Official - chocolate is good for you!

Just in time for the Easter Bunny's arrival, researchers have more sweet news about chocolate and heart disease.

A new study suggests that eating a small piece of chocolate every day may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Researchers in Germany say that people who ate the equivalent of one square of a 100 gram (3.5 oz) chocolate bar per day had a 39% lower risk of having heart attack or stroke than people who ate much less chocolate.

But before you stock up on chocolate Easter eggs, researchers warn that the key to reaping the health benefits of chocolate is moderation. A single 100-gram bar of chocolate contains about 500 calories, and eating too much can contribute to unhealthy weight gain.

"Small amounts of chocolate may help to prevent heart disease, but only if it replaces other energy-dense food, such as snacks, in order to keep body weight stable," researcher Brian Buijsse, a nutritional epidemiologist at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, Germany, says in a news release.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed 19,357 adults for 10 years. The participants received medical checkups at the start of the study in 1994-1998, and every two to three years filled out questionnaires about how often they ate a 50 gram bar of chocolate. They could also indicate if they ate half or a bar or more than one.

The participants were not asked about what kind of chocolate they ate, but researchers asked a subset of 1,568 participants to describe the chocolate they ate in the last 24 hours to give an indication of what proportions might be found in the entire study. The results within this subset showed 57% ate milk chocolate, 24% dark chocolate, and 2% white chocolate.

By the end of the study, researchers found that people who ate the most chocolate, an average of 7.5 grams per day, had a 27% lower risk of heart attack and a 48% lower risk of stroke than people who ate the least amount of chocolate, an average of 1.7 grams per day.

"To put it in terms of absolute risk, if people in the group eating the least amount of chocolate (of whom 219 per 10,000 had a heart attack or stroke) increased their chocolate intake by six grams a day, 85 fewer heart attacks and strokes per 10,000 people could be expected to occur over a period of about 10 years," Buijsse says.

People who ate the most chocolate also had blood pressure that was about 1 point systolic (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and 0.9 point diastolic (the bottom number) lower than people who ate the least amount of chocolate.

Researchers say the benefits of chocolate on reducing heart disease risk appear to be because of the high flavanol content of cocoa. Flavanols are a type of antioxidant, and chocolates with a higher percentage of cocoa, such as dark chocolate, contain more flavanols.

"Flavanols appear to be the substances in cocoa that are responsible for improving the bioavailability of nitric oxide from the cells that line the inner wall of blood vessels," Buijsse says. "Nitric oxide is a gas that, once released, causes the smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels to relax and widen; this may contribute to lower blood pressure. Nitric oxide also improves platelet function, making the blood less sticky."

Experts say together with previous research the results of this study build a strong case that eating a daily dose of chocolate is healthy for the heart.  "Basic science has demonstrated quite convincingly that dark chocolate particularly, with a cocoa content of at least 70%, reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular and platelet function," Frank Ruschitzka, professor of cardiology and director of heart failure/transplantation at the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland, says in the release.
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New First Aid for Parents course - May 6th/13th

We have scheduled another First Aid for Parents course at the Meadowside Centre, Whiteley to be held over two consecutive Thursday evenings.

The course will be on Thursday 6th and Thursday 13th May starting at 7pm and finishing at 10pm.

The course lasts six hours (split over the two evenings) and covers all the essential skills parents require, such as:-

• scene assessment and rescuer safety
• barrier use
• the chain of survival
• primary assessment
• rescue breathing - baby, child, adult
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - baby, child, adult
• serious bleeding
• spinal injuries
• conscious choking baby, child, adult
• fits and seizures
• anaphylactic shock
• injury assessment
• bandaging
• scenario practice       

The cost per person is just £39 and bookings can be made either by:-

• calling us on 02392 698711
• e-mailing us on mail@1stresponder.co.uk
• booking online via the website at http://www.1stresponder.co.uk/
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South Central Ambulance goes high-tech

Hampshire ambulance crews can now spend less time transferring patients into A&E thanks to a new computer system.

Computer terminals have been installed in ambulances and at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, which allow crews to alert hospital staff when patients are en-route and give an estimated time of arrival.

The system allows for a quicker and more efficient handover at the hospital, improving the experience for the patient and freeing up ambulances to attend the next emergency.

Georgie Cole, project manager for South Central Ambulance Service, said: 'South Central Ambulance Service has been working closely with Queen Alexandra Hospital since November last year and the partnership has been a fantastic success.

