Eating fish helps your brain young

New proof daily dose of fish oil does help keep your brain young

• Lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids linked with poor memory tests
• Britons are currently advised to eat fish at least twice a week, including one portion of oily fish.

By Jenny Hope

Last updated at 1:27 AM on 28th February 2012

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Brain boost: Eating oily fish has been linked to a slower decline in brain mass among pensioners

Eating fish helps keep your brain young, claim scientists.
They found diets lacking an essential nutrient in oily fish may hasten brain shrinkage and mental decline.

People eating the least amount of omega-3 fatty acids had less brain mass - equivalent to about two years of chronological ageing.

Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids were also associated with poor test scores for visual memory, problem solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

It is thought that omega-3 fatty acids in fish oils may reduce inflammation of the brain and play a part in brain development and nerve cell regeneration.

Britons are currently advised to eat fish at least twice a week, including one portion of oily fish.

In a new study, brain scans carried out on 1,575 people with an average age of 67 showed a greater rate of brain shrinkage in those who lacked docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that is thought to help nerve cells communicate with each other. The richest source of the nutrient is oily fish, such as herring, mackerel and sardines.

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Dr Zaldy Tan, an Alzheimer’s researcher from the University of California at Los Angeles, who led the US research reported in the journal Neurology, said: 'People with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had lower brain volumes that were equivalent to about two years of structural brain ageing.'

The study involved magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans and tests for mental function and omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cells.

 

Participants whose DHA levels were among the bottom 25 per cent had smaller brains than those with higher DHA levels.

Low levels of all omega-3 fatty acids were also associated with poor test scores for visual memory, problem solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

The best dietary source of omega 3 fatty acids is oily fish because the human body cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids.

There has been an explosion in the number of foods fortified with omega-3 oils, such as chickens, margarine, eggs, milk and bread, but they contain only small amounts.

Types of fish that contain high levels include tuna, salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, and anchovies.

White fish is also a healthy food including cod, haddock and plaice although it contains lower levels of essential fatty acids.

Fish oil supplements are recommended as protection against heart attacks and sudden death, with regular fish eaters a third more likely to survive a heart attack.

Omega 3 fats work in several ways to reduce heart attack risk by cutting blood fats, reducing the chances of a blood clot and blocking dangerous heart rhythms that might otherwise prove fatal.

Dr Marie Janson, Director of Development at Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said: 'There has been a lot of research into the effects of omega 3, and this study will add to that debate.

'One strength of this study is that it used blood samples to measure people’s dietary intake of omega 3, rather than relying on answers to questionnaires to assess the link between omega 3 and cognition. 


'However this research does not tell us whether the people studied got worse or better over time.
'We would need to see large-scale, long-term studies before we can know whether a diet high in omega 3 can protect against dementia, and people shouldn’t fill their freezers with oily fish just yet. 


'The best evidence for reducing your risk of dementia is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, take regular exercise and keep your blood pressure and cholesterol in check.

'With 820,000 people affected by dementia in the UK, and a rapidly ageing population, we urgently need to find ways to prevent and treat the condition - that means we must invest in research.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2107235/New-proof-daily-dose-fish-oil-does-help-brain-yougn.html#ixzz1nhHi6F4s

Women who sit up for 7 hours perday....

Sitting for seven hours a day ‘raises diabetes risk in women’

• Women prone to damaging effects of sedentary behaviour
• No link found in men

By Pat Hagan

Last updated at 2:50 PM on 22nd February 2012

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Women who sit for up to seven hours a day may be more at risk of developing type two diabetes, new research shows.


It found women who spend the most time sitting down during the week are more likely to show early signs of the disease than those who are more active.


Blood tests revealed they had higher levels of markers that suggest the body is well on the way to developing diabetes.

A study found women who spend the most time sitting down are more likely to show early signs of type two diabetes than those who are more active

But researchers said they found no such link in men who took part in the study at the University of Leicester.


They said the reasons why are not clear but it could be that women are more prone to the damaging effects of sedentary behaviour.

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According to the charity Diabetes UK, at the current rate of increase, the numbers affected by type two diabetes in the UK will rise from around 2.5 million currently to four million by 2025 and five million by 2030.


More than a million people are already affected by the condition but do not realise they have it, perhaps because they do not recognise symptoms, such as fatigue, thirst, frequent urination , recurrent thrush and wounds that are slow to heal.


