Mary Kennedy urges women to get their bones checked
Broadcaster Mary Kennedy has said she would 'hate to lose' her independence because of a fall as she urged pensioners to get their bones checked.
The former Nationwide host is backing the re-launch of the 'She doesn't deserve a Break' campaign, which encourages women over 65 to make time to prioritise their bone health and to break the silence around osteoporosis by talking to their GP.
Mary said: 'The whole purpose of the She Doesn't Deserve a Break campaign is to alert people to the possibility of prevention.
'I would hate to lose my independence, even for a short space of time, due to a fall or a fracture. Being bone health aware makes good sense so that as we age, we can enjoy life fully.
'Women aged over 65 should make time for their bone health, be empowered, and inform themselves more about osteoporosis, especially the risk factors for it.
'They can do this by visiting irishosteoporosis.ie, then they should follow up by having a conversation with their GP about their bone health.
'The bottom line is, it is never too early or too late to take measures to improve bone health. And that's good news.'
Bone loss accelerates with age and around 75 per cent of fractures due to osteoporosis happen in people aged 65 and over. Women are also more likely to develop osteoporosis than men partly due to a drop in oestrogen during menopause.
Osteoporosis is a "silent disease" that often goes undiagnosed until a break occurs.
Osteoporosis-related hip fractures in Ireland are expected to rise by nearly 60 per cent over the next decade, from 32,000 to 51,000 annually by 2034.
It is estimated that there are approximately 300,000 people in Ireland living with osteoporosis.
Also joining the campaign is Jess Redden, wife of retired rugby star Rob Kearney.
Pharmacist Jess, alongside her mum Linda Redden, are calling on daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, husbands and friends to start the conversation about bone health
Jess said: 'Osteoporosis affects real women, real families, and we can help prevent the consequences of it, such as broken bones, by taking action now.
'It is vital that we, the people in women's lives who are over 65, encourage conversation around their bone health – calling on daughters, sons, nieces, husbands and friends to support women in their lives over 65.'
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Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mary Kennedy urges women to get their bones checked
Broadcaster Mary Kennedy has said she would 'hate to lose' her independence because of a fall as she urged pensioners to get their bones checked. The former Nationwide host is backing the re-launch of the 'She doesn't deserve a Break' campaign, which encourages women over 65 to make time to prioritise their bone health and to break the silence around osteoporosis by talking to their GP. Mary said: 'The whole purpose of the She Doesn't Deserve a Break campaign is to alert people to the possibility of prevention. 'I would hate to lose my independence, even for a short space of time, due to a fall or a fracture. Being bone health aware makes good sense so that as we age, we can enjoy life fully. 'Women aged over 65 should make time for their bone health, be empowered, and inform themselves more about osteoporosis, especially the risk factors for it. 'They can do this by visiting then they should follow up by having a conversation with their GP about their bone health. 'The bottom line is, it is never too early or too late to take measures to improve bone health. And that's good news.' Bone loss accelerates with age and around 75 per cent of fractures due to osteoporosis happen in people aged 65 and over. Women are also more likely to develop osteoporosis than men partly due to a drop in oestrogen during menopause. Osteoporosis is a "silent disease" that often goes undiagnosed until a break occurs. Osteoporosis-related hip fractures in Ireland are expected to rise by nearly 60 per cent over the next decade, from 32,000 to 51,000 annually by 2034. It is estimated that there are approximately 300,000 people in Ireland living with osteoporosis. Also joining the campaign is Jess Redden, wife of retired rugby star Rob Kearney. Pharmacist Jess, alongside her mum Linda Redden, are calling on daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, husbands and friends to start the conversation about bone health Jess said: 'Osteoporosis affects real women, real families, and we can help prevent the consequences of it, such as broken bones, by taking action now. 'It is vital that we, the people in women's lives who are over 65, encourage conversation around their bone health – calling on daughters, sons, nieces, husbands and friends to support women in their lives over 65.'
