New figures show a dramatic rise in the number of women deciding to freeze their eggs. A report from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA) found that egg and embryo freezing are now the fastest growing fertility treatments in the UK. Egg freezing and storage saw a 64% rise between 2019 and 2021 – increasing from 2,576 cycles to 4,215 completed. What is egg freezing? It’s where a woman’s eggs are extracted and frozen immediately for fertilisation at a later date. Gynaecologist Dr Larisa Corda said it’s a “means of helping preserve fertility for the future”. Freezing the eggs at the point of extraction means they avoid the decline in quality that’s associated with ageing. “It essentially means that a woman becomes her own egg donor later in life, when she decides she wishes to have children,” she said. What’s the process? “It involves the same sort of procedure as the first part of IVF, where a woman takes injections to stimulate her ovaries, to encourage follicles to grow and lead to egg maturation over several days. “After that, the eggs are collected via a simple surgical technique using a needle placed into the vagina and then into the ovaries, to aspirate the eggs which are there,” Corda said. The daily injections (usually for eight to 11 days) involved in the first part of the process is to encourage the ovaries to produce more eggs. “They may be uncomfortable and lead to side-effects like bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, headaches and other hormonal symptoms, such as breast soreness and changes to your mood,” she added. Women are usually put to sleep for the egg retrieval, during which, a long needle is inserted into the vagina to reach the ovaries and remove the fluid in each follicle that contains an egg. “This is all done under direct ultrasound guidance and normally takes around 30 minutes. You will not feel anything during the procedure, but afterwards, you may have some cramps and a bit of bleeding, which all normally settles down within 24-48 hours.” How many eggs are usually frozen each time? It really depends how many are produced by the patient at the time. Corda said the number of eggs doesn’t give a good indication on the quality though – which is only revealed after the eggs are fertilised to create embryos further down the line, when the woman or couple want to try to have a baby. “Because of this reason, women are advised to freeze between 10-15 eggs, to give themselves a good, reasonable chance. This may involve doing several rounds of egg freezing, but there’s no guarantee of success,” she said. The aim varies depending on the clinic though, and the “numbers needed when older become much more unpredictable, and it also becomes much harder to get a good number of eggs too”. What’s the success rate? The success rates are dependant on age and the quality of the eggs. “Not surprisingly, the highest live birth rates from previously frozen eggs are shown to come from women who undergo the procedure before they are 30,” she noted. “However, the average age at which women freeze their eggs is around 37, with many women closer to 40 by the time they consider doing this.” She said it’s generally agreed that the best time is before age 36, when most women’s eggs are still a sufficient quality and you’re more likely to use them in the future (as opposed to someone age 25 and more likely to fall pregnant without medical assistance). It’s important to know that some eggs won’t actually make it, even if they were fine at the freezing stage. Dr Suvir Venkataraman, from the Harley Street Fertility Clinic, added: “For a good prognosis patient, i.e. under 35 with no known fertility issues, roughly 90% of eggs survive freezing and thawing by vitrification. “Approximately 70% of those will be fertilised by good sperm to create embryos. Approximately 50% of those embryos will develop well. And there’s approximately 30% chance of live birth per embryo transferred.” How much does it cost? The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) estimate the average cost of freezing eggs is £7,000-£8,000 – including medication, storage costs and the later process of thawing and transferring to the womb. But it varies from clinic to clinic. What else should you consider? Arm yourself with all the facts on the costs, and understand it’s not a guaranteed insurance policy for getting pregnant in the future. “It’s important to see a fertility specialist to get assessed before considering egg freezing, as the decline in egg number and quality can start much earlier for some women,” Corda said. “If you’re not sure what clinic to go to, the HFEA website has lots of great and useful information to help you to decide and check out their credentials. “Egg freezing does not offer any guarantees, but for a lot of women, it is the best possible chance of having their own biological children later in life.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How can you save money on your wedding food? Regular napping could be good for brain health, research suggests Dramatic rise in the number of women freezing their eggs

Regular daytime naps could be good for brain health, new research suggests. Daytime napping could slow the rate at which brains shrink as we age, the study led by researchers at UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay found. The researchers hope their findings into the health benefits of sleeping during the day will reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping. The study suggests the average difference in brain volume between people programmed to be habitual nappers and those who were not was equivalent to 2.6 to 6.5 years of ageing. Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older Dr Victoria Garfield, UCL Senior author Dr Victoria Garfield, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL, said: “Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older.” The study, published in the journal Sleep Health, analysed data from people aged 40 to 69. Past research has suggested people who have had a short nap perform better in cognitive tests in the hours afterwards than those who did not nap. The new study looked at whether there was a causal relationship between daytime napping and brain health. Researchers looked at 97 snippets of DNA thought to determine people’s likelihood of habitual napping. They compared measures of brain health and cognition of people who are more genetically programmed to nap with people who did not have these changes in DNA, using data from 378,932 people from the UK Biobank study. They found that, overall, people predetermined to nap had a larger total brain volume. The genetic variants – DNA changes – influencing the likelihood of someone to nap were identified in an earlier study looking at data from 452,633 UK Biobank participants. But the researchers did not find a difference in how well those programmed to be habitual nappers performed on three other measures of brain health and cognitive function. Lead author and PhD candidate Valentina Paz, University of the Republic (Uruguay) and MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL, said: “This is the first study to attempt to untangle the causal relationship between habitual daytime napping and cognitive and structural brain outcomes. “By looking at genes set at birth, Mendelian randomisation avoids confounding factors occurring throughout life that may influence associations between napping and health outcomes. “Our study points to a causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume.” Garfield added: “I hope studies such as this one showing the health benefits of short naps can help to reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Dramatic rise in the number of women freezing their eggs 9 glorious gardens to visit this summer How to keep flying insects out of your home

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of women freezing their eggs in the UK, while more single people are now opting for IVF, new figures show. A report from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA) found that more people than ever before are undergoing procedures, with egg and embryo freezing now the fastest growing fertility treatments in the UK. Egg freezing and storage increased from 2,576 cycles in 2019 to 4,215 in 2021 (a 64% rise), while embryo storage also rose. Some experts have said the Covid-19 pandemic had a big impact on the numbers of women wanting to freeze their eggs in the hope of preserving their fertility. Restrictions on socialising may have prompted some women to think more about their fertile window, and decide to try to increase their reproductive choices Sarah Norcross, Progress Educational Trust Sarah Norcross, director of the Progress Educational Trust, said of the latest data: “The dramatic rise in the number of egg freezing cycles could be linked to the pandemic. “Restrictions on socialising may have prompted some women to think more about their fertile window, and decide to try to increase their reproductive choices.” The HFEA data also shows there was a 10% rise in IVF and donor insemination cycles between 2019 and 2021 (around 7,000 more cycles). Meanwhile, the average age at which women have fertility treatment with IVF has risen – to 36. This compares to an average age of almost 31 for women who conceive naturally. The regulator’s report shows that patients in heterosexual relationships accounted for around 90% of all IVF patients in 2021. Meanwhile, the number of IVF patients in female same-sex relationships increased from 1,649 in 2019 to 2,201 in 2021 (a 33% rise) and single parents rose from 2,001 in 2019 to 2,888 in 2021 (a 44% rise). This means that single patients and patients in female same-sex relationships had the biggest increase in IVF use from 2019 to 2021. When it comes to success in getting pregnant using own eggs, the average overall IVF pregnancy rate using fresh embryos increased from 10% per embryo transferred in 1991 to 29% in 2021. Patients aged 18 to 34 had the highest pregnancy rate per embryo transferred at 41% in 2021. Meanwhile, pregnancy rates per embryo transferred increased from 8% in 1991 to 33% for patients aged 35 to 37, and was 25% for patients aged 38 to 39 in 2021. For patients aged 40 to 42, the pregnancy rate per embryo transferred increased from 6% in 1991 to 16% in 2021. Our report shows that the average age of IVF patients has increased to 36, around five years older than mothers who get pregnant naturally and these aftershocks could mean that the average age of an IVF patient continues to rise Julia Chain, HFEA For patients aged 43 to 50, the pregnancy rate per embryo transferred increased from 1% in 1991 to 6% in 2021. Live birth rates per embryo transferred have increased from 7% in 1991 to 25% in 2021 for patients aged 35 to 37 and from 6% in 1991 to 17% in 2021 for patients aged 38 to 39. For those aged 40 to 42, the live birth rate per embryo stands at 10%, but plummets for women aged 43 and over. Meanwhile, the average IVF pregnancy rate using frozen embryo transfers has increased from around 7% in the 1990s to 36% in 2021. The average IVF birth rate using frozen embryo transfers also increased from around 6% in the 1990s to 27% in 2021. Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: “Overall, the new HFEA report paints a promising picture. It shows treatment numbers are back at pre-pandemic levels and thanks to improved clinical and laboratory practice, over time pregnancy rates are increasing. “Despite the pandemic being declared officially over, the aftershocks are still being felt as delays across other areas of healthcare prevent some patients accessing fertility services. “Our report shows that the average age of IVF patients has increased to 36, around five years older than mothers who get pregnant naturally and these aftershocks could mean that the average age of an IVF patient continues to rise. “Although pregnancy rates have increased, the likelihood of success decreases with age. “For some patients, this may mean they never get the baby they hoped for and that’s heartbreaking.” More patients than ever before are paying privately for IVF. The number of IVF cycles funded by the NHS continued to vary across the UK with an overall 16% decrease to 20,000 cycles in 2021 from around 24,000 in 2019.

