Tag: health

Durham County Council Offer Three Months Free Gym Membership

By on 9th December 2015in Lifestyle

Fitness fans are encouraged to start their New Year’s Resolution a bit earlier this year…

 

Fitness fans are being offered an early Christmas present, with three months free membership if they take out an annual gym membership during December.

Visitors to Durham County Council leisure centres will receive 15 months for the price of 12 if they take out a membership, and pay up front, between Tuesday 1st December and Thursday 31st December.

Andy Brown, the council’s principal physical activity manager, said: “We know following the festive period many people’s minds turn to getting fit.

“But if they sign up now, they can look forward to three free months of membership – giving them plenty of chance to improve their wellbeing all the way through until the spring of 2017.”

The offer will be available at Abbey, Chester-le-Street, Freeman’s Quay, Meadowfield, Newton Aycliffe, Riverside, Shildon-Sunnydale, Spennymoor, Teesdale and Woodhouse Close leisure centres.

For more information, and to find your local council run leisure centre, visit www.durham.gov.uk/leisurecentres.

Newcastle United FC Physios Offer Advice To North East Students

By on 8th December 2015in Local Biz

Cryogenic treatments, blood tests and GPS performance analysis…

 

Ever wondered what a day in the life of Newcastle United FC’s team doctor involves, or the physiology behind becoming a top athlete?

Top consultants and physiologists from Nuffield Health Newcastle Hospital delivered a mini-series of lectures for students at Newcastle School for Boys this week with the dual purpose of promoting health and wellbeing in teenagers, while also presenting different aspects of medicine as potential career opportunities post A Level.

With the Government’s increased focus on developing home-grown medical practitioners across all disciplines, Nuffield’s team of experts delivered aspirational presentations to highlight the different range of careers available within medicine.

Nuffield is the UK’s largest healthcare charity, and kick-started its series of talks at the school with Health and Wellbeing Physiologist, Aidan Innes. Aidan’s talk, ‘Health and Wellbeing Conditioning in Young Athletes’ focused on how pupils can implement behavioural change in their sports training regimes to both decrease risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases and achieve optimal health.

Next up was Gavin Watt, one of the leading health and wellbeing physiologists in the country who focused on ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing in 14 to 18 year olds’, taking a wider view on the general health issues associated with teenagers. His presentation focused on the impacts of exercise and nutrition on cognitive function and emotional wellbeing, whilst also covering topics such as sleep physiology and developing good revision techniques.

The lecture series culminated in a talk by Dr Paul Catterson, Newcastle United FC team doctor and host of Nuffield Health Hospital Newcastle’s weekly sports injury clinic. Dr Catterson presented his talk ‘A dose of sporting medicine: The role of medicine in elite sport’ giving an insight into the role of a doctor at a leading sporting institution.

Each specialist also shared advice with their audience including career top tips and health guidance.

Newcastle School for Boys headmaster, David Tickner, said of the events: “It’s invaluable for our students to hear first-hand of the opportunities within medicine from leading experts in their field who are based right here in Newcastle. There is a lot of hard work involved but, as demonstrated by our guest speakers, the results are incredibly rewarding, and we’re here to provide our students with the support and framework to achieve greatness in their chosen careers.

“What’s equally important is the ongoing health and wellbeing of our students. As teenagers, their bodies are in continuous development, so it’s important they learn processes now which will prepare their bodies, both physically and mentally, for the future. Thanks to the Nuffield team, they now have the basis for that preparation.”

Chris Land, sales and services manager at Nuffield Health Hospital Newcastle, was central to the arranging of the lecture series. He said: “The students of today are our doctors and physiologists of the future, so it’s vital we nurture them now at the start of their career path development.”

Nuffield is the UK’s largest healthcare charity and has two sites in Newcastle – the Nuffield Health Hospital in Jesmond and Nuffield Gym in Gosforth. Nuffield delivers a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient private healthcare treatments and services using the best possible technological facilities.

For more information, visit www.nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/newcastle-upon-tyne.

