Page 32 - Londra Gazete Sayı 1128

Londra Gazete, 20 October 2022 LondraGazete.com/English 9

Five hours' sleep is

tipping point for bad health

AT least five hours sleep a ni-
ght may cut the over-50s' chances
of multiple chronic health prob-
lems, researchers say.
Ill health can disrupt sleep, but
poor sleep may also be a forewar-
ning or a risk itself, they say.
There is evidence sleep helps
restore, rest and rejuvenate the
body and mind - but why the "gol-
den slumber number" might mat-
ter remains unclear.
The PLoS Medicine study tra-
cked the health and sleep of UK
civil servants.
All of the about 8,000 parti-
cipants were asked: How many
Respiratory illness may take up hours of sleep do you have on an from University
average weeknight?" Some also ments than those who slept seven researchers,
half of NHS beds this winter wore a wrist-watch sleep tracker. hours College London and Paris Cité
University, say. Scientists do not
Shorter sleep at 50 was also as-
And they were checked for ch-
ronic conditions, including dia- sociated with a higher risk of de- know for sure, but it is clear that
UP to half of all hospitals beds in - in many ways, we are facing more betes, cancer and heart disease, ath during the study period, ma- sleep helps the brain process me-
England could be occupied by pa- than the threat of a 'twindemic' this over two decades of follow-up: inly linked to the increased risk of mories and is good for mood, con-
tients with respiratory infections, year," she said. Those who slept five hours or chronic disease centration and metabolism.
including Covid and flu, NHS Eng- "So it is right that we prepare as less around the age of 50 had a Experts generally recommend Sleep is also an opportunity for
land says. much as possible - the NHS is going 30% greater risk of multiple ail- about seven or eight hours, the the brain to be cleared of waste.
The warning came as NHS bosses further than it ever has before in an-
set out further details of its plans ticipation of a busy winter."
to help the health service cope this Areas such as London and Hull
winter. have set up systems whereby teams Scientists develop more
This includes rapid response teams including non-paramedics such as
to help people who have fallen at firefighters attend to patients who accurate test for cervical cancer
home and "data war rooms" to mo- have fallen but are not deemed to be
nitor pressures. an emergency.
The return of normal winter viru- It has allowed quick support to be A more accurate test for cell said: “Vaccination against the vi- DNA methylation, which acts as
ses along with Covid will place huge provided and reduced the numbers changes that could lead to cervi- rus that causes cervical cancer is an extra layer of information on
strain on hospitals, NHS England being taken to hospital. cal cancer has been developed by now widely implemented and is top of DNA.
said. Another scheme being rolled out is scientists. leading to changes in the amount Factors such as smoking, pollu-
It said the modelling, which has dedicated care hubs to support care The test can also pick up DNA and types of the virus circulating tion, poor diet and being overwe-
not been published, was very much homes to reduce unnecessary admis- markers for some other cancers, in the community. In turn, our ight can alter these markers and
a worst-case scenario - even during sions. meaning it could in future be approaches to cervical screening change how the cell behaves.
the peak of the pandemic, Covid did These projects are being partly used as a predictive test for bre- must adapt so that programmes By looking closely at DNA met-
not lead to such high levels of beds supported by the extra £500m the ast, womb, cervical and ovarian continue to deliver benefit” hylation, scientists think they
being occupied. government has provided for the cancer. For those without cell changes, can detect cancer and possibly
But NHS England chief executive NHS this winter. When tested for cervical cancer, but who had human papillomavi- predict the risk someone has of
Amanda Pritchard said it was impor- It comes on top of the NHS winter it performed better than current- rus (HPV) which causes most ca- developing cancer in the future.
tant to be prepared. plan published in the summer which ly available methods for detecting ses of cervical cancer, it detected Previous studies on the new
"Winter comes hot on the heels will see an extra 5,000 beds opened, those with advanced cell changes 55% of people who would have test using cervical samples have
of an extremely busy summer - and bringing the total to close to 100,000 who need treatment. cell changes in the next four ye- suggested accuracy in predicting
with the combined impact of flu, Co- as well as 2,500 "virtual ward spaces" Professor Martin Widschwen- ars. women with breast or ovarian
vid and record NHS staff vacancies with patients monitored at home. dter, University College London For the study, experts looked at cancer.

One-fifth of adults struggle with hearing loss, poll suggests

THE most frustrating challenges Some 81 per cent of those with 45 per cent of all adults feared a hea-
for those with hearing difficulties hearing issues had missed their pho- ring decline, yet 32 per cent of those
include misunderstanding what pe- ne ringing entirely. Seven in 10 had with children did not encourage the-
ople say, having to ask others to repe- been putting up with the issues as ir offspring to look after theirs while
at themselves and being told to turn long as they could remember, with they were young. Of the 44 per cent
the TV down, according to a poll. most of those fearing it was too late that did, advice included turning
A survey of 2,000 adults found 22 to do anything about the deteriora- down the volume of music, taking
per cent believed their hearing was tion. It also emerged 82 per cent of regular breaks when exposed to loud
poor, and struggled with missing key those with hearing difficulties belie- noise and avoiding the use of cotton
parts of conversations. ved their issues had impacted their buds. Nearly half (45 per cent) also
A similar proportion had difficulty quality of life. Some 79 per cent ad- admitted to ignoring warnings on
hearing someone on the phone and mitted they often felt left out beca- smartphones about listening to mu-
felt like they were irritating others. use of their problem. It also emerged sic too loudly.