Funding Initiative aims to Provide all UK Neonatal Units With Personalised Video

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Frostie

Personalised video specialists, vCreate, today announce a new funding initiative aimed at ensuring that all 200 UK neonatal networks are equipped with personalised video by 2018. According to Bliss, the UK’s special care baby charity; over 90,000 babies are admitted to neonatal care in the UK because they have either been born prematurely, or full term but sick.

The decision to look for corporate sponsors to fund the provision of secure video within neonatal units will make technology, that would have previously been out of reach due to unavailable budget, accessible for the wider neonatal community.

Ben Moore, founder of vCreate, explains why he believes this innovative approach to funding will make all the difference: “It’s clear from our discussions with medics that digital technology such as this has huge potential to transform the way services are delivered across the NHS. Delays or lack of central funding can leave the people who deliver the care hamstrung; there’s a proven case for a solution, a need for change, but budget for such initiatives isn’t readily available.”

The team at vCreate is in search of corporate sponsors to fund instances of vCreate by neonatal region. With vCreate, staff are able to send short videos of babies to parents when they are away from this hospital. Ben added: “We’ve already seen how secure video is enhancing patient care following the successful pilot programme at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, and there’s been widespread media and public interest in the project.”

Royal Glasgow Hospital for Children is the first in the UK to trial vCreate in their neonatal unit.

Neil Patel, Consultant Neonatologist, explains how vCreate is supporting mums and dads through what can be an extremely stressful time: “The idea originally came from a parent of one of our patients. He uses personalised video in his work to connect with clients and asked if we could send him video updates of his own baby. We then asked more families who all told us there is nothing more reassuring than actually seeing their baby. It’s a personalised video platform that makes it quick and simple to create a video which can then be securely accessed by the baby’s parents on any device at any time.”

vCreate believes that the funding proposition delivers for both the public and private sectors. The public sector gains innovative video technology when they need it, and private sector sponsors have the opportunity to support families of premature babies.

As part of the sponsorship package, corporate sponsors can expect to see their company logo across the vCreate application which would be seen by the parents logging in to watch the videos; plus media coverage across multiple channels, and positive brand and CSR association.

For corporate sponsorship enquires in relation to vCreate, get in touch on 0333 121 8422 or via email at theteam@vcreate.tv.

The Average Mum Falls Ill 324 Times Over Their Youngster’s Childhood

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Frostie

The average mum will fall ill 324 times over their youngster’s childhood – with colds and bugs passed on to them by their offspring, a study has found.

An endless cycle of sore throats, runny noses, migraines and sickness bugs means the average mum will be left feeling under the weather 18 times a year.

The study of 2,000 parents, found that over the 18 years of their youngster’s childhood, mums will suffer from 54 colds, as well as a total of 108 sore throats or runny noses.

There will also be 36 sickness bugs – two every year – and an annual bout of flu.

On top of that, they can also expect to endure one bout of headlice a year after the critters come home from school on their children’s hair.

And eight in ten of those polled by supplements firm Healthspan say the germs and bugs can usually be traced back to the kids, leaving them suffering days after nursing their children back to health.

Dr Sarah Brewer, GP and Medical Director at Healthspan said: “Mums are often on the front line when it comes to the family’s illnesses and, due to time pressures and putting others first, are often poor at looking after themselves.

“Prevention is key and it’s important for mums to look after themselves by boosting their immunity to help prevent common illnesses as much as possible, and to shrug off respiratory infections quickly with go-to products they can trust to banish colds, such as Healthspan Pelargonium – a traditional herbal medicine that will tackle a cold in 24 hours.”

Sixty-eight per cent of mums said they had been more prone to falling ill since having children, with 39 per cent saying they now constantly feel under the weather in some way.

In fact, the average mum has just 13 days a month where they feel completely fit and healthy.

But 84 per cent of mums feel they are unable to sit back and relax when they are ill, instead having to battle on through, compared to just seven in ten dads.

And 72 per cent of women reckon they cope better than their partner when they are ill.

