It is estimated that 1 in 3 people have an allergy. Some are caused by airborne substances such as pollen (hayfever) or animal hair/fur and others are caused by chemicals in the products we use or the environment around us but the most common are allergies to the foods we eat. Common symptoms include headaches, stuffy or runny nose, recurrent mouth ulcers, itchy skin, aching muscles or joint pain, breathing difficulties and digestive disorders.
Autoimmune conditions are where your immune system mistakenly attacks the normal cells within the body, often known as being an overactive immune system. There are over 80 different autoimmune diseases and they attack different parts of the body. Common autoimmune diseases in the UK include Type 1 diabetes, Thyroid disorders, Coeliac disease, Multiple Sclerosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Chronic fatigue is a complicated disorder and is known to have multiple symptoms and be a long term illness. The most common symptom is extreme tiredness that lasts for at least 6 months and isn’t really explained by any other conditions and it doesn’t seem to get any better with rest. Other symptoms may include sleep problems, loss of memory, reduced concentration, muscle pain and headaches.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1, which is sometimes referred to as childhood onset diabetes is where people don’t produce insulin and type 2 often referred to as adult onset is where people don’t respond to insulin as they should do. Both are chronic conditions that effect how the body regulates blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common with diet and lifestyle being a big predetermining factor.
There are many different digestive conditions including IBD’s (Irritable Bowel Diseases) such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Reflux, Constipation, Diarrhoea, and SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth). There are multiple symptoms relating to our digestive system and they can often cause discomfort, embarrassment and get in the way of everyday lives but they can often be supported through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Energy is involved in everything we do. We need to produce energy for every single cell in our body to function properly. If we can’t produce energy properly then it can leave us feeling tired and fatigued as well as impact our concentration and motivation. Energy can also be linked to many other conditions such as diabetes, anaemia, chronic fatigue syndrome and so understanding what is impacting energy production is vital.
Cardiovascular disease is the number 1 cause of death globally and the term is a general one used to describe conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels. There are many conditions included under the term ‘cardiovascular disease’ including heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmias and angina. Many heart conditions can be prevented by making changes to diet and lifestyle.
Hormones are some of the most powerful chemicals within the body. They are crucial in sending the right messages and instructions to different cells of the body and include insulin, thyroid hormones, reproductive hormones and adrenal hormones (including cortisol and adrenaline). Imbalances in these hormones can impact many different functions within the body so getting to the underlying cause is key.
There are conditions which directly link to the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and others such as osteoporosis which may be linked to other conditions or life events such as the menopause. Symptoms of these can include stiffness, aches, pain and sometimes may only affect one joint such as the knee or many joints as seen in arthritis. There are many different causes such as autoimmune disease, virus and damage to the cartilage among others.
The menopause is a stage in life which every woman will go through. It is often broken down into 3 different phases, peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. Menopause is often diagnosed after 12 months without a period and usually occurs between 45 and 55 years old with the average age of reaching menopause in the UK being 51. There are multiple symptoms associated with menopause with the most common being hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, low mood or anxiety and a reduced sex drive.
Men’s health is a very generic term relating to any conditions specifically associated with the male body. This may include things such as prostate conditions, male specific fertility issues, erectile dysfunction. Many of the other conditions listed on this page will of course affect men and some may even be more prevalent in men than women such as gout or some forms of cardiovascular disease.
Mental health is a very broad term encompassing many differing conditions. Life is becoming increasingly stressful for the majority of people and for some this can be a real struggle and result in tiredness, stress, anxiety, depression and sleeping disorders. Other conditions that people may experience include ADHD, autism and schizophrenia. Mental health conditions are on the increase globally and especially within younger groups.
Respiratory illnesses generally refer to anything affecting the airways and other structures of the lung. Some of the most common conditions include COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and bronchitis. There are a large number of risk factors associated with respiratory diseases which are in the environment around us including tobacco smoke, air pollution, chemicals and dusts.
Skin is the largest organ of the body and it is so exposed to damage from our environment including sunlight, smoking and chemicals in the products we use or are exposed to. Symptoms seen on the skin may often be a reflection of something else going on inside the body such as a infections, allergic reactions or poor liver function as examples. Getting to the root cause of the problem is key. Common conditions include eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea and sores.
Sleep conditions may often relate to either problems with getting to sleep or the ability to stay asleep and both are covered by the term insomnia. Stress, anxiety, and diet can all play a role in these conditions as can lifestyle factors such as spending more time looking at screens and exposed to blue light, more sedentary and less active lives, longer working days, and less time outdoors in the presence of natural light.
Stress can come from so many sources these days and in our daily lives we are exposed to more and more stressors that we may not even realise are having an effect on our bodies. Stress causes our bodies to release hormones which enable us to react to an emergency (‘fight or flight response). This is a really useful response when needed and can protect us from danger but the constant stresses in daily life can lead to an over production of these hormones and an impact on our adrenal glands which can lead to accelerated ageing and cause digestive issues and hormone imbalances.
Weight management is not just about weight loss, or more specifically fat loss, but can also be about weight gains and reaching a healthy balance and level for you. Weight (fat) loss is the most common concern with 63% of the UK population now considered either overweight or obese. There are many factors involved including diet, lifestyle and other medical conditions and is often preventable and can be addressed with changes made when the cause is understood.
Women’s health is a broad term referring to anything that specifically impacts the female body rather than across all genders. Commonly this will include fertility issues, PMS and conditions affecting the menstrual cycle, PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) and menopause. There are often hormonal links to all of these involving the likes of oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH and getting these in better balance can lie at the root of many symptoms experienced.
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