I grew up in Belgium and this is my most controversial opinion about British people - and the terrible behaviour that would get you in serious trouble back home
Let's talk about Lime bikes – yes, those green bikes that are cluttering up the pavements in cities like London, Nottingham and Manchester. Even Dame is fed up. Just last weekend, the 92-year-old actress took to Instagram to call out the 'loutish' behaviour of Lime bike users by sharing a photo of herself standing in front of dozens of seemingly abandoned e-bikes blocking the footpath.
Then there are the not-so-silly safety concerns. London hospitals have seen a surge in people being admitted to A&E with what orthopedic surgeons are calling 'Lime bike leg', or broken legs caused by the hire e-bike, which weighs over 30kg, landing on the rider during a fall. And it's not just riders who are sustaining injuries – nearly everyone I know has had a run-in with a Lime bike.
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Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Women who 'suffer in silence' over 'allergy to sex' mistaken for STDs
Experts have highlighted the hidden dangers from a little-known condition that makes some women 'allergic to sex.' Seminal plasma hypersensitivity can cause intimate discomfort, swelling or difficulty breathing during or after intimacy. It's triggered by proteins found in semen, and researchers in the UK say the condition may affect more people than previously thought - and it often goes undiagnosed. Writing for The Conversation, Dr Michael Carroll, associate professor in reproductive science at Manchester Metropolitan University, warned it is often mistaken for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yeast infections, and general sensitivity. But one clue you're in fact 'allergic to sex' is 'symptoms disappearing when condoms are used,' he revealed. The sex allergy is now recognized as a 'type 1 hypersensitivity,' falling into the same category as peanut allergy, cat dander, and hay fever, he said. The professor argues that, while rare, it is underdiagnosed due to embarrassment, stigma and a lack of awareness - meaning 'many women suffer in silence.' In women it typically affects the vulva or vagina, but can also cause full body symptoms like hives, wheezing, dizziness, runny nose and even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening immune response, he warned. Seminal plasma hypersensitivity was first documented in 1967 when a woman was hospitalized after a 'violent allergic reaction' to sex. It was thought to only affect less than 100 women globally, until a study in 1997 found that nearly 12 per cent of those reporting symptoms after sex could have the allergy. While Dr Carroll had similar results in his own unpublished survey in 2013, he thinks the true figure could be higher. The professor said: 'It's time to bring this hidden condition out of the shadows and into the consultation room. 'And it's not just women. It's possible some men may be allergic to their own sperm,' he added. In men it has also been called post-orgasmic illness syndrome - because it causes symptoms that last seconds, minutes or even hours after ejaculation. It can cause headaches, burning eyes, a runny nose, sore throat, fever, muscle weakness and fatigue, claimed French researchers last year. More extreme symptoms include palpitations and incoherent speech, wrote an expert from Hospital Center des Quatre Villes, on the outskirts of Paris, in a French journal. In the hours after climaxing, a 22-year-old man was described as suffering from sneezing, watery eyes, stomach cramps, muscle pain and deep fatigue, in a paper published in the American Journal of Case Reports earlier this year. While only 60 cases of post-orgasmic illness syndrome have been reported since it was first discovered in 2002, it could affect many more as it is likely some don't seek medical attention. 'The problem isn't the sperm', explained Dr Carroll, but rather a prostate-specific antigen, a compound found in semen. And it isn't specific to any one partner - women can develop a reaction to any man's ejaculate. There was also evidence of something called 'cross-reactivity' found - when those with existing allergies can develop another one. So if you're allergic to dogs or other things, you may have developed an allergy to sex, even if you don't realize it. 'In one unusual case, a woman with a Brazil nut allergy broke out in hives after sex, probably due to trace nut proteins in her partner's semen,' he said. The diagnostic process involves a review of your sexual and medical history often followed by a skin prick test with your partner's semen or blood tests. Treatments include prophylactic antihistamines to prevent allergic reactions before exposure and anti-inflammatories. There is also desensitization, which involves a doctor placing a diluted semen solution in the vagina or onto the penis, at 20 minutes intervals. While the allergy doesn't directly affect fertility - and many women with SHP successfully conceive - it can complicate things. 'Avoiding the allergen - usually the most effective treatment for allergies - isn't feasible for couples trying to conceive,' he explained. So, if your allergic to sex and you're trying for a baby, you may wish to choose IVF with washed sperm - to avoid the allergen PSA altogether.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
