Beware! Why your holiday insurance could be at risk if you're on weight-loss jabs
Drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy have soared in popularity since their approval by the NHS to help tackle diabetes and obesity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News
42 minutes ago
- Sky News
Measles 'circulating' in area where child died from disease, expert warns
A Liverpool City Council official has urged the public to be aware of the symptoms of measles after a child died from the disease. Speaking on The UK Tonight with Sarah-Jane Mee, director of public health for Liverpool City Council, Professor Matthew Ashton, said he wanted to raise awareness of the virus. It comes after a child died at the city's Alder Hey Children's Hospital after becoming ill with measles and other health problems. Mr Ashton said that measles was "circulating" in the community, with 17 cases recorded at Alder Hey since the start of June - which he said "is a worry for us". "It's a really nasty virus," he added. "No matter who you are, if you're not protected, it can do you harm." Earlier on Monday, chairman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, councillor David Fothergill, said there was "an urgent need to address falling immunisation rates". "These gaps have contributed to 529 confirmed measles cases in England so far in 2025," he said, "with 68% occurring in children under the age of 10." 41:50 Speaking to Sky News, Mr Ashton said: "Vaccination rates have been declining nationally for the last decade... In Liverpool, we're down below 74%. "Nationally, it's a bit higher than that, but it's still far too low. And the trouble is then, when you have unexposed populations or unprotected populations, the potential for measles going rogue is very high." Mr Ashton said vaccination rates have been declining nationally for the last decade and that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends 95% vaccination levels to reach herd immunity. 3:03 Mr Ashton noted "there's lots of reasons why vaccination rates have dropped," citing "fatigue" from the COVID pandemic and "disinformation," but added: "I do think it's more complicated than that. "I think we have to recognise that life for our communities has got significantly harder over the last ten years, and people are working really hard to make sure they can still pay the bills, put food on the table, look after loved ones. "Sometimes routine health care appointments are just not top of the list of things to do." What are the symptoms of measles? The first symptoms of measles include: • A high temperature • A runny or blocked nose • Sneezing • A cough • Red, sore or watery eyes Cold-like symptoms are followed a few days later by a rash, which starts on the face and behind the ears, before it spreads. The spots are usually raised and can join together to form blotchy patches which are not usually itchy. Some people may get small spots in their mouth too. What should you do if you think your child has measles? Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if you think your child has measles. If your child has been vaccinated, it is very unlikely they have measles. You should not go to the doctor without calling ahead, as measles is very infectious. If your child is diagnosed with measles by a doctor, make sure they avoid close contact with babies and anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system. The public health director said that while "people assume it's an old disease or it's one that's gone away... it couldn't be further from the case". He noted that one case of measles can infect up to 15 people, and urged people that if they think they have symptoms, call their GP or 111 - and do not go to A&E.
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Mounjaro users could lose more than weight, doctor alerts hair could be at risk
Mounjaro users could lose more than weight, doctor alerts hair could be at risk People using Mounjaro might find themselves losing more than just weight, but it could be preventable with some key steps Certain medications and medical devices could stop working if exposed to heat (Image: GETTY ) Mounjaro is a popular weight loss jab that has been approved for use on the NHS. While its pound-shedding powers are well-known, side effects are starting to crop up that people are less aware of. Most recently, some people revealed the drug didn't just help them lose weight but also shed their hair. Dr Donald Grant, GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, said there's a number of reasons this could be happening, but it should be preventable if people on these medications take the right steps while losing weight. He explained: 'It's not an extremely common side effect, there have been multiple reports of people shedding considerable amounts of hair while on the weight loss treatment. This can stem from several reasons, including rapid weight loss, which is known to trigger shedding. 'Another potential cause is nutritional deficiencies, which can quickly become apparent following shifts in appetite and general eating habits. 'As the treatment activates the body's GLP-1 receptors, making us feel full, it can often lead to poor eating habits, where an individual is not obtaining the nutrients required to uphold a healthy lifestyle. Article continues below 'Stress is another common factor that could lead to hair loss or minor shedding. Not only emotional stress, but also the changes in routine, bodily function, and general eating habits can impact the body. "This can cause hair follicles to shed much earlier than they usually would, which could be another potential reason behind hair loss while on Mounjaro.' Luckily, the remedy for all three of these causes can be easily done in your own home and shouldn't affect your weight loss journey. Starting with ensuring your nutrition is right even if you are eating less or smaller portions than before. The doctor said: 'A common mistake people make while on Mounjaro is completely abandoning the idea of a well-balanced diet. While portions may decrease due to suppressed appetite, it's still important to prioritise the correct foods. 'Protein, biotin, and zinc remain crucial for maintaining healthy hair, so be sure to include foods rich in these nutrients to lower the risk of hair loss. Foods such as chicken, eggs and red meat can prove incredibly effective.' Some supplements can also be helpful if you're struggling to eat all the nutrition you need. Iron, zinc, protein and biotin all support healthy hair, according to the Independent Pharmacy. Article continues below The second step is limiting the stress your body is going through, which means prioritising sleep and some exercise as well as healthy habits like coping mechanisms to deal with stress. Finally, the doctor's third tip is to simply be a bit more careful with your locks if you're losing weight. He said: 'If shedding begins, it's essential to be gentle with hair to limit the volume of hair loss. This could mean avoiding tight hairstyles that put follicles at risk or reducing the use of straighteners or curlers. 'Overall, be as gentle as possible with hair and monitor hair loss closely.' If your hair loss is starting to concern you, it's best to talk to a GP who can advise further on whether it's a side effect, other factors influencing it and the best way forward to reduce the loss.
