March 2008
News Archive
News articles from March 2008
New rules for children's cough and cold medicines (27/03/2008)
Parents have been told not to give certain over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children under two years old, because of safety fears. Parents are being advised to use only simple medicines for young children's coughs and colds, including paracetamol, ibuprofen and simple cough syrups...
Advice to avoid alcohol for first three months of pregnancy (26/03/2008)
Pregnant women should not drink alcohol during the first three months of pregnancy because this may increase the risk of miscarriage, according to new guidelines...
Does cod liver oil help rheumatoid arthritis pain? (26/03/2008)
Cod liver oil may help people with rheumatoid arthritis reduce the number of painkillers they have to take. But there are problems with the research that mean it's hard to rely on the results...
Can a gluten-free vegan diet help people with rheumatoid arthritis? (20/03/2008)
You may have read reports of a study that showed a vegan diet can be helpful for people with rheumatoid arthritis. But is it true? There are lots of problems with the way the study was carried out, and the results are far from clear...
Vitamin link to healthy sperm (20/03/2008)
Doctors have found a link between the amount of a vitamin called folate in men's diets, and the health of their sperm. But the researchers say it's too early to say if eating more folate-rich foods, or taking supplements, is good for sperm...
Shorter courses of radiotherapy can treat breast cancer (19/03/2008)
A short course of radiotherapy with a lower overall dose of radiation may work just as well for breast cancer as a higher dose, and is less likely to cause skin changes, according to two new studies. A lower dose can be split into 15 or so radiotherapy sessions, instead of the usual 25, meaning fewer trips to hospital. However, researchers need to do more research to make sure short courses of radiotherapy work well in the long term...
Most people with sinusitis don't benefit from antibiotics (17/03/2008)
Most people who get sinusitis don't benefit from antibiotics, a new study suggests. Doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics for people who have sinusitis that's lasted longer than a week. But these people are no more likely to benefit from antibiotics than anyone else, the study says. People with sinusitis usually get better on their own...
Aspirin may reduce risk of asthma in women (14/03/2008)
A small dose of aspirin taken every other day can reduce the chances of women getting asthma, according to a large new study. But more research is needed before aspirin might be recommended to reduce the risk of asthma. Aspirin can have side effects, and this medicine shouldn't be given to children under 16 years old...
Vitamin D in childhood may help prevent type 1 diabetes (13/03/2008)
Giving children vitamin D supplements at an early age is linked to a lower risk of type 1 diabetes in later life, a new review says. However, the research is still at a fairly early stage, and better-quality studies need to be done before doctors can be certain...
Personal advice helps slimmers keep weight off (12/03/2008)
For many would-be slimmers, the biggest battle is keeping the weight off once they've lost it. In a new study, researchers found that people who'd already lost weight did best at keeping their weight down when they had regular contact with a trained weight-loss counsellor...
A diet rich in magnesium might have health benefits for smokers (11/03/2008)
A diet rich in magnesium could slightly reduce the risk of a common type of stroke for male smokers, according to a new study. The study doesn't tell us if the same benefit applies to women or non-smokers. And the reduction in risk from a magnesium-rich diet is very small compared with the extra risk of a stroke that comes from smoking in the first place...
Hands-free mobile phones impair driving (07/03/2008)
Using a hands-free mobile phone while driving distracts drivers enough for them to veer out of their lane and hit guardrails at the side of the road, a study has found...
Early study of blood pressure vaccine shows promising results (07/03/2008)
People with high blood pressure might be able to have only three or four injections a year instead of taking tablets every day, after trials of a new vaccine showed promising results. But we need bigger, longer studies to find out more. It will be several years before a vaccine could be available...
What are the long term effects of HRT? (04/03/2008)
Most of the health risks associated with taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) go back to normal within three years of a woman stopping it, a new study shows. But the risk of getting cancer may increase very slightly. Researchers aren't sure why this is...
Reducing TV and computer use helps children lose excess weight (03/03/2008)
An electronic device that limits the time children spend in front of the TV and computer may cut down on the amount of snacks they consume and help them lose excess weight, a study has found...
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.
