The Northern Echo
MAY 2005
How to get a
Hollywood smile
Do you have a
drink problem?
�How Jamie
Oliver saved
my son’
10 ways
to slim for
summer
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
2
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
Do you have a drink
contents
3 FITNESS
Tennis: serving up some
exercise this summer
4 NUTRITION
20 foods your heart
would like you to eat
6 FAMILY
�How Jamie Oliver
saved my son’s life’
9 SUMMER LIVING
Don’t forget to keep hydrated
10 DENTISTRY
The white stuff
12 SLIMMING
10 ways to get trim
14 ME & MY HEALTH
Rugby star Mathew Tait
16 PRIMARY CARE TRUST
If it’s serious, head for hospital
20 FITNESS
Diana Moran: the lean,
green machine
22 ALTERNATIVES
Life at the sharp end
23 CELEBRITY HEALTH
Author Michelle Paver
26 WORK LIFE
The desk de-stresser
Front page picture:
Britesmile
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
problem?
Most of us enjoy a drink and it doesn’t usualy do us any harm, but
if it gets our of control, alcohol can destroy your life. Do you know
the difference between moderate and excessive drinking?
1 In an average week, do you drink:
a never;
b once or twice;
c most evenings;
d every evening and a few lunch times too.
2 If you find you have no drink in the
house, do you:
a shrug and put the kettle on;
b swear and put the kettle on;
c go down to the off licence;
d go down to the bar.
3 Do people you know – work colleagues,
family, friends – comment on your
drinking:
a never;
b occasionally;
c the morning after functions;
d frequently.
4 You are at a very good party/function, do
you stay until:
a the time you agreed to leave;
b the last train;
c the conversation runs out;
d the bar runs out.
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5 You are at a function with a well stocked
bar, but also in attendance are people you
ought to be impressing – the future in-laws,
your kids’ head teacher, the boss – do you:
a stick to soft drinks;
b drink in moderation;
c set out to do b but end up somehow
doing d;
d get legless.
6 Do you drink wine with a meal:
a never;
b on special occasions;
c only when out at dinner;
d whenever it is available.
7 If you’ve had a particularly stressful day,
do you:
a go for a run;
b have a glass of wine and talk it through
with your partner;
c go down to the bar with your best mate;
d polish off a bottle of vodka by yourself.
8 If, at a party, the bar has got down to
some very suspect-looking liqueur and
super strength lager, do you:
a not really notice because they’ve still got
plenty of Evian;
b opt for a soft drink;
c go home;
d mix the two together and wonder why
nobody else wants to sample your new
cocktail.
10 How would you describe your
relationship with drink:
a non-existent;
b a mild flirtation;
c like having a mistress;
d lurrrve.
How did you score?
All a: You probably only did this quiz in order
to show off how clean living you are.
Mostly a: It is unlike you will ever have a problem with alcohol as you don’t seem to need it
and are able to control your approach to it with
admirable discipline.
Mostly b: If your Bs are mixed with As then you
too have very little to worry about as you are
the perfect social drinker. If they’re mixed with
Cs though (especially on questions 3,5 and 7),
you should keep an eye on yourself.
Mostly c: You could have a problem or the makings of one. You don’t seem to be able to control your drinking too well and you may be kidding yourself that everything is okay – denial
is a common attribute of the people that drink
at this level.
Mostly d: You are in serious trouble. Your
drinking seem to be out of control, it is starting to have an impact on every aspect of your
life and is doubtless affecting your health by
now. You need to seek help asap.
в—Џ From Not Rocket Science (Cassell
Illustrated, ВЈ12.99), a fascinating book full
of advice, horror stories and life-saving
wisdom aimed at getting men to take better
care of themselves.
is produced by The Northern Echo/ Newsquest Ltd., a Gannett Company,
Priestgate, Darlington DL1 1NF (01325) 381313
Holly Lodge Care Home
Dolphin Properties Ltd
Chapel Street, Shildon, Co. Durham
Enquiries contact: t 0800 0858904
9 You’ve woken up next to somebody you
don’t recognise how often:
a several times, but all of them were on
transatlantic flights;
b not since university;
c not since you were last on holiday;
d sometimes you don’t recognise your
partner.
magazine
ADVERTISING Gail Hunter (01325) 505 239 [email protected]
EDITORIAL Jenny Needham (01325) 505082 [email protected]
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
3
Tennis is not just for
Wimbledon – it’s
ideal for everyone
all year round,
professional coach
Derek Edwards tells
SARAH FOSTER
EXERCISETENNIS
Game, set and match... tennis coaches Stuart Gaydon and Derek Edwards say the sport is great for all-round fitness
Derek’s top five tennis tips:
1. Watch the ball right onto your racquet.
(Don’t look where you’re going to hit it, look at
the ball as you hit it.)
2. Always have a good athletic ready position.
3. Try to keep on your toes, not your heels.
4. Try to keep the ball deep to the back of the
court.
5. Attack when your opponent gives you a
short ball.
в—Џ For more tips, visit
www.tennisandsquash.co.uk
Serving up fitness... and a social life
N
OW that the fine days are upon us
(well, almost) thoughts turn to the
outdoors and that perennial summer pastime – tennis. With courts
scattered throughout the region,
including many in local parks, all you need is
a racquet and you’re ready to go.
But what if you’ve never played before, or
worry that your backhand will make you
blush? Never fear, as you can always call on a
coach.
Derek Edwards, 43, is a professional tennis
and squash coach and head coach at New
Blackwell Lawn Tennis Club, in Darlington. He
says you’re never too old – or too young – to
master the game. “I currently have people from
five to six-year-olds to people well over 60, so it’s
all age groups. Basically, people tend to want to
play in the clubs socially and maybe some of
them competitively, and they soon find out that
they need a little bit of help,” he says.
Derek started playing as a youngster and got
into part-time coaching when he was just 16.
When he finished university, he was asked to
fill in as a club coach in Hull and 22 years on,
it’s still his full-time job. He moved in 1985, with
fellow coach Stuart Gaydon, to teach at the
now-defunct North-East Regional Tennis Centre, at Teesside Airport. In 1990, the pair transferred to New Blackwell.
Derek says he’s seen the game evolve over the
years. “When Stuart and I came up here, we
were the only full-time coaches in the area.
There are more now with the advent of indoor
courts,” he says.
While they’ve taught at regional and county
level, most of their trade now stems from tennis as recreation. “Since moving to Blackwell,
we’ve done more of the social players. It’s a very
social game,” says Derek.
Of course, the game is never more popular
than in the two weeks of Wimbledon, when the
world converges on the hallowed All England
courts. Derek admits it does boost business.
“That’s obviously the peak time of year. We get
a lot of inquiries, and from those inquiries we
get a new influx for the next year,” he says.
Despite this, tennis, like other sports, is now
less popular than in the past, which Derek
blames on the rise of other, more sedentary
hobbies like the Playstation. However, he says
there are signs of a revival. “Tennis participation is on the way up again for some reason.”
Far from being just a summer sport, Derek
says it can be played throughout the seasons.
“The indoor centres are busy all year round. At
Blackwell, we’ve got floodlights and we’re just
as busy in the winter as in the summer. Surfaces are normally all-weather now, so they’re
much more geared to winter play,” he says.
Nowadays, most people recognise the need
for regular exercise, and for many of Derek’s
clients, this is of major concern. He says tennis is excellent for keeping fit. “A good game of
singles is a very good aerobic workout. I read
recently that the serving action is supposed to
use more muscles than any other action except
swimming,” says Derek.
“You are running around a lot and there are
a lot of footwork and skipping movements.
There’s also a lot of rotation, stretching, bending and jumping. It’s great for flexibility, especially as you get older.”
в—Џ For details of your nearest club or coach,
or how to enter competitions, ring the
Durham and Cleveland Lawn Tennis
Association at the Puma Centre, Sunderland,
on 0191-522 5005, or visit www.lta.org.
A BRIEF HISTORY
TENNIS of one kind or another was played
in France as far back as the 12th century. It
was not until the late 19th century that the
game, in a somewhat different form, began
to rise in popularity in Britain with the
advent of lawn tennis. The first Wimbledon
was held in 1877. Over the years, the game
has changed dramatically – for example, the
court used to be hourglass-shaped. During
the past few decades, wooden and metal
racquets have gradually been replaced by
those made from graphite and other
compounds. In the 1930s, tennis became
Australia’s most popular recreational sport
and the nation went on to dominate it as no
nation ever has, or most likely, ever will.
4
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
20
While exercise is
vital to
maintaining a
happy, healthy
heart, so is what
you eat. Luckily,
this does not
mean a diet of
lentils and brown
rice – although
that would not do
you any harm –
as many of the
foods that are
best for your
heart and blood
pressure are
some of the most
interesting you’ll
find on any
menu...
foods your he
ALMONDS
Like so many nuts, these
are a good source of
protein. As a bonus,
almonds contain
circulation-boosting fibre
and vitamin E, which
helps to combat heart disease.
potassium, which is essential for
maintaining a regular cardiac rhythm.
BLACK PEPPER
Black pepper purifies the blood by filtering
out a large amount of potential toxins.
BLUEBERRIES
Rich in antioxidants,
reliable blood thinners
and cholesterol blasters,
blueberries should be a
vital part of your diet.
BREAKFAST
APPLE JUICE
The natural antioxidants in apple juice
drastically slow down the effects of harmful
cholesterol in the bloodstream.
ASPARAGUS
This is rich in folic acid, a
vitamin that helps to
prevent narrowing of
blood vessels in the legs
(which is a particular risk
to smokers).
BANANAS
The yellow fruit is a rich source of
A healthy breakfast, that is. American
research has shown that people who eat
breakfast are almost 50 per cent less likely to
suffer heart attacks than those who skip it.
The reason? It keeps their metabolism
working far more efficiently and therefore
able to cope with food during the rest of the
day with relative ease.
CRANBERRIES
Research at the University of Massachusetts
has revealed that cranberries guard against
the effects of a stroke. A daily serving of the
berries provided enough protection to keep
brain cells from dying during a simulated
stroke.
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
5
... and the food your heart hates
ALL full fat dairy foods are rich in
saturated fats, which increase the levels
of harmful cholesterol and do your
arteries no good at all. Avoid butter by
using a substitute containing
monounsaturated fat (olive oil spread) or
polyunsaturated fat (sunflower oil
spread) and switch to non-fat cheese and
milk.
SALT
The regular amount of salt most of us
sprinkle on our food is fine, but too much
is bad for the heart because it increase
the volume of blood and so raises your
blood pressure – just as if you put too
much oil in your car. People of AfricanCaribbean descent are far more likely to
be affected by excess salt than those of
the Caucasian persuasion. Asians also
tend to have too much salt in their diet.
ALCOHOL
Whereas drinking in moderation –
especially red wine – is proven to have a
beneficial effect on the heart, sinking a
skinful on a regular basis can be very
dangerous. Alcohol weakens the action
of the heart muscle, so to compensate,
the heart speeds up, raising blood
pressure. Continued heavy drinking
produces a build-up of fat in the liver
which then cannot process toxins out of
the blood with its usual efficiency; in
turn, this impairs the blood’s ability to
deliver oxygen to the body’s tissues. The
heart then has to work even harder.
CAFFEINE
If drunk in moderation by reasonably
healthy people, coffee is of no danger
whatsoever. In fact, the pulse-quickening
jolt from a decent caffeine shot is what
most of us need to get going in the
morning. In providing this lift though,
caffeine causes the heart to pump faster
by a couple of beats per minute, raising
blood pressure by up to five points. After
one cup of coffee, the heart rate falls back
to normal pretty soon, but constant
caffeine hits throughout the day keep the
rate – and blood pressure – raised for too
long to be entirely safe. As caffeine
tolerance is easily acquired – people tend
to drink more and more to get the same
invigorating experience – and blood
pressure can soon creep into the danger
levels. Anybody with existing high blood
pressure should be very careful about
caffeine intake.
в—Џ More information in Not Rocket
Science (Cassell Illustrated, ВЈ12.99)
eart would like you to eat
GARLIC
SALMON
The words “too”, “much” and “garlic” are
contradictions in terms and should never be
seen in the same sentence. Garlic doesn’t
just ward off vampires, it wards of
practically everything else that could do you
harm. The magic bulb protects your pump
by lowering artery-clogging cholesterol
levels and reduces your blood pressure by
thinning the blood. Shame something so
good for your heart can be so bad for your
love life – best get your partner to eat as
much of it as you do.
