Lifestyle

A football fan who was left with brain damage after a brutal attack by rival fans is set to have his home renovated thanks to hit BBC show DIY SOS. Cambridge United supporter Simon Dobbin, 45, was left unable to walk or talk after being kicked and punched in the head by a gang of 13 football fans after his team drew 0-0 with Southend United FC. The father-of-three suffered permanent brain damage due to a massive stroke and bleed...

When I was younger the only thing I ever looked forward to about going back to school, was the fact that I’d have a brand new backpack across my scrawny shoulders. Every September a new bag was purchased and a huge grin beamed across my ‘innocent’ face. Alas, those care-free school days are LONG behind me, but my backpack wearing days are still very much intact. Who doesn’t love a backpack? In fact, (until recently) I had always referred to...

It seems as though they’ve only just started the new school year before the October break begins and the educational system very kindly hands your bundles of joy back home for the week. Many of us look to distant shores and new pastures during this time in a bid to combat the evitable boredom-induced mischief. However, with droves of other families thinking the same, traffic jams, tantrums and domestic chaos can soon ensue. Here are some hints to help you...

A drug that prevents the devastating damage caused by a heart attack could be on the horizon, according to new research. Scientists restored the organ's function in mice by targeting a specific set of proteins - and are hopeful the same method may work in humans. The breakthrough offers hope to the 270,000 Britons who suffer a heart attack each year, often leaving them with heart failure and shortness of breath. It could also lead to new treatments for people...

Dementia can be accurately predicted five years before symptoms develop with a simple smell test, according to new research. A study of almost 3,000 older people found those who cannot identify at least four out of five common odours were more than twice as likely to develop the disease. And the worse their sense of smell, the bigger the risk, said scientists. The aromas in order of increasing difficulty were peppermint, fish, orange, rose and leather and could be used...

The average sofa will witness 1,236 arguments, have 2,728 drink and food spillages on it – and see blokes sleeping on it after getting kicked out of bed 191 times, a study has found. Over the course of the average 11-year life of a sofa, it will also see couples kiss 2,105 times, families sit down to watch 3,135 films and 2,299 hours – almost 96 days - of phone conversations. It will also be home to people watching a...

Earlier this year, high street bathroom chain Bathstore was accused of using cowboy fitters for its installations. Incorrect products were installed, tiles were fitted upside down and radiator leaks left properties permanently damaged. One customer was forced to endure 18 days without a functioning toilet, while another described the process as “the worst experience of my life.” Getting a new bathroom fitted should never be as disastrous as this. To ease your mind, and ultimately protect your home from damage,...

Shopping could be more stimulating than SEX, according to a pioneering neuroscience study. Scientists have today unveiled the physiological effects of shopping on the human brain, revealing how “inspired shopping” can deliver moments of prolonged highs in the brain comparable to sexual intercourse. Experts isolated the secrets to better browsing by analysing Gamma brainwaves which are scientifically linked with higher mind-states of creativity and extreme pleasure. Partnering with mind-tech experts, MyndPlay, the data unveiled some astounding insights about how Brits...

Mental health charity Mind yesterday (Tuesday, 26 September) hosted an event celebrating the delivery of a project aimed at promoting good mental health among vulnerable migrant communities. The two-year project, kindly funded by City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s Charity, is coming to an end this month and culminates in the launch ‘Mental health commissioning with migrant communities’ - a guide for mental health service providers, including local Minds across England and Wales, and other commissioners. There are...