More than 375,000 Brits are diagnosed with cancer every year. 

While the cause of the disease is unknown in the majority of patients, four in 10 cases are preventable, research suggests.

These are triggered by lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

It means that 184,000 patients could have avoided cancer this year if they lived more healthier lives, experts believe.

Here, MailOnline sets out how these factors cause cancer and what you can do to reduce your risk.  

Smoking 

Smoking is the biggest cause of cancer, not only in the UK, but worldwide.

There is no safe level of smoking and stopping completely is the best thing you can do for your health, says Cancer Research UK. 

Smokers are at risk of developing 15 types of cancer including lung, bowel and bladder.

This is because tobacco smoke releases more than 5,000 chemicals — including toxic metals and poisonous gasses — that are known to cause cancer. 

These damage parts of DNA that protect cells from becoming cancerous. 

Additionally, some chemicals make it harder for the body to repair DNA damage, which can cause cancer in cells, according to Cancer Research UK.

Experts warn that even occasional and social smoking increases your risk of cancer. They suggest quitting by reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke a day.  

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can increase your risk of seven types of cancer including breast, bowel and mouth cancer.

Although any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer, Alcohol Change UK says that drinking 14 units a week or less will keep the risk low.  

But whatever your drinking habits, cutting down will reduce your risk of cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.

Alcohol alone causes around 11,900 cases of cancer a year in the UK, says Alcohol Change UK.

There is evidence that acetaldehyde — a chemical produced when the body breaks down alcohol — is toxic and damages the DNA in our cells, which can then cause cancer.  

Like smoking, experts say the only way to reduce this risk is to cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink.  

Diet

A healthier diet could prevent up to one third of cancers in the UK. 

Although the risk between diet and cancer is complicated, experts say eating food such as red and processed meat may increase the risk of bowel cancer.

Having a BMI of 25 or higher also increases the risk of 13 types of cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. 

The charity says that excess fat can send out signals to the rest of the body which tells cells to divide more often, which can then lead to cancer. 

Experts say losing weight, tummy fat and eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed meat can help reduce your risk of cancer.  

Sun exposure

Getting sunburnt just once every two years is enough to triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, in comparison to never getting burnt. 

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is a source of energy released naturally by the sun. But too much of this either from the sun or sunbeds can damage DNA in the skin, according to Cancer Research UK. 

Experts at the charity say if enough DNA damage builds up over time, it can cause cells to start growing out of control, which can lead to skin cancer.

Staying out the sun when UV rays are at their strongest between 11am and 3pm between March to October in the UK and wearing sunscreen can help protect your skin against sun damage. 

Experts also warn people to avoid using sunbeds and sunbathing.  

One of the most beautiful celestial events of the year takes place this week, with up to 100 shooting stars visible each hour during the Perseid meteor shower.

Skywatchers across the US and Canada will be among those best able to enjoy the dazzling meteor shower, which occurs when the Earth plows through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle comet during its trips through the inner solar system.

Described as a ‘fireball champion‘ by Nasa, it will be visible both north and south of the equator, but the Northern Hemisphere provides the best displays.

It will reach its peak in North America from August 12 to 13 and remain visible until September 1. 

Astronomers say the Perseids, like all meteor showers, are best viewed with the naked eye in areas with clear skies, low light pollution, low smog and a wide view of the sky. Here’s what to know if you want to make the most of it:

When and how can I watch the Perseid meteor shower in the US and Canada?   

First, check the weather forecast before you head out. 

The quality of the display that we see during a meteor shower’s peak is determined by the weather and the moon.

Forecasters say people in the US and Canada will have a good view this year, as long as the sky is clear of light pollution and clouds. 

If you’re in a location where the clouds aren’t too bad, head to a dark spot away from light. Find an area with a clear view of the sky away from trees, street lamps, and buildings. 

Experts say binoculars and telescopes are not necessary because they will restrict the size of the sky that will be visible to you. 

Be prepared – it could take 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark, and looking at your cell phone can mess up night vision.

The best time to see anything in the night sky is when the sky is at its darkest and when the target is at its highest position in the sky. 

For meteor showers, this usually occurs between midnight and the very early hours of the morning.

This year, the Earth will pass through the remains of the Swift-Tuttle comet at 4am ET August 13, and will be visible from 10.30pm to 4.30am.

How many shooting stars will there be every hour during the 2023 Perseid meteor shower? 

When a Perseid meteor shower begins, stargazers can only see about one meteor every hour. 

