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Stop throwing away dandelions - plants packed with Vitamin K and A

 

Reference: Daily Express: Luke Whelan

Women with these 3 issues should not sleep with a fan on

Yes, this June's heatwave most certainly did not come here to play. In fact, the Met Office has issued a three day 'heat alert,' running from Friday this week until midnight on Sunday, with temperatures forecast to hit up to 34C.

 Andersen Ross Photography Inc - Getty Images Have you been sleeping with a fan on during the heatwave? This is why you should stop. Read more on www.womenshealthmag.co.uk.

For some people, this will mean that sleeping becomes a less than comfortable affair, natch. The temptation, then, is to get some cool air going, by sticking a fan on. But, for a few sections of the population, this could cause a new problem.

Why some people shouldn't sleep with a fan on

According to The Sleep Advisor, while having a fan does circulate air to make your room cooler and fresher, it can also circulate pollen and dust.

Not great if you suffer from allergies, asthma or hay fever. (These ailments not an issue for you? Then keep on scrolling straight down to our round-up of the best fans to keep you cool.)

'Take a close look at your fan,' The Sleep Advisor suggests. 'If it’s been collecting dust on the blades, those particles are flying through the air every time you turn it on.'

Other reasons you shouldn't be sleeping with a fan on include the fact that it can dry out your skin, as well as your nasal passages. If your nasal passages become too dry, The Sleep Advisor warns that the body can produce excess mucous, making you feel all bunged up.

And then, if that wasn't enough, there's muscle cramping.

'People who sleep with a breeze directly on them may wake up with stiff or sore muscles. This is because the concentrated cool air can make muscles tense up and cramp,' the experts explain.

'This problem is especially common for people who sleep with it near their face and neck. If you’ve been waking up with a stiff neck in the morning, it might be because of the constant breeze.'

So while sleeping with a fan on might seem like the only way to counteract the constant heat, it could be worth trying other things like a cool flannel in a bowl of water near your bed, or sleeping on top of the covers with the window wide open.

But, sure. You might not be a hayfever sufferer – in which case this all might feel like less of an issue.

So long as you make sure that your fan is not too close to your bed and that cold air is not blowing directly onto you – and maybe think about also getting an air filter, to clean up any extra dust particles – you should be okay.

Reference: Your Health :Catriona Harvey-Jenner 

Older people who are suddenly having nightmares urged to see a doctor

Bad dreams may be an early sign of Parkinson's disease, according to new research by the University of Birmingham.

PA Those having nightmares are being urged to see a doctor

Older men experiencing frequent nightmares are over three times as likely to be later diagnosed with the disease, Wales Online reports.

The finding offers hope of a screening programme - enabling patients to be prescribed drugs sooner. People with the devastating disorder are prone to scary dreams. But using them as a warning has not been previously considered.

Lead author Dr Abidemi Otaiku, a brain specialist at the University of Birmingham, said: "Although it can be really beneficial to diagnose Parkinson's early, there are very few risk indicators and many of these require expensive hospital tests or are very common and non-specific, such as diabetes.

"While we need to carry out further research in this area, identifying the significance of bad dreams and nightmares could indicate individuals who experience changes to their dreams in older age - without any obvious trigger - should seek medical advice."

His team analysed data on 3,818 participants living independently in the US who were tracked for 12 years. At the outset they completed a range of surveys, one of which included a question about sleep quality.

Those reporting bad dreams at least once a week were followed up at the end of the study period, during which time 91 cases of Parkinson's were diagnosed. Overall, those having regular bad dreams were twice as likely to develop the disease compared to those who did not.

But most of the diagnoses happened in the first five years of the study - when risk more than tripled compared to peers who slept peacefully. The results suggest older adults with Parkinson's are likely to begin having nightmares a few years before developing symptoms of tremors, stiffness and slowness of movement.

They also show dreams can reveal important information about brain structure and function and may prove to be an important target for neuroscience research. Dr Otaiku and colleagues plan to use EEG (electroencephalography) brain scans to look at the biological reasons for dream changes.

