In this week’s blog, our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah explores the health of our finances and gives us all a few  points to consider if we’re aiming to improve our financial health

Welcome back to The Lake Foundation! On this platform you can expect a plethora of articles relating to your physical health and mental health. This week we’re going to do things a bit differently and look at financial health but more specifically, habits concerning your finances. Now for those of you that are still not sold as to why your financial habits are important let me tell you this: according to the Mental Health Foundation being in debt can trigger anxiety or depression, which can open the door to a whole host of other mental and physical illnesses.

In my own experience crafting healthy habits when it comes to finances is about more than having the right systems in place – you need to have will power! And that was not something I had much of. I remember a time when I had saved enough money to clear a credit card. After speaking to my mother, who had managed to clear all her debts off early on in life, I knew that I had to cancel this card. So I called my bank ready to cancel this card, ready to break free, but of course after a 45-minute phone call instead of cancelling the card as my mother instructed, I ended up upgrading the credit account and in a few days I received a shiny new piece of plastic. Suffice to say that some people find it easier to break free from debt but I’m certainly not one of them.

For those of you that are certain that you’re above such behaviour here are a few habits from Sarah Coles, a personal finance analyst, that might have become so ingrained in the way that you handle your finances that you can’t even see past them.

Casually dipping into debt

The odd few times of dipping into your overdraft doesn’t seem bad at first but it does make it easier for you to keep on going back. Sarah notes that the key to this habit is drawing up a household budget and identifying the regular costs that you can cut. This may mean being far more selective when it comes to shopping for groceries, expensive media packages and gym memberships. And for all of the students out there just know that when you’re done with your degree that ‘student’ over draft will be even harder to get rid of because employers unfortunately, won’t be lining up to pay you a six figure salary!

Only paying the minimum amount back on your borrowing

Surviving by just paying the minimum amount each month is how so many of us are lulled into a false sense of security. By paying off the debt at such a slow pace we are indeed just racking up more interest. If you have a significant balance it may be worth switching in in order to cut interest rated for the time being. However, if you choose to do this it’s important that you realise that the switch was simply a mechanism for debt repayment.

 Forgetting about your savings

Forgetting about your savings is an expensive habit to form as rates on such accounts are likely to become less competitive. The best way to avoid such a mistake is to regularly check what you are earning on your savings and if the rate is no longer competitive then it’s times for you to make a switch.

 Putting plans off

 When dealing with your finances it’s so easy to think that your debts are a problem for the future and not for the present. The ugly truth is that soon enough the future you had once envisioned will one day soon become your present, and as you never put a physical plan in place for paying off your debts, they will continue to follow you around like an unsightly rash.

Do you have healthy financial habits? Or, do you think you need help in that area?

Comment down below, we would love to hear from you!

Stacey Mensah is not a financial advisor nor does she claim to be. Before changing the way, you handle your finances it’s important to seek the help of a professional.

In this week’s blog our guest blogger, freelance journalist, Stacey Mensah, asks the question: ‘Are you getting enough exercise?’ and explores the barriers to exercise.

A poll has estimated that Britons spend twice as long on the toilet every week as they do exercising. With adults clocking up an average of three hours and nine minutes on their loos every week. This is serious business! Now to some this isn’t really going to mean anything and others frankly would not want to know. However, the reason why we’re making this comparison is to show the stark differences between the two activities and why we should be doing one of them for a lot longer. With the NHS recommending we perform 150 minutes’ worth of exercise each week, it makes me wonder what could be the possible barriers towards reaching this goal and if it in fact is enough.

Having lived in a cosmopolitan city for the majority of my years I can say with ease that exercising for 30 minutes a day is more than probable. And just remember that this is coming from a person who would choose the escalator over the stairs every single time! When the NHS is talking about moderate exercise this includes brisk walking – can I get a hallelujah! That sprint to catch the train, the light jog to the meeting and even the walk to pub for after work drinks’ count. But here is the dose of reality – the office treats, the regular intake of alcohol and your hate for vegetables isn’t doing you any favours. For those of us that like to indulge in the naughtier items on the menu we should also be willing to increase our doses of daily exercise.