And shocking recent figures suggested 24,000 deaths a year in England alone could be easily prevented if doctors carried out more basic health checks and patients stuck to a healthy diet and took their medicine properly.

WHAT IS TYPE TWO DIABETES?

Type two diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is produced by the body for it to function properly or when the body’s cells do not react to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

The condition is far more common than type one diabetes, which occurs when the body does not produce any insulin at all. 


Around 90 per cent of all adults in the UK with diabetes have type two diabetes.
Symptoms may be controlled by eating a healthy diet and monitoring your blood glucose level. 


However, as it is a progressive condition, medication might be eventually required.


SOURCE: NHS

 Being overweight, physical inactivity and poor diet are major risk factors for the disease.


A team of researchers from Leicester University recruited 505 men and women aged 59 or over and quizzed them on how much time they spent sitting down during the week.

Each volunteer also underwent tests to measure levels of certain chemicals in their blood known to be linked with the onset of diabetes.


The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, showed the women sat between four and seven hours every day and the men between four and eight hours.

Those women who sat longest had higher levels of insulin, the hormone which regulates blood sugar in the body. Raised insulin levels suggests the body is becoming resistant to the hormone and diabetes is starting to develop,

They also had higher readings of C-reactive protein, leptin, adinopectin and interleukin-6, all chemicals released by fatty tissue in the abdomen and which point to dangerous inflammation.

But the same results were not found in men. In a report on their findings researchers said it may be that women snack more than men during sedentary behaviour, or that men engage in more robust activity once they do get moving.


‘This study provides new evidence that higher levels of sitting time, independent of physical activity, have a deleterious impact on insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation in women but not men.

‘It suggests enabling women to spend less time sitting is an important factor in preventing chronic disease.’


The findings mirror those of a study last year which showed spending ten years or more in a sedentary job almost doubles the risk of some types of bowel cancer. According to some estimates, most adults now spend around 55 per cent of their time at work sitting down.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2104850/Sitting-seven-hours-day-raises-diabetes-risk-women.html#ixzz1n85bsQag

Plastics & food containers could lead to obesity & diabetes

'Cancer-causing' chemical used in plastics and food containers can also lead to obesity and diabetes, says study

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 12:09 PM on 16th February 2012

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Fast food and a sedentary lifestyle is often blamed for the modern-day rise in obesity... but another more common and hidden cause has been uncovered.

A chemical widely used in plastics and food-can lining - which has been linked to cancer and labelled a toxic substance in Canada - has now been linked to weight gain and diabetes.

Researchers showed that only small doses of the chemical can trigger a reaction in the body that scrambles hormone signals.

Hidden danger: The effects of bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical in plastic bottles and food-can lining, have been revealed in a new study into obesity 

A report published last week in PLoS ONE shows that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) - used in everything from fertilisers to plastic water bottles - can 'fool' the body into creating more fat.

Furthermore, it can lead to the incdreased production of insulin, the body's way to regulate fat and carbohydrates. 


If there is too much insulin created, the body can become 'immune' to its effects - leading to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.

Health problems: Exposure to BPA can fool the body into producing fat or creating too much insulin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes 

Angel Nadal, a BPA expert at the Miguel Hernendez University in Spain, said: 'When you eat something with BPA, it's like telling your organs that you are eating more than you are really eating.'

His latest research finds that BPA affects the pancreas, the organ that creates insulin. A small amount of the chemical can trigger the release of almost double the insulin actually needed to break down food. 


Dr Nadal's team found that a quarter of a billionth of a gram of BPA was enough to start this reaction.

THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY CHEMICAL IN COMMON USE

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an organic compound used in a wide variety of products, mostly plastics. 


It is controversial because many studies have shown that it has adverse health affects, while others say it is not a  concern.

The World Health Organisation has not limited or banned the use of the chemical in industry, but the EU and Canada has banned its use in baby bottles. In 2010 Canada became the first country to declare BPA a toxic substance.

Various studies have linked BPA to prostate and breast cancer, while another showed it can affect brain function in lab rats.

A 2009 study on Chinese workers in BPA factories found that they were four times more likely to report erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire than workers with no heightened BPA exposure.

Studies around the world estimate that 90 per cent of people in developed nations have BPA levels in their blood above the threshold in Dr Nadal's study. 

