Stem cell jab is 'five times better than drugs' for treating people with life-threatening heart conditions.

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Stem cells could be five times more effective in treating people with life-threatening heart diseases than conventional drugs.
A study involving more than 1,000 sufferers of chronic heart disease indicated that injecting stem cells into the heart can significantly increase survival rates after a year.
It found that those who underwent the treatment were less likely to be readmitted to hospital and also had improved heart function.

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Stem cells could be five times more effective in treating people with life-threatening heart diseases than conventional drugs

Stem cell treatment for heart disease is currently limited to specialist research centres, where cells are extracted from a patient’s own blood or bone marrow and used to repair damaged tissue in the heart and arteries.

The Cochrane Heart Review Group looked at data involving 1,255 people from 23 trials, where all patients received treatments currently available to the public.

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Study found injecting stem cells into the heart can significantly increase survival rates after a year

Compared with standard treatment alone or with a placebo, the new technique using bone marrow cells reduced the number of deaths among heart disease and heart failure patients.
After a year or more of stem cell treatment just three per cent of patients had died from the disease, in comparison with 15 per cent of patients on standard treatments. Hospital readmissions fell more than four-fold.
The team behind the study noted that the treatment was in its early days. How it works exactly is still a mystery to scientists, although much larger clinical trials have already begun.
Dr Enca Martin-Rendon, based at NHS Blood and Transplant and the University of Oxford, said: 'It isn’t clear which types of stem cells work best or why stem cell therapies seem to work for some people but not for others.
'We need to find out what’s different in the people who aren’t responding well to these treatments as it might then be possible to tailor therapies to these patients, so that they work better.
'This is encouraging evidence that stem cell therapy has benefits for heart disease patients.
'However, it is generated from small studies and it is difficult to come to any concrete conclusions until larger clinical trials that look at longer- term effects are carried out.'

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Daily bowl of cereal prolongs life after heart attack.

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A bowl of breakfast cereal every day increases heart attack survivors’ chances of living longer, claim researchers.

They found an increase in dietary fibre – especially cereals – was linked with lower death rates.

Those who ate the most fibre had a 25 per cent lower chance of dying in the nine years after their heart attack compared with those who ate the least, according to a study.

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A bowl of cereal a day can prolong life in people who have suffered a heart attack

Every 10g per day increase in fibre intake was associated with a 15 per cent reduced risk of dying over a nine-year follow-up period. US researchers behind the study, published on bmj.com, say that as more people survive heart attacks, it is important to find out what lifestyle changes they can make to cut the risk of dying.

The research team, based in Boston, analysed data from two big US studies, the Nurses’ Health Study of 121,700 female nurses and the Health Professional Follow-up Study of 51,529 male health professionals. The study looked at 2,258 women and 1,840 men who survived a first heart attack during the course of the studies.

They were followed for an average of almost nine years afterwards, during which time 682 of the women and 451 of the men died.

The top quintile – the one in five who ate most fibre – had a 25 per cent lower chance of dying from any cause during the nine years after their heart attack compared with the bottom quintile.

Of the three different fibre types – cereal, fruit and vegetable – only higher cereal fibre intake was strongly linked with an increased chance of long-term survival after a heart attack. Breakfast cereal was the main source of dietary fibre for the participants.

Findings were adjusted for factors that could affect lifespan, including age, medical history and other dietary and lifestyle habits.

It has been previously found that people who have a high intake of dietary fibre are less likely to develop coronary heart disease.

Fibre’s benefits include reducing blood cholesterol, improving blood glucose levels and lowering blood pressure.

The researchers say heart attack survivors have a higher risk of dying than the general population and are often more motivated to make changes to their lifestyle.

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Of the three different fibre types ¿ cereal, fruit and vegetable ¿ only higher cereal fibre intake was strongly linked with an increased chance of long-term survival after a heart attack

Yet treatment to improve their chances of living longer generally neglects advising a healthier lifestyle in favour of long-term medication, they say.

Fibre works by reducing blood cholesterol, improving blood glucose levels, lowering blood pressure, promoting weight loss and binding to cancer-causing agents, making them more likely to be excreted by the body.

The UK's nutritional goals and guidelines are for people to eat 440g of fruit and vegetables every day and 18g of fibre.

A study from Oxford University found 4,000 premature deaths a year could be prevented by increasing dietary fibre.

Victoria Taylor, Senior Dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said 'High-fibre foods are a key part of a healthy balanced diet and this study suggests they may have a particular benefit for heart attack survivors.

'We can't say for sure what caused the fibre benefit seen here. But we do know that, on average, we're not getting enough fibre in our diets.

'Fibre comes from a range of foods including fruit and veg, beans and lentils and also from cereal products, which this study found to be particularly beneficial.

'To get more fibre, you can make simple swaps such as trading white bread for wholegrain versions or opting for higher fibre breakfast cereals like porridge or muesli.'

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Having a strong grip at 53 could show you'll live longer.

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If after reading this you can spring energetically from your chair and then give someone a strong handshake, doctors have some good news for you.

And if you can also balance on one leg for up to 30 seconds with your eyes closed, then that’s a bonus as well.

Because middle-aged people who perform well on these three tasks are more likely to have a long and healthy life, according to researchers.

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A study found that low levels of physical capability at the age of 53 suggest poorer chances of survival over the next 13 years

In contrast, those with a poor hand grip who are slow to get out of a chair and struggle to balance are at greater risk of dying within the next decade or so.

