7 TOP TIPS TO REVERSE THE AGEING PROCESS

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How many mornings have you woken up, looked in the mirror and felt that while your body may be wide awake, your face had yet to get the memo.
It is one of life’s great - and sadly inevitable - growing pains. The older we get, the more tired we look and the duller our skin.
And now scientists have revealed that as we mature, our most important organ also becomes less responsive to anti-ageing products.

Morning face: Are you suffering from skin fatigue?

New research in the area of ‘cellular bioenergetics’ has discovered that not only do our faces become ‘tired’ and overworked as we age, it also becomes increasing difficult to revive our skin.
Scientists working for Olay Regenerist have spent two decades researching the ageing process on our faces and found that the decline in cellular bioenergy means we have to go that extra mile to rejuvenate our cells.

Dr Frauke Neuser, principal scientists for Olay, explains: ‘We have learned that as our skin’s energy declines its cells are less able to produce natural compounds critical for youth firmness and elasticity, such as collagen and elastin.’

Old school skincare: Jade rollers and facial acupuncture are two methods you can use to wake up your face

In response to the research, Olay Regenerist has developed a series of ‘supercharged’ products which deliver more anti-ageing ingredients to the skin and help it absorb them better.
But there are also a few more tricks of the trade to combat your skin’s decline, from facial acupuncture to jade rollers…

FROM NEEDLES TO STONES: SEVEN WAYS TO WAKE UP YOUR FACE

1. FACIAL ACUPUNCTURE: Has proven results at improving the signs of ageing as it relaxes muscles and increases circulation. Perhaps that explains why A-listers such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston are rumoured to be fans of the ancient Chinese practice.
2. JADE ROLLERS:When rolled across the face, jade rollers stimulate the lymph system and improve drainage on the face, which can eliminate any puffiness. The rollers are also meant to help tone facial muscles and increase circulation. £28, www.cultbeauty.co.uk
3. OLAY REGENERIST: Olay Regenerist – Olay Regenerists’s new formula with Skin Energising Technology uses key ingredients Matrixyl, Niacinamide and Olivem, making it their most powerful anti-ageing products yet. The new Olay Regenerist 3 point super age-defying cream and serum are available now at Boots.com. 
4. COOL-WATER WASHING: Rinsing your face in water that is either too hot or too cold can damage the fine capillaries under your skin and cause broken thread veins so is best avoided. Instead, wash your face with cool water to help tighten pores and wake up your peepers.
5. ELECTRIC FACIALS: Forget a scrub and a mask, these days facials are high-tech, and many of the treatments heralded for their long-standing results are those which use a small electrical current. Painless, the treatment focus on improving circulation and muscle tone. Results are visible immediately but a course of treatments are recommended for long-lasting results.
6. FACIAL YOGA: Yes you’ll look strange, but facial yoga devotees swear that by keeping the muscles under the face strong and supple, your skin will look younger longer. They could be on to something. Increasing blood flow and muscle elasticity certain helps your skin look better, just do it while you have the bathroom door locked. The Yoga Face, £13.99, Amazon.co.uk
7. SCRUBS: As well as wrinkles and fine lines, enlarged pores and dull skin are another tell-tale sign of ageing. However simply exfoliating the skin with a light scrub can work wonders to improve the tone and texture of your skin.

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If you were giving birth, what would be your choice: A longer labour with less pain - or a shorter labour with terrible pain?

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It haunts expectant mothers as the excitement of becoming pregnant gives way to the reality of giving birth... how will they cope with labour?
But what's better? A longer labour with relatively less pain - or a shorter labour with excruciating pain?
When pregnant women were questioned,  the majority opted for the longer, more drawn out labour - preferring to take their time rather than endure terrible pain.

A questionnaire filled out by expectant mothers revealed the majority would prefer a longer labour with less pain rather than a short-sharp burst of excruciating pain

Lead author of the study, Dr Brendan Carvalho from the Stanford University School of Medicine in California, said: 'Interestingly, intensity is the driver.'
Using an epidural 'may prolong labour but reduces pain intensity, and it seems that could be preferable to most', he said.

The women taking part in the study were given a seven-item questionnaire as they arrived at hospital to have labour induced but before painful contractions began.
The women took the survey a second time within 24 hours of giving birth.
The survey pitted hypothetical pain level, on a scale of zero to 10, against hours of labour.
A sample question asked: 'Would you rather have pain intensity at two out of 10 for nine hours or six out of 10 for three hours?'

Researchers said an epidural can prolong labour but it reduces pain intensity

Both pre and post-labour, women taking part on average preferred less intense pain over a longer duration, according to the findings published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Dr Ruth Landau, from the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, said the women were all due to be induced and as a result may have been expecting a longer labour in any case.
She said it would be interesting to see the results of the questionnaire given to women who are not induced, or who do not plan to have an epidural.
Dr Landau, who did not take part in the study, said it may reassure women who believe they want to have an epidural that they are making the right decision to have an early analgesic.
'Obviously if we could control pain and duration, dial them both up and down based on what women wanted, we would do that,' she said.
'But we don’t have a way to dial up or down duration of labour,' she told Reuters Health.
There is some evidence that an epidural may prolong labour, but it’s not unanimous, she said.
'What we can do and should do is better inform women that we know that most women prefer low intensity of pain, particularly first-time moms,' Dr Landau added.
Dr Carvalho said: 'Labor’s got a lot of factors to it, it’s difficult to capture in one score.'
'The one good thing that does happen in labor is we use patient controlled analgesia.
'Women control how much medication they get, which is better than getting prescribed a set dose from start to finish.
'More medication makes legs heavy, may make labor longer and will more likely involve forceps or vacuum (to help deliver the baby), and less medication means more intense pain and also the ability to be more active.

'Women would benefit from more conversation about this.'

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Could the 'healthy' part of red wine be dangerous for unborn babies?

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The 'healthy' compound in red wine may damage the pancreas of an unborn child, say researchers

The 'healthy' ingredient of red wine may damage unborn babies, researchers have warned.

