Health & Beauty

People from South West Peninsula urged to Be Part of Research

Devon residents are being urged to sign up to a new UK-wide health and care research registry, as part of the nation’s biggest-ever recruitment drive for clinical trials.

The call comes as new figures reveal that more than 63,000 participants took part in health and care research...

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New project focuses on dementia in farming and rural communities

Dementia is a growing health problem, with an anticipated increase in the number of cases of 156 per cent between now and 2051, according to statistics from the Alzheimer’s Society.

This equates to two million people, and the burden will fall on rural areas where there are significantly higher proportions of elderly people.

The burden will impact farming businesses, communities...

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rural

Dementia

Devon

Plymouth

Sugar tax could prevent 3.7m cases of obesity over next decade

A 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks could reduce obesity rates in the UK by five per cent by 2025 - equal to 3.7 million fewer obese people - according to a new report from Cancer Research UK and the UK Health Forum published on 19 February.

The report predicts the impact a 20 per cent sugary drinks tax could have on obesity if current trends continue. This stark number (3.7 million) is...

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New blood test will help diagnose heart conditions

A new genetic test to improve diagnosis in people with inherited heart conditions, which affect over half a million people in the UK, has been developed by British Heart Foundation-funded researchers.

The new test is a result of international collaborative efforts led by Professor Stuart Cook between researchers in Singapore, Imperial College London and at the MRC Clinical Sciences...

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SW pioneers as Independent Opticians set up local forum

The Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO) held the first of a series of local meetings for Independent optical professionals in Bath.

Both members and non-members of AIO gathered together at Restaurant Martini to establish a local forum for Independent practitioners to discuss the issues that are foremost in their minds. The group found that there was...

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SW pioneers as Independent Opticians set up local forum

Guidelines part of debate in Parliament to improve children’s oral care

Guidelines on the care of children’s teeth from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and which included input from a dental academic from Plymouth University, have formed part of a debate in Parliament about ways to improve children’s oral care in the UK.

The debate drew upon recommendations issued by NICE at the end of 2014, which stated that nurseries and...

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A simple sign that could spell CANCER

Public Health England today (16 February 2016) launced a nationwide ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign with the aim of raising awareness of a key symptom for both bladder and kidney cancers – blood in pee.

Around 17,450 people in England are diagnosed with bladder or kidney cancer every year and around 7,600 people die annually. Blood in pee is a symptom in over half of bladder cancers and...

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Dental project aids communication for stroke survivors

A group of second-year dental therapy and hygiene students from Plymouth University are working with the Stroke Association in Plymouth and Chatterbox, to develop a communication aid to help stroke survivors when they visit the dentist.

People who have suffered a stroke can be prone to oral health problems. Loss of dexterity and feeling may mean that they cannot clean their own teeth...

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Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry

Dental student project highlights sugar and diet in children’s oral disease

The most recent survey of the health of children’s teeth in England, Wales and Northern Ireland found that a third of five-year olds and half of eight-year olds had decay in their milk teeth.

Poor oral health awareness and an unbalanced diet high in sugar content were cited as contributing factors towards these shocking statistics.

In an effort to counter this, a group of...

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Award-winning lens comes to Plymouth city centre

Essilor's revolutionary varifocal lens Varilux S Series has finally made it to Plymouth city centre!

Owner of Iconic Opticians and Dispensing Optician, Thirupuvanarajah Dinesh, explained: “With its advanced technology and knowledge of patient physiology, the S Series overcomes the limitations of standard varifocal lenses. Its lens structure maintains balance as your eyes move around,...

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Chewing sugarfree gum could save NHS £8.2m a year

The NHS could save £8.2 million a year on dental treatments – the equivalent to 364,000 dental check-ups - if all 12-year-olds across the UK chewed sugarfree gum after eating or drinking, thanks to the role it plays in helping to prevent tooth decay.

So says a study involving researchers from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry published in the British...

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