Forever young: Bodybuilding and The pill that will keep you youthful by preventing the ills of old age

 

 

Bodybuilding saved my life, says father who survived aggressive cancer and a heart attack  David Prescott, 50, began bodybuilding when he was a young man Made him feel 'invincible' - but was diagnosed with liver cancer 4 years ago Doctors discovered he had tumours in his liver and intestines Left hospital with 57 staples holding abdomen together and 27lb lighter Credits bodybuilding with giving him the 'fight' discipline, determination and the character' to recover and become fit and healthy again He has also inspired his 26-year-old son to follow in his footsteps A father who battled cancer and later suffered a heart attack claims his life was saved by years of bodybuilding. David Prescott had tumours in his liver and intestine as well as suffering a massive heart attack. But rather than letting his body get the better of him, he used bodybuilding to save his life - by building back his strength using weights to get back to full health.     David Prescott says after becoming a bodybuilder when he was young, he felt he was 'invincible' +7 After battling tumours in his liver and intestine - and then a heart attack - the 50-year-old said: 'For me, bodybuilding has given me the fight, discipline, determination and the character to come out of that four year spell of major health issues wanting to be fit and healthy again' Mr Prescott, 50, said: 'Bodybuilding always gets a pretty raw deal and a lot of negative things follow the sport around. 'For me, it has given me the fight, discipline, determination and the character to come out of that four year spell of major health issues wanting to be fit and healthy again. 'Never be surprised with how much your body can soak up, and with a strong frame of mind what it can physically and mentally overcome.' After becoming a bodybuilder when he was young, Mr Prescott, from Standish, Lancashire, began to feel he was invincible. But in 2010, his life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. 'The diagnosis initially floored me, it was like a steamroller crushing me,' he said. 'Yes I had various symptoms but I was just under 16 stone and felt quite literally invincible. 'My wife Trish and I sat in a side room, and the results were given. In the next 30 minutes I laughed, cried and felt like I had died.' Mr Prescott underwent a 10-hour operation which took away half of his liver. He left hospital with 57 staples holding his abdomen together and was 27lb lighter.   Mr Prescott (pictured right, today) underwent a 10-hour operation which took away half of his liver. He left hospital with 57 staples holding his abdomen together and lost 27lb. He said: 'Never be surprised with how much your body can soak up, and with a strong frame of mind what it can physically and mentally overcome' +7 Mr Prescott has inspired his 26-year-old son David Jnr (pictured) to follow in his footsteps.The young engineer competes as a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu He said: 'Everything I had worked so hard to achieve had been taken off me. Mentally and emotionally I was battered. 'Virtually from the time I got home my recovery was being mapped out in my mind and it was the ultimate challenge. 'The first week, I could barely shuffle from my front gate to the nearest lamp post. The following week I persuaded Trish to take me to the gym. 'She didn't try to talk me out of it, she knew by hook or by crook I'd have got there anyway. 'The steps up to the gym were a challenge on their own. 'I picked up the weights and proceeded to curl them, my arms started to shake uncontrollably, I dropped the weight and struggled on. +7 He said: 'Nobody knows my body better than me and that's the knowledge bodybuilding gave me. I just wanted my life back' 'This was the start of my recovery I now had something to build on. 'Day after day, week after week, I chipped away at it, getting fitter and stronger. I was in control again.' But just a year later Mr Prescott was left devastated once again after he suffered from a heart attack. He was told he would be on medication for life after having to have a stent fitted and he was advised to exercise less. He said: 'In some respects this affected me more mentally. To me, it sounded like my life as I knew it was finished. 'But after a few days I decided to return to the gym and see for myself and I started off very sensibly. 'However, after a few weeks I became fitter and stronger, I was confident in my ability and never felt afraid to push myself a little further. 'Nobody knows my body better than me and that's the knowledge bodybuilding gave me. I just wanted my life back.' He has also inspired his 26-year-old son David Jnr to follow in his footsteps. The young engineer competes as a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has won the British Open twice alongside many other major competitions. Mr Prescott added: 'People say if their story could inspire one person they would be happy. I couldn't think of anybody better to inspire than my own son. 'He has that steely drive and determination and a positive outlook on life which he gained having to live through those tough uncertain years not knowing if his dad was going to pull through or fully recover.'  Garlic slows ageing and protects the brain from disease, study reveals Nutrient in garlic offers the brain protection against ageing and disease Could even prevent diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's It may be handy for killing vampires, but garlic can keep humans alive in more ways than one, researchers have found. They say a nutrient in garlic offers the brain protection against ageing and disease. It could even prevent age-related neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. +2 Missouri researchers say a nutrient in garlic offers the brain protection against ageing and disease - and could even prevent use from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The University of Missouri researchers found a carbohydrate in the superfood is key. 