But let’s be real that doesn’t always happen! UKactive has found that one of the biggest barriers to exercise were busy working lives which was followed by family commitments. At certain phases in my life I have found myself several days into my week without having worked out or done any significant bouts of exercise. When the delivery driver, waitress or restaurant manager knows me by name and order the I know it’s time to switch a few things up.

According to the organisation, a lack of exercise claims over 30,000 lives each year and costs the UK £20 billion. I know to some working professionals working out in groups or having someone to be accountable to helps them to stick to their goals. A personal trainer, a nutritionist or even just an active Instagram feed bulging with fitness pictures is enough for some. And it seems as though 41%* of 18 to 24-year-olds prefer using social media as a source of motivation, as it encourages them to head down to the gym.

Although there has been much attention in regards to young people and exercise, chief knowledge officer to the NHS, professor Sir Muir Gray offers a sentiment that we all need to be reminded of: “People often think exercise is only for young people, but older adults are the people who stand to gain most from the mental, social and physical benefits of being active”.

How many hours of exercise do you get every week? What challenges do you face? We would love to hear from you…

Hey folks, Stacey Mensah, our guest blogger, is back and this week she reflects on the need for a bit of ‘me time’

Thinking of yourself isn’t selfish – it’s necessary. In a world where different mediums are competing for our attention as soon as we wake up, it’s important to take the time to refuel. And unfortunately, I had to learn this the hard way. I recently worked for a company that required me to work extensive hours and at first, I didn’t have a problem with that. It’s only when I began to blur the line between the social and professional that I realized how taxing this was on my health. And by that, I mean every single night I was taking the work home.

Now for all of the journalists out there, I agree this is a by-product of the path we’ve chosen to take, but something has got to give. When it’s 4 in the morning and all you can think about is your rundown – knowing full well that all of the members of your team are fast asleep that’s when you know you have to re-prioritize a few things. Couple this with the fact that I was on first name basis with a couple of UberEats delivery drivers who practically became family, that’s when I knew that I needed to go back to basics.

So, what exactly are the basics? We’re talking about trying to avoid the complicated ways of doing things. One of the major ways I like to do this is by writing to do lists. They are my way of getting down everything that needs to be done and I’m usually always able to schedule in some ‘me time’ as writing the list allows me to be efficient with my time during the day. ‘Me time’ could be something as simple as taking a 5-minute walk, a period of reflection at the end of the day or even getting in some quality rest and relaxation. Some people find the idea of ‘me time’ as an alien concept, but to others, it’s the only way they are able to give their best at work. In case my story hasn’t compelled you enough to take some time out of your busy schedule, just know that if you factor in eating unhealthily and sleeping poorly, to say that you would not be doing yourself any favours is an understatement. Is this really practical in this day and age? For those who live in London or a big city, you may feel as though it is so cut throat that the only option you have is to dedicate every waking hour working towards that next big objective, but sooner or later it hits us all.

Ultimately, not prioritizing ‘me time’ means losing yourself in the long run – you lose that vavavoom, that je ne sais quoi! And, your health and well-being takes a big hit. Treat yourself as a vessel. There is no way you can pour into others if you’re running on empty. So take some time to refuel because life is hard enough when you’re running on a full tank.

Do you take time for yourself? Do you think it’s necessary? Comment down below…

We’re delighted to have our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, back for more musings on healthy living. This week Stacey asks the question: ‘Should we really be eating meat?’