Staying away from plastic bottles or food cans will not be enough to escape BPA.

Dr Nadal says that it is used in everyday products such as cash register receipts and toilet paper.
The chemical industry points to BPA's clean bill of health, saying that it has been thoroughly tested and deemed safe for use.

But Dr Nadal disagrees, saying that it can be harmful - especially for pregnant woman and their unborn child.

He said: 'The foetus is not only exposed to BPA but also to higher levels of insulin from the mother, making the environment for the foetus even more disruptive.'

He points to other studies that suggest that increased chemicals in the womb can 'pre-programme' weight gain later in life.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2102003/Chemical-used-plastics-food-containers-linked-obesity-diabetes.html#ixzz1metLwx47

Hamster & Exotic Pet Carry Deadly Germs....

Don't give your child a hamster or exotic pet because they carry deadly germs, experts warn

By Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 3:15 PM on 6th October 2008

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Parents have been warned not to buy their young children hamsters or other exotic animals as pets for fear they carry dangerous and potentially deadly germs.

That's according to a leading U.S. pediatricians' group in a report about dangers from exotic animals.
Exotic pets may also be more prone than cats and dogs to bite, scratch or claw - putting children younger than five particularly at risk, the report says.

Young children are vulnerable to germs such as salmonella because their immune systems are still developing - plus they often put their hands in their mouths.

They may look harmless but hamster can carry germs which could potentially be fatal for youngsters, American paediatricians warn

That means families with children younger than five should avoid owning "non-traditional" pets - and should even avoid contact with them in petting zoos or other public places, according to the report from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The report appears in the October edition of the group's medical journal, Pediatrics.
"Many parents clearly don't understand the risks from various infections" these animals often carry, said Dr. Larry Pickering, the report's lead author and an infectious disease specialist at the federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

For example, about 11 per cent of salmonella illnesses in children are thought to stem from contact with lizards, turtles and other reptiles, Pickering said.

Hamsters and baby chicks also can carry this germ, which can cause severe diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps.

Young children can get it by kissing or touching the animals and then putting their hands in their mouths, he said.

A child was recently hospitalised after playing with his family's pet iguana (file photo), the report's researchers said

Study co-author Dr. Joseph Bocchini said he recently treated an infant who got salmonella from the family's pet iguana, which was allowed to roam freely in the home.

The child was hospitalised for four weeks but has recovered, said Bocchini, head of the academy's infectious diseases committee and pediatrics chairman at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

Hedgehogs can be dangerous because their quills can penetrate skin and have been known to spread a bacteria germ that can cause fever, stomach pain and a rash, the report said.

But Bocchini added with supervision and precautions like hand-washing, contact between children and animals 'is a good thing'.

However, families should wait until children are older before bringing home an exotic pet, he said.
Those who already have these pets should contact their veterinarians about specific risks and possible new homes for the animals, he said.

Data cited in the study indicate that about 4million U.S. households have pet reptiles.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, all kinds of exotic pets are on the rise, although generally fewer than 2 per cent of households own them.

The veterinarian group's Mike Dutton, an exotic animal specialist, said the recommendations send an important message to parents who sometimes buy exotic pets on an impulse "then they ask questions, sometimes many months later."

But a spokesman for the International Hedgehog Association said there's no reason to single out hedgehogs or other exotic pets.

"Our recommendation is that no animal should be a pet for kids five and under," he said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1069990/Dont-child-hamster-exotic-pet-carry-deadly-germs-experts-warn.html#ixzz1mHFnSfYQ

Baby boy who survived major surgery just two days after birth was killed by hospital blunder weeks later

• Two-month-old Ethan Cross was recovering well from major organ surgery just after birth
• Brain was fatally starved of oxygen after a breathing tube was inserted incorrectly

By Sadie Whitelocks

Last updated at 4:18 PM on 8th February 2012

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A baby who survived major organ surgery died after being transferred to a hospital where 'bad failings' proved fatal, an inquest heard yesterday.

Ethan Cross was born with his organs outside his body, and underwent corrective surgery aged just a few days old.

Two months later he was on the road to recovery but a hearing was told that his brain was fatally starved of oxygen when a breathing tube was inserted incorrectly.

Tragic: Ethan Cross, who was recovering well after major organ surgery, died after 'bad failings' by hospital staff an inquest heard

At the inquest, deputy coroner Andrew Cross described that staff at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth 'failed collectively' to save Ethan's life.

