List of All Articles with Tag 'health'

Everything you need to know about the frozen strawberries recalled from Costco, Walmart, and more stores.

A new report has found that the price of childcare is still rising in the United States and has gone up by 220 per cent since 1990. In the annual report from Annie E. Casey Foundation, the charitable organisation examined the importance of childcare across the country, with data from each state about the overall well-being of children. With an analysis from Child Care Aware, an advocacy organisation, the report found that “child care costs have risen 220 per cent since” 1990, “significantly outpacing inflation”. As noted by the US Inflation Calculator, the cumulative rate of inflation, from January 1990 to May 2023, is approximately 138 per cent . The Annie E. Casey Foundation also looked at the annual cost of childcare and how it can impact parents’ income. More specifically, the average yearly cost for care for one child in America was $10,600 in 2021, which is “more than a third of a single parent’s income”. The report looked at the annual cost for a centre-based childcare for a toddler, based on each state. Results showed that prices are the highest in Washington DC, with a cost of $24,396 per year. Centre-based childcare in Connecticut is also expensive, with an annual price of $18,156 per year. The report said over 2 million children in the US had family members who experienced job changes due to childcare prices from 2020 to 2021. The organisation examined the ethnicity of these 2 million children: 17 per cent of them were Black, 16 per cent Latino, and 14 per cent Asian and Pacific Islanders. The organisation also looked at the analysis of 2017 data, which showed how the childcare system disproportionately impacted families of colour. For example, centre-based childcare for two children absorbed 26 per cent of a working mother’s median household income. Meanwhile, 42 per cent of a Latino working mother’s median household income paid for two children’s childcare, while 56 per cent of a Black working mother’s income covered this childcare cost. On the economic well-being of children around the country, findings showed that over 12 million were in poverty in 2021. That same year, there were over 21 million children whose parents lacked secure employment, and nearly 22 million children living in a household with high housing cost burden. Earlier this year, a report by the US Department of Labor also found that families with younger children in the country pay a significant amount on childcare. After looking at data from 2018, which was adjusted based on the inflation rate in 2022, the report noted that “childcare prices range from $4,810 for school-age home-based care in small counties to $15,417 for infant centre-based care in very large counties”. Read More Thirty, flirty and declining: How 30 became a terrifying milestone for an anxious generation More help with childcare costs for families on Universal Credit from end of June Government’s childcare reforms ‘risk worsening outcomes’ for poorer children

Struggling to sleep? You’re not alone. As conversations with friends, family and colleagues seem to be dominated by tiredness, middle-of-the-night wake-ups and vivid dreams, the TikTok tag ‘can’t sleep’ has currently racked up 1.2 billion views. It seems we’re all finding it difficult to get enough zeds. But is there a reason why it’s suddenly happening right now? Changing seasons “We all have an internal circadian clock, which is synchronised to the solar time with sunrise and sunset, and regulates our daily physiology and metabolism,” says Dr Laura Roden, associate professor and chronobiology specialist at Coventry University. “Day length changes with seasons, which impacts our circadian timing, and having a circadian clock allows us to respond by adjusting our physiology to these seasonal changes. Animals and plants are affected too – think bird migration, bears hibernating, spring flowers and autumn leaves. We are naturally diurnal, so should be sleeping at night when it is dark. Light acts on our circadian clock to stimulate wakefulness.” Differing lifestyles Our lifestyles also change in the summer. “Many of us are more physically active in summer than winter, and usually spend more time outdoors exposed to bright light during the day,” Roden explains. “That combination of physical activity during the day, and daytime bright light exposure, gives our circadian clock strong synchronising cues and reinforces our diurnal behavioural rhythms. This means that even though we have shorter nights, we are stimulating the feelings of sleepiness at night and