However, once it reaches its peak, that number will increase from 50-75, with a maximum of 100 every hour.

The average number people will see in 2023 will vary significantly, says Nasa’s Bill Cooke. 

‘People in the US can reasonably expect to see around 40 Perseids in the hour just before dawn on the peak nights. That’s about one every couple of minutes, which is not bad.’  

‘However, we are assuming you are out in the country, well away from cities and suburbs.’

Where can I watch the Perseid meteor shower and which countries get the best view? 

Two of the best spots to see the Perseids this year will be along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States.

Overall, the Northern Hemisphere will have the best views globally, according to Dr Robert Massey, of the Royal Astronomical Society.

‘The radiant for the Perseids – the point in the sky the meteors appear to come from – is in Perseus, and high in the Northern Hemisphere of the sky,’ he said.

‘It’s 58 degrees north of the celestial equator, which means it would be overhead from 58 degrees north.’

‘This also means the radiant never rises for places south of 32 degrees south, so the southernmost parts of Australia, and much of Argentina and Chile.’

‘The upshot is that the Northern Hemisphere has the best potential view, as the radiant is higher in the sky and visible for longer, so in theory more meteors are visible.’

For those in the US and Canada, national parks that are open after dark will predictably be among the most incredible places to view the Perseid meteor shower.

How fast are the Perseid meteors traveling and how big are they?

A typical Perseid meteoroid moves at 133,200 mph (214,365 kph) when it hits Earth’s atmosphere.

At this point it becomes a meteor. If it were to hit the ground it would be termed a meteorite, but almost none of the Perseid fragments do this because they are the size of a grain of sand. 

Most of the fragments are visible when they are about 60 miles (97 kilometers) from the Earth’s surface.

Meteors can travel at speeds of 44 miles per second, and the size of a meteor does not make any difference. 

The Perseid meteor shower is the only meteor shower to have delayed a Space Shuttle launch – the NASA-STS-51 was delayed in 1993 due to concerns about damage to the spacecraft. 

Why is it called the Perseid meteor shower?

The name Perseids comes from the constellation Perseus, which is visible in the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

‘Perseus is a mythological Greek character,’ says Fiske Planetarium Manager Francisco ‘Tito’ Salas. 

‘Perseus is the one who killed Medusa. When he cut her head, that’s how he was able to kill the sea monster. And you know what happens when you see Medusa’s head? You transform into a rock.’ 

There have been other myths following Perseus which have found their way to be connected to the Perseids.

One myth states that Perseus married Andromeda, and together they had nine children. 

The connection? Perseids is derived from the Greek word Perseides, which refers to Perseus’ descendants. 

Like the Perseus constellation, the Perseids are visible in all parts of the world, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Perseus constellation sits in the middle of a triangle formed by the W or M-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, the Pleiades star cluster and the bright star Canopus. 

Together, it all creates the constellation Carina. 

What is the Swift-Tuttle comet?

The pieces of space debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Perseids meteor shower originate from the Swift-Tuttle comet.

Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli realized in 1865 that this comet was the source of the Perseids.

Comet Swift-Tuttle was discovered in 1862 independently by both Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle.

Swift-Tuttle is a large comet – its nucleus is 16 miles (26 kilometers) across – and it last passed near Earth in 1992.

When will the next meteor shower be? 

The next major meteor shower will be the Orionids, which will begin its activity on September 26 and end on November 22.

It is a medium-strength shower that in recent years has produced less dramatic displays than the Perseids. 

It will hit its peak on October 20-21. 

A foreign hospital is the last destination any tourist wants to visit.

But seemingly innocent activities like enjoying an ice-cold drink or wearing flipflops by the pool could have nasty consequences. 

Every week, 3,000 Brits need emergency medical treatment while abroad, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). 

Here, experts explain the health risks of going on holiday and offer some tips on how to minimise your risk.  

Avoid ice cubes

Sitting with an ice-cold drink by the pool on a hot day sounds like the ideal luxury.  

But disease-causing bacteria, such as E coli and cholera, may be lurking in cocktail ice cubes created using unclean water. 

Even though the water has gone through the freezing process, the bugs are hardy enough that some will survive.

‘If they are frozen you still run a risk because when the ice cubes thaw, then you will have some viable bacteria that is still alive’, says Dr Joanne Santini, a microbiologist at University College London (UCL).

Ice cubes aren’t the only potential carrier of pathogens.

