Latest news with #HealthExclusive
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘Our hearts are full of hope' – Irish family begins journey to the Netherlands for 4-year-old boy's rare treatment
AN IRISH family have started their journey to the Netherlands this morning to seek health treatment for the four-year-old boy. Zach McCrossan, based in St Johnston in Donegal, was recently diagnosed with high-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder that progresses to Acute Myeloid Advertisement 2 Zach has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder Credit: Social media collects And his only chance of survival is a bone marrow transplant, which is not available in Ireland. He has now been referred to the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, The family were doubly shocked by the news of his diagnosis, as his mother, Patrice, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in January 2024. The 32-year-old was rushed to Advertisement READ MORE ON HSE Unfortunately, the transplant wasn't as successful as the family had wished and Patrice now travels regularly to In April, the family launched a campaign to support Zach through his "critical treatment" as well as keep their "family together" during this difficult time. The campaign was launched with the goal of €3,500, and in 24 hours it had raised over €122,500 - smashing their initial target. The funds raised will go towards travel, Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive Today, they began their journey to the airport after meeting their target for seeking Zach's treatment for his rare blood disorder. In awe of the support the family have received from their local community and beyond, they posted an update on "This morning, we left home and began our journey to the Netherlands with Zach. "As we make our way to the airport and step into this next chapter, our hearts are full of hope, of emotion, and of deep gratitude. Advertisement 'FELT EVERY BIT OF YOUR LOVE' "To every single person, near and far, who has supported us: thank you. "Whether you donated, organised a fundraiser, offered a lift, dropped off meals, minded our other children, shared advice, or simply sent a message of encouragement… "We have felt every bit of your love and kindness. "It's because of you... our incredible circle of family, friends, neighbours, and strangers with big hearts... Advertisement "That we're able to be by Zach's side as he begins treatment in the Princess Máxima Center in Utrecht." The family stated that they will regularly update their socials, GoFundMe campaign, and dedicated website on Zach McCrossan's progress over the coming weeks and months. 2 The family started their journey to the Netherlands to get Zach the treatment he requires Credit: Social media collects
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The 3 simple at-home tests to check how well YOUR brain is really ageing
WHILE it's impossible to predict your exact lifespan, experts have developed simple tests over the years to gauge how well (or how badly) a person is ageing. The Advertisement 3 Cognitive fitness is a good measure of how well a person is ageing Credit: Getty The test can be a predictor of frailty and mortality - lower scores may indicate a higher risk of falls and reduced mobility. But if you want to really understand how well you're ageing, it's important to look beyond physical health. Mental sharpness, emotional resilience and social connection matter just as much, says Writing for Advertisement Read more on anti-ageing Three tests he recommends are the Trail Making Test, the Stroop Task, and Dual-task Challenge. He says: " These kinds of tasks test how well your brain handles competing demands – a key ability that becomes even more important as we age. " This skill is known as cognitive flexibility , and it helps you adapt to changing situations, switch between tasks and manage distractions. " Trail Making Test 3 The Trail Making Test involves connecting dots in a specific order Credit: Getty Advertisement The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a neuropsychological test used to assess visual attention, task switching, and executive function. Most read in Health Exclusive It involves connecting dots in a specific order. A subject is given a sheet containing the dots (numbers and letters) and a pencil. 10 second one leg stand test For part A, the subject is instructed to connect the numbers in numerical order as quickly as possible. Advertisement For part B, the subject is instructed to connect the alternating numbers and letters in the correct sequence. The time taken to complete each part is recorded. Part A measures psychomotor speed and visual search. Part B measures executive function, including set-shifting and inhibition. Advertisement Time difference between part A and part B can indicate difficulties with task switching and executive function. As well as being a test for ageing you can do at home, the TMT is used in various clinical settings, including evaluating brain injury, identifying early signs of dementia, and tracking progress after brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Stroop Task The Stroop task is a psychological experiment designed to measure cognitive interference, specifically the interference between reading a word and naming the colour it's written in. Participants are presented with colour words, and the task is to name the colour of the ink the word is printed in, even when the word itself contradicts that colour. Advertisement The word "RED" might be printed in blue ink, creating a conflict between the word's meaning and the ink colour. Signs of difficulty with the Stroop task include slower reaction times, increased errors, and finding it hard to override the automatic tendency to read the word rather than identify the colour. In