Health & Beauty

The majority of people with inherited high cholesterol condition are ‘needlessly undiagnosed’, say BHF

Approximately one in every 250 people in the South West has familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a potentially deadly inherited condition which, if undiagnosed, can cause people to die from a heart attack at an early age.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) figures suggest that FH affects around 22,000 people in the South West and is more common than type one diabetes in children, which affects around one in 500 childre. In the UK the total number of people with FH is...

Stroke patients in Eastern Devon will benefit from more joined up services this spring when a rehabilitation unit relocates to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

This move is the final stage in completing recommendations from a 2013 consultation led by Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the Stroke Association.

In April, inpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities at Ottery St Mary Community Hospital will be transferred to Yealm Ward at the RD&E, next to the Trust’s acute stroke care inpatient facilities on Clyst Ward. Stroke...

The Thomas family, from Tiverton, have raised over £4,000 for the Neonatal Unit (NNU) at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital as a thank you for their care their son received there.

Three year old Maximus spent 12 ½ weeks on NNU in September 2013 after being born prematurely at 27 weeks.

During this time, Maximus spent time on every area of NNU, from intensive care to low dependency, and was cared for by Dr Bartle and his experienced team. He was allowed home the day before his due date and has been monitored by the team for just over two years after discharge.

As a...

Figures from the Office for National Statistics predict that by 2039, 30% of the UK population will be aged over 60. Whilst our life expectancy continues to rise (an average of 81 years old), our healthy life expectancy has not risen as quickly (65 years old). In light of this, new research from leading nutrition charity the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) has explored how we feel about ageing, as a nation.

The Institute’s research of 2,000 over 30’s across the UK found that 62% of people think that looking young on the surface is a strong indicator that they are fighting off...