BlueSkies Newsletter - August 2011
Welcome to the August edition of the BlueSkies Newsletter.
We hope that you find the articles useful and informative.
In this edition, we look at:
Office Workers & The Risk Of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Whether Olive Oil May Cut Stroke Risk
How You Can Get Involved In Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Also this month, find out about the nutritional benefits of raspberries and how you can make the most of your local park.
If you have any comments or there is a particular topic you would like us to cover, please contact us.
Office Workers & The Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis
When we think of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), we normally associate it with long-haul flights or the contraceptive pill whilst the greatest risk factor is surgery. However, new research in the British Medical Journal (BMJ, 2011) has shown that thousands of office workers and those with sedentary lifestyles could also be putting themselves at risk of potentially life threatening blood clots.
This study backs up many others published in recent years such as one from the 2008 edition of the Journal Royal Society of Medicine which found that being desk-bound may lead to workers facing as much of a threat from DVT as passengers on long haul flights.
The most recent American study found that women who sat for a long time every day had double or even triple the risk of a dangerous blood clot. Although most of the women in the highest risk group sat still for more than 41 hours per week on top of their work hours, the results make this the first study to prove that a sedentary lifestyle can increase the risk of potentially fatal clots.
DVT affects, as the name suggests, one of the deep veins in the body and it usually occurs in the muscles of the deep leg veins which run through the thigh and calf. A blockage or clot in one of these veins can lead to pain, aching and swelling in the legs and, potentially, other life threatening complications as pulmonary embolism - a blockage in the blood vessels supplying the lungs caused by part of the clot in the leg breaking off and travelling to the lungs.
The main risk factors for DVT include a history of blood clots, medical conditions such as cancer and heart failure and being overweight. However, the research in the BMJ has reinforced the fact that inactivity is also a major risk factor for DVT. These findings, combined with the fact that people in the UK are becoming more sedentary, suggest that DVT may become more prevalent in the future and affect more that the current 1 in 1000 people.
To prevent DVT, it is important that people limit their periods of inactivity as well as maintain a healthy weight and, if they currently smoke, stop smoking. If you are in desk-based job, it is important that you frequently move your feet and legs and, when possible, take breaks from your desk to walk around. Simply repeatedly pointing your toes towards and away from the floor will help ensure that blood does not pool in your lower legs.
Love Your Local Park
The last week of July saw the passing of Love Parks Week in the UK - the ultimate green campaign organised by GreenSpace which aims to trigger more support and investment for parks and green spaces. However, in addition to this, it also saw a whole week of free, local, outdoor events being organised around the country. These events included festivals, fairs, open-air theatres and music performances as well as educational workshops and fitness sessions.
However, if you missed the events organised specifically for Love Parks Week, it doesn't mean that you've missed out on everything! Our local parks and green spaces are freely available to us all but we often forget how much they have to offer us. The benefits of the great outdoors are amazing, just being outside can benefit our physical health as well as our mental well-being. Also, parks and green spaces help to build communities as well as having an enormous impact on the environment.
And, just in case you need any more convincing, here are a few facts about parks for you....
- 91% of people believe that public parks and open spaces improve their quality of life
- A brisk walk every day, in your local park, can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes by 50%
- Air quality, temperature, water and flood management are all kept within manageable limits because of parks and green spaces
- The more often a person visits urban open green spaces, the less often they will report stress-related illnesses
- Outdoor play and adventure can increase levels of physical activity and fitness, activate higher cognitive processes and healthy brain development
- Over 33 million people in England choose to use their green spaces, with around a tenth of the population visiting daily
- Elderly people who have close access to a place where they can relax and enjoy nature, show significantly greater satisfaction with where they live
- The number one ranked issue for good parks and public spaces is that they give a sense of community
- Owners of small companies rank recreation, parks and open spaces as the highest priority in choosing a new location for their business
- Over 50% of us visit a park at least once a week, to improve physical & mental health, to enhance our closest relationships, to chill out, to interact with our communities and to have a good time
Can Olive Oil Cut The Risk Of Stroke?
