British Women - Unhealthy Lifestyles Have Led to Higher Rates of Cancer!

Data from the World Health Organisation, found that Britain has higher rates of potential fatal disease than the USA, Australia, Germany and Spain.  The statistics reveal that British women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer because of their unhealthy lifestyles.  Cause for concern for?   

A project called GLOBOCAN, set up by the WHO, collects figures on the incidence of and deaths from the most common types of cancer for countries across the world.  The data which was used and analysed for a recent study by the World Cancer Research Fund, found that Britain is the 12th worst of the 50 countries in terms of rates of all cancers among women, and is rated 11th worst for breast cancer.  The figures show that although Belgium is the worse with 109.2 cases per 100,000 women in 2008 with breast cancer, Britain is not far behind with 89.1 cases per 100,000.  There are around 46,000 breast cancer cases per year in the UK, of which a quarter die.

Although high levels of breast cancer rates may be attributed to better detection methods such as new technological advancements and increased awareness, experts claim that lifestyle choices also plays a significant factor.
Meg McArthur, Senior Policy and Information Officer for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, says that “Breast cancer is thought to be due to a combination of lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors and although some risk factors cannot be changed, women can reduce their risk by drinking less, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.”

Currently international studies demonstrates that Britons now eat and drink more than their counterparts in many other countries.  Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics shows that 56 percent of women over the age of 16 drinks more than double the recommended daily allowance of alcohol every week, while 24 per cent of women in England are classified obese.

Therefore, experts claim that the high number of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK could be avoided if women adopted healthier lifestyles, including drinking less alcohol, eating better and doing more exercise.
Sarah Woolnough, director of policy for Cancer Research UK said "We do know that up to half of all cancers could be prevented by changes to lifestyle such as giving up smoking, keeping a healthy weight and cutting down on alcohol"

The National Cancer Director, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said "We want to vastly improve cancer outcomes - that’s why we will shortly be launching the first ever Government awareness campaign for cancer, to promote earlier diagnosis and to save more lives.”

Raise awareness for women's health! 
In aid of International Women’s Day this year, the Royal Society for Public Health will be running a programme on the 8^th March on "Women’s Health and Well-being".  The event will raise awareness of interrelationship between lifestyle and health, while educating participants about the steps they can take to empower women to improve their physical and mental health.  For further information or to attend the programme please contact Nicolette Smith or by phone 020 3177 1625. 

Workshop for the Health Improvement Workforce

What Does the Public Health White Paper mean for delivery of health improvement?

Date: 10th February 2011

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) is undertaking research over the coming year to look at the health improvement pathway in the proposed Public Health service.

The research is to ensure we can be of most value in meeting the training, development and support requirements of employers and the Health Improvement workforce as the new Public Health service takes shape. We will be running a series of surveys and workshops as part of this research initiative. We are working with Local Government Improvement and Development to ensure local government has an opportunity to attend the workshops and contribute to the research.

The first workshop will take place on February 10th 2011 in our London head office. The event will explore how the NHS, GP consortia and Local Authority partners can work together to create a workforce equipped for the new agenda. The half day seminar will be interactive and one of value for providers and commissioners.

Places will be limited so please express an interest in attending as soon as possible by filling out the Workshop for the Health Improvement Workforce booking form . For further information please contact Nicolette Smith. 

Article ‘Healthy Lives, Health People: The Strategy for Public Health in England’

Professor Richard Parish, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Public Health has written a paper exploring the potential and challenges that face the implementation of  The White Paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People.   He addresses the wider social, economic and environmental determinants “The potential is there, but implementation will be the crucial test”.   

Published with permission from http://www.onmedica.com/

Governments come and go, but there are always challenges to public health. The health consequences of modern day society and associated lifestyles, the emergence of new communicable diseases, such as pandemic influenza and HIV, or the re-emergence of those from the past, such as TB, combine to ensure that the need for an effective public health system will always be there. Add to these the growing impact of climate change on population health and it is clear that any government, irrespective of political colour, must keep public health high on the agenda or face the consequences.

The White Paper, Healthy Lives, Healthy People (1), was published by the Coalition Government on 30th November 2010. It sets out a framework for population health, reflecting the three major domains of health protection, health improvement, and the quality of health services provision. It follows the earlier White Paper, published in July 2010 (2), which focuses predominantly on the wider issues of health and social care. The Health Bill to be presented to Parliament in January 2011 will provide the necessary enabling legislation for both White Papers.