wakefulness during the day. Engaging in physical activity during the day usually promotes better sleep – but we must be mindful of not exercising too late at night, as this can have the opposite effect,” she says. The Moon You may have thought the moon’s impact on our bodies is a myth, but Roden says that there is research that backs up these theories. “Some studies have found that this can affect both sleep timing and duration. Women who menstruate may notice that the phase of the moon interrupts their sleep more than biological males. Charlotte Förster from the University of Würzburg carried out a truly remarkable study in terms of data collection and analyses, that showed that women’s menstrual cycles were recurrently synchronous with the moon’s phase, and affected by brightness and gravitational pull. “As body core temperature is affected during menstruation, this would mean that at certain phases of the moon, it can be harder to fall asleep than others, and sleep duration may thus be affected,” Roden says. Sleep hygiene Brighter mornings and lighter evenings may be making your room too light or hot. “Keeping the bedroom slightly cooler than the rest of the house is ideal, but not always achievable. Cooler rooms promote sleep. Using curtains or blinds and sleep masks can help to keep bedrooms dark. But using electronic devices – such as mobile phones – that emit bright light, can cause a suppression of melatonin that we need, to indicate ‘night’ to the circadian clock,” Roden explains. Drinking more We all tend to take on more liquids when it’s hot. And you may find yourself drinking more when socialising in the sun, too. But, Roden suggests avoiding alcohol before bed. According to the Sleep Foundation, it’s best to leave at least four hours between stopping drinking alcohol and going to bed. It’s also a good idea to avoid drinking anything around two hours before sleep, and Roden recommends avoiding caffeine after midday, so you might want to skip those mid-afternoon iced lattes. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 11 ways to dip into Mediterranean inspired decor Whiten up your wardrobe with summer’s hottest trends Paternity leave should be paid for six weeks, campaigners tell Government

Campaigners are calling on the Government to extend paid paternity leave from two to six weeks in the UK after research found it could reduce the gender pay gap. A report from the Centre for Progressive Policy think tank (CPP) and charity Pregnant Then Screwed (PTS) analysed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data to explore the economic and health impacts of extending the statutory entitlement to paternity leave and pay. It shows that countries with more than six weeks of paid paternity leave have a 4.0% smaller gender wage gap and 3.7% smaller labour force participation gap – the proportion of men and women in the workforce. The analysis also suggests that closing gender employment gaps in all UK authorities would increase economic output by £23 billion. We have the worst paternity benefit in Europe which is negatively impacting children, gender equality and the economy Joeli Brearley, Pregnant Then Screwed It comes as the UK has the least generous paternity leave entitlement in Europe with a statutory entitlement of two weeks and pay of £172 a week, which is 44% of the national living wage. The researchers also looked at PTS data from 1,735 mothers and 1,805 fathers, finding that just 18% of prospective parents say they or their partner could afford to take six weeks of paternity leave at the current statutory rate of pay. However, this changed to 57% if the leave was paid at 90% of their income, as statutory maternity pay is for women. The analysis also suggests that for 20% of fathers, no parental leave options were available to them following the birth or adoption of their child. The organisations further commissioned a YouGov pool, which found that 65% of mothers with children under the age of 12 thought increasing paid paternity leave would have a positive impact on mothers’ readiness to return to work while 83% thought it would have a positive impact on mothers’ mental health. Campaigners from CPP and PTS are now urging ministers to extend the statutory leave entitlement, to pay it at 90% of income in line with currently statutory maternity pay and to ensure paternity leave is available to all working fathers and partners. They are also calling for the Government to enhance existing maternity rights to reduce financial hardship, the gender employment gap, and the gender pay gap. Joeli Brearley, chief executive and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, said: “We finally