February 2008
News Archive
News articles from February 2008
Children still at risk of measles, mumps and rubella (29/02/2008)
The number of children being immunised against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is rising, as more and more research shows the vaccine is safe. But some parents are still rejecting the vaccine. Doctors have warned that this puts children at risk, as not enough children are being vaccinated to prevent outbreaks of measles...
Medicines prescribed for ADHD 'not linked to drug abuse in later life' (29/02/2008)
Stimulant medicines are a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many parents are worried that children who are prescribed them might be more likely to take illegal drugs in later life. But the latest research is reassuring. It suggests that children treated with stimulants are no more likely to have drug or alcohol problems later on than anyone else...
What treatments work for erection problems? (13/02/2008)
Most men have trouble getting an erection at some time in their lives. It can happen for all sorts of reasons. But if it happens so often that you can't usually have sex, you may have a condition called erectile dysfunction. You're not alone. More than 2 million men in the UK have erection problems...
Acupuncture may improve IVF pregnancy rates (11/02/2008)
Having acupuncture alongside in vitro fertilisation (IVF) can increase the chances of getting pregnant and having a baby, according to a large new review of research. But the results, although promising, need to be confirmed by further studies before acupuncture can be recommended as a treatment alongside IVF...
Variety of treatments may help people with neck pain (07/03/2008)
Experts have come up with a list of treatments that may help the many people who suffer from neck pain. But no one treatment is likely to offer a complete cure, and people may need to try a number of treatments to see what works best for them...
Probiotics 'help prevent coughs and colds in athletes' (07/03/2008)
Top athletes may get fewer coughs and colds during intensive training if they take a probiotic supplement, according to new research. But more research is needed to find out if probiotics have the same benefits for ordinary people...
Diabetes education helps people live healthier lives (07/03/2008)
A short education programme for people newly diagnosed with diabetes can help them make healthy changes to their lives, a new study shows. The programme helps people lose weight, give up smoking and understand more about how their lifestyle affects their diabetes...
Women with early breast cancer overestimate risk of it returning (07/03/2008)
Women diagnosed with a very early form of breast cancer, called ductal carcinoma in situ, are vastly overestimating the chances of their cancer coming back or spreading, according to a new study...
Questions raised over antidepressants (07/03/2008)
A new study suggests that some types of antidepressants may only be truly helpful for people with very bad depression. But it's hard to know how much to rely on this study, because it looks at research findings from 10 to 20 years ago. If you are taking antidepressants, it's very important not to stop taking them suddenly. This can be dangerous...
Study on herbal remedy and dementia (07/03/2008)
Research has already shown that the herbal remedy Gingko biloba may help with symptoms like forgetfulness in people who have dementia. Now researchers have carried out a study to look at whether Gingko could help prevent dementia in the first place. But the study only looked at a small group of people, so it's hard to be certain about the findings...
Skimmed milk may protect women from high blood pressure (07/03/2008)
Regularly drinking skimmed milk may slightly reduce women's chances of getting high blood pressure, researchers have found. High blood pressure can increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke...
Give side effects the yellow card (07/03/2008)
Members of the public are being encouraged to report side effects of their medicines, in a new campaign by the UK's medicines safety watchdog. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) wants pharmacists to tell their customers about the Yellow Card Scheme, which monitors the safety of medicines after they've been approved for sale...
Counselling recommended for women who fear childbirth (07/02/2008)
New research has shed light on the women most likely to have genuine fears about giving birth. Offering women counselling might help to alleviate their fears and reduce the demand for caesarean sections, say the researchers...
Food allergies less common than parents think (04/02/2008)
Many parents worry that food allergies are becoming more common in children, but a large study has found that their fears are unfounded. Only a small number of young children suffer from food allergies, and the number affected has not changed in the last 20 years...
New research on epilepsy medicines (04/02/2008)
New research has shown that 11 medicines used to treat epilepsy may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions, although the overall risk of this happening is very small. It's important for anyone taking these medicines to see a doctor if they are worried about any troubling thoughts or changes in behaviour. It's also important that people taking antiepileptic medicines do not stop taking them without consulting a doctor...
Sugary drinks increase men's risk of gout (01/02/2008)
Drinking lots of sugary soft drinks or fruit juice, or even eating lots of fruit, could increase men's risk of gout, according to new research...
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.