With the heatwave stretching on this summer, festival-goers may be worried about handling the hot temperatures. The medical team at the Isle of Wight Festival said they saw fewer heat-related issues than expected, but there has still been a 15% rise in incidents since last year. With Glastonbury temperatures predicted to fall between 21 and 25 degrees, how can you make sure you stay safe? 1. Find shade – anywhere on the site When you see photos and videos of festival sites, it can look pretty exposed to the elements. “At festivals, seek shade in festival tents or near stages, or by going to bars… Even take a gazebo to go with your tent [if the festival allows],” says associate medical director of St John Ambulance, David Monk. When out in the field, take an umbrella or parasol if you are worried, Monk explains. And also, consider “wearing light layers and a cap”, he says. “Perhaps take a wet cloth to pop on the back of your neck, or wet the cap and wear it to cool you.” 2. Put sun cream everywhere “Make sure you wear a good head covering, at least SPF 30, and reapply regularly, so take it into the festival with you. When you get sweaty, it will need reapplying,” Monk explains. If you are dressing up in wild clothing, “apply sun cream before putting it on and reapply it, and make sure you take something to wear when it starts getting cooler”, he explains. “Put sun cream under make-up and glitter, and look at a sun cream spray for your scalp” – especially important if you don’t want to wear a hat. 3. Know what to look out for Knowing the signs of heatstroke and severe burns is vital. The main risks are sunburn, heatstroke and heat exhaustion. “Heat exhaustion is something you can self-treat by drinking lots of water or weak squash, and eating salty foods. If you think you have heatstroke, however, seek help from the medical teams,” Monk says. Signs include not sweating despite being hot, and a reduced level of consciousness, he adds. “If you get burnt, think how bad it is. If it blisters, you feel unwell or are shivering, seek help from the festival medical teams.” They should be fairly easy to find and signposted – ask around if you can’t see any. However, if it is less severe, just do lots of moisturising and rehydrating, he suggests. 4. Drink water and know how hydrated you are “Drink alcohol in moderation, and drink water alongside it. When you go to the loo, check how dark your urine is,” Monk suggests. This isn’t always possible in festival toilets, but you might detect darker and more dehydrated urine from its smell. 5. Pack the electrolytes When you sweat, you lose a lot of electrolytes, like salt. “Take an electrolyte drink with you – things like sports drinks, or Dioralyte, to replace whatever you lose,” says Monk. “Make sure you’re eating things with salt in, and carbohydrates, to give you energy.” 6. Keep an eye on drink and drugs “If people are going to take drugs, make sure those around you know what you have taken, in case they need to tell someone if there is a problem. Drugs and alcohol reduce your body’s ability to respond to the heat,” says Monk. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Regular daytime naps could be good for the brain, study shows Meghan ‘set to sign’ Dior deal: 4 times she’s worn the brand Designer JW Anderson wears Irish rugby top on the runway

Regular daytime naps could be good for brain health, new research suggests. Daytime napping could slow the rate at which brains shrink as we age, the study led by researchers at UCL and the University of the Republic in Uruguay found. The researchers hope their findings into the health benefits of sleeping during the day will reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping. The study suggests the average difference in brain volume between people programmed to be habitual nappers and those who were not was equivalent to 2.6 to 6.5 years of ageing. Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older Dr Victoria Garfield, UCL Senior author Dr Victoria Garfield, MRC Unit for Lifelong Health & Ageing at UCL, said: “Our findings suggest that, for some people, short daytime naps may be a part of the puzzle that could help preserve the health of the brain as we get older.” The study, published in the journal Sleep Health, analysed data from people aged 40 to 69. Past research has suggested people who have had a short nap perform better in cognitive tests in the hours afterwards than those who did not nap. The new study looked at whether there was a causal relationship between daytime napping and brain health. Researchers looked at 97 snippets of DNA thought to determine people’s likelihood of habitual napping. They compared measures of brain health and cognition of people who are more genetically programmed to nap with people who did not have these changes in DNA, using data from 378,932 people from the UK Biobank study. They found that, overall, people predetermined to nap had a larger total brain volume. The genetic variants – DNA changes – influencing the likelihood of someone to nap were identified in an earlier study looking at data from 452,633 UK Biobank participants. But the researchers did not find a difference in how well those programmed to be habitual nappers performed on three other measures of brain health and cognitive function. Lead author and PhD candidate Valentina Paz, University of the Republic (Uruguay) and MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, said: “This is the first study to attempt to untangle the causal relationship between habitual daytime napping and cognitive and structural brain outcomes. “By looking at genes set at birth, Mendelian randomisation avoids confounding factors occurring throughout life that may influence associations between napping and health outcomes. “Our study points to a causal link between habitual napping and larger total brain volume.” Dr Garfield added: “I hope studies such as this one showing the health benefits of short naps can help to reduce any stigma that still exists around daytime napping.” Read More Dramatic rise in the number of women freezing their eggs Paramedics who found ‘poisoned’ couple dead in Mexico hotel room also fell ill Bruce Willis’ family honours him with first Father’s Day tributes since announcing his dementia diagnosis Richard Ford on Frank Bascombe, getting older and literary feuds: ‘At my age I can’t get into fistfights’ Families’ ‘disappointment’ as Croydon tram disaster driver cleared

Louis Tomlinson’s little sister, Phoebe Tomlinson, has announced that she’s pregnant with her first child. The 19-year-old shared a video on Instagram on Monday to reveal that she’s expecting a child with her boyfriend, Jack Varley. The black-and-white footage, which was set to Ellie Goulding’s “How Long Will I Love You,” began with Phoebe looking at her positive pregnancy test in shock and excitement before showing the test to her partner. Phoebe’s video continued with her documenting the happy reactions from her twin sister, Daisy, and her father, Mark Tomlinson, to the baby news. The influencer went on to share a picture of an ultrasound, a onesie that read: “Coming soon baby Varley,” and a teddy bear. After sharing a clip of herself cradling her baby bump, she included a video taken by her sister, Lottie Tomlinson, as Lottie and her son, Lucky, joined the mother-to-be for an ultrasound appointment. The video ended with a shot of two onesies. In the caption, Phoebe hinted at her baby’s due date, writing: “Our little miracle, joining us this winter.” While the One Direction singer has not yet commented on his sister’s Instagram video, some of her other family members did. “Can’t wait to meet you baby,” Lottie wrote, while Daisy commented red hearts and multiple emojis of a face holding back tears. Many fans and friends of the UK influencer also took to the comments to share their well-wishes and congratulatory messages. “Oh my god I’m crying!! Congratulations,” YouTuber Anastasia Kingsnorth wrote. “Aw congrats!!! Most amazing journey coming up!!” another one of Phoebe’s followers wrote, while a third added: “Congratulations beautiful girl! You were made for this.” Other fans said they were eager to see Louis’ response to the baby news. “Just imagine how happy Lou was with the news, congratulations,” one wrote, while another added: “We’re very sure Uncle Louis is so excited to meet you baby!!” Phoebe also shared two photos of herself looking at her baby bump on TikTok to announce the news. Louis, who has his stepfather’s last name, has also been vocal about being involved in his siblings’ lives after their mother’s death in 2016. During an interview with The Telegraph in 2020, he called himself “a kind of second parent” to Daisy and Phoebe. “Without being too soppy, I like looking after people, it’s cool,” he explained. At the time, he confessed that he was using some of his money to help pay for his sisters’ private school education. Read More Niall Horan says he was afraid to go out after being chased by One Direction fans A One Direction fan claimed she had a brain tumour. Five years after her death, we still need answers From Ed Sheeran to Dua Lipa: the richest musicians and celebrities under the age of 35 Bruce Willis’ family shares first Father’s Day posts since announcing his dementia Adele opens up about fungal skin infection after ‘sitting in my own sweat’ Gavin Rossdale says he and Gwen Stefani have ‘opposing views’ as parents

