. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of the condition, which affects approximately 1 in 10 of the population. A recent British Tinnitus Association survey found that just under …
Continue ReadingHow to take control of your own health

Now that it’s January everybody wants to get back to the gym and start a new diet or exercise health kick of some description whether that’s a detox protocol or simply couch to 5k. For the average person in the …
Continue ReadingWeight Loss for Health

Since the start of January, the media has been full of weight loss plans and exercise regimes. My gym, which was quiet over Christmas, was full to the brim on Monday and I struggled to park the car at 6.30am …
Continue ReadingNo Time for Exercise? How about 3 minutes?
Are you tight for time and want to try Pilates? “I don’t have 10 minutes to myself” sound like you? To busy to book in at a club, drive to the club, and attend a class…. I know that time …
Continue ReadingOsteoarthritis in the knee and exercise.
Exercise can play a vital role in managing osteoarthritis. People are often fearful of exercising the affected joint in case it causes further pain and damage yet this review of studies done on exercise programmes states “People with OA should be …
Continue ReadingType 2 diabetes costing NHS £8.8bn each year

It is estimated that 600,000 people in the UK have Type 2 diabetes but have yet to be diagnosed. Including the undiagnosed, that’s around 4 million people in the UK alone. And since 1996, the number of people with diabetes …
Continue ReadingLink between cancer and obesity higher in women

As someone who has recently lost weight (22 pounds or 9.7kg in new money) I was interested to read a recent study published in The Lancet. A recent cancer diagnosis within my family made me stop and think. I’m middle-aged …
Continue ReadingStoptober – Are you ready for the challenge?

This month thousands of people are taking on the Stoptober challenge, Stoptober is a 28 day non-smoking awareness campaign run throughout October. It has been said that you are five times more likely to quit smoking after 28 days! Smoking …
Continue ReadingDo you need private medical insurance?

With hundreds of health insurance plans to choose from it is never easy to find the right one that suits you best. Many people’s thoughts on private medical insurance are….”not for me too expensive”, “I have a condition already so I …
Continue ReadingA Vision of Good Eye Health

Regular eye checks and a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand with healthy eyes, yet too often we overlook the health of our eyes until we start to experience vision problems. So what should we be doing to protect our …
Continue ReadingIs the Robocop knee brace the new ‘must have’ for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis? The celebrities seem to think that it is …

Recent media stories, a landmark study and the Autumn/Winter TV schedules highlight the Össur Unloader’s ability to offer pain relief, improve function and maintain a healthy lifestyle Recent national news stories (London, UK – August, 2017) have drawn attention to the …
Continue ReadingHow to Cope with What Life Sends Your Way

Stress is a part of life. Sometimes the stress that comes out of each situation is good and sometimes it’s bad. For instance, achieving a goal can become stressful but once you reach it you feel a sense of accomplishment, …
Continue ReadingOnline Doctor v Patient-to-patient Support

Do people seek information from HCPs online or do they prefer online support from fellow patients? Over recent years there has been a steady increase in the availability of patient-focused websites offering health information and support across a wide range …
Continue ReadingWhat does today’s tech-savvy, self-caring, knowledgeable patient look like?

There’s little doubt that the 21st century patient is very different to the 20th century patient of my era. Much has changed and technology has been the key driver for change. So what does the modern, tech-savvy, self-caring, all-knowing patient …
Continue Reading40-60 years old not even walking for 10 minutes once a month

According to a report by Public Health England (PHE), middle aged men and woman are not getting enough exercise. In fact a staggering 41% are not even managing a 10 minute brisk walk once a month! Dr Jenny Harries, Deputy …
Continue ReadingYoga and Lower Back Pain
In a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center researchers found that yoga classes specifically designed for chronic lower back pain (my italics!) helped patients feel better. In light of this those with non-specific Lower …
Continue ReadingTips for exercising safely in the sun

Don’t use the sun as an excuse not to exercise but use these handy tips to ensure you stay healthy. 1) Keep hydrated – make sure you have a water bottle with you and take sips during your session and …
Continue ReadingJust an hour a week….

New research has shown that just an hour a week of resistance exercise can lower the risk of metabolic syndrome (cardiovascular risk factors such as overweight, high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar). You don’t have to leave your house …
Continue ReadingUK expats could cost NHS £500million report says

A report, published today, by the Nuffield Trust, suggests that when reciprocal health arrangements within Europe end, post Brexit, the cost to the NHS could be as much as an extra £500m each year as expats return to the UK for …
Continue ReadingGLUTEN FREE PRESCRIPTIONS – Action Against Allergy

AAA support for coeliacs Action Against Allergy is giving its support to the campaign being co-ordinated by Coeliac UK to persuade the NHS to seek an alternative to their proposed withdrawal of prescriptions for the gluten free foods needed by …
Continue ReadingShould you take Vitamin D to combat colds and flu?