Resveratrol - a natural compound found in red grape skin - has been hailed as a 'wonder chemical' which does everything from reduce heart disease, help tackle obesity, improve memory and even prevent tooth cavities.

But new research suggests it may damage the pancreas of unborn babies.

The study, published in the journal FASEB, showed that resveratrol improved blood flow through the placenta of macaque monkeys and protected against harmful aspects of obesity - but injured the foetal pancreas.

The authors believe the study has direct relevance to human health because of the widespread belief that red wine has health benefits and the fact it is readily availble over the counter as a supplement.

Dr Kevin Grove, a diabetes, obesity and metabolism researcher at the University of Portland, Oregon, said: 'The important message in this study is that women should be very careful about what they consume while pregnant, and they should not take supplements, like resveratrol, without consulting with their doctors.

'What might be good for the mother may not be good for the baby.'

Dr Grove and his colleagues gave daily doses of resveratrol supplements to obese female macaque monkeys, fed a typical Western diet every day throughout their pregnancy.

A second group of obese monkeys were not given the supplement and both sets were compared to lean monkeys fed a healthy low fat diet. 

The animals were closely monitored for health complications and blood flow through the placenta was determined by ultrasound.

The researchers found definitive evidence of pancreatic abnormalities.

Dr Gerald Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal, said: 'We've known for a long time that resveratrol is pharmacologically active, and we're just now really beginning to understand the pros and cons of consuming high concentrations of this substance.

'As we begin to establish a safety profile for resveratrol and other dietary supplements, findings like this should come as no surprise.

'There are always negative side effects when you eat, drink, take or do too much of anything.'

Resveratrol is a natural compound found in red grape skin. It has been hailed as a 'wonder chemical' - but may be harmful to a foetus

Previous research has found that a glass of wine in the evening boosts a woman's chances of becoming pregnant quickly.

Those who drink a moderate amount of red or white wine stand a better chance of conceiving within two months than women who prefer beer and spirits, or do not drink at all.

Of nearly 30,000 pregnant women, researchers found half conceived in the first two months of trying, while 15 per cent had to wait at least a year.

But those who regularly drank wine were almost a third less likely to wait more than a year. They stood 23 per cent less chance of waiting longer than two months before conceiving than teetotallers, or beer or spirit drinkers.

Mette Juhl, of the Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, who led the research, said: 'It shows a link between fertility and wine drinking.

'We don't know exactly why wine drinkers become pregnant quicker. It could be something in the wine, or, for example, that wine drinkers have healthier diets,' she added.

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Protective paint for your teeth and fast-acting braces could banish the dentist’s drill.

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Afraid of the dentist? A series of remarkable innovations could soon transform the experience

Afraid of the dentist?
The good news is that a series of remarkable innovations could soon transform the experience.
Even dentists themselves are stunned by the changes.
‘The developments since I qualified 30 years ago have been astonishing,’ says Jack Toumba, professor of paediatric and restorative dentistry at the University of Leeds.
Just last week, researchers from King’s College London announced they’d developed a self-healing filling, which could mean the end of the dentist’s drill.
In a procedure known as Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation, a tiny electrical current is used to push calcium and phosphate into the damaged tooth, encouraging it to heal.
Tooth decay is normally removed by drilling and then filling the cavity with a material, such as an amalgam made from a mixture of metals.
The new technology, which boosts the tooth’s natural repair process, may be available within three years.
Here we look at other innovations set to transform dental care.

PAINT THAT CAN  PREVENT DECAY

Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a paste that is painted on to the teeth and can protect against decay.
The paste contains naturally occurring molecules — peptides — which seep into the tiny holes in the tooth’s surface.
The peptides form a gel that provides a ‘scaffold’ that attracts calcium from saliva. The calcium provides a protective layer.
The paste was originally developed for treating early decay.
‘We already knew the formula could provide a certain degree of repair with tooth decay,’ says Professor Jennifer Kirkham, of the university’s school of dentistry.
‘However, we could also see that, in a paste or fluid, it could protect against acid attack.’

Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a paste that is painted on to the teeth and can protect against decay

FILLINGS TO WARD OFF BACTERIA

Even after a dentist drills out a decayed tooth, it’s almost impossible to remove every last bit of bacteria from the margins — a condition known as marginal leakage.
The bacteria trapped under the new filling feeds off sugar in food, producing acid that causes new decay. That’s why fillings need to be replaced every five to ten years.
Now scientists at the Federal University of Ceara in Brazil have created an adhesive for fillings that contains antibacterial agents, which could mean an end for replacement fillings.

GROW YOUR OWN TEETH

The problem with tooth implants is that they don’t have a natural root structure that moves with the jaw. As a result, the bone around the implant can become damaged, weakening the implant.
Now dentists are looking at growing new teeth — and roots — from the patient’s gum cells.
In a study led by Professor Paul Sharpe, an expert in stem cell biology at King’s College London, gum tissue cells were combined with mesenchyme cells from mice to produce a hybrid human/mouse tooth with a root.
Mesenchyme cells are found in the pulp of mammal teeth — the next step is to source a supply of human mesenchyme cells to produce fully ‘human’ teeth.
Available: In five to ten years.

LASER THAT REPLACES ENAMEL

Tooth enamel, the hard, mineralised surface of teeth, cannot be replaced once it’s been damaged.
However, scientists at the universities of St Andrews and Leeds are working on a way to replace it, coating teeth with an acid-resistant substance made from calcium phosphate (the same mineral in tooth enamel), then blasting it with a laser.
‘This is applied to the tooth as a paste, after which a specialised laser is pulsed on to the substance, making it bond to the teeth,’ explains Professor Animesh Jha, of the University of Leeds.
As well as rebuilding and toughening the tooth surface, it could eliminate tooth sensitivity, which is caused by the gradual exposure of the inner tooth, or dentine.
Available: Within four years.

