Deadly new form of MRSA emerges

There was a time when being admitted to an NHS hospital a relatively safe enterprise, all things being considered. The highest quality healthcare professionals would be on hand to ensure the patient received excellent care and had a speedy recovery. However, in recent years, being admitted to hospital is a risk in itself. The MRSA superbug seems to be evolving faster than the NHS Facilities Management's Cleaning Methods. Last week there were reports of another new strain of MRSA on the wards of our public hospitals. This new strain of MRSA can lead to a flesh-eating form of pneumonia, which is a particularly horrific disease. There was widespread panic during the 1994 when a flesh eating disease was inflicting people from all walks of life, and it appears that a similar virus is appearing again. However, this strain is different, in that it is not usually contracted in hospitals, but in the community, often by casual contact. This means that even people with private health insurance are at risk - poor hygiene in the National Health Service cannot be held to blame. It has been suggested that members of the gay community are more prone to catch the disease, which has been named methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus - is resistant to treatment by many front-line antibiotics. It causes large boils on the skin, and in severe cases can lead to fatal blood poisoning or necrotising pneumonia, which eats away at the lungs. Professor Mark Enright, from Imperial College and St Mary's Hospital, London, Britain's leading authority on MRSA, said: "It's quite surprising that the figures are so high. We do know that the USA300 strain is extremely good at spreading between people through skin-to-skin contact. The main reservoir for this infection is gay men, drug users, and those involved in contact sports, like wrestling. Having lots of sexual partners and making skin contact with a large number of different people helps the infection to spread. In the US it is already moving into the wider community." The martial arts community should be aware of this disease, as it has the potential to spread within dojos where there is an emphasis on grappling and wrestling styles, especially in MMA (mixed martial arts) clubs. Roger Pebody, of the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: "This is not the new HIV. What we are seeing is the emergence of an infection that can be passed on through close skin to skin contact, including sex. It is worrying that one in ten of the American cases are resistant to antibiotics, but most cases are treatable." Source: BBC Health News

NHS performance 'kills thousands'

The BBC reports that more than 17,000 deaths a year in the UK are unnecessary and due to poor NHS performance. The TaxPayers' Alliance, who monitor government performance, compared World Health Organization data for five leading European countries - UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, and found the NHS had 17,157 extra deaths in 2004 compared with the other countries' average when taking into account age and burden of disease. Although waiting lists have been cut in recent years, it seems that NHS Hospitals have not performed well. In addition to this, there is the continued MRSA hospital bug problem, with new strains being found. Report author Matthew Sinclair said: "Thousands are dying every year thanks to Britain's health service not delivering the standards people expect and receive in other European countries." Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "Millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been spent but real success on a European level has not been achieved. "This international comparison shows the extent of Labour's failure to deliver the many promises made to patients in the UK." But the Department of Health said the extra investment over the last 10 years had provided more than 100,000 extra doctors and nurses and led to cuts in waiting times and improved access. Health minister Ben Bradshaw added: "Mortality rates have been falling steadily and the UK has been narrowing the gap with the best continental EU performers." One thing that has become apparent amongst the wealthier population of the UK is that to ensure the best quality healthcare is received, private health insurance is often worth the investment. Source: BBC Health News

Motley Health Community Has Closed

We regret to announce that the Motley Health Community (community.motleyhealth.com) pages have closed. It was not an easy decision for us, but it became evident after analysing the site usage that a majority of users were misusing the site to promote irrelevant services, which Motley Health does not wish to be associated with. We have therefore closed the site, and apologise to the honest and active users who did make valuable contributions to the community. We hope that you find our remaining pages of value to you, as we continue to grow and develop the health and fitness resources that we have been building here for the last 18 months. Best Wishes, The Motley Health Crew.