have evidence that boosting paternity leave will reduce the gender pay gap, improve the health of both parents and it will benefit the economy. “Paternity leave is not a luxury but a necessity.” Rosie Fogden, head of research and analysis at CPP said: “While long-held societal norms about gendered parenting roles are shifting, the UK’s parental leave system has not kept pace. “As our findings show, it is still very difficult for many fathers and second parents to be able to afford to take leave when their children are born, and this has serious consequences for both parents’ mental health.” Ms Brearley added: “If our next Government wants to set out a positive vision for the future, then thriving families must be central to their campaign. “We have the worst paternity benefit in Europe which is negatively impacting children, gender equality and the economy. “We are calling on the government to increase the length of non-transferrable paternity leave to a minimum of six weeks at 90% of income, in line with current statutory maternity pay.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live My teenager gets all their news from TikTok – should I worry? How to take care of pets in the heat Struggling with menopause symptoms in the heat? An expert shares tips

Jonnie Irwin has revealed that he sometimes “removes himself” from his family home to go to a hospice while he continues to live with terminal cancer. The A Place in the Sun presenter, 49, first went public with his diagnosis of lung cancer last year after discovering the disease had spread to his brain. He currently lives with his wife, Jessica Holmes, and their three children, Rex, three, and twins Rafa and Cormac, two. However, Irwin admitted that sometimes the pain he experiences makes him “not good to be around”. Speaking to Hello! magazine, the TV host said: “I remove myself on a number of occasions because I’m not good to be around when I’m in pain. “I’m like a bear with a sore head and I don’t want [my family] to be around that.” Irwin has previously spoken candidly about how the pain his illness causes affects his moods. Speaking on the podcast OneChat last month, he said: “I have been close to death’s door, twice at least. “You lose your memory, you lose your patience. I have got a very short temper. It’s not made me a better person, that’s for sure.” This week, Irwin also opened up about why he hasn’t yet told his sons about his terminal cancer. He said it would be difficult for them to understand the situation due to their young age. “I keep being asked, ‘Are you going to tell them?’ but tell them what?” he said. “It would be horrible news that they’d have to get their heads around. And it would confuse the hell out of Rex – he’s got a shocking enough day coming. Let’s bury our heads in the sand for as long as possible.” After publicly revealing his condition, the Escape to the Country host said he was worried that his children will not remember him if he died last year because they’re “too young”. He told The Sun: “Every time something really nice happens with them, I have this thing knocking at my door, saying, ‘Don’t get too happy because you’re not going to be around much longer’. “Then I think, they’re not going to remember me, they’re really not. They’re too young and if I die this year, there’s no chance they will have memories.” In early June, Irwin was admitted to hospital to be “monitored” due to a “changeover in my pain management regime”. Read More Thirty, flirty and declining: How 30 became a terrifying milestone for an anxious generation Woman who went from size 18 to size six shares surprising things ‘no one tells you’ about weight loss Vegan family writes letter to neighbours requesting they close their windows when cooking meat Jonnie Irwin ‘removes himself’ from family home amid terminal cancer battle Jonnie Irwin explains why he hasn’t told his sons about his terminal cancer A Place In The Sun’s Jonnie Irwin admitted to hospital amid terminal diagnosis