Bruce Willis’ family shared sweet tributes to the actor on Sunday, which marked his Father’s Day since his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis (FTD) was announced. On Sunday, the actor’s wife, Emma Heming Willis, took to Instagram to share a photo of Bruce with their eldest daughter, Mabel, 11. The pair, who’ve been married since 2009, also share a nine-year-old daughter, Evelyn. In the caption, Emma went on to praise Bruce for the lessons that he’s continued to teach their daughters amid his ongoing health condition. The actor’s family first announced that he had aphasia in March 2022, before revealing in February that his brain condition had developed to FTD. “Father’s Day is a time I get to reflect on my deep appreciation and respect I have for Bruce as I watch him father our little ones,” Emma wrote in her post. “Where it might not be ‘conventional,’ what he’s teaching them will span generations. Unconditional love, kindness, strength, compassion, patience, generosity, resilience.” Emma, who’s been very vocal about her husband’s dementia, concluded her post by emphasising how grateful her entire family is for Bruce. “Happy Father’s Day to the greatest dad I know, who will forever be the gift that keeps giving within our family,” she wrote. Bruce’s ex-wife, Demi Moore, also shared a throwback photo of their family, in honour of Father’s Day on Sunday. In the black-and-white image posted to Instagram, the Die Hard star posed with his and his ex’s three children, Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29. “Forever grateful to you BW for giving me these three beautiful girls,” Moore wrote. “We love our #girldad. Happy Father’s Day!” Meanwhile, Bruce’s oldest daughter, Rumer, took to Instagram over the weekend to express her gratitude for her father. Her post also included a picture of the actor holding his newborn granddaughter, Louetta. “Seeing my father hold my daughter today was something I will treasure for the rest of my life. His sweetness and love for her was so pure and beautiful,” Rumer wrote. “Papa I’m so lucky to have you and so is Lou. Thank you for being the silliest, most loving, coolest Daddio a girl could ask for. Best Girl Dad in the game.” She concluded her caption by wishing a happy first Father’s Day to her partner and father of her child, Derek Richard Thomas. In addition, Scout Willis shared two photos of her and her father on Instagram, along with a heartfelt tribute. After “sending the blessing of this love” to her followers, she reflected on some of the things that she’s learned from Bruce. “I feel so lucky to know the kind of tenderness that this man shares, the deep admiration, respect and reverence he has for his family. I feel so lucky that this incredible, vibrant, man is my father,” she wrote. Scout concluded: “Thinking of everyone for whom today has been challenging and I am loving you with the deepest depths of my heart! What patience, compassion and presence we learn through the greatest challenges in our lives.” Bruce’s family first announced his FTD diagnosis in February, one year after they revealed that he’d been diagnosed with aphasia. In the joint statement, his family spoke candidly about his symptoms and detailed how his condition progressed to FTD. “Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis,” they wrote in the statement, shared with the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. “Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research.” Along with celebrating Father’s Day on 18 June, Emma also celebrated her 45th birthday. While sharing a few family photos in honour of the occasion on Instagram, she also used her birthday post to send a message about caregiving. “I’m making a few BIG birthday wishes! This one I hope you could make a reality,” she wrote. “Text or call a person in your life that’s a caregiver and let them know here is X, Y, or Z I can do to help you this week.” She noted that even if this person responds to the message by saying they’re “fine” and “don’t need anything,” there are still other ways to show caregivers you’re thinking of them. “Drop