Tens of thousands of Britons have been advised to discontinue the use of the fat-busting drug Reductil after the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)’s recent decision to suspend its licence. The announcement came after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) assessed the drug and recommended the suspension of its licence in Europe where they found an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, over a six-year period after tests, in which 16 percent of 10,000 patients who took it showed an increase.

In 2009 nearly 86,000 Britons to the weight loss drug which alters the brain’s chemical messages that control a person’s craving for food. Many experts say although threatens the health of the obese, its side-effects are mostly not fatal. Dr June Raine, of the MHRA, said: “Evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of non-fatal heart attacks and strokes with this medicine that outweigh the benefits of weight loss, which is modest and may not be sustained in the long term after stopping treatment.”

UK doctors have been asked to stop prescribing the drug and review its use in patients who are already taking it although the Reductil licence suspension decision by the UK regulator still requires a formal sanction by the European Commission. There are other weight loss drugs available like Xenical which are just as effective, which stops the absorption of fat and controls fat intake.

The MMR vaccine prevents the spread of Measles, Mumps and Rubella and is usually administered to children. There has been a recent debate where parents believe that the combined MMR vaccine that is widely used across the world can cause autism or bowel disease, but there has been no link found by any medical studies.

The government target for immunisation against measles, mumps and rubella is currently 95% for each age group, but recent figures shown that only 88% of children are being immunised, with that percentage dropping to around 80% for built-up cities like Glasgow and London.

Those parents who are worried about giving their children the combined MMR vaccine can choose to opt for the MMR single vaccine. These vaccines are given one at a time and it can take many months to immunise against all 3 diseases.

Those parents who opt for the single vaccines can contact an MMR single vaccines London specialist to talk through the procedure and book an appointment or alternatively they can look for a child doctor London clinic.

There are people do not want to use waxing to remove their hair, writing it off as too painful however it is much more effective than other forms of hair removal.

By waxing you remove the hair from the root which means it take longer to grow back compared to just shaving, normally anywhere between 3-8 weeks but it does depend on the individual. Also waxing is better for your skin than other forms as it does not cause cuts, pigmentation, or badly smelling skin which you can get with hair-removing creams and shaving. Wax used also does not contain any chemical and is a natural product not only good for your skin but the environment too.

Waxing can be used for removing hair from virtually any part of the body, most commonly for removing hair on the arms, legs, underarms and bikini line. Some people also use waxing to remove facial hair, including upper lips, lower lips, eyebrows and chin, and men in particular use it for the chest and back. The only areas where waxing should not be used are eyelashes and inside nose and ears.

You will find after having your legs waxed the hair that grows back is finer and softer and not as rough and hard like after shaving. Another benefit of waxing is after you have had repeated sessions you will find that the re growth is much sparser and may eventually stop, unlike shaving which stimulates hair growth, because it removes hair at the surface only, not at the root.

There are a couple of precautions to take when waxing London, its advised to avoid exposing yourself to direct sunlight for at least 24 hrs before waxing and 48hrs after especially sun beds, as well as not using  fragranced creams and lotions and it’s also best not to take any hot baths as all of these can cause irritation.

You can choose to go to a waxing London specialist to have your legs waxed by a professional as well as mastering the technique yourself at home. Either way the pain you feel will last only a second, you will then forget about it when you feel how silky, smooth your skin is.

Getting a bit bored with the usual spa treatments you receive? Have a look below for some more unusual treatments available around the world.

Brewery spa – There are a number of brewery spas in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic, in these you can have a good soak in a small swimming pool filled with beer, it seems that the vitamins and yeast in beer are quite cleansing for the skin, as well as indulging in the twenty minute dip in dark beer which is mixed with carbonated mineral water, yeast, hops and aromatic herbs, afterwards you can enjoy some relaxation time or an optional massage or treatment involving hot stones or being packed in hot grains.

Snake massage – Not for those who suffer from ophiophobia (fear of snakes) with this treatment you have various non-venomous snakes like California king, Florida king, milk and corn varieties slithering and sliding over your body to sooth aching muscles and joints. You can experience one of these treatments in Talmei Elazar which is in North Israel.

Geisha facial – You can now have a facial treatment that gives you the complexion of a geisha, the facial which uses the geisha skin care routine is available in New York and uses the secret ingredient geishas use, nightingale excrement (i.e. bird droppings). During the treatment you have a facemask made from the excrement which has been dried and sterilized, called uguisu no fun which exfoliates, nourishes and brightens the skin.

Cactus massage – This may sound like a very painful treatment however it’s not as prickly as you may think. This massage does involve Nopal paddles however they are spike free, they are used to massage in a mixture of prickly pear cactus, pulque (an alcoholic beverage similar to tequila but made from agave) and tuna (the cactus blossom, not the fish). These ingredients are known for their healing properties, removing toxins as well as moisturising the skin.