He also noted a lack of experience and confidence in a new doctor who was expected to take charge of the emergency.

Mr Cross said: 'In my view there were failings, bad failings even. There was not, however, a total and complete failure.

'Individually competent people failed collectively in this critical situation.'

 

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Ethan was born on September 7, 2009 at a specialist hospital in Bristol because doctors were aware some of his organs were growing outside his body.

Aged just a few days old he underwent a major operation to place his organs back inside his body. 


The inquest heard that, despite a number of minor incidents, he was no longer considered to be in a life-threatening condition and was transferred to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth on November 6 and put on a ventilator.

However the two-month-old died on November 14 2009 when a breathing tube that had become dislodged was replaced too slowly.

A spokesperson for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust described that a series of robust changes have now been made at Derriford Hospital

Staff in the neonatal intensive care unit that night included an experienced staff nurse who was tasked with giving Ethan one-to-one care, and a ward sister who had worked on the unit for ten years.


There was also two new doctors, a specialist registrar in charge of the ward and a senior house officer. A consultant was on call for the ward when the the 'critical event' happened at around 4am on November 7.


Mr Cox said the 'likely trigger' was that Ethan’s breathing tube became displaced from his windpipe into his oesophagus.


He noted that staff’s initial response was 'appropriate', including Ethan being given oxygen and increased ventilation and that the consultant, who was telephoned at about 4.15am, was called at the right time.


However, before the consultant arrived, the registrar failed to provide 'confident clear leadership'.

This was a very sad case and we are extremely sorry that there were failings in the care given to Ethan

 

He described staff had relied too heavily on listening to Ethan’s chest to check whether the tube was in place - a method an expert witness had described as 'notoriously difficult'.


Mr Cox said the registrar’s actions demonstrated 'little experience' of the specialist skills required.

The tube was finally removed on the advice of the consultant, who was travelling to the hospital. He arrived shortly afterwards and replaced it, but by that time it was too late.


Mr Cox recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. Ethan’s mother Shelley Cross, 29, attended the inquest but declined to comment. 


Robert Antrobus, who represented the family during the inquest, said: 'The family are grateful to the coroner for his thorough review of the events leading up to Ethan’s death.


'Sadly the coroner, delivering a verdict of misadventure, has found evidence of substandard care which has played a significant part in baby Ethan’s death.


'The family does however acknowledge that the Trust have undertaken a full investigation which highlighted problems with Ethan’s care through its serious untoward incidents (SUI) procedure.

'The family sincerely hope that the lessons learned in this tragic case result in other families not having to go through what they did.'

The hospital has since apologised, stating that they are 'extremely sorry that there were failings in the care'.


A spokesperson for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'We offer our sincere sympathies to the parents and family of baby Ethan.


'This was a very sad case and we are extremely sorry that there were failings in the care given to Ethan.


'As the coroner noted during the inquest, we had undertaken a full investigation into what happened and, as a result, we have made a series of robust changes within our neonatal intensive care unit during the past year.'

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2098241/Baby-transferred-hospital-recovery-organ-surgery-dies-collective-failings.html#ixzz1m5VSLSMk

Women who eat fish during pregnancy....

Women who eat fish during pregnancy 'more likely to have brainy and sociable children'

• Children of mothers who ate oily fish during pregnancy had better motor and social skills

By Claire Bates

Last updated at 3:00 PM on 1st February 2012

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Women who eat fish during pregnancy are more likely to have brainy and sociable children, according to new EU-funded research.

Those mothers-to-be who tucked into oily fish like tuna, sardines and salmon produced infants who scored better in various tests of skill and intelligence, it found.

As part of a £5 million European Commission study into diet, Spanish researchers examined 2,000 women at the 20th week of pregnancy and again after birth.

Fish supper: Children of women who had consumed the most oily fish during pregnancy did the best in the tests

They questioned them on their diets and took blood samples to test for levels of omega-3 and omega-6, the healthy fatty acids found in oily fish in particular.

The infant children were subsequently tested with verbal intelligence quizzes and on their social and fine motor skills.

The offspring of women who had consumed the most oily fish during pregnancy did the best in the tests, said the University of Granada study.

OMEGA-3 AND OMEGA-6

Omega-3 fatty acids are needed for human health but can't be produced by the body.

They can be found in fish, such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other seafood including algae and krill, some plants, and nut oils.