Just like ice cubes, ice cream can also harbour bacteria, so you should be cautious buying it for street sellers. 

However, there is an even bigger risk of getting ill when washing fruit or brushing your teeth with contaminated water. 

This is because the liquid hasn’t been boiled or frozen to help kill off some of the pathogens. 

‘It depends where you’re going and if there is faecal bacteria in that water’, says Dr Santini.

She said: ‘Parts of south east Asia, south Asian, parts of Africa and probably some places in the west will have faecal contamination of drinking water.

‘So if you use that water to wash anything, you drink it or you brush your teeth, then you are going to get a risk of getting organisms like E coli or salmonella.’

If you think the water isn’t safe in your holiday destination you should drink bottled water or boil the water before drinking it, otherwise you could end up with diarrhoea or cholera, warns Dr Santini. 

Be careful wearing flip flops 

Flip flops may be the ideal footwear for relaxing by the poolside. 

But podiatrists warn sprained ankles and fractured bones are a risk when wearing the classic summer shoes. 

‘Whilst flip flops and sliders are great for walking poolside, we wouldn’t recommend them for longer walks as they offer little support to the feet and can end up doing more harm than good,’ says Emma McConnachie, spokesperson for the Royal College of Podiatry. 

She added: ‘Flip flops, and any backless shoes, can put you at an increased risk of injury, especially where alcohol or longer walks are involved. 

‘Common injuries are blisters, foot strain caused by a lack of support and prolonged use, sprained ankles and even fractures in the bones of the foot and ankle.’

Giving children secure footwear is also advisable to help prevent poolside accidents. 

Ms McConnachie said: ‘Youngsters are less likely to heed “no running” warnings at the poolside, try swim socks or swim shoes instead as these can be worn both in and out the pool.’

However, flip flops do have their uses as they can protect your bare feet from picking up nasty infections such as verrucas or athlete’s foot. 

Both verrucas and athlete’s foot are very common and spread by contact with infected cells. 

Pool side and changing areas are the perfect environment to catch these infections.

Long-haul and night flights

Some of the health hazards of a holiday are present before you even get to your destination. 

Rushing to get to the airport on time can be stressful and those travelling at night also have to battle with sleep loss. 

And that’s before you struggle with the subsequent jet-lag.  

Professor Russel Foster, an expert in circadian neuroscience at Oxford University, stresses that just one night of poor sleep can be enough to set you up for an illness.

‘There is a very clear relationship between stress, jet lag and immune suppression,’ he says. 

He adds: ‘Even one night of poor sleep can have a significant impact by suppressing the immune system.’

This means the combined stress of getting to the airport and the sleep loss from time-zone changes or catching a plane in the early hours can leave you vulnerable to falling ill on holiday. 

Professor Foster said: ‘It can make you more vulnerable to picking up a bug or infection, either on the aircraft or when you arrive. You are a bit more vulnerable.’

Swimming in polluted seas or lakes 

A dip in the sea or refreshing plunge into a lake is a classic holiday activity. 

But bacteria that can cause infections and diseases such as E coli and cholera could be lurking in polluted seas or lakes. 

Even in the UK waters, seas contaminated with sewage can make you sick. 

Experts generally recommend salt water for swimming as it generally has fewer riskier pathogens than fresh water. 

People with immune deficiencies should be particularly cautious about fresh water swimming. 

Swimming in such contaminated water can cause dysentery as well as respiratory and ear, nose and throat infections, says Immunodeficiency UK. 

The charity urges people who have a suppressed immune system, or their carers, to enquire how clean the sea and lakes are before committing to a dip. 

It adds that even swimming pools may pose a similar health risk if the water is not adequately monitored for quality and regularly cleaned. 

The Supreme Court has struck down President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan.

The justices ruled 6-3 that the administration overstepped its authority with the program to wipe out more than $400 million in student debt. 

The program was challenged by six Republican states and two borrowers who argued Biden should have sought approval from Congress for a plan using substantial taxpayer funds. 

On June 30, Biden condemned the ruling as he promised to provide alternative support. ‘Today’s decision has closed one path. Now we’re going to start another,’ he told reporters.

But what will happen to the 16 million people already approved for forgiveness? 

What does the decision mean for you? 

For the 26 million people who applied for the program, more than half of whom were approved, the ruling will dash their hopes of taking advantage of having up to $20,000 cut from their debt. 

If no other plans are put in place before then, this means that borrowers will have to return to making full repayments in October when they resume after more than three years this fall.   