The 'Mediterranean Diet' is often touted as being one of the healthiest ways to eat, not least because of the amount of olive oil consumed. In fact, olive oil has so many purported health benefits that researchers have now tried to quantify exactly how much it can benefit you.
In one of these studies, it was found that people who regularly cook with olive oil, add it to salads, dip their bread in it etc are 41% less likely to suffer a stroke than those who never eat it (Samieri et al (2011). Neurology August 2, 2011 77:418-425).
The researchers surveyed over 7,500 people aged over 65 from 3 cities in France and the findings were so impressive that they led them to say that all older people will live longer if they eat lots of olive oil! However, as this was not a clinical trial, caution must be applied to these results until more scientific research can be carried out into this relationship.
But why may olive oil offer these benefits? Well, as already stated, this recent study was not a clinical trial so it is not possible to identify the exact reason for the link between olive oil consumption and reduced risk of stroke. However, olive oil is an extremely 'healthful' ingredient which contains numerous beneficial nutrients. It may be that the reduced stroke risk is due to one or another of these or a combination of them.
Here are a few other reasons for adding olive oil to your diet.
- It contains a high concentration of mono-unsaturated fat which is known as 'good fat' as it has been shown to reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis and increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body.
- It is high in vitamin E, an anti-oxidant which acts to reduce the risk of cellular damage and so lower the risk of chronic diseases.
- Between 3.5% and 21% of olive oil is made up of linoleic acid which is an omega-6 fatty acid. Omega-6 is known to block the body's response to inflammation in chronic conditions such as heart disease and arthritis as well as reducing blood pressure.
Food Of The Month - Raspberries
It is difficult to get people to agree whether strawberries or raspberries win the crown for best summertime fruit but, whatever your personal favourite, it is hard to resist the taste of fresh raspberries. Whether eaten on their own, with yoghurt, ice cream or cream or even popped into a glass of bubbly, raspberries have a unique, exquisite taste.
However, apart from their taste and versatility, raspberries are also worth eating for their nutritional value. These little jewel like fruits are low in calories (around 52 calories/100g) but high in fibre, iron, potassium and vitamins A & C. In addition, they also contain phytochemicals such as beta-carotene which helps fight heart disease and ellagic acid which has been linked with reducing the risk of cancer. So, why not look out for raspberries in the supermarket or even consider growing your own in time for next year - they're surprisingly easy to grow - and enjoy harvesting & eating them?
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 2011 is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the organisers (Breast Cancer Campaign) want you to help them get a step closer to beating breast cancer. Breast Cancer Campaign's mission is to beat breast cancer by funding innovative world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.
Breast Cancer Campaign currently fund 97 projects worth almost £16.7 million in 31 research centres throughout the UK and Ireland and have awarded £35 million of grants over the last 14 years. Although the Campaign is committed to beating breast cancer, 1 in 8 women in the UK will still be diagnosed with breast cancer making it relevant to all of us.
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there are two National Events being organised which you can get involved in - The Big Pink Jump & Wear It Pink.
The Big Pink Jump is taking place on 1st October 2011 and offers daredevils the chance to take to the skies and skydive at 20 different locations across the UK to raise money for breast cancer research. Participants in The Big Pink Jump will experience the thrill of flying through the air at 10,000 feet whilst free falling at a breath-taking speed of 120mph. All you need to do to take part is to raise £395 (including £70 deposit) in sponsorship. For more information, visit the website or email skydives@breastcancercampaign.org or call 020 7749 4114.
Wear It Pink is Breast Cancer Campaign's biggest fundraising event where they ask people across the UK to hold a pink dress-down day at their workplace, school or in their community. On Friday 28th October 2011, thousands of people will take part in Wear It Pink and donate £2 each to help beat breast cancer. This event is sponsored by Vanish and has so far raised £17 million since 2003. For more information, visit www.wearitpink.co.uk or call 0800 107 3104 for more information. NB Schools can take part in this event at any point in October.
So, if you want to help Breast Cancer Campaign in their invaluable work, why not organise your own event this year or take part in one local to you. You can click here to see what events are taking part around the UK or visit their website for more information, www.breastcancercampaign.org
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