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Important note Note that this page is a visual health supplement. It is designed to give out support organisations, and should not be used in place of a doctor. If you are ill do visit your local G.P. It is not adviceable to take prescriptions over the net. You have been warned. If you think your organistion should be listed, email us

Health Alert 1 Reference: ASDA magazine june 2000 Testicular and prostate cancer are both on the increase, yet medical research into both cancers is massively underfunded. To make matters worse, surveys show that most men know very little about testicular and prostate cancers. The insitute of Cancer Research's everyman campaign aims to raise both money and awareness of male cancer. The institute is setting up the UK's first male cancer reasearch centre to help fight these diseases. The facts are disturbing: 19500 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed every year in the UK. By 2018, prostate cancer will overtake both lung and breast cancer to become the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Britian. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men aged 20-35. It can affect boys as young as 15. Cases of testicular cancer have doubled in the past 20 years. For more information, write to: The institute of cancer Research, Freepost LON 922, London SW7 3YY. or call 0800 731 9468. Men's Health Matters Blythe Hall, 100 Blythe Road, London W14 0HB. Adviceline: 0208 995 4448 Please send a large SAE when writing for information. Prostate Help Association Langworth Lincoln LN3 5DF. Please send two first class stamps for information For a free leaflet called " A whole new ball game (How to check for testicular cancer) ", please ring 0800 555777.

Health Alert 2 Smoking and Cancer The main group at risk of developing lung cancer are those who smoke, or who have smoked regularly in past. It is never too late to give up smoking, and stopping now will greatly reduce your risk of getting lung cancer or heart disease in the future. If you find giving up smoking difficult, your GP or practice nurse can give you advice and a range of help including nicotine substitutes. Additionally, there are several groups you could contact. What to look out for If you any of the following symptoms - especially if you smoke or have smoked in the past, you should go to your doctor for advice. But remember that often there is a simple explanation for such symptoms, so don?t worry unnecessarily: A chest infection that doesn?t get better Coughing up blood A cough that is changing or has been troubling you more Feeling more breathless than usual Chest pain Voice changes that last for more than three weeks, for example hoarseness. Problems with swallowing. Feeling generally unwell and tried. Lung cancer in the UK - the facts 40,000 new cases are identified every year. 90% of lung cancer cases are caused by smoking Not smoking or quitting makes a difference to your health The number of cases of lung cancer is rising, especially among women. For help and information on stopping smoking contact: The smokers? helpline: England (Quitline) 0800 00 22 00 Scotland ( Smokeline) 0800 84 84 84 Northern Ireland 01232 663281 Wales 0345 697 500 Your local health promotion unit can provide free information and advice on stopping smoking. Call your local health authority or health board or freephone health information service on 0800 66 55 44. Your local GP or health service. Your local pharmacist

Food Safety For Copies of "Ten tips for food safety" by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and food. -- (PB1684 A4) and a booklet on 'food safety' are avaliable from -- FoodSense, London, SE99 7TT. -- or tel: 0645 556 000 -- Very useful poster, that can be pasted at your student kitchen.