Yesterday (16 February 2017) it was widely reported on TV, in newspapers and across the Internet that taking Vitamin D could significantly reduce the incidence of colds and flu amongst the general population. In fact, some newsrooms went as far …
Continue ReadingIntroducing Action Against Allergy – our latest charity forum partnership

talkhealth are excited to announce that we are now hosting the forums for the charity ‘Action Against Allergy’. Log on to the AAA forums to join the general discussion, view charity news and individual to talkhealth we are especially delighted to announce a forum …
Continue ReadingCan a robot really help the elderly?

You may have seen in the news that researchers from Middlesex University and the University of Bedfordshire are using £2m of EU and Japanese funding to develop robots that will be culturally and socially aware, in order to help the …
Continue ReadingShould GPs run a 7 day service?

The government are keen for GP surgeries to open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Doctors are being told that if they fail to meet their commitments to keep surgeries open for longer, they may lose extra funding. …
Continue ReadingDo you feel to old to start exercising?

According to the findings of a study from the University of Dundee, published in the journal Age and Ageing, the most powerful ‘deterrent’ among the over-65s is a lack of interest, and disbelief that exercise can enhance and/or lengthen life. …
Continue ReadingTickly coughs and dribbly noses

It’s that time of year, and if you’re working in an office you’re probably surrounded by coughs and colds. A nasty cold bug started doing the rounds in the talkhealth office just before Christmas with about half of the team …
Continue ReadingDentists urge us to cut the cake culture in the office

Yesterday, (3 January 2017), the Royal College of Surgeons, Faculty of Dental Surgery (FDS) issued a press release urging workers to cut the cake culture that seems to have become established in many offices up and down the country. The FDS …
Continue ReadingNew Year Resolutions

We hope you’ve all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! In the talkhealth office today, we’ve been talking about our various New Year resolutions. It’s safe to say we’ve all over-indulged this Christmas and several …
Continue Reading3 Things You Need to Know About Finding Home Care for Your Parents

As children, we want nothing but the best for our parents. Sometimes, that means letting them live at home instead of an assisted care facility. Your parents will have a better time spending their days with the family – including …
Continue ReadingWhere have all the O’s, B’s and A’s gone? You can help fill the gaps – #missingtype?

NHS Blood & Transplant need your blood. You may have seen their latest campaign entitled #missingtype. The campaign has been designed to attract blood donors new and old. The campaign is running across several social media channels including Twitter and …
Continue ReadingDon’t suffer in silence: World Continence Week

Bladder incontinence is a problem which affects 6 million people, just within the UK. The condition causes people to feel embarrassed and isolated, with many being too scared to leave the house. Urinary incontinence is described as the unintentional …
Continue ReadingThis Week in Health News: Heart Rhythm Week

At talkhealth we understand the importance of monitoring your health for any irregularities. Very often we brush off unusual activity in our bodies and ignore any tell-tale signs telling ourselves ‘It’ll be fine, it’ll pass’. In line with Heart Rhythm …
Continue ReadingThis Week in Health News: The First Penis Transplant in the USA, and Should Men Over 40 Avoid Having Children?

A prominent health news story over the last few days has been the reporting on the first penis transplant in the USA. The story may make many readers wince, but as the doctors who performed the operation have pointed out, …
Continue ReadingRosacea awareness month

Did you know that April is Rosacea Awareness month? Do you know what rosacea is? You might not be surprised to know that almost 40% of the people who have completed our rosacea survey have not heard of the condition. And yet …
Continue ReadingThis Week in Health News: Treatment for Skin Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease; The Junior Doctors Dispute Wares On

Over the last few weeks, we’ve covered a number of positive health stories about potential breakthroughs in the treatment of deadly diseases including cancer. The potential good news continues this week, with the announcement of a new combination of drugs …
Continue ReadingThis Week in Health News: More Strikes, The Oldest Ever Mother of Triplets, and Singing’s Effect on Cancer