SEAWEED TOOTHPASTE

Researchers at Newcastle University have discovered that an organism found on seaweed can cut through plaque, the bacteria that form on teeth.
Traditional toothpastes work by rubbing plaque off, but even careful brushing doesn’t remove every last bit. The remaining plaque forms a ‘biofilm’, a collection of mostly harmful bacteria that stick to the teeth.
The researchers believe that an enzyme from an organism called Bacillus licheniformis can strip the harmful bacteria from the plaque. It could be used in a paste or mouthwash.
‘Mouthwash and toothpaste have traditionally been used as a cleaner and disinfectant to get rid of bugs,’ explains Professor Nairn Wilson, a professor of dentistry at King’s College, London.
‘But a lot of recent research is focusing on the biofilm — and seeing how that can be approached to exclude “bad” bugs and create a defensive field.’ More studies are needed to show the technique works and is safe.
Available: Within five years.

TORCH THAT CAN REBUILD TEETH

Researchers at University of Birmingham School of Dentistry have found that shining light at certain wavelengths on tooth cavities may promote natural repair.
The process — photobiomodulation — activates growth factors in the teeth to stimulate stem cells to form dentine.
Available: Within five years.

FAST-ACTING BRACES

Israeli scientists have developed a vibrating gumshield worn at night that acts much faster than conventional braces.
The Aerodentis device comprises a vibrating silicone balloon that rests against the teeth; this gently moves the teeth to line up with the gumshield that has been moulded to the desired shape.
The balloon vibrates several times a second — strong enough to stimulate the teeth to move but too gentle to wake the patient.
The maker claims teeth can be realigned in just three months compared with 12 to 18 months with conventional braces.
‘It’s an exciting idea,’ says Professor Damian Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association, ‘but it’s early days to see whether the concept works.’
Researchers at King’s College have devised a similar piece of technology, the Acceledent, which is worn round an existing brace for 20 minutes a day. Tiny pulses gently accelerate the teeth’s movement.
Available: Aerodentis is available from orthodontists such as time4smile.co.uk. To find an orthodontist to fit the Acceledent go to acceledent.co.uk

BOOST YOUR JAWBONE

Some patients don’t have enough bone in which to anchor a dental implant. While bone from elsewhere in the body can be used, this involves surgery.
Now scientists have devised ways to grow bone using chips of synthetic bone made from materials such as calcium carbonate.
These chips are mixed with plasma — the liquid part of the blood — which helps bone cells grow, explains Wayne Halfpenny, a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at BMI The King’s Oak and Cavell Hospital, London.
‘This mixture is packed into the damaged area and forms a scaffolding for bone cells to grow into and form new bone.’
However, it can take up to six months before the bone is thick enough to anchor an implant.
Available: Limited availability already.

CRAB SHELL GEL ENDS CAVITIES

A gel made up of tiny pieces of silver, fluoride and chitosan — a material found in crab shells — has been shown to slow and even stop tooth decay.
Brazilian researchers found that just seven days after the gel was used on children’s teeth, 81 per cent of the cavities had stopped expanding.
After 12 months, 67 per cent of the treated cavities were still the same size, according to the study at the University of Pernambuco.
All three ingredients in the gel have anti-bacterial effects.
Available: Within two years.

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How to get arms like Rachel McAdams: Secrets of an A-list body.

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How to get the enviable physiques of the stars. This week: Rachel McAdams’s arms.
In a strapless gown at a recent gala dinner, Rachel McAdams showed off super-toned arms.
The 35-year-old Canadian actress is a full-on fitness fan who is passionate about biking.

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Full-on fitness fan: A few times a week, Rachel McAdams' strength and conditioning coach puts her through a tough session of 12 rounds of exercises including kettlebell swings with 400m sprints

She practises Kundalini yoga, a mix of meditation, flexibility and postures that focuses on specific parts of the body, every morning.
She also does short, sharp high-intensity training (or HIT).
A few times a week, her strength and conditioning coach puts her through a tough session of 12 rounds of exercises including kettlebell swings with 400m sprints.
WHAT TO TRY: The bent-over row can be performed using weights, a sandbag or a heavy handbag.
Hold the bag or weight with both hands and stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
Brace your abdominal muscles, bend the knees slightly and lower the body from the hips, keeping the back straight.
As you lean to around 45 degrees, lower the weight towards your knees.
Slowly raise the bag to the side of your chest bending your elbows and back before returning to the start position.
Repeat 12 times.

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Kayaker nearly dies after catching disease from rat urine while paddling down a river.

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Sam Owen caught deadly Weil's disease after kayaking in dirty river water

A kayaker is lucky to be alive after contracting a potentially fatal disease from dirty river water.

Sam Owen, 24, believes the bacteria from rat urine entered his body through his eyes and nose, as well as grazes on his hands from rock climbing.

He was rushed to hospital after he began vomiting and suffering excruciating back ache before being diagnosed with Weil's disease, which attacks the organs and can be fatal.

Mr Owen, of Petersfield, Hampshire, said: 'I read there was two weeks from when you contract it to going pass the point of surviving. I was 17 days so I shouldn't have survived.

'I am extremely lucky and grateful to be alive.'

Mr Owen was on an outdoor instructor course and spent the weekend in Wales rock climbing.

'I came back and was kayaking in the Itchen River, in Southampton. It was the first time I have ever kayaked.

'I was learning to capsize with a girl who didn't quite have the strength to turn me over, so I was capsizing a lot more than others in my group.

'I found out that Weil's disease could get in through your eyes, nose and through the scrapes on skin, which I had from climbing - I think that was the cause.'

After returning to his job a few days later as a full-time lifeguard, he came home from a shift and started throwing up blood.

His worried mother dialled 111 who suggested he see a doctor the following day - and he was sent   straight to hospital.

He said: 'While I was in hospital a couple of my friends visited. They said "you look really, really green".

After five days in ITU, his consultant quizzed Mr Owen on everything he'd been doing until he became ill.

'As soon as I told him about the kayaking I was given an antidote to try and fight the disease.

'Weil’s disease is a form of a bacterial infection also known as Leptospirosis that is carried by animals, most commonly in rats and cattle.

