LIFE EXPECTANCY IN GLASGOW IN 2024

7 December 2024

Glasgow no longer has the lowest life expectancy in the UK

Life Expectancy in Glasgow Challenges and Lessons

No surprises here

Women in Glasgow continue to have the shortest life expectancy in the UK, and while men have improved slightly, they still rank poorly. In stark contrast, the south of England leads the way with significantly higher life expectancy. This survey confirms what we already know from previous surveys.

Thete are probably a few interlinked factors responsible:

Diet and Health Conditions: 

Poor diet contributes to chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Housing Conditions: 

Damp, poorly insulated housing is harmcful to health.

Environmental Factors: 

Air pollution and the industrial legacy of regions like Glasgow worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.

Economic Disparities: 

Lower incomes limit access to nutritious food and quality healthcare.

Healthcare Access: 

Preventive healthcare, like screenings and vaccinations, is less accessible in deprived areas.

Education: 

Affluence often leads to better education, which in turn fosters healthier behaviours like improved diet, reduced smoking, and regular exercise.

COVID-19’s Role

Nationwide policies to manage COVID-19 delayed healthcare access, worsening existing health issues. This impacted the entire country, but deprived areas have struggled to recover.

Addressing the Root Causes

The patterns are clear - inequality lies at the heart of these health disparities. Solutions focus on the usual culprits, the goals shoukd be:

Reduce poverty

Improve education to make individuals aware of health issues abd lifestyle choices.

Invest in healthcare infrastructure and ensure accessibility.

Target deprived areas with tailored public health campaigns.

Beyond Politics and Policies: A Culture of Hope

More than politics, policies and programmes, we need to create a culture of hope. People need to see a future worth striving for, one where health and wellbeing are attainable as the basis of enjoying life. This involves fostering hope and resilience in tge community and providing opportunities for all.

Personal Actions

While the broader issues require setting strategic goals, with solutions and measures of progress, for readers here, we can:

Get Regular Health Check-ups: 

Early detection can prevent or slow severe conditions.

Monitor Air Quality: 

Understanding and dealing with pollution can protect long-term health - buy an air purifier which costs naybe £150 and will keep the air in the room clean.

The challenge lies in moving beyond correlations and analyses to meaningful action, "rfe execution oremium" as it is called, ensuring everyone has the chance to live a healthier, longer life.

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THE INCREASE IN CANCERS AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE (25 - 40)

8 October 2024

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20241004-the-puzzle-of-rising-early-onset-breast-and-colorectal-cancer-in-younger-people

Here are the top nine suspected factors, according to this article:

Obesity and metabolic syndrome

Ultra-processed foods

High sugar and processed food consumption

Sleep pattern changes

Artificial light exposure (including streetlights and mobile devices)

Microplastics exposure

Increased antibiotic use

Gut microbiome disruption

Opportunistic pathogens (e.g., Fusobacterium nucleatum and E. coli)

These factors are all being investigated as potential contributors to the rise in early-onset cancers among younger populations.

Looking more closely at the last two:

The argument concerning gut microbiome disruption and opportunistic pathogens like Fusobacterium nucleatum and E. coli is based on how alterations in the balance of gut bacteria can lead to increased cancer risk.

Gut microbiome disruption: Antibiotic overuse and poor diet (high in ultra-processed foods) can alter the natural balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This disruption may impair the immune system's ability to detect and eliminate abnormal cells, increasing cancer susceptibility.

Opportunistic pathogens: Certain bacteria, like Fusobacterium nucleatum and E. coli, can thrive when the gut microbiome is out of balance. These pathogens may promote cancer by invading gut tissues, driving inflammation, and even causing DNA damage, leading to the development and progression of cancers, particularly colorectal cancer.

This interaction between the microbiome and harmful bacteria highlights the importance of gut health in cancer prevention.

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TOP TIPS FOR MANAGING JETLAG

9 June 2024

Here are some tips for adjusting to a new time zone after a long flight bear in mind that you would normally take a day per hour difference but here you can collapse the time.

1. Change Your Clocks

- Adjust all clock faces (laptop, watch, etc.) to the destination's local time as soon as you board the plane.

- This helps you mentally prepare and operate on the new time zone.

2. Sleep Strategy

- Sleep during the first half of a long flight.

- If the flight leaves in the middle of the day, try to fall asleep early.

- Stay awake for at least 12 hours after waking up on the plane to align with the new time zone.

- Use eye masks and earplugs to facilitate rest on the plane.

3. Avoid Alcohol

- Alcohol can disturb sleep patterns and cause drowsiness the next day.

- Avoid alcohol and caffeine to help reset your circadian rhythm.

4. Bright Light Exposure

- Get daylight exposure upon arrival.

- Spend 20-30 minutes outside, exercising or walking.

- Avoid wearing shades in the morning to maximise sunlight exposure and reduce melatonin production.

5. Adjust to New Schedule

- Resist eating when you're hungry if it’s not meal time in the new time zone.

- Align meals with local standard times to help reset your internal clock.

6. Nap Strategically

- Take short naps (10-20 minutes) early in the day if needed.

- Avoid long naps to maintain healthy sleepiness for the night.

Glossary of Terms

- Circadian rhythm: The body's natural 24-hour cycle.

- Melatonin: A hormone that regulates sleep.

Further Reading

- Jet Lag: Managing and Minimising Effects

- Circadian Rhythms and Sleep

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ROTATOR CUFF AND CHARACTER

7 April 2022

Sunday, day 0

Tomorrow is Friday, day 5 after the operation on my shoulder, which was last Sunday. That op. put me into a light trauma, a kind of post traumatic shock syndrome someone said to me. 

Monday, day 1

So Monday I was quite disoriented. Some friends noticed this and rallied round, asking me questions about the experience and getting me to talk; for those here in CM, offering practical help as the shock of a six hour operation was one thing, but in practical terms, I've only got one arm! Just try to imagine that!!

Tuesday, day 2

But by Tuesday, when I left hospital, two days after the six hour op., my high spirits had returned. How a person deals with adversity tells you a lot about the strength of character of the person.

Wednesday, day 3

Yesterday Wednesday was OK too - I went out for a walk round the park. And again today.

I have a set of exercises to do four or five times a day at my room, to restore flexibility, but not overdoing it as the tendon has been freshly sewn back.

Thursday, day 4

And today Thursday is more normal still. The person who takes care of my room on a Wednesday morning, while I go for Thai massage two hours, has called daily with food and helped me wash and dress. Good practise for when I'm truly old and decrepid, you might think!!!

Friday, day 5

Then tomorrow, Friday, is the third day after I left hospital and the dressing that protects the wound must be changed every three days. So back to hospital - probably in the morning.

I write all this nonsense as a kind of therapy, away to stay attached to reality.

How to measure the strength of character of a person. Observe them:

-How do they deal with adversity? Do you analyse and draw lessons for yourself, or do you point the finger of blame?

-Faced with a headache of a problem, do you say "oh, I can't do it", or do you persevere till they find the solution?

-Do you stick stubbornly to your decisions, right or wrong, or do you review and are you able to learn from experience?

-Can you accept new thinking without becoming emotional or feeling challenged?

- Are you able to work with others and not feel "ruffled"?

Character is the most important quality a person possesses. It is more important than intelligence, reputation or beauty. What do you think about "character"?

I looked up the etymology of the word "character". It seems to come from the word for an engraving instrument, to carve...carve, carve and carve again. Interesting, eh?!

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COVID FOR TRAVELING TO ENGLAND

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

https://www.find-travel-test-provider.service.gov.uk/test-type/green

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