Placeholder Content Image

Ellen devastated after death of beloved show's DJ

<p>Stephen "tWitch" Boss has died at the age of 40. </p> <p>The entertainer is most commonly known for his role as the DJ on the <em>Ellen DeGeneres Show</em>, where he has been a staple since 2014. </p> <p>His death was announced by his wife of nine years Allison Holker just days after marking their wedding anniversary, as she shared a touching statement about his lasting legacy.</p> <p>“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share my husband Stephen has left us,” she said in a statement received by The Post.</p> <p>“Stephen lit up every room he stepped into. He valued family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light was everything to him. He was the backbone of our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to his fans.”</p> <p>Ellen DeGeneres was among the first to pay tribute to her friend and colleagues, sharing a photo of the two in an emotional embrace. </p> <p>She wrote, “I’m heartbroken. tWitch was pure love and light. He was my family, and I loved him with all my heart. I will miss him."</p> <p>"Please send your love and support to Allison and his beautiful children — Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia.”</p> <p>When Allison Holker discovered her husband has left home without his car, she reportedly ran frantically into an LAPD station, saying the behaviour was unlike him, according to law enforcement sources.</p> <p>Police later got a call about an incident at an LA hotel, where they found Boss.</p> <div id="indie-campaign-rHsIzpAmAj7xkA4llYlH-2" data-campaign-name="NCA ENTERTAINMENT newsletter" data-campaign-indie="newsletter-signup" data-jira="TSN-268" data-from="1640955600000" data-to="1677502800000"></div> <p>“To say he left a legacy would be an understatement, and his positive impact will continue to be felt,” Holker continued in her statement. </p> <p>“I am certain there won’t be a day that goes by that we won’t honour his memory. We ask for privacy during this difficult time for myself and especially for our three children.</p> <p>“Stephen, we love you, we miss you, and I will always save the last dance for you.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Breakthrough discovery links deadly disease with "eye twitch"

<p>Victorian researchers have made a ground-breaking discovery in what could help diagnose Australia’s most deadly mental illness.</p> <p>The Swinburne Anorexia Nervosa Research Group found that anorexia nervosa, commonly referred to as anorexia, can possibly be diagnosed by an eye twitch.</p> <p>The twitch, paired with anxiety, create a biomarker for the illness.</p> <p>A biomarker is a measurable characteristic in the body, such as heart rate or blood sugar levels, and none have ever been used to diagnose mental illness before.</p> <p>Head researcher Dr Andrea Phillipou, who has been researching the illness since 2012, said they initially stumbled on the discovery.</p> <p>“It was an accidental finding, it happened when I was chatting with a patient while doing eye-tracking and I noticed her eyes were jerking a little bit,” she told news.com.au</p> <p>“We had all this data from the tracking and were able to link the eye tracking to a part of the brain.”</p> <p>As research progressed, Dr Phollipou and her team found that a combination of a type of twitching eye movement called ‘square wave jerks’ together with anxiety is a promising two-element biomarker for anorexia.</p> <p>These eye jerks were found in people currently with the illness, survivors and sisters of people with anorexia nervosa. The finding in sisters is critical as it shows there is likely a genetic link.</p> <p>Anorexia has the highest death rate of any mental illness. It also has extrememly low recovery rates with just 50% of patients completely bouncing back.</p> <p>Alongside the weight-loss, suffers often have heart, organ and brain issues.</p> <p>Dr Phillipou is hopeful this research will allow early detection of the illness.</p> <p>“Being able to detect the twitcing eye movement as a screening tool, via an iPad or phone, would be extremely beneficial for GPs or in clinics where there is a suspected diagnosis,” she said.</p> <p>“We are hoping this research helps identify people at risk, early in the development and we are hopeful that the research plains the biology behind the illness – that which parts of the brain are contributing.”</p> <p>There are more than one million Australians who suffer from eating disorders.</p> <p>Of those, 4% have anorexia nervosa and 80% of those are women.</p> <p>One young Australian woman, Imogen Barnes, documented her recovery from the illness on social media. Her Instagram page, im_powering, has 50,000 followers, she discusses the illness in hope of transforming “pain into power.”</p>

