health

One in five people in the South West (19 per cent) are suffering from debilitating lower back pain and do not have a diagnosis for their symptoms.

This is leading to widespread anxiety, depression and avoidable time off work, new research suggests.

The figures out this week from Nuffield Health reveal that the combination of a lack of access to treatment and diagnostics, poor guidance for doctors as well as sedentary lifestyles are causing a large number of people in the South West to live with painful symptoms which could be avoided with early treatment and good advice....

A qualified medical herbalist from East Devon will be sharing her knowledge of everyday foods and their health benefits with visitors at this weekend’s River Cottage Spring Food Fair.

Jayne Palmer from Roots to Health is giving a talk based on a quote from Hippocrates: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". She will explain how common ingredients like onion, garlic and fennel contribute to a healthy diet and how, in concentrated form, they can have medicinal uses.

Roots To Health is a complementary consultancy, advice and prescription practice...

As Exeter students pore over textbooks and stare at computer screens in preparations for exams, a leading eye expert has warned young people about the risks of eye strain. Intensive revision may help boost grades but according to Mesha Tanna, Senior Optometrist with Optical Express, it can also trigger a range of health problems including headaches, blurred vision and pain in the neck, shoulders and back. Mesha said: “While it is admirable that so many young people study hard to get good results in their exams it is crucial that they do not overlook the importance of caring for their eyes...

THE Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has been highly commended for the second year in a row for the success of its apprenticeship scheme, which continues to bring significant benefits for learners and the organisation.

Two of its apprentices, Mandy Harper and Rhian Carruthers, have also received awards for their achievements.

The Trust was successful in the Apprentice of the Year Awards run by Education + Training Skills (ETS), a specialist provider of work-based learning across the South West.

The Trust was highly commended in the Large Employer of the Year...

Referring patients with unexplained swollen neck glands for specialist investigations could help to avoid some of the thousands of deaths each year from lymphoma, a type of cancer.

New research led by the University of Exeter Medical School, published in the British Journal of General Practice, has concluded that persistent enlarged lymph glands, found in the neck, should be referred for further investigation when detected in clinic.

Each year in the UK, more than 14,500 people in are diagnosed with a form of lymphoma, and nearly 5,000 die from the disease, with latest...

A new Functional Health Screening clinic will be launching in Exeter on 29th April at the Innovation Centre, Exeter, from 6-7:30pm.

Functional Health and Integrated Medicine are rapidly growing fields of healthcare, which focus on the person as a whole not the isolated symptoms.

Dr. Rajendra Sharma-a leading practitioner in these fields of medicine will host the launch. Lisa Portman and Terri Bainbridge, the founders of pioneering health-screening company, Thermalogica, will also be hosting.

Functional Health Screening (FHS) provides tests and investigations to help...

Devon Air Ambulance Trust is the Charity which raises the funds to keep Devon’s two Air Ambulances flying. Although a Charity Heléna Holt, Chief Executive explained “To be a successful charity, no matter what size, it is essential that staff and volunteers receive the right training in order to run the Charity as effectively as possible.”

Carole Johnson, MD of Onelife Training UK Ltd said “My husband had a very bad accident but unfortunately it was out dealing with another incident at the time, so I know how important your service is in saving lives.

“Onelife Training UK...

Scientists in Cornwall are making a final appeal for people to take part in research that will shed light on the health effects of marine pollution.

To help them assess the health risks that ocean-goers might face, the researchers want to compare the health of people who venture into the waves with those who stay firmly on shore.

The University of Exeter Medical School is working with Surfers Against Sewage to conduct the study, with the final phase starting on Monday 13th April. They are asking adults living in England and Wales to respond to a short online survey,...