Mr Owen believes bacteria from rats urine in the river water entered his body through his eyes and nose, and grazes from rock climbing

He spent five days in ITU battling the disease, which attacks the kidney and liver. Cases of Weil's disease, symptoms of which can include a purple rash, reached record levels this year

WEIL'S DISEASE - THE DEADLY DISEASE TRANSMITTED IN RAT URINE

 Weil’s disease is a form of a bacterial infection also known as leptospirosis. It is carried by animals, most commonly in rats and cattle.

It can be caught by humans through contact with rat or cattle urine, most commonly through contaminated fresh water.

The disease can be transmitted through cuts and scratches or the lining of the mouth, throat or eyes.

Symptoms include a a high temperature ) that is usually between 38 and 40°C, chills,  sudden headaches, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, muscle pain - particularly in the calves and lower back, conjunctivitis (irritation and redness of the eyes), a cough, a short-lived rash .

It can be caught by humans through contact with rat or cattle urine, most commonly occurring through contaminated fresh water.'

It attacks the kidney, liver, before making its way through your organs.

There were 70 hospital admissions for Weil's disease last year - more than any other 12-month period in the past ten years and double the figure for two years ago, according to NHS records.

The illness - also known as leptospirosis - has claimed four lives in the UK since 2009.

Olympic rowing champion Andy Holmes died of Weil's disease in 2010 aged 51, after it is believed the bacteria entered his body through blisters on his hands.

Dr John Knighton, a critical care consultant based in Portsmouth, said: 'The disease is fairly rare. It is a bacteria that is transmitted through the urine of rats; infected rates urinate into an environment that allows the bacteria into humans.

'That either occurs from swallowing or enters the body through a break in the skin be that cuts or grazes.

'Drain workers, farm workers and vets who have occupational exposure are most vulnerable.

'We believe Sam got it because he had been canoeing in the river three weeks before. He has recovered very well but it can be fatal.'

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'Alopecia is a big part of my life, but it doesn't define me'

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Joelle Amery is the face of a new Alopecia UK campaign, after losing all her hair when she was eight years old

As a child she endured the cruel taunts of her peers labelling her 'cancer girl' and making light of the fact she had no hair.
But Joelle Amery has never been diagnosed with cancer and she's never had to undergo chemotherapy.
When she was eight she started to notice her hair was falling out in the shower. Within a few months she was completely bald.
Like more and more women across the UK, the teenager, who is now 15, lives with alopecia - the medical term for hair loss.
And today she is fronting a new campaign with Alopecia UK to raise awareness as experts say an increasing number of people are being diagnosed with the condition.

She said: ‘I am thrilled and honoured to be part of this charity which is close to my heart, as I feel the work of the charity is so valuable.’
Joelle developed alopecia universalis - the most extreme form of the condition which results in complete hair loss from the whole body - at the age of eight.
She was bullied as a result and it was not until last summer, six years after developing the condition, that she revealed herself without a wig for the first time.
She became an internet sensation when a video she released of her music video went viral and received 200,000 hits on YouTube.
However, she told her story to MailOnline, explaining that her flowing brown locks in the video were actually a wig.
She also spoke about the condition and the bullying she experienced as a result.

Her story was shared across the world and she features on news channels in the UK, China, Brazil the U.S

Since speaking so openly about her condition, Joelle said she is now finally comfortable in her own skin.
She said: 'I have accepted that alopecia is a big part of my life, but it doesn't define me.'

The 15-year-old endured the cruel taunts of bullies, being labeled 'cancer girl', by youngsters who did not understand the hair loss disease

 

Joelle speaks about her hair loss and living with Alopecia

Joelle said: 'I have accepted that alopecia is a big part of my life, but it doesn't define me'

The teenager became an internet sensation after releasing a music video on YouTube last year. She revealed the long brunette locks in the video were in fact her wig when she spoke about her condition for the first time to MailOnline

WHAT IS ALOPECIA?

Alopecia is a hair-loss disease that affects, men, women and children.
The onset is often sudden, random and frequently recurrent.
Although the disease does not damage a person's physical health, it can have severe effects on quality of life and emotional health through its impact on confidence and self-esteem.
Alopecia affects around 1.7 per cent of the population, with men and women equally affected.
About 25 per cent of people affected have a family history of the condition.
The exact cause of alopecia is not known, although experts generally agree it is a disease of the immune system.
There is believed to be a genetic component and in some cases it is linked to stress.
In alopecia, the immune system attacks the affected hair follicles by mistake.
That halts hair growth and causes hairs to abruptly shed.
There are several different types of alopecia, ranging in severity. Alopecia Universalis is the total loss of hair across the body, while Alopecia Totalis is loss of hair on the head alone.
The vast degree of sufferers will experience some re-growth, some complete re-growth.
To find out more about the condition visit Alopecia UK here.

As a result of her experiences she now wants to help normalise hair loss and increase awareness of alopecia.
She says it would have been easier if she had had role models to look up to but that she did not know anyone else with the condition.
This is something she wants to change in her new role as an Alopecia UK ambassador.
She also wants to increase understanding of hair loss in women so it is no longer always associated with cancer.

She says some of her biggest challenges as an alopecia patient have come from not wanting to be pitied by people who have mistakenly thought she is seriously ill.
She added: ‘People living with alopecia can feel helpless - losing the hair that has made them feel beautiful can lead to serious depression, anxiety and trauma, to self-esteem issues and lack of confidence as well as bullying both at school and in the workplace.’
Experts say that hair loss in women is becoming increasingly common.
Dr David Fenton said: ‘Public awareness of hair loss in women has increased, but there is still not enough medical funding and research.’
Joelle added: ‘Hair loss in women has been “covered up” by society, forcing women to hide it more, while it is acceptable for a grown man to be bald.
‘The ultimate goal with all this publicity is to glean as much information about facts and figures, in the hope that more money will be spent on research and ultimately one day, a possible cure.’

