EXCLUSIVE Mounjaro made me look old: I've 'aged 15 years' since losing 7st - but here's why I don't care about having 'jab face'
A mother-of-two who lost seven stone thanks to weight loss jabs has been told her 'Mounjaro face' has aged her by 15 years - but she has no regrets.
Ashley Nickson, 35, tipped the scales at 17st 10lbs after piling on the weight while she was pregnant with her children, Mally, six, and Charlie, two.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Woman diagnosed with common UTI...now she's had to have all 4 limbs amputated because of little-known infection complication
A mother-of-two has urged people to learn the warning signs of sepsis after losing four of her limbs following a common infection. Kim Smith, 63, from Milton Keynes, was left with blackened legs, feet and hands that needed to be amputated after a life-threatening ordeal left her in a coma for months. In 2018, Mrs Smith was on holiday in Alicante, Spain with her husband Steve when she developed a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI is a common infection where bacteria infiltrates parts of the body like the bladder, kidneys and urethra, causing a burning sensation when urinating. Familiar with the common symptoms of a UTI—including needing to urinate more often and lower abdominal pain—Mrs Smith went to the doctors who prescribed her antibiotics. But the pharmacist did not have her prescription available for collection that day, so the couple returned to their hotel, where Mrs Smith's condition quickly deteriorated. 'I woke up at 4am and I thought I was going to die,' she said in a TikTok video that has so far garnered over 793,000 views. 'I had severe breathlessness, slurred speech and confusion. I was really really cold. I had a fever and I was shivering like mad,' she added. Her husband rushed her to the hospital where she was diagnosed with severe sepsis and put into a medically induced coma on November 29th. Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection, which occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection—like a UTI—and attacks its own tissue and organs. By the next day, her hands had already turned purple. 'Spain had told my daughters that I had black digits, that's fingers and toes', Mrs Smith recalled. 'My arms were black up to [my elbows]'. Eventually, after six weeks on life support, Mrs Smith was flown back to the UK, to Milton Keynes University Hospital, via air ambulance. There, after three weeks back in the UK, Mrs Smith was gradually brought out from her coma. 'When I woke up, I could actually see that my hands and legs were black, so I knew that they would have to be amputated', she remembers. Mrs Smith then underwent life-changing surgery to amputate her hands and legs above the knee. Once she recovered from the quadruple amputation, the grandmother spent 12 weeks in physical rehabilitation, where she regained her strength and learnt to live without her limbs. Now, Mrs Smith wants to raise awareness for the little-known risk associated with common UTIs. 'I want to tell you, if you need to go pee, go pee. Don't hold it—that could cause you to get an infection and that could develop into sepsis,' she said. 'The symptoms are severe breathlessness, slurred speech and confusion-I had that-I didn't pass much urine that day and I had a fever but I was really cold.' 'If you get anything like that, if you feel unusually unwell and you know something is not right, please please please advocate for yourself,' Mrs Smith urged her followers. 'Tell [doctors] something is not right and ask them to test you for sepsis. 'Ask for a second opinion if you have to. Do not leave if you feel something is wrong.' UTIs affect the urinary tract, which includes the bladder, the urethra and the kidneys. According to the NHS, common symptoms include pain or a burning sensation when peeing, needing to pass urine more often than usual, and cloudy looking urine––which can also be a sign of dehydration. Some people may also experience lower abdominal or back pain, as well as a high temperature, chills or and a really low temperature below 36C. These more severe symptoms could indicate a kidney infection, which can be serious if left untreated, developing into life-threatening sepsis. Up to 1.7million people in the UK suffer from recurrent UTIs—classed as three or more infections a year. Around half of all women will experience a UTI in their life time. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sepsis kills 11 million people globally each year, while in the UK the infection claims around 48,000 lives. People who suffer septic shock can develop small blood clots, which cut-off life-giving oxygen flow to the extremities. The tissue then begins to die, and the skin turns black. However, if there is still enough healthy tissue, doctors may try to first remove the dead tissue—known as debriding. If this treatment doesn't work, amputation is the next step. UTIs are one of the most common causes of sepsis, dubbed the 'silent killer' because its symptoms can overlap with other conditions like the flu. However, as Mrs Smith warns, knowing the symptoms of sepsis could save your life. Tell-tale signs of sepsis in adults include appearing confused, slurred speech or not making sense, blue, grey or blotchy skin and difficulty breathing. According to the NHS, a rash that doesn't fade when your roll a glass over it could be a tell-tale sign of the condition, as well as having a pale and blotchy appearance that is cold and clammy to the touch. Sepsis affected skin may also develop pinprick bruises or large purple areas that can also turn blue, a sign the body is not getting enough oxygen. Producing less urine than usual, for example not urinating for an entire day, is another potential sign of serious sepsis. This is in part because a decrease in blood pressure caused by sepsis, as well as an increased risk of blood clots, can reduce blood supply to organs like the kidneys, which produce urine, impacting their function. As the kidneys can be some of the first organs to start showing signs of reduced function due to sepsis, reduced urine production is considered a potential sign of the condition. The NHS advises anyone who experiences these symptoms to call 999 or go to A&E immediately.