Today (Wednesday 6th April), junior doctors in England began their fourth strike over the new contracts that are to be ‘imposed’ on them by the government. The walkout began at 08:00am and will last for 48 hours. With these latest …
Continue ReadingMenopause And Moods
Menopause and mood swings are very common, but you don’t have to just suffer as there are ways you can help stay on top of them. Many women experience mood swings as part of PMS, but just because its menopause …
Continue ReadingPrevention of Pressure Sores on Elderly Patients Living in Care Homes
Pressure sores are a common and substantial concern for elderly patients living in care homes, with over 700,000 people affected every year. For the NHS, they are the single most costly chronic wound, and most often occur in patients over …
Continue ReadingEverything You Need to Know About Physician Incentive Plans

In healthcare, there are a wide number of options that offer monetary incentives to healthcare providers. These are known as Physician Incentives Plans, or PIP for short. There are currently around 40 different PIP available across the United States, …
Continue ReadingThis Week in Health News: A Radical New Cancer Treatment and More

You may have noticed a number of cancer-related stories in the news this week. For one thing, data released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre has shown a significant recent drop in the number of women in England …
Continue ReadingHow To Tackle Night Sweats
Are you one of those unfortunate women who suffer both daytime hot flushes and night time sweats? It may seem like a different condition, but it is actually it is just a continuation of the same problem and unfortunately we …
Continue ReadingCleanmarine for Women

Most women experience uncomfortable symptoms associated with their menstrual cycle, such as mood changes, physical discomfort, and cravings. Many of these symptoms may be alleviated by taking a natural supplement containing Krill Oil. An independent study has shown that Cleanmarine® …
Continue ReadingMeet Speedo Mick … charity fundraiser extraordinaire

Amongst other things I’m a Wycombe Wanderers football fan. A league 2 club with no money but fans who totally believe in and support the manager and the squad week in and week out. And this weekend just gone was …
Continue ReadingMay the force be with you …

Star Wars is everywhere. It is THE film of the year, with some of the original cast back to grace the big screen, including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. Sadly, David Prowse who played Darth Vader, also affectionately …
Continue Reading
A blast from the calorie past! Cliff found this calorie list among my mother-in-law Vivian’s papers.The doctor’s name is at the top, and in Vivian’s handwriting are the words “For Al.” So did the doctor want Cliff’s dad on a diet or …
Continue ReadingThe Health Benefits of Cycling in Old Age

All kinds or reports show that staying active in old age is important, so a lot more people are looking for ways to take more exercise as they age. They are doing this in lots of different ways. Walking and …
Continue ReadingPain Management and TCM
As a traditionally trained Acupuncturist I regularly get people coming to me for the treatment of pain; often as a last resort but also as part of a holistic pain management strategy working in partnership with other health professionals …
Continue ReadingRattle That Lock

It’s been a busy week and a short one at that as I’m off to Berlin in the morning for 4 days supporting my partner who’s running the Berlin Marathon. For those of you who’ve read my blogs before, you’ll …
Continue ReadingEasy ways to stay healthy when you retire
Dealing with the changes that come with finishing work and having a lot more time on your hands sounds easy, but it can be damaging for a lot of people who aren’t prepared for making the transition from having to …
Continue ReadingChanging Places – Changing Lives

Part of everyday life is popping down to the shops, taking a trip into town, or visiting somewhere special for the day – or rather, it is if you are able. If you need a carer to help you do …
Continue ReadingNeedles? Ouch! 10 Myths About Acupuncture
There are a lot of myths about acupuncture, a medical model that has been around for over 4000 years and used successfully to improve the health and well being of people around world. Below are 10 of the common acupuncture …
Continue ReadingLive self determined-Die self determined

In my last blog I wrote about the process of Assisted Dying in Switzerland. A country I have loved to ski and walk in for many years and a country I feel very at home in, as do my two …
Continue ReadingTo die with dignity?

In this weeks news was the story of a woman in her seventies who travelled to a clinic in Switzerland to take advantage of Swiss law, which allows an individual to choose to end their life. The article suggested that …
Continue ReadingA Simple, Effective, Non-Surgical Treatment For Osteoarthritis
Are you, like me, noticing signs of age creeping in such as osteoarthritis related knee and hip pain? Do stairs, standing for long periods, and getting in and out cars or onto public transport proving to be more of a …
Continue ReadingLiving the dream

This week we are running our online clinic on bladder, bowel and digestive health. I have had a stressful week, moving house, downsizing here in the UK and hoping soon to semi-retire and move to France. It made me think of …
Continue ReadingStay cool. It’s going to be hot.