'Garlic is one of the most widely consumed dietary supplements,' said Zezong Gu, associate professor of pathology and anatomical sciences at the MU School of Medicine and lead author of the study. 'Most people think of it as a 'superfood,' because garlic's sulfur-containing compounds are known as an excellent source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection. CAN GARLUIC BEAT MRSA? A thousand year-old potion made out of onions, garlic, wine and bile from a cow's stomach can kill hospital superbugs, scientists claim. The potent 10th century brew - used by Anglo Saxons to treat a stye (an abscess on the eyelid) destroyed 90 per cent of the bacteria on scraps of skin taken from mice with MRSA. Interestingly, the ingredients had little effect unless they were all brought together into the concoction, the study by Nottingham University researchers found. 'Scientists are still discovering different ways garlic benefits the human body,' he said. 'Our research focused on a carbohydrate derivative of garlic known as FruArg and the role this nutrient plays in protective responses.' Gu's team looked at the nutrient's ability to inhibit ― and even possibly reverse ― brain cell damage caused by environmental stress. Environmental stress could include the aging process, smoking, pollution, traumatic brain injury or excessive alcohol consumption. 'Microglia are immune cells in the brain and spinal cord that are the first and main line of defense in the central nervous system,' Gu said. 'Unlike other mature brain cells that seldom regenerate themselves, microglial cells respond to inflammation and environmental stresses by multiplying. 'By massing themselves and migrating toward an injury site, they are able to respond to inflammation and protect other brain cells from destruction.' However, increasing the number of microglial cells won't provide age-defying protection for the brain, Gu said. In fact, it can do more harm than good. 'Although important to brain cell health, microglial cells also produce nitric oxide in reaction to their function as protectors,' Gu said. 'If we simply increased the number of microglial cells, we also would increase the amount of nitric oxide in the brain. 'Excessive production of nitric oxide leads to brain cell damage and promotes neurodegenerative diseases such as cerebral ischemia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, the nutrient FruArg may provide an answer to this reactive dilemma. +2 Gu's team looked at the nutrient's ability to inhibit ― and even possibly reverse ― brain cell damage caused by environmental stress. Howcast: How to prevent cancer with herbs and spices By creating a cell model of neurological stress and monitoring microglial cell function, Gu's team was able to study FruArg's contribution to brain health. 'When stress was applied to the model, there was an expected increase in microglial cells and their byproduct, nitric oxide,' Gu said. 'However, once we applied FruArg, the microglial cells adapted to the stress by reducing the amount of nitric oxide they produced. 'Additionally, FruArg promoted the production of antioxidants, which offered protective and healing benefits to other brain cells. 'This helps us understand how garlic benefits the brain by making it more resilient to the stress and inflammation associated with neurological diseases and aging.' In the future, Gu and his colleagues hope to study the effects of FruArg on other cells in the body associated with conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

What does your tongue say about your health? From allergies to syphilis, the signs of illness hidden in your mouth Scientists in India have developed a new test to spot 14 conditions Aimed at those people in remote areas without regular access to doctors Black tongue is a sign of over use of antibiotics and fungal overgrowth in HIV patients, while long furrows in the surface are indicative of syphilis Test uses symptoms combined with an image of the patient's tongue Can offer a likely diagnosis and indicate if someone should see a doctor +2 Indian scientists have developed a new test to detect what your tongue indicates about a person's health. It can spot 14 different conditions For those feeling under the weather, the old adage of 'stick your tongue out', may betray the signs of the illness by which they are afflicted. The tongue can signal signs of a cough, fever, jaundice, headache or bowel habits, and helps doctors make their diagnosis. A healthy tongue should be pink, clean and covered in papillae, which contain taste buds. But inflamed, red, black or white tongues could be a sign of other conditions such as thrush, while a swollen tongue can be a sign of an allergic reaction. Meanwhile a black, discoloured tongue is indicative of extended antibiotic use, or a fungal overgrowth in HIV patients, say Indian scientists. And long furrows on the surface are a sign of the sexually transmitted infection, syphilis. Ulcers should ring alarm bells, warning of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. And a 'beefy and smooth' tongue might reveal vitamin B12, iron or folate deficiency, and anemia. Moving on to more serious conditions, sores or lumps on the tongue - or unexplained bleeding - can be a sign of mouth cancer, warns Cancer Research UK.  