some food at their doorstep or flowers or a small something and text them after to let them know it’s there,” Emma concluded. “Or honestly, just tell them thank you and that they are doing a great job. That kindness and support will go such a long long way.” Read More Bruce Willis’ daughter Tallulah speaks out about his early signs of dementia before announcing diagnosis Bruce Willis’ wife Emma shares sweet family photos as she gives update on dementia research work Bruce Willis’s wife Emma credits their nine-year-old daughter with important health advice Tallulah Willis says Demi Moore’s romance with Ashton Kutcher was ‘really hard’ Adele opens up about fungal skin infection after ‘sitting in my own sweat’ Gavin Rossdale says he and Gwen Stefani have ‘opposing views’ as parents

Adele has spoken candidly about suffering from a fungal skin infection in a very awkward area of her body due to wearing Spanx, according to reports. The “Easy On Me” singer, 35, opened up about getting “jock itch” around her groin area after sweating in her Spanx shapewear night after night while performing at her Las Vegas residency. Adele recently returned to her residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace after a three-month break. During her most recent show over the weekend, she told the crowds she was “so hot” under the spotlights on the stage. According to the Daily Mail, Adele said that her “t**s were sweating” and added: “I need a towel, Jesus!” She continued to tell the crowd that her doctor informed her that she had “jock itch”, a fungal skin infection that causes an itchy rash in warm, moist areas of the body, such as the groin. “It is a bit crude but I never knew it existed!” the “Easy On Me” singer said. “Obviously when I do my shows I wear Spanx and keep it all in and make it fit me. And I sweat a lot and it doesn’t go anywhere. So basically I just sit in my sweat. And my doctor gave me jock itch [cream].” Appearing to refer to a topical treatment for the condition, Adele added: “So it looks like I am an athlete basically, so I have to squirt it on myself. I don’t know why the f*** I just told you that.” But the superstar also gave her fans some good news about herself. “Talking of body acne, I have started weight-lifting again like no one’s business. And I am absolutely loving it.” Following her three-month break, Adele said she was “gassed” to be performing again, even when the nerves got the better of her. “All week I had just been buzzing and right then I was stood right there [behind the curtain] and I s*** myself,” she admitted. “We had a very long break and I am gassed to be back. I was bored out of my brains. Somehow I missed you. It is a lovely change. I genuinely love doing these shows and it is the highlight of my week. I was desperate to get back. It is a whole new meaning.” In March, Adele announced that she was extending her Las Vegas residency with 34 more dates between June and November. She also spoke of plans to release a concert film. Her “Weekends With Adele” series began in November 2022 and was due to end in March, but her representatives said they would resume on 16 June until 4 November. Recently, the “Someone Like You” singer appeared to have been caught in the middle of her close friends Alan Carr and his ex-husband Paul Drayton’s divorce. The former couple were married for three years but announced their separation in January 2022. Adele paid for their wedding party in 2018 and officiated the ceremony after getting ordained. During an appearance on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown last August, Carr joked that he and Drayton had divided everything between them, including their celebrity friends like Adele. The Chatty Man star quipped that he got “custody of Adele” but Drayton recently criticised his ex’s sketch as “bad taste” and clarified that he is still close friends with Adele. Adele currently lives in Beverly Hills with her boyfriend Rich Paul and her 10-year-old son Angelo, who she shares with ex-husband Simon Konecki. Read More Dirty talk isn’t always mortifying, but it can – and should – be better Prince Harry recalled ‘yawning silence’ that followed Meghan Markle’s joke after first Trooping the Colour Bride praised for kicking bridesmaid out of wedding after disagreement over dress colour Paul Drayton criticises Alan Carr’s ‘nasty’ joke about their friendship with Adele Gavin Rossdale says he and Gwen Stefani have ‘opposing views’ as parents Can noisy festivals damage your hearing long term?