An extravagant facial – For those with an expensive and luxurious taste why not try a caviar facial or full body caviar treatment. You are covered in green gunk that contains sevruga fish eggs) extracts and “spirulina algae”, hence the colour. Another wallet busting treatment is a 24K Gold facial which involves covering your face with gold leaf or gold dust ala Cleopatra. The gold is thought to remove blemishes and purify the skin, and it apparently has anti-aging properties.

caviar

Picture courtsey of star5112

Every year on the first of January people all around the world make New Year’s resolutions to get healthy and fit for the upcoming year, many however find after the initial first few weeks their new health and fitness regimes will falter and struggle to loose weight. This year will probably be no exception, however those who do intend to keep good on their word can find below a few new health and fitness trends set to be big in 2010.

Food and drink
In 2010 food flavours will take on a more ethnic style like Mexican and African, with spices being used as an effective ingredient not only for flavour but their added health benefits. Many people will be looking to get the most health benefits from what they eat as well as flavour. Some super foods which are becoming increasingly popular like hibiscus which can lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol, or the new super fruit from the Amazon which is the Cupuaçu which is related to the cocoa and is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Also the new in drink for the next year Matcha lattes which is a concentrated version of green tea traditionally drunk by monks, is thought to be able to boost energy levels, relive stress and boost metabolism. If you struggle to maintain how much you eat there are obesity drugs available such as Reductil that surpresses the feeling of hunger so you can reduce the amount you eat and maintain a better eating regime.
You will also start to find more foods aimed at relaxing and calming rather than just energy boosting with snacks and herbs that help you stay calm and improve your night’s sleep, and for those times when you feel stressed there is the iChill the ‘world’s first relaxation shot’.

Exercise and training
For many years we have been enjoying running as part of most exercise regimes and probably spent a small fortune on specialist trainers that we have been told we need to support our feet, protect our spine and keep us from injury. However a new trend is taking place with more people turning back time and running barefoot, although with some impracticalities this is becoming more and more popular so to compete retailers are now producing trainers with very thin soles that feel like you are running barefoot.
Recently there has been an increase of people training with clubbells as part of their training programme rather than weight machines, with the aim to get a better all over body work out. Clubbells are a hand held circular strength training tool, that look like baseball bats and although they look awkward to use they give a great all over work out when lifted and rotated, which can help burn fat and tone your muscles.

Mind and body
Many people have heard of hypnosis but for the most many do not believe in it, over the years however it has been used for many things like quitting smoking to most recently weight loss, this type of hypnosis is becoming increasingly popular mainly due to many people struggling to cope with their addictions. The human mind is capable of unbelievable things and hypnosis can be a powerful tool for behavioural change.
More people are now realising its not just a healthy body that you need but a healthy mind too, and improving your happiness and communication skills as well as controlling your anger leads to a more healthy and  happy lifestyle.

Over the festive period many people find it hard to resist those little indulgencies but worry about putting on lots of weight, however you can still enjoy festive food and be healthy, as with most things, in moderation.

Christmas tends to be one of the most unhealthy times of year, everywhere you look Christmas goodies are thrown in your face, plentiful supplies of mince pies for the office, the extra drinks after work because ‘it Christmas’ and not forgetting the big day itself where many people seem to forget about portion control and gorge themselves on a big dinner and lots of chocolates biscuits and booze.

If you want to try and stay on top of your weigh this Christmas you don’t have to cut out all of the above, after all where is the fun in that?

Alcohol – Isn’t actually bad for you, if consumed in moderation, it actually can provide benefits that non drinkers miss out on like up to eight drinks a week (such as eight 125ml glasses of wine), or around one drink a day, can protect against osteoporosis. Or the occasional glass of red wine and sherry may protect against heart disease because of the polyphenols found in them. However with red wine and sherry drink too much you will feel the consequences, a thumping hangover.

Eating – The Christmas dinner isn’t that unhealthy, after all there are plenty of veg to be eaten which are very nutritional stock up on leafy greens like sprouts, also carrots, swede and roast parsnips, with just a couple of roast potatoes and lean turkey, for vitamin-, mineral- and fibre-rich food. You always find plenty of things to snack on and one of the main options are nuts, although high in fat they do contain unsaturated fat which is good for physical and mental health. They are also full of essential omega oils and other nutrients and if you go for unsalted and raw varieties like walnuts, brazils and almonds they make great snack choice in small amounts.

The main thing to remember over Christmas is to keep unhealthy fats to a minimum, however there is no need to restrict yourself completely, after all it is Christmas they odd mince pie wont harm!