'This initiative has radically reduced the amount of time that our ambulance crews spend at the emergency department, freeing them up ready for the next emergency call.

'Huge credit is due to the management and staff at Queen Alexandra Hospital to make this rapid improvement.'

The new alert system has been running for the last month.

The hospital and ambulance trust say they have already seen significant improvements, with patient handover times being reduced by 35 per cent compared to 2008/09, and further reductions expected in the future.

The new system also enables staff in A&E to plan for a patient's arrival to ensure space is available in the most appropriate place in the hospital.

Maria Purse, emergency pathway manager at QA hospital, said: 'The new technology has certainly enabled us to be more proactive when receiving patients in the emergency department and has led to a better experience for the patient.

'The implementation process has gone very well and there has been great support throughout the hospital and with the partnership between the trust and South Central Ambulance Service.

'The system undoubtedly benefits our patients.

'It enables our emergency department staff to provide a smoother handover process meaning ambulance crews can get out on the road more quickly and we can get the patient into the hospital and in the most appropriate place for treatment.
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BBQ sauces may have health benefits

There may be unforeseen health benefits in sauces frequently used to make food tasty over the summer barbeque season, a new study at the University of Western Ontario has suggested.

Common marinades may be more than just tasty sauces, according to biology and psychology postdoctoral fellow Raymond Thomas, whose study revealed they can be a major source of natural antioxidants.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, cardiovascular illnesses, cancers, inflammation and problems associated with cutaneous ageing can be prevented by foods rich in antioxidants.

Mr Thomas explained that 'herbs and spices are excellent sources of antioxidants, but estimating consumption rates can be difficult considering they are not generally consumed in large quantities, compared to fruits and vegetables'.

'Instead, they are used in relatively small amounts as ingredients in recipes and formulations such as spice mixes and marinating sauces that enhance food flavour,' he added.

A recent study by scientists at Harvard School of Public Health said that cutting back on saturated fat and eating polyunsaturated varieties can reduce coronary heart disease risk.
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Five school staff suspended over asthma death

Five members of staff have been suspended at a school after an 11-year-old boy had a fatal asthma attack. An inquest into Sam Linton's death last week, decided neglect at Offerton High School, in Stockport, "significantly contributed" to his death.

It heard how Sam was made to sit in a corridor at the school as he struggled to breathe on 4 December 2007. 

Stockport Council said five people were suspended but did not say if they were teachers or other staff members.  The inquest on 17 March heard how valuable time had been lost as Sam was made to sit in the corridor.  The boy died a few hours later in hospital.

The inquest ruled Sam's death was significantly contributed to by neglect on an "individual and systemic level". His parents have previously called for stronger implementation of first aid procedures at the school.

A joint statement from the school and Stockport Council and for Offerton School said that immediately after Sam's death, governors reviewed the way children with asthma and other medical conditions were handled. It added that systems and practices at the school had since been adapted too. "While the case did not meet the criteria for a Serious Case Review as set out in government guidance, the panel immediately commissioned an Independent Management Review (IMR) as all agreed that there were lessons to be learned."

The initial IMR report was completed in 2009 and its recommendations accepted by the Local Safeguarding Children's Board and action plans were put in place.

The council said progress had been made on the action plans and matters raised during the inquest will also be added to this process. Once the work is completed an executive summary will be published.

The council is working with Stockport Primary Care Trust to review the current policy on managing medical conditions and the updated version will be with schools at the start of the summer term.
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Cut out unhealthy fat to reduce heart disease risk

Cutting back on saturated fat and eating polyunsaturated varieties instead may help to reduce a person's risk of coronary heart disease, new research shows.

Coronary heart disease develops when the walls of the coronary arteries become built up with fatty deposits, narrowing the vessels and restricting the delivery of oxygen to the heart.

People have long been advised to cut back on saturated fats, but scientists at Harvard School of Public Health claim that, until now, little research had actually confirmed the benefits of doing so.

Their latest study involved a meta-analysis of eight trials involving 13,614 participants who were required to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat.

Overall, the researchers found that people who followed the dietary intervention reduced their risk of coronary heart disease by 19 per cent compared with those who did not.

Commenting on the findings, which are published in the journal PLoS Medicine, lead author Dariush Mozaffarian said: 'Our findings suggest that polyunsaturated fats would be a preferred replacement for saturated fats for better heart health.'
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Moderate alcohol consumption "benefits people with heart disease"

Moderate alcohol consumption has previously been shown to be beneficial for healthy people, but new research suggests it may also be good for those who have already had a heart attack.