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
I'm going to live until 150 by biohacking myself – here's how to do it at home in 8 simple steps
NOBODY on Earth has lived to see 150-years-old - but that doesn't stop people from trying to push the boundaries of ageing. Kayla Barnes-Lentz and her husband spend six figures a year on a range of pricey tools and treatments as part of their reverse-aging quest but claim there are eight ways to biohack your body on a budget from home. 7 7 7 Biohacking is the viral buzz phrase behind making small, strategic changes to your lifestyle that can slow down your biological clock. For Barnes-Lentz, a 33-year-old longevity clinic owner, it means "having agency over your health and... getting more vested in how you feel on a day to day basis". "The industry definitely is kind of defined by being a really wealthy person's game - or only for people with the means," she adds. "But the honest truth is that the practices that move the needle the most are quite basic, and they are low cost or free." Humming Barnes-Lentz recommends "humming for improving vagal nerve tone". Vagal nerve tone, the activity of the vagus nerve, is linked to numerous health benefits, particularly in regulating the so-called "rest and digest" system. A high vagal tone is associated with better cardiovascular health, smoother digestion, reduced inflammation, and a calmer nervous system. Sunlight exposure Natural light is a potent biohacker, according to Barnes-Lentz. It can affect everything from sleep quality to your mood. "We're very dysregulated from that these days because of blue light, staying up late watching television, and not really getting natural sun exposure early in the morning," she explains. What a budget biohacker eats in a day But getting 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight within the first half an hour of your day can help your circadian rhythm and boost serotonin - the happiness hormone. "And then additionally, you can also view the sunlight later in the day as the sun sets, because it further anchors your circadian rhythm," says Barnes-Lentz. "It essentially signals to your body like, 'OK, here's the sun in the morning. I'm trying to wake up'. "And then we see sunset, the colour range of the sun while setting is very different. So it signals to our body, 'OK, sunset, it's time to start winding down'." Blue light 7 Cutting down your screen time before bed is critical for limiting your blue light exposure, according to Barnes-Lentz. Blue light at night suppresses your natural melatonin production - the sleep regulating hormone. This in turn can upset your circadian rhythm. You can get blue light blocking glasses online for between £50 and £100. Although you can DIY them, buying cheap orange or amber safety glasses. Wearing these for between one and two hours before bed can block blue light spectrum from screens and blue-toned bulbs. You can also change your phone settings to make the screen glow a warmer tone later in the evening. Electrolyte and mineral water You can also make your own electrolyte and mineral-rich water at home just by adding salt - although Barnes-Lentz urges you make sure your salt is free of pesky microplastics. To replenish electrolytes, add about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of salt per liter of water. This provides roughly 300mg to 600mg of sodium, which can help your body retain fluids without overloading on sodium. Home-based cryotherapy You can indulge in cryotherapy at home, according to Barnes-Lentz, without splashing the cash on fancy, specialised chambers. Ice baths or cold showers can help you de-stress, as well as lower inflammation and support immune system functions - three things that can potentially extend your lifespan. "Cold showers can be beneficial for some people," explains Barnes-Lentz. "As a woman, I do mine more in the follicular phase [of the menstrual cycle] - that can give you a boost of dopamine and energy in the morning. "Then I dial it back a bit after ovulation... because we have higher levels of stress and we're recovering a little bit." Dunking your face in cold water - or applying a cold pack - for one to two minutes can also activate what's known as the diving reflex. This is a physiological response that slows the heart rate, diverts blood flow to vital organs like the brain and heart, and slows breathing. While it is our body's attempt at conserving oxygen while underwater, studies suggest it calms the nervous system via the vagus nerve. Detoxing Barnes-Lentz suggests dry brushing or even trampolining for eliminating toxins from organs like the liver, kidneys, and skin. So you don't need expensive diet plans or supplements. Dry brushing involves using a bristle body brush all over your body. It not only helps to unclog pores in the exfoliation process - but it can detoxify your skin by increasing blood circulation and promoting lymphatic drainage. It supports the flow of lymph fluid, which can lead to reduced swelling, improved circulation, and a boost to the immune system by removing waste and toxins. It's the same reason why massages are good for you - only much cheaper. And trampolining does the same thing, according to Barnes-Lentz. "I also like a small rebound or trampoline," she says. "Which is good for removing the lymph fluid, which can also enhance detoxification." Your lymphatic system relies on muscular contraction to move fluid around the body. So the simple act of brushing or bouncing on a trampoline can help clear toxins from the body. 10,000 steps 7 Physical activity is a cornerstone of health - but it doesn't have to involve a gym membership or expensive equipment. Walking, or mastering your own body weight, is one of the best ways to 'hack your health'. "If there was one pill for longevity, it would definitely be exercise," says Barnes-Lentz. The benefits span from boosting blood flow, adding muscle, strengthening bones, improving brain health - and longevity as a whole. So getting in those 10,000 steps or more is worth it, according to Barnes-Lentz. "Exercise can be done pretty much free or low cost," she continues. "I actually just moved from L.A. to Austin and we're not near gym. "So I'm doing at home workout programming with essentially just a couple of weights and mostly body weight." Dr Kambiz Alavian, of Imperial College London and an associate professor adjunct of medicine at Yale University, agrees. 