Latest news with #UniversityOfLeeds
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
The cheap 90p supplement that could slash risk of deadly heart failure by ‘reversing' damage from silent killer
A CHEAP supplement could help prevent deadly heart failure by 'reversing' damage caused by silent killer diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes who took the widely available pill daily on top of their standard treatment were able to reverse early signs of diabetes-related heart failure in a matter of months, a new study showed. 1 The number Brits with diabetes has reached an all-time high - it's estimated that 5.8 million people have the condition, 90 per cent of whom have type 2 diabetes. This number is predicted to continue surging. Type 2 diabetes patients are up to five times more likely to develop heart failure than the rest of the population, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Once someone with diabetes is diagnosed with heart failure, they are three times more likely to die over the next five years. But a study conducted by the University of Leeds found that diabetics who took mitoquinone - sold as a health supplement for about 90p per tablet - had healthier hearts after four months compared to those not given the supplement. Lead author Dr Henry Procter, a clinical research fellow at the University of Leeds, said: 'These encouraging results are a sign that mitoquinone could keep hearts healthier for longer in people with diabetes. "If the study had continued for longer, it is likely we would have started to see differences in more serious indicators of heart health between the group with mitoquinone and the group without.' Diabetes causes problems with how the body - including the heart - processes and uses energy, which can cause stress and damage to the cells of the heart muscle. Over time, it can lead to the heart stiffening and being unable to pump blood well, eventually to the point of heart failure. Mitoquinone is an artificial antioxidant that is thought to guard cells against this metabolic stress and damage. It's sold online as a supplement for about £50 for a jar of 60 pills, which works out at about 86p per tablet. However, these are at doses far lower than those used in the study. The research, whose results were presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester, involved 70 patients with type 2 diabetes who didn't have heart failure. Half were given 40mg of mitoquinone per day on top of their regular diabetes treatment, while the other half received their usual medication. Both groups had their heart health assessed at the start of the study and again four months later. After four months of mitoquinone, diabetic patients' hearts were able to process and use energy 15 per cent more efficiently. Their heart muscles were also able to relax more quickly, which showed that early indicators of stress and stiffness in their hearts had been reversed, according to researchers. Patients experienced no side effects from taking the supplement. What is heart failure and tips to prevent it Heart failure is a condition where your heart can't pump blood around your body as well as it should. It doesn't mean your heart has stopped working but you may need support to help it work better. When your heart isn't pumping blood as well as it should, it means you're not getting enough oxygen. This affects how your body works, including your breathing and muscles. This causes some of the main symptoms of heart failure, like: Fainting or feeling lightheaded Feeling increasingly tired or weak at rest which gets worse with movement New persistent cough Shortness of breath when you're active or resting Swelling in your feet and ankles which can spread to your lower body You should see your GP as soon as you can if you experience any of these symptoms. To manage heart failure, here are some things you could try: Keeping active – which has been proven to boost energy and improve sleep and quality of life. Keeping to a healthy weight and diet – this will help your overall health and prevent extra strain on your heart. Limiting how much alcohol you drink (less than the recommended 14 units per week) - lowering your chance of getting abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure and diseases such as stroke, liver problems and some cancers. Stopping smoking and using other tobacco products - reducing your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases. Watching the amount of fluid you have each day if advised by your medical team. Weighing yourself regularly – sudden weight gain may mean too much fluid is building up in your body and will need treated. Source: BHF Those who didn't take the daily pill didn't see the same improvements to their heart health. Experts said that while their findings are promising they now need to be backed up by larger trials. The research team is now looking into running a larger study of mitoquinone in diabetes patients, to gather more evidence that the supplement could protect their hearts and prevent heart failure over time. They hope to show that diabetes patients could one day be prescribed mitoquinone to keep their hearts healthier for longer. 'We hope that a larger study will continue to demonstrate the benefits of this antioxidant, and that one day soon diabetic patients can be prescribed it to help prevent heart failure before it ever affects their lives," Dr Procter said. Professor Bryan Willians, the BHF's chief scientific and medical officer, added: 'This study presents some intriguing initial findings. "It's still early days for this research and the results will need to be confirmed in a larger scale trial. "The study neatly demonstrates why it is so important to continue to support research and look for solutions in a wide variety of places, so that we can continue to offer hope to people living with, and at risk of, cardiovascular disease.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Addingham woman with terminal cancer completes Everest Marathon