Mums’ illnesses – per year

Sore throats – 3

Runny stuffed nose – 3

Cold – 3

Flu – 1

Sickness bug – 2

Rash/skin complaint – 2

Migraine – 3

Conjunctivitis – 1

Total – 18

Great Christmas Gifts For The Fitness Fanatic

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Go Fit Cross Extreme Ab Wheel

The GoFit Ab Wheel is an excellent way to obtain a more defined toned set of abs. The rolling action of the Ab Wheel trains both the upper and lower abdominal walls. The Ab Wheel has dual wheels and non-slip foam grip handles.

Excellent to obtain more defined toned set of abs
Trains both upper and lower abdominal wall
Dual wheels
Non-slip foam grip handles
Combine with cardio program for washboard abs

I loved this. I do a lot of HIIT and this great workout tool takes your work out to a whole new level.

From bodybuilding.com

ProSource Total Upper Body Conditioning Multi-Grip Pull Up Bar

Finally, The heavy duty Multi-Grip Pull-Up Bar is made with high grade steel for a sturdy design that’s built to last. The multiple grip positions allow you to perform wide, hammer, and close-grip pull-ups and chin-ups, and hanging abdominal exercises. You can also place on the floor to use for push-ups or triceps dips. It slips easily onto any standard doorframe and can hold up to 300 lb. Convenient for at-home workouts, it’s easy to assemble and built to last – a perfect workout accessory to strengthen your entire upper body in the comfort of your own home.

Features

Ideal for pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, dips and leg raises
12 cushioned foam grips
Work muscles from a variety of angles
Fits onto standard door frames 24”-36” wide or can be wall-mounted
Portable design that is quick and easy to assemble

A great bar to reach your peak fitness. It brings the gym into your home. A great tool that lets you train like a pro at home. Highly recommended. A great gift.

From bodybuilding.com

Polk Boom Bit Wearable Speaker

Polk BOOM have launched this truly wearable ‘Ready for Anything’ Bluetooth Speaker. Combining music listening and hands-free phone convenience in a ruggedized enclosure that is sweat, dirt, sand and shockproof, BIT is the perfect accessory for anyone who lives an active lifestyle. Measuring only 7 cm x 3 cm, BIT’s robust clip can be secured to any item of clothing, backpack or cycle helmet, whilst its three-hour play time is ample for even the most ardent of commutes, rides or workouts.

The Polk BOOM BIT is available in Black, Sport Blue, Volt Yellow, Lava Red and a two-toned Grey/Mint

Griffin Survivor Adventure 3 cases in 1

A fantastic phone case which fits the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 6 and 6s. Survives an 8ft drop on concrete. Is a thin case with 2 extra backs. A great case that protects your phone while you get fit.

Griffin Survivor Adventure Case for iPhone 7/6S/6 is available here.

Arnicare Bath & Massage Balm

For those who like nothing more than to relax and unwind after a busy day, Nelsons arnicare arnica Bath & Massage Balm, is a dual purpose balm enriched with Evening Primrose and rich Sweet Almond oil to naturally hydrate the skin. Designed for massaging into tired muscles or for use in a relaxing bath following a hectic day, the natural properties of Arnica Montana extract and sweet scents of Lavender and Grapefruit essential oils help calm senses and relax the mind.

Great for a post-workout bath or massage. Helps with muscle aches. Stick it in a stocking as it is great stuff.

From boots.com and hollandandbarrett.com

Arnicare Cooling Gel

With more people than ever now interested in health and fitness, and with such a variety of exercise classes on the market, we all know someone who really works hard when it comes to training. Nelsons arnicare arnica Cooling Gel is ideal for massaging into tired and over-worked legs, to help cool and revive them. Combining the natural benefits of arnica with the refreshing sensation of grapefruit oil and menthol, it could even be the gym bag essential for those fitness resolutions in the New Year.

Really helps when muscles are aching. If you buy this for a fitness-obsessed friend they will be very grateful.