A heat wave is forecast with temperatures rising above 30 degrees centigrade. Detrimental health effects of hot weather include dehydration, overheating, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke , which is a medical emergency and can be fatal. Generally the risk of these …
Continue ReadingThis week @ talkhealth

It’s been another very busy week at talkhealth, as always! We are delighted to have an Intern, April, who will be joining us on Monday. She will be primarily helping with our social media campaigns as well as various projects …
Continue ReadingGoing Through the Change: A Menopause Superhero Novel!

(Cover art by Polina Sapershteyn) Here’s a post by a writer friend of mine, Samantha Bryant. She’s written a novel about menopause and superheros! Menopause can be a pretty scary word. In a world that values youth and physical perfection above …
Continue Reading7 Key Symptoms At Menopause
Menopause changes many aspects of our lives from our appearance to our health, but these common symptoms do have solutions. Throughout our hormonal life we get so many symptoms and changes that it can be hard to tell just what …
Continue ReadingTAPER? I’M STILL TRAINING!!! AND BEING SUPPORTED BY STEPHEN FRY!

Oh my! The Virgin Money London Marathon really is getting close! Sunday 26th April to be precise, or even more precise: 3 long runs, 8 effort runs, 9 recovery runs (or parkruns), 6 rest days, 2x Pilates sessions, 4x swims …
Continue ReadingWe Attended an Eczema Patient Panel Event and We Liked It
I had a lovely time at the international eczema conference last year and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to be invited to attend the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology Patient Panel Day this year! That’s right …
Continue ReadingChichester Pilates Class: Core Pilates Review
Core Pilates Firstly a mild correction, I was slightly misleading on Friday apparently it wasn’t a Fitness Pilates class it was Core Pilates. It was stated as Core Pilates on the timetable but there was no accompanying link to the …
Continue ReadingOut of my comfort zone: Fitness pilates

Trying new things: Out of my comfort zone I am an advocate of finding the exercise that works for you, it may be running, lifting, swimming, cycling, circuits, chair based. Whatever gets you moving is what works. If possible throw …
Continue ReadingRunning to beat blood cancers

My journey into marathons and ultra-marathons to challenge myself and raise funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research I’m a 53 year old Dad with two daughters at UNI, kart racer and a management consultant working long, pretty stressful hours from …
Continue ReadingSo now I can’t run!

If you’ve stopped by my blog and read some of my posts, you’ll know I’m a runner. Or should I say I ‘WAS’ a runner. Running has been great for me in so many ways and quite a big part …
Continue ReadingKeeping it simple – Change4Life

Nutrition is a hot topic and people can, and do, spend hours arguing about the best way, the correct way, the healthiest way to eat and about how certain foods are evil and we should tax them (yes I’m looking …
Continue ReadingNurtrition: Keeping it simple – Change4Life

Nutrition is a hot topic and people can, and do, spend hours arguing about the best way, the correct way, the healthiest way to eat and about how certain foods are evil and we should tax them (yes I’m looking …
Continue ReadingChoose a Mental Wellbeing resolution in 2015.

Last year when I wrote about New Year Resolutions it was about choosing a change that you wanted to make and not what you thought you should be doing What do you Want to Change? This year I am going …
Continue ReadingChoose a Mental Wellbeing resolution in 2015.

Last year when I wrote about New Year Resolutions it was about choosing a change that you wanted to make and not what you thought you should be doing What do you Want to Change? This year I am going …
Continue ReadingThe FEELS
When I started writing about my weight loss journey I imagined myself sitting at my laptop being witty and wise and hopefully inspirational. Whats happened is Ive opened a can of worms where my feelings about my metamorphasis have bubbled …
Continue ReadingQuality of Life With Chronic Atopic Eczema Versus Life After Topical Steroid Withdrawal
I still get asked sometimes why on Earth I would ever put myself through so much pain and misery in going through topical steroid withdrawal and if it’s really been worth it for me. In the asking of this question, …
Continue Reading10 Things You Should Know About Oestrogen Dominance

Dealing with oestrogen dominance by rebalancing with bioidentical natural progesterone is essential for healthy hormone balance. Women from puberty to post-menopause can be affected but just how much do you know about it? Whatever a woman’s age, or health, it …
Continue ReadingAre Plastics Affecting Your Libido?
Low libido can be due to many causes, and progesterone does stimulate sex drive in women, but there is also a hidden factor in your everyday life that may be having an effect too. A frequent question for women at …
Continue ReadingStaying Connected In a Lonely World
It appears ironic that in this age of information and our ability to engage more freely, we are perhaps ever more lonely – in our physical connectedness. +1372
Continue ReadingHow To Reduce Blood Pressure Naturally
An amazing number of us are now on hypertension medication, and once on it is difficult to get off without a very long discussion with your doctor. This is particularly true as we hit our 50’s and may show signs …
Continue ReadingHolidays With Conditions In Mind
It’s true that having a health condition really finds it’s way into all kinds of facets of your life. As I’ve mentioned previously, my chest reacts incredibly badly to the cold, which makes winter something of a pain. So I’m …
Continue Readingtalkhealth Office Round Up

