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EPISODE 4: Becki Cronin

This week Dr Una met 36-year-old Becki Cronin from Warwickshire who enjoyed drinking, ate junk, never exercised and smoked 20 cigarettes a day. She’s young and was having fun so why shouldn’t she? But Dr Una knew better and Becki’s saggy skin and crows’ feet were already making her look old. When Dr Una looked below the surface things just got worse.

Becki confessed to never drinking water, just fruit juice, fizzy drinks and squash. She used to drink 120 gallons a year, containing twice her own body weight in sugar, which had a terrible effect on her teeth.

Dr Una used scans and tests to prove that Becki’s casual attitude had already taken its toll. She had early signs of emphysema, the enamel on her teeth was worn away and a swab of the inside of her mouth showed bacteria, which if it entered the blood stream could have lead to heart disease. Becki’s life expectancy should have been 88 but if she continued her unhealthy lifestyle she wouldn't make it past 59.

Tim and Dr Una put Becki on an alkaline rich diet to combat the effects of her acidic, sugar intake. Sugary drinks and alcohol were banned, she was sent to a hypnotherapist to help her quit smoking and she was given an intensive exercise regime to increase her lungpower and overall fitness.

Becki followed her new teeth-cleaning regime and got stuck into her new diet but after a few weeks she caved in to her craving for a cigarette. Dr Una was very dissapointed and arranged for her father to speak to Becki about his life since being diagnosed with emphysema.

Newly motivated, Becki agreed to aversion therapy, which programmed her to associate smoking with fish – which she hates. With her dental care on track Becki also had veneers fitted.

After 8 weeks Becki looks fantastic. "I can see that I've toned up. My teeth are so much whiter and cleaner, and actually my gums look a lot better as well," she commented.

She’s lost two inches from her waist as well as toning up. Her lung function has improved by 30%, her teeth are gleaming and she’s increased her life expectancy to 76. This adds an amazing 17 years to the age she was going to live to before Dr Una and Tim Bean turned back her bodyclock.

Tests And Tips

Test how fit you are by measuring your resting pulse for one minute. The best time to do this is first thing in the morning. If you’re fit, your resting heartbeat should be 60-80bpm. The faster your pulse, the less fit you are.

Every cigarette a person smokes increases the risk of them developing emphysema, which is a chronic lung disease that kills 15,000 people every year. Smoking causes 80% of cases.

A simple test to check for gum disease is to gently prod your gums with a toothpick. If they bleed you should go to a dentist for a check up.

Smoking also dramatically worsens gum disease and if unhealthy bacteria in the mouth enter the blood stream it can lead to endocarditis, which can cause heart disease and is potentially fatal.

Symptoms of gum disease:

Pain in your mouth

Receding gums

Bad breath

You might be surprised to hear some other interesting body facts

Thanks to Mervyn Druian at The London Centre for Cosmetic Dentistry for performing all dental proceedures. For more information www.whiterteeth.co.uk
93 Haverstock Hill, London NW3 4RL
T: 020 7222 1235

Thanks to www.europeanscanning.co.uk for providing detailed scans.

Thanks to Preventicum, London Centre of Preventive Medicine, for providing medical services.

Should we give up our unhealthy vices to live longer?
Yes of course
No - live fast and die young

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