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Mum's warning after daughter, 20, with severe peanut allergy died from eating a ‘couple of mouthfuls' of ready meal
A HEARTBROKEN mum has issued an urgent warning after her daughter, 20, died after eating a few mouthfuls of a ready meal. Jess North, who had a severe 5 Jess North died after eating just "a couple of mouthfuls" of a ready meal containing nuts Credit: Instagram / @northymax1965 5 The 20-year-old was on her way to meet a friend when tragedy struck Credit: Instagram / @northymax1965 5 Jess was rushed to hospital where she spent three days on life support Credit: Copyright(2014): Devastated Mum Maxine, from Aldingbourne, West Sussex, told how she was preparing a Sunday roast when Jess decided she wanted something different. The youngster opted for a frozen sweet potato dish and said she had "had it before". Jess assumed she would be fine eating the ready meal, as she had done previously, despite the fact it did contain nuts. Maxine told Read More She was going out to meet a pal and kissed her parents goodbye before jumping in her car. "Within 10 minutes I received a phone call from Jess saying that she was having difficulty breathing," said Maxine. "The fear in her voice triggered something inside me and I knew that she was having an allergic reaction. "She was near Arundel on the A27, so I told her to pull over and administer her EpiPen, something she had never done before, but she knew how to use it. " Most read in Health The emotional parent told how she rushed with her husband to find their daughter. Meanwhile a passerby had seen Jess struggling at the roadside and thought she was having an asthma attack. My son texted me a picture of a snack he was enjoying… then his phone went silent – he'll never be the same again They gave her an inhaler before realising the 20-year-old was signalling for her EpiPen. "She was disoriented so the person took charge of the EpiPen and administered it into Jess' arm when in fact it should have gone into her thigh," continued Maxine. Paramedics eventually transported Jess to St Richards hospital in Chichester. After three days on life support, an MRI scan was performed and doctors told her family they wouldn't be able to assess damage until she woke up. The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later. Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe. Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening. In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly. Mild to moderate symptoms include: Itchy mouth, tongue and throat Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria) Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea Runny nose and sneezing Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Swelling of your throat and tongue Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing Feeling tired or confused Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting Skin that feels cold to the touch Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction: Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector. Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction. Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side). If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin. If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector. Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better. Sources: Allergy UK, NHS They tried to bring Jess off life support the following day, but the youngster showed no signs of becoming responsive. A further MRI scan tragically determined there was no brain activity. "I can't remember much from that point, all I knew was my beautiful baby had gone and our life had changed forever," said Maxine. The brave mum has since been on a mission to raise awareness over severe allergies - and in particular the lack of up to date epipens. After Jess' death, the family discovered she had a junior Epipen, instead of an adult one. Maxine's campaign has already seen her own GP start sending reminder alerts to patients with severe allergies. She has also been raising money for The Natasha Allergy Foundation, known as NARFS, which was set up in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse. Maxine will be completing a charity abseil down Peacehaven Cliffs in July. Donations will be put towards funding for Kitt Medical Devices with life-saving anaphylaxis treatment in schools and public places. A link to Maxine's GoFundMe can be found This comes after a traumatised mum told how her allergic son texted a picture of the snack he was enjoying George Cadman-Ithell sent a haunting message to his mum, Louise Cadman, with a picture of the cured sausages and wrote "these are nice". But just three minutes later, the 25-year-old sent a panicked text which read: "F***, they contain walnuts". Louise replied: "You've not eaten any have you?" to which her son said: "Yes". George hadn't spotted the "aux noix" labelling on the salami packaging, which also stated "with walnuts" in English. The young man had run home from the shops in just under 10 minutes, and husband Joe Nolan had administered an EpiPen. But tragically George went into cardiac arrest and his brain was starved of oxygen for 26 minutes, causing severe brain damage. He remains in a vegetative state at a rehabilitation unit at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, North West London. Elsewhere, a 12-year-old Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a severe allergic reaction after visiting Pop Inn Café, in Bermondsey, London, with her aunt and sister in August 2023. The young girl, who had a tree nut allergy, was rushed to hospital after ingesting