An end to migraines, cravings and brain fog: New pill hope for the cruel condition as scientists hail breakthrough that cuts symptoms
Often the first signs of a migraine are visual disturbances such as blind spots, tingling in the hands and face, weakness and changes in speech – known as the 'aura' stage.
But there is also a lesser-known period, the premonitory, or prodromal phase, with its own set of debilitating symptoms – including brain fog and fatigue, mood changes (irritability and anxiety), neck pain, dizziness, passing more urine and yawning.
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Times
3 hours ago
- Times
How can hospitals have dignity if staff don't notice you're dead?
There have been miracles happening at a mental health hospital in the east of London — miracles so remarkable that I am surprised so little has been made of it. What happened at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford was that a patient died — but then three days later was seen by staff cheerfully eating his breakfast. Extraordinary goings-on, don't you think? Or perhaps, worryingly, not quite as extraordinary as they appear. The man who died and then — stone rolled away from the tomb — was up and about eating his cornflakes three days later was called Mr Winbourne Charles. He had been admitted to Goodmayes suffering from depression, and five months later he killed himself. So how was he seen eating his breakfast three days later? He wasn't. The staff who were meant to be watching him had not even noticed that he had died: they lied on the official forms, not realising that Mr Charles had been in a coffin for the best part of 72 hours. Such was the level of care and concern. Such was the rigour and the attention to detail. • Rod Liddle on his radio comeback: Somehow I'm still on air When Mr Charles was admitted to Goodmayes it was with a clinical psychological assessment which revealed he was a very high-risk patient and should be observed once every 15 minutes. Goodmayes downgraded that assessment so that he should be observed only once an hour. But it didn't really matter, because the staff didn't even do that. It turns out that he hadn't been observed for at least two hours when he was found dead. You might gauge the interest the Goodmayes staff took in their employment, and in the people they were there to care for, by their behaviour at Mr Charles's inquest. One staff member gave evidence lying in their bed at home, because they weren't due at work that day. Another gave evidence from the Tube because they were on their way to the airport to take a nice break in the sun. In my days of court reporting the coroner would have sent round the Old Bill to drag that person from their pit and grounded all flights — but times change. The authority has seeped away. We know about Mr Winbourne Charles partly because of another inquest into another unnecessary death at the same hospital and some expert digging by the BBC, which revealed at least 20 more very dubious deaths at the North East London NHS Foundation Trust. People who had been on short-term medication for years and years. People neglected. The staff not doing what they were paid to do. At Mr Charles's inquest the coroner recorded a verdict of death by suicide contributed to by neglect. The trust accepted the verdict and admitted that the behaviour of its staff at the inquest had been 'unacceptable', and so you might expect things to be changing in Goodmayes right now. You'd be wrong. On the hospital's own site the latest review — from May this year — details the utterly useless nature of the service provided for patients. Underneath it says: 'Goodmayes Hospital has not yet replied' — but then, in fairness, it says that underneath all the reviews, dating back to 2023. Where do we start with this farrago? Perhaps with the nature of management in the public sector, where a laxer atmosphere and regimen prevails than in the private sphere, and where it seems that the ethos is far more about supporting the staff than providing for the customer, or patient. There are no sales figures and financial imperatives to sharpen the concentration a little. The unions are on the side of staff and the managers dare not demur. Nobody is on the side of the patient, the taxpayer. But I do not think that is the main problem. In the past year I have been detailing here the various manifestations of Skank Britain and the cultural shifts that have led us down this fetid back alley. The dissolution of authority and the refusal of people to take responsibility for their own actions, or indeed for themselves. The notion of such terms as 'discipline' and 'duty' becoming de trop and the insistence by each errant individual that he or she mustn't be judged and will behave exactly as they wish, thank you. The almost complete lack of regard for that most annoying of encumbrances, other people. A lack of