Pharmacy Daily | Dispensary Corner 29 June 16

RESEARCHERS in Canada have found playing simple card games such as Snap, Rummy or Go Fish can help stroke patients’ recovery. The scientists wrote up their findings in a paper published in Lancet Neurology, with the study aiming to work out whether new technologies such as virtual reality or game consoles were more useful for stroke rehabilitation. 141 patients who had recently suffered a stroke were split into two groups - some playing the simple games while others used Nintendo Wii consoles. After ten one-hour sessions of activity over a two week period improvements were seen in both groups equally, the study found. Lead researcher, Dr Gustavo Saposnik from St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, said while there is a tendency to think that technological solutions are better, in this case the simple activities were just as effective. Interestingly playing bingo was also found to be helpful for many of the stroke victims’ treatment. FORGET those in-store birthday celebrations - a leading British dentist has slammed so-called “cake culture” at work, saying it is fuelling obesity and dental issues. Professor Nigel Hunt spoke at the UK’s Royal College of Surgeons annual dinner, saying that for many people the workplace is now the “primary source of their sugar intake”. He said cakes at work also make it difficult for those trying to lose weight or become healthier, urging smaller quantities and suggesting they only be consumed along with lunch. “Ideally office workers should consider other alternatives altogether like fruit platters, nuts or cheese,” the fun-sucker added.

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