April 2008
News Archive
News articles from April 2008
Study of new cholesterol drug (31/03/2008)
Ezetimibe is a new kind of cholesterol medicine that stops your body absorbing cholesterol from food. Although it can reduce the amount of 'bad' cholesterol in the blood, it doesn't prevent narrowing of the arteries, according to newly published research. It's important that you don't stop taking any medicines you've been prescribed, without first discussing any concerns with your doctor...
Study on osteoporosis drug and risk of heartbeat problems (30/04/2008)
You may have read reports this week that women who take a medicine commonly used for osteoporosis face an increased risk of heart problems. But how big is the risk, and should you worry about it? We take a closer look at the evidence to find out...
The pollen season is here, and that means hay fever (29/04/2008)
With lighter evenings and warmer weather, most people look forward to spring. But if you're one of the millions of British people with hay fever, it can be a mixed blessing. If you're dreading the sneezing, blocked nose and runny eyes that hay fever can bring, read on to find out what you can do about it...
Early insulin treatment may help people with type 2 diabetes (28/05/2008)
A short, intensive course of insulin injections may slow down the progression of type 2 diabetes in newly diagnosed people, according to new research...
Wearing a mask at night can help people with sleep apnoea (28/03/2008)
Do you find yourself nodding off when you don't mean to? In the middle of a meeting, during a meal or when you're driving? If there's no obvious reason for your drowsiness you may have a condition called sleep apnoea...
Would you know if you were having a heart attack? (27/05/2008)
A heart attack is a life-threatening emergency in which every second counts. But new research shows that nearly half of all people at high risk of having a heart attack don't know the warning signs. And this could cost them valuable time in getting treatment...
Seven in ten patients are missing out on test for early heart disease (25/04/2008)
Many people with early symptoms of heart disease are not being given a test that could help reduce their risk of heart attack and other serious problems, a new study has found. Women, people over 65, south Asian patients and the poor are the most likely to miss out...
Does chemotherapy cause memory loss? (25/04/2008)
You may have read reports in the news this week that chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer can cause brain damage. Here we look at what the research says, and explain what it means for people undergoing chemotherapy...
Meningitis C jab saves lives (24/04/2008)
A vaccine against a common type of meningitis has saved 500 lives since it was introduced, according to new figures from the Department of Health. And last year, for the first time ever, no babies, children or teenagers died of meningitis C, thanks to the vaccine...
Does someone you know have bulimia? (23/04/2008)
The eating disorder bulimia has been in the headlines recently, showing that you don’ t need to be a teenage girl to have a problem with food. Bulimia is an illness that can cause serious health problems and make people very unhappy. But would you know if a friend or relative had it? And what can you do to help?..
Diabetes: do you need to check your blood glucose levels? (18/04/2008)
If you have diabetes, you may have been advised to measure your blood glucose levels with regular finger-prick tests. But a new study shows that people with type 2 diabetes who don't use insulin, may not get any medical benefit, and that regular self-testing might even make you feel depressed...
Boots nutritionist reassures customers about the recent news coverage (17/04/2008)
Recent news articles have led to speculation about the safety of certain antioxidants, vitamins and supplements currently available to buy. As four in ten adults regularly take some form of supplement, Boots want to help you understand how this may affect you.....
If you're affected by dementia, researchers want to hear from you (16/05/2008)
Do you care for someone with dementia, or have you been diagnosed with this condition yourself? If so, it's likely you frequently face difficult decisions about the best way to care for your loved one, or about how you yourself would like to be cared for...
Plaster casts not needed for some childhood broken bones (16/04/2008)
If you've ever had a plaster cast for a broken bone, you'll know how uncomfortable and awkward they can be. But new research shows that they may not always be needed for minor fractures in small children...
Study looks at side effects of blood pressure medicine (14/04/2008)
A common type of blood pressure medicine may weaken men's bones, according to a new study. But we don't know how important the effect might be. It may not be enough to increase the risk of breaking a bone...
Keep active to reduce your risk of breast cancer (13/05/2008)
Lots of the things that cause breast cancer are outside our control. So it's good to hear about things we can do to reduce our chances of getting this common cancer. Regular exercise, for women of all ages, seems to be the key...
No need to panic over eggs health scare (11/04/2008)
A new study says eating eggs every day is linked to a risk of dying earlier, at least for middle-aged men. But there are serious problems with the research that make it hard to trust the results. Eggs can still form part of a healthy, balanced diet...
Physical activity linked to better mental health (10/04/2008)
The more physical activity someone does, the less likely they are to suffer from poor mental health, according to new research. But illnesses like depression often cause people to lack energy and avoid exercise. So, it's hard to tell whether physical activity protects against poor mental health, or whether depressed people are simply less active...
What can I do if my child isn't sleeping? (09/04/2008)
If your child has problems sleeping, it can be hugely disruptive to your family life. But these problems are common. Lots of children find it hard to get to sleep, or take time getting into a regular sleeping pattern. Recent research has linked a lack of sleep with poor health as children get older, with problems such as weight gain and depression. So, we've looked at the kinds of sleep problems that affect children, and how you can deal with them...
Eye injections to be available on NHS (04/04/2008)
A new treatment for macular degeneration, a common cause of poor vision, looks set to become widely available on the NHS, according to guidelines for doctors. The treatment is called Lucentis and it is given by injection into the eye. Lucentis can reduce the chances of eyesight getting worse...
Home births generally safe, but transfer to hospital increases risk for baby (03/04/2008)
Home births are getting more popular, and while they're generally safe, specialised hospital care is further away in an emergency. New research shows that there's a higher risk of a baby dying if a mother who has planned a home birth is transferred from home to hospital...
Do we need eight glasses of water a day? (02/04/2008)
We all need water to survive, but is it necessary to drink eight glasses a day? And does drinking lots of water improve the appearance of your skin, or help to flush toxins out of your body? A new study has looked behind the myths about water consumption, to see what the science really says...
Health checks for the over 40s: what do they mean for you? (02/04/2008)
You may have read reports of government plans to offer a health check every five years to everyone in England between the ages of 40 and 74. It is hoped the checks will help prevent thousands of people getting heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. But what will they mean in practice? We look at the tests you'll be offered and the advice you'll be given to reduce your personal risk...
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
