Michael Barrymore suffering from uncontrollable seizures that could cause death
The beloved TV presenter - who has shifted from Television to TikTok in recent years - said he had developed epilepsy after experiencing a mini stroke.
On his now preferred social media site, the 73-year-old admitted he found his diagnosis "scary" and he'd had "several attacks this year".
According to the NHS, symptoms of epilepsy - a condition that affects your brain and causes seizures - often start in young children and people over 50.
Speaking about his diagnosis on the platform, the former game show host said: "A mini stroke caused me to develop epilepsy where I have uncontrollable seizures...
"I suffer from cluster seizures, which affects a quarter of people with epilepsy.
"It means I have more than one, usually three individual seizures in a short period of time."
Michael must take emergency medication if he has a seizure.
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The star continued: "It's scary because there's a 40 per cent chance of going into epilepticus, which causes brain damage and death without prompt medical attention.
"I've had several attacks this year and have emergency medication at home if I go into a seizure.
"It doesn't really affect my life otherwise, but it would be nice to talk with other sufferers on here about it."
The entertainer, who has become popular with Gen Z with his TikToks and vlogs, has received more than 580,000 views on the video, which shows him in a hospital bed.
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21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The six things that make your anxiety worse (and what to do instead)
What people don't realise about anxiety disorders, says Prof Oliver Robinson of University College, London, is just how commonplace they are. One in four of us experience a clinically significant level of anxiety at some point in our lives, and at any given time, 'around 20 to 25 per cent of the population report being extremely worried,' Prof Robinson says. As a mental health condition, anxiety is also unique in that 'we all know what it feels like,' says Prof Robinson. While there's a big difference between feeling down at times and being depressed, anxiety is the body's healthy response to danger or threats. People with anxiety disorders find that those feelings fire at the wrong time, because of things that don't pose danger at all – social situations, big deadlines, or even a spider in the corner of the room. Most of us know how that feels, but when it happens consistently, it can get in the way of work, socialising, family time, and a generally healthy life. There are very effective treatments for anxiety, such as medication (through SSRI drugs, also used to treat depression) as well as exposure therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Three quarters to two thirds of patients find one of these, or a mix, highly effective in treating their symptoms, Prof Robinson says. The rest may have to manage their symptoms in the long run. Prof Robinson is clear that 'there is no substitute for anxiety treatment' but many people find that anxiety is easier to manage (and bring down to a subclinical level) through some healthy lifestyle tweaks. Here are the things that may make your anxiety worse – and what to do instead. Moping alone at home Anxiety is prompted by something that is causing you fear. Many of those diagnosed with an anxiety disorder struggle with social anxiety, which can cause fear of big settings like parties, as well as one-on-one interactions in some cases. 'This leads some people to spend a lot of time alone,' Prof Robinson points out. Aside from the health-worsening effects of social isolation, this actually worsens social anxiety itself in the long run. 'When you don't have any real-life examples to rely on, your worst fears become confirmed, in a way, which makes it much harder to then face your fears and go to that party or lunch with friends,' says Prof Robinson. Time alone without stimulation can also cause rumination, obsessive patterns of negative thinking that are a huge driver of both anxiety and depression. What to do 'Try not to avoid doing the thing that's bothering you, even if it's just once in every 10 times that the fear comes up,' Prof Robinson says. 'Evidence shows that facing your fears is the best way to stop being scared of them, as you recognise and gradually re-learn that there is no real danger.' Easing yourself in gradually, for example by meeting a trusted friend for a coffee before going to an exercise class full of strangers, can be helpful, as this gradually increases your exposure to the source of your fear. This goes for any kind of anxiety. 'Avoiding the source of your fear entirely will only make things worse.' Winding down with a glass of wine Alcohol makes you relax – it's a fact as true as the sky is blue. When you have a drink, it reduces your inhibitions and prompts the release of dopamine, the feel-good chemical in your brain. These effects are short-lived, however, and relying on them to soothe anxiety can come with the ugly side-effect of knocking the brain's hormonal balance out of whack, leading to worsened anxiety the next day (otherwise known as 'hangxiety'). Alcohol also interrupts sleep and worsens sleep quality, even if having a nightcap can help you to nod off. Some research suggests that wine and prosecco may be worse for anxiety than some other drinks. A low-sugar option like a hard seltzer may prove to be easier to tolerate. 'Alcohol can help people in social situations, if it's used in a controlled way,' says Prof Robinson – 'only you can know if it's really helping or causing more problems than it is helping with'. What to do Try a different way to wind down in the evenings. Research suggests that a nighttime drink can be calming in its ritual and 'treat' feeling as much as in its actual psychoactive effects. Having a hot (caffeine-free) drink can be just as soothing and will not disrupt your sleep. This makes it easier to enjoy the odd drink in a social setting without feeling a knock-on effect on your anxiety. Setting your alarm too early Sleep is the bedrock of good health, and a lack of it worsens stress like nothing else. No wonder, then, that even healthy adults who are underslept report feeling more anxious and low in the daytime. Anxiety can both cause and be worsened by poor sleep. 