the contaminated drink but tragically died. Mia's devastated parents, Adrian and Chanel said: "We think of Mia every day and knowing her death could potentially have been prevented so simply, only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family.' Southwark Council's food and safety team discovered the blender used to make the 12-year-old's milkshake had not been cleaned properly. An investigation found traces of almonds and hazelnuts in the machine from a previous drink. CCTV evidence showed the café operator, Baris Yucel, failing to clean the blender before preparing Mia's beverage. He was given a 100-hour community order and fined £18,000. Natasha's Law By Ben Griffiths THE family of an allergy sufferer who died after eating a poorly-labelled Pret sandwich on a BA jet have told how they have forgiven the high street giant. Grieving Nad and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died in 2016, have even praised the sandwich chain for leading the way in implementing new packaging rules. Natasha's Law - named after the 15-year-old - requires businesses to list every ingredient on pre-packaged food. In an exclusive interview, the family spoke of their "great pride" at getting the historic new regulations in place. They mean an item like the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette, which Natasha died after eating, will now have to list all 34 ingredients - instead of the THREE it displayed five years ago. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, Tanya, who with Nad has won an OBE for her work in getting the law passed, said: "I know that Natasha would be ever so pleased this law is coming into force and we've managed to get it passed. "You can't do anything if you are filled with hate so we have forgiven Pret. It doesn't make up for the fact she is not here now but Pret have actually led the way on changing their packaging. "They've spent millions getting their packaging in line and educating staff on allergies. "The new law means tens of millions of sandwiches across the UK will now have to detail everything it contains from the small trace of ingredients." Natasha was on her way to Nice, in France, for a summer holiday with Nad and her best friend Bethany Holloway in July 2016 when she bought the baguette from Pret a Manger at Heathrow Airport. It contained hidden sesame seeds, something she was allergic to but the ingredient was not labelled on the packet. Shortly after take-off, Natasha had a reaction. Nad rushed her to the toilet and gave her two shots of adrenaline from her EpiPens which he expected would fight off the reaction. Her last words were 'I can't breathe, I'm suffocating, help me Daddy', before she suffered a fatal heart attack. An inquest in 2018 into Natasha's death blasted Pret for its 'inadequate' labelling and fault in Natasha's death, making the company vow to make a 'meaningful change'. Nad and Tanya launch their mission to get a law changed after the inquest. It now means any fresh item prepared on the premises of sale will now have to list every ingredient it contains. To visit the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation go to 5 Jess had eaten the dish before and said she was fine Credit: Instagram / @northymax1965 5 Maxine is now raising awareness of severe allergies Credit: GoFundMe
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Our sister died from dementia at just 31 years old – we thought she was just ‘ditsy' we had no clue
A SIBLING duo whose sister died from a rare form of dementia at just 31 years old say there weren't enough tell-tale signs to think that she had such a horrendous disease. Gemma Illingworth, from Manchester, was 28 when she was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a rare form of dementia, in 2021. Advertisement 5 Gemma Illingworth (middle) was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a rare form of dementia, in 2021 Credit: PARealLife 5 Her family described Gemma as being "disty" since childhood Credit: PARealLife PCA causes parts of the brain responsible for visual and spatial information processing to degenerate, which caused Gemma to lose her ability to see and physically function independently. Her brother and sister, Ben Illingworth, 34, and Jess Illingworth, 29, described Gemma as 'ditsy' since childhood, struggling with simple tasks such as her sight, co-ordination, sense of direction and ability to tell the time, but said these characteristics did not raise concerns about her health. Gemma's difficulties worsened during lockdown when she became unable to see or process her screen at home, prompting her to stop working. She completed a series of neurological tests which led to her dementia diagnosis. Following her diagnosis in 2021, Gemma's condition gradually worsened – she lost her ability to function independently, including having trouble feeding herself, swallowing, speaking and walking. Advertisement Read more on dementia Gemma died on November 27 last year, aged 31. Exactly five months later, Ben, Jess, and Gemma's best friend Ruth Pollitt, 32, ran the London Marathon to raise money for the National Brain Appeal and Rare Dementia Support (RDS). Ben said: 'She didn't fully understand what was going on, and she thought that she could live a normal life, but she couldn't…before we knew it, she couldn't live unassisted. 