It’s been an extremely busy week in the talkhealth office, so we thought we’d tell you what we’ve been up to. Firstly, we’ve had two birthdays so lots of cake has been consumed! Helen, the youngest member of our team, …
Continue ReadingNHS Accident and Emergency Update
It has been some time since I last posted on Talk Health, the delay has simply been down to pressure of work and also I suppose partly a dearth of decent topics on which to expound. However I ended up …
Continue ReadingUse it or lose it… Beach Boys

The saying is very true lose it or use it…. we see many examples of people carrying on doing what they love – and age is a complete irrelevance. Last night was a great show of energy at Hampton Court …
Continue ReadingA Shadow of My Former Self

Menopause messes with your mind… Whirls and twirls those old brain waves And shoots out changes in attitude, perspective, and personality. Some changes just happen. Some are more deliberate, prompted by an increase in zest, courage, and confidence. A week ago, my friend Judy Brown sent …
Continue ReadingI Attended An Eczema Convention and I Liked It
This year the 8th Georg Rajka International Symposium on Atopic Dermatitis was held in Nottingham, UK. This is only a couple of hours drive from me and the University’s Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology (CEBD) were very kind in extending an …
Continue ReadingRound-up on talkhealth…

We know that lots of you are very interested in taking part in our trials and surveys, and with this in mind talkhealth purely in the interest of research (of course!) attended The Research Club evening at the London Carbon Bar. …
Continue ReadingNo pudding until you have eaten your fruit and veg.

The news today is full of the study that showed that the current government recommendation of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables may not be sufficient and that we should be aiming for 7+ (preferably made up of 5 vegetable …
Continue ReadingNever stop moving.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving” -Albert Einstein. So the government recommendations on exercise are as follows for the over 65s (taken from the NHS Choices page for Physical Activity guidelines for …
Continue ReadingA bit of fitspiration I found online…

Do what you love. Additionally WHO have updated their physical activity/exercise fact sheet which can be found here The post A bit of fitspiration I found online… appeared first on Whole Life Fitness. +1271
Continue ReadingThe Cabbage Patch: Any Takers?

So tell me, is it a good system or a bad one? Reproduction and all the joys and troubles it brings. Sometimes I think the cabbage patch would have been a better plan. If babies came from cabbage patches, we wouldn’t …
Continue ReadingBritish Association of Dermatologists’ statement on the Government’s response to the Keogh Review of cosmetic interventions

In Spring 2013 the Government commissioned an independent review of cosmetic surgery recommending better regulation, better training and proper redress if things go wrong. Initial recommendations have been made as a result of the review and a full statement from …
Continue ReadingWhole Life Fitness on Facebook
Hello, hope everyone is feeling happy and healthy today with at least 10 minutes of physical activity planned. Now the friendly reminder is over this is just a quick post to say that I have a facebook page which I …
Continue ReadingWeek 1 – Couch to 5k

Last night, on behalf of Sherfield Park Runners, I ran the first ever session of our beginners’ running course – Couch to 5k. Over the next 9 weeks I will be taking people who have never run before through a …
Continue ReadingThe health hazards of sitting
I’ve added this to my news feed but I like it so much I’m going to repost it here so you all get to see it.. The Health Hazards of Sitting A tip to remind you to move more. The …
Continue ReadingRunning – Couch to 5k

It’s been quite a while since my last blog post but I’ve lots to say about my running and the running club I co-founded in April last year – Sherfield Park Runners! In October, I completed my third ever half …
Continue ReadingDo you spend too much time sitting down?
If so then here’s a great tip from one of the ladies who attends my Friday class. Set your alarm for every 30/45 minutes but, and this is the important bit, make sure you leave the alarm in another room …
Continue ReadingLittle Women: Christmas Won’t Be Christmas

