Shellfish: The Food Safety Authority warns against collecting bi-valve shellfish (mussels, oysters, scallops and clams) for your own consumption. This follows a number of reports that people who have eaten mussels over the past month have developed an illness similar to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) - caused by eating shellfish which have been feeding on toxic marine algae. Typical symptoms of DSP include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Symptoms usually begin from 30 minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish and last up to a few days. Contact the Food Safety Helpline for more details: 1890 336677.
Last winter was described as a "near miss disaster for the health services" because of the high level of attendances at GP surgeries and hospital clinics. One initiative to prevent a recurrence is the Winter Illness Clinic, a web-based information service on symptoms, precautions and treatment for colds and flu. More details on www.irishhealth.com
To help adults and children adjust to their new autumnal schedules, the complementary medicine company, Bioforce, recommends a supplement of oats. Avena sativa is a tincture of oats, B vitamins, calcium and magnesium taken in water or juice. Whatever happened to porridge as the best start to the day?
A cancer vaccine suitable for most types of cancer is becoming a more realistic possibility, according to the latest laboratory research. The new vaccine primes the immune system to attack cells containing telomerase, an enzyme found in 80 per cent of cancer cells. Telomerase rebuilds the tips of chromosomes which allows tumour cells to continue to divide beyond their normal lifespan. (New Scientist)
Health TV: To Live and To Heal is a two-part documentary series on reiki and transcendental meditation to be broadcast on RTE 1 on Thursday at 10.30 p.m. In the US, some hospitals and health centres will refer suitable patients to reiki practitioners for pain relief while transcendental meditation is valued as a stress-relieving technique.
lifelines@irish-times.ie