Any oily fish – including mackerel or
sardines, for instance – is rich in the
essential fatty acid omega 3 which gives
protection against heart disease and raises
your circulatory efficiency by thinning the
blood, but salmon has more of it than the
others.
SKINLESS CHICKEN
Chicken breasts are a useful source of
protein; however, there is a layer of arteryendangering fat just below the skin. Lose the
skin, lose the fat.
MARGARINE
This can be a valuable source of
polyunsaturated fat, which lowers
cholesterol levels across the board. Check
the label though, as brands vary.
OLIVE OIL
A monounsaturated fat that is much kinder
to your heart than dairy fats, as it works to
lower harmful cholesterol. It is a fat, though,
so treat it with respect.
RED CHILLI
PEPPERS
SPINACH
A bit of a superstar,
spinach is incredibly
rich in iron, which is
needed for the
production of red blood
cells and the prevention
of anaemia. This veg is also a vital source of
folic acid, a vitamin that works hard to keep
your blood free flowing.
TEA
These thin the blood to
keep circulation moving
and reduce cholesterol
levels.
RED WINE
One glass a day can be a valuable source of
chromium, a mineral that works to regulate
cholesterol levels in the bloodstream.
ROOT GINGER
More than just a
traditional stomach
medicine, root ginger
has a powerful effect on
the circulatory system,
reducing the likelihood
of blood clots and
keeping the blood
flowing easily by reducing any stickiness.
Green or black, regular tea drinking – which
means several cups a day – cuts cholesterol
by up to 15 per cent.
WHOLE GRAINS
A very good source of insoluble fibre, whole
grains can actually help you cut down on
overeating. They need to be chewed for a
long time and as the action of chewing
triggers sensors in the brain that tell you
your stomach is full, whole grains fool you
into thinking you have had more to eat than
is the case.
YOGHURT
This is a good source of calcium and calcium
intake is inversely proportioned to blood
pressure – the lower the calcium
consumption, the higher the blood pressure.
Also, if you are looking to lose weight
calcium helps you to burn fat faster and
inhibits the amount you’ll put back on.
652434
6
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
Jamie Oliver serving up “good grub” to schoolchildren in Peterlee; right: Janice Measor
�How Jamie gave
my son a future’
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He may be on a mission to transform the lunchtime menus
of thousands of schoolchildren, but celebrity chef Jamie
Oliver also had a profound effect on a family of 11 when he
overhauled their diet as part of his television show.
Women’s Editor LINDSAY JENNINGS reports
S
TEPHEN Measor has arrived at our
interview clutching a white plastic
carrier bag containing the ingredients for his dinner. At one time, the
bag would have contained chips and
sausages and other processed foods. But since
a visit from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, it is full
of fresh vegetables and bit of steak he’s fancying cooking with some herbs and garlic.
Stephen is diabetic and had been hospitalised
six times because of his poor diet and fluctuating insulin levels. He’d had talks from Newcastle United football players about his eating
habits, and from his parents, Janice and Les at
the family home in Eden Hill, Peterlee, but noone could get through to the 18-year-old. Until
the day Jamie came.
“He told me that you could do anything with
food,” recalls Stephen. “And that you could cook
it from scratch to make it the best meal in the
world, and he was right.”
Jamie had been filming at Eden Community
Primary School, in Peterlee, where Janice is a
school governor, as part of his much-publicised
Jamie’s School Dinners programme. The star
was then asked to help Janice, Les and their nine
children – Stephen, Julie, 27, Danielle, 17,
Samantha, 14, Jamie, 12, Liam, nine, Connor,
seven, Sophie, seven, and Sydney-Marie, three –
as part of his Feed Me Better campaign.
He was staggered to hear Janice, 45, talking
of their eating habits, as much for the hours she
spent cooking the meals as for their content.
Their average weekly shopping bill was ВЈ220.
Breakfast was a choice of six sugar-fuelled
breakfast cereals with milk. They then had
school dinners for lunch before the Measor cafГ©
opened after school.
“Straight after school they would have a snack
at about 3.10pm of yoghurts, crisps and ham
sandwiches in white bread,” says Janice. “To me,
that was fairly normal for them to come in and
snack.
“By 5 to 6pm I would be making all sorts. None
of them liked the same kind of foods so I gave
them options, I didn’t agree with the school giving them options and yet I was. I’d make a bowl
of rice, a bowl of pasta, and a bowl of chips.
There would be beef burgers, sausages, spaghetti sauce, fish fingers, then the options of the
sauces – salad creams, tomato sauce.”
Janice would then go on to cook the family
supper at various times throughout the evening
before the children went to bed.
“If one of them wanted a bowl of chips, I
would cook them one,” she says. “I didn’t want
them to go to bed hungry. By the time I’d got
them off to bed, I would make Les and me and
the eldest ones rump steak, salad and chips or
something at 11 and 12 o’clock at night. It was
unreal.”
She shakes her head and starts to laugh.
“When I look back, I can’t help wondering what
was I thinking. There was always food on the
go. When Jamie came in he couldn’t believe how
much time I was spending in the kitchen.”
Jamie spent three days a week with the Measors throughout June last year. The first thing
he did was empty their cupboards into the bin.
He then set them daily menus and got one of his
staff to supply the ingredients and explain what
to do with them. On some days he would cook
for the family.
With the junk food dumped, breakfast became
a diet of mixed fruit, boiled eggs and wholemeal
bread. The children snacked on yoghurts and
fruits after school and they changed dinner time
to 7pm so that they would not need supper. More
importantly, Janice cooked one meal, such as
curry or sausage casserole.
NEHEALTH
The Measors of Peterlee – their diet has changed radically since Jamie Oliver came to town... and so has the behaviour of hyperactive tearaway Connor
•
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Pictures: DAVID WOODS
Chairs
House & Home
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Recliners
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Toileting
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Scooters
UNIT 1B DRUM INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, CHESTER-LE-STREET
0191 492 2301
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age of 21 unless he stopped his bad eating habits.
But rather then frighten him into looking after
himself, it only served to give him a complex.
Thinking that he would be dead by 21 anyway,
he made no plans for the future and carried on
eating junk – until the one-to-one with Jamie.
“Whatever he said, he did something no-one
else has been able to achieve and when Jamie
left, Stephen wanted everything to be right. He
said �I’m not going to let him down Mam,” says
Janice.
Stephen is even thinking of moving out of the
family home, which would have been not have
been possible before with his unstable diabetes.
“He’s even written a list, he wants a kitchen just
like Jamie’s,” smiles Janice.
Stephen says he feels 100 per cent better since
he changed his eating. “Before, I would have
woken up in the morning with a dry mouth and
I would feel down,” he says. “But since I’ve started healthy eating I feel as if I have more energy.
I feel happy.”
He proceeds to chat animatedly about how he
cooked last night’s dinner for himself and sister Samantha and adapted one of Jamie’s
recipes using gammon because he didn’t have
any liver. “I used herbs and onions and red wine
vinegar. It was gorgeous,” he grins, clutching his
white carrier bag. “I haven’t decided what I’m
doing tonight yet.”
•
•
вќ›
Before Jamie’s
arrival, Stephen
had been told by one
consultant that he
would be dead by the
age of 21 unless he
stopped his bad
eating habits
•
“At first they wouldn’t eat what was on the
table because they didn’t like it,” recalls Janice.
“So I was getting upset because they were going
hungry and Jamie was saying �be tough, they’ll
start eating if they know you won’t give in’. But
by the third day they were tucking in.”
For some of the children who didn’t like vegetables, Janice would puree the food and mix it
into their gravy, so they received the vitamins
without realising they were eating them. The effects were startling, and none more so than in
the hyperactive Connor, who hated school… and
his mother.
“After a day and a half, he was getting quieter,
but by the third day he got up, put his uniform
on, gave me and cuddle and told me he loved me
and said �come on, I’m going to be late for
school’. He’s been brilliant every day since,”
she says, still sounding amazed at the transformation.
Liam found that the eczema on his face
cleared up and the girls discovered their hair
turned glossy. In the meantime, Janice lost more
than a stone and Les, 47, lost two stone.
The couple have also been pleasantly surprised at the extra time it has given them; previously, Janice went to bed at 2am and got up at
6am to feed her army. “It’s been bliss, we’ve even
had time to watch a film,” she laughs.
She says the children are allowed foods such
as pizzas, but only as treats. They lapsed back
to their old ways only once, she says, over a halfterm holiday, but the children ended up “bouncing off the walls”. “I’ll never go back to that way
again,” shudders Janice.
She blames the products that are given away
with many fast food meals for enticing young
children. “They don’t necessarily want the food,
they want the freebies,” she says.
She also wants to see the Government improve school dinners at secondary schools as
well as primary and for awareness to continue
to be raised. “I never used to look at the packets, I’d just throw them in the trolley,” she says.
“But now, because I’ve been made aware, I’ll
stand and read it. If I can’t pronounce it, I don’t
buy it – that’s my motto.”
Before Jamie’s arrival, Stephen had been told
by one consultant that he would be dead by the
7
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May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
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NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
The mysterious
W
power of flowers
HEN you come across Bach
flower remedies in shops,
there is usually an explanatory list of uses beside them. You choose
your emotion – anger, shyness, anxiety –
then the appropriate remedy.
On a good day you realise you’re doing
okay; on a bad “Bridget Jones” day, you think
you need the whole lot and give up on the
minefield of flower remedies. It’s also hard
to analyse exactly how you’re feeling when
you are in a crowded shop, being pushed
around by busy shoppers.
But there are now Bach flower practitioners throughout the country, who take the hitor-miss out of choosing a remedy. They do
the hard work for you. All you, as a patient,
have to do is be completely honest with them
about your life and your emotions.
The 38 remedies were created in the 1930s
by Harley Street doctor Edward Bach, a
homeopath, bacteriologist and immunologist. Dr Bach believed a healthy mind is the
key to recovery from ill health, and the remedies are said to help manage emotions,
restoring balance and emotional well-being.
Most of the remedies are made from British
flowers or plants and can be combined to
make a treatment so a whole range of emotions are treated together, not just one by
one.
The best-known is the Rescue Remedy,
which I was introduced to on my wedding
day eight years ago. It transformed me from
a neurotic bag of nerves with an upset stom-
вќ›
Walnut is good if you are
trying to adapt to a new
neighbourhood. Star of
Bethlehem is good for grief
The way you feel can make you ill, but how do you control your
emotions? If you’re constantly anxious or too eager to please, Bach flower
remedies could be the answer. CHRISTINE FIELDHOUSE tries them out
ach into a confident, healthy bride, a change
that has never failed to astonish me.
Yet if I was already a convert when I went
along to Clare Midgley’s practice in Newton
Aycliffe, I was barking up the wrong tree. As
I stood on her doorstep, with a streaming
cold, I was convinced Clare, a Bach Foundation registered practitioner, would take my
headache and earache away. I also hoped
she’d cure my poor sleeping patterns.
I was way off. Clare began by explaining
that Bach remedies don’t treat a condition,
but they can help you control the way you’re
feeling and get more out of life. Then, the
happier you become, the healthier you are.
Clare starts by checking any medication patients are taking, and takes a short medical
history. Then she asks the big question that
I was totally unprepared for: “How do you
feel emotionally?”
My frustration about the lingering head
cold led to a discussion about my work patterns, my broken sleep, my refusal to ask for
help…even my chore-filled weekends came
under scrutiny. It’s only when you sit down
and analyse your lifestyle that you can see
the patterns for yourself. Clare pointed out I
was running on adrenaline, and my life was
rush, rush, rush. Yet I wasn’t thriving on it
– I was a coughing, sneezing, sniffing wreck,
stumbling from one virus to another.
There’s a Bach remedy for most feelings. If
moving house is making you feel frustrated
and impatient, try Impatiens. Walnut is good
if you are trying to adapt to a new neighbourhood. Star of Bethlehem is good for
grief.
There are seven major groups of emotions
– fearful, uncertainty, a lack of interest in the
world around you, lonely, over-sensitive, despondent and over-concern for others.
“No two people react in the same way,” explains Clare. “We choose remedies by how
you are reacting to your own life. If two people were told they had severe arthritis, one
might go home, feeling miserable and just go
to bed, while the other might go and help dig
his neighbour’s garden, making his condition worse. Both are different.