Vanderpump Rules alum Stassi Schroeder has admitted she wants to “try” taking Ozempic after giving birth to her second child. The former reality star, 34, recently appeared on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast, where she spoke candidly about wanting to take the type 2 diabetes medication – which has often been prescribed as an “off-label” weight loss drug. “Oh, my God, I really want to try it when I give birth,” the Next Level Basic author told Cooper during Wednesday’s podcast episode. “The amount of times I’ve researched this being like, I mean, I think it’s safe and healthy. Like, I think it’s good for you. It’s like taking vitamins.” The Call Her Daddy host told listeners that “nothing that was said on this podcast” should be taken as serious medical advice,as she jokingly added: “Please do not listen to this.” Schroeder went on to explain why she’s curious about taking the once-weekly semaglutide injection, which works by mimicking a hormone that regulates appetite and creates the feeling of fullness, once she welcomes baby number two. “[After] my first pregnancy, I ate bone broth for dinner for six f***ing months after I gave birth, and I kind of don’t feel like doing that again. Like, I don’t want to,” she said. The Off With My Head author shares two-year-old daughter Hartford with husband Beau Clark. In March, Schroeder announced the couple were expecting a baby boy due in September. Much like Amy Schumer, Schroeder also called on fellow celebrities to be “transparent” and “honest” about some of the methods they take to lose weight. “Anyone who hears about Ozempic has to f***ing be curious,” she said during the podcast. “You are a liar if you tell me that you have not thought about it, thought about jumping on that train.” “Have I Googled Ozempic and what it would be like, and am I thinking about it? Yes, I am.” This week, actor and comedian Amy Schumer admitted to taking Ozempic last year to help lose weight. However, Schumer stopped taking the FDA-approved medication because of its side effects. “I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn’t play with my son,” Schumer told host Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live. “I was so skinny and he’s throwing a ball at me and [I couldn’t].” Although the Trainwreck star ultimately decided that Ozempic wasn’t “livable” for her, she did take a moment to call out celebrities who have been “lying” about taking the once-weekly antidiabetic injection for weight loss. “Everyone’s like: ‘Smaller portions,’” she joked. “Shut the f*** up. You’re on Ozempic, or one of those things.” Ozempic has skyrocketed in use after people were reportedly prescribed the type 2 diabetes medication as an “off-label” weight loss drug. Due to its weight loss side effects, the increased demand has sparked a global shortage of Ozempic, leaving actual diabetics without the medication. While Ozempic is used for the treatment of diabetes, popular drugs like Wegovy and Moujaro are similar once-weekly semaglutide injections specifically approved for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. Last month, Stassi Schroeder’s former Vanderpump Rules co-star Brittany Cartwright shut down speculation that she lost weight by taking Ozempic. Fans began speculating that Cartwright was using the type 2 diabetes medication after she shared a selfie to her 1.6m Instagram followers, in which the reality star posed in a mirror wearing cycling shorts and a baggy T-shirt. “Totally ozempic,” one person claimed, as others remarked that it looked like Cartwright had “lost weight”. Cartwright then addressed the rumours directly, clarifying that the reason she may look slimmer is because of the iPhone camera setting she used to take the picture. “It’s actually the .5 zoom on the iPhone camera lol,” she wrote in the comments. Fellow Bravo personality and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Crystal Kung Minkoff has also said that although she hasn’t taken the drug, she has been tempted and “thought about it”. Read More Amy Schumer says she stopped taking Ozempic because of side-effects What is ‘Ozempic face’? Doctors warn about facial ageing side effect of diabetes medications Vanderpump Rules star Brittany Cartwright addresses rumours she’s taking Ozempic for weight loss Mother reveals ‘one regret’ after parent refused to give her child cake amid debate My teenager gets all their news from TikTok – should I worry? Jonnie Irwin ‘removes himself’ from family home amid terminal cancer battle

A mother has revealed the “one regret” she had after a parent refused to give her daughter a slice of cake. The parent, Kat Stickler, shared a follow-up video amid the now-viral debate about how her child joined a birthday party in a park. In her initial video – which has more than 13.7m views so far – Stickler said that a parent grabbed a plate from her daughter, MK, while she was on line for cake at the park. The woman allegedly told the three-year-old that she couldn’t eat the dessert, and that other kids at the party were “not her friends”. In her most recent clip, Stickler addressed how people had been reaching out to her, before sharing the one thing that she wished she did differently in the situation. “I wanted to take full responsibility for the fact that I should have gotten to MK faster,” she said, referring