HEALTH NOTES: Britain’s white van men go on a fitness drive
Britain’s van drivers may have a reputation for devouring greasy fry-ups – but new research suggests that many are actually on a health kick.
More than a third have cut back on alcohol in the past year, with one in five switching to alcohol-free beer or wine some of the time, a survey of 1,100 drivers by Vauxhall Motors found.
A similar number have tried meat-free alternatives such as Quorn or vegan sausage rolls, the study discovered.
And a third exercised at least once a week to offset the damage from sitting behind the wheel for hours at a time.
‘Van drivers often spend a lot of time at the wheel, which makes it trickier to prioritise healthy eating and exercise,’ says Vauxhall’s Patrick Fourniol.
‘But our research shows that many are making it a priority.’
Britain’s van drivers may have a reputation for devouring greasy fry-ups – but new research suggests that many are actually on a health kick (stock image)
Walk uphill to build up knees
Walking uphill on a treadmill could help to beat the most common form of arthritis.
A new study has found that the low-intensity exercise can ease symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis, which affects some eight million people in the UK.
Many of them rely on painkillers and anti-inflammatories.
Researchers in Tehran used 30 volunteers with osteoarthritis of the knee to see if uphill treadmill walking, alongside strengthening exercises, might help.
The results, published in the journal Disability And Rehabilitation, showed that treadmill-users had reduced pain scores, faster walking speed and a longer stride.
A new study has found that the low-intensity exercise can ease symptoms in patients with osteoarthritis, which affects some eight million people in the UK
A leading blood-cancer charity has appealed for more Asian stem-cell donors, warning that a severe shortage is putting lives at risk.
Only two per cent of the UK population is on the stem-cell register, and just one in five is from the black, Asian or minority ethnic population.
Three-year-old Veer Gudhka, below, from North-West London, inherited the rare genetic disorder Fanconi anaemia and needs a bone marrow stem-cell transplant.
The Anthony Nolan blood-cancer charity said: ‘Nobody should die waiting for a stem-cell transplant because of their ethnicity.’
- anthonynolan.org/HelpVeerNow
Three-year-old Veer Gudhka, from North-West London, inherited the rare genetic disorder Fanconi anaemia and needs a bone marrow stem-cell transplant
Jab cuts heart death risk
A jab in the arm could help protect against potentially fatal heart failure, new research has found.
Thick scarring on the heart is common after a heart attack and can trigger dangerously abnormal heart rhythms. But an Australian study suggests that an injection of a specific protein can make these scars stronger, lowering the risk of heart failure, which affects more than 900,000 Britons.
So far the jab has been tried only on pigs, but researchers in Sydney say human trials will begin ‘very soon’.
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