October 2007
News Archive
News articles from October 2007
Painkillers can increase the risk of car crashes, a study finds (30/10/2007)
Driving a car while taking some types of painkillers can increase your risk of being involved in a crash, a new study has found. The study looked at a range of painkillers, including some that you can buy from a pharmacy without a prescription...
Schoolgirls to be vaccinated against cervical cancer (29/10/2007)
From next September all girls in the UK aged 12 to 13 (year 8) will be offered a vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Older girls aged 15 to 18 will also be offered the vaccine over the following two years as part of a 'catch-up' programme...
Having a hysterectomy doubles the risk of needing surgery for stress incontinence, a study finds (26/10/2007)
A study has found that women who have a hysterectomy are more than twice as likely to need an operation for stress incontinence in the next 12 years as women who don't have a hysterectomy. If you've been told you need a hysterectomy for a problem such as heavy periods or fibroids, you may want to find out what other treatments are available first...
Rheumatoid arthritis drug approved for the NHS (25/10/2007)
Lots of different drugs are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but they don't work for everyone. A new rheumatoid arthritis drug has now been approved for use on the NHS, giving people a better chance of finding a helpful treatment if other drugs haven't worked...
Research funded by drug manufacturers questioned (23/10/2007)
Research into a common asthma treatment seems to find fewer side effects when the funding comes from the drug's manufacturer, a new study suggests...
Antibiotics "should not be used to prevent complications from mild illness" (22/10/2007)
Antibiotics shouldn't be used for colds, sore throats or ear infections because serious complications from these illnesses are so rare, say researchers. However they say that antibiotics may be used for chest infections because the chances of getting pneumonia after a chest infection are higher, especially in people over 65...
Aspirin may prevent heart attacks in men more than women (19/10/2007)
A daily aspirin is recommended to prevent heart attacks in people at high risk of having one. Now new research suggests that although aspirin helps protect men against heart attack, it may not work as well for women...
Avoiding tobacco smoke protects babies from cot death (17/10/2007)
Not smoking while pregnant, and protecting babies from tobacco smoke, can dramatically cut the risk of babies dying from cot death, researchers say. They say smoking near pregnant women and babies should be seen as unacceptable and dangerous...
Cleaning sprays may cause adult asthma (17/10/2007)
Household cleaning sprays could cause asthma in adults who use them regularly, a new study has found...
Are expensive running shoes worth the money? (15/10/2007)
Running or jogging can seem like an ideal form of exercise. There's no need to pay for gym membership: all you need is some free time and a pair of trainers. Most of us would imagine that more expensive running shoes are better at protecting your joints when you're pounding the pavement. But cheaper trainers can be just as good, new research has found...
Parents warned to look out for signs of liver disease in babies (12/10/2007)
Parents should watch out for unusually coloured urine or stools in babies' nappies. They could be a sign of a rare liver disease, a charity has warned...
Is it safe to drink alcohol when you’re pregnant? (11/10/2007)
There’ s no evidence that drinking small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy harms babies, according to doctors advising the government on antenatal care. But they say you cannot rule out the risk completely...
Surgery improves survival for prostate cancer patients (10/10/2007)
Men who have an operation to remove prostate cancer are twice as likely to be alive 10 years later as those who have other treatments for this illness, according to a new study. Men under the age of 70, and those with cancers that show signs of spreading, are most likely to benefit from surgery...
Rapid treatment cuts chances of stroke (10/10/2007)
Getting treatment quickly after a ‘ mini-stroke’ can dramatically cut the chances of having a full stroke, a new study shows. Almost 10,000 strokes could be avoided every year in the UK if everyone was seen at a walk-in clinic within a day of reporting symptoms, the researchers say...
Going to a herbalist 'not recommended' (05/10/2007)
There are about 1,000 registered herbalists practising in the UK, and people in Europe spend more than £ 2.5 billion on herbal remedies each year. But traditional herbalism, which uses a combination of herbs tailored to the patient, is not supported by any scientific evidence, researchers say...
Can changing your lifestyle protect you from breast cancer? (04/10/2007)
Thousands of cases of breast cancer could be prevented over the next 20 years if women make some changes to their lifestyle, according to new research...
Antidepressants safer for teenagers when combined with talking treatment (03/10/2007)
Major depression is thought to affect about 1 in 20 teenagers. In severe cases, it can lead young people to think about or attempt suicide. Unfortunately, some medications used for this illness can slightly increase the risk of a depressed teenager thinking about suicide...
Is it safe to eat peanuts when you're pregnant? (01/10/2007)
It's hard enough following all the advice about what is and isn't safe to eat in pregnancy. It doesn't help when experts don't agree. Unfortunately, that's the situation with peanuts at the moment. Nobody really knows whether eating peanuts in pregnancy can increase or decrease the chances of your baby getting a peanut allergy. We look at the research so far, and explain why it's in the news...
Antibiotic helps to reduce disability after stroke (01/10/2007)
Treatment with an antibiotic called minocycline, within 24 hours of getting symptoms of a stroke, can reduce the amount of disability people are left with, a new 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.
