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Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How to get the gonorrhoea vaccine as jab rolled out
From pain when you pee to redness and discharge, an expert explains all the signs you should know. The NHS has announced it is rolling out a 'world-first' gonorrhoea vaccine programme that will offer protection against the fast-spreading STI to thousands of people. From today, sexual health clinics will be able to offer the free vaccine, which helps the immune system fight off the bacteria that cause gonorrhoea, to people living in England who are at the highest risk of infection Earlier this year, it was revealed that cases of the STI had hit their highest point since records began in 1918, with more than 85,000 cases recorded in 2023. The UKHSA also placed gonorrhoea on a list of infectious diseases with the greatest risk to public health, after recording a small but significant rise in antibiotic-resistant cases of the STI in England. While sexually transmitted infections aren't typically everyone's favourite topic of conversation, it pays to know your stuff when it comes to gonorrhoea, as leaving it unchecked may lead to more serious health issues. If you're keen to know more about the vaccine and your risk, we asked a gynaecologist to share all your gonorrhoea need-to-knows, from its symptoms to some of the biggest sexual health myths. Who is eligible for the gonorrhoea vaccine? The gonorrhoea jab is being made available for free to those who are at highest risk, including gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners and a bacterial STI in the previous 12 months. The vaccine, which is free via the NHS, will be available in sexual health clinics across England from Monday 4 August. It's estimated to be between 32.7% to 42% effective against gonorrhoea, which means it won't completely eliminate the risk of getting the disease, but will offer partial protection to sexually active adults. The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) estimates that the vaccine could prevent up to 100,000 new cases of gonorrhoea and save the NHS more than £7.9m over the next decade. How is gonorrhoea spread? Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that's spread through different types of sexual contact, and it can affect just about anyone who is sexually active. "As well as unprotected vaginal sex, you can also catch it from both oral or anal sex with an infected partner," Dr Priyanka Patel, consultant gynaecologist at London Gynaecology clarifies. "Condoms can significantly reduce the risk when they're used consistently and correctly, as they protect against STIs like gonorrhoea that spread via discharge." What are the symptoms of gonorrhoea? While not everyone with gonorrhoea will have symptoms, it can present itself in a variety of unpleasant ways. "Signs in men include frequent urination, discharge from the penis, swelling or pain in the testicles, plus redness and swelling in the penis," notes Patel. "Look out for a persistent sore throat, too." Symptoms in women, meanwhile, are more likely to show up as "vaginal discharge, pain or burning while urinating and urinating more frequently," Patel says. "Changes to your monthly bleed, pain during intercourse, abdominal pain, sore throat and fever can also be signs of the STI." Gonorrhoea can also affect other parts of the body that come into contact with semen or vaginal fluid and can cause pain, itching and discharge from the anus and redness or pain in the eye, according to the NHS. Is gonorrhoea difficult to treat? Generally, no. Aside from the recent spate of antibiotic-resistant cases, gonorrhoea can usually be remedied with a short course of antibiotics from your GP or local sexual health clinic. "If you have symptoms or you're concerned about having an STI, you should visit a sexual health clinic or your doctor to get tested," advises Patel. Most sexual health clinics offer urgent or walk-in appointments, but be mindful of the fact that some infections can take time to show up on sexual health screenings, so you may need to repeat a test if you screen right after having unprotected sex. If you don't have symptoms but want to check your status for peace of mind, you can use a sexual health test kit and carry out the test in the comfort of your own home. These are available for free from some sexual-health clinics and pharmacies. You can also buy test kits in pharmacies. If gonorrhoea is left untreated, it can cause complications, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility, and infections in the testicles or prostate, so it's important to get it treated as soon as possible. Will the test be invasive and embarrassing? Usually, the test is very quick and painless. Typically, you'll be asked to provide a urine sample, along with a swab from the part of your body that might be infected. This could be the urethra in men, the cervix in women, the rectum or the throat. While these swabs are often taken by a healthcare provider, there may also be options to swab yourself. It's worth discussing any discomfort with the clinic beforehand, as staff at specialised sexual health clinics are usually trained to support people with concerns, anxiety or sexual trauma. "It can often be daunting talking about sex, but healthcare professionals working in sexual health are trained to do this," Patel assures. "Do visit your sexual health service or doctor if you are worried or have questions related to STIs." How can I avoid catching gonorrhoea in the first place? With a recent study of UK adults by LloydsPharmacy finding that a third of people don't use any form of contraception, and a further two-thirds (60%) have never had an STI test, it's sensible to take your own sexual wellbeing seriously. "The best way to protect yourself is by always using a condom during sex with new partners," Patel notes. "Taking an STI check with every new partner is an important step too, particularly if you're not using condoms or think you've been exposed to an STI." Read more about sexual health: I'm single and have great sex – this is what I've learnt (Red, 8-min read) Scientists warn STIs could be deadly by 2040: What is AMR and how does it threaten our health?(Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) Non-genital STIs: All the areas of your body they can affect and how to prevent them (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
How the elderly can reduce the risk of falls at home and outside
