Shocking rise in rickets cases
Doctors at Newcastle University are calling for Vitamin D to be added to milk and other foods to combat the rise in rickets among children.
Rickets, which can cause bowing of the legs and softening of the bones is more associated with Victorian slums, rather than a modern developed country.
The blame has been put at the door of computer games, encouraging children to stay indoors rather than playing in the sun. However, another cause may be that over-protective parents are unwilling to let their children out of their sight.
Either explanation is probably too simple, but if rickets is returning then people need to work out why.
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Get rid of rats – they spread disease
If you have a pest problem, your health could be at risk. That is why it is important that any infestations are dealt with as quickly as possible.
The humble rat, beside being quite frightening to people, can spread salmonella, E.coli, TB and Weil’s disease. This can cause jaundice.
To get rid of rats, it is best to call in a professional. If you use humane traps, you will have to release the rat far from your home, or it my simply come back.
Less humane traps mean you will have the unpleasant task of dealing with a rat corpse.
Which can easily make you physically sick.
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Alternative energy – benefits of pollution free energy
Even if you don’t believe that greenhouse gases are responsible for global warming, you must agree that breathing in smoke is unpleasant.
That is one of the simplest reasons why we should promote alternative energy in this country. With pollution reduced we would surely see a fall in respiratory illnesses - which free up money in the NHS.
That is why I think it is vital that the government funds research into large scale solar energy projects, and much more is done to make electric cars widely available and attractive to the ordinary consumer.
There would be health benefits due to reduced emissions and – I believe – benefits to the planet.
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Resolving for a healthier lifestyle
Most people that make New Year’s resolutions will fail to keep them. That is because they set themselves unrealistic targets, or they tend to be too negative.
For example, you won’t keep a resolution that says “I will not eat biscuits” but you have a great chance of success if you say “I will adopt a healthier lifestyle”.
And that is exactly what my New Year’s resolution is this year. I indulged a bit more than I should have done over Christmas, so I am going to start going back to the gym, eat more healthy, home cooked meals and even start walking to work and back.
This should help shed those extra Christmas pounds and I would recommend that anyone makes a similar resolution.
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Morning after pill available to under 16s
The festive season may be over, but many will find the effects last much longer than a hangover.
The combination of numerous parties and lots of drink mean that the number of teenage pregnancies always rises in the new year. Demand for the morning after pill also goes up.
This Christmas, some health boards offered emergency contraception free, without a prescription. While offering the pill to under-16s is not without controversy, it is hoped it will reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions.
Britain has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Europe, and the festive period is one time of year when teenage pregnancies shoot up.
Easy access to emergency contraception could help cut this.
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