Estimates from the Congressional Budget Office said the plan would have cost taxpayers roughly $400 billion, which has now been saved – in welcome news to those who opposed the program.   

Some argued the forgiveness would be unfair to those who either paid their way through college, repaid their loans already, or never attended college in the first place due to the high cost of education.

What was the student loan forgiveness policy? 

The Biden Administration announced its student loan forgiveness program in August 2022. 

The plan intended to cancel up to $20,000 of debt for eligible borrowers – which could have wiped away an estimated $430 billion of the total $1.6 trillion in borrowed cash.

People who earn less than $125,000 a year, or $250,000 per household, could get up to $10,000 in debt cancelation. 

Students who received a Pell Grant – a needs-based federal grant for lower-income families – during their education, stood to receive up to $20,000 in forgiveness. 

Some 26 million people applied for the program, according to the Department of Education – more than half of the 46 million eligible borrowers. 

Of the applications, 16 million were provisionally approved to have their debt forgiven, but the program was paused in November before any funds had been given out. 

Why was the program paused?

The program was halted, and funds were blocked from being disbursed, because of two Supreme Court lawsuits arguing the Biden Administration overstepped its authority in approving the debt erasure.

Biden v. Nebraska was brought by Republican attorneys in six states – Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and South Carolina – in September 2022, and argued that the program could harm tax revenues.

In October last year, the Job Creators Network Foundation filed a separate lawsuit in Texas on behalf of two student borrowers Myra Brown and Alexander Taylor.

The Biden Administration, however, argued the plan fell under the 2003 Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, otherwise known as the HEROES Act, which was created to ensure loan relief after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Supreme Court struck down the program in the case brought by Republican-controlled states. 

Although it ruled that the case brought by two student borrowers did not have the standing to challenge the program, this ruling was irrelevant given the outcome in the Biden v. Nebraska case. 

When will student loan repayments resume? 

The White House paused student loan repayments during the Covid-19 pandemic – in a separate policy to the student loan forgiveness program.

The Government argued the pandemic was a national emergency, which gave it the authority to cancel debt under the HEROES Act.    

But student loan payments are set to resume after more than three years this fall, after a deal was reached between the White House and Congress on raising the debt ceiling formally abolished the pause.

Interest will start accruing on September 1, according to the Department of Education, and borrowers will need to start making payments on federal student debt again in October.  

According to a new report from Wells Fargo, the average monthly payment will be between $210 and $314 once repayments resume. 

What support is Biden planning instead? 

On June 30, Biden vowed to work on a new program under the Higher Education Act to begin a new program to ease borrowers’s threat of a default if they fall behind on payments.

So far details on this support are scant.

Aspartame will be declared a potential cancer risk to humans, a bombshell report claimed today.

The artificial sweetener, used in a multitude of soft drinks including Diet Coke and Dr Pepper, will be listed as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ in a World Health Organisation reclassification within the next few weeks, insiders said.

But what is aspartame? What other products is it found in? And how much is safe to consume?

Here, MailOnline answers all your questions. 

What is aspartame?

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener first developed in the 1960s — completely by accident — and brought into market about 20 years later.

It is approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar. 

This means less is needed gram per gram than sugar to achieve the same sweet result, meaning products that contain it tend to be less calorific.

Unlike sugar, it does not raise blood sugar levels, making it a handy alternative for diabetics.

Chemically, aspartame is made up of three substances — aspartic acid (40 per cent), phenylalanine (50 per cent) and methanol (10 per cent).

What is it found in?

Aspartame is added to hundreds of products which market themselves as being ‘diet’ or ‘sugar-free’. 

The most famous examples are Diet Coke and Dr Pepper, as well as sugar-free gums such as Extra’s.

Other examples include low-fat or diet yogurts and jellies.

Is there aspartame in Coke Zero and Pepsi Max too?

Both products list aspartame in their ingredients list.

Other soft drink brands like Fanta Zero Orange, Lucozade and Sprite as well as some brands of squash and juice, such as Robinsons and Ribena Light, contain the artificial sweetener.

This means that it’s not just stereotypically ‘diet’ or ‘light’ soda drinks that contain the sweetener and many people could be consuming them without realising. 

What are its dangers?

Aspartame consumption has been anecdotally linked to headaches, dizziness and stomach upsets. 

However blind trials, where participants didn’t know if the product they consume has the sweetener, have failed to replicate this.

