May is Walking Month and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is setting everyone a challenge to count their steps and then try to do a bit more. There are many health benefits of walking and adding a brisk pace to your step can help you feel good, reduce anxiety, help manage your weight, reduce blood pressure and help you sleep better. It is also very enjoyable and a good opportunity to socialise, which is also good for health.
PHA-funded cancer care website launched
‘Cancer Caring Coping’ ( www.qub.ac.uk/sites/CancerCaringCoping) is a new online resource created by cancer caregivers for cancer caregivers. It is based on research by Dr Olinda Santin from Queen’s University Belfast, who found that cancer caregivers have poorer health compared to caregivers of other chronic conditions.
Northern Ireland setting the health systems research agenda
Over 70 health and research professionals came together for a workshop on Tuesday 17 April to make sure Northern Ireland actively contributes to setting the health systems research agenda for the coming years, both at home and abroad. This ‘National Round Table Consultation’ was organised by the Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D, PHA) at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, with the support of TO-REACH, a European consortium of 28 partners from throughout Europe and beyond, including funding bodies, policy makers and researchers.
Scarlet fever
What is scarlet fever? Scarlet fever is a common childhood infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (also known as group A Streptococcus [GAS]). These bacteria may be found on the skin, throat and other sites where they can live without causing problems. Under some circumstances GAS can cause non-invasive infections such as pharyngitis, impetigo and scarlet fever. On rare occasions they can cause severe disease, including streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, necrotising fasciitis, and septicaemia.
Record numbers on Organ Donor Register, but still work to be done
Latest figures have revealed that the percentage of people in Northern Ireland on the Organ Donor Register (ODR) continues to rise, but with the number of actual donors having levelled out, much work still needs to be done, says the Public Health Agency (PHA).
Important advice for pregnant women during lambing season
Despite the weather spring is here and the first lambs have already begun to appear in the fields, so the Public Health Agency (PHA) is reminding pregnant women about the risk of close contact with sheep during lambing season. The PHA is advising women who are, or think they may be, pregnant to reduce their risk of miscarriage and infection by avoiding close contact with sheep during lambing season, which runs until around the end of April.