A study found that low levels of physical capability at the age of 53 suggest poorer chances of survival over the next 13 years compared with those in better shape. Those with the weakest physical performance on the tests had 12 times higher death rates than those who could do them all.

It is thought that poorer performance may be an indicator of disease, either diagnosed or undetected, and faster ageing.

Physical strength at the age of 53 was a good objective assessment for risk of premature death, said Dr Rachel Cooper, who led the study at the Medical Research Council Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at University College London.

Dr Cooper  said: ‘Even at this relatively young age these measures identify groups of people who are less likely than others to achieve a long and healthy life.’

The study involved 1,355 men and 1,411 women for whom there was data on physical capability at the age of 53.

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A strong handshake is a sign you will have a long and healthy life according to researchers

Death rates from all causes over the following 13 years up to the age of 66 were established, according to a report in the online medical journal bmj.com.

Physical capability was assessed during home visits at the age of 53 using three markers – strength of hand grip, speed of rise from a chair and standing balance time where the individual had to stand on one leg for up to 30 seconds with their eyes closed.

The team of researchers noted 177 deaths between the ages of 53 and 66.

Those with the lowest physical ability scores – in the bottom fifth – had higher rates of death from any cause than those in the highest fifth for performance.

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Being able to balance on one leg is another indicator that people aren't at risk from premature death

People who could not perform any of the tests at 53 had over 12 times higher death rates when compared with people able to perform all three tests.

Those with lower scores tended to be less well-off, have less healthy lifestyles and suffer from more chronic conditions, but these factors were taken into account by the researchers.

Dr Cooper said: ‘Our study shows robust associations of standing balance time, chair rise speed and grip strength at age 53 with all cause mortality rates over 13 years of follow-up.

‘This suggests that there is value in using these simple and inexpensive tests to assess physical capability in mid-life in research and possibly also in applied settings to identify those people who are less likely than others to achieve a long and healthy life.’

In the US, a trial is under way to see the effects of frail older people being asked to do more physical activity under supervision.

Previous studies have found that slower walking speed in middle age was associated with lower total cerebral brain volume – or fewer ‘grey’ cells – while brisk walking had a range of health benefits.

Other research also found that a stronger hand grip strength was associated with larger cerebral brain volume as well as better performance on cognitive tests.

American researchers found, in a second study reported in the journal, that those who spend more time in physical activity of a light intensity every day had less chance of becoming disabled by arthritis in the knee.

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'Fit and healthy' private schoolboy, 17, dies due to undiagnosed heart condition which normally affects elderly men.

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Harry Dubois, 17, died after he developed a tear in his aorta and collapsed while watching TV with his father

A 'fit and healthy' schoolboy has died at just 17 because he had a rare and undiagnosed heart condition which usually affects elderly men.

A-level student Harry Dubois collapsed while watching TV at home with his father and passed away in hospital.

Tests revealed the privately educated teenager - a talented musician and actor - had suffered an 'aortic dissection' - a rupturing of the largest artery in the human body.

The condition usually only affects men aged 65 and over who have a history of high blood pressure.

Now a fundraising page set up by Harry’s family with the British Heart Foundation has already raised more than £10,000 as they campaign for more money to be spent on researching sudden heart defects amongst young men.

Harry, who died earlier this month, attended the prestigious Cheadle Hulme School near Manchester and had been offered a place at Birmingham University to read American Studies.

His father Mario, 52, a BBC executive from Hale, near Altrincham, said: 'Harry had a very busy life and social life and there was nothing at all to indicate there could be anything to worry about.

'There must be young kids and their families who could get better support to find the potential cause of what killed Harry.

'He was a lovely boy and was just the most thoughtful and caring person and he brought joy and sunshine into people’s lives.

'He was quite a character across the school and not just in his school year. We have had hundreds of cards and letters. He used to help younger children with music.

'He was one of those characters that was thoughtful and kind and very happy which has been comforting in what has been a horrendous two weeks following his death.

'The reaction from friends and fellow pupils has confirmed what we already knew; what a fantastic person he was and how loved he was.'

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Harry was rushed to hospital and doctors fought to save him but they were unable to do so

Harry - a keen singer and guitarist - was studying English Language, English Literature and Politics and at his school performed in stage productions of The Sound of Music and Annie.

The tragedy occurred two days after Harry had complained of a pain in his back. It was thought he had pulled a muscle and he took some painkillers but just 48 hours later he became unwell and was rushed into hospital.

His mother Debbie, 46, a production executive for BBC Sport said: 'Harry initially didn’t complain of pains in his heart or chest, he said it was his back.

WHAT IS AN AORTIC DISSECTION?

An aortic dissection is a dangerous condition in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta.
Blood is able to surge through this tear into the middle layer of the blood vessel, causing the inner and middle layers to be separated.
This creates a blood-filled channel and if this ruptures through the outside of the aorta's wall, the condition is usually fatal.
The condition is rare and is most common in men between the ages of 60 and 70.
Symptoms are similar to those of other conditions meaning diagnosis is often slow.
Early treatment dramatically improves the prognosis.
Symptoms include sudden chest or upper back pain, loss of consciousness, breathlessness, sweating and difficulty speaking.
The condition is more likely to develop in people with chronic high blood pressure as well as in those born with a weakened aorta.
An aortic dissection can be fatal but it can also lead to organ damage and strokes.
Source: Mayo Clinic

'But it seems the reason why he had the pain on his back was because the aorta runs near the spine. On the night he collapsed, the ambulance arrived quickly and they were in the house for quite some time trying to revive him.

'They took him to A&E and doctors tried for another thirty minutes there but couldn’t revive him. What happened to Harry was just a bolt from the blue.. Nobody would have thought to look for the condition he had.'

