Medical | Westminster World

Dec122022 by Neha TekawadeNo Comments

Camel Flu warning for England fans returning from the World Cup

Animals, Breaking News, Explainers, Health, Medical, Sport, Sports, Travel, UK news, Worldnews

Picture credit: Unplash Football fans returning from Qatar are being told by WHO and UKSHA to look out for the symptoms of camel flu which is 10 times deadlier than covid and has the potential to spread and cause a pandemic in the future. Camel flu is MERS-CoV, usually referred to as MERS, and is a rare but serious respiratory disease. It can be diagnosed with similar symptoms to covid 19 but it can cause more risk to health symptoms are fever and cough, and it can progress to pneumonia and cause breathing problems. Picture Credits: Neha Tekawade and Rishab Shaju Camel flu is a zoonotic virus and can be spread from humans to animals. There is proof that the virus is mostly spread by camels in the Middle East. Droplets from a cough can also transmit MERS from one person to anot...

Harrow parents express concern over strep A infection

children, Explainers, Medical

A total of 9 children have died from strep A infection in the UK, health officials have confirmed. Photo Credit: Nneoma Ekwegh The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Monday December 5, confirmed the deaths of 9 children in England while Wales and Northern Ireland recorded the death of one child. The illness can be spread by having contact with infected persons through sneezing and coughing. Group A Streptococcus (GAS), popularly known as Strep A, and its common symptoms include sore throat, rashes, pain and vomiting among others, according to the NHS. Westminster World went to the streets of Harrow, and spoke to parents about the Strep A surge and how they are protecting their children. Ebere Okeke, a mother and biologist, advised parents to protect their kids...

Dec122022 by Zuzana RevayovaNo Comments

NHS delays: ‘I’m stuck in a waiting room, waiting to die’

Breaking News, Medical

Patients face extreme waiting times to receive treatment Photo Credit: Zuzana Revayova A cancer patient is prepared for the worst as she has been waiting for her chemotherapy treatment for over seven months. Carmen, 42, East London, was diagnosed with cancer in January. Her treatment was scheduled to start in April. A few weeks before her first chemotherapy appointment was to take place, she was told her treatment was postponed. Carmen, who doesn't wish to reveal her surname, is devastated that she has to wait for essential treatment for so long. She is worried about the consequences this might have on her health in the long run. She said: “I have still not been told when I will start my treatment. It’s frustrating because I can’t have a proper job, I can't go about my norma

Mar82021 by Rashi AgarwalNo Comments

Why laughter is the healthiest medicine?

Adults, Breaking News, children, Covid-19, Explainer, Explainers, Explainers, Health, London, Medical, Worldnews

Laughter can have tremendous effects on our physical, mental and social wellbeing. It strengthens our bonds, protects our heart, and the immune system. Nowadays, clown therapy is well-known apart from yoga laughter therapy. It is known to have many therapeutic benefits for hospitalised patients. Clown performers help in improving a patient’s mood, reduce anxiety, boost the immune system, and create a very positive and warm environment. They are known with many other names, for example, clown-doctor, therapeutic clown, medical clown, or hospital clown. According to studies, humour used following the death of a spouse has increased emotional strength. Those who used laughter as a way to be positive were able to separate their negative emotions which resulted in less depres

How fake news has increased concerns over Covid-19 vaccines

Breaking News, Covid-19, London, Media, Medical, News, Technology

Misinformation and fake news has been the sole indicator to growing concerns over taking a Covid-19 vaccine in the UK. More than 55% of the population need to undergo vaccination in order to obtain herd immunity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy4Le5DqpZ4&feature=youtu.be Video by Hai Anh Vu and Haiyue Zhang The UK gave emergency authorisation to Pfizer and BioNTech’s new Covid-19 vaccine, making it the first Western country to allow mass inoculation against Covid-19. There are a number of vaccines now available which has led to increasing concerns that misinformation online could turn some people against being vaccinated. As early as this week, the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine will begin being distributed. Trials have shown that this vaccine is up to 95% effective. Ne

