If you are already planning on next year’s holiday, you need to be aware of the vaccines needed for foreign travel. A recent survey found that 56% of travelers did not know what medicine or injections were needed for certain destinations, while 31% did not know what they had already been vaccinated against.  Many people are also unaware that tetanus and hepatitis A vaccinations were recommended for travel to European destinations such as Slovenia and Bulgaria or that when travelling to destinations in Thailand such as Phuket and Koh Samui, there are various vaccinations required.

A lot of people also don’t realise the risks they are taking by not getting vaccinated, not only do you leave yourself unprotected against various illnesses like Diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis A, which could result in a stay in hospital but also it could mean your travel insurance is invalid. Many people seem to be unaware that most of the jabs needed for foreign travel are free on the NHS, as well as information of what precautions you need to take and where, which is available on the NHS website.

injection

Picture courtesy of alvi2047

Although the Government does not offer single vaccinations to protect against the measles, mumps and rubella diseases, there are hundreds of parents of young children who prefer that their child be given single injections to protect them.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that’s caused by a virus. It causes a total body skin rash and flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, and runny nose and although the vast majority of children recover quickly from measles with no lasting effects, a small number will experience complications which last into later life.

Mumps is one of the more common childhood illnesses, it is the disease with the longest incubation period and can take as long as three weeks from infection to outbreak, which can make it difficult to track down the source of infection. The virus is contagious for about two to three days before and up to seven to eight days after the disease breaks out.

Rubella, commonly referred to as German measles, is an infection that primarily affects the skin and lymph nodes; it can also pass through a pregnant woman’s bloodstream to infect her unborn child, with potentially devastating consequences for the developing foetus.

To prevent a child contracting these infections, vaccination is the answer, for those who prefer not to go down the MMR combined vaccine route, parents can access an MMR singles vaccine London clinic where the protection can be provided.

Women who took an antidepressant drug during trials found it to have libido boosting side effects, further research into the effects found that women who took a 100mg dose of the drug found themselves having more satisfying sex more often compared to those who took the placebo pill, almost 2000 pre-menopausal women aged 18 and above who had been diagnosed with a condition called “hypoactive sexual desire disorder” which is characterised by a very low libido for long periods of time took part, none of the women knew which pills they were taking.

Professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of North Carolina Medical School, John Thorp said “It’s essentially a Viagra-like drug for women in that diminished desire or libido is the most common feminine sexual problem, like erectile dysfunction in men.” Doctors who are involved in the study have said between 9% and 26% of women have been estimated to be suffering from the problem and that the drug may prove an effective treatment.

The drug called flibanserin could be approved for use in Britain within the next 18 months, however some sex researchers argue that the pill will not deal with the psychological issues that women can suffer from. Viagra was developed from a drug originally tested as a possible treatment for high blood pressure and angina however as with the drug flibanserin, during clinical trials it too was found to have sexual side affects.

Thai massage is believed to have been developed more than 2,500 years ago in India. It then made its way to Thailand, where the Ayurvedic techniques and principles gradually became influenced by traditional Chinese medicine and for centuries, Thai massage was performed by monks as one component of Thai medicine.

Thai massage is more energizing and rigorous than the more classic forms of massage and there are many Thai massage in London where you can relieve those stresses of work and travel through the capital. Often referred to as Thai yoga massage, because the therapist uses his or her hands, knees, legs, and feet to move you into a series of yoga-like stretches; for many, Thai massage is just like doing yoga without any work!

There are some things that you should know when you contact your Thai massage spa. For example, Thai massage is usually done on a padded mat on the floor and no oil is applied, so you are fully dressed. You are usually asked to bring or wear comfortable clothing to the massage. Whilst Thai massage can take differing times, depending what you are advised or decide upon, for a typical Thai massage, this is 60 minutes to two hours long and you can be sure that it will relax you, reduce stress, improve your circulation, increase your energy, improve your range of motion, all in all you will feel a whole lot better after you have been to your Thai massage spa.

Footballers have found a new way to treat their injuries, Robin van Persie, Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio have all travelled to Serbia to have horse placenta massaged onto their injuries. Human placenta has been widely used mainly after birthing, its thought that it contains healing properties, it is generally customary among the Chinese and Vietnamese to prepare the placenta for the mother after child birth as it is thought that the nutrients in placenta help a mother recover more quickly.

Placenta has a high iron and zinc content and is rich in proteins which are useful for new mothers who have suffered a traumatic birth and lost a lot of blood, but they do not have to actually eat their placenta after birth as placenta pills are available. It’s thought that these pills can help increase energy, allow a quicker return to health after birth, increase the production of breast milk and decrease the likely hood of post natal depression. However these properties are now being used in new forms as the latest craze to hit Hollywood is a placenta facial where a cream contain placenta is used in the efforts of having younger looking skin.

Research into the benefits of using placenta is still in its infancy especially as a form of physio and many doctors have dismissed  the treatment, however that has not stopped many footballers using the method, we will no doubt have to wait and see if Van Persie and the others find it to be effective or not.

Organised Russian gangs are targeting paranoid Brits with counterfeit Tamiflu, the crime gangs can earn between £10,000 and £60,000 every day with continuing concerns about swine flu driving their profits higher. With more people turning to the web with worries they might not be able to get the drug from their GP, computer security firm Sophos has found that criminals are driving shoppers online to fake virtual pharmacies who do not realise what dangers they are putting themselves in, not only with their health but also their personal details including bank and credit card details.

The Russian criminal gangs are receiving a share of profits for promoting the counterfeit Tamiflu and sending the unsuspecting public to unlicensed or fake online pharmacies to purchase the drug.

The main countries who are found to be buying Tamiflu and other drugs online from non reputable stores are US, Germany, UK, Canada and France. A lot of people do not know that there are safe licensed outlets to purchase not only Tamiflu but also other drugs such as Viagra who offer detailed advice, information and up to date news, making sure that no one is at risk.

Around 10,200 men in the UK will die from prostate cancer each year, which is the most common cancer in men, Movember is designed to raise awareness and help reduce the number of deaths by encouraging men to get checked out.

Throughout November men (Mo Bro’s) are encouraged to grow a moustache starting on the 1st November with a clean shaven face, then for the entire month of Movember, Mo Bro’s must grow a moustache according to set rules. You don’t have to be able to grow a moustache to join in women can also get in the action by fundraising and organizing Mo parties to raise money.

Early diagnosis of the cancer has been key, with around 7 in 10 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients now surviving the disease beyond five years. This is from men now becoming more aware and getting checked out earlier with PSA testing.

As with most forms of cancer there are many things attributed to its cause and there are certain groups who are more at danger from being diagnosed.

Age is the biggest risk for prostate cancer with it increasing over the age of 50, also family history, if one or more close relatives have been diagnosed you will have a greater risk of also been diagnosed with prostate cancer. West African and black Caribbean men are also groups with a higher risk factor, diet and lifestyle can also attribute to the risk of prostate cancer.

So for Movember remember, grow a Mo for a Bro and help towards saving more lives!

tash

Picture courtesy of bixentro