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People who are seeing in the new year at home have been advised not to drink too much alcohol. The government has warned that those who drink at home typically ingest more generous measures than they would in a pub or bar. This, it said, could potentially make people more vulnerable to conditions such as heart disease and cancer. Public health minister Gillian Merron warned that excessive alcohol intake could also maximise a person's chances of suffering a stroke. 'It's worth paying attention to the size of your measures,' she commented. Professor Ian Gilmore, president of the Royal College of Physicians, added that he finds the lack of awareness about alcohol intake at home extremely worrying. 'This advice comes at a welcome time as recent data shows that three quarters of people intend to see in the New Year at home,' he commented. People who develop illnesses such as heart disease could be required to undergo gruelling treatment, lifestyle changes and possibly wear a medical alert bracelet to ensure emergency medics have easy access to information. The warning comes after Betty McBride of the British Heart Foundation urged inactive people to 'face up' to the health risks they are letting themselves in for. She recommended that Britons make a physical activity such as a brisk walk part of their daily routine. 
Overindulgence during the Christmas season could have put many people at risk of developing type two diabetes, according to a charity group. Diabetes UK believes eating too many high calorie foodstuffs such as mince pies and Christmas cake could make people vulnerable to prediabetes. The charity said this condition has no symptoms and tends to be underdiagnosed. However, it believes prediabetes makes people 15 times more likely to develop type two diabetes. Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK, has therefore urged people to compensate for their Christmas treats in 2010. 'Make it your new year's resolution to eat more healthily and take regular physical activity,' he commented. Mr Smallwood added that type two diabetes can lead to health problems such as kidney failure, amputation, heart disease and blindness. Diabetes UK recommends that diabetics carry their details on medical jewellery such as a diabetic bracelet or necklace, as it can be easily found by an emergency medic close to a pulse point. 
Doctors could soon be able to gauge how likely their patients are to develop cancer. New software that calculates risk based on clinical and demographic information is to be used by the NHS to help GPs detect the disease as early as possible. Government adviser Professor Mike Richards said this could become a standard resource for GPs in England within the next five years. Speaking to the Guardian, he said: 'The benefit of this will be that GPs will know who should be investigated and who shouldn't.' Professor Richards stated that the technology will allow doctors to make use of a vast pool of information. This, he added, could be valuable, as no human brain would be able to store the amount of data contained in this computer system. According to the NHS, consumers can reduce the risk of developing cancer by eating healthily, exercising on a regular basis and not smoking. People with the condition could also ensure they are ready for emergency situations by wearing a medical alert bracelet, which allows paramedics and doctors to find out the details of their illness and treatment quickly and easily. 
Cancer sufferers may soon be able to benefit from new treatment regimes following a recent clinical trial. Scientists at the University of Nottingham extracted cordoycepin from a wild mushroom and examined how it works on human body cells. The substance is already used by some physicians, but researchers at the university believe their findings could pave the way to new clinical applications being developed. 'It could lay the groundwork for the design of new cancer drugs that work on the same principle,' said Dr Cornelia de Moor. She added that it may also be possible to predict what type of cancers are sensitive to the cordycepin and what other cancer drugs it may effectively combine with. Many people with the condition currently incorporate details of their treatment regime on medical jewellery such as bracelets and pendants. This can allow healthcare professionals to instantly find out what type of treatment a patient is receiving, or gain access to their medical records. NHS figures suggest that cancer is currently responsible for about 126,000 deaths in the UK every year. 
People who take the ginkgo biloba herb to treat dementia receive no clinical benefits, scientists have claimed. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh carried out a study to gauge the effectiveness of the herbal remedy, which is commonly taken by people with conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Scientists found that the ginkgo biloba did not help to tackle progressive memory loss or boost memory and concentration, contrary to popular belief. The Alzheimer's Research Trust has therefore encouraged people to stave off the onset of dementia by living a healthy lifestyle. Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the group, said eating well, exercising regularly and not smoking would all help to reduce the risk of developing the degenerative condition. Speaking to the Daily Express, she added that taking part in intellectually stimulating social activities could also have long-term health benefits. Figures from the Alzheimer's Research Trust show that about 700,000 people in the UK currently suffer from dementia. A growing number of people with the condition are now choosing to wear medical alert bracelets, which allow doctors to quickly obtain medical information from Alzheimer's patients. 