It will involve volunteers wearing skull caps fitted with electrodes while they sleep. The researchers plan to replicate the findings in larger and more diverse populations. They will also explore possible links between dreams and other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Studies of early signs of Parkinson's have largely focused on affluent white populations. It is the second most common neurological condition in the world - behind dementia.

Drugs given to control the condition work much better when given early on in the disease rather than when it has worsened, potentially slowing down its progression. Around 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s. It is caused by a loss of nerve cells in an area of the brain involved in controlling movement.

These nerve cells produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that helps to control body movement. If these become damaged or die, levels of dopamine are reduced and movements become slow and abnormal.

But symptoms often only appear when about 80 per cent of the nerve cells have been lost. Doctors diagnose the disease by studying a patient's symptoms and movement, often followed by a DaT scan — a type of brain scan which measures dopamine levels.

Getting an early diagnosis can make such a difference to quality of life and Parkinson's progression. With appropriate management, you can carry on living well and have a productive life. Parkinson's claimed the life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Famous sufferers include Sir Billy Connolly and Sweet Caroline singer Neil Diamond. 

Reference: Chronicle: Neil Shaw & Tom Beattie

How not brushing your teeth properly can lead to strokes, heart disease and dementia

A dentist has revealed the surprising ways not brushing properly can affect your general health - from breathing difficulties to blood poisoning. In fact serious conditions, such as strokes, heart and dementia among others, can all come from a lack of dental care. Dr Azad Eyrumlu, of private dental clinic Banning Dental Group, said: "It's drilled into us from birth how keeping our teeth and gums in top shape is important for our oral health.

"However, many people won't be aware of the wider health problems that can result from failing to maintain good oral hygiene."

One of the key reasons why keeping our oral hygiene in check is because our mouths are home to millions of bacteria.

While most of them don't pose a serious risk to our health, some nasty bacteria can enter our bloodstream through the gums.

"Our bodies are complex and various parts of our systems work closely with each other, even if we might not always realise it," he added.

Getty Imahes Oral health

"For example, a mouth ulcer or impacted tooth can give nasty bacteria the perfect window to enter our bloodstreams, thus causing more problems down the line.

"It's vital we all keep a close eye on our oral health and be on alert for the signs that something could be wrong."

Here are five serious conditions that can stem from poor oral hygiene, according to Dr Eyrumlu:

Heart disease or stroke - studies from Harvard University have shown that people who have poor oral health have higher rates of cardiovascular problems such as a heart attack or stroke.

There are two specific conditions connected to oral health - atherosclerosis where a build-up of fatty 'plaque' thickens the artery walls and reduces blood flow, and endocarditis, when an infection in the gums can pass into the bloodstream potentially infecting the inner lining of the heart.

Some bacteria carry proteins that promote clots that can clog arteries, leaving the heart at risk of an attack. Meanwhile, it can also clog the carotid artery that circulates blood to the head and brain, leaving us vulnerable to a stroke.

Respiratory problems - nasty bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to the lungs, where it can aggravate our respiratory systems and affect our ability to breathe. Some studies have even pointed to a link between gum disease and pneumonia and bronchitis.

Maintaining consistent oral hygiene routines will help keep bacteria and plaque under control so that they are unable to spread into the respiratory system.

Getty Images Dentist

Sepsis - sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition where the body reacts aggressively to an infection and damages its own tissue. It can arise from untreated infections in the gum and can result in organ failure, blood poisoning, amputations and even death.

If an infection reaches the point of a swollen infected mass, it's essential that you seek emergency attention to avoid the worst possible case scenario.

Dementia - dementia is the general term used to refer to cognitive problems which affect memory, interfere with how our brain functions and how we are able to interact with others.

Infections in the gum can release inflammatory substances that can aggravate the brain and lead to brain cell loss.

Other oral health problems that have been linked to dementia include gingivitis, tooth loss and dental cavities.

Digestive problems - the whole digestive system begins in our mouth when we eat food, and our teeth and saliva play a critical role in this process.

If for any reason your teeth are not able to break the food down into management morsels, the stomach and intestines are going to be under greater pressure to digest and process the nutrients that are required for the body.

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes with toothpastes containing fluoride, as well as regular flossing and the use of mouthwash. 

Reference: Daily Express: Fiona Callingham