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
'My voice box was removed after NHS missed my throat cancer'
Steve Barton is angry, and he has every right to be. The 68-year-old retired engineer stares at his medical notes that, he says, expose in black and white the moment his life changed forever. "I have somehow missed… due to my mistake," a doctor writes in one of the notes, after it became apparent that Mr Barton had not been urgently referred to specialists over what later became an aggressive form of throat cancer. Steve now has a prosthetic voice box and is one of many British patients fighting medical negligence claims after being misdiagnosed. NHS officials in Scotland are dealing with thousands of cases annually. Meanwhile, Westminster's Public Affairs Committee (PAC) recently disclosed England's Department of Health and Social Care has set aside £58.2bn to settle clinical lawsuits arising before 2024. Mr Barton, who lives in Alloa near Stirling, repeatedly contacted his doctors after he began struggling with his breathing, speaking and swallowing. His concerns were recorded by the NHS as sinus issues. As panic grew and his voice became weaker, Mr Barton paid to see a private consultant who revealed the devastating news that a massive tumour had grown on his larynx and required part of his throat to be removed immediately. "I am angry, I am upset, I don't want anyone else to go through this," Mr Barton told Sky News. "There were at least four, possibly five, conversations on the phone. He [the doctor] said to me that it sounds like I've got reflux." 'He was palmed off' Mr Barton is now unable to work and cannot shower by himself because if water enters the hole in his neck, he could drown. And a windy day can cause a debilitating coughing fit if a gust catches his prosthetic voice box. Asked if he believes this was avoidable, Mr Barton replied: "Absolutely. 100%." His wife, Heather, told Sky News: "He hates this. You see him crying. It breaks my heart. It's been hard emotionally." She added: "Everybody knows their own body. He was palmed off and the consequence is a neck dissection. It [life] changed overnight." Legal battle over compensation The Barton family have been locked in a legal battle over their ordeal with the Medical and Dental Defence Union Scotland (MDDUS) - a body which indemnifies GPs. It has not admitted formal liability in this case but has agreed to settle financial compensation to Mr Barton. Izabela Wosiak, a solicitor from Irwin Mitchell who represents the Bartons, said: "Cases like Steve's are complex and usually quite difficult, but solicitors have accepted there was no defence to this case. "They have arranged to make an interim payment; however we are still in the process of negotiating final settlement." A MDDUS spokeswoman refused to comment while talks are being finalised. What is the scale of medical negligence in Britain? The NHS in Scotland is under the devolved control of the Scottish government. Figures suggest there were almost 14,000 clinical negligence claims and incidents in 2023/24, an increase on the previous year. It comes as PAC warned that the total liabilities in England's health service has hit £58.2bn. PAC chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP told Sky News: "I extend my sympathies to Steve and his family. Unfortunately, he is not alone. "Some are really heart-wrenching tales. Every single claim somebody is involved, someone has been in some way injured, so this is a terrible thing. "We are going to be working on how we can make the whole system less litigious and get compensation paid out quickly because if the state does harm to somebody, the least they could do is to compensate them as quickly as possible." Paul Whiteing, the chief executive of patient safety charity Action Against Medical Accidents, told Sky News: "The NHS itself last year [in England] paid out just over £5bn in compensational set aside money for compensation that it would need to pay out. "It's a huge cost and of course that doesn't speak to the cost to every individual, every family, every person who is impacted by the consequences of some form of medical accident and the trauma that can go with that."