The number of people with sleep disorders in Scotland could be higher than official figures suggest, the Liberal Democrats have warned. According to statistics from the political party, the treatment of sleep disorders is costing over £1 million north of the border. However, health spokesman Ross Finnie believes many people have not yet been diagnosed with disorders such as sleepwalking and narcolepsy - despite exhibiting all of the symptoms. 'Thousands of people across Scotland are silently battling with sleep disorders, which can be physically and mentally debilitating,' he commented. People who are prone to disorders such as sleepwalking could benefit from wearing items such as medical alert jewellery, as these could let people know the medical status of anyone who goes for a nocturnal stroll. The warning comes after a poll by The Sleep Council found that almost half of those with children aged under five are unaware that a three-year-old needs 12 hours sleep. A similar trend was identified among parents of older children, which The Sleep Council warned could be affecting the health and wellbeing of youngsters. 
Consumers in Scotland are to be offered the chance to receive a screening for bowel cancer. More than 700,000 people could benefit from the new programme, which the Scottish government believes could help to tackle one of the country's most prolific killers. According to health secretary Nicola Sturgeon, using an easy and painless test in private at home could help to save about 150 lives a year. 'If it's caught early it can be very successfully treated,' she commented. This coincides with advice from gastroenterologist Dr Peter Moncur, who urged people to get themselves checked out. He acknowledged that talking about having bowel cancer can be difficult or embarrassing for many people. However, he insisted that a quick and simple test for the disease can be carried out in the privacy of a person's own home. 'If bowel cancer is detected at the earliest stage, there is over a 90 per cent chance of survival,' Dr Moncur said. People who do go on to develop the condition could benefit from including contact and healthcare information on a medical alert bracelet, which may be invaluable in the event of an emergency. 
Police in Canada could be set to take the concept behind Alzheimer's medical alert bracelets a step further by combining them with GPS technology. Although this is traditionally used to tag criminals who are no longer in custody, the Montreal Police Service believe it could help prevent Alzheimer's sufferers from coming to harm. An elderly woman with the degenerative condition was recently found dead in the region after going missing for a three-day period. Daniel Rousseau, spokesman for the force, commented: 'In cases where citizens go missing because of Alzheimer's, we want to get involved as quickly as possible to return them.' Speaking to AFP, he added that ensuring the safety of the local population is the police's main priority. According to figures from the Alzheimer's Society, the number of people with dementia in the UK is likely to exceed one million by 2025. The group has warned that the financial cost of the condition to the British economy is more than £17 billion a year. 
A Dutch cancer patient has commended a somewhat unusual course of treatment - mistletoe. Joan van Holsteijn, 53, had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after a tumour was discovered on her leg. According to Cancer Research UK, this is the fifth most common type of cancer in adults. However, she turned down traditional cancer treatments because she was scared about the likely side-effects. Ms van Holsteijn, who now lives in Scotland, instead chose to receive injections of mistletoe, as its berries can help to boost the immune system. 'My doctor told me just to try chemo and nothing else, but after I started the mistletoe he was very supportive,' she told the Daily Mail. She revealed that the cancerous tumours disappeared after 18 months, leaving only traces of scar tissue. Ms van Holsteijn said she believes she owes her life to mistletoe, before adding she now feels very well and healthy. Cancer patients who choose alternative forms of treatment may benefit from wearing a medical alert bracelet, as this would inform healthcare workers such as doctors or paramedics about their treatment regime. 
More and more people with type two diabetes are having parts of their arms and legs amputated, according to new research. A study by Imperial College London found that the number of English people with the condition undergoing major amputations went up by 43 per cent between 1996 and 2005. The research, which was published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, also showed that the amount of below-ankle amputations among type two diabetics rose by more than 100 per cent during this time. Scientists behind the study attributed this partly to the fact that the number of people being diagnosed with the condition has gone up in recent years, while many are being diagnosed earlier in life. However, study leader Dr Eszter Vamos insisted that a variety of measures could lead to the number of amputations being cut significantly. 'It highlights the importance of frequent foot checks and that it is very important to get glycaemic control and blood pressure and cholesterol control,' she told BBC News. People with the condition could also benefit from wearing a diabetic bracelet, as this would allow doctors to check up on the medical status of a diabetic patient quickly and easily in an emergency situation. According to NHS statistics, more than two million people in the UK are currently affected by diabetes. 