A woman with incurable breast cancer has said her resilience "paid off" after she completed the Everest Burke, from Addingham, West Yorkshire, was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 2024, and has since undergone four months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, liver surgery and Burke, an associate professor in exercise and health psychology at the University of Leeds, completed the race on 29 May in seven hours and 41 minutes, finishing fourth in her said the marathon - which is the world's highest - was "extremely demanding on the body", as starting at such a high altitude meant there was less oxygen in the air. "The Everest Marathon actually starts at an elevation of 5,300m [17,388ft], which is very taxing on the human body," she explained."The body is under stress because of the low oxygen in the air, so everyday simple tasks - getting in and out of your tent to walk to the dining tent or to walk to the toilet tent - can actually become very difficult."Your heart rate becomes elevated, breathing becomes more laborious - so if you can imagine trying to run a marathon at that altitude, how hard that actually is."Despite this, Dr Burke said the atmosphere among the competitors was "absolutely fantastic", with at least 200 participants from 32 different countries running in the marathon. "Everyone was united by just wanting to be in the mountains and to experience something very different," Dr Burke said. "It is not just a marathon, it is more than that. It passes through the Sherpa villages, passes through the monasteries."It offers that real inside look into the cultural heritage of the Khumbu Valley."Dr Burke, who is Canadian, has been to the Everest region three times before, first visiting back in work involves studying exercise and its effects on cancer, and throughout her cancer treatment she said she had managed to stay fit, running to and from her hospital appointments as a way of has previously climbed four out of the seven highest peaks in the world - Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, Elbrus in Russia, Kilimanjaro in Africa and Everest in Nepal. Dr Burke said the Everest Marathon "played to my strengths as a mountaineer"."I summited Everest in 2005, so I do know what it's like to push myself in high altitudes. "That resilience, I have it within me, and I think it paid off."It took me seven hours and 41 minutes to complete the marathon, you can't compare this to a marathon at sea level."I ended up finishing fourth for females in the foreigner category, so I am very pleased with my result." Dr Burke vowed not to give up on her passion for the mountains, and said: "Bigger mountains are coming next, watch this space."The Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon is an annual race which starts at Everest Base Camp and finishes in the town of Namche is held on 29 May to celebrate the Everest ascent by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on the same date in only did Dr Burke complete the marathon, to acclimatise less than two weeks before she also climbed the 20,075ft (6,119m) high Lobuche Peak in Nepal. She has raised more than £10,000 for the Macmillan cancer charity, which helped her during her treatment at Airedale Hospital and St James' Hospital in Leeds. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Park staff trained to tackle harassment of women
Park staff across London are being trained to spot and respond to harassment, as part of a new drive to make green spaces safer for women and girls. The training, developed by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the University of Leeds, will give staff the tools to step in when they see inappropriate behaviour. Members of the public can also sign up for the course. Campaigners say many women avoid parks, especially after dark, due to safety concerns. The charity which campaigns against stalking and harassment is also calling for better lighting, more staff, and for women to have a say in how parks are designed. "The kinds of behaviours this training would assist with include inappropriate comments, gestures, cat calling or even unwanted touching," said Saskia Garner from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. "Someone sitting down next to you on a bench and putting their arm around you – anything that makes you feel unsafe is not OK." Ms Garner added that many people want to help but are unsure how to act safely. "You wouldn't go in a park by yourself after dark or even with one other person because it doesn't feel safe," one woman told BBC London in the Regent's Park. Another added: "[Parks aren't] not very well lit... in the one where I live there are no street lamps." The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, set up after the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, works to reduce violence and harassment through training and support. "People don't feel they can intervene," Ms Garner said. "They worry about making things worse. The women we spoke to said they didn't feel safe to challenge the harassment and didn't think anyone would help them." Violence against women and girls 'endemic' Most women feel unsafe in parks, research finds Park staff trained in handling harassment cases The scheme encourages the idea of "active bystanders" – people who feel confident to intervene without putting themselves at risk. "This training gives people safe tools to step in. Whether by distracting someone or helping to report what's happened. But it always prioritises your safety and what's right for that moment," Ms Garner added. Posters will soon appear in parks and community centres across London, encouraging people to sign up. Dr Anna Barker, from the University of Leeds, said: "We want to build a community of active bystanders… so people feel more confident and connected, and better able to act when they see harassment." The training is being rolled out using Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award network across England and Wales, the University of Leeds said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Suzy Lamplugh Trust Keep Britain Tidy - Green Flag Award
