Category: Health Page 1 of 10

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, isolation rooms have become an essential tool in the care of infected patients. These rooms provide a safe and secure environment for patients with contagious diseases, preventing the spread of the virus to other patients and healthcare workers.

Isolation rooms are designed to maintain negative pressure, meaning that the air is drawn into the room and filtered before being released back into the atmosphere. This helps to ensure that any airborne particles, such as the COVID-19 virus, are contained within the room and not spread to other areas of the hospital or healthcare facility.

Isolation rooms are typically equipped with specialised ventilation systems and air filters that can remove airborne particles, including viruses, from the air. This helps to prevent the spread of the virus to other patients, staff, and visitors.

In addition to their ventilation systems, isolation rooms are also equipped with specialised equipment and facilities that help to protect both patients and healthcare workers. For example, these rooms may have negative pressure anterooms that provide a space for healthcare workers to put on and take off personal protective equipment (PPE) before and after entering the room. This helps to minimise the risk of infection for both patients and staff.

Isolation rooms can also help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by allowing for more effective cleaning and disinfection. Since these rooms are designed to be easily cleaned and sanitised, they can be thoroughly disinfected between patients, reducing the risk of contamination.

They can also help to improve patient outcomes by providing a calm and quiet environment for recovery. Since COVID-19 patients may experience a range of symptoms, including difficulty breathing, fatigue, and coughing, a quiet environment can help to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

Caring for COVID patients by reducing the spread of infection: COVID-19 is highly contagious, and one of the most effective ways to prevent its spread is through isolation. Isolation rooms help to separate infected patients from others, reducing the risk of transmission and allowing healthcare workers to care for patients without fear of contracting the virus themselves.

Protecting vulnerable populations: Certain populations, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, are at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. Isolation rooms can provide a safe environment for these vulnerable patients, allowing them to receive the care they need while minimising their risk of exposure to the virus.

Providing specialised care: COVID-19 patients often require specialised care, including oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, and other treatments. Isolation rooms are designed to accommodate these needs, providing the necessary equipment and facilities for patient care.

Improving outcomes: Patients with COVID-19 can experience a range of symptoms, including respiratory distress, fever, and fatigue. Isolation rooms can provide a quiet and comfortable environment for recovery, helping to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

Facilitating communication: Communication is essential in patient care, and isolation rooms are designed to facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers. Many isolation rooms are equipped with intercoms or other communication systems, allowing patients to stay in touch with their healthcare team while minimising their exposure to others.

Overall, isolation rooms are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19. By providing a safe and secure environment for infected patients, these rooms can help to reduce the spread of the virus, protect vulnerable populations, and improve patient outcomes. As we continue to navigate the pandemic, it is essential that healthcare facilities prioritise the use of isolation rooms in the care of COVID-19 patients.

Living a healthy lifestyle can have a significant impact on your physical and mental well-being. With the right habits and mindset, you can improve your overall quality of life and reduce your risk of chronic health conditions. Here are some key elements to a healthy lifestyle that you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Regular Exercise: Exercise is one of the most essential elements of a healthy lifestyle. It helps you maintain a healthy weight, strengthens your muscles and bones, improves your cardiovascular health, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week.

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New research suggests DIY can boost mental and physical wellbeing and found that for the majority of Brits, watching paint dry isn’t actually boring at all, as 58% say they enjoy watching and checking on it.

Home improvement retailer Wickes teamed up with a leading neuroscientist to understand how DIY can help counter anxiety, stress, and improve wellbeing. The DIY specialist also asked 1,500 participants how they felt after watching a video on wallpapering a room.

>>> Doing DIY helps counter anxiety, stress and improve wellbeing while aiding physical and cognitive abilities, new research suggests
>>> Majority of Brits surveyed found watching paint dry ‘satisfying’ while three quarters who viewed a DIY tutorial agreed it made them feel relaxed with an increased sense of satisfaction
>>> Home retailer Wickes has teamed up with TV neuroscientist to create world’s first meditation movie, ‘DIY Is Good For You’, featuring ‘satisfying DIY sequences’, designed to encourage mindfulness

And around half (45%) said the footage made them feel more relaxed, while one in ten (9%) also admitted that sounds including mixing the paste and cutting the wallpaper helped them unwind.