But there have been broader health concerns for years, including that it causes cancer, alters the gut biome, triggers depression, and paradoxically even contribute to obesity by increasing people’s appetites.

Yet health and food regulators have repeatedly declared them safe to use following ‘rigorous’ safety assessments.

There is one exception, however. People with phenylketonuria, a rare inherited blood condition, cannot process phenylalanine — one of the building blocks of aspartame.

If people with phenylketonuria consume phenylalanine it can build up in their blood, eventually damaging their vital organs. 

For this exact reason, aspartame must be listed as an ingredient on any product that contains it in both the US and UK, as well as other countries. 

Only about one in 10,000 people have the condition.  

What does the potential ruling mean?

The bombshell decision means the WHO’s subsidiary body, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), will officially link aspartame consumption to cancer.

However, it is expected to get a ruling of 2B, according to Reuters. 

This means it is ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’. 

It is the middle of five categories, and means ‘there is some evidence that it can cause cancer in humans’. At the same time, the link is ‘far from conclusive’.

The IARC’s same 2B cancer risk status is also given to aloe vera extract, lead, and several colouring agents. 

For comparison, red meat is considered ‘probably carcinogenic to humans,’ or 2A — one stage above aspartame’s expected bracket. 

The IARC has previously said the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones as a 2B cancer risk and acrylamide, the brown-black substance that forms on food from frying or baking, as a 2A cancer risk. 

IARC rankings are based on the evidence base that a substance or hazard poses a carcinogenic risk to people and not the individual risk.

For example, both smoking tobacco and eating processed meat is classified as 1, meaning the evidence basis linking the substance to an increased risk of cancer is very strong.

However, it does not mean bacon is as carcinogenic as smoking. 

Will Diet Coke be slapped with cancer warnings then?

Such rules are left up to individual countries.

But no similar warnings have been placed on red or processed meats in the UK despite stronger links to cancer being found according to past IARC rulings.

Any attempt to include such a warning would likely be considered an overreaction and would face stiff opposition from the soft drinks and sweetener industries.

Those opposed to the creep of ‘nanny-statism’ would also campaign against it.

But it could, if the evidence base is strong enough, lead to a recommended intake for aspartame by health authorities, for example the NHS.

This, depending on what experts find, could lead to Brits being advised to only consume one product containing aspartame per day or week, for example.

Such warnings could be published in health information similar to the NHS’s Eat Well guide. 

How much aspartame is safe to consume?

Even if aspartame is declared ‘possibly carcinogenic’ to humans, an individual’s risk could vary immensely.

The IARC establishes its rating based on evidence linking a substance to cancer, not the actual risk itself. 

Safe consumption levels would be determined by a separate body, the Joint WHO and Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Expert Committee on Food Additives.

It would provide advice on individual consumption levels, which could then be adapted by national health bodies.

The current recommendations for safe daily aspartame consumption are 50mg per kg of body weight in the US and 40mg per kg of body weight in the UK. 

This puts the British recommendation at about 2800mg for a 70kg adult.

Considering the average can of Diet Coke contains 180mg of real aspartame the British Dietetic Association says an adult would need to consume 15 cans a day to reach the acceptable daily intake of the sweetener. 

Will manufacturers face backlash?

Any IARC ruling on aspartame’s cancer risk could prompt consumer backlash, with customers shunning products containing them over cancer fears.

Similar boycotts have occurred from other IARC rulings.

In 2015, its committee concluded that glyphosate, a herbicide, is ‘probably carcinogenic’.

The ruling is often cited as a reason the product was banned in various countries, and many more individual states, cities or local government have also enacted rules against its use. 

Such consumer backlash on aspartame could, in theory, lead to food and drink companies changing the formulation of their products.

EastEnders has been hit by a huge scheduling shake-up as fans finally learn the truth about George Knight’s past this week.

In an epic two-night affair, viewers will finally learn the truth about George (Colin Salmon) and his ex-wife Rose and fans convinced they already have worked out her true identity. 

The BBC soap have teased the upcoming reveal with mysterious trailers with fans scouring through them in a bid to find clues.

And it seems some have come to the conclusion that Rose is actually the alter ego of former character Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) an identity she used after faking her own death. 

One teaser sees a red bloom in a vase at the Queen Vic with the words ‘Every Rose Has A Thorn….’.

Following the news that Michelle Collins would be reprising her role as the villainous and presumed dead Cindy, alongside Adam Woodyatt as her ex-husband Ian, rumours have been rife that Cindy and Rose were actually the same person.