Mrs Dubois added: 'If you were happy, Harry was happy. He just had the most infectious giggle and laughed all the time and sometimes you didn’t know what the joke was but you laughed along with him. He always made people feel happy and was always smiling.

'At his funeral we asked people to donate to the fundraising site rather than bring flowers.

'We have received so many cards and letters from friends we never even met telling us stories about Harry, how thoughtful and kind he was, numerous things he did for people.

'It has been overwhelming but comforting too to know how loved he was by everyone.'

Lucy Pearson, headmistress at Cheadle Hulme, said: 'Harry was a dearly loved and trusted friend, showing remarkable compassion and understanding through his work as a Peer Mentor, coaching younger students through their first year at the school.

'His passions lay in music and drama and he was a valued cast member of many school productions and singing groups.

'The way in which the school community has come together to grieve for him and to celebrate his life has been humbling and inspiring.'

To donate to Harry’s British Heart Foundation page, click here.

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How cherry juice helps you sleep: Drinking a glass at morning and night can help older people have an hour's longer rest each day.

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A drink of tart cherry juice in the morning and evening may help people sleep better at night, according to a new report.

Researchers from Louisiana State University in the US found that drinking Montmorency tart cherry juice twice a day for two weeks helped increase sleep time by nearly 90 minutes among older adults with insomnia.

These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Nutrition, which is being held in conjunction with the Experimental Biology 2014 meeting in San Diego.

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A new study has shown that elderly people can get an extra hour's sleep at night by drinking cherry juice, pictured

Insomnia is a common health problem among older adults, impacting an estimated 23 to 34 percent of the population ages 65 and older. Insomnia - defined as trouble sleeping on average more than three nights per week - can be an annoyance for some, but long-lasting sleeplessness can seriously affect health, especially in the elderly.

Insomnia is linked to a higher prevalence of chronic pain, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and a decline of cognitive function, or dementia. Individuals with insomnia may turn to sleeping pills.

This medication can also lead to further problems according to Frank, L Greenway, co-author behind the research.

'Sleeping pills may be an option for younger insomniacs, but for older people these medications quadruple the risk of falling, which can lead to broken hips and, often, earlier death.'

Researchers studies seven adults with an average age of 68 who suffered from insomnia and asked them to drink cherry juice twice a day over two weeks. 

Later, the same group took a placebo drink.

Dr Greenway and his colleagues studied their slumber in a controlled setting, using overnight polysomnography to evaluate sleep efficiency, such as sleep onset and duration.

Participants also completed questionnaires related to sleep, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Additionally, blood work was conducted on each participant.

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Researchers asked a group of elderly people about their sleep patterns before and after drinking the cherry juice

The researchers found that those who drank the Montmorency tart cherry juice in the morning and at night were able to sleep more than an hour longer each night (averaging 84 minutes) compared to the placebo, and their sleep tended to be more efficient.

Montmorency tart cherries are a natural source of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. While previous studies have suggested that tart cherry juice has sleep-enhancing benefits, Greenway and colleagues set out to help explain why.

They wanted to understand if the benefits were due to the melatonin content or another component in Montmorency tart cherries.

They believe the ruby red pigments in tart cherry juice, known as proanthocyanidins, also play a role.

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Insomnia can cause a range of problems with elderly people and exacerbate underlying medical conditions, (picture posed by a model)

These natural polyphenolic compounds are especially abundant in Montmorency tart cherries. In the study, tart cherry juice helped to increase the availability of tryptophan, an essential amino acid and a precursor to serotonin that helps with sleep.

The juice was shown in cells to inhibit an enzyme (indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase) that degrades tryptophan.

Tryptophan degradation is a known predictor of insomnia and is also related to inflammation, said co-authors Jack Losso and John Finley, professors in the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.

'Even though the amount of tryptophan in tart cherry juice is smaller than a normal dose given to aid sleep, the compounds in tart cherries could prevent the tryptophan from breaking down so it's able to work in the body more effectively,' Greenway explained.

'These compounds may help to improve tryptophan bioavailability for serotonin synthesis, which could have a positive effect on sleep. Increasing serotonin also helps improve mood and decrease inflammation.'

Greenway believes it's the unique combination of melatonin and tryptophan in Montmorency tart cherries that is likely contributing to the sleep benefits. He and his colleagues conclude that drinking a glass of tart cherry juice in the morning and the evening may be a better and a safer way to treat insomnia.

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Switch to diesel cars 'costs 7,000 lives every year'.

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Ministers have created a public health crisis by ‘blindly’ promoting diesel cars, a top Government adviser said yesterday.

Professor Frank Kelly, chairman of the Department of Health’s committee on air pollution, said successive governments have taken the ‘wrong route’ for decades by encouraging drivers to switch from petrol.

He said diesel engines – championed since the 1970s because they were thought to emit fewer greenhouse gases – could be responsible for more than 7,000 deaths a year in Britain.

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Diesel cars produce less greenhouse gasses than their petrol counterparts

Diesel now fuels more than half of UK-registered cars, up from 14 per cent in 2000. They generate far less carbon dioxide than  petrol vehicles, so have been favoured in the tax system.

But in recent years scientists realised diesel produces more particles and nitrogen oxides that can cause a variety of long-term health problems.

While catalytic converters have rapidly improved in petrol cars, advances have been slower in diesel until very recently. The toxic fumes pumped out by  diesel cars were behind the smog which blanketed Britain at the beginning of April.