Celebrity Big Brother will have to do without astrologer Russell Grant next year, after he turned the show down for health reasons. The well-known stargazer is allergic to air conditioning, which means that living in the Big Brother house could trigger an adverse reaction. Producers of the reality show apparently tried to find ways around the problem, including building him a Wendy house. 'Talk about carry on camping,' Grant told the Daily Star. 'I'd freeze to death in there in January.' The astrologer has therefore turned the show down, despite being offered a £250,000 appearance fee. While Grant has been forced to be more upfront than most about his sensitivities, the rest of us could be more subtle about letting people know by wearing allergy alert bracelets. These could be particularly useful if a person with an allergy needs emergency medical treatment, as they would instantly let doctors know about their medical status and treatment regime. According to NHS figures, more and more people in the UK are being affected by allergies every year. 
Schoolgirls should be given the vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) before they become sexually active, a charity group has said. According to Cancer Research UK, HPV is responsible for the majority of cases of cervical cancer. The charity has therefore reiterated its calls for young girls to be vaccinated against the infection before they start having sex. Cancer Research UK said this is especially necessary in deprived areas, as new research has found that poorer women tend to be more at risk of developing cervical cancer. 'We strongly advise all women to attend cervical screening when invited,' said Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at the charity. 'Women should also visit their doctor without delay if they have symptoms.' People who develop cervical cancer could ensure emergency doctors are aware of their condition and course of treatment by wearing a medical alert bracelet, a stylish and subtle way of sharing vital medical information when required. This coincides with calls from cervical cancer charity Jo's Trust to run targeted education campaigns in deprived areas to raise awareness of the disease and how it can be prevented. 
People who suffer from Alzheimer's disease could be less likely to develop cancer, a new study has concluded. Research published in the Neurology journal found that the degenerative mental condition can reduce the risk of developing cancer by more than two-thirds. The study also showed that Caucasian people with cancer have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Catherine Roe of the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis has hailed the findings of the study and their potential impact on clinical care. 'Discovering the links between these two conditions may help us better understand both diseases and open up avenues for possible treatments,' she commented. According to the Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia and currently has no cure. However, people with the condition can be prescribed with drugs to ease their symptoms, as well as wear an Alzheimer's medical alert bracelet to ensure healthcare professionals are aware of their treatment regime. 
Parents could inadvertently be making their children vulnerable to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, experts have warned. According to the British Dietetic Association (BDA), lots of mums and dads do not always understand the labelling on children's foods. The organisation has therefore urged parents to make sure they learn how to read them, as feeding children lots of fatty, salty and sugary foods could lead to them experiencing health problems. Sian Porter, spokeswoman for the BDA commented: 'If you take in more calories than you need then you can put on weight and the increased risk of disease like heart disease and diabetes.' This could lead to them being required to wear medical alert jewellery to ensure doctors are aware of any underlying medical problems in the event of an emergency. The advice comes after the British Heart Foundation warned that the majority of mums believe they are being misled into buying fatty, salty and sugary foods by manufacturers. More than eight out of ten parents have backed the idea of introducing a single front-of-pack food labelling scheme to stop this from happening. 
A Yorkshire woman may decide to purchase a trendy diabetes bracelet after recently discovering she suffers from the condition. Mrs D Tucker wrote to the Sheffield Star to thank it for running an article about being tested for the illness. After reading the column, the 72-year-old booked an appointment with her local GP and had her blood examined. The results revealed she needed to go onto medication to help control the illness. She now hopes to be OK for 'a few more years'. In a letter to the newspaper, Mrs Tucker remarked: 'If it hadn't been for your article, I wouldn't have known until it was too late.' According to charity Diabetes UK, signs and symptoms of the condition include weight loss, blurred vision, needing to urinate constantly and increased thirst. Sufferers may also notice thrush episodes, extreme tiredness and that their wounds take longer than would be expected to heal. The non-profit body advises that the earlier both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are diagnosed, the less chance a person will have of long-term health problems. 