to when her daughter was waiting to get cake at the party. “That’s my one regret. That I did not get to her before she could grab the plate.” Stickler noted that her issue was “not with this person” who didn’t let “[her] kid have cake”. “She wasn’t invited to the birthday party. She had just met these kids,” she explained. “I get that, don’t give her cake.” The mother then explained that the main problem she had was with the way that the parent spoke to MK. “It’s getting down to a level and telling a three-year-old girl that those aren’t your friends,” she said. “It was cruel, unnecessarily, in my opinion. Like just tell her she can’t have cake, OK.” She added: “We don’t have to share our cake, but we should be nice to three-year-old kids.” As of 14 June, the follow-up video has more than 2.4m views, as TikTok users in the comments questioned people who didn’t understand that Stickler initially had a problem with the stranger’s remark to MK. “The fact that this wasn’t immediately clear to everyone from the beginning is CRAZY to me!!! #itwasneveraboutthecake,” one wrote, while another agreed: “Imagine needing to explain this to full adults….” @katstickler Also thank you all so much for all the love, support, and cake you’ve sent 🥰😂🎂🍰🧁 ♬ original sound - Kat A third wrote: “Actually, the ONLY thing that mom should have said to MK is, ‘Please ask your mommy if it’s ok.’ In case of allergies.” Other people noted that they still would’ve given MK cake at the party, despite the fact that she wasn’t invited in the first place. “Idk… I would’ve gave her a piece of cake just because that’s how I grew up. If we had enough we gave, always,” one wrote. “Sure but also I’ve never been to a party where there wasn’t half a cake left after everyone already had what they wanted,” another added. In her initial video posted last week, Stickler sparked a viral debate when she revealed that MK introduced herself to a group of children at a party in a park. “She’s one of the group right now. They’re welcoming her with open arms,” she said. “Or, so I thought.” As MK joined the line of kids getting cake, Stickler said that she decided to follow her “to make sure it’s OK, as a formality”. “Honestly, I was like, obviously it’s OK. It’s cake. It’s a massive cake. There’s lots of leftover pieces,” she explained. @katstickler No cake for me thanks, I’m full…of rage👹 ♬ original sound - Kat However, Stickler then shared that the party host stepped in and stopped her daughter. “The mother takes the plate away from MK, and gets down to her level, says: ‘You cannot eat this cake, OK. This is not your birthday party. These are not your friends. Where’s your mother?’” Speaking to Today last week, Stickler noted that after this situation happened, she took her child to get ice cream. She also said that MK was “totally fine” after hearing the parent’s comment. “People have been asking me, ‘What did you say to the mom?’ The mom was literally the least of my concerns,” she explained. “I was worried about MK.” The Independent has contacted a representative for Stickler for comment. Read More Mother hit with deluge of abuse for taking toddler’s packed lunch to a restaurant Mother sparks viral debate for ‘shaming’ parent who refused to give her daughter a slice of cake Mother and six daughters wear their wedding dresses out to dinner: ‘Yearly tradition’ Mother sparks debate over parent who wouldn’t give daughter cake Drew Barrymore slams tabloids that claimed she ‘wished’ her mother was dead Drew Barrymore speaks out about parents and how she financially supports her mother

Journalists are no longer the gatekeepers. The reality is that many young people are now bypassing the websites and apps of traditional news outlets and seeking information on social media platforms, including TikTok. It’s the ‘fastest growing social network’, according to the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, and new research has found that 20% of 18-24 year olds use the app solely to find their news. While a massive 44% of that age group use the short-form video hosting service for any and every other purpose. The younger generation have “little interest in many conventional news offers oriented towards older generations’ habits, interests, values, and instead embrace the more personality-based, participatory, and personalised options offered by social media”, said Reuters Institute director Rasmus Nielsen. Under 18s are big users too, so for parents whose teens get their news via TikTok, what do you need to understand about the social network and the evolution of digital media literacy? What is TikTok? Every so often a new app emerges and redefines the way we