'In the longevity field, there are no magic bullets – but exercise might come as close as it gets to biohacking," he tells The Sun. "It's still being called the miracle drug. "That said, the science behind the effects of metabolic health, muscle mass, and cardiovascular health – and any interventions that can improve those – in extending health span is strong.' Bed before 10pm 7 Another trick that doesn't require expensive gadgets is improving you sleep cycle. Simple changes like establishing a sleep schedule and calming bedtime routine can make a significant difference. And Barnes-Lentz reckons you should be going to bed before 10pm every night, in a cold, dark room. "A routine can be something such as, eating earlier, so stopping eating three hours prior to bed to really allow your melatonin to produce naturally and to optimise circadian rhythm," she says. "That can be really helpful." Something as simple as a sleep mask can be a good low-cost tool for "optimising" your sleep. Even a few restless nights can weaken your immune system, increase your blood glucose and increase your hunger hormone, ghrelin, so you'll have more cravings, according to Barnes-Lentz. It can also "decrease motivation so you won't be as motivated to work out or eat healthy," she continues. "So sleep is a game changer."
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Welcome to the 'National Health State': Half of all public spending will go on NHS by the end of the decade despite alarm at dire productivity... and bosses STILL want more
The growing stranglehold of the NHS over public spending was underlined today as Brits digest Rachel Reeves ' plans. A respected think-tank has insisted the UK is turning into the 'National Health State' after another major funding boost. In an extraordinary spree, the Chancellor allocated an extra £29billion per year and more cash for capital investment. Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, pointed out that amounted to 90 per cent of Labour 's extra public spending. She cautioned that continued a 'trend that is seeing the British state morph into a National Health State, with half of public service spending set to be on health by the end of the decade'. The latest huge cash injection comes despite concerns about progress in improving productivity in the NHS. Health service chiefs have also been warning that more money will be needed, with nurses already balloting for industrial action over an inflation-busting 3.6 pr cent pay offer. Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation, which represents health organisations, said: 'Difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29billion won't be enough to cover increasing costs of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it. 'On its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, told the NHS ConfedExpo conference in Manchester that the health service has done 'really well relative to other parts of the public service'. But he added: 'We all know it's never enough because of the scale of advancement, all the ambition, the day-to-day cost pressures... but I think everyone's starting to accept and understand we've got what the country can afford to give us. 'We really need to get better value for that money – it is broadly the equivalent of the GDP of Portugal, so it's a huge amount.' Ms Curtice said defence was another winner from the Spending Review, receiving a significant increase in capital spending while other departments saw an overall £3.6billion real-terms cut in investment. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has made similar arguments about 'substantial' investment in the NHS and defence coming at the expense of other departments, although the think tank's director Paul Johnson warned the money may not be enough. He said: 'Aiming to get back to meeting the NHS 18-week target for hospital waiting times within this Parliament is enormously ambitious – an NHS funding settlement below the long-run average might not measure up. 'And on defence, it's entirely possible that an increase in the Nato spending target will mean that maintaining defence spending at 2.6% of GDP no longer cuts the mustard.' Ms Curtice added that low and middle-income families had also done well out of the spending review 'after two rounds of painful tax rises and welfare cuts', with the poorest fifth of families benefiting from an average of £1,700 in extra spending on schools, hospitals and the police. She warned that, without economic growth, another round of tax rises was likely to come in the autumn as the Chancellor seeks to balance the books. She said: 'The extra money in this spending review has already been accounted for in the last forecast. 'But a weaker economic outlook and the unfunded changes to winter fuel payments mean the Chancellor will likely need to look again at tax rises in the autumn.' Ms Reeves insisted she would not have to raise taxes to cover her spending review - but stopped short of ruling them out. She told GB News: 'Every penny of this is funded through the tax increases and the changes to the fiscal rules that we set out last autumn.'