“We can’t treat specific medical conditions, but we can help support the emotions.
These remedies are totally safe, and can be
given to people who have undergone a bereavement or a marriage break-up, as well as
babies or chemotherapy patients, for
example.”
Once Clare had questioned me, she was
able to choose six remedies for my personal
blend. I was given Centaury for being anxious to please, Impatiens for my well-known
Claire MIdgley: says while Bach remedies can’t treat specific conditions, they can help support the emotions
impatience, Oak for the strong sense of duty
which makes me struggle on even when I’m
exhausted and Rock Water for setting myself
high standards. My final two remedies were
Vervain for being over-enthusiastic, with
fixed principles and ideas, and Willow for
feeling resentful. It was a very impressive
analysis for a comparatively short
consultation.
The remedies are blended in a pipettetopped bottle and I was prescribed four drops
on the tongue at least four times a day, and
definitely first and last thing daily.
That was a week ago. I have used the
remedies as prescribed and I’m already treating myself with more respect. My life has
slowed down considerably and I am taking
regular breaks from work. I have also slept
through the night for the first time in
months.
Sitting down and analysing my lifestyle
with Clare was the start. Now the remedies
seem to be working their magic too, making
me more content, less frazzled and, amazingly, more patient.
в—Џ Clare Midgley can be contacted at her
business, Balance Holistic Healthcare in
Newton Aycliffe, on (01325) 308283. A
Bach flower consultation lasts an hour
and costs ВЈ30. Clare is also a qualified
teacher of Bach flower remedies. Email
her at [email protected]
в—Џ The Edward Bach Centre can be
contacted on (01491) 834678, or visit
www.bachcentre.com
Picture: SARAH NICHOLSON
ADVERTISING FEATURE
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
9
In a cool environment, a normal person loses about half a litre of sweat in a day. In the heat it’s much more, so it’s important to keep taking in fluids
When the heat is on
Dehydration can make you feel quite ill. It can even be dangerous. But it is easy to avoid if you just make
sure you drink enough water this summer. Health Correspondent BARRY NELSON reports
A
S temperatures creep up and with
summer just ahead of us, it’s important to be aware of the increased
need to take in adequate amounts of
water. This is particularly true if you
are physically active.
Northumbrian Water experts point out that
our bodies lose up to two litres of water every
day, even when it’s cool, through sweating, urinating and just breathing out.
“When it is warm, it is particularly important
for people who are vulnerable to dehydration to
drink enough water. Young children, the old,
even teenagers, all need to top up their water
levels,” says Dr John Woodhouse, deputy regional director for public health.
“We are encouraging people to walk, cycle,
run and swim more but you need to think about
making sure you are hydrated. You might end
up feeling unwell if you don’t.”
And you don’t have to spend anything to top
up. We are very lucky in the North-East with
the excellent quality of our drinking water, says
Dr Woodhouse, and while bottled water is all
very well, we are talking about the stuff that
comes out when you turn on your tap at home.
“The quality of drinking water in our region
is very good indeed. It has a good taste, which
can’t be said in some other parts of the country,” says Dr Woodhouse, who is based in
Newcastle.
“In some parts of Britain the tap water is
highly chlorinated but in the North-East it is
only slightly chlorinated. It doesn’t surprise me
that Northumbrian Water is proud that their
water is good to drink,” he adds.
Supplying more than 2.6m people from the
Scottish border down to North Yorkshire, the
company is currently investing millions in a
water improvement programme to further enhance the quality of its drinking water.
Most people are aware of the need to drink a
certain amount of water every day to ensure
that we feel at our best. Northumbrian Water
recommends that everyone should drink eight
tall glasses of water every day to stay healthy,
not so surprising when you consider that blood
is 92 per cent water and that our brains are 75
per cent water.
Dr Woodhouse certainly believes water – and
tap water in particular – is a very good thing,
particularly when the alternative might contain stimulants or preservatives.
“In our modern, consumer society we tend to
consume a lot of processed drinks but there is
good reason to think that drinking water is the
best way to keep yourself topped up,” says Dr
Woodhouse, who is involved in planning improvements to public health throughout the
North-East.
“Some processed drinks are either very
calorific or they rot your teeth, so if you just
want to get yourself properly hydrated in order
to function well then water is the best way to
do it.”
While it is true that people of all ages would
benefit from drinking more water, there is quite
a lot of evidence that schoolchildren are able
to learn more easily if they are adequately
hydrated.
Earlier this year a Government-backed initiative was launched as part of efforts to encourage youngsters to drink more water, for the
sake of their health and in a bid to improve concentration and behaviour in the classroom.
Instead of fizzy, sugary drinks filled with
preservatives, children at 20 schools in County
Durham, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and
Northumberland have been equipped with attractive water coolers.
A total of 12,000 youngsters will be given improved access to drinking water at their schools
as part of a wider programme designed to reduce obesity, improve long-term health and establish healthy eating habits.
DEHYDRATION:
THE SYMPTOMS
в—Џ The early signs of dehydration
are thirst; low urine output;
concentrated, dark urine; dry,
flushed skin; dry eyes; dry mouth;
furry tongue; headache; clammy
hands and feet; sunken eyes;
dizziness, confusion and irritability.
в—Џ A dehydrated baby may be
pale and depressed with
sunken eyes. You may also
notice a decrease in urine
output. If the “soft spot” on
your baby’s head is sunken,
this may be an indication that it
is dehydrated.
в—Џ Chronic (long term) dehydration
is bad for skin, kidneys, liver, joints
and muscles and can cause
cholesterol problems, headaches,
reduced blood pressure
(hypotension), fatigue and
constipation.
в—Џ It is particularly important to
take in fluids if you catch a
tummy bug on holiday as this
can lead swiftly to severe
dehydration.
DID YOU KNOW?
OIL-based sunscreens interfere with
sweating, so choose a water-based
product; it will let your sweat glands do
their work as well as decreasing your
risk of skin cancer.
10
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
The white
If you
weren’t
lucky
enough to
be born with
a set of
Californian
babe pearly
whites,
there’s no
need to
despair.
Practically
any problem
can be
remedied by
a cosmetic
dentist.
JENNY
NEEDHAM
reports
stuff
A
Bishop Auckland dental surgeon Ian Wintrip with his dental
nurse Nicola Fleming and her bright new smile
Cosmetic Options
can transfrom your
smile, making you
look and feel great
These photographs show how
porcelain veneers can make a
smile spectacular. We offer
crowns, bridges, white fillings and
tooth whitening from ВЈ350
SMILE is one of the first things
that strikes us about a person. It
speaks volumes, putting us at our
ease, telling us that there’s really
nothing to worry about, that
we’re in for a friendly reception… and, sometimes, it tells us that the person who’s smiling is in sore need of a dentist.
Not so long ago, we all put up with the
teeth we grew up with, however wonky, uneven or discoloured. But now that dental
clinics offering implants and whitening have
come to the high street, we no longer need
to.
The services are not cheap – around £500
for tooth whitening – but they can really
transform your looks. In the recent series of
the television programme Ten Years
Younger, the guinea pigs were nearly always
whisked off to the dentist for some cosmetic dentistry, which knocked years off them.
Sometimes they needed veneers and implants to straighten the tooth line; other subjects just needed tooth whitening to turn
back the years. Fruit juices and sugar are
two of the culprits which ruin healthy teeth,
but smoking is probably the biggest villain
when it comes to turning your pearly white
teeth into grubby little pegs.
Many people, smokers and otherwise, have
turned to whitening toothpastes, but the big
question is: do they work?
Cosmetic dentist Ian Wintrip, of Oasis
Dental Care, says: “Some toothpastes claim
to whiten and they may clean more effectively, but, in my opinion, the only way to
turn back the clock is to have professional
tooth whitening.
“There has been an upsurge in the number of people wanting whitening and far
from being the preserve of Harley Street and
the luxury end of the dental market, it’s now
available on high streets everywhere,” says
Ian.
Ian uses a tooth whitening process called
Britesmile, and his own dental nurse Nicola
Fleming, one of his first guinea pigs, is a
great advert for it. “I’m really pleased with
my teeth,” she says, flashing a smile which
could blind in sunlight. “Everyone notices
them. I could tell straight away that they
were lighter, but they seemed to look
brighter and brighter for a couple of days
afterwards.”
Britesmile combines a gentle, whitening
gel with a new “blue light”. “We have tried
other processes, but this has by far the best
results and we’ve had excellent patient feedback,” says Ian. “The only side-effects have
been short-term sensitivity.”
Crowns don’t change colour, so can be a
problem if they’re at the front of the mouth,
but otherwise the procedure is quick and
straightforward.
Fortunately, I hardly ever smoke, but tea
and red wine had left my teeth looking yellower than I’d like. After an initial consultation the week before the whitening treatment, I went back, fingers crossed, to claim
my very own Hollywood smile.
“Some practitioners make inflated claims
for the whitening, but you can realistically
expect to go up about three shades,” Ian tells
me.
First I brush my teeth, then my mouth is
clamped open (not very attractive!). Padding
is put in to better expose the gums and teeth
and the gums are painted with an isolating
solution to protect them from the blue light.
The Britesmile whitening gel is applied and
the light source is positioned over the mouth
to activate the gel and to lighten the teeth by
a process of oxidation. After three 20 minute
applications, the whitening is complete.
I had before and after pictures taken and
was hugely impressed by the results. The
treatment is painless, but some might find it
a little claustrophobic, and jaw and neck
ache had set in by the final session. It was
worth it, though. I had my Hollywood smile.
The only problem now will be laying off the
red wine…
в—Џ Oasis Dental Care, 69 Cockton Hill Road,
Bishop Auckland (01388) 603164; email:
[email protected] and
Lime Tree House, St Johns Road, Shildon
(01388) 772678; email:
[email protected].
BEFORE
BRING THIS ADVERT FOR
A 10% DISCOUNT OFF
ANY COSMETIC OPTION
AFTER
Which
smile
would you
rather
have?
Before
and after
the
Britesmile
treatment
For further information please contact
Becki or Carol on 01325 284808
Jo Daly BDS DGDP (UK) RCS . Peter Throw BChD
146 YARM ROAD . DARLINGTON . CO. DURHAM . DL1 1XE . T: 01325 284808 . E: [email protected]
BEFORE
AFTER
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
11
What a difference an hour makes... tired, stained teeth can be transformed with whitening and implants at your local dental surgery
What your dentist
can do for you
SCALING AND POLISHING: make a regular
six-monthly appointment with the dental
hygienist to remove plaque and surface stains
and give teeth a brightening polish. Ultrasonic
scalers are generally available; the latest
technology is the air-abrade – an “airgun”
which fires high speed abrasive powder at the
teeth, giving excellent results in stain
removal.
CROWNS: the traditional way to repair a
broken or unsightly tooth is by grinding the
tooth down to a peg and fitting a replica over
the top. Leading dentists are now working in
porcelains which are so hard that metal
reinforcement is unnecessary – so crowns look
better, last longer and never have a black line
around the margin. With healthy gums, a
porcelain crown will last 20 years.
BONDING: sticking tooth-coloured material to
an existing tooth is an alternative to crowning.
The tooth is etched using a weak acid, which
creates a rough surface on the tooth to which
composite or porcelain in-lays or on-lays are
attached, depending on the problem. Bonding
is far easier than other means of fixing. It is
particularly helpful for filling gaps between
widely-spaced front teeth. Expect to need
replacements every five years or so.
VENEERS: a popular solution for badly
discoloured or misshapen teeth – a very thin
layer of porcelain, rather like a false
fingernail, is bonded to the tooth. Increasingly,
veneers are so super-thin that they can be
applied without removing any of the tooth.
Disadvantages are that veneers can chip and,
in rare cases, they may fall off, usually
because of poor technique. Since teeth darken
with age, veneers will need to be redone at
intervals to match other teeth.
IMPLANTS: titanium screw implants have
revolutionised the replacement of lost teeth;
until recently their use was limited to places
where there was sufficient bone to screw in
the implants – otherwise false teeth were the
only option. Now, however, advanced surgical
procedures mean that surgeons can graft the
patient’s own bone from another part of the
body into the mouth as a “bed” for the
implant.