clinical settings, the Stroop task can be used to assess attention deficits and cognitive flexibility, such as evaluating individuals with ADHD or other neurological conditions. Dual-task Challenge 3 The Dual-task Challenge involves performing two tasks simultaneously, such as walking and talking Credit: Getty Advertisement A Dual-task Challenge involves simultaneously performing two tasks, often a motor task and a cognitive task, to assess the impact of one task on the performance of the other. This approach is used to study how attention and cognitive resources are allocated and how multitasking can affect performance, particularly in areas like gait and balance. Common dual-task scenarios include walking while talking, counting while performing a physical exercise, or paying attention to a conversation while walking. Struggling with dual-task challenges can manifest in various ways. Advertisement You might experience decreased performance in either or both tasks, increased reaction times, or changes in physical movement like reduced walking speed or balance issues. Specifically, you could notice difficulties with tasks requiring cognitive flexibility, executive function, memory, attention, and processing speed. In some cases, people may also report increased Dual-task training is used in rehabilitation, particularly for individuals with neurological conditions or injuries, to improve balance and gait, and it's also used in research to understand how cognitive abilities influence physical performance. Advertisement But the most important thing to do when doing these tests is to complete them a few times at the start, then retest yourself once a month. That way you can track improvements or deterioration. Arkesteijn says: "Cognitive changes may be slower to notice than physical ones, so regular checks can help reveal progress over time." But he adds: "There's no single test or score that can capture how well you're ageing. Think of it more like a jigsaw puzzle. Advertisement "Physical health, mental agility, emotional balance, social connection - they all matter, and they all interact. "And of course, even if you perform well now, some changes inthe future may be beyond your control. "No test can fully predict what lies ahead." What you can do to slow down ageing Follow a healthy diet - Prioritise whole, unprocessed foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Exercise regularly - Engage in a variety of physical activities, including both aerobic and strength training. Manage stress - Practice Get adequate sleep - Aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night. Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake - Smoking accelerates ageing, and excessive alcohol can have negative effects on health.
The Irish Sun
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
HSE issue little-known ‘do not dry clothes outside' alert to one in four Irish people
IRISH people are being urged "not to dry clothes outside" this summer as it can exacerbate a common illness. Advertisement 2 Hay fever is also called seasonal allergic rhinitis Credit: Getty When the pollen count is high, or when you or your neighbours are cutting the grass, drying your clothes outside can bring pollen back into your home as it sticks to the material. Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen as its symptoms start as soon as the pollen comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes, and throat. It is also called seasonal allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis or hay fever affects one in four Irish people, and at least 400 million people worldwide. Advertisement Read more in Health Hay fever symptoms are usually worse between late March and September as the pollen count is at its highest when the weather is warm, humid and windy. Pollen is a fine powder that comes from plants - and the most common sources are trees, grass and weeds. Grass pollen is the one that most people are allergic to, and this will start being released from mid-May until July. Advertisement Most read in Health Exclusive This is followed by weed pollen which is released until the season ends in September. Irish people can have symptoms for weeks or months, or sometimes all year round. When your hay fever symptoms could really be signs of cancer You are more likely to get hay fever if it runs in your family or if your family has a history of asthma or eczema. Advertisement HAY FEVER SYMPTOMS THERE are a number of symptoms you might notice: sneezing and coughing a runny or blocked nose itchy, red or watery eyes itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears loss of smell pain around your temples and forehead headache earache feeling tired Hay fever symptoms in children are the same as in adults. According to the The health executive added: "There's no cure for hay fever and you cannot prevent it. "But you can try to avoid pollen when the count is high." Health chiefs advised those allergic to pollen to check its forecast count daily at Met Éireann, and also to put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen. They added: "[You should] wear wraparound sunglasses to stop pollen from getting into your eyes, shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash the pollen off [and] stay indoors or plan indoor activities for children when the pollen count is high." Advertisement TOP TIPS Irish people should also keep windows and doors closed when the pollen count is high. Health chiefs also revealed four tips of what not to do while the pollen season is on. They said: "Do not cut grass or walk on grass. "Do not keep fresh flowers in the house. Advertisement "Do not smoke or be around smoke - it makes your symptoms worse. "Do not dry clothes outside - they can trap pollen." 2 Hay fever symptoms in children are the same as in adults Credit: Getty