Famous first line! A Christmas line, spoken by a great character of literature, Jo March. In honor of that first line and the ambitious and opinionated Jo March, I present the Little Women collection of my friend Nancy Espersen. Nancy’s …
Continue ReadingWhat do YOU want to change?
So it’s the New Year and I’m a personal trainer so I’m going to talk all about resolutions and eating healthy and moving more. Nope. You get that in my blog the rest of the year. I’m not against resolutions, …
Continue Reading23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?
This is a visual lecture by Dr Mike Evans called 23 1/2 hours. If you have a spare 9 minutes and 18 seconds please watch it. The post 23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can …
Continue ReadingMenopause and Angel Wings

Angels. Who wouldn’t want to be one? (Someday, that is.) Robes that hide stomachs and veiny legs. Wings that take you wherever you want to go, with no security line hassles. And you can sing! (I didn’t make the chorus …
Continue ReadingChoose Life
Someone asked me the other day whether cancer was ultimately a positive, transformative experience. Gosh, what a question! Thinking positively about cancer didn’t come easily to me at all, and I can’t imagine it comes easily to anyone. I experienced …
Continue ReadingHighest risk group for cardivascular disease was the metabolically unhealthy but normal weight participants
As you may know there is new research out which has caused the following headlines… “Being fit is no help if you’re fat as well: Scientists say healthy obesity does not exist” Daily Mail, December 3 2013 “‘Healthy and overweight’ …
Continue ReadingGet Going Together
Get Going Together is a health and wellbeing programme helping older people take part in physical activity. According to Age UK (and me!) “Exercise brings physical and mental benefits and gives people the opportunity to socialise with others.” It’s organised by Age …
Continue ReadingWinter warmer – Porridge
Right I know I’m probably late to the party with this suggestion but the other week someone told me a new way to cook porridge and it’s DELICIOUS. It tastes like it has been made with cream and not semi-skimmed …
Continue ReadingExercise acts as a drug
“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while physical activity saves it and preserves it” (Plato) Instead of writing a post I am just going to link to an article in the British Journal of Pharmacology, …
Continue Reading10 tips to help you be healthy
I understand that not everyone has the desire to make big changes to their lives, that a glass of wine with supper is one of life’s small pleasures and you may not want to run a 5k. However here are …
Continue ReadingOnline Clinic on Men’s Health now OPEN

Our Online Clinic on Men’s health is now open, this is your chance to ask our experts about any health concerns or queries you may have. We know that men in particular are not that good at going to the …
Continue ReadingA Halloween Beauty Tip!

A post from Greta, a pumpkin I met at the North Carolina State Fair last week. Hello everyone in Internet World! I must say, I thought Barbara was rude to just pop a camera in my face. But then we …
Continue ReadingHigh Cholesterol In Women Does Not Have The Not Same Heart Attack Risk As For Men
Women get protection from their hormones for reducing heart attack risk, and it is progesterone that makes the difference. It is something I have trying to tell doctors for years – sadly with little success – which is what Dr …
Continue ReadingDo you know one of the best forms of exercise for your health is free?
Yes, FREE!!! and who doesn’t love a bargain? So what’s this secret exercise? Walking. It can help transform people’s health according to The “Walking Works” report by the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support. “Walking works. It makes people happy, keeps everyone healthy …
Continue ReadingThe Key to Reducing Eye Stress in the Workplace
Your sight is one of your most important senses, so it’s a constant source of wonder that so many of us take it for granted. Nowhere is this truer than in the workplace, where we’re at risk of damaging it, …
Continue ReadingExercise vs Drugs
A study (the Comparative effectiveness of exercise and drug interventions on mortality outcomes: metaepidemiological study) published recently in the British Medical Journal found that exercise could be as good as drugs for certain conditions. The conditions that were studied were secondary …
Continue ReadingHow do we get men to be more open about cancer

One major issue that has been raised with us a number of times is how to get men to be more open about health issues and cancer specifically so that HR professionals and line managers can provide them with the …
Continue ReadingBLOOD PRESSURE AWARENESS WEEK
September 16 is the start of making more people aware of the dangers of high blood pressure, and offering free checks throughout the country. What are the risks? In about 90% of cases, there is no obvious underling medical cause …
Continue ReadingLocal Business are Official Sponsors of National Eye Health Week 2013
Butterflies Healthcare Ltd are proud to have been asked to sponsor the UK’s fourth National Eye Health Week. This is a collaboration between opticians, ophthalmologists, eye health charities and organisations. It aims to encourage everyone to have regular sight tests and …
Continue ReadingDon’t depend on EHIC when travelling with a medical condition

Warnings to UK travellers not to rely solely on the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for emergency treatment while they are on holiday should be heeded especially by people with pre-exiting medical conditions. www.MedicalTravelCompared.com, the first stand-alone comparison site for …
Continue ReadingPicnics: Gain Strength!