 

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10-year-old who battled cancer twice is left brain damaged after suffering devastating reaction to glandular fever drugs

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A 10-year-old boy who twice fought cancer suffered irreparable brain damage when he reacted to drugs prescribed for glandular fever.

Leon O’Neill is now in a vegetative state, with doctors warning his devastated parents he will not recover.

Caroline Bottrell and Shaun O'Neill are today desperately trying to raise enough money to modify their house, so they can bring their son home from hospital.

Leon was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just four and had three years of chemotherapy before going into remission.

Leon O'Neill battled leukaemia twice and has now been left with brain damage after suffering a reaction to some medication he was given after developing glandular fever. He is pictured when he had leukaemia

But the cancer returned in February 2013 and the family were told the best chance of a cure was a bone marrow transplant.

Leon, from Barrow in Cumbria, had the transplant last summer at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

It went well and after spending weeks in isolation to prevent any infections he was able to go home.

He returned home in September last year but just two days before Christmas he was given urgent medication after catching the glandular fever virus.

Tragically, Leon suffered extreme side effects to the treatment and he was left fighting for his life in intensive care as he went into septic shock – a life-threatening condition where the blood pressure falls dangerously low after an infection - and kidney failure. 

To the horror of his family, he suffered brain damage which left him in a vegetative state and unable to recover.

He was transferred to Barrow’s Furness General Hospital in April but his family are desperate to adapt their house so he can return home.

Leon (pictured with his father, Shaun, and a fundraiser) is now in a vegetative state in hospital and his parents have been warned that he will not recover

The family have started an appeal to raise £20,000 to make the necessary changes to the ground floor and achieve their dream of bringing Leon back to his own surroundings.

The youngster will need round-the-clock care from his family and carers.

They also want to create a bedroom and bathroom area for Leon by extending into the garden.

His parents, Caroline Bottrell, 38, and Shaun O’Neill, 42, say their son is so brave and his courage and strength has always got everyone through.

Leon's parents are now trying to raise enough money to adapt their house so they can take him home

Miss Bottrell said: ‘We were told we could lose him, and I looked at Leon and said “you have to pull through”. Miraculously he did pull through.

‘ICU were fantastic and saved his life, but unbeknown to us and the medical team he had suffered global brain damage due to the low blood pressure.

'His brain was starved of oxygen and it caused irreparable damage.

‘Leon is now in a vegetative state, but I believe Leon knows us when we talk to him and he communicates in his own way. He is aware of who is around him.

‘It was advised that Leon is given palliative care as he is not going to get better from his brain injury. He is hanging on in there and fighting.

‘We will give Leon the best, whatever it takes and get him home. He deserves it more than anything because he will be able to sense being home.

‘He has spent a lot of his young life in hospital and now he should be at home and be peaceful, we owe him that.

‘We are thankful that Leon is still with us fighting on. We want to give him the best for what time he has left.’

Miss Bottrell has thanked all the medics, Leon’s carers, and family and friends for their support.

The family has applied for planning permission which is in the process and they have a builder ready to start.

A disabled facilities grant was declined as the family has a living room space, but this is their only living space and the family want a more permanent arrangement for Leon, as they will also have carers staying in their home overnight.

The family are in the early stages of the appeal against the council decision.

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Mother is told to take her five-year-old daughter to the VET after picking up a tick

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A mother has today claimed a GP advised she take her five-year-old daughter to the vets, to have a tick removed.
Paula Binns visited the Gill Medical Centre in Walkden, Greater Manchester with Lilyanna, after spotting the tiny parasite on the back of her daughter's head.
But the 26-year-old claims after trying to remove the tick with a tissue, the doctor told her to seek advice from a vet instead.
The family have since lodged a formal complaint with the practice and today said they are considering moving to another GP's surgery.

Paula Binns claims her GP advised she take her five-year-old daughter Lilyanna to a local vets practice to have a tick removed

Ms Binns said the family contacted a vets practice but were told they could not treat Lilyanna.
The tick was eventually removed by a neighbour, who used a pair of tweezers.
Ms Binns said: 'I am absolutely disgusted at the advice we were given. The doctor didn't know anything about ticks.
'When we first went in she told me Lilyanna just had a scab, not a tick, she didn't believe me. But she had another look and spotted the tick.

'Then she tried to pull it out with her fingers but I told her that that wouldn't work. She googled it and eventually told me there was nothing she could do.
'The doctor kept saying 'it's really stuck in there' and Lilyanna started to panic and burst into tears. She's only five, she thought something was seriously wrong with her.

Ms Binns has made a formal complaint to the doctors' surgery in Walkden, Greater Manchester

'The only option she gave us was to take her to the vets. That's not normal though, you can't just say that to people. My daughter isn't an animal, she's a child.
She said the five-year-old picked up the parasite while doing cartwheels in grassland near her home.
The 26-year-old said she noticed the creature on the back of Lilyanna's head when she was putting plaits into the youngster's hair.
Ticks feed on human and animal blood, and in severe cases their bite can infect people with the debilitating Lyme disease.
Lilyanna’s stepfather Chris Hargreaves, 28, said: 'I rang the vet who told me "sorry we can’t do anything with humans".
'But they did say they could provide us with tick removing equipment.
'We did ring the GP after the tick was removed and they said bring her in if we had any problems.'
Public Health England advises that ticks are removed as soon as possible using tweezers or a tick-removal tool without squeezing or crushing the insect.
They advise to consult a doctor if any symptoms develop.
Gill Medical Centre is understood to have had a meeting about the family’s complaint.
Practice manager Kate Armitage said: 'The Gill Medical Centre takes tick awareness very seriously.
'All of our GPs consult the Lyme disease action website for up-to-date advice when a patient has a tick bite.
'In the event a patient has a tick still attached we advise it should only be removed using a specialist tick removal device.'

Laura Browse, head of primary care for NHS England, Greater Manchester said: 'We take any complaint very seriously and are committed to ensuring the services available to patients are of the best possible standard.'

WHY DO TICKS POSE A THREAT TO HUMANS?