The 8 reasons you have awful hangovers even after just TWO drinks – and the must-do hacks to avoid it
APEROL spritz at the Saturday BBQ, rosé after work and G&Ts in the garden - summer is here, but with booze comes the dreaded 'next day'. What's worse, is that sometimes, it can only take a couple of drinks to feel the effects of a hangover. 7 Laura Jennings, nutritionist and founder of the NutriMethod tells Sun Health that typically, a hangover sets in as the blood alcohol level starts to drop, often peaking when there's no alcohol left in the system. ' Hangovers can last for up to 24 hours,' she adds. But, there are some reasons why you might end up suffering the next day, even if you kept your alcohol intake to a minimum… 1. You're dehydrated DRINKING water is the number one rule of avoiding a hangover. So, if you're not doing it, there's your first clue as to why you feel it even after a couple. While drinking water won't stop you getting a hangover, it could help reduce the severity of your symptoms, Laura says. She adds: 'Alcohol acts as a diuretic, meaning it encourages your body to lose more water through urine. 'It does this by blocking the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin, which normally helps your body regulate water excretion. 'As a result, you can become dehydrated and that alone can cause symptoms like fatigue, headache and dry mouth.' Make sure you're hydrated throughout the day, not just when you're drinking alcohol. Aim for 1.5 to two litres of water each day. When drinking, use the 'zebra striping' method - one alcoholic beverage, one water. And make sure to hydrate on route home. 2. Your drinks are dark NOT all alcohol affects you the same way when it comes to hangovers. 'Clear spirits such as vodka and gin tend to cause fewer symptoms because they contain lower levels of congeners, which are compounds produced during fermentation and distillation,' says Laura. Darker drinks like whiskey and brandy are higher in these by-products, which can make hangovers feel worse. In people who are susceptible, a spike in histamine and serotonin can lead to symptoms such as flushing, headaches or nasal congestion Laura Jennings nutritionist and founder of the NutriMethod 'Some of these congeners, like methanol, can be broken down into toxic substances such as formaldehyde and formic acid in the body,' says Laura. 'Thankfully, our body has enzymes that help clear these toxins out, but if you've had a lot to drink, or you're dehydrated, the system can get overwhelmed, which may contribute to the severity of a hangover.' 3. You drink red over white IF you're a red wine over white kind of a drinker then your hangover might be worse. Red wine has more of those pesky congeners than white, Laura says, adding: 'Red wine also contains more histamine and serotonin-releasing compounds than white wine or spirits like vodka. 'In people who are susceptible, this spike in histamine and serotonin can lead to symptoms such as flushing, headaches or nasal congestion, often mistaken for classic hangover effects.' She adds that red wine also contains more quercetin, a polyphenol (antioxidant) found in significantly higher amounts in red wine. Research in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that quercetin might interfere with alcohol metabolism, especially in people with a variant of the enzyme ALDH2 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2). 'This enzyme helps break down acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of alcohol,' Laura says. 'If this process is slowed or impaired, acetaldehyde can build up, leading to more severe hangover symptoms like headache, nausea and fatigue.' 4. Your diet is filled with UPFs ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS, such as cereals, processed meats, cakes, chocolate, crisps, ice-cream and fizzy drinks, could make your hangover worse. Laura says: 'These foods provide little in the way of protective micronutrients and can amplify inflammation and blood sugar swings, both of which can intensify hangover symptoms.' Drinking alcohol can mess with your blood sugar because it makes it harder for your body to produce glucose. 'This can lead to dips in blood glucose, which might explain why people feel shaky, tired or irritable after drinking,' says Laura. Drinking on an empty stomach could also make your hangover worse. But, on the flip side, Laura adds: 'Eating nutrient-dense, whole foods rich in B vitamins and minerals like zinc before drinking may help take the edge off a hangover.' Research in the journal of Clinical Medicine found that vitamin B3 and zinc play a pivotal role in reducing the severity of hangovers, especially when it comes to symptoms like nausea and vomiting. 