And one soap fan spotted a detail in the latest trailer that links the characters in an unlikely way. 

They noted that if the letter ‘E’ was taken from Rose and added to Thorn, the two words would then spell ‘Ros Thorne’.

Ros appeared in the show between 1997-1998 as a private detective hired by Ian to track down his wife and sons Peter and Steven, after she fled the country after paying a hit man to try and kill him.  

The investigator, played by Scottish actress Clare Grogan, tracked Cindy down in Italy and helped Ian take his sons back to Walford.

Cindy eventually returned to the UK before being jailed for attempted murder and later died in prison during child birth.

Taking to the comment section another fan wrote about the theory: ‘Omg you’re a genius!’. 

While a second said: ‘ I mean that’s very clever if it’s intentional’.

Someone else wrote: ‘Good spot. Maybe [Ros] was in on it?’. 

And a fourth said: ‘Omg this is so clever if this is true!!’ 

EastEnders typically releases each day’s episode at 6am on BBC iPlayer before they are broadcast that evening for busy fans to plan their daily soap fix.

However, these two episodes will be aired simultaneously at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer, so that all of the fans can watch the dramatic truth unfold.

Linda Carter has been determined to find out the truth about George’s past after fearing he’s using her mother Elaine to gain control of the Queen Vic. 

She’s enlisted Phil Mitchell’s help, and he convinces Callum Highway to search the police database for information about George.

While Callum confirms that George’s record is clean, he’s concerned that he couldn’t find any information about his ex-wife Rose, and Phil confronts him.

Actor Colin Salmon previously addressed the mystery surrounding George’s past, which will finally be revealed in the upcoming episodes.

He said: ‘Conflict is drama, and drama is our business. It’s complex! Life is complex, and there are so many things that can send people off on the wrong trajectory. 

‘I love the idea of exploring that in drama because the catalyst doesn’t have to be some huge thing.

‘It can just be a misunderstanding. It’s more real like that. Being misunderstood is a nightmare for a straight shooter like George.’

EastEnders airs the truth about George’s past on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer. 

You might assume it’s simply because you (or your man) are getting older. Or you may blame it on the booze instead.

But struggling to keep an erection can be a sign of something much more sinister, experts say.

Impotence — estimated to strike half of all men over 40 — can be triggered by high blood pressure and diabetes, according to the NHS. 

Here, so-called erection experts explain the lesser-known, medical causes….  

Cardiovascular disease

Although usually down to stress, being unable to perform in the bedroom may be a warning sign of heart disease.

For a man to get erect, vessels carrying blood to his penis need to dilate. As a result, more blood flows into the penis and it swells.

But heart and circulatory diseases can narrow arteries supplying the blood, meaning less is able to flow through.

This then causes problems getting or maintaining an erection.

Narrowing of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, can increase your risk of a heart attack.

Because arteries in the penis are so narrow, ED can be one of the first warning signs, the British Heart Foundation says.

Professor Albert Ferro, a specialist in cardiovascular clinical pharmacology at King’s College London, told MailOnline: ‘ED can be due to a multitude of factors.

‘In recent years, it has been increasingly recognised that erectile dysfunction can be an early manifestation of cardiovascular disease.

‘Prompt diagnosis of silent heart disease is important because it will allow preventative treatments to be started at an earlier stage, thereby helping those individuals to live longer healthier lives.’

Three quarters of men are not aware that struggling to keep it up is a recognised sign of heart disease, according to a poll of 2,000 by The Urology Foundation.

Diabetes

Diabetes is usually just related to having high blood sugar levels and not producing enough insulin.

But men with diabetes are three times more likely to have trouble getting or keeping an erection, charities say.

And men with diabetes are thought to develop erectile dysfunction up to 10 to 15 years earlier than men who don’t, according to Diabetes UK.

Diabetics can have damaged blood vessels and nerves — making it harder to keep it up.

Other factors that can make it harder to keep it up related to diabetes include being overweight, smoking and not doing enough exercise.

‘Bad lifestyles, such as unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, smoking, chronic stress and lack of sleep, can also cause ED,’ said Amr Raheem, consultant andrologist at International Andrology London. 

But experts say you shouldn’t just reach for a blue pill in hope that it will solve your problems.  

He added: ‘All the above factors act by damaging erectile tissue, nerves and blood vessels responsible for erection.

‘This is why it is important to see your doctor if you develop erectile dysfunction rather than just taking Viagra. Your doctor will perform blood tests to rule out any underlying health problems.’