Festival season is in full swing, and thousands of music lovers will soon be flocking to Glastonbury, ready to revel and soak up the sounds. But can all those loud songs and thumping sound effects be detrimental to our hearing? “Attending a concert may give you more than you bargained for,” says Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy. “A recent 2022 BMJ study showed one billion people around the world aged 12-34 are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. With 24% of young people found to have unsafe listening practices with personal music devices.” She adds that 48% were attending noisy venues, such as nightclubs and concerts, at least once a month without noise protection. Dr Adam Hill, associate professor of electroacoustics, University of Derby, says: “While festivals are, for many, one of the most enjoyable features of the summer, care must be taken to avoid over-exposing yourself to high sound levels, as this could result in long-term negative social and health impacts. You need to ‘enjoy responsibly’,” Hill adds. How does noise exposure damage hearing? Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. Our hearing depends on the function of tiny hairs inside the cochlea – a snail-shaped organ in your middle ear, explains Dr Lee: “Sound waves cause the fluid in the cochlea to reverberate, resulting in the movement of these very fine hairs. This generates electrical impulses, which lead to the perception of sound in the brain.” She says there are around 15,000 of these specialised hair cells in each cochlea. Once they have been damaged, they cannot regenerate. “We are all exposed to noise every day, but it’s loud noises above 85 dB that are likely to cause hearing loss,” notes Lee. “This could be a sudden explosion, or continuous exposure to loud noise, such as attending a concert, working in a noisy factory or listening to a personal music device at high volumes.” What are the signs you’ve been exposed to too much noise? There are a few tell-tale signs you’ve been exposed to too much noise at a festival. One of them is tinnitus. “If you have ringing in your ears after attending a festival. This could persist for one or two days after the event – and may become permanent after repeated exposures over many years,” says Dr Hill. Decreased sensitivity to sound is another thing you might notice. “Things sound quieter/muffled,” says Hill. “This usually takes one to two days to return to normal, but may become permanent after repeated exposure over many years.” He says you may also have difficulty understanding what someone is saying to you, especially in a noisy environment, and difficulty telling different sounds apart, like identifying multiple instruments when a band is playing. What can you do to protect your hearing at festivals? “Use earplugs. Ideally custom-made earplugs, which is what musicians use,” says Lee. “Cotton wool or foam rubber earplugs are ineffective. High-fidelity earplugs are a good option. These filter the sound without reducing the quality and provide ear protection.” This is especially important for babies and children at festivals – ear defenders are available to help protect their sensitive ears. Lee adds: “Take regular breaks away from the noise. For every 3 dB above 80 dB, the time you can spend exposed to the noise without it damaging your hearing is halved. “It’s safe to listen to noise at 80 dB for up to eight hours, so at 83 dB this time frame is reduced to four hours. If you do the maths, at the average concert, hearing damage could set in after just five minutes!” She suggests taking breaks such as going to the loo, getting a drink, or taking a walk away from the main body of the noise at regular intervals. And lastly: “Don’t stand within three metres of a loudspeaker.” What can you do if you’re already concerned? Regular festival goers may already have hearing concerns on their radar. “The best thing you can do is to go get your hearing tested,” advises Dr Hill. “This will give you an indication of whether you have any issues already.” If you enjoy going to festivals and other live music events on a regular basis, he says it would be wise to invest in some suitable reusable earplugs: “High quality earplugs will reduce the effect of the musical content equally, so it sounds the same but at a lower level.” If you are involved in the music industry in any way (even if you are a student), Hill suggests making use of the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme. He adds: “You can get a hearing test and high-quality bespoke earplugs for a significant discounted rate.”

An overview of the media in the Netherlands, including links to broadcasters and newspapers.

Dame Deborah James’s dad has recalled their conversation on the day she died, in an emotional new interview published on Father’s Day (18 June). James was diagnosed with incurable stage four bowel cancer in 2016, when she was 35. Using the moniker “bowel babe”, she campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness about the symptoms of the disease until her death on 28 June 2022. Her BowelBabe fund has raised over £11.3m for Cancer Research UK at the time of writing, and James was awarded a damehood last May for her activism. In an interview with The Sun, her father Alistair James explained how James was committed to living a full life until the very end. “She was always full of energy, the driving force in our family. She was always coming up with fun ideas, ways to make memories together,” he said. “She would create outdoor cinemas in the garden, plan last-minute holidays, throw impromptu parties – it was never-ending.” James was receiving palliative care at her parents’ home in Surrey in the weeks before her death. “We all knew how desperate it was and we did have some desperately sad times. But we all made sure there were lots of good times, too,” Alistair told the outlet. He also reflected on the day James died, with him and his wife Heather by her side. “Heather suddenly called for me, telling me it was happening and I needed to come now. Saying goodbye was very hard, but it was peaceful,” the 67-year-old said. “Right towards the end, I told her, ‘You can let go now, you have