Latest news with #SermedMezher
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Take the test that can help spot the hidden sign of ADHD that no one talks about
If you find yourself having a hard time following a TV show without subtitles, or asking people to repeat themselves, it might not be because there's something wrong with your hearing. Instead, experts says that auditory processing disorder (ADP)—a little-known sign of ADHD—could be to blame. According to Dr Sermed Mezher, a UK based GP and influencer with over 344,000 followers on Instagram, an inability to follow dialogue could be a sign of ADP. ADP affects around five per cent of the population and can make it incredibly difficult to process sounds, including spoken words. However, people who suffer with the condition usually have normal hearing. In an Instagram video that has so far garnered over 1.4million views, Dr Mezher explained: 'It isn't just people with ADHD that can hear things but struggle to process them. 'Auditory processing disorder is thought to be a dysfunction of what's known as the "cocktail party effect" of the brain—where you can selectively focus on different parts of your hearing.' The problem, which affects roughly half of people with ADHD, refers to a listener's ability to hone in on specific conversations or sounds, while ignoring other background noise. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sermed Mezher (@drsermedmezher) Audiologists can diagnose the condition via special tests, some of which can be replicated at home. For instance, testers may ask people to pick out details in two pieces of audio played at the same time-one containing speech, and the other music. You could test for this at home by playing music as well as your favourite tv show, and try to decifer what is being said. Elsewhere, tests are available online, such as a basic one by tech firm Forebrain, although these are not medically verified. Dr Mezher said: 'Signs that you could have [APD] include if you ask people to repeat things a lot, or you speak too softly or loudly for the situation.' He continued in the caption: 'People with APD might also appear to be inattentive or distracted especially in group settings, when in reality they are simply having trouble processing what is being said. Other common symptoms include having difficulty understanding people with a strong accent that is different from your own, problems following spoken instructions and difficulties with similar sounding words. Dr Mezher said: 'These challenges can impact academic, social and professional life, making early recognition and support essential.' Symptoms of APD and ADHD often overlap, meaning that children are misdiagnosed. Common symptoms of both conditions include finding it hard to listen to what people are saying, talking noisily and seeming disinterested in a conversation According to the NHS, APD most commonly develops in childhood, and is often found in people with attention, language and learning difficulties—such as ADHD, as well as dyslexia. This comes as worrying new figures published by the NHS estimate up to 2.5million people in England could be living with attention deficit disorder (ADHD), with more than half a million people waiting for an assessment. Doctors have raised concerns in recent years about a surge in diagnoses—but this marks the first official estimate of how widespread the condition may be. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with symptoms such as difficulty listening to what people are saying or following instructions, overlapping with APD. Other symptoms in children and young people include being easily distracted, forgetting everyday tasks and talking noisily. Around five per cent of children and young people in the country are thought to the condition. This means a total of 741,000 children and young people aged five to 24 may have the condition, including those without a diagnosis. This comes as ADHD campaigners have accused the NHS of presiding over a 'widely failing system' as it emerged that prescriptions for ADHD medications have risen by an alarming 18 per cent year on year since the pandemic.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Nurse demonstrates simple snoring hack: 'It'll give you the best sleep of your life'
If you or your partner is a snorer, you could be in luck. For an anesthetic nurse believes she may have found the cure to sleepless nights. A simple hack, which involves simply ensuring the mouth is closed during sleep, could stop the irritating noise in seconds, she suggested in a video posted to Instagram. The method is supported by doctors, with one responding to the clip saying the technique could result in, 'the best sleep of your life'. Ensuring the mouth is in the correct position can 'significantly improve sleep quality,' according to Dr Sermed Mezher, a London-based GP who has over 337,000 followers on Instagram. In a separate clip, Dr Mezher explained the reason why the technique is so effective. He said: 'As a society we have normalised snoring, but it's actually caused by a partial obstruction of the airway which leads to turbulent air flow and the loud sound.' While there are many different reasons why people snore, it is often caused by the tongue and soft tissue in the throat relaxing as we fall asleep, and narrowing the space for air to pass through. 'This narrowing causes tissues to vibrate, producing the sound we recognise as snoring', Dr Mezher explained. But by pushing the mouth closed, the space between the tongue and the lower jaw widens, creating more space for air and reducing the vibrations. In the caption to Dr Mezher's video, which has been viewed over 413,000 times, he said the technique is medically known as jaw thrust. But, for people who are looking for a simpler solution than holding their partner's jaw shut all night long, the doctor advised investing in a type of mouth guard known as a mandibular advancement device. He said: 'These devices work by gently holding the lower jaw in a forward position. By doing so, they stabilise the airway, pull the tongue slightly forward and prevent collapse, allowing for smoother, quieter breathing throughout the night.' According to the NHS, for best results, snorers need to wear the device for as long as possible through the night, ideally between five and six hours. However, it can take a bit of time to get used to the feeling of sleeping with a guard, especially for people who are prone to clenching their jaw at night. Dr Mezher said: 'These devices