For older adults, falls at home – and out and about – are the most common cause of injury. There are a number of reasons for this, from loose rugs to dimly lit stairways. It suggests that everyday surroundings can pose hidden risks that may lead to serious accidents. However, a few practical changes and greater awareness can go a long way in making both indoor and outdoor spaces safer. Leo Mathew, physiotherapist and rehabilitation service lead at Nellsar Care Homes, has shared some helpful tips on how to reduce the risk of falls in and out of the home to ensure greater confidence, independence and peace of mind. Stay active 'When you get older your muscle strength tends to decrease, so staying physically active and exercising regularly is really important,' says Mathew. 'Around 150 minutes, two and a half hours a week is the minimum amount of exercise we should be aiming for. This can be moderate exercise such as walking, wall push ups, heel to toe walking, cycling or sitting and standing chair exercises.' Keep your bones strong 'Having stronger bones will help you recover quicker from a fall, otherwise you will end up with a fracture,' says Mathew. 'Consider supplements to maintain bone density strength, like vitamin D or calcium supplements.' Get your eyes tested Poor eyesight can significantly increase the risk of falls, particularly in older adults. 'Check your vision,' advises Mathew. 'Get an up-to-date prescription and make sure you wear the right glasses.' Review your medication 'Reviewing medication is important so you can understand which medicine is causing what side effects,' says Mathew. 'For example, some medications might be causing some dizziness which can contribute to falls, so managing that is very important.' Remove hazards 'Often falls occur due to an environment issue, so you need to remove any hazards in your house because of people's ability to tackle hazards tends to reduce as we age,' says Mathew. 'Make sure you don't have any loose rugs, trailing wires or rooms that are too cluttered or have loads of furniture in that you could trip over.' Deal with slippery surfaces 'Slippery surfaces, especially in bathrooms, can cause falls so make sure you have something non-slippery like a non-slip mat or flooring to prevent this,' recommends Mathew. Improve lighting 'Lighting is really important for reducing the risk of falls,' says Mathew. 'Putting extra lights on the stairs or installing night lights/sensor lights in the hallways are good for when you need to get up at night.' Install some handrails 'Install some handrails on both side of stairs and/or in your bathroom and landing area so you have something to hold onto,' suggests Mathew. 'It's all about understanding your ability and then installing something to protect you.' Wear supportive footwear 'Wearing the wrong kind of footwear can cause people to fall,' says Mathew. 'Footwear should be well-fitted, non-slip with supportive soles. Just wearing socks or slippers without grips around the house can be very slippery.' Think about potential hazards outdoors 'It all about thinking about yourself, the environment and also knowing your limits,' says Mathew. 'Think about when is the best time to go outside for a walk or errands. Is it light enough outside? Is the path safe? Is there any tripping hazards? Is the path level enough for my ability? It's all about understanding what you can do and staying away from everything you can't do.' Consider using a walking aid 'Walking aids offer extra support while walking and should be used if you feel the need for it, or if you've been prescribed one, because they add more balance, control and protection,' explains Mathew. Plan ahead 'Plan ahead to reduce the risk of fall,' recommends Mathew. 'For example, keep things you frequently use in easy reach and allow yourself plenty of time to get to places.' Identify the reasons behind previous falls 'Identify the reason that caused the fall,' advises Mathew. 'It could be a health issue or it could be an issue of the environment or an accident. Once you understand the issue, you can then try to resolve it. For example, if your muscles were weak and that caused the fall, try to strengthen them.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eating minimally processed meals doubles weight loss even when ultraprocessed foods are healthy, study finds
People in the United Kingdom lost twice as much weight eating meals typically made at home than they did when eating store-bought ultraprocessed food considered healthy, the latest research has found. 'This new study shows that even when an ultraprocessed diet meets nutritional guidelines, people will still lose more weight eating a minimally processed diet,' said coauthor Dr. Kevin Hall, a former senior investigator at the US National Institutes of Health who has conducted some of the world's only controlled clinical trials on ultraprocessed foods. 'This (study) is the largest and longest randomized controlled clinical trial of ultraprocessed foods to date,' Hall added. Hall's past research sequestered healthy volunteers from the world for a month at a time, measuring the impact of ultraprocessed food on their weight, body fat and various biomarkers of health. In a 2019 study, he found people in the United States ate about 500 calories more each day and gained weight when on an ultraprocessed diet than when eating a minimally processed diet matched by calories and nutrients. The weight loss from minimally processed food in the new study was modest — only 2% of the person's baseline weight, said study first author Samuel Dicken, a research fellow at the department of behavioral science and health and the Centre for Obesity Research at University College London. 'Though a 2% reduction may not seem very big, that is only over eight weeks and without people trying to actively reduce their (food) intake,' Dicken said in a statement. 