done enough. You can sleep’. I’d never said anything like that before.” Their Father’s Day celebrations usually involved watching sports together, Alistair said. “I remember her taking me to The Ashes cricket four years ago. She loved every minute of it. We loved days out at Wimbledon together,” he continued. “It’s those things that I’ll really miss.” Alistair also expressed his sadness for James’s husband Sebastian, and their children Hugo and Eloise, who will miss out on celebrating many milestones together. James called Alistair “my unsung hero” in a moving post on Father’s Day last year – days before she died. She shared a picture of him brushing her hair, with a caption that read: “My dad is my unsung hero, more so than ever. He’s quietly there behind the scenes, making sure I am OK.” Earlier this year, an impactful documentary chronicling James’s campaign efforts was released on BBC Two. BowelBabe in Her Own Words stitches together 100 hours of recordings – from James’s podcast You Me, and the Big C, her Instagram and TikTok videos, text messages, voice notes and old home videos – to tell the activist’s story. Read More I’m about to experience my first Father’s Day without my Dad Adam Kay says his ‘life has been transformed’ after ‘welcoming two young babies’ via surrogate Prince William all smiles as he’s pictured with his children to mark Father’s Day Alan Carr’s ex Paul Drayton criticises comedian’s ‘really nasty’ comments about friendship with Adele Somehow everyone has become a body language expert

One of the scientists whose work pioneered the development of medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy has revealed why life may become “so miserably boring” after two years of using the drug. Ozempic is an FDA-approved medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It works by mimicking a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), which regulates blood sugar levels and slows down the rate at which food leaves the stomach, often creating the feeling of fullness. These semaglutide injections – sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy – have soared in popularity as many people, including Hollywood celebrities, have used it for weight loss. What’s more, people have also found Ozempic has been effective in curing their addictive habits, like drinking, smoking, shopping, or nail biting. However, because of Ozempic’s increasing popularity, it has led to national shortages of the type 2 diabetes treatment – leaving those who actually need it without. In an interview with Wired, professor Jens Juul Holst – who received the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize in 2021 for his work developing treatments based on the GLP-1 hormone – spoke about the effects of Ozempic, and why he believes many people will stop taking the medication after just a few years. “What happens is that you lose your appetite and also the pleasure of eating, and so I think there’s a price to be paid when you do that,” Holst told Wired. “If you like food, then that pleasure is gone. The craving for food for some people is taken away when they take GLP-1 drugs.” He continued: “That may eventually be a problem, that once you’ve been on this for a year or two, life is so miserably boring that you can’t stand it any longer and you have to go back to your old life.” Holst added that medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have been on the market since 2005, though studies show that these people don’t stay on them for very long. “It’s just like every other drug, they don’t stay on it for many reasons,” he explained. “One of the reasons, as I said, is that once you have tried it and you realise you’ve lost interest in food, then that may be enough.” “We don’t know why people stop taking these drugs, but we know for a fact that they do stop. They do that all over the world.” A 2020 study found that 70 per cent of people who took GLP-1 drugs for type 2 diabetes stopped taking them within two years. However, this could pose a problem for many patients taking semaglutide injections. Research has found that people who stopped taking Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss experienced weight rebound. A trial published in April 2022 saw participants gain back two thirds of the weight they had lost after 68 weeks of taking semaglutide. As for celebrities who use the once-weekly injection for weight loss, despite not having diabetes or clinical obesity, Hans instead called attention to the “many terrible problems” that those with diabetes have struggled with by not having drugs like Ozempic readily available. “Have you ever visited a diabetes hospital? It’s really deplorable,” he said. “People come in with amputated limbs and compromised cognitive functions and heart problems or they can barely move – they’re miserable and depressed. It’s really serious. There is so much you can improve with a drug that is not only a weight-loss drug but is also an anti-diabetic.” Amidst the popularity of semaglutide injections, the US Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings for consumers not to use off-brand versions of Ozempic or Wegovy, because they may not include the same GLP-1 hormone used in approved medications. Earlier this month, agency officials reported problems with patients using compounded versions of semaglutide – which combines traditional semaglutide with other ingredients. These drugs are not FDA-approved, and the agency does not verify the safety or effectiveness of compounded drugs. Consumers should only use drugs containing semaglutide with a prescription from a licensed health care provider and obtained from a state-licensed pharmacy or other facilities registered with the FDA, the agency said. Read More What is ‘Ozempic face’? Doctors warn about facial ageing side effect of diabetes medications How does Wegovy work? The ‘game changing’ weight loss drug beloved by Hollywood FDA warns against using off-brand versions of Ozempic, Wegovy for weight loss Pregnant Stassi Schroeder admits she wants to ‘try’ Ozempic after giving birth Doctors warn about ‘Ozempic face’ side effect of medications Amy Schumer says she stopped taking Ozempic because of side-effects