'They're certainly hard to tease apart, as being anxious can leave you tossing and turning,' Prof Robinson points out. In the long term, sleep deprivation impairs the function of the parts of your brain that regulate emotion, while upping activity in the amygdala, the part of your brain in charge of your fear response. An inability to sleep is anxiety-provoking in itself. What to do Give yourself the opportunity to get enough sleep, says Prof Robinson. Ideally this is by going to bed at least eight hours before your alarm is set to go off in the morning. If you're used to tossing and turning, going to bed early might be the last thing you want to do, 'but if you're up for 20 hours a day then there's no chance that you can get the rest you need'. There are tried and tested tricks to quiet racing thoughts before bed, such as box breathing, and building a bedtime routine can help you drift off to sleep more easily too. It can also be helpful to distance yourself from the causes of your anxiety before bed. If you're anxious about work, don't check your emails while you're tucked in, or else 'your behaviour might prompt worrying thoughts that wouldn't have come up otherwise,' Prof Robinson says. Drinking too much caffeine On that note, you might well be in the habit of topping up your poor sleep with copious amounts of tea or coffee. This might help keep you alert, but that's because caffeine is a stimulant, and it prompts the release of cortisol, the 'fight-or-flight' hormone. It causes your body as well as your brain to 'wake up', which is why it gives some people jitters and heart palpitations as well as more energy. The problem here is that 'the relationship between your body and your mind works in both directions when it comes to anxiety,' says Prof Robinson. Though even scientists 'don't fully understand the link', caffeine is known to prompt or worsen symptoms of anxiety, and a number of studies suggest that caffeine consumption can have a detrimental impact on anxiety and also increase the risk of its incidence in the long term. Fizzy drinks may contain sugar or sweeteners as well as all the caffeine in a standard cup of coffee or more, wreaking further havoc on your sleep. What to do Avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach. Eating something before you have your first mug of the day can slow the body's absorption of caffeine, and release of cortisol with it, reducing the chance that you will feel it enough to worsen your anxiety in the first place. Cutting out coffee 'isn't one of those panaceas where it will fix your anxiety with no other work,' says Prof Robinson, but if you suffer from anxiety then it is important to experiment with the amount of coffee you drink 'to find out what works for you'. Fizzy drinks are best replaced with healthy and caffeine-free alternatives like flavoured sparkling waters, or herbal tea. Treating yourself with sugary food to boost your mood Yet it's easy to rely on sweet treats or a packet of crisps to quell anxiety. The endorphins released when you eat something you enjoy can balance out the anxiety in your brain and body, soothing your nervous feelings. This can lead to emotional overeating or, in the worst cases, food addiction. Much of the advice given for managing anxiety 'is the advice people are given to live a healthy life in general,' says Prof Robinson. Like sleeping well, eating well is a core part of that. Plenty of studies show that a diet high in ultra-processed food is linked to increased risk of, and in fact worsened, anxiety. A healthier diet meanwhile is linked to improved symptoms of anxiety and a reduced risk of experiencing it overall. What to do Try to stick to a Mediterranean diet. 'There isn't much good evidence for whether specific foods can improve or worsen anxiety,' Prof Robinson says, but we do know that the Mediterranean diet – which is based on whole foods, with lots of healthy fats, nuts and lean proteins – supports overall health as well as brain and hormonal health in the long as with alcohol, cutting out the foods you rely on to give yourself a mood boost may not prove helpful in the long run. It's all about keeping them to an occasional treat, Prof Robinson says. Not moving enough A number of studies have linked sedentary lifestyles to increased risk of anxiety. Intentional exercise, meanwhile, releases feel-good hormones and can reduce stress. Adults who engage in regular exercise experience fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, other research has found. Exercise triggers the release of endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects, while also regulating the body's stress response system. What to do instead Try to get in the 150 minutes of cardiovascular exercise recommended each week by the NHS. That could mean walking, jogging, swimming or taking part in an aerobics class. 'We don't know exactly why exercise works to help with anxiety in the long term, but it may have something to do with reducing inflammation,' says Prof Robinson. The SSRI drugs prescribed for anxiety also reduce inflammation, he points out. Other forms of exercise like yoga, which are more meditative, have been linked to reduced levels of anxiety when practised regularly, and may also be worth trying. 'The practical accomplishment of picking up something new may also boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem, which can be important in the process of overcoming anxiety,' says Prof Robinson. FAQs Does anxiety worsen with age? 