dignity in the self and towards others. And, perhaps more than anything else, the long-term whittling-away of a communitarian ethos, the sense that as a nation we have a responsibility to look out for one another and to do the right thing. All of that stuff has largely gone, I fear. Goodmayes Hospital is as much a function of Skank Britain as some feral lout on the Tube with his feet on the seats and hideous music blaring out of his infernal device. Two members of Palestine Action broke into RAF Brize Norton and claimed to have put out of action a couple of Voyager air-to air refuelling tankers. Three questions arise. First, why weren't they shot? Second, the prime minister called it an act of vandalism — but isn't it, more properly, an act of treason? And, finally, why hadn't Palestine Action already been put on the list of proscribed terrorist organisations and its members arrested? You will be relieved to know that Olsi Beheluli is still with us. Olsi, an Albanian by birth, has recently been released from prison after an 11-year stretch for heroin dealing. In a move that suggests he is perhaps not the sharpest tool in the box, he photographed himself sitting in front of a vast pile of banknotes worth £250,000. Anyway, the Home Office wanted him out of the country, but the immigration tribunal judges wouldn't have it. In gaining British citizenship, Olsi had signed a form which stated that he had never done anything that 'might indicate that you may not be considered a person of good character'. Dealing skag didn't remotely count. Readers of a certain age may remember the comedian Dave Allen's observation that, as 10 per cent of road accidents were caused by drink-drivers, it followed that 90 per cent were caused by people who were sober. 'Why don't those people keep off the roads and let us drunks drive in safety?' he asked. The dyscalculic lefties will all be channelling Dave, having read about the Ministry of Justice stats released last week which showed that more than a quarter of all sexual assaults on women last year were carried out by people not born in this country. You can hear them now: 'That means 74 per cent were carried out by British people and nobody has suggested investigating them. Racist!'
Times
3 hours ago
- Times
Sunday Times letters: Restoring public confidence in the NHS
Write to letters@ Shaun Lintern ('An extra £29bn a year to spend, but it's public trust that NHS bosses fear squandering', politics, Jun 15) is right to point out that the public is losing patience with the NHS but he omits to mention that there is still widespread support for the principles of tax funding and universal coverage on which the NHS is based. Restoring public confidence must involve progress in improving patients' access to care and in preventing illness. The government's mission concerning the NHS included improving healthy life expectancy for all and reducing the gap in healthy life expectancy between the English regions. The ten-year NHS plan, which is due to be published soon, must set out the measures that will be taken to implement this mission through action on the wider determinants of health and in the NHS Sir Chris HamChief executive of the King's Fund 2010-18; Solihull, W Midlands Further to your report, the National Health Service, which was founded in the year I was born, has become an outdated concept. The arrogance of NHS and political leaders of all persuasions in failing to embrace or even investigate other countries' health services over the years has led to a failure in cancer care, mental health care and palliative care, as well as an inability to cut waiting times for surgery and improve access to A&E and GP services. France, Canada and other nations run their health services so much better than we do, using hybrid models in which everyone enjoys the benefits. The question is whether Wes Streeting and the present NHS honchos can admit past errors in policy and get their act together. There is more at stake than public Derek Pettit (ret'd)Newnham on Severn, Glos I am mystified why politicians keep saying that workers in the NHS need to be 'more productive'. Staff already go above and beyond what they are paid for in terms of the hours worked and the care given, to compensate for an inadequately sized workforce. There is no point in providing more community facilities for medical investigations if there is nobody to staff them. Remember the staffing struggles at the Nightingale hospitals set up during the pandemic? I was born in the same year as the NHS and, having worked in it, was a long-time supporter of the organisation. Now, like many elderly friends, I have a deep dread of having to go to A&E and perhaps waiting days on a trolley for treatment or HoffState registered nurse (ret'd), London E14 Your report on the chancellor's spending plans is yet another insight into the Labour mindset ('Praying for something to turn up', politics, Jun 15). The ten-year plan to 'plough £750 billion into infrastructure' will include the launch of a website featuring details of the government's 'pipeline of the projects' plus a new industrial strategy to include energy subsidies for manufacturing companies. That's all well and good but others might suggest that, while the nation is hugely in debt, the best policy would be one focusing on consolidation. With the economy on its knees, productivity at its lowest ebb and unemployment at 4.6 per cent — not forgetting the colossal sums suggested for the defence review and the sizeable costs of the spending review — Labour's 'pipeline of the projects' seems more like a 'programme of the vanities'.Alastair ConanCoulsdon, Surrey We should not be wasting taxpayers' money on charging points for electric vehicles because government grants are merely leading councils to rush into installing low-powered chargers instead of providing the infrastructure that drivers need ('Supercharge EVs to drive Britain's car industry out of the doldrums', business, Jun 15). It is fortunate that the private EV charging industry has committed £6 billion to installing public charging. A privately funded rollout would be quicker and more efficient. We know which areas need charging and exactly where to put them. We don't need the government to use taxpayers' money: we simply need it to streamline planning rules and grid connections so we can handle it ourselves. A quicker rollout would not only improve public confidence in electric vehicles but would also create jobs, skills and opportunities. At a time when the government is obsessed with 'growth', it is surprising that it hasn't grasped the EV opportunity with both GhafoorChief Executive, Anthony Horowitz's admission that he dislikes being called Grandpa (Jun 15) led my wife and me to realise we're not alone. We decided our four grandchildren should call us 'Crisp' and 'Jelly'. It's easier for the children and fun for and Jenny ChapmanMendlesham Green, Suffolk I had no problem with being called Grandad but, after a discussion with my granddaughter about rap artists, I am now happy to be known as ForwardRedditch, Worcs Bill Jones outlined a fair way to manage illegal migrants arriving on our shores (letter, Jun 15). The welfare state has been stretched far beyond its limits. In building modern Singapore, the political genius Lee Kuan Yew said his priority was to build a 'fair, not welfare, society', while he thought our welfare state was the root of Britain's malaise. Few would ReidWoodford, Lancs Dianne and Charlie Hubbert, who have fostered more than 50 children, are an inspiration (magazine, Jun 15). Their story was heartwarming, uplifting and made me cry, but for all the right BrennanBolton Your report on gig prices struck a chord ('Hot tickets: are we being ripped off?', culture, Jun 15). A friend and I recently tried to book tickets to see Johnny Marr in Southampton. We called at the specified release time — to be told a minute or so later that the show had sold out. Soon after, £40 tickets for the show were being offered for more than £1,000 each on a resale site. In Europe, tickets are cheaper and more easily available to fans rather than being snapped up by bots and touts. If venues really want to keep live music alive, they need to revert to selling direct to fans, including via record stores and ticket Ladd-JonesSwanmore, Hants Finally parental burnout is 'a thing' ('Don't be ashamed if you're sick of your little darlings', news, Jun 15). For years I assumed I was the only mother who dreaded weekends and holidays as I didn't have the patience required to be both nurturing and entertaining for hours on end. Sometimes I'd hope for rain so instead of taking them to the park I could close my eyes on the sofa while they made a den out of chairs and sheets. Striving for perfection helps no one, least of all children, and merely provokes self-loathing. My children are now 26 and 27, with fond memories of being urged to watch yet another Thomas the Tank Engine video so that their father and I could take a CalmanLondon SE21 Dominic Lawson's article 'Putin's sway over the US is worse than you think' (Jun 15) prompted me to look at the way Vladimir Putin took over the Russian Federation. In the early days of his rule he ensured he had all the 'dirt' on his victims before toppling them. Perhaps this is the case with President Trump, whom Putin appears to disdain but who is the right man in the right place to help Putin to save his own ServaesHambledon, Surrey It is no surprise that UK chief executives are falling behind their US counterparts when half of the UK's productivity gap with the US is down to poor management capabilities ('The recipe for a great British CEO', books, Jun 15). As an American who has lived in the UK for three decades, I have seen how seriously the US takes management: investing in business schools, training chief executives in people leadership and strategy and valuing management experience. In the UK we still live with the David Brent effect, treating middle managers as punchlines instead of vital leaders. Unsurprisingly, 82 per cent of managers are given the role with no formal training. We ought not to write off our chief executives but instead train FranckeCEO, Chartered Management Institute Perhaps Professor Elizabeth Whittaker should 'employ' old people like me (I am 89) to tell parents who are scared to inoculate their children how awful childhood diseases can be ('The antivax whisperer winning the wary round to the jab', news, Jun 15). In 1942, aged six, I contracted measles. A sturdy child, I recovered fairly quickly, but my sister, aged three, was desperately ill and lost the sight in one eye. In 1965, our daughters also contracted measles and were both very ill. To our great relief, by the time our third daughter was born the measles vaccine was available. My grandmother had 13 children; six died of childhood illnesses. So much has been achieved since then. We must not let it be thrown away because of HartWatford I loved Matt Rudd's article on artificial fragrances and his weekly shopping woes (magazine, Jun 15). I, too, bought coconut-scented loo rolls by mistake. Looking on the bright side, at least my bathroom smells like a tropical MacLeanCheltenham Send your letter to: letters@ Please include an address for publication and a phone number in case of any queries. Letters should be received by midday on the Thursday before publication.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Real Housewives star Dolores Catania reveals frightening health crisis that led her to have surgery
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania revealed she was forced to have heart surgery after suffering from atrial fibrillation (AFib). Her condition is a form of arrhythmia, meaning her heartbeat had become irregular, causing her to have chest pains that began six months ago. Last month she underwent a cardiac ablation, a procedure that destroys the small bit of heart tissue that was causing the problem. Dolores, 54, went public with the news this weekend, posting an Instagram video that began with her boyfriend Paulie Connell driving her to the hospital. 'We are going to get my procedure done. It's a cardiac ablation for my AFib. I know, I'm too young to have this,' she quipped to the camera. As they emerged from the car and walked into the building, he asked if she had a 'last word' to say, to which she beamed at him and said: 'Love you.' She also posted photos and video of herself in her bed and gown, including one apparently post-op snap of herself grinning beside her electrophysiologist, whom she jokingly referred to as her 'other electrician.' 'About six months ago, I was driving when I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my chest that radiated down my arm,' she explained in her caption. 'As women, we tend to ignore aches and pains, brushing them off as part of everyday life- but this felt different,' remembered Dolores. 'After that, I started experiencing frequent flutters in my chest, sometimes waking me up at night. Eventually, I got scared enough to call my cardiologist,' she wrote. 'He gave me a heart monitor to wear, and within hours, he called to tell me I had AFib (atrial fibrillation). He referred me to an electrophysiologist, who confirmed the diagnosis,' added the New Jersey-born reality star. 'He told me, 'You're not the same girl I met two years ago when you came here with Paul.' Some of you may remember that my boyfriend, Paul Connell, was diagnosed with WPW (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome) and also needed an ablation.' Dolores offered a word to the wise to her fans: 'I'm sharing this because I want you to listen to your body. That racing or fluttering in your chest you feel doing simple tasks during the day- that's your body trying to tell you something. DON'T IGNORE THIS. AFib increases your risk of stroke or heart attack.' She crowed: 'I'm not 6 weeks out and back to myself! I'll be off all medication soon, and I haven't had any episodes since the procedure.' Dolores urged readers not to 'wait' as their 'heart health is not something to take lightly,' adding that she 'was truly in the best of hands' with her doctors and encouraging her public: 'Take care of yourself you deserve it!!' She began dating Paulie four years ago after they met in line at an Apple Store, and the pair have been living together for the bulk of that time. Her surname comes from her ex-husband Frank Catania, whom she was married to from 1994 to 1998, during which time they welcomed two children. Dolores has publicly claimed the marriage crumbled after she discovered that Frank cheated on her during her pregnancy with their son Frankie, 27.