Travel sickness is caused by the vestibular system in your inner ear not understanding the visual clues it is getting, basically your eyes telling you one thing and the balancing system in your ears telling another. It leaves you feeling sick, looking pale and clammy and also gives you a headache. A lot of people suffer travel sickness from a young age and generally grow out of it however for those who don’t there a couple of things you can do to help avoid travel sickness.

There are a few over the counter drugs that can prevent motion sickness however you do generally have to take them about 30 minutes before you travel.

There are also herbal remedies you can take, many people believe ginger can help in preventing motion sickness and with herbal remedies you won’t get any side affects unlike the over the counter drugs.

There are other options as well that don’t involve taking anything, you can get special wristbands the work by controlling your pulse or try simple things such as sitting by the window looking at the distance may help. Do not read books, watch videos, or play on a games console. Listening to story tapes is a good alternative. Do open a window.

As we are in full swing of the festive party season countless numbers of women will be suffering from sore feet due to the high heels they will have been partying the night away in. However there is now a solution to this, collagen fillers, like what’s used to get rid of crow’s feat and any other lines you may not like on your face, this can now be injected into the balls of your feet to stop them aching whilst wearing towering high heels.

There has been an increase in the past year in the number of women opting for this treatment. Collagen is a natural protein that is found in skin tissue, it does break down over time but this can now be replenished with injections which ‘fill out’ the skin, the procedure involves protein being injected into the balls of the feet, it costs £240 for a pair and lasts 2-3 months. The collagen does not need removing or altering once it has been injected and any slight side effects tend to last less than 48 hours which is ideal for the party season, where some women may find they are wearing their high heels more that usual.

As designer heels such as Christian Louboutin now pass the 8 inch mark more women will find that their feet can’t take all the wear and now can opt for this non surgical treatment, the fillers have been popular in America, but they are only just taking off here. The cosmetic surgeons at the Harley Medical Group have found that a growing numbers of women are now choosing the treatment in the run-up to Christmas. The group’s director Liz Dale said “When they put on their shoe, the transformation is immediate and they feel more comfortable and more able to dance or mingle the night away. The injections are integral padding and last just the right amount of time for the party season. Though there’s nothing to stop women having top-ups to keep the comfort going.”

High Heels

Picture courtesy of Markusram

Few would argue that a child’s health is not one of the most important issues facing modern parents today, particularly if you live and work in London, as finding time for regular checkups and sick visits may be a stretch for your already jam-packed schedule. The doctor may be overbooked and overscheduled, too, so making the most of your time together is important. This being so, what are the best ways in which we can communicate our concerns and questions to our child’s doctor, importantly, how do we strengthen the relationship with the doctor who plays such an important role in your child’s health?

We all know that the days of the doctor calling in to see the child as a routine matter doing his house calls have virtually gone; doctors are pressured to see more patients in less time and to spend less time with each patient. With these pressures and with ever increasing complexities of the health care system it means that today’s parents have to take charge of their kids’ care. In the past, parents may have known far less about their child’s health, growth, and development. With this in mind many parents are turning to a child doctor London practice where they can talk to a qualified practitioner who specialises in children’s health; this can be an online consultation, by telephone, or by making an appointment at their London surgery.

Winter is a particularly bad time of year for the National Blood Service, fewer people than normal give blood before Christmas, this means the current blood stocks are worryingly low and National Blood Service struggles to meet demand. Many people do not realise how dependant the NHS is on donated blood that is until they experience the benefits themselves. Shockingly only one in 25 of the UK population regularly donates blood, with the under 30’s least likely to donate.

If you are between the age of 17 and 65, are generally healthy and weigh at least 7st 12lb you will be eligible to give blood every 16 weeks. It’s a very easy process and doesn’t take long at all, you can call or look online on the National Blood Service website to find when and where your nearest session is and arrange an appointment. When you arrive you need to complete a Donor Health Check questionnaire and have a confidential discussion with the nurse who will then take a tiny drop of blood from your fingertip to check your haemoglobin levels, this is to make sure that giving blood won’t make you anaemic. If everything is okay you will then be able to go ahead and donate blood, this will be about 470ml, which is quickly replaced by your body. Once you have given blood you will have to rest for a short time after which you will be given some refreshments before you go, all in all the whole process shouldn’t take any longer than an hour.

Once your blood has been taken it will be sent to one of many blood centres across the country, here the blood will undergo a series of rigorous tests to make sure it’s clear of things like HIV, hepatitis B and C and syphilis. After the blood has been sorted into different types and all the tests are clear it will then be distributed to meet demand and will be used on whoever needs it the most.