Menopausal moodiness can sure make you sad. The events of life can too sometimes. Sarah Josepha Hale, famed editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, knew something about sadness and about techniques for overcoming gloom and grief. In Sarah’s day, a new mode of …
Continue ReadingTestosterone Deficiency: Should You Get Tested?
I received an email a few days back about someone having problems with his sexual drive. The email sender said his testosterone levels were found to be lower than normal. He then mentioned TestRush, a supplement that claims to boost …
Continue ReadingGod, Please Help My Mother Die
I am not a religious person. I’m not even sure I believe in a higher power, let alone one true God. Even so, for the past several years I often find myself praying. When I do pray, it is always …
Continue ReadingCan You Predict The Start Of Your Menopause?
Wouldn’t that be great? It can be so confusing as our hormones start their journey from peri to full menopause to be able to say definitively ‘this is it’. Or even be able to say for sure that their symptoms …
Continue ReadingReturning to work after cancer – what’s so important?

Returning to work after cancer – what’s so important? There are at present over 2 million people in the UK living with cancer and Macmillan Cancer Support estimates that by 2030 there will be 4 million. But the story of …
Continue ReadingThis Body!

Ever since menopause set in, I’ve gotten grumpy about my body. Aging makes me sad. Shocks me. Worries me. The vanity issues. And the bigger issues. Eyes. Mobility. Teeth. Balance. Girl stuff. I’m determined to keep in the best shape …
Continue ReadingPrime Time Confidence with the Over 55s
Over one fifth of all British over 55s have confided that they have never felt as confident as they do in their prime – showing that, like fine wine, we improve with age. Citing the here and now as the …
Continue ReadingAlligator Skin and Lovable Lyle, the Crocodile

I have a friend Gail just like Oprah has a friend Gayle. Their names are spelled differently, but they are the same kind of friends. They tell us stuff. Stuff we might not know about life and getting older. Gail …
Continue ReadingIbuprofen & increased heart rhythm

Last week, as normal, I was woken up by my alarm/clock radio at bang on 6am, just in time to hear the news. The first story was about the use of Ibuprofen and the risk of increased heart problems … …
Continue ReadingSpeed Childhood!

Rehearsal dinner slide show in the works! Laura’s childhood photos were my job. When you’re a mom, some of those days are long, but the years sure are short, as Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project reminds us in her quick …
Continue ReadingThe Scale: A Poem

In honor of us menopausal types, my poem, “The Scale”: Do you cringe When you deliver The bad news to me, Or is smirking More your style? Someday, Scale, I hope you’ll speak Kindly, firmly, fondly, With words since Your numbers fail …
Continue ReadingGL Diet Can Switch On Skinny Genes
I admit, I misread the email and thought someone at last could get me into skinny jeans, but with the sun finally shining and my shorts laughing at me from a deep dark drawer, I thought it was worth a …
Continue ReadingFirst fully comprehensive free comparison website for care services goes live
New online information profiles that will help people to choose, compare and comment on care homes and other care services is being launched today by the Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb. The new profiles, part of the NHS Choices …
Continue ReadingTop 10 medical conditions for travellers over the age of 50
When it comes to medical conditions declared by older travellers, the latest figures from Staysure, specialist insurers for the over-50s reveal that: High cholesterol, high blood pressure, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, heart attack and arthritis consistently top the list …
Continue ReadingOtago Exercise Programme to help prevent falls in older adults
The Otago exercise programme was developed to help prevent falls in the older adult. It was researched and developed by the Falls Prevention Research Group at the University of Otago Medical School. The programme reduced the fall rate by 35 …
Continue ReadingSomething’s Wrong With My Husband…

Written by Lyn McLaurine “Lyn, it’s the nursing home. We’re calling to talk about Bill’s rapid decline.” Bill is adored at Prairie Sunset. He has become part of their family. Because of his young age (he just turned 58 …
Continue ReadingOnline clinic on 50+ health – opens 17 April

Our NHS Choices / talkhealth online clinic on 50+ health opens this Wednesday, 17 April 2013 and runs until 23 April. We have a fantastic panel of 10 medical experts who will be available throughout the week to answer all …
Continue ReadingHow one picture can be worth a thousand words