'These nutrients are involved in alcohol metabolism and help the body break down acetaldehyde, the toxic by-product of alcohol that contributes to hangover symptoms,' explains Laura. 'Foods rich in zinc include legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains and shellfish, while B3 can be found in poultry, brown rice, mushrooms and fortified cereals. Including these foods in your meals before drinking could help support your body's detox pathways.' 7 7 5. You're relying on hangover supplements THERE'S a lot of hangover supplements on the market which make promising claims. Have you given them a go, only to find you are still hungover, even after just two drinks? That's because most of these supplements aren't backed by strong scientific evidence, says Laura. 'While a few small studies have looked at individual ingredients that may help with specific symptoms like nausea or headaches, there's currently no solid, peer-reviewed research in humans to confirm that these products are safe or consistently effective at preventing or treating hangovers,' she says. So while you might benefit from some minor symptom relief, there's no proven supplement that can reliably prevent or cure a hangover. 6. It's your medications IF you're taking medications, these could have an impact on how your body metabolises alcohol, which could make your hangover worse. 'These include some pain relievers such as acetaminophen, NSAIDs (medicines that relieve pain, reduce inflammation and bring down a high temperature, such as ibuprofen and aspirin) and some antidepressants,' says Dr Mohammed Najjar, Medical Director of Jorja Healthcare Group. Some medications require you to avoid alcohol at all costs. Dr Najjar recommends speaking to your GP if you're concerned. 7. You're a woman GENETICS do play a role in how you metabolise alcohol. Dr Najjar says: 'Although men and women tend to metabolise alcohol at approximately the same rate, women appear to have a higher rate of alcohol elimination.' This can mean women feel the effects of alcohol more strongly. 'This could be due to a number of factors such as the smaller lean body mass in women which leads to higher alcohol concentration per unit of lean body mass, and also due to the fact that women have less body water and lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that metabolises alcohol,' adds Dr Najjar. The menstrual cycle can impact how severe a hangover is. Dr Najjar says that some women notice their hangovers are worse during the luteal phase (the week before your period). 'Levels of the hormone progesterone levels increase significantly during this phase, and oestrogen levels also remain elevated,' says Dr Najjar. 'It's possible that these hormone changes can cause more acetaldehyde to remain in the body after drinking alcohol which can result in hangover symptoms.' Surprising hangover cures If you've woken up with a groggy head and an aching body from a day or night on the booze, you need to nourish your body to help it regain strength. Unhealthy, high calorie foods could derail you weight loss efforts as well as make the hangover worse. Shona Wilkinson, Nutritionist at says: 'Excessive alcohol consumption damages your liver. To detox your liver and alleviate nasty hangover symptoms such as nausea, headaches, and dehydration, try some of the below ingredients.' Onions and garlic Both of these foods contain a nutrient called sulphur, according to Shona, which is essential in liver detoxification. 'Toxins in the body essentially join to the sulphur and are then excreted from the body.' Lemon peel Adding some lemon peel to a glass of water or shaving some onto your food could help alleviate some of your hangover symptoms. Shona says: 'Lemon peel contains a substance called limonene, which helps your body to detoxify itself by removing carcinogens from the body. 'There is research that suggests lemon peel may even offer an effective solution to migraines and headaches, given that it's a great source of Vitamin C.' Grapefruit It's the substance naringin in grapefruits, which helps to protect the liver from all kinds of damage. Shona says: 'There are a lot of medicines out there that don't mix too well with grapefruit however, so consult your GP before adding too much grapefruit into your diet if you're on any prescribed medications.' Pickle juice An odd one, but pickle juice is packed with electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which Shona says are essential in a whole host of the body's vital processes. She says: 'Electrolytes help to keep us hydrated by regulating the amount of water in our cells to ensure they're able to function properly. 'If you're hungover, it's the perfect remedy.'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Dermot Murnaghan reveals why he told the world he had stage four prostate cancer - as he plots charity bike ride with Sir Chris Hoy