AMALGAMS: removing amalgam (mercury)
fillings and substituting composite (plastic
and ceramic) or porcelain fillings will give you
an all-white yawn instead of a mouth like the
inside of an ironmongers. For larger fillings,
where shrinkage is a big problem, the dentist
takes an impression and the filling is made in
the laboratory and pre-shrunk before use.
These fillings are also stronger and can be
excellently colour-matched, but they are more
expensive. (Taking out amalgam fillings may
help your general health too; there is
considerable evidence that the neurotoxic
mercury continuously released from
amalgams can lead to a wide range of illness,
including allergies, headaches, fatigue
syndromes and skin conditions.
ORTHODONTICS: using fixed braces, a
trained orthodontist can correct the alignment
of teeth, adjust the relationship of teeth and
jaw to give a better bite, improve the shape of
a sticking out or receding jaw and correct
congenital anomalies such as cleft lip and
palate. In extreme cases, the upper and lower
jaws are so poorly aligned that surgery is also
necessary. Adult orthodontic work, mainly
private, is becoming more common. The latest
ceramic technology means that fixed braces
can be tooth-coloured rather than silver.
Treatment may take 18 months to two years.
Do you want
perfect pearly
white teeth?
A non-invasive, fast teeth whitening service, administered by
professional dentists, now available at Saks.
Process complete in just 30 minutes
Perfect for reversing effects of ageing, coffee,
tobacco and other food/drink stains
The choice of countless celebrities
Lasts up to 5 years
Special Offer
Teeth Whitening ВЈ399
(normally ВЈ500)
CASE STUDY
Stephen Hopper, 39, an engineer from
Tow Law, had implants in his front teeth
and whitening done by Ian Wintrip.
“I HAD a denture in for a couple of years
and previously, to replace it, I would have
had to have surgery. The implants
procedure was much more straightforward
– you just drill them straight in.”
Stephen is over the moon with his new
look. “I smile at girls now and you can see
me in the dark,” he laughs. “It’s definitely
been worth it. I’m taking good care of my
new teeth – I’m determined to keep the
shine.
Terms and conditions: Mention offer at time of booking and bring advert to appointment.
Valid on selected days with selected staff at Saks Darlington only. Cannot be used with
any other offer.
Teeth Whitening Clinics at Saks are delivered by medical practitioners, independent of
the Saks group. Full details available on request.
29-29A BLACKWELLGATE
DARLINGTON
T 01325 481 525
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
Osmotherley Walking Shop
4 West End, Osmotherley,
Northallerton
(just off A19, A684 turn off)
01609 883818
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Always a Bargain at Osmotherley Walking Shop
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OVEN CLEANING SERVICES
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10
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by Alison Curtis
Products include Virgin Vie, Kaloss & Sun
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Sunkissed UK
1 Empire Buildings, Sherburn Road, Durham DH1 2JL
0191 3741414
Summer will
soon be here
with its long
days, warmer
weather... and
skimpier
clothing... and
all the extra
pounds we’ve
hidden away so
well under
winter layers will
be back on
show. If you
need to lose a
few pounds
before revealing
all, here are
some tips
ways to get
1. DRAIN THOSE TOXINS
TREAT yourself to a manual lymphatic
drainage and chill out while this hands-on
treatment clears away congestion in the body.
Complementary practitioner Sue Mellish, who
is based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, says:
“People report a real energy boost and a feeling of relaxation after this treatment. Once the
toxins are cleared from the body, the internal
system will work much more efficiently. The
metabolic rate will improve and calories will
be used more quickly, leading to weight loss.”
Manual lymphatic drainage costs ВЈ35 for an
hour. Telephone Sue for an appointment on
01748 850471.
2. JUMP TO IT
NORTH
12
GET a skipping
rope and get out in
the fresh air.
Athletes and
fitness pros
consider skipping a
perfect exercise as
it tones the whole
body while strengthening the cardiovascular
system. It also develops co-ordination, speed,
balance and flexibility while burning
calories.
Tanita have brought out the perfect skipping
rope for slimmers. The CalorieJump tracks the
number of jumps and calculates the calories
burned. It costs ВЈ14.99 and can be ordered on
0800 7316994.
3. TRY HYPNOTHERAPY
HYPNOTHERAPIST Simon Alexander has the
quick fix technique we’re all looking for. Called
the Emotional Freedom Technique, he asks
clients to taste and hold the food they crave.
Then he taps on a succession of acupressure
points. Afterwards, he says, people find their
favourite food smells offensive or tastes too
sweet. Simon also uses visualisation to get people to improve their self image.
“Rather than feeling deprived, visualising
themselves much slimmer stops people from
comfort eating and makes them feel better
about themselves,” says Simon, based in Darlington and Bishop Auckland. One-hour sessions start from £35. Telephone (01325) 316700,
or visit www.simon-alexander.co.uk
4. DRINK SOUP AND
HOT CHOCOLATE
CARBOLITE has launched a
new range of low-carbohydrate soups and hot chocolate
drinks, perfect for on-the-go
lifestyles.
The soups come in French Onion, Chicken
and Herb, and Tomato, and have under 2g of
carbohydrate per serving, compared with most
soups which average 15g. The chocolate drinks
are available in milk and mint. If that’s not
enough, there are also seven chocolate bars.
Visit www.carbolitefoods.co.uk
5. CHANGE
YOUR MINDSET
PERFORMANCE
coach Phil Olley, left,
encourages would-be
slimmers to focus on
the extra energy and
vitality being slim
would give them. “If
you think and act energetic, you will start
doing energetic things
and you will train your
body to think energetically,” says Phil. “Your mind will automatically reject the foods that aren’t good for you
and send you over to the fruit bowl instead of
the biscuit barrel.”
Phil also recommends writing down how you
will feel when you’re slim on an index card, and
reading it every day. It could be something like:
“Wow, I feel totally energised and full of vitality now that I am fuelling my body with the
right food and fresh water.” Phil runs success
courses; contact 01592 563393, or visit
www.philolley.com
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
slim for summer
6. FOCUS ON THE
POSITIVE
IF you groan every time you step on
the bathroom scales, there are some
new scales just right for you! The
Weigh to Go Scale is digital and doesn’t tell you how heavy you are – instead, it tells you how much weight
you have to lose until you are at your
target weight.
These white and satin chrome
scales have two memory keys and are
available from Argos and Boots at
ВЈ29.99.
7. NEUTRALISE THOSE
CARBS
COPY Bad Girls actress Claire King,
formerly Kim Tate in Emmerdale,
and try the new, natural slimming
aid, Phase 2. Claire, pictured below,
lost eight pounds in the first two
NEHEALTH
13
ABOVE:
Top ВЈ4,
swimskirt
ВЈ6, from
Matalan
months of taking Phase 2. You take
one tablet before each meal, and carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, potatoes and rice, will pass through your
system undigested, reducing your
calorie intake. Phase 2 is derived from
the white bean and is neither a stimulant nor a laxative. It also increases
the body’s ability to burn fat through
exercise.
You can obtain Phase 2 from most
health food stores and pharmacies,
with prices ranging from ВЈ9.99 to
ВЈ24.95 for 60 capsules. Or you can visit
the web at www.phase2info.com
8. SAY ADIOS TO EXTRA
POUNDS
TRY this natural remedy to speed up
your metabolic rate, and thereby the
rate at which the body converts food
stores. Adios contains a mild thyroid
stimulant, thought to speed up the
body’s metabolic rate, and thereby accelerate the rate at which the body
converts food stores. Adios works best
when it is used with a calorie-controlled diet.
Adios is available from most health
and beauty stores, as well as pharmacies and supermarkets.
9. HAVE A MASSAGE
BEAUTY therapist Donna Pipe recommends massage to stimulate the
circulation and drain away the toxins.
“A good massage can refine the figure, get rid of those ugly bumps and
give you a more slender look,” says
Donna, a mobile therapist, based near
Northallerton. “If you eat healthily,
take just a little bit more exercise,
even if it’s just walking the dog, and
have a course of massages, you will
definitely see a difference very soon.”
A full body massage costs ВЈ25. Telephone Donna on 07818 871199.
10. IF ALL THIS
FAILS, CHEAT
ELIZABETH Gange, above,
of Gange Beauty, at Tracy
Chipperfield Salon in
Darlington, says: “A fake
tan can make you look half
a stone lighter
immediately; besides,
brown flab is always more
attractive than white flab.
The St Tropez tan I use
won’t turn you orange and
it’s much healthier than
using a sunbed.”
The treatment starts
with an exfoliation, then
the “mud” is applied, and
left for five hours before
you shower it off at home.
It lasts for up to a week and
costs ВЈ22 for a half body
tan, and ВЈ31 for a full body
tan. Telephone Elizabeth
on (01325) 369797. Also
available at the Beauty
Oasis on Northumberland
Street, Darlington (01325)
489970
14
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
Reflecting on the future, right, and up against Gavin Henson of
Wales, which ultimately won the tournament, in the RBS Six
Nations match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff
Fast and fearless, Mathew Tait is
one of the most exciting young
players to mature from school
rugby to the professional game in
recent years. He tells SARAH
FRENCH about how he has coped
physically and mentally with his
meteoric rise
T
WENTY minutes into the New Year’s
Day clash between Newcastle Falcons
and Sale and Mathew Tait catches a
long pass from teammate Jonny
Wilkinson. Charging forward, the 18year-old dummies a switch in direction around
one opponent, skirts around another, then
barges England captain Jason Robinson out of
his way to score.
“It was my favourite game of the season and
my favourite try,” says Mathew. “The crowd
here were brilliant, as they have been all year,
and the try was one of those things that just
came together.”
It was also a perfect demonstration of why,
five weeks later, the former Barnard Castle
School pupil would be selected to play for his
country in the RBS Six Nations.
“He just bumped me off that day,” admitted
Robinson afterwards. “He showed me how
strong he is and bundled me out of the way. He’s
got a lot of pace, he’s confident and he’s a
strong lad.”
He may not be the biggest or the tallest player – “I’d like to say I’m 6ft but really I’m 5ft
11ins,” he admits – but what Mathew lacks in
stature, he makes up for in pace, skill and
strength.
Nevertheless, things haven’t always gone his
way. During England’s Six Nations opener observers pointed out that in comparison with
other internationals, he was at a pound for
pound disadvantage when facing the likes of
Wales’s Gavin Henson, who picked him up and
tucked him under his arm.
It’s something Mathew’s working on. He
weighed in at 12ВЅ stone at the start of the year;
but he’s already increased that to 13st 11lbs.
Give him another six months and he’s sure to
have piled on the muscle. “I am trying to put
some beef on. I just need to bulk up generally,”
he admits.
The centre position he usually plays is a balancing act between being fast to outrun your
opponents but also being strong enough to
bring down other players and brush off their
tackles. “I need to be strong enough without
being too big,” he explains.
Striking the right balance is something he
leaves in the capable hands of Falcons’ fitness
coaches Steve Black and Bob Morton. “Bob, in
particular, has been a massive help on the
weights side since I arrived,” says Mathew, who
was still at school when he kicked off his professional career with a try in his first game a
year ago.
Young players at Barnard Castle are given
pre-season training programmes by rugby master Martin Pepper but it’s a long way from the
commitment required at professional level.
“During my free periods at school I would go
running, practise kicking and do weights,” says
Mathew. “But when I got here and did pre-season training, it was very different to
anything I’d done before. You
were doing something every
day. It’s your job and you’ve
got that responsibility to be
strong and fit.”
The Falcons’ week after
a Sunday game begins
with recovery work and
weights in the gym on
Monday.
Tuesday
morning is another
weights session, then
there’s training in the afternoon. On Wednesday mornings the squad
meets for a major defence session then the afternoon is given over to separate training for
the backs and forwards.
Thursday is Mathew’s day off but he still
spends at least part of it practising kicking,
passing and tackling and usually doing some
weights. Friday is a team run and Saturday is
a day off to relax before the game on Sunday.
Injury-wise, he’s managed to escape in his career with just a broken nose – well, he wouldn’t be a rugby player without one – and a few
hamstring problems.
But, by March this year, a physically demanding first season which included Heineken
Cup games, the emotional rollercoaster of the
Six Nations and playing for the Northern Hemisphere at Twickenham in the Tsunami Appeal
match, was taking its toll. He was forced to pull
out of the England squad for the Hong Kong
Sevens World Cup with a hamstring injury
and an eye infection. Sadly, his Sevens appearances this year seem fated, and he recently had to forgo the chance to play in Singapore after picking up an ankle injury.