Top Festive Tips For Looking After Your Teeth This Christmas

By on 5th December 2015in Lifestyle

A top North East dentist is giving out timely advice for the festive season to ensure that the New Year doesn’t herald problems with teeth…

The inevitable celebrations at this time of year also bring in their wake late nights, too much alcohol and too many caffeine-rich fizzy drinks to help stay awake the following day – which can be hugely detrimental to teeth, according to one of the UK’s leading cosmetic dentists.

Dr Ken Harris, who runs Riveredge Cosmetic Dentistry in Sunderland and Newcastle, believes the round-the-clock party lifestyle that many people indulge in at this time of year can really take its toll on teeth.

And now he is highlighting some useful advice to help people in the run-up to Christmas.

“It’s that time of year when people are constantly out celebrating, with late nights and more alcohol that usual,” said Dr Harris, who has almost 35 years’ experience working in general dental practice.

“This can lead to dehydration and reduce the flow of saliva, which helps protect teeth, putting people at real risk of acid damage.

“Many people then compound the problem by drinking energy drinks to stay awake.  Carbonated drinks like these, even sugar-free versions, contain significant acid in the fizz which soften the enamel on your teeth, and if you then brush softened teeth, they wear down really fast.”

Dr Harris has the following tips for anyone who is planning to party in the next few weeks:-

  • Don’t brush your teeth straight after having carbonated drinks or fruit juice. This could actually damage teeth because tooth enamel would be softened by the acid.
  • Wait four hours after having fizzy drinks before brushing your teeth – giving the enamel time to harden up again.
  • Drink plenty of water, especially if you exercise a lot.
  • If you vomit, do not brush your teeth immediately, but rinse your mouth with water.

“It’s really important not to forget to look after your teeth at this time of year,” said Dr Harris.

“And also if you have any problems with your teeth, ensure you get them looked at before the festive season rather than wait until a time of year when there may only be emergency treatment available.

“Nobody wants Christmas and New Year spoiled by toothache or any other issues which could be avoided.”

For further information visit www.riveredge.co.uk.

Dr Harris is one of the UK’s foremost cosmetic dentists and a multi-award winner. With almost 35 years of experience, he has an MSc in Restorative & Aesthetic Dentistry, and is a Fellow of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

He is a member of the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) and acts as UK clinical director for California Center for Advanced Dental Studies in San Francisco along with lecturing around the globe.

Ramside Hall Unveil Final Stages Of Spa Development

By on 3rd December 2015in Local Biz

The North East’s newest and most luxurious spa has now unveiled the final stages of the development…

 

The £8m Spa at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham opened in August, but has this week launched two further features.

An outdoor Spa Garden and vitality pool, along with a first floor infinity pool, are now being used by guests, extending the wide range of facilities already available at the spa.

The vitality pool can be enjoyed by guests on spa day and spa stay experiences and by members, with the infinity pool available at an additional cost for special occasions or for small groups.

The new additions complement the existing spa facilities, which include a 25m long swimming pool, one of the country’s largest hydrotherapy pools, a thermal suite, sleep sanctuary, 14 treatment rooms, state-of-the-art gym, hairdressers and Asian Fusion restaurant.

The opening of the new pools comes shortly after the spa was awarded a five bubble rating by the Good Spa Guide, winning the top accolade despite only being open for a short period of time.

Since its launch, the spa has become a major attraction and has exceeded its initial expectations for membership, with the hope that the festive season and the additional attractions will see a further boost.

 

“We’re very excited that we are now able to offer our visitors and members even more facilities,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“We’ve also devised some very special packages for the festive season and into the New Year which we hope will appeal to both men and women of all ages.”

Further information about membership, special spa days or general bookings can be found by calling 0191 375 3088, by emailing enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk, or by visiting www.ramsidespa.co.uk

Gift vouchers are available directly from the spa or through Spafinders.

