Yorkshire Post Wednesday december 22 2010

� health yorkshirepost.co.ukLife&Style

Bradford’s elderly andvulnerable residents are beingtold that storing vital medicalinformation in a bottle couldsave their lives. Bradfordteaching hospitals Nhsfoundation trust has teamedup with keighley Lions and thefriends of the Bradford royalinfirmary (Bri) to launch aMessage in the Bottle schemeaimed at protecting the city’s

most at-risk patients. the plasticcontainer, which will be givenout free will allow the storageof important details like medicalconditions, a GP’s details orprescribed medication for theemergency services to accesseasily.

experts suggest storing thelabelled bottle in the fridgeand sticking a green warninglabel on the fridge door toalert emergency services tothe container’s presence. BriMatron, dawn Parkes, said:“sometimes it is the simplethings that are the mosteffective. this emergency bottleis a terrific idea.”

Message in bottleidea for elderly

healthmatters

More than 7,500 Leeds familieshave now pledged to live ahealthier lifestyle by signing upto Change4Life. Change4Lifeis a campaign to help peoplewho are less active or don’teat as well as they used to, gethealthy by making small lifestylechanges.

Change4Life is led across thecity by Nhs Leeds and supportedby extended services. extendedservices is a national programmethat ensures families haveequal access to a wide range ofactivities and support.

Making a changefor the better

Boutique dental spa, theCourtyard, is all smiles afterbeing named one of the bestpractices in the country atthe national Private dentistryawards. the Courtyard scoopedthree major accolades: Mostinnovative Practice, BestMarketing and runner-up inthe coveted Practice of the Yearaward.

Based in huddersfield, theCourtyard prides itself onensuring its clients enjoy afirst class experience, offeringfive-star surroundings and a

relaxing environment to helpalleviate the stress which oftenaccompanies a trip to the dentist– something that helped it beatstrong competition from manyleading London practices.

Practice owner Marcos Whitesays: “to be judged one of thebest two practices in the countryis a real honour, and with thevast majority of shortlisteddentists being based in thecapital, it’s also great recognitionfor the region.”

the Courtyard plan to roll outits award-winning model acrossYorkshire in the near future,starting with a new North Leedsbranch in summer 2011.

Dental spascoops awards

real honour: Award-winning dentist Marcos Whitefrom the Courtyard, Huddersfield.

WITH Christmas fastapproaching many people willalready be reaching for theanti-acid tablets as heartburnstrikes.

But for one in seven, chronicheartburn or acid reflux ismore than just an irritation.

Gastro surgeons at NuffieldHealth Leeds Hospital areraising awareness of GORD(Gastro-Oesophageal RefluxDisease) and a new treatmentavailable to help sufferers.

The team at Nuffield HealthLeeds Hospital performsone of the most advancedprocedures in the world totreat chronic acid reflux,although it is not available onthe NHS.

Known as EsophyX, it is aprocedure to prevent paincaused by acid reflux, butdoes not need any invasivesurgery.

Patrick Senycia, 41, whois British but now lives inAustralia, decided to fly toLeeds for this treatment.

“I’d been suffering fromreflux for nearly seven yearsand after seeking help in 2004,I ended up on medication.I knew however that it wassuppressing the cause and not

addressing the route of theproblem.

“After five years I made myown investigations and foundthat there really weren’t thatmany options for me. Therewas one extremely invasivetreatment which is for veryserious cases and then I foundout about EsophyX. To mymind, this was the best optionavailable in the world anddecided to fly to Leeds, as aleading centre, to have theprocedure.”

An endoscope is run downthe oesophagus wheresuction pulls a flap of tissuedown in order to guard theoesophageal opening from

the harmful effects of stomachacid. Fasteners keep thetissue permanently in placewhere it will eventually fuse tofunction naturally.

“I had to follow a specialdiet for 12 weeks but nowfour months after that I amsuffering at least 80 per centfewer symptoms. In my mindit was well worth it and Iwould have it again to avoidtaking so much medication

and avoiding the potentialconsequences,” says Peter.

Patrick flew to the team inLeeds in March this yearand underwent theincisionless procedure.

“The fact that there wereminimal risks was a big factorin my decision making. I hadno adverse symptoms whatsoever. You do have to followstrict guidance to get the mostout of it and this included astrict diet for two months.When you’ve suffered sobadly from acid reflux and thesymptoms associated with it,I found it very easy to committo the guidance and dietrecommended.

“I’m now almost offmedication, taking it a stepat a time, but feel I’ve comea very long way in shortspace of time and I’m verypleased with the reduction insymptoms produced by theoperation.”

Patrick is one of over 4,000

patients who have benefitedfrom EsophyX.

Dr Elliot Goodman, one ofthe Nuffield surgeons whoperforms this procedure,alongside Henry Sue-Ling,said: “Reflux disease, inaddition to being a potentialcause of oesophagealcancer and other diseasesof the throat, is painful andunpredictable. Heartburn and

searing pain that seems tobe rising in the chest can bedefinite signs of GORD.

“The EsophyX procedureoffers a solution whenpermanent medication is notan option and peoplewant to free themselvesfrom the ongoing pain ofreflux.”

Dominic Jackson, fromElemental Healthcare, thecompany behind EsophyXsaid: “Leeds has alwaysbeen at the forefront of newhealthcare technologies.It is leading the way withproviding EsophyX to itspatients, which is a reallyexciting development inincisionless surgery.”

If left untreated GORD canbecome severe enough toimpact daily life, may evencause serious damage to theoesophagus and in a smallpercentage of the populationmay lead to oesophagealcancer.

Treatmentleads worldin beatingheartburn

alternative: Dr Elliot Goodman carryies out the Esophyx procedure which doesn’t involve the patient going under the knife.

Christmas is a time for heartburn, but for manyit is more than just an irritation. CatherineScott reports on a new treatment in Leeds.

acid reflux factsacid reflux is when acid fromthe stomach leaks up into thegullet (oesophagus). This maycause heartburn and othersymptoms.

a drug which reduces theamount of acid made inyour stomach is a commontreatment. some people takeshort courses of medicationwhen symptoms flare up.

some people need long-term daily medication to orsurgery.

consistent and painfulheartburn is often anindication of Gastro-Oesophageal reflux disease(GOrd).One in seven peopleworldwide suffer fromchronic gastro-oesophagealdisease.

Pain Free: Patrick Senyciafrom Australia flew to Leeds forpioneering treatment.