use social media. It’s what TikTok went and did in 2016. Starting as a small niche social media network – founded by Chinese tech giant Zhang Yiming – that attracted lip-synching teens as a short-form video hosting site, it almost knocked Facebook off its perch, and blew up during the coronavirus pandemic to a mega global platform. Do news organisations share news on it? Yes, they do. In many ways, traditional news organisations were forced to join TikTok to avoid being left behind, reach new and younger audiences and ensure they are continuing to find creative ways to pivot in a constantly evolving digital space. “Given the popularity and high engagement level, it’s not surprising that TikTok has become an important news platform for younger audiences, and it makes sense that news organisations are using it,” said Mark Brill, a senior lecturer in Future Media at Birmingham City University. “This, however, is a continuation of an existing trend. For well over a decade social media such as Facebook has been the primary news source for under 25s.” Anna Lee, founder at the Fr. App, added: “We can see that Gen Z individuals are turning to TikTok for any and all searches. While the funniest sound bites and newest dance trends will always have a home on TikTok, you can also equally expect to find videos explaining an arbitrary housing act.” How is it shared? There are various types of videos that can be shared on TikTok. Alongside the short bite-sized videos sharing the latest news, you can share trending sounds, things creators have posted, or videos with friends, family, and your larger community within TikTok or through other social media platforms. Videos can also be shared directly to other users, as long as the user has allowed for it. How do algorithms work? The TikTok algorithm is a recommendation system that determines which videos will appear on your (unique and highly personalised) For You page, which is also known as the homepage. Brill, who has 25 years of experience applying emerging technologies to engage audiences, said: “Much of the success of TikTok is the way that their algorithm decides which videos to show their users. TikTok’s system is based entirely on their interests and previous viewing. “This ‘more of what you like’ approach means that users spend more time each month in TikTok than any other platform. In the UK it adds up to over 27 hours per user per month and 23 hours globally. It shows how the platform’s algorithm can be highly addictive.” Is it OK that TikTok is how young people learn about what’s happening in the world? Some experts believe it is important for young people to be taught digital literacy at an increasingly earlier age – especially with the prevalence of fake news and artificial intelligence and its ability to forge fake articles and pictures. “Users of TikTok and all other social media apps must understand how to evaluate every piece of information they come across,” Lee said. “All parents worry about their child viewing harmful content on the internet. However, most leading internet providers provide extensive parental controls, including blocking and filtering unsuitable content.” Should they be encouraged to look elsewhere? For Brill, there are both benefits and challenges from using social media as a news source. He also cites the recent Reuters Institute report, which noted that TikTok users tend to look for good-news stories, avoiding the ‘doom scrolling’ found in web-based internet sites, which can have a negative impact on mental health. “The big question with social media sources, however, is that of veracity. A lack of fact checking and or acknowledgment of authoritative sources makes it difficult to identify fake stories and information. The short-form video format does not bring an in-depth analysis, where opinions are often presented as fact,” he said. “Perhaps the biggest challenge for TikTok users is with the algorithm itself. By giving more of what they like, it leads to confirmation bias that reinforces existing perceptions.” While child and behavioural expert Amanda Jenner, would encourage parents to tell their children to look elsewhere. “I am not a believer in directing children to learn through TikTok at all. Children can easily become addicted to social media and [it] can quickly escalate and [they could] be looking at other things they shouldn’t be watching. “I genuinely do feel parents need to be worried. I would encourage parents to set an age where it’s acceptable to have TikTok (over the age of 13 preferably) and have a parental control app so you can monitor and control what both they are seeing and the amount of time they spend on [it]. They need to be safeguarded.” Who knows what social network will be the next big thing but right now it’s difficult to get young people to migrate to another platform. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How to take care of pets in the heat Struggling with menopause symptoms in the heat? An expert shares tips Men and women with migraine both have increased risk of stroke – study

