May 2008
News Archive
News articles from May 2008
Know your risk of a heart attack and stroke (29/05/2008)
Anyone over the age of 40 should have their risk of getting a heart attack or a stroke assessed, to see if they need cholesterol tests or treatment, doctors have been told. If you’ re aged 40 or over, it’ s worth knowing whether you're at risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. We explain who’ s at risk, and what you should do if you’ re worried...
'No risk of blood clots' from HRT patches (23/05/2008)
Using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the form of skin patches does not seem to increase the risk of blood clots, unlike HRT tablets, according to a large review of the research...
Could a blood test help women decide about HRT? (23/05/2008)
A simple blood test may be able to tell women if they're at risk of one of the serious side effects of HRT...
Find out more about 'saviour siblings' (22/05/2008)
You may have heard that the law is being changed to allow doctors to help couples create so-called ‘ saviour siblings’ : babies that can help cure serious illnesses in their older brothers or sisters. But how does it work, and what can it be used for? We take a look at the science and explain what happens...
Erection problems linked to heart attack risk in men with diabetes (21/05/2008)
Men often find it difficult to admit to sexual problems. But there are very good reasons to talk to your doctor if you have trouble getting an erection, especially if you also have diabetes...
Travellers need to be aware of malaria risk (13/05/2008)
At a time of year when people are making travel plans, it's important to be aware of the risks of malaria. Five British people died of malaria last year and experts have warned that, in certain parts of the world, people visiting friends and family need to be just as careful as independent travellers...
Diphtheria: is your child protected? (12/05/2008)
Doctors are advising parents to check their children are up to date with their vaccinations after a child in London recently died from what experts think was diphtheria. Although diphtheria is very rare in the UK, you can get it if you're not immunised and you travel to countries where it is more common...
Stop smoking and feel the benefits early (08/05/2008)
The health of people who stop smoking starts to improve almost as soon as they stub out their last cigarette, a large study has found. Within five years the risk of having a heart attack is halved...
Teens put up with asthma symptoms 'needlessly' (08/05/2008)
Many teenagers may be putting up with asthma symptoms unnecessarily, and even restricting their activities because of their symptoms. That’ s the conclusion of researchers who looked at teenagers' attitudes to asthma to find out why teenagers have worse asthma symptoms than younger children...
Cot death: new evidence about bed covers (06/05/2008)
Researchers looking for the causes of cot death have found evidence that blankets or bedclothes covering a sleeping baby's head might put the baby at risk. It's important that babies are put to bed in a way that avoids bed covers rising up over their heads...
Heart disease and women: a worrying trend (02/05/2008)
Research warning that in future more younger women could die of heart disease is worrying, especially since heart disease deaths continue to fall steadily among all other age groups. Here we explain the new research and look at what you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease...
Could a daily aspirin cut the risk of breast cancer? (01/05/2008)
A new study suggests women who take aspirin once a day may slightly reduce their risk of the most common type of breast cancer. But a lot more research is needed before aspirin can be recommended to women as a way of helping to prevent the disease...
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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.