Millions of People are Dieting, but Obesity Still Rises

A recent survey by the supermarket chain Tesco has revealed that approximately 1 in 3 people are on what they consider to be a permanent diet to aid weight loss. However, each year there are more people recorded as being overweight or obese. Most people in later middle age are likely to go on a diet at least once a month to try to lose some weight, or to control weight. Of these people, 15% try to restrict their calorie intake every day, which is twice as many people as in any other age group. Experts have warned that by the 2050, 60% of adults will be overweight if action is not taken to reduce the ever increasing rates of obesity. The only way to control weight effectively in the long term is by combining regular exercise with healthy eating, as part of a healthy lifestyle. Short term fad diets and exercise routines do not work. Weight can be lost in a few weeks on a soup diet, but long term weight control and health requires a permanent change in lifestyle. The UK Secretary for Health, Alan Johnson, has warned that obesity poses a potential crisis on the same scale as climate change, and a government think tank has determined that 70,000 lives could be saved if Britons followed simple healthy eating guidelines. Research has long shown that yo-yo dieting is not effective in the long term. In fact, often people put more weight on as a result of poor diet advice. In another survey, carried out by Tesco, is was revealed that 15% of adults spend up to an hour each day worrying about their weight. And as many as 5% of women worry about their figure, and their weight, for up to three hours a day. Most people questioned said that self esteem and self confidence were the main reasons for dieting and trying to get into shape. About 60% of women and 45% of men said that they would feel better about the way they look, and feel more confident, if they lost some weight. 20% of respondents dieting admitted that their goal was to improve their sex lives. One surprising result of the research showed that many people are driven to want to lose weight to look more like celebrities, friends and colleagues. It is not just teenagers that desire a celebrity body, but many adults too. Psychologist Donna Dawson said: "Men and women in the UK have a strong desire to feel better about themselves, and one of the ways they believe they can achieve this is through dieting and losing weight. However, it is important to understand that constant, yo-yo dieting which is doomed to failure will only work to undermine self-confidence. What is needed is developing a plan for a long-term, healthy lifestyle, substituting good habits for bad, and setting goals that can be realistically achieved." Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said he was not surprised by the findings. "I think it's important that we do take our weight seriously, and monitor our food intake and activity levels regularly. Two thirds of us are already overweight. However we need to move away from the concept of "dieting" towards one of "healthy diet". The best thing the supermarkets could do to help this would be to place their focus on healthy food choices." The research really does not reveal any startling new facts about the nature of our nation. In fact people all over the developed world are striving to attain wealthy, content lives, while at the same time paying the cost for over indulgence. For most people a permanent change in lifestyle is too great a burden to bear, so short fad yo yo diets and 2 week fat burning exercise regimes are the solution for many.

Bad back? Perform these simple exercises to reduce back pain.

Moderate back pain can often be successfully treated with some moderate core strengthening exercises. Back pain results when the spine struggles to support the weight of the body. By increasing core strength, i.e. abdominal strength, the core helps to support the back, so more work is done by the supporting muscles, alleviating the pressure on the spinal column. There are four simple exercises that can be performed, without any apparatus, by anyone suffering from moderate back pain. Crunches are an excellent way to strengthen the core. Whereas traditional sit ups can place too much pressure on the neck and back, with crunches the spine is under no stress. By building stronger abs you help to form a natural corset, which tightens the waist and supports the lower back. Quads are performed by first kneeling on the floor, on all fours. Then, while looking ahead, the right arm and left leg are both lifted and extended, and held for a short count. The longer you hold, the more you work the muscles. So start easy, and work up as your strengthen your core. Back arches / "Supermans" are performed by lying face down on the floor, with arms stretched out forwards in front of you. Then both arms and legs are lifted off the ground, and the back arches slightly. Hold this position. Keep the head/neck relaxed and in the most comfortable position. To start with the hands can bel held behind on the lower back if performing the full "Superman" pose is too difficult. As you pregress, the exercise can be performed with light dumbells and ankle weights, to further strengthen the core. Plank and side planks are great stability exercises. The plank is performed by supporting the body on just the hands and feet, in a classic press up position. Keep the back straight at all times. If the back starts to sag slightly, this is because you are tiring, so stop. The side plank can be performed in either a half or full position. The side plant is performed by supporting the body on just one hand, with the feet close together. The other hand is held up vertically. To perform a half side plank, you support the body on one elbow with the forearm on the ground, with the feet together. Other exercises that are beneficial are the cobra, cat stretch and downward dog. These are actually traditional yoga asanas (postures). The cobra is performed in a similar way to the plank, but rather than keeping the back straight, it is curved with the hips touching the floor and the chest pushed forward, with the chin up. The cat stretch follows this nicely, and is done by lifting the backside up, keeping the knees on the floor, and then looking down and arching the back upwards. Downward dog is performed by supporting your body on hands and feet, and lifting the backside upwards, so that your body forms a triangle. The cat stretch is a good starting position for this posture. These yoga exercises compliment one another well and also help with back pain. In fact yoga is an excellent form of exercise to take up to help with back pain, however, if you do take a class, inform the instructor that you suffer from back pain, as some postures require modification to reduce pressure on the spine. Pilates is another system that can benefit people with back pain When performing any of these exercises always move in and out of the posture slowly. Never move rapidly, or bounce, as this places too much stress on the joints, ligaments and muscles. As these exercises are low impact, so can be performed on a regular basis. Always train at a pace that feels comfortable to you, and if you feel any additional pain or discomfort then stop and rest until another day.