Should we really be eating meat? A question that I have personally battled with, time and time again. I first became interested in vegetarianism a few years ago when I was simply trying to shed a few extra pounds. My logic was that if I cut out all of these meat products then that would automatically mean that I would lose weight. I was wrong. I chose to replace those foods with unhealthy substitutes as well as stocking up on carbs but that’s a different blog post entirely. I then visited veganism a few months ago as I began watching documentaries and reading up on the composition and nutrition of particular food groups. Surprisingly till this day I still eat meat. However, I have seen a great decline in my consumption and I would go as far as to label myself a pescatarian. I would not be surprised if I became a vegan in the next 2 years or even the next six months.

Many groups have stipulated that the rise in veganism, especially in teenagers is due to Instagram and social media. Now as a millennial I see that as incredibly reductionist and also quite lazy. It’s so simple to hold social media responsible especially if it is feeding into the already negative rhetoric around the millennial and the obsession around social media. Instagram does play a role but so does YouTube, documentaries and books. Various platforms have played different roles for different people.

A 2015 World Health Organisation study found that red meat was classified as Group 2A and could probably be carcinogenic; meaning that red meat has the potential to cause cancer. The classification however is based on limited evidence. Processed meat however, i.e. bacon, salami, hot dogs etc has been classified as Group 1. This means that there is sufficient evidence that highlights the connection between processed meat and cancer.  This disease is really one of many that has been linked to eating meat and animal products. One of the major risks associated with the consumption of meat is the fact that they carry diseases and that factory farmed animals may contain toxic chemicals.

I’m sure we all managed to hear about the Dutch egg scandal that saw over 500,000 eggs contaminationed with the insecticide called Fipronil. With scandals like this in the media every so often many have decided to take their health into their own hands because for the most part you don’t know what you’re putting into your own body. With constant streams of information like this coming to light, people are asking themselves the question: Is it worth it ? And of course, many have decided against it.

For those that have continued to eat meat this could be for a variety of reasons including taste, lifestyle, training, the list is endless. Choosing to not eat meat is a largely health conscious decision but for others it could possibly be cultural, medical or simply all that they have ever known. This debate is definitely not black and white. With some groups confessing that meat eaters are happier and the other group advocating the rights of animals, just like any other important debate you should educate yourself. The controversy around eating meat requires the very same. No one is going to hold a gun to your head because you decided to opt for the steak but you should at least be aware of what consuming meat products is doing to your system.

In this week’s blog post Stacey Mensah discusses the misleading marketing strategies that influence our decisions about the food we eat using milk as an example.

I’m sure that we can all agree that knowledge is power. I would like to take it one step further however, and suggest that applied knowledge is power, especially when dealing with the various amounts of marketing strategies that tell you what you should be feeding your family and why. Now as this is a safe space so let me share something with you all. I don’t know why but for some reason my millennial brain is attracted to the most outrageous marketing gimmicks. I’ve spent ludicrous amounts on various types of water and that was only because one was in a can, the other was in a box and the last one was black. I mean really, Stacey? Four years of university education and this is what you’re contemplating. But thankfully over the years I’ve grown a lot smarter, and I think society has in general. We are more aware now than ever of what we are putting in our bodies.

Beyonce and Tina Knowles in the well-known ‘Got Milk?’ campaign, 2006

An example of a misleading marketing strategy would be that of dairy. Growing up my mum would constantly rattle on about drinking more milk so that I could have strong bones when I grow up. Every child in the playground would be sipping on their milk cartons, or perhaps two, if they had managed to barter with a fellow classmate, everyone was quite blissfully unaware. Fast forward a couple of years and the consumption of milk has dramatically declined. This can be seen in the sale of milk as sales have declined by £240 million. There are now dairy alternatives that many more of us are now opting for. When looking back I realise the power of advertising because I now recall the children’s adverts promoting milk as the key to calcium to the point where many of us, with myself include,  thought that you could only get calcium from milk and boy was I wrong! Did you know that there is more calcium in Kale than there is in milk ? Now that’s something…

Venus and Serena Williams taking part in the ‘Got Milk?’ campaign in 1999.

