The use of the OxfordAstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in vulnerable people may be resulting in a lower death toll in the UK compared to Europe according to the former chief of the country’s vaccine taskforce.
Clive Dix said the durable cellular immunity response produced by the AZ jab can potentially “last for life”.
The Oxford/AstraZeneca jab was approved last December, and vaccines were initially rolled out among the older and the most vulnerable in society.
Mr Dix told The Daily Telegraph: “If you look across Europe, with the rise in cases, there’s also a corresponding lagged rise in deaths, but not in the UK, and we have to understand that.” Mr Dix told The Daily Telegraph: “If you look across Europe, with the rise in cases, there’s also a corresponding lagged rise in deaths, but not in the UK, and we have to understand that.”He added: “I personally believe that’s because most of our vulnerable people were given the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Mr Dix told the newspaper: “We’ve seen early data that the Oxford jab produces a very durable cellular response and if you’ve got a durable cellular immunity response then they can last for a long time.
“It can last for life in some cases.”
AstraZeneca has faced both praise and criticism during the pandemic, with its Covid jab hailed as being one of the first on the market and for its low cost in comparison to other jabs.
The rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab in the UK saw Government advisers recommending under-40s should be offered alternatives due to evidence it may be linked to very rare blood clots.
Fears over links to blood clots also saw some European countries pause their use of the jab.
Too much sugar consumption, putting on a few pounds, and drinking even just a little bit of alcohol can all potentially harm your liver. And unfortunately, you can't just check in and make sure everything's running smoothly with this vital organ without the help of a medical professional. But there may be a way for you to notice if something is amiss early on. According to experts, if you experience a certain uncomfortable symptom at night, you need to get your liver checked ASAP. Read on to find out if you should be worried, and for more at-home health tests, If You Can't Do This in 90 Seconds, Your Heart Is in Danger, Study Says.
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If something is amiss with your liver, it could result in you feeling itchy at night.
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If you start to experience itching at night, you should talk to your doctor. Itching is associated with liver disease, and it "tends to be worse in the late evening and during the night," Healthline reports.
According to Wendie A. Howland, RN-BC, a registered nurse and legal nurse consultant, one of the duties the liver is responsible for is breaking down and excreting substances your body doesn't need through bile. "If it fails to be able to do that, for whatever reason, the next excretory organ to try to take up the slack to get rid of bile salts is the skin," Howland explains. "This produces itching." And for more on what habits could be affecting your liver, read up on When You Should Take Tylenol Instead of Advil, Doctors Say.
Itching associated with liver disease doesn't tend to produce a rash and is most common on your palms and soles.
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Itching is usually associated with skin diseases, but unlike skin diseases, "you generally do not notice a rash" if the itching is a response to liver disease, says Leann Poston, MD, a licensed physician and medical advisor for Invigor Medical.
"Itching associated with liver disease tends to primarily affect the limbs, especially the palms and soles," she explains. "It is usually worse at night and exacerbated by heat, during the menstrual cycle, with hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy, and contact with wool." And for more symptoms you need to pay attention to, check out the Subtle Signs Your Body Is Telling You Something's Seriously Wrong.
If you notice yellowing skin or eyes alongside the itching, you need immediate medical attention.
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According to Poston, it can be hard to correlate itching and liver disease on your own, as not everyone who has liver disease develops itching and itching could also be your only symptom of liver disease. But Javeed Siddiqui, MD, chief medical officer at TeleMed2U, points out that if your itching comes with yellowing of the whites of your eyes or skin, known as jaundice, your situation "warrant[s] immediate medical attention."
Howland says that other symptoms of liver disease can include bleeding, bruising, black bowel movements, dark urine, abdominal swelling, nausea, lack of appetite, and abdominal pain. And for more up-to-date health news delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Itching can also be caused by many things other than liver disease.
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Of course, itching can also be a symptom of many other non-serious issues and other diseases, ranging from kidney failure and blood disease, Poston points out. You're also more likely to tune into itching at night when these kind of obnoxious sensations are more noticeable because you are quiet and resting and other factors aren't drowning them out, Howland says.
But it's important to get any type of unusual itching checked out, especially if it occurs during the nighttime. "It is best to evaluate the cause of the itching in order to treat the itching. Seeing a healthcare professional is the best first step," Siddiqui explains. If it is liver disease, delaying a diagnosis can limit your treatment options and could result in permanent damage to your liver or even death, he added. And for more health problems you may be facing late in the day, If This Body Part Hurts You at Night, See Your Doctor.
Never Ignore Pain in This One Body Part, Experts Warn
Any type of sudden, unexplained pain in your body deserves your attention ...
Lauren Gray
·4 min read
Any type of sudden, unexplained pain in your body deserves your attention, but experts say there's one location for discomfort that stands apart from the rest. If your trouble spot is in this place it can have a particularly wide range of underlying causes—many of them related to serious organ problems that you may not suspect. In fact, one diagnosis for sudden pain in this area is considered a serious medical emergency, and experts say you may have reason to call 911 if you notice it. They urge you to never ignore pain in this part of your body, and say it's crucial to learn the signs that indicate it may be something serious. Read on to find out what to look out for, and how to determine if your symptom means you're in immediate danger.
You should never ignore unexplained pain in your shoulder blade, experts say.