'If we scaled these results up over the course of a year, we'd expect to see a 13% weight reduction in men and a 9% reduction in women.' Men typically have more lean muscle mass than women, which along with testosterone often gives them a quicker boost over women when it comes to weight loss, experts say. Healthier ultraprocessed foods The study, published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, provided free ultraprocessed or minimally processed meals and snacks to 55 overweight people in the UK for a total of eight weeks. After a short break, the groups switched to the opposite diet for another eight weeks. Study participants were told to eat as much or as little of the 4,000 daily calories as they liked and record their consumption in a diary. By the end of the study, 50 people had spent eight weeks on both diets. While the number of participants may seem small at first glance, providing 16 weeks of food and implementing randomized controlled clinical trials can be costly. For the first eight weeks, 28 people received daily deliveries of minimally processed meals and snacks, such as overnight oats and homemade spaghetti Bolognese. Minimally processed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and eggs, are typically cooked from their natural state, according to NOVA, a recognized system of categorizing foods by their level of processing. Concurrently, another 27 people received a daily delivery of ultraprocessed foods — such as ready-to-eat breakfast bars or heat-and-eat lasagna — for eight weeks. Ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, contain additives never or rarely used in kitchens and often undergo extensive industrial processing, according to the NOVA classification system. Because ultraprocessed foods are typically high in calories, added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat and low in fiber, they have been linked to weight gain and obesity and the development of chronic conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and depression. Such foods may even shorten life. Researchers in this study, however, did something unusual, said Christopher Gardner, Rehnborg Farquhar Professor of Medicine at Stanford University in California who directs the Stanford Prevention Research Center's Nutrition Studies Research Group. 'They tried to make a healthy ultraprocessed diet by picking ultraprocessed foods with the recommended number of fruits, veggies and fiber and lower levels of salt, sugar and saturated fats,' said Gardner, who was not involved in the study. Both the ultraprocessed and the minimally processed meals had to meet the nutritional requirements of the Eatwell Guide, the UK's official government guidance on how to eat a healthy, balanced diet. The United States has similar dietary guidelines, which are used to set federal nutritional standards. 'This is a very solid study, matching dietary interventions for nutrients and food group distribution, while varying only the contribution of ultra-processed foods,' said Dr. David Katz, a specialist in preventive and lifestyle medicine, in an email. Katz, who was not involved in the study, is the founder of the nonprofit True Health Initiative, a global coalition of experts dedicated to evidence-based lifestyle medicine. The lure of ultraprocessed food The study's goal was weight loss, which often comes with improved cardiovascular readings, such as lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. That happened, but in rather odd and surprising ways, said Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard professor emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, who was asked to write an editorial to be published with the study. Instead of gaining weight, people on the ultraprocessed diet chose to eat 120 fewer calories a day, thus losing a small amount of weight. People on the minimally processed diet, however, ate 290 fewer calories a day, thus losing even more weight and some body fat as well. 'One possible explanation is that (people on the minimally processed diet) did not like the 'healthy' meals as much as their usual diets,' Nestle, who was not involved in the research, wrote in the editorial. 'They deemed the minimally processed diet less tasty,' Nestle said. 'That diet emphasized 'real' fresh foods, whereas the ultra-processed diet featured commercially packaged 'healthy' ultra-processed food products such as fruit, nut, and protein bars; sandwiches and meals; drinking yoghurts, and plant-based milks.' Less than 1% of people in the UK follow all of the government's nutritional recommendations, according to the study, often choosing ultraprocessed foods as the basis of their normal daily intake. In the US, nearly 60% of an adult's calorie consumption is from ultraprocessed foods. 'People in this study were overweight or obese and were already eating a diet high in all kinds of ultraprocessed foods,' Gardner said. 'So the ultraprocessed diet in the study was healthier than their typical normal diet. Isn't that an odd twist?' People on the minimally processed diet had lower levels of triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, but other markers of heart health didn't vary much between the two diets, according to the study. There was one notable exception: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, known as 'bad' cholesterol because it can build up in arteries and create blockages to the heart. 'Surprisingly, LDL cholesterol was reduced more on the ultra-processed diet,' said dietitian Dimitrios Koutoukidis, an associate professor of diet, obesity and behavioral sciences at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study. 'This might imply that processing is not as important for heart health if the foods already meet the standard UK healthy eating guidance,' Koutoukidis said in a statement. 'Further research is needed to better understand this.' According to Hall, the results fit quite nicely with preliminary results from his current study that is still underway. In that research, Hall and his team measured the impact of four configurations of ultraprocessed foods on the health of 36 volunteers. Each lived for a month in the Metabolic Clinical Research Unit of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. 'When you modify an ultraprocessed diet to have lower energy (calorie) density and fewer highly palatable foods, you can offset some of the effects of ultraprocessed foods in causing excess calorie intake and weight gain,' Hall said. In other words, choose healthier foods regardless of the levels of processing. 'People don't eat the best ultraprocessed foods, they eat the worst ones, so the take home here is to follow the national guidelines for nutrient quality,' Gardner said. 'Read your nutrient label and choose foods that are low in salt, fat, sugar and calories and high in fiber, and avoid foods with too many additives with unpronounceable names. That's the key to a healthier diet.' Sign up for CNN's Eat, But Better: Mediterranean Style. Our eight-part guide shows you a delicious expert-backed eating lifestyle that will boost your health for life. Solve the daily Crossword