As a society I believe we are getting more educated about what we are putting in our bodies. The rise of alternative lifestyles including the vegan diet and the paleo diet shows that people are no longer willing to consume so much processed foods due to the way it makes them feel afterwards and because of ethical reasons. I, myself, can no longer consume dairy as I have a hard time breathing once it has been consumed. It’s all well when you say I’m going to have a cheat day but if you consistently keep eating what doesn’t agree with you, sooner or later you will pay the price. Now this is such a hypocritical statement coming from me as I’m known to be quite indulgent – but let’s roll with it. In ‘theory’ this is what we all should be doing.

A recent documentary called, ‘What The Health’, has got everyone talking and has even converted a few people to veganism. This is a documentary in which they lay bare the secrets of the food industry. This is a must watch for anyone who cares about  what they are putting into their body. I personally found it incredibly insightful and wouldn’t rule the vegan lifestyle out completely. Since watching the documentary I have seen a reduction in my consumption of meat which has been quite surprising to be honest.

With something as complex as diet there is no singular answer. My one piece of advice is this: read, watch, listen. Read articles and studies on the affects of animal products or any foods you want to consume. Just make sure that it’s contributing to your inner health and not simply satisfying a temporary craving. Watch – YouTube is your best friend when it comes to this. You have people across the world who are sharing their stories with you. They are doing the hard work so you don’t have too. And finally, listen to professionals and always seek more than one opinion.

Feel free to comment down below and let us know what you think about the documentary we mentioned…

In this week’s blog our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, who is a freelance journalists, asks the question: ‘Is the constant exposure to negative news affecting our wellbeing?’

I’ve always wondered how my profession affects my health. Is the constant exposure to news, be it good, or bad, affecting me? How often do you watch the news? I’m guessing you watch it in one of five ways. One – you watch it before the school run, trying to become as informed as possible before you hit those school gates; Two – You listen or watch the hourly updates; Three – You find yourself consuming as much information as possible throughout the day; Four – You hope the talk around the lunch table will fill you in on all of the latest details. Or, possibly, you don’t watch the news.

Due to my profession I have to consume a lot of news. And according to some people, because of this, I should be under a desk somewhere, pulling my hair out and shivering in a nocturnal state. Ok, I must admit that’s a bit of an exaggeration on my part but there is truth to this and of course I have a study on hand to back this up. The lovely psychologists over at the University of Sussex found that the less negative news participants heard, the better off their health was. Those that were exposed to the negativity spent more time talking about their worries and persistently thinking about them. It also proved to exacerbate their own personal worries. With every day worries climbing upon the mountain that is life, it’s all too easy to drown yourself in ‘negative news’.

As an individual who has a keen interest in politics I beg to differ with this point of view. I accept that it’s plausible, but I still disagree. Being able to tune out of ‘negative news’ is a luxury. It’s not Western however, as the catastrophic events of the last few months will go to show. The idea of being able to ‘pick n mix’ what we can tune into is an interesting one, as we’re selectively choosing which bits of news – or as I like to call it, someone else’s reality – we can tune into. And of course, yes, it is sad. Seeing events that mark the end of someone’s life or that of a society’s way of life, is hard. Let’s accept that. But choosing to completely stop is simply doing yourself a disservice. Watching the news allows you to discover new things in the world and it also challenges the way you think.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you will know that one of the main things we look to promote is moderation. That glass of wine is not going to hurt you, it’s only once we push towards the barrel do we start to feel it. The same should be said for the news. I mean you don’t want to be that person in the grocery aisle that doesn’t know who our prime minister is! Everyone is different and watching the news 24/7 works only for the few. Instead of ‘watching the news’ and all of the connotations that comes with it lets aim to just be aware.  Aware of what’s going on around us and if we have the power to change it.

As always we welcome your opinions. Comment down below.

See you next week.

This week is Diabetes Awareness Week and our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah discusses a diabetes diet as well as our current Diabetes Community Champion project. 