Period Poverty: Scotland raised the question, will England respond?

economy, Education, Environment, Explainers, Gender, Health, International, Medical, Politics

Period poverty is a public health crisis across the United Kingdom according to official data. In November, Scotland became the first country in the world to make menstrual products free for those in need. What would it take for England to do the same? Westminster World talked to campaigners and experts about the inability to afford menstrual products and period stigma. Photo by Rahul Bamane According to Plan International UK (P.I. UK), a survey conducted in 2019 showed that one in five girls reported being bullied or teased, and nearly 50 percent reported missing a day of school because of their periods. The same research revealed that women in the UK spend more than £16,500 on period products or aids in their lifetime and ten per cent of girls cannot afford the sanitary p

Apr142020 by Fabio Angeli No Comments

Sexually Transmitted Infections: how to prevent and get treatment

Breaking News, Education, Explainer, Explainers, Explainers, Health, Medical, youth

Find out the best tips for a safe sexual life According to the World Health Organization, there are more than one million Sexually Transmitted Infections transmitted daily worldwide. Currently, 30 different viruses, bacteria and parasites could cause infections through sexual contact. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGVP19bFUp4&feature=youtu.be How can I get infected? The STIs contamination occurred mainly by sexual contact, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. But some STIs can be acquired without having sex, by blood contact or blood products. Which are the most common STIs?Four diseases have a high number of cases: syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis. These four STIs together cause approximately 376 million new infections per year. The good ...

Apr142020 by Juliane SonntagNo Comments

Obesity in childhood

children, Data Journalism, Education, Explainer, Explainers, Fitness, Food, Health, Medical, NHS, Obesity, Sport, youth

The numbers for people who are obese in the UK again saw a record high in 2019; it is the fourth consecutive year that a new national record was set. Around 20 percent of UK's school children aged 8 to 11 are obese, according to the NHS’s National Child Measurement Programme. In other words, every fifth child is severely overweight. This puts the UK on rank 33 out of 191 surveyed countries (Global Obesity Levels). Obesity in childhood increases the risk of obesity in adulthood and can cause serious illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. Often, it also triggers mental health issues such as depression or fatigue. Especially now that schools, playgrounds and gyms are closed due to the coronavirus, it is vital to provide a healthy diet and as much

Apr132020 by Natalia ReppasNo Comments

Understanding your skin: Acne explained.

Breaking News, Explainer, Explainers, Health, LifeStyle, Medical, News

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, with 80% of people aged 11 to 30 being affected according to the NHS. Almost 8 in 10 teens have acne. Although it is considered a normal part of puberty, it’s not always easy. To understand acne, you need to learn your own skin. Do you know your skin type? Infographic: Natalia Reppas. Chances are you've experienced acne at some point in your life, if you are not currently experiencing it. How did that spot get there? Did I not wash my face enough? And more importantly, how do I cover it up? You're not alone. Bad skin can affect your confidence and make you feel less than your best. We are often left with spots that we have no explanation for in areas like our cheeks or forehead and we have no idea where they cam

Apr132020 by Martine Ryholt No Comments

Children’s explainer: What does Coronavirus mean for me?

Breaking News, children, Education, Explainer, Explainers, Health, Medical, youth

(By Martine Ryholt) The last few weeks have been unlike any others. Schools and nurseries are closed and many parents are working from home. It's normal to feel a bit scared when so many changes happen all at once. Maybe you've heard about Coronavirus in the news, from your parents or a friend? It can be difficult to understand what it really means and why we can't see our friends anymore. We have put together a video for you, explaining Coronavirus and what it means. You can watch it alone or with your parents. Remember that whatever it is you're worried about, it is always good to talk about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M8KEAntxPk&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2dakEuJOTBn66-EPXEWUZStcb96h8V5Bzr33w5kLGSx1z3rce6rGCYuzw Text and illustrations: Martine Ryholt,...