The majority (86%) also said doing some form of DIY, such as upcycling, putting up a shelf or laying tiles, has been previously beneficial to their wellbeing and eased anxieties.

When asked about the best outlets for helping to improve wellbeing, doing DIY or home improvement topped the poll (51%) above yoga (30%), playing sport (26%) and practising a musical instrument.

Interestingly, the majority (82%) of those surveyed revealed that saving money by opting to carry out a DIY task themselves rather than outsourcing it to a professional or family member improved their sense of wellbeing.

Wickes and TV neuroscientist Dr Jack Lewis used the findings to create the world’s first DIY meditation movie, designed to encourage mindfulness by either watching or doing DIY tasks.

The 20-minute film, ‘DIY Is Good For You’, features scenes including:

>>>The full painting process, from opening the lid on a tin of paint, rolling the paint brush back-and-forth into the paint, and then applying the first roll of paint to a wall. All before removing the frog tape to reveal the final, finished paint job
>>>The process of filling a crack in a wall with filler, to grouting tiles and sealing around a bathtub to leave a smooth and clean finish
>>>A pressure washer clearing a dirty patio to pouring gravel and using a rake to spread it
>>>A satisfying sequence of wallpaper being stripped from a wall using a steamer and the wallpaper falling to the floor

The film can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDljRiLFk30.

Neuroscientist Dr Jack Lewis said: “Various pieces of evidence suggest that both undertaking and watching DIY is a relaxing experience. Meditation in its purest form is about living in the moment, being present and focusing on the task in hand – and DIY allows exactly that.

“The process of undertaking DIY tasks means there is no ‘brain space’ left for worrying about past or future events. And its repetitive nature can also be very meditative.

“The 20-minute video aims to encourage a sense of calm for the viewer. Studies suggest that mindfulness or meditation for that length of time daily can result in better mind management after 12 weeks.

“Undertaking DIY tasks has benefits for overall wellbeing. The motor cortex in the outer surface of the human brain has specific areas dedicated to producing movements in different parts of our body. And the brain area dedicated to the hands and fingers are disproportionately large when compared to other body parts.

“That’s because performing skilled hand movements is a very important part of being human, and the enlarged brain areas needed to trigger them – supporting evidence that doing manual tasks, like DIY, makes us happy.”

The research also found that around three quarters of Brits (72%) feel carrying out a DIY task gives them a sense of accomplishment, while over half (52%) say it helps them step away from their phone or laptop (52%) – and it gives a sense of relief that a task has been ticked off the list (42%).

Almost half (47%) said they would recommend DIY as a remedy for someone suffering with anxiety.

Wickes Most Satisfying DIY Tasks To Undertake:

1. Removing wallpaper (named by 41% as providing a feeling of satisfaction)
2. The first roll of paint on a wall (37%)
3. Pressure washing (35%)
4. Removing frog tape from a wall (33%)
5. Putting up a shelf (29%)
6. Sanding / sealing a bath / removing the lid from a tin of paint (16%)
7. Mixing paint / installing flooring (14%)
8. Fixing decking (10%)
9. Drilling (8%)

Dr Jack Lewis added: “Doing DIY and seeing improvements over time provides a heightened sense of self-efficacy and also creates feelings of accomplishment. However, it’s important that whenever any tasks are undertaken enough time is allowed to complete them without feeling rushed, as this can result in feelings of stress.

“Whether watching or doing DIY, make sure it’s in a place where you’re able to focus on the task at hand and not be distracted by external pressures.”

Gary Kibble, Chief Marketing and Digital Officer, Wickes, said: “We’re excited to learn that so many people are enjoying DIY and finding it a useful resource in helping them switch off from the stresses of everyday life.

“Historically DIY may have just been seen as a necessity for jobs in the home, but nowadays more people are doing it as an enjoyable pastime to help them relax. We hope that the meditation film will allow more people to enjoy DIY and reap the benefits.”

The ‘DIY Is Good For You’ film is released to coincide with Wickes’ 50th anniversary. It is available to view on both the Wickes website and YouTube page.

Source: Wickes & Insight News Team

As temperatures are set to reach as high as 35C across parts of England and Wales this weekend, dermatologists have issued a warning to people about skin conditions caused or aggravated by the heat.

Dermatologist Adeline Kikam told the BBC “extreme or high temperatures can have adverse impact on skin”. She says several skin conditions can develop, or worsen, during persistently high temperatures.

