admin Respiratory health

Stop Smoking Program

Better Breathing for Life offers a unique evidenced based STOP SMOKING programme

“Smokers are 5 times more likely to quit for good with dedicated support compared to will power alone” 


We offer you a bespoke STOP SMOKING NOW programme in the Marbella area.  This unique programme utilises the beneficial effects of a natural herbal product made from the seeds of the “Golden Rain Tree” (Cytisus Laburnum).

This plant based product has been recognised as the closest substance to nicotine and is called Cytisine. In the brain it acts just like nicotine and stimulates the release of pleasure chemicals such as dopamine, which means that withdrawal symptoms from nicotine are greatly reduced. However, it has NONE of the side effects of smoking.

When combined with a stop smoking behaviour change programme, smokers who use Cytisine (taken as a small tablet), are more likely to stop smoking completely at 4 weeks than those who use patches (nicotine replacement therapy). Even after 6 months Cytisine is more effective than   patches and when compared to a dummy tablet or “will power” Cytisine doubles your chance of success.

For best results Cytisine should be taken as part of a stop smoking programme, incorporating education, action planning and behaviour change techniques.

Rachel Garrod Ph.D is a trained smoking cessation counsellor and respiratory specialist.

This comprehensive stop smoking programme consisting of;

  • Assessment of blood pressure and lung function measures.
  • Provision of herbal tablets (Cytisine) proven to reduce the urge to smoke and aid long term quitting
  • 3 specialised coaching sessions to help you stop smoking including hypnotherapy focused on facilitating sub-conscious activity to enable long term cessation of smoking

Comprehensive programme €350 per person

 

Please contact the clinic if interested.

admin Respiratory health

Quit smoking – with a little help from the Golden Rain Tree. 

Do you want to stop smoking? Like many of us you´ve probably tried numerous treatments such as patches, gum, acupuncture, hypnosis, etc – but – you´re still hooked. There are so many reasons not to smoke. Yet it´s one of the hardest addictions to give up.  And living here in Marbella doesn´t make it any easier!

But now there is another treatment that is generating interest among the scientific world. From the seeds of the “Golden Rain Tree” (Cytisus Laburnum) there is a product that has been in use for over fifty years in Eastern Europe and during the Second World War Russian soldiers even called it “false tobacco”.

In the West, until recently, this treatment was largely unknown as no proper testing or trials had been done. This plant based product has been recognised as the closest substance to nicotine and is called Cytisine. In the brain it acts just like nicotine and stimulates the release of pleasure chemicals such as dopamine, which means that withdrawal symptoms from nicotine are significantly reduced.

A large study, published in the highly respected medical journal, New England Journal of Medicine, has shown some exciting results. Cytisine (taken as a small tablet) in combination with what´s known as behavioural support was compared to nicotine replacement therapy, in this case patches. After a month more smokers had stopped completely on cytisine compared to patches (40 % versus 31%) and after 6 months and the cytisine group still showed clear benefit compared to patches. In other studies cytisine has been shown to double your chances of quitting compared with placebo (dummy tablet).

For best results cytisine should be taken as part of a behaviour change programme, incorporating education, peer support and behaviour change techniques. So if you want to stop smoking this year, why not take a helping hand from nature ?

Rachel Garrod PhD

admin Respiratory health

What´s happening with respiratory health in Spain?


As you may know I have a special interest in the physiotherapy management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). This long-term condition is generally caused by cigarette smoking but can also have genetic factors. COPD leads to impairment in lung function with patients suffering breathlessness on exertion, particularly when going upstairs or up slopes. They may have wheeze and cough and can also experience panic or anxiety associated with breathing. COPD is a very common disease and is one of the most frequent reasons for seeking medical attention. In the past decade or so there have been many advances in its treatment, not least the recognition of the role of the physiotherapist and the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation. Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and education programme -generally offered twice weekly for 8 weeks – designed for people with lung disease. There is plenty of evidence showing that pulmonary rehabilitation results in improved breathlessness, increased exercise tolerance and better quality of life. In the U.K you´ve got a good chance of being offered pulmonary rehabilitation as our guidelines specifically state that all patients with COPD troubled by breathlessness should be offered pulmonary rehabilitation.

But what about the situation here in Spain? A recent study published in the International Journal of COPD reports on a national audit of treatment of COPD in Spanish hospitals. Lopez-Campos and colleagues looked at 17,893 clinical records of COPD patients in outpatient respiratory clinics from 59 Spanish hospitals. They then compared the recorded notes with recommendations from the Spanish National Guideline for the treatment of COPD. The results show poor adherence to the guidelines in many therapeutic areas. Notably only 27% of patients had their inhaler techniquechecked; only 22% of smokers were offered a specific smoking cessation intervention; exercise performance (using a validated walking test) was reported in less than half the study population and only 41% of patients were even given advice regarding the importance of exercise. As to how many patients were offered pulmonary rehabilitation we simply don´t know!

On the other hand, the study showed that the Spanish hospitals recorded data on severity, diagnosis, frequency of chest infections and present medical treatments in most patients but many other aspects of recommended practice were not followed, or followed only in specialised centres.

Spain´s public health is to be commended for many outcomes, however there is a severe shortage of specialised nurses and physiotherapists, particularly those working in the community. It´s these gaps that need addressing in the management of COPD in Spain.

If you need physiotherapy help for your COPD please call or email

Dr Rachel Garrod

PhD MSc MCSP

Consultant Physiotherapist

rachelgarrod1@gmail.com

admin General health

Falls are not an inevitable consequence of ageing

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is, this month, running a campaign highlighting the role of Physiotherapy in the prevention of falls. Falling in older age is a huge problem, falls are a major cause of disability and the leading cause of death in the over 75´s. Fortunately, most falls do not result in serious injury but in about 5% of those who do fall the person may need hospitalisation. It is estimated that one in three people aged 65 years and over experience a fall at least once a year – this rises dramatically to one in two among 80 year olds and older. Falls need to be considered seriously!

Falls may occur as a result of a multitude of reasons; balance problems, muscle weakness, poor gait, taking too many medications or medications that can make you dizzy, excessive alcohol intake, home hazards (stick the rug down that always slips- now!). Impairment in eyesight, incontinence (rushing to the toilet is an unfortunate common scenario); fear of falling (which can lead to altered movements) and cognitive impairments such as dementia.One of the strongest predictors of a fall is experience of previous falls i.e: If you´ve fallen once you´re likely to fall again. 

 

Whilst this is all very depressing it is good to know that Physiotherapy can help.  Exercise isthe most highly-researched fall prevention intervention and we now know that 8 – 12 weeks of a multi-component exercise intervention can reduce both the risk of falling and the rate of falls. To be effective programmes need to incorporate exercise that targets strength, balance, posture, gait, functional tasks, flexibility and endurance. Programmes that focus solely on strength training or walking have been less effective. But balance exercises can be performed quite simply at home, take a look at the CSP´s falls prevention video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8s-8KtfgFM – 6 simple exercises that have been proven to reduce risk. Falling is not an inevitable consequence of ageing. Please get in touch if you want further help to prevent falls.

 

Dr Rachel Garrod

PhD MSc MCSP

Consultant Physiotherapist

rachelgarrod1@gmail.com