Scientists at the Catholic University of Campobasso in Italy combined the results of eight recent studies, all of which had looked at the impact of lifestyle habits on the prevention of future heart attacks or strokes after a first such event.

Data on 16,351 people were examined and the researchers concluded that those who drank one or two glasses of wine a day - or the equivalent in other alcoholic forms - reduced their risk of further problems by about 20 per cent.

Simona Costanzo, whose findings are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, commented: 'We observed that regular and moderate consumption has beneficial effects even for people already affected by heart attack or stroke.

'Not only they are less likely to be affected by similar diseases again, but all-cause mortality too resulted to be lower than in those who did not consume any alcoholic beverage.'

However, care should be taken to only drink alcohol in moderation, as drinking over recommended limits can cause liver problems, reduced fertility, high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attacks and some cancers.
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Epileptics may benefit from deep brain stimulation

Patients with epilepsy who do not respond adequately to anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) may benefit from deep brain stimulation (DBS), new research suggests.

Scientists at Stanford University have previously shown that patients with refractory partial and secondarily generalised seizures often have fewer seizures after receiving the treatment.

In their latest study, they found that the benefits were ongoing and that participants typically had 56 per cent fewer seizures after two years.

The research, which is published in the journal Epilepsia, involved 110 participants, all of whom were experiencing partial seizures at least six times a month and had failed to respond to at least three standard treatments.

Lead author Dr Robert Fisher, director of the Epilepsy Centre at Stanford University, said that deep brain stimulation is a 'promising' therapy for epilepsy.

However, he cautioned: 'DBS therapy is invasive and serious complications can occur. Additional clinical knowledge would help to determine the best candidates for DBS therapy and establish ideal stimulation parameters.'

Around one in 131 people in the UK have epilepsy and, although there is no cure for the condition, about 70 per cent of patients are able to completely control their seizures with anti-epileptic drugs.
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Coffee linked to reduced prostate cancer risk

Scientists claim to have found a link between coffee consumption and a reduced risk of advanced prostate cancer.

While it is too early for doctors to start advising their male patients to take up the habit of regular coffee drinking, data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference revealed a strong inverse association between coffee consumption and the risk of advanced prostate cancers.

In the study led by Kathryn Wilson, a postdoctoral fellow at the Channing Laboratory, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, researchers found that men who drank the most coffee had a 60 per cent lower risk of aggressive cancer than those who did not drink any coffee.

'Coffee has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels, all of which play a role in prostate cancer. It was plausible that there may be an association between coffee and prostate cancer,' said Dr Wilson.

This is the first study of its kind to look at both overall risk of prostate cancer and risk of localised, advanced and lethal disease.

'Few studies have looked prospectively at this association, and none have looked at coffee and specific prostate cancer outcomes,' Dr Wilson revealed.

'We specifically looked at different types of prostate cancer, such as advanced versus localised cancers or high-grade versus low-grade cancers.'

However, caffeine itself is not the key factor in this association, Dr Wilson claimed. The researchers are unsure which components of the beverage are most important, as coffee contains many biologically active compounds such as antioxidants and minerals.

'Very few lifestyle factors have been consistently associated with prostate cancer risk, especially with risk of aggressive disease, so it would be very exciting if this association is confirmed in other studies,' said Dr Wilson.

'Our results do suggest there is no reason to stop drinking coffee out of any concern about prostate cancer.'

The researchers hope this association might also improve their understanding of the biology of prostate cancer and possible chemoprevention measures.
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Daily aspirin "not for healthy"

“Healthy people who take aspirin in the hope of preventing a heart attack or stroke are doing themselves more harm than good,” The Daily Telegraph reported.

It said that healthy people who take a low dose of daily aspirin to reduce their risk of a heart attack are also increasing their likelihood of major internal bleeding.

The news is based on a study in almost 30,000 men and women aged between 50 and 75 without known heart disease. It found that taking 100mg aspirin daily almost doubled the risk of dangerous internal bleeding compared to dummy pills (placebo), while having no effect on heart attacks or strokes.

The Telegraph report is accurate. This well-conducted study suggests that the risks and benefits of aspirin are both small in this group of patients at low risk of vascular disease. Though it is possible that the risks outweigh the benefits neither outcome reached statistical significance.