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Heatwaves can be uncomfortable at the best of times, but what if you’re already having hot flushes? Dr Naomi Potter, founder of Menopause Care and co-author of bestselling book, Menopausing, with Davina McCall, points out that eight in 10 people who go through menopause experience symptoms like hot flushes – a sudden surge of heat, often accompanied by redness and sweating. Night sweats and trouble sleeping are also common during perimenopause and menopause – not the sort of things you want to be dealing with when a heatwave hits. “The increasing temperatures can make hot flushes and night sweats worse, and make it harder to cool down when you do experience them,” says Potter, explaining that the lack of oestrogen associated with menopause affects the part of the brain that helps regulate body temperature. “If you’re already hot and sweaty, then having a night sweat or hot flush can just make everything worse and uncomfortable.” Here’s her advice for getting through the summer heatwaves… Travelling “Public transport can be awful at the best of times in the heat, especially when travelling on tubes, trains and buses where you’re cramped in, so if you experience a hot flush while travelling, it can be extremely unpleasant,” Potter says. “Try carrying water and a small fan, to give some comfort in these moments, if just for a short relief.” If you can, invest in a water bottle designed to keep liquids cold, so you’ll always have something cool to sip when you need to. Be drink savvy Speaking of drinks, Potter also suggests trying to limit alcohol, coffee and sugary beverages, especially if menopause symptoms are proving troublesome. Iced tea and water are ideal options. “During the summer, you’re more likely to be dehydrated, and alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks worsen dehydration,” she explains. “So it’s worth bearing that in mind and staying hydrated with water.” Sleep Menopause might already be impacting your mood and energy levels, so sleepless nights can be a double whammy. “In the case of night sweats, you’ll often experience broken and interrupted sleep, which has a knock-on effect and impact on lifestyle and work the next day,” says Potter. “Create a cool sleeping environment by wearing light breathable bed clothes and have a spare by the bed in case you wake up sweaty, so you can change without having to properly wake up to find new clothes,” she suggests. Plus, a well-positioned bedroom fan will be your summer best friend. Dress light It goes without saying that clothing also affects temperature – so if hot flushes are bothering you, tweaking your wardrobe could certainly help. Potter suggests dressing in “lightweight, breathable fabrics” such as cotton or linen. Plus, a light pair of cycling shorts/long knickers under skirts and dresses can help massively with sweating and discomfort at this time of year. Get the right support Heatwave or no heatwave, menopause doesn’t have to mean suffering in silence and just soldiering on if symptoms are impacting you. “If somebody is having symptoms, then it is definitely worth seeing their GP because there’s lots that can be done,” says Potter. “And if you have a menopause-friendly workplace, it is definitely worth talking to [managers] because with recently headlines, many workplaces are much more supportive of the menopause. “I think it’s vital that conversations like this continue,” Potter adds. “Without speaking about experiences, then there is no way for people to realise that this is a normal life event, and there is help if it is required.” Storing HRT in the heat Finally, if you are taking hormone-replacement therapy (HRT), make sure it’s being stored correctly when temperatures soar. “Most HRT should be stored at room temperature. If this is the case with yours (it will say on the side of the packaging), do not refrigerate or freeze it. Instead, storing it in a cool dark place, away from direct light, should be fine,” says Potter. You will want to keep it away from excessive temperatures though – basically anywhere that can get particularly hot when it’s sunny, such as inside cars, on window ledges. “And aircraft holds,” Potter adds, “where temperatures are unknown and can rise rapidly.”