The essential acids play an important role in brain function alongside normal growth and development.

Research shows that omega-3 reduces inflammation and may lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis. 

Omega-3 fatty acids are highly concentrated in the brain and appear to benefit memory.

Omega-6 is another essential fatty acid. However while omega-3  reduces inflammation, omega-6 promotes it so a balance needs to be struck - like in the Mediterranean diet.

 

Omega-3, in particular, contributes to the healthy development of the brain and eyes of a foetus, the researchers told the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

It contains the acid DHA which is a major component of brain cell membranes.
The report added: 'The amount of DHA transmitted to the foetus through the placenta might be crucial for foetal development.'

The study is part of a bigger project into the effects of diet on newborn babies that will continue until 2013.

It follows a study last year that found eating fish during pregnancy could cut a woman's odds of developing post-natal depression.

Post-natal depression affects up to 13 per cent of new mothers – and lasts more than a year in severe cases, even with counselling and medication.


However, too much oily fish in pregnancy can be bad for the baby’s development, so experts say it is important that mothers-to-be strike a balance when trying to boost their levels of omega-3.

Women who had taken a regular omega-3 pill scored better on a questionnaire designed to spot symptoms of post-natal depression than those given a placebo.


For example, they were less likely to say they suffered from anxiety or a loss of self-worth.

Lead researcher Dr Michelle Price Judge from the University of Connecticut added while some women may prefer the thought of supplements, eating fish is the more nutritious option.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2094819/Omega-3-Women-eat-fish-pregnancy-likely-brainy-sociable-children.html#ixzz1lFCv60nd

Carbonated & Soft Drinks.....

A daily can of diet fizzy drink 'increases risk of heart attack or stroke'

• Those who drink diet soft drinks daily are '43 per cent more likely' to have heart attacks
• Carbonated drinks can cause long-term liver damage similar to that of chronic alcoholism

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 11:01 AM on 1st February 2012

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Drinking just a single can of diet fizzy drink every day can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke, research has revealed.

The new findings have suggested that just a couple of daily cans of the supposedly 'healthier' carbonated drinks, such as lemonade or cola, can raise the risk of liver damage, as well as potentially causing diabetes and heart damage.

Diet fizzy drinks are marketed as a healthy option, but in reality their health benefits over full-fat alternatives remain unclear

Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Columbia University Medical Center claim those who drink diet soft drinks are 43 per cent more likely to have heart attacks, vascular disease or strokes than those who have none.

Previous analysis of soft drinks has shown that the soft drinks, which have a substantial amount of artificial sweeteners, can cause liver disease similar to that caused by chronic alcoholism.

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'Diet' fizzy drinks are marketed as a healthy option in comparison to 'full fat' alternatives as they have fewer calories.

But their genuine health benefits remain unclear, with some research suggesting they trigger people's appetites even more.

Dr Hannah Gardener's research suggested 'an association between daily diet fizzy drink consumption and vascular outcomes'

The U.S. research team studied the soft drink and diet soft drink consumption of 2,564 study participants over a 10-year period - along with their risk of stroke, heart attack and vascular death.  


They found those who drank diet soft drinks every day were 43 per cent more likely to have suffered a 'vascular' or blood vessel event than those who drank none, after allowing for pre-existing vascular conditions such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Ms Gardener said: 'Our results suggest a potential association between daily diet soft drink consumption and vascular outcomes. 

'The mechanisms by which soft drinks may affect vascular events are unclear.'

She added, however, that the mechanisms by which soft drinks may affect 'vascular events' are not clear, and that more research was needed into the subject before significant conclusions could be drawn about the health consequences of soft drink consumption.

Diet soft drinks often contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which has been linked to other health problems such as cancer. However to date, heath watchdogs, including the UK's Food Standards Agency, have ruled out any link to ill-health.

The latest study appears in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2094681/Just-diet-fizzy-drink-increase-risk-heart-attack-stroke.html#ixzz1l8pf8THo

One glass of Milk a day could boost your brain power

The white stuff: Drinking just one glass of milk a day could boost your brain power

• Milk drinkers five times more likely to succeed in memory tests
• Dairy products could help stave off mental decline

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 9:28 AM on 31st January 2012

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Milk has long been known to help build healthy bones and provide the body with a vitamin and protein boost.