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
15
Newcastle
Falcons v
Gloucester
back in
February and
Mathew is
heading for a
second half
try
�I need to beef
up a bit, put on
some bulk’
With high-profile players like Jonny Wilkinson being forced out of the game for long periods because of injuries, there’s a school of
thought that says players need to wear more
protection or learn to look after themselves
better on the pitch.
Mathew thinks neither is
realistic. “I don’t know
whether a small bit of foam
would make much difference. People are going to get
injured, it comes with the
territory. You have to put
everything into tackling and running;
you wouldn’t be
playing the
game if you
shied away
from that.”
Part of
staying fit is
a diet that’s high in
protein and low in fat
with slow release carbohydrates and lots of fresh fruit and
vegetables.
High protein levels, vital for
building and repairing muscle,
come from chicken and
eggs, though mention of
the C-word sends
Mathew into despair. “I
hate chicken. There are
only so many sauces
you can put with it,” he
moans.
Mathew moved out of
the family home in Wolsingham last year and
now shares a flat in
Newcastle with Falcons
teammate Geoff Parling. So is he a dab
hand
in
the
kitchen? “I don’t
think my flat
mate would say
so. I tried making
a cold, sweet and sour egg white omelette
once. He wasn’t convinced.”
Luckily, a Newcastle restaurant comes to
the rescue several times a week – young players get to fill up for free on pasta and steaks at
Da Vinci’s in Jesmond.
Is there anything that’s a definite no-no in
the rugby player’s diet? “As long as you eat sensibly enough and you’re not eating fried food
all the time, grilling everything and generally
eating healthily, you’re pretty much fine,”
says Mathew.
Dr Adam Carey, the doctor from Celebrity
Fit Club and nutritional director of the England RFU, provides protein power shakes and
vitamins to maintain players’ general health
and recovery from training.
But being physically fit isn’t enough for
Mathew, he needs a mental challenge too. Having achieved a full set of As in his biology, geography and sports studies A levels, he decided to defer his place at Durham University last
year to focus on rugby but is now thinking
about studying again.
“Coming here was new for me and with university also being a new environment it could
have been too much and both could have gone
badly. Now I know that if the game goes badly
at the weekend, you are cheesed off all week
if you’ve got nothing else to take your mind off
it,” he says.
M
ATHEW comes from a sporty family.
His maternal grandfather played for
Sheffield Wednesday and mother,
Julie, was a Midlands county hockey player
and a sprinter. His dad, Alasdair, played rugby
at university and younger brother, Alex, is also
doing well with the England Under-18s.
When it comes to relaxing away from the
game, Mathew spends his time watching
DVDs with mates and reading, and he’s thinking of taking up the piano. He headed to Scotland recently to do some fishing and walking
to recover from his injuries.
His first premiership season now over, there
is still the prestigious Churchill Cup tournament in Canada to look forward to next month
before pre-season training for the premiership
kicks off again.
He is also planning a quick break before
then, but one thing is guaranteed – it won’t
mean a holiday away from the gym.
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16
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Darlington’s
walk-in
medical centre
is proving
hugely
successful…
and perhaps a
little too
popular. IAN
LAMMING
explains who
can be treated
there, and who
should be
heading for
hospital
If it’s serious, head
for hospital
P
Acupuncturist Jong Baik practises in Darlington
Healing the holistic way
Complementary therapies
are working side by side
with mainstream medicine
at Doctor Piper House
P
ATIENTS will be able to
ease the pain and
discomfort of their
ailments thanks to a range of
complementary therapies to be
offered in Darlington.
Darlington Primary Care
Trust is hoping to set up a
complementary therapies
service at Doctor Piper House
in King Street.
These include chiropractic,
aromatherapy, osteopathy,
reflexology, homoeopathy,
acupuncture, massage and
nutritional therapy.
PCT service development
facilitator Sue Lawrence said:
“We are a 21st century
organisation and are looking
above and beyond the
conventional. Used alongside
conventional healthcare,
complementary therapies can
prove to be extremely
effective.”
Therapies are already widely
used in palliative care to help
relieve some of the symptoms
of serious conditions. They can
also help with back, neck and
shoulder pain, indigestion and
heartburn, insomnia, hay fever,
headaches and pre-menstrual
tension.
Patients have also had
success with therapies
supporting more orthodox
treatments when trying to give
up smoking, or with anxiety
and panic attacks, chronic
fatigue syndrome and
depression.
“Complementary therapies
will never be a replacement for
conventional medicine but are
important in that they take a
holistic approach to
treatment,” said the PCT’s
Patient Advice and Liaison
Service manager, Clare Hinton.
“They also consider the
physical, emotional,
psychological and spiritual
factors and tailor treatments to
suit the individual.
“Many treatments simply
offer patients the chance to
relax, which in itself can be
beneficial. They also encourage
patients to take control of their
illness and offer a proactive
approach to healing.”
в—Џ For more information
contact Sue Lawrence on
(01325) 746248 or for a service
specification, head of primary
care Lorraine Tostevin on
(01325) 746249.
EOPLE have been urged
not to use a new walk-in
medical centre in Darlington as a hospital after
a number of seriously ill
patients turned up seeking help. Ambulances had to be called to take the
patients to Accident and Emergency
as the nurse-led clinic is only designed for minor injuries and
ailments.
In just ten weeks, more than 6,000
people have been treated in the Darlington Primary Care Trust nurseled clinic, on the ground floor of Doctor Piper House, in King Street.
But among these patients have
been many cases too severe to be
dealt with which have had to be
rushed to hospital by ambulance.
More than 70 asked for help after
experiencing chest pain and were
sent to hospital with suspected heart
attacks. Another case was a suspected stroke, while others have turned
up with notifiable diseases such as
measles. Staff treated two people
who had been in a car accident who
should have gone straight to hospital, and patients have also asked for
medication reviews which cannot be
done at the walk-in centre because
staff do not have access to medical
records. Others have sought a second
opinion after visiting their GPs,
while some have turned up expecting
to see the dermatologists, who share
the building, when this service is by
doctor’s referral only.
Modern matron Nicola Wharton
said: “The medical centre is staffed
by highly skilled nurses and emergency care practitioners but we are
not doctors and we don’t have the full
range of hospital equipment such as
x-ray and scanning machines. We are
here to handle minor ailments and
injuries.
“If people are having severe symptoms, such as chest pain, they should
WHAT THE WALK-IN CENTRE TREATS
The walk-in centre concentrates
on minor ailments and injuries
including the following:
Sore throats, coughs, colds, fevers,
flu-like symptoms, impetigo, rashes,
skin infections, insect bites,
allergies, conjunctivitis, ear
infections, diarrhoea and vomiting,
headaches, sinus problems, urine
infections, mouth ulcers, sprains
and strains, superficial burns, minor
head injuries, lacerations requiring
closure with glue, cuts and bruises,
emergency hormonal contraception
and tetanus.
Health promotion and public
health activities include:
Healthy living advice, flu
really contact the hospital. That
said, we are here to handle many
minor cases that currently go to
A&E unnecessarily when we could
help.”
She also asked the public to be patient if people who came in after they
did were dealt with first because
their condition was more serious.
“We have to give the urgent cases a
higher priority,” she said.
“We are pleased with the way the
new centre has operated and are delighted it is proving so popular with
vaccinations, mental health
promotion, health checks for
vulnerable patients and phlebotomy
(blood taking). Also by appointment,
stop smoking services, retinal and
foot screening, screening for
hypertension and diabetes.
Darlington Memorial Hospital’s
Accident and Emergency Unit
provides care for any injury or
ailment that needs urgent
attention.
Medical advice can also be given
over the phone through NHS Direct
on 0845 4647 and the Out of Hours
Service is available on 0845
6033131.
residents. With a little careful
thought by patients about their ailments and injuries, it will be better
still.”
The doors opened to the public on
January 22 to provide an innovative
approach to servicing the health
needs of Darlington’s 102,000 population on a walk-in, walk-out basis.
By April 1 it had seen 6,050 people
and it now averages more than 100 a
day. Over the Easter holidays, 500
people sought help there.
The walk-in centre treats patients
from 7am to 10pm during the week
and 9am to 10pm at weekends and is
staffed by a modern matron, senior
sister, six nurses, three healthcare
assistants, nine emergency care
practitioners and 15 reception staff
on a shift basis.
It is designed to work alongside
Darlington’s 11 GP practices, the new
Out of Hours service and the hospital’s Accident and Emergency unit.
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE
NEHEALTH
Darlington PCT’s mental health improvement specialist Vicky Waterson
�Death leaves no
option – life does’
An end to
all those
questions
A new scheme has been set
up to spare patients the need
to answer the same questions again and again
T
HOUSANDS of people are
to benefit from a major initiative designed to improve health and social
care. The scheme was
launched in Darlington today in
the middle of April and aims to target the town’s most needy
residents.
Called the Single Assessment
Process, it will bring together Darlington Primary Care Trust and
Darlington Borough Council in a
joint approach to care.
Community nurses, therapists,
support staff, doctors and hospital
staff will work with social workers
and housing officials to ensure residents’ needs are met in full.
And instead of enduring countless rounds of questioning, people
will be asked just once for personal and medical information. They
will undergo a comprehensive assessment of their health and social
care needs, leading to an individual
care plan which, with their permission, will be shared by all the
professionals with whom they
come into contact.
Darlington PCT’s nurse development facilitator Win Suggett said:
“We think the new system will be
excellent. It will improve access to
health and social care and provide
seamless partnership working for
people within the Borough of
Darlington.”
Lynn Walker, manager of intermediate care services at Darlington Social Services, added: “This
follows a pilot project which proved
very successful because people no
longer have to be asked the same
questions by every agency they
come into contact with. This will
provide a more effective, efficient
service to the public and ensure
health and social care resources
are used efficiently.”
The new system will be used for
people aged 18 and over with a
physical or sensory impairment,
and elderly people. After the initial
contact, where the basic information is obtained, people will undergo a comprehensive assessment of
their needs.
The key details will be fed into a
computer so the records can be accessed by health and social care
professionals and patients don’t
have to repeat the information.
An individual care plan will be
developed which the various professionals will share and follow.
H
PCT district nurse Trish Parkes,
left, and Social Services care
manager Alexandra Manning with
details of a new care scheme to
help thousands of residents in
Darlington
This also takes into account the
needs and wishes of carers and is
reviewed on a regular basis.
“People’s views and wishes will
be a central part of the assessment,” said Mrs Suggett. “It will
identify strengths and weaknesses,
abilities and needs and will maximise people’s independence.”
Ms Walker added: “This is about
working more efficiently and in a
smarter way so people receive the
best possible care.”
So far, 125 people have undergone
training, including care managers,
intermediate care staff, administrative and clerical staff and district nurses.
New IT systems have been installed and the whole process conforms to strict guidelines and protocols surrounding data protection
and confidentiality.
в—Џ More information on the
scheme is available by contacting
Social Services on (01325) 346200
or the PCT’s district nursing
services on (01325) 746222.
IGH risk groups are to
be targeted in a major
campaign designed to
cut the number of suicides in
Darlington. Rates have begun
to fall in the town thanks to
measures aimed at tackling
its unenviable record as
suicide capital of the country.
But Darlington Primary Care
Trust is reinforcing its efforts
by launching a poster
campaign directed at the
most vulnerable groups.
The move follows an audit
of suicides in the town and
the implementation of a
suicide strategy. This
included staging a multiagency conference and
workshops, increasing crisis
intervention services,
working closely with the
housing department, the
police, the Samaritans and
the town’s drug and alcohol
addiction service, issuing
only prescribed drugs, such
as anti-depressants and
painkillers, which cannot be
used to overdose and the
drawing up of an action plan
to tackle the issue.
Darlington PCT’s mental
health improvement
specialist Vicky Waterson
said four posters had now
been produced for various
target groups, including men,
stressed workers, older
people and youngsters.
“We have chosen the
images carefully in order to
relate to the various groups
and green was selected
because it is a calming
colour,” she said.
“Young men are still the
most at risk group and
suicide remains the single
largest cause of death in men
under the age of 35.
“Employment does help
bolster self-esteem and
counters depression. But
some jobs can cause stress
and many deaths involve
employed people.
“Elderly people can decide
to take their own lives
because they, or their carers,
feel isolated. The campaign is
designed to let everyone know
there is support out there for
them.”
