health
How the pandemic is changing the way we manage diabetes
Diabetes is one of the conditions believed to raise the risk level of serious illness for anyone who contracts Covid-19. One in four people who died in hospital in England between March and May 2020 following a diagnosis of the coronavirus also had diabetes. While this sounds alarming, the risk of dying is still very […]
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Practical ways to encourage older people to drink more fluids
Ever been in one of those conversations where you’re trying to encourage your older relative to drink more water? But they don’t want to because they’re not thirsty, or they’ll be getting up in the night even more often than they already do? Or they won’t be told by their children what to do? Getting […]
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Where to go for government, health and care advice in the coronavirus crisis
This page is devoted to links for official and expert information for everyone with questions about specific health conditions and what we can and can’t do in the crisis. We will be updating the page regularly as more advice becomes available. Government advice and resources The UK government offers advice and requirements primarily for England, […]
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How can we help our parents avoid the worst effects of air pollution?
We’ve known for a long time that pollution has a detrimental effect on health over the long term. And now it’s been identified as a risk factor for dementia. But now new research looking at hospital admissions in major cities has shown that high levels of pollution can bring on serious illness at speed, triggering […]
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Can being more optimistic help us live longer?
There have been certain elements in public life recently who have exhorted the nation to be more optimistic. Possibly easier said than done, especially if you’re trying to juggle the demands of work, family and care giving. Yet recent research has suggested that people with higher levels of optimism can increase their life span. The […]
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Why exercise now and in later years?
At any stage in our lives, we are encouraged to exercise. It’s good for the heart, the lungs, our bones – just about every part of us. And it’s argued that exercise can improve our mood and general sense of well-being. What does tend to change is the advice on how much exercise, when, and […]
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Advice on keeping cool in a heatwave
As we approach another promised British heatwave, the UK government will be publicising its advice to protect the vulnerable, and ideas to keep everyone well in hot weather. Care homes and hospitals are advised to provide cool areas and monitor indoor temperatures to reduce the risk of heat-related illness. GPs, district nurses and social workers […]
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Tips on coping with incontinence
Incontinence is a difficult subject to bring up. But if you can talk about it, there are plenty of ways you can help someone dealing with its challenges. By Ryan Jones Some of the challenges our relatives face as they grow older are easy to talk about, and others are far harder. The ideal path […]
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How NHS GP videoconference consultations work
by Kathy Lawrence As the UK government has just announced that videoconferencing with GPs is the way forward for the NHS in England, we’re talking about how the service works, and whether it’s something that can help older people. Experiencing LIVI for the first time Our local GP practices have been contacting patients to let […]
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Why treating varicose veins effectively is vital to leg health
There’s a strong belief that treating varicose veins is more a vanity project than a health issue. Consultant Vascular Surgeon Prof Mark S Whiteley explains how varicose veins can lead to more painful conditions such as leg ulcers and should be taken seriously. And why stripping is rarely the right way forward. A history of […]
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