Professor Kelly, of King’s College London, blamed the diesel boom on the panic of the 1970s fuel crisis and the ‘climate change agenda’ which followed, adding: ‘We have had a vast penetration of diesel vehicles into the transport sector. Diesel drives all our buses, drives all our taxis and drives one in two of the cars on the road.’

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The switch to diesel cars has been blamed on causing an estimated 7,000 deaths a year according to new research

One of the reasons for its soaring popularity has been tax incentives. Road tax is based on carbon dioxide emissions, meaning petrol drivers pay more. But Professor Kelly said the climatic benefits of diesel engines had been overemphasised.

Calling for all diesel cars older than five years to be banned in cities, he said: ‘Clearly they do emit a lot more particulate matter from their exhausts than the petrol equivalent. And … one of the technological advances has actually been the exhaust system generating nitrogen dioxide to burn the particulates off.

‘We’ve walked somewhat blindly into the situation where a modern diesel vehicle actually emits a lot of nitrogen dioxide, which was a pollutant we were really trying to deal with.’

Around 29,000 deaths a year are linked to air pollution in Britain – and Professor Kelly said roughly 25 per cent could be attributed to diesel emissions.

Dr Jeremy Langrish, of Edinburgh University, said air pollution causes strokes, asthma and heart failure.

He added that it is ‘difficult not to draw a correlation with the similar effects that we see with cigarette smoke … which we all recognise are bad for us’.

A Government spokesman said: ‘No one type of transport is the sole cause of air pollution and there is no single magic bullet to tackle it.

'There have been major improvements in air quality over the past two decades and we are investing £2 billion on a full range of actions to help improve it further, including encouraging the uptake of electric cars and other ultra low emission vehicles, as well as schemes to promote greener public transport, cycling and walking.’

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Mother who 'died' for two minutes during childbirth survives after having emergency hysterectomy.

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A mother-of-four who 'died' while giving birth has made a miraculous recovery.

Rachel Morris, 31, gave birth to a healthy baby boy - despite her heart stopping for more than two-and-a-half minutes during the birth.

Mrs Morris, who was giving birth to her youngest child, James, also lost six litres of blood during the traumatic emergency C-section.

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Rachel Morris, 31, from Cheltenham, nearly died giving birth to baby James 11 months ago

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Mrs Morris lost six litres of blood and her heart stopped for two minutes during James's delivery

But now, 11 months on, both mother and baby have made a full recovery.

She said: 'I really can't believe what happened. I was incredibly poorly, but having James was totally worth it.

'When I got to hold him for the first time it was amazing - we are both fighters, I'm very proud.'

Mrs Morris's problems began at her 20-week scan, when it was discovered she was suffering with placenta preavia - a condition which means the placenta is covering the cervix.

Mrs Morris, from Cheltenham, said: 'I already have three beautiful girls but I was over the moon when I became pregnant again, as my husband Kevin had always wanted a little boy to complete our family.

'But during my 20 week scan doctors discovered I had placenta preavia - I was really shocked, my other three pregnancies had been really straight forward.

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Mrs Morris's problems started when her 20 week scan showed her placenta was lying over her cervix meaning she would not be able to give birth naturally and that she was at risk of bleeds

'Due to the condition, I couldn't give birth naturally, so I was going to have to have a Caesarean.

'I then started to have bleeds from 27 weeks, which doctors warned me about, but every single one was heart-rending as I thought I was losing my baby.'

As a precaution, doctors decided to keep her in hospital for the last eight weeks of the pregnancy, or until the baby was born, for both of their safety.

Mrs Morris said: 'I was distraught - I wanted to make sure the baby was OK but my three girls were at home suffering without their mummy.

'But I'm so relieved now that I stayed in - just over 12 hours later, I was fighting for my life.'

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When she was 27 weeks pregnant she started experiencing bleed and eight weeks before her due date was admitted to hospital for observation. She is pictured with husband Kevin, baby James and daughters Ellamay, Jessica-Sophie and Felicity

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During her first night in hospital Mrs Morris (pictured before the birth) woke up in agony, covered in blood

On the first night she was in hospital, Mrs Morris woke up in agony and covered in blood.

'I remember waking up in the early hours of the morning with a surging pain gushing through my body and I was covered in blood,' she recalled.

'The nurses came in and it was like something out of a horror film.

'A few hours later I was taken down to theatre and put under while they delivered James.

'That's when all hell broke loose. I remember waking up after it all in a complete daze and was overwhelmed with pain.

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Mrs Morris was rushed to the operating theatre and put under general anaesthetic so James could be delivered. He had to stay in hospital for four weeks because he was born eight weeks early

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When surgeons removed Mrs Morris's placenta they realised it was attached to an artery and she started to haemorrhage. Her heart stopped for two-and-a-half minutes. Image shows James with two of his sisters

'When the nurse and my husband told me what had happened, it didn't seem real, I was just in total shock.'

During the operation, which was performed under general anaesthetic because of the heavy bleeding, doctors delivered baby James and then tried to remove the placenta.

At this point, they discovered the placenta was attached to an artery.

As a result, she began to haemorrhage and her heart stopped beating for two-and-a-half minutes.

With her life hanging in the balance, the only way to save her was to remove her womb.

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To save Mrs Morris's life, surgeons had to remove her womb. Image shows James in hospital

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Mrs Morris had to be put on a life support machine in intensive care but was well enough to go home five days later. James followed her three weeks later and is now 11 months old

Mrs Morris said: 'The doctors had to think quickly and they decided to remove my womb, which was the only way to stop the bleeding.