Until recently, Darlington
had one of the worst suicide
records in the country, with
rates well above the national
average. From 2001 to 2003,
53 people took their own
lives, mainly young men in
work. The rate of 14 suicides
per 100,000 people compared
with a national average of
10/100,000. In some parts of
town the figure was as high
as 45/100,000.
But overall the rate has
now fallen to 10.2/100,000,
much closer to the current
national figure of 9.5.
The latest figures now put
Darlington in line to meet
Government targets of
reducing the number of
suicides by 20 per cent by the
year 2010 compared with
1999.
The new posters, featuring
the slogan “death leaves no
option – life does”, will be
appearing all over town in a
variety of public settings,
pointing people in the
direction of helpline
numbers, support and advice.
17
18
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE
National Recognition Award: the Cardiac Rehabilitation Service
H
Tireless dedication: Macmillan nurse Terri Ricci won the Lifetime Achievement Award
EALTH staff in Darlington have
been rewarded for their efforts at
an OSCARS ceremony to be remembered. Darlington Primary
Care Trust launched the Outstanding Service Contribution and Recognition Awards 2005 to complement its annual
long service ceremony. Each marks the hard
work and dedication shown by many staff
over decades with the NHS.
Darlington PCT chief executive Colin Morris and chairman Sandra Pollard performed
the honours at a special ceremony staged at
Darlington Football Club.
Mr Morris said: “We are operating in an ever
changing world in the NHS and in many ways
things will never be the same again. But what
remains constant is the undying commitment
of the people that work in the health service.
These awards recognise their spirit and
courage.”
Mrs Pollard added: “The tensions and challenges within the NHS are huge and the fact
that so many of our staff are so loyal has to be
applauded. The OSCARS are one way we can
show we really do appreciate their efforts.”
Nominees were put forward by staff at the
PCT in 11 categories, reflecting the diverse nature of the organisation. The Lifetime
Achievement Award went to Macmillan Nurse
Terri Ricci, who also collected a long service
award for working in health for 40 years.
Her nomination read: “She has demonstrated tireless dedication and commitment to
countless patients, their families and her colleagues during what is often a very distress-
ing and difficult time. She has been a fantastic source of support to all throughout her career and is worthy of this award.”
Mrs Ricci, of Spennymoor, said she was surprised to win the award. “I thought I was there
to get a long service award and was really
shocked when they called my name out again.
Now it has sunk in, I’m really pleased as it is
nice to be acknowledged having worked for
so many years in nursing.”
Shotton Colliery-born, she trained as a
nurse at Sunderland Royal Infirmary and
worked in hospitals in the region and America and as a district nursing sister, before becoming a Macmillan nurse 16 years ago.
She is now managed by Darlington PCT but
also works with Durham Dales and Sedgefield
PCTs.
The Light Bulb Award recognised staff who
were �switched on’ to new developments and
innovations. This was awarded to district
nursing sister Elaine Shaw for her idea to provide a mobile clinic in the form of the Flu Bus.
Her nomination read: “Achieving targets for
flu is not only essential for the health of our
most vulnerable residents but is also crucial
for the Trust to achieve its star status. Against
a difficult backdrop of flu vaccine shortages
and the negative publicity that followed, her
idea was as inspired as it was effective.”
The Bureaucracy Buster Award for cutting
through red tape went to the Sure Start Wave
3 team based at McNay Street.
Their nomination said: “A variety of things
have come under their spotlight, from domestic violence, breastfeeding support, children
in need and empowering parents. And they
have shown great creativity to see beyond the
jargon, paperwork and form-filling and still
fulfil their duties.”
T
Staying power: health workers with their 15-year long service certificates
EAM of the Year went to the Palliative
Care Inpatient Team at St Teresa’s Hospice for showing dedication and commitment well beyond the call of duty to their patients and their families.
A new team of staff, they came together last
year in an innovative partnership between
Darlington PCT, Marie Curie Cancer Care and
St Teresa’s Hospice to provide 24-hour cover
365 days a year.
The nomination said: “Our winning team
is passionate about the care of their patients
and thoroughly deserve this recognition for
all their hard work and dedication.”
Director of primary care Carole Harder was
awarded the innovative contribution to work
life balance accolade.
The nomination said: “We’re all looking for
ways to balance our work and home lives and
this award is designed to recognise someone
who has come up with a creative solution. It
is more remarkable still that she has achieved
this while working at an executive level
putting in place ways of working that have
proved it is possible and setting a positive example to us all.”
Primary care and clinical governance facil-
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE
NEHEALTH
19
The 25-year long service award winners. Right: Marilyn Abbott, who won an award for recruitment and retraining
And the winner is...
itator Marilyn Abbott was recognised for her innovative contribution to improving recruitment
and retaining staff. The awards ceremony heard
the lengths she had gone to in order to attract
doctors from Europe.
The nomination said: “Her support has ranged
from meeting head teachers to get doctors’ children into school, organising mortgages and car
insurance and even taking control of roof
repairs.”
Publication of the Year was awarded to Barbara Conway for her published work Community Angina Rehabilitation: the case for a new
paradigm.
As clinical team leader for Coronary Heart Disease Services Mrs Conway has been at the forefront of pioneering work that has helped to increase dramatically the fitness of patients and
reduce hospital admissions in Darlington.
The work has been recognised nationally and
is used as a model by other rehabilitation units
across the country. She also recently stepped on
to the international stage to present her work at
a major conference in Switzerland.
The nomination said: “She is a fantastic ambassador for Darlington and we are extremely
proud to call her one of ours.”
The National Recognition Award went to Darlington’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, which
is led by Mrs Conway and includes the heart failure service run by Victoria Duffy, Jill Drinkall,
Jenny Altimes, Alison Billau and Claire
Redpath.
The nomination said: “Their achievements
have put Darlington on the map.”
Best Supporting Colleague went to performance officer Jonathan Slee for “his tireless ef-
Barbara Bright: Best Supporting
Manager
forts in helping others” while the Best Supporting Manager accolade went to workforce modernisation lead Barbara Bright for her willingness to lend a helping hand and her loyalty and
commitment to her team.
Two Unsung Hero Awards were handed out,
one for clinical and the other non-clinical staff.
The award recognised the achievements of individuals who weren’t usually in the spotlight, but
who worked behind the scenes to help the Trust
deliver its objectives.
The winner of the clinical staff category was
integrated teams facilitator Christine Kelly who
was described in her nomination as being a good
listener, professional in her approach and an excellent ambassador for nursing.
The non-clinical category attracted more nominations than any other. The winner was Maureen Wallace for providing exceptional support,
exceeding what was normally expected.
The nomination read: “She is never without a
smile or a word of encouragement and has been
described as an indispensable star.”
LONG SERVICE
AWARDS
Sure Start health visitors Kath Lane and
Jayne Ralphs
вќ›
Her support has ranged
from meeting head
teachers to get doctors’
children into school,
organising mortgages and car
insurance and even taking
control of roof repairs
Carole Harder: award for
reassessing the work/life balance
Team of the Year: the palliative care
inpatient team at St Teresa’s –Catherine
Wojcik, Janet Walker and Carmen Gilsenan
Jonathan Slee: Best Supporting
Colleague
Barbara Conway: award for
Publication of the Year
Long service awards totalled
835 years with certificates
being presented for 15, 25 and
40 years.
In the 15 years section were
the following: Margaret
Buckman, Julie Wolstenholme,
Jean Firth, Lyn Hunter,
Kathleen Whitfield, Catherine
Wojcik, Jayne Ralphs, Chris
Allison, Linda Oliver, Sarah
Tully, Kim Robinson, Margaret
Collinson, Sylvia Rycoft, Sally
Bell, Barbara Nimmo, Anne
Archer, Jayne Unwin, Patrick
Henry, Nicola Fletcher, Marie
Kerridge, Chris Allison, Karen
Watson, Gail Cook, Michelle
Wolstenholme, Carolyn Bruce,
Kate Robertson, Kathryn
Saunders, Helena Tait and
Tricia Parkes.
The 25 years section featured
Elaine Shaw, Bill Spencer,
Vanessa Marwood, Joan
Roberts, Patricia Robson,
Angela Perry, Kath Lane, Susan
Godfrey, Carol Zarwi, Ruth
Taylor, Linda Bailes, Christine
Kelly, Karen Robinson,
Christine Clark, Jane Hall, Gill
Angus and Margaret Bennett.
Nursing sister Elaine Shaw: the
Light Bulb Award for innovation
20
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
INBRIEF
Stepping out for
a fitter future
T
HE Chance To Live partnership
provides a range of physical
activity-based activities in Wear
Valley which are targeted at specific
groups. This includes the Walking the
Way to Health programme, a year-round
schedule of walks taken by a specially
trained walk leader.
Apart from a variety of community
groups at different venues around Wear
Valley the scheme also works
specifically with schools in the district.
This programme of walks is also used
by the local Cardiac Rehabilitation and
Exercise Referral programmes as an
alternative to gym or swimming poolbased activity for people who are
recovering from cardiac or other health
problems identified by their GP.
Another long-running programme
which targets the over 50s is the PALS
group, which stands for Physically Active
for Life Seniors. Apart from regular
organised walks, this programme also
includes a range of activities including
Tai Chi, fencing, badminton and yoga.
Many of these PALS groups will be
encouraged to take part in the Great
North Walk on Sunday July 10. This
year’s walk, which will start and finish in
Wolsingham, Weardale, will be used by
literally thousands of people of all ages
as a focus for getting fitter.
The great majority of those who will
take part this summer will prepare
themselves for the eight-mile course by
gradually building up their stamina and
strength so they can meet the challenge
of the walk.
The organisers of the Great North
Walk say there is strong evidence that
the majority continue with some walking
activity after the event.
в—Џ Great North Walk entry forms are
available by ringing (01388) 761558.
The closing date for entries is
Monday, June 20, or earlier should
the entry limit be reached.
в—Џ For more information on your
local walking group, contact either
Lorraine Honeybell or Jane Eddy on
0191-269 1600 or visit
www.whi.org.uk
A weapon in the
bad breath battle
UNSWEETENED yoghurt is the latest
weapon against the social
embarrassment of bad breath,
according to a new Japanese study.
A serving a day for six weeks reduced
the level of hydrogen sulphide – a major
cause of bad breath – in 80 per cent of
volunteers. Yoghurt was also found to be
a deterrent to tooth decay and gum
disease, contributing factors in bad
breath which affects one in four people.
The research was welcomed by British
Dental Foundation chief executive, Nigel
Carter who said: ��It’s pleasing to hear
that this healthy snack may have oral
health benefits.’’
Mole warning
A REMINDER to people with lots of
moles: keep an eye on them.
Remember to look for new moles,
moles with ragged edges, moles that
change shape or colour and moles
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grow bigger. If any of these apply,
get them checked out immediately.
The lean Green
fitness machine
I
F EVER a woman was walking confirmation of practising what she
preaches, then that woman is Diana
Moran, formerly and perhaps forever
known as the Green Goddess. Diana is
tall, blonde, strikingly beautiful and perfectly poised, with the firmest female handshake I have ever encountered.
She looks like a very well-preserved
woman in her mid to late 40s. But Diana is
64. Now, all the secrets of how she can look
so gorgeous while managing a hectic career
as well as being a pensionable mother of two
and grandmother of four are in her new
book Fresh Face, subtitled “the easy way to
look 10 years younger”.
Diana’s suggested combination of homemade cosmetics – the concoction using
runny honey, Greek yoghurt and mashed avocado sounds good enough to eat – facial
stretches, healthy diet and positive thinking
clearly works.
I don’t really need to ask her, as I do later,
whether younger men find her attractive –
because I am one, and I do. But I also wanted to ask her about a darker secret, a secret
depression which hit her as a direct, though
long-delayed, reaction to the breast cancer,
the double mastectomy and the simultaneous reconstructive surgery she had endured
in the 1980s.
“Ah, I was a bit wary of saying anything
about that, but you’ve caught me out,” says
Diana. “It happened two-and-a-half years or
so ago and I didn’t know who I could go to. I
just knew that I need help to get through it.”
Breast cancer had threatened her life and
her career and she had beaten it. Yet 15 years
later there was a backlash which almost
floored this glamorous woman with a seemingly unquenchable thirst for life.
