One in three Irish smokers plans to kick the habit at the start of the new century, according to a new survey. "Up to 69 per cent of smokers want to quit but need an incentive such as the new year to kick-start the major effort that giving up smoking takes. Normally, about 17 per cent of smokers are trying to quit at any one time. Almost double that number of people plan to quit in the run up to the new millennium," says Siobhan Ogilvy, of Pharmacia & Upjohn. "Cutting out smoking for good is extremely hard to do. In the last two years, 51 per cent of Irish smokers have tried to quit without success," she continues.
Help is at hand, however, and smokers about to quit can join a six-week stop smoking course at St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4. The introductory session is on Tuesday, January 4th at 7 p.m. Tel: 01-2094958. Free tips on giving up smoking are also available from Nicorette on 1850-430-530.
Food poisoning and hypothermia are deemed to be problems possibly more life-threatening than Y2K bugs on this New Year's Eve. Doctors are worried that alcohol-fuelled celebrations could turn to tragedy if people get wet and stay wet during very cold temperatures. Warning symptoms of hypothermia include violent shivering, drowsiness and slow mental responses. Falling asleep in that state could lead to serious problems.
Environmental health experts are also advising people to be careful about eating food which has been left lying around for long periods. (BBC Health News).
Looking for a new hang-over cure? If so, the magnetic headband (£8.95) may be for you. Non-invasive and drug-free, it promises to re-align your energy after, well, too much partying. Then, if that isn't enough, check out the magnetic eye mask (£29.95) which contains eight X 800 gauss magnets for each eye and hundreds of ceramic dots which, the manufacturers claim, radiate the body's natural heat and energy. Tel:00 44 161 7935110. www.magnetictherapy.co.uk
St Michael's House, the Dublin-based provider of day and residential services to children and adults with learning disabilities, is currently recruiting host families who are willing to provide home-from-home breaks for children with learning disabilities. Called Break-time, it involves families looking after a child (or two or three different children) for up to 10 nights per month following their acceptance onto the programme (detailed assessment and training required). Host families are paid for all expenses incurred. Anyone living in the Dublin area who is interested in becoming a host carer should contact the Break- time team on Tel: 01-8840200.
Doctors have developed a blood test for colorectal cancer which may, in the long-term, give patients a clearer idea of whether the disease is likely to spread or return after surgery. The test, which has been developed in the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, US, is designed to detect the spread of cancer from the intestine to the lymph nodes by searching for a protein in the blood. Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and can, in some cases, be cured by surgery alone. (BBC News Health)
lifelines@irish-times.ie