'Normal anxiety is pretty consistent, but clinical anxiety disorders tend to be low in childhood, reach a peak in adulthood and then decline in old age,' says Prof Robinson. Some research suggests that older adults are better at regulating their emotions. This can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as fewer stressors and different life perspectives. Can anxiety ever go away? Sometimes 'anxiety will go away on its own,' or reduce to a subclincial level over time, says Prof Robinson. However, it is always best to seek treatment if you believe that you may have an anxiety disorder. 'Around two thirds to three quarters of people with an anxiety disorder are able to make a recovery that means they no longer reach a clinical threshold,' he says. Why does anxiety get worse at night? 'Not everyone's anxiety gets worse at night, but there are a number of possible reasons it might,' says Prof Robinson. 'You may have learnt to associate night-time or darkness with threats,' he says, and 'there are also less distractions, so when you are lying in bed you start ruminating and worrying about bad things that might happen. You may also start to worry about not getting enough sleep which compounds the other problems, leading to a negative spiral.' How to manage anxiety From Professor Robinson Ultimately, everyone's anxiety is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all way to approach it. If it is getting in the way of you living your life, the best thing you can do is contact your GP who can get you into suitable treatments. The solutions depend on the problem – if you are avoiding things that aren't actually that harmful, like social situations, then setting yourself the task of being brave and going to more social situations can help. If you are lying in bed worrying about the state of the world because you read your phone just before bed, you can set yourself a target of not looking at your phone last thing at night before bed. These are opposite actions – approaching social situations or avoiding negative information before bed – and if you get them the wrong way around, by avoiding social situations and looking at your phone right before bed, you may make your symptoms worse. This is why it is often helpful to get professional help. Anxiety is very common and psychologists are very used to tailoring treatments to your specific circumstances. You may also benefit from medication, but this is only available on prescription and so you will have to see your GP to get it. 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an hour ago
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Millions of people ‘could be denied weight-loss jabs due to flawed NHS guidance'
Millions of people could be denied access to treatments such as weight-loss jabs because of flawed NHS guidance, a major think tank has warned. King's Fund senior analyst Danielle Jefferies said Body Mass Index (BMI) measures, which are used to determine obesity levels, are primarily based on research for white European or American people. That means they do not account for the inherited ethnic differences of people from Black, Asian, brown, dual heritage or indigenous ethnicities – differences that can mean some groups are more likely to develop some health conditions. The 2021 census for England and Wales showed 1.3 million people listed themselves as 'other' for their ethnic group, while 1.7 million people listed themselves in 'mixed or multiple' categories. Ms Jefferies said that meant the current BMI thresholds 'potentially do not fully work for up to 3 million people in the UK', meaning they could miss out on treatments because they have a lower BMI than is required for some treatments. The warning comes as the NHS prepares to roll out access to weight-loss jab Mounjaro, to 220,000 people over three years. Access to Mounjaro is based on strict measures, including the stipulation that a person has a BMI of over 40. Other NHS treatments, such as IVF, bariatric surgery, and joint replacement surgery, are also managed based on a person's BMI. Currently, BMI guidelines for people from black, Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds are lowered to account for health risks that occur at a lower BMI than for white people. But it is not clear if the same is not done for those in these mixed heritage groups. Ms Jeffries said: 'The current NICE guidelines take a broad-brush approach by recommending lower BMI thresholds for anyone of Black, Asian or Middle Eastern background, which effectively includes almost everyone who is not white. 'This creates some knotty issues. First, because it leaves some people wondering if they are 'white enough' to use the old thresholds, which is a subjective and problematic way to categorise people from global majority ethnic backgrounds.' 'For example, does this include people who identify as Latino, white Middle Eastern, or Hispanic? Or does this include someone who is mixed and has one grandparent who is Black or Asian and the rest white?' Ms Jefferies said the NHS BMI calculator automatically gives patients who identify as 'other white ethnic group' – for example, someone who could identify as Latino – a higher threshold as if they were white. She said this can have 'real-world consequences' and including or excluding an ethnic group from the threshold adjustment could 'significantly impact national obesity figures and change how we measure health inequalities between different ethnicities'. 'For individuals, lower BMI thresholds could be life-changing. For the average-height adult, the cut-off point for being obese for people from a white ethnicity is more than a stone heavier than for people from a Black, Asian or Middle Eastern background. That could be significant if that person was sat in a GP appointment asking whether they qualify for bariatric surgery or weight-loss drugs, or if they are healthy enough to receive NHS-funded IVF,' she added. On Thursday, it was revealed that the price of Mounjaro will nearly triple for private patients in the UK, after the US-owned company equalised costs in markets across the globe. A month's supply of the highest doses of the 'King Kong' of weight-loss medicine will rise from £122 to £330 – an increase of 170 per cent. However, drug manufacturer Lilly said it would not raise the price paid by the NHS, and it was working with private healthcare providers to maintain access to the jab. A NICE spokesperson said: 'We recognise that BMI is not a perfect tool and there is a need for more robust information about effective and acceptable approaches to identifying people from ethnic minority backgrounds who are at risk from overweight or obesity. 'Our independent guideline committee has called for research to find what approaches are effective and acceptable in identifying overweight, obesity and central adiposity in children, young people and adults from ethnic minority backgrounds which will help inform future NICE guidance.' This story was updated with a comment from NICE at 8:56.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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Dad shuts down mother-in-law's body-shaming remark about his 11-year-old—and parents are cheering