'I was put on a life support and blood bypass machine so all the blood I lost could be pumped straight back into my body.

'My husband, Kevin, had been outside the whole time with my mother and was hysterical - he saw nurses running past with bags of blood and knew they were for me.

'The doctors told them to prepare for the worst - it must have been awful for them.'

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Mrs Morris says she feels incredibly lucky to be alive to look after her children. Image shows a scan of James

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During James's traumatic delivery, his father, Kevin, was waiting outside the operating theatre and saw nurses rushing in with bags of blood for his desperately ill wife

Remarkably, just five days after Mrs Morris's terrible ordeal, she was able to go home.

Baby James was born eight weeks early so had to spend four weeks in hospital before he was able to go home as well.

Mrs Morris: 'I feel so blessed to be here after what happened and to be able to look after my four precious children.

'We will be celebrating James' first birthday next month and it will be a great marker to show how far we've both come.'

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A QUARTER of women who have an abortion end up having another one - and 57% were using contraception when they conceived.

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A quarter of women who have an abortion go on to have another one, new figures show.

And 57 per cent of young women who had an abortion claimed to have been using contraception when they conceived.

The majority of these women were using short-term methods of contraception, such as the Pill or condoms.

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A quarter of women who have an abortion go on to have another one, new figures show (file picture)

The figures, from reproductive health charity Marie Stopes UK, also revealed that only 12 per cent of women have used emergency contraception and that the older a woman is, the more likely she is to have had more than one abortion.

They also showed that a month after having an abortion 86 per cent of women are using contraception, but 67 per cent use their chosen method of contraception for less than a year.

Reasons for stopping include menstrual irregularities and not renewing supply in time to take the Pill.

After having an abortion, 63 per cent of the women surveyed were given long-acting reversible contraception – compared to 30 per cent of young women in England as a whole – and they were more likely to choose these methods of contraception if they had had more than one abortion or if they had had a surgical abortion.

The researchers analysed five years of Marie Stopes UK’s patient data, surveying 430 women - 121 of whom had previously had an abortion – and all of whom were between the ages of 16 and 24.

Although the total number of abortions in England and Wales has gradually declined in recent years, the number of women seeking abortion who had one or more previous abortions is increasing.

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Some 57 per cent of people who have an abortion were using contraception when they conceived - most were using the Pill or condoms

Genevieve Edwards, Director of Policy at Marie Stopes UK, said: ‘Women have three fertile decades to manage, but too many women are being let down by a lack of on-going support in choosing and using the most effective method of contraception.

‘If we tackled the lack of sex and relationship education in schools, invested in contraceptive training for health professionals and bridged the gap between abortion, contraception and sexual health services, we’d see the rates of unwanted pregnancies plummet.’

The researchers say that with typical use, nine in 100 women become pregnant each year while taking the pill and that condoms have a failure rate of 18 per cent.

This failure rate means that of the people who say condoms are their chosen method of contraception, 18 per cent will actually not be protected from pregnancy each time they have sex.

This can be because they do not actually use a condom, because they do not use it properly, or because it breaks.

In contrast, there is a less than one per cent failure rate for long-acting methods of contraception, such as implants and coils.

Ms Edwards added: ‘We have got to get better at talking about contraception and abortion. One in three women will have an abortion and one in four of them will go on to have another.

‘Our research shows there is no particular demographic group who are more likely to have abortions – it can happen to any of us. But for the majority of women, it was more often the short-term methods that failed them.

‘Getting this right is also good for the public purse. Fitting a coil costs about £40 and lasts ten years – that’s less than 8p a week and it repays the NHS many times over in abortion or maternity costs.’

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The pill that stops you getting hungry.

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When people digest fibre, an appetite-suppressing compound is released, new research shows

A pill that destroys appetite and could help in the battle against obesity has moved a step closer after the discovery of a molecule that zaps the ‘munchies’.
The chemical, acetate, is found in dietary fibre and could combat the dangerously bulging waistlines of many Britons.
Large amounts of acetate are released when plants and vegetables are digested by bacteria in the colon. This then sends a signal to the brain telling us to stop eating.
The study suggests obesity has become an epidemic because we have replaced the healthy diet of previous ages with processed food that contains little acetate.
Although the research published in Nature Communications confirms the natural  benefit of fibre, scientists hope the finding can be harnessed into treatments for people who pile on the pounds.
Professor Gary Frost, of Imperial College London, said: ‘The major challenge is to develop an approach that will deliver the amount of acetate needed to suppress  appetite but in a form that is acceptable and safe for humans.
‘Acetate is only active for a short amount of time in the body, so if we focused on a purely acetate-based product we would need to find a way to drip feed it and mimic its slow release in the gut.
‘Another option is to focus on the fibre and manipulate it so that it produces more acetate than normal and less fibre is needed to have the same effect, providing a more palatable and comfortable option than massively increasing the amount of fibre in our diet. Developing these approaches will be difficult but it is a good challenge to have and we are looking forward to researching possible ways of using acetate to address health issues around weight gain.’
The study analysed the effects of a form of dietary fibre called inulin which comes from chicory and sugar beets and is also added to cereal bars. Experiments on mice found those fed on a high fat diet with added inulin ate less and gained less weight than animals given a fatty diet with no inulin.

This compound travels to people's brains where it sends signals to encourage them to stop eating

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Outside at last, the woman who hasn't left her home since 1966!.