Ticks feed on the blood of humans and animals, and can pass on the debilitating Lyme disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Ticks are tiny arachnids found in woodland areas.
The parasites feed on the blood of humans and animals. Their bites often go unnoticed, leaving the tick to remain for several days gorging on blood, before dropping off.
The longer the tick is left in place, the higher the risk of it passing on the infection.
Lyme disease can affect a person's skin, joints, heart and nervous system.

What are the symptoms?
The earliest and most common symptom is a pink or red circular rash around the bite site. It can develop three to 30 days after a person is bitten. The rash is described as being similar to a bull's-eye on a dart board.
An infected person may also suffer flu-like symptoms, including tiredness, headaches and muscle or joint pain.
If left untreated, further symptoms, including muscle pain and temporary paralysis of the facial muscles, can develop months or even years later.
In its late stages the disease can trigger symptoms similar to fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lyme disease is not contagious but is the most common tick-borne infection in Europe and North America.
Public Health England estimates there are between 2,000 and 3,000 cases in England and Wales each year.
Most tick bites happen in late spring, early summer and the autumn - the times when people are most likely to be outside, hiking or camping.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent the disease. The best way to avoid it, is to avoid being bitten.
Experts advise people walking in woodland areas wear long-sleeved clothes, tuck trousers into socks, use insect repellent, and importanly check for ticks when they return home.
What to do if you find a tick:
If you do find a tick they can be removed by gently gripping the parasite as close to the skin as possible, preferrably using fine-toothed tweezers, and pulling steadily from the skin.
Never use a lit cigarette end, a match head or essential oils to force the tick out.

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Men who drink heavily are more likely to have teetotal sons

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Men who drink heavily are more likely to have sons who shun alcohol in later life, new research suggests.

However, the study also showed the fathers’ drinking has no effect on their daughters’ alcohol intake.

Lab experiments suggest the drinking behaviour of men influences their male offspring’s genes before they are even conceived.

But surprisingly, there was no effect on their female offspring.

The sons of men who drink heavily are more likely to shun alcohol, new research suggests

The findings go against previous human studies which showed alcoholism may run in families, particularly from father to son.

To date only a few human gene variants have been linked to alcoholism, which account for just a small fraction of the risk of inheriting the problem. 

But tests on male mice given copious amounts of alcohol prior to breeding later had male offspring that were less likely to consume the drug and were more sensitive to its effects.

Professor Gregg Homanics, of the University of Pittsburgh, said: ‘Our mouse study shows it is possible for alcohol to modify the dad’s otherwise normal genes and influence consumption in his sons, but surprisingly not his daughters.’

In the five week study, the animals were exposed to chronic levels of ethanol vapour, leading to blood alcohol levels higher than the legal limit for human drivers.

The male mice were then mated with sober females.

Compared to those of ethanol free sires, the adult male offspring of the ‘alcoholic’ mice consumed less alcohol when it was made available.

They were also less likely to choose to drink it over water.

The daughters of men who drink heavily are not influenced in the same way

Also, they were more susceptible to alcohol effects on motor control and reduction of anxiety.

Biologist Andrey Finegersh said: ‘We suspected the offspring of alcohol exposed sires would have an enhanced taste for alcohol, which seems to be the pattern for humans.

‘Whether the unexpected reduction in alcohol drinking that was observed is due to differences between species or the specific drinking model that was tested is unclear.’

The researchers next plan to examine other drinking models such as binge drinking, identify how alcohol modifies the genes, and explore why female offspring appear unaffected.

The findings were published online in PLOS ONE.

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Headaches in pregnancy could 'mask' serious underlying health problems, expert warns

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Headaches in pregnancy can mask underlying conditions, experts warn

Experts have today warned that headaches in pregnant women could be 'masking' serious underlying health conditions.

Kirsty Revell, a specialist registrar in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton, said 90 per cent of headaches experienced by mothers-to-be were the result of migraine or tension.

She said these usually improved during the last six months of pregnancy.

But a small percentage were caused by potentially life-threatening neurological conditions - the third most common cause of death among pregnant women.

In a review published in the journal The Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (TOG), Dr Revell looked at common causes of headaches during pregnancy and the postnatal period, the conditions associated with them and how GPs, midwives and obstetricians should manage care.

She said: ‘Headaches are common in life and some women find they suffer a lot during pregnancy, but most are benign, for example migraine or tension headaches, and will not harm mother or baby but will just be unpleasant.

‘However, some headache types can be more dangerous and an indication that something is seriously wrong and it is vital GPs, obstetricians and midwives are aware of the signs and symptoms associated with these conditions and know when to seek advice from a specialist.’

Dr Revell, who co-authored the review with Dr Paul Morrish, a consultant neurologist in Gloucestershire, said the common occurrence of headaches during pregnancy could mask dangerous conditions.

These include cerebral venous thrombosis - a blood clot in the sinuses of the brain - or pressure build-up in the skull, known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which is more likely to occur in obese women of child-bearing age.

She also warned that women who experience migraines have a two-fold increased risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

Headaches in pregnancy could actually be a sign of a blood clot or increased pressure within the skull

This is a common condition which causes high blood pressure and loss of protein in the urine and can lead to birth complications.

She added: ‘While it is important not to cause unnecessary alarm or panic, women should be aware that if they suffer from continuous headaches during pregnancy or migraines that are very different their normal type, they should discuss it with their GP or midwife.

‘It is at that point we need to be confident health professionals consider all possible causes - including the rarer conditions we’ve highlighted - to ensure all women receive the correct advice, guidance and treatment.’

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Diabetic put her life at risk to lose weight

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A diabetic mother whose weight ballooned during pregnancy put her life at risk when she stopped taking her insulin medication in a bid to slim down.

Hayleigh Juggins ignored doctors' advice, halting the treatment for her diabetes having blamed the hormone for her weight reaching 19st.

The 20-year-old was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was 15 years old.

When she fell pregnant three years later, she began taking high doses of insulin, which she claims led to rapid weight gain.

