From bipolar to ageing

I have a collection of healthy tips for everyone to incorporate into their daily lives. They make interesting reading because they cover all aspects of our lives, whatever our age.

Exercising for just 15 minutes per day will add three years to your life- Kathryn Borg

I have written about the effects of hair dye before, and interestingly there is now a move to promote grey hair or the natural look rather than colour hair regularly.

A lawyer is campaigning for an immediate ban on the chemical PPD (para-phenylenediamine) from all hair dyes after winning an out-of-court settlement for a client who had suffered a severe allergic reaction.

The lawyer states that without emergency treatment, the effects of the hair dye could have been devastating. PPD is included in some of the most popular hair dyes used in salons, henna tattoos, printing inks, fur dyes and some cosmetics as well the dyes available in shops.

The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on consumer products said there was not enough evidence to confirm the safety of PPD, while the American Contact Dermatitis Society labelled it the allergen of the year last year. PPD has already been banned in some EU countries, although it is freely available in the UK.

People who suffer from schizophrenia or bipolar are told the condition is inherited. However, around a third of all cases are caused by environmental triggers and so may be reversed.

Researchers from King’s College London made the discovery when they examined 22 pairs of identical twins. Although twins are genetically identical, only one of each pair had schizophrenia or was bipolar.

This suggests that there was an external trigger which was responsible for the problem. Jonathan Mill, the lead researcher, stated that the diseases caused by external factors are potentially reversible (Hum. Mol. Genet., 2011).

How much exercise do you feel you should do? It is not all bad news, because researchers participating in a joint study with the US and Taiwan agree that the more you do, the better your chances of living longer.

However, exercising for just 15 minutes per day will add three years to your life. The exercise does not have to be strenuous, just walking at a brisk pace would be enough, provided you regularly carried out the exercise.

The new 15 minutes-a-day regime is far easier than the previous guidelines, which suggested 21 to 30 minutes per day to see positive effects on health (Lancet, 2011).

According to a recent study, staying positive can help you live longer.

People who are generally happy and satisfied with their lives are less likely to develop heart disease. In fact, the happier you are, the smaller the risk becomes.

More importantly, the effect is statistically significant. People who are satisfied with their lives are 13 per cent less likely to develop heart disease. Researchers from Harvard University carried out a study and believe that the approach has genuine therapeutic value, especially in those who are at greater risk through weight, diet or lifestyle (Eur. Heart J., 2011).

Staying mentally sharp in old age is vital; now scientists suggest we should take vitamin B12 to help us to do this. Apparently, low levels of the vitamin in the blood can lead to brain shrinkage and cause cognitive problems such as memory loss and slower thinking, say researchers at the Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago.

They analysed blood samples from 121 elderly residents and found that those who had the lowest levels of the vitamin in their blood also showed signs of reduced total brain volume and other damage. To increase levels of B12 in your diet, eat foods such as fish, eggs, poultry and, if you can stomach it, liver. Alternatively, take B12 supplements to ensure you take your daily dose (Neurology, 2011).

There has been a lot written about the effects of mobile phones on health. New research from Finland has confirmed that they interfere with the brain and cause changes which could affect concentration and memory.

The research showed these changes occurred after just 33 minutes of use. The researchers have discovered that the electromagnetic field from the phones suppressed glucose metabolism in the brain.

This suggests that brain cells are being deprived of the sugar they require to carry out their usual cognitive functions, such as concentration and memory recall. The team also stressed that the research has not confirmed long-lasting damage.

Nevertheless, the discovery that changes occur after 33 minutes has eliminated earlier findings that brain functioning would only be affected after years of use (J. Cereb. Blood Flow Metab., 2011).

It is well known that we should all be eating our five-a-day fruit and vegetables. The old saying of ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ has also been confirmed in recent findings.

New research (Stroke, 2011) states that one apple, or pear, each day nearly halves the risk of stroke. These ‘white fruits’ are rich in quercetin, a flavanoid that has stroke-preventing qualities and for every 25g of white fruit and vegetables eaten, there is a nine per cent lower risk of stroke.

Keep happy and healthy.

kathryn@maltanet.net