Blue Workout Raises Heart-Rates And Funds For Alzheimer’s Society

By on 1st December 2015in In & Around

In support of the Alzheimer’s Society, fitness instructor Lesley Colwill painted Chester-le-Street Parish Centre blue with a special work-out…

 

Members and friends of the town’s Keep Fit Association Moves branch got together for a ‘Blue’ Workout fundraising event, the colour chosen to represent the charity.

Participants packed out the Parish Centre, off Church Chare, to enjoy a great evening of exercise, movement and dance to a variety of music led by KFA Moves instructor, Lesley.

The fitness group was also treated to a top-class performance from the North East KFA Young Adults Championship Team ‘Northern Lights’.

A raffle and refreshments were available afterwards, with blue cakes and buns to get the energy back after a great workout. All in all, the association raised a fantastic £400 for Alzheimer’s Society.

Rebecca Scott, Alzheimer’s Society community fundraiser in the North East said: “We are extremely grateful to Lesley and KFA for all of the time and effort they have put into this event for Alzheimer’s Society.

“As a charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals like Lesley and the group to help us support people to live well with dementia, and to fund research to find a cure.”

To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Society’s work, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk.

To read about Rebecca Scott’s personal work with the charity, read her article My Fight Against Dementia.

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Luxury Ramside Spa Awarded Five Bubble Rating

By on 19th November 2015in Local Biz

A luxury North East spa is raising a glass in celebration, having been given a five bubble rating, despite only being open for a few months…

The multi-million pound Spa at Ramside Hall Hotel near Durham opened in August, with its facilities just receiving a massive thumbs up from The Good Spa Guide.

The Guide is regarded as the leading authority in the UK and only recognises and rewards spas which meet its strict criteria.

Following a recent inspection visit, the spa was told the good news – that it has achieved the highest possible rating.

“We’re delighted to have been told by the Good Spa Guide that we’ve achieved five bubbles,” said Jill Russell, Spa Director.

“It’s very unusual for a spa which has just opened to have achieved this so soon, so it’s a great endorsement for the fantastic facilities we have here.”

 

The Good Spa Guide said that it loved “the sense of peace and relaxation that pervades The Spa at Ramside, and the amount of natural light that spills into the space.”

The report also praises “the huge spa with plenty of loungers. We also liked the idea of having one area for spa guests only; health club members tend to be in a hurry, while spa-goers need to slow down and chill out.

“The upstairs treatment area is very quiet and restful, and the sleep sanctuary is perfect for chilling out post-treatment.”

Awarding the Spa at Ramside a five bubble rating, the Guide praises it for “its light and airy design, extra-large main pool and hydrotherapy pool, excellent spa restaurant, carefully designed treatment rooms and restful sleep sanctuary.”

It also praised the spa for its “good treatments and good value spa days and packages.”

 

The £8m Spa at Ramside opened in August and offers five pools, including one of the UK’s biggest hydrotherapy pools, fourteen treatment rooms, a thermal suite, a Sleep Sanctuary and a Rasul mud chamber.

It also offers a wide range of spa experiences which can be totally personalised to each individual.

For more information, or to book the Spa at Ramside, call 0191 375 3088, email enquiries@ramsidespa.co.uk, or visit the website at www.ramsidespa.co.uk.

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15 Ways To Stay Positive At Work

By on 13th November 2015in Have Your Say, Lifestyle, What's New?

Andy Knowles, MD of Jak Inc, shares his top tips for keeping smiling…

 

I’ve had an interesting journey over the last ten years.

Starting a family business wasn’t part of my career plan, and things were going nicely for me at Coca-Cola enterprises. I had a great boss, loved the brand, and there was bags of opportunity for career progression.

But somehow, here I am with a portfolio brand business, sporting an annual turnover of £1m plus.

Interestingly, one of the challenges many entrepreneurs face is burnout or fatigue. I’ve attended many personal development seminars over the years, including a three-day trip to Kentucky, where I met a handful of truly inspirational mentors. I even found myself finishing their sentences, as I’ve read their books repetitively!