There are other groups of patients who are at higher vascular risk, for example, those with high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, who may benefit from aspirin. People taking aspirin following a heart attack or stroke should continue to do so as instructed.
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Blood pressure changes before stroke

“Swings in blood pressure ‘could better predict stroke than average high readings’,” reported The Daily Telegraph. The paper reported that “variations in people’s blood pressure rather than the average level predicts stroke most powerfully”.

The news story was based on a collection of studies published in The Lancet. The authors have  presented a compelling argument that fluctuations in blood pressure may help to predict the risk of vascular events such as stroke.

As mentioned in an accompanying editorial published in the same journal, it is important to point out that the authors are not questioning the validity of using average blood pressure to predict risk, but are suggesting that variable blood pressure could also be used as a supplementary indicator of increased risk.

At this stage, further evidence needs to be presented that fluctuating blood pressure can be used in this way before guidelines on identifying cardiac risk would be updated. Patients should not stop taking their blood pressure medication, but should consult their GP if they have any queries regarding it.
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Dislocated shoulders show trend

Young males face the biggest risk of shoulder dislocations, the majority of which occur during sports activities, new research has confirmed.

A dislocated shoulder occurs when the ball of the upper arm bone, or 'humerus', becomes displaced from the joint socket, usually during a traumatic injury.

A new study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery looked at 8,940 patients who visited hospital emergency departments in the US between 2002 and 2006 with a dislocated shoulder.

Researchers found that 71.8 per cent of all dislocations occurred in men and nearly half affected people between the ages of 15 and 29.

Analysis revealed that 48.3 per cent of dislocations happened during sports or recreational activities, with a significant proportion of these relating to basketball.

However, the research indicated that elderly women also face a significant risk of shoulder dislocations.

Study co-author Dr Brett Owens, orthopaedic surgeon at Keller Army Hospital in New York, observed: 'We were not too surprised to find the high number of young males dislocating their shoulders during athletic activity.

'However, the rate of shoulder dislocations among elderly women was higher than we had previously assumed.'
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AED lack puts football fans at risk

Many football stadia in Europe do not have defibrillators to treat spectators who suffer a heart attack, new research in the European Heart Journal has found.

A study of 187 top sporting venues in ten countries found that more than a quarter did not have on-site defibrillators and even more had no medical action plans or CPR training programmes in place.

The study authors claimed that the lack of preparedness was probably due to poor attention to safety procedures rather than financial constraints, as they had only looked at top clubs with good resources.

Researcher Mats Borjesson, associate professor of cardiology at Sweden's Sahlgrenska Academy, commented: 'At present, there are no formal recommendations about cardiovascular safety procedures at sports arenas in Europe and there still appears to be a lack of knowledge in the non-medical part of the sport.

'Both education and recommendations in this regard are needed.'

Ellen Mason, a spokeswoman for the British Heart Foundation, told the BBC that early access to a defibrillator 'increases the chance of survival' in the event of a heart attack.
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Liquid detergent capsules cause eye injuries

Doctors have warned of a recent wave of eye injuries caused by children coming into contact with the liquid inside detergent capsules.

The capsules accounted for 40 per cent of eye chemical injuries in under-fives at the Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London last year.

Furthermore, Rashmi Mathew and Melanie Corbett revealed that Guy's and St Thomas' Poisons Unit received 192 enquiries relating to liquid detergent capsules during 2007-08.

Although the majority of relevant cases of eye injury are treated without further complications, the doctors revealed that one child seen recently sustained extensive burns to the cornea, as their eye was not flushed out with sterile water until they reached the emergency department.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the study authors noted that some manufacturers have made their hazard labels more prominent.

'But greater consumer awareness is required to reduce injury,' they warned.

'Such concentrated cleaning products must be kept out of the reach of children and immediate irrigation is crucial to reduce the risk of clinically significant injury.'

The Western Eye Hospital is internationally renowned and is the only facility in west London to offer 24-hour emergency eye care.
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New hope for migraine sufferers

People who suffer from debilitating migraine headaches may benefit from a new device that fires magnetic pulses to the back of the head.

The device uses a technique called single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and has been tested on 201 patients at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Participants were given a portable device and told to apply two pulses 30 seconds apart as soon as they started to experience aura symptoms.

Aura affects around 20 to 30 per cent of migraine sufferers and involves neurological symptoms such as lights or lines in front of the eyes and tingling or numbness.