Hayleigh Juggins, 20, is diabetic but she stopped taking insulin after the birth of her daughter, Angel. She hoped this would help her to lose weight after she ballooned to 19st

By the time she gave birth when she was 19, she weighed 19st and was wearing size 22 clothes.

Horrified, she decided to disregard doctors’ instructions to take insulin after each meal and subsequently found herself shrinking.

Stable today at 10st 10lb, Miss Juggins says that despite being pleased at gaining her dream figure, she will never again risk serious damage to her health by going against medical advice.

She said: ‘There was a war within me - on the one hand I was distraught at having gained so much weight during pregnancy, but on the other I knew what I was doing was bad for me.

‘When I was told that I might lose my sight if I didn’t take the proper dosages of insulin, I knew I had to start looking after myself again. I wanted to see my little girl grow up.’

Miss Juggins, a student, struggled with weight gain during her early years, eventually reaching size 22 by the time she was 14.

She said: ‘I had a few family problems at home, so I over ate. I relied on sugary things, like cake and sweets, to make me feel better.

‘I spent my pocket money on chocolate and snacks and waited until everyone in the house had gone to bed before I took myself to my room and ate the whole stash.’

Miss Juggins dropped from 19st (left) to 10st 10lbs (right) after she stopped taking her insulin

Ms Juggins was told by doctors that she was risking blindness by not taking her insulin injections. As a result, she decided to start taking them as she wanted to ensure she would be there for her daughter, Angel

When she was 15, she began mysteriously losing weight.

She said: ‘I had recently been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and was in counselling.

'People assumed I was losing weight because I was happier and less dependent on comfort eating.’

Shortly afterwards she was shocked to be diagnosed with type one diabetes.

She said: ‘I kept asking for glasses of water because I was so thirsty. A friend’s mother was a nurse and said it was a sign of diabetes.

'Not long after I collapsed on a night out with friends and had to be taken by ambulance to hospital.

‘I’d experienced diabetic ketoacidosis, when my body couldn’t absorb sugar for fuel. In hospital I was completely delirious - I found out later the doctors told my mum that I could have slipped into a coma.’

DO INSULIN INJECTIONS CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN AND WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU STOP TAKING THEM?

Weight gain is a common side effect for people who take insulin.

This is because insulin allows glucose to enter the cells and if a person eats more calories than they need to maintain a healthy weight, the cells will get more glucose than they need.

Glucose that is not used by the cells will accumulate as fat.

However, it is perfectly possible for most diabetics to maintain a healthy weight while taking insulin if they are active and watch what they eat.

If a person who has been told to take insulin does not do so, they risk a whole range of complications.

This is because having high glucose levels in the body can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs.

Prolonged spells of high blood sugar levels can cause heart disease, strokes, blindness, kidney disease, foot ulcers, sexual dysfunction and even result in amputations.

Source: Mayo Clinic and NHS Choices

Having immediately been diagnosed with diabetes Miss Juggins, of Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, was set on a daily routine of insulin injections which saw her take medicine up to four times a day.

She said: ‘I didn’t appreciate the seriousness of my diagnosis at first. I didn’t want to be diabetic and found the change to my routine difficult.

‘I also put on a lot of weight, as a side effect of the insulin, and having been advised to eat a carbohydrate-rich diet.

‘I fell into the habit of taking time off insulin when I felt my weight was getting too high, and I found controlling my weight became a lot easier.’

When, aged 18, she became pregnant with her daughter Angel, now two, she was careful to increase her insulin intake to make sure her health was protected.

But shortly after giving birth in May 2012, she realised she had reached 19st and was back to wearing size 22 clothes.

She said: ‘I hadn’t realised what state I’d allowed my body to get into. I’d more than doubled my insulin intake, but I didn’t realise it would have such an effect on my weight.’

Many patients requiring insulin treatment report weight gain as the anabolic agent aids cells’ ability to absorb glucose. If more glucose enters the cells than is used as energy, it accumulates as fat.

Miss Juggins said: ‘I decided to continue with one daily dose but discontinued the injections after each meal.

‘The doctors had made it quite clear to me that I was insulin dependent. I knew that choosing not to take it was a life-threatening decision.

‘But I felt much happier about myself. I could feel that my body chemistry wasn’t right, but on the other hand, I was able to relax and felt much more like me as my weight fell away.’

In less than 18 months, Miss Juggins slimmed down to 10st 10lb, and was able to fit into size 10 clothing.

But a routine check-up in January this year was enough to shock her back into resuming her proper dosage.

She said: ‘I began signs of diabetic retinopathy. Unless I’m very careful from now onwards, there’s a chance I could go blind.

Ms Juggins (pictured with friends since her weight loss) says she now realises her health is more important than her weight so she will continue to take her insulin injections

‘It’s a relatively simple situation to fix - I’m lucky the complications weren’t worse. There might be problems in the future that I don’t know about yet, but when I decided to stop taking the full insulin dose, I didn’t care.

‘The eye exam made me think about Angel. If I lost my sight, I wouldn’t be able to see her grow up. The battle in my head came to end.

‘I wanted to lose weight- but I wanted to see my little girl more.’

Miss Juggins said she feels sympathy for young people who are diagnosed with diabetes and urged them to educate themselves as much as possible about the effects of the condition and treatment.

She said: ‘Don’t act like the diagnosis is nothing, like I did. When I was first diagnosed, I felt very alone. I was given all sorts of different leaflets, some of which had very shocking language about how life-changing having diabetes is. It was scary.

‘By asking questions I’ve come to realise that the most important thing is figuring out the best course of action for you. I’m able to control it – it doesn’t control me.

‘Me and Angel are very close. She’s wonderful - very boisterous and energetic. I want to make sure I’m here for her as long as possible.’

Libby Dowling, Diabetes UK Clinical Advisor, said: 'Skipping  insulin to lose weight is extremely dangerous. This is because if you haven't got enough insulin in your body your blood glucose will get too high, which can lead to devastating health complications.