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The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine topped the charts, England had just won the World Cup and Harold Wilson was happily puffing his pipe in Downing Street.
As Patricia Cooper walked in the sunshine, pushing her six-month-old daughter, she was suddenly struck by a crippling fear of open spaces.
The effect of that summer’s day in 1966 was so terrifying that it would be the last time the 31-year-old housewife ventured outdoors for nearly half a century.

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Proud: Patricia Cooper with grandson Kevin, left, and pictured right at the height of her agoraphobia with her daughter Sally, who's now 30

In all that time, mother-of-two Mrs Cooper never went more than a few yards from her front door, never walked her children to school or took her grandchildren out and could not even go shopping.
Imprisoned by agoraphobia and in dread of what might happen if it struck her again, she kept in touch with her family by telephone – or, in recent years, the internet.

Meanwhile, outside her Darlington home, the world was transformed by the rise in the number of cars, the ease of foreign travel and the decline of the high street.
That passed Mrs Cooper by, until  her 26-year-old grandson Kevin Nicholson was awarded the British Empire Medal. Mrs Cooper was so proud that she summoned the courage to be outdoors for the first time since that August day 48 years ago.

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Fear factor: Mrs Cooper said that seeing her grandson receive the award was 'terrifying, but worth'

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Connected: Mrs Cooper says that she keeps in touch with family and friends using Facebook

WHAT IS AGORAPHOBIA AND HOW IS IT TREATED?

Agoraphobia is 'a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult, or help wouldn't be available if things went wrong', according to the NHS website. 
The site explains that it's often thought that the condition is a fear of open spaces, but it's not quite as straightforward as that, with some sufferers also fearing public transport and shopping centres.
When agoraphobics are exposed to their fears several symptoms can sweep over them, including a feeling of nausea, rapid heartbeat and breathing, nausea and rising temperature.
The cause of agoraphobia can vary from person to person, with some people developing a fear of a certain situation or place because they experienced a panic attack there and then try to avoid it.
Others may develop the condition through a fear of crime or being involved in an accident.
Treatments may involve counselling, relaxation training or taking antidepressants.
NHS Direct says: 'In the UK, up to two people in 100 have a panic disorder and it is thought around a third of those will go on to develop agoraphobia as a result.'
Source: NHS Direct

In an almost clandestine operation to get to the presentation ceremony last week, she was ushered into a car that drew up at her door, driven for a few minutes to the venue and introduced to the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham and the town mayor after they presented the medal to Mr Nicholson for his services to a local community centre. Then she sat in a garden for a time with him – and went back indoors again.
Yesterday she told the Mail: ‘It was really scary but I’m glad I did it. Kevin didn’t have any idea I’d be there and he was thrilled. I’m glad I stayed to watch the ceremony but the only thing I really wanted to do was get back home.’
Mrs Cooper, now a 78-year-old great-grandmother, told how her self-imposed confinement began as she walked to her local post office.
She was swept by an unexplained feeling of panic. Voices around her suddenly became distant and everything went hazy.
‘I was rooted to the spot,’ she said. ‘I actually thought I was going to die. The only thing I knew I needed to do was get home as soon as I could. I shut the door... and I didn’t answer it again for the next three years. I can’t explain it, but I just couldn’t face going out again.’
Mrs Cooper, already divorced from husband Brendon, was told electric shock treatment would cure her but she refused. Instead she became a recluse. Neighbours did her shopping and her mother helped her to raise daughter Sandra, now 48, and son John, 50. She has lived every day in terror of injuring herself and needing treatment. ‘If I had to be rushed to hospital the experience would probably kill me,’ she said. ‘I just wouldn’t go. It’s a terrible feeling. You just can’t control it.’

Here are some of the things Patricia Cooper has missed since developing agoraphobia

Although she has been smuggled to her children’s homes for the occasional Christmas or Mother’s Day, she had not spent time outside for five decades until last week, when she was collected from the care home where she has spent the last seven years.
Of the short drive to the ceremony, she said: ‘There are cars and motorbikes everywhere and everyone seems to drive like Evel Knievel.’
Yet indoors she has easily embraced new technology – she uses an iPad, has a Facebook page and shops online.
Her biggest regret is that agoraphobia robbed her of the chance to spend more time with her family.
What would she do now if she could lead a normal life outside? ‘Go to the tulip gardens in Amsterdam... visit Disneyland... go to where my grandmother was born in County Cork... spend lots more time seeing my family... it’s the simple things you miss out on,’  she said.
There is one thing she hasn’t missed since 1966, however: England winning the World Cup again.

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The diet that makes Paleo look easy!

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An extreme version of the caveman-inspired Paleo diet is fast becoming the next 'it' weight-loss program to follow.

The month-long Whole30 plan prohibits the consumption of sugar, beans of all kinds, peas, chickpeas, lentils, peanuts, grains, dairy, and even some Paleo-approved foods like alcohol and honey.

It also forbids people from weighing or measuring their bodies for the duration. Currently on Instagram there are more than 225,000 posts bearing the hashtag Whole30, while Atkins in comparison, only has 69,484 posts.

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Forget the wraps: The Whole30 diet forbids grains so this taco features a lettuce leaf instead

Paleo tops the charts however, with more than 1.8 million entries.

The Whole30 diet was developed in 2009 by Utah-based sports nutritionists Melissa and Dallas Hartwig and it has steadily risen in popularity over recent years.

Indeed, the Whole30 website claims that it now gets one million hits a month from people in 100 countries.