A total of 164 patients used their devices to treat at least one migraine and 39 per cent of those using the technique were pain-free after two hours, compared with just 22 per cent of patients who used a 'sham' device.

The findings are published in the Lancet Neurology journal and suggest that many patients may benefit from the technique.

Writing in an accompanying comment, Dr Hans-Christoph Diener from University Hospital Essen in Germany claimed that the therapy could be a 'major step forward' in the treatment of migraine with aura.
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Mental health programme helped hundreds after bombings

Hundreds of survivors of the 2005 London bombings have been helped by a new mental health outreach programme, a report suggests.

The results of the programme, which are published in the journal Psychological Medicine, indicate that similar schemes should always be instigated in the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

Clinical psychologists targeted nearly 1,000 survivors after the 7/7 bombings, reaching potential patients by searching through hospital treatment records, police witness files and GP referrals.

More than one-third of people contacted by the programme needed treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder - yet just four per cent had been referred for treatment by their GPs.

This means that the vast majority would not have received the support they needed without the existence of the outreach programme.

Lead author Professor Chris Brewin, from the University College London department of clinical, educational & health psychology, commented: 'If this programme hadn't existed then there would be hundreds of people still suffering from post-traumatic stress or other psychological problems as a result of the 2005 terrorist attack.

'This study highlights that there are some extreme situations when relying on GPs and the primary care mechanism doesn't work.'

Fifty-six people died in the 2005 London bombings and a further 700 were injured.
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New number for non-emergency healthcare

A new national phone number will be launched to cater for people who require non-emergency healthcare.

The free three-digit number - 111 - will enable patients to access non-emergency healthcare throughout the day and night, providing them with appropriate advice and information or re-routing them to a local service.

In doing so, the new number will provide an alternative for patients whose condition is not life-threatening, but who still require medical help.

Health minister Mike O'Brien explained: 'Patients have told us that they need clear, easy advice on how to find healthcare quickly when it's less urgent than 999 and I am delighted that Ofcom has allocated 111 for these purposes.'

The minister noted that the memorable number will 'provide more choice for patients to find the care they need', adding that it will be 'particularly useful outside of GP surgery hours and for people who are away from home'.

Patients calling 111 will be assessed before receiving clinical advice if they have a minor illness or injury.

Those needing to see a GP will be given details of their nearest centre, while patients who are deemed to need emergency care will be passed to the ambulance service.

NHS Direct will still operate as usual, while 999 will remain the number to call for emergency assistance.

The new number was recommended by Lord Ara Darzi in his review of the NHS.

Following his suggestion, Ofcom launched a consultation in July 2009 to see whether it would be a welcome move.
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Links added

We have added some useful links which you can find on the right hand side of the blog page.

All sorts of stuff covering common conditions, HSE guidance and links to UK organisations.

We hope you find them useful.
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Course schedule

We have now installed an online course schedule calendar, so you can see at a glance what's coming up and where the courses will be held.

To have a look at the schedule now, just click on the link.
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That will do nicely!

We are now able to take payment by all major credit and debit cards and also via Paypal.

When paying by credit/debit card, we will telephone you to take payment over the phone, which means your payment is secure.

If paying by Paypal, we will provide details when confirming your booking to you so that you can make payment easily.

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First Aid for Parents course

We are running a First Aid for Parents course over two evenings on 8th and 15th April (those are Thursdays) between 7pm and 10pm.

The course will be running at the Meadowside Centre, Whiteley and lasts 6 hours.

The cost is only £39 per person (normally £49 per person) and covers the following:-

• scene assessment and rescuer safety
• barrier use
• the chain of survival
• primary assessment
• rescue breathing - baby, child, adult
• cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - baby, child, adult
• serious bleeding
• spinal injuries
• conscious choking baby, child, adult
• fits and seizures
• anaphylactic shock
• injury assessment
• bandaging
• scenario practice

You can book online via the website at www.1stresponder.co.uk/pages/booking.htm
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The first post ...

Through the medium of the tinterweb, we are proud to bring you the 1st Responder blog!

As another way of reaching out to our customers, we think it's an ideal way to post up news, events, courses and other interesting stuff - well stuff that we think you might find interesting anyway!

As this is the first post, we thought that this would be an appropriate image ...

Well OK, that was a bit cheesy.

We hope you will keep coming back to see what's new and what we've been up to.

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