Women and men who experience migraines have an increased risk of having the most common type of stroke, research has suggested. Additionally, women alone may carry a further risk of heart attack and haemorrhagic stroke (bleeding in or around the brain). People diagnosed with migraine are believed to have a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke before the age of 60. Migraine was associated with a similarly increased risk of ischemic stroke among young men and women Cecilia Hvitfeldt Fuglsang, Aarhus University Previous research had suggested the increased risk of ischemic stroke – when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel to the brain – mostly affects young women. However, it was unclear whether women with migraine also carry a higher risk of heart attack and haemorrhagic stroke compared to men. Cecilia Hvitfeldt Fuglsang, of Aarhus University, Denmark, and her team looked at Danish medical records collected from 1996 to 2018, from people aged 18 to 60. They identified men and women with a history of migraines and compared their risk of a heart attack and ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke before the age of 60 to the risks faced by people in the general population without migraine. Hvitfeldt Fuglsang said: “Migraine was associated with a similarly increased risk of ischemic stroke among young men and women. “However, migraine may be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and haemorrhagic stroke only among women.” The findings suggest both men and women with migraine had a similarly increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, women with migraine may also carry a slightly higher risk of heart attack and haemorrhagic stroke, compared to men with migraine and the general population. Women are more greatly impacted by migraine, especially since the condition is predominantly diagnosed in women, the researchers suggest. The researchers point out that since they used prescription drug records to identify patients with migraine, they may have missed untreated people, which could have resulted in an underestimation of the contribution of migraine to these health problems. The findings are published in the Plos Medicine journal. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Less than half of children ‘have received a meaningful financial education’ Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes makes British Vogue cover debut aged 82 Toff: Drinking mindfully is a gift to yourself

Less than half (47%) of children and teenagers aged seven to 17 have received a meaningful financial education, according to a Government-backed body. The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) estimates from its findings that around 5.4 million children across the UK do not have the money skills they will need in adulthood. Children living in social housing, rural areas and in lower income households were found to be less likely to have received a meaningful financial education. And children with parents or carers with mental health conditions tend to be less likely to have received a meaningful financial education than the UK average, the findings indicate. The measure of meaningful financial education is based on the percentages of young people who recall receiving financial education at school that they considered useful, and/or received regular money from parents or work, with parents setting rules about money and handing over responsibility for some spending decisions. Research was conducted for MaPS between late summer and autumn 2022 across the UK by Critical Research, among more than 4,700 children and young people aged seven to 17 and their parents or carers. The proportion of children and teenagers found to have received a meaningful financial education is similar to 2019, when the figure was 48%. The report said: “When interpreting these results, it is worth remembering the disruption to education and normal life caused by the Covid-19 pandemic potentially limited opportunities for children to receive a meaningful financial education at school and/or home over the last three years. According to the latest findings, a third (33%) of children recall learning about money in school and finding it useful, and nearly a quarter (24%) have received key elements of financial education at home. It is worth remembering the disruption to education and normal life caused by the Covid-19 pandemic Money and Pensions Service report Only 10% reported having both, suggesting that children and young people tend to receive meaningful financial education either at home or at school and not as “joined-up” financial education, the report said. Younger children aged seven to 11 continue to be less likely to have received a meaningful financial education than older children aged 16 to 17, according to the report. Children in Scotland are the most likely (52%) to have received a meaningful financial education, the report indicated, followed by those in Wales (51%), England (46%) and Northern Ireland (43%). Those in Wales (79%) are more likely than those living in the UK (71%)as a whole to receive regular money from parents/carers or work, according to the research. As part of its UK strategy for financial wellbeing, released in 2020, MaPS is aiming for two million more children aged five to 17 to receive a meaningful financial education by 2030. It is urging parents to talk to their children about money and combine it with everyday experiences, such as food shopping, budgeting and wages from a part-time job. Our experiences in childhood prepare us for adulthood and learning about money is no different Sarah Porretta, Money and Pensions Service To help with this, MaPS offers free resources such as “talk learn do“, an online tool that helps parents to start the conversation. The MaPS, which is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and funded by levies on the financial services industry and pension schemes, added that teachers, school leaders and governors should work together to deliver financial education in classrooms. It is also calling on financial services and funders such as charitable trusts to increase their investment in the delivery of financial education. Sarah Porretta, executive director at MaPS said: “These figures will alarm everyone in financial education because more than five million children could be going without. “Our experiences in childhood prepare us for adulthood and learning about money is no different. It becomes a part of daily life and our financial decisions can bring real benefits and profound consequences, so it’s crucial to learn from a young age. “The race is on to educate the nation’s children and everyone, from banks and building societies to foundations and financial institutions, has a big part to play. “Parents and schools can also make a huge difference by combining money skills with everyday experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes makes British Vogue cover debut aged 82 Toff: Drinking mindfully is a gift to yourself Should you sleep naked? Heatwave myths debunked