From boots.com and hollandandbarrett.com

Steripod Review: Why You Should Protect Your Toothbrush & Put The Seat Down When You Flush

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Frostie

It is the season for colds and flu. Viruses are rife in the winter. These can be passed on via infected droplets lurking in the air or on shared objects and surfaces. A major culprit for contamination is our toothbrushes so what can we do to guard them against germs? According to a recent study at the University of Manchester, there are more than 10 million bacteria on your toothbrush right now. That means there are considerably more bacteria on your toothbrush than your average toilet seat – which has 50 bacteria per square inch, or average public lavatory floor – which has 2 million bacteria per square inch.

Most people don’t realise that every time you flush the loo, an aerosol spray of tainted water is released with droplets able to land as far away as 10 feet. Researchers from the University of Alabama found that brushes stored in the bathroom – in other words all of them – are contaminated with faecal matter lingering in the bristles. Toothbrushes aren’t particular about whose faecal matter it is, so it’s likely it won’t just be your own that is going into your mouth every time you clean your teeth. (I expect you will never flush the toilet with the lid up again!).

It is likely your toothbrush will be exposed to numerous invisible contaminants in the months that you use it, including a high proportion of pathogenic nasties such as E.coli and Staphylococci. Airborne bacteria are not the only pollutants which sully your toothbrush. Germs and bacteria can pass from surface to surface, spreading the likes of oral herpes (cold sores), candida (oral thrush) and the HPV virus.

Protect it

Fortunately, you can safeguard your toothbrush with a Steripod toothbrush protector which clips on to any manual or electric toothbrush, creating a protective ‘pod’ (rather like a crash helmet) which surrounds the brush head and shields it from both airborne and cross contamination. Steripod is designed to safeguard a toothbrush, protecting it against environmental contamination, the use of thymol encapsulated in plastic dotted with tiny holes releases vapours providing a fresh environment in which to keep your toothbrush.

Steripod has been specially designed so that air can circulate freely which means your toothbrush can dry naturally – contaminants require a moist atmosphere to multiply most effectively, so the drier your brush, the lower the risk of bad bugs on your bristles. It does not require batteries or cables, meaning that it’s easy to protect your brush.

Here are dentist Mervin Druin’s top tips to ensure your brush remains as hygienic as possible.

Don’t flush where you brush

If you store your toothbrush near your toilet make sure you close the lid when you flush to minimise the dispersal of contaminated water droplets.

Rinse thoroughly after use

Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly under running water after use, making sure that all toothpaste has been removed. Shake off as much excess water as possible.

Store it upright

Store your brush in an upright position – never in a bathroom cabinet where air cannot circulate as this could promote bacterial growth.

Replace your toothbrush regularly

Make sure to replace your toothbrush and Steripod every 3 months – buy them at the same time. If like many of us you need a reminder www.steripod.co.uk can send you a gentle email nudge every 80 days to remind you that your pod and your brush need an update!

And if you’ve been suffering with a cold or flu it’s a good idea to replace your toothbrush rather than risk reinfecting yourself.

Don’t share it

Never be tempted to share a toothbrush, even with your loved one. And avoid contact with other toothbrushes that may be stored in the same vicinity.

Get your pod on

Steripod comes in a wide range of colours so you can identify your brush from other bathroom sharers. A pack of two gives six months protection and costs £4.99 from larger Boots stores, Boots.com, Amazon.co.uk, Superdrug, ASDA, Boyes Stores and selected independent pharmacies. For more information visit www.steripod.co.uk

It is almost Christmas and this great little gadget would make a perfect stocking filler. The smell was a bit strong when we first opened it, but it subsided. It is a great idea and it really works. In fact, tt is such a great idea we are not sure how no one thought of it before.

Screen Time has Escalated by 42%

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Margaret Graham

Does this bother you? It certainly does me because this is leisure time.

New research reveals our screen-time has increased by a staggering 42 per cent over the past five years, with 6.5 hours of leisure time being spent each day in front of digital screens, excluding work computer usage.

What can be done? Well, if you wear contact lenses, (I don’t) friends say this sounds like a good idea.