When TikTok user @jonfromfridai posted about a family dinner gone wrong on July 13, more than 2.4 million people tuned in. In the video, Jon describes how his mother-in-law made an offhand remark about his 11-year-old's body—so he stopped the conversation and drew a firm line, in the moment, with his daughter watching. The comment section was singing praises for the dad: @donzelleendres72: 'your daughter will always remember how you stood up for her.' @jimmydeannn: 'As a daughter of Asian parents who dealt with this her whole life, thank you for standing up for your daughter.' @anelanelaaaa: 'You also stood up for your wife, I am sure she grew up hearing the same comments from her mom.' Related: This dad canceled a 'period party' to protect his daughter's privacy—and parents can't stop applauding him Why this struck such a nerve Because one 'little' comment can land like a lifetime. A large body of research shows that weight- and appearance-related comments or teasing from family are linked to body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, and disordered eating in young people—effects that can persist for years. In longitudinal and cross-sectional studies, family weight talk and teasing predicted unhealthy weight-control behaviours (UWCBs), poorer body image, higher stress, and lower self-esteem across adolescence. It starts earlier than most people think. Children as young as 7–12 report body shame tied to parental attention to appearance, and childhood body-image concerns are well-documented. Early exposure to negative body commentary can shape how children value (or doubt) their bodies long before the teen years. Parents' modeling matters immensely. Teens mirror how parents talk about bodies. Recent research finds adolescents' perceptions of parental 'fat talk' or objectifying comments correlate with higher body dissatisfaction and more disordered-eating symptoms; conversely, healthier parent talk relates to better body esteem. Intergenerational studies also show parents who grew up around weight talk are more likely to repeat it with their own kids—unless they consciously break the pattern. This is a cultural moment. Coverage of Jon's video across parenting outlets underscores how common—and harmful—'harmless' family remarks can be, particularly for preteens navigating a vulnerable stage of body awareness. Rewriting the playbook: why his response matters Jon's choice to set a boundary aloud—in front of his daughter—turns an injurious moment into a model of safety and validation. Instead of silently absorbing the remark, his daughter saw her parent assert: We don't talk about your body like that. You are worthy of protection. That live demonstration is precisely the kind of counter-message research suggests can buffer kids against internalizing body shame. What parents can do (actionable, research-aligned) Name the boundary, calmly and clearly. Try: 'We don't comment on her body.' Short, direct statements reduce ambiguity and shut down repeating patterns shown to predict later harm. Affirm privately after. Reinforce your child's worth ('I love how strong and capable your body is'). Affirming function over appearance is a core theme in current youth body-confidence programs. Replace 'fat talk' with values-based language. Model talking about how bodies feel and what they can do. Studies suggest shifting parental talk away from weight/shape correlates with healthier body esteem and eating attitudes in adolescents. Break the intergenerational cycle. If you grew up around weight talk, say so—and choose differently now. Intergenerational data link parents' past exposure to their current communication with kids; awareness helps you interrupt the loop. Follow up with family, kindly but firmly. 'I know you meant well, but comments about her body can be harmful. Please don't do that again.' Appearance-focused family cultures are associated with greater disordered-eating risk; reframing the family norm matters. The bigger picture From primary-school ages onward, body dissatisfaction is associated with poorer mental-health outcomes and risky behaviours. Interventions now emphasise adult role-modelling and ability-based compliments (strength, creativity, kindness) over appearance. Jon's moment shows how a single protective act can recalibrate a family script—and become the memory a child keeps. Related: How to talk to your kids about body-image and positive self-talk Sources: Parental Contributors to the Prevalence and Long-term Health Risks of Family Weight Teasing in Adolescence. 2021. Journal of Adolescent Health. Parental Contributors to the Prevalence and Long-term Health Risks of Family Weight Teasing in Adolescence Body Shame in 7–12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children's Appearance. 2023. National Library of Medicine. Body Shame in 7–12-Year-Old Girls and Boys: The Role of Parental Attention to Children's Appearance. Adolescents' reports of parental objectification of others' bodies are associated with their body image and eating behaviors. 2025. Springer Nature. Adolescents' reports of parental objectification of others' bodies are associated with their body image and eating behaviors. Solve the daily Crossword