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of the disease that is found in children. Insulin dependent diabetes is a term that is also used to describe type 1 diabetes. This causes the loss of insulin production which means that you would be required to regularly administer levels by injection or by insulin pump. When you have this type of diabetes you need to consider how different foods are going to impact your blood glucose levels and how to balance the quantity of carbohydrate with the right amount of insulin.

Here at the Lake Foundation we are constantly promoting healthy eating but when you have type 1 diabetes this should really be stressed as it can play a part in helping to prevent the development of complications. This goes without saying but limiting the amount of processed foods you eat should be at the top of your agenda. Some may wish to adopt a reduced carbohydrate diet as they can be helpful for people who are struggling to keep control on a carb centred diet.

Type 2 Diabetes

The confusion between these two types of diabetes is quite common as they are both characterised by higher than normal blood sugar levels. The key difference is that type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle. There are also no episodes of hypoglycaemia, unless the person is taking insulin or certain diabetes medicines. It is also important to note that you may not have symptoms before the diagnosis. Usually types 2 diabetes is discovered in adulthood.

Having type 2 diabetes does not mean that you can’t have fun with your foods. Instead, it means that you just have to pay extra attention to choosing the right combination of foods that will keep your blood sugar level in your target range. On the whole it’s important to eat healthy regardless of your health situation.

 Our Diabetes Community Champion Project

Type 2 diabetes is three times more common in the black community and as I mentioned above this type of diabetes can be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle. With this in mind The Lake Foundation has teamed up with Diabetes UK with funding from Croydon Council to run a diabetes community champion project. The aim of this project is to empower the black community with the information that is needed to fully understand diabetes, its symptoms, risk factors and prevention so action can be taken.

We’re delighted to have recruited 17 community champions who have received in-depth training from Diabetes UK. The training has equipped them to get out in the community and effectively raise awareness and encourage behaviour change. They will get out and about targeting black churches, businesses and other organisations to raise awareness and we hope that this will make a significant difference in reducing the negative impact of diabetes on the black community in Croydon. We’ll be getting across the message that we can all reduce our risk of developing diabetes by eating a healthier diet, doing more exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.

This week, on 14^th June, our champions will be at Croydon College raising awareness amongst staff and students giving out leaflets and encouraging people to take Diabetes UK’s useful ‘know your risk’ test. If you’re in the area over lunch time why not drop by, pick up some information and speak to our champions.

Hi everyone, welcome back to the Lake Foundation’s blog! It’s Stacey Mensah here, The Lake Foundation’s guest blogger. As many of you may know I embarked on a 31-day challenge at the start of May. I invited all of you lovely people on this journey along with me as I was documenting this journey over on Instagram.

What is the 31-day challenge?

If you know nothing of this you need not worry because a month ago I knew nothing of this either. The 31 days saw me take on the challenge of staying away from processed foods and artificial ingredients. I was only able to eat natural things. This basically meant that I was paleo for the month which was an interesting experience for me.

What have I learned during the 31 days?

At the start of the challenge I was feeling incredibly optimistic. It was the beginning of the new month and I felt ready to take on anything and everything. Honestly I thought this challenge was going to be a walk in the park – oh how easily deceived I was! Below are some of the key things I learned during my journey:

Don’t get comfortable

The first four days were amazing. I stuck to the paleo diet of vegetables and meat and I was all about prepping my meals. It was only until the fourth day did I get a bit comfortable. I remember someone asking me about how it was going and I simply said, ‘oh yes, it’s going well’ in such a blasé manner. I hadn’t recognised how well I was doing and therefore passed it off as if I was just taking it in my stride. And because of that, I momentarily went back to my old eating habits at the end of day five. Terrible, right? But the one thing I decided before the journey began was that regardless of whether I stumble, fall or jump off this bandwagon I would always get back on.