THE WHOLE30 DIET: SHOPPING LIST

BANNED 
Sugar of any kind, beans of all kinds, peas, chickpeas, lentils, peanuts, grains, dairy, all forms of soy, alcohol, white potatoes, carrageenan, MSG or sulfites
ALLOWED
Meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, vinegar, fruit, clarified butter, ghee, coconut milk, Extra-Virgin olive oil, macadamia butter *limit intake of dried foods, nuts and seeds

The Hartwigs say that the program is designed to help men and women 'put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal [the] digestive tract, and balance [the] immune system.'

Dieters are issued with a shopping list which only allows for meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruit and certain fats such as clarified butter or ghee.

Organic versions of foods are preferred although alternatives are allowed for. For example, shoppers can opt for store-bought chicken, turkey and duck as long as the cuts of meat are skinless.

On their website the Hartwigs note: 'Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re totally natural and unprocessed.' 

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On the menu: This shot on the Whole30 Instagram page shows a breakfast burrito with eggs and avocado wrapped in organic ham and 'seared in coconut oil'

THE WHOLE30 DIET: MENU INSPIRATION 

BREAKFAST 
Vegetable soup topped with a fried or poached egg 
Ham burritos stuffed with egg and avocado and seared in coconut oil
Broiled grapefruit with basil and coconut

LUNCH
Roast beef over kale and cauliflower, tossed in lime juice
Baked sweet potato with lettuce, chicken and grilled onions
Jalapeno halves stuffed with shrimp and wrapped in bacon

DINNER
Poached salmon, blanched beans and squash mash
Bacon, heirloom tomato, and basil frittata 
Fig and balsamic roasted chicken
*Ideas from instagram/whole30

Three meals a day are required with no snacking in-between.

On Instagram, the official Whole30 page has dozens of photographs offering recipe inspiration. One image shows a taco made with a lettuce leaf instead of a wheat wrap.

Another shot features a breakfast burrito with eggs and avocado wrapped in organic ham and 'seared in coconut oil.'

However, some commenters believe the program is still too strict to maintain for a full month.

Justin Sedor, a writer for Refinery 29, jokes that the 'Whole30 diet has officially become a thing and it makes the caveman plan look like an all-you-can-eat buffet.'

But the Hartwigs insist it just takes a bit of willpower to follow their plan.

They conclude on their site: 'It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Birthing a baby is hard. Losing a parent is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. 

'You’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important health cause on earth - the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.'

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Could a 'sleep whisperer' cure YOUR insomnia?

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A new YouTube trend is helping insomniacs finally get some rest by listening to the soothing voices of soft-spoken 'sleep whisperers'.

A growing number of sleep whisperers are cropping up online, starring in videos that see them speaking softly and slowly, tracing shapes with their fingers, lightly tapping on cardboard boxes and postcards and quietly rustling plastic.

The sounds are meant to trigger a tingling sensation that researchers have called ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response), which starts in the head and scalp and slowly moves down the spine.

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Who needs a sleeping pill? Sleep whisperers such as Ilse Blansert (pictured) are a new YouTube craze, starring in videos that see them speaking softly and making soothing sounds to help listeners nod off

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Hypnotic: The sounds she uses - including lightly tapping on postcards - are meant to trigger a tingling sensation that researchers have called ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response)

One such sleep whisperer is Dutch-born Ilse Blansert, whose website Water Whispers has an impressive 113,000 subscribers.

'Personally, I think that watching videos is a lot better than taking pills and getting that in your system,' she told Inside Edition. 'You create a calm, serene environment. Even I relax when I do it.'

In one of her videos, which has had more than 350,000 views, Ilse holds a bouquet of daisies in her fingers and gently plucks off the petals one by one.

She whispers quietly throughout, recalling how, when she was younger, she would recite: 'He loves me, he loves me not' while pulling off the flower petals. 

In another part of the video, Ilse shuffles through a stack of postcards, tracing the shapes pictured on them with a pen and lightly tapping the cards with her fingernails.

She told MailOnline that she was six when she first began experiencing 'tingles' triggered by certain noises and feelings.

The Sleep Whisperers whose soothing voices could cure insomnia

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Effective: Ilse's website has more than 50,000 subscribers who swear by her videos for getting a good night's rest. In one video, she moves puzzle pieces slowly around inside a cardboard box

'My grandmother would gently rub my forehead and sing to me when it was bedtime, which gave me tingles,' she explained.

After discovering the ASMR community in 2011, she decided to help others experience the same relaxing feelings through YouTube videos.

'I think watching videos is a lot better than taking pills. You create a serene environment'

For some, the videos are incredibly effective. 'I [get] people who have cancer and PTSD that tell me that these videos can give them hope, strength and a good night's sleep,' she said.

Ilse said other viewers whose positive feedback has inspired her to keep making videos include those with insomnia, high levels of stress, concentration problems and even Asperger's and autism.

One such fan commented on a video: 'Thank you so much. I have terrible anxiety and panic disorder and this absolutely calms me down. You have no idea how grateful I am.'

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Natural remedy: 'I think that watching videos is a lot better than taking pills and getting that in your system,' says Ilse (pictured: Ilse tracing the patterns on an elephant figurine with a pen)

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That tingling feeling: According to the ASMR research website, common external triggers include exposure to slow, accented or unique speech patterns and enjoying a piece of art or music

Another said: 'My first video I ever watched a few days ago of any ASMR. . . I'm hooked!! I sleep so much better now at night. Thanks.'

Others, however, are not so impressed. 'There was no tingling for me,' said one skeptic. 'Just an overwhelming sense of boredom.'

Ilse says ASMR is not necessarily for everyone, but that many people do find the videos enjoyable once they discover which triggers work for them.