“The break-up of a relationship was the
catalyst,” says twice-married Diana. “I didn’t want to talk to my family and friends
about it… We’d done all that cancer business
and I didn’t want to go through it all again.
I just needed somebody new to unburden
to.”
Just as she had done her utmost to keep
her cancer secret all those years earlier,
Diana gave nothing away to her friends and
loved ones about what she was going
through: “I got really depressed, but it was
a secret heartache, a secret depression. I’m
a great one for putting a smiley face on and
getting on with life.”
That was the root of the problem, in a way.
Diana has always been the one who coped,
the one who advised others how to keep
smiling and stay positive, so the moment she
recovered from cancer she was back in her
familiar role, personally and professionally,
showing daytime TV viewers how to keep fit.
“I had pushed aside my personal feelings
of grief at the loss of my breasts, and of my
perceived diminished femininity. My emotions were compounded by a sense of sexual rejection and, for the first time in 15 years,
I found myself blaming cancer for my insecurity and depression.”
Diana’s salvation came via a course of
eight sessions with the Cancer Counselling
Trust, a small London-based charity which
she now wholeheartedly supports.
So was it a complete novelty to be the one
in need this time? “It was. I was embarrassed
at first, and the whole thing was very upsetting, because you don’t hold anything
back. If you do, it’s not worth bothering
with. The first session is an assessment for
you and for them, but if you decide to go
back, you have to commit to eight sessions;
you see the same person at the same mutually convenient time each week. And you’re
not burdening them, because that’s what
they’re there for, but you feel unburdened.
They’re such clever people – just a couple of
words can give you a different spin on how
you think about things…
“It’s not a comfortable experience, not at
all. It raised all these other issues and it
went through its peaks and its troughs, but
at the end of it, phew,what a relief!”
Diana’s 40-year career, on the other hand,
seems mostly peaks. It has taken in model-
вќ›
I had pushed aside
my personal feelings
of grief at the loss of my
breasts, and of my
perceived diminished
femininity
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
21
DIANA’S TOP TIPS
Green
Goddess,
Diana Moran
spent most of
the 1980s
telling people
how to stay fit
and healthy,
only to
succumb to
breast cancer
herself. As she
brings out a
new book on
how to stay
looking young
and radiant,
Diana tells
GRAHAM KEAL
how sudden
depression
nearly undid
all the good
work
Diana Moran at the height of her TV fame as the Green Goddess, and far left, today
ling, writing, TV presenting and her stint as
one of the most famous TV exercise gurus,
though the Green Goddess tag came about
quite by accident.
She now has a home by the Thames, which
she shares with her eight-month-old cat
Maisie, but back in the late 1970s, Somersetborn Diana was living in Bristol and working
for HTV on a daytime show for women called
Here Today. She combined that with work as a
continuity announcer in HTV’s Cardiff studio
and haring off to Butlin’s Barry Island camp
to teach weekend fitness classes. She wore a
red leotard for Butlin’s and a blue one at Pontin’s. Then HTV asked her to incorporate workouts in the TV show. “I said �What do you want
me to wear?’ They said �Go to London and see
what the latest things are there’. I bought a
bright golden yellow leotard and tights. I
thought they were gorgeous but after I came
off they told me I looked like a canary.’” Diana’s
“sophisticated” coffee-coloured substitute was
received with even less enthusiasm (“Whoa,
no! You look nude!”) and she then resorted to
“this awful bright green” outfit, which they
liked.
Three years later she was headhunted by
BBC1 for their new Breakfast Time show fronted by Frank Bough and Co. After her first
work-out at Waterloo Station, Fleet Street
started sniffing around. “Journalists were
ringing HTV saying �Who’s this bird?’ and
someone said �Ah, that’s Diana, our Goddess…
Our Green Goddess’. And the papers just
picked up on it. It was never planned at all.”
Five years later, Diana tried in vain to drop
the tag but now she is happy to have it. “I feel
now that I owe a debt to the Green Goddess,
because she opened doors for me. The public
feel comfortable with her and seem to want to
keep her around.”
Hence the latest book, a distillation of all the
tips about maintaining and restoring good
looks and good habits which it has taken Diana
a lifetime to amass. Her clear, smooth complexion and bright-eyed vivacity owe everything to the methods she outlines, not to the
surgeon’s knife.
“Cosmetic surgery is not for me. As well as
the cancer operation I had a partial thyroidectomy when I was 29, so I’ve had my share of
surgery and I don’t want to go under the knife
unnecessarily. When I see someone on television having a face operation I get frightened
to death at the thought of something going
wrong.”
Cosmetic surgeon fans who are out for a
quick fix might be surprised at how quickly
Diana’s gentler alternatives can work. “I know
people can see and feel a lot of difference within 28 days because people from my classes have
told me it works, but your new routine has to
be habitual, it has to be repeated to make a difference.
“I dislike all this media pressure to look 20
years younger, but I just want to motivate people to make the most of themselves. When you
get to this sort of age, it’s about maintaining
what you’ve got.”
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properties
в—Џ For special occasions, paint
egg white over lined areas on
droopy faces. It temporarily
tightens and lifts the face. Allow
it to dry completely before
applying any make-up
в—Џ Lighten age spots on hands
and face with lemon juice,
though note that this treatment
is not suitable for sensitive skin.
SUGAR may be sweet but it
hastens the ageing process.
Sugar attaches to your body’s
proteins in a process called
glycosylation. It transforms
D
the protein, making them
unable to repair the skin and
adversely affecting the
collagen and elastin
structures deep down.
CALM red and itchy eyes with
cotton wool pads soaked in cold
milk. Leave over eyes for ten
minutes.
WHETHER they are due to
poor circulation or an
accumulation of toxins under
the thin surface skin, you can
remedy dark circles in two
ways. Place two thin slices of
raw potato on top of closed
eyes for ten minutes and
relax. Alternatively, become
more active – take a brisk
walk, do facial exercises and
get your lymphatic drainage
system working.
IANA Moran is not the only celebrity to have
suffered from severe depression. Actor Stephen
Fry is just one of a host of celebrities including film
star Winona Ryder, and TV gardener Monty Don who
have publicly admitted suffering from depression. In
1995 Fry was so depressed he walked out of a West
End play and considered suicide. He has now
recovered. He describes his feelings as: “Somehow
the future looks an impossible place to be, and the direction you are
going seems to have no purpose. There is this word despair, which is a
very awful thing to feel.
��There is never any logical reason for despair. Reason has absolutely
nothing to do with it. You can’t reason yourself back into cheerfulness
any more than you can reason yourself into an extra 6in in height.”
22
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
Acupuncturist
Emma
Robinson is
offering
treatments
for a range of
problems at
North-East
clinics.
SARAH
FOSTER finds
out more
Getting the
needle, right,
and Emma
Robinson, far
right
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E
VEN if we don’t know much about it,
most of us have a mental image of
acupuncture – usually a human pin
cushion. Yet while it was once fairly
marginal, regarded with a degree of scepticism,
its reputation as a viable form of medicine is now
firmly established. But what really is acupuncture (aside from sticking in needles) and how –
and who – does it help?
Traditional acupuncturist Emma Robinson
explains that it’s an ancient form of medicine
handed down from the Chinese. “It’s the idea
that our bodies naturally maintain our health
but for various reasons, can get out of balance.
What we have is Qi, pronounced �Chee’, and
that’s everywhere. It flows within us in meridians, which are channels throughout the body.
Whenever there’s ill-health, whether that’s physical or spiritual, we see it as coming from disharmony in the flow of the Qi,” she says.
Of the different forms of acupuncture, that
which Emma practises is known as Five Element, based on the natural elements of wood,
fire, earth, metal and water. Exponents believe
that these correspond with the body’s makeup,
with each person having the characteristics of
one more strongly than the rest. When something goes wrong, it is likely to be linked to this
element.
Emma, who grew up in Hamsterley, County
Durham, says the key to treatment is to look at
the whole person. “It’s the person as an individual and what’s going on with them. We start
working with that person and trying to help that
weakness that we see as the cause of the problem,” she says.
In the initial consultation, lasting about an
hour-and-a-half, Emma starts by getting to know
the patient. “I have a very in-depth discussion
with them, including their full medical history
and details of medication, but also their emotional state, family situation and lifestyle. Then
I look at the body systems, such as bowel movements, urination and sleep patterns,” she says.
“What I’m really looking for is not only the
symptoms of the problem but what the cause is.
I very much concentrate on trying to treat the
cause.”
During the session, Emma also takes the patient’s pulses, of which there are six on each
wrist, connected to 12 main meridians. Treatment starts tentatively, with the insertion and
quick withdrawal of needles. Even in subsequent consultations, Emma says that more often
than not, she won’t leave the needles in. “A lot of
the time I won’t leave them in at all – I’ll just put
them in and take them out,” she says.
The needles are stainless steel, of varying
lengths and not much more than the width of a
hair. Emma uses the least amount possible – usually four to ten – and places them in mirror image
on both sides of the body. She says there’s no
pain involved. “Often you don’t even feel the needle going through the skin. You can feel the energy moving. Some people describe it as like static.”
Sometimes, Emma will burn a herb called
Moxa over the acupuncture point, warming it
and helping the energy flow.
After one to two sessions, she says the patient
should start to feel better, although she stresses
that there’s no instant cure. “It isn’t something
that you have once and the problem’s sorted.
People should be willing to give it at least six
treatments,” she says.
The range of conditions shown to benefit from
acupuncture is diverse, taking in the whole spectrum from stress and allergies to back pain and
infertility. Emma says that not only does it treat
the problem, but patients often report other improvements. “It can be quite intangible things. I
think one of the key areas is mental health,” she
says.
Evidence that doctors are looking more and
more to acupuncture is provided by Emma’s appointment to the NHS-run Bishopgate Medical
Centre, in Bishop Auckland. She sees private patients at the Durham Complementary Health
Centre and Middlesbrough’s Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine Centre.
For Emma, acupuncture is a way of life – not
only does she practise it, she has it herself to prevent illness. Yet despite her years of training,
and her experience of treating patients, she admits that part of it remains a mystery. “You get
to the point where you can’t really understand.
There’s a little bit of magic in there,” she says.
в—Џ To book an appointment or a free 15-minute
consultation, contact Emma on 07739 557316,
Durham Complementary Health Centre on
0191-375 7507 or The Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine Centre on (01642) 246385.
в—Џ For more information, visit
www.traditional-acupuncture.co.uk
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
23
ME&MYHEALTHMICHELLE PAVER
Left: Hury reservoir in Teesdale
AUTHOR Michelle Paver had a huge hit with her
first children’s story, which is still at the top of
the best seller lists. She landed a ВЈ2.8m
publishing deal for Wolf Brother, the first of
her Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series,
which is set amongst nomadic tribes in a
northern forest 6,000 years ago. The film
rights for Wolf Brother have already been
snapped up by North-East film director Ridley
Scott.
Paver was born in Malawi on September 7,
1960, and has lived most of her life in
Wimbledon. She gained a first in biochemistry
at Oxford and then became a high-flying City
lawyer. Plagued by colds and headaches, and
surviving on coffee, Paver gave up the fastpaced lifestyle to become a writer.
��Let’s face it,’’ she says, ��I was only earning
money I’d never have the time or energy to
enjoy. I was a mug. Now I have about 10
million times more fun, and time to do the
things I really love.’’
Reservoir jogs
M
How much sleep do you need?
��These days a good eight hours, nine if I can get it.
When I worked in the City, I used to get by on five.
Writing is surprisingly tiring. I try to do about seven
hours a day and by the time I’ve done that I feel
like I’ve been hit with a truck. I tried cat napping as
well, but couldn’t get the knack of waking up so I
gave up.’’
How do you feel first thing in the morning?
��Providing I get my eight hours, I feel sharpest in a
morning.’’
What exercise do you take?
��I don’t have a car, so I walk a lot and that does it
for me.’’
Are you careful about what you eat?
��Yes I am. I usually get the five portions of fruit
and veg. That sort of thing. But I’m also a firm
believer in food in moderation, so I don’t have
anything that’s forbidden. That works for me
because if nothing’s forbidden I don’t feel
desperate for any particular food.’’
Are you or have you ever been overweight?
��In my teens I was a couple of stone overweight,
which made me utterly miserable. I tried every diet
known to woman but none of them worked. Then
in my twenties I got busy at work and forgot about
dieting, and it all just fell off.’’
