August 2008
News Archive
News articles from August 2008
Dementia, drugs and risk of stroke (29/08/2008)
Thousands of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia take antipsychotic medicines. But these drugs are controversial, because research has shown that some of them increase the risk of a stroke for people with dementia. Now, new research has looked in more detail at which antipsychotic drugs increase the chances of having a stroke, and who is at most risk...
Survey reveals cancer myths (28/08/2008)
Myths about cancer could lead people to worry more than necessary, and might even put people off getting treatment, according to new research. A worldwide survey has shown that some people aren't clear about the main causes of cancer, and don't realise that good treatments are available...
Families affected by cholesterol gene to be offered screening (27/08/2008)
Relatives of people who have an inherited disorder that means they have high cholesterol are to be offered a screening test to check if they are affected. The test should identify people with the condition early, so they can be treated to reduce their risk of heart disease...
Fruit juices react with common medicines (21/08/2008)
Grapefruit, orange and apple juice can all boost or block the effects of commonly used medicines. It's safest to wash down tablets with nothing more than a glass of water...
Alexander technique beats massage for back pain (20/08/2008)
According to a new study, the Alexander technique, which teaches good posture and relaxed movement, could offer relief for people with back pain. The study proved that, in the long run, the Alexander technique helped more than massage, but we don't know if it's better or worse than other kinds of exercise, like physiotherapy or yoga...
Are nicotine replacement products safe in pregnancy? (20/08/2008)
What’ s the best way to give up smoking if you’ re pregnant or planning a pregnancy? Many doctors recommend nicotine patches, gum or sprays, but there have been doubts about whether these can affect unborn babies. A new study provides reassurance about one of the possible risks...
Can chewing gum help people recover from bowel surgery? (19/08/2008)
People who have surgery on their colon (bowel) recover more quickly if they are given gum to chew in the days after their operation, a study has found. But before doctors can recommend chewing gum as a routine part of care after colon surgery, a much bigger study is needed to confirm the results...
A balancing act: hormone treatments after the menopause (15/08/2008)
If you've given up trying to work out the risks and benefits of HRT, you're not the only one. It used to be seen as a wonder drug for menopausal women, but now we know it has some drawbacks...
Possible link between low vitamin D and pain in women (14/08/2008)
Researchers have found evidence of a link between low vitamin D levels and chronic pain in women. But the link is far from definite and we don’ t know whether taking vitamin D supplements would be any help for women with long-term pain...
Moisturiser study: your questions answered (14/08/2008)
You may have seen alarming stories in the newspapers about a link between moisturiser and skin cancer. But these stories all come from a study that looked at mice specially bred to get skin cancer. We take a close look at the study, to see whether the alarm is justified...
Long-term study on medicines for heartburn (11/08/2008)
Medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are commonly used for heartburn and peptic ulcers, have been linked by researchers to a slightly higher risk of fractures. But the risk only increases after several years...
Does anything help with jet lag? (11/08/2008)
Travelling across time zones can leave you feeling wide awake when you're supposed to be asleep, and sleepy when you should be up and about. It can spoil the first few days of your holiday and make it hard to get back to your normal routine when you get home. We look at what you can do to feel better faster...
Questions raised over common fertility treatments (07/08/2008)
New research shows that for couples with ‘ unexplained infertility’ , some commonly used fertility treatments don’ t increase the chances of getting pregnant. We look at who’ s affected by these findings, and what they might mean in practice...
Is your child a healthy weight? (06/08/2008)
You may have read reports this week that schools are to tell parents if their children have weight problems. We look at what this means for you and your child, and at what you can do if your child is overweight...
Does acupuncture help women having IVF get pregnant? (06/08/2008)
Two major studies have looked at whether acupuncture helps improve IVF pregnancy rates – and have come up with conflicting results...
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