Useful health numbers/issues Patients site Lonely planet health provides information on health issues for people travelling abroad. If you are travelling this year, you have to visit their site. Britmed British doctors answering your medical questions swiftly and in confidence. BBC health service Health news Health news, health infor. linked with TV and radio Health on the net is a not-for-profit organisation headquarted in Geneva, Switzerland. They are delicated to the fields of health and medicine. Breast cancer care Organisation that helps victims of breast cancer Net doctor Sexual problems, and other problems discussed with Dr David Devin and Dr Hilary(news of the world) Male cancer Symptom One of your testicles have developed a lump or become painful The average age of patients is 25 years old (most usually 15-45). It is estimated that 2000 men are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year in the UK. Care Become familiar with the normal feel of your testicles and their surrounding tubes called epididymis. The best time to check is in the bath or shower. If one of your testicles changes in size (larger or smaller) or develops an obvious lump, whether or not it is painful, you should see your doctor striaght away. Almost all men can be cured if treated early. For further information about this issue, write to # Cancerlink 11 - 21 northdown stret London N1 9BN or call 0800 132 905 For more information about cancer, click here Quitline: 0800 002200 - for smokers that want to stop, alternatively click here on help on how to stop. Click here for the facts. According to the mirror on january 23 2000, over 36000 smokers have called the government's helpline in their battle to stop smoking since january 1 - three times the number who rang it in the same period last year. They must be doing something right. Why not give them a call. BBC has a programme called kick the habit, which could help smokers avoid smoking. There is a booklet which accompanies this programme. It is priced at only 2 pounds. For more information, click Dale. An average of 1000 smokers give up smoking a day. why not be included in the statistics. National menigitis trust - 0845 6000 800 Have you had your menigitis vaccination? If not visit your local g.p or call this number for more information. Meningitis symptoms in adults & children iinclude: Vomiting, Fever, Headache, Stiff neck, Light aversion, Drowsiness, joint pain, Fitting, and septicaemia(blood poisoning) may also occur. Septicaemia can develop quickly.The spots or bruises do not turn white when pressed. Rashes must be taken seriously.A doctor should be called immediately. It should be noted that these symptoms may not occur at the same time. Information got from national meninigitis trust leaflet.Facts Marie Stopes is an organisation that offers advice on abortion, emergency contraception, e.t.c: To get in contact: London: 0181 388 0662 Leeds: 0113 244 0685 Mancester: 0161 832 4260 Samaritains - 0345 909090 Positive women - 020771 30 222 British Diabetic association -- 0207 636 6112 ( mon - fri) 9am - 5pm Acne Support Group Tel: 0181 561 6868 Alzeimers's Disease society 0171 306 0606 ASH (Action on smoking and health) 16 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 4DH Tel: 0207 224 0743 British Dyslexia Association 01189 668 271 National Asthma Campaign Tel: 0345 010 203 National Eczema Society Tel: 0990 11 88 77 Cancer link 0800 132 905 British Allergy Foundation 0181 303 8525 Royal society for the prevention of Accidents Tel: 0121 248 2000 Eye Care information service Tel: 0171 357 7730 Depression Alliance Tel: 0171 633 0557 London Lesbian and Gay Switch Board Tel: 0171 837 73 24 Terrence Higgins Trust Helpline Tel: 0171 242 1010 Contraceptive Education Up to date advice on all sexual matters Tel: 0171 713 9000 British Pregnancy Advisory Service Advice on contraception and abortion services Tel: 084557 304030 National Association of Premenstrual Syndrome 01732 760012 Down's ASyndrome Association Tel: 0181 682 4001 Royal Institute for Deaf People Minicom: 0171 296 8001 Tel: 0870 605 0123 Quit Victory House, 170 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P OHA Tel: 0207 388 5775 or Quitline: 0800 002200 You can also call for the free booklet " The QUIT Guide to stopping Smoking" MENCAP ( Royal Society for mentally Handicapped Children and adults) Tel: 0171 454 0454 Eating Disorder Tel: 01603 621414 Skill Promotes opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK. Carers' National Association Fot disability Advice Tel: 0345 573369 British Dental Health Foundation Tel: 01788 546365 Community Hygiene concern Tel: 0181 341 7167 British Heart Foundation Tel: 0171 935 0185 British Epilesy Association British Epilepsy Association Freephone Helpline: 0808 800 5050 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm, Friday 9am to 4pm) Website: http://www.epilepsy.org.uk Email Helpline: helpline@bea.org.uk Office Address: New Anstey House Gate Way Drive Yeadon LEEDS LS19 7XY Impotence Association Tel: 0181 767 7791 Prostate Help Association Men's health Information National drug helpline Tel: 0800 77 66 00 What do you think you know about drugs? Before you start touching them, Click here, and take a few minutes to read the facts. Remember we are putting up a debate in regards to if drugs is right for us. Send in your views. Below are a few titles you can obtain for free. Note these titles are only avaliable within the united kingdom. A parents guide to drugs and alchol Guide to drugs and solvent (7-10years old) Drugs - the facts about drugs( 11 - 14 years old ) The score: facts about drugs ( 14 - 16 years ) D-mag (drugs magazine) D - code CD -rom National drugs helpline poster -- you could paste it at you flat or halls Tackling Drugs together pack( includes one of everything). For any of the above titles, email hea@solo.co.uk Other useful drugs links: Trashed ISDD Student Asthma Infor. -- Very useful site for asthma suffers. -- This site is specially designed just for student asthma suffers -- Contains statistics, useful advice, guidelines and useful links. -- We hope, you find the site useful Drink line:-- Drinking problems 0171 332 0202(london only) 0345 32 02 02(uk only) All these calls are charged at local rates Al - Anon family groups for the families of people with drinking problems Alateen group For teenagers in families where somone has a drinking problem For any of the two, ring 0171 403 0888 Wrecked --Advice for young people about alchol 9 Alcohol -- Alcohol quiz. Get almost every information you want to know about alcohol. National aids helpline Tel: 0800 56 71 28 We all think we know much about it but we don,t. What do you think.) Cruse Bereavement line Tel: 0181 332 7227 RNIB (royal national institute for the blind) Tel: 0345 669 999(local rate) GLANCOMA, a common cause of sight loss. A regular eye test can pick up signs of diseases like glancoma, before you can tell anything is wrong with your sight. Early treatment can often prevent your sight getting worst. You can also visit there site at RNIB SCOPE Tel: 0800 626 216 For people with cerebal palsy SHAW trust provides help to young disabled people in finding jobs and traing. Bullying services Tel: 0171 378 1446(very interesting site. It has all the information you want to know about bully. Alternatively ring kidscape (they specialise in bully) at 0171 730 3300. Good luck. Relate-line Tel:01788 573 241(9.30 - 5pm) support in marriage and family life Marriage care- 0345 573 921 confidential line for marriage and close relationships. Seeking help British association of counselling 1 regent place Ruby, warwickshire, cv21, 2pj 01788 550 899. ukparents. If you are a student with kids, then this site will be very helpful They provide information about how to deal with being a parent. Health information service For information on health, NHS services, self-help groups, doctors, dentists, hospitals and details of how to make a complaint call 0800 66 55 44 Rape crisis center - 0171 837 1600 no means NO. If you have ever been raped, do not keep it to your self. Talk to people who have been through it. The only person that can help someone with a problem, is a person that has been through that problem. Don't be silent, speak out. It makes a lot of difference. Goodluck. Date rape :- drug rape cases are on the increase. These pills are commonly used by rapists to slip into drinks. An example is "Rohypnol". It is highly undetectable once dissolved in a drink. Being odourless and flavourless makes this a very dangerous drug. This drug can cause loss of consciousness and drowsiness, and also impossible to detect after 24 hours. So avoid being drunk, only be drunk with trusted friends. Watch your drink all night. Depression Symptoms According to depression experts, classic synptoms of major depressions include making changes in sleep pattern, appetite and /or weight loss, or conversely, overeating and gaining weight, persistent anxious, empty or sad moods, feeling of guillt, worthlessness, helplessness, fatigue or decreased energy, throughts or talks of death or suicide; suicide threats or attempts, loss of concentration, magnifying things(petty things that once would have seemed insignificant are magnified and worried about, irritability and anger are cloaks that depressed people often use to cover their sadness and isolation, indecision, and hiding in a routine. Helping solve this problem.: challenge negative thoughts, Rehearse being a winner, Give yourself credit, and finally set goals email: infor@studentinfor.bizland.com BACK TO MAIN PAGE Top

Carbon monoxide Poisoning ( ref:student health) Students should be aware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning which still claims the lives of up to 50 people per year and injures four times this number. Some people are left with permanent neurological damage. Click here for more on this topic.