'In the short term it can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, an extremely dangerous condition that requires immediate medical attention and treatment in hospital, and can even be fatal. And in the long term skipping insulin can lead to complications such as blindness, stroke and amputations.

'It is crucial that people who are omitting their insulin are given rapid access to psychological support as they are risking their health and even their life.'

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7 Exercises That Will Transform Your Body

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Looking for some effective ways to transform your body? There are a few great exercises that will help you to reach your fitness goal. These exercises are easy but effective in strengthening your body along with burning unwanted calories. However, sticking to these exercises is not enough to transform your body, you should also eat healthy and get enough sleep regularly. Don’t waste your precious time doing other workouts, here are seven exercises that will help you transform your body in no time.

1. Jumping rope

A cheap and easily portable exercise that you can do anywhere is jumping rope. This workout burns more calories per minute than any other workout. Get jumping for a perfect exercise and plenty of fun. One of the best things about jumping rope is that you can do it with your kids.

2. Squats

This powerful exercise helps tone your glutes, strengthen your body and burn a lot of calories. To boost your calorie expenditure and raise your heart rate, you can try to do jump squats. Or stay in a squat hold with dumbbells in the hands to increase the resistance as well as feel the burn. Doing squats regularly is one of the best ways to transform your body.

3. Pushups

Unfortunately, many people avoid doing pushups since this exercise is a bit harder to perform, but it can do wonders for your body. There are plenty of different pushups that work the different muscles in the shoulders and arms. Try to vary your pushup style to lower your risk of becoming bored with exercise. Not only do pushups work the upper body, but also work the core. Do pushups a few days a week to help sculpt the arms and overall transform the body.

4. Lunges

To tone the muscles in your legs try doing lunges. Lunges give you such amazing results because they isolate every leg individually, helping transform your body. To add some cardio and boost the intensity, do some jump lunges. I suggest you to do 3 sets of 10 lunges a day for the best results.

5. Swimming

The great news for all lovers of swimming and for those who are trying to transform their bodies – swimming is a super effective workout that will bring you astonishing results. Swimming helps strengthen your core and work different muscle groups.

6.Running

There are many benefits of running. It helps to relieve stress, reduce the risk of depression, burn mega calories and improve your overall health. I enjoy running, especially early in the morning, and I think it’s one of the best exercises to do every day. I always feel a great sense of accomplishment after my run.

7. Cycling

A cycling workout is a foolproof way to get a great sweat and work your legs. Cycling is a wonderful exercise since you can push yourself at a higher intensity. Bring along your significant other or friend, or cycle solo, and ensure you get the most out of your workout.
So there you have it! The list of the most effective exercises that will definitely help you transform your body. Just make sure you do them on a regular basis to see the best results. What’s your favorite exercise?

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Forget 'practice makes perfect' - meditation is the key to success,

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Practice doesn’t make perfect – but meditation might.

Researchers say that however hard some people try, they won’t excel at their chosen job, sport or hobby.

This is because the key to perfection lies in the mind.

They key to success? The findings contradict the popular idea that 10,000 hours of hard graft make the difference between being good enough and being world class

They have shown that people who rise to the top have ‘highly-integrated’ brains finely-tuned for creativity.

The good news for those not naturally blessed is that mediation may help.

The advice from Dr Fred Travis, a US neuroscientist and advocate of Transcendental Meditation, contradicts the widely-held belief that practice will, eventually, make perfect.

AND IT HELP BEAT CHOCOLATE CRAVINGS TOO...

Buddhist mediation could be the key to cutting chocolate cravings, new research has revealed.
A study by McGill University in Quebec found that achieving 'a sense of detachment' through mindfulness mediation can reduce cravings.
The Canadian researchers say identifying and distancing oneself from certain thoughts - without judging them - weakens chocolate cravings among people with a sweet tooth.

Some experts have even put a number on it, saying that 10,000 hours of hard graft make the difference between being good enough and being world class.

But Dr Travis, of the Maharishi University of Management in Iowa, said: ‘Some people put in long hours and do not excel.

‘It is a simple fact that some people stand out and we are trying to tease out why.

‘We hypothesised that something must be different about the way their brains work and that’s what we’re finding.’

Key to Dr Travis theory something called brain integration.

In the highly-integrated mind, connections between various regions of the brain are strong, attention is keen and the brain is quick to spring into action when faced with a question.

When world-class athletes, top managers and professional managers have been tested, all have shown high levels of brain integration, Dr Travis said.

In his latest study, he showed that brain integration appears to spark the creativity that is often key to success.

Dr Travis, who led the study said people who want to excel in any field should consider learning transcendental meditation because it allows them to focus the mind

Engineers responsible for product development were highly creative, and the more imaginative and resourceful they were, the more integrated their brains.

Being full of ideas also went hand in hand with the ability to process information and make decisions quickly and a sense of being in control, the Creativity Research Journal reports.

Dr Travis said that brain integration may be ‘the inner factor that leads to outer success’.

Co-researcher Yvonne Lagrosen, of University West in Sweden, said that optimising brain functioning should be a priority.

Dr Travis said: ‘People who want to excel in any field should consider learning transcendental meditation.’

Once the provenance of hippies, the technique claims to wipe away anxieties and fears by helping people let go of their thoughts and enter a state of complete relaxation.

Dr Travis he has shown that when people lose themselves in the process, brain waves change in a way found in highly-integrated minds.

His advice contrasts with the idea popularised in the best-selling book Outliers, that 10,000 hours of practice is the secret of success.

Studies have shown that world-leading sportsmen, composers, authors, chess players and even master criminals, have all put in that amount of effort.

Examples of those who have put in their 10,000 hours include the Beatles.

Before breaking America in 1964, the Fab Four put in many, many hours on stage in Hamburg.
Instead of playing hour-long gigs now and then, as they had in Liverpool, they performed for up to eight hours a night, seven days a week.

By the time they hit it big, they had performed live an estimated 1,200 times – more than most modern bands rack up in their entire careers.

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