According to experts from the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS), you should never ignore sudden, unexplained shoulder pain—especially if it occurs with symptoms elsewhere in your body, such as in your abdomen or chest. This is because the source of your discomfort may actually be "referred shoulder pain," meaning "a problem exists somewhere else in the body other than where you feel the pain."
UMHS experts warn that there are several conditions capable of causing this type of referred pain. They say you may need to be screened for abdominal problems such as gallstones or pancreatitis, pelvic problems such as ovarian cysts, lung problems such as pneumonia, and other health issues including shingles, Paget's disease, thoracic outlet syndrome, or complications from past surgery.
Sudden, unexplained left shoulder pain can be caused by a heart attack.
If your unexplained shoulder pain happens to be on the left side, it's even more crucial that you call for medical assistance. Experts from UMHS explain that this type of pain can be a symptom of heart attack, blood vessel problems, or inflammation around the heart.
If you do suspect a heart attack, don't wait to call for help. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you should dial 911 if you notice any chest pain or discomfort along with pain in the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach that lasts for more than five minutes.
The cause for your shoulder pain could also be orthopedic.
Of course, another possible cause for your shoulder pain is orthopedic injury, and these types of injuries are somewhat common given the shoulder's frequent motion and use. "The shoulder is the most movable joint in the human body," explains Penn Medicine. "A group of four muscles and their tendons, called the rotator cuff, give the shoulder its wide range of motion. Swelling, damage, or bone changes around the rotator cuff can cause shoulder pain. You may have pain when lifting the arm above your head or moving it forward or behind your back," their experts add.
Additionally, your shoulder pain may be caused by arthritis, bone spurs, bursitis, a broken bone, joint dislocation or separation, overuse, shoulder tear, or poor posture. If your pain does not resolve on its own and you suspect localized injury, seek help from an orthopedic specialist who can pinpoint the problem.
How to tell the difference between localized and referred pain.
If you find that your shoulder is in sudden pain with no known explanation, it may be hard to distinguish between a localized injury and referred pain from something potentially more serious. Experts from Penn Medicine say there's one way to recognize referred pain that can help you quickly assess the problem. In the event that an organ is the underlying cause, they say "there is usually pain at rest and no worsening of pain when moving the shoulder."
And of course, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Speak with your doctor if you notice shoulder pain of any kind that may be cause for concern.
THIS SURPRISING SYMPTOM COULD SIGNAL A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH YOUR LUNGS.
Lauren Gray
July 25, 2021
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Amid the pandemic, millions of Americans have seen firsthand the devastating effects of serious lung conditions. And while the CDC says that the COVID crisis alone has caused over 2.3 million hospitalizations in the U.S. to date, an additional 37 million Americans live with a chronic lung condition, according to the American Lung Association.
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However, experts say that some of the worst lung conditions, including lung cancer, can be notoriously difficult to diagnose during the stages at which they're still curable. One study published in the journal Primary Health Care Research and Development found that due to complex presentations, up to 20 percent of lung cancer cases are initially overlooked, even after X-rays. That said, those same researchers suggested that "greater vigilance for patients presenting with atypical symptoms" would aid in prompt diagnosis.
One symptom in particular, which presents in the fingers or toes, can clue you into a serious lung condition. Read on to find out what to look for, and to learn more about the underlying cause.
Digital clubbing can indicate a serious lung condition.
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While many lung conditions are often difficult to diagnose and may go untreated for prolonged periods of time, there's one sign that should tip you off to a serious problem: clubbing of the fingers or toes. According to the Mayo Clinic, this is known as digital clubbing, and it's common among patients with lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung condition in which the tissue surrounding the lungs becomes scarred. It can also indicate lung abscesses, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or a chronic lung infection.
While medical professionals are still working to understand the underlying causes of digital clubbing, they do know that it occurs when the body struggles to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. As a result, fluid concentrates within the extremities, creating a swelling or rounding effect.
According to Pulmonary Fibrosis News, digital clubbing "typically occurs in stages, with the fingernails lifting from the nail bed first." From there, the fingertips become bulbous and begin bulging. A report from Mount Sinai's health library says that the nail beds may also soften, and the nails "may seem to 'float' instead of being firmly attached." They often "form a sharper angle with the cuticle," and they may also curve sharply downward in a convex fashion.
While other symptoms of lung conditions may develop slowly over time, digital clubbing tends to develop over a matter of just weeks.
Digital clubbing can also indicate a range of other conditions.
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While lung cancer is the most common cause of digital clubbing, and 65 percent of people with pulmonary fibrosis also present with this symptom, there are cases in which the clubbing is the result of another underlying condition. Most often, these are conditions related to the heart, including congenital heart defects, and infections in the lining of the heart chambers or valves, among others.
Mount Sinai points out that in other, rarer cases, digital clubbing may suggest any of the following conditions: celiac disease, liver disease, dysentery, Graves' disease, a thyroid disorder, or one of several types of cancer.
Here's what to do if you're experiencing digital clubbing.
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Most of the illnesses that cause digital clubbing are serious and require immediate medical care, so you should contact your doctor immediately if you notice this symptom. While there is no treatment for digital clubbing specifically, it may go away as you treat the underlying cause.
Treatment may include a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation to treat cancer, a combination of medication and therapies to treat various other lung conditions, or a combination of surgery and medication to treat various heart conditions, depending on the condition causing the clubbing.