Hormone imbalances

Low testosterone levels may also be to blame for performance issues, experts say.

Testosterone regulates sex drive and blood flow in men.

If you do not have enough of it, your libido can be dented, says EDclinics. It states that it can also decrease blood flow, which is vital for maintaining an erection.

Having low levels can also cause stress and weight gain, both of which may contribute to ED, according to the Cleveland Clinic. 

Low levels can be caused by a multitude of factors — including drinking too much alcohol, diabetes, ageing and obesity.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help with erectile dysfunction in this case, but with side effects including oily skin, decreased sperm count and sleep apnoea, TRT is not for everyone.

‘As a society, we need to break down the stigma associated with ED and open up conversations,’ says Rebecca Porta of The Urology Foundation. 

She added: ‘ED can have a big impact on someone’s mental health, especially in cases where it impacts fertility and intimacy.’

Millions have an abnormal heart rhythm or arrythmia — and many don’t even realise it.

The most common type is atrial fibrillation (AF), which causes an irregular and often unusually fast heartbeat and drastically raises the risk of a stroke.

If diagnosed, AF can be treated. 

However, it’s estimated there are at least 270,000 people in the UK who are unaware they have the condition, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The figure is thought to stand at closer to 1.5million in the US.

‘What remains troubling is the sheer number of people who are undiagnosed and unaware they are living with a heightened risk of stroke,’ says BHF medical director, Professor Sir Nilesh Samani. 

‘Finding people with this hidden threat must remain a priority.’

Trudie Lobban, founder of the Arrhythmia Alliance, a coalition of patients, healthcare professionals and policymakers, adds: ‘Heart rhythm disorders are a leading cause of sudden cardiac death and devastating strokes.

‘And yet too few people are aware of the rhythm of their heart.’

To mark World Heart Rhythm Week, experts are highlighting the importance of being aware of arrhythmia warning signs and getting things checked out. Here’s what you need to know…

Arrhythmias can affect all age groups

However, AF is most common in older age groups. 

As Dr Anthony Chow, a consultant cardiologist at The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, explains: ‘Heart rhythm problems are a very common condition that can affect all age groups.

‘But AF is more common in older people. 

‘It can be as common as [affecting] 10 per cent of the population in their 70s, and almost 29 per cent of those in their 80s.’

Arrhythmias can have many causes

Lobban says many conditions can cause heart rhythm problems, including thyroid disorders, infections and sleep apnoea.

Triggers can also include stress, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, diet pills, and cough or cold medicines. 

‘But there is usually an underlying physical reason for it,’ Lobban adds.

Warning signs to look out for

Key warning signs, according to Dr Chow, are palpations (a thumping or fluttering sensation in your heart/chest), dizzy spells and feeling faint, breathlessness, chest discomfort, and feeling overly tired.

These things don’t automatically mean you have a heart problem, but it’s important to get any symptoms checked out. 

And Dr Chow adds: ‘Not everyone experiences these exact symptoms and, in some cases, patients can experience no symptoms at all.’

How to measure your heart rhythm

There are many ways heart rhythms can be measured clinically, through ECGs or monitors. You can check your pulse yourself at home, too.

‘The easiest way to detect an arrhythmia is to feel your pulse and hence your heart rhythm – is it irregular, too fast, or too slow?’ says Lobban. ‘Such a simple thing as a 30-second pulse rhythm check can literally save your life.’

The Heart Rhythm Alliance has a ‘know your pulse’ guide on their website. Lobban says you should sit down for five minutes beforehand, and remember that any stimulants you’ve taken, like caffeine or nicotine, will affect the rate.

You’ll need a watch that measures seconds (take it off to do the test), or your phone timer could work. Hold your left or right hand out with your palm facing up and elbow slightly bent. With your other hand, place your index and middle fingers on your wrist near the base of your thumb, between the bone and stringy thumb tendon, to find your pulse.

Once you’ve found your pulse, maintain a firm pressure and count the beats for 30 seconds, then multiply by two to get your heart rate in beats per minute. If your heart rhythm is irregular, you should count for one minute and don’t multiply.

Arrhythmia can cause many serious health problems

Heart arrhythmia can cause a variety of serious heart health complications including strokes, heart failure and heart attacks, explains Dr Chow. 

‘Heart arrhythmias, in particular AF, are often associated with an increased risk of blood clots, so it’s extremely important to be aware of the warning signs,’ he says. 