Body

Placeholder Content Image

What you need to know about a twitching eyelid

<p>While the occasional eyelid twitch is usually nothing to worry about, if it becomes a persistent or recurring issue there could be a number of reasons why.</p><p>Eye twitches (known as blepharospasms) are the repetitive and uncontrollable blinking or spasms of your eyelid. It is most common in the upper eyelid. The frequency at which the eyelid spasms may be every few seconds or minutes and there are several factors that could cause or aggravate the condition. Common causes of an eyelid twitch include:
</p><ul><li>Staring at a computer screen for long periods</li><li>Tiredness</li><li>Caffeine, smoking or alcohol
</li><li>Stress
</li><li>Minor irritation of the eye
</li><li>Medications

</li></ul><p>Most of these twitches are harmless and do not require further medical attention. Despite some annoyance, the twitch will likely go away once you remove the exacerbating factor.</p><p>While most eyelid twitches are a minor problem, if the issue becomes chronic and persistent there could be various underlying causes.</p><p>If the symptoms recur over a period of days, weeks or even months, you should visit an optometrist to help discover the cause and receive treatment.</p><p>This is particularly true if the twitch is causing emotional distress or problems at work. Should a twitch persist so much that it becomes winking or squinting and you have trouble keeping your eyes open, it could be for one of these reasons:</p><ul><li>Blepharitis (a condition where the eyelids become inflamed)
</li><li>Light sensitivity
</li><li>Conjunctivitis
</li><li>Dry eye

</li></ul><p>There are also some nerve and brain disorders that could cause uncontrollable blinking, such as:</p><ul><li>Parkinson's disease
</li><li>Tourette's syndrome
</li><li>Bell's palsy
</li><li>Multiple sclerosis

</li></ul><p>While it is unlikely you are suffering one of these conditions, particularly without other symptoms, it is always best to have them ruled out as quickly as possible.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Eye Care

Placeholder Content Image

What you need to know about a twitching eyelid

<p>While the occasional eyelid twitch is usually nothing to worry about, if it becomes a persistent or recurring issue there could be a number of reasons why.</p><p>Eye twitches (known as blepharospasms) are the repetitive and uncontrollable blinking or spasms of your eyelid. It is most common in the upper eyelid. The frequency at which the eyelid spasms may be every few seconds or minutes and there are several factors that could cause or aggravate the condition. Common causes of an eyelid twitch include:
</p><ul><li>Staring at a computer screen for long periods</li><li>Tiredness</li><li>Caffeine, smoking or alcohol
</li><li>Stress
</li><li>Minor irritation of the eye
</li><li>Medications

</li></ul><p>Most of these twitches are harmless and do not require further medical attention. Despite some annoyance, the twitch will likely go away once you remove the exacerbating factor.</p><p>While most eyelid twitches are a minor problem, if the issue becomes chronic and persistent there could be various underlying causes.</p><p>If the symptoms recur over a period of days, weeks or even months, you should visit an optometrist to help discover the cause and receive treatment.</p><p>This is particularly true if the twitch is causing emotional distress or problems at work. Should a twitch persist so much that it becomes winking or squinting and you have trouble keeping your eyes open, it could be for one of these reasons:</p><ul><li>Blepharitis (a condition where the eyelids become inflamed)
</li><li>Light sensitivity
</li><li>Conjunctivitis
</li><li>Dry eye

</li></ul><p>There are also some nerve and brain disorders that could cause uncontrollable blinking, such as:</p><ul><li>Parkinson's disease
</li><li>Tourette's syndrome
</li><li>Bell's palsy
</li><li>Multiple sclerosis

</li></ul><p>While it is unlikely you are suffering one of these conditions, particularly without other symptoms, it is always best to have them ruled out as quickly as possible.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Eye Care

Our Partners