While some people may be delighted to receive an allergy alert bracelet for Christmas, for one allergy sufferer the festive season is no time for cheer regardless of what's in her stocking. Swimming instructor Lisa Smith told the Daily Mail the holiday season has seen her develop flu-like symptoms since she was a teenager. After years of trying to get to the bottom of the issue, she has finally worked out her problem – that she is allergic to the pine in Christmas trees. Her fiance, city banker Phil French, originally proposed the diagnosis, which has been confirmed by Ms Smith's doctor. She told the newspaper she only has unhappy memories of past festive seasons, including constantly blowing her nose over the traditional turkey dinner. Ms Smith remarked: '[My GP] said my symptoms mirrored those of a severe hayfever sufferer. She was certain the main trigger was pine sap.' Meanwhile, Dr Mike Smith suggested mould found in Christmas trees could trigger allergies. Charity Allergy UK suggested people sensitive to this substance should also avoid areas where there are rotting leaves, grass cuttings or compost heaps. 
People who have diabetes have been encouraged to ensure they receive a vaccination against the flu virus. According to Diabetes UK Scotland, diabetics are particularly susceptible to seasonal influenza at this time of year. The organisation has therefore recommended that people with the condition make sure they take the necessary precautions. 'Having flu can really upset diabetes control and cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate,' said Anne Paris, national care advisor at Diabetes UK Scotland. Speaking to the Glasgow Evening News, she warned that this could leave people open to further health problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia. People with diabetes who have the flu jab could ensure doctors are aware they have been vaccinated by having their details on a diabetic bracelet. This can include the number for a database that allows healthcare professionals to access detailed medical records when required. According to Diabetes UK, more than 2.6 million people in the UK are diabetics. 
Many cancer patients may struggle to afford fuel bills this winter, experts have warned. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, about one in four people with the disease are likely to have difficulty paying for their gas and electricity. This, it said, is partly because the effects of cancer treatment can leave people feeling much colder. As a result, they are likely to need their central heating systems far more during the cold weather, racking up a sizable bill in the process. Macmillan has warned that this could lead to many cancer patients, some of whom use medical alert bracelets to inform doctors of their condition, choosing to go back to bed instead of risk living beyond their means. The charity has therefore urged the government to offer support to this group of people. Professor Jane Maher, chief medical officer at Macmillan, commented: 'Despite many being too ill to work, those under 60 receive no help to pay for this extra fuel.' The warning comes amid severe wintry weather in many parts of the UK, which has disrupted airports, railways and roads across the country. 
Diabetics in the US are being encouraged to get their eyes tested to look out for symptoms of glaucoma. According to Dr James Heltzer, many people who suffer from the eye condition are not aware that they have a problem. This means they could be more likely to go blind, so Dr Heltzer has therefore urged the public to get themselves checked out. 'It's even more important for people with diabetes,' he insisted. The advice comes ahead of Glaucoma Awareness Month in January, which has been designed to raise awareness of the condition and the steps people can take to save their sight. Diabetics could benefit from wearing a diabetic alert bracelet so the ophthalmologist is aware of their medical status. According to Diabetes UK, these typically detail the type of diabetes a person has and what treatment they are on. The organisation recommends wearing the medical ID jewellery around a pulse point in order to make it easy to find in the event of an emergency. 
Many people may only have to wear allergy alert bracelets to let people know of their sensitivities. However, one young boy cannot hope to hide his allergy as he reacts badly to direct sunlight, and must therefore wear protective gear when he goes outside. Ten-year-old David Middleton's skin is extremely sensitive to ultraviolet light, as it does not heal after exposure to the rays. However, the allergy appears to have some perks, as David's protective gear has made him something of a fashion icon at school. John Middleton, David's stepfather, said: 'He is the only child who gets to be a spaceman every day.' The boy's condition is so serious that he needs to have factor 50 sun cream applied to his skin every two hours, even if he has not ventured outside. Even the Middleton family home has had to be specially treated to stop UV rays getting inside, as the windows are now coated with a protective film. According to Allergy UK, about half of those affected by allergies are children. 