Do you take vitamin and mineral pills?
��I take calcium, a vitamin pill and usually some
other fad pill – for a while, then I’ll lose interest in
it.’’
What foods can’t you bear to eat?
��I can’t really think of anything. I’ll eat anything. I
once ate fried piranha eyes for a dare on holiday.
They’re quite nice – crispy. But if it was alive and
actually squirming, I’d have a problem.’’
Do you drink or smoke too much?
��I’ve never smoked. I’m pretty sure I did drink too
much when I was in the City, and I’d love to drink
too much now, but I have been cutting down and
these days I limit myself to one glass of wine a
night.’’
Have you ever been in hospital?
��I’ve never been in hospital for an illness or
breakage, but when my father was dying I spent
days and nights there, so the answer is yes.’’
Does your job affect your health?
��Only in the sense that I’m a lot healthier now in
this job than I was before. But I have found that
when I’m working on a really emotional theme, for
six or seven hours, I tend to tense up a lot and end
up with backache at the top of the shoulders. They
say you should roll your shoulders, get up and
move around, but that doesn’t seem to help. It
would be great to have a personal masseur.’’
How often do you consult your doctor?
��Only when I’m ill. I’ve never actually met my
First words: Rest of caption here
ANY people like the idea of
going for a walk or jog in the
country but are put off because they are unsure where they
can and can’t walk. If you don’t want
to learn to read a map or join a ramblers’ club, you might consider heading for one of the North-East’s reservoirs for a spot of healthy outdoor
exercise in stunning surroundings.
Paul Russell, local operational
manager with Northumbrian Water,
is proud of the fact that most of the
region’s reservoirs have welcoming
car parks, information boards and
clearly marked out paths for walkers.
Some have wheelchair and
pushchair-friendly routes and there
are plans to install more around the
region.
“We like to encourage people to
keep fit and we actively promote
current doctor even though I’ve been on his books
for several years.’’
Do you catch a cold most winters?
��I think I do, about once a year. It’s about a
quarter of the number of colds I used to get.’’
Do you think you suffer from stress?
��I don’t now, but I used to a lot. Every single case
was important, and they were all clashing with the
others. These days, I’m working for myself and on
one book at a time. There’s pressure when it
comes to meeting deadlines but not stress.’’
Do you look after your skin?
��I wash it and I slap on cheap moisturiser, and, for
me, that’s looking after my skin. I don’t believe in
spending money on a lot of expensive stuff.’’
Are you happy with your body?
��Aesthetically, yes. I’ve learnt to live with the flaws.
I’m the same weight as I was 20 years ago. In
practical terms, it doesn’t yet seize up when I ride
a horse or walk ten miles. So, yes, I’m reasonably
happy.’’
Do you take more care of yourself as the
years go by?
��Because of my father I’m pretty cancer aware, so
I don’t get those sorts of problems you get with
smoking. But I don’t think I really take more care,
generally.’’
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I tried every diet
known to
woman but none of
them worked. Then
in my twenties I got
busy at work and
forgot about dieting,
and it all just fell off
walking as a healthy way of taking
exercise,” says Paul.
Northumbrian Water have an open
access policy to reservoirs, which
means the public are free to walk
around them. “The only restrictions
are for safety or operational reasons,”
says Paul. In this part of the region
the undoubted �jewel in the crown’ is
Cow Green Reservoir, an immense
expanse of water surrounded by fells
and moorland but which is easily accessible along a metalled road.
“Most visitors walk along the path
to the dam but experienced walkers
are welcome to walk around the remainder of the reservoir,” says Paul.
Further down Teesdale there are
Grassholme and Hury reservoirs.
Hury has an easy 3m walk with no
steep gradients. Grassholme is a little more strenuous but still do-able
for most people.
A booklet giving details of six circular walks around Baldersdale and
Lunedale reservoirs is available from
Teesdale District Council.
Tunstall reservoir in the Wear Valley provides beautiful views and has
ancient oak woodland and work is
going on at nearby Burnhope reservoir to create a circular walk.
Derwent reservoir, further north,
is very popular with walkers while
Scaling reservoir on the North York
Moors has a beautiful circular walk
with wheelchair access.
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24
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
ADVERTISING FEATURE
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care sector.
The programme is a combination of academic and practical modules
enabling students to improve and enhance their understanding
of their role within the workplace. Subjects covered include
anatomy and physiology, IT skills, communication, skills for practice,
introduction to evidence-based practice and specialist modules
relevant to the student’s area of work.
Routes available within the programme are – diagnostic radiography,
occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiotherapy and oncology,
maternal and child health, nursing, medical laboratory practice,
nutrition and the vulnerable adult.
в—† FdA Early Years Sector Endorsed
This highly successful vocational degree has been developed in
collaboration with employers, further education colleges, Local
в—† BSc (Hons) Social Work/Learning
Disablities Nursing
в—† BSc (Hons) Social Work/Mental
Health Nursing
These degrees, recruiting for September 2005, are designed for
those students who are particularly interested in integrating social
work and nursing practice. They offer a unique opportunity to
gain knowledge and experience of two professions as well as dual
qualifications. Students are normally expected to have at least
12 months prior experience in a health or social care setting.
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
NEHEALTH
25
ADVERTISING FEATURE
The School of Health & Social Care offers a number of programmes
at Masters level for those who wish to undertake Continuing
Professional Development.
The programmes recruiting in September 2005 include:
в—† MSc Evidence-based Anaesthesia
в—† MSc Evidence-based Orthopaedic Studies
в—† MSc Evidence-based Practice (Online)
в—† MSc Evidence-based Public Health
These programmes are intended for professionals who are actively
engaged in health and social care related work within a variety of
settings. Students will develop a lifelong ability to understand how
evidence is generated, retrieved, appraised and applied in practice.
в—† MSc Health Sciences
в—† BSc (Hons) Public Health & Well-being
An innovative degree that will give graduates the knowledge and
skills to bring about positive change in the policies and practices
that influence the public’s health. Students will be actively engaged
in work experience in areas such as community development.
Applications are welcome for September 2005.
This programme promotes academic study and the development of
analytical skills in a variety of disciplines relevant to health and social
care. It is suitable for graduates in health and social care related
subjects seeking personal development in their professional roles.
Pathways include Cancer Care, Public Health or the more flexible
Generic Pathway.
в—† DProf Advancing Practice
Recruiting for September 2005, this programme is aimed at health
and social care professionals who wish to make an independent
and original contribution to knowledge at doctoral level. This is
achieved through the systematic advancement and evaluation of
personal and professional practice, which is supported through a
combination of taught modules and a large-scale independent
research dissertation.
в—† PgCert Musculoskeletal Studies
This programme recruits at various points throughout the year and
provides the opportunity for registered health care professionals to
develop advanced clinical skills in joint examination, assessment and
clinical management of patients with musculoskeletal conditions
at postgraduate level. It is a collaborative venture between the
University of Teesside and the Society of Orthopaedic Medicine.
On successful completion of this programme relevant students will
be eligible to apply for membership of the Society of Orthopaedic
Medicine via a written multiple choice examination and additional
practical examination (currently open to medical practitioners and
physiotherapists).
в—† BA (Hons) Evidence-based Interventions
in Mental Health Care
This new two year part-time degree, recruiting for September 2005,
is aimed at qualified health care professionals. It focuses on
therapeutic mental health interventions and offers an introduction
to the principles and practice of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
(CBT) with the option of another CBT module on common mental
health problems. There is also a Psycho-social Interventions
module, with an emphasis on evidence-based interventions.
в—† Nursing Studies
We have vacancies available for the Diploma in Nursing Studies
(Mental Health) and BSc (Hons) Nursing Studies (Mental Health)
starting in September 2005. These programmes enable you to
spend 50 per cent of your time in a mental health practice setting,
giving you valuable hands-on experience.
University Certificate in
Professional Development
(UCPD)
For more information on any of the above call
01642 384110 or email [email protected].
в—† Screening and Supporting Post-16 learners
with specific learning difficulties
в—† Supporting Post-16 Learners
These courses lead to a certificate and are designed for anyone who
supports adults and young adults with dyslexia or other specific
learning problems and who are learning in the workplace, voluntary
settings or further education. Recruiting for September 2005.
For an information pack on any of the above call
01642 384176 or email [email protected].
в—† MA Advancing Practice
This programme provides the opportunity for professionals
working within the health and social care environment to develop
their ability to implement and evaluate evidence-based change.
The multidisciplinary nature of the programme enables students
to explore areas of practice across a wide spectrum of care
environments.
www.tees.ac.uk
All details correct at time of publishing
NEHEALTH
26
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
The desk
de-stresser
Better be pretty and short-sighted
than short-sighted
If you can’t get
away from your
desk for a proper
break during the
day, it’s even more
important that you
can take a little
time out to destress. Therapist
Brenda Jones has
some tips
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Complementary therapist
Brenda Jones demonstrates
to Michelle Gaff how
workers can give
themselves a soothing
head massage at their desk
Y
OUR heart is racing, you don’t
whether to stand up, sit down,
take that phone call, send that email and when you look at your
“to do” list you just can’t decide
where to begin. You set off on one task,
then get distracted by something else, then
the phone rings. And so on…
For many people this is a typical snapshot of their working day – too much to do,
too little time and all the while finding not
even a minute to stop and relax. Instead
we’re storing up tension, both physical and
mental, to the point where eventually we
snap.
Michelle Gaff, branch manager of NRG
City in Stockton, has researched the issue
of work-induced stress. “Up to half a million people in the UK are extremely ill because of stress and a further five million
feel unwell because of feeling stressed at
work,” she says.
“Added to the demands of work are the
demands of home, children and dependent
relatives. It leaves very little space for us
to take any time out and when we do we’re
often too tired to know where to begin.”
The answer is to learn a few de-stressing
techniques to do at your desk or in a quiet
moment at lunchtime.
According to Brenda Jones, who runs
Lothlann Complementary Therapies and
lectures in the subject, just a two minute
time-out can add 30 minutes in productivity. She recently gave a presentation to PAs
and secretaries – members of the NRG City
PA Forum – on how they could reduce their
stress with a few simple techniques.
Here are some of her ideas:
1
Take off your shoes and put your feet
flat on the floor. Rest your hands in
your lap. Shut your eyes and begin to
breathe deeply. Concentrate on breathing
in through your nose and out through your
mouth. As you breathe out, visualise all the
tension leaving your body. Work your way
around your body, releasing the tension in
your shoulders, your arms, your back, your
legs and so on.
2
If your neck is aching and tense, move
your chin down towards your chest
then slowly pull your head back. Then
carefully do full orbit head rolls in both
directions.
3
Warm up your trapezius muscles (the
ones which run across the top of your
shoulders down your arms and down your
upper back) by reaching across to your left
shoulder with your right and squeeze the
muscles from your neck and out across
your shoulders.
4
Rub the tops of your arms to warm up
your deltoid muscles then using your
fingers and heel of your palm �pull’ the
muscles from the bones.
5
If your head is aching, use your fingers
to clasp pieces of hair and do little tugs
across your head. Then rest your elbows on
the desk and use both hands to move your
scalp.
6
If you suffer from eye strain or sinus
congestion, put a finger in the corner of
each eye under your eyebrow then press
and release, working your way along the
bone to the outside of your eye. Do the
same thing along the edge of the bone
under your eye. Then put your first fingers
on your top lip, the second finger on your
bottom lip and your third finger on your
jawline. Walk your fingers outwards along
your jaw. End by giving your earlobes a
little tug.
7
For your legs, rotate your ankles in
both directions. Lift your lower leg and
push out keeping your foot flexed. Wiggle
your toes together, then try to wiggle each
one separately. Every night, raise your feet
above your hips for 20 minutes.
в—Џ NRG City PA Forum holds regular
events to help PAs and secretaries in the
Tees Valley meet up and get to know each
other. Membership is free. For more
information, call Michelle Gaff on (01642)
626350.
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
27
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onami S
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M
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ERE’S your great chance to get in shape
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28
NEHEALTH
May 2005 Online: www.healthspectrum.co.uk
Quality
hydration
“The quality of tap
water in our region is
very good indeed and
good value for money more reason for us all to
keep hydrated,
especially as the warm
weather approaches.”
Dr John Woodhouse,
Deputy Regional
Director for Public
Health.
www.nwl.co.uk

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