Bausch + Lomb are launching the first innovation in reusable contact lenses in almost a decade to help our eyes embraceand keep up with digital technology – plus a new lens for presbyopia too. This means that there hasn’t been an innovation in reusable lenses since the iPhone was launched – and the evidence shows. Whilst three quarters of us do not know how to spot the signs of digital eye strain (also known as Computer Vision Syndrome) which include dry eyes, blurred vision, tired eyes and headaches, 60-90 per cent of office workers using computer screens suffer from some form of ‘computer vision syndrome’. What’s more, up to 20 per cent of Britons admit they are “addicted” to their digital devices.

These lenses retain moisture for up to 16 hours, providing high levels of surface wettability on the lens, and preventing dehydration. I’m told by friends who wear contact lenses that this is a problem for them. They also supply exceptional levels of oxygen transmission, provide consistent comfort throughout the day with a tapered edge design. All of this reduces digital eye strain throughout the day.

For more details: www.digitaleye-d.co.uk

Don’t trust your scales – why you should be focusing on reducing your visceral fat, not your weight

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Frostie

By Andy Kay, Training Manager at British Military Fitness

If you’ve been watching your scales to see if your exercise regime is paying off, you might be wasting your time. New research has found that doing between two and four months of endurance training can cause either no, or very minimal, reduction in body weight, with participants in a study losing only between zero and 4kg of weight.[1]

Does this mean you should throw in the towel and swap evenings working up a sweat for nights on the couch? No! The same researchers studied the reduction in visceral fat, and found that after two to six months it was markedly reduced, with participants who had lost no weight, having reducing their visceral fat by 6%.

So, what is visceral fat?

Visceral body fat is what is created when the body stores excess calories as fat cells around your organs. You might not always be able to see it on the outside but excess visceral fat is bad news, being known as a risk factor for coronary heart disease and diabetes, as well as being linked to a number of different cancers and even Alzheimer’s disease.

This is because an excess of visceral body fat can interfere with liver function and can disrupt your organs’ normal function. This can lead to an increase in cholesterol, particularly bad cholesterol, as well as increased insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.

How much is too much?

It can be hard to identify if you have too much visceral body fat, but the World Health Organization recommends that a waist to hip ratio higher than 0.9 for men and 0.85 for women is high risk. Divide the circumference of your waist by the circumference of your hips to work this out.

What can you do about it?

As the researchers found, exercise is highly effective in reducing this type of fat, even if it has little effect on weight, with every 1% reduction in body weight associated with a 3% reduction in visceral body fat. Steady state cardio such as running, cycling and swimming, as well as exercise classes based on high intensity interval training such as BMF, are highly effective in reducing fat and helping people to get fitter. Exercise two to four times a week to gain the benefits, and ensure you are leading an active lifestyle the rest of the time, with more time spent walking and less spent sitting down.

What are the first steps to reducing visceral fat?

If you have a high waist to hip ratio and want to reduce your visceral body fat the first step is to get active and start exercising. From there, the focus should be on limiting portion sizes and making sensible choices when it comes to nutrition. Swap sugary and salty snacks in favour of complex carbohydrates, protein and vegetables and try to prepare as much of your own food as possible.

For more information, please visit: www.britishmilitaryfitness.com or to sign up to a free British Military Fitness trial go to: https://www.britmilfit.com/try-bmf-for-free/

[1] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.12406/abstract

Breast Cancer: in the young, the pregnant and with family history

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Margaret Graham

On 17^th September, the UK’s leading annual event for anyone affected by breast cancer will take place. There will be information from a range of experts, including Frost Magazine’s medical consultant Dr Kathleen Thompson.

Registration: 10.00 am – coffee.