Because of this, I’ve learned an awful lot over the years about how to fight the fatigue. Below are my top 15 tips to help you stay focused, and be more positive at work…

1. Utilise Your Commute
Don’t write off your time in the car as ‘wasted time’. Listen to audio books, podcasts or inspirational music on your commute, and use that time to learn something new, or get fired up.

2. Get Places Early
Arrive early and focus on the tasks ahead. Even if you’re only ten minutes ahead of schedule, use that ten minutes to wake up and get your head straight. You’ll be grateful for it later in the day.

3. Your Emails Aren’t Always A Priority
Avoid checking emails first thing. Instead, focus on the tasks that can’t be put off. Check your emails periodically throughout the day, which will stop you from getting bogged down in them.

4. Stop Procrastinating
Are you making the most of your time? It’s easy to put things off until later, but those things will pile up, and when you finally have to face them, you’ll wish they were done earlier. Schedule your day in advance, and stick to it.

5. Take A Break
Plan breaks into your day to allow for recovery. Trying to do too much all at once will wear you out, and you’ll lose sight of the end. Take a moment to re-focus on your tasks, and come back to them shortly.

6. Take Something From Your Meetings
Take notes from your meetings, and leave them with clear and achievable objectives. Write down your action points, and share them with the involved parties.

7. Don’t Neglect Your Health
Exercise is proven to reduce stress, and the resulting feel-good factor can boost your productivity.

8. Pace Yourself
Rushing tasks will only create more errors, which you’ll inevitably have to fix. Take your time, and get it right.

9. Support Your Colleagues
Share your achievements with the people around you, but don’t forget to support them too. Be there for your colleagues when they need a little positivity boost, and they’ll be there for you when you need one yourself.

10. Stay Compassionate
Negative colleagues can get you down, but try to remain compassionate towards them. People are usually negative for a reason, but don’t let it affect you too.

11. Collaborate
Never be afraid to ask for help. Collaborate with others to achieve mutual goals, and be aware that sharing the load of some of your tasks can help you get through them.

12. Accept That Some Things Are Boring
Unfortunately, not everything at work is fun, but those things still need to be done. Bite the bullet and face the mind-numbing tasks head on. The sooner they’re tackled, the sooner they’re done and out of the way.

13. Accept Criticism
Don’t be offended by negativity, and instead try to understand any criticism aimed at you. Take that feedback constructively, use it to improve yourself and your work.

14. Relish Your Days Off
Sometimes it’s okay to spend your days off in bed, but try a few different activities too. Variety is the spice of life, and leaves you in a more positive mood.

15. Adapt
Businesses have to change to survive. Make sure that you’re open and adaptable when it’s important, and do your best not to resist it.

Looking for more great business tips? Visit the Jak Inc Blog.

Jak Inc are the North East’s finest print, design, and marketing agency. Keen to reinvent your brand? Visit www.jakinc.uk and find out exactly how to do it.

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North East Charity Offer Afternoon Of Shopping And Indulgence

By on 12th November 2015in Local Biz, What's New?, What's On?

A girly afternoon of shopping, pampering and indulgence is on offer in aid of a leading North East charity…

 

Sunderland-based Hope 4 Kidz – which supports youngsters with a range of special needs – is hosting Handbags and High Tea at the Newcastle Gateshead Hilton Hotel on Saturday November 21st.

The event, running from 2pm until 5pm, will give attendees the opportunity to shop at a range of unique stalls, buy Christmas gifts, test out beauty treatments and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea.

Also organised for the day are a range of raffles and auctions, with everyone who attends being entered into a free draw for a mystery prize.

Guests will also be given the opportunity to see the extensive spa facilities at the hotel and find out more about the treatments on offer.

“Handbags and High Tea was a huge success for us last year, and we’re delighted to be repeating it in a new area and venue” said Viv Watts, who runs Hope 4 Kidz.

“It’s a fantastic setting, we’ve got some great stalls and it’s a real opportunity to indulge in a spot of pampering, retail therapy and Christmas shopping, all while helping a good cause.”