are particularly effective for people with habitual snoring or mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sermed Mezher (@drsermedmezher) In obstructive sleep apnoea, the airway blockage can cause people to stop breathing. While some cases of sleep apnoea can be treat by making lifestyle changes, such as giving up smoking and losing weight, left untreated, it can lead to more serious problems, the NHS warns. Symptoms of sleep apnoea mainly occur while sleeping, including breathing stopping and starting, making gasping or choking noises, waking up a lot and loud snoring. During the day, sufferers may also feel extremely tired, find it hard to concentrate and experience mood swings. Without treatment, this can lead to more serious health issues, including high blood pressure, increased stroke risk, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression. Dr Mezher said: 'With proper fitting by a trained provider, these devices can significantly improve sleep quality—for both the user and their partner—while addressing a key underlying cause of snoring.' HOW MUCH SLEEP SHOULD YOU GET? AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU STRUGGLE TO GET ENOUGH - Preschool (3-5 years): 10-13 hours - School-age (6-13 years): 9-11 hours - Teen (14-17 years): 8-10 hours - Young adult (18-25) 7-9 hours - Adult (26-64): 7-9 hours - Older adult (65 or more) 7-8 hours Source: Sleep Foundation WHAT CAN I DO TO IMPROVE MY SLEEP? 1) Limit screen time an hour before bed Our bodies have an internal 'clock' in the brain, which regulates our circadian rhythm. Mobiles, laptops and TVs emit blue light, which sends signals to our brain to keep us awake. 2) Address your 'racing mind' Take 5-10 minutes before you go to sleep to sit with a notebook and write down a list of anything that you need to do the following day. 3) Avoid caffeine after 12pm If you want a hot drink in the afternoon or evening, go for a decaffeinated tea or coffee. 4) Keep a cool bedroom temperature Keep bedroom thermostats to around 18°C. During spring/summer try sleeping with your bedroom window open to reduce the temperature and increase ventilation. 5) Limit alcohol in the evenings While you might initially fall into deep sleep more easily, you then wake up frequently during the night and have poorer deep sleep overall. 6) Supplement vitamin D Vitamin D plays a role in sleep. Vitamin D is widely available online and from most pharmacies. If you are unsure if this is appropriate or how much you need, seek advice from your GP. 7) Ensure sufficient intake of magnesium and zinc Foods high in magnesium include spinach, kale, avocado, bananas, cashews, and seeds.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
The real reason why toilet roll dispensers in public bathrooms have to be locked - as warning is issued to 'always check tissue'
Public bathrooms, while not perfect, are a necessity in modern society - but there's nothing quite so frustrating as using a public facility only to find the toilet paper has become jammed in the dispenser. This has led many to wonder why the plastic enclosure is locked in the first place, taking to California-based Q&A website Quora in search of answers. The most common explanation listed by users was to deter thieves away from being able to steal industrial-sized rolls for themselves. One person spoke about their experience working at American fast food store Wendy's when somebody broke the lock on a plastic case and took large rolls of toilet paper. They wrote: 'Theft is usually the reason why they're locked. However a lock is designed to keep people honest. 'I once worked at a Wendy's and they had large rolls of toilet paper for their restrooms and someone had stolen the huge roll of paper, apparently that person knew what they were doing and took it in broad daylight. 'I recall several people wore large coats as it was a cold season and one of them took it and hid it under their coat and walked out. As I recall the lock on the dispenser was broken as a result.' The most common explanation listed by users for why toilet paper was locked away was to deter thieves away from being able to steal industrial-sized rolls for themselves Another user said that while thieves were one of the main reasons to lock away toilet paper, they also said that it could be for hygienic reasons. They penned: 'Hygienic reason to stop people transmitting disease in them eg needle users will wipe their blood. To stop people wasting the paper unnecessarily unrolling it.' TikTok user @technicolor94 recently revealed that the tiny marks often seen on public toilet paper are made by drug users who are cleaning their dirty needles. If the roll has indents or rust-coloured marks then it's safer to avoid using the tissue altogether. The small marks could be specks of blood from dirty needles used for injecting illegal drugs. In September, Dr Sermed Mezher, a GP who boasts over 200,000 TikTok followers, claimed transmitting a virus through toilet paper was a 'very rare' but 'possible' risk. A third person commented on the Quora thread and said those in the bathroom cubicle would have to resort to using their socks if they were left unlocked. 'We take simple things for granted and people do not care about the next user,' they added. People wondered why toilet tissue is locked in the first place, taking to California-based Q&A website Quora in search of answers 'Just think why do people not clean stalls of things dropped on floor instead of in the trash barrel? I pick up other people's trash when using the toilet facility. Would they drop it on floor and leave it at home?' A fourth said: 'To deter theft. To keep the stalls clean and tidy. (Imagine toilet roll everywhere) To stop people from touching the toilet roll, excrement might not be seen. And you have to touch the toilet roll.' During the Covid-19 pandemic, toilet paper was seen as a valuable commodity as the stores could not keep up with the demand from panic buyers eager to stock up. In 2022, it was reported that the tissue had risen as much as 23 per cent in price - despite being around eight per cent shorter according to analysis from Trolley. Last August, Waitrose, owned by the John Lewis Partnership, cut the price of its own brand toilet roll from £5 for nine rolls to £4, claiming they were passing savings on to their customers but they were found to be 40 per cent lighter. After uproar from their customers and 500 one-star reviews for the product on their website, the supermarket decided to reverse the decision.