Morning session: diagnosis, management and treatment for young women

DIAGNOSIS : 10.30 Chairs introduction. Chairs: Mark Ho-Asjoe (St Thomas), Laura Johnson (Royal Marsden)

10.35 Breast cancer: the extent of the problem for young women: Bernard Rachet, reader in cancer epidemiology, London school of hygiene and tropical medicine

10.55 From diagnosis onwards: navigating the breast cancer system: Denise Flett, young women’s breast cancer clinical nurse specialist (CNS), Royal Marsden hospital

11.15 Reactions to diagnosis: getting the treatment you want: Kathleen Thompson, doctor, patient and author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope 11.35 Panel 11.45 Short break + pastry

TREATMENT: 12.00 Surgical options for hereditary and non-hereditary breast cancer. Breast conservation in young women Hisham Hamed, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon, honorary senior lecturer, Guys and St Thomas Trust

12.35 New options for the management of different breast cancer subtypes: Justin Stebbing, professor of oncology, Imperial college, London

Following lunch: pregnancy, trials and survivorship

2.15 Reserved (charity and sponsor, Philips)
2.35 Pregnancy and breast cancer: Alison Jones, breast cancer consultant, including for pregnancy and clinical trials, Leaders in Oncology Care

3.10 Living with and beyond breast cancer: Susannah Stanway, consultant, medical oncology, breast unit, Royal Marsden hospital; also acute oncology unit, Croydon university hospital

Venue: Royal Society of Medicine,1 Wimpole Street, London W1G 0AE

BOOK (Event Brite): http://tinyurl.com/h45xfbf

* 16th September. Separate CPD day for clinicians: rsm.ac.uk/breastcancerforum

Vida Glow Review

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

We all have our health hypocrisies. Mine used to be that I would only take prescription pills under dire circumstances, but was a sucker for any ‘natural’ health supplement. Luckily I saw the ridiculousness of my reasoning. I am still fussy about what I put in my body, but now I always do my research.

I had heard a lot about marine collagen supplements. Beauty writers and bloggers have been raving about them. Frost writer Keshini also tried some and was a fan. So I jumped at the chance to review Vida Glow. Vida Glow is a natural marine collagen supplement which comes in powder form of pure hydrolysed marine collagen. It is a hair, skin and nail supplement, with an array of benefits as collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and the second largest substance in the body behind water.

Their Beauty Blend is a vegetarian friendly all natural superfood blend, designed alongside nutritionists, to nourish hair, skin and nails from within. Vida Glow marine collagen is derived from the Scales of Deep Sea Red Snapper

Here is what they say:

With age, collagen breaks down in our bodies leading to wrinkles, sagging skin and lines. Outside factors as such smoking, toxins, poor diet, late nights, sun damage and harsh environments can add to the ageing process.

Your skin is incredibly important to your overall health. Skin is the largest organ in the human body, and is the most obvious indicator of your age and lifestyle.

Vida Glow works from within to rebuild and strengthen the collagen matrix below the skin’s surface. As we are subject to toxins, sun damage, poor diets and ageing, the multi layers which are linked together under the skin degenerate, resulting in fine lines, and wrinkles.

The collagen that is absorbed by taking Vida Glow, improves skin elasticity by increasing the density of fibroblasts, which are the cells responsible for rebuilding connective tissues. Vida Glow stimulates the body’s own natural collagen production by noticing the increased amount of collagen in the blood stream. Consumed daily it helps restore collagen production levels, giving you healthy and youthful looking skin.

Consuming Vida Glow on a daily basis results in firmer and more hydrated skin, giving you a radiant complexion, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.

Mostly when I review supplements I don’t notice a huge difference. Not so with Vida Glow. The pack comes with 30 servings. You can take 1-3 a day. I took 3 a day, deciding to go for the short but bigger dose. I was very impressed indeed. Immediately after taking it I got that feeling you get when you eat something really healthy. It was like I could feel the good it was doing for my body. I noticed a difference in my hair, nails and skin. It also made me feel healthier. I only took Vida Glow for 10 days, but I do think it works and I would definitely use it again. For the environmentalist: Vida Glow marine collagen is a fibrous protein extracted from the scales of Deep Sea Red Snapper, sustainably sourced from the Pacific Ocean waters of Australasia. Vida Glow is a 100% natural product.

I am definitely a fan. Frost Loves.

http://uk.vidaglow.co/pages/about

Vida Glow Marine Collagen is available here.

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