If you don’t meal prep, you better be mentally prepared

 If you don’t meal prep one or more of the following things will happen:

1. You’re going to have to be mentally prepared for the other options that are available
2. You will most likely have to spend an arm and a leg to get food that is tailored to your diet
3. You will end up compromising. Eating food that you normally would not consider.

Depending on how busy your lifestyle is, meal prep can be incredibly tedious but you have to weigh up the alternatives. Would you rather spend an hour now making your meals for the next two days, or spending two hours during your lunch time on Monday running around London trying to find a healthy alternative? I know which one I would rather do but of course I ended up doing the latter. Of course there are many stores serving incredibly healthy options but you need to figure out what works for you. Many healthy breakfasts in London’s various trendy cafes include oats, eggs, nuts or apples and of course I am allergic to all of these things, so if you are going to skip out on your meal prep for the day please just be prepared.

Have someone to keep you accountable

Getting towards the second half of the month I enlisted the help of a friend to keep me accountable. Naively, I gave him permission to confiscate any unhealthy food that was in my possession. Now of course I didn’t think he would do it but boy, was I wrong. During this time, I was working towards a deadline. I was having an incredibly stressful day and so I thought this was reason enough to indulge in a chocolate bar.

So on this particular day, I walked into the newsroom with a Kinder Bueno, feeling somewhat settled, I approached my friend. Thinking that he would have compassion for me I began telling him how stressed I was and I realised half way through our conversation that his eyes had been fixated on this chocolate bar. He suddenly shouted, ‘No’, snatched the bar of chocolate from me and threw it in the bin. He then began an unexpected monologue on why I shouldn’t be eating this but of course I was two steps ahead. The analytical skills I spent building up during my years of undergrad were suddenly awakened. I quickly left and ran around the corner, remembering that I had one more bar left. Unfortunately, he found me, tackled me, snatched the second bar from me and stepped on it vigorously. That was the end of that!

As you can imagine I was not pleased but he was simply just doing what I had asked him to do. It’s great to have people around you that are going to keep you accountable but ultimately this is your journey.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink

Whether you recruit a single individual or a group of individuals to keep you accountable the responsibility of completing a programme or living your life a certain way rests on your shoulders. It’s important to have a reality check in times like this. The only obstacle in your way is yourself and so you can’t place the blame on others. It’s up to you to have enough self-discipline to stick to your convictions.

You’re not a dog, so don’t reward yourself with food

This is a habit that I am incredibly guilty of. I don’t know what it is but food has been something that I have always gravitated towards. I think it’s important to establish your relationship with food because starting a lifestyle change because then you are able to anticipate how you will react in certain situations. For some food is a source of comfort, a security blanket or for the lucky few it could be simply a source of nutrition. Either way you have to be prepared and know what your vices are.

As I’m now at the end of the 31-day period, I can say that my relationship with food has changed. Although everyday isn’t filled with glowing green smoothies and nutritious meals I have learned to listen to my body. I plan to continue this lifestyle change going forward and I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to challenge themselves, both mentally and physically.

This week, our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, strips it all back when it comes to our diet and asks: ‘Why don’t we just keep it simple? In exploring this question Stacey has been inspired to start a 31 day eating clean challenge today. Follow her journey and, even better, join her on this challenge.

Hello and welcome to another week at the Lake Foundation. This week I decided to look at the idea of simplicity when it comes to diet. Now, this topic must be quite foreign to most of us as everyday life has disguised simplicity as idealism; and so we think we’re incapable of eating the way our ancestors used to. I have to admit, I do find it incredibly idealistic to live in such a way purely because I’ve never done it and I’m sure that if I did do it I would fail miserably.

Complex diet and lifestyle changes have plagued the majority of modern society’s habits but once you break down that formula for losing weight, drinking more water, or whatever that goal may be you find that it isn’t as complicated as it needs to be (or so I’ve heard). For some reason when I decide to go on a diet, or a lifestyle change, as I like to call it, I feel as though it’s​ necessary to buy certain trendy superfoods or go for products with enticing packaging. Just a quick side note though while we’re here: I know I’m not the only one in on this so please continue.