A young woman who has been allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, soya and lentils since she was a baby has spoken about how eating a burger at a music festival nearly killed her. Elin Haf Parry, a 19-year-old student, told the Welsh Daily Post that she was at the Wakestock festival in Abersoch in July when she ate the burger that, unbeknown to her, had been contaminated by oil from nearby veggie burgers that contained soya. She went into anaphylactic shock and had to have three adrenaline shots, one of which was administered by a friend while waiting for paramedics. 'When eating out, I have to take extra care and explain the severity of my allergies,' Ms Parry said. She is now supporting The Anaphylaxis Campaign, which is encouraging people with allergies to check their epi-pens are in date and ready for potential attacks over the festive season. Peanutallergy.com advises anyone with allergies to common foods like nuts to wear medical alert jewellery such as bracelets to warn people about their condition. It said the bracelet should contain the person's name, allergy, details of medications they take and contact details for their next of kin in case of an emergency. 
More allergy sufferers may now be encouraged to wear allergy alert bracelets following a moving presentation by a group of schoolchildren at the Houses of Parliament. Alex North, 12, was among the 50 young people who travelled to attend an event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Allergy and the National Allergy Strategy Group (NASG) to raise awareness about the problems sufferers face, the Wiltshire Times reports. He has suffered from acute allergies to various foods since he was a toddler, but said restaurants and GPs often do not know how to treat him. The youngster also used his time speaking in front of the MPs to highlight the necessity of items like epi-pens and allergy alert bracelets in order to quickly treat people who suffer allergic reactions while out and about. According to the NASG, about 20 million people in the UK suffer from some kind of allergy, with children and young adults particularly affected. Despite this, most GPs have received little training on how to treat allergies and there only around 30 allergy specialists in the country. 
Wearing a medical alert bracelet may be particularly important for those with epilepsy, as the general public's understanding of the condition is poor. Dr Sallie Baxendale, consultant neuropsychologist for the Institute of Neurology and National Society for Epilepsy, said there are many dangerous myths about epilepsy. Writing for BBC News' Scrubbing Up, she explained that some of these myths may mean that many members of the public do not know what the signs of a seizure are. Television and film portrayals of seizures only tend to show the most extreme symptoms and in some cases are simply inaccurate, Dr Baxendale said. As a result, people with epilepsy who suffer a complex partial seizure are often simply ignored by bystanders, leaving them in a vulnerable position, she added. A medical alert bracelet can help to improve the situation, as it can advise concerned members of the public that the person has epilepsy and give brief details about what steps to take. In fact, Epilepsy Action recommends the wearing of medical alert bracelets, stating that they can 'make you feel more confident about going out on your own'. 
People who need to wear a diabetic bracelet may be wishing they were more prolific tea drinkers, as three or four cups a day can help stave off type 2 diabetes. According to Dr Rachel Huxley of the University of Sydney, this is not because of its caffeine content, as decaffeinated coffee achieves the same result. Indeed, they concluded that every extra cup of coffee a day can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by seven per cent. Analysts believe that compounds such as magnesium and chlorogenic acid could be behind this effect. Dr Huxley made the claim after researchers in Archives of Internal Medicine analysed the results of more than a dozen different clinical studies into type 2 diabetes. However, Diabetes UK has noted that conclusions along these lines cannot be drawn unless other criteria are taken into account. Spokeswoman Dr Victoria King said factors such as physical activity levels and diet must also be considered. She added that the only thing people can be sure of is that lifestyle is strongly linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. More than eight in ten diabetics in the UK have this form of the condition. 
Demand for trendy diabetic bracelets could be set to increase, as a type of sugar called fructose is apparently triggering the condition in many young people. Researchers at the University of California carried out a studio into how fructose, which is used in a wide variety of food and drink products, impacts on the metabolism. Scientists found that children who ate foodstuffs that contain fructose were more likely to develop diabetes than those who ingested glucose. The sweetener was also found to increase the likelihood of suffering a number of other health problems, such as heart disease and obesity. Kimber Stanhope, molecular biologist and lead researcher, told the Times: 'We didn't see any of these changes in the people eating glucose.' According to figures from Diabetes UK, about 15 per cent of diabetic British adults and children suffer from Type 1 diabetes. Meanwhile, about 85 per cent have Type 2 diabetes. 
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