But now it’s being hailed as a memory aid after a study found those who regularly have milk – and other dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese and even ice cream – do better in key tests to check their brainpower.

Scientists asked 972 men and women to fill in detailed surveys on their diets, including how often they consumed dairy products, even if only having milk in their tea and coffee.

Drinking just one glass of milk a day could boost your brain power, say scientists

The subjects, aged 23 to 98, then completed a series of eight rigorous tests to check their concentration, memory and learning abilities.

The study, published in the International Dairy Journal, showed adults who consumed dairy products at least five or six times a week did far better in memory tests compared with those who rarely ate or drank them. 

The researchers said: ‘New and emerging brain health benefits are just one more reason to start each day with low-fat or fat-free milk.’ 

In some of the tests, adults who rarely consumed dairy products were five times more likely to fail compared with those who had them between two and four times a week.

The researchers, from the University of Maine in the U.S., believe certain nutrients in dairy products, such as magnesium, could help to stave off memory loss.

They also suspect dairy foods may help protect against heart disease and high blood pressure, which in turn maintains the brain’s ability to properly function.

Some experts have disputed this, however, claiming dairy products increase the likelihood of heart disease and strokes as they are high in saturated fat.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2093806/Milk-good-brain-memory-Drinking-just-1-glass-day-boost-brain-power.html#ixzz1l8iuVAEg

Ice skater's life saved from deadly brain tumour....

Ice skater's life saved after tumble reveals deadly brain tumour the size of a tennis ball

• Lisa wasn't showing any symptoms as a result of the brain growth

By Sadie Whitelocks

Last updated at 5:36 PM on 17th October 2011

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A figure skater discovered a deadly brain tumour the size of a tennis ball after falling on the ice.

Lisa Armitage, 30, from Grimsby suffered a concussion when she fell during a practice session and was rushed to hospital.

Following brain and MRI scans doctors spotted the mass in her head which, although not malignant would have eventually killed her.  

Dancing on ice: Lisa Armitage, 30, was saved after a skating accident revealed she had a brain tumour the size of a tennis ball, doctors are now ensuring it doesn't grow or alter

She was diagnosed with an extremely rare central neurocytoma -  a type of nervous system tumor - and operated on nine days later at Hull Royal Infirmary.

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Specialists say the growth was nothing to do with her fall last July and it could have started developing at birth. 

Lisa, who works as a finance manager and has been figure skating for three years, said: 'Its unbelievable that I had such a large tumour and had no symptoms, without the fall I wouldn't have known about it.

Discovery: A brain scan revealed the tumour which is highlighted here in the white shaded area

'It was falling on the ice that helped this tumour get discovered and ultimately saved my life.'

She was discharged after a majority of mass had been removed and she had received radiation therapy at Sheffield Royal Hallamshire hospital.

The therapy, also known as gamma knife surgery, is non-invasive and involves a high dose of radiation delivered to a very small area of the brain to kill the tumour, preventing damage to normal tissue, nerves and blood vessels.

As the growth, is attached to the wall of Lisa's brain, doctors cannot remove it in fear of damaging her sight or other brain functions.

Still smiling: Lisa says she feels lucky

Instead they are ensuring that the growth - which is now the size of a small strawberry - doesn't grow or alter. 


Lisa, who now has regular brain scans, added: 'My outlook has changed. Before I used to be so focused, but now I am just grateful to be doing the thing I love.

'I look back to the fall and I'm so glad it happened. The tumour would have grown more if it wasn't treated and it would've affected my vision.

'If it had not been detected when it was, it could have been too late and I could have died.'

Lisa, who finally finished her treatment in May this year, has decided to postpone her marriage to fiancé and skating coach Mark Wood, 25, until further tests next year determine if more treatment is needed.  


She is hoping to compete in figure skating competitions and was back on the ice just five months after the accident. 



'I used to practice four or five times a week, but now I just go twice a week for a couple of hours.

The slow growing grade two tumour, is so rare it accounts for less than one per cent of all brain tumours. 

Brain tumours can affect people of any age and around 4,500 new cases are reported in the UK each year.

Symptoms depend on size but if the mass causes increased pressure on the brain they can include epilepsy or fits, severe headaches, irritability, vomiting and partial loss of vision or hearing.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2050061/Ice-skaters-life-saved-tumble-reveals-deadly-brain-tumour-size-tennis-ball.html#ixzz1kO8Shmsz