Spotting mouth cancer signs and symptoms early But for those living in remote parts of the world, where access to a doctor can be difficult, the simple act of checking a patient's tongue can prove hard. To combat the problem, scientists in India have now developed a new test. The new diagnostic system, reported in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, works to combine symptoms with a digital analysis of an image of the patient's tongue. Karthik Ramamurthy, from Rajalakshmi Engineering College in Chennai, and Siddharth Kulkarni and Rahul Deshpande of School of Electronics Engineering at VIT University, have developed the new software. The neural network can take 'soft inputs' - standard questions about symptoms - and a digital image of a patient's tongue to help offer a likely diagnosis. It aims to help decide if a professional healthcare worker should be sought out for further advice. The digital images of the patient's tongue reveal discolouration, engorgement, texture, and other factors linked to various illnesses. The team's automated diagnosis, however, ultilises the condition of the tongue in combination with other symptoms, to identify whether a patient has a common cold, flu, bronchitis, stretptococcal throat infection, sinusitis, allergies, asthma, pulmonary edema, and food poisoning. In its current form the system allows diagnosis of 14 distinct conditions. But the team hope they can soon add images of patient's eyes to use as additional information, thus extending the system's repertoire significantly. IS YOUR PARTNER'S SNORING DRIVING YOU MAD? THEIR EXTRA-LARGE TONGUE MIGHT BE TO BLAME, SCIENTISTS SAY A recent study has discovered that the tongues of some people who snore are extra large. It's already well-known that being overweight or obese increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which leads to snoring because the airway becomes blocked. Until now, it was thought that a large neck was to blame.  Now, however scientists say piling on the pounds can also cause a fat tongue - which may well be the culprit. U.S. researchers found that obese people with OSA had a higher percentage of tongue fat - especially at the base of their tongues - which made their tongues larger overall. +2 A recent study, published in the journal Sleep, found the tongues of people who snore are extra large This was compared with obese people who didn't suffer from the sleep condition. Increased tongue fat might prevent the tongue's muscles from positioning the tongue away from the airway, causing snoring because the airway becomes blocked, researchers said. They added the study might provide an explanation for the link between obesity and sleep apnoea - and said screening to identify fat tongues may could help diagnose the condition. It's known that obesity is a major cause of obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition where the throat closes repeatedly during the night. Snoring occurs because the airways become narrowed, or even completely blocked, preventing the body from getting enough oxygen. In severe cases, the brain jolts the body awake, causing the airway to reopen. The person may wake up repeatedly without knowing it, increasing their heart rate and blood pressure and preventing deep sleep.  Dr. Richard J. Schwab, of the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center in the U.S. said: 'This is the first study to show that fat deposits are increased in the tongue of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea.' Dr Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said doctors should look at tongue size when screening for OSA. He said: 'Tongue size is one of the physical features that should be evaluated by a physician when screening obese patients to determine their risk for obstructive sleep apnoea. 'Effective identification and treatment of sleep apnoea is essential to optimally manage other conditions associated with this chronic disease, including high blood pressure, heart disease, tType 2 diabetes, stroke and depression.' The study was published in the journal Sleep.   Forever young: The pill that will keep you youthful by preventing the ills of old age Miracle cure? the pill could prevent many of the ills of old age A ‘forever young’ drug that allows people to grow old gracefully could be available in just ten years, a leading scientist said last night. Professor Linda Partridge, an expert in the genetics of ageing, said that the science is moving so quickly that it will soon be possible to prevent many of the ills of old age. By taking a pill a day from middle-age, we will grow old free from illnesses of the body and mind such as Alzheimer’s and heart disease. People could work for longer – or simply make the most of their retirement. Some research even suggests skin and hair will retain its youthful lustre. Professor Partridge, of University College London, said: ‘I would be surprised if there weren’t things within ten years. If told you could take a drug that has minimal side-effects and that’s going to keep you healthy for another five or ten years and then you’ll drop off your perch without disability, most people would want it.’ Extraordinary as the professor’s prediction may seem, it is based on a host of promising scientific studies from around the world. They have discovered key genes linked to longevity and health – and found ways of tinkering with them, at least in animals.   In one of the remarkable examples, a Harvard University doctor made old mice young again, in experiments that mirrored the plot of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, where the lead character played by Brad Pitt ages in reverse. At the start of the experiment, the animals’ skin, brains, guts and other organs resembled those of an 80-year-old person. In development: One experiment saw a professor make old mice young again Within just two months of being given a drug that switches on a key enzyme, the creatures had grown so many new cells that they had almost completely rejuvenated. Remarkably, the male mice went from being infertile to fathering large litters. Other research has shown that chains of reactions in the body involving insulin and related hormones are key to health and ageing. This means that years of research into diabetes could have yielded medicines that can be reinvented as anti-ageing drugs. Professor Partridge told the Cheltenham Science Festival that some medicines abandoned by drug companies may soon be dusted off and put to use. She said: ‘There are drugs there already, some of them are just sitting in cupboards. I’d be surprised if people don’t start taking them out. ‘The principle is for drugs that if taken from middle-age will ward off quite a broad array of diseases rather than doing things piece-meal or acting when the diseases appear.’ However, she said any drugs would have to be shown to be extremely safe before they were given to healthy people to combat ageing. http://