All I’m really left with in the end is an Instagram-worthy shopping cart and what can one do with that? When it comes to cooking, however, I keep it incredibly simple and that, of course, means that I end up wasting the majority of my basket – which is incredibly frustrating. This frustration, of course, drives me to my nearest chippy. And let’s be honest, chips are anything but complicated!

While looking into the idea of keeping it simple I came across an article on Dale Pinnock, who interestingly, is known as the UK’s ‘Medicinal Chef’. This lovely gentleman specializes in the medicinal properties of food and in his latest book, ‘The Medicinal Chef: The Power of Three’, he explores the secrets that can lead to a longer, healthier life. Pinnock stresses the importance of simplicity and the absurdity of buying into trends, ‘I’ve been eating kale for years, and it’s great, but when people take one thing and turn it into the ultimate panacea, that’s when you need to put the bulls*** detectors on’. So this has inspired me…

For the next 31 days, I will be eating a clean diet – free from processed foods, artificial colours​ and all of that other stuff. The exciting bit is I would like to take you along this journey towards ‘the simple life’ via social media. I’ve created the Instagram account – @staceydmensah – where you’ll be able to find daily updates of my journey. My hope for this social experiment is that we may be able to have an open dialogue about healthy eating and good food.

I hope to be speaking to some of you very soon….

Till next week….

This week is Parkinson’s Awareness Week and our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, discusses this condition, urging us to bring this forgotten disease into the limelight.

Welcome back to the Lake Foundation’s blog! I hope everyone is doing amazing well! As this week marks the beginning of Parkinson’s awareness week, I believe it would be fitting to base this post around that issue. Now I’m going to be honest with you, I never really understood health weeks. I believed it to be marketing ploy but, fortunately I have changed the error of my ways. Raising the awareness of Parkinson’s is incredibly important, as many people still view it as an elderly person’s illness, when in fact it is striking men and women all over the country, far earlier in life. Parkinson’s has been described as the forgotten disease as it manifests itself differently in each individual and so it’s harder to diagnose and there unfortunately is no cure. Or, at least just not yet there isn’t. So let’s get the basics out of the way…

According to the National Health Service, Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition of the central nervous system that mainly affects the part of the nervous system that is involved with movement. The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

Tremor. This refers to a shaking that usually begins in the limbs, often in your hands or fingers. You may notice a back and forth rubbing of your thumb and forefinger, known as a pill-rolling tremor. Another characteristic of Parkinson’s disease is a tremor of your hand when it is relaxed. Unfortunately there is no cure for a tremor but there are ways to control it. In the early stages of Parkinson’s some people might be able to suppress their hand tremor by squeezing or rolling a ball, pen or similar object. A specialist or a Parkinson’s nurse should be able to give you advice on what would be the best course of action to take.

Slowed Movement. Parkinson’s disease will gradually reduce your ability to move and slow your movement, making simple tasks quite time consuming. The reduction in the level of dopamine may also cause your steps to become shorter when you walk and may also make it difficult getting out of a chair. People have found physiotherapy helpful as it improves their symptoms. A physio therapist will also be able to recommend exercises and techniques to help with your mobility.

Rigidity. This stops muscles from stretching and relaxing. It can cause: stiff muscles, inflexible muscles, pain and muscle cramps and a fixed ‘mask-like’ facial expression. Rigidity prevents you from being able to swing your arms as their muscles will be too tight and stiff.  Regular exercise of course will help strengthen muscles and improve flexibility and mobility. Physiotherapy will also be a big reliever of muscle pain.

It is all too easy to forget about this disease and so we urge you to do something this week. Whether it is raising money for the cause, or simply just inviting a friend over to discuss the topic. We need to bring this forgotten disease back into the lime light and it can only start with you.

See you next week x

More information on the symptoms of Parkinson’s can be found at parkinsons.org.uk