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Park staff trained to tackle harassment of women
Park staff across London are being trained to spot and respond to harassment, as part of a new drive to make green spaces safer for women and girls. The training, developed by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the University of Leeds, will give staff the tools to step in when they see inappropriate behaviour. Members of the public can also sign up for the course. Campaigners say many women avoid parks, especially after dark, due to safety concerns. The charity which campaigns against stalking and harassment is also calling for better lighting, more staff, and for women to have a say in how parks are designed. "The kinds of behaviours this training would assist with include inappropriate comments, gestures, cat calling or even unwanted touching," said Saskia Garner from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. "Someone sitting down next to you on a bench and putting their arm around you – anything that makes you feel unsafe is not OK." Ms Garner added that many people want to help but are unsure how to act safely. "You wouldn't go in a park by yourself after dark or even with one other person because it doesn't feel safe," one woman told BBC London in the Regent's Park. Another added: "[Parks aren't] not very well lit... in the one where I live there are no street lamps." The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, set up after the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, works to reduce violence and harassment through training and support. "People don't feel they can intervene," Ms Garner said. "They worry about making things worse. The women we spoke to said they didn't feel safe to challenge the harassment and didn't think anyone would help them." Violence against women and girls 'endemic' Most women feel unsafe in parks, research finds Park staff trained in handling harassment cases The scheme encourages the idea of "active bystanders" – people who feel confident to intervene without putting themselves at risk. "This training gives people safe tools to step in. Whether by distracting someone or helping to report what's happened. But it always prioritises your safety and what's right for that moment," Ms Garner added. Posters will soon appear in parks and community centres across London, encouraging people to sign up. Dr Anna Barker, from the University of Leeds, said: "We want to build a community of active bystanders… so people feel more confident and connected, and better able to act when they see harassment." The training is being rolled out using Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award network across England and Wales, the University of Leeds said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Suzy Lamplugh Trust Keep Britain Tidy - Green Flag Award
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
London park staff trained to tackle harassment of women
Park staff across London are being trained to spot and respond to harassment, as part of a new drive to make green spaces safer for women and training, developed by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust and the University of Leeds, will give staff the tools to step in when they see inappropriate behaviour. Members of the public can also sign up for the say many women avoid parks, especially after dark, due to safety charity which campaigns against stalking and harassment is also calling for better lighting, more staff, and for women to have a say in how parks are designed. "The kinds of behaviours this training would assist with include inappropriate comments, gestures, cat calling or even unwanted touching," said Saskia Garner from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust."Someone sitting down next to you on a bench and putting their arm around you – anything that makes you feel unsafe is not OK."Ms Garner added that many people want to help but are unsure how to act safely. "You wouldn't go in a park by yourself after dark or even with one other person because it doesn't feel safe," one woman told BBC London in the Regent's added: "[Parks aren't] not very well lit... in the one where I live there are no street lamps."The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, set up after the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, works to reduce violence and harassment through training and support."People don't feel they can intervene," Ms Garner said."They worry about making things worse. The women we spoke to said they didn't feel safe to challenge the harassment and didn't think anyone would help them." The scheme encourages the idea of "active bystanders" – people who feel confident to intervene without putting themselves at risk."This training gives people safe tools to step in. Whether by distracting someone or helping to report what's happened. But it always prioritises your safety and what's right for that moment," Ms Garner will soon appear in parks and community centres across London, encouraging people to sign Anna Barker, from the University of Leeds, said: "We want to build a community of active bystanders… so people feel more confident and connected, and better able to act when they see harassment."The training is being rolled out using Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award network across England and Wales, the University of Leeds said.
