As new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show the number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales has increased for the second year in a row, drug and alcohol treatment charity Addaction has called for the government to rethink proposed cuts to local authority health spending.
“These tragic figures paint a stark picture of the shifting landscape of drug misuse in England and Wales,” said Simon Antrobus, Chief Executive of Addaction, which works in partnership with EDP to delivery drug and alcohol services across Devon as RISE Recovery.
More than seven in ten people from the South West (77 per cent) are not doing the amount of average weekly exercise recommended by NHS guidelines, despite evidence that taking part in regular exercise can reduce a person’s risk of developing dementia, according to a survey carried out by Alzheimer’s Society to mark the start of Memory Walks on Saturday.
Taking regular physical exercise is proven to be one of the best things that can be done to reduce the risk of getting dementia, yet over half of those surveyed from the South West (56%) didn’t know that regular exercise and...
The Thrive Summer Series is heading to Princesshay this September offering shoppers a chance to have fun getting fit. The free one-day event is taking place from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 5 September as part of the nationwide tour. The Thrive team will be running activities to get shoppers moving.
The Thrive event aims to emphasise the fun side of getting fit and being active this summer. It is free for shoppers and visitors alike and a great chance to focus on healthy living, being more active, and connecting with the local community.
A new study reveals that thousands of people could be putting their oral health at risk by not brushing their teeth in the evening because they are too tired.
The survey of 10,000 UK adults, commissioned by GSK, as part of its Love Your Mouth campaign ( www.loveyourmouth.co.uk ) found that 45% of people questioned say they have gone to bed without brushing their teeth, which could increase their chances of cavities, gum disease and even tooth loss.
When asked why they don’t stick to a daily oral healthcare regime, 40% of respondents blamed being too tired, 30% said it’s...
Playing Tetris for as little as three minutes at a time can weaken cravings for drugs, food and activities such as sex and sleeping by approximately one fifth, according to new research.
In the first test of its kind to study people in natural settings outside of a laboratory, participants were monitored for levels of craving and prompted to play the block-shifting puzzle game at random intervals during the day.
Psychologists from Plymouth University and Queensland University of Technology, Australia, found that playing Tetris interfered with desires not only for food, but...
The team behind a new health & wellbeing hub aimed at some of Exeter’s most disadvantaged communities has this week been selected by the prestigious King’s Fund to address a national conference on Public Health and Housing.
Exeter Council for Voluntary Service is developing former Exeter City Council offices at Wat Tyler House in King William Street into a multi-agency wellbeing hub aimed at supporting people with multiple and complex needs in their recovery, and to play a fuller part in their communities. The hub will feature a specialist GP practice, a mental health outreach...
Exeter City’s Football in the Community team are delighted to offer a new Walking Football session at the University of Exeter.
Aimed at the over 55s - male and female - the game is ideal for those who would like a gentle reintroduction to physical activity or who need to improve their baseline fitness.
Of course, people are more than welcome to just come along to have some fun and meet new friends!
The sessions are split into ten-minute games so participants can do as much, or as little, as they feel appropriate. They take place every Wednesday from 6-7pm at the...
A new study published in the European Heart Journal has found that spending more time standing and walking in place of sitting could have numerous health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol and body mass index.
Julie Ward, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We know that people who spend long periods of time sitting down have been found to have higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“According to national guidelines state we should reduce the time we spend sitting and this study adds to the increasing amount of evidence to...
On 2 July 2015, Visual Impairment (VI) was put under the spotlight at a special conference hosted by the WESC Foundation in Devon, where experts from around the world came together to reveal their latest research findings and technological advancements to Special Educational Needs (SEN) and healthcare professionals, carers, local authority representatives, and specialist schools and colleges.
The day covered all the latest developments in medical technology, such as stem cell therapy, optogenetics, gene therapy and vision prosthesis (bionic eyes) to help combat retinal eye disease...
A new weekly walk, suitable for all ages and abilities, is starting in Exeter on Wednesday 15 July.
Every Wednesday, walkers will have the choice to join the short walk (30 minutes walking time), there will be the option to relax in the park or take part in games.
The terrain is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Those who wish to walk longer will carry on, walking for 75 minutes.
Everyone will meet back at the café at the Riverside afterwards - time to have a chat and drink.
This walk is part of the Walking for Health project, England’s...