Healthy Lives, Healthy People is driven by a philosophy of individual responsibility for health, although it acknowledges the importance of wider social, economic and environmental factors. It acts as the Government’s response to the Marmot Review on the social determinants of health (3), accepting the thrust of Sir Michael’s recommendations. It remains to be seen whether the Government will implement the full range of actions necessary to address the wider social influences on health, given the emphasis on individual responsibility.
To continue reading the article please click here

Smoking - The Main Reason Why Men Die Sooner Than Women

In a report published by Tobacco Control "Contribution of smoking-related and alcohol related deaths to the gender gap in mortality: Evidence from 30 European countries" found that smoking continues to be the most important cause for gender differences in mortality across Europe.  

Since the 1990's emerging evidence has revealed that women outlive men in all countries of the world.  Historical records demonstrate that in England, Wales and some of the Nordic countries, the life expectancy of women has exceeded that of men since the mid to late 18th Century.  Currently in the UK women are estimated to live four years longer than men.  There has been a great deal of speculation as to why this appears to be the case.  Many expects claim that simple biology or the fact that women seek medical help more readily than men are the reasons for the disparity in life expectancy.

However, as the report discovers, smoking is the main cause followed by alcohol, which accounts for 20 percent of the difference. 

The report which studied the data extracted from the World Health Organization database, looked at thirty European countries.  It found that in all countries death from all causes were higher for men than for women.  However, the report also noted that there continues to be a considerable variation in the extent of gender difference in contemporary Europe.  The gender gap in all-cause death rates varied from 188 excess deaths per 100,000 in Iceland and the UK, to over 800 in Ukraine and Lithuania.    

Despite the variations, the researchers discovered that smoking-related deaths alone contributed to around 40 to 60 percent of the gender gap in all countries, excluding Denmark, France and Portugal where it is considerably lower, and Malta where it is higher at over 70 percent. 
The data demonstrated that in the UK, smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease caused 60 percent of the excess male deaths. 

The researchers highlighted that, "It is no surprise that two of the most important health behaviours, smoking and hazardous drinking continue to account for substantial proportions of the gender gap in mortality because health behaviours have long been a powerful way of portraying gendered identities." 

Thus the report makes clear that there is an "ongoing need for public health measures to reduce health damaging behaviours". 

Natasha Stewart, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "It is never too late to give up smoking so it's important we invest in support services to help people quit the habit as well as ensuring our young people don't start smoking in the first place.”

Men's Health Week 13 - 19 June
-To Raise awareness of preventable health problems among men and boys -

In light of Men's Health Week this year, the RSPH will be hosting a one day Men's Health course on May 13th.  The purpose of the event is to facilitate men’s access to information, empower them to be more aware and access health leisure services, in order to improve key lifestyle behaviours.
For further information or to book onto the course please contact Nicolette Smith.

How can we help you to prepare for 2011?

During the last year we have offered a wide variety of short, topical and affordable courses across the Public Health disciplines. As we start 2011, we would like to hear from you about your training needs and how we can help you to enhance your personal and professional development.

We would very much appreciate your feedback on our plans for this year. Click here to take part in our short survey, and every week one respondent will receive a 30% discount voucher for a course of their choice.

Thank you.

Generations of Women in Crisis - A Call for Help!

A new report " Women Like Me: Supporting Wellbeing in Girls and Women" carried out by Platform 51, formerly the YWCA, reveals that three-in-five (63 percent) of girls and women, have been affected by mental health problems in England and Wales.  That is the equivalent of 15.2 million girls and women.  Girls and women are almost twice as likely as boys and men to suffer from depression and almost one third have taken anti depressants.   

The research includes national polling conducted by Opinium LLP and focus groups with Platform 51 service users.  The researchers carried out a nationally representative survey of 2,000 girls and women aged 12 and over in England and Wales.  It found that generations of women experience low-level mental health problems that negatively impacts their lives and hinders their potential.  This may include depression, stress, low self esteem, self harm and suicidal thoughts.

The report states, that these mental health issues are often triggered by traumatic events such as, emotional and physical abuse, relationship breakdown, bereavement, unemployment and debt.  However, the study indicates that many women, who are experiencing or have experienced difficult situations, may appear to be functioning normally and coping adequately, when in reality they are struggling. 

Mental health problems can have a profound impact on women’s lives and can also be detrimental for their families, their colleagues and the wider society.  Statistics show that 44 percent of women with mental health problems took time off work, with one in four taking off at least a week a year.  Isolation from friends and family was shown to be a common behaviour with 48 percent staying in bed or at home and as a result more than a quarter (28 percent) had lost friends.  In addition, 27 percent admitted to regularly drinking in order to get drunk and one in five (21 percent) had built up debt. 

Although mental health issues in girls and women is not a new concept, evidence from a 2009 NHS report demonstrates that women's mental health is worsening.  Therefore, as the report identifies, the current approach is not working and more needs to be done to address the problem. 