'Since everyone is different and has personal preferences, there's only one way to find out what is most effective for you,' she said.

'Try as many different ASMR videos as possible and be your own judge!'

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Sound effects: Heather Feather is another ASMR artist who attracts thousands of viewers to her videos

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Soothing: In one video, she scratches the silver sequins of a star shape with her nails

And there is no shortage of sleep whisperers taking the internet by storm; Heather Feather also attracts thousands of viewers to her videos, which see her scratching sequins, running her fingertips along stones and swinging a pocket watch side to side like a pendulum

Another popular ASMR artist who goes by Sound Sculptures has created more than 100 videos to help people fall asleep, most of which are sound-based and don't have any speech at all.

WHAT IS ASMR?

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is the pleasurable tingling sensation some people experience in response to certain visual, auditory and tactile external triggers.
Some of the most common triggers include listening to slow, accented speech, enjoying a piece of art or music, watching another person complete a task in a diligent manner, and being touched on the head or back.

And Andrea Warren says she started making her own videos after discovering that ASMR helped her overcome her own anxiety.

'The best way I can describe the sensation is when someone is brushing your arm or gently touching your back or brushing your hair,' she explained. 'That relaxation feeling, tingling sensation you get.'

According to the ASMR research website, common external triggers of the feeling include exposure to slow, accented or unique speech patterns, enjoying a piece of art or music, and haircuts and other activities that involve touching the head or back.

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Signs That You Are Antisocial.

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An antisocial disorder is more serious than it may sound. This condition goes beyond a person simply not wanting to be around others; it is in fact a brain disorder that has a variety of outward signs. It can be difficult to self-diagnose, although many people tend to do that these days. The hallmarks of an antisocial personality could be on display right in front of us, although many of us might fail to take notice of them, which could lead to being harmed by a person who displays these traits. Maybe you are antisocial yourself and are unaware that your behavior could be harmful to those around you. If you read through these signs, some of them may ring true with you. Here are 10 signs that you may be antisocial:

1. An antisocial person has trouble conforming to social norms, and an individual with this disorder will typically be more likely to engage in illegal acts that may cause them to be arrested. They have less regard for laws or observing the rules of society than most other people. Many antisocial people will even end up in jail for significant periods of their lives. Have you repeatedly been in trouble with the law throughout your life? This behavior generally starts in childhood and is often exhibited in school, where you may have been suspended or even kicked out of school for bad behavior.

2. The antisocial personality often displays a reckless disregard for their own safety or the safety of others. Do you take a lot of risks in your everyday life? It could be something as simple as speeding and driving recklessly, without having concern for other drivers on the road and how they might be harmed by your driving habits. Any situation that you find yourself in where you simply do not care about what happens to others around you can be a sign that you are antisocial.

3. If you often show a lack of remorse when you have hurt or mistreated a person, or have stolen from others, you may be antisocial. You may just have an inability to feel sympathy or empathy for others and have no feelings of guilt when you have hurt someone. You may not even notice that a person’s feelings have been hurt, and you generally do not care about this situation.

4. Are you often deceitful? Do you lie and use a variety of aliases? Do you try to con those around you for personal gain? These are all serious signs of an antisocial disorder that are common and easily recognizable.

5. Are you irresponsible when it comes to family, financial matters and work? Do you have difficulty holding down a job or meeting financial obligations? Antisocial personalities tend to shirk responsibility and have a hard time dealing with any obligations at all. You may feel like these things are not worth your time caring about.

6. Are you impulsive? Do you almost always fail to plan ahead? These are also signs of an antisocial personality.

7. If you are often aggressive and irritable, and tend to get involved in a variety of physical altercations, you are likely an antisocial personality. This can be another reason for ending up in trouble with the law. If you have ever been to jail for assault, this could be the result of antisocial personality disorder.

8. Do you bully others? Are you often cruel to animals or other people? Have you been involved in a series of abusive relationships? If you physically and emotionally mistreat people or animals, this is a good indication that you are antisocial.

9. If you have an inability to learn from your experiences and you will not modify your behavior based on problems in the past or what might happen in the future, you may have an antisocial personality disorder.

10. Do you have no regard for, or even destroy, the property of others? This is a major problem, because people need to observe social rules in order to coexist in today’s society. If you tend to lack respect for others and their property, then you are likely going to encounter a lot of trouble in social situations and relationships throughout your life.

If you have several of these traits, there is a good chance you may be suffering from an antisocial personality disorder. There are many reasons and causes that can lead to this disorder, and some of them may be beyond your individual control. Part of the cause could be environmental (how you were raised, where you grew up, your social and home surroundings), while part of it may be genetic. Your family members may exhibit these same symptoms and issues, and if you look at others in your family, you may see similar behavior patterns. But regardless of the cause, it is completely within your control to start dealing with other people in a fair and reasonable manner and to stay out of trouble with the law. It is up to you to make a conscious decision to seek treatment for this disorder and then to make the choice of receiving the appropriate therapy. The starting point is to find a suitable doctor who can provide the appropriate diagnosis.

Once you have been diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, it is important to make the appropriate personal and lifestyle changes to improve your future. There is no reason that you should have to go through life with a couple of strikes against you, especially when there are many new and effective treatments for many mental health and personality disorders, including this one. It is up to you to want to receive diagnosis and treatment, and to change your life. Most people who are treated for this disorder can improve their outlook with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. If you simply ignore signs of the disorder and remain untreated, you could endure repeated problems in your life, have trouble keeping a job or even end up in jail. If you want to change your outlook for the future, you must take the necessary steps of your own volition.

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