Written by Darren Gormley A few years ago I was contacted by a speech therapist who asked if I would visit Mark, an 82 year old man diagnosed with mixed dementia. The speech therapist had been working with Mark as part of …
Continue ReadingDon’t Underestimate The Effect Of Stress On Your Hormonal Symptoms
It is obvious that lifestyle has a huge impact on health: we know if have a bad diet, never exercise and generally embrace every indulgence that there is a price to pay. Yet when it comes to the impact this …
Continue ReadingYour health at 50+ – talkhealth’s April survey & a chance to win £50 M&S Vouchers

Colin Firth(52), Jamie Lee-Curtis(54), Michael Caine(80), Jane Seymour(62), Bill Nighy(63), Felicity Kendall(66), Denzel Washington(58), Judi Dench(78), Pierce Brosnan(59), Christie Brinkley(59), Dustin Hoffman(75), Goldie Hawn(67), Alan Rickman(67), Susan Sarandon(66)……and the list goes on…. Yes it happens to the best of us …
Continue ReadingTobacco display ban deters younger smokers
One year on, 26% of ex-smokers aged 18-24 say the tobacco display ban spurred them on to quit. A new study of UK smokers and ex-smokers reveals response to Government interventions in this blog article. The increasing cost and smoking …
Continue ReadingWhen it’s no longer safe to drive

Many people will spend decades behind the wheel of a car. For some this is a lifelong passion and a symbol of independence, while for others it’s just a necessary part of modern life. However, there comes a time when we …
Continue ReadingRepetitive Questions: Facing The Many Different Stages of Alzheimer’s Disease
When you are caring for someone with memory loss, the days all run together. Indeed, it may often seem as though you are living in a remake of the movie Groundhog Day, where nothing ever changes. Life is like a …
Continue ReadingMother of the Bride Update: Wedding Arms!

Nine and a half more weeks until my daughter Laura’s wedding. Yikes! And my MOB dress is SLEEVELESS. Like Meg Tipper, I’m wondering how my arms will look. Shiny pink hand weights weren’t enough to inspire me to pump those arms… Until …
Continue ReadingAdding weight to your workout part 3 – The back
Important muscles to exercise as we age are the upper back muscles to prevent that hunched over look where the chest muscles are too tight and the upper back muscles are weak. Exercises that don’t use any equipment to work …
Continue ReadingLondon takes its place among healthcare innovation elite cities of the world

Jeremy Hunt launches London Centre of Innovation Excellence and new app library to help people live well. The UK’s worldwide reputation for innovation in healthcare will be sealed today as Jeremy Hunt launches London’s new centre of innovation excellence established …
Continue ReadingGovernment drive to help cut salt consumption by a quarter

A major drive to help reduce the amount of salt we eat by a quarter, including by setting targets with food companies, has been launched today by Public Health Minister Anna Soubry. Research figures show that more than half the …
Continue ReadingWedding Dress Update: What a Time to Love a Dress!

The dress shopping is finished! At least for the wedding day. Rehearsal dinner dresses yet to be selected. I promise a Mother of the Bride dress update soon. The wedding is June 1. Coming right up! Until then, in honor …
Continue ReadingAre you waking with the “Twilight look?”
Restless sleep, tossing and turning through the night? A recent survey* commissioned by my professional organisation, the British Acupuncture Council, has revealed that we’re a nation of zombies. 1 in 5 of us claim to feel like one after a …
Continue ReadingAdding weight to your workout. Part 2 – The Squat
I am going to nominate the squat as one of the most important exercises you can do whether its the wall slide, body weight squat or squat with added weight. To prove how important it is one of the most …
Continue ReadingA Mirror Fast! Could You? Would You?

The idea of mirror fasting has hit the blogosphere! Here’s an article in the New York Times giving you the reflective scoop: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/fashion/mirror-fasts-help-take-the-focus-off-yourself.html?_r=0 I probably need a chocolate fast more than a mirror fast, but the concept of NOT looking …
Continue ReadingA Poem with Numbers and Letters for the New Year

Brand new year With the number 13 Making the superstitious Uneasy. If I squish your 13 together, I get a B A Bold letter B. A Bubbly letter B A Brilliant letter B. Make the Best of us, 2013, …
Continue ReadingShould patients be routinely screened for dementia?

This morning our Founder, Deborah Wyatt, was interviewed by Nikki Bedi on BBC Radio London talking about whether dementia screening will scare patients from seeing their GP. According to a story in the Telegraph today, doctors will be paid for …
Continue ReadingPioneering dementia research projects receive £22m Government boost

Twenty one pioneering research projects to boost dementia diagnosis rates and trial ground breaking treatments have been selected to receive a share of £22million of Government funding, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced today. Visiting pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly’s UK dementia …
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