Newsreader Dermot Murnaghan has today revealed why he shared his stage four prostate cancer diagnosis with the world - as he said he plans to join Sir Chris Hoy on a charity bike ride to raise money for cancer charities. The former BBC and Sky News anchor, 67, told Times Radio on Saturday that the response from the public 'surpassed anything I'd imagined' as he encouraged other men to get tested. Describing why he decided to announce his private health battle, Mr Murnaghan said: 'A few people were asking, there were a few whispers out there, so in journalistic parlance you take control of the narrative don't you, so I put a little message out there and got a massive response. 'And I'm glad, not in terms of the feedback to me and the support which has been amazing but in terms if one man, one, goes and gets tested and finds he's got what I've got or it's developing and they get treated earlier, I've done something. 'Somebody somewhere has benefitted from my problems.' He added: 'Whatever modicum of glimmering recognition I have I just hope to use it to help people.' Stage four is the most advanced stage of cancer, meaning cancerous cells have spread beyond the prostate and into other areas of the body. In these cases it is generally not curable, but it can be treated. The journalist, who has been married to his wife Maria for almost 36 years and has four children, revealed his diagnosis on Twitter on Monday. He said: 'I've been diagnosed with stage four advanced prostate cancer I'm fortunate to have a simply outstanding medical team looking after me, who I can't thank enough - they are administering the best possible care with expertise, compassion and sensitivity', he wrote. 'I'm responding positively to their excellent treatment, and feeling well'. Speaking to Times Radio today, the newsreader revealed he was diagnosed 'a while ago' and is currently undergoing chemo therapy, which he quipped he 'wouldn't recommend'. He added that he didn't think he had any symptoms of prostate cancer, but was encouraged by Sir Chris Hoy's announcement he had uncurable cancer in late 2024 to get tested. Mr Murnaghan said: 'You might not have symptoms. The symptoms are up there, they're on the cancer websites, on the NHS, you might not have them - I didn't. 'You get a bit older and you have a few beers and you get up at night and have a wee. And you think well that's not it. That's one of the big signs of course, is urinating a lot more at night.' Mr Murnaghan told the station he is taking part in a charity bike ride to raise money for cancer alongside Sir Chris Hoy, who also has stage four prostate cancer. The 'Tour de 4' event, organised by Sir Chris, is available for anyone to attend, particularly those who have had stage 4 cancer and their friends and family. The event, which will take place on September 7, features four different rides form a challenging 56 mile road race to a 1km family ride around the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome in Glasgow, and stationary bikes for anyone to unwell to ride standard bikes. Asked how he is fairing overall, he said: 'I'm feeling alright, I'm having chemo at the moment, I wouldn't recommend it. But I get up in the morning, I take everything they give me, I eat well and... I'm out for a shortish bike ride.' He said he exercises every day in a bid to keep as healthy as possible despite his cancer diagnosis. NHS guidance says men over the age of 50 are at highest risk of developing prostate cancer, but the journalist has joined Sir Chris in wanting to help men get screened earlier. About one in eight men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, according to the charity Prostate Cancer UK, and the disease often has no symptoms in its earlier stages. Dermot left Sky and TV broadcasting after more than 15 years in 2023. Before joining Sky News, Murnaghan presented ITV's News At Ten and the BBC Ten O'Clock News - now known as BBC News At Ten - as well as Channel 4 News. Murnaghan has also hosted the BBC's quiz programme Eggheads. Dermot started out in local newspapers and became one of the biggest names in TV While at Sky News he was the journalist who announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace as well as numerous elections in the UK. He began his career as a trainee reporter at local newspapers before joining Channel 4 as a researcher. He later became a reporter for the broadcaster's The Business Programme. After a brief stint in Switzerland to present the European Business Channel, Mr Murnaghan returned to Britain to host the business segments on The Channel 4 Daily, a new breakfast show by Channel 4. He then made the move to ITV in the early 1990s, where in 1997 he broke the news of the death of Princess Diana. The veteran journalist switched broadcasters again in the early 2000s, joining BBC Breakfast as one of the lead presenters from 2002 to 2007. Dermot formed a very popular partnership with Natasha Kaplinsky. He was also a regular fixture on the six o'clock and ten o'clock news. He moved to Sky News in October 2007, where he has remained until his final show almost 16 years later.