Ways to Protect Your Skin in the Heat include:

>>> heat rash
>>> sunburn
>>> aggravated eczema (dry, irritated skin)
>>> chafing
>>> increased breakouts and spots
>>> Heat rashes, tiny bumps or blisters in the skin, happen when there is an obstruction in the sweat ducts and inflammation.

They are more common during the summer because they are triggered by heat and humidity.

Dr Kikam says high temperatures can also worsen or aggravate eczema.

High temperatures lead to increased sweating, which in turn can make the skin even drier and the salt residue from the sweat can cause inflammation in the skin. This combination leads to redness, and general discomfort.

Spots and breakouts are common during high temperatures because there is an excess secretion of oil from our sebaceous glands. This combined with sweating and products like make-up can clog pores and trap dirt in the skin.

Sunburn is the result of long exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. If you have darker skin, and therefore more melanin, your body has a base protective layer to UV radiation and it might take longer to notice the symptoms of sunburn (redness and blisters).

“Damage to the skin is just not as visible, but you’re still getting the damage,” Dr Kikam says.

For those suffering from heat rashes, Dr Kikam says patients should remove themselves from hot and humid environments when possible and ensure they have access to good ventilation, by using fans and air conditioner – and keep the affected area of the skin dry.

The same goes for chafing – rubbing on the skin from clothing or other surfaces. Wearing loose clothing, ensuring your skin is dry and avoiding friction are the best ways to avoid it, says Dr Kikam.

For those suffering from aggravated eczema, it is important to keep your skin moisturised with neutral lotions, she adds.

For sunburns, Dr Kikam says everyone should ensure they are wearing sunscreen to protect themselves from exposure to UV radiation and avoid direct sun exposure for long periods of time.

She adds regularly cleansing your skin ensures you can minimise your risk of having breakouts, as you are avoiding product build up and keeping your pores unclogged.

Prostate cancer: The British staple that can raise your risk of the deadliest male cancer.

Whether it’s waking up the morning after a night out or coming back after a morning run, there are few things people desire more than a bite of meat and carbohydrate alongside a caffeinated drink of some description. While this may act as a reward for the distance run or ease the pain from the damage done, it could also increase someone’s risk of cancer, particularly if they’re a man.

Cancer is a deadly umbrella of pernicious diseases which can affect anyone of any gender and in innumerable ways. From the skin to the kidneys, from the brain to the bowel, cancer can mutate from any cell. Furthermore, there are a number of risk factors which can impact someone’s risk of cancer. One of the most influential of these is lifestyle habits; meaning factors such as diet, activity, and acts such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

The Express newspaper are reporting that While these are factors which are well within the control of many, there are some which aren’t, such as gender. For example, there are some cancers which some cis-men can get which cis-women can’t due to their biological differences. Prostate cancer – the deadliest cancer in men – is an example of one of these cancers and Express.co.uk has been talking to Doctor Carrie Ruxton on how men can reduce their risk of developing this deadliest of cancers.

One of the foods Doctor Ruxton recommends to avoid are foods and substances which are found in a classic British staple: the bacon sandwich.

While a form of revival after exercise or a form of recovery after the exertions of the night before, bacon sandwiches are high in salt, fat, and processed meat; ingredients which have been linked to prostate cancer.

One study, published in February of this year concluded that “increased consumption” of “total meat” and “processed meat” might be associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.

While this may sound unnerving and prompt the binning of said sandwich, Doctor Ruxton said it is only a case that these “might be linked with prostate cancer risk, although the evidence is weak so it could be due to the fat and salt levels in these products”.

Doctor Ruxton added: “Diets high in sugar, saturated fats, and salt – which are typically low in vitamins and minerals – have been linked with an increased risk of prostate cancer.”

Furthermore, the study in question was analysing the impact of high consumptions of processed meat rather than the occasional engorgement of a British favourite which, should a person require it after exercise, help return visceral fat to a healthy level.

However, prostate cancer risk isn’t just about avoiding the wrong foods, it is about choosing the correct foods, ones that will boost levels of minerals and vitamins in the body.

To this end, Doctor Ruxton recommended: “A diet including a high consumption of vegetables, fruits, beans and pulses, wholegrains and fish may help exert a protective effect against prostate cancer.”