32 Health


THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017


UK a nation of water babies NEW research, commissioned


by Yakult UK to mark the launch of their exclusive campaign #SwimWithJazz, has found that Britons are literally a nation of water babies, with nearly half (48%) of those polled saying swimming is the sport they enjoy most, ahead of walking (38%) and cycling (26%). Indeed, despite 85% of those


polled believing that swimming is the best exercise for your health, more than a third (40%) gave up swimming lessons when they were 10-years-old or younger, and over a quarter (27%) do not even go swimming once a year. In response to this and in an effort


£40 million boost for Welsh NHS estate ADDITIONAL capital funding


of £40 million, announced in the Welsh Government’s final Budget, will improve Wales’ health estate and accelerate transformation, Health Secretary Vaughan Gething announced today. The capital funding forms part


of significant ongoing investment in modernising NHS buildings and equipment and supporting the delivery of new models of care. It will be particularly targeted at the development of a new generation


of integrated health and social services centres across Wales, which will improve local access and care closer to home. It will help local Health Boards bring forward plans for facilities in primary and community settings more quickly in the future. Vaughan Gething said: “The


significant funding announced in the final Budget is great news for local Health Boards in Wales. “We know a number of them are


looking forward to bringing forward investment in developments to improve


the integration of health and social services in their areas. The money announced in the final Budget will allow them to do just that. “We want people to be able to access


health and social services in a modern, fit for purpose environment in their local community where possible. Although we are unable to give more detail at this point, we expect the funding announced today will bring forward a pipeline of new projects in every local Health Board in Wales, which will make a real difference for patients.”


to get Brits back in the water, Yakult UK and Double Olympic Silver Medallist Jazz Carlin have teamed up with Loughborough University to devise an algorithm to assess a group of attendees swimming capability and providing useful tips in order to determine their ‘swimming age'. This is based on a number of factors including; height, weight, when they stopped swimming lessons and the number of times a year they go swimming. Jazz also provided useful individual tips to the attendees at the event and also provides some tips on how to improve technique, overall ability in an attempt to get Britain back in the water. The


OnePoll survey,


commissioned by Yakult UK, which polled 2,000 UK adults whom have had swimming lessons, found that the three of the most common reasons that


appearance


Lack of confidence in technique Other reasons also included


feeling intimidated by the ability of other swimmers (7%), not liking to get their hair wet (6%) and problems with breathing and stamina (5%). However, despite this, the ever-


optimistic Brit is not prepared to be held back by these worries, with a fifth (21%) considering taking up swimming in the New Year, alongside other sports such as walking (25%) and cycling (17%). Jazz Carlin, Olympic Silver


Medallist, said: "With the New Year around the corner and the nation's focus turning to fitness, it's great that swimming is being considered as a hobby. All of the worries highlighted around swimming are definitely things that can be addressed and with a few pointers, practice can help to improve that swimming age - we've all got to start somewhere!" Hiroaki Yoshimura, Deputy


Managing Director for Yakult UK, said: "Yakult has a long history of supporting swimming and so we're delighted to be sponsoring Jazz Carlin and encouraging the nation to dive back into swimming. New Year is a excellent time to get in shape and try something new, and it's great to be enabling Brits to try and improve their swimming technique."


‘Cannabis’ medicine to be available in UK ONE of the main ingredients in


cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), is to be classed as a medicine in the UK. The decision by the Medicines &


Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stems from claims that the drug successfully treats serious diseases. The new classification means


products containing CBD can now be legally distributed across the UK. Gerald Heddel from MHRA told Sky News that the change came about ‘based on the fact that we noted that people were making some quite stark claims about serious diseases that could be treated with CBD’. Alongside Tetrahydrocannabinol


(THC), CBD is one of the main components of cannabis, accounting for 40% of the marijuana plant’s extract. Unlike THC, which is psychoactive, CBD is non-psychoactive, antipsychotic and does not cause anxiety. The compound’s lack of a high makes


it less appealing to recreational users but of particular interest to the medical community, with campaigners claiming it aids in easing pain related to diseases including cancer, depression, Crohn’s disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “It was clear that people are using this


product with the understandable belief that it will actually help,” Heddel said. “MHRA will now work with


individual companies and trade bodies in relation to making sure products containing CBD, used for a medical purpose, which can be classified as medicines, satisfy the legal requirements of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012,” an MHRA spokesperson said in a statement, adding that 18 companies have been advised of their change in opinion. “Our primary concern is patient safety


and we wish to reiterate that individuals using cannabidiol (CBD) products to treat or manage the symptoms of medical conditions should discuss their treatment with their doctor.” Last month, researchers from the


University of Alabama found CBD reduces both the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures in both children and adults. In two-thirds of the 81 participants, the severity was reduced by at least 50%. During 2016, an increasing number


of MPs called for ‘root and branch’ reform of Britain’s ‘failing’ drug policy, with a cross party report indicating that the exchequer could increase its tax revenue by as much as £1 billion a year through the legalisation of cannabis


are holding Brits back from the water are:


Not having enough time Feeling self-conscious about


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72