The group called on ministers to review the “over-reliance” on anti-depressant drugs to treat mild and moderate mental health problems and to make counseling and psychotherapy more easily available to women.   

Penny Newman, Platform 51's chief executive, said:
"Millions of girls and women are not getting the support they need. Women are often the linchpins of their families and their communities, and if three in five of them aren't functioning at their best they lose out, their family and friends lose out and so does wider society.
"Working with girls and women every day for over 150 years we have seen time and time again how often mental health can hold women back.
"Policy-makers need to act now to address this unseen crisis in women's mental health and provide a range of effective interventions. We must put an end to the dependency culture that has built up around prescription drugs, giving women more choice and control over the support they receive.”

International Women’s Day is on the 8^th March this year and the RSPH are running a Programme on Women’s Health and Well-being.  The event will raise awareness of interrelationship between lifestyle and health, while educating participants about the steps they can take to empower women to improve their physical and mental health.  For further information or to attend the programme please contact Nicolette Smith or by phone 020 3177 1625. 

New Years Resolution - Do More Exercise.....

Exercise keeps the brain from ageing

Research from the University of Florence and other institutions in Italy carried out a study which found that low to moderate exercise can prevent the milder forms of cognitive decline in older age.  The research was published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

The research pooled the results of fifth teen studies and included the analysis of 33,816 people without dementia, who were followed between one and twelve years.  It revealed that exercise consisting of playing a round of golf once a week or tennis twice a week, was linked to a 35 percent reduction in the risk of cognitive decline.  The researchers believed that physical activity which raises your heartbeat, increases the blood flow to the brain and helps to reduce the mind deteriorating in later years.

The researchers explained that it has been widely acknowledged that physical activity has positive effects on a wide range of health measures, including reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and some cancers.  However, the study demonstrated that attention, memory and concentration (known as cognitive functions) which typically deteriorate with age, can also reap the benefits by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and partaking in regular exercise. 

The analysis of the studies showed that subjects who performed a high level of physical activity were significantly more protected (by 38%) against cognitive decline during the follow up, compared to people who reported being sedentary. 

We all have a responsibility to look after our health and well-being and what a better time than now to include exercise and healthy eating as part of your new years resolutions. 

The Royal Society for Public health through Training Solutions run a Foundation Programme in Health Improvement.  The course offers candidates the opportunity of developing a firm foundation in Health improvement while also making aware the health and lifestyle choices that affect personal and public health.  For more information click here or contact Nicolette Smith. 

    

UK Adult Dental Health Survey Reveals Oral Health Improving

The 2009 Adult Dental Health Survey, which examined the teeth of 6,500 adults from England, Northern Ireland and Wales, shows that adults with visible decay has fallen by a fifth since 1998.

The research which has been running since 1968 and takes place every ten years, was carried out by a consortium led by the Office for National Statistics, to find out how healthy the publics teeth really are and also peoples perceptions and attitude towards dental hygiene.

The survey found that the proportion of adults who had no natural teeth has also fallen by almost a quarter in England and by a third in Northern Ireland and Wales over the past thirty years.   

Dr Nigel Carter, CEO of the British Health Foundation, was impressed by the results and said that the survey indicated that people, now more than ever, care about their teeth. 

“These latest figures confirm the progress which has been made in regards to the improving standards of oral health here in the UK.  We have suspected this to be true for a while now and it is certainly pleasing to finally see this indeed to be the case.”

Dr Carter also noted that the new statistics derived from the survey, come as no surprise.  He believes that the constant influx of new ideas, improved techniques and the advancement of materials appears to be evolving at pace. 

However, despite the positive results, he also pointed out that there was still scope for improvements to be made to ensure more people go for regular check ups. 

Avoiding the Dentist?

The survey also highlighted that one of the reasons why people are reluctant to visit the dentist, is because they suffer from “extreme dental anxiety”.  Nearly one in five women and one in ten men, feel anxious before they even sit in the dentist chair, and hence avoid check ups. 

Dr Carter points out that avoiding the dentist can actually cause further problems down the line, “The 27 percent who claimed to only visit their dentist when they experienced a problem with their mouths could have prevented potentially problematic treatments and unnecessary financial expense by attending regular dental check-ups." 

"Dental techniques have improved so much over the last few years, and modern dental treatment can now be completely painless”.  So people should be not be deterred or feel worried. 

"Keeping our teeth healthy and cleaning twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on how often we have sugary foods and drinks can help us smile with confidence, but more importantly has overall health benefits.  The links between oral health problems such as gum disease and conditions like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and in the case of pregnant women, low birth weight babies, for instance, has all been well documented and is backed by robust scientific evidence" pointed out Dr Carter.