Natural Healthcare Council Provides Regulation of Alternative Medicine

Currently, there is no statutory regulatory system in the UK governing the practice of other complementary therapies such as homoeopathy. The Prince of Wales' Foundation for Integrated Health has been commissioned by the Department of Health to set up a regulator for alternative and complimentary medicine, which will include practices such as aromatherapy, reflexology acupuncture, Tradition Chinese Medicine, reiki and yoga. Currently alternative medicine is not regulated, and there has been concern in the past over poor practices and advice given by those administering complimentary and alternative health care. Membership to the Natural Healthcare Council will be on a voluntary basis, however the watchdog will minimum requirements and standards, and be able to remove companies and practitioners that are deemed to be incompetent. The Health Professionals Manager of The Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health, Ian Cambray-Smith, stated that "one of the problems, from the point of view of the public, is that there are many different types of professional body, there are many different sets of initials that practitioners have after their names and nobody's quite sure what they all mean. By bringing things together in this way, it can give the public confidence." The new watchdog aims to build a safer and more trustworthy environment for the practice of alternative medicine. Practitioners that prove that they act with professionalism and build trust in the community will be rewarded by being accredited to the Natural Healthcare Council, whereas charlatans will be denied membership. The public will then be empowered to make a better decision when choosing complimentary medicine. A Department of Health spokesman said that the Department of Health have commissioned the Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health (FiH) to develop voluntary self-regulation amongst a range of currently unregulated professions. "To ensure public safety, the Department of Health encourages all CAM practitioners to register with a reputable voluntary regulatory body." The Natural HealthCare Council will only register practitioners who have a recognised professional qualification, are insured and have signed up to the code of conduct. This should mean that from April onwards, members of the public will be in a position to make a better judgement over choosing a practitioner of alternative medicine, and also be able report poor practice to an official body, thus improving the quality of care available to all.

Bodybuilding.com Releases Their 2008 New Year's Transformation SuperFeature

Boise, ID – January 1, 2008 – Bodybuilding.com, the Internet’s most visited bodybuilding and fitness site and largest retailer of nutritional supplements, aims to be the source for all body and mind transformation needs. With over 150 exclusive new articles, a 12-Week Transformation Video Guide, the BodySpace™ 2008 Transformation Contest, motivational techniques and supplement specials, they have earned the right to say they’re the true source for everyone’s needs. Their website content covers the most buzzworthy transformation topics out there, including tips from the hottest celebrity personal trainers – from Brad Pitt’s very own transformation workout to an interview with The Biggest Loser’s Kim Lyons! Individualized transformation guides have been set up for different body-types, because not everyone’s needs are the same. Printable recipes, diet plans, and daily workout guides leave no excuse to not get in shape. The 12-Week Transformation Video Guide is hosted by professional bodybuilders Bob Cicherillo and Tito Raymond. They document the entire process of an everyday man (Brian Friedman) as he goes through what it takes to transform his body. Viewers can transform alongside him by watching his weekly workout videos and learning about nutrition, proper supplementation, and the keys to motivation. The 2008 BodySpace™ (Bodybuilding.com’s online community) Transformation Contest is a great source for motivation also. Five out-of-shape people have been chosen to compete online in a challenge to achieve the transformation of their lives. Every workout and diet secret is documented by the competitors themselves. Viewers can work out with them and cheer them on along the way. Not only will the winners get a new lease on life, they will also be featured in a Gaspari Nutrition advertisement, take home thousands of dollars in cash prizes, receive free supplements, and enjoy many more contest perks. The Motivation SuperFeature gives people the tools to find motivation within. It goes over the process of starting a goal, maintaining motivation long term, on-the-spot motivation for those moments of weakness, and everything else that goes into obtaining and maintaining motivation. On top of their everyday low prices, Bodybuilding.com is running specials on BSN, ISS, Cutting Edge Labs, and Micellar Matrix products. Their goal is to help people obtain the supplements they need to achieve the goals they desire. Bodybuilding.com offers more than 6,000 health and fitness supplements & accessories to help people achieve their fitness goals. They offer more than 19,000 pages of FREE bodybuilding and fitness information, including more than 9,000 articles (written by 385+ writers), video & audio segments, and new content added daily.