‘If a blood clot breaks loose, it can travel directly from the heart to the brain, which can cause a stroke. 

‘You should consult your doctor and get referred to a cardiac rhythm specialist for assessment if you have significant symptoms.’

When to see a doctor

If you have any previous history of heart problems and/or are becoming increasingly concerned about palpations, you should speak to a medical expert, Dr Chow advises. Those with a family history of arrythmia and/or sudden cardiac death should also make sure they get checked out.

‘It’s not usual that we’re aware of our heart beating, unless there’s a disturbed rhythm,’ he says. 

‘You should speak to your doctor if your heart palpations are lasting a long time, or aren’t improving and seem to be getting worse. 

‘Acute instances of symptoms could be a warning sign of something more serious, so it’s important to seek medical advice if you’re concerned. In some cases, arrhythmia could be an indication of a medical emergency such as a heart attack.’

Treatment for arrhythmia

Arrhythmias can be treated in a variety of ways. ‘Some require no more than reassurance after diagnosis, but others may need drug therapy, or implantation of an electrical device such as a pacemaker or ICD,’ says Lobban.

Dr Chow says therapies such as cardioversion can be used to reset the heart rhythm by sending a shock through the chest to the heart, and there are also procedures and surgeries including catheter ablation, where wires are threaded through blood vessels directly to the heart and heat is used to create tiny scars in the heart to block abnormal electrical signs and restore a normal heartbeat.

Dr Chow adds: ‘Most people with abnormal heart rhythms can lead a normal life when the condition has been properly diagnosed and managed.’

American singer Kelis is reportedly dating star actor Bill Murray, despite him being more than 30 years her senior. 

The rumours come just over a year after Kelis’ husband Mike Mora tragically passed away at the age of just 37. 

It also marks the first time that Murray himself has been in a public relationship since his former wife Jennifer Butler died in 2021. 

But who exactly was Kelis’ former husband? How did he die? Here is everything you need to know about Mike Mora. 

Who was Mike Mora? 

Mora worked as a photographer and frequently shared pictures of Kelis after the pair married in 2014. 

They lived on a remote farm in Temecula, California, outside of Los Angeles, from January 2020 until Mora’s passing.

The couple had two sons — Knight, 13, and Shepherd, seven — and one daughter — Galilee, two. 

The singer is now reportedly dating Groundhog Day actor Bill Murray, after the pair were to have connected over their ‘shared relatively recent bereavements’, according to the U.S. Sun. 

How did Mike Mora die? 

In 2021, Mora revealed that he had cancer, having been diagnosed a year earlier – at which time doctors had given him just 18 months left to live.

Mora took to his Instagram in late September 2021 to reveal he had stage 4 stomach cancer which was spreading to the lymph nodes in his back.

After a six-month battle with the illness, Mora died in March 2022. 

Exactly a year after her husband’s death, Kelis took to Instagram to open up about how the situation had affected her. 

‘It’s been exactly a year,’ Kelis wrote in the caption of her post. ‘That’s crazy to me.

‘I’m a very private person generally, especially when there is family involved,’ she continued. ‘But there is no denying the impact and evolution my husband’s passing has had on my life.

‘I get asked all the time how I started this journey,’ she stated before delving into the story in her video. ‘It’s a much longer conversation but in short what we were dealing with here pushed me so deep into understanding our bodies and how our minds and emotions are so interlocked, you can not treat one without the other.

‘Our thoughts and intentions are as powerful and key as our skin health and fitness,’ she said. ‘I want to live well and this is me sharing what I know to be true.

‘I just wanted to eat well,’ she recalled on how she got into nutrition and wellness. ‘When I got pregnant, that’s when I really started to care and think about it.’

The Kaleidoscope singer also added that the reason she lives a on a farm in a rural area is because ‘stress kills’.

‘Every doctor we saw, every specialist, every nutritionist, every human being we found that had any expertise in this whatsoever was like: “Stress kills”,’ she said.

‘I moved to the farm and we wanted to separate ourselves from all the silly things that had us stressed out and worried and angst and all these things that didn’t really matter’. 

Date that fashion retailer M&Co will relaunch after closing all 170 High Street stores is revealed

• M&Co had closed all 170 of its stores by the end of April this year 
• But the retailer will be back later this year just months after the closing sales
• Find out all you need to know about the fashion store’s return below

By Matthew Cox

Updated: 18:16 EDT, 7 June 2023

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