'Once she had the diagnosis, it was really only going to go one way. We didn't know it was going to be that quick. Advertisement Most read in Health Graphic Warning 'Gemma lived a normal life for the first 27 years of her life. And now she's gone.' Susie Illingworth, Gemma's mum, said: 'The demise was utterly heartbreaking.' The 14 science-backed ways to prevent dementia Jess added: 'It's the most cruel disease I think in the whole world.' Before becoming ill, Gemma lived a healthy, independent life. She studied at Leeds College of Art and London Metropolitan University, then worked in New York and London. Advertisement Gemma moved to Manchester to live closer to her family, initially living independently, but she started requiring increasing levels of support from her parents. Jess said: 'Maybe we were slightly in denial, I don't really know, but it was never in our minds that she was actually ill. It was just that she required a bit more support. 'There weren't enough tell-tale signs to think that she had such a horrendous disease.' Things got worse during lockdown In 2020 Gemma was working for an insurance company, but when lockdown was enforced, she struggled to work from home as she had problems seeing and processing information on screens. Advertisement Because PCA affects the messaging from the brain to the eyes, Jess said Gemma's struggle with her vision could not be fixed with glasses. Gemma was signed off work in December 2020 for anxiety and depression, but eventually had to stop working because of struggling with her sight and mood. She stopped working but stayed living away from home, requiring increasing levels of support from her flatmate and parents. They regularly checked on Gemma, helping with tasks including ensuring the shower and cooker were turned off and her clothes were on correctly, and she often phoned her mum up to 20 times a day for support. Advertisement Susie said: 'This all had to be subtle as I wanted her to have independence for as long as it was safe.' Getting diagnosed Gemma moved home when she could no longer complete everyday tasks which required motor and cognitive skills, including changing bed sheets, getting dressed, and arriving to appointments on time. In April 2021 Gemma had a brain scan, which Ben said 'unfortunately confirmed that there was something quite substantially wrong with her brain', which doctors first thought was a tumour. Gemma was referred to University College London (UCL) hospital for further brain scans, cognitive, and spinal fluid tests. Advertisement Aged 28, Gemma was diagnosed with PCA in November 2021. Jess said the family were 'devastated' by the diagnosis, but Gemma was 'ecstatic' because she thought 'they know what's wrong with me, we can fix it'. Gemma 'didn't know what it really meant, but that was obviously a blessing in disguise', said Jess. 'Her wicked sense of humour definitely didn't go away' Following her diagnosis in 2021, Gemma's condition gradually worsened and her illness came to affect every aspect of her life. Advertisement She gradually lost her ability to function independently, including feeding herself, swallowing, speaking and walking as her illness worsened. Gemma never stayed in hospital and was cared for at home by her family. Ben said: 'Up until the very end, there were parts of her that sort of remained…you could have a lot of difficult hours, but you could still get a laugh out of her. 'She had a bit of a wicked sense of humour which definitely didn't go away.' Advertisement Gemma died surrounded by her family at home on November 27 last year. 5 Before becoming ill, Gemma lived a healthy, independent life Credit: PARealLife 5 Gemma moved to Manchester to live closer to her family, initially living independently, but she started requiring increasing levels of support from her parents - then came her diagnosis Credit: PARealLife 5 Ben, Jess, and Gemma's best friend Ruth Pollitt, 32, ran the London Marathon to raise money for the National Brain Appeal and Rare Dementia Support Credit: PARealLife Advertisement The team signed up for the London Marathon while Gemma was still alive, and completed other charity fundraisers including a sponsored walk in June 2023, raising £28,000 for the National Brain Appeal. By running the marathon, Ben said: 'We're trying to raise as much money for RDS so that they can try and prevent stuff like this happening again. 'They can put their arms around families like ours. They couldn't cure Gemma, but they helped us navigate it the best way we could.' Ben described the experience of running with his sister and seeing friends and family around the course as 'emotional'. Advertisement Jess said the end goal was 'do it for Gemma, make her proud'. Although the team were put on different starting waves, they managed to meet and run the marathon together, raising more than £19,000 for RDS so far. To find out more about the JustGiving page, visit: Posterior cortical atrophy symptoms Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) refers to gradual and progressive degeneration of the outer layer of the brain (the cortex) in the part of the brain located in the back of the head (posterior). The symptoms can vary from one person to the next and can change as the condition progresses. The most common symptoms are slowly developing difficulties with visual tasks such as reading a line of text, judging distances, distinguishing between moving objects and stationary objects, inability to perceive more than one object at a time, disorientation, and difficulty manoeuvring, identifying, and using tools or common objects. Some patients experience hallucinations. Other symptoms can include difficulty performing mathematical calculations or spelling, and many people with posterior cortical atrophy experience anxiety, possibly because they know something is wrong. In the early stages of posterior cortical atrophy, most people do not have markedly reduced memory, but memory can be affected in later stages. Source:
