Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Woman's Weekly Living Series

Whether it’s as herself, Gavin & Stacey’s Pam Shipman or Abigail’s Party’s Beverly Moss, there’s no denying that Alison Steadman is formidable. And, you could say, a force to be reckoned with. At 77 – she turns 78 on 26 August – she has no plans to retire and is the last person you’ll find complaining about the odd niggle of back pain. ‘There’s one thing I can’t bear – people moaning about getting old,’ the star states. ‘Ageing is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience. Going on about what you can’t do any more is boring and self-defeating.’ She adds, ‘Why not focus on what you can do, for God’s sake?’ While Alison knows that things aren’t quite the same as they were when she was in…

How much of the night do you spend sticking one leg out of the duvet, turning your pillows over, or despairing that the birds are beginning to sing – while still trying to get back to sleep? ` It’s no joke if you’re the one in three in the UK who regularly struggles to fall asleep – or stay asleep long enough to feel refreshed the next morning. And it’s even less amusing if you're the one in 10 who suffers with chronic insomnia – meaning you have been sleeping badly for years, which can have an impact on your quality of life. Even if this is the case, though, you should be able to turn your sleep around, according to Dr Nicola Barclay, a sleep scientist and psychologist at…

1 Protect yourself from sun stroke and dangerous UV rays with this hat that keeps the sun off your face. Adjustable inside drawstring for a comfortably snug fit. ✱ Barts Women’s Arday hat, £36.99, Cotswold Outdoor 2 Get into tennis this summer with this ultra affordable, lightweight racquet – perfect for beginners. Whatever your level, a game of tennis can help improve agility, strength and bone density (ideal post-menopause). It also helps to lower blood pressure and burns up to 500 calories an hour. ✱ Head racket, £26.50, Argos 3 Keep active and healthy, even with achy joints, thanks to this new daily supplement that combines the benefits of joint-boosters glucosamine and turmeric. And it includes black pepper extract for improved absorption. ✱ Simply Best Glucosamine and Turmeric Complex, £16.99/60…

AT THE BARBIE Simple tricks for a healthier barbecue Who doesn’t love a summer barbecue with family and friends? But with all that red meat and booze, it’s not always the healthiest of events. Here’s how to give it an overhaul, and still make it fun and delicious ✱ Switch to lighter salad dressings Swap mayonnaise and creamy salad dressings for olive oil and vinegar or fruit juices. Creamy dressings can add calories and are high in saturated fat – not good for your heart. ✱ Up your fruit and veg intake It’s the simplest way to improve your health because these foods are high in vitamins, minerals and fibre – beneficial for heart health and digestion. Include plenty of salads, salsas and dips with sliced vegetables. For barbecues, use…

Secrets to a longer life Eat well, exercise regularly, don’t smoke and get enough sleep – that’s the health advice for a longer, healthier life. Even if you’re genetically predisposed to a shorter life, you can live around five years longer if you follow these healthy guidelines, according to research involving more than 350,000 Brits by the University of Edinburgh and the Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. 3 OF THE BEST… SUNSHINE SKIN SAVERS Look after your complexion from within this summer with these clever supplements 1 REGENERATE Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C 1,000mg, £49.96 for 30 sachets, abundanceand health.co.uk Vitamin C supports the production of collagen and elastin, while helping skin retain moisture. 2 PROTECT Together Health Omega 3, £9.90 for 30 capsules, Tesco UK research found that…

IN YOUR 40S Time-poor and stress-rich, you may struggle to fit exercise in to your schedule – but this is a decade when your muscle mass is starting to shrink and you’re probably noticing more body fat than you’ve been used to. ‘A lot of women also start to notice varicose veins at this age,’ says Vanessa Livingstone, specialist vein nurse at ukveinclinic.com. TRY THIS ✱ Express Pilates or yoga sessions, or a power walk or run can help with stress management while also improving overall fitness. ✱ HIIT – high-impact squat jumps, plank jacks and star jumps can reap rewards in just two or three weekly 20-30-minute sessions. ✱ Seated calf pumps – pointing and flexing your toes with your legs extended will help your vein health if you…

Agoraphobia is more complex than a fear of open spaces. Around one in 50 UK adults have panic disorder, of which a third develop agoraphobia. Twice as many women have it as men, usually starting between the ages of 18 and 35, of varying severity. Psychological factors increasing risk include traumatic childhood experiences (such as death of a parent or abuse) or other stressful events (job loss, bereavement, divorce and alcohol or drug misuse). It can also be triggered by a previous mental illnesses, such as depression, anorexia or bulimia. Symptoms are classified into three types: physical (panic, rapid heartbeat, hyperventilating, sweating, nausea, diarrhoea, trembling and dizziness), cognitive (fear of losing control, being alone, anxiety about heart or breathing problems), and behavioural (avoiding situations that could induce panic attacks, being…

Radiotherapy may be used in early cancer or after it’s spread, and it’s also being effective used after surgery. How well it works varies between patients. It can be given in several ways, usually in hospital – depending on which you need, you may have to stay in hospital for a few days. The team treating you will recommend the best type for you with a plan of treatment sessions, often daily, over several weeks. As well as killing cancer cells, radiotherapy can damage healthy cells in the area being treated. Side effects include sore/red skin/mouth, tiredness, hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea, but vary from person to person, depending on the type of radiotherapy and part of your body being treated. Ask your care team about possible side effects and…

Watch less than an hour of TV a day It could prevent one in 10 cases of heart disease, according to a recent study by Cambridge University. It found that people were far less likely to develop the condition than those who spent more time in front of the telly, regardless of their genetic risk. The research supports previous studies that have shown a link between heart disease and sedentary behaviour, but researchers think it’s not just being immobile that raises your risk, but the fact that you’re also likely to eat unhealthy snacks while watching TV. So if your viewing time is on the longer side, try to keep unhealthy snacks to a minimum and move more – for example, during ad breaks. INCLUDE WHOLEGRAINS ‘Wholegrains have been linked…

Summer’s here! But do you have the energy to enjoy it? Brits spend two hours and 56 minutes* a day feeling drained, which is more than 20 hours each week. ‘People going to their GP saying they are “tired all the time” is so common that it even has its own acronym: TATT,’ says Dr Annabel Bentley**. And, with only 8%*** of us waking up feeling refreshed each day, it’s no wonder we’re tired of being tired. Here’s what may be draining your energy – and what to do about it… You’re drinking too late Lighter evenings can make it tempting to indulge in a glass or two of wine in the garden. But, sadly, that al fresco tipple could be stealing your energy. ‘Drinking alcohol close to bedtime may…

Hands up if you have to unbutton your waistband after a meal. Well, you’re not alone. Millions of us regularly experience bloating due to the food and drink we consume, and it seems to be particularly common among women. A full, tight and gassy stomach is not great for confidence – and it isn’t very comfortable, either. ‘Bloating has many causes, few of which are serious,’ according to Woman’s Weekly GP Dr Gill Jenkins. But that feeling of fullness and excess wind can interfere with your daily life. ‘Most causes are related to gut issues,’ adds Dr Gill. Here’s how to help pinpoint the problem and do something about it. EATING THE WRONG FOODS Certain foods can cause havoc in our digestive systems. And regularly overeating or chowing down on…

BETTER SUPPORT WHAT TO EAT Stronger muscles give you more support, so make sure every meal contains protein, such as chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, tofu or pulses. Avoid carb-only meals, such as toast or a bowl of pasta, as they won’t feed your muscles and will make you feel sluggish. Try adding a poached egg to your toast for breakfast, and at lunch make pasta a side dish to protein food such as grilled chicken or salmon. Or have a two-egg omelette with ham and feta cheese. ‘Eating more protein keeps you full,’ says fitness coach Annie Deadman. ‘It switches off the hunger hormone ghrelin, so you’ll be less likely to snack.’ Research has found that eating nitrate-rich leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, can boost muscle function, so…

In cardiomyopathy, heart muscles become stretched thickened or stiff, impacting the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body. This abnormality isn’t directly caused by blocked coronary arteries, high blood pressure, valvular disease or congenital heart disease, but is usually genetically inherited. There are several types: dilated cardiomyopathy sees the heart muscle walls become stretched, thin and unable to contract properly, leading to heart failure. The exact cause is unknown, but is linked to inheriting a mutated gene, underlying medical conditions, uncontrolled blood pressure, excessive alcohol and recreational drugs, as well as viral infections and tissue diseases. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects one in 500 people in the UK, and can be inherited. Heart muscle cells enlarge, and heart muscle thicken, can’t relax properly and stiffen, leading to heart failure, mitral valve…

Oily or dry? Pimply or wrinkly? Considering the state of your skin is the first important step to giving it the TLC it needs. But don’t stop at your face. Your skin is your body’s largest organ. Accounting for about 15% of your total body weight, it performs multiple vital processes – from storing water, fat, and vitamin D to regulating body temperature and protecting you from infections and harm from UV rays. As summer approaches, you may think of looking at your moles and freckles to notice any changes. But people often forget about mole checks during winter, says dermatologist Dr Adam Friedmann of Stratum Dermatology Clinics. ‘If you’re not in the habit, start now. Do it every six to 12 weeks, to check that nothing is changing. Taking…

Recently ranked as the third most expensive city in the world – topped only by Singapore and Zurich – Geneva might not be the obvious choice for a weekend city break. But flights here are cheap and short (under two hours), and the Swiss city has beautiful surroundings, a fascinating history and immersive culture. Get active in the city streets and beyond, and if you choose where you go and what you do wisely, it can be surprisingly affordable, too. Make a splash Bordered by picturesque mountains and a stone’s throw from France and Italy, Geneva is perched on the edge of the magnificent Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), Europe’s largest alpine lake. It makes the perfect spot for a bracing dip. The water is crystal clear and temperatures are much…