We know the dangers, but still seven million people smoke in the UK. The Government wants England to be smoke free by 2030 – but getting there will take some novel thinking. I was in Singapore when the government was attempting to … Read More
Researchers are trailblazing new ‘cell surgery’ in their search for origins of cancer
Honestly, medical research gets more and more amazing. Researchers at Warwick University are trailblazing new ‘cell surgery’ in their search for the origins of cancer. A bit of background first. When a cell divides, it makes a copy of every chromosome and then … Read More
Mobile phones don’t increase your brain cancer risk, new study proves
For years, rumours have floated around about a link between mobile phones and brain tumours. The scaremongering was reignited by the recent launch of faster, 5G technology. Since mobile phones are held close to the head, the radiofrequency waves they emit penetrate … Read More
New Covid study shows importance of vaccination to the wider community
Still, there are people who question if the Covid vaccination is worthwhile. But more evidence is coming to light, this time from a study in the US, showing indisputably that it saves lives not just at the individual level, but … Read More
US bid to outlaw abortion hurts women everywhere – it’s no different from the Taliban
Championing a woman’s right to control what happens to her body, including her right to have an abortion, is something I am dedicated to. So I’m appalled by attempts in the US to reject these basic women’s rights. Believing I have … Read More
Respiratory breakthrough will help Covid-19 patients worldwide
For patients in ICU with Covid, ventilation is undoubtedly life-saving. but neither the lungs nor the body much like being mechanically ventilated. A team of experts from Warwick University has found that, while ventilation improves patient oxygenation, stresses and strains inside … Read More
Daytime naps could be an early warning of dementia, ground-breaking study finds
A few weeks ago, I included some news that showed people who needed daily naps had a higher tendency to develop dementia. This is a subject close to my heart, and I promised to return to it. The idea that … Read More
Teenagers are going through a mental health crisis – we must do more to help
The US is going through an extreme mental-health crisis among its teenage population. From 2009 to 2021, the number who said they felt “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26% to 44%, the highest level of teenage sadness … Read More
Magic mushrooms drug could help depression sufferers in the years to come
The brain adopts rigid patterns of activity if you suffer from depression. But researchers at Imperial College London have discovered that psilocybin, the psychedelic substance found in magic mushrooms, helps to “open up” depressed people’s brains. Psilocybin is now one of a … Read More
New physio trials a step in the right direction for adults struggling to walk
We all know the mental and physical benefits of walking, and it’s a simple exercise many of us take for granted. But for some, walking can cause excruciating pain in the calves, which makes putting one foot in front of … Read More