All proceeds from Handbags and High Tea will go to support Hope 4 Kidz’s free Santa’s Christmas Party, attended by children from across the North East suffering from mental or physical disabilities, long term illness, or poverty and abuse.

Since it was established in May 2007 the charity has helped 33,000 children by hosting events like this to help raise funds.

Tickets for Handbags and High Tea are priced £15.95 each, including the tea and a goody bag for all attendees.

For more information or to book, contact Hope 4 Kidz on 0191 534 7788, or email vivien.watts@hope4kidz.org.uk.

New Website Offers Essential Care And Support Information

By on 9th November 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

A new website promoting wellbeing, and offering information and advice on living independently has been officially launched…

 

Locate, run by Durham County Council, provides a directory of care and support services.

It contains information ranging from activities in the local area to help people get out and about, to help to access support with tasks ranging from washing, dressing and eating.

The easy-to-use site also features a journey planner to help people plan their route to services on foot or by car, bicycle or public transport, and a link to the Care Quality Commission website, where ratings for regulated services are available.

Lesley Jeavons, Durham County Council’s head of adult care, said: “Locate will play a key role in providing the essential information and advice people will need to make informed decisions about their care and support, enabling them to stay well and independent for longer.

“We want people who need care services to have as much choice as possible, by bringing together a huge range of services and suppliers in one easily accessible website.”

The website was launched at the County Durham Health and Wellbeing Board annual engagement event, which offers members of the public the chance to provide their views on how services should be developed.

The site is in keeping with one of the themes of the Care Act, which places a greater emphasis on individual choice and control.

National Stress Awareness Day: 6 Tips For Handling Stress

By on 4th November 2015in Lifestyle, Local Biz, What's New?

It’s #NationalStressAwarenessDay. Feel like it’s all piling up?

We all get stressed. No matter what line of work we’re in, it’s easy to let it all pile up on top of us, which – as we all know – can lead to severe feelings of anxiety.

Stress doesn’t just affect us mentally, either. It attacks the body physically, leaving us vulnerable to sickness.

Today is National Stress Awareness Day, and we’re keen to do our bit to help out. When stress creeps up, bare these tips in mind…

1. Take A Deep Breath

Getting worked up causes you to take rapid shallow breaths, which causes the heart to beat faster and the muscles to tense up. When you’re already feeling stressed, that’s the last thing you want to happen.

Breathing deeply oxygenates the blood, allowing you to relax much more easily. Inhale slowly through your nose, hold the breath for a few seconds, and let it out slowly.

2. Don’t Be The Victim

When bad things happen, a first instinct is to feel sorry for ourselves. We huff and puff, and wallow in self-pity, but all this does is give in to the stress.

Instead, try taking a more pro-active approach to your problems. When something bad happens, don’t focus on the problem. Focus on the solution.

3. Cut Out The Coffee

Even before the stress kicks in, the coffee can make us jittery. Maybe it’s time to consider decaf?

Avoid caffeine-withdrawal headaches by reducing your caffeine intake slowly. Instead of your afternoon cup of coffee, try a glass of water.

4. Be Realistic About What You Can Do

Particularly in the workplace, it can be difficult to say ‘no’. We agree to things that aren’t necessarily achievable, the work piles up, and before we know it, we’re buried underneath it all.

Don’t kid yourself, and don’t be a pushover. If there’s something you simply cannot do, don’t agree to it.

 

5. Go For A Walk

A relaxing stroll hold countless benefits. Not only will the fresh air do you good, but getting up and moving is key to working the stress out of your body. Even pacing back and forth can do you good.

A decent outdoor walk can give you some alone time to really think about your problems and clear your head.

6. Talk About It

Keeping your worries bottled up is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Letting these things out, vocalising them, and confronting them is a great way to exorcise the demons. Speak with a friend, or write things down in a letter.

You never know, maybe your friend has the same stresses you do.

For more tips and advice, visit the Jak Inc Blog.

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